Name: Lynn Braden's review of Never Coming Home by Kate M. Williams
Item: Never Coming Home
Rating: 2
Author: Lynn Braden

Kate M. Williams

The beach read you have been dying for! When ten of America's hottest teenage influencers are invited to an exclusive island resort, things are sure to get wild. But murder isn't what anyone expected. Will anyone survive? Everyone knows Unknown Island--it's the world's most exclusive destination. Think white sand beaches, turquoise seas, and luxury accommodations. Plus, it's invite only, no one over twenty-one allowed, and it's absolutely free. Who wouldn't want to go? After launching with a showstopping viral marketing campaign, the whole world is watching as the mysterious resort opens its doors to the First Ten, the ten elite influencers specifically chosen to be the first to experience everything Unknown Island has to offer. You know them. There's the gamer, the beauty blogger, the rich girl, the superstar, the junior politician, the environmentalist, the DJ, the CEO, the chef, and the athlete. What they don't know is that they weren't invited to Unknown Island for their following--they were invited for their secrets. Everyone is hiding a deadly one, and it looks like someone's decided it's payback time. Unknown Island isn't a vacation, it's a trap. And it's beginning to look like the First Ten--no matter how influential--are never coming home.

Never Coming Home

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

Ten internet influencers are invited to Unknown Island for a week of sun and fun as this 21 and under hot spot gets its soft opening.  As the ten influencers begin to arrive on the island, they quickly realize that things are not as they had been promised in the ad campaign.  There is no staff available after the first day and their living conditions are less than desirable.  When a letter is delivered to each of them accusing them of murder, they know that this isn't going to be the trip they bargained for.

I did not enjoy Never Coming Home.  None of the characters are likable or amicable so there is nobody to root for in the story.  As the deaths begin to occur, the teenage characters act far too much like adults to be believable.  Also, the end of the book is a complete info dump, relying on articles and chat transcripts to explain what happened in the story.  The end truly left the rest of the book unnecessary by restating the entire plot.  The biggest problem is that there is no theme - no lesson to be learned from the experience.  Overall, Never Coming Home is meant to replicate the structure used by Agatha Christie, but it lacks the depth that a story of this nature needs to be successful.

Lynn Braden

Ten internet influencers are invited to Unknown Island for a week of sun and fun as this 21 and under hot spot gets its soft opening.  As the ten influencers begin to arrive on the island, they quickly realize that things are not as they had been promised in the ad campaign.  There is no staff available after the first day and their living conditions are less than desirable.  When a letter is delivered to each of them accusing them of murder, they know that this isn't going to be the trip they bargained for.

I did not enjoy Never Coming Home.  None of the characters are likable or amicable so there is nobody to root for in the story.  As the deaths begin to occur, the teenage characters act far too much like adults to be believable.  Also, the end of the book is a complete info dump, relying on articles and chat transcripts to explain what happened in the story.  The end truly left the rest of the book unnecessary by restating the entire plot.  The biggest problem is that there is no theme - no lesson to be learned from the experience.  Overall, Never Coming Home is meant to replicate the structure used by Agatha Christie, but it lacks the depth that a story of this nature needs to be successful.

Boothby

Exactly what it says on the box, which is no mean feat. Much appreciated

Seher Mohsin

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

This book answers the question of what if we mixed Fyre Festival and murder!

Never coming home starts out pretty slow tbh! At the start I was pretty sure I wouldn’t like it because we went through a few POVs and it seemed really slow. BUT WHEN IT PICKED UP IT PICKED UP! 

Basically 20% in I was hooked! Each character is pretty well created, really interesting and you’re really waiting to see what happens, who survives, and who was the killer. I was rooting for Manny and Justice though!

Long story short, because I don’t want to spoil this, is that this is a 5 star book and I want more by Kate Williams! 

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Never Coming Home

Author: Kate Williams

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: Queer Character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, abandoned, island vacation

Publication Date: June 21, 2022

Genre: YA Thriller Mystery

Age Relevance: 13+ (homophobia comments, gore, violence, death, suicide, drugs, cursing, racism, attempted animal murder)

Explanation of Above: There are some small and brief homophobic comments said in a flashback scene. There is some gore, including vomit and blood, death and murder, and violence, including allergy attacks and stabbings. There is suicide briefly mentioned in the book and vaguely shown. There is some drug abuse and drug use mentioned briefly in the book. There is some cursing in the book. Flashbacks including some racism are mentioned and one scene of an attempted animal murder is shown, but the dog is not harmed.

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 320

Synopsis: Everyone knows Unknown Island—it’s the world’s most exclusive destination. Think white sand beaches, turquoise seas, and luxury accommodations. Plus, it’s invite only, no one over twenty-one allowed, and it’s absolutely free. Who wouldn’t want to go?

After launching with a showstopping viral marketing campaign, the whole world is watching as the mysterious resort opens its doors to the First Ten, the ten elite influencers specifically chosen to be the first to experience everything Unknown Island has to offer. You know them. There’s the gamer, the beauty blogger, the rich girl, the superstar, the junior politician, the environmentalist, the DJ, the CEO, the chef, and the athlete.

What they don’t know is that they weren’t invited to Unknown Island for their following—they were invited for their secrets. Everyone is hiding a deadly one, and it looks like someone’s decided it’s payback time. Unknown Island isn’t a vacation, it’s a trap. And it’s beginning to look like the First Ten—no matter how influential—are never coming home.

Review: For the most part I enjoyed this read a lot! The book gave me creepypasta/Abandoned by Disney vibes combined with Clue vibes and I liked how all of the characters were not totally likeable at all. The characters ranged in their likability, which makes it hard to figure out the true murderer cause they’re all suspicious. I liked the character development of each character and I liked how it changed POVs often. I also liked the world building and thought it was a very creepy and atmospheric read.

However, I did think that the format of the book was a bit confusing to get into. The book follows 8 POVs and it makes it hard to keep them straight in the beginning. The POV also changes mid chapter, which is also confusing. The plot took a bit to get off the ground as well.

Verdict: I loved it! Definitely recommend.


Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
Never Coming Home by Kate M. Williams

Reviews

Join the club

Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &Never Coming Home by Kate M. Williams

Reviews

Join the club

Genesis (@whisperingchapters) &
Never Coming Home by Kate M. Williams