Natural Selection

by Clare Edge

Three girls bond in unsettling ways when a grizzly starts picking off known abusers in their secluded mountain town in this darkly funny, deeply feminist novel for fans of books like The Honeys and Wilder Girls.

When it comes to boys and bears, always choose the bear.

The girls of Riverside are raised to grin and bear it. Until three of them can’t anymore.

Megan Lawless (aka Outlaw): Riverside born and raised. Lettered in volleyball, basketball, and track. HATES Kevin Johnson, but tolerates him for her best friend, Megan.

Megan Deloria: Outlaw’s ride or die. Riverside royalty and soon to be valedictorian. Shoo-in for the homecoming crown alongside her boyfriend, Kevin.

Meghan Bach (aka Bee): Moved to Riverside last year. Still the “new girl.” Pulls tarot cards daily. Just wants to forget what happened last summer at that party with Kevin.

And then there’s Kevin Johnson: Riverside’s Golden Boy. Only scared of two things—the dark and bears. Soon, he’ll be scared of three more.

Because Megan, Megan, and Meghan are done with Kevin, and they’re about to teach everyone in their tiny rural town the new natural order: Predator, meet prey.

Genres: Young Adult, Thriller, Horror, Mystery Thriller, Fantasy, Mystery, LGBT

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 25, 2026

About the author

Clare Edge is an author (and witch) who was raised in the Rocky Mountains. Her books include the middle grade series ACCIDENTAL DEMONS, YA thrillers NATURAL SELECTION & CRUEL INSTINCTS, and the adult gothic fantasy HAMLET & JULIET.

She has too many degrees, too few cats, and often too much or too little blood sugar. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her spouse and their stubborn (and utterly perfect) corgi, Carbs. Clare can be found on most socials as @clarewonders and online at clareedge.com

Reviews

[Ricarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already loved Clare Edge from her diabetic teen witch middle grade series, but writing a book about the whole "Would you choose the man or the bear?" situation is honestly so iconic. What a queen. The book might not have been exactly what I expected from such a premise, but I wasn't disappointed either. We follow three teen girls who unfortunately have to grow up in a rural, gun-loving, your-body-my-choice area of the US. The town of Riverside may have a bear problem, but Megan, Bee and Outlaw know that there are way more dangerous predators than that – and that they don't hide in the forest. As the volleyball captain, the witchy goth and the homecoming queen / valedictorian the three girls lead quite different lives, but they agree that things have gotten out of hand with the boys of the town lately. Especially Megan's boyfriend Kevin assaults girls whenever he feels like it and it's clear that he will never face any punishment. So Megan, Bee and Outlaw swear to destroy him on their own. They plan to scare and embarrass him in the woods and make him confess, but the night ends with him being dragged away by a bear, with none of the girls willing to help him. That sounds so badass to me and I thought we would be going freaky places, but the story took a different route. The girls don't become dark and unhinged but are actually pretty messed-up after this situation. This was such a great choice for me, because not only did it make the story more realistic but it also showed that the girls actually cared about the consequences of their actions, unlike many other characters in this book. I also really liked how this book showed why people are ready to excuse horrifying actions or actively decide to ignore them. I didn't expect this perspective at all, but now I'm glad that it was included. It's more of a character-focused story in general and that part is well done, but the plot was a bit too meandering for me. At least I never had the impression that it was really leading up to anything. It was school and bonfires and parties and then another dead man in the woods, and all that repeated with a bit of teen romance in between. With that said, I was actually very pleasantly surprised by the ending and I love that the book got unapologetically angry and feral eventually. The theme is so infuriating that it simply was necessary to make the girls prevail in such a grim world. It never gets too descriptive, but I would definitely recommend to check trigger warnings for SA and rape. It's such an important book for this day and age we unfortunately have to live in and I'm thrilled that it was published. I hope that young girls will find their claws with its help.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sure, there are things out there that could hurt me, but not nearly as many as the ones hiding inside most of the houses in this town. The men this town raises have always scared me more than the animals that wait in the woods."

This was a book that I almost slept on. I tried getting into it once before and it just wasn’t happening. I decided to give it another go and I’m so glad that I did. It had me hooked early on and I couldn’t tear into this fast enough.

Animal horror reads are ones that I'm always on the hunt for. Good ones are so hard to find. Then this one reared its head and I lost my mind. First of all, the ones who are dying deserve everything they have coming to them. I mean, I'm not saying it's good but I'm also not saying it's terrible. It's one of those ones where I'll turn a blind eye on things and tell people that I know nothing and see nothing. *shrugs*

This was a really fantastic book about female rage and ending that 'boy will be boys' bulls**t. The friendship between these three girls and what grows between them as they take down these feral fearing men is empowering. This book shows you that It's time to bite back! Never back down! And tell men where they can stick their crappy behavior! If you can't tell how I feel about this book, it was f**king amazing!!

Oh, I’ll always choose the bear.

[ShannonXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, this is the "I choose the bear" book I never knew I needed. A story about female objectification, small town culpability for continuing "boys will be boys," and standing up in the absolute most feral way possible. Definitely supporting women's rights and wrongs with this one.

Thank you to the author for the early copy!

[Logan-Ashley Kisner]

Anything Clare writes should be an instant add to your TBR from now until the end of time. A masterful YA debut and a skin-crawling, gory punch of truly unique feminist horror :) Cannot wait to see the cover this gets btw

[Danielle | daniellereadslikealot · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re like me and you got a lot out of the man vs bear debate, you will LOVE this book. Full of feminine rage at a town that celebrates men and boys as predators and women as prey, Natural Selection really flips the script on revenge and trauma. I really loved getting each girl’s perspective and seeing their bond grow and evolve. This book will, of course, make you so furious and it’s supposed to, but it’s also a story of strength resilience and taking back your power. Fully supporting women’s rights and women’s wrongs. I really was so into this book and that ending! WOW. Highly recommend this one, but definitely make sure you’re in the right headspace as it deals with sexual assault, harassment and the patriarchy being the patriarchy.

Thank you to Delacorte Press for the digital reader’s copy!

[Katie Burton]

feralness belongs to the girls!!

[Morwen]

Pre-read
Netgalley is on a roll with my approvals today! YAY! Keep it going! (even if my % will drop :D)

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I, Megan, vow to destroy Kevin Johnson.”

Thank you to Clare Edge and Bloomsbury for an advanced copy of this book.

When it comes to boys and bears, always choose the bear. The girls of Riverside are raised to grin and bear it. Until three of them can’t anymore. Megan Lawless (aka Outlaw): Riverside born and raised. Lettered in volleyball, basketball, and track. HATES Kevin Johnson, but tolerates him for her best friend, Megan. Megan Deloria: Outlaw’s ride or die. Riverside royalty and soon to be valedictorian. Shoo-in for the homecoming crown alongside her boyfriend, Kevin. Meghan Bach (aka Bee): Moved to Riverside last year. Still the “new girl.” Pulls tarot cards daily. Just wants to forget what happened last summer at that party with Kevin. And then there’s Kevin Johnson: Riverside’s Golden Boy. Only scared of two things—the dark and bears. Soon, he’ll be scared of three more. Because Megan, Megan, and Meghan are done with Kevin, and they’re about to teach everyone in their tiny rural town the new natural order: Predator, meet prey.

The three Megans are very distinct which I loved. And yet, you couldn’t help but feel they are one and the same. Outlaw is rough around the edges, Bee is softer and more emotional, and Megan is the cold exterior with a storm of emotions within. I loved that we got chapters from all of their perspectives, seeing things from different angles and with varying levels of guilt, fear, strength and power. Edge did such a fantastic job of making them individual yet incredibly complementary to each other.

I’m not going to lie, having my name be featured so prominently by three badass young women was amazing. I was part of the cover reveal for this book and was incredibly excited for its release. YA thrillers can always be hit or miss in my experience and this book was a hit! Feminine rage with Heathers influence, brought into the modern age with small town mystery? Oooo, this was good! From the very beginning I was engaged, wondering what was going to happen and then desperate to reveal the answers behind the ongoing mysteries. I loved that the reader is kept guessing, wondering how things were happening and if there was someone influencing them. Being a small town it means we do see a lot of the same people mentioned a lot. I enjoyed that the focus remained on the Megan trio, with secondary focus falling to other characters. I do wish we got to see a little more of some people - especially as they are supposedly awful people. We hear about what they’ve done through the Megans’ conversations but to see more of that in these people’s mannerisms and personalities would have just enhanced everything for me. The ending though… Oh my god. I was not expecting that in the slightest but what a way to end it! Female power all the way!

Overall, Natural Selection is a stunning thriller you do not want to miss!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to Clare Edge and Bloomsbury for an advanced copy of this book. Thank you also to Rachel Quinn for the gorgeous proof!

[Kera’s Always Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so freaking GOOD!

This one doesn’t come out until end of summer, but I can’t wait to talk about it. If you love girl power ya thrillers, check this out! If you love revenge thrillers, check this out! If you love women joining up to take down corrupt men, check this out!

In the very “boys will be boys” town of Riverside, three girls decide they have had enough. Megan, Megan aka Outlaw, and Meghan aka Bee come together to take down the town’s golden boy. With a town full of men who abuse power and women who are supposed to just quietly let it happen, they concoct a plan… that goes way off track.

Within this mess they are in, Outlaw, Bee, and Megan learn a lot about each other and themselves. How far they are willing to go… I loved everything about this book, even when I wanted to reach through the book and shake the characters! I felt a full range of emotion through reading this, because it’s about revenge and injustice, but also friendship and new love.

I highly recommend!

[Ari (Books. Libraries. Also, cats.)]

