Bad Things Happen Here is THE YA thriller of 2022. Perfect for fans of Riverdale and Karen M. McManus. The story is twisty, engaging, and fast-paced. The characters are well-developed and intriguing. Highly recommended!!

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow was one of my most highly anticipated novels of 2022, and I've been so excited to read it! But while it was an interesting story, I found that I didn't really enjoy it overall.

Luca lives in Parris, a idyllic island, where the weather is always gorgeous, and the people wealthy. It should be a beautiful place to live, but Parris' has it's darkness. She has been haunted by the death of her best friend Polly four years ago. It was written off as an accident, but Luca knows there was more to it than that, and struggles with the fact that it wasn't properly investigated. Just like the deaths of other girls in Parris'. There has always been a morbid joke that the island is cursed, but Luca has always thought that it might be true. It hurts even more when, after four years, people move into Polly's house, but Luca is somewhat distracted by her pain by Naomi, the daughter of the family moving in. Luca can't stop thinking about her, but soon it's not quite distraction enough when her older sister Whitney is murdered. Weighed down by even more grief, Luca's belief in the curse is strengthened, and she's determined to figure out what happened to Whitney, not just for closure, but so she knows what not to do, to stop the curse coming from her.

I found it really interesting what Bad Things Happen Here has to say about the interest in true crime. It doesn't take long before Whitney's murder becomes the thing people gossip about. Luca and Whitney were extremely close, but as things are revealed that Whitney kept from her, and others hear about it, the gossip begins. There's a horrifying excitement as others talk about Whitney and her murder, and it's pretty disgusting. It becomes more obvious when Luca is briefly considered a suspect, and the talk switches to her. It's odd, because the island is relatively small, everyone knows everyone, but still there's this thrill from it all. It's just awful; I kept thinking, "This is someone you know! And she didn't just die, she was killed! How can you talk like this?!" It really made me uncomfortable.

Barrow also takes a look at privilege that was really fascinating. It looks at privilege in general, and how privilege breeds discrimination against those who don't tick the right boxes, even if they pretend like they're not prejudiced. Luca is Black, fat, and has a mental illness, and sees very clearly who she must be to avoid judgement. But it also looks at the privilege of those who have money, and the entitlement that comes with it. When you have the money to get anything you want, you start to believe that you deserve anything you want, and people should do - or not do - things you demand. It's all quite subtle, but it's really obvious, and it's actually quite shocking.

However, I just wasn't really a fan of the story as a whole. I didn't really understand Luca's fixation with the curse; this is a thriller, not a fantasy, so I didn't really understand the purpose of it. At first I thought it might be related to her mental health, but both seem to be almost separated as the story continues, and so I didn't really get it. There's also the fact that I thought Bad Things Happen Here was really slow. It's a very quick read, and you fly through it quite easily, but for all that, I expected more to happen. I just didn't feel there was the right vibe for a thriller, I was never on the edge of my seat, and I just honestly couldn't get behind Luca's theories. It didn't seem to take very much for Luca to suspect someone. Time moves quite quickly, weeks go by in a matter of pages, so it was also difficult to feel the romance, because Luca and Naomi seemed to get close very quickly, and we never really got to see their relationship develop. And I just didn't like Luca; she doesn't treat people very well, she's impulsive and makes silly decisions and mistakes, and I just didn't warm to her. But that in and of itself isn't a problem; I'm not someone who has a problem with unlikable characters. But with everything else, there wasn't much I liked about it.

I wasn't completely surprised by the reveal, but I was surprised by the ending. I didn't expect it at all. Initially, I was really annoyed by it; it's not the conclusion I wanted. But it's actually quite a clever ending, and makes sense alongside what Bad Things Happen Here has to say. It's a little look at fiction versus real life; what you, as a reader, want, and what is actually realistic. It's a fascinating and thought-provoking ending, as is the story as a whole. But I can't say it was a book I enjoyed reading.

Trigger/Content Warnings: This book features blood, vomit, anxiety and panic attacks, depression, reference to drug use, masturbation, reference to arson, reference to someone burning alive, a corpse, fatphobia, racism, self-harm, reference to discrimination of those with mental illness, suicide ideation, and reference to rape.

Bad Things Happen Here was an enjoyable YA thriller which is perfect for Karen M. McManus fans.

It has an interesting plot, a f/f romance, plenty of misdirection and solid plot twists that I did NOT see coming. But even though I did thoroughly enjoy it, it felt a bit too slow at times and I found myself wishing the stakes were a little higher.

Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow 📍

The island of Parris is cursed, it must be, that’s what Luca thinks anyway. 3 years after her best friend was violently murdered, her body washed up on a secluded beach, Luca’s sister Whitney is now missing. Luca sets out to find out what the cause of this curse is and what really happened to her sister, but along the way she uncovers the secrets of all those closest to her and realises she doesn’t know her sister as well as she thought.

