Kill the Lax Bro

by Charlotte Lillie Balogh

A fresh and darkly funny 90s murder mystery about one high school's net of lies that begin to unravel when a star lacrosse player winds up dead.

The night before graduation, all of Lexington High celebrates at their school’s annual senior lock-in. But what starts out as a fun night turns horribly wrong when a body is found and it is revealed that the victim is none other than Troy Edwards, the school's star lacrosse player. 

Everyone is acting totally clueless. There’s Jennifer (the dream girl), Lydia (the geek), Sas (the overachiever), and Tatum (the rebel). At a glance, it seems like they couldn’t be more unalike except for the fact that they all hated Troy (the lax bro)...but who wanted him dead? 

From debut author Charlotte Lillie Balough comes a pitch-black, hilarious take on high school stereotypes including the boys we love and love to lax bros.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, LGBT

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 28, 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

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

This was a book. It was neither as thriller/slasher as I would have hoped or as feminist as I was prepared for. But I did somewhat enjoy the characters, so... I don't know. It's not bad. It just isn't really much of anything, which was disappointing. But I guess not everything can be a hit.

Anyway, I've got more to dig into here. There are some things that I think worked well. And there are some things (like the 1990s aspects of this book) that just didn't do what I wanted. And I'll dig into all of that in my full review, available at Gateway Reviews on June 6, 2025. Swing by if you can!

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

KILL THE LAX BRO by Charlotte Lillie Balogh
Thank you Netgalley and Getunderlined for the earc (Jun24)

Set in the 90s, Hancock High is holding its annual lock-in. When a body is found,the people who wanted him dead the most, that hated him the most, come together to solve his m*rder.
I devoured this book in less than a day. I was drawn in rather quickly by the opening scene, and as the story progressed from the beginning, it was like it took root in my brain, begging me to keep going until the mystery was solved. It was just that thrilling, and it was nice having a book that left a lot today's trials and tribulations to today since it is set over two decades ago.
What I loved most about KILL THE LAX BRO was the past to present scenes and the use of song titles as chapter titles. I also loved how easy it was to read, and how intriguing it was. The mystery was also top-notch in a "didn't see that coming type of way." I was trying to piece together who was capable of k*lling someone. What was revealed left me shocked and wanting more (iykyk). This was such a refreshing mystery. 10/10 would recommend.

[Fizah(Books tales by me) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating 2.5

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS DIGITAL ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
 A dark, funny murder mystery set in high school with a 90s vibe? I am in.  Troy, the school’s star lacrosse player found dead the night before graduation at the senior lock-in.  Troy is one of the most charming as well as hated people by most (including me). So many people with a motive. 

For me, the best part of the books was the characters; you won't find me saying it for many murder mysteries. Naomi, an overlooked girl with observation skills. Tatum, a wild girl trying to survive. Sassi, a girl with a big dream that is more important than anything else. Jennifer, a pretty and perfect girl. Andrew, misunderstood by the majority and his mom. The story kept switching between past and present. I found the past part more interesting. Sometimes the story felt a little all over the place; there were things in the book that just didn’t feel like they belonged in 1999, which was distracting.

The mystery kept me reading, but the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I wanted. Or more honestly, disappointing. I also felt that the mystery element of the book was not enough. I know the world isn't always fair, but the ending for one character made me sad and kinda angry. He/She doesn't deserve it. 

Overall, Kill the Lax Bro was kind of meh. It’s not bad, but it’s not great either.

[han · Rating 5 out of 5]

the only thing worse than a lax bro is a liar.

holy wow was this a thrilling read. with a unique cast of characters and a rollercoaster of a story, kill the lax bro was the 90s thriller of my dreams. i am simply a sucker for a ya mystery/thriller and this did not disappoint. i could not put this one down, every page had me hooked. the characters were a bit hard to follow at first, but once you get fully immersed in the story, it all settles out. the timeline of this story is really unique, starting at a school lock in the night before graduation, then rewinding back to the beginning, and i found it a bit hard to follow at the end, but i think it added an element to the mystery. the way the plot completely twists and unravels at the end was such a fun an shocking twist, i'm still reeling a bit. you don't want to miss kill the lax bro when it hits shelves in june!

thank you random house for gifting me with this arc! #GetUnderlinedPartner

[Emalee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you publishers for the e-arc!

