So I was interested in this book when I first heard about it being available at BookExpo and the cover is stunning. As I learned more about it and read the synopsis I was drawn in more however I had a really difficult time getting into this story though what I was able to get there was an interesting read I don't think it was for me. I expected it to be just one person telling the story/being the narrator so when it started out with a podcast or radio show type of story line I was very confused. I had a hard time following the story as it switched between Sadie and the radio show. I think that many people however will love the uniqueness of the story telling because I did enjoy that it was a way you don't see often. I myself though felt like I was being pulled out of one story when the change would occur.

This is not a book that will make you feel good.

Sadie has lost her younger sister, whom she raised like her own daughter, since their addict mother seemed incapable of accomplishing. Now Mattie is dead, Sadie leaves their small town after the only reason she has to stay alive—revenge. Months later, a reporter starts a radio series on the two girls, one dead, one missing. What happened to Sadie between her departure and the series?

I'm not sure why this has been marketed as YA, the story goes very dark from the very beginning and Sadie is far from being a teenager maturity-wise.

We basically follow Sadie as she looks for the person she blames for her sister's death, while the reporter tries to fill us in on the sisters' lives before it all happened. I'm not into flashbacks, but I really liked the proposal. To be honest, I think the book could have survived only with Sadie's parts, but I liked a lot the dynamic taste the radio show offered.

This was a very hectic story, making Sadie travel all over the country and meet some dangerous characters. But it's also very deep. After each sit I had to stop a while to think of all that had happened there. I won't say all characters but most were complex, leaving their psyche open to interpretations. After all, there can be many sides to a story, and it's more than true here.

The book wasn't perfect, though. Some parts were unnecessarily long and with the dual timeline, it got repetitive. As I said, I liked the effect but it doesn't mean the execution was perfect, especially when it didn't add enough to the story—and most of the discoveries got me screaming back for him to just call the police. I don't get why it took him that long. The reporter as a character was actually an unnecessary distraction, I think it could have been better if he was just a reporter, since his own story made no difference.

But it was a great book. A solid four-star and one of the best I read this year. It could have been even more cutting some of the text, as it could start getting boring or silly in some parts.

For what it's worth, it reminded me a little of Everything You Want Me to Be, by Mindy Mejia. I do prefer Mejia's because it gave me more feels, but the writing in Sadie is more mature, on point.

As for the conclusion... all I can say is that I wasn't surprised—this book won't bring many plot twists—; and yet, I still have a hole in my heart.

I recommend it to those looking after an emotional thriller.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Did you ever read a book that just made you so sad you couldn't shake it for a few days and ultimately had to wait to really process it. THAT is THIS book. I don't mind sad books (I'm fresh off of Rust & Stardust and the themes of these of these are both similar) I don't sit and wallow reading these types of books, I actually just reflect on how amazing it is that someone can put pen to paper (OK, OK computer key to screen?) and come up with something that affects me so deeply and resonate with me for so long. A good book, in my definition is one that you FEEL. That stays with you. That is THIS book.

There is some hype following this book - really clever marketing, and social campaigns - and I think it's deserved. It delves into the taboo subjects of rape, child molestation, neglectful junkie parents and some other distasteful plot lines. They're important and courageous plot lines though - not harsh, or too colorful. Meaning - you're not going to read and cringe over detailed descriptions - she leaves much of the horror to the imagination. But you can easily imagine the horror that Sadie and her little sister went through - without having Ms. Summers paint a detailed picture.

The story follows out title character, a runaway named Sadie, pretty cleverly though a Podcast called "The Girls". West McCray is our host and through 8 episodes, we follow West trying to figure out where Sadie has gone. In alternate chapters we actually follow Sadie just a few steps ahead of West and see what she's really up to. Did she leave because of her sister's murder? To avenge or follow the killer? Or did she leave because she was sad, and need out of her trailer park, because she had nothing left there. Maybe she just left cause she could.

As we follow Sadie and West on parallel journeys across the midwest we learn about Sadie's family, her upbringing, the hard childhood she endured. We see how she is so deeply affected by the loss of her sister Maddie and the neglect of her mother Claire. She's somewhat of a sleuth when it comes to to tracking down what she's looking for. Hell hath no fury like the love of a sister! We watch her strategically put pieces together, and subsequently see West do the same - also, deeply affected by the story of these little girls.

The writing is sharp, the plot moves fast and the Podcast is truly an awesome aspect to the narration. I relished every moment of this book and the ending, while a bit abrupt, was still satisfying - as life is sometimes abrupt. I felt this immensely and I enjoyed it just the same.

Courtney Summers has created a haunting and gut-wrenching tale of the dark side of life, the ugly side that will scrape one’s sensibilities raw. SADIE is that nightmare that we prefer never to think about, that children could ever have to live this way or that one teen should have to take the weight of love and loss on her soul alone.

Written through the eyes and actions of Sadie, interspersed with the accounting of West McCray, a radio personality chasing a mystery that has become an obsession, we are witnesses to a painful life, devastating loss and the need to seek revenge.

Written for a young adult audience, there is a universal appeal for all readers that is magnetic in its telling as this mystery slowly unravels. SADIE is a haunting tale, one that will stick with readers long after that final page has been turned as the dark side of desperation and the abuse of power and indifference push one girl beyond her limits in a world that failed to protect her.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from St Martin's Press!

Publisher: St. Martin's Press (September 4, 2018)
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Genre: YA Suspense
Print Length: 320 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

If I were to sum up Sadie in two words, they’d be intense and brutal.
Disclaimer: This book is dark and bleak. If you’re familiar with Summers’ previous works, you know that she stays true to the story; Summers doesn’t do unrealistic happy endings. Instead, Summers’ talent has always been, and shines through in Sadie, to deal with unsettling topics in an unflinchingly real manner and might thus just be one of the most impactful YA mystery reads of 2018.
Sadie follows the story of one dead girl, one missing girl, and a quest for revenge. Nineteen-year-old Sadie is determined to find who she believes to be her younger sister Maddie’s killer. With few clues to go on, she decides to embark on a journey to find him and make him pay for what he did.
Sadie alternates between chapters from Sadie’s POV, following her as she tracks down a man who has perfected the art of disappearing, and West McCray’s true crime radio show transcript called The Girls trying to find Sadie by following the little information the police offer. This compelling narrative drives up the anticipation and feeling of dread to almost unbearable heights at times. I had actual goose bumps crawling up my skin, both terrified and riveted by Sadie’s arduous journey. I found myself begging West McGray to find more clues, to be faster, to analyze quicker, to just get to Sadie before someone else does. Whether it’s Sadie’s fast-paced chapters detailing her shaking people down for clues to the killer’s whereabouts and the grimy secrets she finds along the way, or McCray’s investigations trying to get the truth out of the people Sadie met along the way months later, I was completely riveted. It’s impossible to put the book down once you’ve passed a certain moment in the novel because, much like West voices everyone’s ultimate fear in his podcast, “I can’t take another dead girl.”
Not everyone will like Sadie, but I was entranced by her. A young girl who had to grow up way too fast to look after her younger sister, who tried her best to make Mattie’s life great, was so relatable. Someone who’s never had the opportunity to be or do more, who worked relentless hours while going to school just to put a roof over her sister’s head. Someone who had to deal with others thinking she’s stupid because she has a stutter. A girl who put her sister above all else, even when that sister resented her for it. If you read the synopsis, you might think this is solely a story revolving around revenge – but it’s so much more than that. This story encapsulates a lot: children taking on way too much responsibility, neglectful parents, the realities of poverty, the dark underbelly to sisterhood, the unsettling realization that monsters rarely look like monsters, and the cruel reminder that children are not as safe as you might hope. Underneath it all, however, is a running theme of love. Sadie’s love for Maddie that wasn’t enough, the love of a mother who could not measure up, the love that blinds us to the people we let into our homes and into our children’s lives. Sadie might leave her town to find the killer of her sister – but she also tries to come to terms with her own past, guilt about what she could have done differently, and the person she’s become because of it.
Ultimately, Summers doesn’t offer so much an ending as a resolution to Sadie’s story – it’s realistic because, much like in real life cases, closure is never just instantaneously given. It’s an arduous process, and Summers reflects this throughout the book – and in her ending.
It’s a hard book to read. Sadie isn’t your typical YA book. It haunts you in these tiny ways. It’s been a while since I finished it, and there are still moments when Sadie pops in my head. But that’s also what makes it stand out – whether you like it or not, you won’t forget this one for a good while.
Perfect for fans of true crime podcasts, a little show called Eyewitness, gritty YA mysteries, or an absolutely grueling, heartrending read, Sadie will stay with you long after you close the book.
9 out of 10 stars for Sadie by Courtney Summers

Trigger warnings: Child abuse, sexual abuse and assault, violence, child abduction, child death, pedophilia

Sadie
by Courtney Summers

St. Martin's Press

Wednesday Books
Teens & YA
Pub Date 04 Sep 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Sadie through St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley:


This is the story of a missing girl whose out for revenge and a serial podcast with the clues she's left behind!

Sadie has had a difficult life, she was raised by her sister in an isolated small town, where the try their best to live a good life and keep their heads above water.


One day Maddie is found dead and Sadie’s world falls apart. After a police investigation that seems to have been partially botched, Sadie is determined to make sure her sister gets the justice she deserves so she searches for her sisters killer with only a few meager clues to find the man that killed her sister.


West McCray is a radio personality working on a segment about small forgotten American towns when he hears Sadies story and becomes obsessed with finding Sadie, starting a podcast that tracks Sadie through her journey, trying to find out what happened before its to late.


I give Sadie four out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Overall, this book was nothing that I expected it to be. It is one of the best thrillers I have read, hands down. The writing is done so well that you find yourself trapped in the story unable to leave. The plot is one that won't let you go that easily and Sadie is a character that clutches onto you and never lets you go, not even when it starts to hurt. This book has gone beyond what I expected of it and I highly recommend it. It is definitely one of my favourites of the year. The hype surrounding this book is earned but more than that it is required. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy.

Sadie is a fierce character. I felt compelled to learn more about her, and though the podcast-like chapters were really nice as well, I was always looking forward to Sadie chapters as well. Sadie is Mattie's older sister, that also helped to raise her. After her sister is killed, she goes on a mission to try to make justice for her sister. But her disappearance ends up catching up the attention of a radio personality, that turns their story into a podcast (in a style similar to the Serial podcast). The result is a story told in a contemporary and compelling format, about love, family, and revenge.

Brutal, brutal, brutal. I don’t know if I could read this again. The format is extremely original but the story raked me over the coals.

I literally just finished Sadie about ten minutes before writing this review, and all I can say is…damn. What did I just read? My mind is reeling from the ending and the unsettling nature of the story and the desperation that pervaded the lives of all of the characters…It’s hard to find a book that not only offers something new in terms of plot but also in terms of format, and Sadie does both. Unafraid to tackle terrible, disturbing circumstances, the narrative is brought to life not only by chapters in Sadie’s point of view, but by a mixed media format that breaks up the chapters with a true-crime podcast transcript, as West McCray follows Sadie’s case in a narrative that runs parallel to her own. Sadie was a truly unique reading experience and one that I’m going to be thinking about long, long after the day I finished the novel.

If you’re a fan of true crime podcasts at all, you’ll know there’s a formula to so many of them- a cold case, usually set in a small town, a big-city journalist who somehow trips across the story, who then becomes emotionally invested and hopes to crack the case (or at least breathe new life into it) and takes listeners on the journey with them. Sadie captures the tone and feel of these true crime podcasts perfectly, and Summers does an amazing job of balancing the podcast transcripts with the actual first person POV narratives from Sadie herself. Wednesday Books is even putting out episodes of the podcast from the book that you can listen to every week leading up to the book’s release, and I listened to the first one and it’s so well done- if you didn’t know better, you’d definitely liken it to Serial or Up and Vanished.

