Jo is “one of those girls” or at least that’s what everyone wants to think. I mean she only hangs out with guys until one of them released her nudes. So now she wears that title and none of the girls like her and now even her guy friends are having second thoughts about being her friend. Even her best friend Maddie is being mean to her. There’s a ton of other things going on in her life as well.

Maddie suddenly goes missing no one seems to care except for Jo. Even Maddie’s boyfriend is still throwing parties and going about his life. Everyone just thinks she ran away but Jo knows better.

The description of this book is what really dragged me in and the story itself is what kept me coming back for me. I really enjoyed this story. There were characters I loved and some I hated. The mystery aspect was great and I love how the story turned around for Jo in the end. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for this arc in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book overall and liked how fast pace it felt. I also liked how the writing allowed me to take guesses as to what I think happened to Maddy. I would recommend this to psychological thriller lovers.

This was kind of a miss for me in the YA category. I think it included every kind of teenage experience trope in it, and honestly it was just a little too drama filled for me.

CW: sexual assault/rape, slut-shaming, misogyny, leaked nudes

The audiobook was done well. It was read well and had nice flucutation that made it easy to follow along and remain engaged, but beyond that I think this story unfortunately fell a little flat.

It started off strong. The mystery had me drawn in and the main character, Jo, had me eager to read more about her. Her personality is everything I want from a character, but as it went on, I found myself fumbling, desperate to find footing, as the story seemed to lose it's identity.

What started off as a story that felt like it was going to focus on the mystery, it morphed into a journey of self discovery and acceptance. These are two themes that could merge well to create a fully formed story, but it never seemed to merge here. One would fall off as the other theme would be focused on more.

Not Like Other Girls has great bones. There are a number of important topics discussed here and I think this could be a hit with the age group it is targeted towards.

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo is a compelling debut that dives deep into the life of Jo-Lynn Kirby, a girl unfairly labeled a "bad girl" after a betrayal shatters her reputation. When her former best friend, Maddie Price, reaches out for help and then mysteriously disappears, Jo embarks on a journey that forces her to confront painful truths about her past and her community.

The story is layered with themes of trauma, resilience, and the power of reclaiming one's narrative. Jo’s raw and authentic voice makes her an unforgettable protagonist. Teaming up with Hudson Harper-Moore in a fake dating scheme to uncover Maddie’s whereabouts adds both tension and depth to the plot. Together, they unravel secrets that are darker and more complex than they ever anticipated.

Listening to the audiobook added an extra dimension to the experience, with the narrator capturing Jo’s emotions and struggles beautifully. While the writing may not be flawless, the story’s emotional impact more than makes up for it. This is a book with a message that lingers: everyone has a story worth telling, and Jo’s is one you won’t soon forget.

Thought-provoking and emotionally resonant, Not Like Other Girls explores identity, friendship, betrayal, and healing in a way that feels deeply relatable. It’s more than a mystery—it’s a journey of self-discovery that will leave readers reflecting on their own experiences. A must-read for teens seeking stories with heart and depth.

I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

Unfortunately I couldn't really get into this book. I don't really have a strong sense of how I felt about this book. The setting and characterizations were well set up. Ultimately I just didn't feel that this book was for me. The target audience would certainly enjoy this book.

This book surprised me in a good way - I had no idea what to expect, but it was on my radar because I'd gotten an ARC and it took me a while, but I finally listened to the audio. The narrator is great in this book - she does a great job of bringing the story to life and distinguishing the characters and their emotions. The writing in this story is excellent and immersive.

My first reaction is that this book has echoes of the pacing and mystery elements of A Good Girls Guide to Murder (which I really enjoyed!) - just without the podcast angle. The teenage cast of characters, disappeared high schooler and the ensuing search/investigation with multiple layers of intrigue gave me the same vibes as the AGGGTM series. I thought the mystery elements were pretty well woven together and took a bit of a twist at the end that I wasn't fully expecting.

There's an element to the story that deals with a few heavier topics - consent at a young age, SA and the trauma that can manifest with negative emotions that can take over a person's life. You could tell this was personal to the author - and she confirms it in the authors note. The overall topics are generally handled with care, but there may be some trigger warnings for people - so I recommend checking those out if needed.

It felt at times that this book was trying to do just a bit too much - there was a lot going on and probably could have done with a little more editing to streamline some of the scenes. Overall, this is a really good debut and I'm glad I took the time to read it! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ALC of this book!

