Thank you to net galley and vintage for allowing me to read this arc!

I loved the storyline of powerful women fighting for what is right. The storyline follows Scarlett, an English professor, who is keen on making predatory men pay for their sins and Carly, a shy and quiet girl just starting out at university and hoping to keep her head down but when her friend is assaulted at a party, she becomes fixated on making her attacker pay for what he’s done.

I loved the aspects of women’s power and revenge. The twists were amazing and I definitely didn’t see them coming! I definitely recommend if you love strong female storylines and a cold and thrilling read!

The premise was good and we are brought straight into the action: a serial killer avenging wronged women after society has failed them.

The main character is great fun to read however for me her character is really similar to one in a previous series that I’ve read.

Unfortunately I saw all of the twists coming apart from a final smaller twist. All that said though, it did keep me engaged and I liked the ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

They Never Learn by Layne Fargo is a razor-sharp, feminist revenge thriller that grips from the first chapter. Following a vigilante professor targeting predatory men on campus, the story is both darkly satisfying and morally complex. Fargo masterfully builds tension, weaving in a parallel student narrative that deepens the emotional stakes and keeps the twists coming until the end.

The writing is sleek and purposeful, with just the right balance of character depth and plot momentum. While it leans into its genre roots, the book still asks important questions about justice, power, and who gets to wield it. A gripping, cathartic read that sticks with you—4.5 stars for its boldness, intelligence, and sheer narrative thrill.

When serial killers go after other predators, it makes them easier to like kinda like how the show Dexter is so popular and you can root for him, I found it not too hard to see how Scarlett was making the Gorman campus safer, for women anyways. Jumping between Carly at her first year at Gorman and what happens with her roommate Allison to Scarlett and her vigilante crusade to rid the area of men who prey on women, you can really see why Scarlett is the way she is and while she is a bit extreme, I like her and rooted for her even as the detectives start circling in after on of her kills ends up messier than expected. So, lots of tense moments and sections that do not shy away from what men can do to women, especially how the way society was and still kinda is with victim blaming and saying how it is unfair to ruin a guy's life over one small indiscretion. I did enjoy the twist and I was quite satisfied with the ending.

This was a thrilling crusade to rid the world of predators and I really enjoyed reading to see how Scarlett can make a difference, even if it included a few bodies and blood and fire, to make the world a safer place.

Thank you to Netgalley and the UK publishers for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Layne Fargo has fast become an auto buy author for me. Glad to see her getting love in the UK following the success of The Favourites and finally getting this novel published over here, too.

A very different book but equally enthralling. The opening scenes had me hooked immediately. Scarlett was such an amazing character and I loved following every unhinged moment.

The ending was equally as amazing. It couldn't have ended in a better way. Nothing that happened truly shocked me, but I was always entertained.

They Never Learn is a dark thriller that examines how society deals with toxic masculinity and rape culture. Set firmly in academia this places our characters in positions where the power dynamic is already skewed and explores what can happen.
Our main character is a professor who is sick of hearing about female students being abused and taken advantage of by those who should do better. She has a habit of doling out justice herself - at least one a year. The crimes are covered up and made to look like suicides, but surely it will just be a matter of time before someone joins the dots.
It took some time for me to connect the dots myself. Our two narratives are linked and the moment it’s revealed how makes perfect sense but definitely took me by surprise.
Difficult to like the main character and the more we learn about her the more dangerous she seems. Certainly an interesting story though the ending was definitely stretching my levels of credulity rather!

This book was just something else. And wow to that. I thought the dual Pov allowed so much thought,nuance and perspective. Yes we all know what this book is about in terms of what one character is doing. But boy if people take that the wrong way,or as the issue here then that a them issue.
The characters had so much depth to them. We could hear them,feel them and yes feel very much for them.
I didn't know where it was going to end up. These books you have to let go of the "if it was me,or am I bad for following this with glee" it's a book. But also underneath all that is something vital,important and needing thought issues.
Aside from all that though Layne has bought such skill to the plot,pace and characters
You get it. I got it. We all should get it. A brill book that had me from the get go and in so many more ways than one.

They Never Learn is the latest installment in the "women's wrongs" universe of novels; if you like the work of Katy Brent or Bella Mackey, this book is for you. Despite having mixed feelings about both of those authors, I had a monumental amount of fun with this one - if you're a person who says "good for her" in a Lucille Bluth voice twice a day (I am), you will have a ball with this one. That said, it's worth mentioning up top that this is a book that deals explicitly with sexual assault, so if that's not your thing, I'd give this one a miss.

I love a good dual narrative and this one delivers! Scarlett Clark is an English professor who moonlights as a serial killer, taking out men who have assaulted or abused women on campus. Carly Schiller is a shy young woman & gifted writer trying to make it through her first year at college. She befriends her roommate, Allison, but when Allison is assaulted Carly becomes obsessed with making the attacker pay.


The story alternates between Carly and Scarlett's POVs, switching between one woman per (short) chapter. The two narrative voices are so distinct in tone; Carly in particular is a really well-drawn portrayal of a young woman who is struggling to figure herself and the world around her out. Scarlett is imperious, ruthless and sociopathic - and so much fun to read. Her contempt for the men she kills is razor-sharp, but her more emotional relationships with her friends and love interests prevent her from feeling one-dimensional.

As I mentioned, sexual assault is an explicit theme in this novel, and doesn't shy away from discussing the complexity of women's feelings in the aftermath of an assault. In some of the most rage-inducing scenes in the book, Carly's friend Allison is rebuffed whenever she tries to get help after her assault - it's enough to make anyone go vigiliante justice.


I thought about Chanel Miller an awful lot while reading this book. I have seen reviews decrying this one from a "not all men" perspective, but the reality is: plenty of men are like this. And so, while it might not be right, it is deeply satisfying to read about a world where violent men get their comeuppance.

This book was incredible!! I couldn’t put it down and can’t stop thinking about it!!

Scarlett is a high achieving English professor but she leads a double life as a serial killer. Her targets are men that have committed crimes against women. She has been leading this life for many years. We also meet Carly a student who wants to protect her friend from a predator whilst also fighting her feelings for her. I can’t say anymore because I don’t want to spoil this book - but I highly recommend reading it!

The writing was so immersive and had a very fresh narrative! The mystery running throughout and the way Scarlett and Carly’s stories merged was written really well! Very riveting and a completely different type of story from the authors previous novel: The Favourites- but equally as engaging.

This is the feminist serial killer story I didn’t know I needed!!!

They Never Learn is a twisty, gripping dark academia thriller, which I DEVOURED. I loved this book so much, and I am entranced by these characters! …. Also, sapphic characters !!!!

🔪 What if Dexter was a woman? 🔪

They Never Learn is a sharp, morally provocative thriller that centres on a college professor who leads a double life. By day, she teaches literature to undergraduate students. By night, she takes vengeance against men who prey on women.

It’s a bold, revenge-driven narrative with two timelines, a couple of well-placed curveballs, and enough simmering rage to fuel a bonfire. I didn’t see the main twist coming and loved that we didn’t need to wait to the end for it to be revealed. Layne Fargo excels at building tension without sacrificing pace.

While some of the twists felt a little too neat and character development sometimes lacked depth, the book still offers a compelling portrait of fury, control, and survival. Not every part of the storyline paid off for me and some of the secondary characters were a little too two-dimensional, but it was still undeniably gripping. I was fully invested all the way through in finding out how the story would end.

🔪They Never Learn is out on 3rd July. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys feminist rage and a page-turning easy read.🔥

Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage Books for gifting me an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are unedited and my own.

I support women's right and women's wrongs

This is a beautifully crafted masterpiece of female rage, and honestly, we need it!

Scarlett, so composed and professional, has a hidden side filled with a rage about to bubble over. She notices everything and keeps the indescresions in her mind whilst plotting how best to prevent these predators from harming more women.

In contrast, we see young Carly's eyes opened to the injustices, and her experiences become compounded until it's a hard to contain rage. I really felt for her as a character. A girl trying to find her place at college, but is forced to deal with these new complex emotions caused by the unacceptable actions of others.

This book shares the complete dismissal, the victim blaming, and the cover ups of ‘boys being boys’. This is exactly the narrative we need, so satisfying to see all of pent up rage flowing so freely on the page. The world needs more Scarletts.

The author details so beautifully that you feel fully immersed within the story, and feel that rage within yourself too. Absolutely a five star read!

Thank you to Vintage, Random House for this advanced copy. I cannot wait to read more from this author!

They Never Learn by Layne Fargo is a heart-pounding, breath-holding psychological thriller with a female Dexter vibe. The plot is incredibly entertaining, and I loved the unexpected twists throughout the story—they were so satisfying! The ending completely melted my heart. I find myself questioning my own morals because, while the actions in the book are clearly wrong, they also feel so right at the same time.

This book tackles heavy topics such as r@pe, grooming, cheating, murder, abuse, stalking, toxic relationships, and much more, so be cautious if any of these themes could trigger you.

The narrative flows quickly, featuring short chapters that alternate between two main characters: Scarlett and Carly. Scarlett is an English professor at Gorman College and a serial killer whose sole purpose is to eliminate awful men. She has a clear mission and no regrets—until she makes a crucial mistake.
Carly, an exceptionally bright girl who has lived a sheltered life, is a student at Gorman College. She becomes friends with her beautiful and confident roommate, Allison, which expands Carly's world and eventually drags her into some dark events.

Originally published on October 13, 2020, the book will be re-released on July 3, 2025, with a brand new cover.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for this copy!

For a novel centred around a female serial killer, a vengeful anti-hero fueled by rage, I was surprised by how easy of a read this turned out to be. Honestly, I found that disappointing.

I came into this book craving a gothic atmosphere and darkness. I wanted to feel unsettled, to question what it is to be human, to be pushed into uncomfortable territory. Instead, everything felt very matter of fact.

It feels like this story may have been tailored for a broader audience, perhaps one less tolerant of gore, ambiguity, or genuine discomfort. But in doing so, it lost the edge I was hoping for.

Thank you for the ARC

Thank you to Layne Fargo, Random House UK, Vintage and NetGalley for this arc!

After reading The Favourites earlier on this year, I wa Wei excited for this one and I wasn’t disappointed!
There’s just something about Fargo’s writing style that itches a part of my brain and I found myself flying through the chapters wanting to know what happens next,

I usually am a bit hit and miss with thrillers but the twist in the middle of this one I didn’t see coming at all! The end twist was ever so slightly more predictable but didn’t rake away from the story at all and I left feeling satisfied with how things were wrapped up.

I don’t want to give too much of a synopsis because I think this one is best to go in blind, but if you love kick arse FMC’s who are taking back control then I think this one will be for you!

I loved The Favourites, so I was excited to read this. It was good, but not as good as I hoped. I love a campus setting and enjoyed the parallel storylines - and didn't see the Carly/Scarlett twist coming.

The feminine rage was excellent but Scarlett, at points, felt too much like a cartoon villain. I almost expected her to twirl a mustache and shout mwahahah on occasion.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of They Never Learn by Layne Fargo.
I've had this book on my wishlist for a long time and was thrilled to see that it is now being re-released for UK readers.
If you enjoyed the MindF*ck Series, then this book is for you! We follow English professor turned serial killer Scarlett whose aim is to hunt and rid the world of the predatory men on the college campus. We also get the POV of troubled teenager Carly who attends the college and finds that she must also begin a hunt of her own.
Unputdownable! 5⭐️

This was insanely good. The female rage in this book, I wanted to kick a door off its hinges several times. It had me feeling all kinds of different feelings.

I LOVED Scarlett, she was such a badass and I just loved her as a character. I think I may have a little crush on her. Carly, I think as a person, I could potentially give or take, BUT her character arc was so good to see and I really admired what she was trying to do for her friend.

I haven't physically read a book this quick in, well, ever, I don't think. I smashed it out in just under 24 hours. I just couldn't put it down once things really started picking up. I've had my eye on this book for literal YEARS. It originally came out in 2020, but we haven't been able to get it here in the UK. So I'm thrilled to A. be lucky enough to read an ARC and B. it live up to the hype.

Obsessed! Obsessed!

This had me intrigued throughout. Through the eyes of the person committing the crimes, you see and understand why they feel justified in what they are doing.
This was fast paced with plenty of action to keep you captivated throughout.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for approving me for this ARC.

Scarlett is a professor at Gorman University, but once a year she steps outside her academic life to rid the campus and the world of the worst men she encounters. With a talent for staging their deaths as suicides or accidents, and a strict rule of only targeting those she has no personal ties to, she managed to get away with it for seven years. But this time her next target might be a little too close for comfort.
Carly is a freshman at Gorman, relieved to have left behind an abusive home. But it doesn’t take long for her to realize that the same kind of men exist in her new life as well. When her best friend and roommate is assaulted at a party, Carly is shocked by how easily men can escape consequences.

Framed as a feminist serial killer story, this thriller delivers tension and unexpected twists. I love Layne Fargo’s writing style - she often ends chapters on mini cliffhangers as she switches points of view, making it impossible to stop reading. The story powerfully captures the challenges victims face when trying to seek justice, from the all-too-familiar „What were you wearing?“ to the „but you gave him the wrong impression“. I think every woman can relate to the urge to take matters into their own hands when confronted with the harsh reality of victim-blaming in our society. The characters were well written and felt fully developed. This is my second Layne Fargo book and even though both stories couldn’t be more different, she will be an auto-buy author for me from now on.

I will share this review on my instagram page on the release date. This has been posted on Amazon but is still being reviewed at the moment so I can’t share the link below..