Publisher's Weekly Review
Pill-popping Natalie Bellman, the protagonist of this disappointing psychological thriller from Ward (Beautiful Bad), wakes up early one morning in her car in the parking lot of the Falcon Academy, an elite private school in the Colorado mountains where she works as an administrative assistant. Vaguely thinking she's done something regrettable, she wanders over to the gym. Through a window, she spots a body in a pool of blood and wonders, "What the hell did I do?" Flash back six months. Natalie is over the moon when she hooks up with ladies' man Nick Maguire, the highly sought-after academy coach. Despite Nick's desire to keep their relationship a secret, she believes he's serious about her, especially after he breaks up with his girlfriend. But when she presses Nick about going public with their relationship, he breaks up with her. Natalie then self-medicates and stalks Nick. Meanwhile, she also cultivates relationships with two mothers who have hired Nick to give their daughters private soccer lessons. The three soon learn Nick isn't who he seems. Stock characters match the predictable plot. Readers can safely skip this one. Agent: Madeleine Milburn, Madeleine Milburn Literary. (Mar.)
Booklist Review
Ward, author of Beautiful Bad (2019), returns with a dark and disturbing sophomore thriller. After moving to Falcon Valley, Colorado, to help her brother recuperate from an accident, Natalie Bellman takes a job as an administrative assistant at Falcon Academy. At this private school for the wealthy elite, secrets, scandals, and controversy run rampant. She befriends Asha and Brooke, soccer moms with marital troubles who are struggling to parent the team's star players. Meanwhile, Natalie falls for the soccer coach, Nicholas Maguire, whose shady behavior has her questioning his true intentions. After he is brutally attacked, the police name Natalie as a suspect. Is she responsible? She can't remember! This mystery, steeped in the dark side of academia, explores the abuse, corruption, and cover-ups that exist in competitive sports as well as the predators who manipulate female athletes and their unsuspecting families. Those who do not acquiesce become scapegoats and victims. This book will likely appeal to readers who enjoy stories ripped from current headlines as well as to fans of Megan Abbott, Layne Fargo, Elizabeth Thomas, and Christopher Yates.
Library Journal Review
An office assistant at a fancy private school in Colorado, Natalie has nothing in common with wealthy school moms Brooke, a controlling heiress, and perpetually worried Asha--except that all three are attracted to the school's dashing young assistant athletic director, Nicholas. What's that got to do with two deaths at the school that eventually overturn the entire community? Ward is back after debuting with the LibraryReads pick Beautiful Bad.
