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The Cheerleaders #2
The Champions
From the author of The Cheerleaders comes another dark YA thriller set in the same town of Sunnybrook. When a mysterious accident befalls a member of the all-star high school football team, the town's deadly history stands to repeat itself—and the price of discovering the truth is higher than anyone could imagine.It was the deaths of five cheerleaders that made the town of Sunnybrook infamous. Eleven years later, the girls' killer has been brought to justice, and the town just wants to move on. By the time Hadley moves to Sunnybrook, though, the locals are more interested in the Tigers, the high school's championship-winning football team. The Tigers are Sunnybrook’s homegrown heroes--something positive in a town with so much darkness in its past.Hadley could care less about football, but shortly after she gets assigned to cover the team's latest championship bid for the school newspaper, one of the Tigers is poisoned at a party, and almost immediately after, Hadley starts getting strange emails warning her to stay far away from the football team.It's becoming clear Sunnybrook's golden boys have secrets, and after a second player is mysteriously killed, Hadley’s beginning to suspect that someone wants the team to pay for their sins. Or does this new target on the football team have something to do with what happened to the cheerleaders all those years ago?As an outsider in Sunnybrook, Hadley feels like she's the only one who can see the present clearly, but it looks like she’s going to have to dig up the darkness of the past to get to the bottom of what’s happening now. Luckily, there are still some Sunnybrook High grads who never left--people who were around eleven years ago—and if she can just convince them to talk, she might be able stop a killer before another Tiger dies.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2024
252 people are currently reading
10251 people want to read
About the author
Kara Thomas
17 books2,398 followersKara is the author of The Darkest Corners, Little Monsters, and The Cheerleaders. She is also the author of the Prep School Confidential series from St. Martin's Griffin under the pen name Kara Taylor.
Kara has written for Warner Brothers Television and currently writes full-time on Long Island, where she lives with her husband and rescue cat.
Kara has written for Warner Brothers Television and currently writes full-time on Long Island, where she lives with her husband and rescue cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 731 reviews
August 25, 2024
If you enjoyed "Cheerleaders," you won't want to miss the sequel, which offers a gripping return to "Sunnybrook" after the tragic deaths of five cheerleaders. This time, with new characters leading the way, the author takes us on another dark journey that delves into the sinister side of college football. The story explores how people cross ethical lines to eliminate obstacles, revealing the immense power within the football community and the shocking consequences of putting that power in the wrong hands.
Eleven years after the cheerleaders' deaths, Hadley moves to Sunnybrook when her mother becomes the superintendent at Sunnybrook College. Trying to escape from her addict husband who was imprisoned for embezzling drugs, Hadley, after long therapy sessions and spending a lot of time in isolation, slowly comes out of her shell with the help of creative writing. Her arch-nemesis, Peter, who took away her scholarship opportunity with a piece about the school's dancers, motivates her to become the editor-in-chief and defeat him.
The Tigers football team, Sunnybrook’s heroes, are worshipped by every student and directed by a family of football players. When Hadley is assigned to write a piece about the team and gets invited to a party by the popular player Logan, she never expects things to spiral out of control, resulting in Logan's coma from alcohol poisoning. This is just one of the attacks against the football players.
An anonymous source begins sending Hadley cryptic messages, guiding her to uncover the dirty secrets of the football team. As she digs deeper, she unexpectedly finds allies in her nemesis Peter and her stepsister Monica (main character from "Cheerleaders" making her cameo). However, she soon realizes the massive football community is determined to keep their secrets buried. With two casualties already, has Hadley put herself on the list of victims by opening Pandora’s box?
Overall, this is a riveting page-turner with a heart-pounding pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed it as much as the first book and highly recommend adding it to your reading list!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for sharing this unputdownable thriller’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Eleven years after the cheerleaders' deaths, Hadley moves to Sunnybrook when her mother becomes the superintendent at Sunnybrook College. Trying to escape from her addict husband who was imprisoned for embezzling drugs, Hadley, after long therapy sessions and spending a lot of time in isolation, slowly comes out of her shell with the help of creative writing. Her arch-nemesis, Peter, who took away her scholarship opportunity with a piece about the school's dancers, motivates her to become the editor-in-chief and defeat him.
The Tigers football team, Sunnybrook’s heroes, are worshipped by every student and directed by a family of football players. When Hadley is assigned to write a piece about the team and gets invited to a party by the popular player Logan, she never expects things to spiral out of control, resulting in Logan's coma from alcohol poisoning. This is just one of the attacks against the football players.
An anonymous source begins sending Hadley cryptic messages, guiding her to uncover the dirty secrets of the football team. As she digs deeper, she unexpectedly finds allies in her nemesis Peter and her stepsister Monica (main character from "Cheerleaders" making her cameo). However, she soon realizes the massive football community is determined to keep their secrets buried. With two casualties already, has Hadley put herself on the list of victims by opening Pandora’s box?
Overall, this is a riveting page-turner with a heart-pounding pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I enjoyed it as much as the first book and highly recommend adding it to your reading list!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for sharing this unputdownable thriller’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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May 4, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, but this sequel truly exceeded my expectations in every way. It was an exhilarating thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, and the twists and turns were just as captivating—if not more so—than those found in the first installment. Before diving into this book, I was uncertain about the direction the author would take since it focuses on a new set of characters, but now, having experienced their journey, I am incredibly grateful for the author’s creative choices.
The plot itself is nothing short of mind-bending. It resonates with real-life challenges that many young women face, rendering it both disturbing and utterly gripping. The unexpected twists were nothing short of spectacular; I found myself completely taken by surprise at several key moments. Yet, despite their shock value, these plot developments felt entirely logical and realistic, a testament to the author’s remarkable talent for crafting engaging mysteries. Each character was thoughtfully developed, provoking a vast array of emotions in me.
Hadley, as the protagonist, instantly captured my heart. Her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks were depicted with authenticity, making her incredibly relatable. I admired her unwavering determination to uncover the truth, a trait that only grew stronger as the story progressed. It was particularly satisfying to see her character arc culminate in a powerful resolution, as she remained steadfast in her pursuit right up to the end.
Peter was an exceptionally refreshing love interest in this narrative. Unlike many typical portrayals, he came across as a genuine, down-to-earth guy with a love for food, which added a delightful layer to his character. His affection for Hadley was charming and innocent, and his supportive nature in moments of her vulnerability was heartwarming. I also appreciated seeing Monica, the protagonist from the first book, make an appearance. The author expertly intertwined their stories, creating a seamless connection between both narratives.
The relationship developed between Hadley and Peter was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful aspects of the book. Their dynamic was wonderfully crafted, presenting them as an inseparable duo who provided each other with comfort and understanding amidst the chaos. I valued that the author chose to focus more on their deep friendship rather than rushing into a romantic relationship. The ending left their future together beautifully ambiguous, subtly hinting at the possibility of a deeper connection while allowing readers to interpret it in their own way.
The central case presented in this installment was both repulsive and shocking, leaving me with a sense of unease that lingered long after I finished the book. Frankly, I find myself less surprised by some of the troubling behaviors exhibited by men today, which speaks to the realistic portrayal of darker themes woven throughout the story.
In summary, this sequel was an extraordinary follow-up to the first book in the series. The author has firmly secured a place on my automatic buy list, and I eagerly await her next work.
The plot itself is nothing short of mind-bending. It resonates with real-life challenges that many young women face, rendering it both disturbing and utterly gripping. The unexpected twists were nothing short of spectacular; I found myself completely taken by surprise at several key moments. Yet, despite their shock value, these plot developments felt entirely logical and realistic, a testament to the author’s remarkable talent for crafting engaging mysteries. Each character was thoughtfully developed, provoking a vast array of emotions in me.
Hadley, as the protagonist, instantly captured my heart. Her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks were depicted with authenticity, making her incredibly relatable. I admired her unwavering determination to uncover the truth, a trait that only grew stronger as the story progressed. It was particularly satisfying to see her character arc culminate in a powerful resolution, as she remained steadfast in her pursuit right up to the end.
Peter was an exceptionally refreshing love interest in this narrative. Unlike many typical portrayals, he came across as a genuine, down-to-earth guy with a love for food, which added a delightful layer to his character. His affection for Hadley was charming and innocent, and his supportive nature in moments of her vulnerability was heartwarming. I also appreciated seeing Monica, the protagonist from the first book, make an appearance. The author expertly intertwined their stories, creating a seamless connection between both narratives.
