Review: What Boys Learn

What Boys Learn by Andromeda Romano-Lax
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WHAT BOYS LEARN by Andromeda Romano-Lax is a suspenseful ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ psychological thriller being released in Jan, 2026 by Soho Press.

Single mother and high school counselor Abby Russo deals with the aftermath of the deaths of two students, and learns that her loner son Benjamin may have known the girls better than she realizes. As she finds out more about the circumstances of their deaths she begins to worry that Benjamin may have been involved in some way.

Abby has always been concerned about how her son was growing up. Worried that he was a loner who didn't fit in, and worried about what he was learning about how men should treat women. She knows something about troubled teens. She had been one herself and still carries the scars of her first-hand experiences with the actions of a teenage boy with little concern for others. Her older brother Ewan has spent many years in prison for his actions as a teenager, and she fears that Benjamin might be headed down a similar path.

Can she navigate between helping and trusting her son, and finding the truth?

The tale is mostly told from Abby's point of view, gradually revealing fears and secrets as the perspective switches between present day and her teenage years. In the latter third of the book the perspective broadens to include present day Benjamin, as the suspense ratchets up and further truths and lies are uncovered.

WHAT BOYS LEARN is suspenseful, thrilling, disturbing and thought-provoking! A fascinating story, providing plenty to think about how and what children, especially boys, are exposed to as they grow and the impact that exposure can have on them and the people around them. Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for the early review copy!

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