"The School Reunion" by Shalini Boland

 

"The School Reunion" by Shalini Boland is a psychological thriller exploring themes of revenge, bullying, hidden secrets, and lies.

The story follows Chloe Flynn, a divorcee with a complicated past, Dean Bradley, a single dad and a building contractor whose business went south, and a third unknown party. The narrative unfolds through their perspectives. While Chloe and Dean's stories take place in the present, the third protagonist's tale is revealed through a series of flashbacks. There are other minor characters that you will discover as you read.

Chloe Flynn is still recovering from a broken marriage, and her mother's harsh criticism doesn't help. She works as a low-level bank employee, and her life seems to be in a rut. When she receives an invitation to her high school reunion in her email, it appears to be the perfect opportunity to turn her life around. After some hesitation, she decides to attend, hoping to reconnect with old friends, especially a classmate she had a crush on. However, someone doesn't want her there, as she starts receiving threatening emails warning her to stay away.

On the other scale, we meet Dean Bradley, a single father raising a five-year-old on his own. He has been cheated in a business deal and is struggling with financial issues. While sorting through his late mother's affairs, he stumbles upon a terrible secret that sets him on a path of revenge.

The story is primarily told from the first-person perspective and alternates between the three main protagonists. The storylines start out separately, and the plot thickens when they overlap. 

Overall, I liked the book, but it took a while to grow on me. It starts off slowly, building momentum toward the reunion. There is a lengthy exposition, setting the scene, introducing the characters, and providing background information about them before diving into the main action. The plot only begins to pick up speed around the middle of the book, particularly at the reunion.

Shalini Boland creates compelling characters and dynamics that allow for a deeper exploration of their personalities. The writing is rich in detail, too rich at times, enabling readers to vividly picture each character, location, and scene. I found Dean likable, while my opinion of Chloe oscillated back and forth. Some plot twists were predictable, but others took me by surprise.

While the book didn't keep me on the edge of my seat or captivate me, it was still an enjoyable read. The ending was fantastic, more than making up for the slow start. Consequently, I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I recommend the book to readers who enjoy twisted slow-burn novels with character-drive plots.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

 For more info on the book: "The School Reunion" by Shalini Boland