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Confessions From the Group Chat
What happens in the group chat stays in the group chat… until it doesn’t.
Virginia Vaughn just wants to fit in with her super-popular friend group. That means she doesn’t let them know how much she loves the library, she never speaks a word about her massive crush on tragically unpopular Grayson, and she says nasty things she doesn’t actually mean. But only in the group chat, so it’s harmless, right?
But when she has a blowout fight with her clique—specifically, with the Queen Bee herself—her mean texts are posted online for the entire school to see! And, suddenly, Virginia has no one but her cat to talk to.
Cue "Knight Errant," a mystery boy at school who texts Virginia by accident—and who quickly becomes her closest confidante. Though they send messages back and forth for hours every night, Virginia doesn’t want him to know which classmate she is (because then he’ll connect her to the mean texts ALL OVER THE INTERNET). She likes him, but she really likes Grayson, too. Can she find the strength to tell Knight who she really is? And will Grayson—who has become her only ally at school—give up on her when the awful things she’s said about him are finally posted?
Confessions from the Group Chat is the second middle-grade romcom from New York Times bestselling author Jodi Meadow (Bye Forever, I Guess; My Lady Jane, now streaming on Prime). Sweet, funny, and authentically messy, this is an ultra-cute story about middle-school misbehavior, innocent first love, and the inner life of a repentant mean girl.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Virginia Vaughn just wants to fit in with her super-popular friend group. That means she doesn’t let them know how much she loves the library, she never speaks a word about her massive crush on tragically unpopular Grayson, and she says nasty things she doesn’t actually mean. But only in the group chat, so it’s harmless, right?
But when she has a blowout fight with her clique—specifically, with the Queen Bee herself—her mean texts are posted online for the entire school to see! And, suddenly, Virginia has no one but her cat to talk to.
Cue "Knight Errant," a mystery boy at school who texts Virginia by accident—and who quickly becomes her closest confidante. Though they send messages back and forth for hours every night, Virginia doesn’t want him to know which classmate she is (because then he’ll connect her to the mean texts ALL OVER THE INTERNET). She likes him, but she really likes Grayson, too. Can she find the strength to tell Knight who she really is? And will Grayson—who has become her only ally at school—give up on her when the awful things she’s said about him are finally posted?
Confessions from the Group Chat is the second middle-grade romcom from New York Times bestselling author Jodi Meadow (Bye Forever, I Guess; My Lady Jane, now streaming on Prime). Sweet, funny, and authentically messy, this is an ultra-cute story about middle-school misbehavior, innocent first love, and the inner life of a repentant mean girl.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2025
About the author
Jodi Meadows
42 books4,735 followersI write books. I snuggle cats. I drink coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
November 15, 2025
✰ 3 stars ✰
Phew, I'd forgotten how cutthroat and ruthless girls could be at thirteen! It made me grateful I did not live in a digital world where every bit of your text conversation is documented and can be leaked as ammunition against you. 🥺 And it makes you realize how careful you have to be of what kind of Confessions From the Group Chat can be said in the midst of your supposed friends - the ringleader, the artist, the mean girl with a heart of gold, and you, the one kept out of habit, rather than want. Especially when you're backed in a corner backed into a corner, your mouth gets away from you, and to deflect you say things in the heat of the moment. 💬
It does teach an important message about the repercussions of one's opinions and to be more self-aware of other's feelings; regardless of it being behind their back, a little empathy goes a long way. However, it was odd that the author chose not to show any instance where she could have a chance to act out on that change of heart - save for the obvious one. 😕 It made it then difficult for me to believe that Virginia ever felt contrite or remorseful over what she said about others.
“It’s hard to lose people you thought were friends.”
“They were my friends. Real friends.”
“Sure. If you say so.”
But, the other comments - she was never forced to say those things; so, even if we are told that she has learned that kindness and honesty and being true to oneself is more important than insincerity or trying to appeal to someone else's better judgment, I never felt that moment when she felt contrite. 🤷🏻♀️ She was more self-involved, and despite how I do see the benefits of superposition, her lack of empathy made it difficult to sympathize with her. It's an obvious cliché of how the identity of the text-door-neighbor was, which ---
Ah... okay, back in my day, MSN Messenger was all the rage, and I learned then about the subtext of a/s/l, which was a way of introduction; one distasteful memory was that of a 40+ person (your email was public domain, for reasons i can't recall), and after that i avoided chatting with anyone I did.not.know. 😮💨 So I don't know how appropriate, let alone encouraging the text-door-neighbor idea can be. In a world of deep fakes and AI, nothing can be really proven; parents on a video call can not be who they say they are! So it is a risk, one which I wouldn't advise, but....
It's fiction, and it was a predictable, convenient, cute idea that allowed Virginia to have an outlet to grow and also express her concerns and fears. She learned the importance of a true friendship, one that can be honest and supportive, built on trust and kindness, without resorting to meanness, which the mean girls excelled at out of spite, or -- tbh, I don't know why they were so petty and rude. Maybe sometimes there isn't one. 🤔
“You can’t control what they do,” Victoria went on, “but you don’t have to be aware of it every time they come after you.”
Victoria was a great example of an understanding, supportive, older sister, who offered welcome and worthwhile advice to help Virginia unwind over the stress she's been exposed to. 🙂↕️ Her crush on Grayson was depicted very realistically, and something I wholeheartedly related to and liked the sweetness of, despite the complicated mess of it. Any friendship that bonds over their shared love of reading is a win for me.
It was nicely paced and even with the ups and downs, his reactions towards her personality was believable, too with no unnatural feel to their wavering dynamic. It was sad that a fall from grace can leave such visceral traces, but even these trials can make oneself stronger, which I felt shined in Grayson's own perspective on his true self-worth. 🫂
“I couldn’t imagine having to go the whole day without my friends. Talk about fighting for survival.”
Phew, I'd forgotten how cutthroat and ruthless girls could be at thirteen! It made me grateful I did not live in a digital world where every bit of your text conversation is documented and can be leaked as ammunition against you. 🥺 And it makes you realize how careful you have to be of what kind of Confessions From the Group Chat can be said in the midst of your supposed friends - the ringleader, the artist, the mean girl with a heart of gold, and you, the one kept out of habit, rather than want. Especially when you're backed in a corner backed into a corner, your mouth gets away from you, and to deflect you say things in the heat of the moment. 💬
It does teach an important message about the repercussions of one's opinions and to be more self-aware of other's feelings; regardless of it being behind their back, a little empathy goes a long way. However, it was odd that the author chose not to show any instance where she could have a chance to act out on that change of heart - save for the obvious one. 😕 It made it then difficult for me to believe that Virginia ever felt contrite or remorseful over what she said about others.
“It’s hard to lose people you thought were friends.”
“They were my friends. Real friends.”
