The St. Ambrose School for Girls

By: Jessica Ward

Narrated by: Gail Shalan

The newest student at the elite St. Ambrose School for Girls must navigate a sinister social clique and the treachery of her own mind in this “complex psychological thriller” (CrimeReads) that is perfect for fans of Megan Miranda and Layne Fargo.

When Sarah Taylor arrives at the exclusive St. Ambrose School, she’s carrying more baggage than just her suitcase. She knows she’s not like the other girls—if her shabby, all-black, non-designer clothes don’t give that away, the bottle of lithium hidden in her desk drawer sure does.

St. Ambrose’s queen bee, Greta Stanhope, picks Sarah as a target from day one, and she is relentless in making sure Sarah knows what the pecking order is. Thankfully, Sarah makes an ally out of her roommate Ellen “Strots” Strotsberry, a cigarette-smoking, devil-may-care athlete who takes no bullcrap. Also down the hall is Nick Hollis, the devastatingly handsome RA, and the object of more than one St. Ambrose student’s fantasies. Between Strots and Nick, Sarah hopes she can make it through the semester, dealing with not only her schoolwork and a recent bipolar diagnosis, but Greta’s increasingly malicious pranks.

Sarah is determined not to give Greta the satisfaction of breaking her. But when scandal unfolds, and someone ends up dead, her world threatens to unravel in ways she could never have imagined in this delicious, “riveting, twisty read” (Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author) that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

Critic reviews

"Ward tells the story of a vulnerable teen struggling to fit in at a tony boarding school with deep compassion and a lyrical ferocity. A riveting, twisty read." —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace

“Completely original, quietly chilling. Mean Girls meets We Were Liars in this compelling, cat-and-mouse thriller featuring enemies made, secrets kept, and tables turned.” —Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of One Step Too Far

Trigger Warning

Suicide, eating disorders, statutory r*pe, bipolar, bullying, murder, and a dash of homophobia. Reader be ware. Good grief this was a slow read. But read well.

How does a book so vividly put me back in highschool

And make my teen angst come back as real as it was more than 35 years ago?!
It started slower than most Wards books, but loving her other series made me stick with it. Then I could not stop listening.

Engaging characters!

I liked the whole book! This one will be reread at some point in the future

Love it

Absolutely love it ! She definitely nailed it with this I was glued to the pages until finished

Unable to put this book down!

While I have followed this author's works for many years, this is definitely a different genre than I've become accustomed to from her. I have no regrets in giving it a chance. I love that the featured heroine lives with a mental illness that most authors seem too scared to tackle. I also really like that the author handled such sensitive subjects with respect and dignity. Overall, it was a fantastic book, and I couldn't stop listening.