An amazing debut. I’m stunned by how much I loved this. I think the plot was very original. The dead comes back to seek revenge on her killer. It kept me hooked the whole time.

Hands down one of the most unique thrillers I've read in awhile! I loved Annie's voice and quest for revenge, and the mystery kept me on my toes all the way until the closing chapters.

OMG! I loved this. Honestly, picked it up for the title, read the blurb and then plowed through it in a couple of hours. Annie and her "friends" are awesome. The whole story works well together, the side characters are their own people and are truly amazing when mixed with the FMC. This is a debut novel? Really?

**Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. My opinion is my own.**

Annie Lane wakes up in a strange place with strange people and she has no memory of how she got there. When she tries to get revenge on those who have wronged her, she starts realizing not everything is as it seems. Following her story of uncovering what happened to her, Annie finds new friends and works on taking out those who have harmed her.

I thought the premise sounded so good. I just wasn't wild about the execution. There were a few times that places changed name and I thought the writing could be improved. The dialogue was interesting too, it really pushed that there were different generations involved, but honestly I thought it was overdone.

I did finish the book because I wanted to know what happened! Overall I gave this one a 2/5

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for a copy of this work.

Like others have mentioned, I was surprised this was a Disney title. It is dark, gory, and uses some adult language that I was just not expecting. That said, I did enjoy the story. It was quick paced and a one-day read for me. While the villain seemed very obvious to me from the get go, I think the YA audience would enjoy sussing it out. The language does add some realism to the story, and there were some modern day touches that would appeal to a younger audience.

That said, I didn't really connect with any characters. I'm a bit confused about the way every person in town could see/talk to a ghost, and I missed getting more backstory to the supporting ghosts--unless those will be revealed more in later installments? But.... I'm willing to overlook those for the other elements that the book DID provide.

Overall: 4 stars (I really liked it)

**Thank you to NetGalley & Disney Publishing Worldwide | Disney Hyperion for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

There's a lot of good here, but there's also some issues I took with this one. This was one of my most anticipated of the year, and it's not a disappointment, but it's also not what I expected.

I've been following Codie Crowley since before this book was even announced, and if you're a fan of her content, this book definitely fits those vibes. It's a bit campy, a bit spooky, and 100% angry girl. However, I did feel like there was a tone problem. I need it to be more campy or more serious, but the blend as it was didn't work for me. I do want to note that this was a super early ARC and so it could easily be fine tuned for finished copies.

The instalove with Sam also really bothered me. I felt like i had no reason to believe in their relationship.

Overall, I didn't dislike it, but it was not a five star as I hoped it would be. I read it in just under 24 hours and it definitely kept my attention. I look forward to seeing what Crowley does next

3.5 rounded up

This book was awesome. Such a cool spin on the vengeful ghost with such a punk rock heroine. It’s gory, angry, and satisfying as hell.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch (moment of appreciation for the best book title ever) was both exactly what I wanted and not quite enough. First, like others, I will say I’m surprised this is a Disney title. Getting past that, I absolutely adored the title and the premise. A young woman fighting back against her killer(s) and showing her wrath? Yes. In fact, really diving into her upbringing and small town and getting her own back against those who wronged her in general? Totally there. And while all that happened, the secondary stories around the other ghosts and her best friend missing fell short for me. I wish those storylines had been depended to truly create a well rounded functional world for me to sink into.

I did love the main premise and felt this book delivered. It was fascinating and I wanted so much more, but I don’t know if I felt the end left an opening for a series that could explore the ghost storylines further. I would recommend this for teens and adults who are fans of the mystery / horror genre (without much gore).

This is is a Disney title?! High school slacker Annie wakes up dead in a river and is taken in by other dead folks who all reside on Resurrection Mountain. She doesn't know she's dead at first, and so marches right back into school and her life as if she wasn't to try to find out what happened to her. Eventually she realizes she's been murdered, so after doing more digging and making lots of wrong accusations, she finally figures out what happened to her--and her best friend--and a young woman killed 25 years earlier. It's uneven, as storytelling goes, and there are a number of loose ends and plot holes, but I think a lot of YA horror fans will like it.

This book is a gripping and darkly humorous debut that takes readers on a thrilling ride with Annie Lane, a murder victim back from the grave, hellbent on uncovering her killer and exacting revenge. This fast-paced thriller masterfully blends elements of horror and feminism, resulting in a story that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

Annie Lane is unapologetically brash, and while she starts off as a seemingly unlikeable character, her relentless drive for justice and her raw, unfiltered personality gradually make her someone readers can’t help but root for. The initial distaste for her abrasive nature gives way to admiration for her tenacity and resilience. Crowley’s skillful characterization makes Annie’s journey compelling, turning her quest for vengeance into a cathartic experience for the reader.

The novel’s central mystery—who killed Annie and why—serves as the driving force behind the story. Crowley keeps the tension high and the plot moving swiftly, with each revelation and twist deepening the intrigue. Annie's interactions with the other townspeople, each as flawed and vivid as she is, add layers to the narrative and keep the reader guessing until the very end.

One notable aspect of the book is its language. The frequent use of bad language is not to everyone's taste, but it undeniably adds authenticity to Annie's character and the gritty environment of the town. It paints a vivid picture of a place and people hardened by their circumstances, enhancing the story’s raw and unfiltered tone. While the coarse language might be off-putting to some, it ultimately serves a purpose, contributing to the darkly comedic and fiercely feminist undertones of the novel. Annie’s profanity-laden tirades and the blunt dialogue of the townspeople underscore the book’s critique of societal norms and the treatment of “unlikeable” girls.

This book stands out not just for its thrilling plot, but for its bold take on gender dynamics and societal expectations. Annie is a protagonist who, despite—or perhaps because of—her flaws, embodies a powerful statement about taking control of her narrative and seeking justice on her own terms.

This book is a darkly satisfying thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat while offering a biting commentary on societal judgment. It’s a must-read for those who enjoy their mysteries served with a side of horror and a strong dose of feminist fury. Despite some harsh language, the book’s engaging plot and unforgettable protagonist make it a standout addition to the genre.

I was excited to read this title--a murdered girl getting revenge on the person or persons that murdered her? Sign me up! But as I read, it felt like I was reading a first draft. Or even a sequel. There were several things left unexplained (why does everyone in town hate our main character, adults included? Where did these god-awful nicknames come from? Why did the name of the shed our main character and her best friend hang out in go from being called the Dead Shed to the Evil Dead Shed? Who was the scorched lady that led our main character to the river and lied about Sam being a murderer? Why did she lie? Why did no one warn our main character about her??). Additionally, the ghosts that our main character meets are, quite literally, just characters. I don't think we needed them to speak in slang every sentence for the audience to realize they had died in past decades. And the plot only really needed Sam, because the rest of the characters did nothing to move the story along. In the end, the murderer's motive was silly. I understand that the message trying to be conveyed is that people are afraid of women realizing their autonomy and being who they really are, even if others don't like it. But again, didn't need to be spelled out for us.

Really enjoyed this book, was was quite flow paced at first, however soon picks up and from 60% onwards it’s a total roller coaster. Loved the characters and the ending was just insain!

I went back and forth on whether I liked this book or not. However, I do give the title 5 stars!!!!! I enjoyed the read but was disappointed in how long it took for her to figure out she was dead. I personally love revenge and murder lol.

Here Lies A Vengeful Bitch is a heartwarming story about revenge, love, and what it means to be alive (even after you'vedied).

The book title is what will draw everyone in.
Annie Lane has been murdered she takes a while to realise that.
Her best friend is missing. There are disturbing clues to a night not remembered. The whole town think the worst of her.
This is a very dark horror story of revenge. Mixed with a who done it.
You a dragged alone at a mile a minute. This is a debut novel not to be missed.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

A really fascinating and twisty debut. I think this leans more horror than thriller or mystery and I think teens will absolutely eat this up. The aesthetic is IMPECCABLE and I eagerly await the film adaptation that feels inevitable. I definitely want to hang out at Chapel House.

Title and cover for this are awesome! Who doesn't want to read about a vengeful bitch?
Well,......apparently, I didn't. This book was a a great disappointment. The narrative was disjointed and scattered; the murder victim was dim and annoying.

This book made me extremely uncomfortable, which means that it did it's job and it did it's job well. It's not meant to be easily swallowable. It's meant to hurt and drill into your brain. It's vengeful alright, and it absolutely reveals in that fact.

This pains me so much, but this was unfortunately a DNF at 30%.

The positives:
* The title and cover are epic! five stars!
* I love a vengeful bitch. Nothing brings me more joy than reading about righteously furious women exacting (ideally bloody) revenge on terrible men. *ESPECIALLY* when that character is an angry teenage girl who everyone underestimates.

The negatives:
* I didn't love how long it was taking Annie to figure out what was going on - like by 30% she had still not quite caught on to the situation. It didn't gel with how smart and scrappy she seemed to be.
* The major thing that made me give up on this book was the dialogue, especially the way Sam talked with his nonstop weird (50s?) lingo. It was clearly a stylistic choice that the author made and fully committed to, which is fine, but for me it was super distracting and kept pulling me out of the book because it was so awkward and cringey.

Anyway -- a LOT of early reviewers have loved this book, so I appear to be an outlier. I hope it finds its way into the right hands because the world needs more books about "unlikeable" female characters wreaking havoc.

wow, what a wild ride. this was so good. i didn’t know where it was gonna go (had a slight feeling on whodunnit but not till the end). this is a great debut for codie, and i look forward to reading more of her stories!