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B Mine #1
His Final Girl
DON’T GO IN THE WOODS Computer nerd, Wes Carpenter, dreads having to spend ten days at summer camp with the rest of his in-coming high school senior class. But when he meets strong-willed and confident farm girl, Linnea Langenkamp, everything about being away at camp improves immediately. When a malicious prank awakens an ancient evil, turning their summer romance into a bloodbath, Wes and Linnea pray they make it home alive while fighting for the survival of their classmates. With Wes’s ingenuity and Linnea’s knowledge of the forest, together they may be able to stop the killer, save the camp, and maybe even find their happily ever after on the way.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2019
8 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Brooklyn Ann
45 books607 followersAuthor also writes as Brooklyn Ann Butler
Formerly an auto-mechanic, Brooklyn Ann thrives on writing romance, urban fantasy, and horror novels featuring unconventional heroines and heroes who adore them. Author of historical paranormal romance in her critically acclaimed “Scandals with Bite” series, urban fantasy in the cult favorite, “Brides of Prophecy” novels, rockstar romance in the award-winning, “Hearts of Metal” series, and horror in the “Final Couples” series, horror romances riffing on the 1970s and 1980s B horror movies that feature a Final Couple instead of a Final Girl.
She also writes horror under the pen name Brooklyn Ann Butler.
She lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho with her gamer son, rockstar/IT Guy boyfriend, three cats, a few project cars, an extensive book collection, and miscellaneous horror memorabilia.
She can be found online at https://brooklynannauthor.com as well as on Twitter, Facebook, Mastodon, and Instagram.
For exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and giveaways, sign up for Brooklyn Ann’s Newsletter at https://www.brooklynannauthor.com/new...
Formerly an auto-mechanic, Brooklyn Ann thrives on writing romance, urban fantasy, and horror novels featuring unconventional heroines and heroes who adore them. Author of historical paranormal romance in her critically acclaimed “Scandals with Bite” series, urban fantasy in the cult favorite, “Brides of Prophecy” novels, rockstar romance in the award-winning, “Hearts of Metal” series, and horror in the “Final Couples” series, horror romances riffing on the 1970s and 1980s B horror movies that feature a Final Couple instead of a Final Girl.
She also writes horror under the pen name Brooklyn Ann Butler.
She lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho with her gamer son, rockstar/IT Guy boyfriend, three cats, a few project cars, an extensive book collection, and miscellaneous horror memorabilia.
She can be found online at https://brooklynannauthor.com as well as on Twitter, Facebook, Mastodon, and Instagram.
For exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and giveaways, sign up for Brooklyn Ann’s Newsletter at https://www.brooklynannauthor.com/new...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 26, 2022
This book is probably best described as a YA horror spicy romance with a happy ending, for the couple, at least. It’s told between Linnea and Wes’s pov. And Linnea is a hardworking, intelligent, and capable young lady. Wes is a bit of a computer geek. It’s set at summer camp for incoming seniors in high school. This book gave me all of the nostalgia of a good slasher movie.
February 24, 2020
Reading the author's note in the beginning, I thought I'd enjoy this one. But after seeing her character names, I knew it - Linnea Langenkamp, Wes Carpenter; this was going to be fun. And it definitely was. Quick-paced, nostalgic and a little gory, it was everything I wanted it to be.
REALLY looking forward to next one!
REALLY looking forward to next one!
August 4, 2022
Ok, listen. This book is not soaring intellectual literature. It's not a love story for the ages, nor is it a tale so horrific it will give you nightmares.
But it is exactly what it claims to be, and it excels in its own little niche. This book is the literary version of a cheesy, campy, kitschy horror movie and it's darn fun.
There's a group of high school teens at a ten-day summer camp right before senior year starts. It's the 1970s but the timeless cliques are there: the cheerleaders and the jocks, the stoners and the nerds, the tech geeks and the brooding outcasts. The main characters are Linnea (a farm girl) and Wes (an asthmatic gamer nerd, complete with an Atari), and of course they fall into starry-eyed love just as a prank gone wrong frees a monstrous evil from the abandoned mineshafts around the camp.
Numerous bloody murders ensue as the villain picks people off with a pickaxe and a few other choice tools. Somehow in the midst of all the murder, these teenagers still find time to sneak off and smoke weed and have sex because, you know... teenagers are horny and stupid. And then of course in the end the Final Couple save the day and they all live happily ever after.
While the story is trope-filled and cheesy and over the top, the writing is excellent and the pacing is perfect. And um... there's a couple of sex scenes that are *very* detailed so while this is a book about teenagers, I don't think you could classify it as a YA read. Please note that teenagers involved in said acts are, conveniently, just over the legal age.
I liked this book. It has all the goodness of a nostalgia-filled B movie with a little bit of kissy-face, a little bit of bloody carnage, and a whole lot of overdramatic fun.
But it is exactly what it claims to be, and it excels in its own little niche. This book is the literary version of a cheesy, campy, kitschy horror movie and it's darn fun.
There's a group of high school teens at a ten-day summer camp right before senior year starts. It's the 1970s but the timeless cliques are there: the cheerleaders and the jocks, the stoners and the nerds, the tech geeks and the brooding outcasts. The main characters are Linnea (a farm girl) and Wes (an asthmatic gamer nerd, complete with an Atari), and of course they fall into starry-eyed love just as a prank gone wrong frees a monstrous evil from the abandoned mineshafts around the camp.
Numerous bloody murders ensue as the villain picks people off with a pickaxe and a few other choice tools. Somehow in the midst of all the murder, these teenagers still find time to sneak off and smoke weed and have sex because, you know... teenagers are horny and stupid. And then of course in the end the Final Couple save the day and they all live happily ever after.
While the story is trope-filled and cheesy and over the top, the writing is excellent and the pacing is perfect. And um... there's a couple of sex scenes that are *very* detailed so while this is a book about teenagers, I don't think you could classify it as a YA read. Please note that teenagers involved in said acts are, conveniently, just over the legal age.
I liked this book. It has all the goodness of a nostalgia-filled B movie with a little bit of kissy-face, a little bit of bloody carnage, and a whole lot of overdramatic fun.
July 15, 2019
I really like the concept of a “final couple” and a series of books based on cheesy old school horror movies. Right up my alley. If you don’t know what a final girl is, it’s a term used for the last chick standing in a horror movie. In this case it’s the last couple standing. Plus Ann drops in Easter eggs like names of her characters (Wes Carpenter, Langenkamp, etc.) and throws in well-written cheese for good measure. I really liked all of that.
What I didn’t like was the explicit sex scenes of teenagers. Super squicked out by that. As far as I’m aware this can’t be considered NA because we’re dealing with students entering their senior year of high school. Not the age bracket. Plus, you know. Minors. Although Wes stayed back due to illness so he’s actually 19 and I can’t remember if Linnea is supposed to be 18 or not. I’d imagine not, although a character does make a point in the middle of the book to mention that nearly everyone at this camp is 18. As seniors going into high school. That would not be the case. Most would be 17, turning 18 during their senior year. You’ll end up with a couple that are younger and a couple that are older, but most will turn 18 during their senior year. So, yeah. Super explicit sex scenes and kids that aren’t even high school seniors yet. Really skeeved out by that.
Removing that I liked the actual story of it all. I think Ann nails setting and mood and really ropes in the ambiance of old school horror movies. The plot itself is very fast paced and I was never bored. I liked the throw-back to the killer in a creepy mask but she kept it fresh. And double kudos to some creative deaths. Love it when authors stretch their brains for things like that. Makes horror fun.
I had trouble balancing the modern slant on it, though. The over-emphasis on consent, feminism at the forefront. For a book set in a small town in Idaho in 1979, I’m not really buying all that. Part of me was like yeah! When Linnea stood up and did things on her own and while she liked having Wes by her side and him being adamant to protect her, she wasn’t about to sit down and not do anything. On the other than the constant asking if something is okay for every teeny tiny little sex act got really old and disrupted the flow of the scene. I think it was done to show how great of a guy Wes was but it was just overkill. On top of squicky minor sex that I was really uncomfortable reading anyway.
So I’m torn on this. I like everything about it except the sex. And it wouldn’t be an issue if it weren’t so explicit. I think this book needs to figure out where it fits. Is it YA, is it NA, or is it adult? It can be YA and still have sex in it, just pull back on the details. I was just so grossed out by the amount of detail in what Wes was doing to Linnea, the details of both of their bodies, blech. And I don’t have a problem with Ann’s sex scenes usually. I’m a HUGE fan of her Scandals with Bite series. Huge. But I can’t keep reading sex scenes this detailed with minors. It just skeeves me out.
I don’t know if I’m going to keep reading the series. I want to, because I love the idea so much. But if this kind of detailed underage sex is going to keep occurring in the series, I’m going to have to skip those parts entirely or just not read the books.
3
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
What I didn’t like was the explicit sex scenes of teenagers. Super squicked out by that. As far as I’m aware this can’t be considered NA because we’re dealing with students entering their senior year of high school. Not the age bracket. Plus, you know. Minors. Although Wes stayed back due to illness so he’s actually 19 and I can’t remember if Linnea is supposed to be 18 or not. I’d imagine not, although a character does make a point in the middle of the book to mention that nearly everyone at this camp is 18. As seniors going into high school. That would not be the case. Most would be 17, turning 18 during their senior year. You’ll end up with a couple that are younger and a couple that are older, but most will turn 18 during their senior year. So, yeah. Super explicit sex scenes and kids that aren’t even high school seniors yet. Really skeeved out by that.
Removing that I liked the actual story of it all. I think Ann nails setting and mood and really ropes in the ambiance of old school horror movies. The plot itself is very fast paced and I was never bored. I liked the throw-back to the killer in a creepy mask but she kept it fresh. And double kudos to some creative deaths. Love it when authors stretch their brains for things like that. Makes horror fun.
I had trouble balancing the modern slant on it, though. The over-emphasis on consent, feminism at the forefront. For a book set in a small town in Idaho in 1979, I’m not really buying all that. Part of me was like yeah! When Linnea stood up and did things on her own and while she liked having Wes by her side and him being adamant to protect her, she wasn’t about to sit down and not do anything. On the other than the constant asking if something is okay for every teeny tiny little sex act got really old and disrupted the flow of the scene. I think it was done to show how great of a guy Wes was but it was just overkill. On top of squicky minor sex that I was really uncomfortable reading anyway.
