DNF, couldn't get into it but may come back later in life. I didn't originally request this one but was part of a bundle of ARCs I won in a giveaway.

Great premise and really enjoyable. The book shows how far we are willing to go and what we will do for our friends. Good thriller vibes.

The ending to this was great. The beginning was a bit slow for me, but it came together nicely. It kept me in engage but I really liked the ending.

Really liked that this was set in the 60s. That was interesting to me, and I enjoyed reading it because I wasn't alive then! Interesting story line and interesting story all together. Loved the message.

I liked the characters and the general story, but I felt there was something missing that left me wanting more. I did like the look at what makes a “bad girl” versus a “good girl” in the 1960’s. Recommend.

Initially, despite my intrigue sparked by an excerpt and the idea of The Outsiders retelling, I was skeptical about enjoying the novel.

However, my reservations were completely unfounded. I admired the narrative's perspective through Evie's lens, appreciating her unjaded outlook within her social circle.

Unlike her peers, Evie maintains a strong moral compass and resists succumbing to the allure of rebellion. Diane, though innocent, demonstrates wisdom and compassion, standing out as an outcast within her societal group.

While the plot's initial pacing is slow, it serves the purpose of setting the stage for the upcoming events. This deliberate approach cleverly prepares the reader for a poignant and satisfying resolution.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

4.5 Stars

Evie Barnes is a bad girl from the poor part of town. She runs with other girls like her, bold makeup, too loud, hanging around the 'wrong' boys. But, while out with friends one night, she is accosted by a rich boy and is saved by a proper girl, a 'tea sipper.' Now, the two are bonded by the horrible truth and are learning about what true loyalty means and just how awful this world can be for any girl, no matter the social rank.

How will they get out of their situation? Especially, when someone they both truly care for is accused of the crime they are hiding from.

This book is a feminist twist on the famous novel The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. You can see the homage in the times, the characters, the story; but, this book breathes its own sort of life into a volatile time for young women. Combatting sexism, misogyny, and a patriarchal society that has a specific place for good girls and bad. It is set in 1964, but sadly seems so prevalent to today. With the talk of 'loose' girls, of teen pregnancy, of a girl's or a woman's place. The book made me so terribly sad for the future my daughters must navigate, that is steadily getting worse and worse. But, this book also shed light on the need for women to stand up for each other, to fight oppression together (and let's note we need to do this for all women, especially trans women). We have been fighting for centuries, and we will keep fighting, because we all deserve to feel safe, to own our own bodies, to have freedom to be who we are and love who we love.

Evie is such a fantastic character, she is so worried about being brave and courageous when she does it all without thinking. She shows real growth throughout the novel and eventually is able to confront all of the doubts she has about her life and what she hopes for her own future. Diane has been through hell and has returned only to put herself in another perilous situation. But, it really highlights her character and shows that even with her past she is willing to fight for what is right. I love the friendship that develops between these two young women, how both are able to positively shape the other through encouragement and compliments.

This 'gang' of women that Evie belongs to are a found family and would do anything for each other. They are proud, passionate, loyal, and brave. They face down anyone who would mock or belittle them, they love each other fiercely. I also loved how each of them had a different family dynamic, showing how diverse poverty truly can be. Evie lives with her mother and grandmother, and has a sister that got married and moved away after becoming pregnant as a teen, Connie's parents are abusive alcoholics, Sunny's stepfather is a pervert, and Juanita's immigrant family is large and loving. Each of them come from different situations and hold each other up when they are falling.

Evie's relationship with her sister is also so important in this novel, because it was her sisters pregnancy and moving away that led Evie to realize she wanted something different with her life. And because of that she befriended her neighbour Juanita and joined Connie's group of bad girls. Her sister is floundering away from her support group, she is trying to make friends, but Evie can hear the sadness in her letters and her voice when she calls. Evie's relationship with her sister also makes her more protective of Diane and pushes her to confront her friends into helping Diane, even Connie (who scares her).

A lot of this novel is about female empowerment. It is about the role women play in each others lives, from mother, to sister, to friend. All of them important in shaping the way a woman views herself and her self worth. Diane's mother abandons her, her aunt is a drunk, and her best friend distances herself from her; so, she feels alone, trapped in a hard situation, desperate to find the boy she loves and to change her fate. Like Evie's sister, she too lost her support system when she needed it most, so she is so grateful to meet Evie, and to find a group of women who stick by her even in the harshest of circumstances.

Highly encourage people to read this book. It is at times heartbreaking, but also hopeful.

