The St. Ambrose School for Girls by Jessica Ward-dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 11, 2023

Heathers meets The Secret History in this thrilling coming-of-age novel set in a boarding school where the secrets are devastating—and deadly.

When Sarah Taylor arrives at the exclusive St. Ambrose School, she’s carrying more baggage than just what fits in her suitcase. She knows she’s not like the other girls—if the shabby, all-black, non-designer clothes don’t give that away, the bottle of lithium hidden in her desk drawer sure does.

St. Ambrose’s queen bee, Greta Stanhope, picks Sarah as a target from day one and the most popular, powerful, horrible girl at school is relentless in making sure Sarah knows what the pecking order is. Thankfully, Sarah makes an ally out of her roommate Ellen “Strots” Strotsberry, a cigarette-huffing, devil-may-care athlete who takes no bullshit. Also down the hall is Nick Hollis, the devastatingly handsome RA, and the object of more than one St. Ambrose student’s fantasies. Between Strots and Nick, Sarah hopes she can make it through the semester, dealing with not only her schoolwork and a recent bipolar diagnosis, but Greta’s increasingly malicious pranks.

Sarah is determined not to give Greta the satisfaction of breaking her. But when scandal unfolds, and someone ends up dead, her world threatens to unravel in ways she could never have imagined. The St. Ambrose School for Girls is a dangerous, delicious, twisty coming-of-age tale that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

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Sandy’s Review: THE ST. AMBROSE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS by Jessica Ward is a young-adult, coming of age, suspense thriller set in 1991, focusing on fifteen year old Sarah Taylor and her first few months at the prestigious St. Ambrose School for Girls.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers. Although most of the characters are underaged teens, the subject of the story line is adult and dark.

Told from first person perspective (Sarah) THE ST. AMBROSE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS follows fifteen year old Sarah Taylor’s arrival at St. Ambrose School For Girls in the wake of winning an essay contest. Sarah does not come from money; she has won a scholarship to the all girl school but it is her need for Lithium that will set her apart. Sarah struggles with bi-polar disorder, and in this, she is about to meet her match in the school bully Greta Stanhope but all is not well at the illustrious school when secrets reveal a twisted scandal that results in a murder-suicide.

The world building follows the struggles of fifteen year old Sarah Taylor, a young woman who is battling a debilitating mental disorder where she will often disassociate, and in this Sarah doesn’t often know reality from imagination. There are plenty of issues behind the scenes at the St. Ambrose School for Girls, and these issues are about to spiral out of control. As the new girl at school, Sarah will become the target of Greta Stanhope, a target that will become aware of the secrets hiding behind the closed doors.

The secondary and supporting characters included Sarah’s roommate Ellen ‘Strots’ Strotsberry who has a past with Greta Stanhope, a past that is about to push Ellen in more ways than one. Greta ‘s own secrets become fodder for those in the know but money is power, and power is control.

THE ST. AMBROSE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS is a slow building story line in which we only see one side of the story. Most of the conflict takes place off page wherein the reader is only witness to the fall-out and spiral. Most of the characters are not likeable including Sarah Taylor, although the reader may have sympathy for her struggles and her plight.

Throughout the story we are witness to Sarah’s endeavor to fit in but Sarah is so far outside of the box she becomes a target of those taking control. Befriended by her roommate, a sympathetic teacher and pharmacist, as well as the RA who is aware of Sarah’s emotional turmoil, Sarah hopes to move forward but secrets and lies begin to overwhelm a young woman who is unable to navigate the world as it is. The premise is intriguing and fascinating but felt stilted in its’ presentation; the characters are desperate and broken. As per the usual YA requisite trope parameters, the author included the mean girls, and the questionable and oblivious adults.

Barb’s Review:  St Ambrose School for Girls by Jessica Ward is a YA suspense standalone novel that takes place in a boarding school. When 15-year-old, Sarah Taylor arrives at the exclusive St. Ambrose School, she knows that she is not like the other girls in the school; as she has a bi-polar disorder.  Especially since she was an unlikely candidate for the prestigious school, as her mother was the one who submitted her essay without her knowledge. She makes an ally out of her roommate, Strots (Ellen), who is an athlete, cigarette smoker and is gay.

St. Ambrose’s queen bee, Greta Stanhope, targets Sarah from the start, as she is evil and a classic mean girl.  Greta constantly pulls vicious pranks on Sarah, making her life difficult. Nick Hollis, is a teacher who is assigned to the upper floors, and since he is very handsome, all the students adore him; of course, Sarah also is infatuated with him. 

Sarah tries to hide her bi-polar disorder, as well as her previous attempts to commit suicide. We spent a lot of time seeing Sarah’s episodes that take over her mind; obsessive thoughts not in reality, blanking out, losing time, suicidal attempts, etc. This was very dark, somber and at times depressing, to watch a young girl going through her disorder with some confusing and detailed descriptions. 

What follows is an exciting and wild last third of the book; when scandals are revealed, as well as murder; with everything at the school falling apart. I did like Strots, as she was always willing to protect Sarah from the evil girls.  I was not a fan of the rest of the characters, which included Sarah.  I also thought Sarah’s crazy thoughts were too much and a bit of overkill.  The St. Ambrose School for Girls was an interesting, wild, suspenseful YA tale that had a decent finish.

Copies supplied by the publisher