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Six Must Die
Perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus’s The Cousins and I Know What You Did Last Summer, this propulsive thriller follows a fractured group of friends as they fight to survive a killer escape room in rural Tennessee.
Twelve months ago, an escape room fire took everything from Steffi Zamekova. In just one hour, she lost it all: her popular blog, her close-knit inner circle, and her memories of the night that killed one of the group’s own… the charismatic (if infuriating) Matt Cesari.
On the anniversary of the bewildering tragedy, Steffi is still desperate to piece together what went wrong. So when she receives an ominous invitation in the mail summoning her to the new escape room across town, she seizes the chance for answers.
Reunited with her former friends, Steffi sees the game as a last chance to uncover the truth behind Matt’s death. But it’s soon clear that each participant has their own cagey reasons for accepting the challenge. And as tensions rise and the players are picked off one by one, it’s a race against the clock for Steffi to uncover their secrets and unlock her own memories before the game’s mastermind ensures that no one escapes the room alive.
Twelve months ago, an escape room fire took everything from Steffi Zamekova. In just one hour, she lost it all: her popular blog, her close-knit inner circle, and her memories of the night that killed one of the group’s own… the charismatic (if infuriating) Matt Cesari.
On the anniversary of the bewildering tragedy, Steffi is still desperate to piece together what went wrong. So when she receives an ominous invitation in the mail summoning her to the new escape room across town, she seizes the chance for answers.
Reunited with her former friends, Steffi sees the game as a last chance to uncover the truth behind Matt’s death. But it’s soon clear that each participant has their own cagey reasons for accepting the challenge. And as tensions rise and the players are picked off one by one, it’s a race against the clock for Steffi to uncover their secrets and unlock her own memories before the game’s mastermind ensures that no one escapes the room alive.
Unknown Binding
Published March 10, 2025
19 people are currently reading
6257 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Wlosok
3 books311 followersVictoria Wlosok is the author of the young adult thrillers How to Find a Missing Girl and Six Must Die. A recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in English and Business Administration, she now spends her time researching methods of murder for future books, attempting to break out of escape rooms, and teaching language arts in the mountains of the Czech Republic. She invites you to follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and X @xvictoriawrites, or visit her website at victoriawlosok.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 5, 2025
SIX MUST DIE releases March 10, 2026 with Little, Brown Books for Young Readers!
this locked-room, diminishing-cast, six-POV sapphic YA thriller is Saw meets Bodies Bodies Bodies meets I Know What You Did Last Summer, and it's for everyone who's ever gone through a traumatic friendship breakup and wishes they could've just been shot instead.
add this book to your TBR if you like:
• unreliable narrators who keep too many secrets for their own good
• killer escape rooms
• multi-POV novels
• messy gays who definitely should have all blocked each other years ago tbh
• dual timeline thrillers
• neon vibes in a claustrophobic setting
• "one of us is definitely the killer, but like, what if we just pretended we're not?"
• camp and gore and blackmail, in that order
• realizing you have feelings for your dead best friend's girlfriend
• bitches named charity
• multimedia elements (yelp.com reviews, court documents, text messages, etc.)
• immigrant daughters battling complicated feelings about their parents
• the existence of chess.com, as a concept
• books set in rural towns in the american south (this time, we're in the mountains of Tennessee)
• overthinking about how your friends hate you when you probably just need to go to sleep
get in the killer escape room, y'all. we're going dying on march 10, 2026. don't be late. xx
this locked-room, diminishing-cast, six-POV sapphic YA thriller is Saw meets Bodies Bodies Bodies meets I Know What You Did Last Summer, and it's for everyone who's ever gone through a traumatic friendship breakup and wishes they could've just been shot instead.
add this book to your TBR if you like:
• unreliable narrators who keep too many secrets for their own good
• killer escape rooms
• multi-POV novels
• messy gays who definitely should have all blocked each other years ago tbh
• dual timeline thrillers
• neon vibes in a claustrophobic setting
• "one of us is definitely the killer, but like, what if we just pretended we're not?"
• camp and gore and blackmail, in that order
• realizing you have feelings for your dead best friend's girlfriend
• bitches named charity
• multimedia elements (yelp.com reviews, court documents, text messages, etc.)
• immigrant daughters battling complicated feelings about their parents
• the existence of chess.com, as a concept
• books set in rural towns in the american south (this time, we're in the mountains of Tennessee)
• overthinking about how your friends hate you when you probably just need to go to sleep
get in the killer escape room, y'all. we're going dying on march 10, 2026. don't be late. xx
October 22, 2025
ARC for review. To be published March 10, 2026.
2.5 stars
High school senior Stephanie goes to an escape room o n d by the parents of her friend Malachi to meet her friends Santo, Tobias, Charity and Guinevere. It’s just about one year since their friend, Matt, died in a fire at another escape room, which would seem like a really good reason NOT to celebrate at an escape room, but what do I know about kids and their fun.
And, big surprise, right away things start to go wrong. And Stephanie got a head injury at last year’s debacle so she has no memories of what happened. Looks like it’s going to be quite a night.
I love escape rooms so there were some small parts of this I loved but I found large portions of it confusing and the killer was pretty obvious (I thought.).
2.5 stars
High school senior Stephanie goes to an escape room o n d by the parents of her friend Malachi to meet her friends Santo, Tobias, Charity and Guinevere. It’s just about one year since their friend, Matt, died in a fire at another escape room, which would seem like a really good reason NOT to celebrate at an escape room, but what do I know about kids and their fun.
And, big surprise, right away things start to go wrong. And Stephanie got a head injury at last year’s debacle so she has no memories of what happened. Looks like it’s going to be quite a night.
I love escape rooms so there were some small parts of this I loved but I found large portions of it confusing and the killer was pretty obvious (I thought.).
March 28, 2025
This book doesn't have an official name yet, so I would like to offer it mine. That's right—I wanna marry this goddamned book. It's an absolute blast and a half and I can't wait for everybody else to read it!!