"Running wild is a way to forget what put our hearts through so much pain in the first place."
As someone who lives in Houston, I thought that this was a super fun gender swapped read of the Outsiders. I do however wish there was a little more of a new story woven into this story that is clearly inspired by many classics we know and love. I think that is really the element that is missing for me, because otherwise I enjoyed this story and its characters!

This one was a DNF for me. I tried a few times to read it but never got far each time. Sadly, not every book is going to be for everyone.

The synopsis intrigued me but I could not get far into the story. I personally did not connect with the writing. As always this is just my own personal opinion and it will be different for everyone.

**Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

This book is revolutionary. Bringing an iconic banner book back to a new audience with the gender roles flipped giving a bold new look into the meanings.

Everything you loved about The Outsiders you will most definitely love in this book but even more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I really wanted to like this. I thought, a female version of The Outsiders? How timely! How fun! There’s so much you could do with that! Well, here’s the thing: are main character is no Pony Boy and while there’s plenty of charm to the greasers of The Outsiders, the voice here reads as stiff and fake. There’s none of that introspective appeal that the original has. There’s only the feel that you’re reading something cheap, a knock off. Bad Girls Never say Die DEFINITELY doesn’t stay gold.

Stars: 5/5!
Overview:

1964. Houston, Texas.

Evie Barnes is a bad girl. So are all her friends. They’re the sort who wear bold makeup, laugh too loud, and run around with boys. Most of all, they protect their own against the world. So when Evie is saved from a sinister encounter by a good girl from the "right" side of the tracks, every rule she's always lived by is called into question. Now she must redefine what it means to be a bad girl and rethink everything she knew about loyalty.
(copied from Goodreads profile!)

Review:
I really loved this one! I am a huge fan of the Outsiders and the story it tells, and I think this is a really good book with a feminine spin, "Inspired" by the Outsiders. I personally would not 100% say this is a retelling because it doesn't quite hit that mark for me. That being said, I had a good time reading this and breezed right through it. I really enjoyed Moxie, so I was over the moon when I received this, and readers will be happy that this has a similar message, although it is not as strong because it is not the point of the book.

The characters were soooooo well-developed, and I especially enjoyed seeing this book from Evie's POV because she is by far not the badest and was able to see both sides of the track. Diane was also a favorite character of mine, as the friendship between her and Evie was really heartwarming. Go grab a copy! For more reviews and bookish content, follow me @3am_bookmarks on Instagram!

** I received a free advanced copy from the publisher and have chosen to leave a review**

Gotta love gender bent classic reboots and a girl gang is always a welcome read! Can't wait to see what else this author releases in the future!

I think this book was a good outside to show a female view of the Outsiders. I just think that there was less discussion about how the expectations between genders was different and how it affected that society, when it should have been an important part of the novel given that they were considered' delinquents'.

I get what this book is going for. We're looking at juvenile incarceration, the perception of certain kids as "bad". And It's described as a gender-swapped version of The Outsiders. Those bones are certainly present but it lacks the heart of Hinton's book. Hinton was exploring masculinity, needing to be "tough". While the set up here is the same, the expectations of girls is vastly different. I might have liked to have seen more exportation of the perception of girls who have been sent away rather than of how the "wrong" choice can vastly fall apart.

Nothing gold can stay, and this novel proved to be a bit tarnished.

A "gender-bent version of "The Outsiders" is a lot to live up to. For me, "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton was a pivotal book that sparked my love of reading at a young age (high stakes), and I hoped to relive that experience through Jennifer Mathieu's book. Surprise? No. Props go to the marketing team though! It's difficult to fill the shoes of a classic, and the hype of that boast left me utterly disappointed when I closed the cover.

On its own, this book is a great read, so I am giving it 3 stars. 5 stars would require it to live up to it's description as being a retelling of "The Outsiders." I enjoyed the relatable characters, storyline, girl-power overlay, and 1960s setting. This book has a lot to offer readers, but should definitely stand on it's own feet.

My students enjoyed the book. I'm glad they did as it's hard for me to read all the books! Thank you for much for allowing me to have an advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for the eARC copy of this novel. I’m Bad Girls Never Say Die, Jennifer Mathieu reenvisions S.E. Hilton’s The Outsiders from a female point of view set in 1960s Texas. The main character, Evie, knows she’s a “bad girl” who comes from a single-parents family & realizes her friends are “bad girls” too. Like it’s predecessor, the characters in Mathieu’s novel are from the wrong side of tracks & have rough encounters with the kids from more privileged families. At the drive in one night, Evie is nearly raped by one of her more privileges peers, but is saved by Diane, a girl from a better family. This leads the girls down an unlikely path toward a friendship that surprises them both as they learn about, & from, one another. Overall, Bad Girls Never Say Die is a fast-pacied, engrossing novel that pay homage to a contemporary classic.