A review by musingsbymichelle
The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington

medium-paced

4.0

Wow, I liked this so much!!! I’m a big horror movie fan and Joelle Wellington is definitely one too. Come for the Scream references and stay for all the other horror film trivia, tropes, and nods.

This is a fast-paced slasher that takes place in Brooklyn and follows a group of friends who end up being hunted by an entity. Told with wit, this found family is trying to have a great summer together while dealing with growing up, change, crushes — y’know, all the normal things teens go through, but oh! also!!! something seems to be going after each of them in the order of normal horror tropes starting with the blond and ending with the final girl.

There’s some repetitiveness with the main character’s fixation with “The Best Summer Ever” but this isn’t new for a young adult novel. These are kids dealing with big feelings which does come with circular, intrusive thoughts… that don’t really go away with adulthood. If you can stick with the naviete of the cast of characters, you’ll be rewarded with a fun YA horror story!