Winner Take All by Laurie Devore

Winner Take All by Laurie Devore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the advance reader copy Winner Take All by Laurie Devore in exchange for an honest review. Devore’s analysis of teen girls and how they are judged differently versus teen boys who get it all in high school, sports, academics, and life when they want it was gripping; if you love Courtney Summer’s books, you will not be able to put this intense, authentic look at teens battling to become WINNER take all. Before Nell became a student at the private school, Prep, she was a happy public middle school student. But when her mother becomes dean at Prep hired to make the status quo more equitable, Nell becomes so focused on always being the winner in every aspect of her life. But Nell will never be rich like most of the students at Prep. And Devore uses Nell’s flawed character perfectly as she butts heads daily for years with perfect, rich, smart athlete, Jackson Hart. I found Nell, Jackson, their friends and family all real flawed characters each dealing with life in messy ways. I was mesmerized by the Nell-Jackson relationship, I could not stop turning the pages as Nell takes on Jackson; she blasts him with her honesty and winner take all credo, while Jackson maintains his status, ego, and sick secrets. This is a book that will speak to so many teens; the cover was perfect too. The reader doesn’t have to always like Nell or Jackson all the time, but these two teens are scathingly explored as victims too of their parents, power, and identity. Will they find their true selves, a must read. Highly recommended!

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