So I’m torn on this. I like everything about it except the sex. And it wouldn’t be an issue if it weren’t so explicit. I think this book needs to figure out where it fits. Is it YA, is it NA, or is it adult? It can be YA and still have sex in it, just pull back on the details. I was just so grossed out by the amount of detail in what Wes was doing to Linnea, the details of both of their bodies, blech. And I don’t have a problem with Ann’s sex scenes usually. I’m a HUGE fan of her Scandals with Bite series. Huge. But I can’t keep reading sex scenes this detailed with minors. It just skeeves me out.
I don’t know if I’m going to keep reading the series. I want to, because I love the idea so much. But if this kind of detailed underage sex is going to keep occurring in the series, I’m going to have to skip those parts entirely or just not read the books.
3
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2019
This was a great and well researched story. Everything was so authentic for the time period. I should know, I was a teenager at the time. A definite page turner with a crazed not so alive killer and a love story of two teens who draw their strength from each other to meet this killer head on. Well written. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing.
June 30, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for this amazing read!
Minor Spoilers
Its the summer of 1978 and Wes Carpenter is what most would consider an asthmatic ‘nerd’, spending free time programming his TRS80 or turning pages of the recent ‘Micro Magazine’ issue, while tomboy Linnea Langenkamp has ambitions to follow in her mother’s footsteps by running the family farm. Both Idahoan teenagers are forced to spend the remainder of their vacation at a senior class camping retreat and a kindling summer romance ignites , despite the dissimilar characteristics of the two and constant bickering from fellow classmates. Eventually, a killer is unleashed and students and faculty start to vanish, turning up bludgeoned and slaughtered. Will the two horny teens survive Camp Natliskeliguten’s ongoing murderous rampage while putting their lust and desire on hold?
Brooklyn Ann has written the perfect homage to 1970/80s slashers. The passages dealing with sex were cheesy, and the interactions between the students and staff were hilarious. Overall,, there were some intense lead ups to some of the killing sprees in the book, and the backstory involving the killer paid off.
Minor Spoilers
Its the summer of 1978 and Wes Carpenter is what most would consider an asthmatic ‘nerd’, spending free time programming his TRS80 or turning pages of the recent ‘Micro Magazine’ issue, while tomboy Linnea Langenkamp has ambitions to follow in her mother’s footsteps by running the family farm. Both Idahoan teenagers are forced to spend the remainder of their vacation at a senior class camping retreat and a kindling summer romance ignites , despite the dissimilar characteristics of the two and constant bickering from fellow classmates. Eventually, a killer is unleashed and students and faculty start to vanish, turning up bludgeoned and slaughtered. Will the two horny teens survive Camp Natliskeliguten’s ongoing murderous rampage while putting their lust and desire on hold?
Brooklyn Ann has written the perfect homage to 1970/80s slashers. The passages dealing with sex were cheesy, and the interactions between the students and staff were hilarious. Overall,, there were some intense lead ups to some of the killing sprees in the book, and the backstory involving the killer paid off.
October 16, 2022
"His Final Girl" by Brooklyn Ann. I was sent my copy in exchange for a honest review.
Computer nerd Wes Carpentar has some serious trepidation about attending summer camp with his soon to be senior class. While only ten days long, he expects it to feel like an eternity.
Strong willed farm girl Linnea also has no desire to attend this upcoming summer camp. She believes she'd be better help around her house and farm but her mom amd grandma insist she's going, and so she does.
When Wes and Linnea meet, their attending summer camp suddenly doesn't seem so bad and they begin a summer romance that neither of them expected. But when a prank inside the camp goes awry and unleashes an ancient evil, the two will have to find a way to rescue themselves and their classmates if they want to make it home alive.
This story takes place in the 1970's, all the cliques of your typical cheesy teenager slasher are inside complete with a summer romance and evil ancient spirit wrecking havok around the camp.
I've read several slasher's for spooky season so far but this story stands out amongst them all. The way the author weaves the Indengious language and tribes within the story is stunning. I actually reached out to her to pick her brain about these things and she very happily educated me on the questions I had, which I deeply appreciated.
I loved how deeply trope filled and cheesy this story was. It had everything you'd expect plus a little more. If you're still searching for a slasher story that pays homage to the original B horror movies with its own unique flavor, this is the book for you!
Computer nerd Wes Carpentar has some serious trepidation about attending summer camp with his soon to be senior class. While only ten days long, he expects it to feel like an eternity.
Strong willed farm girl Linnea also has no desire to attend this upcoming summer camp. She believes she'd be better help around her house and farm but her mom amd grandma insist she's going, and so she does.
When Wes and Linnea meet, their attending summer camp suddenly doesn't seem so bad and they begin a summer romance that neither of them expected. But when a prank inside the camp goes awry and unleashes an ancient evil, the two will have to find a way to rescue themselves and their classmates if they want to make it home alive.
This story takes place in the 1970's, all the cliques of your typical cheesy teenager slasher are inside complete with a summer romance and evil ancient spirit wrecking havok around the camp.
