Read as part of CBR17 Bingo: starts with I
It’s really tough to go long on The It Girl because there are dozens of these types of what’s billed as “dark academia” thrillers and while this is better than most, it’s not really inspired.
Y’know this genre by now: they usually involve a secret society, a group of friends, a dead body, and time jumps. Most are indistinguishable from one another. They’re fine if that’s your thing, not trying to yuck anyone’s yum. But you know what’s happening and what’s going to happen.
Ruth Ware is an above average hand at writing these kinds of stories. They’re her bread-and-butter so you know you’re probably going to get something good. I haven’t been bored with anything she’s written — and I greatly enjoyed the cinematic Zero Days, which is begging to be made into a miniseries.
And she brings that thriller-type quality to this one. You know the class distinctions. You know the choreographies. You’ve been there. But in the hands of a competent writer, Ware is able to deliver something entertaining and fun, something worth reading. It doesn’t elevate the genre but I didn’t regret the time I put into it.
I will say I would love for these to feature fewer dead women. I mean that’s how I feel about the mystery/suspense genre in general but it’s just reinforcing a lot of systems. But I know that won’t stop anytime soon; it’s beyond a trend and more just an expectation. I can’t hold The It Girl to a higher standard though; you know what you’re getting and for the most part, it’s good.