Une saison pour mourir

How the Other Half #1

by P.C. Roscoe, Luc Rigoureau (Translator)

Dream vacation . . . or holiday from hell? A steamy and suspenseful thriller, full of family scandal and murder. Perfect for fans of The Perfect Couple and The White Lotus.

Summer on ultra-exclusive Mokani Island has always been the highlight of Avery Finch's year. It's a chance to hang out in paradise with other super rich families. But this summer, Avery brings along her college roommate, Nora, and the vibe feels off from the start.

Avery's parents are desperately trying to cover up scandalous secrets. Her ex, Hugo, can't get over their split. Her best friend, Sydney, is acting weird. Leo, who looks hot in his staff uniform, can't keep his eyes off her. And nobody likes Nora, who keeps sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Everyone on the island is hiding something - and some secrets are worth killing for.

A tropical storm is brewing, and before long someone is going to end up dead ...

Genres: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery Thriller

352 pages, Paperback

Published February 18, 2026

About the author

P.C. Roscoe has sold cheese in Borough Market in London, scrubbed pans in a kitchen, processed invoices for a multinational, researched TV scripts, and edited romance. But her favorite job, by far, is writing, where she gets to immerse herself in tension-filled, high-stakes stories. She grew up in London before moving to a cottage in Norfolk where she splits her time between writing, cooking disasters and half-finished DIY projects and she honestly couldn’t be happier.

source: Amazon

Reviews

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect example of a book that felt predictable to me, but I still genuinely enjoyed the ride.

I really liked how the author chose to lay everything out and slowly untangle the connections. That said, I don’t think the predictability will land the same for everyone—there are multiple directions the story could go, and there’s a larger twist that could absolutely catch some readers off guard. I think it really depends on the kind of thriller reader you are.

I especially enjoyed all the layered connections and, honestly, the over-the-top, vapid rich-people problems. It added a level of intrigue that kept me invested even when I had a sense of where things were heading.

This did take me a bit longer to get through, partly due to personal reasons on my end, so that’s more of a me thing than a reflection of the book itself. That said, reading it in eARC format made the prose feel slightly uneven at times—just a bit bumpy—but nothing that took away from the overall experience.

As for the characters… are they likable? Not particularly. But that’s part of what made it work for me. I was still drawn into the FMC’s journey, especially with the romantic entanglements woven in. I’m always a fan of a romance-thriller blend where the thriller takes the lead, and this definitely delivers on that.

While this is categorized as YA, I can easily see it appealing to adult readers as well. Even though teens are at the center, the adults play a significant role in the story and the overall stakes.

I also really enjoyed the multiple POV format—it kept the pacing strong and gave the story more depth by showing events from different angles.

Overall, a really engaging read that balanced predictability with strong execution.

I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

[nono_is_reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

J'ai terminé il y a deux jours le roman Une saison pour mourir, et je dois avouer avoir eu énormément de mal, que ce soit avec les personnages, l'histoire ou le rythme du récit.
C'est considéré comme un thriller mais le premier meurtre arrive hyper tard dans l'histoire, genre il ne se passe rien puis POUF ! L'auteurice se réveille et se décide à faire un plot twist 😅
Côté intrigue, je n'ai pas été happée du tout, j'ai même trouvé quasi toutes les révélations de la fin alors que je ne lis pas souvent de thrillers. Très prévisible.
Et enfin, les personnages... Aïe aïe aïe.
C'est tous des gosses de riches, limite ils maltraitent les "domestiques", leur comportement oh purée. Je ne peux pas me les voir en peinture.
Ça ne l'a malheureusement pas fait avec moi...

[Bbecca_marie]

thank you so much to the publisher for the gifted copy.

How the Other Half Die
Book by P. C. Roscoe

The exclusive Mokani Island is Avery’s happy place. This summer, she’s invited her college roommate, Nora, to hang out in paradise and party with her superrich friends.

