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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
This book sounded so good. If another author had written it, maybe it would of been as good as it sounded. Silly writing, that lacked atmosphere.
fast-paced
This is a YA thriller that reads exactly like a YA thriller.
And sometimes I just need a simple YA thriller with some teen drama. I need a main character that I can yell at about her bad choices in men. I need parents that are abnormally absent and oblivious. I need bad text chains and important in-person conversations where the dialogue we're presented would make it a three-minute meeting tops (so awkward). I need characters that are so sus that I trust absolutely no one and get shifty eyed.
I got all of that and even a little bit more in The Cheerleaders. While the ending may not have been the most believable, I think it was a little bit more plausible than the alternative, and it left me mostly satisfied.
A lot of heavy topics tackled in this one, but most of them were not handled in depth. While that always leaves me feeling like I have an itch that needs scratching, most YA books don't go where I'd want them to unless the main focus is on that topic (examples in this book -), and I wasn't expecting a YA thriller to get below sea level deep. So no points off but definitely a warning that there are trigger topics aplenty.
Readable. Enjoyable (am I demented for calling it that?). Twists and turns and hard to put down but nothing that made my brain hurt.
3.5 Rounded up to 4 Stars
And sometimes I just need a simple YA thriller with some teen drama. I need a main character that I can yell at about her bad choices in men. I need parents that are abnormally absent and oblivious. I need bad text chains and important in-person conversations where the dialogue we're presented would make it a three-minute meeting tops (so awkward). I need characters that are so sus that I trust absolutely no one and get shifty eyed.
I got all of that and even a little bit more in The Cheerleaders. While the ending may not have been the most believable, I think it was a little bit more plausible than the alternative
Spoiler
in which some psycho intentionally caused a car accident, viciously murdered two girls in a home, and killed a fifth girl but craftily made it look like a suicide without leaving a trace and without the police having any clue that all three of these incidents were tied togetherA lot of heavy topics tackled in this one, but most of them were not handled in depth. While that always leaves me feeling like I have an itch that needs scratching, most YA books don't go where I'd want them to unless the main focus is on that topic (examples in this book -
Spoiler
suicide, depression, drug use, alcoholism, murder, domestic abuse, pedophilia, statutory rape, abortionReadable. Enjoyable (am I demented for calling it that?). Twists and turns and hard to put down but nothing that made my brain hurt.
3.5 Rounded up to 4 Stars
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
The very last chapter was great but the rest of the book was average
Honestly - this book surprised me!
It sorta had a slow beginning - but picked up quickly. I thought I knew what was going on, and I was sure I knew what had happened but I was wrong.
I literally gasped when the truth came out, and cried as well.
It was a great mystery!
It sorta had a slow beginning - but picked up quickly. I thought I knew what was going on, and I was sure I knew what had happened but I was wrong.
I literally gasped when the truth came out, and cried as well.
It was a great mystery!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
THE CHEERLEADERS by Kara Thomas
Five years after five cheerleaders d*ed, Monica Rayburn is pulled back into the past when the faculty wants to honor those five cheerleaders. All Monica wants to do is forget---her sister was one of the five. As days draw nearer to the anniversary, Monica begins to question everything after finding anonymous notes and Jen's phone is her stepfather's desk. With a new friend, Monica investigates what really happened.
I first read this book a couple of years ago, and I needed to do a reread before THE CHAMPIONS.
THE CHEERLEADERS is a YA mystery that is emotional riveting and thrilling all at the same time. I teared up, and I was on the edge-of-my-seat throughout reading this. This is dual timeline, so we have Monica's pov and Jen's, her sister. The insight into what happened five years ago really added to this, but I couldn't help but wish we got a full book telling the story of the five cheerleaders and then this book.
THE CHEERLEADERS is a fast-paced read that is twisted. Once everything is out in the open, Kara Thomas manages to throw in one more surprise---one more twist that somehow offers more insight into what happened five years ago.
Shocking, heartbreaking, and thriller, THE CHEERLEADERS is a must-read for those looking to be surprised, to cry, and those looking to read its companion novel THE CHAMPIONS.
THE CHEERLEADERS by Kara Thomas
Five years after five cheerleaders d*ed, Monica Rayburn is pulled back into the past when the faculty wants to honor those five cheerleaders. All Monica wants to do is forget---her sister was one of the five. As days draw nearer to the anniversary, Monica begins to question everything after finding anonymous notes and Jen's phone is her stepfather's desk. With a new friend, Monica investigates what really happened.
I first read this book a couple of years ago, and I needed to do a reread before THE CHAMPIONS.
THE CHEERLEADERS is a YA mystery that is emotional riveting and thrilling all at the same time. I teared up, and I was on the edge-of-my-seat throughout reading this. This is dual timeline, so we have Monica's pov and Jen's, her sister. The insight into what happened five years ago really added to this, but I couldn't help but wish we got a full book telling the story of the five cheerleaders and then this book.
THE CHEERLEADERS is a fast-paced read that is twisted. Once everything is out in the open, Kara Thomas manages to throw in one more surprise---one more twist that somehow offers more insight into what happened five years ago.
Shocking, heartbreaking, and thriller, THE CHEERLEADERS is a must-read for those looking to be surprised, to cry, and those looking to read its companion novel THE CHAMPIONS.
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
The mystery took a few chapters to really ramp up, but once it did it was hard to put down.
The mystery is solved in a way that isn’t unsatisfying, but then the author hits you with a final chapter that wraps everything else up in a thrilling little bow.
Everyone has their secrets, but I ended up loving (or at least empathizing with) nearly everyone by the end.
The mystery is solved in a way that isn’t unsatisfying, but then the author hits you with a final chapter that wraps everything else up in a thrilling little bow.
Everyone has their secrets, but I ended up loving (or at least empathizing with) nearly everyone by the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Murder
Minor: Suicide
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Mental illness, Suicide, Car accident
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse