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Ready or Not
Shared family holidays at Creek House have been the backdrop to Millie's summers since forever. Hanging out with the other kids – Matt, Charlie, Jem and her best friend Kat – has made it her favourite time of the year.
But this holiday things are different – the childhood games that once filled their days have lost their appeal to everyone except Millie. It's not until the final night that the others agree to a game of hide and seek. But in the time it takes Millie to count to twenty, Kat vanishes.
One year on, and struggling to come to terms with the events of last summer, Millie persuades the others to return to Creek House. It's meant to give them closure, but it could be a chance to find out what happened. After all, people don't just disappear, do they?
A tightly plotted thriller, perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, THE GREAT GODDEN and WE WERE LIARS.
But this holiday things are different – the childhood games that once filled their days have lost their appeal to everyone except Millie. It's not until the final night that the others agree to a game of hide and seek. But in the time it takes Millie to count to twenty, Kat vanishes.
One year on, and struggling to come to terms with the events of last summer, Millie persuades the others to return to Creek House. It's meant to give them closure, but it could be a chance to find out what happened. After all, people don't just disappear, do they?
A tightly plotted thriller, perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, THE GREAT GODDEN and WE WERE LIARS.
288 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2022
7 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Darnton
7 books27 followersTracy Darnton is a writer for young adults who loves writing thought-provoking, intelligent thrillers.
A former solicitor, she has an MA in Writing for Young People. She enjoys discussing books with YA reading groups or appearing on panels. She teaches creative writing.
She loves board games, puzzles and escape rooms. Bookshops are her happy place.
Tracy lives in the countryside near Bath where she dreams up her killer endings.
Ready or Not
May 2022
The Truth About Lies - reprinted with new cover in 2023
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.
World Book Night title 2020
'Thought-provoking and crisply written'
Guardian
The Rules
'Heart-thuddingly nervy thriller' The Financial Times
'This tense, taut novel is chillingly believable' The Irish Times
'Tense, suspenseful and explosive, Darnton's electrifying novel is a page-turner of the highest order.' Waterstones
A former solicitor, she has an MA in Writing for Young People. She enjoys discussing books with YA reading groups or appearing on panels. She teaches creative writing.
She loves board games, puzzles and escape rooms. Bookshops are her happy place.
Tracy lives in the countryside near Bath where she dreams up her killer endings.
Ready or Not
May 2022
The Truth About Lies - reprinted with new cover in 2023
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.
World Book Night title 2020
'Thought-provoking and crisply written'
Guardian
The Rules
'Heart-thuddingly nervy thriller' The Financial Times
'This tense, taut novel is chillingly believable' The Irish Times
'Tense, suspenseful and explosive, Darnton's electrifying novel is a page-turner of the highest order.' Waterstones
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 11, 2022
4.5 stars
Ready or Not is an utterly addictive and undeniably captivating When We Were Liars-style mystery/thriller that had me hooked ‘til the very last page.
This book follows Millie who, struggling to come to terms with her best friends vanishing during a game of hide and seek at the holiday house she spent every summer in, decides to return to Creek House, one last time.
Persuading the others to join her, on the anniversary of Kat’s disappearance—to help them all find closure, but it could be a chance to finally find out what happened.
After all people don’t just disappear, do they?
I loved how intricately woven and thoroughly crafted the mystery was I can honestly say it definitely kept me guessing, I literally had no idea who to trust. The narrative writing style really engaging and our sole POV character , Millie was really interesting and her recollections of the past year really gave us a glimpse into the lives of the house’s inhabitants on the days leading up to that fateful night.
The secrets, scandals and revelations sprinkled throughout were just moreish enough to keep me invested but just vague enough not to be able to work any of it out!
It’s more than just a mystery though as through Millie and her observations surrounding Charlie, Matt,Jem and their parents-we get an exquisitely detailed exploration into family and the ties of friendship that puts likes of Pretty Little Liars to shame.
Honestly, it’s frustratingly good in a tangled web of lies and secrets kind of way. Even when we get to that shockingly spectacular ending, the mystery still manages to sort of remain a mystery and the fact that readers can all come away with a different interpretation is absolutely genius. And although I’m still sort of reeling from it myself, I’m definitely planning to check out more of Darnton’s work because this was perfection.
If you love YA mystery/ thrillers then you absolutely must pick this up, you’re gonna love it!
Also, a huge thank you to Little Tiger UK for the proof copy
Ready or Not is an utterly addictive and undeniably captivating When We Were Liars-style mystery/thriller that had me hooked ‘til the very last page.
This book follows Millie who, struggling to come to terms with her best friends vanishing during a game of hide and seek at the holiday house she spent every summer in, decides to return to Creek House, one last time.
Persuading the others to join her, on the anniversary of Kat’s disappearance—to help them all find closure, but it could be a chance to finally find out what happened.
After all people don’t just disappear, do they?
I loved how intricately woven and thoroughly crafted the mystery was I can honestly say it definitely kept me guessing, I literally had no idea who to trust. The narrative writing style really engaging and our sole POV character , Millie was really interesting and her recollections of the past year really gave us a glimpse into the lives of the house’s inhabitants on the days leading up to that fateful night.
The secrets, scandals and revelations sprinkled throughout were just moreish enough to keep me invested but just vague enough not to be able to work any of it out!
It’s more than just a mystery though as through Millie and her observations surrounding Charlie, Matt,Jem and their parents-we get an exquisitely detailed exploration into family and the ties of friendship that puts likes of Pretty Little Liars to shame.
Honestly, it’s frustratingly good in a tangled web of lies and secrets kind of way. Even when we get to that shockingly spectacular ending, the mystery still manages to sort of remain a mystery and the fact that readers can all come away with a different interpretation is absolutely genius. And although I’m still sort of reeling from it myself, I’m definitely planning to check out more of Darnton’s work because this was perfection.
