In Ecstasy

By Kate McCaffrey

Reviewed by Alison McCaffrey

Sophie and Mia have been best friends since they started kindergarten, but by the time they get to the party that kicks off the wild ride that is In Ecstasy, things have already been changing for Sophie. She’s the popular girl, the beautiful girl, the girl everyone wants to be around, which has always made it easy for socially-awkward Mia to exist in her glow – but Sophie’s been keeping secrets.

When the two fifteen-year-olds are offered a pill at a party, it’s Mia’s world that is forever changed by one magical letter – E. She feels beautiful and fun and calm, and even Lewis, the most popular year-twelve boy, wants to spend time with her. It’s fine, right? It’s just one or two pills that weekend so she can have fun, be more herself. And if it means Lewis wants to be with her, it can’t be that bad.

What follows is an emotional roller coaster ride through the teenage party scene no one talks about. Addiction, overdoses, dealers, depression, pulling away from friends and family, and what happens when you finally realise how far you’ve fallen. In Ecstasy give a brutal, honest point of view on what this looks like for teenagers, and the widespread impacts it can have. Sometimes one pill seems like a small thing, but when a butterfly flaps its wings, no one really knows how far that breeze will travel.

Kate McCaffrey is a multi-award-winning WA author of five books for young adults and one for adults. Her YA books cover heavy topics such as mental illness and eating disorders, cyberbullying, family tragedy, drugs and addiction, and all the facets of teenage relationships. Even though In Ecstasy was published nearly 20 years ago, it feels as poignant and shocking today as it would have then. Harrowing and eye-opening, this is an important read for any teen or young adult who’s curious about drug use and what ‘just once’ has the potential to become. And for parents of tweens and teens, and anyone looking to have an honest conversation about drugs, alcohol and risky behaviour with a young person you care about, read this first. Not only does this book show the depths of the teenage party scene, but the ways our brains can trick us into seeing only what it wants us to.

Content warning – In Ecstasy has graphic and detailed descriptions of drug use and overdose, sexual content and language.

Teaching notes

Fremantle Press 2026 (new edition)

Kate McCaffrey