What do you think?
Rate this book
Beware That Girl
This powerful psychological thriller with multiple mysteries is set against the backdrop of the mega-wealthy elite of New York City. Toten delves into the mesmerizing yet dysfunctional world of those who manipulate but seem ever so charming. With its gripping pace and Hitchcockian twists, Beware That Girl will keep readers guessing until the very last line.
The Haves. The Have-Nots. Kate O’Brian appears to be a Have-Not. Her whole life has been a series of setbacks she’s had to snake her way out of—some more sinister than others. But she’s determined to change that. She’s book smart. She’s street-smart. Oh, and she’s also a masterful liar.
As the scholarship student at the Waverly School in NYC, Kate has her work cut out for her: her plan is to climb the social ladder and land a spot at Yale. She’s already found her “people” among the senior class “it” girls—specifically in the cosseted, mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. As for Olivia, she considers Kate the best friend she’s always needed, the sister she never had.
When the handsome and whip-smart Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration, he immediately charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives—becoming especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s intent on keeping to herself. It becomes increasingly obvious that Redkin poses a threat to Kate, too, in a way she can’t reveal—and can’t afford to ignore. How close can Kate and Olivia get to Mark without having to share their dark pasts?
The Haves. The Have-Nots. Kate O’Brian appears to be a Have-Not. Her whole life has been a series of setbacks she’s had to snake her way out of—some more sinister than others. But she’s determined to change that. She’s book smart. She’s street-smart. Oh, and she’s also a masterful liar.
As the scholarship student at the Waverly School in NYC, Kate has her work cut out for her: her plan is to climb the social ladder and land a spot at Yale. She’s already found her “people” among the senior class “it” girls—specifically in the cosseted, mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. As for Olivia, she considers Kate the best friend she’s always needed, the sister she never had.
When the handsome and whip-smart Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration, he immediately charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives—becoming especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s intent on keeping to herself. It becomes increasingly obvious that Redkin poses a threat to Kate, too, in a way she can’t reveal—and can’t afford to ignore. How close can Kate and Olivia get to Mark without having to share their dark pasts?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2016
170 people are currently reading
6785 people want to read
About the author
Teresa Toten
13 books210 followersMy earliest and most fervent ambition was to grow up and take my rightful place among the other mermaids. When cruel and insensitive adults crushed that dream by insisting that mermaids did not exist, I settled on the more mature aspiration of becoming an intergalactic astronaut. Then I realized that math would likely be involved. So, in the end, I went to Trinity College at the University of Toronto where I got a BA and then an MA in Political Economy taking great care not to take a single English or Creative Writing class. The only thing I knew for sure was that I was never ever going to be a writer. That would be silly, fanciful and well, unrealistic. And then I started to write...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 697 reviews
June 2, 2016
Olivia Michelle Sumner: if that doesn’t spell money, I don’t know what does. She was head-to-toe Barneys and Bloomies, preppy with a price. The rest of the girls gave her a wide berth even as they squealed, “Welcome back, Olivia!"
Beware That Girl suffers from a serious case of false marketing.
This book caught my eye at the Los Angeles Festival of Books. The press releases and fliers stood, calling to me, from under the Random House booth. The title said "dark thriller" and "dangerous girls". The cover, with it's shadowy silhouette, promised a story full of secrets.
It didn't occur to me for one second that this book would be another Gossip Girl. A marginally darker tale of private school girls, designer clothing and A-list parties. Make no mistake, the characters in Gossip Girl were just as screwed up and twisted as these; they just didn't feel the need to tell us with a dramatic monologue (we could see the lies and backstabbing for ourselves).
The narrative jumps between Kate, a self-confessed liar and manipulator with an abusive past, and Olivia, a girl whose mood swings from happy to depressed as she relies on pills to get her through. Kate befriends Olivia to further her own goals, but a wedge is driven between them when Olivia becomes involved with an older man.
Beware That Girl is too contrived and heavy-handed to be a good thriller. Abuse is used as a plot device here and it leaves a bad taste. Almost all the characters are stereotypes, from the empty, shallow rich girls who feed into our expectations of rich girls, to the heavily-accented Russian servant, to the cackling villain who is only a few short steps away from twirling his mustache and going "Muahahaha".
It is also hard to see why the characters behave and think the way they do. The villain is recognizable as a creeper from day one - a school staff member who has his hands all over the teen girls - and yet everyone is obsessed with him anyway.
A man - and I mean a truly male representation of his species - strode in. It had to be him, the brand-new director of advancement. I don’t know how to describe it, but the guy was such a guy. That must be it. He wasn’t like a movie star or anything, not really, but God, he exuded raw masculinity.
Eww.
The twist at the end will be obvious to most readers. Not only that, but I also thought the climax of the story was melodramatic and silly - perhaps because the lack of character depth throughout made it hard to empathize with Kate and Olivia, therefore turning those final scenes into an empty piece of exaggerated action.
Not surprisingly, the marketing team has already eagerly spewed out the usual buzzworthy comparisons to Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and We Were Liars. Take my word for it - it's not like any of them.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Store
April 18, 2017
When I saw this was being marketed as “Gone Girl meets Pretty Little Liars” I knew I needed to read this book. I was hoping for something along the lines of Dangerous Girls by: Abigail Haas or anything by Stephanie Kuehn. What I got was more like a thriller version of Gossip Girl. (which now that I say it does sound cool in it’s own way, but it didn’t work out like that).
Kate O’Brian has always done what it takes to get what she wants. She’s manipulative, smart, and always has her eyes on the prize. That prize is Yale. Always the scholarship kid, Kate has gone from private school to private school with one goal on her mind. She is full of secrets and constantly running from her past, but one thing is for certain.. She is determined to get the life she deserves. No matter who she needs to use to get there..
Olivia Sumner is super rich and damaged. These seem to be prerequisites to be considered a possible friend by Kate. Olivia also happens to be smart and in need of serious healing. She went through some deep stuff last year that landed her in a hospital. Now she needs a friend - someone to help her heal, even if they can’t know what she’s healing from.
A friendship forms of mutual need and dependence. The girls need each other. Each manipulates her way into the other’s life. It quickly becomes clear that the title of the book, Beware That Girl, could be speaking of either one of the girls. I sure do love an unreliable narrator.
Everything changes when Mark Redkin, fundraiser director extraordinaire, finally arrives to fill his post at the school. He’s handsome, charming, and has all the girls fawning over him. How else should I put it? …
He wasn’t like a movie star or anything, not really, but God, he exuded masculinity.
Okay…….umm…not sure I was aware this had anything to do with being an attractive male. Right. So he works his way into the lives of Kate, Olivia, and several other females. Only Kate seems to see through it..there’s more than meets the eye with Mark - something off about him. He just might pose a threat to what Kate has worked so hard for.
I wanted this to be so much darker and more unpredictable than what it was. It was way too predictable. I figured out the twists long before they occurred. It didn’t have those “Hitchcockian twists” promised. It had a sort of lifetime movie vibe when it came to the creeper faculty member. He freaked me out, but also reminded me of a teacher from my high school who got a little too close to students. I appreciate how psychological the story got at times, but it still wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of twistiness or good plotting.
Though the girls’ friendship was intriguing, I feel it could have been so much more. With it starting as a sort of con on both ends there was a lot of potential in terms of story. I wanted more out of it as a whole. I loved Mrs. Chen. She reminded me of Lane’s mom Mrs. Kim from Gilmore Girls, which I’m currently in the middle of binging. I also loved the quick reference to the show making me think Mrs. Chen was possibly inspired by Mrs. Kim. Either way.
The book alternated POV between Kate and Olivia. It was odd because Kate’s was in first person while Olivia’s was in third. We also got a joint perspective both at the beginning and end of the book written in third as well. I get why it was all done that way, but it still was confusing at times.
Maybe this just wasn’t for me in the end. I can’t help but think there are so many others that have pulled off the YA psychological thriller much better.
Kate O’Brian has always done what it takes to get what she wants. She’s manipulative, smart, and always has her eyes on the prize. That prize is Yale. Always the scholarship kid, Kate has gone from private school to private school with one goal on her mind. She is full of secrets and constantly running from her past, but one thing is for certain.. She is determined to get the life she deserves. No matter who she needs to use to get there..
Olivia Sumner is super rich and damaged. These seem to be prerequisites to be considered a possible friend by Kate. Olivia also happens to be smart and in need of serious healing. She went through some deep stuff last year that landed her in a hospital. Now she needs a friend - someone to help her heal, even if they can’t know what she’s healing from.
