They Call Her Regret

LoveReading4Kids Says

Playing out like a classic teen horror movie (replete with a creepy doll counting down the days to a deadly deadline), Channelle Desamours’ They Call Her Regret is also accomplished at unpacking grief, guilt, remorse and regret through a super-suspenseful story that sees Halloween-loving Simone get more than she bargained after making a bargain with a supernatural figure.

While Simone’s annual Halloween party is the “biggest event at Pinegrove every year outside of prom”, this year Simone’s best friend Kira convinces her to host something special (and spooky) for her birthday. And there’s no spookier venue than a cabin in the woods near Doll’s Head Lake, a place that’s steeped in local legend.

In true horror-movie style, Kira kicks off the party with an ominous toast: “To a senior year filled with the best memories yet. Let’s leave a legacy that Pinegrove will never forget!” That same night, in the dead of night, a terrible accident sees Simone strike a deal with an apparition who calls herself Regret.

With a life at stake, Simone has no choice but to accept Regret’s grim terms: she must figure out how to free Regret from her state of limbo.

There’s incredible character detail throughout - actions and thoughts are painstakingly described, and emotions are viscerally evoked, not least when Simone wrestles with excruciating feelings of guilt and remorse as time ticks on. Pacey, twisty and shot-through with psychological turmoil, They Call Her Regret confirms the author’s talent for crafting thought-provoking YA page-turners that ring with authenticity.

Reviewed by Joanne Owen
Joanne Owen is a writer, reviewer and workshop presenter whose lifelong love of books began when she was growing up in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
More reviews by Joanne Owen

About They Call Her Regret

A page-turning thriller with a supernatural twist by the author of Needy Little Things, perfect for fans of Signed Sealed Dead and Harrow Lake.

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