WOW! This was the best novel I have read in quite sometime. The characters were very real. I will be recommending this to anyone who will listen. Bravo

3.5 stars

The characters’ sensibilities are on the young side for me, but I still found myself reading this one quickly and with interest. The story is told from Ambrosia’s point of view, moving back and forth between her undergraduate years and 10 years later when she is newly married. Something terrible happened when Ambrosia was in college and she doesn’t want her husband to find out. But she feels compelled to go to her 10 year reunion. In general terms, it’s easy to see where the story is going. But Ambrosia’s personality and the clever end throw a bit of a wrench in the predictability of the story. This was good enough — a case of the right book at the right time. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to an advance copy.

* I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley *

TW: suicide, sexual assault, drug/alcohol use

(trying to avoid spoilers!)
3-1/2 stars.
A dark story with hints of, [book:The Basic Eight|10997], [book:The Secret History|29044], and [book:Dangerous Liaisons|326768]. Maybe a bit of backstabby drama reminiscent of, "The Hills". So if you like those, you will probably like this one. It's not a fun read, it's dark and a bit sad. All the characters are assholes, but it is a book about villains so again, if that's your thing, dive in!

You have read the blurb so I'm not going to rehash it. Basically, a bunch of narcissists who can't deal with their own shit are thrown together in first year uni and seek to destroy what they will never be/have. Jealousy, hate, revenge, backstabbing, selfishness -- it's all here. I KNOW everyone wants perfectly PC, well-behaved females in books, which drives me insane because it's just not realistic and it's boring. People are flawed, that's part of life. And oh boy, every character in this book is messy. It is an interesting story but I honestly felt so disconnected to the characters it was hard to care what happened to them. Ambrosia is the same jerk as a grown, married woman that she was in first year uni. This character does not grow AT ALL, which is very unsatisfying. In fact, none of them grow or evolve as people. But hey, once a narcissist, always a narcissist.

The story was interesting but I felt it took a long time to get to the point. So much hinting but the dangling carrot thing was tiresome after a while. And Ambrosia's obsession with Sully? It was a lot of talking about it without really explaining it, if that makes sense. Ok, Sully was sooo alluring and sucked everyone in but I wasn't feeling it. I needed more actual examples I guess (show, not tell). And Ambrosia's obsession with Kevin, perfect example of limerence. None of it was real, she was just grabbing at breadcrumbs and ignoring the obvious despite evidence. The whole thing is just sad and painful. But again, if this is your kind of thing, you will love this book!

If you're looking for a thriller that is different, try this one. How is this thriller different than others you ask? The main character is a mean girl - she bullies and hurts someone who thought the world of her. 

This book definitely kept my attention and brought up so many emotions. There were times I hated Ambrosia and other times I wanted to help her. 

I thought it was a great read that tackled betrayal, lies, "friendship", mean girls, rape, insecurities, bullying, and secrets. 

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for giving me a copy of this book!

We all knew girls could be vicious.  This book showcases the cruelty of cliques and the drive to bring down a girl for simply being too nice.  The saddest part of this book was the fact that stuff like this happens and it happens alot.  Okay, maybe not to the extent of the revenge sought and gained in the end but I almost wish it did? Couldn't put this book down and the end...wow .. amazing read.


Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGally for fulfilling my request to read this ARCread.

There are lots of books about "mean girls" but most of them are told from the perspective of their victims, the nice girls who get caught in their nasty crosshairs. But this book is told from the perspective of the mean girl. Ambrosia falls into bad company in her freshman year at college and does things that come back to haunt her ten years later at her alma mater reunion. This perspective puts a former bully in a much more human light, following her  spiral into toxic relationships and spiteful actions that serve to torture her in the end, perhaps worse than the people she so casually victimized.
The plot could have used some tightening up in this one, as it lagged in places, but overall it is a dark and disturbing portrayal of the evil young women can exact upon one another, often due to their own insecurities and petty jealousies. A cautionary tale for any girl who's ever longed to sit at the "cool kid" table, only to find the cold blooded callousness  that awaits her there.

I completely devoured this book. Honestly couldn’t put it down. I loved that the pace of this book doesn’t slow down and the twists never stop coming. So amazing!

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGally for fulfilling my request to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this! 

A thriller alternating between past and present. The main character Ambrosia, or Amb, as she goes by, is haunted by her past, as her 10 year College reunion draws near. Similar idea to "I Know What You Did Last Summer," someone is sending her threatening letters about what happened during her Freshman year. 

