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
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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.
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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.
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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.

I regret to say that I could not finish The Other Lola by Ripley Jones. While the premise initially intrigued me, the execution fell short of my expectations.

I really wanted to like it, but it could just not keep my attention. I tried multiple times to put it down and come back again with a different mindset, but overall it was just not that the book for me

This one was sadly a disappointment for me. I remember being so into Missing Clarissa that I was hoping for the same fun mystery, but I found this one really hard to follow for some reason. The characters all seemed too alike so I was having a hard time telling them apart and I just found the overall mystery itself confusing and not compelling.

Bummer because I really wanted to like this.

*The Other Lola* by Ripley Jones is a captivating and emotionally charged novel that explores identity and self-discovery through a unique and engaging narrative. Jones's sharp prose and well-crafted characters draw readers into a compelling story of personal growth and transformation, making it a thought-provoking and memorable read.

The Other Lola, the follow up to 2023’s Missing Clarissa follows Cam and Blair in the aftermath of the danger and reputation they’ve gained after solving Clarissa’s murder. Both girls are set to walk away from their podcast and solving cases. However, when Mattie Brosillard comes to Cam about their missing sister Lola, Cam and Blair hear them out because this case is very different from the last one. Mattie says Lola has returned, but Mattie swears she is not who she says she is.

Much like Missing Clarissa, The Other Lola is a great YA mystery with loveable characters and a compelling plot. I will admit to not being overly familiar with the mystery/thriller genre as they are the literary genres that interest me the least. That said, I really enjoyed The Other Lola. I found the plot to be compelling as it was not the basic plot of solving a murder. Instead, Cam and Blair are trying to figure out if Lola is Lola, and if not, what is going on. I really enjoyed the process of figuring out what was going on. What I really love about Ripley Jones’ books is that they are more than the compelling plot, I love the characters, their relationships, and the diversity reflected in the story. While romantic relationships are an aspect of this story, it is really about Cam and Blair and their friendship. I also really love Cam’s mother and the fact that her parenting is a significant part of the book. Parenting and good parents are something that are usually missing in YA books. I love that while there are also “bad” parents in this book, Cam’s mother Irene is there to be a trusted and loving adult to these teens. I also enjoyed Mattie and their role in this book. They quickly become real friends to Cam and Blair and I care for them and their story just as much as I do about Cam and Blair.

I really enjoy The Other Lola and I would recommend it to anyone who likes diverse mysteries with more plot than just solving a case. I would gladly read more books in this series!

This book was such a delight. I loved Mattie, I loved how Cam & Blair grew from the last book, and I loved the found family of it all. I'll happily read anything else in this universe.

I really enjoyed Missing Clarissa so I was excited to start The Other Lola. I liked the first book more. I feel like the “mystery” in this one takes a back seat to all of Blair and Cam’s personal stuff. I liked it but it was missing the ‘thrill’.

I’d probably read another book in this series if the author wrote one and see how it goes.

I really loved Missing Clarissa when I read it last year, and so I thought this was one I was going to enjoy even more. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

I don’t hate this book by any means, but the overall story and mystery were not as good. I thought the pacing was a lot slower this time and (for me) it didn’t pick up until the last 70% or so. Plus, I found it to be a lot more predicable.

With all that being said, I still very much enjoyed Cam and Blair’s friendship as I believe they balance each other out so well. And I even liked the addition of Mattie as a character; adding more queer representation (specifically non-binary).

I’d still love to read more from this author, either that be a new stand alone or a continuation of Cam and Blair’s adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Building on the suspense of its predecessor, this sequel plunges into a new mystery while deepening the personal stakes for its protagonists. When Mattie arrives, insisting that her sister Lola, who vanished years ago, is an impostor, Cam and Blair are reluctantly drawn back into the world of amateur sleuthing. The story effectively utilizes the "impostor" trope, creating tension around Lola's true identity and the mysteries of her disappearance. This trope drives the plot, adding layers of intrigue and suspicion as the duo grapples with the possibility of deception.

Compared to their earlier adventure, this installment intensifies both the stakes and the emotional complexity. The characters’ growth and the evolving dynamics between Cam and Blair bring a fresh depth to the story, making it clear that their commitment to uncovering the truth is now more personal than ever. The novel combines suspense with character-driven drama, delivering a compelling read that expands on the strong foundation laid by the first book.