Madam was an intriguing feminist dive into the world of classics and academia with underlying sinister tones. I was drawn to the dark boarding school atmosphere and enjoyed uncovering bits and pieces of how twisted the scenario was throughout the story. I found Rose, the main character, to be a little naive as she experiences teaching at the school and couldn't bring myself to fully root for her despite how awful the school ended up being. I did enjoy the twists and turns along the way, but I didn't appreciate the self-loathing lesbian character who came off a little predatory in all of her interactions with Rose. I'm all for flawed queer characters but there seemed to be no reason for this inclusion. Overall it was an entertaining mystery but not one of my favorites.

When I’m struggling with a book I usually know that’s a sign to give it up, but I wanted so badly to like this one! I mean “A darkly feminist, modern gothic tale pitched against a haunting backdrop, and populated by an electrifying cast of heroines” sounds like exactly my type of novel...and the final cover suits this description so well. However, the beginning was so messy and cringey that I hopped over to Goodreads to see what some other reviewers were saying (something I usually refrain from doing until I finish reading a book.) When I saw the trigger warnings my fellow reviewers had added to their reviews, I quickly made the decision to take a hard pass and move on.

I'm always up for a good boating school story and this one is, well, mixed a bit. Caldonbrae has always hired alumnae for positions at the school situated in a bleak area of Scotland. Until now. Rose has taken a job as the classics teacher and she's a breath of fresh air with all sorts of attitudes that, as it turns out, might not be acceptable. There's a lingering gothic mystery (no spoilers) that she walks straight into. It's got some interesting twists but it's also over the top in other spots. I liked Rose but had to keep reminding myself that she's in her 20s and less, shall we say, worldly than the usual; heroine. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This might be a love or hate it read but I fall squarely in the middle- definitely worth your time if you are a fan of the genre.

Unfortunately this book didn’t for me. I wasn’t able to finish as I couldn’t connect with the story or characters.

I went back and forth between listening to this book and reading the audiobook. I had good experiences with both. In general, the book was quite a slow build. The entire time you can tell that something is wrong with the school but man does it throw some punches at the end. The end is climactic and extreme but the build up was lagging at times. The piece that I struggled with the most was the time period, I understand that setting this in the 1990's was intentional juxtaposition but it never read like it was actually set in that time and I often found myself forcing myself to remember that it wasn't set in the Victorian era but instead modern times. A decent read but not necessarily my favorite.

I'm not sure where they get the descriptors "feminist" or "electrifying." The Hope girls are interchangeable and Rose herself is such a milquetoast that I didn't enjoy reading about her struggles. Like, maybe it's because I'm an eldritch swamp creature, or as usual, I'm too Southern for this, but I cannot stand these books where adults allow children to speak to them any kind of way.

Also, the secrets at Hope are obvious from the beginning, but Rose reacts to each new development like a 19th century schoolmarm.

DNF’ing this one. It’s way too much of a slow burn for me. There’s a lot of characters to keep track of and I found myself lost and not sure I’d the pay off would be worth it

The sinister nature of the school is revealed in slow layers. Madam is about a young teacher, Rose, who takes a position in an elite private boarding school. It's a great opportunity with excellent benefits almost too good to be true.....
You can tell from the start that something is off but you don't realize how truly crazy things are until the end. I think a lot of people will like the slow reveal for me, it was a little too slow; by the time I got to the school's big secret, it didn't seem like that big of a deal. Of course, it gets worse so much worse. Sometimes it feels shocking for the sake of being shocking.
The main trouble I had with Madam was the volume of characters and their lack of motivation. I had no idea why and what was going on with them. I just kept thinking why? what? huh? Maybe it's a class thing or culture thing or cult thing,
The description of this book sounded amazing and I really did want to like it more.
It did have a creepy gothic vibe which I'm sure some will appreciate. 
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about an all girls school with old values. A new teacher, Rose, is excited to work at the school until she finds out it is not everything she thought it would be.

I was very interested in this book. Some points were not as interesting but overall I was intrigued. As the story unfolded you learned more about the school and what the girls were really there for. I like Ltd how some of the girls began to stand up for themselves.

While the premise of the book was interesting- a feminist thriller set at a boarding school on the Scottish cliffs-the book just didn’t deliver. I never quite believed what was going on and the characters were too naive or blasé about the “secrets” being discovered.

Rose as a protagonist came off as weak and naive. I’m not sure how she is the “feminist” heroine as she ignores red flags left and right. Instead of standing up for herself or her students, she just blindly goes along with whatever is happening at Caldonbrae Hall because she’s “lucky” to have the position. They other characters are so blasé and unaffected by the situation at the school that they almost seemed robotic. I wouldn’t have been surprised if that was the big “twist”.

The actual plot of the story may have been believable if it was set at a different time, but it seems so far fetched that none of the students would have any contact with the outside world in the 1990s. That they would not only accept their fates, but embrace them wholeheartedly. The subplots of the Japanese students and the teachers who were also students just never clicked or added to the mystery. It just all felt forced.

Wynne’s writing is lovely and it kept me reading, thinking that maybe something would happen in the next chapter or on the next page that would make it all make sense, but the payoff never came. In the end, it just wasn’t a successful thriller for me.

Expected publication date: May 18, 2021

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eArc.

I just didn't connect with this story. It was set in the 1990s and felt like it could have been the 1800s. I didn't connect with any of the characters. Just not my favorite book. Sorry!

This was a great gothic feeling debut! Perfect for those who are drawn to the boarding school settings in novels. The beginning of the book had a very Harry Potter feel with the girls arriving en made in black girls, the initial ceremony in the great hall, etc. this is a great book for girls who grew up reading Harry Potter and are now ready for a more refined version with a feminist twist. Also don’t forget the Rebecca-esque vibes with the hauntings from the past!

This book absolutely terrified me because I could see it happening. The book follows Rose, a new teacher at Caldonbrae Hall, a prestigious school for upper class girls located in Scotland. Rose is young, whereas most of the other teachers at the school are much older and have been at the school for years. As she settles in to her post she starts to notice very peculiar things about the students and the school occurring that do not fit in with her understanding of the way any school should be run. The book was thrilling, exciting, and transported me to the little island off the coast of Scotland where the book takes place. I would definitely recommend this for a hot summer beach read, because the chilling story and descriptions of the locale will cool anyone down.

A young woman, Rose, gets the job of a department head teacher at an exclusive, remote Scottish girls’ boarding school. She believes it to be the job of her dreams until she encounters very strange behavior by others at the school. As odd and dangerous things continue to happens, Rose begins to question everything around her, including her own sanity and the untoward motives of others.

I was drawn to the plot of this and I loved the gothic feel. The plot was different and reminded me a little of the Handmaid’s Tale, with overwhelming female oppression made acceptable in this society. Rose seeks to break patriarchal boundaries and is duly punished for it but not before she has helped some of her young charges see alternatives. This was an ok read for me and I liked the fact that it was different but I did not find it to be outstanding in any way.

Thank you to St. Martins Press & Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

I really wanted to like this book. The first half I was so engrossed in it even though I kind of figured it out but once the main character figured it out and didn’t act the way I thought she would (being such a feminist) I totally lost interest.

I probably should’ve just DNF-ed it but I was hoping for redemption. It didn’t happen.

I really struggled with this book. I didn't connect with the characters, and the plot felt unfinished at points. I felt like there were loose ends that could have been wrapped up. It was, unfortunately a struggle to get through.

I was super excited to read this new release, but unfortunately I found the story dragged on and on. I also couldn't connect with any of the characters.

Imagine a school where teachers are respected, their needs are eliminated on every level. The remote school in question offers a new teacher the chance of a lifetime. Respected and renown for turning out young women who go on to hold positions of power and wealth. Rose has been offered a position at Caldonbrae Hall a much sought after position. Set among the cliffs and in a remote area. Once there it’s as if you are on an island. Trips outside are monitored and you must have permission. It is the extreme rules that Rose starts to question. I guess her first clue should have been the uniforms the girls are forced to wear. A rule that extends in some sense to the faculty as well. The students are in different houses and it is a privilege to be a house madam. It becomes increasingly clear that the undercurrent Rose has felt since day one has corresponding sinister source. Early on Rose sensed that the students knew more than they revealed during class or outside the classroom. She never expected to learn the truth is such a violent way.

I love an academic thriller. Reminded me in atmosphere of Picnic at Hanging Rock. Happy to include this title in the spring Thrills and Chills roundup, the list of notable new crime and mystery titles for Zoomer magazine’s Club Zed book section.

Caldonbrae Hall is a creepy, cult-like finishing school for girls. While it takes place in the 90s, it could almost be set in the 50s or earlier as classes focus on molding girls into good wives and mothers and feminism is a word only whispered in hushed tones. When a new teacher is brought into the fold, all are left to wonder if she will try to speak out or join the ranks.