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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
4.5 stars
Sadie's gone.
Her rough childhood was defined by the love she had for her younger sister, Mattie. When Mattie is found dead in an orchard near their trailer park, it's as though everything Sadie was living for disappeared.
So she did too.
Where Sadie went and why is at the heart of this poignant and gritty novel. The narrative switches between Sadie's own experiences and a Serial-like podcast that delves into Sadie's mystery disappearance and tries to piece together what would've made her leave.
Where is Sadie??
It's compelling and urgent and gray with the hurt that Sadie can't escape from. She's a tricky character, a girl on the edge and while she's sometimes frightening, she's also so dang vulnerable. I really, really liked the format that switched between what we know happens with Sadie and what the author of the podcast is piecing together. It made it hard to put the book down. I won't give any spoilers about the ending but I didn't finish feeling left adrift, which I appreciated. Child abuse is a huge theme in this book, but it's clear that's what's happening without being graphic. Sometimes the geography of this story left me unmoored a tiny bit - a little more fleshing out of the setting would've grounded me more but that's really the only big complaint I can make. This is a powerful story about a girl who knows she's got power, she just needs to be brave enough to use it.
sensitivity warnings: hard language, child abuse, pedophilia, teenage drinking
Sadie's gone.
Her rough childhood was defined by the love she had for her younger sister, Mattie. When Mattie is found dead in an orchard near their trailer park, it's as though everything Sadie was living for disappeared.
So she did too.
Where Sadie went and why is at the heart of this poignant and gritty novel. The narrative switches between Sadie's own experiences and a Serial-like podcast that delves into Sadie's mystery disappearance and tries to piece together what would've made her leave.
Where is Sadie??
It's compelling and urgent and gray with the hurt that Sadie can't escape from. She's a tricky character, a girl on the edge and while she's sometimes frightening, she's also so dang vulnerable. I really, really liked the format that switched between what we know happens with Sadie and what the author of the podcast is piecing together. It made it hard to put the book down. I won't give any spoilers about the ending but I didn't finish feeling left adrift, which I appreciated. Child abuse is a huge theme in this book, but it's clear that's what's happening without being graphic. Sometimes the geography of this story left me unmoored a tiny bit - a little more fleshing out of the setting would've grounded me more but that's really the only big complaint I can make. This is a powerful story about a girl who knows she's got power, she just needs to be brave enough to use it.
sensitivity warnings: hard language, child abuse, pedophilia, teenage drinking
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
wow. this was gripping and so so heartbreaking. i actually really liked the ending because it made the story all the more real. not everything needs to be a completely happy ending. in real life, it usually isnt. i think the important thing is that sadie got her peace by (somewhat inadvertently) killing her abuser and her sister’s murderer, and the abuser of so many other girls. highly recommend listening to the audiobook version, too. very evocative considering the way summers tells this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse
Minor: Vomit
it's been a long time since i read a book in under 24 hours, and when people say they couldn't put a book down, i find it hard to believe.
this book made me believe that. it did everything that daisy jones and the six couldn't do, separating the book into a podcast transcript and sadie's story.
it's not a story for the faint of heart, i spent the entire time with a lump in my throat. the ending doesnt give you what you want from the story, but thats what makes it so real.
anyone who thinks YA isn't good doesn't know what they are missing.
this book made me believe that. it did everything that daisy jones and the six couldn't do, separating the book into a podcast transcript and sadie's story.
it's not a story for the faint of heart, i spent the entire time with a lump in my throat. the ending doesnt give you what you want from the story, but thats what makes it so real.
anyone who thinks YA isn't good doesn't know what they are missing.
FIVE STARS
SPOILER WARNING AND TW: Rape, murder, suicide attempt, drug abuse, pedophilia, blood, vomit.
Okay so I loved this book, although it messed my head up in so many ways.
I remember once that there was one night when I watched Megan is Missing. I went to sleep with this twisted knot in my stomach There were no scary monsters, no jumpscares, no fantasy horror, but I wished I could erase what I had just seen, in a good way. That's what this book felt like. It wasn't fantasy or Stephen King horror, it was honestly so much scarier. Because it was real life and it was believable.
from one POV, Sadie is going on a trip to find her sister's killer, and then we get another POV from a podcast, with the main host who is going on a trip to find Sadie. Both perspectives are so amazing and they blend so well together.