Loved this one so much!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

Clare Edge’s “Natural Selection” is feral, furious, and darkly funny. It’s a sharp-toothed YA thriller that takes female rage seriously and lets it run wild. Set in a small Montana town steeped in generational misogyny and willful blindness, this story is both a cathartic revenge fantasy and a sobering indictment of the systems that protect predators. I highly recommend looking into the content warnings for this book before diving in as there is SA mentioned throughout the book.

From the opening chapters, Edge makes one thing painfully clear: Kevin is dangerous. His behavior, like peeping on underage girls, driving drunk, spewing homophobia, and pushing boundaries, isn’t subtle, and the discomfort of reading about him feels intentional. Kevin isn’t a caricature; he’s recognizable, the kind of guy a town shrugs off with “boys will be boys.” The adults and authority figures around him, including law enforcement, are just as culpable, reinforcing a culture where girls are expected to stay quiet, forgiving, and compliant.

At the center of the story are three girls (Outlaw, Megan, and Bee) each carrying her own anger, fear, and reckoning. Megan, Kevin’s girlfriend, is frustratingly naive at first, desperate to hold onto the idea of a perfect life even as she ignores red flags she’s been warned about for months. Her growth comes slowly and imperfectly, but that realism makes it hit harder. Outlaw sees Kevin for exactly what he is from the start, while Bee, who is awkward, observant, and deeply relatable, begins to find both her voice and her feelings, including a tender queer romance that unfolds naturally amid the chaos.

What begins as a vow to humiliate and ruin Kevin spirals into something much bigger when a bear enters the story; this actual bear seems to be hunting the town’s worst men. As predators begin to fall, the story flirts with the supernatural. Is the bear an embodiment of the girls’ collective rage? A manifestation of long-silenced trauma? Or something even closer to them—a transformation, a reckoning, a natural response? Edge keeps the answer deliberately murky, allowing metaphor and horror to blur in unsettling, effective ways.

The message is bold, sometimes heavy-handed, but undeniably powerful: this town has been failing its girls for generations, and the violence inflicted on them doesn’t disappear; it mutates. The book leans hard into the idea of women’s rights and women’s wrongs, offering a brutal kind of justice that feels both thrilling and disturbing. There’s gore, there are difficult moments (including sexual assault), and Edge wisely provides clear content warnings.

Despite the darkness, “Natural Selection” crackles with humor, camaraderie, and fierce energy. The girls’ bond, which is messy, imperfect, and hard-won, is the emotional core of the story, and their reliance on one another offers a sense of solidarity that’s as empowering as it is cathartic. The ending lands with teeth: satisfying, enraging, and impossible to forget.

Overall, “Natural Selection” is a razor-sharp exploration of power, predation, and what happens when girls stop being prey. This is the “I choose the bear” book, and it absolutely earns that crown.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What. A. Book!

I was eager to read Natural Selection the minute I heard it was partly inspired by Heathers and that it featured a lesbian romance. (I met my fiancé 8 years ago through their LGBTQ Heathers the Musical fanfiction. My tastes haven't changed much). So when I saw that the cover was pink? And that the story explored the female intuition to Choose the Bear? Well my eagerness turned into a rather intense ‘need to read’.

(I would like to warn that my following paragraphs will likely include spoilers for this magnificent story, so please proceed with caution!)

All three of Clare Edge's protagonists (each named Megan, though two are referred to as Bee and Outlaw) stand out as spectacular YA narrators. Their individual personalities shine through the prose, and - unusually for me - I genuinely enjoyed reading each perspective equally. Though Outlaw was my favourite of the three girls, the others were both written with such charm that I was just as invested in their happiness too.

Edge's writing of other characters shone out brilliantly too, for example Bee’s mother is now one of my favourite parents in fiction. She is as smart as she is fiercely loyal, and I hope against anything that she managed to finish her novel! (In case you think I am overreacting and she can't possibly be that noteworthy, think of Olive's parents in Easy A. She's even sassier and more iconic than them)

I could go on for hours about how well the characters in this book are written. For example, the horribly realistic and foul misogynistic men and the entitled, rapist boys, but plot-wise, this book is just as strong. There are enough “Uh oh” and “Thank God” moments to have you desperately turning the page and every arc reaches a more than satisfactory conclusion. Though some moments may be predictable - I believe the synopsis makes it clear that missing girl Cally is inevitably going to be revealed as the bear - nothing about this book ever feels disappointing or obvious.

A number of quotes stood out to me as noteworthy, and if I was still an avid Tumblr book-quote-blogger, you can trust that my feed would've been full of Natural Selection lines. I fully expect some quotations to make their way into mainstream use in the coming months - and rightfully so. But for now, I'll leave one of the loveliest moments here. One that might, perhaps, go unnoticed in favour of its stronger peers:
“And then she's kissing me again and I feel an animal hunger rise in me that has nothing to do with the memory of being a bear and everything to do with the fierceness of being a girl.”


To summarise, I devoured this book and was left delightfully stuffed. If you're an insatiable reader searching for a feminist novel that'll leave you licking your lips with satisfaction, this is the book for you.