March 15, 2026
The moment I realized this mysterious invitation didn’t come from anyone present I would have been out of there! & I absolutely woul have bolted out of Friendship Springs, TN! This story had a lot of elements I love, YA Thriller mixed with escape room vibes — count me in! It became evident early on that someone wanted some revenge on this friendship group! The question is who? As there were a few “whys” circulating around as they try to determine who invited them to the escape room! They are all suffering from a previous tragedy that they endured together, so one would think under all these circumstances they have sense enough to abort mission… NOT.. in typical YA fashion, they continued on as though nothing abnormal was happening! Overall a fun & suspenseful read. Thank you NetGalley & Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for an advanced reader copy.
Publication 🗓️ : 03.10.26
Publication 🗓️ : 03.10.26
March 11, 2026
1.5 stars
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an ARC of this book!
★ after falling in love with Wlosok's debut, How to Find a Missing Girl, i was so excited to be approved for an ARC of Six Must Die. unfortunately, when i told myself, "i can't wait for this book to start getting good," and realized i was already 60% of the way through, i knew Wlosok's sophomore effort would be a disappointment for me.
★ while the writing in How to Find a Missing Girl was propulsive and exciting, the writing in Six Must Die is amateurish and sloppy. it feels like Wlosok thought her audience wouldn't be able to remember the characters and their relationships to each other, because throughout the entire book, she is constantly restating who each character is, what their hobbies are, and how they know our protagonist, Steffi. i feel like at least 15% of the book consists of these unnecessary reiterations. there are only, as the title suggests, six major characters in the story. i'm pretty sure we'll all be able to remember who they are after the first few chapters.
★ and this ties into the excessive telling over showing present in the story. each time Steffi wants to describe how close she and one of her ex-friends used to be, she'll use a run-on sentence in the format of: ______ character, who would ________ with me in school, do _____ activity as we laughed at ______ location, and who _____ed when [insert last time they saw each other here]. these sentences are so repetitive, and do so little to further the characterization of the characters or deepen their backstories with each other. and these sentences make up a good chunk of the story, rendering the reading experience monotonous.
★ for what should be an exciting thriller, the plot meanders in a confusing way. there are many instances where the characters waffle over decisions they have already made and talk in circles to each other. for example, they'll say, "should we keep playing the game?" after they have already continued playing the game numerous times (and there has been no major event to change their minds), or say, "we should all stick together," after they have been sticking together throughout the entire story. and these aren't little moments; the unnecessary conversations go on for pages. it feels like these conversations, and the endless run-on backstory sentences, are most of the "plot".
★ there is even a chapter where the six characters are assigned different jobs (which are told to us in the first few paragraphs of the chapter), and one character is confused, so the rest of the chapter is dedicated to restating what each character's job is. i can't make this up.
★ Steffi probably uses the phrase "remaining friends" at least every 10 pages.
★ while i love ephemera/multimedia content in mysteries, the content here was entirely irrelevant to the story. was there a gossip site that posted scathing exposés about our six characters? yes. do we get to read more than one of these posts? no. instead, we read positive/middling reviews for the escape room location over and over again at the end of each chapter until i had to look up from the book in disbelief.
★ and on that note, the secrets/reveals, and even two of the deaths in the story, are confusing and muddled at worst and boring at best. we know all six of the characters were exposed for something, and there are maybe one or two sentences throughout the entire novel talking about each characters' gossip post. even Steffi's post was left unclear - i can guess what it was about, but we're never explicitly told. this gives the story the effect of being boring rather than intentionally vague and elusive. there is even one instance where it's implied a character was exposed for one thing on one page, and implied that the same character was exposed for another thing on another page. and that's never cleared up.
★ also, each character has a secret about the night one of their friends died. the secrets were... shockingly obvious, dull, and all the same. plus, again, Steffi's "secret" is never revealed. unless the secret is the random off-hand sentence a character utters towards the end?
★ there is one chapter where Steffi blinks ~once per page.
★ there are parts where Steffi says their friend group broke up the night of the fire, and parts where Steffi is talking about being with her friends at a funeral afterwards and driving one of her friends home. so did they or did they not stay friends after that night?
★ the flashbacks are drawn out and mostly unnecessary.
★ two major character deaths occur off-page, and i had to reread that segment three times to make sure i wasn't missing something, because what should have been an important moment was just glossed over and never spoken about again.
★ overall, this concept has so much promise, and i'm shocked at how much it was bungled. the one thing i will say about Wlosok is that she can accurately capture the things teens do when they're young and part of a friend group, but i wish that was shown to us rather than told. this book was sorely missing many more rounds of edits. after seeing what Wlosok can accomplish with How to Find a Missing Girl, i know her second novel should be so much better than this.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an ARC of this book!
★ after falling in love with Wlosok's debut, How to Find a Missing Girl, i was so excited to be approved for an ARC of Six Must Die. unfortunately, when i told myself, "i can't wait for this book to start getting good," and realized i was already 60% of the way through, i knew Wlosok's sophomore effort would be a disappointment for me.
★ while the writing in How to Find a Missing Girl was propulsive and exciting, the writing in Six Must Die is amateurish and sloppy. it feels like Wlosok thought her audience wouldn't be able to remember the characters and their relationships to each other, because throughout the entire book, she is constantly restating who each character is, what their hobbies are, and how they know our protagonist, Steffi. i feel like at least 15% of the book consists of these unnecessary reiterations. there are only, as the title suggests, six major characters in the story. i'm pretty sure we'll all be able to remember who they are after the first few chapters.
★ and this ties into the excessive telling over showing present in the story. each time Steffi wants to describe how close she and one of her ex-friends used to be, she'll use a run-on sentence in the format of: ______ character, who would ________ with me in school, do _____ activity as we laughed at ______ location, and who _____ed when [insert last time they saw each other here]. these sentences are so repetitive, and do so little to further the characterization of the characters or deepen their backstories with each other. and these sentences make up a good chunk of the story, rendering the reading experience monotonous.
★ for what should be an exciting thriller, the plot meanders in a confusing way. there are many instances where the characters waffle over decisions they have already made and talk in circles to each other. for example, they'll say, "should we keep playing the game?" after they have already continued playing the game numerous times (and there has been no major event to change their minds), or say, "we should all stick together," after they have been sticking together throughout the entire story. and these aren't little moments; the unnecessary conversations go on for pages. it feels like these conversations, and the endless run-on backstory sentences, are most of the "plot".
★ there is even a chapter where the six characters are assigned different jobs (which are told to us in the first few paragraphs of the chapter), and one character is confused, so the rest of the chapter is dedicated to restating what each character's job is. i can't make this up.
★ Steffi probably uses the phrase "remaining friends" at least every 10 pages.
★ while i love ephemera/multimedia content in mysteries, the content here was entirely irrelevant to the story. was there a gossip site that posted scathing exposés about our six characters? yes. do we get to read more than one of these posts? no. instead, we read positive/middling reviews for the escape room location over and over again at the end of each chapter until i had to look up from the book in disbelief.
★ and on that note, the secrets/reveals, and even two of the deaths in the story, are confusing and muddled at worst and boring at best. we know all six of the characters were exposed for something, and there are maybe one or two sentences throughout the entire novel talking about each characters' gossip post. even Steffi's post was left unclear - i can guess what it was about, but we're never explicitly told. this gives the story the effect of being boring rather than intentionally vague and elusive. there is even one instance where it's implied a character was exposed for one thing on one page, and implied that the same character was exposed for another thing on another page. and that's never cleared up.
★ also, each character has a secret about the night one of their friends died. the secrets were... shockingly obvious, dull, and all the same. plus, again, Steffi's "secret" is never revealed. unless the secret is the random off-hand sentence a character utters towards the end?
★ there is one chapter where Steffi blinks ~once per page.
★ there are parts where Steffi says their friend group broke up the night of the fire, and parts where Steffi is talking about being with her friends at a funeral afterwards and driving one of her friends home. so did they or did they not stay friends after that night?
★ the flashbacks are drawn out and mostly unnecessary.
★ two major character deaths occur off-page, and i had to reread that segment three times to make sure i wasn't missing something, because what should have been an important moment was just glossed over and never spoken about again.
★ overall, this concept has so much promise, and i'm shocked at how much it was bungled. the one thing i will say about Wlosok is that she can accurately capture the things teens do when they're young and part of a friend group, but i wish that was shown to us rather than told. this book was sorely missing many more rounds of edits. after seeing what Wlosok can accomplish with How to Find a Missing Girl, i know her second novel should be so much better than this.
December 22, 2025
#ad much love for my advance copy @littlebrown @novelsuspects #partner #novelsuspectsinsidersclub
‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧
🆂🅸🆇 🅼🆄🆂🆃 🅳🅸🅴
< @ >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 𝟤𝟨, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
ʏᴀ | ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ | ʟɢʙᴛǫ+
‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧
𝚂𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚊 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚐𝚘. 𝙾𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚡 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝. 𝙽𝚘𝚠 𝚜𝚒𝚡 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗…
How many will walk out this time?
Tomorrow they graduate and go off in their own directions, but today they each arrive to the escape room BREAKOUT. Steffi wants answers as to what happened a year ago here. Why one of them is now dead and how she survived. Questions she needs the answers too. Since she now lives with a brain injury from that night, she can’t remember what happened. Will she find the answers she seeks?
And who invited them back here? They’ve been estranged since that night, a year ago, and now someone is forcing them back together.
𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖:
Dr Quack 🦆
Kill scenes HOLY CRAPPERS! Lit AF
A locked-room dual timeline thriller that has a lot of bloody good scenes.
𝕄𝕚𝕩𝕖𝕕 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
I really loved this book but it took about 100 pages before I really started to get into it. I feel it had a lot of build-up, things repeated, and kind of drawn out at parts - rather than high-stakes, high-tension scenes right off the bat. While that does come, it takes a while to get there.
So while it’s fast-paced, it’s also slow-paced. Just stick it out if you find yourself struggling at the beginning. It’ll be worth it - I promise that!
Because once the plot got going it turned into a whole different book. I loved the puzzles, the building tension, and that it actually took place inside an escape room. I also enjoyed the extras: police interviews, blog posts, news articles, etc.
ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕗 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖:
✩ Everyone has a secret
✩ What happened a year ago
✩ Locked-room
✩ Group of toxic friends
✩ Blood & Guts (my fav)
✩ Pressure cooker
✩ Drama
✩ Grief
✩ Character-driven
✩ Dual timelines
✩ Escape rooms
✩ Puzzles
It might be a little too much for some readers.
‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧
🆂🅸🆇 🅼🆄🆂🆃 🅳🅸🅴
< @ >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴍᴀʀᴄʜ 𝟤𝟨, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟨
ʏᴀ | ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ꜱᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴀʟ | ʟɢʙᴛǫ+
‧₊˚ ✩°｡⋆♡ ⋆˙⟡♡ ⋆˙⟡♡⋆｡°✩˚₊‧
𝚂𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝚊 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚐𝚘. 𝙾𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚡 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝. 𝙽𝚘𝚠 𝚜𝚒𝚡 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗…
How many will walk out this time?
Tomorrow they graduate and go off in their own directions, but today they each arrive to the escape room BREAKOUT. Steffi wants answers as to what happened a year ago here. Why one of them is now dead and how she survived. Questions she needs the answers too. Since she now lives with a brain injury from that night, she can’t remember what happened. Will she find the answers she seeks?
And who invited them back here? They’ve been estranged since that night, a year ago, and now someone is forcing them back together.
𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖:
Dr Quack 🦆
Kill scenes HOLY CRAPPERS! Lit AF
A locked-room dual timeline thriller that has a lot of bloody good scenes.
𝕄𝕚𝕩𝕖𝕕 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
I really loved this book but it took about 100 pages before I really started to get into it. I feel it had a lot of build-up, things repeated, and kind of drawn out at parts - rather than high-stakes, high-tension scenes right off the bat. While that does come, it takes a while to get there.
So while it’s fast-paced, it’s also slow-paced. Just stick it out if you find yourself struggling at the beginning. It’ll be worth it - I promise that!
Because once the plot got going it turned into a whole different book. I loved the puzzles, the building tension, and that it actually took place inside an escape room. I also enjoyed the extras: police interviews, blog posts, news articles, etc.
ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕗 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖:
✩ Everyone has a secret
✩ What happened a year ago
✩ Locked-room
✩ Group of toxic friends
✩ Blood & Guts (my fav)
✩ Pressure cooker
✩ Drama
✩ Grief
✩ Character-driven
✩ Dual timelines
✩ Escape rooms
✩ Puzzles
It might be a little too much for some readers.
