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Alice Murphy's Preservation
Fifteen-year-old Alice Murphy is an independent-minded, offbeat young lady. Blunt, goofy and somewhat naïve, Alice longs to connect to the world around her. She has trouble fitting in at school and frequently says the wrong thing at the wrong time. Her English teacher, Mrs. Sinclair, labeled her as a B student on the first day of class and can’t see her any other way. She has a crush on lacrosse team star, Jim Flaherty, a boy who approaches life with a type of confidence and certainty that Alice has never known.
While writing an article for the Glenwood High School News on the lacrosse team, Alice unwittingly stumbles upon a school scandal. Jim and several of his teammates arrive at one of their games drunk and now face disciplinary measures. Alice goes to Dean Rothschild’s office to schedule an appointment to interview him about the incident. While there, Alice and several members of the lacrosse team witness a confrontation between Dean Rothschild and his alcoholic wife.
As an act of revenge, Jim organizes a production of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", a play about belligerent alcoholics. Jim plans to humiliate the dean by stylizing two of the main characters in the play to represent Dean Rothschild and his wife. Jim asks Alice and her best friend Craig, a theater aficionado, to become involved with the production.
Guided by her sardonic wit and compassion, the bumbling Alice navigates her way through high school. Through the play, she comes to terms with her identity and learns to stand up for what she believes in.
While writing an article for the Glenwood High School News on the lacrosse team, Alice unwittingly stumbles upon a school scandal. Jim and several of his teammates arrive at one of their games drunk and now face disciplinary measures. Alice goes to Dean Rothschild’s office to schedule an appointment to interview him about the incident. While there, Alice and several members of the lacrosse team witness a confrontation between Dean Rothschild and his alcoholic wife.
As an act of revenge, Jim organizes a production of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", a play about belligerent alcoholics. Jim plans to humiliate the dean by stylizing two of the main characters in the play to represent Dean Rothschild and his wife. Jim asks Alice and her best friend Craig, a theater aficionado, to become involved with the production.
Guided by her sardonic wit and compassion, the bumbling Alice navigates her way through high school. Through the play, she comes to terms with her identity and learns to stand up for what she believes in.
- GenresFictionYoung Adult
310 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 31, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Squirrel/Dog Books for providing me with an ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.
I fear I have no actual clue what I just read...
Okay, to start out with, they put on a play to make fun of their teacher whose wife is an alcoholic, which is like, ick... and then the dialogue and writing style just wasn't it for me. The things they did in this book were things no actual high schooler would be doing, and it was just so random.... Like, this book took the "not like the other girls" trope to the next level... If it weren't for the end, it probably would have gotten 4 stars, but it was so abrupt and random that it lost a star.
Content Warnings: Cursing, Alcohol, Unlikable Characters, References to spice-related things
I fear I have no actual clue what I just read...
Okay, to start out with, they put on a play to make fun of their teacher whose wife is an alcoholic, which is like, ick... and then the dialogue and writing style just wasn't it for me. The things they did in this book were things no actual high schooler would be doing, and it was just so random.... Like, this book took the "not like the other girls" trope to the next level... If it weren't for the end, it probably would have gotten 4 stars, but it was so abrupt and random that it lost a star.
