I enjoyed this very much! I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did, but it was so good. I loved Laney and I loved the relationships, and how everything unfolds. Brooke Skipstone does such a wonderful job of keeping you guessing until the very end about what is going to happen and what actually is happening at the time even. The only issue I had with it was the relationship with Laney and her mother, and the attitude towards her mothers looks and her mothers attitude towards her for such a trivial thing of possibly looking like her dad’s girlfriend. Other than that, I loved. I can’t wait for book two!

Laney caught her dad cheating and he begged her not to tell. Upset and angry, she told her mum and since that day Laney is filled with regret about her decision. She writes version after version of how differently things may have turned out according to the choices she could have made.

At first it seems to be just a fictional outpouring of her grief as she tries to deal with what happened but when she hears the news that two girls were murdered at the same time and place as where the events of her past took place, she starts to believe it is all linked.

Quantum physics and parallel universes admittedly make my head hurt but the explanations provided by Laney’s mother, an expert in the field, helped me understand it enough to grasp the book’s concept. Following Laney through different versions of herself and her worlds depending on the butterfly effect of choices she made was deliciously dizzying sensation. I’m really looking forward to the next in the series!

Try this if you enjoy a fast paced book that makes you twist and turn the possibilities over in your mind.
Avoid this is you prefer twists and turns to be more traditionally written.

"Reality is an illusion we create in our mind. We live in a foam of universes like the head on a glass of beer."

CW: graphic depictions of suicide and suicidal thoughts, graphic depictions of sexual assault and general sex, extreme violence and language.


'Some Laneys Died' is a young adult, sci-fi thriller blend following a girl named Delaney West after she discovers her father cheating on her mother. Her obsession with the decision to tell her mother leads her to discover the multi-universe theory and how her decisions directly impact her selves in those other universes.

I found this book entertaining! While it's not the most intense or well-written thriller I've ever read, it still kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading. The beginning has a clear hook as it lays out the concept of the novel, and the last 1/4 of the book is extremely gripping! I did find the middle to lag slightly between the two high points, but the plot was still moving and I wouldn't say it was boring.

I found the characters to be a major positive of this book, but surprisingly it was the side characters rather than the main character that were the most interesting. There's a wide cast featuring diverse races and experiences, different personalities and opinions. It really helped to move the plot along at random points where it would start to drag.

The main issue I had with this book was the characters realtionships with the main character Delaney; they all seemed to instantly trust whatever she said and just roll with it. There was no minor push back to anything she said, which stifled some of the twists that would have been more extreme had there been some more conflict. Also her narration left something desired, it felt slightly like a typical 16 year old YA protagonist.

All in all, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy an entertaining thriller, a quick read, or those who are looking to begin reading in the thriller/suspense genre.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a digital ARC of Some Laneys Died in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to be honest with you guys, this book is messy and complex and was 100% the right book for me, but I can totally see it not being the right book for other people. I've been obsessed with multi-verse books basically my whole existence and this one was no exception. Laney feels like such a fully formed protagonist, the world and her family is so wonderfully fleshed out, and I love the way multi-verse theory is explained. I will say, I found the middle section of this book a tad lagging and some of the end bits felt unnecessary but I know a lot of people will likely disagree with me. I just happen to be a fan of more open ended, just after the height of action endings but I know a lot of readers who love it when books gradually work down so you get to know exactly where the characters end up so I'm not sure if that's honestly much of a negative, it's more of a preference thing.

Basically, if you grew up rereading Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me an unhealthy amount of times, this is going to be right up your alley.

TW: Repeated depictions of sexual and physical assult, PTSD, suicide & suicidal thoughts