If you love YA mystery/ thrillers then you absolutely must pick this up, you’re gonna love it!
Also, a huge thank you to Little Tiger UK for the proof copy
August 6, 2022
It pains me to slate a book in a review. Despite my low rating, that it not what I am going to do here. However, this book was really not for me. Maybe it was the synopsis' similarities to my favourite YA thriller, We Were Liars, that failed to materialise in the text? Maybe it was a case of right book at the wrong time? Either way, I failed to love this one as much as other reviewers.
The novel opened with Millie's return to the summer home, once a place of happiness and now only with memories of tragedy attached to it. Three families had long been holidaying together there until one year, Kat, one of the other children and Millie's closest friend, failed to reappear after a game of hide-and-seek. This was an intriguing premise and I was eager to find out what had occurred.
I found Millie a likeable protagonist but also one removed from her peers and so I too felt removed from the action and the drama that occurred between them. I usually like this sort of perspective and so can't really place why it distanced me so here.
My intrigue remained high, concerning Kat, but I was less enamoured with the surrounding interpersonal relationship drama and the ins-and-outs of everyone's lives. It proved a fast read because of this but also not, unfortunately, a wholly enjoyable one for me.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Tracy Darnton, and the publisher, Little Tiger Press Group, for this opportunity.
The novel opened with Millie's return to the summer home, once a place of happiness and now only with memories of tragedy attached to it. Three families had long been holidaying together there until one year, Kat, one of the other children and Millie's closest friend, failed to reappear after a game of hide-and-seek. This was an intriguing premise and I was eager to find out what had occurred.
I found Millie a likeable protagonist but also one removed from her peers and so I too felt removed from the action and the drama that occurred between them. I usually like this sort of perspective and so can't really place why it distanced me so here.
My intrigue remained high, concerning Kat, but I was less enamoured with the surrounding interpersonal relationship drama and the ins-and-outs of everyone's lives. It proved a fast read because of this but also not, unfortunately, a wholly enjoyable one for me.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Tracy Darnton, and the publisher, Little Tiger Press Group, for this opportunity.
May 12, 2022
For as long as Millie can remember, the three families have holidayed at Creek House & the kids, Matt, Charlie, Jem, Kat, & Millie called themselves The Creekers. Now that they are teenagers things are changing, & the last holiday in 2018 goes horribly wrong when Kat goes missing during a game of Hide & Seek, Despite a media campaign & police involvement, a year later Kat still hasn't been found - in fact there has been no trace of her at all. Millie asks the three remaining Creekers to revisit the holiday home for closure but really she wants to get the bottom of what happened to Kat once & for all.
The narrative is from Millie's point of view & we get present-day Millie, Millie's diary entries since Kat's disappearance, & Millie from a year ago (2018). The reader slowly learns about what happened that week & watches as Millie starts to realise that Kat wasn't the person she thought she was & was far from being the best friend she remembers. Everyone seems to have their own reasons for wanting Kat gone & secrets & lies abound including local boy, Noah, who was hauled in for questioning over the disappearance.
I'm really torn about this book. On the one hand, it's well-written & I flew through it in under 24 hours, but I have one or two issues with it, the main one being that Millie seems far too young for her actual age. Also there's supposed to be just a year between Millie (15) & Kat (16), but the way the others treat Millie, it's as if she is a ten year old running after them. When you can have almost a year in age difference between the oldest & the youngest pupils in the same school year, it felt really weird that it was portrayed this way. The ending had me going "NOooo" - I had to read it twice just to make sure. If you like YA thrillers that don't tie everything up neatly in a bow at the end, then you may enjoy this one.
Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Little Tiger Group/Stripes Publishing, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
The narrative is from Millie's point of view & we get present-day Millie, Millie's diary entries since Kat's disappearance, & Millie from a year ago (2018). The reader slowly learns about what happened that week & watches as Millie starts to realise that Kat wasn't the person she thought she was & was far from being the best friend she remembers. Everyone seems to have their own reasons for wanting Kat gone & secrets & lies abound including local boy, Noah, who was hauled in for questioning over the disappearance.
I'm really torn about this book. On the one hand, it's well-written & I flew through it in under 24 hours, but I have one or two issues with it, the main one being that Millie seems far too young for her actual age. Also there's supposed to be just a year between Millie (15) & Kat (16), but the way the others treat Millie, it's as if she is a ten year old running after them. When you can have almost a year in age difference between the oldest & the youngest pupils in the same school year, it felt really weird that it was portrayed this way. The ending had me going "NOooo" - I had to read it twice just to make sure. If you like YA thrillers that don't tie everything up neatly in a bow at the end, then you may enjoy this one.
Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Little Tiger Group/Stripes Publishing, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
March 16, 2022
Ready or Not is a brilliantly addictive mystery-thriller, perfect for fans of We Were Liars and Karen McManus. I’m still reeling from that final twist!
August 7, 2022
4.25 stars! Wow. That is certainly not how I was expecting the book to end throughout the course of this gripping & intriguing book. I knew Kat’s fate as soon as the final chapter began but maybe it didn’t happen? Schrödinger’s Kat, we’ll never know.
May 4, 2022
During a game of hide and seek 16 year old Kat goes missing, one year later the group of friends return to the holiday home for the anniversary to gain closure.
First of all I found it hard to believe that the parents would allow the kids to return on their own when they all lived miles away. At that point they were 16/17 but considering how Millies parents were very clingy to her after Kats disappearance I just didn't buy this narrative.
I found the characters to be unlikable so unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to view an ARC.
First of all I found it hard to believe that the parents would allow the kids to return on their own when they all lived miles away. At that point they were 16/17 but considering how Millies parents were very clingy to her after Kats disappearance I just didn't buy this narrative.
I found the characters to be unlikable so unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to view an ARC.
May 4, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Tiny Tiger Group for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in return for an honest review!
“People don’t just disappear,” I say. “There’s always something.”
One thing I’m always looking for is a murder mystery that keeps me on my toes, waiting for the next twist, and keeps me reading.
I just finished this book in a day, which should tell you enough about the fast-paced, well-flowing story “Ready or not” tells.
The chapters are short and quick to read, with Millie’s letters to get distributed evenly throughout the book without becoming annoying.
Only the police records seemed a little unnecessary, especially about Noah, as it took away from the actual plot for a character that is a little flat and never captured my attention.
Millie is a much more interesting protagonist than most “murder-mystery” – girlies that always fall on the same spectrum of very smart, nerdy main characters, that also find love during their journey. While Millie clearly has the “smart-girl that is awkward and everyone kind of rolls their eyes at them” vibes, her relationship to Kat makes her stand out. Because, while she wants to find out what happened to Kat it is also, very clearly, always about her (Millie) and her need for closure? Vengeance? Understanding? Instead of Kat’s actual well-being.
I enjoyed the mystery, it flowed with the plot without being too overbearing or irrelevant, but at the same time it did feel a little cheap in the middle section of the book. Characters, who were introduced as smart and acted the same way otherwise, seemed to look over obvious details in Kats's case. Especially Noah, with his research should’ve pinned down a lot more even without Millie’s help.
Noah’s a whole different story altogether, but I can’t say much without spoiling his part in the story. What I can say is that one-dimensional characters shouldn’t be part of your suspect in a murder mystery.
I loved the ending of ready or not, and without giving too much away, I think it perfectly encapsulates not only the way the book presents games and stories but also fits Kats & Millie’s characters and their relationship to one another beautifully. And you bet I was silently screaming while I followed the last chapters, making up my own end in my head before the solution was found.
If you enjoy any of Karen M. McManus’ YA Murder mysteries like me, you will probably also enjoy this book and its characters!
“People don’t just disappear,” I say. “There’s always something.”
One thing I’m always looking for is a murder mystery that keeps me on my toes, waiting for the next twist, and keeps me reading.
I just finished this book in a day, which should tell you enough about the fast-paced, well-flowing story “Ready or not” tells.
The chapters are short and quick to read, with Millie’s letters to get distributed evenly throughout the book without becoming annoying.
Only the police records seemed a little unnecessary, especially about Noah, as it took away from the actual plot for a character that is a little flat and never captured my attention.
Millie is a much more interesting protagonist than most “murder-mystery” – girlies that always fall on the same spectrum of very smart, nerdy main characters, that also find love during their journey. While Millie clearly has the “smart-girl that is awkward and everyone kind of rolls their eyes at them” vibes, her relationship to Kat makes her stand out. Because, while she wants to find out what happened to Kat it is also, very clearly, always about her (Millie) and her need for closure? Vengeance? Understanding? Instead of Kat’s actual well-being.
I enjoyed the mystery, it flowed with the plot without being too overbearing or irrelevant, but at the same time it did feel a little cheap in the middle section of the book. Characters, who were introduced as smart and acted the same way otherwise, seemed to look over obvious details in Kats's case. Especially Noah, with his research should’ve pinned down a lot more even without Millie’s help.
Noah’s a whole different story altogether, but I can’t say much without spoiling his part in the story. What I can say is that one-dimensional characters shouldn’t be part of your suspect in a murder mystery.
I loved the ending of ready or not, and without giving too much away, I think it perfectly encapsulates not only the way the book presents games and stories but also fits Kats & Millie’s characters and their relationship to one another beautifully. And you bet I was silently screaming while I followed the last chapters, making up my own end in my head before the solution was found.
If you enjoy any of Karen M. McManus’ YA Murder mysteries like me, you will probably also enjoy this book and its characters!
September 7, 2023
Wow! What a dark, twisty YA thriller. I loved it, had me changing my mind all the way through about what was going on & the ending I did not see coming.
Three families, one holiday house, a game of hide & seek that ends in an actual disappearance. But what did happen to 16 yr old Kat?
I loved how unreliable Millie (the narrator) was & how more was slowly revealed as the story progressed. It seemed like everyone had a motive & something to hide.
As good as Karen M McManus & E Lockhart.
Will be straight off to read more from this author.
Three families, one holiday house, a game of hide & seek that ends in an actual disappearance. But what did happen to 16 yr old Kat?
I loved how unreliable Millie (the narrator) was & how more was slowly revealed as the story progressed. It seemed like everyone had a motive & something to hide.
As good as Karen M McManus & E Lockhart.
Will be straight off to read more from this author.
July 15, 2022
TW: disappearance, violence, cheating
Ready or Not is a book designed for you to fly through on those balmy summer days full of sun and secrets. This is a tightly plotted and fast-paced book that constantly keep you on your toes.
Darnton is one devilish writer. This is a book that thrives in ambiguity and underlying secrets. There are no easy answers, though the reader can draw their own conclusions. I love that ability to let the book thrive in the reader’s imagination and how we can spiral down our own rabbit holes, giving a unique spin on the mystery.
From that intriguing opening, Darnton had me hooked. It was short and sharp, giving you just enough to pull you in but also staying concise and mysterious. You are aware of the hotbed of secrets and tangled relationships here, as well as the central mystery. Darnton keeps that slick pacing and tension throughout the book. The writing style is so addictive and easy to devour. The twists and turns are excellently executed and almost always rooted in the characters we’ve come to know.
