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Survive the Night
Charlie Jordan is being driven across the country by a serial killer. Maybe.
Behind the wheel is Josh Baxter, a stranger Charlie met by the college ride share board, who also has a good reason for leaving university in the middle of term. On the road they share their stories, carefully avoiding the subject dominating the news - the Campus Killer, who's tied up and stabbed three students in the span of a year, has just struck again.
Travelling the lengthy journey between university and their final destination, Charlie begins to notice discrepancies in Josh's story.
As she begins to plan her escape from the man she is becoming certain is the killer, she starts to suspect that Josh knows exactly what she's thinking.
Meaning that she could very well end up as his next victim.
Behind the wheel is Josh Baxter, a stranger Charlie met by the college ride share board, who also has a good reason for leaving university in the middle of term. On the road they share their stories, carefully avoiding the subject dominating the news - the Campus Killer, who's tied up and stabbed three students in the span of a year, has just struck again.
Travelling the lengthy journey between university and their final destination, Charlie begins to notice discrepancies in Josh's story.
As she begins to plan her escape from the man she is becoming certain is the killer, she starts to suspect that Josh knows exactly what she's thinking.
Meaning that she could very well end up as his next victim.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published June 29, 2021
About the author
Riley Sager
19 books39.7k followersRiley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, most recently THE ONLY ONE LEFT and THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE. His first thriller, FINAL GIRLS, won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and has been published in more than thirty-five countries. His latest novel, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, will be published in June.
A native of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is "Rear Window." Or maybe "Jaws." But probably, if he's being honest, "Mary Poppins."
A native of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is "Rear Window." Or maybe "Jaws." But probably, if he's being honest, "Mary Poppins."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 20,179 reviews
July 31, 2021
A Pre-Readers’ Guide to Riley Sager’s latest thriller, Survive the Night:
1. Picture the absolute stupidest female protagonist you have ever come across in fiction. Do you have her in your mind?
2. Recall a villain from another book or movie with the most ridiculous motive in the history of stories. Got one, and I mean a reeeaaalllly redonculous one?
3. Brush up on the terms “unreliable narrator” and “gaslighting.” Are you fired up to see some extreme examples?
4. Clear your schedule. Did you block off enough time to read this bonkers book all in one sitting?
And there you have it! Survive the Night is a page-turning thriller set in 1991 where the stupidest female protagonist ever decides to do a ride share road trip with a strange man just two months after her best friend was murdered by a serial killer still on the loose. Because she’s such an unreliable narrator, both she AND readers are prime targets for gaslighting, all at the mercy of a cray cray antagonist with a truly laughable agenda.
Despite all that, could I put the darn book down once I started? No.
Have I now read and rated all 5 of Riley Sager’s suspense novels 3 stars? Yep.
Will I read his next one? 100%.
My thanks go to Hodder & Stoughton for providing a gifted advance readers copy for review via NetGalley.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
1. Picture the absolute stupidest female protagonist you have ever come across in fiction. Do you have her in your mind?
2. Recall a villain from another book or movie with the most ridiculous motive in the history of stories. Got one, and I mean a reeeaaalllly redonculous one?
3. Brush up on the terms “unreliable narrator” and “gaslighting.” Are you fired up to see some extreme examples?
4. Clear your schedule. Did you block off enough time to read this bonkers book all in one sitting?
And there you have it! Survive the Night is a page-turning thriller set in 1991 where the stupidest female protagonist ever decides to do a ride share road trip with a strange man just two months after her best friend was murdered by a serial killer still on the loose. Because she’s such an unreliable narrator, both she AND readers are prime targets for gaslighting, all at the mercy of a cray cray antagonist with a truly laughable agenda.
Despite all that, could I put the darn book down once I started? No.
Have I now read and rated all 5 of Riley Sager’s suspense novels 3 stars? Yep.
Will I read his next one? 100%.
My thanks go to Hodder & Stoughton for providing a gifted advance readers copy for review via NetGalley.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
August 25, 2021
THIS. WAS. NOT. IT.
It was the lack of common sense for me!!
You know that dumb character we yell on screen in a horror movie doing stupid things? yes, enter this bish charlie jordan. this girl literally thinks she's the main character, smh. she would literally get me killed in the first five minutes of any scary movie.
charlie, you SUCK.
BYE.
1 STAR FOR ME
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
It was the lack of common sense for me!!
You know that dumb character we yell on screen in a horror movie doing stupid things? yes, enter this bish charlie jordan. this girl literally thinks she's the main character, smh. she would literally get me killed in the first five minutes of any scary movie.
charlie, you SUCK.
BYE.
1 STAR FOR ME
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
September 2, 2021
This is the worst book I've read in 2021.
I've read all 5 books from Sager and it needs to be said... His female characters are awful.
While the premise wasn't bad, the execution was appalling
If you want to hate-read it, go for it but otherwise. No. Just no.
I've read all 5 books from Sager and it needs to be said... His female characters are awful.
While the premise wasn't bad, the execution was appalling
If you want to hate-read it, go for it but otherwise. No. Just no.
March 1, 2024
I'm going to act like I didn't just squander four hours of my life reading this book.
July 19, 2021
I had fun buddy-reading this with a friend, poking fun at the characters/situations, and making theories for the plot twists! It’s a simple and quick read, nothing deep, but can be a fun palate cleanser in-between dense books.
As for the quality of the book itself, my main gripe is that the author tends to over-explain everything, almost as if to fill up the book. Every single thought or gesture is described when it doesn’t need to be—this makes the writing redundant and not very creative. There were also lots of poor decision-making and unbelievable motivations from various characters for the sake of having this story.
As for the quality of the book itself, my main gripe is that the author tends to over-explain everything, almost as if to fill up the book. Every single thought or gesture is described when it doesn’t need to be—this makes the writing redundant and not very creative. There were also lots of poor decision-making and unbelievable motivations from various characters for the sake of having this story.
January 1, 2024
It's the 90's. Charlie is looking for a ride to her hometown in Ohio when she meets Josh at the ride board going in the same direction. When Charlie hops in the car, she starts to think that Josh might just be The Campus Killer who has recently claimed the lives of some women at her university. Will Charlie survive this car ride?
Ugh....this review is extremely difficult for me to write, because I am seriously Riley Sager's #1 fan. I pre-ordered this months in advance. I even ended up with a signed copy, and the author sent me a faceplate in the mail. He is pretty active on Twitter, and he has acknowledged my support on several occasions. We are also friends of friends so this is a total awkward turtle moment.
One of the hallmarks of Riley Sager books is that they are incredibly page turning. Also, I felt like The Last Time I Lied had a twist that I didn't see coming but made total sense. Also, The Last Time I Lied and Home Before Dark really were so interesting because the characters were trying to remember things from the past, almost with a bit of nostalgia. I distinctly remember being in my car listening to my audiobook, transfixed, arriving at my destination but refusing to budge.
Now, enter Survive the Night. I kept waiting for the page turning part, but I just couldn't get into it. There was too much internal dialogue with Charlie. This book didn't capture the nostalgia of the past. This book had a twist, but I figured it out fairly early on when I was thinking of who could it be.
Overall, this book just wasn't as entertaining as it should have been. The author is clearly talented. I do wonder if the editor has afraid of giving tough review notes. This book really minded me of The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman in a way that this book also did not fit into the Riley Sager brand. It was off brand and just off. I requested this as an ARC awhile back but was rejected. I really wish that I had the opportunity to provide those review notes, because this author deserved better.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
Ugh....this review is extremely difficult for me to write, because I am seriously Riley Sager's #1 fan. I pre-ordered this months in advance. I even ended up with a signed copy, and the author sent me a faceplate in the mail. He is pretty active on Twitter, and he has acknowledged my support on several occasions. We are also friends of friends so this is a total awkward turtle moment.
One of the hallmarks of Riley Sager books is that they are incredibly page turning. Also, I felt like The Last Time I Lied had a twist that I didn't see coming but made total sense. Also, The Last Time I Lied and Home Before Dark really were so interesting because the characters were trying to remember things from the past, almost with a bit of nostalgia. I distinctly remember being in my car listening to my audiobook, transfixed, arriving at my destination but refusing to budge.
Now, enter Survive the Night. I kept waiting for the page turning part, but I just couldn't get into it. There was too much internal dialogue with Charlie. This book didn't capture the nostalgia of the past. This book had a twist, but I figured it out fairly early on when I was thinking of who could it be.
Overall, this book just wasn't as entertaining as it should have been. The author is clearly talented. I do wonder if the editor has afraid of giving tough review notes. This book really minded me of The Secret Commonwealth by Philip Pullman in a way that this book also did not fit into the Riley Sager brand. It was off brand and just off. I requested this as an ARC awhile back but was rejected. I really wish that I had the opportunity to provide those review notes, because this author deserved better.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
September 6, 2022
3.75
Mam wrażenie ze mnóstwie osób ta książka się nie spodoba xx
Może i fabularnie nie najlepsze, ale rozrywka przednia a to się dla mnie liczy najbardziej 🫶🏼
Mam wrażenie ze mnóstwie osób ta książka się nie spodoba xx
Może i fabularnie nie najlepsze, ale rozrywka przednia a to się dla mnie liczy najbardziej 🫶🏼
October 5, 2021
Short video review published on paperbackdreams channel. In a word, trash.
May 4, 2021
Tell me your book is written by a man without telling me your book was written by a man.
Survive the Night was infuriating in its complete lack of realism or common sense. The premise is relatively simple: after the death of her friend, a college student decides to return home to grieve and process the trauma. What astounds me is the complete lack of any common sense that follows: Charlie willingly decides to get into a cross-country car trip with a frightening stranger who, upon their first meeting in his car, immediately demonstrates he can't be trusted ... while the college campus is actively being plagued by a serial killer who preys on young women.
The fact that Charlie only considers that this menacing and untrustworthy stranger- who almost instantly reveals he's lied to her to get her into his car- could be a murderer or rapist half way into the novel was the most jarring, ham-fisted "revelation" I've seen in a long time. There is no woman on earth with half a working braincell for whom this shit isn't immediately obvious. The irony here is that I'm sure a large measure of Charlie's painful obliviousness would have actually made more sense if she were a young man: because men are conditioned to seldom see themselves as victims of potential sexual or gendered violence, they're encouraged and even expected to make riskier choices. When you don't see yourself as someone who can be assaulted, you don't navigate the world thinking it's a possibility for you. I don't think we need more horror or suspense stories that necessitate a woman feeling threatened by the possibility of rape or gender violence, but there are infinitely better ways to go about this tired concept. I sorely wish that this book had been, in some demonstrative way, informed by the experiences and insights of women who have, y'know, some basic grasp of reality.
There's a moment in Survive the Night in which Charlie realizes she can safely escape the predator and get help. She instead decides against her own safety and gets back into a car with him because she suddenly decides to become a "femme fatale" (this is, unfortunately, a quote) who extracts revenge on him for his menacing behaviors and misdeeds. At this point, I just about chucked my eReader across the room with a ferocity that would've given Tom Brady a run for his money. It's a baffling choice in characterization, almost as bizarre as Charlie's obnoxious and incredibly unrealistic way of jamming film trivia into just about every moment of casual conversation. At this point, I thought to myself: maybe some people deserve to get axed actually.
As others have remarked, the last quarter of the novel really jumps the shark which, considering the absurdity of the previous three-quarters of the book, is a real feat in aerobatics.
Survive the Night was infuriating in its complete lack of realism or common sense. The premise is relatively simple: after the death of her friend, a college student decides to return home to grieve and process the trauma. What astounds me is the complete lack of any common sense that follows: Charlie willingly decides to get into a cross-country car trip with a frightening stranger who, upon their first meeting in his car, immediately demonstrates he can't be trusted ... while the college campus is actively being plagued by a serial killer who preys on young women.
The fact that Charlie only considers that this menacing and untrustworthy stranger- who almost instantly reveals he's lied to her to get her into his car- could be a murderer or rapist half way into the novel was the most jarring, ham-fisted "revelation" I've seen in a long time. There is no woman on earth with half a working braincell for whom this shit isn't immediately obvious. The irony here is that I'm sure a large measure of Charlie's painful obliviousness would have actually made more sense if she were a young man: because men are conditioned to seldom see themselves as victims of potential sexual or gendered violence, they're encouraged and even expected to make riskier choices. When you don't see yourself as someone who can be assaulted, you don't navigate the world thinking it's a possibility for you. I don't think we need more horror or suspense stories that necessitate a woman feeling threatened by the possibility of rape or gender violence, but there are infinitely better ways to go about this tired concept. I sorely wish that this book had been, in some demonstrative way, informed by the experiences and insights of women who have, y'know, some basic grasp of reality.
There's a moment in Survive the Night in which Charlie realizes she can safely escape the predator and get help. She instead decides against her own safety and gets back into a car with him because she suddenly decides to become a "femme fatale" (this is, unfortunately, a quote) who extracts revenge on him for his menacing behaviors and misdeeds. At this point, I just about chucked my eReader across the room with a ferocity that would've given Tom Brady a run for his money. It's a baffling choice in characterization, almost as bizarre as Charlie's obnoxious and incredibly unrealistic way of jamming film trivia into just about every moment of casual conversation. At this point, I thought to myself: maybe some people deserve to get axed actually.
As others have remarked, the last quarter of the novel really jumps the shark which, considering the absurdity of the previous three-quarters of the book, is a real feat in aerobatics.
June 27, 2022
im a fan of RSs books. what i enjoy most about them is that, even if i dont care about the content, i sure do love the execution of the story.
so imagine my surprise when, for the first time, its the opposite. i absolutely love the premise/concept, but some of the execution is… just okay. especially toward the end.
i will say that for a story only taking place within a timeframe of 6 hours, there is a lot to unpack with this. i was never bored and i felt like i was flying through the pages. it has just enough edge to make you second guess everything you think you know.
however, the ending is a bit much. the last 20% feels a little disconnected from the rest of the book and, while i understand it all, i think i would have preferred the ending playing out a bit differently.
however, this is one car ride that will for sure take you on a wild journey.
thanks so much to penguin/dutton books for the ARC!!
↠ 3.5 stars
so imagine my surprise when, for the first time, its the opposite. i absolutely love the premise/concept, but some of the execution is… just okay. especially toward the end.
i will say that for a story only taking place within a timeframe of 6 hours, there is a lot to unpack with this. i was never bored and i felt like i was flying through the pages. it has just enough edge to make you second guess everything you think you know.
however, the ending is a bit much. the last 20% feels a little disconnected from the rest of the book and, while i understand it all, i think i would have preferred the ending playing out a bit differently.
however, this is one car ride that will for sure take you on a wild journey.
thanks so much to penguin/dutton books for the ARC!!
↠ 3.5 stars
June 7, 2021
I think... I'm not meta enough for this book. 😆 Please note, it's best if you go into this book blind to get the full experience for this story.
I'm waffling over how much to say in this review, because so much of Survive the Night's enjoyment depends on the big twist grabbing you. No, I don't mean the identity of the murderer, but another twist, one of omission. There's a fairly small cast for the entirety of the journey, so the final jab didn't hit quite like I'd hoped, but I think fans looking for that "wow, he got me!" experience, along with lovers of Final Girls will take to this book strongly.
My advice? Go in blind, don't read anymore reviews (because, honestly, none of our opinions should matter more than your own), and enjoy the ride that Riley Sager always provides. Whether or not it's your favorite book that he's written, you're in for an entertaining experience.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
I'm waffling over how much to say in this review, because so much of Survive the Night's enjoyment depends on the big twist grabbing you. No, I don't mean the identity of the murderer, but another twist, one of omission. There's a fairly small cast for the entirety of the journey, so the final jab didn't hit quite like I'd hoped, but I think fans looking for that "wow, he got me!" experience, along with lovers of Final Girls will take to this book strongly.
My advice? Go in blind, don't read anymore reviews (because, honestly, none of our opinions should matter more than your own), and enjoy the ride that Riley Sager always provides. Whether or not it's your favorite book that he's written, you're in for an entertaining experience.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
June 11, 2021
It pains me slightly to be critical here because I love Sager's books, but this latest one is awful. It's another one of those books that I read all the four and five star reviews and think I had to have read a different book than everyone else. Lately I've read several books where the entire story takes place over a period of 24 hours, and I've come to the realization that I just don't care for those plots. So that is on me, but that being said, this book is just not good for a myriad of other reasons.
Spiraling into a deep depression after her best friend/roommate is murdered, presumably by a serial killer dubbed the "Campus Killer," protagonist Charlie Jordan decides that she cannot stay at Olyphant University a minute longer. Despite there being a college serial killer on the loose, Charlie posts a flyer on the college rideshare board in search of a ride home to Ohio. Welcome to the first eye roll moment - I get that it's 1991 (trust me, you won't forget as the 90's references are too numerous to count), but there were buses in the 90's, so the idea of posting on a rideshare board with a serial killer lurking is ridiculous. Of course, in the process of posting her flyer, Charlie meets a stranger who just so happens to be going to Ohio too. Nothing odd about that ....
Charlie immediately packs her things, says goodbye to her boyfriend, and jumps in the car with the stranger, Josh. And here begins the entire narrative, which unfolds over one very long, eventful night. Charlie immediately begins to suspect that Josh is not who he says he is and may very well be the Campus Killer (which should surprise no one whatsoever - except for Charlie apparently), and she begins plotting her escape. Here's where it becomes astonishingly stupid - she has multiple chances to escape, but never does, because she changes her mind every time. The way Sager tries to explain that is by also making Charlie an extremely unreliable narrator who randomly plays events in her mind as if they are movies, so she has "zoned out" moments where she doesn't know if it's real life or a movie. It just didn't work for me though.
There you have the entire first half. The second half is where all of the "action" takes place, and that is also where it moves to the realm of beyond the absurd. There are several twists that you probably won't see coming - mainly because they make zero sense and seem to be thrown in there just for the hell of it. It was all so over-the-top that I was halfway expecting Wishbone the dog, who seemed to be able to solve any mystery in the 90's, to make an appearance and clue Charlie in on what might be really going on. It was seriously that bad! Not to worry though, the ending doesn't deviate from the absurd either, and the final few italicized pages are not worth reading - unless you're looking for a good excuse to chuck a book across the room.
Overall, I still love Sager and will try and forget about this one before reading his next one, but to be honest, I'd rather be stuck in a car with the Campus Killer listening to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on replay for hours on end, than read this book again. 2 stars.
Spiraling into a deep depression after her best friend/roommate is murdered, presumably by a serial killer dubbed the "Campus Killer," protagonist Charlie Jordan decides that she cannot stay at Olyphant University a minute longer. Despite there being a college serial killer on the loose, Charlie posts a flyer on the college rideshare board in search of a ride home to Ohio. Welcome to the first eye roll moment - I get that it's 1991 (trust me, you won't forget as the 90's references are too numerous to count), but there were buses in the 90's, so the idea of posting on a rideshare board with a serial killer lurking is ridiculous. Of course, in the process of posting her flyer, Charlie meets a stranger who just so happens to be going to Ohio too. Nothing odd about that ....
Charlie immediately packs her things, says goodbye to her boyfriend, and jumps in the car with the stranger, Josh. And here begins the entire narrative, which unfolds over one very long, eventful night. Charlie immediately begins to suspect that Josh is not who he says he is and may very well be the Campus Killer (which should surprise no one whatsoever - except for Charlie apparently), and she begins plotting her escape. Here's where it becomes astonishingly stupid - she has multiple chances to escape, but never does, because she changes her mind every time. The way Sager tries to explain that is by also making Charlie an extremely unreliable narrator who randomly plays events in her mind as if they are movies, so she has "zoned out" moments where she doesn't know if it's real life or a movie. It just didn't work for me though.
There you have the entire first half. The second half is where all of the "action" takes place, and that is also where it moves to the realm of beyond the absurd. There are several twists that you probably won't see coming - mainly because they make zero sense and seem to be thrown in there just for the hell of it. It was all so over-the-top that I was halfway expecting Wishbone the dog, who seemed to be able to solve any mystery in the 90's, to make an appearance and clue Charlie in on what might be really going on. It was seriously that bad! Not to worry though, the ending doesn't deviate from the absurd either, and the final few italicized pages are not worth reading - unless you're looking for a good excuse to chuck a book across the room.
Overall, I still love Sager and will try and forget about this one before reading his next one, but to be honest, I'd rather be stuck in a car with the Campus Killer listening to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on replay for hours on end, than read this book again. 2 stars.
July 14, 2024
**4.5-stars rounded up**
After Charlie's best friend, Maddy, is murdered, Charlie feels an overwhelming need to leave their University campus.
Even though it's alleged that Maddy was killed by an active serial killer dubbed, The Campus Killer, Charlie isn't leaving because she fears for her life.
In short, she's leaving because she's haunted by guilt.
No one knows of the fight she and Maddy had on the night Maddy was killed. The last words that Charlie said to her; how hurtful they were. Charlie is drowning with regrets.
Charlie's boyfriend offers to give her a ride home to Ohio, but Charlie doesn't see the point. She hasn't shared with him that she really doesn't plan on returning to campus.
Plus, due to his schedule, she'd have to wait a few days and Charlie is desperate to leave now, so she does what any carless college coed would have done in the 90s and scans the ride share board.
As luck would have it, a driver seeking a rider, also going to Ohio, approaches the board while Charlie is searching and starts to chat.
He's a handsome guy and appears harmless, so the two make a plan to leave the following night. He says his name is Josh and he seems legit; Charlie's feeling confident in her choice.
But as their journey begins, in the dark of night, Charlie begins to second guess her choice and grows suspicious of Josh's unsettling behavior.
What follows is a 6-hour drive over otherwise empty roads, in a claustrophobic stress zone as Charlie tries to determine if her ride share driver is actually The Campus Killer coming to finish her off.
It's clear from the reception of this novel that Sager took a risk with this one. It does read differently to his previous stories, but for me, it totally worked.
I absolutely loved the film noir quality of the narrative. I have mentioned in a previous review of Sager's work that he must be a Hitchcock fan; this definitely sealed my belief in that.
It legitimately felt like a Hitchcock movie and obviously the origin of Charlie's name was a nod to the influential filmmaker.
I loved the tone and suspense throughout; the action, scene, cut-feel. It drew me in and kept me engaged the entire way. It read like a movie; vivid and tense.
It gets wacky, I'm not going to deny that, but it didn't hamper my enjoyment one bit. Overall, I am happy to sit in the minority opinion on this one.
I found the construction of the story to be incredibly clever; the insular nature of the narrative, the build in intensity, the epilogue, I loved it and am not ashamed to admit it.
As always, I'm really excited to see what Sager comes up with next!!
After Charlie's best friend, Maddy, is murdered, Charlie feels an overwhelming need to leave their University campus.
Even though it's alleged that Maddy was killed by an active serial killer dubbed, The Campus Killer, Charlie isn't leaving because she fears for her life.
In short, she's leaving because she's haunted by guilt.
No one knows of the fight she and Maddy had on the night Maddy was killed. The last words that Charlie said to her; how hurtful they were. Charlie is drowning with regrets.
Charlie's boyfriend offers to give her a ride home to Ohio, but Charlie doesn't see the point. She hasn't shared with him that she really doesn't plan on returning to campus.
Plus, due to his schedule, she'd have to wait a few days and Charlie is desperate to leave now, so she does what any carless college coed would have done in the 90s and scans the ride share board.
As luck would have it, a driver seeking a rider, also going to Ohio, approaches the board while Charlie is searching and starts to chat.
He's a handsome guy and appears harmless, so the two make a plan to leave the following night. He says his name is Josh and he seems legit; Charlie's feeling confident in her choice.
But as their journey begins, in the dark of night, Charlie begins to second guess her choice and grows suspicious of Josh's unsettling behavior.
What follows is a 6-hour drive over otherwise empty roads, in a claustrophobic stress zone as Charlie tries to determine if her ride share driver is actually The Campus Killer coming to finish her off.
It's clear from the reception of this novel that Sager took a risk with this one. It does read differently to his previous stories, but for me, it totally worked.
I absolutely loved the film noir quality of the narrative. I have mentioned in a previous review of Sager's work that he must be a Hitchcock fan; this definitely sealed my belief in that.
It legitimately felt like a Hitchcock movie and obviously the origin of Charlie's name was a nod to the influential filmmaker.
I loved the tone and suspense throughout; the action, scene, cut-feel. It drew me in and kept me engaged the entire way. It read like a movie; vivid and tense.
It gets wacky, I'm not going to deny that, but it didn't hamper my enjoyment one bit. Overall, I am happy to sit in the minority opinion on this one.
I found the construction of the story to be incredibly clever; the insular nature of the narrative, the build in intensity, the epilogue, I loved it and am not ashamed to admit it.
As always, I'm really excited to see what Sager comes up with next!!
July 1, 2021
This book would make a FANTASTIC movie! 🍿
It is written as screenplay, with each scene, depicted by its camera location:
INT (interior, inside of) or EXT (exterior, outside of)
In fact, this time, I think the story would be better as a movie.
So, after reading some “less than enthusiastic” reviews for this one, I decided to approach it, by actually picturing what I would be SEEING, if this screenplay was on the BIG SCREEN!
And, that worked for me.
It’s 1991-cars have tape decks, and if you want to call someone from the road, or CALL FOR HELP-you will have to find some coins and a pay phone….
Charlie is a film theory major who feels like she cannot stay at college for another day! Her roommate and best friend, Maddy was the 4th Victim of a serial murderer referred to as “The Campus Killer” and Charlie feels responsible. The little orange pills aren’t working, and she is retreating into a movie-like World and starting to wonder what is real and what is hallucination.
She searches the Campus ride-share board and as luck would have it, a guy named Josh Baxter is also looking for someone to share the 6 hour drive to Ohio. She says goodbye to her boyfriend Robbie and climbs into the car.
INT Grand AM-Night
The Snow is smacking the windshield, the fog is receding, and as Josh and Charlie begin making conversation, she becomes increasingly convinced that she may have just accepted a ride with the Campus Killer!
In order to SURVIVE THE NIGHT, Charlie must:
BE SMART. BE BRAVE. and BE CAREFUL.
But, sometimes you need to choose one!
Of course, this is a MOVIE and our VICTIM will not always choose wisely, or we wouldn’t have a story.
We wouldn’t have a reason to SCREAM at her, ROOT for her, or PEEK between our fingers while covering our eyes! What fun would that be??
And, the ending…clever!
Even though it maybe only happens in movies…
So, while I agree that the story doesn’t translate as well to the page as it would to the screen-it did offer some surprises once it got going and it DID keep me entertained!
It’s not my favorite by this author, so if it’s your first time reading his work, I wouldn’t judge it, by this book alone.
I would like to thank Hodder and Stoughton for my gifted ARC provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Available June 29, 2021 in the U.S
Available December 23, 2021 in the UK
It is written as screenplay, with each scene, depicted by its camera location:
INT (interior, inside of) or EXT (exterior, outside of)
In fact, this time, I think the story would be better as a movie.
So, after reading some “less than enthusiastic” reviews for this one, I decided to approach it, by actually picturing what I would be SEEING, if this screenplay was on the BIG SCREEN!
And, that worked for me.
It’s 1991-cars have tape decks, and if you want to call someone from the road, or CALL FOR HELP-you will have to find some coins and a pay phone….
Charlie is a film theory major who feels like she cannot stay at college for another day! Her roommate and best friend, Maddy was the 4th Victim of a serial murderer referred to as “The Campus Killer” and Charlie feels responsible. The little orange pills aren’t working, and she is retreating into a movie-like World and starting to wonder what is real and what is hallucination.
She searches the Campus ride-share board and as luck would have it, a guy named Josh Baxter is also looking for someone to share the 6 hour drive to Ohio. She says goodbye to her boyfriend Robbie and climbs into the car.
INT Grand AM-Night
The Snow is smacking the windshield, the fog is receding, and as Josh and Charlie begin making conversation, she becomes increasingly convinced that she may have just accepted a ride with the Campus Killer!
In order to SURVIVE THE NIGHT, Charlie must:
BE SMART. BE BRAVE. and BE CAREFUL.
But, sometimes you need to choose one!
Of course, this is a MOVIE and our VICTIM will not always choose wisely, or we wouldn’t have a story.
We wouldn’t have a reason to SCREAM at her, ROOT for her, or PEEK between our fingers while covering our eyes! What fun would that be??
And, the ending…clever!
Even though it maybe only happens in movies…
So, while I agree that the story doesn’t translate as well to the page as it would to the screen-it did offer some surprises once it got going and it DID keep me entertained!
It’s not my favorite by this author, so if it’s your first time reading his work, I wouldn’t judge it, by this book alone.
I would like to thank Hodder and Stoughton for my gifted ARC provided through NetGalley! It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Available June 29, 2021 in the U.S
Available December 23, 2021 in the UK
July 7, 2021
You know that movie where James Franco gets trapped between a cave wall and a boulder for 127 hours and is slowly losing hope and sanity and has to resort to drastic measures to get free?
Yeah, that's what this book felt like.
Reading Vlog/Review: https://youtu.be/UjpEE3uk8Y0
Yeah, that's what this book felt like.
Reading Vlog/Review: https://youtu.be/UjpEE3uk8Y0
July 8, 2021
***NOW AVAILABLE***
Lovers of twisted and abhorrent characters are going to love this one!!! I felt this was more frightening and darker than his last book “Home Before Dark”.
Starting this book my first thought was that this sounded way too familiar. The premise of a girl getting into a car with a stranger and things going wrong is certainly nothing new. The girls always have a reason to do this, they are running to or from something, they are happy or incredibly sad. What makes this one really good is the author’s ability to get into the reader’s head and make you wonder what is real and what is not. That is the real magic of this novel!!
It’s the 1990’s, not that long ago, when pay phones were the only way to check in with someone or call for help. No cell phones, no texting.
Charlie is a young college student grieving the loss of her friend. She has reasons why she wants to leave campus RIGHT NOW, but they aren’t what you may think they are.
Josh is probably 10 years older but appears at the ride share bulletin on campus when Charlie is looking for a ride home to Ohio. Charlie assumes he is a graduate student, he’s wearing a campus sweatshirt.
No questions asked, Charlie and Josh head off into the night. SILLY GIRL WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!!!!!!!! She leaves behind a boyfriend who isn’t quite sure if this is the end of their relationship or not. Does he really care? Does she?
When the blurb states that this is a game of cat and mouse, that’s exactly what transpires. At one point in this book I was growing increasingly anxious and put the book aside for a while. When I returned, the spell was somewhat broken. I started looking at things a different way entirely.
At 70% I had a pretty good idea what was going on but the twists still kept coming. Evil hides in plain sight so keep your eyes open to all possibilities.
If you love that taut, pit of your stomach tension, read it in one setting. This one has an atmospheric setting but is lacking that supernatural vibe of Home Before Dark which definitely remains my favorite of his books. The characters are really not believable but this is fiction and I was along for the ride.
Mr. Sager’s fans and lovers of psychological thrillers are going to really enjoy this one. Find the hiding psychopath!!!!!!!!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
Lovers of twisted and abhorrent characters are going to love this one!!! I felt this was more frightening and darker than his last book “Home Before Dark”.
Starting this book my first thought was that this sounded way too familiar. The premise of a girl getting into a car with a stranger and things going wrong is certainly nothing new. The girls always have a reason to do this, they are running to or from something, they are happy or incredibly sad. What makes this one really good is the author’s ability to get into the reader’s head and make you wonder what is real and what is not. That is the real magic of this novel!!
It’s the 1990’s, not that long ago, when pay phones were the only way to check in with someone or call for help. No cell phones, no texting.
Charlie is a young college student grieving the loss of her friend. She has reasons why she wants to leave campus RIGHT NOW, but they aren’t what you may think they are.
Josh is probably 10 years older but appears at the ride share bulletin on campus when Charlie is looking for a ride home to Ohio. Charlie assumes he is a graduate student, he’s wearing a campus sweatshirt.
No questions asked, Charlie and Josh head off into the night. SILLY GIRL WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!!!!!!!! She leaves behind a boyfriend who isn’t quite sure if this is the end of their relationship or not. Does he really care? Does she?
When the blurb states that this is a game of cat and mouse, that’s exactly what transpires. At one point in this book I was growing increasingly anxious and put the book aside for a while. When I returned, the spell was somewhat broken. I started looking at things a different way entirely.
At 70% I had a pretty good idea what was going on but the twists still kept coming. Evil hides in plain sight so keep your eyes open to all possibilities.
If you love that taut, pit of your stomach tension, read it in one setting. This one has an atmospheric setting but is lacking that supernatural vibe of Home Before Dark which definitely remains my favorite of his books. The characters are really not believable but this is fiction and I was along for the ride.
Mr. Sager’s fans and lovers of psychological thrillers are going to really enjoy this one. Find the hiding psychopath!!!!!!!!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.
July 9, 2021
One of my most anticipated books of the year!! I love Riley Sager!! I hated this book 😕
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
July 5, 2021
This was one of my most anticipated books of the year, it’s also my book club pick for this month! I have such mixed feelings about this book :(
Can’t wait to discuss this book with everyone later this month! Here’s the vlog where I read it: https://youtu.be/wcbIV0T2QL4
Can’t wait to discuss this book with everyone later this month! Here’s the vlog where I read it: https://youtu.be/wcbIV0T2QL4
July 24, 2021
A binge-worthy, campy joy ride!
Buckle-up, Lock Every Door , and hang on tight for this one!
What you can expect- A campus killer on the loose, A girl (Charlie) meets stranger at ride board on campus, Girl accepts ride with stranger, Charlie's namesake is from a Hitchcock film (could there be a lesson here?), a diner on Dead River Road (wink), twists that may produce vertigo and some fun times spent in Sillyville, nothing too serious here, ignore all the red flags and ride along...
If this trip sounds like a rollercoaster you'd get on, you'll probably enjoy it as much as I did!
July 22, 2021. OUT NOW!
Buckle-up, Lock Every Door , and hang on tight for this one!
What you can expect- A campus killer on the loose, A girl (Charlie) meets stranger at ride board on campus, Girl accepts ride with stranger, Charlie's namesake is from a Hitchcock film (could there be a lesson here?), a diner on Dead River Road (wink), twists that may produce vertigo and some fun times spent in Sillyville, nothing too serious here, ignore all the red flags and ride along...
If this trip sounds like a rollercoaster you'd get on, you'll probably enjoy it as much as I did!
July 22, 2021. OUT NOW!
June 20, 2021
A dark night. Two strangers in a car, traveling down dark roads. Set before the days of cell phones and internet. I thought I was in for an awesome ride, but things took a detour.
The year is 1991, and right before Thanksgiving break, Charlie decides she wants to leave college…most likely indefinitely. She hasn’t gotten over the murder of her best friend, who fell victim to the Campus Killer.
Charlie meets Josh at the campus ride board while putting up a flyer to see if anyone wants to share a ride and gas money to her home in Ohio. It just so happens that he’s going that way as well, and he’d be happy to take her along for the ride.
They begin their trip late at night, and as they get to chatting, Charlie suspects Josh may not be a student like she originally thought. Further incidents lead her to believe that she is in the car with the actual Campus Killer.
On a quiet night with nobody on the highway and nobody to hear a scream, who will survive the night?
There was an early indication that I wouldn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped. Early in the car ride, Josh asks if Charlie would like to play some music, and says, “You’re my guest. What do you like? And please don’t say Paula Abdul.” Well, excusez-moi, but I happen to own and still listen to all of Paula Abdul’s albums, so that line didn’t fly with me. 🤣
In all seriousness, the story is fine. I was never bored. Riley Sager’s last book, Home Before Dark, was on my top of 2020 list. I think my expectations were way too high. While the writing in this one is still fantastic, it’s not oozing with atmosphere the way I hoped it would. There’s also not a lot going on in it that gave me 90’s vibes, and I really wanted that.
I don’t post spoilers, but I will say the last 20% was a bit too convoluted for me. The motives and character actions weren’t very realistic, and I personally expected something with a bit more depth. There is also a gimmick used to possibly trick the reader, but I wasn’t a huge fan of it.
Overall, this is a decent read that kept me engaged…but just didn’t WOW me. I have a feeling many others will love this one, so keep an eye out for other reviews.
I’ve come to the conclusion that for every Sager book that leaves me wanting more, I end up loving his next one. Following that science, I am excited to predict that his NEXT book is going to be a 5-star stunner for me.
Thank you to Dutton for sending me a widget for an ARC. This book will be published 6/29/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
The year is 1991, and right before Thanksgiving break, Charlie decides she wants to leave college…most likely indefinitely. She hasn’t gotten over the murder of her best friend, who fell victim to the Campus Killer.
Charlie meets Josh at the campus ride board while putting up a flyer to see if anyone wants to share a ride and gas money to her home in Ohio. It just so happens that he’s going that way as well, and he’d be happy to take her along for the ride.
They begin their trip late at night, and as they get to chatting, Charlie suspects Josh may not be a student like she originally thought. Further incidents lead her to believe that she is in the car with the actual Campus Killer.
On a quiet night with nobody on the highway and nobody to hear a scream, who will survive the night?
There was an early indication that I wouldn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hoped. Early in the car ride, Josh asks if Charlie would like to play some music, and says, “You’re my guest. What do you like? And please don’t say Paula Abdul.” Well, excusez-moi, but I happen to own and still listen to all of Paula Abdul’s albums, so that line didn’t fly with me. 🤣
In all seriousness, the story is fine. I was never bored. Riley Sager’s last book, Home Before Dark, was on my top of 2020 list. I think my expectations were way too high. While the writing in this one is still fantastic, it’s not oozing with atmosphere the way I hoped it would. There’s also not a lot going on in it that gave me 90’s vibes, and I really wanted that.
