Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is normally not a book that I would read, but I did end up really enjoying it. I loved all the characters and the story line. I liked watching the growth of the characters. I did read this book in one day, I did have to know what was going to happen. I would definitely recommend this book.

Rounded up from 3.5. I loved the concept, and the characters are great, but the mystery fell a bit flat to me. I would’ve loved to hang out with these characters in a normal setting, without the looming threat of expulsion. However, I really appreciated the books handling of mental illness, and there was a lot of humor and heart in the writing. Ultimately not for me, but I appreciate the representation of queer youths in non-accepting spaces, which is unfortunately reality for many queer youth, and this tale of resistance may give them some hope that things can and will get better.

When the head cheerleader at their school is attacked and the LGBTQ club is framed, Eleanora Finkel knows that she has to clear their names before their future plans are ruined. Luckily, Eleanora can rely on the help of her close friends and perhaps even an enemy? Yet head cheerleader Kenley doesn’t seem to realize that they’re enemies as Eleanora tries to discover why the club was framed and Kenley was targeted. Can Eleanora find the culprit before the club is disbanded?

Pride or Die is a fast-paced and exhilarating thriller! I found it hard to put down and enjoyed the action-packed adventure. Eleanora is a very relatable character and I loved the strong friendships that she had in the club. I also enjoyed her connection with Kenley. CL Montblanc writes about serious themes of homophobia, while crafting a beautiful friendship group who will do anything for each other. I’m excited to see what CL Montblanc writes next! Readers who enjoy unputdownable YA thrillers and fantastic LGBTQ characters will love this book.

Thank you so much to CL Montblanc, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

I picked this book because of the cover (chuckle). I freaking love this cover by Kerri Resnick. It stands out and yet says queer at the same time. It looks ominous and campy at the same time. Genius.

First let me say: this is NOT a horror book (chuckle). The cover kind of makes you think that, but it is not. It’s a mystery about an attempted murder of a mean girl by the ones she picks on the most. It’s Texas so homophobia dominates the story and the kids' motives.

CL Montblanc writes a cute romance. It is very reminiscent of most of the young adult movies out now (Cruel Summer 2021). There are twists, turns, and multiple red herrings. It's a fun and easy ride without any of the I Know What You Did Last Summer (2021) feels.

Pride or Die has a diverse cast with many realistic touches as every kid deals with something. Eleanora suffers from anxiety and is raised by her Mom. Then there are kids dealing with IBS, parental addiction, abandonment, racism, and ADHD. I’m so here for it.

Overall, it’s not a bad way to spend an afternoon. Pride or Die is a light mystery with romances thrown in. You won’t have to turn on the light after dark for this one (chuckle).

Neutral 3 stars
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DNF @ 30%

I was super excited for this one, but I just couldn’t get into it. For a YA book, it felt juvenile, the language and writing was super simplistic. The book wasn’t engaging me and nothing about the plot or characters was drawing me in. Great representation, but I was just bored in the parts I read. Nothing in it hooked me enough to finish.

I won’t be reviewing elsewhere.

I think that there are some lovely representations in this book. So many different members of the LGBTQ+ community are visible, and I love how they are fighting not only to clear their name but make their school a safe place for others who might want to join their group. I also enjoyed how the main character is forced to face the fact that their actions were hurtful, and they then can try and address the school and change popular opinion. The crime itself was okay. I was truly not blown away by this book. Nor did I get swept up in the search for who committed the crime. The ending was okay but nothing super stellar.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I enjoyed the book's message of change, not having to be on a massive scale. I think it helps the audience feel more hopeful about fighting against a system that isn’t built for you and that is constantly against you. I do wish that the characters felt a little bit more developed and we got to know more about them. While there were some fun moments in their investigation, the stakes weren’t able to create the thrilling/tension feeling that I search for in a mystery book.

Pride or Die by CL Montblanc is a clever young adult novel that touches on socially relevant issues.

Seventeen-year-old Eleanora Finkel is the founder of her high school’s LGBTQ+ club. She may be ready to leave Texas behind after graduation, but she wants the club to be there for future students. The school principal is always just a step away from shutting the club down and when a popular student is the victim of an attempted murder, the club members are his prime suspects. Eleanora and her friends are determined to find the person responsible and save the club but will they uncover the truth before it is too late?

Eleanora is the perfect narrator for this engaging mystery. She is stubborn and will do anything to protect her friends. Eleanora often jumps in feet first and her plans sometimes hurt than they help. She also does not interpret events or people correctly since she tends to be more negative than positive. But Eleanora’s heart is always in the right place so it is not difficult to root for her and her friends.

Pride or Die is a humorous young adult novel with the perfect amount of madcap adventure and character growth. The characters are diverse and well-developed. The depictions of high school are spot on and will make adult readers glad those years are behind them. Eleanora and her friends fly a little too much by the seats of their pants but they almost always emerge unscathed. Although the attacker is a bit easy to guess, CL Montblanc does an excellent job keeping readers guessing about other plot points. An overall fun read that I enjoyed and recommend to adult and teen readers.

