TW: pedophilia/sexual abuse [caution for those who have experienced sexual abuse or know someone who has]

I’ve heard many great things about Courtney Summers’s book. However, I wasn’t completely interested. I’m not really into thrillers and mysteries, yet when I was offered the opportunity to be a part of the blog tour with Wednesday Books, I figured I’d take a shot.

Sadie is the main character of this novel, which is separated into her POV and a podcast by West McCray who is investigating Sadie’s disappearance. Sadie has run away in search of the man that killed her little sister, Mattie. Her disappearance uncovers hidden secrets and accounts from people she has met along the way.

The first thing I read in this book was the podcast portion, which is pretty much set up like a script, just without the exterior/interior settings, cues, etc. It kind of turned me off a bit, so I wasn’t sure that I would like this book.

My mind changed immediately once I got to Sadie’s POV. It was so hard to put this book down. Whenever I had to go to class during the day and put the book away, I was just itching to pick it up again as soon as class ended. It was so enthralling.

Sadie is such an interesting character. Her POV featured flashbacks of her childhood while also keeping us in the present, giving us a good enough back story and bringing her character arc full circle. It’s hard to say anything bad about her. She is a girl set on revenge and, most of the time, that isn’t really enough for readers. One goal for a character isn’t always enough, but Sadie was just amazing. As a reader, you wanted her to get this revenge and to have some sort of ending that was satisfactory. 

Which leads me to the ending in question. It’s very open-ended, but it allows the reader to make their own assumptions. This isn’t really a spoiler: you never really know what has happened to Sadie. I’ve only ever read these kind of endings unless I’m in a fiction class and it’s part of the lesson. In other opportunities, I don’t really like open endings. I like to know what’s happening. But, this kind of ending just fit and it’s also terribly frustrating. I have my own theories about what happened to Sadie, which I will keep to myself in order to hide spoilers. I’d love to know what Courtney thinks happened to Sadie, though.

I want to advise caution to future readers, considering the book is already available for purchase. This book contains elements of pedophilia and it’s very focused as the center conflict when it comes to Sadie’s revenge. I would believe this to be a trigger warning, just in case an unfortunate reader has experienced something like this or knows someone that has. It’s obvious in certain parts that this is what has occurred to characters, but probably not obvious to all readers. This is a heavy book to read and very emotional, sometimes even hard to picture in your head if you are a visual reader.

All in all, this is one of the rare few thrillers/mysteries that I really enjoyed and that really kept me at the edge of my seat. It’s definitely one to remember.

OMG how to review this... let just say- Why haven't I read a Courtney Summers book before this. Such a tragedy. I couldn't put the book down after the 40 percent mark and read it until I finished it with tears in my eyes. Such a sad story... my heart is broken. But please pick up the book because its a really good book and everyone must read it like yesterday!

Well, this was quite an enjoyable ride! Let me be clear- this is a tough one to read, in the sense that wow, life is unfair. But, that's the same reason I liked it so much- it was brutally, unflinchingly real. Because sometimes, life deals you a shitty hand, and it just doesn't quit. Let us talk about the things I enjoyed about the book, shall we?

The Things I Enjoyed: 

•Sadie tackles some very dark, very disturbing topics, but handles them well. Like I said, life wasn't easy, fun, or fair for Sadie or her sister Maddie. And that is putting it mildly. While it's horrifying to read about as the secrets keep unfurling, it also feels eerily real. The author does a great job with the atmosphere of the book, I was able to feel the desperation of the situation. 

•Podcast format is genius. I adore this concept so, so much. I wasn't sure if I would, to be honest- I am not really a podcast listener myself- but it was the perfect idea for this book. It's such a great way for the reader to see outside of just one or two viewpoints, and gives a fuller, clearer picture of the situation from all angles. Plus, it's just fun to read, let's be real. (P.S. You can actually listen to the podcast, how is this not the coolest freaking thing ever?) 

•Grim, but hopeful. Don't misunderstand, it's still mostly grim. But there's little lights that shine through- from a passing altruist, to a surrogate grandmother who cares for the girls when no one else seems to, it gives that feeling that maybe there are still good guys out there. That all hope isn't totally lost (even when it seems like it pretty much is). 

