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The Other Lola
What happens when the people you love the most are the people you can trust the least?
In the months after Cam and Blair broke their small hometown’s legendary missing-girl story and catapulted to accidental fame, they vowed never to do it again. No more mysteries, no more podcasts, and no more sticking their heads where they don’t belong.
Until Mattie Brosillard, a freshman at their high school, shows up on their doorstep, begging Cam and Blair for help. Mattie's sister Lola disappeared mysteriously five years ago. No trace of her was ever found. Now, she's back--but Mattie is convinced the girl who returned is an impostor. Nobody believes Mattie's wild story--not Mattie's brother, not Mattie's mother, and not even Cam and Blair. But something is definitely wrong in the Brosillard family. And Blair has her own reasons for wanting to know what really happened to Lola while she was gone.
With Cam and Blair still struggling with the aftermath of their first mystery―and with new secrets swirling between them―the stakes are higher than ever in this can’t-miss sequel to Missing Clarissa.
In the months after Cam and Blair broke their small hometown’s legendary missing-girl story and catapulted to accidental fame, they vowed never to do it again. No more mysteries, no more podcasts, and no more sticking their heads where they don’t belong.
Until Mattie Brosillard, a freshman at their high school, shows up on their doorstep, begging Cam and Blair for help. Mattie's sister Lola disappeared mysteriously five years ago. No trace of her was ever found. Now, she's back--but Mattie is convinced the girl who returned is an impostor. Nobody believes Mattie's wild story--not Mattie's brother, not Mattie's mother, and not even Cam and Blair. But something is definitely wrong in the Brosillard family. And Blair has her own reasons for wanting to know what really happened to Lola while she was gone.
With Cam and Blair still struggling with the aftermath of their first mystery―and with new secrets swirling between them―the stakes are higher than ever in this can’t-miss sequel to Missing Clarissa.
325 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 2024
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May 1, 2025
**2.5-stars rounded up**
The Other Lola is a follow-up to the 2023-release, Missing Clarissa. These are YA-Mystery stories following two main characters: Blair and Cam.
In Missing Clarissa, Cam and Blair investigate the disappearance of popular cheerleader, Clarissa Campbell, who went missing from their small town of Oreville, Washington, 20-years before.
It starts as a project for their high school Journalism class and ends up being a viral podcast, as well as a life-endangering pursuit of amateur sleuthing.
At the end of the Clarissa case, Cam and Blair had sudden fame, but with it, a lot of unwanted attention. They vowed to never do it again; to stick their noses in where they don't belong, to make a podcast, none of it.
Then they meet Mattie, a Freshman at their high school. Mattie shows up on the literal doorstep, begging for the girls' help with an unsettling family situation.
Mattie's sister, Lola, disappeared mysteriously five years ago. The thing is, Lola has returned. She's not talking about where she has been all these years, and Mattie is convinced she's an imposter, but no one else believes Mattie; not her mother, not her brother, Luke, no one.
Blair and Cam, Blair in particular, are moved by Mattie's story. They seem so passionate about it. It couldn't hurt to help them out, could it? Look into it a little...
Before they know it, the two are neck deep in another dangerous investigation, but with secrets between them, how will they ever be able to get to the bottom of someone else's twisted family drama?
I was intrigued by this initially, and did enjoy following Cam and Blair during the investigation. For me, it wasn't quite as compelling as the first book, but yeah, still a solid story.
The audiobook has great narration and I would recommend that format. I was able to fly through this story and I did find that the narrator helped to keep me engaged, even when I was rolling my eyes a little bit.
I felt like, and I could be misremembering, but for me, personal issues for Blair and Cam took much more of a front seat in this one than the first book. In a way, this almost felt like a straight YA Contemporary story, with a slight mystery happening in the background.
By this I mean, the mystery almost took a back seat to Cam and Blair's interpersonal dramas. With this being said though, I do really enjoy both Cam and Blair as characters and I love their friendship.
So, it's not like I was disappointed with those aspects of the story, it just seemed more difficult to get as invested in the mystery surrounding Lola because of it.
Additionally, there were things at the end that I found unsatisfying; that just didn't make sense. I am mainly referring to the events following the big reveal, so sadly, I can't comment more without giving the ending away.
Overall though, I still enjoyed Cam and Blair, their friendship and the idea of two smart high school girls taking on the world and solving mysteries. That's a fun concept, which is fairly well executed within these stories.
There are hints that there could be more with these characters in the future. I would be interested in picking up future books, if that turns out to be the case.
Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The Other Lola is available now!!!
The Other Lola is a follow-up to the 2023-release, Missing Clarissa. These are YA-Mystery stories following two main characters: Blair and Cam.
In Missing Clarissa, Cam and Blair investigate the disappearance of popular cheerleader, Clarissa Campbell, who went missing from their small town of Oreville, Washington, 20-years before.
It starts as a project for their high school Journalism class and ends up being a viral podcast, as well as a life-endangering pursuit of amateur sleuthing.
At the end of the Clarissa case, Cam and Blair had sudden fame, but with it, a lot of unwanted attention. They vowed to never do it again; to stick their noses in where they don't belong, to make a podcast, none of it.
Then they meet Mattie, a Freshman at their high school. Mattie shows up on the literal doorstep, begging for the girls' help with an unsettling family situation.
Mattie's sister, Lola, disappeared mysteriously five years ago. The thing is, Lola has returned. She's not talking about where she has been all these years, and Mattie is convinced she's an imposter, but no one else believes Mattie; not her mother, not her brother, Luke, no one.
Blair and Cam, Blair in particular, are moved by Mattie's story. They seem so passionate about it. It couldn't hurt to help them out, could it? Look into it a little...
Before they know it, the two are neck deep in another dangerous investigation, but with secrets between them, how will they ever be able to get to the bottom of someone else's twisted family drama?
I was intrigued by this initially, and did enjoy following Cam and Blair during the investigation. For me, it wasn't quite as compelling as the first book, but yeah, still a solid story.
The audiobook has great narration and I would recommend that format. I was able to fly through this story and I did find that the narrator helped to keep me engaged, even when I was rolling my eyes a little bit.
I felt like, and I could be misremembering, but for me, personal issues for Blair and Cam took much more of a front seat in this one than the first book. In a way, this almost felt like a straight YA Contemporary story, with a slight mystery happening in the background.
By this I mean, the mystery almost took a back seat to Cam and Blair's interpersonal dramas. With this being said though, I do really enjoy both Cam and Blair as characters and I love their friendship.
So, it's not like I was disappointed with those aspects of the story, it just seemed more difficult to get as invested in the mystery surrounding Lola because of it.
