Title: Don’t Forget The Girl 🎧
Author: Rebecca NcKanna
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a NetGalley audio. It was categorized as a thriller but it didn’t read like a thriller. There wasn’t a lot of trying to figure out who did it or what happened, but more a look at how lives are affected after a loved one is brutally murdered or missing. This was a storyline completely unique to me and I liked this book. This was a chance to look at severed relationships and secrets kept and the load of guilt carried by those close to a victim of a violent crime and the ability for old friends to come back together to find closure and repair a relationship pulled apart by tragedy. This also shed light on the importance of keeping victims memories alive while not giving fame to the killer.

DNF 33%

Thank you to Net Galley and RB Media for providing me this audiobook in exchange of an honest review.

And the problem is that I couldn't finish it. The plot was really interesting and good, but I couldn't follow it as much as I wanted, I usually don't connect with the characters from thrillers and mystery novels, and this wasn't an exception, but still, they were so annoying for me that I didn't want to continue.

I usually try so hard to finish a book even if I don't like it, but this one... this one was harder to take it.

Going in blind to a new author is always an adventure- sometimes good, often bad. This debut novel, however, was such a pleasant surprise! The plot unfolded like the layers of an onion, allowing the reader to slowly realize that this story was about so much more than a missing girl. While I was kept hooked for the majority of this book, and was definitely surprised near the ending, the middle could definitely be trimmed a bit as there was a bit of a lull that dragged out.

I read 11% of this book until i decided to dnf. I was really interested about the murder case but got bored at times as the plot was slow for me. I want to read and finnish it when i get older to see if my opinion of it has changed.

A powerful, raw, and compassionate debut!

First off, reading friends, do not pick this up if you’re looking for a thriller. I have no idea why it’s been marketed that way. It’s such an injustice to the beautiful thing it actually is.

Although Don’t Forget the Girl does involve a serial killer and there is a surprise reveal within it, this lacks the qualities that hardcore thriller lovers seek. You should absolutely read it, even if you are that hardcore thriller lover, but don’t expect a mystery. This is a slow burn character study that sensitively and realistically examines the lives of two women indelibly impacted by the murder of one of their best friends. The author also uses a second person narrative to allow us to get to know the victim, putting us right in her head, forcing us to become her. We walk the distance in her shoes and it’s incredibly effective and haunting.

There are so many important things going on in this story, which include, but are not limited to, what the title reminds us to do. We should not forget the victims. We should not sensationalize the crime. We should not only be able to say the infamous killer’s name.

But you know what really shook me? The way the story aptly depicts how casually the world shrugs off a female’s concerns over potentially dangerous men. If a woman tells you a man has made her uncomfortable, listen. If experience hasn’t taught you this yet, Don’t Forget the Girl will make the consequence of such dismissive actions clear. I cherished this message and was grateful for how accurately it was conveyed.

I am immensely grateful to Recorded Books and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

When the debut is as stellar as Don't Forget the Girl, I can tell that Rebecca McKenna is going to be an author to watch. The dual timelines of Abby, Chelsea, and Bree's freshman college year and then ten years later of just Bree and Chelsea is the perfect way to slowly unravel the twisted web that is Don't Forget the Girl. Bree and Chelsea are both living messy, unbalanced lives, the mystery of what really happened to Abby making it difficult for them to move on. With the upcoming execution of the killer and the discovery of Abby's body, everybody's secrets are exposed, and it's so very entertaining to watch. The audio version is perfectly narrated, taking what is already an engrossing story and adding just that much more. I loved this one!

Spoilersss.

Ihad many emotions reading this book and I probably won’t get them all out. I really liked this book because it reminded me of when Zac Effron played Ted Bundy (I think that was the inspo). It made me want to find out if there were any victims he had that weren’t made famous like Abby in this story.

I liked the flow and pace of the story. Usually the switch between years is hard to follow, but I felt like this wasn’t an issue. I also liked the turns the story took. Part of me almost wished someone else had been the killer to make a bigger twist.

I did like having different POVs. Although, I didn’t like how the POV of Abby was written. The “you” threw me off a lot and took me out of the story sometimes.

I think one of the biggest things I liked was how both main characters took accountability for their actions. Bree and Chelsea both did crappy things and didn’t just run away. They became better people for it. It showed how they weren’t perfect. My favorite part of this book was how they reconnected and worked on being close again.

