First published 2020
Saint Ambrose Prep has just admitted female students for the first time in its history. The Massachusetts boarding school caters to wealthy families who expect their children to become future leaders. After the annual Halloween celebration, a female student lies unconscious in a hospital bed, her blood dangerously saturated with alcohol. The incident sends shockwaves through the privileged community. A small group of students witnessed what really happened that night, but they refuse to break their pact of silence. As investigators probe deeper, affluent parents scramble to hire legal representation while less connected families can only watch the proceedings unfold. The scandal threatens marriages, academic careers, and family reputations. Students face impossible choices between loyalty and honesty. The crisis forces everyone at Saint Ambrose to confront fundamental questions about right and wrong that will shape their character forever.
Genres: fiction, mystery, school-stories, contemporary, family-drama, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: loyalty-vs-honesty, privilege, social-commentary
Setting: Massachusetts, Saint Ambrose Prep
Period: Contemporary
275 pages · Hardcover · Delacorte Press
Content warnings: alcohol-abuse