Unfortunately, this was such a slow read and didn't read at all like The Secret History meets Heathers. It was slow and kind of boring, to be honest. This was my first time reading this author, not sure if I will check out another from her.

Sarah Taylor arrived at St. Ambrose at her mother's insistence. She thinks the school will be good for Sarah. But Sarah is the excited. She does ok as long as she stays on her lithium, but she's mentally ill and also not a big people person. She does form a sort of allyship with her roommate but catches the ire of mean girl Greta.

That's really as far as I got. Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one at 121 pages, when the thrillery parts hadn't started yet. The sentences are well written and passages are well put together, but it was taking way too long to get to any of the action for me, and this is from someone who is a sucker for boarding school books.

I hope this one finds its audience. It's just not me. I won't post anywhere about it, because I don't wanna speak negatively of it.

Jessica Ward's writing has a lot of strengths, and while her take on the "mean girls" school narrative had its unique spin, it didn't quite resonate with me. Set in the nostalgic backdrop of the early 1990s, the story unfolds through Sarah Taylor's eyes. Sarah, a scholarship student, joins a prestigious New England boarding school and soon finds herself navigating the challenges posed by the influential Greta and her clique. While Sarah's character has depth, her journey with bipolar disorder sometimes felt a bit intense to me. Additionally, some of the supporting roles felt familiar, like the sporty student grappling with her identity. The novel began with a thoughtful, introspective tone, dotted with literary nuances and clever remarks, but it later transitioned to a more suspenseful storyline which took me by surprise. The pacing felt a tad unhurried, with an emphasis on Sarah's emotional state, and I wished for a bit more depth in Greta's character. The juxtaposition of Greta's position and her own vulnerabilities was intriguing but felt a touch disjointed. That said, I see the potential and ambition in the story; it just wasn't quite my cup of tea.

"The St. Ambrose School for Girls" by Jessica Ward, writing under the pseudonym J.R. Ward, is a thrilling and darkly captivating coming-of-age novel that masterfully blends the world of a prestigious boarding school with secrets, rivalry, and deadly consequences. This book is a gripping exploration of the complexities of teenage life, mental health, and the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of even the most exclusive institutions.

The story follows Sarah Taylor, a newcomer to the elite St. Ambrose School, who arrives carrying not only her physical baggage but also the weight of a recent bipolar diagnosis. Sarah is immediately targeted by Greta Stanhope, the school's queen bee, and the tension between them sets the stage for a power struggle that escalates throughout the narrative. Ward skillfully portrays the dynamics of female friendships and rivalries, making the interactions between the characters feel authentic and relatable.

One of the strengths of this novel lies in its well-crafted characters. Sarah is a compelling and sympathetic protagonist who must navigate not only the challenges of her bipolar disorder but also the relentless bullying from Greta. Sarah's resilience and determination make her a character readers can root for, and her friendship with Ellen "Strots" Strotsberry provides a refreshing contrast to the toxic relationships at the school.

The setting of St. Ambrose School is vividly depicted, with its opulent halls, secret societies, and the air of privilege that permeates the atmosphere. The author creates a sense of claustrophobia and suspense within the confines of the school, adding to the overall tension of the story.

As the narrative unfolds, the book takes unexpected and dark twists that keep the reader guessing. The sense of foreboding and unease builds steadily, and when scandal and tragedy strike, the story takes on an even darker tone. Ward's writing keeps you on the edge of your seat, making it difficult to put the book down.

"The St. Ambrose School for Girls" is a thought-provoking exploration of mental health, identity, and the consequences of cruelty and manipulation. It's a story that delves into the depths of teenage angst and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their secrets. The pacing is excellent, with a gripping plot that steadily intensifies, leading to a shocking and unforgettable conclusion.

In conclusion, Jessica Ward's "The St. Ambrose School for Girls" is a must-read for fans of dark and suspenseful coming-of-age novels. With its well-drawn characters, immersive setting, and unexpected twists, this book is a compelling and haunting tale that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. It's a thrilling and thought-provoking exploration of the darkness that can exist within the world of privilege and prestige.

The St. Ambrose School for Girls is a unique mystery and thriller set in the picturesque land of a prestigious boarding school. From page one, readers can tell they are going to like going on this ride with Sarah Taylor, a misfit, who refuses to fit in with the crowd as she begins her school year at St. Ambrose's.

Jessica Ward does a commendable job bringing the character of Sarah to life and fairly describing the challenges teens face while dealing with mental health issues.

Sadly this book just didn’t grab as much as I hoped it would. I put it down and picked it up multiple times but I just couldn’t connect with it. Super bummed.

This is obviously different from her BDB books but it just wasn’t for me.

The chips seem stacked against Sarah Taylor as she starts a new school year at a new boarding school - she is still coming to terms with her bipolar diagnosis, is transferring as a sophomore, stands out as a scholarship student, and manages to unwittingly incur the hatred of reigning queen bee, Greta Stanhope. When petty pranks turn to a school-wide scandal, and someone ends up dead, Sarah starts questioning what she has witnessed and what has her mental illness projected for her. This psychological, coming of age thriller is written solely from Sarah’s point of view and the narrative succeeds in letting the reader inhabit the insecurities of both an adolescent female, but also a newly diagnosed mental patient.

My main question is why was this sold as adult when every character is fifteen? I mean, I get there's cussing and murder and scandal, but uhhh, I've read a lot worse in actual YA books. It's just weird to me. Otherwise, it was a good book.

I really liked how descriptive this book was about life in a boarding school. The world and the characters were so well described I could be there and see and feel with them.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. However, I really enjoyed the story. Set at a private boarding school for girls, this book is a slow-burn suspense. The story follows Sarah, a new students with bipolar disorder, navigate her way through this new world. The book handles mental illness in a responsible and informative way. It is part of who Sarah is, but does not totally define her. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but once the book got moving I was hooked. For people that enjoy a book set in academia or like a slow burn suspense I highly recommend!

This is a very slow burn thriller with a very unreliable narrator. Some parts worked for me, and some didn’t. I enjoyed having a narrator who was less than reliable, but it was very hard to be inside the mind of someone suffering from bipolar disorder. This also brings a flurry of trigger warnings with it.

I wasn’t completely sold with how everything wrapped up, but ultimately I would recommend this if you’re a fan of high school/boarding school setting with the unreliable narrator trope and are okay with a slower story. But please do look into triggers.

3.5 stars

This book was just not for me. It is a slow burn, dark academia thriller(ish), but honestly I was a bit bored.

Sarah doesn't fit in at St. Ambrose. And to make matters worse, her mom tries to help her make friends when they move in. It's a nice idea, but likely has left a big target on Sarah's back. Because there are mean girls at St. Ambrose. And these are girls that make Regina George look tame!

The St. Ambrose School for Girls is a fantastic read, and a quick page-turner that brings back all those dorm life insecurities. I really don't want to say much and give too much away, but this one is well worth the read.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Gallery books for this twisty story that makes us all happy to have left high school in the past. It's available now.

This book was alright.
The marketing for this book was better than the book itself.
The cover is gorgeous and the synopsis and ads were amazing.
But the book just didn't do it for me.

thank you Netgalley and Gallery books for the opportunity

I was so excited to discover a new book by Jessica Ward as I totally devoured "The Bourbon King" series. But this YA book didn't work for me. It was uninteresting and a chore to read. Hope she writes more like TBK in the future. My thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

As compelling as this novel was, I am having the hardest time deciding how I felt about it to review it!

It is most certainly a dramatic story, filled with the most interesting descriptions I've read in a while. I found Ward's writing to be very fascinating in that regard; the way Sarah relays her thoughts and experiences is not just blunt but fantastical and incredibly detailed. Since Ward herself notes that she is not bipolar, and I, too, am not bipolar, I cannot confer whether the depiction of Sarah's bipolarity is accurate, though I have noticed similar behavior from loved ones who do have the diagnosis and Ward assures that she did her homework and had sensitivity testing for accuracy. It is one of the main antagonists of the story, constantly getting in Sarah's way of wanting to live and affecting every aspect of her relationships with other people.

On that note, I must also mention, as it would be utterly irresponsible of me not to, that there are explicit details about Sarah's attempted suicides. She falls into her depressive episodes so very deeply and with such gut-wrenching detail that I have to give a warning to anyone who may be vulnerable to episodes of their own to maybe not read this book. Things are especially despairing when she stops taking her lithium (side note: this story is 100% a PSA about making sure you take your meds!). I will say that it also gives explicit details about how Sarah gets OUT of her depressive episodes, so therefore it could also be seen as an inspirational story for those very same people. Either way, be very mindful about being triggered when deciding to read this book. Other triggers aside from the obvious bullying and ableism include statutory rape (Sarah's residential advisor having sex with the underage students is a main plot point) and violent homophobia (don't worry, there is no Bury Your Gays trope in this story).

While the description uses Heathers and The Secret Society as similar stories, I kept thinking of the live-action Wednesday Addams series as I was reading. They are very similar. If you've got someone super into any of these titles, this is definitely going to be a book they'll devour. It might also give them a completely different perspective on mental illness as well. Some things are clunky and some messages are unclear but I think it was a decent read regardless.

Whose brilliant idea was it to compare this to Heathers meets The Secret History? Just no. Both of those are peak of their genre/media and this is at a disadvantage trying to keep up. This is a mean girls with a touch of thriller late in the book. This is not what it is claiming to be so therefore the wrong audience is reviewing it. It maybe a terrific read for someone else's taste, but it is always difficult to have a story pitched with all the buzz words that make a reader excited about a book and then it doesn't deliver.
Not for me.
#TheStAmbroseSchoolforGirls #Netgalley #GalleryBooks

I enjoyed this book! I actually really liked the panic attack/anxiety aspect of it, as it added so much mystery and intrigue to the central story. It was a really cool spin on what could have been a run of the mill teenage girl boarding school murder story.

"Heathers" meets "The Secret History"? Hardly. So slow and I'm so tired of the drunk/drugged unreliable female narrator trope. The best thing about this book is the cover.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I think that this was a slow burner for me. At the start I was not sold on the narrative and the story -- it wasn't anything more than a mean girl and a sick girl and a lot of unfair stuff. But then it picked up about halfway through once we got the additional plot details, more characters, and more drama. And of course, murder.

So, in the end I was pretty invested and liked to see how it went. But it did get pretty dark!

3 stars.