Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Sadie

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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amystainton's review

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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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awebofstories's review against another edition

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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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