Three brothers. Two deaths. One girl, caught in the middle.
The Abbott boys, fraternal triplets Henry, Bram, and Adam, live in a mansion on the outskirts of Silver Creek. For decades, their family's been at odds with the town, long before Mariana Flores died in a fiery accident on the Abbott property last year . The police ruled out foul play, but ask anyone in Silver Creek about it and they'll say one of the Abbott boys killed her. They just don't know which one.
But Hayden, the girl who lives next door to the Abbotts, swears they're innocent. After all, Henry's her best friend—maybe he could be more. She's been worried about Adam ever since he was injured in the accident that killed Mariana. As for Bram, he's a little complicated, but he and Mariana had been in love.
When the new school year brings a new victim—a popular girl, found dead in the woods—the hunt for a monster begins anew. The security camera footage doesn't show the face of the boy she was last seen with, but from his hoodie he could be any one of the Abbott brothers.
To clear their names, Hayden starts investigating the new death, but the deeper she digs, the more uncertain she becomes. Is one of the Abbott brothers a killer? Or could they all be monsters? And what will the boys do to protect themselves and the truth?
Chelsea Ichaso writes twisty thrillers for young adults and is also the author of the adult thriller, So I Lied. Her novel, The Summer She Went Missing, earned a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly, a spot on Barnes & Noble’s Best of 2024 list, and was a 2025 TAYSHAS reading list selection. Her latest release, We Were Warned, is a Junior Library Guild Selection and has been featured on Marie Claire’s list of the 18 Most Anticipated Mystery Thrillers of 2025 as well as Goodreads Guide to 2025’s Biggest Mysteries & Thrillers. Chelsea currently resides in Southern California with her husband and children. When she’s not writing, she can be found cheering from the sidelines at her kids' soccer games or attempting to strum a tune on the guitar. You can visit her online at chelseaichaso.com or on Instagram @chelseaichaso.
Listen, I love all of Chelsea's books, but I think this one wins number one in my heart now. It's full of thrills and nail biting drama. It's a page turner right from the start.
The saying goes that "hell is a teenage girl" but what if hell was a teenage boy? Usually YA books focus on the female characters the most, and show the emotional struggles we go through while growing up and navigating friendships, hormones, and drama, but in this one, Chelsea portrayed all that through the Abbott brothers. Our boys were dark, alluring, deeply misunderstood, and bordered on dangerous, in more ways than one. They came with bad reps, good looks, and plenty of emotional baggage and drama.
As fraternal triplets, you'd expect them to be similar to each other, but that was far from the truth. They had their own personalities, quirks, appearances, emotions, and stories, and I loved each one of them. The book may have been mostly told from Hayden's perspective, but the Abbott boys are what made it 🤌🏼.
I absolutely devoured this! The twists were twisty and unexpected in the best ways. The ending was oh so satisfying, and all the characters, including the not so main ones, were captivating and fleshed out and really drove it all home. Not to mention, there were nostalgic, endearing tidbits and inspirations portrayed, and drawn from, classic Gothic novels like Frankenstein and Dracula, and I loved it all! A "killer" read for sure!
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for opening up free access to the E-ARC super early because I could not have waited months to read this!
Oh I had SO much fun with this one. I loved the story, the way it was written, and the characters and their dynamics. The brothers- each of them had something different going on and it was so intriguing trying to figure out what was really happening. This book had me hooked from the very first page, and the mystery kept me on my toes.
I loved Hayden as our main character. She stood so strong and didn't allow anyone to stop her from getting answers. And you know I love a teeny tiny romance subplot and this one I devoured. It was so endearing seeing it through Hayden's eyes while she tries to figure why she feels the way she feels about a particular someone (i loved that particular someone sm since the moment he appeared on the page and I'm so glad she ended up with him). Every part of this book was so well done.
Beware the Abbott Boys is definitely up there with some of my fav thrillers now. Highly recommended!
ugh so good!! I love how this book leans more on the mystery rather than thriller. The characters in this book are all wonderfully written and I was also happy to see how everything played out. I was so lost throughout this book with who Hayden would end up with but also with who really killed both girls. I love seeing how each brother is written and also how we get all their POVs about last year. And of course I was clueless and shocked by the reveal. Chelsea Ichaso perfectly writes reveals with the smallest of details. I’m SO happy with who Hayden ended up with because this whole entire book I was in a crisis thinking she’d pick the other guy. UGHHH IT WAS SO GOODDDDDDD everyone should read this book for a simple yet mind twisting mystery. 5 stars!!
Beware the Abbott Boys by Chelsea Ichaso starts off with a strong hook. The mystery at the beginning is genuinely engaging and does a great job of pulling the reader in. There’s a real sense of intrigue early on, and the setup promises something dark and layered. Unfortunately, as the story progresses, that initial momentum fades, and the narrative begins to feel repetitive and stalled.
One of the main issues lies with the characterization. Hayden, in particular, feels underdeveloped as a protagonist. She functions more as a narrator observing the Abbott brothers than as a fully realized character in her own right. Her identity is almost entirely defined by her relationship to them, and we rarely get a sense of who she is outside of that dynamic. Similarly, while the Abbott brothers are introduced as having distinct personalities, those differences blur as the story continues. Their voices and behaviors start to feel interchangeable, which weakens their impact as central figures in the mystery.
The pacing also struggles. Much of the book seems to circle the same conversations and interactions without meaningful progression. The investigation—arguably the heart of the story—ends up feeling surprisingly dull, lacking urgency or escalation. Instead of uncovering new layers, the plot often revisits familiar ground, which makes large portions of the middle section drag.
The romance subplot feels forced rather than organic. Rather than naturally emerging from character development and shared experiences, it seems inserted to meet genre expectations. As a result, it doesn’t carry much emotional weight and sometimes distracts from the central mystery instead of enhancing it. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, the ending feels predictable, following a path that is easy to anticipate rather than one that truly surprises.
That said, the prose is a clear strength. The writing itself is smooth and readable, with moments of strong atmosphere and tone. On a sentence level, the book is well crafted—even when the plot and characters don’t quite live up to the promise of the premise.
Overall, Beware the Abbott Boys is a novel with an intriguing concept and solid prose, but it ultimately falls short in character depth and narrative drive. Readers who enjoy slow-burning mysteries with a strong opening may find something to like here, but those looking for a tightly plotted investigation and richly developed characters may be left wanting more.
Chelsea Ichaso never disappoints. Two teenage girls have been murdered, and everyone assumes one of the Abbott triplets is responsible. Hayden, the Abbotts' best friend, knows this can’t be true and is determined to uncover what really happened — even if the truth is painful to hear. Do the triplets have secrets Hayden doesn’t know about? And how far is the real killer willing to go to keep them hidden?
Exciting and fast-paced, this novel features richly developed characters that pull you in from the very first page. Although the book does not emphasize specific cultural or racial identities, its characters will invite identification from a wide range of readers. The book is written in short chapters, each by a different character, which will engage reluctant readers. The interesting character make-up of triplets is unique and adds an unusual dynamic to the story. Each boy has an individual personality but shares a unique bond as triplets. The main character is relatable and strong, making readers feel every moment of danger and uncertainty alongside her. The plot includes several twists that will have the reader’s head spinning. It’s a true page-turner you’ll race through in one sitting. The tension between the characters is electric, and the dark secrets surrounding the Abbott family make the story impossible to put down. The twists are shocking but believable, and the suspense builds beautifully as the truth slowly unravels. This is a must-read for anyone who loves teen mysteries with drama, danger, and unforgettable characters. This is one of the rare books that will turn a non-reader into a reader. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
I won this ARC in a giveaway and these opinions are my own. I blew through this book! So many secret! A year ago a girl died in a car fire, the police eventually ruled it an accident but not before public opinion blamed it on the Abbott boys. Triplets, one who was the boyfriend, one who ended up with burns of his own from trying to save her, or did he? Hayden whole heartedly believes that they are innocent. Bram, Henry, and Adam are her closest friends and they would never do what the town blames them for. After it happened they stayed at home but this year the three are returning to school. But most people aren’t happy about it. And then another girl ends up dead and public opinion is quick to blame the Abbott monsters but not Hayden. However when a security footage shows the dead girl with a boy in a blue hoodie with an A on it, Hayden beings to wonder. See she got the hoodies, one for each Abbott boy. So who is in the footage? All three deny it’s them but won’t account for their whereabouts at the time. The three are clearly hiding things, but is it murder? Hayden’s determined to prove her friends are innocent, but each secret she uncovers makes her less and less sure. Is one of her best friends a murderer? And will seeking the truth put Hayden in more danger than she could have imagined? I’m a huge fan of Chelsea Ichaso’s mysteries and this one had me hooked! Two compelling deaths that had me flipping the pages! Thrilling, suspenseful, and had me guessing!
