Reviews with content warning for Terminal illness - I'm the Girl

I think this book's description is misleading. The mystery is a subplot and if I knew what this book was really about I likely wouldn't have read it--it's very heavy in terms of subject matter. I felt lost the whole time and honestly didn't really get the end?

TW:

SA, statutory r*pe, CP, grooming, murder, CSA. All of these are featured HEAVILY

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fairylightreads's review

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

I literally don't know how to rate this - I think I'm gonna have to reread it to have any sort of grasp on how I feel

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abookandaspotoftea's review

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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betweentheshelves's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Georgia Avis found the body of 13-year-old Ashley James. Depserate to find some sort of justice for her, she teams up with Ashley's older sister Nora to find out who her killer was. However, the investigation puts Georgia herself in danger as she navigates the world of the wealthy and powerful. People who never have to answer for anything.

As Nora and Georgia get closer to the killer, Georgia realizes it might not just be about one person who is guily. When everyone around you is a part of the dangerous thing, how do you decide who is at fault? And how do you keep yourself from enjoying the power that it can bring? Georgia has to figure out how to have her own power to hopefully bring Ashley's killer to justice.

Thanks to NetGalley, LibroFM, and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of I'm the Girl by Courtney Summers to review! Courtney Summers is never afraid to cover the tough topics, and this book is no different. It's being pitched as a kind of successor to Sadie, and that's an accurate description. It definitely has the same kind of feel.

I'll start with the fact that this book isn't easy to get through. Summers tackles a lot of issues connected to teen girls in relation to men who are wealthy with power. There are some very dark moments in this book, especially as Georgia tackles her own traumas. While she might not be the most likeable character, that's also kind of the point. Teen girls are complex beings, and that's part of Summers' purpose in writing these stories. They need to be told as much as the happy ones.

Summers also nails the emotions in this book. All Georgia really wants is someone to love her and appreciate her for her beauty. She wants her life to mean something, pretty much like anyone else does. It's part of the reason the relationship between her and Nora works so well. They're both looking for someone to support them, to help them through their trauma. It felt so realistic.

The narrator for the audiobook is also fantastic. I was engaged in the story the entire time, even if it was difficult to read. Summers takes you on the same journey as Georgia.

All in all, if you look for dark, true crime like stories, this one will be right up your alley.
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No one really writes the bleak reality of teen girls quite like Courtney Summers does. Stay tuned for a full review to come soon!

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avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition

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This book honestly creeped me out and not in a good thriller way.

Telling a girl she has the power to stop a man from raping her is just disgusting. I obviously don't know if the author explains that this female character's view is WRONG later, but that's what got me to just stop with this book

What I read of it just left me feeling gross.

I loved Sadie! But this book was just terrible. The MC was highly unlikeable. I think you were supposed to feel sorry for her, but honestly, I didn't really. She just seemed like an entitled poor person. who thought she deserved better because she was attractive, WTF. As someone without a lot of money, I'd never assume, "well, if I were more attractive... I'd be rich!". Just because you're attractive does not translate into an entitlement to be rich. NO ONE has the entitlement to have money. Some people are lucky enough to be born with money or have an easy or harder path to wealth, but most people will still be around where they were born.

I did like Nora and Tyler. But they couldn't make up for Georgia.

Also, Georgia's entitlement overruled any thought of the "thriller" element, which was mostly ignored for Georgia's attempts at social climbing.

Content Warnings

bookcrushin's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book fucked me up. Not sure that’s a good or bad thing? All the content warnings. Be informed. Wonderfully crafted and written but this dark, suspenseful story isn’t for everyone.

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