*I got this book for review for the publisher for my honest thoughts*

This is a thriller that had some of my favorite elements a cool setting a long island boarding school, a secret society and a murder mystery. I really grew to love these characters throughout this read and loved the dyamanics of the cast. I found this book to engaging read. I think the second hand of this book and the pacing was much stronger. I really loved Jill as main character and loved how this book tackled harder issues like male and female relationships, school, cheating and murder. It was engaging mystery and I really hope we get more books set in this world in the future. ( )

*I got this book for review for the publisher for my honest thoughts*

This is a thriller that had some of my favorite elements a cool setting a long island boarding school, a secret society and a murder mystery. I really grew to love these characters throughout this read and loved the dyamanics of the cast. I found this book to engaging read. I think the second hand of this book and the pacing was much stronger. I really loved Jill as main character and loved how this book tackled harder issues like male and female relationships, school, cheating and murder. It was engaging mystery and I really hope we get more books set in this world in the future. ( )

An average YA thriller. I did enjoy reading it, but I never felt compelled to read large chunks at a time. The author tried to make the characters distinct, but there ended up being a lot of telling and not showing since we only get the story from the perspective of one person. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. ( )

This was the first book I decided to read upon coming home from ALA Midwinter. It just sounded so much like a ME book-- I love secret societies and prep school mysteries. Plus, the title just screams MEAN GIRLS.

It starts out introducing us to Jill, she's a Senior scholarship student at an exclusive prep school. She's also in a "secret society" that everyone sort of, kind of knows about called The Players. They get perks like access to papers and tests, help from alumni to get into the colleges of their choice, and they throw the best parties.

Jill has been through a lot. During her Freshman year, her best friend, Shaila, was murdered. Graham Colloway confessed the night it happened-- which also happened to be their initiation night. See, to get into The Players, you have to go through a hell of a Freshman year. They get ruthlessly hazed, ending in an initiation that's meant to be remembered. After Shaila's death, her boyfriend, Graham, confessed and was sent to a juvenile detention center-- but 3 years later he's taking it all back. Someone is texting Jill telling her Graham is innocent and Jill can't help but wonder if they all got it wrong.

I really enjoyed this one. It wasn't perfect, but I loved reading about the hazing, the imbalance of power, the exclusive membership. It’s all interesting and toxic. I loved the way it was told in present day and through flashbacks. I felt it really gave the reader a full view of the circumstances and what led up to them.

It would've been a 5 star for me if the mystery hadn't been so obvious. I think if you read a lot of mysteries this one will not surprise you in the end. If you don't it might not be as obvious. I think the more you read in a genre, the more the "twists" become easier to see coming-- and that was the case with this book for me.

BUT-- I don't want you to this this book is all about the mystery. I think it was equally about the teen drama. The Players were full of their own turmoil, deceit, and pressures. So, even when the mystery wasn't giving me what I needed, the drama fully was.

OVERALL: I loved wading into Jill's world and seeing all the flaws of prep schools, secret societies, and rich communities. I felt like this book was 50/50 mystery and teen drama-- a good mix to keep your interest at peak levels!! I totally recommend to fans of Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl.

My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books
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A compelling YA novel about sorta-bad affluent popular kids who do sorta-bad stuff while trying to become and maintain being the elite in school and in life. The premise is compelling as are the relationships. They're prep school kids with secrets. Rachel has a secret and it may involve her brother, Graham. She wants to tell Jill, but Jill is hesitant. Jill is involved with Adam, and with Henry, and the love interest angle is one of the more compelling ones in the book. It's a quick read with lots of teen drama, and not a lot of imagery or stage-setting. It kept my interest but I did want to see more school scenes illustrated and feel more immersed in their world. Lots of dialogue with little reflection in the narration; straightforward prose with a plot that kept me reading. Fans of Jawbreaker, You, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars will enjoy the thrills and teen drama in this book.

TW for mentions of violence against women. ( )