Book Review: Foul is Fair

FOUL IS FAIR | Hannah Capin
02.18.2020 | Wednesday Books
Rating: 4/5 stars

Elle and her best friends Mads, Jenny, and Summer refer to themselves as The Coven. They are an untouchable group of friends who hold the level of power others their age can only dream of having. On the night of Elle’s sweet sixteen the girls set out to a party hosted by the golden boys of another local LA school, St. Andrew’s Prep. The night turns out to be anything but what the girls had planned. This group of boys has a dark, predatory secret and Elle becomes their target. Little do they know, they’ve chosen the wrong girl. 

Determined to stop at nothing to seek revenge, Elle transfers to St. Andrew’s and quickly works her way to the top of the popular group. She has one goal in mind: destroy the boys who attacked her. Elle’s got a plan and at the center of the plan is Mack, a boy from the inner circle whose ambition she will turn deadly. Just how far will Elle take her revenge?

FOUL IS FAIR by Hannah Capin is a modern day retelling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with a timely #metoo movement message behind it. Capin is upfront in her book warning the reader that this content is not for the faint of heart. There are trigger warnings to be had and Capin even has details on her website for those interested. While FOUL IS FAIR is marketed as a young adult book, I think it is best suited for an older teenage reader or adult audience. This book is very dark and while not graphic about sexual assault, there are scenes that involve death/suicide and the details related to them.

If you’re okay with those warnings then prepare yourself to buckle up while Elle takes you on a wild revenge-fueled ride! I instantly connected with Elle as the first few chapters of this book unraveled. The reader can feel her confidence, feel that confidence shatter, and then feel the hatred driving her actions. This is a book that anyone who has ever been wronged can get behind. It’s about Elle speaking up for herself and the message that no one should be made to feel the way she has. The message from Capin is timely and told with a character who truly embodies everything a reader needs to fully buy into this story. Did I think Elle’s actions were a bit over-the-top? Sure! Did I love every single moment of this story? Hell yes!

FOUL IS FAIR has all of the best elements of a thrilling literary ride with a powerful message fueling the experience. This book is fun, quirky, and just a little bit kooky! Capin keeps the chapters short with the action at a high octane pace to continuously keep the reader hooked on Elle’s revenge plot. I was continuously wondering what Elle would do next and where her devious plot would lead. This is definitely a book that begs to be read in one sitting! If I had to pick a comparison for you to get a better feel of FOUL IS FAIR I would say reading this book is almost like watching a teen movie from the 1990’s or early 2000’s. Something like Cruel Intentions meets Mean Girls instantly comes to mind!

This book is available to buy from: Amazon | Book Depository

A huge thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me a free copy of this book!

Disclosure: What Jess Reads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This in no way influences my opinion of the above book.