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What Boys Learn
12 hours, 23 minutes
From the author of The Deepest Lake comes a gripping novel of psychological suspense that unravels a mother’s worst fear—that her son may have played a part in the murders of two teenage girls in a wealthy Chicago suburb.
Over one terrible weekend, two teenage girls are found dead in a wealthy Chicago suburb. As the community mourns, Abby Rosso, the girls’ high school counselor, begins to suspect that her son, Benjamin, was secretly involved in their lives—and possibly, their deaths.
Abby doesn’t want to believe Benjamin hurt anyone. But she’s seen the warning signs before. Two decades ago, her brother was imprisoned for a disturbing crime—he was only a little older than Benjamin is now. And Abby has more troubling memories from her own adolescence that confirm what boys and men are capable of. As Abby searches for the truth about what happened to her students, she’s forced to face the Has she been making excuses for Benjamin for years?
Swirling with sharp questions about family, memory, and psychopathy, What Boys Learn is a twisty thriller about how boys are raised—and what they are taught they can get away with.
From the author of The Deepest Lake comes a gripping novel of psychological suspense that unravels a mother’s worst fear—that her son may have played a part in the murders of two teenage girls in a wealthy Chicago suburb.
Over one terrible weekend, two teenage girls are found dead in a wealthy Chicago suburb. As the community mourns, Abby Rosso, the girls’ high school counselor, begins to suspect that her son, Benjamin, was secretly involved in their lives—and possibly, their deaths.
Abby doesn’t want to believe Benjamin hurt anyone. But she’s seen the warning signs before. Two decades ago, her brother was imprisoned for a disturbing crime—he was only a little older than Benjamin is now. And Abby has more troubling memories from her own adolescence that confirm what boys and men are capable of. As Abby searches for the truth about what happened to her students, she’s forced to face the Has she been making excuses for Benjamin for years?
Swirling with sharp questions about family, memory, and psychopathy, What Boys Learn is a twisty thriller about how boys are raised—and what they are taught they can get away with.
Audible Audio
First published January 6, 2026
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About the author
Andromeda Romano-Lax
23 books426 followersAndromeda Romano-Lax worked as a freelance journalist and travel writer before turning to fiction. Her first novel, The Spanish Bow, was translated into eleven languages and was chosen as a New York Times Editors’ Choice. Her suspense novel, The Deepest Lake, was a Barnes & Noble Monthly Pick. Among her nonfiction works are a dozen travel and natural history guidebooks to the public lands of Alaska, as well as a travel narrative, Searching for Steinbeck’s Sea of Cortez. She currently lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
RECEIVE ANDROMEDA'S MONTHLY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER: https://romanolax.substack.com/
RECEIVE ANDROMEDA'S MONTHLY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER: https://romanolax.substack.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
October 13, 2025
[arc review] I so badly wanted to enjoy this but unfortunately this book isn’t for me.
what boys learn is a thriller that follows abby as she navigates two girls being murdered in her town—with her son suspected of doing it.
at first it felt like the netflix series, adolescence—but as the story went on I just didn’t feel captivated nor did I really want to continue.
the general story moved really slowly, and at times felt like it was too long. it picked up towards the end but by that point I was mentally checked out.
I understand the author wanted to do some world building but it got to a point where I was just hoping that something—anything!—would happen to keep me engaged. in the end I just wanted to know who did it, and even then I felt unsatisfied.
thank you soho press for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
what boys learn is a thriller that follows abby as she navigates two girls being murdered in her town—with her son suspected of doing it.
at first it felt like the netflix series, adolescence—but as the story went on I just didn’t feel captivated nor did I really want to continue.
the general story moved really slowly, and at times felt like it was too long. it picked up towards the end but by that point I was mentally checked out.
I understand the author wanted to do some world building but it got to a point where I was just hoping that something—anything!—would happen to keep me engaged. in the end I just wanted to know who did it, and even then I felt unsatisfied.
thank you soho press for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
January 9, 2026
I don’t want to open this review on a negative tone, so I’ll start by saying I enjoyed roughly 30% of the book.
It began with promise. The mystery surrounding the deaths of the two teenage girls immediately cast suspicion on Benjamin, and as the story progressed and his personality slowly unraveled, I started forming my own theories.
Unfortunately, that intrigue didn’t last. The story dragged on far longer than necessary, stretching a premise that couldn’t support its length. By the end, I felt completely disconnected from the characters. Abby was frequently irritating, and Benjamin’s characterization felt forced and unnatural rather than compelling or believable.
One thing I liked about this? The audiobook narrators. Spot on!
Huge thanks to RB Media for the ARC and Audiobook.
It began with promise. The mystery surrounding the deaths of the two teenage girls immediately cast suspicion on Benjamin, and as the story progressed and his personality slowly unraveled, I started forming my own theories.
Unfortunately, that intrigue didn’t last. The story dragged on far longer than necessary, stretching a premise that couldn’t support its length. By the end, I felt completely disconnected from the characters. Abby was frequently irritating, and Benjamin’s characterization felt forced and unnatural rather than compelling or believable.
One thing I liked about this? The audiobook narrators. Spot on!
Huge thanks to RB Media for the ARC and Audiobook.
November 21, 2025
So here’s a little magic: the publisher ( SOHO Press) granted my very first wish on Netgalley, and it was like stepping into a fairytale and plucking a star right out of the sky. My heart skipped a beat, & suddenly the world sparkled just a bit brighter.
When the truth knocks, how far will a mother go to keep the door closed?
Two teenage girls are found dead at the elite school where Abby works as a counselor—and where her son, Benjamin, is enrolled. In an instant, Abby’s carefully balanced world shatters. Guilt claws at her: Did she overlook the signs? Miss something vital? And then the unthinkable—Benjamin becomes a suspect.
But the most chilling part.... Abby isn’t sure the investigators are wrong. Raised alongside a violent, manipulative brother, she knows the markers of a dangerous mind. And sometimes, she sees flickers of that same darkness in her own son.
As the investigation deepens, so does the emotional unraveling. Abby’s past resurfaces, Benjamin’s secrets twist tighter, and therapy sessions with a trusted professor begin to peel back layers no one was ready to face. What’s being said behind closed doors? And when the truth begins to unravel, how far will Abby go to shield her son?
A taut, psychologically rich thriller about inherited trauma, maternal instinct, and the haunting question: What if your child isn’t who you think they are?
Thank you to the author and SOHO Press for giving me this opportunity to read an arc and leave my honest review.
Pub date: January 6, 2026
When the truth knocks, how far will a mother go to keep the door closed?
Two teenage girls are found dead at the elite school where Abby works as a counselor—and where her son, Benjamin, is enrolled. In an instant, Abby’s carefully balanced world shatters. Guilt claws at her: Did she overlook the signs? Miss something vital? And then the unthinkable—Benjamin becomes a suspect.
But the most chilling part.... Abby isn’t sure the investigators are wrong. Raised alongside a violent, manipulative brother, she knows the markers of a dangerous mind. And sometimes, she sees flickers of that same darkness in her own son.
As the investigation deepens, so does the emotional unraveling. Abby’s past resurfaces, Benjamin’s secrets twist tighter, and therapy sessions with a trusted professor begin to peel back layers no one was ready to face. What’s being said behind closed doors? And when the truth begins to unravel, how far will Abby go to shield her son?
A taut, psychologically rich thriller about inherited trauma, maternal instinct, and the haunting question: What if your child isn’t who you think they are?
Thank you to the author and SOHO Press for giving me this opportunity to read an arc and leave my honest review.
Pub date: January 6, 2026
January 8, 2026
✰ 2 stars ✰
I wish it could have given me one. I know I'm still left with more questions than answers... It's disconcerting, to say the least. The school interrogations with Benjamin concerning the two teenage girls deaths reminded me a lot of Adolescence. It was difficult not to draw comparisons to it and found that the written version was quite lacking in conviction.
I have a lot of issues with this book. But the one that really takes the cake is for how ridiculously gullible Abby was. It's an affront that she's thirty-seven (my age!) and behaving so stupidly. 🤦🏻♀️ I don't even have a kid and I would not make the same mistakes she did. So blindly trusting... with her own kid. In this day and age. With another man she had just met? Even if he was her college professor she has not seen for over a decade.
