Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc of Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about the girl who everyone is looking for and all the girls who are not being looked for. Caroline Lawson is a girl on the brink of freedom when her world is pulled out from under her when her girlfriend Willa leaves for California and her best friend Madison disappears. Caroline doesn’t trust the police and takes it upon herself to find her best friend. Caroline’s determination, perseverance, and loyalty in the face of heartbreak and tragedy is admirable and you’ll want to cheer her on.

Often times in books where the characters take it upon themselves to solve a crime, I think it doesn’t really make sense; while it makes sense that they want to solve the crime but their reasons for why they have to be the one investigating often is lacking and requires varying levels of suspension of disbelief, however, that was not the case with Throwaway Girls. Caroline’s actions never come off as foolish or illogical, while she may be impulsive, she is an intelligent girl and that really shows through her actions. I adored Caroline and her friendship with Aubrey was a highlight in the novel. I disliked the nameless alternative point of view, as it often took me out of the story and disrupted the flow; I never fully enjoyed these sections because I truly just wanted to get back to Caroline and what she was up to. This book while on the surface is about the disappearance of one white upper-class teenage girl, is about the girls that the police do not look for, the highrisk or the poor, the throwaway girls. This book is about the girls who disappear day by day that no-one bothers to look for, the girls whose faces were never plastered on missing posters, the girls without vigils, the girls that endure so much because they weren’t considered important enough to look for. This book will piss you off in all the right ways, it will ignite a passion in you and it will open your eyes to the experience of millions.

The Mystery / Young Adult book debut thriller novel of Andrea Contos, Throwaway Girls has that gripping edge in a serial kidnapping and disappearance in the seemingly peaceful community that Caroline lives in. The story is set just weeks away from Caroline’s graduation from a prep school where her best friend, Madison’s vigil was made. When I first noticed this book on NetGalley, the premise of the story hooked me right off the description. Caroline was a very determined and fierce character. One side of her was the perfect daughter with high grades and a popular reputation at school. And another side is that of her rebellious streak that is deeply rooted to be free of the façade she built up after her parents didn’t accept her for whom she truly wanted to be, and even forced her into a conversion camp.

In an overall run through the plot, I teetered really between invested and confused by how the author narrated the story. The world-building and imagery in Caroline’s world were amazing no-lie, however, there were parts into the story where we’d jump from one place to another, that I’d be stuck in a jarring halt where I have to double back and reread the scenario and thought I missed something. There was a scene in the book where Caroline had been talking with Chrystal, and helping to find her missing niece, and then the next chapter, we got Caroline in Jake’s room? Although don’t get me wrong, the author did explain how she got there, but the way it shifted from one place to another was just too sudden and confusing.

The same confusion stuck to me through the first half of the book. I found it almost hard to keep up with what was going on and picked the straws of the mystery up, the more that Caroline delved into the mystery. One thing, I did appreciate in Throwaway Girls, was how Caroline remained committed to finding her missing friend. There were times in the story, I was amazed at how Caroline handles the stress she was in, and how level-headed she stayed while knowing that not every adult in the story trusted her. However, there are those instances where Caroline also blackmailed, lied, and even used people to get what she wanted.

These contradictions in her character made her less perfect and flawed, which I did like and found annoying at times. Throwaway Girls also delve into real social issues, such as how there is a distinct line between the rich and the poor. While, Madison ended up being on newspapers, and have dedicated search parties to find her, all the other missing teenage girls in the story, ended up being swept under the rug by the police since they came from lower social statuses. It’s a real problem that still continues all over the world. There are those people who are plastered on social media, and on the news because they are worth looking for, but it begs to questions the unknown men and women that didn’t even get that same importance.

The other moral that I loved that was highlighted in the book, is how Caroline is part of the LGBT-Q community and didn’t have that parental support after coming out to liking girls. Because of how her mom in particular values social statuses more, than Caroline’s gender identity, undeniably frustrating and sad. There are those teens who are shy or scared to come out, not knowing how their parents or their friends would react to the news. While Caroline’s mother tried to ignore that part of Caroline’s self, it didn’t fully deter her to try and live the life she wanted. She became a heroine that fought for what she believes in, and protect those important to her.

