I enjoyed the 90s setting, although, as someone who went to high school in the 90s, it didn't always ring 100% true. The characters were likable, though the mystery felt a little light, and I didn't find the resolution very satisfying. But it was a quick read with multiple timelines that were interesting to track, and I liked the song titles for the chapters.

Reviews for this book seem split between three-star shrugs and five-star raves—oddly enough, I find myself somewhere in the middle. Maybe it's my age, but I really appreciated the 90s-era setting, which added a nostalgic depth. The dual timeline structure works well, and the twists are cleverly plotted. The characters felt real and well-developed, and while it might resonate most with teen readers, there’s plenty here for older readers to enjoy too. A solid, well-crafted mystery with style.

THOUGHTS

This book isn't a bad read, but it didn't do any of the things I wanted it to. I wanted an unhinged feminist slasher. I would have settled for a 1990s themed thriller or murder mystery. I didn't really get much of anything, since this book doesn't embrace any of the directions I wanted it (or that it promised) to go.


PROS
Subtle Rep: I really liked all the queer rep that makes it onto these pages. While nobody is really out and proud (it being the 1990s), the LGBTQ+ community is alive and well. It's a harsher environment for coming out, for living how you want to, and that's definitely represented on the page. Without the social stigma homophobic rhetoric may bring today, there are a lot of people living not-so-comfortably in the closet. But they exist. And they're making it through, which I appreciate.

Backstories: I really liked digging into the character backstories, too. I'm not always the biggest fan of books that rely on flashback chapters, but this one worked for me. It's not at all how I imagined this book would play out, but I did really enjoy diving into these characters. I liked piecing together who they were, how they had changed, and how they got here, to this night, dead body included.

Girl Power: I also loved all the ladies at the heart of this story. Though these gals were wildly different, with different aesthetics and goals and hopes and dreams, they get pulled together (somewhat against their will). They develop alongside each other and play off each other really well. While there were little tensions, this book doesn't veer into the mean, catty territory that high school books like to when dealing with a bunch of different types of girls. This book doesn't do the whole "We're not alike, therefore you're not as good as me" thing, and I loved that. These girls start as stereotypes and become more than their archetypes, and I liked that a lot.


CONS
The Ick: Look, I'm not spoiling anything here, so I guess you'll just have to trust me on this. But one of the plot twists (or character twists, I guess) gave me some major ick. This fact about the character motivates a lot of the plot. It kicks off the whole thing, even. And to me, this rearranged who the bullies and who the victims in this story were (though I don't think, based on where this story ultimately went, that this was intentional on the author's part). It felt icky. Majorly so. Especially in a world that's veering more toward the socially conservative, I didn't really like this messaging.

Not a Thriller: I don't know. I feel like I was promised some brand of thriller here. This book starts with a dead body, for goodness's sake. But this book really wasn't the thriller I wanted it to be. It spends too long unpacking the characters and their backstories for there to be any real tension. The "culprit" here ends up not being that exciting at all (though I did enjoy the little twist at the end). This book was really just a very long and convoluted look at the social lives of these kids, but it didn't even come with the sort of social commentary that would make a book like that worth reading. Overall, it was just kind of disappointing.

Only For Appearances: I like a good bit of nostalgia as much as the next person, but this book just didn't do it for me. Throwing some iconic brand names in there (and I mean a lot, lot, lot of brand names), toss in a mention of butterfly clips, and you've got the 90s, right? Well, not exactly. This book is basically a contemporary story except that it name-drops some of the things that might show up on a 90s-baby starter kit meme. It's not even 90s flavor, really. It's just a touch of aesthetic, and that's just sad to me.


Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/10
Fans of Jordyn Taylor's The Revenge Game will like following these girls as they take back what they're owed. Those who enjoyed Gabriella Lepore's Last One to Fall will like doubting these friends at each and every turn.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS DIGITAL ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

A dark, funny murder mystery set in high school with a 90s vibe? I am in. Troy, the school’s star lacrosse player found dead the night before graduation at the senior lock-in. Troy is one of the most charming as well as hated people by most (including me). So many people with a motive.

For me, the best part of the books was the characters; you won't find me saying it for many murder mysteries. Naomi, an overlooked girl with observation skills. Tatum, a wild girl trying to survive. Sassi, a girl with a big dream that is more important than anything else. Jennifer, a pretty and perfect girl. Andrew, misunderstood by the majority and his mom. The story kept switching between past and present. I found the past part more interesting. Sometimes the story felt a little all over the place; there were things in the book that just didn’t feel like they belonged in 1999, which was distracting.

