The Reappearance of Rachel Price  by Holly Jackson
	Reviewed by Anonymous March 3, 2026 Grade 8

Your Rating: ☆☆☆★★

Book Tags: Plot Twist, Female Protagonist, Romance Subplot

Plot Summary:  Bel is haunted by her mom’s mysterious disappearance. When Bel was two, Rachel Price vanished as she watched. But it’s been sixteen years, and she has no memory of it. Whether Rachel is alive or not, whether she ran away or was taken, all Bel wants is to move on from it. Except, when Grandpa Price suffers a stroke, Bel’s dad must agree to film a documentary on the case to pay for his caretaker. Bel is just trying to make it through the filming, incident and outburst free when her world is turned upside down. Rachel Price reappears. While this should have been a happy ending for the family, all Bel can see is the cracks. Something is wrong, and she will uncover the truth. 

Personal Review: Usually, I enjoy Holly Jackson books. However, this one didn't hit as well as the others. As a story, it does its job. It's fun, fast-paced, witty, full of twists, and compelling. But, there are some issues I had. Some of the decisions made by the characters seemed a bit unrealistic. Or, rather, a lot unrealistic. The tone was very inconsistent. Across the 1st and 2nd acts, it was always serious and nuanced. However, the 3rd act completely derailed any grasp I had on the characters. It was so satirical and unrealistic that it made no sense in the context of the rest of the story. The tone messed with the characters as well. I really liked Bel, I really didn't like Rachel, and everyone else was somewhere in the middle. By the end, I think I hated everyone? I don't know, I'm still processing what went down in that wild ride of an ending.

Similar Reads: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, Five Survive by Holly Jackson

	If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
	Reviewed by Anonymous February 27, 2026 Grade 8

Your Rating: ★★★★★

Book Tags: Theatre, 90's, Murder Mystery, Tragic, LGBTQIA+

Plot Summary:  Oliver Marks serves 10 years in jail for a murder he committed in college. Except, things don't quite make sense. 10 years prior, Oliver was a member of an eccentric group of theatre majors, all playing their parts on and offstage. The cast: Meredith the temptress, Richard the tyrant, Alexander the villain, Wren the ingenue, Phillipa, the extra, and Oliver plays the sidekick. When someone breaks character, all the problems boil over, and someone ends up dead. Accident or not, the cast must deal with the fallout of their actions. They must act the part, possibly prove their innocence, or rather convince themselves of it. 

Personal Review: This book, If We Were Villains, was phenomenal. First of all, the characters make the story so lively. They all struggle and sacrifice. This book has a way of making you not trust anyone, or think anyone is truly "good" or "evil". Literally everyone is in the gray area. Oh, how much I love it!! The writing is incredible. Metaphors, language, tie-ins, and believable dialogue make the scenes engaging. Anyways, for a negative: much of the story takes place during various scenes of a Shakespearean play. It does lean on the confusing side if you are trying to follow along with what is going on with the scene the characters are performing, instead of the subtext that is actually moving along the plot. But that is a small quirk of the text. The ending was quite great. All of the loose ends are perfectly wrapped, and everything comes together satisfyingly.

Similar Reads: One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus, The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham

	Golden Gate (City Spies Book 2) by James Ponti
	Reviewed by Anonymous August 26, 2024 Grade 9

Your Rating: ☆★★★★

Book Tags: Group Mystery, Adventure, Suspense

Plot Summary:  The City Spies have a mystery to solve once again. Two of the spies are on a ship to protect 2 members of the royal family from a group of hijackers. Luckily, everyone was able to get away safely, but this led the spies into a new mystery of an old MI6 agent who died soon after his retirement. They think that the hijackers may have a part in the retired agent's death, so this leads the group of City Spies around the world to find out the true reason why he died while getting stuck in many tricky situations.

Personal Review:  The book overall was a very fun read, since there is lots of suspense that keeps you on your heels, while the different clues the book gives to solve the overall problem kept my mind spinning on the possible solutions. The book has many parts where it seems as though the characters finally reach a solution to the mystery, but they really reach a dead end. This part of the book may be very boring to some readers, but to me, I like this part because I have to think of other solutions that may be the right answer. Other parts of the story are like little disagreements within the group of City Spies, or jealousy, but the author does a good job of having the characters solve the problem amongst themselves which may be good advice to younger readers. There was a part of the book that went unanswered and made me a bit confused, but I think that it might just be answered in the next book of the series. Overall, this book was very fun to read and I would recommend this book to readers, even if they aren't very interested in this genre.