2.5 stars!

-
The 90’s murder mystery of Kill The Lax Bro is inciting and intriguing! The chapter titles coupled with snappy and very decadent appropriate dialogue was something that I enjoyed.

Overall, I found the story itself to be lackluster, and I felt that the ending left me walking away unsatisfied. There were also a few loose threads that I would have liked more follow-up on. I also felt that the transitions between past and present were entertaining but left me feeling not necessarily connected to the present storyline as much as I should have been.

Some of these things definitely could have been changed in the final version considering this is just an ARC! However, these are my thoughts based off of the copy I was provided to review.

[Emelia Lagousis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! Flawless character development, well timed plot twists, and a setting that played an active role in the plot. This may be the best high school murder mystery ever written.

It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, identifying with every character despite them all being worlds different. I would recommend!!

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is giving John Tucker Must Die meets Bodies Bodies Bodies meets I Know What You Did Last Summer (kind of, okay). the 90s setting is AMAZING. the attention to detail is IMMACULATE. I can feel those butterfly clips scratching at my scalp and I can SMELL the body glitter mixed with lipgloss that's expired but we're wearing it anyway because it cost $12 at Limited Too.

My only thing is these are supposed to be seniors, but they are giving middle school energy with all the talk on boogers and gross-out humor like they have all just discovered what deodorant is? I kept having to remind myself these are high schoolers on the brink of adulthood. still had a fun time though!!

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! First of all the dedication and chapter names (all songs from the 90s) were amazing. Second the 90s nostalgia was amazing. Now getting into the actual book, it was a great mystery. A bunch of friends from different social groups together for one purpose. I don’t want to give away too much, but the book goes between the past and the now. You get perspectives of each character, so you really grow with them. The mystery is great and the ending fantastic. Love it!

[Books Amongst Friends · Rating 3 out of 5]

Library Book/Overall Story: 3.5/5
Audiobook/Narration: 4/5

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one. Total 90s nostalgia overload in the best way — from the chapter titles named after 90s songs to the dark academia girl gang seeking vengeance.

The full cast audiobook is perfection with such a big ensemble — every voice pops. Tatum stole the show for me — her biting sarcasm gave major John Bender (Breakfast Club) vibes. She's layered, flawed, and completely magnetic.

There are twists on twists, and while the ending is a bit ambiguous (don’t say I didn’t warn you), it stuck with me. That last line? 🤔Still thinking about it.

Read this if you love:
🎧 Locked-room vibes
🎶 Killer 90s soundtrack
👑 Girl-powered mystery
🌀 Twists you didn't see coming
🎬 Honestly, this should be a movie

4.5⭐️

[Yukai Lim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so dry

[Krissy (books_and_biceps9155) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A murder mystery set in the 90s?! Ummm-yes please! For those who know me, Clueless is my favorite movie so the vibes were perfect! Told in a dual timeline and multiple POVs, the mystery unfolds around a group of high school kids who find one of their Lacrosse players dead.

I thought the way that Balogh used the dual timeline to really help tell the story. Each character is a specific stereotype (its giving Breakfast Club for us oldies) and each has their own secret. I loved that while the story was insane, it was also believable.

You really get a sense of the atmosphere, the town and even Lacrosse (which I don’t know too much about tbh). My absolute FAVORITE thing about this book was that each chapter title was a song title from the 90s. The thought that went behind that…Balogh?! You are so freaking smart. This is wildly fun and I loved every minute of it. Thank you @delacortepress for my copy!

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kill the Lax Bro follows five suspects after Hancock’s High’s star lacrosse player is found dead during the annual lock-in before graduation. The five of them have little in common save for the fact that they all hated Troy. The only question is who hated him enough to want him dead?

I loved this book!!! I was hooked from the start. The vibes are so fun—I definitely need more 90s murder mysteries. I loved the plot and dual-timeline. The amount of secrets and lies and depth in this book is insane, but it’s so believable and the reveal of everything was perfectly timed. I loved the take on all the classic high school stereotypes. The ending was amazing—I have no notes. It was everything I wanted!

The characters in this book were so engaging and funny. I found them to be all very relatable and had such believable, rich backstories and motivations. I don’t even think I have a favourite. I thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s POV and was rooting so hard for all of them. I am soooo happy with the ending for everyone.

If you love 90’s movies and murder mysteries, I’d highly recommend reading this one!!

Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the arc!

[Samantha Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly the messy teen mystery I needed

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one, but it kept me pretty well entertained. I found it slowed down quite a bit in the middle and it felt like it was dragging, but the ending got more exciting.

The different POVs were done well. The characters were interesting, but I didn’t really feel like I knew any of them that well.

I liked the plotting and the pranks, and I thought the group dynamic had a lot of potential to be amazing. I think the book would have benefited from another round of editing.

The plot was alright. I thought there would be more tension and thrill to it, but because we only had a few chapters that took place in the now it lacked those elements for me. The story was less about who killed him and more about trying to show the characters potential motivations. I wish we’d had more time focused on the now and less on the past.

I didn’t really like the ending. The epilogue felt a little bit like a cop out and it has me feeling really annoyed.

[Sara B · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, I did enjoy this book. Most of the characters seemed realistic and the ending wasn't super obvious. That said, I did have a few issues with it. First, Troy is a shit person and that is made abundantly clear long before the brief animal abuse scene (it's mild, he's rough with a cat's tail on purpose to rattle someone he's threatening, but it still feels fully unnecessary when it has already been established that the dude sucks.) Second, it would've been nice of the epilogue actually updated on what was up with each character after the main events of the book. There were a lot of loose threads by the ending. Finally, the actual last few lines of the book really soured it for me. I won an ARC from my local bookstore, so it might change in the final published copy. Leaving the ending up in the air would've been one thing, but to basically say "it's obvious if you think about it, but I'll never tell" feels both lazy and taunting.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy a mystery/whodunnit from multiple perspectives, but I felt like the late 90s/Y2K vibes were lacking (maybe it would’ve been more interesting/compelling as a mini series). The ending was pretty good- I like when they leave you with more questions than answers. Characters felt underdeveloped, 2.5 rounded up to 3!

[Brynn | readyourworriesaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

KILL THE LAX BRO is a young adult 90s murder mystery about what happens when a star lacrosse player winds up dead.

This full-cast audiobook was a lot of fun with multiple POVs and timelines! The cast of characters are so different, but brought together by one thing—they all hate Troy Richards.

I loved how each of the narrators fit the characters’ personality and they each had their own unique voice!

KILL THE LAX BRO explores high school stereotypes at the center of a murder mystery.

This was a great debut and I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one just wasn't for me. The narrative style and narrative choices left me feeling disconnected from the plot, like there were no stakes, and there was very little sports content on page. I can't place my finger on what right now, but I also felt like things were anachronistic for the 90s (I was a kid and then teen in the 90s and some things were too contemporary). Didn't like what was revealed as a twist either.

[Ezra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Naomi might be the only likable character whose POV we see through. And even she's on thin ice. The others were annoying and I wasn't really rooting for any of them at any point.

My biggest grievance was with the "plot twists", namely Naomi and Troy's queerness. It rubbed me the wrong way and if the book was trying to say anything in particular about it, then I did not get what it was. It felt like their gayness was used as a prop, the same way the rest of the diversity of the characters was. It didn't feel genuine, it felt underhanded.

The ending also came off so uncreative.

[Starr ❇✌❇]

"When an all-American lacrosse player is mysteriously kicked off his team, there are deadly consequences as he seeks revenge with the help of the high school "it" girls, each with their own secret motives."

