Title: Sadie
Author: Courtney Summers
Series? No
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Goodreads
Audible || Booktopia || Dymocks
I could not resist picking up this title as soon as it popped up on my Audible recommendations: a full cast of 30+ voice actors take on a revenge story, framed as a true crime podcast? Yes, please. As if that impressive blurb wasn’t enough, Sadie went on to trump every single one of my expectations. It delivers a powerful and unapologetic tale about a girl who’s hellbent on regaining control and exacting justice.
The audio production of Sadie was incredible and a perfect medium for this story, if you can access it, I highly recommend listening rather than reading to this book. Half of the book features a fictional crime podcast, The Girls, as presenter Wes McCrae follows the trail of the missing Sadie Hunter – who disappeared after the murder of her younger sister, Mattie. The other half of the book, told in alternate chapters, follows Sadie as she tracks down a man she knew as Keith. The voice actors are incredible, especially Sadie’s narrator, who did an excellent job conveying her intensity and emotion. Sadie also has a stutter, and this was portrayed very well on the audiobook.
Sadie the character is a force of nature, she radiates strength and the story is propelled by her rage. I won’t lie, listening to her journey was at times difficult, but her story was so compelling you can’t help but hang on to the ending – all the time hoping it will be a happy one. Sadie’s past is filled with trauma, yet she refuses to be a victim – she will also fight tooth and nail to ensure that the other girls in her life do not become victims either. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the book, we learn that the girl Sadie has always tried hardest to protect – Mattie – is long dead. Sadie’s purpose and drive has been shaped by this event, and listening her work through it will leave you aching.
The book tackles several heavy topics and handles them all with respect, yet never pulls any punches when it comes to confronting tough realities. There is a sense of dread that permeates through every moment in this story, generated by both the unnamed monsters and the societal injustice reflected within this book. Sadie resists the temptation to tie up loose ends and hard issues with a fictitious ribbon. Instead, it forces readers and listeners to sit up and notice not only the plight of the girls within this novel, but of their real-life counterparts.
This was my first Courtney Summers book, and it has me wanting more. I am captivated by her ability to capture uncomfortable truths through her characters.
Trigger Warnings: child abuse, sexual abuse, paedophilia, addiction, alcoholism.
I have been on an audiobook binge recently, if you know any others with a compelling story and excellent narrator(s), I would love to hear your recommendations.
Read at Midnight 
I’ve been wanting to try audiobooks for a long time and this looks like it would be a fantastic place to start! Thank you for the review 😊
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Definitely an excellent place to start for audiobooks! Enjoy!!
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This sounds like quite a read! I don’t listen to a ton of audiobooks, but I love a good fictional podcast so I’m certain I’d be into this.
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I can see why this would be perfect for audio, I will have to track it down😀
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I just started reading the physical book, but I can already see how fantastic it must be in an audio version. If I had access to it, I would totally read it that way. It’s dark and gripping right away. Can’t wait to finish it!
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I’ve heard great things about Sadie, but nothing about the audiobook until this review! I’m always looking for new audiobook recommendations so thanks! If you like science fiction i HIGHLY recommend listening to the Themis Files by Sylvain Neuvel (Sleeping Giants, Waking Gods, & Only Human) they were also read by a cast of narrators. (I reviewed them if you want to head over and check out my thoughts and a little more about them!) Thanks for sharing this audiobook is definitely on my TBR now!
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WOaaaaaah I didn’t know this had a huge cast or anything like that… I love audiobooks like that. I’m already waiting for it to be available from my library but I might just buy it if I get too impatient. Great review, thanks!
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I am a big fan of audio books- will check this out!
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Mmmh… I’m definitely interested.
Have you listened to The Lovely Bones, and how would you say it compares to this? I hated The Lovely Bones so if it’s anything like that, I’d have some trouble.
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I disliked The Lovely Bones as well, because I felt the narrator had no agency. Definitely the opposite here. Very empowering and the audiobook is so excellent.
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Oooh, I love the audiobook recommendation. WIll definitely read this one in that format. Thanks for the suggestion! Also very happy to see a five star review for Muse of NIghtmares. I can’t wait to read it!
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There are definitely lots of great books coming out September and October and these two have been some of my favourites! Enjoy!
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I just downloaded this audiobook today on the recommendation of a BookTuber I follow. I was going to wait a bit to start it, but now that I’ve seen it recommended TWICE in one day, I think I’ll start it this weekend. 😀 I’m excited!!
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This book deserves all of the hype. I hope you enjoy it!
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Oh my goodness… it is amazing so far. Audiobook is DEFINITELY the way to go. This is going to make so many best of lists, I think.
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I’ve heard so many good things about this audiobook so I’m excited to read it when I’m finally in the mood. Fab review!
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I’ve been debating changing what I listen to at work, from music to audiobooks. Looks like this might be a good one to start with – the sample on Audible really captured my attention! And a true crime podcast within the story? Yes please!
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Hydra and Six Stories are 2 books by Matt Wesolowski that are amazing audiobook fiction podcast reads. He has a 3rd one coming out this year. They are similar in format to Sadie.
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