This is a captivating thriller that masterfully weaves together dual timelines and multiple points of view. This intricately crafted story kept me engrossed from beginning to end, constantly questioning the motives and actions of each character.

The dual-timeline structure adds an extra layer of intrigue and suspense, as the past and present intertwine to reveal a complex web of secrets and mysteries. The podcast added an extra layer and helped with keeping the suspense at a high level throughout the book.

The narration by Jennifer O'Donnell. Her delivery brings each character to life, capturing their emotions and nuances with skill and precision. Jennifer O'Donnell's performance further enhances the immersive experience of the story, making it a truly enjoyable listen.

A very special thanks to RB Media and Netgalley for the ALC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting thriller and I loved how it delved into the intricacies of friendship and the secrets we all keep to ensure our true selves are hidden. The multiple points of view really made the book gripping. I loved that Abby’s point of view was included as she is the ghost that haunts Chelsea and Bree and those chapters from her perspective made her a ghost haunting the reader too. Overall I enjoyed this thriller and thought it was done in a different and interesting way.

Don’t Forget the Girl incorporates such a unique way to learn about the murder victim in this novel. This really was brilliant writing and I appreciated the heart behind the story. I’ve never read a thriller like this and I applaud McKanna for producing something different and fresh. We learn about the victim and her friends through their own words; the depth with which you discover who they are is where the heart of the story is. Don’t Forget the Girl satisfied my thirst for twist and turns by keeping me on my toes with the culprit. I value a good whodunnit!

The reason I love this book because of all the emotions and roller coaster this book showed. The narrator was very expressive and left the listener wanting to hear more of the story. I highly reccomend the audio because as the story comes to an end the narrator draws one into the conclusion. I give this a four star rating

I think this whole book sort of just felt inconsequential. The characters didn't really develop as much as I would have liked. The story didn't quite go anywhere. Like yeah, the two characters are closer again, but that's pretty much it. I was hoping for some sort of big revelation.

DON'T FORGET THE GIRL by Rebecca McKanna and narrated by Jennifer O'Donnell is a solid debut about the trauma of a friend missing and presumed dead.

I wouldn't call this one a thriller or even a typical suspense, but it is a suspenseful look at a trauma-filled friendship surrounding a serial killer and long held secrets.

Abby, Bree, & Chelsea are a close trio of University of Iowa 18-year-olds when Abby goes missing. 12 years later, the countdown to the execution of a serial killer who was assumed to be Abby's killer is looming and it brings Bree and Chelsea back to face their own demons about that night.

I will admit I had a hard time starting this one. The self-destructive effects of the characters in the "current" 2015 timeline didn't win me over to their side. I held on, however and I am glad I did! This became a really fascinating look at the effects of trauma inside a friendship, the serial killer idolatry at the cost of the victims memory, and the costs of holding secrets. By the end, I really enjoyed this thoughtful examination of this culture.

The audiobook was a bit hard to get going for me too. While O'Donnell did great reading this story, the 3 POV's were not quite different enough in voice for me to catch at times. Fortunately, each chapter states one of the three names, so I got used to listening for that and it helped.

Ultimately I am glad I listened to this story. It became more than I expected and again, a story that made me think.

3.75⭐

Thank you to @netgalley and @recordedbooks for sharing this audio with me and letting me share my thoughts. I will be keeping my eye on McKanna and her future books!

I was captivated by Don't Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna, narrated by Jennifer O'Donnell. This astonishing debut thriller explores the complexities of friendship and the haunting secrets that bind us together.

The story follows Abby, Bree, and Chelsea, three best friends whose lives were forever changed by Abby's disappearance. Now, with the impending execution of the suspected killer, their fractured friendship is put to the test. As Bree and Chelsea grapple with the past and the present, Abby's story unfolds through gripping flashbacks written in a unique second-person perspective.

Rebecca McKanna's writing is exceptional, drawing me into the narrative and making me feel intimately connected to Abby's experiences. The book raises thought-provoking questions about society's obsession with notorious killers and the overlooked victims. It also challenges the way we approach the issue of violence against women.

