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What I Told My Friends
Not yet published
Expected 26 Feb 26High Hill Manor has hidden a secret for decades. Now it will finally be revealed.
Chloe Carter is the new girl. After leaving her previous school in a whirl of vicious rumours, she desperately needs a new start.
But things don’t go as Chloe had hoped. Head girl Emily Ashbourne has it out for Chloe from the beginning.
When Emily falls from the school belltower – in suspicious circumstances – the whole school comes under scrutiny, including Chloe. But it is Mr Aides, the much-loved music teacher, who is arrested for Emily’s murder.
Twenty years later, Chloe greets Mr Aides at the gates on the day of his release. She is ready to reveal all. But the truth may not be what she thinks it is and when people close to the events of that fateful day wind up dead, Chloe realises that the truth might cause more harm than good…
A dark academia thriller perfect for fans of When We Were Silent, The Four, The Trial and My Dark Vanessa.
Chloe Carter is the new girl. After leaving her previous school in a whirl of vicious rumours, she desperately needs a new start.
But things don’t go as Chloe had hoped. Head girl Emily Ashbourne has it out for Chloe from the beginning.
When Emily falls from the school belltower – in suspicious circumstances – the whole school comes under scrutiny, including Chloe. But it is Mr Aides, the much-loved music teacher, who is arrested for Emily’s murder.
Twenty years later, Chloe greets Mr Aides at the gates on the day of his release. She is ready to reveal all. But the truth may not be what she thinks it is and when people close to the events of that fateful day wind up dead, Chloe realises that the truth might cause more harm than good…
A dark academia thriller perfect for fans of When We Were Silent, The Four, The Trial and My Dark Vanessa.
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 26, 2026
2 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Alice Leigh
6 books3 followersAlice Leigh is a writer and novelist who has written for the Guardian and the Daily Mail. She is British but lives in Limassol, Cyprus, with her husband and their children.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 10, 2025
What I Told My Friends is one of those thrillers that draws you in because of the setting and the decades-old secret, and keeps you reading because you want to know how far someone is willing to go to tell the truth — and at what cost. If you enjoy mysteries where past and present collide, this will satisfy. If you’re looking for something radically new or outside the boarding-school-secret framework, maybe less so — but it’s still a well-crafted entry in the genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.
November 12, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
What I Told My Friends simmers with the kind of tension that builds slowly, quietly, and then refuses to let go. This dark-academia thriller drops you right into High Hill Manor, an elite boarding school where the polished halls hide plenty of buried secrets. When head girl Emily is found dead and a beloved teacher is sent to prison, the truth gets shoved deep—until decades later, when Chloe, now an adult, finally decides she’s ready to talk about what really happened.
This was my first read by Alice Leigh, and I really liked the atmosphere she created. She leans hard into those moody school vibes—the whispers, the hierarchies, the little moments of unease, and it works. The dual-timeline structure adds a lot too, letting the story slowly peel back the layers of guilt, friendship, and the long-term fallout of one tragic night. Her writing style is clean, steady, and more character-driven than twist-driven, giving the whole book a quiet but persistent slow-burn feel.
That said, there were a few things that didn’t hit perfectly for me. Some of the dark-academia tropes felt familiar, and the pacing in the school timeline can drag a bit. A few side characters didn’t get the depth I was hoping for, and the emotional connection took a while to build. If you’re expecting big jaw-dropping twists, this one leans more subtle than shocking.
But overall, I enjoyed the tension, the atmosphere, and the way the story sits in the lingering mess of the past. This is the kind of story that starts as a whisper and ends as a revelation, pulling you deeper than you expect. And what stays with me most is how deeply the past can root itself—no matter how hard you try to leave it behind. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Leigh’s work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.
What I Told My Friends simmers with the kind of tension that builds slowly, quietly, and then refuses to let go. This dark-academia thriller drops you right into High Hill Manor, an elite boarding school where the polished halls hide plenty of buried secrets. When head girl Emily is found dead and a beloved teacher is sent to prison, the truth gets shoved deep—until decades later, when Chloe, now an adult, finally decides she’s ready to talk about what really happened.
This was my first read by Alice Leigh, and I really liked the atmosphere she created. She leans hard into those moody school vibes—the whispers, the hierarchies, the little moments of unease, and it works. The dual-timeline structure adds a lot too, letting the story slowly peel back the layers of guilt, friendship, and the long-term fallout of one tragic night. Her writing style is clean, steady, and more character-driven than twist-driven, giving the whole book a quiet but persistent slow-burn feel.
That said, there were a few things that didn’t hit perfectly for me. Some of the dark-academia tropes felt familiar, and the pacing in the school timeline can drag a bit. A few side characters didn’t get the depth I was hoping for, and the emotional connection took a while to build. If you’re expecting big jaw-dropping twists, this one leans more subtle than shocking.