Aside from the podcast element (which you can obviously tell I’m very excited about), Sadie was a story that was so raw, so unsettling, that it was hard to read, and yet at the same time I was loathe to put it down. I flew through it obsessively, knowing it was fiction, but feeling like it was a cold case that really existed, that the events really mattered and that West could really possibly help and/or save Sadie. And Sadie…I was equal parts in awe and furious with her, she possessed such a rawness and recklessness and desperation that I’ve never seen in a YA protagonist, and it was hard to be inside her head more often than not. Summers explores a kind of desolation that so many readers will not be familiar with- abuse and addiction and, over and over again, what it’s like to be really and truly hungry, that the story will have you suffocating in a life that may not be real, but that will feel all too vivid by the time you are done reading.

While I initially was hesitant with how much I would enjoy Sadie when I first started reading it, I quickly became consumed, only to be left reeling at the end. I understand WHY the author chose the ending she did, and it’s honestly pretty in line with where a lot of True Crime podcasts end, but there’s just so many loose ends that I’d like to see wrapped up, especially for the emotional investment I ended up putting in, even in such a short amount of time (the book is a hair over 300 pages). I’m crossing my fingers that perhaps the podcast that’s being put out may extend past the events of the book, since Sadie seems to firmly be a standalone novel.

Overall: Sadie is unlike any other YA novel I’ve read, with the mixed media format, the grimy setting, and the unsettling narrative. However, I was so addicted to the format that I can only hope true crime podcast inspired stories become a new sub genre in YA!

Grabbed my heart!

Sadie is nineteen and she is on a mission to hunt down the man who she is convinced murdered her little sister, Mattie. She is a power house of energy and she touched my heart with her overwhelming love for Mattie. Their single mom, Claire was addicted to drugs, so Sadie was her fill in "parent."

The chapters switch from Sadie's account to a pod-cast serial called The Girls that follows the case and features some interviews. This gave he story such a "real-life" feel that was absolutely riveting. Sadie has not had an easy life and has seen and experienced things that no child should have to. It truly is a dark, heart-breaking account. I'm not sure why this is considered YA because it deals with a lot of sensitive issues, but sadly some will be able to relate to her abusive home life. Her journey takes her down on a dangerous road.

At times I felt "crushed", Sadie was both brave and vulnerable. She had a plan and nothing was going to get in her way. Such a memorable character with her own inner light that shined throughout the pages. Oh, that ending!

If you like gripping, emotional reads, don't miss this one. Courtney Summers is a brilliant writer.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing an Arc for review. Publishes on September 4, 2018.
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Courtney Summers’ most recent book, Sadie, takes a very different approach to structure and tone than I’ve encountered. The story follows nineteen-year-old Sadie as she tries to hunt down the man she believes – knows – to be responsible for her sister’s murder. At the same time, woven into the story is West McCray. West McCray is the narrator of a radio show The Girls, which is included throughout in script format as a way to meet and learn about Sadie from the outside. I was provided a copy of Sadie via St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The tone switch, from Sadie’s journey both after someone and reliving the past to McCray’s outsider breakdown of things, is jolting at best. It stands out strongest in the beginning, when McCray isn’t fully committed to the story itself and doesn’t yet know anything. Eventually, if you can get used to it, the story is worth the read.

Summers’ writing of the radio script is spot on. I’m a huge True Crime fan and if this was an actual podcast, I'd listen to it. To be honest, I found myself wishing the whole thing had actually been released as a podcast series rather than in book format. If they go for audio book, they’ll need to commit to acted reading rather than straight narration. It would lose that real feeling that you get committing to the radio story.

Sadie, at first, is impossible and then she’s just gritty and raw and broken. There’s a clear delineation of the writing style at the start of the book to the middle and ending. I have a general rule of reading at least 80 pages for any book – a book has to be absolute hell for me not to hit 80 pages. By 80 pages, Summers’ had broken through that stilted beginning and really gotten underway into a story that I genuinely wanted to know the ending. (To the author: could I please have an epilogue, or at least a what you think final thing????)

Overall, this story is heartbreaking. It’s the story of a girl who had very little to begin with, and kept losing even more as she continued on. Her trauma is open and raw and right there on the page. Summers’ accurately captures that feeling of seeing those with more when you have nothing. While the beginning was stilted, at no point did I disbelieve Sadie’s pain, which is the true depth of this story.

This review is scheduled to publish on 9/03 - feel free to use the material from this review in the mean time.

3.5/5 stars

Sadie is my first book by this author. This story was relevant and powerful. But it was very heavy. I don't really see this book as YA and I definitely don't see this book as a thriller. There was however a mystery aspect to the story.

The chapters are divided between Sadie's POV and a podcast called The Girls. Sadie's sister is dead and she is trying to find her killer. In contrast we have West McCray, a radio personality trying to find out what happened to Sadie. We get interviews and phone calls and the podcast.

Sadie is 19 years old. Her little sister Mattie was 13. Sadie's mother Claire left. Their surrogate grandmother is May Beth.

This book was well written. But I definitely think that this is the type of book that some people will love, but others will realize is not for them.

This book was very disturbing. And truthfully that is not my favorite type of book. This book is not happy. The characters are mostly unappealing. And the story deals with horrifying topics such as drug abuse and sexual abuse.

There were definitely some very fascinating revelations. And I did get more into the story towards the end. But overall this is not really the type of book for me. Also I definitely wanted more from the ending. We got some answers, but there were definitely still some questions that I needed answers to.

The story was important and meaningful, but also very gritty and disturbing.

When Sadie’s younger sister Mattie is murdered, she swears to get revenge. She is going to kill the man who murdered her but for that she has to find him first. And so she gets herself a car and drives through the country on the trail of the guy who took away her favorite person.

Sadie is told from two different perspectives. The one of Sadie herself and through a podcast called The Girls that was started to look into the murder of Mattie and the disappearance of Sadie and that has the goal to find answers about really happened. But that dual perspective is actually the only reason I gave this book four instead of five stars. It took me a couple of chapters to get used to it and at first it was a little confusing. It started making sense after some time though and ultimately it was actually quite interesting to see things from Sadie’s POV and then get the background information through what they discover on the podcast. Apparently, by the time the book comes out the podcast is also going to be fully available for the readers to listen to which I think will add such an interesting new dimension to this novel.

But like I said, that was the only thing that bothered me about this novel and apart from that, this was a great book. I was really invested in the story but be aware that even though this is YA, it’s a very heavy novel. It includes murder, sexual abuse, child abuse and other topics and especially if you have a sibling just like me, this book will probably hit home. If something happened to my little sister, I’d never be happy again and thus this story really moved me.

Another factor that greatly contributed to my enjoyment of this novel was the author’s writing style. Sadie was written in such a beautiful way and I’ll definitely be checking out some of her other work in the future just to get more of that writing. So all in all, this was a great read and if you’re interested in reading a beautifully written but heavy YA mystery with lgbtq+ representation, this is the book for you. I’m giving Sadie four out of five stars and since Summers decided to leave the ending a bit open – which I actually really liked because it’s so different from how most others would’ve probably ended this book – I’m now going back to trying to decide what I think really happened at the end of the novel.

An easy 5 stars to Sadie. Don’t miss her story.

I’m sure you’ve seen this book around the blogosphere or Goodreads, and more than likely you’ve noticed the praise showered upon it. All absolutely, positively well-deserved. Please read on and let me introduce you to Sadie, an unforgettable, tenderly drawn character.

Sadie’s dad has never been around, and her mom walked out and left her as a teen to raise her younger sister, Mattie. They live in a deserted town in a trailer park where an elderly neighbor tries her best to look in on them but can only do so much.

One day Mattie is found dead, and Sadie understandably falls apart. But not for long because she finds herself buying a car to go cross country in search of her sister’s killer. She has just a few clues in her arsenal, but she is on his trail.

