I received a complimentary copy of this book "American Girl" and all opinions expressed are my own. I love Wendy Walker books! except for one that I didn't care for. Maybe it was the writing style, maybe it was Charlie but I loved this book. The story kept me interested and I like I said Charlie is the star of this book. Fast paced, definitely one of my favorites of the year.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"American Girl" by Wendy Walker is a gripping thriller that delves into the complexities of small-town dynamics and the lengths one will go to protect their future and those they care about. The story unfolds in Sawyer, Pennsylvania, a town rife with economic depression and social prejudices. At the heart of the narrative is Charlie Hudson, a determined and autistic 17-year-old with aspirations of leaving Sawyer behind for college. Her plans are thrown into disarray when Clay Cooper, the owner of the sandwich shop where she works, is found dead, thrusting Charlie and her co-workers into a whirlwind of suspicion and danger.

Walker masterfully crafts a tale that is as much a mystery as it is a character study. Charlie's perspective is particularly compelling; her autism is portrayed with nuance, avoiding clichés and presenting her as a fully realized individual with her own strengths and challenges. The novel's tension is palpable, with each chapter peeling back layers of the town's secrets and the characters' connections to the deceased.

The narrative is told with an urgency that keeps the reader on edge, and Walker's use of first-person-present narration creates an intimate connection with Charlie. The author doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of humanity, exploring themes of power, exploitation, and survival. The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, with each character adding depth to the story and highlighting the various facets of life in Sawyer.

"American Girl" stands out in the thriller genre with its unique protagonist and the authentic portrayal of a community on the brink. It's a novel that not only provides a thrilling ride but also prompts reflection on the societal structures that shape our lives. Wendy Walker has delivered a thought-provoking and suspenseful read that will resonate with fans of mystery and psychological thrillers.

"American Girl" by Wendy Walker sounds like a gripping thriller that delves into the complexities of a small-town murder mystery with a unique twist. At the center of the story is Charlie Hudson, a seventeen-year-old with autism who finds herself entangled in a web of suspicion and danger following the death of Clay Cooper, the owner of the sandwich shop where she works.

Walker's portrayal of Charlie as a determined and resourceful protagonist adds depth to the narrative, offering readers a fresh perspective on the investigation as it unfolds. The small-town setting of Sawyer, PA, adds an atmospheric layer to the story, highlighting the tensions and secrets simmering beneath the surface of the community.

The premise of each member of the sandwich shop staff becoming a suspect in Clay Cooper's death sets the stage for a suspenseful and intricate plot, as Charlie navigates through the twists and turns of the investigation to uncover the truth. As she races against time to protect herself and her friends, the novel promises to deliver pulse-pounding thrills and unexpected revelations.

Overall, "American Girl" appears to be a riveting thriller that combines elements of mystery, suspense, and coming-of-age drama. With its compelling protagonist and tightly woven plot, the novel is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Fans of Wendy Walker's previous works and readers who enjoy atmospheric small-town mysteries are likely to find this novel an engrossing and satisfying read.

Solid thriller overall, which is high praise from me as I've been extremely disappointed with many thrillers the last few years. This one is a pretty easy read and does wrap up well. It is a little anticlimactic at the end but I do enjoy Wendy Walker overall.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

So this is a decent thriller. Had a pretty decent build up and I like the FMC. It’s worth reading but nothing earth shattering. There are others by Wendy Walker that were better

3.5/5

I love Wendy Walkers story telling so much I read the book physically and then listened to it as an audiobook. Both are awesome and the story is compelling no matter which way you consume this book!

This was such a gripping psychological thriller and I loved the aspect of being inside an autistic teenage girls mind through this. Though she is autistic, it is not the main thing in this book but loved the representation. This was definitely different from anything that I have read, but I think that is why I was addicted the majority of the time! I really enjoyed this book. Charlie was such a likable character. I have not read anything by Wendy, but I am eager to get into her back list!

