This book was a did not finish for me. I enjoyed the premise and the writing is well done but I got about 70% of the way through and just didn't feel like anything was happening. I'm hoping I can go back and power through to see how it ends.

Sadly, this one was a Did Not Finish for me. I was so there in the beginning and highlighted several passages that were laugh out loud funny. Then about halfway through the book lost its steam and, as a result, I lost my interest. I did enjoy the wide cast of characters, unfortunately I had a hard time telling them apart from one another, their voices blended together and sounded the same.

I was so looking forward to this one and, sadly, it fell short.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

This is probably a 4.5 star review.

I don't want to give too much away, but the story centers around an elite boarding school, a young-ish teacher who goes there to teach and perhaps outrun her past, and the deadly games that are sometimes played in the battles of the sexes.

I liked most everything about this novel. While there were a few parts in the middle that seemed to drag a bit, I ultimately found the building suspense to be worth the wait. The genre is not easily definable--it isn't a mystery or a thriller. It's really an academic novel with a literary influence. The subject matter, which might at first seem somewhat trivial, is not. This becomes more and more evident as the action rises and you see that things are not going to end well.

It's a funny novel at times and at others it is really, really sad: the novel uncovers the world women have to navigate today, younger and older, but also the expectations for young men (and, again, older ones too) and how difficult it is for so many. Finally, like so many great literary novels of the past, it shows just how dangerous women can be when pushed too far.

SPOILER ALERT
With all the great word of mouth THE SWALLOWS was receiving, I was excited to read it. I was very disappointed when I did. I should have quit when I was ahead.

There is some nice writing in Lisa Lutz's novel, and a modicum of suspense. But when the pun in the title became obvious, I wondered what on earth the publisher was thinking. I am hardly a prude, I do not believe in censorship. I have directed plays with a more sex than is in this book. But come on (no pun intended), a mystery about high school students engaging in oral sex and then being rated for how well they did? With so many good mysteries out there from authors hoping to be published, this is what gets printed??

Sadly, I feel positive it will be on the best seller's list, which is more a comment on our society then the quality of the book.

I do not plan on sharing this review.

3 for neutral. I tried on many occasions to read this book, but could never fully enjoy enough to finish. I am very moody when reading and will update if able to finish at a later date.

I received an Advanced Reviewer Copy of The Swallows by Lisa Lutz from the publisher Random House Ballatine Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: This is the story of a boarding school in Vermont where the boys keep an online data base of the girls' sexual prowess. The girls have been embarassed and ashamed for too long and now they are fighting back with the help of their new teacher.

What I Loved: I loved this one so much! The Whisper Network was being hallmarked as the #MeToo book of the year. Sorry, but The Swallows has you beat. This book covers the anger and frustration of women who have been used for too long. The book follows four different characters: two teachers, one of them helping the girls, the one who seems a bit sketchy, and two students, a girl leading the cause and a boy who is helping them. This book handles the power of abuse culture and how years of taking it can lead to nearly uncontrollable anger. The stories are so interesting and the characters whose point of view you get are relatable and even if the characters aren't likeable, Lutz does such a good job making you understand their motivations and their strengths and weaknesses.

What I didn’t like so much: The book can be frustrating at time because the characters do mess up but so do most humans, and this seemed believable and Lutz outlined their motivations so well, it seems understandable. There are characters that are douchebags and who do really cruel things, as this is a book about years of allowed sexual abuse.

Who Should Read It: People who like boarding school novels. People who like #MeToo stories. People who were frustrated by college/high school sexual assault stories constantly not getting justice and want to read about justice being served.

General Summary: A boarding school story where girls stand up to years of abusive culture with, 'Enough is Enough'

Wasn't for me. I liked the dark, creepy tone of the story which reminded me of that feeling you get watching psychological thriller movies. That undercurrent of things evil and unseen. But the characters were difficult to connect to (despite there being a ton of them) and at times the pacing lagged. I generally like multiple points-of-view as a reader but it didn't work for me here. It was hard to suspend disbelief for so long and at so many points. The adults are clueless and essentially (at least on an emotional level) still teenagers and the teens are very decisive and troubled.

