I Just Read Every Megan Abbott Book (And You Should, Too)
Megan Abbott has become a queen of writing crime, especially in her ability to portray real girls/women and their desires, obsessions, relationships, and rage. That’s why we were so excited to hear that USA Network and Netflix are co-producing a TV series based on her novel, Dare Me! Abbott’s words have a quiet, energetic pulse that beat through every page, ultimately finding a way to bury deep under your skin. Her work is just a wealth of great novels that fit many reading moods, and I recommend them all. Seriously, how many authors do you get to say, “Yeah, just read all of their work. All of it!” But if you’re looking at the list of titles and not sure where to start, I’ll break them down based on the reading mood you may be in.
Megan Abbott’s latest novel Give Me Your Hand is a psychological thriller where she manages to outdo her own outstanding previous work. We have secrets again—well, one, and what happens when you are told something you never asked to know—and obsession, and women competing in a research lab to work on a study for PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). It’s everything that Abbott is a queen at exploring, and slowly dissecting, and it left me once again shouting, “I love Megan Abbott.”
Your Heart is Dark and Noir:
Watch Next: Megan Abbott talks about her latest novel, Give Me Your Hand.
Abbott has a gift when it comes to building a mystery around a girl’s dedication to a sport. In Dare Me, she takes you into the frenzied world of teenage friendship and competition circling the high school’s cheerleading program when it’s suddenly disrupted by a new coach.
We seriously can't wait to watch the TV adaptation of Dare Me on USA Network!
And You Will Know Me spotlights a family who have built their lives around their teenage daughter and her Olympic gymnastics dream. Also spotlighted in this novel is Abbott’s ability to build a story on a combination of everyday and extraordinary moments, nestled on a base of raw human emotions.
The End of Everything explores best friends and next-door neighbors. When one mysteriously disappears, the other is left questioning what she really knew about her friend. I came for the ‘80s setting and was rewarded with a dark, mysterious, twisty page-turner that punched me in the gut. Abbott proves authors can explore and represent girls without exploiting them.
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Jamie Canavés is a Book Riot contributing editor who always has a book in one hand. She writes the Unusual Suspects mystery newsletter, never says no to chocolate or ‘80s nostalgia, and spends way too much time asking her goat-dog “What’s in your mouth?!” Tweets: @Oh_Dinky.