Release: February 16th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Source: Netgalley
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
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“An exciting, innovative debut from a fresh new voice.” ––Taylor Jenkins Reid
A keenly perceptive coming-of-age novel, ‘ALL GIRLS’ captures one year at a prestigious New England prep school, as nine young women navigate their ambitions, friendships, and fears against the backdrop of a scandal the administration wants silenced.
But as the months unfold, and the school’s efforts to control the ensuing crisis fall short, these extraordinary girls are forced to discover their voices, and their power. A tender and unflinching portrait of modern adolescence told through the shifting perspectives of an unforgettable cast of female students, ‘ALL GIRLS’ explores what it means to grow up in a place that promises you the world – when the world still isn’t yours for the taking.
You grow to love a place… and then you grow up.
About the Author:
Emily Layden is a writer and former high school English teacher from upstate New York. A graduate of Stanford University, her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Marie Claire, The Billfold, and Runner’s World. All Girls is her first novel.
Find her at emilylayden.com or on Instagram
All Girls A Novel Review:
“All Girls” is a captivating story that dwells into the students’ lives and drama in an elite prep school, and I liked it.
I thought the author did a lovely job for a debut novel. At times, I felt like I was reading a book of short stories because you can read each chapter as a stand-alone. Moreover, I enjoyed the level of details the author put into the storyline and the characters. Each character stands out from one another and experiences something different about their prep school life. Some of them come from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities, and I enjoyed reading their storylines. One of my favorite passages was when the characters talk about the sand mandala and its significance. There are some storylines that I felt were powerful. My favorite ones were the “Fall Fest” revolving around Chloe and “Field Trip” revolving around Sloane. Also, the author interestingly formats each chapter that ends with the end correspondence on a parallel storyline.
However, I initially picked up this book because it markets itself in the mystery genre. But, there is not much of a mystery element. The story begins in a pleasant suspenseful manner, but the storyline revolving around the rapist always takes a backseat and is resolved halfway. While I enjoyed all the girls’ storylines, the story felt it lacked a higher plot that connects all of them. I had hoped that storylines revolving around the character (from each chapter) would get together and culminate in a higher storyline towards the end.
Overall, I think “All Girls” would have been amazing if it had an overarching storyline with a better direction. Nevertheless, it is still entertaining at times and worth reading.
