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This Is Not a Dead Girl Story
A dark and powerful mystery perfect for fans of Courtney Summers and true crime podcasts, in which a teen girl must do whatever it takes to find her missing cousin—who everyone else thinks is dead. Remy Green is missing. Eight days after the death of her boyfriend, River O’Dell, the magnetic, golden-haired girl disappeared in the dead of night. Jules Green, Remy’s cousin, is her opposite in every awkward, shy, and a bit strange, never feeling at home in the small town of Black Falls, NY. The only place she has ever belonged is with River and Remy. Now she’s on her own—and everyone around her believes that Remy is dead. But Jules can still hear Remy’s voice in her head, urging her to keep looking. With the help of River’s cousin Sam, a troubled and mysterious boy, Jules starts untangling the truth of what exactly happened. Through her search, Jules must delve into the dark corners of her hometown—unearthing family secrets and hidden truths about the two people she thought she knew most. Who was Remy, really, behind the popular-girl façade she wore? What trouble was she involved in? And can Jules find a way to save her from it? Or is this a dead girl story after all?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2024
23 people are currently reading
6246 people want to read
About the author
Kate Sweeney
3 books62 followersKate Sweeney was born in Athens, Georgia, and has since lived many places, including Los Angeles, New York City, and Salt Lake City. She began writing when she was sixteen. Her father–a novelist and screenwriter–had died five years prior, and in writing she found a way of bringing his voice back to her ears.
For the past ten years she has resided in the Bay Area, where she spends her time making music with her band, Magic Magic Roses, teaching literacy, and working with her husband at the family art-framing business.
For the past ten years she has resided in the Bay Area, where she spends her time making music with her band, Magic Magic Roses, teaching literacy, and working with her husband at the family art-framing business.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
June 27, 2024
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!*
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Disclaimer: I got really lazy and slightly annoyed with how lame this book was while writing this review, and it shows. There were so many other things I could've gone over about why I didn't like this book, but I couldn't bring myself to actually critique it more than I already did.
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
❝I am changing. When you were here it felt like you were too. If we become different people, promise me you'll still be mine.❞
That quote doesn't really fit with the exact story line of the book, but I thought it was sweet anyways.
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Alexa... play Your Power by Billie Eilish
0:00 ♡──────── -4:06
↻ ⊲ Ⅱ ⊳ ↺
"Does it keep you in control?
For you to keep her in a cage?"
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
જ*⁀➷Includes:
જ*⁀➷Summary In the Form of a Quote
❝The world is a soft place.
This is not a horror movie.
Remy is not a dead girl.❞
જ*⁀➷Themes
જ*⁀➷Characters
Jules
She was fine. She wasn't too bothersome. Sometimes, she teetered a little bit too close to pick me girl and that freaked me out a bit, but she usually stayed in the green. That was especially difficult because throughout the book we were reminded of how "awkward" she was. But it wasn't too overwhelming, you know? It was mainly her anxious thoughts that were awkward instead of her behaviors. Overall, she was just kind of irrelevant, and that's funny to me, because throughout the whole book, she was complaining about being in her best friends' shadows, but she never actually did anything about it except try to be more like them... I don't know. But I do know that she was so irrelevant that I even forgot her name a few times while reading the book.
There should be quotes here but everybody was lame! 🥰
Remy
Man, was she a bitch.
Like, she was barely even in the book and I still hated her so fucking much.
She's like Regina George if Mean Girls took place in New York and if viewers actually hated her character like they're supposed to.
She was so manipulative and toxic it scared me through the phone, holy crap. And everybody ate it all up.
Whatever. All I really have to say about her without spoilers is fuck you annoying ass prick.
There should be quotes here but everybody was lame! 🥰
Sam
He was mid. Like the rest of the characters (Except Remy i guess. That girl was a biiiitch). But I did root for him and (fuck I forgot her name again) the main character girl...
