Last updated on June 6th, 2025 at 09:30 pm
I picked up “The Island” after seeing Preston’s name trending across BookTok, where her psychological thrillers consistently rack up millions of views. What drew me wasn’t just another influencer-gone-wrong story, but Preston’s reputation for making genuinely shocking plot twists that leave readers scrambling to piece together clues.
This book targets Gen Z readers who’ve grown up watching social media stars rise and fall, making the premise feel uncomfortably plausible.
Preston delivers her signature blend of claustrophobic tension and social media commentary, though the influencer trope feels slightly overdone in 2023’s YA market. What sets this apart is how she weaves genuine fear into seemingly perfect Instagram moments, creating an atmosphere where every photo opportunity could be your last. The pacing kept me reading past midnight, though some character motivations felt thin compared to her earlier works like “The Twin.”
This standalone thriller offers solid entertainment for readers seeking quick thrills without deep emotional investment. While it doesn’t break new ground in YA horror, Preston’s skill at building suspense makes “The Island” a page-turner that’ll satisfy fans craving their next adrenaline rush.
Key Takeaways
- Fast-paced YA thriller that follows seven teen influencers trapped on a gothic island amusement park where dangerous secrets emerge, offering genuine scares and page-turning suspense perfect for readers seeking quick thrills
- Paisley makes a refreshing protagonist as a true-crime podcaster who uses her analytical knowledge and investigative skills to survive, avoiding typical “final girl” tropes common in YA suspense fiction
- Gothic island setting creates atmospheric tension with Preston masterfully using the isolated amusement park location as a claustrophobic pressure cooker that amplifies fear and paranoia throughout the 320-page story
- Social media commentary feels relevant but formulaic – while Preston effectively critiques influencer culture and online personas, the premise joins an oversaturated trend in recent YA releases without bringing fresh perspective
- Mystery construction impresses with solid clues and red herrings, though the perpetrator’s motivations stretch credibility and the ending relies on implausible character decisions that may frustrate rather than satisfy readers
- Character development remains shallow compared to Preston’s previous works – supporting influencers feel more like plot devices representing different social media niches rather than fully realized individuals with meaningful backstories
Publishing Information: February 28, 2023 by Delacorte Press
Genre: YA Thriller/Mystery
Plot: Seven teen influencers invited to exclusive island amusement park weekend where dangerous secrets surface
Page count: 320 pages
Main Characters: Paisley – teen influencer who must identify the perpetrator among her group
Introduction and Book Overview
This YA thriller caught my attention during a particularly stormy week in my reading schedule. The premise felt eerily relevant to our current social media scene.
Author Background and Book Context
Natasha Preston has established herself as a dominant force in YA psychological thrillers. Following her bestsellers “The Twin” and “The Lake,” she continues to explore contemporary teen anxieties through suspenseful narratives that resonate with Gen Z readers.
Plot Synopsis and Premise
Six teen influencers receive an exclusive invitation to preview a gothic-themed amusement park on a private island. What begins as a social media opportunity transforms into a dangerous game when communication cuts off and people start vanishing mysteriously.
Setting and Atmosphere
The Gothic island resort becomes the perfect stage for Preston’s psychological thriller. The isolated location amplifies every moment of tension and fear throughout the story.
The Gothic Island Resort and Amusement Park
Preston crafts Jagged Island as a luxury mansion filled with creepy rides and haunted house attractions. The Gothic-themed amusement park features carnival rides, haunted houses, and an upscale hotel designed to evoke both grandeur and unease. The detailed world-building creates a suspenseful backdrop that feels both inviting and ominous from the moment the influencers arrive.
Isolation as a Plot Device
The island’s seclusion serves as a brilliant narrative tool that traps the characters once danger strikes. With only boat or helicopter access that becomes unavailable when needed most, the isolation heightens suspense exponentially.
This enforced confinement forces the characters to solve the mystery with limited resources and no outside help, creating genuine claustrophobia that readers can feel.
Character Development and Dynamics
Preston masterfully crafts a cast that feels authentic to the influencer generation while serving the thriller’s demanding plot mechanics. Each character brings distinct social media specialties that become important survival tools.
Paisley as the True-Crime Protagonist
Paisley’s background as a true-crime content creator becomes her greatest asset when elimination strikes Jagged Island. Her analytical mind and familiarity with crime cases give her unique investigative skills that other influencers lack.
I found Paisley’s character particularly interesting because Preston avoids the typical “final girl” trope. Instead of pure luck or circumstance, Paisley’s survival depends on her specialized knowledge of criminal behavior patterns and forensic details she’s absorbed from years of creating true-crime content.
The Social Media Influencer Ensemble
The supporting cast includes Harper, Liam, James, Will, and Ava – each representing different corners of the influencer ecosystem. Preston cleverly uses their varied online personas to create natural tensions and shifting alliances throughout the mystery.
What impressed me most was how Preston transforms their social media skills into survival mechanisms. Beauty influencers notice details others miss, gaming content creators think strategically about escape routes, and book reviewers analyze narrative patterns in real-time situations.
