It’s never easy being the new kid in school. It’s harder, though, when you have no confidence and not much of a home life. So on her first day, when Linda sits down next to Jessica, it takes great courage for her to initiate a conversation, and even more to tell the other girl how pretty she is. Even though Jessica rudely replies that Linda is pathetic, the two become best friends. But that might be due to Jessica’s constant need for attention, so meek, fawning Linda won’t upstage her and will provide adoration too.

The friendship blossoms, in precisely the way Jessica wants. They soon head off to Wilde, a university in Dublin. Shortly after arriving on campus, Jessica is hailed as one of the top 10 incoming freshmen --- as far as hot girls go --- stroking her need to be idolized. She soon hooks a gorgeous boyfriend named Jacques and abandons Linda to fend for herself as she is enthralled with her new man.

"THE WILDELINGS is addictively entertaining but won’t leave readers with a sense of peace. Not by a long shot. Instead, it will leave readers with a sense of satisfaction, and pondering the answers for days to come."

But when Linda meets Mark and they become an item, Jessica immediately moves to intervene. Her best friend has turned her focus away from her, which leaves her hurt and vengeful. The relationship with Mark can’t possibly last; surely he will tire of Linda and move on. Historically, Jessica has never liked Linda’s choices when it comes to boyfriends --- with the exception of Jonathan, a young man who everyone seemingly likes. But Jonathan has his own ideas when it comes to romance. And Jessica doesn’t much care for who he chooses either.

Their first year at Wilde finds the five friends struggling to gain their footing. It’s a time when young people are figuring out who they want to be, where they want to go, and how they want to get there. Jessica, Jacques, Linda, Mark and Jonathan interact with the others in vastly different ways. Jessica, as always, wants control over Linda. But with the insertion of Mark, there’s a fight for her heart and soul. Jessica sees Mark as a very dangerous influence. And, in reality, Jessica may be right this time. The guy is brilliant; when mixed with a dark cunning, it can create an explosive result.

Jessica watches as Linda seems to be morphing into a totally different person, one she doesn’t like or recognize. But when she looks to Jacques for support, he warns her about a tendency she has to be cruel when it comes to her friend. Then Mark goes a step further. He dispenses his special drugs, and events take an even more ominous turn. Mark himself abstains from drugs and alcohol, but he encourages his friends to indulge --- but only when he allows them to do so. Is that a man who exerts total control, or what? He has choreographed it all perfectly.

The combination of their five personalities is the poisonous mixture that led to what happened. Had even one of them been substituted for another Wilde student, the outcome may have been different. But it wasn’t. Lisa Harding’s novel is very much an imagining of how capricious youth can be and how their carelessness leads to unforeseen consequences. It’s all fun and games --- until it’s not. So was anyone to blame here? At least one of them carries a heavy load of guilt. But is it the right one? Who paid the biggest price? And was any of it ultimately worth it?

THE WILDELINGS is addictively entertaining but won’t leave readers with a sense of peace. Not by a long shot. Instead, it will leave readers with a sense of satisfaction, and pondering the answers for days to come.