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.
The narrator had a really fantastic, almost hypnotic voice. It added so much to the audiobook. Loved that.

While I loved the dark academia setting, Boys with Sharp Teeth fell short for me. The prose is overwrought, and even for a genre that thrives on melodrama, this was a bit too much for me. The audiobook only exaggerated this. Still, I appreciated the premise, and will keep an eye out for Howell's future work.

This oozes with dark academia vibes from the details of their uniforms, the descriptions of their school and living quarters, and they way they're draped over each other with conflicting feelings of comfort and possession (the cover art perfectly captures the mood of this trio). Jennifer Pickens doesn't give the characters their own unique voices but her narration as Marin, I'm sorry, Jamie, is pitch perfect. Pickens nails the emotion, the deception, the toxic love, our three characters share for each other.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jenni Howell for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Boys with Sharp Teeth coming out April 8, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve listened to by this author. I really love PLL, so I was excited for that comparison. I really love supernatural and horror stories. Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. I wasn’t a fan of the characters. No one was really likable to me. I thought it would be spookier. I think it was on the long side. I would check out other books by this author, but this wasn’t for me.

In exchange for an honest review, this ALC was provided to me by NetGalley.

The writing did a very good job of setting the dark atmosphere of the book. Not sure I would say dark academia versus just dark and angsty, though. The narrator was quite good, although I wouldn't put her accent as close to that of the area (Tennessee I think?). The whodunnit (paranormal and mortal) were pretty easy to guess, I had it called in 4 hours. It seemed like the characters were being more meta than they actually were, so it made it hard to connect with any of them, although perhaps that was the point.

3/5

Boys with Sharp Teeth is a captivating debut that blends dark academia, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural. Maren, disguised as "Jamie," enrolls in an elite boarding school to uncover the truth behind her cousin’s death, suspecting foul play. Her investigation leads her to three enigmatic students—Adrian, Henry, and Baz—who may hold the key to the truth.

The writing is hauntingly beautiful, with prose that not only drives the plot but also delves deep into the characters’ emotions and struggles. Though the premise of Maren forging documents to gain access to the school feels implausible, the gripping mystery and complex characters make it easy to overlook.

Jennifer Pickens’ narration brings the story to life, with a perfect balance of pacing, tone, and emotional depth that pulls you deeper into the suspense. The story’s pacing, however, can be slow at times, with the real action unfolding in the final 15% of the book. It might have been more effective with tighter pacing throughout.

Despite this, Boys with Sharp Teeth is a gripping, atmospheric read that will stick with you. Jenni Howell’s debut is one to watch, and I’m excited to see where she goes next. Highly recommended for fans of twisted mysteries and complex characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the audiobook ARC!

Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this book. I'm not a huge YA thriller fan so that contributed to it. I ended up DNFing this at 44%, but I'm giving it two stars because the narrator was great and I can see the potential even though it didn't work for me.

This book is like stepping into a different kind of nightmare nightmare… but in the best way. I picked this up thinking it would be a twisty revenge story with a touch of the supernatural, kind of like The Afterdark by E. Latimer. But what I got was way more poetic and layered.

The writing feels literary, almost like If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio—moody, dreamy, and full of rich language. It’s not told in a typical story format with multiple POVs, major flashbacks, or big action scenes. Instead, it’s more like living inside Marin’s head as she tries to survive grief, revenge, and the strange boys who seem to see right through her.

At first, I struggled a little with the pacing. It’s not a quick read, and the audiobook forces you to slow down, which ended up being a blessing. The way the author strings sentences together—long and dripping with emotion that cuts you before you've realized it—makes you pause and think. It’s like stretching a piece of taffy: slow, sticky, and somehow satisfying.

There’s a deep sadness running through the book, a reminder that some pain doesn’t go away—and that sometimes, the changes we go through are permanent. That’s what really stuck with me. I appreciated that the ending didn’t try to fix everything. It stayed just as sharp and wicked as the rest of the book, and I think that made it more honest.

If you like dark, slow-burn stories that focus on emotion, grief, and transformation, this one’s worth a listen. But go in ready to sit with it. Let it soak in.

As soon as I heard sinister secrets in a boarding school, I knew I needed this Macmillan Audio pick! There’s something about this niche genre that appeals to me, and this one in particular was so good because the supernatural comes to play!

I loved that the students study Descartes’ Meditations and discuss his idea that because the senses sometimes deceive, we have reason not to trust them, and how that paralleled Marin’s own experience of feeling her senses have lied to her. It sets Marin up as an unreliable narrator; we’re not sure whether to believe that she’s correct and she sees and feels things that aren’t real, or if her mind is actually wrong and her senses are correct. On the other hand, Marin feels like an unreliable narrator because of her assumptions on who to trust and what they’ve done to her cousin and why. From the start of the book, she assumes the rich students at Huntsworth have no empathy or compassion because of their positions in life, but she is proved wrong in her assumptions at nearly every turn. Normally, a narrator like this would annoy me, but in this case, her character flaws serve the higher purpose of reflecting the plot and the mystique. Although, I feel like it was a tad too pointed for Marin not to trust Adrian and to fall under Henry’s spell instead. But, this is also a YA, so it did feel authentic to the character’s age and intellect.

In the end, the otherworldly secrets and the no–holds–barred conclusion to this book are downright tragic. I give this 5 stars and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys gothic stories along the lines of Ava Reid, Kelly Andrew, or T. Kingfisher. Jennifer Pickens is the perfect narrator for this story type as well!

it’s a dark academia murder mystery I was left at the beginning of the book. I really liked the writing style and I love the philosophical part of the book I also love the plot of the book however, I did find a very predictable, and I also found the narrator of the book to be really slow and hard to continue at points

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley for a review. This in no way affects my opinion of the book.