March 16, 2026
3.5⭐️ I love escape rooms. I love YA thrillers. So this book should have been a slam dunk for me… but unfortunately it didn’t quite deliver.
While it pulled me in at the beginning, things started to feel flat pretty early on. I’m someone who often figures out the culprit in thrillers and mysteries, but that usually doesn’t bother me. Half the fun is watching how the author builds the tension and crafts the payoff. Sadly, this one felt very predictable and the authenticity just wasn’t quite there.
One thing I usually enjoy about YA is that teens make questionable decisions—their brains aren’t fully formed yet, and that’s part of what makes the genre fun. You can push characters into situations that wouldn’t quite work with adult protagonists. But there’s a limit, and once you cross that line it starts to feel unbelievable. Teens still have a sense of self-preservation, and the setup here alone would likely be a big “no” for most people.
That being said, if you can suspend disbelief a lot and just read for the vibes—especially if you haven’t read an escape-room style thriller before—this might feel fresh and entertaining.
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.
While it pulled me in at the beginning, things started to feel flat pretty early on. I’m someone who often figures out the culprit in thrillers and mysteries, but that usually doesn’t bother me. Half the fun is watching how the author builds the tension and crafts the payoff. Sadly, this one felt very predictable and the authenticity just wasn’t quite there.
One thing I usually enjoy about YA is that teens make questionable decisions—their brains aren’t fully formed yet, and that’s part of what makes the genre fun. You can push characters into situations that wouldn’t quite work with adult protagonists. But there’s a limit, and once you cross that line it starts to feel unbelievable. Teens still have a sense of self-preservation, and the setup here alone would likely be a big “no” for most people.
That being said, if you can suspend disbelief a lot and just read for the vibes—especially if you haven’t read an escape-room style thriller before—this might feel fresh and entertaining.
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.
August 24, 2024
Finish it soon I wanna read it!!!
December 29, 2025
2.5/5, rounded to 3
six must die follows a group of teenagers reuniting a year after one of their best friends dies in a fire that broke out while they were playing an escape room. where are they reuniting at? the very escape room franchise that their friend died at, and they’re here to play one last game together before tradition g high school. only this game immediately isn’t what it seems.
overall, i really liked the premise of the book. it feels very i know what you did last summer, which is a type of camp i really enjoy. the inclusion of escape rooms i thought was fun, even though i feel like at times the descriptions of having to escape/the escape room itself felt clunky. for most of the book, we are following the pov of one character, steffi, and while i know the point of her characterization (and that of all the teenagers in this book) was to be unlikable at least a little bit, i found no redeeming qualities in her. she was so annoying to be in the head of, especially when she would say the full name of her friends, INCLUDING MIDDLE NAME, every other page. it wasn’t normal and i hated it. other things like having to read the words “storm gray eyes” and “hurricane gaze” over and over again really took away from the thriller aspect of the book.
i thought the twist was predictable but executed well regardless, and despite the few problems i had with it i did have fun reading it. if you can get past the repetitive prose, and enjoy escape rooms and horror books, i would give it a go!
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
six must die follows a group of teenagers reuniting a year after one of their best friends dies in a fire that broke out while they were playing an escape room. where are they reuniting at? the very escape room franchise that their friend died at, and they’re here to play one last game together before tradition g high school. only this game immediately isn’t what it seems.
overall, i really liked the premise of the book. it feels very i know what you did last summer, which is a type of camp i really enjoy. the inclusion of escape rooms i thought was fun, even though i feel like at times the descriptions of having to escape/the escape room itself felt clunky. for most of the book, we are following the pov of one character, steffi, and while i know the point of her characterization (and that of all the teenagers in this book) was to be unlikable at least a little bit, i found no redeeming qualities in her. she was so annoying to be in the head of, especially when she would say the full name of her friends, INCLUDING MIDDLE NAME, every other page. it wasn’t normal and i hated it. other things like having to read the words “storm gray eyes” and “hurricane gaze” over and over again really took away from the thriller aspect of the book.
i thought the twist was predictable but executed well regardless, and despite the few problems i had with it i did have fun reading it. if you can get past the repetitive prose, and enjoy escape rooms and horror books, i would give it a go!
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
October 17, 2025
Six Must Die follows Steffi a year after an accidental fire in an escape room killed her best friend. On the anniversary of the tragedy, Steffi and her friends are invited to a new escape room. She seizes the chance to get real answers after spending a year with no memories of the night. But everyone has their own reasons for attending and as tensions rise and players begin to get picked off, Steffi must race against the clock to uncover the truth and make it out alive.
If you love the Escape Room movies, you’ll love this one. I had a lot of fun reading this one. It’s super fast-paced and entertaining. I loved them trying to work out the puzzles and clues. It’s a very tense read because of the time limit and the characters being trapped. I thought the escape room was really well described and very atmospheric. I did see one of the two major twists coming fairly early, but I enjoyed being surprised about the one I didn’t guess.
I have mixed feelings on the characters. I found them to be unlikeable, especially in their flashbacks. They’re very self-centered teenagers. Which is fine, it made for an entertaining time as we learn about their secrets and shenanigans.
If you love escape rooms or revenge based mystery/thrillers, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the arc
If you love the Escape Room movies, you’ll love this one. I had a lot of fun reading this one. It’s super fast-paced and entertaining. I loved them trying to work out the puzzles and clues. It’s a very tense read because of the time limit and the characters being trapped. I thought the escape room was really well described and very atmospheric. I did see one of the two major twists coming fairly early, but I enjoyed being surprised about the one I didn’t guess.
I have mixed feelings on the characters. I found them to be unlikeable, especially in their flashbacks. They’re very self-centered teenagers. Which is fine, it made for an entertaining time as we learn about their secrets and shenanigans.
If you love escape rooms or revenge based mystery/thrillers, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out!
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the arc
January 23, 2026
This was my favorite YA thriller I read this year! I was fortunate enough to receive an e-arc for this novel. This was a hard book to put down, especially as I read it right before bed each night. Spoiler alert: maybe not the best choice to wind down for the night with 😂.
