“American Girl” by Wendy Walker



“We were all just trying to figure out how to be, in our own ways.” - Charlie Hudson

In this suspenseful whodunit that’s equal parts murder mystery, thought-provoking reflections about life, small-town drama, and manual to the brain processes of a neurodivergent high school senior, Charlie is a 17-year-old autistic girl caught between her dream of getting out of her dead-end town and the troubling security camera footage that places her at the scene of the murder of that same town’s most powerful man, and her boss, Clay Cooper. One of her methods for navigating a world that doesn’t often function in a way that naturally makes sense to her centers around a series of rules by which she lives her life, for example, “Rule Number One: If someone says the same thing over and over again, that means they don’t believe it.” As Charlie’s observations about the way people relate to one another rang true one after the other, I highlighted line after line, and found myself reflecting on how much our society would benefit from being able to learn more broadly from the perspectives of neurodivergent people. In “American Girl”, this idea is front and center, as Charlie uses her rules & her unique perspective to put together the pieces of the puzzle presented to her.

I was able to snag an advanced copy of this book from Blackstone Publishing/ NetGalley, but make yourself a calendar reminder to go grab your own copy on pub day: October 17th!

I was really hoping for more from Wendy Walker's latest novel. It didn't quite live up to my expectations of a thrilling mystery. I found the storyline to be very straightforward, with no real guessing involved. In fact, it was quite boring. The characters lacked depth and the storyline was predictable. I suppose this book would be better suited for those who prefer a more simplistic read, without the need to play detective.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

PUBLICATION DAY: October 17, 2023

Charlie has always been told that she is different - by her mother, her estranged grandparents, her classmates. Autism has made it difficult for her. She struggles to fit in with her own stepfather and brothers. She keeps her head down and works hard - so when she’s accepted by someone, they become her family, and she’ll do anything to protect them. Including what happened the night Coop was killed - nope, she’s not telling a thing.

PROS and CONS:
This read a little like a YA novel to me, perhaps it was the age and naivety of the main character? It’s completely different from other books by this author. I appreciated the opportunity to see the world from the perspective of someone with autism, and have seen this trend (of unusual MC) emerging in fiction. The mystery itself wasn’t particularly engaging, it’s more about Charlie and how she sees the world. But I was invested and was certainly interested in seeing how it would end.

READ IT?
If you’re looking for…a small town mystery from the perspective of a 17 year old with autism - then this one’s for you!

3.5 Stars
- note: also be sure to remove references to "Billie" in the interview with the police. Name must have been changed to Charlie later in the process.

A psychological suspense thriller about Charlie, a small town 17 year old girl who is on the autism spectrum and very high functioning. She may or may not be a witness to a murder but everyone in this town is connected and people seem to think that Charlie has the answers.

This page turning pulse pounding adventure will have you cheering Charlie on. I was so invested in her character when she gets the hot head I could feel it and I wanted her to do great things.

This is a weekend nonstop read. My first by Wendy Walker and yes, I have added her others to my TBR list

This was such a good, heartfelt story about Charlie, an autistic seventeen year old girl who works in a sandwich shop to save up for college, getting out of the small town she grew up in. When a murder occurs of the most prominent person in the community, Charlie goes on her own mission to help protect and save those she loves, putting herself in harms way in this spiderweb of a mystery.

This author did a phenomenal job of writing from the perspective of an individual on the spectrum. She did it with class, while putting the reader into the of the train of thought of this particular character, Charlie. Charlie was so highly likeable and the writing was so descriptive that it was hard not to fall into the fictional world this author created. The mystery was brilliant, slowly unfolding itself as it went. The twists were there without trying too hard for the shock factor as many authors do these days. I really liked this one and most of the characters involved. I highly recommend this, Four Stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC.

I enjoyed this book. I didn’t really see the ending coming and feel like it wrapped everything up nicely. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

What a great book ! I was so invested in Charlie's story and you will be too!

Charlie Hudson, is a teenager on the cusp of leaving her small town and attending college. She works as many hours as the can in the local sandwich shop and avoids the odious owner when she can. Charlie has autism and uses a series of life rules to deal with the emotions and situations that come her way that are confusing. She is true to her friends and determined to getting out of the town.

When the owner of the sandwich shop, a very important and powerful man in the town is murdered, Charlie is brought in by the police. At this point she has to rely on her wits and her life rules to ensure that she protects those she loves. Can she do it and stay safe?

An awesome character, I would love to follow her adventures in the future!.#Blackstone #AmericanGirl #WendyWalker

I really wanted to like this book but it just wasn’t for me.

American Girl is about a girl with autism, Charlie, whose boss at the sandwich shop that she works at is murdered.

I’ve loved every book of Wendy Walkers I’ve read before this so I had high hopes but the book was very boring to me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, the twist was far fetched and the end was just ridiculous.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Charlie is a 17-year-old girl working at a sandwich shop in a small town when her boss is murdered. Soon, she is pulled into the web of suspects and must protect herself and those who are important to her.

This book was a quick read - fast-paced and had great storytelling. The main character development was great, and while very few of the characters were likable, the small town vibe made everything make sense. I look forward to reading more from Wendy Walker!

This was a fine book, it just wasn’t for me

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Walker writes in such a descriptive way that I felt like I was in the middle of the story with her characters. This had a spooky vibe in my opinion and I liked the setting of the depressed PA town. It was good to read a book from the POV of a teenager with autism. I haven't explored many books where the main character was like Charlie. Well done! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars.

I knew I would love this book by one of my favorite authors with the title of such a classic song by Tom Petty. It exceeded expectations and as always with Wendy Walker’s thrillers it kept me guessing cover to cover. Charlie was a compelling character and she won me overquickly - - incredibly smart, hard working, compassionate, loyal, and a girl that deserves a break. The small town dynamics were perfect for this story and I could clearly picture the town itself as well as many of the characters.

If she writes it, I’m going to read it. Especially after Don’t Look For Me. This one has interesting perspectives and made for a really unique read. If you like her previous stuff, you’ll love this one too.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Wendy Walker for an ARC of American Girl. I absolutely fell in love with Charlie. She was an outstanding character and it pained me to put the book down. She was what made this book 5 stars - following her journey and her creating her rules. The mystery part about it was okay - but we need more Charlie books! This was my first book by Wendy Walker and now I’m hooked and will be trying more! This was honestly a pleasant surprise.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Charlie wants to get out of town and go to college. She takes a job at Triple S to save money for college.
Clay Cooper who owns the restaurant is hated by many- so when he is found dead everyone wonders who killed him.
When Charlie is found on camera hiding under the counter - someone wonders what she has seen. She soon finds herself in dangerous situations. Can she survive to attend college? —- and who killed Clay and why?

I really wanted to like this more than I did. I'm a sucker for a murder mystery and I liked Wendy Walker's attempt at telling the story from an Autistic teenager's POV. This one just didn't grab me and it took me awhile to go back and finish. Not quite my thing, but I'm sure others will enjoy it.

I believe this is undoubtedly one of my favorite books by Wendy Walker, deserving a solid 5 stars for its gripping twists and turns! While not a romance, it stands as one of the best-written explorations of "true, innocent, unconditional love." Charlie Hudson, the protagonist, emerges as one of the most memorable characters crafted by the author. In fact, I found myself yearning for more time with her, secretly hoping that Wendy Walker might pen another book, delving into Charlie's mid-twenties as she becomes embroiled in another captivating crime tale.

Charlie, a seventeen-year-old girl hailing from the small town of Sawyer, is determined to escape its confines and seize her chance at MIT. As a member of the autism spectrum, she works at a sandwich shop where she's forged her own version of family, as opposed to the fractured family her mother created with an unsupportive stepfather and distant stepbrothers. Feeling like an outsider for years, she carries the weight of guilt when her mother is shunned by her grandparents and called derogatory names. Despite their struggles, she perseveres in creating a new life, even resorting to duct-taping floors to fend off cockroaches in their rundown homes.

Her job at the sandwich shop becomes a sanctuary, a place where she can immerse herself in the routine and camaraderie, as she chants her order mantra: "lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles." This is where she finds genuine acceptance and liberation among her friends.

Her fierce love for her friends drives her to take extreme risks, even putting her own life on the line to protect them. When their questionable boss, Clay Cooper, the owner of the Triple S sandwich shop where they work, is murdered, Charlie is not only present at the scene but also becomes a prime suspect. She's plunged into a perilous situation, especially when one of her closest friends is potentially the real killer.

Charlie adamantly refuses to discuss the night when Clay Cooper met his end, despite security footage confirming her presence at the crime scene, cowering behind the counter in fear.

With her loved ones in jeopardy, Charlie embarks on a quest to uncover the true murderer, exposing herself to even greater risks. The web of danger deepens as it becomes evident that Clay was involved in dangerous dealings with sinister individuals who now want Charlie eliminated. Armed with her sharp intellect and the survival strategies she's developed, can she outsmart these threats and bring justice to light?

I found myself racing through the pages, captivated by the ingenious unraveling of the mystery and the skillful character development that heightened my reading experience. This compelling mystery is an absolute must-read that I wholeheartedly recommend!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with an irresistible digital review copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

American Girl by Wendy Walker is a fantastic thriller that I really enjoyed every minute of.
⠀
The mystery thriller is told in the point of view of Charlie, who is an Autistic teenager who is getting ready to go to MIT and working part time at a deli to save money.

Charlie gets caught up in a murder and she doesn't know who to trust. ⠀

The author does an excellent job brining Charlie to life and describing the thoughts and perspectives of how/what an autistic person actually feels.

Wendy Walker is a master at her craft and an incredible storyteller. I highly recommend this thriller book to everyone that loves mysteries and thrillers.

American Girl had me totally immersed in the story from the start and I love that in a book. I also had Tom Petty's song playing in my head for the duration which is not a bad thing. Charlie, a 17-year-old girl who is autistic, witnesses a murder at the sandwich shop where she works. But did she really see the murder or is she protecting someone? Read for yourself to find out! The audio for this book is also great.

This was a great book! Charlie was such a likable character! I loved reading the story from her perspective.