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Very Bad People
In this dark academia young adult thriller for fans of The Female of the Species and People Like Us, a teen girl’s search for answers about her mother’s mysterious death leads to a powerful secret society at her new boarding school—and a dangerous game of revenge that will leave her forever changed.
Six years ago, Calliope Bolan’s mother drove the family van into a lake with her three daughters inside. The girls escaped, but their mother drowned, and the truth behind the “accident” remains a mystery Calliope is determined to solve. Now sixteen, she transfers to Tipton Academy, the same elite boarding school her mother once attended. Tipton promises a peek into the past and a host of new opportunities—including a coveted invitation to join Haunt and Rail, an exclusive secret society that looms over campus like a legend.
Calliope accepts, stepping into the exhilarating world of the “ghosts,” a society of revolutionaries fighting for social justice. But when Haunt and Rail commits to exposing a dangerous person on campus, it becomes clear that some ghosts define justice differently than others.
As the society’s tactics escalate, Calliope uncovers a possible link between Haunt and Rail and her mother’s deadly crash. Now, she must question what lengths the society might go to in order to see a victory—and if the secret behind her mother’s death could be buried here at Tipton.
Six years ago, Calliope Bolan’s mother drove the family van into a lake with her three daughters inside. The girls escaped, but their mother drowned, and the truth behind the “accident” remains a mystery Calliope is determined to solve. Now sixteen, she transfers to Tipton Academy, the same elite boarding school her mother once attended. Tipton promises a peek into the past and a host of new opportunities—including a coveted invitation to join Haunt and Rail, an exclusive secret society that looms over campus like a legend.
Calliope accepts, stepping into the exhilarating world of the “ghosts,” a society of revolutionaries fighting for social justice. But when Haunt and Rail commits to exposing a dangerous person on campus, it becomes clear that some ghosts define justice differently than others.
As the society’s tactics escalate, Calliope uncovers a possible link between Haunt and Rail and her mother’s deadly crash. Now, she must question what lengths the society might go to in order to see a victory—and if the secret behind her mother’s death could be buried here at Tipton.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2022
51 people are currently reading
10053 people want to read
About the author
Kit Frick
11 books683 followersKit Frick is the author of multiple mysteries and thrillers for teens and adults including B&N YA Book Club pick and Thriller Award finalist I Killed Zoe Spanos and the forthcoming adult mystery The Split. Her other books include Before We Were Sorry (previously titled See All the Stars), All Eyes on Us, Very Bad People, The Reunion, and the poetry collection A Small Rising Up in the Lungs.
Readers interested in signing up for a monthly newsletter including book news and giveaways should visit her website at kitfrick.com. Kit doesn't accept GR friend requests but you can still follow her here for updates or connect with her on Instagram.
Readers interested in signing up for a monthly newsletter including book news and giveaways should visit her website at kitfrick.com. Kit doesn't accept GR friend requests but you can still follow her here for updates or connect with her on Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
December 5, 2022
Based on the first half of this novel, I thought it was going to be my favorite Kit Frick story to date. While I did enjoy the binge-worthy read, and believe me it IS binge-worthy, I found a lot of the conclusion just not leaving me satisfied. The mystery behind the mom's death was a little whomp-whomp, and the ambiguous ending felt like the author didn't take a stand on the content that is discussed and rode the middle of the line, although that last part is really more of a personal observance rather than objective. Still a big fan, as I finished the audiobook in a single day, but hoping the next book she writes is a step closer to her debut.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
December 7, 2021
Yes that's me giving myself 5 stars because I deeply love this book!
If you're into dark academia / YA boarding school thrillers with these elements, Very Bad People might be up your alley:
*sister drama
*secret societies
*dark family secrets
*first love
*mysterious letters
*moral quandaries
Fair warning: The ending is totally evil. You're allowed to hate it! Just try not to spoil it for others. (Sorry not sorry. Muah ha ha!)
Triggers: parental death, murder, discussion of (not graphic or on-page) abuse, discussion of suicide (also not graphic or on-page)
If you're into dark academia / YA boarding school thrillers with these elements, Very Bad People might be up your alley:
*sister drama
*secret societies
*dark family secrets
*first love
*mysterious letters
*moral quandaries
Fair warning: The ending is totally evil. You're allowed to hate it! Just try not to spoil it for others. (Sorry not sorry. Muah ha ha!)
Triggers: parental death, murder, discussion of (not graphic or on-page) abuse, discussion of suicide (also not graphic or on-page)
April 14, 2022
Very Bad People by Kit Frick is a young adult mystery/thriller novel. The story in this novel is set in an elite boarding school with a mystery to the present and a mystery from the past to solve.
Six years ago Calliope Bolan and her sisters were in the car with their mother when the car went off the road into a lake. Calliope had been sleeping when the accident happened and awake to help her sisters out of the car but the girls could not save their mother and to this day still don’t know why the accident happened.
Now at sixteen Calliope has talked her father into letting her attend Tipton Academy, the same boarding school her mother had attended. After arriving at Tipton Calliope finds herself invited to join the elite Haunt and Rail society. The underground group has been at the school for years helping to fight the injustices on campus and Calliope believes her mother was once involved.
Very Bad People is actually the third young adult thriller I’ve read by author Kit Frick after enjoying the first two. I honestly expected to love this book when I picked it up as dark boarding school stories always draw me in and I really did enjoy this for the most part. It moved at a nice pace and did draw me into finding out what would happen in the present and what happened in the past. This was probably at least a solid four stars all the way until the end but it wasn’t an end I am found of at all so only three stars over all for this one from me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Six years ago Calliope Bolan and her sisters were in the car with their mother when the car went off the road into a lake. Calliope had been sleeping when the accident happened and awake to help her sisters out of the car but the girls could not save their mother and to this day still don’t know why the accident happened.
Now at sixteen Calliope has talked her father into letting her attend Tipton Academy, the same boarding school her mother had attended. After arriving at Tipton Calliope finds herself invited to join the elite Haunt and Rail society. The underground group has been at the school for years helping to fight the injustices on campus and Calliope believes her mother was once involved.
Very Bad People is actually the third young adult thriller I’ve read by author Kit Frick after enjoying the first two. I honestly expected to love this book when I picked it up as dark boarding school stories always draw me in and I really did enjoy this for the most part. It moved at a nice pace and did draw me into finding out what would happen in the present and what happened in the past. This was probably at least a solid four stars all the way until the end but it wasn’t an end I am found of at all so only three stars over all for this one from me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
April 20, 2022
I loved I Killed Zoe Spanos and was super excited for Very Bad People.
Then I read it.
It's two short stories--one about a girl trying to figure out who killed her mother, the other about a girl who joins a secret society when she starts private school--and they're mashed together because the girl is the same in both stories.
An awkward read that leans into every stereotype you can think of for two familiar YA plots. Not a bonus...but both stories are boring to boot.
Hard pass.
Then I read it.
It's two short stories--one about a girl trying to figure out who killed her mother, the other about a girl who joins a secret society when she starts private school--and they're mashed together because the girl is the same in both stories.
An awkward read that leans into every stereotype you can think of for two familiar YA plots. Not a bonus...but both stories are boring to boot.
Hard pass.
December 2, 2021
This book was underwhelming to say the least. The ending was the worst type of ending for me - open-ended, no closure. As anyone who knows me, I am very picky about my endings and *hate* open-ended ones with very few exceptions.
This was not an exception.
Beyond that, I just really disliked the main character. The book moved slowly and even the solved mysteries didn't feel like great *aha* moments.
A thriller that doesn't thrill and a mystery that doesn't have a satisfying ending.
This was not an exception.
Beyond that, I just really disliked the main character. The book moved slowly and even the solved mysteries didn't feel like great *aha* moments.
A thriller that doesn't thrill and a mystery that doesn't have a satisfying ending.
May 21, 2024
Had high hopes after reading Zoe Spanos but this one just wasn’t very good 😭 everything was very underwhelming and all over the place. Unfortunately not a fan of this one
February 18, 2022
Twisty and fast paced with a solid idea behind it but sadly this didn’t do much for me. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style and the pacing, characters and ‘big reveal/twists’ all fell a little flat for me. Having loved I Killed Zoe Spanos, I was sadly underwhelmed with this one.
April 27, 2022
Six years ago, Calliope's mom drowned in a tragic car accident. Calliope and her two younger sisters survived the crash, but they never knew exactly what caused their mother to drive into the lake, and it's haunted Calliope ever since. Now, at sixteen, she's heading to Tipton Academy, the same boarding school her mom and aunt attended. Once there, she's invited to join Haunt and Rail, an exclusive secret society at Tipton that she discovers her mom was a member of as well, too. Haunt and Rail's members, or "ghosts," are committed to social justice causes, but when they rally around exposing a faculty member, Calliope realizes that some of the members may go too far for what they believe. Calliope soon discovers a tie between Haunt and Rail and her mom's death. But the more she investigates, the more she may be in danger.
This twisty young adult thriller starts off a little slow, but quickly picks up. It's rather dark, since it involves her mother's death, and Calliope is quite devastated (understandably) by her passing. Boarding school mysteries can go either way, but this one is intriguing and also presents a diverse cast with plenty of representation, which I always appreciate. The secret society is a fun way to go, and there are plenty of surprising twists. Calliope is a great main character, and she's easy to root for. I also enjoyed that she has a romance, but it's in no way the focus of this YA story--how refreshing, right? There is an ambiguous ending, which -- ahh -- but I still really enjoyed this one. If you like your YA ominous, diverse, and twisty, you'll enjoy this one. 4 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
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This twisty young adult thriller starts off a little slow, but quickly picks up. It's rather dark, since it involves her mother's death, and Calliope is quite devastated (understandably) by her passing. Boarding school mysteries can go either way, but this one is intriguing and also presents a diverse cast with plenty of representation, which I always appreciate. The secret society is a fun way to go, and there are plenty of surprising twists. Calliope is a great main character, and she's easy to root for. I also enjoyed that she has a romance, but it's in no way the focus of this YA story--how refreshing, right? There is an ambiguous ending, which -- ahh -- but I still really enjoyed this one. If you like your YA ominous, diverse, and twisty, you'll enjoy this one. 4 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Smashbomb ~ Instagram
January 21, 2023
release march 5th
•••
when i say i love YA mystery, this is what i mean.
The twist, the turns, the unreliable narrators - everything.
calliope bolan is starting at tipton academy. she’s looking to leave her small town and move on from her mothers tragic death, but ends up finding answers that she didn’t even know she wanted.
the dark academic atmosphere mixed with fall is everything I need. I loved the secret society aspect, along with the mix of her mother.
The characters are written so well to the point where you trust them all, just to be completely mind blown by what’s to come. you feel actual betrayal and confusion, which is something i love in a book.
kit fricks draws you in so well, and creates such a perfect setting then it all twist and turns so fast that it’s perfect.
The short chapters, mixed with fast pacing make for an epic read. This book is on the longer side at a little over 400 pages but it needed every last page. I never once was bored, or thought information could be left out of the story. The author set everything up perfectly for the big reveal at the end.
Speaking of the ending, OMG. I was So mad.
We better be getting a second book because I’m not ready to leave these characters or this story behind yet.
Kit Fricks is definitely going on my radar, and this is going down as one of my favorite ya mystery books. I recommend.
- e- arc provided by simon and schuster for my honest review. all opinions are my own!
•••
when i say i love YA mystery, this is what i mean.
The twist, the turns, the unreliable narrators - everything.
calliope bolan is starting at tipton academy. she’s looking to leave her small town and move on from her mothers tragic death, but ends up finding answers that she didn’t even know she wanted.
the dark academic atmosphere mixed with fall is everything I need. I loved the secret society aspect, along with the mix of her mother.
The characters are written so well to the point where you trust them all, just to be completely mind blown by what’s to come. you feel actual betrayal and confusion, which is something i love in a book.
kit fricks draws you in so well, and creates such a perfect setting then it all twist and turns so fast that it’s perfect.
The short chapters, mixed with fast pacing make for an epic read. This book is on the longer side at a little over 400 pages but it needed every last page. I never once was bored, or thought information could be left out of the story. The author set everything up perfectly for the big reveal at the end.
Speaking of the ending, OMG. I was So mad.
We better be getting a second book because I’m not ready to leave these characters or this story behind yet.
Kit Fricks is definitely going on my radar, and this is going down as one of my favorite ya mystery books. I recommend.
- e- arc provided by simon and schuster for my honest review. all opinions are my own!
April 16, 2022
In Very Bad People, Calliope transfers to a private school to escape her small town and the memories it holds of her mother's tragic death. All she wants to do is fit in at Tipton. When she is tagged to join a secret society, she finally feels like she fits in. If you are a fan of stories with very unlikable characters with ambiguous endings, then this is the book for you. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan.
I really wanted to like Calliope. but I couldn't get behind some of her decisions. I found the rest of the kids obnoxious and unlikable. Their drive to right wrongs was often misguided and not well thought out. The mystery of what happened to Calliope's mother was underwhelming. But what really made me dislike this book was the ending. A huge pet peeve of mine in books is when I invest time in a story and then I get an ambiguous ending. I want to know what happened. I don't want to have to make it up on my own. If that is the kind of book you like, then pick this one up. But I can't recommend it.
