Sadie is a girl who has lost her sister and is looking for the man who is responsible.
I am going to be honest, I couldn’t finish this book. There was a scene that depicted violence against the main character who is a young woman. I know this stuff happens in the real world but it’s not the escapism I am looking for right now. Maybe I can pick it back up again later.

<i>"I wish his darkness lived outside of him, because you have to know it's there to see it. Like all real monsters, he hides in plain sight."</i>

Sadie has disappeared. After surviving a drug-addicted mother, a string of abusive boyfriends and God knows what else, Sadie is much stronger than what she looks. But is she strong enough to take on the task that she has assigned herself . . . to find her baby sister's killer and exact revenge. At the heart of this novel is a mystery told through Sadie's eyes and the transcripts of a podcast as we set about to find her. Courtney Summers' latest novel has a lot of trigger warnings: child abuse, violence, substance abuse. It is not for the feint of heart. What it is is an engrossing novel that will have you totally invested in Sadie despite her vigilante ways. While I do not want to give away too much of the story -- (I found that it was best to go into this one knowing less.) I will say that this was one of the best YA reads for me this year.

Below is a link for The Girls podcast as featured in the novel.
<a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/macmillan/the-girls-find-sadie">The Girls</a>

<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1L5e7BTdBL._UX250_.jpg"/>

Sadie's life has been hard. It gets harder when her beloved sister Mattie is found brutally murdered. Determined to find the killer, Sadie sets out on a cross-country road trip. When a radio personality named West McCray gets wind of Sadie's story, he turns the tale into a podcast - both trying to find Mattie's killer, but also trying to discover what happened to Sadie, and where she's disappeared to.

Courtney Summers has written tough female characters before, and this latest offering is a stunner of a complex heroine. Told in alternating chapters between Sadie's point-of-view and transcripts of West McCray's podcast about the girls, Summers has crafted a hell of a novel that holds readers tight and doesn't let up until the last few pages. The mixed narrative is fresh and capitalizes on the current podcast craze without ever tipping over into trite terrain.

A strong voice in Sadie helps elevate this story. She's lived a life that's absolutely brutal, and it's left a mark on her, but her love for her sister,and her thirst for justice, propels her forward through some truly dangerous and incredibly bleak experiences. There's a sparseness to this novel that won't work for every reader, but it's excellently done, and it's clear that Summers is in control of her characters and her prose the entire time.

Haunting, beautiful, sad, and a little bit hopeful. This one should be placed in the hands of fans of mysteries, thrillers, and true-crime podcasts alike.

Powerful, compelling, & heartbreaking!

I have enjoyed YA stories in the past but in my opinion I think this book is geared to a much wider audience than just teens.

SADIE by COURTNEY SUMMER is a memorable, important, and a fantastic YA mystery novel that immediately grabbed my attention and had me glued to those pages right to the very end.

Sadie's story was not an easy read as it delves deep into Sadie's pain and some tough subject matter. But, I thought that the author handled it with such care though and was very sensitive with the delivery.

I didn’t necessarily find the storyline all that gripping but, the way that the author weaves her sentences and delivers this story was absolutely enthralling. When I wasn’t reading this one, I was thinking about it. Sadie really got under my skin and has left a lasting impression.

I loved COURTNEY SUMMER’S unique writing style here and thought the podcasts was a very effective way for us to get to know all the characters. It gave us a different perspective into Sadie's character and I really enjoyed how the story unfolded. Sadie's narrative with stutter and all was absolutely heartbreaking to read and really impacted me as a reader.

*Traveling Friends Read*

Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Stunning, breathtaking, and a perfect and highly affecting representation to storyline.
Title: Simply brilliant and such a meaningful representation to storyline.
Writing/Prose: Edgy, witty, emotive & brilliantly written.
Plot: Engaging, impressive, unforgettable, perfectly-paced, and held my attention.
Ending: An ambiguous ending that I think worked really well for this YA story but didn’t necessarily satisfy my need of knowing a little bit more though.
Overall: Sadie definitely left an impression on me as well as this author’s writing style! Would recommend!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Courtney Summers for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

4 stars! A heart-wrenching and haunting coming-of-age story.

This novel revolves around nineteen-year-old Sadie who has run away from home in the hope of seeking revenge for the murder of her younger sister Mattie. Sadie has always been Mattie’s protector, taking on a mothering role to Mattie from the time she was born. Sadie hides many deep and disturbing childhood secrets that she is planning on addressing and exposing in hopes of getting justice for Mattie’s suffering.

This book will break your heart. It deals with some extremely sensitive and highly disturbing subject matter, but is presented in a respectful way that conveys the message without getting into unnecessary detail. Be prepared for something that will pull at your heartstrings and have you rooting for these characters to find justice.

I enjoyed the presentation and flow of this novel. It is told in alternating chapters through Sadie’s perspective and then an eight episode podcast hosted by popular radio host, West McCray. The podcasts were a fantastic piece of this compelling and suspenseful journey.

This was a Traveling Friends read that lead to some wonderful discussion. We all enjoyed traveling through Sadie’s journey together.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Courtney Summers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Although marketed for the young adult audience, this book is a worthy crossover. It is hard hitting, timely, with the me too movement so often in the news, and the young, Sadie, is sure to win your heart. When Sadie's younger sister Mattie is murdered, a sister who she raised, Sadie sets off on a journey to find the man responsible. When Sadie's car is found, empty but holding all her belongings, a neighbor who was more of a mother to the girls than their own, contacts a man who does podcasts focusing on cases such as these.

The pages fly by in this book, partly due to its form, alternate chapters between the podcast, called the Girls, and a first person account by Sadie. Sadie's vulnerability, her sense of guilt over her sisters death, and her stutter, quickly wins over the reader. One of my triggers is any type of abuse of children, I usually try to avoid this type of read. This though was a Traveling friends read, and has been getting wonderful reviews, do I though this was one I would chance. Sexual abuse permeates the pages, but it is handled very well indeed, no graphic renderings, thank goodness.

The ending some will like, some will not, but I believe it stays true to the book, true to life in general.
This is now my second favorite YA novel, but like the first one I will long remember.

ARC by Netgalley.

It has been forever since I've read anything from Courtney Summers and what a mistake that was. I forgot how edgy and different her stories are and at the same time full of so much potent emotions.

This time around Sadie is written in such a unique manner that you are pulled in from the start. And this book isn't just a book, there is also a whole podcast around it as well.

I have only read this book and not listened to the podcast, so this review is strictly for the book. The book starts as if written like a podcast then goes back in forth to first person from Sadie's POV. The whole reason Wes is doing the show is because Sadie is missing and her surrogate grandmother wants her found. Sadie has gone missing after the murder of her younger sister.

And for Sadie, her little sister Mattie is her whole world. Her only world really. After the loss of Mattie, it destroys Sadie. But now she has a reason to right wrongs and that's what she does.

~It's not about finding peace. There will never be peace.~

At the same time Wes is trying to put all the pieces together and find out what happened to Sadie. During his investigations we keep getting glimpses into what truly was happening to Sadie or what Sadie had experienced.

The way the book was set up was brilliant, and so refreshingly different. Is there a HEA? No, but its a YA thriller and a HEA isn't what I expect in a thriller. Sure am I sucker for the HEA? Yes, but I was left content with how this book ended.

This book had so much depth to it and it pulled you in. It's more of an experience than a read. I very much recommend this book. And even though much of the content was heavy there was also so much love. The love of sisters and the bond that it creates.

4.5 An emotional experience but worth the journey stars!

Sadie is a heavy read and not one to take lightly.
When it comes to YA, I tend to prefer fantasy but this caught my interest when I read that it was written as part podcast and part novel.

Sadie's little sister - Mattie - is her whole world. When Mattie is found dead, Sadie blames herself and makes it her mission to catch the man responsible. This leads her on a country-wide search, no matter the risk to herself - she's broke, sick, in pain and bone-tired but she keeps on.

Meanwhile, West McCray is a journalist who overhears Sadie's story and creates a podcast while investigating her disappearance. At times, he is hesitant to admit there is even a story to tell but the more he learns the more determined he becomes to find her and bring her home safely.

Despite the fact I had a pretty good idea of how this story would end, even that didn’t prepare me for it. This novel is raw, heartbreaking and it was impossible to put down. I can't recommend this enough!

Absolutely loved this book - it is YA but has definite adult appeal as well. The podcast format was interesting and well done so that it did not feel like a cheap gimmick. I was instantly hooked and had to know what happened!

**Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

The delivery of the story was really unique, unlike anything I have read before. The book alternates chapters between Sadie in the present and the Podcast and investigation roughly about five months in the future. The audiobook version was really cool since the podcast chapters had a full cast to narrate and it really felt like a podcast with interviews and calls all woven into it. The way the book was written really made the investigation feel real, Sadie was a real girl that was being searched for. Everything about this book is something that could so very easily be true, making it even easier to get sucked into the drama.

