School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up--Rumors, lies, games, and the truth all culminate in a rich story of teenage drama at an elite Washington, D.C., prep school. Told in alternating narratives, the story provides readers a glimpse into the social hierarchy as the characters attempt to rise in their status and figure out where they belong. Bryn, once the most popular girl in school, is now a pariah after running a red light and injuring her ex-boyfriend and his friends. Georgie, after attending weight loss camp over the summer is working through her self-perception and her sudden rise in popularity. Cora is dealing with the aftermath of a rumor that her boyfriend is cheating on her with Georgie and is trying to be as perfect as her twin sister appears to be. As the rumors about George and Cora's boyfriend build, it eventually reaches a tipping point where all characters must decide how to deal with the consequences of their choices. Sexual assault, online bullying, and body dysmorphia are all prevalent and not shied away from, making this book best suited to older teen readers. VERDICT Clayton and Charaipotra deliver another great young adult read full of drama and intrigue. Give this one to fans of Tiny Pretty Things, Pretty Little Liars, and other high drama realistic fiction reads.--Ashley Leffel
Publisher's Weekly Review
Once-popular Bryn Colburn's start to her senior year of high school has been the opposite of stellar after a bad breakup over the summer led to a car accident. Now viewed as a "trashy white girl," she stands to lose her student body president status at Washington, D.C.'s Foxham Preparatory Academy as well as her Black best friend, vice president and cheer captain Cora Davidson, whose boyfriend was injured in the accident. Bryn's Desi neighbor Jashan "Georgie" Khalra's start isn't any less difficult: after being forced to spend the summer at a weight loss camp, Georgie is determined to start over as a new person. When Bryn suggests that she and Georgie attend Cora's first party, Georgie is excited--a feeling that's shattered when someone later circulates an image of Georgie and Cora's boyfriend heading upstairs at the party, and a series of vicious rumors begins to snowball way past anyone's control. Trickery and pettiness abound in this gripping, Gossip Girl--leaning novel told in the three teens' alternating voices. Evaluating the role social media can play in conflict, this page-turner by previous collaborators Clayton and Charaipotra (the Tiny Pretty Things series) keenly addresses the ways that damaging information can affect individuals based on intersections of beauty, gender, race, and other factors of privilege. Ages 14--up. Agent (for Clayton and Charaipotra): Victoria Marini, Irene Goodman. (Mar.)
Kirkus Review
Rumors spiral out of control and create chaos with serious consequences at an elite prep school. Clayton and Charaipotra team up again to expose the truth behind the privilege, this time with a story set at Foxham Preparatory Academy, where the children of Washington, D.C.'s most prestigious and powerful attend school. Bryn, the once-popular student body president, is now seen as "a trashy white girl" after running her ex-boyfriend's car off the road in a jealous rage. When Cora's boyfriend, Baez, son of a Nigerian diplomat, is injured in the crash, Cora--who is the epitome of Black excellence--cuts her former best friend off and becomes the school's new queen bee. Indian immigrant Georgie is forced to attend weight loss camp by her parents over the summer and, after losing a lot of weight, is determined to reinvent herself--or at least figure out who she really is. Georgie's new look puts a target on her back, and she becomes the first in a long line of victims of toxic rumors and lies. Told in four parts--"The Rumor," "The Lies," "The Game," and "The Truth"--the book follows the three protagonists who alternate in narrating chapters. Perfectionism, parental pressure, and the desire for popularity are issues at the heart of this story featuring a diverse cast of characters. Despite the gossipy tone and fast pace, serious issues are explored. An emotional and engaging drama full of twists and turns. (content warning) (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A solitary rumor at high-class Foxham Prep has the potential to ruin a student's entire career--and worse, their social life. The rumor mill is explored from three alternating perspectives: Bryn, who lost every element of her social standing thanks to a scandalous story; Cora, her cheerleading captain best friend whose popularity comes at a price; and Georgie, a geeky classmate who unexpectedly lands in the limelight after a summer transformation. Told through narrative chapters, text message chains, emails, and letters that capture the nuances of each of these varied voices, the story winds through numerous twists and turns that will keep readers glued to the page as the girls try to figure out if they can stop the rumors from taking everything they love and desire--and if that's even what they want. After all, with attention comes popularity, and the stakes are high enough that these students might sacrifice everything in order to achieve high-school celebrity status. A fast-paced thrill ride.
