<i> I received an ARC through Netgalley for an honest review</i>

I gave this story 4.5 stars. It was a wild ride. One of the only thriller/mystery novels I truly enjoyed. It’s heartbreaking and exhilarating all at once.

One of the genres I have a harder time reading is mystery/thrillers. They can be pretty hit or miss for me. Sadie was a hit. The way the story was told, half through Sadie’s perspective and half through a podcast.

True Crime is one of my favorite topics. I love watching documentaries and reading up on them, just looking at all the facts and trying to see if I can come to some sort of conclusion. Or just being along for the ride. If you are also interested in that kind of stuff, then I would recommend you read Sadie.

Our book centers around a girl, Sadie, obviously. Her sister has just been murdered, the investigation was botched, and Sadie is now on the warpath. She knows who killed her sister and she a plan, but first she needs to find him.

This book successfully did what a lot of other books like it could not. I felt a deep connection to the characters and their story, a lot of the time when I read thrillers/mysteries, the characters are all horrible and I have a hard time respecting any of them or feeling basic emotions for their stories. Sadie really had a very grounded feeling.

I personally don’t actually listen to podcasts, they just aren’t my thing. This story is written for people that do enjoy podcasts and even some that don’t. I’m not going start listening to podcasts, don’t get me wrong, but I did enjoy the freshness that the podcast brought. It added in many angles for the reader. It wasn’t just what Sadie had to say, it’s what everything looked like from the outside. It was these people that were affected by the story trying to piece together what exactly happened. It showed the after effects that Sadie never saw.

The ending is really up for interpretation, but at the same time, I feel like we all know what happened. It really depends on if you’re more of an optimist or a pessimist.

"I turn the switchblade one more time in my sweaty palm, feeling the weight of its neat black handle and the unforgiving blade tucked inside.

It was his, a long time ago.

It's mine now.

I'm going to carve my name into his soul."

Sadie Hunter raised her little sister Mattie Southern on her own after their mother left. Mattie was Sadie's world. When Mattie was found murdered a year ago, Sadie's world changed forever, and months later, she vanished. The only clue as to where she may have gone: A car with her backpack inside. There have been no other leads and Sadie has been written off as a runaway by local police.

Sadie's neighbor and surrogate grandmother, May Beth Foster, has tasked radio personality West McCray with finding Sadie. He thinks Sadie doesn't want to be found - but May Beth disagrees.

Sadie is framed in alternating perspectives - episodes of West McCray's podcast, titled The Girls, and Sadie, four months earlier, planning to leave Cold Creek. Sadie knows the man responsible for Mattie's death, and she isn't going to stop searching for him until she has her revenge.

"I'm going to kill a man.

I'm going to steal the light from his eyes. I want to watch it go out. You aren't supposed to answer violence with more violence, but sometimes I think violence is the only answer."

This book is hard to read in a lot of ways. It deals with heavy subjects that left me feeling sick more often than not. Courtney Summers has never been the type of author to pull her punches, and Sadie is no exception.

I love Sadie as a character. She's tired of being underestimated, tired of the way people treat her due to her stutter. She's desperate, determined, unapologetic, focused, and full of rage.

"Last thing she said to me, my face cupped firmly in her hands, was whatever you're thinking, you get it out of that damned foolish head of yours right now. Except it's not in my head, it's in my heart and she's the same woman who told me if you're going to follow anything, it might as well be that.

Even if it's a mess."

This book has a podcast based off the podcast that's in the book!

I've read and loved all of Courtney Summers' books so far. I've wanted to read this book since I first saw the beginnings of it on Goodreads. I wanted to write a review that would do this book justice, but at the time I'm writing this, the book comes out tomorrow, so I decided it was time to give up on perfection and just do my best.

Tomorrow it will finally be time to #FindSadie.

Sadie is an incredible story, told through a totally unique perspective. I spent the whole book sitting on the edge of my seat, reminding myself to breathe every now and then. Sadie's voice is so unique and the intertwining narrative of the podcast adds an extra dimension to the story. This book tackles so many important issues, and addresses ethics of West telling Sadie's story in an absolutely incredible way. I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed reading this book.

I received an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book had a ton of emotional ups and downs. Plus a cliffhanger ending.

I read half the book in 1 day! That's how much I loved this book. I would have finished it in two days if not for health complications. Now I want another! What happened to Sadie? I want to know, I can guess, but I want to know for sure!

I could tell something terrible besides the death of her sister had happened to Sadie from the beginning, well the reveal of what had happened wasn't a surprise to me by the time it was told, there were plenty of hints.

I really felt for Sadie and her sister thru out this book, the writing was fantastic and it just sucked me in and had me on the edge of my seat. The slow reveals of what happened were great and kept me engrossed in the book.

On her quest for the killer she uncovers other horrible crimes and makes sure to do the right thing, however, Sadie does have her own version of morality. I understand everything she did even if others may not see it as the right thing. I tend to love morally grey characters and I did indeed love Sadie.

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: For me this one falls somewhere in the middle of really good and well kind of not good.

Do I Recommend this book? Yes I would still recommend this one!

Notes and Opinions: This book is split up between chapters of a podcast and chapters in the POV of Sadie. I really wish we wouldn't have had the podcast sections becuase they really made the story feel choppy. Its like I would be all in with Sadie and then I would be pulled out of that to read a podcasting. It felt really weird and were pretty much unnessasary.

Now that said I loved Sadie she has a speech impediment which this author did very well with. My husband actually has one so I know first hand how that affects things. However, that is not only who Sadie is as very strong character and is a very determined teen. She is trying to hunt down the man who killed her sister and that was very interesting to follow.

This one for me is all about Sadie and her situation. If you want a character driven story then this one will be for you. I will tell you that this ends on a cliffhanger that we may never know the outcome of it. But that being said it felt like real life. So many books do not do that its all hugs and rainbows and everything turns out ok and well in real life that isn't always the case.


Go Into This One Knowing: Character Driven Story, A Few Plot Holes, 50% Podcast 50% Normal Story, Child Sexual Abuse &amp; Neglect

The “gone girl” is a captivating topic in today’s society. Whether it be on TV, the big screen, books, or podcasts, people love to hear the tragic stories of girls gone missing. Even some, such as the wildly successful Up and Vanished podcast set out to find these missing girls, and in the case of Up and Vanished, actually do solve the mystery.

Which brings us to Sadie, the new suspense YA novel by Courtney Summers. Sadie is a nineteen year old girl who has only one goal - to avenge her sister’s killer. Wes McCray is a podcaster who has only one goal - to find Sadie Hunter. As Sadie follows clues across the country left behind by her thirteen-year-old sister’s murderer, Wes follows clues left behind by Sadie while making a podcast called “The Girls” about his efforts to bring Sadie home.

Sadie is told in alternating points of view with Wes always a few steps behind Sadie. Readers get to experience Sadie’s take on a situation, and then follow along with Wes as he visits the places Sadie has been and tries to piece together the mystery. This is really a fascinating concept for true crime aficionados because so much of solving a case is about figuring out what actually happened in a situation. With only the people involved in a crime knowing what REALLY happened, piecing together a crime often feels like taking a stab in the dark. With Sadie, readers know what actually happened, and then get to see how those who stumble across clues left behind either get it wrong or get it right.

Anyone who enjoys podcasts will love the fresh spin on the “gone girl” novel that Sadie provides. Wes’s parts of the novel read just like a podcast episode, complete with intercutting interviews and sound bites, reflection, and phone calls. Even better, Wes’s podcast about Sadie is out there in the real world for you to listen to! “The Girls: Find Sadie” is available for your listening entertainment wherever you get your podcasts.

Sensitive readers should note that Sadie is not a happy book, as most real-life cases of murdered and missing girls are not stories with fairytale endings. Sadie deals with real and raw issues, and overall, has a dark and tragic feel. While wonderfully and compellingly written, it can sometimes be difficult to “keep going” while reading the horrid details of girls used and abused. On the other hand, thousands of people go missing every year, and if passionate people don’t “keep going” in their efforts to uncover what happened to these missing persons, who will?

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books at St. Martin’s Press for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Sadie is a dark and gritty YA contemporary mystery about a girl who sets out on her own to track down and kill her little sister's murderer. Chapters narrated by Sadie on her quest are alternated with transcripts from a fictional podcast covering the story of Sadie's disappearance and her sister's murder. This unusual format is very effective as the podcast provides an excellent way to get background on the events through interviews with those close to the sisters as well as people Sadie meets on her journey. Despite the breaks in the action (and knuckle-biting tension) that the podcast chapters provide, Sadie remains a gripping, fast-paced read throughout.

Sadie's story is incredibly dark, but, sadly, very believable. Nothing in her motivations or actions seems implausible and Sadie has no special powers or abilities beyond those of a regular 19 year old girl. This isn't a shoot-em-up revenge fantasy full of stylized violence and extraordinary feats - this is the story of a troubled girl pushing herself to her limits to get justice for her sister. Sadie is a fully formed character and it's impossible not to sympathize with and root for her, and also frequently fear for her. However, this story does not offer the same comforting closure of a blockbuster movie, as in real life there would be no neat and happy ending.

With themes of sexual abuse, drug addiction, child neglect, and violence, this is a book best suited to older high school students.

Disclaimer: I received this free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review

‘If I’ve learned anything about Sadie Hunter, it was that she was almost a secondary player in her own life. She lived for Mattie, lived to love, care for and protect her little sister, with every breath.’

Sadie is a missing girl on a journey of revenge, and her story is told through a podcast series narrated by West McCray. Sadie hasn’t had an easy life. Her mother is an addict and Sadie has had to look after herself and her sister Mattie for her whole life. Living in a small isolated town, she is doing her best to keep them afloat. When Mattie is found dead, Sadie’s whole world crumbles around her. She is determined to get revenge and justice for her sister and hits the road and follows the clues. When West McCray, a radio presenter, overhears a story about Sadie he becomes obsessed with finding her. He starts his own podcast to uncover the truth and hopefully find her before it is too late.

WOW. What a book. Sadie is phenomenal, poignant, scary, breathtaking, gut-wrenching, and such an emotional rollercoaster.

Before I start I do want to give trigger warnings for drug abuse, alcohol abuse, paedophilia, sexual abuse, parental neglect, and violence.

Sadie is not a book I would recommend lightly mainly due to the subject matter. It is intense and it really does turn your stomach and it will most definitely be triggering for abuse survivors so if you believe you can handle the subject matter then I would recommend but please tread with caution and put yourself first otherwise.

Sadie is a book that will haunt me for a long time coming. It is a revenge story motivated wholly by a sister’s love. It is a book that will evoke a range of emotions. It will make you angry, sad, and bitter for all the injustice girls all over the world go through. It is brutal and honest. It is a book about anger and revenge but also about love and sisterhood. About how you can love someone so damn much you will do anything you can to protect them or avenge them. Sadie is also a book about how we, as a society, view violence against women and how it is used as a form of entertainment, and it shows our culture’s obsession with dead girls. One of my favourite quotes from the book is; ‘And it begins, as many stories do, with a dead girl’.

I was a little unsure when I went into this, mainly due to the narrative style. Sadie alternates between Sadie’s POV where we watch her become more reckless and more determined to track down her sister’s killer, and a podcast named ‘The Girls’ narrated by West McCray (who is also gay!) and honestly, it worked brilliantly. It was unique, intense, and riveting. There is also a real-life podcast based on Sadie.

Sadie is a masterfully written character. She is so complex and multidimensional. She was angry, anxious, foul-mouthed, and driven but also full of so much pain and grief which made her vulnerable and reckless. She was full of so much love for her sister and she was fiercely protective. Her narrative voice was raw and brutal. She felt so real. I was rooting for her throughout the whole book, I wanted her to get vengeance and justice for her sister. You follow her story, watching her taking risks to find her sister’s killer – it is intense and suspenseful and following her story and seeing her past will make you so angry that your blood will boil. She has a stutter that makes people view her much differently It is not an easy book to read and Sadie’s story is a painful one, to say the least. Sadie is motivated purely by love for her sister and that is definitely something I can relate to.

Also, side note, Sadie isn’t straight and she does kiss a girl at one point in the novel.

Courtney Summers in an exquisite writer managing to weave a story and create a character you really care about but will also leave you emotionally exhausted. Sadie is a book that I wholly would recommend if you can handle the subject matter.

Many Thanks to Net-Galley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy. This did not affect my rating.

*4/5*

This was one little book that packed a heavy punch.

Sadie has been raising her younger sister Mattie since she was born. Mattie was Sadie's whole entire world. Their mother was not fit to be one, and then one day, she up and left.
Then one day, Mattie is found dead and it sends Sadie on her own hunt to find the killer. She goes from place to place - lying when she must, fighting her own stutter - to get answers.

The story is told alternating between a podcast show investigation in to Sadie's disappearance, and Sadie's search to find her sisters killer. The style was very unique, and while it did take some getting used to - I did end up liking it.

The author made me root for Sadie, to find the answers she was looking for.. but it also made me want to find Sadie herself.. and give her the happy life she deserved.
The story is dark. the content warnings are needed because I could see it triggering some people. But this story is important. We need to help the girls who cannot help themselves.

TW: pedophilia, sexual abuse, drug abuse.

Thank you Wednesday Books for gifting me a copy of this book, and for inviting me on to the Blog Tour. All opinions are my own. 

I rate this book a 5 out of 5 Stars.

Going into this book, I thought I was going to be reading a YA Thriller, but this book exceeds anything I could have imagined. It's so much more, I wasn't prepared for this book, and I wasn't prepared for the subject matter. Once I finished it, I had felt like something inside of me had broken. I had such a visceral reaction to it. I saw myself as Sadie, and Mattie. I knew first hand what they had experienced. I probably shouldn't have kept reading it, but I couldn't put it down. I had to follow through, and I had to see where Sadie was. I still can't get over this book, and every time I think about it, my heart races. When I got to the end, I *may* have shed a few tears. The story of Sadie and Mattie, rocked me to my core. I think some readers are going to grow an attachment to it more than other readers, but I think everyone that reads it, is going to enjoy it, for many reasons.

As far as the podcast format, I loved it, and I think it was so well done, I also appreciated the alternating chapters between Sadie, and "The Girls" Podcast. I also appreciated the chapters ending in the way you did, each one was like a mini cliffhanger,  both leaving me wanting more, and not letting me have the ability to put the book down. This was my first Courtney Summers read, and I feel like now that I've read this book, and I have seen the amazing ability she has to pull her readers in, I will be a fan for life, and I will read whatever she has available! This was such an incredible story about the love between sisters, and the primal instinct to take care of someone you love. Having a sibling step in, and raise you in lieu of your own parent is something I am familiar with as well. I think Summers did a fantastic job writing about every sensitive subject in this book, and it made reading it, easier to take.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed and ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

When I first began reading this book, I wasn't sure how to take it. It has an intense feel and most of the chapters are told like a podcast script. Once, I was able to 'hear' the podcast feel of it I ended up really liking that part and then Sadie's part was just so intense... Make no mistake this is a gritty book and sometimes hard to read.
It is also really hard to put this down, let me warn you.

I'm still blown away by how much I really enjoyed this book. I was taking in every word, worried about Sadie and what was to become of her. Her chapters are really well done in getting you to connect with her -- or at least root for her. Also, it is mentioned briefly that she isn't straight... I think she is bi. She also has a stutter.

The podcast chapters make connecting to the characters a different challenge, but those chapters blew so fast for me. So, the only character really we connect with is Sadie-- no one else is really fleshed out except for Mattie, but I mean... she's dead. This isn't to say the other characters don't all feel distinct because they do. I could practically hear them in their own distinct voices.

There is so much more I want to say, but I'm worried I will be spoiling the book. I have so many feelings about the ending-- SO MANY. I totally want to have a discussion about it.

So, let me end here and say if you like crime podcasts, girls out for revenge, and gritty reads you should check this out. If you liked Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis I also think you should read this one.