I'm a huge fan of Wendy Walker's psychological thrillers, and this book did not disappoint! What made the read for more was Charlie, the 17 year old neurodivergent protagonist. The character was written with understanding and empathy, and she showed strength and determination in finding out what was happening in her slice of life, small-town America. I especially loved her list of rules to help her understand people's behavior, and her viewpoint made for a new, interesting take on crime fiction. I'll continue to read whatever Wendy Walker writes!

Good Audible narration with cast and SFX. Beautiful writing. Loved the ending. The mystery part was good, too, but I stayed for the FMC. Loved the friendships here as well.

It was poignant. It was an exploration of small towns, crime, family, and friendship. Loved the last paragraph as it evoked feelings in me about the small town I was born in but, fortunately, got out of. I love that town and go home from time to time, but I am glad I got out.

Can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for a genuine review. All opinions are mine.

Another gripping, psychological thriller that had me fully invested wanting to know whodunit in this shocking murder mystery set in a small town full of secrets and interesting people.

2.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC copy of this one! Out everywhere now.

Unfortunately, I really just could not vibe with this one at all.
The POV for most of the story made it read juvenile to me, which I don't care much for.
I also predicted all the twists, which took a lot of the surprise out of the story.

It is a quick read at least, but at times it got a little confusing with the characters and timeline jumping. However that also could have been from it not really grabbing my attention very well.

As always, I suggest all books to everyone as they are different to all of us. Just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean someone else won't love it!

Many thanks for the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I tried a few times to pick it up but was not able to connect to the story. I encourage others to give it a try for themselves!

Definitely an original book.
Charlie is an original protagonist that you root for through the whole book! The book is set in a small town and what happens when people don’t leave it. The secrets and lies that are always there.

She’s an original protagonist that definitely entertains.
Fast paced read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼 𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙨𝙚-𝙥𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡-𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙨.

This is my first Wendy Walker but won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this thriller with the small-town setting and interesting characters. The murder mystery part of this story had me so intrigued and invested in figuring out what was going to happen next.

It was so interesting trying to figure out if one of these coworkers murdered the boss, and I really enjoyed the way this book wrapped up. Charlie was such an interesting character I thought autism was well written in this.

I heard the audiobook of this had special effects and I’m so upset I didn’t read this via audio, but it’s all good - this was a fun read regardless.

I loved how eerie this small town was and all the secrets it withheld. I didn’t know which characters to believe in this, the suspense in this was amazing.

Overall, this was a satisfying and compelling thriller. I couldn’t put it down and had a fun time reading it, I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!

Charlie Hudson, an autistic seventeen-year-old, is determined to leave Sawyer, PA, as soon as she graduates high school. In the meantime, she works as many hours as she can at a sandwich shop called The Triple S to save money for college. But when shop owner, Clay Cooper—a man both respected and feared in their small economically depressed town—is found dead, each member of his staff becomes a suspect in the perplexing case. Before she can go anywhere, Charlie must protect herself and her friends by uncovering the danger that is still lurking in their tightknit community.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone for giving me an advance copy.

Thank you Netgalley. Wendy Walker has become an auto read for me. This book was a little different than her last few. I found it a bit slower paced but just as fantastic!! Characters and story were great. Highly recommend

I love love love Wendy Walker! All is definitely not what it seems! Engaging, mysterious and such fun characters! Full of twists and turns and one heck of an ending! This book was so freaken good!

Love a good Wendy Walker book, I always know they are going to be fantastic. I really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

While I quite enjoyed What Remains, this one fell a bit flat for me and I struggled to feel quite as invested. However, Walker is a capable and talented writer, and I will continue reading her books!

Charlie is a high school girl, working hard at a sandwich shop to pay for college. One night her boss is murdered and she hides under a table while it’s going down but she doesn’t see the killer’s face. As the police try to solve the case, secrets are uncovered about her boss and the shady businesses he ran. ⭐️⭐️⭐️