The book takes place in New York City, and follows the lives of faculty and students at the fictional Siddons School.

[2] Since the book's publication, Schutt noted "types" from the school, Nightingale-Bamford, she would include if she were to rewrite it.

Some readers may find it light on story and a departure from Schutt’s previous works, but all will agree it captures the messy and gritty reality of adolescence".

[6] Maud Casey, writing for the New York Times, referred to the novel as "refreshingly strange".

[4] Publishers Weekly criticized Schutt for not "[doing] enough with the familiar prep school setting to make the story resonate".