The Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls is a moody, intriguing YA debut centered around Kay, a girl still haunted by the fallout from a mysterious accident involving her best friend Emily. Now attending Davison, a prestigious private school where she doesn’t quite belong, Kay receives an anonymous letter inviting her into a secret society—and things finally start to get interesting.

The premise had so much promise: an outsider, a secret group, a shadowy past. And while those threads do pull you in, the execution sometimes veers off course. The book devotes a surprising amount of attention to side characters and subplots, occasionally at the expense of Kay’s own emotional arc. There are also several storylines that never quite get tied up, which left me with more questions than answers.

Still, the writing has style, the secret society element is fun, and for a debut, it’s a solid first effort. I’d recommend it for readers who like their YA fiction with a hint of mystery and a touch of drama—even if all the pieces don’t fully come together.

˗ˏˋ 4 stars ⟡ ݁₊ .

omg i was SO hooked. i loved that it was full of twists and turns, so so many secret and lies that kept me guessing. i loved kay but her self doubt was kinda frustrating at times. i also loved the little secret society aspect as well.

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who works closely with girls from NYC private school, Miller is incredible at getting deep into this small community. Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls is a thrilling mystery that steeps itself in the lore of NYC with every chapter.

This book hooked me right from the beginning! Absolutely loved it! The flow waa perfect, Thank you for the ARC!

Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Fire for providing the copy of Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls by Rowana Miller. I was captivated by this book right away. When a book captures my imagination right away, I always credit the writing, but the story and the characters turned out to be stellar too. I loved the story, and the secret society in an exclusive girls’ school was intriguing. The characters were well-written, and even though Kay wasn’t the most interesting, I was still rooting for her. The story started to slow down once the girls started investigating, but it picked up again as the pieces began to come together. This was a clever book that I think teens will really enjoy! 4 stars

This YA debut has everything I love, dark academia setting, secret society, and a sapphic relationship. I liked the uniqueness of the initiation being blue hands and seeing one another in class. It also ties into a mystery that Kay was involved in with the past with an ex-friend.

This one is a good read for the young adults they will love this book it’s a mystery that will have you waiting till the very last page at the edge of your seat

The Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls was such a pleasant surprise! It starts off a bit slow, and I’ll admit I was hesitant at first—but it quickly finds its rhythm. Once it picks up, the pacing becomes steady, and the story completely pulled me in.

Kay Anderson, the main character, isn’t the easiest to root for. Her constant self-doubt can be frustrating—you kind of just want her to snap out of it. That said, she’s not unlikable; her guarded nature makes sense given her circumstances. As one of the few scholarship students at an elite school, she keeps to herself and often feels like an outsider. But everything changes when she receives a letter from the mysterious Blue Hand Girls.

Kay couldn’t be more different from the other initiates, yet she suddenly finds herself undergoing trials to become part of this secret society. As the initiation progresses, she uncovers a common thread among the girls and begins unraveling a mystery that has haunted her for the past two years. In the process, she finds more than just answers—she finds a group of friends.

It’s atmospheric, thoughtful, and empowering, with just the right blend of mystery, heart and a bit of darkness. A great pick for fans of YA mysteries—and who doesn't love a secret society twist?

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy!

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In “Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls,” debut author Rowana Miller delivers a moody, twist-laden YA thriller set in the sharp, glittering corridors of elite Manhattan prep school life. This dark academia mystery cuts deep into themes of grief, power, identity, and the seductive danger of belonging.

The book begins with a simple, strange directive: Dye your hand blue. For scholarship student Kay Anderson, the anonymous message is both absurd and alluring. Still mourning the sudden death of her best (and only) friend Emily two years earlier, Kay finds herself inexplicably drawn into a secret society known only to its initiates as the Blue Hand Girls. What starts as a cryptic dare quickly spirals into a high-stakes game of clues, secrets, and covert missions—each one more dangerous than the last.

Miller expertly captures the high-pressure atmosphere of Davison High, an elite all-girls school where Instagram filters and Ivy League dreams collide. Kay, whose outsider status makes her an ideal narrator, navigates a maze of whispered betrayals, glittering facades, and moral ambiguity. With every new letter and assignment, the stakes climb, and Kay begins to realize that the secret society isn’t just a game; it may be the key to uncovering the truth behind Emily’s suspicious death.

One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its tone: brooding yet sharp, fierce yet emotionally grounded. Miller’s prose balances suspense with style, injecting scenes with metaphorical bite and social commentary. The pacing is fast, though not rushed, with chapters that stretch just long enough to ratchet up the tension before delivering one of many gasp-worthy revelations. Readers are kept guessing until the very end, and though some may see the final twist coming, the journey there is gripping enough that it hardly matters.

The supporting cast features rival girls with secrets, mentors with murky motives, even potential love interests, and they are often morally gray and sometimes unlikable, but intentionally so. Like Kay, you are never quite sure whom to trust. A light romantic subplot and undercurrent of queer identity add richness without distracting from the central mystery.

Thematically, “Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls” dives into what it means to seek justice in a world that favors silence and legacy over truth. It's also a razor-sharp commentary on the performative nature of privilege and the cost of digging beneath it. For those who love secret societies, academic intrigue, and fierce girl protagonists, this is a satisfying, intelligent thriller that doesn’t pull its punches.

Overall, “Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls” is a thrilling, darkly stylish debut that will leave fans of YA mystery hungry for more. Rowana Miller has painted a dazzling and dangerous portrait of grief, girlhood, and the high cost of truth. Add it to your TBR if you like your prep school thrillers with secrets, sisterhood, and just the right amount of glitter.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

This was a fun enough YA mystery. 

The main character definitely frustrated me and many of her decisions felt like she was only making them for the sake of the plot, but I think the target audience will enjoy this. 

The story was well written and very hard to put down, I read the whole thing in less than a day. It was a fun enough way to pass a Saturday.

As someone from Eastern Europe I did get some weird vibes about some of the comments and themes in here, but oh well...

The mystery was fun and fresh, so I do recommend this to people who want something a little different from their YA mystery.

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire for the eARC of Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls in exchange for an honest review.

Releases: October 7, 2025

This was such a mind boggling YA thriller. My mind is still reeling from the plot twists. I was trying to uncover the secrets and solve the mystery from the very first chapter. There were some instances that were obvious but it never steered away from the fact that more and more truths were being unveiled. Truths that would shake up an entire community. If you enjoy YA, this book is for you!

Rowana, your debut novel is wonderful. I can’t wait to see what else you write in the future!

“Crushed between her body and mine, I can feel the palpitating of that chunk of my heart, gelatinous and raw.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

thank you @sourcefire!

i was immediately sucked in by the unhinged sapphics, and you can’t ever go wrong with secrecy in a dark academia setting.

i, per usual, went into the blind and it was far from disappointing. my jaw dropped multiple times throughout this book, i found that i simultaneously loved and hated multiple characters and that made it so much more exhilarating!! i do in fact find you intriguing 💙

what a phenomenal debut novel

I love a good secret society in a rich school. As a teacher I'm not sure how I'd feel if all of a sudden a bunch of girls started having blue hands, but in this story it works. The main character, Kay, isn't sure who she can trust, especially after losing her friend previously. The twists and turns made the book hard to put down. There was a good mix of mystery and high school drama. I was rooting for Kay throughout the book, for her to solve the mystery as well as find some happiness for herself. I found the ending a little predictable but it didn't stop me from enjoying it.

This was a pretty addictive read. From the start I was hooked and the mystery behind the secret society kept me glued to the story. I thought the story did a decent job of fleshing out all the characters and keeping the story moving at a steady pace. I sorta figured out where things were headed but enjoyed the ride and all the chaos that unfolds. This was a good read that I would tell others to check out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

YA thriller fans, this is your next 5-star read! I absolutely loved this, it was amazing. Very excited to read this author's future books.

Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls by new to me author Rowana Miller, printed in exquisite deluxe edition, published by Sourcebooks Fire is a dark and twisty academia novel.
Kay becomes a mysterious letter, asking her dying her hand blue. And that leads to a chain reaction she so never had dreamed of.
Twisty and full of unexpected turns the story had me guessing till the very last page. Had me in suspense from start till end.

NYC prep school? Secret society? Sign me up! This story follows Kay as she navigates her school where she already feels like an outcast, especially after losing her best friend. Seemingly out of no where, she received anonymous notes from a secret society offering to help uncover what REALLY happened behind the death of her best friend a few years prior.

The premise of this had me hooked - I'm a sucker for these tropes and Blue Hand Girls was no different! I really liked Kay's character and was able to relate to her in a lot of ways when I was her age. This story was very Karen McManus meets Holly Jackson with a bunch of teenagers, inspired by true crime stories, taking crime into their own hands and stepping on the wrong toes. While a lot of characters/backgrounds to keep track of, this story had plenty of twists to keep this interesting until the very end.

Unfortunately, the ending was pretty predictable and I felt was given away pretty early on in the story and even with the synopsis. But that being said, I recognize I'm not the target audience and I still think plenty of teen readers will eat this up upon its release. Thanks so much for the ARC!

Loveddddd this book, loved the characters, the quick pace, the twists and turns, the story itself and the ending was amazing! Great book and super well written can’t wait to read more from this author!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

SECRETS OF THE BLUE HAND GIRLS by Rowana Miller

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the earc (Oct 7)

It starts with an anonymous letter telling Kay to make her hand blue. Intrigued---despite college looming, scholarships, and the death of a friend---she does it. Soon, she is pulled into a society that it trying to uncover something dangerous---something that got her friend killed. Kay doesn't know who to trust as secrets are revealed.
The first this that drew me in was the cover. Can we talk about the glitter? I love glitter and that made me happy to see glitter on a cover.
SECRETS OF THE BLUE HAND GIRLS is a dark academia, YA mystery/thriller. With a secret society and m*rder, this book is full of conspiracy, drama, and a touch of romance. I really liked this book, and I thought the pace was nice; however, the chapters were a bit on the longer side, and some of the characters were a bit shady and unlikeable (especially as the book played out.)
Like I mentioned above, the cover initially drew me in, but the blue hand, anonymous notes, and secret society kept me intrigued. SECRETS OF THE BLUE HAND GIRLS is riddled with a conspiracy that goes further than seems possible (and every reveal, task, etc. was wild.) The whodunit was twisted, and I didn't see it coming. But, that final reveal was even more twisted in this thrilling tale.
SECRETS OF THE BLUE HAND GIRLS is perfect if you're looking for a dark academia full of secrets, lies, and twists that leave you speechless.

This book was a debut?! It definitely did not read like one! Rowana Miller expertly crafted a YA novel with so many elements, you’d think she’d written at least 10 books prior.

Secrets of the Blue Hand Girls was the perfect mix of mystery, suspense and dark academia. The book was full of twists and so many secrets.

I have zero doubt that this book will be successful and can’t wait to see what good things lie ahead for Rowana Miller!