I really wanted to like Calliope. but I couldn't get behind some of her decisions. I found the rest of the kids obnoxious and unlikable. Their drive to right wrongs was often misguided and not well thought out. The mystery of what happened to Calliope's mother was underwhelming. But what really made me dislike this book was the ending. A huge pet peeve of mine in books is when I invest time in a story and then I get an ambiguous ending. I want to know what happened. I don't want to have to make it up on my own. If that is the kind of book you like, then pick this one up. But I can't recommend it.
June 7, 2022
I fucking hate open ended books. It was definitely the icing on the cake of things that annoyed me.
The mystery sucked. The main character sucked. The book dragged.
The mystery sucked. The main character sucked. The book dragged.
March 8, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! It had the perfect amount of mystery and plot twist, but heartache all the same. I liked how short and digestible the chapters were. It almost felt like each chapter was another day of the trimester! The writing style of this book was addictive, but not too overwhelming; very easy to read with sustained interest.
Caliope was a relatable character but I wished she stood up for her own beliefs and her friends more as it would have made her more well rounded. I felt that the ending was a little bit rushed, unless the author was considering writing a sequel. The ending left too many questions and situations unresolved for this to be a standalone!
I look forward to seeing what comes next from author Kit Frick!
Caliope was a relatable character but I wished she stood up for her own beliefs and her friends more as it would have made her more well rounded. I felt that the ending was a little bit rushed, unless the author was considering writing a sequel. The ending left too many questions and situations unresolved for this to be a standalone!
I look forward to seeing what comes next from author Kit Frick!
July 11, 2022
I'm actually a little disappointed with the ending. I needed to have some kind of resolution and there would have been consequences. I need the rest of the story....the rest was just eh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2022
2.75 stars- This book was very underwhelming. It had an unsatisfying ending and just generally fell flat. I can see what the author was going for, but it didn't deliver. It wasn't super predictable in some ways but in others, it was way too predictable. Overall just meh.
February 4, 2023
A page turner with very short chapters, this was a quick read for me! The plot evolves more around Hunt and Rail secret society than Caliope trying to demystify her mother’s car accident, but I liked the almost dark academia vibe.
March 20, 2022
"Our society takes its name from two pieces of Hudson Valley history. 'Haunt' is a nod to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and 'rail' to the Mohawk and Hudson line, the first railroad to run through New York State. Hence the ghost with railroad tracks for teeth, our symbol. But our name also speaks to our mission."
An accident turned Calliope Bolan into a local celebrity. And your arms WILL break out in gooseflesh over the revelations surrounding the fatal accident. GAH! I was nervous and buzzing with energy. There are secrets on top of secrets. And even MORE secrets. Not one mystery, but two. Buckle up! The ending will leave you...
Is there another one?!
If you're into dark academia, this one is for you! Very Bad People is perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus!
👻THINGS and STUFF 👻
-small village in the Adirondack mountains
-sister drama
-boarding school
-an exclusive secret society: Haunt and Rail
-herbal tea: passion fruit iced tea with lots of sugar
-a lark!
-anonymous message board
-some Mission Impossible skills
-betrayal and lies
-accusations and revenge
-one BIG secret
-collateral
-#IsThisAKissingBook: Young Adult. 14 and up, grades 9 up. "I would very much like to kiss you right now. Would that be all right?" First love.
Thank you Simon Teen and Kit Frick for an advanced copy!
Song: The Chain by Fleetwood Mac
An accident turned Calliope Bolan into a local celebrity. And your arms WILL break out in gooseflesh over the revelations surrounding the fatal accident. GAH! I was nervous and buzzing with energy. There are secrets on top of secrets. And even MORE secrets. Not one mystery, but two. Buckle up! The ending will leave you...
Is there another one?!
If you're into dark academia, this one is for you! Very Bad People is perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus!
👻THINGS and STUFF 👻
-small village in the Adirondack mountains
-sister drama
-boarding school
-an exclusive secret society: Haunt and Rail
-herbal tea: passion fruit iced tea with lots of sugar
-a lark!
-anonymous message board
-some Mission Impossible skills
-betrayal and lies
-accusations and revenge
-one BIG secret
-collateral
-#IsThisAKissingBook: Young Adult. 14 and up, grades 9 up. "I would very much like to kiss you right now. Would that be all right?" First love.
Thank you Simon Teen and Kit Frick for an advanced copy!
Song: The Chain by Fleetwood Mac
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March 20, 2022Hello, YA Dark Academia!
I really enjoyed Kit Frick's debut YA and was excited to try this. I had no idea it was Dark Academia (or maybe I forgot) but it was a great example of the subgenre. If you want to know more about Dark Academia OR want my list of YA Dark Academia and adult Dark Academia you can find my Dark Academia Post here!
I'll be doing a full review of this on my blog, but Very Bad People had a boarding school setting, a secret society, and a lot of moral ambiguity. I really enjoyed it!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Jen Ryland Reviews
I really enjoyed Kit Frick's debut YA and was excited to try this. I had no idea it was Dark Academia (or maybe I forgot) but it was a great example of the subgenre. If you want to know more about Dark Academia OR want my list of YA Dark Academia and adult Dark Academia you can find my Dark Academia Post here!
I'll be doing a full review of this on my blog, but Very Bad People had a boarding school setting, a secret society, and a lot of moral ambiguity. I really enjoyed it!
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Jen Ryland Reviews
April 10, 2022
Won via goodreads giveaways, all my opinions are my own:).
---
I was intrigued for awhile but my interest started to wane and I was skimming just to find out what happened.
I was a bit underwhelmed overall, but take a chance on it if it sounds interesting to you.
---
I was intrigued for awhile but my interest started to wane and I was skimming just to find out what happened.
I was a bit underwhelmed overall, but take a chance on it if it sounds interesting to you.
March 25, 2024
Content warnings: death of a parent (in the past, but also there's flashbacks), grief, murder, teacher/student relationship, grooming, bullying, cheating, mentions of suicide, car accident (in the past, but also there's flashbacks), drowning
I wanted to love this, but ultimately I think there was just a little too much going on??? Like, there's the dead mum plotline and everything that goes along with it. There's the secret society fighting for social justice plotline. And then there's the teacher plotline. And I don't really feel like any of them were handled to a sufficient level of satisfaction.
So yeah. It was FINE. And I did really enjoy the way that the plotline around her mum played out. But the rest of it kiiiiiiind of lost me tbh.
I wanted to love this, but ultimately I think there was just a little too much going on??? Like, there's the dead mum plotline and everything that goes along with it. There's the secret society fighting for social justice plotline. And then there's the teacher plotline. And I don't really feel like any of them were handled to a sufficient level of satisfaction.
So yeah. It was FINE. And I did really enjoy the way that the plotline around her mum played out. But the rest of it kiiiiiiind of lost me tbh.
May 17, 2022
I disappeared for a while because of testing season and AP exams, but I'll make it up by reading a LOT this summer :) ANYWAYS, this book was amazing and I enjoyed all of it. However, the ending was very... open? Which I guess I can appreciate, but I would have preferred a definite answer of what she chose to do. The whole book built up to the end, but then we never find out what happens. Overall, a very great read though! Definitely reminds me of Truly Devious and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, both of which are some of my favorite mysteries.
March 30, 2022
This was a super fun read! I wasn't sure if I'd like it (I'm not normally a thriller/mystery reader) but I really liked it.
The setting was part of the reason this was so great. Isolated boarding school with secret societies, what wasn't to love? The vibes were immaculate, and so fun to imagine!
And even better were the moral dilemmas this presented. They were super intriguing, and although they weren't the backbone of the book, they were still super fun. The open ending really left a lot to the imagination, and I love the ability to interpret it as I wish.
And finally, I really liked our characters. They were an interesting batch, and even though I'm still not a giant fan of the plot, the characters made up for it. The friendships and the family connections were awesome.
With similar vibes to The Secret History and Grimrose Girls, I'd definitely recommend this one! It was a super fun read, and I'll be keeping an eye on this author
Thanks to Turn the Page Tours for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
The setting was part of the reason this was so great. Isolated boarding school with secret societies, what wasn't to love? The vibes were immaculate, and so fun to imagine!
And even better were the moral dilemmas this presented. They were super intriguing, and although they weren't the backbone of the book, they were still super fun. The open ending really left a lot to the imagination, and I love the ability to interpret it as I wish.
And finally, I really liked our characters. They were an interesting batch, and even though I'm still not a giant fan of the plot, the characters made up for it. The friendships and the family connections were awesome.
With similar vibes to The Secret History and Grimrose Girls, I'd definitely recommend this one! It was a super fun read, and I'll be keeping an eye on this author
Thanks to Turn the Page Tours for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 22, 2025
UGHHH I loved that book but hated the ending, rtc
December 30, 2022
THIS BOOK. Ugh. It was so good but the ending? It sucked. No resolution, nothing, nada. It was kind of a letdown.
April 7, 2022
Overall I enjoyed this one, but imagine you read an entire book and the very last paragraph makes you groan and leaves a sour taste in your mouth. 😭
Mysteries old and new collide when sixteen year old Calliope transfers to Tipton Academy and she realizes there may be more to the "accident" that caused her mother's death six years ago. She's almost immediately tapped to join Haunt and Rail, the only active secret society at the academy. But where most secret societies brim with privilege and elitism, Haunt and Rail serves as a social justice society that encourages the school and community to do better.
Full of moral quandaries and ethical debate, Calliope is forced to reconcile her belief in the rules with disruption of inspiring change. Is it wrong to break a rule if it is for a good reason? If so, how big of a rule can you break before it skews into Bad Territory?
This is a book that's a wild ride, fully engaging with a web of secrets and mysteries the reader and Calliope must unravel together. The writing style is very blunt and to the point, which makes it easy to consume in one sitting. The ending isn't quite what I like to see in a book, but I can understand why Kit wrote it the way she did (doesn't mean I like it though!). If you like your characters morally grey, then Very Bad People is a must-read!
eARC provided by the publisher for my honest review. This does not impact my opinions of the book nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.
Content warnings: death of a parent, murder, statutory rape (off-page), suicide (off-page)
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"It's the Bolan girls. The ones who survived. We don't live in a fairy tale, but people regard us, sometimes, as if we are more story than girl. More myth than flesh that hurts and bleeds and grieves."Sixteen year old Calliope lives in a small town in the Adirondacks with her father and two younger sisters, a life where she is known by everyone and her trauma is common knowledge. I can't imagine having the worst day of my life on everyone's mind and being something I cannot escape, so my heart instantly hurt for Calliope and her family. The hometown she never envisioned leaving suddenly became a place she couldn't wait to escape.
Mysteries old and new collide when sixteen year old Calliope transfers to Tipton Academy and she realizes there may be more to the "accident" that caused her mother's death six years ago. She's almost immediately tapped to join Haunt and Rail, the only active secret society at the academy. But where most secret societies brim with privilege and elitism, Haunt and Rail serves as a social justice society that encourages the school and community to do better.
"The society's purpose will be to haunt and rail, that is to clandestinely observe injustices, inequities, and bad actors at Tipton Academy, and to rail against their wrongs."A girl who's been searching for where she belongs, Calliope finds her place at Tipton and a purpose within Haunt and Rail. But are things as good as they seem?
Full of moral quandaries and ethical debate, Calliope is forced to reconcile her belief in the rules with disruption of inspiring change. Is it wrong to break a rule if it is for a good reason? If so, how big of a rule can you break before it skews into Bad Territory?
"Tipton guards its own, even when it means protecting very bad people."I loved the subtle critique on the systems in place that make progress difficult and how Tipton Academy basically serves as a microcosm for society at large. The people in power protect their own and the systems in place are built to maintain the status quo. The red tape and bureaucracies, how often (student) government actions make little progress at all; it highlights not only the need for social justice but also importance of awareness campaigns... and how they must appeal to what people care about.
“I came back to Tipton ready to open my eyes to the real story, messy and imperfect, and that’s exactly what I got.”While I wasn't fully invested in any of the characters per se, I really liked the relationship between Calliope and Nico. They are just two kids who have no idea what they're doing, full of awkward behavior and assumptions. It was so refreshing to see Calliope be brave and direct, expressing not only what she wants and asking for permission, but also seeking clarification to avoid misunderstandings.
This is a book that's a wild ride, fully engaging with a web of secrets and mysteries the reader and Calliope must unravel together. The writing style is very blunt and to the point, which makes it easy to consume in one sitting. The ending isn't quite what I like to see in a book, but I can understand why Kit wrote it the way she did (doesn't mean I like it though!). If you like your characters morally grey, then Very Bad People is a must-read!
eARC provided by the publisher for my honest review. This does not impact my opinions of the book nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.
Content warnings: death of a parent, murder, statutory rape (off-page), suicide (off-page)
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April 24, 2022
Dark academia setting and a number of mysteries all linked to a secret society meant I was hoping that this would be a shoe-in hit. While it was definitely a read that caught my attention (and I would certainly award it 3.5 stars if that were an option), there were elements that prevented me rating it higher.
Our focus is Calliope, transfer student to the exclusive boarding school that her mother attended. Calliope is hoping that being in close proximity to the place her mother studied will help her get to know little more about her mother. Unfortunately, within a very short space of time Calliope realises that there are secrets being kept by all manner of people, some of which involve her mother and some of which have clear repercussions for Calliope herself.
All we know about the family initially is that Calliope and her two sisters were in the car when her mother crashed and they ended up in the lake. Their mother died, but the girls survived, and nobody knows exactly what happened. Calliope cannot accept the verdict of accidental death so is determined to try and find out what she can.
Life at the new school is exciting, and Calliope enjoys getting to know some of her new classmates. She wasn't expecting to be asked to join the ghosts, a secret society that appear to try and right wrongs on campus. Unfortunately, some of these incidents appear to not always be handled in an orthodox fashion, and when Calliope learns that her mother was also part of this group, and around the time someone died, she wonders whether somebody might be trying to hide certain truths.
I read this fairly quickly and found myself keen to find out exactly how certain events were connected. So, why did I not award it higher? Unfortunately, the premise of the modern day campaign that forms the central idea of the book really did seem to come from nowhere. We didn't know enough about certain characters to really understand their actions, and I found myself frustrated by the ambiguity of the closing stages of the book. This was very much a personal taste thing, as opposed to it being an issue with the writing/story itself.
Our focus is Calliope, transfer student to the exclusive boarding school that her mother attended. Calliope is hoping that being in close proximity to the place her mother studied will help her get to know little more about her mother. Unfortunately, within a very short space of time Calliope realises that there are secrets being kept by all manner of people, some of which involve her mother and some of which have clear repercussions for Calliope herself.
All we know about the family initially is that Calliope and her two sisters were in the car when her mother crashed and they ended up in the lake. Their mother died, but the girls survived, and nobody knows exactly what happened. Calliope cannot accept the verdict of accidental death so is determined to try and find out what she can.
Life at the new school is exciting, and Calliope enjoys getting to know some of her new classmates. She wasn't expecting to be asked to join the ghosts, a secret society that appear to try and right wrongs on campus. Unfortunately, some of these incidents appear to not always be handled in an orthodox fashion, and when Calliope learns that her mother was also part of this group, and around the time someone died, she wonders whether somebody might be trying to hide certain truths.
I read this fairly quickly and found myself keen to find out exactly how certain events were connected. So, why did I not award it higher? Unfortunately, the premise of the modern day campaign that forms the central idea of the book really did seem to come from nowhere. We didn't know enough about certain characters to really understand their actions, and I found myself frustrated by the ambiguity of the closing stages of the book. This was very much a personal taste thing, as opposed to it being an issue with the writing/story itself.
February 26, 2022
Put Kit Frick up there with McManus and McGinnis for their dark mysteries, often with a strong female lead and a sense of righting the wrongs of injustices. This one is another such mystery that I'll be adding to our HS collection when it comes out. Yes there are the upstate New York placeholders like the Thruway and the Adirondacks but then it's juxtaposed with the high society of the academy in which the oldest of the three girls goes (and where her now deceased mother went). Ah yes the boarding school where there are no parents and no rules apparently. There are secret societies and predatory teachers that need to be put in their place when the other adults care more about their reputations that helping kids.
And there's a dual mystery that Calliope must solve and that's the residual memories of her and her sisters in the car with their mother before she drove it into the water. The girls escaped but their mother died. Was it an accident or murder-suicide? The results are inconclusive but Calliope stumbles on a few clues that might help. Intense with the right amount of teen drama.
And there's a dual mystery that Calliope must solve and that's the residual memories of her and her sisters in the car with their mother before she drove it into the water. The girls escaped but their mother died. Was it an accident or murder-suicide? The results are inconclusive but Calliope stumbles on a few clues that might help. Intense with the right amount of teen drama.
April 7, 2022
Calliope's mom died six years ago after driving a minivan (with Calliope and her two younger sisters inside) into a lake. Was it an accident? A Susan Smith-style murder attempt? Or something else? Calliope desperately seeks answers at Tipton Academy, the same fancy boarding school her mom attended, and is quickly in over her head after joining a secret society called Haunt and Rail.
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The premise of this book was interesting and sounded like it would be a fun read, but the pace was kind of draggy, I didn't love the characters, and I wasn't super into the reveals when they happened. The part about the predatory teacher felt kind of tacked on and not very well-developed. I think I need to steer clear of dark academia/secret society books for a bit because they are all blurring together for me. That said, I would gladly read another book by Kit Frick (starting with I Killed Zoe Spanos)!
* thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing / Margaret K. McElderry Books for the NetGalley review copy. Very Bad People publishes April 5, 2022.
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The premise of this book was interesting and sounded like it would be a fun read, but the pace was kind of draggy, I didn't love the characters, and I wasn't super into the reveals when they happened. The part about the predatory teacher felt kind of tacked on and not very well-developed. I think I need to steer clear of dark academia/secret society books for a bit because they are all blurring together for me. That said, I would gladly read another book by Kit Frick (starting with I Killed Zoe Spanos)!
* thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing / Margaret K. McElderry Books for the NetGalley review copy. Very Bad People publishes April 5, 2022.
March 28, 2023
Libby: Passive narrator that doesn't really do much towards anything.
She transfers schools, but because she's a legacy, she gets into the secret society her mom had been in. She was in a car crash that killed her mom as a kid, but doesn't actually do anything other than post a note to a bulletin board to find out the truth of what happened (and then that doesn't even result in her truth). She wasn't invited to be a part of the murder, but when she stumbles on it, she instantly wants to rat them out even though the murder victim is a predatory teacher that she knows preyed on at least one of her "ghost" pals.
She makes no real friends and pushes away the only guy who seems interested in her. Also, she abandons her family for these nonexistent friends, when her dad and sisters clearly are struggling.
Aaaaaand it hangs on a cliffhanger, so not sure if she's gonna actually going to turn in the murderers or if she thinks they were justified and is gonna keep silent (predator lead to the suicide of one of the girl's sisters years ago).
Read by Devon Sorvari. #booksin23
She transfers schools, but because she's a legacy, she gets into the secret society her mom had been in. She was in a car crash that killed her mom as a kid, but doesn't actually do anything other than post a note to a bulletin board to find out the truth of what happened (and then that doesn't even result in her truth). She wasn't invited to be a part of the murder, but when she stumbles on it, she instantly wants to rat them out even though the murder victim is a predatory teacher that she knows preyed on at least one of her "ghost" pals.
She makes no real friends and pushes away the only guy who seems interested in her. Also, she abandons her family for these nonexistent friends, when her dad and sisters clearly are struggling.
Aaaaaand it hangs on a cliffhanger, so not sure if she's gonna actually going to turn in the murderers or if she thinks they were justified and is gonna keep silent (predator lead to the suicide of one of the girl's sisters years ago).
Read by Devon Sorvari. #booksin23
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2025
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E-ARC provided by the author in exchange for a review. This does not impact this rating at all.
OH MY GOD!!
This book blew me away. There was so much to it. So many twists; it kept me guessing until the very last page!
Calliope Bolan's mother drove a car into a lake-with her daughters in it. But what Calliope can't get over is why her mother would do such a thing. She doesn't believe that her mother did a murder-suicide-it doesn't seem like her.
So Calliope decides to figure it out herself. She goes to Tipton Academy, the school her mother went to. And she finds herself wrapped up in a mystery-one much bigger than what she expected.
Find the full review on my blog! Link above
E-ARC provided by the author in exchange for a review. This does not impact this rating at all.
OH MY GOD!!
This book blew me away. There was so much to it. So many twists; it kept me guessing until the very last page!
Calliope Bolan's mother drove a car into a lake-with her daughters in it. But what Calliope can't get over is why her mother would do such a thing. She doesn't believe that her mother did a murder-suicide-it doesn't seem like her.
So Calliope decides to figure it out herself. She goes to Tipton Academy, the school her mother went to. And she finds herself wrapped up in a mystery-one much bigger than what she expected.
Find the full review on my blog! Link above
January 2, 2023
this book wanted to be *as good as dead* by holly jackson and *truly devious* by maureen johnson sooooooo bad and really ended up being just. neither of those. none of the characters were compelling, the plot was… all over the place, the answers to the questions were just kind of meh, and it didn’t feel like any sort of mystery or thriller. also, it really failed at having an ambiguous ending?? like, it just wound up feeling like a lazy move, not having to establish any sort of consequences for anything (emotional, mental, physical, or otherwise). all in all, i didn’t like this book.
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