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The Cheerleaders #1
The Cheerleaders
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2018)There are no more cheerleaders in the town of Sunnybrook.
First there was the car accident—two girls gone after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it. Monica’s sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they lost.
That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it’s not that easy. She just wants to forget. Only, Monica’s world is starting to unravel. There are the letters in her stepdad’s desk, an unearthed, years-old cell phone, a strange new friend at school. . . . Whatever happened five years ago isn’t over. Some people in town know more than they’re saying. And somehow Monica is at the center of it all.
There are no more cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, but that doesn’t mean anyone else is safe.
First there was the car accident—two girls gone after hitting a tree on a rainy night. Not long after, the murders happened. Those two girls were killed by the man next door. The police shot him, so no one will ever know why he did it. Monica’s sister was the last cheerleader to die. After her suicide, Sunnybrook High disbanded the cheer squad. No one wanted to be reminded of the girls they lost.
That was five years ago. Now the faculty and students at Sunnybrook High want to remember the lost cheerleaders. But for Monica, it’s not that easy. She just wants to forget. Only, Monica’s world is starting to unravel. There are the letters in her stepdad’s desk, an unearthed, years-old cell phone, a strange new friend at school. . . . Whatever happened five years ago isn’t over. Some people in town know more than they’re saying. And somehow Monica is at the center of it all.
There are no more cheerleaders in Sunnybrook, but that doesn’t mean anyone else is safe.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published July 31, 2018
About the author
Kara Thomas
16 books2,219 followersKara is the author of The Darkest Corners, Little Monsters, and The Cheerleaders. She is also the author of the Prep School Confidential series from St. Martin's Griffin under the pen name Kara Taylor.
Kara has written for Warner Brothers Television and currently writes full-time on Long Island, where she lives with her husband and rescue cat.
Kara has written for Warner Brothers Television and currently writes full-time on Long Island, where she lives with her husband and rescue cat.
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January 18, 2019I read this for an upcoming reading experiment video & I really enjoyed it. I will say that I didn't find it as compelling as her previous book, LITTLE MONSTERS. Which if y'all haven't read little monsters get with the program that book is where it's at fam! Something that kind of stuck out to me were the reactions the characters gave. A lot of times in YA books I don't feel like the characters react to the situations they're in, in a realistic way. This one you could see the mental affects of the situation the characters were involved in.
February 2, 2019
An okay young adult mystery. Honestly, not my favorite, but still enjoyable.
The Cheerleaders
CW: suicide, murder, death, statutory rape, sexual assault, substance abuse, abortion
One of the things I really like about the story was it’s attention to controversial topics that aren’t often approached in young adult literature. They were approached VERY realistically which was much appreciated. There were some story lines I wish had been deepened, such as the theme of substance use throughout the story, but it was satisfying enough to see them getting some additional focus.
The Cheerleaders was an interesting enough premise, but the plot didn’t full follow through. I’m tired of mystery-thrillers being entirely formulaic with no attempts to break the boundaries of what can be expected. The revelations were either expected or unsurprising – I can’t think of a moment where I said “Wow, that was really shocking and clever!”
My greatest grievance with this story is it was so PASSIVE. There is virtually no action throughout the story. I’m not saying I need police shoot outs and kidnappings to be placated, but more than internet “stalking” and conversations with side characters would have been nice. There is one singular scene that I would consider to be traditionally “investigative” (and that was great!). But alas, for the grand majority of the novel, information is only gathered through the dialogue between other characters and there were few significant scenes that provided a sufficient build up. For my personal reading preferences, I sometimes need less conversation and more action from the characters.
Additionally, the ending wasn't shocking or slightly realistic. This is a novel that I think really could have been saved by a wicked conclusion, but it fell super flat.
Overall, The Cheerleaders was alright. If you are ravenous for young adult mysteries, give it a try! But if you’re a little more picky with what books you spend your time on, this one might be one you can skip. I have yet to read Kara Thomas’s other works, but I’m still interested based on rave reviews of Little Monsters so I I hope to read more in the future!
The Cheerleaders
CW: suicide, murder, death, statutory rape, sexual assault, substance abuse, abortion
One of the things I really like about the story was it’s attention to controversial topics that aren’t often approached in young adult literature. They were approached VERY realistically which was much appreciated. There were some story lines I wish had been deepened, such as the theme of substance use throughout the story, but it was satisfying enough to see them getting some additional focus.
The Cheerleaders was an interesting enough premise, but the plot didn’t full follow through. I’m tired of mystery-thrillers being entirely formulaic with no attempts to break the boundaries of what can be expected. The revelations were either expected or unsurprising – I can’t think of a moment where I said “Wow, that was really shocking and clever!”
My greatest grievance with this story is it was so PASSIVE. There is virtually no action throughout the story. I’m not saying I need police shoot outs and kidnappings to be placated, but more than internet “stalking” and conversations with side characters would have been nice. There is one singular scene that I would consider to be traditionally “investigative” (and that was great!). But alas, for the grand majority of the novel, information is only gathered through the dialogue between other characters and there were few significant scenes that provided a sufficient build up. For my personal reading preferences, I sometimes need less conversation and more action from the characters.
Additionally, the ending wasn't shocking or slightly realistic. This is a novel that I think really could have been saved by a wicked conclusion, but it fell super flat.
Overall, The Cheerleaders was alright. If you are ravenous for young adult mysteries, give it a try! But if you’re a little more picky with what books you spend your time on, this one might be one you can skip. I have yet to read Kara Thomas’s other works, but I’m still interested based on rave reviews of Little Monsters so I I hope to read more in the future!
September 30, 2022
"I am a victim, whether or not I feel like one."
^
I wanted to include more of this quote, but it contains spoilers, so I'll let you experience the rest of what Monica has to say there when you read the book for yourself. ;)
I know some readers like to write off any type of YA novel as cheap and unworthy of the same type of attention that adult literature receives, but I'm here to tell you that's a load of BS. I've always tried to review each genre of book that I read based on the target audience that it's marketed toward, so when you see a review I've written for a book created for teens, it's those readers that I have in mind. That said, Kara Thomas has a way of taking YA thrillers and turning them into an experience that is appealing for both youth and adults alike, or at least those who are interested in reading about characters in that age range. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Little Monsters last year, so much so that I finished it in one sitting during our annual expedition to Alabama, and knew this writer has something special going for her. While I'm sure I could have read this one in similar fashion on our trip next week, I simply couldn't wait that long to dive into The Cheerleaders.
"I just have so many questions still."
"I do too," Mrs. Ruiz says. "But after a while, searching for answers felt like grasping around in the dark. At some point, you have to choose to live in the light."
Even though I flew through this book due to it's compulsive nature and easy readability, I feel it necessary to state that this story is anything but light and cheesy. It's heavy, it deals with real issues that plague teens currently, and absolutely nothing is sugar coated. {Content Warnings will be listed below in spoiler tag.} Most of the story is told from Monica's present day POV, but we also get some sections from 5 years prior narrated by Monica's deceased sister Jennifer. (Also, we have one section narrated by a character I'll leave nameless to wrap up one section, which was classic KT and absolutely brilliant. Tehehehehe.) The idea is that there are many working parts that come together in the end; think of the old saying of how a butterfly flaps it's wings and causes a tsunami halfway around the world. We have three separate mysteries here: the car accident that killed Bethany and Colleen, the murder of Julianna and Susan, and the suicide of Jennifer. It seems overwhelming at first glance but trust me, it works well.
Clearly Jennifer's death is what drives Monica's initial investigation, but I adore how this rogue journey slowly brings Monica back to the land of the living. When the book starts out, she's not in a good place. We learn early on how she's spent her summer and what she's been going through, and my heart just broke for her. She makes a bosom buddy in Ginny along the way, and I love how the author chose to focus on this blossoming relationship without ruining Monica's other relationships; sure, they have to work through some things but it's refreshing to see an author choosing to build up female relationships with characters who overall support each other, rather than only showing us the backstabbing, catty nature of teenage girls.
If you've enjoyed Thomas's books in the past, I can't see you feeling any differently about this one. I had pieces of this one figured out before the reveal, but man if Kara didn't get me on that last one. The tiny details she chose to use to connect various aspects were so clever and engaging that it's easy to see how much she grows as an author with each book she writes. Highly recommended! I'm off to grumble and complain about having nothing good to read until her next novel is published. All hail the queen of the YA thriller!
Content Warning --->
*Review copy furnished via the publisher.
