Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Sadie by Courtney Summers

39 reviews

reedandright's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Child death, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Grief, Toxic friendship, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol

Minor: Ableism and Cursing

bookeduntil's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Violence and Terminal illness

ancientdaisy_xx3's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape

Minor: Domestic abuse and Child abuse

cecilielaugesen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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? No

5.0

I think this book will stay with me for a long time!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Grief, Addiction, Death, Child death, and Violence

Moderate: Stalking, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape

aprilyvonne's review

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?

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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

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Child death, Child abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

nikkiahaley's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

This was a wonderful, amazing, difficult read. I listened to the audiobook and i think it is the way to read this. A full cast makes it gut wrenching. Especially with the podcast section of the book. 

This is the type of book that makes you want to scream for the characters, many got dealt a bad hand and are dealing with the aftermath of their choices and many are pieces of shits who deserve to get curb stomped. I think that is something that full cast audiobook adds. The podcaster we follow we get to know, we learn his motivations, the things that he is struggling with. We hear Sadie's inner monologue and her pain for her sister. We hear maybeth saying "not another dead girl". 

This book is going to put me in a book hangover. Everyone should read this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence

mari_lit's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Grief

Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Rape, Death, and Addiction

glitterdeww's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I don't often pick up mystery thrillers, but I'm so glad that I read Sadie, by Courtney Summers. This is a gripping novel following the titular character, a nineteen year old girl full of guilt, grief, and rage after the murder of her little sister. If you have access to the audiobook of this novel, (check your local library app) I would highly recommend it. It's voiced by a full cast, and because half of the book follows a radio show host trying to piece together what happened, it sounds very much like a true crime podcast.

There are many ugly things in this book, so check content warnings. There's not a lot of graphic detail, just description enough to explain what happened to these girls. It's hard to look at, but like most difficult things I think it's important to understand what ugliness actually exists. I also want to stress that there's beauty in this novel, too. But it's the kind that makes your heart ache. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, Addiction, Child abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Violence, Rape, and Sexual violence

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

The Details:
Narrated by full cast
Unabridged

Well, what a fantastic production this was. I'm so glad I went ahead and waited until I had an Audible account to get to this one. The full cast really made this story special.

The way this story unfolded was genius. I felt like I could really connect with Sadie and the people that tried to help her on her journey.

It left me with a weird feeling of melancholy and heart ache. What Sadie set as her mission was valiant and selfless and I was with her for the whole of it.

I thought we'd have a more closed conclusion, but with a story like this, I mean it mirrors real life so well... there never really is a conclusion to the mysteries of life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Abandonment, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug use, Domestic abuse, and Drug abuse