I don’t post spoilers, but I will say the last 20% was a bit too convoluted for me. The motives and character actions weren’t very realistic, and I personally expected something with a bit more depth. There is also a gimmick used to possibly trick the reader, but I wasn’t a huge fan of it.
Overall, this is a decent read that kept me engaged…but just didn’t WOW me. I have a feeling many others will love this one, so keep an eye out for other reviews.
I’ve come to the conclusion that for every Sager book that leaves me wanting more, I end up loving his next one. Following that science, I am excited to predict that his NEXT book is going to be a 5-star stunner for me.
Thank you to Dutton for sending me a widget for an ARC. This book will be published 6/29/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
August 28, 2021
It’s 1991, and Charlie is leaving college, maybe temporarily, but probably for good. The main problem is, she can’t get over the death of her friend Maddy, who was a victim of the Campus Killer - Charlie blames herself for Maddy’s death.
She’s just posting a flyer on the campus ride board, to see if anyone wants to share a ride back to Ohio, when she meets Josh, who is looking for a passenger to share his gas costs to roughly the same area, and so it’s agreed that they’ll travel together.
Charlie immediately starts to have her doubts, she’s never actually seen Josh around college, knows nothing about him, could even be the Campus Killer for all she knows!
Gosh this was a slow start, I almost gave up on it, but persevering, I discovered that it picked up considerably later on, and there were a few twists, one of which I wasn’t expecting. Was this one of my favourite reads? Definitely not, but I’m glad I stuck with it.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
She’s just posting a flyer on the campus ride board, to see if anyone wants to share a ride back to Ohio, when she meets Josh, who is looking for a passenger to share his gas costs to roughly the same area, and so it’s agreed that they’ll travel together.
Charlie immediately starts to have her doubts, she’s never actually seen Josh around college, knows nothing about him, could even be the Campus Killer for all she knows!
Gosh this was a slow start, I almost gave up on it, but persevering, I discovered that it picked up considerably later on, and there were a few twists, one of which I wasn’t expecting. Was this one of my favourite reads? Definitely not, but I’m glad I stuck with it.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
October 1, 2022
Okropna lektorka.
Absurd goni absurd.
Absurd goni absurd.
July 7, 2021
This is the latest Riley Sager psychological thriller set in the 1990s featuring an interesting unreliable narrator, the traumatised Charlie Jordan, a film obsessed New Jersey student, whose mind is exhibiting cracks when her room mate Maddy becomes the victim of the terrifying Campus Killer. Laden down with grief and guilt, she is struggling to cope and wants to go back home to Ohio and decides to go with Josh Baxter returning to look after his sick father. They are going to be travelling for the many hours it takes, sharing a car, with Charlie knowing nothing about Josh, I can only assume her current state of mind is so skewered that she is unable think rationally. As the journey continues, Charlie begins to become suspicious of Josh, who exactly is he, is he even a student?
Obviously the central troubling question is could he be the Campus Killer? Charlie is not helped by her constructing movies in her mind, making it hard to differentiate between realities and dangers she faces and the mental fiction painted in her head as a cat and mouse game develops. Will Charlie survive the night? This is an entertaining read, although it requires a suspension of disbelief to really enjoy it. Being set in the 1990s, we trawl through 90s culture and movies, and, of course, the technology of the time, there are no mobile phones for the troubled Charlie to help her. I found this to be an engaging read, but it is not my favourite Riley Sager novel. Many fans of the crime and mystery genre are likely to appreciate this dark, tense, twisted and suspenseful thriller. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC..
Obviously the central troubling question is could he be the Campus Killer? Charlie is not helped by her constructing movies in her mind, making it hard to differentiate between realities and dangers she faces and the mental fiction painted in her head as a cat and mouse game develops. Will Charlie survive the night? This is an entertaining read, although it requires a suspension of disbelief to really enjoy it. Being set in the 1990s, we trawl through 90s culture and movies, and, of course, the technology of the time, there are no mobile phones for the troubled Charlie to help her. I found this to be an engaging read, but it is not my favourite Riley Sager novel. Many fans of the crime and mystery genre are likely to appreciate this dark, tense, twisted and suspenseful thriller. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC..
August 16, 2021
honestly pretty bad. the car scenes were kind of eerie i guess but otherwise not very well crafted. starting to think lock every door was an anomaly. need to revisit my home before dark rating…
July 19, 2021
If you are in the mood for an homage to campy B-movie thrillers where the pages practically turn themselves, then this is the book for you!
A serial murderer, dubbed The Campus Killer, is still on the loose, and his latest victim was Charlie’s best friend, Maddy. Charlie (named for a Hitchcock heroine) is too guilt and grief-stricken to stay in school, and decides to visit her grandmother. She accepts a ride to Ohio with Josh, a complete stranger. While a murderer is on loose. This is Big Mistake #1. One of many made by Charlie, but think of a horror movie where you cover your eyes and yell at the heroine and you get the idea. Stupid, but fun nonetheless.
The trip is a 6-hour drive at night along long empty stretches of road. Before long Charlie finds inconsistencies in Josh’s story and begins to not only doubt who he really is, but suspect he is the Campus Killer. The problem? Charlie often lives in a fantasy world where she zones out and sees old movies playing in her mind. So, who is the unreliable narrator? Charlie or Josh - or both? The author keeps us guessing as Charlie debates her next move and finds herself in more than a few binds and missed opportunities for escape.
Trapped in a car with a possible murderer, Charlie has nowhere to go and no way to call for help. I loved the pre-cellphone/internet early 90s vibe, where Charlie has to become a bad-ass and use skills she didn’t know she possessed in order to survive the night. I also loved the nod to all the great movies and music of the past.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce, and we both had fun playing armchair detective, even though we failed once again. Set your critical hat aside and just go along for the ride with Charlie and Josh. The motives of one of the characters was unconvincing and the final reveal of the killer was a stretch, but as an homage, I didn’t take it too seriously. The epilogue was perfection, a rarity! There is a cinematic feel to the book that would make a terrific movie.
* for our duo review please visit: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
A serial murderer, dubbed The Campus Killer, is still on the loose, and his latest victim was Charlie’s best friend, Maddy. Charlie (named for a Hitchcock heroine) is too guilt and grief-stricken to stay in school, and decides to visit her grandmother. She accepts a ride to Ohio with Josh, a complete stranger. While a murderer is on loose. This is Big Mistake #1. One of many made by Charlie, but think of a horror movie where you cover your eyes and yell at the heroine and you get the idea. Stupid, but fun nonetheless.
