Title: 49 Miles Alone
Author: Natalie D. Richards
Publication: July 2, 2024
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: YA Fiction
Pages: 288
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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)
Four days alone in the desert. Except they’re not as alone as they think. A year ago, Katie and her cousin Aster survived a night that left their world and easy friendship fractured. Desperate to heal and leave the past behind them, they tackle four days of hiking in the Utah backcountry. But the desert they’ve loved for years has tricks up its sleeve. An illness, an injury, and a freak storm leave them short on confidence and supplies. When they come across a young couple with extra supplies on the trail, they’re grateful and relieved―at first. Riley exudes friendliness, but everything about her boyfriend Finn spells trouble. That night, after some chilling admissions about Finn from Riley, Katie and Aster wake to hear the couple fighting. Helpless and trapped in the darkness, they witness Riley’s desperate race into the night, with Finn chasing after. In the morning, they find the couple’s camp, but Riley and Finn? Vanished. Katie is sure Riley is in trouble. And with help a two-day hike away, they know they are the only ones who can save her before something terrible happens. The clock is ticking and their supplies are dwindling, but Katie and Aster know they have to find Riley before Finn―or the desert―gets to her first.
REVIEW:
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
I have read a ton of Natalie D. Richards books and most of the time they are so good. I was hoping 49 Miles Alone would be another for the list. Richards took something that many find fun and entertaining, hiking, and turned it into your worst nightmare and made it interesting along the way.
The story follows Katie and Aster as they go on their annual hike, which is 49 miles long. Personally, that sounds crazy, but I can see how some would enjoy this. Of course, it wouldn’t be a good book if everything went smoothly. From the beginning, I am on high alert as they hear what they think is a gunshot and come across suspicious people. The two could not be more different in the beginning as one sees problems where maybe there aren’t problems, and the other sees problems she thinks are there but can’t lock in. I was instantly suspicious of one individual and was curious if that was going to be the “bad guy” in the story. Richards gave nothing away though, and I was guessing for a long time into this book. I did figure it out eventually, but it wasn’t that far from the end and I was still surprised by the twists.
There was nothing I would change about this book. Richards kept me guessing, moved the story along quickly and smoothly, and added tense moments between the two lead characters along the way. While everything bad was happening, it didn’t seem unrealistic. It was all quite normal for the situation they were in: injuries and suspicious people. As usual, I cannot wait to read another book by Natalie D. Richards.