Additionally, there were things at the end that I found unsatisfying; that just didn't make sense. I am mainly referring to the events following the big reveal, so sadly, I can't comment more without giving the ending away.
Overall though, I still enjoyed Cam and Blair, their friendship and the idea of two smart high school girls taking on the world and solving mysteries. That's a fun concept, which is fairly well executed within these stories.
There are hints that there could be more with these characters in the future. I would be interested in picking up future books, if that turns out to be the case.
Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. The Other Lola is available now!!!
September 8, 2024
**ARC of this book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I am not very into mysteries and I don't read them too often but the blurb for this one sounded very appealing so I decided to give it a shot. I've entered a giveaway when there were maybe two or three ratings and they were rather positive so I didn't think twice. By the time the book arrived the rating plummeted to below 3.7 and I started dreading this book but since I've got an ARC I decided it wouldn't be fair to not read it so here I am to tell you that it's not as bad as I expected.
Lola went missing 5 years ago so when she reappears at her family home everyone is overjoyed. Well, almost everyone since her younger sibling, Mats, is convinced that the girl that came back is an imposter. Mattie turns to local teenage sleuths - Cam and Blair - for help to prove that this is not the real Lola and the investigation ensues. When I entered giveaway of this book I wasn't aware that this is a second installment in a series and the investigation and people from the first one, Missing Clarissa, will be heavily featured in this one. It also includes spoilers about what happened in preceding book so I don't see a point to read it even if it will help me better understand what Cam and Blair were dealing with in The Other Lola.
The writing style is very pleasant and I flew through the first part of this book in no time. It does have some issues (for example when there is a dialog between two characters it continue to use word "says" over and over again) but they weren't diminishing my enjoyment. First 100 pages were easy and fun but after that the investigation grinded to a halt and for the rest of the book it didn't move forward even a bit. In the end we had to get a scene with villains revealing everything to main characters which I always find quite disappointing.
It's an ok book. There are some issues but in the end its not that difficult to get through.
I am not very into mysteries and I don't read them too often but the blurb for this one sounded very appealing so I decided to give it a shot. I've entered a giveaway when there were maybe two or three ratings and they were rather positive so I didn't think twice. By the time the book arrived the rating plummeted to below 3.7 and I started dreading this book but since I've got an ARC I decided it wouldn't be fair to not read it so here I am to tell you that it's not as bad as I expected.
Lola went missing 5 years ago so when she reappears at her family home everyone is overjoyed. Well, almost everyone since her younger sibling, Mats, is convinced that the girl that came back is an imposter. Mattie turns to local teenage sleuths - Cam and Blair - for help to prove that this is not the real Lola and the investigation ensues. When I entered giveaway of this book I wasn't aware that this is a second installment in a series and the investigation and people from the first one, Missing Clarissa, will be heavily featured in this one. It also includes spoilers about what happened in preceding book so I don't see a point to read it even if it will help me better understand what Cam and Blair were dealing with in The Other Lola.
The writing style is very pleasant and I flew through the first part of this book in no time. It does have some issues (for example when there is a dialog between two characters it continue to use word "says" over and over again) but they weren't diminishing my enjoyment. First 100 pages were easy and fun but after that the investigation grinded to a halt and for the rest of the book it didn't move forward even a bit. In the end we had to get a scene with villains revealing everything to main characters which I always find quite disappointing.
It's an ok book. There are some issues but in the end its not that difficult to get through.
March 18, 2024
2.5 Stars
After enjoying the first book in this series, I was excited to continue onto the newest release. I enjoyed being back with the same detective pair.
However, I found the particular plot choice to be a limited one. Either it's the sister, or it's not. I've seen the setup many times and it always seems predictable because the plot can only go in two directions.
I would still recommend the first book in this mystery series. Missing Clarissa was much more compelling.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
After enjoying the first book in this series, I was excited to continue onto the newest release. I enjoyed being back with the same detective pair.
However, I found the particular plot choice to be a limited one. Either it's the sister, or it's not. I've seen the setup many times and it always seems predictable because the plot can only go in two directions.
I would still recommend the first book in this mystery series. Missing Clarissa was much more compelling.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
September 14, 2024
Pretty good!
Full review:
Thank you to the author Ripley Brown, publishers Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE OTHER LOLA. All views are mine.
Irene’s always yelling at the news on the rare occasions she watches it when I’m over at Cam’s. “The writers for this season should be fired!” she says. And then she starts talking about the death of irony. p107
I picked this book up because it is the continuation of the main characters' stories from MISSING CLARISSA, a YA mystery I rather liked. I actually liked the plot of this one more than the first, though both are good reading. Two high school girls become amateur sleuths due to their podcast about a missing girl (book 1). Afterward, they're just trying to mop up the mess their unofficial investigation made of their lives, when the younger sibling of another missing girl shows up on their doorstep. The missing sister has returned, but the sibling insists she's a fake, and the girl sleuths can't help but get drawn in (book 2). I couldn't either, I love stories about imposters.
I have a couple of a quibbles about the style, but they're the same quibbles I normally take with YA books: too much of the plot gets conferred in dialog, character development can get a little unbalanced, simplistic style that somehow still avoids being minimalistic. These are mostly matters of taste conflicting with conventions of the genre.
I recommend this for fans of YA and YA mysteries or thrillers, girls' coming of age tropes, duologies, and cozy mysteries.
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I love that this book takes on fake news as part of its theme.
2. I don't think they call it "the clap" anymore, but thanks for the advice. p103 I love how the relationships develop! They need to, really, considering how much dialog there is in the book. There need to be strong characters to offset the flimsy plot.
3. I love the repeated "are you doing a podcast?" "No! No podcast!" schtick. It's definitely well-placed and funny!
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. Writing is overly simplistic without approaching minimalism. Not my favorite.
2. There is so much freaking dialog. It's impossible to tether to this story because it vanishes in a cloud of chatter. I'm really getting lost now, currently at 23%, p 69. *edit Found my way once I hit the twist, for some reason!
Rating: 👭🏽👭🏽👭🏽.5 /5 sisters reunited
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Sep 11 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley, NC b
Read this book if you like:
🔍 amateur sleuths
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
👭🏽 teenage girl coming of age
🪞doppelgangers
Full review:
Thank you to the author Ripley Brown, publishers Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE OTHER LOLA. All views are mine.
Irene’s always yelling at the news on the rare occasions she watches it when I’m over at Cam’s. “The writers for this season should be fired!” she says. And then she starts talking about the death of irony. p107
I picked this book up because it is the continuation of the main characters' stories from MISSING CLARISSA, a YA mystery I rather liked. I actually liked the plot of this one more than the first, though both are good reading. Two high school girls become amateur sleuths due to their podcast about a missing girl (book 1). Afterward, they're just trying to mop up the mess their unofficial investigation made of their lives, when the younger sibling of another missing girl shows up on their doorstep. The missing sister has returned, but the sibling insists she's a fake, and the girl sleuths can't help but get drawn in (book 2). I couldn't either, I love stories about imposters.
I have a couple of a quibbles about the style, but they're the same quibbles I normally take with YA books: too much of the plot gets conferred in dialog, character development can get a little unbalanced, simplistic style that somehow still avoids being minimalistic. These are mostly matters of taste conflicting with conventions of the genre.
I recommend this for fans of YA and YA mysteries or thrillers, girls' coming of age tropes, duologies, and cozy mysteries.
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. I love that this book takes on fake news as part of its theme.
2. I don't think they call it "the clap" anymore, but thanks for the advice. p103 I love how the relationships develop! They need to, really, considering how much dialog there is in the book. There need to be strong characters to offset the flimsy plot.
3. I love the repeated "are you doing a podcast?" "No! No podcast!" schtick. It's definitely well-placed and funny!
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. Writing is overly simplistic without approaching minimalism. Not my favorite.
2. There is so much freaking dialog. It's impossible to tether to this story because it vanishes in a cloud of chatter. I'm really getting lost now, currently at 23%, p 69. *edit Found my way once I hit the twist, for some reason!
Rating: 👭🏽👭🏽👭🏽.5 /5 sisters reunited
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Sep 11 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley, NC b
Read this book if you like:
🔍 amateur sleuths
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
👭🏽 teenage girl coming of age
🪞doppelgangers
February 19, 2024
Because I really enjoyed Jones' previous novel, Missing Clarissa, I was more than excited for the opportunity to read The Other Lola. With so many references to the mystery in Missing Clarissa, I don't think that The Other Lola can be read as a standalone.
Unlike Missing Clarissa, The Other Lola is a slow read. Lacking plot twists and cliffhangers for a majority of the novel, it took a lot of patiences to get past the 51% point. But by then I figured out the finale. Skimming the rest of the novel till 86%, my suspicions on the perpetrator(s) were validated. It's only because the novel closely mimics an episode of Law and Order SVU that I watched fairly recently. If it weren't for the similarity to the TV episode, I probably would have enjoyed the novel a lot more.
The main characters are a carryover from the previous novel and because of that, they weren't as fully fleshed out. Too bad since new readers will probably find the characters uninteresting and pretty vanilla. Some of the newer characters included a non-binary person and a few lesbians. I just don't get why just about all authors seem to jump on the LGBTQ+ bandwagon and think it's the best thing since sliced bread. Don't get me wrong, it's just that just about every book I've read recently either has a non-binary characters, or a lesbian/gay characters built into the narrative. And it can get a little confusing with the "they/them" pronouns.
In any event, The Other Lola turned out to be a decent read. Not the best, and not the worst. Three stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Unlike Missing Clarissa, The Other Lola is a slow read. Lacking plot twists and cliffhangers for a majority of the novel, it took a lot of patiences to get past the 51% point. But by then I figured out the finale. Skimming the rest of the novel till 86%, my suspicions on the perpetrator(s) were validated. It's only because the novel closely mimics an episode of Law and Order SVU that I watched fairly recently. If it weren't for the similarity to the TV episode, I probably would have enjoyed the novel a lot more.
The main characters are a carryover from the previous novel and because of that, they weren't as fully fleshed out. Too bad since new readers will probably find the characters uninteresting and pretty vanilla. Some of the newer characters included a non-binary person and a few lesbians. I just don't get why just about all authors seem to jump on the LGBTQ+ bandwagon and think it's the best thing since sliced bread. Don't get me wrong, it's just that just about every book I've read recently either has a non-binary characters, or a lesbian/gay characters built into the narrative. And it can get a little confusing with the "they/them" pronouns.
In any event, The Other Lola turned out to be a decent read. Not the best, and not the worst. Three stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
March 7, 2024
2.5 ⭐
I wish I would have been able to enjoy this more, unfortunately the writing reads more as a middle grade rather than a YA. Cam is not my favorite character to read from I much prefer Blair's POV.
The plot itself felt as though it was lacking, the twist was a bit obvious from about the half way point.
I'm sure people who really loved Missing Clarissa will love this book just as much.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
I wish I would have been able to enjoy this more, unfortunately the writing reads more as a middle grade rather than a YA. Cam is not my favorite character to read from I much prefer Blair's POV.
The plot itself felt as though it was lacking, the twist was a bit obvious from about the half way point.
I'm sure people who really loved Missing Clarissa will love this book just as much.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
August 9, 2024
Very fun but has this author ever come across the List of Words to Use Instead of ''Says'' ?????????.
October 18, 2024
3.5 stars
Better than the first book, that ending wasn’t something I saw coming!
Better than the first book, that ending wasn’t something I saw coming!
March 19, 2024
Lola returns home after missing for 5 years, but Mattie suspects it's not really her sister. Mattie seeks help from Cam and Blair, who gained fame from solving a previous missing person case (Missing Clarissa is Book 1). Despite their reluctance, they agree to assist Mattie. As they investigate, secrets emerge, raising the stakes.
The audiobook narration by Inés Del Castillo's narration is great and adds so much extra depth and charm to the story. Inés does a great job portraying the characters and really makes it feel like you're in the room with them at times. However, the pacing and focus of the actual story felt lacking, with minimal development of Lola's character. A lot of the time Lola's character really felt like a background character and we didn't really get a solid foundation on WHAT was actually going on with her. Despite this, the final chapters are gripping. Overall, it's an engaging read for young adults.
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio, Ripley Jones, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book.
The audiobook narration by Inés Del Castillo's narration is great and adds so much extra depth and charm to the story. Inés does a great job portraying the characters and really makes it feel like you're in the room with them at times. However, the pacing and focus of the actual story felt lacking, with minimal development of Lola's character. A lot of the time Lola's character really felt like a background character and we didn't really get a solid foundation on WHAT was actually going on with her. Despite this, the final chapters are gripping. Overall, it's an engaging read for young adults.
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio, Ripley Jones, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review the book.
April 22, 2024
"Nobody in this world can keep a secret, if the right person knows how to look."
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Missing Clarissa, so I was excited about this one. The first one centered on a podcast but this one is more about the fallout from the podcast in the first book. It's more angsty teenage drama in the first half of the book. This was a much slower burn than the last book and we don't get much movement until the last 25% or so of the book, which I found frustrating. There weren't a lot of clues to follow, so we got more of a character-driven book overall. The conclusion of the story was sad, but it was satisfying. I like the characters and their dynamics a lot, so I will certainly be picking up any future books in this series.
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
March 23, 2024
This one was great! We're back with Cam and Blair. They are not a bit older and have a bit of PTSD after their last case. Both of them are still sorting through what happened in book 1 and how it's changed their lives.
Cam is still herself, just a bit more reserved. She is learning to look at big-picture a bit, instead of just rushing in. She's thinking through consequences and what she wants from her life. No more Podcasts for her! And Blair is looking at everyone else planning for expensive colleges trying to figure out what her next step is, since she doesn't have the money for college. Neither one of them see it coming what another girl in this small town comes to them with an accusation - my missing sister just came back. But this person who came back, she's not really my sister.
It's explosive. Cam and Blair start out with secrets and the beginning is a bit of a slow burn. It does speed up, as the mystery unfolds. Even though I guessed this one right from the start, I really liked exploring the aftermath of a true crime podcast getting a huge following and what that did to their lives. I also liked that they still had to juggle real life in between, as well as their personal relationships. Cam and Blair also had some unresolved issues and I loved seeing them grow as they sorted it all out.
All in all, this was a good mystery but, really, it was another visit with 2 characters I love, doing the thing that I loved for them the most - helping someone else sort a mystery in their life. I don't know if we'll get another one, this one felt like a bit of a goodbye, but if we do get another book, I'd absolutely be first in line to read it. I love this set of characters and this world the author has created. I highly recommend starting with Book 1 if you haven't (Missing Clarissa) and then moving right on to this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Cam is still herself, just a bit more reserved. She is learning to look at big-picture a bit, instead of just rushing in. She's thinking through consequences and what she wants from her life. No more Podcasts for her! And Blair is looking at everyone else planning for expensive colleges trying to figure out what her next step is, since she doesn't have the money for college. Neither one of them see it coming what another girl in this small town comes to them with an accusation - my missing sister just came back. But this person who came back, she's not really my sister.
It's explosive. Cam and Blair start out with secrets and the beginning is a bit of a slow burn. It does speed up, as the mystery unfolds. Even though I guessed this one right from the start, I really liked exploring the aftermath of a true crime podcast getting a huge following and what that did to their lives. I also liked that they still had to juggle real life in between, as well as their personal relationships. Cam and Blair also had some unresolved issues and I loved seeing them grow as they sorted it all out.
All in all, this was a good mystery but, really, it was another visit with 2 characters I love, doing the thing that I loved for them the most - helping someone else sort a mystery in their life. I don't know if we'll get another one, this one felt like a bit of a goodbye, but if we do get another book, I'd absolutely be first in line to read it. I love this set of characters and this world the author has created. I highly recommend starting with Book 1 if you haven't (Missing Clarissa) and then moving right on to this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
August 21, 2023
The sequel to Ripley Jones's Missing Clarissa!
I loved Missing Clarissa and jumped at the chance to see what Cameron and Blair would get up to next. Where we last left them, they had experienced fame but not fortune from their podcast as they received far too many negative emails and messages. Promising each other no more podcasts or mysteries, they start their senior year.
But when Blair is approached by freshman student Mattie Brosillard, she can't say no. Mattie shares that her sister Lola disappeared more than 5 years ago and was never found...until now. The Lola in her house, Mattie claims, is an imposter. Soon the duo are detecting against the wishes of the police, their parents and Mattie's family, while juggling their own secrets from each other. This was a perfect follow up book - the plot, the pace and the emotions (while Y A but not too TOO YA) were believable. It was easy to empathize with the characters in the story and root again for Cam and Blair to pull it off. Best yet, I really couldn't guess where Jones was going with the story until the very end.
If you loved Missing Clarissa, had a best buddy in high school that was your ride or die, or just love a small town missing person mystery, The Other Lola is for you!
#StMartins #TheotherLola #RipleyJones
I loved Missing Clarissa and jumped at the chance to see what Cameron and Blair would get up to next. Where we last left them, they had experienced fame but not fortune from their podcast as they received far too many negative emails and messages. Promising each other no more podcasts or mysteries, they start their senior year.
But when Blair is approached by freshman student Mattie Brosillard, she can't say no. Mattie shares that her sister Lola disappeared more than 5 years ago and was never found...until now. The Lola in her house, Mattie claims, is an imposter. Soon the duo are detecting against the wishes of the police, their parents and Mattie's family, while juggling their own secrets from each other. This was a perfect follow up book - the plot, the pace and the emotions (while Y A but not too TOO YA) were believable. It was easy to empathize with the characters in the story and root again for Cam and Blair to pull it off. Best yet, I really couldn't guess where Jones was going with the story until the very end.
If you loved Missing Clarissa, had a best buddy in high school that was your ride or die, or just love a small town missing person mystery, The Other Lola is for you!
#StMartins #TheotherLola #RipleyJones
November 11, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Mar. 12, 2024
Ripley Jones brings back Cam and Blair, the protagonists behind “Missing Clarissa: A Novel”, Jones’ previous novel, to solve a new mystery with the novel, “The Other Lola”.
After becoming small-town heroes almost overnight with their podcast that uncovered the truth about missing young girl, Clarissa, Cam and Blair have decided to try and live a normal adolescent life- no mysteries, no podcasts; just two young people preparing to leave their small town behind after high school. But then young Mattie Brossilard approaches them with a strange story- their sister, Lola, went missing five years ago, vanishing without a trace. Now, Lola has returned but Mattie believes that Lola is an imposter and, although even Mattie’s mother believes that Lola is who she’s claiming to be, Mattie calls on Cam and Blair to help them get to the bottom of who Lola is, and what she wants.
“The Other Lola” is technically a sequel, as Cam and Blair were featured in “Missing Clarissa”, but the story is different enough from the original that it can be read as a stand-alone (although I wouldn’t recommend it). “Missing Clarissa” was unique and modern, and I really loved Cam and Blair, so I was excited to get a chance to be reunited with the young protagonists.
Cam and Blair are just as spunky as ever and now, young Mattie infiltrates the pair. Mattie brings their own bold intelligence to the group and their dedication to discovering the truth behind the real Lola is heartwarming. I really loved that Cam’s mother, Irene, returned in this novel, as she was by far one of my favourites from “Clarissa”.
Both young women alternate narration, introducing both perspectives and allying the reader with Cam and Blair equally. The mystery behind Lola is intriguing, and I was left guessing until the final pages. The ending itself was anti-climactic and a little far-fetched, but it was still enjoyable and it did provide a concrete conclusion.
“Missing Clarissa” did not really need a sequel, but I enjoyed Cam and Blair so much that I didn’t mind reading another book featuring the teenage Super Sleuths. It didn’t hit the same note as “Missing Clarissa” did, although that’s to be expected with sequels, but it was a page-turning read all the same.
Expected publication date: Mar. 12, 2024
Ripley Jones brings back Cam and Blair, the protagonists behind “Missing Clarissa: A Novel”, Jones’ previous novel, to solve a new mystery with the novel, “The Other Lola”.
After becoming small-town heroes almost overnight with their podcast that uncovered the truth about missing young girl, Clarissa, Cam and Blair have decided to try and live a normal adolescent life- no mysteries, no podcasts; just two young people preparing to leave their small town behind after high school. But then young Mattie Brossilard approaches them with a strange story- their sister, Lola, went missing five years ago, vanishing without a trace. Now, Lola has returned but Mattie believes that Lola is an imposter and, although even Mattie’s mother believes that Lola is who she’s claiming to be, Mattie calls on Cam and Blair to help them get to the bottom of who Lola is, and what she wants.
“The Other Lola” is technically a sequel, as Cam and Blair were featured in “Missing Clarissa”, but the story is different enough from the original that it can be read as a stand-alone (although I wouldn’t recommend it). “Missing Clarissa” was unique and modern, and I really loved Cam and Blair, so I was excited to get a chance to be reunited with the young protagonists.
Cam and Blair are just as spunky as ever and now, young Mattie infiltrates the pair. Mattie brings their own bold intelligence to the group and their dedication to discovering the truth behind the real Lola is heartwarming. I really loved that Cam’s mother, Irene, returned in this novel, as she was by far one of my favourites from “Clarissa”.
Both young women alternate narration, introducing both perspectives and allying the reader with Cam and Blair equally. The mystery behind Lola is intriguing, and I was left guessing until the final pages. The ending itself was anti-climactic and a little far-fetched, but it was still enjoyable and it did provide a concrete conclusion.
“Missing Clarissa” did not really need a sequel, but I enjoyed Cam and Blair so much that I didn’t mind reading another book featuring the teenage Super Sleuths. It didn’t hit the same note as “Missing Clarissa” did, although that’s to be expected with sequels, but it was a page-turning read all the same.
June 5, 2024
https://saschadarlington.me/2024/06/0...
Ah, me. Where to start? Well, let’s start with the obvious. The Other Lola is a YA novel and I am not the intended reader/listener. No, I did not make that explicit with Missing Clarissa, but the intention of these novels feels very different and intended audience may be more important for The Other Lola.
Lola Brosillard went missing five years ago. Some think she’s dead. Some think she ran away. Some think she was kidnapped and something went wrong. Whatever happened to her, she’s back. Or is she? Her little sister Mattie thinks the current Lola is an imposter despite the fact that her mother and Lola’s twin brother, Luke, seem to believe it’s her. Mattie enlists the help of Cam and Blair, senior students at her high school, who solved the cold case of Clarissa Campbell. While Cam and Blair are sympathetic to Mattie, neither really believes that the new Lola is not the old Lola. How couldn’t she be? Because Blair wants a book deal that a literary agent promised her, she agrees to help Mattie. Cam, on the other hand, who has PTSD from last year’s events, is emphatically against it. But help they do, while navigating personal issues and the issues of the larger world in Ripley Jones’ The Other Lola.
As I’ve considered this review, I wondered how much of my reaction was due to the this being an audiobook, which, at times, didn’t work for me. In scenes containing both Cam and Mattie, the similarity of their narrated voices drove me a bit crazy as they both seemed nasal and whiny. (I hate to write my perception but that’s how I felt, ugh.) I found it easy to stop listening and sometimes forget that I had an audiobook to listen to for review. Not good.
Unlike Missing Clarissa which was twisty and thrilling, The Other Lola is more subdued and tends to dwell on the personal experiences of the teens rather than the mystery. Sometimes there are preachy digressions, which is fine by me, but they not only inform but serve to slow an already slow narrative. Indeed, the climax is more of a thud than a bang. The mystery is tied up in a neat bow but there is no huge feeling about it.
Some of the secondary characters were very well done. As in the first novel, Irene, Brad, and Mr. Park excel.
Would I read a third novel if these characters returned? I don’t know. I definitely wouldn’t listen to a third novel but might read it. Ripley Jones’ writing is good and the plotting was good but the punch was gone. For me.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for sending me a copy.
Ah, me. Where to start? Well, let’s start with the obvious. The Other Lola is a YA novel and I am not the intended reader/listener. No, I did not make that explicit with Missing Clarissa, but the intention of these novels feels very different and intended audience may be more important for The Other Lola.
Lola Brosillard went missing five years ago. Some think she’s dead. Some think she ran away. Some think she was kidnapped and something went wrong. Whatever happened to her, she’s back. Or is she? Her little sister Mattie thinks the current Lola is an imposter despite the fact that her mother and Lola’s twin brother, Luke, seem to believe it’s her. Mattie enlists the help of Cam and Blair, senior students at her high school, who solved the cold case of Clarissa Campbell. While Cam and Blair are sympathetic to Mattie, neither really believes that the new Lola is not the old Lola. How couldn’t she be? Because Blair wants a book deal that a literary agent promised her, she agrees to help Mattie. Cam, on the other hand, who has PTSD from last year’s events, is emphatically against it. But help they do, while navigating personal issues and the issues of the larger world in Ripley Jones’ The Other Lola.
As I’ve considered this review, I wondered how much of my reaction was due to the this being an audiobook, which, at times, didn’t work for me. In scenes containing both Cam and Mattie, the similarity of their narrated voices drove me a bit crazy as they both seemed nasal and whiny. (I hate to write my perception but that’s how I felt, ugh.) I found it easy to stop listening and sometimes forget that I had an audiobook to listen to for review. Not good.
Unlike Missing Clarissa which was twisty and thrilling, The Other Lola is more subdued and tends to dwell on the personal experiences of the teens rather than the mystery. Sometimes there are preachy digressions, which is fine by me, but they not only inform but serve to slow an already slow narrative. Indeed, the climax is more of a thud than a bang. The mystery is tied up in a neat bow but there is no huge feeling about it.
Some of the secondary characters were very well done. As in the first novel, Irene, Brad, and Mr. Park excel.
Would I read a third novel if these characters returned? I don’t know. I definitely wouldn’t listen to a third novel but might read it. Ripley Jones’ writing is good and the plotting was good but the punch was gone. For me.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for sending me a copy.
