Wow this was such a great book! I loved the authors writing style as it kept me hooked the entire time while reading this book. I will have to be sure to check out future books by this author too.

This was a pretty good thriller- a little slow in the beginning and everyone was a mess, but they grew on me by the end. I was very invested into finding out whodunit. A solid thriller.

Exceptional character development takes center stage in this novel. With a focus on the trials faced by women, the story delves into a realm of empowerment and thrills. A compelling narrative unfolds as estranged friends reunite on a podcast, piecing together the puzzle of their missing or possibly murdered friend. While leaning more towards mystery than outright thriller, this engaging read appeals to fans of both genres.

Kudos to the author for a remarkable debut that refuses to be forgotten—just like the dead girls who often fade from memory. Thanks to Sourcebooks and the author for providing an ARC copy, allowing me to offer my sincere review. "Don't Forget The Girl" leaves an indelible mark, a testament to the author's skill. Well done!

This was my first NetGalley read and I discovered it from a fellow reader that I follow on Instagram. I was excited to read it when I saw that the book was set on the University of Iowa campus.

The book is about three college friends and one was murdered. Chelsea and Bree have been estranged since the incident, but come back together to speak on a podcast about their friend Abby. They rekindle their freindship while finding closure for Abby's murder.

I loved this book and had a difficult time putting it down. It's a good one to add to your TBR list.

I have so many emotions after finishing this novel! I wanted a little more info at the end, but the mire I think about it, the more that I feel this ending and final scene were necessary. I really liked the writing style and could see myself reading more from Rebecca McKanna in the future!!

(I was provided an ARC of Don't Forget the Girl courtesy of NetGalley. This is my unbiased review)

Don't Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna explains what happens to the victims that aren't as well known in the onslaught killing spree of a serial killer. It tells how the friends of one victim realize their fried is gone but certainly not forgotten.

As the last day of Jay Allen Blue's life is fast approaching Bree and Chelsea reflect on the past and the events that let up to the death of their friend Abby.

To Chelesa, Abby was so much more than just a friend. Abby was Chelsea's first love and the one that has made it hard to ever truly love again. For Bree, Abby was a rock and her possible saving grace from all she had suffered from.

Chelsea wants the world to know that they are a couple, but Abby isn't so willing to confess the truth. Meanwhile, Bree struggles with finding her footing and place as the third wheel. Still the three friends never made it feel like a third wheel syndrome.

The girls are a tight knit group and it couldn't help but remind me of some of my close female friends. From the moments of pure love to the times of absolute competitive frustration this book gets to the grit and heart of the female friendship. Don't Forget the Girl explores not only the female friendship, but ventures deeper into Queer love and all that it means to be a teenage girl during her years of self discovery.

Don't Forget the Girl bounces from chapters dedicated to Bree and then Chelsea and eventually to Abby herself. While Bree and Chelsea are focused on today, Abby's chapters are the events leading up to her demise.

McKanna does a great depiction of Abby's final days without bringing gore or a visceral moment to the table. She makes the reader realize that Don't Forget the Girl is about so much more than losing a friend to a serial killer. When you venture deep into the depths and soul of the book you realize that this is a summoning to really any female to not forget herself.

While the store didn't necessary captivate me in entirety I did want to know more of the main characters. Bree was such a raw representation of the constant desire to be seen and to be loved. Chelsea was the embodiment of what females do to shape themselves in a mold and smother their true selves. As for Abby well she is the one that is seen until the end even while she cannot accept herself until it is far too late.

If you are searching for a book that has the undertone of loss but upholds it with the bond of female friendship then this is the book for you. Until next time, Happy Reading!

There’s a lot to unpack in the novel, Don’t Forget the Girl. I definitely think it’s a well written book but it wasn’t what I thought it would be going in. Once I changed my frame of reference I was able to see more where the author was going with the book. It’s not a thriller or mystery (IMO) it’s really a story about the complexities of young women and their relationships with each other and themselves.

Chelsea, Bree and Abby have been friends for years growing up but only two of them reach adulthood as Abby ends up an unconfirmed victim of a local serial killer. Chelsea and Bree have an estranged relationship after the loss of Abby and only reunite together when Abby’s killer is on death row. I did appreciate the alternating POVs and timelines. Chelsea and Bree’s POVs are in the present storyline and Abby’s are in the past leading up to her death.

Thank you @bookmarked and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I really liked this! It kept me on my toes with the back and forth from current to past timelines. Abby and Chelsea’s relationship brought a different twist to the typical “missing girl” story.

I could have done without the Bree/Zach story line, but I liked the growth we saw from her throughout!

Thiis is a masterful, compelling first novel, set on a college campus and visiting past and present in the lives of three friends, one of whom becomes the victim of a serial killer. Similar in tone to the upcoming Bright Young Women (by Jessica Knoll) it features young women coming to grips with who they are and who they want to be, and, in the present, focuses on navigating hard decisions, emotions, and the Sisterhood of Grief.

Abby, Bree, and Chelsea are high school friends starting their freshman year of college. Abby is murdered that fall and her friends are still dealing with it in their own ways fifteen years later.

I really enjoyed this book and wanted to keep reading to see how it would all end and if Jon Allan Blue was actually the killer!
I loved that it was told from multiple points of view in two different timelines (past- Abby, present- Bree and Chelsea).

Rebecca McKanna did a great job of peeling back the layers of the characters and the plot as the book progressed.

This book also sheds light on how it is often the killers that are remembered and not the victims and survivors.

I loved the concept of this book. It’s so true that the killers are always put in the spotlight, but what about their victims? Especially when the body’s never been discovered and the case went cold, who even remembers the victim?

This was a great debut! Full of so many emotions, you can really feel the characters vulnerability as you read and see them develop. This book also touches on the controversies of being gay, the church and societal pressures that don’t allow you to be who you truly are.

Great read, highly recommend!

Three best friends. 18 years ago one disappeared without a trace. Now, the two remaining friends are estranged and facing the upcoming execution of the man accused of killing their friend all those years ago.

This story shines a light on true crime culture: how it often only focuses on the killer and the victims’ names are all but forgotten, merely a footnote in the story. McKanna tells the story with 3 POVs, each one of the friends helps tell the story. Abby, the friend who disappeared, tells her story from the past. We also get a podcast, interview transcripts, news articles weaved in throughout.

McKanna has written a very compelling debut that kept me hooked from the beginning. The various POVs worked really well together and didn’t break up the flow of the story. It is an emotional and powerful read. I’m not sure how to categorize this book as it is much more than a thriller.

If you are looking for something different, a book that is multi-layered with strong social commentary, give this one a try! Out now.

I cannot believe this is a debut author! Not only was the story a perfect thriller and mystery, the characters were so well developed and really pulled on your heartstrings.
Twelve years ago, Abby Hartmann disappeared after a Halloween party in her college town. Two weeks later, there were multiple murders at a sorority house at the same school. Unfortunately, since Abby's body was never found, these other murders overshadowed her story being out in the news circuit.
Now, Jon Allan Blue is days away from execution for the Sorority murders, as well as others he's been connected to. Bree and Chelsea, Abby's childhood friends need to find out if he was really involved in Abby's murder before it's too late.
The story follows both Bree and Chelsea into adulthood and reveals what has taken place in their lives since the murder of their friend. The author delves deep into the decisions these women have taken over the years in order to deal with their feelings about the unsolved murder. There is also a podcast aspect to the story. Being a true crime podcast listener, this was a plus.
I can't wait for more stories from Rebecca McKanna.

I am shocked this is a debut novel for this author. It was so much more than I expected. It’s about friendship, grief about how it never fully goes away and can take over if you let it, and love. It’s about how one night can totally change somebody’s life.

I wanted to .love this book but it just wasn't what I expected. I willingly admit that I may have been in the wrong mindset to read this and that, if I picked up again later, my review might be different.

This debut novel from Rebecca McKanna was completely unexpected. This wasn't the fast paced thriller I anticipated, it was something completely different - thought provoking and beautifully written. While a fictional story, it highlights real life issues. It is a story about a missing girl, the friends she left behind and a serial killer about to be executed. The author takes a deep dive into the relationship between three women and the complexities of being a woman in general. It talks about how the media often shifts the focus from the victims to the killer. It explores the impact of having a friend go missing and being presumed dead. It was brilliant. You would never know this is a debut novel. While it does move at a slower pace, it is well worth the read.

I think this is being miss-marketed as thriller & because of that will miss the people who would actually enjoy this. this is not a thriller by any stretch of the imagination, but I still did really enjoy it. it's more of a character study, a look at female relationships, a look at girlhood, a look at grief. how do we move on from something so traumatic? really loved the writing and the characters were so well developed.

Wow! What a brilliant debut! True crime buff’s this one is for you.

Following the perspective of three girls - Bree, Chelsea and Abby. What makes this book unique, is it’s from the victims point of view rather than the killer.

Written from a duel time line - the past to present - we gain significant insight into the characters and place. Bree and Chelsea’s narrative is written in (present) third person while Abby is in 2nd person (past). As the girls reunite, they must address past resentments and search for answers from that tragic night. Beautifully atmospheric and captivating, the novel weaves a complex plot of secrets, lies, jealousy and ultimately healing.

More than a serial killer story, Don’t Forget the Girls is a tale of the grief left behind after tragedy. It’s a story of love and friendship with a nod to victims and their voices.

Many thanks to @netgalley @sourcebooks @bookmarked #rbmedia for an advanced reading copy and ALC 🥰

*Review left on Goodreads and Instagram story (highlights)

Kept me guessing at every turn, solid 3.75 stars. definitely got me out of my romance slump. I wasn't sure how id feel about this in the beginning but i'm glad I had the chance to read it.

This was good. A little slower than I would have liked and a lot of detail, but still good. I found this story to be an interesting viewpoint on how we, as a society look at serial killers. We tend to want to read, watch and listen to all things related to them and forget the actual victims. Hence the title. Twelve years ago, college student Abby goes missing. Jon Allan Blue is a convicted serial killer awaiting execution and presumed to have also killed Abby, although she was never found. Her friends, Bree and Chelsea have not forgotten and have had their lives since then affected by not knowing for sure what happened. They decide to go on a podcast and a new can of worms is opened. I did not really connect with Bree or Chelsea, but I did like the way the story was told. We get flashbacks from the three women and also the podcast, interviews and social media. Very timely. I would read more from this author.