Courtney Summers

Told from the alternating perspectives of nineteen-year-old Sadie who runs away from her isolated small Colorado town to find her younger sister's killer, and a true crime podcast exploring Sadie's disappearance.

Sadie

Thais Soto

No puedo aceptar la muerte de otra chica 

Por favor, hazme lo suficientemente fuerte para esto 

Ese ella está muerta es la razón por la que aún estoy viva.

¿Cómo era ese dicho? ¿”Mejor pedir perdón que permiso? Pero nunca fui buena para decir lo siento, tampoco 

Y al igual que la mayoría de las historias, está comienza con una chica muerta 

Sadie's world falls apart when her sister Mattie is murdered. She wants revenge. When the case goes cold, she runs away from home to follow a few clues. In the meantime, a famous announcer becomes obsessed with Sadie's disappearance and begins to investigate the case for his podcast. Will he solve the mystery before it's too late?

Julia Romans

likely the best audiobook I’ve ever listened to 

Anna Oeltjenbruns

A missing girl on a journey of revenge and a Serial—like podcast following the clues she's left behind.

Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water.

But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meager clues to find him.

When West McCray—a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America—overhears Sadie's story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie's journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it's too late.
source: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250300911

I love when audiobooks shape the story like an audiodrama, and this was soooo captivating to listen to while driving. However, it absolutely dragged in places—most likely as the narrator struggled to form a shape around the story building, but the author could've trimmed some parts imho! But was fun enough that I picked up another title by this author, in the same universe. 

cee 

Zoe R

3.5⭐️
Good. Haunting in a way. Ending kinda sucked but other then that. 



⚠️⚠️⚠️

“Cause I can’t take another dead girl”

“Sadie if you out there. I can’t take another dead girl”

tori 👻

TW: Pedophilia, sexual abuse, drug abuse;

“It's hard to think of someone so vulnerable and alone. It's hard to think of her, so vulnerable and alone.” 

 I don't even know where to start with this one, honestly. I read the first 20% of it in one day and then I couldn't put it down until I was finished the next. God, do I love Sadie, Sadie and her love for Mattie, Sadie and the way she was so beautifully human and so tragically real. 
 One thing I really like is the way Summers wrote the character of West McCray. Through him, she tells us it happened, but, quoting the novel "I've decided the gruesome details of what was uncovered in that orchard will not be a part of this show. While the murder, the crime might have captured your initial interest, its violence and brutality do not exist for your entertainment."
 This book made me cry a few times, but the last few pages did it for me, I couldn't sleep after finishing it. I could just think about Sadie and her story and the heartbreaking amount of Sadies all over the world.

Bria

If I ever lost my sister in a way that wasn't natural, I would have to go out like Sadie might have

this book feels like a huge lump in my throat. extremely gut-wrenching in a lot of ways. sadie deserves the biggest apology and the warmest affection this universe could give.

lerie

Rebecca Soler

Fred Berman

Dan Bittner

Gabra Zackman

A Novel

3 of 5 stars

-----


When I first heard about Sadie, I thought that I would absolutely loved it. I mean, the way the book was structured --- in Sadie's perspective on one hand and a podcast on another, it was a unique way to present a story. I tried picking this up a couple of times but I always put it off because it intimidates me. But when I actually did, I can't help the disappointment I've felt. 

This book didn't hit me hard the way I wanted it to. I know this was full of unlikable characters because of the circumstances of the story but even the main character Sadie, who I thought I supposed to sympathize with, frustrated me the most. I didn't like a single thing about her, her personality and the way she handled things. I know that I should understand her. Her perspective should be the way to see exactly where she stands, how she see and feel things. But I can't connect with her and any of the characters. I found myself mostly frustrated. I didn't exactly know how I felt about the story itself for the most part. Though I admit the last quarter made it hard for me to put the book down because of the building anticipation. I waited to see how the book would end. But the way it ended? I hated when authors did that! 

