Name: Laura's review of She Was the Quiet One by Michele Campbell
Item: She Was the Quiet One
Rating: 2
Author: Laura

Michele Campbell

"When twin sisters Rose and Bel Enright enroll in The Odell School, a prestigious New Hampshire boarding school, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. But the sisters could not be more different. The school brings out a rivalry between them that few ever knew existed. And the school itself has a dark underbelly of privileged kids running unchecked and uninhibited, of rituals and traditions that are more sinister than they seem, of wealth and entitlement that can only lead to disaster"--

A Novel

She Was the Quiet One

Laura

From the author of It’s Always the Husband comes a riveting new suspense novel about privilege, power, and what happens when we let ambition take control. For Rose Enright, enrolling in a prestigious New England boarding school is the opportunity of a lifetime. But for Rose’s vulnerable twin sister Bel, Odell Academy is a place of temptation and danger. When Bel falls in with a crowd of wild rich kids who pressure her into hazing Rose, the sisters’ relationship is shattered. Rose turns to her dorm mother, Sarah Donovan, for advice. But Bel turns to Sarah’s husband Heath, a charismatic and ambitious teacher. Is Heath trying to help Bel or take advantage of her? In a world of privilege, seduction, and manipulation, only one sister will live to tell the truth. In a novel full of twists, turns, and dark secrets, Michele Campbell once again proves her skill at crafting intricately spun and completely compelling plots. Praise for She Was the Quiet One: "Campbell’s skillful characterization and her shocking final twist make this follow-up to It’s Always the Husband well worthwhile. Readers who enjoyed Simone St. James’ boarding-school mystery, The Broken Girls, should give this a try." —Booklist Praise for It's Always the Husband: “Twists, turns, and a puzzling mix of suspects . . . will keep readers turning the pages.” —Booklist “An intriguing whodunit that examines the explosive potential of secrets to destroy friendships, marriages, and lives . . . a page-turner.” —Kirkus Reviews

Juana 

Megan Leprich

Another great novel by Michele Campbell. I was instantly hooked after reading It's Always the Husband so I knew I had to read this one.

Twins Rose and Bel just lost their mother to cancer and are sent to live with their wealthy grandma that they barely know. They are enrolled at Odell, a very prestigious boarding school that they're grandmother attended and immediately there is a rivalry between them. Rose is more worried about getting good grades and making new friends while Bel could care less about school and just wants to hang out with the bad popular crowd. After sustaining an injury during cross country, Bel finds herself tagging along with the wild, older girls and hazes her sister Rose and her roommate. Rose turns to her dorm mother Sarah while Bel turns to Sarah's husband Heath and gets wrapped up in a huge scandal that draws the sisters farther apart. Then someone ends up murdered and everything turns out not how it seems.

I loved the boarding school atmosphere and how that plays a huge role in this story. Everyone thinks it's just full of rich kids that always get what they want and never get punished. I loved all the characters, especially Bel even though she was the wild twin. I think my least favorite character was Sarah only because I wish she would have grown a back bone when she suspected her husband of infidelity. I was definitely thrown for a loop on the ending, I did not see that coming. Overall a great book that I loved reading.

Jessica 

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Full review also found here. 

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

There was a moment when I hesitated in picking this up. She Was the Quiet One had such an intriguing premise, but I haven't had the best luck when it came to stories of fictional twins lately. Then, there's the spoiled-angsty-rich-teenagers-at-boarding-school trope that I burned myself out on well over a decade ago but somehow can't resist it if it looks my way. As far as I was concerned, it could only go one of two ways: REALLY, really well or horribly wrong.

Somehow, She Was the Quiet One landed in the middle for me. I didn't hate it but I also didn't obsess over it. I enjoyed it and found the way that Campbell told the story to be intriguing. In-fact, I read it in mostly one sitting because even in the weaker spots I couldn't put the novel down.

The weak parts aren't worth mentioning beyond me saying that there were some things that didn't feel essential to the book and there were a couple of moments that I caught myself wondering if there was something missing in the layers. Tucked away where I couldn't find them.

But all stories have their flaws, so let's go back to the positives.

It's an addicting read in many ways and before you know it, you're finished. I really liked the way it all tied together and the fact that it did toy with readers often. Upon reading the premise, I had the idea that She Was the Quiet One would be similar in tone to a classic V.C. Andrews tale and in many ways, it does read like one in terms of psychological twists, complicated sibling/family relationships and its drama, losses and vividness.

In many ways, it did feel like V.C. Andrews meets CW drama. Only smarter.

While it wasn't my favourite book of the year, it was a fun read! Definitely an entertaining thriller that many readers will enjoy.

From the author of It’s Always the Husband comes a riveting new suspense novel about privilege, power, and what happens when we let ambition take control. For Rose Enright, enrolling in a prestigious New England boarding school is the opportunity of a lifetime. But for Rose’s vulnerable twin sister Bel, Odell Academy is a place of temptation and danger. When Bel falls in with a crowd of wild rich kids who pressure her into hazing Rose, the sisters’ relationship is shattered. Rose turns to her dorm mother, Sarah Donovan, for advice. But Bel turns to Sarah’s husband Heath, a charismatic and ambitious teacher. Is Heath trying to help Bel or take advantage of her? In a world of privilege, seduction, and manipulation, only one sister will live to tell the truth. In a novel full of twists, turns, and dark secrets, Michele Campbell once again proves her skill at crafting intricately spun and completely compelling plots. Praise for She Was the Quiet One: "Campbell’s skillful characterization and her shocking final twist make this follow-up to It’s Always the Husband well worthwhile. Readers who enjoyed Simone St. James’ boarding-school mystery, The Broken Girls, should give this a try." —Booklist

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She Was the Quiet One by Michele Campbell

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She Was the Quiet One by Michele Campbell