This author seems to run hot and cold for me. Have loved some books, others not so much. This one was just ok for me. It's the story of female revenge against a really nasty group of "popular boys" in a boarding school who keep secret ratings about how well the girls perform blow jobs. (I know, really??)

The book could have been more tightly written without some of the extraneous details. For example, there's a back story about a main character's parents that didn't seem to add anything of importance to the plot. Same with a male teacher who was creepy, but not particularly interesting. I thought there were other superfluous characters and scenes that bogged down the story.

That being said, the final few chapters were exciting. It was a mixed bag of relief and sadness. The "boys will be boys" brotherhood finally got what was coming to them, but unexpected events caused the revenge to go far beyond what was intended.

Thanks Net Galley for allowing me to read this pre-published ARC.

Enjoyed every minute of this book. Ladies .... get ready to dive into this one and get to the bottom of the awful things happening at this coed boarding school. All of the characters have deep, creative personalities and you will love them all!

The clubbishness and secrets of a private boarding school serve as the premise for Lutz’ novel, which is told from multiple points of view. There’s a large amount of drinking to excess, a fair amount of pot-smoking, a great deal of sex and an enormous helping of looking the other way and keeping on’s mouth shut, which is the entire problem. Lutz has a keen sense of humor and a sharply critical view of misogyny.

This was a very relevant topical read. The commentary about power dynamics really made me think. I liked the style in which information was revealed, it really felt natural. A little too unrealistic at times with the complete lack of adult supervision/how scared adults were of the students. Great ending. I need my friend to read this too because I think this is a great book club discussion book!

Not sure what to make of this one. When I read the blurb it sounded like my cup of tea - a teacher trying to help break the social hierarchy which consists of boys v. girls - how could I not want to read it? And then I read it. While I liked bits of it, I found it to be too repetitive and cliched. Definitely not my cup of tea after all.

When Alex Witt accepted a teaching position at a preparatory boarding school, she never imagined she’d find herself in the middle of a gender war. But when a group of girls decide to sabotage a long tradition of male sexual predators, she seems to take on the role of unofficial advisor. But in doing so, she puts herself at risk for secrets from her own past coming to light. Readers expecting a comedic mystery similar to Lutz’s popular Spellman Files may be surprised at the dark themes explored in this novel. More than a thriller, the author explores power—between genders as well as between adults and children—and what happens when that power shifts, as well as the shattering consequences when deeply buried rage and shame break free. The book is not without humor—the girls are rather ingenious in their attempts at revenge, such as a well-timed consumption of a chili pepper—but that black humor often highlights a disturbing passivity by those who could, and should, be able to do something about the horrifying tradition of sexual abuse and bullying that is so pervasive in this insular community. This timely thriller would make an excellent selection for a book discussion group.

This was really good. I could have read it in a day if I had had the time. It reminds me of Luckiest Girl Alive. Not really a thriller and not really YA, though there are elements there for sure.

I loved this book. It wasn't at all what I thought it would be. But it was better. I liked Alex Witt and Gemma and Mel and Kate. I liked seeing the girls take control. And I liked Jonah and Norman and Keith. I liked that there were some boys who were willing to help destroy the Darkroom.

There is a nasty tradition of sexual abuse at many private schools and this was a really great way of letting the students respond. I went to private school. My school had a small scandal but it was between students. All of these schools cover up and downplay the allegations. This book presented a really great example of girl power and what can happen when girls band together, minus the fiery ending.

Alexandra Witt doesn’t take a position as an English teacher at the not-that-illustrious- boarding school Stonebridge with the aim to turn the institution on its head, but that’s exactly what she does. After witnessing some distressing interactions between the boys and the girls at school, Witt encourages the women to stand up for themselves. The boys, of course, aren’t having that, and before they all know it,an all-out gender war is taking place at Stonebridge and all involved are hurtling toward an unhappy ending.

This was so much fun! First, the gender politics were spot on. This is definitely a book for the “Me Too” era. I went to a public school, but I can totally see a scaled down version of this sort of thing happening there, or, unfortunately, anywhere. Lutz handles some very sensitive topics pretty deftly, and creates engaging and authentic characters. Foreshadowing early in the book makes it pretty clear that things will end badly, and I found myself racing through the book to find out what happened. The end was pretty weak: the story, while not exactly grounded, felt believable until suddenly it felt like an episode of Riverdale or Gossip Girl or…pick any teen show on the CW, I guess.

The best part of this book, by far, is the Blowchart. It is what it sounds like, and it is fabulous. If I had my way, it’d be on the wall of every high and middle school.