I've never read All For the Game but is this All For the Game

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Charlotte Lillie Balogh’s “Kill the Lax Bro” is a razor-sharp, nostalgia-drenched teen thriller that perfectly marries the 90s high school movie aesthetic with the dark suspense of a murder mystery. This book is perfect for 80s and 90s kids who want to experience some nostalgia while also introducing younger readers to the unique culture of this time period.

Set during the 1999 Hancock High lock-in before graduation, the story kicks off when golden boy Troy Richards—lacrosse star, heartbreaker, and all-around high school legend—is found dead. Five students, each with very personal reasons to despise Troy, find themselves entangled in the investigation: Jennifer (Troy’s girlfriend), Andrew (his former best friend), Tatum (the rebel), Sassi (the academic), and Naomi (the freshman outsider). Told through a clever dual-timeline structure—flashing between the months leading up to Troy's death and the frantic night of the lock-in—the story slowly pieces together the motives, secrets, and betrayals that could have led to murder.

Balogh’s writing shines brightest in the way she brings her characters to life. Yes, they lean into classic high school archetypes, but they’re given enough emotional depth and complexity to feel fresh and real. Whether it’s Andrew’s bitter heartbreak, Tatum’s chaotic bravado, Sassi’s sharp vulnerability, Naomi’s quiet resentment, or Jennifer’s conflicted grief, every character is fully realized and layered. You will find yourself sympathizing with—and suspecting—each of them in turn.

The 90s setting is pitch-perfect, filled with delicious nods to puffy pens, dial-up internet, Lisa Frank folders, and mall trips. Even the chapter titles are named after iconic 90s songs, anchoring you firmly in the era and making the book a love letter to anyone who came of age during that time. Yet despite the heavy nostalgia, the emotional core of the story—about betrayal, revenge, and teenage self-destruction—feels timeless.

The pacing is tight, the dialogue crackles with humor and tension, and the structure keeps the reader guessing right up until the shocking final reveal. Balogh expertly plants seeds of doubt about each character's innocence, and the ending strikes the perfect balance between satisfying and gut-punching. (Seriously—those last few lines will haunt you.)

Overall, “Kill the Lax Bro” is an absolute knockout—darkly funny, whip-smart, and dripping with 90s vibes. Charlotte Lillie Balogh has delivered a YA thriller that will delight both teen readers and nostalgic adults alike. If you love ensemble mysteries, morally gray characters, and books that keep you glued to the page with twists you don’t see coming, this one is a must-read.

[Rebeccah Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks as always to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Press for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

“KTLB” offers up a “John Tucker Must Die” sort of energy, but without too much focus on the romance and with an added murder mystery aspect. And I absolutely loved it immediately for that concept alone.

Our story begins with meeting Jennifer Lee (the lax bro’s girlfriend) on the night of the senior class of 1999’s pre-graduation lock in. We are introduced to our other protagonists in this prologue as well; Sassi (the academic), Tatum (the rebel), and Naomi (the freshman nobody). But what the description doesn’t include is that there’s a fifth protagonist involved in our story: Andrew, the former best friend of the lax bro. Jennifer and Andrew discover the body of the lax bro (Troy) and that’s where our story truly begins.

From there, we jump into right after New Years, learning quickly that Andrew now has reasons to hate Troy, who has ‘ruined his life’. In the aftermath, Andrew gathers Tatum, Sassi, and Naomi, (all of whom hate Troy for one reason or another) and form a group determined to take Troy down and metaphorically “kill” the lax bro.

The story is told in alternating chapters between Andrew and his group over the course of a semester, while inter-cut with chapters from Jennifer’s POV of the present, as they try to determine what happened and who did it.

Kill The Lax Bro is a love letter to the 90s, first and foremost. With the chapter titles all various songs from the decade, and the references to puffy pens, Lisa Frank, and dial up internet…it’s an homage to the era. So as a 90s kid, I personally loved seeing the references and feeling nostalgic. I have to say that it really ticked a lot of boxes for me personally. I finished it within 8 hours, I couldn’t stop reading.

I really enjoy these mysteries that include interspersed bits of the present as the story unravels the past; it reminds the reader that there is still something at stake, that this all leads up to a murder. I really loved the characters, especially the girls, and they all felt fairly fleshed out. We got to see development and growth from them as we follow them over a six month period. Troy was perfectly charming and awful, making it obvious how he could be so loved but also have a list of people who would hate him.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kill the Lax Bro is a fun YA murder mystery which is a fast read that keeps you guessing throughout. Troy is the school’s star lacrosse player and when he turns up murdered on the night of the famous school lock-in, the 5 main suspects team up to try and find out what really happened to him. I really liked how this novel uses a dual timeline to gradually reveal the secrets of each character in the lead up to the murder.

One timeline is the night of the murder as Troy’s ex best friend Andrew and Troy’s girlfriend Jessica find his body and the other timeline is the months leading up to the murder which provides vital information on each character with chapters from their different POVs to help the reader understand their individual feelings towards Troy because of what he had done to them to make them each want revenge.

I liked each character’s unique personality: you have the popular girl, the nerd, the troublemaker and the standout student and I could easily tell them apart as their stories gradually took shape. I also liked Andrew who was Troy’s best friend until something happened at a New Year’s Eve party and I liked how I was kept guessing about what really happened and the reveal was a complete shock! There are some surprising twists and turns throughout the novel which kept me interested in finding out who killed Troy and why.

The book does read more like an early teen novel than YA at times which felt a bit too young for me but it was an intriguing read with enjoyable characters. The ending was interesting and not what I expected to have happened at all but I wasn’t a fan of the epilogue as it leaves the story too open with an ominous last line which confused me more than anything.

Overall, Kill the Lax Bro is a good debut novel from Charlotte Lillie Barlogh with plenty of twists to keep you on your toes. The characters were the best part of the novel and I loved getting to know more about them through their POVs as each piece of the puzzle was slowly being put together.

[The Book and the Beast · Rating 5 out of 5]

„Kill the Lax Bro“ von Charlotte Lillie Balogh ist nicht einfach nur ein Buch – es ist eine emotionale Zeitreise in die 90er voller Spannung, Witz & einer Prise Nostalgie.

💭
Die Story wird aus den Perspektiven von Jennifer, Naomi, Sassi, Tatum & Andrew erzählt. Jede Figur bringt ihre eigene Stimme, Tiefe & Motivation mit. Was sie verbindet? Der Hass auf Troy Richards, den vermeintlichen König der Schule. Gemeinsam formen sie ein kurioses Quartett, das mit cleveren, manchmal herrlich absurden Plänen versucht, Troys Macht zu stürzen. Doch als Troys Leiche entdeckt wird, bleibt ihnen keine Wahl: Sie müssen sich zusammenraufen, um den wahren Täter zu entlarven – bevor sie selbst ins Visier geraten & für die Tat verantwortlich gemacht werden.

Was mir besonders gefallen hat, sind die unglaublich vielschichtigen Charaktere. Nach & nach lernen wir die Hintergründe jedes Einzelnen kennen & verstehen, warum Troy für sie so verhasst war. Gleichzeitig offenbart sich, was für ein abscheulicher Mensch Troy war. Die Entwicklung der Figuren ist absolut authentisch & greifbar.

Ein Highlight sind die Kapitelüberschriften, die nach Songs der 90er benannt sind. Diese kleinen Details zeigen die Liebe zum Setting. Für jemanden wie mich war es ein nostalgisches Fest: keine Smartphones, sondern Kameras & Walkmans; VHS-Kassetten & Blockbuster statt Netflix.
Der Schreibstil von ist flüssig, packend & durchzogen von einer guten Prise schwarzem Humor. Es gab keinen Moment, an dem mir langweilig wurde – im Gegenteil, ich konnte das Buch kaum aus der Hand legen.

Kill The Lax Bro ist nicht nur eine packende #MurderMystery story, sondern auch ein cleverer Kommentar zu Highschool-Dynamiken & den toxischen Seiten von Popularität. Es hebt sich deutlich von anderen Büchern ab & hat definitiv das Zeug, viral zu gehen.

💡
Eine absolute Leseempfehlung für alle, die spannende Storys mit authentischen Figuren & einem Hauch Nostalgie lieben. Dieses Buch hat alles: Humor, Spannung & Herz. Ich hoffe, dass es die Aufmerksamkeit bekommt, die es verdient – denn es ist eine Perle, die niemand verpassen sollte!

[✩ maggs ✩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

❇️ huge thanks to netgalley and delacorte press for providing me an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are mine! ❇️

🥍: this book was slam dunk! or maybe i should say a goal? i dont know… i hate lacrosse tbh…

📖: i’m not good at summarizing books but basically this is a circa 1999 high school ya locked door murder mystery! everyone hates troy richards, the star lacrosse player and resident playboy at hancock high. so when he is found d e a d during the annual school lock-in the night before graduation, an unlikely group of “friends” needs to find out who killed him before anyone points the finger at any of them.

andrew (ex-best-friend), sassi (ex-girlfriend), tatum (deadbeat), and naomi (lab partner) all have different reasons for wanting troy richards. gone. or do they?

💭: this was so good im shaking….

i read it in about 4 days (and definitely n o t because i was putting off the e-arc…) and basically binged it by the pool each day. so yeah, maybe my opinions are skewed because i was quite literally in paradise when i read it but hey, what i can say? 😎

i thought the concept was amazing as is, however i will say i was a little misled that i thought this was going to be one of those books that takes place in under 24 hours (LOVE those kind!!) but it actually alternates between “now” during the lock-in and “then” which is the semester leading up to it. i ended up really liking that set up because everytime the author switched the timelines they were s u r e to give us a cliffhanger…. there were at least two mini-cliffhangers on how they ended chapters were i was like “wow okay i need to take a breather (in the BEST way).

i have no other words than this was top. fucking. tier. please read this book. period. slay.

[Katie ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐱 𝐁𝐫𝐨 gave me ✨𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑦 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑎 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒✨—like if 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬, 𝐉𝐚𝐰𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫, and 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐓𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐞 teamed up for a murder mystery at a senior lock-in. 🚪💀

We follow five teens (think: dream girl, rebel, nerd, queen bee, and the ex-best friend) all connected by one golden boy: 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔. He’s charming. Popular. Untouchable. Until… he’s very, 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 touchably dead. The story flips between the night it happened and everything that led to it—and let’s just say, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 had a reason to want him gone. 🤫🤐

It was juicy, fast-paced, and full of ✨𝑠𝑛𝑎𝑘𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒 𝑒𝓎𝑒𝓈✨ 🐍 👀 . The high school politics?? 𝑩𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒍. The secrets?? 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒆.

✨ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔:
💿 90s/2000s high school nostalgia *ᴍʏ ᴊᴀᴍ*
🖤 golden boy with secrets
💋 revenge, lies, & fake smiles
🕯️ murder at a senior lock-in

This book had ✨𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌✨ energy with a twist. The girl group dynamics were messy in the best way, and the tension between them felt so real. I loved seeing each of their perspectives slowly unravel the truth. And that ending? 𝐋𝐄𝐓’𝐒 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐘—I didn’t breathe for the last 10%. 😱

The pacing dipped a little in the middle—some moments felt more like filler than fire—𝐁𝐔𝐓 the ending picked it all up and left me 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐃. Like, give-me-an-adaptation-ASAP stunned 😮‍💨🔥

This was 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑, 𝒏𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒈𝒊𝒄, and 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒏 in a way that made me feel like I was seventeen again, hiding secrets in my composition notebook. If you love high school drama with a 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑏𝑦 twist, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕. 🫶🏼💋

