Scan barcode
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Car accident, Child death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Incest, Violence, Infidelity, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, and Sexual content
melaniereadsbooks's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC of this one
I experienced a very weird feeling throughout this. It is such an uncomfortable read--not in a bad way, just like...it is hard to get through. Definitely look into trigger warnings before this one.
The sexual harassment is sooooooooooo uncomfortable. I know that is the point but like it hurts so bad to "see" that play out. Like yikes. Poor Georgia...and everyone else.
This was so good and the atmosphere was perfect. I really did enjoy it despite how uncomfortable I felt. I mean, that was kind of the point, right?
I experienced a very weird feeling throughout this. It is such an uncomfortable read--not in a bad way, just like...it is hard to get through. Definitely look into trigger warnings before this one.
The sexual harassment is sooooooooooo uncomfortable. I know that is the point but like it hurts so bad to "see" that play out. Like yikes. Poor Georgia...and everyone else.
This was so good and the atmosphere was perfect. I really did enjoy it despite how uncomfortable I felt. I mean, that was kind of the point, right?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Addiction
karina_dreamsinwords's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Anyone who has read Summers' previous work know that she is not one to shy away from writing stories focusing on difficult subject matter. I'm The Girl is no exception.
This bold, hard hitting and timely thriller follows sixteen year old Georgia after she discovers the lifeless body of a young teen girl in the woods. She teams up with the victim's older sister to track down the killer before he strikes again.What Georgia finds out might reveal more than she's ready to confront.
A truly powerful story by a masterful storyteller giving a voice to those seldom heard. Summers' writing flows so effortlessly that you're pulled in from the start and are gasping for air until the very last page. I finished this one with tears streaming down my face so be warned that it may do the same for you.
Please be sure to check trigger warnings due to the subject matter in this one. If you are one that appreciates an atmospheric, boundary pushing female narrative, and stories that will stick with you long after you are finished reading be sure not to miss this!!
This bold, hard hitting and timely thriller follows sixteen year old Georgia after she discovers the lifeless body of a young teen girl in the woods. She teams up with the victim's older sister to track down the killer before he strikes again.What Georgia finds out might reveal more than she's ready to confront.
A truly powerful story by a masterful storyteller giving a voice to those seldom heard. Summers' writing flows so effortlessly that you're pulled in from the start and are gasping for air until the very last page. I finished this one with tears streaming down my face so be warned that it may do the same for you.
Please be sure to check trigger warnings due to the subject matter in this one. If you are one that appreciates an atmospheric, boundary pushing female narrative, and stories that will stick with you long after you are finished reading be sure not to miss this!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction and Violence
Minor: Cancer
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
lrcartee's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Georgia Avis wants more from life. She feels she deserves more and is determined to have more no matter the stakes. To Georgia, the epitome of making it is to become an “Aspera girl”. Aspera is an elite resort for the rich and famous surrounding by mystery and secrets. When Georgia is offered a job there, the secrets begin to unravel.
I love Courtney Summers books. I love how she tackles difficult subjects and brings them to light. I wanted to love this book. I did not. There were so many plot points that it was very hard to decide how to write a synopsis. Was it about Georgia’s obsession with the resort and the people who run it? Was it the fact Georgia found the dead body of a 13 year old girl and trying to solve the mystery of what happened to her? Was it about trying to spotlight a young girl’s naïveté and thereby unable to see the dangers that lurked around her? I don’t know! It was all those things and didn’t do any of them particularly well. It was too disjointed and because of that nothing really resolved. As for character development, there was none. Georgia wandered in and out of so many traumatic experiences seemingly learning nothing from any of them. She became very trying.
The blurb for this book says it’s about Georgia and her friend trying to find out what happened to her friend’s sister. To me this was secondary. In my opinion, it was more about Georgia fulfilling her dreams no matter the cost and sometimes stumbling upon something about the murder case, usually by being in situations from very poor decision making.
Another reviewer wrote that the entire book was a giant trigger warning and I agree. They were all represented, rape, child molestation, grooming, human trafficking, murder, suicide, drug use, classism and more. For me, the book needed more cohesion. As I said I have loved Summers other books but this one, for me, was just too all over the place.
I love Courtney Summers books. I love how she tackles difficult subjects and brings them to light. I wanted to love this book. I did not. There were so many plot points that it was very hard to decide how to write a synopsis. Was it about Georgia’s obsession with the resort and the people who run it? Was it the fact Georgia found the dead body of a 13 year old girl and trying to solve the mystery of what happened to her? Was it about trying to spotlight a young girl’s naïveté and thereby unable to see the dangers that lurked around her? I don’t know! It was all those things and didn’t do any of them particularly well. It was too disjointed and because of that nothing really resolved. As for character development, there was none. Georgia wandered in and out of so many traumatic experiences seemingly learning nothing from any of them. She became very trying.
The blurb for this book says it’s about Georgia and her friend trying to find out what happened to her friend’s sister. To me this was secondary. In my opinion, it was more about Georgia fulfilling her dreams no matter the cost and sometimes stumbling upon something about the murder case, usually by being in situations from very poor decision making.
Another reviewer wrote that the entire book was a giant trigger warning and I agree. They were all represented, rape, child molestation, grooming, human trafficking, murder, suicide, drug use, classism and more. For me, the book needed more cohesion. As I said I have loved Summers other books but this one, for me, was just too all over the place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Car accident, Classism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
bookcrushin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book fucked me up. Not sure that’s a good or bad thing? All the content warnings. Be informed. Wonderfully crafted and written but this dark, suspenseful story isn’t for everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Classism, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Car accident, and Death
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Blood, Suicide, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, and Terminal illness
More...