Yes! I loved this book even more than the first! I feel like I can completely relate to Charlotte when she feels like she's falling hard into something (in her case detecting) and finds it hard to stop or draw the line. She is singularly focused and hilarious and a sweet and caring friend. There is a lot of amazing banter in this book, especially between the friend trio. I loved the descriptions of Charlotte returning to her middle school as a sub and all the interesting students she meets. The characters in this book are fabulous and vivid and kept me laughing and guessing. I was shocked by all the reveals and loved how open Charlotte was. I also appreciate how cozy this mystery especially was because there was enough personal emotional struggles that I wasn't worried about constant danger for Charlotte.

Katie Siegel has a great comedic voice that clearly comes through in her writing. 

I wasn't sure how this installment would go since it revolves around a school, but the interactions with the students were some of my favorite parts. Since Charlotte deals a lot with her internal issues revolving around her childhood detective past, it was interesting to see her interact with kids who are involved in their own detective work. I appreciate that this book continues to be diverse and with great queer rep.

These books aren't quite for my personal taste, but since I love the author's voice, I still enjoy reading them. I'd be happy to get another installment, but I'm also hoping the author will write a comedic fantasy novel.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had the pleasure of reading the ARC of Charlotte Illes is Not a Detective, so I was pumped that a sequel was available so soon after the first novel. (If you’d like to read my review of that book, click here.)

I do have to say that I enjoyed this cozy mystery much more than the debut novel! Even though I had issues with the first book, it had a lot of redeeming qualities that made me happy the character had returned! Charlotte is a “reformed” former child detective, ala Encyclopedia Brown or Trixie Belden, with nods to Nancy Drew, too. She’s bright and funny and openly queer, and despite her best efforts, mysteries just keep dropping into her lap.

The issues I had with the first book are not as apparent in the second volume, which, by the way, can be read as a standalone novel. You don’t have to have read the first book in order to enjoy this book. Because Charlotte, Lucy, and Gabe are all gainfully employed, I found the book much more realistic than the first.

This time around, Charlotte is a long-term substitute teacher for her old middle school, where her friend, Lucy works. A co-worker has been receiving anonymous threats, and with that, Charlotte is back on a case. There’s plenty of witty banter amongst the friends, actual sleuthing going on, and becoming mentors to some middle school kids.

I’m not going to rehash the plot but suffice it to say if you enjoy a cozy mystery with the nostalgia of all those children’s mystery series books, you’d probably enjoy this book, too.

Charlotte Illes is becoming one of my favorite series characters. In this one she's found herself a role as substitute teacher at her old middle school, where there are still a few of her "detective kits" hidden around the school, which proves quite convenient when a mystery comes up for her to solve. While the mystery is central to this, there's also a really heartwarming plot as Charlotte and her friends get to see the way queer community has changed for the kids at the school since their own youth, and Charlotte works on who she wants to be as an adult. Great takes on friendship and relationships in your twenties, as well.

I loved reading this book and seeing the mystery unfold from childhood detective to a twenty something year old teacher but still keeping the mystery alive.

Charlotte Iles is Not a Teacher is the 2nd book from social media personality, Katie Siegel.

"Charlotte is back at her old Middle School - this time as a substitute teacher. Charlotte is determined to stay away from any problems or issues that people have - no more cases for her. But she's pulled back to help a fellow teacher and the teacher's aunt."

Charlotte was a female Encyclopedia Brown as a student and has continued as a young adult but there's less novelty with this book than the first one. This story has a slow start. There are a lot of different parts to the mystery/incident and Charlotte and her friends tackle them one-by-one. There are some surprises at the end and Charlotte has to make some decisions.

Fans of the first book should enjoy this one.

Book 2 in this series is a lovely continuation of the easy mystery genre. Siegel's focus on the characters is a nice change of pace in this not at all high octane plot.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love sleuthing books on the vain of Nancy Drew or Harriet the Spy and I love Knives Out. This wasn't as fleshed out but enjoyed the plot a bit.

A nice second in the series that sees a 20 something Charlotte casting about to find herself but still solving crimes. A cozy without a murder, this has Charlotte pulling out her old detective skills to find out who has been sending threatening messages to Kim, one of the teachers at the school where she's working as a substitute. The same school she attended as a kid. This has good characters and representation. While it would help to have read the first book this will work as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. YA yes but also entertaining for an, ahem, older reader.

Charlotte Illes returns for a sophomore sleuthing adventure in “Charlotte Illes is Not a Teacher”! I really enjoyed Charlotte’s first detecting adventure, so I was waiting impatiently for this one as soon as I heard about it. I do recommend reading “Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective” before reading this one, both because it’s a great book and also it will give you more backstory about what’s happening in this one with all the MCs. I enjoyed seeing how Charlotte interacted with those who knew her when she was a child detective and those who have only heard of her and what she’s done. The mystery was also consistently interesting, which kept me reading. I enjoyed learning about the characters and the cases that childhood friends Lucy and Charlotte solved in their youth and how this affected Charlottes current case. I love that Katie Siegel makes every effort to write her characters thoughtfully but realistically. I loved the conversation between Gabe and Charlotte about queer kids in school! Thanks to Katie Seigel, Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I hope that this is not the last we see of Charlotte Illes!

4.5/5 ⭐️
The second Charlotte Illes mystery finds her working as a substitute teacher in an effort to find what she wants to do in life. She is working at the same school her best friend Lucy works at and Lucy’s coworker, Kim, approaches her with a mystery - she has been receiving anonymous threatening letters. Charlotte agrees to take the case and sets out to find who is responsible.

I’m really enjoying this series! It is not absolutely necessary to read the first one before this as Siegel does a good job giving enough background. However, I’d highly recommend doing so! The characters are just so fun and I like that the mysteries are lower stakes (I.e. not murder) since Charlotte was also a kid detective. I’m curious to see if future mysteries ramp up the crime more but either way, I can’t wait for the next one!

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

Charlotte Illes was once a child sleuth who had much success. Sometimes, as a person in her twenties, she wants to leave that identity behind. However, as readers of the first book in the series know, that does not seem to work out for her.

Charlotte and her friends (Lucy and Gabe) are back in this sparky and fun story. This time, Charlotte becomes a substitute teacher at her old middle school. Once again, she will be drawn into events that require her skill.

This title offers a fun and quick read. It is a “New Adult” title but older readers may enjoy it as well. It is easy to recommend this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the first book of this new cozy mystery series, Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective (June 2023). This adventure has Charlotte substitute teaching at the same middle school that she once attended. She was once a childhood mystery solver and is still struggling to find how solving mysteries can fit in her adult world. This book feels like lower stakes as no one dies but it does allow for some great sleuthing and getting to know her side kicks better. Lucy is fantastic as her BF and Gabe is fun as well. And there is nice LGBTQIAP+ representation although no one is involved in romances at the moment.

The mystery involves threats made against a person running for the school board. They seem juvenile but are escalating. Charlotte relies on her friends to help her on stake outs and brainstorm with her as she tries to deduce the culprits. I like the series and am just wanting a little bit more to be fully committed to it. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review. (3.5 Stars)

Charlotte Illes Is Not a Teacher is the second book in the Not A Detective Series by Katie Siegel.

I absolutely LOVED [book:Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective|59841496] and was excited to read the next book in the series.

The queer representation is AMAZING!

The story kept me very engaged, and the story and mystery was so fu n.

Gabe, Lucy and Charlotte are fantastic great characters. I also really enjoy the secondary characters, which are anything but secondary.

It was neat to read about the mysteries that Charlotte solved as a kid detective.

If you are a Nancy Drew Fan, a fan of mysteries looking for something different, this book is for you!

LOVED IT !

Charlotte gets a job as a substitute teacher at Lucy's school. As Charlotte is learning the ropes. Another teacher confesses that she's been getting threatening messages telling her to quit or they will tell her secret. Kim says her Aunt is also receiving threatening messages to quit running for the school board. Charlotte decides to investigate with her two best friends.

This was such a fun captivating cozy mystery. No dead bodies. I devoured this book in one day. I loved the queer rep and the banter between friends. I hope there's more of this series and I can't wait to read more.

When Charlotte returned to her formal middle school, she thought she’d only be reminiscing about her past successes in sleuthing. She didn’t expect to run across the former classmate who remembered.”Lotte”s” successful sleuthing. Nor did she expect to be asked to put her soothing skills to use once again.

Luckily, younger Charlotte left some tools of the trade hidden when she was younger. Now she’s putting those tools to use after all these years. Does. “Lotte” still have the golden touch like she did all those years ago? Both she and her former classmate sure hope so.

This is an absolutely enjoyable series and I have enjoyed everything. I have read from this so far. The story moves at a good clip and keeps your guessing. There’s a lot to like in this series. Give it a try.

I love this book. This was just as fun as the first book and continues to be a more modern take on cozy mystery.

The voice of Charlotte Illes is full of the wry humor, and personally kept this book from feeling YA. And I appreciated seeing how she is still working through self-doubt and personal baggage rather than just having it all be resolved.

The Queer rep in this book was so well done with multiple characters giving different experiences that give a more layered and nuanced inclusion than I think I've ever seen (especially in cozy mystery). They all felt realistic and layered rather than just dropped in.

The mystery in this book felt lower stakes than the first book, but in exchange we really got to see the friendships grow and shine a lot more which honestly felt like a fine trade-off for me.

I cannot wait to see where we will go next in this wonderful series.

4.5 stars

A lighthearted and funny mystery and great addition to the series.

Charlotte Illes is back to solving mysteries. This time, she's a substitute teacher investigating threats another teacher is receiving.

This book is actually better than the first. Gone are the initial debut struggles. The mystery is less serious than book one's, and the humor is on point. Plus the queer rep! There is very little focus on romance, and the story does an amazing job of further exploring Charlotte's friendships. I loved the conversation between Gabe and Charlotte about queer kids in school!

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

Charlotte Isles, a former child detective, is now a substitute teacher. She returns to the halls of her former middle school where she used to solve mysteries, hoping to solve a new mystery. A fellow teacher is seeking out who is sending her and her aunt anonymous threats. Charlotte is determined to find the culprit.

Overall, I enjoyed this second installment in the Charlotte Isles series. I enjoyed the characters of Gabe, Lucy, and Charlotte and how they work together to solve the case. I also liked the lgbtq+ representation in the characters and the school setting. However, as a teacher, the setting bothered me a bit. We definitely don’t have all this time daily to solve mysteries like it seems in the book. There’s always planning or grading to do. I know it’s supposed to be just a fun Nancy Drew-like mystery, which it was, but I wish it was a little more realistic about what teachers go through daily. For this reason, I must give it 3 stars.

Charlotte Illes is Not a Teacher continues child-detective "Lottie" Illes adventures in adulthood as she fails to stay away from detective work. This book is a sweet and cute read and perfect for a little light cozy moment. I personally would have loved a little more intrigue (this is not a romance book so I would have loved to get further into the friendships/relationships or even more danger from the case). However, I recommend this one to those looking for low-stakes mysteries!!