Boys with Sharp Teeth
•spoiler-free review•
3.75 ⭐️

Boys with Sharp Teeth immediately caught my interest: I adore any attempts at YA dark academia, and I loved the comps— We Were Liars and The Raven Boys. The premise, while a bit unbelievable, painted a great picture of a girl seeking revenge for her cousin and the depths she would go to reach it.

Some scenes I adored, and the tension? Stunning. But also, there were plenty of scenes and pacing issues that I didn’t love. It started to go into a direction that felt lukewarm. The ending, without spoilers, also felt underwhelming.

Ultimately, the book felt like a bit of a letdown: a series of promises left undelivered. Still, this is the author’s debut, and I’m definitely not writing her off. Actually, I’m excited to see how her writing grows. If she can come up with amazing premises like this, it’s worth looking out for.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC!

#yabookstagram #bookstagram #bookreview #arcreview #netgalley #youngadultfiction #booksbooksbooks #boyswithsharpteeth #newbooks #newbookreleases

Thank you so much NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for the eARC.
2.5 stars
This was one of my most anticipated books this year.

Marin finds her cousin dead in the forest and although it is ruled an accidental overdose, she suspects foul play by his friends at the prestigious academy. Going undercover to seek revenge and find out what happened to her cousin, Marin is swept up into the orbit of her cousin’s friends, Henry, Baz, and Adrian. With supernatural elements coming into play, she doesn’t know what is real and what’s not, especially who killed her cousin.

The writing was very much like the beginnings of all the books in The Raven Cycle, and the story was if Blue and Ronan fell in love instead and told in first person. This had the dark academia feel to it, but that’s all it got right. Even with the first person, I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, they all felt distant but had the potential of multilayeredness that was cut short. There even seemed like a disconnect between the trio and their only connection was that they were on the same floor. Henry and Adrian had a stronger connection but we were just as lost as Marin about it which made it more frustrating rather than mysterious as the book continued on and we didn’t know why or got any clue until 80%. I also don’t know why Baz is not being on the cover even though she was more present in the book than Adrian.

The pacing was way too slow. I felt as if she was at a stand still or walking in circles for a majority of the book and we were given small crumbs to occasionally to try to keep us going but it was nothing of substance. How she did it was not how you continue the mystery. Give clues, false or not, to try to guess the mystery. What we were given was more weird interactions and a lot of her befriending Baz, which was surface level at best. I almost DNF’ed this and I’m pretty sure others will. It only picked up at 80% and a majority of it had the most confusing prose. It was trying to be mysterious and ominous but was actually just confusing and frustrating, where the gist of what was happening was good enough.

I understood what the author was trying to get at with the philosophy of existence and truth that the characters were studying, but after the halfway point the philosophy portion ended, but I wish it was more prevalent throughout rather than just quotes to announce the parts. I honestly forgot about the philosophy so connecting a bit of it would have helped remind the reader or help connect the dots.

I liked that when the mystery was solved, it made sense and ended as well as you think it would.

This was just not what I expected or was hoping for, but I’m sure others would enjoy it if they are okay with the slow pace. Maybe I’ll try it out when it’s published if there’s been more editing.

Boys with Sharp Teeth was nothing like what I expected and everything I needed it to be. This story was dark and emotional, dragging you down with Jamie and her crew. Desperation and obsession consume Jamie as she tries to uncover the truth behind her cousin’s death. Full of unexpected twists, Henry and Adrian kept me on the edge of my seat as I watched their stories play out. Like Jamie, I knew I couldn’t run away from Huntsworth Academy without finding out what happened to Sam. I wanted more and more of this story, worried I wouldn’t be satisfied with any conclusion but in the end everything tied together very nicely. As the pieces all fell into place, I realized all of the clues I had been missing from the beginning. Howell’s story was dark and beautiful.I only wish I could have made it last longer so that it wouldn’t already be over. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Macmillan Publishers for the eARC!