But overall, I enjoyed the tension, the atmosphere, and the way the story sits in the lingering mess of the past. This is the kind of story that starts as a whisper and ends as a revelation, pulling you deeper than you expect. And what stays with me most is how deeply the past can root itself—no matter how hard you try to leave it behind. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Leigh’s work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 22, 2025
When Chloe Carter is offered a scholarship at High Hill Manor, a prestigious boarding school, her parents cannot believe it. Only Chloe knows the scholarship has been arranged to avoid repercussions over her relationship with her teacher.
Upon her arrival at High Hill it takes time for Chloe to fit in. People do little to welcome her. Some - notably head girl, Emily - make it very difficult for her. Only the Head’s daughter, Iris, looks out for her.
It is only when Emily’s body is discovered that people start asking questions. Chloe lies to the police as she believes she’s protecting her friend. It is Chloe’s new music teacher, Mr Aides, who ends up in prison.
Twenty years on Chloe remains haunted by the events of her school year. Someone appears to know the truth, and Chloe fears what they will do to stop it coming out.
This was an interesting idea. The pacing around the school events dragged a little. I also felt the resolution seemed rather improbable. Anyway, thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
Upon her arrival at High Hill it takes time for Chloe to fit in. People do little to welcome her. Some - notably head girl, Emily - make it very difficult for her. Only the Head’s daughter, Iris, looks out for her.
It is only when Emily’s body is discovered that people start asking questions. Chloe lies to the police as she believes she’s protecting her friend. It is Chloe’s new music teacher, Mr Aides, who ends up in prison.
Twenty years on Chloe remains haunted by the events of her school year. Someone appears to know the truth, and Chloe fears what they will do to stop it coming out.
This was an interesting idea. The pacing around the school events dragged a little. I also felt the resolution seemed rather improbable. Anyway, thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
November 9, 2025
Thank you to Alice Leigh and Net Gallery for an ARC of ‘What I Told My Friends’ in return for my honest review.
A dark and emotive academia thriller, where a web of secrets and lies begin to unravel 20 years later.
It’s been a good while since I’ve picked up any form of thriller, so I took a chance and went into this blind. I ended up totally immersed in this book and couldn’t help but inhale it, completely blind sided to the plot twist at the end.
The book is split into past and present, showing how truly the FMCs past shapes her future. The FMCs story is raw, and painful diving into a lot of traumatic themes she has experienced throughout childhood and also continues to experience 20 years later relating to this.
Themes were heavy and deeply emotional, yet handled with care. Check your trigger warnings for these emotive themes.
A dark and emotive academia thriller, where a web of secrets and lies begin to unravel 20 years later.
It’s been a good while since I’ve picked up any form of thriller, so I took a chance and went into this blind. I ended up totally immersed in this book and couldn’t help but inhale it, completely blind sided to the plot twist at the end.
The book is split into past and present, showing how truly the FMCs past shapes her future. The FMCs story is raw, and painful diving into a lot of traumatic themes she has experienced throughout childhood and also continues to experience 20 years later relating to this.
Themes were heavy and deeply emotional, yet handled with care. Check your trigger warnings for these emotive themes.
December 14, 2025
3.75⭐️
Thank you to publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book
Chloe left her last school in disgrace, and needs to keep her head down and make it through her last year of education, but when Emily the head girl at High Hill Manor falls to her death, secrets Chloe has tried so hard to bury start to come to light
This dark thriller is set across two timelines, Chloe’s time at High Hill Manor and twenty years later when the man Chloe helped to accuse is released from prison. The twists in the story keep you hooked from start to finish, and as secrets come to light Chloe discovers that things aren’t always as they appear
Thank you to publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book
Chloe left her last school in disgrace, and needs to keep her head down and make it through her last year of education, but when Emily the head girl at High Hill Manor falls to her death, secrets Chloe has tried so hard to bury start to come to light
This dark thriller is set across two timelines, Chloe’s time at High Hill Manor and twenty years later when the man Chloe helped to accuse is released from prison. The twists in the story keep you hooked from start to finish, and as secrets come to light Chloe discovers that things aren’t always as they appear
December 12, 2025
Spoilers ahead!
Thank you Net Galley and Canelo for this ARC version of What I Told My Friends by Alice Leigh in exchange for my honest review of the book. I devoured this in just a couple of days.
Chloe Carter goes to High Hill with a secret, one that sits heavy on her and impacts everything that happens to her from there on out. She is failed by grown ups all around her, and she craves the attention of her friends. But then Emily, the school prefect and mean girl, ends up dead and decisions in the aftermath affect everyone else for life.
I thought Alice Leigh had a great writing style and I take my hat off to her for how she wrote the grief that the main character was feeling, and the loss of her innocence. The author addresses the sensitive topic with great care of more than one teacher exploiting Chloe. The portrayal serves as an essential part of the narrative and Chloe’s decisions. It has a big impact on the overall book. I think for me, the way Alice wrote about that was what I admired most about this book and her writing.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Chloe with both Iris and Stan and the exploration of the attraction to the twins. I wanted more of this. I do feel like Stan needs more subtle hints to who he really is beside Iris saying at the beach she needs to get to Stan before Emily does as the boats come in, and the conversation the parents have in the kitchen that Chloe overhears. I needed a bit more to fully believe his villainous side.
Overall, I liked the story that Alice told. She handled it maturely and was very poetic in places. She had a deep knowledge of both her main characters feelings and trauma, and the subject matters that were brought to life.
I do feel Emily was maybe a bit cliche as the “mean girl” and there are many Emily’s out there in so many books set in schools, but otherwise it was a great read. I would also say that it is a little too convenient that Baxter got out of jail just one week before Simon. I understand why it was done but feel like he could have gotten out a month or two earlier and still kept the plot lines.
I did really enjoy the ending of the book. I’d rate this book 4/5 stars and recommend it to lovers of YA thrillers!
Thank you Net Galley and Canelo for this ARC version of What I Told My Friends by Alice Leigh in exchange for my honest review of the book. I devoured this in just a couple of days.
Chloe Carter goes to High Hill with a secret, one that sits heavy on her and impacts everything that happens to her from there on out. She is failed by grown ups all around her, and she craves the attention of her friends. But then Emily, the school prefect and mean girl, ends up dead and decisions in the aftermath affect everyone else for life.
I thought Alice Leigh had a great writing style and I take my hat off to her for how she wrote the grief that the main character was feeling, and the loss of her innocence. The author addresses the sensitive topic with great care of more than one teacher exploiting Chloe. The portrayal serves as an essential part of the narrative and Chloe’s decisions. It has a big impact on the overall book. I think for me, the way Alice wrote about that was what I admired most about this book and her writing.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Chloe with both Iris and Stan and the exploration of the attraction to the twins. I wanted more of this. I do feel like Stan needs more subtle hints to who he really is beside Iris saying at the beach she needs to get to Stan before Emily does as the boats come in, and the conversation the parents have in the kitchen that Chloe overhears. I needed a bit more to fully believe his villainous side.
Overall, I liked the story that Alice told. She handled it maturely and was very poetic in places. She had a deep knowledge of both her main characters feelings and trauma, and the subject matters that were brought to life.
I do feel Emily was maybe a bit cliche as the “mean girl” and there are many Emily’s out there in so many books set in schools, but otherwise it was a great read. I would also say that it is a little too convenient that Baxter got out of jail just one week before Simon. I understand why it was done but feel like he could have gotten out a month or two earlier and still kept the plot lines.
I did really enjoy the ending of the book. I’d rate this book 4/5 stars and recommend it to lovers of YA thrillers!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2025
High Hill Manor holds its secrets close — and Alice Leigh knows just how to coax them out. What I Told My Friends is a dark academia thriller wrapped in emotional complexity, where memory and motive blur beneath the ivy-covered walls of a prestigious boarding school.
The story opens with tragedy: Emily Asbourne, the head girl, found dead beneath the belltower. Two decades later, Chloe Carter — once a student, now a woman with unfinished business — returns to greet the man accused of the crime. What follows is not just a reckoning, but a quiet unraveling of guilt, grief, and the stories we tell to survive.
Leigh’s prose is elegant and restrained, with a rhythm that mirrors the claustrophobia of its setting. The manor itself feels like a character — watching, waiting, whispering. Chloe’s voice is compelling: wounded but sharp, haunted yet determined. There’s a tenderness beneath the tension, a sense that truth is not just something to uncover, but something to carry.
This is a thriller for readers who crave atmosphere over adrenaline, character over chaos. It lingers like fog on stone — quiet, unsettling, and beautifully wrought.
With thanks to Alice Leigh, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
The story opens with tragedy: Emily Asbourne, the head girl, found dead beneath the belltower. Two decades later, Chloe Carter — once a student, now a woman with unfinished business — returns to greet the man accused of the crime. What follows is not just a reckoning, but a quiet unraveling of guilt, grief, and the stories we tell to survive.
Leigh’s prose is elegant and restrained, with a rhythm that mirrors the claustrophobia of its setting. The manor itself feels like a character — watching, waiting, whispering. Chloe’s voice is compelling: wounded but sharp, haunted yet determined. There’s a tenderness beneath the tension, a sense that truth is not just something to uncover, but something to carry.
This is a thriller for readers who crave atmosphere over adrenaline, character over chaos. It lingers like fog on stone — quiet, unsettling, and beautifully wrought.
With thanks to Alice Leigh, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
November 6, 2025
Thank you Calelo for this book!!
WHAT DID I JUST READ?! Holy mother of plot twists 🤯
I cannot explain how much I am now obsessed with this book, I was hooked from the very first chapter and that’s saying something as thrillers aren’t my go to book!
Claire has certainly been through it with her close group of people around her! I honestly could work out who was behind it all!! My thought process the whole time kept getting chucked out the window because something else would happen to stop me thinking of a certain someone but then later we’d get something to think them again!!
Honestly.. pat yourself on the back Alice! I couldn’t even imagine writing this as my head would of been a puzzle 👏🏼
THE ENDING. NO FUCKER WAS SAFE!!
I will say.. maybe the last few chapters I did start to suspect who it was but I was still not 100% until we did find out.
I really enjoyed the “before” aspect as it helped build the story and give us so much detail which I loved!! Poor Claire has lost so many people in her life, but I’m glad in the end she’s got back to playing the piano.
Honesty nothing below a 5 star for this book. I came home early to finish this book as couldn’t stop thinking about it with only 10 chapters left.
WHAT DID I JUST READ?! Holy mother of plot twists 🤯
I cannot explain how much I am now obsessed with this book, I was hooked from the very first chapter and that’s saying something as thrillers aren’t my go to book!
Claire has certainly been through it with her close group of people around her! I honestly could work out who was behind it all!! My thought process the whole time kept getting chucked out the window because something else would happen to stop me thinking of a certain someone but then later we’d get something to think them again!!
Honestly.. pat yourself on the back Alice! I couldn’t even imagine writing this as my head would of been a puzzle 👏🏼
THE ENDING. NO FUCKER WAS SAFE!!
I will say.. maybe the last few chapters I did start to suspect who it was but I was still not 100% until we did find out.
I really enjoyed the “before” aspect as it helped build the story and give us so much detail which I loved!! Poor Claire has lost so many people in her life, but I’m glad in the end she’s got back to playing the piano.
Honesty nothing below a 5 star for this book. I came home early to finish this book as couldn’t stop thinking about it with only 10 chapters left.
November 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and of course Alice for the opportunity to read this powerful book.
⭐ 4.8 stars
TW: suicide, cutting, rape, grooming, abuse
Well damn. Talk about a twist. This book is an absolute whirlwind. I really enjoyed it and honestly couldn’t help but devour it. The writing style drew me in right away. There’s a great balance of dialogue and I liked that some of the heavier moments weren’t described in unnecessary detail.
I loved that it’s all told from Chloe’s POV, showing both her Before and After. The story is split into two parts which works perfectly to show how deeply her past shapes her present. Chloe’s character feels like a confused teen still trapped inside an adult body, someone whose trauma was forced onto her before she even had the tools to process it. The book even mentions how certain experiences can affect you when your brain isn’t fully developed yet, and I think it captures that idea brilliantly.
Chloe’s story is raw and painful. She’s a young girl who was groomed and abused, carrying a trauma bond to one of her abusers, while also dealing with the lifelong scars of witnessing her parent’s suicide attempt at a young age. It’s dark, heavy, and deeply emotional but handled with care.
⭐ 4.8 stars
TW: suicide, cutting, rape, grooming, abuse
Well damn. Talk about a twist. This book is an absolute whirlwind. I really enjoyed it and honestly couldn’t help but devour it. The writing style drew me in right away. There’s a great balance of dialogue and I liked that some of the heavier moments weren’t described in unnecessary detail.
I loved that it’s all told from Chloe’s POV, showing both her Before and After. The story is split into two parts which works perfectly to show how deeply her past shapes her present. Chloe’s character feels like a confused teen still trapped inside an adult body, someone whose trauma was forced onto her before she even had the tools to process it. The book even mentions how certain experiences can affect you when your brain isn’t fully developed yet, and I think it captures that idea brilliantly.
Chloe’s story is raw and painful. She’s a young girl who was groomed and abused, carrying a trauma bond to one of her abusers, while also dealing with the lifelong scars of witnessing her parent’s suicide attempt at a young age. It’s dark, heavy, and deeply emotional but handled with care.
December 3, 2025
What I Told My Friends has a dual timeline, and the kind of setting I love (an old school complete with a bell tower!). This, along with the decades-old well-kept secret trope are factors that keep you reading, if only to find out what actually happened to Emily. How far is someone willing to go to prevent the truth from coming out, and who is that someone (or someones)?
The characters are rather slimy for the most part, Emily, Constantine, Fran, Simon.... I rather liked Iris, although her actions were questionable from start to finish. There are very few likeable people here, and what really comes home to me is the age-old conundrum: what would you do to protect a friend, and once that decision has been made, can you deal with the consequences? Turns out not so much. One teeny-tiny loose end starts to unravel, and so many unexpected things come to light, a toppling of a world of secrets built on lies.
This is a good enough read to pass the time, and if you enjoy mysteries where the present is snarled up in the past, you'll likely enjoy it. There is nothing radically new or particularly captivating, but it is still a well-crafted and enjoyable entry into the dark academia stable.
Three and a half stars.
The characters are rather slimy for the most part, Emily, Constantine, Fran, Simon.... I rather liked Iris, although her actions were questionable from start to finish. There are very few likeable people here, and what really comes home to me is the age-old conundrum: what would you do to protect a friend, and once that decision has been made, can you deal with the consequences? Turns out not so much. One teeny-tiny loose end starts to unravel, and so many unexpected things come to light, a toppling of a world of secrets built on lies.
This is a good enough read to pass the time, and if you enjoy mysteries where the present is snarled up in the past, you'll likely enjoy it. There is nothing radically new or particularly captivating, but it is still a well-crafted and enjoyable entry into the dark academia stable.
Three and a half stars.
October 25, 2025
@canelo_co and @netgalley thanks you for the e arc opportunity for an honest review.
Your not the only one with secrets, Chloe.
Professor Simon Aides to Chloe.
Buried secrets and past come up in your present and your life not turning the way you want. Don't you know, secrets and lies don't stay hidden for long. Not when the truth, wants justice.
This dark academia thriller, was just that it shocked me down to my core. I was completely blindsided and didn't know what to expect but the twist and turns of events was just so damn good.
All I can say to the ending was that I was gob smacked, with who the person done the murders.
And Chloe you suffered a lot, you had confusion all your life with your past and self identity and not knowing who you are but your love for music, or playing piano is and will always be in your DNA.
The guilt will always way away at you where ever you go
And professor Simon Aides, just complex. Very complex.
This is a dark moody vibe, a page turner, and murderously danger ⚡. Don't trust anyone. I loved it.
Releases February 26, 2026
Your not the only one with secrets, Chloe.
Professor Simon Aides to Chloe.
Buried secrets and past come up in your present and your life not turning the way you want. Don't you know, secrets and lies don't stay hidden for long. Not when the truth, wants justice.
This dark academia thriller, was just that it shocked me down to my core. I was completely blindsided and didn't know what to expect but the twist and turns of events was just so damn good.
All I can say to the ending was that I was gob smacked, with who the person done the murders.
And Chloe you suffered a lot, you had confusion all your life with your past and self identity and not knowing who you are but your love for music, or playing piano is and will always be in your DNA.
The guilt will always way away at you where ever you go
And professor Simon Aides, just complex. Very complex.
This is a dark moody vibe, a page turner, and murderously danger ⚡. Don't trust anyone. I loved it.
Releases February 26, 2026
October 31, 2025
Review of ‘What I Told My Friends’ by Alice Leigh, due to be published on 26 February 2026 by Canelo.
When Chloe gets a scholarship place at High Hill Manor she hopes for a fresh start and to leave the secrets of her last school behind her. Tragedy strikes when a few days after term begins, Head Girl Emily Ashbourne is found dead at the bottom of the bell tower, with everyone falling under suspicion. A Music Teacher is tried and found guilty of her murder, but the events of that day still haunt Chloe.
Two decades later, Chloe meets her former teacher Mr Aides on the day of his release, and secrets are bubbling to the surface, ready to be told.
The book is told in the ‘before’ which is set back in 2005 when the death occurred and ‘after’ set in 2025 when Mr Aides is released.
A dark, twisted academic thriller. Characters are well developed, written in a way that makes you think twice about what they know and what they stand to gain by pushing a narrative in a particular direction. The ending took me completely by surprise as it was not an angle that had occurred to me at all. A recommended thriller.
When Chloe gets a scholarship place at High Hill Manor she hopes for a fresh start and to leave the secrets of her last school behind her. Tragedy strikes when a few days after term begins, Head Girl Emily Ashbourne is found dead at the bottom of the bell tower, with everyone falling under suspicion. A Music Teacher is tried and found guilty of her murder, but the events of that day still haunt Chloe.
Two decades later, Chloe meets her former teacher Mr Aides on the day of his release, and secrets are bubbling to the surface, ready to be told.
The book is told in the ‘before’ which is set back in 2005 when the death occurred and ‘after’ set in 2025 when Mr Aides is released.
A dark, twisted academic thriller. Characters are well developed, written in a way that makes you think twice about what they know and what they stand to gain by pushing a narrative in a particular direction. The ending took me completely by surprise as it was not an angle that had occurred to me at all. A recommended thriller.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What I Told My Friends is dark academia with a gothic elite school setting. That's what drew my attention, but most of the characters grated on my nerves with inappropriate behavior, choices, and messes.
In 2005, Chloe, a musical genius, was taken by her parents to High Hill Manor. At sevventeen, she was excited to gain independence and freedom. But at what cost? Her first week was riddled with catty students, creepy staff, and a disconcerting teacher. And why did her window only open a crack? Later, murder comes knocking and her supposed connection served to ostracize her.
In the present day, Chloe met her old music teacher at the prison the day he was released for serving time for murder. They had a lot to discuss about that time frame and the intervening years. Secrets bubbled to the surface.
The setting and atmosphere are fantastic and the writing is gorgeous. However, I didn't click with any of the main characters and didn't like the direction a few situations went. As I wasn't rooting for anyone, I wasn't engaged at an emotional level. Sadly, this novel wasn't for me but it may work beautifully for other readers.
In 2005, Chloe, a musical genius, was taken by her parents to High Hill Manor. At sevventeen, she was excited to gain independence and freedom. But at what cost? Her first week was riddled with catty students, creepy staff, and a disconcerting teacher. And why did her window only open a crack? Later, murder comes knocking and her supposed connection served to ostracize her.
In the present day, Chloe met her old music teacher at the prison the day he was released for serving time for murder. They had a lot to discuss about that time frame and the intervening years. Secrets bubbled to the surface.
The setting and atmosphere are fantastic and the writing is gorgeous. However, I didn't click with any of the main characters and didn't like the direction a few situations went. As I wasn't rooting for anyone, I wasn't engaged at an emotional level. Sadly, this novel wasn't for me but it may work beautifully for other readers.
November 4, 2025
3.5
3.5 * What I Told My Friends by Alice Leigh is a fast paced novel following Chloe, who is working to uncover what really happened years ago at the boarding school she attended. While I didn’t mind the book, I did have a few minor critiques. Being told through dual timelines, you got Chloe’s current perspective as well as her time spent at the school as a teenager. Given that so much of the book was written from the past timeline, it felt a little YA, which made me wonder if it was indeed a YA novel I was reading. I do think the genre could be a little more clear going in so people know what they’re getting into. I also felt that the only character who felt very developed was Chloe. As the main character I would expect her to have the most character development , but I do feel that some of the supporting characters could have been developed I bit more. Overall the book was interesting, more of a slow reveal than an intense page turner, but it was a pretty good story. I would definitely consider reading more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.
3.5 * What I Told My Friends by Alice Leigh is a fast paced novel following Chloe, who is working to uncover what really happened years ago at the boarding school she attended. While I didn’t mind the book, I did have a few minor critiques. Being told through dual timelines, you got Chloe’s current perspective as well as her time spent at the school as a teenager. Given that so much of the book was written from the past timeline, it felt a little YA, which made me wonder if it was indeed a YA novel I was reading. I do think the genre could be a little more clear going in so people know what they’re getting into. I also felt that the only character who felt very developed was Chloe. As the main character I would expect her to have the most character development , but I do feel that some of the supporting characters could have been developed I bit more. Overall the book was interesting, more of a slow reveal than an intense page turner, but it was a pretty good story. I would definitely consider reading more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.
November 18, 2025
3.5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
When Chloe transfers schools to the elite boarding school High Hill Manor, she's worried that not only will she not fit in as a scholarship kid, but that the reason she left her last school will follow her. She quickly impresses her new music teacher with her remarkable piano playing and makes friends with Iris, the headmasters daughter. Soon after starting, a fellow classmate is murdered, the groundskeeper goes missing, and her music teacher starts to pay a bit closer attention. This book has dual timelines also showing Chloe 20 years later, still dealing with the aftermath of her time at High Hill Manor.
I liked the way that Leigh switched back and forth between current day without making it feel jarring. The twists and turns kept me guessing as well, and the ending was perfect. This is a rare book where I didn't even particularly like the main character, but I still found it impossible to put down. I'm already debating rereading it.
TW: cutting, self harm, grooming, sa,
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
When Chloe transfers schools to the elite boarding school High Hill Manor, she's worried that not only will she not fit in as a scholarship kid, but that the reason she left her last school will follow her. She quickly impresses her new music teacher with her remarkable piano playing and makes friends with Iris, the headmasters daughter. Soon after starting, a fellow classmate is murdered, the groundskeeper goes missing, and her music teacher starts to pay a bit closer attention. This book has dual timelines also showing Chloe 20 years later, still dealing with the aftermath of her time at High Hill Manor.
I liked the way that Leigh switched back and forth between current day without making it feel jarring. The twists and turns kept me guessing as well, and the ending was perfect. This is a rare book where I didn't even particularly like the main character, but I still found it impossible to put down. I'm already debating rereading it.
TW: cutting, self harm, grooming, sa,
November 2, 2025
We join the story as Chloe meets her former teacher Mr Aides, as he is released from prison, 20 years after killing one of her classmates.
This story is told in two timelines 2005 and the present, when Chloe was at the prestigious High Hill Manor and now all those years later after the crime.
I think this book is classed as dark academia, a phrase I have leaned from people much younger than I, but it’s not the same class as say Secret History.
It finds its self constantly adding more to the novel when it could have been perfect with much less. This book would have more merit if it didn’t switch from grooming/CSA to student/teacher inappropriate behaviour to teenagers experimenting, love and then coverups.
Just too much, no real sense.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this e-arc in return for an honest review.
This story is told in two timelines 2005 and the present, when Chloe was at the prestigious High Hill Manor and now all those years later after the crime.
I think this book is classed as dark academia, a phrase I have leaned from people much younger than I, but it’s not the same class as say Secret History.
It finds its self constantly adding more to the novel when it could have been perfect with much less. This book would have more merit if it didn’t switch from grooming/CSA to student/teacher inappropriate behaviour to teenagers experimenting, love and then coverups.
Just too much, no real sense.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this e-arc in return for an honest review.
November 16, 2025
What a book it truly is. Beautifully written from start to finish. On the surface it’s a story of a murder of a young girl but it is so much more than that. It touches on so many things we don’t want to hear about like grooming, suicide and also the devastation it can cause to the construct of the survivor. This is a must read as although it covers these subjects it does it in a way that a reader can hear and for those that can’t think about those things the story itself is brilliant
this book be more full if it tried it bursts from the pages undeniably the best book I have read this year.
this book be more full if it tried it bursts from the pages undeniably the best book I have read this year.
November 19, 2025
What I Told My Friends has a really good premise with a slightly creepy school setting, an old incident, and Chloe trying to make sense of everything years later. The back-and-forth timeline is interesting and the story slowly brings the pieces together.
But honestly, it didn’t fully click for me. Some parts felt a bit slow, and a few characters didn’t get the attention they needed, so I never fully connected with them. I kept waiting for a big twist or something that would totally shock me, but the reveals are more calm and steady.
Overall, it’s not a bad read at all. The atmosphere is nice and the mystery keeps you curious, but it just didn’t land as strongly as I hoped.
But honestly, it didn’t fully click for me. Some parts felt a bit slow, and a few characters didn’t get the attention they needed, so I never fully connected with them. I kept waiting for a big twist or something that would totally shock me, but the reveals are more calm and steady.
Overall, it’s not a bad read at all. The atmosphere is nice and the mystery keeps you curious, but it just didn’t land as strongly as I hoped.
November 10, 2025
Chloe's need for a new start took her to a prestigious school which brought her into situation with its own challenges including the loss of its head girl, someone Chloe herself had reason to dislike. Be that as it may, Chloe knows that there is something strange about Emily's death.
An interesting dark academia thriller about long-held secrets and the consequences of sharing them, this is an enjoyable read and easily scores 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
An interesting dark academia thriller about long-held secrets and the consequences of sharing them, this is an enjoyable read and easily scores 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
November 19, 2025
First, thanks to Alice Leigh and NetGalley for the ARC.
I was wishing for a thriller that would hook me , and I definitely found it in this novel. I literally couldn't put it down. I liked the jumps between the after and before timelines, it helps to add depth to the plot and increases the mystery element.
I soon felt like I knew who was behind the murder, but as secrets kept unveiling it made me doubt and continuous change my mind until the end. The end is mostly satisfactory, and I feel like nothing was left.
I was wishing for a thriller that would hook me , and I definitely found it in this novel. I literally couldn't put it down. I liked the jumps between the after and before timelines, it helps to add depth to the plot and increases the mystery element.
I soon felt like I knew who was behind the murder, but as secrets kept unveiling it made me doubt and continuous change my mind until the end. The end is mostly satisfactory, and I feel like nothing was left.
November 14, 2025
4⭐️ for What I told my friends
I was pleasantly surprised by this book!
It jumps between the past and the present. In some books the present tends to be boring while the past had all the action, BUT, the author managed this perfectly. Both times were fast paced and full of twists!
Perfect for the dark academia, thriller loving reader!
Thank you Netgalley for the eArc. I really enjoyed this.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book!
It jumps between the past and the present. In some books the present tends to be boring while the past had all the action, BUT, the author managed this perfectly. Both times were fast paced and full of twists!
Perfect for the dark academia, thriller loving reader!
Thank you Netgalley for the eArc. I really enjoyed this.
