The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas -- Restarting September 1st 2024

[Karen]

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.

Dark...and, by all accounts, a great read. Please feel free to join!

[Karen]

Opening chapter certainly ends with a hint of darkness. Definitely makes you want to know more.

[Allie]

Karen wrote: "Opening chapter certainly ends with a hint of darkness. Definitely makes you want to know more."

I can't sleep right now so since you already started this I think I might go ahead and start it too.

[Karen]

Up to ch 5. (view spoiler)[ So, what is her stepfather hiding? Not sure anyone in their right mind would start to investigate what happened. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Up to ch8. Feels like the introduction of this character is a little convenient.

[Karen]

Up to ch10. The plot thickens. Still can’t work out why you’d choose to look into this.

[Karen]

Up to ch12. Monica’s curiosity makes sense, but how come nobody else has put things together in this way?

[Karen]

Up to ch17. (view spoiler)[ Brandon is playing with fire. Why would you put yourself in that situation? There’s a few people who seem to be hiding things. (hide spoiler)]

[Karen]

Finished. Review on home page. Clever. Pretty clever. Just a little frustrated by some details but this was a good read.

[Sara]

Chapters 1-5
(view spoiler)[
I wish Monica would be stealthier in investigating the murders.
Brandon is still a pedophile no way around it.
I love how much drama, threads, and reveals there are. Man when this pregnancy hits the fan...
Predictions: 1. Tom did not do it. Jack Canning did not do it. I do not feel it was an adult who killed all those girls. It being a teenager they know might be the reason the cops did not dig too deep into the murders.
(hide spoiler)]

[Ritika]

25% (view spoiler)[I don't like the way Monica's mother treats her, I understand being mad but if you're daughter is going through something like this, a good mother should be more supportive, I wish Monica could be a little smarter about this, but I feel like the person on the phone isn't the murderer, and there's something else going on! (hide spoiler)]

[Ritika]

50% (view spoiler)[Ginny is somehow related to all this right? I mean i don't think she did it, but there is something more going on with her than just this girl trying to help solve some murders! (hide spoiler)]

[Ritika]

75% (view spoiler)[The storyline with Jen tells me that she did maybe kill herself, and wasn't murdered. The way she's written seems to betaking us to that conclusion itself, I still can't figure out who did it,though! Brandon on the other hand, is an asshole pedophile and Monica needs to see that! (hide spoiler)]

[Ritika]

100 (view spoiler)[I did not see that coming! So the four girls were murdered after all! I knew Ginny wasn't that innocent. I do wish we got to see how Tom reacted to the fact that he killed an innocent man, not completely innocent but he didn't kill those girls. Since it had been a major point of contention in the story I wish we could see it get resolved! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

14%

(view spoiler)[Not sure so far. I feel like ive read a lot of ya books about cheerleaders being murdered. So i hope this one does something different with this plot.

(hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

25%

(view spoiler)[Hmm. I'm not sure how this book is getting so much praise. For me, it feels like I've read this before, and I'm gonna go ahead and make a prediction: the stepfather has something to do with it. That's where we're heading. It could all be a red-herring but I'm guessing not.

Oh also now I've thought about it. Brandon will be involved too. I'm guessing (I can't remember how old he is) he's the same age as Monica's sister so he'll be involved, trust me. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

64%

(view spoiler)[Considered DNFing it earlier, and I'm kinda glad I didn't. It's picking up. It's getting there.

So new thoughts: Ginny and her dad. Are they red herrings too? I' kinda thinking Ginny has something to do with it, or she knows something about it. I don't know. Got my eye on her for now.. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara]

Ashleigh wrote: "25%

(view spoiler)[ I'm on chapter 9 I can agree it feels like not enough suspenseful stuff is happening. I did not even think of Brandon but what you have said has my brain moving. Wow, now I think Brandon did it. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara]

Ritika wrote: "25% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Monica mom treats her bad but also Monica does being doing a lot sometimes. Her stepfather treats her better. All the suspects so far feel too easy. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Sara wrote: "Ashleigh wrote: "25%

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I can't believe that for once I actually guessed right haha! There were so many red herrings in this book that I think I suspected everyone at some point haha. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashleigh]

Finished

(view spoiler)[Wow! I actually made a right prediction! I knew there would be something shady about Brandon (apart from the fact he slept with an underage girl).

