What Boys Learn

by Andromeda Romano-Lax

From the author of The Deepest Lake comes a gripping novel of psychological suspense that unravels a high school guidance counselor’s growing fear that her son may have had a role in the deaths of two teenage girls in a wealthy Chicago suburb.

Abby Rosso, a high school counselor, has reason to fear the worst—not only that she is partially to blame for the recent apparent suicides of two female students, but that her son Benjamin has somehow been involved in the deaths, the details of which are still murky. It’s hard for Abby to know if Benjamin’s stoic and sometimes sullen behavior is normal, if she should believe him when he claims to be innocent.

Abby doesn’t want to believe Benjamin could do anything terrible—but she also recognizes signs of problematic behavior. She should. Her own brother Owen is currently in prison for crimes he committed when he was just a little older than Benjamin. And Abby has more troubling memories from her own adolescence that confirm what boys and men sometimes do. As Abby faces the idea that she has made excuses for her son for years, she begins to peel back uncomfortable truths about her son’s behavior as well as her past.

What hope do boys have in a world that encourages men to be “alpha males?” How far will a mother go to protect her son? What Boys Learn is a twisty thriller laced with cultural commentary about how boys are raised—and what they are taught they can get away with—that leans into many mothers’ worst nightmares in its investigation of family, memory, and psychopathy.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

Audible Audio

Expected publication January 6, 2026

About the author

Andromeda 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/

Reviews

[ahmeeka · Rating 2 out of 5]

[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!

[KellyJ1028 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[❀Heather❀Brown❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished last month and forgot to update my review 🤦🏼‍♀️ will update later as it’s buried in my review notes file.

[Sharon Anastasya · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Melissa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was definitely a slow burn with deeply developed characters but it took a while to get things moving. Not a fast paced thriller but more a deep dive into the mind of a mother who suspects her son is a psychopath who may be responsible for recent murders of two girls.

[Richard Quist · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT BOYS LEARN by Andromeda Romano-Lax is a suspenseful ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ psychological thriller being released in Jan, 2026 by Soho Press.

Single mother and high school counselor Abby Russo deals with the aftermath of the deaths of two students, and learns that her loner son Benjamin may have known the girls better than she realizes. As she finds out more about the circumstances of their deaths she begins to worry that Benjamin may have been involved in some way.

Abby has always been concerned about how her son was growing up. Worried that he was a loner who didn't fit in, and worried about what he was learning about how men should treat women. She knows something about troubled teens. She had been one herself and still carries the scars of her first-hand experiences with the actions of a teenage boy with little concern for others. Her older brother Ewan has spent many years in prison for his actions as a teenager, and she fears that Benjamin might be headed down a similar path.

Can she navigate between helping and trusting her son, and finding the truth?

The tale is mostly told from Abby's point of view, gradually revealing fears and secrets as the perspective switches between present day and her teenage years. In the latter third of the book the perspective broadens to include present day Benjamin, as the suspense ratchets up and further truths and lies are uncovered.

WHAT BOYS LEARN is suspenseful, thrilling, disturbing and thought-provoking! A fascinating story, providing plenty to think about how and what children, especially boys, are exposed to as they grow and the impact that exposure can have on them and the people around them. Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for the early review copy!

#WhatBoysLearn #NetGalley

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, if only the last 130 pages of What Boys Learn comprised the majority of this book. I spent the first 300 plus pages mostly bored out of my mind, as Abby sees the story evolving around the deaths of two girls at the school where she was a counselor and her son a student.

Abby comes from a traumatized background and her brother is currently in prison. This leads her to tend to think the worst about men, and her son Benjamin’s behavior is leaving her increasingly concerned that there may not only be something wrong with him, but that he may be involved in the deaths of his two classmates, who have been ruled murder victims and not suicides.

She spends most of the 300 pages grinding away at this worry, dragging the reader along with her. Then she finds a therapist for Benjamin and the murders appear to be solved. At this point I was impressed with myself that I’d stuck with the tedium of the book, and I really wanted to call it good because it seemed like at this point it settled into an even greater state of inertia than before. But I was reading for review so on I kept reading.

Finally, about 320 pages into a 450 page this story took off like a compulsive shot that I didn’t want to put down. I wasn’t surprised by the twist, in fact I was expecting it WAY earlier, but once Romano-Lax decided to execute on it, she made it into a page turner.

I wouldn’t recommend this book personally because it took three quarters of the book to get interesting and worth reading, but if you start it and get a couple hundred pages in, you might as well finish it, since you’ve slogged your way through a good part of the boring part of the book.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, thanks to Soho Press for the book.
I liked some very, very much.
I didn't like some very, very much.
It's like two mysteries in one, with the first (two teen girls found dead) summed up quickly. The second does relate of course, but it's separated by a boring bit that felt like I was listening to a lecture on serial killers, including statistics and diagrams. Too much of that. Interesting in a non-fiction setting perhaps, but here it seemed just thrown in because of the author's personal interests.
The next portion, focusing on Benjamin, was suspenseful. To the point I alternated between "I can't stop reading!" and "I can't read any more!"
I disliked Abby from start to finish. No, she's not the same person she was when her step-mother died. However, to have saved "trophies" like she did? It just isn't Benjamin who needs the professional help. She shouldn't be counseling children in juvenile detention, or counseling at all!
I won't say I agree with the back blurb, that it's a thriller about "how boys are raised - and what they are taught they can get away with." The "boys" are on the "spectrum of anti-social personality" disorders, or "psychopaths." The podcasts, or types of, referenced in the novel do exist, and may indeed influence boys, however, that's another non-fiction topic, and so barely touched on here there was no point.
A mix of fiction mystery/suspense/thriller and non-fiction, dry psychology.
Much too long, and after finishing it I can't really say why it need to be.
Oh, please fix the spelling error in the third paragraph of the prologue!

[Kory · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax is a deeply compelling and suspenseful novel that tackles tough questions about innocence, blame, and the terrifying unpredictability of youth. Over one horrifying weekend in a wealthy Chicago suburb, two teenage girls are found dead, and the story spirals into a tense investigation with layers of secrets and suspicion. Abby Rosso, the high school counselor and mother, is haunted by her past and her instincts as she begins to suspect her own son, Benjamin, might be linked to the tragedy. The narrative expertly explores her internal conflict—her desire to protect her son versus her need to uncover the truth. Romano-Lax masterfully peels back the layers of a seemingly perfect community, revealing the darkness lurking beneath polished façades. This book is as chilling as it is thought-provoking, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about violence, youth, and the sins of the past. The suspense builds steadily, keeping you guessing until the final pages, and the emotional depth makes it impossible to look away. If you enjoy provocative stories with complex characters and an unflinching look at human nature, What Boys Learn is a page-turner you won't want to miss—just be prepared for a ride into some uncomfortable, yet essential, truths.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞.

A deeply uncomfortable read that should be essential for everyone--not just parents or teachers, but everyone. Adolescent boys have always come with a unique set of challenges, but in today's world, it's essential to know what they're facing.

The school year is winding down for Abby Rosso, a high school counselor. But instead of looking forward to the lazy days of summer, she's dealing with the fallout from the suicides of two female students. Even worse, when she's cleaning her teenage son Benjamin's room, she finds something troubling in a dresser drawer. The details are hazy, but to her growing horror, she begins to wonder if Benjamin was somehow involved in the girls' deaths.

How does a parent decide if a teen is sullen and lacking empathy because those are hallmark teen behaviors or if they're hinting at something much darker? With society and social media pummeling teen boys with conflicting messages about what it means to be a man, who decides what masculinity is?

Disturbing, distressing, but wholly vital, WHAT BOYS LEARN is a stark commentary on the dangerous path we've created for boys to take, use, and destroy without penalty. Many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Books for the early copy. Look for this one January 6, 2026.

[Erin Flanagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait for Romano-Lax's second suspense novel, and boy, she did not disappoint. If The Deepest Lake is a girl-mother's worst fear, this is the companion novel for boy-moms.

Two girls turn up dead at the school where Abby is a counselor, and where her son, Benjamin, is a student. Abby is deeply affected and worried she should have done more, and that worry only intensifies when Benjamin is brought in for questioning. Even worse, Abby's got some ideas why Benjamin might be a suspect. She grew up with a psychopath, afterall--her brother--and the two share more traits than she'd like.

As the story rushes forward, we learn more about Abby's past as well as Benjamin's complicated relationships and emotions. When Benjamin's lawyer suggests Benjamin begin therapy in order to get a psychological assessment, Abby old professor steps into help. But what exactly are the two discussing in these closed-door sessions?

This book is a fast paced thriller as well as an indictment on toxic masculinity. I raced through, anxious to see how it would all resolve, but also to understand the psychology of the characters and what it means to be a danger to others and ourselves. There were lots of twists, and every line was a gem. I am already looking forward to this author's next book!!

[Ana Moniz · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read What Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax before publication. I really appreciate the opportunity — I was honestly so excited when I got approved because the premise sounded so good.

Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. The beginning had potential, but the story quickly lost its spark. The pacing is painfully slow — it drags to the point where I kept putting it down and picking it up again, hoping it would finally click. It never really did. Somewhere along the way, the plot loses direction, and I found myself constantly wondering where it was all supposed to be going.

Another big issue for me was the lack of connection to the characters. They felt distant, like I was watching them through foggy glass — I could see what was happening, but I didn’t feel anything. Their motivations were sometimes unclear, which made it even harder to care about their choices.

The ending tries to tie everything together, but it comes too late and without enough impact. I get what the author was aiming for — something reflective and meaningful — but by then, I was too detached to really feel it.

There’s definitely some beautiful writing and interesting ideas here, but overall it was slow, frustrating, and, honestly, kind of exhausting to get through. A great premise that just never found its footing.

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A school counselor is shaken to her core when she learns of the deaths of her son's classmates. Overnight Abby is out of a job and her son is being held for questioning. She is also still dealing with the childhood trauma that put her brother in prison. As a professional Abby is having a hard time ignoring some warning signs that her son is more involved than he is letting on but as a mother she can't believe he could do something so horrible. This psychological thriller plays on a parent's responsibility and the community to see warning signs and act as well as if bad behavior is learned or genetic. How well do we really know our teens? Do we as parents screen out what we don't want to see? Fans of DEFENDING JACOB and the tv drama ADOLESCENCE will be unable to put this down. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Christa · Rating 2 out of 5]

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).

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank SoHo Press as well as Goodreads for the ARC.

If you plan on reading this don’t go in thinking it will be a fast paced, page turner kind of book. This book is definitely a slow burner. The first half is dedicated to world building and getting to know different characters. To me it read like a tv show in the way that the storyline tends to be dragged into 8+ episodes. Overall I somewhat enjoyed it, I didn’t totally dread picking it up at least. The story kept me entertained/intrigued enough to want to keep reading and see what would happen next. I will say it was predictable at parts.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept me turning the pages. The story was full of tension and I never saw the twists coming, which made it a fun and suspenseful read. It definitely hooked me from the start. I found the family dynamic fascinating and real, and very well written.

That said, I felt the execution didn’t live up to the premise. The idea was strong, but some of the delivery fell flat and left me wanting more polish. Still, I enjoyed the ride overall and think it’s worth picking up if you like a fast paced, twisty story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed by this books. I really liked the premise and thought it was a very timely book. However, it was slow paced and none of the characters were the least bit likable. I don't need to like the characters but there does need to be something admirable about them - a sense of humor, a sharp intellect. These characters were just awful people. The ending was okay but it felt like it took a long time to get there.

*ARC provided by Edelweiss+*

[Morgan Strobis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but sometimes I felt like there was too much information and unneeded plot. A lot of it I felt like could have been cut and it droned on. Overall I liked the plot I liked the ending but I felt like there was too much in the middle.

[Carrie O'Maley Voliva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is fantastic. What makes a psychopath and could you be living with one?

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery. Excellent writing