“Sure. If you say so.”
But, the other comments - she was never forced to say those things; so, even if we are told that she has learned that kindness and honesty and being true to oneself is more important than insincerity or trying to appeal to someone else's better judgment, I never felt that moment when she felt contrite. 🤷🏻♀️ She was more self-involved, and despite how I do see the benefits of superposition, her lack of empathy made it difficult to sympathize with her. It's an obvious cliché of how the identity of the text-door-neighbor was, which ---
Ah... okay, back in my day, MSN Messenger was all the rage, and I learned then about the subtext of a/s/l, which was a way of introduction; one distasteful memory was that of a 40+ person (your email was public domain, for reasons i can't recall), and after that i avoided chatting with anyone I did.not.know. 😮💨 So I don't know how appropriate, let alone encouraging the text-door-neighbor idea can be. In a world of deep fakes and AI, nothing can be really proven; parents on a video call can not be who they say they are! So it is a risk, one which I wouldn't advise, but....
It's fiction, and it was a predictable, convenient, cute idea that allowed Virginia to have an outlet to grow and also express her concerns and fears. She learned the importance of a true friendship, one that can be honest and supportive, built on trust and kindness, without resorting to meanness, which the mean girls excelled at out of spite, or -- tbh, I don't know why they were so petty and rude. Maybe sometimes there isn't one. 🤔
“You can’t control what they do,” Victoria went on, “but you don’t have to be aware of it every time they come after you.”
Victoria was a great example of an understanding, supportive, older sister, who offered welcome and worthwhile advice to help Virginia unwind over the stress she's been exposed to. 🙂↕️ Her crush on Grayson was depicted very realistically, and something I wholeheartedly related to and liked the sweetness of, despite the complicated mess of it. Any friendship that bonds over their shared love of reading is a win for me.
It was nicely paced and even with the ups and downs, his reactions towards her personality was believable, too with no unnatural feel to their wavering dynamic. It was sad that a fall from grace can leave such visceral traces, but even these trials can make oneself stronger, which I felt shined in Grayson's own perspective on his true self-worth. 🫂
July 15, 2026
3.5 Stars
Here's the thing. I absolutely love what Jodi Meadows is doing with middle grade/tween romances. They are absolutely perfect for kids who are wanting to explore romance as genre, but cannot handle the content that comes with reading YA romances. Unfortunately, while I really enjoyed this book, I was hoping that it would explore another romantic trope. Both Confessions From the Group Chat and Bye Forever, I guess deal with tweens who are texting someone of an unknown identity. If Meadows continues to write within this age category and genre, I'm hoping that we get something a little different in the future.
Nevertheless, I absolutely loved the way that friendships are described and handled within the book. Group chats are supposed to be safe spaces where information is shared in confidence. What happens in the group is never supposed to leave the group. Unfortunately for Virginia it does and absolutely destroys her world. Meadows creates an environment where Virginia has the opportunity to learn more about herself and her supposed friends. It's a narrative that centers being true to oneself and that true friends are accepting of that. As per usual, the storytelling was good and the character development was exceptional. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Meadows does in this category in the future.
Here's the thing. I absolutely love what Jodi Meadows is doing with middle grade/tween romances. They are absolutely perfect for kids who are wanting to explore romance as genre, but cannot handle the content that comes with reading YA romances. Unfortunately, while I really enjoyed this book, I was hoping that it would explore another romantic trope. Both Confessions From the Group Chat and Bye Forever, I guess deal with tweens who are texting someone of an unknown identity. If Meadows continues to write within this age category and genre, I'm hoping that we get something a little different in the future.
Nevertheless, I absolutely loved the way that friendships are described and handled within the book. Group chats are supposed to be safe spaces where information is shared in confidence. What happens in the group is never supposed to leave the group. Unfortunately for Virginia it does and absolutely destroys her world. Meadows creates an environment where Virginia has the opportunity to learn more about herself and her supposed friends. It's a narrative that centers being true to oneself and that true friends are accepting of that. As per usual, the storytelling was good and the character development was exceptional. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Meadows does in this category in the future.
Want to Read
March 14, 2025Get in, loser, we have a cover! https://jodimeadows.substack.com/p/co...
December 9, 2025
Two MG books I’ve read by this author now, and I’m already saying she is a favorite author. I need MORE MG from her, a never ending supply! Phenomenal.💜💜
July 7, 2025
Virginia is part of a very tight group of four friends. They have a very popular review website that gains them a lot of attention in their town and school. Lately, Virginia is feeling like she isn't quite as valuable to her friends and their project. A couple of the girls have even been making mean comments that are "just teasing," but really sting. She jumps at the opportunity to change the subject and add her own unkind comments about others to the group chat, so she can get the attention off of herself. Unfortunately, those get used against her when she finally comes to her wit's end and lets the girls have it in a very loud cafeteria confrontation.
I could not be more excited to share this book with my students, specifically middle school girls. This book is so real and so relevant. The author captured perfectly the situation lots of girls find themselves in. There are group dynamics and pressures to deal with that cause them to do things they may not otherwise think are good ideas. As an adult, I found myself cringing at some of the choices that were being made, but man, that's so real. I watch every year as my students face these sorts of dynamics and choices in real life, and have to decide where their worth comes from .
I loved the role models and advice that Virginia was able to receive after the falling out with her friends. I think that this book will help lead readers who find themselves in similar situations to think about who "true" friends are and where to go to seek good advice.
I could not be more excited to share this book with my students, specifically middle school girls. This book is so real and so relevant. The author captured perfectly the situation lots of girls find themselves in. There are group dynamics and pressures to deal with that cause them to do things they may not otherwise think are good ideas. As an adult, I found myself cringing at some of the choices that were being made, but man, that's so real. I watch every year as my students face these sorts of dynamics and choices in real life, and have to decide where their worth comes from .
I loved the role models and advice that Virginia was able to receive after the falling out with her friends. I think that this book will help lead readers who find themselves in similar situations to think about who "true" friends are and where to go to seek good advice.
December 29, 2025
What happens in the group chat should stay in the group chat. Unless your friends are the actual worst! Virginia's friend group isn't the best to begin with (very much mean girls) but what they did to her was foul. I hate that no one helped stand up for her, but that's unfortunately what it's like in middle school.
I found this extremely relatable, for all ages really. Navigating friendships and just trying to gauge where you fit in. I loved this. The friendship between Virginia and Grayson was also very sweet. I'm a sucker for stories told in messages and this did not disappoint. It was exactly what I hoped for.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC
I found this extremely relatable, for all ages really. Navigating friendships and just trying to gauge where you fit in. I loved this. The friendship between Virginia and Grayson was also very sweet. I'm a sucker for stories told in messages and this did not disappoint. It was exactly what I hoped for.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC
April 15, 2026
Relevant middle grade novel. Enjoyed this one.
June 19, 2026
Recommend for ages 11+
Confessions From the Group Chat follows themes of peer pressure, bullying, popularity, romance, and friendship. MC Virginia Vaughn is one member of the four most popular girls in town. After a rapid plummet from her previous social standings, Virginia finds herself virtually friendless, with the exception of three people.
Jessica Johanson – also member of the elite four who finds herself struggling to speak up and risk her friends and popularity as well.
Grayson Jennings – Virginia's crush, a boy who has also fallen from popularity, and sympathizes with Virginia when she feels lost and hated amid friends turned enemies.
And Knight Errant – Virginia's text-door neighbor, to whom she introduces herself as Cardinal, afraid of being scorned by him due to her Undesirable #1 status.
Will Virginia find the courage to speak up and move on from her broken friendships? Will she ever know Knight's true identity? And can she tell him hers without losing his friendship too? If you enjoy middle-grade romance, loved Bye Forever I Guess, and relished Mean Girls, this book is for you.
If you are still unsure whether this read sparks your interest and is worth reading, more details below: |
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Description: 2 of 5. Plot: 4 of 5, Characters: 4 of 5, Theme/Moral: 5 of 5, Average: 3.75 of 5.
Description: The story was easy to read, but nothing remarkable. I was disturbed by a few of the ways actions taken by the characters were presented, however I especially enjoyed the parallel story that occasionally cropped up throughout the book to show how Knight was feeling.
Plot: Plot was enjoyable, with excellent plot twists, although there were some pretty obvious Mean Girls themes though.
Characters: I really liked the character development, the author went above and beyond my expectations on this book. My favorite character was Victoria – how she represents the perfect big sister and is still able to remain just out of the main focus of the story.
Theme/Moral: It was easy to grasp and highlights peer pressure and harmful friendships.
Content: Kissing, mentions of tampons, and suggestions of gay characters but otherwise nothing to report.
Confessions From the Group Chat follows themes of peer pressure, bullying, popularity, romance, and friendship. MC Virginia Vaughn is one member of the four most popular girls in town. After a rapid plummet from her previous social standings, Virginia finds herself virtually friendless, with the exception of three people.
Jessica Johanson – also member of the elite four who finds herself struggling to speak up and risk her friends and popularity as well.
Grayson Jennings – Virginia's crush, a boy who has also fallen from popularity, and sympathizes with Virginia when she feels lost and hated amid friends turned enemies.
And Knight Errant – Virginia's text-door neighbor, to whom she introduces herself as Cardinal, afraid of being scorned by him due to her Undesirable #1 status.
Will Virginia find the courage to speak up and move on from her broken friendships? Will she ever know Knight's true identity? And can she tell him hers without losing his friendship too? If you enjoy middle-grade romance, loved Bye Forever I Guess, and relished Mean Girls, this book is for you.
If you are still unsure whether this read sparks your interest and is worth reading, more details below: |
\/
Description: 2 of 5. Plot: 4 of 5, Characters: 4 of 5, Theme/Moral: 5 of 5, Average: 3.75 of 5.
Description: The story was easy to read, but nothing remarkable. I was disturbed by a few of the ways actions taken by the characters were presented, however I especially enjoyed the parallel story that occasionally cropped up throughout the book to show how Knight was feeling.
Plot: Plot was enjoyable, with excellent plot twists, although there were some pretty obvious Mean Girls themes though.
Characters: I really liked the character development, the author went above and beyond my expectations on this book. My favorite character was Victoria – how she represents the perfect big sister and is still able to remain just out of the main focus of the story.
Theme/Moral: It was easy to grasp and highlights peer pressure and harmful friendships.
Content: Kissing, mentions of tampons, and suggestions of gay characters but otherwise nothing to report.
March 18, 2026
Two point five stars?? I really liked the concept this book was built on, but I'm not a big fan of the way it was carried out. Scatterbrained thoughts:
* Knight Errant 🥰
* Why were the mean girls made of cardboard...?? I would have loved some character development from them; it would have been epic if they were more three-dimensional and learned from what they had done?? Perhaps if they could have been made more...human??
* DON'T TAKE THE LORD'S NAME IN VAIN STOPPPPP IT (about four instances, but oodles more omgs which aren't necessarily taking the Lord's name in vain?? but also kinda are so...)
* Why do I like the mistaken/masked identity trope so much 😂 It's the main reason I actually finished the book.
* Crafty peoplessss; huzzah.
* Excuse you, don't ask the boy if he has a gf OR a bf. *sobs* think of the children...they shall be corrupted...
* Library rep *nod nod*
* So I was a bit confused about who knew what in the middle there... it seemed like Grayson knew Cardinal was *spaces on mc's name* Virginia there in the middle but at the end it seems as if he only started to suspect like the day before. And HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW IT WAS SO OBVIOUS...?? Perhaps I'm asking too much of a middle grade book.
* Big fan of the nicknames 😍
* Story within a story was cool, but it made things painfully obvious for everyone but the two main characters.
* That kiss was uncalled for. like. what. you're basically children. what are you even doing.
* Incorporation of texts was nice, especially since they played such a big roll...
* scrollr?? is it just me or does that sound like...tumblr...
Anyway if you're willing to overlook some of that, more power to ya.
* Knight Errant 🥰
* Why were the mean girls made of cardboard...?? I would have loved some character development from them; it would have been epic if they were more three-dimensional and learned from what they had done?? Perhaps if they could have been made more...human??
* DON'T TAKE THE LORD'S NAME IN VAIN STOPPPPP IT (about four instances, but oodles more omgs which aren't necessarily taking the Lord's name in vain?? but also kinda are so...)
* Why do I like the mistaken/masked identity trope so much 😂 It's the main reason I actually finished the book.
* Crafty peoplessss; huzzah.
* Excuse you, don't ask the boy if he has a gf OR a bf. *sobs* think of the children...they shall be corrupted...
* Library rep *nod nod*
* So I was a bit confused about who knew what in the middle there... it seemed like Grayson knew Cardinal was *spaces on mc's name* Virginia there in the middle but at the end it seems as if he only started to suspect like the day before. And HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW IT WAS SO OBVIOUS...?? Perhaps I'm asking too much of a middle grade book.
* Big fan of the nicknames 😍
* Story within a story was cool, but it made things painfully obvious for everyone but the two main characters.
* That kiss was uncalled for. like. what. you're basically children. what are you even doing.
* Incorporation of texts was nice, especially since they played such a big roll...
* scrollr?? is it just me or does that sound like...tumblr...
Anyway if you're willing to overlook some of that, more power to ya.
September 30, 2025
A compelling story that feels authentic to the messy middle school experience. Loved the complex characters and slow burn between Virginia and Grayson. Great for tweens who enjoy realistic stories with a very small dash of romance.
August 4, 2025
Virginia learns the hard way that what happens in the group chat doesn't always stay in the group chat. When she stands up for herself to her middle school friends, things turn ugly as they set up a revenge account to humiliate her. Finding herself suddenly friendless at school, Virginia takes comfort in texts with her "text-door neighbor," an unknown boy her age. If you've read Meadows' first book set in Deer Hill (Bye Forever, I Guess), you'll quickly see where this one is headed. Predictability and sweet serendipity are what make rom-coms so addicting, especially for middle school girls, so I know this one will be a big hit once it reaches my classroom library shelves. I'm sure they'll be asking for another Deer Hill book soon! As their teacher, I hope they take Virginia's experience as a cautionary tale before they post anything that could come back to haunt them—and that they learn who those safe adults are in their lives whom they can turn to when it's all too much.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for the eARC.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for the eARC.
May 4, 2025
If you loved 'Bye Forever, I Guess', read this book! And if you didn't, read both of them!
Yet another contemporary winner from Jodi that juggles the trials and tribulations of being a middle schooler in the digital age, the sweetness of crushes, and the importance of owning up to your mistakes without dropping a ball.
Bonus points for the ending being so cute I almost couldn't handle it.
HUGE thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read this gem early!
Yet another contemporary winner from Jodi that juggles the trials and tribulations of being a middle schooler in the digital age, the sweetness of crushes, and the importance of owning up to your mistakes without dropping a ball.
Bonus points for the ending being so cute I almost couldn't handle it.
HUGE thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read this gem early!
November 2, 2025
This was a little too similar to Bye Forever, I Guess, but I'm always asking for Shop Around the Corner/She Loves Me type stories where the girl figures it out first, so finally. I'm really glad nobody had cell phones when I was in middle school. Jodi Meadows is really good at depicting toxic friendships and how to be safe online.
February 5, 2026
One of the best books ever! Super cute! It’s infectious love ❤️ Really recommend this to young romance readers! Only kiss one time, mostly bullies and betrayal.
10+
10+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2025
3.5 The beginning was a bit cringey for me as an adult reader because it was *so* middle school and I really wanted the characters to make different/better choices. But as it continued, Virginia grew as a main character, and I loved her relationship with her older sister. The text messages add an authenticity to her story and reflect tweens/teens' lives today, and I think that my students will really be able to relate to the middle school drama that is at the heart of this book. There is a tiny romance in this book, but it is definitely not the main plot point. I liked the other book I read (Bye Forever, I Guess) by Meadows better, but I feel confident putting this into my middle school library.
January 3, 2026
Many many of my middle schoolers LOVE Bye Forever I Guess so I’m thrilled there’s another middle school drama from Jody Meadows that I can give to my kids. There’s a lot of interest right now in books that mix text messages with a traditional novel and Jodi meadows does it well. As a mom and educator, I don’t love the idea of a text door neighbor conversation, but I think the parents and older sister in the book do a good job of making sure Virginia is safe. The themes of toxic friendship and saying mean things about others to protect yourself will feel very relevant to a lot of readers.
July 23, 2025
A sweet romance with positive messages about friendship, digital responsibility and owning up to mistakes. I think this book is highly relatable and relevant for young readers. I really enjoyed the fact that the main characters volunteer at the library and bond over books. I loved Bye Forever, I Guess and this companion novel didn’t disappoint. I will definitely recommend this one to my middle school readers!
April 29, 2026
This started a little too Disney channel stereotypical at first, but as things fall apart for Virginia, an eighth grade girl ousted from her group of friends, I really was curious to see how she would make it through the school year. Mix in great age appropriate (sometimes cheesy) text banter and big sister wisdom and this book got better by the end for sure. Great for any 6-8th grader. Jodi writes such fun first crush/young romance books
May 7, 2026
What a fun middle school read! Of course there is friend drama, angst, and a little romance. It also gives good food for thought about social media use and what makes a good friend. Highly recommend.
June 23, 2026
Liked this book d relationships, character development, romance 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍😍☺️🤑😙😙😙
October 7, 2025
“You have to understand [the world] to mess around with it—unless you want to break gravity or something.”
Initial impressions of Confessions from the Group Chat were a bit tepid for me, if I’m being honest. This is an easy read, overall, and rather easy to get into, but it did take some time for me to grow invested. When I was finally invested, though, boy was I invested. As an educator, I cannot adequately express how important books like this are and how thrilled I am that Jodi Meadows was so on point with it.
I think the most important aspect of this novel lies in the truths of adolescence, peer pressure, desire to fit in, mistakes, and how much learning how to grow is an integral part of being a young teen. There is little question in my mind about whether or not this is a recommendable book—in fact, it’s one of the most recommendable books I’ve had the pleasure to read and I cannot wait for the day I’m able to grab a copy for one of my students.
The thing is—I think we have all, at one point or another, fallen into the trap of making mistakes at this age. And navigating the world when we’re in the midst of those waves, while it may look different for everyone, almost always exists as something near existential for teenagers. I’d argue that understanding these experiences is one of the most integral aspects of growing up. Confessions from the Group Chat offers a very real and fortunately safe way to explore potential fallout from mistakes but also how to work through them and come out a better person in the end.
Combining golden sibling expectations and comparisons with the experiences of peer pressure and actually being the bully in the clever way Meadows did was a masterclass in narrative craft. Main character, Virginia Vaughn, has a lot on her plate to navigate when faced with the internal conscience and frustration that creates a massive falling out with her friends and offers her the first mirror to not only her ex-friends’ behaviors but to her own as well. Confessions from the Group Chat is an expert study in understanding yourself, learning from mistakes, taking responsibility, and dedicating oneself to self-improvement.
It’s the sort of book every teenager can learn from, the kind of story we definitely need more of.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2026
I’d give this a million stars if I could.
May 30, 2026
Virginia lives two lives--one that her friends care about and one that they don't. Virginia loves helping out at the tiny public library in town and mooning over the unpopular boy, Grayson, although she would rather die than tell him that. But her friends don't care about that. They care about what Virginia can do for them--edit their social media posts on their popular channel. Virginia sometimes struggles with how mean and self absorbed they can be but they always have been friends so why rock the boat?
When a picture she snaps of Grayson falls into their hands they tease her relentlessly causing her to vehemently deny her crush in a brutal manner over their group chat. But when ultra mean girl Kat insults her at lunch she has had enough and LOSES IT. To take revenge, her friend group starts posting all the things she said in their group chat to the most popular social media platform at school and she goes from hero to zero.
Now with no friends, Virginia decides to text her text-door neighbor, someone with the same phone number as you but one digit off. What starts off as an impulsive decision turns into something more when that person turns out to be thirteen too, a boy, and someone that goes to her school. Caught between pining over Grayson, getting more involved with mystery boy, and trying to find a way to survive a sea of hate at school, will Virginia find a way to build back her social life?
