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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5/5 ⭐️
Best way for me to describe this was that it was mid. It was fine. I kept reading. But it wasn’t great. The first big chunk had the tone of Billie Ellish’s new album: slow and melancholy. And while it took a hard pivot in the final 25% and I enjoyed part 3 the most, it still was mid and not at all scary or thrilling. I’ve read another book by this author and that one was way more thrilling than this. I liked the idea and the twist, but the lead up execution fell short. It was fine. I finished it and wasn’t dragging my feet. But it wasn’t great.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
Best way for me to describe this was that it was mid. It was fine. I kept reading. But it wasn’t great. The first big chunk had the tone of Billie Ellish’s new album: slow and melancholy. And while it took a hard pivot in the final 25% and I enjoyed part 3 the most, it still was mid and not at all scary or thrilling. I’ve read another book by this author and that one was way more thrilling than this. I liked the idea and the twist, but the lead up execution fell short. It was fine. I finished it and wasn’t dragging my feet. But it wasn’t great.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.
This was quite the tangled web until about the last quarter or so when everything starts coming together. Definitely a slow burn paranormal suspense.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nightmares. It gave me nightmares. That’s a good thing for a book like this.
First off, I’m still recovering from the ending. Like, I’m pretty sure I’ll be side-eyeing every shadow and suspicious creak in my house for the next, oh, eternity. Thanks for that, Vincent Ralph.
This book is like that one rollercoaster you swear you’ll never get on because it looks like a death trap—but then you find yourself strapped in anyway, screaming your head off. And when it's all over, you're like, "Let’s do it again!"
The story follows Nate Campbell, a teenager whose family used to live one street over from Cherry Tree Lane, aka Murder Road. For six decades, houses on this street have been dropping bodies like it's a sport. Enter the Hiding Boy—a ghost with a grudge and apparently a lot of free time. This spirit is like the worst kind of game night host: he makes the rules, they’re always unfair, and oh yeah, you might die.
Nate thought he was just moving to a new town and maybe making a few new friends. When he gets sucked into his new friends’ urban legend club, things get even twistier. Now, if this were a movie, this is where you'd yell at the screen, “Don’t do it, Nate!” But, of course, he does it.
The novel is a masterclass in building tension—each page is like opening a door in a haunted house. You know something’s coming, but you’re not sure from where or when it’ll strike. The characters are well-drawn and relatable—until they start doing that classic horror movie thing where they ignore every warning sign. But that’s part of the fun, right? It’s like yelling at your friend not to text their ex at 2 AM—they’re gonna do it, and it’s gonna be messy.
Ralph’s writing is razor-sharp, blending the nostalgia of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps with the creepy, modern edge of urban legends you’d swear you heard from a friend of a friend. So, if you like your horror with a side of “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!” this book is for you—though you might want to keep a nightlight on, just in case.
This book is like that one rollercoaster you swear you’ll never get on because it looks like a death trap—but then you find yourself strapped in anyway, screaming your head off. And when it's all over, you're like, "Let’s do it again!"
The story follows Nate Campbell, a teenager whose family used to live one street over from Cherry Tree Lane, aka Murder Road. For six decades, houses on this street have been dropping bodies like it's a sport. Enter the Hiding Boy—a ghost with a grudge and apparently a lot of free time. This spirit is like the worst kind of game night host: he makes the rules, they’re always unfair, and oh yeah, you might die.
Nate thought he was just moving to a new town and maybe making a few new friends. When he gets sucked into his new friends’ urban legend club, things get even twistier. Now, if this were a movie, this is where you'd yell at the screen, “Don’t do it, Nate!” But, of course, he does it.
The novel is a masterclass in building tension—each page is like opening a door in a haunted house. You know something’s coming, but you’re not sure from where or when it’ll strike. The characters are well-drawn and relatable—until they start doing that classic horror movie thing where they ignore every warning sign. But that’s part of the fun, right? It’s like yelling at your friend not to text their ex at 2 AM—they’re gonna do it, and it’s gonna be messy.
Ralph’s writing is razor-sharp, blending the nostalgia of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps with the creepy, modern edge of urban legends you’d swear you heard from a friend of a friend. So, if you like your horror with a side of “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!” this book is for you—though you might want to keep a nightlight on, just in case.
“Ready or not. Whatever you do. The Hiding Boy is coming for you.”
I have been exploring more YA horror lately, but I didn't want this one to end!
It's about loyalty, and friendship, and tricksters. There's almost always a trickster in a horror story and if it's done right, you will be shocked. Not fooled, maybe, but still...shocked. And this one was done right!
Nate is the new kid in town, trying very hard to be invisible, when he's spotted by Max. Max is the unofficial leader of the Hellhole Chasers, a trio that is on a mission to verify or disprove urban legends. Nate and his family are running from one particularly nasty string of murders connected to their former residence on Cherry Tree Lane,. famously known as Murder Road. Now the trio is a quartet and some local urban legends are coming true.
The book is divided into three parts, and the second part slips into paranormal happenings. While I'm not a fan of paranormal, this section had the most vivid and horrific descriptions. but it was necessary for the emotional denouement of part three. Well emotional for me, but maybe I just had something in my eye.
I recommend you read this book with the lights on. And remember..."he's coming for you."
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy.
I have been exploring more YA horror lately, but I didn't want this one to end!
It's about loyalty, and friendship, and tricksters. There's almost always a trickster in a horror story and if it's done right, you will be shocked. Not fooled, maybe, but still...shocked. And this one was done right!
Nate is the new kid in town, trying very hard to be invisible, when he's spotted by Max. Max is the unofficial leader of the Hellhole Chasers, a trio that is on a mission to verify or disprove urban legends. Nate and his family are running from one particularly nasty string of murders connected to their former residence on Cherry Tree Lane,. famously known as Murder Road. Now the trio is a quartet and some local urban legends are coming true.
The book is divided into three parts, and the second part slips into paranormal happenings. While I'm not a fan of paranormal, this section had the most vivid and horrific descriptions. but it was necessary for the emotional denouement of part three. Well emotional for me, but maybe I just had something in my eye.
I recommend you read this book with the lights on. And remember..."he's coming for you."
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm all about spooky urban legends, and this was just what I was looking for! Even though it is a YA novel, it didn't read that way for me (in a good way). This was a really slow burn, and at times a bit confusing. However, about 3/4 of the way through, things take quite a turn and all the questions I may have had were answered. The ending was Goosebumps-like, and I absolutely loved it. Great book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Murder
Minor: Animal death, Bullying
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated