Even though I work in a school some of my favourite books have this setting. This goes way back, back to a time when I would be reading The Worst Witch or Mallory Towers. That love for a school setting has never left me. I find it all the more intriguing when the school in question is a boarding school. There is something so intoxicating about the thought of being a student and living away from home.

This is what appealed to me about The Glennmare Girls. A campus mystery set in an exclusive location with all the elements of what it is like to be a teen. Silly infatuations and obsessions with the occult. They just marry well together.

The combination of adult perspective and student perspective in this novel worked really well and it had some absolute shocking twists and turns. It is a novel that balances the cusp of childhood to adulthood and almost crosses those age boundaries when it comes to readership.

If campus novels are your thing then you should give The Glennmare Girls a try.

The Glennmare Girls by Anya Mora is available now.

'THE GLENNMARE GIRLS' by Anya Mora is an ambitious take on the elite private school story. This one fell a little flat in that it was too fast of a read. You don't truly have time to get connected and understand the characters. With a bit more prose and nuance it would have been at least a four star read.

This is certainly entertaining and I liked the central mystery, but this book has a lot of issues, mostly surrounding a really problematic depiction of mental health.

The premise for this was good and the pacing excellent, and I thought the mystery of the missing girl was well structured. So too was the Luddite school and the students who embraced the idea of existing in another time. It’s a well-rendered portrait of teenage girls in that respect, and how this idea of moving backward in time and dressing the part might appeal.

But the rest of the portrayal of teenage girls here is a pretty serious problem. It’s not just that this level of coercion and something akin to mass hysteria is unrealistic and over dramatic. I could give that part up to “for entertainment’s sake,” at least when it comes to Kitty’s acolytes and their relationship with their teacher.

But the way Kitty’s mental illness is depicted here is really irresponsible. To suggest that her actions were the result of being bipolar and off her meds for a short time is a serious misunderstanding of mental illness, and furthers the demonization of someone suffering from this condition. What really bothers me about it was that there was no reason to even include mental illness in Kitty’s character. She could simply have been a manipulator and a bad person. It would have made a better story anyway.

There’s also some ick to this (the step siblings, the teacher’s thoughts about his students), though these are mild in comparison to some other depictions of this kind of stuff, and also probably closer to reality (ironic considering the wildly inaccurate portrait of mental illness) that the more dramatic versions of this we often see in mystery/thrillers set at girls schools.

I literally could not put this down and devoured the whole thing in one session. WHAT A STORY! I had no idea what was coming!

Stunning!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my feedback.

I'm not usually a thriller fan, but this one enthralled me from the beginning. It took a while to get used to the multiple POVs, but the twist at the end just sent me reeling!

I wasn't able to read this in time, but what I was able to read was good and I wish you all the best ♡

*The Glennmare Girls* is a compelling and atmospheric novel that delves into the complexities of friendship, secrets, and the darker side of adolescence. Set in the isolated and eerie Glennmare Academy, this story is a masterful blend of suspense, psychological drama, and mystery that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

Glennmare Academy is no ordinary boarding school. Located on a windswept island off the coast of Seattle, it serves as a refuge for the unruly daughters of affluent East Coast families. The novel’s protagonists—Kitty, Bernie, Coretta, Diane, and Jolie—are more than just roommates; they share a bond that feels more like sisterhood. This deep connection is tested and intensified by the mysterious disappearance of Kitty, whose absence looms large over the narrative.

Mora excels in creating a rich, immersive setting that enhances the story’s haunting tone. The academy, with its strict rules and isolated location, becomes a character in its own right, contributing to the sense of foreboding and tension. The imagery of teenage girls with ribbons in their hair, symbolising a lost innocence, adds to the book’s dark, almost gothic atmosphere.

The characters are well-drawn and complex, each grappling with their own secrets and personal demons. The dynamics between the girls are fraught with tension, loyalty, and unspoken truths, making their interactions both compelling and believable. The enigmatic teacher who quotes obscure poetry and seems to understand the girls on a profound level adds another layer of intrigue and potential danger to the story.

Anya Mora’s writing is both lyrical and gripping, capturing the intensity of teenage emotions and the suspense of the unfolding mystery. Her ability to weave a dark, twisty tale while maintaining a deep empathy for her characters makes this novel a standout in the psychological thriller genre.

*The Glennmare Girls* is a deliciously dark and utterly gripping novel that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and stories about the complexities of female friendship. Anya Mora has crafted a story that is as thought-provoking as it is suspenseful, making this a must-read for anyone looking for a well-written, twisty, and emotionally resonant mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Glennmare Girls is a dark academia mystery that alternates between different character viewpoints. Although I found the story interesting, the pacing felt off and I struggled to stay interested. There are some good red herrings to keep the narrative moving forward, but I found the number of characters to be confusing and it ultimately slowed down the pacing.

I thought I’d like this but it was trying too hard to be dark academia, instead being kind of just awful. The portrayal of teenage girls from men’s perspectives - especially scummy men - was icky. Also, animal abuse isn’t fun. I feel like the author wanted to be edgy and do something like Secret History, but it came off as amateur and silly.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I had a hard time with this book. I wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me. The premise was good but the story and characters fel flat.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Absolutely loved this book. Surprises around every corner. Great atmosphere and setting. I was hooked from the very beginning.

I’m was really intrigued by the premise of this book and it did not disappoint me. It was thrilling and captivating from start to finish

A great book with a creepy vibe. I love the gothic atmosphere with a strange school and characters. Very suspenseful and twisty.

"The Glennmare Girls" by Anya Mora is a gripping and suspenseful read that took me into the world of a group of teenage girls at an elite boarding school on a remote island off the coast of Seattle. As a reader, I was immediately drawn into their secrets, friendship, and mystery world.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, creating an engaging and dynamic narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are well-developed and intriguing, each with their secrets and motivations. The author does a great job of building tension and suspense throughout the book, leading to a satisfying and unexpected conclusion.
One of the standout aspects of the book is its setting. The isolated and atmospheric setting of Glennmare Academy adds an extra layer of mystery and intrigue to the story. The descriptions of the island and the boarding school are vivid and immersive, making me feel like I’m with the characters.
Overall, "The Glennmare Girls" is a compelling and well-crafted mystery thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end. If you enjoy stories about friendship, secrets, and suspense, this book is worth a read.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

I really wanted to love this book but it was just meh. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of it. The girls sounded 13 not 18 which made everything seem worse with Wells. Also I feel the whole step sibling thing could've been left out. It really didn't add anything important to the story.

A lot of twists and turns in this book. I like the dark and mysterious theme.
Sometimes it’s a bit difficult with all the point of views.
But it’s fast paced and not to long, making it a good book.
I would definitely read a book by this author again.

What did I just read?

I picked this one up because 1) the cover was gorgeous and 2) I'm always intrigued by a mystery that takes place at a secluded all-girls school. However... this one was just weird in a way that was more laughable than interesting.

Maybe it would have been better in a visual media format, but when a chapter was told from the perspective of all the girls as one combined force, I rolled my eyes. Speaking in "we"s and plurals was so silly to me.

And then we never actually really know what happens at the end? No spoilers, but it's kind of left as a "choose how you think this happened" sort of story. For a story that already only has like 250 pages to it, I don't care enough about the story or the characters to feel more strongly one way or another.

AND AN ACTUAL SPOILER - WHY WERE WE SO FOCUSED ON TILLY/TIBBY/WHATEVER HER NAME WAS AND FREDDIE BEING STEPSIBLINGS? I hate when books try to make it super taboo that teens who met before their parents did and had a connection, then become step siblings because their parents got married AFTER THESE TEENS ALREADY HAD CRUSHES ON EACH OTHER, are romantically involved. They are not biologically related. They were not raised as siblings - THIS IS NOT INC*ST! But the author made it super weird and uncomfy in the book so that made me feel gross all over.

Overall... not worth your time.

At Glennmare, each bed is filled with a teenage girl who wears ribbons in her hair, a nod to innocence we lost long ago. When we were sent out into the world, away from home, to fend to for ourselves.

I'm a sucker for a YA mystery set at a boarding school. I had high hopes for this one and it was fine, but a little disappointing. I still enjoyed it, though.