A friendship forms of mutual need and dependence. The girls need each other. Each manipulates her way into the other’s life. It quickly becomes clear that the title of the book, Beware That Girl, could be speaking of either one of the girls. I sure do love an unreliable narrator.
Everything changes when Mark Redkin, fundraiser director extraordinaire, finally arrives to fill his post at the school. He’s handsome, charming, and has all the girls fawning over him. How else should I put it? …
He wasn’t like a movie star or anything, not really, but God, he exuded masculinity.
Okay…….umm…not sure I was aware this had anything to do with being an attractive male. Right. So he works his way into the lives of Kate, Olivia, and several other females. Only Kate seems to see through it..there’s more than meets the eye with Mark - something off about him. He just might pose a threat to what Kate has worked so hard for.
I wanted this to be so much darker and more unpredictable than what it was. It was way too predictable. I figured out the twists long before they occurred. It didn’t have those “Hitchcockian twists” promised. It had a sort of lifetime movie vibe when it came to the creeper faculty member. He freaked me out, but also reminded me of a teacher from my high school who got a little too close to students. I appreciate how psychological the story got at times, but it still wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of twistiness or good plotting.
Though the girls’ friendship was intriguing, I feel it could have been so much more. With it starting as a sort of con on both ends there was a lot of potential in terms of story. I wanted more out of it as a whole. I loved Mrs. Chen. She reminded me of Lane’s mom Mrs. Kim from Gilmore Girls, which I’m currently in the middle of binging. I also loved the quick reference to the show making me think Mrs. Chen was possibly inspired by Mrs. Kim. Either way.
The book alternated POV between Kate and Olivia. It was odd because Kate’s was in first person while Olivia’s was in third. We also got a joint perspective both at the beginning and end of the book written in third as well. I get why it was all done that way, but it still was confusing at times.
Maybe this just wasn’t for me in the end. I can’t help but think there are so many others that have pulled off the YA psychological thriller much better.
April 14, 2017
I'll start this off by saying I'm not generally a fan of thrillers. I didn't like Gone Girl nor did I like Girl on the Train. So I wasn't expecting to really enjoy this but I was sent it by Penguin Random House (thank you to them!!!), so I wanted to give it a go. But wow did I hate this. This story was uninspired and unoriginal. It brought nothing new to the vast array of thrillers that already exist. And it used abuse almost as a plot device which I was super not okay with. Unfortunately, this one was a bit of a bummer.
May 1, 2024
2.5/5
I’m not exactly sure of what to think about this one. I really wasn’t a fan at all, but I didn’t completely hate it either. This just wasn’t at all for me.
I think that the main problem I have is that there’s a few things that were left uncleared. Starting by the fact that, yes, the characters are unreliable which gives the book a perfect mystery type of feel, but I think that there was just so much missing potential to work with their personalities and overall backgrounds. I was just confused all the way through the book as in, what is their deal? What even happened? An epilogue would have been nice.
As for the plot, it was a bit entertaining because, just as I said, I was trying to figure the characters out and there was also another main conflict. Which once again, I felt quite… empty, I felt so lost on what was even happening at some points, and for what reason was some stuff being done, etc.
Idk, maybe im just dumb
And kinda off topic but DAMNNNNN there were some parts that were hella queer and im all for it ngl!
I’m not exactly sure of what to think about this one. I really wasn’t a fan at all, but I didn’t completely hate it either. This just wasn’t at all for me.
I think that the main problem I have is that there’s a few things that were left uncleared. Starting by the fact that, yes, the characters are unreliable which gives the book a perfect mystery type of feel, but I think that there was just so much missing potential to work with their personalities and overall backgrounds. I was just confused all the way through the book as in, what is their deal? What even happened? An epilogue would have been nice.
As for the plot, it was a bit entertaining because, just as I said, I was trying to figure the characters out and there was also another main conflict. Which once again, I felt quite… empty, I felt so lost on what was even happening at some points, and for what reason was some stuff being done, etc.
Idk, maybe im just dumb
And kinda off topic but DAMNNNNN there were some parts that were hella queer and im all for it ngl!
July 4, 2016
My new mantra is going to be: if the book is marketed "For fans of Gone Girl," then I'm going to run the other way. Because even though I loved Gone Girl, any book that claims to be like it is decidedly not.
"Beware That Girl" is marketed as a "psychological thriller." I cannot tell you how many times I fell asleep while reading this. It took me an inordinate amount of time to finish this book compared to others I read. "Thriller" it is not.
I realize that this book is supposed to be YA, so I did keep that in mind while reading. Given the target audience, I appreciate that this book wasn't overly graphic (I much prefer suspense over explicit books, anyway). The female protagonist is strong, which I also appreciate for a YA audience. However, this book just had too many issues and an overall feeling of "meh" for me to be able to recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Beware That Girl" is marketed as a "psychological thriller." I cannot tell you how many times I fell asleep while reading this. It took me an inordinate amount of time to finish this book compared to others I read. "Thriller" it is not.
I realize that this book is supposed to be YA, so I did keep that in mind while reading. Given the target audience, I appreciate that this book wasn't overly graphic (I much prefer suspense over explicit books, anyway). The female protagonist is strong, which I also appreciate for a YA audience. However, this book just had too many issues and an overall feeling of "meh" for me to be able to recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2019
There are varying reviews on this one. I’m not sure which side I fall on as I didn’t hate it, I liked it in some parts more than others..
The writing seemed to lack emotional depth and at times robotic.
It’s a typical YA angst which made it a fulfilling read.
The writing was strong but the plot was part way there.
I really enjoyed the lead up to the end and the potential climax......
But I was left unfulfilled.
This of course is my own reading experience and may not be yours.
June 23, 2016
“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”
----Benjamin Franklin
Teresa Toten, a Canadian author, pens an intriguing young adult thriller about two teenage high school girls in her new book, Beware That Girl that narrates the story of a manipulative high school girl with a painful past who weaves her way through the social ladder just to reach Yale with her good nature, fake poshness and charm, thereby using a pill-survivor, moody rich girl, but their bond of friendship changes once this rich girl falls under the charms of an older man, who can open up past secrets that both the girls are running away from.
Synopsis:
For fans of We Were Liars, The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl, this powerful psychological thriller with multiple mysteries is set against the backdrop of the megawealthy elite of New York City. Toten delves into the mesmerizing yet dysfunctional world of those who manipulate but seem ever so charming. With its gripping pace and Hitchcockian twists, Beware That Girl will keep readers guessing until the very last line.
The Haves. The Have-Nots. Kate O’Brian appears to be a Have-Not. Her whole life has been a series of setbacks she’s had to snake her way out of—some more sinister than others. But she’s determined to change that. She’s book smart. She’s street-smart. Oh, and she’s also a masterful liar.
As the scholarship student at the Waverly School in NYC, Kate has her work cut out for her: her plan is to climb the social ladder and land a spot at Yale. She’s already found her “people” among the senior class “it” girls—specifically in the cosseted, mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. As for Olivia, she considers Kate the best friend she’s always needed, the sister she never had.
When the handsome and whip-smart Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration, he immediately charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives—becoming especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s intent on keeping to herself. It becomes increasingly obvious that Redkin poses a threat to Kate, too, in a way she can’t reveal—and can’t afford to ignore. How close can Kate and Olivia get to Mark without having to share their dark pasts?
Kate O’Brien has earned her way to a posh private school, Waverly Academy in NYC through a scholarship, and this opportunity is really good for her as she is planning to climb the social ladder by impressing and manipulating the right people to reach Yale and NYC is like a protective umbrella over her head since she is running away from her gruesome past life that still haunts her. Kate has already found her new prey, Olivia Sumner, who is the air-brushed version of a model from those glossy magazines and is constantly flaunting her filthy rich aristocracy, and with the help of Olivia's friendship, no one can stop Kate from mingling with the socialites of the NYC and attending those A-listed parties and rubbing her shoulders with money-hungry super rich folks, until Mark Redkin, who is complete tease for the young teenage girls with chocolate boy looks joins their school and Olivia easily falls for Mark's charms. Little did the girls knew that this man can expose their past shamelessly and ruin their individual goals from reaching the top.
Firstly, I don't understand what is there to market this book by stating that this psycho thriller to similar to those groundbreaking and popular thrillers. As this book is no where closer to those books, moreover, this can't be categorized under the genre of psychological thriller. Anyhow, the darkness is the only consistent thing in the book that won't disappoint the readers. So there is nothing to get allured by that edgy and scary book cover image, as the story is completely boring, predictable and cliched.
The author's writing is strong yet it lacks the emotional depth or rather say, fails to make the readers comprehend with the theme of the story. The main theme is centered around brutal abuse, be it parental or sexual, the whole story revolves around the aftermath of such abuses. The narrative is dull and could have been much more articulate or expressive. The pacing lacks speed and drags a lot near the end, even though there are some bone-chilling action scenes which holds a little power to engage the readers into the story line.
OMG! What can I say about the characters, they are even more disappointing than the story line, they steal away whatever charm the story could have with their depressing demeanor. The main character, Kate, lacks depth even though she is supported by her backstory and let's leave Olivia out of the review, her superficial demeanor without any emotional attachment give her a terrible outlook. The rest of the supporting characters are also very cliched and judgmental, and fails to interest the readers.
In a nutshell, I suggest, skip this book and look for other enthralling YA thrillers, which are actually a "thriller" in nature.
Verdict: Not so much of a promising story, only surrounded with mean teenage drama.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Teresa Toten's publicist for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Benjamin Franklin
Teresa Toten, a Canadian author, pens an intriguing young adult thriller about two teenage high school girls in her new book, Beware That Girl that narrates the story of a manipulative high school girl with a painful past who weaves her way through the social ladder just to reach Yale with her good nature, fake poshness and charm, thereby using a pill-survivor, moody rich girl, but their bond of friendship changes once this rich girl falls under the charms of an older man, who can open up past secrets that both the girls are running away from.
Synopsis:
For fans of We Were Liars, The Girl on the Train, and Gone Girl, this powerful psychological thriller with multiple mysteries is set against the backdrop of the megawealthy elite of New York City. Toten delves into the mesmerizing yet dysfunctional world of those who manipulate but seem ever so charming. With its gripping pace and Hitchcockian twists, Beware That Girl will keep readers guessing until the very last line.
The Haves. The Have-Nots. Kate O’Brian appears to be a Have-Not. Her whole life has been a series of setbacks she’s had to snake her way out of—some more sinister than others. But she’s determined to change that. She’s book smart. She’s street-smart. Oh, and she’s also a masterful liar.
As the scholarship student at the Waverly School in NYC, Kate has her work cut out for her: her plan is to climb the social ladder and land a spot at Yale. She’s already found her “people” among the senior class “it” girls—specifically in the cosseted, mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. As for Olivia, she considers Kate the best friend she’s always needed, the sister she never had.
When the handsome and whip-smart Mark Redkin joins the Waverly administration, he immediately charms his way into the faculty’s and students’ lives—becoming especially close to Olivia, a fact she’s intent on keeping to herself. It becomes increasingly obvious that Redkin poses a threat to Kate, too, in a way she can’t reveal—and can’t afford to ignore. How close can Kate and Olivia get to Mark without having to share their dark pasts?
Kate O’Brien has earned her way to a posh private school, Waverly Academy in NYC through a scholarship, and this opportunity is really good for her as she is planning to climb the social ladder by impressing and manipulating the right people to reach Yale and NYC is like a protective umbrella over her head since she is running away from her gruesome past life that still haunts her. Kate has already found her new prey, Olivia Sumner, who is the air-brushed version of a model from those glossy magazines and is constantly flaunting her filthy rich aristocracy, and with the help of Olivia's friendship, no one can stop Kate from mingling with the socialites of the NYC and attending those A-listed parties and rubbing her shoulders with money-hungry super rich folks, until Mark Redkin, who is complete tease for the young teenage girls with chocolate boy looks joins their school and Olivia easily falls for Mark's charms. Little did the girls knew that this man can expose their past shamelessly and ruin their individual goals from reaching the top.
Firstly, I don't understand what is there to market this book by stating that this psycho thriller to similar to those groundbreaking and popular thrillers. As this book is no where closer to those books, moreover, this can't be categorized under the genre of psychological thriller. Anyhow, the darkness is the only consistent thing in the book that won't disappoint the readers. So there is nothing to get allured by that edgy and scary book cover image, as the story is completely boring, predictable and cliched.
The author's writing is strong yet it lacks the emotional depth or rather say, fails to make the readers comprehend with the theme of the story. The main theme is centered around brutal abuse, be it parental or sexual, the whole story revolves around the aftermath of such abuses. The narrative is dull and could have been much more articulate or expressive. The pacing lacks speed and drags a lot near the end, even though there are some bone-chilling action scenes which holds a little power to engage the readers into the story line.
OMG! What can I say about the characters, they are even more disappointing than the story line, they steal away whatever charm the story could have with their depressing demeanor. The main character, Kate, lacks depth even though she is supported by her backstory and let's leave Olivia out of the review, her superficial demeanor without any emotional attachment give her a terrible outlook. The rest of the supporting characters are also very cliched and judgmental, and fails to interest the readers.
In a nutshell, I suggest, skip this book and look for other enthralling YA thrillers, which are actually a "thriller" in nature.
Verdict: Not so much of a promising story, only surrounded with mean teenage drama.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Teresa Toten's publicist for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
June 1, 2016
Beware That Girl
Teresa Toten
Penguin Random House
May 31, 2016
336 pages.
I received an ARC of this book at BookCon 2016.
While I was reading Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten, I absolutely hated it. I thought I hated the characters, the plot, the writing, everything. When I finished Beware That Girl, I realized that I did not completely dislike it. By the end I liked most of the characters and I liked Kate and Olivia’s relationship. I didn’t even hate the plot. A couple of hours later, I couldn’t stop thinking about this book. What will happen to Kate? How did the police learn what Mark was doing? Will Kate and Olivia ever tell anyone what really happened? These were all questions that consumed my thoughts. So, I have no idea what to rate Beware That Girl.
At this point I would normally write I description for the book, but I don’t know how to write a synopsis without misleading you about what the plot is actually about or giving away something. The best way to read Beware That Girl is going into it not knowing anything about it. That might include waiting to read this review until you complete the novel.
In the beginning all the characters were one dimensional and unlikeable. I could care less about any of them. But as the story progressed, I found myself caring more and more about what happened to them. I watched them come to life. I thought this aspect was a great addition to the story. As the story got clearer and clearer so did the characters and their motives. Kate was a character I hated at the begin, but slowly she began to grow on me. She felt like a fuller character, a character that I wanted to succeed, a character I liked. Olivia was a character I never really cared for either. But when we learned she was dating Mark, I was horrified, because I knew that Mark was probably not all that he seemed to be. The characters are a fantastic part of Beware That Girl.
My biggest issue, the reason I originally disliked this book, was the Mark and Olivia issue. I found the scenes between Mark and Olivia more uncomfortable than enjoyable or even informative. Mark was way to old for Olivia, and I think the abuse was over the top. I also thought that there were more painful Olivia and Mark scenes then there needed to be. This plot made the story overall less enjoyable.
Another issue I had was Mark’s character. He was to flawless. In the first half of the book everyone loved him. He was to smart, to good looking, to perfect. During the second half of the book, he had no weaknesses. He was faultless. His plans were exemplary. Nothing could stop him and he had no limits. Except for a frying pan. (Was I the only one thinking about Tangled at this point?)
A totally random note I had was that the end reminded me of the movie Weekend At Bernie’s. Two young friends trying to figure out what to do with a dead body and almost dying in the process. You will most likely get the reference after you read the book and have seen the movie. Obviously.
A positive note I had about the book was that I liked how information and secrets were revealed. I liked how often information was presented about the characters, and how all the secrets and lies built upon itself.
I truly do not know how to rate Beware That Girl. I’m not even sure if I liked it or not. So for now I’m leaving it at three stars, but that may change. I can’t tell you if I even recommend this book. If you do decide to read it, please put a review up. I would love to know your thoughts. I hope you enjoy Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten.
Teresa Toten
Penguin Random House
May 31, 2016
336 pages.
I received an ARC of this book at BookCon 2016.
While I was reading Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten, I absolutely hated it. I thought I hated the characters, the plot, the writing, everything. When I finished Beware That Girl, I realized that I did not completely dislike it. By the end I liked most of the characters and I liked Kate and Olivia’s relationship. I didn’t even hate the plot. A couple of hours later, I couldn’t stop thinking about this book. What will happen to Kate? How did the police learn what Mark was doing? Will Kate and Olivia ever tell anyone what really happened? These were all questions that consumed my thoughts. So, I have no idea what to rate Beware That Girl.