The character dynamics shift dramatically once the island’s communication systems fail. Initial excitement about content opportunities quickly transforms into paranoia and mistrust. Preston does well at showing how these young entrepreneurs who built careers on authenticity struggle to trust each other when survival is at stake.
| Character | Social Media Focus | Key Survival Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Paisley | True Crime | Analytical thinking |
| Harper | Beauty | Attention to detail |
| Liam | Gaming | Strategic planning |
| James | Lifestyle | Social dynamics |
| Will | Fitness | Physical capability |
| Ava | Books | Pattern recognition |
The character development feels organic rather than forced. Each influencer’s online persona reflects genuine personality traits that become either strengths or vulnerabilities when danger arrives. Preston understands how social media shapes identity for Gen Z, making these characters feel authentic rather than stereotypical.
My biggest critique involves character backstories feeling somewhat shallow compared to Preston’s previous works. While each influencer has a distinct voice, their motivations beyond fame and followers remain underdeveloped. This creates missed opportunities for deeper emotional investment during the book’s most intense moments.
Still, the character interactions drive the plot effectively. The isolated island setting forces these strangers to confront their assumptions about each other while grappling with mounting fear. Preston captures the unique tension of young people who present curated versions of themselves professionally now facing life-or-elimination authenticity tests.
The group dynamics evolve beautifully throughout the story. Initial social hierarchies based on follower counts and brand partnerships crumble when survival becomes the only metric that matters. Preston shows how crisis reveals true character beneath carefully constructed online personas.
Narrative Structure and Pacing
I found myself completely absorbed by Preston’s tight narrative structure that builds tension masterfully from the very first page. The story unfolds through Paisley’s perspective as a true crime podcaster who brings her analytical mindset to what becomes a real-life mystery.
Plot Twists and Red Herrings
Preston plants multiple red herrings throughout the narrative that kept me guessing until the final reveal. Each character becomes a potential suspect as clues point in different directions, creating genuine uncertainty about the perpetrator’s identity. The twists feel earned rather than forced, though some reviewers noted the perpetrator’s motives stretch believability.
The Controversial Ending
The conclusion delivers unexpected revelations that left me questioning everything I thought I knew about the characters. While the perpetrator’s reasoning struck me as somewhat far-fetched, the violent finale fits perfectly with the suspense thriller atmosphere Preston cultivates throughout the book.
Thematic Analysis
The brilliance of Preston’s storytelling lies in how she weaves contemporary social issues into a gripping thriller. The book serves as both entertainment and social commentary on our digital age.
Social Media Culture and Online Personas
Preston masterfully exposes the hollow nature of influencer culture through her character portraits. Each teenager lives for likes and follower counts, creating personas that may not reflect their true selves. The author shows how these curated identities become both shields and weapons when survival is at stake.
The True Crime Obsession
Paisley’s role as a true crime podcaster adds meta-layers to the narrative that I found particularly clever. Preston questions our fascination with conflict as entertainment while simultaneously feeding that appetite. The irony of a true crime influencer becoming part of her own mystery creates interesting tension throughout the story.
Writing Style and Technique
Preston delivers a direct, accessible approach that perfectly suits the young adult thriller market. I found myself immediately drawn into her brisk pacing, with short chapters that consistently end on cliffhangers.
Dialogue and Character Voice
The dialogue feels authentic to the social media generation, capturing the natural speech patterns of teen influencers without feeling forced. Paisley’s voice as a true crime podcaster provides analytical depth, while each supporting character maintains distinct personalities through their unique interests and speaking styles.
Suspense Building and Fearful Elements
Preston masterfully constructs tension through classic whodunit elements – the isolated setting, severed communications, and a limited suspect pool. The gothic amusement park backdrop amplifies the claustrophobic atmosphere, while true crime elements and moments of conflict create genuine dread that builds to an unexpected finale.
Pros
Preston delivers exactly what readers expect from a suspense thriller – genuine scares that kept me turning pages well past midnight. The pacing moves at breakneck speed with short chapters ending on cliffhangers that made it impossible to put down.
The gothic amusement park setting creates an atmosphere that feels both nostalgic and terrifying. I found myself genuinely unsettled by Preston’s descriptions of abandoned rides creaking in the storm wind. The isolated island backdrop works brilliantly as a pressure cooker for escalating tension.
Paisley stands out as a refreshing protagonist who uses her true crime knowledge strategically rather than stumbling through danger. Her analytical approach to solving the mystery feels authentic and avoids the typical “final girl” tropes that plague many YA thrillers.
| Strength Category | Specific Elements |
|---|---|
| Pacing | Short chapters, cliffhanger endings |
| Setting | Gothic theme park, isolated island |
| Character | Smart protagonist with relevant skills |
| Mystery Elements | Well-placed clues and red herrings |
| Atmosphere | Claustrophobic, paranoid environment |
The mystery construction impressed me with its careful placement of clues and misdirection. Preston plants red herrings that feel organic to the story rather than forced. I appreciated how she respects readers’ intelligence by providing enough information to theoretically solve the puzzle.
