Pretty Drastic Noise Control Technique

 

TITLE: The Blonde Dies First

AUTHOR: Joelle Wellington

PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

PUBLISHING DATE: July 30, 2024

PAGES: 336   

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: A group of friends fight to choose their own fates in this trope-savvy, self-referential young adult thriller from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games , about a demonic force that acts according to horror movie rules in the spirit of the Scream movies. 

Devon is always being left behind by her genius twin sister, Drew. At this point, it’s a fact of life. But Devon has one last plan before Drew leaves for college a whole year early—The Best Summer Ever. After committing to the bit a little too much, the twins and their chaotic circle of friends learn why you don’t ever mess with a Ouija board if you want to actually survive the Best Summer Ever, and soon find themselves being hunted down by…a demon? 

But while there’s no mistaking the creeping, venomous figure is not from around here, their method doesn’t feel very demonic at all. In fact, it’s downright human—going after them in typical slasher movie kill order. And that means Devon, the blonde, is up first and her decade-long crush, Yaya, is the Final Girl who must kill or be killed to end the cycle. 

Devon has never liked playing by anyone else’s rules though, not even a demon's, and the longer this goes on, the more she feels Drew and Yaya slipping away from her even as she tries to help them all survive. Can they use their horror movie knowledge to flip the script and become the hunters instead of the hunted? Or will their best summer ever be their last?

MY THOUGHTS: I read this as a choice for a Facebook horror book club I belong to.  I've been interested in it for a while, but I have to admit, it wasn't what I expected, and I sort of struggled to get through it.  

Devon is trying to plan an epic summer.  School is out and her twin sister, Drew has graduated a year early.  Devon knows her brilliant sister is moving on to bigger and better things so she wants their friend group to have one last hurrah.  However, the summer starts with a party at the home of Drew's elite private school classmates.  Devon's friends don't know what to expect but attend anyways.  They expected pretentious kids, drugs and some alcohol but never planned for an encounter with a Ouija board which starts the summer off with a demonic filled fight for survival. 

I thought this book was a slasher. I mean, the cover screams slasher right?  However, the friend group is trying to navigate the tropes of a supernatural demon movie, all the time trying to survive.  This book didn't make a whole lot of sense at time.  They were trying to follow the rules of a cult famous horror movie they loved, but every twist and turn throws something in the way.  And while I appreciated the inclusiveness in the book, it also felt like the author was trying too hard to check off all the right boxes.  I didn't really care for any of the kids and the relationship drama between Drew and Devon was oversold and quickly became redundant. The ending was also a letdown and the motivation behind everything weak at best.

I think anyone who enjoys YA horror would be interested in at least giving this one a go.  I think the author did a lot of job talking about classism and provided some good social commentary, but sometimes, this gal just wants some good old slasher excitement.

MY RATING: 3 Paws