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A Dangerous Education
A reformist teacher. A dangerous student clique. A powerful novel about secrets and redemption set in the shadows of McCarthy-era America.
Rosemary Chivers is haunted by the choices she made as a teenager—and by those made for her by a controlling mother. Now, in the Cold War era of conformity and suspicion, Rosemary is a modern new teacher at a school for troubled girls, where she challenges the narrow curriculum meant to tame restless young minds. She also keeps a devastating secret. She knows one of the students is the child she gave up. But which one?
Ignoring warnings, Rosemary forms an impenetrable bond with the three girls who are the right age: shrewd runaway Maisie, alcohol-indulging Sandra, and overly flirtatious Jean. But these are no ordinary girls, and what begins as an effort to bring closure to her own rebellious youth soon spirals dangerously out of control.
Rosemary is prepared to do anything to find her daughter. What she isn’t prepared for are the deadly consequences that come with discovery—or just how wicked wayward girls can be.
Rosemary Chivers is haunted by the choices she made as a teenager—and by those made for her by a controlling mother. Now, in the Cold War era of conformity and suspicion, Rosemary is a modern new teacher at a school for troubled girls, where she challenges the narrow curriculum meant to tame restless young minds. She also keeps a devastating secret. She knows one of the students is the child she gave up. But which one?
Ignoring warnings, Rosemary forms an impenetrable bond with the three girls who are the right age: shrewd runaway Maisie, alcohol-indulging Sandra, and overly flirtatious Jean. But these are no ordinary girls, and what begins as an effort to bring closure to her own rebellious youth soon spirals dangerously out of control.
Rosemary is prepared to do anything to find her daughter. What she isn’t prepared for are the deadly consequences that come with discovery—or just how wicked wayward girls can be.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2023
About the author
Megan Chance
33 books621 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Megan Chance is the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of several novels. Booklist calls her writing “Provocative and haunting.” Her books have been chosen by Amazon's Book of the Month, Borders Original Voices and IndieNext. A former television news photographer with a BA from Western Washington University, Megan Chance lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Visit her at www.meganchance.com
Megan Chance is the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of several novels. Booklist calls her writing “Provocative and haunting.” Her books have been chosen by Amazon's Book of the Month, Borders Original Voices and IndieNext. A former television news photographer with a BA from Western Washington University, Megan Chance lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. Visit her at www.meganchance.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
January 16, 2023
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This book ticked a lot of boxes for me and was a slow burner in a really good way. It's historical fiction with a lot of suspense and teen girls gone bad. Add in a touch of dark academia and you have a recipe for a damn good novel. Rosemary Chivers starts a job at a reform school, as suggested by her mother. She is the home economics teacher and falls in with "mean girls" type of clique. A little too late she realizes that being the favourite teacher isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Add in an out-of-date curriculum and a secret she is hiding things get very complicated for her.
There was so much tension in this story, it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Rosemary doesn't always make the best decisions and I often felt like shaking her and scream "Don't do it!" I loved the two timelines, especially Rosemary's backstory. What a horrible time in history to be a woman who is aware of her own thoughts, feelings and sexuality. The grief and anger of Rosemary was palatable and carried on through her life in the present. The ending was surprising and satisfying even if I was frustrated with the injustice of it all.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#ADangerousEducation #NetGalley
This book ticked a lot of boxes for me and was a slow burner in a really good way. It's historical fiction with a lot of suspense and teen girls gone bad. Add in a touch of dark academia and you have a recipe for a damn good novel. Rosemary Chivers starts a job at a reform school, as suggested by her mother. She is the home economics teacher and falls in with "mean girls" type of clique. A little too late she realizes that being the favourite teacher isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Add in an out-of-date curriculum and a secret she is hiding things get very complicated for her.
There was so much tension in this story, it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Rosemary doesn't always make the best decisions and I often felt like shaking her and scream "Don't do it!" I loved the two timelines, especially Rosemary's backstory. What a horrible time in history to be a woman who is aware of her own thoughts, feelings and sexuality. The grief and anger of Rosemary was palatable and carried on through her life in the present. The ending was surprising and satisfying even if I was frustrated with the injustice of it all.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
#ADangerousEducation #NetGalley
January 19, 2023
4.5 🌟 If you liked "Lessons in chemistry"; how that book portrayed an independent woman trying to make her way throughout an ultra-conservative 1950's America; and if you like dark academia books set in wealthy boarding schools for "troubled" girls with gothic vibes and a mystery around it, "A dangerous education" is as good as they come 👏 Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
April 30, 2023
Oh, here's the Megan Chance I love!
Rosemary Chivers is haunted by the choices she made as a teenager. She's now teaching at a school for troubled girls, where she challenges the outdated curriculum. Rosemary is also holding a devastating secret. One of the troubled girls is the baby she was forced to give up for adoption 16 years ago.
In an attempt to discover which child is hers, she forms an unsanctioned school group with three girls who would be the same age as her daughter. But these are no ordinary girls, and what begins as an effort to bring closure to her own rebellious youth soon spirals dangerously out of control.
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This book is fantastic. It's set in the 1950s, where abortion is illegal, and expressions of independent lifestyles are discouraged. It's very atmospheric and really draws the reader in.
Megan Chance is one of my favorite authors, but her last two novels, A Splendid Ruin and A Drop of Ink were underwhelming to me and didn't reflect the talent shown in her earlier books. She brought it with this one. Well worth the read! 👍👍
Rosemary Chivers is haunted by the choices she made as a teenager. She's now teaching at a school for troubled girls, where she challenges the outdated curriculum. Rosemary is also holding a devastating secret. One of the troubled girls is the baby she was forced to give up for adoption 16 years ago.
In an attempt to discover which child is hers, she forms an unsanctioned school group with three girls who would be the same age as her daughter. But these are no ordinary girls, and what begins as an effort to bring closure to her own rebellious youth soon spirals dangerously out of control.
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This book is fantastic. It's set in the 1950s, where abortion is illegal, and expressions of independent lifestyles are discouraged. It's very atmospheric and really draws the reader in.
Megan Chance is one of my favorite authors, but her last two novels, A Splendid Ruin and A Drop of Ink were underwhelming to me and didn't reflect the talent shown in her earlier books. She brought it with this one. Well worth the read! 👍👍
April 21, 2024
The American Queen by Vanessa Miller. What a fantastic book! Starting in the 1930s. Miss Rosemary runs away with her love David. She becomes pregnant. They decide to get an illegal abortion. David drops her off at the meeting place never to see her again.
1950s Rosemary takes a job as a Home Ec teacher at a reformatory for troubled girls. She befriends the 3 trouble makers who are 17.
During my readings I kept yelling, “boundaries lady! Boundaries!” LoL She never heard my yells. Miss teacher ends up in jail. She faces 20 years for man slaughter
Wonderful story line. Eh, character development was weak. Rosemary definitely frustrated me. The story itself was captivating.
1950s Rosemary takes a job as a Home Ec teacher at a reformatory for troubled girls. She befriends the 3 trouble makers who are 17.
During my readings I kept yelling, “boundaries lady! Boundaries!” LoL She never heard my yells. Miss teacher ends up in jail. She faces 20 years for man slaughter
Wonderful story line. Eh, character development was weak. Rosemary definitely frustrated me. The story itself was captivating.
Shelved as 'wishlist'
December 14, 2022OMGGGG I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS
April 5, 2023
A Dangerous Education....
Are you kidding me?
Megan Chance, I do not know where you came from but I am not letting you out of my sight now that I have found you.
This is hands down my most favored book in 2023.
This book screams best seller and anyone who even considers rating this book under 5 stars would be a pompous little pork chop . (New favorite little phrase I picked up watching Australian TV) This translates to "acting like a little fool" .
Back to the book.
Wow, Just Wow. Chance did an incredible job with all of the detail. Everything was explained so vividly that I quite literally transported myself into the pages. These characters are multi-dimensional and feel incredibly real. The twist was absolutely wild and the conclusion left me speechless.
This book is a must read for all.
Five Stars
Teaser :
A reformist teacher. A dangerous student clique. A powerful novel about secrets and redemption set in the shadows of McCarthy-era America.
Rosemary Chivers is haunted by the choices she made as a teenager—and by those made for her by a controlling mother. Now, in the Cold War era of conformity and suspicion, Rosemary is a modern new teacher at a school for troubled girls, where she challenges the narrow curriculum meant to tame restless young minds. She also keeps a devastating secret. She knows one of the students is the child she gave up. But which one?
Ignoring warnings, Rosemary forms an impenetrable bond with the three girls who are the right age: shrewd runaway Maisie, alcohol-indulging Sandra, and overly flirtatious Jean. But these are no ordinary girls, and what begins as an effort to bring closure to her own rebellious youth soon spirals dangerously out of control.
Rosemary is prepared to do anything to find her daughter. What she isn’t prepared for are the deadly consequences that come with discovery—or just how wicked wayward girls can be.
Are you kidding me?
Megan Chance, I do not know where you came from but I am not letting you out of my sight now that I have found you.
This is hands down my most favored book in 2023.
This book screams best seller and anyone who even considers rating this book under 5 stars would be a pompous little pork chop . (New favorite little phrase I picked up watching Australian TV) This translates to "acting like a little fool" .
Back to the book.
Wow, Just Wow. Chance did an incredible job with all of the detail. Everything was explained so vividly that I quite literally transported myself into the pages. These characters are multi-dimensional and feel incredibly real. The twist was absolutely wild and the conclusion left me speechless.
This book is a must read for all.
Five Stars
Teaser :
A reformist teacher. A dangerous student clique. A powerful novel about secrets and redemption set in the shadows of McCarthy-era America.
Rosemary Chivers is haunted by the choices she made as a teenager—and by those made for her by a controlling mother. Now, in the Cold War era of conformity and suspicion, Rosemary is a modern new teacher at a school for troubled girls, where she challenges the narrow curriculum meant to tame restless young minds. She also keeps a devastating secret. She knows one of the students is the child she gave up. But which one?