These are fractured and flawed people, who grew up together but have started to drift apart. Darnton blends the quintessential coming of age experience with a thrilling and speedy plotline. It is only through the tragic events of the last summer, shrouded in mystery and emotional entanglements, that have drawn them back together once more. In particular, Millie’s narrative voice is so layered and fascinating, particularly the mix of letters, past and present day narration. You get to see so many more facets to Millie as the book develops and I loved the subtle changes in the letters.
Go into this book knowing as little as you can and be prepared for Darnton to lead you on a wild exploration of deception, coming of age and friendship.
Ready or Not is a book designed for you to fly through on those balmy summer days full of sun and secrets. This is a tightly plotted and fast-paced book that constantly keep you on your toes.
Darnton is one devilish writer. This is a book that thrives in ambiguity and underlying secrets. There are no easy answers, though the reader can draw their own conclusions. I love that ability to let the book thrive in the reader’s imagination and how we can spiral down our own rabbit holes, giving a unique spin on the mystery.
From that intriguing opening, Darnton had me hooked. It was short and sharp, giving you just enough to pull you in but also staying concise and mysterious. You are aware of the hotbed of secrets and tangled relationships here, as well as the central mystery. Darnton keeps that slick pacing and tension throughout the book. The writing style is so addictive and easy to devour. The twists and turns are excellently executed and almost always rooted in the characters we’ve come to know.
These are fractured and flawed people, who grew up together but have started to drift apart. Darnton blends the quintessential coming of age experience with a thrilling and speedy plotline. It is only through the tragic events of the last summer, shrouded in mystery and emotional entanglements, that have drawn them back together once more. In particular, Millie’s narrative voice is so layered and fascinating, particularly the mix of letters, past and present day narration. You get to see so many more facets to Millie as the book develops and I loved the subtle changes in the letters.
Go into this book knowing as little as you can and be prepared for Darnton to lead you on a wild exploration of deception, coming of age and friendship.
July 22, 2022
When I was invited to be part of this tour, I absolutely had to say yes, because I’ve been meaning to read Tracy’s books for ages and for one reason or another, haven’t yet. This is her third book, and it follows the teenage children of a group of uni friends, as they return to the Cornwall holiday house at which one of their number (Kat) vanished during a game of hide and seek the previous year, in order to remember her and also try to understand what happened her. Soon, dangerous secrets and lies are revealed, and things only get more dark and twisty as the mini break goes on.
We see things primarily from the point of view of Millie, who tells us that she was Kat’s best friend, but the therapy-mandated letters she writes to her say otherwise, and I loved the way the unreliable narrator device was used because it had me absolutely hooked from the very beginning. I didn’t didn’t lots of the twists and turns coming, and the rest of the cast (including Kat, who we see in flashbacks) are equally as complicated as Millie, and add just as much intrigue. The atmosphere is so well built up, and I genuinely couldn’t put this down till I got to the end.
The ending is super ambiguous yet simultaneously satisfying, and I can’t decide whether the pet theory I harboured through the whole book was true or if there was in fact a different solution, given the last page or so. Overall, this was a very enjoyable thriller, and I’m definitely planning to now go and seek out Tracy’s other books!
We see things primarily from the point of view of Millie, who tells us that she was Kat’s best friend, but the therapy-mandated letters she writes to her say otherwise, and I loved the way the unreliable narrator device was used because it had me absolutely hooked from the very beginning. I didn’t didn’t lots of the twists and turns coming, and the rest of the cast (including Kat, who we see in flashbacks) are equally as complicated as Millie, and add just as much intrigue. The atmosphere is so well built up, and I genuinely couldn’t put this down till I got to the end.
The ending is super ambiguous yet simultaneously satisfying, and I can’t decide whether the pet theory I harboured through the whole book was true or if there was in fact a different solution, given the last page or so. Overall, this was a very enjoyable thriller, and I’m definitely planning to now go and seek out Tracy’s other books!
July 6, 2022
While this story didn't have the driving pace or tension of Darnton's previous thriller, The Rules, I nevertheless kept on turning on the pages, keen to find out what had happened and I absolutely LOVED the ending. A solid genre read that I will be recommending to pupils.
April 24, 2022
Teenager Kat goes missing during a game of hide and seek, and a year later the friends who failed to find her reunite at the holiday home that she went missing from.
This book is pitched as a thrilling mystery, but I struggled to connect with it because of how much I disliked the characters, and felt fairly apathetic about the victim. It was well written and the twists were fairly good - but they just didn't have the impact they should have because of my general dislike of the story by that point!
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is pitched as a thrilling mystery, but I struggled to connect with it because of how much I disliked the characters, and felt fairly apathetic about the victim. It was well written and the twists were fairly good - but they just didn't have the impact they should have because of my general dislike of the story by that point!
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2022
This is a brilliant YA thriller. It keeps you guessing right the way through and draws you in from the first page. I couldn't read it quick enough
May 27, 2022
Gripping YA mystery My full review is here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
December 2, 2022
4 / 5
A fairly solid YA/Thriller/Mystery with an intriguing plot that had me hooked from the first couple of pages. After reading a number of very similar ‘let’s find a murderer’ YA books recently (One of Us Is Lying, One of Us Is Next etc)this was a change of pace and a breath of fresh air.
Overall this is an enjoyable read with some interesting plot points and vaguely well-written characters. I’d certainly be up for reading another one of Darnton’s thrillers in the future.
Full spoiler review below.
Now I’ve watched enough Criminal Minds and NCIS to know straight away that there would be some kind of ‘Whodunnit’ twist so I was already reading into every clue that Darnton laid out. I’m definitely not mad about this, if anything it just made the mystery more interesting to piece together.