[Insert Name Here · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a town where girls are expected to smile, stay quiet, and accept the rules, three young women decide they've had enough. Sometimes the natural order needs changing.

📚 Pre-Reading Thoughts

The premise immediately brings to mind stories about young women pushing back against systems that have protected the wrong people for too long. There is something especially powerful about stories set in small communities, where reputation and appearances can matter more than the truth.

📖 Post-Reading

As I thought...

This is a thoughtful, engaging read about friendship, speaking up, and refusing to accept harmful behaviour as "just the way things are."
The rural setting works particularly well. Riverside has that unsettling small-town atmosphere where everyone knows everyone, but that closeness doesn't necessarily mean people look after each other.
The touches of magic add an interesting layer without overwhelming the very real issues at the centre of the story.

It surprised me by...

How much this feels like a conversation about power and reputation. The story understands how difficult it can be to challenge someone who has been labelled the "golden boy."
The different perspectives of the three girls. They don't all approach the situation in the same way, and their individual experiences make the story more complex.
That the story does allow consequences. With books dealing with this kind of behaviour, one of the most frustrating outcomes can be watching people avoid accountability. Here, the actions are addressed rather than ignored.

This isn't a book that relies on constant twists and shocks, but it is an important and worthwhile read. At its heart, it's about recognising injustice, finding your voice, and understanding that silence doesn't have to be permanent.

🎧 Music Pairing

🎵 Featured Song:
You Don't Own Me

🎶 Vibe Album:
Jagged Little Pill

🎧 Artist Recommendation:
Beyoncé — confidence, resilience, and refusing to be underestimated.

🌈 Vibe Check
Colour Palette: wildflower yellow, deep forest green, storm grey, warning red
Soundtrack: boots on gravel, distant thunder, a car radio turned up too loud
Season: late summer sliding into autumn
Mood: angry, determined, defiant
Scent: pine trees, rain, old wooden porches
🃏 Tarot Pull

Strength

Strength is not about overpowering someone else. It is about courage, self-possession, and knowing when enough is enough. The girls of Riverside reclaim control over their own stories, refusing to accept fear and silence as the price of belonging. Their greatest power comes not from revenge, but from finding the courage to speak.

👀 For fans of
Moxie
The Grace Year
feminist YA fiction about friendship, resistance and finding your voice

[Rebeccah Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Press for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are mine.

John Tucker Must Die meets The Wild in this novel about a golden boy who meets a grizzly end.

Quick trigger warning for mentions of SA!

Kevin Johnson is Riverside’s golden boy; the one who can do no wrong. But he did three girls wrong, and they’re ready to make him pay.

Megan, aka Lawless, wants to see Kevin pay for being a shitty boyfriend to her best friend Megan.

Megan, Kevin’s girlfriend, finally realizes that after two years of defending her boyfriend…well, he’s kinda the worst.

Meghan, aka Bee, just wants to forget what Kevin did to her over the summer.

When the girls get together, they plan to make Kevin squirm. He’s afraid of bears, so the plan seems simple: pretend to be one to scare him into confessing the awful things he’s done.

But things take a turn when Kevin ends up the victim of an actual bear. And then suddenly, the town’s sleaziest teen boys begin to disappear, their bodies found clearly mangled by a bear. Megan, Megan, and Meghan begin to worry that they’ve set something in motion that they can’t stop.

So, the premise was enough to hook me, and I was not disappointed! This book was everything I wanted it to be and even more! The ending was a total surprise and I honestly kinda loved it.

The story is told in three POVs: each of the Meg(h)ans. I love that we get to experience each girl’s personal feelings and their reactions to the things happening around them. It’s also nice because as a reader, we get to know certain things before they are revealed to the other characters. Each character has a distinct voice, which I think can be quite difficult to do. But Edge does such a fantastic job of it.

She also does a great job of making the main antagonist, Kevin, truly unlikable. But she also shows us why the rest of the town adores him. She found a perfect way to set him up for us to hate him, while also being able to paint him as the golden boy he’s supposed to be.

There’s lesbians! It’s awesome! I continue to love seeing people in the LGBTQIA+ community represented in books, and especially in this one. These girls live in a rural Midwestern town, which provides a block for their relationship and how they go about it. Edge writes out their journey well, and paces it in time with the main story.

Overall, if you like feminist fiction or stories about shitty golden boys getting the karma they deserve, I absolutely think this will be up your alley.

[Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

hank you, Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this book early in exchange of an honest review.

Megan Lawless, called Outlaw, her best friend Megan and Bee, the new girl in town (also called Meghan) are tired of "boys will be boys" and to be victims of them. When they discover they have all been hurt by the city golden boy Kevin, they decide to humilate him and to make him pay. But the prank becomes somethin very real when a grizzly attacks and kills the boys. And, slowly, more and more abusers fall to this bear, who seems to want to avenge all the girls who have been hurt by these city boys.

Natural selection by Clare Edge is a feminist novel with a supernatural twist, set in a small town ruled by gun, men and abuse. Told by the three girls POVs, the reader is able to know them better, their desires and wants. Outland, brilliant at volleyball and fiercely protective of her own. Megan, the golden girl of the city, with the perfect girlfriend face and story, and Outlaw's best friend and the new girl in town, Bee, who is struggling to adapt to this new reality. Mixed with queer love and sweet revenge, this feminist read was a nice read, even though there are some things I didn't like.

I would have loved the ending was better developed and explained, even though I liked the supernatural element. Who wouldn't choose the bear over a man?
But some things made it hard for me to give a more higher rating to this book, like this quote:

"And I almost wish I had the eating disorder everyone accuses me of having. A purge sounds cathartic". I was really offended and shocked by this quote and I hope it'll be remove from the book.

The way the rapist's girlfriend is angry at the girl who was raped really upset me, even though I "could" understand her complicated feelings, it still feels very wrong.

The use of "pussy" and "pussied out" to indicate something weak, fragile and to be humiliated.

Without these, this book would have been a four stars, even though I would have loved a deeper characterization and less stereotypes.

[Rachel B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

DNF @ around 35%, wanted to DNF long before that but stuck it out, then skimmed to the end to see if it would get better, and it did not. 2 stars because I can appreciate the cause the book is trying to champion (the cause that made me want to read the book), even if it doesn't succeed.

I do not like DNFing books, and I do not like leaving negative reviews, but I did not at all find this book to be the dark humor feminist literature it claims to be. It also reads very clearly to me like a book that was rushed out to keep on trend with "choose the bear." Some specific criticisms:

-One of the three MC girls (Megan Deloria) displays gross internalized misogyny, mostly aimed at her best friend (Outlaw) in the beginning, which the author tries and fails to I guess make a teaching moment for the reader on why this behavior is wrong, by giving Megan heavy-handed "self-aware" internal monologue about it while in the next moment she just keeps on displaying the internalized misogyny.

-It seems like every single man/boy in the story, even those mentioned only in passing, is a skeezy douchebag dialed up to 11, except Outlaw's brother who Megan has a crush on. Not to sound like a "not all men" loser, but it doesn't help highlight actual real world issues that women face or lend credibility to your cause when you just make every man in your story an evil, unbelievable caricature.

-The writing is very tell-y with unrealistic (especially for teenagers) dialogue that was truly insufferable to read, including of course Megan's cringey self-talk about "what's wrong with me to be so misogynist oh well lol time to continue doing it."

-Dark humor where? We need to stop throwing that marketing term around when actual dark humor is not present in a story whatsoever.

I've read some other reviews with similar criticisms to mine that also indicate these issues do not improve throughout the book. A real bummer for a book that has such an interesting and socially important premise to fumble it so hard in such disappointing ways.

[Melodie]

This story is Nightbitch - meets - Promising Young Woman.. In Natural Selection, there are 3 main characters, all high school girls who struggle with the patriarchy's "boys will be boys" and all who are named Megan.

Each girl represents an archetype - one is an athlete, confident in herself - her best friend is the smart girl dating what the culture believes is the hottest guy - and the outsider, the girl who isn't as pretty or athletic as the other two, the every girl who's new to town and wondering if she'll ever fit in. Hanging in the background is the specter of a girl gone missing a few years back....a girl who is blamed for her own demise.

Each girl is impacted by the 'hot' guy's behavior, either directly via sexual harassment or assault, or via complicit acceptance of that behavior. Eventually, pretty. Megan realizes she's got to stand up for herself - and the other Megans - and address her boyfriend's misogynistic behavior. The 3 form a plan to lure him away from a booze party and scare him with a combination of sound effects and a big bear rug one of the girls owns. The prank works really well - so well that the 'hot' guy is killed by a rogue brown bear.

The action spreads from there, as this mysterious bear methodically attacks various culprits in the town's patriarchal structure. Meanwhile, it becomes evident how each girl's family either resists or encourages the power structure in town. The girls must come to terms with the impact of that power structure in their culture, and their own part in it. The danger of speaking out - of challenging power - becomes very clear.

I enjoy stories challenging the patriarchy, that encourage girls to look deeper at what they were taught, what they believe to be true as a result, and how that impacts them. I'd definitely recommend this to high school age and above.

[Hope Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent most of Natural Selection going back and forth between four and five stars. On one hand, there are moments that are a little cheesy and require you to fully embrace the ride. On the other hand, I absolutely flew through it and couldn't stop thinking about it afterward, which is usually a pretty good sign.

Clare Edge takes the familiar advice women hear all the time, "don't be the prey," and asks what might happen if society took that concept to its logical, horrifying extreme. The answer, it turns out, is not great for the men in this book. Or some of the boys. In fact, several of them take the whole predator thing far too literally, which is kind of the point.

The premise is clever, unsettling, and often darkly funny. Beneath the thriller elements, there's a sharp commentary on gender, power, violence, and the everyday calculations women make just to exist safely in the world. Some scenes made me laugh, some made me uncomfortable, and a few made me want to hand out mandatory therapy referrals.