The influencer angle works better than expected by highlighting how online personas crumble under real pressure. Watching these characters struggle between maintaining their brands and surviving creates interesting internal conflict that elevates the standard suspense formula.
Preston’s writing style remains accessible without dumbing down the content. The dialogue captures authentic teen speech patterns while each character maintains distinct voices. This clarity serves the fast-paced plot without sacrificing character development or atmospheric details.
Cons
The Island stumbles in several areas that prevent it from reaching its full potential as a standout YA thriller. The most glaring issue I encountered was the derivative nature of the plot, which feels like a budget version of Scream mixed with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
The perpetrator’s motivations fall flat and stretch credibility beyond reasonable limits. I found myself questioning the logic behind their actions, which undermines the entire mystery framework Preston attempts to build. When a thriller’s central premise relies on far-fetched reasoning, it creates a domino effect that weakens reader investment.
| Major Weaknesses | Impact on Reading Experience |
|---|---|
| Derivative plot elements | Reduces novelty and surprise |
| Implausible perpetrator motivations | Undermines mystery credibility |
| Shallow character development | Limits emotional connection |
| Formulaic thriller tropes | Feels predictable to genre fans |
Conflict and mature content appear throughout the story in significant amounts, which may concern parents or sensitive readers. While these elements are common in YA thrillers, Preston’s approach feels gratuitous rather than purposeful in advancing the plot or character development.
The influencer setting, while timely, comes across as formulaic for readers familiar with similar premises. I’ve noticed this trend becoming oversaturated in recent YA releases, and The Island doesn’t bring enough fresh perspective to justify another influencer-centered thriller.
Character backstories lack the depth I’ve come to expect from Preston’s previous works. The supporting cast feels more like plot devices than fully realized individuals, which is disappointing given the author’s usual skill with character development. Each influencer represents a different social media niche, but their personalities rarely extend beyond these surface-level distinctions.
The ending, even though delivering unexpected twists, relies on implausible character decisions that left me frustrated rather than satisfied. Great mysteries should make readers think “I should have seen that coming” rather than “that makes no sense.” Unfortunately, The Island falls into the latter category with its final revelations.
Final Verdict
“The Island” delivers exactly what it promises – a fast-paced thriller that’ll keep you turning pages late into the night. While it’s not Preston’s most original work I think she successfully creates an entertaining escape that speaks to our social media-obsessed world.
The book works best when you don’t overthink the plot holes and just enjoy the ride. If you’re looking for deep character development you might want to look elsewhere but if you want a quick weekend read with plenty of twists this fits the bill perfectly.
I’d recommend picking this up if you’re already a Preston fan or if you enjoy YA thrillers with contemporary twists. It’s not new literature but it’s exactly the kind of book that reminds me why I fell in love with the thriller genre in the first place.
Dionysus Reviews Rating: 6.5/10
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the main character in The Island by Natasha Preston?
The main character is Paisley, a teen influencer who specializes in true crime content creation. As a podcaster with analytical skills, she uses her knowledge of criminal behavior to navigate the dangerous situation when mysterious disappearances begin occurring on the island. Unlike typical “final girl” characters, Paisley relies on her investigative expertise rather than luck to survive.
What is the plot of The Island by Natasha Preston?
Six teen influencers receive an exclusive invitation to preview a gothic-themed amusement park on a private island. What starts as a social media opportunity turns dangerous when communication is cut off and mysterious disappearances occur. Trapped on Jagged Island with no outside help, Paisley must identify a perpetrator among her peers in this suspenseful YA thriller.
When was The Island by Natasha Preston published?
The Island by Natasha Preston was published on February 28, 2023. This YA thriller combines social media commentary with psychological suspense, targeting Gen Z readers familiar with influencer culture and the rise and fall of social media stars.
What genre is The Island by Natasha Preston?
The Island is a YA psychological thriller with fearful elements. It combines suspense thriller atmosphere with social commentary on influencer culture, featuring shocking plot twists, mysterious disappearances, and a claustrophobic setting that builds tension throughout the story.
Is The Island by Natasha Preston part of a series?
Based on the available information, The Island appears to be a standalone novel rather than part of a series. The book delivers a complete story with a definitive ending, though it shares thematic similarities with Preston’s other psychological thrillers.
What age group is The Island by Natasha Preston appropriate for?
The Island is classified as Young Adult (YA) fiction, typically appropriate for readers aged 13-18. However, parents should note that the book contains conflict, and mature themes related to loss and elimination, which may make it more suitable for older teens.
Where does The Island by Natasha Preston take place?
The story takes place on Jagged Island, a private island featuring a gothic-themed amusement park. The island serves as a luxury mansion with creepy rides and haunted house attractions, creating a suspenseful backdrop that amplifies tension and fear while trapping the characters when danger strikes.
