Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Penguin Audio (2017)
Description
Fiction. Literature. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER �??If you liked Gone Girl, you�??ll like this.�?��??Stephen King Ten years ago, six friends went on vacation. One made it out alive�?�. In that instant, college student Quincy Carpenter became a member of a very exclusive club�??a group of survivors the press dubbed �??The Final Girls�?�: Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout's knife; Sam, who endured the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape the massacre at Pine Cottage. Despite the media's attempts, the three girls have never met. Now, Quincy is doing well�??maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life. Her mind won�??t let her recall the events of that night; the past is in the past�?�until the first Final Girl is found dead in her bathtub and the second Final Girl appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a hurricane, Sam seems intent on making her relive the trauma of her ordeal. When disturbing details about Lisa's death emerge, Quincy desperately tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies while evading both the police and bloodthirsty reporters. Quincy knows that in order to survive she has to remember what really happened at Pine Cottage. Because the only thing worse than being a Final Girl is being a dead one. WINNER OF THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL THRILLER WRITERS… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
Quincey is one of three Final Girls, women who were sole survivors of mass murders. She has a baking blog and a husband who is a public defender and a quiet life where no one references her past. That is, until one of the other final girls shows up at her apartment and the third final girl winds up
Thrillers get a pass on many elements of the novel. It's fine if the writing is merely serviceable. If the characters conform to stereo-types or all the secondary characters feel like paper cut-outs, a pass is given as long as the thriller delivers on the necessities of the genre, that is, it thrills, the pages turn quickly, tension rises through the novel until there is a thrilling, and hopefully surprising, climax. When that doesn't happen, like here in Riley Sager's novel, when the wheels spin and, instead of a rising sense of dread, there's a steady hum of boredom, the other flaws begin to show. The long middle portion of [Final Girls] just sat there. The main character, a well-off, attractive white lady was often upset, but no hints of danger arose until late in the book. And by then, I just didn't care.
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dead. Is someone stalking the final girls? Thrillers get a pass on many elements of the novel. It's fine if the writing is merely serviceable. If the characters conform to stereo-types or all the secondary characters feel like paper cut-outs, a pass is given as long as the thriller delivers on the necessities of the genre, that is, it thrills, the pages turn quickly, tension rises through the novel until there is a thrilling, and hopefully surprising, climax. When that doesn't happen, like here in Riley Sager's novel, when the wheels spin and, instead of a rising sense of dread, there's a steady hum of boredom, the other flaws begin to show. The long middle portion of [Final Girls] just sat there. The main character, a well-off, attractive white lady was often upset, but no hints of danger arose until late in the book. And by then, I just didn't care.
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LibraryThing member MinDea
This book had a creepy undertone throughout. I was definitely pulled into the story and wanted to know exactly what was going on! Why did Lisa commit suicide? Why was Sam out of hiding? What really happened at Pine Cottage and why can't Quincy remember anything? Definitely a fast paced read.
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However, I really did not like any of the characters (Sam and Quincy, mainly). I really wanted to like Quincy but I just didn't. Not sure if it was intentional to make the two main characters unlikable or not. I would definitely recommend it. Lots of twists. Probably lands in Top 5 mystery/thrillers I've read this year! Show Less
LibraryThing member bearlyr
Final girls = the only survivors of brutal massacres. That, the fact that this is an excellent read, and expectation of twists and surprises is all you need to know about this book.
If you like slasher books/movies and thrillers, this is the book for you!
If you like slasher books/movies and thrillers, this is the book for you!
LibraryThing member susan.h.schofield
This was a great psychological thriller - it was fast paced and I couldn't put it down. It definitely kept me guessing and I was surprised by the ending. I found it a little unbelievable that Quincy so quickly welcomed Sam into her life without confirming her identity - after what she had been
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through you would have thought she would have been more cautious. It was a strong debut book and I look forward to reading more by Riley Sager. I received an ARC of this book from First to Read. Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
Final Girls is the type of novel that defines a summer read. Immensely readable, exciting, suspenseful, and with a character meant to generate tons of sympathy, it is one of those novels that is easy to pick up poolside or on a hammock and while away an afternoon. It is also easy to set aside for
Like other such novels, Final Girls does not stand up to scrutiny very well. Once you start picking through the details, certain elements fall apart. Characters become weak. The holes in the plot become a little more visible, as do pacing issues and untrod paths the story could have taken. Summer reads are typically for entertainment purposes only, and this becomes evident when trying to analyze this one.
The story itself is entertaining. Quincy is a sympathetic character for whom one wishes nothing but puppy dogs and rainbows especially because there is a darkness to her character that befits her experiences. Plus, these days any mystery that manages to keep the ending a surprise is worth noting, and this is one area Ms. Sager executes really well. While it is not quite the page-turner one might expect, it is still a novel that keeps people interested.
Final Girls is not much more than an entertaining, relatively light read. There is little violence that occurs within the active story; everything that happens to the girls happens offstage. While Ms. Sager could explore the psychological trauma of such events, she chooses to mention them without delving into details. Quincy obviously has issues as a direct result of her experiences, but she remains a functioning, almost successful member of society. The mysteries of Lisa’s death and Quincy’s repressed memories are not pleasant but neither are they disturbing. The entire story could have gone in a much darker, much more negative path. Instead, Ms. Sager chooses to focus on survival and happy endings, making it a much easier story than it could have been. In fact, it is an excellent choice for an exciting summer reading selection.
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other summer activities and still be able to come back to it later without losing any of its appeal. It is not a novel which will inform or enlighten; it exists to entertain, and it does a good job at that.Like other such novels, Final Girls does not stand up to scrutiny very well. Once you start picking through the details, certain elements fall apart. Characters become weak. The holes in the plot become a little more visible, as do pacing issues and untrod paths the story could have taken. Summer reads are typically for entertainment purposes only, and this becomes evident when trying to analyze this one.
The story itself is entertaining. Quincy is a sympathetic character for whom one wishes nothing but puppy dogs and rainbows especially because there is a darkness to her character that befits her experiences. Plus, these days any mystery that manages to keep the ending a surprise is worth noting, and this is one area Ms. Sager executes really well. While it is not quite the page-turner one might expect, it is still a novel that keeps people interested.
Final Girls is not much more than an entertaining, relatively light read. There is little violence that occurs within the active story; everything that happens to the girls happens offstage. While Ms. Sager could explore the psychological trauma of such events, she chooses to mention them without delving into details. Quincy obviously has issues as a direct result of her experiences, but she remains a functioning, almost successful member of society. The mysteries of Lisa’s death and Quincy’s repressed memories are not pleasant but neither are they disturbing. The entire story could have gone in a much darker, much more negative path. Instead, Ms. Sager chooses to focus on survival and happy endings, making it a much easier story than it could have been. In fact, it is an excellent choice for an exciting summer reading selection.
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LibraryThing member bibliobeck
Don;'t you just love a book with a twist? Well, if you do,, you'll need to be adding this to your list then. The story follows Quincy, sweet young woman, baker, fiancee and all round doing-OK-good-girl. But Quincy is a member of a club that no-one wants to belong to. She's a Final Girl, she is a
Two other final girls are Lisa and Sam, both in different parts of the country and both sole survivors of their own massacres. To the press and public they are intriguing and mysterious and they clamour over information and stories about them.
Quincy remains resolutely mute to all offers of money for sharing her story. She just wants to keep her head down, lay low and get on with her life with her public defender fiance. But then Lisa is found dead, wrists slit lying in her bath. And the question on everyone's lips is - why would she come through so much only to take her own life? Then Sam, evasive and off the grid for years turns up at Quincy's door and she's not at all what Quincy expected. Can Quincy trust her? With one journalist claiming Sam's lying to her and the subtle psychological games she plays, Quincy's left wondering what's really going on.
Told variously then and now, Quincy's backstory is slowly revealed and Sam's layers are pealed back, until the final twisty truth is revealled. I wasn't expecting that ending - always a bonus and a very good reason for recommending this book for lovers of twisty mysteries.
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sole survivor of a bloody masacre. Two other final girls are Lisa and Sam, both in different parts of the country and both sole survivors of their own massacres. To the press and public they are intriguing and mysterious and they clamour over information and stories about them.
Quincy remains resolutely mute to all offers of money for sharing her story. She just wants to keep her head down, lay low and get on with her life with her public defender fiance. But then Lisa is found dead, wrists slit lying in her bath. And the question on everyone's lips is - why would she come through so much only to take her own life? Then Sam, evasive and off the grid for years turns up at Quincy's door and she's not at all what Quincy expected. Can Quincy trust her? With one journalist claiming Sam's lying to her and the subtle psychological games she plays, Quincy's left wondering what's really going on.
Told variously then and now, Quincy's backstory is slowly revealed and Sam's layers are pealed back, until the final twisty truth is revealled. I wasn't expecting that ending - always a bonus and a very good reason for recommending this book for lovers of twisty mysteries.
