What readers think of The Jills, plus links to write your own review.

I'm a bit disappointed in this book. I'm not sure what I anticipated but it wasn't a mystery; I was thinking maybe it would be more a story about how the whole NFL cheerleader world worked - there's some of that. The author's note gives the history of the Jills and based on what I read there, it seemed to me there was a better story there than one about crime and corruption that emerged.

Virginia is a fitness instructor by day and a Buffalo Bills cheerleader by weekend. She doesn't get paid for the later, hence why the former is important - so far so good! When her friend, Jeanine, is MIA for a Sunday game and beyond, Virginia investigates and uncovers secrets that take her back in time to helping her sister, Laura, struggle with drug addiction. She also uncovers things better left alone. It's a sinister world - I was hoping for something lighter.

Overall the whole cheerleader thing comes off as negative. In this book it seems to be part of a criminal enterprise - even I wouldn't wish that on these women who are there to lure the male viewers in every Sunday of the season! While the friendship element is strong in the book, it doesn't overtake the negativity I think this book gives to NFL cheerleaders.

In the moments when Virginia tells of the dancing and camaraderie, the book is fine but I think the author lost her way from the stated intention in her note at the end of exposing the complexities of the job of an NFL cheerleading.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read this ARC.