•Sadie's love for Mattie is really powerful. I won't sugarcoat it, Mattie's death is very hard to digest. Not only was she so very loved by Sadie, she was just a young girl who should never, ever have been harmed. No person should, obviously, but it seems like more of a gut-punch when it's a child, no? As difficult as it was to read about, it was also quite beautiful. 

•It's compulsively readable. I think because the format made for a fast-paced reading experience, and the fact that it was just so unputdownable, I basically had to finish the book as quickly as possible. Because I wanted to know all the things! 

The Things I Wasn't As Fond Of:

•The ending is rather open.(view spoiler) And while it did work for the story in a way... it just is personally frustrating. Some people are good with more open endings, but I am not those people. So this is probably more of a personal preference, but something to be aware of. 

•I did guess quite a few of the plot points early on. But that might just be because I am awesome, who can tell? 

Bottom Line: If you're looking for a realistically dark and gritty mystery, you've found it in Sadie. Extra points for the fabulous format, sisterly bond, and dash of hope.

This is a dual timeline narrative. First is Sadie's point of view following her search for revenge and justice for the death of her younger sister Mattie. Second is a podcast covering the steps Sadie took and trying to discover where she is now. The story will leave you with immense sense of sadness. Not all your questions will be answered but the last half will keep you turning the pages until you reach the end.

**Spoiler Free**

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and Courtney Summers for the advanced copy for review.

I'll start by saying that I have not read any of Courtney Summers work before. I have noticed this book on many book feeds and groups that I am a part of so it caught my interest very quickly. I am forever grateful that I was given an opportunity to read and review this book. With that being said let's jump right in. 

Sadie is a young adult mystery that is a heartbreaking story about two sisters, Sadie and Mattie. One of which is on a quest to locate the others killer and seek out justice. What makes this book unique is Sadie knows who her sister's killer is an is on a mission to make sure he pays for his crimes.  

What I liked about this story was the different perspectives of the telling of the story. You see it from the podcasts point of view as well as hearing from Sadie directly. I really enjoyed the perspective of the radio personality. It brought an objective view to the story and also lightened the mood of what could have been a very dark novel.

The characters are very well done and drew you in and hooked you from the beginning. You really start caring for these girls and want nothing but happiness for them, sadly this story does not end that way. Be prepared to weep and feel your soul crushed from the heartache and realness that These girls have had to endure. 

This book is deserving of all the hype and attention is has gotten. I hope that it continues to be recognized and read. 

Trigger Warning - This book does deal with drug abuse, sex abuse, and pedophilia.

Overall, a great read! I really enjoyed it.

#Sadie#netgalley


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"Sadie", though billed as a YA, is a book that has a lot of crossover appeal. Fans of podcasts like Serial and books by Gillian Flynn will want to pick this up. There are no holds barred in the intensity of this novel, which makes it both extremely effective and incredibly upsetting. 

Huge Trigger Warnings: Pedophilia, Sexual Assault, Child Abuse 

Sadie is determined to kill the man who murdered her younger sister, Mattie. We get her perspective as she travels alone, meeting every person she can who will lead her to this person. In alternate chapters, we get the transcript of a podcast titled "The Girls". The host, West McCray, initially reaches out to start his own show and help Sadie and Mattie's surrogate grandmother, who is distraught over Sadie's disappearance. He becomes engulfed in the story, though, and tries to follow all possible leads to find Sadie. The way these two chapters weave is pretty incredible. Courtney Summers did an incredible job with this book...it just flows so effortlessly.

This novel explores so many complicated and upsetting topics. It isn't a feel-good story by any means, but it will make you think, make you nervous, and stay with you long after you read it.

I liked this book, it didn't necessarily blow me away but I was intrigued. I liked that the format was a little different, it kept it interesting for me. I think that this book definitely deserved the hype surrounding it for its originality alone. I found Sadie to be a character that I wanted to find and hug and tell her everything will be ok. There is something in this book for almost everyone so I highly recommend picking this up and diving in as soon as you can.

( 4.5 )

I love Courtney Summers. Sadly, I haven’t read all her books yet, but those that I have, have cut real deep. I was super excited to get an ARC of Summers’ new book Sadie, which is far more than just a book. There’s also an accompanying podcast called The Girls, which doesn’t spoil the book, but more so adds a bit more depth and brings the book to life. This entire experience is exactly what I was hoping for and I just love how Summers takes things a step further with the podcast, really adding a whole other level of realism to this story. It’s hard not to be affected by it, hard not to be pulled into it.

I listened to the first episode of the podcast before cracking open the book. I knew the two went hand in hand, but I didn’t realize the book itself was partially written in the format of a podcast. The book delves much deeper into the story and the real podcast doesn’t spoil anything from the book, but compliments the story. Because I received an advance copy of the book, not all the episodes of the podcast were available by the time I started reading it, unfortunately.  I think it would have been really cool to listen to the podcast ahead of the part in the book and hear the words come alive in actual podcast form. However, I was far too impatient and excited to read the book itself that I didn’t want to wait for all the episodes. But if you get a chance to do it this way, I think it would be worth it.

I was born and raised in a small Canadian town. Not as small as Cold Creek, but it was very easy to relate to the setting and I was really able to immerse myself in the story, though this isn’t a story anyone would want to fully immerse themselves in. A lot of characters seemed familiar and easy to relate to and the situation itself, while not something I’ve experienced firsthand, was definitely written in a way that could also be easily related to, which is what makes this book so damn heartbreaking. Because frankly, the content is awful. So many heartbreaks and a sad and awful dose of so many people’s reality. This was a tough read, but the way Summers cut it up with the investigative podcast not only added a unique angle to a sad story, but it made the heavy topics a little bit lighter. There was a bit of a break between the intensity so the reader could actually let go of the breath they were holding.

I really liked all the characters that Sadie met along the way, though a lot of them weren’t what you’d call likeable. I just enjoyed how they all had a little bit of a part in Sadie’s destiny, even if it wasn’t always a good helping hand. It was interesting to follow the podcast host as he followed Sadie’s trail and ran into these characters again as he tried to track her down. The format was really strong and worked really well.

Usually I don’t like when books end like this, and while it was hard this time around, I thought it worked really well for what this story was. I can’t say this was my favourite Summer’s read, I’ve read a few that punched me a lot harder than this did, I think this carefully danced around a lot of the graphic details that would make it a much harder and heavier book to read. But what was left was still heartbreaking, almost more so since you don’t necessarily know what is happening or driving Sadie’s determination until closer to the end. I really applaud Summers for taking sort of a known story line and adding some more modern elements like the podcast and investigative journalism aspect to add a bit more life to the concept. It was a short, but not very sweet read and I definitely recommend it.

Likely to have been inspired by podcasts like Serial, Sadie follows two timelines: one from the point of view of Sadie, a girl who has gone missing from her small country town after her sister has been murdered, and one from the point of view of West McCray, a podcaster and journalist on the hunt to discover what happened to Sadie.

The main draw of Sadie is that the story is incredibly compelling. It is clear that there is more to the story of Mattie being murdered than meets the eye, and that Sadie is on the hunt for the truth. Having the two points of view was quite a smart idea, as you see the true story being unfolded slowly with information being fed to you from different characters.

A novel that definitely captures your attention the whole way through, I would recommend Sadie to those who love mysteries and thrillers.

Ratings
Overall: 8/10
Plot: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 2/5

I've been pretty into dark, suspenseful, and mysterious books lately, and with a plane ride coming up I wanted something that would hold my interest and attention. Nothing is worse than being stuck on a flight trying to read a difficult or boring book. 
It didn't take too long to get into the story. Although I didn't become overly invested in any of the characters, I did enjoy following Sadie's journey. And while the ending was frustrating, I think I actually liked it. Anything else would have been either disappointing or wrapped up just a little too perfectly. I found the podcast element interesting and done well, it felt necessary and like it really added to the story. I wouldn't read this book again, but I would recommend it to someone looking for an easy read that will still hold their interest.

You are hooked. And you have to keep reading. Summers establishes this dread in your stomach, this tension, that you feel you have to resolve. The book starts off captivating, but it utterly bewitches you around the halfway point when more and more events start happening. All these dominoes start falling down in rapid succession and you become mesmerized.