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LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
Meh. I am so incredibly disappointed by the fact that I didn't really care for this book. Based on the description, I was so sure that I would fall in love with this book. I do think that my opinion will be in the minority with this book. Based on all of the reviews that I have seen so far, most
I didn't hate this book but I didn't really like it either. This was one of those books that I really didn't connect with any of the characters and by the time the big twists started happening, I just didn't care what happened. The book was a bit different than I expected. Since the description mentions a horror movie-scale massacre, I expected the book to be pretty gruesome. I wanted gruesome because I am weird like that. There are a few more bloody scenes but not like I had thought it would be.
This book is told from Quincy's point of view. Quincy is a Final Girl which means she was the only survivor from a nightmare that killed her friends. She is deeply affected by that night years later. I just never liked Quincy. Not at all. Since the whole book is told from her point of view, it was really hard to enjoy the story. Most of the book is really about what is going on in the present time period with Quincy and Sam, another Final Girl.
I am not going to be recommending this book but I do think that a lot of readers will like it a lot more than I did. There were a few twists that I wouldn't have ever been able to guess and the premise was pretty interesting. This is the first book by Riley Sager that I have read and I would be open to trying his work again in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Dutton via First to Read.
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people are really enjoying this book and I predict that it will be very popular.I didn't hate this book but I didn't really like it either. This was one of those books that I really didn't connect with any of the characters and by the time the big twists started happening, I just didn't care what happened. The book was a bit different than I expected. Since the description mentions a horror movie-scale massacre, I expected the book to be pretty gruesome. I wanted gruesome because I am weird like that. There are a few more bloody scenes but not like I had thought it would be.
This book is told from Quincy's point of view. Quincy is a Final Girl which means she was the only survivor from a nightmare that killed her friends. She is deeply affected by that night years later. I just never liked Quincy. Not at all. Since the whole book is told from her point of view, it was really hard to enjoy the story. Most of the book is really about what is going on in the present time period with Quincy and Sam, another Final Girl.
I am not going to be recommending this book but I do think that a lot of readers will like it a lot more than I did. There were a few twists that I wouldn't have ever been able to guess and the premise was pretty interesting. This is the first book by Riley Sager that I have read and I would be open to trying his work again in the future.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Dutton via First to Read.
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LibraryThing member irregularreader
Quincy Carpenter is a survivor. Ten years ago, she was the only survivor of a horror movie-style massacre and joined the ranks of the “Final Girls.” A term given to two other women who survived similar massacres. Quincy has determinedly put the past behind her. She can’t remember much of what
But her carefully constructed house of cards falls down when Lisa, one of the Final Girls, is found dead, her wrists slit. Soon the only other Final Girl, Sam, arrives on her doorstep. Sam’s method of dealing with her past is an exercise in self-destruction, and her presence sends Quincy spiraling down into instability. When the police investigation of Lisa’s death reveals that she was murdered, Quincy finds herself in a position where she can trust no one around her; not even her own memories.
This book surprised me. I went in expecting something leaning more towards the horror genre, and ended up with a tense little psychological thriller. I really enjoyed this book, and read it straight through in one sitting. The novel is told from Quincy’s point of view, and we get a first hand look at the rituals she holds herself to in order to maintain her grasp on normalcy. It is all too easy for the rampaging presence of Sam to knock these habits into disarray, and Quincy’s mental state with them. Interspersed between the chapters dealing with the here-and-now are chapters flashing back to the night of the massacre that Quincy survived as a college freshman. As both stories unfold, we must call into question everything we had learned before.
Sager does a brilliant job keeping the suspense going in this book. Her use of false leads and red herrings is masterfully done. Sager uses twists subtly telegraphed to hide other plot twists you will not see coming. We think we have guessed at a character’s hidden secret, only to have that secret be revealed as surface clutter to a more cunningly hidden depth.
Fans of Lisa Unger, Ruth Ware, or Karin Slaughter will likely enjoy this book. Anyone looking for a unique and riveting take on the horror genre should also pick up this book.
An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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happened that night, and she has moved on, courtesy of Xanax and an obsession with baking. All she wants is to be “normal,” and not to be identified solely as a victim.But her carefully constructed house of cards falls down when Lisa, one of the Final Girls, is found dead, her wrists slit. Soon the only other Final Girl, Sam, arrives on her doorstep. Sam’s method of dealing with her past is an exercise in self-destruction, and her presence sends Quincy spiraling down into instability. When the police investigation of Lisa’s death reveals that she was murdered, Quincy finds herself in a position where she can trust no one around her; not even her own memories.
This book surprised me. I went in expecting something leaning more towards the horror genre, and ended up with a tense little psychological thriller. I really enjoyed this book, and read it straight through in one sitting. The novel is told from Quincy’s point of view, and we get a first hand look at the rituals she holds herself to in order to maintain her grasp on normalcy. It is all too easy for the rampaging presence of Sam to knock these habits into disarray, and Quincy’s mental state with them. Interspersed between the chapters dealing with the here-and-now are chapters flashing back to the night of the massacre that Quincy survived as a college freshman. As both stories unfold, we must call into question everything we had learned before.
Sager does a brilliant job keeping the suspense going in this book. Her use of false leads and red herrings is masterfully done. Sager uses twists subtly telegraphed to hide other plot twists you will not see coming. We think we have guessed at a character’s hidden secret, only to have that secret be revealed as surface clutter to a more cunningly hidden depth.
Fans of Lisa Unger, Ruth Ware, or Karin Slaughter will likely enjoy this book. Anyone looking for a unique and riveting take on the horror genre should also pick up this book.
An advanced copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member JanaRose1
As the sole survivors of a massacre, Quincy, Lisa and Samantha have been dubbed "Final Girls" by the media. When Lisa seemingly commits suicide, Samantha seeks out Quincy, determined to connect with her. However, not everything is as it seems. Samantha seems to pull the rage out of Quincy, leading
I'm not going to give away the twist, but the author did a poor job of building up to it. It was expected rather than dramatic. Overall, not a book I would reread.
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her from one bad situation to the other. In the middle is Coop, the police officer who rescued Quincy all those years ago.I'm not going to give away the twist, but the author did a poor job of building up to it. It was expected rather than dramatic. Overall, not a book I would reread.
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LibraryThing member jenn88
Quincy Carpenter and five of her friends were celebrating a birthday at Pine Cottage, but things didn't go as planned and only Quincy made it out of there alive. That was ten years ago, but she will always be a member of a club she does not want to belong to - the Final Girls. Lisa lost nine
I had to sit and think about what I'd read for a day afterwards. I really enjoyed the writing. I liked how we got a glimpse here and there about that night at Pine Cottage. And when I finally got to the big reveal I wasn't disappointed. I thought the story was clever. So many secrets and lies. I made some guesses at what could've happened but (of course) I was wrong. I felt like maybe there was too much in the middle - Sam shows up and we get lots of Sam and Quincy spending time together. But overall I really enjoyed this book.
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sorority sisters and Sam was the only survivor during her shift at the Nightlight Inn. Despite the media's attempts the three never meet in person. Quincy is doing well. She has an understanding and supportive boyfriend, they live together in a beautiful apartment, she runs a popular baking blog, and the police officer that saved her life is still there for her any time of day or night. And she'll need him when she learns that Lisa has committed suicide and Sam comes out of hiding and shows up at her door. Since Quincy never could remember the details of what happened that night in the woods, Sam is intent on making her relive the past so those memories finally come to light.I had to sit and think about what I'd read for a day afterwards. I really enjoyed the writing. I liked how we got a glimpse here and there about that night at Pine Cottage. And when I finally got to the big reveal I wasn't disappointed. I thought the story was clever. So many secrets and lies. I made some guesses at what could've happened but (of course) I was wrong. I felt like maybe there was too much in the middle - Sam shows up and we get lots of Sam and Quincy spending time together. But overall I really enjoyed this book.
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LibraryThing member adpaton
If the recommendations of Stephen King, Lisa Gardner and Katerina Diamond mean anything to you, this debut novel is an absolute must-read: Final Girls revolves around an intriguing premise rather than a midstory about-turn for its impact, putting it in a different league to thrillers like ‘Gone
Serial killers, especially in Thriller Land, are two-a-penny: mass-murderers are another story though. ‘Final Girls’ is the tag the media has given to Lisa, Sam, and Quincy, who have been sole survivors of three separate killing sprees.
Quincy managed to escape when the friends with whom she was sharing a remote cabin were butchered: she was chased through the forest and fell into the arms of a policeman on patrol; he shot her pursuer dead.
Although she blocked out all memory of the killings and put the past behind her, leading a ‘normal life’ with her boyfriend and her business, Quincy is disturbed when first Lisa is murdered, and then Sam arrives on her doorstep, asking for help.
Is someone trying to kill all the ‘Final Girls’? Quincy was grateful for her amnesia regarding the killings. But now she wonders: maybe her blocked memory holds a secret someone will kill to keep hidden?
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Girl’. Serial killers, especially in Thriller Land, are two-a-penny: mass-murderers are another story though. ‘Final Girls’ is the tag the media has given to Lisa, Sam, and Quincy, who have been sole survivors of three separate killing sprees.
