Absolutely beautiful prose. I love the aspects of the paranormal woven in, and though I did predict the murder, I still did not expect that final twist at the end!

Thank you to Net Galley for the eARC!

A girl seeking revenge against the group of students who murdered her cousin finds herself in over her head as she becomes entangled with them and her feelings begin to grow twisted. To say I didn't like this book was putting it lightly. This had me so excited from the get go, the tag line "they're wicked, she's worse" completely got me, and the whole cover made it seem like it would be queer, and then throwing in "raven boys" completely sold me... but the red flags were there and I should have known better. The first red flag is "we were liars" and honestly I should have turned away from this book souley based on that. Marin/Jamie is going to go undercover to solve her beloved cousins murder ( completely unreleastic how she goes about it and you never feel the actual familial love between Marin and her cousin you're just told.) Marin immediately falls in love with the guys who are involved in her cousins murder (in this insta love weird love triangle) and honestly it just came out of nowhere, there was zero chemistry and it made no sense. Next issue, the whole fact that the cover doesn't even include Baz, the other member of the group so that the cover makes it seem like a poly/queer book when THERE IS NOTHING QUEER OR POLY ABOUT THIS BOOK. This book was an entire case of : wayyyyyy to long, nothing happens, and just ridiculousness. I was dragged until the end, and even the end was so unsatisfactory. The mystery was so bland, the relationship and resolution of it all was just not good. Anyone who is rating this 5 stars, I have questions, did we read the same book? For a book titled "boys with sharp teeth" this entire experience felt like I was being torn apart with the dullest butter knife and it just keeps going. I adore dark academia murder mystery, I love a complex love interest, I love a revenge story, yet somehow none of that actually worked in this. Suffice to say, this is not for me, but I guess if you love We Were Liars, you'll have a fantastic time with this one.

Release Date: April 8, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Roaring Brook Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

**spoiler warning for this review**

I think people will either love this or hate it. I personally loved it. The dark academia atmosphere was perfect, the deeply flawed and morally grey cast of characters were interesting, and the supernatural twist was a very pleasant surprise for me.

The prose was beautiful and poetic. Even though it was a bit over the top some times in my opinion, it just really worked for these characters, who were brilliant and formidable in the outside, and full of grief and pain on the inside.

I enjoyed “Jamie’s” relationship with each character, especially the toxic moments. I was fascinated by the philosophical questions and the way that was weaved into their real life.

I was not expecting a paranormal twist, but I was pleasantly surprised by it. It caught me off guard, but not in a bad way at all. The horror elements/imagery of shades and broken mirrors and detached souls resonated with me and was a really unique reading experience for me.

I am a major fan of a bitter sweet ending, so I LOVED the end. That sort of punch in the gut you feel when you realize not everything is going to be unicorns and rainbows for everyone is a feeling I love in these types of stories.

The characters motivations and some of the magical elements involved felt a bit blurry around the edges, like they weren’t completely fleshed out, and this is where I think it will lose some people, but for me it worked. It was psychological, philosophical, and a bit cerebral at times which is a vibe I find I really like in this setting.

I recommend this for fans of YA paranormal horror and dark academia, and who love their characters flawed and morally grey.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the early e-copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was really intrigued by the premise, and I personally thought it had a good start, though I did find it a bit unbelievable that not a single soul cared Marin had been missing, right after her cousin was found dead, and for a prestigious school to allow her to continue taking classes when her tuition continued to not be paid.
I did like the supernatural elements, and finding out what was going on/who was the killer, but I think that’s when things also started getting confusing and little unclear as to what was happening. Ended with the possibility of more, and overall I liked the more mature nature of this book and the exploration of emotions and trauma bonding.

Not amazing, but pretty okay.

I wanted to love this. The concept is interesting, but I had to DNF at 70%. I am typically a character-driven reader, but I felt like nothing was happening, not even a little bit. I also did not care about any of the characters. I saw this marketed as a cross with Raven Boys, and I would disagree. It has Southern Gothic vibes, but that is the only similarity.

I have seen a lot of people enjoying this, especially readers who love books like The Secret History or philosophical books. That is not me.

I will say that the audio production was fantastic. The narrator really fits the character.

Thank you to Roaring Brook Press and MacMillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.

“I am Jamie Vane. At least until I find the three students who murdered my cousin—and make them pay.”

