I’m the Girl focuses around Georgia, a character who is not particularly easy to like. I don’t start with that because it is a problem for me – I rather enjoy an unlikable character. I’m just saying it up front to save a certain type of reader some time right off the bat. You know the one – the reader who either thinks that every character reflects the personality and/or values of it’s writer, or the reader who believes that if they don’t like or can’t relate to a character then they could never possibly enjoy the story. If you are either of those types of readers, please stop here. You won’t like I’m the Girl. Georgia is…sad. She’s shallow and vain. But she’s also determined to do what needs doing to get herself to a better life than the one she came from.

Okay, now we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s carry on, shall we?

So, Georgia finds a dead body. Specifically she finds a dead 13 year old girl named Ashley. And she teams up with Ashley’s older sister Nora to try to find the killer – why you ask? Because, that’s why. I guess cuz police are never to be relied on – which does make some sort of sense.

The thing I like most about I’m the Girl is the sheer, unbridled disgustingness of just about every person you encounter. This story definitely has shades of Epstein. Midway through the story you’re just going to start rooting for a random act of nature to just brutally murder every single one of these monsters. I mean, not Georgia (she’s not terrible, just not…great), and not Nora (she’s fine, I guess). But definitely everyone else. Every single other person is gonna give you big time ick. But Georgia, despite being kind of shallow and whatnot, is actually a pretty interesting character. She’s a good mix of vanity and vulnerability. You will find that you’re rooting for her even though she’s not the most sympathetic girl in the world – but everyone else around her is so revolting that you kinda need her to win.
Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Honestly, I think that Courtney Summers’ writing ability is the best thing about I’m the Girl. I think that while the story is pretty good, but her writing is spectacular. She’s got a knack for immersive writing. You’ll be sucked into the story whether you want it or not.

Summers crafts a gripping narrative that not only explores the mystery surrounding Ashley's death but also delves into Georgia's inner turmoil and longing for a better life. The juxtaposition of Georgia's gritty reality with the opulent world she encounters creates a compelling tension throughout the story.

What makes "I'm the Girl" particularly powerful is its exploration of societal power structures and how they affect young women like Georgia. The novel confronts readers with difficult questions about acceptance and survival in a world where money, power, and beauty reign supreme. Georgia's journey forces readers to consider their own views on these issues and whether they are willing to accept the status quo.

The character development in "I'm the Girl" is exceptional. Georgia's transformation from a girl trapped by her circumstances to a determined young woman willing to fight for what she believes in is both believable and inspiring. Likewise, Nora's journey from grief-stricken sister to Georgia's partner-in-crime adds depth to the story and highlights the importance of female solidarity.

Overall, "I'm the Girl" is a brutal and illuminating account of one young woman's struggle to navigate a deadly and predatory world. Courtney Summers doesn't shy away from the harsh realities her characters face, but she also offers glimmers of hope and resilience amidst the darkness. This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys gritty mysteries with a strong emotional core.

"I'm the Girl" by Courtney Summers is a novel that left me with mixed feelings. While Summers' writing style is undeniably compelling, drawing readers into the protagonist's tumultuous world with vivid prose and raw emotion, I found myself struggling to fully connect with the story. The exploration of complex themes such as trauma, identity, and resilience is commendable, but at times it felt overshadowed by the protagonist's internal struggles, leaving me wanting more depth in the plot development.

Additionally, while the protagonist's journey of self-discovery is poignant and relatable, I couldn't shake the feeling of predictability in certain narrative twists. Despite its flaws, "I'm the Girl" offers moments of genuine insight and empathy, particularly in its portrayal of teenage experiences and relationships. Overall, while I appreciate the novel's ambition and emotional resonance, it fell short of delivering the impactful storytelling I expected from Courtney Summers.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

OMG!!! This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

This author just breaks my heart over and over again with her books, and I am happy to let her keep doing so. This is a companion to the wonderfully heart-breaking SADIE and is just as gripping. It's described as a "spiritual companion' so it isn't a direct sequel. This story of two young women attempting to solve a very personal murder mystery and bring some sort of justice is so gripping and powerful. I love the way Summers writes-- Georgia felt so real to me. I was absolutely on the edge of my seat as she went into these very dangerous situations, and in that way, it reminded me a lot of my experience reading Sadie. I don't want to say too much here as I think it's better to go in fairly blind. But omg, this is such a powerful book.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review!!

I'm super upset to say this as an unapologetic Courtney Summers fan, but I did not like this as much as I thought I would. Obviously, this is a tough read as it touches on so many harsh topics and you can tell it takes direct inspiration from the world of Jeffrey Epstein.

But unfortunately, I just didn't jive with this. I started and stopped this about 5 or 6 times and even did the audiobook for a good majority (a last resort if I'm struggling with a book) but I just found myself not into it. Once we found out who Ashley's killer was, I found it especially hard to stay focused on getting to the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

So this wasn't one of my favorites by Courtney. I feel like this is mostly because this is aimed towards thriller fans but after reading it the thriller parts of it are on the back burner. The mystery isn't the main focus like I thought it would be. Hopefully, I'll like the next book she writes.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

While I did enjoy Courtney Summers other book Sadie, I unfortunately had to DNF this one.

Deepest apologies for the late review—this one slipped through the cracks!

I'm afraid this one just wasn't the book for me. I tried, I really did, I must have started it at least three times, but it never clicked.
I rarely DNF books, but this one was such instance.
The writing felt really disjointed, and I could never get into the story. It constantly felt like I was missing a chapter or some very important info, and I didn't manage to get past that feeling.

I really enjoyed her previous book, but this one didn't work for me.

Courtney Summers is an auto=buy for me and has been for years. She gets better and better with ever book.

I was excited to read this book because I really enjoyed the author's other book called Sadie. But I never quite connected to this book. Despite the low rating, I don't think this was a bad book. It just wasn't for me.

I'm learning that Courtney Summers is pretty hit-or-miss for me, and it seems her older stuff is more "hit" and the newer stuff is more "miss." Alas, here we are again. This one was okay, I did enjoy it more than The Project. It just... tried too hard to include all of the current hot topics?

I am all for reading a book that supports feminism and LGBTQIA+ and independence and maybe even a dash of politics if it is even-keel on both sides. This just wasn't it.

I also felt like this was Sadie rewritten without the podcast. A missing girl, a sister looking for the answers surrounding her death. I don't know, it just didn't grab me the way some of Summers' older works have. The story was fine, it wasn't fantastic. I read this a while ago and didn't review it right away, and looking at other's reviews to refresh my memory, I realize that there are a lot of smaller details I can't recall because I wasn't that invested.

3 stars

This was not a winner for me. I often felt extremely confused by the narrative and felt detached from the main character and everything that was happening. I think maybe it was written intentionally confusing to reflect how the mind processes--or struggles to process--after experiencing trauma, but I think that is just a narrative choice that I do not like. I understand why it was made, but it is hard for me to even follow along with what is happening in a book if it is structured in that manner.

This was a read that challenges and confronts the topics of desire, power, abuse, control and manipulation through exposing the dirty secrets and underbelly of the rich and powerful and the interior world of girls. It was so painful and uncomfortable to relive and be entrenched in teenage thinking especially among adults who take advantage and destroy. We as readers are witnessing this destruction and can’t do anything to protect the characters. That was really tough to see adults fail children at every turn. This was the toughest content I have read this year and in a long time and this story underlines how this does happen in real life which is at the same time inconceivable, disturbing and unbearable. A worthy and important topic to explore on behalf of these victims and the broken branches of society that allows this to continue.

I recall liking this book but apparently didn't review it here. I will say that Courtney's book, Sadie, still remains one of my favorite audiobooks and I highly recommend it... while this didn't top Sadie by this author, it was still a good read. This book had some good twists.

Even though. I had a hard time reading this book, it was an important and beautiful one. Georgie’s character was interesting to get I got he head of and I liked the look at beauty being a form of power. As well as how a young girl feels powerful but isn’t sure how to use it.

I'm a big fan of Courtney Summers. She never fails to tackle challenging issues and present them in a way that captivates the reader and makes them want to give up everything in order to finish a book.

This book, like Sadie, is a dark look at what one teenager goes through when she is forced to take a job she doesn't necessarily want in order to keep her family afloat financially. It's a dark look at how far women, especially young women, will go in order not to rock the boat or uncover the deep misogyny that runs rampant in society. Embedded within all of this is a mystery about a missing girl and what really happened to her.

I wouldn't recommend this to every reader in my 8th grade classroom, but I do think it would appeal to a certain demographic of reader. I will definitely be continuing to read Courtney Summers as she continues to put out books that make me really stop and think.

I enjoyed this book when I did read it, but now thinking back on it, it's unfortunately forgettable. The characters and plot seem to blend together and it's hard to recognize if the motivation of the main character is because this is the best choice for her, or for the plot.

This is one of those books that’s upsetting, and full of triggers and is a wild ride. I wouldn’t say it’s a strong as her previous book, Sadie, but it was still well written.

Courtney Summers’ writing is unflinching, and I’m the Girl is no exception. The exploration of wealth, power, and abuse is not an easy read, but the themes are important.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this one with me.