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The Headmaster's List
One of them was driving.
One of them was high.
One of them screamed.
And one of them died.
When fifteen-year-old Chris Moore is tragically killed in a car crash, Argyle Prep is full of questions. Who was at the wheel? And more importantly, who was at fault?
Eighteen-year-old Spencer Sandoval wishes she knew. As rumors swirl that her ex, Ethan, was the driver that fateful night, she can’t bring herself to defend him. And their messy breakup has nothing to do with it – she can’t remember anything from that night, not even what put her in that car with Ethan, Chris, and Tabby Hill, the new loner in school. Was it just a night out that went very wrong? And is it just a coincidence they were all part of Argyle’s esteemed honor roll, the Headmaster’s List? In a place ruled by pedigree and privilege, the answers can only come at a deadly price.
Set against the glitz and glamour of an elite LA private school, Melissa de la Cruz's first YA thriller is an addictive mystery perfect for fans of Gossip Girl and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.
One of them was high.
One of them screamed.
And one of them died.
When fifteen-year-old Chris Moore is tragically killed in a car crash, Argyle Prep is full of questions. Who was at the wheel? And more importantly, who was at fault?
Eighteen-year-old Spencer Sandoval wishes she knew. As rumors swirl that her ex, Ethan, was the driver that fateful night, she can’t bring herself to defend him. And their messy breakup has nothing to do with it – she can’t remember anything from that night, not even what put her in that car with Ethan, Chris, and Tabby Hill, the new loner in school. Was it just a night out that went very wrong? And is it just a coincidence they were all part of Argyle’s esteemed honor roll, the Headmaster’s List? In a place ruled by pedigree and privilege, the answers can only come at a deadly price.
Set against the glitz and glamour of an elite LA private school, Melissa de la Cruz's first YA thriller is an addictive mystery perfect for fans of Gossip Girl and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2023
200 people are currently reading
13408 people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
187 books15.8k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 881 reviews
October 10, 2023
One of us is lying meets Gossip Girl/ Riverdale crossover : such a gripping, exciting, unputdownable YA mystery!
Los Angeles, the home of rich and famous : is shaken with the scandalous and tragic incident takes place at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Benedict Canyon: a terrible car accident resulted with the death of fifteen years olsa Chris Moore: a honorable student of Armstrong Prep!
Three other teenagers were also in the car. Two of them survived with minor injuries including the driver and Tabby Hill the loner of the school.
Black Porsche 911 Targa was driven by Ethan Amoroso: who crashed at high speed, shredding the car into ribbons.
His girlfriend who caught him in the act cheating her with their classmate Hailey: high achiever- A grade student Spencer Sandoval: seriously injured, having a concession, sent to critical care!
Spencer tries too hard to fill the blanks in her memory. Ethan is already charged for reckless driving and child endangerment: he will probably spend more time in jail and this is not the first accident resulted with tragedy he got involved into!
All of those students in the car are on Headmaster’s List: only a few students are chosen every year at Armstrong Prep: private school for rich and soon to be famous nestled among green lawns of movie stars and moguls in the hills. If you are chosen to be Headmaster List, you’ll be guaranteed to be accepted by any Ivy League college!
Ethan has been sober, already sent to rehabilitation camp before and learned his lesson well! So why would he drive under influence and risk his entire future?
Spencer still suffers from PTSD and nightmares about the accident night! The last thing she remembers is catching Ethan cheating on her and their big fight! Did somebody put drugs in her drink?
But why did she accept to be in the same car with Ethan after their breakup and why Tabby and Chris were with them?
Peyton Salt is famous podcaster exploiting Ethan’s situation to earn more audiences and popularity, forcing her connections to reach crime scene photos and juicy information about the case’s progression. She is determined to crucify Ethan: because he’s rich, spoiled and he always gets away with the misdemeanors he’s get involved!
Spencer is still pissed off but she still cannot believe Ethan can be killer. She has to find out what just happened at the accident night with the help of Ethan’s best friend Jackson Chan who is caring, patient guy, helping her to prove Ethan’s innocence!
The pacing was fast and intriguing! You devour this riveting page turner in one sitting! The book absolutely keeps you in your toes! Final twists and revelations were perfectly executed!
Ripley the dog was my favorite character!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/ Roaring Book Press for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Los Angeles, the home of rich and famous : is shaken with the scandalous and tragic incident takes place at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Benedict Canyon: a terrible car accident resulted with the death of fifteen years olsa Chris Moore: a honorable student of Armstrong Prep!
Three other teenagers were also in the car. Two of them survived with minor injuries including the driver and Tabby Hill the loner of the school.
Black Porsche 911 Targa was driven by Ethan Amoroso: who crashed at high speed, shredding the car into ribbons.
His girlfriend who caught him in the act cheating her with their classmate Hailey: high achiever- A grade student Spencer Sandoval: seriously injured, having a concession, sent to critical care!
Spencer tries too hard to fill the blanks in her memory. Ethan is already charged for reckless driving and child endangerment: he will probably spend more time in jail and this is not the first accident resulted with tragedy he got involved into!
All of those students in the car are on Headmaster’s List: only a few students are chosen every year at Armstrong Prep: private school for rich and soon to be famous nestled among green lawns of movie stars and moguls in the hills. If you are chosen to be Headmaster List, you’ll be guaranteed to be accepted by any Ivy League college!
Ethan has been sober, already sent to rehabilitation camp before and learned his lesson well! So why would he drive under influence and risk his entire future?
Spencer still suffers from PTSD and nightmares about the accident night! The last thing she remembers is catching Ethan cheating on her and their big fight! Did somebody put drugs in her drink?
But why did she accept to be in the same car with Ethan after their breakup and why Tabby and Chris were with them?
Peyton Salt is famous podcaster exploiting Ethan’s situation to earn more audiences and popularity, forcing her connections to reach crime scene photos and juicy information about the case’s progression. She is determined to crucify Ethan: because he’s rich, spoiled and he always gets away with the misdemeanors he’s get involved!
Spencer is still pissed off but she still cannot believe Ethan can be killer. She has to find out what just happened at the accident night with the help of Ethan’s best friend Jackson Chan who is caring, patient guy, helping her to prove Ethan’s innocence!
The pacing was fast and intriguing! You devour this riveting page turner in one sitting! The book absolutely keeps you in your toes! Final twists and revelations were perfectly executed!
Ripley the dog was my favorite character!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/ Roaring Book Press for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
November 2, 2022
This was godawful. I've only read one book by this author and I didn't remember, but I hated it too. The only good character was Ripley the dog. That twist? I legit called it before 10%. And I usually don't see stuff coming, especially not that early. I hated this one so much that I started making notes about all the dumb shit, so here goes. From here on, there will be ***SPOILERS***.
-Doctor tells Spencer to not do anything active, especially with her upper body and to not even carry her books. So she bikes to school and carries her stuff in her backpack?
-Principal's an ass. She's just come back to school, broken physically and mentally, and he guilted her into doing a memorial for the dead kid, threatening her future college prospects?!
-When Spencer's on the stand, they let her get away with nonverbally answering questions. Also let the lawyer orate and give opinions instead of just asking questions.
-The eco club put the trash in their backpacks? Ew.
-What happened to Spencer's drug test from the hospital?
-How did Peyton get the police report when the detective wouldn't even show Spencer?
-When they found out Ethan wasn't on drugs/drunk, why'd they think he'd be let off? He was going 125 mph?!
-Peyton talks like she's 3 times her age. She called Spencer Hun.
-A legit quote: "She didn't think she was perfect, far from it, and to hear that other people might think otherwise sent (?) her teeth on edge." What?
-Early on, Peyton says they're doing a series of eppys about rich people scandals, but she only talks about this car crash. Also, why are so many people interested in a car crash that killed a random HS student? None of the people involved were famous. Yes, it's terrible, but it happens all the time.
-Spencer was SO determined to get back to school and not miss any class, but she keeps skipping for the trial?
-Spencer has a BFF at the start of the book, but she disappears after a few pages, only to appear again to get pissed that the friend she's barely seen in ages forgot her bday party.
-Describing how much more money Ethan had than her, Spencer says her whole house can fit in his backyard. That's not a great descriptor.
The writing is terrible. The plot is terrible. The characters are terrible (except you Ripley, you sweet girl). Burn before reading.
Release Date: 2/28/2023
-Doctor tells Spencer to not do anything active, especially with her upper body and to not even carry her books. So she bikes to school and carries her stuff in her backpack?
-Principal's an ass. She's just come back to school, broken physically and mentally, and he guilted her into doing a memorial for the dead kid, threatening her future college prospects?!
-When Spencer's on the stand, they let her get away with nonverbally answering questions. Also let the lawyer orate and give opinions instead of just asking questions.
-The eco club put the trash in their backpacks? Ew.
-What happened to Spencer's drug test from the hospital?
-How did Peyton get the police report when the detective wouldn't even show Spencer?
-When they found out Ethan wasn't on drugs/drunk, why'd they think he'd be let off? He was going 125 mph?!
-Peyton talks like she's 3 times her age. She called Spencer Hun.
-A legit quote: "She didn't think she was perfect, far from it, and to hear that other people might think otherwise sent (?) her teeth on edge." What?
-Early on, Peyton says they're doing a series of eppys about rich people scandals, but she only talks about this car crash. Also, why are so many people interested in a car crash that killed a random HS student? None of the people involved were famous. Yes, it's terrible, but it happens all the time.
-Spencer was SO determined to get back to school and not miss any class, but she keeps skipping for the trial?
-Spencer has a BFF at the start of the book, but she disappears after a few pages, only to appear again to get pissed that the friend she's barely seen in ages forgot her bday party.
