What truly stands out is how the story tackles serious themes like friendship, identity, and the pressure to fit in, all while maintaining a lighthearted tone. The plot is a wild ride, with clever twists that kept me guessing. The author’s unique blend of humor and mystery makes this a standout debut. I couldn’t help but root for this ragtag crew as they uncover secrets, challenge stereotypes, and, most importantly, learn to embrace who they are. A fantastic read for anyone who loves a good laugh with a side of sleuthing.

This book was geeatsuch a queer rich smart and pacey dark comedy. CL Montblanc debut novel kept me enraptured and left me wanting more.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great and fun dark comedy, it had everything that I enjoyed about other high school dark comedies. The characters had that charm and care to them and I was wanting to know what was going to happen to them. CL Montblanc has that spark that I was hoping for and enjoyed the murder mystery overall.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

I really enjoyed this book. More than I thought I would. I liked the characters! Great writing style and I liked the storyline. This book kept me guessing. I finished it in one sitting.

A solid story with likable characters, PRIDE OR DIE was a delightful twisty tale full of representation, real-life issues, and an attempted murder mystery. Throw in the typical teenage drama of crushes and miscommunication and it’s a relatable and entertaining read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ebook version of this novel. Opinions are my own.