August 2, 2024
4.5 stars but i rounded up to 5 because i’m nice. this book definitely wasn’t as good as the first book, i will say that, but it was still pretty good. i love the characters in this series so much and i loved seeing them develop and learn and grow even more during this book. this mystery wasn’t as intense as the first book’s, but i definitely didn’t see that conclusion being the way it was! i’m unsure if there could be a third book after this though, but if there is, i wouldn’t miss it :)
March 12, 2024
I enjoyed meeting Blair and Cam in the previous book and looked forward to a sequel. We see the characters about a year later, dealing with the fall out of their fame after the case, as well as some PTSD and trauma. Cam wants to move forward with her life, go to college, and reunite with her girlfriend. Blair is trying to capitalize on the success to help her with a future career.
I thought this was a bit slow moving and didn't have as many twists and revelations as the first installment. Cam has become a Sophie clone and constantly goes off about social justice, racism, capitalism, and anything else she thinks is unfair and it got old. I get putting a bit of awareness in this, but how many causes do you need to go on about, especially when it doesn't relate to the plot?
The ending did surprise me, but I wasn't the biggest fan of how some of it played out. I did think it wrapped up fairly well though and showed where the characters were heading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the copy.
I thought this was a bit slow moving and didn't have as many twists and revelations as the first installment. Cam has become a Sophie clone and constantly goes off about social justice, racism, capitalism, and anything else she thinks is unfair and it got old. I get putting a bit of awareness in this, but how many causes do you need to go on about, especially when it doesn't relate to the plot?
The ending did surprise me, but I wasn't the biggest fan of how some of it played out. I did think it wrapped up fairly well though and showed where the characters were heading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the copy.
October 12, 2023
The Other Lola is the sequel to one of my all-time YA thriller faves, Missing Clarissa!
In Missing Clarissa, high school students Cam and Blair solve a twenty-year-old cold case and become accidentally podcast-famous in the process. They've been traumatized by the investigation and are exhausted by the online harassment they've faced, so they agree they are retired from sleuthing... until Mattie Brosillard comes along. Mattie's sister, Lola, vanished five years ago and has suddenly reappeared -- but Mattie is convinced this Lola is an imposter and is desperate for Cam and Blair to help them prove it.
I was super excited to return to the world of Cam and Blair. They are two of my favorite teenage girl characters ever - smart, brave, funny, and fiercely loyal to each other, even when they disagree. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoyed MC -- but definitely read that first or some things won't make a ton of sense (and because it's amazing)!
* thanks to St Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for the NetGalley review copy. The Other Lola publishes March 12, 2024.
In Missing Clarissa, high school students Cam and Blair solve a twenty-year-old cold case and become accidentally podcast-famous in the process. They've been traumatized by the investigation and are exhausted by the online harassment they've faced, so they agree they are retired from sleuthing... until Mattie Brosillard comes along. Mattie's sister, Lola, vanished five years ago and has suddenly reappeared -- but Mattie is convinced this Lola is an imposter and is desperate for Cam and Blair to help them prove it.
I was super excited to return to the world of Cam and Blair. They are two of my favorite teenage girl characters ever - smart, brave, funny, and fiercely loyal to each other, even when they disagree. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoyed MC -- but definitely read that first or some things won't make a ton of sense (and because it's amazing)!
* thanks to St Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for the NetGalley review copy. The Other Lola publishes March 12, 2024.
September 17, 2023
2.5 rounded up. This is unfortunately one of those sequels that just didn’t need to be made. It was fine but I also found myself bored through most of it, the mystery was not captivating enough to hold a novel. The resolution to it was also very underwhelming. It felt like the mystery existed just as a vehicle to further visit these characters and give them an “ending,” but I don’t think we even needed it?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 4, 2024
"The people you love the most are the people you can trust the least". This YA sequel to Ripley Jones's thriller, "Missing Clarissa, will keep your curiosity peaked til the end!
Lola went missing and has returned. But Mattie Brosillard, her sister, is the only one who believes its not really her. This is not Lola. Yet everyone is acting like she is. Mattie can't turn to the police, but there are two people who know how to handle a situation like this. Last year, Cam and Blair accidentally rose to fame with their "Missing Clarissa" story, but there was great cost to their families and their safety. They vowed to never help out with anything like that again. But, Mattie is pleading for their help. Something is definitely wrong in the Brosillard house. And IF this isn't the real Lola, then Blair is hellbent on finding out what actually happened. And with new secrets swirling between Cam and Blair, the stakes are higher than ever.
The audio edition isn't available on Goodreads, so I chose this one. Inés Del Castillo is absolutely brilliant in this Macmillan Audio read. She captures every character with realism and believability. I adore listening to Macmillan Audio books. The narrators are always 5-star.
Though I completely bought in to the concept of this sequel, I struggled with the pacing and focus of the writing. It felt very much like it was one level the whole time with complete focus on investigation. While I love a good Watson and Holmes style, this one felt void of the thrill. The duo- POV of Cam and Blair was helpful, but this mysterious Lola hardly appears at all in the entire story. I believe her point-of-view is given in the beginning once. I would have loved so much more! This moving-from-witness-to-witness style did not make for very high stakes.....UNTIL THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS. The last quarter of this book is incredible! Overall, this is an engaging story for young adults and I really would love to see this as a movie.
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio, Ripley Jones, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lola went missing and has returned. But Mattie Brosillard, her sister, is the only one who believes its not really her. This is not Lola. Yet everyone is acting like she is. Mattie can't turn to the police, but there are two people who know how to handle a situation like this. Last year, Cam and Blair accidentally rose to fame with their "Missing Clarissa" story, but there was great cost to their families and their safety. They vowed to never help out with anything like that again. But, Mattie is pleading for their help. Something is definitely wrong in the Brosillard house. And IF this isn't the real Lola, then Blair is hellbent on finding out what actually happened. And with new secrets swirling between Cam and Blair, the stakes are higher than ever.
The audio edition isn't available on Goodreads, so I chose this one. Inés Del Castillo is absolutely brilliant in this Macmillan Audio read. She captures every character with realism and believability. I adore listening to Macmillan Audio books. The narrators are always 5-star.
Though I completely bought in to the concept of this sequel, I struggled with the pacing and focus of the writing. It felt very much like it was one level the whole time with complete focus on investigation. While I love a good Watson and Holmes style, this one felt void of the thrill. The duo- POV of Cam and Blair was helpful, but this mysterious Lola hardly appears at all in the entire story. I believe her point-of-view is given in the beginning once. I would have loved so much more! This moving-from-witness-to-witness style did not make for very high stakes.....UNTIL THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS. The last quarter of this book is incredible! Overall, this is an engaging story for young adults and I really would love to see this as a movie.
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio, Ripley Jones, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2024
The last podcast went stupendous but Cam and Blair are now facing a tough time in the aftermath of this greyish fame and the best thing for them will be to stay low. On the other side, young Mattie is doing everything to persuade these two to investigate a new case about her sister Lola. Whether the person back is really her sister changed by trauma or someone else entirely, is left to be discovered.
This vamoosing tale of unsolved (inaccurately solved to be precise) mysteries will make the readers question everything they read. It is fast-paced, revolving in a very small circle and yet confusing enough to keep you pondering from culprit A to culprit B. Read/Listen to this book if you enjoy a coming-of-age story with aspects of murder mystery to it. Also, a big shout out to the amazing narrator cast of this audiobook, they simply elevated the experience of this book.
Thank you @macmillan.audio @wednesdaybooks for the ALC.
Genre: #mystery #thriller #ya
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
This vamoosing tale of unsolved (inaccurately solved to be precise) mysteries will make the readers question everything they read. It is fast-paced, revolving in a very small circle and yet confusing enough to keep you pondering from culprit A to culprit B. Read/Listen to this book if you enjoy a coming-of-age story with aspects of murder mystery to it. Also, a big shout out to the amazing narrator cast of this audiobook, they simply elevated the experience of this book.
Thank you @macmillan.audio @wednesdaybooks for the ALC.
Genre: #mystery #thriller #ya
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
May 28, 2024
I absolutely adore the first book in this series, Missing Clarissa, so this was a bit of a let down for me.
In The Other Lola, accidental teen detectives Blair and Cam are back to solve another mystery when a girl who went missing 5 years ago suddenly returns to their hometown. 🔍
The premise of this book sounds super interesting but in actuality, it was pretty boring. (Respectfully 🙈)
My biggest problem with The Other Lola was that it felt like the mystery took a back seat to other elements of the story. I LOVE the main characters in this series and that they stand for what they believe in but personally I could have done with less politics. The author has a lot of commentary on manyyy social justice issues and honestly it felt kind of overwhelming. (Especially as someone who reads YA for ✨escapism✨)
It just felt so different from book 1. 😭
Like I said, I love the characters and feel so attached to them! I appreciate how Ripley Tackles PTSD and the consequences from book one. Those themes reminded me a lot of the later books in the A Good Girls Guide to Murd3r trilogy.
Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of this book, I still highly HIGHLY recommend reading book #1 Missing Clarissa if you like YA mystery. The diversity in this series is amazing and I do plan to read any other books that come out. 🥰
Huge thanks to Wednesday books for sending over a copy!
In The Other Lola, accidental teen detectives Blair and Cam are back to solve another mystery when a girl who went missing 5 years ago suddenly returns to their hometown. 🔍
The premise of this book sounds super interesting but in actuality, it was pretty boring. (Respectfully 🙈)
My biggest problem with The Other Lola was that it felt like the mystery took a back seat to other elements of the story. I LOVE the main characters in this series and that they stand for what they believe in but personally I could have done with less politics. The author has a lot of commentary on manyyy social justice issues and honestly it felt kind of overwhelming. (Especially as someone who reads YA for ✨escapism✨)
It just felt so different from book 1. 😭
Like I said, I love the characters and feel so attached to them! I appreciate how Ripley Tackles PTSD and the consequences from book one. Those themes reminded me a lot of the later books in the A Good Girls Guide to Murd3r trilogy.
Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of this book, I still highly HIGHLY recommend reading book #1 Missing Clarissa if you like YA mystery. The diversity in this series is amazing and I do plan to read any other books that come out. 🥰
Huge thanks to Wednesday books for sending over a copy!
April 9, 2025
BROOO I FORGOT TO SAY THAT I’VE BEEN DONE WITH THIS BOOK💔😔(since April 3)
August 22, 2023
I loved Missing Clarissa so was excited to read the next adventure with Cam and Blair! Although they no longer do podcasts, they are approached by young Mattie, whose sister Lola has been missing for five years and suddenly shows up with no explanation. But even though she LOOKS like Lola, Mattie is convinced this is not her sister and needs help proving it. And so we go down the proverbial rabbit hole with Cam and Blair as they begin to piece together the very odd circumstances surrounding Lola's disappearance and reappearance in the family's life. Twists and turn abound in this tightly-knit mystery, but we are in awe of Cam and Blair's skills as they continue to follow the clues that will reveal dark and sinister motives!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
October 18, 2023
This is the sequel to Missing Clarissa I'd recommend reading these books in order to pick up on the full story and background on Cam & Blair.
It was an interesting concept Ripley Jones choose to write how getting involved in a true crime case affects you & what that can do to a person. A modern fictional account of solving a missing persons cas
It was an interesting concept Ripley Jones choose to write how getting involved in a true crime case affects you & what that can do to a person. A modern fictional account of solving a missing persons cas
March 8, 2024
I wanted to read a mystery, not constant political and social shaming. This is not the proper platform for pushing agendas. It's never long after they get back to learning more about Lola that something compels the lead characters to go off on another "woke" tangent. I couldn't enjoy the story at all because of this.
Want to read
August 21, 2023ARC received! Big thanks to St. Martin's Press, Ripley Jones, and NetGalley for a copy of this book! Review coming soon!
January 11, 2024
Phenomenal thriller that I actually found to outshine the previous book in the series, missing Clarissa. The characters just felt even more real in this one. Thanks for the arc
March 12, 2024
3.5 stars
Following the success of solving what happened to Clarissa Campbell, a girl who went missing in 1999, teens Cameron Muñoz and Blair Johnson are dealt the harsher negative side to true crime fame. From death threats to lawsuits, the two and their families and friends have been swimming against the current in the wake of their explosive discovery. They’ve sworn off detective work.
Until…a freshman at their high school shows up out of the blue to ask for their help. Five years ago, Mattie Brosillard’s older sister Lola mysteriously disappeared. Largely presumed to simply be Lola running away again, not much effort was spent looking for her. But, even more mysteriously, Lola has suddenly returned home with a story of having been kidnapped. While their mother and Lola’s twin brother accept this, Mattie is positive the girl isn’t actually Lola but rather an imposter. Hoping to reveal the fraud and figure out the fate of their sister, Mattie begs Carmen and Blair to help them.
One thing that I really liked about this sequel was that Jones didn’t do the typical thing of only allowing a few months to have passed — it’s their next school year and the two are gearing up to enter the next stage in their lives: college, moving, and career paths ahead. You can feel these two at the edge of childhood.
Another element I really liked was the fact that there is a tremendous amount of self-awareness within the narrative, and exhibited by Cam and Blair, regarding audiences’ obsession with missing white girls. The two scratched at this in the previous book, but it’s more of a direct tackle here without overwhelming this story and this strange case. The only thing that really didn’t land for me was an overall lack of tension and detective work, but I think this was a conscious decision for the main characters, reflecting a realistic approach to the aftermath of their first case.
Jones again delivers a fast-paced YA thriller with an easy but intelligent narrative. In Missing Clarissa, Jones utilized a helicoptering POV, zooming in and around many of the people the detective duo met along the way. For The Other Lola, aside from a few breaks, we largely stick with Cam and Blair. This shift feels right, especially going forward into a potential third book. With hints of a young Kinsey Millhone in both Cam and Blair, and a dash of the retooling vibe the 80s and 90s gave to Nancy Drew, I’m excited to see where Jones takes these two in the future.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
Following the success of solving what happened to Clarissa Campbell, a girl who went missing in 1999, teens Cameron Muñoz and Blair Johnson are dealt the harsher negative side to true crime fame. From death threats to lawsuits, the two and their families and friends have been swimming against the current in the wake of their explosive discovery. They’ve sworn off detective work.
Until…a freshman at their high school shows up out of the blue to ask for their help. Five years ago, Mattie Brosillard’s older sister Lola mysteriously disappeared. Largely presumed to simply be Lola running away again, not much effort was spent looking for her. But, even more mysteriously, Lola has suddenly returned home with a story of having been kidnapped. While their mother and Lola’s twin brother accept this, Mattie is positive the girl isn’t actually Lola but rather an imposter. Hoping to reveal the fraud and figure out the fate of their sister, Mattie begs Carmen and Blair to help them.
One thing that I really liked about this sequel was that Jones didn’t do the typical thing of only allowing a few months to have passed — it’s their next school year and the two are gearing up to enter the next stage in their lives: college, moving, and career paths ahead. You can feel these two at the edge of childhood.
Another element I really liked was the fact that there is a tremendous amount of self-awareness within the narrative, and exhibited by Cam and Blair, regarding audiences’ obsession with missing white girls. The two scratched at this in the previous book, but it’s more of a direct tackle here without overwhelming this story and this strange case. The only thing that really didn’t land for me was an overall lack of tension and detective work, but I think this was a conscious decision for the main characters, reflecting a realistic approach to the aftermath of their first case.
Jones again delivers a fast-paced YA thriller with an easy but intelligent narrative. In Missing Clarissa, Jones utilized a helicoptering POV, zooming in and around many of the people the detective duo met along the way. For The Other Lola, aside from a few breaks, we largely stick with Cam and Blair. This shift feels right, especially going forward into a potential third book. With hints of a young Kinsey Millhone in both Cam and Blair, and a dash of the retooling vibe the 80s and 90s gave to Nancy Drew, I’m excited to see where Jones takes these two in the future.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
February 7, 2024
Although Missing Clarissa wasn't a book crying out for a sequel, I'm glad that there was one. That's not necessarily because I was so attached to Cam and Blair (although I do like them), but more because there was a lot for them to learn and sort through after they solved the previous case. They don't live in a fictional world where pesky kids and their talking dog can just solve cold cases with impunity; they live in a version of our reality, where actions have consequences and endings aren't always the sort of happy you want them to be. The Other Lola does a beautiful job of carrying that theme through, because at the end of the day, what Mattie says they want - to discover the truth about what happened to their older sister Lola the night she disappeared - isn't actually what they do want. What they want is for Lola to come back, and we've all read this story enough times in the news to know how unlikely that is.
Jones does a good job keeping the truth under wraps until the end, and the mystery is genuinely twisting and interesting. When the truth does come out, it's exactly as the hole in the pit of your stomach predicted, but that doesn't make it any easier to take. I liked the follow through of this sequel better than the first novel's, but both have the same point underneath it all: it's far too easy to ignore the missing girls. Some of them never even got the chance to scream.
Jones does a good job keeping the truth under wraps until the end, and the mystery is genuinely twisting and interesting. When the truth does come out, it's exactly as the hole in the pit of your stomach predicted, but that doesn't make it any easier to take. I liked the follow through of this sequel better than the first novel's, but both have the same point underneath it all: it's far too easy to ignore the missing girls. Some of them never even got the chance to scream.
March 4, 2024
The Other Lola is the follow-up novel to Ripley Jones's previous book - Missing Clarissa.
"After Cam and Blair solved the mystery of Clarissa's disappearance, they vowed never to do it again. Until a freshman, Mattie Brosillard, shows up and asks them to help find her sister, Lola, that's been missing for 5 years. Except that her sister has suddenly reappeared claiming she finally escaped from a kidnapping but with little memory of what happened. Mattie is convinced that the girl claiming to be Lola is an imposter. Everyone but Mattie believes it's her. Cam is adamant that she will not help but Blair has some other reasons to look...some she doesn't want to share. Who is Lola?"
This is YA and reads like YA. The story takes a little to get going. There are the typical communication issues you see in YA - no one talks - so there are several issues that could be prevented if people just had a conversation.
The big reveal at the end is good and Brad saves the day. It's nice to see a Hero Brad even if there are passive/agressive comments about him all through the book. "...who cares what Brad needs." "For a quiet loner..." "Brad...in his sad and lonely exile surrounded by guns."
There's one thing throughout about the way a character is addressed that was confusing as a reader. It was often difficult based on the context to figure out who the author was talking about.
Good pick if you're looking for a YA mystery.
"After Cam and Blair solved the mystery of Clarissa's disappearance, they vowed never to do it again. Until a freshman, Mattie Brosillard, shows up and asks them to help find her sister, Lola, that's been missing for 5 years. Except that her sister has suddenly reappeared claiming she finally escaped from a kidnapping but with little memory of what happened. Mattie is convinced that the girl claiming to be Lola is an imposter. Everyone but Mattie believes it's her. Cam is adamant that she will not help but Blair has some other reasons to look...some she doesn't want to share. Who is Lola?"
This is YA and reads like YA. The story takes a little to get going. There are the typical communication issues you see in YA - no one talks - so there are several issues that could be prevented if people just had a conversation.
The big reveal at the end is good and Brad saves the day. It's nice to see a Hero Brad even if there are passive/agressive comments about him all through the book. "...who cares what Brad needs." "For a quiet loner..." "Brad...in his sad and lonely exile surrounded by guns."
There's one thing throughout about the way a character is addressed that was confusing as a reader. It was often difficult based on the context to figure out who the author was talking about.
Good pick if you're looking for a YA mystery.
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