Quincy managed to escape when the friends with whom she was sharing a remote cabin were butchered: she was chased through the forest and fell into the arms of a policeman on patrol; he shot her pursuer dead.
Although she blocked out all memory of the killings and put the past behind her, leading a ‘normal life’ with her boyfriend and her business, Quincy is disturbed when first Lisa is murdered, and then Sam arrives on her doorstep, asking for help.
Is someone trying to kill all the ‘Final Girls’? Quincy was grateful for her amnesia regarding the killings. But now she wonders: maybe her blocked memory holds a secret someone will kill to keep hidden?
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LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
The main character, Quincy, is the sole survivor of the massacre of her friends at a cabin in the woods that they were using as a weekend getaway. Quincy then becomes one of a select small group of people as there are only two other girls in the same situation - survivors of mass murders. However,
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after one of the girls is found murdered in her home and the other survivor turns up on her doorstep, Quincy is forced into trying to remember what really happened in that cabin in the woods. What she discovers is not what she wants to remember - it is so much worse! And so unexpected! I simply loved this book! Show Less
LibraryThing member techeditor
It could have worked well. The last few chapters of FINAL GIRLS are a surprise. It’s structure, divulging the past little by little while characters in the present deal with the aftermath, each in her own way, has worked well in other novels.
So why doesn’t FINAL GIRLS deserve a high rating?
The first third of this novel is nothing but an introduction, first to Quincy’s hellish past, her run through the woods into the arms of a policeman, then to her seemingly normal present. It drags.
Then Tina/Sam enters the picture. Tina/Sam comes across as a suspicious person. Now FINAL GIRLS doesn’t drag as much. But Tina/Sam and Quincy do so much, while Jeff, Quincy’s live-in boyfriend, sleeps through it all. It is so unlikely.
The story progresses. Quincy learns more and more about Tina/Sam and the other final girls. It gets good. But the end is too neat and leaves me unhappy with its improbability.
I won FINAL GIRLS from bookclubcookbook.com.
So why doesn’t FINAL GIRLS deserve a high rating?
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The first third of this novel is nothing but an introduction, first to Quincy’s hellish past, her run through the woods into the arms of a policeman, then to her seemingly normal present. It drags.
Then Tina/Sam enters the picture. Tina/Sam comes across as a suspicious person. Now FINAL GIRLS doesn’t drag as much. But Tina/Sam and Quincy do so much, while Jeff, Quincy’s live-in boyfriend, sleeps through it all. It is so unlikely.
The story progresses. Quincy learns more and more about Tina/Sam and the other final girls. It gets good. But the end is too neat and leaves me unhappy with its improbability.
I won FINAL GIRLS from bookclubcookbook.com.
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LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
Quincy Carpenter is a Final Girl, a title she never wanted and still can't accept. She was the only survivor of a massacre at Pine Cottage, where all her friends were murdered. Now, a fellow Final Girl has died, and another has shown up at Quincy's door, forcing her to remember what she hasn't been
This book was so good! I could not put it down.
Final Girls is almost unbearably suspenseful throughout. Sager masterfully weaves flashbacks of Pine Cottage into the narrative. What especially ups the ante is that Quincy cannot remember what happened the night of the massacre, so the reader isn't provided with all the facts until the very end.
The twists in this book were phenomenal! I did not see any of them coming, and was completely shocked. It is rare that a book can completely surprise me on all levels, but this book pulls it off.
I really can't find anything not to like about this book. I just really, really enjoyed it.
Read this book! Seriously, it's a great psychological thriller, with tons of suspense, and so many surprises.
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able to face for ten years.This book was so good! I could not put it down.
Final Girls is almost unbearably suspenseful throughout. Sager masterfully weaves flashbacks of Pine Cottage into the narrative. What especially ups the ante is that Quincy cannot remember what happened the night of the massacre, so the reader isn't provided with all the facts until the very end.
The twists in this book were phenomenal! I did not see any of them coming, and was completely shocked. It is rare that a book can completely surprise me on all levels, but this book pulls it off.
I really can't find anything not to like about this book. I just really, really enjoyed it.
Read this book! Seriously, it's a great psychological thriller, with tons of suspense, and so many surprises.
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LibraryThing member kamoorephoto
I could barely put this book down! I had it for about 2 weeks before I dare read it (it's not my usual read; I'm a bit of a chicken), and it was a final book on my summer reading bingo for the library. That said, I was actually looking forward to it, despite my procrastination. The cover alone drew
Every time I thought I got things figured out, I was wrong, and the plot moved in another direction. Turns out even when some of the plot was how I thought it might be, there was something about it that was totally original and exciting for me. Sometimes I felt irritated by the characters' choices and that was fine; I was right to be...! The writing style was fluid and even with the jumps back to the past (they were done in a coherent manner), I enjoyed Riley's writing. I think I expected the book to be different somehow than it actually was, but nonetheless, thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to another book from her!
