Picked this book of a "best of" reading list somewhere. As a former cheerleader myself, I thought it might be a fun world to revisit. Knowing that there was a murder mystery weaved in was only icing on the cake!

I thought things started off in a great way featuring all of the challenges, set backs, and immediate changes that come in to play when a new coach takes over. The author did a nice job of giving you insight into the teammates, coaches (new and prior), and how the cheerleaders felt when they donned that short skirt. Have to admit those were great days to revisit for a moment or two...

To the main character, from whose perspective you most often sat during the book, there were stories of elation with the team's improvement, times where nothing seemed to hang together - least of all your teammates when not everyone embraces the style or command of this new coach, and much confusion over where she fit into the world and how cheerleading put her on a pedestal. At this point, I felt the author did a nice job of capturing the emotions within this era.

The reason I gave the book to a solid 3 is that I felt Ms. Abbott rather dropped the ball after she introduced a new man for the new - and married - coach. Though the way a couple of the cheer squad happened upon the fling felt accurate, many things (like the coach's family life) were interjected in a sometimes important/sometimes not way that left it feeling disingenuous to the overall story.

Where the book ended and left it's main character Addy (at the beginning of next season with cheerleading tryouts) was spot on, however. There is always some one ready to take the captain mantle and make it "their" team.

I feel like the author could easily do a follow up to Dare Me. If she writes one, I am all in!