We follow Steffi Zamekova as she tries to piece together what happened on the fateful night that killed one of her best friends, Matt, and regain her memories as she gets trapped in a deadly escape room with her old friend group.
The cast of characters is very diverse and I loved getting to see past events from each of the characters' perspectives, while continuing to follow our MC Steffi. It makes you question right up until the end who in the friend group might have killed Matt. The plot twist at the end was so satisfying!
I loved the vivid prose in this novel and the interwoven stories of the friend group. I highly recommend you pick this up if you have the chance!
We follow Steffi Zamekova as she tries to piece together what happened on the fateful night that killed one of her best friends, Matt, and regain her memories as she gets trapped in a deadly escape room with her old friend group.
The cast of characters is very diverse and I loved getting to see past events from each of the characters' perspectives, while continuing to follow our MC Steffi. It makes you question right up until the end who in the friend group might have killed Matt. The plot twist at the end was so satisfying!
I loved the vivid prose in this novel and the interwoven stories of the friend group. I highly recommend you pick this up if you have the chance!
March 5, 2026
2.5/5 ⭐️
ohh my goodness, this book took place during one hour and it was the longest hour of my life lol. It wasn't a bad book by any means, but it just seemed to drag on and on. There would be a ton of dialog and then only 30 seconds passed. Also, almost all of the characters were extremely unlikable, especially the main character steffi. They all just acted sooo stupid the entire time like they didnt realize they were actually in danger, even once people started dying.
The twist was predictable which was a bummer. And the ending was abrupt. Overall not terrible but not great.
Thank you so much NetGalley and the publishers for the e-ARC!
ohh my goodness, this book took place during one hour and it was the longest hour of my life lol. It wasn't a bad book by any means, but it just seemed to drag on and on. There would be a ton of dialog and then only 30 seconds passed. Also, almost all of the characters were extremely unlikable, especially the main character steffi. They all just acted sooo stupid the entire time like they didnt realize they were actually in danger, even once people started dying.
The twist was predictable which was a bummer. And the ending was abrupt. Overall not terrible but not great.
Thank you so much NetGalley and the publishers for the e-ARC!
March 9, 2026
I really wanted to enjoy this book but it’s too similar to other books I’ve read that did it better than this book did.
It wasn’t terrible by any means but I read a book last year and it felt like it was identical and I wasn’t keen on that either.
The twist you could see coming.
It moved along and was a pretty easy read which is why it’s not a 1 star but was just below average for me .
It wasn’t terrible by any means but I read a book last year and it felt like it was identical and I wasn’t keen on that either.
The twist you could see coming.
It moved along and was a pretty easy read which is why it’s not a 1 star but was just below average for me .
November 26, 2025
this was INSANE!!! i could not put it down. this was one of the best thrillers i have read and i loved every moment. the point of views and the drama of this book was crazy! the ending was one of the craziest things ive ever read. make sure to read this book after it releases !!!
October 12, 2025
I can’t wait for this to change my life
November 13, 2025
“How to Find a Missing Girl” instantly became one of my favorite YA thrillers, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting my chance to read more of Victoria Wlosok’s sapphic, sparkling, whip-smart work ever since! SO excited for this book 💖
March 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
4.5 stars, rounded up. Did you like Until Dawn(the game) and Scream(the original)? If so, you'll have a great time with Six Must Die. The escape room setting and the timer are very cool devices to really wrap you up in the plot, and the different points of view were very well handled. Steffi's memory loss kept me guessing as I discovered things right alongside her.
4.5 stars, rounded up. Did you like Until Dawn(the game) and Scream(the original)? If so, you'll have a great time with Six Must Die. The escape room setting and the timer are very cool devices to really wrap you up in the plot, and the different points of view were very well handled. Steffi's memory loss kept me guessing as I discovered things right alongside her.
Read
September 1, 2024Finish the book, I want to read it sosososoosososos bad!!
September 28, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Victoria Wlosok’s “Six Must Die” is a blood-soaked, fast-paced YA thriller that combines the claustrophobic tension of a locked-room mystery with the messy drama of high school friendships gone wrong. Perfect for fans of I Know What You Did Last Summer and Karen M. McManus, this book leans into revenge, betrayal, and the terrifying idea of being trapped in a killer escape room. There is some blood and gore in this book, so it’s more suitable for older YA readers.
The story follows Steffi Zamekova, who is still haunted by the events of a fire that destroyed her friend group and left one member, the charismatic but cruel Matt Cesari, dead. Steffi also lost her memories of that night, and a year later she’s desperate for answers. When an ominous invitation arrives, calling her and her estranged friends back to a newly built escape room, she can’t resist. But the reunion quickly spirals into a nightmare. Each of them has secrets, each has reasons for being there, and someone clearly wants revenge.
The escape room premise is one of the book’s strongest elements. With only one hour to solve puzzles, evade traps, and survive, the story barrels forward at breakneck speed. Multimedia elements like social media posts and flashbacks add layers to the mystery, while gory and graphic details of the deadly traps keep the stakes high. Those who love puzzles will find the concept gripping, though the mechanics of the escape room can be hard to visualize at times, and Steffi’s knack for solving everything stretches believability.
Characterization is more of a mixed bag. Many of the teens, especially Matt in flashbacks, are a bit unlikable; they can selfish, cruel, or manipulative. While this amps up the tension and makes their secrets juicy to uncover, it also makes it harder to root for their survival. Steffi’s amnesia, a major plot device, may add mystery but also predictability for seasoned thriller readers.
What Wlosok captures well is the toxic undercurrent of teenage friendships like the grudges, betrayals, and hidden motives that can simmer just beneath the surface. That human messiness, paired with the horror of watching a revenge plan play out one brutal step at a time, makes the book compulsively readable.
The ending ties the threads together in a satisfying way, revealing the truth behind the fire, the secrets each friend tried to bury, and the mastermind orchestrating the deadly game. It’s dark, twisted, and just cathartic enough to stick with you after you turn the last page.
Overall, “Six Must Die” is an addictive, gory YA thriller that thrives on its high-concept premise and relentless pace. While the characters aren’t always likable and some twists are easy to guess, the revenge-driven plot and chilling escape room setting make it a fun and terrifying ride. If you enjoy dark teen mysteries with a dose of horror, you’ll likely tear through this one in a single sitting.
