THE BLONDE DIES FIRST

Devon Harris just wants to bond with her sister and make lasting memories, but a demon keeps getting in the way.

Devon’s “genius” twin sister, Drew, is graduating a year early from her private school and moving on to bigger and better things. Devon is in public school, and she’s feeling all kinds of ways about this upcoming change. To try to establish a lasting connection with Drew before she leaves, Devon plans the Best Summer Ever, including movie nights in the park and a visit to the zoo in their beloved Brooklyn neighborhood. But Devon’s plans are disrupted by an unsettling incident when someone gets out a Ouija board at a party. Soon, the teens are being pursued by a demon that seems to be following horror movie tropes. With a deliberate nod to the classic ’90s self-referential horror film Scream, this book riffs on horror conventions with an edgy updated twist that includes a far more diverse cast of characters than is typical for the genre (the twins are Black). The buildup to the action is a bit slow but does pay off. And, although the side characters are unfortunately more engaging than Devon—whose constant ruminations about her crush, a girl named Yaya, and her complicated relationship with Drew become grating—the Brooklyn setting and the commentary on gentrification and social class add genuine appeal.

A fun read offering a fresh take on the horror genre.