I know it was more realistic to be unable to find Sadie. I mean, in real life, there are a lot of missing person stayed missing. But when authors did that, it can be infuriating. Aside from knowing that Jack was badly injured when he reappeared that day and we know who inflicted it, there were a lot of vague conclusions about what really happened to Sadie. And I hated when authors ended a book that way. It was as if they didn't know how to end it and just let the readers settled it the way we want. I really don't like incoherent conclusions because it bothered me. 

But despite all of that, I have to admit that the audiobook of this is the most amazing audiobook I've ever listened to, maybe even the most incredible out there. Having a full cast narration, complete with the required background sound, was the reason I had to stay with this book until the end. The knock, the footsteps, the car door slammed, every single sound necessary was there! I hoped it was how all the audiobook was made. 

Overall, it was an okay book for me. If it wasn't for the audiobook, I think I'll rate this book lower. Just sad I didn't love this as much as I wanted to.

chloe rae

Holy shit. 
Man, this book was brutal. Absolutely BRUTAL and ugly and terrifying and just...heartbreaking.
I finished this book an hour ago and my stomach still hurts. I can’t stop thinking about her; about Sadie. Her story is so raw and compelling and I couldn’t stop reading about it. I needed to know what happened but I also had this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach the whole time. 
The way this story is crafted is just genius. The author periodically switches between Sadie’s perspective, as well as the perspective of this radio host who is doing a story on Sadie and her sister and it’s just done so well. The two voices flow together, one perspective saving you from the horror of the other just when you feel like you need it. And watching the story unfold from both perspectives was insane.
This story is gut-wrenching. I think it’s good to go into it not really knowing anything and I’m glad I did. I’ll be thinking about Sadie for a long time.

Riya

from the first page to the end of this book, this story was imbued with pain and sadness of not just the girl in this story but every girl that was a victim of any sort of sexual abuse. the lyrical proses and the brilliant imagery used by Courtney made the ache felt by Sadie and other characters in this book so palpable. I like how this was perfectly structured, and smoothly segued between the podcast and Sadie’s pov. 
this was a raw and honest portrayal of what rape does to small girls, which was showed through our protagonist-Sadie. How permanently damaged her soul was, how just a 19 year old girl longed to be a carefree teenager full of dreams and hope instead of a broken and jaded one. I am satisfied with the ending because it is grounded in reality, but it still leaves us with a tiny bit of hope.
Sadie is a story of how a teenager felt like she needed to take things into her own hands because the authorities and every person in position of providing a safe space, failed to do so.

nina 

** spoiler alert **
           3.5 stars

interesting cover choices 🤨

This is not an easy book to read by any means, not the way it’s written but because of the hard topics that it contains.  Content warnings  galore for this book, mentioned and attempted abuse (physical, sexual, emotional), murder, murder of a child, assault, child abuse, drug use/abuse, pedophilia. 

I loved this book fully and rooted for Sadie every step of the way. It made me cry. It made me think. It made me have to take breaks from reading and listening to the audiobook to stare at the ceiling. 

 I can't take another dead girl.  Yeah, me too.

Melissa Palmer

Book #51 Read in 2018
Sadie by Courtney summers

This is a gripping realistic fiction read. Sadie's younger sister Mattie is killed. Sadie is convinced she knows who is responsible and goes after him to kill him. But Sadie is also trying to save herself. When she goes missing, her guardian pleads with a radio show host to help find her. This book has a lot of twists and turns to keep readers engaged and guessing. The characters are gritty and layered. I recommend this book for high school and adult readers.

Jule

This is THE BEST audiobook I have listened to so far. Not only is the story sooooo good, you also have to respect the production of the audiobook. Holy smokes that was an experience.
Please try to get your hands on the English audiobook! It is next level! 

Will add to this review later but I need you to know now that the audiobook is top tier

edit:
TW for sexual assault, rape, pedophilia, physical violence, murder, child abuse, drug abuse

The reason why I loved this audio book so much is that one: it has an entire cast of +30 people which is exceptional and was unheard of until now. Secondly, the book is divided into two parts, one of them being held in a podcast format - so no better way than to listen to it like a regular podcast!

