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The Last Girls Standing
In this queer YA psychological thriller from the author of Some Girls Do and Hot Dog Girl, the sole surviving counselors of a summer camp massacre search to uncover the truth of what happened that fateful night, but what they find out might just get them killed.
You don’t usually meet the love of your life while running from masked men with machetes, but that’s exactly what happens to Sloan after surviving a ritual killing that left so many of her fellow summer camp counselors dead. Cherry, the only other survivor, becomes a lifeline for Sloan, their traumatic experience bonding them in ways no one else can understand.
As the girls get closer, and Sloan learns more about the motives behind the attack that brought them together, she begins to suspect that Cherry may be more than just a survivor—she may actually have been a part of it. Cherry tries to reassure her, but Sloan only becomes more distraught. Is this gaslighting or reality? Is Cherry a victim or a perpetrator? Is Sloan losing her mind, or seeing things clearly for the first time?
Against all odds, Sloan survived that hot summer night. But will she survive what comes next?
You don’t usually meet the love of your life while running from masked men with machetes, but that’s exactly what happens to Sloan after surviving a ritual killing that left so many of her fellow summer camp counselors dead. Cherry, the only other survivor, becomes a lifeline for Sloan, their traumatic experience bonding them in ways no one else can understand.
As the girls get closer, and Sloan learns more about the motives behind the attack that brought them together, she begins to suspect that Cherry may be more than just a survivor—she may actually have been a part of it. Cherry tries to reassure her, but Sloan only becomes more distraught. Is this gaslighting or reality? Is Cherry a victim or a perpetrator? Is Sloan losing her mind, or seeing things clearly for the first time?
Against all odds, Sloan survived that hot summer night. But will she survive what comes next?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2023
187 people are currently reading
22252 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Dugan
25 books2,135 followersJennifer Dugan is a writer, geek, and romantic who writes the kinds of stories she wishes she had growing up. In addition to being a young adult novelist, she is also the writer/creator of two indie comics. She lives in New York with her family, dogs, and an evil cat that is no doubt planning to take over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 958 reviews
August 13, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Jennifer Dugan's previous YA queer romance novels, including "Hot Dog Girl" and "Some Girls Do." When I discovered that she had ventured into the thriller genre, drawing inspiration from 80s teen slashers like Friday the 13th while incorporating queer/LGBTQ representation, I was instantly intrigued. Without reading any comments or reviews, I eagerly embarked on this chilling ride, ready to be captivated.
Throughout the narrative, Dugan skillfully pays homage to the classic 80s slashers, weaving in references and nods that will delight horror aficionados. As a fan of those iconic movies myself, I relished in the familiar tropes and atmosphere that she expertly recreated. It's evident that Dugan has a deep appreciation for the genre, and her homage to the era shines through.
However, the pacing and execution did present challenges for me. The slow start and difficulty in connecting with the characters hindered my initial engagement with the story. It felt like an uphill battle to become truly invested in the outcome. Nonetheless, I pushed forward, hoping that the momentum would pick up as the plot unfolded.
To my relief, the story did gain momentum as I reached the middle, and the final twist proved to be both clever and thought-provoking. It challenged my assumptions and left me questioning the motives and actions of the characters. While the journey to get there was a bit arduous, the destination was ultimately rewarding.
Despite my reservations, I recognize that this is Dugan's first endeavor into the thriller genre, and it shows potential. With her strong writing skills and knack for creating relatable characters, I am confident that her future works in the YA queer thriller realm will be more polished and compelling. I look forward to witnessing her growth as an author and eagerly anticipate her future releases.
In conclusion, while this particular book may not have fully met my expectations, it still offers an enjoyable read for fans of queer representation and 80s slasher nostalgia. I encourage readers to approach it with an open mind and appreciate the efforts made in diversifying the thriller genre.
I give it three solid stars and express my gratitude to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for granting me the opportunity to delve into this digital reviewer copy and share my honest thoughts.
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Throughout the narrative, Dugan skillfully pays homage to the classic 80s slashers, weaving in references and nods that will delight horror aficionados. As a fan of those iconic movies myself, I relished in the familiar tropes and atmosphere that she expertly recreated. It's evident that Dugan has a deep appreciation for the genre, and her homage to the era shines through.
However, the pacing and execution did present challenges for me. The slow start and difficulty in connecting with the characters hindered my initial engagement with the story. It felt like an uphill battle to become truly invested in the outcome. Nonetheless, I pushed forward, hoping that the momentum would pick up as the plot unfolded.
To my relief, the story did gain momentum as I reached the middle, and the final twist proved to be both clever and thought-provoking. It challenged my assumptions and left me questioning the motives and actions of the characters. While the journey to get there was a bit arduous, the destination was ultimately rewarding.
Despite my reservations, I recognize that this is Dugan's first endeavor into the thriller genre, and it shows potential. With her strong writing skills and knack for creating relatable characters, I am confident that her future works in the YA queer thriller realm will be more polished and compelling. I look forward to witnessing her growth as an author and eagerly anticipate her future releases.
In conclusion, while this particular book may not have fully met my expectations, it still offers an enjoyable read for fans of queer representation and 80s slasher nostalgia. I encourage readers to approach it with an open mind and appreciate the efforts made in diversifying the thriller genre.
I give it three solid stars and express my gratitude to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for granting me the opportunity to delve into this digital reviewer copy and share my honest thoughts.
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December 12, 2025
Past Meg: If you say 'summer camp massacre' in a book synopsis, I am going to read it. 100%, no further info necessary.
Current Meg: I should've gotten further info...
All jokes aside, this is a solid YA Contemporary story focusing on trauma recovery and featuring a Sapphic Romance. Unfortunately, I went into this expecting a Psychological Thriller with a Teen Slasher Twist.
In this story we follow Sloan and Cherry, girlfriends who are the sole survivors of a massacre at a summer camp. Both girls were counselors.
In the aftermath, Sloan, who remembers no tangible details, has been struggling to put the event behind her. She feels like the black spots in her memory are haunting her and she doesn't feel like she can move on until she has answers.
Her girlfriend, Cherry, the only person Sloan feels understands what she's been through, tries to be supportive. She also tries to make Sloan feel safe, but for her part, Cherry is ready to move on. They survived. They need to continue living instead of reliving the past.
As Sloan continues her search for answers, Cherry is right at her side, but after new evidence is revealed, Sloan begins to question just how well she knows Cherry.
