Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Sadie

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Sadie” by Courtney Summers broke me. My eyes are still puffy and I’ve used more tissues in the last couple of hours than I normally do while reading. It’s always hard to review a book that tears your heart outside of its body, while recognizing that you also appreciated the story. I can’t even decide on which word to describe this reading experience. Either way, “Sadie” was well written, vivid, but also heart wrenching and horrid.

I didn’t know anything going into the novel, so the true crime podcast style was a welcomed touch. Yet, once more details about the crimes came to light, the more painful it was to read.

Sadie’s character will live on in my memory for a long time due to her tenacity, grit, and heart, which were enthralling and admirable qualities. Considering all what she had gone though, it was hard not to feel for her. The whole messy situation and family dynamics shed light on so many unspoken issues in the world. Unfortunately, some of those reminders hit too close to home at times.

West McCray, the journalist that goes on this journey with readers in search of what happened and the search for Sadie, was genuine and sincere. I listened to the audiobook while following along with my hardcopy (as I often do). The narrators were authentic and clearly made the the “podcast” feel real - too real. Overall, I’m glad I read this, but I’ll need some time to recuperate.

I would like to warn readers to check the triggers prior to reading just in case.

Please be kind and gentle with others, as you never know what someone’s going through.

QOTD: What was your last 5 ⭐️ read? Any great audiobook recommendations?

Content Warnings

lanaxfaiiry's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

fiction_addiction_1994's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Trigger ⚠️: Pedophilia,Sexual abuse, drug use, child abandonment, murder
🖤🖤🖤🖤
•What did I think of this book? (Mult. Pov)
Holy smokes...ok, let me start adult content. This book is well written, strong main character. It asks the question, "How far would you go to catch the killer of a loved one?" Would you be able to dig up old wounds? When every adult in Sadie's life failed her she takes matters into her own hands, solving her sisters murder.. going off of meager clues to find him, her past haunts her, it drives her to see it through. A podcaster gets a call to follow her clues when local law enforcement has failed. This was written in podcast format and first person. I liked the uniqueness. Recommend the audiobook.
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•Quotes:
~ "We have more story than time to tell it– but I suppose that's true for all of us. "-p. 46

~ 'She's dead is the reason I'm alive. She's dead is the reason I'm going to k*ll a man.' -p.101

~'I wish his darkness lived outside of him because you have to know it's there to see it. Like all monsters, he hides in plain sight.' -p.259

Content Warnings

jennametheny's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

Viscerally disturbing, horrifying and sad. Very impactful. The original ending, while lacking closure, is real and raw and doesn’t bother me. The epilogue, however, feels wholly unnecessary and a step too far down the hole of no hope. MAJOR trigger warnings.

Content Warnings