Thank you to Netgalley and to Kids Can Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I had mixed feelings about this book despite hoping I’d love it.

What I liked: The book swept me in and had me wanting to know the truth from beginning to end. I understood Caroline’s motive even if I felt we were dropped right into the search without enough initial level-setting for me personally. The writing is generally enjoyable to read and there’s a sort of atmosphere to the book that I think draws you into the mystery in a way that works really well. I also felt Caroline was a realistic teen whose decision making definitely feels very believable and teenage. And I see the social commentary on missing girls / believing powerful men over unseen girls that the book was trying to shine a light on, and appreciate that. But I think that’s where the book misses the mark since there’s so much of the focus on this theme that the qualities that make a great mystery get a little lost.

What didn’t work for me: The dual narrative was extremely hard to follow for the first half of the book. The chapter titles being different are the only sign the view is changed at first. I didn’t feel that the two narrators had distinctly different voices or personalities so it took a long confusing period of time to realize we’d changed viewpoints. I felt Caroline’s character (and really most characters) was pretty flat - you know a few activities that she’s in and that she vapes (why the many many references to vaping with only one character who explains the danger factor in one sentence and another that judges it but also partakes?)

I also felt like the mystery just kind of fell flat? There were twists and turns but they didn’t really weave together well and the clues were very subtle so it wasn’t a plot that kept you guessing in a good way. I generally didn’t understand what the thread was until the very end. And then for how slow paced the book is, the ending felt extremely rushed. I wanted more resolution to Caroline and Mr. McCormick. I appreciated we got more of Audrey but their friendship was never really explained in the beginning for me to buy that they’re this close throughout the story?

I also felt like the book tried a little too hard to comment on too many things in a way that didn’t do them as much justice as a stronger focus could have. And something about the conversion therapy plot aspect just didn’t sit right with me the entire time I was reading - I don’t think the LGBTQ+ themes are adequately explored here in a way that does them justice, having read a lot of really amazing LGBTQ+ YA lit recently.

While several things missed the mark for me personally, I do think fans of A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder (which I also didn’t love) would like many things about this book, Caroline’s character, and her commitment to determine what has happened to her friend. So I would still recommend it to those readers. And given this is a debut book, I’d definitely be willing to overlook the “meh” feelings I had at times here and would read more by the author for sure.

I do think this book may not be for everyone due to the sensitive topics included. CW for: Lots of vaping, parents unsupportive of LGBTQ teen, conversion camp experience described, suicidal ideations, anxiety, drug references, kidnapping.

I enjoyed this one a lot. It was well written. The characters were interesting. The mystery kept me hooked and guessing right until the end. There were a couple things that I felt could have been executed better as I found parts to be confusing, but overall it was a really enjoyable read.

I don't know if it was just me or not, but I really didn't get the hype with this book. Most of it was good - I liked 80% of the plot and characters, but there was writing that didn't make sense and the whole thing with the name changing was just weird. All in all a solid effort for a debut. 3.5 stars rounded down.

This was a really engaging and interesting read. It was fast-paced and intriguing and I really liked the characters. It was a little too obvious who the bad guy was for me, but I also don't really think the point was a whodunit. The point is clearly about what a girl is worth, and how much money and status can change that answer. Why it matters that the police look for EVERYONE, not just the pretty rich girls. There were a lot of really topical and unfortunately true points made around that topic, and as someone in the justice system, I always appreciate when someone can show readers how serious of a problem it is. I liked the way it was written, and I really enjoyed the balance of real and raw with humour and love. We got great rep of what it's like to be in conversion camp, what it's like to lose a loved one, and the harsh reality of looking for girls no one else is looking for. Overall a very solid read.

Book Review- Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos 📚 ⁣⁣
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Throwaway Girls is a YA thriller that caught my attention because of its haunting cover. ⁣⁣
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Caroline’s beat friend Madison is missing, but Caroline doesn’t think that cops are doing enough to find her. Along the way she finds that more girls are missing. But those teens are not wealthy and privileged like her friend, they are Throwaway Girls. Girls who are never looked for.⁣⁣
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I really enjoyed the plot. A book with missing girls? Yes please.⁣⁣
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But I have mixed feelings on the whole thing. I wasn’t that interested in it until about 40% in. It took me like 3 days just to get there. It just started out a bit slow. Things definitely picked up enough for me to be on the edge of my seat. BUT I figured out the mystery about halfway through the book. This is the reason why I take breaks from thrillers from time to time. ⁣⁣
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Overall I enjoyed this book. This is the book for people who enjoy mysteries, LGBT characters and YA. ⁣⁣
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Thank you @netgalley for the ARC,

4 stars

We love to see someone take the law into their own hands. Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos is a thrilling depiction of a girl doing just that.

