Missing Clarissa was an engaging and captivating read. I read it in one sitting, despite only planning to read a few chapters. Once I had gotten a few chapters into the story, I was hooked. The characters of Cam and Blair, while brash and insecure respectively, were also clever and interesting. They are realistic depictions of two teenagers who have stumbled onto a crime that is far more ready to be back in the spotlight than they realized. All in all, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone looking for a binge read with a satisfying end.

I’m conflicted about this book!

The good things first. I liked that this was fast paced. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing. I thought for sure I knew who it was, but then when the big reveal happened it turned out I was wrong 🤷🏻‍♀️ I like that bc the author was able to trick the reader. And it felt natural like “okay yeah this makes since that the murder is this person” The final fight scene was fantastic too. A lot more action than I expected from YA!

What didn’t work for me was the writing style. It felt like on every single page Blair and Cam’s names were mentioned one thousand times. It’s like the author didn’t want to use she/her/they/them/he/his/etc for any of the characters. It was exhausting having to read blair did this then blair did that while blair washed the dishes. At one point I counted and “cam” was on page 8 times on one page! I don’t normally have much to say about writing style this but one didn’t mesh with me at allllll. I also thought it was strange that the author made a point to say that blair had this great descriptive narration style to her podcast script when the book itself has very little descriptors and relays heavily on dialog.

Overall, I thought the concept and the plot line was interesting. The author crafted a good story with enough moving parts and characters that kept me entertained. However with the writing style, I’m not sure if I’d pick up another book by them. I will probably see what the next one is about & check out reviews. I think this book is good for the age range it’s intended for.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
2.5 stars

This one was not my favorite. There were times where I was intrigued by the plot but that's really the only thing that kept me hanging on. I didn't like any of the characters, and Cam specifically drove me crazy. She made mistake after mistake, there wasn't any character growth at all. Also her interview skills were awful, and I was constantly irritated by how she'd just randomly start shouting and asking difficult questions of whoever was being interviewed. It was unrealistic how her and Blair ever got any answers at all with the way their interviewing skills were portrayed. I also was unhappy with the ending, and I felt like it was really rushed.

I also have to complain about the way social issues were addressed in this book. I'm all for individuals advocating for social justice and any other causes they believe in. However, there were parts of this book that were ridiculously pushy and at times where it really wasn't relevant to the story. It felt really clear that the author had not even one but multiple special agendas that she was trying to push, and it was just a little frustrating to read and unexpected in a fiction book. I believe that writing is a great way to spread information, and I do believe that it can be done in all stories, especially fiction. However, the level of unwanted information being given in this book was too much in my opinion.

Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book, I"m again grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC. I don't want to be unfair or cruel toward the author because I know it takes a lot of work to write a book and I absolutely respect that. I just wanted to share my personal opinion on the book but that should not keep others from reading it if they feel they'd be interested.

Cam and Blair are high school juniors who decide to make a true crime podcast for their journalism class project. Their subject matter is the mysterious disappearance of cheerleader Clarissa Campbell over twenty years ago. Clarissa vanished in the wee morning hours after reportedly fighting with her boyfriend at an after graduation party deep in the woods where local teenagers escape to drink and party hidden away from the eyes and reach of parents. Her disappearance garnished national attention, but with no clues the case went cold. Her story, however, has never completely died down as the internet is still buzzing with speculation.

Cam and Blair start researching the disappearance of Clarissa seemingly sure they can do what authorities couldn't . . . solve the mystery. They begin conducting interviews with players including suspects from that time - some of whom speak freely while others shun the spotlight with veiled threats. During the course of the filming of their podcast, the girls unwittingly rattle some old skeletons, making some people unhappy. Questions arise about some of the small town's prominent people, including the local sheriff and an old art teacher. It seems the girls have dared to poke a hornet's nest, letting a swarm of dark, dirty little secrets escape. Will their podcast end up getting one of them murdered?

Missing Clarissa is an entertaining, young adult mystery with an intriguing plot line. While Blair and Cam start out motivated by earning an A in their journalism class and gaining followers, they quickly become addicted to finding real answers to the mystery of Clarissa's disappearance. Characters are well-defined and developed with the main characters empathy-worthy with representation of different social groups including LGBTQ, social class and color. Jones's writing flows smoothly as the story unfolds at a steady pace. The intensity and anticipation increase as the girls dig deeper into the mysterious disappearance, serving to sound a warning bell in readers. Several red herrings are evident as possible villains, and I wasn't exactly certain of where this one was going until the reveal.

Ripley Jones's debut novel Missing Clarissa is an intense, young adult mystery rendered through multiple points of view. While it seems the utilization of a podcast to tell stories is becoming common now, the premise is well done and appropriate within the boundaries of two teenage girls for delivering the story in Missing Clarissa. Fans of young adult mysteries will enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for this talented author.

Missing Clarissa was a fast paced book. While I found the characters to be a bit unlikable and immature, I appreciated the how the relationships were written. This is a solid mystery and the ending was a good one.

Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones is a remarkable young adult novel. The plot was certainly interesting but the characters sometimes felt a little flat to me. I was really excited to read this book with its topic and I really wanted to like it. Overall, it is an okay read. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley courtesy of Wednesday Books and St. Martins Press.

Tropes: Amateur detective, high school student, podcast, LGBTQIA+

I enjoyed the fast-paced story in this book. While I have not read Good Girls Guide to Murder, I know that the general premise is a podcast so I think that fans of that book would also enjoy this book.

The two main characters are best friends and high school journalism students. They have to create a project, and Cameron decides that they will make a podcast about Clarissa. A high school student who went missing from a party in the 90s. She's an urban legend in their small town because the police never figured out what happened to her- she just disappeared. When the girls start researching they find out that they may get in over their heads- especially when they get run off the road after meeting with a potential "suspect".

This book had a really fast pace but I think the ending was rushed for me. I wish that we would have had some more build-up to finding out who the killer was. I definitely did not figure out who it was before the book ended, and I didn't really like who the killer was- if that makes sense. So it was someone anti-climactic IMO. I liked learning the backstory of the friends who still lived in the small town- kind of like the "where are they now" but would've liked some more about Mr. Parks.

Overall a fun and fast read. I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley courtesy of Wednesday Books and St. Martins Press.

Tropes: Amateur detective, high school student, podcast, LGBTQIA+

I enjoyed the fast-paced story in this book. While I have not read Good Girls Guide to Murder, I know that the general premise is a podcast so I think that fans of that book would also enjoy this book.

The two main characters are best friends and high school journalism students. They have to create a project, and Cameron decides that they will make a podcast about Clarissa. A high school student who went missing from a party in the 90s. She's an urban legend in their small town because the police never figured out what happened to her- she just disappeared. When the girls start researching they find out that they may get in over their heads- especially when they get run off the road after meeting with a potential "suspect".

This book had a really fast pace but I think the ending was rushed for me. I wish that we would have had some more build-up to finding out who the killer was. I definitely did not figure out who it was before the book ended, and I didn't really like who the killer was- if that makes sense. So it was someone anti-climactic IMO. I liked learning the backstory of the friends who still lived in the small town- kind of like the "where are they now" but would've liked some more about Mr. Parks.

Overall a fun and fast read.

Clarissa disappeared 20 years ago without a trace and the case eventually went cold. Cameron and Blair decide to do a podcast for their journalism class in hopes to figure out what happened.

This is a pretty typical whodinit mystery with two high schoolers trying to figure out what an entire police force couldn't. The story was interesting and kept me guessing. I do love a good mystery. I didn't think the podcast portion was executed well. The main characters were pretty immature which made them unlikable. I also felt like this story had a lot of unnecessary side stories. While there was an inclusive cast of characters, which I love, it also felt a bit forced. Gah I know I have a lot of not so nice stuff in there. I did like the story and look forward to this author's writing developing a bit.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one to me had so much more potential than what I read. The synopsis was what drew me in. The mystery of Clarissa was intriguing and I enjoyed that. I was becoming too annoyed at the juvenile and whiny characters to really focus on the plot though. It's quite a bit unbelievable to think adults would just tell everything to a bunch of kids for a podcast. The book to me seemed to lack something that I can't quite put my finger on and some subjects that were irrelevant to the story just didn't work for me.

Overall, the mystery was a great storyline, but the book seemed to be a bit of a mess with bad characters that are very unrelatable.

3.75 stars

If you’re looking for a YA mystery/thriller featuring two precocious protagonists who have no idea what they’re getting into, Missing Clarissa is the book for you.

In the summer of 1999, town darling Clarissa Campbell disappeared after attending a party in the woods. Some members of the close-knit community think she up and left her life behind, while others suspect something far more sinister. The problem is that nobody who was there is talking about it. Twenty years later, high school juniors, Cameron and Blair decide to investigate Clarissa’s disappearance in a podcast for a school project. But what started off as a vanity project slowly begins to place the girls in a whole heap of trouble, and perhaps into the path of a killer.

I enjoyed the style and pacing of the book. The protagonists felt appropriately adolescent and made some annoyingly teenaged choices as a result. There were some elements of the plot that I totally guessed, but overall, the plot was enjoyable even if slightly predictable. I liked how the book also touches on the reasons why Clarissa’s disappearance would garner so much attention as opposed to others. There’s a self-awareness to the book about a missing white female that would not have been present even a few years ago.