But the vibe feels off from the start. Avery’s ex can’t get over their split. Her best friend is acting weird. A hot new staff member can’t keep his eyes off her. And nobody likes Nora, who keeps sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.

​A tropical storm is brewing and everyone on the island seems to be hiding something—but are some secrets worth killing for?

✨ My thoughts:

Unfortunately I had a really hard getting into this story. I don’t typically mind predictable stories but I just was not vibing with this one. And it sounded like it would be right up my alley! I did also try the audiobook to see if I’d like it better but it didn’t work out. I guess you win some, you lose some. Maybe it was a me problem …. so I guess it’s on to the next.

Happy reading 📖

[Lana B- thrills_chills_and_frills · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — “Rich people, bad decisions, tropical storms, and murder. Basically vacation goals.” 🌴🍹🔪

This was pure popcorn thriller fun. The island setting was deliciously messy, the rich-kid drama was overflowing, and every character seemed determined to make the worst possible decision at exactly the wrong moment. I spent most of the book suspicious of everyone, including people who were probably just trying to do their jobs.

The pacing takes its time getting to the murder, but I didn’t mind because the tension kept building. Secrets, betrayals, shifting alliances, awkward romances, and enough family drama to power an entire reality TV network kept things moving. Once the story finally hits the gas, it absolutely flies.

The characters aren’t always likable, but they’re entertaining. Avery is messy in a way that makes you want to yell at her and root for her at the same time. Nora asks questions with the confidence of someone who has never once considered minding her own business, and honestly, thank goodness for that.

The ending landed for me, and the final twist gave me exactly what I wanted: one last reason to stare into space and reconsider my suspect list.

Verdict: Grab your sunscreen, your alibi, and your trust issues. This one is messy, dramatic, and ridiculously entertaining. Four stars because sometimes rich people behaving badly is all the self-care I need. 🌴✨🔪📖

[Marije · Rating 3 out of 5]

the premise is really good and interesting but the execution is sub par.

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

How the Other Half Die is a compelling story of friendship, secrets & how they can affect everything!
I love the 3 different points of views. I really feel the helped with the reveals & some of the shocks.

I was blown away by the epilogue. What a shocking last minute twist!

I would recommend for fans of Then Things Went Dark, We Were Liars & Karen Mcmanuses books.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The vibes were rancid the second Nora got off the boat, and honestly, same. How the Other Half Die kicks off like The White Lotus got thrown in a blender with Pretty Little Liars and the lid was absolutely not on. You’ve got a private island full of shiny rich teens, mysterious staffers, chaotic friendships, and at least three people who should be in therapy instead of a cabana. It’s giving sunscreen, secrets, and someone is definitely getting murdered before checkout.

Avery, our rich-girl-with-issues main character, is back on Mokani Island for another summer of wealth-soaked debauchery, except this year she brings Nora, her college roommate who is not rich, not chill, and deeply uninterested in minding her own business. Immediately the tension is loud. Avery’s ex is lingering like a bad smell. Her best friend is acting sketchy. A hot new staff member keeps looking at her like he knows something. And Nora is out here asking questions like this is a job interview and not a murder waiting room.

This book lives on vibes first and plot second, which honestly works for a while. The island feels hot and claustrophobic, like everyone is sweating out their worst secrets. The cast is stacked with rich brats, emotionally frayed staffers, and Nora, who might as well be wearing a shirt that says PLEASE TELL ME YOUR DARKEST SECRET. There are a lot of characters, and if you are not paying attention, they will blur together into one big cocktail of entitlement and bad decisions. I trusted no one except the approaching storm.

Now we need to talk about pacing, because the murder does not happen until way late. Like 70 percent late. I spent most of this book pacing mentally, whispering “someone die already” while the drama simmered. Instead of bodies, we get layers of secrets, relationship fractures, and escalating tension until finally the plot snaps. When it does, it goes fully unhinged. Suddenly everyone is making terrible choices at once and I was flipping pages like, oh okay, now we’re sprinting.

The epilogue deserves its own little slow clap. Just when you think everything is wrapped up, it throws one last twist directly at your forehead. It is the kind of ending that makes you stare at the wall for a second, replaying everything you just read. I respect the audacity. I am also slightly annoyed, which is honestly the correct emotional response to a good YA thriller epilogue.

Trope-wise, this book is doing the most in a fun way. Rich people behaving badly. Outsider girl disrupting the ecosystem. Class tension between guests and staff. A messy romantic situation that is mostly hormones and poor communication. Everyone is lying about something, and the island is basically judging them for it. The storm looming over everything works beautifully as a metaphor and also as an excuse for people to do incredibly dumb things.

Avery is a solid messy protagonist. She is privileged, conflicted, and clearly spiraling, which makes her interesting even when she is making choices I wanted to shake her for. Nora starts off annoying and slowly reveals herself as the only person reacting like a normal human to obvious danger. Leo, the broody staff guy with outsider energy, was absolutely designed to be stared at longingly while holding emotional baggage, and yes, I fell for it immediately.

Here’s where I landed. I had fun. I was entertained. I gasped more than once. The character count is heavy, the pacing wobbles, and sometimes it reads like a prestige teen drama pitch rather than a fully settled story. But when it hits, it really hits, and I would absolutely binge this on vacation while whispering theories to myself like a lunatic. Three stars.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Suspect the Hot Guy, the Weird Parents, and Basically Everyone With a Name Tag

Huge thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the ARC. I genuinely appreciate the chance to spend time on this extremely messy island with extremely messy people. You truly said, “What if privilege, secrets, and a tropical storm all had beef,” and for that, I am grateful.

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vous le savez peut être, ça fait bien longtemps que je ne lis plus de young adult. Et pourtant, quand j'ai eu la possibilité de recevoir" Une saison pour mourir " j'ai sauté sur l'occasion. Entre la superbe couverture et le résumé plein de promesses, j'ai foncé tête baissée. Et j'ai eu raison parce que j'ai passé un super moment. (Enfin, si on peut parler de super moment quand il y a un meurtre... Mais bon, vous avez compris l'idée !)
Nous voici donc parti sur l'île très privée de Mokani, avec une bande d'amis (et leurs parents). On est sur une petite vibe "nous les menteurs", mais la comparaison s'arrête ici.
Le roman alterne entre le point de vue de trois personnages, mais il démarre surtout sur... Un meurtre. Et à un moment donné, il va falloir trouver des réponses.
Que de tensions dans ce livre ! Entre non dits, secrets plus ou moins bien gardés, disputes, "se méfier des apparences" prend vraiment tout son sens. Je me suis beaucoup attachée au personnage d'Avery et j'ai de suite eu envie de connaître son implication dans tout ce bazar !
J'ai trouvé ça très bien écrit, les révélations et retournements de situations arrivent au bon moment. L'histoire se met en place plutôt lentement, mais au moins on ne s'y perd pas dans les personnages ou la temporalité.
C'est aussi un roman très visuel, entre l'île paradisiaque, les bateaux, les tenues des personnages, il y a une vraie ambiance "série tv".
Je suis contente d'avoir lu un roman ado, ou en tout cas "jeune adulte", d'autant plus que certains des thèmes abordés sont plutôt adultes, et que les personnages sont assez mâtures pour leurs âges.
Merci encore @babelio et @hachetteromans pour cette chouette opportunité.

[Amandine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce livre est typiquement le genre que j’aime bien. Dès le début on est confronté au crime. Puis retour en arrière. Et on suit les choses jusqu’au moment fatidique. Forcément ça me fait analyser et me fait rentrer directement dans l’histoire et l’intrigue, ici entourant un groupe d’amis de 6 personnes.