On a whole, Throwaway Girls had that very bumpy beginning for me but became a very addicting and suspenseful pace all the way till the end. I’d rate the book 4.5 stars and would recommend this for anyone looking for a modern-day Nancy Drew kind of book. The twist on who the killer/kidnapper was, and the people truly involved with the crimes are laid out in a beautifully crafted breadcrumb trail. And the LGBT-Q representation in this book is phenomenal. I’d like to thank NetGalley, and Kids Can Press for giving me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery! I loved Caroline, even though she’s not perfect, she’s a fierce fighter and doesn’t give up on finding out what happened to Madison and the others. There’s a raw honesty in this a book about girls who are considered expendable - “throwaway” and it’s heart wrenching. There were lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing til the end. I also liked that there wasn’t a happy ending all wrapped up in a bow.

More of a 2.5, but it had its good moments as a debut so I'm pumping it to 3 stars.

This is a YA thriller about a girl's disappearance that leads to a seemingly serial of disappearing girls, and one teenager's quest to solve it, when her best friends is the latest to disappear. It's got alternating chapters between our main protagonist, Caroline, and another point of view that was kept a mystery until more than half of the book, which really disoriented me, and I didn't know who that was and what's their connection to the story. (The name changes and ambiguity didn't work in these chapter's favors, despite being a bit intriguing.)

The main character's train of thoughts always made me confused, and the author tried too hard to make her into a complex character, but she wasn't that complex in the end. The ending was a bit surprising, even though the motive was never fully explained or realized. But I'd say it's a decent debut thriller, and I read the last 100 pages in one go because I was hooked and it was easy to read. So, it's not bad, just not extraordinary or provides something new in the thriller genre.

I thank Netgalley and KCP Loft for the digital ARC.

Throwaway Girls was a clever YA mystery that infuses careful social criticism throughout the narrative. I loved how the main female lead was simultaneously strong and vulnerable due to her past trauma. I loved how the novel commented on issues related class and sexuality (and a bit about race), along with the need for safe spaces. For the actual mystery, I was surprised by the first major plot twist, which is great! Usually I can see YA mystery/thriller twists coming. All the twists were set up throughout the book and the books ending is realistically bittersweet. The author does not shy away from the after effects of a traumatic event. Overall, I really enjoyed the book.
For criticism, I found myself frustrated with the main character for the first half of the book. I understand how she might not want to speak to cops, but withholding evidence from her best friends disappearance seems extreme. Especially since she also does not want to talk to anyone else, so she essentially believes she can solve this alone. I know she eventually does do that, but it seemed harmfully arrogant and like she cares more about herself and her ego than her friend. It became clearer half way through why she doesn’t want to talk to the police, but I wish she suspected them earlier or I wish that she tried to get other people’s help (posting online for example).
The other thing that frustrated me was the seeming binary between public school and private school. I know the novel was probably trying to make the binary about wealth of location more so than public vs private. But it often came across like public schools are all poor and dangerous and private schools are all rich and safe. Which, just isn’t true.

This fast-paced and exciting story will greatly appeal to YA readers who love gritty mysteries and thrillers. Contos does an excellent job creating realistic and relatable characters for adolescent readers. Universal themes are explored within and engaging mystery. Highly recommended!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an e-ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

rating : 4.5 stars

I'm going to start with the fact that this is a very important book. It with a lot o social issues, that are all pulled together in this one book. We follow Caroline's story as she goes through a series of events after her best friend goes missing, and ends up unraveling a lot more than she could ever think of.

Honestly, I really liked the writing. It has a way of touching your heart so deep and raw― it's beautiful. There was good humor here and there too, so it was a great balance of things. The plot-line was a little slow at first, but it sped up pretty quick.

Like I said before, this book deals with a lot of issues together, but the main one is about missing girls― what they can go through, how much priority they get according to their skin color. Yes. I am so glad the author delved into these issues and wrote so well about them.

Our main protagonist, Carolene, is a very likable character. She is fierce, loyal, amazing person―
and ready to sacrifice herself anytime for the people she loves. It was good to read about such a compassionate female character. This book represented a lot of things, and I loved the posivity about females in some aspects.

