If you’ve ever thought, “Wow, I love dark academia, but what if it was even messier, sharper, and slightly unhinged?” Boys With Sharp Teeth by Jenni Howell is about to become your next obsession! A little bit We Were Liars, a little bit The Raven Boys, and a whole lot of “what did I just read and why do I love it so much,” this YA debut is a delicious spiral into revenge, twisted friendships, and reality-bending secrets. Here’s why you absolutely need to dive into it (preferably with the lights on)!
Book Review: Boys With Sharp Teeth
Content warnings: death, mention of murder, grief, mild body horror, psychological manipulation, violence, drug abuse, mentions of suicide
Summary: 17-year-old Marin James has spent her entire life living in the shadow of the exclusive Huntsworth Academy. And when her cousin’s dead body is found in a creek on school property, Marin knows exactly who’s to blame: Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu, the enigmatic yet dangerously alluring leaders of the school’s social elite.
Swapping her ripped jeans for a crisp prep school skirt, Marin infiltrates Huntsworth to seek justice. But her quest is quickly muddied by a confusing attraction to her new life, and to the two dysfunctional and depraved boys who somehow understand her better than anyone ever has.
When Marin uncovers an otherworldly secret the boys are hiding within Huntsworth’s ivied gates, the lines between right and wrong, love and hate, and nightmare and reality begin to crumble — and nothing is as it seems.
Welcome to Huntsworth Academy.
1. The Boarding School Vibes Are Peak Dark Academia
Picture this: an elite academy tucked away in the woods, ivy climbing every wall, secrets lurking in every shadow. Boys With Sharp Teeth nails the dark academia aesthetic without coming across as a cliché. Huntsworth Academy feels like a character itself, equal parts magical and menacing, and you’ll find yourself wanting to both run from it and never leave.
2. The Boys Are A Whole New Level Of Dangerous
Adrian Hargraves and Henry Wu are not your standard broody YA love interests. They are chaotic, charismatic, and deeply unsettling in the best way. Their dynamic with Marin is full of sharp edges, confusing chemistry, and uneasy alliances. You’ll find yourself both suspicious of them and weirdly rooting for them, and questioning your own taste along the way.
3. Marin Is The Anti-Heroine We’ve Been Waiting For
Marin James is not here to play nice. She’s hurt, furious, and willing to get her hands dirty to get justice for her cousin. What makes her unforgettable is how real she feels; flawed, impulsive, and sometimes more dangerous to herself than anyone else. Watching her navigate Huntsworth (and her own inner darkness) is messy, raw, and totally addictive!
4. The Plot Twists Will Wreck You (In The Best Way)
Just when you think you know where the story is heading, Jenni Howell pulls the rug out from under you. There are paranormal twists, emotional gut-punches, and enough mind games to make you question everything you thought you knew about these characters. It’s haunting, it’s heartbreaking, and somehow, it’s also weirdly beautiful.
Boys With Sharp Teeth doesn’t just tell a story, it drags you straight into the chaos and dares you to find your way out. It’s feral, it’s chaotic, and it blurs every line between love and hate, right and wrong, real and unreal. If dark YA with bite is your thing, you owe it to yourself to step inside Huntsworth Academy. Just…watch your back!
Which element is enticing you to want to read Boys With Sharp Teeth? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below or over on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook 🐝
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JENNI HOWELL:
GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM | SUBSTACK | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | TWITTER
Want more book reviews? Here you go, honey!
