I wanted to read this book because I was forced to read "The Cask of Amontillado" my freshman year of high school and I'd always wondered if it would be possible for the events of that story to happen now (surely, Fortunato could have just texted someone, right?) I read the description and saw that the narrators' names were obviously based on the characters in that story. I haven't read that many Edgar Allan Poe stories that I can name, but I recognized a lot of the references- Tress's parents being named Annabelle and Lee, the flu spreading, the school mascot being the Ravens, the town actually being named Amontillado etc.) But even if you're not familiar with them, if you like YA thrillers, you should definitely pick this up.
Tress Montor had a comfortable upper-middle-class life until fourth grade, when her parents went missing while driving her best friend home. Ever since that day, she's lived in a trailer with her grandfather, Cecil, who manages Amontillado Animal Attractions, which is nicknamed "White Trash Zoo" by her rich classmates. With barely any income, she sells Oxy and weed to her classmates, including Felicity.
Felicity Turnado gives off the impression of being wealthy, but she hasn't always been. It was only a few years ago when workers started drilling for gas on her land. She and Tress are no longer friends, but she has her new best friend, Brynn, and a new party scene. Still, very few people know that she suffers from seizures and memory loss, even though it is common knowledge that she was with Tress's parents when they disappeared.
At a class halloween party in one of the town's oldest homes, Tress decides that she knows exactly how she's going to get the answers about her parents from Felicity. So while everyone is distracted, she leads her into the house's basement and chains her to the floor, gradually building four brick walls around her until she's completely sealed in and only discovered when the house is torn down. Will Felicity die? Will someone catch Tress? Will she escape, or will it end completely unexpectedly?
A lot of the book is also told in flashbacks, as far back as fourth grade, but there are some chapters where the narrators have flashbacks mixed in to the present time and it can get confusing.
I'm just going to say that if you don't like when books don't wrap everything up or have epilogues, that part of this book will not work for you. It's not exactly clear, and some of the chapters are only one line of dialogue. I mean, you DO know what happens with the cellar, but you just don't know anything about what happens after.

This book was a thrill ride! I could not put it down. Both of the main girls have me both simultaneously liking and hating them! (I didn't know that was possible.) Also, I love Hugh so much. And I grew attached to all the animals (minus alligator) and I hope them the best. (Also, the off road zoo had a bit of a Joe Exotic theme to it. Yay Tiger King!) Plus, it was set in Ohio, where I have lived since birth.

I did knock off a star because there were SO MANY EDGAR ALLAN POE REFERENCES. I know this story is mainly based on "The Cask of Amontillado." And I love that there are so many allusions to Poe's works. (And fyi, I love Poe! If we have a boy, we are naming him Edgar after Poe!) But at some point, I started to wonder if Mindy made a bet with someone to see just how many she could throw in. I think I counted 17, but I'm sure I missed some. (I don't think a teen would pick up on all of these, though.)

I will 1,000 percent recommend this to my teens when released. I really think the gore and curse words will be a selling point, too. Seriously!

This book was amazing. Fast paced and had me up till the wee hours reading to see what happens next. An incredible take on one of Poe’s classics.

The book was very well paced and I couldn’t put it down, finished in one sitting. Each chapter going back and forth between perspectives of our dual protagonists and skipping through flashbacks helped to craft an engaging and fast-paced story. The use of name references and story mirroring was fun to pick out as a reader, while the addition of clearly new and modern elements helped to keep me reading until the end.

This is the book that I wanted to like very much but only ended up being average on. The purpose for the book is to friends you’ve had a falling out and one friend wants to seek revenge which is actually a good premise for a story. Somewhere along the way though the story kind of loses its footing.

A thriller modeled off of Edgar Allen Poe's Cask of Amontillado, in this book we have a city named Amontillado, Ohio, where Tress Montor seeks revenge. There are a lot of Poe references throughout: their high school team mascot is the raven, Tress;s parents are named Lee and Annabelle. Also her aunt is Lenore Usher. The entire story focuses around the disappearance years earlier of Tress's parents. What really happened the night they disappeared? Tress wants answers and the only person who has those answers is her ex-best friend, If you know the story The Cask of Amontillado, you;'l know how this story goes for a while. But the ending! I;m so glad there is another book coming.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this book! Not for the faint of heart, this keeps you hooked from the start. With Poe-esque overtones, narration that alternates between the two main characters tells a comprehensive tale of mystery and revenge. Not all your questions will be answered, not everything gets wrapped up neatly - if you’re not into that, this will frustrate you. That being said, if you like a fast-paced mystery/thriller, this book delivers. 4.5/5

Mindy McGinnis is one of my favorite authors, and I always have high expectations for her work. The Initial Insult did not disappoint at all!

This is a YA adaptation of The Cask of Amontillado, told from 3 perspectives. I was a bit surprised by the 3rd perspective, but it works! This is about Tress and Felicity, who used to be best friends until a tragedy struck, with a devastating impact on Tress especially. Being from a small town, I could really relate to the teenage cliques and shenanigans going on in this book - very much realistic.

When this book ended, I literally yelled "Noooo" because I need to know what happens! That's how good this is.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis.

What in the Tale Tell Heart did I just read?! This book is ca-razy pants.

When Tress loses her parents, she also loses her status, her comforts, and her loving environment. Now she lives with her one eyed uncle at what has been deemed the "white trash zoo," equipped with Panther and all.

Felicity does have it all, including a huge amount of guilt every time she looks at Tress, who was once her friend. But now she knows too much about Tress's parents, things that no one else knows, and there's no way she can tell Tress. Unless she's forced to...

I saw that this is a part one of a series? I truly hope that is the case because otherwise this is just one big panic attack with a pretty cover. The amazing thing is that even though the premise is total batcrap nuts, it works! And it totally had Edgar Poe vibes and I can't wait to read the next one.

Well that was definitely a good creepy read to get Halloween season kicked off! I really enjoyed the dual POV and the flash backs. The ending is crazy. I won't forget this one anytime soon!

This was an absolutely amazing book! The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat! Wonderfully and intricately written. 5/5 stars.

I love "The Female of the Species" by Mindy McGinnis, so I was incredibly happy to receive this ARC. This is probably the best thriller that I've read this year. There a twists and turns galore and plenty of mystery. I loved that all of the characters were flawed, as it makes them feel realistic. I am eagerly anticipating the sequel.

I think I struggled with this in on the Kindle. Keep getting confused.by time hops and characters. Will look at it when actual book aerie was to reevaluate.

This is a story about the love & hatred only a best friend can inspire.

I adored this book! It was creepy, beautiful, and tragic. The story was reminiscent of Poe without being derivative & was full of the unique, strange, violent touches I’ve come to expect & love from @

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley & HarperCollins Children's Books for the advanced e-ARC