Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books | Katherine Tegen Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book!

It. . . existed, I guess, is the best way to put it?
I can certainly see the Yellowjackets inspiration, as well as The Wilds. I'd really liked All the Dead Lie Down, so I was hoping
to see more of it.
Bad Graces, however, seemed like a bite-sized chunk of mild horror, with skipping most of the interesting parts, and making all the leads up to be... well, she was dead but she's alive! they're actually chasing a deer!

I understand that would not have been the best way to go about-- not everything is yellowjackets, cannibalism, and warring girls, after all-- but the build up in a tone shift to it, and then a sudden 180? hit strangely.

i do think my students would enjoy this, though!

This needed to lean into its weirdness a lot more. The ending was so abrupt that it didn't make sense with the body horror/transformations that had come before. Nobody seemed freaked out *enough* by what was happening to them. The other criticism I have is the lack of subtlety in messaging. Instead of allowing readers to think critically about how being shipwrecked on a remote island frees the girls, it just tells you what to think. Bad Graces wasn't bad, by any stretch of the imagination, but it could have been so much better.

This has been one of the best books I've read in 2024 so far! The premise and the fact that it was written by Kyrie McCauley made this an instant need-to-read for me, and the book lived up to and BEYOND my expectations. I'd say the comps are mostly accurate, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that this is a book about young women banding together and supporting each other through most everything, something the 'Yellowjackets' comparison made me unsure of. This is such a gorgeous book, from the writing to the character-building to the way it resolves interpersonal conflicts and human threats. The supernatural threats are another matter entirely, and this book delivered scares aplenty on its course to make some very solid feminist points. And while the climax didn't 100% make sense to me, it worked and FULLY justified the very end. I love this book. It's what I wanted Yellowjackets to be. I must have a copy once it's released.

Oh my GOD! If you love survivalist stories, or feminist books, or Yellowjackets I cannot implore you deeply enough to pick this up!

The vibes were amazing from the start and I adore our main character. I also grew very attached to the rest of the cast. The shipwreck scenes were horrifyingly evocative and as they spent time on the island I truly could not put this book down.

AMAZING.

3. What did I just read? I don’t like any of these characters, but was compelled to keep reading. The writing, especially descriptions, is well crafted and vivid. But, this book doesn’t know what it is. Survival story? Fantasy? Allegory? Horror? Maybe it’s trying to be too much? Shipwrecks, Shakespeare, a perverted movie director, a lot of lies, and a light lesbian teen romance. It’s just a lot, too much in fact. It will find some fans just because of its unexpectedness.

The mind of Kyrie McCauley never disappoints. In Bad Graces, we follow Liv as she and other shipwrecked girls are in survival mode on an island that is quickly becoming more terrifying than anything they could imagine.

The allusions and references woven throughout the novel are perfect for fans of mythology and classical literature. In addition to the survival aspects, there is more of a creepy focus as life on the island changes the girls.

Overall, it was refreshing to see a group of girls working together, bonding, and supporting each other. This read isn’t for everyone, but it will definitely have its niche audience.

Kyrie McCauley is a master wordsmith. BAD GRACES reels you in from its very first gorgeously crafted sentence, and refuses to let you go until long after you’ve finished its spectacular ending. This book is frankly unmissable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Ohh, this was all vibes and I loved it!

A star studded yacht trip turns deadly when a storm sends the craft ashore, stranded on a tiny island… Now, this group of girls must lean on each other and survive however they can.

Something else is on this island though… something that is changing them. As they grow closer, bonds growing and forming out of necessity, they begin changing. Even little injuries form these terrifyingly beautiful alterations in them.

The people they are when starting this trip are not the people they find themselves to be, now. I thought the journey getting there was told so beautifully.

I’m trying to be vague on purpose, because I went in to this read totally blind! I love the author and knew that I was going to enjoy this. This was eerie and stunning at the same time. It gave me Lost vibes. The character dynamics were among my favorite aspects of the book. I highly recommend it!

Book:
BAD GRACES by Kyrie McCauley (thanks netgalley and Harpercollins for the arc: June 18)

Review:
3⭐
This book wasn't my cup of tea. It was almost a did not finish for me. I was intrigued by the survival story and mystery, but I just didn't enjoy the book as much as I wanted. Don't get me wrong, BAD GRACES is a powerful survival story. It's creepy, full of mystery, and a little weird. I liked the book, but there were many times where I was confused, and it was cringe at times. Other than that, I liked how all the girls worked together to survive(and how they stood up to Vincent). I liked that the book was thrilling, and it kept me wanting to read mode to see if anyone survives. The book itself just isn't for me.

Bad Graces was such a unique read filled with feminine power, bonding and survival. I loved the island setting and the band of diverse female characters. I loved that they began to cherish the island even as it changed them emotionally and physically. I also loved that each girl transformed in some magical way each time they were hurt and the island helped to heal them. Have to say the mushrooms were probably my favorite healing attribute.... overall this was an island survival filled with badass female characters and a deep fantasy fill to it! The imagery and thought the author put into this book also captivated me throughout the entire story.

This story was so interesting from beginning to end. The journey that the group of young ladies went on was extraordinary and I don’t even know if I would have the innate survival skills that Liv had at all.

Strong and dark survival horror that works really well. Would recommend quite a lot, very captivating personalities. Thanks for the arc!

Thank you to the Publisher for my arc!

So i'm not typically a fan of survival books and i wasn't sure if i was going to enjoy this but I ended up really loving it. there was so much i loved about this story. Its about female friendships, FEMALE RAGE? which 10/10 I gasped when I got to the end. and just what it means to be a girl and I could not put this down once the story started to pick up.