Samantha Downing has done it again. I am a fan of her warped plots and dark humor. There are always egos and misdirection and this one is no exception. It takes place in an elite prep school with a collection of teachers, parents, and students. The book centers around Mr. Crutcher, who is one of the two literature teachers and the one the students like least even though his ego has him believe he is beloved. When a parent dies, the race is on to figure out who did it so the school can get back to its excelling ways.

I’m always amazed at the way Downing can create a seemingly normal, almost boring, character with so many secrets and such evil depth and make them look almost forgetful. Another thing that draws me into her novels are thrillers are usually plot driven, by necessity, but she is artful at creating characters with depth that you just want to know more about. I’m not sure I liked any of the characters in the book, but I definitely wanted to know what they would do next.

There is a rivalry between faculty, a power struggle between teachers and students, parents and children, and even parents and teachers. Everyone is very good at getting what they want, for many by any means necessary, but you know it’s not likely that everyone can get what they want. It eventually turns into a cat and mouse game with twisty reveals. And if you pay very close attention, there are hints along the way to what will happen next. I read this in just a few days, as I could not put it down.

I don’t want to go into too many details and risk spoiling any of the fun for you. And while it is a psychological thriller, fun is not misplaced in my review. I did chuckle often at the unique twist on something so part of life. If you are a fan of her previous books or like some humor with your murder, I’m sure you’ll like this book.

What a fun book! For Your Own Good is a thriller with snark that takes place in a wealthy private school. Loved the short chapters - I finished this one in a single sitting! Great summer read that’s fresh and unexpected.

Teddy Crutcher just wants what’s best for his students. He tries to tone down their arrogance and teach them lessons. And when his colleagues are over eager and too upbeat, he takes also takes them down a peg too… by spiking their coffee. When the wrong person drinks the coffee, and a parent ends up dead, a chain of events is unlocked that names Belmont Academy Homicide High instead. Samantha Dowling has created a dark and twisty boarding school mystery. The best thing about this book is the character building and perspective switching. Dowling effortlessly switches between the perspectives of the teachers and students giving readers insights into everyone’s twisted thoughts. This book has so many twists, readers will never see the end coming.

Teddy Crutcher is a high school English teacher at the prestigious Belmont Academy. Sometimes he comes across a student, parent, or fellow teacher who needs to be taught a lesson. In Teddy's mind, it's for their own good. After all, Teddy is by far the brightest person in that building. His students and their parents are rich and entitled. He finds his colleagues totally annoying. This year, Teddy directs most of his subtle punishments on one of his students. Then there's a teacher who's also been getting under his skin... When the first person at Belmont Academy dies, it appears to be a tragic and isolated case. When more people start dying, eyebrows begin to raise. Just what is going on at the renowned high school? The police believe they've gotten to the bottom of it, but they have no idea of the truth.

For Your Own Good is told from alternation POVs, which I love. You hear from Teddy, who is arrogant, vengeful, and completely nuts. You also hear from Teddy's student, colleagues, and former student. I love how this story unfolded and the fact that it was dark, but with some humor thrown into the mix. This is the first I've read by Samantha Downing and it certainly won't be the last. You won't want to put this one down!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I have loved all of Samantha Downing’s books and this one did not disappoint. What a plot. Lots of twists & Turns. This is a real page turner. I couldn’t put it down. Great characters! Teddy Crutcher is the main character and he is nuts. Belmont Acadrmy will never be the same! What starts out as just an attempt to make someone sick turns into multiple murders. Some really great characters in the book. I really like Zach and Mrs. B.. then along comes Fallon which she is a whole other evil. Great book. Enjoy!

This is my second Samantha Downing book, and she is the master of creating characters that I hate… and books that I LOVE! The description on the back does not do justice for the experience you will have while reading this book. The short chapters and jumping points of view made me fall in love from the beginning. I highly recommend this book to my thriller loving friends!

Gather round students.⁣
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Take your seats. ⁣
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Class is now in session. ⁣
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Today we are learning about the perfect thriller. ⁣
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Because Samantha Downing can DO NO WRONG.⁣
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Smart, unique and clever stories, that are riveting, insanely addictive, and chock fulla batsh*t crazy… these are a few of my favorite things!⁣
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Teachers behaving badly. Spoiled students. Deadly plants. Murder and madness.⁣
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Prepare to be schooled on the art of the sick and twisted, because teachers are there for your own good, right?⁣
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….or are they???⁣
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Don’t cut class on this one.

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted finished copy. This one is out TODAY!

For Your Own Good features a lot of characters and the book weaves it’s way through multiple POVs. You never know who you can trust and believe. Belmont Academy’s teacher of the year is Teddy Crutcher. Teddy has some secrets of his own but his main focus is pushing his students to their full potential and he will stop at nothing to see it through.

This book features a lot of unlikable characters. I usually hate that however, this one was pretty compelling. The only thing I can compare the book to is watching a car crash and not being able to tear your eyes away. Its icky and a little sorted but I was entertained, nonetheless. If you’re into a private school setting and a whiplash mystery, this one is for you!

𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘯!

I love Samantha Downing’s books, they have the perfect mix of suspense and dark humor, short and easy to read chapters, multiple POVs, complex and messed up characters that they’re impossible to put down and this book was absolutely amazing.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this copy.

𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦: 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘖𝘝𝘴, 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘳, 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeemx/

Thank you @berkleypub for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

Pages: 384
Pace: fast (short chapters)
Genre: thriller
Star rating: 4 ⭐️

Themes: abuse of power, fighting entitlement, resentment for being an outsider, taking “justice” into your own hands, teacher knows best

My thoughts: this felt like a cross between Gossip Girl and You. It had a private school setting, combined with a male lead who is manipulating the rest of the cast. I really enjoyed the male voice (hallelujah for an unreliable MALE narrator for once), and I also liked that the reader knows who the villain is from the outset. It was a unique way of telling the story, and a welcome change for me. The chapters were really short and the plot moved really fast too. I think it’s hard to keep readers engaged when they already know who the villain is, but this author pulled it off! Overall, this is a quick, twisty read with a unique plot. Make sure to pick it up . . . for your own good! 😉

Who should read: fans of You, Invisible Girl, Dexter

For Your Own Good is a WILD ride. I enjoy dark academia so I knew I’d like the setting of Belmont. ⁣⁣
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I thought the author chose a really unique approach with this book. There were a few twists, but not many surprises, because you knew what the bad guys were doing throughout the book. Everyone got roped into the drama by the end of the book so there wasn’t a good guy in sight. I personally hated every single character so it was a little unusual to not have someone to root for in the story. ⁣⁣
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Without a spoiler, I think some of the elements in the plot were very creative but also unbelievable. I can definitely say I won’t be forgetting this one anytime soon! For Your Own Good is certainly not just another generic thriller. ⁣⁣
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Overall, lots of action and excitement. If you like a good revenge theme, you’ll enjoy this book!

Belmont Academy is an exclusive coeducational high school that caters to affluent youngsters with lofty goals. Many of the parents who send their children to Belmont pressure their offspring to earn high grades and participate in extracurricular activities that will impress college admissions officers. One such student is Zach Ward, a handsome and charming boy who wraps most of his teachers around his finger. A notable exception is Teddy Crutcher, Zach's cantankerous English teacher. Crutcher resents the fact that Zach's parents are rich, entitled, and obsessed with their son's academic achievements. Just for spite, Teddy refuses to give Zach an A, even when the young man turns in an outstanding essay.