Content Warnings: Cursing, Alcohol, Unlikable Characters, References to spice-related things
October 13, 2026
I received a gifted ARC of this novella via Book Sirens and am voluntarily leaving this review. ALICE MURPHY’S PRESERVATION was written by Maria Kennedy and was released in January 2026 as a revised 11th anniversary edition with an extended ending. Alice Murphy is an awkward, out of step 15 year old girl who desires connection with her crush, Lacrosse Star Jim Flaherty, a boy who exudes confidence and certainty which are foreign to her. When Jim and teammates are disciplined for coming to a game drunk, Alice is present and both teens observe Dean Rothschild’s alcoholic wife. Jim plans revenge by putting on a production of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", a play about belligerent alcoholics, stylized to look like the Dean and his wife. Jim asks Alice and her best friend to organize the production. Through this experience, she comes to terms with her identity and stands up for what she believes in. This is a no spice, first person, single POV, coming of age YA novel which is 204 pages long. It was an interesting read. I could feel Alice’s awkwardness, avoidance of interacting with people, and inability to know the right thing to say. It was easy to empathize with her struggles and the amount of time she spent thinking about them. It truly felt she was bumbling through the book and it took quite a while to establish the actual storyline. I found the story to be disorganized and out of step, just like Alice. I also didn’t understand the title. It does come together at the end after following a meandering path. I had to work to stay engaged, ad it felt like much more than 204 pages. However, I was happy with the way the book ended, when Alice did something wrong that was the right thing to do. Ultimately I enjoyed the book’s conclusion, but felt that it should have been tightened up on Alice’s journey to that point. I recommend this book for YA readers - teens who, like Alice, feel disconnected from their peers. (3.5 rounded to 4 stars when necessary.)
June 15, 2018
I received this book for free as part of a giveaway hosted by GoodReads.
The Preservation of Alice Murphy is an odd book. It is an odd story about an odd girl who focuses much too much on her own oddness. Rather than being driven by the actions of the titular character, Alice allows herself to be swept up in the actions and thoughts of others, too scared of making too much attention to herself to swim against the current. When I first began reading this book, I was not sure I would like it, because Alice seemed in the beginning to be such an uninspired character, but the more I read and looking at the world through Alice’s eyes, I found myself relating to her very personally.
The Preservation of Alice Murphy follows a teenage girl with very severe social anxiety over a handful of weeks as she assists in the production of a play. Alice is a girl who is often forgotten by her peers, due to how much she worries about how others see her. She lacks motivation, as those who matter don’t seem to expect anything from her, and she’s too afraid that the extra effort to rise above those expectations will only draw her peer’s scorn. When she witnesses her school’s Dean being yelled at by his drunk wife, however, she is suddenly swept up in a production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?” The boy she has a crush on is out for revenge, and her best friend is overly caught up in his own inspiration to fully realize it, and Alice finds herself going along with whatever is asked, even as she begins to question whether the whole things is a good idea. Through the experience however, she’s slowly pulled from her shell as she makes new friends, mends a fraying relationship with her sister, and slowly comes to realize that some people’s opinions aren’t worth the brain matter they’re stored in. Although Alice’s journey to find herself will likely take a much longer time than the book allows her to tell her story, this story is progress for her, and sometimes progress is all you can ask for.
This is not the best book ever written, but it is certainly not the worst. It starts slow and ends with a fizzle, but the story in between is painfully real for so many people. Everyone knew an Alice Murphy growing up, and for some people, we were unfortunately an Alice Murphy ourselves. She is the scared teenager who lives in others’ spotlight, too nice to stand up for herself and too scared to be seen as anything more than a punching bag by many of her peers. She seems boring at first glance simply because that is what is easiest. If she doesn’t stand out, she’s less likely to be faced with difficult social problems. However, this only means that those who do notice her often prefer to ridicule her for her glaring awkwardness. Alice Murphy’s preservation shows just how cruel high school, and life in general can be for the less socially gifted, where even the people who she is expected to be able to lean on, whether intentional or (more often) accidentally, can cause as much pain as the biggest bullies. And in a lot of ways, the weakness in Alice’s character is a sort of strength in her overall development. By being a boring and frustrating character, she perfectly embodies that person who we all hoped not to be but oftentimes found ourselves stuck as.