The mystery kept me reading, but the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I wanted. Or more honestly, disappointing. I also felt that the mystery element of the book was not enough. I know the world isn't always fair, but the ending for one character made me sad and kinda angry. He/She doesn't deserve it.

Overall, Kill the Lax Bro was kind of meh. It’s not bad, but it’s not great either.

Very nostalgic for those of us who went to high school in the late nineties! Fun murder mystery with some excellent ambiguity about whodunnit. I really enjoyed it!

This book was so slow.

Engaging me from the start is very important and so many authors just do not seem to factor that in their first chapters.

I really enjoyed this as a 90s murder mystery novel, it had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed from the genre. It was suspenseful and had me guessing from start to finish. It had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed the whole package. The characters were everything that I was looking for and were written well in this storyline. Charlotte Lillie Balogh has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐱 𝐁𝐫𝐨 gave me ✨𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑦 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑎 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒✨—like if 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬, 𝐉𝐚𝐰𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫, and 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐓𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐞 teamed up for a murder mystery at a senior lock-in. 🚪💀

We follow five teens (think: dream girl, rebel, nerd, queen bee, and the ex-best friend) all connected by one golden boy: 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔. He’s charming. Popular. Untouchable. Until… he’s very, 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 touchably dead. The story flips between the night it happened and everything that led to it—and let’s just say, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 had a reason to want him gone. 🤫🤐

It was juicy, fast-paced, and full of ✨𝑠𝑛𝑎𝑘𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒 𝑒𝓎𝑒𝓈✨ 🐍 👀 . The high school politics?? 𝑩𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒍. The secrets?? 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆.

✨ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔:
💿 90s/2000s high school nostalgia *ᴍʏ ᴊᴀᴍ*
🖤 golden boy with secrets
💋 revenge, lies, & fake smiles
🕯️ murder at a senior lock-in

This book had ✨𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌✨ energy with a twist. The girl group dynamics were messy in the best way, and the tension between them felt so real. I loved seeing each of their perspectives slowly unravel the truth. And that ending? 𝐋𝐄𝐓’𝐒 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐘—I didn’t breathe for the last 10%. 😱

The pacing dipped a little in the middle—some moments felt more like filler than fire—𝐁𝐔𝐓 the ending picked it all up and left me 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐃. Like, give-me-an-adaptation-ASAP stunned 😮‍💨🔥

This was 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑, 𝒏𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒈𝒊𝒄, and 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒏 in a way that made me feel like I was seventeen again, hiding secrets in my composition notebook. If you love high school drama with a 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑏𝑦 twist, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕. 🫶🏼💋

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰! 💕🥹

Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Charlotte Lillie Balogh’s “Kill the Lax Bro” is a razor-sharp, nostalgia-drenched teen thriller that perfectly marries the 90s high school movie aesthetic with the dark suspense of a murder mystery. This book is perfect for 80s and 90s kids who want to experience some nostalgia while also introducing younger readers to the unique culture of this time period.

Set during the 1999 Hancock High lock-in before graduation, the story kicks off when golden boy Troy Richards—lacrosse star, heartbreaker, and all-around high school legend—is found dead. Five students, each with very personal reasons to despise Troy, find themselves entangled in the investigation: Jennifer (Troy’s girlfriend), Andrew (his former best friend), Tatum (the rebel), Sassi (the academic), and Naomi (the freshman outsider). Told through a clever dual-timeline structure—flashing between the months leading up to Troy's death and the frantic night of the lock-in—the story slowly pieces together the motives, secrets, and betrayals that could have led to murder.

Balogh’s writing shines brightest in the way she brings her characters to life. Yes, they lean into classic high school archetypes, but they’re given enough emotional depth and complexity to feel fresh and real. Whether it’s Andrew’s bitter heartbreak, Tatum’s chaotic bravado, Sassi’s sharp vulnerability, Naomi’s quiet resentment, or Jennifer’s conflicted grief, every character is fully realized and layered. You will find yourself sympathizing with—and suspecting—each of them in turn.

The 90s setting is pitch-perfect, filled with delicious nods to puffy pens, dial-up internet, Lisa Frank folders, and mall trips. Even the chapter titles are named after iconic 90s songs, anchoring you firmly in the era and making the book a love letter to anyone who came of age during that time. Yet despite the heavy nostalgia, the emotional core of the story—about betrayal, revenge, and teenage self-destruction—feels timeless.

The pacing is tight, the dialogue crackles with humor and tension, and the structure keeps the reader guessing right up until the shocking final reveal. Balogh expertly plants seeds of doubt about each character's innocence, and the ending strikes the perfect balance between satisfying and gut-punching. (Seriously—those last few lines will haunt you.)