I've read several slasher's for spooky season so far but this story stands out amongst them all. The way the author weaves the Indengious language and tribes within the story is stunning. I actually reached out to her to pick her brain about these things and she very happily educated me on the questions I had, which I deeply appreciated.
I loved how deeply trope filled and cheesy this story was. It had everything you'd expect plus a little more. If you're still searching for a slasher story that pays homage to the original B horror movies with its own unique flavor, this is the book for you!
September 20, 2019
This book made my horror/romance heart so very happy. It was like reading a version of those b scary movies many of us love yet they have a real romance in them.
Linnea is going to be a senior in high school and all she really wants to do is work on her family farm the whole summer. She isn't a hugely popular girl and is happy with her small group of friends. She isn't to happy to go to the senior summer camp. Wes is new to the school, consider a gangly nerd and has trouble breathing in doors let alone in the forest.
Linnea and Wes aren't looking for love but that seems to be what they find along with a murderer set on killing all the campers. They aren't the typical leaders but they stand strong in trying to survive and to trap whoever is after them.
What I loved about this book is the characters and how they seem like everyday people. Not the usual beauty queen and hunk like in other books. There is tons of blood and action and you never know what will happen or who will die next. You also get to see love blossom happen and it's like a step back in time. I really hope there is tons more in this series as I need more like this book.
Linnea is going to be a senior in high school and all she really wants to do is work on her family farm the whole summer. She isn't a hugely popular girl and is happy with her small group of friends. She isn't to happy to go to the senior summer camp. Wes is new to the school, consider a gangly nerd and has trouble breathing in doors let alone in the forest.
Linnea and Wes aren't looking for love but that seems to be what they find along with a murderer set on killing all the campers. They aren't the typical leaders but they stand strong in trying to survive and to trap whoever is after them.
What I loved about this book is the characters and how they seem like everyday people. Not the usual beauty queen and hunk like in other books. There is tons of blood and action and you never know what will happen or who will die next. You also get to see love blossom happen and it's like a step back in time. I really hope there is tons more in this series as I need more like this book.
July 14, 2024
*Reread summer 2021: Just as good the second time.
This was the perfect summer read and probably a book I'll reread every summer. This is one of those books that feels like it was tailor-made for me. It's chock-full of my favorite things: summer nostalgia, competent misfit characters to root for, a malevolent supernatural force, and the perfect blend of horror and romance. Plus it was set in the woods at a summer camp. It may be in the slasher tradition, and it honors that horror favorite with added layers of depth and style.
On top of all of that, it has one of my very favorite tropes-- a role reversal of power dynamics when the everyday world breaks down. Of course, high school popularity isn't very useful when you're cut off from civilization in the woods with an ancient evil on the loose. I loved how Linnea and Wes's skills with the outdoors and electronics as well as their bravery put them in leadership roles.
I'm here for ALL of the horror romance that Brooklynn Ann wants to write in the future. Can't wait for more in this series.
This was the perfect summer read and probably a book I'll reread every summer. This is one of those books that feels like it was tailor-made for me. It's chock-full of my favorite things: summer nostalgia, competent misfit characters to root for, a malevolent supernatural force, and the perfect blend of horror and romance. Plus it was set in the woods at a summer camp. It may be in the slasher tradition, and it honors that horror favorite with added layers of depth and style.
On top of all of that, it has one of my very favorite tropes-- a role reversal of power dynamics when the everyday world breaks down. Of course, high school popularity isn't very useful when you're cut off from civilization in the woods with an ancient evil on the loose. I loved how Linnea and Wes's skills with the outdoors and electronics as well as their bravery put them in leadership roles.
I'm here for ALL of the horror romance that Brooklynn Ann wants to write in the future. Can't wait for more in this series.
September 16, 2021
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
You've heard of Final Girls, well now get ready for a Final Couple! I really liked this concept—it’s what first drew me to this series. It’s very much inspired by horror b-movies, which yes, please! I love my slashers and I love that there were so many references to horror movies in this book! However, while this is a horror series, it has a romantic twist, which I found intriguing.
So, some high school kids are going to a summer camp. This camp used to be an old miner camp where there was a horrific accident and was then shut down. However, it was then purchased and converted into a summer camp where this latest group of kids are about to unleash a bloodthirsty killer 😬 Ooof. And that’s why I don’t go camping 🤣
The horror element of the book was pretty good. To me, it wasn’t very suspenseful, but I did enjoy the gore. There was one kill in particular that made me go WHAT? You guys, the killer killed a person with another person 😳 As in a guy was pummeled to death by the killer with the corpse of another person... What. The. Fuck. I loved it! 🤣 So yeah, all of that was really fun. And the killer himself was very Jason Voorhees-like, what with the mask and the water and the weapon and the, well... undeadness. Lol. I love Friday the 13th, so this was another thing I liked about the book.
As for the romance, it was really cute. At around the 50% mark, there still had been no slashing or killing, but for whatever reason, I was okay with it. I guess I was enjoying the setup and the establishing of the relationship and all that. But I was afraid of an instalove situation. And I actually had every right to be because after only a couple of days:
Dude, no you’re not. You’ve known the guy for like THREE days! Ugh. Fortunately, this is when the bloodbath finally started! Yay! Lol.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this book! Wes and Linnea were very cute together. Plus, I liked them as individuals too. Wes was really sweet and not a horny asshole like all the other guys at the camp, thank god. And Linnea was very strong-willed and smart. They just worked really well together. And while it felt like there was more romance than horror, the horror WAS there. And it was decently gory, too! I’m looking forward to reading more of this series!
