Follow me is the second book in The Amateurs series, and in typical Sara Shepard fashion, is a fun filled book that will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Although I didn’t find this one to be quite as good as the first book, nor did I find the level of suspense to be quite up to par, it was still fun to follow along with the characters as they trailed the killer and raced to stop him before he strikes again.

While still a mystery, some readers may not enjoy nor appreciate this addition to the series if you are one of those people who doesn’t like knowing the identity of the killer, as it is clear who it is in this book.

That being said, there were still twists, turns, shocking reveals, and an ending that will leave you hanging and wondering what’s in store next.

Follow Me was another fun and juicy read from Sara Shepard, and as far as sequels go, I have no major complaints and it still met my expectations and made me eager to read the next installment in this series.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

The world of The Amateurs is so fun to be in. While it is mysterious and intriguing, it’s nothing too dark so young readers can enjoy without terrible nightmares. This didn’t catch my attention as much as the first book in the series but I still enjoyed the read. Sara Shepard is a master of teen mystery, I recommend her whenever I can.

After loving the first book in The Amateurs series, I was eagerly awaiting this one to fill the Pretty Little Liars sized whole in my life. While this one definitely didn't measure up to the first one, I still think it was a solid title and lovers of Sara Shepard will enjoy following the gang along as they try to locate a missing woman and save her from her impending death, all while trying to catch their former friend - the suspected killer. The good news is this is a super quick read so even if you don't love it, it goes by quickly and the author keeps you engaged enough to want to find out the ending. I'm on the fence as to if I will read book 3 - if there will be one published.

This one was slightly better than the first book. There was more of a mystery. The characters were slightly more interesting. They have changed some since the first book so that was a plus. I did like Maddox and Seneca's relationship. The book again ends in a cliff hanger, so I'll probably read the third book to see how it all plays out. Warning: Don't read this one before the first one. If you do, it will spoil a big reveal in the first book.

The storyline in this one was a bit of a stretch. I really liked (hated) Brett for just how clever he really is. He is a fantastic bad guy. The cliffhanger was a good one. It will definitely make me read the next one.

The only thing I regret about this book was reading it so soon before the actual publishing date, because that means I have to wait that much longer for the third installment. I LOVED THIS SEQUEL SO MUCH. I feel that I can't go crazy in depth as this review would contain too many spoilers, but man oh man this book really was great. The cast of characters works so well with each other and the cliffhanger at the end of the first book is explored in much more depth in this sequel. Sara Shepard is really the queen of YA suspense.

This book is slightly better than the first, with a faster pace and a more interesting plot. The Amateurs are still bungling their way through an investigation, being easily misled by the person they are looking for. But in some ways I think it makes this series more authentic. Remember these are just kids, and they will make mistakes. In that way this is a refreshing take on the thriller genre.

The other thing that I liked about this book is that we get chapters from the serial killers point of view. We know by the end of book one, who has been committing all of the murders, but it was interesting to see things from his, albeit twisted, point of view. He really seems to have it out for both Seneca and Aerin, and it will be interesting to see how things play out between them in the next book.

I still find Seneca and Aerin rather frustrating. They are both paralyzed with fear most of the time, thinking about what happened to either Seneca’s mom or Aerin’s sister. This fear makes them come to the wrong conclusions about the clues or trips them up when things become rather threatening. Still, I do root for them. I am beginning to like Maddox a bit more than I did in the first book. He is growing on me. He doesn’t seem capable of figuring out many of the clues, but he is moral support and I guess muscle for the group. The growing relationship between him and Seneca is sweet. I’m not sure why Madison is even in this book. She doesn’t contribute much to the solving of the clues, nor do we see things from her perspective (at least not that I can recall). I like her, just not sure what her roll is.

The plot this time around was a little more interesting, especially as we can see what the ‘killer’ is up to some of the time. There are lots of red herrings and plot twists that make it an interesting read, although again the lack of awareness and the group’s inability to see the forrest for the trees is staggering sometimes. They actually hang out with the ‘killer’ in disguise and don’t even realize it, although they all state that they could recognize him even if he was disguised.

Overall a very realistic look at a group of kids who are trying unsuccessfully to trap a serial killer. I’ve enjoyed watching them stumble over the clues, and finding their way into the final trap he has set for them.