"For Your Own Good," by Samantha Downing, is a creepy, darkly funny, and satirical look at the toxic environment that pervades an elite private school. This novel is also an examination of the joyless inner life of certain parents, instructors, and pupils, who manage to elicit both our dislike and our pity. Crutcher, who is a competent enough instructor, is also a vicious and devious malcontent who tries to aggrandize himself at others' expense. He harbors a particular dislike for Sonia Benjamin, a colleague who is popular and proud of her close relationship with her students. Sonia adores Zach, a decent and hard-working kid who wants to be himself, not a clone of his domineering father. Meanwhile, Teddy's former pupil, the bitter Fallon Knight, has good reason to loathe Crutcher, and she is determined to exact her revenge.

The faculty is stunned when one of the parent organizers of a special event collapses and dies. The autopsy reveals that she was poisoned. This is only the first in a series of crimes that earn the school intense media scrutiny and the uncomplimentary nickname, "Homicide High." Who is behind the mayhem and what would motivate someone to harm innocent people? Belmont is an unwholesome institution in which selfishness, arrogance, cynicism, and duplicity can actually boost one's chances for success. Crutcher may be a ruthless villain, but he is not the only one who harbors ill-will towards others. In this twisted but stylish, fast-paced, and entertaining page-turner, Downing reminds us—with tongue firmly in cheek—that evil can be found in the most unexpected places.

Thank you Kaye Publicity & Berkley Pub for gifting me one of my top favorite thriller authors’ books!
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Guys, Samantha Downing did it again!! If you like a thriller set in a prestigious academic school with psycho teachers and vengeful students and where the bodies keep piling up, this book is IT!

At the heart of the story is Teddy Crutcher, Teacher Of The Year at Belmont Academy. With such a grand title comes great responsibilities including teaching these entitled parents, their kids and work colleagues, a lesson. In Teddy’s mind, “𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵. 𝗣𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗔𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗹.“

What about incompetent law enforcement and FBI? Don’t worry, Teddy’s on the rescue for that too! “𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻‘𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗧𝗲𝗱𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.”

What I loved about this book:
- Multiple POVs, some who even end up dead!
- The psychopathic buildup of Teddy Crutcher
- Mostly unlikeable characters but who redeem themselves in some way
- Plenty of sarcasm and dark humor infused in an otherwise very dark setting
- Samantha’s binge writing. This is such an entertaining & “bingeable” thriller! Once you read the book, it should come as no surprise that the book is being adapted into a TV series at HBO Max!!!

What I didn’t love:
- Absolutely nothing to not love which is why it gets 5 stars! Go in as blind as possible and enjoy the ride!

Grab a copy of this book in stores tomorrow! YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS ONE!!!

Truly cannot get enough of Samantha Downing.
She is an auto-read author for me and this DID NOT disappoint

Samantha Downing has quickly become one of my favorite thriller authors! With unlikable characters, juicy plots, and endings that leave you wondering, she’s developed a unique writing style, and For Your Own Good was no exception!

Our story is told primarily through Teddy’s point of view. He’s a high school teacher at the prestigious Belmont Academy, and wants to “help” his students…through any means necessary. At different points throughout the novel, we also hear from other teachers, as well as a student named Zach, who has ended up on Teddy’s bad side, though he has no idea why. After a prominent parent who was very active at the school dies and is ruled suspicious, the school is shocked, and rumors surrounding her death run rampant.

This was a really interesting read, in that the reader knows what happens and why, but that there are still some twists and turns thrown in that keep the reader engaged and on their toes! Many of the characters in the book are unlikable, so if you’re like me, you are rooting for some of them to fail! I will say that you will likely have to suspend disbelief while reading this one. There are several plot lines happening that all intertwine, and personally I felt like there was no way all of these things could be happening at once, and for that reason, I did rate this one 4 stars instead of 5. That said, I was hooked on the book immediately, and read it in two sittings, so that definitely says something!

If you are looking for a binge-able summer mystery, this will be a great choice for you! It moves quickly and will hold your attention throughout the book as you wait to see how everything will play out.

(Just a disclaimer: no teacher I know thinks or behaves the way teachers in this book do! Haha!)

Teddy is a teacher at a prestigious private school where the students are entitled and the parents are even worse. He puts up with all the nonsense because he believes it is his job to teach these kids how to be decent human beings. If their parents have shielded them from appropriate consequences, then Teddy steps in to show them how the real world works, even if that means being a tad unethical and petty at times. It’s all for the good of the students, after all. However, Teddy’s lessons aren’t solely focused on his students, which becomes clear when one of his pranks goes horribly wrong and leaves someone dead. Teddy doesn’t stop there though and the whole school is about to become known as #HomicideHigh.

I had previously read ‘My Lovely Wife’ by Samantha Downing and really enjoyed it. So when this one popped up on NetGalley, I put my request in right away. Being a teacher, I have to admit that Teddy couldn’t have been much farther from a teacher of the year with his warped sense of duty to his students. That being said, this novel was extremely enjoyable to read. Teddy is a true villain and there were a lot of twists and turns throughout the book to keep me reading. My only complaints were that the pacing slowed down quite a bit about 2/3 of the way through and while the ending was satisfying, it seemed a little subdued considering the huge buildup.

*Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing, and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks, NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy.

"All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way.

It's really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost."

I couldn't put this book down. I read it in two sittings because I had to know what happened and stayed up all night to finish it. It isn't what I expected, but I did not leave disappointed. Not only was the book amazing HBO may be making it into a series. Fingers crossed.

I don't think I have disliked a character so strongly from page one. Teddy is a horrid person, but he is Teacher of the Year. He teaches English at a private school, Belmont, and he takes his anger out on every student and teacher alike, but they don't know that it is him who is secretly making everyone's lives miserable. Teddy feels that he should be hard on the students because they are entitled and can have anything they want. He makes everything more difficult because it is for their own good. A parent ends up dead. Teddy keeps trying to solve the problems, but others make matters worse, and he has even more of a mess to clean up.

For Your Own Good
By: Samantha Downing

Thank you @netgalley and @berkleypub for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was my first introduction to Samantha Downing as an author, and I am excited to say I enjoyed this one!

For Your Own Good is described as "a sneaky thriller set in a prestigious private school, complete with interfering parents, overeager students and one teacher who just wants to teach them all a lesson."

☝️That clip was enough to convince me I needed to read this one!

This book interweaves multiple points of view, with each chapter revealing a little more detail on the perspective of each character. The chapters incorporate intricate twists that connect each patient's story line, as the reader tries to decipher each character's motives, integrity, and how the novel will unfold.

I really enjoyed the author's writing! I enjoyed the complexity of incorporating multiple perspectives, the balance amongst the characters, and the added mysterious elements. The short chapters made for a quick read, and I felt engaged throughout the entire novel. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early read! Teddy Crutcher has been named Teacher of the Year at the prestigious prep school Belmont where he works and he has the plaque to prove it. Teddy has an interesting approach to teaching these privileged kids – he is not afraid to teach them lessons for their own good. As an example, he sent a scathing college “recommendation” letter for Fallon, a former student who he thought had been cheating, which resulted in her rejection from every college she applied to, in the hopes that she would learn to be more honest. So now there have been a few suspicious deaths at Belmont and as readers, we are left wondering just how much Teddy knows about them. And then Fallon returns to the school as a substitute and the fun really begins. I don’t want to tell you too much about the plot – there are so many fun twists and turns and I don’t want to give anything away. And I don’t want to spoil the fun, because this was a real page-turner – not just trying to figure out what is going on and who is doing it, but hoping that perhaps Teddy gets taught a lesson of his own. If you like that campus lit genre (Secret History, etc), if you like unreliable narrators, if you like a little attitude with your suspense, then give this one a try. I would also recommend her previous book, He Started It, about a family road trip gone awry, which is similar in style and I also enjoyed.

LOVED this book. A fun, bonkers, fast paced thriller. I love a good campus novel & this one did not disappoint. I read it in 2 sittings - couldn't put it down. Would definitely recommend.