The relationship developed between Hadley and Peter was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful aspects of the book. Their dynamic was wonderfully crafted, presenting them as an inseparable duo who provided each other with comfort and understanding amidst the chaos. I valued that the author chose to focus more on their deep friendship rather than rushing into a romantic relationship. The ending left their future together beautifully ambiguous, subtly hinting at the possibility of a deeper connection while allowing readers to interpret it in their own way.
The central case presented in this installment was both repulsive and shocking, leaving me with a sense of unease that lingered long after I finished the book. Frankly, I find myself less surprised by some of the troubling behaviors exhibited by men today, which speaks to the realistic portrayal of darker themes woven throughout the story.
In summary, this sequel was an extraordinary follow-up to the first book in the series. The author has firmly secured a place on my automatic buy list, and I eagerly await her next work.
August 21, 2024
Sunnybrook is back in the news. What is happening to their championship football team? There are exploding coaches, plenty of peer tutoring, and too much partying. 🏈
It has been more than five years since The Cheerleaders, and I was thrilled to see this sequel on NetGalley. There's a new girl on the newspaper staff. Hadley Daugherty finds herself at a bit of a disadvantage, but her reporter instincts are spot on. This is her second year on the newspaper staff and as a senior she is gunning for Chief Editor. When her first assignment is the iconic Sunnybrook football team, she realizes there is more than meets the eye. As the narrative progresses, there is girl drama, danger, and a red herring or two. Do not fear! Monica and Gabby are back as supporting characters. Could not get through this one without their contributions to the search for truth.
Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
It has been more than five years since The Cheerleaders, and I was thrilled to see this sequel on NetGalley. There's a new girl on the newspaper staff. Hadley Daugherty finds herself at a bit of a disadvantage, but her reporter instincts are spot on. This is her second year on the newspaper staff and as a senior she is gunning for Chief Editor. When her first assignment is the iconic Sunnybrook football team, she realizes there is more than meets the eye. As the narrative progresses, there is girl drama, danger, and a red herring or two. Do not fear! Monica and Gabby are back as supporting characters. Could not get through this one without their contributions to the search for truth.
Thank you to Random House Children's and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2024
ARC for review. To be published August 27, 2024.
When they taught “show, don’t tell” in writing school, Kara was absent that day, maybe counting her money from the popular YA book THE CHEERLEADERS (this is a sequel.). In this book, Hadley, the main character gets essentially all her information from stories from other people. It gets a bit dull.
So, anyway, it’s eleven years after the events of the first book and Hadley is a new girl in town, a new student at the high school and her mom is the superintendent of schools. Sunnybrook is now all about their championship football team. Hadley is not a football fan but is assigned to cover the team for the school newspaper.
Then a player is poisoned at a party, Hadley starts getting emails telling her to stay away from the football team (please. Who gets emails anymore?). Then even more bad stuff happens. Is this related to what became of the cheerleaders? Who better than a high school newspaper reporter to uncover the truth, I ask you?
So, besides the issues listed above, the cast of characters got a bit confusing. I had trouble telling some of the football players apart, and also some of the people in the same family.
Oh, and as a Southerner should I be offended that though the book is set on Long Island all the kids playing college ball were going to Southern schools? It’s just us gauche idiots who like football? Well, that checks out, I guess.
“‘It’s so stupid. They humiliated me, they hurt me, and I still wanted them to LIKE me,’” oh, honey. Welcome to being a teenager.
This is not a book for older people to enjoy, but perhaps younger people will find something to like here. Athletics are prized over all….hopefully kids will see that’s no way to run a school. Or a college. Or a society.
When they taught “show, don’t tell” in writing school, Kara was absent that day, maybe counting her money from the popular YA book THE CHEERLEADERS (this is a sequel.). In this book, Hadley, the main character gets essentially all her information from stories from other people. It gets a bit dull.
So, anyway, it’s eleven years after the events of the first book and Hadley is a new girl in town, a new student at the high school and her mom is the superintendent of schools. Sunnybrook is now all about their championship football team. Hadley is not a football fan but is assigned to cover the team for the school newspaper.
Then a player is poisoned at a party, Hadley starts getting emails telling her to stay away from the football team (please. Who gets emails anymore?). Then even more bad stuff happens. Is this related to what became of the cheerleaders? Who better than a high school newspaper reporter to uncover the truth, I ask you?
So, besides the issues listed above, the cast of characters got a bit confusing. I had trouble telling some of the football players apart, and also some of the people in the same family.
