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kiannew's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Even after finishing this book I have so many questions. I did thoroughly enjoy this read, but it 100% wasn’t what I was expecting when I started reading it.
Prior to reading I did see reviews where they said listening to this book gave your a different experience and I 100% agree. It is in the style of a podcast, where there is interviews coming in and out of narration from the host. I did opt to simple read the book but I do think that if you have the opportunity to do so, listening would be a much better experience.
In saying that the book was still very enjoyable. It had a lot more darker themes then I was expecting.
Prior to reading I did see reviews where they said listening to this book gave your a different experience and I 100% agree. It is in the style of a podcast, where there is interviews coming in and out of narration from the host. I did opt to simple read the book but I do think that if you have the opportunity to do so, listening would be a much better experience.
In saying that the book was still very enjoyable. It had a lot more darker themes then I was expecting.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual violence
emilynied's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Summers fully immerses herself into the mind and heart of a teenage girl, and Sadie was an amazing character to explore. Her character is so unique and different from myself, yet I felt her inner most fears and feelings, just like any teenage or young adult women does. Summers does such a great job of exploring such big, universal themes whilst keeping the story so focused and specific around one character.
The novel really started picking up about a third of the way through for me and I finished the second half of the book in one sitting. This story felt like a ball of snow rolling down a hill, picking up more and more with sticks and rocks and dirt and building and building until it reaches the bottom and all breaks apart again. The scenes get more intense and the characters start unraveling and it was just such an amazing way to put a book together.
The ending was also super super interesting.Leaving this novel with a cliffhanger was definitely a unique choice, especially because it's a young adult story. I actually really liked that choice though. I think it reflects Sadie's character through out the story, and leaves the reader with yet another mystery.
The novel really started picking up about a third of the way through for me and I finished the second half of the book in one sitting. This story felt like a ball of snow rolling down a hill, picking up more and more with sticks and rocks and dirt and building and building until it reaches the bottom and all breaks apart again. The scenes get more intense and the characters start unraveling and it was just such an amazing way to put a book together.
The ending was also super super interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia
dani_2006's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Addiction, Sexual assault, Child death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Ableism
shoppy96's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Read the trigger warnings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Death, and Grief
csherrill's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
aprilyvonne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“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?
“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
Graphic: Grief, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Murder, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, Child abuse, Addiction, Sexual violence, Rape, and Abandonment
lanaxfaiiry's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Child death, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
fiction_addiction_1994's review against another edition
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.
.
•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
🖤🖤🖤🖤
•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.
.
•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
Graphic: Rape, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Abandonment, and Pedophilia
jennametheny's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Addiction, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Murder, Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, and Grief
hayy6747's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Drug use, Sexual violence, and Murder