Overall, “Kill the Lax Bro” is an absolute knockout—darkly funny, whip-smart, and dripping with 90s vibes. Charlotte Lillie Balogh has delivered a YA thriller that will delight both teen readers and nostalgic adults alike. If you love ensemble mysteries, morally gray characters, and books that keep you glued to the page with twists you don’t see coming, this one is a must-read.

This book was a nostalgic trip back to the late 90’s early 2000’s and all the drama that was high school. When I first started to read I was getting John Tucker Must Die mixed with The Breakfast Club. I saw a review that also said a bit of Jawbreaker and that couldn’t be more accurate! I would say this is more of an older crowd YA book but definitely enjoyable for someone who lived through that high school era as well! The storyline jumps from past and present giving the story from all the main players perspectives and culminating in the ending with a twist I did not see coming! This is an enjoyable who done it mystery, easy read!

I know this is set in the 90s, but all the queer rep felt like it was there to just be a shocking plot twist. It did kind of have heathers vibes a bit though at least?

Kill the Lax Bro follows five suspects after Hancock’s High’s star lacrosse player is found dead during the annual lock-in before graduation. The five of them have little in common save for the fact that they all hated Troy. The only question is who hated him enough to want him dead?

I loved this book!!! I was hooked from the start. The vibes are so fun—I definitely need more 90s murder mysteries. I loved the plot and dual-timeline. The amount of secrets and lies and depth in this book is insane, but it’s so believable and the reveal of everything was perfectly timed. I loved the take on all the classic high school stereotypes. The ending was amazing—I have no notes. It was everything I wanted!

The characters in this book were so engaging and funny. I found them to be all very relatable and had such believable, rich backstories and motivations. I don’t even think I have a favourite. I thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s POV and was rooting so hard for all of them. I am soooo happy with the ending for everyone.

If you love 90’s movies and murder mysteries, I’d highly recommend reading this one!!

Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the arc!

This was an absolute blast of a book! My little 90s heart loved the references and song titles being used as chapter titles was a great touch. The characters were very well written and well rounded. It was hard not root for the little band of Troy haters. The back and forth of the timeline was seamless and caused no story disruption. I kept wondering how this one would wrap up and have to say that I did not see that ending coming. This was so much fun and I can't wait to add it my high school library. This will definitely be a book club pick for next school year.

Everyone hates Troy Richards. Only 4 of them have the guts to do something about it.

When Andrew’s best friend, Troy gets him kicked off the lacrosse team, Andrew decides he’s had enough of how the golden boy treats people. So he rallies a group of girls, Sassi (the smart one), Tatum (the dealer) and Naomi (the quiet freshman). All of them hate Troy for different reasons, but they all have the same goal: “kill” the lax bro. Unfortunately, someone veers off course and Troy ends up dead. Who did it and how did they get here?

The 90’s setting in this was perfect! I always wished I was a teen back then and this took me there, trips to the mall and all! I loved the characters. Although complete cliches, the author really made them work for the story. Tatum was probably my favorite-she was hilarious!

I loved the back and forth timeline that made the story come together. This kept me interested and reading, needing to find out what happens at the end! And the end was definitely one I didn’t see coming! To think you know people…

Highly recommend this 90s YA thriller!!

Kill the Lax Bro was a dark comedic send up to iconic movies such as John Tucker Must Die, Heathers, and Mean Girls. Troy Richards is the most popular guy in school and the captain of the lacrosse team. The night before high school graduation, he is found dead during the high school lock in. But who would want to kill him? As the story unfolds, the question more becomes who wouldn't?

This was a suspenseful and funny book that shares a lot of DNA with horror/thriller comedies of the 1990s and 2000s. The story jumps forward and backward in time and gives each character point of view chapters so you know what is going on in each person's head. This was a fun read, although there were a lot of anachronisms with the setting in 1999 (mention of flash mobs, an adult only section in Blockbuster, Hallmark movies playing 24/7, the Bechtdel Test). I did like how each of the chapters was a song title and how the story kept me guessing until the end. I look forward to talking to readers about this when it comes out.

This was so much fun and so nostalgic! I loved all the 90s references; As a child of the 90s, this story really resonated with me. I was drawn into the story quickly, but it took me a minute to keep track of all the characters and the alternating timelines. The mystery was well done and wrapped up nicely.

