*Trigger Warning: depictions of abuse, self-harm, violence, parental neglect, panic attacks, drug use, mental illness, inappropriate student/teacher relationship, racism, and suicidal thoughts*

What would you do if someone found out your deepest darkest secret and is blackmailing you? Nancy Luo is shocked when her former best friend Jamie Ruan (aka the top ranked student at Sinclair Prep) is found dead. Nancy has always been second place to Jamie. They were more frenemies than actual friends. Jamie was the top rank student... terrorizing people, destroying reputations, and even taking things further to remain at the top. When her father was arrested for embezzlement all her friends left her but she still remained the top student. Nancy’s mother had worked as Jamie’s maid before Jamie’s father was arrested... but now that Jamie is gone soon Nancy finds that the top is open for grabs... too bad someone else has different plans. Nancy and her friends

Spoiler

( Alexander- a fellow scholarship student whose’s brother use to be a top student before he was expelled, Akil- a track star and top ranked student who is dependent on pills to maintain his top spot, and Krystal-a fashion icon at the school who was a delinquent in her past)

find an anonymous poster calling themselves “the Proctor” who is threatening to reveal all their dark secrets if they do not confess to what happened 2 years ago... to a student named Em who use to be their friend.

Spoiler

Nancy has been in a secret relationship with her teacher who is also Jamie's cousin

If her secret gets out... then its all over for her and her friends. Soon they find themselves racing against the clock to uncover who the Proctor is and trying to keep their reputations in tact.

This story was basically a recast asian-American version of Gossip Girl/Pretty Little Liars, down to the student-teacher relationship, the anonymous blackmailer posting their secrets, and friends to enemies relationships. If I’m being completely honest I was on the side of the Proctor and couldn’t really find myself liking Nancy or Jamie

Spoiler

I mean wouldn't you also want revenge against the people who LITERALLY TRIED TO KILL YOU??

As an Asian myself, I completely understood the pressure that comes from your family, from yourself, to be the best, to do whatever it takes to try and not disappoint anyone and just make your parents struggle worth it. I understood where Nancy was coming from, from the part of you wanting something that was just a little self destructive because being perfect isn’t that great. But on the other hand.... eh. Overall the story is only the first in a series and is left with an ending that definitely means theres a sequel as there is still so much more apparently that needs to be explored. If you enjoy stories like How We Fall Apart, Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, The Perfectionists, then this is right for you!

*Thanks Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*