At this point I would normally write I description for the book, but I don’t know how to write a synopsis without misleading you about what the plot is actually about or giving away something. The best way to read Beware That Girl is going into it not knowing anything about it. That might include waiting to read this review until you complete the novel.
In the beginning all the characters were one dimensional and unlikeable. I could care less about any of them. But as the story progressed, I found myself caring more and more about what happened to them. I watched them come to life. I thought this aspect was a great addition to the story. As the story got clearer and clearer so did the characters and their motives. Kate was a character I hated at the begin, but slowly she began to grow on me. She felt like a fuller character, a character that I wanted to succeed, a character I liked. Olivia was a character I never really cared for either. But when we learned she was dating Mark, I was horrified, because I knew that Mark was probably not all that he seemed to be. The characters are a fantastic part of Beware That Girl.
My biggest issue, the reason I originally disliked this book, was the Mark and Olivia issue. I found the scenes between Mark and Olivia more uncomfortable than enjoyable or even informative. Mark was way to old for Olivia, and I think the abuse was over the top. I also thought that there were more painful Olivia and Mark scenes then there needed to be. This plot made the story overall less enjoyable.
Another issue I had was Mark’s character. He was to flawless. In the first half of the book everyone loved him. He was to smart, to good looking, to perfect. During the second half of the book, he had no weaknesses. He was faultless. His plans were exemplary. Nothing could stop him and he had no limits. Except for a frying pan. (Was I the only one thinking about Tangled at this point?)
A totally random note I had was that the end reminded me of the movie Weekend At Bernie’s. Two young friends trying to figure out what to do with a dead body and almost dying in the process. You will most likely get the reference after you read the book and have seen the movie. Obviously.
A positive note I had about the book was that I liked how information and secrets were revealed. I liked how often information was presented about the characters, and how all the secrets and lies built upon itself.
I truly do not know how to rate Beware That Girl. I’m not even sure if I liked it or not. So for now I’m leaving it at three stars, but that may change. I can’t tell you if I even recommend this book. If you do decide to read it, please put a review up. I would love to know your thoughts. I hope you enjoy Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten.
June 23, 2022
please do not read this review if you have any intention of reading this book, or if you're gazing at it fondly, or if you heard of it in a past life, or if you in any way would be upset at a plot spoiler.
because i've racked my brain and tried my darnedest, but there's just no way i can review this without telling you guys one particular thing.
and that is that this book, a young adult thriller, which purports itself to be spooky and high stakes and psychological...
is, in point of fact, weekend at bernie's.
the last 50 pages of this, what should be the most climactic bit, is instead a (to me) hilarious romp through life with a corpse.
also it's boring. but more importantly - flippin weekend at bernie's!
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago
because i've racked my brain and tried my darnedest, but there's just no way i can review this without telling you guys one particular thing.
and that is that this book, a young adult thriller, which purports itself to be spooky and high stakes and psychological...
is, in point of fact, weekend at bernie's.
the last 50 pages of this, what should be the most climactic bit, is instead a (to me) hilarious romp through life with a corpse.
also it's boring. but more importantly - flippin weekend at bernie's!
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago
May 23, 2016
Clawing her way out of a horrible background and upbringing Kate O’Brien has tried to make a place for herself among the elite to fast track her journey to Yale by befriending the mega-wealthy yet deeply damaged Olivia Sumner. Both girls have their secrets to keep as they navigate their way through senior year at the Waverly School.
When Mark Redkin joins the staff at Waverly he charms his way into the lives of the students and staff. Olivia is especially taken with Mark and becomes a bit too close to him, another secret she needs to keep. Kate finds that Mark is also a threat to her and keeping her secret buried that she's tried to hard to run away from.
Beware That Girl is another thriller that I had high hopes for when I first saw it but unfortunately was left feeling a bit underwhelmed by the read when done. The synopsis promises a dark read with a lot of twists and turns but it seemed to follow a rather straight path to the end in my opinion.
The book alternates chapters between Kate and Olivia all throughout the read but sometimes that felt a bit off as Kate's are first person and Olivia's third. The world is that of the spoiled rich girls with the poor girl manipulating her way in really didn't seem that new or intriguing. Then with Mark being introduced it all seemed to obvious that from the start makes you wonder how the guy is still working in schools.
Overall, 2.5 stars for Beware That Girl. Never really grabbed me and made me guess as it just seemed a bit underwhelming and predictable for a thriller.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When Mark Redkin joins the staff at Waverly he charms his way into the lives of the students and staff. Olivia is especially taken with Mark and becomes a bit too close to him, another secret she needs to keep. Kate finds that Mark is also a threat to her and keeping her secret buried that she's tried to hard to run away from.
Beware That Girl is another thriller that I had high hopes for when I first saw it but unfortunately was left feeling a bit underwhelmed by the read when done. The synopsis promises a dark read with a lot of twists and turns but it seemed to follow a rather straight path to the end in my opinion.
The book alternates chapters between Kate and Olivia all throughout the read but sometimes that felt a bit off as Kate's are first person and Olivia's third. The world is that of the spoiled rich girls with the poor girl manipulating her way in really didn't seem that new or intriguing. Then with Mark being introduced it all seemed to obvious that from the start makes you wonder how the guy is still working in schools.
Overall, 2.5 stars for Beware That Girl. Never really grabbed me and made me guess as it just seemed a bit underwhelming and predictable for a thriller.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
February 7, 2017
I was really disappointed with this book, it was very different from what I expected after reading the introduction on the jacket. First of all the plot was all over the place , the characters were weak both in the story and in their attitudes. The introduction of Mark as a character had the promise of adding a little bit of seriousness to the book, but in the end he ended up as pathetic as the rest of the book. Instead of a serious book about personality disorders, this book ended up feeling like the ripped pages of a high school diary . Again I need to state that from reading the introduction I expected a lot more .
May 7, 2016
**3.5 stars**
Beware That Girl was divisive just for me. I loved some parts of it completely, some others drove me to distraction. I was either "OOH" or "Grrrr" depending which part I was reading and what the plot was doing.
The basic premise was superb - two girls, both with secrets, come together and form a friendship that is based on control. Who is controlling who however is unclear and those were the parts that held me enthralled. Within the construction of the novel I liked the multiple ways the author used point of view to manipulate the reader, I loved how the two main characters were fleshed out during the course of the story and how ultimately appearances proved deceptive. Depending of course on what you, as a reader, are taking from them as you go. Clever.
So that was great. The intricacies of the plot however, when speaking to the "pivotal point" that of Mark and his manipulative personality became slightly unbelievable. It would spoil things to expand on that excessively but the girls as portrayed made decisions that seemed unlikely. So occasionally I was dumped out of the very emotive and thought provoking "friendship" into "Oh God REALLY?" territory. So that was the downside. Mark was WAY too caricature for my personal taste, I much preferred the well drawn, beautifully created Olivia and Kate.
Having said that I barrelled through this, it had a shiver inducing classic ending, the majority carried all the hallmarks of a good emotive psychological thriller and if you like the genre you'll get all sorts of good stuff out of this read.
Recommended even with the slight annoyance. Mrs Chen makes up for it...
Happy Reading!
Beware That Girl was divisive just for me. I loved some parts of it completely, some others drove me to distraction. I was either "OOH" or "Grrrr" depending which part I was reading and what the plot was doing.
The basic premise was superb - two girls, both with secrets, come together and form a friendship that is based on control. Who is controlling who however is unclear and those were the parts that held me enthralled. Within the construction of the novel I liked the multiple ways the author used point of view to manipulate the reader, I loved how the two main characters were fleshed out during the course of the story and how ultimately appearances proved deceptive. Depending of course on what you, as a reader, are taking from them as you go. Clever.
So that was great. The intricacies of the plot however, when speaking to the "pivotal point" that of Mark and his manipulative personality became slightly unbelievable. It would spoil things to expand on that excessively but the girls as portrayed made decisions that seemed unlikely. So occasionally I was dumped out of the very emotive and thought provoking "friendship" into "Oh God REALLY?" territory. So that was the downside. Mark was WAY too caricature for my personal taste, I much preferred the well drawn, beautifully created Olivia and Kate.
Having said that I barrelled through this, it had a shiver inducing classic ending, the majority carried all the hallmarks of a good emotive psychological thriller and if you like the genre you'll get all sorts of good stuff out of this read.
Recommended even with the slight annoyance. Mrs Chen makes up for it...
Happy Reading!
July 29, 2018
I really enjoyed The Girl on the Train. This is about the fourth book I have read since it that had a very similar writing style. All four have only reinforced how much I liked, The Girl on the Train.
Beware That Girl was like a cross of The Girl on the Train and the TV show Gossip Girl. I only know of Gossip Girl from having teenage daughters. Was not a huge fan of the few bits that I saw of the show nor the many hours I spent with this book.
Oh well till next time remember it's not who you read but how you read them.
xoxo,
Reviewer guy
Beware That Girl was like a cross of The Girl on the Train and the TV show Gossip Girl. I only know of Gossip Girl from having teenage daughters. Was not a huge fan of the few bits that I saw of the show nor the many hours I spent with this book.
Oh well till next time remember it's not who you read but how you read them.
xoxo,
Reviewer guy
May 8, 2018
GRADE: A
ONE WORD: creepy (not scary creepy, psychologically creepy)
Once upon a midnight dreary,
while I pondered weak and weary
BEWARE THAT GIRL evokes the same chills I experience whenever I hear the first lines of Poe's The Raven. Although the stories are in no way similar, Teresa Toten's latest YA novel is that creepy good.
Two damaged girls, the wealthy Olivia, returning for her senior year after an extended psychIatric hospitalization and scholarship student Kate, a self professed liar (and possibly worse) are a perfect storm of a dysfunctional friendship that can only end in tragedy. Add a creepy teacher/fundraiser and you've got a recipe for disaster.
Told in Kate's first person POV and Olivia's third person, BEWARE THAT GIRL begins with one girl hospitalized, the other holding vigil and a cop with questions about the teacher. But which girl? And to which girl does the title refer?
Toten pulled me in and didn't let go with her luscious prose. Can an admitted liar be a reliable narrator? I didn't know. Certainly Kate appeared sincere in her calculating, manipulative plans to achieve the prize, admission to Yale via a friendship with the fragile Olivia. I couldn't help to like and cheer for this unapologetic character. The cracks in her stoic façade and that she genuinely cared for Olivia made her rootable.
I never got a true sense of Olivia until the last 10% of the story, but for the ending to work, that was planned. Do wish Toten had given more of each girl's psychiatric history, other than snippets and Olivia's brief report in the beginning. Seeing Kate's, even at the end would have been interesting. My favorite minor characters were Anka and Mrs Chen, and I also wish they had been more fleshed out.
Although the plot was implausible, I was still drawn into the story and often felt as if the story could have been possible, due to Toten's writing. The end felt a bit rushed and confusing, which prevented me from giving BEWARE THAT GIRL. I upgraded my review from 4 to 5 stars, because I enjoyed BEWARE THAT GIRL so much, and couldn't stop thinking about it.
This isn't a novel for everyone, judging by the reviews. I wasn't even certain I'd like it based on some of my favorite reviewers' lackluster comments. I'm going to reread BEWARE THAT GIRL thus weekend, after I finish an ARC and I only reread books I truly enjoyed.
ONE WORD: creepy (not scary creepy, psychologically creepy)
Once upon a midnight dreary,
while I pondered weak and weary
BEWARE THAT GIRL evokes the same chills I experience whenever I hear the first lines of Poe's The Raven. Although the stories are in no way similar, Teresa Toten's latest YA novel is that creepy good.
Two damaged girls, the wealthy Olivia, returning for her senior year after an extended psychIatric hospitalization and scholarship student Kate, a self professed liar (and possibly worse) are a perfect storm of a dysfunctional friendship that can only end in tragedy. Add a creepy teacher/fundraiser and you've got a recipe for disaster.
Told in Kate's first person POV and Olivia's third person, BEWARE THAT GIRL begins with one girl hospitalized, the other holding vigil and a cop with questions about the teacher. But which girl? And to which girl does the title refer?
Toten pulled me in and didn't let go with her luscious prose. Can an admitted liar be a reliable narrator? I didn't know. Certainly Kate appeared sincere in her calculating, manipulative plans to achieve the prize, admission to Yale via a friendship with the fragile Olivia. I couldn't help to like and cheer for this unapologetic character. The cracks in her stoic façade and that she genuinely cared for Olivia made her rootable.
I never got a true sense of Olivia until the last 10% of the story, but for the ending to work, that was planned. Do wish Toten had given more of each girl's psychiatric history, other than snippets and Olivia's brief report in the beginning. Seeing Kate's, even at the end would have been interesting. My favorite minor characters were Anka and Mrs Chen, and I also wish they had been more fleshed out.
Although the plot was implausible, I was still drawn into the story and often felt as if the story could have been possible, due to Toten's writing. The end felt a bit rushed and confusing, which prevented me from giving BEWARE THAT GIRL. I upgraded my review from 4 to 5 stars, because I enjoyed BEWARE THAT GIRL so much, and couldn't stop thinking about it.
This isn't a novel for everyone, judging by the reviews. I wasn't even certain I'd like it based on some of my favorite reviewers' lackluster comments. I'm going to reread BEWARE THAT GIRL thus weekend, after I finish an ARC and I only reread books I truly enjoyed.
February 25, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
3.5 Stars
I was very excited when I was approved for Beware That Girl on NetGalley as I love Teresa Toten and the psychological thriller genre. I started this book with really high hopes, which is probably why I ended up a little disappointed. This book is told in alternating perspectives and contains a super smart main character, which I loved, but the plot was uneventful in certain parts, which bored me.
Beware That Girl is a psychological thriller that is very unique. This book is also told in alternating perspectives, which I always love. What is really interesting about this story is that Kate’s story is told in first person and Olivia’s is written in third person. I have never seen this before and was very intrigued by it. It definitely added to the overall mystery of the book.
I really enjoyed Kate as a main character in Beware That Girl. She is smart and careful not to reveal her secrets. I also found Kate to have a really mysterious backstory that is very entertaining to discover. Although I really enjoyed Kate, I found certain other characters, like Mark and Olivia, to very stereotypical. It was a lot harder to enjoy the book when one of the characters is said to, “exude raw masculinity.”
The way that Beware That Girl is written is very satisfying. The build-up very well done and super suspenseful. I did find part of the story to be a bit predictable, though, which took away from the effect. Since I was able to predict the events of the story fairly often, the plot fell flat at certain points. When reading a thriller, I like to see a lot action, and this book didn’t really have that.
Beware That Girl is a thriller told in alternating perspectives with a main character who is very intelligent. However, a couple of the other characters were too stereotypical for my liking. As much as I wanted to enjoy this book, the lack of action didn’t live up to my expectations.
3.5 Stars
I was very excited when I was approved for Beware That Girl on NetGalley as I love Teresa Toten and the psychological thriller genre. I started this book with really high hopes, which is probably why I ended up a little disappointed. This book is told in alternating perspectives and contains a super smart main character, which I loved, but the plot was uneventful in certain parts, which bored me.
Beware That Girl is a psychological thriller that is very unique. This book is also told in alternating perspectives, which I always love. What is really interesting about this story is that Kate’s story is told in first person and Olivia’s is written in third person. I have never seen this before and was very intrigued by it. It definitely added to the overall mystery of the book.
I really enjoyed Kate as a main character in Beware That Girl. She is smart and careful not to reveal her secrets. I also found Kate to have a really mysterious backstory that is very entertaining to discover. Although I really enjoyed Kate, I found certain other characters, like Mark and Olivia, to very stereotypical. It was a lot harder to enjoy the book when one of the characters is said to, “exude raw masculinity.”
The way that Beware That Girl is written is very satisfying. The build-up very well done and super suspenseful. I did find part of the story to be a bit predictable, though, which took away from the effect. Since I was able to predict the events of the story fairly often, the plot fell flat at certain points. When reading a thriller, I like to see a lot action, and this book didn’t really have that.
Beware That Girl is a thriller told in alternating perspectives with a main character who is very intelligent. However, a couple of the other characters were too stereotypical for my liking. As much as I wanted to enjoy this book, the lack of action didn’t live up to my expectations.
May 9, 2016
I'm a sucker for these kinds of books, I'll admit it. I am always interested in thrillers of any kind, and psychological ones are particularly easy to find so I end up reading those the most. Honestly, most of the time you can see all of it coming from a mile away. The same is true for romance novels to be sure, but I have much more fun on the the progression with thrillers than I do with romances. Simply a question of taste.
With this, I think it'll have a lot of traction of YA readers--especially if they're new to the thriller genre. There really isn't much of a twist like it says there would be, because everything is shown us fairly early on. That didn't pose a problem for me because I was having far too much fun reading along the whole way. There was a great amount of tension, strong buildup, and deliciously damaged individuals. Everyone in this book is completely off their rocker, and I loved it.
Will this surprise you? Not really. Will it entertain you? Yeah, I think so. It's a very dark version of prep school and has a good message about not getting involved with men you don't know. Good learning lesson, eh? Also, take your meds kids!
With this, I think it'll have a lot of traction of YA readers--especially if they're new to the thriller genre. There really isn't much of a twist like it says there would be, because everything is shown us fairly early on. That didn't pose a problem for me because I was having far too much fun reading along the whole way. There was a great amount of tension, strong buildup, and deliciously damaged individuals. Everyone in this book is completely off their rocker, and I loved it.
Will this surprise you? Not really. Will it entertain you? Yeah, I think so. It's a very dark version of prep school and has a good message about not getting involved with men you don't know. Good learning lesson, eh? Also, take your meds kids!
July 2, 2017
تریلر روانی جز ژانرهای دوست داشتنیه منه اما این کتاب نتونست اونقدر که ازش انتظار داشتم خوب این ژانر رو پیاده بکنه ولی همچنان در بخش های مختلفی خوب عمل کرد. شاید به خاطر اینکه داستان با کیت اُ برایان شروع شد که نمیشه بهش اعتماد کرد و برای رسیدن به هدفش که رفتن به دانشگاه ییل هستش، از هرکسی، هر استفاده ای که لازم باشه رو میکنه.
داستان هیجان انگیز پیش میره، قربانیان مختلفی توی داستان وجود دارن و بین زندگی اونها سوئیچ های مختلفی انجام میشه اما با گذر زمان و پیشروی متن افراد جدیدی وارد داستان میشن که از کیت، خطرناک ترن و کیت به یک فرد دوست داشتنی تبدیل میشه. داستان درام مناسبی داره، ولی متاسفانه تقریبا از وسطای داستان میشه آخرش رو حدس زد. در آخر خواننده به این نتیجه میرسه که همیشه نمیشه از قبل دونست که باید مراقب کدوم فرد بود. نثر ساده ای داره و سرعت پیشروی داستان سریع و مناسبه.
داستان هیجان انگیز پیش میره، قربانیان مختلفی توی داستان وجود دارن و بین زندگی اونها سوئیچ های مختلفی انجام میشه اما با گذر زمان و پیشروی متن افراد جدیدی وارد داستان میشن که از کیت، خطرناک ترن و کیت به یک فرد دوست داشتنی تبدیل میشه. داستان درام مناسبی داره، ولی متاسفانه تقریبا از وسطای داستان میشه آخرش رو حدس زد. در آخر خواننده به این نتیجه میرسه که همیشه نمیشه از قبل دونست که باید مراقب کدوم فرد بود. نثر ساده ای داره و سرعت پیشروی داستان سریع و مناسبه.
December 4, 2017
This book was really good. I would describe it as YA thriller, which is a very rare combination, but somehow Teresa Toten made it work. In this story we follow Katie, an extremely smart (and manipulative) orphan, that manages to get a spot at an elite upper east side private school.
In this school, she meets Olivia. She sees this new friend as her ticket out of the horrible storage unit she's currently living in. They get close and when Olivia asks her to move in with her it looks like Kate is finally getting everything she ever wanted, everything she's always thought she deserved. However, things turn sour very quickly. Olivia is way more damaged than Katie anticipated and the arrival of a new staff member at school threatens everything Katie has ever worked towards.
This book is very dark and twisted. Almost every character has some sort of psychological imbalance, which did make the story a lot more interesting. It felt like every character was being manipulated by someone and that everything was building up to a big plot twist. The plot twist came but it didn't really surprise me. I felt like everyone was keeping juicy secrets that turned out to be kinda boring or not juicy enough.
I guess I was expecting more, which doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy this book. This story kept me at the edge of my sit from day one, I couldn't put it down. I read the whole thing in 3 days because I had stuff to do, otherwise I would have finished it in one sitting. If you enjoy thrillers and YA, this is the book for you. I loved the private school setting. The ending could be better, but it was still pretty awesome.
For more book reviews and other bookish things: www.letmecrossover.blogspot.com
In this school, she meets Olivia. She sees this new friend as her ticket out of the horrible storage unit she's currently living in. They get close and when Olivia asks her to move in with her it looks like Kate is finally getting everything she ever wanted, everything she's always thought she deserved. However, things turn sour very quickly. Olivia is way more damaged than Katie anticipated and the arrival of a new staff member at school threatens everything Katie has ever worked towards.
This book is very dark and twisted. Almost every character has some sort of psychological imbalance, which did make the story a lot more interesting. It felt like every character was being manipulated by someone and that everything was building up to a big plot twist. The plot twist came but it didn't really surprise me. I felt like everyone was keeping juicy secrets that turned out to be kinda boring or not juicy enough.
I guess I was expecting more, which doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy this book. This story kept me at the edge of my sit from day one, I couldn't put it down. I read the whole thing in 3 days because I had stuff to do, otherwise I would have finished it in one sitting. If you enjoy thrillers and YA, this is the book for you. I loved the private school setting. The ending could be better, but it was still pretty awesome.
For more book reviews and other bookish things: www.letmecrossover.blogspot.com
May 31, 2022
Kate with an unknown past is a boarding school students on scholarship and Olivia is repeating her senior year after missing most of the previous school year. The two become friends who depend on each other for what they can't obtain on their own.
Not exactly a mystery, but definitely suspenseful. Readers will want to keep turning the pages in this poor girl/rich girl story to learn their secrets and who is the less trustworthy one.
Not exactly a mystery, but definitely suspenseful. Readers will want to keep turning the pages in this poor girl/rich girl story to learn their secrets and who is the less trustworthy one.
May 20, 2016
Beware That Girl had an eerie vibe from the start, but I'm completely in shock over how dark this book ended up being. Since dark is kinda my thing it should come as no surprise that I loved all the twisted goodness!
Okay so this is dark and I will admit I felt squeamish during certain parts. The description lets you know that Mark Redkin is an obstacle and a bad one at that. What I wasn't prepared for was how involved Mark would be with Olivia and how toxic their relationship ended up being. Like I said at times I felt sick and I read with one eye open during their scenes after awhile. This was all completely messed up, but this story line set the stage for the real mind twist and at the end I totally had my mouth hanging open!
I'm totally fascinated by how the story evolved and totally took a very psychotic turn at the end. I mean I have seen stories take a turn, but never like this. Honestly I want a sequel after that ending! What's also amazing is how the author quietly pulled this off! I saw signs sure, but never once did I think she planned to end things the way she did. Again I want a sequel! I think if this story were to continue it would be all kinds of crazy, messed up, and a gripping thriller that I know I wouldn't ever forget! I won't forget this story any time soon don't get me wrong, it was a very strong story, but man I want to see that aftermath!
A little warning, this does have a Gossip Girlesque feel to it at times. It didn't bother me though because it was dark and the author did a good job at keeping it dark throughout. From Kate's past to Olivia's "problem" it all had a very dark cloud hanging over it so the story wasn't lost in designer dresses and rich kid situations. I appreciated that the author added the darkness in, it gave the story meat.
I also appreciated that the author closed her plot holes. There were a few and I know if you think about it you could probably guess them, but Toten explained by the end why things had to happen the way they did. I would have personally liked the holes tied a bit tighter bit I am thankful the author showed she knew what her holes were and tried to fix them.
My only pet peeve was that I wanted more Johnny! In the beginning Kate intrigued me because she was so cold and I wanted to know her end game, but by the end I was really rooting for her and I wanted her with Johnny. That's not like me since I am not a romancey person at the moment, but I totally wanted them together. I would have loved a few more scenes with him because what I got wasn't enough.
I also really liked the secondary characters. Mrs. Chen and Serena were very interesting and again if we were given a sequel I would love for both of them to have more screen time.
All in all this was a very solid psychological thriller that totally grabbed me and I just have to say one more time I want a sequel!!!!
Okay so this is dark and I will admit I felt squeamish during certain parts. The description lets you know that Mark Redkin is an obstacle and a bad one at that. What I wasn't prepared for was how involved Mark would be with Olivia and how toxic their relationship ended up being. Like I said at times I felt sick and I read with one eye open during their scenes after awhile. This was all completely messed up, but this story line set the stage for the real mind twist and at the end I totally had my mouth hanging open!
