Black Girls Don't Cry

by Alex Travis

When a Black teen decides to run for prom queen at her predominantly white high school, the competition takes a deadly turn when the fight for the crown becomes a matter of life or death. A gripping YA thriller for readers of Jumata Emill's The Black Queen and Tiffany D. Jackson's The Weight of Blood.

Ida and JJ could have been the ultimate power couple of Banneker High. As the VP and President of their Black Student Union, the two seemed destined to be yearbook legends. But that was before JJ learned Ida was equally attracted to girls. JJ is already deep in a new relationship, which infuriates Ida—almost as much as when a sexist "hot list' starts circulating the school. It's bad enough anyone rated the girls on their looks, but the list has only white students. Seriously?

There has never been any racial diversity among the prom queen candidates at Banneker, so the BSU decides to make their own statement on beauty and run a candidate. Now Ida and JJ's new girlfriend are both competing for the title. Ida wants to make a point more than win the crown, but having smart, savvy Amayah as her campaign manager might just win her both and a new crush.

Genres: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery, Queer, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, LGBT

365 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2026

About the author

Alex Travis was born in New York and made her way to Northern Virginia to begin her daytime career as a full-time school psychologist. She has a BA in psychology from University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. in school psychology from the University of Maryland. Alex wrote her first book at the age of 11, and has been losing herself in fictional worlds of her own creation since then. Alex makes her home in Virginia with her husband, an outrageous collection of Funkos, and too many books to count.

Reviews

[Raaven💖]

I think this is gonna be my first rant for 2026. This book didn’t really grip me and I almost DNFed but I wanted to stay because the mystery was interesting but then IT NEVER GETS SOLVED!!! NOBODY IS PUNISHED!!! All the boys making AI photos just go about their days. This was so frustrating. I actually screamed at the end. What was the point?? They find out who was hurting everyone…and it just goes nowhere. Who killed Cassidy?? Guess it doesn’t matter anymore after you thought you put your life on the line for it. I also barely liked anyone here. I give a bit of grace for high schoolers, but it was very dramatic. JJ was such a stereotype I was rolling my eyes. Ashley as well. I just couldn’t take them seriously. I hate that I didn’t like this because the premise was so interesting.

[Norma (reading slump, life slump)]

⋆·˚ ༘ * 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹

➷ I started reading this last week, on Friday, and so far I'm engaged. It definitely gives off Dear White People vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

[Ney oh the thrill of it FN]

The premise was definitely interesting. In a school of majority white students, there has never been a black prom queen. Ida Carter wants to change that. She decides to run, but soon it becomes clear someone has a vendetta to settle. One girl ends up dead and others are injured.

This book deals with themes of racism, colourism, sexism, misogyny and homophobia, to name a few. I applaud the author for approaching these subjects head on. I loved to see the unwaivering love and support Ida's parents showed her throughout!

I found the beginning really slow and struggled to get into it. It does pick up but then the ending felt so rushed. Considering this was about who would become prom queen, the prom scene was short.

For me personally I didn't love how it ended. It just felt a little anticlimactic for me considering the build up. Maybe it's closer to real life, but it just needed more.

I didn't fully vibe with the writing style and I can't really put my finger on why. It just felt a little disjointed in parts. I had such high hopes for this book, but I will try more of this author's work in the future.

This one is for you if you enjoy books about high school drama, but has a deeper message running through the centre and is filled with characters who all feel suspicious!

Thank you to Alex Travis and Sourcebooks fire for this complimentary advanced copy via Netgalley. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.

[hailey ౨ৎ]

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review. I greatly appreciate it!

I'll be honest, as messy as this book got especially towards the end, it wasn't the most interesting. I felt like the was a build-up with the girls Bridget, Lauren, Cassidy, and Sally, but since I read thrillers and mystery novels A LOT I could see the clues and point out who was responsible for what a mile away. This definitely was more of a YA drama, it didn't really quite feel like a thriller to me. I did pick up on certain things throughout the book that could've incriminated certain characters, so I wasn't totally shocked by the end. I implicitly never trust anyone in mystery/thriller novels, sorry not sorry LMAO. It's always who you least expect, and almost exactly who you'd expect lol. I felt like the ending was a little rushed. Like a lot of the middle was really dragged out and since running for prom queen was the whole point of the book, I was really disappointed that the prom scene was only one short chapter. I also felt like the ending wasn't redeeming whatsoever. So nobody wins? Nobody gets caught and nobody gets justice for everything we spent the whole book uncovering?? Damn okay I guess..... I liked the bisexual rep with Ida and the lesbian rep with Amaya, I just wish that in the end the investigators did their job and not leave it to high schoolers to solve crimes because wdym not a SINGLE ADULT BESIDES THE PTA DID ANYTHING?! WELL SHIT!

[RaeReads]

Review of Advanced Copy From NetGalley. All Opinions are my own

Okay so listen… this was messy YA drama and I was locked in.

We’re following a bisexual Black teen just trying to exist, figure herself out, and survive friendships that may or may not be fake, a shady ex, a “is she my girlfriend or my enemy?” situation, and a whole town full of side-eyes. Everybody felt suspicious. I’m talking every single character had me like 🤨 because the mystery element really had me trying to piece it together.

What I loved? The characters felt like actual teenagers. Emotional. Reactive. Dramatic. The supportive parents? Chef’s kiss. We don’t get that enough. And the way racism, homophobia, beauty standards, and misogyny were woven into the story felt real (not preachy, just real) The back and forth between Amayah and Ida had me stressed, and don’t even get me started on Simone because whew.

Now let’s talk about the ending. I’m not mad… but I am side-eyeing it a little. It felt unfinished. The mystery doesn’t fully wrap up, consequences feel light, and I wanted just a little more depth. BUT — it honestly reads like it’s setting up for a sequel. And if that’s the case? Okay then. I see you. I’ll be back.

Overall, it was engaging, dramatic, and definitely kept me turning pages.
3.5 stars!!!

[Leonie]

This book was good the only problem I had was the beginning I found it quite slow so it took me a while to get into it but when I read on and reached the middle that’s where all the drama took off I kind of wished we had that from point one but anyway we meet Ida Carter who was the girlfriend of JJ and they broke up due to Ida claiming she’s a bi which JJ didn’t love and she got made by Amayah and her friend Simone to be prom queen and she’s known in the BSU when messages start going round Banneker High their school one of the girls called Cassidy ends up dead which creates things and chaos among the students and Ida wanted to find out the reason behind it all which she didn’t find easy…

Travis gave this one as always due to me reading her debut The Payback Girls the best justice and premise she gave but for me what I didn’t love was how the chapter one felt like a slow drag it made it difficult for me to get into the story and it took me a while to find Ida being the main character of the story but this book did deal with topics Travis wasn’t afraid of admitting and especially this being YA makes you think about a lot especially who your friends are and crushes and etc but I’ll continue on to support Alex Travis because I love her black stories and characters we need more of them! So I’ve bumped one star out due to the slow pacing of the book so it’s a four star instead of five!

[S. L. Hemmings-Hall]

What a great read!
This story was so intriguing and I was gripped early on. It tackles so many important topics like racism, homophobia, and misogyny, and I felt the commentary on these issues were incredibly relevant to the time we’re living in and also well explored.
The ending was somewhat anticlimactic to me at first but upon reflection, I do understand why Travis made such a choice and it did make sense with the overall message of the story, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free arc.

[Clouds]

Reading experience: four stars. I was really into the story and the relationship dynamics the whole time.
Ending: two stars. Because I was so invested, I was disappointed by the lack of resolution.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter]

I had a bit of a rollercoaster experience with this one because I’m not entirely sure who the target audience was meant to be. As a white reader who makes a conscious effort to read diverse books and who is aware of the privileges that come with that, this felt at times like the YA fiction equivalent of Dear White People. The messaging occasionally felt heavy-handed, which distracted from what was otherwise an engaging story.

At times, the book seemed unsure of what it wanted to be. I would have preferred it to focus more on the story itself and less on delivering a lesson or making a particular point. That said, the message is an important one, and perhaps that was the author’s primary goal.

The book is somewhat repetitive, but I did enjoy the core story. For the most part, I found it fun and engaging—until the ending. The final conflict felt frustrating because it seemed to lack any real accountability, and the resolution didn’t quite make sense to me. I’ll leave it at that to avoid spoilers.

I am grateful to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[blissful.brii]

“Black Girls Don’t Cry” is a thriller young adult novel that explores the complexities of high school life. The protagonist, Ida, is a minority who faces various intersectional challenges, including racial discrimination. As she campaigns for prom queen, she uncovers a more sinister issue occurring at her high school. Despite these challenges, Ida remains determined to stay in the running for prom queen while solving the mystery of the darkness lurking within the school.

The novel successfully intertwines themes of young adulthood, self-identity, self-discovery, and murder mystery. However, the pacing could be improved, and there is a noticeable lack of smooth transitions between thoughts and plot lines.

While the story remains entertaining, I would rate it around 2.75 to 3 stars on average due to these issues.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for an Advanced Review Copy of this book!

[Lay Tonic]

This would have been a five if the ending wasn’t so vague on the problem in the story. Loved the characters, they started to grow on you but the boys in this are jerks and I do not miss high school based on the things they endured. Being a girl is hard enough but, going through this while trying to do prom is another thing. Crushed that no one got in serious trouble or was outed really before the ending of the book. I need a further explanation on what happened to the ones that did it.