Avery est mignonne mais surtout très naïve. On voit qu’elle a bon cœur et qu’elle préfère arranger tout le monde plutôt que de suivre ses envies. Elle est d’une certaine façon attachante même si je l’avoue j’ai voulu la secouer à plusieurs reprise. Léo est le second personnage que j’ai apprécié par sa situation et sa façon d’être et de penser. Et finalement il y a un personnage, je ne l’ai pas senti ni apprécié des le début, j’ai grincé des dents à chaque fois…. Pour les autres, rien de spécifique. Bon ok j’avoue Hugo m’a fait un peu de peine.

Une thriller avec un arrière plan paradisiaque. Île privé, richesse, beauté… Mensonge, faux semblant et paraître. Simple mais complexe à la fois, on se pose et déduit tout du long qui a pu faire quoi. J’ai eu mon idée nette rapidement. Tort ou raison ? ….

𝐄𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐟 : Une bonne lecture ! La plume est plaisante, les points de vues dynamise bien et la façon dont s’est fait nous fait réfléchir. Il y a du drame, de la tension mais aussi quelques longueur. J’ai passé un bon moment.

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Per Avery Finch è stato un anno difficile: l'università si è rivelata molto più dura di quanto pensava, e l'azienda dei suoi genitori è in grossa difficoltà dopo che il loro socio li ha truffati, creando un ammanco di centinaia di migliaia di dollari. Per fortuna che ci sono le vacanze, come ogni anno sull'isola privata di Darian e Mark Vandenburg, insieme ai Devereux e ai rispettivi figli, amici di Avery da una vita, oltre a Leo, il bellissimo figlio del cuoco. E quest'anno c'è anche Nora, la compagna di stanza di Avery, invitata perché sono grandi amiche... E anche perché Nora è a conoscenza di un "piccolo" segreto. Tra lusso, vizio e dipendenze più o meno nascoste, non è così difficile che qualcosa vada storto...
Con questo romanzo P.C. Roscoe ha scritto una sorta di The White Lotus in versione ventenni. La ricchezza senza scrupoli dei genitori si percepisce tutta, ma forse non hanno ancora contagiato i loro figli (o perlomeno, non tutti). La storia scorre veloce anche se il ritmo non è sempre così serrato come ci si aspetterebbe, e la denuncia sociale graffia un po' meno di quanto sarebbe stato necessario. Nulla che non si sia già letto, insomma, ma comunque una piacevole lettura di evasione, adatta soprattutto sotto l'ombrellone. E se siete in qualche resort di fascia alta, guardatevi alle spalle.

[sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Rating: 4⭐️
🫧 Vibes: gossip girl meets white lotus
🎶 Song: glamorous - fergie
📚 Would I recommend? yes!
💬 tldr thoughts: this was a good time!

In the package:
📦 secrets and betrayals
📦 set on private island
📦 murder mystery

Plot: Every years, Avery spends her summer on Mokani Island with her ultra rich friends and family. This year she brings her best friend with her, and things are off the second they get on the island. Everyone is hiding secrets, scandals and feelings. And then someone turns up dead...

Thoughts: I had a great time reading this one, it was juicy and filled with so much drama. Think that one scene in gossip girl where Jason Derulo's Watcha Say plays 🤫 Was is predictable? Yes but that didn't matter in this case. An island filled with rich snobby kids, parents with scandalous secrets and mysterious staff? What could go wrong!! I loved how everything was connected in the end and the side romance plot was cute.

Thank you Hachette Book Group Canada for the physical ARC!

✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok and instagram⋆☾✩⁺₊✩

[Lise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery attend chaque année avec impatience les deux semaines de vacances qu’elle passe sur l’île de Mokani, une île ultra exclusive appartenant à des amis de sa famille. Cette année, Nora, sa colocataire, vient passer les vacances avec elle.

Habituellement, Avery passe ses journées à la plage avec ses amis, entre baignades et cocktails. Mais cette fois, l’ambiance est différente. Et surtout, Nora fouille un peu trop dans les affaires des autres...

Je ne savais pas trop à quoi m’attendre avec ce livre, et j’ai adoré. Le prologue nous plonge directement dans un événement catastrophique qui se déroule à la fin des vacances, puis le chapitre 1 nous ramène au tout début du séjour. Dès lors, une atmosphère très malsaine s’installe. On sait qu’il va se passer quelque chose, que chacun cache des secrets, et pourtant on espère que tout se passera bien. Mais cette petite pensée reste toujours en arrière-plan : quelque chose finira mal.

Entre amourettes, jalousies, problèmes financiers et gros mensonges, on ne sait plus qui est prêt à tout pour protéger son secret.

Une chose est sûre, c'est que je lirai la suite!

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

A multi-POV YA thriller following Avery, Leo, and Hugo—each carrying secrets you know will lead to something darker. From the start, it’s clear someone will die, but despite near drownings, storms, and cliffside falls, it takes a while to get there. When it finally does, the resolution feels a bit rushed. There’s a last-minute twist, but it doesn’t land with much impact. After everything the other characters had gone through, it didn’t seem it mattered.

Themes of classism, narcissism, alcohol abuse, and assault run throughout. This leans heavily into the young in young adult—the characters feel underdeveloped and often immature, with tension across every setting (school, home, staff, friendships). The adults, in particular, come off as self-absorbed, extreme, and unhinged.

This wasn’t bad. It just didn’t have resolutions I would preferred to have seen.

That said, it’s a quick, easy read—one to pick up for a flight or a pool day if you’re looking for something light and dramatic.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Young Adult for the Advanced Reading Copy to review. All opinions are my own.

[Mackenzie Busalacchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

How the Other Half Die is a fast-paced, drama-filled thriller set on a private tropical island. Avery, Hugo, Syd, and Archie meet each year on their families' private Caribbean island; they relax and indulge in all the extras. For this summer, Avery invites her new college roommate - an energetic, whimsical girl who also happens to have her own agenda for being on the island.

How the Other Half Die gives off White Lotus meets Gossip Girl vibes. The book is packed full of scandalizing drama and soap-opera-esque drama. Each character is well-developed with their own unique and deep story arc. I truly felt like I was experiencing each character's challenges as they went through them. While I empathized with the teens, the parents were so unlikable. I did not relate or care about any of the adults. They were all horrible, narcissistic, selfish people. Relating to characters, I particularly enjoyed Le0 and Hugo's story arcs. Overall, there were quite a bit of twists, and the ending was quite surprising.

Due to the Caribbean setting and the beach/paradise descriptions - perfect summer beach read!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hvordan de andre dør af P.C. Roscoe er en fastpaced og letlæst roman om unge, smukke og privilegerede mennesker, hvor alt ser perfekt ud på overfladen – men hurtigt krakelerer. Vi befinder os i et luksuriøst univers fyldt med drama, hemmeligheder og relationer, der er langt mere giftige, end de ser ud.
Det er en af de bøger, man lige tager “et kapitel mere” af – og pludselig er man 100 sider længere henne. Karaktererne er generelt ret usympatiske (jeg hadede de fleste af dem lidt 😅), men det fungerer til bogens fordel. Man bliver investeret i deres konflikter, fejl og dårlige valg, også selvom man ikke ligefrem holder med dem.

Bogen gav mig klare White Lotus-vibes med sit fokus på rigdom, magt og menneskers grimme sider, men i en version, der føles mere målrettet et yngre publikum. Tempoet er højt, dramaet er konstant, og den er perfekt, hvis du er i humør til noget underholdende, mørkt og lidt kaotisk.

Alt i alt en god bog, hvis du kan lide drama, læsevenlige sider og historier, hvor ingen er helt gode – og det hele langsomt går galt. Perfekt til en reading slump

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was... okay. I was totally sold on a thriller set on a tropical island with a bunch of well-to-dos, but the characters were all so insufferable that it made it hard to enjoy. Even Avery, who was supposed to be the closest thing to a positive protagonist, and Leo, who you should align with as someone that's been on both the "friends with the rich people" and "serving the rich people" sides of the fence. But they all just kind of sucked. I wasn't really surprised by the crime nor by the perpetrator. I will say that the description of the island was probably my favorite part. Overall, this just wasn't really for me. I'd give this a 3.25 rounded down to 3 stars. However, thanks to NetGalley and to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC (even if I didn't finish until after publication)!

