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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Written in the style of a true crime podcast. Great for an audiobook format. Full cast reading the audiobook. Not necessarily a YA book although I think it is marketed as YA. Strong language, sex, violence, sexual abuse, not necessarily usually a problem for me but really adds to the not necessarily YA feel. The only thing I thought was a little weird was the “advertiser” for the podcast is the publisher for the book. Found as much time to listen to the book as I could in a little over 24 hour period.
Rating: ★★★★★
Non-Spoiler Review:
‘Sadie’ by Courtney Summers is an incredibly gripping story told in two perspectives: Sadie, a young girl looking to avenge her sister’s murder and West McCray, a radio personality who’s searching for Sadie months after her disappearance.
I loved this book. The plot was super interesting and relevant. And even though this book wasn’t as unpredictable as mysteries are often expected to be, I was kept on the edge of my seat thorough all of it. Summers made Sadie’s and McCray’s journeys incredibly riveting by slowly revealing pieces of the circumstances that led to Mattie’s death and Sadie’s disappearance. And it was all wrapped up in a nice little bow with an ending that may not answer all of the reader’s questions but will satisfy them by how realistic it is.
All the characters, especially Sadie and McCray, were extremely well written. Sadie is unique, relatable, and engaging. She’s easy to like and thus, has no trouble gaining the reader’s support even before the full details of her quest are revealed. Moreover, I appreciated how she could be described as an unreliable narrator. Even though the reader wants to believe she’s justified in her actions, her promptness to violence and mixed feelings for her sister pricks at the back of your mind making you question whether she’s as innocent as she would have us believe.
On the other hand, McCray’s character is a breath of fresh air. In a world where almost every book’s main detective has pure intentions, McCray differs by being a more truthful representation of our actual society. In our world, like McCray insists on the story, “Girls go missing all the time” and most people don’t care about it unless they are related to the missing girl or the girl in question comes from a wealthy and/or powerful family. And by having a detective with this “carelessness”, Summers does an excellent job portraying the flaws in our society when it comes to these tragedies. The social commentary throughout all of the book was brilliant and nobody displayed it more perfectly than the radio host. It’s true that in the search for the most interesting, unique, and dramatic story, humanity has desensitized from the horribleness of the “mundane”.
Moreover, I also loved that the writing style in McCray’s portion of the story simulates a crime podcast. It made his segments extremely interesting and unique, especially since I read this book via audiobook. It was a fantastic experience. The even had a theme song for his podcast!
I would recommend this book to every fan of mysteries and crime dramas/podcasts. And I 100% recommend listening to the audiobook, it has an amazing cast and format. All of the Voice Actors did an incredible job portraying their character’s emotions, especially the VA for Sadie. She was amazing.
However, before reading this book, make sure to check out the Trigger Warnings since it does deal with sensible subjects that not all readers may be comfortable with.
For other reviews & more bookish content,
Non-Spoiler Review:
‘Sadie’ by Courtney Summers is an incredibly gripping story told in two perspectives: Sadie, a young girl looking to avenge her sister’s murder and West McCray, a radio personality who’s searching for Sadie months after her disappearance.
I loved this book. The plot was super interesting and relevant. And even though this book wasn’t as unpredictable as mysteries are often expected to be, I was kept on the edge of my seat thorough all of it. Summers made Sadie’s and McCray’s journeys incredibly riveting by slowly revealing pieces of the circumstances that led to Mattie’s death and Sadie’s disappearance. And it was all wrapped up in a nice little bow with an ending that may not answer all of the reader’s questions but will satisfy them by how realistic it is.
All the characters, especially Sadie and McCray, were extremely well written. Sadie is unique, relatable, and engaging. She’s easy to like and thus, has no trouble gaining the reader’s support even before the full details of her quest are revealed. Moreover, I appreciated how she could be described as an unreliable narrator. Even though the reader wants to believe she’s justified in her actions, her promptness to violence and mixed feelings for her sister pricks at the back of your mind making you question whether she’s as innocent as she would have us believe.
On the other hand, McCray’s character is a breath of fresh air. In a world where almost every book’s main detective has pure intentions, McCray differs by being a more truthful representation of our actual society. In our world, like McCray insists on the story, “Girls go missing all the time” and most people don’t care about it unless they are related to the missing girl or the girl in question comes from a wealthy and/or powerful family. And by having a detective with this “carelessness”, Summers does an excellent job portraying the flaws in our society when it comes to these tragedies. The social commentary throughout all of the book was brilliant and nobody displayed it more perfectly than the radio host. It’s true that in the search for the most interesting, unique, and dramatic story, humanity has desensitized from the horribleness of the “mundane”.
Moreover, I also loved that the writing style in McCray’s portion of the story simulates a crime podcast. It made his segments extremely interesting and unique, especially since I read this book via audiobook. It was a fantastic experience. The even had a theme song for his podcast!
I would recommend this book to every fan of mysteries and crime dramas/podcasts. And I 100% recommend listening to the audiobook, it has an amazing cast and format. All of the Voice Actors did an incredible job portraying their character’s emotions, especially the VA for Sadie. She was amazing.
However, before reading this book, make sure to check out the Trigger Warnings since it does deal with sensible subjects that not all readers may be comfortable with.
For other reviews & more bookish content,
"In Mattie , Sadie found a sense of purpose, a place to put her love . But love is complicated, it’s messy. It can inspire selflessness, selfishness, our greatest accomplishments and our hardest mistakes. It brings us together and it can just as easily drive us apart.
It can drive us."
This extraordinarily written narrative by Courtney Summers, depicts the tribulations of the book's namesake, Sadie, as she chucks her life in Cold Creek, Colorado in pursuit of the man she believes killed her thirteen year old sister, Mattie.
Split point of views between West McCray, a podcast creator who ends up investigating Sadie's disappearance, and the first person narrative of Sadie herself, as she navigates murky clues throughout an array of distressing circumstances, allows the reader to be intricately involved in a story that unveils like criminal reportage. It hooks you, devastates you, and it doesn't let go, long after the last page has come and gone.
Sadie is a story that demands your attention and your heart, as you face what drives Sadie to vigilante justice on behalf of the broken. Heartbreaking, raw and gritty to the end, Summers has created a powerful narrative that compels the reader to experience a gamut of emotions, all of which challenge the system of the norm and definitely leaves an impression by the time it's all over.
It is dark and it is disturbing. It is not easy. None of what is found within the pages of this book, is. It is uncomfortable and it is exhausting and that's exactly what it takes to address what lies deep and terrible within the hearts of man, exorcising everything in its wake as the reader hankers for a redeeming end from the offset.
From beginning to the end, Sadie by Courtney Summers is a rare reading experience, with an unbelievable, incredible protagonist none of us will soon forget.
I know I won't. Not ever, I don't think. Something inside me is carrying a bit of the weight for Sadie, and for the rest of The Girls, and for anyone who has ever had to live the devastating weight of the words contained within this book.
I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TW: pedophilia, sexual abuse, violence, substance abuse.
It can drive us."
This extraordinarily written narrative by Courtney Summers, depicts the tribulations of the book's namesake, Sadie, as she chucks her life in Cold Creek, Colorado in pursuit of the man she believes killed her thirteen year old sister, Mattie.
Split point of views between West McCray, a podcast creator who ends up investigating Sadie's disappearance, and the first person narrative of Sadie herself, as she navigates murky clues throughout an array of distressing circumstances, allows the reader to be intricately involved in a story that unveils like criminal reportage. It hooks you, devastates you, and it doesn't let go, long after the last page has come and gone.
Sadie is a story that demands your attention and your heart, as you face what drives Sadie to vigilante justice on behalf of the broken. Heartbreaking, raw and gritty to the end, Summers has created a powerful narrative that compels the reader to experience a gamut of emotions, all of which challenge the system of the norm and definitely leaves an impression by the time it's all over.
It is dark and it is disturbing. It is not easy. None of what is found within the pages of this book, is. It is uncomfortable and it is exhausting and that's exactly what it takes to address what lies deep and terrible within the hearts of man, exorcising everything in its wake as the reader hankers for a redeeming end from the offset.
From beginning to the end, Sadie by Courtney Summers is a rare reading experience, with an unbelievable, incredible protagonist none of us will soon forget.
I know I won't. Not ever, I don't think. Something inside me is carrying a bit of the weight for Sadie, and for the rest of The Girls, and for anyone who has ever had to live the devastating weight of the words contained within this book.
I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TW: pedophilia, sexual abuse, violence, substance abuse.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence
really well done especially as a drama reading, interesting POV shifts, but lacks a satisfying conclusion (which is on theme for the book, but still
Some girls seem to have been made to disappear. Sadie is heartbreakingly moving, and I cannot sing its praises enough, but it is one of those books that prove to be difficult to review. How do you talk about a book that is so deeply emotional and poignant? The dark side of a bildungsroman, Sadie is a girl whose journey into womanhood happened too early and never seemed to be about her. As the main caregiver for her younger sister, Mattie, Sadie's life was never her own. So when Mattie, 13, is found dead, Sadie is a nineteen-year-old woman set on revenge, fully willing to shed the last remnants of herself to achieve her goal.
Alternating points-of-view take us between her vengeful road trip and her history, unfolding by way of West McCray, a podcast host playing detective following Sadie's disappearance. With West the narrative turns to a format that has been used before, but Summers manages to keep it fresh and balanced. Transcribed interviews become West's voice and provide the only relief from the dark and despairing narration Sadie gives.
Somehow, despite the omnipresent sadness, Summers steers the reader through the novel with a heightened tone of suspense and a main character I'd gladly let burrow further into my heart. You can't help but latch onto Sadie and allow her to pull you through this novel. A fantastic piece of literature.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review.
Alternating points-of-view take us between her vengeful road trip and her history, unfolding by way of West McCray, a podcast host playing detective following Sadie's disappearance. With West the narrative turns to a format that has been used before, but Summers manages to keep it fresh and balanced. Transcribed interviews become West's voice and provide the only relief from the dark and despairing narration Sadie gives.
Somehow, despite the omnipresent sadness, Summers steers the reader through the novel with a heightened tone of suspense and a main character I'd gladly let burrow further into my heart. You can't help but latch onto Sadie and allow her to pull you through this novel. A fantastic piece of literature.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review.
TW: Pedophilia, sexual abuse, drug abuse;
“It's hard to think of someone so vulnerable and alone. It's hard to think of her, so vulnerable and alone.”
I don't even know where to start with this one, honestly. I read the first 20% of it in one day and then I couldn't put it down until I was finished the next. God, do I love Sadie, Sadie and her love for Mattie, Sadie and the way she was so beautifully human and so tragically real.
One thing I really like is the way Summers wrote the character of West McCray. Through him, she tells us it happened, but, quoting the novel "I've decided the gruesome details of what was uncovered in that orchard will not be a part of this show. While the murder, the crime might have captured your initial interest, its violence and brutality do not exist for your entertainment."
This book made me cry a few times, but the last few pages did it for me, I couldn't sleep after finishing it. I could just think about Sadie and her story and the heartbreaking amount of Sadies all over the world.
“It's hard to think of someone so vulnerable and alone. It's hard to think of her, so vulnerable and alone.”
I don't even know where to start with this one, honestly. I read the first 20% of it in one day and then I couldn't put it down until I was finished the next. God, do I love Sadie, Sadie and her love for Mattie, Sadie and the way she was so beautifully human and so tragically real.
One thing I really like is the way Summers wrote the character of West McCray. Through him, she tells us it happened, but, quoting the novel "I've decided the gruesome details of what was uncovered in that orchard will not be a part of this show. While the murder, the crime might have captured your initial interest, its violence and brutality do not exist for your entertainment."
This book made me cry a few times, but the last few pages did it for me, I couldn't sleep after finishing it. I could just think about Sadie and her story and the heartbreaking amount of Sadies all over the world.
I HATE AMBIGUOUS ENDINGS! Honestly, if it wasn't left the way it was, I would've given it 5 stars, but I can see why she ended it that way. If you want to read this book, I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook - it's absolutely incredible.
TW - rape, pedophilia, murder, blood, drug abuse.
TW - rape, pedophilia, murder, blood, drug abuse.
I loved the audiobook with the full cast but the storyline itself was difficult for me. It felt too much like a bad version of the podcast Serial, even having a similar, unresolved ending. I didn’t want to read about a child predator or the horrific things they had done. This book just wasn’t for me.