So many things happened, and none of them were warm with the cookie-cutter vibe. Let me just say, I loved Sadie with all my heart. She was a badass, and a better sister than I'll ever be. I also loved how realistic her character was. I loved that she was queer and also had a stutter because it made her character more grounded. Also, I just want to thank Summers for not really adding in a romance aspect.
Because so many authors add this to books that don't need it to earn more readers, but in reality, this would never happen, and books like this aren't about romance or kisses or love triangles. So extra brownie points for Summers.
The ending of this book left me unhinged. It's revealed that Sadie did finally kill the man who murdered her sister, but we are unaware if she is dead or alive. Her status is left unknown. IMO this is a very sad but realistic ending. This happens to most girls in the world and it's just awful how real this story felt.
This book pitched the idea perfectly, and it clearly showed that being a woman in this day in age is not very easy.
-------------------
Yeah, this book definitely messed me up!
Review To Come
-----------------------
currently reading
y'all, I'm a big true crime fan so I'm excited for this
SPOILER WARNING AND TW: Rape, murder, suicide attempt, drug abuse, pedophilia, blood, vomit.
Okay so I loved this book, although it messed my head up in so many ways.
I remember once that there was one night when I watched Megan is Missing. I went to sleep with this twisted knot in my stomach There were no scary monsters, no jumpscares, no fantasy horror, but I wished I could erase what I had just seen, in a good way. That's what this book felt like. It wasn't fantasy or Stephen King horror, it was honestly so much scarier. Because it was real life and it was believable.
from one POV, Sadie is going on a trip to find her sister's killer, and then we get another POV from a podcast, with the main host who is going on a trip to find Sadie. Both perspectives are so amazing and they blend so well together.
So many things happened, and none of them were warm with the cookie-cutter vibe. Let me just say, I loved Sadie with all my heart. She was a badass, and a better sister than I'll ever be. I also loved how realistic her character was. I loved that she was queer and also had a stutter because it made her character more grounded. Also, I just want to thank Summers for not really adding in a romance aspect.
Because so many authors add this to books that don't need it to earn more readers, but in reality, this would never happen, and books like this aren't about romance or kisses or love triangles. So extra brownie points for Summers.
The ending of this book left me unhinged. It's revealed that Sadie did finally kill the man who murdered her sister, but we are unaware if she is dead or alive. Her status is left unknown. IMO this is a very sad but realistic ending. This happens to most girls in the world and it's just awful how real this story felt.
This book pitched the idea perfectly, and it clearly showed that being a woman in this day in age is not very easy.
-------------------
Yeah, this book definitely messed me up!
Review To Come
-----------------------
currently reading
y'all, I'm a big true crime fan so I'm excited for this
This book had a slow start for me, but once it picked up I didn’t want to let it go. I had to pick it up any free time I had. I loved reading Sadie’s perspective and the podcast! These two very different views brought about the best experience of the book for me.
A perfect, sad story of missing girls and the people caught in the wake of both tragedies. Told through the narrative of a podcast and third person, it immediately sucks you in for a ride. In a way, it goes too fast and ends too soon...much like the lives of the missing girls.
It was middle of the road for me. I found the ending lacking and I wanted more resolution. Interesting concept.
Highly recommend the audiobook. It’s written like a Serial-style podcast, so I really think that’s the way to read it. However, this is really intense and covers tragic topics. CW: abuse of and violence against children (mentioned but not “on the page”).
When Sadie is 19, her little sister Mattie is killed. She thinks she knows who’s responsible and without notice, she sets out to find the killer since the police haven’t. Meanwhile, a podcaster named West hears about the murder and Sadie’s disappearance. He puts it in the back of his mind until he gets a phone call from the woman who’s a stand-in grandma to Sadie and her sister. She asks him to pursue the story and get some answers, so he develops a new podcast series called the Girls.
Sadie is written in the form of the podcast and Sadie’s first-person thoughts. This style makes for a unique and effective structure that perfectly suits this suspenseful, brutal story. This book goes to some dark places, so if you know that’s not your thing, steer clear. Otherwise, if you like suspense novels with depth and good storytelling, don’t miss this one.
Sadie is written in the form of the podcast and Sadie’s first-person thoughts. This style makes for a unique and effective structure that perfectly suits this suspenseful, brutal story. This book goes to some dark places, so if you know that’s not your thing, steer clear. Otherwise, if you like suspense novels with depth and good storytelling, don’t miss this one.