Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Macmillan Children’s Publishing for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

Release date: April 8th 2025

TW: self harm, murder, death, drug use, physical and domestic abuse, references to suicide


Seventeen year old Marin James and her cousin Sam have spent their entire lives in the shadow of the exclusive prep school Huntsworth Academy. Sam works as a caretaker up at the school, befriending three of the students there, though they couldn’t be more different. Things aren’t great, not compared to the lives of the elite nearby, but it could be worse. And then Sam’s body is found in the creek on school property, apparently from a drug overdose. Marin knows this isn’t true- and exactly who is to blame for his death: Adrian Hargreeves, otherwise known as Graves, and Henry Wu, the twisted and dysfunctional boys that run the school. Swapping her old identity for another one, Marin infiltrates Huntsworth as Jamie, determined to find out who killed Sam. Soon enough Marin finds herself caught up in the terrible world of Henry and Adrian, becoming just as obsessed with them as they are with her. When Marin discovers more about Sam’s relationship with the boys and their other friend, the beautiful Basriel, she is pulled into an terrifying and overworldly secret hiding within the gates of Huntsworth- one that completely obliterates the differences between right and wrong, and nightmare and reality.

This book is being compared to ‘The Raven Boys’ and I can absolutely see the comparison but at the same time it goes so much more darker and toxically obsessive, as Marin seeks justice she’s convinced she can find proof of within the school. Her own life experiences, especially her mother’s mental illness and drug addiction in the past, have left her deeply protective of Sam and his loss drives her to the absolute brink. The writing is gorgeous and lyrical, so much of it feels fever dream like and once you meet Adrian and Henry things get even more intense and uncontrolled. I loved this book, its harsh and stark and you genuinely can’t tell how much is horror and how much is paranoia. This is how you write an non romantic love story, these characters are so destructive even as they hate and adore each other in equal measure. Their dynamic is the most powerful part of this book as they play games with each other and Marin starts to communicate with an unknown figure through a philosophy book. It’s really atmospheric and effective, I do wish certain things had been clearer about the characters and that it hadn’t been a love triangle- I wish it had been queer because there’s moments where I thought it was going to be, or at least not romantic at all- but this is a strong debut, and I want to read more from this author.

This is my first ever ARC and I'm really excited to be able to read and review it 🤩

This book was definitely not what I was expecting at all. Honestly I thought we were gonna get some vampires but that was just an assumption so mb. For a first time indie author, this writing is PHENOMENAL. Honestly it is so good - I thought all of the characters were really fleshed out and unique.

I do have some critiques though. First of all - I don't think academia is really my fav genre because the writing is always so cryptic and lyrical and that's definitely what we got here. Sometimes the characters were way too cryptic and I just wanted SOMEONE to say something that made any sort of sense. The pacing was weird, it was pretty slow and we kinda got thrown around most of the book until the last 10%. Henry is the biggest red flag ever tbh I saw right through him the whole book.

I do gotta talk about the ending - I had no idea how this book was going to end but I definitely was notttt expecting that. The end was honestly crazy and had me way in my head and I really liked it tbh. We didn't really get a ton of closure when it came to Sam I feel like, but considering what happened to the MC I'm actually okay with that. I do feel like I'll be thinking about that ending for a while which is definitely a good thing.

Honestly this book was just crazy, idk how else to describe it. I don't know if I would necessarily recommend it but if you do like lyrical dark academia vibes then give it a shot. Henry and Graves give MAJOR Eli & Victor from Vicious vibes. Pretty mature stuff going on here for a YA, the ending made me like it more than I thought I would at the beginning.

This had me by the throat and didn't let me go. It greeted me like an old friend and whispered its secrets into my ear, leaving me behind while it ran.

I fell in love with all the characters, beautiful, terrifying and messy, twisted with their own demons.

Go in blind. Fall in love and be torn apart. It was amazing.

Dark Academia that reminds me a tad bit of an Olivie Blake book and slightly similar to If We Were Villians by M.L. Rio. I was very disappointed that this book did not have LGBTQ+ rep as it was portrayed. I LOVE diverse books, and that was about 30% of what made me want to pick this up. The beginning of the book was very fast paced for me where as the latter slowed down a bit. The characters and the plot were very enjoyable. The toxicity was addicting and the suspense had me biting my nails. I'm not going to rush out and buy a copy on Pub Day, but I will pick up a physical copy eventually.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased, and completely my own.

Boys with Sharp Teeth is a solid addition to the dark academia genre. Howell hits the right mood and her characters fit the setting, all the mains are dark and brooding with multiple layers. Marin/Jamie cons her way into the academy in order to uncover her cousins murderer but finds herself drawn in further than she expects. Beware, there will be broken mirrors, tarot, self-immolation, and destruction. If dark academia is your jam then you will be delighted with it all. This review is based on an advance reader copy - thank you Roaring Brook and NetGalley.

I've never read something so quickly! Incredibly unique story that was just an ongoing pit of dread in my stomach the entire time. I think I need to reread the ending to fully Get it, but this grabbed me and didn't let me go.

Boys with Sharp Teeth is a haunting, paranormal dark academia story with themes of obsession and philosophical questioning. It follows the “Jamie” as she seeks revenge for the murder if her cousin by integrating into the friend group of who she suspects his killers are.

Think book gives me the same feeling that House of Harlow by Krystal Sutherland and the UnBecoming of Mara Dyer gave me with their unreliable main narrators and mysterious MMCs. I stayed up at night turning the pages to discover what Jamie would do next while being entertained by her dynamic with Henry and Graves.

Jenni Howell did a fantastic job at setting the atmosphere of the boarding school while also putting the reading in the headspace’s of someone who is truly obsessed with revenge, death, and paranoia. The one thing I would have liked to see more of was Jamie’s connection with Sam (her cousin) and maybe a chapter in Henry’s pov to understand his thoughts more.

Overall I would recommend this book but be warned, there are dark scenes including self harm, drug and alcohol use.

3.5 stars

I was so excited to get an audio copy of Jenni Howell's BOYS WITH SHARP TEETH just from the cover alone. That being said, THIS BOOKS IS NOT LGBTQ+. I am not sure if the publisher is trying to push this narrative, but it's very disappointing to see that this book was not queer (the cover says otherwise). Marin James has always lived in the shadow of Huntsworth Academy. When her cousin’s body is found on campus, she’s convinced Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu are to blame. Disguised as a student, she infiltrates the school seeking justice. But as she’s drawn to the boys and their secrets, the lines between truth and illusion begin to blur.

Marin uncovers a dark, otherworldly secret within Huntsworth’s gates, and reality begins to blur. To enjoy this book, you have to suspend disbelief—something I expect with YA, which is why I rarely read it. IYKYK. I won't go into too many details, but the ability for Marin getting into the Academy gave Legally Blonde ridiculousness. Despite these flaws, the writing was haunting and mysterious, creating an atmospheric and suspense-driven storyline. Though the ending had believability issues that were continued throughout the story, I still enjoyed it wrapping up the way it did. As mentioned above, I don't normally read YA, so I am unsure if I'd dive into this author's works again, but I think Jenni Howell would slay writing adult fiction!

I was given the opportunity as an ARC reader. Going into this book, I was intrigued by the cover and the description. This is a book that I had highly been anticipating. I had really high hopes! This book was slower paced with what I felt like could have had less to convey the overall story line. I found myself wanting to hurry through to see what could be uncovered. Overall this felt like cruel intentions mixed with dark academia. It dragged for a while, and then sped up towards the last couple of chapters. It was an interesting read overall, but as an honest review Im not sure its a book I still will think about after reading it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Well-Written Story That Didn’t Quite Land for Me

I had to sit with this one for a couple of days before officially reviewing it. I went in with high expectations since so many readers with similar tastes loved this book. I’m not quite sure what I expected, but this story wasn’t it.

The writing style is excellent—there’s no denying that. The atmosphere, the prose, and the dark academia vibes are all well-crafted. I typically love both dark academia and paranormal elements, but for some reason, this one just didn’t resonate with me, and I can’t quite put my finger on why.

That said, I still think this is worth picking up if you’re drawn to dark academia with an eerie, mysterious edge. While it didn’t fully work for me, I can see why others have been captivated by it. Solid three stars for the writing alone.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan publish for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this story for the cover and I am glad I did it because the cover was screaming love triangle and that's what it gave. I like the mystery was mysterious it had me hook.

Well, that was a lust infused page turner. It's hard for me to describe 'Boys with Sharp Teeth' because I was so enthralled with the obsession and the lust and the hate of the interpersonal love triangle, that I legitimately forgot about the murder of Marin's cousin and the whole reason she infiltrated the school. Every word is suspect in this novel and every character's story is unreliable, which is something I usually avoid. Unreliable narrator is not a favorite of mine, BUT Jenni Howell really did such a great job keeping me on my toes as a reader and feeding just a bit more anticipation I couldn't stop reading. I find I cannot accuratly describe the actual story, outside of the given description, without spoiling anything. So, Come for the mystery and keep reading for the anticipation of will they/won't they and how much is paranoia? I am already looking forward to more from the author.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC to review!

Unfortunately this book is not for me i have tried so many time to get into it but it only gets me mad
I can see what the author was trying to do but for me was also more like a tell rather than showing everything
Very sad i didn’t end up liking this it was one of my most anticipated releases

If I read this book as a teen, I would have thought it was the most dark, edgy, and amazing thing I had ever read. As an adult, it was good, but a little dramatic. Overall, I thought the setting was phenomenal and the interactions between different characters was so interesting to watch play out. This is perfect for folks who loved A Darker Mischief or Immortal Dark.

Maris James is determined to find out who killed her cousin Sam. To find the killer she must become another, a spoiled rich girl named Jamie. Maris knows that there are three people who knew Sam best, and were her prime suspects. As Jamie begins to take over Maris, we find that the three "friends" of Sam become more and more a part of her life. Soon we find that Jamie is as lost in deception and misdirection as we are as readers.
This debut novel begins as a murder mystery and ends on a different note. To enjoy, one must suspend reality and just enjoy the occupants of Huntsworth Academy.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BOYS WITH SHARP TEETH by Jenni Howell
Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan (Roaring Book Press) for the earc (April 8)

Marin's cousin is dead, and she knows who did it, so she plans to infiltrate Huntsworth Academy to prove it. She doesn't expect attraction, she doesn't expect the nightmare waiting to be unleashed.
The banter. The witt. The drama. The love triangle.
BOYS WITH SHARP TEETH is an unputdownable read, and if you put it down, it's all you'll think about. Even after it's over, it'll stay with you.
I devoured this book, like I was the one with sharp teeth. BOYS WITH SHARP TEETH was interesting, it was all out delightful read I just loved it. However, I didn't understand the title until, at least, halfway to two thirds of the way through.
Nothing is as it seems in this mystery that'll have you searching for answers that are predictable to an extent. I was able to guess bits, though the big revelation was shocking as could be. And even though the ending left me wanting more (iykyk), I liked how it panned out.
They're playing a dangerous game, but Marin is more dangerous.

Thank you to Net Galley for the Arc!

I really wanted to like this book, but it ended up falling very short for me. To start off with the positives. Howell's writing is atmospheric and eerie, and I did like her attempt to portray the intense and obsessive relationships between all the characters. Unfortunately, that was about all I liked for the book. The book failed to grab me and certain scenes in the book felt disjointed and incoherent. It also took a long time for any paranormal element to make an appearance. For a book that was tagged on Good Reads as a queer paranormal vampire romance I would say that this book was lacking most of those things. Additionally, Jamie Vane felt like a very one dimensional character and the backstory about her cousin felt thin. I wish I liked it more but it just fell flat.

I mean, come on. That cover? Do you really need anything else? I'll tell you anyway. This book was mysterious and spooky and had the perfect amount of romance to keep you guessing in this love triangle. The boarding school setting just added to the atmosphere and had me racing to finish.

Would I Recommend The Book?: Yes

Objective Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Subjective Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️

Violence Rating: 🗡️🗡️ ½

SFW/NSFW: SFW

Potential Content Warnings:
Implied off screen sex(?), making out, partying, drinking and depictions of drunk individuals, paranoia, unhealthy and toxic but deliberately toxic and compelling relationships, on screen self-harm (cutting), discussions of successful murder, on screen murder, general bad actions

Genre Tags: Thriller, Features Paranormal Elements, Detective/Mystery, Romantic Subplot, Drama

Additional Comments:

Overall I like this book.

It’s a compelling mystery and the characters are all extremely interesting. I really liked the dynamics between all the characters and the way philosophy was included was well integrated. I’m pleasantly surprised by the amount of philosophy discussion there was, I really liked that. It helped build each of the characters and it was a good way to bring about their world views and how each of them viewed their experiences.

I liked how unlikable the main protagonist was at times; however, she also annoyed the hell out of me sometimes. She comes around by the end of the book though and so it makes her entire character arch extremely compelling. It’s so, so well done.

The aesthetics of the novel are extremely enjoyable and I really like the way that it was set up. The mystery evolved naturally and was actually well written, which is hard to find sometimes. Most mystery novels I read suck, and it’s actually really well done here. I like that the basis of the mystery is the fact that it’s a revenge story. It’s really entertaining.

The writing style was also very beautiful in my opinion, which helped lend itself to the aesthetics.

I love a good toxic relationship. And I also interpreted the relationship between Henry and Graves to be borderline homoerotic at times, which I don’t think was the intention, but I found it extremely compelling and I think it really added onto the character dynamics. Totally headcanons them as gay. The relationships between the characters really were the most enjoyable thing about this book. It’s excellent and really interesting to read, especially since a lot of the relationships are dysfunctional.

I wish that certain elements of the book were introduced sooner, but they weren’t, and that was annoying.

This book could have been 100 pages shorter. It felt too long. To its credit though, the length gave it time to let the plot twists and the mystery breathe, but there was also the element of feeling like nothing was happening for certain chapters of the book. It being 300 pages both helps and hurts it. I felt like some of the scenes could have been cut because of how redundant it felt at times.

Thank you NetGalley & Roaring Press for the ARC!

This premise for this book had me intrigued, but the story just fell short for me. It was very slow to start and the pacing only picked up in the last 30ish percent of the book, thus giving a fast, chaotic ending.

I think the concept was good but was lacking in execution. It was okay but isn’t a book I’ll read again.