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Better the Devil: A Gripping YA Psychological Thriller About a Queer Teen, Stolen Identity, and Murder
A harrowing, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller about a queer homeless teen who, in a bid for safety, assumes the identity of a boy who went missing ten years ago...only to find that his new home is anything but a safe haven—from All That's Left in the World author Erik J. Brown!
Perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, and Ryan La Sala.
When a runaway teen is arrested for shoplifting, he's desperate not to be sent back to the hyper-religious parents he knows will never accept him. While at the police station, he notices a resemblance to the aged-up photos of Nate Beaumont, a child who went missing ten years ago—and, in a moment of desperation, he takes Nate’s identity in hopes that it will help him make a quick getaway.
Before he can run again, Nate’s family arrives and welcomes him home to a life he never had. As "Nate" watches and waits for his chance to escape, he finds that the Beaumonts are nurturing and loving, very different from his own parents.
But soon unsettling things start to happen—vandalism, alarms going off in the middle of the night—and it becomes clear that someone knows "Nate" isn't who he says he is...and that the real Nate wasn't kidnapped, but murdered.
As he starts to unravel the mystery, he gets ever closer to the devil he may know—and learns he might be their next victim.
Perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Holly Jackson, and Ryan La Sala.
When a runaway teen is arrested for shoplifting, he's desperate not to be sent back to the hyper-religious parents he knows will never accept him. While at the police station, he notices a resemblance to the aged-up photos of Nate Beaumont, a child who went missing ten years ago—and, in a moment of desperation, he takes Nate’s identity in hopes that it will help him make a quick getaway.
Before he can run again, Nate’s family arrives and welcomes him home to a life he never had. As "Nate" watches and waits for his chance to escape, he finds that the Beaumonts are nurturing and loving, very different from his own parents.
But soon unsettling things start to happen—vandalism, alarms going off in the middle of the night—and it becomes clear that someone knows "Nate" isn't who he says he is...and that the real Nate wasn't kidnapped, but murdered.
As he starts to unravel the mystery, he gets ever closer to the devil he may know—and learns he might be their next victim.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2026
42 people are currently reading
8209 people want to read
About the author
Erik J. Brown
5 books2,214 followersErik J. Brown is the internationally-bestselling author of All That's Left in the World and the sequel The Only Light Left Burning.
His books have received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books, and ALA Booklist.
His second novel, Lose You to Find Me, became a USA Today Bestseller.
Erik is also the co-host of the YA Book Podcast YA-OK where he and Alyssa Ljub of Netflix's The Circle talk with new and established YA authors about writing, publishing, and all things YA!
He lives in Philadelphia with his family.
You can find him on Instagram @ErikJB and TikTok @ErikJBrown
His books have received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Bulletin of the Center of Children's Books, and ALA Booklist.
His second novel, Lose You to Find Me, became a USA Today Bestseller.
Erik is also the co-host of the YA Book Podcast YA-OK where he and Alyssa Ljub of Netflix's The Circle talk with new and established YA authors about writing, publishing, and all things YA!
He lives in Philadelphia with his family.
You can find him on Instagram @ErikJB and TikTok @ErikJBrown
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
September 3, 2025
ARC for review. To be published January 20, 2026.
3 stars
YA novel about a gay teenager (we never know his real name, so feel free to imagine it. Abner? Horace?) who has run away from home in West Virginia after his parents try to send him to conversion therapy (I would like to read a good, non-fiction book about someone who has actually been exiled to conversion therapy. Anyone got any recommendations?).
Months later he is arrested for shoplifting and while at the police station he sees a missing persons poster on the wall. He impulsively tells the officer he is the missing boy, who disappeared when he was six. The narrator, now called Nate Beaumont, “reunites” with his family (yeah, they explain the DNA issue) but someone appears to know he isn’t who he says he is.
There’s a whole lot you have to swallow to get through this…the DNA issue, his good, Christian parents don’t seem to be looking for him…even if they don’t care, they need to pretend like it for the sake of their church people, right? And how did he survive on the street for eight months if he did as many dumb things as he does at the Beaumont house? Mysteries, all. Younger adults may like it fine, but it likely won’t hold the interest of adults.
3 stars
YA novel about a gay teenager (we never know his real name, so feel free to imagine it. Abner? Horace?) who has run away from home in West Virginia after his parents try to send him to conversion therapy (I would like to read a good, non-fiction book about someone who has actually been exiled to conversion therapy. Anyone got any recommendations?).
Months later he is arrested for shoplifting and while at the police station he sees a missing persons poster on the wall. He impulsively tells the officer he is the missing boy, who disappeared when he was six. The narrator, now called Nate Beaumont, “reunites” with his family (yeah, they explain the DNA issue) but someone appears to know he isn’t who he says he is.
There’s a whole lot you have to swallow to get through this…the DNA issue, his good, Christian parents don’t seem to be looking for him…even if they don’t care, they need to pretend like it for the sake of their church people, right? And how did he survive on the street for eight months if he did as many dumb things as he does at the Beaumont house? Mysteries, all. Younger adults may like it fine, but it likely won’t hold the interest of adults.
August 24, 2025
Oh, no! This is not what I want to write and I kind of hate myself for it. I wanted to write a glowing review about Better the Devil because Erik J. Brown is one of my favorite YA authors (and will always be). The thing is, though, I didn’t feel much tension throughout the book. Maybe it’s because I read a haunting house story right before this one, or because I had the perfect twist in my head and it didn’t turn out that way, or maybe because I figured out the real twist and who did it long, long before the plot twist actually happened (and found it a little unbelievable).
So, was this story bad? No. Erik J. Brown is a gifted writer, and I flew through the pages. I really liked Nate and Miles. They would have been the perfect characters for a contemporary romance. Better the Devil was just… something different from what I expected. More of a sleuthing story than a psychological thriller. I was prepared for something deeper. For more angst. For cliffhangers. I wanted to know more about Nate’s therapy sessions. I wanted to see him writhe on his seat. I wanted to peel off layer by layer and pick up all those breadcrumbs that would lead me to the end. And I just wanted to feel more, like I did while reading All That’s Left in the World. For me the story fell a little flat, and I figured out the twist and who did it long before it actually happened. Until suddenly that last part was bone-chilling and terrifying. I had wanted more of this throughout the story, not only in the last 15%.
Again, I hate that I’m writing this, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll love Erik’s next story so I can rate it a glorious five stars!
Thank you so much, HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley, for this ARC.
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So, was this story bad? No. Erik J. Brown is a gifted writer, and I flew through the pages. I really liked Nate and Miles. They would have been the perfect characters for a contemporary romance. Better the Devil was just… something different from what I expected. More of a sleuthing story than a psychological thriller. I was prepared for something deeper. For more angst. For cliffhangers. I wanted to know more about Nate’s therapy sessions. I wanted to see him writhe on his seat. I wanted to peel off layer by layer and pick up all those breadcrumbs that would lead me to the end. And I just wanted to feel more, like I did while reading All That’s Left in the World. For me the story fell a little flat, and I figured out the twist and who did it long before it actually happened. Until suddenly that last part was bone-chilling and terrifying. I had wanted more of this throughout the story, not only in the last 15%.
Again, I hate that I’m writing this, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll love Erik’s next story so I can rate it a glorious five stars!
Thank you so much, HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley, for this ARC.
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January 8, 2026
3.75* This was a wild ride but an incredibly fun and surprisingly twisted one. Easy to read and fast moving, I was totally hooked from the first page onwards. While the ‘big reveal’ didn’t quite work for me, at no point did this story stop being compelling or waver in its ability to keep me reading. This wasn’t the best YA thriller I’ve ever read and it was lacking in some areas for me but overall it was an entertaining read that was perfect for a rainy January day.
April 19, 2025
holy shit, i'm so ready for this (i'm definitely not)!!!
just tell us the date please
just tell us the date please
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When I read the arc of Better the Devil by Erik J. Brown, I was disappointed. It sounded like a sensational story ripped from the Maury Show and I didn’t like it. It seemed far-fetched, unrealistic and stupid. But I also listened to the audiobook listening copy of the same book and liked it enough to rate it 4 stars because of the exceptional narration by Daniel Henning. ARC was provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books/Storytide. I received an advance reading copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 11, 2025
This book had me in an absolute chokehold for 70% of the way through. Then we got to the twist/reveal and oh brother.
Truly the ending felt so cartoonish with the killer doing over the top and long winded villain monologues where the main character thinks “Oh no, they’re so smart, they have this all planned out!” Uhhh, I guess? Maybe I’m just stupid and like to believe that I’m just simply built different but I myself never felt that fear. I don’t know, team, the reveal was truly so silly, it totally killed my vibe.
I enjoyed what the book was going for. I liked the banter, even if people don’t really talk like that, it was still fun to read (until it wasn’t, cue true crime photo negative flash).
Incredible writing, awesome premise, the ending was just, well it was terrible.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Truly the ending felt so cartoonish with the killer doing over the top and long winded villain monologues where the main character thinks “Oh no, they’re so smart, they have this all planned out!” Uhhh, I guess? Maybe I’m just stupid and like to believe that I’m just simply built different but I myself never felt that fear. I don’t know, team, the reveal was truly so silly, it totally killed my vibe.
I enjoyed what the book was going for. I liked the banter, even if people don’t really talk like that, it was still fun to read (until it wasn’t, cue true crime photo negative flash).
Incredible writing, awesome premise, the ending was just, well it was terrible.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This read like a high-quality Lifetime movie—and I mean that as a genuine compliment. It was engaging, propulsive, and absolutely the kind of story that makes you want to consume it in one sitting because you need to know how it turns out. I could clearly see two major paths the story might take, and I was eager to discover which direction the author chose.
I listened to this on audio and, overall, enjoyed the experience, though there were some notable flaws in the narration. It’s performed by Daniel Henning, who is a fantastic narrator. He delivered strong emotional beats, appropriate inflection, and distinct voices for each character. That said, the pacing at 1x speed felt a bit slow for my taste.
My main issue, however, was the voice he chose for the MMC. It made the character sound like a 12-year-old—or even prepubescent—which was jarring given that the character is supposed to be 16. Hearing what sounded like a young middle schooler in the situations the character found himself in pulled me out of the story more than once and definitely affected my overall experience. I do want to note that this wasn’t Henning’s natural speaking voice, so this felt less like a casting issue and more like a questionable performance choice.
All that said, I still fully enjoyed the twisty ride this book took me on. The story is well written, well plotted, and emotionally engaging. I’m very much looking forward to reading more from this author. I think this would be a great fit for older teens in particular, especially with an MMC whose queer experience will resonate with many readers—even if the outcomes are far more extreme than most will ever face.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harper Audio Children’s via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
I listened to this on audio and, overall, enjoyed the experience, though there were some notable flaws in the narration. It’s performed by Daniel Henning, who is a fantastic narrator. He delivered strong emotional beats, appropriate inflection, and distinct voices for each character. That said, the pacing at 1x speed felt a bit slow for my taste.
My main issue, however, was the voice he chose for the MMC. It made the character sound like a 12-year-old—or even prepubescent—which was jarring given that the character is supposed to be 16. Hearing what sounded like a young middle schooler in the situations the character found himself in pulled me out of the story more than once and definitely affected my overall experience. I do want to note that this wasn’t Henning’s natural speaking voice, so this felt less like a casting issue and more like a questionable performance choice.
All that said, I still fully enjoyed the twisty ride this book took me on. The story is well written, well plotted, and emotionally engaging. I’m very much looking forward to reading more from this author. I think this would be a great fit for older teens in particular, especially with an MMC whose queer experience will resonate with many readers—even if the outcomes are far more extreme than most will ever face.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harper Audio Children’s via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
August 18, 2025
3.5 ★
I really enjoyed Better the Devil! The premise instantly hooked me—queer teen assumes the identity of a missing boy to escape a dangerous situation? Yes, please. The story kicks off with a bang and had me totally gripped from the start. It’s dark, emotional, and tense in all the best ways.
I’ll admit, the pacing dipped a little for me around the middle, but once we hit that 70% mark? OH. MY. GOD. That twist had me yelling. I had theories (trust me, I thought I was smart), but I did not see that coming. Absolutely wild and super satisfying in that twisty thriller way.
One thing that gave me a little pause was how often "Nate" would casually drop in reminders that he was gay.. it felt a little out of place or forced in the moment, like “Hey, remember I’m gay!” with no real relevance to the scene. I love that we have a queer lead in a thriller, but it could’ve been woven in a bit more organically. That said go off, king, cause SAME.
Also: FUCKKKKKKK Easton. That’s all I’ll say
I really enjoyed Better the Devil! The premise instantly hooked me—queer teen assumes the identity of a missing boy to escape a dangerous situation? Yes, please. The story kicks off with a bang and had me totally gripped from the start. It’s dark, emotional, and tense in all the best ways.
I’ll admit, the pacing dipped a little for me around the middle, but once we hit that 70% mark? OH. MY. GOD. That twist had me yelling. I had theories (trust me, I thought I was smart), but I did not see that coming. Absolutely wild and super satisfying in that twisty thriller way.
One thing that gave me a little pause was how often "Nate" would casually drop in reminders that he was gay.. it felt a little out of place or forced in the moment, like “Hey, remember I’m gay!” with no real relevance to the scene. I love that we have a queer lead in a thriller, but it could’ve been woven in a bit more organically. That said go off, king, cause SAME.
Also: FUCKKKKKKK Easton. That’s all I’ll say
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Better the Devil gave me second-hand anxiety!
When a gay teenager (who was only ever out to one person) gets home to a surprise "you're going to a conversion camp" meeting with his ultra-conservative and ultra-religious parents, he takes the first moment he can to bolt, setting into motion a series of unfortunate (and honestly, some fortunate) events that changes the lives of the Beaumont family forever.
We hear the story from the perspective of the nameless main character, and oh my goodness, that boy has so much anxiety. Rightfully so, I might add, but still! The writing really leans into the anxiety he feels, being on the run, feeling constantly watched, and the moments where he can't fully trust the people around him - even if he wants to.
While a lot of this book is pretty believable, there are a few things that when you sit back and think about it, don't quite make sense, but when you're reading, the story sucks you in and makes you forget about the things that don't quite add up.
If you're looking for a quick, relatively fast-paced story that will keep you asking questions and always looking for the next clue, this is it!
Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and Erik J. Brown for this e-ARC. I was provided this ARC for review only, I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own.
When a gay teenager (who was only ever out to one person) gets home to a surprise "you're going to a conversion camp" meeting with his ultra-conservative and ultra-religious parents, he takes the first moment he can to bolt, setting into motion a series of unfortunate (and honestly, some fortunate) events that changes the lives of the Beaumont family forever.
We hear the story from the perspective of the nameless main character, and oh my goodness, that boy has so much anxiety. Rightfully so, I might add, but still! The writing really leans into the anxiety he feels, being on the run, feeling constantly watched, and the moments where he can't fully trust the people around him - even if he wants to.
While a lot of this book is pretty believable, there are a few things that when you sit back and think about it, don't quite make sense, but when you're reading, the story sucks you in and makes you forget about the things that don't quite add up.
If you're looking for a quick, relatively fast-paced story that will keep you asking questions and always looking for the next clue, this is it!
Disclaimer: Thank you to Netgalley, Hachette Australia & New Zealand, and Erik J. Brown for this e-ARC. I was provided this ARC for review only, I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own.
November 7, 2025
This book was so good, I read it in a day! It’s a YA thriller/mystery that centres around our protagonist, an unnamed gay teenager who runs away from home when his parents attempt to force him into conversion therapy. After being arrested for shoplifting when starving, he spots a ‘missing’ poster for a boy who looks just like him. In a moment of desperation he takes on the missing boy’s identity and slips into his family… but someone knows the truth, and ‘Nate’ is terrified of being found out, because what if they know what happened to the real Nate?
Gossssh this was so good. It had me guessing throughout; I loved ‘Nate’ and his sleuthing buddy and neighbour, Miles. There were moments when I was genuinely, viscerally scared for ‘Nate’, especially towards the end when the secrets surrounding the mystery start to unravel…
Whilst this is definitely a YA novel, I still really enjoyed it as an adult. The mystery wasn’t overly complex, but it kept me guessing and I was genuinely surprised when the reveal happened! The author has thrown in a lot of red herrings, which kept me busy! Overall a great read for all ages and a happy ending 💕
Read Better The Devil for:
✨ YA Queer Mystery Thriller
✨ Gay teen escaping religious persecution
✨ Taking on identity of missing boy
✨ Someone knows the truth…
✨ What happened to the real Nate?
✨ Queer sleuthing buddy / love interest
✨ Doing it for the true crime podcast
✨ The dog’s called Chardonnay
✨ (PS. The dog is fine 💕)
Thank you so much to Hachette, Hodder Childrens Books and the author for an ARC of this book via NetGalley! It’s available on the 22nd Jan 2026!
Gossssh this was so good. It had me guessing throughout; I loved ‘Nate’ and his sleuthing buddy and neighbour, Miles. There were moments when I was genuinely, viscerally scared for ‘Nate’, especially towards the end when the secrets surrounding the mystery start to unravel…
Whilst this is definitely a YA novel, I still really enjoyed it as an adult. The mystery wasn’t overly complex, but it kept me guessing and I was genuinely surprised when the reveal happened! The author has thrown in a lot of red herrings, which kept me busy! Overall a great read for all ages and a happy ending 💕
Read Better The Devil for:
✨ YA Queer Mystery Thriller
✨ Gay teen escaping religious persecution
✨ Taking on identity of missing boy
✨ Someone knows the truth…
✨ What happened to the real Nate?
✨ Queer sleuthing buddy / love interest
✨ Doing it for the true crime podcast
✨ The dog’s called Chardonnay
✨ (PS. The dog is fine 💕)
Thank you so much to Hachette, Hodder Childrens Books and the author for an ARC of this book via NetGalley! It’s available on the 22nd Jan 2026!
January 18, 2026
Better the Devil is not without its issues, but it was an engaging read and one which I would have no problem recommending to students.
Our main character has run away when his ultra-religious parents try to send him to a conversion camp after a friend outs him. We catch up with him after he’s been on the street for months, is starving and is about to steal a can of food from a convenience store.
He’s arrested, and is terrified at the thought of being sent home. He spots a poster in the police station showing an image of a boy who looks remarkably like him. Nate Beaumont went missing when he was six. Our main character decides to tell the police that’s who he is.
What follows certainly requires some suspension of disbelief, but as a story to hook us…it succeeds.
The majority of the book focuses on Nate in what was his home. He’s suspicious of what exactly happened, and odd events that start taking place strongly suggest that someone wants to stop him asking questions. As the threat ramps up, it’s clear that someone is prepared to do whatever they need to if it means their own behaviour does not get discovered.
I can’t say any more without giving things away. Audacious at times, and certainly way beyond what you’d find credible, but entertaining. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
Our main character has run away when his ultra-religious parents try to send him to a conversion camp after a friend outs him. We catch up with him after he’s been on the street for months, is starving and is about to steal a can of food from a convenience store.
He’s arrested, and is terrified at the thought of being sent home. He spots a poster in the police station showing an image of a boy who looks remarkably like him. Nate Beaumont went missing when he was six. Our main character decides to tell the police that’s who he is.
What follows certainly requires some suspension of disbelief, but as a story to hook us…it succeeds.
The majority of the book focuses on Nate in what was his home. He’s suspicious of what exactly happened, and odd events that start taking place strongly suggest that someone wants to stop him asking questions. As the threat ramps up, it’s clear that someone is prepared to do whatever they need to if it means their own behaviour does not get discovered.
I can’t say any more without giving things away. Audacious at times, and certainly way beyond what you’d find credible, but entertaining. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.
January 15, 2026
This is a YA thriller that is full of twists and turns and never slows down. “Nate” is running from a hyper-religious home where his queer identity was not accepted, and deep into his homelessness, he assumes the identity of a missing teen to avoid arrest. From there, he enters a home that sometimes feels like a safe haven, and other times feels like a house of horrors. This psychological mystery brings us to so many places while trying to discover what really happened to Nate Beaumont.
Wow, I am floored by how much I enjoyed this book! I latched onto the plot from the very beginning and never let go. For a YA novel, this was incredibly emotional, sometimes terrifying, and also filled with a maze of a mystery that really kept you guessing until the final moment. Not only was this a suspenseful mystery, but also touched on a lot of deeper themes like identity and self-acceptance, family trauma from multiple angles, and honestly so much more. Did the plot have a few plot holes? Yeah, but honestly, the plot was so good overall that I really didn’t care and was able to overlook them. I am truly very impressed with this one and will definitely read more from Erik J. Brown!
As for the audio, I was not in love with the narrators chosen voice for “Nate”. His character was 16, and the narrator decided to be bit too juvenile in his delivery. It didn’t bother me so badly that I couldn’t listen, but I do wish he’d taken on a more mature tone.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperAudio Children!
Wow, I am floored by how much I enjoyed this book! I latched onto the plot from the very beginning and never let go. For a YA novel, this was incredibly emotional, sometimes terrifying, and also filled with a maze of a mystery that really kept you guessing until the final moment. Not only was this a suspenseful mystery, but also touched on a lot of deeper themes like identity and self-acceptance, family trauma from multiple angles, and honestly so much more. Did the plot have a few plot holes? Yeah, but honestly, the plot was so good overall that I really didn’t care and was able to overlook them. I am truly very impressed with this one and will definitely read more from Erik J. Brown!
As for the audio, I was not in love with the narrators chosen voice for “Nate”. His character was 16, and the narrator decided to be bit too juvenile in his delivery. It didn’t bother me so badly that I couldn’t listen, but I do wish he’d taken on a more mature tone.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperAudio Children!
January 2, 2026
4.5⭐️
This was gripping and terrifying, I really wish I’d been able to read in one sitting as I think it would have intensified the whole experience.
“Nate” has had an awful childhood and his parents are extremely unpleasant people, he runs away to escape conversion therapy and finds himself on the streets. When he’s arrested for stealing food, he makes an impulsive decision to lie about his identity. He finds himself in a precarious situation built on lies, that slowly starts to collapse in a very sinister manner. Full of unsettling and unexpected twists this is a very dark story that is perfect for teens who enjoy a good thriller.
This was gripping and terrifying, I really wish I’d been able to read in one sitting as I think it would have intensified the whole experience.
“Nate” has had an awful childhood and his parents are extremely unpleasant people, he runs away to escape conversion therapy and finds himself on the streets. When he’s arrested for stealing food, he makes an impulsive decision to lie about his identity. He finds himself in a precarious situation built on lies, that slowly starts to collapse in a very sinister manner. Full of unsettling and unexpected twists this is a very dark story that is perfect for teens who enjoy a good thriller.
January 14, 2026
Daniel Henning is a goofy ass choice for this role but it works perfectly.
This was phenomenal. I firmly believe in you loved The Face On The Milk Carton, you’ll like this (the book even mentions it, also mentions a Hot Dog Girl LOL)!
Super interesting premise, works well both on audio or with your eyeballs. Very quick read.
Equal parts thrilling & heart warming.
Thank you to Harper audio for the ALC, Epic Reads for the physical ARC, & to NetGalley & the author for the advanced copy!
This was phenomenal. I firmly believe in you loved The Face On The Milk Carton, you’ll like this (the book even mentions it, also mentions a Hot Dog Girl LOL)!
Super interesting premise, works well both on audio or with your eyeballs. Very quick read.
Equal parts thrilling & heart warming.
Thank you to Harper audio for the ALC, Epic Reads for the physical ARC, & to NetGalley & the author for the advanced copy!
January 21, 2026
(4.25 rounded down) I couldn’t read this fast enough! An intriguing premise doesn’t always get the appropriate follow through, but this was a solid thriller with enough red herrings to keep you on your toes. While it felt longer than a typical thriller, the length gave more opportunities to flesh out the cast of characters and really sell the broken family trope.
Thank you to Storytide for the physical ARC!
Thank you to Storytide for the physical ARC!
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August 12, 2025This was nuts in the best possible way.
September 14, 2025
As expected, another home-run from Erik J. Brown.
With every book he puts out, he continues to cement his status as one of the best YA authors in the game right now. I will read anything by him at this point, and his track record gives me faith that I’ll always enjoy what he publishes.
Better the Devil takes so many left turns and keeps its foot on the pedal the entire length of the book. We’re left with a maze of doubt, violence, and gaslighting (pun intended) — which surround the actual heart of the novel, which is the theme of identity.
And while the mystery and suspense do take center stage, the book is a thoughtful and well-developed commentary on identity & self-acceptance. In the course of exploring those themes, Erik delves into so many other topics: found family, trauma, the price of honesty, and the heavy weight of keeping secrets.
While there were a few minor flaws / plot holes, I was willing to suspend my disbelief because the plot was so engrossing. Those flaws weren’t so blatant or glaring that they detracted from the overall experience of reading the book or enjoying the story.
I love that Erik J. Brown delivered on something different for him and tried his hand at a psychological thriller. Psychological thrillers, especially for a YA audience, can be tricky to pull off — but I thought the execution was excellent.
You wouldn’t take my word for it if you knew who was talking. / If you knew where I was walking — to a house, not a home, all alone, because nobody’s there. - Dear Reader X Taylor Swift
—
Huge thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Better the Devil in exchange for a review!
With every book he puts out, he continues to cement his status as one of the best YA authors in the game right now. I will read anything by him at this point, and his track record gives me faith that I’ll always enjoy what he publishes.
Better the Devil takes so many left turns and keeps its foot on the pedal the entire length of the book. We’re left with a maze of doubt, violence, and gaslighting (pun intended) — which surround the actual heart of the novel, which is the theme of identity.
And while the mystery and suspense do take center stage, the book is a thoughtful and well-developed commentary on identity & self-acceptance. In the course of exploring those themes, Erik delves into so many other topics: found family, trauma, the price of honesty, and the heavy weight of keeping secrets.
While there were a few minor flaws / plot holes, I was willing to suspend my disbelief because the plot was so engrossing. Those flaws weren’t so blatant or glaring that they detracted from the overall experience of reading the book or enjoying the story.
I love that Erik J. Brown delivered on something different for him and tried his hand at a psychological thriller. Psychological thrillers, especially for a YA audience, can be tricky to pull off — but I thought the execution was excellent.
You wouldn’t take my word for it if you knew who was talking. / If you knew where I was walking — to a house, not a home, all alone, because nobody’s there. - Dear Reader X Taylor Swift
—
Huge thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Better the Devil in exchange for a review!
September 25, 2025
Wow. There's so much to this one that I don't want to give any spoilers, but if you enjoy thrillers you won't want to miss this one.
August 5, 2025
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of BETTER THE DEVIL by Erik J Brown in exchange for my honest review.***
Minor spoilers
4 STARS
What. A. Wild. Ride.
When a teenager runs away from home to avoid being sent to gay conversion camp, he never plans on taking on the identity of Nathaniel Beaumont, a boy who went missing ten years ago. Nate has never felt love like Valencia Beaumont dotes on him. He can’t believe how lucky he is to have happened into the perfect family. But there’s no such thing as a perfect family.
I enjoyed BETTER THE DEVIL even more than I thought I would. This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome.
Nate/NotNate was such an interesting, well-developed character. He had a conscience, even when making bad decisions. He cared and had empathy.
SPOILERS BELOW
Two aspects of the book kept me from giving BETTER THE DEVIL five stars. First, the “bad guys” were one dimensional. The homophobes had no redeeming qualities. Not only were they religious zealots, they never loved their son even before discovering he was gay. Villains are more interesting when they have depth. Casting evangelicals in the stereotype of being homophobic is the same as using any stereotype for a minority religion like writing the only Muslims in a book as terrorists or the only priests as pedophiles. The “bad guy” from the Beaumont sector written as if the writer looked up signs serial killers showed as children and gave the character each of the diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder in children. I highly doubt a ten year old boy could strangle a six year old. From what I’ve read, strangulation takes about ten minutes, unlike what we see on tv. No matter how strong the older child, he probably couldn’t even strangle a toddler, but possibly could an infant.
The second aspect that kept me from adding a fifth star was the multiple spree killings at the end of the book, again making the perpetrator a one dimensional bad seed.
Minor spoilers
4 STARS
What. A. Wild. Ride.
When a teenager runs away from home to avoid being sent to gay conversion camp, he never plans on taking on the identity of Nathaniel Beaumont, a boy who went missing ten years ago. Nate has never felt love like Valencia Beaumont dotes on him. He can’t believe how lucky he is to have happened into the perfect family. But there’s no such thing as a perfect family.
I enjoyed BETTER THE DEVIL even more than I thought I would. This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome.
Nate/NotNate was such an interesting, well-developed character. He had a conscience, even when making bad decisions. He cared and had empathy.
