Girl Well Read

A special thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not really sure what intrigued me about the book initially given that I know nothing about gymnastics, nor am particularily interested in that sport (hey, I'm a mom to boys so it is hockey and baseball around here) but I requested the ARC and I'm so glad I did. We meet Devon Knox, a gymnastics prodigy and Olympic hopeful who is adored by her her parents, Katie and Eric, who have given everything to ensure Devon's success (even ignoring their other child). A death of one of their own gymnastic family members rocks the community only weeks before an important competition and everything the Knox family has sacrificed and worked so hard for is in jeopardy of slipping away. Rumours are rampant, agendas are exposed, and allegiances tested.

The staccato pace that Abbot tells the story is mesmerizing. Even when I had suspected whodunnit, I still pressed on and raced to the finish. Her writing is crisp, tense, effective, and dark at times. She captures the psyche of the teenage girl incredibly and is able to get into the head of her characters and pour them out on the page. I can't wait to read more by Megan Abbott!