bookishsapphicshay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Drug use, Injury/injury detail, Child death, and Blood
beabeareads's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
This goes down at the best YA fiction I have ever read.
Such an important book.
I need to talk to someone about it now!
This goes down at the best YA fiction I have ever read.
Such an important book.
I need to talk to someone about it now!
kdf_333's review against another edition
3.0
I had no idea what this book was about at all. I rarely read summaries or publisher’s blurbs because they reveal too much of the story. Kinda like today’s movie trailers that show you the whole movie in 1 minute. I don’t like to read about child abuse and rape. I read to escape and experience something I never would in real life. I live vicariously through the characters in the book. I have no desire to share in the experience of childhood trauma caused by rape/abuse.
That being said it was a bit of a thriller. It kept me a lil bit on the edge of my seat. Normally when a story is told by chapters with different POV and time periods, I read one POV and time period. Then go back and read the other until they meet up in the novel. I did not do that this time because I wanted to be surprised. I wanted to discover things as Sadie or Walter discovered them. Sadie’s story was further along in time compared to Walter or in the past. However you want to look at it. Walter was following her footsteps as best he could. It was a good lil thriller. A couple of twists but no big reveals that would be a huge surprise.
Walter’s chapters were written like they were recordings for the podcast. I liked that because that meant a lot of dialogue or exposition. Sadie’s POV was a typical “in the character’s head, hearing their thought, feeling their emotions, experiencing their physical world through their eyes point of view.”
It was a well written book but not my cup of tea. I think adults and teens who like to read about childhood traumas with the crime thriller/mystery flavor in the books will enjoy this novel.
That being said it was a bit of a thriller. It kept me a lil bit on the edge of my seat. Normally when a story is told by chapters with different POV and time periods, I read one POV and time period. Then go back and read the other until they meet up in the novel. I did not do that this time because I wanted to be surprised. I wanted to discover things as Sadie or Walter discovered them. Sadie’s story was further along in time compared to Walter or in the past. However you want to look at it. Walter was following her footsteps as best he could. It was a good lil thriller. A couple of twists but no big reveals that would be a huge surprise.
Walter’s chapters were written like they were recordings for the podcast. I liked that because that meant a lot of dialogue or exposition. Sadie’s POV was a typical “in the character’s head, hearing their thought, feeling their emotions, experiencing their physical world through their eyes point of view.”
It was a well written book but not my cup of tea. I think adults and teens who like to read about childhood traumas with the crime thriller/mystery flavor in the books will enjoy this novel.
sophietara's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
abbiesworldofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
“And it begins, as so many stories do, with a dead girl.”
.......
Holy fishsticks this book was so good! It kept me captivated to the very end. The story it told was so heart wretchingly beautiful and made me cry so many times. I gave this book a 10/5 stars and still stick by that rating. This is definitely a top favorite book this year.
......
Sadie is about a 19 year old girl who is suffering from the loss of her sister, Mattie. She decides to take matters into her own hands and avenge the death of her sister which sends her to many different places and clashing with many different people. The story of Sadie is such a hard topic that no one wants to discuss and Courtney Summers does this beautifully. If you want to read Sadie by Courtney Summers, it’s available today where books are sold. I promise you won’t regret reading it!
.......
Holy fishsticks this book was so good! It kept me captivated to the very end. The story it told was so heart wretchingly beautiful and made me cry so many times. I gave this book a 10/5 stars and still stick by that rating. This is definitely a top favorite book this year.
......
Sadie is about a 19 year old girl who is suffering from the loss of her sister, Mattie. She decides to take matters into her own hands and avenge the death of her sister which sends her to many different places and clashing with many different people. The story of Sadie is such a hard topic that no one wants to discuss and Courtney Summers does this beautifully. If you want to read Sadie by Courtney Summers, it’s available today where books are sold. I promise you won’t regret reading it!
jillianclark25's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Well that ripped my heart out. Sisterly love is the most powerful thing and Sadie will stop at nothing to avenge her sister’s death.