Many people will pass this book over because of Alice’s character. Admittedly, this is understandable. This book is not for everyone. Many will find this book boring and slow, and others will be annoyed by Alice’s complete refusal to grow a backbone. For some, they may even dislike this book simply because of how many painful memories it might dredge up from their own days in high school. But, if you have the time, I think this book does deserve a chance. I really did enjoy this book once I got into it, and I found many of its weaknesses becoming pillars of how real story was. Few have the sort of mind-blowing experiences that we’ve come to expect from books set in high school. Its much more likely that we experienced a few personally memorable the overall fleeting events, like the ill-fate play of this novel. I cannot formulate a good way to defend this book, but I do feel it deserves to be defended, if only I could formulate my feelings into words. So, instead I will just say this: This is a very decent book. Alice is a girl who has a good heart, and her story is one of modest triumph, even if it is difficult to get through at times. Although you may not give it a raving review, anf it may not be the sort to stick with you for years to come, it is not something you will regret reading, either, if you only give it the chance to worm its way into your heart.
The Preservation of Alice Murphy is an odd book. It is an odd story about an odd girl who focuses much too much on her own oddness. Rather than being driven by the actions of the titular character, Alice allows herself to be swept up in the actions and thoughts of others, too scared of making too much attention to herself to swim against the current. When I first began reading this book, I was not sure I would like it, because Alice seemed in the beginning to be such an uninspired character, but the more I read and looking at the world through Alice’s eyes, I found myself relating to her very personally.
The Preservation of Alice Murphy follows a teenage girl with very severe social anxiety over a handful of weeks as she assists in the production of a play. Alice is a girl who is often forgotten by her peers, due to how much she worries about how others see her. She lacks motivation, as those who matter don’t seem to expect anything from her, and she’s too afraid that the extra effort to rise above those expectations will only draw her peer’s scorn. When she witnesses her school’s Dean being yelled at by his drunk wife, however, she is suddenly swept up in a production of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?” The boy she has a crush on is out for revenge, and her best friend is overly caught up in his own inspiration to fully realize it, and Alice finds herself going along with whatever is asked, even as she begins to question whether the whole things is a good idea. Through the experience however, she’s slowly pulled from her shell as she makes new friends, mends a fraying relationship with her sister, and slowly comes to realize that some people’s opinions aren’t worth the brain matter they’re stored in. Although Alice’s journey to find herself will likely take a much longer time than the book allows her to tell her story, this story is progress for her, and sometimes progress is all you can ask for.
This is not the best book ever written, but it is certainly not the worst. It starts slow and ends with a fizzle, but the story in between is painfully real for so many people. Everyone knew an Alice Murphy growing up, and for some people, we were unfortunately an Alice Murphy ourselves. She is the scared teenager who lives in others’ spotlight, too nice to stand up for herself and too scared to be seen as anything more than a punching bag by many of her peers. She seems boring at first glance simply because that is what is easiest. If she doesn’t stand out, she’s less likely to be faced with difficult social problems. However, this only means that those who do notice her often prefer to ridicule her for her glaring awkwardness. Alice Murphy’s preservation shows just how cruel high school, and life in general can be for the less socially gifted, where even the people who she is expected to be able to lean on, whether intentional or (more often) accidentally, can cause as much pain as the biggest bullies. And in a lot of ways, the weakness in Alice’s character is a sort of strength in her overall development. By being a boring and frustrating character, she perfectly embodies that person who we all hoped not to be but oftentimes found ourselves stuck as.
Many people will pass this book over because of Alice’s character. Admittedly, this is understandable. This book is not for everyone. Many will find this book boring and slow, and others will be annoyed by Alice’s complete refusal to grow a backbone. For some, they may even dislike this book simply because of how many painful memories it might dredge up from their own days in high school. But, if you have the time, I think this book does deserve a chance. I really did enjoy this book once I got into it, and I found many of its weaknesses becoming pillars of how real story was. Few have the sort of mind-blowing experiences that we’ve come to expect from books set in high school. Its much more likely that we experienced a few personally memorable the overall fleeting events, like the ill-fate play of this novel. I cannot formulate a good way to defend this book, but I do feel it deserves to be defended, if only I could formulate my feelings into words. So, instead I will just say this: This is a very decent book. Alice is a girl who has a good heart, and her story is one of modest triumph, even if it is difficult to get through at times. Although you may not give it a raving review, anf it may not be the sort to stick with you for years to come, it is not something you will regret reading, either, if you only give it the chance to worm its way into your heart.
