The Blonde Dies First

By Joelle Wellington

Book Overview

A group of friends fight to choose their own fates when faced with a demonic force that acts according to horror movie rules in this trope-savvy, "script-flipping hair-raiser" (Publishers Weekly) from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games.

Devon is always being left behind by her genius twin sister, Drew. At this point, it's a fact of life. But Devon has one last plan before Drew leaves for college a whole year early--The Best Summer Ever. After committing to the bit a little too much, the twins and their chaotic circle of friends learn why you don't ever mess with a Ouija board if you want to actually survive the Best Summer Ever, and soon find themselves being hunted down by...a demon?

But while there's no mistaking the creeping, venomous figure is not from around here, their method doesn't feel very demonic at all. In fact, it's downright human--going after them in typical slasher movie kill order. And that means Devon, the blonde, is up first and her decade-long crush, Yaya, is the Final Girl who must kill or be killed to end the cycle.

Devon has never liked playing by anyone else's rules though, not even a demon's, and the longer this goes on, the more she feels Drew and Yaya slipping away from her even as she tries to help them all survive. Can they use their horror movie knowledge to flip the script and become the hunters instead of the hunted? Or will their best summer ever be their last?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1665922451
• ISBN13: 9781665922456
• Release Date: July 2024
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

Meta Horror Is Best Horror

I want to start off by acknowledging that I know I’m not exactly the target audience for this book and that did affect my rating because I could. Not. Deal. With the sibling & Yaya drama of it all. I know that was Devon’s journey, I totally get it, but it’s like oh my god please just talk to people, I’m begging you. Anyway aside from that this book was pretty funny, I liked the little references sprinkled in and once we started to get some action, I thought that was pretty fun. The post credits scene really took this over the top from a 3 star rating into a 4 star. Yes, it really is that simple to please me and get a higher rating. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I feel like there were also some good conversations regarding gentrification, classism, and the safety of Black, queer kids lightly sprinkled in as well. If you’re a teen or just more into YA than I am and are a lover of self referential horror, this is your book.