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, TikTok 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)...

Baby-sitters Little Sister: Karen's Haircut: THE BOOK CLUB AT-A-GLANCE
+ Get *all* the amazing book deets 
+ Meet our ~srsly fabulous~ #bookstagrammer besties
+ Learn how to join our book club!

Heart adorable friendships, relatable middle school stories and all the inspo to own who you are? Then you're probably a Baby-sitters Club superfan. And with prime poolside reading time ahead, it's the perfect moment to dive back into the world of Stoneybrook through the fab graphic novel spinoff series Baby-sitters Little Sister.

In these high-key entertaining books, you'll get to know the world of Karen aka BSC leader Kristy's spunky younger stepsister as she handles hilarious mishaps, goes through bestie ups and downs and finds the courage to be confident.

Karen's current sticky sitch? After springing for a glam new haircut to overhaul her self-esteem struggles, she (eek!) ends up with a completely messed up 'do. Now she's feeling more insecure than ever.

Are the cringe vibes going to drag her down...or will Karen find a way to own her new look?! You'll have to snag a copy of Baby-sitters Little Sister: Karen's Haircut to find out. Plus, you're going to love the amazing illustrations, cute check-ins with your BSC faves *and* all the cool new characters in this sweet summer page-turner.

What are you waiting for? Read it now!

Did our Bestie Book Club love Karen's Haircut? Read on! These ~fabulous~ GL girls heart reading as much as you do—and they're here to answer *all* our most burning questions about our July read!

Shelia'Celine @sheliaceline

Your BSC bestie would have to be... "Claudia. I love her passion for art almost as much as her style—especially when she rocks the OG white Air Force sneaks."
On your reading radar: "More Little Sister novels, for sure." 
Fave dynamic duo? "Nancy + Karen. Nancy is such a good friend to Karen and tries to cheer her up. I do the same thing for my besties when they're down."

Paizley @paizley_steven

A time when your confidence was shaken: "Right after I got my braces. I didn't feel like my old self and that was really hard."
You'd so recommend this book to... "Anyone who needs a reminder that beauty shines from the inside out."
One relatable moment? "Probably the scene where Karen gets her haircut. You can see on her face that it's too short. I can totally relate to thinking something, but not saying it out loud."

Abigail @abigailzoelewis

A lesson you learned from this read: "Everyone is beautiful in their own way. It sounds cliché but having this mindset makes a big difference."
Instant mood booster? "Being a little extra with my makeup. I love blasting music and strutting around my room in bold eyeshadow and a red lip." 
You totally connected to Karen when... "She starts comparing herself to others. When that happens to me, it helps to do affirmations like 'I am enough.'" 

Joy @joytuckofficial

Fave member of the BSC? "Claudia. She's Asian, just like me—and that representation is so important." 
You love graphic novels because... "They're quick to read and the illustrations keep me engaged in the story." 
What makes you feel most confident? "Tbh, just being myself."

Kenz, Katie and Kameron @couchsisters

One moment that made an impact: "Right after Karen's haircut. You can tell she's trying to make the best of a bad sitch, but it isn't easy."
Top reader tip: "Read things that interest you, not just what's trending. And always ask for recs from your friends."
Would you join the Baby-sitters Club? "Absolutely. We're big fans of the OG books *and* the graphic novels."

Kelsey @kelseykays_

You couldn't get enough of... "Karen's sweet and silly personality. She has so much little sister energy."
How'd you get hooked on reading? "Through graphic novels! They changed the book game for me."
How would you rate this book? "Can I rank higher than five stars? Long live the Baby-sitters Club!"

Whether you're getting ready for school or glamming up for fam dinner, this playlist is basically a pep talk from your bestie. 💋

So you've read the book and you're ready to talk all things Karen's Haircut? Then get even more involved with our Bestie Book Club. Here's how...
+ SOLO. Take out your journal and answer any of our reader response prompts based on Karen's Haircut:  After her bad haircut, Karen’s confidence is shaken. Can you think of a time when you felt insecure? How did you overcome those feelings? What makes you feel most confident?
+ ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Share your thoughts on Karen's Haircut using the hashtag #glbestiebookclub on Twitter and Instagram. 
+ WITH YOUR SQUAD. Host a book club party to chat about the questions above. Psst: It's the perfect occasion to reach out to a new friend with an invite. 

by GL | 7/5/2023