4.5 stars. This was fantastic!!! The writing is so sharp and so funny. Early on when the debate team kids hassle others in class, you can HEAR the rhythm of the debate in your head as you read. It was excellent. And I laughed so many times in this. The pop culture references are perfect, and the snark from Sydney's job was outstanding.

I have really strong opinions about revenge stories. Many times, the revenge is as bad as the action that prompted it. So I have to really feel the righteous indignation and anger rise up over the inciting incidents to enjoy the story. I felt like the indignation was there for the coach. He was awful. But I didn't feel like the case was strong enough (for me) on the kids on the team. Yes, they were catty and mean. But some of the cruelty happened before Sydney got there. And as she was the only POV character, it was vicarious outrage rather than her being there, with her friends, as they were devastated by these kids. So, I found myself in the end thinking the punishment was harsher than the initial "crimes" for the kids. This was my only "critique" about a book that was otherwise absolutely perfect for me as a reader. (Language, under-age drinking, sexual references, LGBTQ+)

Sydney's life was pretty great, only she didn't know it at the time. How could she know it if it was the only thing she ever knew? The nice home, the in-ground pool, the vacations, the clothes....she took it for granted until it was gone and she found herself living with her mom in a tiny apartment, in a new school, with her dad in prison. Sydney vows to keep her head down, stay invisible and get through the rest of her senior year before starting her own dead end job since she busted any chance of a scholarship with her dismal grades at the end of her junior year. Her best intentions last a hot minute before her mouth begins running faster than her brain and she finds herself defending a fellow classmate to a speech and debate team champ. Sydney quickly finds out that the speech and debate team rule the school and no one- but NO ONE - defies them. Sydney convinces her new friends (including the girl she defended) to help her infiltrate the team and take it down in a spectacular and very public humiliation, exacting revenge on behalf of all the underdogs of the school.

For me, the best part of this book was Zolidis' theme that the winners in the American way of life are destined to stay winners and keep the path of winning open for their own children. Winning in America is no longer about working hard, it is about the advantages provided for you. Sydney at one time had it all, but it was taken away from her by a bad decision on the part of her parent, who, was just trying to keep this "American dream" open to his daughter. Although improbable in that it is very unlikely a new girl with no speech and debate team experience could successfully infiltrate a nationally ranked team and compete on their level, this story gives hope in that sometimes not giving up the fight is the best that you can do, and sometimes, pushing back does actually topple the unfair status quo.

This was a fun book and I highly recommend it, especially to those students who are sometimes bullied by the students who receive adult support more frequently than they probably should. Sometimes the cards are not dealt fairly and truly gifted and capable students are squashed down by students who have power that comes from money or other adult support that places them above others.
This book shines for those who have talent and qualities that should give them a quality high school experience but the more powerful hold them down.
Good book to read.

This book is a masterpiece! Filled with real teen characters, funny dialogue, and a quick plot, I would recommend this to any fan of 90s teen films.

**I received this book for free for an honest review.

Honestly, this was so much fun! The only reason I wouldn't purchase it for the library I work at is because speech is totally different in Iowa. However, I related to it quite a bit from knowing how most states and schools view forensics. It was so much fun to read! I didn't relate to the characters as much outside of speech, but everything else was completely accurate. It was so enjoyable to watch the characters grow and learn that their coach might have been too much. Sydney, however, was my favorite. Her humor was so quick and so relatable. Many would have fault with the cursing that happens so frequently in the book, but I didn't feel it was there for a shock factor. I ultimately found Sydney's life would be relatable for teenagers and her use of humor as well.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who found the forensics/speech world to be truly daunting and slightly terrifying. It really is a great read and I would purchase this for my personal library.

I received this novel free in exchange for my opinion. Thank you for selecting me to review it. I was very disappointed in the foul language in this novel. I made it not even 1/4th in and the f-bomb was constant. The plot was great and i wanted to finish this book but the swearing was awful. Maybe next time.