I'm The Girl by Courtney Summers didn't disappoint. I loved everything about it. Thank to you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a dark YA thriller that makes you wonder if you ever know who you can trust. The story takes you into the darker side of the rich and privileged. And what predators can look like the suspecting.

I liked most of the story, but it’s definitely not my favorite Courtney summers novel. This story showcases things some young women face which follows suite with other books written by Courtney Summers. This is something I always liked about her writing. She’s not afraid to write about the uncomfortable.

I found I enjoyed reading this one more than listening to the audiobook. I had to increase the speed of the audiobook to enjoy the listening experience.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

I've said before and I'll say it again -- Courtney Summers is one of the best YA mystery/thriller authors out there, and she gets better and better with each book. Her characters and stories are always so full of depth!

I have always enjoyed Courtney Summers and this was another gripping novel! Truly can be enjoyed by teens and adults.

Not my fave Summers but I do really like the way the author spins her stories. I’ve since moved on from YA books in general so I wonder if I’d like it more if I did read YA still.

Courtney Summers does it again with her unflinching and searing critique of the very society that regularly allows for the brutalization of the most vulnerable among us. I especially appreciated Courtney's refusal to shave down Georgia's character for the comfort of the audience. I'm The Girl is a powerhouse novel that will have us all facing the uncomfortable reality of why we support certain survivors while leaving others to the wolves.

Sadie was so good, I don't understand how this could be so bad? Self indulgent and just, zero nuance.

The main character never really clicked with me. The mystery left me a little confused like I had missed something. I was hoping to enjoy this more.

What and uncomfortably fantastic book. I can't say this was a particularly enjoyable read, but it was necessary. It's a timely and provocative story of abuse and so much more. The main character Georgia wasn't exactly likable, but she was raw and real and wholly imperfect, in all the best ways. Both her naivety and her strong awareness of the power of her looks played essential roles in this story.

Even though this is an incredibly important kind of story and Courtney Summers is a brilliant writer, I did bump it down a star because they story didn't click for me as much as Sadie did. Parts were a little bit clunky and I questioned the characters' choices more than once.

This book was so good but damn, it was rough. I hope those girls ended up with a happier ending than they got.

I struggled with this book. I did finish it, but it has been a while since I read it (I am very behind on my reviews) and almost nothing about this book stuck with me, except for the fact that I remember how long it took me to read it, and how many times I had to start and stop. I know Summers' other book, Sadie, is well loved, so I might try that one, to give the author another chance.

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.

When I first started to get into book blogging and the online bookish community, Sadie by Courtney Summers felt like it was everywhere. I felt like I needed to read it because everyone was talking about it. I bought the book… and it languished on my shelves for literal years. Fast forward to 2022 and I read the synopsis of I’m the Girl and thought it sounded great, so I requested and e-ARC from Netgalley. But then I heard that this was a “spiritual successor” to Sadie and felt like I couldn’t read it until I read that book! Which is really not the case, but that is what my brain decided and I couldn’t shake the feeling. Fast forward to 2023 and I finally read the dang book and truly enjoyed it. It was a rough read but engaging and well-written. So you think I would’ve jumped right into I’m the Girl, right? Now that the barrier was gone?

Nah, I just read this in 2024😅 Did it live up to how much I enjoyed Sadie? Well… read on.

In this novel, we follow a young woman named Georgia. She has had a dream since she was a young girl… to snag a job at a local, exclusive resort called Aspera and be named one of the “Aspera Girls”. Georgia has been told since she was young that she is beautiful and she’s decided to lean into that to achieve a coveted spot at the resort. But then she stumbles upon the body of a young, local girl named Ashley James and her life becomes a whirlwind from there.

I’m just going to say, straight up, if you’re reading this book for the mystery, it is fairly obvious from jump what’s going on with not only the murder but other aspects of this town. Not a single twist caught me off guard, though it certainly had me in my feelings. Courtney Summers does not shy away from pulling dark, uncomfortable issues into the light, so make sure to check trigger warnings before jumping into this one. She does so in a way that makes you squirm but also makes you want to fight back against terrible people who do terrible things. I truly enjoyed the writing in this book and, if you’re an audiobook lover, I highly recommend it! The narrator does an incredible job of putting a lot of emotion into the narration.

Though the writing was engaging, I found I couldn’t connect with our main character, Georgia. She was a dumb teenager doing dumb teenager things and part of me understood that. The other part of me wanted to shake her because she constantly kept making the worst decisions and seemed to not learn from the repercussions at all. She was a complex character, for sure, but I just could not connect with her. Keep in mind, I’m also not the target audience, so definitely take what I say with a grain of salt. Nora, however… she was awesome and I could read a whole book about her, not gonna lie. She is Ashley’s big sister and originally comes into the story because she strong arms Georgia into helping her find Ashley’s killer. I wanted more of her and her interactions with Georgia!

Overall, this was a solid read and touches on some tough topics in a thought-provoking way. I don’t think it was as engaging as Sadie, but I definitely think it’s worth a read!