There were moments when I thought I was into it as I tore through the last fifty or so pages but then the ending just didn't sit well with me. I have a hard time imagining the events of the story didn't result in more consequences in the real world. I get that this book has things to say on a social commentary level about feminism, misogyny, and the power structure/relationship between (heterosexual) genders but it missed the mark for me. It's like it was trying so hard to say something meaningful that it never really did. All in all, not for me but it looks like others have enjoyed it. I think if you like YA characters in an adult suspense story, this one will be for you.

Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Random House Ballantine, and the author Lisa Lutz for the opportunity to do so.

I’ve never read anything by Lutz before, but I thought the premise sounded very interesting. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this book and staying engaged. The narrative dragged. I usually enjoy novels with multiple POVs, but I never really felt a connection to these characters. The adults were mainly clueless, which was annoying and a bit unrealistic.

I think there was a lot of potential, but I’m not sure it really hit the mark. I’ve heard good things about other books by this author, so I’d considering checking out future books.

This book was well written - - but I just couldn't connect with it. I didn't like any of the characters and the narrative seemed to drag. Just wasn't a book for me.

I felt The Swallows was aimed at a mature YA audience but I see it crossing over well. The setting is a prep school, and the characters appropriate for the setting. The premise of the novel, especially in these "MeToo" movement times should appeal. I thought that the female characters were more layered and complex than the male characters, which made it easier to pin the villain labels on the males. I have read other offerings from Lisa Lutz and find her writing witty and easy to read, The Swallows fits that description. The story is entertaining, the pacing is even, and the conclusion satisfactory. I might recommend The Swallows as a book discussion selection, there are many opportunities for discussion and debate. 3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

The Swallows, by Lisa Lutz, takes place at an elite academy, where in between college apps, varsity sports and SAT prep, the prep school boys keep a secret list, ranking their female classmates sexually. The secret list and the Dulcinea Award for the girl with the best, uh, special skills, has been going on for years, but at long last, the girls begin to seek their revenge. This story of teachers, staff, and students at the prep school is raw and vicious by turns. Without revealing the ending, I’ll admit to gasping aloud when I discovered one of the masterminds behind the Dulcinea Award.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of The Swallow by Lisa Lutz.

Alex WItt, although saddled with her own baggage, is looking forward to a fresh start as a new hire at Stonebridge Academy. However, not long into her teaching experience does she discover just how twisted and difficult life has become for the girls of Stonebridge. Being repeatedly warned not to interfere, Alex burns with fury at the injustice, but is also inclined to keep her job.

I don't know. I never really felt this one, which is a shame because I love Lisa Lutz. I didn't really like any of the characters, and all of it felt just grossly overdone.

Starting over at a new job is difficult enough without the added stress of a questionable discharge from your past position and the knowledge that you only received this second chance due to family connections. In The Swallows, by Lisa Lutz, Alex Witt is an unconventional teacher who is far from enthusiastic when she agrees to take over the creative writing classes at Stonebridge Academy. Lutz tells the sordid story of a private school with a history rife with cover-ups and a long tradition of misconduct by both faculty and students. The novel’s rotating first-person narrators include Witt and Finn Ford, two teachers at the Academy; and Gemma and Norman, two students involved in the shattering exposure of the school’s secrets. When a database ranking the female students on their sexual prowess is discovered, a plot of revenge evolves into a full-blown gender war that ends in tragedy. The men in the story are depicted primarily as callous chauvinists or impotent followers, while the women personify forces of repressed rage and simmering resentment. Occasionally exaggerated and obvious, The Swallows nonetheless remains a timely story that reflects some current headlines in this #MeToo era. It is a tale about how social media and technology can help disseminate rumors and exacerbate prejudicial views under the protection of anonymity. Lutz explores potential consequences for those seeking to preserve misogynistic traditions when their victims are compelled to fight back as their voices remain unheard. A departure from her more light-hearted Spellman Series, this new novel will garner plenty of attention from Lutz’s fans who may (or may not be) pleased by this more serious release.
Good for: Fans of Lisa Lutz (Spellman series and The Passenger); suspense tales with academic settings; strong female protagonists; contemporary themes; #MeToo topics
You may like this book if you liked: The Secret History, Donna Tartt; A Separate Peace, John Knowles; Little Tales of Misogyny, Patricia Highsmith; The Secret Place, Tana French; Misogyny: the New Activism, Gail Ukockis

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Swallows is a campus-novel set at a boarding school in Vermont. Ms. Witt starts the school year here finding out that her father gave the school permission to change the courses she would be teaching because Mr. Finn preferred to focus on writing his novel, about a very similar boarding school. Ms. Witt arrived following a scandal at her previous school that was not necessarily her fault, but she could have made better decisions.