CL Montblanc’s Pride or Die is a sharp, snarky debut that blends dark comedy, mystery, and the messy magic of queer teenhood into one irresistible ride. It’s part Knives Out, part Booksmart, and fully original in its voice and energy.

Eleanora Finkel is the anxiety-ridden, painfully relatable heroine we never knew we needed. All she wants is to escape her conservative Texas town in one piece—but when the head cheerleader is attacked during her LGBTQ+ club meeting, suddenly she and her friends are prime suspects in an attempted murder. And just like that, her senior year becomes a murder mystery with real stakes, twisted suspects, and a suspiciously cute victim.

The story shines brightest in its characters: a wonderfully chaotic cast of queer teens who are messy, loyal, and hilariously unqualified to solve a crime, but determined to do it anyway. The banter is on point, the emotional beats sneak up on you, and Montblanc never loses sight of the very real challenges queer teens face—even as the plot keeps things fast-paced and fun.

A few plot conveniences keep this from being a full five stars (some reveals feel a tad rushed or too neat), but the heart, humor, and representation make Pride or Die an unforgettable debut.

If you like your mysteries served with sarcasm, sapphic tension, and a side of social justice, don’t miss this one. It’s funny, fearless, and exactly the kind of story today’s YA needs.

This young adult (YA) novel follows four teens who create and lead an LGBTQ+ club at their high school. Despite not always being taken seriously, they remain determined to provide a safe and affirming space for those in the community. When a crime occurs just outside their meeting room and they’re implicated, the teens must band together to clear their names. As they work to solve the mystery, they also face stigma, stereotypes, and real attacks on their identities.

What stood out to me most was the writing — it was engaging and enlightening, with a twist of mystery, which is my favorite genre. The author strikes a great balance between serious themes and humor, making the story both meaningful and enjoyable. This book feels especially timely and relevant for young readers today. It encourages empathy and understanding, and it’s a reminder of how important it is to center the voices and experiences of marginalized communities — not just in literature, but in real life, too.

This is campy. People should not go into this expecting it not to be campy, because its honestly what makes it so fun.
This wasn't anything revolutionary, but it was a lot of fun. There are a lot of kind of campy ridiculous murder mysteries in the YA genre (and i should know, I've read most of them), and they are always centring straight white characters. This is a great example of adding representation to a genre without having to make the book just about the struggle of being a minority. Its fun, its ridiculous, and its gay.
Also- to all the reviewers saying it's unrealistic that police keep interviewing these minors without their guardians present: i hate to be the one to tell y'all this, but in many states anyone over 16 is not legally required to have a guardian present when talking to police. It's not the book being unrealistic, it's the justice system being bad.

The quick cut: Members of a high school LGBTQ+ club have to play detective when framed for the attempted murder of a classmate.

A real review:
Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing the arc for an honest review.

It's hard to fathom why discrimination and hatred are still such strong forces in this world. What is there to gain from being mean to those who live differently from you? For Eleanora and the LGBTQ+ club, this is a very pertinent question.

Eleanora is far too used to being discriminated against. Living in a small town, she's seen how the LGBTQ community is held to a different standard than others. When a cheerleader at their school gets attacked and the police investigate the crime, everyone is more than happy to blame the LGBTQ+ club who was meeting nearby. The principal and police are more than happy to get on board for that easy targeting too. Unless they're willing to have their futures derailed, they'll need to find the attacker themselves.

I wanted to like this story on so many levels because of the premise and opportunity for more diverse representation. In this author's YA debut though, they tried to do too much and it all fell flat for me. If you're going to tackle a very real issue of discrimination, it's way too tough to do that well while keeping a joking tone. In the end, it comes off as disingenuous at best.

I wish that was my only issue too, but the characters were bothering me as well. The core teens were not very well developed and I kept hoping for more depth in their development.

The adults were written in such a way that they acted like children. I know these things happen, but to this level? It almost feels like this book was written for inappropriate middle schoolers rather than the young adult crowd.

A mystery story that would have been better served with a serious tone.

My rating: 2.5 out of 5

While I understand that YA is meant for younger readers, that doesn't necessarily mean that books in the genre should feel juvenile. I don't know any teens (and I work with 18-year-olds) who need to be talked down to or feel like they're reading something written for a child; that's a great way to get teens disinterested in reading.

And unfortunately, this book felt like it was talking down to its YA audience. It felt more middle-grade in a lot of ways, from the often groan-worthy humor to its lack of logic (including several instances of police officers questioning minors without informing, let alone including, their guardians). The mystery never feels all that urgent, and the perpetrator is referred to as a "killer" throughout, even though no one is killed.

It's all very frustrating for me, and I can't imagine younger readers connecting well with this, at least not the reluctant ones I'm constantly trying to reach.