The trip is a 6-hour drive at night along long empty stretches of road. Before long Charlie finds inconsistencies in Josh’s story and begins to not only doubt who he really is, but suspect he is the Campus Killer. The problem? Charlie often lives in a fantasy world where she zones out and sees old movies playing in her mind. So, who is the unreliable narrator? Charlie or Josh - or both? The author keeps us guessing as Charlie debates her next move and finds herself in more than a few binds and missed opportunities for escape.
Trapped in a car with a possible murderer, Charlie has nowhere to go and no way to call for help. I loved the pre-cellphone/internet early 90s vibe, where Charlie has to become a bad-ass and use skills she didn’t know she possessed in order to survive the night. I also loved the nod to all the great movies and music of the past.
This was a buddy read with Marialyce, and we both had fun playing armchair detective, even though we failed once again. Set your critical hat aside and just go along for the ride with Charlie and Josh. The motives of one of the characters was unconvincing and the final reveal of the killer was a stretch, but as an homage, I didn’t take it too seriously. The epilogue was perfection, a rarity! There is a cinematic feel to the book that would make a terrific movie.
* for our duo review please visit: https://yayareadslotsofbooks.wordpres...
June 11, 2021
Riley, jeez. You could've just said you didn't like movies.
Well, I heard you clear and loud now I don't want to watch movies anymore.
Thank you.
Well, I heard you clear and loud now I don't want to watch movies anymore.
Thank you.
September 5, 2021
So... this was a shitshow full of mad people. And I don't mean it in a good way.
Let me start this review on a positive note.
As Riley Sager is a best selling author, I expected to like his writing style, and although I wasn't a fan of all the things he has written in this particular novel, I do admit that his words are easy to follow and the book reads easy and fast.
To give you and example how fast it reads, I will just say that it was our August pick for our book club and instead of planned 7, it took us only 4 days to finish.
The premise was promising, but with all the negative reviews appearing I didn't have too high expectations.
However, I did expect to be fascinated with Josh's character (because of one BookTube review) but that didn't happen.
Also, in one of my Goodreads friend's review I read that Charlie is one of the stupidest characters ever written, and after I finished Survive the Night, I 100% understand why my friend feels that way. I also agree with her, to some point.
It is hard to root for someone who acts so against their well being.
If I am being honest, one part of me even wanted for her not to survive the night.
As for the big relevation I wasn't surprised at all, as the author gave us only few characters in the whole story, there weren't much choices to chose our suspect from.
Last thing I want to mention is how I am not happy with the way mental illness was handled.
We never got the answer what Charlie's diagnosis were, the author almost approached it as some kind of superpower, at some parts it felt like it was used just to mess with our mind and one chapter closer to the end reminded me of the way mental illness was handled in the history, when ppl in mental hospitals were put under electricity hamlets to be cured.
That chapter left bad taste in my mouth.
In the end I will just say that I am still eager to read Riley's book called Lock Every Door, and this one I will just pretend it wasn't written by him.
Let me start this review on a positive note.
As Riley Sager is a best selling author, I expected to like his writing style, and although I wasn't a fan of all the things he has written in this particular novel, I do admit that his words are easy to follow and the book reads easy and fast.
To give you and example how fast it reads, I will just say that it was our August pick for our book club and instead of planned 7, it took us only 4 days to finish.
The premise was promising, but with all the negative reviews appearing I didn't have too high expectations.
However, I did expect to be fascinated with Josh's character (because of one BookTube review) but that didn't happen.
Also, in one of my Goodreads friend's review I read that Charlie is one of the stupidest characters ever written, and after I finished Survive the Night, I 100% understand why my friend feels that way. I also agree with her, to some point.
It is hard to root for someone who acts so against their well being.
If I am being honest, one part of me even wanted for her not to survive the night.
As for the big relevation I wasn't surprised at all, as the author gave us only few characters in the whole story, there weren't much choices to chose our suspect from.
Last thing I want to mention is how I am not happy with the way mental illness was handled.
We never got the answer what Charlie's diagnosis were, the author almost approached it as some kind of superpower, at some parts it felt like it was used just to mess with our mind and one chapter closer to the end reminded me of the way mental illness was handled in the history, when ppl in mental hospitals were put under electricity hamlets to be cured.
That chapter left bad taste in my mouth.
In the end I will just say that I am still eager to read Riley's book called Lock Every Door, and this one I will just pretend it wasn't written by him.
August 8, 2021
1.5 stars—I am not sure what just happened. I was in the middle of a fairly good book when the plot just collapsed. It was like watching a football team take a 21 point lead and then the other team comes back and beats them 63-21. “Survive the Night” by Riley Sager begins with a good premise. The main character, Charlie, decides to leave college after her roommate, Maddy, dies at the hands of a serial killer. Charlie is ravaged with guilt because she got mad at Maddy on the night of her death and left her alone at the bar they were visiting. Maddy never returned and Charlie blamed herself for her roommate’s death. She decides to use the college’s ride board to find a ride home with someone she has never met before. As you might imagine, with an active serial killer on the loose this may not be the best decision Charlie ever made. With this premise, what can go wrong? How about everything. In what may be the record for most unrealistic, stupid plot points ever, the book completely falls apart.
Main character with a mysterious mental condition where she can’t tell reality from movies in her head ✔️
The worst decision making ever by an unarmed main character traveling with a giant creep☑️
Twists and turns so stupid and unrealistic it leaves you shaking your head over and over again✔️
Ridiculous ending followed by an even more ridiculous twist ending☑️
I loved “Home Before Dark” but never have I read a book that collapsed so badly that I felt that the author just phoned in the last third of the book. If Sager could rewrite the last 40 percent of the book, I might give it 4 or even 5 stars, but as is —1.5 stars is generous.
Main character with a mysterious mental condition where she can’t tell reality from movies in her head ✔️
The worst decision making ever by an unarmed main character traveling with a giant creep☑️
Twists and turns so stupid and unrealistic it leaves you shaking your head over and over again✔️
Ridiculous ending followed by an even more ridiculous twist ending☑️
I loved “Home Before Dark” but never have I read a book that collapsed so badly that I felt that the author just phoned in the last third of the book. If Sager could rewrite the last 40 percent of the book, I might give it 4 or even 5 stars, but as is —1.5 stars is generous.
May 23, 2023
am i the only booktuber that likes this book 👀
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