This review post is all about the “With Friends Like These” by V.S. Lawrence.
CATEGORIES: BOOK BLOG POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, YA HORROR
ABOUT THE BOOK
title: with friends like these
AUTHOR: v.s. lawrence
GENRES: THRILLER, young adult horror, SUSPENSE
PUBLISHING DATE: SELF-PUBLISHED
PUBLISHING DATE: 4/15/2025
FORMAT: E-BOOK
LENGTH: 264 PAGES
SOURCE: ARC COPY VIA AUTHOR AND BOOKFUNNEL
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MY THOUGHTS ABOUT “WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE”
The YA horror novel “With Friends Like These” is set at a girls’ summer camp where things go bump in the night—a premise that grabbed me right away. Many thanks to the author for letting me read an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was my first time reading anything by V.S. Lawrence, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I went in thinking it would be something like “Friday the 13th,” but it turned out to be more of a mashup between “Mean Girls” and “The Exorcist.”
Do those two classics actually work together, or do they just leave you scratching your head? Let’s talk about it.
this review post is all about "With Friends Like These" by V.S. Lawrence
goodreads: with friends like these book summary
Girls Camp Can Be Hell.
Camp Red Moon was supposed to be a fresh start for Kenzie — a summer of fun and new friendships — but the remote camp has quickly turned into a waking nightmare. When the camp leader heads into town, leaving the group isolated in the high Uintah Mountains, a seemingly harmless prank to summon a demon unleashes a terror beyond their worst fears.
As tensions boil over and the bodies begin to pile up, Kenzie finds herself questioning who to trust. But the deeper the campers descend into chaos, the closer Kenzie comes to uncovering a truth more horrifying than anything she could have imagined — one that will leave no soul at Camp Red Moon untouched.
with friends like these book review
the plot
“With Friends Like These” starts with Kenzie, a shy, home-schooled teen, who’s thrilled to be heading off to Camp Red Moon. For her, going to a girls’ camp is supposed to be a chance to make friends and create lasting memories, just like any other teenager. But blending in with a group of girls who’ve known each other for years is harder than she imagined.
Kenzie does her best to fit in and impress everyone, all while trying to stay on the good side of Robin, the camp’s strict counselor.
Things take a turn during a traditional ghost-story session, when Kenzie, desperate to win approval, pretends to summon a demon. This prank not only infuriates Robin, who is ultra-religious, but soon after, campers start disappearing one by one.
As the counselors panic and the remaining campers begin turning on each other, the mood shifts into full-on “Lord of the Flies” territory.
“…Kenzie knew a little bit about slashers. If that’s what this was, there would be far more bodies before help arrive. And whoever was behind this had to be incredibly strong.”
Amid the chaos, Kenzie and another girl, Hannah, form a bond, even as everyone else seems to lose their grip. Kenzie’s desire to fit in quickly fades once shit hits the fan.
The story dives deep into the paranormal as it builds to its climax, and the ending genuinely caught me off guard.
At its core, “With Friends Like These” is a YA horror novel about realizing how fitting in isn’t worth it when the people around you aren’t worth fitting in with.
the characters
In “With Friends Like These,” the most fully developed characters are Kenzie (the main character), Hannah, and the camp counselor Robin.
I found myself relating to Kenzie; even though she’s painfully shy, she genuinely wants to connect with others. I especially liked how the author gradually shows her gaining confidence, particularly when she stands up for Hannah, a girl she barely knows.
Hannah has more backbone than Kenzie, but even she can’t stand up to a mob of mean girls. As she faces the reality of her so-called friends, she’s left questioning why she was ever friends with them in the first place.
Robin, the camp counselor, is a textbook narcissist. She’s more concerned with looking like a saint than actually protecting the girls in her care.
“How am I supposed to protect all these girls from a psychotic killer with no phone, no transportation, an no goddamned help?”
THE WRITING STYLE
I really enjoyed the plot—especially the climax and the ending. The mix of religious and paranormal elements in this YA horror felt fresh.
The pacing started off a little slow, and for a while, Kenzie’s need to fit in was the only thing driving the story. But by the halfway point, the tension and pace picked up, and I tore through the rest.
I appreciated the touch of humor at the end, which added some levity to an otherwise gruesome story.
The book definitely channels the vibe of “Jennifer’s Body,” blending paranormal horror and dark humor in a way that works. If I had one wish, it would be for more distinctive dialogue. I love when characters have unique voices, but sometimes the characters in this book started to sound a bit too similar.
“With Friends Like These” by V.S. Lawrence is a fun ride. The author does a great job combining the angst of a teen drama, the unease of a psychological thriller, and the chills of a horror film.
If you’re after a whodunit YA horror that will scare you without feeling too heavy, this is a great pick.
Let me know your thoughts if you’ve read it. If you haven’t, check out the links below to grab a copy. Happy reading!
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Thank you for checking out my book review of “With Friends Like These”. Be sure to save this post to your Pinterest so you can remember to add it to your TBR list.
If you’re craving a similar story, check out my book review of “You’re Not supposed to Die Tonight” by Kalynn Bayron.
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