Also, petition to remove the name "Sam" from the minds of authors when coming up with names for love interests, because ew that's my dad's name.
There should be quotes here but everybody was lame! 🥰
River
I feel like I should give him his own special section in here, even though he technically died before the book even started. Because of how much (what's her name again? the main character?) thought of him, it felt like he was actually there, you know? So here you go.
There should be quotes here but everybody was lame! 🥰
જ*⁀➷Plot
જ*⁀➷Quotes
SIKE!! Nah, like I said before, there really weren't any good quotes, sorry. 🥰
જ*⁀➷Rating
Characters: 2/5 ⭐
Plot: 1/5 ⭐
Quotes: 1/5 ⭐
Ending: 1/5 ⭐
Overall: 1.25/5 🌟 (Rounded down)
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
❝Every morning, I wake up when the sun is just rising and the grass is still wet wth dew. And I run. I run and run and run. And then I go home.❞
Hmm alright bud. Like I said. I don't exactly care.
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
pre-read
The description is giving agggtm and I'm 100% here for it.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
pre-review
Huh. Welp. I don't know how to feel, or what to say really.
I kinda wish my dad's name wasn't so popular so I didn't have to keep reading books with the love interest having his same name.
Review to come!
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Disclaimer: I got really lazy and slightly annoyed with how lame this book was while writing this review, and it shows. There were so many other things I could've gone over about why I didn't like this book, but I couldn't bring myself to actually critique it more than I already did.
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
❝I am changing. When you were here it felt like you were too. If we become different people, promise me you'll still be mine.❞
That quote doesn't really fit with the exact story line of the book, but I thought it was sweet anyways.
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Alexa... play Your Power by Billie Eilish
0:00 ♡──────── -4:06
↻ ⊲ Ⅱ ⊳ ↺
"Does it keep you in control?
For you to keep her in a cage?"
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
જ*⁀➷Includes:
➵sexual harrassment, violence
➵enemies to friends to lovers
➵drugs & alcohol use
➵depression & suicide
➵grooming
➵he fell first
➵ugly duckling
જ*⁀➷Summary In the Form of a Quote
❝The world is a soft place.
This is not a horror movie.
Remy is not a dead girl.❞
જ*⁀➷Themes
Not everyone is who they seem to be.
Grief changes people.
જ*⁀➷Characters
Jules
She was fine. She wasn't too bothersome. Sometimes, she teetered a little bit too close to pick me girl and that freaked me out a bit, but she usually stayed in the green. That was especially difficult because throughout the book we were reminded of how "awkward" she was. But it wasn't too overwhelming, you know? It was mainly her anxious thoughts that were awkward instead of her behaviors. Overall, she was just kind of irrelevant, and that's funny to me, because throughout the whole book, she was complaining about being in her best friends' shadows, but she never actually did anything about it except try to be more like them... I don't know. But I do know that she was so irrelevant that I even forgot her name a few times while reading the book.
There should be quotes here but everybody was lame! 🥰
Remy
Man, was she a bitch.
Like, she was barely even in the book and I still hated her so fucking much.
She's like Regina George if Mean Girls took place in New York and if viewers actually hated her character like they're supposed to.
She was so manipulative and toxic it scared me through the phone, holy crap. And everybody ate it all up.
Whatever. All I really have to say about her without spoilers is fuck you annoying ass prick.
There should be quotes here but everybody was lame! 🥰
Sam
He was mid. Like the rest of the characters (Except Remy i guess. That girl was a biiiitch). But I did root for him and (fuck I forgot her name again) the main character girl...
Also, petition to remove the name "Sam" from the minds of authors when coming up with names for love interests, because ew that's my dad's name.
There should be quotes here but everybody was lame! 🥰
River
I feel like I should give him his own special section in here, even though he technically died before the book even started. Because of how much (what's her name again? the main character?) thought of him, it felt like he was actually there, you know? So here you go.
There should be quotes here but everybody was lame! 🥰
જ*⁀➷Plot
Lord, I hate being mean in arc reviews but damn. I kinda... I kinda don't care? This was like if A Good Girl's Guide To Murder had massive budget cuts. And if a cup of grief was flung into the mix. Oh, I know, this should be called "We Have AGGGTM at Home." Like, that's the vibe I got.
And sometimes, similar books aren't a bad thing, but when they are so poorly done/written (hence the "budget cuts" comment), it feels like a waste of time, or a waste of a read.
I also felt like this book was misleading. The little snippet I read when I applied for the arc mentioned a lot more "true crime podcast" and "murder mystery" then was actually delivered. Essentially, this was just a story about a girl and her family/friends grieving the death of her best friend, with the occasional scandal here and there (also very agggtm coded).
I don't wanna say it, but I'm going to anyway. The plot was just too dull to be made into a book.
જ*⁀➷Quotes
SIKE!! Nah, like I said before, there really weren't any good quotes, sorry. 🥰
જ*⁀➷Rating
Characters: 2/5 ⭐
Plot: 1/5 ⭐
Quotes: 1/5 ⭐
Ending: 1/5 ⭐
Overall: 1.25/5 🌟 (Rounded down)
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
❝Every morning, I wake up when the sun is just rising and the grass is still wet wth dew. And I run. I run and run and run. And then I go home.❞
Hmm alright bud. Like I said. I don't exactly care.
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
pre-read
The description is giving agggtm and I'm 100% here for it.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
⊹₊♡⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
pre-review
Huh. Welp. I don't know how to feel, or what to say really.
I kinda wish my dad's name wasn't so popular so I didn't have to keep reading books with the love interest having his same name.
Review to come!
September 2, 2024
Startlingly powerful, This Is Not a Dead Girl Story was more explorative NA drama with an underlying mystery than YA thriller. From the deep well of grief to the thought-provoking themes tinged with darkness and despair, I am sure that I will be left pondering the topics for far longer than I could’ve ever expected. Especially the ideas about women’s bodies and how they’re viewed by society. Considering the current state of women’s rights, I’d say that it was more than relevant all things considered.
The biggest success in this heart-rending winner, however, was Sweeney’s masterful rendition of teenagers and their way of being. With true-to-life authenticity and a narrator that I couldn’t help but root for, I was pulled into a story that easily wrapped me around its little finger. After all, Jules was the perfect combination of bereft, lost, and resolute. The rest of the cast of characters did a marvelous job of filling out a small town rocked by two horrific events in only a matter of days. All told, it couldn’t have been better, even if it was somewhat light on the whodunnit for this mystery lover.
Despite that, however, I was won over 110% as one grim secret after another was laid at my feet. I was so wrapped up in it, in fact, that I sped through the book in only a matter of hours. From the harsh look at self-worth to triggers such as sexual exploitation, there was a definite dark thread running throughout. That said, it’s a book that I’m glad that I read—and one that you should as well. Perfect for a book club, this NA mystery/drama had many a topic that will spark conversation for both teens and adults. So go on. Grab a copy. Just maybe check out my list of triggers before diving in. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Remy Green is missing. Eight days after the death of her boyfriend, River O’Dell, the magnetic, golden-haired girl disappeared in the dead of night.
Jules Green, Remy’s cousin, is her opposite in every way: awkward, shy, and a bit strange, never feeling at home in the small town of Black Falls, NY. The only place she has ever belonged is with River and Remy. Now she’s on her own—and everyone around her believes that Remy is dead.
But Jules can still hear Remy’s voice in her head, urging her to keep looking. With the help of River’s cousin Sam, a troubled and mysterious boy, Jules starts untangling the truth of what exactly happened. Through her search, Jules must delve into the dark corners of her hometown—unearthing family secrets and hidden truths about the two people she thought she knew most.
Who was Remy, really, behind the popular-girl façade she wore? What trouble was she involved in? And can Jules find a way to save her from it? Or is this a dead girl story after all?
Thank you to Kate Sweeney, Penguin Teen, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 6, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: death of a friend, sexual harassment, drug and alcohol use, grooming, depression
The biggest success in this heart-rending winner, however, was Sweeney’s masterful rendition of teenagers and their way of being. With true-to-life authenticity and a narrator that I couldn’t help but root for, I was pulled into a story that easily wrapped me around its little finger. After all, Jules was the perfect combination of bereft, lost, and resolute. The rest of the cast of characters did a marvelous job of filling out a small town rocked by two horrific events in only a matter of days. All told, it couldn’t have been better, even if it was somewhat light on the whodunnit for this mystery lover.
Despite that, however, I was won over 110% as one grim secret after another was laid at my feet. I was so wrapped up in it, in fact, that I sped through the book in only a matter of hours. From the harsh look at self-worth to triggers such as sexual exploitation, there was a definite dark thread running throughout. That said, it’s a book that I’m glad that I read—and one that you should as well. Perfect for a book club, this NA mystery/drama had many a topic that will spark conversation for both teens and adults. So go on. Grab a copy. Just maybe check out my list of triggers before diving in. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Remy Green is missing. Eight days after the death of her boyfriend, River O’Dell, the magnetic, golden-haired girl disappeared in the dead of night.
Jules Green, Remy’s cousin, is her opposite in every way: awkward, shy, and a bit strange, never feeling at home in the small town of Black Falls, NY. The only place she has ever belonged is with River and Remy. Now she’s on her own—and everyone around her believes that Remy is dead.
But Jules can still hear Remy’s voice in her head, urging her to keep looking. With the help of River’s cousin Sam, a troubled and mysterious boy, Jules starts untangling the truth of what exactly happened. Through her search, Jules must delve into the dark corners of her hometown—unearthing family secrets and hidden truths about the two people she thought she knew most.
Who was Remy, really, behind the popular-girl façade she wore? What trouble was she involved in? And can Jules find a way to save her from it? Or is this a dead girl story after all?
Thank you to Kate Sweeney, Penguin Teen, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 6, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: death of a friend, sexual harassment, drug and alcohol use, grooming, depression
March 23, 2024
This book was not what I thought it would be (lately, it feels as if this has been happening a lot, perhaps because YA books are now exploring mystery from new and unexpected angles).
Yes, there’s a mystery at the center of this story. River O’Dell, a seventeen year old, is dead. Following his death, Remy Green, his girlfriend and most-popular girl in Black Falls, NY, has disappeared—are the two events related? Is Remy also dead? Was she abducted? Or has she run away?
Yet, the mystery of Remy’s disappearance becomes just the entryway to a bigger secret, a convoluted new world, filled with lies and deception where nothing is what it seems.
No one is as surprised by discovering this new world, living under her nose, as Jules, Remy’s cousin and best friend—or so Jules has believed, until now.
Jules, Remy and River grew up together and had been best friends since childhood. But Jules has a secret, she’s been in love with River since she can remember. Bad luck, River fell in love with Remy instead (everyone falls in love with Remy)
River and Remy have been the perfect couple for a few years now, long enough for Jules to figure out River will never like her as she does him.
Until River's death, Jules always felt as if it didn't really matter that he didn't love her the same way that she love him, having him in her life was good enough, much better to have him as a friend than not at all. But now he’s dead, and Remy, the other constant presence in Jules’s life, is gone.
Things only get worse when Jules discovers her cousin was involved in something dark. “Everyone wants to get paid…” people around Jules murmur when they think she can’t hear them. Paid by who and for what? Jules has no idea. All she knows is that nothing makes sense, but Remy is at the center of it all.
Jules has always thought of herself as an outsider. Growing up, only Remy understood her, and only she understood and knew the real Remy. That’s how Jules made sense of the world. Now, faced with this other Remy she never knew existed, this dark persona involved in shady dealings, Jules realizes her world was never real, meaning, Jules has always been alone, slowly giving up parts of her life to maintain the illusion of a world—and a Remy—that never existed.
To complicate Jules's feelings even more, Sam, River’s cousin and lookalike, is in town for the summer. Sam may look like River, but they couldn’t be more different. River was an athlete, the perfect student, the wonder son. Sam, in contrast, is a taciturn jerk who never thinks things through before speaking his mind, hurting however is around.
As reality shatters around Jules, the old broken pictures of it start to form new and bright images. It’s in this recreation of the people and the world she thought she knew—past the lies and the fake—that Jules finally gets a chance to figure out who she is beyond her relationship with Remy and River.
Is in this exploration that Jules faces her prejudices about her body, her beauty, friendship and love. Is in this new light that old, seemingly forgotten friendships are rediscovered and a new chance at love is born.
I liked this part of the book a lot. This is, I think, the heart of the story. This exploration of what it means to be seventeen and a woman in a place where those two things turn you into an object to be desired or to be broken. Where those two things are seen as reasons to be always afraid. I like how Jules faces her own fears and the fears of others and how is the teens in the story who actually provide the meaning for each of these words. I like the constant push, albeit seriously misguided at times, of the girls to be less afraid, to find their power, their place of resistance.
The actual solving of the mystery is a bit of a letdown, but satisfying enough, if you don’t mind the series of coincidences needed for it to happen.
My one point of contention is that some of the events and the resolution of them, everything that relates to online activity, are too quickly swept under the carpet with none of the minors facing consequence for their actions . I do understand that an uncomplicated ending makes for a more satisfying read, but since this book is a YA, I think it would be important to make sure the actual consequences of the actions depicted in the story are shown, or at least discussed as such.
As a whole, I liked this book. The characters feel realistic enough and their interactions plausible enough to keep me guessing and intrigued.
Jules strikes a great balance between passive and active, giving her personality a great patina of realism. Sam is just delightful and honest and the perfect love interest. If anything, I think my total dislike for Remy and how much I loathe her by the end of the book, is a testament to how well written she is, because only well-rounded characters , those who had dimensions and deep, are capable of eliciting deep emotion in the reader (even if I think the emotions Remy elicit in me are not the way most readers will feel about her).
A solid four-star read, but a three-star if what you want is a more pure-mystery kind of story.
Yes, there’s a mystery at the center of this story. River O’Dell, a seventeen year old, is dead. Following his death, Remy Green, his girlfriend and most-popular girl in Black Falls, NY, has disappeared—are the two events related? Is Remy also dead? Was she abducted? Or has she run away?
Yet, the mystery of Remy’s disappearance becomes just the entryway to a bigger secret, a convoluted new world, filled with lies and deception where nothing is what it seems.
No one is as surprised by discovering this new world, living under her nose, as Jules, Remy’s cousin and best friend—or so Jules has believed, until now.
Jules, Remy and River grew up together and had been best friends since childhood. But Jules has a secret, she’s been in love with River since she can remember. Bad luck, River fell in love with Remy instead (everyone falls in love with Remy)
River and Remy have been the perfect couple for a few years now, long enough for Jules to figure out River will never like her as she does him.
Until River's death, Jules always felt as if it didn't really matter that he didn't love her the same way that she love him, having him in her life was good enough, much better to have him as a friend than not at all. But now he’s dead, and Remy, the other constant presence in Jules’s life, is gone.
Things only get worse when Jules discovers her cousin was involved in something dark. “Everyone wants to get paid…” people around Jules murmur when they think she can’t hear them. Paid by who and for what? Jules has no idea. All she knows is that nothing makes sense, but Remy is at the center of it all.
Jules has always thought of herself as an outsider. Growing up, only Remy understood her, and only she understood and knew the real Remy. That’s how Jules made sense of the world. Now, faced with this other Remy she never knew existed, this dark persona involved in shady dealings, Jules realizes her world was never real, meaning, Jules has always been alone, slowly giving up parts of her life to maintain the illusion of a world—and a Remy—that never existed.
