The Swallows by Lisa Lutz reveals yet another aspect of the author's excellent writing ability. She has shown her ability to write humor (The Spellman Files) and a thriller (The Passenger) and now a mystery set in a preppy boarding schools in which the students call the shots, utilizing several first person narrators.
The narration itself is very engaging, each of the characters is believable and is written with depth. I also like the pace of the plot, in some instances a character will retell part of the story to provide another perspective, and in other, the plot jumps ahead, and this keeps the reader guessing.
The unique aspect of this book is that the author, in my opinion, does great justice to the teenage characters. They are flawed individuals, with backgrounds that make their actions in this novel believable. Too many depictions of teenagers outside of YA novels depend solely on stereotypes, but I didn't find that to be the case in this book.
Although I was hoping for more of a shock at the ending, the book does come to a natural conclusion and I enjoyed this very much.
Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It came off a bit YA’ish but I was ok with that. It gave me a little bit of everything dark, funny & fast pace. It kept my attention. I would red more from this author.

Thank you Random House for the gifted copy!

THE SWALLOWS by Lisa Lutz is SUCH a fun book, despite the very dark and troubling story elements. It is a revenge fantasy, one that perhaps should not be taken too seriously, but totally worth a read regardless. Alex Witt starts at Stonebridge Boarding School as an unwilling creative writing teacher who quickly learns that there is a divide without the student body: boys vs. girls which results in an all out gender war. The plot is fast paced, mysterious, and sometimes shocking.

I always love books set at schools and this one is no exception. It even includes a map of campus! *heart eyes* The school's characters are rich and well developed, and I truly feel for the girls who band together to get revenge on the boys of the school who are seeped in secret misogyny and terror. I read this book in two days, without wanting to put it down. It really is that good and I'm assuming will stay with me for awhile.

Thank you Penguin Random House for the gifted copy!

The Swallows is a timely read for issues that teenagers deal with. It is set in a private school filled with teenage drama. The book is at times humorous and other times heartbreaking to think about what teenagers incur. Some issues are far out but managed to keep my interest.

I really enjoyed the author’s Spellman books, so I decided from the beginning that I would probably enjoy this one. Not so fast! This book had a plot that was supposed to be mysterious but that was easy to figure out. It had way too many characters, with only a few of them well-developed. This book infuriated me with the foul language and the adult content since the book itself seemed to be directed towards a young adult audience. I would NOT recommend that my teen-aged grandchildren read this book. The premise of the book is that a new teacher, Alexandra Witt, appears at a third rate boarding school named Stonebridge. Through her creative writing class, Alex discovers that the school has a social ladder called The Ten and a place called “The Darkroom” that is not a good place to be since many of her students named it as a place that they hated in their assignment. Once Alex finds out that there is something definitely going on that is wrong at the school, she investigates and ends up being threatened herself. There are no real secrets in the book but it was an okay read. The ending was very melodramatic but not unexpected. All in all, I was disappointed in this book, but I look forward to more of the author’s books since she normally entertains me with her writing. This novel, however, just was not for me, although it may appeal to those who enjoy this kind of slow suspense.

Written in a similar vein to Reconstructing Amelia, I was immediately sucked in to the boy/girl dynamic at the prestigious boarding school known as Stonebridge Academy. I was able to quickly read this book and there were many parts I liked and many parts I did not like.

What I liked: There were no overt shocking twists. The story played out exactly as you thought it might, which wasn't a bad thing for a story like this. I liked Ms. Witt and Gemma and the perspective their voices lent us.

What I didn't like: The number of voices we are hearing from: I didn't particularly like Norman's voice or Finn's voice (ew, Finn).

While shocking in its tale of what goes on behind closed doors at the boarding school, it also came across as... not really shocking. The faculty was slim and rarely cared to know what the kids were up to and the boys were just abhorrent. I liked the girls fighting back. Overall, I'm giving this 3 stars.

An "us vs them" story set in a private school that takes us into the middle of the conflicts roiling through the student body. A new teacher with her own secrets to protect, shows support as it becomes very clear that students are NOT treated equally. Lisa Lutz has taken a student protest background and amped it up to give us a story that will pull you in and keep you reading long after bedtime. As the tension rises between the two sides, each of the central characters must make decisions that will have far reaching consequences. A really great book that I'll definitely recommend to my reading circle.

I don't read many contemporary novels, but this book looked especially compelling. Before reading I had seen some reviews that warned that the book shouldn't be taken too seriously and that it was over the top. I can definitely agree with those statements. The subject matter of The Swallows initially lead me to believe that this would be a hard hitting novel about feminism and a powerful read, while it was a feminist novel, it didn't pack the punch that I had anticipated. The Swallows is a drama filled novel set at a boarding school where there are sexual scandals that incite an all out war between the boys and the girls.

There were many aspects of The Swallows that I really enjoyed. It was an entertaining book about scandals and retaliation set in a New England prep school. It was a light read and full of lots of drama. The main point of view is from a creative writing teacher who is trying to get to the bottom of everything that is happening at the school, but you get several more points of view and several of them are from students, so you get the full picture of what is going on. The book reads like a fluff read with easy readability and lots of drama to keep you entertained.

But personally I am a bit disappointed. This book could have been an emotional and powerful read. Some of the subject matter is horrible and goes on in many high schools and colleges, but the writing felt rather cavalier about some really important topics. I just feel like it made light of topics that should have been handled with more tact. I think one of the main downfalls was that the characters all felt like cardboard cut outs, they had very little depth to them. Even at the climax of this book I didn't really care what happened next. It was missing emotion and the build up of tension. The plot was great, but the execution and the writing fell short.

Overall I am disappointed. I read that I shouldn't take this book too seriously, but I feel like the author could have taken it a bit more seriously. It lacked fleshed out characters and an emotional delivery. This book had the potential to be so much better than it was and I can't help but feel let down.

I'm not previously familiar with Lisa Lutz's work, but I found this a thrilling and page-turning introduction. A teacher needing a fresh start takes a job at a Vermont prep school, and in the process of making the best of a less-than-great situation discovers something under the surface thanks to a student Q&A. This shifts between the perspective of that teacher, her students, and others involved as a school-wide scandal is revealed and dealt with. The situation occasionally veers into the very obviously fictional, but in a way that suits the book.

First off, thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Lisa Lutz for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Swallows is set at a boarding school where there is a longstanding tradition by the boys about sharing intimate acts on a website called The Darkroom. I liked how the female characters finally found their voice to stand up to the "boys will be boys" mentality, the denigration of women, and peer pressure - though it was very disturbing to me to think that websites and this mentality is probably more pervasive than we think. It was a fast read which I enjoyed, though I thought it got a bit far fetched at the end - though that didn't make me enjoy the book less.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book from one of my favorite authors! The subject matter may not be for everyone but the book has a lot to say about empowerment and standing up for yourself.

Stonebridge has a picturesque campus, a mediocre academic reputation, and a toxic culture of hidden misogyny. The most popular boys pressure girls into giving them blowjobs, then rate them in a secret chatroom. Alex Witt, the new creative writing teacher, stumbles upon the disgusting conspiracy through an anonymous writing prompt and feels compelled to act. But in gathering the girls with the most rage and empowering them to enact their own vengeance, she little guesses what she's unleashing. The writing may be witty, but the subject matter is given its due weight.

Alex Witt is a new teacher at Stonebridge Academy. A simple assignment in one of her classes opens the door to a long held secret at Stonebridge. It ultimately pits the girls against the boys. Who will come out the winner?

In many ways I felt this story was reflective of what is going on in today's culture. Young women finding out that they are being taken advantage of in a sexual manner and the adults who are complicit to the situation. The girls end up taking matters into their own hands because they are tired of the status quo.

As is typical of Lisa Lutz's novels, this is smart and witty. And as much as I enjoyed the entire story, it was the very last paragraph that really tied it all together. A very worthy read.

My thanks to Random House - Ballantine and Netgalley.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Lisa Lutz for the opportunity to read and review her latest book. I loved The Passenger - this one was quite different but I loved it too! 4.5 stars for a great read.

In Vermont, Alex Witt takes a job at a third-rate boarding school. After having to leave her previous job under a scandal, Alex wants to just do her job. But she soon realizes that there is an underlying culture of sexism going on - one that the administrators and teachers seem to be oblivious about. Namely, a group of popular boys (The Ten) continue to operate a secret website rating the girls. Alex is teaching creative writing and gives the students an anonymous questionnaire on her first class - which leads her to help figure out the hierarchy of students. Once the girls realize what's going on, revenge rears its ugly head.

This is a fun read, despite the subject matter, made more fun by the diagrams and charts. By the way, the blowchart in this book should be a mandatory staple in every girl's sexual education. Set in 2009, this pre-MeToo gives life lessons served with campy fun.

Advanced Copy provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review
Alex Witt is the main character in this story, she gets a job at a prep school and arrives to find there's more drama going on than she could find in the pages of her creative writing students. This book made me really uncomfortable at times but I still wanted to keep turning the pages. 3.5. stars

This is a fast moving, compelling novel about a teacher at a prep school. It discusses gender in a proactive and engaging way. I found the character dynamics to be well woven.

Alex Witt has just been appointed the new creative writing teacher at Stonebridge Academy. She starts her first class off with a simple writing prompt. What Alex isn’t expecting is to find clues to Stonebridge’s darkest secret within the answers to her prompt. It’s obvious there is something going on with the student body, but her fellow faculty members seem to either be oblivious or simply don’t care. Alex can’t shake the references to The Darkroom or her suspicions about the school’s popular crowd who dub themselves The Ten.

Meanwhile, Gemma, a defiant senior and member of The Ten, has secretly been plotting her attack on The Darkroom and those who run it. She begins to make some unlikely allies for her secret plans and soon an all out gender war is in the works. As tensions escalate the students turn to new levels of retaliation that will leave many facing serious consequences and regrets.

I absolutely adore when mystery books feature an academic setting. I don't know what it is that draws me to them, but I am fascinated by boarding schools. Lisa Lutz certainly delivers a school steeped in secrets with Stonebridge Academy. Every student and faculty member seems to have something they want to hide. Many are plotting and several are launching personal investigations.

Leading the charge with investigating strange behavior at Stonebridge is the latest faculty member, Alex Witt. She’s on the run from her past and looking to make a fresh start. What she finds is a situation that could potentially make things worse for her. I love that Alex’s character is willing to do anything for what she believes is right even if that means jeopardizing her career. She comes across as extremely relatable and quickly becomes someone for the reader to cheer for.

While Alex wins over hearts on the faculty side of this story, Gemma took the lead for me in the student body. Just like Alex, Gemma has secrets in her past that she would rather no one finds out. She has this badass, reckless attitude, but her reasoning behind her actions always make her a compelling character. Even as things spiral out of control at Stonebridge the reader can still understand what is driving Gemma and those who stand with her takedown plans.

THE SWALLOWS is told through alternating narratives from two teachers and two students. I loved how this gave me a little bit of insight into everything that was happening at Stonebridge. It was fun seeing where the narratives overlapped and then knowing the other side of an event that was already discussed. The chapters are short and they often left me with questions that I needed answers to immediately, so I would fly through the book to get back to that character’s narrative.

In addition to a wonderful cast of characters, Lutz also provides the reader with great graphics that truly make the story better. There aren’t many of them, but when they do show up you feel compelled to study them. The blow chart was my absolute favorite! Also, once you finish the book, the cover art on the US edition will reveal it’s hidden meanings!

If you love books centered around academia and mysteries, THE SWALLOWS will be a great addition to your reading line-up!

Disclosure: Thank you to Random House for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Lisa Lutz writes a deeply disturbing novel about the underbelly of a #MeToo era prep school. In this unfortunately all too believable story, she sends her protagonist, Ms Witt, to teach in a coed high school in the northeast, ruled by a popular group of teens called “The Ten”. As Witt begins to uncover the secrets of her students and fellow teachers, it becomes clear that the secrets go much deeper than adolescent horniness, illicit drinking, and teaching failures. There is malevolence at work here, and as Witt’s brave female students start to take back their rights and free will, they are challenged at every turn by well meaning adults, friends, cowards and a few really evil players.

The sex scenes are graphic and often ugly. This book will not be for everyone. At the end, though, I find hope in its reminder of the imperative to raise strong, empowered girls.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this a lot!

The Swallows was a thrilling, slow-burn of a novel that wrapped up in an ending I didn’t expect. Reminiscent of Big Little Lies or Whisper Network, I loved the social aspects of this mystery.

There were a lot of things to love. Lutz does a great job of letting us get to know the students at this illustrious school in the most interesting of ways: hopping into their POV for a chapter, lists and charts of questionnaires, and observations from multiple characters around them. I loved this format a lot.

The characters were relatable and fresh, especially the main character. I felt her determination and desire to be away from the rest of the cast, while also wanting to know as much as possible. Her reasons for being at this school were endlessly fascinating, especially so when she teams up with a group of the students. The relationships between characters, especially exploring the differences between teen and adult, teacher and student, was a very compelling story.

I enjoyed The Swallows immensely and will definitely be recommending it to friends and family.

The Swallows is the type of novel that not everyone will understand, and almost no one will enjoy. However, it is an important one in today's world as we strive to raise awareness of toxic masculinity and draw attention to the everyday occurrences of sexual harassment women face. In this case, Lisa Lutz uses a private boarding school to tell her story.

While this setting could be a turnoff since private schools typically are elitist, Ms. Lutz uses her narrators to diminish that effect. Alex is a no-nonsense teacher who speaks the truth and arrives at the school fresh from an unknown scandal. Gemma is an equally no-nonsense student who comes not from money but from foster homes and all the baggage that brings. There are two other narrators, both male, but these two women are the keys to the story. Neither woman comes from money or privilege, and their refusal to play social games brings a refreshing air of honesty to the proceedings. Their experiences set the stage for all of the drama to come, while their actions and reactions move the plot towards its fiery ending.

The beating heart of The Swallows is the relationships between the male and female students as well as the culture of tolerance to the point of indifference throughout the campus. Ms. Lutz utilizes almost every cliche ever said when it comes to hormonal teenage boys. The story is disturbing and more explicit than I was prepared to read, as the teenagers are a year or two older than my daughter. It is also a necessary story because the games the boys play towards the girls and the pressure they apply to the girls to comply with their wishes are, I fear, more ubiquitous than any adult realizes. There have long been urban myths whispered about rainbow parties and their ilk. Ms. Lutz blows those myths out into the open and uses her pen to educate parents on what may be happening in school environments.

Her book is not just for adults either. Ms. Lutz uses The Swallows to educate teenagers as well. Through the very extreme example of her story, teenage girls can obtain some valuable lessons on saying no and expectations within relationships. They may find allies in Gemma and Alex as they work through their issues with the boys and men on campus. Teenage girls may be able to use some of the power and autonomy Gemma and Alex fight to obtain in their own lives.

Similarly, teenage boys can see how damaging their objectification of women is. They might get insight into the female mind and see that women are not on Earth to provide them with sexual favors. They might also understand how their actions have genuine consequences for women. There are lessons aplenty throughout The Swallows if one is willing to accept them.

The Swallows should come with a trigger warning because some of the scenes are very upsetting. I found myself tossing and turning each night, trying to get some of what I read out of my head but couldn't. We need to know what men honestly think of women, just as we need to see how women are capable of pushing back if necessary. The last paragraph of the story sums up the importance of the novel and gives me chills every time I read it.

You can keep telling girls to be polite, to keep a level head and it'll all work out in the end. But don't be surprised when they figure out that you've been feeding them lies. Don't be alarmed when they grow tired of using their voices and playing by your rules. And don't be shocked when they decide that if they can't win a fair fight, they'll just have to find another way.