YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

A gripping novel about the depth of a sister's love; poised to be the next book you won't be able to stop talking about.

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.

Courtney Summers has written the breakout book of her career. Sadie is propulsive and harrowing and will keep you riveted until the last page.

3% (First 2 Chapters)

(view spoiler)[Intrigued to find out what's happened to Sadie. I'm expecting this book to be heartbreaking, just based on the subject matter.

The last line of the 2nd chapter, where May Beth says she can't take another dead girl. That already has me in my feels. I know we're in for a bumpy ride, and I'm here for it.

I've seen that a few books are coming out now that have the podcast in a book element, and I've never really been interested in reading of any. I prefer to listen to podcasts, and I think it's gonna become a trope in mysteries now, to have a podcast element. But I've heard good things about Courtney Summers, and I've never read any of her previous books before, so why not start with the most recent book? (So recent, it's not even out yet, and I managed to pick up a copy on Netgalley). (hide spoiler)]

Just received this from Netgalley, so I'm hoping to join shortly.

22%

(view spoiler)[Really enjoying this book so far. I like how we have the present day POV with Sadie and we're getting some backstory with the podcast.

So Sadies hunting down one of her moms ex boyfriends, who it looks like is a paedophile. I'm guessing she thinks he killed Mattie.

I was wondering what happened between Sadie and the sketchy guy outside of Rays. Thank God she wasn't hurt. That first encounter with him seemed to hint he was gonna rape her and then the next Sadie chapter didn't mention so I was worried for a moment. (hide spoiler)]

37%

(view spoiler)[So I can't see things ending well for Sadie. She's playing dangerously and she could get hurt again.

Wasn't a big fan of the whole scene in the bar where she infiltrated the Baker kids' group to find out more info, but it worked at least. And she's not covering her tracks very well, because the podcast seems to be hot on her trail. Hmmm. (hide spoiler)]

54%

(view spoiler)[I was wondering if Sadie's mom knew that Mattie was dead, but I'm guessing from that last sentence that may she doesn't. I wonder why she left if she was sober.

I'm hoping that Cat is gonna be a good friend for Sadie and not take advantage of her. Lord knows she needs a friend right now. (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[Not entirely happy with the ending. I get that we're left to make up our own minds about what happened to Sadie, and it's hinting heavily that she was murdered by Keith/Chris/Darren/Jack (whatever you wanna call him) and it's just so frustrating. We've followed her as she's tried to get revenge on the man she believes murdered her sister (never actually confirmed either, just heavily hinted at), and we get no closure for her or her sister.

Despite my frustrations, I really enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to everyone!! (hide spoiler)]

24%: (view spoiler)[Wonder why he has so many names. It's super sketchy. Also, I love the podcast set-up. I love listening to podcasts so it's comfortable for me. Feels like S-Town or Serial. (hide spoiler)]

I might join in because I have an ARC of it

55%: (view spoiler)[Cat seems irrelevant to me. I guess it was just a jumping off point for West's investigation. (hide spoiler)]

81%: (view spoiler)[West seems to be getting really close! (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Sooo.... what happened to Sadie? (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "3% (First 2 Chapters)

"

(view spoiler)[ It seems more and more authors are trying to do something different with their format to try to make the book stand out or be current but it's going to end up becoming the norm with every other book on the market going for a different style like using a podcast. (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "22%

.."

(view spoiler)[ Good question. Either we are safe to assume something did happen and the author is being kind in keeping it from being graphic or Sadie did something to him and possibly find out later....?? (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "37%

."

(view spoiler)[ Honestly I don't think Sadie is concerned about things ending well and knows she's playing dangerously. (hide spoiler)]

67% (view spoiler)[ Got a chuckle out of the it's not polite before 9am.. tell that to some telemarketers.

But yeah, mother of the year Claire isn't. All she's doing is making excuses, when your a mother none of that matters and your children are first. (hide spoiler)]

Ashleigh wrote: "Finished

."

(view spoiler)[ Honestly I was completely surprised to have it end up in the air like that after all the five star reviews I've seen. Can't say I'm a huge fan of going through all that and not knowing for sure. (hide spoiler)]

Pg 70 (view spoiler)[ I can't imagine having a sister as devoted to Mattie as Sadie is. I also can't imagine being Sadie and doing your beat to raise Mattie and then to have to deal with her getting murdered. Sadie was such a good sister to Mattie. This is true devotion, chasing who you think murdered your sister. I know that it might not be right legally, but I think it is Sadie's way of getting closure. I feel it's the morally right thing. She is ruthless, holding a dealer at knife point and bribing that woman for information. I hope someone would do that for me. (hide spoiler)]

Pg 121(view spoiler)[ Wow, so is Silas a pervert like Keith? Did he hurt little boys like Javi? This book is really keeping me on the edge of my seat with the back and forth between podcasts and Sadie's POV (hide spoiler)]

Pg 136(view spoiler)[ Oh my God. Of course she got caught. I'm so anxious to learn what she saw in the safe. Was it money? Was it photos of underage boys? (hide spoiler)]

Pg 142(view spoiler)[ HOLY SHIT!! Wow, he truly is a monster. What a psychopath. Sadie's life makes me so sad. Like when her sister was born and she said "I just wanted to matter to someone." I feel for her on a level I don't often feel for characters. This is such a raw and gritty story. (hide spoiler)]

152(view spoiler)[ May Beth's view of Keith is so distorted. Funny how demons look like Angels. (hide spoiler)]

