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.
My main reason for wanting to read Sadie? It's written by Courtney Summers a.k.a. one of my FAVORITE contemporary authors of all time! It's been forever since I've read a book by her so I can't wait to dive into her new story this Fall. *Fingers Crossed* it's just as amazing as her previous works!
From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.
When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?
Review:
Fall For Anything...I don't know even where to begin with this review, which nearly never happens. Though, this is a book by Courtney Summers, one of the most brilliant and amazing authors out there, so what else should I expect?
As long time readers of my blog may know, I LOVED Courtney's debut Cracked Up to Be and enjoyed her second novel Some Girls Are nearly as much. And her third one-Fall For Anything? Well, surprisingly enough, it was even better than Cracked Up to Be!
Fall for Anything is a honest and gritty portrayal of teen life, one that's so messed up but yet so true and well written that you can't help but get lost in the world of Eddie Reeve.
Fall For Anything begins shortly after Eddie's beloved and famous dad has committed suicide. As most teens would be, Eddie is a mess and only has questions about why her dad would commit suicide. He was an amazing painter, had a loving family, and had a daughter that he always seemed proud of, so why would someone who he had all that and more feel so lost in the world? Eager for answers to her questions, Eddie is happy when she meets Culler Evans, a fellow painter and student of her father's, one who's charming and cute, one who may just have the answers she doesn't. Soon enough, Eddie is on the path to finding out why her father left the world, but is Culler everything he appears to be, and more importantly is Eddie loosing herself through this? Only time will tell in this fantastic book that's sure to have nearly any reader turning the pages, eager to find out more.
Eddie. There's so much to say just about this one girl. For example, I never really liked Eddie all that much. I thought she was self-absorbed and way to impulsive- in all ways not a likable character. Though, that never stopped me from being completely enthralled in her story and from just being completely fascinated by her and her decisions. I especially loved how Courtney made Eddie's emotions so vivid and real, ones that any teen could really relate to if they've gone through something similar.
One of my favorite parts of this story was the relationships Eddie had with different people in it. For example, her one with Culler was fascinating and always had me on the edge of my seat, really, really curious to see what would come next. I also loved reading about her complicated friendship with Milo. Milo was without a doubt my favorite main character in this. He was likable, very real, and sweet, and to be even more honest, he was way too good for Eddie at times. But that never stopped me from having their scenes together be some of my favorites. Lastly, I loved seeing the parent-child relationships as well, from Eddie and her mom to the one she had with her dad each were three dimensional and well-done.
Furthermore, I think it goes without saying that Summers writing was amazing as per usual. As always, I loved the emotions she brings about in me with her characters, and the unique and forever twisted plot lines she introduces throughout. I don't think there was one moment where I truly knew how this was going to end until, well, the end.
In all, Fall For Anything is a lot of things including brilliant, sad, funny, honest, and true to name a few. So I beg you to buy this book once its released, to read and love it, to be completely fascinated in it in a way you aren't with most books, and to become a fan of Courtney Summers. I promise you you'll never once regret it.
Though, word of warning, if you're like me, you'll be thinking about this novels, days (and weeks even) after you've finished it.
Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around. Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge. If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day. She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully. Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.
Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be.
Review:
Much like her debut novel, Courtney gives you gives you a gritty, compelling, and most of all realistic look into what happens in high schools across the nation, when the fight to be on the top of the social ladder gets way out of hand in this heart wrenching novel called Some Girls Are.
The two main characters (Regina and Michael) were crafted perfectly. You could feel their struggles, hope, and desperation just jump of the page from the start, leaving it to be so easy to be caught up in their tale. Most of all, I loved the change that Regina went through in this novel, one that went from her being a complete witch of a person to actually caring and giving up everything to make that one person who she ended up caring for most not get in the same situation she was in. Plus, I adored Michael. He, like Regina, was such a complex guy that was so hard not to love.
Words that come to mind when thinking about the plot of this novel would vary from moving (one minute you would be bring a slight chuckle at a line to near tears at what Regina was going through) to addicting to fast paced. I was just so shocked at what these girls could do to each other. I know girls can be brutal, nasty, and just all around witchy, I mean I see it everyday. Though, the way the fearsome five was in this novel was so disturbing that it was hard to get through some of the things they did to Regina. Further more, as I said before and will continue to say, Courtney's writing is brilliant. I love that she's always straight to the point instead of feeling her novels with unnecessary and boring details that have the tendency to bring down greatness from novels. And what I like even more is that she never sugar coats all the crap that goes on and high school instead giving you an honest look.
In all, Some Girls Are is one of my favorite books of the year, even though I personally prefer Cracked Up To Be a bit more. So, do yourself a favor come January fifth. That favor? Go to the bookstore and pick up a copy because I have just the slightest feeling you won't regret it one bit.
Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore. She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn’t something she can say out loud. It isn’t even something she can say to herself. A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault. If she can just remove herself from everybody--be totally alone--then everything will be okay...The problem is, nobody will let her.
Review:
To say Cracked Up To Be was an awesome book would be a huge understatement. It was one of the best books I've read this year. Possibly, one of the best books I've ever read!
It was raw and honest in the way that it showed all of Parker's emotions without any limits and how it presented the situations that teenagers face everyday without holding back. Courtney did a great job in developing each character especially with Parker's snarky one. She seriously made them jump off the page and come to life starting in the very first chapter.
Also, Courtney's writing was excellent because of several reasons. For one, she wrote like a true teenager in the way the characters interacted with one another to the way they dealt with things. Second, she slowly left out the secrets of what happened that one night which lead me to keep guessing about what had occurred. Lastly, when the big secret did come out I was very surprised because it turned out to be none of my theories, instead it was something completely different.
I could really relate to Parker in the way she was always trying to be perfect: grades, boyfriend, friends. Though, as the book went on and I began to see Parker's downfall from the her perfect world because of things she could not control. I realized that maybe being perfect and popular isn't all it's cracked up to be which in my opion is a great message.
The only problem I had with this book was how Parker acted when people were trying to help her. She just pushed them away and told them everything was fine even though it wasn't which made me want to hit over the head several times.
Overall, Courtney has written an excellent debut novel. I can't wait to see what she has in store next because I have a feeling it will be even better than Cracked Up To Be.
Grade: A+as go to Barnes and Noble now and spend your money on this!
Hi! My name is Lauren. I'm a recent college graduate (chemistry major, surprisingly enough!), and will be starting graduate school in the fall. I've been blogging about books for the past nine years (with about a four year gap in between)! Click here to email me.
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