The Ghoul Next Door (Monster High #2) by Lisi Harrison

**If you haven’t read the first book in the series, I would recommend you do so before reading this review, because it contains spoilers**

In Monster High, we were left with a terrible cliffhanger with Melody trying to protect Jackson, while trying to save Frankie too. In The Ghoul Next Door, they create a plan and put it into action. It doesn’t work out quite the way they want it to, and before they know it, with the help of Brett they are making a documentary about teenage monsters to try to convince the public that they aren’t dangerous. It’s going to air on Channel 2, but of course they are going to blur out everyone’s faces, so they can’t be identified.

This part I disagree with, because wouldn’t they be able to recognize the monster’s voices or clothes with someone they sat next to in school? They could probably still be identified, but nice idea Frankie!

In the first book, the story shifts between Melody’s story and Frankie’s story. In the sequel, Melody and Frankie’s part is still told, but there is also Cleo’s side.

Cleo is spoiled, stuck up, arrogant, and selfish. But what else could you expect from a queen? Her dad returns from a trip to Egypt and brings home ancient jewels from Aunt Nefertiti. Before they know it, Cleo is going to be in a Teen Vogue photo shoot with the jewels. She’s so excited about it, and wants to share it with her friends. But her friends aren’t really interested in her at the moment, because they’re caught up with the documentary (it airs on the same day as the photo shoot, what a coincidence!). So she has to plot what to do so that her friends will stop focusing on the documentary, and more on HER!

That part reminds me of Mean Girls, because the queen is being dethroned and tries to get back on top. Classic chick-lit plot basically :)

One part I personally enjoyed was on page 23:

Just as Melody lifted her index finger over the touch screen, her phone was lifted from her hand.

“What are you doing?” she squealed at Candace.

“Trying to have a little family fun,” her sister teased, taunt-waving the phone. “You’ve been a total text maniac all night, and I want to know what’s going on.”

“Melody!” Beau said sternly. “Have you been sexting?”

That part actually made me laugh, like a parent would just automatically assume that!!!

I love how this book also has text message conversations, a poster, and a “missing” chapter. It makes for a unique read :)

I enjoyed chapter 14, which was written in Billy’s point of view. Billy is a ghost (which btw, they just kinda threw in the story! Lol) and so his picture doesn’t appear on the top of the page. And the writing fades at the end of the chapter. Nice effect!

I enjoyed all the pop culture references and how the book “explained” itself. I love books where sometimes you get the feel that it’s real, and there was a reason the book was written. At one part in the story, the characters get excited and say that someday maybe an author will write a teen series about them, and that Jackson drew doll versions of them. I like books that do this, and you feel like its real, even when you know its not.

Of course, there was another cliffhanger, which means that I’ll be reading the third book lol.

I would recommend this book to anyone who liked the first, or someone who wants a quick, light, fun read. It’s a guilty pleasure, and can be a bit dramatic, but if you aren’t bothered by the cheerleader-esque cattiness of it, you’ll enjoy it! 4 out of 5 stars for me :)