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It's Only a Game
Not yet published
Expected 2 Feb 27An emotionally charged and propulsive puzzle box novel by Sam Rebelein, where a recently split couple must solve a haunted escape room together—or die trying.
If you’re reading this email, YOU have been selected to participate in a C.A.C. Games Survival Experience! *scream emoji*
This is the most challenging survival experience on the market. Your horror will feel real. Your horror will show no mercy.
We are very excited to play with you. :)
A year after a bitter breakup, Julian and Millie are thrown back together by a once-in-a-lifetime an invitation to play a legendary 72-hour survival experience with a huge cash prize. The solve a series of elaborate puzzles inside the remote and reputedly haunted Clate Hill Lodge. Only one other contestant has ever successfully escaped, and Julian and Millie are desperate to make history.
But as the weekend begins, the line between performance and paranormal quickly blurs. The puzzles are impossible, the ghosts feel undeniably real, and the hotel seems to have a mind of its own. Caught between confronting the horrors of the hotel and the unresolved issues of their own past, Julian and Millie begin to wonder how much of the Lodge is only a game and whether the prize isn’t money—but their own lives.
Sam Rebelein’s newest is both a satisfyingly inventive puzzle box and an equally terrifying thriller that readers won’t be able to put down until the final clue is solved.
If you’re reading this email, YOU have been selected to participate in a C.A.C. Games Survival Experience! *scream emoji*
This is the most challenging survival experience on the market. Your horror will feel real. Your horror will show no mercy.
We are very excited to play with you. :)
A year after a bitter breakup, Julian and Millie are thrown back together by a once-in-a-lifetime an invitation to play a legendary 72-hour survival experience with a huge cash prize. The solve a series of elaborate puzzles inside the remote and reputedly haunted Clate Hill Lodge. Only one other contestant has ever successfully escaped, and Julian and Millie are desperate to make history.
But as the weekend begins, the line between performance and paranormal quickly blurs. The puzzles are impossible, the ghosts feel undeniably real, and the hotel seems to have a mind of its own. Caught between confronting the horrors of the hotel and the unresolved issues of their own past, Julian and Millie begin to wonder how much of the Lodge is only a game and whether the prize isn’t money—but their own lives.
Sam Rebelein’s newest is both a satisfyingly inventive puzzle box and an equally terrifying thriller that readers won’t be able to put down until the final clue is solved.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 2, 2027
About the author
Sam Rebelein
24 books294 followersSam Rebelein writes (and teaches writing) in Poughkeepsie, NY. His short fiction has appeared in PseudoPod, The Deadlands, Press Pause Press, Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year, and elsewhere. His debut novel EDENVILLE was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award, and won a Wonderland Book Award for Best Novel. Sam's recent collection of interconnected short fiction, THE POORLY MADE AND OTHER THINGS, is set in the same fictional world as EDENVILLE; GALLOWAY'S GOSPEL (Sep 2025) is set in the same world as well.
For more about Sam's work, and pictures of his scruffy pooch Frodo, follow him on Instagram @rebelsam94.
For more about Sam's work, and pictures of his scruffy pooch Frodo, follow him on Instagram @rebelsam94.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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September 4, 2026・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
september 3rd- im ngl i am NOT a thriller kinda girl 😭 im a baby LOL... so im kinda nervous to read this. if you don't hear from me... i probably passed out from fear
september 3rd- im ngl i am NOT a thriller kinda girl 😭 im a baby LOL... so im kinda nervous to read this. if you don't hear from me... i probably passed out from fear
August 31, 2026
Let me tell you about this book. It's thrilling, funny and ridiculously frightening. But it's all about the relationship to me. Julian and Millie had such an affect on me, I found myself crying a lot. Sam's words were so beautiful, and I think this is my favorite of his books so far. His talent to weave puzzles, the supernatural and the evolution of a relationship just left me speechless. That and the fact I had nightmares every night while reading. This never happens anymore. That's how scary it was. He had me up late every night this week because I just couldn't put this damn thing down! Do yourself a favor and pick this one out when it comes out February 2. This is perfect for anyone who loves a little horrormance. Thank you to Harper Collins for the early e-arc.