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

KILL THE LAX BRO by Charlotte Lillie Balogh
Thank you Netgalley and Getunderlined for the earc (Jun24)

Set in the 90s, Hancock High is holding its annual lock-in. When a body is found,the people who wanted him dead the most, that hated him the most, come together to solve his m*rder.
I devoured this book in less than a day. I was drawn in rather quickly by the opening scene, and as the story progressed from the beginning, it was like it took root in my brain, begging me to keep going until the mystery was solved. It was just that thrilling, and it was nice having a book that left a lot today's trials and tribulations to today since it is set over two decades ago.
What I loved most about KILL THE LAX BRO was the past to present scenes and the use of song titles as chapter titles. I also loved how easy it was to read, and how intriguing it was. The mystery was also top-notch in a "didn't see that coming type of way." I was trying to piece together who was capable of k*lling someone. What was revealed left me shocked and wanting more (iykyk). This was such a refreshing mystery. 10/10 would recommend.

Thank you Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This book oozes 90’s and I absolutely freakin love it!! The nostalgia goes hard! The story has two timelines, the night of the Hancock High lock-in the night before graduation and the events that lead up to it. Jennifer is trying to enjoy the night before graduation at the lock-in, stealing kisses with Andrew Gracia, until the stumble across the body of Troy Richard’s, her boyfriend and Hancock High’s star Lacrosse player and high school golden boy. Now the two, along with fellow students Naomi, Sassi, and Tatum will have to work together to find out who killed Troy unless they want the blame. But can they trust one another? After all each of them had a reason to want Troy dead. Months earlier Andrew, Sassi, Naomi, and Tatum all set out to take Troy Richard’s down and take away the thing he loves most of all Lacrosse. As the night of the lock-in creeps closer they’ll try to ruin his reputation and destroy his life. Can they succeed? Does one of them take it too far or are they innocent of that particular crime? And can they find Troy’s killer? I love that you have the classic 90’s vibes of teen movies like Clueless and She’s All That mixed with the take down the popular student vibes of John Tucker Must Die (not 90’s but very similar vibe) mixed with murder/mystery elements like Jawbreaker! Funny, twisty, gripping, queerness, and so very nostalgic! I am at a mix of emotions with this one and the ending caught me so off guard and I’m still stunned by the last little bit! Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Kill the Lax Bro is another book that proves that teen thrillers are just as good as those packaged for adults, and I’m glad to have one to recommend to younger readers who’d like to see those in their own world at the heart of a mystery. That said this also has a lot of nostalgia for older readers thanks to its setting in the 90’s and callback to popular songs and fads.

With alternating timelines, readers are introduced to the end of the school year with the murder of LAX bro Troy, who rules the school but is a bit of a psycho path. To better understand why his murder could be at the hands of anyone in the school, three girls he did wrong, his recent ex girlfriend, and his ex-BFF Lax bro, Andrew gather to figure out what happened as we track back in their perspectives to New Year’s and the events leading to current day. Each character was incredibly well drawn, with Naomi, Tatum, and Sassi all given plenty of motivation to want to see Troy dead, and Andrew especially a nuanced character who had throughout the semester teamed up with the ladies to bring down Troy.

What truly sets this book apart are the final chapters, and the final sentences are both great and frustrating, but close our this mystery/thriller perfectly. Written for (older) teens and young adults, I’d recommend it for readers of all ages as a top thriller.

“Kill the Lax Bro” by Charlotte Lillie Balogh isn’t just a book – it’s an emotional throwback to the ’90s, packed with suspense, wit, and a dash of nostalgia.

💭
The story is told from the perspectives of Jennifer, Naomi, Sassi, Tatum, and Andrew. Each character brings their own voice, depth, and motivation to the table. What ties them together? Their shared hatred for Troy Richards, the so-called king of the school. Together, they form a quirky group with clever—and sometimes hilariously absurd—plans to bring Troy down. But when Troy’s body is discovered, they have no choice but to band together to uncover the real killer—before they themselves become the prime suspects.

What I loved most are the incredibly layered characters. As the story unfolds, we get to know each of them and understand why they hated Troy so much. At the same time, it becomes clear what an awful person Troy really was. The character development feels so real and relatable, it’s impossible not to get hooked.

One of the standout details? The chapter titles are all named after ’90s songs. These little touches make the setting come alive. For someone like me, it was pure nostalgia: no smartphones, just cameras and Walkmans; VHS tapes and Blockbuster nights instead of Netflix.

The writing style is smooth, gripping, and sprinkled with just the right amount of dark humor. Not once did I feel bored—in fact, I couldn’t put the book down.

Kill The Lax Bro isn’t just a compelling #MurderMystery; it’s also a sharp commentary on high school dynamics and the toxic side of popularity. It stands out from other books in the genre and has all the potential to go viral.

💡
This is a must-read for anyone who loves thrilling stories with authentic characters and a touch of nostalgia. This book has it all: humor, suspense, and heart. I really hope it gets the attention it deserves—because it’s an absolute gem no one should miss!