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The Teacher’s Pet
It’s always a risk when you go searching for trouble, because sometimes trouble will hunt you back.
I never thought I’d come back here… to this island. To this school…
As a student, Meridian Secondary nearly destroyed me, and I’ve been running from the truth for nearly twenty years. But I’m not that love-sick teacher’s pet anymore; now I’m the one in charge, and I’ll do anything to keep my true identity buried.
No one knows how far I went – we went – for love… ⚠️👀
THE TEACHER’S PET is a dual timeline psychological thriller perfect for fans of Dorothy Koomson and T.M. Logan.
I never thought I’d come back here… to this island. To this school…
As a student, Meridian Secondary nearly destroyed me, and I’ve been running from the truth for nearly twenty years. But I’m not that love-sick teacher’s pet anymore; now I’m the one in charge, and I’ll do anything to keep my true identity buried.
No one knows how far I went – we went – for love… ⚠️👀
THE TEACHER’S PET is a dual timeline psychological thriller perfect for fans of Dorothy Koomson and T.M. Logan.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
June 25, 2026
it may be unfair to the author
me insisting on a book I should
have dnfd—but I couldn’t be more
upset with how lightly triggering
subjects are presented here. :x
me insisting on a book I should
have dnfd—but I couldn’t be more
upset with how lightly triggering
subjects are presented here. :x
May 13, 2026
The Teacher’s Pet is the second book I’ve read by M.A. Hunter, and I’m quickly becoming a big fan. This was a dark and uncomfortable thriller that I couldn’t put down and ended up finishing in one sitting. The story is full of twists, and I was constantly changing my mind about who to suspect! The dual timelines blend together perfectly as we watch Laura go from teacher’s pet to teacher twenty years later. Once she returns to town, she begins receiving ominous notes, texts, and phone calls. Someone knows the secret she’s been hiding all these years and wants her to know they do — but how far are they willing to go?
June 10, 2026
Y’all, dual-timeline psychological thriller hooked me fast. Returning to the island school that nearly destroyed her, the protagonist is determined to keep her past buried—but secrets have a nasty habit of digging themselves back up. 😳👀
The atmosphere is thick with tension, the characters are messy in all the best ways, and the twists kept me flipping pages like I was chasing the last piece of juicy gossip. M.A. Hunter’s writing is sharp, addictive, and packed with suspense.
A twisty, entertaining thriller perfect for readers who love obsession, secrets, and watching the past come back with a vengeance. 🔥
Thanks to #NetGalley, M.A. Hunter and #BoldwoodBooks for a copy of The Teacher’s Pet for my honest, voluntary review.
The atmosphere is thick with tension, the characters are messy in all the best ways, and the twists kept me flipping pages like I was chasing the last piece of juicy gossip. M.A. Hunter’s writing is sharp, addictive, and packed with suspense.
A twisty, entertaining thriller perfect for readers who love obsession, secrets, and watching the past come back with a vengeance. 🔥
Thanks to #NetGalley, M.A. Hunter and #BoldwoodBooks for a copy of The Teacher’s Pet for my honest, voluntary review.
July 10, 2026
Sad
When her father’s failing health requires her to return to her hometown, Laura takes a job at the school she attended as a teenager. She fell in love with Andrew, her English teacher, and he with her, but theirs was a tragic ending. There are hints throughout the book about a death Laura may have had something to do with, but it’s late in the book that the full story emerges. We readers don’t know who from her original time there is still around, if her teacher sweetheart is alive or dead, or what has gone on in the intervening years. Laura flails around a lot, trying to sort things out, getting threatening notes in her school mailbox, and for some undisclosed reason she thinks it’s Andrew sending them, which seemed preposterous to me. Anyway, things are not what they seem, and I think there’s meant to be a lesson about love affairs between people with unequal degrees of power and responsibility, but the story just ended up being sad and kind of hopeless. I can’t buy Laura’s persona as an anti-predator crusader at the end.
When her father’s failing health requires her to return to her hometown, Laura takes a job at the school she attended as a teenager. She fell in love with Andrew, her English teacher, and he with her, but theirs was a tragic ending. There are hints throughout the book about a death Laura may have had something to do with, but it’s late in the book that the full story emerges. We readers don’t know who from her original time there is still around, if her teacher sweetheart is alive or dead, or what has gone on in the intervening years. Laura flails around a lot, trying to sort things out, getting threatening notes in her school mailbox, and for some undisclosed reason she thinks it’s Andrew sending them, which seemed preposterous to me. Anyway, things are not what they seem, and I think there’s meant to be a lesson about love affairs between people with unequal degrees of power and responsibility, but the story just ended up being sad and kind of hopeless. I can’t buy Laura’s persona as an anti-predator crusader at the end.
June 8, 2026
Twenty years after fleeing Meridian Secondary, a woman returns as a teacher, determined to bury her old nickname “the teacher’s pet” and the dark secret behind it.
Dual timelines flip between her intense student‑teacher bond then and the dangerous lies unraveling now—where past mistakes resurface, and searching for truth means trouble hunts her back.
Sharp, twist‑packed psychological thriller with slow‑burn tension and moral grey areas.
Gripping dual‑timeline suspense ideal for fans of Freida McFadden and TM Logan.
Dual timelines flip between her intense student‑teacher bond then and the dangerous lies unraveling now—where past mistakes resurface, and searching for truth means trouble hunts her back.
Sharp, twist‑packed psychological thriller with slow‑burn tension and moral grey areas.
Gripping dual‑timeline suspense ideal for fans of Freida McFadden and TM Logan.
June 28, 2026
Started off well but between an insufferable main character, a plot that loses its way and an ending that lands flat, I feel 3 might be a push.
Great concept, but the execution just couldn’t live up to it for me.
Great concept, but the execution just couldn’t live up to it for me.
June 11, 2026
The Teacher‘s Pet by MA Hunter, Laura Henley is back on the island she grew up on due to her father‘s recent heart attack and she’s got a job at the school she went too as a teen. The only problem is she doesn’t want anyone to know or to associate her with what happened with Laura Henley back then. The summer before high school started Laura loved going to watch the play Romeo and Juliet and on the last night of the play she was standing outside of the theater when she met a handsome guy named Andrew the meeting was electric and their attraction was a parent but they only spent one hour together and parted ways so imagine Laura‘s surprise when she walked into her English class and learn her teacher Mr. James is her Andrew the only problem is popular girl and Laura‘s nemesis Tessa also has her eyes set on Mr. James despite the fact she’s dating the captain of the football team. Current day Laura is now a teacher at that school she attended but tries to keep a low profile so no one will associate her with the teacher scandal from back then,. One she hears three teenage girls discussing how hot Scott the English teacher is she initially blows it off while having the catch up with her friend Carrie however she sees Scott with the young girl in his car and instead of going into the restaurant he pulls out and speeds away. Laura feels like she has no other choice but to tell someone.. Unfortunately soon Laura has more pressing issues to worry about, it all starts with strange pink notes left in her teacher‘s inbox and with no real suspect Laura doesn’t know what to think. Soon however she will be receiving phone calls and text messages from a strange number she feels like she’s being followed she even runs in to her childhood friend Carrie who wants to do a catch up something Laura is totally against. These two worlds will collide and devastating ways but even when everything is out on the table she still accuses the wrong person it will not find out who’s doing this to her until it’s almost too late. OK let me start my critique by saying if someone has autism as an adult they should also have it as a child something that wasn’t portrayed or displayed in this book whatsoever. not only that they had an exceeding amount of “are you serious“ situations in the book that were so ridiculous they even had me laughing like the one where the teenage girl tries to blackmail the teacher into having sex with her in front of his teenage girlfriend that was just ridiculous and all kinds of stupid. The most messed up thing about this book is it seems the author really has good writing skills but it seems they just write books for the paycheck because no one with any kind of self dignity would write a book like this and be proud of it it is utterly ridiculous bordering on cartoonish. It makes me wonder how I can get my hands on the ones the powers that be rejected, because if this is what gets through I bet the rejects are a hoot to read. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
June 23, 2026
When 15-year-old Laura Henley fell for her high school English teacher, it began a chain of events that would shake the entire town. 20 years later, to take care of her ailing father, Laura returns to her hometown—and place where it all began—as an English teacher herself. However, Laura remains haunted by her past and the past threatens to upend the life she has built since. Once again, Laura is confronted with the question of how far she will go to keep the truth hidden.
The Teacher’s Pet is a compelling psychological thriller that I devoured once the story revealed itself. The dual timeline structure is enjoyable and the author does an excellent job controlling the flow of information to maintain mystery and build suspense, whilst still driving the story forward. For the most part, the writing felt sufficiently authentic, which assisted with immersion. Past- and present-Laura’s narrative voice reflected her age at each point-in-time, and I particularly thought well of the depiction of their relationship as arising from Laura’s vulnerability (her naïveté as a 15-year-old, her troubled home life, and her neurodivergence) intersecting with hallmark grooming strategies (the classic ‘you are more mature than others your age’ and isolation). This depiction felt informed by cases in reality, and I additionally appreciated these red flags being handled subtly in the text (akin to young Laura’s blindness), yet disturbingly clear to any grown audience. I also appreciated how a wide range of characters were made suspect—truly almost no one could be trusted—which kept the reader guessing until the end. The eventual climax felt satisfying thanks to the groundwork of clues and converging of past and present.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book via NetGalley! Overall, I enjoyed it and think it will find an audience best amongst those who love classic small-town mysteries. Due to the darker themes explored, I note this book will not be for everyone—please mind the description and any trigger warnings.
The Teacher’s Pet is a compelling psychological thriller that I devoured once the story revealed itself. The dual timeline structure is enjoyable and the author does an excellent job controlling the flow of information to maintain mystery and build suspense, whilst still driving the story forward. For the most part, the writing felt sufficiently authentic, which assisted with immersion. Past- and present-Laura’s narrative voice reflected her age at each point-in-time, and I particularly thought well of the depiction of their relationship as arising from Laura’s vulnerability (her naïveté as a 15-year-old, her troubled home life, and her neurodivergence) intersecting with hallmark grooming strategies (the classic ‘you are more mature than others your age’ and isolation). This depiction felt informed by cases in reality, and I additionally appreciated these red flags being handled subtly in the text (akin to young Laura’s blindness), yet disturbingly clear to any grown audience. I also appreciated how a wide range of characters were made suspect—truly almost no one could be trusted—which kept the reader guessing until the end. The eventual climax felt satisfying thanks to the groundwork of clues and converging of past and present.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book via NetGalley! Overall, I enjoyed it and think it will find an audience best amongst those who love classic small-town mysteries. Due to the darker themes explored, I note this book will not be for everyone—please mind the description and any trigger warnings.
June 29, 2026
I received this as an unedited ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Teacher’s Pet is an engaging psychological thriller that blends past and present through a dual timeline, slowly unravelling long-buried secrets with plenty of tension along the way.
The return-to-the-scene-of-the-past premise immediately pulled me in. Watching the protagonist revisit the island and the school that shaped—and nearly destroyed—her life created an underlying sense of unease from the very beginning. The dual timelines worked well, gradually revealing what happened all those years ago while building anticipation for how those events would collide with the present.
M.A. Hunter does a great job of exploring obsession, manipulation, guilt and the long-lasting consequences of choices made in the name of love. As each chapter peeled back another layer of the mystery, I found myself constantly questioning who could be trusted and wondering just how much of the truth was still hidden. The pacing is measured rather than frantic, allowing the suspense to build naturally before delivering several satisfying revelations.
The characters are morally complex, making it difficult to know whose version of events to believe. I particularly enjoyed how the novel explored the blurred lines between power, vulnerability and control within the school environment, adding an extra layer of psychological tension to the story.
While I guessed part of the direction before the final reveal, there were still enough surprises to keep me invested until the end. A little more emotional depth in some of the relationships would have made the impact even stronger, but overall it was a compelling and entertaining read.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers featuring dual timelines, buried secrets, unreliable characters and dark academic settings where the past refuses to stay buried, Teacher’s Pet is definitely worth picking up.
Teacher’s Pet is an engaging psychological thriller that blends past and present through a dual timeline, slowly unravelling long-buried secrets with plenty of tension along the way.
The return-to-the-scene-of-the-past premise immediately pulled me in. Watching the protagonist revisit the island and the school that shaped—and nearly destroyed—her life created an underlying sense of unease from the very beginning. The dual timelines worked well, gradually revealing what happened all those years ago while building anticipation for how those events would collide with the present.
M.A. Hunter does a great job of exploring obsession, manipulation, guilt and the long-lasting consequences of choices made in the name of love. As each chapter peeled back another layer of the mystery, I found myself constantly questioning who could be trusted and wondering just how much of the truth was still hidden. The pacing is measured rather than frantic, allowing the suspense to build naturally before delivering several satisfying revelations.
The characters are morally complex, making it difficult to know whose version of events to believe. I particularly enjoyed how the novel explored the blurred lines between power, vulnerability and control within the school environment, adding an extra layer of psychological tension to the story.
While I guessed part of the direction before the final reveal, there were still enough surprises to keep me invested until the end. A little more emotional depth in some of the relationships would have made the impact even stronger, but overall it was a compelling and entertaining read.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers featuring dual timelines, buried secrets, unreliable characters and dark academic settings where the past refuses to stay buried, Teacher’s Pet is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to @netgalley, @boldwoodbooks and M.A. Hunter for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Teacher’s Pet is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. Told across dual timelines, the story slowly unravels the secrets surrounding Laura’s inappropriate relationship with her teacher twenty years earlier — and the dangerous consequences that still haunt her when she returns to work at the same school.
I really enjoyed the tension running through this book. Every chapter added another layer of unease, manipulation, obsession, and buried secrets, and I constantly found myself changing my mind about who could be behind the threats Laura was receiving. The pacing made this such an addictive read and I kept telling myself “just one more chapter.”
Laura was a complicated but compelling main character. I appreciated the inclusion of her autism and the way it shaped some of her anxieties and interactions, especially alongside the emotional weight of caring for her father. As a caregiver myself, that aspect of the story felt especially relatable and added another emotional layer to the thriller elements.
The student/teacher relationship was deeply uncomfortable and infuriating at times — as it should be — and while there were a few plot points that stretched believability for me, the suspense and twists kept me fully invested. M.A. Hunter does a fantastic job creating an atmosphere full of dread and tension, with just the right hints of darkness throughout.
While this isn’t my favourite book by this author, it was still a gripping and entertaining thriller that kept me guessing right until the end. If you enjoy dual-timeline thrillers packed with secrets, manipulation, revenge, and morally messy characters, this is definitely worth picking up.
The Teacher’s Pet is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. Told across dual timelines, the story slowly unravels the secrets surrounding Laura’s inappropriate relationship with her teacher twenty years earlier — and the dangerous consequences that still haunt her when she returns to work at the same school.
I really enjoyed the tension running through this book. Every chapter added another layer of unease, manipulation, obsession, and buried secrets, and I constantly found myself changing my mind about who could be behind the threats Laura was receiving. The pacing made this such an addictive read and I kept telling myself “just one more chapter.”
Laura was a complicated but compelling main character. I appreciated the inclusion of her autism and the way it shaped some of her anxieties and interactions, especially alongside the emotional weight of caring for her father. As a caregiver myself, that aspect of the story felt especially relatable and added another emotional layer to the thriller elements.
The student/teacher relationship was deeply uncomfortable and infuriating at times — as it should be — and while there were a few plot points that stretched believability for me, the suspense and twists kept me fully invested. M.A. Hunter does a fantastic job creating an atmosphere full of dread and tension, with just the right hints of darkness throughout.
While this isn’t my favourite book by this author, it was still a gripping and entertaining thriller that kept me guessing right until the end. If you enjoy dual-timeline thrillers packed with secrets, manipulation, revenge, and morally messy characters, this is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I flew through in that “okay just one more chapter” kind of way. This book was messy, uncomfortable, dramatic, twisty, and honestly… exactly what I wanted from a psychological thriller.
The dual timeline worked really well because little by little you start realizing this wasn’t some innocent “forbidden love story” Laura built up in her head. There’s manipulation, obsession, secrets, and so much emotional damage sitting underneath all of it. I liked that the story kept me questioning people’s motives the entire time.
The island school setting gave this heavy small-town tension where everyone seems to know something but nobody says it out loud. And the anonymous letters? Immediate anxiety.
Laura as a character frustrated me sometimes — but in a realistic way. She’s awkward, emotionally stunted, still trapped in something that happened twenty years ago, and not always likable. But honestly, perfect characters are boring. I’d rather read about someone complicated.
I also appreciated that this didn’t read overly polished or clinical. It felt fast and addictive. The kind of thriller you’d pack for vacation and accidentally finish in one day instead of relaxing by the pool.
I did have a little issue with how the teacher/student relationship was framed at times because there were moments it leaned too close to romanticizing it for me. That part kept this from being a higher rating. But the suspense? Solid. The pacing? Fast. The ending? Definitely got me.
I’d give this 4 stars. Not the deepest thriller I’ve ever read, but absolutely bingeable and entertaining. Perfect if you want secrets, obsession, toxic relationships, and twists without having to mentally recover for three business days afterward.
The dual timeline worked really well because little by little you start realizing this wasn’t some innocent “forbidden love story” Laura built up in her head. There’s manipulation, obsession, secrets, and so much emotional damage sitting underneath all of it. I liked that the story kept me questioning people’s motives the entire time.
The island school setting gave this heavy small-town tension where everyone seems to know something but nobody says it out loud. And the anonymous letters? Immediate anxiety.
Laura as a character frustrated me sometimes — but in a realistic way. She’s awkward, emotionally stunted, still trapped in something that happened twenty years ago, and not always likable. But honestly, perfect characters are boring. I’d rather read about someone complicated.
I also appreciated that this didn’t read overly polished or clinical. It felt fast and addictive. The kind of thriller you’d pack for vacation and accidentally finish in one day instead of relaxing by the pool.
I did have a little issue with how the teacher/student relationship was framed at times because there were moments it leaned too close to romanticizing it for me. That part kept this from being a higher rating. But the suspense? Solid. The pacing? Fast. The ending? Definitely got me.
I’d give this 4 stars. Not the deepest thriller I’ve ever read, but absolutely bingeable and entertaining. Perfect if you want secrets, obsession, toxic relationships, and twists without having to mentally recover for three business days afterward.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Teacher’s Pet is a dark, compulsive psychological thriller that slips between past and present with a deliciously unsettling ease. From the moment the narrator returns to Meridian Secondary — the school that nearly destroyed her twenty years ago — there’s a sense of old ghosts stirring, secrets shifting, and danger waiting for its cue.
The dual timeline works beautifully here. In the past, we see the making of a “teacher’s pet” — a girl desperate to be seen, to be chosen, to belong — and the slow, intoxicating slide into something far more dangerous than teenage infatuation. In the present, she’s back as an adult, now in a position of authority, determined to keep her true identity buried. But the school remembers. And so do the people who were there.
Hunter builds tension with a lovely, creeping precision: the claustrophobia of the island setting, the way old dynamics reassert themselves, the sense that someone is circling closer to the truth she’s spent decades running from. The past chapters have a sharp emotional sting, while the present-day storyline hums with dread as the consequences of those long‑ago choices begin to surface.
What makes the novel so gripping is the narrator’s voice — brittle, defensive, and painfully self-aware. She knows exactly how far she went for love, and how far they went too. Watching her try to stay one step ahead of a truth that refuses to stay buried gives the book its pulse.
Twisty, atmospheric, and quietly devastating, The Teacher’s Pet is a story about obsession, power, and the dangerous echoes of a past that never really ended. It’s the kind of thriller that leaves a faint chill long after you close the final page.
With thanks to MA Hunter, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The dual timeline works beautifully here. In the past, we see the making of a “teacher’s pet” — a girl desperate to be seen, to be chosen, to belong — and the slow, intoxicating slide into something far more dangerous than teenage infatuation. In the present, she’s back as an adult, now in a position of authority, determined to keep her true identity buried. But the school remembers. And so do the people who were there.
Hunter builds tension with a lovely, creeping precision: the claustrophobia of the island setting, the way old dynamics reassert themselves, the sense that someone is circling closer to the truth she’s spent decades running from. The past chapters have a sharp emotional sting, while the present-day storyline hums with dread as the consequences of those long‑ago choices begin to surface.
What makes the novel so gripping is the narrator’s voice — brittle, defensive, and painfully self-aware. She knows exactly how far she went for love, and how far they went too. Watching her try to stay one step ahead of a truth that refuses to stay buried gives the book its pulse.
Twisty, atmospheric, and quietly devastating, The Teacher’s Pet is a story about obsession, power, and the dangerous echoes of a past that never really ended. It’s the kind of thriller that leaves a faint chill long after you close the final page.
With thanks to MA Hunter, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Suspenseful thriller about returning home but never escaping your past. Laura has returned to the isle of Wight after 20 years to take care of her ill father. She accepts a contract at the private school she once attended but lies on her resume to say she attended a different school. Laura is neurodivergent and says she has difficulty with communication and loud noises. I appreciated the author including a character who is not neurotypical, but I didn't see anything besides the fear of loud noises to indicate this is something Laura deals with. The novel goes back and forth between the current time when Laura is receiving messages telling her she shouldn't have come back, to the past when she fifteen years old and having a romantic relationship with her teacher, Andrew.
As Laura struggles with fitting in as a new teacher ,and dealing with her sick father, her past romance with Andrew keeps coming up and she wonders if he is the one who is sending the messages. This is a small town setting where everyone knows everyone else and Laura keeps suspecting everyone including her former best friend who I thought was a great character. Adult Laura seems to feel her teenage romance with her teacher was true love even while getting upset when she overhears a student talking about a current crush on a popular teacher.
There are twists and turns and the author does a good job of keeping you in the dark about what is really going on until the very end. There is fat shaming in the novel which was not needed and didn't add anything to the story. I liked the book even though I didn't much like the character of Laura. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC to review.
As Laura struggles with fitting in as a new teacher ,and dealing with her sick father, her past romance with Andrew keeps coming up and she wonders if he is the one who is sending the messages. This is a small town setting where everyone knows everyone else and Laura keeps suspecting everyone including her former best friend who I thought was a great character. Adult Laura seems to feel her teenage romance with her teacher was true love even while getting upset when she overhears a student talking about a current crush on a popular teacher.
There are twists and turns and the author does a good job of keeping you in the dark about what is really going on until the very end. There is fat shaming in the novel which was not needed and didn't add anything to the story. I liked the book even though I didn't much like the character of Laura. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Laura returns home to take care of her father after a health scare, and she applies for a short-term position at the secondary school she used to attend. She left before graduating due to a situation with her teacher, and she hasn’t been back since. I don’t think there’s much else I can say, since the blurb doesn't reveal much, but it involves inappropriate relationships between teachers and students.
I may have enjoyed the book more if Laura were likable, but as a teen, she treated her best friend terribly, and the thing is that she knew she was doing it. It’s not like she was so infatuated with her teacher that she kicked her friend to the curb and didn’t even realize it. She knew it, and she actually got frustrated that her friend stuck by her! I mean, that’s horrible behavior, and she wonders why nobody else likes her? We’re supposed to feel bad that she’s bullied? Maybe if she experienced any type of growth and regretted her behavior, but she does not.
There are also some inconsistencies regarding how much people were aware of what happened back then. In her past narrative, no one knew about her and the teacher; however, in the present, the new head teacher says there’s been a cloud over the school because of the alleged inappropriate relationship between the teacher and student. Although I can’t see why the head teacher would mention it in the first place when it was over two decades ago.
To me, it felt like there should be a bit more effort in tightening up the plot and the characterization of Laura so that the reader might actually empathize with her.
My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
I may have enjoyed the book more if Laura were likable, but as a teen, she treated her best friend terribly, and the thing is that she knew she was doing it. It’s not like she was so infatuated with her teacher that she kicked her friend to the curb and didn’t even realize it. She knew it, and she actually got frustrated that her friend stuck by her! I mean, that’s horrible behavior, and she wonders why nobody else likes her? We’re supposed to feel bad that she’s bullied? Maybe if she experienced any type of growth and regretted her behavior, but she does not.
There are also some inconsistencies regarding how much people were aware of what happened back then. In her past narrative, no one knew about her and the teacher; however, in the present, the new head teacher says there’s been a cloud over the school because of the alleged inappropriate relationship between the teacher and student. Although I can’t see why the head teacher would mention it in the first place when it was over two decades ago.
To me, it felt like there should be a bit more effort in tightening up the plot and the characterization of Laura so that the reader might actually empathize with her.
My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐️ rounded to 4;
I never thought I would come back to this island. Or to that school.
Twenty years ago, Laura Henley was a student at Meridian Secondary and it nearly destroyed her. She has been looking over her shoulder ever since and has never truly got over her heartbreak.
But she isn’t the love-sick teachers pet anymore. She is back and now she is the teacher, and one who will do whatever it takes to keep her true identity buried. No one knows the lengths they went for love all those years ago …
On her return to Isle of Wight, Laura begins to receive threatening texts, letters and phonecalls about her past, and I was left desperate to know who could want to harm Laura decades on … and the suspect list is lonnnggggg!
It’s always a risk when you go looking for trouble, because sometimes trouble will hunt you back …
Very T M Logan-esque, the writing was very good and the tension was ramped up well, but the ‘forbidden love, teacher-pupil story’ feels very unoriginal and no single event within the story shocked me. The different perceptions of Laura over each time frame, from being a love struck teenager to a safeguarding responsible adult, is an interesting contrast and you can see the change in the character so clearly through MAH’s writing.
A dual-timeline story of manipulation, obsession, unlikeable characters and controversial broken boundaries, this is a psychological, uncomfortable, dark, page-turning thriller recommended if you want a quick and easy thriller read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Publishers and M. A. Hunter for the ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
I never thought I would come back to this island. Or to that school.
Twenty years ago, Laura Henley was a student at Meridian Secondary and it nearly destroyed her. She has been looking over her shoulder ever since and has never truly got over her heartbreak.
But she isn’t the love-sick teachers pet anymore. She is back and now she is the teacher, and one who will do whatever it takes to keep her true identity buried. No one knows the lengths they went for love all those years ago …
On her return to Isle of Wight, Laura begins to receive threatening texts, letters and phonecalls about her past, and I was left desperate to know who could want to harm Laura decades on … and the suspect list is lonnnggggg!
It’s always a risk when you go looking for trouble, because sometimes trouble will hunt you back …
Very T M Logan-esque, the writing was very good and the tension was ramped up well, but the ‘forbidden love, teacher-pupil story’ feels very unoriginal and no single event within the story shocked me. The different perceptions of Laura over each time frame, from being a love struck teenager to a safeguarding responsible adult, is an interesting contrast and you can see the change in the character so clearly through MAH’s writing.
A dual-timeline story of manipulation, obsession, unlikeable characters and controversial broken boundaries, this is a psychological, uncomfortable, dark, page-turning thriller recommended if you want a quick and easy thriller read!
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Publishers and M. A. Hunter for the ARC book in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2026
I spent more than thirty years in education, so it’s hard for me to resist a psychological thriller set in a school. That’s exactly why I read The Teacher’s Pet by M.A. Hunter. You just know there are going to be buried secrets, unreliable characters, and a setting that feels familiar.
📚 Judi’s Report Card
🎓 School Setting: A
The school environment felt authentic, and as a former teacher, I could easily picture the day-to-day reality.
😲 Twists: B+
The mystery kept me guessing, even when I thought I had it figured out.
🧠 Neurodiversity Representation: A
Laura’s autism was portrayed thoughtfully, especially her sensitivity to sound. It felt authentic.
❤️ Characters: D
I never really connected with any of the characters, and that’s always hard for me in a psychological thriller. I don’t have to like everyone, but I do like having at least one person to root for.
🧩 Plot Consistency: C
A few inconsistencies pulled me out of the story and kept it from being a stronger thriller. There were also a few moments that left me wondering, “Why was that even included?”
📖 Readability: B
The pacing was solid enough that I wanted to keep turning the pages to see how everything came together.
🏆 Final Grade: B-
This one had all the ingredients for a great psychological thriller, and I was invested enough to keep reading. Unfortunately, a few plot inconsistencies and a cast of characters I didn’t care about kept it from making the honor roll. 📚
Go to https://judiholst.com/the-teachers-pe... for my full review.
📚 Judi’s Report Card
🎓 School Setting: A
The school environment felt authentic, and as a former teacher, I could easily picture the day-to-day reality.
😲 Twists: B+
The mystery kept me guessing, even when I thought I had it figured out.
🧠 Neurodiversity Representation: A
Laura’s autism was portrayed thoughtfully, especially her sensitivity to sound. It felt authentic.
❤️ Characters: D
I never really connected with any of the characters, and that’s always hard for me in a psychological thriller. I don’t have to like everyone, but I do like having at least one person to root for.
🧩 Plot Consistency: C
A few inconsistencies pulled me out of the story and kept it from being a stronger thriller. There were also a few moments that left me wondering, “Why was that even included?”
📖 Readability: B
The pacing was solid enough that I wanted to keep turning the pages to see how everything came together.
🏆 Final Grade: B-
This one had all the ingredients for a great psychological thriller, and I was invested enough to keep reading. Unfortunately, a few plot inconsistencies and a cast of characters I didn’t care about kept it from making the honor roll. 📚
Go to https://judiholst.com/the-teachers-pe... for my full review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was just OK for me- it was a quick read but lacked some depth. It centers on Laura, who has an inappropriate relationship with a teacher when she is 15 years old, and returns to work at that same school decades later when her dad needs a caretaker. The story is told in past and present timelines, the former which provides background info for the latter.
Laura was not a particularly likable character in either timeline- she jumped to conclusions and made bad decisions, many of which caused me to suspend my disbelief. The book referenced her autism a few times, but that felt like a way to explain something she said or did versus truly being a piece of her character. I never really understood the dynamic between Laura and the teacher and the author didn't provide enough depth for me to understand what possibly could have compelled the teacher to pursue the relationship. While the first 3 quarters of the book were a bit of a slow burn, some good twists showed up towards the end of the book, some of which surprised me (though still had grown adults making dumb decisions). I liked the reveal and wish there had been a little more action earlier in the book to match that level of intensity. The very end of the book felt like a huge stretch to me and while I get where the author was going, it was just super unrealistic.
Overall, this was a decent read that lacked depth but had a couple of great twists. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Laura was not a particularly likable character in either timeline- she jumped to conclusions and made bad decisions, many of which caused me to suspend my disbelief. The book referenced her autism a few times, but that felt like a way to explain something she said or did versus truly being a piece of her character. I never really understood the dynamic between Laura and the teacher and the author didn't provide enough depth for me to understand what possibly could have compelled the teacher to pursue the relationship. While the first 3 quarters of the book were a bit of a slow burn, some good twists showed up towards the end of the book, some of which surprised me (though still had grown adults making dumb decisions). I liked the reveal and wish there had been a little more action earlier in the book to match that level of intensity. The very end of the book felt like a huge stretch to me and while I get where the author was going, it was just super unrealistic.
Overall, this was a decent read that lacked depth but had a couple of great twists. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read The Teacher’s Pet by M.A. Hunter in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book and flew through it in that “just one more chapter” way. One of the biggest positives for me was having a main character with autism. As a mum of neurodivergent children, I really appreciated seeing the story told from this perspective, and I found Laura very easy to warm to. Her emotions, anxieties, and struggles felt genuine, and I was invested in her from the beginning.
The story itself is messy, dramatic, and full of secrets, obsession, and manipulation. The dual timeline worked well, gradually revealing that the past wasn’t quite as straightforward as it first seemed. I also loved the tense small-town atmosphere and the sense that everyone was hiding something.
That said, there were a few plot points that stretched believability a little too far for me. (Spoiler alert) the whole situation surrounding the death/murder became quite unrealistic. After prolonged CPR and someone being declared dead, it didn’t feel believable that events could unfold the way they did afterwards. I also struggled with the idea of the parents reporting someone as missing under those circumstances. It just pushed things a bit too far for me.
Even with those issues, though, this was still a very bingeable and entertaining thriller that kept me turning the pages. Not perfect, but definitely a compelling and memorable read.
I really enjoyed this book and flew through it in that “just one more chapter” way. One of the biggest positives for me was having a main character with autism. As a mum of neurodivergent children, I really appreciated seeing the story told from this perspective, and I found Laura very easy to warm to. Her emotions, anxieties, and struggles felt genuine, and I was invested in her from the beginning.
The story itself is messy, dramatic, and full of secrets, obsession, and manipulation. The dual timeline worked well, gradually revealing that the past wasn’t quite as straightforward as it first seemed. I also loved the tense small-town atmosphere and the sense that everyone was hiding something.
That said, there were a few plot points that stretched believability a little too far for me. (Spoiler alert) the whole situation surrounding the death/murder became quite unrealistic. After prolonged CPR and someone being declared dead, it didn’t feel believable that events could unfold the way they did afterwards. I also struggled with the idea of the parents reporting someone as missing under those circumstances. It just pushed things a bit too far for me.
Even with those issues, though, this was still a very bingeable and entertaining thriller that kept me turning the pages. Not perfect, but definitely a compelling and memorable read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
The Teacher’s Pet is a dark, psychological thriller told across dual timelines, following 15-year-old Laura as she becomes involved in an illicit relationship with her English teacher, and adult Laura as she returns to teach at her old school. Soon after her return, she begins receiving anonymous letters and messages threatening to expose long-buried secrets and lies.
The dual timeline structure worked brilliantly, keeping the story fast-paced, engaging, and full of tension throughout. Laura was an especially well-written character. As a teenager, she is navigating the challenges of school life as an autistic girl, alongside the intensity of a messy and obsessive infatuation. In the present-day storyline, the emotional scars of her past still linger, leaving her vulnerable as she tries to uncover who is tormenting her. She isn’t always easy to like, but that made her feel all the more authentic — flawed, complicated, and real.
There were a few minor inconsistencies that pulled me out of the story at times, particularly regarding whether anyone knew about Laura’s relationship with Andrew, as this seemed to contradict earlier references made by other characters.
Overall, though, this was an enjoyable, tense, and twist-filled thriller that I flew through.
Thank you to NetGalley, M.A. Hunter, and Boldwood Books for the ARC.
The Teacher’s Pet is a dark, psychological thriller told across dual timelines, following 15-year-old Laura as she becomes involved in an illicit relationship with her English teacher, and adult Laura as she returns to teach at her old school. Soon after her return, she begins receiving anonymous letters and messages threatening to expose long-buried secrets and lies.
The dual timeline structure worked brilliantly, keeping the story fast-paced, engaging, and full of tension throughout. Laura was an especially well-written character. As a teenager, she is navigating the challenges of school life as an autistic girl, alongside the intensity of a messy and obsessive infatuation. In the present-day storyline, the emotional scars of her past still linger, leaving her vulnerable as she tries to uncover who is tormenting her. She isn’t always easy to like, but that made her feel all the more authentic — flawed, complicated, and real.
There were a few minor inconsistencies that pulled me out of the story at times, particularly regarding whether anyone knew about Laura’s relationship with Andrew, as this seemed to contradict earlier references made by other characters.
Overall, though, this was an enjoyable, tense, and twist-filled thriller that I flew through.
Thank you to NetGalley, M.A. Hunter, and Boldwood Books for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hmmm... rating 3🌟because I was interested in some of it and wanted what happened, and I finished it.
Laura returns home to take care of her father. She applies for a short term position with the secondary school that she attended years ago. She did not graduate from this school because she left early after engaging in a affair with her teacher. When she returns to work, things begin to happen.
The story is told in a past/present timeline. I usually love this approach, but there were some inconsistencies that had me questioning a few things. Laura also comes across as unlikable, and treats almost everyone not that kindly. She seems 2 dimensional, and I found it difficult to connect with her, or root for her. I feel that if her character had been developed more there would have been more depth to the plot.
The ending was supposed to be "shocking", but as I got to this point it wasn't that jaw dropping and in a way seemed to be in line with the character- ending with a bit of a cliche.
For me, it was an OK read, but I wish the characters and some of the plot had been developed a bit more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Laura returns home to take care of her father. She applies for a short term position with the secondary school that she attended years ago. She did not graduate from this school because she left early after engaging in a affair with her teacher. When she returns to work, things begin to happen.
The story is told in a past/present timeline. I usually love this approach, but there were some inconsistencies that had me questioning a few things. Laura also comes across as unlikable, and treats almost everyone not that kindly. She seems 2 dimensional, and I found it difficult to connect with her, or root for her. I feel that if her character had been developed more there would have been more depth to the plot.
The ending was supposed to be "shocking", but as I got to this point it wasn't that jaw dropping and in a way seemed to be in line with the character- ending with a bit of a cliche.
For me, it was an OK read, but I wish the characters and some of the plot had been developed a bit more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.
Laura returns to her home town to look after her ailing father. Twenty years ago, as a minor, she fell in love with her teacher, and that had consequences. Now someone seems to know her secret.
We meet a protagonist who has to cope with her autism and a father who isn’t in the best of health. Although Laura has changed her identity, she still feels just as vulnerable as she did back then, and that feeling intensifies when she starts receiving anonymous letters.
The theme of her ‘affair’ with a man twice her age, she being a minor and he her teacher, seems a bit romanticised for my taste, though it works for the plot.
As the narrative shifts between time periods, we gradually uncover everything that happened twenty years ago: her relationship with Andrew, the plans they had, and what actually happened.
The tension builds as she receives anonymous letters and begins to suspect almost everyone. Perhaps the sections where she has to look after her father, though well-written, slow the pace of the narrative and took me out of the atmosphere that was being created.
Overall, an easy-to-read thriller with some interesting twists.
Laura returns to her home town to look after her ailing father. Twenty years ago, as a minor, she fell in love with her teacher, and that had consequences. Now someone seems to know her secret.
We meet a protagonist who has to cope with her autism and a father who isn’t in the best of health. Although Laura has changed her identity, she still feels just as vulnerable as she did back then, and that feeling intensifies when she starts receiving anonymous letters.
The theme of her ‘affair’ with a man twice her age, she being a minor and he her teacher, seems a bit romanticised for my taste, though it works for the plot.
As the narrative shifts between time periods, we gradually uncover everything that happened twenty years ago: her relationship with Andrew, the plans they had, and what actually happened.
The tension builds as she receives anonymous letters and begins to suspect almost everyone. Perhaps the sections where she has to look after her father, though well-written, slow the pace of the narrative and took me out of the atmosphere that was being created.
Overall, an easy-to-read thriller with some interesting twists.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this eARC.
I just finished The Teacher’s Pet by M.A. Hunter, and honestly, my heart is still pounding! If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that truly earns its "unputdownable" label, this is absolutely it.
What makes this book stand out is how Hunter expertly cranks up the tension. From the very first chapter, there’s this delicious, creeping sense of unease that you just can’t shake. The way the relationship dynamics are written is both fascinating and terrifying—it’s a masterclass in "show, don't tell" when it comes to manipulation and obsession.
The protagonist is so well-drawn that I felt every ounce of her mounting dread. I usually pride myself on spotting twists a mile away, but Hunter completely pulled the rug out from under me. The pacing is relentless; I told myself "just one more chapter" at 11 PM and suddenly it was 2 AM and I was turning the final page.
It’s dark, it’s clever, and it’s incredibly polished. If you love stories that explore the blurred lines of power and the secrets hidden behind "perfect" lives, you need to add The Teacher's Pet o your TBR pile immediately. A massive five stars!
I just finished The Teacher’s Pet by M.A. Hunter, and honestly, my heart is still pounding! If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that truly earns its "unputdownable" label, this is absolutely it.
What makes this book stand out is how Hunter expertly cranks up the tension. From the very first chapter, there’s this delicious, creeping sense of unease that you just can’t shake. The way the relationship dynamics are written is both fascinating and terrifying—it’s a masterclass in "show, don't tell" when it comes to manipulation and obsession.
The protagonist is so well-drawn that I felt every ounce of her mounting dread. I usually pride myself on spotting twists a mile away, but Hunter completely pulled the rug out from under me. The pacing is relentless; I told myself "just one more chapter" at 11 PM and suddenly it was 2 AM and I was turning the final page.
It’s dark, it’s clever, and it’s incredibly polished. If you love stories that explore the blurred lines of power and the secrets hidden behind "perfect" lives, you need to add The Teacher's Pet o your TBR pile immediately. A massive five stars!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First off, I loved the dual timeline setup, and even better, it was actually easy to follow. Each timeline felt distinct, and I never found myself confused about where or when we were in the story, which made the slow unraveling of secrets even more satisfying.
Now yes… the central relationship is deeply uncomfortable at times because we’re dealing with a teacher and a 15-year-old student. It’s disturbing, manipulative, and honestly gross in the way it should be. But that tension is exactly what made the story so intense. I kept flying through chapters because I needed to know who was lying, who was hiding what, and how everything was going to collide.
And I’m trying to stay vague because this is absolutely the kind of thriller where the less you know going in, the better 😏
The twists were so much fun, the suspense kept building, and every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, something else shifted. There’s a messy, obsessive energy running through this whole book that made it incredibly hard to put down.
Definitely a 5-star thriller for me. Dark, addictive, and packed with secrets.
Now yes… the central relationship is deeply uncomfortable at times because we’re dealing with a teacher and a 15-year-old student. It’s disturbing, manipulative, and honestly gross in the way it should be. But that tension is exactly what made the story so intense. I kept flying through chapters because I needed to know who was lying, who was hiding what, and how everything was going to collide.
And I’m trying to stay vague because this is absolutely the kind of thriller where the less you know going in, the better 😏
The twists were so much fun, the suspense kept building, and every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, something else shifted. There’s a messy, obsessive energy running through this whole book that made it incredibly hard to put down.
Definitely a 5-star thriller for me. Dark, addictive, and packed with secrets.
May 8, 2026
The Teacher’s Pet by M. A. Hunter is an unnerving and uncomfortable read.
Laura returns to her hometown to care for her increasingly unwell father and is offered a job at the local secondary school, the same place where, twenty years earlier, she had a relationship with one of her teachers as a child.
There are several gripping elements within the novel. Laura is plagued by notes and crackling phone calls from an unknown figure, steadily undermining her sense of stability. The shifts in timeline are well handled and add a strong sense of momentum, while the mystery within the present-day narrative is compelling throughout. However, for a novel dealing with such dark subject matter, there is little real exploration of the morality surrounding the events of Laura’s past or her present responsibilities towards her father. As a result, the novel feels more focused on plot than emotional depth or deeper reflection.
Overall, this is a pacy and engaging read that explores some intriguing themes.
Laura returns to her hometown to care for her increasingly unwell father and is offered a job at the local secondary school, the same place where, twenty years earlier, she had a relationship with one of her teachers as a child.
There are several gripping elements within the novel. Laura is plagued by notes and crackling phone calls from an unknown figure, steadily undermining her sense of stability. The shifts in timeline are well handled and add a strong sense of momentum, while the mystery within the present-day narrative is compelling throughout. However, for a novel dealing with such dark subject matter, there is little real exploration of the morality surrounding the events of Laura’s past or her present responsibilities towards her father. As a result, the novel feels more focused on plot than emotional depth or deeper reflection.
Overall, this is a pacy and engaging read that explores some intriguing themes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I never thought I'd come back here.... to the island. To this school....
As a sudent, Meridian Secondary nearly destroyed me, and I've been running from the truth fro nearly twenty years. But I'm not that love-sick teacher's pet anymore; now I'm the one in charge, and I'll do anything to keep my identity buried.
This story has a dual timeline - the past, twenty years ago, when Laura was a student at the school and the present day. Laura had to return home to look after her father and she gets a temporary position at the secondary school that she had left before graduating. Twenty years ago she had fallen in love with her teacher.
Laura is not a likeable character. She has changed her identity. The slowly slowly reveals itself, the tension builds, and the pace is steady. There's a sense of unease, manipulation, and obsession. I found this an intriguing read that has been well-written.
Published 10th June 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #MAHunter for my ARC of #TheTeachersPet in exchange for an honest review.
As a sudent, Meridian Secondary nearly destroyed me, and I've been running from the truth fro nearly twenty years. But I'm not that love-sick teacher's pet anymore; now I'm the one in charge, and I'll do anything to keep my identity buried.
This story has a dual timeline - the past, twenty years ago, when Laura was a student at the school and the present day. Laura had to return home to look after her father and she gets a temporary position at the secondary school that she had left before graduating. Twenty years ago she had fallen in love with her teacher.
Laura is not a likeable character. She has changed her identity. The slowly slowly reveals itself, the tension builds, and the pace is steady. There's a sense of unease, manipulation, and obsession. I found this an intriguing read that has been well-written.
Published 10th June 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #MAHunter for my ARC of #TheTeachersPet in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book lacked depth for me. I think there was scope to make Laura a much more interesting and likeable character which might have made me more able to sympathise with her more. I know her autism caused her to behave differently and I think we needed more detail of that as she grew up to add substance to why she sometimes acted as she did.