However, I would say that the explanation of what actually happened was extremely rushed in the last 20 pages. Everything in the Summer House flashback happened so quickly that with certain parts I had to go back and reread the paragraph to make sure I was following along correctly. I did really enjoy this book and I’m certainly not telling Darnton how to write, but looking back I definitely think the fact that should have been revealed a lot earlier in the story to turn it into an amazing foreshadowing ‘remember this’ point. Instead, I read it and immediately knew what Millie was going to end up doing two pages ahead of her.
I know some people had issues with the ‘open ending’. I personally really enjoyed it, though I didn’t think it was that open in the end. I really liked the fact that if you really sat and thought about it all the red herrings did connect together.
The characters were all pretty interesting and fun to read about, though I did think at times Jem and Matt were just hallow placeholders to fill in certain plot points and to fill out the Creekers group. I absolutely loved Millie and Kat’s relationship and how it progressed throughout the plot and Millie’s letters. Millie’s development from Kat’s biggest fan to… was one of my favourite parts of the novel.
A fairly solid YA/Thriller/Mystery with an intriguing plot that had me hooked from the first couple of pages. After reading a number of very similar ‘let’s find a murderer’ YA books recently (One of Us Is Lying, One of Us Is Next etc)this was a change of pace and a breath of fresh air.
Overall this is an enjoyable read with some interesting plot points and vaguely well-written characters. I’d certainly be up for reading another one of Darnton’s thrillers in the future.
Full spoiler review below.
Now I’ve watched enough Criminal Minds and NCIS to know straight away that there would be some kind of ‘Whodunnit’ twist so I was already reading into every clue that Darnton laid out. I’m definitely not mad about this, if anything it just made the mystery more interesting to piece together.
However, I would say that the explanation of what actually happened was extremely rushed in the last 20 pages. Everything in the Summer House flashback happened so quickly that with certain parts I had to go back and reread the paragraph to make sure I was following along correctly. I did really enjoy this book and I’m certainly not telling Darnton how to write, but looking back I definitely think the fact that should have been revealed a lot earlier in the story to turn it into an amazing foreshadowing ‘remember this’ point. Instead, I read it and immediately knew what Millie was going to end up doing two pages ahead of her.
I know some people had issues with the ‘open ending’. I personally really enjoyed it, though I didn’t think it was that open in the end. I really liked the fact that if you really sat and thought about it all the red herrings did connect together.
The characters were all pretty interesting and fun to read about, though I did think at times Jem and Matt were just hallow placeholders to fill in certain plot points and to fill out the Creekers group. I absolutely loved Millie and Kat’s relationship and how it progressed throughout the plot and Millie’s letters. Millie’s development from Kat’s biggest fan to… was one of my favourite parts of the novel.
October 7, 2022
Hmph, so although I was intrigued (which ultimately was what kept me reading until the end), I spent a lot of this book bored, and put off reading it because other things seemed more interesting. It was a shame because I liked the characters (especially Noah, there was something about him that made me like him). But the plot lacked something for me, but I can’t put my finger on what it was.
There was a lot of jumping around. We read from the time of Kat’s disappearance, almost a year later, and we also read letters Millie wrote to Kat in her journal. It was hard to get through, and I found it difficult to fall into the story and immerse myself.
I couldn’t figure out Millie at first. I liked she was an unreliable narrator. She seemed naïve, and I put that down to her being the youngest out of the Creekers. However, it soon became clear that there was more to her than met the eye. She came across as obsessive, especially with Kat, and it gave me suspicions about what really happened the night Kat disappeared. I liked her subtle hints about how things weren’t as they seemed and that all the Creekers had things they wanted to keep buried. This was especially noticeable in the letters she wrote to Kat.
I had to mention this, as it made me laugh. Near the end, the Creekers go to play a game, and as Kat opens the cupboard to choose one, she lists off the ones she found. And she makes a comment saying, ‘pandemic - way too far-fetched and depressing’. It was even more amusing when I read the acknowledgments to find the author actually wrote the book during the coronavirus pandemic. Minor details matter folks!
The ending was very lacklustre for me. However, I am not a fan of ambiguous endings. Although it can be assumed what happened, we didn’t get a straightforward answer. I know some people really like that kind of ending as it allows them to draw their own conclusions, but for me, it just didn’t feel satisfying.
This was definitely a 50/50 read for me. I’m glad I read it. I just expected to have gotten more by the end. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author, for a chance to read and review this book.
There was a lot of jumping around. We read from the time of Kat’s disappearance, almost a year later, and we also read letters Millie wrote to Kat in her journal. It was hard to get through, and I found it difficult to fall into the story and immerse myself.
I couldn’t figure out Millie at first. I liked she was an unreliable narrator. She seemed naïve, and I put that down to her being the youngest out of the Creekers. However, it soon became clear that there was more to her than met the eye. She came across as obsessive, especially with Kat, and it gave me suspicions about what really happened the night Kat disappeared. I liked her subtle hints about how things weren’t as they seemed and that all the Creekers had things they wanted to keep buried. This was especially noticeable in the letters she wrote to Kat.
I had to mention this, as it made me laugh. Near the end, the Creekers go to play a game, and as Kat opens the cupboard to choose one, she lists off the ones she found. And she makes a comment saying, ‘pandemic - way too far-fetched and depressing’. It was even more amusing when I read the acknowledgments to find the author actually wrote the book during the coronavirus pandemic. Minor details matter folks!
The ending was very lacklustre for me. However, I am not a fan of ambiguous endings. Although it can be assumed what happened, we didn’t get a straightforward answer. I know some people really like that kind of ending as it allows them to draw their own conclusions, but for me, it just didn’t feel satisfying.
This was definitely a 50/50 read for me. I’m glad I read it. I just expected to have gotten more by the end. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author, for a chance to read and review this book.