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me in.Every time I thought I got things figured out, I was wrong, and the plot moved in another direction. Turns out even when some of the plot was how I thought it might be, there was something about it that was totally original and exciting for me. Sometimes I felt irritated by the characters' choices and that was fine; I was right to be...! The writing style was fluid and even with the jumps back to the past (they were done in a coherent manner), I enjoyed Riley's writing. I think I expected the book to be different somehow than it actually was, but nonetheless, thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to another book from her!
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LibraryThing member bookwyrmm
Started off slow, but really picked up halfway through. I figured there was a twist, but it caught me off guard, and ended up being more satisfying that the one I imagined.
LibraryThing member titania86
Quincy Carpenter survived a horrific attack right out of a slasher movie that left her the sole survivor. Her college friends were all brutally murderered. It’s no surprise that the media labeled her a final girl along with two other women who survived similar experiences. When One of the final
Final Girls was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it proved to be a mixed bag of a book. I love the concept of the book. The author takes references and situation from slasher films and amalgamated them into the three final girl situations. Each woman deals with the aftermath of their trauma differently. Quincy tries to throw herself into normalcy, denying that her horrific experience had any effect on her at all. She’s about to marry a sweet man who works as a district attorney and works as a baking blogger who makes perfect cutesy treats. Underneath it all, she’s still rages, has blackouts, keeps people at arms’ length, suffers from depression and loneliness, and buries it all under her normalcy shield, Xanax, and wine. Sam crashes into her life and wants Quincy be to admit her anger. Sam is messy, abrasive, and most likely homeless, but she processes her past in a way Quincy refuses to. Lisa was my favorite final girl because she saw her situation as an opportunity to help other people through the darkest moment in their lives.
What follows in the book is frustrating from character actions to the way the twist is handled to the writing. Sam coaxes Quincy into playing vigilante in Central Park in the middle of the night. Not only is it incredibly stupid and dangerous, but it also takes up way too much of the book. I found it a waste of time in the book and it didn’t end up being very significant. It only served to give Sam power over Lisa. The twist at the end is unnecessarily spoon fed to the reader. The overall way of writing really bothered me because of the horrible characterizations of women and so much wrong information about them. Quincy wants everyone to read her mind and give her exactly what she wants without communicating. Of course she doesn't truly love her nice guy boyfriend because "women don't like nice guys." Sam ruins everything she touches. All are horrible female stereotypes. Small things bothered me as well like the author having absolutely no idea how bras work and claiming that true crime blogs are ran only by men because they have the time to waste??? The ID channel, Lifetime, the huge success of My Favorite Murder and podcasts like it, and all the female true crime enthusiasts would like a word with you.
Final Girls is probably the biggest let down of the year for me. I had heard such positive things, but it didn't live up to any of them. The protagonist made the most horrible decisions and the vigilante subplot just became the plot for most of the book. The obviously male author made so many generalizations about women and had no knowledge about things he should have looked up or asked about. Now I know not to read any books by Todd Ritter, the actual author of the book.
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girls Lisa is found dead and her apparent suicide labeled a murder upon closer scrutiny, Quincy is under a media microscope. Sam, the other final girl who isolated herself, comes out of hiding to connect with Quincy, creating a media frenzy, but Sam seems to half ulterior motives for being there.Final Girls was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it proved to be a mixed bag of a book. I love the concept of the book. The author takes references and situation from slasher films and amalgamated them into the three final girl situations. Each woman deals with the aftermath of their trauma differently. Quincy tries to throw herself into normalcy, denying that her horrific experience had any effect on her at all. She’s about to marry a sweet man who works as a district attorney and works as a baking blogger who makes perfect cutesy treats. Underneath it all, she’s still rages, has blackouts, keeps people at arms’ length, suffers from depression and loneliness, and buries it all under her normalcy shield, Xanax, and wine. Sam crashes into her life and wants Quincy be to admit her anger. Sam is messy, abrasive, and most likely homeless, but she processes her past in a way Quincy refuses to. Lisa was my favorite final girl because she saw her situation as an opportunity to help other people through the darkest moment in their lives.