Conto's writing pulls you in from the very beginning and her protagonist Caroline is an absolutely kickass, dark heroine. I did find that the middle dragged a bit, but the last 100 pages or so really kicked the story back into high gear. The ending had me SHOOK.

One thing that I have to commend Contos on is the depth and dimension that she gives her young characters. I really love when authors give teenage characters the range of emotion that they deserve and this book definitely had plenty of that. The different types of relationships in this book are all executed incredibly well, whether it be student-teacher, parent-child, or friend-enemy.

As someone who loves murder mysteries and strong female characters, this book was a win-win for me! I hope that you all enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and KCP Loft for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Wow. This has got to be my favorite mystery novel of 2020. The way its written gives you an interesting look into how society let's the average human slip through the cracks but will always look for the ones that are of higher social standing.
Written in a style that keeps you entranced, throwaway girls is hard to put down. You will continue to guess who each character really is in the grand scheme of the story. The author also wrote it as two points of view that really pushed this novel apart from others in the genre.
I highly recommend it for fans in the mid teen range and up.

Really a 3.5 out of 5

"It's never the people who reap the benefits who want to change how the world works."

I had a hard time connecting with Caroline as a character, and most of the time I was reading the book I found her rather unlikeable. At times I felt like there was too much going on in the story, and was worried that there would be too many loose ends. It was also rather unbelievable, as a lot of thrillers are, but Throwaway Girls was almost too much.

In this case though, the good outweighed the bad. Overall, I really liked the story, and the writing style. I think it brought up important social issues. It really highlighted the class system in the US. It also showed LGBTQ+ representation, and talked about conversion therapy for minors, which is still legal in 30 states. I think dropping true facts into books like this are super helpful for readers.

The ending of the book had me turning pages so fast! I could not get enough. I loved the ending, and never saw the twist coming. This is definitely a young adult thriller, but if you like that genre this is a great book to choose!

I've just finished Throwaway Girls and I'm struggling to form a coherent sentence on how much I loved this book and how it made me feel... I read the majority of this book in one sitting because I just had to know what happened to Madison. It takes a lot for a book to hit me on a personal level but this book did just that.

The ending blew me away and I spent the last 25% of this book on edge and feeling intense anxiety as the events unfolded and we started to uncover what had really happened to Madison and the other missing girls. I have so much to say but there are so many ways this book can be spoiled at the same time. However what I will say is that this book will make you think. It will make you think about all the missing girls you see in the news that get shrugged off as runaways because they're not from ideal situations. I loved the social commentary and the fact that it addressed the stigma surrounding girls who don't come from middle or upper class families and the struggle to gain justice as a result.

My favourite part of this book was the POV chapters that are dotted throughout from an unknown character who isn't revealed until the end. I spent most of the book believing this POV was one character, and then found out at the end that it wasn't at all who I was expecting. This added a lot more depth to the character that I don't think we would have been able to see otherwise.

The only downside of this story for me was that I felt the first 30-40% was quite slow and I struggled to get into it, but I'm incredibly glad I persevered as the payoff was completely worth it!

Overall I would rate this 4 stars, it's a strong debut novel and I will definitely be picking up anything else Cantos publishes in the future.

Throwaway girls was an enjoyable read for me. The book was slow at times but overall it was a typical YA Mystery thriller novel. I really appreciated the LGBT representation in this as thrillers don't have much of this representation. Overall it was a great read.

This was such an intriguing mystery! The beginning started out a little slow and honestly I considered putting it down, but I'm glad I stuck it out. The mystery hooked me about 30% of the way in and I couldn't put it down after that. I was never 100% sure who did it, which kept me engaged and guessing all the way through.
There were a few minor spots throughout where the writing felt slow, but overall, the ending was great and well-developed and Caroline's character kept me invested.
The POV chapters from the unknown narrators were a great addition to an already atmospheric read. This is a strong debut novel and an excellent read for mystery lovers everywhere. It left me on the edge of my seat more times than one and it's perfect for fans of Sadie. I can't wait to see this book out in the world.

3.5 stars

This was a good and interesting mystery novel. I had a lot of fun reading it and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy the mystery/horror genre.

It's been a few days since I've finished Throwaway Girls and I still can't form a coherent sentence on much I loved this book and its characters. I read 75% of this book in one sitting because I just had to know: What happened to Madison? It takes a lot for a book to hit me on a personal level and Throwaway Girls did just that.

Caroline is so close to freedom that she can taste it. She can't wait to get away from her parents who can't accept who she is, the fancy prep school that is smothering her and trying to forget the girl who ran off to California and broke her heart. Everything changes when Caroline's best friend Madison goes missing. Not trusting the police herself Caroline takes matters into her own hands and learns that she didn't know as much about Madison as she thought she did. In her search, Caroline comes across multiple missing girls who aren't from good parts of town and are assumed to be "runaways." But Caroline learns pretty quickly that there is a common denominator between all these missing girls: herself.