July 30, 2023
READY OR NOT sits between thriller and contemporary, about both the mystery of what happened and the effect the disappearance has had on the families. I was really surprised by how much I liked that genre straddling (given a thriller not being mostly thriller has not gone down well in the past!) but I absolutely binged through it wanting to know what happened to Kat.
The book is told across three timelines at once: the week leading up to the disappearance, the week after the disappearance, and the one year anniversary. The three intertwined timelines show the fractures before the event and how they're exacerbated afterwards, the many secrets they're all holding, and Millie coming to accept that Kat, who she has idolised, really wasn't that nice. I really enjoyed the way the timelines were intertwined. It helped with information control, which is so key to tension in a thriller.
Scattered between the chapters were letters Millie was writing to Kat to process what had happened, going through anger and grief, able to voice all the things Millie hadn't been able to see to her face. They were such a powerful insight into her mindset, where she was emotionally, and how her regard for Kat was breaking down.
There were also a few interview transcripts and newspaper articles as well as the letters, making the book multi-media, something I absolutely love. The transcripts were so sterile that you could see how uncaring the professional investigation was - and the ickiness of them trying to pin it on a local boy.
In all, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and will be picking up more Tracy Darnton books in due course.
The book is told across three timelines at once: the week leading up to the disappearance, the week after the disappearance, and the one year anniversary. The three intertwined timelines show the fractures before the event and how they're exacerbated afterwards, the many secrets they're all holding, and Millie coming to accept that Kat, who she has idolised, really wasn't that nice. I really enjoyed the way the timelines were intertwined. It helped with information control, which is so key to tension in a thriller.
Scattered between the chapters were letters Millie was writing to Kat to process what had happened, going through anger and grief, able to voice all the things Millie hadn't been able to see to her face. They were such a powerful insight into her mindset, where she was emotionally, and how her regard for Kat was breaking down.
There were also a few interview transcripts and newspaper articles as well as the letters, making the book multi-media, something I absolutely love. The transcripts were so sterile that you could see how uncaring the professional investigation was - and the ickiness of them trying to pin it on a local boy.
In all, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and will be picking up more Tracy Darnton books in due course.
April 20, 2022
[RATE: 3.5/5]
|| Thank you to NetGalley and Little Tiger Group for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review ! ||
This book is honestly worth a 4 stars but I have no choice to lower it to 3.5 stars because I just don't really like such open ending especially in thrillers, so frustrating!
We clearly have a very quick read here, all about Kat's disappearing, and we get to have two different timelines: one in 2018 days of the disappearing, and 2019 back to Creek House for the anniversary. Once you get used to switching back and forth, it's not bothering at all and I really liked slowly picking up infos and discovering more stuff here and there. It's not the best ever read but we really get a good time reading it and trying to understand what happened and how it happened, other character's little secrets and mostly Millie's (our MC). I also liked the little investigation we had with Noah.
However I really don't like such open endings, where we're left wondering what happened to the missing person, then and now, and being left with so many unanswered questions. This book is clearly made that way so it's not a /bad/ ending it was really well done ! But for people like me who loves to get to know everything from A to Z of what happened, it's super frustrating lol
Also thumbs up for showing of how a toxic relationship works between "friends" but also siblings, we get to see all the manipulation, guilt-tripping, mockery, blackmail possibilities, etc. I also really liked to see how Millie realising made her change in her letters to Kat!
This book is honestly worth a 4 stars but I have no choice to lower it to 3.5 stars because I just don't really like such open ending especially in thrillers, so frustrating!
We clearly have a very quick read here, all about Kat's disappearing, and we get to have two different timelines: one in 2018 days of the disappearing, and 2019 back to Creek House for the anniversary. Once you get used to switching back and forth, it's not bothering at all and I really liked slowly picking up infos and discovering more stuff here and there. It's not the best ever read but we really get a good time reading it and trying to understand what happened and how it happened, other character's little secrets and mostly Millie's (our MC). I also liked the little investigation we had with Noah.
However I really don't like such open endings, where we're left wondering what happened to the missing person, then and now, and being left with so many unanswered questions. This book is clearly made that way so it's not a /bad/ ending it was really well done ! But for people like me who loves to get to know everything from A to Z of what happened, it's super frustrating lol
Also thumbs up for showing of how a toxic relationship works between "friends" but also siblings, we get to see all the manipulation, guilt-tripping, mockery, blackmail possibilities, etc. I also really liked to see how Millie realising made her change in her letters to Kat!
April 14, 2023
Interesting concept but unreliable narrators do tend to annoy me, as it becomes painfully obvious when Millie's letters change in attitude towards her missing friend. And the end is so open that it left me incredibly unsatisfied and annoyed with the author, wondering what the actual answer to it was.
MAJOR SPOILERS
I decided that the ending was that Kat hid in the window seat and also became trapped, mirroring how Millie was locked in there by Kat before. She never managed her escape plan, and therefore she probably died hidden in the window seat and her body is still there a year on, discovered by the builders renovating the house. It would be a horrendous cruel irony considering how Kat's character was uncovered by the people around her and how it turns out that actually nobody liked her at all, especially Millie. I can only imagine that Millie's behaviour through the book is through a majorly guilty conscience. She not only aided Kat's initial plan to run away to France/Greece, but also probably knew that she was trapped in the window seat and left her there to die. But the ambiguity of the end was so garbage, I actually would have thought this was a brilliant end to the mystery if it had been confirmed. Maybe Millie ends up deluding herself into believing that Kat actually did escape after briefly hiding in the window seat, but I think Noah is in for a nasty surprise at the end.
MAJOR SPOILERS
I decided that the ending was that Kat hid in the window seat and also became trapped, mirroring how Millie was locked in there by Kat before. She never managed her escape plan, and therefore she probably died hidden in the window seat and her body is still there a year on, discovered by the builders renovating the house. It would be a horrendous cruel irony considering how Kat's character was uncovered by the people around her and how it turns out that actually nobody liked her at all, especially Millie. I can only imagine that Millie's behaviour through the book is through a majorly guilty conscience. She not only aided Kat's initial plan to run away to France/Greece, but also probably knew that she was trapped in the window seat and left her there to die. But the ambiguity of the end was so garbage, I actually would have thought this was a brilliant end to the mystery if it had been confirmed. Maybe Millie ends up deluding herself into believing that Kat actually did escape after briefly hiding in the window seat, but I think Noah is in for a nasty surprise at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2023
Book description~
Shared family holidays at Creek House have been the backdrop to Millie’s summers since forever. Hanging out with the other kids – Matt, Charlie, Jem and her best friend Kat – has made it her favourite time of the year.
But this holiday things are different – the childhood games that once filled their days have lost their appeal to everyone except Millie. It’s not until the final night that the others agree to a game of hide and seek. But in the time it takes Millie to count to twenty, Kat vanishes.
One year on, and struggling to come to terms with the events of last summer, Millie persuades the others to return to Creek House. It’s meant to give them closure, but it could be a chance to find out what happened. After all, people don’t just disappear, do they?
Book review~
This was a very good young adult mystery book. It had a good twist towards the end that I defiantly didn't see coming. I think the individual stories of each character could have been developed lightly more and I would have also enjoyed maybe alternate chapters with Kat's POV. There were also some unanswered questions such as who was posting on her instagram? who drew the picture of the cat on the chalkboard? overall, though I did enjoy it and would recommend.
Shared family holidays at Creek House have been the backdrop to Millie’s summers since forever. Hanging out with the other kids – Matt, Charlie, Jem and her best friend Kat – has made it her favourite time of the year.
But this holiday things are different – the childhood games that once filled their days have lost their appeal to everyone except Millie. It’s not until the final night that the others agree to a game of hide and seek. But in the time it takes Millie to count to twenty, Kat vanishes.
One year on, and struggling to come to terms with the events of last summer, Millie persuades the others to return to Creek House. It’s meant to give them closure, but it could be a chance to find out what happened. After all, people don’t just disappear, do they?
Book review~
This was a very good young adult mystery book. It had a good twist towards the end that I defiantly didn't see coming. I think the individual stories of each character could have been developed lightly more and I would have also enjoyed maybe alternate chapters with Kat's POV. There were also some unanswered questions such as who was posting on her instagram? who drew the picture of the cat on the chalkboard? overall, though I did enjoy it and would recommend.
February 24, 2022
‘People don’t just disappear…do they?’
This opening question drives the whole narrative of this YA…thriller? No, then what exactly? It is hard to think of it as a whodunnit it, though it is partly that. Perhaps it is more of a what happened, where anyone, indeed, everyone may have a motive, may have a secret, may have involvement in the story of Kat who disappears during a game of hide and seek.
So, yes, there is that ‘solve the mystery’ element of this book, but it is also a wonderful exploration of friendship and family relations; part YA Famous Five, part Daphne Du Maurier (especially in the setting) and part teen drama redolent of The Great Godden, or We were Liars.
More than that it would be hard to say without spoilers, suffice to say, it is not what you expect, your assumptions are changed and challenged with each new chapter. Maybe in the end this is a story of friendship; not only of who Kat is (or was) but of who our narrator, Mills, truly is and how far her devotion to kat will go.
Very possibly Ms. Darnton’s best book yet, and that is saying something.
This opening question drives the whole narrative of this YA…thriller? No, then what exactly? It is hard to think of it as a whodunnit it, though it is partly that. Perhaps it is more of a what happened, where anyone, indeed, everyone may have a motive, may have a secret, may have involvement in the story of Kat who disappears during a game of hide and seek.
So, yes, there is that ‘solve the mystery’ element of this book, but it is also a wonderful exploration of friendship and family relations; part YA Famous Five, part Daphne Du Maurier (especially in the setting) and part teen drama redolent of The Great Godden, or We were Liars.
More than that it would be hard to say without spoilers, suffice to say, it is not what you expect, your assumptions are changed and challenged with each new chapter. Maybe in the end this is a story of friendship; not only of who Kat is (or was) but of who our narrator, Mills, truly is and how far her devotion to kat will go.
Very possibly Ms. Darnton’s best book yet, and that is saying something.
April 11, 2022
There is so much I want to say about this and yet I can't find the words without spoiling something.
This was a good missing person mystery for YA audience - an excellent book for first time mystery readers.
I will say that the person who was behind it was obvious to me but that last twist when we discover what happened was dark. It was such a, WHAT!? moment.
You may have to suspend reality that parents would let their non-missing teenagers return to a cottage where one of their kids actually went missing, a cottage hours away from their homes... and to let them go alone.
The protagonist, Millie, was insuferable, whiny and felt like she was 10yrs old. I'm rating this 3 stars due to how much of struggle it was getting through her brain. Also, Kat gave me Alison from Pretty Little Liars vibe.
The actual mystery makes the book worth reading.
This was a good missing person mystery for YA audience - an excellent book for first time mystery readers.
I will say that the person who was behind it was obvious to me but that last twist when we discover what happened was dark. It was such a, WHAT!? moment.
You may have to suspend reality that parents would let their non-missing teenagers return to a cottage where one of their kids actually went missing, a cottage hours away from their homes... and to let them go alone.
The protagonist, Millie, was insuferable, whiny and felt like she was 10yrs old. I'm rating this 3 stars due to how much of struggle it was getting through her brain. Also, Kat gave me Alison from Pretty Little Liars vibe.
The actual mystery makes the book worth reading.
April 16, 2022
When Kat goes missing on holiday with family, the effects from her disappearance reverberate through everyone.
