Vibes: If Hunger Games met Get Out with a sprinkling of The Bachelor and an “eat the rich!” undertone.

You know what? This is the first spin on a Hunger Games-like plot I’ve read in a while that actually felt original. And it was delectable! 

Adina Walker is a young Black teen who’s just lost her opportunity to join the glittering, Ivy League world. After one slip up at her prestigious Edgewater Academy (a school for the rich and mostly white upper class of New England), those shiny acceptance letters are withdrawn. This scholarship student’s only chance to regain the future she’s sacrificed everything for is The Finish, a high-stakes contest sponsored by Edgewater’s founding family. Twelve young, ambitious women with exceptional promise are selected to compete in three mysterious events: the Ride, the Raid, and the Royale. The winner will be granted entry into the fold of the Remington family, whose wealth and power can open any door.

Oh, and did they mention? This is a life or death competition. Obviously.

This book has some of the best depictions of performative allyship and the insidious nature of white supremacy I’ve read in a YA book! The biting commentary on class, race, privilege, and misogyny added depth to this twisty read, and I loved how it was incorporated so naturally. I also really enjoyed that while there are some romantic tensions, Adina is wholly her own and this never overtakes her story. 

Full of rich people drama, mean girls, and an action-packed competition, this was as gripping as it was fun! I listened to it on audio, and Ariel Blake does a fantastic job narrating. Highly recommend experiencing it in this format if you’re on the fence!