Through Our Teeth

by Pamela N. Harris

Three teens investigate a murder—while each tries to hide their own complicated history with the dead girl—in this thought-provoking novel from award-winning author Pamela N. Harris. Perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus and Tiffany D. Jackson!

Hope Jackson is dead. Everyone is convinced she took her own life, but Liv, one of Hope’s best friends, isn’t so sure. Hope’s boyfriend, Brendan, was always jealous and possessive, and his alibi doesn’t really check out. But in the town’s eyes, Hope was just some nobody who was going to drag down golden boy Brendan. 

So with the help of Hope’s other two best friends, Kizzie and Sherie, Liv is determined to bring Brendan’s actions to light. Together, they vow to make him pay.

But as their plans keep escalating, Liv begins to have second thoughts—especially as she’s realizing that Brendan may not be the only one with the motive or opportunity to kill Hope. Is Liv really getting justice for Hope, or is she just helping one of Hope’s so-called friends cover up their lies?

 

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

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 16, 2025

About the author

Born and somewhat raised in Newport News, Virginia, also affectionately known as “Bad News.” A former school counselor by day, she received her bachelor’s in English and a master’s in school counseling at Old Dominion University, her M.F.A in creative writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision at William and Mary. When she isn’t writing, Pam is rewatching Leonardo DiCaprio movies, playing with her kiddos, and pretending to enjoy exercising.

Reviews

[Alora Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. I had no idea which way it was going based on the book summary, and it was different than what I expected. In this case, different worked. Come solve a murder, or get murdered in the process. Make sure to add this to your TBR. It will be out in September of 2025. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this arc!

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THROUGH OUR TEETH by Pamela N. Harris

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins (QuillTreeBooks) for the earc (Sept 16)

Hope Jackson is dead, and those closest to her: Liv, Kizzie, and Sherri team up to prove that she was m*rdered---that she didn't jump. As their plan draws out, Liv begins to second guess whether Brendan---Hope's ex boyfriend---is guilty. Then, the bodies start dropping.
What started as a way to get Brendan to confess turns into a m*rder mystery that takes place in an unfinished house.
THROUGH OUR TEETH is a locked room thriller with flashbacks to help tell the story. With its multitude of secrets, drama, and d*ath this book had me on the edge of my seat as I tried to figure out the whodunit before the final, mind-blowing reveal.
This book was gripping and shocking. It left me bewildered, especially when it seemed like everything was said and done---tied up and solved. I did guess part of the reveal, but that was basically as it was playing out. THROUGH OUR TEETH discusses very graphic topics that may be triggering for some, so check triggers or what not before reading.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ I really enjoyed this YA mystery! It melted me intrigued throughout to where I read it all today. One big thing that kept it from being a 5⭐️ read was that it came off like an older person trying to sound younger. The language that was used in the dialogue was a bit too much to where I think in some teens will find it corny but it’s not so bad that it’ll turn them off completely. What solidifies that thought (and what made it even more engaging as a 47 year old) is all the references to culture/ entertainment from the late 80’s, early 90’s. It seemed a bit implausible that that many teens would be “in the know” about such things but it was fun.

I did figure out the culprit and twists well before they were mentioned but it wasn’t overly in your face and it was well constructed as it didn’t come out of thin air.

This book comes out September 16th 2025 so get it on your TBR or on order for school libraries as it’s sure to be a great addition.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Quill Tree Books and imprint of Harper Collins Children’s through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

[Lucsbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Through Our Teeth" began with a letter from the author, which mentioned the inspiration behind it, letting us know, if the cover hadn't already clued us in, that this book did not exist in a vacuum or for cheap thrills; it took Pamela ten years and multiple drafts to write it.

I started reading it the week that Cassie, Halle and Megan's court cases were ongoing or being brought to court or questioned, and Chris Brown was arrested. I finished it around the same time that Baldoni's court case was dismissed and Halle's texts were released. I'm now writing this review after Diddy beat his case, the E. list suddenly doesn't exist, and Maria Luemba, an Angolan teenager living in Portugal with her family, was found hanged with her hands tied by her 6-year-old brother. The police and media tried to cover it up by burning her clothes and refusing to return her phones to her family while declaring it self-inflicted. This is a story that needs to be told.

I started this book loving Liv: an affluent black girl who sees all her social capital disappear after her best friend, Hope, passes away, and her abusive ex-boyfriend and childhood friend, the basketball star, is cleared.

Unsatisfied with the police work, three of Hope's friends, Liv, Sherie and Kizzy, decide to kidnap the guy (tw: Donald Trump mask) and get the truth out of him. Thanks to her work, Pamela did a great job portraying teens not only when it came to the way they spoke and their worries, but also how they didn't consider the consequences properly. There wasn't a single good plan in this entire story.

I devoured this book thanks to the plot twists, but after I sat with it for a while, I think that they only worked because Liv should have been a secondary character because she didn't have 2 brain cells to rub together. I wish this had been a multi pov book because each character had guilt and secrets of their own and saw a different side of Hope and seeing pov after pov disappear would have made this an amazing reading experience where you didn't know who to root for or believe and make the losses more impactful rather than just being shocked and told why they deserved it at the end.

I loved that mental health was a big part of this book and treated as a serious problem, with multiple characters having gotten help, and still struggling through their traumas and grief and the guilt that comes from losing someone and wishing you could go back and do something different.

On top of all that Hope also had to deal with her feelings and story for the boy accused of beating her dead best-friend and while I thought that was a great plot point it eventually got old, and painting a pick me who throughout all the story was more concerned about a man's feelings and finding a reason why he wasn't guilty than getting justice as the heroine was a mistake and ultimately harmed the story and its message for me.

Liv is not a good person; she is a person in a lot of pain. She is privileged, rude, manipulative and a liar. She was a bully and now has to deal with not being popular enough to treat people like she used to or have the strength to care about her social life the way she used to, as she deals with her loss and mental health struggles.

I wish this had gone through another round of edits at least, because I noticed some plot holes that must come from the multiple different drafts and abandoned plotlines. Liv is so male-identified that this stopped feeling like a ya thriller and became full-on horror. It got to a point where I was afraid that she would help cover it all up just so he could get away with it.

I felt cheated by this book's comparison to "One of Us is Lying" because that book's protagonists have brains, and in this book, only Kizzy comes close. This reminded me of "Pretty Little Liars" a lot more when it came to how the story and characters all circled Hope and their respective friendships and problems.

Kizzy might have been a psycho, but she got things done and moved the plot forward. Sadly, she was encumbered by liars, pick-me's, stupid people, and men because if she had gotten her way, she would have gotten the truth out of that man in two chapters.

The ending ruined everything for me; the absolute wrong people survived. This wasn't a book about Hope getting justice; it was about someone else's peace of mind (which, in my view, they didn't deserve). We never got to hear from Hope, we never got to see her as anything other than what she was to and for these awful people and how her inner shine and popularity served them since they couldn't steal it. They couldn’t be her, no matter how much they tried, so like leeches, they had to make do with being close to her. The only person who advocated for her and tried to get her justice was put down like an animal in a scene that didn't even make sense, considering everyone else they had successfully gotten rid of.

In conclusion, basketball players are a menace, and Hope deserved better friends and a trusted adult she could speak to. But that being said, I only read a DRC, so maybe the ending was changed. I hope they changed it. This book had so much promise.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Quill Tree Books for this DRC.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Through Our Teeth” is a psychological thriller with bite; it’s gritty, suspenseful, and emotionally resonant. Pamela N. Harris crafts a gripping locked-room mystery layered with tension, trauma, and truth, all centered on a group of teens trying to make sense of their friend’s tragic death.

Hope Jackson is gone--officially ruled a suicide—but her best friends Liv, Kizzie, and Sherri aren’t convinced. Fueled by grief and suspicion, they hatch a plan to confront Brendan, Hope’s ex-boyfriend, and force a confession. But what begins as an amateur interrogation quickly unravels into chaos when Brendan ends up drugged, tied up, and stuck in a storm-trapped mansion with a growing group of panicked teens. Then the bodies start dropping.

Harris expertly ratchets up the tension as the story shifts from revenge plot to survival thriller. With power outages, a dwindling number of suspects, and paranoia escalating, the characters are forced to question not just each other but themselves. Is one of them the killer? Or is someone else lurking among them?

The book’s real strength lies in its layered characters and sharp emotional depth. Liv, our narrator, struggles with anxiety and doubt, making her an especially compelling lead. The dynamics between the girls, particularly the sometimes-toxic, often-heartbreaking bonds of friendship, feel raw and real. Kizzie’s ride-or-die loyalty, Sherri’s volatility, and Liv’s internal battles underscore the pressures young Black women face when coping with trauma, grief, and expectations to be “strong.”

Beneath the thriller exterior lies a powerful exploration of mental health, especially within the Black community, as well as the far-reaching impact of toxic relationships, both romantic and platonic. Themes of suicide, self-harm, domestic violence, and emotional abuse are handled with care, though readers should be aware of the content warnings.

The plot is twisty and unpredictable. While some may piece together parts of the mystery early on, the full reveal still manages to shock, with a conclusion that is both satisfying and poignant. Hope's story gets the justice it deserves, and the emotional fallout feels earned and authentic.

Overall, “Through Our Teeth” is more than a thriller—it's a story of grief, guilt, and growth. It’s about what happens when silence festers, when justice feels out of reach, and when the truth hurts more than the lies we tell ourselves. With strong character development, sharp social commentary, and pulse-pounding suspense, this book leaves a lasting impact.

[Karis · Rating 2 out of 5]

~~Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!~~

2.5/5 stars rounded down.

I dunno. There was good ideas here, but, ultimately, it was the execution that felt lacking to me.

I expected this book to take place over time, not in one single night with flashbacks in every other chapter. The synopsis felt very misleading that way. The flashbacks, especially, were tools that were used to either reveal info to the readers the characters were about to guess, expand upon Liz & co.'s lore, and pull thinly veiled red herrings. This formula can be done right, but here, it kinda felt both prolonged and rushed.