TLDR: If you are looking for a suspenseful read with some feminist flavorings, you won’t go wrong here. Older teens will find a lot to like here as well.

4 stars – I really enjoyed it.

Both a send-up of an homage to the private school novel, The Swallows details what happens when the girls at a school find out about the crass and cruel contest the boys run in ranking the girls' prowess at oral sex. Told from multiple viewpoints, The Swallows is a testament to girl power, a self-mocking parody, a story of trauma and abuse, and a novel of self-discovery. Recommended for anyone who has previously enjoyed this genre, including books like The Secret History or Special Topics in Calamity Physics.

After discovering a shocking tradition/prank/assault that has been plagueing a not-so-elite boarding school in Vermont, Alex DeWitt, the new creative writing instructor, escaping from her own scandal, unknowingly sparks a revolt and a gender war. This is not your ordinary teen boarding school escapade, I enjoyed all the adult characters as well.

(I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review).

I may not be the right reader for this type of book. I found the book too slow and had to wait until after 80% of the book for action to finally happen. Talk about a slow build up! I didn't relate to any of the characters and found that some pieces of the story were useless (for instance any part with the main character's parents). Finally something happened and boy, did it go way too far. I just slugged through this book too much to enjoy it.

Interesting tale from multiple perspectives. The author still manages to flesh out most of the characters quite believably, which is unusual for this style. Alex, Gemma, and even Linny will stick with me for a while. I liked the development of the plot with it's secret glances and creeping revelations. I received a copy from NetGalley and I recommend enthusiastically.

Lisa Lutz's new novel, The Swallows, takes place at a New England boarding school and addresses the #MeToo issue in a provocative and interesting way, describing what turns out be an all-out gender war between the students. The humor that makes her Spellman series so enjoyable is on full display, but with a darker edge. The blowchart alone is worth the price of the book!

While the story is told primarily from the standpoint of Alexandra Witt, a new teacher at the school, Lutz also shares the perspective of other characters, which really rounds out the story. There's a lot of foreshadowing, which ratchets up the suspense and makes this a page-turner--you know something bad is going to happen, but you don't know what. Lutz did a wonderful job of describing the female characters; the male characters were (for the most part) less developed. Overall, the book did a great job of combining a riveting plot with a topical discussion of an important issue.

I love this genre and had high expectations. This novel wound up being light fare.despite its heavy subject matter. It's a page-turner and would make a good beach read.

Ugh. After thoroughly enjoying The Passenger, I was thrilled to receive access to this newest novel.
I’m not sure why I kept reading. The subject made me sick and the descriptions of a private boarding school did not ring true. I honestly wish I hadn’t read it.

Even though this is a novel about a private boarding high school, I can picture this happening anywhere. A new female teacher, her quirky parents, quirky students and quirky administration, all make for a very good read. Alternating voices, each a chapter long, show us the situation from all points of view.

Story line: it appears the boys are rating the girls on their 'performances" and have their own website where they post their comments and ratings. The girls and new teacher aim to get to the bottom of this no matter what the cost, and what a cost it is! The subject matter may offend some, but the plot was handled well and does not appear to excite prurient interest, but rather shows the pressure girls/women face every day.

The private school is mostly made up of privileged teens, The teamwork crosses all lines to attempt that good over evil will prevail. Loved the writing. It kept me glued. I hated for it to end. New favorite author for me!

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy Lisa Lutz's mysteries very much. When I saw that she had a new book I was so excited. The Swallows is not what I expected. It is a dark satirical book that centers around a school and the revenge that we seek in times of humiliation. The characters are edgy with a deep need for revenge and the need to push the secrets that come up within the plot. The Swallows reads like a piece of hard candy with an incredibly gooey center that would be filled with sour liquid. It's a twisty read that will have you following an investigation filled with secrets, lies, and threats.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House books for the E-arc copy of #TheSwallows.

I’ve read Lisa Lutz for years and every new book, I look forward to with hope. To be honest, I was disappointed in this one. It almost seemed like it was supposed to be satire but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. It just didn’t make a lot of sense. Why did we only encounter a handful of students? Why were there so few teachers? I feel like it was supposed to be edgy but it fell flat.

I loved THE SPELLMAN FILES by Lutz but have yet to read anything comparable from her. THE SWALLOWS reminds me a little of Meg Abbott in that there is a nasty center to the story, one I would be fine not reading about.
Alexandra Witt, daughter of a famous writer, joins the faculty at Stonebridge Academy, she's running from her past. As the creative writing teacher her first assignment elicits disturbing responses from students. Before long, Alex is immersed in an investigation of the students, privilege, and things no high school girl should be subject to.