They Never Learn book review

THEY NEVER LEARN is a sexy, addicting and quickly paced psychological thriller that is probably my favorite book of the year.

Synopsis:

Scarlett Clark is an exceptional English professor. But she’s even better at getting away with murder.

Every year, she searches for the worst man at Gorman University and plots his well-deserved demise. Thanks to her meticulous planning, she’s avoided drawing attention to herself—but as she’s preparing for her biggest kill yet, the school starts probing into the growing body count on campus. Determined to keep her enemies close, Scarlett insinuates herself into the investigation and charms the woman in charge, Dr. Mina Pierce. Everything’s going according to her master plan…until she loses control with her latest victim, putting her secret life at risk of exposure.

Meanwhile, Gorman student Carly Schiller is just trying to survive her freshman year. Finally free of her emotionally abusive father, all Carly wants is to focus on her studies and fade into the background. Her new roommate has other ideas. Allison Hadley is cool and confident—everything Carly wishes she could be—and the two girls quickly form an intense friendship. So when Allison is sexually assaulted at a party, Carly becomes obsessed with making the attacker pay…and turning her fantasies about revenge into a reality.

Featuring Layne Fargo’s trademark “propulsive writing style” (Kirkus Reviews) and “sinister, of the moment” (Chicago Review of Books) suspense, They Never Learn is a feminist serial killer story perfect for fans of Killing Eve and Chelsea Cain.

My thoughts:

HELLO BEST BOOK OF 2020!

I know it’s early to call it, but DUUUUDE this book is AWESOME. And that cover?! One of my favorites!

A vigilante femme fatale hunting down men who prey on vulnerable young ladies at a college? I’M IN.

Scarlett- she’s a planner, a bitch, a psycho, a sadist and a total bibliophile. I LOVE HER. Like she would scare me, but dang respect yo!

Kinnear- freaking creep.

Allison- Regina George meets Sally Bowles.

The campus/city of Gorman reminds me so much of WT/Canyon-the university and town closest to me, so I could easily picture the modern buildings juxtaposed with the older ones.

Have I mentioned how much I really like the plot? I had a headache when I started so I only got like 50 pages in at first, but when I could read again I seriously could not put it down. I woke up NEEDING to know what would happen next and I haven’t felt that way since I read The Hunger Games.

Right off the bat, the book starts with the main conflict. The first chapter grabs you and doesn’t let go until the last page. It was interesting to read both stories and see how they intersected and aligned.

The resolution was perfect and almost too perfect at the same time.

Overall this was a roller coaster of emotions, one minute I hate someone, next I feel sorry for them, then I want to punch their teeth in then I want to hug them!

This one is sexy, fast paced and both infuriating and satisfying. Layne Fargo is an autobuy author for me now!

If you want an addictive read with a plot that immediately grabs your attention this one is it! If I had to nit-pick, I’d say that the love stories felt a bit forced.

Mash ups: Mean Girls, Gone Girl, Batman and ‘I Love College’ by Asher Roth.