Follow Me  by Sara Shepard

It was the perfect night for a party.
That is, until twenty-one-year-old Chelsea Dawson disappeared. The social media star was last seen enjoying a beautiful summer night at the Jersey Shore with her friends. But after an explosive fight with her ex-boyfriend, she vanished without a trace.
When Seneca, Maddox, Aerin, and Madison hear about the suspected kidnapping, they notice a jarring detail about the victim: she looks exactly like Aerin's sister, Helena, who was killed five years earlier. Seneca is convinced she knows who killed Helena, and she can't shake the feeling that the same person has taken Chelsea.
Desperate for answers about the two girls, and the truth behind her mother's murder, Seneca will stop at nothing to find out if the cases are linked. So when Maddox receives an invitation to the Shore from none other than their primary suspect, the Amateurs begin an intense new investigation.

This is the second title in Sara Shepard's new series following the Pretty Little Liars series. This title can be read without reading the first in the series. Throughout the book, Sara Shephard does a good job in informing the reader information that was revealed in the first book while moving the story forward without confusing the reader. The book was a read with a little mystery of who killed Seneca's mom but left the reader hanging at the end wondering who is the killer. The book seemed to drag in the middle but did have enough twists and turns to keep the reader forging ahead until the end. For this reader, it seemed a little unrealistic that these teens would have been allowed to go to another town to solve a death mystery. Fans of Sara  Shepard's previous series will probably overlook the teens ability to go solve the mystery without adults and will be drawn to wait for the next title for the series. 

I received an ARC ebook from Netgalley  and the publisher, Disney Book Group in exchange for an honest review.

Follow Me is the second book in The Amateurs series by Sara Shepard, and I’m super excited to have had the opportunity to have read this sequel! I read the first book last year, and, being a somewhat newbie to Sara’s writing style, I found myself completely captivated by the story. I was really looking forward to seeing what was going to happen next in this much anticipated sequel, and it was definitely worth the wait!

The book picks up a few months after where The Amateurs leaves off. A new girl has gone missing, and Seneca, Maddox, Aerin, and Madison are brought together once again by a mysterious friend from the past, to try to figure out what happened exactly to the missing girl, and who, in fact, kidnapped her in the first place. I have to say that these characters are pretty awesome detectives, definitely better than I am!

As I mentioned above I’m pretty new to Sara Shepards writing, (I believe this is only the third book I read of hers), but I really appreciate how she grabbed my attention early on in the novel, and left me curious enough to finish the book fairly quickly. (This is not an easy feat for me lately, so I definitely appreciate something that can grab my attention.) And this book is under 300 pages, so it's definitely a quick read. The book ends with a pretty massive cliffhanger, and it’s one that will stick with me until the next book is released and where we will (hopefully) get details. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.

Overall; Follow Me is a quick, mysterious read that will keep you guessing and have you flying through the pages. If you’re a fan of Sara Shepard and have not yet check out The Amateurs series, think about adding it to your TBR today!

Happy Reading!

I thought this book was a bit rushed. I liked the first book in the Amateurs series much more than I cared for this one. However, I still think teens will like the book and I will purchase it for my high school library.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this book and I have it a fair 50 pages or so. But, I couldn't. I kept getting confused with all the characters and who was who. Plus the names drove me crazy--Aerin, Seneca, Maddox, Brett... Just, what? That may seem like such a small thing to annoy someone but it did.

Sorry, maybe I'll give book one a try down the line and come back to this one someday.

I loved “The Amateurs” last year and couldn’t wait for the sequel to come out. I enjoyed the first book so much and I just had to know what happens next. Sara Shepard really can write amazing suspense stories. Pulled in from the very first line nothing could brake the spell and I kept reading. In this book the pace seems to be even faster than the previous, possibly because we already know the main characters. The killer seems to be everywhere always being one step ahead and Madison, Maddox, Seneca and Aerin having a hard time to keep up. It doesn’t take them long to figure out, that it is the same killer they met not long ago and who got away. The ending came too fast and left me wanting more. Now I need book three asap. I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Book Group!

Thank you to Disney Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book, in exchange of an honest review.

I rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars.

I liked this first book, I semi-liked this book. Sara Shepard is a good writer, and this is an interesting series, but I feel it is much to young for me. I do however believe young adults and teen girls will devour both books 1 and 2 in this series.

There was just too much teen angst romance for me, they are dealing with a murderer, and someone who is psychotic, but whats really on the back of all of their minds is "hooking up" Like  I said, a good book for teens!

I really wanted to love it, as I loved Pretty Little Liars, but sadly I just didn't.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Book Groups for the opportunity to read and review Follow Me by Sara Shepard! The story begins with Brett and his prospects and then alternates with each of the main characters from the first book, Amateurs. Seneca is an intern handing out parking tickets, Maddox is still working on his running and wants to go to the Olympics, Aerin took a vacation and Madison is enjoying life, as she always does. Madison brings a letter to Maddox at the gym and they’re floored when they find out who it’s from and what it’s about. The Case Not Closed group is back again! The mystery, suspense and thrills are back in this sequel and so are the twists! 5 stars for another great mystery by Sara Shepard!

In this second book of the series Amateurs, Seneca’s friends again face the challenge of arresting "Brett". This time he kidnaps a famous girl on instagram and Seneca, Maddox, Madison e Aerin get together to try to catch the psychopath. Much suspense, a lot of action and a touch of romance make the plot a good teen police mistery.
Of course that I remember the Pretty Little Liars series with the exchange of messages and the mysteries of who really is the threatening killer. Although I have found some loopholes in the story and found the ending very predictable, I really enjoyed the apprehension of the fantasy party scene, and I imagine the writer should close everything down in book three.

Follow Me is a solid sequel to Sara Shepard's The Amateurs. The plot keeps that same gripping suspense throughout. Exploring the disappearance of social media star Chelsea Dawson makes for an interesting mystery. Watch the girls get their mystery hats on to solve what happened to Chelsea. If you've enjoyed Shepard's previous novels or enjoy a YA mystery, this is a great read to check out!

Follow Me begins as the gang receives a taunting message from the person they suspect of murder about a second missing girl, an aspiring social media influencer who walks around with a motorized selfie stick. (Me: is this an thing? Google: yes!) The gang springs into action to shut him down, this time on the Jersey shore. The police have their eye on a suspect, but the Case Not Closed group wants to prove them wrong. Surely the culprit has to be their nemesis. But can they prove it?

WHAT I DID LIKE:
Okay, I’ll be honest. These books are WAY on the fluffy/cheesy (would that be Cheez-Whizzy?) end of the thriller spectrum. They don’t have much to offer in the way of character development or atmospheric writing. But they are fast-paced and fun, perfect for a beach bag or plane ride. In fact, I read this on a 90 minute flight that turned into a multi-hour ordeal – and it was the perfect distraction.

The twists and angsty romantic plots in this series are reminiscent of Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars. In fact, by this second book, we do have a sort of tricky, taunting “A” character that the gang is chasing. As with The Amateurs, Follow Me ends with a dramatic cliffhanger ending, so if you decide to pick this up, be ready for that!

WHAT COULD BE BETTER:
The cover, first of all. I think it’s weird and drab and does nothing to convey what the story is about.

While I think an ensemble cast works great in a TV show, I often felt like there were too many generic people crowded into this story. There are four main characters, plus two additional love interests. (One love interest carries over from the first book and there’s new guy who creates a triangle-y feel in Seneca and Maddox’s slowly developing attraction.) Thrillers depend on the reader’s investment in the well-being of the characters and (for me) it was hard to worry much about these glossy cardboard cutouts with their oh-so-trendy names (Maddox, Madison, Aerin, and Seneca).

IN CONCLUSION:

If you’re looking for a twisty, entertaining book that’s not too creepy or graphic, The Amateurs series could definitely be for you!

I love this series! This is the second book in the Amateurs series and it’s truly as gripping and exciting as the first one. Following Aerin, Maddy, Madison, and Seneca as they try to uncover the truth in a series of deaths. Well written and kept me guessing. Can’t wait for another one.

Follow Me was unfortunately a book that just never clicked for me. Part of the issue may have been that there are too many characters and perspectives, and with little done in the way of character development, it just never connects. Because we spend so much time swapping between viewpoints and hearing about the personal drama the characters experience, the mystery element just never seemed terribly compelling, either. I think this lacks the addictive, over the top style of the author's Pretty Little Liars series- it seems to take itself more seriously as a mystery, without having a strong backbone to hold it up. This is probably not a series I'm going to continue.