I really enjoyed Missing Clarissa by the author (that book got 4 stars), but that enjoyment didn't follow through into The Other Lola.

I felt like there were good aspects to the book, but found the characters fully unlikeable. I almost stopped reading multiple times, and had to power through.

The Other Lola by Ripley Jones is a gripping YA thriller that masterfully blends mystery, family drama, and identity. When Lola, a teen investigator, finds herself entangled in a missing person case that hits too close to home, secrets unravel at every turn. The novel’s sharp writing and fast-paced plot keep readers on edge, while its exploration of sisterhood and self-discovery adds emotional depth. With unexpected twists and compelling characters, *The Other Lola* is a must-read for fans of suspenseful coming-of-age stories.

Generally I would think the first book does better than its sequel but I will say this book had its moments that left me thinking.
I was happy to dive back into the world of Cam and Blair. These two cracked an old case that no one else could, with danger far closer to them than they could’ve imagined. Now the possible case and danger was brought to them. For the life of me, I waffled throughout the book on my opinions of the returned Lola. Is she really who she says she is or is the real Lola out there? I suppose that’s half the fun.
Having Mattie as a new character tagging along with Cam and Blair on this was fun and gave it some new energy. There were definitely loads of emotional baggage to unpack after book 1 and I felt this explored the aftermath sufficiently. It was overall a quick read and I really wanted to get an answer about what happened to Lola. Among thrillers/mysteries, I wouldn’t say it was the best but it definitely was an enjoyable read with two realistically crafted teens helming yet another case.

This one was interesting but I found myself bored some of the time- so maybe it just wasn’t for me at this moment! I still enjoyed the mystery of who Lola actually was and would recommend it if you’re looking for a fast paced book with lots of twists and turns!

I enjoyed reading Missing Clarissa, so I jumped at the chance to review the sequel.

Cam and Blair vowed never to get involved in any more missing-girl stories after they solved their hometown’s legendary case in a podcast for class. That is, until Mattie Brosillard comes knocking on their door begging for help. Her sister disappeared five years ago without a trace. Now she’s back, but Mattie is convinced the girl is an imposter. The dynamic duo jumps back into detective mode to find answers, but the stakes are even higher than before.

It was fun to spend more time with Cam and Blair again. They were so enjoyable in the first book, and the premise of this one had me intrigued. There were lots of little twists and turns that had me turning pages, and I love the balance of funniness between the characters despite the heavy topic. It was light and refreshing.

Thank you to Ripley Jones, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an electronic copy of the book for an honest review.

I forced myself to finish this. I was hoping it might get better but it just didn’t. It was okay, but nothing like the first one and that was disappointing.. I had high expectations and the book just fell flat in my opinion 🤷🏻‍♀️

⭐️⭐️💫 (2.5)

I was a fan of Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones, so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of The Other Lola.

The topic of missing girls is a serious one, and Jones navigates it with care while making it an intriguing read.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I really appreciated how the author acknowledges the trauma that Cam and Blair’s experiences in the first book caused for them. Cam has night terrors and panic attacks and is not sure what to do about them. Blair has her own fears and feels a lot of pressure to use those experiences for something.

When they encounter a new possible mystery, Blair is eager and excited. Cam is scared and feels like getting involved is a terrible idea. That struck me as so realistic. These are teenage girls with no special training for these situations. It makes sense that they would have really different feelings and unprocessed trauma.

The story includes both Cam and Blair’s perspectives, but it also adds some journal entries from Lola’s journal and a few scenes that follow Mattie. I liked the way that contributed to the feeling of putting the pieces of a mystery together.

The pacing of the story kept me reading. New things kept happening, and I really wanted to know what happened to Lola. I had a theory early on that turned out to be pretty close to the truth, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride as Cam and Blair figured out what happened and faced down the people responsible. I think it was more of a lucky guess than anything.

All in all, this was a tense, fun read. I hope there are more Cam and Blair mysteries to come.

I will not be giving feedback on this title at this time. Unfortunately, I did not finish this book.

This book was so twisty!! I really enjoyed it. It was a great thriller and perfect for spooky fall. I really enjoyed the characters and the storytelling.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. Review previously withheld in solidarity with the St. Martin’s Press reviewer boycott. All opinions are my own. 

I really enjoyed Ripley Jones’ previous book in this series, even if I had mixed feelings about the protagonists. The Other Lola was personally superior for me, mostly because I immediately recognized the case it was riffing on as that of the disappearance of Nicholas Barclay and his “reappearance.” My familiarity with the case initially meant that most of the “twists” were initially underwhelming, including the reveal about what happened to the real Lola, as it mirrored what happened in some fictional depictions. However, “Lola” herself won me over throughout the book, especially the reveal of how she truly did care for Mattie in her own way, coming through for her in the real Lola’s stead. 

Cam and Blair were much more interesting this time around, While I still don’t feel that they were that fleshed out in their own right, I enjoyed getting insight into the negative and positive ways that their previous case impacted them, especially in terms of the response from the community. 

This was another solid entry in the series, and I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy YA thrillers.

As a fan of Ripley Jones's previous novel, Missing Clarissa, I was eager to dive into The Other Lola. This sequel follows the story of Blair Brosillis, a young woman grappling with the disappearance of her friend Lola and the secrets that lie buried within her family's past.

Jones expertly weaves a suspenseful and intriguing tale that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The characters are complex and well-developed, each with their own hidden agendas and motivations. The setting of Brisbane, Australia, adds a unique and atmospheric touch to the story.

A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for granting my access to The Other Lola by Ripley Jones. This is a compelling read that hooked me from the very first page. The story delves deep into identity, secrets, and the complex dynamics within families. Jones masterfully creates an atmosphere of suspense, weaving in emotional depth that kept me invested in Lola’s journey as she uncovers long-buried truths.

The pacing is well-balanced, with just the right amount of twists to keep the plot moving without feeling overwhelming. The characters are richly developed, and their layers add to the mystery, making the revelations all the more satisfying. While a few plot points were somewhat predictable, the strength of the character development more than compensated for it.

Jones’s writing style is engaging, making it hard to put the book down. You’ll find yourself eager to turn the page and discover what happens next. If you enjoy stories about family secrets, self-discovery, and a touch of mystery, The Other Lola is a solid choice.

The Other Lola by Ripley Jones
.
After solving a legendary missing girl mystery, Cam and Blair have decided no more solving crimes. When freshman Mattie asks them for help, they want to. See Mattie’s sister went missing a year ago and has just returned. Except Mattie says that is NOT Lola.
.
What I liked:
-I loved the whole back and forth of “Is it Lola or an imposter?” I really wanted to know the answer!
-I loved Cam’s relationship with her mom. 💜
-Cam and Blair’s friendship. Even when they don’t communicate well with each other, they still know how to make it right.
.
3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 The mystery was intriguing and I liked the friendships.

Thank you to the author Ripley Brown, publishers Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE OTHER LOLA. All views are mine.

Irene’s always yelling at the news on the rare occasions she watches it when I’m over at Cam’s. “The writers for this season should be fired!” she says. And then she starts talking about the death of irony. p107

I picked this book up because it is the continuation of the main character's story from MISSING CLARISSA, a YA mystery I rather liked. I actually liked the plot of this one more than the first, though both are good reading. Two high school girls become amateur sleuths due to their podcast about a missing girl (book 1). Afterward, they just trying to mop up the mess their unofficial investigation made of their lives, when the younger sibling of another missing girl shows up on their doorstep. The missing sister has returned, but the sibling insists she's a fake, and the girl sleuths can't help but get drawn in (book 2). I couldn't either, I love stories about imposters.

I have a couple of a quibble about the style, but they're the same quibbles I normally take with YA books: too much of the plot gets conferred in dialog, character development can get a little unbalanced, simplistic style that somehow still avoids being minimalistic. These are mostly matters of taste conflicting with conventions of the genre.

I recommend this for fans of YA and YA mysteries or thrillers, girls' coming of age tropes, duologies, and cozy mysteries.

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I love that this book takes on fake news as part of its theme.

2. I don't think they call it "the clap" anymore, but thanks for the advice. p103 I love how the relationships develop! They need to, really, considering how much dialog there is in the book. There need to be strong characters to offset the flimsy plot.

3. I love the repeated "are you doing a podcast?" "No! No podcast!" schtick. It's definitely well-placed and funny!

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. Writing is overly simplistic without approaching minimalism. Not my favorite.

2. There is so much freaking dialog. It's impossible to tether to this story because it vanishes in a cloud of chatter. I'm really getting lost now, currently at 23%, p 69. *edit Found my way once I hit the twist, for some reason!

Rating: 👭🏽👭🏽👭🏽.5 /5 sisters reunited
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Sep 11 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley, NC b
Read this book if you like:
🔍 amateur sleuths
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
👭🏽 teenage girl coming of age
🪞doppelgangers

I like YA that doesn't feel like a teen is writing but it's being written FOR a teen. I know there are great teen writers out there but Ripley Jones is just so good. If you like reading books that make you think about them randomly even after you are done reading, check out The Other Lola.

I LOVE Ripley Jones as an author! Every book is so enthralling, interesting, and full of twists- and this one did not disappoint! If you loved Missing Clarissa I would definitely recommend this one!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!!

Cam and Blair are back to solving mysteries. This time, though, they have learned their lesson. They will not do a podcast and will try to keep the investigation private. Their attempts are in vain though because the town quickly realizes what they are up to.
Opinion
This book is a fabulous second. It has enough differences to make it original and not a copy cat of the first. I love how the first book was a murder but the second dealt with a long lost child returning home. While I can't say much without giving away the plot, I will say that the ending was "get the popcorn ready" good.
Many thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This book was “eh” for me. I really liked the first book Missing Clarissa, but this just felt like more of the same thing with the same characters. You don’t need to read the first one to read this one, but I definitely recommend that one more.

this mystery had me wondering what was going on is mags going crazy or is the girl saying she Lola really a fake. this story had me second guessing myself and that twist had me floored. everyone looks like they know something about what happened the night Lola went missing. I enjoyed listening to this book I ended up finishing it within two days. with that said it not something I would reread not sure how this would feel on a reread for me with that said I'd give it a four star and I recommend it for anyone who like stories of missing people.