This was so much fun and so nostalgic! I loved all the 90s references; As a child of the 90s, this story really resonated with me. I was drawn into the story quickly, but it took me a minute to keep track of all the characters and the alternating timelines. The mystery was well done and wrapped up nicely.

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KILL THE LAX BRO by Charlotte Lillie Balogh
Thank you Netgalley and Getunderlined for the earc (Jun24)

Set in the 90s, Hancock High is holding its annual lock-in. When a body is found,the people who wanted him dead the most, that hated him the most, come together to solve his m*rder.
I devoured this book in less than a day. I was drawn in rather quickly by the opening scene, and as the story progressed from the beginning, it was like it took root in my brain, begging me to keep going until the mystery was solved. It was just that thrilling, and it was nice having a book that left a lot today's trials and tribulations to today since it is set over two decades ago.
What I loved most about KILL THE LAX BRO was the past to present scenes and the use of song titles as chapter titles. I also loved how easy it was to read, and how intriguing it was. The mystery was also top-notch in a "didn't see that coming type of way." I was trying to piece together who was capable of k*lling someone. What was revealed left me shocked and wanting more (iykyk). This was such a refreshing mystery. 10/10 would recommend.

Thank you Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This book oozes 90’s and I absolutely freakin love it!! The nostalgia goes hard! The story has two timelines, the night of the Hancock High lock-in the night before graduation and the events that lead up to it. Jennifer is trying to enjoy the night before graduation at the lock-in, stealing kisses with Andrew Gracia, until the stumble across the body of Troy Richard’s, her boyfriend and Hancock High’s star Lacrosse player and high school golden boy. Now the two, along with fellow students Naomi, Sassi, and Tatum will have to work together to find out who killed Troy unless they want the blame. But can they trust one another? After all each of them had a reason to want Troy dead. Months earlier Andrew, Sassi, Naomi, and Tatum all set out to take Troy Richard’s down and take away the thing he loves most of all Lacrosse. As the night of the lock-in creeps closer they’ll try to ruin his reputation and destroy his life. Can they succeed? Does one of them take it too far or are they innocent of that particular crime? And can they find Troy’s killer? I love that you have the classic 90’s vibes of teen movies like Clueless and She’s All That mixed with the take down the popular student vibes of John Tucker Must Die (not 90’s but very similar vibe) mixed with murder/mystery elements like Jawbreaker! Funny, twisty, gripping, queerness, and so very nostalgic! I am at a mix of emotions with this one and the ending caught me so off guard and I’m still stunned by the last little bit! Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Kill the Lax Bro is another book that proves that teen thrillers are just as good as those packaged for adults, and I’m glad to have one to recommend to younger readers who’d like to see those in their own world at the heart of a mystery. That said this also has a lot of nostalgia for older readers thanks to its setting in the 90’s and callback to popular songs and fads.

With alternating timelines, readers are introduced to the end of the school year with the murder of LAX bro Troy, who rules the school but is a bit of a psycho path. To better understand why his murder could be at the hands of anyone in the school, three girls he did wrong, his recent ex girlfriend, and his ex-BFF Lax bro, Andrew gather to figure out what happened as we track back in their perspectives to New Year’s and the events leading to current day. Each character was incredibly well drawn, with Naomi, Tatum, and Sassi all given plenty of motivation to want to see Troy dead, and Andrew especially a nuanced character who had throughout the semester teamed up with the ladies to bring down Troy.

What truly sets this book apart are the final chapters, and the final sentences are both great and frustrating, but close our this mystery/thriller perfectly. Written for (older) teens and young adults, I’d recommend it for readers of all ages as a top thriller.

This book is pure nostalgic fun with a sharp edge. It’s darkly funny, twisted, and absolutely gripping. I loved the way the author brought together the typical high school stereotypes. The writing is sharp, and I appreciated how well it captured the tension of high school, the mystery is unpredictable and while the ending is a punch, the real heart of this story lies in how it dissects the dynamics of high school life; focusing on the pressure to fit in, the masks we wear, and the ugly truths that come to light when things go horribly wrong. It’s fast-paced, darkly humorous, and has a depth that goes beyond the initial murder mystery; perfect for anyone who enjoys stories that make you laugh and keep you hooked at the same time.

“Kill the Lax Bro” by Charlotte Lillie Balogh isn’t just a book – it’s an emotional throwback to the ’90s, packed with suspense, wit, and a dash of nostalgia.

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The story is told from the perspectives of Jennifer, Naomi, Sassi, Tatum, and Andrew. Each character brings their own voice, depth, and motivation to the table. What ties them together? Their shared hatred for Troy Richards, the so-called king of the school. Together, they form a quirky group with clever—and sometimes hilariously absurd—plans to bring Troy down. But when Troy’s body is discovered, they have no choice but to band together to uncover the real killer—before they themselves become the prime suspects.

What I loved most are the incredibly layered characters. As the story unfolds, we get to know each of them and understand why they hated Troy so much. At the same time, it becomes clear what an awful person Troy really was. The character development feels so real and relatable, it’s impossible not to get hooked.

One of the standout details? The chapter titles are all named after ’90s songs. These little touches make the setting come alive. For someone like me, it was pure nostalgia: no smartphones, just cameras and Walkmans; VHS tapes and Blockbuster nights instead of Netflix.

The writing style is smooth, gripping, and sprinkled with just the right amount of dark humor. Not once did I feel bored—in fact, I couldn’t put the book down.

Kill The Lax Bro isn’t just a compelling #MurderMystery; it’s also a sharp commentary on high school dynamics and the toxic side of popularity. It stands out from other books in the genre and has all the potential to go viral.

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This is a must-read for anyone who loves thrilling stories with authentic characters and a touch of nostalgia. This book has it all: humor, suspense, and heart. I really hope it gets the attention it deserves—because it’s an absolute gem no one should miss!

Thanks as always to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Press for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

“KTLB” offers up a “John Tucker Must Die” sort of energy, but without too much focus on the romance and with an added murder mystery aspect. And I absolutely loved it immediately for that concept alone.

Our story begins with meeting Jennifer Lee (the lax bro’s girlfriend) on the night of the senior class of 1999’s pre-graduation lock in. We are introduced to our other protagonists in this prologue as well; Sassi (the academic), Tatum (the rebel), and Naomi (the freshman nobody). But what the description doesn’t include is that there’s a fifth protagonist involved in our story: Andrew, the former best friend of the lax bro. Jennifer and Andrew discover the body of the lax bro (Troy) and that’s where our story truly begins.

From there, we jump into right after New Years, learning quickly that Andrew now has reasons to hate Troy, who has ‘ruined his life’. In the aftermath, Andrew gathers Tatum, Sassi, and Naomi, (all of whom hate Troy for one reason or another) and form a group determined to take Troy down and metaphorically “kill” the lax bro.

The story is told in alternating chapters between Andrew and his group over the course of a semester, while inter-cut with chapters from Jennifer’s POV of the present, as they try to determine what happened and who did it.

Kill The Lax Bro is a love letter to the 90s, first and foremost. With the chapter titles all various songs from the decade, and the references to puffy pens, Lisa Frank, and dial up internet…it’s an homage to the era. So as a 90s kid, I personally loved seeing the references and feeling nostalgic. I have to say that it really ticked a lot of boxes for me personally. I finished it within 8 hours, I couldn’t stop reading.

I really enjoy these mysteries that include interspersed bits of the present as the story unravels the past; it reminds the reader that there is still something at stake, that this all leads up to a murder. I really loved the characters, especially the girls, and they all felt fairly fleshed out. We got to see development and growth from them as we follow them over a six month period. Troy was perfectly charming and awful, making it obvious how he could be so loved but also have a list of people who would hate him.