So was his age actually stated in the book? Because I was confused as hell trying to work out how old he was haha.

I didn't see the twist with Ginny's dad coming. I thought she might be hiding something, but again, I couldn't quite work everything out myself.

I like that Monica managed to make things up with Rachel and Alexa, and she didn't cut them off completely. I read a lot of YA books where the MC is trying to investigate something, and they cut off their life-long friends and team up with a token outcast, and there'll be a romance with someone they wouldn't normally be attracted to, and I'm soooo happy we didn't get that here. (hide spoiler)]

[Sara]

Ritika wrote: "50% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yes, I think so too. She has involved herself in the investigation and seems to take certain things in an emotional level that if she was detached she wouldn't (hide spoiler)]

[Sara]

chapter 6-12 or 52%
(view spoiler)[
Monica * every single time someone tells her info*: I don't believe them. They're wrong!!
Me: lol ummm if you don't believe anyone and don't want to hear anything even though you came to them for info. Like if you don't want to dig into things and believe what was sad 5 years ago why are we here?
Suffice to say Monica is getting on my nerves. I enjoy Jen chapters I wonder if the novel would have been better during that time period when the danger/murders was present.
(hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting October 12th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 6 (view spoiler)[ I am so suspicious of literally everyone!! Like who fucking killed!?! I don't think it was Jack Canning. I wonder if this mystery number is Carly? Also what is going on with Monica? Was she pregnant/getting an abortion?? I hope she becomes friends with Ginny she seems nice. Also Alexa is a bitch and doesn't actually seem to like Monica, so I don't understand why they're friends? (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

pg. 196 (in ch 13) (view spoiler)[ Okay so now I'm slightly suspicious of Ginny! But also I love how Monica is trying to find answers and going through these clues to connect the dots. Clearly that dude who met Jules and Carly after the spirit evening was not right. I am VERY suspicious of him especially after everything Ethan said. I don't understand why Tom had such an issue with Ethan either. And Susan is a fucking bitch (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Ch. 18 (view spoiler)[ Gah I don't know who to suspect! I wonder if there might be more to Ginny than her just wanting to be Monica's friend. I could totally ship them together. But it was also cute that Jimmy likes Mon. I think it's really cool how Mon and Jen's lives are parrelleling. I just hope Mon will be okay in the end. But I'm really starting to get annoyed with Juliana, Susan, Alexa and Rachel. They're literally horrible friends. I'm not sure how much better Jen and Mon are but they seem a bit better. ALSO WILL I NEVER GET CLOSURE ABOUT WHY MON HAD SUCH HORRIBLE CRAMPS IN THE BEGINNING!?! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Well damn I'm shook!! I did not suspect Brandon one bit until it was revealed he did it! Crazy. I'm glad Monica finally came clean to her parents about everything too. I suspected Ginny's father had something to do with the car crash, but I didn't think he'd seen Brandon with Juliana. I also wasn't convinced Jen had committed suicide until the very end. I wish Mon's mother had told what the note said. (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah Elizabeth]

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Date changed. Restarting October 24th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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[Amanda]

End of Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ Wow! Interesting way to start this book off for sure! I love this quote:

"She's wrong, I think, Pain isn't supposed to teach you anything. It only exists to hurt you. And she should know that better than anyone."

(hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

end of ch 3 (view spoiler)[ Okay this is cool. I feel like the beginning was a little rough but it's getting better. It's like the writing was too specific. Like I get that you want me to know the characters and for it to feel real, but it was like a bunch of names got dropped really fast. Now it's much better though. I'm interested to see what happens. If everything happened years ago is she going to fo all Veronica Mars and investigate the murders or something? (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

end of ch 4 (view spoiler)[ Okay so I see that the next chapter starts with Jennifer's POV from 5 years ago. That's great because I kind of hate reading books that are JUST cold cases. Well, I don't hate them, but they can get boring pretty fast. I'm so glad that this is going to be flashbacks..

Okay, so I don't know who did it yet, but it's obviously not that guy and I don't think it's Tom either. I'm still getting to know all the characters and everything and I think that since we're going to get Jen's POV it will be helpful. But I always guess a few times during murder novels, so we will see. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

end of ch 15 (view spoiler)[ Wow, this really is like Veronica Mars! I love that Monica became friends with Ginny. I don't think Ginny's dad did it though. I don't think Ethan did it either. I really have no clue who did it, but I'm loving the whole story.

The beginning was a little rocky, but once it took off it really never stopped. Most murder mysteries that are cold cases are really boring, but this wouldn't be boring even if there weren't flashbacks in Jen's POV. I do love that there are though, they help pace the story. They also don't give too much away so the whole thing has kept me guessing.

I've really torn through a lot of this book today!

It is written really well and has a great plot that has kept me guessing. I don't even have a good suspect just yet.

Well.. except maybe Carrie? I'm really not sure, this type of murder seems like it would be done by a guy. Targeting all the cheerleaders seems like the kind of thing a guy would do, but it could also be a jealous girl. Who knows, maybe I will be totally shocked and it will be Ginny, but I find that highly unlikely.

I don't think Tom had anything to do with it. I just think that he lied to keep his job. But I think there is more between him and the guy that he shot. That guy hated him or was scared of him for a reason and ran. I don't think either the original suspect or Tom murdered the girls though.

(hide spoiler)]

This is so good!!!

[Alaina]

14%: (view spoiler)[IS TOM THE MURDERER? DOES HE KNOW MORE THAN HE IS LETTING ON? WHY DOES HE HAVE JEN'S PHONE? WHYYYYYYYY WAS IT UNLOCKED? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND NOW I'M SEEING A JENNIFER CHAPTER AND I'M SLIGHTLY FREAKIG OUT! (hide spoiler)]
48%: (view spoiler)[omg this is getting even better. Who did it?? I need to know. (hide spoiler)]
66%: (view spoiler)[Okay, i have a few suspects right now because people are hiding shit from me. I NEED ANSWERS (hide spoiler)]
100%: (view spoiler)[holy crap was this book good. Never suspected Brandon until the end. Then there was Ginny and I just knew that bitch was hiding something! Oh lord, what a fantastic book! (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

End of ch 20:(view spoiler)[ Wow. I never expected Brandon to be the one who could've killed the girls. This is crazy! (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Alaina wrote: "14%: [spoilers removed]
48%: [spoilers removed]
66%: [spoilers removed]
100%: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I NEVER KNEW IT WAS BRANDON UNTIL THE END EITHER! I KNEW GINNY WAS HIDING SOMETHING, BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT! THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! SO GLAD YOU LOVED IT TOO! I'M ABOUT TO POST MY REVIEW, I'VE GOTTA CHECK OUT YOURS!! AHHHH! (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Review: https://devouringbooks2017.wordpress....

[Brooke]

15%
(view spoiler)[ Kinda weird that Tom has her phone still, and somehow unlocked it. The letters are creepy. Tom has to know more than he is letting on. And whose number did she call!?

a Jennifer POV?! HECK YES (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

46%
(view spoiler)[ Aw dont do drugs kids. Hate Carly a lot and Susan isn't much better. Wonder who is dealing them the drugs? (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

58%
(view spoiler)[ Aw that was mean to do to Mike. Calling in a fake 911 call, scaring the shit out of him, could have stolen the info in other ways. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

80%
(view spoiler)[ts been 5yrs, not everyone keeps the same number for that long, how is she surprised Allie isn't texting back. Carly is really starting to look bad. (hide spoiler)]

[Brooke]

End
(view spoiler)[ Holy shit. Brandon did it?! How?! I didn't see that coming at all, then the thing with Ginny's dad and Brandon, i'm really glad Ginny left him there, he deserved that and more. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Brooke wrote: "End
[spoilers removed]"

I didn't see the end coming at all either! So glad you loved this like I did!!

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting August 15th 2024. Happy Reading ☺

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[Krystal]

I am sooo sorry, I totally forgot about this!! Starting now!

[Krystal]

Actually I have to get this from the library this week- will most likely be Thursday. I could have sworn I owned this book but it can’t find it anywhere.

[Krystal]

Never mind again, hahah , I found my copy.

[Anshika]

I too forgot about this one
I should look for my copy 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏻‍♀️

[Krystal]

Do you want to move this to start for September? Like the very beginning? That way we don't have to rush - unless you've already started.

[Anshika]

Krystal wrote: "Do you want to move this to start for September? Like the very beginning? That way we don't have to rush - unless you've already started."

No, I haven't started yet
We can change the date