The production of this audiobook was phenomenal and so that alone gets 5 stars, Sadie’s character and this haunting story is one that is going to stick with me for such a long long time. I was trying to read happier books this year but I think this might’ve brought my true crime itch back so there’s that.
The production of this audiobook was phenomenal and so that alone gets 5 stars, Sadie’s character and this haunting story is one that is going to stick with me for such a long long time. I was trying to read happier books this year but I think this might’ve brought my true crime itch back so there’s that.
aim_mee223's review against another edition
4.0
A whopping 4.5 stars.
Where do I even start? Sadie was an amazing novel. I loved listening to the dual perspective so much, captivating me entirely.
Sadie's stutter was performed so well, I loved how this was written in dialogue. It speaks volumes about society and mental health. And so many issues were raised in this novel that I loved listening to. Having both Sadie's and the Reporter's perspective counterbalanced the situation. Especially as he is a father himself.
The novel was so intriguing and well-paced. Everything that Sadie endured was so horrible and I love how the story unfolds with the true-crime and mysterious perspectives. I definitely want to check out more of Courtney Summer's work!
Where do I even start? Sadie was an amazing novel. I loved listening to the dual perspective so much, captivating me entirely.
Sadie's stutter was performed so well, I loved how this was written in dialogue. It speaks volumes about society and mental health. And so many issues were raised in this novel that I loved listening to. Having both Sadie's and the Reporter's perspective counterbalanced the situation. Especially as he is a father himself.
The novel was so intriguing and well-paced. Everything that Sadie endured was so horrible and I love how the story unfolds with the true-crime and mysterious perspectives. I definitely want to check out more of Courtney Summer's work!
battlehamster67's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my goodness this book. I love true crime podcasts and this felt like one. (Listen to the audiobook it’s amazing).
erincharp's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, SERIOUSLY, with all the genre attention going to adult psychological thrillers, THIS is the one that you should read. Don't be deterred by the genre if you don't read much YA fiction, it is SO GOOD. Written partially as the script of a podcast and partially as a story from the perspective of Sadie, it had me hooked from beginning to end.
You know a book is going to be bleak when one of the earliest musings is, "I don't want another dead girl." Sadie's younger sister Mattie is the first dead girl. Born to a mom who loved drugs, drinking, and men far more than being a mom, Sadie grows up much faster than she should as someone needs to be Mattie's mom. On top of this, the girls are growing up in an impoverished community, so the schools are already overloaded and unfunded and Sadie (and her speech impediment--a stutter that can cause her to not want to speak) easily slips through the cracks, dropping out at age 16.
This works, even after their mom takes off for parts unknown (possibly LA), until one morning when a man discovers Mattie dead on the outskirts of town. Sadie's whole life crumbles and she sets out to avenge Mattie's death. It's difficult to really review without giving away the plot, but I will say this book focuses heavily on child abuse and neglect and isn't a light read. Following along with Sadie's journey as told by her and through the podcast was an unbelievable hook. This one is going to stick with me for awhile, and I definitely want to read more by the author.
You know a book is going to be bleak when one of the earliest musings is, "I don't want another dead girl." Sadie's younger sister Mattie is the first dead girl. Born to a mom who loved drugs, drinking, and men far more than being a mom, Sadie grows up much faster than she should as someone needs to be Mattie's mom. On top of this, the girls are growing up in an impoverished community, so the schools are already overloaded and unfunded and Sadie (and her speech impediment--a stutter that can cause her to not want to speak) easily slips through the cracks, dropping out at age 16.
This works, even after their mom takes off for parts unknown (possibly LA), until one morning when a man discovers Mattie dead on the outskirts of town. Sadie's whole life crumbles and she sets out to avenge Mattie's death. It's difficult to really review without giving away the plot, but I will say this book focuses heavily on child abuse and neglect and isn't a light read. Following along with Sadie's journey as told by her and through the podcast was an unbelievable hook. This one is going to stick with me for awhile, and I definitely want to read more by the author.
stvnskp's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I listened to this book during a long car ride. It was amazing! They used different voices for each of the characters which really helped to bring it alive. This book kept my interest the entire way through. It was both exciting and incredibly heartbreaking. I definitely recommend listening to this book over reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault