Remarkable. Incredible. Chilling. Heart-wrenching.

This audiobook was AMAZING!!!

I should start from the beginning: I received this book as an ARC, but when I found out that the book was partially formatted like a podcast I had to listen to the audiobook. Sine I love audiobooks, and I also have listened to my share of podcasts, so I knew that the audiobook would be vastly different from any other audiobooks I've ever listened to. In other words this book was meant to be an audiobook. It's incredibly formatted, perfectly executed and addicting in the very best way.

Sadie was an incredible novel that surprised the heck out of me.

The writing was fascinating, on point, and the story on its own will stay with me for a very long time, especially the ending. The format of the book was absolutely unique, and unapologetically original - that alone should be a reason to pick up this book.

Sadie's voice was distinctive and incredibly honest, and she stayed true to herself throughout the entire book. She was a character that carried a burden that nobody should have been forced to carry. It was so very easy to emphasize with her. She was emotionally closed off but also very tough, and she had only one goal in mind. Whatever the outcome, she was on a mission and I have to respect that. I just wish she would have allowed herself to ask for help. 

Sadie's story was heart wrenchingly raw and chilling. And thanks to the author's original voice the entire book was refreshingly different. For one thing Sadie felt like a true crime report, including interviews of witnesses and research.  It also felt partly like a diary. But combined they told an incredible story about a young girl's harrowing journey.

I still can't believe how well this book was written, and how amazingly different the format was. Ultimately the hype around this book is well deserved. Not only is the writing superb, the story was fantastically plotted, and the execution something that is rarely accomplished. But the ending was what made this book an unforgettable experience. 

With this in mind, I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

I REALLY enjoyed this book. I enjoyed Sadie's parts more than the podcast parts. I don't love the screenplay format- but it did not take away from the story. I would not call this a "thriller" and I wouldn't have known it was YA if it wasn't labeled as such. Without giving away too much, Sadie's sister has been murdered. She goes looking to avenge her death. Sadie is a tough fierce character. There is some pedophilia in this book- just as a warning. I thought it was well written and it definitely kept me turning the pages. I would recommend to high school readers. While the material is dark, it is literary and relevant.

I was a little nervous about reading this book as I read reviews that mentioned how much it dealt with sexual abuse as I have a really low threshold for being able to read things like that. Details about those experiences really undo me.

Anyway, after my Q&A with Courtney Summers in which she talked about her reasons for writing this book, I wanted to try to read it anyway, and I’m honestly glad I did.

I feel like I’ve said this before, but I have so much respect for Summers and her commitment to be a voice for young women who are often forgotten. Lots of times stories like this, about missing girls, sensationalize the details of the disappearance. I’ve read books where I felt like the author almost revels in constructing the details of torture and graphic abuse.

You won’t find those gory details in Sadie. And you might think that would steal some of the horror or power of the story, but honestly, it doesn’t. Instead, it keeps the story focused on what matters: the humanity of the characters, the fact that they are so much more than abuse victims.

And that humanity coupled with the raw, high-intensity emotional responses of the characters punched straight into me as I read the darkest parts of the story. I felt horror at what happened to Sadie and the other victims of abuse. But I didn’t have to endure the details of what happened to them in order to feel that horror. Sharing in Sadie’s brokenness and horror were powerful enough, especially in the hands of a writer like Courtney Summers. Y’all, she is a force.

Sadie is probably not for everyone. It’s got some rough language, and it’s definitely a dark story. But it does remind us that these things happen to girls way too often. And that way too often we forget them once the glow of the news headlines dims. I’ll remember this one for a long time.

This was quite a gripping story, that for once I felt like reading more slowly than I usually do, perhaps because I kept dreading the next “Sadie” chapter, not knowing where it would take me… or, rather, suspecting where it would, and not wanting to see whether I was right or not. Why I do that to myself, I have no idea.

The mixed format, alternating between Sadie’s first point of view and the script of a podcast about her and her sister Mattie, worked pretty well for me. I’m usually a good enough audience for those novels that play with different formats, and this one wasn’t of the kind that tries too hard or think it’s so much more clever than it really is. “The Girls” is reminiscent of a true crime narration, and Sadie’s parallel narration puts everything back into perspective every time, adding heart to the more neutral tone of the podcast (although West McCray, the podcast’s “narrator”, is fairly involved—in fact, I’d say his involvement is similar to what I was feeling: he, too, wants and doesn’t want to know what he’s going to find).

Sadie’s story is both touching and sad. Here’s a girl who doesn’t have much—her mother’s an addict, she stutters and people make fun of her because of that, she doesn’t have friends, or money, or prospects… the kind of person that, too often, no one would really care about, because she’s not important enough, or was “looking for it”, or whatever similar tripe. She has a fierce love for her younger sister Mattie, and what happens to the latter devastates her to the point of taking her to the road in search of the truth.

In a way, the double narration is part of her life, too: while West keeps searching, there’s always that feeling that he’s not doing enough, not going fast enough, not digging deep enough, and you want to tell him “hurry up, we’re nearing the end of the book, find her before…”. After the abuse she’s suffered, you want someone to take care of her, not the way her surrogate grandmother did (Mae was her support as she was growing up), but as support in what she’s doing now, in her current odyssey as a girl become an adult much too soon, and who’s trying to right a wrong (and save other people) even if it means suffering so much herself. Because Sadie could’ve given up any time, turned back any time, and she doesn’t: it’s not only about Mattie, but about the others, too.

Conclusion: A slow read for me, as it was kind of painful and I kept dreading turning the page… but that’s also what made it a good book. Scary, creepy, horrifying, for the worst monsters are the ones who look human… but definitely a good book.

I’ve been looking forward to Courtney Summers’s next book since I finished All the Rage, and it was worth the wait. (Thanks to NetGalley, I even got to read it a little bit early.) At first, I thought the podcast angle was gimmicky and a crutch Summers’s writing doesn’t need, but it didn’t take long to grow on me. The contrasts between it and Sadie’s chapters were really effective. Like All the Rage, this one is dark, hard to read, really powerful and engaging...and makes me want to go back and read the rest of her books.

THIS FUCKING BOOK. It tore my heart to shreds. I can't stop thinking about it.

Straight up, Sadie is about the sexual abuse of children. Weaving between two narrators (a podcast host and our Kill Bill-ish hero / survivor, Sadie), this is a story of survival, revenge, and the stories we tell about Dead Girls. Sadie's first person narration seamlessly splices in memories of conversations with her abuser, sometimes making it hard to tell what is past and what is currently happening, but there are no actual depictions of sexual violence against children, which is something I really appreciate about this book; in fact, when we learn of the horrific murder of Sadie's 13 year old sister in the opening pages, the podcast narrator tells us that he won't be telling us the gruesome details. And even with the two narrators sparing us the details, the dread I felt reading this was palpable. Even without the stomach-turning clinical details that we so often see in these types of Dead Girl stories, Courtney Summers was able to build a stifling atmosphere that made me absolutely sick with dread.

Sadie as a character was quick to violence and careless with her safety; I never knew her well enough, but I wished over and over for her success and safety. I kept thinking Please let her kill this fucker and get home safe. But then about halfway through the book I had a thought: is home really safe? She had glimpses of what her life could have been like, could still be outside of her poverty-ridden hometown, and I just wanted her to drop everything and pursue that feeling -- forget her mission, move to Denver, and get a girlfriend (or boyfriend).

It is violent, yes, I had to put down the book a few times to settle myself. It was both beautiful and agonizing, and even though it took me only a few days to read, this book is by no means an easy read. But, yes, this book. Read it. And then listen to the podcast.

The structure of this book reminded me of the S-Town podcast. There are places in Alabama that are very similar to the description of small town Cold Creek so I was immediately drawn in by the setting. The investigative journalism gave the story an authentic, unsolved mystery feel which made me forget at times that it was a work of fiction. This book definitely deserves all the buzz it's been getting. I can't stop thinking about it.

Sadie is young, heartbroken, and determined to avenge her sister's death. West McCray is a journalist, simply trying to find the next story. While the two don't meet in the beginning of the book, their stories are interwoven. As Sadie follows the trail to find her sister's killer, McCray follows Sadie's trail, just trying to figure out where the missing teen has gone.

Beautiful, heartbreaking, poignant, disturbing, interesting.... Summers has crafted something both timely and classic. Themes of motherhood, sisterhood, justice, integrity (both moral and journalistic) are all present. Anyone who has ever listened to a podcast can understand McCray's chapters. It's also a nice break from Sadie's chapters-- which are well written, but difficult to take in. It ended up being a quick read for me because I was just so entranced; I wanted to know what was going to happen.. and I was sad in the end when it was over.

There's sexual assault, rape, and violence in this young adult book.

Originally posted on Forever Young Adult on 2018 September 13

BOOK REPORT for Sadie by Courtney Summers

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
BFF Charm: Let Me Love You
Swoonworthy Scale: 2
Talky Talk: "One Story, Told Week By Week"
Bonus Factors: True Crime Podcasts, Revenge
Anti-Bonus Factor: The Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: Addicted To You

Trigger Warning: Careful, folks. This is a book about sexual assault and pedophilia, both of which are portrayed indirectly through the effects they have on victims. If you are easily triggered by either of these topics, proceed with extreme caution. But also know that this is a phenomenal and powerful book, and if you are able to read it, you absolutely should.

