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library_kb's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
This is a dark book. In many ways, you can't fully trust the narrator and are kept in the dark about what is going on similar to We Were Liars, but with darker themes. There is a murder that happens and the book is about solving that murder, kind of, but it's mostly about our main character, Georgia's, journey of getting caught up and manipulated by those around her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship
aquariusisms's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
oof. OOF. i never write actual reviews on here but i just finished this and i'm reeling so i need to write down some thoughts.
having read both sadie and now this from courtney summers, i can say with certainty she's a master at writing complex, flawed, sometimes unlikeable but always loveable teenage girls. georgia was often infuriating to read as our protagonist, but only because her naivete and desperation for external validation of her worth (mainly through others validating her beauty) were achingly true to life and will make adult readers want to save her from her poor decisions. she wanted so much, was desperate for so much more in her life, and i wanted so much more for her. her relationships with her brother, mother, and nora were raw and heartbreaking and i saw myself in the way she struggled to make sense of her place in a world not built for her.
the themes here were so strong too- summers asks big questions such as: can girls and women truly manipulate the power dynamics between them and men, or is men's historical and empirical power over them inescapable? and: if dismantling patriarchy is a long and achingly slow process, and we as individuals can't do much about that, how do we build worlds for ourselves in the meantime, full of care and love? how do we dream of better futures outside of the structures of beauty we've been taught?
ultimately, this book is a treatise on grieving the girls and women who have been victims of systemic male violence in a world that makes that grief feel utterly isolating, and justice futile and powerless. this story calls it like it is and courtney summers does not pull punches when it comes to discussing how bleak and horrible the world can be to girls and women, especially those who are multiply marginalized. but the final message is ultimately about resilience, grasping at hope in the wake of trauma, and carving out space for yourself in a world that would rather see you disappear. it's about discovering the truth, defining beauty as you see it, and refusing to erase yourself and your values for the sake of assimilation and patriarchal power.
i'm only knocking it down 0.5 stars because i felt the pacing was a little off at times, and i think the protagonist's views of beauty = self-worth could have been interrogated more- but that said, it was still a completely engrossing and vitally important thriller, and i recommend picking it up if you can stomach the different triggers within.
having read both sadie and now this from courtney summers, i can say with certainty she's a master at writing complex, flawed, sometimes unlikeable but always loveable teenage girls. georgia was often infuriating to read as our protagonist, but only because her naivete and desperation for external validation of her worth (mainly through others validating her beauty) were achingly true to life and will make adult readers want to save her from her poor decisions. she wanted so much, was desperate for so much more in her life, and i wanted so much more for her. her relationships with her brother, mother, and nora were raw and heartbreaking and i saw myself in the way she struggled to make sense of her place in a world not built for her.
the themes here were so strong too- summers asks big questions such as: can girls and women truly manipulate the power dynamics between them and men, or is men's historical and empirical power over them inescapable? and: if dismantling patriarchy is a long and achingly slow process, and we as individuals can't do much about that, how do we build worlds for ourselves in the meantime, full of care and love? how do we dream of better futures outside of the structures of beauty we've been taught?
ultimately, this book is a treatise on grieving the girls and women who have been victims of systemic male violence in a world that makes that grief feel utterly isolating, and justice futile and powerless. this story calls it like it is and courtney summers does not pull punches when it comes to discussing how bleak and horrible the world can be to girls and women, especially those who are multiply marginalized. but the final message is ultimately about resilience, grasping at hope in the wake of trauma, and carving out space for yourself in a world that would rather see you disappear. it's about discovering the truth, defining beauty as you see it, and refusing to erase yourself and your values for the sake of assimilation and patriarchal power.
i'm only knocking it down 0.5 stars because i felt the pacing was a little off at times, and i think the protagonist's views of beauty = self-worth could have been interrogated more- but that said, it was still a completely engrossing and vitally important thriller, and i recommend picking it up if you can stomach the different triggers within.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Alcohol and Drug abuse
onemamareads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Read my full review here: https://onemamassummer.weebly.com/book-reviews/im-the-girl
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, and Violence
chl0reads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
eemilycolleen's review
4.0
she brings her mouth to my ear. "every night is like this," she whispers.
-
it made no difference. there's no escaping it. some part of me will always be finding her here. some part of her will always be here, waiting to be found.
WHEW ok!!!! i thought this was very successfully depressing & searing & awful, though not as shining-shimmering unique as Sadie, which might’ve been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me (read the audio on a walk during a midsummer thunderstorm & finished by evening candlelight. you just can’t beat Sadie by thunderstorm & candlelight).
regardless this did work on me -- especially georgia, who i found deeply realistic, unfortunately :) thought the pacing was a little quick near the end, but c'est la vie. rooting for my girlies here and everywhere!
-
it made no difference. there's no escaping it. some part of me will always be finding her here. some part of her will always be here, waiting to be found.
WHEW ok!!!! i thought this was very successfully depressing & searing & awful, though not as shining-shimmering unique as Sadie, which might’ve been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me (read the audio on a walk during a midsummer thunderstorm & finished by evening candlelight. you just can’t beat Sadie by thunderstorm & candlelight).
regardless this did work on me -- especially georgia, who i found deeply realistic, unfortunately :) thought the pacing was a little quick near the end, but c'est la vie. rooting for my girlies here and everywhere!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, and Misogyny
librarychristi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexual assault
jamiesbookclub's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Child death, Grief, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Cancer and Terminal illness
theremightbecupcakes's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Car accident, Child death, Grief, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, and Violence
cholliworth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death, Child death, Death of parent, and Abandonment
kalventure's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Audiobook narration: 100000 gold stars! I read along with the audiobook and Lori Prince did an incredible job bringing this story to life with her narration.
"[I]t's more important to know who you are than who you think you're meant to be."
Holy heck, this book was powerful and heartbreaking and I want to punch things. This is a beautifully written uncomfortable read, please read the content warnings before picking this one up.
"Are you the girl? he asked. There could only be one answer. More powerful than disappearing was being found. More powerful was being found was being seen."
Beautifully written and effortlessly engaging, I'm The Girl is like a car accident that you can't look away from. Courtney Summers nails the teen voice and writes in a way that feels authentic. There's a raw vulnerability to this story of Georgia, a teenaged girl who desperately wants to grow up and make something of herself. Who never felt support from those around her. Who sees her beauty as a way out of poverty and a path to a better life. Whose desire and naivete draw Bad People to her and she doesn't realize that she's a victim. Georgia infuriates me and I wish that I could hold her close and tell her that she doesn't need to seek validation and that she's worthy of respect. But I remember all too well wanting to grow up, to be Seen by older men and thinking that made me special. The anger and frustration that I feel is as much for my younger self, and for all young girls who have been taken advantage of.
I can't exactly say that I enjoyed reading this book, but it is powerful, timely, and beautifully written. Courtney Summers handles the topic with care and with I'm The Girl she continues her focus on the young victims of society without sensationalizing.
Content Warnings: blackmail, child sex abuse, grooming, kidnapping, pedophilia, statutory rape
Representation: sapphic main character, poverty rep
eARC & ALC provided by the publisher via NetGalley and LibroFM for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.
I can't exactly say that I enjoyed reading this book, but it is powerful, timely, and beautifully written. Courtney Summers handles the topic with care and with I'm The Girl she continues her focus on the young victims of society without sensationalizing.
Content Warnings: blackmail, child sex abuse, grooming, kidnapping, pedophilia, statutory rape
Representation: sapphic main character, poverty rep
eARC & ALC provided by the publisher via NetGalley and LibroFM for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Rape