Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

Sadie by Courtney Summers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me a copy. I absolutely loved this book!

I picked it up and couldn't put it down. It is told in alternating chapters in podcast format and from Sadie's perspective and it really worked. The podcasts are about The Girls, but mostly Sadie after she disappears after the murder of her younger sister Mattie. West McCray who hosts the podcasts is trying to retrace Sadie's steps and find out what happened to her and who she spoke to after she left home. What he finds is unnerving and more than he expected. He interviews people that knew Sadie, people she talked to on her journey, and anyone who might know something about her whereabouts and what happened leading up to her disappearance.

Sadie's perspective is told from her present time, which is the past tense of the podcasts. We meet her as she is leaving to go on her quest to find the man who hurt her sister. Sadie has had a rough life, but she loved her little sister. Mattie was the light of her life, and when that light went out Sadie had nothing left. Her journey to find the man she is looking for is a hard one. She never gives up despite the challenges that she faces. She sacrificed for her sister and she is willing to sacrifice her life to make sure this man doesn't hurt anyone else. Fueled by the fact that she's got nothing left to lose, Sadie will find her man. I was left puzzled by the ending, but I feel like it couldn't have ended any other way.

This story is ugly and gritty. While it isn't graphic, you have enough details to infer what happened to Sadie and Mattie in the past. If you are triggered by mentions of sexual assault, sexual violence, sexual predators, drug use, drug abuse, and the list goes...I'd sit this one out.

The book is well written, and while this is my first Courtney Summers book, it will not be my last. This book was gripping. The story just wanted to be told. I loved the plot and Sadie as a character, while reckless felt so real to me. All of the characters were very realistic and well developed as the story unfolded.

In conjunction with the book's release, there are also real podcasts to go with the book. The first episode is out and I can say it is spot on. I listened to it today and loved it just as much as reading it. Go check out the podcast here .



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