This was a great read! There were so many twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat! I couldn’t put it down!

This is tense and gripping and wildly entertaining. It’s also a little ridiculous at times. It was a very enjoyable time and it hooked me on a VERY long plane ride. But I would not say it’s as interesting or insightful as I hoped/thought it would be. I also didn’t love the main character, who I felt to be a little boring, but I did relate to and like the way she interacted with her students. I found Benjamin’s POV interesting, the way his mom tried to balance giving him independence with discipline depressing yet real, and the way he was influenced by online and in person male presences concerning and unfortunately timely. Overall, I thought the premise was fascinating, and particularly compelling as someone who works with boys that age, although I do think it could have been executed a little more cleanly.

𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞.

A deeply uncomfortable read that should be essential for everyone--not just parents or teachers, but everyone. Adolescent boys have always come with a unique set of challenges, but in today's world, it's essential to know what they're facing.

The school year is winding down for Abby Rosso, a high school counselor. But instead of looking forward to the lazy days of summer, she's dealing with the fallout from the suicides of two female students. Even worse, when she's cleaning her teenage son Benjamin's room, she finds something troubling in a dresser drawer. The details are hazy, but to her growing horror, she begins to wonder if Benjamin was somehow involved in the girls' deaths.

How does a parent decide if a teen is sullen and lacking empathy because those are hallmark teen behaviors or if they're hinting at something much darker? With society and social media pummeling teen boys with conflicting messages about what it means to be a man, who decides what masculinity is?

Disturbing, distressing, but wholly vital, WHAT BOYS LEARN is a stark commentary on the dangerous path we've created for boys to take, use, and destroy without penalty. Many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Books for the early copy. Look for this one January 6, 2026.

What Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax is a deeply compelling and suspenseful novel that tackles tough questions about innocence, blame, and the terrifying unpredictability of youth. Over one horrifying weekend in a wealthy Chicago suburb, two teenage girls are found dead, and the story spirals into a tense investigation with layers of secrets and suspicion. Abby Rosso, the high school counselor and mother, is haunted by her past and her instincts as she begins to suspect her own son, Benjamin, might be linked to the tragedy. The narrative expertly explores her internal conflict—her desire to protect her son versus her need to uncover the truth. Romano-Lax masterfully peels back the layers of a seemingly perfect community, revealing the darkness lurking beneath polished façades. This book is as chilling as it is thought-provoking, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about violence, youth, and the sins of the past. The suspense builds steadily, keeping you guessing until the final pages, and the emotional depth makes it impossible to look away. If you enjoy provocative stories with complex characters and an unflinching look at human nature, What Boys Learn is a page-turner you won't want to miss—just be prepared for a ride into some uncomfortable, yet essential, truths.

Abby is suspended from her job after a couple school suicides. As time goes on, they start to think they were not suicides but murders. Abby has an ex boyfriend who was a cop that helps her. Abby starts to wonder if her son has violent tendencies like her brother, who is in prison. It's basically a race to find out who the bad guy is, and what influence he has on her son.

Abby is a school psychologist. When a couple of the girls end up dead, she is suspended and blamed for not seeing suicide was on their mind. As times goes on, clue appear that show it may not be suicide, but also that her son may have been involved. As Abby's past flashes back, she sees parts of her brother in her son, and it scares her. Abby turns to Curtis to help figure out what is going on with her son. As she starts to investigate things, she finds shocking clues that tell her she must save her son. Great book! Little long though!