Brief synopsis from the book cover:
Saint Ambrose Prep is a place where the wealthy send their children for the best possible education, with teachers and administrators from the Ivy League, and graduates who become future lawyers, politicians, filmmakers, and CEOs. Traditionally a boys-only school, Saint Ambrose has just enrolled one hundred and forty female students for the first time. Even though most of the kids on the campus have all the privilege in the world, some are struggling, wounded by their parents’ bitter divorces, dealing with insecurity and loneliness. In such a heightened environment, even the smallest spark can become a raging fire.
One day after the school’s annual Halloween event, a student lies in the hospital, her system poisoned by dangerous levels of alcohol. Everyone in this sheltered community—parents, teachers, students, police, and the media—are left trying to figure out what actually happened. Only the handful of students who were there when she was attacked truly know the answers and they have vowed to keep one another’s secrets. As details from the evening emerge, powerful families are forced to hire attorneys and less powerful families watch helplessly. Parents’ marriages are jeopardized, and students’ futures are impacted. No one at Saint Ambrose can escape the fallout of a life-altering event.
My rating:
Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 4 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Recommended for readers of:
Women’s fiction
General fiction
Review:
The book deals with the poignant subject of underage drinking but also with the cost of taking one wrong step, how it can have far reaching consequences and change the lives of all people involved forever. The book was well written and gripping so once you start reading it’s hard to put it down. The plot was well set up and nicely structured. Each of the characters is introduced in great detail at the start of the book. Once this is done, the story unfolds. This made the characters realistic and compelling.
Overall this is a solid story, which is very captivating but also thought provoking. The book deals with a delicate subject that is very relevant in today’s world. I enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. For fans of women’s fiction this is one book that you don’t want to miss