“I didn’t realize that loving someone didn’t need to mean hurting someone else.”
She inspired no faith whatsoever of making rational decisions, but when she just handed over the reins, I was so done, I did not even care to wait and see how the facts would align and the truth would reveal the obvious culprit. 🙄 Which, in fact, the author did not take any side steps of making it so blatantly and predictably clear of who the guilty party was.
All I learned was that I did not learn anything about why exactly boys behave as they do, what do they learn that festers such ungentlemanly conduct. Is it innate? Nature or nurture? Some generational or educational warped way of thinking? It remains unsolvable and unexplained and still unclear. Abby had so much of a sordid past already that her half-baked attempts to connect with her fifteen-year-old son, Benjamin, bore no possible fruit.
“Half the time I get what he’s saying and half the time I don’t.”
And it was so boring. I was this close to being in a slump, for how nothing was drawing me in - no one made me remotely care for them. Abby had no personality, save for her traumatic past that she's never truly let go of - forgetting wasn’t so bad. Remembering was worse - resulting in secrets and questions and the inability to really make functional and rational judgments, despite being a psychologist... without a degree 😮💨.
I just did not connect with the story, the pacing was very slow, and there was no thrill, let alone shock to any reveals. Each decision infuriated me for how absurd her judgment was, that I could not think straight. The attempt to even discern why such toxicity and misogyny even existed in a world of angry, frustrated, “dangerous” men was futile and meager, with more scientific words thrown out than actually making any head-way. 🤷🏻♀️
“I sometimes think the world is afraid of teenage boys. What kind of message are we sending them?”
I wish it could have given me one. I know I'm still left with more questions than answers... It's disconcerting, to say the least. The school interrogations with Benjamin concerning the two teenage girls deaths reminded me a lot of Adolescence. It was difficult not to draw comparisons to it and found that the written version was quite lacking in conviction.
I have a lot of issues with this book. But the one that really takes the cake is for how ridiculously gullible Abby was. It's an affront that she's thirty-seven (my age!) and behaving so stupidly. 🤦🏻♀️ I don't even have a kid and I would not make the same mistakes she did. So blindly trusting... with her own kid. In this day and age. With another man she had just met? Even if he was her college professor she has not seen for over a decade.
“I didn’t realize that loving someone didn’t need to mean hurting someone else.”
She inspired no faith whatsoever of making rational decisions, but when she just handed over the reins, I was so done, I did not even care to wait and see how the facts would align and the truth would reveal the obvious culprit. 🙄 Which, in fact, the author did not take any side steps of making it so blatantly and predictably clear of who the guilty party was.
All I learned was that I did not learn anything about why exactly boys behave as they do, what do they learn that festers such ungentlemanly conduct. Is it innate? Nature or nurture? Some generational or educational warped way of thinking? It remains unsolvable and unexplained and still unclear. Abby had so much of a sordid past already that her half-baked attempts to connect with her fifteen-year-old son, Benjamin, bore no possible fruit.
“Half the time I get what he’s saying and half the time I don’t.”
And it was so boring. I was this close to being in a slump, for how nothing was drawing me in - no one made me remotely care for them. Abby had no personality, save for her traumatic past that she's never truly let go of - forgetting wasn’t so bad. Remembering was worse - resulting in secrets and questions and the inability to really make functional and rational judgments, despite being a psychologist... without a degree 😮💨.
I just did not connect with the story, the pacing was very slow, and there was no thrill, let alone shock to any reveals. Each decision infuriated me for how absurd her judgment was, that I could not think straight. The attempt to even discern why such toxicity and misogyny even existed in a world of angry, frustrated, “dangerous” men was futile and meager, with more scientific words thrown out than actually making any head-way. 🤷🏻♀️
August 30, 2025
I liked the concept of this book but didn’t think it fully delivered. The story centers on Abby, who believes her son might be involved in the murder of 2 classmates. The book delves into Abby’s role as a psychologist and also her past, where the reader learns about her brother and their shared experiences. There is also an ex-boyfriend and an ex-teacher that are part of Abby’s life and are an influence on her son.
The story moved a bit slowly, at least in the first half, and I don’t feel like I got enough backstory to understand Abby’s suspicions. I also felt like it was very obvious from early on what was really going on and was proven right, making the book feel predictable. I did enjoy the way the author connected the storyline to the tertiary storylines and tied up everything up well. The last couple chapters of the book were fast paced and I thought the ending worked for the rest of the story.
Overall, I didn’t really love this one but I thought it was a very interesting concept. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story moved a bit slowly, at least in the first half, and I don’t feel like I got enough backstory to understand Abby’s suspicions. I also felt like it was very obvious from early on what was really going on and was proven right, making the book feel predictable. I did enjoy the way the author connected the storyline to the tertiary storylines and tied up everything up well. The last couple chapters of the book were fast paced and I thought the ending worked for the rest of the story.
Overall, I didn’t really love this one but I thought it was a very interesting concept. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2025
What Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax is a chilling psychological thriller about a mother confronting her deepest fears when Abby Rosso’s teenage son, Benjamin, becomes a suspect in the deaths of two classmates in their affluent Chicago suburb, forcing her to wrestle with uneasy questions about innocence, violence, and how boys are raised in a world full of contradictory messages. In the aftermath of these tragedies, Abby’s role as a high school counselor and the revelations from her own past, including the trauma of a brother imprisoned for a violent crime, color her fears and suspicions as she tries to uncover the truth about Benjamin’s involvement while also facing the possibility that she may have been excusing troubling behavior for years.
The novel explores toxic masculinity, parental denial, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves to cope with fear and love, wrapping them into a tense, emotionally charged narrative.
From the first pages I felt the tension of a parent’s love tangled with dread: Romano-Lax captures that terrifying place where you are not sure whether to trust your instincts or your heart, and it made me feel deeply unsettled and empathetic for Abby in equal measure. What moved me most was the way the story refuses to give easy answers about Benjamin, or about what it means to raise a son in a society that often sends mixed signals about strength, gentleness, and accountability.
The pacing can feel deliberate and slow at times, building atmosphere and psychological depth rather than racing toward answers, which for me enhanced the murky emotional landscape of the book; at other moments I longed for a sharper pull forward in the mystery itself, yet the complex character work more than compensated. I found myself thinking long after reading about how memories and fears shape the way we see the people we love most, and how trauma’s legacy complicates even the simplest acts of trust.
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving it four stars because it is thoughtful, provocative, and deeply human, though the slow buildup may not suit every thriller reader’s taste.
The novel explores toxic masculinity, parental denial, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves to cope with fear and love, wrapping them into a tense, emotionally charged narrative.
From the first pages I felt the tension of a parent’s love tangled with dread: Romano-Lax captures that terrifying place where you are not sure whether to trust your instincts or your heart, and it made me feel deeply unsettled and empathetic for Abby in equal measure. What moved me most was the way the story refuses to give easy answers about Benjamin, or about what it means to raise a son in a society that often sends mixed signals about strength, gentleness, and accountability.
The pacing can feel deliberate and slow at times, building atmosphere and psychological depth rather than racing toward answers, which for me enhanced the murky emotional landscape of the book; at other moments I longed for a sharper pull forward in the mystery itself, yet the complex character work more than compensated. I found myself thinking long after reading about how memories and fears shape the way we see the people we love most, and how trauma’s legacy complicates even the simplest acts of trust.
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving it four stars because it is thoughtful, provocative, and deeply human, though the slow buildup may not suit every thriller reader’s taste.
January 4, 2026
In this book we follow Abby, a school counsellor, dealing with the death of two girls from her school. Then, her son becomes a suspect and Abby starts to wonder if he is capable of such terrible violence. The first part of this story gave me One of Our Own by Lucinda Berry vibes, but the story goes in a different direction. Though the book is a little long, I appreciate the author’s world building and allowing the reader to get to know the characters, so much so that I definitely felt Abby’s stress and worry like it was my own! The ongoing tension between Abby and the male characters around her was palpable and I enjoyed the exploration of toxic, male behaviour. I consumed this via audiobook and Eva Kaminsky and Michael Crouch did a great job with the narration.
I have never read from Andromeda Roman-Lax before, but she is definitely on my radar now. I really enjoyed this suspense-filled story!
You might like this book if you:
💜 don’t mind a slower beginning and getting to know the characters and their world
💜 enjoy a mother/ son dynamic
💜 are interested in exploring toxic, male behaviour in your reading
💜 enjoy a MC who feels like someone you might know
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for an ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out on January 6!
I have never read from Andromeda Roman-Lax before, but she is definitely on my radar now. I really enjoyed this suspense-filled story!
You might like this book if you:
💜 don’t mind a slower beginning and getting to know the characters and their world
💜 enjoy a mother/ son dynamic
💜 are interested in exploring toxic, male behaviour in your reading
💜 enjoy a MC who feels like someone you might know
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for an ALC in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out on January 6!
January 12, 2026
Abby Rosso is an example of someone who should never be a counselor. Her ability to assess whether men (and her son Benjamin) should be trusted is nonexistent, almost as if she’s a magnet attracting unhealthy men.
WHAT BOYS LEARN explores nature vs nurture as Abby worries that Benjamin has inherited her brother’s antisocial personality disorder. On suspension from her private school counseling job after the apparent suicide if a student she advised, Abby talks ethics out of one side of her mouth while allowing Ben to have therapy with her former professor and also having him hypnotize her too.
I really wanted to love WHAT BOYS LEARN, hoping to get DEFENDING JACOB vibes but neither Abby nor Benjamin was compelling enough for me to care. An interesting backstory doesn’t make a character interesting without nuance.
If you approach WHAT BOYS LEARN with low expectations, you won’t be disappointed.
WHAT BOYS LEARN explores nature vs nurture as Abby worries that Benjamin has inherited her brother’s antisocial personality disorder. On suspension from her private school counseling job after the apparent suicide if a student she advised, Abby talks ethics out of one side of her mouth while allowing Ben to have therapy with her former professor and also having him hypnotize her too.
I really wanted to love WHAT BOYS LEARN, hoping to get DEFENDING JACOB vibes but neither Abby nor Benjamin was compelling enough for me to care. An interesting backstory doesn’t make a character interesting without nuance.
If you approach WHAT BOYS LEARN with low expectations, you won’t be disappointed.
September 20, 2025
This book had me on my edge and feeling so many emotions. There were plenty of twists and I can only imagine what it would be like to be a mother of someone suspected of murder. Abby’s character captivated me and I really felt a lot of empathy for her. As the story unfolds we learn more background and history and it started to make me second guess everything, just like Abby. This book had so many relatable themes especially with the world we live in today when it comes to masculinity. I devoured every page of this book, terrified but thrilled to see how it would all unfold.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 28, 2025
ARC✶REVIEW
#ad much love for my advance copy @soho_press #partner
& @recordedbooks #partner for the ALC
🆆🅷🅰🆃 🅱🅾🆈🆂 🅻🅴🅰🆁🅽
< @romanolax >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴊᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 𝟨, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟧
ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ | ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ | ᴅᴏᴍᴇꜱᴛɪᴄ
"’A harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very, very dangerous man who has that under voluntary control,’” (p. 30).
“That's exactly what I needed to know—What boys pick up from the world around them, and what they carry within, and what any of us—mothers especially—can do to make sure
our boys become decent, undamaged, and undamaging men,” (p. 118).
This book pulls you in from the start. The prologue will leave you with so many questions that it begs you to continue on reading. There’s so much to uncover here and the author did a fantastic job leaving us curious enough that we continue on. Exactly how I like my books to start. A++++++
Abby works at Summit High School as a guidance counselor - Summit, the place where the rich and privileged send their children for a private education. But now one of her students, Sidney Mayfield, has been found dead, allegedly from an overdose on her mother’s pain pills. At least, that’s her father’s theory. Abby isn’t convinced Sidney meant to kill herself, and Sidney didn’t leave a note behind.
Then another student is discovered dead, another apparent suicide. This time, a note is left behind, hinting at a suicide pact between the two girls. But Abby still doesn’t buy it - the girls weren’t even close anymore. They’d had a falling out and weren’t speaking to each other. So why then have both of them turned up dead?
What Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax is a gripping thriller from its first page to its last. It’s the type of book you think about long after you’ve read it.
An examination of a parent’s willingness to protect their child at any cost, without even fully realizing it.
It’s always in the back of her mind that her son will turn out like her brother. She’s second guessing him at every step along the way. Just a fabulous book that is expertly written.
All the stars, you need to read this one ♥️
#ad much love for my advance copy @soho_press #partner
& @recordedbooks #partner for the ALC
🆆🅷🅰🆃 🅱🅾🆈🆂 🅻🅴🅰🆁🅽
< @romanolax >
ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇꜱ: ᴊᴀɴᴜᴀʀʏ 𝟨, 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟧
ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ | ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ | ᴅᴏᴍᴇꜱᴛɪᴄ
"’A harmless man is not a good man. A good man is a very, very dangerous man who has that under voluntary control,’” (p. 30).
“That's exactly what I needed to know—What boys pick up from the world around them, and what they carry within, and what any of us—mothers especially—can do to make sure
our boys become decent, undamaged, and undamaging men,” (p. 118).
This book pulls you in from the start. The prologue will leave you with so many questions that it begs you to continue on reading. There’s so much to uncover here and the author did a fantastic job leaving us curious enough that we continue on. Exactly how I like my books to start. A++++++
Abby works at Summit High School as a guidance counselor - Summit, the place where the rich and privileged send their children for a private education. But now one of her students, Sidney Mayfield, has been found dead, allegedly from an overdose on her mother’s pain pills. At least, that’s her father’s theory. Abby isn’t convinced Sidney meant to kill herself, and Sidney didn’t leave a note behind.
Then another student is discovered dead, another apparent suicide. This time, a note is left behind, hinting at a suicide pact between the two girls. But Abby still doesn’t buy it - the girls weren’t even close anymore. They’d had a falling out and weren’t speaking to each other. So why then have both of them turned up dead?
What Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax is a gripping thriller from its first page to its last. It’s the type of book you think about long after you’ve read it.
An examination of a parent’s willingness to protect their child at any cost, without even fully realizing it.
It’s always in the back of her mind that her son will turn out like her brother. She’s second guessing him at every step along the way. Just a fabulous book that is expertly written.
All the stars, you need to read this one ♥️
January 17, 2026
When two teen girls are found dead, a town is shaken, and a mother fears her son may be involved. I enjoyed this on print and audio, and it features themes of mental health in teens, and mother-son relationships.
*many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
*many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
January 8, 2026
A dark and twisty psychological thriller.
January 6, 2026
Acclaimed author Andromeda Romano-Lax (a favorite) makes a striking return with her latest release, WHAT BOYS LEARN, following the success of her five-star novel, THE DEEPEST LAKE (2024), exploring highly-charged themes of toxic masculinity, parental denial, and generational trauma.
This captivating, smartly written psychological literary suspense thriller immerses readers in a tense atmosphere that explores the unraveling psyche of a mother who grapples with the harrowing suspicion that her son may be linked to a shocking murder.
At the heart of the narrative lies a profound exploration of the nature versus nurture debate. Romano-Lax skillfully weaves this core theme throughout the story, examining the unsettling question of whether violent tendencies are innate or cultivated over time. As the plot unfolds, readers are drawn into a gripping exploration of familial bonds, moral dilemmas, motherhood, and the haunting complexities of human behavior.
About...
~The Deaths:
Two teenage girls from a wealthy Chicago suburb, Sidney Mayfield and Izzy Scarlatti, die within the same weekend.
~The Suspect:
Police investigation shifts from suicide to homicide, and 17-year-old Benjamin Rosso becomes a primary suspect after threatening texts and a stolen diary are discovered.
~A Mother's Suspicion:
Benjamin’s mother, Abby Rosso, who is also the victims' school guidance counselor, find a disturbing item in Benjamin's room, making her fear he may be involved.
~The Family Shadow:
Abby's fear is fueled by "generational trauma"—her own brother was imprisoned for a horrific crime at a similar age, leading her to worry about inherited psychopathy.
~The Investigation:
Abby launches her own investigation, aided by an ex-boyfriend, Robert from the police force and her former psychology professor, Curtis Campbell.
~The Twist:
As Abby digs deeper into Curtis Campbell’s background, she realizes the man she trusted to help her son may actually be a greater threat to Benjamin than anyone else.
My thoughts...
WHAT BOYS LEARN is an intricately woven psychological thriller that delves deep into the murky waters of the human psyche. Through its compelling narrative, it unravels the chilling complexities of psychopathy, the haunting shadows of generational trauma, and the painful veil of parental denial. The author expertly constructs a palpable sense of psychological tension, keeping readers on edge as they navigate the dark twists and turns of the story, making it not just a tale of suspense but a profound exploration of human emotions, parenthood, and relationships.
Key Themes
~Toxic Masculinity:
The book explores how boys are raised and the behaviors they are taught they can get away with. The unspoken realities of how boys are shaped by society and what they're allowed to get away with. It proposes uncomfortable questions about the societal messages boys receive about masculinity and how this might contribute to the potential for violence.
~Parental Denial:
Abby struggles with the "nature vs. nurture" debate and whether she has been making excuses for her son's warning signs for years.
~Duality of Narrative:
The story is told through alternating perspectives between Abby and Benjamin, building suspense toward an action-packed final chapter.
Key Psychological Elements
~Nature vs. Nurture
The ongoing debate is whether violent tendencies are inherited or learned. Abby, a school counselor with a psychology degree, has a brother imprisoned for a violent crime (a troubled childhood), leading her to question if her son Benjamin has inherited a predisposition for psychopathy. The narrative constantly challenges both Abby and the reader to determine if Benjamin's troubling behavior is a result of his environment or inherent traits.
~Parental Denial and Unreliable Memory
Abby's perspective highlights the psychological struggle of a mother who desperately doesn't want to believe her child is capable of monstrous acts. The book explores how she may have made excuses for Benjamin's concerning actions for years, touching on themes of complicity and the stories people tell themselves to survive difficult truths.
~Generational Trauma
The legacy of the brother's crime heavily influences Abby's current fears and actions, suggesting how trauma can echo through generations and affect a parent's perception of their own child.
The character of Curtis Campbell, a former psychology professor, introduces a layer of manipulation, as Abby's trust in him is gradually revealed to be misplaced, adding to the psychological twists and turns of the novel's second half.
The author masterfully sustains psychological tension by using an unreliable narrative structure and constantly asking uncomfortable questions, forcing the reader to remain vigilant and uncertain until the very end. The shifting perspectives between Abby and Benjamin contribute to this heightened suspense.
Abby consciously suppressed memories of her own brother’s violent crimes from two decades prior. She realizes she was so focused on not raising another version of her brother that she ignored the specific, unique warning signs Benjamin was exhibiting.
In addition to its central psychological elements, What Boys Learn explores several sociological and interpersonal themes:
~Suburban Facades
~Complicity and Protection
~Adolescence & Social Pressure
~Interpersonal & Emotional Themes
~Unconditional Mother-Love
~Unreliable Memory
~Parental Insecurity
~Moral & Intellectual Intricacy
The title...
The title is multifaceted, reflecting the novel's core exploration of how societal expectations and familial legacies shape male behavior.
The novel emphasizes several critical lessons and messages, challenging the stories we tell ourselves to survive, specifically addressing how parents may inadvertently teach their children that certain behaviors are acceptable by making excuses for them.
~The Danger of Complicity
~Socialization and Permission
~The Burden of Generational Trauma
~Nature vs. Nurture Uncertainty
~The Limits of Professionalism
The critical takeaway message of WHAT BOYS LEARN is an "uncomfortable exploration" of the stories people tell themselves to survive, particularly when those stories mask a terrifying reality.
The audiobook...
I have always been captivated by the author's writing and her audiobooks. When I discovered that the talented duo of narrators, Michael Crouch —one of my favorites—and the mesmerizing Eva Kaminsky were involved, I felt a rush of excitement. Their performances truly bring the story to life, masterfully capturing the intricate emotions and the underlying tension that weave throughout the narrative. It creates a spellbinding and immersive listening experience that is both captivating and compelling, drawing me into the heart of the tale with every moment.
I highly recommend this author's exceptional work and this remarkable audio. The book is an ideal pick for book clubs and further discussions.
Recs...
If you enjoyed the themes of parental suspicion, generational trauma, and dark family secrets in WHAT BOYS LEARN, consider other gripping psychological thrillers like We Need to Talk About Kevin, and Defending Jacob.
Also, readers may enjoy:
~The Deepest Lake by Andromeda Romano-Lax
~The Push by Ashley Audrain
~I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
~The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
~The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer
~Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
~Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena
Special thanks to RB Media, Recorded Books, and Netgalley for graciously sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 06, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Jan Newsletter
This captivating, smartly written psychological literary suspense thriller immerses readers in a tense atmosphere that explores the unraveling psyche of a mother who grapples with the harrowing suspicion that her son may be linked to a shocking murder.
At the heart of the narrative lies a profound exploration of the nature versus nurture debate. Romano-Lax skillfully weaves this core theme throughout the story, examining the unsettling question of whether violent tendencies are innate or cultivated over time. As the plot unfolds, readers are drawn into a gripping exploration of familial bonds, moral dilemmas, motherhood, and the haunting complexities of human behavior.
About...
~The Deaths:
Two teenage girls from a wealthy Chicago suburb, Sidney Mayfield and Izzy Scarlatti, die within the same weekend.
~The Suspect:
Police investigation shifts from suicide to homicide, and 17-year-old Benjamin Rosso becomes a primary suspect after threatening texts and a stolen diary are discovered.
~A Mother's Suspicion:
Benjamin’s mother, Abby Rosso, who is also the victims' school guidance counselor, find a disturbing item in Benjamin's room, making her fear he may be involved.
~The Family Shadow:
Abby's fear is fueled by "generational trauma"—her own brother was imprisoned for a horrific crime at a similar age, leading her to worry about inherited psychopathy.
~The Investigation:
Abby launches her own investigation, aided by an ex-boyfriend, Robert from the police force and her former psychology professor, Curtis Campbell.
~The Twist:
As Abby digs deeper into Curtis Campbell’s background, she realizes the man she trusted to help her son may actually be a greater threat to Benjamin than anyone else.
My thoughts...
WHAT BOYS LEARN is an intricately woven psychological thriller that delves deep into the murky waters of the human psyche. Through its compelling narrative, it unravels the chilling complexities of psychopathy, the haunting shadows of generational trauma, and the painful veil of parental denial. The author expertly constructs a palpable sense of psychological tension, keeping readers on edge as they navigate the dark twists and turns of the story, making it not just a tale of suspense but a profound exploration of human emotions, parenthood, and relationships.
Key Themes
~Toxic Masculinity:
The book explores how boys are raised and the behaviors they are taught they can get away with. The unspoken realities of how boys are shaped by society and what they're allowed to get away with. It proposes uncomfortable questions about the societal messages boys receive about masculinity and how this might contribute to the potential for violence.
~Parental Denial:
Abby struggles with the "nature vs. nurture" debate and whether she has been making excuses for her son's warning signs for years.
~Duality of Narrative:
The story is told through alternating perspectives between Abby and Benjamin, building suspense toward an action-packed final chapter.
Key Psychological Elements
~Nature vs. Nurture
The ongoing debate is whether violent tendencies are inherited or learned. Abby, a school counselor with a psychology degree, has a brother imprisoned for a violent crime (a troubled childhood), leading her to question if her son Benjamin has inherited a predisposition for psychopathy. The narrative constantly challenges both Abby and the reader to determine if Benjamin's troubling behavior is a result of his environment or inherent traits.
~Parental Denial and Unreliable Memory
Abby's perspective highlights the psychological struggle of a mother who desperately doesn't want to believe her child is capable of monstrous acts. The book explores how she may have made excuses for Benjamin's concerning actions for years, touching on themes of complicity and the stories people tell themselves to survive difficult truths.
~Generational Trauma
The legacy of the brother's crime heavily influences Abby's current fears and actions, suggesting how trauma can echo through generations and affect a parent's perception of their own child.
The character of Curtis Campbell, a former psychology professor, introduces a layer of manipulation, as Abby's trust in him is gradually revealed to be misplaced, adding to the psychological twists and turns of the novel's second half.
The author masterfully sustains psychological tension by using an unreliable narrative structure and constantly asking uncomfortable questions, forcing the reader to remain vigilant and uncertain until the very end. The shifting perspectives between Abby and Benjamin contribute to this heightened suspense.
Abby consciously suppressed memories of her own brother’s violent crimes from two decades prior. She realizes she was so focused on not raising another version of her brother that she ignored the specific, unique warning signs Benjamin was exhibiting.
In addition to its central psychological elements, What Boys Learn explores several sociological and interpersonal themes:
~Suburban Facades
~Complicity and Protection
~Adolescence & Social Pressure
~Interpersonal & Emotional Themes
~Unconditional Mother-Love
~Unreliable Memory
~Parental Insecurity
~Moral & Intellectual Intricacy
The title...
The title is multifaceted, reflecting the novel's core exploration of how societal expectations and familial legacies shape male behavior.
The novel emphasizes several critical lessons and messages, challenging the stories we tell ourselves to survive, specifically addressing how parents may inadvertently teach their children that certain behaviors are acceptable by making excuses for them.
~The Danger of Complicity
~Socialization and Permission
~The Burden of Generational Trauma
~Nature vs. Nurture Uncertainty
~The Limits of Professionalism
The critical takeaway message of WHAT BOYS LEARN is an "uncomfortable exploration" of the stories people tell themselves to survive, particularly when those stories mask a terrifying reality.
The audiobook...
I have always been captivated by the author's writing and her audiobooks. When I discovered that the talented duo of narrators, Michael Crouch —one of my favorites—and the mesmerizing Eva Kaminsky were involved, I felt a rush of excitement. Their performances truly bring the story to life, masterfully capturing the intricate emotions and the underlying tension that weave throughout the narrative. It creates a spellbinding and immersive listening experience that is both captivating and compelling, drawing me into the heart of the tale with every moment.
I highly recommend this author's exceptional work and this remarkable audio. The book is an ideal pick for book clubs and further discussions.
Recs...
If you enjoyed the themes of parental suspicion, generational trauma, and dark family secrets in WHAT BOYS LEARN, consider other gripping psychological thrillers like We Need to Talk About Kevin, and Defending Jacob.
Also, readers may enjoy:
~The Deepest Lake by Andromeda Romano-Lax
~The Push by Ashley Audrain
~I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb
~The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
~The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer
~Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
~Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena
Special thanks to RB Media, Recorded Books, and Netgalley for graciously sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 06, 2026
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Jan Newsletter
January 7, 2026
3.25⭐️- not really a spoiler but it depends which marketing burb you read as some do not include some of the things I mention below. So ai threw it on just in case.
I have very mixed feelings on this one. I enjoyed the beginning and the ending, but the middle had me firmly planted on the struggle bus—with no stops and no snacks.
I loved the subject matter, but it often felt like the author set out to write a book designed to be embraced, praised, and aggressively waved around as “the next important book” come awards season. I get it—everyone wants a bestseller—but there’s a difference between a story that naturally sparks conversation and one that feels like it’s trying a little too hard to be conversation-worthy. Unfortunately, the execution doesn’t live up to the ambition.
The psychological and psychiatric elements are clearly a passion of the author and are impressively well researched. That part shows. What doesn’t work is the attempt to broadly connect how boys are raised, societal influence, and personal responsibility while centering the narrative around sociopathy. You simply cannot equate the behavior of a sociopath with the average young male experience, and trying to do so feels not just flawed but a bit intellectually dishonest.
The book ultimately wants to explore two different—but only loosely related—themes, and they stubbornly refuse to play nicely together. The marketing blurb promises “sharp questions about family, memory, and psychopathy” and frames this as a story about how boys are raised and what they’re taught they can get away with. But once sociopathy is the engine driving the plot, sweeping generalizations about upbringing and social conditioning stop holding water. As a result, the book doesn’t quite accomplish what it sets out to do.
I consumed this via audiobook, which was expertly narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Michael Crouch. Both are seasoned professionals who absolutely do the material justice—even if they couldn’t perform a miracle and level up the prose. The production itself was clean and well balanced. I listened comfortably at 2x speed with no issues, though at 1x it landed at a solid, conversational pace.
In the end, I’m glad I read it. I appreciated the accurate psychological information woven into a fictional thriller, but the story itself was overly predictable, occasionally scattered, and never quite figured out what it wanted to be when it grew up.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from RB Media via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
I have very mixed feelings on this one. I enjoyed the beginning and the ending, but the middle had me firmly planted on the struggle bus—with no stops and no snacks.
I loved the subject matter, but it often felt like the author set out to write a book designed to be embraced, praised, and aggressively waved around as “the next important book” come awards season. I get it—everyone wants a bestseller—but there’s a difference between a story that naturally sparks conversation and one that feels like it’s trying a little too hard to be conversation-worthy. Unfortunately, the execution doesn’t live up to the ambition.
The psychological and psychiatric elements are clearly a passion of the author and are impressively well researched. That part shows. What doesn’t work is the attempt to broadly connect how boys are raised, societal influence, and personal responsibility while centering the narrative around sociopathy. You simply cannot equate the behavior of a sociopath with the average young male experience, and trying to do so feels not just flawed but a bit intellectually dishonest.
The book ultimately wants to explore two different—but only loosely related—themes, and they stubbornly refuse to play nicely together. The marketing blurb promises “sharp questions about family, memory, and psychopathy” and frames this as a story about how boys are raised and what they’re taught they can get away with. But once sociopathy is the engine driving the plot, sweeping generalizations about upbringing and social conditioning stop holding water. As a result, the book doesn’t quite accomplish what it sets out to do.
I consumed this via audiobook, which was expertly narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Michael Crouch. Both are seasoned professionals who absolutely do the material justice—even if they couldn’t perform a miracle and level up the prose. The production itself was clean and well balanced. I listened comfortably at 2x speed with no issues, though at 1x it landed at a solid, conversational pace.
In the end, I’m glad I read it. I appreciated the accurate psychological information woven into a fictional thriller, but the story itself was overly predictable, occasionally scattered, and never quite figured out what it wanted to be when it grew up.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from RB Media via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2026
What Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax. Thanks to @sohocrime for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Two teenage girls have been found dead and the school counselor begins to wonder if her son Benjamin knows more than he lets on. She doesn’t want to believe he’d hurt anyone, but psychopathy runs in her family with her brother who tormented her as a kid.
There aren’t too many books like this, surprisingly, where we talk about the social dynamics of teenage boys and the podcasters and toxic masculinity ready to groom then when they don’t have others to turn to. Thankfully Benjamin has his mother, a school counselor, who is somewhat wise to the game. If you pay close attention, you may find some clues on how this is going to go. The ending gets very climatic and nail biting. While on the longer side and I see some other reviewers thought maybe too long, I did not feel that way. There’s a lot of mental health information and counseling background that becomes important.
“Anyone who assumes you think your kid is either a perfect angel or a perfect devil has never had a kid. And yet.”
Read this if you like:
-Mother son relationship dynamics
-Mental health thrillers
-Adolescent mental health
What Boys Learn comes out 1/6.
Two teenage girls have been found dead and the school counselor begins to wonder if her son Benjamin knows more than he lets on. She doesn’t want to believe he’d hurt anyone, but psychopathy runs in her family with her brother who tormented her as a kid.
There aren’t too many books like this, surprisingly, where we talk about the social dynamics of teenage boys and the podcasters and toxic masculinity ready to groom then when they don’t have others to turn to. Thankfully Benjamin has his mother, a school counselor, who is somewhat wise to the game. If you pay close attention, you may find some clues on how this is going to go. The ending gets very climatic and nail biting. While on the longer side and I see some other reviewers thought maybe too long, I did not feel that way. There’s a lot of mental health information and counseling background that becomes important.
“Anyone who assumes you think your kid is either a perfect angel or a perfect devil has never had a kid. And yet.”
Read this if you like:
-Mother son relationship dynamics
-Mental health thrillers
-Adolescent mental health
What Boys Learn comes out 1/6.
December 31, 2025
A school counselor, Abby, faces a huge challenge when her teenage son is a suspect in the murder of two of her female students. As she seeks to find answers and also help her son, flashbacks to her own traumas as a teen resurface. The dual time periods work really well in painting a vivid picture of Abby’s life and her biggest fears that she has for both herself and her son. I did figure out where this book was headed early on so I was not at all surprised by the outcome. Still, an interesting read and character study. Recommended for fans of Gillian Flynn and Lo Patrick.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, SoHo Crime and Andromeda Romano-Lax for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, SoHo Crime and Andromeda Romano-Lax for my complimentary e-book ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 18, 2026
4.5⭐️
Abby is a school counselor with a pretty odd son. When two of his classmates end up dead the finger is pointed at Benjamin. Abby like any good mother will do anything to protect her son. She is sent down a rabbit hole of whether or not her son is connected to these murders. With a past she's not proud of she is forced to face demons she's been running from to get the truth. Overall this book was captivating and left me wanting more and had plot twists I didn't see coming.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC!
Abby is a school counselor with a pretty odd son. When two of his classmates end up dead the finger is pointed at Benjamin. Abby like any good mother will do anything to protect her son. She is sent down a rabbit hole of whether or not her son is connected to these murders. With a past she's not proud of she is forced to face demons she's been running from to get the truth. Overall this book was captivating and left me wanting more and had plot twists I didn't see coming.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC!
January 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for providing me with an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I haven’t heard of this author before now, but it sounded like such a great premise. Anyone who has watched American society for the last few decades is well aware that boys and girls are treated differently, and that crime in young men is often excused away as ‘boys will be boys.’ If you don’t think this is true, just refer to the consequences that Brock Turner got for the rape of an unconscious Chanel Miller, after being interrupted in the act by two grad students. For three felony rape charges, he was sentenced to six months in jail but was released after three months because of good behavior and the sentence length was disputed because he didn’t have a criminal record and was a swimmer with potential.
With that in mind, I started this read. I tend to like mysteries and thrillers that are more realistic, and it really seemed like this story would have the potential to spark discussions within communities about what boys are able to get away with, while girls are the ones who frequently are targeted.
The audiobook is narrated by two people—Eva Kaminsky and Michael Crouch, who did an outstanding job with narration. Kaminsky made a convincing Abby, and I loved that Benjamin was given a different narrator, who perfectly captures the combination of indifference and caring of a teenager in both tone and manner of narration.
As a school counselor, I figured Abby would be more of a sympathetic character. She clearly cares about the students she works with, and seems to exhibit solid counseling behaviors—meeting the students where they are at, using silence, and even working outside of her office to put more reluctant students at ease. Like many other counselors, she went into the field out of a calling, and over the course of the book it is revealed that her older brother was convicted for a brutal and violent crime.
I had a really hard time with Abby’s character, as much as I went into this really expecting to identify with her since I worked as a mental health counselor and the academic programs for these two careers have a lot of overlap. However, I found her to be so gullible and meek that it made it hard for me to fully identify with her. It was easy to empathize with her fears about her son and the idea that sociopathy (or what we now call Antisocial Personality Disorder) has a genetic basis. This made sense to me, and there is so much that we’ve learned about the brain in recent decades, especially how many mental health disorders do have a genetic component, but there are also many other factors involved in the development of these disorders, including adverse childhood experiences such as neglect or trauma, abuse, as well as how these boys are being brought up and what they’re exposed to.
Abby’s fears about her son seem valid, if not a bit overblown. The part where I really struggled with her character is towards the end of the book, when she gullibly allows the son she is concerned about to be evaluated by professionals who have no business working with these two: her old professors from counseling school, including one that she had a crush on. When she didn’t like what the first professor said, she went to the other, yet counseling ethics are in place for a reason: it is unethical to work with people that you have an existing relationship with, since the connection can make it significantly harder to stay objective. Yet when it comes to Benjamin, her son, she’s just fine with having him see a non-practicing therapist for formal treatment who is overly invested in their family. Abby herself also sees this therapist, and no wonder things don’t go well.
Additionally, I had a hard time with the connection between Abby and her son. He’s clearly in the teen years where he spends as little time with his mother as possible, and for a mother who prides herself on being so aware of behaviors and counseling techniques, she seems pretty clueless. For the most part, she rolls with Benjamin’s resistance, but she clearly distrusts her son and things that she’s noticed make her much more concerned that he might also be like her brother—a violent criminal. While Benjamin demonstrates typical teen behavior, there is so much that Abby doesn’t know about his life and personality that it doesn’t necessarily even feel like he’s her son.
Besides the excessive hand-wringing and distrust and poor choices on Abby’s part, this book required a really high level of suspension of disbelief. It isn’t until the second half of the book, and especially the ending, that the believable, intriguing story was dissected to go off the rails and focus on a completely different tangent. I didn’t love the way things just got more and more unbelievable and unrealistic, and I wasn’t prepared to suspend that much belief.
Part of the appeal of reading mystery/thriller/suspense books is the plot twists that seem to come out of nowhere, and along the way, readers are given little breadcrumbs hinting at who the real villain is. I love when I’m blindsided by a plot twist and really have to work to guess at the villain. This book doesn’t quite have that. There are some plot twists that come out of nowhere, but I was so disappointed to be able to predict a good amount of the twists, and I had the villain nailed so early on. It was difficult to believe that Abby couldn’t see what was coming.
Overall, this was a read that held my attention for the day. It is a fast-paced story with short, snappy chapters and an eye towards discussing heavier themes like forgiveness, guilt, and the old nature-nurture debate. I didn’t dislike the read, but while organizing my thoughts I realized that there are some aspects that I didn’t care for. Aside from the fact that this story required a level of suspension of disbelief that I wasn’t prepared for. Someone commented on a previous review that they call these ‘popcorn books’ and it made perfect sense to me, as well as applying towards this book. It’s fun for the moment, but doesn’t take up space in my brain after I finish. At least the counseling was portrayed in a moderately reasonable and ethical way, on Abby’s part at least.
I haven’t heard of this author before now, but it sounded like such a great premise. Anyone who has watched American society for the last few decades is well aware that boys and girls are treated differently, and that crime in young men is often excused away as ‘boys will be boys.’ If you don’t think this is true, just refer to the consequences that Brock Turner got for the rape of an unconscious Chanel Miller, after being interrupted in the act by two grad students. For three felony rape charges, he was sentenced to six months in jail but was released after three months because of good behavior and the sentence length was disputed because he didn’t have a criminal record and was a swimmer with potential.
With that in mind, I started this read. I tend to like mysteries and thrillers that are more realistic, and it really seemed like this story would have the potential to spark discussions within communities about what boys are able to get away with, while girls are the ones who frequently are targeted.
The audiobook is narrated by two people—Eva Kaminsky and Michael Crouch, who did an outstanding job with narration. Kaminsky made a convincing Abby, and I loved that Benjamin was given a different narrator, who perfectly captures the combination of indifference and caring of a teenager in both tone and manner of narration.
As a school counselor, I figured Abby would be more of a sympathetic character. She clearly cares about the students she works with, and seems to exhibit solid counseling behaviors—meeting the students where they are at, using silence, and even working outside of her office to put more reluctant students at ease. Like many other counselors, she went into the field out of a calling, and over the course of the book it is revealed that her older brother was convicted for a brutal and violent crime.
I had a really hard time with Abby’s character, as much as I went into this really expecting to identify with her since I worked as a mental health counselor and the academic programs for these two careers have a lot of overlap. However, I found her to be so gullible and meek that it made it hard for me to fully identify with her. It was easy to empathize with her fears about her son and the idea that sociopathy (or what we now call Antisocial Personality Disorder) has a genetic basis. This made sense to me, and there is so much that we’ve learned about the brain in recent decades, especially how many mental health disorders do have a genetic component, but there are also many other factors involved in the development of these disorders, including adverse childhood experiences such as neglect or trauma, abuse, as well as how these boys are being brought up and what they’re exposed to.
Abby’s fears about her son seem valid, if not a bit overblown. The part where I really struggled with her character is towards the end of the book, when she gullibly allows the son she is concerned about to be evaluated by professionals who have no business working with these two: her old professors from counseling school, including one that she had a crush on. When she didn’t like what the first professor said, she went to the other, yet counseling ethics are in place for a reason: it is unethical to work with people that you have an existing relationship with, since the connection can make it significantly harder to stay objective. Yet when it comes to Benjamin, her son, she’s just fine with having him see a non-practicing therapist for formal treatment who is overly invested in their family. Abby herself also sees this therapist, and no wonder things don’t go well.
Additionally, I had a hard time with the connection between Abby and her son. He’s clearly in the teen years where he spends as little time with his mother as possible, and for a mother who prides herself on being so aware of behaviors and counseling techniques, she seems pretty clueless. For the most part, she rolls with Benjamin’s resistance, but she clearly distrusts her son and things that she’s noticed make her much more concerned that he might also be like her brother—a violent criminal. While Benjamin demonstrates typical teen behavior, there is so much that Abby doesn’t know about his life and personality that it doesn’t necessarily even feel like he’s her son.
Besides the excessive hand-wringing and distrust and poor choices on Abby’s part, this book required a really high level of suspension of disbelief. It isn’t until the second half of the book, and especially the ending, that the believable, intriguing story was dissected to go off the rails and focus on a completely different tangent. I didn’t love the way things just got more and more unbelievable and unrealistic, and I wasn’t prepared to suspend that much belief.
Part of the appeal of reading mystery/thriller/suspense books is the plot twists that seem to come out of nowhere, and along the way, readers are given little breadcrumbs hinting at who the real villain is. I love when I’m blindsided by a plot twist and really have to work to guess at the villain. This book doesn’t quite have that. There are some plot twists that come out of nowhere, but I was so disappointed to be able to predict a good amount of the twists, and I had the villain nailed so early on. It was difficult to believe that Abby couldn’t see what was coming.
Overall, this was a read that held my attention for the day. It is a fast-paced story with short, snappy chapters and an eye towards discussing heavier themes like forgiveness, guilt, and the old nature-nurture debate. I didn’t dislike the read, but while organizing my thoughts I realized that there are some aspects that I didn’t care for. Aside from the fact that this story required a level of suspension of disbelief that I wasn’t prepared for. Someone commented on a previous review that they call these ‘popcorn books’ and it made perfect sense to me, as well as applying towards this book. It’s fun for the moment, but doesn’t take up space in my brain after I finish. At least the counseling was portrayed in a moderately reasonable and ethical way, on Abby’s part at least.
September 9, 2025
Thoughtful, heartfelt, and surprisingly funny in places, this book dives into family, growing up, and all the messy emotions that come with it. The characters felt real and complicated in the best way, and I loved how the story balanced heavier moments with warmth and humor.
It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on you, making you laugh one minute and think deeply the next. A tender, honest read that leaves you feeling like you’ve just stepped out of someone else’s life for a while.
It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on you, making you laugh one minute and think deeply the next. A tender, honest read that leaves you feeling like you’ve just stepped out of someone else’s life for a while.
December 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
What Boys Learn is a compelling and emotional read. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style as it’s clear, immersive, and pulls you deeply into the story. One of the strongest aspects of the book is how vividly the mother’s pain is portrayed as she struggles with the terrifying question of whether her son is guilty or innocent in the murder of two teen girls.
The story raises important questions about parenting, responsibility, and the impact of what boys are taught as they grow up.
Trigger warnings; child abuse, rape, teen murder, drug abuse, and mentions of suicide
What Boys Learn is a compelling and emotional read. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style as it’s clear, immersive, and pulls you deeply into the story. One of the strongest aspects of the book is how vividly the mother’s pain is portrayed as she struggles with the terrifying question of whether her son is guilty or innocent in the murder of two teen girls.
The story raises important questions about parenting, responsibility, and the impact of what boys are taught as they grow up.
Trigger warnings; child abuse, rape, teen murder, drug abuse, and mentions of suicide
December 13, 2025
WHAT BOYS LEARN
📖 book review • out 01.06.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you @soho_press for my #gifted ARC
the premise of this book is so intriguing that I was really excited to start it! Abby is the high school counselor, who also has a teenage son at the school. When two girls pass away back to back, foul play is suspected, and Abby suspects her son is hiding something about the girls. Her brother is locked away in prison, and Abby is questioning a lot of things in her family- including what boys are taught that they can get away with.
I did enjoy the book, but I also felt it could have been a little shorter .. 456 pages for a thriller is a bit much in my opinion. My first thought after reading the synopsis was Shari Lapena’s book- someone we know- which I loved but it was a lot different than that. I don’t know, I honestly feel like the first half and the second half of the book were two separate stories 😵💫
📖 book review • out 01.06.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you @soho_press for my #gifted ARC
the premise of this book is so intriguing that I was really excited to start it! Abby is the high school counselor, who also has a teenage son at the school. When two girls pass away back to back, foul play is suspected, and Abby suspects her son is hiding something about the girls. Her brother is locked away in prison, and Abby is questioning a lot of things in her family- including what boys are taught that they can get away with.
I did enjoy the book, but I also felt it could have been a little shorter .. 456 pages for a thriller is a bit much in my opinion. My first thought after reading the synopsis was Shari Lapena’s book- someone we know- which I loved but it was a lot different than that. I don’t know, I honestly feel like the first half and the second half of the book were two separate stories 😵💫
January 15, 2026
I don’t know about the story because the ALC provided to me by NetGalley was horribly recorded. The narrator’s voice fell off at the end of each sentence and her recording equipment didn’t pick up as well. This became absolutely unbearable after two hours in and I abandoned the book.
October 24, 2025
I love a good mystery, but this was not it. The villain was obvious from the moment he appeared on the page. The main character was completely oblivious. None of the characters were well developed enough for me to care about them much. The medical inaccuracies were really irritating. Clonidine isn’t prescribed for anxiety; it’s most commonly prescribed for hypertension and must be taken in the prescribed dose on a schedule, or within specific blood pressure parameters. Apart from that it’s prescribed in extended release form for ADHD. Either way it’s not prescribed to be taken like a couple of Tylenol whenever you’re feeling anxious. The story moved along slowly and was pretty predictable. It held my interest enough for me to finish it (skimming through the last 1/3).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for the eARC, and to RBmedia for the ALC.
3.25 🌟 rounded down
Ahhh, this book was so frustrating. It could absolutely be a 4 or 5-star story if only it were cut down a bit. I’m usually wary of thrillers that crawl close to 500 pages, and for good reason. Usually, it means the pacing is slower than I care for, as was the case here. The first ~65% or so drags on for way too long. Then, suddenly, the last ~35% becomes super interesting, tense, and faster paced. I realize plenty of groundwork had to be laid here in the beginning, but I still feel it could have been tightened up with some editing to make for a more compelling read. I enjoyed the many layers of the characters, and a couple of the twists were unexpected. All in all, I’d give the author another chance.
Michael Crouch and Eva Kaminsky narrate the audiobook. Michael Crouch is fantastic as always. This was my first audiobook featuring Eva Kaminsky. I’m not sure if it was her particular way of reading or the audio mixing, but the volume felt very uneven for her parts. It’s as if she would speak normally for the first part of the sentence, and then trail off towards the end of it. I had to slow the playback down from my usual speed in order to hear everything she said. I’ve never run into this issue with an audiobook before.
3.25 🌟 rounded down
Ahhh, this book was so frustrating. It could absolutely be a 4 or 5-star story if only it were cut down a bit. I’m usually wary of thrillers that crawl close to 500 pages, and for good reason. Usually, it means the pacing is slower than I care for, as was the case here. The first ~65% or so drags on for way too long. Then, suddenly, the last ~35% becomes super interesting, tense, and faster paced. I realize plenty of groundwork had to be laid here in the beginning, but I still feel it could have been tightened up with some editing to make for a more compelling read. I enjoyed the many layers of the characters, and a couple of the twists were unexpected. All in all, I’d give the author another chance.
Michael Crouch and Eva Kaminsky narrate the audiobook. Michael Crouch is fantastic as always. This was my first audiobook featuring Eva Kaminsky. I’m not sure if it was her particular way of reading or the audio mixing, but the volume felt very uneven for her parts. It’s as if she would speak normally for the first part of the sentence, and then trail off towards the end of it. I had to slow the playback down from my usual speed in order to hear everything she said. I’ve never run into this issue with an audiobook before.
January 9, 2026
What Boys Learn had an interesting premise, but the execution left me more frustrated than entertained. For the first 70%, the pacing was incredibly slow, and I found the narration style—where the narrator seemed to whisper at the end of every sentence—to be a major distraction.
The biggest hurdle for me was the protagonist, Abby. As a school counselor with a difficult family history involving her brother, you would expect her to be skeptical and protective. Instead, she is bafflingly naive. She allows her son to go away for two weeks with a man she hasn't seen in years—a literal stranger—with no phone, no address, and no way to contact him. Whether you are a parent or not, this level of negligence is hard to overlook. Her relationship with the local cop was equally unbelievable. The book finally picks up speed near the end. The "turn" regarding the doctor’s intentions for Ben was genuinely scary and insane. It was the only part of the book that felt high-stakes and engaging. Till the end, Abby remains delusional about her choices and her son. In the end, if you can get past a protagonist who makes infuriating decisions and a very slow burn, the twist might be worth it—but for me, the character logic just didn't hold up.
The biggest hurdle for me was the protagonist, Abby. As a school counselor with a difficult family history involving her brother, you would expect her to be skeptical and protective. Instead, she is bafflingly naive. She allows her son to go away for two weeks with a man she hasn't seen in years—a literal stranger—with no phone, no address, and no way to contact him. Whether you are a parent or not, this level of negligence is hard to overlook. Her relationship with the local cop was equally unbelievable. The book finally picks up speed near the end. The "turn" regarding the doctor’s intentions for Ben was genuinely scary and insane. It was the only part of the book that felt high-stakes and engaging. Till the end, Abby remains delusional about her choices and her son. In the end, if you can get past a protagonist who makes infuriating decisions and a very slow burn, the twist might be worth it—but for me, the character logic just didn't hold up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2026
I hate having to say this about a debut, but this one just wasn’t for me. And honestly, that’s very much a me thing and my own weirdness as a reader.
First, I think the book could have benefited from being a bit shorter. There were stretches where the pacing dragged, and I found myself zoning out during the audiobook and having to rewind more than once just to stay engaged. Tightening it up would have helped the story maintain momentum.
Second, the author did too good of a job making Benjamin absolutely insufferable. His character alone made me grateful I will never have children, let alone a boy. And the main character’s reaction felt very “boy mom” coded—completely unable to accept that her precious little psychopath might actually be a psychopath. That dynamic just didn’t work for me.
All that said, the narrator was phenomenal and really carried the audiobook. While this particular story wasn’t my vibe, I’d absolutely be open to picking up the author’s next book if it explores a different storyline.
First, I think the book could have benefited from being a bit shorter. There were stretches where the pacing dragged, and I found myself zoning out during the audiobook and having to rewind more than once just to stay engaged. Tightening it up would have helped the story maintain momentum.
Second, the author did too good of a job making Benjamin absolutely insufferable. His character alone made me grateful I will never have children, let alone a boy. And the main character’s reaction felt very “boy mom” coded—completely unable to accept that her precious little psychopath might actually be a psychopath. That dynamic just didn’t work for me.
All that said, the narrator was phenomenal and really carried the audiobook. While this particular story wasn’t my vibe, I’d absolutely be open to picking up the author’s next book if it explores a different storyline.
January 9, 2026
Thank you to RB Media for the ALC!
“What Boys Learn” is a deeply unsettling psychological thriller. Abby, a high school counselor, is shocked when two girls from her school end up dead. What is even more shocking is that she begins to suspect her son may have played a role in their deaths. She doesn’t want to think it's possible, but she has seen it before in her older brother growing up. Trying to be proactive, she takes her son to a counselor that she trusts. As a mother, I felt this one deeply - a mother will do anything for her children but when it comes to that child being a danger to others…that is incredibly gut wrenching and thought-provoking to think about. I was not expecting this book to take the turns that it did, but it made for an entertaining listen that had me glued to the pages (or, maybe I mean airpods since I was lucky enough to have this on audio!) Told in dual points of view, Benjamin’s confusion and despair balance out Abby’s desperation. I thought the author did a great job approaching a very tough topic.
“What Boys Learn is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
“What Boys Learn” is a deeply unsettling psychological thriller. Abby, a high school counselor, is shocked when two girls from her school end up dead. What is even more shocking is that she begins to suspect her son may have played a role in their deaths. She doesn’t want to think it's possible, but she has seen it before in her older brother growing up. Trying to be proactive, she takes her son to a counselor that she trusts. As a mother, I felt this one deeply - a mother will do anything for her children but when it comes to that child being a danger to others…that is incredibly gut wrenching and thought-provoking to think about. I was not expecting this book to take the turns that it did, but it made for an entertaining listen that had me glued to the pages (or, maybe I mean airpods since I was lucky enough to have this on audio!) Told in dual points of view, Benjamin’s confusion and despair balance out Abby’s desperation. I thought the author did a great job approaching a very tough topic.
“What Boys Learn is out NOW! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)
January 9, 2026
Here. Go ahead and take my five stars.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so enraged by fictional characters’ attitudes before. I wanted to jump inside these pages and…arrrgghh! I think any book that makes you feel that strongly deserves all the stars! I have opinions about every single character here, and can see many book club debates with this one.
”What Boys Learn is a psychological thriller, in which a single mother has to come to terms with the fact that her teenage son may be capable of violence when he becomes a suspect in the murder of two classmates. However, its real power lies in its examination of how boys are shaped: by family, by culture, by the expectations men place on them. The result is a story that’s haunting, thought-provoking, and impossible to read without reflecting on the forces that turn ordinary boys into dangerous men.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been so enraged by fictional characters’ attitudes before. I wanted to jump inside these pages and…arrrgghh! I think any book that makes you feel that strongly deserves all the stars! I have opinions about every single character here, and can see many book club debates with this one.
”What Boys Learn is a psychological thriller, in which a single mother has to come to terms with the fact that her teenage son may be capable of violence when he becomes a suspect in the murder of two classmates. However, its real power lies in its examination of how boys are shaped: by family, by culture, by the expectations men place on them. The result is a story that’s haunting, thought-provoking, and impossible to read without reflecting on the forces that turn ordinary boys into dangerous men.”
January 9, 2026
What Boys Learn was a twisty psychological thriller that kept my attention from start to finish. Although there were moments where the plot felt predictable, there were also several turns that genuinely left me guessing. It’s very well written, and this was my first read from this author—I was impressed by how skillfully they explored deeper themes such as psychology, family connection, and the question of nature versus nurture.
The story balances suspense with character-driven tension, and even when I thought I knew where it was going, it still managed to surprise me.
Trigger warnings: rape, drug use, self-harm, and abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the opportunity to preread and review this book.
The story balances suspense with character-driven tension, and even when I thought I knew where it was going, it still managed to surprise me.
Trigger warnings: rape, drug use, self-harm, and abuse.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for the opportunity to preread and review this book.
January 9, 2026
No good parent ever wants to believe that their children are capable of doing bad things. No one thinks that they could be the parent of a monster. This book plays heavily into that fear. It also dances with the topic of nature vs nurture.
I figured out pretty early that things weren't exactly like they seemed and I had my doubts about certain characters very early in the story. However I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.What boys learn sucked me in and had me in a grip. I powered through it in mostly one sitting. As a parent myself I just had to know.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
I figured out pretty early that things weren't exactly like they seemed and I had my doubts about certain characters very early in the story. However I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.What boys learn sucked me in and had me in a grip. I powered through it in mostly one sitting. As a parent myself I just had to know.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.
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