August 31, 2026
This book was excellent! Rebelein hit it out of the park once again, he has yet to not hit a home run in my opinion. This book was so masterfully woven together; it grips you and holds you in a stranglehold, while perfectly blending horror, and fun puzzles, and a lovely romance. I look forward to owning this and rereading when the book comes out.
September 3, 2026
Geesh! I loved it! Full review to come.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
He did it again! Another five-star (for me) book from Sam Rebelein. This was a bit of a departure for Rebelein, it doesn't take place in his created world of Renfield, though he shares it initially started there in his mind. It's also a romance at its core, these two must work together and find a way back to each other, even if only to get out alive. While it took a while (~20%) for the horror to start in earnest, the wait was worth it. I went back and forth in my head on how it would end and was very satisfied with how it all wrapped up. Also make sure you read the acknowledgments, not only does Rebelein lay out some of his inspirations (The Shining is truly felt throughout), but he leaves a small hint at what is to come and follows that with an anti-AI rant which is always appreciated. Had the eARC of this one so now I'm going to place my order for a physical copy when it releases in February, this is definitely going to be a re-read.
A year ago, Julian and Millie applied for the ultimate escape room experience, C.A.C. Games Survival Experience, a chance to test your abilities and potentially win $100,000. Now they're broken up, but when they receive an email informing them that they have been chosen to participate in the C.A.C. experience, they decide they can handle three days together to win the money. They're informed their location will be a hotel, Clate Hill Lodge, and that there will be ghosts. No other information is offered, but Julian and Millie sign up and agree to take part. Upon their arrival Buchanan, the gamemaster, gives them a quick tour and explains the rules, including options to receive hints or a short reprieve from the game, before locking them in and taking their phones and car keys.
As the game begins, the difficulty of the puzzles seems destined to make matters worse between the two, and the ghosts feel too real for comfort. They were warned that the horror would feel real, but at what point does the horror become real? The two must work together to solve the puzzles and stay safe, especially as danger seems to be found increasingly down every hall. The more puzzles they solve, the more fearful they become, but It's Only A Game, right?
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an eARC of this novel.
A year ago, Julian and Millie applied for the ultimate escape room experience, C.A.C. Games Survival Experience, a chance to test your abilities and potentially win $100,000. Now they're broken up, but when they receive an email informing them that they have been chosen to participate in the C.A.C. experience, they decide they can handle three days together to win the money. They're informed their location will be a hotel, Clate Hill Lodge, and that there will be ghosts. No other information is offered, but Julian and Millie sign up and agree to take part. Upon their arrival Buchanan, the gamemaster, gives them a quick tour and explains the rules, including options to receive hints or a short reprieve from the game, before locking them in and taking their phones and car keys.
As the game begins, the difficulty of the puzzles seems destined to make matters worse between the two, and the ghosts feel too real for comfort. They were warned that the horror would feel real, but at what point does the horror become real? The two must work together to solve the puzzles and stay safe, especially as danger seems to be found increasingly down every hall. The more puzzles they solve, the more fearful they become, but It's Only A Game, right?
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an eARC of this novel.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 Stars - Very fun, puzzle-heavy dark thriller!
This book was a ton of fun, and reminded me a lot of Slashtag by Jon Cohn, which I also love.
As a note for potential readers - the ramp up to the main story is a little bit drawn out. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel in that first 20-25% as we got the backstory of Millie and Julian and the exposition heavy introduction to the lodge & game. But once things really got going I was hooked and flew through the rest of the book in one day. So, if you are on the fence, keep going!
The writing is really solid aside from a few odd word choices (I've never seen galumphed used in a book once, let alone three times!) And the premise, plot, and action were all great!
The standout for me was the story of the game, and the riddles themselves! This can be the hardest part for this kind of story. The game narrative often takes a backseat to the story itself, and the puzzles and riddles can either be overly simplistic or altogether forgotten. I thought Rebelein did a fantastic job keeping the two narratives balanced, and not dropping or oversimplifying the puzzles. Were there a few times I wanted to scream at the characters for not getting to the puzzles/clues faster? Yes, but that's just the nature of these kinds of stories.