Thanks to NetGalley

[Diana]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 STARS

this was such a gripping read from the start. you follow the FMC, Ida Carter, as she navigates relationships, friendships, and high school. in the midst of all that is her not-really-boyfriend, JJ, who never really allowed her to be herself and had his masculinity offended when she confided in him about being bi. so, rightfully she's hurt and angry. being in high school is tough enough when you're trying to figure yourself out, but having someone you cared about almost shun you for being queer is even harder. even worse, her school, Banneker High is notoriously "traditional"—meaning racist, misogynist, & homophobic.

after a list comes out about the 10 "hottest" girls in the school, which conspicuously comprises of pale skinned girls with blonde hair, Ida's friends (Simone & Amayah) decide that maybe it's time to challenge that. when Ida finds herself nominated by her BSU members to represent them, she's thrust in a position where she finally feels like she's no longer a shadow. but then JJ vocally rejects Ida's bid for prom queen and suggests someone else, someone who he'd vilified for not representing anything that BSU stands for. Ida thinks that at least she has her friends, Simone & Amayah, and BSU's support. but when Amayah is practically the only person standing in her corner, Ida now has to decide if standing on her beliefs and morals is enough to run for prom queen.

things get really messy, chaotic, and dangerous really fast. not only are the girls on that list being targeted, one of them is dead. private pictures and text conversations are also popping up online. both trust and privacy are compromised. Ida also realizes she's being targeted, and everything spirals out of control.

i loved Ida, and i loved her parents more. the way they became a pillar of support and confidence for her highlights all the ways a parent should be for their child. they love her and support her queerness, never making her feel less than or making her question her identity. they also stand ten toes down for her as everything unfolds, which made me a little jealous. her mom does not play about her! i enjoyed reading through Ida's character growth as she learns to stand on her own, choosing not to make herself smaller for anyone else.

the reason i knocked one star is simply the ending. while i get it, i really do... i just felt it didn't scratch the itch for a decent ending. it felt like the entire book was a buildup and it just... stops. then i remember that this is very real in our current political climate. nobody gets held responsible, and, even if they do, the fingers point anywhere but at the real problem. instead, they'll find a scapegoat... someone who "looks" the part, rather than address the real problems and the real culprits. the harsh reality is, as long as you're a cis yt man... accountability is not expected on your part. there's always an excuse, a reason, or even a woman to blame. it took me some time after finishing this read to remind myself of that and how this deserves nothing less than 4 stars. you might not like the ending, but the ending is as real as it gets.

do i recommend? YES. if not for the crazy plot twists, but the reality & awareness this could bring to the surface. again, the ending isn't clean cut and dry, but for POC... it never really is. we just make do with the hand we're dealt and let the cards fall where they may, praying it doesn't hurt one of our own. i hope others will come to the same conclusions i did. you can do everything right and still choose to be happy, even if others are wrong. there are other ways to convey the message from this book, and they're all pretty powerful ones. so, let's give this author a round of applause!

disclaimer: this book was read as an ARC via NetGalley, thanks to the author and publisher. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are mine.

[Nicole Austin]

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Black Girls Don't Cry” by Alex Travis is a drama-heavy YA story that is centered around a unique mystery that is complicated by social commentary and messy teenage emotions, which creates a very engaging (if sometimes overwhelming) read.

The story follows Iva, a Black bisexual teen navigating life in a small, not-so-diverse town where she’s constantly dealing with racism, beauty standards, homophobia, and complicated friendships. Between a shady ex-boyfriend, shifting relationships, and a school environment full of tension, she already has a lot on her plate; and things get even more intense when girls connected to a problematic “hottest girls” list start getting attacked, kicking off the book’s thriller element.

One of the strongest parts of this book is how real the characters feel. The teens are emotional, dramatic, messy, and still figuring themselves out in ways that feel authentic. Iva is easy to root for, and her journey of identity and self-discovery is compelling. Her developing relationship with Amayah is especially sweet, and the supportive parents were a refreshing highlight. The friendships and romantic dynamics are complicated, sometimes frustrating, but believable.

The book also tackles a lot of serious topics. It explores racism in schools and small communities, misogyny, homophobia, and harmful beauty standards. There’s also a strong focus on issues like AI being used to generate degrading images of girls, which adds a timely and unsettling layer to the story. These themes feel grounded and realistic, and the book raises important conversations about how girls, especially Black girls, are treated and perceived.

That said, the story sometimes struggles under the weight of everything it tries to address. It takes on so many heavy topics that some don’t get fully explored, and the balance between teen drama, social commentary, and mystery can feel uneven. The first half reads more like a high school drama than a thriller, and while the mystery becomes more central later, it can feel overshadowed by everything else happening. I think if the main focus had been on the misogyny (especially with the AI pictures), the story would have been more developed.

The suspense itself is entertaining, though; there are plenty of suspects, lots of tension, and a constant sense that anyone could be involved. The story keeps you guessing and turning pages, even if the resolution doesn’t fully deliver. The ending feels subtle and somewhat anticlimactic, with loose threads and limited consequences, which was a bit frustrating as I was expecting more of a dramatic reveal, which would have fit the drama throughout the entire book.

Overall, “Black Girls Don’t Cry” is an engaging and thought-provoking YA novel that shines most as a character-driven teen drama exploring identity, race, and social pressures. While the mystery and resolution may not completely satisfy, the compelling characters, emotional intensity, and relevant themes make it a fast-paced and discussion-worthy read.

[Aries.Pisces]

The premise of Black Girls Don't Cry arrives with genuine promise. When Ida, a Black teen and BSU vice president at a predominantly white high school, decides to run for prom queen as an act of protest against a culture that has systematically excluded girls of color, the setup is sharp, timely, and full of potential. Layer in a murder mystery, serious questions about digital exploitation and safety, a budding romance, and a cast of activist teens who supposedly operate on principle, and you have the bones of something that could have been genuinely important YA fiction — the kind that takes its audience seriously and trusts them with real moral complexity.

What follows is one of the more disappointing gaps between promise and execution in recent YA memory.

Ida, our supposed moral compass, is a deeply inconsistent protagonist. The righteous indignation that should drive her — the whole reason she's running, the whole reason we should be rooting for her — is consistently upstaged by romantic entanglements and social dynamics that absorb far more of her energy than the injustices she claims to stand against. When the stakes escalate to their most serious, her choices feel less like those of a principled activist and more like those of a teenager who simply cannot see past her own immediate emotional landscape. That might be honest, but the book never examines it as a flaw.

The adults in the story are largely ineffective or indifferent, which is a legitimate and often true reflection of how institutions fail young people. But the teens themselves — particularly those in the BSU, who open the book full of stated principle — are tested by events and found consistently wanting, without the book ever holding them meaningfully accountable for that. There is a significant difference between depicting how young people fail under pressure and quietly endorsing that failure by letting everyone walk away without consequence. This book too often does the latter.

The most serious issue is the ending, which resolves — or rather declines to resolve — its central tensions in a way that feels less like a deliberate artistic choice and more like an avoidance of the hard work the story required. Serious wrongs are committed in this book. Real harm is done. And the conclusion essentially allows everyone to move on, eyes fixed on college and the future, without genuine reckoning. In a story that positioned itself as being about justice, visibility, and the courage to stand for something, that is a profound letdown.

Alex Travis is a writer with real instincts and a clear understanding of the social terrain her characters inhabit. The premise alone demonstrates that. But a book that raises stakes this high and then sidesteps accountability does a disservice both to its subject matter and to the young readers it is meant to serve. They deserve fiction that tells them the truth about what principle actually costs — and what it means when we fail to honor it.

[Roslyn Bell]

Black Girls Don’t Cry is my first read by Alex Travis, and it absolutely will not be my last. I picked it up as an advanced copy from NetGalley, expecting a sharp YA thriller with social commentary and this author delivered exactly that, with a cast of characters whose messy, heartfelt interactions kept me turning pages into the wee hours of the morning. Ida is the kind of protagonist you root for immediately, she's stubborn, principled, and determined to make noise in a school that would prefer she stay quiet. Her decision to run for prom queen at a predominantly white high school isn’t about the crown, it’s about visibility, about pushing back when a sexist, all‑white “hot list” makes it painfully clear who gets valued and who doesn’t. That spark of activism sets everything in motion, and watching Ida navigate the fallout, personal, political, and increasingly dangerous was truly one of my favorite parts of the book. The character dynamics are where the author really shines in this tale. Ida and JJ’s fractured friendship has layers which are old affection, new resentment, and the sting of JJ’s reaction to Ida’s sexuality. Add JJ’s new girlfriend into the mix who’s also running for prom queen and the tension is complicated. And then there’s Amayah, Ida’s campaign manager, who brings competence, warmth, and a slowburn chemistry that feels both sweet and earned. Their interactions were some of the most grounded and emotionally resonant moments in the story for me. The thriller elements escalate quickly once the prom queen candidates start dropping, first out of the race, then out of life! The author balances the social commentary with genuine suspense, and while I guessed a few twists, others caught me off guard in the best way. The pacing gets tight toward the end, and the final reveal lands with a satisfying mix of shock and inevitability (WHEW!). The ending doesn’t tie everything up neatly and honestly, I appreciated that very much. It felt true to the story’s themes being survival, resistance, and the cost of being visible in spaces that weren’t built for you. Overall, Black Girls Don’t Cry is a captivating, socially conscious YA thriller with memorable characters and a plot that refuses to let you look away from it. This book will make a really good miniseries! #blackgirlsdon'tcry #netgalley

[Gabriellina Pedrotti]

I had high hopes for Black Girls Don’t Cry because the opening was so strong. The story begins with Ida Carter running for prom queen at her predominantly white high school, hoping to make a statement and possibly make history. The stakes quickly rise when the other candidates begin disappearing or turning up dead.

The high school setting worked really well for me at first. There was prom drama, breakups, ex-boyfriends, social tension, and Ida trying to stand up to the microaggressions around her. All of that gave the book a strong setup, and I thought the thriller side had a lot of potential.

Where it lost me a little was the ending. The final reveal felt too open-ended, and there were a few loose ends that I wish had been wrapped up more clearly. I don’t need every single thing explained, and maybe some of it could be explored in a second book, but the lack of resolution made the ending feel a little incomplete for me.

That said, I still wouldn’t call this a bad book. I gave it three stars because I enjoyed the drama, the revenge plots, and the way the story touched on issues that would feel real and relevant to a lot of teenagers. I also liked the callback to AI and how the book showed how dangerous technology can become when it’s in the wrong hands.

One of my favorite parts was Ida and JJ’s dynamic. I wished they could have stayed together, but I also understood why it probably wouldn’t work long-term. Their banter was fun, especially because they still had to work together in the BSU after breaking up.

I also really appreciated Ida’s relationship with her mom. Her mom was involved, supportive, and actually had a meaningful role in the story.

Another thing I liked was how Ida represented teenagers who are still figuring out who they are. Her identity exploration felt natural and organic, not forced, and that made her character feel more real to me.

Overall, Black Girls Don’t Cry had a strong premise, interesting character dynamics, and a lot of high school tension, but the unresolved ending kept me from loving it. I still found a lot to enjoy, especially Ida’s personal journey, the BSU dynamics, and the way the book explored race, technology, and teen social pressure. This was a solid three-star read for me.

[Megan]

As a huge fan of the prom queen and thriller/horror combo, I couldn’t put Black Girls Don’t Cry down!! The experience truly felt like getting so lost in a show that you end up binge-watching it in a day or two because you need to know what will happen next.

I really liked the mystery surrounding the prom queens, and much like Ida and her friends, every time I thought I had figured something out, a new revelation threw me off and led me to a new theory.

While I do agree with the consensus that the ending was rushed and a bit frustrating due to some unanswered questions, I still think it was an enjoyable read that sits at about 3.5 stars!

I really loved the complexity of the characters and how the author, Alex Travis, never shied away from pointing out when something was wrong, including things like misogyny, racism, and biphobia. Although there were issues within the BSU, I really appreciated how this was something Ida and her friends could turn to at times, given everything that was happening.

As someone who identifies as bisexual, I especially loved the representation and how the biphobia was handled. There were so many moments in the book where biphobic comments could have been dismissed, but some of the characters were vocal when they needed to be, which I really appreciated.

If I could change just one thing, it would be the lack of consequences. The story does a great job of highlighting what is right and wrong, yet it doesn’t fully explore what can come from making terrible decisions or being an overall terrible person. And I’m not just talking about the children, but some of the adults as well. I know Ida seemed to come to terms with this within the last few chapters, but from a reader’s perspective, it’s both frustrating and disappointing.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed my time reading this book and will definitely be recommending it, especially in the fall when I start making thriller edits! 👀🍂

Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Travis, and the wonderful people working at Sourcebooks Fire for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! 🗳️👑💖

[Jennifer]

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an earc of this story!

3.5 ⭐

I really enjoyed this thriller, being pulled in right from the start. We follow Ida, a high school student, who decides to run for prom queen in protest to the boys at the school releasing a list of the hottest girls in the year. The list is misogynistic and vile, and also centres the white, blonde students perpetuating racist beauty standards. Ida must convince the BSU that her running for prom queen is a good idea, but her ex JJ and her best friend Simone don’t seem to agree. As more is unravelled about the list, and girls start to go missing, the schools deep rotted racism, misogyny and homophobia are further exposed, and maybe friends aren’t who they seem to be. Ida teams up with Amayah to make a real change.

I really really liked the concept for this story. It felt painfully real, knowing how often situations like those within the story occur at high school and throughout school experiences. It is a book that focuses on racism, misogyny and homophobia and how people perpetuate stereotypes both in day to day life and within activism. The story is extremely important and the writing was brilliant!

I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story and was really intrigued by what was going to happen. Unfortunately I was disappointed by the ending, I felt like the whole story was building to a big ending that didn’t seem to come. There were a few plot points that were mentioned that seemed to be brushed over and I would have liked further exploration.

On the whole I really enjoyed the story and thought Alex Travis writing was brilliant so look forward to reading more of their work!!

[Jodie Rose Reads ✨️]

This book had so much potential! We’ve got lots of messy teen characters, a mystery to unravel, suspicious people left, right and centre… but I felt like the execution wasn’t what I was expecting for the book.

There are a lot of big and topical issues explored here, including racism, homophobia (biphobia, in particular), sexism, slut-shaming, toxic masculinity and using AI to create pornographic images of unconsenting minors. These all felt very relevant and I liked how Travis confronted them in the book, but I felt like some of them weren’t explored as much as I would have liked them to be.

I also enjoyed the mystery of it all and trying to work out who was behind all the attacks on the girls and why.

However, I felt really let-down by the ending! It felt like it was leading to a big reveal, but then it just doesn't go anywhere? Nobody is held accountable for their actions by the authorities or even the other schoolkids - and bearing in mind there's been a murder, several violent attacks and revenge porn, to name a few of the crimes. I enjoyed the rest of the book, but this had me wondering what it was all for. I know it might feel more true to real life, but it was really unsatisfying for a book to end this way.

💫 What to expect 💫

🏫 Contemporary YA thriller
🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic romance
☠️ Toxic friendships and relationships
💬 Social commentary
🔍 Mysteries to unravel
👸 Prom queen campaigns

💖 Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

💌 Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at @jodierosereads

[Diah]

digital ARC was provided by publisher and NetGalley

Wew, this one was... frustrating lol.

Synopsis
Ida and the Black Student Union decided to challenge Banneker High's tradition of having only white prom queen candidates by running one of their own. But what started as making a statement quickly turns deadly as prom queen candidates begin dropping out... and dropping dead. Who will even make it to prom?

Commentary
I actually liked it at first. Like, the first 20% (yes, I counted lol). I was so angry on behalf of Ida and I thought the story was building up to something really good.

Then it just... fell flat.
For a thriller, I didn't really feel the urgency? Even after someone died?? It felt weird because the stakes should've been so much higher, but somehow it never really got there.
The book also grapples with a lot of things, which I appreciate. It's just that somewhere along the way, the thriller kinda got shoved into the backseat and I kept waiting for it to come back.

Then the ending happened.

Or... did it?

I genuinely thought there'd be another chapter because it didn't feel like it was over yet. Without going into spoilers, I kept waiting for the consequences of, well... everything. But they just... weren't there? After finishing, I checked other reviews and apparently lots of people felt the same way, so at least I'm not alone lol.

Overall, I think the premise is stronger than the execution. The first 20% got me hooked, but after that it never really reached the same level again, which is a shame because this could've been such a tense YA thriller.

[Paulina]

This was honestly such a fun ride? I adore our main character, the writing is snappy and engaging and it had me laughing out loud.

Ida is a VP of Black Student Union at her school and she's still dealing with her breakup from the Union's president after he didn't take her coming out as bi that well. On top of that she has to deal with the Union's response to a sexist "hot list" circulating the school and runing a prom queen campaign to bring attention to the school's lack of diversity. But all her worries are put on the back burner when the girls in the runing for a prom queen start being attacked.

Ida is such a great character to follow, she deals with the pains of every teenager while trying to also solve what's happening to the girls at school. I think the author strikes the right balance in making Ida come off as a teenager without pushing it into feeling childish. And I was charmed both by her parents and their support of Ida, and her burgeoning romance with her "campaign manager".

I know the ending won't be for everyone but I actually really enjoyed it. It didn't wrap everything in a neat bow but it felt realistic. I know that Nancy Drew and every other teen sleuth led us to believe that solving a crime for a teen and having cops actually believe them is easy but the ending of this story felt much more in line with how the kids have been treated by majority of the adults around them throughout the story.

If you don't mind a thriller with an ending that doesn't give you all the answers this is certainly a great read.

Thank you to Alex Travis and Sourcebooks fire for providing me with this ARC.

[Eros Rose]

“Girls are reporting being followed, and now one of the girls running for prom queen is dead.”

If you’re looking for a young adult thriller:

-Black, queer characters
-slow burn mystery
-predominantly white school
-high school drama
-“who did it?” narrative
-“Black Student Union” versus everybody
-blackmail, murder & violence
-complex friendship dynamics
-prom queens & slander
-AI & deep fakes
-soft romance
-under 400 pages

This read like a Black teen horror tv show, almost similar to Scream Queens. There were memorable characters, unpredictable twists and turns & a never ending pull towards a slow burning end.

At first, there were way too many characters. It was a bit difficult to remember them after back to back. I liked the brief descriptions of each person. It felt like a quick rundown similar to the “Mean Girls” movies describing “The Plastics” and the different groups in the cafeteria.

My rating quickly went from 4 stars to 3 when I was creeping up on 99% finished and there was no answer to the million dollar question. I feel bamboozled. I can picture another book to get the answers that we deserve but there would really be no point. If there were another 20-30 pages, we could’ve wrapped this up with a strong ending. But, the lackluster “leave it up to the imagination” conclusion was not what I read all of those pages anticipating.

I like Alex Travis’ writing style. I have a few favorite Black & queer young adult authors and they would easily be another author I’d read future books from.

If you enjoyed “Ace of Spades”, “Where Sleeping Girls Lie” by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé or “The Black Queen” by Jumata Emill then you would love this!

[Kaisbooknook]

Trigger warnings: Racism, violence against girls, misogyny, murder

I really enjoyed the overarching commentary on violence against girls, misogyny, racism, and toxic masculinity. While I understand that the frustrating lack of justice and accountability is a huge part of said commentary and its reflection on real societal issues, it made the ending feel very underwhelming. While the perpetrators can be inferred to through the text, the ending provides no real solution or justice. It feels like I kept reading and reading, looking forward to a satisfying conclusion, and it never came unfortunately. I would have loved for there to at least have been a concrete and explicit reveal of all the perpetrators in the story, even if there was no legal justice involved in that ending. The pacing was also very uneven. The introduction to the story only picks up around the 35% mark, the middle of the story is drawn out because of the prom queen competition plot point, and the ending, including a reveal, and the whole event of prom were very rushed sadly. I would have loved to see more of prom, since that was a conclusion to a major plot point.

Overall, this story lacked satisfying reveals, more thrilling aspects, and concrete answers. Everything is left up in the air, and I was left wondering what I read the whole book for, if nothing is explicitly revealed anyways. A frustrating lack of answers ruined so much impact the story could have had. A huge thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and Netgalley for this ARC!

[Brady]

Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A fast-paced thriller! Ida and a good relationship going with JJ, they could be a power black couple and their predominately white high school, that is until JJ finds out that Ida also likes girls. And he moves on so quickly too. Then a hot list starts circulating and surprise surprise no black girls are on it. There’s also never been any racial diversity among the Prom candidates either and since it’s Prom season the Black Student Union decides to run a candidate. Now Ida is competing along with JJ’s new girlfriend. Ida wants to win the crown but even more she wants to make a point to her racist school. It doesn’t hurt that her campaign manager, Amayah, is also winning her heart! Then suddenly the competition turns deadly, with the prom queen candidates being picked off one by one. Some dead others dropping out. Now Ida now only has to win but figure out who’s hunting prom queens before she’s next. Who will survive? I love a good mystery that adds in other aspects and in this one you’ve got some romance but also commentary on racism and homophobia in high school. Alex Travis characters are wonderfully developed that it was impossible not to be cheering them on! I really enjoyed Ida and Amayah’s relationship and how supportive her parents were. A suspenseful story that had me guessing and kept me hooked!

[Destiny Bland]

I have only given one other book a 1 out of 5 stars before, so this really upsets me. I wanted to like this book. This book felt like rage bait in pages. I had been more annoyed and pissed than being able to fully understand/follow the plot. Though I kept going in hopes that it’ll turn out better. Nope. There were so many conversations in this book that have been mentioned, such as; Racism, Colorism, Murder, Cyberbullying, Sexism, Administration neglect on black students in a predominantly white school, and etc. Conversations that are important to have and take heed to. We literally have children and teens to protect and set examples for. The execution of those conversations were a mess. They were not carried efficiently and had been presented as a write off. I did not like that at all. Those topics are diligent and should have been carried out better. On another note, our main character pissed me off so much that I had to vent to my man in rage. Ida lacks a backbone, can be naively oblivious, and careless at times. But on the flip side is resilient, smart (Nancy Drew) has leadership capabilities, and knows how to speak professionally, considerate, and even self-aware. But her poor choices negate that many times. But then I have to remind myself, I am reading about 18 year olds in High School (hence why I am apprehensive reading YA). Cringes me, cause I know I had probably thought like Ida too at one point. The ending? Don’t. Piss. Me. Off. Like really? That’s how to end it??? Girl, no.

[Alisa Saiko]

I really enjoyed this story. It tackles a lot of important topics - racism, homophobia, misogyny, and the growing issue of AI being used to create inappropriate, non-consensual material. That aspect felt particularly relevant, especially given it's something that has recently happened at my own daughter's school.

The sapphic romance was sweet. And one of my favourite parts of the book was Ida's family. Her parents were incredibly supportive, and I was completely obsessed with Ida's mum. The characters felt authentic, with messy friendships and complicated relationships that reflected real teenage experiences.