This is my second book I’ve read from this author and love. I typically read more adult thrillers but I will forever read anything these author writes. Shocking how most of the adult thrillers I read I can figure out what happens and “who did it” whereas her YA thrillers I genuinely have no idea and they keep me guessing. I absolutely loved this book. The story was well developed, the characters were all very interesting and well described. The storyline was wow. Such a good thriller, I had no choice but to read it entirely in one sitting just to see how it all unfolds. Would definitely recommend to others. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars is because I felt like I was still wanting a little more closure on the storyline with the doctor since we had spent so much time on that character and their involvement / motivations and potential malpractice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Beware the Abbot Boys by Chelsea Ichaso is an exhilarating, fast-paced thriller that had me hooked from the first page! The story masterfully weaves the gothic atmosphere of the Abbot mansion with the rich history of the town, creating a world that feels both mysterious and alive. The dynamic between the three brothers is captivating—their bonds, secrets, and tensions are so well-drawn that you feel every emotional beat. Hayden’s relationship with the brothers and her connection to the town adds layers of intrigue and personal stakes, making her journey compelling and relatable. The suspense builds perfectly, with tension and twists that kept me turning pages late into the night. Between the richly developed relationships, the eerie mansion, and the hauntingly atmospheric setting, this book is a thrilling, immersive read that I absolutely recommend!
I really enjoyed this YA crime thriller. It had a decent murder mystery as its backbone with threads of YA life drama woven seamlessly throughout. I particularly enjoyed exploring Hayden’s relationships with each of the three brothers, they were all distinct while keeping Hayden’s character consistent. It was a love triangle done right! Not only for the feels but also for the true-to-age reality of how these sorts of situations arise.
The book wraps up with a satisfying conclusion and I felt super smug that I had correctly guessed the twist! Fans of My Life with the Walter Boys and A Good Girls Guide to Murder should also love this YA crime thriller.
Thanks to Chelsea Ichaso, Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy of the book in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advanced copy provided by NetGalley 3.75⭐️ If you hand me a YA thriller, I am going to eat it up and leave no crumbs. This was the first book I’ve read by Chelsea Ichaso and certainly won’t be the last! I had a BLAST with this one!
I love that everyone in the story, including the 3 brothers were pretty much a suspect (heck even I started to question myself at times lol)
The FMC Hayden was great - I love that she stuck to her guns about her beliefs on the Abbott brothers even though everyone else pretty much hated them. Her friendship with each one was SO cute and different in so many ways. (Hayden + Henry forever btw)
This is a classic mystery thriller that will keep you on your toes and guessing after each chapter. I was definitely not prepared for the ending! Highly recommend if you’re in a reading slump - this will absolutely pull you right out of it!
The first thing I wanted to do after gobbling up this novel was share it with a number of my high school students who will be enthralled with it from the first page. It is so compelling, we will likely purchase two copies to keep up with the demand!
Hayden is the ideal protagonist to be intertwined in the story of the Abbott Triplets. None of the characters are cookie-cutter and they have depth. Two girls are murdered and when all is revealed readers clearly understand the motives. If I write any more I am afraid the story will spill out.
Thanks to Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for allowing me to read this Arc in return for an honest review. It was worth every minute I spent reading it.