Oh, and as a Southerner should I be offended that though the book is set on Long Island all the kids playing college ball were going to Southern schools? It’s just us gauche idiots who like football? Well, that checks out, I guess.
“‘It’s so stupid. They humiliated me, they hurt me, and I still wanted them to LIKE me,’” oh, honey. Welcome to being a teenager.
This is not a book for older people to enjoy, but perhaps younger people will find something to like here. Athletics are prized over all….hopefully kids will see that’s no way to run a school. Or a college. Or a society.
July 23, 2024
ALMOST as good as the cheerleaders
I again loved the characters and guessed part of the ending but it’s soo fun being back in sunnybrook and seeing the connection between the two stories (though I forgot a ton of what happened in the cheerleaders…)
what happened was so disgusting, I had to take breaks to stare at the wall while reading to process (in a good way)
The only reason I’m rating this 4 stars and holding back from a 5 is because I feel like the resolution wasn’t the best/expanded on enough, maybe it was a little rushed?
Regardless, another amazing kara thomas murder mystery/thriller that I absolutely flew through and loved
I again loved the characters and guessed part of the ending but it’s soo fun being back in sunnybrook and seeing the connection between the two stories (though I forgot a ton of what happened in the cheerleaders…)
what happened was so disgusting, I had to take breaks to stare at the wall while reading to process (in a good way)
The only reason I’m rating this 4 stars and holding back from a 5 is because I feel like the resolution wasn’t the best/expanded on enough, maybe it was a little rushed?
Regardless, another amazing kara thomas murder mystery/thriller that I absolutely flew through and loved
May 20, 2025
3.5/5 stars Rtc??
August 18, 2024
MOTHER HAS RETURNED TO THE MOTHERVERSE?!?!?
If Kara Thomas has no stans, I am dead. That is all.
REVIEW:
This absolutely ate. Mother never disappoints
To be completely fair, I barely remember anything from The Cheerleaders--I remember a major reveal and I remember I was truly gagged while reading it, but the details are fuzzy at best. However, The Champions can be read separately, but it does have spoilers for The Cheerleaders. The Champions follows Hadley, newly arrived in Sunnybrook, as she works to uncover what's going on with the football team. When one player is poisoned at a party, and another is subsequently killed, Hadley wants answers. But she keeps getting warned to leave it be by a mysterious email account. Unwilling to let it go, will Hadley be able to uncover the dark secrets of the Sunnybrook football team? Or will she pay the price for trying to dig up what's been buried?
I loved this. It has the signature darkness of Kara Thomas books, with care handled to sensitive issues. I had no idea who did it until the end, and I found the characters interesting. Hadley definitely has some parallels to Monica, and it was nice to see Monica make an appearance, older and well adjusted now.
Bottom line: I would read Kara Thomas's grocery list.
Also:
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)
If Kara Thomas has no stans, I am dead. That is all.
REVIEW:
This absolutely ate. Mother never disappoints
To be completely fair, I barely remember anything from The Cheerleaders--I remember a major reveal and I remember I was truly gagged while reading it, but the details are fuzzy at best. However, The Champions can be read separately, but it does have spoilers for The Cheerleaders. The Champions follows Hadley, newly arrived in Sunnybrook, as she works to uncover what's going on with the football team. When one player is poisoned at a party, and another is subsequently killed, Hadley wants answers. But she keeps getting warned to leave it be by a mysterious email account. Unwilling to let it go, will Hadley be able to uncover the dark secrets of the Sunnybrook football team? Or will she pay the price for trying to dig up what's been buried?
I loved this. It has the signature darkness of Kara Thomas books, with care handled to sensitive issues. I had no idea who did it until the end, and I found the characters interesting. Hadley definitely has some parallels to Monica, and it was nice to see Monica make an appearance, older and well adjusted now.
Bottom line: I would read Kara Thomas's grocery list.
Also:
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!:)
April 13, 2025
I really loved the first book in this series The Cheerleaders. I was really looking forward to reading this one but unfortunately it was quite a letdown for me. I connected a lot more with the characters in the first book and I feel like there was much more thriller/mystery to it than this one.
Eleven years after the infamous murders of the cheerleaders of Sunnybrook strange things start happening at the high school again but to another sports team. The football players. Someone in town knows that the football team isn’t the outstanding champions they portray themselves to be. A student and member of the school’s newspaper tracks down the hidden story of what the Sunnybrook football team is really like.