Victoria Wlosok’s “Six Must Die” is a blood-soaked, fast-paced YA thriller that combines the claustrophobic tension of a locked-room mystery with the messy drama of high school friendships gone wrong. Perfect for fans of I Know What You Did Last Summer and Karen M. McManus, this book leans into revenge, betrayal, and the terrifying idea of being trapped in a killer escape room. There is some blood and gore in this book, so it’s more suitable for older YA readers.
The story follows Steffi Zamekova, who is still haunted by the events of a fire that destroyed her friend group and left one member, the charismatic but cruel Matt Cesari, dead. Steffi also lost her memories of that night, and a year later she’s desperate for answers. When an ominous invitation arrives, calling her and her estranged friends back to a newly built escape room, she can’t resist. But the reunion quickly spirals into a nightmare. Each of them has secrets, each has reasons for being there, and someone clearly wants revenge.
The escape room premise is one of the book’s strongest elements. With only one hour to solve puzzles, evade traps, and survive, the story barrels forward at breakneck speed. Multimedia elements like social media posts and flashbacks add layers to the mystery, while gory and graphic details of the deadly traps keep the stakes high. Those who love puzzles will find the concept gripping, though the mechanics of the escape room can be hard to visualize at times, and Steffi’s knack for solving everything stretches believability.
Characterization is more of a mixed bag. Many of the teens, especially Matt in flashbacks, are a bit unlikable; they can selfish, cruel, or manipulative. While this amps up the tension and makes their secrets juicy to uncover, it also makes it harder to root for their survival. Steffi’s amnesia, a major plot device, may add mystery but also predictability for seasoned thriller readers.
What Wlosok captures well is the toxic undercurrent of teenage friendships like the grudges, betrayals, and hidden motives that can simmer just beneath the surface. That human messiness, paired with the horror of watching a revenge plan play out one brutal step at a time, makes the book compulsively readable.
The ending ties the threads together in a satisfying way, revealing the truth behind the fire, the secrets each friend tried to bury, and the mastermind orchestrating the deadly game. It’s dark, twisted, and just cathartic enough to stick with you after you turn the last page.
Overall, “Six Must Die” is an addictive, gory YA thriller that thrives on its high-concept premise and relentless pace. While the characters aren’t always likable and some twists are easy to guess, the revenge-driven plot and chilling escape room setting make it a fun and terrifying ride. If you enjoy dark teen mysteries with a dose of horror, you’ll likely tear through this one in a single sitting.
March 16, 2026
Six Must Die 😵🩸🔐
thank you so much partners @thenovl @storygramtours for the gifted copy!
Six Must Die
by Victoria Wlosok
A year ago, an escape room fire changed everything for Steffi Zamekova. In a single hour, she lost her blog, her close friends, and the memories of the night that killed one of their own, Matt Cesari.
Still searching for answers, Steffi receives a mysterious invitation to a brand-new escape room across town. Hoping to finally uncover the truth, she reunites with her former friends for the game.
But it quickly becomes clear that everyone has secrets and their own reasons for showing up. As the tension rises and players begin disappearing one by one, Steffi must unlock the truth behind that tragic night before the mastermind behind the game ensures no one escapes alive.
😵 My thoughts:
A deadly escape room, fractured friendships, and secrets waiting to be unlocked… sign me up! I absolutely loved this one and completely flew through it. It reminded me exactly why I enjoy YA thrillers so much. They’re fast, entertaining, and impossible not to binge. The story kept me flipping pages as the tension built and the secrets between the friend group slowly started to unravel. I also liked how the book explored friendship breakups because those can be just as painful and complicated as romantic ones. And honestly, I’m always a sucker for a good escape room setup. If you enjoy fast paced YA thrillers, locked room mysteries, and stories full of secrets and messy friendships, this is definitely a book to give a read!
🩸 Read if you enjoy 👇🏽
😵 YA Thrillers
🔐 Locked room mysteries
🔪 I Know What You Did Last Summer and Saw vibes
🫗Messy friendships
Happy reading 📖 🔐😵🩸
thank you so much partners @thenovl @storygramtours for the gifted copy!
Six Must Die
by Victoria Wlosok
A year ago, an escape room fire changed everything for Steffi Zamekova. In a single hour, she lost her blog, her close friends, and the memories of the night that killed one of their own, Matt Cesari.
Still searching for answers, Steffi receives a mysterious invitation to a brand-new escape room across town. Hoping to finally uncover the truth, she reunites with her former friends for the game.
But it quickly becomes clear that everyone has secrets and their own reasons for showing up. As the tension rises and players begin disappearing one by one, Steffi must unlock the truth behind that tragic night before the mastermind behind the game ensures no one escapes alive.
😵 My thoughts:
A deadly escape room, fractured friendships, and secrets waiting to be unlocked… sign me up! I absolutely loved this one and completely flew through it. It reminded me exactly why I enjoy YA thrillers so much. They’re fast, entertaining, and impossible not to binge. The story kept me flipping pages as the tension built and the secrets between the friend group slowly started to unravel. I also liked how the book explored friendship breakups because those can be just as painful and complicated as romantic ones. And honestly, I’m always a sucker for a good escape room setup. If you enjoy fast paced YA thrillers, locked room mysteries, and stories full of secrets and messy friendships, this is definitely a book to give a read!
🩸 Read if you enjoy 👇🏽
😵 YA Thrillers
🔐 Locked room mysteries
🔪 I Know What You Did Last Summer and Saw vibes
🫗Messy friendships
Happy reading 📖 🔐😵🩸
November 19, 2025
Thank you Little Brown Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. An absolute thrill ride! A year ago Steffi and her friends were at an escape room, a fire caught and they barely escaped. Well almost all of them escaped, Steffi’s best friend Matt did die in the fire. At first people thought the fire was suspicious but they were cleared of any wrong doing. And for Steffi, she sustained a TBI and doesn’t remember anything about that night. Now the six remaining friends have all received invitations to play a new escape room. There friendship group shattered the night of the fire but for Steffi this might be her only opportunity to regain her memories. They reluctantly play but soon realize something is off about this game. The room is covered in reminders of that night as well as photographs of the group of friends at other escape rooms the played. Soon they realize someone is targeting them, and everything seems tied to the night of the fire and Matt. As Steffi tries to uncover what happened she’ll quickly discover that some secrets are better left buried, especially when there’s a high possibility that the fire was no accident. Someone wants the truth and they may even be willing to kill to get it. Victoria Wlosok had me on the edge of my seat with this one and I couldn’t put it down! Secrets, lies, and betrayal are at the heart of Six Must Die and I was very much here for it! A fast paced gripping novel that you won’t want to miss!
