Title: FINAL GIRLS
Author: RILEY SAGER
ISBN: 9781785034039
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 343
Source: Private Copy
Ten years ago, college student Quincy Carpenter went on vacation with five friends and came back alone, the only survivor of a horror movie–scale massacre. In an instant, she became a member of a club no one wants to belong to—a group of similar survivors known in the press as the Final Girls. Lisa, who lost nine sorority sisters to a college dropout’s knife; Sam, who went up against the Sack Man during her shift at the Nightlight Inn; and now Quincy, who ran bleeding through the woods to escape Pine Cottage and the man she refers to only as Him. The three girls are all attempting to put their nightmares behind them, and, with that, one another. Despite the media’s attempts, they never meet.
Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past.
That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy’s doorstep. Blowing through Quincy’s life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa’s death come to light, Quincy’s life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam’s truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.
Official Summary
30 March 2026
I am so excited to finally be diving into the backlist of Riley Sager. I’ve been meaning to read his books for ages, and this year I’m determined to work my way through all of them.
This debut novel truly packs a punch.
Quincy is the sole survivor of a brutal attack on her friends at a remote cabin in the woods. Now labelled a “Final Girl” by the press, she wants nothing more than to leave the past behind and live a normal life—and she’s worked hard to build exactly that. But when Lisa, another Final Girl, is murdered, and Sam—the only other survivor—suddenly appears on Quincy’s doorstep, everything begins to unravel. Quincy is forced to confront her past, and soon finds herself surrounded by more questions than answers.
Sager pulls you into Quincy’s story almost immediately. Her trauma is palpable, and it’s impossible not to feel for her. Yet, as the layers are peeled back, a darker, more complex side to her personality emerges, making her a fascinating and unreliable narrator.
This is a fast-paced thriller with twists and reveals coming thick and fast. The tension rarely lets up, and just when you think you have things figured out, the story takes another sharp turn. The final reveal completely caught me off guard—I absolutely loved it.
Sam is a brilliant character—enigmatic, compelling, and perhaps even more central to the story than it first appears. Her dynamic with Quincy adds another layer of intrigue to an already gripping plot.
This is a sharp, addictive thriller and a fantastic start to Sager’s catalogue. A well-deserved five-star read for me, and I cannot wait to pick up more of his books.
Also by Riley Sager
THE ONLY ONE LEFT
Everyone believes that Lenora Hope is a mass murderer.
When the Hope family was massacred decades ago, she was the only one left after that tragic night.
Mute, paralysed and confined to a wheelchair, Lenora has never been able to tell her side of the story.
Until her new live-in caregiver, Kit, brings her a typewriter.
And with one working finger, Lenora begins to type:
I want to tell you everything.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Riley Sager is the New York Times bestselling author of ten novels, most recently With a Vengeance, Middle of the Night and The Only One Left.
His novels have been published in 40 countries, with more than 4 million copies sold worldwide. His latest book, The Unknown, will be released on August 4.
A native of Pennsylvania, he now lives in Princeton, New Jersey.
Thank you for visiting the blog and reading my review. (If any of my family members happen to be reading this, I would love more of Riley Sager’s books.)
Are you a fan? Which is your favourite book? Leave a comment below. Until next time… Happy Reading!