The cast were primarily fodder. The only important ones are Liz, Kizzy, Brendan, Hope, and Tia. Any other name/character mentioned didn't matter all that much in the long run. It also didn't help the majority of these characters' interactions was them arguing constantly. I understand why, because everyone is literally a suspect while trying to prove/maintain innocence, but it was still wasn't all that enjoyable for me to read, personally. The only character I was intrigued by was Liv, because the portrayal of her struggles with anxiety and the toxic friendship she had with Hope.

I feel like it the synopsis was more accurate to what happened, my expectations would have probably been more accepting, but, as is, I can't find it in myself to like this book more than I wanted to.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading this, I wasn't sure where it was going. It took me on a ride!
I had the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It starts off with our MC Liv in her words testing "the social waters"at a party. She was MIA for a while after her best friend Hope passed away. Brendan (Hope's boyfriend) was suspected in her death. But he had an alibi.
Things are complicated. Liv and Brendan are also besties with reciprocated (yet not acted upon) feelings for each other.
The book alternates between the present and the past when Hope was alive.
There are twists and turns, mystery and teen angst.
Loved that the characters are fleshed out and, the actual feelings of not being sure who did what.
It's very current with the smart house, social media and cultural references.
The tension between Brendan and Liv is palpable.
This is a book that will keep you guessing. It's well written, the cover art is beautiful and I'm looking forward to reading another of Pamela Harris's books.
4.5 stars. Liv wasn't always likable. None of the characters were. But who would be under the circumstances?

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through Our Teeth by Pamela N. Harris is a tense, twisty YA thriller that asks how far you’d go for justice and what happens when you’re not sure you’re on the right side anymore.

When Hope Jackson dies, everyone chalks it up to suicide. Everyone except Liv. She knows her best friend would never do that, and she’s certain Hope’s controlling boyfriend, Brendan, had something to do with it. With the help of Hope’s other two best friends, Liv sets out to take Brendan down.

But the deeper they dig the more Liv starts to question everything about Brendan, about Hope’s other friends, and about herself. If Brendan isn’t the killer then who is?

Fast-paced and sharp-edged, this book is full of messy friendships, buried secrets, and the kind of moral gray areas that stick with you. It’s perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or One of Us Is Lying, but with an even darker, more personal bite.

⚡️Thank you Books Forward PR and Pamela N. Harris for sharing this book with me!

[Anniee Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Through Our Teeth by Pamela N. Harris

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hey, hey, my favorites 😁💚. #annieethebookiee is back with another book review. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC of Through Our Teeth.

Through Our Teeth is a gripping exploration of family, identity, and the complexities of growing up. Pamela N. Harris weaves a narrative that is both thought-provoking and poignant, with characters that feel real and relatable. The author does an excellent job of balancing emotional depth with moments of lightness, making this an engaging and multifaceted read.

While the pacing was a bit slow at times, the story's emotional payoff and the well-developed characters make it a worthwhile read. If you're looking for a book that tackles complex themes with heart, Through Our Teeth is definitely worth checking out.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books, for providing the copy of Through Our Teeth by Pamela N. Harris. This was a thrilling locked room mystery that kept me guessing until the end. It made me glad my high school years are far behind me! I loved the relationships between the friends and the frenemies too. The characters were multidimensional, and I loved all of the secrets they hid. It’s a good reminder for teens that everyone isn’t what you think they are, and they don’t always show their true feelings! I enjoyed the pop culture references that were sprinkled in the story. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

[RStanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and Harper Collins Children books for the arc for my honest review.
5 out of 5/First pov
How far would you go to solve your friends murder? Hope Jackson is dead. Everything thinks she did it herself but Liv who is one of hope's best friend isn't so sure. Hope's boyfriends, Brendan was always jealous so he is suspect number one. Will they solve the murder or will more blood be shed in the search for the truth?

Wow, I loved this book. It's a locked room thriller with flashbacks to help tell the story. I had no clue where the story was going and it felt like anything come happen. I didn't trust a single character because they were all very complex.

[SheCozyAndLit · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Top Read of the Year✨
I have no words. This book completely wrecked me—in the best way possible. Through Our Teeth is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. A book has NEVER had me this on edge and genuinely scared at the same time.
Pamela Harrison crafted a story that had my heart pounding, my jaw dropping, and my brain screaming “just one more chapter” until the very end. The twists, the tension, the atmosphere—perfection.
This isn’t just a thriller. It’s a gut punch, a warning, and a haunting reflection all wrapped into one. I already know this one will stay with me for a long time.
✨ Hands down, my top read of the year.

[J R · Rating 3 out of 5]

the ideas overall were interesting, but I didn't find the execution that great. none of the characters were likeable, but also none of them were super connectable with either. the twists worked quite well, but lost some of their impact when you just couldn't care about the characters that much. 3.25 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Quill Tree for allowing me this ARC.

This is a really well done YA book. Twists, turns, mystery, friends and frenemies... Great plot, solid character development and well-written. This should be on your TBR list.

[Lisa]

RTC