I enjoy this author’s writing and would love to read more of her work because the first book in the series was excellent unfortunately this one just missed the mark for me. I wish the first book would have just had its story end where it did instead of branching out into a new mystery at the same high school.
Eleven years after the infamous murders of the cheerleaders of Sunnybrook strange things start happening at the high school again but to another sports team. The football players. Someone in town knows that the football team isn’t the outstanding champions they portray themselves to be. A student and member of the school’s newspaper tracks down the hidden story of what the Sunnybrook football team is really like.
I enjoy this author’s writing and would love to read more of her work because the first book in the series was excellent unfortunately this one just missed the mark for me. I wish the first book would have just had its story end where it did instead of branching out into a new mystery at the same high school.
January 1, 2026
Post-reading: I really debated rating this story 2.75 like the first book, but I did like this one just a little bit more and I think it was because I listened to the audio version.
I still don't understand the complete and utter obsession this town has over sports in general and I also had to listen to the first 2 chapters TWICE cus I kept getting the characters mixed up lol.
I will make a proper review when uni slows down and also catch up on all of my already pending reviews (send help they are so many) but I wanted to include the character list I made for the book while listening to the beginning again cus it was so needed and maybe it can help others who decide to read the story and there are no spoilers just names of the characters that are mentioned in the beginning.
Just a heads up, im not from the USA and English is not my first language and I was listening to the audio book so if any of these names are wrong that's purely on me and my hearing skills/knowledge of English/American surnames.
FMC - Hadley (just moved w. mom and brother Cole is at uni)
Rival - Peter Carlino (Half brother to Monica and Jen Rayburn).
Tigers Team (formerly known as the Warriors)
Gavin Stieger (defensive line man)
Tyler Curtain? (running back & best player)
Cameron Burnham (quarterback) ♥︎ Alex Maroni
West Saint-Pierre (defensive tackle) ♥︎ Iana Murphy
Logan Filbrick (tight end)
Chris Valenzuela? (tight end) ♥︎ Gabby Santiago
Dance Team
Alex Maroni (one of the captains) ♥︎ Cameron Burnham
Gabby Santiago ♥︎ Chris Valenzuela
Chloe Bitelli
Iana Murphy ♥︎ West Saint-Pierre
Dylan Burnham head coach of the Tigers & Cameron's oldest brother.
Frank Murray athletic director & assistant coach for Tigers & the Burnham brothers great uncle.
Hadley is Tyler's peer tutor.
Alex, Gabby and Chloe are bffs.
Erica Stanburry & Madison Riley are bffs and Tigers team managers.
Pre-read: Finally listening to something else than my beloved series
I still don't understand the complete and utter obsession this town has over sports in general and I also had to listen to the first 2 chapters TWICE cus I kept getting the characters mixed up lol.
I will make a proper review when uni slows down and also catch up on all of my already pending reviews (send help they are so many) but I wanted to include the character list I made for the book while listening to the beginning again cus it was so needed and maybe it can help others who decide to read the story and there are no spoilers just names of the characters that are mentioned in the beginning.
Just a heads up, im not from the USA and English is not my first language and I was listening to the audio book so if any of these names are wrong that's purely on me and my hearing skills/knowledge of English/American surnames.
FMC - Hadley (just moved w. mom and brother Cole is at uni)
Rival - Peter Carlino (Half brother to Monica and Jen Rayburn).
Tigers Team (formerly known as the Warriors)
Gavin Stieger (defensive line man)
Tyler Curtain? (running back & best player)
Cameron Burnham (quarterback) ♥︎ Alex Maroni
West Saint-Pierre (defensive tackle) ♥︎ Iana Murphy
Logan Filbrick (tight end)
Chris Valenzuela? (tight end) ♥︎ Gabby Santiago
Dance Team
Alex Maroni (one of the captains) ♥︎ Cameron Burnham
Gabby Santiago ♥︎ Chris Valenzuela
Chloe Bitelli
Iana Murphy ♥︎ West Saint-Pierre
Dylan Burnham head coach of the Tigers & Cameron's oldest brother.
Frank Murray athletic director & assistant coach for Tigers & the Burnham brothers great uncle.
Hadley is Tyler's peer tutor.
Alex, Gabby and Chloe are bffs.
Erica Stanburry & Madison Riley are bffs and Tigers team managers.
Pre-read: Finally listening to something else than my beloved series
August 25, 2024
I love Kara Thomas’s books. I’ve been reading them since her fist one published many years ago and whenever I see she has another one coming I get excited! The Champions is her latest release. If you’ve read The Cheerleaders (not necessary but it does enhance this one) then you’ll definitely find some similarities. I think this one reads just like that one but with different characters and a few more plot holes. For some of it you DO need to suspend belief (who talks to a new kid and tells them all their dirty secrets like this LOL) but its fiction and it gets us to where we need to be. I do recommend that readers check the books trigger warnings though because this one deals with some heavy topics. I don’t think it’s suitable for a younger crowed but upper young adult (those at least in HS) may enjoy this one.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 13, 2024
THIS BOOK WILL BE MY LIFE
September 9, 2024
Review coming soon.
December 15, 2024
⭐️🏈the champions ~ 2.5🏈⭐️
Firstly, I learned that my poor memory is an issue when read series not back to back…I forgot half the characters connections to the last book and even some names🤣 especially since this connected more being a mystery. There was too many anyways. Once I got the football team straight I had to line up teachers and staff, other students. It was like there was so many ppl to be fillers so you would forget the person who is the murder even existed. Honestly books like that just piss me off. If you can’t write any actual gripping and compiling mystery then don’t😭
Hadley is so dumb it’s beyond me how she even got caught up in this and didn’t just stare at it like it was a blank wall and walked through it. Like girl couldn’t even figure out you can use a simple camera to see who was eating the cat food.
If you guys are starting to think I just rip on books as a favorite pastime, especially thriller’s lately, I am too😭 bc what are theses things I get picking up? Overall, it wasn’t too bad but it wasn’t good. If you only kinda liked the cheerleader like me just walk over this one.
Firstly, I learned that my poor memory is an issue when read series not back to back…I forgot half the characters connections to the last book and even some names🤣 especially since this connected more being a mystery. There was too many anyways. Once I got the football team straight I had to line up teachers and staff, other students. It was like there was so many ppl to be fillers so you would forget the person who is the murder even existed. Honestly books like that just piss me off. If you can’t write any actual gripping and compiling mystery then don’t😭
Hadley is so dumb it’s beyond me how she even got caught up in this and didn’t just stare at it like it was a blank wall and walked through it. Like girl couldn’t even figure out you can use a simple camera to see who was eating the cat food.
If you guys are starting to think I just rip on books as a favorite pastime, especially thriller’s lately, I am too😭 bc what are theses things I get picking up? Overall, it wasn’t too bad but it wasn’t good. If you only kinda liked the cheerleader like me just walk over this one.
September 19, 2024
Not this author’s best work—The Champions read more like a Karen McManus novel than Kara Thomas’.
Now, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just that I’m used to KT serving us even more darkness in her stories.
Still, I finished it in a day, so it gets an extra star for being absolutely bingeable.
Now, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just that I’m used to KT serving us even more darkness in her stories.
Still, I finished it in a day, so it gets an extra star for being absolutely bingeable.
October 4, 2024
While not my favorite YA mystery from Kara Thomas, this book is still very enjoyable! Definitely worth the read if you want a more slow burn mystery.
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pre-ordered kindle ebook version on 2/19/2024
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pre-ordered kindle ebook version on 2/19/2024
July 7, 2025
3.5! I felt like I really loved the first one and I love how it’s YA but still feels not too young of a read. I also really enjoyed the storyline. I didn’t connect with the characters and the main FMC was slightly annoying but if you loved a good girls guide to murder I think you would love this too:)
October 4, 2025
Actually liked it so much better than the first one
February 24, 2025
This was a solid follow-up to The Cheerleaders. It's been so long since I read the last book that I was worried I'd be lost with this one but that wasn't the case luckily. Some of the same families are involved and the previous story is mentioned but it explains it enough that you don't really have to go back and brush up unless you just really want to.
I want a Kara stand-alone but I can't complain!
Also this was heavy so it might not be for everyone.
I want a Kara stand-alone but I can't complain!
Also this was heavy so it might not be for everyone.
