Review: In Nightfall by Suzanne Young

Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: March 2023

 In the quaint town of Nightfall, Oregon, it isn't the dark you should be afraid of—it's the girls. The Lost Boys meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this propulsive novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Treatment.

Theo and her brother, Marco, threw the biggest party of the year. And got caught. Their punishment? Leave Arizona to spend the summer with their grandmother in the rainy beachside town of Nightfall, Oregon—population 846 souls.

The small town is cute, when it’s not raining, but their grandmother is superstitious and strangely antisocial. Upon their arrival she lays out the one house rule: always be home before dark. But Theo and Marco are determined to make the most of their summer, and on their first day they meet the enigmatic Minnow and her friends. Beautiful and charismatic, the girls have a magnetic pull that Theo and her brother can't resist.

But Minnow and her friends are far from what they appear.
And that one rule? Theo quickly realizes she should have listened to her grandmother. Because after dark, something emerges in Nightfall. And it doesn’t plan to let her leave.

In Nightfall is a YA paranormal involving siblings, Theo and Marco who are forced to spend the summer visiting their estranged grandmother in their dad's hometown.  She has weird rules, like being home before dark and she keeps leaving smelly dolls in their rooms.  They quickly realize, there is something not right about the town.

I thought this was a fun YA horror.  I have read a lot of reviews that say it is a gender swap rip off of movie The Lost Boys.  That is one of my favorite movies from my teen years.  I can see how this book may have been influenced by the movie. However, there are enough differences that make it it's own unique story.  I suggest just sitting back and enjoying the ride.  I loved the sibling relationship that Theo and her brother had.  There were some great creepy scenes and the lore behind what is really going on in the town was interesting.  I definitely recommend this one.