Also, do things get really, really wild in the final act? Also...yes!
I definitely recommend this for fans of escape room/puzzle-inpsired thriller/horror, or anyone just looking for a mind-bending thrill-ride!
*Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC!
This book was a ton of fun, and reminded me a lot of Slashtag by Jon Cohn, which I also love.
As a note for potential readers - the ramp up to the main story is a little bit drawn out. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to feel in that first 20-25% as we got the backstory of Millie and Julian and the exposition heavy introduction to the lodge & game. But once things really got going I was hooked and flew through the rest of the book in one day. So, if you are on the fence, keep going!
The writing is really solid aside from a few odd word choices (I've never seen galumphed used in a book once, let alone three times!) And the premise, plot, and action were all great!
The standout for me was the story of the game, and the riddles themselves! This can be the hardest part for this kind of story. The game narrative often takes a backseat to the story itself, and the puzzles and riddles can either be overly simplistic or altogether forgotten. I thought Rebelein did a fantastic job keeping the two narratives balanced, and not dropping or oversimplifying the puzzles. Were there a few times I wanted to scream at the characters for not getting to the puzzles/clues faster? Yes, but that's just the nature of these kinds of stories.
Also, do things get really, really wild in the final act? Also...yes!
I definitely recommend this for fans of escape room/puzzle-inpsired thriller/horror, or anyone just looking for a mind-bending thrill-ride!
*Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this arc via NetGalley and sped through this one. Upon finishing I laid in bed debating… thinking… it was only a game? Right? Was it though? And the after thoughts alone make this a solid read.
This puzzle centric, mystery, and slightly horror book definitely “hooked” me from the start.
Positive elements- incredibly addicting to read and watch the main characters find clues and solve puzzles. The story is trippy. You/the characters question reality and it had my brain spinning and trying to determine reality from the game itself.
Negative’s- I wanted more backstory on the main characters + their relationship felt very trivial and petty to me, especially for their ages. I could have been fine with them being strangers or perhaps having a bit different set up for dialogue, but that’s just personal preference and the reason for lowering this read to four stars.
Overall- spooky, twisty, addicting, and a perfect quick read for anyone wanting something a little different.
This puzzle centric, mystery, and slightly horror book definitely “hooked” me from the start.
Positive elements- incredibly addicting to read and watch the main characters find clues and solve puzzles. The story is trippy. You/the characters question reality and it had my brain spinning and trying to determine reality from the game itself.
Negative’s- I wanted more backstory on the main characters + their relationship felt very trivial and petty to me, especially for their ages. I could have been fine with them being strangers or perhaps having a bit different set up for dialogue, but that’s just personal preference and the reason for lowering this read to four stars.
Overall- spooky, twisty, addicting, and a perfect quick read for anyone wanting something a little different.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75/5
This read really fast for me! I started it late last night and finished it right around lunch time today!
This was a rather unique story with a great setting. I thought the haunted house escape room situation was such a great idea and set up some very strong initial tension.
And then when things started to get too suspicious, when things started to feel like they weren't just in a big game, that was so well done.
I felt like the relationship stuff was a bit back-burner, but it did add a bit more tension of a different kind. I just don't know how necessary it was, especially at the beginning.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This read really fast for me! I started it late last night and finished it right around lunch time today!
This was a rather unique story with a great setting. I thought the haunted house escape room situation was such a great idea and set up some very strong initial tension.
And then when things started to get too suspicious, when things started to feel like they weren't just in a big game, that was so well done.
I felt like the relationship stuff was a bit back-burner, but it did add a bit more tension of a different kind. I just don't know how necessary it was, especially at the beginning.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A haunted mansion that also happens to be an escape room? Ohh, spooky.
This was a bit out of my comfort zone, but the premise had me so intrigued. And I'm so glad I gave this a chance because I had such a fun time reading this book. I really enjoyed the whole spooky escape room concept, and the romance was a fun addition. Although, I did feel like it could've been developed a bit more, or left out altogether.
This book had me at the edge of my seat while also making me laugh.
If you're looking for a spooky story, this is definitely one to pick up.
Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was a bit out of my comfort zone, but the premise had me so intrigued. And I'm so glad I gave this a chance because I had such a fun time reading this book. I really enjoyed the whole spooky escape room concept, and the romance was a fun addition. Although, I did feel like it could've been developed a bit more, or left out altogether.
This book had me at the edge of my seat while also making me laugh.
If you're looking for a spooky story, this is definitely one to pick up.
Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's Only a Game was an amazing page-turner that I really did have trouble putting down. I stayed up way too late reading it the first night, and finished it the next. Whew!
I'm a big fan of Sam Rebelein's works that take place in Renfield County, and while this was not specifically a part of that, it had a lot of the same weirdness and creepiness.
The haunted house/escape room vibe was so intricate and intense. Like the characters, I kept going back and forth on whether I thought what was happening was real or just a game. It didn't quite reach the epic level of Edenville (Go Crows) for me, but it was a great read and kept me guessing throughout. I really enjoyed the ARC and would recommend it completely! Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to get this one early. 4.25 stars.
I'm a big fan of Sam Rebelein's works that take place in Renfield County, and while this was not specifically a part of that, it had a lot of the same weirdness and creepiness.
The haunted house/escape room vibe was so intricate and intense. Like the characters, I kept going back and forth on whether I thought what was happening was real or just a game. It didn't quite reach the epic level of Edenville (Go Crows) for me, but it was a great read and kept me guessing throughout. I really enjoyed the ARC and would recommend it completely! Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to get this one early. 4.25 stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and William Morrow.
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
It was supposed to be a simple invitation of a game of a survival but it became more than that. A puzzle of secrets that will come to light brining two former partners reuniting together. Between ghosts and mpossible puzzles will bring together in more ways than more. Games that are more than just theyAppear. Will they be able to survive the game in one piece?
I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.
It was supposed to be a simple invitation of a game of a survival but it became more than that. A puzzle of secrets that will come to light brining two former partners reuniting together. Between ghosts and mpossible puzzles will bring together in more ways than more. Games that are more than just theyAppear. Will they be able to survive the game in one piece?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well that was a wild ride!
I could not put this book down! Talk about creepy. The whole idea of this book was super unique for me. Escape Room on steroids! There were quite a few times I was looking over my shoulder as I was reading.
Some of the descriptions were super long winded. Which made parts of the story drag on a bit. That was the only downside to this book for me. Outside of that, I loved the setting, characters, and storyline. I can’t believe the author wrote something this complex. So cool!
Definitely recommend this book!
I could not put this book down! Talk about creepy. The whole idea of this book was super unique for me. Escape Room on steroids! There were quite a few times I was looking over my shoulder as I was reading.
Some of the descriptions were super long winded. Which made parts of the story drag on a bit. That was the only downside to this book for me. Outside of that, I loved the setting, characters, and storyline. I can’t believe the author wrote something this complex. So cool!
Definitely recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Haven’t read a book this propulsive in a while. The pacing was excellent. Just the type of book I’ve been craving since finishing the latest Dungeon Crawler Carl. It got its hooks into me and I felt chained to my chair. Couldn’t put it down or get it out of my head. A little Silent Hill, mixed with The Shining, and a lot of fun.
ARC copy from NetGalley but will definitely purchase when it comes out
ARC copy from NetGalley but will definitely purchase when it comes out
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the privilege of reading early versions of It's Only A Game, and as much as I loved the previous drafts, it's only gotten better.
Sam's unique and whimsical voice is on full display.
Part adventure, part mystery, part romance--with a dash of horror--IOAG is a fun and wild ride.
Sam's unique and whimsical voice is on full display.
Part adventure, part mystery, part romance--with a dash of horror--IOAG is a fun and wild ride.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was hooked HAR HAR!
But genuinely, I feel like this is my best novel yet. It's horrific but hopeful, scary but sweet. I really hope y'all like it :)
Keep it sleazy!
-Sam
But genuinely, I feel like this is my best novel yet. It's horrific but hopeful, scary but sweet. I really hope y'all like it :)
Keep it sleazy!
-Sam
Review of advance copy received from Author
Definitely keep you on the edge of your seat while laughing at absurdities and gulping at the jump scares.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews