Reviews

First Date by R.L. Stine

angel_eva's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

hollsbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.0

fearnerd's review against another edition

2.0

Chelsea Richards is new to Shadyside and doesn't have a lot going for her. She's a band nerd, she only has one friend, she's constantly reminded about being a heavier girl (even by her mom), and she's never been on a date! This last point seems crazy after so many guys seemingly lunge after Chelsea with lust in their hearts. There are a lot of handsy fellas in Shadyside that don't understand the meaning of "no."

Fortunately (or unfortunately), Chelsea meets new guy Will, who seems to be interested in Chelsea and even takes her out on her first date. Unbeknownst to Chelsea, Will is a serial killer with mommy issues, and he's constantly looking for the opportunity to strangle her. Will he succeed, and if so, can he dispose of her body successfully because she's not a "lighter" girl as some of his previous victims?

Let's run down those YA Thriller Totals:

1 dead body (mentioned)
1 dead kitten

Saxophone fu
Cigarette fu
Lead pipe fu
Phone fu
Grill fu
Vase fu

Gratuitous exposition
Gratuitous cat-calling
Gratuitous grabby men
Gratuitous use of the word "date"

Hanky Panky: We get a steamy makeout session, and several other instances of kissing.

Prior Book Cameos: Town tramp Suki Thomas is still around, stealing boyfriends.

Book Cover: Will is preparing to strangle an unsuspecting Chelsea. It's okay.

⭐️⭐️ out of 5. Fear Nerd says, "Maybe check it out!"

tablife's review against another edition

4.0

The 16th Fear Street novel begins its first chapter from the killers perspective as he ultimately makes a decision to head to Shadyside. However, with two new boys in town, it isn't immediately clear who Chelsea should be wary of.

maya_b's review against another edition

2.0

This is written okay, and quite easy to read, but there was a lot of sexual assault and some body and slut shaming that I disliked greatly. Also all the relationships felt really strange. Especially the mother-daughter-relationship. Do they like each other? Do they hate each other? While reading it felt like the mother did not care for Chelsea at all, but at the same time it felt like the book wanted me to think of them as a friendly relationship? I don't know. also Chelsea was very self centered and hypocritical at points. The ending was stronger than the beginning, and the story was alright, but there were a lot of things I disliked or thought were quite convenient for the story but I felt like made no sense from what I already knew.

amyacowan's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

mowkneekah's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.25

jamie29's review against another edition

4.0

Okay this book is different. So the main character Chelsea works at this restaurant with her dad. They just moved to town. She is a normal high school girl. She hates the way she looks. And wishes she can get a boyfriend.


One night her dad’s restaurant gets robbed and her dad gets hit in the head. And on that night a mysterious boy walks in and he asks her out on a date. She doesn’t say anything and her dad interrupt her and this mysterious boy. He leaves without eating his food.

He comes back and he doesn’t ask her out again. And he hates his self for it.


I have to say there is this part of the book where this boy kills a kitten. And I hate that this book will be one less star because of that. I don’t like animals abuse in books.

So the FBI has came by Chelsea’s house looking for someone. They describe the person too her and she thinks it’s Sparks, but I am thinking it’s Will. The FBI agent said that they guy enrolls himself into high schools.

Will has this vendetta against his mom and sister and that is why he kills girls. So Sparks comes in the restaurant and Chelsea call’s the FBI.

So the plot twist was really good in this book. I like the way it ended and that she got to say sorry to Sparks. That she got the date that she deserved. And also that her and Nina were okay at the end of the book.

All in all this was a really good book and I enjoyed it, but the only part that bother me was that he killed the little kitty.

bwaybexy's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

3.0

tyler_j's review against another edition

3.25

I liked it and quite the page turner when it gets going.