Reviews tagging 'Death'

Sadie by Courtney Summers

158 reviews

rmdougherty'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Child abuse, Grief, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Rape

anielabooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book had been in my TBR for probably over a year before I decided to pick it up. I’d heard the audiobook was a good format to read it because of the podcast element. After listening to it, I wholeheartedly agree. Not only is the podcast element to the story heightened by the format, but Sadie’s stutter is portrayed amazingly by the voice actress. I decided to finally pick it up because it was available to borrow on Libby; I’m so glad I did. I’d definitely recommend this book to true-crime followers, especially those who listen to podcasts. The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars was because the beginning was a little confusing for me. That might just have been me getting used to reading audiobooks though; don’t let it discourage you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Child death, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Blood

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Rape, Murder, Abandonment, Drug use, and Addiction

Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Bullying, Suicide, Stalking, Pregnancy, Grief, Death of parent, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Cursing, Violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Car accident, and Domestic abuse

savannah_claire19's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Death

amystainton's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Before this book I was in a massive reading slump. I listened to this as an audiobook and it was one of the best experiences I’ve had with audiobooks. The sound was so detailed, it created the perfect environment for becoming enthralled in the story. Great for getting out a reading slump.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Death, Cursing, Car accident, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Drug use, Abandonment, Rape, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Child death, Murder, Mental illness, Bullying, and Addiction

stephaniekrebs's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Pedophilia

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, and Drug abuse

Minor: Murder, Blood, Cursing, Death, and Injury/Injury detail

manuelrcam's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicide, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Addiction, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Murder, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

bookishval's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I believe this story was meant to be reading in audibook and I'm so glad I did. Sadie is a story that's definitely going to stay with me for a long time. I often forget books, their plot and everything, but this won't be the case. Sadie, with a full cast of actors, made sure of that. I want to give my praise to Sadie's voice actor. She did such an incredible work in portraying her character. I could feel her pain, her frustration, her anger, and it was a tough experience, but one 100% worth listening.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Murder

Moderate: Rape

notbrhymes's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense

5.0

absolutely heart wrenching. this book is one of the best books I’ve ever read and also one of the hardest. The audiobook was absolutely incredible. Highly recommend, but definitely be mindful of the heavy topics discussed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Addiction, Death, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Drug use, Drug abuse, Murder, and Violence

awebofstories's review against another edition

tense fast-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? It's complicated

3.0

I tried reading this book a few years ago and quickly gave up. I thought this would stay a DNF, but I was convinced to try the audio, and--yes--that is the way to go on this! In fact, I wonder why this wasn't an audio-only release.

Let's start off with trigger warnings for violence, substance abuse, and child sexual abuse. These topics are hard, especially the last one, so take care.

I appreciated that Summers tackled this story head-on. There were so many possible exit ramps where Summer could have taken the easier, softer way out. Yet, she persevered and told a story that played out realistically.

I enjoyed the podcast setup for this, which is why I think that audio is the only way to go with this. They used a full cast instead of just one or two narrators, which made it feel more like a podcast than an audiobook, and most of the performances were strong (there were a couple of one-liners here and there that didn't land quite right but that's no big deal).

My frustrations with the book come more from my own preferences than from any shortcomings on the story's part. Sadie makes decisions that I think are incredibly stupid, although I recognize that they are decisions that a teenager would make. Generally, Young Adult is not a genre that I read right now, and this is a strong Young Adult book that sometimes reminds you that it is a Young Adult Book. While I would never knock a book for being what it is, it isn't something I enjoy.

I can recognize the many strengths of this book, and I would recommend it to others. It just wasn't the type of book for me right now.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Violence

_fallinglight_'s review

challenging dark emotional 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

Girl, I hadn't cried over a book or MC in a long ass time, but you did it Courtney Summers! This book got under my skin and emotionally destroyed me. I honestly didn't know what this book was about. I went into it blind bc I just wanted to finish off one of my challenges and it said to read book with mostly white cover and this one looked the most interesting. So I was wrecked when I finally knew what it was about as the story unfolded, but this book is fantastically done. As painful and emotionally ravaging Sadie's story I was deeply entranced with her and this book and I'm glad to have read it. It's kinda crazy to say it's been one of my favorite reads, for how sad and soul wrecking it is, but it definitely earned the spot.

I cried so much reading the ending! And even though I hope Sadie pretended to be dead somehow and didn't actually die, I get why this ending makes sense. Sadie had no life outside Mattie and didn't want one, plus all the guilt she felt for her murder, so leaving this life was the best, and unfortunately, desired outcome for her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Vomit, Child death, Sexual assault, and Rape