This book was a wild ride, especially at the end.

While our main character, Alex Witt was engaging, she was kind of the personification of every high schooler’s dream of the “cool teacher.” That’s not the worst, considering I found her pretty entertaining, but she wasn’t stand-out by any means. Meanwhile, Finn was a gross, sleazy-masquerading-as-literary guy who didn’t seem to have much of a purpose in this book. I don’t really see why he was given his own point-of-view when he mostly offers us gross comments about women, and stays on the sidelines of the drama. I would have preferred to read from maybe Claude’s point-of-view, since she remains one of the most mysterious characters—it would be satisfying and intriguing to learn more about her motives and her backstory.

I think the most interesting perspectives were the teenagers. They had the most fleshed out backstories, and were involved in all of the action, filled with complex motives and ethical dilemmas. I kind of wish most of the adult POVs were cut out in favor of the teens. I understand that Alex existed to kind of catalyze the drama, and as an actor for ~adult~ consequences, but we definitely could have cut Finn and included more teen POV.

In general, I would say what plagues the characters plagues this entire book. It’s just not super original. Once I got past the shock of the premise, I saw this story as a boarding-school-revenge-fantasy that was rather predictable. While I didn’t figure out all the small plot twists, I could see where the book was headed.

I also felt that the ending wrapped itself up a little too nicely. I would have preferred a larger fall-out, or at least a bit more consequence. But I do value the message given by this book—women shouldn’t back down, we should fight.

This story is empowering, fun and exciting, even if it doesn’t hold too much depth or originality. If you’re looking for an engaging read, I would definitely check this one out.

I stand by my opinion that Coach Keith is the best character.

Alex Witt is the new professor at Stonebridge Academy, a boarding school that’s not quite top tier---but that’s okay, because neither are the students. In fact, Alex catches on pretty quickly that there’s something off between the boys and the girls at Stonebridge. Lots of competition, but what exactly are they competing for? I read The Passenger by Lisa Lutz last year and really enjoyed it, so I was eager to read this one as well. It’s written in such a different style, with such diverse characters from the other book, that I had to double check to make sure my memory was correct on the author---and I was, so the differences in “voice” just made me all the more impressed with her. I found the book to be well written, and the subject matter to be very relevant in this day and age.

NOTE: Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed every second of this darkly comic and anger inducing story. I like Lisa Lutz. She has a point of view and she doesn’t care about conforming to a particular genre (is it a thriller? Is it a satire? Is it a literary fiction? All of the above) and it makes her books interesting to read. I was fascinated by all the characters and would have been interested to read more about them.
I had mixed feelings about the ending, but it didn’t mar the overall experience. A satisfying and timely read that felt entirely plausible.

This took over a month and I really struggled. It doesn't help that it sparked my reading slump.

I kept waiting for something to happen and nothing ever did. There was a lot of hinting but nothing seemed to come of it. Alex Witt's and Finn's characters both annoyed me and honestly sometimes I couldn't tell their POVs apart.

So sorry, I wasn't able to download this book before it was archived. I will buy it and read it! I will replace this with a real review soon.

So much fun! Love the New England setting. A gender war seems especially relevant in today’s political climate. Great for anyone, an adventure to read.

3.5 stars

You can read all of my reviews at https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.

This is the first book that I've read by this author. I like her writing style. It's effortless and makes reading the book quick and easy. Since I had no preconceived notions about this writer, I was able to just enjoy this book for what it is; a sudsy book set in a small New England prep school about boys behaving badly and girls getting their revenge. You need to suspend belief when you read the book and just enjoy it.

The story centers on new teacher Alex Witt. She begrudgingly took the position after leaving her last teaching position under questionable conditions. Determined to tough it out and not get involved with students or other faculty, a simple writing prompt she gives new students to learn more about them changes this plan. She quickly learns about "the Ten" - a group of students at the top of the social ladder, and the existence of something called "The Darkroom", which chronicles the boys' sexual encounters with girls in the school.

Unable to look the other way, Alex makes headway with a few girls that have decided that the "boys with be boys" attitude in the school needs to change. But to challenge the status quo comes with serious dangers, and an enemy that knows about Alex's past threatens her existence at the school.

School girl Gemma, the head of the resistance, has been secretly plotting her revenge for years and enlists a few other girls to help bring down the Darkroom. She also enlists the help of shy loner Norman who plays an important role in the Darkroom, but doesn't have the courage to do anything about it. As the girls plan for revenge ramps up, it becomes more dangerous and deadly.

