60/100 or 3.0 stars

The writing style and the writing itself was well done and kept my interest throughout the story. It is a good option for YA readers getting into difficult topics and situations without being too graphic. There is physical violence in the story, but it's not too bad. Most of the graphic aspects of the story are off-page. The thing that brings the story down from four stars to three stars is just truly how unrealistic certain plot points were done around the halfway point and towards the end. I am all for suspending some disbelief for a story to work, but this story took it too far. I would be interested in trying other novels/works by this author in the future though.

This book had sooooo much potential it starts off strong with the kidnapping and definitely has you on edge most of the book. With some of the stuff that happens you’ll forget you’re reading a YA book SERIOUSLY. My biggest downside is after a while it got repetitive and I didn’t care much for Ruth’s backstory but I did appreciate the author exploring the what behind the serial killer’s actions. I also thought it was crazy how the ppl she found in the mountains treated her lol it was a bit outrageous for someone seeking help.

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a readers copy of this book. My reviews never contain spoilers and are freely given.
Ruthless is the story of a young girl kidnapped by a damaged man. Events in his past have created a killer who feels justified in his actions. But he has never encountered a girl like Ruth. Her character is flawed as well, but she is determined to not die at this man’s whim. Resourceful and unwavering, she will fight with every bit of strength and courage she can muster.
The book leans a bit more into religion than I prefer, but the story was compelling enough for me to overlook it. Overall a good read.

ARC REVIEW, thank you so much to Carolyn Lee Adams, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for this ARC. My review is not influenced by receiving an ARC. This is an honest review!

3 stars

My rating was lowered because there was no trigger warning for the content in this book. If I was better prepared for the content in this book, my rating would probably be higher. Since this book is out now, PLEASE check the TWs on storygraph or some other place.

In this book we follow Ruth, who wakes up in the bed of a truck with a concussion. The man who abducted her is a pedo who believes it is his job to punish "bad" girls. Ruth is a complex character/hard to like for most of the book, but she gets a pass for being a teen girl.

This book did a job with the bystander effect. I truly enjoyed the ending of this book. I enjoyed the storytelling style of jumping between the present, the past (5 years ago), and the past (other character).

I read this book in one sitting, and it had me on the edge of my seat.

It starts off right away with you thinking.. oh gosh how did this character get into this mess.. Ruth wakes up and has no memory, but she does have a gut feeling that seems to assist her throughout the entirety of the book.

You'll find during the book there are three different POVs: one is the present time, another is Ruth's past POV (5 years prior), and another is another character's past POV that led to the beginning of the book. The entirety of the book is really set in one place.

I really didn't find any benefit from the past POVs, I guess they were there to provide additional insight into the character's flaws and attributes. But really it didn't feel as if it added much. I wasn't IN LOVE, but more so tolerated the characters. & so many unrealistic scenarios it felt like throughout the book.

Overall, it was a quick thriller read that truly you can finish in one sitting.

RATING: 3 out of 5 Enchanted Roses

ONE-WORD REVIEW: Ferocious

TAG LINE: She was supposed to be his seventh victim. He may end up being her first.

OPENING LINE: I can’t see. I don’t know why I can’t see.

REVIEW:

First, I want to thank Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse for an e-ARC of 𝑅𝓊𝓉𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈!

𝑅𝓊𝓉𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 is the kind of YA thriller that grabs you by the throat and never lets go. Carolyn Lee Adams delivers a brutal, heart-pounding survival story wrapped in blood, grit, and razor-sharp edges. Our heroine, Ruth Carver—yes, that’s her name—isn’t your typical victim. She’s prickly, privileged, and perfectly aware of her flaws, which makes her evolution from pageant princess to predator all the more compelling. After being kidnapped by a serial killer known only as “the Wolfman,” Ruth is dumped deep in the Appalachian wilderness and forced to rely on nothing but her wits, rage, and refusal to die.

“𝐼'𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓇𝒶𝓅𝑒𝒹. 𝐼'𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓂𝓊𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹. 𝐼'𝓂 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝒾𝓂 𝓉𝑜 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒸𝑒 𝓈𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝓃𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑒𝓁𝓈𝑒. 𝐼'𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓋𝒾𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓂. 𝐼'𝓂 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒶 𝓌𝒾𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓇. 𝐵𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉'𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝒶𝓂. 𝐼'𝓂 𝑅𝓊𝓉𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝒷𝓎 𝒢𝑜𝒹, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝒸𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝒾𝓉.”

𝑅𝓊𝓉𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 isn’t a book that softens the blow. It’s intense, unforgiving, and raw—but also smart, feminist, and fiercely human. I loved how Ruth’s voice never wavered; she doesn’t ask to be liked, and that makes her unforgettable. The psychological tension is as thick as the forest she’s trapped in, and the moral questions linger long after the last page. It’s Hatchet meets You—with a heroine who doesn’t just survive. She fights back.

𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈
✨ Unlikable (aka Realistic) Heroine
✨ Survival Horror
✨ Serial Killer Stalker
✨ Feral Girl Energy
✨ Psychological Cat-and-Mouse
✨ Girl vs. Nature
✨ Complicated Parent Dynamics
✨ Morality Under Pressure
✨ Wilderness Setting

𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓋𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉: Dark, visceral, and unrelenting, 𝑅𝓊𝓉𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 is a survival story with teeth. If you love tough girls, twisted villains, and stories where the woods hide more than shadows—this one's for you.

Happy Reading!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
Bookstagram: @TheTatteredPage
www.TheTatteredPage.com

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

"Ruthless" is a young adult thriller by Carolyn Lee Adams that follows the harrowing journey of Ruth Carver, a fiercely competitive teenager who awakens with a concussion in the bed of a moving pickup truck, only to discover she's been abducted by a man intent on punishing "bad girls. Set against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the narrative unfolds as Ruth escapes into the wilderness, initiating a tense game of cat and mouse with her captor. The story explores themes of survival, resilience, and the psychological complexities of both protagonist and antagonist. Carolyn Lee Adams, originally from the Seattle area, brings her background in screenwriting and stand-up comedy to her debut novel. Her writing blends suspense with an exploration of the darker aspects of human behavior. Ruthless has been recognized as a Gateway Readers Award Final Nominee in Missouri, received an Honorable Mention in the Westchester Fiction Award in California, and was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award. This novel is recommended for readers aged 12 and up who are interested in survival stories and psychological thrillers. While it contains intense subject matter, it presents a fast-paced and thoughtful read for those drawn to character-driven suspense.

This book was interesting to say the least. It was a unique view of the issues that are covered. Instead of the victim being helpless, she is strong and resilient, but she still has much to learn. This experience will change her life forever as she was able to see herself through someone else’s eyes and she did not like what she saw. The ending implies she will apply changes to her life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for this ARC

Spice: none but the themes are a major part of the story
Language: moderate
Method of Consumption: kindle
Published:May 13 2025

I really enjoyed this story. It was a nail biting thriller that kept me turning the pages. My only pet peeves were Ruth not taking the chance with him knocked out or tied up. And of course that we didn’t get a 6 months or 1 year later moment to see how the characters were doing.

Ruthless by Carolyn Lee Adams was enthralling in all the best ways. It was gritty and hopeful and powerful. It was hard to put down. Thanks to Simon Teen for letting me read it early.

Pros: The message of strength and perseverance is an important one. The twists were twisty. The vibes were dark.

Cons: The main character, while meant to be tough and mentally strong, came off a bit arrogant and unlikable. I usually hate saying that about female characters because it makes me think of what happened to HR Clinton, but I don't know how else to describe how this made me feel. I wanted to knock her down a few pegs to reasonable.

Overall, this was a really great thriller. Adams' writing style is dark and vivid.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

4.75
Ruth is strong, confident and takes horse riding seriously. All is well until she wakes up disoriented, covered in manure and blindfolded. It's up to her to piece things together in order to make it back home.
This book was absolutely terrifying. Wolfman was relentless but Ruth was ruthless. She was the most amazing main character. Filled with grit, hope and brains. I was behind every single move Ruth made. The emotions and actions in this books are REAL. You couldn't stop rooting for her and to just keep trying. I was wayyy too invested. The reason for not giving 5 stars was due to the fact that this book contains VERY mature themes for a young adult book so check the trigger warnings!
TW:
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping
Minor: Child abuse
Read from: Apr 29, 2025 - Apr 30, 2025

Characters: 4.00⭐️
Setting: 5.00⭐️
Plot: 4.00⭐️
Themes: 4.50⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 4.50⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4.00⭐️
Overall rating: 4.25⭐️

Ruthless by Carolyn Lee Adams is the story of Ruth, who wakes up in the back of a pick up truck after being taken by a serial killer who is called the Wolfman, who has kidnapped and killed six other red haired girls that he deemed "bad". Ruth escapes into the wilderness of the Blue Ridge Mountains where she is fighting for her life and possibly, planning to end his.