^
I wanted to include more of this quote, but it contains spoilers, so I'll let you experience the rest of what Monica has to say there when you read the book for yourself. ;)
I know some readers like to write off any type of YA novel as cheap and unworthy of the same type of attention that adult literature receives, but I'm here to tell you that's a load of BS. I've always tried to review each genre of book that I read based on the target audience that it's marketed toward, so when you see a review I've written for a book created for teens, it's those readers that I have in mind. That said, Kara Thomas has a way of taking YA thrillers and turning them into an experience that is appealing for both youth and adults alike, or at least those who are interested in reading about characters in that age range. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Little Monsters last year, so much so that I finished it in one sitting during our annual expedition to Alabama, and knew this writer has something special going for her. While I'm sure I could have read this one in similar fashion on our trip next week, I simply couldn't wait that long to dive into The Cheerleaders.
"I just have so many questions still."
"I do too," Mrs. Ruiz says. "But after a while, searching for answers felt like grasping around in the dark. At some point, you have to choose to live in the light."
Even though I flew through this book due to it's compulsive nature and easy readability, I feel it necessary to state that this story is anything but light and cheesy. It's heavy, it deals with real issues that plague teens currently, and absolutely nothing is sugar coated. {Content Warnings will be listed below in spoiler tag.} Most of the story is told from Monica's present day POV, but we also get some sections from 5 years prior narrated by Monica's deceased sister Jennifer. (Also, we have one section narrated by a character I'll leave nameless to wrap up one section, which was classic KT and absolutely brilliant. Tehehehehe.) The idea is that there are many working parts that come together in the end; think of the old saying of how a butterfly flaps it's wings and causes a tsunami halfway around the world. We have three separate mysteries here: the car accident that killed Bethany and Colleen, the murder of Julianna and Susan, and the suicide of Jennifer. It seems overwhelming at first glance but trust me, it works well.
Clearly Jennifer's death is what drives Monica's initial investigation, but I adore how this rogue journey slowly brings Monica back to the land of the living. When the book starts out, she's not in a good place. We learn early on how she's spent her summer and what she's been going through, and my heart just broke for her. She makes a bosom buddy in Ginny along the way, and I love how the author chose to focus on this blossoming relationship without ruining Monica's other relationships; sure, they have to work through some things but it's refreshing to see an author choosing to build up female relationships with characters who overall support each other, rather than only showing us the backstabbing, catty nature of teenage girls.
If you've enjoyed Thomas's books in the past, I can't see you feeling any differently about this one. I had pieces of this one figured out before the reveal, but man if Kara didn't get me on that last one. The tiny details she chose to use to connect various aspects were so clever and engaging that it's easy to see how much she grows as an author with each book she writes. Highly recommended! I'm off to grumble and complain about having nothing good to read until her next novel is published. All hail the queen of the YA thriller!
Content Warning --->
*Review copy furnished via the publisher.
January 8, 2025
**4.5-stars**
Five years ago, the Sunnybrook High cheerleading squad was disbanded after several members died under tragic circumstances.
Two were lost in a horrific car accident, two were murdered at the hands of a psychopathic neighbor and the last, Jenn, took her own life after being purportedly wracked by survivor's guilt.
In an effort to keep the girl's spirits alive, their high school is now organizing a memorial event in their honor.
Monica, Jenn's little sister, gets asked to participate and unsurprisingly, it's the last thing she wants to do.
Monica has never believed that Jenn committed suicide. The sister she knew just wouldn't have done that.
The idea of a memorial creates great anxiety for Monica and she begins to sneak around her Step-Dad's office, a local police officer, looking for answers.
When she comes across Jenn's old cell phone in his desk, her suspicion deepens. Why did he keep it hidden? What could possibly be on it?
Along with a new friend from her dance team, Monica begins to unravel a web of clues that indicate perhaps the five deaths weren't coincidence after all. But who would go after the cheerleaders?
I listened to the audiobook for this and really enjoyed it. It has a classic mystery feel and was fast-paced and compelling. I would definitely recommend the audio format.
As we all know, I love a solid amateur sleuth trope and this was perfect for that. Monica was smart and Thomas planted some solid red herrings along the way.
This was actually my first Kara Thomas, but now I am psyched to get to her other works!
Five years ago, the Sunnybrook High cheerleading squad was disbanded after several members died under tragic circumstances.
Two were lost in a horrific car accident, two were murdered at the hands of a psychopathic neighbor and the last, Jenn, took her own life after being purportedly wracked by survivor's guilt.
In an effort to keep the girl's spirits alive, their high school is now organizing a memorial event in their honor.
Monica, Jenn's little sister, gets asked to participate and unsurprisingly, it's the last thing she wants to do.
Monica has never believed that Jenn committed suicide. The sister she knew just wouldn't have done that.
The idea of a memorial creates great anxiety for Monica and she begins to sneak around her Step-Dad's office, a local police officer, looking for answers.
When she comes across Jenn's old cell phone in his desk, her suspicion deepens. Why did he keep it hidden? What could possibly be on it?
Along with a new friend from her dance team, Monica begins to unravel a web of clues that indicate perhaps the five deaths weren't coincidence after all. But who would go after the cheerleaders?
I listened to the audiobook for this and really enjoyed it. It has a classic mystery feel and was fast-paced and compelling. I would definitely recommend the audio format.
As we all know, I love a solid amateur sleuth trope and this was perfect for that. Monica was smart and Thomas planted some solid red herrings along the way.
This was actually my first Kara Thomas, but now I am psyched to get to her other works!
August 13, 2018
I've enjoyed the author's Prep School Confidential series, so I had high hopes for this one. I wasn't disappointed. It did drag on a little, but overall, this is an excellent addition to the YA mystery genre.
This isn't a fluffy murder mystery, despite what its title would imply. It deals with some very dark issues. Abortion, suicide, murder.
Its title and description scream TEEN HORROR MOVIE. It's nothing like that. No campiness and slapstick here.
Still, it reads like a YA novel, and I don't mean that in a bad way. We get the sense that the character is in high school, and the people in the book rings true. There's not much about cliques, no overt stereotypes. We get the teenaged attitude without the "oh my god I want to strangle the characters NOW" feeling. It had just the right amount of angst and childishness that teenagers of that age would portray.
The investigative part wasn't outrageous. The main character wasn't a fool. The book, the setting, the characters felt realistic, and even if the book felt like it was too long, I enjoyed reading it.
This isn't a fluffy murder mystery, despite what its title would imply. It deals with some very dark issues. Abortion, suicide, murder.
Its title and description scream TEEN HORROR MOVIE. It's nothing like that. No campiness and slapstick here.
Still, it reads like a YA novel, and I don't mean that in a bad way. We get the sense that the character is in high school, and the people in the book rings true. There's not much about cliques, no overt stereotypes. We get the teenaged attitude without the "oh my god I want to strangle the characters NOW" feeling. It had just the right amount of angst and childishness that teenagers of that age would portray.
The investigative part wasn't outrageous. The main character wasn't a fool. The book, the setting, the characters felt realistic, and even if the book felt like it was too long, I enjoyed reading it.
July 15, 2018
Page-turning mystery!
5 cheerleaders in a small town die, in 3 separate incidents, within a month’s time. Is it a coincidence or is there something sinister going on in the town of Sunnybrook?
“Some people say a curse fell over our town five years ago.”
The Cheerleaders is a compulsively readable YA mystery with a strong, intelligent female lead.
When Monica Rayburn finds her sister’s phone hidden in her stepfather's desk, she begins searching for clues about what might have led her sister, Jen, to commit suicide 5 years ago. No one in Monica’s family likes to talk about what happened to Jen, so she begins to look for answers on her own. As she begins to put the pieces together, not only does Jen’s death seem suspect, she realizes something is off about the deaths of 4 other cheerleaders.
Told primarily from Monica’s POV, as she finds clues about the deaths of the girls, perspective shifts to Jen in the weeks that lead up to her death. Monica’s character is dynamic; she’s appropriately angsty but at the same time sincere. I thought Thomas did a good job of painting a realistic picture of a high school junior struggling to find out who she is and what she stands for, while at the same time capturing small-town dynamics.
The Cheerleaders is a dark, traditional mystery that uses social media to enable Monica to gain a glimpse into her sister’s life before her death. This a tension-packed read filled with some inappropriate and creepy characters. I figured out some events early on, but I didn’t know the why of what happened. The ending felt a little a rushed and the final chapter had me groaning. For me, this would have been stronger if some loose ends remained unsolved. With that being said, I still recommend to those who love a good mystery!
.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.
5 cheerleaders in a small town die, in 3 separate incidents, within a month’s time. Is it a coincidence or is there something sinister going on in the town of Sunnybrook?