A seed of pride sprouted in Wes that they'd gotten the hang of the canoe. Maybe he could survive this summer camp stuff—if he didn't get massacred by a masked killer.
You've heard of Final Girls, well now get ready for a Final Couple! I really liked this concept—it’s what first drew me to this series. It’s very much inspired by horror b-movies, which yes, please! I love my slashers and I love that there were so many references to horror movies in this book! However, while this is a horror series, it has a romantic twist, which I found intriguing.
So, some high school kids are going to a summer camp. This camp used to be an old miner camp where there was a horrific accident and was then shut down. However, it was then purchased and converted into a summer camp where this latest group of kids are about to unleash a bloodthirsty killer 😬 Ooof. And that’s why I don’t go camping 🤣
The horror element of the book was pretty good. To me, it wasn’t very suspenseful, but I did enjoy the gore. There was one kill in particular that made me go WHAT? You guys, the killer killed a person with another person 😳 As in a guy was pummeled to death by the killer with the corpse of another person... What. The. Fuck. I loved it! 🤣 So yeah, all of that was really fun. And the killer himself was very Jason Voorhees-like, what with the mask and the water and the weapon and the, well... undeadness. Lol. I love Friday the 13th, so this was another thing I liked about the book.
As for the romance, it was really cute. At around the 50% mark, there still had been no slashing or killing, but for whatever reason, I was okay with it. I guess I was enjoying the setup and the establishing of the relationship and all that. But I was afraid of an instalove situation. And I actually had every right to be because after only a couple of days:
I think I’m in love... was the last conscious thought she had before she woke to hear a bloodcurdling scream outside her window.
Dude, no you’re not. You’ve known the guy for like THREE days! Ugh. Fortunately, this is when the bloodbath finally started! Yay! Lol.
Overall though, I really enjoyed this book! Wes and Linnea were very cute together. Plus, I liked them as individuals too. Wes was really sweet and not a horny asshole like all the other guys at the camp, thank god. And Linnea was very strong-willed and smart. They just worked really well together. And while it felt like there was more romance than horror, the horror WAS there. And it was decently gory, too! I’m looking forward to reading more of this series!
February 23, 2020
***MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**
As a horror fan and someone who is also a romantic at heart, I can appreciate a book that combines both elements. His Final Girl does just that. Ms. Ann does a good job of weaving a sweet love story in with horror. There are several things about the story that makes this series stand out and why it is one of my new favorites. First, it is clear from the naming of the characters that Ms. Ann is a true fan of the horror greats and as in ode to them named her characters to reflect her admiration. Wes Carpenter, I thought, was a nice play on Wes Craven and John Carpenter's names. Secondly would be the elements of the horror itself and the tension build-up. While sticking to the formula of campy horrors, ie: a young group of high schoolers are stranded, the usual jocks, popular kids and the nerds. Ms. Ann still makes this story her own. This book is a combination of My Bloody Valentine and Friday the 13th with a little native superstition thrown in. Those elements are mixed in well. And there was no skipping on deaths. Lastly, there is the relationship between the main characters. I found almost all their interactions adorable. Wes, for my inner high school self, would have been the guy I wanted to date. He was odd but nice, and I enjoyed the fact that he had distinct features and characteristics that made him stand out as a character. Like subtle things about his personality or little things, he would do when he was with Linnea. He was by no means the macho type, but a regular guy, thrown into an impossible situation that tested him and pushed him past his comfort zone. And then there is Linnea, who just like Wes was her own character and different from most of the usual heroines. A cute farmer who entranced Wes, I found myself rooting for them and eager to see what they would get into when they were together. This book definitely has its fill of "awww" moments and each one of them is well worth it.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series to see how Ms. Ann continues to blend horror and romance and turn it into something only she could write.
As a horror fan and someone who is also a romantic at heart, I can appreciate a book that combines both elements. His Final Girl does just that. Ms. Ann does a good job of weaving a sweet love story in with horror. There are several things about the story that makes this series stand out and why it is one of my new favorites. First, it is clear from the naming of the characters that Ms. Ann is a true fan of the horror greats and as in ode to them named her characters to reflect her admiration. Wes Carpenter, I thought, was a nice play on Wes Craven and John Carpenter's names. Secondly would be the elements of the horror itself and the tension build-up. While sticking to the formula of campy horrors, ie: a young group of high schoolers are stranded, the usual jocks, popular kids and the nerds. Ms. Ann still makes this story her own. This book is a combination of My Bloody Valentine and Friday the 13th with a little native superstition thrown in. Those elements are mixed in well. And there was no skipping on deaths. Lastly, there is the relationship between the main characters. I found almost all their interactions adorable. Wes, for my inner high school self, would have been the guy I wanted to date. He was odd but nice, and I enjoyed the fact that he had distinct features and characteristics that made him stand out as a character. Like subtle things about his personality or little things, he would do when he was with Linnea. He was by no means the macho type, but a regular guy, thrown into an impossible situation that tested him and pushed him past his comfort zone. And then there is Linnea, who just like Wes was her own character and different from most of the usual heroines. A cute farmer who entranced Wes, I found myself rooting for them and eager to see what they would get into when they were together. This book definitely has its fill of "awww" moments and each one of them is well worth it.
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series to see how Ms. Ann continues to blend horror and romance and turn it into something only she could write.
May 14, 2019
I wrote a review of this on Amazon. THIS IS THE book I've been hoping for... for YEARS! Here's a taste of my review on Amazon, go there for the rest:
Do you enjoy fun cheesy 80s movies with summer camps, teens, and something in the woods? Do you like it when the heroes are a little more real and the sparks of romance and love can be felt? Oh, and do you love winks and nods to 80s horror films? HIS FINAL GIRL is a super-fun, romantic, horror-filled romp set in the early 80s at a summer camp. This tale drips with nostalgia for summer campers, movie watchers, and the children of the 80s. It is unique, familiar, risky, and a must read.
I bought this book with some trepidation because I don’t normally read romance books, but I love horror novels and movies. I don’t mind romance and a good love story is always welcome, but in a horror film or book this doesn’t always end well. In horror movies (like slashers) there’s usually just a final person (most often a woman) who survives (at least until the last-second jump-scare in some cases). In this case, well, it’s a steamy romance book too. How do 99% of romance books end?
Also, the romantic male-lead isn’t a roguish rake, he’s an every-man with flaws and even kind of nerdy (YES!!!). There’s nothing to hate about him. In fact, both leads are extremely likable. Easy to love and root for....
That is all I am repeating here.... READ this book, PLEASE! Review it too! IT IS A MUST for fans!
Do you enjoy fun cheesy 80s movies with summer camps, teens, and something in the woods? Do you like it when the heroes are a little more real and the sparks of romance and love can be felt? Oh, and do you love winks and nods to 80s horror films? HIS FINAL GIRL is a super-fun, romantic, horror-filled romp set in the early 80s at a summer camp. This tale drips with nostalgia for summer campers, movie watchers, and the children of the 80s. It is unique, familiar, risky, and a must read.
I bought this book with some trepidation because I don’t normally read romance books, but I love horror novels and movies. I don’t mind romance and a good love story is always welcome, but in a horror film or book this doesn’t always end well. In horror movies (like slashers) there’s usually just a final person (most often a woman) who survives (at least until the last-second jump-scare in some cases). In this case, well, it’s a steamy romance book too. How do 99% of romance books end?
Also, the romantic male-lead isn’t a roguish rake, he’s an every-man with flaws and even kind of nerdy (YES!!!). There’s nothing to hate about him. In fact, both leads are extremely likable. Easy to love and root for....
That is all I am repeating here.... READ this book, PLEASE! Review it too! IT IS A MUST for fans!
June 27, 2019
I remember when I first met Brooklyn Ann at the Romantic Times Convention of 2018. I had asked her if she had written any Horror books. At the time, the answer was no, but she encouraged me to read some of her other books and to keep an eye out on her social media. Then, when I spotted news that she had just released her first ever Romance Horror book, I jumped at the opportunity to get a signed copy to hold within my grasp. And, boy, was I EXCITED!!!
Sharing a love for metal music, horror films, and the guilty pleasures of reading romance novels, Brooklyn Ann has successfully married the genres of Romance with Horror.
"What was it like?", you may ask? It took me on a roller-coaster, that's what!! It started off pleasantly, giving the illusion of a lovely romance novel as she laid the foundation of the story, and gradually sprinkling enough creepiness into it; climbing the coaster of unease into my mind just before the story plummets into a whirlwind of horror loop-de-loops and twists & turns!!!
It was such a fun ride that I couldn't put it down until the very end.
I highly recommend to any reader who is a fan of all things Horror, Romance, or loves seeing references to a great repertoire of music (because, let's face it, the classics never die!)
Sharing a love for metal music, horror films, and the guilty pleasures of reading romance novels, Brooklyn Ann has successfully married the genres of Romance with Horror.
"What was it like?", you may ask? It took me on a roller-coaster, that's what!! It started off pleasantly, giving the illusion of a lovely romance novel as she laid the foundation of the story, and gradually sprinkling enough creepiness into it; climbing the coaster of unease into my mind just before the story plummets into a whirlwind of horror loop-de-loops and twists & turns!!!
It was such a fun ride that I couldn't put it down until the very end.
I highly recommend to any reader who is a fan of all things Horror, Romance, or loves seeing references to a great repertoire of music (because, let's face it, the classics never die!)
June 15, 2019
I have very mixed feelings about this book.
It takes place in the 80s, which was kind of fun. Boom boxes, the music, no cell phones.... On the other hand, it read in an old fashioned way, like it was written in the 80s.
On the one hand, it's a romance and a horror novel. On the other hand, it can't decide if it's a horror or a romance.
On the one hand, it was completely unrealistic . Not because of the horror part, but the way people reacted. People die, but the coach thinks they should just act normal? The teens see their friends murdered, but distract themselves by giggling about boys and makeup???? Really??
On the other hand, I wanted to know what happened next so I kept reading.
