A breathtaking contemporary YA thriller – serious questions and hot romance in an irresistible twisty mystery. Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying

Cheats. Liars. Fakes. Friends? A breathtaking contemporary YA thriller – serious questions and hot romance in an irresistible twisty mystery. Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, We Were Liars and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. Jo used to be the perfect high-school girl – class president, popular, bright and successful. But when nude photos of her were leaked to the entire school, her grades plummeted, her friends fell away and now she's a reckless, difficult social outcast. The girl who 'deserved' it. Then her former best friend Maddie disappears. Everyone else assumes Maddie has just run away but that doesn’t add up to Jo. To discover the truth, Jo needs to get back in with the group of classmates who have shut her out: the boys who betrayed her and the clique of girls who whisper behind her back. And she has to make it look as if she wants to be there. The only way back in is through Hudson. An old fling with his own reasons for finding Maddie, he persuades Jo to fake date him. And it works. But as the truth about Maddie’s disappearance comes to light, so do long-hidden secrets from Jo’s past. Who is Jo really trying to find—Maddie, or the girl she herself used to be? 'Both a twisty mystery and a compelling, heartbreaking exploration of what it's like to be a teen girl. I absolutely loved this.' Ravena Guron, author of This Book Kills 'Edgy and authentic, this [is a] stunning punch of a novel' Publishers Weekly 'Compulsively readable, this is a must-read for lovers of YA mysteries' Booklist

"Twisty, contemporary thriller" - Bookseller

"Edgy and authentic, this stunning gut-punch of a novel unravels the complexities of teen girlhood, toxic friendships, and trauma ... This is both a timely, suspense-building thriller and a powerful story of healing." - Publishers Weekly

"The gradual reveal of Jo’s heartbreaking social history involving betrayal, bullying, and multiple instances of sexual harassment and assault, provide a strong emotional grounding. . . Jo is an authentic, multidimensional character. . . A thoughtful and thought-provoking feminist tale woven into an expansive mystery" - Kirkus

"A complex personal narrative lies its heart, bringing surprising depth ... the layered mystery will likely keep readers guessing through a well-paced series of reveals. Beyond the core mystery, there’s nuanced portrayals of female friendships, a love interest as supportive as he is gorgeous, a suitably villainous “nice guy,” and plenty of sex positivity and discussions about consent." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Outstanding takes on themes of consent, power and the devastating end to friendships. It hits all the right notes to make a gripping and impactful book ... Effective and compulsively readable, this is a must-read for lovers of YA mysteries" - Booklist