This book just wasn't for me. I made it to about 30% and it just didn't grab me at all. I didn't feel like the stakes were high enough for me to feel invested. Sorry!

The main character moves to an idyllic setting in Cape Cod to become a tennis instructor. He is very popular with the ladies and there is an interesting dynamic with the wealthy people in the community and the people who work in the area. This book was very spicy. I don’t mind a little spice but the amount of spice in this book was too much. I liked the writing but the book was a bit slow for me and it didn’t come together the way I expected it to. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Set in an exclusive gated community in coastal Massachusetts, Connor O'Toole is offered a guest cabin in return for private tennis lessons for the summer. Although this story had plenty of twists and turns and was fast paced, the unlike-ability of the characters left me not really caring what happened to any of them. That in addition to some questionable plot points left me lukewarm on the book overall.

Rated 3.5/5

I enjoyed this read. It was set during the COVID Pandemic and Presidential Election, which I personally, do not enjoy reading about, however this read drew me in with plenty of twists and turns. The main character is not particularly likable, but I was very stressed for him towards the end of that book.

During the pandemic, Conor O'Toole jumps at the chance to take a summer job as a tennis instructor in a gated community. His client will allow him to stay in the guest house if he gets his lessons for free, but allowing Conor to pick up other clients. With massive debt from paying for his mother's diabetic medication and his continuing law school education, he needs to find a many clients as possible. Until one super rich client makes him an offer he can't refuse. Soon he's juggling his client's demands, a budding relationship, and his law studies. Until one fateful night that changes everything.
I had trouble getting into this story as most of the first half centers on Conor's inner turmoil and justifications for continuing with both women. I was disgusted by him and his situation. The action picked up after the halfway point as Conor scrambles to cover up what he'd done and I was interested to see if he'd get away with it. But the ending was inconclusive and I was a bit disappointed by the whole story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This book was not bad, but I did find myself having a hard time connecting with the characters. Perhaps as a not rich white woman, I was not the target audience for this book. However, I am still interested in reading more books by Teddy Wayne in the future.


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Sadly this ended up being a DNF for me. I don't think there is really anything wrong with the book I just didn't enjoy the main character and had a difficult time being pulled into the story. This very well could be a case where its "a me problem," I am looking forward to seeing what others think. Again, nothing wrong with the book it just didn't work for me.

*I give all DNF's 3 stars to be fair to the author unless there is something problematic with the book.

Another book that has terrible characters, but I absolutely loved it. I have a thing for books with characters that are the worst, with storylines that are so freaking compelling that you simply cannot stop reading.

Cutter’s Neck is the beautiful gated community that Conor is calling home for the summer. With room and board paid for in exchange for tennis lessons, Conor is hoping to have a great summer out of Yonkers. When one of his tennis clients propositions him for something more, Conor goes with it… even if she is twice his age. Entering into a very steamy and intense affair, Conor happens to find that, even thought this older woman is compelling, he is falling for another girl her has met.

As Colon maneuvers through his escapades, juggling both women, I was CACKLING with incredulous laughter. Knowing there is no way for that kind of scenario to end well, I still wasn’t expecting that absolute unhinged events that proceed. At every single choice made, every action taken, I was like WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? And, it was SO much fun to read!!

The suspense really picks up toward the end. There is depravity and hilarity that melded so well together. I definitely recommend this one!

I was very intrigued by the cover and synopsis, but this book wasn't for me. I just could not connect with it. I felt this book was very slow. It took forever for anything exciting to happen. There was way too much talk about covid and masks. There were some good twists in the book and I was thankful for that.

I enjoyed This psychological thriller, The Winner, by Teddy Wayne. However, the ending leaves no answers so it left me unsatisfied. The book has themes of social class, love, and danger, a great mix.

Cutters Neck is a gated community near Cape Cod and Conor is calling it home for the summer. He gets free lodging in exchange for offering tennis lessons.

New clients are proving hard to come by, so when a divorcee appears and offers twice his already inflated rate, he takes it. It’s not long before he realized that she also wants a little something extra in addition to lessons, something unlike he’s ever experienced before.

It’s not long before Conor finds himself in a mess, and he makes an irreversible mistake.


The setting of this book was fantastic, a lavish estate on Cape Cod in the summer. I could just imagine myself there amongst yards. However, I struggled to get into the actual story because it was such a slow burn. I felt that the story was moving along at a glacial pace, and I found myself getting increasingly bored with everything. By the time I finally got into the story it did take off, but then it slowed again. It was just uneven which was frustrating. This book must have been written during the pandemic because the amount of covid references was also a lot. I don’t mind a few references to masks or how things were then, but it was bordering on too much. This is hard to say, but I read a lot of romance including dark romance, but this book was just too much when it came to how the storyline played out in regard to the sex scenes. I did enjoy how introspective this book made me when it came to social class, but overall, I felt that it was lacking in depth.

I don’t think that this was a bad read per say, it just wasn’t my favorite however, I would recommend it to those looking to explore social class in an interesting way. Just be prepared.

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

Thrilling, sleek, and sexy. Teddy Wayne delivers an impossible to put down psychological thriller, that really ramps up in the second half. While the beginning erred a bit on the slower side, it really established Connor as a likable, relatable lead and the oceanfront community of Cutters Neck. The author did an excellent job at painting the setting in all its waspy glory. His relationship with Catherine was fraught with forbidden sexual tension from the jump. No spoilers, but the choice Connor makes had my jaw on the floor! And it's that decision that really puts the story into hyperdrive. COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!

I appreciate NetGalley and Harper Books for the opportunity to review this book
I wanted to like this book, as the description sounded promising.
A law school student/tennis pro who ends up in a lavish estate of sorts on Cape Cod for the summer, finds himself in a torrid love affair with a woman many decades his senior.
I lost count of how many times the author brings up covid or the main character needing to/being stressed about wearing a mask. His political standpoint pops into the book by mentioning both Trump and Biden in the story early on.
When I read fiction, I like to escape reality, and this was too much (and not for the better) at once.
The mask/covid piece was overkill for me, considering the pandemic is on the downslide.
If you can overlook this, then by all means, but it distracted me from the storyline.

The Winner was an intense thriller with a number of very predictable twists and turns balanced by equally unexpected twists and turns. A bit of a slow burn and laden with sexual scenes, this book was a bit trying at times but captivating at others. The horror of the main character’s changes throughout the story with him moving from a seemingly nice guy to a depraved liar was stunning to watch.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

First off, I want to say that I absolutely love Teddy Wayne's previous novels, "The Great Man Theory" and "Apartment". I think he's a brilliant storyteller and I adore his gorgeous writing style. "The Winner" is the biggest disappointment of the year and it breaks my heart to say it. This did not feel like a Teddy Wayne book. This novel felt like it had been ghostwritten. The writing style was too simple, and the story was absolutely boring. The only thing that made it feel like a Teddy Wayne creation was the twist ending, but even that couldn't save it for me. Wayne needs to stick to writing literary fiction, instead of writing a sleazy sexual thriller. This book was uncomfortable to read. Also, I'm not interested in reading about whiny, stuck-up rich people. It was insufferable. I didn't care about the main character either, he was such a people pleaser. THIS. BOOK. IS. NOTHING. SPECIAL. Teddy Wayne, you can do better than this!

Thank you, Netgalley and Harper for the digital ARC.

This is the first new book I've read in a while where the hype matched my reading experience. Like so many other reviewers expressed, once I began reading this book I did not want to put it down. In Conor O'Toole, Wayne has created a character whose story is as compelling as it is cringey. He is at once someone to root for, question, and despise.

Connor is offered a cushy, if low-paid, tennis instructing job in picturesque Cutters Neck, a gated community neighboring Cape Cod. Conor is also a new law school graduate who intends to spend his free time studying for the bar exam and using the money he earns to pay for his mother's insulin. What begins as the story of a tenacious kid from Yonkers, New York becomes something dark and downright frightening.

In The Winner, as with Alana B. Lytle's Man's Best Friend , readers meet a protagonist who is introduced to and then becomes consumed by the world of the super wealthy. While both books offer a peek into the lives of the rich, and Wayne's book is described as "skewering the elite", neither book indicts the elite so much as they do the social climbers. El and Conor share a desire to play in the greener grass, and both characters pay dearly for their trespasses.

This book will satisfy readers of multiple genres. I can see The Winner on a few best of lists already.

Trigger warnings: Graphic sex on the page, mentions of suicide and mental health concerns, talk of infant death and miscarriage.


Thank you NetGalley and Harper, publisher, for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I started reading The Winner without much insight into what i was sitting down for, and the story kept me on the edge of my seat for 3 days. I couldnt wait to get back to the book and read more. There were some elements that reminded me of the ABC series Revenge - a rich meets poor guilty pleasure story, but this was much darker and more sexual. The book is a lot of fun and keep me on the edge of me seat.

"The Winner" by Teddy Wayne presents a thought-provoking exploration of ambition, competition, and the pursuit of success in contemporary society. Through the lens of a high-stakes academic competition, Wayne delves into the complexities of human nature and the ethical dilemmas that arise when individuals are driven by a desire to win at all costs.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its portrayal of the protagonist's internal conflict as he grapples with the pressures of competition and the moral implications of his actions. Wayne skillfully captures the protagonist's inner turmoil, highlighting the tension between his desire for recognition and his sense of integrity. This psychological depth adds complexity to the narrative, inviting readers to reflect on their own values and priorities.

Moreover, "The Winner" offers incisive commentary on contemporary society's obsession with success and achievement. Wayne explores themes of privilege, entitlement, and the commodification of education, shedding light on the systemic inequalities that shape our institutions and interpersonal relationships. Through the protagonist's interactions with his peers and mentors, the novel raises important questions about meritocracy and the true meaning of success.

However, while "The Winner" raises compelling questions and offers insightful commentary, some readers may find the pacing of the narrative to be uneven. The novel's slow build-up and introspective passages may deter readers seeking a more fast-paced or plot-driven story. Additionally, the protagonist's internal monologue may at times feel overly introspective, potentially distancing readers from fully engaging with the character's journey.

Furthermore, the novel's ambiguous ending may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied or uncertain about the protagonist's ultimate fate. While the open-ended nature of the conclusion allows for interpretation and debate, it may also leave readers longing for greater closure or resolution.

In conclusion, "The Winner" by Teddy Wayne is a thought-provoking exploration of ambition and ethics in contemporary society. While the novel offers insightful commentary and raises compelling questions about success and integrity, its uneven pacing and ambiguous ending may present challenges for some readers. Overall, "The Winner" is a nuanced and thought-provoking read that will resonate with those interested in exploring the complexities of human nature and the pursuit of excellence.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

Solid thriller that keeps the reader on their toes the whole way through. I liked all the well-planned twists and turns in this book. Well done and well planned.