I think my favorite aspect of this book is that we get occasional POV chapters from an unknown character who isn't revealed until the end, when all the huge secrets are beginning to unfold. I spent most of the book thinking that this POV was one character, when it really wasn't a character I was expecting at all. I think in Cantos doing this is added a lot more depth to this character that we might not have gotten to see otherwise.

There is so much to talk about but so many ways this book can be spoiled at the same time. But I will give it this: It makes you think. It makes you think about all the missing girls you see in the news and how they are assumed to be runaways because they aren't from the ideal situations. The stigma that is surrounding girls who don't come from middle class or upper class families and them gaining justice.

Cantos debut novel is a strong one and I am excited to see what she is going to have in store for her readers next. Throwaway Girls left me on the edge of my seat for the whole story, desperate to know how it was going to end. Throwaway Girls is perfect for fans of Sadie and other books that fall under that genre.

I really didn't love this as much as I thought I would. I loved the plot itself and I think this book could have been phenomenal and heart wrenching, but I just didn't like the main character at all or the writing style.

Caroline, our main character, is a couple months away from graduation and getting out of her hometown and moving far away. Her best friend goes missing one night and she is doing everything she can to find her. While trying to discover where Madison went, she realizes a lot of girls have gone missing. Those other girls don't come from a nice family or wealthy family so they don't get looked at, everyone just thinks they are junkies or ran away with their boyfriends. Caroline is now on the hunt to figure out how all these girls connect with Madison's disappearance.

While I did love the theme of this book, I just couldn't stand the main character. Caroline has this poor me act, which I get that she has had a crap life growing up, but she acts like she has the worst family and just doesn't care about anything. She is quite selfish to her friends and just very whiny. Also, I didn't love the writing style. It was very fast paced, but almost too fast paced where I felt like we were missing information.

I was surprised by the ending, and thought it was good. I just wish more of my questions were answered and that this book has wrapped up better. All in all, I think most people will love this book, it just wasn't my favorite

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.

This YA mystery novel was a bit too slow-paced for my liking. I didn’t understand why the characters did what they did at some points, and the ending was not great for me - I didn’t get what the “villain’s” motive was at all. The writing was good, just not for me. 3 stars.

This book left me very emotional. This is such a great read! Caroline's best friend Madison goes missing and just disappears no one knows why. Madison missing leads to Caroline going to look for answers. What she finds is more than she could've bargained for. This mystery may be fictitious, but it brings up a lot of topics. Girls go missing, no one is searching for most of them, no one notices most of them missing since they aren't wealthy and from rich families. Caroline talks about being sent to conversion therapy camp, and not being able to be herself except around Willa. There is betrayal, jealousy, hurt, pain, loss, and so many emotions in this. I really felt like the ending was so empowering, raw, emotional, and fitting. It felt like real feeling put into the last few chapters when everything came around full circle and bridges that had been burned needed an ending. I really enjoyed this read. Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for the copy to rate and review!

This book centres around Caroline, a white teen attending a private school, who is grappling with a number of issues including estrangement from her parents, a breakup with her girlfriend & now the disappearance of her best friend. When Caroline discovers a clue relating to her friends disappearance, she takes it upon herself to investigate. As she probes deeper into the mystery, she quickly discovers that things are not quite as clear as they initially seemed, but more importantly that Madison isn't the only girl who has disappeared. Unfortunately, Madison is the only one that anyone seems to care about as she’s white & from a rich family whereas the others were from less privileged backgrounds - the “throwaway girls”. Despite a lack of firm evidence, Caroline knows that the missing girls must all be connected somehow so she starts to piece together what the police are ignoring. As she fits more pieces of the puzzle together, she realises that she is more intertwined with the mystery than she first realized, and every step forward comes with unwanted consequences & she finds that it’s all scarily close to home.
The story is written for a ‘young adult’ audience & I think it works well for them – the storyline is good & engaging, and explores some topics that are important to the age group including inequality, exploring sexuality & what friendships really are. However, there is a dark side too that makes it unsuitable for younger readers. This is a LGBT book but it’s not a book that is content to settle itself in that genre – it firmly sits in the mystery genre & the fact that the lead character is LGBT is just one of those things – it does add to the story but it’s not the story. (There is an amusing yet deep section where Jake asks Caroline what she likes about women & when she replies “probably the same things you like about women”)
Overall, this was an easy read with some surprising twists but it was confusing trying to keep track of all the characters, especially those who used 2 names (eg Livie/Caroline). . I did find the first half quite slow which may lose some readers and the ending doesn’t tie up loose ends – we never find out what the motive was or the full consequence & as such it loses another point for me.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the publisher & author for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
#ThrowawayGirls #NetGalley

An amazing mystery / thriller and very well written. I loved Caroline’s drive to find Madison. And also loved the hints of romance...

