Compelling, powerful and gritty, this is McKanna’s debut 👏🏽 novel 👏🏽 and it was everything I love in a crime book: a believable and intriguing plot, authentic characters, captivating storyline and sinister suspense.

Dual timelines + multiple character perspectives from the three friends are woven together seamlessly to create a gripping storyline, allowing the many secrets + crimes to be pieced together. While this book is categorised as a mystery/thriller, it’s so much more: emotional + chilling, it’s not just a serial killer investigation, but a heart-rendering story of grief, faith, female friendship, betrayal, sexuality and first love.

I saw this described by @gareindeedreads as a combination of IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE and NOTES ON AN EXECUTION— although I’ve yet to read either, I’ve heard brilliant things about both. I loved the varied media throughout the book, from news clips to podcast and interview transcripts, and the eye opening, raw light shone on the culture of true crime, and how often the victims are lost in the fascination of the killer.

“𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤. 𝙄’𝙙 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙣𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚?”

Although there are no major, jaw-dropping twists, and it took me a little while to get into, the slow-burn introspective plot + flawless characterisation made for a fascinating, striking and thought provoking read, which I’d highly recommend— do check content warnings first though as there is a lot of uncomfortable homophobia and stalking mentioned in this.

[𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 @𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 (𝘐𝘎), 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩.] —— 𝑬𝒇𝒇𝒚 @ 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 🥀

Don't Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKenna was a very engaging read that delves into the aftermath of a friend's disappearance. This book takes a refreshing approach by shifting the spotlight away from the typical true crime narrative and focusing on the impact it has on the lives of those left behind—Abby's friends, Bree and Chelsea.

One aspect that particularly stood out was the narrative structure. The alternating perspectives and shifts between past and present provided a dynamic exploration of the characters' experiences. Although I enjoyed the alerting perspectives, I would have preferred if the past sections were solely dedicated to Abby's perspective. This choice would have allowed for a deeper understanding of her emotions, motivations, overall experience, and taken me out of the story a little less.

McKenna skillfully highlighted the disturbing reality of how true crime can sometimes overshadow the human side of the stories. By shedding light on how emotionally charged situations for the victim's loved ones can be turned into entertainment, the author really created a powerful message. As a fan of true crime myself, it served as a necessary reminder that behind every case, there are real people with genuine thoughts, emotions, and lives.

"Don't Forget the Girl" offers a much-needed perspective shift, showcasing the ripple effects that a disappearance can have on the lives of those left behind. While the focus on the impact rather than the perpetrator was refreshing, I did find myself wanting to know more about Abby's character. Nevertheless, McKenna's exploration of the emotional toll inflicted by true crime fascination was needed.

If you're a fan of true crime and appreciate narratives that highlights the human aspect of these stories, "Don't Forget the Girl" is a book you won't want to miss. It serves as a reminder of the importance of empathy and compassion when delving into these dark corners of reality.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, RB Media, and Rebecca McKenna for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley for the audiobook! Great listen! Kind of a slow burn but lots of unfolding secrets and twists you won’t see coming! Some of the topics were a little difficult to listen to but overall it was enjoyable!

It was a really good read. Well written, I enjoyed reading it. Loved the Characters Bree, Chelsey and Amber.

I honestly really disliked this book. I found it depressing. The characters are unlikable and the narrator is unpleasant.
I'm sorry 😞

I enjoyed this story most of the time. I do wish there was more of the thriller aspect vs the relationships. It occasionally felt repetitive, and forced. I would still recommend giving it a read. Especially if you're part of the LGBTQ community.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Abby Hartmann, known as a cheerful, vivacious, tour-de-force, disappeared from the streets of the University of Iowa. Two weeks later, Jon Allen Blue brutally murdered two sorority girls as they slept and disfigured another before launching into a killing spree spreading from Iowa to Kentucky. With no body ever found, and, to the horror of her two closest friends, Abby fades into the background of Blue's other atrocities.

Bree and Chelsea, the girls left behind, are still struggling to find their footing twelve years after tragedy struck. Bree, a photography professor at a small college, still finds herself seeking out bad relationships in an ill-guided attempt for validation. Chelsea, a vicor at an Episcopal church, feels tethered despite her loving husband and devoted congregation. Neither can move past losing Abby, and with the execution of Blue looming closer-- so does the end of any chance of closure.

DON'T FORGET THE GIRL is marketed as a thriller, but I would argue it's a dark literary fiction that focuses on intense character development. Bree and Chelsea, are painfully flawed and scarred-- the entire book focused on exploring their raw grief and trauma. This book is not an intricate mystery, but it is a gripping examination of two humans at their brokest, and what lengths they will go to recover.

This book was not for me. I struggled to get into the story, and found myself not being able to stay focused on the story. I'm sure this book will have it's fans, but it was just not the action packed mystery I was thinking it was.

The narrator did a great job, unfortunately this just wasn't for me. I had a very hard time staying interested. Thank you so much for the copy.

I felt that this suspense fell a little flat. Although I was gripped by the storyline in the beginning I was hoping for it to have some thrilling twist or shock that I feel like most of this genre has. It was a decent listen but not my favorite in the category.

I had the audio version of this book. The narrator did an excellent job and was easy to listen to.

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

This story centers around Bree, Chelsea, and Abby. During their freshman year, Abby goes missing. She is presumed to be the victim of Jon Allan Blue, a convicted serial killer awaiting execution. A true crime podcaster comes to town looking for Bree & Chelsea's stories about Abby and her murder. A portion of the story is told from the victim's POV past tense and you become fully immersed in her story. The other portion of the story is in third person POV and tells the present day life of her friends and the aftermath of her murder, and podcast interviews. I was initially put off by the author using a second person POV alternating with third person. I am glad I stuck with it because I grew to enjoy it.

This was the author's debut novel and I will be sure to snag up any future books!

Thanks to the publisher(s) Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of Don’t forget the Girls in exchange for a honest review

Leaning much more literary suspense than thriller, this is a story focusing on what happens to the friends and family of missing persons/murder victims, long after justice is brought. For two of our three MCs, their lives were forever changed by just one night. Years later, the repercussions are still being felt as they prepare to witness the execution of the serial killer charged with their friend’s murder.

This story has a unique shift in point of view as we hear from the victim herself throughout. It also involves the podcast trope which is really having its moment in the sun. Yet another powerful book, and one I wound recommend reading on audio.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and Recorded Books for the gifted copies.

This book causes us to think about the way that true crime podcasts has become the trendy thing to listen to and how podcasters can either glorify the villain or memorialize the victims. It also highlights the complexities of friendship, our sexual identities - how sometimes those lines can become blurred, and how tremendous loss can be create a void that sometimes take decades to repair.
This debut novel was beautiful, 4.5 only because the POV of the victim's chapters was initially confusing.
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Don't Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna.

This was a great read. The author touches on many social issues. One of which is the glamorization of true crime. How the killers are remembered but not the victims. She addresses other issues but do t think I can say without spoiling the book.
While the underlying story is about a killer, the real story centers around the relationships of theses friends. It is a wonderful example of female friendships and also what women endure from society. This book made me think about my interactions with the women in my life.

Jon Allan Blue is about to be executed for the murders of several young girls. One of those girls was Abby Hartmann, but she has been overlooked as there has never been a solid connection to Blue. Twelve years ago, Abby’s best friends Chelsea and Bree watched her walk away on a Halloween night never to be seen again. When her body is found, and with the execution looming, both Chelsea and Bree are trying to come to grips with their past and the feelings they have tried to bury since Abby’s disappearance. Since that night Chelsea and Bree have gone their own ways, but are they finally going to get the answers they seek and find out once and for all what happened to Abby? This book was not much of a thriller but more of a women’s fiction story, which didn’t bother me overly much, but the language and parts of the storyline did. Thank you to RB Media and Netgalley for an ALC of this book.

Thank you to the publisher for the ALC. An amazing tense thriller that I couldn't t stop listening to. Loved it.

4 1/2 stars

I found this to be an inventive and addictive storyline. The book centers around three college friends - - unfortunately one was killed in college so only two are surviving. It is told in alternating time lines and from different viewpoints. In the present day, their friend, Abby's suspected killer is a man who has been convicted of other murders even though they could never attach him directly to Abby's. This man, Jon Allen Blue is gaining fame as his execution date approaches.

It's been years since Abby's murder and all her friends, Bree and Chelsea want is for her to be remembered. It seems that the attention always goes to the killer and the victims are forgotten. When a new tv show is being released that plans to focus on the serial killer, Jon Allen Blue, it seems that they are losing the battle.

The alternating time lines was the perfect way to lay out this story. It was a brilliant way to parcel out the information a bit at a time without giving away too much at once. It definitely keeps the reader on the hook wanting more. Even though I saw some of the twists coming, they were still clever. It's a clever and well-written plot.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The audio version of this book is quite enjoyable. The narration kept me intrigued and listening every chance I got. Since I also had the ebook, I toggled back and forth between both versions which is truly my favorite thing to do. I think that given the type of story this was, it lent itself well to an audio format. 4 1/2 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the ebook and audiobook. I voluntarily chose to review them and the opinions contained within are my own.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

I really enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook. Kept my interest. I also like that the book came from the perspective of the 3 different women and how it all collided. Years later one of them is gone but the emotional toll has never been dealt with and it all comes to a head as the death sentence date approaches for the suspected murderer. Deals with friendship, love, and loss.

It’s been 12 years since Abby Hartmann disappeared while she was a freshman at the University of Iowa. Her two best friends, Bree and Chelsea, have since become estranged. But now, a man who was imprisoned for being a serial killer and is thought to have been Abby’s killer, is about to be executed. Chelsea and Bree find themselves reliving the last moments they had together and with their friend as the story is brought back into public memory. And when a high-profile podcaster wants to do a season about the serial killer’s murders, the two friends find themselves brought together again and reliving painful memories.

This work was marketed as a thriller, but it certainly is not; however, it is a solid drama with a less strong mystery but excellent character exploration. As soon as I realized this wasn’t going to be a thriller and changed my mindset, I enjoyed the work much more. The story is told from Chelsea’s and Bree’s third person POV in 2015 and Abby’s second person POV in 2003. I didn’t particularly like the use of the second person, but it didn’t detract much from my enjoyment other than being a bit jarring until I got used to it.

The best part of this story was the intensity with which the author dug into its characters. This was largely an exploration of how trauma, guilt, and lies can intertwine and eat away at people in different ways. These characters were flawed and not the most likeable, which was well done. I also enjoyed the intersections of identity that were explored through the characters, especially relating to sexuality and religion. The pace of the plot is quite slow as the focus is more on the characters and their thoughts/feelings, and the mystery was simple and didn’t ever feel like the focus of the work.

I don’t recommend this if you’re looking for an intricate mystery or a tense thriller, but I do recommend it if you’re looking for a well written character study or a darker literary read that deals with some difficult topics. My thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.