Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Girl on Trial is a gripping and emotional thriller that explores the complex issues of guilt, innocence, and justice in a sensational trial. The novel follows the fate of Emily Keller, a 16-year-old girl who is accused of causing the deaths of a family of four by leaving the stove on while babysitting. The media has dubbed her Keller the Killer, and the public opinion is largely against her. But as the trial unfolds, we learn more about Emily's troubled life, her relationship with the victims, and the secrets that lie behind the tragedy.

The author, Kathleen Fine, does a remarkable job of creating a realistic and sympathetic protagonist, who is neither a saint nor a monster, but a flawed and vulnerable human being. She also portrays the legal system and the media with accuracy and nuance, showing how they can influence the outcome of a case and the perception of a person. The novel is fast-paced and suspenseful, with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the end. The writing is clear and engaging, and the dialogue is authentic and believable.

Girl on Trial is a compelling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of courtroom dramas, psychological thrillers, and young adult fiction. It raises important questions about morality, responsibility, and redemption, and challenges the reader to examine their own biases and assumptions. It is a book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

Emily Keller is on trial for the murder of a family of 4, but unlike most trial thrillers the majority of this book is from Emily's view. This makes it a very interesting read.

Emily hasn't had it easy in life, circumstances out of her control and choices she has made due to low self esteem and peer pressure. But did she intentionally kill this family of 4?

Things are not as cut and dry as we like to think.

A swift read because this reader waned to know how it was going to end.

There are trauma triggers in this book

Than you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced edition of this book in exchange for my honest review

This book was just “meh” for me. I felt like I was reading it because I had to finish it instead of reading it because I wanted to finish it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.

I have a love/hate relationship with crime thrillers, especially ones intended for the young adult audience. That said, I haven't given up on the genre well aware that there are plenty of good entries out there. Girl on Trial is one of those reads that redeems the genre as a truly good crime thriller that doesn't fall victim to many of the tropes I've found in young-adult entries of the genre. The author does not "cop out" of delivering a realistic story for the sake of entertainment; proving that mind-bending twists aren't always needed to create an interesting mystery. The story of Emily is interesting enough on its own.

Unfortunately had to dnf as I couldn't get into the book. I might pick it up at a later time.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a solid debut novel. It kept me entertained until the end. However, the case didn't seem very believable to me, nor as thrilling as it was made out to be.

This emotionally charged novel presents a compelling exploration of morality, justice, and the complexities surrounding a heinous crime. Sixteen-year-old Emily Keller, dubbed Keller the Killer by the media, finds herself at the center of a national trial, accused of causing the deaths of a family of four, including young children.

Set against the backdrop of a challenging life in a Baltimore trailer park with her twin brother and an alcoholic mother, Emily's story unfolds with a raw honesty that delves into the struggles of adolescence and the harsh realities of her environment. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about whether one bad act defines an individual as a bad person, particularly when the circumstances are fraught with hardship and difficult choices.

The narrative navigates the twists and turns of the trial, keeping us on the edge of our seats as we grapple with the mystery of what truly happened that fateful night. Emily's character is richly developed, and the author's exploration of her life provides a nuanced perspective that challenges preconceived notions.

As the jury becomes the ultimate arbiter of Emily's fate, the novel prompts readers to reflect on the complexities of the justice system and the blurred lines between right and wrong. "Keller the Killer" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel that invites readers to confront their own judgments and preconceptions about guilt and innocence.. This is a compelling narrative that lingers in the mind, challenging readers to consider the human stories behind sensationalized headlines.

As a huge fan of courtroom dramas, I really enjoyed this and especially the switch between timelines - then and now.
Emily has argued with her best friend, Shell, and feels invisible at school, so when one of the more popular girls takes a liking to her, Emily is delighted. And so begins the spiral of wanting to please her new friend so that she can fit in.
Yet, it takes just one ordinary event to change Emily's life for good - babysitting. By joining her friend on an evening's babysitting, Emily is introduced to the family she is later accused of negligently killing. It's a page turner to understand Emily's inner thoughts, to recognise how the need to fit in drives her to give in to peer pressure even though she knows that leaving the young children on their own is wrong. That fateful weakness lands her in a whole load of trouble - could it be any worse than ending up on a manslaughter charge?
The court case is riveting, as those in her "new friendship group" are not above twisting the truth to save themselves. Yet it is the care shown to her by her family and old friends that gets her through the darkest moments - until she decides to testify in the case herself. Can she really explain away the events of that night after others have painted her in such a poor light?

A compelling story, told in such a way as to maintain the pace and keep the reader guessing as to how it might end.
4.5 stars overall.

A good thriller overall. A teenager is under trial for (accidentally?) killing her family, and we get a view of how and why things happened the way they did. Lots of plot twists, believable characters albeit not relatable at times, but an overall sad story.

This was a book that touched on multiple difficult subjects, mental health, sexual assault and the impact of family trauma.

Although covering many different topics, I felt it was a difficult read, the main character Emily, didn't really come across as a substantial character despite being the main protagonist and I found the trial element long.

This had such a promising premise, it just didn't work for me for multiple reasons. The book lacked depth especially for such an intense story. I just felt underwhelmed unfortunately.

Really great book with amazing characters and a great plot. Was easy to get into and it was very engaging. This is a book that I can see a lot of people enjoying.

I was so excited after reading the description of this book and I was not disappointed!! It kept me hooked throughout the entire book, I usually can guess what happens in YA thrillers but I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't for this book. Also pleasantly surprised how well the timelines didn't confuse me! 4 stars

Girl on Trial was a good read, I enjoy reading books set in a courtroom. It was about a sixteen year old girl called Emily who is on trial for the manslaughter of a family of 4 after they died of carbon monoxide poisoning. It has been claimed that Emily left the stove on after cooking for the 2 children she was a nanny for. Emily has a difficult background as her mother is an addict and Emily falls into a rough friendship. The odds are against her on their trial.

The book was written well and I liked reading it. I was intrigued to find out the truth about what actually happened. Although, when we found out what actually happened, I was left feeling a little disappointed and the evidence should have been picked up immediately. For me, Emily was written in a way which made it hard for me to connect with her. During the past chapters, she is focused on being part of a popular crowd and we don’t really see much of her personality.

Overall, this was a good debut book. I enjoyed reading it and learning about Emily’s past which led her to be on trial. The book did hook me on the story and I was eager to find out the truth.

I wasn’t sure about this book at first but by the end I was hooked! My main criticism is that the main character’s personality is a bit flat and under developed. Secondly, as a lawyer the evidence preserved in this trial was just shockingly unrealistic, which was a bit distracting. However by the second half of the book I couldn’t put the book down. The story is compelling and makes you want to keep reading. I think this could have been even better if the author had done more research to make the trial process more realistic.

Emily Keller, known by the media as Keller the Killer, is on trial for the murder of a local family. Was it intentional or accidental? This debut novel transitions from past to present and present to past as we learn more about Emily, and how she went from an innocent girl to an alleged killer.

While the beginning was quick, the plot started to feel a bit slow in the middle. As a YA mystery/thrilled, I thought that while it didn't land the impact that I had hoped, it's still a really solid book for young people that demonstrates how one can go from a quiet kid doing all the right things, to someone influenced by others and facing the consequences of those decisions.

Thank you to NetGalley and CamCat Books for this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Are you a bad person if you do a bad thing? Emily has always wanted to fit in…but at what cost? Should one mistake mark you for the rest of your life? Especially in the formative years. Thought provoking, well developed story.

I only wanted to do one thing while reading this books: give a big hug to Emily. The author described really well the teenage mind, and the way addiction, anxiety, SA and everything is described is so on point! I really appreciated reading the book, I couldn’t wait to know every details!! The pace is really good, although impatient as I am I couldn’t wait to just know how it ended!!! I truly loved how each subject was addressed and lived a roller coaster of emotions from the beginning to the very end!! Will definitely read more of this author!

Kathleen Fine's Girl on Trial kept me flipping pages from beginning to end. The protagonist, Emily, had my sympathies from the start. On trial for manslaughter of a family she babysat for, teenage Emily seems to be the victim of circumstance. Just trying to find her way out of the Maryland trailer park and find a new friend, this story shows what can happen when you let yourself be peer pressured by those around you.

Thank you netgalley for the arc! I really liked this book about a teenager, who is on trial for killing a family. This booked hooked me from the start and I found Emily was an incredibly developed and believable character. This story is about peer pressure, early adulthood and teen drink/drug use. I look forward to reading more books by Kathleen Fine.