A Line in the Dark
Readers rate it 3.5 (14 on Hardcover)
290 pages · Released Oct 17, 2017 · Penguin
Content report card
A Line in the Dark parent’s guide: what’s inside
What it offers
A note for parents
A Line in the Dark is a psychological thriller centered on obsession, betrayal, and murder that explores complex emotions around unrequited love and friendship within an LGBTQ+ context. The book features dark themes including manipulation, social cruelty, and a death, making it more suited to mature teens who can handle morally ambiguous characters and tragic outcomes. While it contains lesbian characters as a central element rather than a subplot, the story's psychological intensity and mature themes position it firmly in upper YA territory.
Analyzed by AI · 1 month ago
Read it with your kids?
Rate it and suggest an age to help other parents.
From the publisher
“A twisty, dark psychological thriller that will leave you guessing til the very end."—Teen Vogue “[A] riveting read…"—NPR The line between best friend and something more is a line always crossed in the dark. Jess Wong is Angie Redmond’s best friend. And that’s the most important thing, even if Angie can’t see how Jess... “A twisty, dark psychological thriller that will leave you guessing til the very end."—Teen Vogue “[A] riveting read…"—NPR The line between best friend and something more is a line always crossed in the dark. Jess Wong is Angie Redmond’s best friend. And that’s the most important thing, even if Angie can’t see how Jess truly feels. Being the girl no one quite notices is OK with Jess anyway. If nobody notices her, she’s free to watch everyone else. But when Angie begins to fall for Margot Adams, a girl from the nearby boarding school, Jess can see it coming a mile away. Suddenly her powers of observation are more a curse than a gift. As Angie drags Jess further into Margot’s circle, Jess discovers more than her friend’s growing crush. Secrets and cruelty lie just beneath the carefree surface of this world of wealth and privilege, and when they come out, Jess knows Angie won’t be able to handle the consequences. When the inevitable darkness finally descends, Angie will need her best friend. “It doesn’t even matter that she probably doesn’t understand how much she means to me. It’s purer this way. She can take whatever she wants from me, whenever she wants it, because I’m her best friend.” A Line in the Dark is a story of love, loyalty, and murder. ★ "Mesmerizing."—Kirkus, starred review.
Shelved under
- Young Adult Fiction
- dark
- Fantasy
- Young Adult
- Fiction
- Thriller
- Murder
- LGBTQ
- Friendship
- Chinese Americans
- Lesbians
- Dating (Social customs)
Share this guide
ISBN 9780735227422 · Penguin