“I was angry with my mother, the kind of anger that changes the way you look at the world and makes you understand, for better and worse, the way the world’s looking at you.”

Sixteen-year-old Georgia Avis dreams of working at Aspera, the fancy resort her mother worked at before she died. The same resort her mother got fired from. The same resort her mother always told her she was never good enough for. After a series of unfortunate events, Georgia is left being $4,000 in debt to her brother, so she gets a summer job in the heart of Aspera—and discovers it might not be all that she dreamed of. To make matters worse, Georgia stumbles across the body of thirteen-year-old Ashley James. Georgia teams up with Ashley’s sister, Nora, to help find the killer and the investigation leads them deeper and deeper into the gates of Aspera.

I’m the Girl is a novel that is emotionally difficult to read. Summers does an excellent job of portraying what it feels like to be a young woman in a world that overly sexualizes teenage girls. Readers watch as Georgia grapples with her beauty and how she can use it to her advantage to get what she wants. These brilliantly written scenes leave the readers asking: is Georgia actually taking advantage of her good looks, or are the people around her taking advantage of her?

I highly recommend I’m the Girl to anyone looking for a bold novel that explores sexual exploitation versus liberation among young adults. Georgia is a courageous character with a lot of depth. She’s confident, passionate, naive, and stubborn—and the mix of these traits gets her into a lot of difficult situations. Many young women will be able to relate to her struggles throughout the novel. However, the story is upsetting and graphic, so please proceed with caution.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

I love Courtney Summers. I will read anything that woman writes. I was invested in this book the whole way through. I loved the characters, the writing, the storyline (although the mystery was pretty easy to solve). I listened to this one on audio, and the narrator did a great job also.

All of the stars!!!

(Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest feedback)

The story centers around a teen, Georgia, who comes upon the dead body of another teen girl, Ashley. She, along with Ashley's sister Nora, desperately want to know and understand what happened.

This book hits some intense topics. As Georgia strives for her dream of being beautiful and well-known, she unfortunately stumbles under the dark underbelly of money and power. Grooming, sexual assault of minors, the abuse of power by the rich and beautiful, and the multi-generational havoc it creates.

It was sometimes hard to listen to, you catch yourself saying "oh no no no" to these innocent and naive young girls, who trust others so easily and believe that everyone is inherently good. This book is targeted to the YA audience but as a 39-year old mother of 3 teens (including a daughter the age of Georgia), it has given me a lot to ponder as I navigate parenting teens that are getting out there into a world that's not always so kind

And this audiobook was expertly narrated, Lori Prince does a great job of navigating these very different groups of characters and easily pulls you in!

This is my 3rd Courtney Summers book and though nothing has topped Sadie for me, this was far better than The Project. In I'm The Girl we follow a 16-year-old girl who dreams of a luxorious life away from her run down home and exhausted brother, who is constantly working to make ends meet. In an attempt at doing this, Georgia agrees to a photoshoot that seems harmless. That is how this book opens, with Georgia on her knees, barely dressed, posing for this "photographer". It instantly fills you, the reader, with discomfort and that feeling never goes away.

On the way home, Georgia finds the body of a thirteen-year-old girl at the side of the road, beaten and raped. Huge trigger warnings for this. It isn't necessarily graphic, but it does have that Courtney Summers grit that we've all come to know.

The rest of the plot places out in four parts each as grim as the last. I think you'd benefit a lot by going into this book blind. I did see most of the plot 'twists' coming but that didn't take away from the story.

My main issue with I'm The Girl is that I wouldn't necessarily class it as a thriller. Yes, majority of the plot is focused around finding out who murdered this young girl, but it felt more like a commentary on the lens that men see most teenage girls. It was dark, but not thrilling per say.

I struggled with this one because it was marketed as YA and while it is probably calmer than some of this author’s other books ( this is my first from this author), I can’t imagine myself at a YA age reading some of these scenes. To each their own and it was definitely a gripping story if your child is into thriller, but just a caution to parents. I did find this one enjoyable, but one of the troubles of having a young main character is their naivety. I really struggled as someone in her 20s watching this young girl make the mistakes she made. I know this is the point of her being young and vulnerable, but it made me so sad to listen to. I wouldn’t say this one is overly shocking but it is incredibly captivating.

This review has been posted on Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and will be posted to my instagram (@busywithmybooks_) within the week!

Summers is one of those automatic-purchase authors for me. I'm the Girl addresses yet another tough topic, as Summers is known for, but in a way that makes you feel it as though you're the main character. Having listened to this book as audio ARC made those feelings even more authentic. More than once I cried for Georgia, just as I did Sadie before her.

I loved Summers’ book Sadie, and I was so excited to read this one. I enjoyed the plot, and I thought her writing was good, but I just didn’t like the main character. I felt bad for her, because she definitely had a tough lot in life, but I just didn’t find her likable or believable. Honestly, I didn’t really like any of the characters, which dragged down the quality of the rest of the book for me.

After reading Sadie, I really wanted to fall in love with all of Courtney Summers' books. I definitely saw similar vibes but I wasn't feeling this one as much. I completely understand that Georgia wasn't meant to be likeable but goodness her extreme naivete about everythinggg was a beating me over the head. Like girl, do you exist in the world?? Why are you so trusting of these grown men telling you you're beautiful.

But it did cause me to think a lot about like, why am I blaming Georgia for being naïve when I should obviously be blaming the people taking advantage of her. Why can't a girl feel happy and special and proud of her own body and beauty without it being victimized. Very uncomfortable read about grooming, SA, and the powers adult men have over teenage girls, but done in such a lyrical way.

I did really love Nora and Georgia's relationship though. It felt so gentle and natural which is one of my favorite ways for romances to develop. It felt deeper than a romance in the way they needed each other.

I might also have enjoyed this book more if I read a physical copy and not the audio book. But overall, I think Summers succeeded in telling an uncomfortable story of grooming and power dynamics for a YA audience, which is something I've never encounterd in this depth before.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with this arc.

Fuck men.

Check tws.

This book is beautifully written. A powerful story. This book ripped my heart out. Uncomfortable and heartbreaking.

Courtney Summers has a way of writing that will keep you on the edge of your seat, keep you guessing, and throw you through more loops than you ever thought possible.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm the Girl explores the naiveté of youth that gets abruptly ruined by unrealized dangers. I saw myself somewhat in Georgia as I'm sure others will as well because it is a common enough story of being a young girl growing up to adulthood. Especially in this climate we live in today where woman are having their rights taken away, not being believed or valued, it is an important story to tell that also has a realistic ending.

I enjoyed the narration and thought they did a great job of bringing the emotion to the story.

I absolutely LOVED the audio version of Sadie and was thrilled for an advanced copy of Courtney Summers’ latest book, I’m the Girl.

While I truly enjoyed the narration, this did not hold a flame to Sadie as it’s “spiritual successor”. I do believe this would have been more palatable had I read it and not listened.

Courtney Summers is the queen of tough topics. She isn’t sugar coating anything to make her readers comfortable. Triggers galore. This is a heavy read but an important one.

I don’t believe I was in the best headspace to read this particular topic but I look forward to Summers’ future stories!!

Why did I wait so long to read anything from Courtney Summers again??? I don't know but I definitely shouldn't have waited. This book had me holding on for dear life, it was grim, horrifying and overall had me shaking by the end but the characters were fantastic and so was the representation.

3.5/5 Stars. Thank you publisher and netgalley for the early release audiobook. I liked the narrator and Courtney Summers's writing style. I struggled to connect with the main plot of this one but still enjoyed the main point of view and the main mystery. It deals with a lot of important and hard to read about topics. I recommend checking it out.

I feel so split on this book. I struggled through so much of it only to really love the ending. If you're a fan of Sadie, this book covers a lot of the same themes (is even in the same world!) but falls rather short of that one. I recommend going into this book treating it as it's own think completely disconnected.

Georgia is beautiful, and uses her beauty to get ahead. One day on her way home she's hit by a car, which leads her to find the dead body of a 13 year old girl who has been through much worse. This leads to her getting a job at the hotel that killed her mother, where her and the dead girl's sister investigate what really happened.

I feel like that summary doesn't do the book justice. While it talks about the events that happen in the book, it leaves out what the book is about.

The book is about the cruelty of men towards women. I talk about it a bit here: https://www.tiktok.com/@manda.lyn_reads/video/7135191436403690795?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7122485950588552746

I struggled for a long time with this book, but am so glad I stuck it out. I found the ending so impactful and important. There are many trigger warnings, please do your research before reading, but if you can I recommend reading this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian audio for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC of this one

I experienced a very weird feeling throughout this. It is such an uncomfortable read--not in a bad way, just like...it is hard to get through. Definitely look into trigger warnings before this one.

The sexual harassment is sooooooooooo uncomfortable. I know that is the point but like it hurts so bad to "see" that play out. Like yikes. Poor Georgia...and everyone else.

This was so good and the atmosphere was perfect. I really did enjoy it despite how uncomfortable I felt. I mean, that was kind of the point, right?

Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Child death, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Addiction

Rating: 4 Starts

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillian for the Audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Official Description:

When sixteen-year-old Georgia Avis discovers the dead body of thirteen-year-old Ashley James, she teams up with Ashley's older sister, Nora, to find and bring the killer to justice before he strikes again. But their investigation throws Georgia into a world of unimaginable privilege and wealth, without conscience or consequence, and as Ashley’s killer closes in, Georgia will discover when money, power and beauty rule, it might not be a matter of who is guilty—but who is guiltiest.

A spiritual successor to the breakout hit Sadie, I'm the Girl is a bold and masterful account of how one young woman feels in her body as she struggles to navigate a deadly and predatory power structure while asking listeners one question: if this is the way the world is, do you accept it?

My Review (light spoilers):

I listened to the audiobook and I found the narrator good. Our main character Georgia has some ideas of what she wants out of life and what is acceptable to get it that makes her somewhat unlikable and the narrator did a very good job of walking the fine line of portraying these trait while keeping her human. It would have been easy to turn her into a villain character, which she most definitely is not. Trust me, there are others.....

This is the second book I have read from Courtney Summers , the first was The Project and I have found both have solid writing and good pacing, a little on the slow side for people used to the fast pace of thrillers. I find it more of a domestic drama with a touch of thriller I enjoy both genres so it worked for me..

I must say that this books explores some very uncomfortable topics such as both physical and sexual abuse of teenage girls. We see how powerful, rich predators use young people's life circumstances to groom them to make very poor life choices. Both Matthew and his wife Cleo manipulate and groom Georgia by using her deep desire to join their upscale and unobtainable lifestyle. As disgusting as Matthew's behavior is, Cleo's is so much worse. "It's their world". I'm not sure if this book is considered a YA or Adult novel but I could believe that this book could be helpful to young adults as they navigate the dangerous world we live in and figure out how to keep out of dangerous situations.

While this is going on Georgia is also exploring her sexuality and experiencing love and friendship for the first time as she develops feelings for Nora, a slightly older girl a couple of years ahead of her in school. This is the one relationship that feel good and save, as well as her relationship with her brother Tyler, to a lesser extent.

I respect this book very much, it's a well written story that's important to tell but I kept saying ew and ugh and disgusting through a lot of it.

Georgia Avis isn't a victim, or at least that's what she tries so hard to believe. Even as the reader sees through her story, Georgia fights to stay in charge of her narrative. She's beautiful and she believes with her good looks, she can become powerful. When she catches the eye of a wealthy couple, she knows her dreams have come true, but not without a price. You see, Georgia discovered the body of a 13-year-old girl by the side of the road, and in the midst of working at the exclusive resort owned by that wealthy couple, she's also trying to help that girl's sister figure out exactly what happened. Part mystery, part thriller, part coming-of-age novel, Courtney Summers delivers a believable, if frustrating main character. The mystery is not as compelling as it could be, and the resolution feels lackluster, while the pacing falters. The narrator captures Georgia's voice perfectly and creates a solid performance.

Sixteen-year-old Georgia Avis found the body of 13-year-old raped and murdered Ashley James, just before she is run off the road by the murderer.. She is desperate to find justice for her, so she teams up with Ashley's older sister Nora to find out who the killer was. However, the investigation puts Georgia herself in danger as she navigates the world of the wealthy and powerful. People who never have to answer for anything. Georgia also deals with her own personal issues and desires as she goes against her mother's dying wishes and gets a job at a lodge for the ultra-rich and dreams of becoming an "Aspera girl" there, who caters to the needs of mega-rich guests. This book demonstrates that horror can have nothing to do with the supernatural and that no one is ever what they appear on the surface.

I am very torn about this book because I liked abut 90%. The end was a major let-down because I expected something a lot more decisive and justice-dealing.. I understand that the theme of the book is that it's a man's world and that women are just taken advantage of constantly. And, that is personified by an end that seems far too damn realistic-- however, a bit of justice would have been a very nice thing. Also, we read books to escape just how shitty this world is sometimes and not to revel in it and be reminded of how badly men treat women. This book rubs injustice in the face of young female readers, leaving just a bit of hope. The saddest part is that it is unlikely that many men, who may learn from this story, will never read it.

Lori Prince does an incredible job as narrator. I was actually amazed that she could make herself sound so different with all the characters. Also, her emotional reading was right on the surface all the time!

Sixteen-year-old Georgia has only one goal: to work at the exclusive hilltop resort Aspera. Unlike her deceased mother, Georgia wants to be more than just a housekeeper. She wants to be one of the infamous Aspera Girls. One day while riding her bike, she's hit by a car. She ends up at Aspera and is given a job there.

This is my first Courtney Summers book and, to be honest, probably my last. The story was incredibly disjointed and felt like Georgia's stream-of-consciousness which is my least favorite kind of writing. More than that, Georgia is really unlikable. She spends most of the book pining for Nora and calling herself a lesbian, but all the while she's seducing and sleeping with men. I felt like she was maybe bisexual, and I'm not sure why Summers has her insisting she's a lesbian. The ending is abrupt, almost as like it wasn't meant to end there. Also, no one really learns anything by the end, nor is there any character growth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Lori Prince was a fine narrator, but this book was not for me.