I went into this knowing the ending was ambiguous. And while I understand why it might frustrate some readers, I thought it it the tone of the story well and made sense for what the book was trying to do.

My main criticism is that the novel takes on so many big issues that some of them don't get explored as deeply as I would have liked. That said, this is YA fiction and keeping the story fast paced and accessible for younger readers is important, so it's something I can mostly forgive.

Overall, this is a fun YA slasher thriller the delivers an important message alongside the suspense, with plenty of heart, strong characters and timely themes.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC in exchange for my review.

[Dorkst3r]

I received Black Girls Don't Cry through a Goodreads giveaway sponsored by the author and publisher.

This was a fast-paced YA thriller that had me wanting to know what was going to happen next. The mystery pulled me in early, but what really kept me reading were the characters and the real-life issues woven into the story.

Ida was an easy character to root for. Watching her navigate friendships, relationships, and the pressure of standing up for herself in a school where she often felt overlooked made her journey feel believable. I also appreciated that the story touched on topics like racism, homophobia, beauty standards, and the way social media and technology can be used to hurt people. It added depth without taking away from the suspense.

There were plenty of moments where I questioned who could be trusted, and I liked that the tension kept building as the story went on. The book balanced the mystery with the personal struggles of the characters, which made everything feel more meaningful.

The ending wasn't exactly what I expected, and I would have liked a little more closure, but it still left me thinking about the bigger message long after I finished reading.

Final thought: If you enjoy YA thrillers that mix mystery with important social themes and relatable characters, this is definitely worth picking up.

[Dania | DanisBookDen]

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. This book started off so strong for me. But the ending killed the whole vibe for me. This book is about black teen, Ida Carter, who decides to run for prom queen after suggested by her friends Simone and Amayah. Although she doesn’t want to do it at first, she’s persuaded when her ex, JJ Martin, adamantly opposes her running and instead endorses his new girlfriend, Ashley Beckett. And to make matters worse, so does her best friend Simone. Why? Because the make athletes have created a list ranking the girls in school based on the pros and cons of their attributes. And if any girl has a secret to hide it’ll be used against them. What’s Ida’s secret? The fact that she is bisexual.

Things only get worse once the girls on the list who are also running for prom queen begin to get attacked. One even fatal. Ida’s new love interest, Amarah, begins working as her prom campaign manager as well as her partner to see if she can figure out who’s behind the attacks. Oh and did I forget to mention, there’s a lot of racial tension in the school as well?

Again this story started out so strong until the last 10 or so pages. It felt like the ending was rushed and you’re left thinking, “Ain’t no way that it!”. This could’ve easily been a 5 star read but that ending dropped it to a 4 for me.

[Celina]

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐒: ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴀᴅᴜʟᴛ. ʙɪꜱᴇxᴜᴀʟ ʀᴇᴘ. ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ʙᴀʙɪᴇꜱ. ᴅʀᴀᴍᴀ/ᴀɴɢꜱᴛ. ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀʏ/ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ. ɴᴀꜱᴛʏ ʙᴏʏ/ᴍᴀɴ-ᴀᴛᴛɪᴛᴜᴅᴇ.

- 📖𝘼𝙍𝘾📚


𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬:
Bisexual black teen with very beautiful and supportive parents (wow). She also has good friends, best friend- oops, does she though? Ex-boyfriend, he was something shady. And then a girlfriend, but is she a girl-friend or girl-foe. And another Black teen Queen (crown) but also there were rednecks and Karen-teachers everywhere, Jesus. But we made it, HEA, yes.


𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:
I love stories like this one. The intensity of trying to find out who the bad guy is, was rather thrilling. And here, there were many options because everyone seemed shady. The back and forth between Amayah and Ida was got a little bit saddening but don't even start on me with Simone. Girl was crazy. I loved Ida's parents, they had very many good moments and them rooting for Amayah, just sweet. The plot, the pace, the emotions, I loved all that. The ending though, I am not judging but someone did die. That was someone's daughter.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙤 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.⁠

[Pamela]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was ultimately a mixed read for me. The novel tackles a variety of important topics, including race, identity, sexuality, and the pressures placed on young women. I appreciated the conversations the author was trying to have and can see this resonating strongly with many readers.

Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the story on a personal level. At times, I felt the book was trying to explore so many different themes and conflicts that I never became fully invested in the characters themselves. Some of the dialogue and character interactions also felt less authentic to me than I had hoped, which made it difficult to stay immersed in the story.

While the book held my attention enough to finish, I found myself wanting a stronger emotional connection to the characters and a more focused narrative. That said, I suspect this may be a case of the book simply not being the right fit for me rather than a reflection of its intended audience.

Overall, this was an okay read, and I can see other readers connecting with it more than I did.