I will always read Courtney Summers and I know that I will always be hit pretty hard with the gritty truth of the world. Reading Sadie took me a little while to get into as it was told via alternating perspectives - one was Sadie’s and the other was the Podcast ‘The Girls’. Sadie was such a messed up girl and at one point I thought I was going to have to just not finish the book because I didn’t want to hear about what was happening. But I am glad I kept going because while it didn’t quite have the ending I truly wished for, It was a satisfying ending and reminded me to think of the good people out there.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC via Netgalley.

A 2018 Favorite for its uniqueness and powerful voice!

This has been my year for discovering stunning, unique books that now occupy my 2018 Favorite's Shelf! Once again, my gut instinct led me to a powerful story that totally encompassed me, invading my heart, mind, and soul and leaving me reeling. I'll admit to having reservations about choosing Sadie to read because of the Young Adult label as it's a genre I can go either way with. Let me say now that this story defies all genre labels and stands in a class of its own. Do not let the genre deter you from reading this book!

Through nineteen year old Sadie's pov and a serial podcast called The Girls hosted by radio personality West McCray, this haunting, heartbreaking story plays out. By alternating chapters, readers feel a real sense of urgency and desperation as it's soon clear time for intervening with fate is running out. Driven by unbearable grief, guilt, and the need for revenge on the man who murdered her little sister, Sadie appears to be teetering on the edge of sanity with growing, blatant disregard for her own safety. The story pacing and dark suspense build to an almost frantic level throughout and while I could sense a tragic catastrophe coming, I couldn't put the book down. With my heart pounding and prayers on my lips, I read the final pages - and then sat there in a trance-like state feeling like all the air had been sucked out of the room. It's been days now since I finished, and I still see the story playing out in my head. It's a huge credit to the author that these characters, especially Sadie, haunt me as I hear their cries of despair, pain, and loss - begging for someone...anyone...to help stop the monsters stalking their nightmares before it's too late.

Needless to say, Sadie tackles some sensitive issues including child abuse and pedophilia. While the individual acts are not graphically described, the devastation of lives is clearly defined by Sadie and her dark, chilling journey. I applaud the author for lending a voice to children of abuse and encourage readers to give this book a chance. Sadie is a raw, gritty suspense story that is brilliantly written and delivered in a powerful, unique manner. A 2018 Favorite! A Must Read!

What a gritty and absorbing story! Courtney Summers has written a novel that will grab a reader’s attention from the first paragraph and never let up until the end. I especially loved how the story was told from two points of view. Readers are given a chronological account of Sadie’s journey, interspersed with that of West McCray, a radio personality, who is doing interviews in order to help find Sadie.

Sadie’s sister, Mattie, has been murdered and the police investigation has come to a halt, so Sadie sets out to find Mattie’s killer and bring him to justice. The only problem is Sadie’s car is found abandoned, but no one can find Sadie.

Sensitive readers should be aware of trigger warnings for child molestation, drug and alcohol abuse and violence. The child molestation is referenced, but not written about in any detail.

I really enjoyed the perspective of the radio personality. It brought an objective view to the story and also lightened the mood of what could have been a very dark novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

Sadie is a super quick read with a unique format.

Sadie found her purpose in life when her younger sister, Mattie, was born. Their mother had other priorities in life (men & drugs), so when Mattie is murdered, Sadie finds a new purpose.

This book is a soccer punch to the gut over and over, but you won't be able to put it down.

Sadie by Courtney Summers is a compelling, well written, deeply though out thriller. It's the perfect read for young adults and older. Gripping, an edge of the seat book. I will definitely be purchasing this title for my nieces who love a great read.

Sadie is a haunting read. The style, of podcast transcripts and Sadie's perspective as she hunts down her sister's abuser is fast paced and addicting, as you hope to put things together, stitch some kind of happily ever after out of the trauma.

Courtney Summers' choice to dwell on the lives of troubled people is well made as she makes everyone seem human, even the villains. Her writing style is dark and compelling, sometimes difficult to get through, but you can't bring yourself to look away.

'Sadie' is a book that will sit with you long after you finish reading, wondering what happened and if things will ever be okay.

