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The Wildelings
Jessica and Linda have been best friends since the first day of school. Both are from broken, but different, homes, and willful Jessica has always ensured their survival. Now eighteen, the two have come to Wilde—an elite university in the heart of Dublin, far away from their troubled childhoods. Jessica thrives immediately and, with the faithful Linda by her side, finds herself at the heart of a new friend circle.
Then Mark enters the picture. A philosophy student a few years older than them, he has strange and compelling ideas about self-discovery. When Linda and Mark start dating, Jessica is disturbed by the change in her friend—and how quickly she seems to have fallen under the charismatic man’s control.
But Mark’s influence is not limited to Linda. Soon Jessica's group of friends are keeping secrets for him, and it will culminate in ways that change their lives forever.
Then Mark enters the picture. A philosophy student a few years older than them, he has strange and compelling ideas about self-discovery. When Linda and Mark start dating, Jessica is disturbed by the change in her friend—and how quickly she seems to have fallen under the charismatic man’s control.
But Mark’s influence is not limited to Linda. Soon Jessica's group of friends are keeping secrets for him, and it will culminate in ways that change their lives forever.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 2025
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10625 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Harding
10 books179 followersLisa Harding is an Irish writer, actress, and playwright whose work spans on fictional novels, play, anthologies and journals. She is considered an important voice in contemporary Irish literature, with her works contributing to discussions around social issues. Her novels engage readers with compelling stories while prompting reflection on the lives of those on the margins of society.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
September 6, 2024
This is my second encounter with Lisa Harding's work, and after reading "Cloud Girls," I'm convinced she masterfully crafts gut-punching, emotionally raw stories with imperfect yet realistic heroines.
"Wildlings" is a powerful exploration of the turbulent friendship between two girls who, shaped by the bitterness of betrayal and abandonment from those they trusted most, cling to each other in their fragile bond. Jessica, driven by attention-seeking and self-absorption, contrasts sharply with Linda, who quietly yearns for love, acceptance, and a place in the world—often surrendering her own identity to bask in Jessica’s spotlight, even sharing Jessica’s stepmother's affection.
Together, they endure the cruelty of their small town until they escape to Dublin’s Wilde College, where they pursue the arts and freedom from their pasts. But as college life unfolds, their relationship shifts: Linda finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Mark, while Jessica falls into a relationship with Jacques, as their mutual friend Jonathan begins distancing himself from Linda. Mark manipulates them all, preying on their insecurities like a puppet master, pushing them deeper into a haze of drugs, alcohol, and self-destruction until a life-altering event occurs.
The story alternates between timelines: in the present, a forty-something Jessica, abandoned by her husband and unsuccessful in her entertainment career, seeks therapy to confront the guilt and unresolved emotions tied to her friendship with Linda, which has haunted her for nearly three decades. Through flashbacks, we uncover the truth of what happened during their time at Wilde College and the devastating secret Jessica has carried with her ever since. Is she a victim, or was she complicit? Can she finally face her past and repair the damage she's done?
Overall, this is a well-written, layered exploration of female friendships, dysfunctional families, and psychological abuse, with richly developed female characters. While the male characters—particularly Jonathan and Jacques—lack the same depth, the compelling narrative, balanced pacing, and tragic yet captivating ending kept me engaged, leading me to round up my rating to 4 stars for its intricate portrayal of female relationships and self-discovery.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for sharing this fascinating women’s fiction digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
"Wildlings" is a powerful exploration of the turbulent friendship between two girls who, shaped by the bitterness of betrayal and abandonment from those they trusted most, cling to each other in their fragile bond. Jessica, driven by attention-seeking and self-absorption, contrasts sharply with Linda, who quietly yearns for love, acceptance, and a place in the world—often surrendering her own identity to bask in Jessica’s spotlight, even sharing Jessica’s stepmother's affection.
Together, they endure the cruelty of their small town until they escape to Dublin’s Wilde College, where they pursue the arts and freedom from their pasts. But as college life unfolds, their relationship shifts: Linda finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Mark, while Jessica falls into a relationship with Jacques, as their mutual friend Jonathan begins distancing himself from Linda. Mark manipulates them all, preying on their insecurities like a puppet master, pushing them deeper into a haze of drugs, alcohol, and self-destruction until a life-altering event occurs.
The story alternates between timelines: in the present, a forty-something Jessica, abandoned by her husband and unsuccessful in her entertainment career, seeks therapy to confront the guilt and unresolved emotions tied to her friendship with Linda, which has haunted her for nearly three decades. Through flashbacks, we uncover the truth of what happened during their time at Wilde College and the devastating secret Jessica has carried with her ever since. Is she a victim, or was she complicit? Can she finally face her past and repair the damage she's done?
Overall, this is a well-written, layered exploration of female friendships, dysfunctional families, and psychological abuse, with richly developed female characters. While the male characters—particularly Jonathan and Jacques—lack the same depth, the compelling narrative, balanced pacing, and tragic yet captivating ending kept me engaged, leading me to round up my rating to 4 stars for its intricate portrayal of female relationships and self-discovery.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperVia for sharing this fascinating women’s fiction digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
April 22, 2025
I could see how this might be classified as dark academia but to me it read more like a variation on a coming-of-age story centred on the dangerously unbalanced friendship between two women, originally childhood friends. In a series of therapy sessions, actress Jessica looks back at an experience that has shaped her life. She starts in the 1970s in suburban Dublin where she became fast friends with classmate Linda, then moves forward to their time together as students at the exclusive Wilde College in the early 1990s. Here Linda gradually shakes off her assigned role as Jessica's follower becoming a leading light in her own right. A transformation the possessive, insecure Jessica finds hard to handle. Their friendship is then threatened further by Linda’s relationship with Mark, a narcissistic, manipulative philosophy student and amateur theatre director. The three become part of a group Jessica dubs the Unholy Quintet, completed by friend Jonathan and Jessica’s boyfriend Jacques. The focus is on the complex interactions between group members and an increasingly toxic dynamic that leads to tragedy.
Irish author Lisa Harding is clearly building here on her background as actress and playwright, the novel’s packed with allusions to film, theatre and literature. Harding’s good on historical detail and scene setting, as well as the casual misogyny and racism pervading 90s Dublin, but her intricate plot was far too slow paced for my taste. A great deal of space is filled with the minutiae and psychology of the Unholy Quintet’s everyday dealings, and with Jessica’s growing awareness of her self-centredness and desire to dominate those around her. Overall, it’s a more than decent piece but it just didn’t quite work for me, partly because I never really felt invested enough in the characters.
Thanks to Netgalley UK and publisher Bloomsbury for an ARC
Rating: 2.5
Irish author Lisa Harding is clearly building here on her background as actress and playwright, the novel’s packed with allusions to film, theatre and literature. Harding’s good on historical detail and scene setting, as well as the casual misogyny and racism pervading 90s Dublin, but her intricate plot was far too slow paced for my taste. A great deal of space is filled with the minutiae and psychology of the Unholy Quintet’s everyday dealings, and with Jessica’s growing awareness of her self-centredness and desire to dominate those around her. Overall, it’s a more than decent piece but it just didn’t quite work for me, partly because I never really felt invested enough in the characters.
Thanks to Netgalley UK and publisher Bloomsbury for an ARC
Rating: 2.5
September 2, 2025
ARC for review. To be published April 15, 2025.
3.5 stars rounded up, but really 3.5 stars. I end up giving a lot of books 4 stars, but there’s a pretty wide space between my 3.5 star books and my just-missed-out-on-five-star books (because something has to really wow me to get five stars.) Ah, the vagaries of the GR system, long may she wave. I wish that my reviews would quit disappearing though.
But I digress.
Back in the late 1980s, early 1990s (I may be making those dates up, but they are close) in Dublin Jessica and Linda were best friends and had been since the first day of school.
OK, wait. I know we are talking Dublin, but was there ever a time when the names “Jessica” and “Linda” were popular at the same time?
Anyway, both girls were from broken homes and Jessica, the wilder, more brazen one had always seen to their survival. She assumed it would always be that way.
Now the girls are 18 and are at Wilde, an elite University in Dublin. Jessica is the queen of the first year girls and falls in love quickly. Then she and Linda meet Mark, a few years older, who is very charismatic and has some odd ideas. And it seems like his influence extends to all their other friends too, with some not so great results for most of them.
Years later Jessica still has guilt about what happened at Wilde and Mark reappears, wanting to tell his story.
Oh, I love a good campus intrigue novel with loads of angst and this one delivers. Well drawn characters. Really enjoyed this. The more I think about it, the more I think this book deserves those 4 stars, for its great portrayal of college, relationships, real life vampires and the awful things we can do to each other.
3.5 stars rounded up, but really 3.5 stars. I end up giving a lot of books 4 stars, but there’s a pretty wide space between my 3.5 star books and my just-missed-out-on-five-star books (because something has to really wow me to get five stars.) Ah, the vagaries of the GR system, long may she wave. I wish that my reviews would quit disappearing though.
But I digress.
Back in the late 1980s, early 1990s (I may be making those dates up, but they are close) in Dublin Jessica and Linda were best friends and had been since the first day of school.
OK, wait. I know we are talking Dublin, but was there ever a time when the names “Jessica” and “Linda” were popular at the same time?
Anyway, both girls were from broken homes and Jessica, the wilder, more brazen one had always seen to their survival. She assumed it would always be that way.
Now the girls are 18 and are at Wilde, an elite University in Dublin. Jessica is the queen of the first year girls and falls in love quickly. Then she and Linda meet Mark, a few years older, who is very charismatic and has some odd ideas. And it seems like his influence extends to all their other friends too, with some not so great results for most of them.
Years later Jessica still has guilt about what happened at Wilde and Mark reappears, wanting to tell his story.
Oh, I love a good campus intrigue novel with loads of angst and this one delivers. Well drawn characters. Really enjoyed this. The more I think about it, the more I think this book deserves those 4 stars, for its great portrayal of college, relationships, real life vampires and the awful things we can do to each other.
April 11, 2025
It's been Jessica and Linda against the world since the first day of school—Jessica leading the way, and Linda pulled in her wake. Jessica is a big fish in a small pond, and that's just the way she likes it. At university, though, things change: Jessica's big-fish status is challenged. She has the upper hand sometimes—but not always. Linda is pulling away from Jessica, becoming less reliant on her and less willing to put up with her. But it's Linda's boyfriend Mark, and the play he has cast Jessica in, that will turn them all upside-down.
I read this largely based on the strength of Harding's Cloud Girls, which I read a couple of years ago. Harding doesn't shy away from difficult topics—Cloud Girls explores sex trafficking and child abuse, and The Wildelings gets into manipulation and toxic relationships.
What works really well for me: Jessica is not a particularly sympathetic character. One of the things she struggles so much with throughout the book is that the people around her do not react to her low-key bullying in the way that she expects them to; Wilde is a bigger pond than she's used to, and although she does fine, she doesn't soar in the way she would have expected.
He looked [...] way cooler than when we had first met. It stung that I was not the reason for this transformation. (loc. 3472*)
This does not make Jessica likeable, but it does make her interesting, and that's a huge plus point for me. There are all these human flaws in Jessica that she can see but not quite stop herself from charging forward with anyway—her jealousy, her selfishness, her unkindness. She's gotten away with it because she's attractive and confident, I suppose, and because nobody has called her out on it...until now. And gosh, she does not understand how poorly equipped she is to be called on it.
This takes place mostly in the 90s, a time Jessica describes as back then, it was thrilling to be a number on a list, ranked by your body parts (loc. 473). There's a lot in her story that she doesn't understand until later (i.e., not until the parts of the story that take place much later), and parts of the book make for a masterful take on self-blame and shame. Because: Jessica does have some things coming—again, she's a complex character—but not the things that happen to her.
What doesn't work for me as well: although the majority of the book takes place in the 90s, it's structured around flashbacks (or the things Jessica is writing) when she is much older and in therapy. The processing-it-all-through-conversations-with-a-therapist trope (can I call this a trope?) has never worked well for me. There's an extent to which it does make a lot of sense here—the therapist is able to offer Jessica compassion when she has none for herself, and to reassign some guilt and blame after scenes in which Jessica does not come off well. But as engaging (and sometimes hard to read) as I found the Wilde sections to be, I was thrown out of that every time we came back to the present (or present-ish) day.
So something of a mixed bag for me, but more good than bad. Save this one when you're in the mood for something pretty intense. I'm looking forward to whatever Harding comes up with next.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I read this largely based on the strength of Harding's Cloud Girls, which I read a couple of years ago. Harding doesn't shy away from difficult topics—Cloud Girls explores sex trafficking and child abuse, and The Wildelings gets into manipulation and toxic relationships.
What works really well for me: Jessica is not a particularly sympathetic character. One of the things she struggles so much with throughout the book is that the people around her do not react to her low-key bullying in the way that she expects them to; Wilde is a bigger pond than she's used to, and although she does fine, she doesn't soar in the way she would have expected.
He looked [...] way cooler than when we had first met. It stung that I was not the reason for this transformation. (loc. 3472*)
This does not make Jessica likeable, but it does make her interesting, and that's a huge plus point for me. There are all these human flaws in Jessica that she can see but not quite stop herself from charging forward with anyway—her jealousy, her selfishness, her unkindness. She's gotten away with it because she's attractive and confident, I suppose, and because nobody has called her out on it...until now. And gosh, she does not understand how poorly equipped she is to be called on it.
This takes place mostly in the 90s, a time Jessica describes as back then, it was thrilling to be a number on a list, ranked by your body parts (loc. 473). There's a lot in her story that she doesn't understand until later (i.e., not until the parts of the story that take place much later), and parts of the book make for a masterful take on self-blame and shame. Because: Jessica does have some things coming—again, she's a complex character—but not the things that happen to her.
What doesn't work for me as well: although the majority of the book takes place in the 90s, it's structured around flashbacks (or the things Jessica is writing) when she is much older and in therapy. The processing-it-all-through-conversations-with-a-therapist trope (can I call this a trope?) has never worked well for me. There's an extent to which it does make a lot of sense here—the therapist is able to offer Jessica compassion when she has none for herself, and to reassign some guilt and blame after scenes in which Jessica does not come off well. But as engaging (and sometimes hard to read) as I found the Wilde sections to be, I was thrown out of that every time we came back to the present (or present-ish) day.
So something of a mixed bag for me, but more good than bad. Save this one when you're in the mood for something pretty intense. I'm looking forward to whatever Harding comes up with next.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
June 27, 2025
3.25 Stars ⭐️
Reading this really is an exploration of a friendship between Jessica and Linda. They are school chums, but Jess is used to always having the dominant say in that relationship. She can be a passive bully and plays on Linda’s insecurities and need for family. This relationship works as long as it is not challenged. Yet, when both grow to women and go to College, the dynamic starts to change. Linda begins to assert herself more and branches out some more. Jess wants to have top billing again and have Linda’s adoration. Linda has found a boyfriend, Marc and it remains to be seen his influence on her. The book is moving a bit slow. It also happens as Jess is seeing a therapist and going back to this time in the early 90’s, so that dynamic is a little strange.
So, this was a compelling read, but of all Lisa Hardings books, this is my least favorite. I do like the writing and was ok that the MC, Jess really had some serious flaws. It was just that I wasn’t as pulled to either woman as I usually am. The character development was lacking somewhat. I did enjoy reading this, so wanted a little more from this Story. It didn’t quite come together as I wish it did. This is told as Jess is an adult in her 40’s, speaking to her therapist. I felt that distance from the characters. It felt as if an older, more mature person was telling the story and took away from that usual feeling I get from Lisa Harding where I really feel attached to the young women of 18 and the invincible of youth. There was a scene near the end, that for a while captured that and was exciting and fast paced. I wanted more like this. This lost that somewhat and just had a hard time connecting as strongly as I would have liked. Still, those are some flaws, but I still found much to like with this book. Will, read anything by Lisa Harding again.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews for books I read.
Reading this really is an exploration of a friendship between Jessica and Linda. They are school chums, but Jess is used to always having the dominant say in that relationship. She can be a passive bully and plays on Linda’s insecurities and need for family. This relationship works as long as it is not challenged. Yet, when both grow to women and go to College, the dynamic starts to change. Linda begins to assert herself more and branches out some more. Jess wants to have top billing again and have Linda’s adoration. Linda has found a boyfriend, Marc and it remains to be seen his influence on her. The book is moving a bit slow. It also happens as Jess is seeing a therapist and going back to this time in the early 90’s, so that dynamic is a little strange.
