I finally got to my first Samantha Downing book! After seeing so much love for her body of work, I decided to give her latest a go & it didn't disappoint, this was a ton of fun!

This cast of characters was great, everyone had such a clearly defined voice that switching between the multiple perspectives wasn't any issue at all. Teddy was such a riot - honestly, a lot of the book read as more of a dark comedy than a thriller, but that's one of the things I loved about this! It definitely has thrilling moments, but the humor was a very pleasant surprise. This was very, very fast-paced - there were twists & turns happening every other chapter, leaving no room for any dull moments. Sometimes, though, they happened a little too fast, leaving not much room to react before another big twist was revealed - it definitely kept the pages turning though, that's for sure!

After reading this, I can see why she's such a beloved thriller author - I'm really looking forward to diving into her backlist & seeing what comes next! I highly recommend checking this out, thank you so much Samantha Downing, NetGalley, & Berkley for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review!

While listening to the Nerdette podcast, a book reviewer recommended this if you're looking for a completely bonkers thriller (and really, when am I not?). So I was even more excited to realize that I already had a copy! This book certainly lived up to that review. Set in an elite academy (where you kinda want to hate everyone to begin with) this story goes on so many wacky twists and turns that started wondering if the author had one of those crazy walls with string going from one post it note to another just to keep up with everything. A fast & fun read.

I normally have a lot of respect for people who work in education, but some of the teachers at this private school were pretty despicable. I had empathy for the rich kids who went to this prep school for being pawns of parents and teachers.

Teddy Crutcher, though Teacher of the Year, has it out for the wealthy teenagers he teaches, to put it mildly. There are murders and intrigue and mysteries. There were a couple things at the end I didn’t love, but all in all a gripping read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel.

This was a highly entertaining read. I was nervous at the outset that the entire thing would be in Teddy's voice, but I'm glad we got the shifting perspectives. The plotting was juicy, and somewhat transgressive in that one began to almost hope Teddy succeeded so that the kids would be saved. I really liked the character of Zach but thought his ending could have been hit a little harder.

3.5/5 stars

For Your Own Good is a thriller set at Belmont Academy, a prestigious private high school.

The book is divided into 3 parts and has many 3rd person POVs.

Some of the most notable characters are: Teddy Crutcher (teacher), Zach Ward (student), Sonia Benjamin (teacher), Fallon (former student), and Frank (teacher).

This book has a lot of short chapters. The beginning was really good. And the reveal at the end of Part One was shocking. I absolutely loved that the last line of every chapter included a reveal of some kind.

The characters in this book were very unique, especially Teddy. And the book is full of lots of morally questionable decisions, which I found fascinating.

It was a mostly enjoyable read. However the book got a bit too crazy for me. And there were too many unlikable characters.

I really enjoyed Samantha Downing's My Lovely Wife and He Started It, and just like those novels, For Your Own Good is a must-read! I had a hard time putting this book down, and I liked that the story was told from a few different perspectives. The ending was perfect, and I didn't see it coming at all. I highly recommend For Your Own Good, and I'm so excited that it'll be a TV series soon. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read and review an amazing book by an incredible author. : )

Belmont Academy, a private high school, commands astronomical tuition because they have such success placing graduates at ivy league colleges. As a result, both parents and students can be demanding—even entitled.

Despite the occasional (ahem, frequent) irritation, Teacher of the Year Teddy Crutcher only has his students’ best interests in mind. Even when someone dies on campus, the beginning of a series of presumed murders, and a former student harasses him, Teddy maintains high academic and personal standards for his students. After all, it’s for their own good. And he will not allow anyone to get in his way.

His faculty nemesis, Sonia Benjamin, has something he can never get: a diploma from Belmont. Religious math teacher Frank Maxwell always seems to appear at exactly the wrong moment. While he is fond of student Courtney Ross, whose mother is on the committee who selects teacher of the year, Teddy loathes her best friend, Zach, a handsome and smart student everyone else seems to adore.

For the most part, the characters in the book lacked any moral compass (although they were completely confident in their rightness) which meant anything was possible. I’m sure I had cartoonishly-large big eyes as one surprise after another landed. To me, these weren’t simple twists or red herrings but expansions of the plot.

As Downing is masterfully manipulating intersecting characters and plot lines, she includes small details that lend an air of authenticity to the characters, such as Teddy’s cuticle biting, Sonia’s favorite drink, and Zach’s texting.

Additionally, I found the ending extremely satisfying and the last line: c’est parfait!

Verdict: Loved it! Definitely read it if you enjoy thrillers, especially those set at private schools.

For Your Own Good
By Samantha Downing

AMAZING!!!

This book is seriously one of the best and one of my favorite thriller reads, and my new obsession! I am a huge fan of Samantha Downing‘s writing, I mean My Lively Wife blew me away, so For Your Own Good definitely was on my radar ever since.

One of my favorite thriller genres and one I could not get enough of, are those set in exclusive private schools with a nice clever twist. I was completely immersed into the story I just could not read fast enough and yet also did not want this story to end.

This book was a phenomenal thriller read that is uniquely told with short chapters keeping the fast paced and edge of your seat read.

I highly recommend picking this one up!

Belmont Academy is a school for affluent students that promises Ivy League results. Teddy is Teacher of the Year, but is averse to the snobbery and entitlement from students and their families. He wants them to reach their full academic and personal potential through difficult grading and veiled lessons on humility. Sonia, though not Teacher of the Year, is liked and respected by most of her students as she shows them the same level of respect as an alumna and long-time member of the "Belmont family." Though they have disparate teach philosophies, both want what's best for their students.

When a parent dies suddenly at Sonia's 10-year teaching award luncheon, it looks like the parent may have been murdered. The school is held under a microscope to uncover who is to blame. A student? Another parent? A teacher? School administration?

The narrative is in 3rd-person and switches POV with some of the major characters allowing readers to glimpse the lives of these imperfect characters. Samantha Downing can definitely write some detestable characters, but the thrill and mystery were diluted because we knew who the villain is, but are just held in suspense for them to be caught. I also found the characters to be one-dimensional and lacking believable motivation. I think the main issue was having too many points of focus rather than limited to a few key players in the mystery. Perhaps if it were written from only Teddy's POV or student, Zach as he tries to gather evidence of who killed his friend's mom. This is a good read for those who enjoy YA/high school mystery/thriller quick-reads.

Samantha Downing does it again! She writes a great story with despicable characters to perfection. And I love every page of it.

This is a story set in a private school, and follows a teacher Mr. Crutcher who seems to love his job. But deep down, he has a lot of feelings of contempt, self righteousness, and of course jealousy. And he starts to fix things in this school.

The story takes a murderous turn right away. And that's what I love. The characters start pointing fingers at each other trying to figure out who is actually the murderer, or trying to help the innocent or have other motivations to insert themselves into the investigation.

It was a fun, wild ride. With perfectly imperfect characters. It wasn't an action filled story, but the twists (especially the last line for Zack) was worth every page.

Can't wait to see what else this author comes up with. I just love her twisted mind.

What a crazy, twisty, addictive thriller Samantha Downing's newest book, For Your Own Good, was!!

I love it when a book I’ve been highly anticipating by an author I love lives up to every expectation and then some. Downing has done it yet again!!

The Belmont Academy is a highly prestigious private school. Parents expect their children will ultimately get accepted to an Ivy League school. Sure, they’re demanding of their children and the teachers, but that’s what it takes to get results, right?

Teddy Crutcher was (finally, as far as he's concerned) named Teacher of the Year at Belmont and couldn’t be more proud of this recognition. He’s a stickler for his students following the rules and doing good work, and won’t tolerate any deviation—he doesn’t care if the students are privileged and their parents ask him to be lenient. He may make some enemies but it’s in his students’ best interest.

When a series of deaths start occurring at Belmont, the campus is rocked, but it doesn’t really affect Teddy. He just wants to see that the right person gets punished, no matter who that is.

I have nothing more to say because the beauty of Downing’s tightly wound plot is best seen as you let it unfold, little by little. You think it’s all straightforward and it’s really not—that’s what I love about the way she writes. It kept me guessing, wondering just what would come next. Many of you know I have an uneasy relationship with thrillers because I really need them to surprise and wow me. For Your Own Good did that and more. I love Downing’s books My Lovely Wife and He Started It) and I can’t wait for the next one!!

NetGalley and Berkley provided me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks so much for making it available!!

Downing is an American bestselling suspense author whose two previous books were "My Lovely Wife" and "He Started It". This new release is also a suspense and revolves around the activities at a private high school. It is told from several points of view, including that of an English teacher (Teddy) and one of his students (Zach). Teddy has been selected as Teacher of the Year and claims he only wants the best for his students. He is willing to go to any lengths to give them what he thinks they need and at the same time he resents their wealth. The murder of the mother of one of the students at a school event begins a run of tragedies affecting both the students and the teachers. The book has a touch of dark humour and is a great recommendation for fans of the genre. I really enjoyed it.

Don’t you just love when you’re proven right? From the moment I read the synopsis several months ago I knew this was gonna be a superb read and I was absolutely right! I adored every single moment. Using one of Mr. Crutcher’s favorite words, it was SPLENDID! (I hope he doesn’t think I’m a brown-noser, we already know what happens to those!).

Teddy Crutcher is Teacher of the Year. He only wants what’s best for his students but sometimes to achieve that you need to push things a little bit. Collateral damage? Who cares about it, after all, it’s for their own good!

I was completely mesmerized from the first page. It is dark humor at its best with a set of perfectly developed characters. The interesting thing is that all of them have their strengths and shortcomings, making them all the more relatable (well, minus the killing thing). Downing’s twisted characters are always so compelling!

The plot was absolute perfection. It moved at a flawless pace, unveiling its different layers as it moved forward. The twists and turns felt all really organic and each time one happened I couldn’t help a huge grin while thinking “OMG, how is he gonna get out of that one?!”. And the ending? *chef’s kiss*

Once again her writing style grabs you right from the start and doesn’t let go until you’ve reached the end. With For your own good Samantha Downing definitely confirms she’s one of the best voices in the crime fiction genre nowadays (as if I needed any more proof after two previous novels and a novella).

If you only read one book this summer make sure it’s For your own good. It will be for your own good.

Thanks to Dache Rogers, Berkley and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really good thriller. It seemed that people that either worked for or went to Belmont had dirty little secrets, and they slowly unravel. I thought that Teddy was a world class asshole they way he treated his students. Also a bit creepy making up fake accounts posing as high school girls. He made the perfect villain in this book. On another note as a parent myself I hope that I never turn out like Ingrid Ross or Zach’s parents and put that much pressure on my child like they did. Will definitely be recommending this book for our monthly library newsletter which spotlights a different book each month. I still think that My Lovely Wife was one of the best books that I have read.

ᗰY TᕼOᑌᘜᕼTᔕ: What has to be going on in Samatha Downing’s brain to write a book so twisty and full of characters you love to hate? I don’t think there was one character in this book that I actually liked, but it all worked. From the first page, I was sucked in and the book didn’t let me go until the very end. I loved the short chapters because they kept propelling me to keep reading just to see what happened. Knowing the villain from the start was fun! As readers, we got to cheer on the other characters as they figured it all out and tried to orchestrate the take-down. But I still didn’t see the ending coming! What a fantastic and diabolical read from Samantha Downing!

ᖇᗩTIᑎᘜ: 5 stars

QUICK TAKE: MY LOVELY WIFE, is still one of my favorite thrillers ever and a benchmark against which I judge all other domestic suspense novels (spoiler alert: most of them don’t compare to the dark and twisty fun of MLW).⁣
⁣
Downing's new novel, out July 20th, is called FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, and is a lot of fun. Set at a prestigious private high school, the book follows Teddy Crutcher, recent winner of Teach of the Year…and potential murderer. When Teddy decides to penalize a star student who rubs him the wrong way, said student decides to make it his mission to seek revenge and uncover all of Teddy’s darkest secrets, setting them both down a path of death and destruction.⁣
⁣
Sounds a little dark? Don’t worry, the book is a fantastic mix of pop and fun, full of the classic thrills and twists we’ve now come to expect from Downing, and the book actually reminded me of the Reese Witherspoon/Matthew Broderick movie ELECTION, just with more…murder. Downing has created a devious, manipulative character in Teddy that readers will love rooting against, and I loved all of his strange idiosyncrasies (the milk thing totally threw me). And similarly, I also found myself really leaning into Zach, the smug star pupil and foil to Teddy who has a great character arc here.

Thank you SO MUCH to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing, and Samantha Downing for this copy of For Your Own Good!

This is one of my top thrills of the year so far. I love scandals in an elite school setting but getting a teacher POV was an absolute dream. This had continuous drama I could not get enough of. The pettiness, the dark humor, the short chapters, and this amazing web of characters was so much fun. After each outrageous turn you realize that truly nothing is what it seems. Teddy Crutcher has a plaque that says he is teacher of the year, and now I wish I could give him one for being one of the wildest most messed up characters of the year. This was as juicy as a berry, as refreshing as a tall glass of milk, and delicious until the very end.

This is out NOW and you need it.

**MANY thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and the wonderful Samantha Downing for an ARC of this book!!**

Kids! I don't know what's wrong with these kids today...

Teddy Crutcher knows ALL about it. There is a reason why he was named Teacher of the Year, after all. The pampered elite at Belmont Academy may have parents with open pocketbooks and endless 0s on their bank account balances, but money cannot buy what Teddy has to offer (though it won't stop parents from trying to buy the perfect grades and entrance into the Ivies.)

Can you put a price on his foresight? His wisdom? His devotion to Belmont as an institution and pushing each and every pupil to be their absolute best?

Well...those who DESERVE it, that is. For the rest? Well, let's just say he has other ideas. Carefully laid plans. And he won't let ANYONE stand in his way...

****

No further synopsis needs to be provided here. You'll find out why this school quickly becomes known as Homicide High and I promise the journey will give you absolute whiplash.

How do I love thy writing, Samantha Downing? Let me count the ways!

*VOICE. Downing nails it, every time. Her brand of dark humor leaves me snickering (and sometimes belly laughing, I'll be honest!) every time, and the best testament to her as an author is that you can pick up one of her books, read a few chapters, and know that these characters are HERS. This is honestly what every writer in the genre should do, but so few accomplish this with style, and Samantha Downing always does. These characters run the gamut in terms of personality, but they leapt off the page, and I loved rooting for and against all of them at one point or another!
*Twists. Of course, her twists are on point, fast, furious, and unexpected. She has also mastered the art of the slow reveal, designed to make the reader think you've figured something out...but showing you instead that you simply didn't have all of the information yet. So brilliant, effective, and FUN!
*Chapter length: always short, but not TOO short. Such a small distinction, but it keeps her pacing pitch-perfect!
*Creativity: I love that her books feel like they all belong in the same 'family' but never feel repetitive or predictable.. It leaves me feeling like I both know what to expect from her, but also that I'll be surprised over and over (and over!) again. The ending of this one was the absolute best way she could've wrapped up this tale, and I love putting a book down (or closing the digital pages) with a big smile on my face, and once again, she gave me all of those 'what a wonderful thriller' goosebumps!

I have waited SO LONG to read this ARC. I had it put aside, ready and waiting to be a stunner, and it is easily my favorite thriller so far this year, by leaps and bounds. I am so excited to hear this book is being adapted for the screen and know it too will be a smashing success! Sorry Teddy, but I think Samantha deserves the "Writer of the Year' plaque for this one, full marks, and is at the TOP of her class!

5 shining gold stars!

Once you have finished For Your Own Good by Samatha Downing, make sure you reward yourself with a nice tall glass of ice cold milk, you've earned it. 😉 I can confidently say this book was not only my favorite Samatha Downing book yet, but also went straight to my list of top ten books I've read this year! Pure genius. The characters were perfect, the plot so well thought out with spectacular delivery, and just when you think you've got a hold on what's going to happen...bam! Wrong! I also found myself so many times just shaking my head with a sly smile on my face going "well played....well played" A definite MUST READ!!!! Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for my ARC of this book!

Synopsis: Prestigious private school, Belmont Academy, is filled with overbearing parents, students who are determined to get into the ivy league school of their dreams, and teachers who just want their students to reach their best potential. Teddy Crutcher is one of these teachers; English teacher, won Teacher of the Year, and dang it if he doesn't just want his students and colleagues to achieve their best, regardless of if they understand that all he does is just for their own good. Even if this comes at a high cost and if they would all just stay out of his way....

Samantha Downing gets an A+ from me for this dark, twisted and absolutely wicked thriller!⁣
⁣
Something BIG is going on within the walls of Belmont Academy. People are dying and Teacher of the Year Teddy Crutcher can't be bothered with nonsense. After all, as Teacher of the Year, he's focused on doing what needs to be done for his students and no cost is too high. After all, it's for their own good. ⁣
⁣
In 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘖𝘸𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥, @smariedowning takes one of my fave thriller settings, a prestigious private school, and turns its world upside down in the most diabolical and entertaining way. Needless to say, I loved it! There are so many characters you will love to hate but I have to say that I loved Zach through it all. ⁣
⁣
What I loved most about this book was that it was almost like an onion. As each character's layers begin to be stripped away, we see that all is not what it seems. Downing takes the saying that "there is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us" and nurtures it in her characters. ⁣
⁣
𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘖𝘸𝘯 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 is masterfully plotted with deceitful, unscrupulous characters that are all engaged in duplicity and one despicable wrongdoing after another. Easily one of my fave thrillers of the year and one I highly recommend!