Ignoring warnings, Rosemary forms an impenetrable bond with the three girls who are the right age: shrewd runaway Maisie, alcohol-indulging Sandra, and overly flirtatious Jean. But these are no ordinary girls, and what begins as an effort to bring closure to her own rebellious youth soon spirals dangerously out of control.
Rosemary is prepared to do anything to find her daughter. What she isn’t prepared for are the deadly consequences that come with discovery—or just how wicked wayward girls can be.
January 10, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an eARC copy for review
Twisty dark academia set in an all girls reform school in Washington set in the 1950's
Rosemary Chivers is a home economics professor who has come home to be closer to her ailing mother. He mother sets her up to work as a replacement teacher at this reform school with troubled girls with an ulterior motive. Her mother dies before telling Rosemary what secrets are hiding in the school. She eventually realizes 3 of the oldest girls might have a connection to her past. She takes the girls under her wing, but the relationship with them gets toxic very quickly, and it leads to some serious repercussions later.
Ever since reading The Secret History I love stories about teachers and a handful of selected students that form a close bond that leads to tragedy. Although I enjoyed an all female take on the idea, I am not sure i liked the historical setting. Also I don't think the author really explored the dynamics to their fullest potential.
Twisty dark academia set in an all girls reform school in Washington set in the 1950's
Rosemary Chivers is a home economics professor who has come home to be closer to her ailing mother. He mother sets her up to work as a replacement teacher at this reform school with troubled girls with an ulterior motive. Her mother dies before telling Rosemary what secrets are hiding in the school. She eventually realizes 3 of the oldest girls might have a connection to her past. She takes the girls under her wing, but the relationship with them gets toxic very quickly, and it leads to some serious repercussions later.
Ever since reading The Secret History I love stories about teachers and a handful of selected students that form a close bond that leads to tragedy. Although I enjoyed an all female take on the idea, I am not sure i liked the historical setting. Also I don't think the author really explored the dynamics to their fullest potential.
February 7, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the copy of A Dangerous Education. I loved the premise of this book. Rosemary is a home ec teacher in a reform school for girls. She falls under the spell of three students while trying to discover which one is the daughter she gave up years ago. The book started out great and even though the dual timelines didn’t really grab me, it finally all started coming together.
Rosemary was an interesting character but was very naive. She was so determined to make the girls like her she fell for their lies and caved in to their desire to learn more about forbidden subjects. It was hard to like her or be on her side because she made so many foolish choices. The writing was uneven and sometimes totally threw me out of the story and sometimes made me not want to put the book down.
If you love stories about mean girls and treacherous teens you might like this book. I’m not sure the book was for me. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Rosemary was an interesting character but was very naive. She was so determined to make the girls like her she fell for their lies and caved in to their desire to learn more about forbidden subjects. It was hard to like her or be on her side because she made so many foolish choices. The writing was uneven and sometimes totally threw me out of the story and sometimes made me not want to put the book down.
If you love stories about mean girls and treacherous teens you might like this book. I’m not sure the book was for me. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
November 8, 2022
Entanglements. What an odd word--but so very fitting for this incredible novel--I have goosebumps even thinking about it! And it will become clear when you read this book. Protagonist Rosemary meets David, her dream man when she is young; there are complications and things fall apart quickly. She accepts a teaching job at Mercer Rocks and because it is the 1950's at the height of McCarthyism, she is given the curriculum and must avoid anything "subversive" and even remotely suggestive of communism. That's all you need. Go in with a blank slate and allow Chance to open your mind to a time period that had so many repercussions that those of us who were children then, can only shudder to remember the atrocities we witnessed. I can't say enough about this book; it will haunt me for days!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
June 20, 2023
A Dangerous Education is a historical fiction novel about a teacher who is trying to move on from her past in a time where women have little independence.
I found this book from an article that started, "If you liked *Lessons in chemistry*....."
....this is NOT *Lessons in chemistry.* This book could have been great. I am going to give it a few stars for the premise and topic: a woman finding her way and escaping her past in a world where socialists were hunted and shamed. A woman fighting against oppression and teaching skills beyond "cooking and cleaning."
Okay but that's where the good stops. The idea. The premise. The execution was terrible. The characters were not believable: Rosemary made so many ridiculous and naive mistakes. The writing was boring and trite.
Overall, honestly, I'd pass.
I found this book from an article that started, "If you liked *Lessons in chemistry*....."
....this is NOT *Lessons in chemistry.* This book could have been great. I am going to give it a few stars for the premise and topic: a woman finding her way and escaping her past in a world where socialists were hunted and shamed. A woman fighting against oppression and teaching skills beyond "cooking and cleaning."
Okay but that's where the good stops. The idea. The premise. The execution was terrible. The characters were not believable: Rosemary made so many ridiculous and naive mistakes. The writing was boring and trite.
Overall, honestly, I'd pass.
February 11, 2024
Again very good, pretty unusual book. 4,5/5 for me
February 5, 2023
A Dangerous Education follows Rosemary, a single, 30-something home-ec teacher in the 1950s, recently hired to work at a mysterious boarding school for rich but troubled girls. When Rosemary grows close to a trio of dangerously charismatic students from the senior class, she must confront her own decades-old trauma and bring long-held secrets back into the light.
I enjoyed the setting and underlying suspense present throughout. That said, I often felt frustrated by Rosemary’s consistently bad decision-making and surprising naïveté. Her backstory (told through a series of effective flashbacks) does a lot to explain some of her actions, but I rolled my eyes more than a few times at her apparent total lack of judgement. I did, however, appreciate the risk the author took with the ending.
I’d classify this as a good holiday read - the chapters are short and the story was interesting enough to hold my attention, without requiring too much concentration. Not my favorite book of the year, but far from my least-favorite.
**I received an advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the setting and underlying suspense present throughout. That said, I often felt frustrated by Rosemary’s consistently bad decision-making and surprising naïveté. Her backstory (told through a series of effective flashbacks) does a lot to explain some of her actions, but I rolled my eyes more than a few times at her apparent total lack of judgement. I did, however, appreciate the risk the author took with the ending.
I’d classify this as a good holiday read - the chapters are short and the story was interesting enough to hold my attention, without requiring too much concentration. Not my favorite book of the year, but far from my least-favorite.
**I received an advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 4, 2023
again from netgalley! some mystery/thriller and probably my first venture into adult dark academia?
rosemary is a home economics teacher who transfers to a boarding school for "wayward girls" upon her gravely sick mother's insistence. set in 1954 (with flashbacks from 1936 to 39), the curriculum she has to follow strictly teaches girls how to become perfect little housewives, but rosemary's like, no deal, that 1950s shit they want from me! and so she teaches her girls hard, honest truths.
three senior girls get close to her and she learns that one of them is the child she gave up 17 years ago! but which one? there's definitely some twisted, chilling stuff going with the girls ...
i didnt know much about this part of american history but overall i liked the pace and rosemary was a great protagonist to read.
rosemary is a home economics teacher who transfers to a boarding school for "wayward girls" upon her gravely sick mother's insistence. set in 1954 (with flashbacks from 1936 to 39), the curriculum she has to follow strictly teaches girls how to become perfect little housewives, but rosemary's like, no deal, that 1950s shit they want from me! and so she teaches her girls hard, honest truths.
three senior girls get close to her and she learns that one of them is the child she gave up 17 years ago! but which one? there's definitely some twisted, chilling stuff going with the girls ...
i didnt know much about this part of american history but overall i liked the pace and rosemary was a great protagonist to read.
February 5, 2023
Thank you to @netgalley Lake Union Publishing / @amazonpublishing for the arc, pub Tues 2/7.
This book was set in a 1950s reform school for girls in Seattle with flashbacks to the 1930s. McCarthyism and the red scare was in full swing and it almost seemed dystopian- the thoughts of fighting communism by making troubled girls into great mothers/wives… Eek!
Even though it was set in the past, it was oddly relevant to current times- the lack of a realistic sex Ed for example. I’d almost describe it as HANDMAID’s TALE meets BRIDGERTON, meets a cult. The girls at the school are manipulative and take advantage of the teachers. Rosemary is modern for the times and puts up with the girls’ manipulation because she has a secret reason for being at the school.
Although I wanted a little more with the ending, overall I thought this was very different and clever, almost noir-like!
⚠️: abortion
This book was set in a 1950s reform school for girls in Seattle with flashbacks to the 1930s. McCarthyism and the red scare was in full swing and it almost seemed dystopian- the thoughts of fighting communism by making troubled girls into great mothers/wives… Eek!
Even though it was set in the past, it was oddly relevant to current times- the lack of a realistic sex Ed for example. I’d almost describe it as HANDMAID’s TALE meets BRIDGERTON, meets a cult. The girls at the school are manipulative and take advantage of the teachers. Rosemary is modern for the times and puts up with the girls’ manipulation because she has a secret reason for being at the school.
Although I wanted a little more with the ending, overall I thought this was very different and clever, almost noir-like!
⚠️: abortion
August 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! The unhinged girly clique vibes were to die for and the overall dark academia tone of the book was right up my alley.
The story follows Rosemary Chivers, a home economics teacher who begins working at a reform school for ‘troubled’ girls, she finds herself in the attentions of the senior girls, one of which is the daughter she gave up many years ago.
Exploring the struggles of being a woman in this time period was something in which I found super interesting, especially since I am not usually a big historical fiction fan. Each twist and turn continued to put me on the edge of my seat, and kept me second guessing my judgements throughout the whole story.
The characters were excellent, the story was superb, and I am really glad to have read this story.
(Also if anyone has any recommendations of stories like this, I would be glad to hear them)
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Rosemary Chivers, a home economics teacher who begins working at a reform school for ‘troubled’ girls, she finds herself in the attentions of the senior girls, one of which is the daughter she gave up many years ago.
Exploring the struggles of being a woman in this time period was something in which I found super interesting, especially since I am not usually a big historical fiction fan. Each twist and turn continued to put me on the edge of my seat, and kept me second guessing my judgements throughout the whole story.
The characters were excellent, the story was superb, and I am really glad to have read this story.
(Also if anyone has any recommendations of stories like this, I would be glad to hear them)
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 27, 2023
I devoured this book and woke up in the middle of the night thinking about it. Very timely as it's set mostly in the 50s, but the topic and conversations about sex ed and health (and the govt deciding curriculum) is unfortunately still so relevant today. My only issue with it is that the term 'mutually assured destruction' wasn't coined yet (not for several more years).
December 27, 2023
4.5/5
This book is slept on it was so bingeable I loved it. The ending is the only thing I wanted to be different, I think a lot of my friends would eat this up!!
This book is slept on it was so bingeable I loved it. The ending is the only thing I wanted to be different, I think a lot of my friends would eat this up!!
December 8, 2022
A Dangerous Education by Megan Chance. Thanks to @lakeunionpublishing and @netgalley for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rosemary made poor choices as a teenager that changed her life. Now, at her new job as a reform school teacher for troubled young girls, she’s set on her charges not making the same mistakes.
I love a story about some wayward young girls, and this was it! The time period and fear of communism added to the story and gave it an interesting historical fiction aspect. There was really a lot to this story besides young women coming of age and getting into trouble. So much more. I loved the main character even though you could see her making bad and worse decisions every day!
“She didn’t know their rules. They risked nothing, but she could lose everything.”
A Dangerous Education comes out 2/7.
Rosemary made poor choices as a teenager that changed her life. Now, at her new job as a reform school teacher for troubled young girls, she’s set on her charges not making the same mistakes.
I love a story about some wayward young girls, and this was it! The time period and fear of communism added to the story and gave it an interesting historical fiction aspect. There was really a lot to this story besides young women coming of age and getting into trouble. So much more. I loved the main character even though you could see her making bad and worse decisions every day!
“She didn’t know their rules. They risked nothing, but she could lose everything.”
A Dangerous Education comes out 2/7.
February 26, 2023
When Rosemary cannot get in touch with her parents for her mom‘s birthday she catches a train to check on them. She learned her mom was at the hospital and has an enlarged heart but she also learn she has a new job at Mercy rock Academy for girls. What her mom doesn’t tell her is that it is a reform school for two weeks after starting her new job she goes home on a Sunday to visit and find out one of the girls in her class is actually the daughter she gave up years ago. Rosemary is 34 years old and single after an indiscretion with a boy she met while sneaking out of the house something happened that her mom would never let her live down but soon after she finds this out from her mom she passes away. It is left up to Rosemary to find out the details and what she finds out will be a life changer. There is way more to this book than the week summary I have given I was just so disgusted with this book because I love historical fiction but I love it to be historically factual. The first time she meets one of the students the student ask her if she is a lesbian, no this is a word that wasn’t even in the popular vocabulary in the 1950s it wasn’t until the early 1970s that it wasn’t classified as a metal illness. Not only that she discusses things with the girls that maybe a teacher in the 21st-century would discuss it with them but this was supposed to be the 1950s and I can grant you know girl who was well bred who is going to be discussing sex with their teacher openly like it was A-OK and Rosemary made it sound like it would be fine if they did have sex with someone as long as it was their choice. Let me just say this is a 1950s not only is it going against some kind of law it isn’t up to Rosemary or any teacher to totally negate what a child’s parents tell him especially not back in the 50s when everyone went to church I just found that so unbelievable and it totally threw me off the book although I finished it I started not even caring who Hotel walls because this all sounded so made up. Now I know historical fiction is made up but if you don’t have a great grasp on that Abra don’t write a book on it it’s just ridiculous sounded crazy to me. If historical accuracy isn’t a pet peeve of yours you may like this book because the summary did make it sound like a great book but because I’m a lover of history and historical accuracy I did not. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I’m leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
April 3, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Three creepy 17 year old girls at a reform school and a socialist/communist-friendly unmarried female teacher in the height of the red scare looking for the daughter she gave up when she was their age. Intriguing premise but I didn’t love the execution.
This is supposed to be someone who is on her toes when it comes to, well, everything. This mid-thirties unmarried woman with socialist ties in her past watches her every move knowing the disaster that could happen in the new witch hunting days of McCarthyism. And yet… she’s dumb. She’s intelligent, but gosh she makes so.many.stupid.decisions. I really hate when a character makes out of character decisions simply to push ahead the plot. That’s what this felt like to me. This woman knowing the dangers all around making some of the dumbest moves she could make. This to me was really distracting and frustrating to read each time it happened. I don’t expect characters to never make mistakes but the mistakes have to fit the character.
Overall the pacing at the beginning was a bit off in my opinion though. We got a LOT of Rosemary’s backstory before we really got any of the present day story and to me it felt like too much. It was told in flash backs but the volume of it and details we got made the beginning of the book feel heavy and the pacing dragged. I think the same background info could have been given better over time and with less unnecessary detail.
It wasn’t all bad but I like to explain why I rated a book lower than perfect for anyone looking for information that might influence them to read it or not read it and I find the negatives more informative, at least for me, in that regard.
The author had a good grasp on the atmosphere of the reform school, she wrote the girls and their creepiness really well. The overall plot and mystery was strung along at a good pace and each person in the story felt believable. Overall I enjoyed the story, the mystery of which girl it was and how this trio of sirens would wreak destruction on everyone around them in the end.
I liked the pressure of the red scare and the atomic panic that provided the background of the book. It added palpable fear and consequences to everything that happened and provided a malevolence without a villain. That pervading fear and threat lent a lot to the atmosphere without a ridiculous foil for the protagonist.
Overall I did enjoy this, the drawbacks didn’t take it down too much for me. This is a dark academia adjacent story I’d recommend to those looking for one.
Three creepy 17 year old girls at a reform school and a socialist/communist-friendly unmarried female teacher in the height of the red scare looking for the daughter she gave up when she was their age. Intriguing premise but I didn’t love the execution.
This is supposed to be someone who is on her toes when it comes to, well, everything. This mid-thirties unmarried woman with socialist ties in her past watches her every move knowing the disaster that could happen in the new witch hunting days of McCarthyism. And yet… she’s dumb. She’s intelligent, but gosh she makes so.many.stupid.decisions. I really hate when a character makes out of character decisions simply to push ahead the plot. That’s what this felt like to me. This woman knowing the dangers all around making some of the dumbest moves she could make. This to me was really distracting and frustrating to read each time it happened. I don’t expect characters to never make mistakes but the mistakes have to fit the character.
Overall the pacing at the beginning was a bit off in my opinion though. We got a LOT of Rosemary’s backstory before we really got any of the present day story and to me it felt like too much. It was told in flash backs but the volume of it and details we got made the beginning of the book feel heavy and the pacing dragged. I think the same background info could have been given better over time and with less unnecessary detail.
It wasn’t all bad but I like to explain why I rated a book lower than perfect for anyone looking for information that might influence them to read it or not read it and I find the negatives more informative, at least for me, in that regard.
The author had a good grasp on the atmosphere of the reform school, she wrote the girls and their creepiness really well. The overall plot and mystery was strung along at a good pace and each person in the story felt believable. Overall I enjoyed the story, the mystery of which girl it was and how this trio of sirens would wreak destruction on everyone around them in the end.
I liked the pressure of the red scare and the atomic panic that provided the background of the book. It added palpable fear and consequences to everything that happened and provided a malevolence without a villain. That pervading fear and threat lent a lot to the atmosphere without a ridiculous foil for the protagonist.
Overall I did enjoy this, the drawbacks didn’t take it down too much for me. This is a dark academia adjacent story I’d recommend to those looking for one.
April 6, 2024
Set in the Cold War era, this story absolutely sucked me in! I love when there are several storylines to follow, but if it feels muddy, it doesn’t make for a fun read. The author did a beautiful job of meshing all the different aspects of the story together in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming, and the story kept me engaged the entire ~400 pages. Rosemary is a woman with more modern ideas and values than the world she lives in (think Lessons in Chemistry but more exciting IMO). While teaching at a reform school (it’s giving Gossip Girl vibes), she takes three girls under her wing that are thick as thieves and extremely unpredictable. Plot twist: one is Rosemary’s daughter she gave up for adoption as a teen. The detail that went into setting the Seattle scene and developing the characters was stunning; I felt like I was right in the story and knew these people in real life.
June 26, 2023
When reading historical fiction, I hope to have feel immersed in the era with words, dialogue and atmosphere. I don’t want to feel like I’m reading a twenty-first century novel with a few googled details thrown in for good measure.
I liked the premise of the story and the plot, but didn’t think the execution lives up to the blurb.
I liked the premise of the story and the plot, but didn’t think the execution lives up to the blurb.
January 28, 2023
This book is about a woman (Rosemary) who goes to teach at an alternative school for bad girls. Of course, the term “alternative” is not used because it takes place in 1954. The benchmark for “bad” was much different in 1954 than it is now.
From the start, three of the senior girls chose Rosemary to be their favourite teacher. This is not necessarily the honour that it seems at first glance. Rosemary gets sucked into their vortex very quickly. These three girls take the expression of Mean Girls to a whole new level. Diabolical comes to mind!
Rosemary is not a happy person. She has many problems of her own which reach back to her teen years. The issues from her teen years affect the actions and emotions of her adult life.
From the minute Rosemary enters the school, I could sense a dark and uncomfortable undercurrent. Creepy, in fact. It's hard to tell if any of the staff are who they seem to be. It's not so much what is written about them, it's just sense I had.
Most of this book takes place in 1954. It was the time of the HUAC (House UnAmerican Activities Committee). This was set up to investigate anyone who was suspected of anything deemed “unAmerican”. At the time, any connection to anything remotely related to Communism, abortion, homosexuality and much more was considered UnAmerican and the person could be put on trial. Neighbours would spy on neighbours, coworkers would spy on coworkers. This does not play a large part in the story until close to the end, but it does lurk in the background. But, the school's curriculum was very strict about what it could teach. It's something that many of today’s generation are not aware of.
Reading this book is like waiting for a bomb to go explode. This is ironic since there were nuclear bomb tests carried out during the mid-1950s in Nevada, same time period as this book.
And, of course, the bomb explodes!
This book is about a very different time, different social values, different morals. The pages leading up to the conclusion were very dramatic.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was well-written, the plot was well thought out. I did not develop a liking for any of the characters, could not identify with them. Yet, they were very well portrayed. While I like a good suspense story, I’m not a huge fan of something that is dark and creepy and disturbing. This one certainly fits this description, in my mind. There are a lot of interesting historical facts revealed about the time period. Research was well done by the author.
My rating would be 3.5 but because of the writing and plot and the historical facts, I will round it up, not down.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
From the start, three of the senior girls chose Rosemary to be their favourite teacher. This is not necessarily the honour that it seems at first glance. Rosemary gets sucked into their vortex very quickly. These three girls take the expression of Mean Girls to a whole new level. Diabolical comes to mind!
Rosemary is not a happy person. She has many problems of her own which reach back to her teen years. The issues from her teen years affect the actions and emotions of her adult life.
From the minute Rosemary enters the school, I could sense a dark and uncomfortable undercurrent. Creepy, in fact. It's hard to tell if any of the staff are who they seem to be. It's not so much what is written about them, it's just sense I had.
Most of this book takes place in 1954. It was the time of the HUAC (House UnAmerican Activities Committee). This was set up to investigate anyone who was suspected of anything deemed “unAmerican”. At the time, any connection to anything remotely related to Communism, abortion, homosexuality and much more was considered UnAmerican and the person could be put on trial. Neighbours would spy on neighbours, coworkers would spy on coworkers. This does not play a large part in the story until close to the end, but it does lurk in the background. But, the school's curriculum was very strict about what it could teach. It's something that many of today’s generation are not aware of.
Reading this book is like waiting for a bomb to go explode. This is ironic since there were nuclear bomb tests carried out during the mid-1950s in Nevada, same time period as this book.
And, of course, the bomb explodes!
This book is about a very different time, different social values, different morals. The pages leading up to the conclusion were very dramatic.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was well-written, the plot was well thought out. I did not develop a liking for any of the characters, could not identify with them. Yet, they were very well portrayed. While I like a good suspense story, I’m not a huge fan of something that is dark and creepy and disturbing. This one certainly fits this description, in my mind. There are a lot of interesting historical facts revealed about the time period. Research was well done by the author.
My rating would be 3.5 but because of the writing and plot and the historical facts, I will round it up, not down.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
May 31, 2024
I was drawn to this book because it takes place during the Cold War, with the main character teaching home economics at a school for wayward girls. While there were mentions of fears surrounding nuclear warfare, duck and cover drills, and HUAC, the narrative could have easily fallen into any time period with a few tweaks. The story is interspersed with flashbacks to the main character's past, where she herself was a wayward teenager who ended up pregnant and forced to give the baby up for adoption by her parents. This baby just so happens to now be one of her students, and the reader follows her journey to determine which of these girls is connected to her.
The pacing was rather slow for much of the book, and I was tempted to DNF but wanted to find out the identity of the main character's daughter. I was not a fan of the inclusion of sexual content (including described scenes), especially with the teacher explaining detailed sexual concepts to her senior students. While the majority of these explanations were alluded to rather than included in the text, the very notion of a non-parental adult discussing these concepts with minor isn't appropriate by any means. It also felt like the entire message of the book was to try to convince the reader to be sympathetic to abortion and promiscuity in young people.
Format: Ebook via Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 2 stars
Book 82 of 2024
The pacing was rather slow for much of the book, and I was tempted to DNF but wanted to find out the identity of the main character's daughter. I was not a fan of the inclusion of sexual content (including described scenes), especially with the teacher explaining detailed sexual concepts to her senior students. While the majority of these explanations were alluded to rather than included in the text, the very notion of a non-parental adult discussing these concepts with minor isn't appropriate by any means. It also felt like the entire message of the book was to try to convince the reader to be sympathetic to abortion and promiscuity in young people.
Format: Ebook via Kindle Unlimited
Rating: 2 stars
Book 82 of 2024
February 26, 2023
4 stars
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
I really enjoyed this historical fiction mystery thriller set at a boarding school for troubled girls in the 1950s during the Cold War & McCarthy hearings. Rosemary is a teacher at the school & despite warnings from other teachers, & her own instincts, she gets close with a trio of cunning girls who run the school. Just before going to teach the girls, Rosemary discovers that one of the three girls is the daughter she was forced to give up when she was 17 years old. Everyone is damaged in one way or another, & the choices they make have devastating consequences.
The story grabbed my attention immediately & I kept turning pages until late into the night. The quiet desperation dripping from each of the girls, as well as Rosemary, was hard to read. Years ago I felt smothered & limited by society, but it was nothing compared to the time period of the book. Despite being almost 18 years old, the girls have absolutely no control over their own lives. Every decision is made for them "for their own good". It's any wonder they rebel. Also shocking is their complete ignorance of how their own body function, let alone about men or sex. I kept shaking my head as I read, grateful that I wasn't raised during this time period. I wasn't sure if liked the ending or not, but after thinking about it the next day, I do. It seemed fitting. If you like edgy historical fiction thrillers, this is just the book for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kate Rock Book Tours and Lake Union Publishing. All opinions are my own.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
I really enjoyed this historical fiction mystery thriller set at a boarding school for troubled girls in the 1950s during the Cold War & McCarthy hearings. Rosemary is a teacher at the school & despite warnings from other teachers, & her own instincts, she gets close with a trio of cunning girls who run the school. Just before going to teach the girls, Rosemary discovers that one of the three girls is the daughter she was forced to give up when she was 17 years old. Everyone is damaged in one way or another, & the choices they make have devastating consequences.
The story grabbed my attention immediately & I kept turning pages until late into the night. The quiet desperation dripping from each of the girls, as well as Rosemary, was hard to read. Years ago I felt smothered & limited by society, but it was nothing compared to the time period of the book. Despite being almost 18 years old, the girls have absolutely no control over their own lives. Every decision is made for them "for their own good". It's any wonder they rebel. Also shocking is their complete ignorance of how their own body function, let alone about men or sex. I kept shaking my head as I read, grateful that I wasn't raised during this time period. I wasn't sure if liked the ending or not, but after thinking about it the next day, I do. It seemed fitting. If you like edgy historical fiction thrillers, this is just the book for you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kate Rock Book Tours and Lake Union Publishing. All opinions are my own.
January 6, 2024
Oh god. A Dangerous Education is one of the most emotional books I’ve read in a while. This book resonated with me on so many levels: unfortunately, I have a complicated and difficult relationship with my mother just like the main character, Rosemary, and I have also struggled with trying to ”fit in” while feeling like an outcast. Just like Rosemary’s, my values stand out from what some of my family members believe in, and I’ve been occasionally judged for what I hold dear.
The characters in this book are complex, diverse and well written. Even though the wayward girls, Maisie, Sandra, and Jean, did some twisted and very questionable things, they were still lovable, and I personally felt like they were sort of misunderstood. However, considering their past and where they come from, it’s quite understandable how they turned out. They had so much love to give to the world and especially to Rosemary, but didn’t know how to give it in a healthy way.
The plot in A Dangerous Education was so good and full of secrets. It kept me hooked until the very end, and that’s why I devoured this book in just three days. It was simply too good to put down. There were so many questions and revelations that made me yearn for answers and explanations. Thankfully, all of my questions were answered at the end.
I don’t read historical fiction very often, but from now on, I’ll certainly try to pick up more historical books. Even though I’m interested in history, I’m not very familiar with the history of America as a Finn. I had no idea that left-wing individuals were persecuted in the US about 70 years ago, and I loved learning about that.
The characters in this book are complex, diverse and well written. Even though the wayward girls, Maisie, Sandra, and Jean, did some twisted and very questionable things, they were still lovable, and I personally felt like they were sort of misunderstood. However, considering their past and where they come from, it’s quite understandable how they turned out. They had so much love to give to the world and especially to Rosemary, but didn’t know how to give it in a healthy way.
The plot in A Dangerous Education was so good and full of secrets. It kept me hooked until the very end, and that’s why I devoured this book in just three days. It was simply too good to put down. There were so many questions and revelations that made me yearn for answers and explanations. Thankfully, all of my questions were answered at the end.
I don’t read historical fiction very often, but from now on, I’ll certainly try to pick up more historical books. Even though I’m interested in history, I’m not very familiar with the history of America as a Finn. I had no idea that left-wing individuals were persecuted in the US about 70 years ago, and I loved learning about that.
May 18, 2024
I was recommended this on kindle ages ago but never bought it because historical fiction isn’t really my thing. But there’s 3 months free kindle unlimited right now and it happened to be available so I read it. This was fairly good - I definitely wanted to know what the outcome of everything would be. I didn’t love the period setting. It just didn’t work right for me. The reveals at the end were a bit anticlimactic. The characters a bit wooden; I never felt like I really knew anyone. But it wasn’t bad and I can definitely see people liking it, it just didn’t quite click for me.
February 13, 2023
In A Dangerous Eduction, Megan Chance once again displays her versatility as an author with this engrossing novel set in the "modern" world of the 1950's. With rebellious teens, deep secrets, and the stifling atmosphere of the red-scare era, Chance creates a compelling tale of women once again chaffing against their designated role in society.
June 23, 2023
Very well written. I know teenage girls can be evil, but wow these 3 are something else!! Chilling story. It was a great listen!!
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