Clique Bait is the typical revenge story, but that is not to say that it is terrible or even mediocre. Ann Valett‘s debut novel is perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars and is incredibly popular on Wattpad. It certainly is a good read, and some things set it apart from similar revenge stories.

Clever Storytelling

First, the structure of the Clique Bait deserves recognition. Valett separates the novel into parts of Chloe’s revenge plan. It guides the readers, giving them some semblance of the progression of the premise. It lures the reader in and keeps them engaged, eager to see how Chloe’s plan is coming along.

What is also clever on Valett’s part is the way she opens each chapter. Each chapter opens with a letter from Chloe to her friend Monica, whose life was ruined by the elite group of students. It is a great way to build a relationship between two characters, especially when one of them is nonexistent. It also gives the story some much-needed history to build up this high school hierarchy and how it works.

By using these letters between Chloe and Monica, Valett gives the reader insight into their relationship while also hinting at what happened to Monica. It is unclear what exactly happened to Monica which keeps the reader engaged. Is she at a private school? Did she commit suicide? The reader is left in the dark. It makes the story unique and impactful, giving this revenge story an edge over others.

A Step Away From Cliches

As for the story itself, while the premise is not wholly unique, but it does have a level of realism attached to the story. Chloe is a pretty headstrong character who comes from a privileged family. If she wanted to, she could have easily been a part of the popular crowd. However, Chloe chose to remain invisible instead of succumbing to the popular clichés. Her dedication and drive, and the ways she develops her plan is grounded in realism which allows the reader to remain grounded in the story.

Now, the characters themselves, this group of elite seniors, while their cruelty verges on the unrealistic at times, they still have a semblance of humanity to them. Lola especially has a dramatic shift in her personality allowing the reader to see the complexities of what it means to keep up her happy façade. Valett creates complexities with these characters, especially after what happened with Monica, highlighting how human they are.

Final Thoughts

Clique Bait is an engaging story as it tackles this revenge story realistically, it just is not unique enough, no matter how well written it is.

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