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A review by chighland
The Ivies by Alexa Donne
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A huge thank you to Crown Books for Young Readers & NetGalley for the ARC of this book. It was a page-turner--I read it in a day, while at the beach. In it, five horrifying teens at an elite boarding school sabotage their classmates in order to ensure their spots at the top of the class--and therefore, in the Ivy Leage. But of course people willing to betray acquaintances in big ways are willing to betray friends too. One of the Ivies ends up dead, and another decides to investigate the death. What she finds underscores just how toxic these students and the environment they operate in is.
Donne manages to write a book that is both incredibly creepy and horrifyingly believable. She underscores just how toxic these hypercompetitive environments can be, and shows what happens when that toxicity is taken to an extreme. I really enjoyed this book!
Donne manages to write a book that is both incredibly creepy and horrifyingly believable. She underscores just how toxic these hypercompetitive environments can be, and shows what happens when that toxicity is taken to an extreme. I really enjoyed this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia