Review: Sadie by Courtney Summers

This book was a punch to the gut.

It is a book I would recommend to basically anyone, and especially to anyone interested in true crime or podcasts. 

It has exactly what the best true crime has, a deep sense of empathy and humanity. It does not lovingly describe brutalized human beings, it does not talk about the perpetrator as some sort of fascinating specimen. The only thing about it is that is isn’t true. But the story feels true, and the theme of the book rings so true. 

That ending is truly a spectacular ending. I have never read a Courtney Summers book before (despite having been meaning to for quite some time) but that ending solidified for me that she is a master. She gives the exact amount of closure to make the reader know the story is over, but not so much that the book will stop being alive in your head. I would be completely shocked if I forget this book anytime soon. 

That is saying something because I have read 3 VERY different books today and I truly feel like they will all linger with me. 

Sadie is a special book. Summers really cuts to the heart of pain, loss, and the ways in which we overlook the tragedy of others to keep ourselves comfortable. 

I have to read more by this author.

I read this book on February 5th, 2019 and gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.