This review will be posted on June 20, 2023 to: https://instagram.com/amandas.bookshelf

This is more than a mystery whodunit. This is a tender and sensitive exploration of grief and trauma, about homophobia, and about who is centered in true crime (in all its various formats). Through Chelsea and Bree (in the 2015 timeline) and Abby (in the 2003 timeline), we explore the final months before Abby's disappearance and the way grief is rehashed for true crime aficionados to consume. McKanna thoughtfully explores this from the first page, crafting a realistic view of how unaddressed trauma and grief manifest. While this was fiction, it was clear which real-life talking head media pundits and serial killers influenced this work. Most of all, know the victims and don't forget them while binge-consuming true crime content. #DontForgetTheGirl Rating: 🙂 / liked it
•
This book is scheduled for publication on June 20, 2023. Thank you @bookmarked for providing me this digital ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I knew nothing about Don't Forget the Girl until I started reading it (I usually like going in blind, which worked for me here!) and got hooked on the story very quickly. This book centers around three friends - Abby, Bree and Chelsea - and focuses on Abby's disappearance 12 years ago in college. Written from the three perspectives of the trio, I enjoyed getting both past and present timelines and felt that I got to know the girls well through their perspectives, including their flaws and how the events from the past impact their lives now. I will say that I had a little bit of a harder time getting into Abby's POV at first, which is written in second person compared to the others in third person, as it pulled me out of the story at times, but once a certain reveal occurred, I found myself more interested in this past timeline.

While this one is categorized as a thriller, I thought there was so much more to it. I didn't really know where the story was going, but I enjoyed all the layers to it as there were many larger and broader themes including: female friendships, faith, sexuality, grief, true crime and serial killer obsessions and how women are seen/portrayed in society.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and rated it 4 stars. If you are looking for a suspenseful read that features a serial killer, female friendships and secrets that has many layers to it that also has a podcast element that gives off true crime vibes, check out Don't Forget the Girl (out June 20 - today). It looks like the film rights for this book have been optioned and I can't wait to see this one on screen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

✨ Don’t Forget the Girl ✨⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Twelve years ago, Abby disappeared forever. Now Jon Allan Blue, the serial killer suspected of murdering her, is on death row with an execution date looming. Abby’s best friends, Bree and Chelsea, watch as Abby’s memory continues to be overshadowed by Blue and his flashier crimes. The estranged friends reunite to be interviewed for a podcast and unearth a lot of forgotten secrets. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣This is a tense, quiet novel that I found incredibly interesting. I was actually listening to The Stranger Beside Me (about Ted Bundy) at the same time and it’s pretty obvious which serial killer inspired Rebecca McKanna. I liked how the author reminded readers of the victims of crimes and casts a critical eye on our true crime obsessed culture! ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for my ARC of Don’t Forget the Girl. It releases tomorrow- June 20, 2023. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣All in all, I really enjoyed this one! Four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I went into this book expecting a thriller. And although I would not necessarily classify it that way, I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it.

Abby, Chelsea and Bree were college students who had been best friends since high school. One night, after an argument, Abby storms off, never to be seen again. It is assumed that she was a victim of a serial killer on campus, but it was never proven at the time and her body was not found.

Years later, the serial killer is set to be executed for his crimes against the known victims. Podcasts and docudramas are being made about him. Chelsea and Bree have gone their separate ways, and individually grapple with the fact that Abby is the forgotten girl, never mentioned. Chelsea in particular is coping with a secret she's kept about her relationship with Abby, all these years.

Chelsea and Bree reunite in the week before the execution because they are running out of time to get the answers that they desperately seek.

The book is told on the two separate timelines. It takes place mostly in the present time but will periodically flip back to the past in flashbacks, to explain what happened. Abby's chapters are told in the second person, which I found to be interesting and kept the timelines distinct for me.