I thought the book was pretty good but not better than Sadie. There were some really good moments and others that made me cringe. I had to keep telling myself that she is only 16. Mystery young adult fans will breeze through this book with love and hate. Discomfort and smiles.

For better or worse, I am a mood reader! And this book was not for me at the time I started reading it but I will definitely be checking it out again at some point.

I’m the Girl focuses around Georgia, a character who is not particularly easy to like. I don’t start with that because it is a problem for me – I rather enjoy an unlikable character. I’m just saying it up front to save a certain type of reader some time right off the bat. You know the one – the reader who either thinks that every character reflects the personality and/or values of it’s writer, or the reader who believes that if they don’t like or can’t relate to a character then they could never possibly enjoy the story. If you are either of those types of readers, please stop here. You won’t like I’m the Girl. Georgia is…sad. She’s shallow and vain. But she’s also determined to do what needs doing to get herself to a better life than the one she came from.

Okay, now we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s carry on, shall we?

So, Georgia finds a dead body. Specifically she finds a dead 13 year old girl named Ashley. And she teams up with Ashley’s older sister Nora to try to find the killer – why you ask? Because, that’s why. I guess cuz police are never to be relied on – which does make some sort of sense.

The thing I like most about I’m the Girl is the sheer, unbridled disgustingness of just about every person you encounter. This story definitely has shades of Epstein. Midway through the story you’re just going to start rooting for a random act of nature to just brutally murder every single one of these monsters. I mean, not Georgia (she’s not terrible, just not…great), and not Nora (she’s fine, I guess). But definitely everyone else. Every single other person is gonna give you big time ick. But Georgia, despite being kind of shallow and whatnot, is actually a pretty interesting character. She’s a good mix of vanity and vulnerability. You will find that you’re rooting for her even though she’s not the most sympathetic girl in the world – but everyone else around her is so revolting that you kinda need her to win.
Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Honestly, I think that Courtney Summers’ writing ability is the best thing about I’m the Girl. I think that while the story is pretty good, but her writing is spectacular. She’s got a knack for immersive writing. You’ll be sucked into the story whether you want it or not.

Summers crafts a gripping narrative that not only explores the mystery surrounding Ashley's death but also delves into Georgia's inner turmoil and longing for a better life. The juxtaposition of Georgia's gritty reality with the opulent world she encounters creates a compelling tension throughout the story.

What makes "I'm the Girl" particularly powerful is its exploration of societal power structures and how they affect young women like Georgia. The novel confronts readers with difficult questions about acceptance and survival in a world where money, power, and beauty reign supreme. Georgia's journey forces readers to consider their own views on these issues and whether they are willing to accept the status quo.

The character development in "I'm the Girl" is exceptional. Georgia's transformation from a girl trapped by her circumstances to a determined young woman willing to fight for what she believes in is both believable and inspiring. Likewise, Nora's journey from grief-stricken sister to Georgia's partner-in-crime adds depth to the story and highlights the importance of female solidarity.

Overall, "I'm the Girl" is a brutal and illuminating account of one young woman's struggle to navigate a deadly and predatory world. Courtney Summers doesn't shy away from the harsh realities her characters face, but she also offers glimmers of hope and resilience amidst the darkness. This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys gritty mysteries with a strong emotional core.

"I'm the Girl" by Courtney Summers is a novel that left me with mixed feelings. While Summers' writing style is undeniably compelling, drawing readers into the protagonist's tumultuous world with vivid prose and raw emotion, I found myself struggling to fully connect with the story. The exploration of complex themes such as trauma, identity, and resilience is commendable, but at times it felt overshadowed by the protagonist's internal struggles, leaving me wanting more depth in the plot development.

Additionally, while the protagonist's journey of self-discovery is poignant and relatable, I couldn't shake the feeling of predictability in certain narrative twists. Despite its flaws, "I'm the Girl" offers moments of genuine insight and empathy, particularly in its portrayal of teenage experiences and relationships. Overall, while I appreciate the novel's ambition and emotional resonance, it fell short of delivering the impactful storytelling I expected from Courtney Summers.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

OMG!!! This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

This author just breaks my heart over and over again with her books, and I am happy to let her keep doing so. This is a companion to the wonderfully heart-breaking SADIE and is just as gripping. It's described as a "spiritual companion' so it isn't a direct sequel. This story of two young women attempting to solve a very personal murder mystery and bring some sort of justice is so gripping and powerful. I love the way Summers writes-- Georgia felt so real to me. I was absolutely on the edge of my seat as she went into these very dangerous situations, and in that way, it reminded me a lot of my experience reading Sadie. I don't want to say too much here as I think it's better to go in fairly blind. But omg, this is such a powerful book.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review!!

I'm super upset to say this as an unapologetic Courtney Summers fan, but I did not like this as much as I thought I would. Obviously, this is a tough read as it touches on so many harsh topics and you can tell it takes direct inspiration from the world of Jeffrey Epstein.

But unfortunately, I just didn't jive with this. I started and stopped this about 5 or 6 times and even did the audiobook for a good majority (a last resort if I'm struggling with a book) but I just found myself not into it. Once we found out who Ashley's killer was, I found it especially hard to stay focused on getting to the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.