We start the book already in the middle of the action with not a lot of backstory or explanation as to what is going on. What we do know- 13 year old Mattie was murdered, Sadie disappeared, Sadie is looking for a man, and a podcast investigator was asked to look into Sadie's disappearance. Yep, those pieces did not really seem to fit together at the beginning but as the book progresses everything starts coming together and the large picture is formed. It was so hard to put the book down because I wanted justice and answers and I wanted what Sadie wanted while at the same time I wanted to interfere and stop all the terrible situations that Sadie encountered. But, as per life, sometimes we do not get all the answers we are looking for and sometimes the truth is even worse.

Disclaimer here- pretty much every aspect of this story deals with child abuse and while it is not descriptive, the emotions and after effects are very real. This was a hard book to read since at times it was so dark- but I think this is something that needs to be addressed and the author did it in a very powerful way.

Overview: Sadie is unlike any book you have ever read or will likely read again. It's dark, gritty, mysterious, and, shockingly, scarily, real. Told through transcripts of podcast, The Girls, and a handful of first hand accounts from Sadie herself, we learn the story of two sisters; one dead and one missing. West McCray is the reporter tasked with investigating Sadie's disappearance in the wake of her sister Mattie's murder after the police give up the search. As he patches the many frayed ends together, the picture grows in our heads of what Sadie saw and how her her story ends. Overall: 4.5

Characters: 5 Sadie is strong, brave, and determined to avenge her sister's death and her own abuse. She's never had the room she needs to have her own feelings because she's spent her life caring for her younger sister since her mom was an addict. When her sister dies, Sadie has nowhere left to turn but the road where she has to sort through how she feels about her sister's death and her place in life.
West McCray is a reporter who never wanted to chase missing girls. But he dedicates himself to Sadie's case once he's assigned it. As the host of the podcast, he makes for a mostly objective narrator and our guiding lens into the people's lives that Sadie passed through as well as her adoptive grandmother's devastated reality. Each character West meets along the way speaks for himself and, in turn, builds the reader an even richer prospective of these people than when we first meet them through Sadie.

Plot: 5 Wow. There's no way you're going to be able to put this book down once you get started. Every chapter following Sadie cuts at the most breathtaking moments. The podcast episodes give context to her experience and make the pieces click together in your head.

Writing: 4 It took me a second to really get into the story. I wasn't a fan of Sadie's chapter's at first, but the podcasts kept me reading. Eventually, Sadie's chapters started to sparkle as much as the transcripts. The way the book is framed is genius. Using multiple prospectives allows Summers to create a truly rich picture of the events and the people they happen to. Toward the end, every twist leaves something shocking to digest. I wasn't sure what to expect from all the hype, but it's easy to see that Summers has earned it.

This book was so good! I loved the audio so much. It really felt like an authentic podcast and getting to hear the perspective of Sadie as well as those trying to find her really made this such a special book. I am so glad I finally took the time to pick it up. It's exactly the type of book I enjoy during October. It will keep you guessing throughout the entire book. I buddy listened to it with my good friend Katherine @krlga00 We set a goal to listen to 5 chapters a day and that made listening even more intense. You were always left on a cliff hanger and wanting more. The subject matter is dark and can be difficult to read/listen to but I think that the writing was so well done that it felt authentic. I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts, including two that focus on missing persons, and it felt like I was listening to one of those. I would definitely recommend the audio if you're going to read this YA contemporary.

4.5

Yea....so....I couldn’t put this one down! It’s definitely a quick, one sitting read.

I absolutely love the voice! I love the way the chapters go from Sadie’s perspective to the podcast. It was intriguing to see what happened from Sadie and then how the search goes from the perspective of the podcast and everyone that was interviewed along the way. It made for a great set up for this story. Each chapter left me NEEDing to read the next because I just wanted to know everything!

The only small issue I had was that the ending left me with some questions that I really wanted answered. That’s all I’m going to say on that.


I highlyyyyyy recommend this one.

This was a captivating novel with complex characters, a moving plot, and an engaging podcast.

Sadie's little sister Mattie has just been found dead. Sadie had been raising Mattie after their drug-addict mom abandoned them, so when her sister's body is recovered, she feels the need to find the murderer and kill him.