Cover Story: Montell Jordan



This cover is the perfect visual depiction of this book. It's pared down and powerful, and reminds me of artwork for a podcast, which is fitting.

The Deal:

When radio journalist West McCray showed up in Cold Creek, Colorado, he had no idea that the trip would alter his life completely. It was a chance encounter that he happened to overhear some people at the gas station talking about a13-year-old girl named Mattie whose body had been found just outside of town. At his boss' suggestion, West returns to Cold Creek a year later to record a podcast about the murdered girl and her 19-year-old sister, Sadie, who disappeared not long after Mattie's death. What happened to these girls? Who murdered Mattie? Why was the police investigation so botched? And where is Sadie? West's interest turns into obsession as he pieces together each tiny bit of information he can find in the hopes of finding Sadie before it's too late.

Sadie's life was never easy. Her mother disappeared when she was still a kid, and Sadie was left alone to raise Mattie with only the help of a woman named May Beth, who managed the trailer park where the girls lived. Sadie dedicated her life to making sure that Mattie never had to suffer any more than necessary, so when Mattie turns up dead, Sadie's world collapses around her. She knows who murdered Mattie, and she knows exactly what horrors he is capable of. With nothing but a photograph to lead the way, Sadie sets out on a journey to find Mattie's murderer and kill him herself.

BFF Charm: Let Me Love You



I have never wanted to hug a character as much as I wanted to hug Sadie. At 19, she has survived more horrors than most people will experience in a lifetime - if ever. But she doesn't quit, she doesn't whine. She takes all that anger, all that rage and sadness, and she channels it into something productive: justice. While this might make her sound like someone you'd want to keep at arms' length, Sadie also allowed herself, in quiet moments when she was alone on the road, to be heartbreakingly vulnerable. She speaks with a debilitating stutter that has forced her to learn how to listen, to others and herself. She's incredibly smart and brave, and there were times when she indulged herself in wishing life had been different for her. COME HERE, BABY GIRL, LET ME LOVE YOU.

Swoonworthy Scale: 2

As you've probably guessed, this is not a swoony book. Sadie's on a mission, and that mission doesn't involve romance. Besides, Sadie's got Capital-I Issues with the male sex for good reason. Romance may never be in the cards for her. That said, her journey brings her into contact with a handful of attractive young people, and Sadie can't help but imagine what her life might be like if she'd ever had the opportunity to be a normal teenager with crushes and dates and first kisses. The longing for that injected a tiny modicum of swoon into a book that otherwise feels the opposite of swoony.

Talky Talk: "One Story, Told Week By Week"

Sadie alternates chapters between a transcript of West's podcast, The Girls and Sadie's POV as she searches for Mattie's killer. I'm a huge fan of true crime podcasts, and I found myself grinning at the way Summers absolutely nails the tone of those podcasts. A journalist weaving his own storytelling between clips of phone calls and interviews with townspeople - you can even listen to the first "episode" of West's podcast The Girls via Macmillan's website. It was also the perfect balance to Sadie's narration, which you know from the first moment is going to be dark and devastating. Sadie's chapters are heavy with building tension. They get your heart pumping, make you grit your teeth, and by the time they end - frequently on a cliffhanger - you're practically holding your breath. I found myself physically and mentally relaxing a little during the podcast chapters, like I was taking a much needed break before diving back in to Sadie's story.

Sadie's narration is like her: tough, blunt, not wasting words on frivolity or sparing judgment on anymore. But not without a dark, wry sense of humor:

"Calm down" is what people who don't know any better tell me to do, like the difference between having a stutter and not having one is a certain level of inner fucking peace.

But she was also capable of completely ruining me with a single sentence, over and over again. Just one example:

Girl with a busted face, torn-up arm, begging for the opportunity to save other girls. Why do I have to beg for that?

Bonus Factor: True Crime Podcasts



Murderinos, what up! This book should be on the to-read list of anyone who loves true crime podcasts.

Bonus Factor: Revenge



Do you Hate Men™ and want to read about a teen girl hunting down and getting revenge on the worst possible version of a man? Yes, yes you do.

Anti-Bonus Factor: The Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting



Whoo boy, is Sadie's mom the worst. Addiction is a terrible disease, do not get me wrong, but I couldn't find a whole lot of sympathy for a woman who left her children alone with her string of awful boyfriends their entire childhoods, only to disappear on them for good when they became teenagers. And Sadie's mom is not the only bad parent in this book by a LONG SHOT. It's filled with awful grown ups.