So, this was a compelling read, but of all Lisa Hardings books, this is my least favorite. I do like the writing and was ok that the MC, Jess really had some serious flaws. It was just that I wasn’t as pulled to either woman as I usually am. The character development was lacking somewhat. I did enjoy reading this, so wanted a little more from this Story. It didn’t quite come together as I wish it did. This is told as Jess is an adult in her 40’s, speaking to her therapist. I felt that distance from the characters. It felt as if an older, more mature person was telling the story and took away from that usual feeling I get from Lisa Harding where I really feel attached to the young women of 18 and the invincible of youth. There was a scene near the end, that for a while captured that and was exciting and fast paced. I wanted more like this. This lost that somewhat and just had a hard time connecting as strongly as I would have liked. Still, those are some flaws, but I still found much to like with this book. Will, read anything by Lisa Harding again.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVia for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews for books I read.
May 13, 2025
a dark academia book set in nineties dublin? i'm in, obviously. this was a whirlwind of a book, clustered and dreamlike, with an unreliable narrator. a book about the messiness of female friendship, complex characters and their flaws alike, and jealousy in its core. you find yourself questioning what's real, what's true, and what is spinning out of control in our main character's point of view. it wrapped me up and didn't let go. thoroughly enjoyed.
thank you harpercollins for the arc and complimentary finished copy!
thank you harpercollins for the arc and complimentary finished copy!
April 22, 2025
Written as a book within a book as the protagonist, Jessica, relates her history to therapist, Dr Collins, The Wildelings follows Jessica and her best friend, Linda, from childhood through to the horrifying conclusion at college.
Jessica is the consummate actress, always on stage, always looking to see her effect on those around her. From the beginning Jessica is always number one in her own life and demands that she comes first in everyone else's. Her narcissistic behaviour colours her relationships with step-mother Sue, who stuck around when her father left and her best friend, Linda, who is a child who craves attention and will accept any even if its toxic.
Jessica's dominion over Linda continues up to college when Linda meets the charismatic Mark Whitman. He tears their relationship apart and Jessica spends her time trying desperately to get Linda's undivided attention any way she can. But Mark's methods of control and coercion are dangerous and as time goes on the chance of tragedy becomes all too real.
The Wildelings is quite a difficult novel to read simply because of the characters. Jessica sees herself as a star with Linda as her eternal cheerleader. She sees her friend as vulnerable and needy without recognising the same traits in herself. It is certainly difficult to read about the bullying behaviour but you quickly realise that Jessica is just as damaged as Linda. Mark is another matter because you've no clue whether anything he says us true and he uses people for his own amusement.
I found myself having to put the book down several times because of the casual cruelty. That said, it is a very powerful book and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a strong but controversial story with powerful characters. I certainly won't forget Jessica, Linda or Sue any time soon.
I haven't read any previous novels by Lisa Harding but after Wildelings I would definitely read others. She's a very talented novelist who doesn't shy away from tough subjects.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
Jessica is the consummate actress, always on stage, always looking to see her effect on those around her. From the beginning Jessica is always number one in her own life and demands that she comes first in everyone else's. Her narcissistic behaviour colours her relationships with step-mother Sue, who stuck around when her father left and her best friend, Linda, who is a child who craves attention and will accept any even if its toxic.
Jessica's dominion over Linda continues up to college when Linda meets the charismatic Mark Whitman. He tears their relationship apart and Jessica spends her time trying desperately to get Linda's undivided attention any way she can. But Mark's methods of control and coercion are dangerous and as time goes on the chance of tragedy becomes all too real.
The Wildelings is quite a difficult novel to read simply because of the characters. Jessica sees herself as a star with Linda as her eternal cheerleader. She sees her friend as vulnerable and needy without recognising the same traits in herself. It is certainly difficult to read about the bullying behaviour but you quickly realise that Jessica is just as damaged as Linda. Mark is another matter because you've no clue whether anything he says us true and he uses people for his own amusement.
I found myself having to put the book down several times because of the casual cruelty. That said, it is a very powerful book and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a strong but controversial story with powerful characters. I certainly won't forget Jessica, Linda or Sue any time soon.
I haven't read any previous novels by Lisa Harding but after Wildelings I would definitely read others. She's a very talented novelist who doesn't shy away from tough subjects.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the advance review copy. Most appreciated.
April 23, 2025
The Wildeling felt like a flashback to high school the emotional chaos, the intense friendships, the feeling that everything is life or death. Jessica isn’t a character you can easily sympathize with, and I think that’s intentional. She’s messy, reactive, and often hard to root for. But I completely understood why she acts the way she does. Her behavior stems from deep emotional wounds, especially the kind that come from growing up with parental neglect. We’ve all known someone like her, or maybe even been that person, who clings to friendships with an intensity that borders on unhealthy because it’s the only place they’ve ever felt secure. When those relationships start to shift or fall apart, it feels catastrophic. Jessica might not be likable, but she’s painfully real.
March 14, 2025
I think this is a book that could have picked up its pace sooner: the first half feels slow and over-familiar with Jessica and Linda meeting at school, one bold and the other shy. Up until about 50% I was still toying with not finishing it, then when the play kicks in, I was gripped.
Mark is a dark figure of the puppeteer, not quite coercive, not quite grooming as the book asserts, but definitely manipulative, tempting the young women with drugs and a kind of wayward sexuality.
The ending is perhaps neater than I'd prefer but there is some power in this story, even though it's more drawn out and unfocused than I'd have liked.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley
Mark is a dark figure of the puppeteer, not quite coercive, not quite grooming as the book asserts, but definitely manipulative, tempting the young women with drugs and a kind of wayward sexuality.
The ending is perhaps neater than I'd prefer but there is some power in this story, even though it's more drawn out and unfocused than I'd have liked.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via Netgalley
May 17, 2025
Easy to read novel about the power dynamics and psychological games of a bunch of self-absorbed students with lots of hormones flying around.
It's quite good fun and you can easily listen to it while doing other things.
3,5
It's quite good fun and you can easily listen to it while doing other things.
3,5
May 2, 2025
I knew to expect a dark, dark tale going into The Wildelings, having read Bright Burning Things, a compelling, twisted tale of addiction and motherhood. The Wildelings has that same wicked, wild quality to it, where anyone could say just about anything at any moment.
The Wildelings is set mostly in the 1990s in Trinity, or “Wilde” as it’s called in the book, though in every conceivable way it’s Trinity College Dublin, from the Pav, to the Arts Block, the Lecky, schols and the campanile. I did wonder why Harding chose to rename it Wilde! It makes for a good title if nothing else.
Jessica and Linda are best friends from a young age, bound together by tragedy and abandonment in early childhood. Jessica sees herself as Linda’s saviour, and Linda is her shadow, always doing Jessica’s bidding but never in the spotlight. When they start their studies at Wilde and shy Linda meets outgoing, charismatic and cunning 4th Year Mark Whitman, trouble is on the horizon.
Mark is manipulative and controlling, and is not afraid to exploit any weakness he can find for his own personal gain. When he casts Jessica as the star in his remake of The Merchant of Venice, everything Jessica knows to be true begins to crumble with devastating consequences.
There is barely a likeable character among the bunch (Jessica’s boyfriend Jacques coming closest to being nice) but the darkness in the book does feel deliciously consumable for the most part. Jessica is much more complex and nuanced than the mostly milquetoast protagonists of Irish Trinity novels of late.
I flew through the novel and enjoyed it for what it is. Don’t expect to root for anyone, but fans of dark academia will enjoy it I think. I can see it being turned into a stage production, perhaps even by Lisa Harding herself who is a playwright as well as a novelist. 4/5 ⭐️
* Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for the arc via Netgalley and to Cormac Kinsella (publicist) for the proof copy. The Wildelings was published 24 April 2025.
The Wildelings is set mostly in the 1990s in Trinity, or “Wilde” as it’s called in the book, though in every conceivable way it’s Trinity College Dublin, from the Pav, to the Arts Block, the Lecky, schols and the campanile. I did wonder why Harding chose to rename it Wilde! It makes for a good title if nothing else.
Jessica and Linda are best friends from a young age, bound together by tragedy and abandonment in early childhood. Jessica sees herself as Linda’s saviour, and Linda is her shadow, always doing Jessica’s bidding but never in the spotlight. When they start their studies at Wilde and shy Linda meets outgoing, charismatic and cunning 4th Year Mark Whitman, trouble is on the horizon.
Mark is manipulative and controlling, and is not afraid to exploit any weakness he can find for his own personal gain. When he casts Jessica as the star in his remake of The Merchant of Venice, everything Jessica knows to be true begins to crumble with devastating consequences.
There is barely a likeable character among the bunch (Jessica’s boyfriend Jacques coming closest to being nice) but the darkness in the book does feel deliciously consumable for the most part. Jessica is much more complex and nuanced than the mostly milquetoast protagonists of Irish Trinity novels of late.
I flew through the novel and enjoyed it for what it is. Don’t expect to root for anyone, but fans of dark academia will enjoy it I think. I can see it being turned into a stage production, perhaps even by Lisa Harding herself who is a playwright as well as a novelist. 4/5 ⭐️
* Many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing for the arc via Netgalley and to Cormac Kinsella (publicist) for the proof copy. The Wildelings was published 24 April 2025.
June 5, 2025
Just what the world needs: More misery porn directed at women. Sigh.
In theory the premise for this one is fine, though I’d urge you not to be fooled by publisher’s summary talk of an “elite university,” because there’s nothing academic about this and there is very little campus atmosphere.
It’s largely a study of unlikable, miserable people treating each other badly, and you get to decide who to sympathize with from a pool of unsympathetic people. Lucky you!
The men in this book are almost all concerningly awful. Mark is of course the villain, a textbook narcissist and manipulator, but the protagonist’s boyfriend is also a grade-A a*shole, one of those contrarian types who always seems to find a way to side with anyone other than his female partner.
Jess herself isn’t particularly likable (even if it’s easy to side with her over the toxic male characters), but she loses me a lot in her seeming quest to please and be admired by a man who mistreats and manipulates her and is essentially an abusive partner to her best friend.
The relationship between the girls doesn’t work well either. They seem like two people who don’t really like each other all that much but can’t seem to let go. An interesting friendship dynamic to explore in theory, but here it just feels pointless and makes them both come off like people you’d want to run screaming from if you met them.
In all, this is just an unpleasant read about unpleasant people, and it fails to make the salient points about relationships that were necessary to get readers on board.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
In theory the premise for this one is fine, though I’d urge you not to be fooled by publisher’s summary talk of an “elite university,” because there’s nothing academic about this and there is very little campus atmosphere.
It’s largely a study of unlikable, miserable people treating each other badly, and you get to decide who to sympathize with from a pool of unsympathetic people. Lucky you!
The men in this book are almost all concerningly awful. Mark is of course the villain, a textbook narcissist and manipulator, but the protagonist’s boyfriend is also a grade-A a*shole, one of those contrarian types who always seems to find a way to side with anyone other than his female partner.
Jess herself isn’t particularly likable (even if it’s easy to side with her over the toxic male characters), but she loses me a lot in her seeming quest to please and be admired by a man who mistreats and manipulates her and is essentially an abusive partner to her best friend.
The relationship between the girls doesn’t work well either. They seem like two people who don’t really like each other all that much but can’t seem to let go. An interesting friendship dynamic to explore in theory, but here it just feels pointless and makes them both come off like people you’d want to run screaming from if you met them.
In all, this is just an unpleasant read about unpleasant people, and it fails to make the salient points about relationships that were necessary to get readers on board.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
May 30, 2025
Unfortunately I found The Wildelings pretentious (well, *too* pretentious; I love pretentiousness in the right amount) and dull, the therapy framework absolutely did not work for me, and while Jessica could have been an intriguing protagonist, I simply didn't care about anyone else or what happened in their lives. The worst flaw of the book is that it has absolutely zero subtext. Everything is put on the surface, presented at every angle, and repeated several times, demanding very little of the reader and never once requiring them to make a connection or have a thought of their own. Why bother, when all the analysis is done on the page already? So, some interesting character work, I guess - though Mark is simply too much, too obvious, too fast, to be believed as a charismatic master manipulator - but it's laid out so blatantly that it makes for easy, but boring and ultimately somewhat forgettable, reading.
Also, frankly, I wouldn't really call this dark academia simply because it involves toxic relationships in a university setting - the academia element isn't particularly relevant. just as a heads up for anyone looking for that.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Also, frankly, I wouldn't really call this dark academia simply because it involves toxic relationships in a university setting - the academia element isn't particularly relevant. just as a heads up for anyone looking for that.
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
I'll admit, I had a hard time getting through this book. Which might entirely be because it is not my usual genre. I'm typically more a romance person than a general fiction sort. But my goodness, I struggled with just how unlikable the main character Jessica was to start with. Now, I don't think she or Linda, her best friend from childhood, were badly written by any means. Both of them are clearly well thought out, fleshed out characters. However, Jessica is incredibly self-involved. She thinks incredibly highly of herself and thusly looks down on almost everyone else, including Linda. Which I was hoping would make for a compelling read and character development. Jessica, however, simply did not develop in the way I wished she would have. Not until the VERY end.
This book also seems to struggle under the weight of its pretentiousness. Which on the one hand, I understand. However, by having Jessica be so self-centered and the plot mostly revolving around how the events impacted her, I feel like it came off almost paper thin.
I also didn't love the character of Mark, who quickly scoops up Linda and starts turning Jessica's world upside down. I know men like Mark exist. Charming men with enough money to buy their way into the good graces of those they can't just snag with their charisma. However, he also came off as a bit one-dimensional as the clear bad guy in Jessica's story. The villainous smooth older lad who lures younger students into his clutches. Despite having encountered men like this in real life and understanding what the author intending in writing him, he felt almost cartoonish.
Actually, if you struggle when reading toxic relationships, this is not the book for you. Respectfully, there doesn't seem to be a fully healthy relationship in the whole book. The relationships in this book run from unhealthy to downright toxic and abusive.
Then there's the matter of the pacing. We start off quickly knowing that something TRAGIC happened when Jessica was at University, presumably involving Linda. And then we don't get to it and its ramifications until around the 90% mark. Hell, we don't even get to Mark's play until at least 75% of the way through the book. And when we finally do find out what the big, awful, tragic thing that happened is? Well, it was sort of anti-climatic for me. Was it tragic? Yes. But it was simultaneously fairly obvious what the main players of it would be while also not feeling as big as I expected. I read it and went "Really? That's it?"
I will give Harding their due in writing a story I did want to get to the end to. There were moments where I relished in Harding's descriptions. I was particularly impressed by the various ways our childhoods and upbringing can impact us and our relationships. My favorite character was Jessica's therapist, who challenges her harsh perception of herself in these past events she's recollecting, who challenges her to try and be kind when looking back in hindsight.
I'll admit, I had a hard time getting through this book. Which might entirely be because it is not my usual genre. I'm typically more a romance person than a general fiction sort. But my goodness, I struggled with just how unlikable the main character Jessica was to start with. Now, I don't think she or Linda, her best friend from childhood, were badly written by any means. Both of them are clearly well thought out, fleshed out characters. However, Jessica is incredibly self-involved. She thinks incredibly highly of herself and thusly looks down on almost everyone else, including Linda. Which I was hoping would make for a compelling read and character development. Jessica, however, simply did not develop in the way I wished she would have. Not until the VERY end.
This book also seems to struggle under the weight of its pretentiousness. Which on the one hand, I understand. However, by having Jessica be so self-centered and the plot mostly revolving around how the events impacted her, I feel like it came off almost paper thin.
I also didn't love the character of Mark, who quickly scoops up Linda and starts turning Jessica's world upside down. I know men like Mark exist. Charming men with enough money to buy their way into the good graces of those they can't just snag with their charisma. However, he also came off as a bit one-dimensional as the clear bad guy in Jessica's story. The villainous smooth older lad who lures younger students into his clutches. Despite having encountered men like this in real life and understanding what the author intending in writing him, he felt almost cartoonish.
Actually, if you struggle when reading toxic relationships, this is not the book for you. Respectfully, there doesn't seem to be a fully healthy relationship in the whole book. The relationships in this book run from unhealthy to downright toxic and abusive.
Then there's the matter of the pacing. We start off quickly knowing that something TRAGIC happened when Jessica was at University, presumably involving Linda. And then we don't get to it and its ramifications until around the 90% mark. Hell, we don't even get to Mark's play until at least 75% of the way through the book. And when we finally do find out what the big, awful, tragic thing that happened is? Well, it was sort of anti-climatic for me. Was it tragic? Yes. But it was simultaneously fairly obvious what the main players of it would be while also not feeling as big as I expected. I read it and went "Really? That's it?"
I will give Harding their due in writing a story I did want to get to the end to. There were moments where I relished in Harding's descriptions. I was particularly impressed by the various ways our childhoods and upbringing can impact us and our relationships. My favorite character was Jessica's therapist, who challenges her harsh perception of herself in these past events she's recollecting, who challenges her to try and be kind when looking back in hindsight.
October 18, 2025
Many thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Friendship, loyalty, and the fine line between freedom and control — The Wildelings is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It follows Jessica and Linda, best friends since day one, who arrive at Wilde University in Dublin hoping to leave behind their difficult childhoods. Jessica quickly finds her footing, dragging Linda along into a new circle of friends. But when Mark, an older philosophy student with dangerously persuasive ideas, enters their world, the dynamic shifts. Linda is drawn to him, and soon Mark’s hold begins to ripple out across the group, pulling everyone into his orbit.
Now, if you’re expecting a mystery or a high-octane thriller, this isn’t that. Honestly, I kept waiting for the “mystery” to reveal itself, but what I got instead was something slower, quieter — and maybe more unsettling because of it. This is a story about manipulation, about how someone can study people so well that they know exactly how to bend them. Add in the haze of recreational drug use, late-night philosophising, and the vulnerability of being eighteen and away from home for the first time, and the result is a creeping sense of unease.
The pacing is slow, very much in the slice-of-life category, but that’s where I found a lot of enjoyment. I loved spending time with these characters (especially because one of them was named Jacques — and spelt properly, which automatically won me over). The Dublin university setting felt alive, textured, and perfectly captured that mix of freedom and fragility that comes with student life.
At its core, The Wildelings isn’t about solving a mystery — it’s about watching how influence spreads, how people give up pieces of themselves in the name of belonging, and how fragile even the strongest friendships can be under pressure.
3.5 stars rounded up
Friendship, loyalty, and the fine line between freedom and control — The Wildelings is one of those books that sneaks up on you. It follows Jessica and Linda, best friends since day one, who arrive at Wilde University in Dublin hoping to leave behind their difficult childhoods. Jessica quickly finds her footing, dragging Linda along into a new circle of friends. But when Mark, an older philosophy student with dangerously persuasive ideas, enters their world, the dynamic shifts. Linda is drawn to him, and soon Mark’s hold begins to ripple out across the group, pulling everyone into his orbit.
Now, if you’re expecting a mystery or a high-octane thriller, this isn’t that. Honestly, I kept waiting for the “mystery” to reveal itself, but what I got instead was something slower, quieter — and maybe more unsettling because of it. This is a story about manipulation, about how someone can study people so well that they know exactly how to bend them. Add in the haze of recreational drug use, late-night philosophising, and the vulnerability of being eighteen and away from home for the first time, and the result is a creeping sense of unease.
The pacing is slow, very much in the slice-of-life category, but that’s where I found a lot of enjoyment. I loved spending time with these characters (especially because one of them was named Jacques — and spelt properly, which automatically won me over). The Dublin university setting felt alive, textured, and perfectly captured that mix of freedom and fragility that comes with student life.
At its core, The Wildelings isn’t about solving a mystery — it’s about watching how influence spreads, how people give up pieces of themselves in the name of belonging, and how fragile even the strongest friendships can be under pressure.
3.5 stars rounded up
April 1, 2025
This was simply stunning. Beautifully written, incredibly authentic, and just all-around fantastic. It's literary dark academia and young women COA, which are two of my favorite things so to be fair, I had a feeling I'd love this. Elements of The Secret History, The Great Gatsby, A Separate Peace all intertwine with an exceptional narrative voice. I saw a lot of people saying Jessica was unlikable, which I don't get AT ALL. She was totally real. Flawed, of course, but what teenage girl isn't? I saw myself in her and, early on, there were parts that felt a bit too personal! I adored this book. I am going to seek out more by the author as well, because her writing is just incredible. I rarely find books this honest (brutally so).
(I got an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher)
(I got an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher)
Read
April 25, 2025#Gifted
Happy publication day to The Wildelings; new literary fiction with a dark academia vibe, set in an elite Dublin university in the early 90’s.
Jessica and Linda both had troubled childhoods and formed a unique bond lasting all the way to their college years. Jessica has always been the more outgoing of the two while Linda has seemed happy to remain in her shadow. That is until Mark appears on the scene, a slightly older philosophy student that quickly exerts his influence and control over Linda. Jessica can’t figure out whether she’s fearful of him, or attracted to him but either way, her life starts veering off course, and Mark seems to be the one pulling all the strings. Is she being paranoid or is there something more sinister at hand?
The story is told via flashbacks revealed to a therapist in the present day setting. We know something terrible has happened to Jessica and her group of college friends and it’s a tense buildup to find out what that is at the end of the book.
Jessica isn’t a particularly likeable character, but she’s complex and interesting, something I always appreciate in a protagonist. She’s compared to the eponymous Madame Bovary more than once, so that should tell you everything you need to know! Possibly misunderstood (mostly by men), but equally possibly a terrible person.
I thought the dual timeline worked well here as the therapy sessions help the reader feel more empathy for 18 year old Jessica. The book touched on cultural shifts like the Me Too movement also helping to explain how differently we viewed women and men in the 90’s as compared to now.
That said, I found it hard to root for any of the characters; this happens to me the older I get 😅 a hedonistic group of teenage Trinity-esque students doesn’t feel super relatable to me, but I did still find myself flying through this book, eager to get to the devastating denouement.
I kind of wish I’d kept this for my Autumn reading as Dark Academia just automatically sits in my September reading pile 😅 if you enjoy books with complex female friendships, coming-of-age stories, and male characters with strong cult-leader vibes then you’ll enjoy this too I think.
Happy publication day to The Wildelings; new literary fiction with a dark academia vibe, set in an elite Dublin university in the early 90’s.
Jessica and Linda both had troubled childhoods and formed a unique bond lasting all the way to their college years. Jessica has always been the more outgoing of the two while Linda has seemed happy to remain in her shadow. That is until Mark appears on the scene, a slightly older philosophy student that quickly exerts his influence and control over Linda. Jessica can’t figure out whether she’s fearful of him, or attracted to him but either way, her life starts veering off course, and Mark seems to be the one pulling all the strings. Is she being paranoid or is there something more sinister at hand?
The story is told via flashbacks revealed to a therapist in the present day setting. We know something terrible has happened to Jessica and her group of college friends and it’s a tense buildup to find out what that is at the end of the book.
Jessica isn’t a particularly likeable character, but she’s complex and interesting, something I always appreciate in a protagonist. She’s compared to the eponymous Madame Bovary more than once, so that should tell you everything you need to know! Possibly misunderstood (mostly by men), but equally possibly a terrible person.
I thought the dual timeline worked well here as the therapy sessions help the reader feel more empathy for 18 year old Jessica. The book touched on cultural shifts like the Me Too movement also helping to explain how differently we viewed women and men in the 90’s as compared to now.
That said, I found it hard to root for any of the characters; this happens to me the older I get 😅 a hedonistic group of teenage Trinity-esque students doesn’t feel super relatable to me, but I did still find myself flying through this book, eager to get to the devastating denouement.
I kind of wish I’d kept this for my Autumn reading as Dark Academia just automatically sits in my September reading pile 😅 if you enjoy books with complex female friendships, coming-of-age stories, and male characters with strong cult-leader vibes then you’ll enjoy this too I think.
April 16, 2025
4.5 🌟
▪️A vivid and compulsive story of obsession, control and guilt, set in Nineties Dublin – perfect for fans of dark academia and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History▪️
C'mon, with a tagline like that, I was chomping at the bit to read this one!!
Jessica is not a particularly sympathetic character; she's egocentric and at times downright cruel to those who love her. But yet, I didn't hate her. She consistently grapples with doing the right or kind thing, even though she often still takes the wrong path. Her flaws make her real, and her inward struggles with herself show her vulnerability and insecurities that she tries to staunch. The present day therapy sessions interspersed help shape this (and her) as well.
When Mark entered the fold, however, I was instantly irritated at his narcissistic and obvious manipulation over Linda (and everyone around him). I felt conflicted at how great it was to see Linda spread her wings a bit and not be a doormat to Jess while simultaneously feeling dreadful at how much she was now controlled by Mark and where and when this would all culminate... Because something bad was surely coming.
Harding's writing is impeccable and vivid. The Wildelings is such an addictive read; I could not put it down! It's overflowing with drama and toxicity from every angle, and I ate it all up in one sitting. My only tiny critique (if it even counts as that) is that I'd been hoping for a bit more 90's within the story.
✨ Thank you so much to Harper Via for sending this ARC over to me (along with a catnip toy for the boys!) The Wildelings is officially available now!
▪️A vivid and compulsive story of obsession, control and guilt, set in Nineties Dublin – perfect for fans of dark academia and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History▪️
C'mon, with a tagline like that, I was chomping at the bit to read this one!!
Jessica is not a particularly sympathetic character; she's egocentric and at times downright cruel to those who love her. But yet, I didn't hate her. She consistently grapples with doing the right or kind thing, even though she often still takes the wrong path. Her flaws make her real, and her inward struggles with herself show her vulnerability and insecurities that she tries to staunch. The present day therapy sessions interspersed help shape this (and her) as well.
When Mark entered the fold, however, I was instantly irritated at his narcissistic and obvious manipulation over Linda (and everyone around him). I felt conflicted at how great it was to see Linda spread her wings a bit and not be a doormat to Jess while simultaneously feeling dreadful at how much she was now controlled by Mark and where and when this would all culminate... Because something bad was surely coming.
Harding's writing is impeccable and vivid. The Wildelings is such an addictive read; I could not put it down! It's overflowing with drama and toxicity from every angle, and I ate it all up in one sitting. My only tiny critique (if it even counts as that) is that I'd been hoping for a bit more 90's within the story.
✨ Thank you so much to Harper Via for sending this ARC over to me (along with a catnip toy for the boys!) The Wildelings is officially available now!
August 11, 2025
3.5 stars
This was a solid literary fiction novel. It is also classified as dark academia, but to me it felt more like a coming-of-age story. The novel is centered around a complex and dangerous dynamic between two women and their relationships within their group of friends at an elite university. It really dives into the themes of manipulation and toxic relationships. I loved how Harding wrote these super complex relationships, and how real they felt. I could help but root for Jessica, despite her not being a particularly sympathetic character. I just hated Mark so much, and wanted her to get some justice against him. All of the characters were so interesting! I enjoyed how Harding brought the setting to life, 1990s Dublin, I felt like o could see the streets and bars and schools the characters frequented.
The only negatives about this book for me was that at times the story felt slow but the ending felt so so rushed. I wanted to know what Jessica and Linda’s lives ended up being like after university and Linda’s fall. I wanted to see them discuss all of the toxic manipulation Mark put them and their group through as well as how they manipulated each other. I wanted to know if Linda truly believe Jessica’s version of the truth in the novel she wrote.
This was a solid literary fiction novel. It is also classified as dark academia, but to me it felt more like a coming-of-age story. The novel is centered around a complex and dangerous dynamic between two women and their relationships within their group of friends at an elite university. It really dives into the themes of manipulation and toxic relationships. I loved how Harding wrote these super complex relationships, and how real they felt. I could help but root for Jessica, despite her not being a particularly sympathetic character. I just hated Mark so much, and wanted her to get some justice against him. All of the characters were so interesting! I enjoyed how Harding brought the setting to life, 1990s Dublin, I felt like o could see the streets and bars and schools the characters frequented.
The only negatives about this book for me was that at times the story felt slow but the ending felt so so rushed. I wanted to know what Jessica and Linda’s lives ended up being like after university and Linda’s fall. I wanted to see them discuss all of the toxic manipulation Mark put them and their group through as well as how they manipulated each other. I wanted to know if Linda truly believe Jessica’s version of the truth in the novel she wrote.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2025
i fucking love insufferable characters . this book was wilde (pun intended). 4⭐️ !!
May 20, 2025
The Wildelings by Lisa Harding is a brilliantly constructed, psychologically incisive, and emotionally gripping literary novel set against the brooding backdrop of an elite university in Dublin. A visceral, voice-driven work that sits confidently in the Dark Academia genre, Harding’s latest offering examines the fragility of selfhood, the violence of influence, and the perils of power within friendship.
Building on her previous novels—Harvesting (published in the U.S. as Cloud Girls) and Bright Burning Things—Harding again explores the lives of women in extremis. But here, she takes a sharp turn into the intimate, seductive, and ultimately devastating terrain of intellectual power plays, performative identity, and psychological grooming.
Plot Summary: The Entangled Paths of Jessica, Linda, and Mark
The story opens with a present-day Jessica in therapy, emotionally dislocated and burdened by a past that refuses to stay buried. The narrative then flashes back to her late adolescence, to the prestigious Wilde University, where she and her childhood best friend Linda arrive eager to reinvent themselves. Their shared history is one of trauma and broken homes, but also mutual dependency—Jessica, the bold and magnetic one, and Linda, the quieter shadow who follows her lead.
Their dynamic is challenged by the entrance of Mark Whitman, a charismatic, manipulative philosophy student and aspiring playwright. Mark lures Linda into a controlling, increasingly cult-like relationship. As Jessica observes the change in Linda and Mark’s influence seeping into their entire friend circle, her sense of reality and control begins to crumble. The novel crescendos into betrayal, moral ambiguity, and a tragic event that alters all their lives forever.
Themes: Friendship, Power, and the Illusion of Autonomy
Harding masterfully dissects the idea of friendship as a sanctuary and then turns it into a weapon. Jessica and Linda's bond is intense, at times obsessive, filled with unspoken dependencies and rivalries. The novel explores:
- Power dynamics in female friendships: Who leads, who follows, and what happens when that balance is disrupted.
- Charisma and control: Mark is not just a love interest but a philosophical predator, cloaking coercion in intellectual seduction.
- The search for identity: Jessica’s voice is sharply intelligent, self-aware yet vulnerable, continually grappling with what it means to be herself—or someone worthy of love and recognition.
This triad between Jessica, Linda, and Mark becomes a psychological theatre, exposing how easily the desire for meaning, intimacy, and self-expression can be hijacked by someone promising transcendence.
Character Analysis: Razor-Sharp Portraits in Emotional Flux
Jessica
Jessica, our narrator, is the emotional and intellectual core of the novel. She is fiercely self-aware, often unreliable, and deeply scarred by her father's abandonment. Harding writes her with a voice that's biting and brilliant, often caustic in tone, but tender in its underlying desperation. Jessica is the classic unreliable narrator, but her psychological depth is hauntingly real. Her later-life detachment and numbness become a chilling testament to the events of her youth.
Linda
Linda is quieter, more observant, and seemingly more pliable—but as the novel progresses, her complexity emerges. She is not just a victim of Jessica’s dominance or Mark’s manipulation, but someone actively searching for meaning in her own right. Her transformation under Mark’s influence is subtle and heartbreaking, culminating in devastating consequences that reflect the cost of psychological entrapment.
Mark
Mark is the quintessential Dark Academia male—erudite, dangerous, alluring. A manipulator cloaked in philosophical jargon, he uses ideas like honesty, truth-seeking, and authenticity as tools of control. His fixation on Shakespeare's Jessica from The Merchant of Venice becomes a metaphorical anchor for his obsession with reinvention and rebellion, which he projects onto both Linda and Jessica.
Literary Style: Visceral, Evocative, and Cinematic
Harding’s writing is lush, poetic, and razor-edged. She expertly weaves dialogue and interior monologue into a tapestry that feels lived-in and raw. The cadence of her prose mirrors the emotional rhythm of her characters—taut, breathless, introspective. The sensory details are rich: Gothic architecture, whispered confidences, tactile costumes, and stormy Dublin streets all add to the immersive atmosphere.
The influence of The Dreamers is present, as the novel leans into a cinematic tone—claustrophobic college halls, candlelit rehearsals, and voyeuristic parties feel both alluring and suffocating. Harding turns Wilde University into a metaphor for both freedom and captivity, its cloistered glamour hiding a rot that infects all who enter.