Each class has a clique of students known as The Ten, comprising the “It” crowd for various reasons. One girl, Gemma Russo, who somehow managed her way into The Ten but never felt like she belonged discovered that the girls at the school were being rated by how the performed “certain acts,” after which they would be entered into a contest unbeknownst to them, known as The Dulcinea Award. So begins the beginning of the girls taking down the boys. I thoroughly enjoyed the dark humor in The Swallows, as well as the girls realizing their power. I felt bad for the trees though…

Lisa Lutz writes great dialogue, great characters and fantastic stories. While I would love a new Spellmans book; I'm always excited to read anything she' puts out and the Swallows doesn't disappoint!

The only book I've read by Lisa Lutz is the Spellman's and this is so different from their funny family dynamic. This story drew me right in. These characters all have such strong back stories that have effected them and made them who they are today. The things that have been going on at this private school for so long are so wrong and finally some of these students are ready to make a stand! It was a really good book. It felt pretty dark and the students seemed more mature than the average high school student, but I really enjoyed this and had a hard time putting it down.

Although painful to read in some places, due to the horrific actions of a few, this was an amazing book. Clearly 5⭐️ for me!

The message it brings to light is similar to the new form of hazing/bullying that is greatly magnified with social media. But the story is much deeper than the flippant “technology is bad” philosophy. By the end of the story, we learn the origins of the behavior and compliance of many adults, are what has allowed this culture to continue.

This was a fast paced novel and I was completely shocked by the conclusion! The reactions from all characters is so realistic, you could have been reading a current news article concerning a boarding school or college campus.

I highly recommend this book to all YA readers. Due to explicit details, my personal opinion is 14+.

*Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am not sure why but this book was not very good or well written. It seemed to drag and took me quite a while to get though. Her other books were more enjoyable, Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Alex Witt is the new creative writing teacher at Stonebridge Academy after leaving her last teaching job because of an unfortunate incident.
When Alex gives her students a writing assignment to learn more about them, she finds the small New England prep school is keeping many secrets.
Oblique and disturbing mentions about The Darkroom in their papers rouse her interest and she begins to covertly probe into its meaning.
She unwittingly begins a war between the genders as the mystery is exposed, and not everyone will come out alive.
I was a bit disappointed when the reason behind The Darkroom was revealed. For me it just wasn't a compelling subject matter.
There was a large number of characters to keep track of and it was confusing in the beginning, though as the story progressed some significant ones stood out.
I am a huge admirer of the author, her sharp wit and brilliant writing are apparent within the narrative.
It just wasn't a storyline that I could connect with, but I did enjoy other aspects of the book.
The Passenger and The Spellman series are fantastic examples of her writing and I will continue to read everything she writes!
3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Swallows: A Novel is a disturbing tale of the trials and tribulations of the students residing at an eastern prep school. Stonebridge Academy in Lowland, Vermont has all the bells and whistles required of a preparatory high school/boarding school, stately brick and climbing ivy, miles of walking paths and trees. The scholastic achievement has faltered over the years, and the majority of graduates will qualify for the same college acceptances as those students applying from a normal public high school. Problems of a sexual nature seem to have escalated over the last few years, reaching an explosive point just before Christmas break, 2009. Though many girls are included in the ranks of those abused, shame keeps them silent and isolated. It takes Ms. Witt's new role as an instructor of Creative Writing to bring a sense of unity to the girls and shine a spotlight on the systematic abuse perpetrated by a small group of upperclassmen who congregate online in the Darkroom, and keep score on the subfile Dulcinea.

This is one of those novels that suck you right in and don't let go till the last page. The characters, both good and bad, are exceptional, the sense of time and place (2009, 2010) is precise and the storyline is compelling. This is a novel I am happy to recommend to friends and family.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Lisa Lutz, and Ballantine Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.