Literature & Fiction
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You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight
At Camp Mirror Lake, terror is the name of the game . . . but can you survive the night?
This heart-pounding slasher by New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron is perfect for fans of Fear Street.
Charity has the summer job of her dreams, playing the "final girl" at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, The Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business.
But the last weekend of the season, Charity's co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity's role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they'll need figure out what this killer is after. As they unravel the bloody history of the real Mirror Lake, Charity discovers that there may be more to the story than she ever suspected . . .
This heart-pounding slasher by New York Times bestselling author Kalynn Bayron is perfect for fans of Fear Street.
Charity has the summer job of her dreams, playing the "final girl" at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, The Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business.
But the last weekend of the season, Charity's co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity's role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they'll need figure out what this killer is after. As they unravel the bloody history of the real Mirror Lake, Charity discovers that there may be more to the story than she ever suspected . . .
Editorial Reviews
"A spine-tingling camp slasher with a cast of characters you can't help but root for." ―Ryan Douglass, author of New York Times bestseller THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON
"Bayron's abundant use of familiar twists and turns draw on the genre's classic predecessors to craft a gory and darkly funny read that is sure to satisfy slasher fans." ―Publishers Weekly
"In this latest novel, Bayron (My Dear Henry, 2023) integrates the traditional conventions of a slasher novel with the story of a queer, Black girl protagonist who subverts the trope of "Black people dying first." Bayron's foray into the YA horror space helps continue the effort of decentering whiteness in the genre. The overall campiness of the novel will appeal to fans of '90s horror films, and make the book as fun as it is terrifying." ―Booklist
"Thrilling and magnetic, This Poison Heart pulses with true Black girl magic and endless mystery." ―Julian Winters, award-winning author of RUNNING WITH LIONS, on THIS POISON HEART
"A verdant read as rich as the greenery within it, This Poison Heart will wrap its vines around you and never let go." ―Kayla Ancrum, author of THE WICKER KING, on THIS POISON HEART
"Bayron takes an old story, turns it on its head, and makes it her own with a stunning display of pacing, character, and legacy." ―E. K. Johnston, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on THIS POISON HEART
"This Poison Heart masterfully weaves a unique story grounded in the depths of Greek mythology and Black girlhood, ideal for lovers of folklore or those who enjoy the thrill of a well-paced and unanticipated adventure." ―Booklist, starred review, on THIS POISON HEART
"Bayron weaves science and Greek mythology into a captivating lore that lends weight to this fantastical contemporary story. She conjures entertaining and realistic dialogue and attentive characterization, while incisive descriptions and sumptuous prose evoke a wonderfully gothic atmosphere." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review, on THIS POISON HEART
"Kalynn Bayron does more than re-write a fairy-tale . . . She breaks it apart and rebuilds it into a wholly original and captivating story where girls finally decide for themselves who lives happily ever after." ―Brigid Kemmerer, author of the New York Times bestse...
"Bayron's abundant use of familiar twists and turns draw on the genre's classic predecessors to craft a gory and darkly funny read that is sure to satisfy slasher fans." ―Publishers Weekly
"In this latest novel, Bayron (My Dear Henry, 2023) integrates the traditional conventions of a slasher novel with the story of a queer, Black girl protagonist who subverts the trope of "Black people dying first." Bayron's foray into the YA horror space helps continue the effort of decentering whiteness in the genre. The overall campiness of the novel will appeal to fans of '90s horror films, and make the book as fun as it is terrifying." ―Booklist
"Thrilling and magnetic, This Poison Heart pulses with true Black girl magic and endless mystery." ―Julian Winters, award-winning author of RUNNING WITH LIONS, on THIS POISON HEART
"A verdant read as rich as the greenery within it, This Poison Heart will wrap its vines around you and never let go." ―Kayla Ancrum, author of THE WICKER KING, on THIS POISON HEART
"Bayron takes an old story, turns it on its head, and makes it her own with a stunning display of pacing, character, and legacy." ―E. K. Johnston, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on THIS POISON HEART
"This Poison Heart masterfully weaves a unique story grounded in the depths of Greek mythology and Black girlhood, ideal for lovers of folklore or those who enjoy the thrill of a well-paced and unanticipated adventure." ―Booklist, starred review, on THIS POISON HEART
"Bayron weaves science and Greek mythology into a captivating lore that lends weight to this fantastical contemporary story. She conjures entertaining and realistic dialogue and attentive characterization, while incisive descriptions and sumptuous prose evoke a wonderfully gothic atmosphere." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review, on THIS POISON HEART
"Kalynn Bayron does more than re-write a fairy-tale . . . She breaks it apart and rebuilds it into a wholly original and captivating story where girls finally decide for themselves who lives happily ever after." ―Brigid Kemmerer, author of the New York Times bestse...
