The Elissas

In The Elissas, Bustle editor Samantha Leach reflects on the intertwined lives of herself and her childhood friend Elissa, who was sent to a troubled teen boarding school and died at just eighteen. As Samantha grapples with her profound grief, she uncovers the stories of Elissa's friends, Alyssa and Alissa, who also faced tragic ends at an alarming age. This exploration reveals the hidden struggles within the lives of young suburban women, aiming to illuminate the dark realities of the Troubled Teen Industry and the societal pressures that influenced their fates.