One day on their summer holiday in Cornwall, Kat just disappears during a game of hide and seek. There is no sign of her. But people don't just disappear, do they?
What follows is an account from Millie's POV, from both the summer Kat goes missing and a year later on the anniversary. She is determined to find out what happened to her friend, no matter the answer. But does Millie know more than she's letting on?
This was a gripping read from the first page. You'll rip through the pages to find out the truth of what happened to Kat
It's full of twists and turns, you don't know who to trust, and the reveal at the end will leave you reeling.
A quality thriller you can finish in one sitting.
One day on their summer holiday in Cornwall, Kat just disappears during a game of hide and seek. There is no sign of her. But people don't just disappear, do they?
What follows is an account from Millie's POV, from both the summer Kat goes missing and a year later on the anniversary. She is determined to find out what happened to her friend, no matter the answer. But does Millie know more than she's letting on?
This was a gripping read from the first page. You'll rip through the pages to find out the truth of what happened to Kat
It's full of twists and turns, you don't know who to trust, and the reveal at the end will leave you reeling.
A quality thriller you can finish in one sitting.
March 29, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this YA mystery, I read it in one sitting.
I'm a fan of missing person narratives and of stories with an intriguing group dynamic of characters- Ready or Not had both and the main protagonist, telling the story, was suitably unreliable.
It had a lovely twisty sense to it, I was never quite sure where it would go and in the end the ironic, unexpected and genuinely satisfying resolution just made the whole thing for me
A great read. I shall track down more from this author. Recommended.
I'm a fan of missing person narratives and of stories with an intriguing group dynamic of characters- Ready or Not had both and the main protagonist, telling the story, was suitably unreliable.
It had a lovely twisty sense to it, I was never quite sure where it would go and in the end the ironic, unexpected and genuinely satisfying resolution just made the whole thing for me
A great read. I shall track down more from this author. Recommended.
August 31, 2023
This book gave me Karen Mc Manus or If we were Liars vibes.
When Kat disappears during a hide and seek game 1 year ago, everyone was devastated and tried to find her. Millie brings us through the now and then of her best friends' disappearance.
Who could have taken her? Is she dead, or hidding somewhere?
If you like that kind of teenage gossip, whodunnit kind of stories you should go for it!
Really entertaining I read it in no time.
*Thanks to NetGalley & Little Tiger Group for access to the ebook against honest review.*
When Kat disappears during a hide and seek game 1 year ago, everyone was devastated and tried to find her. Millie brings us through the now and then of her best friends' disappearance.
Who could have taken her? Is she dead, or hidding somewhere?
If you like that kind of teenage gossip, whodunnit kind of stories you should go for it!
Really entertaining I read it in no time.
*Thanks to NetGalley & Little Tiger Group for access to the ebook against honest review.*
March 17, 2022
It's only 4 stars because I didn't get to read the whole novel. Otherwise, I am obsessed with the 15 pages I did get to read. I love the storyline, I love the characters and I love the writing style with how everything flows.
We have main character Millie, and a plethora of other characters who are a group of childhood friends. Millie seems to be a character who I am not sure if I can fully trust. She has secrets but seemingly keeps them to herself as she is seen as an outcast of sorts to her friends.
However, on one fateful night, Millie and her friends go back to their childhood creek to play their infamous hide and seek. But then when Millie goes to seek Kat is missing, and still 24hours later the search for Kat continues. Everyone is worried, everyone is restless, their just a bunch of teenagers who wanted to play a game. Now who is to blame, and who will find Kat, is she even still alive?
With all the questions I have, I can't wait to read the whole novel.
Thank you Netgalley and author for allowing me to read the teaser of this novel. I highly recommend it.
We have main character Millie, and a plethora of other characters who are a group of childhood friends. Millie seems to be a character who I am not sure if I can fully trust. She has secrets but seemingly keeps them to herself as she is seen as an outcast of sorts to her friends.
However, on one fateful night, Millie and her friends go back to their childhood creek to play their infamous hide and seek. But then when Millie goes to seek Kat is missing, and still 24hours later the search for Kat continues. Everyone is worried, everyone is restless, their just a bunch of teenagers who wanted to play a game. Now who is to blame, and who will find Kat, is she even still alive?
With all the questions I have, I can't wait to read the whole novel.
Thank you Netgalley and author for allowing me to read the teaser of this novel. I highly recommend it.
August 20, 2022
A very mysterious book, was good until the end where it wasn’t clear of what had happened to kat and lest me very disappointed leaving me wondering have I missed a few pages?? But I haven’t and it was the writers choice in not to have a clear ending about the main mystery of the book. Despite all of that it was a well written mystery book that is mysterious and will help you get out of a reading slump!
October 26, 2022
Although this book is fascinating as a thriller, I really missed a relevant ending.
That being said, I did not like the part where all are plots, as it becomes a bit boring. Once you find out about the secret between Molly and Kat, it snag you and keep you reading until you discover the plot.
I would recommend the book. It is definitely a mirror of friendship and family values, facing the harsh realities.
That being said, I did not like the part where all are plots, as it becomes a bit boring. Once you find out about the secret between Molly and Kat, it snag you and keep you reading until you discover the plot.
I would recommend the book. It is definitely a mirror of friendship and family values, facing the harsh realities.
March 29, 2022
I really enjoyed this book It was well written with a gripping storyline and believeable characters. It was twisty, unpredictable and had me on the edge of my seat, not knowing what was going to happen.
August 6, 2024
tbh story was really good a bit confusing at start but interesting once u got into it but what was that ending like i didn't even realise it was the ending like its a cliffhanger but you don't care about whats gonna happen next.
So story/plot= 4.5*
ending=1*
So story/plot= 4.5*
ending=1*
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