When Sadie disappears to find the killer the story is covered by the news and a radio personality, West McCray, hears the story and wants to help find Sadie. He starts a podcast and interviews people in the hope it will help find her before is too late.

First, the media was excellent, the podcast sections in the book and the actual podcast that the publishers produced was a great and original idea, perfectly executed.

I like it when the authors step out of the book format and create additional content in other media that enhances the story.

Overall, I enjoyed it and recommend it to readers of mysteries, thrillers and contemporary fiction.

Received ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

PODCAST

This book has an accompanying (and amazing) podcast, you can start listening to it right now.

It won’t spoil the story and can be listened to while before, during, or after you finish the book. Highly recommend it!

Sadie was an excellent novel told in a unique way. At first I wasn't sure if the idea to convey part of the story like an investigative podcast would really pay off but I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of perspectives as we explored the story of Sadie through the eyes or a journalist as well as through Sadie's own eyes.

Sadie is a wonderfully woven mystery and thriller that fed deeply into my current love for true crime and unraveling unsolved mysteries.

A few months ago I wanted to read something different and so I came across Sadie, which looked like a young adult novel but with a mystery touch. I don’t usually read YA (although I enjoy some) and everyone was raving about it, so I thought it would be a great idea to give it a chance.

Sadie was a sad story and quite different from the other two books I read by Courtney Summers (like 10 years ago), but I can’t say I loved it the same way. It was a good novel, it didn’t take me long to read it, and I certainly loved the podcast format, but it wasn’t a memorable read for me.

This is the story of a young girl who flees her hometown in search for someone she believes killed her little sister. At the same time, there’s a podcast about them called “The Girls” which follows Sadie’s disappearance. I found this section of the book rather interesting, the format made it a quick read and the chapters where Sadie was the narrator were also compelling and intriguing.

In the end, the main reason why I think I didn’t love this book as much as I wanted is that it was pretty predictable in my opinion. The reason behind the disappearance and the secrets that Sadie was hiding weren’t shocking. We’ve read this same story many times before and this wasn’t a favorite of mine.

Would I recommend this? Yes. If you enjoy Courtney Summer’s writing -nothing to complain here, she writes beautifully-, and edgy YA stories, this could be a winner for you.

Let me start by saying that this book has trigger warnings for rape, sexual and physical abuse, pedophelia and murder. I did receive a copy of this for review from Netgalley and the publisher.

I was compelled to pick up this book from the synopsis and the reviews on bookstagram. As you can see from my rating, I was pleasantly surprised.

Told from dual perspective, we follow both the main character Sadie and West McCray, a radio/podcast host in alternating chapters. West is working to figure out what happened to both Sadie and her sister Mattie and has made a podcast chronicling his investigation. I enjoyed the podcast/interview format of his chapters. It provided an interesting perspective to the storyline.

Sadie's chapters were my favorite, however. Her story is truly heartbreaking. She had a less than spectacular childhood (to say the least). The product of a drug addicted mother and non- existent father, Sadie was forced to grow up mostly alone. She cared for her sister in a run down trailer with little to no help. She suffered multiple forms of abuse at the hands of her mother and the various men who were in and out of the house regularly. When her mother disappears and her sister is found murdered, Sadie loses it. She spends the rest of the novel trying to find and kill her sisters murderer.

As someone who is not an avid mystery/thriller reader, I liked this book. I actually read it in one sitting on a Friday night. (Not sure what that says about me, so take it for what you will!). I felt that the writing was descriptive and interesting and I didn't guess the ending until I was almost there. 4 stars.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I love that there was a cool new perspective with the radio show host getting involved. I finished this book in one night. Very well written and good character building, The ending was a bit frustrating, but otherwise it was an enjoyable read.

I wanted this title because one of my favorite authors recommended it, and boy it didn't disappoint. It was weird, creepy and kept making you guess. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

I read this book, and form the hype surrounding it, I really expected it to be amazing. Unfortunately, it just didn't grab me and immerse me into the story how I hoped it would. I think what really took away form the plot was the switching of narrative and how the structure of the story was set up. The podcast elements where hard to invision for me and I had a really hard time connecting to Sadie on a level that would have helped me to understand her motives more. I understand that losing her sister who had become like a child to her was difficult and that she had a rough childhood, but I really had a hard time believing her. I gave this story a solid three stars because there were elements that I liked, but it didn't do anything amazing for me as far as the reading experience went.