I liked the concept of this book, the two main characters, and the mystery. But it just didn't live up to my expectations.

There were minimal podcast elements, and more just talking about the podcast. It would've been much more fun to read if a good portion of the very long chapters were podcast interviews with the characters. Also, I don't know what everyone else thought, but the cover gives the whole murder away. I immediately knew who the killer was because of the cover.

Blair and Cam were great characters and very likable (even when they weren't. I'm looking at you, Cam). Although, the narration was very choppy, constantly switching between both girls, making it slightly confusing. Of course, Blair and Cam had a conflict, but I felt that resolving it was way too rushed at the beginning.

The whole ending of the story was very rushed and was packed with too much drama. Don't get me wrong, I love drama, but when it takes away from the story, it becomes too much. With this being a book about murder, I was expecting that to be something huge, but it was barely even talked about once all was said and done. I also thought the motive for the murder was super weak and lazy. There were much more interesting characters that could have committed the crime.

But did book was very interesting to read, especially as someone who has a love for journalism and podcasts. I recommend it to fans of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and anyone who likes true crime. I wish Sophie and Cam's relationship was more prominent too! A romance subplot would have really added to the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an arc!

Even though im "older" i do enjoy a YA mystery from time to time. I read the "good girls" series and enjoyed it however this one fell a little flat for me. The mystery felt predictable and once I put it down i wasnt really motivated to pick it back up.

If you liked A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, you will like this book. There are a lot of similarities between the two basic plots, but otherwise a lot different as well. It is a dual POV storyline, with obvious character growth. They say in a small town, you know everyone’s secrets. Well, in Cam’s town people have buried their secrets for a long time.

Cam is impulsive, smart and speaks the truth, no matter what. Blair is her best friend, who tends to rein in the chaos that Cam can cause. They need a project for their Journalism class and decide to do a podcast covering the local tragedy that happened a couple decades ago in their small town. It blew up and got national coverage, but the case was never solved. As they investigate, their podcast starts reaching more and more listeners. Will anyone believe two teenage girls? Will they survive stirring up secrets that have been buried for so long?

This was a solid read! I think that the characterization of the different girls was one of the highlights of the book, with the way they were each given unique personalities but didn’t fall into any easy stereotypes. The heart of this story was absolutely the relationships between the characters, and while the mystery was interesting it was was the characters that made this book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

I love a crime podcast almost as much as I love YA mystery so I thought this was going to be a fast 5 stars. It came closer to 3.5 but was still very enjoyable!

I find when it’s stated that a character is “a chaotic mess” upwards of 20 times the character probably isn’t actually causing enough pages to justify this within the plot itself,

That being said it was layered and thoughtful in its approach to sensitive topics. I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to MacMillan books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

I really liked this book. I want to state that from the jump. However, there were a couple things that I didn’t really like and it really brought down the story for me.
I’ll start with the pros:

1: I really liked the discussion around the imbalance between CIS, hetero, white women and indigenous, black and women of colour, trans women and LGBTQ women and femme presenting individuals. I don’t think this is spoken about enough but the truth behind how sensationalized murder/abduction/SA towards pretty, straight women are vs. those of marginalized groups was an important discussion. And the conversation didn’t just happen once. It happened at different points to drive home the message.

2: The character development of Cameron in terms of her obsession with Clarissa was eye opening. It again perpetuated how easy it is to fall into the media and how much people sensationalize the downfall of society-pleasing princesses over marginalized groups. When Cam opens her eyes to this, she starts to come out of her own self-induced Clarissa Coma and see the media for what it is.

Now for the cons:

1: While the development of Cam was the prominent piece of the story, Brooke’s was overlooked. Brooke was similar to Clarissa in a sense where she didn’t feel like she’s’ anything special - they both had boyfriends who didn’t appreciate them and they both had close best friends who were lesbians and who sometimes, cared too much. But Brooke had her own moment of getting away from her emotionally stunted and abusive boyfriend and it was completely glossed over with a blanket statement of “I broke up with him.” It would have been beneficial to SEE her backbone fully form and see her stand up for herself, but this didn’t happen.

2: I find it very hard to swallow that, with discussions as important as the ones I listed above, that there were NO black or indigenous people of colour within this book as MC’s. The one doing the educating for these matters is a 17-year-old white, beautiful, churchgoing, closeted lesbian. Cam, who I believe is part hispanic, is the only MC who is not from white suburbia and that doesn’t sit well. It makes it feel like these discussions are easier to swallow if they come from a white person rather than someone who is actually affected by this narrative. The “woke white woman,” thing has been done to death.

3: The self-deprecating that Brooke does is easily relatable and identifiable at first. However, when she’s still doing it 70% into the book, it gets to be a bit much. Again, as I said earlier, Brooke’s character growth was severely looked over and it’s a shame.

Overall, a middle of the road read. Enjoyable plot, a bit predictable but the “aha!” moment was great. I loved the banter between the girls and I loved the realness of the podcast creation. I just wish I loved the book and I didn’t.

