Capsized

by Charlotte Lillie Balogh

A mystery and coming-of-age drama set against the backdrop of an elite all-girls rowing club as they navigate first loves, first heartbreaks, and the bonds that form when winning isn’t the only thing on the line.

For high-achieving Margaret Douglas, rowing is everything—her friends, her family, and her way into college. As a senior and varsity captain, she’s sacrificed everything to get where she is. But after mysteriously disappearing over the summer, rumors Was Margaret at Olympic training? Rehab? House arrest? Whatever happened, it haunts her . . . and when she returns at the beginning of the season, Margaret discovers that the sisterhood she once knew has moved on without her.

Meanwhile, spunky freshman and new girl Jo Bryant is being forced to row by her a former Olympian, a Boston legend, and the person Jo blames for her parents’ divorce. Jo knows nothing about the sport, or why Margaret’s return has everyone at the boathouse whispering, but she does know Margaret is the only person who doesn’t treat her like a joke.

For both girls, the varsity team is a fierce, messy found family; a sisterhood earned in five a.m. wake-ups and blistered hands. But there are secrets and scandals waiting to surface—and with the biggest race of the year on the horizon, Margaret, Jo, and their teammates are about to find out just how deep they go.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery

Hardcover

Expected publication September 8, 2026

About the author

Charlotte Lillie Balogh is an author, screenwriter and comic book writer, born and raised outside Boston, Massachusetts. She self-published her first book at sixteen-years-old, and later graduated as a Remembrance Scholar from Syracuse University. CLB is a lifelong superhero fanatic, and she launched into the television and film industry by working at DC Entertainment on projects including WONDER WOMAN 1984, BIRDS OF PREY, DOOMSDAY CLOCK, TITANS, and the CW’s STARGIRL. When she’s not writing, CLB mentors young women through RowLA and WriteGirl, helping to create the next generation of real-life superheroes. Her first traditionally published book, KILL THE LAX BRO, is scheduled for release Summer 2025 from Delacorte Press and Penguin Random House.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 delves into the realistic drama of cutthroat youth rowing teams, exposing shocking secrets and examining how far an athlete is willing to go for her seat in the coveted varsity eight.

I've occupied many seats over the years, as a rower, coxswain, and coach, all of which have provided different experiences and viewpoints on youth sports and rowing. I've lived the gossip within the community firsthand, seeing - and hearing - things, and 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 is both an ode to the beauty and a raw embodiment of the dangerous edge of such a demanding sport. It examines the commitment, obsession, resilience, and adaptability the sport requires of its rowers. Balogh isn't afraid to rip the Band-Aid off and reveal what's really beneath the $50,000 boats, flashy athleisure, and shiny boathouses.

Readers who enjoy Gossip Girl will feel at home in the secretive, and at times threatening, atmosphere. It's intriguing and mysterious with a tense feeling of building drama and escalating secrets in anticipation of consequences. The pacing is fantastic, switching POVs to keep readers on the edge of their seats as the pressure builds.

This is a book that has a lot to say, and it sends fantastic messages to young athletes. At its core, 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 is an empowering tale of young women refusing to allow their secrets to destroy them. It tackles important topics about team culture and fostering a safe, yet tough environment for athletic development; leadership and sportsmanship in and out of the boat; resilience through life's challenges on and off the water; proper coaching methods and the fine line between challenging athletes and crossing into toxicity; supporting well-rounded athletes balancing education, friendships, family obligations, sports, and activities; exploring first loves and heartbreak as a young athlete; and the importance of diversity in role models and inclusion of all athletes in the boat.

I have long advocated for more books set in the world of rowing, and 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 is the perfect reason why - the stakes are naturally off the charts and the depth of the human experience is a crater to examine. I hope this book will serve as an inspiration to other authors, and I'm eager to see how this story translates onto the big screen!

If I hadn't stopped coaching, I would be recommending all my athletes read this book - it's easily entertaining and will teach a lesson or two along the way.

Thank you to GetUnderlined and NetGalley for the advance reading copy!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rowing has always been at the center of Margaret Douglas's existence, but when she disappeared over the summer, she may have lost more than her place as captain of her team. Jo, the daughter of a premier Crew coach, could not care less about the sport, but she must participate to satisfy her father’s desires while she is living with him. Though coming from two separate worlds, these young women have Crew to unite them, and their lives become inextricably entwined as a result. And because secrets seem to follow the two, as well, they have to learn to trust one another if they plan to survive the season. This engaging, fast-paced narrative invites readers into the world of Crew through the voices of two young women. Told in alternating points of view, the plot unfolds slowly, offering details of each character’s life in small segments that keep readers engaged. Everything is leading up to the premier event of the year: the Head of the Charles Regatta, and winning this could change life for both of them. Some strong language appears in the narrative, amplifying the big emotions the girls are feeling. Additionally, some romance, underage drinking, and mentions of adult themes are included in the story. While the stakes are higher for some characters than for others, each one is endearing in their own right and readers are compelled to continue reading to discover what happens next. The intensity of the narrative builds to a fever pitch, drawing readers into the camaraderie, competition, and compulsion that exist in Crew (and any high octane team sport). Part mystery, part action, part cathartic emotional journey, this book is an entertaining roller coaster that is built upon the foundation of a love letter to Crew. It is an excellent addition to library collections for mature young adult readers and up.

[M D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a rower, nor am I a teenager, but I absolutely loved this book! Capsized is an action packed drama focused around the lives of several members of a high-performing youth rowing club, the BRC. The two main POVs we get to experience are Jo - an incoming freshman rather unwillingly brought into the world of rowing by her ex-Olympian father, and Margaret - a senior varsity club member with many secrets, returning from a mysterious summer away from the team. We follow Jo and Margaret (and the rest of their BRC team members) as they prepare for the biggest race of the year: the Head of the Charles, and watch them navigate endless challenges both within the sport and in their outside lives, which are constantly intermingled.

This was such a fast read for me because it was exciting and engaging from start to finish. There was a perfect balance of exciting action, suspense and complex character/relationship development. We really got to see Jo and Margaret grow and mature throughout the story, which I loved. I came into this knowing pretty much nothing about rowing and still was able to follow along without difficulty - so I encourage everyone to give this one a try! It has a powerful message, tackles some tough concepts about the challenges of competitive youth sports, and was really really well written. Also, for fellow New Englanders, I loved the artfully described Boston city scenery, reading this felt like taking a trip back home.

Very excited that there will be a screen adaptation of this, I think it will make a fantastic show!

Thank you to Charlotte Lillie Balogh, NetGalley, and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Ola · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
It broke my heart, but stitched it right back up. I can't even tell how this book destroyed me.
I fell in love with rowing and cried with joy.
I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone, doesn't matter if you like rowing or not, this book is so much beyond that, it's about beautiful relationships between girls who share the same goals, even though they're from different backgrounds. It's about being put against eachother but ultimately finding your path together.
If I could i would give it 100 stars. The best book that's coming out this year, I am soooo blessed and thankful to have had it before the premiere.
Huge congratulations to the author, you wrote a beautiful book, gave it so much depth, I can see the hard work and heart that you put in it, it's so good that i had to write a review and I usually don't do it. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT ON SCREEN!!!

[Angela Michaels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea of a book set in the world of rowing. It’s not something i went in with any knowledge of, and learning about it was interesting.

I did have to google a bunch of terms. I think the book took for granted we might know some basic things, and, well, I didn’t. An example would be that i googled what an erg is. I also had to google about the different seats on the boat to get a better idea of what the responsibilities and significance of each spot are. There was a diagram provided and small bits of info shared throughout, but i needed that info way earlier.

I think this will make a great TV show.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[⁕*⁎ katherine ⁎*⁕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. all thoughts are my own.

3.5 stars

I honestly don't have that many thoughts on this book; it was good. I enjoyed it. It was a solid, nice little book that was sad and heartbreaking in all the right parts. It gave the same vibes as boys in a boat. I knew from the start that I was going to like this story, and I did. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting but it was beautiful. and slightly tragic. The plot moved slightly slower than I was hoping, but I loved how relatable the characters were.

Read good books and drink coffee,
Katherine

[Kylie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read!!!!!! I cannot wait to see this on Hulu🚣‍♂️❤️‍🔥