Reviews with content warning for Cursing - Sadie

I consumed this in audiobook format and it was very well-produced given that there is an audiobook component to the story. One qualm is that a few of the characters didn’t seem to quite match the inflection of what their text/dialogue meant (to me) which took me out of it at times.

The book itself is good and I was very drawn in to the mystery of it but didn’t quite vibe with the ambiguous ending. I appreciate the point of this strategy in ending the book, and the fact that it didn’t quite feel finished to me is, in fact, the point, but I really wanted more. I found my mind wandering at times during the audiobook (particularly the Sadie chapters) but that could be attributed to the long drive I was on. Overall, it was a read that maintained my attention pretty well, especially in the second half, and was a nice twist on the “true crime podcast” craze that has been popular.

Content Warnings

danicampbell0506's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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kelly_e's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious 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

4.0

Title: Sadie
Author: Courtney Summers
Genre: YA Mystery
Rating: 4.0
Pub Date: September 4 2018

T H R E E • W O R D S

Gritty • Fast-paced • Unique

📖 S Y N O P S I S

After the brutal murder of her sister and a botched investigation, Sadie disappears. She dead set on hunting down the man she feels destroyed her family. West McCray, a radio personality, becomes obsessed with finding Sadie. He starts his own podcast as he attempts to track her down, always a few steps behind and interviewing key players along the way, he hopes to find the missing girl before it's too late.

💭 T H O U G H T S

Sadie was recommended to me by a good friend, and I decided to go in completely blind. What can I say other than that this book hooked me from the very first page. The journey is complex, and the character development and pacing are both excellent. The structure is unlike anything else, alternating between Sadie's perspective and West's podcast transcripts. Don't get me wrong it is no easy read, filled with lots of sensitive subject matter, but the format helps break it up.

The true crime podcast aspect took this story to a whole different level, as did the audiobook! It's a full cast audio, and to say it is one of the most entertaining audiobooks I have listened to is an understatement. I decide to tandem read along with the audio, and it's definitely the way I recommend consuming it.

My one issue is the ending. It's not often an ambiguous ending is unsatisfying, but I'd have liked a more conclusive idea of Sadie's fate. Overall, a story filled with mystery and centering around revenge and how far we will go to protect our loved ones, Sadie is one that will stick with me for awhile. In my opinion, this book is geared towards a wider audience that just young adults.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• true crime lovers
• audiobook listeners
• readers who like sister stories

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"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."

"We have more story than time to tell it -- but I suppose that's true for all of us."

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lasagna's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

the_books_music_life's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I almost cried at the end of this book. This book hits so hard and hits with so many different emotions I can't even really describe the feelings I had when I was reading this. I would 100% recommend the audiobook, it's full cast with sound effects and it's like listening to a true crime podcast.

The book follows the main mystery of what happened to Mattie Southern and her sister Sadie, who is on her own search for answers and justice, and goes missing along the way. The book is in dual perspective and follows that of Sadie and West McCray a radio personality who does a podcast investigating Mattie’s murder and Sadie’s disappearance.

I got three paragraphs in and I already love it. The format is something I’ve never seen done before, it’s set in a podcast series format and it bounces between the podcast narrator and Sadie. I can get lost in the story and forget it’s not a real life true crime case I’m listening to but a fictional story

I think this book is something everyone should read but I recognize not everyone can because of the subject matter. While nothing is explained in gory details or shown physically happening the book deals with the murder of a child, child molestation, drug abuse, child abuse and parental abandonment. So be sure to read the content warnings before going into this book.

Sadie has a stutter that is prevalent in her narration and it adds to the characterization of Sadie and helps the reader relate to her. All the characters are fleshed out and feel like real people, down to the choices they make.

The way we, as readers or listeners, are brought into the flashbacks Sadie experiences of her trauma so well done, you almost think it’s actually happening instead of it being a flashback. Which is true if you have ever experienced a flashback. The more I read I can’t help but be angry at Mattie and how hurtful and mean and how she never seemed to appreciate all that Sadie had done for her.

The ending had me so worried, I was so scared that what I thought was going to happen would but thank god it went a different way. I feel like the ending will be hit or miss; some will love it, some will hate it. I felt it was a good, realistic and felt right for the story.

Content Warnings

gbyd's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

heather077's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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