Chelsea Ichaso never disappoints. Two teenage girls have been murdered, and everyone assumes one of the Abbott triplets is responsible. Their best friend Hayden knows that can’t be true and is determined to uncover what really happened — even if the truth is painful to hear. Do the triplets have secrets Hayden doesn’t know about? And how far is the real killer willing to go to keep them hidden?
Exciting and fast-paced, this novel features richly developed characters that pull you in from the very first page. It’s a true page-turner you’ll race through in one sitting.
thank you to netgalley and sourcebooks fire for providing an ARC!
3.75 🌟
a fast-paced and enjoyable thriller, beware the abbott boys kept me on my toes the entire way through.
the mystery aspect was done very well. the entire time i was fully confident about who i thought the murderer was, but i was wildly wrong and i couldn't have been happier by how well-crafted the twist was.
also the romance was so so good. it was so buzzy and my only complaint is that we didn't see enough of them as an actual couple aside from the epilogue.
Oh this was so so good! I love a good mystery and then you throw in 3 boys who alll look guilty! I’m so in! This story gripped me right from the start; it slowly unraveled the mystery of what happened with Mariana and then were smack dab into the middle of a new murder mystery! I will say I didn’t see the killers coming; I like when I can’t predict what’s gonna happen! I also love seeing the different relationships between Hayden and each boy! They all have such different personalities that mesh with her! I will say tho out of the 3 Bram was definitely my favourite!
omggggg i loved this book!! it was so good, i couldn’t put it down. i loved hayden and how she stuck to her belief that the boys were not bad people despite the millions of reasons why they could be. i loved bram, adam and henry as well and have to say that bram was for sure my fav of the abbott boys. the twists were wild and i for sure didn’t see them coming and that ending was a crazy one!! i was shocked to find out what actually happened. definitely recommend reading this book!! thank you for the early copy!
Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Fire, for providing the copy of Beware The Abbot Boys by Chelsea Ichaso. I loved this book so much! The writing was impeccable and drew me into the story and the characters. The triplet Abbott brothers had well-drawn, separate personalities, and Hayden’s relationships with each brother was different. The story was intriguing, and so full of red herrings, the actual killer was a surprise. You don’t have to be a teen to enjoy this great read! 5 stars
This was such a good, easy read. A classic murder mystery that genuinely keeps you guessing, I didn’t see the killer coming. There’s a touch of romance woven in, but the heart of the story is solving the murders of two girls and clearing the Abbott brothers’ names. Hayden (the MMC) is a really likeable character, and the gothic setting, especially the boys’ old mansion, perfectly fits the dark, eerie vibe. Definitely one I’d recommend giving a read.
At the start of this book I was really enjoying it. It was drawing me in and the plot seemed really good! However the further in I got, the more that I felt disconnected from the story. I felt like there were too many characters introduced too quickly, and that maybe there were some more things in the past that would have been nice to know. Overall an entertaining book.
An unputdownable read by Chelsea Ichaso! I kept thinking I knew who the killer was and I was so wrong! This had me guessing until the final reveal. Read it late into the night, finishing after 1AM. I just could not stop turning the page to find out how it would end.
OKAY SO think of My Life With The Walter Boys but as a twisty, murder mystery! And TADAAA, you have this book. Delicious, thick plot, great pace! This book kept me on my toes more than the treadmill does when I'm jogging.
For a YA thriller, this one knocked it out of the park. Loved rhe character development, loved the time jumps.
This book started out pretty slow. It took me a little bit to find my footing but later i was not able to put the book down. I really liked the Abbott Brothers although Adam was my favourite. This story is a pretty quick read and i did not see the true killer coming.
This book was so good! It had the perfect amount of mystery and romance! It kept me on my feet the whole time. Throughout the book I thought I knew who the killer was but definitely did not expect who was actually the killer! I hope that there will be a sequel to this.
Entertaining and mysterious till the end. This book had me questioning every step of the way. You start to care for the brothers yet seeing them drifting apart from eachother. You want to believe them yet believing none. Give me more books like this one.