In the current time, Bree is a professor who has made the poor decision of sleeping with one of her students. Although you feel bad for what she has been through, I felt her to be somewhat unlikeable and it was difficult to feel bad for the repercussions of her current decisions. Chelsea became a minister and is struggling in a marriage that she is not happy in, because she has not been true to herself. I found her to be more likeable than Bree. Overall, I really needed the women to sit down, be honest with each other and talk out their unspoken resentment that they had housed over the years. It was a relief when it finally happened.

Overall, I found it to be a great book. It was more about friendship, love, forgiveness and healing over anything else.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for a gifted advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

We never remember the dead girls. We never forget the killers.

Why is that statement so true? We remember Dylan Roof, but not the 9 victims of the Charleston Church Shooting. We remember Bryan Kohberger, but most of us don't remember the names of his victims.

Don't Forget the Girl centers our love of true crime (and true crime podcasts). However, the host of Infamous works to bring out the stories that weren't told during the investigations...the stories that make the victims human. When victims become victims, we tend to forget that they have stories and otherwise complex lives. They leave behind friends and family. This novel focuses on that aspect.

Twelve years after Abby's death, her friends, Chelsea and Bree, have complicated lives. On top of that, they're trying to determine if Jon Allen Blue, a man currently on death row for other murders, also killed their friend before he is executed. I don't want to give away too many details and spoil the plot, but it's hard to believe this is a debut novel. I wouldn't necessarily classify it as a thriller, but a suspense, and a story of friendship and forgiveness. However, I definitely recommend picking it up.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-ARC of this novel.

Review will be posted on Instagram (@ellie.reads.a.lot) by the publication date.

College student Abby Hartmann disappeared twelve years ago. Now, her two best friends Chelsea and Bree are thrown back into that chaotic time when Jon Allen Blue, serial killer and suspected murderer of Abby, is about to be executed. Told in all three POVs, “Don’t Forget the Girl” by Rebecca McKanna, unearths the truth about all those years ago.

I absolutely loved the main premise of this book. Remember the girls, don’t glorify the killer. While I am admittedly a true crime reader/watcher, I’ve always felt that moment where the emphasis is placed too heavily on the horror and less on the humanity. In that regard, I think this book totally nailed it. And I was still completely invested and engaged while reading, even with the shift in focus.

With this book, though, I really struggled with Abby’s POV. Abby’s perspective is from second person. It was probably utilized to really place the reader in Abby’s head, but it didn’t do it for me. I found myself tripping over all the “you”s every time they came up.

In the end, this was a different take on a thriller and I liked the change of pace. I gave this book a solid 3 stars!

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review! This book hits shelves June 20th!

Don't Forget the Girl, in my opinion, got off to a slow start. I had to keep track of who was the chapters narrator and what time period corresponded with it. Throughout the book we jump from character to character, past to present. Once I figured all of that in...I was hooked. I loved to see how the characters were as adults as opposed to how they were as kids. How they matured, if you will. Once I was hooked to the story, I was on the edge of my seat with what would be discovered and who really did kill Abby. It jumped from person to person right up until the very end. It would have helped if someone gave me a head's up as to how each chapter was from each character's perspective and the time period that went along with it.

I liked the idea of this book, but it just didn't work for me and I think classifying it as a thriller is a bit misleading. It was more about what happened to these two women after their best friend disappeared. I didn't connect with any of the characters and found it to be a bit too slow-paced to keep my focus.

Abby, Bree, and Chelsea were best friends. Bree and Chelsea don’t talk much since Abby’s murder. Now that her killer is being put to execution, and a new podcast is coming out, they reunite.

This is one of those books that was interesting, kept my attention, but then at the end it turned amazing. The ending really made the book for me, as it was totally not what I was expecting at all. I love how the author did it. It kind of turned the narrative of the whole story. At heart it was a story about our new adult friendships, and learning about oneself and sexuality.

“People prefer the photos of the dead girls, frozen in their teenage beauty. There’s something more appealing about the pure, clean loss in those pictures. Look at their promise. Look at their sparkle. Look at the women these girls will never become.”