Not everything worked perfectly for me. There were moments when the dialogue felt a bit on the nose, and a few plot points leaned toward the dramatic side. But honestly, once the story got its hooks into me, I didn't care. The pacing is strong, the tension keeps building, and the ideas are interesting enough to carry the occasional cheesy moment.

Overall though, Natural Selection is one of those books that's entertaining while also giving you plenty to think about. It's sharp, provocative, and more than a little unsettling. If you've ever been told not to be the prey, this book asks an obvious follow-up question: what happens when the predators finally realize they're being watched? Turns out they don't love it nearly as much as they expected.

Somewhere between four and five stars, but I'm rounding up for the audacity alone.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heck yeah I love bears.

So this is a solid three and a half for me. I really liked it, but I think some of that may just be because I really wanted to like it. The writing is solid, the plot is solid. Mostly. There are some things that kinda confused me? Like I'm not sure how we got from the Halloween dance to the Big Ending?? And I thought there was going to be more lead up to the Cooper thing? But that may just be me.

Is this story incredibly heavy-handed with its themes? Yes. Is that pretty darn cathartic? Well, yes! Sure, I will believe every man in town (except for one (1) seventeen year old boy) is literally and outwardly The Big Evil. Why not! It kinda does feel like that sometimes!

No but seriously. I love bears. They are my favorite animal. Potentially doing some heavy lifting here.

The Three Megans are fun characters. Bee kinda ticked me off at times with her #quirky energy, but also yeah that is a pretty accurate 15 year old. I have been her. Outlaw is great, good for her. Megan was maybe the most interesting to me. I feel like she may be the most fleshed out. She is flawed in a way that makes you yell at her sometimes, but she is trying! She's been through a lot! I am a Megan apologist for sure.

I definitely expected this book to be a bit more. Reality based? Than it turned into. But that is fine! my only issue is that I don't think Cally added enough to the story to really be necessary. I think focusing on the Megans and what happened/happens to them would have been cleaner.

Overall, a really fun read. It definitely has a place in any good YA collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

[VeroniCanRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐ ARC Review

TLDR; Think John Tucker Must Die but darker and with bears.

🐻 For Fans of:
- thriller
- horror
- paranormal
- small town
- revenge plot
- feminine rage
- high school
- trauma bonding
- short chapters
- lgbtqia+
- queer in a small town
- three POVs
- winter setting
- Movie: John Tucker Must Die

⚠️ Check Your Tiggers: homophobia, rape (off page), and more. Do your research and read what’s right for you.

✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Two friends and an outsider all named Megan, one boy who has wronged them, and the revenge that follows. This book is like a small town version of “John Tucker Must Die” but darker with an interesting twist.

I saw the book described as darkly funny and while I would agree with dark, I wouldn’t agree with funny. It’s just the facts of girls getting together to take down the boys who screwed them over. It’s girls finding the dark truths of boys and men around them and therefore having to come to terms with what kind of girls they will be in a boys world.

It’s a book about the patriarchy in a real way, queerness in a small town, and friendships that are honest above all else. It was high school but never felt juvenile because it focused on big, difficult topics such as rape and violence on women (and men).

I only wish that this book explored the paranormal points of view further. I enjoyed it but wanted MORE. The ending was satisfying in the most wholesome way though.

🖤 Thank you to author Clare Edge and publisher Delacorte Press for the digital advanced reader copy (ARC) via NetGalley.
As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!

📚 Book: Natural Selection by Clare Edge
📅 Release Date:
⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most women chose the bear. All a bear can do--and rarely will it do this--is kill you.

Three girls--Megan, Megan (Outlaw), and Meghan (Bee)--have been assaulted by the same teen boy, the town darling. They know that boys and men matter far more than women and girls in their small, conservative Montana town. If they speak up, they may disappear, like an older classmate.

Yet when they find out that the boy assaulted all of them, their collective rage is unleashed. A grizzly bear starts taking care of the predatory boys. Yet the bear seems to vanish when being hunted. What is happening in their town? Can the girls keep themselves safe in the midst of predators who see them as prey?

This book was unputdownable. Maybe it's partly because I'm familiar with small, conservative, misogynistic towns that foster abuse of anyone who isn't a white, cis, het, Christian, man or boy. Maybe it's partly because in my large Montana hometown, I was first sexually harassed by men and boys starting in kindergarten. Maybe it's because I'm tired of all of the misogyny in the U.S., all of the CSA and SA that is condoned and normalized, all of the abuse that is commonplace, the supremacy that runs roughshod over so many bodies.

This is the book my survivor teen self desperately needed to read. I would have read and reread this until it fell apart and then gotten another copy. It empowers survivors through letting them know their rage is justified, the predator(s) who harmed them are to blame, and they are not to blame for what the predator(s) chose to do to them.

This would be a good book for book club discussions, especially paired with other survivor-centered narratives.

[Reli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐻🩸🎀 If Jennifer's Body went down in a bear obsessed town and focused on a group of teenagers; this is that book.

Wow. Wow. Wow. I had a blast reading this one. The author excelled at taking a dark comedic approach to the heavy topics the story centers around. We follow the three Megans who go by "Megan", "Outlaw", and "Bee".

Three girls that are all connected through shitty men and the normalized misogyny that runs through their small town.

Outlaw and Megan have been best friends for forever. One intense encounter between Outlaw and Megan's boyfriend, Kevin, will send them down a path they weren't prepared for.

Insert Bee, soft spoken, keeps to herself, and rhe town outcast. She'll overhear the two Megan's conversation and gets caught by Outlaw for eavesdropping.

Bringing "Bee" along, the girls with hatch a plan to get a little revenge on Kevin for the harm he has done to the three of them and countless other girls.

Their revenge prank takes a drastic and dark turn when Kevin cracks his head open and a huge bear drags him off into the forest.

Can these girls hold it together as pressure from the town heats up? Friendships strained and wondering who can be trusted. Bodies are dropping left and right and the girls are all having gaps in their memories.

I absolutely loved this story and it 1000% is a must read if you enjoy campy, dark comedy.

⚠️ Beware this story will deal with rape, misogyny, missing people, murder, death, body horror.

This book is set to release on August 25th, 2026. Be sure to check it out!

[Kimberly Wenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I read the advanced reader copy of Natural Selection by Clare Edge, a sharp and compelling YA novel set in Montana, and I loved seeing my neck of the woods represented, especially the mention of Montana State University (Alma Mater). Not enough popular fiction is set here, and the small town setting feels authentic rather than decorative. The novel shines with its strong female characters and unapologetic feminist lens, particularly through its connection to the “I choose the bear” pop-culture conversation happening on social media. The author directly confronts toxic masculinity and the way society repeatedly excuses boys’ harmful behavior, asking at what point girls finally get relief from the constant barrage of harassment. The three Meg(h)ans reach that breaking point, going feral in the most cathartic way as they exact long-overdue consequences for some truly awful men and their destructive choices. While the themes are heavy, the dialogue brings much-needed levity and keeps the story from feeling completely overwhelming. The message is bold, sometimes intentionally heavy, but undeniably powerful: this town has been failing its girls for generations. A subtle supernatural twist at the end answers lingering questions and ties the story together in a satisfying way. Overall, this book is wildly unique, deeply engaging, and fearless, with excellent LGBTQIA+ representation and a willingness to center women’s lived fears. I can’t wait to read more from Clare Edge.

[Rae B Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5 stars

This book was feral, angry, emotional, brutal, and surprisingly thoughtful beneath all the horror.

What starts as a wilderness horror story evolves into something much deeper. a story about feminine rage, trauma, survival, identity, and the generational normalization of violence against women.

The bear metaphor was genuinely one of the strongest parts of the novel. It represents instinct, hunger, protection, fear, power, and the terrifying possibility of becoming consumed by your pain. But what I appreciated most is that the story ultimately argues that true power isn’t found in violence alone, it’s found in choice, survival, connection, and reclaiming yourself.

The female friendships were the heart of this story for me. Messy, loyal, protective, angry, vulnerable, these girls felt deeply human beneath all the blood and claws.

The ending especially elevated the entire book. It reframed so much of what came before and gave the story emotional depth beyond the horror elements.

That said, this is a VERY heavy read and readers should absolutely check trigger warnings beforehand.

Themes/content include:

* sexual assault
* misogyny
* violence against women
* body horror
* gore
* trauma
* emotional abuse
* graphic violence

If you enjoy feminist horror, queer horror, atmospheric wilderness settings, morally complicated characters, and horror with strong thematic depth, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[M Soh · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

Natural Selection focuses on three high school women, all Meg(h)ans and all connected by one very problematic boy in their secluded town. Make no mistake I chose my words carefully in saying boy, and this book explores the age old idea that can happen with boys and what they carry on as they get older, with women would choose to run into a bear over a guy at night. In fact this book explores the why’s and literal how’s behind that quite literally.

The dynamics here are fascinating given one Meghan is dating Kevin, the boy who needs to find himself in a dark corner with a bear, while her friend is harassed by him and another Megan hides a secret trauma at his hands. What happens to him opens up a mystery and a chain of events that are definitely not predicted. I love that this book, geared towards young and new adults, addresses those things young women have to face and are still vulnerable to at a young age but that isn’t addressed as often as it should be for that age group. By delivering the experiences of these women (and, granted, a not to be recommended but amazing to see solution) Natural Selection finds a way to deliver a warning in a way that will appeal to this group. Of note is that the story has elements of magical realism, but even if that’s typically not your thing it works and without it this book would not pack the same punch.

[Ashley Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 ✨️

I love a book about women honing their rage and anger against men so much, but I wish this was a little bit stronger.

We have a story about three girls in high school who all have experienced violence perpetrated by men in various ways. Then, there is a bear who is killing these evil men, and the girls are trying to figure out what is going on.

The premise is a unique take on getting revenge against men, which I loved. This kept me SAT even though I found the book to be wildly predictable. This definitely takes away from the book for a bit. Something else that takes away from the book for me , MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD, at the end Megan decides her dad gets to live? So it's okay to kill the men who have hurt you, but since it's your dad, we now are all for a less violent form of justice? Megan already annoyed the fuck out of me but this was my final straw.

I also had some issues with the pacing of the story. We got to a point where the story just progressed through one or more of the girls showing up at another's house, saying, "We have to talk." It happened so many times, yall.

The book definitely is forcing relationships as well. All for Bee & Outlaw but Aiden & Megan? What purpose does this have besides to be annoying?

I appreciated the political undertones of this book, racism, sexism, homophobia and classism. This book is fun and definitely worth the read, just expect to be a little disappointed.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own. While I can’t say I loved this book in its entirety, I loved the premise behind it with the boy versus the bear as that’s a hot topic these days (& frankly one that has been important for way longer). The three Megs end up being pretty hardcore females who plant their feet into the ground and start advocating for themselves and opening their eyes to the misogyny in their town (love). There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of basis for the love interests in here, and that kind of turned me off (not so much love). The male predators in this book get what’s coming to them if not more than what’s coming to them (love), but I can’t say the town really learned its lesson, especially when the last punishment and person punished was a rather odd and unrealistic situation how it played out and was very close to home with people probably not really understanding what happened (less love). I figured out what was going on and the twist to come pretty early, and I found it a little strange how chill people were about it (not loving that). Overall, I’m all about bada** females, especially in the YA genre, but I think some of it could have been solidified a little better with the story and premise beefed up more. FYI profanity, triggers of sexual assault, verbal abuse, violence, misogyny

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natural Selection follows three girls in a small, secluded mountain town all named Megan. Megan (aka Outlaw) and Megan, homecoming queen, are best friends. While Meghan (aka Bee) is the newcomer. But when Megan finds out her boyfriend raped Bee last summer and was peeping on the girl’s showers, the trio decide to take matters into their own hands. They want to teach him a lesson. But it doesn’t go as planned and as the bodies begin piling up, they must discover the truth before they’re blamed.

The was really entertaining! I loved the female rage and feminism. There were so many great conversations and themes in this book and was super relatable to current events and pop culture so I think current teens will love it. The pacing was really good. I was surprised by the ending. I just wish the ending was drawn out more and that the twist was used more.

I enjoyed the three Megans, however I did find them pretty interchangeable at times. Sometimes I had to double check the chapter heading to determine which perspective we were getting. That’s my only real complaint. I did find them all to have good motives and growth. Their stories were captivating and they easy to root for.

Overall, if you love feminist mystery/thrillers, I’d definitely recommend checking it out!

Thank you to Penguin Teen CA and Netgalley for the arc

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the Advanced Review copy.

I was already a fan of Clare Edge through her middle grade books and was thrilled to discover she wrote a young adult novel as well.

Natural Selection is the story of three girls named Megan who are trapped in a small town with a big problem - and I don't mean the local bear population. Part of the big problem is that no one is willing to admit there's a problem, which is usually how the big problems turn out.

Told from alternating POVs, the Megans begin to face the truth of what is happening in their town and what has happened to them, and must come to terms with what they can possibly do in a situation that feels like they have no power.

This story deals heavily with themes of sexual violence and assault and the culture that comes with that. There's also a list of content warnings at the back of the book if you need more details before you decide to read.

Natural selection is a particularly intense young adult book, and is one of those right books at the right time considering when it's being published, and I anticipate it will touch a lot of lives. If you're a fan of young adult fiction that deals with crime, with some added magical realism, and also some heavy themes, I would definitely recommend this book for you.

[Melissa Rae (raenydayreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely DELICIOUS!

Natural Selection is a revenge thriller full of collective female rage and I couldn't have asked for anything more. Put it on the record that I support women's rights and women's wrongs.

In Riverside, boys have gotten away with too much for far too long—generational misogyny at its core. But Outlaw, Megan, and Bee are done with placating dangerous men. Together, they come up with a plan to expose golden boy Kevin Johnson for his wrongdoings. It's time the town starts holding boys accountable instead of failing the girls they harm. And sometimes that justice can be brutal, especially when a grizzly bear starts picking off known abusers one by one.

This was so feral and cathartic and empowering. Think John Tucker Must Die meets Do Revenge, with a sprinkle of Jennifer's Body. And do you know what else this book has in common with the movies I mentioned? Girls kissing girls. That said, if you love dark, humorous and camp-y stories with sapphics then Natural Selection was written for you.

Before reading it's important to note that Natural Selection explores events and actions that may be triggering to some readers including: sexual assault, mentions of rape, underage drinking, homophobia, toxic masculinity, blood, guns, violence, murder, and secret observation (peeping tom).