This was a strong thriller novel, it had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had realistic characters and enjoyed the overall concept of them in this world. I enjoyed the idea of this plot and was hooked from the mystery element. Alex Travis wrote this well and was glad I got to read this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I confess the reference to John Tucker Must Die in the blurb had me eager to read The Payback Girls, since I always felt that movie had a great concept it didn’t fully deliver on. My hope was that this book would be my chance to see that happen, and rest assured that it was, in a style befitting the idea.

The plot focuses on three very different teen girls:
Meghan who is new to school, an ace scholar, and had to leave her last public school for a private one where she recognizes she is not as well heeled for the others. Meghan finds her chance at fitting in with Nate, the star basketball player of the team, but his friends and teammates are not welcoming. Thanks to the mystery of why she left her other school, Meghan is a wildcard in the story.

Robin, who is a star athlete in her own right and had previously been the long term girlfriend of Nate. She’s sharp but also suspicious as a result of everything she seemingly lies about.

Bria, who is president of her class, and like the other girls sharp as a Japanese knife. Bria had dated Nate for a few months, inviting a scandal when it was thought that she was the ‘other woman’ to Nate and Robin.

These ladies all still have a current thing with Nate and when it comes out the dominos fall rather quickly, with Nate suddenly in a coma and all three in the spotlight as suspects, at least by their schoolmates.

While the driver for the mystery is who hurt Nate, the book is especially good as a story about female dynamics (especially amongst younger woman), being black amongst a privileged set of white people (these girls are the only black woman at their school), racism and ignorance, and sisterhood. Everything was done phenomenally with the pacing and plot turns, and I loved seeing the relationships between these young women as much as I did trying to figure out the mystery.

Appropriate for young adults but as appealing for general readers, The Payback Girls is everything I wish John Tucker Must Die was and more.