Don’t Forget the Girl comes out 6/20.

Don't Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna is a story of three women, Chelsea and Bree, as they come together to heal and mourn the loss of their friend, Abby who went missing 12 years prior when they were all attending college together. The author keeps this story moving with multiple POVs along with multiple timelines. Although this book is marketed as a thriller, it is much more than that. The story visits difficult topics: loss, shame, the intricacies of friendships and parent-daughter relationships, and how flat out emotionally and physically taxing it can be just to exist as a women in this world.

Synopsis: Twelve years ago, 18-year-old college freshman Abby Hartmann disappeared. Now, the serial killer suspected of her murder, Jon Allan Blue, is about to be executed. Even on death row, Blue has not yet confessed to killing Abby. Her best friends, Bree and Chelsea, have been estranged since her disappearance, each struggling with their respective grief. When they decide to work with a famous postmaster to get the truth, their lives crumble.

Thoughts: This was another more literary suspense read. While there is an undertone of mystery, this is really about honoring the women who were affected by Jon Allan Blue— so often we remember the killers and often forget the victims. McKenna has flipped the script on this and really showcases the ways in which victims of crimes experience long-lasting impacts. This certainly had moments that were thought provoking, but I did wish it had a bit more action to balance out the emphasis on the characters and their lives.

Twelve years ago, Abby Hartmann disappeared amongst the victims of an active serial killer. Now, that convicted killer has been sentenced to death, and Abby’s once best friends, Bree and Chelsea, find themselves coming together for answers and to remind everyone of Abby’s name.

DON’T FORGET THE GIRL by Rebecca McKanna is a de-freakin-but!! For being a mystery, this book really packed an emotional punch and reminds the reader of the importance of remembering the victims.

Told through three POVs: Bree, Chelsea, and Abby from the past - their stories weave together in a beautiful way, creating tension while also showcasing the friendship these girls had. McKanna also popped in news, podcast, and interview transcripts, which I really enjoy in books that boast an investigative nature like this one does!

This one was difficult to read at times because of the delicate subject matter, but McKanna handled it with grace and really built some characters to fall in love with.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: June 20

Twelve years ago Abby Hartmann, a freshman in college, went missing. Two weeks later, two women were killed in a sorority house (and a third injured and disfigured) on the same campus. Abby’s best friends Bree and Chelsea have long suspected Jon Allan Blue to be responsible for their friend’s murder. But with no evidence and a body never found, they have little to go on… besides similarities to crimes Blue is later convicted of. In the present day, as Blue is fast approaching his execution date, Bree and Chelsea reunite when a popular podcast decides to feature Blue’s murders. Estranged from each other in the years since Abby’s disappearance and all that went down before it, can Bree and Chelsea finally find the answers they’ve been looking for?

Don’t Forget the Girl offers a deep exploration of its characters and the effects of trauma on their lives and actions. The slow building, character focused nature of the book took me by surprise because after reading the blurb, I was expecting a creepy serial killer mystery/thriller with twists and turns. Instead, there were little to no mystery or thrills to be had. I might have been able to get on board, after I readjusted my expectations, but the characters were much too unlikeable—particularly Bree. Her sleeping with her 18 year old student gave me such the “ick” (for lack of a better word) that I nearly put the book down. On one hand, I can acknowledge that Bree’s actions are supposed to be a result of her unresolved trauma, but on the other they are simply inexcusable in my eyes. Though it is a work of fiction, I had no desire to read about or root for her.

As the story progresses, each chapter alternates between Bree, Chelsea, and Abby (in the past). While both Bree and Chelsea’s chapters are written in third person, Abby’s are written in second. I found the switch of POV to be jarring each time I got to Abby’s chapters and the continually changing perspectives to be confusing to keep track of.