The girls only met a few short days before the trauma that ultimately bound them together. Seeing things from a new perspective, Sloan fears that Cherry may have actually been involved in the massacre.
Will Sloan be able to figure out the truth before it's too late, or will Cherry end up being the last girl standing?
This book has a lot of strengths. I did appreciate the story that Dugan created here and I think if you go into it with the right mindset, you could really, really enjoy it.
Sadly, for me, I saved this for Spooky Season, thinking it was more of a Psychological Thriller than an intimate examination of trauma recovery. That may be on me, but a little bit could be blamed on the marketing, IMO.
I did like Dugan's writing. Also, the relationship between Sloan and Cherry felt very real, especially their bond based on their shared trauma. Even though it started quite slow, I was interested in learning more about the characters.
The slow pace continues for the most part, although it does pick up a bit in the later half. The narrative also focuses much more heavily on emotion than action, so be aware of that. Although, for the most part, well executed, it was not what I was expecting, nor in the mood for and I believe my experience was impacted because of that.
I think for Readers who enjoy YA Contemporary stories that focus on trauma and mental health, this could work well. I think a lot of Readers will be intrigued about the mystery surrounding Sloan's missing memories and the truth of what happened at the camp that day.
I will say that the ending was fantastic. The final chapter was my favorite chapter by far. I wish it could have had that level of dark intensity throughout.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. While this wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, I know a lot of Readers out there will enjoy this one!
Current Meg: I should've gotten further info...
All jokes aside, this is a solid YA Contemporary story focusing on trauma recovery and featuring a Sapphic Romance. Unfortunately, I went into this expecting a Psychological Thriller with a Teen Slasher Twist.
In this story we follow Sloan and Cherry, girlfriends who are the sole survivors of a massacre at a summer camp. Both girls were counselors.
In the aftermath, Sloan, who remembers no tangible details, has been struggling to put the event behind her. She feels like the black spots in her memory are haunting her and she doesn't feel like she can move on until she has answers.
Her girlfriend, Cherry, the only person Sloan feels understands what she's been through, tries to be supportive. She also tries to make Sloan feel safe, but for her part, Cherry is ready to move on. They survived. They need to continue living instead of reliving the past.
As Sloan continues her search for answers, Cherry is right at her side, but after new evidence is revealed, Sloan begins to question just how well she knows Cherry.
The girls only met a few short days before the trauma that ultimately bound them together. Seeing things from a new perspective, Sloan fears that Cherry may have actually been involved in the massacre.
Will Sloan be able to figure out the truth before it's too late, or will Cherry end up being the last girl standing?
This book has a lot of strengths. I did appreciate the story that Dugan created here and I think if you go into it with the right mindset, you could really, really enjoy it.
Sadly, for me, I saved this for Spooky Season, thinking it was more of a Psychological Thriller than an intimate examination of trauma recovery. That may be on me, but a little bit could be blamed on the marketing, IMO.
I did like Dugan's writing. Also, the relationship between Sloan and Cherry felt very real, especially their bond based on their shared trauma. Even though it started quite slow, I was interested in learning more about the characters.
The slow pace continues for the most part, although it does pick up a bit in the later half. The narrative also focuses much more heavily on emotion than action, so be aware of that. Although, for the most part, well executed, it was not what I was expecting, nor in the mood for and I believe my experience was impacted because of that.
I think for Readers who enjoy YA Contemporary stories that focus on trauma and mental health, this could work well. I think a lot of Readers will be intrigued about the mystery surrounding Sloan's missing memories and the truth of what happened at the camp that day.
I will say that the ending was fantastic. The final chapter was my favorite chapter by far. I wish it could have had that level of dark intensity throughout.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. While this wasn't necessarily my cup of tea, I know a lot of Readers out there will enjoy this one!
May 25, 2023
This book is extremely problematic in its depiction of trauma, which is abundantly clear in the grand finale. Do we truly not care about the harm we do to those struggling with mental illness? Is an ending like that actually jaw dropping? I thought it was ridiculous, even without considering the implications it made surrounding PTSD. But as someone with C-PTSD, I found it immensely insensitive, as well.
Before I reached the end, I felt the story was stuffed with so much filler that it was splitting at its seams. I soldiered on because I wanted the truth just as much as Sloan did. I do believe this probably could have been a novella. I’d be less sour over my wasted time if it had been.
I didn’t feel the author had a firm grasp on what trauma and tragedy looks like. She tried, but there was very little depth to this. It was more of a superficial attempt to bring emotion into the narrative through a textbook comprehension of those emotions. I do not mean to imply that the author couldn’t have experienced her own tragedy or trauma, but it did not feel like she drew deep from the well of knowledge here. The girls’ codependency was well developed, although annoying at times, but my praise stops there. Everything else was flimsy and frustrating.
Don’t get me wrong. Going into this, I expected it to be more of a fun thriller, rather than a profound one, but if you’re going to take so long to build something, at least bring me out of those chilly shallow waters. This was more of an angsty love story revolving around a shared trauma than an actual thrill ride. I suppose I could have lived with that if I hadn’t hated the ending so much.
I am immensely grateful to Putnam Books, Penguin Teen, and BookishFirst for my copy. All opinions are my own.
Before I reached the end, I felt the story was stuffed with so much filler that it was splitting at its seams. I soldiered on because I wanted the truth just as much as Sloan did. I do believe this probably could have been a novella. I’d be less sour over my wasted time if it had been.
I didn’t feel the author had a firm grasp on what trauma and tragedy looks like. She tried, but there was very little depth to this. It was more of a superficial attempt to bring emotion into the narrative through a textbook comprehension of those emotions. I do not mean to imply that the author couldn’t have experienced her own tragedy or trauma, but it did not feel like she drew deep from the well of knowledge here. The girls’ codependency was well developed, although annoying at times, but my praise stops there. Everything else was flimsy and frustrating.
Don’t get me wrong. Going into this, I expected it to be more of a fun thriller, rather than a profound one, but if you’re going to take so long to build something, at least bring me out of those chilly shallow waters. This was more of an angsty love story revolving around a shared trauma than an actual thrill ride. I suppose I could have lived with that if I hadn’t hated the ending so much.
I am immensely grateful to Putnam Books, Penguin Teen, and BookishFirst for my copy. All opinions are my own.
May 24, 2023
wtf did I just read
November 12, 2024
Sloan and Cherry meet each other as summer camp counselors and immediately become fast friends that quickly evolves into deeper feelings. The girls enjoy getting the camp ready for the kids to arrive the following week and they also like and get along with the other counselors and are having fun while also getting paid for their time. One night their camp is attacked by a man wearing a carved wooden rabbit's mask and swinging a hatchet while killing every person that night except two survivors, Sloan and Cherry (The Last Girls Standing).
A few months later the two girls are inseparable where Sloan has alienated herself from all her former friends since she is just an empty shell living each day in unfathomable fear of the unknown. Their need and love for one another is built on the foundation of two girls surviving a horrific massacre which tore their lives apart while trying to find a so called normal way of thinking and living again. Cherry is the strong one in the relationship while Sloan suffers severe PTSD including daily nightmares where she wakes up screaming night after night. If Cherry is suffering the same way she certainly hides it well. The main reason Sloan depends on Cherry so much is she has no conscious memory of the events that took place that night except for a few, tiny bits and pieces so that everything she knows about the massacre comes from what Cherry has told her since she literally saved Sloan's life when Sloan appeared to have entered a catatonic state of frozen fear and couldn't move a muscle to save herself.
Sloan is trying hypnotherapy hoping to gain her memories back from that night which upsets Cherry since she feels the horrific visions could destroy Sloan even further. Sloan is struggling and wants her memories back so much that she's starting to think some of Cherry's stories aren't adding up and maybe Cherry has lied to her about some things especially when she innocently comes across a couple of odd and inappropriate items at Cherry's house that seem so wrong that Sloan thinks there is so much more that happened that night with her blind spots and maybe Cherry has been lying and possibly involved with the killers in some way. Now, Sloan makes it her mission to discover the truth at all costs especially if her life is on the line once again!
Well,.this was an unexpected type of horror book! I had prepared myself for a gruesome, gory sort of entertainment but this was more of a psychological thriller in my opinion. This certainly wasn't a silly, bloody slasher story but a heavy post traumatic look at one girl's experience with trying to recover from an insurmountable type of tragedy and trauma and making puzzle pieces fit where they don't belong and pushing away all the people who truly care about her because she doesn't want to burden them and also thinks they couldn't possibly understand what she's going through so it's best to stay only with the only person in the world who understands her and is also the only other person in the world except the killer who knows what really happened that night.
The book took a different turn where I was surprised at the depth of emotion which played out. I expected to be horrified with bloody terror but instead I felt such sadness for these girls especially Sloan. I wish more had been explained about what Cherry was going through since it seemed hard to believe that both girls experienced the same brutal tragic night. I wanted to know more of Cherry's story and heartache if any! I felt disconnected to Cherry's trauma since it really wasn't addressed and that was somewhat disappointing for me.
This was an intelligent and unique YA horror but geared for anyone seventeen and up (not younger). All.in all I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to any reader who likes mystery/thriller stories revolving around teenagers and their angst. There were also many funny and cute moments within all the drama so this book was definitely entertaining and a worthwhile read.
I want to thank the publisher "Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 3 1/2 UNEXPECTED SLASHING 🌟🌟🌟 🌠 STARS!!
A few months later the two girls are inseparable where Sloan has alienated herself from all her former friends since she is just an empty shell living each day in unfathomable fear of the unknown. Their need and love for one another is built on the foundation of two girls surviving a horrific massacre which tore their lives apart while trying to find a so called normal way of thinking and living again. Cherry is the strong one in the relationship while Sloan suffers severe PTSD including daily nightmares where she wakes up screaming night after night. If Cherry is suffering the same way she certainly hides it well. The main reason Sloan depends on Cherry so much is she has no conscious memory of the events that took place that night except for a few, tiny bits and pieces so that everything she knows about the massacre comes from what Cherry has told her since she literally saved Sloan's life when Sloan appeared to have entered a catatonic state of frozen fear and couldn't move a muscle to save herself.
Sloan is trying hypnotherapy hoping to gain her memories back from that night which upsets Cherry since she feels the horrific visions could destroy Sloan even further. Sloan is struggling and wants her memories back so much that she's starting to think some of Cherry's stories aren't adding up and maybe Cherry has lied to her about some things especially when she innocently comes across a couple of odd and inappropriate items at Cherry's house that seem so wrong that Sloan thinks there is so much more that happened that night with her blind spots and maybe Cherry has been lying and possibly involved with the killers in some way. Now, Sloan makes it her mission to discover the truth at all costs especially if her life is on the line once again!
Well,.this was an unexpected type of horror book! I had prepared myself for a gruesome, gory sort of entertainment but this was more of a psychological thriller in my opinion. This certainly wasn't a silly, bloody slasher story but a heavy post traumatic look at one girl's experience with trying to recover from an insurmountable type of tragedy and trauma and making puzzle pieces fit where they don't belong and pushing away all the people who truly care about her because she doesn't want to burden them and also thinks they couldn't possibly understand what she's going through so it's best to stay only with the only person in the world who understands her and is also the only other person in the world except the killer who knows what really happened that night.
The book took a different turn where I was surprised at the depth of emotion which played out. I expected to be horrified with bloody terror but instead I felt such sadness for these girls especially Sloan. I wish more had been explained about what Cherry was going through since it seemed hard to believe that both girls experienced the same brutal tragic night. I wanted to know more of Cherry's story and heartache if any! I felt disconnected to Cherry's trauma since it really wasn't addressed and that was somewhat disappointing for me.
This was an intelligent and unique YA horror but geared for anyone seventeen and up (not younger). All.in all I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to any reader who likes mystery/thriller stories revolving around teenagers and their angst. There were also many funny and cute moments within all the drama so this book was definitely entertaining and a worthwhile read.
I want to thank the publisher "Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 3 1/2 UNEXPECTED SLASHING 🌟🌟🌟 🌠 STARS!!
August 18, 2023
Summary: Sloan and Cherry are the only two girls who survived a horrific mass-murder. Now, as Sloan is trying to recover her memories, she grows more and more certain that Cherry is gaslighting her about what really happened that night.
Thoughts: I was expecting a fun slasher book. What I got was two dysfunctional lesbians screaming at each for 75% of the book. I was like, Just break up already! You two are so toxic to one another! I was annoyed at how misleading the cover and blurbs on this book were.
Thoughts: I was expecting a fun slasher book. What I got was two dysfunctional lesbians screaming at each for 75% of the book. I was like, Just break up already! You two are so toxic to one another! I was annoyed at how misleading the cover and blurbs on this book were.
June 25, 2023
This book had every opportunity to be the book that I so wanted it to be. Sloan and Cherry survived masked killers as Summer Camp Counselors. Now, they're working through the survivors' guilt of being the last two left. Sloan has a harder time because her mind has shut out the memory. In search of her memory and the truth, we watch Sloan's rapid mental decline, which honestly just broke my heart.
July 19, 2023
I was so excited for this final girls from a summer camp who survived and then fell in love story, but I’m not sure that I got what I was hoping for. The book was good, although very very weird, and it was a fast read. I think part of my problem was the majority of the action of the story happened before the book began and I was hoping for a little more of that. I will say that the book didn’t go where I was expecting it to and the ending had an interesting twist, but the story itself and the main mystery felt muddled and didn’t have a clear resolution when I wanted one. I love the queer representation, especially in the horror genre where you see it so seldomly, but I didn’t like the relationship and didn’t understand it. It wasn’t a healthy relationship, which did fit the story, but made me regret that queer representation. Overall the book was ok, I gave it 3.5 stars which I rounded up for the twist and I would give this author another shot in the future.
June 20, 2023
Sloan and Cherry go to Camp Money Springs to be counselors after their senior year. They meet there and a romance quickly begins. Just days into their stay a massacre occurs and they are the only two that survive. Sloan goes off the deep end and trouble and mayhem arise.
This was a very creepy read that had me quickly flipping through the pages.
Thanks NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC that will be released August 15, 2023!
This was a very creepy read that had me quickly flipping through the pages.
Thanks NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC that will be released August 15, 2023!
August 9, 2024
I'VE GOT SOME BIG FEELINGS.
this is 100% a horror book. and i had some hopes all the way through, right up until the bitter end, that things would maybe come out alright for the girls, BUT ALAS.
there is no way i can talk abt all my feelings without spoilers, so, the short version is: IT'S WORTH IT if you like queer psycological slow burn horror and are also ready to be SAD.
(and raging. I’m also, absolutely raging).
the spoiler version is:
this was a solid audiobook and a steller performance. justice for cherry, the end.
this is 100% a horror book. and i had some hopes all the way through, right up until the bitter end, that things would maybe come out alright for the girls, BUT ALAS.
there is no way i can talk abt all my feelings without spoilers, so, the short version is: IT'S WORTH IT if you like queer psycological slow burn horror and are also ready to be SAD.
(and raging. I’m also, absolutely raging).
the spoiler version is:
this was a solid audiobook and a steller performance. justice for cherry, the end.
October 7, 2023
The Last Girls Standing did not start off very promising. It was slow, not much was happening and the main event was over before the book even began. So I was starting to think I wouldn't like it, but then the cult storyline got introduced.
If you know me, then you know I love reading about cults and the one here was definitely interesting. That actually helped me to stay focused on the book and make it to the end.
What also helped was the excellent narration, the emotional moments were narrated perfectly.
Something I mind though, is that we didn't get all the answers, or barely any. I'm not a huge fan of books with an open ending, and this did have a partial conclusion, but could've used an epilogue.
I still liked the ending, I felt like that was exactly what the whole book was building up towards and it made perfect sense to me. I also guessed that would happen so yay a point for me!! There were twists I didn't guess, and overall this book pulled through.
I would've originally given this 2 stars for the start (I even wanted to dnf), but ended up enjoying it to about a 4 on the scale, so I'll settle on a 3 star rating.
If you know me, then you know I love reading about cults and the one here was definitely interesting. That actually helped me to stay focused on the book and make it to the end.
What also helped was the excellent narration, the emotional moments were narrated perfectly.
Something I mind though, is that we didn't get all the answers, or barely any. I'm not a huge fan of books with an open ending, and this did have a partial conclusion, but could've used an epilogue.
I still liked the ending, I felt like that was exactly what the whole book was building up towards and it made perfect sense to me. I also guessed that would happen so yay a point for me!! There were twists I didn't guess, and overall this book pulled through.
I would've originally given this 2 stars for the start (I even wanted to dnf), but ended up enjoying it to about a 4 on the scale, so I'll settle on a 3 star rating.
May 16, 2024
This book was intense. Sloane and cherry are the two survivors of a massacre at a summer camp. This is labeled as a psychological thriller but it didn’t really feel like that for me. It was more the trauma and ptsd afterwards. I wasn’t happy with all the things were left not knowing, however, that twist in the end definitely got me. I did not see that coming.
August 16, 2023
Got this book today and basically listened to it nonstop until the end. It was that compelling. This is probably more of a four star read (feels like it ends just one chapter too soon, some subplots that just kind of vanish into the ether, etc.) That said I tore through this book and think its more than the sum of its parts.
I also want to help push up the median rating tbh. I feel like the summary on here sets this book up for failure in terms of attracting the audience that would be into it. It compares this book to One of Us is Lying and also A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder when thematically/structurally this is nothing like those books other than being a YA thriller. Here you are NOT going to find fundamentally decent people caught up in a murder and trying to solve it and eventually we get a pretty tidy conclusion where justice prevails (not knocking those book by the way, I quite enjoyed those as well.) I feel like leading the summary with this book being a queer story might be setting the book up to fail. There’s queerness in the sense that the two characters are girls who are into girls. But I feel like people will read the word queer and assume this is going to be …. Well… fundamentally decent people caught up in a romance and trying to get their happily ever and eventually love prevails.
So here’s what you need to know: Rather than a twisty mystery, this book is much more a character study of an intensely codependent and unhealthy relationship. Where despite all the love they have for each other, I’d say a Sloan and Cherry shipping fanmix would just be that “why you always fuckin lying” song over and over. I won’t say this book didn’t have me on the edge of my seat (it super did) but this premise has way less to do with the vibes of One of Us is Lying and has way more to do with the vibes of Heavenly Creatures or like…/ the Bluebeard fairy tale and other gothic tales.
So yeah. Basically if you’re into watching horror movies that make you squirmy with fascination/revulsion as someone’s’s norms and grip and reality ends up being slowly eroded you might be as intrigued as I was. It’s got that “that slowly boiling frogs” style horror that comes with movies like Midsommar (and that metaphor even gets a shoutout in this book.) Or the descent into misery and codependency like something out of Mona Awad’s Bunny. I’m listing a lot of heavy books and this book isn’t quite as intense as any of these but it definitely hooks into your emotions the way those works do.
I’m spending all this time describing what this book actually is about and what it isn’t about because … I feel like it deserves to find the right audience. Nothing wrong with not being into this book. There’s a kind of desperate grimy feel to it that’s very much an acquired taste. Or a cilantro kind of taste. Maybe reading this will feel like the tasting soap to you.
However, it overall does what it does really well so it feels worthwhile to spell out what it’s actually like so that maybe I can play a small role in helping it find its audience.
I also want to spell something else out: this book isn’t romanticizing the relationship nor is it demonizing the people who have qualms about it. First of all, this book has an unreliable and paranoid narrator so of course she’s going to be skeptical of people like who mother who see the relationship for what it is and try to help her. The main character can barely handle not getting text messages from her girlfriend for an afternoon… do you really think she’s going to think about her mother in a rational way when said mother is trying to put up understandable roadblocks against this relationship? The discomfort felt when the main character brushes off her mother or is snide and combative with her therapist and genuinely supportive friend… that’s very much the point. You’re supposed to be going oh no oh NO. It’s great showing and not telling, frankly. And hell the book tells you outright in dialogue and in prose that they’re codependent and unhealthy.
This book really isn’t “bad rep” either. I totally get not wanting to read a book with bad stuff happening to lesbians or, for that matter, lesbians doing shady things. If this was one of the only books out there with lgbt content I would get the worry a bit more. But there are lots of things out there with “wholesome” rep. Sometimes you just want to watch gay characters spiral out into chaos the same way straight characters gets have gotten to do since time immemorial. Again, I feel like we would have more of a problem here if the characters were meant to be role models but … they really aren’t. Sometimes books for teens are meant to set examples, but sometimes they’re meant to be character studies or an exploration of certain themes.
Okay rant over and peace out
I also want to help push up the median rating tbh. I feel like the summary on here sets this book up for failure in terms of attracting the audience that would be into it. It compares this book to One of Us is Lying and also A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder when thematically/structurally this is nothing like those books other than being a YA thriller. Here you are NOT going to find fundamentally decent people caught up in a murder and trying to solve it and eventually we get a pretty tidy conclusion where justice prevails (not knocking those book by the way, I quite enjoyed those as well.) I feel like leading the summary with this book being a queer story might be setting the book up to fail. There’s queerness in the sense that the two characters are girls who are into girls. But I feel like people will read the word queer and assume this is going to be …. Well… fundamentally decent people caught up in a romance and trying to get their happily ever and eventually love prevails.
So here’s what you need to know: Rather than a twisty mystery, this book is much more a character study of an intensely codependent and unhealthy relationship. Where despite all the love they have for each other, I’d say a Sloan and Cherry shipping fanmix would just be that “why you always fuckin lying” song over and over. I won’t say this book didn’t have me on the edge of my seat (it super did) but this premise has way less to do with the vibes of One of Us is Lying and has way more to do with the vibes of Heavenly Creatures or like…/ the Bluebeard fairy tale and other gothic tales.
So yeah. Basically if you’re into watching horror movies that make you squirmy with fascination/revulsion as someone’s’s norms and grip and reality ends up being slowly eroded you might be as intrigued as I was. It’s got that “that slowly boiling frogs” style horror that comes with movies like Midsommar (and that metaphor even gets a shoutout in this book.) Or the descent into misery and codependency like something out of Mona Awad’s Bunny. I’m listing a lot of heavy books and this book isn’t quite as intense as any of these but it definitely hooks into your emotions the way those works do.
I’m spending all this time describing what this book actually is about and what it isn’t about because … I feel like it deserves to find the right audience. Nothing wrong with not being into this book. There’s a kind of desperate grimy feel to it that’s very much an acquired taste. Or a cilantro kind of taste. Maybe reading this will feel like the tasting soap to you.
However, it overall does what it does really well so it feels worthwhile to spell out what it’s actually like so that maybe I can play a small role in helping it find its audience.
I also want to spell something else out: this book isn’t romanticizing the relationship nor is it demonizing the people who have qualms about it. First of all, this book has an unreliable and paranoid narrator so of course she’s going to be skeptical of people like who mother who see the relationship for what it is and try to help her. The main character can barely handle not getting text messages from her girlfriend for an afternoon… do you really think she’s going to think about her mother in a rational way when said mother is trying to put up understandable roadblocks against this relationship? The discomfort felt when the main character brushes off her mother or is snide and combative with her therapist and genuinely supportive friend… that’s very much the point. You’re supposed to be going oh no oh NO. It’s great showing and not telling, frankly. And hell the book tells you outright in dialogue and in prose that they’re codependent and unhealthy.
This book really isn’t “bad rep” either. I totally get not wanting to read a book with bad stuff happening to lesbians or, for that matter, lesbians doing shady things. If this was one of the only books out there with lgbt content I would get the worry a bit more. But there are lots of things out there with “wholesome” rep. Sometimes you just want to watch gay characters spiral out into chaos the same way straight characters gets have gotten to do since time immemorial. Again, I feel like we would have more of a problem here if the characters were meant to be role models but … they really aren’t. Sometimes books for teens are meant to set examples, but sometimes they’re meant to be character studies or an exploration of certain themes.
Okay rant over and peace out
August 21, 2023
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
My feelings on this book are rather mixed. I needed some time to process this one after finishing it. I wasn’t exactly sure what I really thought about the book as a whole. On one hand, I was really curious to learn what really happened that night that Sloan and Cherry were the only survivors after a massacre at the summer camp they both were working at. Unfortunately on the other hand, the story took a turn that I didn’t expect and I honestly didn’t care for. The ending turned out to be a huge disappointment.
Sloan and Cherry both survived a terrible tragedy at the camp that they were working at and ended up being the only two survivors. Sloan doesn’t remember what happened and wants to get her memories back so that she can move on. Cherry and Sloan met at camp just prior to the tragedy and are now the most important people to one another. Sloan’s mother does not like Cherry at all but their bond remains strong.
Sloan starts to question what really happened that night and starts to doubt those she cares and trusts most of all. She sees connections that may not be there and becomes desperate to find answers. It was hard to see Sloan spiraling out of control but I did want to see her find those answers that she needed. Cherry and Sloan’s relationship felt rather toxic at times and I wondered if maybe Sloan’s mother was right after all.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Mia Hutchinson-Shaw did a wonderful job with the story. I honestly don’t know if I would have liked the book as much as I did without her narration. She did a wonderful job of bringing this group of characters to life. I would not hesitate to listen to more of her narration work in the future.
I think that some readers will like this one a bit more than I did. I do think that the book had some really positive traits but the ending just didn’t work for me at all. I would definitely give this author’s work a try again in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and Penguin Random House Audio.
My feelings on this book are rather mixed. I needed some time to process this one after finishing it. I wasn’t exactly sure what I really thought about the book as a whole. On one hand, I was really curious to learn what really happened that night that Sloan and Cherry were the only survivors after a massacre at the summer camp they both were working at. Unfortunately on the other hand, the story took a turn that I didn’t expect and I honestly didn’t care for. The ending turned out to be a huge disappointment.
Sloan and Cherry both survived a terrible tragedy at the camp that they were working at and ended up being the only two survivors. Sloan doesn’t remember what happened and wants to get her memories back so that she can move on. Cherry and Sloan met at camp just prior to the tragedy and are now the most important people to one another. Sloan’s mother does not like Cherry at all but their bond remains strong.
Sloan starts to question what really happened that night and starts to doubt those she cares and trusts most of all. She sees connections that may not be there and becomes desperate to find answers. It was hard to see Sloan spiraling out of control but I did want to see her find those answers that she needed. Cherry and Sloan’s relationship felt rather toxic at times and I wondered if maybe Sloan’s mother was right after all.
I listened to the audiobook and thought that Mia Hutchinson-Shaw did a wonderful job with the story. I honestly don’t know if I would have liked the book as much as I did without her narration. She did a wonderful job of bringing this group of characters to life. I would not hesitate to listen to more of her narration work in the future.
I think that some readers will like this one a bit more than I did. I do think that the book had some really positive traits but the ending just didn’t work for me at all. I would definitely give this author’s work a try again in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and Penguin Random House Audio.
August 13, 2023
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Kaleidoscopic book tours.
3.5 stars.
The Last Girls Standing is a queer YA thriller book with a clever twist at the end. We follow Sloan and Cherry, who are the only survivors after a killing spree at a summer camp they were working as councillors at. The girls have forged a unique bond in the form of a friendship, support network for each other, and a romantic one, too. The book built up slowly, and I became invested after approximately halfway through. I do think the book could have done with an epilogue at the end to explain (what happened at the end and partly through the book) more to the reader, especially being a YA book but I can't say why without giving away spoilers so I won't mention why. This did knock me at the end as I didn't expect the ending. A great first step into the thriller genre for the author though and I look forward to what she writes next.
3.5 stars.
The Last Girls Standing is a queer YA thriller book with a clever twist at the end. We follow Sloan and Cherry, who are the only survivors after a killing spree at a summer camp they were working as councillors at. The girls have forged a unique bond in the form of a friendship, support network for each other, and a romantic one, too. The book built up slowly, and I became invested after approximately halfway through. I do think the book could have done with an epilogue at the end to explain (what happened at the end and partly through the book) more to the reader, especially being a YA book but I can't say why without giving away spoilers so I won't mention why. This did knock me at the end as I didn't expect the ending. A great first step into the thriller genre for the author though and I look forward to what she writes next.
October 17, 2023
What in the hell and fuck
Idk if this rating is even accurate, I am so stunned I can’t even decide if I liked this or not ahaha
Idk if this rating is even accurate, I am so stunned I can’t even decide if I liked this or not ahaha
June 24, 2023
The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan follows Sloan and Cherry, the only two survivors of a summer camp massacre. Bonded by trauma, these two characters rely on each other heavily in the months that follow the event. But when new evidence about the crime begins to surface, Sloan begins to wonder how truthful Cherry is being about what happened. Sloan begins her own investigation to try and recover her own memories about the night and decide what the truth is.
This had so many buzz words for me to be excited about. A queer slasher that takes place at a summer camp? Yes! But unfortunately, this book missed for me on almost all levels. Judging other early reviews, I don’t think I’m alone in seeing this trauma representation as very poor. This is a YA book but I could never recommend it to a teenage reader. The characters are also very bland. I never felt connected to either of them in any way. As a reader, I felt very distant.
Sloan is very wishy washy about her feelings about trusting Cherry. Which may have been compelling if it was mentioned once. But it’s an ongoing conversation throughout the entire book. I only read this book because I was curious about how it would end. But I found myself very underwhelmed by the ending because it didn’t seem to fit the narrative at all.
Truly very disappointed in this book as it was one of my most anticipated summer reads.
Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This had so many buzz words for me to be excited about. A queer slasher that takes place at a summer camp? Yes! But unfortunately, this book missed for me on almost all levels. Judging other early reviews, I don’t think I’m alone in seeing this trauma representation as very poor. This is a YA book but I could never recommend it to a teenage reader. The characters are also very bland. I never felt connected to either of them in any way. As a reader, I felt very distant.
Sloan is very wishy washy about her feelings about trusting Cherry. Which may have been compelling if it was mentioned once. But it’s an ongoing conversation throughout the entire book. I only read this book because I was curious about how it would end. But I found myself very underwhelmed by the ending because it didn’t seem to fit the narrative at all.
Truly very disappointed in this book as it was one of my most anticipated summer reads.
Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of its release. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 3, 2023
i am so sorry but this was the absolute worst (and nonsensical) ending to a book i have ever read
July 30, 2023
⭐️
𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙔𝘼 𝙥𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙.
Yikes 😬 if you know me, you know I despise giving anything less than two stars, but I just really did not enjoy this book. I always feel guilty DNF’ing a review copy that was sent to me so I pushed through this.
I read the synopsis beforehand and it sounded like something I would absolutely enjoy. I love the summer camp vibes these books give, but I really wish it was stronger in this one.
We follow Sloan and Cherry, the only two survivors from a summer camp massacre. I love that the book has LGBTQ+ representation with these characters, but oh man, their relationship was toxic. I couldn’t root for either of them, let alone their feelings toward one another.
This is a YA book so I wasn’t expecting anything too exciting, but I am completely disappointed in this story. There’s so much repetitiveness with Sloan not trusting Cherry and it got overwhelming.
I honestly couldn’t get attached to this story. I was hoping it would eventually pick up, but it just couldn’t keep my attention. Also, the ending had me rolling my eyes… what in the actual heck was that… why…
Without a doubt, this author is very talented and writes very well. I’m sure Dugan’s other books are worth the read, but I honestly just couldn’t get attached to this one. I wish I had cared and enjoyed it more than I did, but unfortunately, my feelings toward it were lackluster. Maybe someone else will enjoy it a lot more, but I was hoping it was going to be a fun “summer camp” thriller 😭
Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the review eARC and BookishFirst for the giveaway win in exchange for my honest review!
𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙔𝘼 𝙥𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙥 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙.
Yikes 😬 if you know me, you know I despise giving anything less than two stars, but I just really did not enjoy this book. I always feel guilty DNF’ing a review copy that was sent to me so I pushed through this.
I read the synopsis beforehand and it sounded like something I would absolutely enjoy. I love the summer camp vibes these books give, but I really wish it was stronger in this one.
We follow Sloan and Cherry, the only two survivors from a summer camp massacre. I love that the book has LGBTQ+ representation with these characters, but oh man, their relationship was toxic. I couldn’t root for either of them, let alone their feelings toward one another.
This is a YA book so I wasn’t expecting anything too exciting, but I am completely disappointed in this story. There’s so much repetitiveness with Sloan not trusting Cherry and it got overwhelming.
I honestly couldn’t get attached to this story. I was hoping it would eventually pick up, but it just couldn’t keep my attention. Also, the ending had me rolling my eyes… what in the actual heck was that… why…
Without a doubt, this author is very talented and writes very well. I’m sure Dugan’s other books are worth the read, but I honestly just couldn’t get attached to this one. I wish I had cared and enjoyed it more than I did, but unfortunately, my feelings toward it were lackluster. Maybe someone else will enjoy it a lot more, but I was hoping it was going to be a fun “summer camp” thriller 😭
Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Teen for the review eARC and BookishFirst for the giveaway win in exchange for my honest review!
June 23, 2023
Thank you to Putnam Books and Jennifer Dugan for my copy of this book. The premise was amazing, about Sloan and Cherry, the only two survivors of a summer camp massacre leaving all the rest of their fellow counselors dead. Months later, the two are dating and bound by the trauma they faced. But as more information comes out about the ritual killings that they survived, Sloan starts to suspect that Cherry is more than just a survivor. Could she be part of it? Is Cherry really a victim or is Sloan slowly losing her mind? And is it all really over, or is there still more to come?
Thoughts: This book wasn’t the slasher I thought it would be. I mean, it was, but there was a lot more going on in this story. It felt like a classic 80s horror movie with LGBTQ representation. However all the characters were shallow and one dimensional. I think the author wanted to show the layers that come with trauma, but the characters were all frustrating and a bit stereotypical.
This book was about trauma, fear, and the way we cope with bad things in our lives. It depicted PTSD well, but I think there were a few too many stereotypes of mental health problems. The ending felt rushed and I felt ripped off after being just as excited at Sloan to see where the book would end. The book was more about an extremely toxic relationship than the mystery, so it was a let down for me. 3-stars.
Thoughts: This book wasn’t the slasher I thought it would be. I mean, it was, but there was a lot more going on in this story. It felt like a classic 80s horror movie with LGBTQ representation. However all the characters were shallow and one dimensional. I think the author wanted to show the layers that come with trauma, but the characters were all frustrating and a bit stereotypical.
This book was about trauma, fear, and the way we cope with bad things in our lives. It depicted PTSD well, but I think there were a few too many stereotypes of mental health problems. The ending felt rushed and I felt ripped off after being just as excited at Sloan to see where the book would end. The book was more about an extremely toxic relationship than the mystery, so it was a let down for me. 3-stars.
May 20, 2023
I was so BEYOND excited for this review. A thriller centered around queer kids who actually like each other? Sign me up! I expected a massacre at a summer camp thriller, and was thoroughly disappointed. I got a slow paced story with an unhealthy queer relationship and an annoying main character. Not to mention the ending ruined the whole book for me! Maybe it would have been three stars if that ended better.
Cherry and Sloan were trauma-bonded, yes, but their relationship was so entirely toxic. It lasted less than a week and they experienced a horrible experience and were all like “oh yes, we’re soulmates and I can’t be without you”. And maybe that’s my own opinion about clingy ass relationships, but Sloan literally stopped talking to EVERYONE in her life except for Cherry. She was gaslit by everyone, not to mention, which caused her to go utterly psychopathic.
And then all for that for her to go kill Cherry because she understood it all??? Like what ? I didn’t even understand it, it was all too much too fast.
Maybe if the book was more focused on the mystery and less on the clingy relationship (noticed some very similar traits in the book to those I have witnessed who are very toxic people) and the haziness. I miss Natasha Preston. As much as I really enjoyed the concept, I just didn’t appreciate the execution.
Thank you Penguin Teen Publishing and Bookishfirst for the ARC, I had a blast reading and reviewing, even if I didn’t enjoy the book all together.
Cherry and Sloan were trauma-bonded, yes, but their relationship was so entirely toxic. It lasted less than a week and they experienced a horrible experience and were all like “oh yes, we’re soulmates and I can’t be without you”. And maybe that’s my own opinion about clingy ass relationships, but Sloan literally stopped talking to EVERYONE in her life except for Cherry. She was gaslit by everyone, not to mention, which caused her to go utterly psychopathic.
And then all for that for her to go kill Cherry because she understood it all??? Like what ? I didn’t even understand it, it was all too much too fast.
Maybe if the book was more focused on the mystery and less on the clingy relationship (noticed some very similar traits in the book to those I have witnessed who are very toxic people) and the haziness. I miss Natasha Preston. As much as I really enjoyed the concept, I just didn’t appreciate the execution.
Thank you Penguin Teen Publishing and Bookishfirst for the ARC, I had a blast reading and reviewing, even if I didn’t enjoy the book all together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2024
3,5* mas deixei 4 invés de 3 pq tem alguns pontos que se acontecem em histórias acabam se tornando melhores pra mim e nesse aqui teve vários desses. adoro quando ficamos confusos sem saber o que tá rolando assim como a protagonista, adoro narradores não necessáriamente confiáveis e adoro livros que permanecem na nossa cabeça e nos fazem pensar e analisar tudo. ah, e o mais importante, adoro sáficas.
July 17, 2023
I feel bad giving this book a one-star rating-- those are usually reserved for books I DNF. That being said, this book was not for me. You can probably tell by the fact that I started it at the very end of May and finished it half-way through July.
The Last Girls Standing follows two lone survivors of a summer camp massacre, Sloan and Cherry, who trauma bond and date. Sloan doesn't really remember what happened during the massacre-- but Cherry does. And Sloan doubts Cherry is telling her the full story. Desperate to find out what really happened, Sloan does some sleuthing on her own.
It has a fascinating premise, but here's the thing: it was done poorly.
Showing the effects of trauma wasn't done well-- I've been skimming other reviews and I think there's a general consensus that the representation was poor. I felt very disconnected to the characters and they weren't even likeable, which, if you've read any other review of mine, you'd know is the most important to me.
The book's not long, and miraculously, that screwed with the pacing. Nothing happens for the first half of the book, and the second half is just me side-eyeing everyone in the book. The books not long enough for me to see any literary justification for the extremely rushed ending.
I didn't like this book. I don't really DNF books anymore, but I was very close to doing that. The only reason I didn't was because by the time I read a third of the book, there wasn't much really left, so I just kind of went "why not?"
I'm sure that this book has it's own audience, but I wasn't a part of the demographic that would enjoy this.
I received an e-ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Girls Standing follows two lone survivors of a summer camp massacre, Sloan and Cherry, who trauma bond and date. Sloan doesn't really remember what happened during the massacre-- but Cherry does. And Sloan doubts Cherry is telling her the full story. Desperate to find out what really happened, Sloan does some sleuthing on her own.
It has a fascinating premise, but here's the thing: it was done poorly.
Showing the effects of trauma wasn't done well-- I've been skimming other reviews and I think there's a general consensus that the representation was poor. I felt very disconnected to the characters and they weren't even likeable, which, if you've read any other review of mine, you'd know is the most important to me.
The book's not long, and miraculously, that screwed with the pacing. Nothing happens for the first half of the book, and the second half is just me side-eyeing everyone in the book. The books not long enough for me to see any literary justification for the extremely rushed ending.
I didn't like this book. I don't really DNF books anymore, but I was very close to doing that. The only reason I didn't was because by the time I read a third of the book, there wasn't much really left, so I just kind of went "why not?"
I'm sure that this book has it's own audience, but I wasn't a part of the demographic that would enjoy this.
I received an e-ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 26, 2023
2.5 🌟
This unfortunately was so incredibly disappointing. I was really looking forward to this book. The premise sounded fantastic, I love the final girl trope. In the end this book just failed to deliver.
The nice thing is book is really short so if you are just looking for a quick spooky/slasher read it's perfect for that. However with how short this book is, the pacing was way off for me. We enter the story after the massacre and we are trying to piece together what Sloans real memory is. Thru ought we are questioning the true intentions of Cherry. The flashbacks we did get I just ended up not caring.
I do believe there is a book for everyone, this will find its audience just sadly it was not me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin, and Putnam for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
This unfortunately was so incredibly disappointing. I was really looking forward to this book. The premise sounded fantastic, I love the final girl trope. In the end this book just failed to deliver.
The nice thing is book is really short so if you are just looking for a quick spooky/slasher read it's perfect for that. However with how short this book is, the pacing was way off for me. We enter the story after the massacre and we are trying to piece together what Sloans real memory is. Thru ought we are questioning the true intentions of Cherry. The flashbacks we did get I just ended up not caring.
I do believe there is a book for everyone, this will find its audience just sadly it was not me.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin, and Putnam for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
August 11, 2023
WHAT the FUCK….! I - what - huh - um - what did I just read. WOW. What an ending!!!
You know what, I read most of this like “what a fun YA slasher horror book, good stuff good stuff, love a traumatized girlie trying to figure out if her girlfriend was in on the summer camp mass murder they survived together, what a fun time” but…!!!
Yes that’s the sound of my horrified cackling you’re hearing.
Also fwiw the publication date for this is listed as 8/15 but I absolutely saw it on a display table in a bookstore about (checks phone) three hours ago so your moment is here!!
You know what, I read most of this like “what a fun YA slasher horror book, good stuff good stuff, love a traumatized girlie trying to figure out if her girlfriend was in on the summer camp mass murder they survived together, what a fun time” but…!!!
Yes that’s the sound of my horrified cackling you’re hearing.
Also fwiw the publication date for this is listed as 8/15 but I absolutely saw it on a display table in a bookstore about (checks phone) three hours ago so your moment is here!!
February 14, 2024
⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️ 5 Stars • this book is so so good from beginning to end. the ending definitely shocked me and emotionally rocked me. I felt like i was on an emotional rollercoaster but in the most fun way possible.
May 5, 2023
I was not impressed with this book. I was promised a cultish murder mystery and I got… a traumatize girl going psycho.
The opening was incredibly slow and nothing major happens until like 100 pages in. And then when things do start happening, everyone brushed Sloan off like her suspicions don’t hold any possibility and that maybe she needs to really see that things are coincidence.
And then we get to the end and Sloan kills Cherry because in the span of two pages suddenly the cult stuff makes sense to her. Like.. what?
The opening was incredibly slow and nothing major happens until like 100 pages in. And then when things do start happening, everyone brushed Sloan off like her suspicions don’t hold any possibility and that maybe she needs to really see that things are coincidence.
And then we get to the end and Sloan kills Cherry because in the span of two pages suddenly the cult stuff makes sense to her. Like.. what?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2025
I was gonna give 2 stars for the lesbians, but even the LGBT couldn’t save this book.
January 30, 2025
reading this made me wish i had never learned to read
August 8, 2023
3.5 stars for me. The Last Girls Standing is a quick paced thriller, focused on Cherry and Sloan, the final girls from a horrific murder at a summer camp.
This is the first book I have read from this author and I really enjoyed the writing. I feel like the action and pace was well done. I am honestly still a bit baffled at the ending, and I feel like things went from 0 to 100 in the final 20 pages, but I would definitely read another thriller from this author.
Throughout it all, we see that the relationship between Sloan and Cherry is super codependent and unhealthy. But I love the queer rep - give me more queer-normative horror/thriller books please!
Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending an arc to me.
This is the first book I have read from this author and I really enjoyed the writing. I feel like the action and pace was well done. I am honestly still a bit baffled at the ending, and I feel like things went from 0 to 100 in the final 20 pages, but I would definitely read another thriller from this author.
Throughout it all, we see that the relationship between Sloan and Cherry is super codependent and unhealthy. But I love the queer rep - give me more queer-normative horror/thriller books please!
Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending an arc to me.
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