For fans of true crime and gripping thrillers, Don't Forget the Girl is a must-read. McKanna's debut promises a bright future for this talented author, and I eagerly anticipate her future releases. Many thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Rebecca McKanna for providing me with the opportunity to listen to the audiobook ARC.

I really wanted to love this one, I really tried. The whole concept of the book is honestly great and I've not seen many books that want to make us see that we are glamorizing the serial killers and forgetting the victims. That's what kept me going, but it was so slow for me that it didn't hold my interest.

I loved the way the story was unfolded, with the multiple POV's and the victim Abby's POV that is actually made to feel as if it was you. I felt it gave a more personal touch to the book and made you feel like you were in it. Although I can understand it can get confusing for some readers to follow the switches and the third and second person written POV's.

I could not love the characters as they were portrayed actually pretty horribly. They were annoying and hard to empathize with. It was a very character focused book, which is not what I expected when I read the blurb, that disappointed me. As I mentioned the idea of it was great, to make people realize that the true crime podcasts are really focusing on the serial killers and making them "stars".

Also, there was a lot to unpack in this book, it brushed on a lot of topics, which I wished the author would've focused more on one. It felt too heavy and confusing in my opinion

I can see why so many did enjoy it !! It might also be something you would enjoy. Not because it isn't for me that it's not for you.

I am glad I listened to this one, as I am not sure I would've stuck through it by reading. The narrator did a good job, but I felt her voices for each character very similar so it was a bit confusing.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley & @rbmedia for my free ARC & ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced audiobook copy. The narration of this book was enjoyable. As for the story, it was OK for me.

Don’t forget the girl by Rebecca Mckanna publishes June 2023. This is a story of three friends. One of them is taken by a serial killer. Each character in this book is so self absorbed. They are destroyed and destroy each other. I sometimes think Abby-the dead girl- is the lucky one, not having to deal with theses others

Unfortunately this book didn’t do anything for me. I found it hard to follow in audiobook form. Trying to figure out what happened to their missing friend also fell flat. I think if I had physically read this book it would have been better for me and my enjoyment

Maybe 3.5 because of the message at the end of the book but otherwise a solid 3 stars. I enjoyed the book enough but it was not a thriller(not even sure it was marketed as one at this point? Okay yeah I checked netgalley and it was a mystery/thriller) and I'm not sure it was much of a mystery either. It was a sad story about a murdered bestfriend/lover and the lives of the surviving bestfriend/lover and the upcoming execution of the man whom they think killed their friend but was never proven or admitted to. There was a lot to unpack in this book. It showed how grief affects people differently. It showed a lot about sexuality. It showed a lot about religion. I'm not sure this is the book I signed up for but it was still a decent read. Chelsea got on my last nerve, though. She tried to act pious and above it all but she was extremely annoying with her "must keep our relationship a secret" to the point where it pretty much ruined her life. I kind of wish the podcast had played more of a role in the book. If you do pick this book up just know you are going into a hurricane of effed up characters.

Added: This book started as a quest to make sure the victims name wasn't forgotten and by the end of the book I forgot that was even the goal. The personal problems of the 2 living women overshadowed what this books title tried to do.

Don't Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna, Narrated by Jennifer O'Donnell is absolutely gorgeous, an extraordinary book!
It is so real! It is full of emotions, pain, love, and grief! This book took me deep! I am sitting there and trying to write why you must read or listen to this book but I can't get it out! There is so much in my head right now!
The main description tells you that this is a book about serial killer Jon Allan Blue who is waiting for his execution and missing girl Abby who is possibly one of the Blue victims. And about Abbie's best friends Bree and Chelsea who never managed to get over Abbie's disappearance.
But there is so much more! This is just the tip of the iceberg. This book is about real friendship, first and probably only real love, trust and betrail. About keeping secrets and making mistakes. About right and wrong.
But what I love the most is - this book was so real! No shocking, unrealistic twists are there for just the spin. Everything was logical and real!
Jennifer O'Donnell did a brilliant job with the audiobook. I was sucked into the story straight away. Jennifer managed to bring the text to life it was like watching the film. I felt it so deep!
Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media for the chance to listen to this audiobook!
#DontForgettheGirl #NetGalley
p.s. I left a review in my Psychological thriller readers groups on FB but can't share the link as the post is waiting for admin approval.