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shaylas22's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying
sincerelykai's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
3.75
Wow. This was, really, really hard to read. I truly believe that it was beautifully written - and the mix between Sadie's POV and the podcast transcripts was brilliant. It deserves all of the hype it gets because it was absolutely gut-wrenching for me. The only reason this is getting just a little less than four stars is merely my overall personal enjoyment while reading - it took me forever to finish and I was never truly motivated to finish it until the last quarter of the book. That could have been my reading mood, however, because I would still 100% recommend this book! Especially for those who love true-crime podcasts. (I might re-visit and update my star-rating later). Another reason why I am semi-disappointed is the ending. We do not have Sadie's death entirely confirmed and I would rather know than not. HOWEVER, it does work well with the podcast layout as with most true-crime podcasts there are no true 'ends' after investigations. So I am at a cross-roads between completely hating the ending, and applauding it for its correlation to the realm of true-crime podcasts. Just be cautious and review the content warnings before reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Abandonment
hakeema17h's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
lisa_m's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
⚠️❗Trigger Warning: child abuse, rape, molestation, pedophilia, death, depression, drug abuse and murder❗⚠️
This book was quite a ride and also quite out of my comfortzone. That is also the reason why you shouldn't let my review of only 3⭐ make you not want to read the book.
It is incredibly written and I can absolutely appreciate it for what it is. The representation of stuttering (which I have never ever read in a book before!) was something you have to get used to but its definitely worth it.
What made it hard for me to get through was mainly the themes of the book. I have put the Trigger Warnings on top and as you can see there's a lot of them. All of those topics are definitely issues that have to be adressed. I read the book knowing it was going to be hard to get through but I did it and I'm glad I did. The book never made me feel like it was exploiting Sadies experiences and memories. She had flashbacks and she described what she experienced but it was never in extreme detail.
I'm not a fan of horror/gore/thrillers and the book isn't that at all. It's a YA-contemporary mystery with very heavy topics. If you feel like you are able to read it, I would definitely recommend it. It made me think a lot for sure.
This book was quite a ride and also quite out of my comfortzone. That is also the reason why you shouldn't let my review of only 3⭐ make you not want to read the book.
It is incredibly written and I can absolutely appreciate it for what it is. The representation of stuttering (which I have never ever read in a book before!) was something you have to get used to but its definitely worth it.
What made it hard for me to get through was mainly the themes of the book. I have put the Trigger Warnings on top and as you can see there's a lot of them. All of those topics are definitely issues that have to be adressed. I read the book knowing it was going to be hard to get through but I did it and I'm glad I did. The book never made me feel like it was exploiting Sadies experiences and memories. She had flashbacks and she described what she experienced but it was never in extreme detail.
I'm not a fan of horror/gore/thrillers and the book isn't that at all. It's a YA-contemporary mystery with very heavy topics. If you feel like you are able to read it, I would definitely recommend it. It made me think a lot for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Sexual harassment
phdoyle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Stalking
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Car accident, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
livpasquarelli's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, and Abandonment
the_books_music_life's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I almost cried at the end of this book. This book hits so hard and hits with so many different emotions I can't even really describe the feelings I had when I was reading this. I would 100% recommend the audiobook, it's full cast with sound effects and it's like listening to a true crime podcast.
The book follows the main mystery of what happened to Mattie Southern and her sister Sadie, who is on her own search for answers and justice, and goes missing along the way. The book is in dual perspective and follows that of Sadie and West McCray a radio personality who does a podcast investigating Mattie’s murder and Sadie’s disappearance.
I got three paragraphs in and I already love it. The format is something I’ve never seen done before, it’s set in a podcast series format and it bounces between the podcast narrator and Sadie. I can get lost in the story and forget it’s not a real life true crime case I’m listening to but a fictional story
I think this book is something everyone should read but I recognize not everyone can because of the subject matter. While nothing is explained in gory details or shown physically happening the book deals with the murder of a child, child molestation, drug abuse, child abuse and parental abandonment. So be sure to read the content warnings before going into this book.
Sadie has a stutter that is prevalent in her narration and it adds to the characterization of Sadie and helps the reader relate to her. All the characters are fleshed out and feel like real people, down to the choices they make.
The way we, as readers or listeners, are brought into the flashbacks Sadie experiences of her trauma so well done, you almost think it’s actually happening instead of it being a flashback. Which is true if you have ever experienced a flashback. The more I read I can’t help but be angry at Mattie and how hurtful and mean and how she never seemed to appreciate all that Sadie had done for her.
The ending had me so worried, I was so scared that what I thought was going to happen would but thank god it went a different way. I feel like the ending will be hit or miss; some will love it, some will hate it. I felt it was a good, realistic and felt right for the story.
The book follows the main mystery of what happened to Mattie Southern and her sister Sadie, who is on her own search for answers and justice, and goes missing along the way. The book is in dual perspective and follows that of Sadie and West McCray a radio personality who does a podcast investigating Mattie’s murder and Sadie’s disappearance.
I got three paragraphs in and I already love it. The format is something I’ve never seen done before, it’s set in a podcast series format and it bounces between the podcast narrator and Sadie. I can get lost in the story and forget it’s not a real life true crime case I’m listening to but a fictional story
I think this book is something everyone should read but I recognize not everyone can because of the subject matter. While nothing is explained in gory details or shown physically happening the book deals with the murder of a child, child molestation, drug abuse, child abuse and parental abandonment. So be sure to read the content warnings before going into this book.
Sadie has a stutter that is prevalent in her narration and it adds to the characterization of Sadie and helps the reader relate to her. All the characters are fleshed out and feel like real people, down to the choices they make.
The way we, as readers or listeners, are brought into the flashbacks Sadie experiences of her trauma so well done, you almost think it’s actually happening instead of it being a flashback. Which is true if you have ever experienced a flashback. The more I read I can’t help but be angry at Mattie and how hurtful and mean and how she never seemed to appreciate all that Sadie had done for her.
The ending had me so worried, I was so scared that what I thought was going to happen would but thank god it went a different way. I feel like the ending will be hit or miss; some will love it, some will hate it. I felt it was a good, realistic and felt right for the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, and Grief
talk of drug abuse, talk of prostitution, flashback of trauma, talk of trophiesmichaelapr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First off there are a few triggers that needs to be acknowledged: Pedophilia, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Manipulation - All are mentions not graphic scenes, thank God, but while this book is fantastic it could be triggering and gets dark fairly quickly.
Now on to this book! I listened to the audiobook, something I highly recommend because the production of this is fantastic. We go back and forth between podcast episodes where a journalist is investigating the disappearance of title character Sadie after her sister's brutal murder and Sadie's point of view of her journey for revenge, which the journalist is investigating. The audiobook is just like listening to a podcast and the framework is artfully done.
The story itself is gut wrenching and fast-paced. It was hard to put this book down, I was so invested in the outcome and these characters. Courtney Summers writes a captivating, heartbreaking, intense story that never sensationalizes the dark content nor trivializes Sadie's struggles.
Now ahead are spoilers! It should be marked but you have been warned.
The ending of this made me so MAD and upset! I was expecting an epilogue, I really was, with Sadie's point of view. I thought surely she didn't die, that she managed to survive and was going to make a life for herself after all she's been through - I really wanted that for her. But no, we never find out! And it's implied that Sadie most likely died. Which was maddening after rooting for her, for hoping the podcast would help her!! This book still gets a 5 star rating because it was a great book but oh that was a direct hit to my heart!
Now on to this book! I listened to the audiobook, something I highly recommend because the production of this is fantastic. We go back and forth between podcast episodes where a journalist is investigating the disappearance of title character Sadie after her sister's brutal murder and Sadie's point of view of her journey for revenge, which the journalist is investigating. The audiobook is just like listening to a podcast and the framework is artfully done.
The story itself is gut wrenching and fast-paced. It was hard to put this book down, I was so invested in the outcome and these characters. Courtney Summers writes a captivating, heartbreaking, intense story that never sensationalizes the dark content nor trivializes Sadie's struggles.
Now ahead are spoilers! It should be marked but you have been warned.
The ending of this made me so MAD and upset! I was expecting an epilogue, I really was, with Sadie's point of view. I thought surely she didn't die, that she managed to survive and was going to make a life for herself after all she's been through - I really wanted that for her. But no, we never find out! And it's implied that Sadie most likely died. Which was maddening after rooting for her, for hoping the podcast would help her!! This book still gets a 5 star rating because it was a great book but oh that was a direct hit to my heart!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
beawithane's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
the audiobook is the way to go!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism and Rape
Minor: Alcohol
vmpalauf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Read it for the mad woman prompt in the Taylor Swift Reading Challenge: Lover edition - (Valeria's Version).
It completely broke my heart.
It completely broke my heart.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Addiction and Child death