There were so many twists to this - some I saw coming but others were total surprises.

I did not like there being no chapters. It meant reading it on kindle was hard work. No natural stopping place.

I enjoy Sagers writing style and how he built the story. It was very entertaining.

I’m a huge fan of Riley Sager and a new book from him is always an event. Survive the Night doesn’t disappoint, containing the same lean prose and breakneck pace as his previous books, though this time he leans even more into the movies with an MC who loves films just as much as Sager clearly does. I loved the unreliable narrator aspect of this book, and couldn’t wait to see where the plot went. Although some of the key twists became a little predictable, the epilogue is masterful and had me grinning. Another fantastic thriller from Sager.

SUCH a compelling thriller. The unreliable narrative adds so much suspense and uncertainty to the story. The plot was awesome; finely tuned and well played. Charlie the MC is fierce and the twists and turns of this spectacular car journey had me finishing the book in mere hours. It’s a little bit contrived in places but it doesn’t take away from the excellent story.

I really enjoyed this book, it seemed to culminate early but then the story wound up and exploded in a direction. It was engaging and really pulled you along!

If you like infuriatingly stupid characters, I guess this book is for you. The concept was interesting: that I liked. But the writing really threw me off.

I am a huge fan of Riley Sager's writing in general, but unfortunately Survive The Night wasn't for me.

The first half was excellent. I enjoyed all the built up tension, the interest around Charlie zoning out and all the mystery surrounding Josh. As usual, Riley's writing is engaging and had me hooked from the first page.

But where it lost some of it's wow factor for me was towards the end. When the events were explained, it seemed extremely farfetched and dramatic. And when we find out why, it lost me.

Overall I'll continue to be a huge fan of Riley's and read all his future works, I was just left a little disappointed by this one.

A great premise but…

This book had so much potential, but it somehow lost its way down the road. And now I’m not sure how to rate it because on one hand, I did enjoy it at times, but on the other hand, I also didn’t. Confusing much? Yeah, that's exactly how I feel about this book! So, let's just say it wasn’t my cup of tea but I’m sure other people will enjoy it.

3.5/5 stars

I really enjoyed the last third of this book, the characters were interesting, and I liked the direction the story went in the end. There were so many twists and turns in this book that I didn't guess!

I had seen a lot of mixed reviews about this one and I was sceptical going in. Someone had compared this book to No exit by Taylor Adams, so I thought I have to give this a try. I'm really glad I did. Though this book was not as good as that one, it still held its own and it was pretty exciting to read. As the title this book is all about surviving one horrific night.

It played out like a slasher movie/ serial killer movie. For the first half of the book, I kept thinking this guy reminds me of Ted Bundy. But the twists that came was really something. I did guess bits and pieces, but for the most part, I was surprised. It was pretty thrilling to read and kept my heart racing. The book is set in the 1990's and so no body really has cell phones.

The main character was Charlie who has been devastated by the death of her best friend/ room mate Maddie. Maddie was killed by the Campus Killer. Charlie really wants to leave the college as she feels guilty about Maddie's death and she is desperate to leave. So she decides to grab a ride home with a practical stranger. For the first half of the book, I was so mad at Charlie for being so naive and stupid. But the second half of the book was the saving grace.

Overall, it was a great thriller which I read in one day. I would recommend this book to all thriller lovers.

Unfortunately, I did not finish this book. It was quickly apparent that this is not something I would enjoy. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Jumping in with my first Riley Sager book. This book was a little slow to start off with but by god did it make up for it with that ending!
We follow Charlie, a movie obsessed colleague student with a twist. Honestly I thought Charlie was going to be one of those helpless horror movie characters who continue to make a situation worse but in the end manage to stay alive, but I was so wrong. Charlie is a strong willed female protagonist so I personally loved.
I really enjoyed the fact this setting took place all in one night, building tension between the two while on their road trip…
It’s the ending that got me, I thought I had the ending pegged from the 3rd chapter, I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to be proven wrong

I love Riley Sager but this one was a bust for me! I couldn't finish it however many times I tried to pick it back up. DNF!

Survive The Night - Riley Sager

3.5 ⭐️ out of 5

Another one of those books that kinda passed me by but constantly popping up on my social media streams with superlatives galore. I eventually gave in to the pressure of the readers community and reached out to @hodder on @netgalley who gifted me a copy.

From the start I could see what all the fuss was about; the premise, in old 90s style slasher sees our protagonist, Charlie, looking for a ride home from college. Charlie has baggage though, and not just physical, her best friend Maddie was brutally murdered and there is a serial killer on the loose, aptly named the ‘campus killer’. Has Charlie inadvertently hitched a ride with the killer of her best friend?

The opening act moves at a fair pace with driver and passenger talking but what really slowed the book down is the constant reference back to the previously murdered girl; Charlie’s obsession with Maddy bordered psychological infatuation.

What struck me about this novel is the decision making of our main character; why would she get in the car without taking the appropriate steps, why didn’t she run when she had a chance, why didn’t she take the offer of help when a character reached out to her? It was both frustrating and, well to be frank, insulting to females.

Despite aforementioned flaws though I absolutely love the genre so I persevered, I mean no one ever watched a teen slasher for the deep and intense story lines and Oscar winning performances - you know what you’re signing up for when you purchase the cinema ticket.

The third act is where the book really takes off, the action is palpable and the reader is kept guessing right to the very end. The characters are very well fleshed out and you can understand their motives; in fact they are all quite likeable even if un-relatable.

This was an enjoyable read with a very satisfying conclusion and I would very much recommend.

The reviews alone were enough to make me want to read this book. I love when there's a massive split in opinion and the book didn't disappoint in this regard. I've never been so frustrated with a book, and yet at the same time could NOT put it down!? It is extremely fast-paced and gripping. But also the protagonist is without a doubt the most annoying, ridiculous character I've read in a long time.

The pros of the book are that it's set in 1991 and there's a lot of great movie and music references. I also do understand what Sager was trying to do here with his love of horror movies. The book is also split into 'scenes' which was a novelty at first but then grew irritating.

I've read most of Sager's other books and enjoyed them a lot more. But I would say if you're intrigued by this one, pick it up. You'll hate yourself for it but also secretly enjoy yourself too.

Wow my head is absolutely screwed after reading this book talk about messing with your mind !! The thing about this book is it’s hard to know just what is real and what isn’t, also for a main part of we also totally unreliable narrator that can see films in her mind well I really didn’t know what to believe.
So there is twisted and then there is this damn book that’s impossible to describe but what I do know is it sure made for a compulsive read that I couldn’t put down.
I thought once I had it all figured out and oh no not a chance so I just gave that up and just read and read till I finished the book .
Well I didn’t love this book but I did enjoy it, it was different and mind boggling at times but very well written, the characters were good and whilst the plot line seemed far fetched it ended up making sense so all in all a good 3.5 read rounded up to 4.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Came for the creepy vibes -stayed for Josh Baxter! haha.

Survive the night was an amazing, creepy story.
Sager has kept the setting and cast small and intimate in this book -with the majority of the story taking place in the car.

Like in any good thriller, there were moments that had me yelling at Charlie. 
Like at the beginning of the book, and look I know that it was set back in 1991, but who gets in a car with a stranger after your best friend was just murdered. 
But, I digress. She was clearly still traumatised.

I am not saying anymore because this really is a book best read when you do not know anything!
If you are after a fun, atmospheric read for the spooky season, I highly recommend this book! Or any of Sagers books really!

I had heard very mixed reviews about Survive the Night, so I had tempered expectations for my first Riley Sager. I was however pleasantly surprised as I found it a thoroughly entertaining page-turner.

While it is certainly flawed, with Sager often indulging in over explanations of his characters’ actions, and occasionally relying on trite clichés, I found the story gripping and the twists surprising enough.

It might not go on to win the Pulitzer however I still found it a very enjoyable thriller and a perfect holiday read. 8/10

fantastic read, Survive the Night by Riley Sager kept me intrigued until the end. first book i have read by Riley and won't be the last.

Survive the Night? More like survive this book!!
It's 1991 and college student Charlie needs to get home fast, away from the college where he friend was murdered by the Campus Killer. She accepts a ride share from Josh, who she meets at a message board. While chatting on the road, Charlie starts to realise Josh has a lot of inaccuracies to his story. Charlie is beginning to think Josh is the Campus Killer.

1⭐- Oh dear, where do I start🙈 Her friend was MURDERED and she accepts a 5 hour car ride from a random guy, like seriously 🙄 This book is strewn with nonsense and the end.......I felt like it was the screenplay for the most B of all B horrors, you know the ones that had a budget of a few K. It read to me like a book someone wrote so slasher style for the laugh. I certainly laughed by the time I finished it😅😬
A giant NO from me 👎but still, thanks to Netgalley and Hodderbooks for the ARC!

Survive the night follows the story of Charlie, who travels with a stranger, Josh. She met Josh near a rider board. Charlie is beyond distraught. Reeling from the death of her best friend Maddy, Charlie is untethered and grief-stricken. She takes a break from her relationship with Robbie and thinks going back to her grandma Nana Norma will calm her. Josh is going back home to take care of his father.

Alongside, a serial killer on the loose who is on a killing spree. The campus is on high alert and, the college advised the students to walk back to their dorms in a group.

With disturbing thoughts and confusion, she gets up in the car with Josh. But once inside the car, she has an eerie feeling. A stranger in the car, and a serial killer on the campus, Charlie hardly has any options and nowhere to go.

The book starts with an exploding prologue and, the way it’s written will pull the reader into the book like iron to a magnet.

The story starts with Charlie’s perspective. She is struggling and sad that she has to leave her boyfriend, yet her pain and grief override her other feelings. When she was young, the police informed her grandma that her parents were killed in a car accident while she was eavesdropping. In the movies, she found her reality more tolerable. Every real-life event has a corresponding scene from the movies she watched as a kid. But Maddy’s death has put her in a different headspace. She could not clear her head from the sadness and, she feels responsible for her death. Maddy and Charlie’s personalities were poles apart but, her friendship with Maddy kept her grounded and loved.

The choice of movies people made around her made it easy for her to talk to them.

Once in the car, Josh comes into the picture. He is elusive, but one cannot pinpoint anything in particular.

It takes a bit of time to get to move across Charlie’s rants, but once readers cross that section, the book picks up the pace.

The book plays out the scenes of one night set in the early 90s while reminding the readers of the classic crime movies genre. The author subtly highlights the technological issues of the period.
It has a mention of a lot of movies of Hitchcock movies without giving out the spoilers. The author creates a lot of tension throughout the book. As a reader, you will sit at the edge of your seat.

We usually see movie adaptations of books but, this book is the other way. The uniqueness of the book comes from its storytelling right from the 1st page. I have not read books that have such a writing style. It keeps the reader hooked and, to say the ending will surprise the reader is an understatement.

The finale is fabulous, and it will leave the reader either with a smile on their face or a surprising look. No matter which looks you get on your face, you will re-read the last few pages.

Survive the night is not just a mystery thriller from a fabulous author but, it is also an homage to the Hitchcockian movie genre.

My rating for the book is 4.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, for the copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review.