#ATBR2020 Review: Foul is Fair by Hannah Capin @wednesdaybooks @jessmapreviews
Foul is Fair
by Hannah Capin
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publish Date: February 18, 2020
Hardcover
336 Pages
Standalone
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Retellings
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.
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:
If I read any Shakespeare in high school/college, I have completely forgotten any part of it and have no desire to read him now. Would I have liked this better if I had fully known the story of Macbeth??? I don't know. And yes yes, I don't live under a rock, Macbeth has been retold at least a dozen times so don't @ me. ;) I've seen/read a few of them to have at least that must of a gist.
Set any retelling aside, let's just look at this zany story as it is. Definite Cruel Intentions vibes which I love... but it made the writing style a bit hard to get used to (for me) at the beginning. I found myself thinking I would've enjoyed this more on screen. *shrug* Also I found myself inadvertently reading two books in a row that dealt with rape culture in a YA world and the other one resonated a bit more for me.
Here's the thing - the more I read, the more I started to like it. I liked how out of control it was getting. I loved suspending reality and just watching Jade get her revenge on everyone. The whos, the whats, the hows… the blood. 😈 The entitled rich kids finally not getting any with it... the snarky bitchy girls... the at times cheesy dialogue. It all definitely grew on me. While I wouldn't say this was THE story for me, I certainly did have fun with it towards the end but I'm glad it's over.
★★★
Jessica's Review:
Are you ready for one hell of a revenge story? FOUL IS FAIR begins with what feels like chaos. Four girls getting ready to go out to celebrate a sweet sixteen – getting all dressed up, hair done, make up on, and claws ready. Elle, Mads, Jenny, and Summer decide to crash a St. Andrew’s Prep party for a night they won’t forget – well, they weren’t wrong. It just wasn’t the kind of night they were hoping for.
These girls have teeth and claws and they’re out for blood on those that were involved in what happened to Elle. As a warning, this does include the topic of rape. The author does include that disclaimer at the beginning for the readers. I think she handled the topic tastefully and while it was the motivation for the revenge, it wasnt the only thing driving the plot.
Ellie is one hell of a force to be reckoned with and with her Coven behind her, their bloody revenge is unstoppable. If you’re looking for something fun and with a writing style with bite, then this will be perfect for your TBR. I can’t wait to see what Capin comes out with next.
4 stars
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