SPOILERS BELOW
Two aspects of the book kept me from giving BETTER THE DEVIL five stars. First, the “bad guys” were one dimensional. The homophobes had no redeeming qualities. Not only were they religious zealots, they never loved their son even before discovering he was gay. Villains are more interesting when they have depth. Casting evangelicals in the stereotype of being homophobic is the same as using any stereotype for a minority religion like writing the only Muslims in a book as terrorists or the only priests as pedophiles. The “bad guy” from the Beaumont sector written as if the writer looked up signs serial killers showed as children and gave the character each of the diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder in children. I highly doubt a ten year old boy could strangle a six year old. From what I’ve read, strangulation takes about ten minutes, unlike what we see on tv. No matter how strong the older child, he probably couldn’t even strangle a toddler, but possibly could an infant.
The second aspect that kept me from adding a fifth star was the multiple spree killings at the end of the book, again making the perpetrator a one dimensional bad seed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2026
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of BETTER THE DEVIL by Erik J Brown in exchange for my honest review.***
Minor spoilers
4 STARS
What. A. Wild. Ride.
When a teenager runs away from home to avoid being sent to gay conversion camp, he never plans on taking on the identity of Nathaniel Beaumont, a boy who went missing ten years ago. Nate has never felt love like Valencia Beaumont dotes on him. He can’t believe how lucky he is to have happened into the perfect family. But there’s no such thing as a perfect family.
I enjoyed BETTER THE DEVIL even more than I thought I would. This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome.
Nate/NotNate was such an interesting, well-developed character. He had a conscience, even when making bad decisions. He cared and had empathy.
SPOILERS BELOW
Two aspects of the book kept me from giving BETTER THE DEVIL five stars. First, the “bad guys” were one dimensional. The homophobes had no redeeming qualities. Not only were they religious zealots, they never loved their son even before discovering he was gay. Villains are more interesting when they have depth. Casting evangelicals in the stereotype of being homophobic is the same as using any stereotype for a minority religion like writing the only Muslims in a book as terrorists or the only priests as pedophiles. The “bad guy” from the Beaumont sector written as if the writer looked up signs serial killers showed as children and gave the character each of the diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder in children. I highly doubt a ten year old boy could strangle a six year old. From what I’ve read, strangulation takes about ten minutes, unlike what we see on tv. No matter how strong the older child, he probably couldn’t even strangle a toddler, but possibly could an infant.
The second aspect that kept me from adding a fifth star was the multiple spree killings at the end of the book, again making the perpetrator a one dimensional bad seed.
Minor spoilers
4 STARS
What. A. Wild. Ride.
When a teenager runs away from home to avoid being sent to gay conversion camp, he never plans on taking on the identity of Nathaniel Beaumont, a boy who went missing ten years ago. Nate has never felt love like Valencia Beaumont dotes on him. He can’t believe how lucky he is to have happened into the perfect family. But there’s no such thing as a perfect family.
I enjoyed BETTER THE DEVIL even more than I thought I would. This psychological thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping for a good outcome.
Nate/NotNate was such an interesting, well-developed character. He had a conscience, even when making bad decisions. He cared and had empathy.
SPOILERS BELOW
Two aspects of the book kept me from giving BETTER THE DEVIL five stars. First, the “bad guys” were one dimensional. The homophobes had no redeeming qualities. Not only were they religious zealots, they never loved their son even before discovering he was gay. Villains are more interesting when they have depth. Casting evangelicals in the stereotype of being homophobic is the same as using any stereotype for a minority religion like writing the only Muslims in a book as terrorists or the only priests as pedophiles. The “bad guy” from the Beaumont sector written as if the writer looked up signs serial killers showed as children and gave the character each of the diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder in children. I highly doubt a ten year old boy could strangle a six year old. From what I’ve read, strangulation takes about ten minutes, unlike what we see on tv. No matter how strong the older child, he probably couldn’t even strangle a toddler, but possibly could an infant.
The second aspect that kept me from adding a fifth star was the multiple spree killings at the end of the book, again making the perpetrator a one dimensional bad seed.
January 3, 2026
Thanks so much to Harper Kids and Netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.
This was such a wild ride from start to finish. I was completely hooked from the start.
I’ll admit that all my theories were wrong and I really didn’t see the reveal coming. Maybe I was just so set on what I thought was happening that I missed the signs, but all I know is I was shook.
“Nate” was such a great main character. I really loved following his journey and his emotional rollercoaster.
I LOVED Nate’s family. Especially after everything went down and they still loved him anyway. It just made my heart feel so full.
The romance unfortunately didn’t really do anything for me and I think the book could have done without it. I think they worked better as friends, personally. I also found the pacing a little off in places.
But overall a really solid read.
This was such a wild ride from start to finish. I was completely hooked from the start.
I’ll admit that all my theories were wrong and I really didn’t see the reveal coming. Maybe I was just so set on what I thought was happening that I missed the signs, but all I know is I was shook.
“Nate” was such a great main character. I really loved following his journey and his emotional rollercoaster.
I LOVED Nate’s family. Especially after everything went down and they still loved him anyway. It just made my heart feel so full.
The romance unfortunately didn’t really do anything for me and I think the book could have done without it. I think they worked better as friends, personally. I also found the pacing a little off in places.
But overall a really solid read.
August 21, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel.
I read Erik's novel "All that's left in the world" a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. So when I saw this novel and read what it was about I was sufficiently intrigued. Better the Devil follows a teen who escapes his abusive household and becomes "Nate", a child who disappeared 10 years before. Nate ends up getting way to deep and someone tries to uncover that he really isn't who he says he is. The premise was super interesting and I was excited to see it unfold. I thought the story itself was fun but landed a little flat to me. I wanted there to be more action and fastpassness. Overall I enjoyed it and thought it was a good story.
I read Erik's novel "All that's left in the world" a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. So when I saw this novel and read what it was about I was sufficiently intrigued. Better the Devil follows a teen who escapes his abusive household and becomes "Nate", a child who disappeared 10 years before. Nate ends up getting way to deep and someone tries to uncover that he really isn't who he says he is. The premise was super interesting and I was excited to see it unfold. I thought the story itself was fun but landed a little flat to me. I wanted there to be more action and fastpassness. Overall I enjoyed it and thought it was a good story.
