3.25 Stars ⭐️

Reading this really is an exploration of a friendship between Jessica and Linda. They are school chums, but Jess is used to always having the dominant say in that relationship. She can be a passive bully and plays on Linda’s insecurities and need for family. This relationship works as long as it is not challenged. Yet, when both grow to women and go to College, the dynamic starts to change. Linda begins to assert herself more and branches out some more. Jess wants to have top billing again and have Linda’s adoration. Linda has found a boyfriend, Marc and it remains to be seen his influence on her. The book is moving a bit slow. It also happens as Jess is seeing a therapist and going back to this time in the early 90’s, so that dynamic is a little strange.

So, this was a compelling read, but of all Lisa Hardings books, this is my least favorite. I do like the writing and was ok that the MC, Jess really had some serious flaws. It was just that I wasn’t as pulled to either woman as I usually am. The character development was lacking somewhat. I did enjoy reading this, so wanted a little more from this Story. It didn’t quite come together as I wish it did. This is told as Jess is an adult in her 40’s, speaking to her therapist. I felt that distance from the characters. It felt as if an older, more mature person was telling the story and took away from that usual feeling I get from Lisa Harding where I really feel attached to the young women of 18 and the invincible of youth. There was a scene near the end, that for a while captured that and was exciting and fast paced. I wanted more like this. This lost that somewhat and just had a hard time connecting as strongly as I would have liked. Still, those are some flaws, but I still found much to like with this book. Will, read anything by Lisa Harding again.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews for books I read.

The Wildelings was a super interesting read. I loved the character study and the writing felt propulsive. I'd read more from the author.

Set in 1990s Dublin, The Wildelings centers on Jessica and Linda, childhood best friends who escape their dysfunctional pasts by enrolling at the elite Wilde University. Their bond deepens until they meet Mark, a charismatic philosophy student whose mesmerizing influence over Linda—and eventually their entire friend group—sparks a downward spiral involving drugs, secrets, and emotional manipulation. As tensions escalate to a tragic climax, the novel shifts to years later, with Jessica, now in her forties and in therapy, still haunted by guilt. When Mark reappears to share his version of events, Jessica must face the past and confront what really happened at Wilde .

Harding delivers a psychological thriller that recalls The Secret History. She unpacks the seductive pull of intellectual elitism and the poison of emotional control within close-knit social .The novel explores how Jessica and Linda’s co-dependent bond fractures under external influence, and how guilt can persist for decades. The dual timeline—college days and therapy sessions—reveals their shifting self-perceptions .
Mark's role as a manipulative force threads through the narrative, raising questions about free will, unhealthy attachments, and moral responsibility .

This story will pull you into a world of academic intensity, late night gatherings, and cerebral hauteur, maintaining a dark, immersive tone throughout . For me, Jessica emerges as a flawed, raw, and deeply human protagonist. Her guilt feels lived-in and her attempts at redemption resonate. Harding skillfully builds suspense toward the shocking climax and deftly interweaves timelines to maximize emotional impact .

There were times where I felt Jessica and Linda’s self-destructive tendencies and toxic dynamics were off-putting and the narrative takes its time building toward the pivotal event—I did find the payoff delayed. But this drawn-out unraveling enhances the psychological tension 

I would recommended this for fans of dark academia and twisted campus narratives. If you are drawn to psychological character studies and themes of manipulation, you'll feel at home here.

Just what the world needs: More misery porn directed at women. Sigh.

In theory the premise for this one is fine, though I’d urge you not to be fooled by publisher’s summary talk of an “elite university,” because there’s nothing academic about this and there is very little campus atmosphere.

It’s largely a study of unlikable, miserable people treating each other badly, and you get to decide who to sympathize with from a pool of unsympathetic people. Lucky you!

The men in this book are almost all concerningly awful. Mark is of course the villain, a textbook narcissist and manipulator, but the protagonist’s boyfriend is also a grade-A a*shole, one of those contrarian types who always seems to find a way to side with anyone other than his female partner.

