Welcome back to our Bestie Book Club—
a community for book lovers from Girls' Life magazine.

If you're new here, hello and welcome! Here's how this works: Each month, we read, discuss and obsess over a new book. And if you haven't already, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram, where you'll be able to find Bestie Book Club updates, special contests, giveaways and more. 

Here's a quick list of everything you'll find inside this post (and beyond)...

Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy: THE BOOK CLUB AT-A-GLANCE
+ Check out this month's must-read (buy it right now HERE!)
+ Get *all* the amazing book deets (warning: spoilers abound!)
+ Meet our ~srsly fabulous~ #bookstagrammer besties
+ Learn how to join our book club!

Our December Bestie Book Club pick, Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy by Melissa de la Cruz, is *finally* here—and we couldn't be more excited about this magical adventure by this amazing author (Descendants series anyone?).

The first in The Chronicles of Never After, The Thirteenth Fairy follows Filomena, a sixth grader who's about to be swept away into her fave fictional world. Perfect for fairy tale fans and YA readers alike, this far-flung fantasy series will have you hooked from the very first chapter, trust. 

Pssst: Want to skip the spoilers and just read our (low spoiler) Bestie Book Club reviews? Click HERE.

Filomena Jefferson-Cho is an average middle schooler living an average life. That is, of course, until her world is flipped upside down when she discovers she's being followed by Jack Stalker...a character from her favorite fairy tale novels. At his insistence, Filomena follows him into the world of Never After—and discovers that the magical characters she's dreamed of all her life are, um, totally real. 

But the excitement doesn't stop there. Turns out Jack is depending on Filomena to stop the advances of Queen Olga, whose bloodthirsty armies are out to destroy the last fairy tribes of Westphalia. Does Filomena have the power within her to stop the evil enchantress—or will the queen take over the wonderful world of her beloved books? Equal parts enchanted and exhilarating, Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy is the perfect escapist read for winter break.

What are you waiting for? Read Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy now!

Spoiler level: Medium

Did our Bestie Book Club love Never After: The Thirteenth Fairy? Read on! Meet Kira, Allie, Kylee, Natalie and Chiara. These ~fabulous~ GL girls heart reading as much as you do—and they're here to answer *all* our most burning Q's about our December book pick!

Kira @cali.kira

Pick three words to describe The Thirteenth Fairy: "Exciting, relatable, magical."
If you could ask the author *any* question, what would it be? "In your opinion, who's the most iconic fairy tale character?" 
Are you ready for the release of the third and latest book? "Absolutely! I'm so looking forward to following Filomena on the rest of her journey."

Allie @allie.novels

How would you describe Filomena, the main character? "Strong-minded and brave. And Filomena's love for books, especially a 12-book fantasy series, is something I can totally relate to."
Which scenes were your favorite? "I absolutely loved the scenes with Gretel. Her adventurous fashion sense is on point."
What piece of advice would you give to new readers? "Most importantly, reading should be fun. It doesn't matter how fast or slow you read as long as you're enjoying the book. I recommend cuddling up with cozy blankets, grabbing a snack or two and making some hot cocoa."

Kylee @cheerps.lauren_k

Which character would you most want to be BFFs with? "Filomena. Going on adventures together would be so much fun."
Who would you recommend this read to? "I would recommend these books to anyone that loves a great mystery thriller."
What did you like best about Filomena? "I just love how much she loves books. She's so determined to save the kingdoms of Never After—and she doesn't give up on her dream." 

Natalie @thestarrybibliophile

Fave scene? "The moment where Filomena goes to the bookstore to get the thirteenth book in her favorite series. It reminded me so much of myself and the excitement I always feel when getting a new book—especially a sequel."
As a bookstagrammer, what are your top reading tips? "Read books online. I recommend using Libby, since all you need is your library card! Then I can switch seamlessly between my books and my e-book version."
How does Filomena change as the series progresses? "In the beginning, Filomena is shy, but as the stories unfold, she becomes confident in herself and her uniqueness."

Chiara @therealchiarad

Which chapters had you on the edge of your seat? "The end of the book was filled with so many twists and turns—especially when Alistair had to face off against the dragon. "
What did you think of Jack Stalker? "I really enjoyed reading about his back story. He and Filomena make a surprisingly good team."
Would you visit the kingdoms of Never After? "Definitely! Who doesn't dream of being a princess?"

Are you a fan of all things fantasy?
Check out these amaze adventure anthems!

So you've read the book and you're ready to talk all things Never After? Wondering *exactly* how the Bestie Book Club works and what it means to be a member? There are so many ways you can get involved—whether it's solo, on social media or with your squad. Here's a quick list...
+ SOLO. Take out your journal and answer any of our reader response prompts based on The Thirteenth Fairy: Who was your favorite character, and why? What three words would you use to describe this book? If you could ask the author *any* question about the read, what would it be?  Which scene(s) were your favorite? Who would you recommend this read to?
+ ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Share your thoughts on The Thirteenth Fairy using the hashtag #glbestiebookclub on Twitter and Instagram (Just remember: You have to have a public account for us to be able to see you and respond to your posts). 
+ WITH YOUR SQUAD. Host a book club party—IRL or Zoom— to chat about the questions above. Be sure to reach out to a new friend and bring them along. And be sure to tag us in your snaps so we can share them!

by GL | 12/6/2022