November 27, 2025
This is definitely a book to make you think. A twisty YA book with plenty of suspense and thoughtful moments, this book tells the tale of a desperate, homeless, gay teen trying to outsmart the system and do whatever is possible to stay alive and out of jail. Not everything is what you think, not everyone is out to get you but sometimes it’s who you least expect who will be the devil you don’t know.
Thank you Storytide, Harper Collins, Erik J. Brown and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you Storytide, Harper Collins, Erik J. Brown and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 2, 2026
Thank you to TeamBKMRK for sending me an arc! All opinions are my one.
This had me in a literal chokehold! I’ve been on a real thriller film kick recently and this absolutely kept me fed! High stakes with intriguing characters that I was forever second guessing myself over. The ending completely got me when I thought I had it figured out! I’d really really recommend this as I couldn’t put it down! An absolute page turner!
This had me in a literal chokehold! I’ve been on a real thriller film kick recently and this absolutely kept me fed! High stakes with intriguing characters that I was forever second guessing myself over. The ending completely got me when I thought I had it figured out! I’d really really recommend this as I couldn’t put it down! An absolute page turner!
January 5, 2026
No one will ever know the excitement I felt getting a proof copy of this through the letterbox 🥹
Erik.J.Brown because one of my favourites & an auto by author the minute I opened all that’s left in the world!
This how ever is EJB first shot at writing a thriller and to me it worked…
Even though it has my number 1 most hated twist in a book I was so invested in the characters that i honestly didn’t really care about the twist I just wanted the answers & I got them.
EJB just writes the most loving characters ever and it’s why I loved this book and all his others!!
Erik.J.Brown because one of my favourites & an auto by author the minute I opened all that’s left in the world!
This how ever is EJB first shot at writing a thriller and to me it worked…
Even though it has my number 1 most hated twist in a book I was so invested in the characters that i honestly didn’t really care about the twist I just wanted the answers & I got them.
EJB just writes the most loving characters ever and it’s why I loved this book and all his others!!
August 11, 2025
E R I K. I love your books, I love your work, but…
I have some words for you because for starters… I KNEW who did it after a couple chapters. The very much nonchalant vibe was a big clue for me. The father was very sus as well, but also seemed like he didn’t necessarily care, ya know? The mom and grandmother of course didn’t put the pieces together until the end.
Miles? Love him, I hope he becomes the best podcaster ever.
As for “Nate”… I’m glad he’s getting the life he always deserved to have 🫶🏽
I have some words for you because for starters… I KNEW who did it after a couple chapters. The very much nonchalant vibe was a big clue for me. The father was very sus as well, but also seemed like he didn’t necessarily care, ya know? The mom and grandmother of course didn’t put the pieces together until the end.
Miles? Love him, I hope he becomes the best podcaster ever.
As for “Nate”… I’m glad he’s getting the life he always deserved to have 🫶🏽
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette for the eARC
Better the Devil is a book that sucked me I with its premise, but didn’t land the execution.
I have loved other books by Erik J. Brown and was excited to delve into a thriller and darker tone for this one. Better the Devil sets up what could have been a high tension, disturbing psychological thriller, but unfortunately, the unwillingness to fully commit to such a dark story ended up undermining the rest of the book. Erik J Brown always does a fantastic job at banter and loveable characters, but in this situation their addition felt out of place with the danger and malevolence we should have felt whilst reading.
Ultimately, the inconsistent tone, the lacklustre investigation and eventual ‘reveal’ resulted in this book not living up to it’s potential for me.
Better the Devil is a book that sucked me I with its premise, but didn’t land the execution.
I have loved other books by Erik J. Brown and was excited to delve into a thriller and darker tone for this one. Better the Devil sets up what could have been a high tension, disturbing psychological thriller, but unfortunately, the unwillingness to fully commit to such a dark story ended up undermining the rest of the book. Erik J Brown always does a fantastic job at banter and loveable characters, but in this situation their addition felt out of place with the danger and malevolence we should have felt whilst reading.
Ultimately, the inconsistent tone, the lacklustre investigation and eventual ‘reveal’ resulted in this book not living up to it’s potential for me.
December 6, 2025
A desperate runaway gay teenager, arrested for shoplifting, notices his resemblance to an age progressed photo on a missing poster of Nate Beaumont, a child who disappeared 10 minutes ago. In a moment of desperation to evade getting charged by the police, he claims Nate's identity. The loving Beaumont parents immediately embrace who they believe to be their son, which is very different from his parents strict and cold parents. However, unsettling incidents soon begin happening around the house, making it clear that someone knows he is an imposter. As he attempts to navigate his new life and establish himself as Nate, he quickly realizes he is dangerously close to being found out and his life may be in danger.
What a great book this is! Erik J Brown knocked it out of the park with this emotionally charged thriller that delivers across all aspects. While I obviously had my suspicions throughout, I never quite nailed down the extent of the outcome, and once it was revealed I wasn't entirely shocked but I was entertained. What made this book very successful for me, is around the 70% mark a big reveal changes the pacing and trajectory. That shift keeps the pace up and the octane pumping! I love when a thriller not only keeps me engaged through the mystery, twists, and action, but also through a legitimate connection with the characters and their motivations for making the decisions they make. I was simultaneously heartbroken and stressed for our MC and while I personally wanted an epilogue to fill some story elements that I want to know more about, it doesn't feel like the plot was unfinished at all. Erik J Brown is a criminally underrated author and everyone should be reading his books!!
What a great book this is! Erik J Brown knocked it out of the park with this emotionally charged thriller that delivers across all aspects. While I obviously had my suspicions throughout, I never quite nailed down the extent of the outcome, and once it was revealed I wasn't entirely shocked but I was entertained. What made this book very successful for me, is around the 70% mark a big reveal changes the pacing and trajectory. That shift keeps the pace up and the octane pumping! I love when a thriller not only keeps me engaged through the mystery, twists, and action, but also through a legitimate connection with the characters and their motivations for making the decisions they make. I was simultaneously heartbroken and stressed for our MC and while I personally wanted an epilogue to fill some story elements that I want to know more about, it doesn't feel like the plot was unfinished at all. Erik J Brown is a criminally underrated author and everyone should be reading his books!!