The story is told from Sadie’s perspective alternating with West McCray, a radio host recording a podcast while he tries to track Sadie down. Will West catch up to Sadie before something happens to her?

Sadie will absolutely break your heart. But don’t let that stop you from reading her story because she is someone everyone should get to know. So pure of heart, vulnerable and yet tough as nails, steadfast and wily. She is completely relatable and endearing in that intense vulnerability. She carries a piece of all of us in her character.

Sadie’s story is vivid and multi-dimensional. You will imagine the podcast is real and that Sadie is out there searching for Mattie, while West is searching for her. I know I did. I wish we could heal all the Sadies of the world so that the generational pain families inflict on one another could have less of a chance of being passed on. Everything about this story is brave, confrontational, brutal, ethereal, and breathtaking. I feel like I saw Sadie’s actual heart on those pages.

Thank you to Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.

*eARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley*

This was my second Courtney Summers’ book, and I’m just so floored at how well she can convey what it’s like being a woman in this world, without dragging her characters through unnecessary shit to make them ~strong~ people. BUT. Sadie is not easy to read. In fact, it’s quite difficult at times to not break down in tears over what happens, and what is going to happen. Also, that ending does not leave you room for closure, so you’re left with this sense that a story is unfinished, like a lot of stories about young women who end up forgotten. I can’t take another dead girl. That last line just broke me, and I’m still thinking about this book. It’s not one that’s going to leave my mind very easily, or if at all. And I really would say more about it except I think you just need to go in knowing that you’re going to get sucker-punched in the feels and that this author is not afraid to delve into the darkness of humanity.

My first thought about Sadie was "DAMN!" That's it. That is, quite literally, the only word I could find that effectively describe what I felt when I finished the book.

This book quickly shot to the top of my favorite reads list!

Sadie, by Courtney Summers, is an intense novel about love and vengeance.

"And it begins, as so many stories do, with a dead girl."

Sadie lived a hard life. At the age of six, when she held her baby sister Mattie in her arms, Sadie felt her purpose in life: to love and protect Mattie. Sadie survived her hard-partying, emotionally manipulative mom and the succession of men that she brought home. She also endured verbal and sexual abuse at the hands of some of those men. But, as long as Mattie was happy and safe, Sadie felt a sense of accomplishment, pride in a purpose higher than herself. When their mom left town without a word Sadie assumed responsibility for raising Mattie

Then, a passerby found thirteen-year-old Mattie’s lifeless body in a field. The police have failed to find her killer and now, Sadie has gone missing.

Sadie is determined to avenge her sister. Armed with few clues, she follows a series of isolated roads through anonymous towns looking for the man who killed Mattie.

West McCray is a podcaster working on a series about the decline of small-towns in America. He was filming a segment for his show when he heard about Mattie’s death. A year later he receives a call that the girl’s sister Sadie has also disappeared. The only clues are a missing photo and the girl’s abandoned car. West, initially hesitant, begins an urgent search for Sadie in the hopes of finding her before it’s too late.

Sadie is told in alternating viewpoints. Sadie’s experience is raw as she journeys through a series of small towns, and is off set with a professional, detached reporting style in the transcripts of West McCray’s episodic podcast, The Girls.

Courtney Summers’s writing propelled me through the pages. Even as my heart splintered, and my stomach sickened at what has happened to this girl, I kept turning the pages to see what other revelations awaited me. Be forewarned, this book deals with some deep, dark issues (for those who prefer trigger warnings, the topics are sexual assault, rape, pedophilia, abuse, and assault). However, I was completely submersed in this book, and my mind is just blown!! Highly recommended.

*I received an ARC of Sadie from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Written in the form of a podcast for much of the book, this is a story about 19 year old Sadie who leaves home after the murder of her younger sister.

Sadie became her sister Mattie's carer and protector after their drug addled mother bailed a few years earlier, and a few months after Mattie is found dead Sadie takes off herself, planning to find her sister's murderer and kill him. The girls' story is picked up by a radio reporter/podcaster, West McCray. The Police have failed to solve the case so McCray takes over, making an 8 part podcast of his investigation in to Sadie's disappearance and Mattie's murder.