December 2, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this advance copy!
Six Must Die is a good addition to any Young Adult collection, offering a fast paced blend of mystery, suspense, and psychological tension. Victoria Wlosok creates a story filled with uncertainty. Every character seems to be hiding something, and that feeling keeps the pages turning. One of the book’s most compelling elements is the question of whether the protagonist is a truly reliable narrator. Wlosok leans into that doubt, allowing readers to decide how much they trust the version of events they’re being given.
The breakout room setting adds a fresh and inventive twist to the classic whodunit format. It creates a high-pressure atmosphere that enhances the stakes and keeps the tension steady throughout the story.
While there are moments where more character development would have strengthened the plot, the tight pacing and immersive setup make up for it.
Overall, Six Must Die is a quick mystery that will appeal especially to teens and high school readers who enjoy suspenseful plots and stories that invite them to question everything they’re told. It’s a fun, immersive read that belongs on any YA mystery shelf.
Six Must Die is a good addition to any Young Adult collection, offering a fast paced blend of mystery, suspense, and psychological tension. Victoria Wlosok creates a story filled with uncertainty. Every character seems to be hiding something, and that feeling keeps the pages turning. One of the book’s most compelling elements is the question of whether the protagonist is a truly reliable narrator. Wlosok leans into that doubt, allowing readers to decide how much they trust the version of events they’re being given.
The breakout room setting adds a fresh and inventive twist to the classic whodunit format. It creates a high-pressure atmosphere that enhances the stakes and keeps the tension steady throughout the story.
While there are moments where more character development would have strengthened the plot, the tight pacing and immersive setup make up for it.
Overall, Six Must Die is a quick mystery that will appeal especially to teens and high school readers who enjoy suspenseful plots and stories that invite them to question everything they’re told. It’s a fun, immersive read that belongs on any YA mystery shelf.
February 13, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re an escape room person, let me start out this book does not center around a single escape room experience. There. Is. Two.
Six Must Die by Victoria Wlosok delivers twisty tension, layered secrets, and a cast with strong character diversity. The escape room challenges were impressively detailed and you can tell the thoroughness that went into the mechanics, clues, and pacing. I appreciated how immersive those scenes felt. You’re not just reading them, you’re also mentally trying to solve them.
Was I absolutely blown away? Not quite. This is a slow start and there was soooo much repetition. But I was engaged the entire time, and that counts for something.
What stuck with me most was the underlying message: kids can be cruel, social hierarchies are brutal, and knowledge is power…but in the wrong hands, it’s a weapon.
Overall, if you love high-stakes puzzles, morally messy teens, and secrets unraveling under pressure, this one is worth adding to your TBR.
If you’re an escape room person, let me start out this book does not center around a single escape room experience. There. Is. Two.
Six Must Die by Victoria Wlosok delivers twisty tension, layered secrets, and a cast with strong character diversity. The escape room challenges were impressively detailed and you can tell the thoroughness that went into the mechanics, clues, and pacing. I appreciated how immersive those scenes felt. You’re not just reading them, you’re also mentally trying to solve them.
Was I absolutely blown away? Not quite. This is a slow start and there was soooo much repetition. But I was engaged the entire time, and that counts for something.
What stuck with me most was the underlying message: kids can be cruel, social hierarchies are brutal, and knowledge is power…but in the wrong hands, it’s a weapon.
Overall, if you love high-stakes puzzles, morally messy teens, and secrets unraveling under pressure, this one is worth adding to your TBR.
March 19, 2026
This is a locked room murder mystery that literally hits every single cliche of that sub-genre. As soon as one particular character is introduced I thought “well, this is the murderer and the big twist will be X.” And that’s exactly what happens.
I also felt the prose was really lacking. Tons of unnecessary focus on what everyone was wearing- a silver cross earring is mentioned so many times that I thought it must somehow factor into the resolution, but nope. The term “best friend” is used possibly more times in this book than I’ve used it in my entire life.
There’s also a lot of media elements- like blog posts and Yelp reviews, that serve no purpose at all. They don’t reveal anything about the characters, they don’t advance the plot, they’re just kinda there. In hindsight, their inclusion was really odd choice.
I feel bad that I low key hated this. I love body count horror and I love seeing good queer rep in fiction….and this book has both, but damn it’s just not very good. Maybe I’ve just reached the point where I’ve read too many locked room murder mysteries.
This is a 1.5 that I just don’t have the heart to give a one star rating, so I’m rounding up to 2.
I also felt the prose was really lacking. Tons of unnecessary focus on what everyone was wearing- a silver cross earring is mentioned so many times that I thought it must somehow factor into the resolution, but nope. The term “best friend” is used possibly more times in this book than I’ve used it in my entire life.
There’s also a lot of media elements- like blog posts and Yelp reviews, that serve no purpose at all. They don’t reveal anything about the characters, they don’t advance the plot, they’re just kinda there. In hindsight, their inclusion was really odd choice.
I feel bad that I low key hated this. I love body count horror and I love seeing good queer rep in fiction….and this book has both, but damn it’s just not very good. Maybe I’ve just reached the point where I’ve read too many locked room murder mysteries.
This is a 1.5 that I just don’t have the heart to give a one star rating, so I’m rounding up to 2.
January 6, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
SIX MUST D*E by Victoria Wlosok (March 10, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and LBBYR for the earc
A year after a fire at an escape room killed one of their own, Steffi Zamekova is desperate to remember what happened. When an invite to an escape room arrives, she jumps at the chance for answers. Along with her former friends, she participates in the game. Then, the players are picked off one by one.