This novel had a lot of twists and turns and I really liked that, although the ending wasn’t as shocking as I thought it would be, you still don’t see it coming and I liked the way the story built up to that. Luca in general doesn’t appear to be a very nice person, I mean I understand what has happened to her must be awful and will obviously affect her but her disregard for Naomi (her new neighbour and crush) was annoying to read about.

I did think there was going to be a bit more about the actual curse, its strange so many young girls have terrible accidents and go missing on this small island but the curse seemed to be more what Luca thought rather than it leading to something more gruesome going on. I felt the book wrapped up nicely but it didn’t really seem to tie up a lot of loose ends like what really happened to Polly? How did things end with Luca and Naomi? Overall a good thriller read.

Different from your usual YA thriller, enjoyable read with a good plot. I liked Luca and her investigative side, though I did have my suspicions as to the killer was, and was proved correct.

Well plotted, but slightly frustrating as to how things wrapped up. Not a reflection of writing, and it was well done, but it just irritated me and will probably niggle for a bit.

I enjoyed this, more because of the focus on characterisation rather than the investigation of a curse which meant that young women regularly died on the island. The story of the curse isn't satisfactorily resolved but that aside, it's an intriguing novel which makes you wonder what will happen to the protagonist and why.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book, Bad Things Happen Here by Rebecca Barrow . Luca Laine Thomas lives on a small island called Parris, whose inhabitants are mostly well off and live an idyllic lifestyle. However, over the years there has been a number of deaths of young women including Luca's friend Polly. When her sister is murdered things come to a head and she and the girl who has recently moved in next door, Naomi, start to investigate. Parris holds its secrets and it becomes clear that there are few who can be trusted. An excellent thriller and the relationship between Sophie and Naomi is spot on. Recommended.

A sapphic teen thriller about a privileged American Community that is haunted by a curse - every couple of years a teenaged girl dies in suspicious and/or violent circumstances. Saying that, don't go in expecting supernatural elements - you will be disappointed!
There is so much that is good about this book: the sapphic and MH representation, a twist or two that I DID NOT see coming and the characters - most of whom were deliciously unlikeable. I liked the resolution and Luca's final understanding of what "the curse" is.
Suspense was built well, but for me there were areas where the pacing was a bit off - some parts dragged, and some moments happened too quickly. I also struggled to believe the relationship between Luca and Jada, which was important but didn't quite feel developed enough. It was good, but I wanted more!

CW: suicidal ideation, drug use, violence and death
Great for fans of PLL, Riverdale, One of us is Lying etc I'd say Yr9+

I loved this one! It was a really easy to read mystery thriller with both lovable and hatable characters that had me intrigued all the way through. I loved the setting of Parris and how it evolved into almost being a character itself and I really liked delving deeper into the mystery. The only reason it’s a 4 and not a 5 is there’s one thing you don’t find out and it’s driving me mad! But a brilliant book nonetheless!

Luca Laine Thomas has lived in Parris all her life with her family but is struggling to come to terms with her some issues she has in her life including her mental health. Parris seems like an idyllic place to live but does something sinister lurk there? Her best friend, Polly died three years ago, there are incidences with other young women, and then her sister, Whitney dies. Could the island be cursed?

There are twists I didn't see coming and self-awareness moments from Luca that gripped my heart. With an immensely strong main character to root for, Bad Things Happen Here is unique, beautifully written and intriguing.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bonnier Books UK via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I must admit I found this book slightly irritating as another tale of rich families on an island where bad things happen, though the ending goes some way towards addressing this issue. However, I don't think Barrow can rival Karen McManus or E. Lockhart in the narrative department when it comes to these themes. I was swept along in the story at times, and the focus on mental health and class was welcome, but Luca was just a very annoying first-person narrator.

Compelling thriller about a girl called Luca Laine Thomas who lives in Parris, a beautiful island plagued by the unsolved deaths of young women - most significantly, Luca's best friend.
When her sister Whitney is found dead Luca sets out to find the killer and answers to why her sister and best friend died.
Loved the characters and the the twists and turns of the story.
Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley & Bonnier Books UK for a advanced copy.

This book was sheer brilliance. It hooked me from the start and I felt really invested in the characters. Luca has lived in Parris all her life with her family but is struggling to come to terms with her sexual ity and mental health issues. She is part of a close group of friends and on the surface Parris seems like an idyllic place to live but underneath something more sinister lurks. What is behind the mysterious deaths of a number of young women all of which have been put down to accidents or suicides. When something strikes cliser to home Luca is determined to launch her own investigation and uncover the truth. I didn't guess who was to blame until the very end which is a mark of good storytelling.

This book was so addictive!

