ONE MESSAGE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING.
Five friends. One group chat. And a secret that was never meant to leave the screen.
At St. Jude's Academy, Zara is the undisputed queen. She controls the narrative, she controls the social hierarchy, and most importantly, she controls The Inner Circle - the exclusive group chat where reputations are made and destroyed.
In the group chat, the rules are simple:
•Don't ignore.
•Don't question.
•Don't tell anyone.
•And whatever you do... don't make her angry.
But when a voice note is accidentally sent to the wrong chat, the fragile peace shatters. What starts as harmless gossip turns into a vicious, orchestrated campaign of digital destruction. Rumours spread. Friendships crack. Trust is broken.
When Marcus, the new boy, becomes the target of a devastating deep fake, Priya and Jade are forced to make a choice: stay silent and protect their own status, or risk everything to expose the truth.
But Zara's power goes deeper than anyone realises. And as Priya digs for the evidence to stop her, she uncovers a secret that proves Zara isn't just bullying students... she's blackmailing the teachers.
Who sent the message? Who's lying? And who will be the next target?
The Group Chat is a gripping, fast-paced YA thriller that dives deep into the dark side of teenage social media, cyberbullying, and the courage it takes to stand up for what is right.
EVERYONE HAS A SECRET. NOT EVERYONE SURVIVES SHARING IT.
(Note for educators and parents: A free downloadable Discussion Guide is available for book clubs, schools, and youth groups.)
Keywords (for KDP backend): YA thriller books for teens, teen mystery and suspense, cyberbullying books for young adults, high school drama fiction, social media toxicity, books like one of us is lying, teen friendship drama, deep fakes and digital safety, moral courage for teens, bestselling young adult fiction.
Book 2: Read Receipts (Coming Soon)
THE TRUTH IS OUT. BUT THE GAME ISN'T OVER.
The explosive conclusion to the bestselling YA thriller The Group Chat.
Group Discussion Guide Resources for Schools and Youth Groups is also available