September 4, 2025
I wrote this book. My opinion is biased.
February 9, 2018
3.5 stars
Fifteen-year-old Alice Murphy just doesn't seem to fit in. Her schoolmates think she is socially awkward. An incident in the principal's office leads to Alice's crush, lacrosse player Jim Flaherty, wanting revenge. Jim organizes a play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, to humiliate the principal and his wife by basing the characters on them. Alice becomes involved in the production and questions if fitting in is more important that standing up for what you believe in.
Alice is a character that most of us can relate to in some way. I think growing up at times you feel awkward and feel like you never say the right thing. The writing is simple but charming at the same time. The book does a nice job portraying what it feels like to be the outcast in school.
The ending was a little unsatisfying. I appreciate the direction the author went but the story just seemed to end rather abruptly. It just didn't feel like a proper sendoff for a character I had grown to appreciate. The ending just didn't feel fully developed.
I won a free ebook in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
Fifteen-year-old Alice Murphy just doesn't seem to fit in. Her schoolmates think she is socially awkward. An incident in the principal's office leads to Alice's crush, lacrosse player Jim Flaherty, wanting revenge. Jim organizes a play, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, to humiliate the principal and his wife by basing the characters on them. Alice becomes involved in the production and questions if fitting in is more important that standing up for what you believe in.
Alice is a character that most of us can relate to in some way. I think growing up at times you feel awkward and feel like you never say the right thing. The writing is simple but charming at the same time. The book does a nice job portraying what it feels like to be the outcast in school.
The ending was a little unsatisfying. I appreciate the direction the author went but the story just seemed to end rather abruptly. It just didn't feel like a proper sendoff for a character I had grown to appreciate. The ending just didn't feel fully developed.
I won a free ebook in a giveaway but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
April 2, 2016
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program for an open and honest review. This was an interesting read chronicling the experiences of an awkward high school student as she navigates the social nuances of peer interactions and works to identify what she believes in/stands for. I enjoyed the writing style, especially the character's inner monologues, however at times it felt a bit excessive and contrived (there were times when Alice started to annoy me but perhaps that is because I am no longer in my teen years - I'm sure I would have related to her much better ten years ago!!). The ending definitely threw me off, but overall it was a great story of personal growth and moral development.
August 2, 2018
Alice Murphy's Preservation by Maria Kennedy is an intriguing book. The protagonist, Alice, is a teenager with a complex social anxiety that keeps her looking and thinking about her world more than participating in it.
Once you understand a few of the things that keep Alice anxious, your empathy kicks in. Stretching herself, Alice is to assist with a play production. Just as anyone who has ever helped or performed with a production, you understand that keeping to yourself becomes increasingly difficult.
The pacing of this novel is a bit uneven and even slow in parts. Hard to say if this is intentional or not. While the story explores the internal world that holds Alice back, it meanders through Alice's life, allowing you to remember how rough being a teenager can be.
Once you understand a few of the things that keep Alice anxious, your empathy kicks in. Stretching herself, Alice is to assist with a play production. Just as anyone who has ever helped or performed with a production, you understand that keeping to yourself becomes increasingly difficult.
The pacing of this novel is a bit uneven and even slow in parts. Hard to say if this is intentional or not. While the story explores the internal world that holds Alice back, it meanders through Alice's life, allowing you to remember how rough being a teenager can be.
August 12, 2026
Alice Murphy’s Preservation by Maria Kennedy is a short, quirky coming-of-age story about 15-year-old Alice, a socially awkward, independent-minded girl who is trying to figure out where she fits in.
Alice is writing for her school newspaper when she accidentally stumbles into a school scandal involving the lacrosse team, the dean, and his wife. What follows is a revenge plan involving a production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?—and somehow Alice finds herself right in the middle of it. 😂
I really enjoyed Alice as a character. She’s awkward, blunt, a little goofy, and incredibly relatable in that very specific “I’m just trying to survive high school” kind of way. Watching her navigate friendships, a crush, her identity, and learning to stand up for what she believes in made for a really sweet story.
