2.5 stars – I really wanted to like this more.

I was hopeful for more based on the synopsis; this had the potential to be a gripping, twisty thriller with a unique game style premise in Circus, but unfortunately it just didn’t deliver for me. The game itself sounded intriguing, but the story lacked the excitement and tension I was expecting. I kept waiting for something big to happen... and it never really did.

The pacing felt flat, and while there were a couple of twists toward the end that gave the story some movement, it wasn’t enough to redeem the slow build up. I also struggled to connect with the characters. They felt underdeveloped, and I found their personalities and motivations hard to believe, especially considering their prestigious Harvard backgrounds and long standing friendships. That emotional core never truly landed, which made the stakes feel pretty low.

The ending left me unsatisfied as well. I was hoping for something more dramatic or meaningful, and instead it just kind of fizzled out. Overall, I had high hopes for this one, but it ended up being a disappointing read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alissa Lee, and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.