Below the Surface, by Andrea Beck

As the new girl at Oak Park High, Emily quickly learns that small towns come with big judgments. When a student mysteriously vanishes, suddenly whispers turn into accusations—and Emily finds herself at the center of it all.

When her high school’s art program is cut, Emily Libert and her parents relocate to the seemingly idyllic town of Oak Park. Struggling to fit in, she bonds with fellow outsiders Agata and Oliver, who help her navigate the town’s rigid social circles. As Emily’s art flourishes and her connection with Oliver deepens, she begins to believe Oak Park might be the right move after all.

But beneath the town’s picturesque surface, tensions simmer. Matt and Lexy, the school’s golden couple, resent Oliver’s rising athletic success—and his growing relationship with Emily. When jealousy and rivalry reach a boiling point at a party fueled by alcohol and reckless accusations, one student disappears without a trace.

As fear grips the town, the locals are quick to turn on the newcomers, desperate to place blame. Now, Emily and her friends must fight to save themselves before it’s too late. How far will both sides go to protect themselves? As the truth begins to unravel, one question lingers: What if, deep down, Emily’s not as innocent as she believes?