Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

This books is about Mia, her parents send her to a boarding school for "troubled girls" in an effort to set her on the straight and narrow. Red Oak is a place of healing and self discovery. Mia meets other "bad" girls and learns about herself and what makes her so "bad." This book was so wonderful and relatable. Foley is a great writer and I look forward to her other books!

This book was legitimately chilling in the best way. So much of the troubled teen industry has been coming to light in recent years, and this book specifically touched on the discriminatory tendencies of the terrible instituitons. We as a society come down so much harder on "bad girls" than "bad boys" because bad boys are too often romanticized, and bad girls are the people we tell children to stay away from and refuse to hire for no good reason. The book took an in-depth take at vulnerability, especially female vulnerability, and what it can cost. I was engaged all the way through, and the writing was truly stand-out great. I loved Mia as a protagonist, especially her voice, and the whole cast of characters had really interesting and complex dynamics. I can't wait to read more from this author!

I was aware what I was getting myself into, when I started reading You Know I’m No Good By Jessie Ann Foley, I was expecting emotional baggage, awful people around the main character, a lot of self reflection but nobody told me a sad book can make you feel this happy and relaxed at the end. (not like literally happy but more like relived happy.)

Before I get into more details I just want to say, I loved the book’s structure. And the small chapters felt so rewarding, it was so much fun to read, run through chapters and see the different texts. It kinda reflected Mia’s emotions and character for me.

Mia is talented and possibly a genius but we never get to find her true academic potential because, she gives up on all of that. way before page one. To Mia it doesn’t feel like any of that will make much of a difference in her life people have already made an impression of her in their mind. So she decides to build on that reputation by behaving reckless. Despite the heavy content the book is very light and and even cute in certain scenes.


I was running through pages as Mia gets to the boarding school and we meet other girls there. Not only does Mia’s character feel refreshing and gives a fresh perspective on mental health but we also get to see the other girls, what their issues are and how differently everyone deals with them.

There are definitely some scenes very felt very raw and even violating, but they weren’t about sexual Assault. While there are mentions of assault, Suicidal Ideation, Drug and Alcohol Use, Self-Harm, there aren’t any vivid descriptions of it. The plot centers mental health but Mia’s story is more than that. I got to see Mia grow up and mature and take control of her life after feeling at the mercy of other’s perception.

Mia reminded me of my experiences of high school and how easy it is to loose yourself in others perception of you. True belief and self worth comes from within and Mia reminded me that.

I will still consider this a feel good book, if you are ok with reading books with those trigger warnings. The reason is, I was feeling drained and in a reading slump and wasn’t sure if I will be able to find the book. Or read another book with any trigger warnings but I literally finished You Know I’m No Good in one day.

This book is part of a peculiar sub-genre of teen fiction centered on mental hospitals and alternative education camps, where we see a protagonist who believes they don't belong in this place and is enraged with their parents. It points out the flaws in the treatment program but ultimately decides it is net good. this particular offering is fairly standard of the type and does little to distinguish itself.

This is probably closer to a 4.5 star read. It was really good! It’s about Mia, who is referred to throughout the book as a “troubled teen”. She has had a slew of behavioral problems that culminate with her punching her stepmom, and soon thereafter she finds herself at a therapeutic home for girls.

This story is really just about her learning how to heal from things in her past and be reflective on her actions and how they affected not only others but herself. She learns both by talking with a therapist, who she is extremely reluctant with at first, but also just by spending time with the other girls and evaluating their behaviors. There is also a rather suspenseful second half of this story where things go a little off path from the beginning which was really compelling as well.

This book is an exploration of feminism, trauma, self-worth, and anger. I think this would do great in a classroom with reluctant readers, especially ones who have traits mirroring some of the girls in the story. There’s some really tough subject matter, like hard drugs, rape, molestation, grooming, eating disorders, etc.... but that’s also the reality of a lot of teens whether we like to admit it or not.

As a victim of sexual assault, I found it difficult to read this story. I'm sure some of it is my own shame and need to process... because I kept wanting the main character to have done more/said something. I kept wanting the scenario to be less ambiguous and more violent so that I could easily see that she was raped.

I don't know if my issue is generational - I'm mid-50s and times and minds have changed. We have training and language to use now, and books in my day didn't look straight at the issue like this one. I'm grateful for the conversation being out there. Grateful to have my own thinking pushed so that I can better serve students.

So, I'm trying to think about how I'd frame a book talk about this book without getting in the way of its value. I also teach 7th graders, and I think I'd recommend this for older students.

In You Know I’m No Good, we follow Mia through her stay at Red Oak Academy as a result of being a troubled teen. We also know from the beginning the last straw that pushed her father and stepmom to have her admitted. What we don’t know however, until a little further to the story, is the reason that started her spiral out of control.

In Red Oak Academy, we get a glimpse of who Mia really is: a smart and caring person who needed to have such a tough facade in order to mask the pain and hate that’s been pushed away for years. I had a great time reading her conversations with Vivian during their sessions to a point where I looked forward to their future meetings. I was also relieved that she was able to make friends, and at some point enjoy herself despite being there.

There were different avenues in Mia’s life that was touched on in this story. We find out her mother passed away; her dad remarried; and that her and her stepmom doesn’t necessarily have a great relationship. The juxtaposition of the present with the past did good in presenting these information. However, with my copy having 65 chapters, I would’ve wished for these aspects to have been explored more.

There are a few painful things this book was good at illustrating: that girls / women will never walk away unscathed after their abuse; and how terrifyingly ruthless girls / women can get with each other regardless of how great we are in supporting and lifting each other up.

Thank you to Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins) for providing me with a free digital copy for review.

You Know I'm No Good is a thought-provoking Young Adult novel that questions the idea of what is deemed normal by society and how it is deeply ingrained in our minds so much so that all those who don't fall under the category are considered misfits and "trouble-makers".

𝙏𝙒: 𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙚, 𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙪𝙡𝙩, 𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙝𝙤𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙜 𝙪𝙨𝙚, 𝙥𝙮𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙖, 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙖, 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛-𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢, 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙙𝙮𝙨𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙥𝙝𝙞𝙖.

Mia Dempsey can be categorized as a troubled teen by all means; has a drinking problem, does not give a damn about school nor grades, and sleeps around with boys she barely knows. All at once, her chaotic lifestyle comes to a standstill the minute Mia punches Alanna, her step-mom, in the face, the aftermath of which leads her to be dumped into Red Oak, a therapeutic boarding school for the so-called "troubled-kids" to lead a life detached from the rest of the world.

ℍ𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕒𝕟 𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟. 𝕀𝕥 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕘𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕠, 𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕟 𝕠𝕦𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕡 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕣𝕖, 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥, 𝕒𝕤 𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕝, 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕝 𝕛𝕠𝕓 𝕥𝕠 𝕒𝕔𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕙, 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕙 𝕚𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕧𝕚𝕧𝕖.

This book will inevitably suck you into Mia's shoes right from the very beginning, feel a surge of emotions, and possibly make you a hot mess. Mia has always been influenced by what people think of her rather than what she thinks of herself and being slut-shamed all through her junior year and the years that followed, Mia has restrained herself from all the good that she actually deserves, suffering from her own self-worth issues. Apparently, I have a thing for self-discovery books, and this one called out to me all the same. I loved to see Mia transform as a person and come to terms with what she wants her future to be made of and eventually love her true self.

Jessie Ann Foley has done it again. "You Know I'm No Good" does an exceptional job of exploring what it means to be the "bad girl" or the "troubled teen," or more importantly, what it doesn't mean. The stigma attached to those terms is exactly that, a stigma, and Foley delves so deeply into the circumstances and trauma that is so deeply buried behind the mask of that bad girl/trouble teen persona. Mia is so complex and such a finely drawn character, but it's not just Mia, it's all the girls at Red Oaks - each has their own story to tell and each will touch the reader in a way that will have them thinking differently or even allow them to connect in a new way or through shared experiences. Additionally, reading Foley's review on Goodreads provides additional insight into the inspiration behind the book and how this book came to be made me appreciate this story even more.

