For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing
For Your Own Good is a suspenseful thriller with a dark academic setting. I loved this one! It has an element of dark comedy with a sardonic tone. And it’s going to be adapted for a television series on HBO! This book was released last year.
For Your Own Good
This was my first book by Samantha Downing and I loved it. I’m choosy about what types of suspense books I read since I don’t want to read trashy crime novels that are just dark for no purpose or have no substance to the novel whatsoever. For Your Own Good was well worth the read! It was a quick read too since you know at the start who is causing all the problems. I couldn’t put it down!
REVIEW
Teddy Crutcher is a disgruntled teacher with a vendetta against students and faculty that think they are brighter than he is at Belmont Academy. He is a disillusioned character that gets no empathy as he is obviously a villain, but he still entertains the reader with his grudges, comments, and outlandish behavior. He goes so far as to inject drugs in the coffee pods in the teacher’s lounge to level out the mood of a fellow faculty member he particularly despises! He grades his students lower if he thinks they lack integrity or if they challenge him to teach them a lesson. His unconventional methods of teaching and interacting with others get him in trouble.
“A MISTAKE. It was all a horrible mistake. ”
— For Your Own Good (Downing 92)
The novel really gets going when a parent suddenly dies at a school-sponsored event! Teddy continues to go head-to-head with students, parents, and teachers in the novel. He continues to plot and scheme with his unconventional methods of dealing with his grudges and trying to maintain his status at Belmont, and avoid getting caught!
RATING
This is 5 stars and a definite recommendation!
Highly recommend it and would absolutely read it again.
I can’t wait for the tv series!
CURRENTLY READING
I’m currently listening to Where the Crawdads Sing. This is my second time reading it and I’m enjoying it again after seeing the movie earlier. I started From Scratch in anticipation of the Netflix series that was recently released. These are both from Reese’s Book Club too!
I just finished my October Book of the Month pick, The Family Game. I also quickly binged It Starts With Us, the much-anticipated sequel to It Ends With Us, and it was so good!
I also started rewatching Gilmore Girls since it is finally feeling like fall!
UP NEXT
I started doing a wrap-up post of my monthly reads in September and really enjoyed it so I’m going to continue this. I feel like it helps me see what I’m reading and enjoying, and also helps me be conscientious of choosing books I know I will enjoy.
Connect with me on Instagram to see what I’m reading!
