The Payback Girls

After Black high school senior Meghan Landry discovers her popular, self-described biracial basketball star boyfriend Nate Walker has been secretly cheating on her with field hockey captain Robin Ellison and student government president Bria Kelly—the only two other Black girls in their grade—the three team up to teach him a lesson. But the trio become prime suspects when a vicious attack in the boys’ locker room leaves Nate bloodied and unconscious in the hospital. Then an anonymous social media account starts spilling the girls’ secrets. As more about Nate’s checkered romantic history comes to light, Meghan, Robin, and Bria must find a way to put aside their differences and trust one another if they want to find his attacker and clear their names. In this edgy thriller riff on John Tucker Must Die, Travis (The Only Black Girl in the Room, for adults) briefly touches on themes of racism, economic inequality, queerness, intimate partner violence, and PTSD. Despite surface-level characterization and somewhat implausible plot twists, the dramatic tragicomedy’s soapy atmosphere and the execution of Meghan and Robin’s developing romance prove entertaining. Ages 14–up. Agent: Dorian Maffei, Kimberley Cameron & Assoc. (Apr.)