Boys with Sharp Teeth is set within the gates of Huntsworth Academy, the enigmatic boarding school that caters to the wealthy elite. When Marin finds her cousin Sam’s dead body on school property, everyone is quick to dismiss it as an accidental overdose, but Marin isn’t convinced. To find out what really happened to Sam, Marin hatches a risky plan: she will enter the school as Jamie Vane, track down the three students who could be responsible for her cousin’s murder—Henry, Adrian, and Baz—and get a confession to avenge Sam’s death. But during a party held unexpectedly in Sam’s honor, Jamie discovers a hidden side to the three students buried in philosophy studies and covered mirrors. Through it all, the truth seems impossible and the lies seem unending.

Jenni Howell’s novel combines demanding revenge, taunting lies, and enthralling characters. The first thing that I really enjoyed about this novel was the writing. It was evocative and compelling, and I found myself slowing down to really appreciate how well this book was crafted. There is a blend of psychological thriller and complex philosophy that fits into the dark academia aesthetic perfectly. I also really liked the characters. Jamie, the narrator, craves the truth behind the murder that changed everything for her. She had moments that made me shake my head but even more that made me root for her. Baz is tender, and I really wanted to protect her. Henry and Adrian are two sides of the same coin, and they kept me constantly questioning who they really were. However, I will acknowledge that while the book is marketed as a romance story with vampires, that is not really how I would define this story. The paranormal aspect centers around mirrors, and I enjoyed how it kept me guessing about what was happening, but there weren’t any vampires. While there were moments that could be considered romantic, the story more so showcased begrudging tensions with Adrian and reluctant games with Henry. Though this might be considered a drawback, I think this fits perfectly within the narrative. Boys with Sharp Teeth was a rollercoaster that I couldn’t put down, and it fit every aspect of dark academia that I could hope for.

DNF @40%

I really wanted to love this book. I had been following along with the marketing and was hooked by the premise and the first couple chapters, I truly believed it could be a favorite. But it really quickly started feeling like a chore to get through.

At the point I'm at in the book it still feels as though absolutely nothing has happened. And although a bit of plotlessness or fluff is usually okay with a book it only really works when you at least somewhat care about the characters and I just don't. They feel kinda empty so I can't bring myself to want to know what's happening to them.

Maybe someday I'll bring myself to finish the book but as of now I just dont see it happening.

Loved this book. It was what I needed to read for dark academia. The plot moved along well and kept me on my toes.

I need more books from Jenni asap! This is a dark, gothic, and delicious crime dark academia with a romance that you can sink your teeth into. Such good stuff.

Boys with sharp teeth is an absolutely terrifying ride, I LOVED it. Between having an untrustworthy narrator and the kind of suspense that oozes from every page it’s quite possibly impossible to put down. I cannot believe this is Jenni’s debut novel, it’s an absolute feat of both poetic prose and masterful world building. I wish I could read this again for the first time it took bite out of me and I never want to go back.

Based on online advertising and what I heard about this book, I thought I would love Boys With Sharp Teeth. Dark academia, comped with The Raven Cycle, and seemingly queer. The premise was interesting, a girl going to a boarding school to find her cousin’s killer, but I kept getting lost in the plot. Marin/Jamie’s actions did not match her character. I had a hard time following her plans. When she started developing attraction toward the people who she thought killed her cousin, it was very unbelievable and unappealing to me. This book felt like it was trying too hard to be something it wasn’t. It tried to be heavy and dark and philosophical, but the plot felt too random, too unserious, and too unbelievable. The themes of revenge and twisted desires and Marin trying to find out who she really is were all too contradictory to work well together. The characters felt forced into being these dark and mysterious characters obsessed with death, but they didn’t feel real and their actions made little sense. I had no idea of their goals and Marin just counted them as evil from the start, never letting them really develop to much else. Marin’s thoughts and actions were too confusing and contradictory to follow or believe. The sense of the supernatural was kept in the background for far too long. I had no idea what was real and what wasn’t and it wasn’t a satisfactory mystery to find out. I wasn’t rooting for Marin to win by the end, not to win a game only she was playing for a weird sense of revenge on people she judged without knowing. I wasn’t rooting for her to be with any of the characters either—and I wrongly went into the book thinking it was going to be polyamorous. I would not compare this to The Raven Cycle, which is one of my top series of all time. The premise of this story was fun and it could have been very good if developed more, but I couldn’t enjoy it as it was. I will not be reviewing this book on my social media because it really was not for me.

This book just isn't for me. I keep trying to get myself through this. I am a lover of dark academia and mystery books but this just doesn't do it for me. Here's why I only made it 19%

- I hate the main character. Jamie is so short sighted. She gets herself into such a vulnerable situation with these kids who likely killed her cousin, yes maybe it's because shes a teen, but she's also supposed to be smart. The book keeps telling me that shes bored in her normal pubic school and she should have been here at this fancy school and yet every choice she makes feels so stupid.
- You're telling me the cops didn't talk to the 3 kids who were with the teen who died when he died? I get the racism but they had his phone, and his key chain at least and that's in the first 10 pages of this book. And the last text he sent... came after his death? WHAT? Why is no one looking for the killer? This seems too solvable?
- Why is Jamie's dad not looking for her?
- Why does Graves not recognize her? They have met before. He should have been onto her in seconds, he's literally the smartest kid in the smart kid school.
- Why is there school on the weekend?
- Also no teacher even in a fancy private school would expect a kid who started yesterday to turn in a 10 page paper today, that's wild.
- The CHUNKS of this book that are just philosophy or Shakespeare or whatever smart kid school stuff... like I just can't.

I always start writing these and realize I liked a book even less than I thought I did. Anyway this was putting me in a reading slump and I just couldn't so this one is a DNF for me. But if you like brain off creepy vibe books with closed campus mystery this would prob really do it for you! Also all the characters are really hot, so her romancing this prob great! Also I read that there may be a love triangle so keep that in mind.

I received this arc from Netgalley. Review by Nic @polycraftory on Instagram, Tumblr, and Tiktok, where I do book reviews and crafts with my polycule. If you are curious about my thoughts on more books, you can find me @businesswife on Storygraph. You can also find content warnings on my Storygraph review of this book. You can also find my reviews @polycraftory on Goodreads.

Thank you NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for this ARC Copy!

I saw this cover and became instantly obsessed with this book and could not wait to read it. I will say that I was deceived by the cover in a big way, but not necessary in a bad way. This story was in absolutely nothing like what I expected going into it, and I would definitely not classify as dark academia. Very little of the story is based around academia and really is just about a pretentious boarding school.

I am still not really sure how the whole story played out, there was a lot going on and a lot of crazy situations, and long monologs about anger and revenge, as well as obsession, and attachment to each other. I think the purple prose was absolutely haunting at times and this book definitely scratched that southern gothic itch, but it is also more of a thriller than anything.

This book grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go—twisting you through grief, vengeance, messy justice, and the kind of slow-burn chaos that makes your skin crawl in the best way. Jenni spins a tale that’s equal parts gorgeous and disturbing, and it lingers.

It starts with a familiar set up: elite boarding school, a girl with a plan, two dangerous boys, and a whole lot of feelings no one wants to name. But there’s something sinister under the surface, a quiet dread building behind every line, whispering that this is not your average dark academia drama. And when it hits? It hits!!!

If you love your fiction morally messy, beautifully written, and just a little bit cursed—you’re in for a ride. Just maybe avoid any reflective surfaces for a while.

This was definitely an anticipated read, but unfortunately fell short for me.
The writing is dark and atmospheric which I really enjoyed, but from the start you really have to suspend reality. Somehow things fall into place perfectly and immediately, and the story just moves on. The plot became very drawn out and was one of those reads that felt like it could have been a much shorter book.
I did enjoy the mystery, with a little supernatural feel thrown in, but unfortunately just did not feel connected to the story or the characters.
I hope others really love this book, but it just did not do it for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this digital ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Roaring Brook Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Dark academia setting, characters you can't trust, and the ooze of wealth and privilege.

3.5 ⭐️

What I liked:
- the setting
- the book is on the older side of the YA spectrum
- potential queer yearning, though I did not like that the queerness was inexplicit--it can leave readers feeling like it was just a grab for a queer audience if you don't flesh it out.
- I didn't know what was really going on until the very end

What I didn't like:
- there was a lot of telling instead of showing
- I wasn't convinced that Jamie could really infiltrate this school without actually impersonating a person who existed
- This is a critique of MANY books set in schools but if we are bothering to be in the classroom, it should be relevant. It felt like there was a lot of going to class just because that's where they were supposed to be, instead of a scene continuing the plot. Also, unnecessary dialogue that left me feeling like "hello class let's get started" immediately followed up with "okay, class is over, see you later."
- I am dissatisfied with the explanation for the magic at play.
- It was so monotonous at parts that I would realize I had accidentally skimmed and missed something, like when she realizes Graves was the one writing in the book.
- I also don't think that I fully understood why cutting was relevant to Henry staying full, but again I might have accidentally missed that. It felt like another way to just "be edgy."
- The cover really should have included Baz.