Alright. I love the atmosphere, the academic setting and the vibes—it is dark-academia aesthetics. It is also beautifully written and the cover is very attractive (at least for me!). I honestly enjoy reading this, the mystery, the obsession, the longing and the thrill are enough to keep me engaged. But towards the ending, it irritates me.

This book defintely has so many issues for me. Not gonna lie, the first 40% I feel like reading The Secret History x If We Were Villains (I saw people compare this to We Were Liars but I haven't read that so I don't have say about it).

First of all, don't let the title deceive you. The title and the cover give gothic vampires vibes but this book is not about vampires. (And I'm so angry about this idk why). Maybe the author means something else with the "sharp teeth".

The characters feel a little bit bland. For me, it feels like they don't have personality—felt distant, nothing special, just rich kids with bad attitude (yes, and Henry kinda reminds me of Henry, iykyk). I was assuming that it will revolve around Adrian Hargraves, but I feel like he's barely there in the 70% of the story? (He's still my first love in this book, though). And as for the supporting characters (like other classmates, teachers, staffs, town people), they feel nonexistent. It feels like the classes were attended only by the four of them and not the other students.

The plot progresses very slowly, it takes halfway of the book to get somewhere other than our MC suspecting & arguing with her "classmates". And when things started to pick up, it quickly went down again (and yes it is frustrating). The event happens over the course of weeks, not months. But I fail to grasp the time and lost halfway thru it. I think it should be 100 pages shorter so it won't drag so much.

Another issue is with the MC, she's a con, ok. She "infiltrates" a prestigious elite boarding school, I'm assuming a "prestigious elite boarding school" would have high security, no? But she just waltz in with fake id and fake check, and the school is like "ok, come in my lady"?? There is no explanation of how she acquired her fake credential. Let's not forget that she's just a random girl from town without money and connection, but suddenly she can "enroll" to this school as one of the students (with said fake id & check). Also, the reason why she wants to get into the school is because she suspected one of 3 particular students have killed her cousin, and somehow she was placed in the same suite as one of these 3? How convinient. This just doesn't sit right with me.

I remember seeing this book was advertised under queer category but I don't think there's enough representations in it (yes, I actually hope it was gayer, I'm disappointed). It was also under romance category but is the romance in the room with us? Because I don't see it. It's not even slow burn. It's just sick obsession.

And last but not least, the supernatural aspects in it, it's barely there. You don't really get anything supernatural until you hit 70% mark of the book. Yes there were shadows in the mirror throughout the book but it feels like a filler rather than the main focus of the plot. However, it's not even explained, there's no lore behind it, why this supernatural things happen, did the boys make deal with the devil? We got nothing about this. (Well maybe we got something about this, but NOT STRONG ENOUGH)

So if anyone's interested in this book thinking it's dark academia with queer vampires, no it's not. It's a twisted philosophy–dark academia and problematic kids with toxic friendship.

This book is definitely not for everyone, and it just doesn't work that well for me. But if you can ignore all those issues I mentioned, maybe you'll enjoy it more.

3.25⭐ rounded down.

My attention was caught by the beautiful cover while scrolling through NetGalley.
I went in to this book blind, only knowing it was a murder mystery/dark academia.
Marin is our very troubled FMC, she is mourning the death of her cousin who worked at Huntsworth Academy (an exclusive school). Marin is sure that she knows who is responsible for his death and decides to infiltrate the school posing as a student. Befriending the supposed killers (Adrian and Henry) is harder than she thinks, posing as a gifted Huntsworth student while trying to break into their inner circle wears on her mentally/physically.
I was having a very hard time pushing myself to complete the book. In my opinion, the story didn’t pick up until about 80% in. I could tell what the author was trying to do but it just didn’t grab me until I got that far into the book.
It was confusing and I didn’t get invested in a character until the last 25% of the book, Adrian stole my heart!!!
The paranormal aspect of the book didn’t really make sense either, the explanation of it was rushed and left me confused.
For this reason I’m rating it 3/5.

I was captivated by Jenni Howell's Boys with Sharp Teeth from the very first page and couldn't put it down. It's a tale of temptation, retaliation, and the sinister secrets that lie beyond the gates of a prestigious boarding school, and believe me, it delivers on all three.

I liked Marin James since she isn't your average prep school kid. She is irate, resolute, and prepared to take on any role necessary to learn the truth about her cousin's passing. It was like entering a lion's den to see her sneak into Huntsworth Academy, especially when Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu were involved. They are wealthy, untouchable, and just scary enough to pique your curiosity—everything you would expect from the school's social elite. To be honest, I couldn't determine if I wanted Marin to defeat them or fall for them. She probably couldn't either.

One of my favorite aspects of this novel is the atmosphere. Huntsworth Academy feels like a genuine, breathing character rather than merely a setting. Rich and unsettling, Howell's writing infuses each scene with a sense of dread. I had the impression that I was strolling along the same ivy-covered hallways, wondering what mysteries lay beyond. And when did the supernatural turn come? It worked even though I wasn't prepared.

Even though this novel is YA and does use certain popular YA clichés, I thought the narrative was sufficiently developed to avoid coming across as unduly childish. It is strongly advised to check trigger warnings because there were some extremely dark themes that would not be suitable for a reader who is too young.

What am I supposed to do after finishing this? Just LIVE?! Go about my day like I wasn’t just completely dismantled from the inside out? Don’t be ridiculous. I will need multiple business days to recover.

When Marin’s cousin turns up dead in a creek she knows it was no accident. Posing as Jamie, a new student at Huntsworth Academy, she’s determined to get close to the people she knows are at fault. The life she finds within the academy’s walls is almost as alluring as the pull she feels from Henry Wu and Adrian Hargraves and pulling off her plan becomes increasingly difficult.

The tension, the mystery, the thrill. It’s all here. There are moments that are chilling and other moments that are reckless and without a care in a way only teens can be. There are secrets on secrets on secrets while they’re attempting to play different games of 3d chess simultaneously.

It’s obsession, it’s longing, it’s a desperate aching want that you know will destroy you, and giving in anyway.

Jenni Howell’s debut is an excellent entry into the dark academia catalogue. It had me tight in its clutches from page one.

“I wish my dreams didn’t have such sharp teeth.”

Let me start off this review by emphasizing that this is probably going to be nothing like what you think it’s going to be like. This book is not a love story in a traditional sense. The love between friends and family can drive you to lose a part of yourself, a part of your soul. The drive to protect those you love can become a dangerous obsession. Secrets, lies, and twists fill the pages of Boys with Sharp Teeth.

“Why do you love him that much, and how can I make you love me more?”

I found myself craving this book, trying to figure out where the plot was headed. None of my guesses were ever right. Jenni Howell’s dark academic-style of writing cultivated a dark and twisted world full of dark and twisted characters.

“He’s letting me hold his jagged edges for him.”

In the end, I loved Boys with Sharp Teeth. I’m still mind blown I was able to read an early copy of it, and I don’t think this is something I’ll be able to shut up about for a long time coming. I can’t wait to see Jenni’s journey as an author, because I know she is sure to flourish if BWST is any indication.

Also, I will forever be an Adrian apologist and I’m not even sorry.

“I only ever played for you.” “Even before I knew you, the music was always yours. You don’t know how much I needed -- I could never find you ugly. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever dreamed.”

Boys with Sharp Teeth is a book that lingers—both in its hauntingly beautiful prose and the emotions it evokes. I appreciate that I didn’t have the time to devour this in one sitting because it gave me space to truly sit with my thoughts and process how each chapter made me feel. Every time I put my Kindle down, I found myself still wrapped in its world, the weight of its tension and beauty settling in my chest.

The vibes? Immaculate. The tension? Chef’s kiss. The characters? They will live in my heart eternally. This is the kind of story that is so well-written, so deeply affecting, that I know I will be thinking about it years from now.

🪞“So much life in you,” he says. “I want it all.”🪞



୨ৎ Hot broken people 

୨ৎ Unlikable hot broken people

୨ৎ Ghosts, devils, vampires oh my

୨ৎ Unreliable narrator

୨ৎ Boys who play the violin and ride motorcycles

୨ৎ Secrets, lies, betrayal

୨ৎ Hidden identities

୨ৎ Philosophy and Shakespeare 

୨ৎ Horror and mystery

Rating ➡️ 3.5 ✨


What in the frickin frack did I just read?



This book took me some time to get into, and even then, I wasn’t quite sure of what I was reading. Honestly, I just vibed. I surrendered and let the story take me. The prose is often so verbose and meandering that if I stopped too long to puzzle over what was going on, I’d have dropped out of the story. Much of this book will feel like word soup. This story is disorienting and tedious just as Jenni wanted it to be, I suspect. Because of that, this book will be very divisive and probably won’t be palatable to a wider audience. However I have just enough freak in me I fucked with it.

I was captivated by the toxic push and pull between the characters and the dark games they played. I was rooting for Marin’s pursuit of justice as she untangled the dark web of lies she found herself in.
I have confidence that this book will find its right niche of people despite its misleading blurb.


Much of this book’s plot requires you not to ask too many questions and suspend your disbelief in order to enjoy it. Is it believable that Marin could so easily enroll into an elite boarding school by simply dying her hair? No, babe. Shh, don’t think about it too much. Just go with it.



Is it believable that the events of this story could take place over barely a month’s time? No. That’s not long enough to infiltrate a tight-knit group of friends and build enough trust that people would want to divulge their darkest secrets. But we vibe, we go with the flow, and we settle into the fever dream.



🪞“I wish my dreams didn’t have such sharp teeth.”🪞



While this book is YA and does lean into some well-known YA tropes, I felt the storytelling was mature enough that it didn’t read overly juvenile. There were some very dark themes that wouldn’t be appropriate for too young of a reader, and checking trigger warnings is highly suggested.



It is quite clear that Jenni Howell is a talented writer, and for this being a debut novel, I am impressed. With more heavy-handed plotting and editing, I think there is a very bright future for her stories, and I’m excited to see what she comes up with next.

Thank you, Net Galley & the publisher for the arc.

thought I was getting dark academia and vampires, and while we definitely got dark academia I kinda wish the vampires were there. As a mostly fantasy reader it’s admittedly hard for me to suspend disbelief for stories set in our own world.

I can accept that kids at a boarding school may have murdered someone, I can accept some of the actions of the characters and even their elitist, pretentious and aloof attitudes about life and philosophy. I cannot accept that an elite boarding school wouldn’t require tuition to be paid up front. I mean, even my kid’s daycare requires that!

Even without vampires, these boys do have some sharp edges and the story maintains a constant state of tension and unease. You know something is off, but can’t put your finger on it. The thing I found so impressive was the way I could feel Jamie’s desire and the tension between her and Henry and Graves and simultaneously still feel her hesitation of getting to close to their sharp edges. I don’t know how I feel about the paranormal aspects of the book- and the mirror and what is seen or not seen and who is viewing what was confusing at times- but it’s a cool concept that helps makes sense of the overall creepy vibe and I like the imagery it creates.

I will not be finishing this book and not posting a rating beyond Netgalley. I got about half way through before ultimately deciding this wasn't for me. I do think I thought this was a queer story and also more adult than it turned out being.

Unfortunately, the writing style wasn't my favorite and my suspension of disbelief was not strong enough to overcome key aspects of the story. It has an interesting main plot but felt like it was trying to hard with everything else.

Absolutely gripping from beginning to end. I couldn't stop myself, i had to know where this rollercoaster was leading to. Marin is multi-layered protagonist, i honestly quite liked how she juggled between all the grey areas of her personal life, trauma and the persona she gave to huntsworth academy. "when the real and supernatural begin to crumble". yes, absolute yes. from the beginning, the author is working crescendo with her blurred lines -- until you cannot say the sky from the earth. Marin never loses her reasons for her presence at the academy and that's really refreshing. we, as reader, are like her, we know what is our end goal and we know one thing: we are ready to do everything and more to see it through. until the castle crumble and give Marin the reality-check that she is human and is dealing with other human beings, she may be chasing the truth for someone who's dead -- but she's still well alive and the people she needs are too. catching feelings is the most human thing: love, hate. Marin doesn't play in between, at least that's what she wants to believe, but as the reader, you see the cracks in her walls, all the potential of who she could be if. always if. the end is as fitting as it could have ever been, the circle is circling.

