[Rachel’s Review]: Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin

Elle and her friends Mads, Jenny, and Summer rule their glittering LA circle. Untouchable, they have the kind of power other girls only dream of. Every party is theirs and the world is at their feet. Until the night of Elle’s sweet sixteen, when they crash a St. Andrew’s Prep party. The night the golden boys choose Elle as their next target.
They picked the wrong girl.
Sworn to vengeance, Elle transfers to St. Andrew’s. She plots to destroy each boy, one by one. She’ll take their power, their lives, and their control of the prep school’s hierarchy. And she and her coven have the perfect way in: a boy named Mack, whose ambition could turn deadly.
Foul is Fair is a bloody, thrilling revenge fantasy for the girls who have had enough. Golden boys beware: something wicked this way comes.

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

First and foremost I would suggest reading the content warnings on Hannah Capin’s website to determine if this is a safe book for you. Although it is an amazing book and I do recommend it, it’s important to keep your own wellbeing in mind!

I didn’t even hear about this book until about a week before I read it and let me tell you it easily has become my favorite book of 2020. Can I claim a favorite book for a year that hasn’t started yet? Doesn’t matter, gonna do it anyway. This book is unapologetically fierce and it will not hold your hand.

The writing is sharp enough to make you bleed and mean enough to smile when it does.

Some people may find the writing hard to connect to because it is stylized and edgy, but I couldn’t put it down. I read the first six chapters on my lunch break at work and it haunted me the rest of the day. I couldn’t wait to get home and keep reading, especially when the body count started to tick up. The story happens fast, with about two weeks from start to finish and it left me heart-poundingly, palm-sweatingly reaching for more.

Elle/Jade and her “coven” of childhood friends were bright and strong and tough as nails and when Elle is attacked at a party they help her craft the ultimate revenge. I didn’t remember how much I loved how much Macbeth screws with your mind until I read this retelling. If possible I loved Foul is Fair even more. It’s a satisfying revenge fantasy filled to the brim with burning rage.

One thing you have to know going into it is that the normal rules do not apply. Much like Heathers, Kill Bill and Jawbreaker, you have to open your mind to the fact that, yeah, teenagers could not get away with half of this stuff. No one could get away with half of this stuff. But much like we love those stories you can’t help but be sucked in and intoxicated by the lengths these girls will go to to get the justice they deserve. A perfect, angry Shakespearean retelling for the #MeToo era, this is not one to miss!

ideallyrachel

Hi y’all, i’m Rachel! When i’m not reading or talking about books I can be found rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the 72nd time, working on my own novel, cheering on JMU football (Go Dukes!) and taking advantage of all the great museums and breweries Richmond has to offer.

Check out my instagram highlights and Goodreads page for more reviews of all the books i’ve read this year!