The Dead Boyfriend (Fear Street Relaunch #5) by R.L.Stine - Book Review
Release: 27/09/2016
Format: Kindle
Publisher: A Thomas Dunne Book for
Source: Amazon
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis: The Dead Boyfriend by R.L. Stine is the fifth book in the Fear Street Relaunch series, delivering a chilling mix of teenage obsession, murder, and supernatural horror.
Caitlin has never had a real boyfriend before. When she starts seeing Blade, she throws herself into the relationship with fervor. She ignores her friends, who warn her that Blade may be a phony and that she is taking the whole thing too seriously. Caitlin is smitten. She doesn’t care if she loses her friends. All she wants is Blade. When Caitlin sees Blade with another girl, she completely loses it. She snaps. Everything goes red. When she comes back to her senses, she realizes that Blade is dead—and she has killed him. But if Colin is dead, how is he staring at her across a crowded party?
Goodreads
Amazon
About the Author R.L.Stine: Robert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
The Dead Boyfriend review: R.L. Stine returns with another entry in the Fear Street Relaunch series, blending nostalgia with campy horror. As a longtime fan of Fear Street and Point Horror, I was curious to see whether this book could recreate the eerie suspense of the originals—and for the most part, it does.
Plot Overview
The Dead Boyfriend follows Caitlyn, a traumatized teenager struggling to cope with the horrifying events surrounding her boyfriend, Blade. As the story unfolds, strange and supernatural elements begin to emerge, including black magic, eerie behavior, and even a disturbing return from the dead.
Meanwhile, the narrative cleverly connects to The Lost Girl, another book in the Relaunch series, adding depth for returning readers.
Characters and Atmosphere
One of the strongest aspects of The Dead Boyfriend is its characters. Unlike some reviews I’ve come across, I found them engaging and suitably strange for a Fear Street story.
Caitlyn plays the role of a deeply traumatized protagonist, and her descent into fear feels believable.
Deena adds a layer of unpredictability with her involvement in black magic—her eerie presence keeps you guessing.
Blade, returning in a zombie-like form, brings an unsettling edge that enhances the horror.
Together, these characters help create a dark, nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of classic R.L. Stine storytelling.
The Dead Boyfriend Review – What Works Well
The story remains gripping for the most part and keeps you wondering what will happen next. Additionally, several moments genuinely stand out:
Caitlyn’s sudden attack on Blade
Blade’s chilling reappearance in the church
The blending of witches, zombies, black magic, and murder
These elements combine to create a fast-paced and entertaining horror experience.
What Didn’t Work – The Ending
However, the biggest drawback is the ending.
R.L. Stine is known for his signature twist endings, often leaving readers shocked. While The Dead Boyfriend does attempt this, the conclusion feels underwhelming. It even reminded me of how Switched ended—but unlike that novel, which enhanced the creepiness, this ending feels more like a missed opportunity.
Although the twist makes logical sense, it lacks the originality and impact I was expecting.
Final Verdict of The Dead Boyfriend Review
Overall, The Dead Boyfriend comes close to capturing the eerie suspense of classic Fear Street novels. The characters, atmosphere, and pacing work well together to deliver an engaging read. However, the weak ending prevents it from reaching its full potential.
If you’re a fan of R.L. Stine or nostalgic horror, this is still worth picking up—just don’t expect a standout finale.
If you enjoyed this, check out my review of Master of Murder by Christopher Pike.
The Dead Boyfriend (Fear Street Relaunch #5)
by R.L.Stine
3.5
★★★
★
★
★
3.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis
"The Dead Boyfriend by R.L. Stine is the fifth book in the Fear Street Relaunch series, delivering a chilling mix of teenage obsession, murder, and supernatural horror.
Caitlin has never had a real boyfriend before. When she starts seeing Blade, she throws herself into the relationship with fervor. She ignores her friends, who warn her that Blade may be a phony and that she is taking the whole thing too seriously. Caitlin is smitten. She doesn’t care if she loses her friends. All she wants is Blade. When Caitlin sees Blade with another girl, she completely loses it. She snaps. Everything goes red. When she comes back to her senses, she realizes that Blade is dead—and she has killed him. But if Colin is dead, how is he staring at her across a crowded party?"
Release
27/09/2016
Format
Kindle
Publisher
A Thomas Dunne Book for
Source
Amazon
About the Author
R.L.Stine
Robert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
My Review
The Dead Boyfriend review: R.L. Stine returns with another entry in the Fear Street Relaunch series, blending nostalgia with campy horror. As a longtime fan of Fear Street and Point Horror, I was curious to see whether this book could recreate the eerie suspense of the originals—and for the most part, it does.
Plot Overview
The Dead Boyfriend follows Caitlyn, a traumatized teenager struggling to cope with the horrifying events surrounding her boyfriend, Blade. As the story unfolds, strange and supernatural elements begin to emerge, including black magic, eerie behavior, and even a disturbing return from the dead.
Meanwhile, the narrative cleverly connects to The Lost Girl, another book in the Relaunch series, adding depth for returning readers.
Characters and Atmosphere
One of the strongest aspects of The Dead Boyfriend is its characters. Unlike some reviews I’ve come across, I found them engaging and suitably strange for a Fear Street story.
- Caitlyn plays the role of a deeply traumatized protagonist, and her descent into fear feels believable.
- Deena adds a layer of unpredictability with her involvement in black magic—her eerie presence keeps you guessing.
- Blade, returning in a zombie-like form, brings an unsettling edge that enhances the horror.
Together, these characters help create a dark, nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of classic R.L. Stine storytelling.
The Dead Boyfriend Review – What Works Well
The story remains gripping for the most part and keeps you wondering what will happen next. Additionally, several moments genuinely stand out:
- Caitlyn’s sudden attack on Blade
- Blade’s chilling reappearance in the church
- The blending of witches, zombies, black magic, and murder
These elements combine to create a fast-paced and entertaining horror experience.
What Didn’t Work – The Ending
However, the biggest drawback is the ending.
R.L. Stine is known for his signature twist endings, often leaving readers shocked. While The Dead Boyfriend does attempt this, the conclusion feels underwhelming. It even reminded me of how Switched ended—but unlike that novel, which enhanced the creepiness, this ending feels more like a missed opportunity.
Although the twist makes logical sense, it lacks the originality and impact I was expecting.
Final Verdict of The Dead Boyfriend Review
Overall, The Dead Boyfriend comes close to capturing the eerie suspense of classic Fear Street novels. The characters, atmosphere, and pacing work well together to deliver an engaging read. However, the weak ending prevents it from reaching its full potential.
If you’re a fan of R.L. Stine or nostalgic horror, this is still worth picking up—just don’t expect a standout finale.
If you enjoyed this, check out my review of Master of Murder by Christopher Pike.