Structure: A Three-Part Descent
The novel is divided into:
- The Beginning – Full of hope, allure, and promise. Jessica and Linda's bond thrives here, even as fault lines begin to show.
- The Middle – Mark’s influence deepens, tensions mount, and a toxic brew of jealousy, dependency, and repression boils over.
- The End – The fallout. Tragedy strikes. The narrative catches up to the present, where guilt, trauma, and belated reckoning unfold.
The inclusion of a Coda—a mature Jessica returning to confront the ghosts of her past—lends the novel a sobering, redemptive tone, even if closure remains elusive.
Critical Appraisal: Strengths and Limitations
What Works Exceptionally Well
- Voice and interiority: Jessica’s narration is layered, self-reflexive, and often startlingly honest.
- The depiction of psychological grooming: Without veering into melodrama, Harding captures the slow, subtle encroachments of control—especially in how Mark draws Linda into his orbit.
- Atmosphere: The gothic academia setting is not just backdrop but thematic reinforcement. The dreamy, cerebral environment becomes a stage for emotional and moral breakdown.
What Could Be Improved
- Pacing in the middle: The narrative occasionally lingers too long in its atmospheric introspection, slowing the forward momentum. Some scenes, particularly those involving philosophical banter, feel repetitive in service of themes already well-established.
- Character overload: Secondary characters such as Jacques and Jonathan are well-drawn but underutilized. Their relationships to the central trio could have added more dimension had they been more tightly woven into the climax.
Still, these are minor critiques in a novel that otherwise holds its emotional center with authority.
Final Verdict: A Chilling and Tender Triumph
The Wildelings is an unflinching exploration of identity, trauma, and betrayal dressed in the velvet and ink of Dark Academia. It is a cautionary tale about the seductions of charisma and the perils of abandoning the self for belonging. Harding’s greatest achievement is how she maps the landscape of young womanhood—not in simplistic binaries of strong or weak, right or wrong—but in all its chaotic yearning.
This is a novel to savor and be unsettled by, a book that lingers like the memory of a friendship that changed you—utterly, irrevocably.
Building on her previous novels—Harvesting (published in the U.S. as Cloud Girls) and Bright Burning Things—Harding again explores the lives of women in extremis. But here, she takes a sharp turn into the intimate, seductive, and ultimately devastating terrain of intellectual power plays, performative identity, and psychological grooming.
Plot Summary: The Entangled Paths of Jessica, Linda, and Mark
The story opens with a present-day Jessica in therapy, emotionally dislocated and burdened by a past that refuses to stay buried. The narrative then flashes back to her late adolescence, to the prestigious Wilde University, where she and her childhood best friend Linda arrive eager to reinvent themselves. Their shared history is one of trauma and broken homes, but also mutual dependency—Jessica, the bold and magnetic one, and Linda, the quieter shadow who follows her lead.
Their dynamic is challenged by the entrance of Mark Whitman, a charismatic, manipulative philosophy student and aspiring playwright. Mark lures Linda into a controlling, increasingly cult-like relationship. As Jessica observes the change in Linda and Mark’s influence seeping into their entire friend circle, her sense of reality and control begins to crumble. The novel crescendos into betrayal, moral ambiguity, and a tragic event that alters all their lives forever.
Themes: Friendship, Power, and the Illusion of Autonomy
Harding masterfully dissects the idea of friendship as a sanctuary and then turns it into a weapon. Jessica and Linda's bond is intense, at times obsessive, filled with unspoken dependencies and rivalries. The novel explores:
- Power dynamics in female friendships: Who leads, who follows, and what happens when that balance is disrupted.
- Charisma and control: Mark is not just a love interest but a philosophical predator, cloaking coercion in intellectual seduction.
- The search for identity: Jessica’s voice is sharply intelligent, self-aware yet vulnerable, continually grappling with what it means to be herself—or someone worthy of love and recognition.
This triad between Jessica, Linda, and Mark becomes a psychological theatre, exposing how easily the desire for meaning, intimacy, and self-expression can be hijacked by someone promising transcendence.
Character Analysis: Razor-Sharp Portraits in Emotional Flux
Jessica
Jessica, our narrator, is the emotional and intellectual core of the novel. She is fiercely self-aware, often unreliable, and deeply scarred by her father's abandonment. Harding writes her with a voice that's biting and brilliant, often caustic in tone, but tender in its underlying desperation. Jessica is the classic unreliable narrator, but her psychological depth is hauntingly real. Her later-life detachment and numbness become a chilling testament to the events of her youth.
Linda
Linda is quieter, more observant, and seemingly more pliable—but as the novel progresses, her complexity emerges. She is not just a victim of Jessica’s dominance or Mark’s manipulation, but someone actively searching for meaning in her own right. Her transformation under Mark’s influence is subtle and heartbreaking, culminating in devastating consequences that reflect the cost of psychological entrapment.
Mark
Mark is the quintessential Dark Academia male—erudite, dangerous, alluring. A manipulator cloaked in philosophical jargon, he uses ideas like honesty, truth-seeking, and authenticity as tools of control. His fixation on Shakespeare's Jessica from The Merchant of Venice becomes a metaphorical anchor for his obsession with reinvention and rebellion, which he projects onto both Linda and Jessica.
Literary Style: Visceral, Evocative, and Cinematic
Harding’s writing is lush, poetic, and razor-edged. She expertly weaves dialogue and interior monologue into a tapestry that feels lived-in and raw. The cadence of her prose mirrors the emotional rhythm of her characters—taut, breathless, introspective. The sensory details are rich: Gothic architecture, whispered confidences, tactile costumes, and stormy Dublin streets all add to the immersive atmosphere.
The influence of The Dreamers is present, as the novel leans into a cinematic tone—claustrophobic college halls, candlelit rehearsals, and voyeuristic parties feel both alluring and suffocating. Harding turns Wilde University into a metaphor for both freedom and captivity, its cloistered glamour hiding a rot that infects all who enter.
Structure: A Three-Part Descent
The novel is divided into:
- The Beginning – Full of hope, allure, and promise. Jessica and Linda's bond thrives here, even as fault lines begin to show.
- The Middle – Mark’s influence deepens, tensions mount, and a toxic brew of jealousy, dependency, and repression boils over.
- The End – The fallout. Tragedy strikes. The narrative catches up to the present, where guilt, trauma, and belated reckoning unfold.
The inclusion of a Coda—a mature Jessica returning to confront the ghosts of her past—lends the novel a sobering, redemptive tone, even if closure remains elusive.
Critical Appraisal: Strengths and Limitations
What Works Exceptionally Well
- Voice and interiority: Jessica’s narration is layered, self-reflexive, and often startlingly honest.
- The depiction of psychological grooming: Without veering into melodrama, Harding captures the slow, subtle encroachments of control—especially in how Mark draws Linda into his orbit.
- Atmosphere: The gothic academia setting is not just backdrop but thematic reinforcement. The dreamy, cerebral environment becomes a stage for emotional and moral breakdown.
What Could Be Improved
- Pacing in the middle: The narrative occasionally lingers too long in its atmospheric introspection, slowing the forward momentum. Some scenes, particularly those involving philosophical banter, feel repetitive in service of themes already well-established.
- Character overload: Secondary characters such as Jacques and Jonathan are well-drawn but underutilized. Their relationships to the central trio could have added more dimension had they been more tightly woven into the climax.
Still, these are minor critiques in a novel that otherwise holds its emotional center with authority.
Final Verdict: A Chilling and Tender Triumph
The Wildelings is an unflinching exploration of identity, trauma, and betrayal dressed in the velvet and ink of Dark Academia. It is a cautionary tale about the seductions of charisma and the perils of abandoning the self for belonging. Harding’s greatest achievement is how she maps the landscape of young womanhood—not in simplistic binaries of strong or weak, right or wrong—but in all its chaotic yearning.
This is a novel to savor and be unsettled by, a book that lingers like the memory of a friendship that changed you—utterly, irrevocably.
April 25, 2025
4.75⭐️
wow wow wow
I went into this book completely blind and absolutely loved it!
It was so hard to balance my feelings of the main character Jessica. In one scene you absolutely despise her and in the next you can't help but sympathize with her. I think each character was insufferable in their own ways which just added to the ever growing tension of this story.