There are a few side stories in the book, but I found them distracting and irrelevant. I understand that their purpose was to add depth to Alex's story, but I didn't like them. That's why I rated the book down a bit. Overall, I enjoyed this fast-paced read and will read other books by this author in the future.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the Passenger written by Lisa Lutz and I was thrilled to get the opportunity to get to read this by her. I wasn't disappointed and absolutely recommend this novel! Another great read by this author and couldn't get enough of this book! It swept you in and showed how revengeful a woman can be.
Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the chance to read this book. I, however, could not get into the book. So, I had to put it down. I am sorry I don't have a full review for you. Thank you for allowing me to give it a chance..

Oh, this book. I absolutely adored it. I never expected my first five star read of the year to come on book 54, The Swallows by Lisa Lutz. But I could not get enough of this story, the characters, the witty humor, and the subject matter.

Alex Witt is a new teacher at a not-so-elite, private New England boarding school, having left her previous position due to mysterious, likely unsavory conditions. As expected in any story that involves a New England boarding school, she quickly uncovers the likes of a secret society, rampant sexual misconduct, and a group of rebellious students who are ready to take a stand.

While tackling serious topics, this book had a dry sense of humor and engaging characters and was such an unexpected surprise of a read, and it’s at the top of my list to recommend to fellow readers. I’m also scouring the library for more Lisa Lutz novels to devour.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sick and twisted sex games have been going on for years at Stonebridge. Girls rated across the years on their BJ abilities and a single girl crowned with the Dulcinea award. Worse yet, they’ve created a Darknet that contains all of this information as well as photos of the girls......unbeknownst to them. When a new instructor, Ms. Witt, comes on the scene she quickly suspects that there is something amiss. Several of the girls are also suspicious and they all become embroiled in a path of revenge that goes too far.

“The Swallows” by Lisa Lutz is thriller that takes place in a Stonebridge Academy, a New England prep school. The book deals with the teen girls at the school fighting back against the toxic masculinity and bullying of the boys.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It seemed a bit YA to me, but I did enjoy it.
Thanks to Netgalley for ARC.

This book wasn’t what I expected at all. I went into it thinking it was a thriller. But I t was more of a slow burning mystery where it all came together 82% through the book. Then it was a thriller at the end. I was surprised and intrigued by it. This wasn’t the kind of book I normally read but I’m glad I did, I It was interesting. Very hard to classify this book... part women’s fiction, part mystery.
The writing was great with good story development, all kinds of screwed up characters to say the least. Dysfunction junction. Once I started reading I just didn’t want to put this book down, so I bought the Audible version, so I could listen when I couldn’t read. Narrator’s were great, perfect fit for the book. Definitely one credit worthy for me.
A lot of character development in this one. Which I totally understand, so you really know the all the characters and details of their life. I kept waiting for the secret behind Alex Witt’s past teaching job to drop, but it never did. Felt a little disappointed by that.
I know this story is over the top and I can’t see this ever happening, but I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a teenager with all the social media and technology today.
I’ve never read a book by Lisa Lutz before and I’m so glad I did. I’ll have to try another of her past books.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about teenage kids in prep school, their teachers, and slow burning mysteries.
*A special thank you to Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Not for the puritanically squeamish, this dark and intriguing suspense novel takes place at a private New England boarding school set in the woods. The protagonist, Alex Witt, has been recruited as a last-minute English teacher, a job which she really does not want nor enjoy, after leaving a previous post precipitously (the reader finds out details later on in the story.)

Very quickly, strange and creepy occurrences begin, and we are thrust, along with Alex, into a toxic environment that is harmful to students and teachers alike. As she figures out what is going on, little-by-little, Alex eventually sides with the young women who have been secretly exploited and abused by young men in a tradition that has been going on for years.

If you are bothered by realistic accounts of how young people talk about and participate in sexual activities, then likely you won’t enjoy this mystery. It is sad and horrifying, yet, somehow, I wasn’t that gratified by the tragic, although triumphant, ending, with the women supposedly ‘empowered.’

I enjoyed the pace, some of the character development and the setting in this novel. The suspense kept me moving right along and the writing is good. I recommend it. Thanks to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with the e-ARC.

I am writing with mixed emotions.
First, let me say that it is not easy to read about high school students in a boarding school. Privilege, money, insular and incestuous thinking. It's hard to care and feel sorry for characters in these settings. I don't know anyone who went to a boarding school; what parents send their kids away?
Second, it's difficult to write about kids in their teens without condescension and Lutz deftly writes them, lightly, and darkly, without syrup or preconception. This made it easier to read.
Third, you have the boys versus girls, the sexual conquest contest, and we have seen this before as well.
But there was enough added dysfunction from the adults in this haze to really support reading, enjoying and finishing this book.
The protagonist, in some way, is the new teacher, 29 year old Alex Witt, who is the "rebel" the 'outsider". Not a lot of righteous indignation, so easier to "swallow".
A lot has been written about this book, and all true, it is dark, not unsatisfying, and a quick read, very pointed.
So, again, although I had mixed feelings on the content, Lutz writes this story well and I would recommend it.

The Swallows is a book designed to make you question everything; the narrators, the adults at the school, basically everything. The subject matter will make you uncomfortable but not in a deal-breaker kind of way. This book feels similar to One of Us is Lying or People like Us. It’s absolutely in that vein. Fairly well written, definitely held my attention.

I am a sucker for any crime fiction story which takes place in a school. Some of my favorite books are set in schools. Whether it is the implied locked door mystery or the sometimes chaotic and volatile behavior of teenagers, a book which takes place in a school is an automatic read for me. The Swallows proves that this compulsion continues to serve me well.

Whenever I read a book about a boarding school, I always wonder if I would have enjoyed attending a boarding school. The idea of being on my own at ages fifteen or sixteen seems daunting. I am sure the children who attend boarding schools are under the guidance of teachers and counselors. However not having the presence of my parents at a very impressionable age makes me uncertain of how I would have adjusted. I also assumed the children who attend boarding school are rich; able to afford frequent trips home to visit their parents.

In The Swallows my assumptions were proven wrong. One of the main characters, seventeen year old Gemma is actually an orphan who has landed at Stonebridge Academy. Reading from Gemma’s perspective was very interesting. Gemma has ways to disguise her actual circumstances in order to fit in with her more privileged school mates; being tough and aloof. I could not help feel sympathy for her. High school is hard enough but not having a home base and a support system to fall back on…I could not imagine. Readers will cheer Gemma on until the last page of the book.

Readers will have no issue connecting with the characters in The Swallows. Throughout the book, Lutz gives us glimpses into the characters with snapshots of their texts and emails. Lutz also displays posters and maps which the characters are also viewing. This allows readers to feel in sync with characters.

The story is told nine years after the events at Stonebridge Academy, with the characters reflecting on their actions. With the benefit of hindsight many of the characters now see how their actions or lack of actions may have played a part in the tragedy. Readers will get a glimpse into the characters current circumstances but I wish we could have learned more. How did the events at Stonebridge change their lives and the way they saw the world?

The Swallows is not overly gruesome or violent. Much of the violence is hinted or implied. However, the story is no less impactful. While The Swallows is a story of crime fiction, it is also a cautionary tale of what happens when people are pushed too far and take matters into their own hands.

Murder and Moore Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me so I won't be posting any reviews online. I refuse to read an entire book about high schoolers engaging in oral sex. I was initially intrigued by the cover and the description, but had I known about the graphic subject matter ahead of time, I would never have requested this book.

I am a huge fan of Lisa Lutz's Spellman series books. I really like the humor she adds to her books. I wasn't expecting this book to be so serious, but it has a good message and I really liked it.

Alex Witt arrives at Stonebridge Academy to teach some English classes (or so she thinks). The dean of the school is a friend of Alex's father, who is a famous author. Alex finds out on the first day of classes that she will actually be teaching creative writing. She has learned from her previous teaching post to show no fear to her high school aged students. She assigns them the task of completing an anonymous questionnaire as a way of getting to know her students. The answers to the questions only lead to more questions. Who are The Ten? What is The Darkroom? Who are The Editors? What does it all mean?!?

I'll sum this up by saying that Stonebridge Academy has a lot of secrets. Uncovering the secrets leads to possibly deadly consequences. Murder is never the answer -- but revenge is still sweet.

This book just didn't do it for me. There were a LOT of characters, and I had a hard time keeping track of who was who, and what their role in the story was. And the story just never seemed to go anywhere.

* Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.