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hope0607's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
kaptainkate's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
almckay's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
sagelee12's review against another edition
5.0
want to add thoughts but I’m crying (for reals) brb
.
Okay. Listen, if you go into this expecting Sadie, you’ll be disappointed. It’s not Sadie. It’s about a cult and how it targets desperate and lonely people. Lines are blurry, characters aren’t sure of what they’re doing. It’s easy for us to be on the outside and be like “well it’s a cult duh you wouldn’t fall for it” But that’s the thing about cults!!
Anyways, crying, throwing up, Courtney summers owns my soul.
.
Okay. Listen, if you go into this expecting Sadie, you’ll be disappointed. It’s not Sadie. It’s about a cult and how it targets desperate and lonely people. Lines are blurry, characters aren’t sure of what they’re doing. It’s easy for us to be on the outside and be like “well it’s a cult duh you wouldn’t fall for it” But that’s the thing about cults!!
Anyways, crying, throwing up, Courtney summers owns my soul.
musingswithmiranda's review against another edition
3.0
Honestly this book was a cover buy for me as soon as I saw the Barnes and Noble exclusive edition. I have been meaning to pick it up, so I am glad that my friend Abbey and I decided to buddy read it together.
Courtney Summers has a very solid writing style. It was very easy to get into. This definitely helped with pacing too because it made me feel like I could read more in one sitting even though some parts were very slow.
I really liked how the narrative was set up between the two sisters, Lo and Bea. The structure was interesting because it provided a look at the past and present between the two of them. I love when stories have a dual perspective like this. It adds such a fun and cool dynamic to the story.
Some parts of this book were definitely stronger than others. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of figuring out the past and what was going on with The Unity Project, but I also got really annoyed for a good portion of the story. There was quite a bit of back and forth with characters doing things that did not really feel like it fit their development. It mostly made me feel frustrated and confused when it seemed to come out of nowhere. There were some twists with this that I did enjoy though.
I am hoping to check out Sadie soon because I have heard that it is such an incredible book and that people have preferred it to this one as well.
*Content warning: suicide, parental abuse, child abuse, car crash, parental death, grooming, abuse and torture, cults, manipulation*
Courtney Summers has a very solid writing style. It was very easy to get into. This definitely helped with pacing too because it made me feel like I could read more in one sitting even though some parts were very slow.
I really liked how the narrative was set up between the two sisters, Lo and Bea. The structure was interesting because it provided a look at the past and present between the two of them. I love when stories have a dual perspective like this. It adds such a fun and cool dynamic to the story.
Some parts of this book were definitely stronger than others. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of figuring out the past and what was going on with The Unity Project, but I also got really annoyed for a good portion of the story. There was quite a bit of back and forth with characters doing things that did not really feel like it fit their development. It mostly made me feel frustrated and confused when it seemed to come out of nowhere. There were some twists with this that I did enjoy though.
I am hoping to check out Sadie soon because I have heard that it is such an incredible book and that people have preferred it to this one as well.
*Content warning: suicide, parental abuse, child abuse, car crash, parental death, grooming, abuse and torture, cults, manipulation*
analyticalchaos's review against another edition
1.0
Any trigger warning you can think of applies to this book and this review.
Positive: Summers can write. The book flows amazingly well.
Otherwise? The novel is graphic and unrestrained. Often, the abuse and violence feel more provocative than anything. It adds nothing to the story, leaving a bad taste in your mouth.
What benefit does a sensationalized book from an outside perspective about cults add to the world? If the answer is just entertainment… What does that say?
Positive: Summers can write. The book flows amazingly well.
Otherwise? The novel is graphic and unrestrained. Often, the abuse and violence feel more provocative than anything. It adds nothing to the story, leaving a bad taste in your mouth.
What benefit does a sensationalized book from an outside perspective about cults add to the world? If the answer is just entertainment… What does that say?
xeponine89's review against another edition
Library loan had run out and it just wasn't good enough to re-borrow it
labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
I love cults.
Not being in one, obviously. Nor supporting them. But dear lord, do I love hearing about the insanity of cults. From Jonestown to Waco to Jehovah's Witnesses and the MAGAts, their mind frame, their inability to see through the brain washing, it's all so, so fascinating.
So, even though I am in the extreme minority in that I haven't yet read [b: Sadie|34810320|Sadie|Courtney Summers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556559178l/34810320._SY75_.jpg|56026767], when I saw Courtney Summers had a new book, and it was a YA thriller about cults, I signed up SO quick.
The Unity Project sounds amazing. They are dedicated to doing good works, such as feeding and housing the homeless. They have Unity centers all around the country (I think?), designed to help people, mind body and soul. They're all about God, and their leader, Lev Warren, is a messenger from God. They know this because he prayed for 30 hours with no food and water, and that definitely doesn't lead to hallucinations and crazy making.
Lo works for a magazine. She's an administrative assistant who wants to be a writer. Her boss wants her to be an administrative assistant. One day, she's traumatized by witnessing a Unity Project member's suicide, and it brings up painful memories of her childhood, where her parents died and her sister disappeared while Lo was still in the hospital, barely making it out alive.
She goes to the Unity Project, where her sister Bea is no longer a member. And she wants answers. The only way to get it is to strike a deal. She will write a story about them, and they will prove they're not what she believes they are.
There's a LOT to like about this novel. A lot. You know, in your very being, that this is a cult. That Lev Warren is David Koresh. You know Lo should really think twice before drinking anything offered by these zealots.
But...maybe Lo's wrong. Maybe the end will reveal that they're not a cult, and that the mainstream media got it wrong. The conservatives hate them because they're too socialist. The liberals hate them because they're too Jesus-y. Maybe they really are who they say they are.
Right?
I will admit, the final reveal was disappointing for several reasons. Least of which is, we saw no foreshadowing or evidence of what this truth really was. And trust me, I was listening for it.
The ending both ties things up too neatly and leaves too many questions. And that's frustrating after a really incredible, well written story.
3.5, inching towards 4 stars.
Not being in one, obviously. Nor supporting them. But dear lord, do I love hearing about the insanity of cults. From Jonestown to Waco to Jehovah's Witnesses and the MAGAts, their mind frame, their inability to see through the brain washing, it's all so, so fascinating.
So, even though I am in the extreme minority in that I haven't yet read [b: Sadie|34810320|Sadie|Courtney Summers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556559178l/34810320._SY75_.jpg|56026767], when I saw Courtney Summers had a new book, and it was a YA thriller about cults, I signed up SO quick.
The Unity Project sounds amazing. They are dedicated to doing good works, such as feeding and housing the homeless. They have Unity centers all around the country (I think?), designed to help people, mind body and soul. They're all about God, and their leader, Lev Warren, is a messenger from God. They know this because he prayed for 30 hours with no food and water, and that definitely doesn't lead to hallucinations and crazy making.
Lo works for a magazine. She's an administrative assistant who wants to be a writer. Her boss wants her to be an administrative assistant. One day, she's traumatized by witnessing a Unity Project member's suicide, and it brings up painful memories of her childhood, where her parents died and her sister disappeared while Lo was still in the hospital, barely making it out alive.
She goes to the Unity Project, where her sister Bea is no longer a member. And she wants answers. The only way to get it is to strike a deal. She will write a story about them, and they will prove they're not what she believes they are.
There's a LOT to like about this novel. A lot. You know, in your very being, that this is a cult. That Lev Warren is David Koresh. You know Lo should really think twice before drinking anything offered by these zealots.
But...maybe Lo's wrong. Maybe the end will reveal that they're not a cult, and that the mainstream media got it wrong. The conservatives hate them because they're too socialist. The liberals hate them because they're too Jesus-y. Maybe they really are who they say they are.
Right?
I will admit, the final reveal was disappointing for several reasons. Least of which is, we saw no foreshadowing or evidence of what this truth really was. And trust me, I was listening for it.
The ending both ties things up too neatly and leaves too many questions. And that's frustrating after a really incredible, well written story.
3.5, inching towards 4 stars.