If you're looking for a dark academia book where you can't even begin to guess which way the story will head next, this should be next on your tbr!
wow wow wow
I went into this book completely blind and absolutely loved it!
It was so hard to balance my feelings of the main character Jessica. In one scene you absolutely despise her and in the next you can't help but sympathize with her. I think each character was insufferable in their own ways which just added to the ever growing tension of this story.
If you're looking for a dark academia book where you can't even begin to guess which way the story will head next, this should be next on your tbr!
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May 2, 2025Phasing out of Goodreads so check me out on Fable for the review…because screw Jeff Bezos and Fable is a way better app anyway! Haha
May 15, 2025
I don’t know why I made myself finish this dreadfully dull and awful book.
April 22, 2025
Lisa Harding’s Bright Burning Things (an outstanding novel!) cemented her as a must read author for me, and The Wildelings did not disappoint.
Set against the rich, sometimes stifling backdrop of an elite Dublin university reminiscent of Trinity, Harding weaves a story that’s as unsettling as it is beautifully rendered. We follow Jessica and Linda – two girls bound by years of friendship, albeit of the toxic variety and the unspoken understanding that only shared trauma and their status as outsiders can bring: an unhealthy co-dependency. But their bond is tested, warped, and eventually shattered when Mark, an older, enigmatic philosophy student, enters their world.
Jessica, sharp and suspicious, is wary from the start. Linda, ever loyal and desperate to be seen, is drawn in. That slow entanglement, that subtle shift in their dynamic, is immense for these young women - Linda has always been a follower, willing to lap up any crumbs of care Jessica provides. Jessica meanwhile clings to her illusion of control and superiority, seeing herself as the ‘number one’ in every aspect of her life. Will their fragile dynamic survive? Harding masterfully explores themes of power, manipulation, and how charismatic figures can exploit the vulnerabilities of those around them.
Told partly through Jessica’s sessions with a therapist and mostly in flashbacks, the narrative starts quietly. Jessica is an unlikeable, somewhat unreliable narrator – but that only adds depth. As Mark’s malevolent influence begins to tighten its grip, the tension escalates, and the story becomes almost impossible to look away from.
There’s a remarkable intensity to Harding’s writing, it is emotionally charged and utterly immersive. This story transcends mere friendship and betrayal; it’s a dramatic reckoning with guilt, the haunting weight of silence, and the long shadows cast by unspoken truths.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for the opportunity to read an advance copy via NetGalley in return for an, as always, honest review.
Set against the rich, sometimes stifling backdrop of an elite Dublin university reminiscent of Trinity, Harding weaves a story that’s as unsettling as it is beautifully rendered. We follow Jessica and Linda – two girls bound by years of friendship, albeit of the toxic variety and the unspoken understanding that only shared trauma and their status as outsiders can bring: an unhealthy co-dependency. But their bond is tested, warped, and eventually shattered when Mark, an older, enigmatic philosophy student, enters their world.
Jessica, sharp and suspicious, is wary from the start. Linda, ever loyal and desperate to be seen, is drawn in. That slow entanglement, that subtle shift in their dynamic, is immense for these young women - Linda has always been a follower, willing to lap up any crumbs of care Jessica provides. Jessica meanwhile clings to her illusion of control and superiority, seeing herself as the ‘number one’ in every aspect of her life. Will their fragile dynamic survive? Harding masterfully explores themes of power, manipulation, and how charismatic figures can exploit the vulnerabilities of those around them.
Told partly through Jessica’s sessions with a therapist and mostly in flashbacks, the narrative starts quietly. Jessica is an unlikeable, somewhat unreliable narrator – but that only adds depth. As Mark’s malevolent influence begins to tighten its grip, the tension escalates, and the story becomes almost impossible to look away from.
There’s a remarkable intensity to Harding’s writing, it is emotionally charged and utterly immersive. This story transcends mere friendship and betrayal; it’s a dramatic reckoning with guilt, the haunting weight of silence, and the long shadows cast by unspoken truths.
Many thanks to Bloomsbury for the opportunity to read an advance copy via NetGalley in return for an, as always, honest review.
March 12, 2025
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the arc of The Wildelings and allowing me to review it!
I had never heard of Lisa Harding before or knew of this book coming out but once I read the description I knew I was going to love it and once I received it, I read it straight away and absolutely adored it from the very beginning.
The main character Jessica is very easy to dislike but yet I still find myself relating to her and feeling bad for her depending on the situation. Her side kick, Lisa, was always happy to stand back and let Jess bask in the sunlight whilst supporting from the sidelines and Jess enjoyed the attention too. Once they start college and Lisa begins to date a boy named Mark, things soon change and her grip on Lisa starts to falter.
Mark did not deserve Lisa. Let’s get that straight out of the way, just because Jessica didn’t deserve her it doesn’t mean that Mark did. I hated him so much, in fact I think I somehow hated yet loved every character in this book (which is how you know it’s a good one), he did encourage Lisa to spread her wings a bit but it was all under his supervision and what he thought was right.
I can relate to Jessica when it comes to slowly loosing your childhood friend to a relationship that is very obviously not going to last and reading about her trying to make Lisa see sense and failing was also painfully relatable too. In fact I think pretty much every reader would at some point see a part of themselves in Jess and that’s a major reason why I love this book so much, it’s really raw with how humans can feel and kind of calls you out a bit.
Throw a group of troubled students into a book and you’ve got be hooked for life, I loved everything about this book and I will definitely be buying a physical copy when it’s released on April 24th (I think). Jessica is my new favourite unreliable narrator and the book as a whole was a really brilliant way to get back into the academia type setting I haven’t read about in so long.
October 28, 2025
Simply too insufferable. Attempts to be arch and instead is heavy-handed, wants to be a dark academia classic à la TSH or even IWWV but doesn’t know how to strike the balance between pretentious and vulnerable—instead lands squarely on just plain awful. Found myself glumly checking the page I was on over and over so I could see how much more I had to sit through. 2 stars only because the premise held my interest for approximately 100 pages and could have maybe, possibly worked with a better author.
April 23, 2025
When a prima donna – selfish, self-absorbed to the point of cruelty, and damaged – is on the receiving end of hurts she has dished out without thought, the shock and pain necessarily involves guilt.
The dynamics are fascinating: jealousy and anger when a best friend is happy, jealousy and anger when a doting boyfriend casually befriends a glamorous fellow student; unnerving erotic responses to the best friend’s controlling boyfriend.
The energy and attitudes of students in 90s Dublin are visceral, as are the exchanges with the therapist and the flashbacks to a life that didn’t have to turn out the way it did.
It’s dark, it’s entertaining, emotional and evocative. I would have like a little more momentum at the beginning, but enjoyed it overall.
The dynamics are fascinating: jealousy and anger when a best friend is happy, jealousy and anger when a doting boyfriend casually befriends a glamorous fellow student; unnerving erotic responses to the best friend’s controlling boyfriend.
The energy and attitudes of students in 90s Dublin are visceral, as are the exchanges with the therapist and the flashbacks to a life that didn’t have to turn out the way it did.
It’s dark, it’s entertaining, emotional and evocative. I would have like a little more momentum at the beginning, but enjoyed it overall.
April 30, 2025
This book was… dark. To start, I really could not get into the main character. I could not stand her! The relationship between her and her friend was toxic, her boyfriend is awful.. ugh. It was a struggle to finish. The writing wasn’t that great, either. There was also lots of violence and traumatic stuff, so be warned.
I received a copy of this book from HarperVia and Net Galley, so thank you to them!
I received a copy of this book from HarperVia and Net Galley, so thank you to them!
June 5, 2025
3.5 stars rounded down
i looooove morally gray female protagonists that are arguably not good people but still remain sympathetic and that’s exactly what i got. very gillian flynn-esque. so much psychological warfare and manipulation in this book, i wanted to shake all the characters like WAKE UP. definitely engaging and i liked the writing style and complex characters, but this is also extremely depressing and traumatic so 😃 i need a fluffy rom com asap
i looooove morally gray female protagonists that are arguably not good people but still remain sympathetic and that’s exactly what i got. very gillian flynn-esque. so much psychological warfare and manipulation in this book, i wanted to shake all the characters like WAKE UP. definitely engaging and i liked the writing style and complex characters, but this is also extremely depressing and traumatic so 😃 i need a fluffy rom com asap
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