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰! 💕🥹

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This book oozes 90’s and I absolutely freakin love it!! The nostalgia goes hard! The story has two timelines, the night of the Hancock High lock-in the night before graduation and the events that lead up to it. Jennifer is trying to enjoy the night before graduation at the lock-in, stealing kisses with Andrew Gracia, until the stumble across the body of Troy Richard’s, her boyfriend and Hancock High’s star Lacrosse player and high school golden boy. Now the two, along with fellow students Naomi, Sassi, and Tatum will have to work together to find out who killed Troy unless they want the blame. But can they trust one another? After all each of them had a reason to want Troy dead. Months earlier Andrew, Sassi, Naomi, and Tatum all set out to take Troy Richard’s down and take away the thing he loves most of all Lacrosse. As the night of the lock-in creeps closer they’ll try to ruin his reputation and destroy his life. Can they succeed? Does one of them take it too far or are they innocent of that particular crime? And can they find Troy’s killer? I love that you have the classic 90’s vibes of teen movies like Clueless and She’s All That mixed with the take down the popular student vibes of John Tucker Must Die (not 90’s but very similar vibe) mixed with murder/mystery elements like Jawbreaker! Funny, twisty, gripping, and so very nostalgic! I am at a mix of emotions with this one and the ending caught me so off guard and I’m still stunned by the last little bit! Highly recommend!

[M Soh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Kill the Lax Bro is another book that proves that teen thrillers are just as good as those packaged for adults, and I’m glad to have one to recommend to younger readers who’d like to see those in their own world at the heart of a mystery. That said this also has a lot of nostalgia for older readers thanks to its setting in the 90’s and callback to popular songs and fads.

With alternating timelines, readers are introduced to the end of the school year with the murder of LAX bro Troy, who rules the school but is a bit of a psycho path. To better understand why his murder could be at the hands of anyone in the school, three girls he did wrong, his recent ex girlfriend, and his ex-BFF Lax bro, Andrew gather to figure out what happened as we track back in their perspectives to New Year’s and the events leading to current day. Each character was incredibly well drawn, with Naomi, Tatum, and Sassi all given plenty of motivation to want to see Troy dead, and Andrew especially a nuanced character who had throughout the semester teamed up with the ladies to bring down Troy.

What truly sets this book apart are the final chapters, and the final sentences are both great and frustrating, but close our this mystery/thriller perfectly. Written for (older) teens and young adults, I’d recommend it for readers of all ages as a top thriller.

[Linda (The Arizona Bookstagrammer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Delacorte Press @delacortepress Random House Children’s Books @randomhousekids and Charlotte Lillie Balogh @charlottelilliebalogh for this free book!
“Kill the Lax Bro” by Charlotte Lillie Balogh⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: YA Murder Mystery. Location: Hancock High School Cafeteria. Time: late 1990s.

The night before graduation, Hancock High celebrates at the annual cafeteria lock-in. It’s packed with denim jackets, denim overalls, slap bracelets, illicit cheap booze, and the synthy sound of Ace of Base. But then the body of senior Troy Richards is found. He’s the star lacrosse player, handsome, entitled, never held responsible for his actions, admitted to Harvard-he’s a jerk. Troy’s ex-best-friend and former lacrosse bro Andrew, ambitious over-achiever Sassi, rebel with a heart of gold Tatum, and quiet freshman Naomi all have reasons to resent him. But would they kill him?

Author Balogh has written a murder mystery that skewers high school stereotypes, including the boys we love and love to hate: the lax bros. It’s a mashup of modern-day murder mysteries and your favorite 90s teen movies. Her get-back-at-your-ex scenarios (boyfriend, best friend, whatever) showcase a group of unlikely friends determined to exact revenge. Balogh’s darkly funny plot is enhanced by her use of 6 narrators, each with their own secrets. It’s funny, fresh, twisty, and it’s 5 stars from me 📚👩🏼‍🦳#KillTheLaxBro #CharlotteLillieBalogh