They Wish They Were Us

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Gossip Girl meets One of Us Is Lying with a dash of The Secret History in this slick, taut murder mystery set against the backdrop of an exclusive prep school on Long Island. In Gold Coast, Long Island, everything from the expensive downtown shops to the manicured beaches, to the pressed uniforms of Jill Newman and her friends, looks perfect. But as Jill found out three years ago, nothing is as it seems. Freshman year Jill's best friend, the brilliant, dazzling Shaila Arnold, was killed by her boyfriend. After that dark night on the beach, Graham confessed, the case was closed, and Jill tried to move on. Now, it's Jill's senior year and she's determined to make it her best yet. After all, she's a senior and a Player--a member of Gold Coast Prep's exclusive, not-so-secret secret society. Senior Players have the best parties, highest grades and the admiration of the entire school. This is going to be Jill's year. She's sure of it. But when Jill starts getting texts proclaiming Graham's innocence, her dreams of the perfect senior year start to crumble. If Graham didn't kill Shaila, who did Jill vows to find out, but digging deeper could mean putting her friendships, and her future, in jeopardy.

Reviews

An Instant Indiebound Bestseller

[A]n engrossing story of evil, upscale Long Island teens. Variety

The chilling murder mystery is an irresistible hook, but its the careful building of each characters fraught, internal conflicts that really digs in, elevating the work from a high society whodunit to a knowing mission to not just uncover ones own identity, but to build it. Esquire, Best Books of 2020

Gossip Girlbut make it a juicy murder mystery. E! Online

A pristine infusion of Gossip Girl and Netflix's Elite, this prep-school thriller has it all: plaid skirts, secret societies, and a grippingmurder mystery, but paired with an adept critique of the powers and privileges that goeth before the fall. Elle

Jessica Goodman's thrilling debut is a modern-dayGossip Girlbut darker. Marie Claire, The Best Fiction by Women in 2020

One of this summers buzziest reads. Entertainment Weekly

Jessica Goodmans debut mystery is a true page-turner, but its her exploration of Gold Coast's high-achieving, socioeconomically stratified culture that setsThey Wish They Were Usapart on the shelf. BookPage, Most Anticipated YA Books of the Summer

Goodman deftly explores the complex nature of friendship, privilege, grief, and the often crushing expectations placed on teens, all of which dovetails neatly with a twisty murder mystery.A sophisticated and suspenseful debut. Kirkus

This debut murder mystery is filled with twists and turns that will keep its pages turning. Booklist

Fast-paced and completely consumingI was swept into this riveting mystery from beginning to end.They Wish They Were Ussmartly explores the complexities of friendship, the secrets and lies buried under the picturesque faade, and the ultimate cost of perfection.
Megan Miranda,New York Timesbestselling author ofAll the Missing Girls,The Perfect Stranger, andThe Last Guest House

"A whip-smart mystery with a pitch-perfect voice."
Kara Thomas, author ofThe Cheerleaders, Little Monsters and The Darkest Corners

"A juicy, fast-paced, addictive tale that's more than a mysteryit's a timely exploration of ambition, loyalty, and how far we'll go to belong. I couldn't put it down."
Andrea Bartz, author ofThe Lost Night

Seductive and slick, They Wish They Were Us is a searing novel about power, privilege, and the dangerous pursuit of perfection. Youll remember the girls of Gold Coast Prep Long after the last page.Jessica Knoll,New York Timesbestselling author of The Luckiest Girl Alive and The Favorite Sister

Author Bio

Jessica Goodman is a senior editor at Cosmopolitan. They Wish They Were Us is her debut novel. Follow Jessica on Twitter @jessgood and on Instagram @jessicagoodman.