Relationship Status: Addicted To You

This was the first book of Courtney Summers' that I've read, and thank GOD this woman has, like, six other books, because I now have to excuse myself to go read all the rest. I was riveted from the first page to the last, had goosebumps for most of it, and cried multiple times. And let me tell you, hunny, I have a cold dead heart and crying is not a thing I do often. Sadie is wonderful and terrible and devasting and beautiful, and a reminder again and again of how society fails to protect its girls.

Literary Matchmaking:



● For another dark and devastating tale about a girl seeking revenge on the man who murdered her sister, you have to read The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis.

● And if you're just really in the mood for dark, twisted stories of girls who do bad things, check out The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes.

● If you're in the mood to read more about struggling family dynamics, pick up The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Courtney Summers has a way of writing stories that are so important for young girls to get their hands on, while also managing to have the most beautiful prose. This isn't one that's just about the mystery. It's more about the everlasting trauma and what happens in the after. Split between Sadie's perspective and the true crime podcast, this manages to keep things interesting. Highly recommended!

As a big fan of Serial Podcast, this book felt like it was written just for me. Summers perfectly captures the distinctive narrative tone of true crime podcasts, and masterfully weaves a compelling novel between transcripts (which you can also listen to online as an actual podcast!). This could easily have fallen flat, but it works really well and I'm so impressed by the concept and how well it was pulled off.

Sadie. More than a mystery and more than a thriller, this book is about pedophilia, abuse, and neglect. A girl who cares for her younger sister as if she were her own daughter. A daughter who has always felt unloved by her mother. A mother lost in herself. Grief. Guilt. Revenge. The author holds nothing back. Read it if you can stomach it. You’ll root for Sadie until the very end. This one’s for The Girls. <3

goodreads.com/fallingasleepreading

Holy. Crap. The ending is vague, but in the best possible way and it had be crying some intense tears. It has the perfect balance of podcast elements with narration from Sadie. It is a dark book so be cautious going in.

Sadie filled me with foreboding so huge I just wanted it to end happily. Silly, right? Because that's not the ending most Missing Girls find all around the world. Courtney Summers has done something so intricately moving and dizzying in Sadie.

True crime as a genre of media is experiencing a surge in popularity in our current culture. There are podcasts, movies, television shows, and books that are all consumed by people who are interested in true crime for various reasons. Courtney Summers newest book looks to both ignite discussion about the way in which we consume this genre and offers up a gripping story in the process.

The story starts with something all too familiar - a dead girl. A dead, pretty, and blonde dead girl. The book immediately makes us think about why certain victims capture public interest compared to others, and the almost obsession there is with young, pretty girls who meet a horrible, tragic ending at all too young an age. It also makes us question why they fade from memory just as quickly as they entered once a face is put to the perpetrator. The sad reality is that a majority of people could easily list a dozen serial killers without too much difficulty but would be unable to name twelve victims. Once it is solved the victim almost becomes secondary

This book makes you examine the ways in which we consume these stories. There is a line about how the grisly details of what happened to Mattie will not be shared because they are not there for our entertainment. It is a jarring, almost a slap in the face, line that deeply resonated with me when I read it. The fact is that plenty of true crime media is offered as entertainment and is consumed as such. The stark reality of this not jut being a story is sometimes lost in the desire to dissect and find out the why.

The book also shines a spotlight on the way in which the focus shifts away from the grieving family left behind. The trauma and hurt that they will have to process and deal with long after the story is splashed across headlines and slowly fades from the news. The 'after' is not something that those on the outside linger on. The lives irrevocably changed by these horrific acts are put in the periphery. This book made me think of why this happens. We keep it at arms length because we can. We can remove ourselves from it and make the families of the higher profile cases relive it as new media is released for 'anniversaries'. It begs us to remember that behind the piece of media we are consuming is an all too crushing reality for someone and a person whose life was ended all too soon.

There are two distinctive narration styles within the book. Each of them compliments and builds off the other. They are dependent on each other in order to tell the whole story. The podcast half of the story is seamlessly woven into the overall arc and is used to flesh out things the reader already knows in a lot of ways. The other half that is Sadie's narration is biting and just as heart crushing as you might expect. Courtney Summers knows how to write fierce, complex, and damaged girls and Sadie is a masterpiece. She's memorable in so many ways, as is her story.

West, the radio personality who attempts to track down Sadie as part of a story, is sort of a stand in for the reader while still being a fully developed character. We see his perspective shift as he gets deeper and deeper into tracking Sadie's footsteps. It becomes more than a story for him by the end of the book and that is what I think Courtney Summers is trying to relay. These are more than just stories and they should impact us as such.