----
LOVED this book just like I loved Bye Forever I Guess. Both are set in the same small town but you don't have to read them in order. This town really screams "I'm a Hallmark movie!" The middle school drama is spot on and the middle schoolers are pretty realistic. This is You've Got Mail for the middle school set.
First line: If there was one thing I was good at, it was putting books where they belonged.
---
Sex/sexual references? None
Profanity/swearing? None that I can remember
Religious references? None that stood out
LGBTQIA+ rep? Not specified
When a picture she snaps of Grayson falls into their hands they tease her relentlessly causing her to vehemently deny her crush in a brutal manner over their group chat. But when ultra mean girl Kat insults her at lunch she has had enough and LOSES IT. To take revenge, her friend group starts posting all the things she said in their group chat to the most popular social media platform at school and she goes from hero to zero.
Now with no friends, Virginia decides to text her text-door neighbor, someone with the same phone number as you but one digit off. What starts off as an impulsive decision turns into something more when that person turns out to be thirteen too, a boy, and someone that goes to her school. Caught between pining over Grayson, getting more involved with mystery boy, and trying to find a way to survive a sea of hate at school, will Virginia find a way to build back her social life?
----
LOVED this book just like I loved Bye Forever I Guess. Both are set in the same small town but you don't have to read them in order. This town really screams "I'm a Hallmark movie!" The middle school drama is spot on and the middle schoolers are pretty realistic. This is You've Got Mail for the middle school set.
First line: If there was one thing I was good at, it was putting books where they belonged.
---
Sex/sexual references? None
Profanity/swearing? None that I can remember
Religious references? None that stood out
LGBTQIA+ rep? Not specified
February 25, 2026
I was instantly drawn to this book based on the You’ve Got Mail comparison. One of my favorite tropes is anonymous writing in any form and it was so well done here!! I loved how modern technology was handled and getting an idea of how it works in the lives of young teenagers.
Those years were fraught with challenges, but I for one did not have social media adding to those burdens. And thank goodness for that!! Even so, the way many of the characters acted transported me to the days of absolute chaos and drama that were middle school. It was so realistic!!
Witnessing Virginia’s growth throughout this book was such a wonderful experience. I absolutely know what it’s like to try to fit in and say things you don’t mean or wouldn’t say in other situations, but sometimes, especially in those early years, we need to camouflage to keep our place. Her navigation of friendships and learning to accept herself inspired me and had me thinking about my own journey. Grayson was a sweetheart and I appreciated his kindness and authenticity. I adored seeing Virginia and Grayson’s complex relationship develop as they learned more about each other.
The anonymous texts were so much fun and the friendship that blossomed between Cardinal and Knight Errant was delightfully charming.
I thought the adult characters were written well and especially loved Victoria and her relationship with Virginia. She was such an amazing big sister and it was lovely to see them bond. I did not expect to get a lesson in Superposition and was pleasantly surprised by the Schrödinger’s Cat references. Speaking of cats, Lady Zooms-a-Lot was such an amusing character and I loved how much Virginia talked to her.
I could just go on and on because I loved this book so much!!! It’s definitely going on the recommendation list for my kids, especially my daughter.
Eevin Hartsough was a phenomenal narrator!!! She captured the attitudes of middle schoolers, delivered so much emotion, and gave each character their own distinct voice. I loved listening to this book!!!
Those years were fraught with challenges, but I for one did not have social media adding to those burdens. And thank goodness for that!! Even so, the way many of the characters acted transported me to the days of absolute chaos and drama that were middle school. It was so realistic!!
Witnessing Virginia’s growth throughout this book was such a wonderful experience. I absolutely know what it’s like to try to fit in and say things you don’t mean or wouldn’t say in other situations, but sometimes, especially in those early years, we need to camouflage to keep our place. Her navigation of friendships and learning to accept herself inspired me and had me thinking about my own journey. Grayson was a sweetheart and I appreciated his kindness and authenticity. I adored seeing Virginia and Grayson’s complex relationship develop as they learned more about each other.
The anonymous texts were so much fun and the friendship that blossomed between Cardinal and Knight Errant was delightfully charming.
I thought the adult characters were written well and especially loved Victoria and her relationship with Virginia. She was such an amazing big sister and it was lovely to see them bond. I did not expect to get a lesson in Superposition and was pleasantly surprised by the Schrödinger’s Cat references. Speaking of cats, Lady Zooms-a-Lot was such an amusing character and I loved how much Virginia talked to her.
I could just go on and on because I loved this book so much!!! It’s definitely going on the recommendation list for my kids, especially my daughter.
Eevin Hartsough was a phenomenal narrator!!! She captured the attitudes of middle schoolers, delivered so much emotion, and gave each character their own distinct voice. I loved listening to this book!!!
July 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Jodi, and Holiday House for the e-arc of Confessions From the Group Chat. I'm excited to add this novel to my classroom once it's officially published!
Meadows' novel follows Virginia and her middle school life navigating social media, friendship, romance, family dynamics, and what it means to be herself. Virginia faces a dilemma when she realizes her friends aren't actually her friends and they blast her over social media. I found this novel pertinent to the modern plight of social media with middle grade students - that desire to fit in, thrown together with access to technology and sharing with a whim, leads to consequences that students will inevitably face in their lives (nothing on the internet disappears, right?).
When your private communications are shared and you're connecting with a stranger online, interesting outcomes happen! I appreciated how Meadows writes with the middle schooler in mind - Virginia has complex emotions (that she can't always pinpoint) towards her friends, family, and school. Eventually, she finds her own and her voice, speaking up for what matters to her, so this novel is full of great lessons for students with engagement at the forefront.
Meadows' novel follows Virginia and her middle school life navigating social media, friendship, romance, family dynamics, and what it means to be herself. Virginia faces a dilemma when she realizes her friends aren't actually her friends and they blast her over social media. I found this novel pertinent to the modern plight of social media with middle grade students - that desire to fit in, thrown together with access to technology and sharing with a whim, leads to consequences that students will inevitably face in their lives (nothing on the internet disappears, right?).
When your private communications are shared and you're connecting with a stranger online, interesting outcomes happen! I appreciated how Meadows writes with the middle schooler in mind - Virginia has complex emotions (that she can't always pinpoint) towards her friends, family, and school. Eventually, she finds her own and her voice, speaking up for what matters to her, so this novel is full of great lessons for students with engagement at the forefront.
October 23, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
**Some spoilers that seemed rather apparent in the book, but may not occur to everyone.**
Virginia likes to volunteer at her local library, shelving books and organizing things. It doesn't hurt that Greyson Jennings also comes to the Deer Hill branch. He's cute, but ever since he quit the 8th grade football team, he's been a loner. Along with her friends Mary Heather, Kat, and Jess, she writes reviews for their joint Scrollr account that focuses on businesses in their town, like Seasonal Sweets. When they pass Greyson on the way home, Mary Heather's mother offers him a ride, and Virginia talks to him briefly about books. Later, when texting Jess about photo tips, she sends a picture she took of Greyson... but sends it to the whole group. Kat is snidely mean about it, and Virginia replies with mean comments about Greyson, to deflect opinions that she really likes him. After a scuffle at school in the group, Virginia is kicked out. To make matters worse, Kat copies and posts some of Virginia's mean comments from the group chat on Scrollr. Her older sister Victoria suggests she ignore the social media, which is hard, but Virginia copies by texting her "text-door neighbor". This person replies, and claims to also be 13, sending a picture of the same language arts textbook that Virginia has. The two (she names the person Knight Errant) text back and forth about hobbies and plan to text the next day. She has a little tiff with Greyson, but the two end up working together on the Winter Jolly-Days library booth since they both spend so much time with the librarian, Mrs. Kaufmann. In the meantime, Virginia keeps up her text chats with the unknown Knight Errant, although at Victoria's insistence, both sets of parents talk. When the Deer Hill Dirt Scrollr account gets meaner, it causes more problems for Virginia as well as Greyson. Things get messy, but end on a happy note.
Strengths: Ah, the mean friend. The friend group that suddenly shatters. The cute but lonely boy on whom you have an unrequited crush. This certainly highlights so many compelling tween issues, and even includes parents obsessed with a crack in the house foundation, an understanding and helpful older sister, and a secret friend who helps Virginia through a tough time. I appreciated that Victoria insisted that Virginia tell her parents, even though she didn't want to know the identity of her "text-door neighbod". While I saw the identity of Knight Errant from the beginning, younger readers might not get that right away, and be charmed when it is revealed. Given the popularity of Greenwald's TBH series, young readers also are more delighted with conversations in text boxes than I am.
Weaknesses: In Bye Forever, I Guess, Ms. Meadows has a note describing some text conversations that have come her way; I just can't believe that Greyson and Virginia would be one phone number apart. It's cute, but the only texts I've ever gotten that were not meant for me were meant for the previous owner of my number who apparently owed a LOT of people money. Young readers will be more likely to believe this could happen and will also be more invested in the drama.
What I really think: This is a good choice for fans of Weissman's So Over Sharing, Parks' Averil Offline, or other books that combine tween drama with social media.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
**Some spoilers that seemed rather apparent in the book, but may not occur to everyone.**
Virginia likes to volunteer at her local library, shelving books and organizing things. It doesn't hurt that Greyson Jennings also comes to the Deer Hill branch. He's cute, but ever since he quit the 8th grade football team, he's been a loner. Along with her friends Mary Heather, Kat, and Jess, she writes reviews for their joint Scrollr account that focuses on businesses in their town, like Seasonal Sweets. When they pass Greyson on the way home, Mary Heather's mother offers him a ride, and Virginia talks to him briefly about books. Later, when texting Jess about photo tips, she sends a picture she took of Greyson... but sends it to the whole group. Kat is snidely mean about it, and Virginia replies with mean comments about Greyson, to deflect opinions that she really likes him. After a scuffle at school in the group, Virginia is kicked out. To make matters worse, Kat copies and posts some of Virginia's mean comments from the group chat on Scrollr. Her older sister Victoria suggests she ignore the social media, which is hard, but Virginia copies by texting her "text-door neighbor". This person replies, and claims to also be 13, sending a picture of the same language arts textbook that Virginia has. The two (she names the person Knight Errant) text back and forth about hobbies and plan to text the next day. She has a little tiff with Greyson, but the two end up working together on the Winter Jolly-Days library booth since they both spend so much time with the librarian, Mrs. Kaufmann. In the meantime, Virginia keeps up her text chats with the unknown Knight Errant, although at Victoria's insistence, both sets of parents talk. When the Deer Hill Dirt Scrollr account gets meaner, it causes more problems for Virginia as well as Greyson. Things get messy, but end on a happy note.
Strengths: Ah, the mean friend. The friend group that suddenly shatters. The cute but lonely boy on whom you have an unrequited crush. This certainly highlights so many compelling tween issues, and even includes parents obsessed with a crack in the house foundation, an understanding and helpful older sister, and a secret friend who helps Virginia through a tough time. I appreciated that Victoria insisted that Virginia tell her parents, even though she didn't want to know the identity of her "text-door neighbod". While I saw the identity of Knight Errant from the beginning, younger readers might not get that right away, and be charmed when it is revealed. Given the popularity of Greenwald's TBH series, young readers also are more delighted with conversations in text boxes than I am.
Weaknesses: In Bye Forever, I Guess, Ms. Meadows has a note describing some text conversations that have come her way; I just can't believe that Greyson and Virginia would be one phone number apart. It's cute, but the only texts I've ever gotten that were not meant for me were meant for the previous owner of my number who apparently owed a LOT of people money. Young readers will be more likely to believe this could happen and will also be more invested in the drama.
What I really think: This is a good choice for fans of Weissman's So Over Sharing, Parks' Averil Offline, or other books that combine tween drama with social media.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
November 4, 2025
Jodi Meadows is 2-for-2 with her adorable middle-grade rom-coms set in Deer Hill.
This book was lovely to read – it was such a treat, that I just wish I’d spent longer reading it than the 2 days I breezed through it. Meadows seems to have thrown in every possible cozy element that she could think of – scarves and weaving, hot chocolate, libraries and books, and a cat named Zooms-a-Lot. If ever a book could get one in the mood for snuggling under a blanket with warm beverages, it’s this one.
Much of the praise I heaped on Bye Forever, I Guess I can reiterate here. I really like the middle-grade rom-com, since middle schoolers get crushes as much as anyone else (if not more). But I also really loved the emphasis on friendship, the fact that Virginia’s relationship with Jess was given due weight, and the fact that her crush on Grayson is a minor aspect of their friendship that gets top billing. On top of it, there’s a really sweet relationship that Virginia has with her overachieving sister that I loved reading.
From a craft standpoint, I am in awe of how Meadows conveyed the group dynamics of the Four Takes right in the very first chapter. Within a scene or two, all four girls were distinct characters with unique personalities, and I had a grasp of their roles in the group and how they related to each other. It was so effectively done, I’d honestly study it in a workshop.
There are a lot of hobbies and crafts highlighted in this book, but the one most emphasized is photography, with Virginia’s burgeoning interest in it. It’s not easy to describe a visual art medium so compellingly in a literary format, but Meadows pulled it off with aplomb. You could visualize the images, see the lighting and vivid colors described, imagine how breathtaking it’d be to see the images and the photos of them. I don’t know if the author herself is a serious photographer or just dabbles, but I’d make this recommended reading in photography class to convey the power of the medium.
If I had a criticism – and I had to look hard for one! – it’s that the characters are all a little too proper and correct about social media and online safety. I get that Meadows is writing this book to appeal to the parents and teachers buying it as well as the kids reading it… but it did come across as slightly over-the-top. Everyone does everything completely correctly and safely, the parents are involved and talk to the other adults, the tweens self-report to their parents, everyone is super careful about photos of people. I found it unbelievable that no one would do anything remotely questionable or ill-advised when it comes to tweens on the internet.
While there’s no issues of online safety, there is plenty of drama and conflict. The scenes of confrontation between Virginia and her friends-cum-nemeses had my heart pounding, as if I were back in middle school with all the heightened drama it entailed. I also thought this book proved an effective examination of cancel culture, in a roundabout way, where someone is condemned for the inappropriate things they said in the past. I don’t know if it was intentional, but I know I’ll think of the next time I see the digital hordes pointing their pitchforks at someone’s 2011 Tweets.
Long story short – this is a wonderful cozy read, and I adored it to bits.
This book was lovely to read – it was such a treat, that I just wish I’d spent longer reading it than the 2 days I breezed through it. Meadows seems to have thrown in every possible cozy element that she could think of – scarves and weaving, hot chocolate, libraries and books, and a cat named Zooms-a-Lot. If ever a book could get one in the mood for snuggling under a blanket with warm beverages, it’s this one.
Much of the praise I heaped on Bye Forever, I Guess I can reiterate here. I really like the middle-grade rom-com, since middle schoolers get crushes as much as anyone else (if not more). But I also really loved the emphasis on friendship, the fact that Virginia’s relationship with Jess was given due weight, and the fact that her crush on Grayson is a minor aspect of their friendship that gets top billing. On top of it, there’s a really sweet relationship that Virginia has with her overachieving sister that I loved reading.
From a craft standpoint, I am in awe of how Meadows conveyed the group dynamics of the Four Takes right in the very first chapter. Within a scene or two, all four girls were distinct characters with unique personalities, and I had a grasp of their roles in the group and how they related to each other. It was so effectively done, I’d honestly study it in a workshop.
There are a lot of hobbies and crafts highlighted in this book, but the one most emphasized is photography, with Virginia’s burgeoning interest in it. It’s not easy to describe a visual art medium so compellingly in a literary format, but Meadows pulled it off with aplomb. You could visualize the images, see the lighting and vivid colors described, imagine how breathtaking it’d be to see the images and the photos of them. I don’t know if the author herself is a serious photographer or just dabbles, but I’d make this recommended reading in photography class to convey the power of the medium.
If I had a criticism – and I had to look hard for one! – it’s that the characters are all a little too proper and correct about social media and online safety. I get that Meadows is writing this book to appeal to the parents and teachers buying it as well as the kids reading it… but it did come across as slightly over-the-top. Everyone does everything completely correctly and safely, the parents are involved and talk to the other adults, the tweens self-report to their parents, everyone is super careful about photos of people. I found it unbelievable that no one would do anything remotely questionable or ill-advised when it comes to tweens on the internet.
While there’s no issues of online safety, there is plenty of drama and conflict. The scenes of confrontation between Virginia and her friends-cum-nemeses had my heart pounding, as if I were back in middle school with all the heightened drama it entailed. I also thought this book proved an effective examination of cancel culture, in a roundabout way, where someone is condemned for the inappropriate things they said in the past. I don’t know if it was intentional, but I know I’ll think of the next time I see the digital hordes pointing their pitchforks at someone’s 2011 Tweets.
Long story short – this is a wonderful cozy read, and I adored it to bits.
July 10, 2026
! JUNEVILE ! - book 2
Q : what is Junevile?
A : Junevile is a tradition where i only read Juvenile books in the month of June, because sometimes i need a break from the YA books...
(yes, i am doing Junevile in July. but shh don't tell anyone)
«---------------------------------------------»
plot : 5/5
characters : 6/5
pacing : 5/5
romance : 5/5
ending : 5/5
overall : 5/5
how long it took me : 3 hours 💪💪💪
enjoyment : 7/5
«--------------------------------------------»
i LOVE Juvenile romance. it's genuinely SO good. so that's why i love Junevile, because i get to read all the J-romance i could ever desire.
and i freaking LOVED Confessions From the Group Chat. it's SO GOOD. a must read.
enough. let's just get into the review. as always, spoilers are marked with this emoji 📍
the plot : 13 year old Virginia's life is good. she helps out at the library on Wednesdays and Mondays after school. she has 3 best friends who she runs a review blog with. and Virginia has a crush on Grayson, the boy who just quit football for reasons unknown to everyone. but then everything begins to fall apart. her only friends turn out to be fake and mean. Grayson seems uninterested in Virginia. so Virginia decides to text her text-door-neighbour—your phone number but you go up or down one on the last digit of your number. risky? yeah. but Virginia has no one else to talk to.
GENIUS PLOT. SO INTERESTING. I LOVE IT. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 5/5
characters : the characters in this book were phenomenal ✨️👏
Virginia : she's a reader girlie like me!!! love her. she's an absolute divaaaa
Knight Errant : he's so kind and thoughtful to Virginia and probably everyone ever. i love him aww
Mary Heather : SHE WAS PORTRAYED SO WELL MY HATRED FOR HER WAS UNMATCHED
Kat : SAME AS MARY HEATHER, SHE WAS WRITTEN SO WELL
Jess : i like Jess. i guess.📍if i were Virginia, i wouldn't have been friends with her again. she didn't stand up for you when you needed someone to. and she was involved. nope nope nope.
overall, the characters were SO GOOD OMG LOVEEE 6/5
pacing : the pacing was done so well. it wasn't too rushed but it wasn't too slow either. 5/5
📍romance : this type of slow-burn romance is what i love. not too slow, but perfectly paced. it wasn't dragged on for so long, like some books, but it was realistic and i loved it. 5/5
📍ending : SLAY YES VIRGINIA AND GRAYSON I SEE YOU YESSSSSSS FINALLY OMG I HAVE WAITED EONS FOR THE KISS AND DATING PLEASE OMGGGGG
no, but fr, i loved this ending. it made me sad seeing the end of the book, knowing it's over and i will no longer be in Virginia and Grayson,'s world 😢
but other than that, yes. the ending was fire 5/5
overall, i loved this book. i'd recommend it to ANYONE of ANY AGE. yes.
now, i need to get back to reading more for Junevile.
☆ 5 ☆
Q : what is Junevile?
A : Junevile is a tradition where i only read Juvenile books in the month of June, because sometimes i need a break from the YA books...
(yes, i am doing Junevile in July. but shh don't tell anyone)
«---------------------------------------------»
plot : 5/5
characters : 6/5
pacing : 5/5
romance : 5/5
ending : 5/5
overall : 5/5
how long it took me : 3 hours 💪💪💪
enjoyment : 7/5
«--------------------------------------------»
i LOVE Juvenile romance. it's genuinely SO good. so that's why i love Junevile, because i get to read all the J-romance i could ever desire.
and i freaking LOVED Confessions From the Group Chat. it's SO GOOD. a must read.
enough. let's just get into the review. as always, spoilers are marked with this emoji 📍
the plot : 13 year old Virginia's life is good. she helps out at the library on Wednesdays and Mondays after school. she has 3 best friends who she runs a review blog with. and Virginia has a crush on Grayson, the boy who just quit football for reasons unknown to everyone. but then everything begins to fall apart. her only friends turn out to be fake and mean. Grayson seems uninterested in Virginia. so Virginia decides to text her text-door-neighbour—your phone number but you go up or down one on the last digit of your number. risky? yeah. but Virginia has no one else to talk to.
GENIUS PLOT. SO INTERESTING. I LOVE IT. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 5/5
characters : the characters in this book were phenomenal ✨️👏
Virginia : she's a reader girlie like me!!! love her. she's an absolute divaaaa
Knight Errant : he's so kind and thoughtful to Virginia and probably everyone ever. i love him aww
Mary Heather : SHE WAS PORTRAYED SO WELL MY HATRED FOR HER WAS UNMATCHED
Kat : SAME AS MARY HEATHER, SHE WAS WRITTEN SO WELL
Jess : i like Jess. i guess.📍if i were Virginia, i wouldn't have been friends with her again. she didn't stand up for you when you needed someone to. and she was involved. nope nope nope.
overall, the characters were SO GOOD OMG LOVEEE 6/5
pacing : the pacing was done so well. it wasn't too rushed but it wasn't too slow either. 5/5
📍romance : this type of slow-burn romance is what i love. not too slow, but perfectly paced. it wasn't dragged on for so long, like some books, but it was realistic and i loved it. 5/5
📍ending : SLAY YES VIRGINIA AND GRAYSON I SEE YOU YESSSSSSS FINALLY OMG I HAVE WAITED EONS FOR THE KISS AND DATING PLEASE OMGGGGG
no, but fr, i loved this ending. it made me sad seeing the end of the book, knowing it's over and i will no longer be in Virginia and Grayson,'s world 😢
but other than that, yes. the ending was fire 5/5
overall, i loved this book. i'd recommend it to ANYONE of ANY AGE. yes.
now, i need to get back to reading more for Junevile.
☆ 5 ☆
October 31, 2025
Despite being 8th graders, Virginia and her three best friends maintain a popular online presence, publishing a blog that reviews businesses in their small town of Deer Hill. Mary Beth and Kat are the queen bees and pressure Virginia into exchanging catty comments about classmates. When the foursome has a dramatic squabble, the mean girls share all of Virginia's toxic posts in a new blog called Deer Hill Dirt. Her fall from popularity is abrupt and traumatic, but there’s two bright spots. Virginia’s crush on a shy boy named Grayson blossoms into a starter romance and she makes a new on-line friend through an app called Text-Door Neighbor. Spoiler alert: they turn out to be the same guy. This book leans into the classic The Shop Around the Corner / You’ve Got Mail trope, with the kids’ anonymous texting allowing them to connect while also interacting in real life, a secret the readers work out long before the characters catch on. The main character tells her story using first-person voice, supplemented by facsimiles of her cringeworthy (now public) posts and the private message exchanges between “Knight” (Grayson’s online alias) and “Cardinal” (Virginia). The story weaves in some sound advice about online safety and surviving a social media backlash, with Virginia’s parents insisting on chatting IRL with Knight’s parents and her older sister stepping up with support. Meadows sensitively captures Virginia's mortification over her past behavior and the isolation she faces when she loses all her social capital. Watching the two tweens slowly fall for each other as they open up about their hobbies (writing for him and weaving for her) was genuinely sweet, and the single kiss at the end felt believable and perfectly pitched for a middle school romance. Characters mostly cue as white in descriptions and in the adorable cover art. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
January 9, 2026
I enjoyed Meadow's "Bye Forever, I Guess" that when I saw she was publishing "Confessions from the Group Chat", I immediately pre-ordered. It definitely did not disappoint!
The fact that this felt as relatable as it did to me, as an adult reading middle grade who didn't grow up with the relationship kids have with cell phones nowadays, shows just how well this was written. It goes to show that some aspects of life transcend generations.
I legitimately almost cried because my heart broke for Virginia and all she was going through. Being betrayed by people you called friends is something I wish no one ever has to go through. She handled everything wonderfully with the help of Victoria (her sister) and her parents, but that's not always how things would play out. I definitely wouldn't have handled it quite as well both back when I was in middle school and now.
I will never advocate for texting your "text-door neighbor" though. It is extremely unsafe. It works well in these fictional worlds when they serve a purpose, but with how tech-savvy people are nowadays, and how much information & data one can gather from a simple text or photo... please don't do it.
Some aspects were predictable, but again, I'm an adult reading middle grade. It's not hard to figure out where certain storylines are going. However, as with "Bye Forever, I Guess", it made it more enjoyable being able to settle into the journey to those predictable moments.
I highly recommend this to everyone, children and parents alike. Especially with how easily nowadays this could happen to children, I believe this could be a lesson of warning, but also on how to handle it if a similar situation occurs in your own life.
The fact that this felt as relatable as it did to me, as an adult reading middle grade who didn't grow up with the relationship kids have with cell phones nowadays, shows just how well this was written. It goes to show that some aspects of life transcend generations.
I legitimately almost cried because my heart broke for Virginia and all she was going through. Being betrayed by people you called friends is something I wish no one ever has to go through. She handled everything wonderfully with the help of Victoria (her sister) and her parents, but that's not always how things would play out. I definitely wouldn't have handled it quite as well both back when I was in middle school and now.
I will never advocate for texting your "text-door neighbor" though. It is extremely unsafe. It works well in these fictional worlds when they serve a purpose, but with how tech-savvy people are nowadays, and how much information & data one can gather from a simple text or photo... please don't do it.
Some aspects were predictable, but again, I'm an adult reading middle grade. It's not hard to figure out where certain storylines are going. However, as with "Bye Forever, I Guess", it made it more enjoyable being able to settle into the journey to those predictable moments.
I highly recommend this to everyone, children and parents alike. Especially with how easily nowadays this could happen to children, I believe this could be a lesson of warning, but also on how to handle it if a similar situation occurs in your own life.
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