The characters were written so realistically, I wanted to reach into the book to shake her and her friend Sully! The character development was spot on, as well. They were relatable, but at the same time, you hated them for how they acted.

It was also an easy read, but in a good way. It wasn't overly complicated, or loaded down with plot and details that weren't relevant, but there was enough detail that it kept me reading, I ended up finishing it in one day! 

Usually I can figure out the twist in a plot, but it took me nearly to the end to find who was behind the threatening letters. I love that in a thriller - it held my attention, and was so well written it was difficult to figure out on my own.

Highly recommend!

This book is the epitome of mean girl stories.  At times it was hard to tell who to feel sorry for and who exactly was being bullied.  These girls played mind games and straight out mean pranks without once stopping to think who was being hurt. 

The author created characters that seemed realistic and who, when viewed through Amb’s eyes came across as mean although they were actually kind and caring. The story unfolds in flashes to the past with some shocking events arising.  Part psychological thriller, part mean girls makes for an intriguing story with a nice twist.

I was so happy to be given an advance copy to read from a London, Ontario writer (hello from Goderich!). This was a fast-paced read and the characters were all interesting.  The relationships were intense and you could feel the desperation in the pages.  The way that we remember traumatic events and the need to fit in was explored in the book in a thrilling way.  Loved the ending and thought it was different than other books.  Looking forward to reading more from this author!!

I was thankful to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book to read it in exchange for an honest review. 

I was so excited by the cover and the plot summary but I just didn't connect with the read, I wish I could say that I enjoyed it more but perhaps I wasn't the right audience.

This story tells, in alternative chapters, the story of Ambrosia Wellington's freshman year at Wesleyan College as well as her life 10 years later at her college reunion. Ambrosia is now married to a loving husband and is no longer in contact with anyone she went to college with. In those days, she had a sweet roommate, Flora, and a wild and manipulative best friend, Sully. Current day, she doesn't seem to want to go to the reunion, never mind think of the events of her freshman year. But, she is getting personal notes that seem to know she did something terrible and the person writing them wants to talk about what happened. The novel is spent in both flashbacks describing the first few months of her college life and also current events as she tries to keep all of the events and secrets hidden while discovering who knows those secrets and is bent on confronting her.  

I love a good psychological thriller and some bad female characters but I just didn't feel connected to this book until the very end. I had a difficult time getting through it. The flashback scenes were full of very graphic detail and seemed gratuitous to me. I felt like, for me, I needed the current Ambrosia fleshed out more, I don't mind mean and self serving but I want to see motivation. I don't have to like the character, but I need to see her, I wanted more depth.  But who I really got to know was a 19 year old girl and I felt more like I was reading a slightly older YA novel about private school mean girls who are completely out of control. I wanted more from young Ambrosia, but it was party, rinse, be mean, repeat. So I feel like this maybe just wasn't my niche read but may appeal well to a different audience!

Now the end started to get my attention but unfortunately I saw most of it coming and wasn't connected enough to feel compelled by it. But, it was twisty and turned things upside down and gave Ambrosia some new growth so that was good.

As an FYI, there are multiple triggering subjects in this novel so a warning there for anyone about to read, I don't want to discuss what they are as it gives away plotlines! I am hopeful there would be note at the end of the book talking about mental health outreaches for young people and adults alike. Reading these things didn't bother me emotionally and I just wish I had connected more with the story. I think I was waiting for a sudden revelation that would draw things together and show me some layers but all I could see were thoughtless girls and I guess that wasn't what I was looking for.

Some of the girls in this book are definitely not nice! 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of The Girls Are All So Nice Here!!!! 

I enjoyed this story!!! This is a story about revenge that jumps back and forth from the past to the present. If you enjoy stories about revenge where most of the characters are unlikeable, terrible people then this is the story for you. Side note; none of the girls here are nice. 

Ambrosia goes to her first of college and rejecting her nice roommate and every other nice person becomes friends with resident mean girl Sloane who uses everyone who gets in her way and takes Ambrosia along for the ride.  Ambrosia does not want to attend her 10 year reunion, but a note comes with an invitation that convinced her to.

Drama, revenge, betrayal. It's a story that starts in the present and then tells the story about 10 years before in college and what happened. Lots of catty, bitchy girls and I loved the Gossip Girl type feel to it.