There are lots of books about "mean girls" but most of them are told from the perspective of their victims, the nice girls who get caught in their nasty crosshairs. But this book is told from the perspective of the mean girl. Ambrosia falls into bad company in her freshman year at college and does things that come back to haunt her ten years later at her alma mater reunion. This perspective puts a former bully in a much more human light, following her spiral into toxic relationships and spiteful actions that serve to torture her in the end, perhaps worse than the people she so casually victimized.
The plot could have used some tightening up in this one, as it lagged in places, but overall it is a dark and disturbing portrayal of the evil young women can exact upon one another, often due to their own insecurities and petty jealousies. A cautionary tale for any girl who's ever longed to sit at the "cool kid" table, only to find the cold blooded callousness that awaits her there.

I completely devoured this book. Honestly couldn’t put it down. I loved that the pace of this book doesn’t slow down and the twists never stop coming. So amazing!

This book is the epitome of mean girl stories. At times it was hard to tell who to feel sorry for and who exactly was being bullied. These girls played mind games and straight out mean pranks without once stopping to think who was being hurt.

The author created characters that seemed realistic and who, when viewed through Amb’s eyes came across as mean although they were actually kind and caring. The story unfolds in flashes to the past with some shocking events arising. Part psychological thriller, part mean girls makes for an intriguing story with a nice twist.

I was so happy to be given an advance copy to read from a London, Ontario writer (hello from Goderich!). This was a fast-paced read and the characters were all interesting. The relationships were intense and you could feel the desperation in the pages. The way that we remember traumatic events and the need to fit in was explored in the book in a thrilling way. Loved the ending and thought it was different than other books. Looking forward to reading more from this author!!

I was thankful to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book to read it in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited by the cover and the plot summary but I just didn't connect with the read, I wish I could say that I enjoyed it more but perhaps I wasn't the right audience.

This story tells, in alternative chapters, the story of Ambrosia Wellington's freshman year at Wesleyan College as well as her life 10 years later at her college reunion. Ambrosia is now married to a loving husband and is no longer in contact with anyone she went to college with. In those days, she had a sweet roommate, Flora, and a wild and manipulative best friend, Sully. Current day, she doesn't seem to want to go to the reunion, never mind think of the events of her freshman year. But, she is getting personal notes that seem to know she did something terrible and the person writing them wants to talk about what happened. The novel is spent in both flashbacks describing the first few months of her college life and also current events as she tries to keep all of the events and secrets hidden while discovering who knows those secrets and is bent on confronting her.

I love a good psychological thriller and some bad female characters but I just didn't feel connected to this book until the very end. I had a difficult time getting through it. The flashback scenes were full of very graphic detail and seemed gratuitous to me. I felt like, for me, I needed the current Ambrosia fleshed out more, I don't mind mean and self serving but I want to see motivation. I don't have to like the character, but I need to see her, I wanted more depth. But who I really got to know was a 19 year old girl and I felt more like I was reading a slightly older YA novel about private school mean girls who are completely out of control. I wanted more from young Ambrosia, but it was party, rinse, be mean, repeat. So I feel like this maybe just wasn't my niche read but may appeal well to a different audience!

Now the end started to get my attention but unfortunately I saw most of it coming and wasn't connected enough to feel compelled by it. But, it was twisty and turned things upside down and gave Ambrosia some new growth so that was good.

As an FYI, there are multiple triggering subjects in this novel so a warning there for anyone about to read, I don't want to discuss what they are as it gives away plotlines! I am hopeful there would be note at the end of the book talking about mental health outreaches for young people and adults alike. Reading these things didn't bother me emotionally and I just wish I had connected more with the story. I think I was waiting for a sudden revelation that would draw things together and show me some layers but all I could see were thoughtless girls and I guess that wasn't what I was looking for.

Some of the girls in this book are definitely not nice! 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of The Girls Are All So Nice Here!!!!

I enjoyed this story!!! This is a story about revenge that jumps back and forth from the past to the present. If you enjoy stories about revenge where most of the characters are unlikeable, terrible people then this is the story for you. Side note; none of the girls here are nice.

Ambrosia goes to her first of college and rejecting her nice roommate and every other nice person becomes friends with resident mean girl Sloane who uses everyone who gets in her way and takes Ambrosia along for the ride. Ambrosia does not want to attend her 10 year reunion, but a note comes with an invitation that convinced her to.

Drama, revenge, betrayal. It's a story that starts in the present and then tells the story about 10 years before in college and what happened. Lots of catty, bitchy girls and I loved the Gossip Girl type feel to it.