Overall, it’s an entertaining, fun read that you could definitely finish in one sitting. And it’s a great YA thriller for the teenager in your life.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A great YA read! I do not usually go for books that surround a podcast, but I gave it a chance, and I am glad that I did.

I’ll be honest, for about 30% of this book, I thought I was going to rate it 3 stars and shrug that it just was trying too hard to be A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. But I kept reading and found myself intrigued by the direction of the story and the characters. Cam and Blair couldn’t be more different, but they remained friends even as Blair watched Cam forge ahead with all of her impossibleness and lack of tact. Blair was a thinker, the self conscious one, the one who kept Cam grounded. I loved their friendship.
I liked Missing Clarissa way more than I originally expected to and I definitely recommend it to fans of Holly Jackson and Courtney Summers. It became its own story and I loved it.
My only criticism is that it hurt my soul to have the characters whip out a phone book from 2002 and call it so old, but I’ll get over it lol. I guess to teens in a YA book published in 2023, 2002 was a long time ago!
Overall, the story was compelling and I liked that both Cam and Blair learned a lot about themselves and their town and gained perspective on Clarissa’s story.

Give me a mystery that's a 20 year old cold case and two teens starting a podcast and doing some sleuthing a la Veronica Mars and I'm in!

Cam & Blair start a podcast about a 20 year old cold case of a missing cheerleader (Clarissa) from their small town and expect to just talk about theories to fulfill their journalism class project. Boy how that changed. The interviews with people who knew Clarissa open a new can of worms at every turn and you're sucked into the mystery too. Though some things they find out could put them in danger, they persist and also find out more about who they are and what they want. The fast paced flow of the book along with suspense of who killed Clarissa definitely makes this a page turner.

This was entertaining and great for a YA read, However it felt pretty young to me.
That isn’t bad - it is marketed towards a YA audience, but overall this one just wasn’t for me.

This one was just ok for me. It's one of several "two girls start a podcast to investigate a cold case" books being published this year and that is not in its favor unfortunately.

Missing Clarissa was definitely an intriguing read, as I read it in one sitting, but I found it to overall be lacking. As someone who reads a lot of true crime and listens to a lot of true crime podcasts, I was really drawn to this story, and I personally really enjoy books that use podcast transcripts as part of the storytelling.

This book started off strong, but for the majority of the book the pacing felt off. The last two chapters moved so incredibly quickly, but not only because of the high stakes. A lot of it felt all jumbled and like half finished sentences. Additionally, a lot of the ending felt rushed --- the last half of the book felt like a first draft to me.

The mystery of what happened to Clarissa, and who killed her, was (at least to me) completely clear by the third chapter, so I just spent the remaining time waiting for Cam and Blair to figure it out.

I think that Missing Clarissa had a lot of potential, but ultimately fell flat.

When two best friends start a true crime podcast for journalism class, they think the sensational case of a missing cheerleader twenty years ago is the perfect story to explore. But as the girls dig, they start uncovering secrets and motives for multiple people to want Clarissa dead, and as they get closer to the truth of what happened, they risk becoming Oreville’s next story of missing girls. Fans of Sadie and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will love this new voice in YA thrillers.

This was a perfectly readable, if flawed, YA contemporary mystery. It read simultaneously a little young/simplistic for the older teen age of the characters, yet also occasionally dropped into infodumps of serious political issues (mainly by one character) that slowed down the generally quick narrative. There was an interesting twist, but the mystery generally had something of a procedural type feeling - a few suspects are presented, a few clues dropped, and everything is wrapped up. I also found it a little jarring how the narration would jump between characters' points of view within short periods of time (it's not dual POV so much as "whoever I want, whenever I want" POV) and wasn't really drawn in by either main character; Cam's flaws got to the point of irritation toward the end, and overall the book felt too short and fast-paced to really get to know or deeply sympathize with either of them.

Still, the true crime/mystery element is popular (Sadie, The Good Girls, All the Pretty Things, The Cheerleaders, Karen McManus's work), so this might appeal to those who want something akin to Good Girl's Guide, I Killed Zoe Spanos or the Stevie Bell series but with a quicker narrative.

What an interesting and fascinating story. I am just so unsure what to say as everything I want to talk about could be a spoiler. I’m just going to say this … jump into this story and hang on for dear life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Ripley Jones for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wanted to like this book. I loved the premise, but honestly, this was a DNF for me. It was hard to keep up with if it was Cam or Bailey talking. I also didn't like the mention of every single character's skin color. It wasn't just once or twice, it was every single character. That is not the first thing I want to know about a character.

I found both main characters annoying in their own ways. Cam basically uses Blaire. But Blaire allows it and is a follower. I tried but I just didn't like it.