They Wish They Were Us

This young adult mystery follows Jill Newman, a senior at an exclusive prep school, whose seemingly perfect life as a member of the powerful "Players" secret society is shattered. Three years after her best friend, Shaila, was murdered and Shaila's boyfriend confessed, Jill receives anonymous texts claiming his innocence. Driven to uncover the truth, Jill must confront suppressed memories and navigate the treacherous social landscape of her school, where loyalty to the Players and the pursuit of justice are in direct conflict. This book explores themes of truth, friendship, peer pressure, and the courage to challenge the status quo, making it suitable for mature teens aged 12-18.

Jill Newman's best friend, the enigmatic Shaila Arnold, was killed by her boyfriend three years ago. After that dark night on the beach, Graham confessed, the case was closed, and Jill and her friends tried to move on. Now, it's Jill's senior year and she's determined to make it her best yet. After all, she's a senior and a Player--a member of Gold Coast Prep's exclusive, not-so-secret secret society. Senior Players have the best parties, the admiration of the entire school, and the highest grades. This is going to be Jill's year. She's sure of it. But when she starts getting texts proclaiming Graham's innocence, Jill's dreams of the perfect senior year, in her perfect seaside town, with her perfect group of friends, starts to crumble. Suddenly, flashes of that night on the beach freshman year start coming back to her, along with memories she's tried to suppress. More than anything, Jill wants to uncover the truth about what happened to Shaila, but she soon realizes that doing so means putting her friendships, and her future, in jeopardy.