In addition to missed expectations, extremely unlikable characters, and confusing POVs, this book felt like it was trying to tackle too much. In moments it was exploring trauma and the ways it leads people to do incredibly terrible things. In others it was commenting on the way women are portrayed in the media, the way the names of victims often are forgotten, the experience of queer women in the early 2000s, and on religion. Though each of these are notable, I felt myself wishing the author had picked a singular or more narrowed focus.

All in all, I am sad to say this book was not for me. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for access to an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the idea and point of this book, but I didn’t actually love it. It’s not a thriller - more of a slow burn character study. I also didn’t like Bree and her decisions. She did grow and redeem herself, so I was glad for that. My biggest issue with the book is the second person POV. This never works for me and it didn’t hear, either. I’m not a fan of this style and I’m starting to see it more and more. Hoping this finds the people that love this type and style of story.

I was expecting to read a thriller when I started reading Don’t Forget the Girl. Although, this book is definitely not a thriller, it so much more than just your basic mystery novel. This wonderful story tells the tale of estranged friends, Bree and Chelsea, dealing with the loss of their lifelong friend, Abby, years after she is murdered. This tale focuses on how these two women come together and learn to cope with their loss, deal with the dilemmas of their current lives, and continue to live. This novel is definitely worth a read!

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

I enjoyed this book! I didn't know what was going to happen. I found it a little slow in places but a good read.

This book failed to meet my expectations and left me questioning its classification as a thriller. With three distinct points of view, the narrative leaned heavily towards character exploration rather than a gripping plot. In the realm of thrillers, a compelling and fast-paced storyline is vital, and unfortunately, this book fell short in that regard. Instead of eagerly anticipating each reading session, I found myself dreading the need to pick it up. Despite my personal inclination to persist through thrillers and mysteries, this particular story unfolded at an unbearably sluggish pace, offering little in the way of surprise due to its predictability.

Although the book did touch upon commendable themes, I failed to establish any genuine connection or resonance with its characters. Regrettably, their lack of likability only further diminished my overall experience. I must apologize, but this book simply did not resonate with me and fell far short of my expectations.

This ended up being more of a mystery than a thriller, but I still enjoyed it. The relationship between Abby and Chelsea is the main focus of the plot, while the serial killer and podcast parts fill in the rest. It was surprisingly moving for a mystery. I found myself quite emotional by the book’s end, which I wasn’t expecting. The only thing stopping me from giving this 5 stars is the author’s choice to use second person for Abby’s POV. I found this to be very odd. I’m not sure what her reasons for doing this were, but I found those chapters confusing and difficult to read. Otherwise, this is a great read. I think fans of Notes on an Execution would enjoy this. I can’t wait to see what this author puts out next!

AHHHH! I am so thankful to Sourcebooks Landmark, Rebecca McKanna, Netgalley, and RB Media for granting me both audiobook access and a digital copy of this twisty, missing person's mystery gone awry. Don't Forget the Girl is set to hit shelves on June 20, 2023, and I promise it's worth the pre-order, and try not to bite off all of our fingernails with this plot-twisting fear-mongering tale.

𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐥𝐞. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞.

A harrowing deep dive both into the aftermath of violent crime on the ones left behind and the complexities of navigating female friendships. Twelve years ago, 18-year-old University of Iowa freshman Abby Hartmann disappeared. Now, Jon Allan Blue, the serial killer suspected of her murder, is about to be executed. Abby's best friends, Bree and Chelsea, watch as Abby's memory is unearthed, seemingly only to bring more attention to Blue. The girls have been estranged since Abby's disappearance, finding different ways to cope; one through religion, another through gratuitous sex both with authority figures and subordinates in her college class. When a high profile podcast dedicates its next season to Blue, the girls know they have to be Abby's voice...𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐞.

This was a stunning, character-driven look into grief, regret, being our authentic selves, and what it means to be a woman in a society that remembers the killer but forgets the victim. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this stunning early read. DON'T FORGET THE GIRL publishes June 20, 2023.