I could not put this book down. Jo-Lynne has such a strong character voice that I was sucked into her story immediately. Great read!

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. It was hard to connect with the characters and it fell a bit flat for me. I did like the narrator though.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley for this early listen of the audiobook. I enjoyed the narrator.

This story gave me Veronica Mars mystery vibes with real life situations.

I feel this is a book for teens to read in school as it deals with teenager/adult dynamic and how sometimes adults take advantage of their position in power and make kids feel like they are to blame for the inappropriate actions of the adult.

This need to be talked about more!

Also the story is about a missing ex-best friend and the lengths a girl (that everyone has turned their back on) can go thru to find out the truth.

Will definitely recommend.

It's been awhile since I've loved a MC as much as Jo. Maybe it was Adamo's writing or maybe it was the narration but I quickly fell in love with her and this mystery. Add this to your tbr, you won't regret it.
arc via netgalley

Bit slow, very much for teens. I didn't like the audiobook narrator that much and it made the book feel slower. Heavy themes but I questioned the realism.

*received for free from negalley for honest review* Would definitely reread! this was such a great read! Wish this was a series lol

This YA novel follows a determined teen who navigates high school drama, personal growth, and unexpected twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. She is so determined and reminds me of the girl you wanted to be or want your daughter to be.

One of my favourite YA reads this year, it’s packed with surprising turns and heartfelt moments. I really related to Jo. Overall, I gave it a solid 4/5.

This book was marketed poorly. It should not be labelled as a YA book. It sets a poor standard for teenagers today as far as drinking, drug and alcohol use, and has open door scenes.

Not Like Other Girls was a surprise for me. The title initially worried me...the last thing we need in 2024 is another book judging girls for being "Not Like The Other Girls" and wrapping us up into a once size fits all existence. What we need even less is a book doing that, targeted at young girls. But this WAS NOT THAT. It was quite the opposite. It exceeded my expectations. It was a well paced story that did an amazing job addressing really difficult and realistic situations, life events and hardships girls of all ages face, but usually don't get to really hear about, relate to and feel seen in until they're much older.

Jo is Not Like Other Girls, for a reason I never saw coming in this book, but that I think is really important to talk about.

I felt for Jo at many points and in my own ways, could relate to her and how she felt. It's written beautifully, emotionally and with an urgency that sucks you in and won't let you go. You have to finish it.

You hate who you're supposed to hate, and you know WHY you hate them. You root for the right people and it feels good.

The characters are so well developed and written that you can sense their character before they fully reveal and unfold which makes them feel real. I shared a lot of the same thoughts as Jo, I went on the journey with her. I felt her hurt, I understood it. I was angry with and for her. She was such an honest and realistic depiction of the teenage/YA girl...lost, angry, scared, confused, alone, misunderstood and feeling so alone while trying so desperately to feel and be seen when she can't fight for it entirely herself.

I think the missing case of Maddy really allowed Adamo to navigate hard topics with just enough distraction to digest the hard points. I was rooting for Jo, and I am so happy for her. Miles can go to hell.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Audio for the ARC Audiobook, in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Jo. She's independent, brilliant, funny, friends with all the boys... that is, until one of those boys sends one of Jo's private photos to the whole school. And then her former best friend goes missing and Jo might be the only one who can find her. But when Jo starts thinking back on what happened between her and Maddie, it starts bringing up some memories and some confusing feelings.

Why does everyone dismiss Jo as a "bad girl?" Is she just a "slut" who always "causes trouble" or is she a victim of a high school culture that treats girls like they're worthless? Can she use her voice to fight back?

This is a young adult gem right up there with Speak.

What a great mystery!!! And even more than that, we explore themes of trauma and girlhood. This was a joyful read while also touching on some hard subjects.

I enjoyed Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo. The book had numerous twists and turns that sometimes made it hard to follow. Overall, this was a great read/listen. I appreciate the author's note regarding her own sexual assault. Thank you for sharing this.

WOW! What a story, the twists and turns of this book are unbelievable. As soon as you think you have a character or the story figured out, you find out another detail to the story that throws off your compass just a bit. I am one to guess the ending of books throughout reading the story however I never would’ve seen this ending coming. I am in awe of Adamo for the amount of characters, stories, and the complexities between them that are so well written throughout this book. On top of the fantastic story telling, this book carefully weaves current social issues through mysterious and entertaining characters. I highly recommend this book for all ages even though it is considered ‘young adult’.