This fast-paced and exciting story will greatly appeal to YA readers who love gritty mysteries and thrillers. Contos does an excellent job creating realistic and relatable characters for adolescent readers. Universal themes are explored within and engaging mystery. Highly recommended!

Throwaway Girls is a beautiful, brutal book that doesn't accept easy answers. Caroline as a narrator is fantastic--sardonic and guarded, but with a vulnerability that she shows in just the right moments. The mystery itself is compelling, too.

I did wish that Madison was further developed; I didn't really believe her friendship with Caroline, and I feel like it almost would've made more sense if Madison hadn't been her friend at all. Caroline's own backstory, too, is a little sparse, and the conversion therapy subplot doesn't completely work because her mother's motivations are pretty weak. I was also a little confused by the perspectives, because the voices didn't start to distinguish themselves until maybe 1/3 of the way through.

But the overall sentiment--that all girls are worth looking for--is more important than its flaws.

I didn't finish this book. It was very confusing to me and after 100 pages of so I have up. I couldn't root for any of these characters as wasn't interested in finding out what happened.

(Thank you Kids Can Press for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review! This review is abridged, full review is on my blog, linked below!)

The cover and the description of this book gripped me as soon as I saw it. At first I was unsure how I would feel about this, but as soon as I bridged a little under halfway, I was hooked. Caroline is a fantastic protagonist, and I love the way Contos weaved the main thriller storyline with Caroline's family dynamic and struggles to fit in while also being comfortable with herself and her mental health. It's daring to braid all this together in a debut, but I think Contos pulled it off well. My only real complaint was I wanted more from the supporting characters, but I have a feeling Contos will only get better with time.

This book really surprised me. It certainly wasn’t perfect, but the writing flows really well and is consistent, especially for a debut. Contos weaves in character development, interesting plot twists, and social commentary with the talent of a seasoned writer. Though it takes a bit for everything to fall into place, I was still excited to read this book every time I picked it up. It’s a super quick read, especially as Caroline is an extremely likeable and unique protagonist. Definitely recommend this one!

What a ride! While the build-up is a bit slow, I couldn't put this book down with the potential it had, and I ended up reading it in a day. The mystery is very much true to life and felt at times like nonfiction for how relevant it is. I was also surprised with many of the twists and while I did guess the bad guy about 2/3 through, that didn't diminish my enjoyment at all!

My best friend is missing and the only way to find her is to link the two separate parts of myself. My name is Caroline and I live a double life. When I pretend- I am the perfect daughter as befitting of my family name with the perfect grades and active social life in sports and charity. When I am myself, I am in a different town with a different name but it's the only way I can be the real me.

This is a deep and suspenseful tale froth with lies, deceit, betrayal, and the lengths we will go to protect those we love. It is emotionally raw and delves deep into dark themes of privilege, money, and power. Welcome to the real world- where girls are thrown away and nobody notices.

Thank you to NetGalley and KCP Loft for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos is a rollercoaster I'd love to ride forever. The characters were well developed, and their arcs didn't feel incomplete. They each had their motivations and goals. The bond between Jake, Caroline, and Aubrey made me happy, despite the danger they were putting themselves in. As for the plot, I was completely entertained and didn't once get bored. The shift between views was keeping me at the edge of my seat, and I was so shocked to find out who it was. The story had me hooked on the first page, and the writing was well done. Everything felt real, and I felt like I was there with the characters trying to figure out the puzzle. some of my favorite quotes (now) come from this book. I’m excited about its release, and I cannot wait to pick up a physical copy for myself.

"Our truths change. they stretch and spit as we grow, the shedding of them leaving u raw and exposed. if we're lucky, we're surrounded by love in those moments when our tender flesh is still rebuilding. if we're not, we grow scars."
"Because it doesn't matter how she died. what matters is that someone remembers that she lived."

Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos is a sapphic murder mystery that you didn’t know you needed. In Throwaway Girls, we follow Caroline as she tries to solve the disappearance of her best friend Madison. Through emotional highs and lows, surprising twists, and unexpected friendships- this book takes you on an exciting journey.

TW: Conversion therapy, murder, probably other things but, mentions of conversion therapy and details of it feels important to notify of.

“Detective Harper is a liar. That score to settle goes back nearly three years. And if there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s this: if things are ever going to be right again, it’s not Detective Harper who’s going to get them there.”

This book had me on the edge of my seat, feeling worried and heartbroken for Caroline. As she navigates the PTSD from being forced into a conversion therapy camp and also trying to solve the mystery of her best friend’s disappearance- you start to wonder if she’s unraveling. The narration of Caroline, her passion, her anger, and her determination left me feeling her same feelings.

Not all books end in the character suddenly no longer having issues, and this was one of them. The book ends and Caroline is still hurt, and still angry. I can appreciate this because it takes so much time to heal and grow from traumatic instances. People genuinely do care about Caroline though, and you can see that throughout the book- despite them not always showing it in the best of ways.

The Who-dun-it aspect of this book was really well done, I was genuinely surprised when it all tied together and wrapped up. Andrea Contos has set the bar with Throwaway Girls as her debut novel and I cannot wait for more.

OMG, the plot twist at the end!! I would give this book to any teen looking for a great, dark thriller. There are certainly a lot of twists and turns that kept me reading. I had chills. I never saw the ending coming, which I LOVE in this kind of thriller!!! Great book- like "Gone Girl" for the slightly younger crowd.

I really wanted to like it. The main character was unlikeable, very little redeeming qualities other than she is smart. The interaction between Willa and Livie was confusing (until it is explained in the end, but I felt it distracted more than helped). I figured out who the guilty party was 70% into the book. The character keeps degrading the fact that she's affluent and that her parents ignore her, but she takes advantage of that.

Throwaway Girls is a novel that manages to keep you reading while giving missing women a voice. Caroline is heartbroken after her girlfriend breaks up with her and her best friend goes missing. Caroline is bereft in a town steeped in wealth and privilege but with adults that don’t understand her. Her mother actively rejects her sexuality. With a mistrust for adults Caroline goes looking for her missing friend Madison. She finds secrets hidden in every corner of life.

Andrea Contos writes a novel that every girl and woman should read. Actually everyone should. It’s socially aware but still leaves you reading it in one sitting.

***Thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press Publishing Company for providing me an ARC of THROWAWAY GIRLS by Andrea Contos in exchange for my honest review.***

4.25 rating

This book was a very intriguing thriller and mystery about a girl whose best friend has gone missing. While out searching for her friends she finds out that another girl in the nearby area has also gone missing, but because of her class and socioeconomic status, has been disregarded by the local authority. This book explores issues about socio-economic status and lgbt issues.

Writing:
“Everything started with the body at the edge of the lake. I know that now. But back then, all I knew was the rush and gurgle of water where the stream fed into the lake, the gentle sway of yellow irises as the wind lifted their down-turned petals. And the way the body’s legs bobbed in time with the lap of water against the shore, like part of the girl’s spirit was still trying to run from whatever had brought her there.”
-I mean come on! This is such a good opening and made me very interested.

Pacing:
-This entire book was hard to put down

Characters:
-I might not have liked the characters at all times, but I still really enjoyed reading about them and their lives/struggles

-I will recommend!!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

This book gave me some lovely Lovely Bones vibe with a boarding school vibe and I'm all here for it. I think the atmosphere was wonderfully written and the storyline was gripping. I especially liked the sections in between chapters where you're not entirely sure whose perspective you're reading from.

My main issue with this novel is the characterization of Caroline - I wanted more of the storyline of her going to conversion therapy camp (perhaps next novel?) but I do understand that this was more focused on the throwaway girls and how people forget about them. I think this book definitely brings up a very important issue of police overlooking certain types of girls because they know nobody is looking for them.

Throwaway Girls is a fantastic debut. It's well paced and full of twists, a few you won't see coming. It captivates you from the first page with it's strong characters and intriguing plot.

I couldn't finish this I found it boring and confusing. The characters weren't interesting and I didn't enjoy the plot

This was one hell of a debut! I’ve been in a reading slump for the last two months and I couldn’t put this book down. I cannot wait to see what this author does next.

It’s exactly what I needed. I somewhat guessed the twist near the beginning but I wasn’t bothered. Sometimes I like knowing and I am glad it wasn’t some “random out of the blue character never introduced before now” kinda deal.

The characters felt real and strong and flawed and I loved Caroline.

There is some of the usual teenagers running around solving puzzles without telling the parents but you’ll come to realise the grown ups aren’t exactly doing anything.

I really enjoyed the book.

This is one twisted story that I devoured so fast. The author is a poetic thriller writer. I found myself pausing to soak in her words and phrasing. I liked Caroline right away with her sarcasm, determination, and passion to find the truth. She takes matters into her own hands. While there is a slow burn investment of the story, you will find yourself consumed by the emotion and the relationships as well as the desire to give justice to others who have gone missing. I couldn't believe how everything came together in the end.

'Throwaway Girls' is more than a mere young adult mystery novel. As the title suggests, it is a book with an important message to send about how the criminal justice system -- and society itself -- fails so many missing young people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, highlighting how the disappearances of some (usually white and middle-class) girls attract media attention and candlelit vigils, while others are forgotten. It had a believable setting that felt eerie and gloomy from the very first page, an original plot, and some "oh!" moments as I put pieces of the novel's mystery together alongside Caroline, but ultimately, I found myself unable to get properly emotionally invested in the characters and found that the ending fell a little flat for me.

Even so, this isn't one to pass up. Flawed, forthright protagonists like Caroline are always interesting to read about in YA lit, and this is a well-written exploration of privilege with a resolution that I didn't see coming!

Can I just say wow? This book had me hooked from the beginning. I couldn't put it down. Caroline was a great protagonist and I really felt for her. The writing was excellent and enhanced the mood.

Sometimes you just need to get lost in a good mystery/thriller. Andrea Constos provides just that in this enticing novel. I would have given this 4 stars, but there were many times that I got confused in the writing. This might have been due to the review copy, but regardless, when the book switched to the voice of an abused child, it was not always obvious.

The book tells the story of Caroline Lawson. She is just trying to survive the last few months of high school so she can get the hell out of her hometown and her parents who believe in conversion therapy for gays. Her girlfriend recently left her and she is struggling to hang on, so when her best friend also goes missing, she has to figure out why. The thing is that Caroline was leading a double life. She was the perfect prep-school kid to her parents and hanging out with her girlfriend at a bar not far from town. When her friend goes missing, the only clue left for her is a matchbox from said bar, a bar her friend isn't supposed to know about, with a phone number.

Most of the book deals with the mystery of finding out what happened to Madison. But interwoven with that is what happens to kids who aren't from well-to-do families. Other girls have gone missing as well, but the police have written them off as runaways. This book shines the light on the issue of "throwaway kids" who get abducted partially because no one is going to look for them.

If you are a fan of thrillers, this is a good book to read, I just hope the final layout makes parts of it clearer.