What follows in the book is frustrating from character actions to the way the twist is handled to the writing. Sam coaxes Quincy into playing vigilante in Central Park in the middle of the night. Not only is it incredibly stupid and dangerous, but it also takes up way too much of the book. I found it a waste of time in the book and it didn’t end up being very significant. It only served to give Sam power over Lisa. The twist at the end is unnecessarily spoon fed to the reader. The overall way of writing really bothered me because of the horrible characterizations of women and so much wrong information about them. Quincy wants everyone to read her mind and give her exactly what she wants without communicating. Of course she doesn't truly love her nice guy boyfriend because "women don't like nice guys." Sam ruins everything she touches. All are horrible female stereotypes. Small things bothered me as well like the author having absolutely no idea how bras work and claiming that true crime blogs are ran only by men because they have the time to waste??? The ID channel, Lifetime, the huge success of My Favorite Murder and podcasts like it, and all the female true crime enthusiasts would like a word with you.
Final Girls is probably the biggest let down of the year for me. I had heard such positive things, but it didn't live up to any of them. The protagonist made the most horrible decisions and the vigilante subplot just became the plot for most of the book. The obviously male author made so many generalizations about women and had no knowledge about things he should have looked up or asked about. Now I know not to read any books by Todd Ritter, the actual author of the book.
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LibraryThing member BingeReader87
This book is about Quincy, a woman labeled a Final Girl, which is what media calls the last surviving girl at the end of a slasher flick. She finds her world turned upside down when one the other Final Girls is found dead and the other one shows up on her doorstep. This book is filled with good
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twists and turns, good characters, and an amazing plot, but I found the first parts of it very slow and hard to get into. That being said, I did enjoy it nonetheless and would definitely read more from the author. Thank you First to Read for the ARC. Show Less
LibraryThing member caanderson
Great suspense and tons of twists and turns. Great characters with lots of baggage. Really enjoyed this to the end.
LibraryThing member bayleaf
Final Girls by Riley Sager has a lot of promise, but at times was a bit unbelievable for me. Quincy Carpenter is one of three Final Girls. Years ago she survived a brutal attack in the Pennsylvania woods where all of her college friends were killed. Samantha Boyd and Lisa Milner are also Final
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Girls, sole survivors of frightening attacks. Samantha has disappeared, ostensibly to start a new life away from the press and the demands of an everyday existence. Lisa has become a therapist, written a book, and opens her door to young women in need of help. And Quincy lives with Jeff, a public defender, writes a cooking blog, downs wine and Xanax and convinces herself she lives a normal life. This “normal” life is disrupted when Lisa is found dead of an apparent suicide and Sam appears at her doorstep. It’s a downward spiral from here for Quincy as Sam tries to get her to unlock the events of what happened years ago at Pine Cottage. There’s enough in this book to captivate lovers of suspense novels and some surprising twists I enjoyed, but not enough to rank it up there with some of the better thrillers I’ve read so far. Show Less
LibraryThing member GirlWellRead
A special thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Dutton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ten years ago, a group of college friends went on a getaway to a cabin in the woods, and only one of them came back. Quincey Carpenter was the lone survivor of this horror movie-style massacre at
On the surface, Quincey seems to be holding it together—she has a successful baking blog, an understanding fiancé, Jeff, and a beautiful apartment. In actuality, she is using Xanax, and relies on the steadfast support of Coop, the police officer who saved her life that night in the woods. She also has no recollection of what actually happened. It is not until Lisa, the first Final Girl is found dead, and Sam, the second girl shows up on her doorway, that Quincey is forced to deal with the past and what actually happened that night.
Quincey invites Samantha, who now goes by Sam, to stay with her and Jeff at the apartment. Sam begins to influence Quincey and she engages in some destructive behaviour which is completely uncharacteristic and her actions are threatening to jeopardize the "normal" life she has worked so hard to build. Quincey begins to question Sam's motives—what are the truths and what are the lies? Why after all this time did Sam decide to show up? And why is she pushing Quincey to remember things she has blocked out? Can she trust Sam?
I didn't fully buy in. How could a complete stranger influence Quincey's behaviour so much? I understand that Sagar was using Sam as a vehicle for Quincey to deal with the past and uncover what happened, but it was forced. Unfortunately I had it figured out before the big reveal.
Ten years ago, a group of college friends went on a getaway to a cabin in the woods, and only one of them came back. Quincey Carpenter was the lone survivor of this horror movie-style massacre at
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Pine Cottage. The press has dubbed her as a "Final Girl" (a term that refers to the last woman standing in a horror movie). There are two other women in this club: Lisa Milner, who survived a knife attack that claimed the life of nine of her sorority sisters, and Samantha Boyd, who survived the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn. The women have never met despite attempts to get them together, they all want to put the past behind them and move on. On the surface, Quincey seems to be holding it together—she has a successful baking blog, an understanding fiancé, Jeff, and a beautiful apartment. In actuality, she is using Xanax, and relies on the steadfast support of Coop, the police officer who saved her life that night in the woods. She also has no recollection of what actually happened. It is not until Lisa, the first Final Girl is found dead, and Sam, the second girl shows up on her doorway, that Quincey is forced to deal with the past and what actually happened that night.
Quincey invites Samantha, who now goes by Sam, to stay with her and Jeff at the apartment. Sam begins to influence Quincey and she engages in some destructive behaviour which is completely uncharacteristic and her actions are threatening to jeopardize the "normal" life she has worked so hard to build. Quincey begins to question Sam's motives—what are the truths and what are the lies? Why after all this time did Sam decide to show up? And why is she pushing Quincey to remember things she has blocked out? Can she trust Sam?
I didn't fully buy in. How could a complete stranger influence Quincey's behaviour so much? I understand that Sagar was using Sam as a vehicle for Quincey to deal with the past and uncover what happened, but it was forced. Unfortunately I had it figured out before the big reveal.
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LibraryThing member annhepburn
Here's the thing: this book is GREAT. It's a fantastic thriller that more than meets my requirements which are: three plot twists towards the end. This one keeps you guessing throughout, even all through the well-crafted flashback/modern-day dual climax with a whodunnit where everyone is so
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constantly suspicious I honestly didn't know how it would end up. Quincy is of course an unreliable narrator, necessary for any thriller with the word "Girl" in the title these days, so there's always the suspicion of WHAT IF SHE IS A KILLER but everyone around her is so suspicious ANYONE COULD BE THE KILLER and it's just great. The climactic sequence, going back and forth between past and present, is a masterclass in How To Resolve Conflict Dramatically And Suspensefully. Super recommend! Excited to read more by this author. Show Less
LibraryThing member agrimscythe
Final Girls by Riley Sager is yet another title with far too much hype, much to my chagrin. I expect thrillers to have a bit more of an edge to them, but this book is more of a slow simmer. Much of the guessing is conveniently cut out by the blurb which I feel to be more of a spoiler than most
The story focuses on Quincy’s day to day life, then her struggles with Sam when she shows up to disrupt Quincy’s lifestyle in the wake of Lisa’s death. During this time period, flashbacks riddle Final Girls. This element is one I hoped to find exciting, but it only serves the purpose of helping the story drag dreadfully.
In some ways, I think Final Girls tries too hard to be something it isn’t. I’m aware many readers devoured this book and even my idol, Stephen King, sings its praises, but it simply doesn’t sate my own hunger. There’s too much left wanting and far too many things that seem to be more for the sake of convenience. I also felt there are loose ends that were never truly wrapped up – such as the manipulation of Quincy’s mind. I definitely would not categorize this as horror.
I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. My review is unbiased and written freely of my own will.
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reviews.The story focuses on Quincy’s day to day life, then her struggles with Sam when she shows up to disrupt Quincy’s lifestyle in the wake of Lisa’s death. During this time period, flashbacks riddle Final Girls. This element is one I hoped to find exciting, but it only serves the purpose of helping the story drag dreadfully.
In some ways, I think Final Girls tries too hard to be something it isn’t. I’m aware many readers devoured this book and even my idol, Stephen King, sings its praises, but it simply doesn’t sate my own hunger. There’s too much left wanting and far too many things that seem to be more for the sake of convenience. I also felt there are loose ends that were never truly wrapped up – such as the manipulation of Quincy’s mind. I definitely would not categorize this as horror.
I would like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. My review is unbiased and written freely of my own will.
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LibraryThing member Lauranthalas
This is a must read for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train! Quincy spent the night in a cabin with a few friends who all got murdered except for her but she doesn't remember what happened. She is considered a Final Girl, along with two other girls who were the lone survivors of similar
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incidents. Quincy is doing well enough in life after the events until Lisa, one of the other Final Girls is found dead. Full of twists and turns, this story will grab a hold of you and won't let go. And that ending!! Show Less
LibraryThing member nessa33
I've waiting all year for THE book I just couldn't put down and I finally found it!
The idea of a Final Girl is what drew me in but the twists and fast pace throughout the book is what kept me up late at night, needing to finish. I normally hate books that flip from past to present but in this
The perfect October thriller!
The idea of a Final Girl is what drew me in but the twists and fast pace throughout the book is what kept me up late at night, needing to finish. I normally hate books that flip from past to present but in this
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book, it's chilling and it works!The perfect October thriller!
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Awards
International Thriller Writers Award (Nominee — 2018)
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — July 2017)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2017