Sadie is such an empathetic character. She is driven by the love she has for her sister, but even that is not uncomplicated. There are many secrets, many cruel words we wish we never said, rifts we cannot fix. And that’s sisterhood. But no matter what, Sadie is devoted to her sister, even from beyond the grave. My concern, care, for Sadie only increased as you find out more about her – how resourceful she is – and you begin to truly care about her getting the justice she deserves. Is that even possible?

"Because I don't want another dead girl."

I LOVE DARK YA. This is at the top of my list for thriller/crime books I've read this year. It's that good...without trying to be too much, as so much other books do in both genres!! (YA/Thriller)

Sadie is an incredibly well written book that provokes a flurry of emotions throughout. The chapters switch between the point of view of Sadie, and a radio show script that follows the investigation into Sadie’s disappearance. I’ve never read a book with this sort of layout before, and it works incredibly well – keeping you on your toes as the radio show host slowly catches up to Sadie.

The glimpses you get into Sadie’s mind are powerful, the pure anger and hatred she feels towards the person who murdered her younger sister, are staggering. At times I found myself getting so lost in this book that I was constantly seeking my next hit from it. Sadie is an unpredictable, mysterious and haunting book.

Courtney Summers has yet again impressed me with her incredible writing, and this is a book that I would happily pick up to read again.

The one point that I would make is that I would not consider this book as suitable for school age YA readers due to the topics tackled.

Nineteen year old Sadie lived in a trailer park with her thirteen year old sister, Mattie in a small US town. Their drug addicted mother Claire had been missing from their lives for quite a while and Sadie acted as Mattie's surrogate parent with the help of the elderly owner of the trailer park, May Beth. When Mattie is found brutally murdered and the police lose interest in finding the murderer, Sadie felt sure she knew who was responsible and set out to single mindedly track him down. 

Sadie would have disappeared without trace, just another missing girl, if not for a podcast journalist West McCray, who decides to track Sadie's movements and find out what happened to her. Sadie's relentless drive to seek revenge for her sister is told by alternating McCary's podcast and investigations with Sadie's own account of her journey. It's not an easy story to read about - a drug addicted mother, missing fathers replaced by the mother's sadistic boyfriends, sexual abuse, deprivation and hardship - conditions that no child should ever have to grow up in. Although heartbreaking and painful, Sadie's inner strength and love for her sister is a force to be admired and her character one I won't easily forget.

What a refreshing read! I don't mean that this book is going to bring you inner peace or comfort, but when you feel like you have read the same stories over and over again, Sadie is the perfect story to remind you that there is a lot out there to read. There really is a story for everyone. 

I've known Courtney Summers as a fabulous Young Adult author. When the opportunity came to read and review Sadie, I jumped! What I didn't do, what read the blurb.

Sadie is a different, unique kind of book. It's written from Sadie's POV, but it's also essentially written from the POV of West McCray who is radio personality putting together a podcast for his quest to find Sadie. I'll be honest... at first, I didn't think I liked the podcast idea, but it GREW on me. It ended up being some of the best parts of the book.

While McCray is following the footsteps left behind by Sadie, we get to see what Sadie really was doing and how far ahead she was. Sadie is hands down one of the BEST characters I've ever seen written. She was driven. She was a vigilante for those who couldn't or wouldn't ask for help. She was broken. Sadie is on a mission to find the man who killed her sister, Mattie. The little girl that Sadie would give her own life for; who did all she could to protect Mattie from anything she could.

There were plenty of surprising elements in this story. I always love that YA has that "coming of age," or "discovering one's purpose" element. That part of Sadie's story is the most important. It's the reason Courtney Summers wrote this book. It's the one thing that distracted me just a little bit from the ending that I can't say I loved. But it's good to know there is still someone out there for "The Girls."

4.5 stars

Trigger Warning: Pedophilia & Rape

Wow! What a thrilling read!

I totally did not expect to love Sadie as much as I did, but now I can really see why all the hype exists!

Sadie is a thrilling, intense, and totally gripping thriller novel that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Sadie is such a compelling main character because even though she's not perfect (she's about to kill a man), she's got a lot of complexities that make you want to discover what makes Sadie tick and why she's doing what she's doing.