-Describing how much more money Ethan had than her, Spencer says her whole house can fit in his backyard. That's not a great descriptor.
The writing is terrible. The plot is terrible. The characters are terrible (except you Ripley, you sweet girl). Burn before reading.
Release Date: 2/28/2023
May 4, 2023
The Headmaster’s List by Melissa de la Cruz
YA thriller.
4 teens were in a car crash. One of them was driving. One of them was high. One of them screamed. One of them died. Spencer Sandoval wishes she remembers more from that night. She keeps hearing herself scream and it’s giving her nightmares. But she can’t answer the police questions and she can’t help her ex boyfriend from being accused of speeding and reckless driving. So she ask questions of everyone that was at the party and doesn’t let go of trying to find out why she was in the car.
Gripping thriller. As the story continues, we learn more about the characters and have to wonder, who is guilty and why can’t she remember what happened.
It’s compelling enough you won’t want to put it down.
YA thriller.
4 teens were in a car crash. One of them was driving. One of them was high. One of them screamed. One of them died. Spencer Sandoval wishes she remembers more from that night. She keeps hearing herself scream and it’s giving her nightmares. But she can’t answer the police questions and she can’t help her ex boyfriend from being accused of speeding and reckless driving. So she ask questions of everyone that was at the party and doesn’t let go of trying to find out why she was in the car.
Gripping thriller. As the story continues, we learn more about the characters and have to wonder, who is guilty and why can’t she remember what happened.
It’s compelling enough you won’t want to put it down.
April 2, 2023
Terrible editing in this one. So many inaccuracies that threw me out of the story.
Let's start with the broken wrist and every bone in her hand. There are mentions of not being able to carry anything, including her books. So she rides to school on her bike, and how the hell do her books get to school? She works at an ice cream shop and is masterfully scooping ice cream with said broken wrist. Umm. No. That would not happen.
And the pills. Her parents are up in arms for having a boy in her room with the door open, but they don't notice that she's heavily medicated??? And she also isn't running out of pills even though she's popping them like candy???
Then, the trial starts. I wonder why she is missing school when she's behind. The next chapter starts with, "she got her cast off the next day, Sunday". What trial is going on a Saturday? We all know jury duty requirements. And doctors taking casts off on a Sunday. Highly unlikely.
It's lazy plot stuff like that which completely took me out of the story and left me scratching my head.
The actual story drags way too long, and the actual killer made zero sense. Could see it coming a mile away, but it still made zero sense.
I loved her last book, but this was garbage.
Let's start with the broken wrist and every bone in her hand. There are mentions of not being able to carry anything, including her books. So she rides to school on her bike, and how the hell do her books get to school? She works at an ice cream shop and is masterfully scooping ice cream with said broken wrist. Umm. No. That would not happen.
And the pills. Her parents are up in arms for having a boy in her room with the door open, but they don't notice that she's heavily medicated??? And she also isn't running out of pills even though she's popping them like candy???
Then, the trial starts. I wonder why she is missing school when she's behind. The next chapter starts with, "she got her cast off the next day, Sunday". What trial is going on a Saturday? We all know jury duty requirements. And doctors taking casts off on a Sunday. Highly unlikely.
It's lazy plot stuff like that which completely took me out of the story and left me scratching my head.
The actual story drags way too long, and the actual killer made zero sense. Could see it coming a mile away, but it still made zero sense.
I loved her last book, but this was garbage.
January 11, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for this EArc. I really enjoyed the short chapters and the representation in this book. I did guess who did it early on in the book which is unusual for me in a thriller or mystery but a great book overall!
March 17, 2023
I had a bit of a hard time getting into this one, but once I get into the story it flowed pretty well. I did think there were a few unrealistic bits but overall it was a fun mystery. It wasn’t quite as twisty as I had been hoping for and I guessed the outcome long before the end of the book. I think the biggest piece is that I wanted more from the main character, she had so much potential and I just didn’t think hey reached the depths they could have. Spencer wakes up in the hospital and can’t remember more than flashes from the accident that put her there. She remembers breaking up with her ex after discovering he was cheating on her so why was she in the car with him? Why were Tabby and Chris there? Despite her efforts to remember she can’t, but something seems wrong to her. But her ex boyfriend has been arrested for the accident and Chris is dead. But Spencer can’t rest until she figures out exactly what happened that night. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up for actual star selection.
April 5, 2023
Spencer is dating Ethan and life is perfect. They are both on the headmaster‘s list at Argyle prep school which should ensure them entry into their chosen college. But then Spencer finds out that Ethan has been cheating on her for a year. After a big blowout fight at a party, a group of students including Spencer and Ethan get into a car. But one of them never makes it home. After a tragic wreck, their fellow student Chris dies. Ethan is arrested for the wreck because they were in his car. Spencer can’t remember anything. Even worse she feels Ethan is innocent and must prove it. The book focuses on Spencer and her journey to prove Ethan‘s innocence and to find out what really happened. The Headmaster‘s List is full of twists and turns as the mystery unfolds. There’s an incredible surprise ending and the cutest furry support dog named Riley . I had a great time reading this book and you probably will too!