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

A book with queer vampires? That's going to be five stars for me. The plot, pacing, story, and characters did not disappoint as well. I highly recommend this book if it sounds remotely interesting to you.

“Death is the easiest thing in the world.”

plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So incredibly thankful to be able to read a digital arc of this from the publishers.

This is my first five star read in quite literally months. This book was so beautifully written with characters that are tragic and yet beautiful, with so much depth. I read it in one sitting. I could not get enough, every time I would take a break this book was all I could think about. I was drawn to it.

This story has everything I could ever want: romance, mystery, the eerie feeling that something wasn’t quite right, characters that are interesting just as individuals- even when you take away the story.

It was an enticing tale of grief, love and hate- and what separates the emotions… and what doesn’t. I have very few books I would re-read in my lifetime, but this is one of them. Even now, writing this, I am still in awe at both the simplicity and the complexity of this book-and trying to figure out how it can be both at once.

Jenni Howell is incredible at giving the readers fascinating stories that aren’t too complicated and elaborate, but still have teeth.

Be wary of the things that look back from your reflection

| young adult fiction | dark academia | thriller | psychological thriller | philosophy | contemplative | mystery | paranormal | PNR | love and hate | eerie | spooky | reflection | mind bending | lush | gothic | murder | thought provoking | beautifully dark | captivating | debut novel | psychology | emotions | revenge |

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, yes.
Is it spicy? No, this is not that kind of story.

This is not a story of romance, but rather a twisted and teetering push and pull between love and hate, dream and reality. For fans of deep philosophical thought, this story is set in a world of dark academia. You may enter Huntsworth Academy bright-eyed and full of purpose, but inevitably, you will leave utterly reeling, lost, and on the brink of near emotional exhaustion.

This story will have you contemplating the meaning and reality of your existence and asking yourself abstract questions you may have never considered to contemplate. If you know anything about philosophy and the questions that arise in philosophical thought, you will find great meaning in this story.

A story of revenge containing all the twisted, dark, and depraved feelings of someone lusting after retribution. Reading this story felt like a fever dream, leaving me ravenous for its cavernous conclusion. Boys with Sharp Teeth will intrigue and infect you with doubt, lucidity, and delusion. Like a fever dream, you may wonder: Is this happening, or am I crazy?

The writing of Jenni Howell is not to be underestimated. The language, cadence, and complexity of her writing are like nothing I have ever read. It was powerful, beautiful, and lavishly lush. Full of complexities and descriptions that feel the way a secretive whisper lingers, like it is just for you.

I never read thrillers, but I was so intrigued by this story. It was so mysterious and thought-provoking that I could not describe the events or thoughts of this book- only that it is something you will understand, which cannot be explained.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for review. This in no way affects my opinion of the book. Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Reading, Friends xx

This is a spoiler-free review! This is an ARC review - Boys with Sharp Teeth will be available on April 8, 2025.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this book - and its gorgeous cover - drew me in immediately, and I was thrilled that a paranormal mystery would be making its way into my pile. This book does not waste any time in introducing the main character and the haunting reason on why she has enrolled in Huntsworth Academy. Right off the bat, I was reminded of how I felt when reading The Secret History by Donna Tartt - there was something sinister in the air, and you could tell that there were secrets hidden between the walls of this school and its students.

Marin has infiltrated this prestigious school in order to uncover her cousin's murderer, and in order to do so, she has enrolled under the alias Jamie Vane, and is quick to associate herself with the group of students she suspects of being guilty. With Henry, Adrian, and Baz at the top of her list, she begins her quest to gain evidence and confessions to the crime that took her cousin from her, all while trying not to tip them off or reveal her true identity. However, things are not as they seem at this school, and something much more unnerving has encompassed the lives of some of these students. As Marin grows closer to her peers, she unknowingly thrusts herself into a paranormal conundrum that has its talons in the very individuals she seeks answers from.

Henry and Adrian's relationship is so incredibly complex and as readers, we are able to see how co-dependent and intricate it is, even without necessarily having their perspectives throughout the book. We see their lives tethered together through Marin's eyes and the slow progression of Marin herself being weaved into their intimate and alluring dependency. My mind kept referring to the trio as the evil Challengers - everything from their interactions to their intimacies are convoluted and go well beyond the surface level. Adrian and Henry go in tandem with one another - where one is, the other follows - and this certainly causes some riffs as the story goes on and Marin develops differing relationships with the boys.

I fell in love with the setting of this book - Howell does an excellent job immersing the reader into the story and making you feel as though you are walking the halls or attending the parties with the students. The introduction of paranormal elements was a great choice - much like Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo, we are able to enter a dark academia setting while experiencing something greater than mortal beings. This addition to the story only solidified my interest and captured me into the plot - we discover everything as Marin does, and it allows us to stay oblivious to the true nature of some of the students until the very moment the information is revealed and we are thrust into the mortifying truth.

Boys with Sharp Teeth was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads and it truly lived up to all of my expectations. Rarely do I see a young adult mystery that captures the true horrors of what people are capable of while also diving into the unknown and paranormal. This is the perfect book for those looking to ease into the genre without being overloaded with information. Howell's incorporation of Decartes and classical literature elevated the undertones of this novel to the fullest extent, and makes me even more excited to Meditations, which has been sitting on my shelf for a few months begging me to crack it open.

🪞ARC REVIEW🪞

• It's a bit difficult to find the words to describe what I think of this debut novel. I was entranced, in awe, disgusted, and felt so many raw emotions as I read this unique story. I was constantly in wonder over what would happen next.

• Boys With Sharp Teeth is a dark novel that intertwines philosophical ideas into its poetic writing, filled with love, hate, obsession, fears, and more. It dives into the complexities of life and death, and how not everything is black and white, easy to trust or understand. It makes you question the true reasoning for the death of the FMC's cousin.

• While I didn't like some of the situations that occurred in the novel, I can understand why the author wrote it the way she did. I'm still in shock, trying to wrap my head around the crazy ending. This novel was a delightful surprise, one that will live in my mind for many years to come.
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🪞If you enjoy these tropes, give it a try:🪞

🪞Thriller
🪞Dark Academia
🪞Plot Twists
🪞Hidden Identity
🪞Murder Mystery
🪞Complex Characters
🪞Messages Exchanged With Unknown Character

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 4.5/5
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TW: Please be sure to check trigger warnings before reading. Some included are alcohol, drugs, suicidal ideation, death, etc.

I really really wanted to like this book; unfortunately I did not.

✔ The writing style is really atmospheric and lush; it adds so much to the environment and world-building for this world.
✔ Given the dark topics, this was really well balanced between the expectations for YA and a mature storytelling style.

✖ It sometimes felt like the plot went on and on into nowhere. The beautiful writing style didn’t really successfully prop up how boring a significant number of scenes were. I felt like I was far too deep into Marin’s head and not in a good way - especially given how much she second-guesses herself.
✖ Given the slowness of the plot at times, it also didn’t serve the story that we begin with quite a few far reaches in terms of suspending disbelief. How could a 17-year-old successfully leave home, effectively “going missing”, without any police reports/anyone at all recognizing her and how did she fraudulently become a student? The explanation given wasn’t very believable or even sensical.
✖ Some of the characters read as “trying too hard to be edgy” in a way that didn’t always make sense. I appreciate a messed-up morality system as much as the next reader but you can be morally gray/interesting without being at the extreme of any given archetypes/personality traits.

2/5 stars.

Overall, I really hyped up this book and it did not live up to what I wanted out of it. I suspect that I would feel similarly with a reread or even future sequels.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.