The Jolly Reader

In this episode, we finish Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus, covering Chapters 30–44 (Pages 238–356). Brynn's investigation into Mr. Larkin's murder finally reaches its conclusion as long-hidden secrets, overlooked clues, and unexpected connections come together. Between a terrifying crash, the school dance, and one final discovery that changes everything, this finale delivers plen...

In this episode we discuss Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus, covering Chapters 15–29 (Pages 117–237). Brynn continues investigating the murder of her former teacher, Mr. Larkin, as new evidence and long-buried secrets begin surfacing around Saint Ambrose School. As Brynn and Tripp uncover a disturbing new discovery, unexpected opportunities and deeply hidden family truths begin changing ev...

In this episode, I sit down with Randi Smith to discuss her debut YA novel Ada Holloway's Had Enough . The story follows high school senior Ada Holloway after a book she needs for a final essay is suddenly banned by her town’s mayor. Frustrated by censorship and tired of staying quiet, Ada starts a secret banned book club with her friends and cousin, forcing her to question the rules she has a...

In this episode of The Jolly Reader Podcast , we’re starting Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus, covering Part 1: Chapters 1–14 (pages 1–116) . Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School after her favorite teacher, Mr. Larkin, was murdered—and her best friend, Tripp Talbot, became one of the students at the center of the investigation. The case was never fully solved, and the questions...

In this episode of The Jolly Reader Podcast , we’re wrapping up Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig, covering Part 3: Chapters 21–29 (pages 218–324) . The mystery surrounding January’s disappearance finally reaches its breaking point as Flynn gets closer than ever to the truth. Every secret, accusation, and half-truth from the earlier sections starts crashing together, forcing Flynn to confront wha...

We continue Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig, covering Chapters 10–20 (pages 99–217) . January is still missing, the investigation is heating up, and Flynn is quickly learning that the story everyone thinks they know about his relationship might not match reality. As police questions intensify and the town’s suspicions grow louder, new details begin to surface, details that make January’s life l...

We are starting the book Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig, covering Chapters 1–9 pages 1-98. When Flynn’s girlfriend January disappears without a trace, he becomes one the last person to see her alive, and immediately the spotlight turns on him. The police have questions. The town has opinions. And the cracks in Flynn and January’s relationship start looking a lot deeper than anyone realized. As...

The road trip officially goes off the rails. In this episode, we finish Five Survive by Holly Jackson, covering chapters 31–40 (pages 264–386) . Someone is kicked out of the RV, shots are fired, and it becomes clear that the most dangerous threats may not be outside at all. The title of this book is starting to feel a lot less metaphorical. 📚  Grab the book here: Five Survive by Holly Jackson As...

We’re back in the RV with even more tension, more secrets, and yes, still six people… for now. In part two of Five Survive by Holly Jackson, we’re covering chapters 17–30 (pages 128–263), and the paranoia is getting real. Allegiances are shifting, trust is evaporating, and the group's “plan” is basically, panic and yell. Is anyone telling the truth? Who’s really being targeted? And how are the...

🎙️ Author Interview: Katie Bernet | Beth Is Dead Little Women reimagined in this twisty, emotional thriller about sisterhood, secrets, and murder.... In this special interview episode of The Jolly Reader , I sit down with debut author Katie Bernet to talk all things Beth Is Dead, the inaugural release from Sarah Barley Books, hitting shelves on January 6, 2026 . We dive into how Katie reimagined L...

We’re kicking off Five Survive by Holly Jackson, and things are already going off the rails. In this episode, I break down chapters 1-16 (pages 1–127) , where six friends on a spring break road trip find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere… with a flat tire, no signal, and a lurking sense that this was no accident. 📚  Grab the book here: Five Survive by Holly Jackson As an Amazon Associa...

Seven Dirty Secrets – Part Three: Chapters 21–31 (Pages 210–313) Alright crew… it’s the final stretch, and the chaos is peaking . In this episode, we’re tackling the last section of Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards and everything we thought we knew is getting turned upside down. Secrets are exploding into the open, trust is completely shattered, and the danger hits way too close. We even...

Part 2: Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards (Chapters 10-20 / Pages 98–209) In this episode, we dive into the second half of Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards, and let’s just say: the paranoia is rising, the clues are coming in fast, and the trust levels are at an all-time low. We’re unraveling more of the scavenger hunt , trying to figure out who’s behind it all, and questioning e...

Part 1: Seven Dirty Secrets by Natalie D. Richards (Chapters 1–9 / Pages 1–97) In this episode, we dive into the opening chapters of Seven Dirty Secrets, where a mysterious scavenger hunt kicks off a tense and twisty birthday like no other. With cryptic clues and dangerous secrets waiting to be unearthed, the suspense builds fast… and no one feels safe. I highly encourage you to read this book. Yo...

Part 3: This Is Why We Lie by Gabriella Lepore (Pages 204–312) In this episode, we dive into the heart-pounding final chapters of This Is Why We Lie ! Secrets come to a head as we finally discover who didn’t make it out of the second “incident” down at the harbor, and the truth about the mysterious blonde girl who keeps appearing in every photo. After two murders, the tension rises even higher. Co...

The mystery deepens in Part 2 of This Is Why We Lie ! In this episode, we unravel the secrets hidden beneath the surface of both Preston Prep and Rookwood Reform School. As the investigation into Colleen's death intensifies, lies start to crack and the truth is messier than anyone expected. Join me as I break down pages 101–203, diving into shocking twists, shady alibis, and the characters who...

In this episode, we dive into the first 100 pages of This is Why We Lie by Gabriella LePore! Meet Jenna, the ambitious student journalist from Preston Prep, and Adam, a student at the nearby correctional school, Rookwood. As a mysterious death rocks their coastal town, secrets begin to bubble beneath the surface. I highly encourage you to read this book. You can find it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/f...

It's the third and final video covering the book You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M McManus. Mateo, Ivy, and Cal finally discover who is behind the death of their classmate Boney. The mystery is solved but will there be a happy ending for this trio....not quite. I highly encourage you to read You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus yourself. You can find it on Amazon: https://w...

So much is happening in You'll Be the Death of Me Part 2! Mateo and Ivy are on a relationship rollercoaster. They find a mysterious note to Ms. Jameson signed by an unknown person going by D. The biggest question for this section is how everyone is connected??? I highly encourage you to read You'll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus yourself. You can find it on Amazon: https://www.amaz...

In this Karen M. McManus mystery Ivy, Mateo, and Cal decide to take a Ferris Bueller's Day Off when they discover the body of one of their classmates in an abandoned apartment building. There are plenty of mysteries to be solved in part one of this story including but not limited to, who is Cal's secret girlfriend and why is she most definitely a suspect in the murder? Sorry for the techni...

We made it!! Finally we are finishing the series A Good Girls Guide to Murder with Part 3 of As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson. Does Pip get away with it or will she and her friends spend the rest of their days either living in fear or in jail? If you need a good laugh you can find me on social media: www.tiktok.com/@thejollyreaderpodcast www.instagram.com/thejollyreaderpodcast/ www.facebook.com/th...

It's Part 2 of As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson and we find out who the DT Killer is! We still have 1/3 of the book left too. I was surprisingly frustrated with this section but it made for a good episode. I hope you all enjoy it. I started a Patreon with even more content! https://www.patreon.com/thejollyreader If you need a good laugh you can find me on social media: www.tiktok.com/@thejolly...

We made it to As Good As Dead the finale to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Series by Holly Jackson! Pip is back at it but this time she has to save herself in order to save herself. She is struggling with some major PTSD from the events of the last book and now she has a stalker of her very own she needs to find. I am very excited to be finishing up with series with my amazing crew! If you need...

It's the big finale of Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson! We find out what happened to Jamie and it is absolutely not what you think. Pip saves the day...kind of because someone doesn't make it out alive! Check out book two for yourself! https://amzn.to/3U2lCMu If you need a good laugh you can find me on social media: www.tiktok.com/@thejollyreaderpodcast www.instagram.com/thejollyread...

Things are heating up in the second part of Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson. Jamie is still missing and we seem to be getting more questions than answers. What was the knife for? Who is Layla Mead? and of course WHERE THE HECK IS JAMIE?!? Check out book two for yourself! https://amzn.to/3U2lCMu If you need a good laugh you can find me on social media: www.tiktok.com/@thejollyreaderpodcast ww...