I have to say that personally I wasn't a fan of the disjointed podcast element of this book and because of it I didn't find many of the characters very engaging. I enjoyed the parts of the book told from Sadie's perspective much more than the podcast and she is by far the most well developed character of the whole story. She is one tough cookie and her personal journey is heartbreaking.

A good book to perhaps ease teens in to more mature fiction/thrillers but adult readers may feel that they have read it all before.

This book is intense. This book is heartbreaking. This book is deep, and dark, and real.

This book is phenomenal.

Sadie tells the story of its nineteen year old namesake on the hunt for her sister Mattie’s killer after the law enforcement in their small town botches the original investigation. Sadie knows who the killer is from her own dealings with him and she vows to hunt him down and take his life.

West McCray is a radio/podcast reporter acting in a roll a la Sarah Koenig in Serial, or Brian Reed in S-Town, two very real podcasts that chronicle radio/podcast reporters investigating murder cases at the request of those either close to the victims, or residents of the town in which the act was committed.

West overhears Sadie’s story while passing through town, doing work for his radio show, and then later is contacted by a woman named May Beth, who acted as a grandmother figure to both Sadie and Mattie, helping to raise them when their drug addicted mother was busy occupying her time with sleazy boyfriends and bad habits of the illegal variety. West decides to take on the story and what follows is the back and forth between his podcast, and Sadie’s own point of view as she tracks down her sister’s murder.

As I alluded to earlier, this book has major Serial and S-Town vibes, which I absolutely loved. After finishing this book I had such an urge to relisten to S-Town for its gripping storytelling of one man’s life in small town Alabama. I was elated when I was scrolling through twitter, just a day after finishing Sadie, and saw a tweet from author Courtney Summers that a podcast called The Girls (West’s podcast in the book) had actually been produced by Macmillan Publishers. Only four episodes are currently available, as one new one is released each week leading up to the book’s publication, but I highly recommend checking it out as well. It is masterfully done, and uses a full cast to tell one half of the story.

Sadie is such a great main character. She is real, and flawed, and morally blinded by the relationship she had with her sister. But that doesn’t make her any different from any other person who has experienced and gone through what she has. She’s lost her whole world. Mattie was her everything, and in the aftermath of her death, Sadie thinks irrationally and does bad things to meet her goals. In the end, though, she also does good along the way and exposes other lowlifes, bringing about justice for those wronged. Sadie is the kind of main character you root for and worry about and pray gets a happy ending.

The intensity of this novel is extremely real, and very haunting. I can’t even remember how many times I was fisting my hands in stages of rage and anxiety and stress. Every time a little more of the story was revealed, on West’s end, or Sadie’s, I just wanted answers, or some kind of sign that another dead girl wasn’t going to greet me in the coming pages. I wanted justice for Mattie. I wanted Sadie to get some kind of closure, no matter how painful it may have been. I wanted West to find her and bring her home and save her from the same fate her sister suffered.

In the end, there’s hope. There’s a bittersweet finality to the story, but also hope. Like West, my final thought is very much the same:

“Sadie, if you're out there, please let me know.
Because I can't take another dead girl.”

*Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I flew through this book! It was a whirlwind of a story and I enjoyed every second. I had never read Courtney Summers before and I had a heck of a time diving into my first story of hers. The is the story of Sadie who wants to take revenge on the person who murdered her sister. However, it is so much more and goes so much deeper than that as you progress throughout the story. It is heart breaking, intense, engaging and will keep you turning until the end. I read at every spare minute I had and I could not believe when I would take a break at each interval at just how fast I was actually turning the pages. I was so engrossed in the story and the way the story was told. We get the perspective of Sadie, however the other half of the story is told like a podcast or radio show in which we are looking for Sadie who is now missing. The details from her whereabouts are slowly unfurled as we read through the podcast, interviews with friends and relatives and people she meets along the way. I completely enjoyed this, and wish we would have had a more solid ending. I don't know if there will be a book 2 but if there is, sign me up!!