A New York Times BestsellerA “page-turning thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end” (School Library Journal) about a road trip in a snowstorm that turns into bone-chilling disaster, from New York Times bestselling mystery author and “master of tension” (BCCB) Natalie D. Richards.She thought being stranded was the worst thing that could happen. She was wrong.Mira needs to get … get home for the holidays. Badly. But when an incoming blizzard results in a canceled connecting flight, it looks like she might get stuck at the airport indefinitely.And then Harper, Mira’s glamorous seatmate from her initial flight, offers her a ride. Harper and her three friends can drop Mira off on their way home. But as they set off, Mira realizes fellow travelers are all total strangers. And every one of them is hiding something.Soon, roads go from slippery to terrifying. People’s belongings are mysteriously disappearing. Someone in the car is clearly lying, and may even be sabotaging the trip—but why? And can Mira make it home alive, or will this nightmare drive turn fatal?Perfect for readers who love:YA horror books for teensMystery books for teensNatasha Preston, Megan Miranda, Karen McManus and Ruth WarePraise for Five Total Strangers:”A twisty thrill ride that will leave you breathless. I stayed up after midnight just to see how it all ended.”—April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen”Richards is a master of tension. Suspense fans will get all the ups-and-downs of a well-paced narrative, but they may never want to drive on a snowy road again.”—BCCB”A page-turning thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Just the kind of fun book one needs for a hot summer day or a cold winter’s night.”—School Library Journal on Five Total Strangers”High thrill factor.”—BooklistAlso by Natalie D. Richards:Six Months LaterGone Too FarMy Secret to TellOne Was LostWe All Fall DownWhat You Hide
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This book was a trip! I finished it in just under two days; even at 299 pages, it was a relatively quick read. This was likely because the entire story takes place within a single car ride. Glimpses into Mira’s stalkerish letters, certain missing car items, and overall weird behavior of the passengers just upped the thrill factor that much more! I did guess a few of the reveals and the ultimate culprit pretty early on but enjoyed the trip nonetheless. I can’t even imagine getting into a car with a single stranger, let alone five – during a snow storm, no less! This was one wild and entertaining ride! I enjoyed it with my iced coffee, as I couldn’t very well cozy up in the non-existent AZ snow! Thank you to the Sourcebooks Early Reads program for my free copy. I have voluntarily and honestly read and reviewed this title, rating it 3.5 stars.
3.5 Rounded to 3
This one makes for a fun buddy read. If you love B-Rated movies then this will be one to add and enjoy.
Even though this is predictable, it was still enjoyable. Mira is a tad irritating but then give she’s a high schooler it made sense.
Some of the events didn’t make sense to the story, except to add terror where there really didn’t need to be any. I think the story would have been fine without a certain addition of “mystery” which was never answered.
Overall though, not a bad read and it’s quick so that’s a plus.
I’m not the most intuitive.. so of course I was wondering who did it the whole entire time and very surprised at the ending. I had to sit here and keep reading until I got to the end of the book, it was driving me crazy.
I seem to have stumbled on a number of books all set in the mountains of Pennsylvania (as someone who grew up in the Rockies, that sentence is odd to me). I’m not sure how that happened, but apparently the peaks of Pennsylvania are places where danger lurks, so I’ll be rethinking any trips there in the future. That’s too bad, because based on the bridal magazines I browsed longingly in my youth, the Poconos is the most romantic honeymoon getaway in the country.
I was a kid once (a LOOOOOOOOOONG time ago), and I remember my mother telling me, multiple times and with parental gusto, that I should NEVER EVER EVER get in the car with strangers. I recall telling my own children that same message. STRANGER DANGER! Even as an adult woman I’m still leery of overly friendly strangers (especially men), so I can’t imagine I’d be inclined to hop in a car with four randos, in the middle of a record-breaking blizzard, and at night. Nope. That’s a no from me dawg. So clearly Mira is a big of an idiot, which is pretty much where this book goes south. From the minute they all hop into the rental, it’s clear that nobody in the car is a “good guy,” except maybe Mira. Also, I found it so horrifying that she didn’t tell a soul where she was going…that’s also a lesson learned in personal safety 101: always make sure somebody knows where you are. Maybe this should be a “things you shouldn’t do” required reading? In all though, it’s not a terrible book, I just got frustrated with the poor choices.
I didn’t catch if this was a debut novel or not. It kinda reads like one.
The premise is very good. Airport closed due to winter storm. Five strangers decide to rent a car and drive home, through the blizzard and mountains. The road is treacherous and scary. A few unsavory characters bump into them. Great potential for a thriller.
Mira is well done. Kayla gets the honors for best pictured character in words.