Even the side characters--from Mattie, Sadie's little sister who is now dead, to Sadie's mom and grandmotherly figure--were all really well developed, and I enjoyed that about the novel.

But one of my favorite parts would have to be the alternating Sadie POV and podcast chapters! Normally adding something like a podcast just comes off as quirky and whatnot, but in Sadie, it actually really contributed to the mystery and in building the story up. I loved what the podcast did both in revealing hints and exposing some of the past, as well as keeping up on our toes with cliffhangers at each chapter.

I think all the podcasts were just really well done and I'm looking forward to listening to the real recorded podcasts that were made for this book! I like how they were structured in that they continued the story rather than interrupted what was happening.

Plus, the mystery was gripping! Even though I felt like it wasn't like a "whodunnit," but more like a "What happened?!," it was still interesting, which is more than what I can say for other books of this type.

I wanted to know what happened and kept flipping pages until the very end. I kind of guessed based on some of the clues, but the validation the book provided was what made it so good.

And Summers is really subtle about some things, like she mentions something and you're like, "Is that...?" and then later she confirms it, which was both gratifying to read and interesting to solve.

I think the content is definitely shocking (and potentially triggering, so keep an eye out!), but it was all so compelling and wrapped up in a way that was really enjoyable for me! I think Summers did a really great job executing this, and it really touches on that interesting small town atmosphere that I ended up enjoying a lot.

Both the podcast and what happened really helped set up that small town atmosphere and how oppressive it can be, and I really felt for the characters, even if they didn't make the best decisions at times.

Overall, I definitely really enjoyed reading Sadie and found it to be a very well-written thriller novel that kept me hooked and had a unique format that enhanced the narrative. Although I might not have been completely obsessed, this was a really great read and I'm glad I had the chance to read it early!

[Trigger Warnings: Pedophilia, Murder, Abuse, Grief (I like to include this because I could only imagine how I'd feel reading this book if I had just lost someone I love)]  
There's a lot of things I could say about this book, but the thing I'm left with as I finished it today was "this book f*cked me up." I honestly have no other ways to describe it. Like with any Courtney Summers book, I find myself in awe and wanting more and more pages. 

Sadie is an absolutely riveting novel. I love a good puzzle, and every book to me is like a puzzle. I like to try and figure out the end. I had no idea where Sadie was taking me. I could not predict a single thing about this book. Every new place Sadie went, I was completely in the car with her, feeling her pain, her grief. 

Summers has a way about her that always makes me feel proud to be a girl and also makes me feel so in-tune with my community of women. That's my favorite thing about a Courtney Summers novel. I every female reader can feel that community of how we all band together in the name of Sadie and so many others. 

It seems impossible that I could be continuously more and more blown away by Summers, and yet, here I am with another book that my brain can't comprehend how amazing it is. I feel like I'm writing the same things over and over again, but all my brain comes down to is that this book is incredible. 

I absolutely ADORED West and the entire The Girls podcast/radio series aspect of this novel. Having it start with the interview and end with the interview WRECKED me. It was so cleverly done. Every interview I kept thinking, "West, you're almost there. Find her." It was amazing how much his story kept me rooting for Sadie. You can actually listen to the podcast as well!

Sadie is a great character that I think a lot of people with speech impediments, like a stutter, will find a lot of solace in. I don't have a giant problem with stuttering, but definitely enough that I loved Summer's depiction of stuttering. I loved this quote :

"I can hear a lie a mile away. It's not some superhero perk from stuttering, being in tune to other people's emotional bullshit. It's just what happens after a lifetime of listening to liars."
I thought this quote said a lot about the stereotype of YA novelists including disabilities. They have used things like a stutter in the past to give a character a skill they otherwise wouldn't have. I loved that Summer's (and Sadie-- I have a feeling she wrote this book for Summers. She seems like kind of character). There were plenty of other quotes in the novel that were even better, but I like this one a lot because of these reasons (and it gives away a lot less than some others). 

I can't wait to read more Courtney Summers novels, and I am incredibly happy that I picked up (and got sent) Sadie. 

Sadie is out in the world and here a link to where you can buy it:

Amazon

My favorite quote is always one that gives a lot of power to girls, so here is my favorite line from Sadie: 

"Every little thing about you can be a weapon, if you're clever enough."
Thank you again to Wednesday Books, Barnes and Noble, and Meghan Harrington for the pictures!

This book broke me apart. It is absolutely one of my most anticipated releases for the year and probably in my top 5 favourite reads this year. It was so compelling and beautiful, yet gut-wrenching. I read this more than two weeks ago and it's still lingering in my mind. I don't think I'll be letting this fade anytime soon. I honestly do not have the words to properly review this novel because it was just that devastating to my soul. I must have cried at least 4 times. I remember I was only 3% into it when I first got emotional...

Sadie is for all the lost girls seeking to make the world a better place. This is one of those novels that sinks into you, grips you by the feelings, and refuses to let go. It has really changed me as a person for many reasons. With the upbringing I had, I wasn't too far off being Sadie. Courtney Summers has written a book for the lost girls and the ones who feel they never quite fit, but still believe in good and love and loyalty.

I loved the way Sadie was written - part crime drama podcast, part Sadie's narration. It was unique to me and hearkened to all of the crime dramas I find myself so addicted to so often. It was interesting to get so many perspectives throughout the novel - and to realise that no matter your upbringing or socioeconomic status, little girls (and all children, really) are vulnerable, even if we do our best to keep them safe always. That's not to say we shouldn't let them have experiences and do things, but pay attention! It's important to make sure they know they have a voice. Go out there, friends, and be kind, but speak up when you need to do so. And hug your loved ones!

Well-written with a painfully relevant plot and a hard-driving protagonist, Sadie sets a story about a girl with a purpose that puts her needs, including her safety and security, second. 

However, I failed to completely connect with her. I think it's the use of podcast speak in alternate chapters throughout the book. When I'd follow her via her perspective, the podcast would cut in and spoil my venture, as a reader, with Sadie, cutting my connection with her.

Still, I recommend this tale, even with the aforementioned issue. 3.5/5

I don't think I'll ever recover from reading this book. Sadie was hard to read and even harder to put down. Her past and present were difficult to stomach, and I'm positive her story will stay with me for the rest of my life. No child should have to endure or experience what she did, and I think that's why this story was so impactful -- it's something that happens every day. Children are neglected, taken advantage of, abused in unimaginable ways, and the perpetrators are not always caught.

I want to be able to tell you that Sadie's story has a happy ending, but I can't do that. Regardless of how her story plays out, she's lost something irreplaceable. There was nothing about Sadie's life worth celebrating, and the one thing she loved, her sister, was stolen from her in the middle of the night. She loved Mattie more than life itself, and was like a mother to her sister. It was a difficult relationship, but Sadie did everything in her power to make sure her sister had a better life than she did growing up.

I really enjoyed the layout for this book. The chapters alternate between Sadie's perspective and West McCray. West works for a radio station, and he was tasked with the story of Sadie's disappearance. We see his story unfold through podcast-like interviews and his own personal experiences over time. It was unique and really offered a different side to the overall story. It allowed characters Sadie interreacted with to have a second chance to share their perspectives, and it was usually one we didn't see when they were with Sadie herself.

If you start this book, be prepared to read it all the way through. It's almost impossible to put down. There's this need to know aspect about the story, and I felt like everything would be okay if I just kept going. I had to see Sadie's story through to the end. I had to make sure everything worked out the way it was supposed to. I had to know.

Courtney Summers has woven an incredibly complex and horrific story. I can't say that I enjoyed reading it, because the content was too disturbing and left a bitter taste in my mouth. I really thought things would get better if I kept reading, but how can they when you're only uncovering more lies and dirty secrets? Sadie is a hard read. It's dark and it's twisted, but the scariest aspect is how true it could be. There are people in this world living that life, and... and I really don't want to think about it anymore.

Going into this one, I assumed Sadie was going to be a murder mystery set in a small town, but it is so much more than that. Her story makes me want to cry and scream at the world we live in, and I cannot imagine the pain Sadie must have endured during her childhood and throughout this book. Courtney Summers has written a life-changing story that left me feeling angry, hollow, and irreparably broken.

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on August 28, 2018.