This is a great YA thriller & mystery, one that I will recommend to all.
But there were a few little things that cut off the .5 stars. Is it weird how I loved the writing but it also caused me to read the book in a slower pace? Maybe it's because it's a little different book with some heavy topics, than the ones I am used to that caused this.
There were some POV changes in the book and it took me a while to understand that those chapters were of a different character, so the transition wasn't so smooth. But the reveal of whose POV it was, wow!

And that cover is so beautiful!
This book is definitely a tearjerker, but I will be recommending this to everyone. Anticipate this release, readers!

Throwaway Girls is a beautiful, brutal book that doesn't accept easy answers. Caroline as a narrator is fantastic--sardonic and guarded, but with a vulnerability that she shows in just the right moments. The mystery itself is compelling, too.

I did wish that Madison was further developed; I didn't really believe her friendship with Caroline, and I feel like it almost would've made more sense if Madison hadn't been her friend at all. Caroline's own backstory, too, is a little sparse, and the conversion therapy subplot doesn't completely work because her mother's motivations are pretty weak. I was also a little confused by the perspectives, because the voices didn't start to distinguish themselves until maybe 1/3 of the way through.

But the overall sentiment--that all girls are worth looking for--is more important than its flaws.

I didn't finish this book. It was very confusing to me and after 100 pages of so I have up. I couldn't root for any of these characters as wasn't interested in finding out what happened.

(Thank you Kids Can Press for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review! This review is abridged, full review is on my blog, linked below!)

The cover and the description of this book gripped me as soon as I saw it. At first I was unsure how I would feel about this, but as soon as I bridged a little under halfway, I was hooked. Caroline is a fantastic protagonist, and I love the way Contos weaved the main thriller storyline with Caroline's family dynamic and struggles to fit in while also being comfortable with herself and her mental health. It's daring to braid all this together in a debut, but I think Contos pulled it off well. My only real complaint was I wanted more from the supporting characters, but I have a feeling Contos will only get better with time.

This book really surprised me. It certainly wasn’t perfect, but the writing flows really well and is consistent, especially for a debut. Contos weaves in character development, interesting plot twists, and social commentary with the talent of a seasoned writer. Though it takes a bit for everything to fall into place, I was still excited to read this book every time I picked it up. It’s a super quick read, especially as Caroline is an extremely likeable and unique protagonist. Definitely recommend this one!

What a ride! While the build-up is a bit slow, I couldn't put this book down with the potential it had, and I ended up reading it in a day. The mystery is very much true to life and felt at times like nonfiction for how relevant it is. I was also surprised with many of the twists and while I did guess the bad guy about 2/3 through, that didn't diminish my enjoyment at all!

My best friend is missing and the only way to find her is to link the two separate parts of myself. My name is Caroline and I live a double life. When I pretend- I am the perfect daughter as befitting of my family name with the perfect grades and active social life in sports and charity. When I am myself, I am in a different town with a different name but it's the only way I can be the real me.

This is a deep and suspenseful tale froth with lies, deceit, betrayal, and the lengths we will go to protect those we love. It is emotionally raw and delves deep into dark themes of privilege, money, and power. Welcome to the real world- where girls are thrown away and nobody notices.

Thank you to NetGalley and KCP Loft for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos is a rollercoaster I'd love to ride forever. The characters were well developed, and their arcs didn't feel incomplete. They each had their motivations and goals. The bond between Jake, Caroline, and Aubrey made me happy, despite the danger they were putting themselves in. As for the plot, I was completely entertained and didn't once get bored. The shift between views was keeping me at the edge of my seat, and I was so shocked to find out who it was. The story had me hooked on the first page, and the writing was well done. Everything felt real, and I felt like I was there with the characters trying to figure out the puzzle. some of my favorite quotes (now) come from this book. I’m excited about its release, and I cannot wait to pick up a physical copy for myself.

"Our truths change. they stretch and spit as we grow, the shedding of them leaving u raw and exposed. if we're lucky, we're surrounded by love in those moments when our tender flesh is still rebuilding. if we're not, we grow scars."
"Because it doesn't matter how she died. what matters is that someone remembers that she lived."

Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos is a sapphic murder mystery that you didn’t know you needed. In Throwaway Girls, we follow Caroline as she tries to solve the disappearance of her best friend Madison. Through emotional highs and lows, surprising twists, and unexpected friendships- this book takes you on an exciting journey.

TW: Conversion therapy, murder, probably other things but, mentions of conversion therapy and details of it feels important to notify of.

“Detective Harper is a liar. That score to settle goes back nearly three years. And if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s this: if things are ever going to be right again, it’s not Detective Harper who’s going to get them there.”

This book had me on the edge of my seat, feeling worried and heartbroken for Caroline. As she navigates the PTSD from being forced into a conversion therapy camp and also trying to solve the mystery of her best friend’s disappearance- you start to wonder if she’s unraveling. The narration of Caroline, her passion, her anger, and her determination left me feeling her same feelings.

Not all books end in the character suddenly no longer having issues, and this was one of them. The book ends and Caroline is still hurt, and still angry. I can appreciate this because it takes so much time to heal and grow from traumatic instances. People genuinely do care about Caroline though, and you can see that throughout the book- despite them not always showing it in the best of ways.

The Who-dun-it aspect of this book was really well done, I was genuinely surprised when it all tied together and wrapped up. Andrea Contos has set the bar with Throwaway Girls as her debut novel and I cannot wait for more.

OMG, the plot twist at the end!! I would give this book to any teen looking for a great, dark thriller. There are certainly a lot of twists and turns that kept me reading. I had chills. I never saw the ending coming, which I LOVE in this kind of thriller!!! Great book- like "Gone Girl" for the slightly younger crowd.

I really wanted to like it. The main character was unlikeable, very little redeeming qualities other than she is smart. The interaction between Willa and Livie was confusing (until it is explained in the end, but I felt it distracted more than helped). I figured out who the guilty party was 70% into the book. The character keeps degrading the fact that she's affluent and that her parents ignore her, but she takes advantage of that.

Throwaway Girls is a novel that manages to keep you reading while giving missing women a voice. Caroline is heartbroken after her girlfriend breaks up with her and her best friend goes missing. Caroline is bereft in a town steeped in wealth and privilege but with adults that don’t understand her. Her mother actively rejects her sexuality. With a mistrust for adults Caroline goes looking for her missing friend Madison. She finds secrets hidden in every corner of life.

Andrea Contos writes a novel that every girl and woman should read. Actually everyone should. It’s socially aware but still leaves you reading it in one sitting.

***Thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press Publishing Company for providing me an ARC of THROWAWAY GIRLS by Andrea Contos in exchange for my honest review.***

4.25 rating

This book was a very intriguing thriller and mystery about a girl whose best friend has gone missing. While out searching for her friends she finds out that another girl in the nearby area has also gone missing, but because of her class and socioeconomic status, has been disregarded by the local authority. This book explores issues about socio-economic status and lgbt issues.

Writing:
“Everything started with the body at the edge of the lake. I know that now. But back then, all I knew was the rush and gurgle of water where the stream fed into the lake, the gentle sway of yellow irises as the wind lifted their down-turned petals. And the way the body’s legs bobbed in time with the lap of water against the shore, like part of the girl’s spirit was still trying to run from whatever had brought her there.”
-I mean come on! This is such a good opening and made me very interested.

Pacing:
-This entire book was hard to put down

Characters:
-I might not have liked the characters at all times, but I still really enjoyed reading about them and their lives/struggles

-I will recommend!!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

This book gave me some lovely Lovely Bones vibe with a boarding school vibe and I'm all here for it. I think the atmosphere was wonderfully written and the storyline was gripping. I especially liked the sections in between chapters where you're not entirely sure whose perspective you're reading from.

My main issue with this novel is the characterization of Caroline - I wanted more of the storyline of her going to conversion therapy camp (perhaps next novel?) but I do understand that this was more focused on the throwaway girls and how people forget about them. I think this book definitely brings up a very important issue of police overlooking certain types of girls because they know nobody is looking for them.

Throwaway Girls is a fantastic debut. It's well paced and full of twists, a few you won't see coming. It captivates you from the first page with it's strong characters and intriguing plot.