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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
Published October 21, 2025
7 people are currently reading
3236 people want to read
About the author
Jodi Meadows
34 books4,714 followersI write books. I snuggle cats. I drink coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 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. 🫂
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March 14, 2025Get in, loser, we have a cover! https://jodimeadows.substack.com/p/co...
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.
September 1, 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
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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...
July 30, 2025
Wow! This was so endearing!! I hadn’t expected to get hooked on middle school drama and keep flipping the pages. Now this is a short read at 272 pages but a lot of that is formatting of text exchanges so don’t let the length put you off from getting it for your middle grade reader.
The plot and details are so relevant to the age and there is a lot to be learned from the coming of age book. It teachers our young readers how much words can hurt as well as the challenges of social media. It explores what a friendship really is, a budding age appropriate romance, judging a book by its cover and familiar relationships. A little bit of everything to get a reader engaged.
This is one I’m going to highly suggest for parents and teachers to have in their personal libraries.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Holiday House through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books
⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.
The plot and details are so relevant to the age and there is a lot to be learned from the coming of age book. It teachers our young readers how much words can hurt as well as the challenges of social media. It explores what a friendship really is, a budding age appropriate romance, judging a book by its cover and familiar relationships. A little bit of everything to get a reader engaged.
This is one I’m going to highly suggest for parents and teachers to have in their personal libraries.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Holiday House through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system for Middle Grade and children’s books
⭐️ Significant problems and would never recommend to the audience.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea but may have some appeal.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ an ok book which I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend but it has some value for young readers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! I would recommend for the age or reading level appropriate for the book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Would recommend highly, especially to school programs as a wide spread reading opportunity.
August 2, 2025
Read a free ARC on NetGalley.
Virginia, Jess, Kat and Mary Heather are friends. Or, at least, Virginia believes they are. After Kat makes fun of Virginia for her crush on the no longer popular boy Grayson, Virginia has had enough. She stands up to Kat and loses her friend group. To make matters worse, Kat and Mary Heather set up an internet account where they post mean texts Virginia has written in their group chat about some of her classmates. These are edited so that the students believe Virginia is the only one saying these things, when all of the girls in the group chat have said mean things about the other kids. Now no one wants to speak to Virginia so she tries to contact her “text door neighbor” - a trend where you send an anonymous text to a number one digit off your own number. Luckily, a boy her age who identifies as “Knight Errant” befriends her on the phone. He and her older sister Victoria support her through her former friends’ continued cyber bullying. Virginia learns that she must confront her bullies, accept the consequences of the mean things she said and become a better person than she was.
Virginia experiences a lot of character development. Her relationship with her older sister was very sweet. Internet safety, parental monitoring of teens interactions online and the dangers of cyber bulling are portrayed well, not overly preachy or unrealistic. I think my students will enjoy this book.
Virginia, Jess, Kat and Mary Heather are friends. Or, at least, Virginia believes they are. After Kat makes fun of Virginia for her crush on the no longer popular boy Grayson, Virginia has had enough. She stands up to Kat and loses her friend group. To make matters worse, Kat and Mary Heather set up an internet account where they post mean texts Virginia has written in their group chat about some of her classmates. These are edited so that the students believe Virginia is the only one saying these things, when all of the girls in the group chat have said mean things about the other kids. Now no one wants to speak to Virginia so she tries to contact her “text door neighbor” - a trend where you send an anonymous text to a number one digit off your own number. Luckily, a boy her age who identifies as “Knight Errant” befriends her on the phone. He and her older sister Victoria support her through her former friends’ continued cyber bullying. Virginia learns that she must confront her bullies, accept the consequences of the mean things she said and become a better person than she was.
Virginia experiences a lot of character development. Her relationship with her older sister was very sweet. Internet safety, parental monitoring of teens interactions online and the dangers of cyber bulling are portrayed well, not overly preachy or unrealistic. I think my students will enjoy this book.
November 23, 2025
Virginia Vaughn is very concerned with her place on the social ladder, and her friends don't really know about her secret love of shelving books at the local library or her passion for weaving because they don't really care. Her friend group publishes the Four Takes on Downtown Deer Hill every week and each group member has a specific role in their critique of businesses. One member of the group is very edgy, however, and when Virginia stands up for herself, for once, one of the group stays silent and one sides with the edgy member. Just like that, Virginia is out. Worse, members begin to publish excerpts from their private group chats, making Virginia a pariah at school. Just when it seems life couldn't be worse, Virginia's burgeoning friendship with Grayson, another school outcast, is rocked by publication of group chats. Virginia owns her spite publicly, and following her older sister's advice, refrains from retaliating in kind. This is a relatable and engaging story that will send readers through every emotion possible to answer the burning question--who does Virginia really want to be?
October 25, 2025
Eighth grader Virginia Vaughn is like a lot of us in middle school. Rather insecure about her place in her popular friend group, she hides parts of her identity and goes along with whatever the rest of them want. This includes making cruel comments about classmates in their group texts. But when a disagreement among the girls escalates and she's kicked out of the group, things get even worse. Several of her comments are posted publicly, and she is anathema to the rest of her classmates. Her older sister, Victoria, provides unexpected support and advice. The only other solace she finds is through her conversations with a boy she's recently started texting with. But even that budding relationship is threatened when even more posts are published. Virginia is a well-drawn character, well meaning, fearful, and trying to navigate complicated friend relationships. Many readers will see parts of themselves in her and the mistakes she makes while also applauding her efforts to do better. This one--a cautionary tale about social media and Mean Girls-- is a 3.5 for me.
December 7, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for the ARC!
This was such a cute read! It really delved into more of serious topics that can have both middle grade and adults can relate to. The characters felt real and not to overly dramatic (though lets be honest, we all are pretty cringey around that age). The way the situations are tackled with such care and level headedness.
It also bring in the fears people have around that age of trying to fit in with popular kids, the need and want to be 'someone' and how doing so can indeed have consequences if done dishonestly and with the intent of bringing others down. It also brings up the fact that even if you think something is wrong and you do it in 'secret' it will be found out, but if you do your best to prove you're good, there will always be those there to support you.
Overall a fun and cute story with a lot of wonderful lessons for those in middle grade reading!
This was such a cute read! It really delved into more of serious topics that can have both middle grade and adults can relate to. The characters felt real and not to overly dramatic (though lets be honest, we all are pretty cringey around that age). The way the situations are tackled with such care and level headedness.
It also bring in the fears people have around that age of trying to fit in with popular kids, the need and want to be 'someone' and how doing so can indeed have consequences if done dishonestly and with the intent of bringing others down. It also brings up the fact that even if you think something is wrong and you do it in 'secret' it will be found out, but if you do your best to prove you're good, there will always be those there to support you.
Overall a fun and cute story with a lot of wonderful lessons for those in middle grade reading!
July 24, 2025
@unicornwarlord has done it again! Thank you Jodi Meadows, @holidayhousebks, @netgalley for an early read of Confessions From the Group Chat that comes out October 21st. I loved this story. I loved that it showed the meaning of true friendships. The reality that it is ok to walk away from someone that does not have your best interests in mind. That the bully never wins, and don’t be afraid of that bully. And I loved that it showed you never know what someone is really going through, and that we all have struggles. This story is warm, inviting, and tugged on the heart strings. I would recommend this to anyone that has a young one going through a rough patch at school. To anyone that has a young reader that loves to read and loves a good book. Definitely 5 Stars in my eyes.
October 27, 2025
I adored Bye Forever, I Guess so I think any MG book by Jodi Meadows was going to not live up to that in my mind no matter what. I really like that this is in the same universe and I think the book really excels in demonstrating what it's like to be a part of toxic friendships. I also like that Virginia was a flawed character, because listen we all talk shit in our group chats even if we shouldn't and even if we feel weird about it and I like that the book really delves into that. I just think that the "shop around the corner" bit doesn't work as well since it was already used in BFIG and I wasn't as invested this time with that plot as I was in the first book. But I always appreciate Jodi's writing and the way she advocates for online independence while making sure kids are being safe.
August 20, 2025
Confessions From the Group Chat is a sweet book about friendship, loyalty and the consequences of gossip and bullying. Virginia is a thirteen year old middle school student trying to fit in. When she gets into a verbal fight with the queen mean girl, every unkind thing she had ever said in their group chat is published on social media. She finds herself ostracized from almost the entire school. An unexpected text from a stranger starts her on a journey of self-discovery. Confessions has all of the feels: angst, humor, romance. It is a squeaky clean read appropriate for any grade.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
I received a free advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
September 17, 2025
What a fabulous book to show kids the dangers of posting online and even in group chats! Those things can always be screenshotted and live on forever on the internet. I absolutely loved this take in teaching this lesson. The texting format is a big hit with students so I'm certain many of them will enjoy this book! The romance was also cute and not forced at all. In reality would they end up together? Would he forgive her? Probably not, but it's a book and it's a rom com so of course they do! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy, it was a blast!
September 18, 2025
Confessions from the Group Chat follows Virginia as she navigates a fallout with her group of friends and the unexpected consequences of her actions. I absolutely adored Bye Forever, I Guess, and I feel like this book suffered a little bit for being in that one’s shadow, as I didn’t find the characters to be as endearing, and felt as though it was following similar “secret identity” tropes throughout most of the book. However, once it diverged away from this about 70% of the way through, I felt like it really started to shine. The rest of the book is in no way bad and does contain a lot of important messages for its target audience. Still definitely a worthwhile read regardless.
August 14, 2025
Virginia's friends aren't always nice, but they're her friends. Until the day they turn on her and start posting her mean texts from the group chat to a public message board. She is mortified--and ashamed of herself for having joined in their meanness--but there is nothing she can do to make it better. Her only solace is her anonymous text-based friendship with a boy her age. And then even that goes wrong--or at least very weird.
Relatable middle-school drama.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Relatable middle-school drama.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2025
4.5 ⭐ - I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The cover really caught my interest and I'm thankful I was approved to read this ARC! I loved the characters. I think Virginia's sister was my favorite. Based on how Virginia described Victoria at the start, I thought she was going to be rude and awful, but she was the complete opposite. The only thing I didn't like was the MG romance, because it doesn't hit the same as YA. I think it would have been better if Virginia and Grayson stayed (best) friends.
The cover really caught my interest and I'm thankful I was approved to read this ARC! I loved the characters. I think Virginia's sister was my favorite. Based on how Virginia described Victoria at the start, I thought she was going to be rude and awful, but she was the complete opposite. The only thing I didn't like was the MG romance, because it doesn't hit the same as YA. I think it would have been better if Virginia and Grayson stayed (best) friends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2025
When Virginia's life is turned upside down by her ex-friends, she looks for comfort from her "text-door neighbor". As she navigates the backlash from a social media scandal and realizes that what's in the group chat doesn't always stay in the group chat, she finds she has more support than she imagined.
This middle grade romance is sweet and everything I was hoping for. I didn't think Meadows could top Bye Forever, I Guess, but I think she may have done it!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
This middle grade romance is sweet and everything I was hoping for. I didn't think Meadows could top Bye Forever, I Guess, but I think she may have done it!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!
September 4, 2025
Why is everything Jodi Meadows writes so charming? I don’t read a ton of midgrade, but the writing on these doesn't make you feel like they are only for kids. There's something about them that makes them relatable even though the characters are only 13.
Took me a minute to get past the second-hand embarrassment from the first bit, but once the MC was away from her toxic friends, I loved her.
Recommended.
Took me a minute to get past the second-hand embarrassment from the first bit, but once the MC was away from her toxic friends, I loved her.
Recommended.
November 6, 2025
This is a great middle grade novel with a lot of important lessons. In a really authentic way, the main character of this book learns about internet safety, the dangers of social media, how to stand up to bullies and how to apologize when you are wrong. I think this captures the mean girl saga so many of us suffered from balanced with the sweetness of first crushes and budding relationships.
This is a nice clean read you can recommend to any realistic fiction lovers.
This is a nice clean read you can recommend to any realistic fiction lovers.
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