Member Reviews
LOVED this book. It's just dark and twisty enough, but not over the top. While this book does obviously deal with heavy subjects, it remains within YA range and interest level. Zhao's writing is beautiful, but not overly pretensious.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.
A thriller that also explores the pressure some parents place on their children to exceed at an elite prep school. The pressure to succeed is high, and when the top-ranked junior goes missing and is found dead, four of her friends are implicated as possible suspects in her murder as incriminating evidence is shared via the school's social media app. The friends begin to doubt one another, and wonder what secrets they are others are keeping. It climaxes in a shacking end.
This book was well done. A bit slow to start but picks up the pace in the middle. The ending was perfectly done.
Katie Zhao pitches How We Fall Apart as: “an Asian American high school student is found murdered, and her high-achieving friends become the prime suspects.” And with a premise like that, who wouldn’t be intrigued? As a fan of dark academia, YA mystery/thrillers, and a long-time lover of trashy teen shows like Gossip Girl, I definitely had high hopes for How We Fall Apart!
Unfortunately, this novel did not live up to the expectations I had built up in my mind; which isn’t to say that this book wasn’t enjoyable, because it most certainly was! But it read a little immature for my tastes. While the topics touched on were more mature, I felt the writing style and the way things were glossed over or only hinted at made it feel more juvenile to me.
I wish the characters could have been given more depth. I think every single one of them had the potential to be full, well-rounded individuals, but the narration remained too surface level to ever feel like as a reader you were getting the full picture. I mentioned trashy teen shows before, and How we Fall Apart truly felt like one. The dialogue felt unrealistic at times, a lot of the character’s motives didn’t make much sense, scenes that didn’t feel that dramatic were given a lot of gravitas, and even at the end, it felt like a lot wasn’t resolved.
I did really appreciate how this story shed light on the impact the pressure to be perfect and live up to your parents’ expectations can have for children within the Asian American community. The criticism of the ultra-competitive nature these high-achieving school environments nurture and the racism embedded within the model minority status so many Asian Americans feel beholden to was so needed.
What I think would have made this story all the more memorable for me would have been a deeper dive into its main characters and further scrutinization of the challenging topics it started to address. It felt like there was a lot of untapped potential, that if better explored could have pushed this book to the next level. Even still, I think this book has a lot to offer and is a great recommendation for a younger audience.
Thank you to the publisher, Bloomsbury Children’s Books/YA, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.
How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao was fabulous for when I felt a mild reading slump. This book was about Nancy Luo, an underprivileged Chinese American girl who goes to upperclass Sinclair Prep. Nancy's former best friend Jamie Ruan goes missing and is then found dead. Mysterious messages get released on social media from a figure called the Proctor pointing the finger at Nancy and three of her friends. The book then moves between past and present as we the reader find out, along with Nancy, who the real murderer is. We also get to find out some scandals involving Sinclair Prep, Nancy, Jamie, and the three friends.
If you are looking for a book about a school that is pretty competitive and cut throat, dark academia and all that, be sure to pick up How We Fall Apart. I was a little nervous to pick this up because font was small and I thought it would be another book for my slump. Nope, I ripped through this in like a day. It kept me ENTHRALLED. I did get vibes similar to One Of Us Is Lying but this book is different enough to stand on its own merits. Also, the four main characters were diverse which I also loved -- none were white. This was such a good read. I am looking forward to picking up more from Katie Zhao in the future.
It was refreshing to read a book about high schoolers that are Asian American! As an adult, I can't help but be jealous of the diversity of books available to kids these days but that's also not stopping me from reading them as an adult.
Perhaps my expectations were too high for this book because although I loved the cast of characters, I do think the scandals weren't super ~scandalous~ as far as the comparable titles go-- at least not enough to make me gasp, and the ending wasn't set up to be satisfying. The ending fell so flat. I think the four main characters could have been fleshed out more to develop how and why their secrets would be "life-ruining", but this may be because it was done in a single book, whereas many of the books this has been compared to are series.
However, there is so much to love about this novel! It captures the pressures of being a child of immigrant parents to succeed academically. If there's any demographic that I think not only lives but excels in the world of "Dark Academia" it's Asians and Asian Americans. I hope to see more people of color in this genre and Katie Zhao has gotten us off to a great start. I just hope we get to see the darker side of academia than what this book does. Potentially in a college setting...
I think Katie Zhao is a very talented author. Therefore, I am on the lookout for her new works. Unlike her usual novels, this is not a fantasy. Instead, it is a solid mystery that is similar in veins of Pretty Little Liars and Tiny Pretty Things. I like how all the characters are Asian, and they are not the stereotypical Asians that are often portrayed in novels. These characters are totally diverse. There is plenty of backstabbing, drama, and scandal! It reads like a soap opera! The mystery itself is very interesting I! Overall, this was a fun read! I recommend this for fans of Richelle Meade, Alexa Donne, and Kara Thomas!
Gossip Girl meets Crazy Rich Asians. A great mystery with twists and turns. It was short, which is always nice. You couldn't guess the ending because there were no hints whatsoever.
This book was so engaging It was the perfect palate cleanser. I. really loved it so much. Thank you for letting me read and review this book.
As someone who read and highly enjoyed The Dragon Warrior series, Katie Zhao’s debut YA novel is definitely a different vibe from her middle-grade novels. How We Fall Apart was deliciously dark and gritty, featuring an Asian main cast and set in a private school (Sinclair Prep) with high stakes competition the moment you step in the doors (enough there’s even murder involved).
There’s so much to unpack from this novel that I don’t even know where to begin to articulate properly: the costs that come with the competition – mentally, emotionally and physically that may sometimes be deadly; the different layers and hierarchies in high schools and social classes. It’s everything that I could relate to growing up as an Asian American with immigrant parents: the pressure to be the best because of the sacrifices made, and the opportunities I’ve had my parents would’ve loved to have. That being said, there are common Asian stereotypes perpetuated in the novel – but I personally didn’t think too much of it since I assumed it was commentary.
How We Fall Apart has four main characters (Nancy Lou, Krystal Choi, Akil Patel and Alexander Lin), all of who were once close to Jamie Ruan, who is found dead. They each have their own secrets someone named the Proctor has gotten ahold of, and each of those secrets could bring them down from their place on the social ladder. Throughout the course of the novel, the Proctor exposes each of those secrets one at a time, trying to pin Jamie’s death on one of them, through a series of texts sent to the whole school. The death of their once former friend is enough to bring them back together as they try to figure out who could’ve gotten ahold of their secrets and beat the Proctor at their own game.
The formatting is fitting of the dark academia theme, with each chapter beginning with a confession, ranging from general school gossip to moments we can all relate to like finals and AP exams. The novel is mainly told from Nancy’s lens, alternating between the present day and flashbacks of her interactions with Jamie when they were once friends. I loved reading the story from Nancy’s perspective as a student who didn’t grow up as privileged as most of her classmates and having to be twice as ambitious to carve her place into their world. As much as it would’ve been interesting to see the story from Krystal, Akil and Alexander as well, I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed the story as I would’ve with just Nancy’s perspective. Perhaps I might just be biased because I come from a similar background to hers and therefore her experiences resonated deeply at times.
How We Fall Apart moves fast (and it gets dark fast); it’s very much action and plot-oriented, with the engaging writing and humor I’m familiar with from Zhao’s previous novels. But while I loved the fast pace and mystery of the novel that kept me turning the pages and finishing in one sitting, I do think there could’ve been more character development for the rest of the main cast. From early on in the story, we’re told Nancy, Alexander, Krystal and Akil are no longer as close as they once were, but it definitely doesn’t feel that way at all. I would’ve liked more backstory with their friendship and how that fell apart, especially since it feels like an integral part of the story. There are already chapters including Jamie (who they were also once close with), which could’ve been perfect opportunities to flesh out them out, but ended up lacking instead. It’s almost like we jump into the book running (perhaps sprinting wouldn’t be the wrong word either) and don’t stop until the end.
This novel was in some ways disappointing, not as thrilling as I expected, and probably not a favorite but it was enjoyable overall and I definitely want to pick up the sequel. Zhao’s latest novel will be perfect for those looking for a fast-paced dark academia novel with an Asian American main cast, but wouldn’t mind if there isn’t as much focus on developing the backstory of the characters more than for what’s needed to continue the story.
Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury Children's Books for a copy of How We Fall Apart. In exchange for an honest review. If you're looking for your next YA thriller, How We Fall Apart is for you. The story follows Nancy Luo who attends an elite, private school. This book is a thrilling, dark academia that will keep you guessing who done it.
This was a really great thriller/dark academia option for younger YA readers. I have successfully recommended this to my library patrons as a good compromise for young teens and their parents, who are leery of some of the material in YA. This feels adult and is interesting to the teens, but the content is not problematic for the parents. (No sex, clean language)
Review on my blog, The Reading Fairy, will be available on 1/14/22
Trigger/Content Warning: depictions of abuse, self-harm, violence, parental neglect, panic attacks, drug use, mental illness, an inappropriate student/teacher relationship, racism, and suicidal thoughts.
Rep: All Asian Cast, Chinese-American Female MC, Korean-American Prominent character, Indian-American Prominent characters, Chinese-American bisexual prominent character (Jamie).
Review:
“I’ll compose the song, and
You’ll write the lyrics”
I loved Kate Zhao’s books so much, but I can’t help, but feel disappointed the fact that I was supposed to love this book, and it disappointed me in so many ways. But also, I do want to point this out- this book isn’t bad, and I’m really glad Dark Academia is getting more and more diverse now and very glad that we now have an Asian-American leads in Dark Academia, and here’s for more to come.
I want to say: If y’all seen as Pretty Little Liars and/or even Gossip Girl, y’all will see so many similarities to How We Fall Apart (I think that’s how it was pitched). As someone who as seen Pretty Little Liars, there was similarities but this book made that show look amateur practically.
I found this book super predictable because it’s seriously not hard to figure out. I wasn’t that surprised when it happened, minus that other twist on the same person involved and the desperation in this book. The only thing that I was actually shocked, but otherwise, as much as I liked this book- it also reminded me why I don’t read mysteries or thrillers because I could guess the plot twists from a mile away.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll read them especially since they’re out of my comfort zone, and honestly are enjoyable in their own way. Just the fact that, if done well- they’ll be seen as good/great, but normally I like the books.
I love the fact that this book featured an all Asian-American cast. It was such a highlight to read, and such a fresh air to read in particular. I also loved the fact that while this book was only told in one perspective, Nancy, we still saw the differences between each of the characters and how their experiences are so vastly different from one another.
Nancy Luo was raised by a single mother, who immigrated from China and works as a maid in hopes that her daughter can have the ‘American Dream’. Nancy comes from a poor background, and is one of the few kids among Sinclair Preparatory who is a scholarship student. Her father left her to go back to China, thinking that she was worthless and practically abandoned. So Nancy rises to the top, and befriends Jamie, the queen b at Sinclair Prep.
Jamie is a rich girl, with a rich background which Nancy desperately wants to feel that sort of wealth, but she also has dirt and secrets everyone and will practically ruin anyone who gets in her way, until Jamie turns up dead with no reasonable explanation.
Can I just say I love grey female characters because they’re practically chefs kiss. I loved how much Nancy has the ambition to claw her way from the top, and making sure that her grades are top-notch among the elite. But also makes her fun as she is seen as an unreliaeble character with actions that he may or may not agree with, but honestly that’s pretty much why I gave this book a good rating because of the fact that this book has an unreliable, grey, female Chinese-American MC.
I liked how Nancy was with her friends and how different they all were, along with hiding dark secrets that will ruin them. However, I found their relationship part lacking and I wish we seen how the friendship was formed, how it was damaged. I just wanted more, because it seemed kinda lacking.
The only thing I wished was talk about more was the mental health part. I know it was seen as something that is important as seen several characters crack down from the stress within this book, but I couldn’t but think that it was there. The author could have did a better job, and maybe made it seem to have more importance- or probably I’m just being nitpicky.
Also, we stan authors who put content/trigger warnings in their books.
I recommend this one. It's a good book and everyone should read. Of course I would love to have this book in my bookstore.
A fantastic young adult dark academia book that centers four teens caught in the middle of a potential murder of one of their high school classmates at an elite school. All of them have everything to lose, so who killed Jamie?
When Jamie is found dead her junior year of high school, her friends are shocked, especially Nancy, her best friend. Even worse, her friends and her are accused of killing her and now the whole school suspects them.
I loved the dark academia-turned Asian aspect of this book, especially because Asian diaspora at top schools in the United States are notoriously competitive (myself included!), and I loved finally seeing that competitiveness shown from the perspective of diaspora students who really will do everything it takes. The plot and reveal is so very classically dark academia, and while it may have been a little bit predictable and methodical, I think that the book is written in a way that it's not a plot twist that doesn't make sense, nor is it out of character.
How We Fall Apart is an amazing novel that handles difficult topics, is written with care, and never romanticizes these tough topics. This story follows students from Sinclair Prep dealing with Jamie Ruan, the top ranked girl going missing and then being found dead. Nancy, our main character was best friends with Jamie and is now being framed for the murder along with her other friends. Throughout the stories many secrets are spilled and the true ways of everyone are shown. I loved everything about this story and am looking forward to the authors next book.
dark academia thriller set in an elite boarding school with asian rep? sign me up.
My expectations for How We Fall Apart were high, but I was not dissapointed.
This was a strong mystery thriller with a diverse cast and thoughtful conversations around money, class, race, and the lengths people will go to get what they want. I definitely felt the big twist was very left field, but overall I enjoyed this story and would pick up the sequel!
I appreciated the diversity in this book. It's rare to find diverse Asians voices in novels or stories, specifically the thriller genre. I didn't really enjoy this book though because I'm not the intended demographic for YA (which I think this book is). I didn't relate to the characters and while I understood the pressure to succeed, I thought the main character wasn't compelling. I also found the twist/reveal at the end kind of ridiculous. I wish the best of luck to this author. It's not easy writing a book but sadly, I just couldn't get into this story.