Jess herself isn’t particularly likable (even if it’s easy to side with her over the toxic male characters), but she loses me a lot in her seeming quest to please and be admired by a man who mistreats and manipulates her and is essentially an abusive partner to her best friend.

The relationship between the girls doesn’t work well either. They seem like two people who don’t really like each other all that much but can’t seem to let go. An interesting friendship dynamic to explore in theory, but here it just feels pointless and makes them both come off like people you’d want to run screaming from if you met them.

In all, this is just an unpleasant read about unpleasant people, and it fails to make the salient points about relationships that were necessary to get readers on board.

Unfortunately I found The Wildelings pretentious (well, *too* pretentious; I love pretentiousness in the right amount) and dull, the therapy framework absolutely did not work for me, and while Jessica could have been an intriguing protagonist, I simply didn't care about anyone else or what happened in their lives. The worst flaw of the book is that it has absolutely zero subtext. Everything is put on the surface, presented at every angle, and repeated several times, demanding very little of the reader and never once requiring them to make a connection or have a thought of their own. Why bother, when all the analysis is done on the page already? So, some interesting character work, I guess - though Mark is simply too much, too obvious, too fast, to be believed as a charismatic master manipulator - but it's laid out so blatantly that it makes for easy, but boring and ultimately somewhat forgettable, reading.

Also, frankly, I wouldn't really call this dark academia simply because it involves toxic relationships in a university setting - the academia element isn't particularly relevant. just as a heads up for anyone looking for that.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I tried really heard to enjoy this book but it just wasn’t it for me. I didn’t care much for the story line or the characters. Someone else may enjoy this book who enjoys the thriller aspect of things.

I was looking forward to this novel, but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. I ended up DNF'ing at 23%. I couldn't find myself connecting with the main character. I think I will attempt to read it again at a later point when I am more in the mood for this type of story. I do love the cover though!

The Wildelings by Lisa Harding seemed like a perfect read for me, but unfortunately I found it to be a bit confusing to follow the plot. The characters also felt to be a bit two-dimensional.

This was a moving book because I spend so much time with teenagers I know how mercurial they are annd how deep their emotios ru. Both of the girls in this book are broken and two broken people do not make a whole person. I love the book within. a book design because I ebelive it helps the reader see more of the characters and their mindset. Both girls lived through the same experiences but seeing them through their differing perspectives erally makes you thinnk about everyones own story.

This book was… dark. To start, I really could not get into the main character. I could not stand her! The relationship between her and her friend was toxic, her boyfriend is awful.. ugh. It was a struggle to finish. The writing wasn’t that great, either. There was also lots of violence and traumatic stuff, so be warned.

Lisa Harding’s The Wildelings is a gripping, emotionally charged novel that explores the complexities of friendship, control, and the lingering shadows of guilt. From the very start, Harding immerses readers in the intense bond between Jessica and Linda, two young women whose shared history of survival shapes their relationship. Their journey to Wilde, an elite Dublin university, feels like a fresh start—until the enigmatic and manipulative Mark disrupts their fragile dynamic.

Harding masterfully builds tension as Jessica becomes increasingly uneasy with the influence Mark wields—not just over Linda but over their entire friend group. The story is both haunting and thought-provoking, delving into the allure of charismatic figures and the secrets that bind and divide people. The layers of deceit and power dynamics are woven with expert precision, keeping readers glued to the page.

What sets this novel apart is its deep emotional resonance. Harding doesn’t shy away from the difficult questions of loyalty, agency, and the weight of past choices. Jessica’s journey, as she revisits the events that defined her youth and confronts the truths she tried to bury, is profoundly moving and beautifully rendered.

With its vivid prose, compelling characters, and unflinching look at the complexities of human relationships, The Wildelings is an unforgettable tale of self-discovery, reckoning, and the power of setting the record straight. A must-read for those who enjoy stories that are equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful.