September 8, 2024
Wow, this was terrible! There's a scene towards the beginning of the book where Hadley (our much, much less interesting narrator) talks about all of the names of the football players and how it's going to be hard to remember everyone's name and that is absolutely an omen for the book. Over a dozen important characters, each with similar and boring names, with 0 personality, so it's impossible to care about anyone or anything that happens. The main character never feels like she's in any danger even though she technically is more involved that Monica ever was. This book also isn't content to let the previous one rest - Monica and Ginny aren't friends anymore, and Monica is dating Ethan?? Huh? Strange choices all around and a terrible mystery. The author's note begins with the fact that this book is for the many fans of The Cheerleaders and that she hopes she hasn't disappointed us with the sequel. Mission failed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2024
*thank you to PRH audio & Get Underlined for the gifted ALC/ARC; all thoughts are my own*
I really enjoyed listening to this YA thriller! Review to come.
I really enjoyed listening to this YA thriller! Review to come.
March 6, 2025
Really boring at first it legit only got interesting more than half way pls i cant handle that
March 28, 2025
I loved it as much as the first one.
August 27, 2024
THE CHAMPIONS is the companion book to Kara Thomas’s THE CHEERLEADERS that I didn’t realize how much I needed.
Thomas hits a grand slam with THE CHAMPIONS, set 6 years after THE CHEERLEADERS ended.
School newspaper editor Hadley competes with her rival Peter (younger half-brother of Monica from THE CHEERLEADERS) stumble upon wrongdoings by their two time champion football team starting with the coach down to the star players. Then the players start dying.
I’ve loved every one of Thomas’s YA mysteries. I’ve enjoyed her adult thrillers, but they don’t grab me like her YA. I hope Thomas keeps writing YA for years to come.
Thomas hits a grand slam with THE CHAMPIONS, set 6 years after THE CHEERLEADERS ended.
School newspaper editor Hadley competes with her rival Peter (younger half-brother of Monica from THE CHEERLEADERS) stumble upon wrongdoings by their two time champion football team starting with the coach down to the star players. Then the players start dying.
I’ve loved every one of Thomas’s YA mysteries. I’ve enjoyed her adult thrillers, but they don’t grab me like her YA. I hope Thomas keeps writing YA for years to come.
January 31, 2025
Sunnybrook is back, eleven years later after the case of the cheerleaders is solved, the town has seemed to settle back into small town life, with the attention and glory all going to the Tigers football team. Where the motto “boys will be boys” seems to be stitched on the jerseys and the slogan for the school. Sunnybrook may seem to be back to its formal glory, until a new mystery unfolds at the start of senior year.
The book follows Hadley, who moved to Sunnybrook the year before. As daughter of the superintendent and a passion for writing, Hadley spent her first year in town with her head down and sticking to journalism. She ended up writing a story about how the dance team should be the real stars of the school, unbeknownst to her, some people were unhappy with that article and still argued the towns pride and joy is football. In present time, it’s Hadley’s time to shine and step up for the yearbook and her journalist skills. So she is now writing a piece on the football team and the stars of the Tigers. After her story slowly starts coming to together, she gets a strange email warning her to stay far away from the football team and the players and dance team.
Hadley doesn’t think much of the weird emails. She keeps on with her business. But when strange things start happening and a star of the football team is poisoned, another one winds up dead, and secrets tried to stay buried..it’s clear her story may be life or death. You follow along as she tries to navigate high school, solving mysteries, and not becoming the next target.
I will say that this book does come with some huge trigger warnings. It has some pretty dark and heavy topics brought up. Mainly, rape and gang rape. It’s a big underlying theme that adds to the plot and there’s a lot talked about it and the aftermath of it. It isn’t shied away from so just a heads up. There’s talk about suicide and suicidal thoughts and attempts. There’s even domestic violence, which isn’t shied away from as well. So if any of these things trigger you, just remember it is in here.
I will say that she really did put a huge spotlight on serious issues that aren’t nearly talked enough about. I think people forget sometimes that rape and domestic violence can happen at such young ages. For her to normalize (I don’t mean tolerating the behavior), but just her to have those themes so eloquently and boldly written is awesome. I think it put a spotlight on how domestic violence can happen in high school relationships, it’s raw, it was done well, and it just does a good job including real life scenarios into a book.
I would absolutely recommend this book. I really enjoyed it. Plus if you liked the cheerleaders, you’ll be a fan of this. It’s such a good book, give it a try!
The book follows Hadley, who moved to Sunnybrook the year before. As daughter of the superintendent and a passion for writing, Hadley spent her first year in town with her head down and sticking to journalism. She ended up writing a story about how the dance team should be the real stars of the school, unbeknownst to her, some people were unhappy with that article and still argued the towns pride and joy is football. In present time, it’s Hadley’s time to shine and step up for the yearbook and her journalist skills. So she is now writing a piece on the football team and the stars of the Tigers. After her story slowly starts coming to together, she gets a strange email warning her to stay far away from the football team and the players and dance team.
Hadley doesn’t think much of the weird emails. She keeps on with her business. But when strange things start happening and a star of the football team is poisoned, another one winds up dead, and secrets tried to stay buried..it’s clear her story may be life or death. You follow along as she tries to navigate high school, solving mysteries, and not becoming the next target.
I will say that this book does come with some huge trigger warnings. It has some pretty dark and heavy topics brought up. Mainly, rape and gang rape. It’s a big underlying theme that adds to the plot and there’s a lot talked about it and the aftermath of it. It isn’t shied away from so just a heads up. There’s talk about suicide and suicidal thoughts and attempts. There’s even domestic violence, which isn’t shied away from as well. So if any of these things trigger you, just remember it is in here.
I will say that she really did put a huge spotlight on serious issues that aren’t nearly talked enough about. I think people forget sometimes that rape and domestic violence can happen at such young ages. For her to normalize (I don’t mean tolerating the behavior), but just her to have those themes so eloquently and boldly written is awesome. I think it put a spotlight on how domestic violence can happen in high school relationships, it’s raw, it was done well, and it just does a good job including real life scenarios into a book.
I would absolutely recommend this book. I really enjoyed it. Plus if you liked the cheerleaders, you’ll be a fan of this. It’s such a good book, give it a try!
December 23, 2024
*SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!*
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Fuck, I feel so led on by Logan. He was so perfect, golden retriever vibe, he was so whipped for Hadley. I feel like an idiot. He turned out to be such an asshole. I hate that.
I wish I remembered anything that happened in The Cheerleaders, because that would've made this book a lot easier to understand. I could not remember or catch on to any of the names of the dancers and keep their stories in line in my head, even though I really wanted to make sense of things.
All in all, the book was amazing, and I feel just as played as our main character by the behaviour of these football boys.
_______________
Fuck, I feel so led on by Logan. He was so perfect, golden retriever vibe, he was so whipped for Hadley. I feel like an idiot. He turned out to be such an asshole. I hate that.
I wish I remembered anything that happened in The Cheerleaders, because that would've made this book a lot easier to understand. I could not remember or catch on to any of the names of the dancers and keep their stories in line in my head, even though I really wanted to make sense of things.
All in all, the book was amazing, and I feel just as played as our main character by the behaviour of these football boys.
November 29, 2024
The reveal was a bit confusing/complicated, I’m not sure I totally understood it. There were a couple too many names and really specific details.
I did really like the main character though. Usually the “all I care about is ____, I’m so smart” trope really annoys me but I thought Hadley had a good balance.
I did really like the main character though. Usually the “all I care about is ____, I’m so smart” trope really annoys me but I thought Hadley had a good balance.
April 15, 2024
I truly enjoyed this YA sequel to The Cheerleaders. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.
June 30, 2025
4.5/5
I’d describe The Cheerleaders as a black hole of a book, sucking you in and making escape impossible with its slow build. The Champions, on the other hand, is a lightning storm. Truly every page feels electric. It is relentless in its pacing, bouncing from event to event in such a way that keeps you entranced.
I’d describe The Cheerleaders as a black hole of a book, sucking you in and making escape impossible with its slow build. The Champions, on the other hand, is a lightning storm. Truly every page feels electric. It is relentless in its pacing, bouncing from event to event in such a way that keeps you entranced.
September 1, 2024
Who doesn't love a good football scandal? It's Sunnybrook High School and Hadley's mom is the superintendent. Hadley has aspirations to attend Columbia as a journalism major as she's always been editor-in-chief of her high school paper. But when tragedy strikes at a high school party and a student ends up in the ER, fingers are pointed at everyone and students clam up, unwilling to implicate anyone. But of course this is bigger than just an "accident" at a party as no one has the same answers! It's a great YA novel that kept me guessing until the bitter end!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
October 16, 2025
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