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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.
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.
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%.
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%.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
sayhar13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Kidnapping and Classism
persephonefoxx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Drug abuse, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Vomit, and Suicide attempt
alice_hesse's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual assault
bgmylc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, Blood, and Murder
rmnedder's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Sadie is a fast-paced split narrative novel that had me tuned in from the very start. It's tense and sharp, moving at break-neck speed, with an incredibly well-crafted atmosphere and a complex central character. It manages to handle incredibly challenging material with a surprising amount of grace; along with its themes of loss, it asks us about all the various forms of exploitation we're willing to stomach in our daily lives. The split narrative of Sadie and the podcast is inventive - I love a good chance to play with the form, and the use of the podcast transcript is clever, even if it did leave me longing for more than what's on the page.
Stomach churning and deeply moving despite (or perhaps because of) its sharp edges, Sadie left me disturbed and uneasy, which is the highest praise I can offer for this kind of book. As always, read the content warnings. This one's a doozy.
Stomach churning and deeply moving despite (or perhaps because of) its sharp edges, Sadie left me disturbed and uneasy, which is the highest praise I can offer for this kind of book. As always, read the content warnings. This one's a doozy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Murder, and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Alcohol
boombaeyah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
I listened to the audiobook and it was such a wonderful experience. The voice actors convey the characters extremely well. It really felt like listening to a podcast.
the book was captivating but also gut wrenching. I truly don’t know how I feel after finishing this book. Part of me wants to love it because its presentation was so good, but another part of me feels like something is wrong with the story. Maybe it’s the removal of Sadie’s narrative at the end of the book. Maybe it’s the lack of a set conclusion for Sadie’s story.
the book was captivating but also gut wrenching. I truly don’t know how I feel after finishing this book. Part of me wants to love it because its presentation was so good, but another part of me feels like something is wrong with the story. Maybe it’s the removal of Sadie’s narrative at the end of the book. Maybe it’s the lack of a set conclusion for Sadie’s story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Grief
pandora1528's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual assault and Vomit
nemonobody11's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is heavy.
I don't think I have the strength to hold it.
I don't think I have the strength to hold it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment