Laila and Lucy are back for another investigation! This time, they are going undercover on a kids' holiday baking show to help their friend Jaden clear his dad's name after he was falsely accused of stealing jewels. Laila is going to be Jaden's co-host, while Lucy is supposed to be her assistant. However, once they get there, they realize that they are both going to be in roles they are not comfortable with. On top of everything else, their friendship hasn't been as strong since Lucy has been working with famous journalist Ariella.

This was another cute installment in this series! We still have the same fun protagonists, and the author did such a good job having them work through their problems healthily. Just like the last one, I did find the whodunnit obvious, but again, I am an adult, and kids might not see it coming as much. I look forward to seeing what adventures await Laila and Lucy next!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a cute sequel! I loved seeing Lucy a little out of her element doing all the baking, and the whole story was really sweet. I wish there'd been more of a resolution with some of the smaller subplots, but maybe that leaves it open for a book 3?

Where do I even start?! What a fun book. I love all the references to the holidays. The story takes place near Christmas, and Laila and Lucy reminisce about their own treasured holiday traditions: watching holiday-themed murder mysteries and enjoying delicious baked treats. Can’t beat that! The movie descriptions are fabulous. They have that over-the-top holiday movie vibe. Definitely something I’d watch with a cup of hot cocoa and a holiday cookie.

One of the really sweet, subtle things about the book is the way that it explores loneliness. I remember being Laila’s age and having the loneliest time of my life, even though I was constantly surrounded by people. Laila notices her loneliness and struggles to voice her feelings. As she’s working through this, she notices loneliness in others around her, and that helps her see people in a new way. Some characters she viewed as arrogant or aloof actually turn out to be shy and lonely themselves, and recognizing that helps Laila connect with them.

I also enjoyed the mystery element to the book. The girls race to find missing diamonds and uncover the identity of the thief before police charge a dear friend’s dad with the crime. Putting the baking show and the mystery together worked really well, as both eliminate suspects within a specific timeline. And the baking show added deadlines and pressure to the quest.

This book was an absolute joy to read. I think middle grade readers interested in mysteries or anyone who loves baking will want to check this one out.

I was so excited to get my hands on book 2 as The Cookie Crumbles was one of my fav recent reads! This one did not disappoint! It's the kind of mystery that engages middle grade readers both young and old. And... the touches of murder mystery movies and baking competition shows add a layer of intrigue for many readers. I'd love to spend a little time wandering around the setting that these authors created, and tasting the food in the competition as well! Lol. Definitely a fun read!

In THEIR JUST DESSERTS Laila & Lucy put their mystery solving skills to the test again. After their friend Jaden’s dad is falsely accused of stealing diamonds from the set of a holiday baking show, the duo joins the Holly Jolly Baking Show as a host and a contestant to find the true culprit. Told from alternating points of view, food, friendship, and festive reality TV collide in this follow-up to THE COOKIE CRUMBLES as Laila and Lucy put their investigative skills and their baking talent to the test.

The reality show provides a perfect backdrop for continuing the cooking competition theme from the first book while providing a new challenge for Laila and Lucy and a fresh cast of characters for them to interact with. In addition to the typical middle school friendship ups and downs, some unique challenges arising from the notoriety Laila and Lucy achieved when solving their first crime have put a strain on their friendship and this is reflected in how they approach this new situation. The standard reality show confessional components and social media tie ins add depth to the story, which unfolds with lots of twists and turns and some tasty confections. Fans of baking and cozy mysteries will gobble this one up.

My middle schooler (11yo) loved this next expansion of cooking mysteries. While the plot is similar to the first book, it was quite an enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC e-read.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC to review.

This was an interesting story that incorporates a reality tv show with a mystery. I thought pacing was a bit slow, with the big reveal happening a bit abruptly at the end of the book. It would probably be helpful if I had read the previous story since it seems like there is a lot of backstory with the main characters that would help understand the dynamics better. There were good lessons about friendships and how they change as you grow up, but true friends will always be there for you.

I really enjoyed this sequel to The Cookie Crumbles! I love Laila and Lucy, and it was fun to follow them on another baking adventure where they have to navigate how to hang on to their close friendship during changing circumstances for both of them, while also trying to solve a mystery on the set of a live kids' baking competition. Laila, the baking expert, is pulled into being a commentator, while Lucy, a budding journalist and very much not a baking expert, gets roped into being a contestant. I think my kid patrons will love the combination of mystery and friendship story, with a very fun TV baking competition setting!

For middle grade readers, this book is amazing. For middle aged readers (or just me, a middle aged reader), this book is fine. I will be honest a lot of the same plot beats from the previous book happen in this one too. Despite being bffs, the girlies do be constantly fighting. And I know to some degree that’s what being 13 is like but at 33 I just want these girls to communicate.

I liked that this was much more like Bake Off though, right down to the Paul Hollywood knock off Jack “Green Eyes” Miami, that one got me, I actually laughed. And I thought that episode transcripts and confessionals added a little something extra. Those parts were pretty funny because I feel like Laila and Lucy are so self serious in their respective chapters and then you cut to the episode transcripts and they’re just goofy 13 year old girls. Good stuff.

Aside from that, it was frustrating to clock the culprit immediately and then have Lucy and Laila get mad at each other on and off and wildly add people to their suspect list for 200 pages straight. I’m sure this is perfect for younger readers, however if there are going to be more books in the series this is where I’m getting off.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Last summer, best friends Lucy and Laila were unexpectedly pivotal in the solving of a crime during a high profile baking contest. Since then, however, the girls’ friendship has been challenged by both time and energy as the two pursue their individual dreams. The winter holidays are nearly upon them, and Laila’s friend Jaden has shocking news: he believes that his Papa has been framed for theft. Finding themselves in the middle of a crime scene once again, Lucy and Laila agree to help uncover the identity of the real thief amidst the chaos and uncertainty of yet another baking adventure. This novel begins a few months after the first story ends and features the two protagonists from the initial installment. Readers would benefit from understanding the first story before experiencing this one, especially as only select details from the previous mystery are included in this narrative. Told in alternating points of view between Lucy and Laila as well as through a blend of journal entries and active storytelling, the narrative offers readers insight into each character’s motivations and emotions as the story unfolds. Brief chapters and quick pacing keep readers engaged in the story, and the mystery element of the novel is compelling as each detail comes to light. Though this book is a mystery on its face, the plot incorporates substantial emotional turbulence that is representative of the experiences faced by many middle grade readers. Fans of tales involving friendship, problem-solving, baking, and journalism will find this cozy mystery series to be fun and engaging. This sequel to The Cookie Crumbles is a positive addition to library collections for confident middle grade readers.

Things I liked about the book.

1) Clever title
2) Multicultural characters and their personas prominently displayed on the cover
3) Admission at bottom of cover that it's a sequel

Things I didn't like about the book.

1) Didn't realize just 'how' much the reader would have to read the prequel to get full flavor of the characters and the backstory. Admittedly, hadn't read the prequel but having read series books in the past thought would be ok. I was lost more than a couple of times.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books , via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#TheirJustDesserts #NetGalley

Laila and Lucy are at it again: Baking and Investigating. This time they have to prove that their friend/rival Jaden’s dad didn’t steal some fancy jewels on the set of a kids’ holiday baking show. Everything gets turned upside down and their bond is tested. Can they stay in the baking competition, solve the mystery, and save their friendship?

This middle grades who dunnit is a fun mash-up of mysteries and baking shows, not to mention a love note to friendships changing as kids grow up. Yes, there were giant plot holes in the story, and I found myself constantly questioning why a kids baking competition was being filmed live. There were lots of references to the previous book, and while it didn’t impact the plot, it definitely played into relationships and character development. All that said, kids who love baking and mysteries will still likely enjoy it.

This is a cute follow-up to The Cookie Crumbles. I read this with my 8 year old, and we really enjoyed Lucy and Laila's baking and busting adventure. I thought the writing was pretty repetitive, but it worked for reminding my kid of what was going on. Hopefully this isn't the last we've seen of Lucy and Laila!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

This is a great follow-up in this series. I love the characters and how well they play off of each other.
If you like baking and mysteries this is a series for you. A great series for kids.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

*4.5 Stars*

I really love this series. The perfect mix for anyone who loves baking and mysteries! The characters are truly great, yet not perfect. They both have their flaws and it makes them even more interesting. I'm really amazed by how they always get in trouble (and out of it!). I really liked the mystery in this one too. I really didn't really see the whole thing coming. And I liked that Laila was the host, while Lucy was the one baking this time. This is such a fun and good series. I hope there's more books coming!

This was a fantastic follow up to Badua and Dow’s first mystery. This is such a fun series that will leave you hungry! Highly recommend for all young readers who love classic-style whodunits.

I really loved The Cookie Crumbles and was so excited to see Lucy and Laila getting to continue their whodunit adventures in Their Just Desserts. This is such a fun book, and I really love how much it feels like a book for middle schoolers, from the way changes in friendship feel so BIG to the ways they’re just starting to think about what the future holds for them. I loved the new cast of characters, as well as seeing familiar faces and getting to see them all growing and changing. The whole premise of the Holly Jolly Baking Show was so over the top, especially with the reality tv elements, but I think that just added to the fun of reading the book. I really enjoyed this, and really hope we’ll have more books starring Lucy and Laila!