🎓🎭Keep Your Friends Close 🎭🎓

• Cynthia Murphy 

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This is a prequel to Murphy’s Win Lose Kill Die, set in Morton Academy twenty years earlier. However, I remember almost no details from that, so you certainly don’t need to have read that one in order to enjoy this though!

Last year at Morton, Chloe was narrowly beaten to the prestigious spot of Head Girl by none other than her ex-best friend, Nikhita. To add insult to injury, Chloe’s boyfriend just dumped her and Nikhita has her sights set on him too. Ostracised by her usual friend group, Chloe gravitates towards her new roommates, who let her in on a secret. They show her their Book of Crime and Punishment – essentially, a Burn Book, where students can write perceived crimes against them and the punishment they would like to dole out. But when names on the list begin to turn up dead, the punishments exacted word-for-word, Chloe suspects something altogether more sinister than petty scribblings. 

Murphy’s books are always a great time. Yes, they’re a bit far-fetched, but I just enjoy the drama and the tension too much to complain overly. The ending was totally shocking and very abrupt which is, again, something I’ve learnt to expect from Murphy. 

I love all the 90s pop culture references (I did appreciate the many Buffy the Vampire Slayer references). If you’re a fan of media like Mean Girls, Pretty Little Liars, One of Us is Lying… you’ll love the teen angst, friendships cliques, and backstabbing in this. It’s also perfect for your autumn TBR with an elite school, secret societies, and a very dark academia vibe.

Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for the advanced copy! Keep Your Friends Close is out now!