Rated 3.5 really.

First off...DISCLAIMER: this title was up for grabs on NetGalley (in the Read Now section). Thanks to Kids Can Press for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.

TOGETHER WE STAND

I'm always on the lookout for a good YA thriller that doesn't employ the usual "all against all" or "you can't trust literally anybody" plot device, and even more than that, the old "mean girls" trope. For some reason, it seems that, in this genre, catty classmates and petty fights are a must - and of course, there's nothing wrong with them if you like that kind of narrative, but I don't enjoy it at all. Throwaway Girls sounded like the happy exception to the above rules, and I'm happy to report it delivered - though some late mistrust between friends ensued, and painful secrets were uncovered along the way...but without any of them, there would likely be no mystery at all 🤷‍♀️. It was refreshing how certain secondary and even minor characters were able to take on a real supporting role, though I'm not saying that none of them had ulterior motives. It was especially refreshing that girls were sticking for each other - at least some of them - and that, despite its focus being the disappearance of a privileged white girl, the story also brought to the forefront the "invisible ones" most people give up on (though, to be honest, at first they were mostly instrumental in finding Caroline's friend - but she ended up genuinely caring for them).

MYSTERY BOX

I have to admit I'm not the best judge of how successful thrillers/mysteries are in term of baffling the reader (despite my being a huge Agatha Christie fan). Anyhow, even if TG has got a limited number of suspects to offer, I wasn't able to point my finger at the culprit - maybe ALSO because, when revealed, their motives (at least for putting into motion the chain of events that would end with Madison's disappearance) sounded a bit far-fetched to me. But generically speaking, I can see why that person would become a girl abductor and serial killer. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary (often poignant) narrative involving a mystery character, and again, I wasn't able to understand who they were until the revelation came. On top of that, Contos was very good at differentiating the two leads' voices, and I ended up waiting for the chapters from the mystery character's POV with great anticipation, just because I liked being in their head even while not having a clue about their identity (though of course I had some theories that, as I said, were ultimately proven wrong).

RAINBOW STRIPES

TG is not only a mystery: it's an unapologetic queer book, with a bisexual protagonist, and even a section where her best (male) friend - and secret admirer - tries to have her explain what she likes in women, which results in a hilarious (but also deep) confrontation. It's a strong romance between two girls from different walks of life, and a friendship/loyalty examination. Also, it's a look (if brief) at conversion-camp culture and parents' warped expectations. Lastly - while this is less in-your-face - it's a story where non-white characters aren't only the ones from the wrong side of the tracks (though there's a higher number of them, but then again, it's because, being overlooked by the system, they're the easiest prey for the killer, and this is their story as much as Madison's).

LIKE IT'S EASY

And here it goes...the knotty point that made me decide not to round my rating up to 4 stars. Basically, after the final showdown, there's a startling lack of consequences. Something really dark ensues, and those who should be affected by it the most (the perpetrator and a collateral victim) get to walk away from it unscathed - in more than one way. Not only I expected a trial of sorts and it didn't happen (which pushed my suspension of disbelief to the limit), but also, it sounded like the experience didn't have a huge impact on the perpetrator...which made me feel disconnected from their character. Regardless, I did enjoy the story as a whole, and I can honestly recommend it to everyone who's looking for a teen thriller with a developing social conscience and a queer heart.

Note: writing-wise...I know we aren't supposed to talk about this when it comes to ARCs...but I was able to spot (besides a few innocent typos that will most certainly get corrected in the final version) at least three instances of "it's" for "its", which is something that never fails to set me on edge. But my final rating didn't take them into consideration.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. After some technical issues with accessing the title on the Kindle, I was able to read it.

Caroline is a privileged white girl who happens to be bi, at a prestigious boarding school in Western Maryland. We meet her just as her friend Madison has gone missing and after she stumbles upon a clue that makes her believe she's connected to the reason she's disappeared, she makes it her mission to find her alive, despite being a 17 year old about to finish high school in a few months. Her parents don't accept her as she is- her mom sent her to conversion camp and her dad disapproves of pharma for anxiety and other conditions. Caroline is someone else with Willa, her girlfriend who isn't currently in the picture. As Caroline does some dangerous sleuthing with a classmate, she discovers the person behind the disappearances of other missing girls- throwaway girls who aren't like her and Madison- is scarily close to home. Hard book to put down. I wish there had been a more clear introduction to these characters, other than that I enjoyed the book.