This was a fun read! I loved following along with the main characters as they investigated the mystery. I really enjoyed the writing, it had me cracking up in several parts. I loved the LGBTQ+ rep.

I think teens will really enjoy this one, especially teens who love dark comedies and mysteries.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

3.5⭐️

5 Stars for Eleanora Finkel creating a school club in efforts to allow others a safe space!

Furthermore, I did enjoy the journey of seeing Eleanora Finkel and her friends/fellow club members work towards revealing who has it out for their school's head cheerleader. I feel like I should have known right away, but I did like the reveal!! Also, I will say that with the romance that occurred within this story at first I did not believe in it, but by the end of the story I appreciated the dialogue that was provided in regards to the romance.

I really enjoyed this book! Honestly I was hooked based on the very first sentence. This book is very funny in a dark comedic way (which is my kind of humor!) The author does an excellent job mixing humor and a murder mystery with very real and relevant topics.

I really liked the different characters and loved how they were trying to create this safe space not just for themselves, but all the students coming after them.

I love a good jaw dropping moment and I admit I did not see the twist coming!! If you love murder mysteries and dark comedy, I would definitely give this a read!

✨What To Expect:
🏡Small Town
⁉️YA Thriller-ish
💋Sapphic Romance
🔪Murder Mystery
🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ+ Club
🖤Dark Comedy
😂Witty Banter
🌪️Twists & Turns

A dark comedy TO DIE FOR. I fell hard for CL Montblanc's writing style--fast paced and filled with witty banter. I love a story with a mystery and this one was perfection. Loved all of the plot twists. What a fun read.

Great representation and I enjoyed the dark humor. The pacing was a little slower than what I like in a mystery but overall it was a good read with characters I really enjoyed!

What an odd and entertaining little book this was. CL Montblanc's debut novel, Pride or Die, was less serious than I expected, though I think it perfectly captures a tone that will appeal to teen readers. Going in I was expecting more of a Karen McManus, One of Us is Lying, type of story. There is a mystery element that carries through the entire book, but this is far more comedic and goofier than McManus.

Eleanora "Fink" Finkel is the president of her High School's LGBTQIA+ club, which is often targeted by bigoted students and the Ed Rooney/Richard Vernon style principal. As if it weren't difficult enough to be a queer teen growing up in Texas, the small group finds themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time when a popular cheerleader is attacked, and the club immediately become the prime suspects. As she and her group attempt to clear their names through several poorly devised schemes, they find themselves getting deeper into trouble.

I sped through this, enjoying the antics and juvenile interactions between the characters. I think this is really more geared for a younger audience. I think some adult readers might struggle to appreciate the way Montblanc characterizes the teens (even if it is pretty accurate). I can see a lot of my students really enjoying the light, fast-paced story. Montblanc does well with addressing important topics but not getting too bogged down or shifting the tone too dramatically. Overall, this was a strong debut and I look forward to seeing what comes next from CL Montblanc.

C. L. Montblanc’s debut novel is a young adult mystery featuring several members of the senior class at Hillview High School in fictional Cabotsville, Texas. Eleanora just wants to finish her senior year and get out of Texas. However, when her club meeting coincides with an attack on the school’s head cheerleader, she and her friends find themselves the prime suspects in an attempted murder.

Unable to rely upon the principal, teachers, or the police, Eleanora, Tyler, Noah, and Salim decide to clear their names and ensure the survival of their club for future teens. They’re not detectives, but they decide their only choice is to become sleuths and solve the mystery. The club is for those who identify differently or are unsure of their orientation or those who need a safe haven among friends.

The four main characters are reasonably well developed. The story is from Eleanora’s point of view and she has the most depth. She is headstrong, tends to go full speed ahead, and cares about having a safe haven for future students. She also tends to make everything her burden to carry. Readers get a good feel for several of the supporting characters, including Kenley, the cheerleader and her boyfriend.

The novel starts with the attempted murder in the first chapter and a lot of the story is about solving the mystery and finding who actually is responsible for the attack. However, the book is about much more than that. It has threads woven throughout the novel about bullying, secrets, gossip, lies, teenagers trying to get into colleges, reputations being ruined, and irresponsible adults trying to blame the action on a group for expediency rather than fully investigating the crime.

The premise of the novel is great. However, I felt that several of the adults were somewhat exaggerated, especially the police reliance on Principal Ballard’s word versus evidence. Additionally, the minors were questioned without a parent or guardian. While there is some humor sprinkled throughout the book, the topics it explores are serious and these are what kept me invested in the story. The actual culprit was a little too easily discerned, but there are a couple of other surprises in the somewhat over-the-top ending.

Overall, this is an engaging debut young adult mystery novel full of teen angst that also has some plot twists along with social commentary. It has a great message without excessive and unnecessary oversimplification.

St. Martin’s Press – Wednesday Books and Lindy Ryan provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for April 15, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.