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Avery brings her friend Nora home to join them for their luxurious annual vacation on Mokani Island, holiday hotspot for the decidedly privileged, the last thing she expects is for everything to go wrong.

Her best friend's acting weird, her ex boyfriend even weirder, and Nora's excessive interest in the business of others perhaps weirdest of all. And they aren't the only ones with secrets, because her parents aren't behaving normally either. What is going on?!

An enjoyable read that provides plenty of entertainment this gets 3.5 stars and is well worth checking out.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Abbeigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avery and her family travel to the luxurious Mokani Island Resort every year, alongside the outrageously wealthy Devereux’s and Vandenburg’s. This year, her college best friend, Nora, joins them. What dark secrets does the island hold? And why does everything seem so different this year?

Firstly, thank you so much to Team BkMrk for my proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this books vibes, brimming with socialites, scandals and secrets! The plot kept me hooked and the character dynamics worked really well. There were definitely bits I didn’t see coming which is always an added bonus when reading a thriller style book.

A good summer read!

[Jazzy Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crime thriller/mystery book based on an island? SIGN. ME. UP.

I really enjoyed this book! I came for the picturesque island landscapes but stayed for the twisty mystery that kept me guessing right up until the very last page.

Just as I thought I had the mystery sussed out, a curveball was thrown! I definitely need to keep an eye on this author because that was a fantastic debut novel and I hear there's some semblance of a sequel in the works already!

All of the characters brought something to the table but I was rooting for Avery the whole time! That girl deserves better!

How the Other Half Die is fast paced, twisty as hell and so entertaining!

[Anna J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avery invites her college roommate Nora to hang out at private island with her super rich friends. Nora is not rich and doesn’t fit in with Hugo, Sydney, and Archie. Nora gets close to the staff and opens Avery’s eyes to how she has lead a pampered life. The families have all been coming to the private island for years.

This time the gloves come off and things will be said that can’t be taken back. Friendships will be destroyed and secrets will be revealed and one person won’t make it off the island alive.

The epilogue was a nice surprise.

[Dan Mckeithan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun twisty YA story. P. C. brings us Avery, who is off to the island for break with her roommate, Nora. The setting and the vibes of the island life, rich people, secrets people hold--carry us for a bit and then there's the murder. Some of the story was predictable, but it was so well written that it was fun to follow, and it makes you want to hang on till the end. And the epilogue twists it even more. Loved the characters and the multiple POV's. A fun read and I can't wait to see what else P. C. has in store for us.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love rich people drama so was really looking forward to an escapist read in gloomy January. Sadly I just found there were too many characters in this one and it became confusing.
The murder doesn't happen until 70% in either which surprised me as I kept waiting for someone to die. I would recommend this more for someone who wanted a juicy gossip book.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DNF-ed this, but I'll admit this book is a victim of me just not being in the mood. Everyone is just so annoying, so while the plot seems so fun, how do I enjoy a book where I hate all the characters?

[LeslecturesdeMylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une saison pour mourir de P.C. Roscoe
J'ai beaucoup aimé Avery et le contexte général, je me suis laissée avoir par certains rebondissements et les révélations finales. Efficace et prenant !
17/20 - https://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/2...

[Justin Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thriller YA and definitely had me gripped for the first half. It might just be me but I kind of lost my excitement in the second half. Not sure I loved any of the characters except Leo and that guy gets put through the ringer.
Thanks to Storygram and the novl for this complimentary arc!

[Ivory Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

start was a bit slow but was amazing toward the end

[Ilmiomondo_thriller · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

A gripping and entertaining read. Most of the excitement begins at around 65% of the book and beyond.

It's a quick and thrilling read, ideal for summer reading.

[Johanne Skou · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Alessia (alexa.dreams_) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