I'm totally fascinated by how the story evolved and totally took a very psychotic turn at the end. I mean I have seen stories take a turn, but never like this. Honestly I want a sequel after that ending! What's also amazing is how the author quietly pulled this off! I saw signs sure, but never once did I think she planned to end things the way she did. Again I want a sequel! I think if this story were to continue it would be all kinds of crazy, messed up, and a gripping thriller that I know I wouldn't ever forget! I won't forget this story any time soon don't get me wrong, it was a very strong story, but man I want to see that aftermath!
A little warning, this does have a Gossip Girlesque feel to it at times. It didn't bother me though because it was dark and the author did a good job at keeping it dark throughout. From Kate's past to Olivia's "problem" it all had a very dark cloud hanging over it so the story wasn't lost in designer dresses and rich kid situations. I appreciated that the author added the darkness in, it gave the story meat.
I also appreciated that the author closed her plot holes. There were a few and I know if you think about it you could probably guess them, but Toten explained by the end why things had to happen the way they did. I would have personally liked the holes tied a bit tighter bit I am thankful the author showed she knew what her holes were and tried to fix them.
My only pet peeve was that I wanted more Johnny! In the beginning Kate intrigued me because she was so cold and I wanted to know her end game, but by the end I was really rooting for her and I wanted her with Johnny. That's not like me since I am not a romancey person at the moment, but I totally wanted them together. I would have loved a few more scenes with him because what I got wasn't enough.
I also really liked the secondary characters. Mrs. Chen and Serena were very interesting and again if we were given a sequel I would love for both of them to have more screen time.
All in all this was a very solid psychological thriller that totally grabbed me and I just have to say one more time I want a sequel!!!!
March 7, 2016
Secrets can weigh you down. They crawl around your guts, demanding exposure to light and air. When they don't get it, they burrow in and change you.
Perhaps I was just unusually dense whilst I was reading this, but this book didn't to anything for me. I mean, the characters were great and interesting and you were rooting for them the whole time, but the actual plot was pretty flat and uninspired. The build up to the climax was fantastic. It was slow but I felt like this just added to the tension, and I was prepared for a shocking, unpredictable plot twist. It never came. In fact, the plot twist was so mild and bland that I had difficulty believing that all that build up climaxed to that. All throughout the story I was getting Gone Girl, Dangerous Girls and We Were Liars vibes, but it wasn't a satisfying ending like the others.
I loved the characters, though the supporting cast could have definitely used more developing, just to make the story more well rounded and juicy. Kate is a whipsmart, manipulative, ambitious girl who can think on her feet and field anything that comes her way. Olivia is no less smart and savvy, but has never needed to learn how to survive on her own, so she lacks that edge of drivenness. This contrast is interesting and provides some depth to the relationship.
To be entirely honest, I'm not convinced that I haven't missed some important page or chapter that would maybe shed some light on the plot, but I don't really fancy a reread. I think, for the most part, this book was a case of it's not you it's me.
An ARC was provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2017
If you're looking to read this because you were drawn in by comparisons to Gone Girl, The Girl On The Train, etc etc etc - you're going to be very disappointed with this one because it literally has nothing in common with those other books aside from the fact that it is also a book.
February 6, 2017
There was a good build in Beware That Girl.Even though I wasn’t particularly enjoying myself, I absolutely had to keep reading. I know saying ‘I couldn’t put this book down’ has lost the weight of its meaning from overuse, but this was seriously one of those cases where, if I’d put the book down, I would be thinking about it literally until I could pick it up again.
It uses the device of the flash-forward beginning, which I always find exciting, but what I wasn’t expecting was to not return to that ‘present’ moment, as it were, until the story told itself in its entirety. I’m a big fan of the jumping back and forth thing, so while the opening really had my attention, I felt like it was too obviously a ploy to keep us on the edge of our toes whilst reading, even when the events didn’t seem like they were building up to anything…they really were.
What I did really love, though, was the close reveal of Kate and Olivia’s backstories, particularly in the case of Kate. Her childhood is deeply significant to her behaviour throughout, and in the beginning it’s pretty hard to pin her down and work her out, but as things progress and the plot gets thicker, the insight into how her father treated her gave so much clarity. I’d say in general, Toten keeps you in the dark with a lot of things. Firstly, it’s the plot in general. New girl enters and is absorbed into popular crowd. So what? While the actual events seem arbitrary and obvious – you think you know where this thing is going to lead based on what you’ve read before – the depth of the characters makes this a truly unforgettable read.
When the story got to January, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, so this is a book where you have to put a bit of work in to get something out, so if you’ve started Beware That Girl and ‘DNF’ed then I would strongly recommend persevering, because the pay-off is worth it.
I think I wanted there to be slightly more resolution in the relationship between Kate and Olivia, because both girls admit that they were using each other for their own means, in various ways, and yet the final moments keep them together even though their friendship got extremely toxic in the middle. Nonetheless, this book is a really interesting dissection of friendship and Kate and Olivia’s connection was what I enjoyed the most overall. The very fact that it’s complex and hard to understand their motives at times, so inhabit their thought processes so intensely that you can’t help but be on both sides.
Beware That Girl is a dark and chilling story about friendship and psychology and one I would recommend to those that haven’t read much in the genre of YA thriller before, but also to aficionados of the genre. Those that have read these stories and probably already know all the twists and turns a story like this, with unreliable narrators, can take, because this book will impress you with how subverting it can be! I think Beware That Girl really is the thriller I’ve been looking for, and while it was unsettling and uncomfortable to read sometimes, it wasn’t contrived and I didn’t see anything coming (!) so it gets a worthy 4 stars.
It uses the device of the flash-forward beginning, which I always find exciting, but what I wasn’t expecting was to not return to that ‘present’ moment, as it were, until the story told itself in its entirety. I’m a big fan of the jumping back and forth thing, so while the opening really had my attention, I felt like it was too obviously a ploy to keep us on the edge of our toes whilst reading, even when the events didn’t seem like they were building up to anything…they really were.
What I did really love, though, was the close reveal of Kate and Olivia’s backstories, particularly in the case of Kate. Her childhood is deeply significant to her behaviour throughout, and in the beginning it’s pretty hard to pin her down and work her out, but as things progress and the plot gets thicker, the insight into how her father treated her gave so much clarity. I’d say in general, Toten keeps you in the dark with a lot of things. Firstly, it’s the plot in general. New girl enters and is absorbed into popular crowd. So what? While the actual events seem arbitrary and obvious – you think you know where this thing is going to lead based on what you’ve read before – the depth of the characters makes this a truly unforgettable read.
When the story got to January, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, so this is a book where you have to put a bit of work in to get something out, so if you’ve started Beware That Girl and ‘DNF’ed then I would strongly recommend persevering, because the pay-off is worth it.
I think I wanted there to be slightly more resolution in the relationship between Kate and Olivia, because both girls admit that they were using each other for their own means, in various ways, and yet the final moments keep them together even though their friendship got extremely toxic in the middle. Nonetheless, this book is a really interesting dissection of friendship and Kate and Olivia’s connection was what I enjoyed the most overall. The very fact that it’s complex and hard to understand their motives at times, so inhabit their thought processes so intensely that you can’t help but be on both sides.
Beware That Girl is a dark and chilling story about friendship and psychology and one I would recommend to those that haven’t read much in the genre of YA thriller before, but also to aficionados of the genre. Those that have read these stories and probably already know all the twists and turns a story like this, with unreliable narrators, can take, because this book will impress you with how subverting it can be! I think Beware That Girl really is the thriller I’ve been looking for, and while it was unsettling and uncomfortable to read sometimes, it wasn’t contrived and I didn’t see anything coming (!) so it gets a worthy 4 stars.
February 13, 2016
3.5/5 This was a fast and fun read- thriller "lite." I liked the voice of the main character and how she developed, but I think the author took too many short cuts with developing the other characters. Why did this character do this- well, because they're crazy of course. What was the motivation for that- well, because they are damaged of course. But you just can't do that with every character or the book just feels shallow. I really wanted the character of "Kevin the fixer" to actually do some fixing. I wanted the savior dad to do some saving. I wanted the sociopathic character to do something truly sociopatic- but the author only tiptoes around these characters and never quite brings them to their full potential. The ending was good, but once again, just tiptoes around what it really could have been.
May 24, 2016
Beware That Girl was a totally new-to-me book by an author I had never heard of. While I'm not convinced it lives up to its comparisons (Gone Girl, We Were Liars) it was definitely a fun and fast-paced novel that kept me guessing and had me flipping pages. Fans of very unreliable narrators, secrets, and puppies (Bruce!) will feel right at home with Beware That Girl!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
![Profile Image for Amanda [darjeeling_and_jade].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1429167963i%2F8723810._UY200_CR33%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
March 28, 2016
This is one of those books that takes you along on a ride and at the end, you’re not really sure where you’ve ended up. Although it did remind me of We Were Liars, there was something different about Beware that Girl. Teresa Toten did a really good job of giving us just enough information to follow along, but the secrets that these two girls were holding made a lot of their actions really ambiguous. Kate and Olivia are two girls who meet (almost) by chance and who feed off of one another. They need each other–Kate, the Have-Not, believes that Olivia is her ticket to Yale. Olivia, the Rich Girl Who Wants for Nothing, needs someone who actually supports her and isn’t waiting around for her to crumble. They establish a relationship that deals with a lot of tiptoeing around their sensitive subjects, and occasionally throwing out a secret. Not the big one, though. They’re too afraid it will break everything apart.
At first, I wasn’t sure that I was going to enjoy Beware that Girl. It was slow to start, and matters were complicated by the varying points of view: Kate, in first person; Olivia, in third person; and Kate and Olivia in third person. I can handle multiple narrators, but please pick one point of view. The narration, despite the annoying first/third person switching, gradually gripped me as a read to find out the conclusion of this thriller. Like We Were Liars, I hesitate to say more for fear of accidentally ruining the story. I was surprised at how much I needed to see the end of this story once I got into it.
I do think that Beware that Girl relied too much on the thriller aspect of the novel; I feel as though I’ve only gotten a little glimpse of who Olivia and Kate are, which works, because that’s kind of their M.O., but as a reader, that was frustrating. I didn’t feel like any of the other characters had been fleshed out enough. They remained pretty flat throughout as the story progressed, often written out of the picture until it suited the story for them to briefly make a reappearance. As much as I loved the thriller aspect, characters–even (and especially) side characters–make the story. It would have been nice to see a bit more of that.
Although it had a tinge of a sped up quality, I’m satisfied with how Beware that Girl was written. Once it got to heart of the thriller I couldn’t stop reading, even if I had some of the points picked out before they were revealed. I blame it on how much I read. Definitely good for readers who like YA thrillers and mysteries.
About 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of Beware that Girl from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Beware that Girl will be available on May 31st, 2016!
At first, I wasn’t sure that I was going to enjoy Beware that Girl. It was slow to start, and matters were complicated by the varying points of view: Kate, in first person; Olivia, in third person; and Kate and Olivia in third person. I can handle multiple narrators, but please pick one point of view. The narration, despite the annoying first/third person switching, gradually gripped me as a read to find out the conclusion of this thriller. Like We Were Liars, I hesitate to say more for fear of accidentally ruining the story. I was surprised at how much I needed to see the end of this story once I got into it.
I do think that Beware that Girl relied too much on the thriller aspect of the novel; I feel as though I’ve only gotten a little glimpse of who Olivia and Kate are, which works, because that’s kind of their M.O., but as a reader, that was frustrating. I didn’t feel like any of the other characters had been fleshed out enough. They remained pretty flat throughout as the story progressed, often written out of the picture until it suited the story for them to briefly make a reappearance. As much as I loved the thriller aspect, characters–even (and especially) side characters–make the story. It would have been nice to see a bit more of that.
Although it had a tinge of a sped up quality, I’m satisfied with how Beware that Girl was written. Once it got to heart of the thriller I couldn’t stop reading, even if I had some of the points picked out before they were revealed. I blame it on how much I read. Definitely good for readers who like YA thrillers and mysteries.
About 3.5 stars.
I received a copy of Beware that Girl from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Beware that Girl will be available on May 31st, 2016!
May 8, 2016
Beware That Girl is a YA psychological thriller.
The narrators are Kate (first person) and Olivia (third person) both 18. Even though I am sure that many people will find it odd that Kate's narration is in first person and Olivia's narration is in third person I actually liked it. It made it so much easier to remember which character's chapter I was reading. Plus the author actually did a really good job of making both narrators interesting. I think this worked very well for the story.
The book is a YA thriller. Both girls are in high school. However, to me the tone was a bit more adult. The story is creepy and dark at times. Plus there are a lot of serious subjects mentioned including: drinking, abuse, past issues, sociopaths, sex (although not detailed).
Kate is a brilliant scholarship student at Waverly school in NYC. Olivia is a wealthy senior at the same school. These girls become fast friends.
The book begins March 22nd 2016 with a hospital scene. Then the book goes back in time to September 17, 2015. The book then moves forward until we reach the first scene.
Kate is an extremely intriguing character who is a good liar. Both girls have dark secrets. Kate's secrets have to do with her dad. We get flashbacks of Kate's past.
Olivia's dad has lots of money. However he is rarely home. Something happened to Olivia last year. That is her secret.
The book is an enjoyable read. I liked Kate and Olivia. However, we do not really know their full stories.
Mark Redkin arrives at the school as the new director of advancement. He figures into the story a lot.
I found the relationship between Kate and Olivia to be very interesting. And I found Mark to be intriguing.
Throughout the book I could not help but wonder when we would get back to the time from the first chapter. I was super curious to see what happened.
Besides Kate and Olivia there are some amazing supporting characters in this book. Anka the housekeeper was so fun, as was Johnny (the boy from the bakery), Serena (a friend from school) and Mrs. Chen (lady Kate worked for).
There are a bunch of twists and turns towards the end of this book. I cannot decide if I like the ending or not. I had to read it twice to really understand it. It feels a bit incomplete. And I wish that we had gotten more of an ending or an epilogue.
Overall, I did enjoy this mystery/thriller. It was different, but it captured my attention.
Thanks to netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada for allowing me to read this book.
June 19, 2016
Reading about that type of sexual activities made me feel uncomfortable. But was it sexual if it's abusive at the same time? Who the hell know?! These characters are all crazy in their own, unique way. Reading about them made me feel thankful for having parents, a full belly and a roof over my head. There's no psycho drama in my life.
Beware That Girl tried so hard to be different, it ended up being too bizarre. It was all too convenient for me to believe anything was real. Hell, there are fantasies more real than all this.
Twist at the end was a nice touch and it kind of made sense since the whole story is out there.
Beware That Girl tried so hard to be different, it ended up being too bizarre. It was all too convenient for me to believe anything was real. Hell, there are fantasies more real than all this.
Twist at the end was a nice touch and it kind of made sense since the whole story is out there.
March 17, 2016
This was a book that I couldn't put down. Had to finish it in one day. Toten has outdone herself. The characters are richly developed, the plot full of twists and turns making this book a true gem. Toten has always been a literary author and this is no exception - it is just that this looks like it might be a HUGE commercial success. Highly recommended - in fact I know exactly which girls I know who will love it. Of course like so much YA material these days - lots of adults will be devouring this as well.
March 4, 2020
This title is misleading. It should have been named "Beware That Man"
Can't remember how many fucking times I have read about a bloodthirsty materialistic girl cheat her way into high society. The last one I read before this being Reputation by Sara Shepard and that was a good one. This one was so so. I wasn't bored as much as I feel indifferent
Maybe because of the age old plot that I read so many times before or the writing just wasn't really good. It doesn't draw me in or make me feel for the characters. Sympathy or sadness or whatever. The tone of this book is flat and I failed to feel for the characters.
With the title being Beware that Girl , naturally I would start to beware of Kate. But Kate is far from the villain here. The villain is Mark Redkin and he is the one we need to beware of.
Can't remember how many fucking times I have read about a bloodthirsty materialistic girl cheat her way into high society. The last one I read before this being Reputation by Sara Shepard and that was a good one. This one was so so. I wasn't bored as much as I feel indifferent
Maybe because of the age old plot that I read so many times before or the writing just wasn't really good. It doesn't draw me in or make me feel for the characters. Sympathy or sadness or whatever. The tone of this book is flat and I failed to feel for the characters.
With the title being Beware that Girl , naturally I would start to beware of Kate. But Kate is far from the villain here. The villain is Mark Redkin and he is the one we need to beware of.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 697 reviews