October Standalone BOTM - The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas

[Dr. Andy]

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.

[Nicole]

10% in (view spoiler)[ So I am trying to figure this out; Was she pregnant and had a miscarriage, or did she have an abortion....I'm confused as to why she is in so much pain and why shes on pills (hide spoiler)]
20% in (view spoiler)[ So the step dad is up to something I just know it but I can't figure out what it is.... (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

40% in (view spoiler)[ So I really like that she is being friendly and really nice to Ginny. She seems like a good girl. This Ethan thing is really weird, hes kinda creepy, but I don't think it's going to turn out he did anything bad.... (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

45% (view spoiler)[ "Those kids are seriously so mean to Ethan. I hate kids sometimes!!!" (hide spoiler)]

55.0% (view spoiler)["So this is getting interesting...Jen story is getting very sketchy...her friends...yeah I think not really her friends...." (hide spoiler)]

80.0%(view spoiler)[ "Man this is getting really interesting.....I dont have any idea who Monica is looking for. The whole thing with Ethan and Jen is cute....seriously cute." (hide spoiler)]

90%(view spoiler)[ Holy Shit balls, I did not see that coming that Brandon would be the old cheerleaders coaches girlfriend...now he is showing up at the party. and his friend was a drug dealer who had an issue with one of the dead girls......hmmmmmm (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

loving this book so far and i'm only at 6%!

[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)]

[Nicole]

Alaina wrote: "14%: [spoilers removed]"

Dude It is sooooo good. I wasn't expecting it to be so good. It will keep you guessing and I love that they (view spoiler)[threw Jen in a few times so we can kinda see from her perspective.

The step dad seems awfully suspicious doesn't he? The fact that he has her phone, and the letters and the whole thing where her phone was in a locked drawer......awfully suspicious.... (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

48%: (view spoiler)[omg this is getting even better. Who did it?? I need to know. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

66%: (view spoiler)[Okay, i have a few suspects right now because people are hiding shit from me. I NEED ANSWERS (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

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)]

[Kelly]

Chapter 1 - I'm already hooked. And that last sentence gave me chills! Clearly the author knows how to end her chapters to make you want to read more.

14% (view spoiler)[Yeah the stepdad is hiding something... I'm not sure what to make of it. It would be too simple if it was him right? (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Chapter 7 - 31% (view spoiler)[Man, I hate bullies. And it pisses me off that Jen didn't do anything to stop it. Also, I really want to know what's the deal with the stepfather but the answer is so far away :( (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

Kelly wrote: "Chapter 7 - 31% [spoilers removed]"

keep reading :) It is going to be a mystery until the end. But it is so good. as soon as you think you have it figured out, nope wrong. another twist lol. I did like how it for the most part portrayed how teens are these days. As much as we might not like it that is a harsh reality.

[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]

Nicole wrote: "Alaina wrote: "14%: [spoilers removed]"

Dude It is sooooo good. I wasn't expecting it to be so good. It will keep you guessing and I love that they [spoilers removed]..."

(view spoiler)[ The step dad is SUPER suspicious!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Nicole wrote: "10% in [spoilers removed]"

Right!?! WE NEED ANSWERS!

[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)]

[Kelly]

Andrea wrote: "pg. 196 (in ch 13) [spoilers removed]"

Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[I don't get that she's so suspicious of Ethan either. I mean she's basically thinking the same thing he does but she just doesn't want to admit to herself that her stepdad might be a psycho...

Also her friends (and her sister's so called friends) have all bitchy attitudes. It sucks and I'm betting it's going to be worse the more we read. (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

I'm on chapter 1 and I already know I'll love it!
(view spoiler)[ Was she pregnant? Abortion? That's my thoughts after 1 chapter... (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Chapter 2 - 5
(view spoiler)[ So far everything points to stepdad, but wouldn't it be too easy? Hm. Also that girl Ginny I think is somehow involved too. I love the guessing game reading books like that. So much Pretty Little Liars vibes. (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

Andrea wrote: "pg. 196 (in ch 13) [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ See what I mean. First your suspicious of the step-dad then the friend. The book does that to you. Then when you really find out. BAM! it all makes so much sense! I really liked Ethan I felt like he really cared for Jen even when everyone treated him like crapola (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "pg. 196 (in ch 13) [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah I like Ethan too! I hate that Monica is so suspicious of him when he's trying to help. But I was suspicious of him at first. Now I'm suspecting everyone else lmao (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

Andrea wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "pg. 196 (in ch 13) [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I was suspicious until he meet her before school, at I believe a park, if you read that part yet you will see why I wasn't suspicious after that, plus a few chapters from Jen POV and I realized Ethan was a really really good guy. What do you think about Brandon? He seems like such a sweetie. I feel like he does care for Monica in his own way (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "pg. 196 (in ch 13) [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

So far (view spoiler)[ the only interaction Monica has had with Brandon was her going into his office and finding out he has a girlfriend now. I don't understand why they messed with each other if he was so much older than her (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

Andrea wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "pg. 196 (in ch 13) [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

So far [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ You will get to see a little more of them. You will see he is kinda sweet to her. As creepy as it is. I feel like she pursued him way more than a what 15 year old should? another thing is if she is 15 its weird because her ex boyfriend they mention just left for college. That a pretty big jump in age too (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "pg. 196 (in ch 13) [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

So far [spoilers re..."

Wait Monica is only 15 wth

[Kelly]

I thought she was 17?

[Dr. Andy]

Kelly wrote: "I thought she was 17?"

I have no idea how old she is hahahah

[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)]

[Agne]

Chapter 6-9
(view spoiler)[ Deeper I go into a book, more questions I have. So much strange things is getting digged up. Jen had so much secrets her family didn't know about. Stepdad is somehow involved (lying always), Ethan is somehow involved, too. Now Jens best friends maybe wasn't such a good friends anymore. And Juliana in those pictures.. I love then I can't figure it all out, (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Finished- I think I'm in shock or something. Like I can't believe I actually finished the book and found out the truth? It's a really weird feeling lmao.
(view spoiler)[
That was a great book. I never even suspected Brandon until we saw him with Allie. (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Chapter 11
(view spoiler)[ I knew Ethan is somehow involved, but I also know he isn't the killer. It would be to abvious. (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ I am getting a really weird vibes from Ginny... Can she be involved in all of this? Hm.. (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Chapter 15
(view spoiler)[ Carly. Creepy. Hm.
It's like the more I read, the more people I suspect... (hide spoiler)]

[Nicole]

I'm pretty sure shes 15, I remember she said something about she wasn't old enough to have her license yet. That would make me think she would be 15 but her friend rachel was old enough to have her license...

[Nicole]

Andrea wrote: "Ch. 18 [spoilers removed]"

right!!!!! (view spoiler)[ I'm pretty sure she had a abortion, the kind where you take the pills? Not sure what that is called. But I have someone I know who did that they took two pills for it I believe. But still why is she on pain pills then? And why was she sooooo worried about puking up the pain pills. I really don't understand at all... (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Ch. 19
(view spoiler)[ OMG. Brandon.... He is one of those guys with a truck... (hide spoiler)]

[Agne]

Finished.
(view spoiler)[ I knew there is something up with Ginny, but I never suspected Brandon - untill I saw him with Allie. It was a good book. (hide spoiler)]

[Dr. Andy]

Kelly wrote: "Finished- I think I'm in shock or something. Like I can't believe I actually finished the book and found out the truth? It's a really weird feeling lmao.

That was a great book. ..."

I felt the same way at the end!!

[Dr. Andy]

Agnė wrote: "Chapter 15
[spoilers removed]... "

Carly is creepy!

[Dr. Andy]

Nicole wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Ch. 18 [spoilers removed]"

right!!!!! [spoilers removed]"

I know!! It was never brought up again I am sad about that. I was SO curious!!

[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)]

[Nicole]

Andrea wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

I know right (view spoiler)[ I really thought we were gonna find out Jen didn't kill herself and whoever killed the other two killed her. I guess that was too much of a perfect ending for the book. I think the author did that to show Monica grow a little at the end. To finally accept what Jen had done. (hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

I'm at 30% now... and have several thoughts.
(view spoiler)[
I'm keeping an eye out for this because I think that Monica's abortion is important to the story line. I may have to go back and listen; but does Monica tell us who the baby daddy is? Or only that it's not her ex-boyfriends?
I am confident the murders are connected, and that Jen didn't kill herself.

If there is any, I think Tom's only involvement is a cover up. I do not think he had anything to do with the murders, and he appears suspicious because he's trying to keep Monica and her mom at peace. I'm not sure yet if he actually thinks Jen committed suicide. But if he did not follow evidence, and just wanted to pin the murders on Jack... then he would probably convince himself that Jen wasn't murdered by this same person.
Rambling, I know. But I'm just saying... if Tom is "the guy", then I would be disappointed.

I think the murder suspect has to be involved with the school. I'm looking for more information about the faculty, staff, and coaches. We know the murders were strangulation. And I'm not sure what we know about Jen's method of suicide? But I do remember she did not leave a note.

(hide spoiler)]

ALSO... People keep distracting me while I'm listening to this audio book at work, AND I SWEAR!! This is too intense for that nonsense.

[Nicole]

Patty wrote: "I'm at 30% now... and have several thoughts.

I'm keeping an eye out for this because I think that Monica's abortion is important to the story line. I may have to go back and listen; but does Monic..."

it is!!!!

[Nicole]

Patty wrote: "I'm at 30% now... and have several thoughts.

I'm keeping an eye out for this because I think that Monica's abortion is important to the story line. I may have to go back and listen; but does Monic..."

(view spoiler)[ You will find out who the baby daddy is.....This book leaves like almost NO questions so all of them will basically be answered... (hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

Nicole wrote: "Patty wrote: "I'm at 30% now... and have several thoughts.

I'm keeping an eye out for this because I think that Monica's abortion is important to the story line. I may have to go back and listen; ..."

OOO! Nice!! They just kind of casually left that hanging didn't they... hmm! (view spoiler)[ I'm suspecting rape, since she is so young and her mom knew about the event, and took her to the hospital for pills. Likely just plan b and not abortion pills... not sure yet.
(hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

Chapter 55...
(view spoiler)[
Nooow we're talking... who is Ginny's dad!! Wondering if Tom has something to do with his disappearance? How honest will she be with Monica? Ready for that conversation...

(hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

60% Speculating on the murderer...
(view spoiler)[
Brandon... I do not know enough about this guy. He's been randomly in this book. And I've been thinking for a while that he is baby daddy. Confirmed.
And now I'm onto him... He's the murderer. There's no good reason why as of yet.

I think Carly knows more than she admits.
Did she have a relationship with Brandon too? Or does she know the guy is trouble?

(hide spoiler)]

[Patty]

99%
(view spoiler)[
NOW YOU TELL ME JEN LEFT A NOTE!?
wtffuuuuu

READ IT!

(hide spoiler)]