Author Alex Travis returns with her latest young adult novel The Payback Girls, following the success of her debut The Only Black Girl in the Room. Known for tackling issues of race, bias, and social dynamics, Travis shifts from adult fiction to the YA thriller space with a story centered on three Black teenage girls navigating suspicion, betrayal, and power imbalances in a majority-white private school.
Set for release on April 1, The Payback Girls tells the story of Robin, Bria, and Meghan—three students who share two things in common: they all once dated the same boy, and they are now suspects in his attempted murder. As rumors spread and tensions rise, the girls are forced to work together to clear their names, while also confronting the ways they’ve been shaped by their school environment and the social perceptions around them.
Travis said the book was inspired in part by the 2006 teen film John Tucker Must Die, particularly the idea of what might happen if the story’s premise escalated beyond pranks. She also drew influence from One of Us Is Lying, a popular YA mystery, to explore themes of trust and narrative reliability. Travis explained that the novel seeks to examine how young Black girls are often positioned against each other—especially in environments where they are in the minority—and how those dynamics can obscure their ability to trust not just others, but themselves.
The decision to place the story in a predominantly white private school was deliberate. Travis said the setting provides a context in which the girls’ identities are often viewed through a biased lens. These outside perceptions bleed into the girls’ own self-understanding and their relationships with one another. As the story progresses, the characters begin to challenge not only the accusations against them but also the broader social structures that have shaped their experiences.
Each of the three protagonists was developed with a distinct perspective and voice. Travis drew on historical figures for inspiration, comparing Robin to Catherine of Aragon, Bria to Anne Boleyn, and Meghan to Jane Seymour—three women from the Tudor era whose public roles were shaped by shifting loyalties and expectations. This historical framework allowed Travis to explore how different types of strength, ambition, and vulnerability manifest in her characters, especially in a high school setting influenced by class and social dynamics.
The novel also addresses implicit biases and how power operates in both subtle and overt ways. Travis said these themes are central to all of her work. She noted that the social conflict among the girls wouldn’t exist without the pressure to stand out or survive in a system that limits opportunities for people who don’t conform to dominant norms. Through the unfolding mystery, the characters are pushed to question those systems and begin redefining how they view themselves and each other.
Travis, who has a background in academia and psychology, says her experiences in predominantly white institutions have shaped her understanding of how structural inequalities impact personal identity. She described her first book as a way of processing her early career experiences with racism. In The Payback Girls, she turns that lens toward young Black girls, aiming to explore how similar pressures show up in teenage life. By depicting flawed, developing characters in complex situations, she hopes to offer a narrative that reflects real challenges while encouraging critical thought.
The Payback Girls will be available beginning April 1.
