Many thanks to John Murray Press for sending me a proof of All Girls by Emily Layden!
All Girls is out on the 18th of February.
If you want to read my review, scroll down ⬇️
SHORT SYNOPSIS:
An all-girls boarding school in a hilly corner of Connecticut, Atwater is a haven for progressive thinking and feminist intellectuals. The students are smart, driven and worldly; they are also teenagers, learning to find their way. But when they arrive on campus for the start of the Fall term, they're confronted with startling news: an Atwater alumna has made a troubling allegation of sexual misconduct against an unidentified teacher. As the weeks wear on and the administration's efforts to manage the ensuing crisis fall short, these extraordinary young women come to realise that the adults in their lives may not be the protectors they previously believed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Emily Layden is a graduate of Stanford University and has taught at several girls' schools in the United States. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Marie Claire, Billfold, and Runner's World. All Girls is her first novel.
MY REVIEW:
All Girls is a coming of age story that portrays the inner lives of girls attending a prestigious private school - Atwater. I thought this book was well-written and timely, however, I did find there were too many narrators which often confused me. Having said that, each of the narrators was very interesting and very different to the other. For this, I applaud Layden! It's not everyday you find a book with so many diverse characters.
There are three things you need to know if you wish to read All Girls:
It's in no way a thriller or a mystery book, although it is marketed as such.
It explores sensitive issues such as rape and sexual harassment, so BEVARE, as this is not for everyone.
It's a good book for anyone who wants to learn what a life in an all-girls school looks like. Read it or avoid it? Really depends - All Girls is a good book, BUT do not read it if you are sensitive to topics of rape or sexual abuse of any kind!
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