Stories that offer only a glimpse into the lives of the characters we're following can sometimes be frustrating. Those who need everything wrapped in a tidy bow may be frustrated by any of Courtney Summers' books and Sadie is no exception. We get to experience the journey these characters are on but that doesn't mean we own it. We don't necessarily get everything. This works with what I believe the overall message of the book is and just adds to the overall impact of the novel. It's an ending that resonates emotionally and is satisfying even as it is frustrating. This isn't a story meant for happily ever afters and the ending perfect reflects that.

Sadie is the kind of story that gut punches you and demands to be thought about long after you've finished reading it. It has the power to shift the way we think of how we interact with the media we consume. It's a harrowing story of love and what loss can drive someone to. It's also a incredibly well written book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It'll easily be one of my top reads of the year and I urge you all to run out and buy a copy. I cannot wait for the discussions it sparks.

An incredibly creative book, not like anything I've ever read before. Any fan of true crime, and/or captivating podcasts would be remiss not to pick this up. They will devour it!

Whoa what a tumultuous read.

In a small town that America has forgot, is a young girl trying to raise her little sister Mattie wit little help from those around them. Sadie's life is shattered when Mattie is found in a local orchard violently murdered. Sadie takes it upon herself to find the murderer and bring vigilante justice to him. As Sadie works her way across the miles she finds herself closer to the murderer but does she also find herself closer to her own death as well?

National radio personality, West McCray, hears Sadie's story and finds himself unable to not get involved. The investigation he launches starts taking over his life and his hope is he finds Sadie before it's too late.

I had no idea while reading Sadie that it was labeled as a YA read. Any fan of thrillers and mysteries will enjoy this book no matter their age. WARNING: there is plenty of violence, foul language and sensitive subjects (child abuse, child sexual abuse, drug use) throughout the book but all that is what makes this book unable to put down. I almost expected to look up from the book and her my West on the radio talking about a true case.

The book is written in two forms: a narrative when reading Sadie's thoughts and actions and a podcast transcript when reading West's thoughts and actions. The podcast transcript reading was different but fit this book.

You will be thinking about this book long after you have finished. It will keep you up at night even if you aren't up reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed above are completely my own.

When i saw this on netgalley i wanted to read it. But i couldn't until now. I finished in 2 days. I loved it. It is definitely one of the best books that i have ever read. It really hit me hard. It was dark and it was intense. I listened to podcast while i was reading too. It was brillant. I really love Courtney Summers writing.

*This book was given to me by NetGalley in return for a honest review*


"I can't take another dead girl."
This is a testament to what we are capable of in our darkest moments.
Being told by two perspectives: Sadie, the girl missing, and a radio personality, West McCray. The Ominous storyline going back and forth, between the past, Sadie's perspective, and current time, where West is desperately searching for missing Sadie. There is a feeling of being hurdled towards a tragic end and it propels you along the way, gathering little breadcrumbs of hope. I couldn't stop, I had to know what happened, is she okay? I never saw her as the type to be saved, gathered up in the arms of someone caring, but did I want her to exact her revenge?

Although the story is raw and provoking, I found Summer's writing to be beautiful and poetic. When I finished, I laid back against my pillow and cried. I thought I would wait before writing the review and let the story settle in, but I don't know that I'll ever feel settled with this story, that it will not bring up anxious and complicated feelings every time I think of it.
This is a story that stays with you.

Every so often a book comes along that is just a complete wrecking ball and thus is was with Sadie. If you are looking for a nice, meek, traditional MC or a variation with a bit more dynamism, look elsewhere. Sadie is every girl who has been failed in the worst ways by those who should have protected her, and has not only survived but found ways to thrive. And then her little sister goes missing and Sadie goes on a mission to find the man who hurt Mattie. Now obviously this resonates for me on multiple levels – not least of which is being the older sister and what lengths we’re willing to go to protect our younger siblings – or revenge them. But Sadie is something more. Summers has managed to echo every girl who has learned that no one is coming to save you, the world is not a kind place to nice girls, in fact you’d better have claws of your own. The story is an interesting split between a podcast tracking Sadie’s disappearance and sightings of her on the road, and Sadie’s first person account. It’s Hard Candy, and The Female of the Species and True Grit all rolled into one, and then it’s not any of those things because Sadie is a book that stands alone. A difficult read at times, but like Summer’s All the Rage, a triumphant shout out for all hurt and abused girls that say we will not sit down and be quiet. We have power. We can act. Highly recommend.