SIX MUST D*E is a YA locked room, thriller that mixes present day, flashback, etc. to form a cohesive, thought out read. Loved this. Like, oh my gosh this is everything I've been looking for. Thrills, chill, and edge-of-my-seat vibes. This was such a great, well-written read that hooked me from the beginning and didn't let me escape until the last page. This is such a diabolical book. It's gruesome, gory, and vicious. This isn't dull, it's very revenge forward, and even though the characters have their faults, they're likeable.
One thing that stood out was the twist. I saw that coming from the get go. Still, this was a great read!
SIX MUST D*E by Victoria Wlosok (March 10, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley and LBBYR for the earc
A year after a fire at an escape room killed one of their own, Steffi Zamekova is desperate to remember what happened. When an invite to an escape room arrives, she jumps at the chance for answers. Along with her former friends, she participates in the game. Then, the players are picked off one by one.
SIX MUST D*E is a YA locked room, thriller that mixes present day, flashback, etc. to form a cohesive, thought out read. Loved this. Like, oh my gosh this is everything I've been looking for. Thrills, chill, and edge-of-my-seat vibes. This was such a great, well-written read that hooked me from the beginning and didn't let me escape until the last page. This is such a diabolical book. It's gruesome, gory, and vicious. This isn't dull, it's very revenge forward, and even though the characters have their faults, they're likeable.
One thing that stood out was the twist. I saw that coming from the get go. Still, this was a great read!
March 15, 2026
3.5⭐️ In Six Must Die we follow high school Stephanie, a year after the loss of her friend Matt in an escape room experience gone wrong. She suffered a head injury and doesn’t remember what actually happened. The same friend group that went last year has been invited to return, and as you’d expect, it isn’t going to be just a normal night at the escape room! Who has secrets from that fateful night? Even more important, who has invited them back? As things start to go wrong, friends die and truths are revealed. Will Stephanie make it out alive? Will we find out the truth about what happened last year?
As a fan of escape rooms and friend group drama/thrillers, I was excited to get my hands on this one! And it didn’t disappoint! It grabbed me from the start, was fast-paced, and while some parts were predictable, it did keep me guessing and fully engaged. If you are a fan of slasher movies, teen thrillers, and authors like Karen McManus, you will definitely want to pick this up! Happy Reading!!
Thank you so much NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and author Victoria Wlosok for the eARC of this book!
As a fan of escape rooms and friend group drama/thrillers, I was excited to get my hands on this one! And it didn’t disappoint! It grabbed me from the start, was fast-paced, and while some parts were predictable, it did keep me guessing and fully engaged. If you are a fan of slasher movies, teen thrillers, and authors like Karen McManus, you will definitely want to pick this up! Happy Reading!!
Thank you so much NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and author Victoria Wlosok for the eARC of this book!
March 20, 2026
So I started this book and instantly got confused by all the characters lol.
Our main friend group is Steffi, Santos, Charity, Gwen, Tobias, Malachi and Matteo.
This group of friends love escape rooms and it’s a bonding activity for them.
But the last escape rooms goes wrong, a fire breaks out and Matteo doesn’t make it out.
Steffi (our fmc) has short term amnesia from the incident and doesn’t remember what happened that night.
When the remaining friends all get invitations to reunite to do an escape room at the one year anniversary of Matteo’s death, they all show up. They all have different reasons but Steffi just wants to find out the truth.
But the escape rooms are booby trapped and old friends are falling like dominos.
That leaves the questions-
Who is behind this? and why now?
And how can anyone escape alive?
I enjoyed this one! I gave it 3 stars. Some parts were a bit predictable it some parts do surprise me!
Our main friend group is Steffi, Santos, Charity, Gwen, Tobias, Malachi and Matteo.
This group of friends love escape rooms and it’s a bonding activity for them.
But the last escape rooms goes wrong, a fire breaks out and Matteo doesn’t make it out.
Steffi (our fmc) has short term amnesia from the incident and doesn’t remember what happened that night.
When the remaining friends all get invitations to reunite to do an escape room at the one year anniversary of Matteo’s death, they all show up. They all have different reasons but Steffi just wants to find out the truth.
But the escape rooms are booby trapped and old friends are falling like dominos.
That leaves the questions-
Who is behind this? and why now?
And how can anyone escape alive?
I enjoyed this one! I gave it 3 stars. Some parts were a bit predictable it some parts do surprise me!
December 26, 2025
Unfortunately, Six Must Die was too convoluted for me to really get into. The author seemed to get lost in excessive detail, which distracted from an already slow-paced story. Instead of adding depth, the over-description bogged the plot down and made it difficult to stay engaged.
There was very little suspense, and the story moved far too slowly to hold my interest. The ending took much too long to arrive, making the book feel like a chore to finish rather than an exciting thriller.
My idea of a good thriller is fast, furious, edgy, and gripping—this one missed the mark for me.
Thank You NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
There was very little suspense, and the story moved far too slowly to hold my interest. The ending took much too long to arrive, making the book feel like a chore to finish rather than an exciting thriller.
My idea of a good thriller is fast, furious, edgy, and gripping—this one missed the mark for me.
Thank You NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 15, 2026
I love escape rooms and I thought this was a very unique concept for a YA book. The premise was fun, and it definitely didn’t shy away from horror/gore. I enjoyed most of the characters and I liked getting a little flashback from some of them with some of their perspectives (I actually wish maybe there was a little more of that). I was sad to have so little time spent with some of the characters in a more authentic way. The “twist” was good, I’m not sure most YA readers will see it coming. Also, I get why it ended the way that it did, but I still felt disappointed by the ending overall. Ultimately, I think this is a good YA thriller that teens will really enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel!
January 16, 2026
Six Must Die is a locked room mystery with a group of teenagers who are no longer friends have a tragic event from a year prior. This book felt and read as very YA and overall just fell flat for me. The writing was inconsistent and was very repetitive at times. I also found almost all of the characters very unlikeable.
Given that this book centers around an escape room, I did enjoy all the puzzles and how detailed each were described. I appreciated the author's large LGBTQIA representation, as well as a look at the honest and ugly side of grief.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Given that this book centers around an escape room, I did enjoy all the puzzles and how detailed each were described. I appreciated the author's large LGBTQIA representation, as well as a look at the honest and ugly side of grief.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
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