“Some people say a curse fell over our town five years ago.”
The Cheerleaders is a compulsively readable YA mystery with a strong, intelligent female lead.
When Monica Rayburn finds her sister’s phone hidden in her stepfather's desk, she begins searching for clues about what might have led her sister, Jen, to commit suicide 5 years ago. No one in Monica’s family likes to talk about what happened to Jen, so she begins to look for answers on her own. As she begins to put the pieces together, not only does Jen’s death seem suspect, she realizes something is off about the deaths of 4 other cheerleaders.
Told primarily from Monica’s POV, as she finds clues about the deaths of the girls, perspective shifts to Jen in the weeks that lead up to her death. Monica’s character is dynamic; she’s appropriately angsty but at the same time sincere. I thought Thomas did a good job of painting a realistic picture of a high school junior struggling to find out who she is and what she stands for, while at the same time capturing small-town dynamics.
The Cheerleaders is a dark, traditional mystery that uses social media to enable Monica to gain a glimpse into her sister’s life before her death. This a tension-packed read filled with some inappropriate and creepy characters. I figured out some events early on, but I didn’t know the why of what happened. The ending felt a little a rushed and the final chapter had me groaning. For me, this would have been stronger if some loose ends remained unsolved. With that being said, I still recommend to those who love a good mystery!
.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2019
Hmm....
I get it. YA is a genre that caters to everyone. But YA Thrillers, in general, are the outcasts lot of the bunch because.....they just suck in general. Sure there are a few hidden gems but these are far too few and too rare to count. I just....when it comes down to it....kids in thrillers aren’t that great. High school kids trying to solve these mysteries bigger than themselves when seasoned detectives or police couldn’t even be much of a help to begin with.
The kids who solve these mysteries usually have a(n) (ex)boyfriend who may or may not be ‘shady’ OR a love interest who was suspected but in the end gets with the main character. The thing with YA Thrillers....they’re too predictable in my taste and most of the time, unrealistic. I may be going to deeply into this but I’m just at cap level with these aspects. Yes I know adult thrillers aren’t realistic either but I can believe them more than I can with these teenagers running around solving these cases while going to parties, doing three AP papers, sneaking into a fucking police department to steal some information (HAHA)....
With The Cheerleaders, the only amount of mystery I got was to whodunnit and what happened. The surrounding mystery itself revolves SO MANY DAMN RED HERRINGS with just basically shit ass high school drama (jesus these 15 year olds I just can’t) and some fluff....
However there were some really heavy and deep points addressed in the book that I thought were handled with care and respect. TW: sexual assault, statutory rape, abortion, suicide, depression. I didn’t think any of the topics covered were glorified or used as plot devices in any way. This whole aspect was very realistic and well done.
Writing was fine; I enjoyed Thomas’ writing style but here it felt a little disjointed with certain events jumping unevenly from A to B. And it felt very YA; more so than her other books. The other books had a more grittier and realistic tone about them; this book read more so straightforwardly and less like a thriller. Probably would categorize this as a mystery drama.
Wow this was a lot but I’d say if you’re a seasoned thriller reader than skip this one. This was like an episode Pretty Little Liars right before the anticipated season finale.
2 STARS
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I get it. YA is a genre that caters to everyone. But YA Thrillers, in general, are the outcasts lot of the bunch because.....they just suck in general. Sure there are a few hidden gems but these are far too few and too rare to count. I just....when it comes down to it....kids in thrillers aren’t that great. High school kids trying to solve these mysteries bigger than themselves when seasoned detectives or police couldn’t even be much of a help to begin with.
The kids who solve these mysteries usually have a(n) (ex)boyfriend who may or may not be ‘shady’ OR a love interest who was suspected but in the end gets with the main character. The thing with YA Thrillers....they’re too predictable in my taste and most of the time, unrealistic. I may be going to deeply into this but I’m just at cap level with these aspects. Yes I know adult thrillers aren’t realistic either but I can believe them more than I can with these teenagers running around solving these cases while going to parties, doing three AP papers, sneaking into a fucking police department to steal some information (HAHA)....
With The Cheerleaders, the only amount of mystery I got was to whodunnit and what happened. The surrounding mystery itself revolves SO MANY DAMN RED HERRINGS with just basically shit ass high school drama (jesus these 15 year olds I just can’t) and some fluff....
However there were some really heavy and deep points addressed in the book that I thought were handled with care and respect. TW: sexual assault, statutory rape, abortion, suicide, depression. I didn’t think any of the topics covered were glorified or used as plot devices in any way. This whole aspect was very realistic and well done.
Writing was fine; I enjoyed Thomas’ writing style but here it felt a little disjointed with certain events jumping unevenly from A to B. And it felt very YA; more so than her other books. The other books had a more grittier and realistic tone about them; this book read more so straightforwardly and less like a thriller. Probably would categorize this as a mystery drama.
Wow this was a lot but I’d say if you’re a seasoned thriller reader than skip this one. This was like an episode Pretty Little Liars right before the anticipated season finale.
2 STARS
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June 25, 2019
This YA mystery really surprised me! It was a bit dark with some mature themes and it proved to be one heck of a twisty, captivating page-turner.
Five years ago 5 cheerleaders wound up dead in the span of a few months. One of them was Jenn, Monica's older sister. Monica has never believed that her sister's death was a suicide and she is determined to connect the dots and find out what really happened to the Sunnybrook High cheerleaders.
This one definitely has that "suck you in" factor. I found myself wanting to crack the case as much as Monica did and was coming up with some crazy theories throughout! I was right about some things but others completely fooled me and I loved it! If you are looking for a fun, dark YA mystery - I definitely recommend picking up The Cheerleaders!
Five years ago 5 cheerleaders wound up dead in the span of a few months. One of them was Jenn, Monica's older sister. Monica has never believed that her sister's death was a suicide and she is determined to connect the dots and find out what really happened to the Sunnybrook High cheerleaders.
This one definitely has that "suck you in" factor. I found myself wanting to crack the case as much as Monica did and was coming up with some crazy theories throughout! I was right about some things but others completely fooled me and I loved it! If you are looking for a fun, dark YA mystery - I definitely recommend picking up The Cheerleaders!
March 19, 2019
More like 2,75* - the ending kind of ruined everything for me. It was so... anticlimactic? I don't know, I thought it would be smarter than that.
I'm pretty sure though, that most people who like dark young adult temporary thriller type of books will enjoy this.
It was written very well and it deals with a lot of interesting and problematic topics. I personally was just let down by the conclusion.
PS: The description on the back that says "A little bit Riverdale" is definitely accurate lol
I'm pretty sure though, that most people who like dark young adult temporary thriller type of books will enjoy this.
It was written very well and it deals with a lot of interesting and problematic topics. I personally was just let down by the conclusion.
PS: The description on the back that says "A little bit Riverdale" is definitely accurate lol
April 19, 2021
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed this YA thriller - though the reveals weren’t massively shocking or anything, I found it entertaining to see it all unravel.
First there was the car accident, where two cheerleaders were killed. Then the horrific murders in the house of another. Finally the suicide of Monica’s sister Jen. After this the cheerleading squad was disbanded.
Are they connected? Who was targeting the cheerleaders? And did they arrest the right person?
The premise was really interesting, and I liked Monica as a protagonist. The flashbacks to Jen’s diary were also really good. I did find a lot of the side characters interchangeable. I got Monica’s two best friends frequently confused with the two best friends Jen had in her diary entries.
The ending made sense if a little expected.
Entertaining. I will be reading more from Kara Thomas.
*************************^
Ordered online 😊
Looking forward to another good YA thriller.
I enjoyed this YA thriller - though the reveals weren’t massively shocking or anything, I found it entertaining to see it all unravel.
First there was the car accident, where two cheerleaders were killed. Then the horrific murders in the house of another. Finally the suicide of Monica’s sister Jen. After this the cheerleading squad was disbanded.
Are they connected? Who was targeting the cheerleaders? And did they arrest the right person?
The premise was really interesting, and I liked Monica as a protagonist. The flashbacks to Jen’s diary were also really good. I did find a lot of the side characters interchangeable. I got Monica’s two best friends frequently confused with the two best friends Jen had in her diary entries.
The ending made sense if a little expected.
Entertaining. I will be reading more from Kara Thomas.
*************************^
Ordered online 😊
Looking forward to another good YA thriller.
March 20, 2021
So… I went into The Cheerleaders with an expectation to get a story similar to I Know What You Did Last Summer or The Scream, but instead I got… something different.
