Title: Now She’s Dead
Author: Roselyn Clarke
Publication: June 3, 2025
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Teens, YA Fiction, Suspense
Pages: 393

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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)

Last summer, Sara Ellis was found dead by the lake, and only Mandy knows what really happened. 

This summer, she’s desperate to keep it a secret.

For a few weeks every summer, Sara was Mandy’s best friend. At Highmark, the lake resort where their families vacationed, the two were in a world of their own. Or at least Mandy got to be part of Sara’s world.

But now Sara’s dead. The police ruled her death an accident; a tragic mistake after a night of impaired judgment. For the past year, Mandy’s coped by escaping: leaving home and barely keeping it together at school. The last thing she wants to do is return to Highmark this summer—even if she does need “closure.” As soon as she’s back, though, she hears the whispers: someone killed Sara Ellis.

And if she’s not careful, they’ll figure out it’s all her fault.

As evidence resurfaces and anonymous accusations are scrawled in angry red spray paint, Mandy must confront the truths she’s been avoiding about last summer. Because someone wants to make her pay for what happened to Sara that night.

REVIEW:

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

When a book can utterly surprise me, it automatically gets bonus points! Roselyn Clarke did that with Now She’s Dead by guiding us through a story where you thought it was one way and then were surprised at the end.

The story follows Mandy as she returns to her summer stomping grounds, where her best friend Sara died the year before. As she tries to just get through with animosity from her own family, old friends, and her own mind, things slowly come to light. I really thought I had this book figured out early on. Then as I read, I discovered I didn’t. And I did not see the ending coming. What a shocker! The characters were interesting and very sketchy! The storyline flowed and Clarke kept you interested, not allowing the plot line to lag at all.

The only reason I didn’t give a five-star review is that I am all about reality, and little bits of the story made me think either this is just too crazy, or there is just really, really bad policing. But for the most part, this didn’t bother me, and I was very entertained throughout! I will definitely be picking up the next book by Clarke!