The Wildeling felt like a flashback to high school, the emotional chaos, the intense friendships, the feeling that everything is life or death. Jessica isn’t a character you can easily sympathize with, and I think that’s intentional. She’s messy, reactive, and often hard to root for. But I completely understood why she acts the way she does. Her behavior stems from deep emotional wounds, especially the kind that come from growing up with parental neglect. We’ve all known someone like her, or maybe even been that person, who clings to friendships with an intensity that borders on unhealthy because it’s the only place they’ve ever felt secure. When those relationships start to shift or fall apart, it feels catastrophic. Jessica might not be likable, but she’s painfully real.

This is an emotional, slow burn story of female friendships and coming of age. The family dynamics and how they play out in other relationships are particularly well done. This will also appeal to those who enjoy dual timeline novels, with a protagonist looking back and trying to understand where they've arrived.

Two sisters of the heart who thought nothing would ever come between them, have just met Mark. Mark manages to overwhelm all of the girls at the Wilde University. How he moves through this group of young women and how he tells his side of the story make for some intriguing differences. A great book to spend a couple of evenings with.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Lisa Harding. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Jessica and Linda have been best friends since the first day of school. Both are from broken, but different, homes, and Jessica made sure they thrived. Now eighteen, the two have come to Wilde—an elite university in the heart of Dublin, far away from their troubled childhoods. Jessica immediately feels as if she's found her place and, with the faithful Linda by her side, finds herself at the heart of a new friend circle. Then Linda starts dating Mark and Jessica doesn't approve or like the change in her friend. But soon Mark's influence spreads even further.

I'm always up for a dark, academic novel, with this one nostalgically set in the 1990s. That age group is so fraught with wanting to fit in and yet wanting to forge their own path. It's easy to see where obsession comes in, and this book has that in spades. This story is also interwoven with Jessica's therapy sessions in the present as she works through her trauma. We know from the beginning that there was an incident at Wilde but the details don't come until late in the book. Be aware that none of the characters are real likable, but this was another good read from Lisa Harding.

The Wildelings by Lisa Harding ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This character-driven novel felt like sitting in an old-school smoky lounge listening to an old friend wax poetically about their life.

It was seductive and intense. All-consuming and emotional. It was about female friendship, manipulation, dysfunctional families, and growing up.

The two female characters were well crafted and nuanced. I wholeheartedly disliked Jessica, but I continued to be drawn to her. The male characters lacked the same depth; however, I didn’t mind this.

This literary dark academia novel had me enthralled from beginning to end. Fans of dark academia, coming of age stories, and beautifully written novels will be captivated by this one.

The Wildelings begins by following the friendship of two adolescent girls, Jessica and Linda, and the sister-like bond they build across their broken homes in suburban Ireland. As the story progresses, we see the evolution of the girls’ relationship as they enter adulthood at Wilde College in Dublin. It is at Wilde where they meet a group of serpentine friends that changes their dynamic and lives forever.

The writing in Lisa Harding’s novel is dark and poetic. Her words are unfiltered and intense with a brutal honesty that mirrors the emotional tone of the book. Harding also utilizes a dual-timeline POV that adds a layer of introspection to her work. We see Jessica’s memories of the past play out in vignettes, but we also see her analysis of the past via present-day sessions with her therapist. This technique immerses the reader in the process of reconciling trauma and healing.

The characters in this book are unforgettable in their history and depth. They all come from dysfunctional family backgrounds, and they are all seeking outward validation to compensate for what they lack. The entire ensemble has experienced hardship in some way; however, each person struggles with unique behaviors related to his or her individual wounds. The story begs the reader to examine the many ways childhood trauma manifests and how it contributes to one’s self-identity and views of platonic and romantic relationships.

“She whispered in my ear, “I only wish for love.” A chill swept through me, looking at my chameleonic friend. How far would she go for whatever she mistook for love?” -Lisa Harding, The Wildelings

Harding explores critical, psychological themes such as generational trauma, abandonment, manipulation, codependency, and emotional/ physical abuse. At the heart of the story, The Wildelings highlights the complexities of processing and healing from the things that have deeply hurt us in the past.