This is a book that demands a place in every YA collection. It is a book that will inspire a thoughtful and discussion not just about trauma and stigma but also about the double standard that exists between men and women.. It is a book that can be a safe haven. It is a book that is necessary.

From the beginning of the novel, Mia acknowledges that she is flawed, she knows she is a TROUBLED TEEN. The only problem is doesn’t care enough to change. She feels that she is broken beyond repair, and there is nothing anyone can do. So, when she punched her stepmom one day, Her parents seeing no other course send her to Red Oaks Academy for troubled teens. Only when she came here, we get to know how he turned out to be the way she is and maybe she can be happy again.

Mia is a wonderful character. She has her flaws and bad habits but inside all the shells that she created and the mask she put on, she is kind and loving. It was great to see her through her journey of acknowledgement of her feelings and emotions. She is the most realistic character I have read in a long time. I loved Vera who turned to be Mia’s best friend at Red Oaks. She is intelligent, funny and an overall badass.

I love the sense of personal touch that the author gave to the book through the footnotes. I love getting little titbits of the characters and their thoughts through them. The plot was fast-paced and gripping. The author talked about disturbing topics such as sexual assault, anxiety but still managed to perfectly fit them with the whole plot.

Overall it was a wonderful read which was necessary and important. Not only teens, but everyone can pick up this book for an incredible journey with Mia.

"When pain bumps against pain can it create joy? Can it breed love? I hope so."

You Know I'm No Good by Jessie Ann Foley is one book that would make you forget the decency in the world and it really does scramble the brain given the harsh realities of life. The protagonist, Mia Dempsey, is a "troubled teen" at least that's what everybody believes her to be, who abuses drugs, is promiscuous, defiant, an alcoholic and intelligent. These attributes have gained her her 'slut' reputation that consequently has her life become a talk show for others to mock at.

On one such occassion, when her dad and stepmom decide that they couldn't do anything more to have her on the right path, they practically stage her kidnapping by having her transported to a boarding school for troubled girls without her knowledge. There she meets more such 'troubled teen girls' who've been living there for as many as two years, completely cut-off from the civilization, to help them heal, to help them deal with their issues and consequently behaviours.
However, what they fail to realize is that these behaviours and issues might have their roots deep into traumatic memories, things and people and situations that made them troubled in the first place.
Mia has some reasons too which her parents decided to completely ignore and instead put the blame on her for being a bad child which is very forthcoming because aren't all kids responsible for their behaviours and issues they go on suffering from while growing up in a negligent household?
She has strong opinions, an appreciative perspective and a steely willpower. However, she lacks is self-confidence as she wishes of being dead and considers herself as a piece of shit.

It talks about so many real issues at ground level that it becomes difficult to read it continuously. The brain reaches a saturation point where it can't soak in the extremities of human behaviour and you need a good few minutes to ponder over it. It's a hard read. I wish there were some light elements in the book to make it more enduring.

TW - self-harm, drug, alcohol & sexual abuse, suicidal ideation

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

MAJOR Content and Trigger Warnings: Drug and alcohol abuse, sexual assault, talks of self harm, suicide, and stalking. Please practice self care while reading this book.

Mia is either bad or just no good. She skips class, she drinks, does drugs, and has a reputation for sleeping around. After an altercation with her step mother, she is sent to Red Oak Academy, a school for “Troubled Teens”. There she is forced to face her past and decided if she wants to continue down the path she is headed, or heal from the trauma she has been forced to bear.

For the first 25% of You Know I’m No Good I was pretty wary that this would be yet another angst filled YA that has the potential to glorify depression and harmful habits, but as I continued, I was completely taken aback by the journey this book takes its readers on. Mia’s entire arc is both subtle and hugely impactful and to see where she starts at the beginning of the book to how the story ends is incredibly stunning. The majority of the conflict she faces is internal, although there is a lot poignant social commentary about how teenage girls are treated in our society and how much of a double standard they are held to. The relationships she develops are each so interesting to read about and each other the side characters are complex with their own conflicts and lives outside of how they relate to Mia. The only aspect keeping me from giving this book 5 stars is I did feel that one of the characters could fall into some harmful stereotypes in terms of her sexuality.

Overall, You Know I’m No Good is such an emotional, gritty, and hopeful book that had me completely engrossed the entire time. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this.

If you like books that will make you ponder about your life, would remind you that you are everything and nothing all at once, and that this is not the end rather just another day, then this book is for you. The Red Oak would be here for you.

I absolutely devoured this book! Jessie Ann Foley’s writing in You Know I’m No Good is fast paced and continually left me breathless. Not to mention the short chapters almost always ended in something of a cliff hanger that had me turning the page for just “one more chapter” despite the hour or what household chores needed to be done.

I don’t want to go into too much detail in my review, as I don’t want to give too much away from the story. That said, I don’t typically give star ratings in my reviews, but this is definitely a five-star read.

The reader truly feels and lives through Mia - her pain, her happiness, her sorrow. And when she has that break through emotionally - ahhh! - it cut deep in the feels.

And then Foley works her author magic, building Mia and the reader back up, bringing both together through the hard work Mia does emotionally. Healing hearts, souls, and relationships.

And the ending! Just, ugh! So much love.

In the span of these pages, Foley broke me down, filled me with hope, and built me back up. She also beautifully opened a dialogue and discusses many tough topics, such as teen drug and alcohol use and self-harm.

This was a fresh take on “troubled teens”. I’m always a sucker for a group home/institution setting and Red Oak was the perfect backdrop for Mia’s story. A lot of growth and self awareness happens in this story and I think it’s a voice we all need to hear. Can’t wait to share with my students!

I finished You Know I'm No Good in one day, however, that whole day consists of a couple of breaks because come chapters was such a punch, I had to put the book down and process. This book will definitely be close to my heart and I probably won't stop recommending it to readers who needs this books, which, in my own opinion, is everyone.

It all started when Mia punched her stepmother. Yes, you read that right. She punched her stepmother. But thats just one of the many things that she have done to be branded as "troubled teen" One day, she was woken up by a group of people dragging her somewhere and her family is not doing anything about it. And this is how she ended up in Red Oak.

I breezed through the whole book, in exception of some chapters that were a little difficult to read, NOT BECAUSE ITS BADLY WRITTEN in any way, only because its difficult. You Know Im No Good touches tough subjects such as sexual assault, OCD, and self harm. I don't want to use my review of this book to focus on my own trauma but I will just say that I am not unfamiliar with said disorders. The author did not shy away from the harsh realities of the possible struggles of some people who suffers with the same trauma or/and disorder. This book is through Mia's eyes and I must say that she's one of the most realistic "troubled teen" that I've encountered. The thing is, she knows what she's doing and she's calling out herself. It was painful and heartbreaking to read her thoughts sometimes, I'm not gonna lie. It was too real and too upsetting to read and think about. But this is reality. This is happening. And its not just to Mia.

Jessi Ann Foley penned characters that are too hard to let go. I want to know more about them because I felt so much for them. Is it because of what they've gone through or is it because they are all beautifully written? Scars and all. I'd say BOTH. Mias stay in Red Oak was terrifying but also an eye-opener. These girls aren't just "bad girls" who got sent away to a boarding school in the middle of nowhere due to bad behaviour. They all got their reasons and saddening back stories. I love how even though they are just secondary characters, they still got depth.

After reading You Know I'm No Good, I slept and thought if I have anything bad to say about this book the next day. I came up with nothing. The writing was engrossing, the whole plot was believable, engaging, at some times distressing but overall beautiful and necessary.

Now, who would I recommend this book to? Will you not enjoy it because you're an adult? Because you were not a "troubled teen"? I want to say, read it still. Read this book to gain empathy. To widen your compassion not only to other people, but also to yourself. To gain perspective. You Know I'm No Good is heartbreaking, but a poignant and powerful read. You won't want to miss it.

I nearly cried multiple times throughout this book so there you go.
Despite having little to no expectations going into this, You Know I'm No Good was a beautifully written book about complex girls with so many layers to their character and personality.
It was heart-breaking and it was funny. I laughed and I (nearly) cried. Definitely recommend.

4.5 stars

Mia is what you would call a Troubled Teen. She drinks, does drugs, has sex, doesn't care about school, and most recently, she punched her stepmother. With her family--if you could even call them that--no longer able to deal with Mia's behavior, Mia is forcibly transported to Red Oak Academy, a therapeutic girls' boarding school that will hopefully change her ways. Although Mia is resistant to the school's seemingly controlling nature, from confiscated items, to strip searches, to 9pm bed times, it is through this school that Mia finally has a chance to be vulnerable and reflect on and process her relationships and experiences.

<i>You Know I'm No Good</i> had me hooked from the very first sentence all the way to the last. Through Mia's down-to-earth narration, the reader gets a nitty-gritty front row seat to the catastrophic events in her life. This is a story about what it means to be a "bad" girl--a slut, a whore, a junkie, a lost cause--and why this perception is deeply problematic and destructive. Intertwining themes of double standards, feminism, sexuality and sexual assault, mental health, family and friendships, just to name a few, Jessie Ann Foley's writing is deeply poignant and honest. Whether you have ever been in Mia's place, or perhaps have made some assumptions about someone in Mia's place, Foley encourages the audience to look beyond the surface and truly understand the burdens that "troubled teens" often carry.

I thought Mia's character, despite her decisions, was wonderfully written. She was angry and messy, but her voice was genuine. Of course, the idea misunderstood teens is far from new, but Foley offers a refreshing perspective on how harmful it is to demonize girls that may have "strayed from the path," as they might not even understand themselves or the events they have been through.

For readers of more mature, heavy YA, I would recommend this in a heartbeat. Powerful, heartbreaking, and realistically messy, this is the kind of story that will stay with you long after finishing it.

Content warnings: rape, underage sex, underage drinking, drug use, manipulation, mentioning of self harm

I loved Foley’s last book Sorry for Your Loss, and I jumped at the chance to get an advance copy of her newest on Net Galley. Once again, Foley does not disappoint! Here are my thoughts:

On the Plus Side:
Foley deftly captures the angst of fitting in and belonging that teens experience.
I enjoyed an insider’s view of what a girl’s therapeutic boarding school could look like (at some point I read an interview with Foley where she discussed how she was fortunate enough to be invited into a similar school, and that experience is well reflected in the book). I’m sure that all schools look different, but it was interesting to me to view this snapshot.
I loved the development of the main character Mia throughout the novel. The reader can feel her resistance to therapy and addressing her issues, but also how she comes to learn more about herself through the process.
I loved many of the relationships – Mia and her therapist, Mia and Vera, Mia and Poppy, and even Mia and her dad. Foley provided a great development of depth to each of these relationships, and I wish that we could hear more about them in the future
I liked that Foley tackled many tough topics that teens face – drinking, drug use, self harm, promiscuity, and more. She was able to present these struggles in varying degrees among the girls at Red Oak. I also liked how she also tackled the understanding and treatment for many of these issues.
I also loved the very strong message that despite their issues, none of the girls are bad people. The choices they have made in the past do not need to define who they are today.
On The Not-So-Plus Side:
I was left wanting more of a wrap up of what happens to all of the girls at Red Oak. I do realize that Mia was the focus of the story, but after all of the focus on the character development and relationships, I didn’t feel a strong sense of closure with them.
Things do wrap up fairly nicely for Mia despite all of her struggles throughout the novel. I didn’t necessarily have an issue with this, but for people who don’t love overly tidy endings, this might be a disappointment.