December 28, 2025
Okay, so this book was not what I expected at all… in the best way. I went in thinking I was getting dark academia vibes, but it’s actually more of a fast-paced murder mystery set in an elite academic world… and wow, did it deliver.
You follow a 17-year-old girl who ends up at a prestigious boarding school while trying to outrun her past. It’s supposed to be a clean slate and an easy transition, but obviously things do not go to plan. There’s so much happening, and I genuinely didn’t see any of the twists coming. This book completely caught me off guard and had me glued to the pages.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but the writing is so smooth and easy to sink into, and I loved how each character’s story was revealed. Leigh had me fully hooked from start to finish, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next because I absolutely loved this one and highly recommend it.
You follow a 17-year-old girl who ends up at a prestigious boarding school while trying to outrun her past. It’s supposed to be a clean slate and an easy transition, but obviously things do not go to plan. There’s so much happening, and I genuinely didn’t see any of the twists coming. This book completely caught me off guard and had me glued to the pages.
I don’t want to spoil anything, but the writing is so smooth and easy to sink into, and I loved how each character’s story was revealed. Leigh had me fully hooked from start to finish, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next because I absolutely loved this one and highly recommend it.
October 27, 2025
Tension and Suspense, secerts and lies. Fast paced thriller. This novel had me flipping these pages to figure out what's what and find out the plot. First book by this author and i throughly enjoyed reading this. The ending had my mouth hanging open wide.
Can't wait to buy this book for friends and family
Can't wait to buy this book for friends and family
December 3, 2025
Chloe Carter has just recently joined High Hill Manor school, and soon she finds herself in the middle of a very complicated situation: one of her new school colleagues shows up dead on the school grounds in a very suspicious way.
Chloe's arrival at this new school raises several questions from her classmates: Why did she join in her final year of school? Is she hiding something?
And how is this girl's death connected with Chloe? How is Chloe dealing with a new atmosphere, where people already seem to hate her without an apparent reason and seem to want to dig into her past to find out what reason took her to change schools in her final year.
Twenty years later, she finds herself revisiting her time at this school, and she is forced to remember things she wanted to leave buried in her past, and she has to reconnect with people from her past, bringing a old issues that she hadn't thought about in a very long time, making her question the recollection of the events of 20 years ago.
This is a very addictive book that shifts between past and present, presenting to the reader how the past is linked with events that are currently happening in Chloe's life.
This book also shows us and alerts us to a very delicate subject: how someone's trauma can lead them to make certain decisions and how important it is to talk about it.
Full of intrigue and crime, this is an amazing book to read in one sitting.
It is a book that I definitely recommend.
Many thanks to Netgalley for sharing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
Chloe's arrival at this new school raises several questions from her classmates: Why did she join in her final year of school? Is she hiding something?
And how is this girl's death connected with Chloe? How is Chloe dealing with a new atmosphere, where people already seem to hate her without an apparent reason and seem to want to dig into her past to find out what reason took her to change schools in her final year.
Twenty years later, she finds herself revisiting her time at this school, and she is forced to remember things she wanted to leave buried in her past, and she has to reconnect with people from her past, bringing a old issues that she hadn't thought about in a very long time, making her question the recollection of the events of 20 years ago.
This is a very addictive book that shifts between past and present, presenting to the reader how the past is linked with events that are currently happening in Chloe's life.
This book also shows us and alerts us to a very delicate subject: how someone's trauma can lead them to make certain decisions and how important it is to talk about it.
Full of intrigue and crime, this is an amazing book to read in one sitting.
It is a book that I definitely recommend.
Many thanks to Netgalley for sharing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
November 9, 2025
Tempted to come back and change this to 2 stars. Full review coming soon, but in the meantime, CW for a lot of S/A, grooming of minors, rape of minors with no prior trigger warnings or foreword.
December 8, 2025
yasss baby’s first ARC. Like ok I guess? The setting did a lot of heavy lifting here. Unconvincing behavior from all involved and absolutely nothing thrilling abt it. Messy & not in a fun way. Also if you’re not going to flush out any of your characters in any direction, at least make one of them likable?
November 12, 2025
Such an amazing book, absolutely loved the mystery of it all and all the twists and turns! I couldn’t put it down was such a great read!
I loved the split between the before and present as you really got to see how it then shaped the character and the fact that it was a 20 year mystery that was slowly being revealed and unravelled.
Definitely need to check the trigger warnings for going into this book but it’s written so well and covers sensitive themes with care and respect.
I loved the split between the before and present as you really got to see how it then shaped the character and the fact that it was a 20 year mystery that was slowly being revealed and unravelled.
Definitely need to check the trigger warnings for going into this book but it’s written so well and covers sensitive themes with care and respect.
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