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The battle against violence toward women has taken on a number of different forms—from protests to court cases to social media movements. But in They Never Learn by author Layne Fargo, one woman has spent decades taking matters into her own hands to protect herself and other women who have suffered.
The story follows two women on the campus of a college in Pennsylvania. Carly is shy and awkward new student who’s eager to start a new life on her own after leaving her timid mother and domineering father behind. She worries that she’ll never fit in, but when her outgoing roommate takes her under her wing, Carly is introduced to a completely new life.
Scarlett, on the other hand, is a professor who’s learned from years of harassment and abuse that some men just won’t learn their lesson, so she’s spent years fighting back. But it seems as though someone might finally be closing in on her.
Told through the eyes of two very different women—the young woman who’s just starting to understand the harsh realities of life and the strong woman who refuses to accept the idea that “boys will be boys”—They Never Learn tells a chilling story about the dangers that women face all too often and one woman’s lifelong quest for revenge. At times, it can be disturbing—both for the characters’ acts toward women and for Scarlett’s vengeance—but there’s also something darkly fascinating about these characters and their journeys.
Admittedly, the story may sometimes seem a little harsh. After all, there doesn’t seem to be a single straight male character who’s capable of treating women with respect. They cheat or assault or make unwanted advances or use their positions of authority to take advantage of much younger women. They wield their power, making women feel insecure and afraid and even crazy for coming forward to speak up. And that can sometimes make it difficult to read—especially if you or someone you love has experienced the same kind of treatment. Really, though, this extreme situation balances Scarlett’s equally extreme situation. And when she takes matters into her own hands, you’ll find her story dark and gripping and strangely satisfying, too.
With its scenes of assault and murder, They Never Learn is clearly not for everyone. It’s certainly a dark and violent novel. But this edgy feminist thriller is sure to keep you turning pages late into the night as each new surprise unfolds.
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