Equal parts dark academia and literary fiction, The Wildelings is a contemplative portrait of grief, discovery, and atonement. Harding’s novel is raw and emotional, and an exceptional fiction read to better understand the human condition.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperVia, and Lisa Harding for allowing me to read this copy in advance in exchange for my honest review.
This book is scheduled to release on April 15, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I loved the writing style of this book. It was written so well, I’d absolutely read more by this author! She wrote about obsession and insecurity so well. This book had pretty short chapters, which was great. I enjoyed that because it made it that much easier to fly through the book.

I was obsessed with the dynamics between the characters and how they spoke to each other, even if it wasn’t always kind or compassionate.

I thought it was cool how the whole past story was Jessica’s writing. I enjoy when authors do that.

Jessica was unlikeable only really for the first little bit, and then I just felt bad for her. She wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t deserve a lot of what happened to her. I was so sad when even Jonathan left her in the dust! Yes, she was pretty controlling of Linda when they were kids, but as she said, she was a kid. That doesn’t mean that she deserved what Mark did to her. The fact that no one saw what she was going through by the end made me so sad. Especially all that happened with the play. That made me sick.

I loved Jessica. Maybe it’s because we were in her head, but I understood her so well. I could see where people couldn’t stand Jessica, but that’s what made her character so appealing to me. Do I condone some of her actions in real life? No. But I didn’t mind it in this book.

Jessica was very controlling and I feel like I was very seduced by her thought process and I found myself agreeing with her and always being on her side. She was just a hurt and sad individual from a young age, which carried into her adult life.

Jessica was so in love with Linda it was crazy. You need a little bit of infatuated love to make the toxicity so compelling. It probably was a very toxic love, but in love she was. Obviously in real life I don’t think it’s healthy and don’t condone it, but in novels I eat it up. I think that pushed all her actions because she was jealous and starved for Linda’s attention. The way she went about it wasn’t great a lot of the time, but I love the obsession between women like that.

I felt so bad for Linda at first. She got annoying by her actions later on but I also don’t blame her for it at all. I just wanted her and Jessica to be friends.

The men in this book were so annoying. Other than Jonathan at first but he made me frustrated as the book went on! I was happy for him at what he found (I won’t say for spoilers sake) but I didn’t like how he treated Jessica. I started to loathe Jacques too at points. But also at the same time I wanted things to work with him and Jessica. I didn’t like when his eyes weren’t on Jessica. Again that could have been me being influenced by being in her POV, but I still felt that way.

Mark was absolutely insufferable. I know he was supposed to be, but I hated him so much. I didn’t like him for a single moment. I was screaming at Jessica to stay away from him and not care about what he said or thought because he was so awful. I would never put up with that from a man. But she was young and impressionable. It hit hard when the therapist brought up she was 18 and he was 22. The power imbalance really did show.

It was about Jessica and Linda at its core, but it had a little too much of a focus on the men in the story toward the middle. I know Mark was the main problem between the girls, but their relationship fell to the wayside. I know Linda drifted apart from Jessica so naturally she wouldn’t be in it very much, but I still wish the middle section focused more on their drama and had less of a focus on Mark. But Mark was Jessica’s whole world so it all made sense, it was just a personal preference for me.

Sue deserved better. She was such an underrated character. I loved her.

I could have keep reading more and more. I never wanted it to end! I wish Mark got more retribution, but I’d like to imagine his career is in ruins. I wanted a little more in the Coda section, but it was such a hopeful end I could only imagine what good will come after.

The story began and ended with the girls, which I appreciated. The story really was about them at its core.

I feel like I’ve been all over the place with this review, but that’s because I loved it so much and there was so much packed into this book to talk about. I could talk about it for hours.

Definitely one of my favorite reads this year!

I really wanted to like this book but could not finish the book so will not be posting a full review. I wasn't engaged and this book wasn't for me.

The publisher really knew how to write a blurb for this one - went in expecting a Gossip Girl Secret History mashup. Initially that seems where were headed but awkward and unproductive switches to a therapists office and ultimately an unsatisfying ended left me disappointed. So much time was spent on side stories that were never tied up.