Similar Reads: There are other books in this series like City Spies, the first book, and City Spies: Forbidden series, the book after. Other similar books would be the Spy School series by Stuart Gibbs. 

	The Ivies by Alexa Donne
	Reviewed by Anonymous August 14, 2023 Grade 12

Your Rating: ★★★★★

Book Tags: Female Protagonist, Mystery

Plot Summary: After Olivia transferred to an elite boarding school in 10th grade, she knew her intelligence wouldn’t be enough to get her into an Ivy League school with a full ride. She takes an opportunity to become one of the Ivies, a supercompetitive clique of girls who use their cunning, family power, and skills to ensure they snag spots at America’s top universities. They target their classmates using a List, where they track competitors and sabotage them. But when one of the Ivies turns up dead, Olivia begins questioning everything she thought she knew about her friends, classmates, and even her crush, Ethan.

Personal Review: The Ivies by Alexa Donne is a good read for anyone who enjoys books filled with mystery or coming-of-age themes. This book provides Olivia’s experiences with being friends with the Ivies, how she dealt with her friend’s death, and unlocking secrets her friends kept from her. I really enjoyed how Olivia’s character was portrayed when she was finding out who killed her friend and how she felt being friends with the Ivies. When I read this book, I learned that most friendships aren’t what they seem because you wouldn’t know what your friends think of you or do behind your back. Overall, The Ivies was an enjoyable and fun experience for me. Alexa Donne put together a compelling murder mystery that left me reading page after page eager to find out what happens.

Similar Reads: The Counselors by Jessica Goodman, They’ll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman

	Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
	Reviewed by Anonymous July 1, 2023 Grade 12

Your Rating: ☆☆★★★

Book Tags: Thriller, Mystery, Multiple POVs

Plot Summary: This contains the mystery and betrayal of an unhappily married couple on a weekend vacation that was won in a raffle. Secrets are kept and lies are told at the Blackwater Chapel, an eerie and creepy building that seems almost as isolated as it looks. Adam Wright is a screenwriter that has face blindness and Amelia Wright works at a local dog shelter. “Rock Paper Scissors” is the name of Adam’s first screenplay, the one his wife believes he is dedicating too much time towards. Will a weekend of truth and honesty be enough to forever bind their marriage back together?

Personal Review: The first half of the book is slow, since the plot requires so much background to understand. Alice Feeney’s style of writing was a bit confusing to read, due to some chapters taking place years prior. Since the couple are unhappy in their marriage, a lot of their inner thoughts are complaining about each other. There was a lot of foreshadowing in the form of letters that didn’t make sense until later in the book. There were unexpected plot twists, the ending being one of them. The characters are twisted and flawed, which made it entertaining and somewhat terrifying at the same time. I believe that the characters’ personalities could have been more developed because they didn’t have any outstanding qualities or features. The book as a whole was entertaining, but others have said that if you have read similar genres, you might be able to guess the entire story line.

Similar Reads: The Inheritance Games series (mystery), A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (mystery)

	The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
	Reviewed by Lailah Rahman June 19, 2023 Grade 11

Your Rating: ★★★★★

Book Tags: Funny, suspenseful, female protagonist, adventure, romance

Plot Summary: Avery Kylie Grambs was poor and living with her sister Libby when suddenly she learns that she has inherited all of multi-billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s assets and money. Her life completely changes when she moves into Hawthorne House and becomes famous. Everyone wants to know one thing: What is Avery’s connection to Tobias Hawthorne and why would he choose her over his own perfect grandsons? As Avery gets to know her new life with the Hawthorne brothers, she realizes that not everything is what it seems to be, and there seem to be secrets and mysteries that need solving. With the help of Tobias Hawthorne's four amazing grandsons, Avery embarks on a suspenseful and dangerous puzzle and mystery, learning new secrets and finding new romances along the way, as they follow the clues left by Tobias Hawthorne in hopes of finding all the answers to why he chose Avery and to bring the Hawthorne family back together again.

Personal Review: I absolutely loved The Inheritance Games. I had chosen for it to be the next book to read at our school book club and decided I would get a feel of the book by just reading one chapter...well, next thing you know I was done with the book!! It was such a page-turner, and I literally couldn't put it down!! The characters, plot, and setting were all perfect and intriguing, and this book left me wanting to know more. There was the crazy mystery as to why Tobias Hawthorne chose Avery but alongside there were so many other mysteries, having to do with the Hawthorne grandsons that needed to be unraveled that changed the entire story, suspenseful romances, and more!! I have recommended this book to so many people and everyone has loved it, so I would 100% recommend it as the story, characters, and plot twists are so shocking, amazing, and unpredictable!!

Similar Reads: Definitely books 2 and 3 in the series as well as Six of Crows and Artemis Fowl (just without the fantasy), and any other mystery book.

	Ghosts of Harvard by Francesca Serritella
	Reviewed by Anonymous June 12, 2023 Grade 12

Your Rating: ★★★★★

Book Tags: Mystery, Young Adult, Female Protagonist

Plot Summary: Ghosts of Harvard by Francesca Serritella is a coming-of-age story about a young student’s journey of self-discovery. After the sudden death of her brother, Cady Archer leaves her childhood home to attend college at Harvard University. There, she quickly discovers the unique academic and social challenges of the Ivy League institution, as well as its fascinating history and legacy of ghosts. Cady grapples with her own anxieties and insecurities and ultimately finds the courage to make her own way as a Harvard student. The story captures the struggles as she navigates family loyalty, academic pressure, and her own faith on the path to becoming her own person. Through Cady’s story of self-exploration, Ghosts of Harvard offers readers a sympathetic glimpse of the potential pitfalls, beauty, and redemption in the journey of life.

Personal Review: Ghosts of Harvard by Francesca Serritella is a good read for anyone who enjoys coming-of-age or murder mystery stories. Serritella provides both an intimate portrait of the main character, Cady’s experiences with depression and anxiety as well as an honest look at the high expectations and pressures of academia. Upon arriving at Harvard, Cady felt an immense sense of pressure to perform to unrealistic levels of perfection. Throughout her journey at Harvard, she slowly began to gain a better awareness of her mental health and took steps to ensure long-term resiliency. Serritella writes poignantly about Cady’s struggles to find the answer to her brother, Eric’s death. It's the perfect balance of painful reflection and small triumphs that makes this story so powerful and resonating. Ghosts of Harvard stands as an inspiring and ultimately uplifting piece of fiction that reiterates the power of facing hardships.

Similar Reads: We Regret to Inform You (Mystery, Young Adult); Truly Devious (Mystery, Young Adult)

	Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
	Reviewed by Anonymous June 12, 2023 Grade 12

Your Rating: ★★★★★

Book Tags: Mystery. Young Adult, Fiction

Plot Summary: Truly Devious is best-selling author Maureen Johnson's thrilling YA mystery novel. The novel follows high school student Stevie Bell as she investigates the cold case of the Ellingham murders from 1936. In pursuit of the truth, Stevie must unravel the mysteries surrounding the Ellingham’s and find out the identity of the 'Truly Devious' killer. Along the way, she teams up with a group of classmates and must face danger, deception, and dark secrets. As Stevie gets closer to uncovering the truth, her life becomes increasingly entwined with the legend of the Ellingham murders. Ultimately, Stevie must confront Truly Devious to bring peace to the Ellingham case and to herself.

Personal Review: Truly Devious is a thrilling mystery novel with a unique twist on the classic whodunit. It has a captivating and masterfully constructed story, full of suspense and intrigue. Stevie's role as an amateur detective is portrayed well, and her journey of self-discovery is genuinely inspiring. I also liked how Maureen Johnson uses the mystery of the Ellingham kidnapping to explore issues of race and privilege, as it is a reminder of our society's shortcomings. Truly Devious is an enjoyable read with a lot of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very end. I highly recommend it to readers of all ages, as it is a great mystery novel full of compelling characters and thought-provoking themes. From reading this book, I have learned the importance of resilience and trusting your instincts, no matter how scary the situation may be.

Similar Reads: There are other books in the Truly Devious series you can read to continue Stevie’s journey.

	We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
	Reviewed by Anonymous June 3, 2023 Grade 10

Your Rating: ☆★★★★

Book Tags: plot twist, summer, flashback, female protagonist

Plot Summary: The protagonists of the tale are the rich and privileged Sinclair family, who spend their summers on the exclusive island of Beechwood. The teen protagonist Cadence Sinclair Eastman is the one who tells the story. Cadence, her cousins Johnny and Mirren, as well as Gat, a member of the family, come together to form the close-knit group that they call themselves the "Liars." They bond deeply while spending their summers on the island, having shady adventures. In an effort to piece together the details of the incident that led to her memory loss, Cadence returns to Beechwood two years later. She slowly unearths family secrets, lies, and unspoken tensions as she re-connects with her cousins and Gat. As Cadence's memories gradually return, the story builds to a shocking discovery that will make readers reevaluate everything they previously believed. The narrative follows Cadence as she struggles with her own shattered memories and the effects of the truth on her life and the lives of those close to her. It is a fascinating journey of self-discovery and the complexities of relationships.

Personal Review: This book was definitely not what I expected, and I was pleasantly surprised. It moves along quickly enough to keep you reading for many hours. The plot twist was so profoundly shocking that I had to put the book down for twenty minutes straight just to absorb what had happened. There wasn’t a single detail in this story that didn’t have a meaning, everything made so much sense but also so little at the same time, you wouldn’t have guessed everything to play out that way. I had tons of questions throughout which all were slowly revealed and even after it was over some were still unanswered. I also love how she writes small fairytales that tie in with her life in between...they were very cute and could provide a different perspective or point of view to what's going on in the story at the time. I would totally recommend this book if you enjoy plot twists and books with summer vibes.

Similar Reads: The prequel: Family of Liars, They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera, and A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson.

	The Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
	Reviewed by Anonymous May 8, 2023 Grade 11

Your Rating: ☆★★★★

Book Tags: Mystery, Young Adult, Fiction

Plot Summary: Pippa Fitz-Amobi is a senior in high school completely bombarded with college applications, decisions, and challenges. Despite her overwhelming tasks, she decided to solve a 5-year-old cold case for her capstone project. Everyone in her town is convinced that Sal Singh took Andie Bell's life, but Pip believes that it lacks sufficient evidence. Devoted and dedicated to the case, she draws closer and closer to the truth, until she is intercepted by "Unknown". With the help of a surprisingly supportive partner in
crime, will Pip be able to successfully uncover the truth of this murder and frame whoever was actually guilty?

Personal Review:  My favorite part of this book was the plot twists. The author always had me wanting to keep reading to see what happens next. The suspect list kept on growing, but the result was very unexpected. In terms of the writing style, I really enjoyed how the reader can complete the mystery as the plot develops with Pip’s entries. The maps and notes that are included within the chapters were interesting and a great addition to the logs. There is a subplot between Ravi and Pip which was entertaining despite the major events occurring. For the most part, I thought that it was well written, and the plot is easy to grasp. However, it isn’t one of my top favorites, so I would rate this 4 or 4.5 stars. This is part of a series, with a prequel and two more books that pick up where The Good Girl’s Guide to Murder leaves off. I am excited to see how this journey develops.

Similar Reads: In Cold Blood (Mystery, Cold Case)

	Perfect: A Pretty Little Liars Novel by Sara Shepard
	Reviewed by Olivia Morrison March 27, 2023 Grade 7

Your Rating: ★★★★★

Book Tags: Mystery, Romance, Teen

Plot Summary: In the third book of the Pretty Little Liars series, Perfect, by Sara Shepard, high school juniors Aria Montgomery, Spencer Hastings, Hanna Marin, and Emily Fields continue to receive threatening messages from an anonymous figure named "A," who seems to know all of their secrets. As they try to uncover the identity of "A," their relationships with each other become strained, and new secrets from their past are revealed. Additionally, the girls are dealing with personal issues such as Aria's concern over her parents' separation and her forbidden romance with her English teacher, Spencer's struggles with her family's high expectations for her future, and her desire to excel academically. Meanwhile, Hanna is dealing with her father's remarriage and moving to a new house outside Rosewood. At the same time, Emily grapples with her feelings for her new friend Maya. Throughout the novel, each girl is forced to confront her insecurities and fears while navigating the complicated web of secrets and lies surrounding them, ultimately leading to a shocking revelation about the true identity of "A" and the events that led up to their torment. Will they finally find out who A is, or will they pay the price for what they have uncovered?

Personal Review: The third installment of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series, Perfect, is an exceptional addition to the collection. The novel is intricately woven and will keep readers on the edge of their seats with its suspenseful plot twists, shocking revelations, and vivid imagery. The characters remain well-developed, adding further depth to the already captivating story. The portrayal of the characters' intense emotions and tangled relationships is particularly noteworthy, as it adds a layer of realism to an otherwise fantastical storyline. I loved this book and am so excited to read the next one.

Similar Reads: In line with this, the third installment of the Pretty Little Liars series maintains suspenseful and exciting plot twists that keep readers hooked until the end. A similar read for the third Pretty Little Liars novel includes psychological thrillers such as Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. These books also embody a dark and mysterious tone, similar to Twisted by Sara Shepard. Furthermore, fans of the Pretty Little Liars series may also enjoy young adult novels with a suspenseful and dramatic plots, such as One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus and The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken.

	Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
	Reviewed by Olivia Morrison March 25, 2023 Grade  7

Your Rating: ★★★★★

Book Tags: #PrettyLittleLiars #A #Secrets

Plot Summary: The novel Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard centers around four former friends who are brought together again in the wake of their leader's disappearance. As they reunite, however, the girls are soon plagued by a series of anonymous messages from someone known only as "A" who threatens to reveal their darkest secrets. The girls soon realize that "A" has an intimate knowledge of their every move, and as the threats escalate, the group must navigate through a web of lies, deception, and betrayal to uncover the truth about their missing friend and discover who is truly behind the mysterious "A." Will "A" expose them, or will they be able to keep their secrets hidden?

Personal Review: The Pretty Little Liars novel was filled with the perfect amount of suspense, deception, and mystery. And to make it even better, I included two of my favorite genres, mystery, and romance. Sara Shepard is an exquisite author who could write a book about anything, and it would sell out. My favorite characters are Hanna and Spencer. I felt like Spencer was the most relatable, with the pressure that is put on her for school. And Hanna has the most interesting storyline of all of the girls. I finished this book in less than two days and it was so good. I am also looking forward to watching the T.V. series, Pretty Little Liars, based on the book of course. Overall, this book was terrific, and I am so excited to read the rest of the series.

Similar Reads: If you enjoyed the suspense-filled plot and relatable characters of the first Pretty Little Liars novel, you might also enjoy other young adult mystery novels with twisted plots and engaging characters, such as The Lying Game series by Sara Shepard, Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn or One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus. Furthermore, readers, who enjoyed the Pretty Little Liars novel might also want to explore other works by its author, Sara Shepard.

	We Regret to Inform You by Ariel Kaplan
	Reviewed by Anonymous February 27, 2023 Grade 11

Your Rating: ★★★★★

Book Tags: Mystery, Young Adult

Plot Summary: Mischa Abramavicius is the top-scoring, perfectly well-rounded student for college application candidates. So, when she's rejected from the Ivies, and even her safety school, she was surprised and devastated. She realizes, of the sacrifices her mother made to send her to prep school, the late nights cramming for tests, and participating in extracurriculars, were all for nothing and left worthless. As Mischa struggles with the knowledge of an uncertain future, she questions how this could have happened. There were many possibilities like a hacked transcript or errors. She gets help from her friend Nate and a group of girls called “The Ophelia Syndicate,” to find out what happened.

Personal Review: This was an excellent book for any high schooler that fears getting rejected from their dream and safety schools during the admissions cycle. After I read this, I learned there are many ways to continue your education after high school. I really liked Mischa as the main character in this book because she is smart, determined, and organized which are traits all students should have. She was a great example for us prospective high school students wanting to apply to college to not give up on our dreams. No matter what school you attend, we all get the best education possible. 

Similar Reads: Ghosts of Harvard (Mystery, Young Adult); Truly Devious (Mystery, Young Adult)