This was my first book by Courtney Summers, and I was very excited to get the galley. This was a great YA mystery/thriller.. the differing POVs (Sadie’s and the podcast of her story being told) was a clever way to tell a well rounded story. This book dealt with some difficult topics, but did it in a relatable way that really added Sadie’s character. She was a well fleshed out MC. The story was well written, and moved at a great pace. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

I loved All The Rage and This is Not A Test by Courtney Summers so I was really excited when I received an ARC of Sadie in the mail. The synopsis of this book really intrigued me and it definitely lived up to the hype. This book is a young adult mystery, but it's also a lot more. I really enjoyed the format that the book is written. We get to hear directly from Sadie's POV, but we also get to hear from West McCray as he broadcasts a pod cast called The Girls, about Sadie's story.

Sadie was both easy to like and relatable as a main character. From the very beginning of the book you see what a rough life Sadie has had. Her mother is a drug addict and never really pays any attention to her. Her mom eventually takes off and leaves Sadie's little sister Mattie in her care. Sadie ends up dropping out of high school to try to support herself and her sister, but Mattie never really gets over her mom abandoning them. The book begins after Mattie has been killed and Sadie decides to leave town to track down her killer. Sadie fills in our unanswered questions about her life throughout the book.

This was a great book and I highly recommend it. I love Courtney Summer's writing and this book is probably my favorite so far. It does deal with a lot of hard topics, such as abuse and drug addiction. The ending wasn't what I expected and frankly left a little speechless.

Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC of this book.

Well, bookish friends, this is going to go down as one of my favorite books EVER. I’m not sure I can adequately express how much I loved this story but also how shattered my heart is at the same time. First and foremost let’s get this out of the way, this is not an easy read. Sadie, is definitely more of a mature YA novel. It heavily ties into the society we live in today in the way it handles child abuse and sexual assault. It’s a heavy read that at times made me feel sick to my stomach and will haunt you weeks after you finish it. Trust me, I’m still constantly going back and reread the ending of this almost three weeks later! But despite how heavy it is, it is still one of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.

Sadie, is so much more than your typical murder mystery novel. In fact this story easily goes down as one of my favorite mystery novels because of how compelling the POV’s were written. The first POV is Sadie herself. She holds back absolutely nothing from readers in terms of her grief, guilt, love, and determination to avenge Mattie’s death. The second POV is told from West McCray and his true crime podcast as he tries to track down Sadie and help her return home safely. Both POV’s concurred with one another so perfectly that I could not read this fast enough. I was literally on the edge of my seat desperate to find out how it was going to end.

Pro tip: treat yourself to a manicure after this and not before because you will bite all your nails off due to anticipation.

Sadie’s character is one that is easy to fall in love with and root for. Sadie, raised her little sister Mattie, for basically her entire life due to their mother’s absence and drug addiction. She is described as “secondary player in her own life” because she truly lives her life with only one person in mind, and that is Mattie. So when Sadie learns Mattie is murdered the anger and grief she feels is incredibly raw, and yet Sadie knows the only thing she can do for Mattie now is find her killer and make sure she kills them herself. I constantly found myself rooting so hard for Sadie to get the answers and justice she deserved but also feared immensely for her safety since the minute she packed up and left Cold Creek.

This was one of those books that you pick up every possible free second you have. If you think I’m lying just know that I read one of the biggest plot twists EVER while I was sitting in line at the Starbucks drive-thru, I’m not even kidding. Sadie’s dangerous journey will consume your life as she hunts down her sister’s killer. At the same time this is absolutely one of those reads where less is more in terms of what you know. The less you know going into this the more you will be immersed in the race against the clock to #FindSadie. If there is one thing you need to know besides this being a heavy ready it’s that the pacing starts off a little slow but by the end of this story you will be in full on panic mode. You’ve been warned.

As for the ending, my lips are sealed but just know I initially struggled with it and was very confused, hurt, in disbelief, and a slew of other emotions but after sleeping on it I know this… it’s the ending this book deserved and needed.

All in all, this is a story about sisterhood, love, loss, grief, and hope all wrapped into one heart-pounding story. This was my first Courtney Summers novel but it certainly will not be my last. Also for anyone who has read this book or will be reading it, when you finish PLEASE come talk to me about the ending!