And this is a minor point but the kids were getting ready to go into high school. So they would not have all been 18.
I want to say i didn't like it, but oddly I did.
It takes place in the 80s, which was kind of fun. Boom boxes, the music, no cell phones.... On the other hand, it read in an old fashioned way, like it was written in the 80s.
On the one hand, it's a romance and a horror novel. On the other hand, it can't decide if it's a horror or a romance.
On the one hand, it was completely unrealistic . Not because of the horror part, but the way people reacted. People die, but the coach thinks they should just act normal? The teens see their friends murdered, but distract themselves by giggling about boys and makeup???? Really??
On the other hand, I wanted to know what happened next so I kept reading.
And this is a minor point but the kids were getting ready to go into high school. So they would not have all been 18.
I want to say i didn't like it, but oddly I did.
July 17, 2019
This was an easy, quick read but not as exciting as it sounded when I discovered it on NetGalley. I felt as if this was written by two people. Some parts were really interesting, well researched and well written, but other parts slipped into a sort teen, cheap sort of literature that you'd fine in reading quickly churned out young adult novels.
Linney and Wes could have been great characters, but both were meant to be very shy and not really interested in this camp before starting their senior year. Within a day at the camp they were transformed into sex-driven heroes and that was just not believable. Their lust wasn't placed well amongst all the horror going on around them and it just felt a bit forced.
I think concept was there just delivery slightly disappointing. It's OK for a quick summer read.
Linney and Wes could have been great characters, but both were meant to be very shy and not really interested in this camp before starting their senior year. Within a day at the camp they were transformed into sex-driven heroes and that was just not believable. Their lust wasn't placed well amongst all the horror going on around them and it just felt a bit forced.
I think concept was there just delivery slightly disappointing. It's OK for a quick summer read.
September 21, 2019
A fantastic creepy new series by Brooklyn Ann! I'm a huge fan of the old 80's scary movies! They seem so cheesy now, but back in the day, when I was in high school they were what young girls (and possibly young boys!) nightmares were made of!
She knocked it out of the park with this book! Young adults will enjoy this series and I can't wait for the next book. Older adults will enjoy this series also because it will definitely take you back to the good old days, when life was fun and the living was easy. As I read this (in one night) it took me back to the best days of my life. Of course I didn't know that then!
Ahhhhh, the fabulous 80's!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thank you so much, Netgalley! Highly enjoyed it! All opinions are my own.
She knocked it out of the park with this book! Young adults will enjoy this series and I can't wait for the next book. Older adults will enjoy this series also because it will definitely take you back to the good old days, when life was fun and the living was easy. As I read this (in one night) it took me back to the best days of my life. Of course I didn't know that then!
Ahhhhh, the fabulous 80's!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. Thank you so much, Netgalley! Highly enjoyed it! All opinions are my own.
August 3, 2019
I was sent an ARC of this courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
While the writing in this wasn't as advanced in this as I had been hoping, the story definitely had it's moments. There was horror, there was blue eyeshadow and crimped hair (HELLO '80's!), there were sliced throats, there was some squee-worthy love, and there was summer camp. All of these things are an excellent beginning to a story.
Something that did take me aback was how graphically-written the love scenes were. They weren't smutty, but they were surprising, especially for something written as YA.
While the writing in this wasn't as advanced in this as I had been hoping, the story definitely had it's moments. There was horror, there was blue eyeshadow and crimped hair (HELLO '80's!), there were sliced throats, there was some squee-worthy love, and there was summer camp. All of these things are an excellent beginning to a story.
Something that did take me aback was how graphically-written the love scenes were. They weren't smutty, but they were surprising, especially for something written as YA.
November 24, 2023
In the summer of 1978, Linnea Lagenkamp and Wesley Carpenter attended a summer camp they'll both never forget. It was a week filled with archery, romance, and murder!
OK, OK, I'm slowly being won over on the horror romance stuff. This story wasn't overly heavy on the romance, so I think that helped. It's a nod to the slasher movies of the early 80s. The plot line actually had some depth to it, which is more than can be said of some slasher movies!
I loved all the references to actors/actresses (Final Girls) of the 80s/90s horror classics. Good music references in here too. This author really knows her classic horror and it shows.
OK, OK, I'm slowly being won over on the horror romance stuff. This story wasn't overly heavy on the romance, so I think that helped. It's a nod to the slasher movies of the early 80s. The plot line actually had some depth to it, which is more than can be said of some slasher movies!
I loved all the references to actors/actresses (Final Girls) of the 80s/90s horror classics. Good music references in here too. This author really knows her classic horror and it shows.
January 11, 2026
this wasn't bad at all. you obviously could tell that the author is comfortable in writing romance more than horror.
I liked our two main Characters Linnea and Wes. their chemistry, interactions, and how they felt about each other was nice to read.
I'm terms of horror the kills (that we got descriptions on) were decent. and the killer was just okay. I feel like he needed more backstory and "screentime" I guess. and I felt it was way too easy how they wrapped up dealing with the killer.
Also it's nice to have more than one person survive a story like this. it feels more real to me that way than just a sole survivor.
so all in all not a bad little book. I'd recommend it.
I liked our two main Characters Linnea and Wes. their chemistry, interactions, and how they felt about each other was nice to read.
I'm terms of horror the kills (that we got descriptions on) were decent. and the killer was just okay. I feel like he needed more backstory and "screentime" I guess. and I felt it was way too easy how they wrapped up dealing with the killer.
Also it's nice to have more than one person survive a story like this. it feels more real to me that way than just a sole survivor.
so all in all not a bad little book. I'd recommend it.
July 1, 2019
ENTHRALLING MIX OF HORROR & ROMANCE
DISCLOSURE; Strictly on a volunteer basis I reviewed a pre-release copy via Booksprout.
First time author for me as well as horror & romance.
Inside; gripping suspense, action, fabulous vivid scene descriptions, praise-worthy engaging characters and an awesome happy ending for the hero and the heroine.
Enthralling page-turner that keeps you guessing who the ancient killer is. The author has done a fabulous job fusing horror and romance. Linnea and Wes are a perfect match; love them together.
DISCLOSURE; Strictly on a volunteer basis I reviewed a pre-release copy via Booksprout.
First time author for me as well as horror & romance.
Inside; gripping suspense, action, fabulous vivid scene descriptions, praise-worthy engaging characters and an awesome happy ending for the hero and the heroine.
Enthralling page-turner that keeps you guessing who the ancient killer is. The author has done a fabulous job fusing horror and romance. Linnea and Wes are a perfect match; love them together.
July 3, 2019
Teenage romance isn’t my usual genre, and this is my first time reading this author, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a flashback to the 80s, now that’s not a bad thing as I love the 80s. This plot reminded me of an 80s horror movie, they usually always had a romance in them as well, in this book though the romantic couple both had the good fortune to survive. The author does a brilliant job with her use of descriptive writing so that the scenes come alive as do the characters. I think this is an author that I could easily read again.
July 11, 2019
Friday the 13th meets The Breakfast Club. I loved it! It was the perfect, unusual blend of horror and romance. I grew up in the 80's with a brother ten years older and so many of the characters reminded me of him and his friends. The Easter eggs were a great touch and played homage to the times. Props to the author for coming up with some unique ways to kill. This book is perfect for fans of 80's movies, both horror and teen dramas. This is a fast paced read full of action, humor, tension, and romance. Highly recommend it!
August 4, 2023
Thank You Brooklyn Ann
This book pays homage to campy 80s movies like The Burning, Sleepaway Camp, and other Slasher Camp films of the 1980s movies. It is loaded with Easter Eggs.
It is well written well written with likeable characters. It breaks several of the rules of how to stay alive in a horror movie. I recommend you read this story to find out what rules the campers neglect to follow.
If you go down in the woods today, you'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today, but safer to stay at home.
Horror Romance
Comedy
Graphic Novel/
Language
Supernatural
This book pays homage to campy 80s movies like The Burning, Sleepaway Camp, and other Slasher Camp films of the 1980s movies. It is loaded with Easter Eggs.
It is well written well written with likeable characters. It breaks several of the rules of how to stay alive in a horror movie. I recommend you read this story to find out what rules the campers neglect to follow.
If you go down in the woods today, you'd better not go alone
It's lovely down in the woods today, but safer to stay at home.
Horror Romance
Comedy
Graphic Novel/
Language
Supernatural
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2025
This easily reminds me of a R-rated "Fear Street" style story. We have two outcasts, for very different reasons, forced to take apart in their high school camping trip before starting senior year. However, as the kids have their problems with their peers, it gets worse when some start to goes missing and eventually found dead.
The author does not hold back here, from the kills to the sex scenes. However, it's a very easy read and a fun nod to old slasher movies!
With a hot and steamy budding romance to a brutal killer on the loose, this is a fun, campy read!
The author does not hold back here, from the kills to the sex scenes. However, it's a very easy read and a fun nod to old slasher movies!
With a hot and steamy budding romance to a brutal killer on the loose, this is a fun, campy read!
August 31, 2019
More romance then horror than horror romance, this was still a heck of a lot of fun, combining both genres in a way I've never seen before. I loved all the winks at '80s horror (though it's set in the late '70s) and liked the main characters and their friends. It read a bit toward the YA side to me since they're still in high school, but that doesn't diminish the romance and could even appeal to a YA audience.
July 12, 2019
I really enjoyed reading His Final Girl, as it was a homeage to slashers from the 7'0's and 80's, Easter eggs included. The book has the right mood and ambiance, in addition to an interesting backstory. Some of the sex scenes was perhaps a bit cheesy, but I did enjoy the interactions between the students and staff. So if you're into old slasher movies, this book might be for you.
August 20, 2020
He is not looking forward to the camp in the woods but then he meets her. An evil has been released and now they are in a fight for their lives. Can they save the rest of the class? Can they make it home? See if they can
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 4, 2019
This was a really good horror/romance book. Loved the 80’s time period and the author did a great job on that detail. The story and characters are well written. I highly recommend reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2019
Interesting take on 80’s horror tropes. Great world building without overly explicit sex scenes, though the act is described. Characters are well fleshed out. Good poolside read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 25, 2019
This is a nice tame read. The characters are like real life teenagers that take you on an adventure. This book has twists and turns that holds your interest until the end with suspense, romance, mystery, horror and gore.
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