This was a short and easy read, but it still had plenty of heart. I loved that it focused on those awkward teenage years and the process of slowly becoming more comfortable with who you are.
A quick, charming read that would be especially great for anyone who enjoys YA coming-of-age stories! 🤍📖
Thank you to Maria Kennedy and NetGalley for the ARC! ✨
Alice is writing for her school newspaper when she accidentally stumbles into a school scandal involving the lacrosse team, the dean, and his wife. What follows is a revenge plan involving a production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?—and somehow Alice finds herself right in the middle of it. 😂
I really enjoyed Alice as a character. She’s awkward, blunt, a little goofy, and incredibly relatable in that very specific “I’m just trying to survive high school” kind of way. Watching her navigate friendships, a crush, her identity, and learning to stand up for what she believes in made for a really sweet story.
This was a short and easy read, but it still had plenty of heart. I loved that it focused on those awkward teenage years and the process of slowly becoming more comfortable with who you are.
A quick, charming read that would be especially great for anyone who enjoys YA coming-of-age stories! 🤍📖
Thank you to Maria Kennedy and NetGalley for the ARC! ✨
July 14, 2026
The Preservation of Alice Murphy is the story of a teenage girl with very serious social anxiety as she assists in the production of a play. Alice’s anxieties make it hard for her to connect to people and she worries about everything. I know how hard it is to not worry about other’s opinions of us, but this is a skill Alice desperately needs to develop.
As someone who has been teaching teenagers for years, I can relate to Alice and her struggles, as I have seen it far too often in my students and I can relate to how stressful and annoying it can be to work with someone who is that anxious. High school is a horrible place for kids who are that anxious and Alice’s experiences are accurate. Teenagers can be so cruel.
Alice does not completely change, which is good, because that’s unrealistic and no one can overcome that level of anxiety that quickly, but she does make baby steps and sometimes, that’s all we can ask for when making big changes.
As someone who has been teaching teenagers for years, I can relate to Alice and her struggles, as I have seen it far too often in my students and I can relate to how stressful and annoying it can be to work with someone who is that anxious. High school is a horrible place for kids who are that anxious and Alice’s experiences are accurate. Teenagers can be so cruel.
Alice does not completely change, which is good, because that’s unrealistic and no one can overcome that level of anxiety that quickly, but she does make baby steps and sometimes, that’s all we can ask for when making big changes.
July 1, 2026
There's not a lot that happens in this book, but there's not a lot that happens in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, either, so... I read this specifically because I've done the play and couldn't imagine high schoolers doing it and had to see what a book about the play was like.
I actually was very happy with the ending. The play is just (three long hours of) a glimpse into the lives of the characters, and then the play is over and you know they're going on about their lives but maybe a little bit different than when it started. That's how the book felt, too. I don't need more resolution for Alice than I have for George and Martha. (The good news is, the characters in the book are more likable than the ones in the play.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I actually was very happy with the ending. The play is just (three long hours of) a glimpse into the lives of the characters, and then the play is over and you know they're going on about their lives but maybe a little bit different than when it started. That's how the book felt, too. I don't need more resolution for Alice than I have for George and Martha. (The good news is, the characters in the book are more likable than the ones in the play.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 19, 2026
I only wanted to read this book because of the cover. That's how I pick a book when I have no information about it.
I almost gave up on the first page because I was like "ew, this is a book about stupid middle schoolers".
It's actually a book about high school kids and they're pretty prolific. Well, not Ella & Jim, they're assholes but the rest of them, not so bad. I'd be friends with them.
Alice reminds me a lot of myself and idk how to feel about that.
It was really comical to me. I needed that because I don't smile much.
A lot of randomness happens and that's good because it's high school and it's supposed to be unserious.
It's a book about a teenage girl finding herself...or whatever. I know, sounds generic but at least it wasn't boring. I tore through it in 2 hours & I'm glad I didn't disappear after 4 lines.
I almost gave up on the first page because I was like "ew, this is a book about stupid middle schoolers".
It's actually a book about high school kids and they're pretty prolific. Well, not Ella & Jim, they're assholes but the rest of them, not so bad. I'd be friends with them.
Alice reminds me a lot of myself and idk how to feel about that.
It was really comical to me. I needed that because I don't smile much.
A lot of randomness happens and that's good because it's high school and it's supposed to be unserious.
It's a book about a teenage girl finding herself...or whatever. I know, sounds generic but at least it wasn't boring. I tore through it in 2 hours & I'm glad I didn't disappear after 4 lines.
Read
June 10, 20263.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
This was a moderately interesting tale of Alice, a 15 year-old high school sophomore who is socially awkward, slightly neurotic, a little goofy, but generally a pretty normal teenager. Having witnessed a chaotic event in the school's office, Alice is faced with the choice of doing the right thing or just going with the flow.
I particularly liked the drawings that went along with each chapter, and the cover was great.
Recommended, as a gentle coming-of-age (sort of) story.
Thanks to Booktrovert for the e-copy of the book.
This was a moderately interesting tale of Alice, a 15 year-old high school sophomore who is socially awkward, slightly neurotic, a little goofy, but generally a pretty normal teenager. Having witnessed a chaotic event in the school's office, Alice is faced with the choice of doing the right thing or just going with the flow.
I particularly liked the drawings that went along with each chapter, and the cover was great.
Recommended, as a gentle coming-of-age (sort of) story.
Thanks to Booktrovert for the e-copy of the book.
October 19, 2026
Alice is an awkward and creative high school outsider. Even though my high school days were decades ago, I easily identified with her. The story is told in first person so I felt as if I were truly in her shoes throughout. It's well written and an easy read. I enjoyed it even though I'm far removed from high school age. This is perfect for teens, young adults, or anyone who would appreciate a unique story of an awkward teen.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 25, 2026
I received a copy of this book from the author.
I liked this story about this awkward teenaged girl. I enjoyed hearing about her short stories and her finding her group of similar friends. This story felt quirky, like in the same way Napoleon Dynamite was quirky, a movie I loved. I kinda pictured Alice like him. I know the story ends without telling you, but I like to think everything worked out for her.
I liked this story about this awkward teenaged girl. I enjoyed hearing about her short stories and her finding her group of similar friends. This story felt quirky, like in the same way Napoleon Dynamite was quirky, a movie I loved. I kinda pictured Alice like him. I know the story ends without telling you, but I like to think everything worked out for her.
August 26, 2026
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads. I found it quite odd and yet quite interesting. Alice is a high school student with a bevy of introspective quirks. She marches to a different drummer to say the least. Her daily angst as she struggles with school, classmates and family is done with wit and honesty. Perhaps she is on the "spectrum", but that is not mentioned. I enjoyed this character study because it was so raw and unusual.
September 20, 2026
I got this book in a giveaway here on Goodreads. I will be honest and say that I completely forgot to read it once I added it to my currently reading list because it only took me a day to read. This is a very good book. The wit is beautifully sardonic and acidic yet there is a hopeful, compassionate note to this story. Alice will be okay, she has a good head on her shoulders. She just overthinks too much which to be fair. I totally do and I totally related to her.
November 2, 2018
I won this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. I could identify with Alice, for sure, having suffered social anxiety myself. I actually enjoyed this book until the end. The ending blew it for me. What happened with Ben? What were the consequences of the fire alarm? I would have loved to see a new relationship formed between Alice and her sister, Regina.
February 8, 2020
* I won this book from a GoodReads giveaway *
I did enjoy this book, but I am really disappointed with how it ended. It was just so abrupt. I need more information! Did Alice win the contest? Did she get with Ben? Did her and Regina build a closer relationship? What happened with Craig after she ruined his big night?? Ugh. I wish books weren’t allowed to end like this.
I did enjoy this book, but I am really disappointed with how it ended. It was just so abrupt. I need more information! Did Alice win the contest? Did she get with Ben? Did her and Regina build a closer relationship? What happened with Craig after she ruined his big night?? Ugh. I wish books weren’t allowed to end like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2026
I enjoyed reading Alice Murphy’s Preservation by Maria Kennedy. Alice Murphy is fifteen and awkward, shy around boys, and witty. She is an outsider at junior high and creative, and loves reading.
I was the same way in junior high school. I was never part of the in-group. I had moved from the city, leaving my old friends behind. It was culture shock, and I felt left out when I moved to the suburbs. I was lost. I identified so much with Alice in the book. I would have loved to he a reporter for the school newspaper back then.
Alice has a crush on Jim Flaherty, a star on the school's lacrosse team. Jim and some of the other players were punished for showing up for a game drunk. Jim decides to get revenge on Dean Rothschild, who handed out the punishment. He wants to star in a play of his choosing to humiliate the Dean.
Alice gains self-confidence and works on the play but she feels disturbed by revenge. I am proud of Alice in the story, she did not let me down. This is a great book for teens and even seniors like me!
I was the same way in junior high school. I was never part of the in-group. I had moved from the city, leaving my old friends behind. It was culture shock, and I felt left out when I moved to the suburbs. I was lost. I identified so much with Alice in the book. I would have loved to he a reporter for the school newspaper back then.
Alice has a crush on Jim Flaherty, a star on the school's lacrosse team. Jim and some of the other players were punished for showing up for a game drunk. Jim decides to get revenge on Dean Rothschild, who handed out the punishment. He wants to star in a play of his choosing to humiliate the Dean.
Alice gains self-confidence and works on the play but she feels disturbed by revenge. I am proud of Alice in the story, she did not let me down. This is a great book for teens and even seniors like me!
July 23, 2018
Oh, Alice! I adore her because she's quirky and awkward and sooo self conscious. Join her journey as she navigates sophomore year. You won't find her disappointing.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
May 27, 2026
This was a weird read, yet it was weirdly relatable at some points. It was good but I did not like the ending. If it weren’t for the few at the end I would’ve given this book a 3.5 stars. But it was nice.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc.
March 7, 2018
Very good book! One of those stories where you just can't put the book down until your finished. I love how it ends! I will definitely be reading more of this authors books! She did a great job :)
April 1, 2018
I truly enjoyed seeing Alice come into her own ! I really enjoyed this coming of age novel and seeing where Alice was headed in life.
June 16, 2018
The storyline kept my interest throughout
August 20, 2026
Three stars up until part IV
August 16, 2026
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book at first, then slowly but surely I fell in love with the extra-quirky Alice. Great story and great characters!
September 2, 2026
“Alice Murphy’s Preservation”, by Maria Kennedy, is a story about life and drama in high school. Alice Murphy is a sophomore at Glenwood High School in Glenwood, IL, a suburb of Chicago. She’s a reporter for her school’s newspaper and is assigned to talk to the school’s principal about a scandal with the boys LaCrosse team. Drama starts and escalates. Some students try to take advantage of others. Other students are just trying to cope and find their place. Questionable decisions are made and their consequences are felt.
I was very disappointed in this book. The storyline follows a stream of consciousness point of view that is hard to follow. This book is copyrighted in 2025, but refer to events from Y2K and 9-11 like they were only a few years ago. Friendships, relationships and perceived relationships are explored and re-evaluated throughout the book. Bad decisions were made in ways that could have been examined and addressed in alternative ways. This book has the opportunity to present and promote various ways to approach situations and it didn’t. I felt that this book could have featured stronger characters and it didn’t. All young people, especially girls, need positive choices and role models to help them form good decisions. The ending to this story left me hanging and unsatisfied. This book was written for teenagers and young adults. Maybe they would like it. I didn’t.
I wish to thank Squirrel/Dog Books for the complimentary eARC of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#AliceMurphysPreservation
#SquirrelDogBooks
#NetGalley
#Teens&YA
I was very disappointed in this book. The storyline follows a stream of consciousness point of view that is hard to follow. This book is copyrighted in 2025, but refer to events from Y2K and 9-11 like they were only a few years ago. Friendships, relationships and perceived relationships are explored and re-evaluated throughout the book. Bad decisions were made in ways that could have been examined and addressed in alternative ways. This book has the opportunity to present and promote various ways to approach situations and it didn’t. I felt that this book could have featured stronger characters and it didn’t. All young people, especially girls, need positive choices and role models to help them form good decisions. The ending to this story left me hanging and unsatisfied. This book was written for teenagers and young adults. Maybe they would like it. I didn’t.
I wish to thank Squirrel/Dog Books for the complimentary eARC of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#AliceMurphysPreservation
#SquirrelDogBooks
#NetGalley
#Teens&YA
August 4, 2015
A GoodReads GiveAway
Here’s another YA novel stogged chock-a-block with teenage angst. Fifteen year old Alice Murphy is at a “fragile age.” Except for Ben, she has no true friends and her relationship with her sister is — at best — wobbly.
Nevertheless, Alice is sufficiently perceptive to realize one of her hobbies [?] is less than ideal. Alice collects phone numbers she finds scribbled on walls and other such places. In her own words: “It was a pathetic thing, I think, to keep a list of phone numbers.”
Alice develops a crush — can I still say crush? — on one of her school’s bad boys and that interest leads to her involvement with an in-school production of "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" The play itself, to some degree, is likely in production for a wrong reason.
Which wrong reason?
Come on, now. You’ll have to read to find out.
Tormented because she senses that the intended presentation of the play is not strictly an artistic one, Alice finds a way to change the play’s direction.
On the very brink of the opening curtain, so to speak, Alice…
Read the book. See how Alice preserves her integrity.
Here’s another YA novel stogged chock-a-block with teenage angst. Fifteen year old Alice Murphy is at a “fragile age.” Except for Ben, she has no true friends and her relationship with her sister is — at best — wobbly.
Nevertheless, Alice is sufficiently perceptive to realize one of her hobbies [?] is less than ideal. Alice collects phone numbers she finds scribbled on walls and other such places. In her own words: “It was a pathetic thing, I think, to keep a list of phone numbers.”
Alice develops a crush — can I still say crush? — on one of her school’s bad boys and that interest leads to her involvement with an in-school production of "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" The play itself, to some degree, is likely in production for a wrong reason.
Which wrong reason?
Come on, now. You’ll have to read to find out.
Tormented because she senses that the intended presentation of the play is not strictly an artistic one, Alice finds a way to change the play’s direction.
On the very brink of the opening curtain, so to speak, Alice…
Read the book. See how Alice preserves her integrity.
August 19, 2015
Alice Murphy is a rather awkward 15 year old who doesn't quite fit in with the others in high school. Although she is active on the school paper, there is rarely any controversies to report on.
One day, she witnesses the behavior of the principal's alcoholic wife in the school office. Alice goes along when a plan is hatched to perform a play about belligerent alcoholics.
In the end, Alice's conscience impacts on the way the school play turns out.
Marie Kennedy captures the voice of a 15 year old really well. Naturally, the issues with an older sibling are part of the story.
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
One day, she witnesses the behavior of the principal's alcoholic wife in the school office. Alice goes along when a plan is hatched to perform a play about belligerent alcoholics.
In the end, Alice's conscience impacts on the way the school play turns out.
Marie Kennedy captures the voice of a 15 year old really well. Naturally, the issues with an older sibling are part of the story.
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
November 22, 2015
I received this book free from a GoodReads give-away. It has been many years since I was in high school but this book brought up memories! Hopefully I wasn't as awkward as Alice, but I am sure some of the feelings she goes through were similar to what so many teens go through. Alice much better at explaining her feelings and it was so easy to relate to her. An awkward teen trying to find her place in the world of high school and never quite managing to do so. By the end of the book she didn't really care any more. So much wisdom out of a 15 year old. My favorite quote from her was "books mean different things to different people." Describes my feelings about reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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