This book was interesting and kept me reading. It was very similar to a good girls guide to murder, but it's not the first time I've read a very similar book to another do in not upset about that. The main character Cam comes across as very unlikable but I think that's the point lol

I know this book is branded as something that people who enjoyed A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will like but if I’m being honest this is a straight up knockoff of Holly Jackson’s series.

Cam and Blair have been best friends for years so it’s only natural that they partner up for their journalism classes semester long project. Despite warnings from teachers and family the girls decide to focus on the disappearance of local girl Clarissa Campbell which occurred twenty years prior. They document their findings via podcast and in the process uncover the town of Oreville’s secrets. This was meant to be school project…but what happens if they find the killer?

Let me start off by saying I did like parts of this book. I was engaged and finished the book without having to force myself to read through boring bits. For the intended YA audience this will probably be a hit, it’s fast paced and generally easy reading. HOWEVER, there are definitely a few issues.

Probably my biggest problem with this book was the writing itself. First, the author feels the need to constantly comment on people’s race. Don’t get me wrong I love diverse reads but something about the way the author includes diversity in this book just rubbed me the wrong way. Every time a character is introduced the first thing mentioned about them is their skin colour. Yes, skin colour is something very visible and important when describing a character’s appearance but the way it was done made me feel like that was all the author wanted us to know about each character. Was not a fan of that.

Then there was the main character Cam. God, she was annoying. I believe this was the authors intention and kudos her because she succeeded. I found Cam obnoxious, self-absorbed, and arrogant. I just could not get onboard with the suggestion that her traits were “quirky”.

The writing style was a bit confusing, and I often found myself having to re-read to try and understand what was being said. The way the story jumped back and forth between Blair and Cam’s perspective did not help with this. I also felt there were a lot of gaps in the plot. It felt as though the author wanted you to just connect the dots on your own, however in my opinion more explanation was needed.

The bones of this book are strong but I’m not sure about the execution.

I didn't mind this book but it felt like the author's first, it was a little rough in parts then tried to hard in others. It reminded me a lot of Good girl's guide to murder.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I liked this one a lot! Quick, easy read with good pacing and enjoyable, relatable characters! While the ending was a little predictable it was still very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend.

This is another book I really wanted to love. It had a great premise and so much potential… but I absolutely despised the two main characters. Blair and Cam were too much. Cam especially. They were so unlikable that it made the book a chore to read.

They start a podcast about a cold case of a missing woman in their town. The girls get into so much trouble and really make a mess out of the situation. Cam doesn’t think at all and is so impulsive that her actions were ridiculous. I also figured out who killed Clarissa as soon as they were introduced.

The mom Irene is the only likable character in my opinion, but even she seemed like an over the top Caricature of a mother.

I just really didn’t like this book. I know it’s based in YA and I LOVE YA. I loved Sadie (a book by a different author told in podcast format that this book is being compared to), but this one was not very good.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The concept behind the novel with two students creating their own true crime podcast is one that is super engaging and one I like and I know my students would love. I think the characters as two very different personalities would be ones my students would like. I am sure the students would enjoy the novel.

The one area that the novel feel short for me was that there was so much going on with the romance subplot that it overshadowed part of the investigation and made a portion of the novel seem very muddled and then the solution at the end seemed to come quickly without a lot of buildup.

Ripley Jones is an absolutely phenomenal author, and I am very glad I was given the chance to read an ARC version of this book. Missing Clarissa, at first, seems just like the plethora of YA murder mystery novels that have become popular the past few years - a picture-perfect girl from a small town goes missing, the case lays dormant and unsolved for years, only to be picked up for fun by a pair of teenagers who solve the mystery the adults never wanted to solve. However, the story goes much deeper than that, and it doesn't become apparent how many underlying themes are present until towards the end of the book. In addition to being a fun, entertaining read, this book is a thoughtful reflection on society and the many institutions that comprise our criminal justice system.
Cam and Blair, two best friends, decide to dig into the 20-year old cold case on Clarissa Campbell, a teenage girl who disappeared from their small town on the Olympic Peninsula in the late 1990s; they pick the case up for a journalism class project, and along the way become invested in finding justice for the long-missing Clarissa. What justice means, exactly, they aren't sure of at first. Initially, they think it means finding the girl they think ran away, but it quickly turns into a mission to solve her murder and bring to light the string of crimes that led to Clarissa's death and a cover-up that prevented closure for Clarissa's friends and family.
Along the way, Blair and Cam both grow a lot - primarily Cam, though, who reminds me a lot of myself in high school: not-so-secretly queer, a major know-it-all nerd, and probably neurodivergent (the ADHD in me related heavily to Cam's struggles with navigating people and her need to be right the whole book. Also- her gay panic when a cute classmate flirts with her? INCREDIBLE). And as someone who grew up living in Washington, and spent a few years living on the Olympic Peninsula, it was really heartwarming to see the way Jones depicted the area I consider my home. I'd also like to call attention the the ending acknowledgement, and how much I appreciate the information about the appropriation of indigenous cultures in Washington, as well as the discussions of systemic racism, the corruption of the prison system, and erasure of indigenous voices when appropriating indigenous cultures.
Overall, Missing Clarissa was an extremely well-written book with bright, vibrant characters, and thoughtful approach to social issues, and a unique approach to the YA murder mystery genre. Funny, heartwarming, suspenseful, and smart. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones was a thrilling mystery book with a shocking twist for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Truly Devious! The plot was well paced and hard to put down.

I enjoyed the podcast angle of the story, but I wish the author gave us even more on the making of it. I thought Cam was a very well developed character. I had a good sense of who she was and I thought her friendship with Blair was lovely. They balanced each other out well.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

This was such a good thriller! It kept me guessing and intrigued the whole time! The characters were likable and well developed. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

For fans of A Good Girls Guide to Murder and Sadie, Missing Clarissa is your next book choice. In this one, two high school best friends, Blair and Cam, decide to record a podcast for their journalism class. The topic? An unsolved mystery in their very small town: what happened to Clarissa? Clarissa had been a pretty, blonde cheerleader who vanished without a trace in 1999. There were many theories about what happened, but the case was never solved and a body was never found. Could Clarissa be out there somewhere? And if not, where is she? The girls start digging up old news stories about the case and interviewing key players, but then strange things start happening. Who is it that doesn't want this case solved? A page-turner for sure.

This book was good. At first it felt a little too similar to AGGGTM, but it quickly changed to its own path. The mystery kept me guessing the entire book. I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics(although I wish Blair was a little more confident!). It was a quick read that I didn’t want to put down, and fully enjoyed.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this.

I am not impressed. Just really not. The feeling I have after reading this book is nothing, and that's just underwhelming.

Let me lay out the 5 main reasons why you should not read.

1- Unoriginal. This book has a predictable plot with a predictable ending. It was just waaaay too predictable. And that isn't good in a murder plot, because then there is no suspense (unless it is told from the murderer's perspective.) All the characters were pretty stereotypical, but not in a fun way like One of Us is Lying. It was in a boring and overused way.

2- Overly Political. Why do people read? Most of the time it's for entertainment, to escape reality. I felt like this book made that impossible. I don't mind when authors incorporate some of their beliefs into their work, on some level it's inevitable and I think it can further the plot and make their work feel more authentic. I just feel like the author of Missing Clarissa would have been better off writing a book on their political opinions. The book has frequent references to ACAB, Antifa, how horrible cops are, 'rich white men', LQBTQ rights, etc. Fine if it had been a political book- but it wasn't. The only politics I like to read in my fiction books are fae politics.

3- Unrealistic. I like to feel like the murder story I'm reading could happen to me. Just me that feels that way? Oh well. Anyway, the problem is that the 'evidence' would never stand up in court and the way that the whole confrontation went down was super rushed and absurd. Aside from that, the author described the town in the beginning as a super conservative and homophobic little pocket of people. They didn't hyperfocus on this point, but the hints were there. However, I counted 7 LGBTQ characters in all. I don't mind that, except for it doesn't make any sense. I live in the 5th biggest city in the US, Phoenix, and I don't even know that many members of the LGBTQ community. Not to mention that statistically, in a town with like 2000 people, that is unlikely.

4- Obsession Over Race. Let me tell you, during the first half of the book, I thought I was going to go insane. I read "Everybody loves a dead white girl." way too many times. Not only that, but the author literally describes e v e r y o n e s skin color. I don't need to know the race of every person in the mc's journalism class. The first thing that you describe about a book character shouldn't be their skin color.

5- Writing Style. I really felt like I was reading one of those free, self-published books on Amazon Kindle. It was poor writing. No picture painting, no imagery. I like when authors are so vivid I can smell where I am. On top of that, the writing was a bit choppy, and not quite at that next level, you know? Not at that, 'I write for a living' level.

No offense to the author because hey- they put themselves out there. But as a reader, I would have to encourage others not to read this book as it was a waste. Find better quality books- and read them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Cam and Blaire are best friends that decide to tackle the missing person case from 1999 in their hometown. Popular girl Clarissa had gone missing after a party and the girls decide for their journalism class to do a podcast about it. After that, things rapidly fall apart.

My problem with this book is that it was inconsistent. Cam was hard to like and extremely selfish. She was impulsive and for someone that was billed as being incredibly smart, she did a lot of truly stupid things. She thought she was always right and could do whatever she please and damn the consequences. At times, it made the book hard to read. She wound up hurting everyone around her and never had to pay for it. Blair was a decent character with more heart but I felt her narrative got pushed aside.

I thought the mystery of this book was fairly transparent. I figured out very early on who the bad guy was. I found the writing style to be choppy and hard to follow at times.