I don’t know why I thought there will be a a killer chasing characters who’d fear for their lives, because that was not even promissed in the blurb. Anyway, because of my wrong expectations, the story for me was just… slow.
There was not much going on, but only discovering what had happened in the past.
However, don’t think this book is not good or interesting, because it is. It really is.
The story follows Monica who lives in a little town Sunnybrook. Five years ago, a huge tragedy hit the place. Five lives were lost. All five belonged to cheerleaders, one belonged to Monica’s sister Jen.
Monica is still hunted by questions and mystery around Jen’s death and she wants to find out what really happened.
This is my first time reading Kara Thomas‘ work and I really enjoyed her writing style. She was on my tbr for a while now, because I want to read her book The Darkest Corners since the day it came out, only I still didn’t have a chance.
Now when I read The Cheerleaders, I want to read it even more.
The story is written in two perspectives, one from Monica, written in first person, and second from Jen, written in third person.
I liked Monica’s chapters much more, but Jen’s were really important for the story.
This story touches some really important topics like statutory rape, suicide and abortion, but I wish more attention was paid to them. I feel like they were mentioned and that was that, the story moved on. I mean, their part of the story was huge, but they were almost… glossed over.
Since this is mystery, it’s purpose is to get readers involved, to get them try to figure out what happened before the end, and I feel like most readers will complete that mission successfully.
I had no problem figuring out the truth whatsoever.
Overall, The Cheerleaders is an entertaining ya novel that will capture readers until the very end.
I would recommend it to lovers of contemporary high school fiction.
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
I don’t know why I thought there will be a a killer chasing characters who’d fear for their lives, because that was not even promissed in the blurb. Anyway, because of my wrong expectations, the story for me was just… slow.
There was not much going on, but only discovering what had happened in the past.
However, don’t think this book is not good or interesting, because it is. It really is.
The story follows Monica who lives in a little town Sunnybrook. Five years ago, a huge tragedy hit the place. Five lives were lost. All five belonged to cheerleaders, one belonged to Monica’s sister Jen.
Monica is still hunted by questions and mystery around Jen’s death and she wants to find out what really happened.
This is my first time reading Kara Thomas‘ work and I really enjoyed her writing style. She was on my tbr for a while now, because I want to read her book The Darkest Corners since the day it came out, only I still didn’t have a chance.
Now when I read The Cheerleaders, I want to read it even more.
The story is written in two perspectives, one from Monica, written in first person, and second from Jen, written in third person.
I liked Monica’s chapters much more, but Jen’s were really important for the story.
This story touches some really important topics like statutory rape, suicide and abortion, but I wish more attention was paid to them. I feel like they were mentioned and that was that, the story moved on. I mean, their part of the story was huge, but they were almost… glossed over.
Since this is mystery, it’s purpose is to get readers involved, to get them try to figure out what happened before the end, and I feel like most readers will complete that mission successfully.
I had no problem figuring out the truth whatsoever.
Overall, The Cheerleaders is an entertaining ya novel that will capture readers until the very end.
I would recommend it to lovers of contemporary high school fiction.
Read this and more reviews on my blog https://bookdustmagic.com
August 16, 2021
*Loved* this! If not for having guessed the plot twist almost right away, I’d probably give this a 4.5/5. Even still, the story was amazing.
TW: assault, murder, suicide, adult+minor sexual relationship, drug use, alcohol use, school shooter, bullying
I loved the dual timelines of the year leading up to Jen dying & the present of Monica uncovering the mystery. For once, I think the plot of “teenager uncovers mystery that detective had misunderstood” actually felt realistic. She’s in the right place and the right time, in a position no detective could be in. Plus she has the motivation to uncover if the car crash that killed 2 cheerleaders & the murder that killed another 2 could be connected with her own sisters supposed suicide.
This was fast moving and entertaining and so well done
TW: assault, murder, suicide, adult+minor sexual relationship, drug use, alcohol use, school shooter, bullying
I loved the dual timelines of the year leading up to Jen dying & the present of Monica uncovering the mystery. For once, I think the plot of “teenager uncovers mystery that detective had misunderstood” actually felt realistic. She’s in the right place and the right time, in a position no detective could be in. Plus she has the motivation to uncover if the car crash that killed 2 cheerleaders & the murder that killed another 2 could be connected with her own sisters supposed suicide.
This was fast moving and entertaining and so well done
May 12, 2020
This book just solidifies my preference: plot driven stories with one-dimensional, underdeveloped characters are the worst kind of stories to read.
I’m not going to bother reviewing this. My irritation is at an all-time high. Should’ve trusted my gut and DNF’d this.
I’m not going to bother reviewing this. My irritation is at an all-time high. Should’ve trusted my gut and DNF’d this.
July 30, 2018
The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas is a young adult mystery that I’ve been anxiously awaiting having read this author before. Before I get too far into this review though I need to warn yet again that this one is going to be for the older crowd with a lot of darker content that may be disturbing to some.
As the book begins readers are introduced to Monica who is now in high school and battles the memories of her older sister every day since she’s been gone. Five years before Monica’s sister was a cheerleader at Sunnybrook High when tragedy struck the town in three different incidents. First an accident took two of the girls then a murder took another two leaving Monica’s sister who then took her own life.
As one can imagine it’s been a rough few years for Monica and now that she is in high school and on the dance team since cheerleading is no longer an option Monica lives with the memories every day. While searching for some pain medicine Monica finds letters sent to her step father insinuating there was more to the girls deaths than mere coincidence so Monica couldn’t help but begin to look into the past and try to find some answers.
It honestly did not take but a few pages for me to become completely engrossed in this book after I picked it up. Monica immediately became someone I needed to know more about when it became apparent this girl was bordering on spiraling out of control herself. A hook up with an older man has Monica recovering from an abortion so already the dark content seeped into the story and I became engrossed in getting to know her and learn her sister’s story.
The majority of the point of view comes from Monica but occasionally you get to also go back and learn Jennifer’s situation from her point of view as Monica uncovers just what happened five years before. Really, anyone that knows me at all can see a 4.5 star review for an almost 400 page book and know that it had to be pretty intense if I’m not complaining of the story dragging. Instead with this one I thought it flowed rather nicely with plenty of things happening to hold my attention so I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
As the book begins readers are introduced to Monica who is now in high school and battles the memories of her older sister every day since she’s been gone. Five years before Monica’s sister was a cheerleader at Sunnybrook High when tragedy struck the town in three different incidents. First an accident took two of the girls then a murder took another two leaving Monica’s sister who then took her own life.
As one can imagine it’s been a rough few years for Monica and now that she is in high school and on the dance team since cheerleading is no longer an option Monica lives with the memories every day. While searching for some pain medicine Monica finds letters sent to her step father insinuating there was more to the girls deaths than mere coincidence so Monica couldn’t help but begin to look into the past and try to find some answers.
It honestly did not take but a few pages for me to become completely engrossed in this book after I picked it up. Monica immediately became someone I needed to know more about when it became apparent this girl was bordering on spiraling out of control herself. A hook up with an older man has Monica recovering from an abortion so already the dark content seeped into the story and I became engrossed in getting to know her and learn her sister’s story.
The majority of the point of view comes from Monica but occasionally you get to also go back and learn Jennifer’s situation from her point of view as Monica uncovers just what happened five years before. Really, anyone that knows me at all can see a 4.5 star review for an almost 400 page book and know that it had to be pretty intense if I’m not complaining of the story dragging. Instead with this one I thought it flowed rather nicely with plenty of things happening to hold my attention so I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
November 8, 2019
❥ 3.5 / 5 stars
March 26, 2022
4.5 stars
OKAY, THIS BOOK COMPLETELY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE. I wanted to start off my October with a creepy read and so I chose this one and I had no idea I would end up loving the hell out of this. I'm not typically a fan of YA thrillers (they usually always disappoint me) but this one impressed the hell out of me and had me turning pages so fast trying to figure out what happened!
This story follows Monica who had an older sister named Jen who was a cheerleader who died. In their town five cheerleaders suspiciously died within a month: two of them were in a car accident, two of them were murdered, and her sister Jen killed herself. Now five years later, Monica is determined to figure out the truth about what really happened to the girls.
This story was so intense and had so many plot twists! This was looking to be a 4-star read for me until those plot twists at the end I was like ASJLAKJSDLKAJ. I couldn't not give it 5 stars after that, I was blown away and I didn't see that twist coming. It was just epic, and it's rare when a thriller can surprise me like that! I felt so much for Monica and her situation with her sister, and I actually cried at the end????? It was crazy.
So yeah I went int thinking this book would be mediocre if not disappointing and this was the biggest surprise of the year for me. I loved it. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller.
OKAY, THIS BOOK COMPLETELY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE. I wanted to start off my October with a creepy read and so I chose this one and I had no idea I would end up loving the hell out of this. I'm not typically a fan of YA thrillers (they usually always disappoint me) but this one impressed the hell out of me and had me turning pages so fast trying to figure out what happened!
This story follows Monica who had an older sister named Jen who was a cheerleader who died. In their town five cheerleaders suspiciously died within a month: two of them were in a car accident, two of them were murdered, and her sister Jen killed herself. Now five years later, Monica is determined to figure out the truth about what really happened to the girls.
This story was so intense and had so many plot twists! This was looking to be a 4-star read for me until those plot twists at the end I was like ASJLAKJSDLKAJ. I couldn't not give it 5 stars after that, I was blown away and I didn't see that twist coming. It was just epic, and it's rare when a thriller can surprise me like that! I felt so much for Monica and her situation with her sister, and I actually cried at the end????? It was crazy.
So yeah I went int thinking this book would be mediocre if not disappointing and this was the biggest surprise of the year for me. I loved it. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller.
January 4, 2024
"Some people say a curse fell over our town five years ago. What else could explain the tragic deaths of five girls, in three separate incidents, in less than two months?"
the best and captivating thriller read lately 🤍
"We think if we ask enough times, the answer will change."
the best and captivating thriller read lately 🤍
"We think if we ask enough times, the answer will change."
August 10, 2019
Even with its ominous cover, The Cheerleaders ended up a darker story than I expected.
After 5 cheerleaders are tragically killed in close succession, the high school in Sunnybrook decides to disband its team. 5 years later, the school wants to have a memorial for the girls. Monica is a junior on the dance team now and her sister, Jen, was the last cheerleader to die. With the upcoming memorial looming, Monica spends a lot of time thinking about the how? and the why? surrounding Jen’s death. Her thoughts lead her to investigate the circumstances and try to track down Jen’s old contacts. She has to be careful though, as her mom has difficulty talking about her sister and her stepdad is a local police officer. Monica also feels like she can’t open up to her best friends about this, but does begin to form a friendship with Ginny, another junior on the dance team. Will they finally get the answers they need in the mystery of the deaths?
The Cheerleaders is a YA book and it read like one. While I appreciate that it included real life topics, there was a heavy dose of filler content about the day-to-day happenings of Monica’s life. I understand her character is young, trying not to set off red flags with her family, and maintain some sense of normalcy after suffering a great loss. Even so, I just didn’t find her to be especially likable. I did like Ginny though. The last 25% of the story really picked up - I had to finish it! But, it took awhile to get there and because of that, this is a 3-star read for me.
After 5 cheerleaders are tragically killed in close succession, the high school in Sunnybrook decides to disband its team. 5 years later, the school wants to have a memorial for the girls. Monica is a junior on the dance team now and her sister, Jen, was the last cheerleader to die. With the upcoming memorial looming, Monica spends a lot of time thinking about the how? and the why? surrounding Jen’s death. Her thoughts lead her to investigate the circumstances and try to track down Jen’s old contacts. She has to be careful though, as her mom has difficulty talking about her sister and her stepdad is a local police officer. Monica also feels like she can’t open up to her best friends about this, but does begin to form a friendship with Ginny, another junior on the dance team. Will they finally get the answers they need in the mystery of the deaths?
The Cheerleaders is a YA book and it read like one. While I appreciate that it included real life topics, there was a heavy dose of filler content about the day-to-day happenings of Monica’s life. I understand her character is young, trying not to set off red flags with her family, and maintain some sense of normalcy after suffering a great loss. Even so, I just didn’t find her to be especially likable. I did like Ginny though. The last 25% of the story really picked up - I had to finish it! But, it took awhile to get there and because of that, this is a 3-star read for me.
August 8, 2018
Five dead cheerleaders all in a row!
‘They all smile at me: Jen, Juliana, Susan, Colleen, and Bethany. It really is a beautiful picture. By the end of the season, everyone in it is dead’.
There’s been no cheerleading squad at Sunnybrook High for the past five years, following three separate tragedies involving cheerleaders. Bethany and Colleen were the first to die, killed in a car accident when their car hit a tree. Then, Susan and Juliana were murdered – strangled by Susan’s neighbour (who was stalking her) while the girl’s were home alone – the neighbour then subsequently shot by police. Finally, Jennifer (who was supposed to be at the sleepover the night Susan and Juliana died, but fell ill at the last minute), unable to come to terms with her friend’s deaths, commits suicide.
Jennifer’s sister, Monica, living in the shadow of her perfect sister, is trying to move on, even though her life eerily mirrors her sister’s five years ago – she’s popular, has two best friends, and is a member of the dance team (the club that replaced the cheer squad). But the past won’t let her go, and upon discovering an ominous note citing a connection between all the cheerleaders deaths, Monica starts to unwittingly look into her sister’s past. But unravelling the truth, is a dangerous game, one she just might not survive!
Back in April, I was so impressed with ‘Little Monsters’ that I promptly pre-ordered ‘The Cheerleaders’, and then waited impatiently for the 31st July to roll around. And I’m pleased to report that this one was just as good – suspenseful, tense, shocking, and emotional. Have to say I was definitely led down the garden path on this one. The author did something different and clever that I totally fell for, that still has me thrilled.
Chapters were told in the present, from Monica’s POV, as well as flashbacks in Jennifer’s POV. Timelines set five years apart meant there were two sets of students (since Monica was only in middle school when Jen was in high school) so there were quite a few characters to keep straight. But that’s what I love about Kara Thomas’s books, is that her characters don’t live in a bubble – they have parents, family, friends, acquaintances, frenemies, teachers, faculty, friend’s parent’s, parent’s friends – most only get a mention, or a small role, but this high calibre of attention to detail really bring her characters to life. And not just her characters, but the setting and lay-out of the town as well – like how every October the businesses on Main Street compete to display the best dress-up scarecrow, and when two characters walk into a cafe one mentions to the other that it’s just down the road from where her mother works – had me thoroughly immersed in her fictional world.
Kara Thomas is now my top current author in the YA mystery/suspense genre, as well as the queen of the high school setting, and I will be racing to pre-order her next book.
‘They all smile at me: Jen, Juliana, Susan, Colleen, and Bethany. It really is a beautiful picture. By the end of the season, everyone in it is dead’.
There’s been no cheerleading squad at Sunnybrook High for the past five years, following three separate tragedies involving cheerleaders. Bethany and Colleen were the first to die, killed in a car accident when their car hit a tree. Then, Susan and Juliana were murdered – strangled by Susan’s neighbour (who was stalking her) while the girl’s were home alone – the neighbour then subsequently shot by police. Finally, Jennifer (who was supposed to be at the sleepover the night Susan and Juliana died, but fell ill at the last minute), unable to come to terms with her friend’s deaths, commits suicide.
Jennifer’s sister, Monica, living in the shadow of her perfect sister, is trying to move on, even though her life eerily mirrors her sister’s five years ago – she’s popular, has two best friends, and is a member of the dance team (the club that replaced the cheer squad). But the past won’t let her go, and upon discovering an ominous note citing a connection between all the cheerleaders deaths, Monica starts to unwittingly look into her sister’s past. But unravelling the truth, is a dangerous game, one she just might not survive!
Back in April, I was so impressed with ‘Little Monsters’ that I promptly pre-ordered ‘The Cheerleaders’, and then waited impatiently for the 31st July to roll around. And I’m pleased to report that this one was just as good – suspenseful, tense, shocking, and emotional. Have to say I was definitely led down the garden path on this one. The author did something different and clever that I totally fell for, that still has me thrilled.
Chapters were told in the present, from Monica’s POV, as well as flashbacks in Jennifer’s POV. Timelines set five years apart meant there were two sets of students (since Monica was only in middle school when Jen was in high school) so there were quite a few characters to keep straight. But that’s what I love about Kara Thomas’s books, is that her characters don’t live in a bubble – they have parents, family, friends, acquaintances, frenemies, teachers, faculty, friend’s parent’s, parent’s friends – most only get a mention, or a small role, but this high calibre of attention to detail really bring her characters to life. And not just her characters, but the setting and lay-out of the town as well – like how every October the businesses on Main Street compete to display the best dress-up scarecrow, and when two characters walk into a cafe one mentions to the other that it’s just down the road from where her mother works – had me thoroughly immersed in her fictional world.
Kara Thomas is now my top current author in the YA mystery/suspense genre, as well as the queen of the high school setting, and I will be racing to pre-order her next book.
January 15, 2018
Review trigger warning: statutory rape, pedophilia mention, abortion mention
Arguably my largest pet peeve when it comes to reading is when a book seems awesome but then it decides to do you wrong and include unchallenged problematic crap.
This book was amazing for the first 75 percent. Maybe a tad heteronormative, but a person can forgive. The writing style was compelling and easy-to-follow, the characters were three-dimensional and relatable, and the mystery was original and had me at the edge of my seat. It was gritty, dark, and dealt with real issues.
and then it had to go on and rUIN IT and it makes me so angry because this book would have been so perfect
six words: statutory rape. victim blaming. pedophilia culture.
In The Cheerleaders, the main character, Monica, had a summer fling with a guy in his mid-twenties, and Monica gets pregnant. The book begins right after she has an abortion, and it’s causing her a lot of physical and emotional grief and trauma. The guy is a capital-D Douchebag.
There’s a conversation between Monica and him that goes like this:
excuse me? EXCUSE ME???!!?!?!?
can someone please explain to me how this situation is in any way Monica’s fault?? why tf is she apologizing?? she is sixteen!! the guy is twenty-freaking-seven. he got her PREGNANT, for pete’s sake. He is over here acting like this whole situation is Monica’s fault,,,, and she (and the narration) are going along with it,,,,, when,,, it really isn’t her fault,,,, and victim-blaming pisses me off to such extents I mean I was about ready to DNF right there.
but, I mean, like, I thought that this was all going to be a part of Monica’s character development, and that she would eventually grow to realize that this whole situation is not her fault, that he was an adult that took advantage of a minor. but, like, silly me thinking that character development would be a thing in a book!!! like,,, what was I thinking?
There’s another quote a good 91 percent into the novel ”My pathological need for attention from guys is why I’m in this mess with [him].” I mean,,, like,,, there’s only like twenty pages left in the novel it’s getting a little too late for her to go through character development and realize it’s not her fault. Her “need for attention” isn’t at fault here because the dude is literally an adult who can make his own fricking decisions and KNEW she was a minor but still pursued a relationship and got her pregnant!!!! but what do I know??
All my hope was pretty much lost at this point, but then, hallelujah, but just when I was ready to bump my rating up to three or four stars, it does this crap A G A I N
And, I mean, the outward retribution just didn’t taste as sweet because at no time did the narration/Monica even begin to realize that she shouldn’t be apologizing to this guy’s manipulative, pedophile self. Until the very end, Monica is still 100 percent believing that her pregnancy and the statutory rape that happened to her was her fault and that just did not sit well with me. I didn’t like that. Instead of it making the book seem gritty with flawed characters who have gone through traumatic experiences, which is what I’m pretty sure it was going for, it perpetuated the wrongful blaming of victims of statutory rape. I’m not mad at Monica I’m mad at the book. lol.
And maybe the external arc is enough for some people, but it just wasn’t for me.
If Monica had more growth in this department, this would have honestly been a four- or even five-star read. It was that good. And that disappointing.
Book Trigger Warnings: teen pregnancy, abortion, several non-graphic instances of throwing up, statutory rape, violence and some gore.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a complete and honest review. All opinions and quotes are taken from an unfinished version.
--
Pre-review:
not today satan!!!!
full rtc (rant to come 😉😉)
Arguably my largest pet peeve when it comes to reading is when a book seems awesome but then it decides to do you wrong and include unchallenged problematic crap.
This book was amazing for the first 75 percent. Maybe a tad heteronormative, but a person can forgive. The writing style was compelling and easy-to-follow, the characters were three-dimensional and relatable, and the mystery was original and had me at the edge of my seat. It was gritty, dark, and dealt with real issues.
and then it had to go on and rUIN IT and it makes me so angry because this book would have been so perfect
six words: statutory rape. victim blaming. pedophilia culture.
In The Cheerleaders, the main character, Monica, had a summer fling with a guy in his mid-twenties, and Monica gets pregnant. The book begins right after she has an abortion, and it’s causing her a lot of physical and emotional grief and trauma. The guy is a capital-D Douchebag.
There’s a conversation between Monica and him that goes like this:
”’This is a really bad idea,’ [he says].now hold on just one dang second.
‘I know… I know. I’m sorry.’ [sic]
‘What made you do it?’ he asks. ‘What you did. With me.’ [sic]
‘Because I was sad.’
[He] puts his head in his hands.
‘I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘Why did you do it?’
‘Because I liked you.’ [He] laughs. ‘And I told myself that you looked older, and you acted older, so it wasn’t as wrong.’
‘But now you do think it was wrong.’
‘I don’t know. It just feels like you used me to avoid your problems.’
My throat tightens. He’s right – I knew what we were doing was wrong, and I didn’t care.”
excuse me? EXCUSE ME???!!?!?!?
can someone please explain to me how this situation is in any way Monica’s fault?? why tf is she apologizing?? she is sixteen!! the guy is twenty-freaking-seven. he got her PREGNANT, for pete’s sake. He is over here acting like this whole situation is Monica’s fault,,,, and she (and the narration) are going along with it,,,,, when,,, it really isn’t her fault,,,, and victim-blaming pisses me off to such extents I mean I was about ready to DNF right there.
but, I mean, like, I thought that this was all going to be a part of Monica’s character development, and that she would eventually grow to realize that this whole situation is not her fault, that he was an adult that took advantage of a minor. but, like, silly me thinking that character development would be a thing in a book!!! like,,, what was I thinking?
(okay and I swear that I’m not trying to take away from Monica’s character development because her arc having to do with depression and accepting her sister’s death is top-notch, but the internalized victim-blaming?? booooooo)
There’s another quote a good 91 percent into the novel ”My pathological need for attention from guys is why I’m in this mess with [him].” I mean,,, like,,, there’s only like twenty pages left in the novel it’s getting a little too late for her to go through character development and realize it’s not her fault. Her “need for attention” isn’t at fault here because the dude is literally an adult who can make his own fricking decisions and KNEW she was a minor but still pursued a relationship and got her pregnant!!!! but what do I know??
All my hope was pretty much lost at this point, but then, hallelujah, but just when I was ready to bump my rating up to three or four stars, it does this crap A G A I N
”’You didn’t do anything wrong,’ Ginny’s voice is soft. ‘He used you…’and I’m just like jfc I can’t freaking breathe without y’all shoving this victim-blaming crap down my throat can I
‘I used him. I was tired of being numb and I wanted to prove to myself I could feel something.’”
And, I mean, the outward retribution just didn’t taste as sweet because at no time did the narration/Monica even begin to realize that she shouldn’t be apologizing to this guy’s manipulative, pedophile self. Until the very end, Monica is still 100 percent believing that her pregnancy and the statutory rape that happened to her was her fault and that just did not sit well with me. I didn’t like that. Instead of it making the book seem gritty with flawed characters who have gone through traumatic experiences, which is what I’m pretty sure it was going for, it perpetuated the wrongful blaming of victims of statutory rape. I’m not mad at Monica I’m mad at the book. lol.
And maybe the external arc is enough for some people, but it just wasn’t for me.
If Monica had more growth in this department, this would have honestly been a four- or even five-star read. It was that good. And that disappointing.
Book Trigger Warnings: teen pregnancy, abortion, several non-graphic instances of throwing up, statutory rape, violence and some gore.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a complete and honest review. All opinions and quotes are taken from an unfinished version.
--
Pre-review:
not today satan!!!!
full rtc (rant to come 😉😉)
December 24, 2018
This was a decent YA thriller! I definitely did not like it as much as Little Monsters, but it was still a good time. There were quite a few things I liked about this book but ultimately the mystery was just sort of meh to me.
August 4, 2021
When I read a thriller, I want to be on the edge of my seat, I want to be surprised, I want to be so into the mystery that even when I stop reading I can't help but think about the characters and the plot. The real surprise for me was ending up with this book, where the main character goes out in useless unexciting circles for the entire thing. There were no stakes, no impressive plot twists, nothing.
Throughout the whole book I was straight-faced and uninterested. Monica gets a bit of information here and there in every chapter, and not once was I excited. I tried so hard to get into the mystery groove, but I was so bored sometimes I had to rewind the audiobook as my mind simply wandered to other things without me noticing. I didn't even try to guess the ending, that's how done I was.
There were so many characters and they were all the same. Both in the past pov (pointless) and in the present pov there are lots of girl friends and even now I have no idea who is who, and what is worse is that you don't even need to distinguish between them because of how bland and cookie-cutter and inconsequential to the plot arc they are.
I would have been ready to dnf pretty much one third in if it wasn't for the fact that I still wanted to know how the mystery was going to wrap up. I was hoping at least the ending would be satisfying. Spoiler alert, it wasn't at all, and now I feel like I wasted hours of my life to read something I'm going to forget in the next days. I guess caring about the characters is essential in these situations.
Throughout the whole book I was straight-faced and uninterested. Monica gets a bit of information here and there in every chapter, and not once was I excited. I tried so hard to get into the mystery groove, but I was so bored sometimes I had to rewind the audiobook as my mind simply wandered to other things without me noticing. I didn't even try to guess the ending, that's how done I was.
There were so many characters and they were all the same. Both in the past pov (pointless) and in the present pov there are lots of girl friends and even now I have no idea who is who, and what is worse is that you don't even need to distinguish between them because of how bland and cookie-cutter and inconsequential to the plot arc they are.
I would have been ready to dnf pretty much one third in if it wasn't for the fact that I still wanted to know how the mystery was going to wrap up. I was hoping at least the ending would be satisfying. Spoiler alert, it wasn't at all, and now I feel like I wasted hours of my life to read something I'm going to forget in the next days. I guess caring about the characters is essential in these situations.
July 25, 2024
there's no way i could explain how much i love this book. i simply cannot put it into words.
October 6, 2018
SOOOOOOOO FREAKINGGGGGGGGGGG GOOOOOOOOOOOD!
The Cheerleaders was amazing from the very first page. It had me guessing who was a suspect or not. Then it would throw in some kind of curveball and make me second everything that I was originally thinking. I loved it and now I'm kind of sad that it's over. Is it too early to dive back into it?
In this book, you will meet Monica. Her family dynamic is a bit strange, or it was to me, because of her sisters death. Well, not only that.. but the whole town is kind of weird after 5 cheerleaders died mysteriously within the same month. I, of course, put on my little detective hat and wanted to figure out this murder mystery before I actually got the answers - and again, it was so good!
As for my suspects, people were just way too shady or had something mysterious about them. everyone had secrets and dots were missing in these investigations. I need to know who was the common factor and once I got that answer - I was shook! I had no idea how much this one person was involved in some of the drama that happened between Monica's older sister Jen's friends.
I also really liked getting some of Jen's chapters because getting to see how her and her friends were sort of falling apart was just tragic. I still feel bad about the suicide but I also really want to know what was on that letter. What was the last factor that made her make that decision - I need to know! I wish there was another secret chapter or something!!
Overall, I loved this book. I liked getting to meet these characters and finally getting to know who had the worst of it secret wise. I can't tell you who I got right and who I got wrong.. but damn, this book was so freaking good.
The Cheerleaders was amazing from the very first page. It had me guessing who was a suspect or not. Then it would throw in some kind of curveball and make me second everything that I was originally thinking. I loved it and now I'm kind of sad that it's over. Is it too early to dive back into it?
In this book, you will meet Monica. Her family dynamic is a bit strange, or it was to me, because of her sisters death. Well, not only that.. but the whole town is kind of weird after 5 cheerleaders died mysteriously within the same month. I, of course, put on my little detective hat and wanted to figure out this murder mystery before I actually got the answers - and again, it was so good!
As for my suspects, people were just way too shady or had something mysterious about them. everyone had secrets and dots were missing in these investigations. I need to know who was the common factor and once I got that answer - I was shook! I had no idea how much this one person was involved in some of the drama that happened between Monica's older sister Jen's friends.
I also really liked getting some of Jen's chapters because getting to see how her and her friends were sort of falling apart was just tragic. I still feel bad about the suicide but I also really want to know what was on that letter. What was the last factor that made her make that decision - I need to know! I wish there was another secret chapter or something!!
Overall, I loved this book. I liked getting to meet these characters and finally getting to know who had the worst of it secret wise. I can't tell you who I got right and who I got wrong.. but damn, this book was so freaking good.
August 6, 2018
This story was addictive within the first few chapters. I actually did not find it predictable. I loved it as much as I did the author’s other book, Little Monsters. I love a book where there are so many shady characters that you are basically inthralled just to see what dark skeletons they have in their messed up past. Makes for a fun read.
My quick and simple overall: very enjoyable read!
My quick and simple overall: very enjoyable read!
July 30, 2018
"Everyone goes through shit, and there's always someone somewhere who has it worse. It doesn't make what you're feeling any less real or any less shitty."
Reading The Cheerleaders made me both excited and scared at the same time. I mean, hello, a book about cheerleaders suddenly found dead days within each other? Anyway, safe to say, this book did not disappoint.
🎀 The heroine? Raw and honest. She's not always very likable, but that's okay. She's lost; she feels like everything's falling apart, and that no one has her back. But she's also driven, and determined, and won't stop at nothing to find out the truth.
🎀 The family dynamics? Realistic. We have a few flashback scenes from her sister Jennifer's POV, where we find out that they didn't always get along--they annoyed each other constantly, like any other pair of siblings. They both love and are loved by their mother, who is genuine and caring. They also have a step-dad, who, unlike step-parents in YA, is involved and protective.
🎀 The friendships? Truthful. Monica didn't want her friends to be involved in her search for her sister's murderer, to the point where she felt herself drifting apart from them. In fact, she felt more comfortable talking to her colleague, Ginny, with whom she forms a new friendship with. Ginny's sweet and soft, and we get why Monica opened up to her so quickly.
🎀 The writing? Easy to get into. Take note that I'm not as big of a thriller reader as others might be, but I found Thomas's writing to be really smooth and natural. It kept me turning pages, never needing to stop in confusion (or, like in some other cases, irritation).
🎀 The most important thing? You'll be kept at the edge of your freaking seat. I promise! You won't know who to trust. Who's innocent and should be handled with love and care? Who's the cold-blooded murderer you need to stab with a thousand pitchforks? Take a good guess--you could be on point, or you could be dead wrong.
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April 16, 2019
This is a YA mystery/thriller and right up my alley. The main character is investigating the details surrounding her sister's death which happened 5 years ago, and what she finds out create more questions than answers.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. It reminded me of similar yet entertaining books I've read such as ONE OF US IS LYING, PEOPLE LIKE US, and MY NAME IS VENUS BLACK.
Overall, a captivating and good story. Highly recommend it to readers of YA thrillers and mysteries.
I enjoyed the story and the characters. It reminded me of similar yet entertaining books I've read such as ONE OF US IS LYING, PEOPLE LIKE US, and MY NAME IS VENUS BLACK.
Overall, a captivating and good story. Highly recommend it to readers of YA thrillers and mysteries.
October 5, 2018
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
JFC I read this one a looooooooooooooooooooong time ago. This was my third Kara Thomas book and I’m happy to report each one has gained a Star on its predecessor (a reminder to all – especially myself – to not tank an author because of one mediocre experience). The title alone had me singing . . . .
The premise of The Cheerleaders goes a little summin’ like . . . .
“Some people say a curse fell over our town five years ago. What else could explain the tragic deaths of five girls, in three separate incidents, over the course of three weeks?”
I mean, really . . . .
“What are the odds that five girls from the same school, all friends, would die within a month of each other?”
When Monica, the sister of one of the aforementioned dead cheerleaders, finds an ominous note and her deceased sister’s cell phone hidden away, she decides she’s going to take it upon herself to . . .
“CONNECT THE DOTS. FIND THE TRUTH.”
Then it’s only a matter of time before she realizes . . . .
“If you look hard enough, you’ll find something that’ll make you wish you hadn’t.”
Before anyone gets all . . . .
Please remember this is a YOUNG ADULT mystery. Of course this gal is gonna get all up in the Mystery Machine in order to figure out if Old Man Jenkins had anything to do with all of this . . . . wait, am I mixing my metaphors or some such type of thing there? Whatever. Just go with it. Anyway, if you don’t enjoy YA there’s a good chance you won’t like this either. But if you do? I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised that it’s willing to go a little dark.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
JFC I read this one a looooooooooooooooooooong time ago. This was my third Kara Thomas book and I’m happy to report each one has gained a Star on its predecessor (a reminder to all – especially myself – to not tank an author because of one mediocre experience). The title alone had me singing . . . .
The premise of The Cheerleaders goes a little summin’ like . . . .
“Some people say a curse fell over our town five years ago. What else could explain the tragic deaths of five girls, in three separate incidents, over the course of three weeks?”
I mean, really . . . .
“What are the odds that five girls from the same school, all friends, would die within a month of each other?”
When Monica, the sister of one of the aforementioned dead cheerleaders, finds an ominous note and her deceased sister’s cell phone hidden away, she decides she’s going to take it upon herself to . . .
“CONNECT THE DOTS. FIND THE TRUTH.”
Then it’s only a matter of time before she realizes . . . .
“If you look hard enough, you’ll find something that’ll make you wish you hadn’t.”
Before anyone gets all . . . .
Please remember this is a YOUNG ADULT mystery. Of course this gal is gonna get all up in the Mystery Machine in order to figure out if Old Man Jenkins had anything to do with all of this . . . . wait, am I mixing my metaphors or some such type of thing there? Whatever. Just go with it. Anyway, if you don’t enjoy YA there’s a good chance you won’t like this either. But if you do? I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised that it’s willing to go a little dark.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
August 27, 2018
There are no longer cheerleaders allowed at Sunnybrook High School. It's been that way for five years, ever since five members of the team died within a short span of each other. One of those girls was Monica's sister, Jen. Jen committed suicide after four of her fellow cheerleaders died--two in a car accident and two in a brutal murder at the hands of a fellow Sunnybrook resident. That man is dead, killed by the police. Still, Monica doesn't understand why her confident, beautiful sister killed herself. And now she's finding strange things about Jen's death that don't add up: her phone, left behind in her stepfather's desk, weird letters in his drawer, and more. What really happened five years ago? And are people done dying?
This was my first book from Kara Thomas, but it won't be my last. While this is billed as a YA novel--and there are definitely some aspects--it's also dark and twisted. I found it to be a compelling mystery that kept me guessing the entire time. Thomas does a wonderful job of painting suspense and unease as Monica slowly unravels more and more details surrounding the cheerleaders' deaths. It's impossible to trust anyone in this novel, which makes it all the more delightful. From one page to the next, I was convinced someone else was the culprit.
There's a varied set of characters in this one, but Monica is definitely the star. She's a strong narrator, even she doesn't always make the best decisions. Again, this isn't a sweet, touchy feely YA novel and neither is our narrator. She's made some bad choices (and been through a lot), but she's also feisty and determined.
Overall, this has a Pretty Little Liars vibe at times, but it's also a captivating mystery with some heartbreaking, dark undertones. It will keep you guessing and engaged. Plus, there's that wonderful, twisty ending. 4 stars.
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This was my first book from Kara Thomas, but it won't be my last. While this is billed as a YA novel--and there are definitely some aspects--it's also dark and twisted. I found it to be a compelling mystery that kept me guessing the entire time. Thomas does a wonderful job of painting suspense and unease as Monica slowly unravels more and more details surrounding the cheerleaders' deaths. It's impossible to trust anyone in this novel, which makes it all the more delightful. From one page to the next, I was convinced someone else was the culprit.
There's a varied set of characters in this one, but Monica is definitely the star. She's a strong narrator, even she doesn't always make the best decisions. Again, this isn't a sweet, touchy feely YA novel and neither is our narrator. She's made some bad choices (and been through a lot), but she's also feisty and determined.
Overall, this has a Pretty Little Liars vibe at times, but it's also a captivating mystery with some heartbreaking, dark undertones. It will keep you guessing and engaged. Plus, there's that wonderful, twisty ending. 4 stars.
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July 19, 2018
3.5/5 stars
First, I'd like to thank the lovely Chelsea for providing my copy of The Cheerleaders . Chelsea knew that I needed this book as soon as it was being publicized. I've never read a book by Kara Thomas, and although I am hesitant with YA novels, I have heard amazing things and was excited to give this book a try. In Westchester, New York, there resides a town called Sunnybrook. Five years ago in Sunnybrook, a tragic series of accidents took place with the school's cheerleading team. Two girls were killed in a horrible car accident, followed by another two murdered in cold blood. Police reports claim that the two homicide victims were killed by the neighbor next door, but he was shot in a police apprehension and is now dead—unable to speak for himself. Sadly, days later, a fifth victim (Jen) in the cheerleaders's saga commits suicide after her struggle with depression.
Current day Sunnybrook has disbanded the cheer squad, while memorializing the five women annually. Jen's sister, Monica is still having trouble coping with Jen's suicide and the suspicious turn of events leading to five deaths in such a short period. One day, after dance practice, Monica stumbles across documents that detail the town's tragedy. This leads Monica on suspicions that things aren't quite what they seem. As Monica begins investigating, she finds Jen's phone. Why is Jen's phone still active? Even more so, why was there a seventeen minute phone conversation right before her apparent suicide with a random number that nobody knows of? The cheer squad's five year old mystery is about to be reopened, but does Monica want to know the truth?
Alright folks, let's be clear—I generally destroy Young Adult novels in my reviews. Its rare for me to actually enjoy a YA story, because it's usually campy and unbelievable. The Cheerleaders is anything, but campy and unbelievable. The story dives right into topics of statutory rape, suicide, depression, and teenage growing pains; and it covers these topics so respectfully and articulately. Romance in this story is kept at a minimum, thank the Lord almighty! Never once did I feel that the story was handling controversial topics in a demeaning or unbelievable way—it was raw; it was real. The Cheerleaders is more of an investigative murder mystery, and although I binge read it (I love binge reading, eating, and drinking), I urge you to take your time with this book. As the story develops, Kara Thomas tries to immerse you into the story by getting you to know and understand the characters. As I was binge reading this, it just felt like a lot of fluff to me (hence why this rating is 3.5). This is a good writing tactic for many slower paced readers, because it pulls you into the emotions of the characters. For me, it just left me a little bored, but that's because at this stage in my life, I've been reading so many mystery novels and can't be bothered with fluff. If you're not as psychotically obsessed with thriller novels as I am, you should be bothered with fluff! It's going to immerse you into the story and hold you until the end.
Overall, The Cheerleaders is a solid YA mystery novel, and it's definitely opened my eyes into pursuing Kara Thomas's previous works. I heard Little Monsters is a great story, would you recommend it to me?
First, I'd like to thank the lovely Chelsea for providing my copy of The Cheerleaders . Chelsea knew that I needed this book as soon as it was being publicized. I've never read a book by Kara Thomas, and although I am hesitant with YA novels, I have heard amazing things and was excited to give this book a try. In Westchester, New York, there resides a town called Sunnybrook. Five years ago in Sunnybrook, a tragic series of accidents took place with the school's cheerleading team. Two girls were killed in a horrible car accident, followed by another two murdered in cold blood. Police reports claim that the two homicide victims were killed by the neighbor next door, but he was shot in a police apprehension and is now dead—unable to speak for himself. Sadly, days later, a fifth victim (Jen) in the cheerleaders's saga commits suicide after her struggle with depression.
Current day Sunnybrook has disbanded the cheer squad, while memorializing the five women annually. Jen's sister, Monica is still having trouble coping with Jen's suicide and the suspicious turn of events leading to five deaths in such a short period. One day, after dance practice, Monica stumbles across documents that detail the town's tragedy. This leads Monica on suspicions that things aren't quite what they seem. As Monica begins investigating, she finds Jen's phone. Why is Jen's phone still active? Even more so, why was there a seventeen minute phone conversation right before her apparent suicide with a random number that nobody knows of? The cheer squad's five year old mystery is about to be reopened, but does Monica want to know the truth?
Alright folks, let's be clear—I generally destroy Young Adult novels in my reviews. Its rare for me to actually enjoy a YA story, because it's usually campy and unbelievable. The Cheerleaders is anything, but campy and unbelievable. The story dives right into topics of statutory rape, suicide, depression, and teenage growing pains; and it covers these topics so respectfully and articulately. Romance in this story is kept at a minimum, thank the Lord almighty! Never once did I feel that the story was handling controversial topics in a demeaning or unbelievable way—it was raw; it was real. The Cheerleaders is more of an investigative murder mystery, and although I binge read it (I love binge reading, eating, and drinking), I urge you to take your time with this book. As the story develops, Kara Thomas tries to immerse you into the story by getting you to know and understand the characters. As I was binge reading this, it just felt like a lot of fluff to me (hence why this rating is 3.5). This is a good writing tactic for many slower paced readers, because it pulls you into the emotions of the characters. For me, it just left me a little bored, but that's because at this stage in my life, I've been reading so many mystery novels and can't be bothered with fluff. If you're not as psychotically obsessed with thriller novels as I am, you should be bothered with fluff! It's going to immerse you into the story and hold you until the end.
Overall, The Cheerleaders is a solid YA mystery novel, and it's definitely opened my eyes into pursuing Kara Thomas's previous works. I heard Little Monsters is a great story, would you recommend it to me?
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