Would I recommend? Maybe, to people who love a dark academia setting and a mystery.

Well...this was disappointing.

You can't invoke the Raven Boys and not understand what that means, but it was part of the reason I requested this on NetGalley. I was let down. Other than having hot guys and a supernatural thread, it has nothing in common with that masterpiece.

The good things: the dark academia vibes are there although I think this story would've benefited greatly as a college rather than high school setting (there's no world in which I believe conservative rich jerks would let their kids live in coed dorms, let alone coed suites). The two leading lads, Henry and Graves, are alluring in their own ways, and there's enough chaos that you are left wondering. The two major twists at the end are very dark, and leave the story on a pitch black note.

BUT.

Have you ever read something that's trying very hard to sound good instead of be good? That's this. Some of the scenes, the descriptions of emotions, the use of philosophy - sound great. But there's no depth. These people are shallow streams trying hard to oceans.

Second, the secondary female character, Baz...I have no way to express how I feel about the plot with her without major spoilers other than F that. What a disservice to someone who is entirely sympathetic and relatable.

I dunno, if you wanna read vibes, the vibes are there, but the story is flat.

This was a difficult book for me to rate because the writing was absolutely gorgeous, but I struggled with the story itself and am honestly not sure I understand what happened in the end. The premise was super interesting - a poor townie impersonates a rich girl to infiltrate with local boarding school to discover why and how her cousin died because she is sure it wasn't from drugs.
She immediately (conveniently??) finds herself rooming with one of her suspects and sharing a floor with the other 2. Nothing really happens to further her investigation for a majority of the book; Marin folds into the routine of going to class, doing homework, evading the headmistress (until she doesn't, and wasn't that a choice...) because the tuition check didn't clear.
Like I said, the writing was gorgeous and I really appreciated it, but I don't think the plot delivered. There is definitely an audience for this book, but unfortunately, it's not me.

After the death of Marin's cousin and best friend is written off as another tragic drug death and left at that, she comes up with a plan to seek justice. She knows exactly who killed him: Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu, two rich pretentious partiers from the local elite boarding school who Sam was "friends" with. So she infiltrates the boarding school and their circle of friends, trying to get close enough to get what she needs to trap them for what they did, but finding so many more dark things, such as that these terrible boys might just be the people who've understood her the best in her life.
One thing I didn't like is that the timeline, which was initially so pressing, kept getting adjusted. First she just needed a weekend, then she had a week, then I think she stayed for almost a month. It took away a lot of the pressure and tension that otherwise would have propelled the book. That and some of the other unrealistic elements--sneaking into this elite boarding school so easily? avoiding recognition from someone she had met?--took away from the story and made it challenging to stay immersed. I also hate how the cover and blurb did Baz so dirty; she's one of the most important characters and we get no mention of her in the marketing? Unfair. (This is not the author's fault, I'm just sad for Baz.) So I will use her to sell the book here: Baz adds a fantastic element for suspense because part of Marin's mission becomes trying to save Baz from the boys. She's also genuinely such a sweet character in the midst of all this darkness. The vibes and atmosphere of this book were really good and saved most of the worse aspects. Also, Marin is such a compellingly dark character. The tagline "They're wicked. She's worse" is a fantastic tagline, and even better, it fits. Her character arc (descent into absolute villainy) is pretty epic.

When Marin James' cousin turns up dead after working at the local prestigious boarding school, Huntsworth Academy, she becomes determined to bring his murderers to justice. She knows their names- Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu- now she just has to prove it. Going undercover as a transfer student, Marin begins to find herself drawn into the allure of their risky behavior and exciting lives.

I found this book extremely difficult to get into and would've DNF'd if it hadn't been for needing to write this review. I had to suspend my belief for most of the beginning of the book. It just didn't seem believable for a 17-year-old to be accepted into a prestigious boarding school, with no tuition paid, no transcripts and forged test scores. Then she gets placed in a co-ed dorm room with the very people she thinks killed her cousin and instead of delving into her cousin's murder, she gets drawn into their partying lifestyle instead. How quickly her priorities shift! They also quickly accept her into their friend group, despite her probing and rude questions about their dark pasts and suspicious murders happening at their school. The teachers don't seem to care where she came from or why she's in their classes. She originally plans on solving the murder with 2 days then ends up staying for multiple weeks, without anyone discovering she isn't actually one of their students. The plot started to shift about halfway through the book, where the creepy happenings and mysterious deaths became more interesting, but I had to plod through the first half of the book, dragging my way there before it got good.


*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***