The Ruling Class by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Out Sept. 4, 2025 – originally published as The Fixer in 2015)Thank you @libro.fm and @bloomsburybooksus for the #gifted advanced listening copy!
Tess Kendrick has always lived a quiet life with her grandfather, but when his health declines, she’s uprooted to Washington, D.C., to live with her older sister. What Tess doesn’t expect is that Ivy is the city’s most powerful fixer – think Olivia Pope with even sharper edges. Suddenly Tess is navigating an elite prep school full of power players’ kids, shadowy political secrets, and high-stakes intrigue that stretches all the way to the Oval Office.
If you love fast-paced YA thrillers (or were glued to Scandal back in the day) you’re going to devour this. From start to finish, it’s a relentless, twisty, adrenaline-charged ride that balances political gamesmanship with messy, emotional family dynamics. Tess is smart, sharp, and determined, and the secrets she uncovers make it impossible to stop turning the pages. Even seeing one of the big reveals coming, it was still a five-star read. I’m diving into book two immediately!
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: At 10h 5m, Ina-Marie Smith delivers an electrifying solo narration that heightens every twist and sharpens the already pulse-pounding intensity of this YA thriller.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Book Smart Kate 