A Study in Charlotte Book Review

Written By MK

A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS

Date: 5-03-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 7.8/10

Book Cover Rating: 3.7/10

(My personal opinion)

Title: A Study in Charlotte

Author: Brittany Cavallaro

Pages: 336

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Mystery

Subplots: Romance

Romance Level: 1/3

Series: Charlotte Holmes #1

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Published: 2016

Number of Editions: 32

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audio

Awards Won: Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction

Goodreads Rating: 3.75/5

# of Goodreads Ratings: 64,443

Amazon Rating: 4.3/5

# of Amazon Ratings: 3,017

Common Sense Media Age Recommendation: 14+

Movie/TV Show?? : No

Book Type: Standard

POV Type: Single, First Person

Pacing: Medium

Generally: Watson/Holmes descendants, Holmes crime scene re-makes, framed for murder

Blurb:

The last thing Jamie Watson wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s great-great-great-granddaughter, who has inherited not only Sherlock’s genius but also his volatile temperament.

From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder.



My Review

Main Characters:

  1. James Watson- James is the main character in this book. Most people call him Jaime, but he does not particularly like it. He is an aspiring writer, and enjoys puzzles. He is, obviously, a descendent of Dr. Watson

  2. Charlotte Holmes- Holmes is Jamie’s friend. Since birth, she has been raised to be analytical, discerning, emotionless, and a problem solver. However, she feels a ton of pressure, and it can lead her to make mistakes. She is, obviously, a descendent of Sherlock Holmes.

    Wow!! Not to be rude, but I usually prefer FMCs to MMCs, but I LOVED Jamie (of course I also loved Charlotte). Thought I wasn’t really able to connect or relate to the characters. They had AMAZING character development, unique personalities, and fun interactions.

Character Rating: 8.1/10

Setting:

This book takes place at Sherringford boarding school in Connecticut.

This was a solid setting. The atmosphere was tense and exciting, and the physical setting was also interesting, but nothing world-breaking.

Setting Rating: 6.9/10

Plot:

To be completely honest, this book put me in an AWFUL reading slump 😭. It took me way too long to finish this, just because I wasn’t feeling it. The plot seemed great, exciting, and well put together, but in reality, most parts bored me (this could EASILY just be a me problem though). The mystery aspects, though, were well developed, detailed, and engaging.

Plot Rating: 6.6/10

Writing:

This was my first Brittany Cavallaro book, and I was pleasantly surprised!! The whole book was written well, but the mystery stood out as having AMAZING writing.

Writing Rating: 9.0/10

Ending:

This was a great ending! It wrapped up the mystery aspects well, left the characters in a place I liked, and will hopefully lead into the rest of the series well!

Ending Rating: 8.7/10

The Overall:

Overall, this was a good mystery book. I LOVED the characters and mystery elements. They were well written and developed. But, to be honest, I got bored near the middle of the book. The plot lost me a little. I still enjoyed this book, and can’t wait to continue the series!

Overall Book Rating: 7.8/10

I would recommend this book



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Or buy on Amazon: A Study in Charlotte

ChatGPT’s Opinion: A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro is a smart, engaging YA mystery that reimagines the descendants of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as modern-day teens navigating a murder case at a boarding school. The novel blends classic detective tropes with contemporary issues like trauma and addiction, offering sharp writing and a compelling central duo. While some elements lean heavily on Holmesian archetypes and familiar YA dynamics, the story stands out for its fast-paced mystery and nuanced character work, making it a strong pick for fans of clever, character-driven thrillers.

  • Brittany Cavallaro is the New York Times bestselling author of the Charlotte Holmes novels, including A Study in Charlotte, and the historical fantasy duology Muse (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books). With Emily Henry, she is the author of HelloGirls (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books). Most recently, she wrote the young adult verse novel Sunrise Nights with Jeff Zentner (HarperCollins/Quill Tree).

     

    Cavallaro is also the author of the poetry collections Girl-King and Unhistorical, both from University of Akron Press. A recipient of a National Endowment in the Arts fellowship, she received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her PhD in English literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Currently, she teaches creative writing at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where she lives with her husband, cats, and golden retriever.

    • Sunrise Nights

    • The Last of August

    • The Case for Jaime

    • A Question of Holmes

    • Hello Girls

    • Muse

    • Manifest

    • Girl-King

    • Unhistorical

  • Goodreads

What did you think of this book??

MK https://alltruereviewsbymk.com
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