After the mysterious death of her cousin Sam, Marin takes on the persona of Jamie - a wealthy transfer student with some grit. As Jamie, she enrolls in the private school where Sam worked and the last people to see him alive attend. Enter Graves, Henry and Baz. The suspects instantly become friends with Jaimie but discovering the truth while keeping Marin a secret proves to be more than she expected. Lines blur between truth and fiction, reality and the unknown. What is the secret behind Sam’s death and will Marin evade the same ending?

First, this was a well delivered audiobook. The mystery and suspense was subtle but the narrator took that and built it up amazingly. Definitely enjoyed the cadence and rhythm of the storytelling. Very easy to listen to at 1.5x speed.

This was also a well done novel. The twists and turns and questioning of the characters’ intent and desires really made the story. It definitely has some quality horror vibes that leave chills. 4 stars.

Based on an Advanced Audiobook provided by Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners and NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!

This book didn’t work for me because of the vibes. It’s full of really smart people doing really cool things.

I know a lot of people like those vibes. It was reminiscent of All Alone with you in the Ether by Olivie Blake, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. If you love those books, and you are looking for a high school murder mystery, I’d definitely go for this book!

3.25🌟

Dark academia meets poetic chaos with a side of murder mystery. Yes, please.

This book sets the stage at an elite prep school with haunted vibes, secrets around every corner, and a new student who definitely isn’t who she says she is, and she’s out for blood. The setup pulled me in right away and I really enjoyed that first half.

As the story went on, though, it started to feel a little drawn out. Some scenes felt repetitive, and the paranormal twist didn’t quite hit for me. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had stayed grounded in the revenge thriller space rather than veering into the supernatural.

That said, I think this book will find its audience. It’s dark, gothic, and has a very specific aesthetic that will should appeal to fans of atmospheric YA dark academia with a paranormal twist. I felt the narration was spot on: moody, immersive, and a perfect match for the tone of the story.

If you love eerie school settings, morally questionable characters, and stories that walk the line between dreamy and dangerous, this would be one for your list. Just don’t be surprised if things get a little weird.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the advance listen copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

DeAnn @deannsreadingriot

Review: Boys with Sharp Teeth
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)

This YA debut is a dark, dreamy descent into the secrets of Huntsworth Academy, where gothic romance meets otherworldly horror.

The story follows Marin James, a sharp, determined teen who dives headfirst into the world of privilege and secrets to uncover the truth behind her cousin’s death. What starts as a revenge mission quickly spirals into something stranger and far more dangerous. Marin’s attraction to the school—and to the enigmatic, morally gray boys at the center of it all—is both compelling and unsettling.

The writing is lush and atmospheric, dripping with tension and just the right amount of eerie beauty. At times, the plot felt a bit tangled and the pace uneven, but the haunting vibe and morally complex characters kept me hooked.

It’s messy, mysterious, and brimming with dark academia energy. Perfect for fans who love unreliable realities, twisted romance, and stories that blur the line between fantasy and nightmare.

They're wicked. She's worse.

I loved this book quite a bit! I loved the characters, the suspense and the mystery of it all. Plus-I am a sucker for elite boarding school settings in books. Add in a murder mystery and it's golden.

I think others will like these characteristics in the book as well, it's dark and mysterious which I loved. The narrator was perfect for this story, I quite enjoyed the audiobook, and I look forward to picking up a physical copy after release!

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

unfortunately, dnf @ 11%, as i just was not interested, and i am promising to myself to not force myself to read any books i am not interested in or enjoying.

as for the narrator, i actually did not like her monotonous tone, especially for a thriller.

i’m sure this book will find its audience but it’s not me

"To all the ones too monstrous to be loved, it isn't true."

🖤 Dark
🏫 Elite Boarding School
🗡 Murder
🪞 Mirrors
❤️‍🩹 Grief
⚔️ Revenge
👻 Paranormal

*I received an advance review copy for free in the form of an audiobook from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is my honest feedback about the book as an avid reader.*

So dark & dramatic. Lots of tension. Twists. Wondering what's going on, what is real. Full of philosophy & the line between hate & love blurring. I do wish the paranormal part was leaned into more. That the other characters had some more depth & maybe some of their backstory was revealed.

Its very poetic & angsty which isn't my absolute favorite but I know lots of people really enjoy that. The narrator, Jennifer Pickens, did an excellent job. She really brought the dark feelings to life, the atmosphere of tension & despair.

The ending wasn't really what I had hoped for. But it was interesting.

DNF audiobook at 27%. It's southern-gothic-meets-dark-academia. The audiobook narration is slow and deep and has a real southern twang (almost like if Daria Morgendorfer were from Kentucky), which didn't work for me but others have mentioned loving. I thought it would be sillier, more of a fun paranormal dark academia vampire romp, but everything about it is so slow and atmospheric (while still being YA). I gave it a good quarter to get going but nothing seemed to ramp up by 27% and I guess that was my limit.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This is probably more of a me problem and not a reflection of the book itself, but I am simply not in the mood for the dark academia melodrama at the moment.

(Also, I won't lie. I had somehow convinced myself that this was queer and that there was a romantic subplot involving the characters on the cover and I read a review that said otherwise... but I wanted that.)

The narrator does a great job though.

Seventeen year old Marin James is determined to seek justice for her cousin Sam's mysterious death. Suspecting Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu, the charismatic, yet dangerous, leaders of the elite Huntsworth Academy's inner circle, are responsible. But as Marin infiltrates the school, she becomes entangled in a web of attraction and deception, questioning her own motives and the truth behind the boys’ dark secrets.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*