I really appreciated Sadie and her stutter. I wished the narrator for Sadie would have had a natural stutter. I can see how this would have been difficult to execute though, as we also listen to Sadie's thought process which is written without her stutter. 

To me the story in its entirety was very thought through with heavy implications. I just adore stories (and i don't mean that i adore the themes discussed because they are devastating) that touch upon important and critical topics without ever calling them by their names. That in itself requires eloquence which i will always respect.

long story short: if you can handle the topics listed as Trigger Warnings above, try to get your hands on the English audio book. It is a true gem and i didn't want it to end and took my sweet time with it. Maybe ugly cried in the kitchen while making dinner and needed a minute to compose myself ... maybe.

Denaiir

4.5 stars 

We have 2 POVs: Sadie, who wants revenge on her little sister's murderer, and a podcast called The Girls investigating Sadie’s disappearance.

Sadie is a great character, complex, grey, determined, caring, fierce. I loved following her quest and I was rooting for her, even though I would have acted quite differently sometimes. She's rough because she's had a hard life, and she doesn't know anything different. 

The true crime podcast was so interesting, I really enjoyed the format. Some people said they found the Sadie vs. podcast thing repetitive, but on the contrary I loved seeing how the journalist was not getting all the information, how people saying or not saying things can get you screwed and cut all your leads, and if they were honest, or if they came forward, or acted, it could be quite different. It was actually my favorite thing about this book.

What was the most interesting was not really the mystery, even though I wanted to know what had happened to Sadie. I think this was more of a picture of the heartland of America and how people who live in poverty still love, feel, think, and fight.

I loved it, and it was such a nice change from other YA books. I loved how serious, realistic and bleak it was.

Lamia Hajani

** spoiler alert **
           A good book for fans of true crime podcasts and people who don't mind NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MAIN CHARACTER AT thE END. But it was still a great book. 4/5.

Lisa Sepulveda

This book left me speechless and with a question that I don't believe I will ever be able to answer. This story depicts the real life monsters that lurk in sheep clothing in those picturesque white picket fence small towns. This book to me was scarier than any horror movie I have watched because its real and raw and it can happen to anyone.

Briar's Reviews

Sadie is an intense YA thriller by Courtney Summers.

This book is unique, let me tell ya! It's from two point of views: a podcaster in the form of a script for said podcast and Sadie, the missing teenage girl. 

Things get pretty wild: Mattie, Sadie's little sister, was brutally murdered. You need to understand that Mattie was Sadie's whole life, especially since their Mom decided to walk out on them. Sadie was a surrogate Mother to Mattie, so her whole life was ruined when she died. Sadie ran off, out to seek justice, and she's not gonna stop until she gets it...

The thing about this book - I saw SO many people reading it that I was kind of nervous. Everyone loves it, and often times I don't agree with the crowd. BUT MY GOSH I DO I DO I DO (to quote Abba, of course). This book lives up to all the hype, but I recommend going into it just for a good read. 

This book is WILD. I did not see the ending coming, not from a mile away! Once you get close enough to it all the pieces fit together, but man... It was intense! I'm super impressed and pumped about how this book was strung along. My heart strings were pulled, my heartbeat went crazy up at the thrilling parts and I just couldn't put the book down. Honestly, I binged the whole thing in one go because I NEEDED to know the ending. It was that fantastic! 

The book is super uncomfortable. Some of the content is just creepy and scary, and it reminds me of why this world is so scary. But Courtney Summers wrote it so well that it's hard not to scream about it from the hill tops. I could almost feel Sadie's pain, and as more of the story unfolded I only got more angry and hurt about what happened. Poor Sadie... 

My biggest complaint: The open ending. There is no concrete proof on the exact ending, AND I HATE IT. I truly hate cliffhangers and this one is killing me. I have an assumption of what happened, but it's an assumption at best. The book does kind of hint at it, if you look at the words the right way... but nothing concrete. If Courtney did what I think she did... Good job. If not, I'm annoyed!