I have never read a YA thriller before, so this is a step away from my normal genres or reads of choice. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was quick paced, suspenseful and atmospheric. I really enjoyed Adams writing style and the dual POV of both Ruth and the Wolfman. Without giving anything away, because I am not about spoilers in reviews for a newer release, I think book went way beyond my expectations.

Would I recommend this book? Yes.

Ruthless is also being reissued on May 13th with a new cover. Thank you to Simon Teen for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. What a story. I couldn't put it down
I was on the edge of my seat
Glimpse into the mind of a serial killer of small children
Until he meets Ruth and everything changes

Omg everyone I know needs to read this. Many many trigger warnings for sexual assault, murder, attempted rape, physical violence and anything involving wilderness survival at such an awful man chasing you through it and in a really bad way. This book is anxiety incarnate. Every moment Ruth would get away there was a tiny voice in the back of my mind that was just screaming that he was still out there chasing her and I've never really been able to feel that with other stories like this one. Ruth is by far one of the strongest FMC I've ever read about, if you like anything by Mindy Mcginnis then you will really like this one. I almost feel conflicted liking this book so much thanks to the brutal content. But this was written so well and Ruth's inner monolog throughout the story made me sob in certain parts especially the end. Thank you so much Netgalley for providing me the gift that is this book to read early so I can make this story heard the way it needs to be heard.

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced YA thriller that keeps your heart racing and your fingers flying through the pages, Ruthless absolutely delivers. This book is a gripping, high-stakes cat-and-mouse game set deep in the woods—and it’s one of the best I’ve read in a long time.

Ruth is a fascinating protagonist: strong, smart, and stubborn in the best way. From the moment she’s taken, it’s a pulse-pounding ride of survival, cunning, and psychological warfare. The twists and turns are executed with precision, making this a great pick for fans of edge-of-your-seat suspense.

While the story kept me hooked from start to finish, I did find myself wishing it was just a bit longer. There’s so much depth to Ruth—her past, her pain, her resilience—and I would’ve loved more time to explore who she was before the abduction and who she becomes after.

Still, for a thriller that reads like a sprint and hits hard with its intensity, Ruthless is an absolute win. Dark, tense, and unputdownable—it’s one I’ll definitely recommend to fellow thriller lovers.

I enjoyed this book for the first 70% and then the worst thing happened. The last 30% drug SO BAD I ended up not liking the book as much as I did.

I usually don't like a captivity story. But this one was okay.

Thank you #SimonTeen and #netgalley for this eARC!

Where do I even begin?!

Ruth has a fighting spirit through and through. From the first chapter, it was captivating. This is a fast-paced thriller that keeps you engaged the entire time. Wolfman was truly as evil as it comes. This is a cat and mouse thriller story that keeps you on your toes. I didn’t feel like I knew where the story was taking me if she would survive or not and I truly enjoyed how chilling it was. It was like a classic horror movie — kinda 90s inspired.

*I will also note: I did not know this is a reinvention of the original book!*

I enjoyed "Ruthless" when it was first released, and I enjoyed re-reading it through NetGalley. In it, the protagonist, Ruth Carver, has been kidnapped by a ruthless serial killer and must find a way to rescue herself. What makes this book different and better than other YA thrillers is that Ruth is a ruthless person herself—smart, resourceful, with a strong will to survive. Carolyn Lee Adams has a writing style that builds suspense chapter by chapter, providing action and insight and allowing the reader to live vicariously through Ruth. Luckily for us, it is an intense and thrilling ride! Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

#Ruthless

This book hit close to home as I live in Upstate South Carolina and my family lives in the Blue Ridge area. Knowing the landscape and how isolated certain parts of Blue Ridge are made this eerie in the best ways.
I did have a hard time with the main character. It didn't feel as though she was in self preservation mode when she left Wolfman to go to the bathroom and also skipped out on harming/injuring him when she had the chance. Another area that was difficult to believe was when the neighbors wouldn't call the cops for our Main Character. I understand them not wanting to let her into their home, but not calling the cops felt like a point made only to move the plot forward. I feel like we could have gone down a different path to get the same point across.
I also found it jarring, and this was probably due to me not doing my own research, that one of Wolf Man's intentions was to rape these girls. I felt queasy and wish I had known this before getting into the novel. It added a level of discomfort, and I probably wouldn't have chosen to read this book if I had known beforehand.
Overall, I think this would make for a great read in the autumn months if you're looking for a book to keep you on the edge of your seat and are aware of the triggers inside.