Laura has returned home to care for a her father and has a teaching job in the school that she left under a cloud because of a past relationship. I didn't understand her reasons for going back there - was it because she needed a job that badly or was it for her to put the past in the past? How did she expect that people would not know who she was? And the Headteacher was very confusing. Why was she acting the way she does and why do the other staff have differing opinions on her?
Overall, I think the book left unanswered questions, some of which could have added more to the plot, whereas other things happened out of the blue, presumably to add to the tension.
Laura has returned home to care for a her father and has a teaching job in the school that she left under a cloud because of a past relationship. I didn't understand her reasons for going back there - was it because she needed a job that badly or was it for her to put the past in the past? How did she expect that people would not know who she was? And the Headteacher was very confusing. Why was she acting the way she does and why do the other staff have differing opinions on her?
Overall, I think the book left unanswered questions, some of which could have added more to the plot, whereas other things happened out of the blue, presumably to add to the tension.
May 31, 2026
I thoroughly enjoy MA Hunters’ writing. This story certainly doesn’t disappoint, especially with its unexpected twists.
The story is set in two timelines: the present and 20 years in the past. Laura returns to an island she left 20 years earlier to care for her father after a heart attack. She also returns to teach at the school she attended, but she doesn’t want anyone to know she left due to an inappropriate relationship with a teacher.
Twenty years later, Laura is back at the school. She believes the teacher she hasn’t seen since a tragic night when her mother took her away from everything is actually there, trying to scare her.
This book is about how to keep your friends close but your enemies closer.
My only complaint is the characters. We don’t get much insight into their thoughts and feelings. We see how Laura treats her friend and disregards her, but we don’t understand her motivations. I wish there was more development for each character.
Overall, it’s a good story, especially for a summer read by the pool.
The story is set in two timelines: the present and 20 years in the past. Laura returns to an island she left 20 years earlier to care for her father after a heart attack. She also returns to teach at the school she attended, but she doesn’t want anyone to know she left due to an inappropriate relationship with a teacher.
Twenty years later, Laura is back at the school. She believes the teacher she hasn’t seen since a tragic night when her mother took her away from everything is actually there, trying to scare her.
This book is about how to keep your friends close but your enemies closer.
My only complaint is the characters. We don’t get much insight into their thoughts and feelings. We see how Laura treats her friend and disregards her, but we don’t understand her motivations. I wish there was more development for each character.
Overall, it’s a good story, especially for a summer read by the pool.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
I really enjoyed this thriller. The pacing was really good and I liked the back and forth between past and present.
I did have a small idea of the twist but I was still surprised when we reached conclusion. I actually thought the twist and other side plots were well done. Everything wrapped up nicely, and the overall message at the end about there being measures put in place regarding to be able to speak up openly about this stuff was appreciated. I also found the main character did somewhat learn from her past relationship, which allowed her to openly question the morales of the school.
This was a fast paced, easy to follow thriller. The subject matter obviously hard to read at times. This was my first experience reading this author and I'll definitely be reading more.
I also read the authors note and I hope that their health is still in good form.
I really enjoyed this thriller. The pacing was really good and I liked the back and forth between past and present.
I did have a small idea of the twist but I was still surprised when we reached conclusion. I actually thought the twist and other side plots were well done. Everything wrapped up nicely, and the overall message at the end about there being measures put in place regarding to be able to speak up openly about this stuff was appreciated. I also found the main character did somewhat learn from her past relationship, which allowed her to openly question the morales of the school.
This was a fast paced, easy to follow thriller. The subject matter obviously hard to read at times. This was my first experience reading this author and I'll definitely be reading more.
I also read the authors note and I hope that their health is still in good form.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Secrets from the past are back at school and they are turning deadly.
M.A. Hunter never fails to deliver!
In The Teacher’s Pet, Laura returns to the Isle of Wight to care for her father and face the ghosts of her past.
Years after an unfortunate affair with her English teacher, she is back at the school as a teacher herself. But when threatening notes and calls start then escalate, all- consuming paranoia sets in.
The dual timeline between then and now is seamless, and Hunter excels at creating deeply relatable characters. As the suspect list grows, the dark racing plot keeps you guessing about what truly happened all those years ago.
I especially appreciated how the story brought autism awareness to light. Hunter also handles the delicate subject matter brilliantly, refusing to over romanticize that past affair.
This is an excellent thriller with a brilliant ending.
My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
M.A. Hunter never fails to deliver!
In The Teacher’s Pet, Laura returns to the Isle of Wight to care for her father and face the ghosts of her past.
Years after an unfortunate affair with her English teacher, she is back at the school as a teacher herself. But when threatening notes and calls start then escalate, all- consuming paranoia sets in.
The dual timeline between then and now is seamless, and Hunter excels at creating deeply relatable characters. As the suspect list grows, the dark racing plot keeps you guessing about what truly happened all those years ago.
I especially appreciated how the story brought autism awareness to light. Hunter also handles the delicate subject matter brilliantly, refusing to over romanticize that past affair.
This is an excellent thriller with a brilliant ending.
My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
July 5, 2026
The Teacher’s Pet is the second book I’ve read by M.A. Hunter, and at this point, I’m officially a fan. This psychological thriller had me hooked from the very first chapter and never let up.
The dual timeline was so well done, slowly revealing pieces of the past while building suspense in the present. Every chapter dropped just enough breadcrumbs to keep me guessing, and I found myself constantly trying to figure out who I could trust… only to change my mind again a few pages later.
The twists kept coming, the pacing never slowed down, and I was completely invested in uncovering the truth. That’s exactly what I look for in a thriller, and this one absolutely delivered.
If you’re a fan of fast-paced psychological thrillers with dual timelines, unreliable characters, and plenty of twists, The Teacher’s Pet is one I’d definitely recommend adding to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and M.A. Hunter for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book early.
The dual timeline was so well done, slowly revealing pieces of the past while building suspense in the present. Every chapter dropped just enough breadcrumbs to keep me guessing, and I found myself constantly trying to figure out who I could trust… only to change my mind again a few pages later.
The twists kept coming, the pacing never slowed down, and I was completely invested in uncovering the truth. That’s exactly what I look for in a thriller, and this one absolutely delivered.
If you’re a fan of fast-paced psychological thrillers with dual timelines, unreliable characters, and plenty of twists, The Teacher’s Pet is one I’d definitely recommend adding to your TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and M.A. Hunter for the ARC and the opportunity to read this book early.
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