Readers Top Reviews
DOMINIQUE G DAVIS
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Charity who plays the “Final Girl” in Camo Mirror Lake’s horror camp. Camper experience recreated scenes from slasher films. When, unexpectedly, her coworkers start dying Charity is on a search to find connections her coworkers death and the serial killer. This was a quick read.It starts with a bang then we learn about Charity’s occupation. Although some of the deaths on paper were explicit it did not make me want to stop reading.
Erin MendozaDOMIN
Whew! This one had me on the edge of my seat. Horror is not usually my genre, but I'm a fan of Kaylnn Bayron, so I wanted to try it out. She sure knows how to build tension! I kept thinking that I was ready for that "jump scare," but nothing happened like I expected it to. In Your Not Supposed To Die Tonight, Charity works at an immersive horror experience where "campers" come to be scared. The whole atmosphere is creepy and you never know what's going to end up being real or not. Lots of twists and turns, and a pretty unique story even though it's based on OG slasher films. Recommend if you want a little scare. Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for an early copy for review.
Hannah O. Christe
For the last few summers, Charity has had the job of her dreams working at Camp Mirror Lake where guests pay to be scared in a full-contact terror game. This year, Charity is thrilled to get to play the role of final girl, but when the final game of the summer gets canceled and other employees start to go missing, Charity starts to suspect that something sinister is going on at Camp Mirror Lake. YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT by Kalynn Bayron was one of my most-anticipated reads of the summer! It has fantastic queer and diverse representation, is a freakin summer camp thriller, has that fun element of being YA, and has soo many nods to classic horror and slasher film tropes! This book hooked me immediately from chapter one and, with it being under 250 pages, I devoured it within 24 hours. I did dock a star for the way the twists and turns went - it felt a bit odd and not fully explained - but it didn’t feel fully implausible in the world of young adult horror. I think this is the perfect read for the summer!
Amanda ShepardHan
Camp Mirror Lake gives its guests an authentic horror experience, where guests pay to be scared out of their minds. All through recreating classic scenes from the slasher film The Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. It's Charity's dream job, and this summer, she gets to be the "final girl." All the while making sure the camp runs smoothly. However, on the final weeked of the season, Charity's co-workers mysteriously start disappearing. What was supposed to be a safe way to experience slasher films suddenly turns into the real thing. And now, Charity and her friends find themselves fighting for their lives. The only way to survive? Uncover the real truth behind Camp Mirror Lake. If you're a fan of cult slasher films and summer thrillers, this book should definitely be on your TBR this summer. It's a quick read, but only because once you start reading, you'll have a hard time putting it down. One of those horror/thrillers that keeps you turning the pages! While I'm not necessarily a fan of horror or slasher films, this story still hooked me. Generally, I find reading horror easier than watching it, as I'm more able to skip past some of the more gory parts (and there is gore and blood in this book, so beware!). So far, I haven't met a Kalynn Bayron book I haven't liked, and her writing has gotten even stronger since Cinderella is Dead. This is a new genre, but it's still just as well-written! The format of this book follows the general format of slasher films. While it's more focused on plot than character, Bayron still packs some good character development within the story. There are twists and turns, and even one I didn't see coming! While I felt the ending was a tad bizarre, I think that's just part for the overall genre. All in all, fans of summer camp themed horror films will absolutely love Bayron's latest book.
Reviewer 22222222
After falling in love with the This Poison Heart books I was so excited to see this author come out with a thriller/horror novel!!
