Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Sadie by Courtney Summers

200 reviews

sandracatt's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I'm a sobbing mess. I mean, of course I am, take a glance at all the trigger warnings I had to include here.

Yes, the story is unbelievably heavy to process due to it's being too close to real life. The missing girls, the grief of the people left behind, dealing with one's own darkness, taking action for yourself and for the sake of others, and having no choice but to face the ugly truth... It's rough. 

But when I step back and remember that this is fiction, a book, someone talented pieced together their imaginations and jotting them down into this unique experience... I can totally appreciate all the brilliant aspects of it.

I've read almost all books by Courtney Summers, if not all. Safe to say, I enjoy her writing A LOT. With Sadie, it's not any different. In fact, I'm in even more awe because she tries something different here, and it works. She writes them in podcast format, in addition to the main character first POV. 

With it being a podcast, I'd say reading this in audiobook version is the best thing you can do. The narration and the podcast production is top tier! This book was an experience for me. Not an enjoyable one due to its horrid topic, but definitely a memorable one that I might not come across again soon with other books.

You don't have to worry about the quality of the writing, or the pace or any of that, Courtney Summers knows what's she's doing. If you're in a good head space and think you're ready to experience our girl Sadie's story, definitely give this book a try. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Grief

Moderate: Pedophilia

Minor: Addiction, Rape, and Sexual assault

robotnik's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

There's just something so powerful about every time Courtney Summers steps into the mind of a teenage girl and proceeds to tear your heart to shreds. I remember my first book by her being Some Girls Are. Everything about that book hurt in the good depressing book kind of way, the way you know you're reading such a good book even if you dread every second of it. I didn't think she could get any better than that. But I've never had an author so consistently break my heart with every page I've read.

Sadie hurts. There's no better way to describe it other than that. Every page is hard to get through as you hope beyond hope things are going to go right. But, this is a Courtney Summers book so there's no happy fun times to be had here but it doesn't stop you from hoping things will turn out okay. If I like the main characters enough, I always want things to turn out well for them, but there was just something about this book where you want things to turn out right for Sadie while simultaneously knowing how things were never really right for her to begin with and she's never going to be happy again, regardless of the outcome.

It was a hard read content wise but such an easy one with how quick it sucks you in and makes you care. If you can get through the themes present in it, I'd recommend it 100%. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder

garlicbread247's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Blood, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Car accident and Suicide attempt

lias_library22's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Drug abuse

Minor: Rape and Blood

anna_blahh's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

When i started reading i wasn't convinced by this book. But about at some point i was hooked. 
It gets dark and emotional. I even got goosebumps after i finished. 
I liked the ending but i know that this isn't for everybody.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Child death

Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Murder

annathechaoticreader's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I thought it was a fantastic book, definitely one of my favourite young adult books. It was intense, thought provoking, with deeply flawed and complex characters that felt very distinct and human. It’s going to be a hard thriller to top for me! She not only told the story of fictional Sadie and Mattie but also the story of so many missing/murdered girls. On top of being a great read, its an important one that I would recommend to y/a and adult readers!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, and Abandonment

beccaand's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

the full cast audiobook 100% enhanced the experience of reading this

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism and Abandonment

beth_gk28's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child death and Rape

Minor: Blood and Injury/Injury detail

samnash's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.75

Would have been so much better without the epilogue. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

mary_do_12's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

how did i expect courtney summers to write a single book that doesn’t have me sobbing like a baby…?

sadie is the definition of female rage and i love her for it

and i hope she’s okay and she probably isn’t and, goodness, i can’t start crying again.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent