Foul is Fair, by Hannah Capin {YA Book Review}

I’ve always been a reader…. As a kid, I spent days reading Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew…the You magazine…anything I could get my hands on. In highschool I got my first taste of Shakespeare and I fell in love with his books and writing. They’re not books I seek out in 2020, but they’re books I’ll never forget. One of my favourite quotes come from Macbeth:

What’s done cannot be undone! – Lady Macbeth

That became one of my mantras in life. Kind of like: No use crying over spilt milk?

I picked up Foul is Fair and I had ZERO expectations when I picked it up off my bookshelf. I think sometimes that can work in your favour, having no expectations. When I closed the book I realised this book was kind of a mash up of Macbeth (in 2020), Cruel Intentions and 13 Reasons Why. Beware….triggers galore (see Content Advisory), but if you can suspend reality for this one, you’re in for one hell of a ride!

What is Foul is Fair about?

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.

My review

The book starts out of the gate with the introduction to the 4 girls…..and you really picture them entering like they’re from Mean Girls…the IT girls… and then 2 pages in, one of them is gang raped. We don’t get details and it’s not explicit in that sense. This book actually implies and skirts around many issues in that way with the story telling and writing style. Immediately afterwards, Elle goes into Survivor mode. She changes her hair, gets her nails done and makes her plans for her REVENGE.

I assumed we’d take time and go through a planning phase, but nope…the book went at 120km/hr and before 100 pages were up, we had murder. You need to buckle up and sit tight for this one. Foul is Fair is fast paced, dark, twisty, uncomfortable and ruthless.

I enjoyed the writing, nothing too complicated…. an easy read. Also, the way Hannah inserts the ‘flashbacks’ of THE scene throughout the book, is done so well. That was probably my favourite thing about her writing.

My critique?

I think just seeing gang rape come up, I expected Elle to show us a vulnerable side, but there was none of that. I also didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters….but this isn’t a fluffy emotionally charged book, so the critique isn’t really critique, just possibly what I was missing from a reader perspective.

My rating

Foul is Fair has a 3.9 star rating out of 5 stars on Goodreads. I’d rate it at a solid 4 stars. I enjoyed the darkness and the unbelievable path the book took. Once I was about half way through I went: She’s freakin Lady Macbeth!! As I’ve said above, this isn’t your feel good, warm and fuzzy, emotional sort of read. Also with all the topics covered, I wouldn’t be comfortable for anybody under age 18-20 really reading this. If you’re mentally strong, looking for a fast paced, dark, twisty sort of book, Foul is Fair is definitely a book you should check out!

Looking for more book reviews? Don’t forget to check out my Instagram page that’s dedicated to bringing you all the latest book releases and reviews! If you wanna hang around on the blog, check out my 5 star review of Run Away over HERE!

Disclaimer: Foul is Fair was sent to me by Penguin Random House SA in exchange for an honest review.