Pg 167 (view spoiler)[ It's funny how strangers can be the easiest to talk to. Cat is so kind to Sadie and it's because she actually genuinely understands what it's like to struggle. People who have never had to Struggle will never understand that kind of pain. Probably why I find myself relating with Sadie so much. (hide spoiler)]

Pg 180 (view spoiler)[ okay, well that explains that.I couldn't think of a reason that Cat would have left, but I guess the blood freaked her out. Sad, I wish they could have been friends. Sadie deserves someone who understands. (hide spoiler)]

Pg 192 (view spoiler)[ I KNEW IT! I knew that guy was a pervert! Wow, did Sadie play a role in the truth coming out with Silas? And now her mother who abandoned them finally came home to one dead daughter and one missing one? Bet she's getting high now! (hide spoiler)]

Pg 197 (view spoiler)[ She has some serious PTSD. (hide spoiler)]

Pg 219 (view spoiler)[ This girl is continuously getting herself hurt or into trouble. She's not very good at being covert. She got caught in the room and with the phone. I don't know if I would trust this kid. (hide spoiler)]

Pg 234 (view spoiler)[ dun dun dun (hide spoiler)]

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Reading from the 9th of September 2018

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I'm starting now but have to leave soon for a few hours, I might not get much done by then.

Starting now :)

12 % - (view spoiler)[I bet Sadie will do a lot of stuff to find her sisters' murderer. I worry that her Story will have a sad ending, like so many others. That guy who's trying to rape her is a prick (hide spoiler)]

25% (view spoiler)[I love the way this book has been written, I really am thinking that maybe listening to it on audio would've been great. I do think Sadie is this damaged but amazing main character, and I have this incredible sympathy for her and everything she's been through, but this is such a dark book and such a horrific story! (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[See the fact that the girl is a mean party girl but is named Kendall bothers me a lil. That moment with Javi though..... the way Sadie feels then, it is the first time in this book what Sadie feels somewhat normal to me. I think that was the point of it too. (hide spoiler)]

28 % - (view spoiler)[I really like the concept of this book btw. The form with a podcast interlude, I quite enjoy it. Sadie’s still on her hunt for the presumably killer of her sister, I wonder what will happen when she finds him. Or if she finds him at all… (hide spoiler)]

53 % - (view spoiler)[It seems like everyone Sadie is meeting has a skeleton in their closet. Silas wasn’t an exception. Now Sadie met Cat and I like her, that can’t be a good sign. Something bad is about to happen, I can feel it. (hide spoiler)]

61 % - (view spoiler)[Claire’s back, OMG! How will she react to Matties death and Sadies disappearance? How long after Sadies departure is the podcast recorded? Was it mentioned? Maybe I forgot… (hide spoiler)]

100% - (view spoiler)[This book… I’m sitting here, crying and staring at my kindle. I knew Courtney Summers books so I knew what I was getting myself into but this… damn! At least Keith is dead! He deserved so much worse. I hope and imagine Sadie is just keeping a low profile and living somewhere, where she can one day become happy. A girl can hope, can’t she? I still don’t know what to say, this was intense. (hide spoiler)]

85% (view spoiler)[I'm glad Silas got what he deserved, I was scared for Sadie when she followed him to this abandoned house, but damn, and I didn't trust Cat at all but the hints that suggest Sadie is queer explain a lot about her. I long suspected it was Sadie that sent the postcard. To think she herself created that gap between her and Mattie, god, that is so incredibly sad. (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[That ending...... 'I can't take another dead girl'. god that hurt! I suppose the optimist can hope Sadie is okay, but I doubt it. The way this story worked, I doubt she did. (hide spoiler)]

Was gutted to not get an ARC of this, and I've just finished a book that means I think this will be where I go next. Have heard such good things about this.

Is it too late to join this? I'm about 30% done with this book and I just realized there's a BR for it!

I finished it, but I will definitely chat with you because I need to talk to someone about this book!!

Opening sections. Like the podcast format - got sidetracked going to the link site.

34% - some unpleasant characters. Admire Sadie’s resolve.

62% - I’m hoping to be proven wrong, but the way Sadie’s behaving makes me worry for what will happen to her. There’s hints of horribly unfortunate timing with the radio following the story.

79% - horrible sense of threads being pulled tighter and tighter. Concerned about where this will go.

Finished. Review on home page. Interesting format, deeply unpleasant story but a definite must-read mystery.

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Date changed. Restarting October 17th 2018. Happy Reading ☺

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The audiobook for this is so good! I love this.
25% (view spoiler)[ Sadie is getting in way over her head. She's going to find a lot of things out that I don't think she really wants to know. (hide spoiler)]
50% (view spoiler)[ This is the kinds of things I imagined her getting into. I feel like she's only going to get into worse the deeper she goes. (hide spoiler)]
61% (view spoiler)[ Why in the world is Claire back???? She was not a part of their life at all and now she's back? I don't get it. My guess is she needs help in one way or another. I doubt it's a selfless act. (hide spoiler)]
88% (view spoiler)[ My anxiety is really high right now. This is intense. (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ The audiobook was great all the way through. It really made this story for me to where I'm not sure I could ever read a physical copy. The ending broke me. I don't even know how to process all of that. (hide spoiler)]

That was so fast! It will take me like a week xD I am loving it though

I couldn't stop listening to it. xD

Page 76 (view spoiler)[ I wonder if Keith really did kill Mattie? I kind of think not, but he's still a terrible person. I hope Sadie finds what she's looking for. (hide spoiler)]