Wowza!! I absolutely couldn‘t put this genuinely jaw-dropping, gasp-out-loud-inducing thriller down! I can see why this was an option for #BookOfTheMonth for this month! The book opens with the titular return of Elizabeth “Ellie” Black who has been missing for two years. The lead detective, Chelsey Calhoun, following in her adopted father‘s steps, focuses on finding the perpetrator, risking her own personal life. Twisting plot & great characters!

This is the second sleepover the Wakefield twins host— but Ned whisks Alice away to Seattle while Steven stays with Ned‘s parents, so Great-Aunt Helen comes to the rescue in more ways than one! She resolves dress-up disasters, a battle over unicorns and feeds them the traditional sleepover fare — pizza and ice cream! But aside from not everyone wearing a seatbelt, this is another fun Sweet Valley party!

This gender-swapping #BeautyAndTheBeastRetelling brings a great blend of fresh and familiar feelings to the story. This is one of my favorite fairy tales already, and I liked the fun Donnelly had with her own twist on the curse. It makes for a quick and fun read with some added fun with the real natures of the court. Plus, who can resist a thief with a heart of gold? Beau and Arabella‘s story is charming, indeed! I enjoyed this quite a bit!

The second grade spelling bee lies at the center of this one, and no one is more surprised than Jessica herself when she wins it. But the regional bee (including a first glimpse of rivals, Big Mesa) has her worried that she‘s not smart enough to win again. Luckily, she overcomes her doubt (and those of her classmates who want them to pull a switch!). I love when Jessica breaks out of her own stereotype of being the “dumb” twin!

A quick & compelling listen, I definitely found myself hooked into this missing person thriller told across multiple perspectives— including diary entries from the missing 13-year-old herself. Jennifer‘s life is wrapped up in her career as the blogger & managing force behind Chloe Cates, her daughter, Abby‘s, online celebrity persona. When Jennifer wakes up to find her missing, family secrets & the truth about Jennifer‘s past spill out. Riveting!

Jessica‘s scratchy throat at the end of the last one leads to both twins needing their tonsils removed. Though they‘re scared to spend time in the hospital, they make new friends (& have one another!). This was another one that I remembered quite well from originally reading it—probably because of Moe & Joe! Also, a 3-day hospital stay for tonsil removal may be what dates this series the most! Most shocking is that neither parent spends the night!

Tudor‘s latest is a bit of a departure, mingling a traditional #SerialKillerThriller with a #vampire story but it really works—& leaves a set-up for a sequel! Barbara Atkins works for the FBI devoted to vampyr killings & is sent to the remote ex-mining town of Deadhart, AK where history seems to be repeating itself after a teenager seems to be the victim of a vampyr. The isolated community holds secrets, & despite slow pacing, finishes strong!

I can‘t believe I waited 5 years to dive into the 5th installment in the #VeronicaSpeedwellSeries! I adored the 4th book & pre-ordered this one as soon as I could! Honestly, I didn‘t love this one as much as I expected to—maybe from the long hiatus or because there‘s less of the flirtatious banter between Veronica & Stoker? Once again, her heritage leads them into foiling a plot to save the monarchy, with Jack the Ripper providing the backdrop!

Ned‘s birthday celebration continues with a trip to Sun Lake for fishing and fun. But Jessica thinks it‘s extra-yucky (and scary after a nightmare), but the bratty girl in the cabin next door is even worse, so she faces her fear and turns out to be the best fisher in the Wakefield family! A fun first family vacation for the series!

Though I didn‘t get any reading done over the weekend, my cousins and I celebrated #IndependentBookstoreDay across Friday, Saturday and Sunday! We hit 20 stores across #Chicagoland and this is my exciting #bookhaul from our trip! Tons of fun, lots of laughs and fun exploring stores and towns new to all of us, along with revisiting some local favorites! We already can‘t wait celebrate again next year!! A huge thanks to all the shops!!

Ahh, Wakefield vs. Wakefield betting! Such fun!! Steven bets that he wins the science fair and now the twins are saddled with his chores for a week… but only a few days in and they are desperate to get out of the bet! Ned‘s birthday gives them the perfect grounds for a whole new bet— plus birthdays, in general, are actually pretty rare in Sweet Valley since they highlight just how long they have been the same age! 🤣

Set in Maine, this thriller oozes a sort of classic feel to it. English native Alex has shifted from novelist to detective as he worries over his teenaged daughter— all the more so when one of her friends is found at a the site of a historical reenactment settlement, murdered, with a toad inside of his corpse. The parental worries, alongside the nameless killer makes this a genuine page-turner! The characters and community all come to life!

Teacher‘s wannabe pet, Caroline Pearce has been bragging about her precious porcelain doll collection but not everyone believes her, prompting a special collection show and tell of Mrs. Otis‘s second grade class. While Caroline‘s storyline is interesting enough, the real highlight here is seeing what all of the students collect! Who expected Ken Matthews to have a sticker collection?!

Though marketed as a romantic comedy, this is a more serious storyline— but I did laugh a few times, nonetheless! Eve has a tight bond with her three closest friends, despite long carrying a torch for Ed. But the night of Ed‘s engagement, the dynamic of the group changes permanently. Eve ends up examining her own feelings and re-evaluating relationships— with the help of her best friend‘s older brother, who may not be as terrible as she thought!

I just love a twin switch storyline! When Elizabeth wakes up sick on the same day that Jessica‘s name bracelet clasp is loose again, she can‘t help but pose as Elizabeth for the day— which ends up with an invitation from Todd to be part of a TV movie filming at his house! Naturally, Jessica hears bad things about herself and can‘t keep her new fame a secret— really this just feels like a classic example of the whole series! What fun!!

Twenty years since Napolitano‘s debut novel came out, it‘s being re-issued at the end of April. I appreciated the author‘s note letting us know how personal the characters truly are & I enjoyed watching this family story unfold. Set in New Jersey, the McLaughlin family knows plenty of loss. But an unexpected pregnancy changes them all as they regard their pasts & present lives. Through multiple perspectives, it‘s sure to start lively discussion!

Tryouts for the Sweet Valley Soccer League are underway but it quickly becomes a girls versus boys situation! Jessica may not want to play soccer (and she‘d prefer Liz focused on dance with her instead), but she sides with her sister in the end. Meanwhile, Eva and Steven help Liz get over her fear of being the goalie. But what‘s with going to Bingo Burger to celebrate?? What happened to the Dairi Burger??

Don‘t let the sleeping pup make it seem otherwise— I couldn‘t put McHugh‘s fifth novel down! Told in past and present, the book opens on the 7th anniversary of Amelia & Kylee‘s older cousin, Grace, going missing. At 17, Grace had a promising future getting out their suffocating & downtrodden small MO town when she vanished while babysitting— leaving behind a lot of blood and nothing else. Tense & quick paced, I really enjoyed this! I wanted more!

When Mrs. DeVito nextdoor has a new baby, the twins are super excited at the idea of a new Wakefield baby! After hearing more about Andy Franklin‘s pregnant mom, they‘re certain that Alice is likely already expecting… why else would she be so tired, use ketchup & mustard on her burger, buy baby clothes or have samples of nursery wallpaper?? I‘m also like 100% sure this exact plot happens again in the series when they are old enough to know better!

Well, I think I only have two books left of Chamberlain‘s backlog to read! I‘m actually surprised that it‘s taken me this long to finally read her debut novel… though it‘s probably my least favorite of her books! Written in 1989, my edition does have an updated epilogue which is fun to see, but I really couldn‘t connect with these found family characters and their over-the-top soap opera lives! It kept my attention, but not without eye-rolling!

A lot of firsts here— the first Sweet Valley Christmas and the creation of the Snoopers Club— the twins, Lila, Ellen, Amy, Eva, Todd and Winston— as they take on this variation of Miracle on 34th Street. Is the new temporary janitor, Chris Kreeger actually the real Santa? How else could he know their names, what they want and have a big map? Sweet and fun, it‘s a jolly good mystery with the right amount of Christmas magic!

Oh, I had a fun time reading the last one of Sager‘s on my TBR! Set in 1983, disgraced caregiver, Kit takes on the only job left to her— caring for the paralyzed and infamous Lenora Hope in the crumbling manor where in 1929, her parents and sister were presumably murdered by Lenora herself, though no arrests were ever made. Fast-paced and nostalgic, I enjoyed the twists (some more expected than others) and I can‘t wait for his next book!

It‘s the first Sweet Valley Thanksgiving! The second-graders are putting on a play for the holiday. Naturally, Jessica wants to be the star, but the lead goes to lovable Winston Egbert. But stage fright allows for her to save the day and the play! This one shows the 1990 publication date a bit… it‘s also another appearance by Ned‘s parents! I have always liked the frenemy relationship between Jessica and Winston!

This sci-fi thriller starts out slowly as the technology terms and character histories emerge. Narrator and main character, Dr. Ophelia Bray, is doubly burdened by her past— the wealth & power from her mother‘s side and the dark secrets of her father— which make her determined to put her work into helping. A grieving Research and Extraction team gives her the chance for field work on an abandoned claim planet. But it‘s soon clear all is not right…

The first Sweet Valley Halloween as second-graders! When Alice brings home a bin of used costumes, both Elizabeth and Jessica want to be the pretty princess. Jessica makes a case that since Liz lost her front tooth, she would make a better ugly witch! Only to lose her own tooth! I think it‘s the first bit of twin switching, too, and a nice compromise in the end! Looking forward to the many more costumes in the series!!

My original book club kicked off with this one back in 2010, and my newer book club selected it for this April. It‘s been 14 years since I read this, & I still found it to be an emotionally captivating story. I listened to the truly excellent audio performances this time around & I found myself listening at every chance, even though I remembered the story quite well. Reception to this one has since shifted so I‘m looking forward to discussing it!

This is actually the very first Sweet Valley book that I remember reading, so it will always have a special place in my heart! The titular Lois Waller is the one that the whole class (except for saintly Elizabeth) picks on— she cries easily and is chubby (a real sin in fat-phobic Sweet Valley!). But here Liz sticks up for her— even tries to teach her to ride her bike without training wheels! But it‘s Lois‘ love of cats that turns into a real hero!

I‘ve read all of Enger‘s earlier books— and this is the first one I listened to on audio. The performance is great… but I just didn‘t love this one the way I did his debut novel, PEACE LIKE A RIVER. Maybe I am just kind of over dystopian fiction? Rainy‘s love for his wife, Lark, propels this book forward for the most part. I loved her passion for books, and Sol was definitely a scene stealing character, but I had a hard time connecting with Rainy,

It‘s Grandma & Grandpa Wakefield‘s first visit in the series & they take the twins & Steven to a Wild West themed amusement park— there‘s horseback riding, panning for gold, and a stagecoach ride with plenty of excitement! Steven gets a little sexist & the twins have to show him how girls can do anything & be braver than he expected! I‘m not sure if these kind of places exist anymore! There used to be on in IL that I went to with my grandparents!

I adored Shaffer‘s debut novel, THE WISHING GAME, so I could barely contain my excitement to leap into her sophomore novel! I LOVED it!! It‘s the perfect blend of fantasy, romance, adventure & character growth! Shaffer writes for readers and this was a charming and lovely story that I tried to slow down to savor (impossible!). She creates characters (even rats!) that you can‘t help but fall in love with! I can‘t wait for whatever she writes next!

Mrs. Becker is marrying the Sweet Valley librarian, Mr. Otis and the second grade class is all chipping in to give her a present (that Lois Waller found in a catalogue!). Elizabeth convinces her sister that they need to earn the $2 each to chip in— but Jessica doesn‘t help… plus she really wants glow-in-the-dark bracelets like Lila Fowler. This is just so classic in terms of their dynamic throughout the series! Plus, Todd Wilkins steps up here!

I always enjoy Christina Lauren‘s books and this one is no exception! Carey and James are both assistants to the “talent” on a new home renovation show— though clearly they are the real talent! As they struggle to keep their married charges acting married for a publicity tour, they find themselves falling together. A quick, light and entertaining listen, it may not be my favorite of theirs, but I certainly had a lot of fun listening to this one!

Oh, this is the first Sweet Valley field trip! When Alice is the room mother to accompany the 2nd grade class, Jessica expects special treatment… but when she doesn‘t get it, she convinces her twin, along with Todd and Winston, to try to go to the closed ape house to find a missing chimpanzee baby! A cute installment in the series— and certainly not the last animal guest star!

An unreliable narrator and a mounting body count (along with some grisly scenes involving insects), certainly made this debut thriller feel a bit more like horror at times! Artist Annie has had a fraught relationship with both her refugee mother and her own teenage daughter as her OCD once again begins dominating her life. And when bodies of those close to her turn up dead, it seems like the title isn‘t quite so fitting… Warning: violent dog death

Ah, the first of many Jessica Wakefield mistakes! When Elizabeth‘s favorite author comes to visit the 2nd grade class, all the students want the honor of being her special assistant. When Jessica finds what she thinks is a cast off story of Elizabeth‘s, she copies it over as her own! Of course, she realizes her mistake, and it‘s the first public recognition Elizabeth receives for her writing! Another fun installment!

Since I‘d already read the book for April‘s book club, I decided to read this runner-up instead. Magical realism isn‘t usually a fictional aspect that I enjoy, but I loved the premise of an author burying her creations to put them to rest… and yet to have their whispers still filter back in. The threads of the stories connected more than expected but some of the transitions in the audio format were harder to follow. Physical reading may be better!

The first Sweet Valley sleepover— and a camp out to make it even more fun! The twins have Amy, Eva, Ellen and Lila sleepover in their backyard… but in the days leading up to it, it‘s obvious that Lila doesn‘t want to sleep there. But what‘s the real reason? This is also the first time Todd Wilkins sneaks over to the Wakefield house for shenanigans! Cute and fun, I always love seeing the vulnerable side of snotty Lila Fowler!

Oh, I just love this series! It‘s hard to believe this is the 21st book in the Charlie Parker series— this one harkens back to some of the earlier books in the series in a lot of ways— evil lurking in remote corners of Maine, a single case with threads with a further reach than at first visible. Fast-paced and thrilling, series regulars all appear here and the worst part, is that this starts the long wait for Connolly‘s next book all over again!

I‘ve been a longtime fan of Center‘s books, and this one really was a fun & engaging listen! Emma‘s own screenwriting career aspirations were re-prioritized in the wake of a sudden family change. But the timing is right for her to actually have a dream job of working with her own personal screenwriter hero— Charlie Yates. And while the storyline may be easy to predict, only in all of the best ways. I loved the banter, the chemistry & all the love!

Oh, this is such a fun read! The twins find a stray cat in their yard and when it starts raining, they risk getting into trouble by sneaking the cat upstairs. Both Steven and Ned Wakefield are allergic to cats, and sneaking food up to the cat adds to the trickiness of their situation. Cute and just a classic— plus, isn‘t this the same tactic for how they get a dog?

The first officially celebrated holiday in Sweet Valley— Valentine‘s Day! And the first (of many more to come) plotlines based on jealousy! New girl Eva Simpson seems to overnight replace Jessica as Elizabeth‘s best friend! Rather than talk, of course Jessica aims to make Elizabeth jealous by hanging out with Amy Sutton and not making a valentine for her sister! Luckily, Eva manages to save the day and finds a way to make everyone friends again!

Maybe because I remember so much of this unfolding in real time, but I enjoy these deeper dives into the tragedies in Low Country South Carolina & the absolute chaos revolving around the Murdaugh family. I‘ve watched the documentaries, read a different book last year, but couldn‘t resist listening to this one. What sets Ryan‘s perspective aside is the overarching view of the violence of the region & a stronger historical view of the family.

Though the title changed from its teaser in book #2, the second grade class gets not one but two substitute teachers when Mrs. Becker falls ill. Shenanigans ensue, naturally, but lighthearted ones! Many later books will have plots that churn around the Sweet Valley rumor mill like this one does after they see Mr. Marshall get into a police car! All in all, great fun!

I‘ve been a huge fan of Leavitt‘s writing for over a decade now & it‘s always genuinely exciting to have my hands on a new book from this talented author! Her latest, with 2011 & 2018 storylines centers on relationships between parents and children— along with the intensity of young love. At the book‘s outset, Ella meets her mother after her release from prison, where she must find her own footing after regaining her freedom. Authentic characters!

My Sweet Valley reading project continues with this cute one where for an unspecified school break, the second-grade twins get to take home Tinkerbell, the class hamster. Elizabeth is delighted but squeamish Jessica wants nothing to do with the rodent! Cute & fun, a class hamster sounds better than my 2nd grade class that shared a teddy bear named Cuddles—are classes even allowed to share anything like this anymore? Or does this date the series?

I really had high hopes for this one… I expected a light and fun vampire story, but this veers more towards gore and lacks humor (unless you get a kick out of butterscotch candies… those are mentioned on like every page!). Stiff characters, lack of answers regarding these “restless dead” and too many POVs, the pacing here just drags. Lots of redundant descriptions don‘t help and honestly, I wish I had DNF‘ed this one! I did like the 1999 setting.

Thanks, @Kar2b for my first birthday card! As a gift to myself, I‘ve decided to dive into nostalgia and re-read the entire Sweet Valley series! The last time I decided to do this, I fell off at 31 in the SVK series, so hopefully this time I make it through more— especially since I‘ve been collecting the ones that I didn‘t have so I am in for some new reads too! This seventh birthday is fun—& the chocolate cake with marshmallow icing sounds yummy!

Anyone with an email address is sure to find themselves cringing alongside Millie when her life blows up in the aftermath of her entire “Drafts” folder is sent— to friends, family and work colleagues. Including an emailed response regarding the news of her ex-boyfriend‘s engagement. As usual, Louis creates a whole cast of lively, engaging characters and had me laughing, flinching & gasping the whole time! She‘s a favorite author of mine for sure!

A perfect read to close out a perfect month of reading! For the first time since July 2018, I managed to read 31 books in 31 days! I‘ve been a fan of Sager‘s from the start and knew that even on a busy holiday, I would be able to squeeze in time to finish this in a day! While the alcoholic, grieving narrator is hardly new to thrillers, Sager manages to breathe fresh life and new twists to this haunting Vermont lakeside story! I really enjoyed it!

I love the feeling when you read a book that‘s seemingly written specifically with you in mind! I picked this one up, & didn‘t put it down until I read the last page! Skipping through past & present, Harriet arrives in ME (an adorable town with a Murder, She Read bookstore!) dreading breaking the news that she‘s no longer engaged to the 6th member of their tightknit group… only to discover her ex already there, forcing them to pretend all is well!