Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

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Sadie by Courtney Summers is a book that definitely amazed me. This is a suspenseful story about love and revenge, and the main character is unpredictable and likeable. I especially enjoyed the podcast elements that provide additional insight. This is a book that leaves a lasting impact, and I would consider it a must-read.

Review: Sadie by Courtney SummersTitle: Sadie
Author: Courtney Summers
Also by this author: The Project
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genres: Mystery, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Rating: four-stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

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 meagre 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.

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❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃


Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

This book tells the story of a runaway girl who takes it upon herself to get revenge for her sister’s death by finding the killer, but it also tells the story of a man hoping to find her and understand the truth. I enjoyed the suspenseful storytelling and the powerful emotions that come through. This is a pretty dark thriller, which is not something I normally pick up, but I found myself intrigued from page one. Overall, this is a compelling novel with feminist messages unlike anything I’ve ever read.

❀ An Interesting Narrator

Sadie is such an interesting narrator, and she brings a lot of mystery to the book. She is impulsive and aggressive at times, but somehow she is still likeable. I loved how bits of her personality are slowly revealed as the book progresses. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I will say that while I didn’t really agree with her actions, once everything comes together it made me appreciate them way more.

❀ Creative Podcast Aspect

My favourite aspect of the book was the podcast clips with a bit of a Buzzfeed Unsolved vibe. I have never seen this before, and I really enjoyed the insight the clips provided. It is interesting to see the story told from both an inside and an outside perspective. As I was reading the podcast transcripts, I felt so immersed in the story. The clips are both creative and serve a purpose, and I looked forward to them throughout the book.

❀ A dark thriller

Sadie by Courtney Summers is a a dark thriller told from both the perspective of a girl seeking revenge and a radio host trying to learn the truth. I found myself enjoying the main character although she has her moments, and the podcast elements are so original. I would definitely recommend this one, as it is such an impactful read.

About Courtney Summers

Image of Courtney Summers

Courtney Summers was born in Belleville, Ontario, 1986. At age 14, she dropped out of high school. At age 18, she wrote her first novel. Cracked Up to Be was published in 2008, when she was 22 and went on to win the 2009 CYBIL award in YA fiction. Since then, she’s published four more critically acclaimed books: Some Girls Are, Fall for Anything, This is Not a Test and All the Rage, as well as an e-novella, Please Remain Calm which is a sequel to This is Not a Test. Her new novel, Sadie, hits bookstores September 4th, 2018 and is available for preorder now. In 2016, Courtney was named one of Flare Magazine’s 60 under 30.

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About The Candid Cover

Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.

14 thoughts on “Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

  1. anovelglimpse says:

    Hmm…I like the sound of this one. The whole unsolved podcast thing reminds me a bit of the book Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little and the celebrity news reports it had in it. That makes me want to read this one. Great review!

  2. Sam@WLABB says:

    This was really dark and lacking the hope department for me, but I still enjoyed it. The format was brilliant, and probably my favorite thing about this book.

  3. Jaime Lynn says:

    The author can do no wrong as it is, and this might be her best yet! And the COVER… my word, it is beautiful!

  4. Flora says:

    I know it’s high time I give Courtney Summers a shot since everybody I know raves about her books. This book sounds as good as the others! Glad you loved it ☺

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