April 2, 2023
Four students from Armstrong Prep were on their way home from an epic party when a tragic accident occurs. Spencer, Ethan, Tabby and Chris were in the vehicle at the time. Three of them survived, and one of them died.
The Headmaster’s List started off with a bang. But eventually, the excitement and thrills waned as the story progressed. It became a somewhat boring read with very little plot twists. If there were any plot twists, they were pretty much predictable.
The characters all seemed generic to me. None of them stood out and made any lasting impression. Except, they were all spoiled and wealthy trust fund teens.
I really liked the author’s fantasy novels from the Never After series so I had some pretty lofty expectations for this recent novel. Unfortunately, The Headmaster’s List wasn’t as suspenseful or thrilling as I expected. And with a bland ending, it became an okay two star read for me.
I received a finished copy of the book from Roaring Book Press through Bookish First. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The Headmaster’s List started off with a bang. But eventually, the excitement and thrills waned as the story progressed. It became a somewhat boring read with very little plot twists. If there were any plot twists, they were pretty much predictable.
The characters all seemed generic to me. None of them stood out and made any lasting impression. Except, they were all spoiled and wealthy trust fund teens.
I really liked the author’s fantasy novels from the Never After series so I had some pretty lofty expectations for this recent novel. Unfortunately, The Headmaster’s List wasn’t as suspenseful or thrilling as I expected. And with a bland ending, it became an okay two star read for me.
I received a finished copy of the book from Roaring Book Press through Bookish First. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
March 8, 2023
Star Rating: —> 3.5 Stars
This definitely was a gripping YA thriller, but I feel like it was definitely written for the younger side of YA, even though the content is not. In other words, the prose was a bit juvenile. I feel like it was an average read— good if you’re in the mood for a teen high school dark academia-esque mystery, but nothing about it really blew me away. I didn’t entirely guess the twist at the end though, which is always great!
5/10 recommend!
A huge thank you to Fierce Reads via netgalley for the arc! All thoughts & opinions are my own.
This definitely was a gripping YA thriller, but I feel like it was definitely written for the younger side of YA, even though the content is not. In other words, the prose was a bit juvenile. I feel like it was an average read— good if you’re in the mood for a teen high school dark academia-esque mystery, but nothing about it really blew me away. I didn’t entirely guess the twist at the end though, which is always great!
5/10 recommend!
A huge thank you to Fierce Reads via netgalley for the arc! All thoughts & opinions are my own.
March 17, 2023
I am going to spoil the hell out of this book because I searched high and low for spoilers and couldn't find them when I was at the 3 hour mark in the audiobook and was ready to be done.
So Spencer was driving the car not Ethan, but Jackson had cut the brake line because he wanted Ethan to drive recklessly and be killed or injured. This is mainly because Ethan got everything he ever wanted, including Spencer. By all means, please whine, bitch, and moan some more.
Spencer was not drunk or on drugs at the time, her shoe got stuck under the brake pedal which really didn't matter because the brake line had been cut.
Chris' brother sent the threatening letters and tried to run her down because he wanted her to stop investigating and let Ethan, who was innocent, take the rap. He was mad because it was his girlfriend that ended up in a coma after being injured at one of Ethan's parties and it was obviously his brother who was killed in the crash.
Ultimately I felt there was way too much attention paid to Spencer's pain and PTSD etc. and barely any attention paid to Chris, the actual real victim. After we learn about his blackmail of Tabby and his gambling problem, nobody seems to mind that the 15-year-old was killed.
So Spencer was driving the car not Ethan, but Jackson had cut the brake line because he wanted Ethan to drive recklessly and be killed or injured. This is mainly because Ethan got everything he ever wanted, including Spencer. By all means, please whine, bitch, and moan some more.
Spencer was not drunk or on drugs at the time, her shoe got stuck under the brake pedal which really didn't matter because the brake line had been cut.
Chris' brother sent the threatening letters and tried to run her down because he wanted her to stop investigating and let Ethan, who was innocent, take the rap. He was mad because it was his girlfriend that ended up in a coma after being injured at one of Ethan's parties and it was obviously his brother who was killed in the crash.
Ultimately I felt there was way too much attention paid to Spencer's pain and PTSD etc. and barely any attention paid to Chris, the actual real victim. After we learn about his blackmail of Tabby and his gambling problem, nobody seems to mind that the 15-year-old was killed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2025
another thriller i guessed the entire plot barely in it 😭😭 am i a genius or is the quality down, we'll never know
July 21, 2023
Do you love plot holes? Using suspension of disbelief? Predicting the twist before the 50th page? Oh boy is this the book for you!
April 27, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
A great read for Young Adults. Slightly over the top - LA rich kids, stereotyping, cliches and judgemental in the “no offence but…” league. Not unbearable but noticeable.
Fortunately, strong writing and interesting characters counter the negatives. The plot has a few holes and a key clue is given away at the very beginning. The clue that reveals so much then lead to the book feeling longer than necessary.
Fans of Maureen Johnson’s ‘Truly Devious’ series will really enjoy this novel.
A great read for Young Adults. Slightly over the top - LA rich kids, stereotyping, cliches and judgemental in the “no offence but…” league. Not unbearable but noticeable.
Fortunately, strong writing and interesting characters counter the negatives. The plot has a few holes and a key clue is given away at the very beginning. The clue that reveals so much then lead to the book feeling longer than necessary.
Fans of Maureen Johnson’s ‘Truly Devious’ series will really enjoy this novel.
July 16, 2025
₊˚⊹☆ 2.5 stars (rounded down)
Sooo.... yeah. Maybe rtc, probably not.
Sooo.... yeah. Maybe rtc, probably not.
June 19, 2023
This one deals with subject matter that is darker but the writing felt like it was aimed toward the young YA range. The audiobook does have a full cast, but it’s 90% one narrator for it. I wish there had been more from other POVs bc Spencer wasn’t my fav.
The Good:
✅ Ripley the service dog who was a very good girl. 10/10 - Ripley is by far the best character in the book.
✅ I loved the podcast element on audio, but it was a bit weird how the co-host dropped out after the first two episodes and it became mostly Payton monologuing about things.
✅ As much as I didn’t like aspects of how it was done (see repetitive note below), I did think the PTSD and mental health aspects of the book were mostly well done.
And… The Not So Good:
➖ It was so damn repetitive. I never want to hear Scream Float Crash again!! It’s said at least 30 times in the first few chapters alone. Besides that you also hear about her sweet tooth 4 times in one chapter, that she doesn’t ask for help 5 times in two chapters, etc etc.
➖ I predicted all of the twists from early on, if you’ve read thrillers at all you will be able to see where it’s going.
➖ The characters are all written to be a little extra and in ways that don’t make sense. Payton Salt, podcast host, sounds like a mix of a 50 year old small town diner waitress (constantly calling Spencer “hun” and “girl”) and a slimy PI with cheesy dialog like “I’ve got friends in a lot of high places around here. Just say the word, and I can get you anything you want, but you need to play ball with me too”. What high school kid talks like that?
➖ Characters would be super involved (like the bff Olive) then disappear most of the book before randomly popping back up again.
❌❌ Warning - Spoilers Below ❌❌
Some inaccuracies and plot holes -
❌ She broke her wrist (shattered SEVERAL bones) but no surgery and only in a cast for a month. No activity or carrying things yet she bikes to school while carrying a heavy backpack everywhere and has no problem working at an ice cream shop and scooping ice cream.
❌ She got her cast off on a Sunday after being at the trial the day before… so court trials and routine doctor appointments being held over the weekend.
❌ There is a subplot around pain medication that felt forced and didn’t need to be there. It also didn’t make much sense bc they said she was taking too many and yet she never ran out even when she should have been coming off them. How many did they prescribe her?!?
❌ She is a straight A student obsessed with her grades, yet she seems to be missing school for most of the book.
❌ Ethan was convicted for the crime, but then the truth comes out and Spencer has no charges against her? I don’t care that the brakes weren’t working, she was going 125 mph which would definitely not be overlooked. Also, why was she going that fast? It doesn’t match her character at all, angry or not.
❌ Ethan is a terrible boyfriend, cheating on her for an entire year and yet he decides to throw his life away to protect her and take the blame? In what world does this make any sense?
❌ Tabby knew everything about that night except the fact that Spencer was driving?? Really??
❌ The motive for both the person cutting the brakes and the person attempting to hit Spencer with a car were a huge stretch. It just didn’t add up at all.
It might work for someone who is in the young YA range but I wasn’t a huge fan. I was interested enough to keep reading but it wasn’t the book for me.
The Good:
✅ Ripley the service dog who was a very good girl. 10/10 - Ripley is by far the best character in the book.
✅ I loved the podcast element on audio, but it was a bit weird how the co-host dropped out after the first two episodes and it became mostly Payton monologuing about things.
✅ As much as I didn’t like aspects of how it was done (see repetitive note below), I did think the PTSD and mental health aspects of the book were mostly well done.
And… The Not So Good:
➖ It was so damn repetitive. I never want to hear Scream Float Crash again!! It’s said at least 30 times in the first few chapters alone. Besides that you also hear about her sweet tooth 4 times in one chapter, that she doesn’t ask for help 5 times in two chapters, etc etc.
➖ I predicted all of the twists from early on, if you’ve read thrillers at all you will be able to see where it’s going.
➖ The characters are all written to be a little extra and in ways that don’t make sense. Payton Salt, podcast host, sounds like a mix of a 50 year old small town diner waitress (constantly calling Spencer “hun” and “girl”) and a slimy PI with cheesy dialog like “I’ve got friends in a lot of high places around here. Just say the word, and I can get you anything you want, but you need to play ball with me too”. What high school kid talks like that?
➖ Characters would be super involved (like the bff Olive) then disappear most of the book before randomly popping back up again.
❌❌ Warning - Spoilers Below ❌❌
Some inaccuracies and plot holes -
❌ She broke her wrist (shattered SEVERAL bones) but no surgery and only in a cast for a month. No activity or carrying things yet she bikes to school while carrying a heavy backpack everywhere and has no problem working at an ice cream shop and scooping ice cream.
❌ She got her cast off on a Sunday after being at the trial the day before… so court trials and routine doctor appointments being held over the weekend.
❌ There is a subplot around pain medication that felt forced and didn’t need to be there. It also didn’t make much sense bc they said she was taking too many and yet she never ran out even when she should have been coming off them. How many did they prescribe her?!?
❌ She is a straight A student obsessed with her grades, yet she seems to be missing school for most of the book.
❌ Ethan was convicted for the crime, but then the truth comes out and Spencer has no charges against her? I don’t care that the brakes weren’t working, she was going 125 mph which would definitely not be overlooked. Also, why was she going that fast? It doesn’t match her character at all, angry or not.
❌ Ethan is a terrible boyfriend, cheating on her for an entire year and yet he decides to throw his life away to protect her and take the blame? In what world does this make any sense?
❌ Tabby knew everything about that night except the fact that Spencer was driving?? Really??
❌ The motive for both the person cutting the brakes and the person attempting to hit Spencer with a car were a huge stretch. It just didn’t add up at all.
It might work for someone who is in the young YA range but I wasn’t a huge fan. I was interested enough to keep reading but it wasn’t the book for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2023
I did not go into this with high hopes yet I still walked away disappointed. It was a story of rich, privileged kids who want for nothing, doing stupid things and nobody seems to mind. I did not care for Spencer or her story. She came across incredibly spoiled and like she was untouchable. Nothing that happened throughout the course of this story felt surprising. Instead, it felt convenient. Everything felt like it dragged on for far too long. The characters were shallow and flat, the story was not original, and the pacing was off. The ending was super rushed and the guilty party actually walked away with nothing happening to them. What a letdown. The only character I did like in this entire story was Ripley, the service dog.
April 19, 2023
DNF
I don’t understand how this book got published. Where was the editor? Where were the friends and family to say hey, that’s not how things work.
If you’re a passenger in a car accident in America you wouldn’t have a broken wrist, broken clavicle, and major scar on the left side of your face. So obviously, you were the driver.
You also couldn’t ride a bike while carrying a backpack of books and leading a dog with just one hand. You also couldn’t scoop ice cream.
You also wouldn’t be allowed to self-administer your medication in school. Medication must go to the school’s nurse or front office to be administered.
I just couldn’t finish what a disappointment.
I don’t understand how this book got published. Where was the editor? Where were the friends and family to say hey, that’s not how things work.
If you’re a passenger in a car accident in America you wouldn’t have a broken wrist, broken clavicle, and major scar on the left side of your face. So obviously, you were the driver.
You also couldn’t ride a bike while carrying a backpack of books and leading a dog with just one hand. You also couldn’t scoop ice cream.
You also wouldn’t be allowed to self-administer your medication in school. Medication must go to the school’s nurse or front office to be administered.
I just couldn’t finish what a disappointment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2023
this was so bad i want to give it a zero but it's not possible so i give it a 1
boring ! yawning ! sloppy ! lazy ! full of plot holes ! bad pacing !
this book pissed me off so much ! buddy reads are supposed to be funny but ova and i were fighting for our lives the entire time omg
boring ! yawning ! sloppy ! lazy ! full of plot holes ! bad pacing !
this book pissed me off so much ! buddy reads are supposed to be funny but ova and i were fighting for our lives the entire time omg
July 18, 2023
Where do I even begin with the problems in this book? It read like a very rough first draft, not a published novel. The author was trying to throw in so many random plot points but most of it didn’t matter to the actual mystery. Olivia’s birthday party? Who cares? Spencer not getting admission to her dream college? The podcast (why do people care about a random car accident?)? Spencer’s late in book drug addiction that essentially goes unnoticed and does nothing to advance the plot? So many pieces truly felt irrelevant. Even the “headmaster’s list” around which this story is built is never fleshed out. They hint at special privileges but never make it clear why it matters and what about it is so special.
The writing is honestly terrible, the dialogue is unbelievable, and the character development is minimal. I saw the “plot twist” coming from a mile away. Spencer’s desire to investigate the accident didn’t even make sense - she just found out he’s been cheating on her for a year. Why does she care so much to clear his name? Also what the heck happened with Chris’s brother?? He just disappeared?
Literally none of this was coherent and I’m mad I read it.
The writing is honestly terrible, the dialogue is unbelievable, and the character development is minimal. I saw the “plot twist” coming from a mile away. Spencer’s desire to investigate the accident didn’t even make sense - she just found out he’s been cheating on her for a year. Why does she care so much to clear his name? Also what the heck happened with Chris’s brother?? He just disappeared?
Literally none of this was coherent and I’m mad I read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2023
i thought this was gonna be really good. i love young adult mystery/thrillers but this was just a terrible book. that's kinda rude, and it had one thing going for it which was that i did went to keep reading to find out what actually happened.
but. the characters were so annoying and the writing was not good at all. it felt like a wattpad story that had been written by a 14 year old (no shade, i too was once a 14 year old wattpad writer). and the ending was exactly what i expected too.
also there was a ridiculous bit right near the end that was ???? so stupid and dramatic for no reason.
oh, and one more thing - the name of the book was mostly irrelevant. like.. the plot didn't have much to do with it and neither did the mystery.
anyways. i got an arc through netgalley. that will teach me to stop late-night requesting arcs when i have hundreds of books already.
but. the characters were so annoying and the writing was not good at all. it felt like a wattpad story that had been written by a 14 year old (no shade, i too was once a 14 year old wattpad writer). and the ending was exactly what i expected too.
also there was a ridiculous bit right near the end that was ???? so stupid and dramatic for no reason.
oh, and one more thing - the name of the book was mostly irrelevant. like.. the plot didn't have much to do with it and neither did the mystery.
anyways. i got an arc through netgalley. that will teach me to stop late-night requesting arcs when i have hundreds of books already.
May 4, 2023
I’m used to suspending my disbelief, especially when reading a YA book, but this one was just too ridiculous. For a “smart” character, Spencer was really stupid and did things that just didn’t make sense - riding a bike to school while injured and on Vicodin? Going to Nick and then Jackson instead of the police or her own parents? The author tried to incorporate important discussion topics into the novel, like race and privilege, but barely even brushed the surface. She also tried to be inclusive by including a non-binary character, but she made the character very annoying and selfish and also misgendered them twice (in chapters 6 and 41). Also, it seemed like certain characters shifted personalities out of the blue. I’m a huge fan of YA thrillers, but this one was not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2023
This book kept me guessing until the end! I loved the characters--they were all well developed and believable. I loved the portrayal of the therapy dog in the story. The book was fast-paced and I could not wait to finish it. As a Midwesterner, the glitz and glam of Hollywood and LA is not as familiar to me. The book does a good job making that life feel accessible and believable. This is a good read for those who liked "Good Girl's Guide to Murder" and "The Inheritance Games."
May 15, 2023
I just couldn’t get through it… started off strong but the plot just started “hanging out” after the 1st 100 pages. The book was way too long to get to any kind of climax although the dog was sweet. Definitely the best part of the novel.
August 26, 2023
Oh my gosh! Here I was thinking one thing and then boom, completely 180. This book had me captivated from the beginning, I did not want to put it down and when I did, all I did was think about it. This book was amazing! I can not believe what happened, happened! I know I am going to be thinking about this book for a while and now I don’t know what to do with myself. I will definitely be looking into more books by this author!
February 25, 2024
3.5 ⭐
really entertaining, loved the podcast element. I did call out the twist pretty early on in the book but it was still fun getting to the reveal.
really entertaining, loved the podcast element. I did call out the twist pretty early on in the book but it was still fun getting to the reveal.
March 10, 2023
Spencer wakes up in hospital after a car crash which involved a fatality. Four students were in the car returning home after a party: Spencer, her ex Ethan, & two other pupils from their school, Tabby Hill, & Chris Moore, who was tragically killed. All four of them are part of the 'Headmaster's List' at the school, a group of high achieving students which allegedly gains the members advantages when applying to college. Ethan is being investigated for having driven under the influence & reckless driving, but Spencer can't remember what happened.
She has been left with scars, broken bones, & PTSD from the crash & her parents get a service dog, Riley, for her return to school. Spencer remembers catching Ethan cheating on her & their screaming argument but nothing much about the crash itself, but she believes it was an accident & that Ethan is not to blame. She teams up with his best friend, Jackson, to find out what really happened, but it seems that someone may not want them to find out the truth.
I found this a little difficult to get interested in at first, but after a certain point, it did start to pick up. I thought the conclusion was rather good, even if I had already worked most of it out. Spencer was a sympathetic main character, & her budding friendship with Jackson was done well without being overly rushed. The best character of course was Riley the dog, who was just the best good girl. Overall, this was a little bit too predictable & it failed to catch the imagination. My rating 3.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Macmillan Children's Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
She has been left with scars, broken bones, & PTSD from the crash & her parents get a service dog, Riley, for her return to school. Spencer remembers catching Ethan cheating on her & their screaming argument but nothing much about the crash itself, but she believes it was an accident & that Ethan is not to blame. She teams up with his best friend, Jackson, to find out what really happened, but it seems that someone may not want them to find out the truth.
I found this a little difficult to get interested in at first, but after a certain point, it did start to pick up. I thought the conclusion was rather good, even if I had already worked most of it out. Spencer was a sympathetic main character, & her budding friendship with Jackson was done well without being overly rushed. The best character of course was Riley the dog, who was just the best good girl. Overall, this was a little bit too predictable & it failed to catch the imagination. My rating 3.5 stars (rounded up)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Macmillan Children's Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
December 2, 2022
It's December now, so it means something when i tell you this is the worst read I've had all year. That isn't how service animals work, the twist was given away repeatedly from around 10% in, the titular item was only brought up very occasionally and very peripherally, and a supporting character does a seemingly random 180 toward the end because there just wasn't another way to bring this shit-show of a plot together. Skip it, seriously.
January 16, 2023
Absolutely awful. The writing was bland, the plot stagnant, the characters dull and barely defined (the actor, the athlete, the academic, the best friend, etc)... this was my second book by de la Cruz, and it will likely be my last.
Also don't believe a single thing about this book's marketing: it has nothing in common with Gossip Girl except a private school setting; nothing to do with One of Us Is Lying except a student dies; and nothing to do with Riverdale at all.
Also don't believe a single thing about this book's marketing: it has nothing in common with Gossip Girl except a private school setting; nothing to do with One of Us Is Lying except a student dies; and nothing to do with Riverdale at all.
December 27, 2022
This book was one of the worst books I read this year. The characters were flat and annoying, the plot was stagnant and predictable, and the writing was horrible.
June 18, 2025
˗ˏˋ꒰🏫꒱ 𝟯 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
There were too many faults in this story for me to give it a higher rating. For a YA mystery thriller, I was expecting more since Holly Jackson raised my standards for the genre. The Headmaster's List felt like a less intense knock off of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and the mystery itself confused me.
One word that can sum up The Headmaster's List is repetitive. When Spencer found a tiny hint of a lead, she fell back to square one, wondering who actually caused the crash. It happened so many times that I was wondering what the point of the story was. Because of this repetitiveness, it felt like nothing was happening in Spencer's investigation.
I wouldn't really say Spencer did much of anything. All she did was talk to a few, and I mean a few, people from the party that caused the crash and also ask someone to look at pictures of the crash. She didn't do anything that would threaten her life or cause any suspects to worry if they had been caught.
˗ˏˋ 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿
The reason this is three stars for me is because of Spencer. Melissa da la Cruz accurately represented trauma from accidents: Spencer avoiding cars, having flashbacks, and also having a emotional support animal. I felt sorry for Spencer and liked her until maybe halfway through the story when I found her similar to Pip from A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.
In my opinion, it feels like YA mystery thriller authors are just trying to rewrite AGGTM and pray that they can ride off Holly Jackson's success by using her content. It's causing the mystery thriller genre to become predictable and unenjoyable for readers who want to be surprised and have a thrill.
I enjoyed The Headmaster's List but wish it was more original and better written. If you want to try and solve the mystery before Spencer, I suggest reading this book!
˗ˏˋ꒰💌꒱happy reading !!! ⊰
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
There were too many faults in this story for me to give it a higher rating. For a YA mystery thriller, I was expecting more since Holly Jackson raised my standards for the genre. The Headmaster's List felt like a less intense knock off of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and the mystery itself confused me.
One word that can sum up The Headmaster's List is repetitive. When Spencer found a tiny hint of a lead, she fell back to square one, wondering who actually caused the crash. It happened so many times that I was wondering what the point of the story was. Because of this repetitiveness, it felt like nothing was happening in Spencer's investigation.
I wouldn't really say Spencer did much of anything. All she did was talk to a few, and I mean a few, people from the party that caused the crash and also ask someone to look at pictures of the crash. She didn't do anything that would threaten her life or cause any suspects to worry if they had been caught.
˗ˏˋ 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿
The reason this is three stars for me is because of Spencer. Melissa da la Cruz accurately represented trauma from accidents: Spencer avoiding cars, having flashbacks, and also having a emotional support animal. I felt sorry for Spencer and liked her until maybe halfway through the story when I found her similar to Pip from A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.
In my opinion, it feels like YA mystery thriller authors are just trying to rewrite AGGTM and pray that they can ride off Holly Jackson's success by using her content. It's causing the mystery thriller genre to become predictable and unenjoyable for readers who want to be surprised and have a thrill.
I enjoyed The Headmaster's List but wish it was more original and better written. If you want to try and solve the mystery before Spencer, I suggest reading this book!
˗ˏˋ꒰💌꒱happy reading !!! ⊰
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
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