December 2, 2025
The best way to describe this is that this book was solid. Not perfect, not bad. But solid.
"Nate" was a compelling main character and his wit just absolutely made the story. His interactions with other characters were enjoyable (even when he was making dumb decisions) and you could absolutely empathize with him despite the pretty intense lie of pretending to be someone's missing kid.
And then the premise itself was interesting! To start off with such a bold move and still having us rooting for fake Nate the whole story is a testament to Erik J. Brown's understanding of his characters. Also, the twists that came towards the last 100 pages were fun! A few were predictable if you've been around the thriller/mystery genre for a bit, but will be a delight for newer fans of the genre :)
The biggest issues to be found here lie within the pacing and structure of the book. Before the last 30% of the story, it all felt very slow burn between the investigation and relationship with the main character and Miles. And there was so much repetition for parts of it that it felt like some of the bulk could have been trimmed down.
For example, Chapter 1 and Chapter 11 end in almost the exact same manner just with slightly different words. And during the first three or four times "Nate" hugged his fake mom, he described the same warring of two emotions that were fair to feel, but didn't need to be hammered in the same way so many times. Chapter 2 is also completely dedicated to being a flashback, and then no further chapter is ever formatted like that again, so it feels kind of clunky. Don't get me started on Agent Grant as a character — you could remove him from the story entirely and still end up in the same place.
Then during that last 30% the pace picked up, but almost too much at times. Like, during the final confrontation with the main baddie (who was unfortunately low-key hilarious), fake Nate is trapped and running out of time to be a hero and then suddenly he's free and fighting without so much as a glance from the antagonist. And then suddenly the final stand is happening with some pretty miraculous and murkily-detailed escapes and it's over and the epilogue is here.
(Also to note, a couple of times, a chapter would end on what you could mistake as a cliffhanger, before being immediately cleared up in the beginning of the next chapter. It began to feel like jumpscares in horror movies — the first few may get you, but you get desensitized to the suspense they're aiming for pretty fast.)
Finally, while I absolutely adored "Nate" and his witty style of storytelling, this was not written even close to how a 16 year old speaks or writes. As someone who left these teenage years behind not too long ago, a 16 year old is not reaching for the word "dipshit" out of every insult they can choose, nor are they turning to the "send to the glue factory" idiom *ever.* Even the introduction scene with Miles, while fun and hilarious, was just so blatantly not teenager-like at all. I get why they had to be these ages since a) it's YA, and b) the story hinges on the main character being a minor, but at times it was jarring when you remembered yeah, this is supposed to be some awkward teenage boy.
Overall, though, I giggled when I needed to giggle and gasped when I needed to gasp. I kicked my feet and twirled my hair when Miles and fake Nate interacted. And I'd read this book again! Erik J. Brown was able to create relationship dynamics across the board that I was rooting for and against, which seems like quite the feat when we never even learn fake Nate's real name. So it's worth it to jump in even just for that, if not the haunting premise that's teased from before you ever open the book!
"Nate" was a compelling main character and his wit just absolutely made the story. His interactions with other characters were enjoyable (even when he was making dumb decisions) and you could absolutely empathize with him despite the pretty intense lie of pretending to be someone's missing kid.
And then the premise itself was interesting! To start off with such a bold move and still having us rooting for fake Nate the whole story is a testament to Erik J. Brown's understanding of his characters. Also, the twists that came towards the last 100 pages were fun! A few were predictable if you've been around the thriller/mystery genre for a bit, but will be a delight for newer fans of the genre :)
The biggest issues to be found here lie within the pacing and structure of the book. Before the last 30% of the story, it all felt very slow burn between the investigation and relationship with the main character and Miles. And there was so much repetition for parts of it that it felt like some of the bulk could have been trimmed down.
For example, Chapter 1 and Chapter 11 end in almost the exact same manner just with slightly different words. And during the first three or four times "Nate" hugged his fake mom, he described the same warring of two emotions that were fair to feel, but didn't need to be hammered in the same way so many times. Chapter 2 is also completely dedicated to being a flashback, and then no further chapter is ever formatted like that again, so it feels kind of clunky. Don't get me started on Agent Grant as a character — you could remove him from the story entirely and still end up in the same place.
Then during that last 30% the pace picked up, but almost too much at times. Like, during the final confrontation with the main baddie (who was unfortunately low-key hilarious), fake Nate is trapped and running out of time to be a hero and then suddenly he's free and fighting without so much as a glance from the antagonist. And then suddenly the final stand is happening with some pretty miraculous and murkily-detailed escapes and it's over and the epilogue is here.
(Also to note, a couple of times, a chapter would end on what you could mistake as a cliffhanger, before being immediately cleared up in the beginning of the next chapter. It began to feel like jumpscares in horror movies — the first few may get you, but you get desensitized to the suspense they're aiming for pretty fast.)
Finally, while I absolutely adored "Nate" and his witty style of storytelling, this was not written even close to how a 16 year old speaks or writes. As someone who left these teenage years behind not too long ago, a 16 year old is not reaching for the word "dipshit" out of every insult they can choose, nor are they turning to the "send to the glue factory" idiom *ever.* Even the introduction scene with Miles, while fun and hilarious, was just so blatantly not teenager-like at all. I get why they had to be these ages since a) it's YA, and b) the story hinges on the main character being a minor, but at times it was jarring when you remembered yeah, this is supposed to be some awkward teenage boy.
Overall, though, I giggled when I needed to giggle and gasped when I needed to gasp. I kicked my feet and twirled my hair when Miles and fake Nate interacted. And I'd read this book again! Erik J. Brown was able to create relationship dynamics across the board that I was rooting for and against, which seems like quite the feat when we never even learn fake Nate's real name. So it's worth it to jump in even just for that, if not the haunting premise that's teased from before you ever open the book!
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