Loved the blizzard setting and the cramped seating in the backseat.
Half way through the book I asked myself, who do you think this guy is. Don’t want to spoil any more from the story, but I guessed correctly.
If the story had raised the stakes another level it would have met expectations for a psychological thriller.
Good job…Keep writing Natalie.
Did not finish
This is a YA novel about Mira Hayes, a high school art student who is attending school in San Diego. She is trying to get to her mother’s home for Christmas, especially because her mother’s twin died last year at this time, and Mira knows it will be an emotional holiday.
When Mira’s plane lands in Newark, she finds out that her connecting leg to Pittsburgh is canceled due to an impending blizzard. She is desperate to reach her mom by Christmas, and accepts a ride with a stranger she met on the plane, and 3 other strangers.
Don’t ever do this!! Things get creepy and dangerous as the 5 make their way across the Poconos. Someone is stalking Mira, unbeknownst to her, and she and the others are in danger.
Spooky story, but the ending wrapped too abruptly.
I read this as part of the Big Library Read.
This book is such a quick read! If I didn’t have stopping points due to our buddy read, I think I would’ve read it in a day! The story follows Mira as she is trying to get home for Christmas to her mom. Due to inclement weather, flights are grounded and Mira ends up getting hooked up with her seat mate, Harper, and 3 other total strangers on the ride home none of them expected. But is that really the case? The snow isn’t the only thing keeping these 5 kids away from there families, it seems that one of them has been sabotaging the entire trip. Needless to say, you will be questioning ALL of Mira’s driving party. They all seem to be guilty and they are all hiding something!
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Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I absolutely could’ve crushed this book within a day easily because it sucks you in! The pages just fly by! I did find the ending quick and left me full of questions, which is why I gave my rating of 4 instead of 5 stars. This would not stop me from reading any and all of @natdrichards books. In fact, I immediately added them all to my TBR and wishlist!
I am not entirely sure what I just read. Mira kept repeating herself and her thoughts because the author would start a thread of thought and abandon it, never to return. Questions arose that went unanswered. I thought, she must be in a coma because why is none of this making sense? Teens are not known for making the best decisions, but Mira really takes the cake. For someone who repeatedly prided herself on the fact her wisdom knows when to pull her out of a bad situation, she kept putting herself right back into it.
There are no redeeming characters, and the stalker angle is weak. I saw some people compare this to No Exit, which is anger-inducing because No Exit is brilliant and well thought out. It’s one of my most favorite thrillers, and this doesn’t even come close. I forced myself to finish this because I needed to know what was going on, and because I didn’t totally abandon it, I’m giving it 3-stars.
Browsing for my next digital read, I came across Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards. The synopsis definitely had my interest piqued. I’m glad I decided to read this story because I enjoyed it very much.
High school senior Mira is trying to get home to her mother for Christmas. However, a severe snowstorm means that Mira’s connecting flight has been cancelled until further notice. Desperate to get home to her mother, Mira decides to take a chance with the college girl who was sat beside her on the plane named Harper. Somehow, Harper manages to snag a rental car, but there are three other people besides Harper and Mira. When personal items start going missing and strange things begin happening, Mira wonders who can she actually trust that’s sharing a car with her and just what is the end game.
I loved, loved, loved the plot. It sounds like it’s such a simplistic storyline with just five people travelling together, but it was so much more than that. It’s a mystery, horror, thriller, and suspense story all in one which are all of my favorite genres. The pacing was absolutely spot on, and I found myself closely following each word on the page to find out what would happen next. I felt like I was one of the people in the car. I started getting paranoid about who to trust in the car. There were a couple of plot twists which were interesting. I never could figure out who was the sender of the letters to Mira until it was revealed at the end, and I wasn’t sure who the saboteur was either until the end. There were many times I realized I was holding my breath in anticipation while reading Five Total Strangers. I pretty much read the whole book in one sitting. The only thing that was a small disappointment was the ending. It didn’t feel like it was rushed, but I felt like there could have been a bit more information. I would have loved to know what the other occupants of the car got up to after their disastrous trip. There were no cliffhangers though which I was grateful for.
I felt like the characters were fleshed out perfectly for Five Total Strangers. There isn’t much backstory for Harper, Brecken, Kayla, and Josh besides little tidbits here and there, but that’s what makes this book even better. It gives it more of a mysterious feel. I liked the book being in Mira’s perspective. I felt like I was feeling everything right along with Mira. Even though she was only eighteen, she came across as much older. Sure, she still made some decisions with a teen brain, but for the most part, she did have a good head on her shoulders. I liked Harper, and I admired her bravado. However, I also liked the times she showed her human side and her vulnerability. I admired Josh and Brecken’s desire to help out when things got really rough. I did love Kayla’s dry humor peppered within the book. I would even go as far as saying she was my favorite character in Five Total Strangers.
Trigger warnings for Five Total Strangers include swearing, attempted murder, death, some violence, and some drug use.
All in all, Five Total Strangers is a fantastic read which will leave you guessing who to trust throughout the book. With a great set of characters and fantastic world building, this is not a book you want to miss. I would definitely recommend Five Total Strangers by Natalie D. Richards to those aged 15+ who are after a story that will captivate them the entire time.
A haunting story that keeps you entertained till the end. You become invested because of the characters and keep turning to find out what happens.
The ‘who-dun-it’ kept me engaged but the ending was a little disappointing.
This was a fast paced, I would say YA thrill novel. Five strangers get stranded at an airport, but all are determined to make it home for the holidays. Harper the main leader of the group has wrangled the five strangers together and they all pile into the rental SUV she has managed to get. Although there is a very large storm bearing down and are told it’s not a good idea to venture out on their own. What could be so bad? As their journey, of what is supposed to only be about six hours, turns into a never ending nightmare, each one realizes that none of the others can be trusted and everyone is blaming the others for what has all happened. Bad roads, terrible accidents they barley escape, a gas drive off, missing personal items, possible murder, and a sabotaged snow kit, and outlet so electronics cannot be charged. It was a fast paced read as you wanted to know what was going to happen next, but part of me feels the ending was kind of abrupt. Thank you to Sourcebooks for the free early read book.
3.5 stars
This is a NA thriller that follows five strangers who decide to share a rental car to get to PA after all flights from Newark are cancelled. Now, you may be thinking this is a stretch but it’s Christmas and a blizzard, so time is of the essence.
Even you can’t picture yourself in this situation, I promise this book is still a thrilling read.
The writing is so incredibly detailed and atmospheric. There were some scenes that had my heart pumping as well as my stomach doing flips from the sheer adrenaline rush. After one of the really intense scenes, I had to put the book down just so I could breathe and slow my heart rate down.
This is literally the road trip from hell and everything that can go wrong does. In addition to the wild road trip, our MC (Mira) has a stalker and the letters from the stalker are dispersed throughout the plot, which adds even more tension to an already dire situation.
My major criticism is that the high octane pace comes to a crashing halt because the final reveal takes place in the last 30 pages or so and then the book then abruptly ends. I definitely think that this could have been flushed out a bit more to give a really solid 4 star story.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Danger during a blizzard
Mira is stranded at the Newark Airport because of snow on Christmas Eve and desperately wants to get home to her mother in Pittsburgh. All flights out have been cancelled and she ends up in an SUV rented by her college-age seatmate Harper from her incoming flight. There are three other college age kids in the vehicle that Mira assumes know Harper but as they get on the road and head into worsening weather, Mira finds they are all strangers. And then, along the journey, creepy things start happening.
I enjoyed this thriller, which is advertised as a YA book. I’m far from being young but I enjoy reading thrillers that take place in adverse conditions and this was no exception.
The story was fast-paced, ratcheting up the suspense level quickly. I liked the mix of characters. My only complaint is that some of the happenings were really off-the-wall and not all got tied up by the end of the book. But I guess that’s why some things are called coincidences and this is fiction, after all. And I still enjoyed the story.
I received this book from Sourcebooks Fire through Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review
”Don’t worry. Destiny’s on our side.”
Ok so essentially this is a read about five not so perfect strangers, who were stranded at an airport on Christmas Eve, and decided to brave the icy winter storm and drive 6 hours together to get home. They all desperately needed to get home for some reason or another.
That being said. Things start going wrong, and they stay going wrong. Is their luck really this bad? Hmm. I don’t want to say too much, because I think the reason this book is so entertaining is because it is anxiety inducing and you just don’t know what is happening. This book had me stressed out the entire time just waiting for what would happen to these people next. I did not want to stop reading, it was that engrossing even though I was so anxious.
I will say that there are a trunkful of loose ends at the end, and while I wish I had more answers, I understand that those answers weren’t the point of the story. All in all this was a great read, with great build. You can figure out what’s going on if you pay super close attention to details!
“What can I do to help?” I ask.
Brecken shrugs. “I don’t know. Stand over there and look pretty or something.”
“Is it 1972 in your mind?” Harper asks.
I never read YA but this sounded SO good that I broke every rule to get a copy! Five strangers stuck at the airport in a storm rent a car together to try and make it to their respective homes by Christmas.
What can go wrong in a blizzard when one of them is a sociopath? And isn’t a stranger?
Thank you to Natalie D. Richards, Sourcebooks and Edelweiss for giving me this DRC in exchange for an honest review.