There are major trigger warnings in this book: pedophilia, child neglect/abuse, violence and substance abuse. Beware readers, because this book can be tough.

Overall, this book was insanely good. I haven't read YA that goes so heavily into the topics AND make the main character a bad*ss. Go Courtney Summers!

Four out of five stars.

I received an ARC copy courtesy of Goodreads First Reads.

Jannis M

I simply couldn’t find into the story...

alexandra

wowowow this is one of the BEST audiobook productions i've ever listened to. doesn't hurt that the book is fantastic as well. if you're debating between the physical vs the audio, would HIGHLY recommend the audiobook.

Victoria

I don't even know where to begin with this one. One thing's for sure: I'm mad. I'm so mad that I feel like crying and screaming.

Lacy W

A special thank you goes out to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me to read this book early. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

tw: child abuse, sexual assault, drug addiction, addiction shaming, PTSD, violence, child abduction and child death

Wow, this book was so damn heavy and I did not expect that. It made my heart burn with anger and sadness. I felt so much grief for Sadie and the life she had been forced to lead. The sad reality of Sadie's story is that it happens to young girls everywhere. Reading about Sadie's life was like picking up a newspaper. How sad was that? 

One of my favorite things about this book was the inclusion of the podcast chapters. It was an unique way to tell a story and it gave a lot more insight to Sadie's life that she most likely wouldn't have shared in her chapters. 

I related to Sadie in a lot of ways. One of them being her stuttering. My anxiety and fear of public speaking often causes me to stutter. It's something I am really embarrassed about and it's why I don't talk a lot and remain silent. I completely related to Sadie's feelings of being trapped in her mind because she can't get her words out. That really hit me. 

This entire book is centered around Sadie's absolute devotion to her sister, Mattie. Boy, did I relate to that as well! I would give my life to my siblings. Call me dramatic but my family means everything to me and nothing brings me greater joy then my babies's happiness. It was amazing the lengths Sadie went to find out what happened to her sister and honestly, I saw myself in her when it came to that. 

Overall, this book is not for the faint of heart. It deals with some incredibly heavy topics that are mentioned in the trigger warn section. Please practice self care when reading this book. If you can handle it, I think it's absolutely worth the read. It is a very rewarding experience.

Susan 

When I first picked this book up a year or so ago, I read the first bit and had to put it down. Not because it was a bad book, but simply because I knew I just needed the audiobook as well. When I found out my library had it, I instantly had it on hold. I started reading/listening the night I got it.

I could have easily finished this book within one sitting. The only reason I didn't is simply that life doesn't always allow that. This book is something else. I needed and still need to know what happened.

I HIGHLY recommend listening to at least the podcast sections of the book in audio form, which is what I did. It honestly takes it to another level. This book is something that I didn't know I needed to read. There are warnings people need to be aware of in case they cannot handle situations such as child abuse, pedophilia, violence, or substance abuse. Not that the book goes into much detail about certain topics, they are in this book. 

I'm going to be honest, my brain is not fully wrapped around this book but yet at the same time, it is. As mentioned before, I didn't know that this book was something I needed to read. It almost opens your eyes to things. After all, people don't change. They just get better at hiding who they really are.


EDIT: I just read on a blog review that the podcast from this book is actually available. I was able to find it on Spotify by searching 'The Girls: Find Sadie'. I have not listened to it and I don't know if I will. I will update if I do and find that it is different than the books podcast. Though, I highly doubt that. Bouns: There is a interview with Courtney Summers as well on Spotify.

Maggie Berver

Leí 100 páginas y me aburrió muchísimo, pero cuando empecé el audiolibro me enamoré de esta historia.

Jacqueline Englund

Overall I really liked the idea of the story and the way it was told, however the whole story just seemed a little to predictable and left me with an unsatisfying ending. It was still an enjoyable read, it just didn’t touch me the way I hoped it would.

Sadie

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