The characters of this book were so well written and so brilliantly diverse. Our main character was queer, plus-sized, and a POC, which is not all. Luca was strong-willed but also battling inner demons, something we got to see a lot of as it was from her POV. The other characters were well written and complex and all the reveals had me completely shocked! I also liked how the relationships in this book shifted over the course of the narrative and as more interesting secrets were revealed. If you're a fan of complex characters, even ones that aren't there all the time then this book is for you!

The plot was absolutely addictive. I raced through this so fast because I just had to fund out what was going to happen next as Luca attempted to unravel the secret behind the curse that affects Paris, the island where she lives. Drawn to it because her best friend was claimed several years ago and desperate to find a way to avoid its clutches Luca goes to some pretty big extremes, which helps keep the narrative pace going and also keeps us on the edge of our seats. And the ending was brilliantly done, I was hooked right until the last second and even after that I was still shocked but it all. A twisty thriller for sure.

And the writing was brilliant. I loved every second of this and I cannot wait to see what Rebecca Barrow does next.

I Killed Zoe Spanos meets The Cheerleaders in this haunting mystery about an island town with a history of unsolved deaths—and a girl desperate to uncover the mystery behind it all.

This is perfect for fans of YA thrillers. It was a great, quick paced read. Luca, the protagonist having been through traumas clearly was suffering with her mental health, I did feel that the ending left a lot of unanswered questions regarding this, but the book definitely kept me on my toes trying to work out whodunit!!!

Thanks to @netgalley, the author
And @bonnierbooks_uk for the ARC of this book

Oh my god this was insanely brilliant!! If you loved AGGGTM but wanted it a bit eerier, go get this right now!

I loved the whole concept from the start of this secluded beautiful island where a whole lot of rich people but it’s been marked by the unsolved deaths of several young women over the years.

That’s all you need to know. Do not read the blurb or any other synopsis before you read it because I had sort of forgotten what it was about and something major happens early on (which it tells you on the blurb) which was such an omg I can’t believe that wth moment! I sobbed and gasped but obviously if I’d found that out before reading I wouldn’t have had such a reaction.

But I have to say the whole story and all the characters were brilliant. Luca was such a great narrator of the story while clearly portraying how complex and difficult her past has been. Then for all the other characters, they all seemed quite not normal but nice and calm but for all of them there was this underlying creepiness of hidden secrets or something not right. It was so brilliantly done that everyone seemed innocent while seeming guilty?!?

I wanted a little more from the ending but I think it was a very fitting ending for the story and for Luca. There’s still so much that’s unresolved so there could be a sequel but there doesn’t need to be

I think this is gonna be major, incredible!

"There is no acceptance once you step past the neat, orderly bounds of sadness and nerves that most people think depression means. No, then the sympathy turns to fear real quick."

Bad Things Happen Here has a lot going on. On it's surface, a simple story of a girl investigating her sister's death, it has a lot of layers regarding social issues and the impact they can have on a community as a whole, especially a small, secluded one like the setting of this novel.

Luca is an interesting MC. She's queer, biracial, plus sized and has intrusive thoughts. She also spends a good portion of the novel grieving. She can be prickly and destructive at times but she's written with heart that makes it possible to root for her throughout it all.

The romance felt a weaker aspect of this for me. I don't need romance in a novel but if it exists I want it to feel purposeful. But the Love Interest felt like she lacked any real personality. Luca even admits herself that Naomi was just fulfilling a need she had in the moment and that she doesn't really know all that much about her. That's fine and understandable but it does make it difficult to feel the emotional beats of their relationship.

I felt the overall reveal was fine and I definitely didn't see it coming. I did, however, find the ending to be a little abrupt and lacking. Stories like this are rarely wrapped up with a neat bow but I think I would have liked a few more questions answered to feel truly satisfied.

Overall a compelling read that for me was just OK. I think others will find something to love here though.

Thanks for letting me read this in advance. It was ok as far as mysteries go. Glad I read it but not really for me

This was a gripping and intense YA murder mystery thriller. We follow Luca on the island of Parrish, who feels that following the death of numerous girls, including her sister Whitney, on the island, that it is cursed. She takes it upon herself to try and find out the truth about what happened to her sister on that fateful night.
What follows is an tense and mysterious story uncovering the lies of the people who live on the island.

Luca is a complex and complicated character but I was routing for her throughout, willing her to stay safe. I found most of the characters to be dark and mysterious and I was suspicious of most of then at one stage or another whilst reading this. The setting of this book also added to the mystery and deceitfulness of the book. The one downfall for me was that I would have liked the ending to give more answers and more links to the different plots within the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller which had me engaged from the start and it kept me hooked to the end to find out the truth of what happened to Whitney. I would definitely be interested in reading more books from this author in the future.

I enjoyed the contrasts in this book - past v present, privilege v struggle, truth v lies, even the beautiful weather contrasting with the tragedy of the story.

The writing was accessible, as you might expect from a YA book, but also very engaging. I only wish the ending had been less abrupt, but that is personal preference.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.