“This heart-pounding slasher by New York Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation Kalynn Bayron is perfect for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson’s White Smoke, Friday the 13th, The Haunting of Bly Manor and Get Out.

Charity Curtis has the summer job of her dreams, playing the “final girl” at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business.

But in the last weekend of the season, Charity’s co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity’s role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they’ll need to figure out what this killer is after. Is there more to the story of Mirror Lake and its dangerous past than Charity ever suspected?”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron. You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight was published by Bloomsbury YA on 20th June 2023 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats. I chose to read a free eARC of You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight but that has in no way influenced my review.

Regular visitors to the blog may be aware that as well as being a crime fiction nut, I also love a dash of horror fiction, in particular anything slashery! So when an author I’ve had on my radar for a while publishes a new YA slasher novel – You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight – I, of course, jumped at the chance to read it. I’ve been wanting to read one of Kalynn Bayron’s books for a while now. Both my daughter and I have been eyeing up Cinderella Is Dead since it arrived in our local library (it’s always out on loan though so we haven’t had a chance to borrow it yet!). But Cinderella can wait for now because it’s all about Charity and Bezi at creepy Camp Mirror Lake.

Charity has landed the job of her dreams. She and a few of her friends are the cast at Camp Mirror Lake, a full-contact horror game based on a cult movie from the early 80s. Charity is the ‘final girl’, a role she believes was made for her. The friends plot and plan every night coming up with new, terrifying ways of scaring their guests. But as the end of the season approaches and the camp starts to wind down, things take a strange turn. When one of Charity’s friends is attacked and left for dead, Charity knows the group are in terrible danger. Cut off from the outside world, it’s down to Charity to keep everyone safe. But Camp Mirror Lake and it’s dark, deadly history have other plans…

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight (brilliant title!) is a gripping, well-paced YA horror novel which I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of.  It’s a dark tale with multiple, unexpected twists and turns, shedloads of tension and a cast of fascinating, well-drawn characters. I loved Charity and her girlfriend, Bezi. Charity completely stole the show and I had everything hanging on her making it out of Camp Mirror Lake alive. When realisation dawns and the situation the group are in becomes clear, it’s Charity who steps up and takes charge. From there we watch as things escalate. Bayron takes the slasher trope and gives it a bloody good shake and ends up with a story that’s highly original and unlike anything I’ve read before.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I enjoyed every moment of You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight. It’s a fairly short read so once you pick it up, chances are you won’t be putting it down again until you’ve closed the back cover. Full of tension, mystery and suspense. With bucketloads of fear, menace and foreboding, this YA thriller was fully engaging, well-written and highly compelling. I’m still reeling from one particular twist which turns the story on its head and takes the reader off in a different direction. Despite still not being over it, I loved how the story concluded and found it a satisfying, emotional denouement. You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight delivers so much more than initially expected and I cannot wait to read more from this author soon. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron was published in the UK by Bloomsbury YA on 20th June 2023 and is available in paperback, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | Foyles | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Kalynn Bayron is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the YA fantasy novels CINDERELLA IS DEAD and THIS POISON HEART. Her latest works include the YA fantasy THIS WICKED FATE and the middle grade paranormal adventure THE VANQUISHERS. She is a CILIP Carnegie Medal Nominee, a two-time CYBILS Award nominee, and the recipient of the 2022 Randall Keenan Award for Black LGBTQ fiction. She is a classically trained vocalist and musical theater enthusiast. When she’s not writing you can find her watching scary movies and spending time with her family.