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writingbookscoffee's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Excrement, Drug use, and Pedophilia
toofondofbooks_'s review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Gore, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Drug use, Suicide, Sexual content, Cancer, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Murder, Classism, Child abuse, Abandonment, Drug abuse, and Domestic abuse
aghoststory's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There is one thing guaranteed from a Courtney Summers novel - it’s going to hurt.
I’M THE GIRL is no different. I actually had to take a few days before writing this review because I had a lot to think on. Honestly, I am not sure I have probably landed on what those thoughts are yet. Summers is never one to shy away from dark and difficult topics, and I love that about her work. In this latest release I knew it would be even more dark considering it is inspired by the exploitation and dangerous society young women live in (I believe this was inspired by the Jeffery Epstein case?) However, I am not sure I was prepared for just what awaited my reading experience.
Following teen Georgia as she steps into the world of Aspera and faces the darkness that lies there is hard. As a reader, I struggled to understand her actions - her dependence on needing to be see as beautiful and perfect and worthy at her own cost. And it was hard to watch her be let down by those who were supposed to protect her over and over.. My mind kept going back to an earlier review I saw that stated something along the lines of Georgia just being a girl. She was still so young. I just wished her all the peace that girls deserve to grow up with.
With themes of bodily autonomy and violence and the dangers of victim blaming I’M THE GIRL is a brutal, raw, and unflinching dive into the patriarchal society we live in
Note: Please be mindful of your personal triggers with this book. I know it is categorized as YA but it has some graphic sexual violence for the genre. It has A LOT of heavy content.
*ARC was given by Wednesday Press for review
I’M THE GIRL is no different. I actually had to take a few days before writing this review because I had a lot to think on. Honestly, I am not sure I have probably landed on what those thoughts are yet. Summers is never one to shy away from dark and difficult topics, and I love that about her work. In this latest release I knew it would be even more dark considering it is inspired by the exploitation and dangerous society young women live in (I believe this was inspired by the Jeffery Epstein case?) However, I am not sure I was prepared for just what awaited my reading experience.
Following teen Georgia as she steps into the world of Aspera and faces the darkness that lies there is hard. As a reader, I struggled to understand her actions - her dependence on needing to be see as beautiful and perfect and worthy at her own cost. And it was hard to watch her be let down by those who were supposed to protect her over and over.. My mind kept going back to an earlier review I saw that stated something along the lines of Georgia just being a girl. She was still so young. I just wished her all the peace that girls deserve to grow up with.
With themes of bodily autonomy and violence and the dangers of victim blaming I’M THE GIRL is a brutal, raw, and unflinching dive into the patriarchal society we live in
Note: Please be mindful of your personal triggers with this book. I know it is categorized as YA but it has some graphic sexual violence for the genre. It has A LOT of heavy content.
*ARC was given by Wednesday Press for review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Child abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Pedophilia
mrscorytee's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Child abuse
saragrochowski's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
I’ve been reading Courtney Summers’ YA novels since 2008, the year her debut “Cracked Up to Be” was published and the last year of my own teens. There are only a handful of authors whose work I feel is always exactly what I need before I even realize I need it; that leaves me feeling seen and empowered despite the emotional devastation on the page. After that first book, I hoped there would be more from Summers and every year or so I’m excited and relieved to spot a new book announcement. Over the years my appreciation for Summers’ dedication to confronting and deconstructing the way society and those in power continually fail and victimize girls and young women has grown.
On September 13, her tenth book, “I’m the Girl,” will hit shelves. Inspired by the Epstein trial and other instances of abuse, this book is about power, agency, identity, and our need for love and acceptance. It is not an easy read. It will make you uncomfortable. It should make you uncomfortable.
I wish I had had “I’m the Girl” when I was in my teens, but I am so incredibly glad it exists today and hope it provokes honest and necessary conversations amongst teens and the trusted adults in their lives despite - and because of - that discomfort.
📚 “I’m the Girl” by Courtney Summers / Ages 14 & up / Available 9/13 from Wednesday Books
On September 13, her tenth book, “I’m the Girl,” will hit shelves. Inspired by the Epstein trial and other instances of abuse, this book is about power, agency, identity, and our need for love and acceptance. It is not an easy read. It will make you uncomfortable. It should make you uncomfortable.
I wish I had had “I’m the Girl” when I was in my teens, but I am so incredibly glad it exists today and hope it provokes honest and necessary conversations amongst teens and the trusted adults in their lives despite - and because of - that discomfort.
📚 “I’m the Girl” by Courtney Summers / Ages 14 & up / Available 9/13 from Wednesday Books
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Incest
lilythebibliophile's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader’s copy of this book!
2.5 stars
I was so excited to start I’m the Girl. Unfortunately, the important message of this story is hindered by its lackluster execution. There are aspects of this book that I loved, but I want to start by talking about why I’m rating it 2.5 stars.
The plot of this story is almost nonexistent until the very end, which does redeem the book somewhat. I like stories that are slow-paced, but I feel like I was just reading endless pages of description about what every character was wearing and random hand movements they were making rather than reading dialogue simmering with tension or about anything of import. There are other ways to convey the dichotomy between the rich and the poor besides painstakingly detailing characters' outfits. I feel like I barely know the characters as a result of this dull, repetitive description, and while I understand why Cleo and Matthew Hayes were mysterious figures, I shouldn’t feel that way about Georgia or Nora.
Georgia’s desire to be an Aspera girl was reiterated on practically every page in the first half of the book, yet we don’t really learn why she wants to be one. I’d rather have the motivations behind Georgia’s dreams be overstated than the dreams themselves. It says that Georgia wants to use that position as a way to escape poverty, and that she wants to prove to her mother that she can be an Aspera girl, but we didn’t get a real window into how Georgia’s economic standing and her relationship with her mother impacted her life. That would have been more interesting to read about than to read paragraphs upon paragraphs about how much Georgia wants to work at Aspera.
I know that I read a prepublication copy of this book, but the writing style of this book was clumsy and confusing at times. Some of the attempts at lyricism here defied the rules of grammar, and not in a necessary or inventive way. I had to read some sentences twice to make sure that I hadn’t misread anything. Also, certain words were taken out of the dialogue to make the dialogue sound more natural, but it read as clunky. For instance, instead of a character saying, “Are you working at Aspera?” they would say, “Working at Aspera?”. This isn’t a quote from the book, but an example so that you know what I’m talking about. That’s not a horrible writing choice, but it does make it harder for readers to figure out who is being spoken to or talked about. And yes, people talk casually in real life, but not in the way that I was reading. Like, someone I know might say, “You working at Aspera?” but they wouldn’t take out the “you”.
Also, I don’t want to police authors, but this is the third Courtney Summers book in a row that deals with avenging a sister after something has happened to her. I was actually excited to see that Georgia didn’t have a sister, and then Nora was introduced, and I was disappointed. I don’t have an issue with that subject matter; I just think that there are only so many different ways you can talk about being the sibling of someone who has been killed or sexually assaulted or abused in some manner. There are only so many nuances and different thoughts you can have about that. Plus, Courtney Summers' previous book, Sadie, expressed all of those thoughts succinctly and beautifully, and in a more expert way than in I’m the Girl.
Additionally, I was uncomfortable with how lesbianism was portrayed in this book. Every time Georgia sees a female character in this book (besides Liv and Ashley), she describes her breasts or her body or objectifies her in some manner. There is even a scene where Georgia peeps on Cleo, which is a complete boundary breach. I am upset to see that our lesbian main character (who we are supposed to root for) is depicted as a predator. This perpetuates negative stereotypes against the LGBTQIAP+ community.
Now, moving on to the aspects of this book that I loved. Refreshing, right?
Georgia’s refusal to admit that she was a victim was painfully real. Her journey of realization is one that a lot of victims go through, and to see it written in a non-judgmental way was lovely. Throughout the course of this book, Georgia keeps repeating that she looks beautiful, and then there’s a moment where she looks in the mirror and all she can say is that she looks young. She realized that she should not be seen as beautiful, not by grown adults. I loved that.
While the dramatic irony employed in I’m the Girl for readers that know that this book is based on the Epstein case does give away its plot, I loved how naive Georgia was. I’ve read some reviews saying, “How could she be so stupid?” or things along those lines, but there’s a reason why teen girls get groomed. It’s not because they’re stupid, it’s because they don’t want to believe that anything bad can happen to them, and because they are at the hands of master manipulators.
There was one small twist in this book that I did not see coming, and I appreciated that.
The whole tone of this book is monotonous until the last 10%, and while that makes the reading experience less than enjoyable, it does mean that the climax of this book surprised me and got my adrenaline flowing. I'm the Girl ends at the height of its action, and I loved that choice. It made me start to feel actual emotions about this book, and my heart was still pumping after reading the final page.
2.5 stars
I was so excited to start I’m the Girl. Unfortunately, the important message of this story is hindered by its lackluster execution. There are aspects of this book that I loved, but I want to start by talking about why I’m rating it 2.5 stars.
The plot of this story is almost nonexistent until the very end, which does redeem the book somewhat. I like stories that are slow-paced, but I feel like I was just reading endless pages of description about what every character was wearing and random hand movements they were making rather than reading dialogue simmering with tension or about anything of import. There are other ways to convey the dichotomy between the rich and the poor besides painstakingly detailing characters' outfits. I feel like I barely know the characters as a result of this dull, repetitive description, and while I understand why Cleo and Matthew Hayes were mysterious figures, I shouldn’t feel that way about Georgia or Nora.
Georgia’s desire to be an Aspera girl was reiterated on practically every page in the first half of the book, yet we don’t really learn why she wants to be one. I’d rather have the motivations behind Georgia’s dreams be overstated than the dreams themselves. It says that Georgia wants to use that position as a way to escape poverty, and that she wants to prove to her mother that she can be an Aspera girl, but we didn’t get a real window into how Georgia’s economic standing and her relationship with her mother impacted her life. That would have been more interesting to read about than to read paragraphs upon paragraphs about how much Georgia wants to work at Aspera.
I know that I read a prepublication copy of this book, but the writing style of this book was clumsy and confusing at times. Some of the attempts at lyricism here defied the rules of grammar, and not in a necessary or inventive way. I had to read some sentences twice to make sure that I hadn’t misread anything. Also, certain words were taken out of the dialogue to make the dialogue sound more natural, but it read as clunky. For instance, instead of a character saying, “Are you working at Aspera?” they would say, “Working at Aspera?”. This isn’t a quote from the book, but an example so that you know what I’m talking about. That’s not a horrible writing choice, but it does make it harder for readers to figure out who is being spoken to or talked about. And yes, people talk casually in real life, but not in the way that I was reading. Like, someone I know might say, “You working at Aspera?” but they wouldn’t take out the “you”.
Also, I don’t want to police authors, but this is the third Courtney Summers book in a row that deals with avenging a sister after something has happened to her. I was actually excited to see that Georgia didn’t have a sister, and then Nora was introduced, and I was disappointed. I don’t have an issue with that subject matter; I just think that there are only so many different ways you can talk about being the sibling of someone who has been killed or sexually assaulted or abused in some manner. There are only so many nuances and different thoughts you can have about that. Plus, Courtney Summers' previous book, Sadie, expressed all of those thoughts succinctly and beautifully, and in a more expert way than in I’m the Girl.
Additionally, I was uncomfortable with how lesbianism was portrayed in this book. Every time Georgia sees a female character in this book (besides Liv and Ashley), she describes her breasts or her body or objectifies her in some manner. There is even a scene where Georgia peeps on Cleo, which is a complete boundary breach. I am upset to see that our lesbian main character (who we are supposed to root for) is depicted as a predator. This perpetuates negative stereotypes against the LGBTQIAP+ community.
Now, moving on to the aspects of this book that I loved. Refreshing, right?
Georgia’s refusal to admit that she was a victim was painfully real. Her journey of realization is one that a lot of victims go through, and to see it written in a non-judgmental way was lovely. Throughout the course of this book, Georgia keeps repeating that she looks beautiful, and then there’s a moment where she looks in the mirror and all she can say is that she looks young. She realized that she should not be seen as beautiful, not by grown adults. I loved that.
While the dramatic irony employed in I’m the Girl for readers that know that this book is based on the Epstein case does give away its plot, I loved how naive Georgia was. I’ve read some reviews saying, “How could she be so stupid?” or things along those lines, but there’s a reason why teen girls get groomed. It’s not because they’re stupid, it’s because they don’t want to believe that anything bad can happen to them, and because they are at the hands of master manipulators.
There was one small twist in this book that I did not see coming, and I appreciated that.
The whole tone of this book is monotonous until the last 10%, and while that makes the reading experience less than enjoyable, it does mean that the climax of this book surprised me and got my adrenaline flowing. I'm the Girl ends at the height of its action, and I loved that choice. It made me start to feel actual emotions about this book, and my heart was still pumping after reading the final page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual violence
clarereadstheworld's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I found this book deeply disturbing.
I really struggled to identify with the main character, who was so desperate for any tiny scrap of validation from the male gaze that she was totally blind to how grossly she was being manipulated and abused by those around her. I know this kind of thing happens in real life, and it's important to have books and discussions about it, but I felt the writing, much like the main character was sorely missing in depth and maturity.
Not only this, I think it would be a rather dangerous book from the impressionable younger audience it seems to be written and marketed to. Seriously, do not let younger girls read this book, and even as a full grown semi mature adult I wouldn't really recommend it either.
I really struggled to identify with the main character, who was so desperate for any tiny scrap of validation from the male gaze that she was totally blind to how grossly she was being manipulated and abused by those around her. I know this kind of thing happens in real life, and it's important to have books and discussions about it, but I felt the writing, much like the main character was sorely missing in depth and maturity.
Not only this, I think it would be a rather dangerous book from the impressionable younger audience it seems to be written and marketed to. Seriously, do not let younger girls read this book, and even as a full grown semi mature adult I wouldn't really recommend it either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Georgia Avis found the body of 13-year-old Ashley James. Depserate to find some sort of justice for her, she teams up with Ashley's older sister Nora to find out who her killer was. However, the investigation puts Georgia herself in danger as she navigates the world of the wealthy and powerful. People who never have to answer for anything.
As Nora and Georgia get closer to the killer, Georgia realizes it might not just be about one person who is guily. When everyone around you is a part of the dangerous thing, how do you decide who is at fault? And how do you keep yourself from enjoying the power that it can bring? Georgia has to figure out how to have her own power to hopefully bring Ashley's killer to justice.
Thanks to NetGalley, LibroFM, and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of I'm the Girl by Courtney Summers to review! Courtney Summers is never afraid to cover the tough topics, and this book is no different. It's being pitched as a kind of successor to Sadie, and that's an accurate description. It definitely has the same kind of feel.
I'll start with the fact that this book isn't easy to get through. Summers tackles a lot of issues connected to teen girls in relation to men who are wealthy with power. There are some very dark moments in this book, especially as Georgia tackles her own traumas. While she might not be the most likeable character, that's also kind of the point. Teen girls are complex beings, and that's part of Summers' purpose in writing these stories. They need to be told as much as the happy ones.
Summers also nails the emotions in this book. All Georgia really wants is someone to love her and appreciate her for her beauty. She wants her life to mean something, pretty much like anyone else does. It's part of the reason the relationship between her and Nora works so well. They're both looking for someone to support them, to help them through their trauma. It felt so realistic.
The narrator for the audiobook is also fantastic. I was engaged in the story the entire time, even if it was difficult to read. Summers takes you on the same journey as Georgia.
All in all, if you look for dark, true crime like stories, this one will be right up your alley.
-----
No one really writes the bleak reality of teen girls quite like Courtney Summers does. Stay tuned for a full review to come soon!
As Nora and Georgia get closer to the killer, Georgia realizes it might not just be about one person who is guily. When everyone around you is a part of the dangerous thing, how do you decide who is at fault? And how do you keep yourself from enjoying the power that it can bring? Georgia has to figure out how to have her own power to hopefully bring Ashley's killer to justice.
Thanks to NetGalley, LibroFM, and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of I'm the Girl by Courtney Summers to review! Courtney Summers is never afraid to cover the tough topics, and this book is no different. It's being pitched as a kind of successor to Sadie, and that's an accurate description. It definitely has the same kind of feel.
I'll start with the fact that this book isn't easy to get through. Summers tackles a lot of issues connected to teen girls in relation to men who are wealthy with power. There are some very dark moments in this book, especially as Georgia tackles her own traumas. While she might not be the most likeable character, that's also kind of the point. Teen girls are complex beings, and that's part of Summers' purpose in writing these stories. They need to be told as much as the happy ones.
Summers also nails the emotions in this book. All Georgia really wants is someone to love her and appreciate her for her beauty. She wants her life to mean something, pretty much like anyone else does. It's part of the reason the relationship between her and Nora works so well. They're both looking for someone to support them, to help them through their trauma. It felt so realistic.
The narrator for the audiobook is also fantastic. I was engaged in the story the entire time, even if it was difficult to read. Summers takes you on the same journey as Georgia.
All in all, if you look for dark, true crime like stories, this one will be right up your alley.
-----
No one really writes the bleak reality of teen girls quite like Courtney Summers does. Stay tuned for a full review to come soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction, Rape, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Drug use
annamariahz's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When sixteen-year-old Georgie discovers the body of her classmate's thirteen-year- old sister, she is thrust into a world far more dangerous than she could understand. Georgie is trying to escape her family's poverty and believes that her beauty is her way out. But the privilege and wealth of the people around her quickly become dangerous. This is not a fun read (please check the trigger warnings before you read this book). It is uncomfortable and heartbreaking. The entire story is told from Georgie's perspective, and she is a very unreliable narrator. But as the reader, you can see the dangerous situations that she enters and the grooming the adults are doing around her, even when she doesn't, which makes it very unsettling to read. But it also discusses such important topics, and it was incredibly moving.
Thank you to Wednesday Books for gifting me this ARC as part of a Goodreads giveaway. It was a gripping read!
Thank you to Wednesday Books for gifting me this ARC as part of a Goodreads giveaway. It was a gripping read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Sexual assault
thebookstagrambabe's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
What the F*ck did I just read? The only way I can describe the book as is ICKY! The trigger warnings are in abundance. I can't believe this is a book marketed towards young adults. I can't even summarize this book because it just felt so messy and disjointed and not in a good way. Im not gonna lie, I was attracted to the cover and the blurb sounded somewhat interesting so I requested this on Netgalley. I hadn't read any of the authors other work but her other books seemed to have good ratings.
This book had one too many plots and was way too graphic. It seemed to glorify abusing beautiful women and there really is no resolve to this book. We just find out what happens and then fade to black. Like WHAT?! There is no conclusion here. No, she finds out and tries to stop it. Basically this book is just a big middle finger to woman and to tell them don't even try to help because the bad guys are always gonna win and the people you think are good guys aren't. Maybe I'm just too bright eyed, but this book was just not it.
Thanks to the publisher for an ALC in return for an honest review. This book releases 9/13
This book had one too many plots and was way too graphic. It seemed to glorify abusing beautiful women and there really is no resolve to this book. We just find out what happens and then fade to black. Like WHAT?! There is no conclusion here. No, she finds out and tries to stop it. Basically this book is just a big middle finger to woman and to tell them don't even try to help because the bad guys are always gonna win and the people you think are good guys aren't. Maybe I'm just too bright eyed, but this book was just not it.
Thanks to the publisher for an ALC in return for an honest review. This book releases 9/13
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Gore, Death, Rape, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Classism, and Adult/minor relationship