To complicate Jules's feelings even more, Sam, River’s cousin and lookalike, is in town for the summer. Sam may look like River, but they couldn’t be more different. River was an athlete, the perfect student, the wonder son. Sam, in contrast, is a taciturn jerk who never thinks things through before speaking his mind, hurting however is around.
As reality shatters around Jules, the old broken pictures of it start to form new and bright images. It’s in this recreation of the people and the world she thought she knew—past the lies and the fake—that Jules finally gets a chance to figure out who she is beyond her relationship with Remy and River.
Is in this exploration that Jules faces her prejudices about her body, her beauty, friendship and love. Is in this new light that old, seemingly forgotten friendships are rediscovered and a new chance at love is born.
I liked this part of the book a lot. This is, I think, the heart of the story. This exploration of what it means to be seventeen and a woman in a place where those two things turn you into an object to be desired or to be broken. Where those two things are seen as reasons to be always afraid. I like how Jules faces her own fears and the fears of others and how is the teens in the story who actually provide the meaning for each of these words. I like the constant push, albeit seriously misguided at times, of the girls to be less afraid, to find their power, their place of resistance.
The actual solving of the mystery is a bit of a letdown, but satisfying enough, if you don’t mind the series of coincidences needed for it to happen.
My one point of contention is that some of the events and the resolution of them, everything that relates to online activity, are too quickly swept under the carpet with none of the minors facing consequence for their actions . I do understand that an uncomplicated ending makes for a more satisfying read, but since this book is a YA, I think it would be important to make sure the actual consequences of the actions depicted in the story are shown, or at least discussed as such.
As a whole, I liked this book. The characters feel realistic enough and their interactions plausible enough to keep me guessing and intrigued.
Jules strikes a great balance between passive and active, giving her personality a great patina of realism. Sam is just delightful and honest and the perfect love interest. If anything, I think my total dislike for Remy and how much I loathe her by the end of the book, is a testament to how well written she is, because only well-rounded characters , those who had dimensions and deep, are capable of eliciting deep emotion in the reader (even if I think the emotions Remy elicit in me are not the way most readers will feel about her).
A solid four-star read, but a three-star if what you want is a more pure-mystery kind of story.
August 10, 2024
I feel like I need to fully gather my thoughts, but I really loved this. This was such a powerful and heartbreaking story.
It was fast-paced and tense and it felt so freaking real. It’s the kind of book I wish I had as a teenager. The way Jules feels about the world, her body, how she doesn’t fit in, etc. was so raw and relatable.
It was fast-paced and tense and it felt so freaking real. It’s the kind of book I wish I had as a teenager. The way Jules feels about the world, her body, how she doesn’t fit in, etc. was so raw and relatable.
August 19, 2024
3.5 stars
I initially thought this would be a story about a missing girl and the attempts to find her before she turned into a 'dead girl'. Instead there are themes of violence against women and how it doesn't always look like abuse at first. Taking away women's choices or making it seem like the abuser is the only one who cares or who can do something also fall into it.
The main character is flawed and it makes her more of a real person. Sometimes she makes bad decisions, hurts her family, and can be jealous and shallow. I felt like she made some positive strides forward and have hope for her future.
The other characters fell kind of flat for me and the cousin was not a good person. I didn't understand the obsession everyone had with her, other than her being pretty in a small town.
A decent mystery and quick read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the copy.
I initially thought this would be a story about a missing girl and the attempts to find her before she turned into a 'dead girl'. Instead there are themes of violence against women and how it doesn't always look like abuse at first. Taking away women's choices or making it seem like the abuser is the only one who cares or who can do something also fall into it.
The main character is flawed and it makes her more of a real person. Sometimes she makes bad decisions, hurts her family, and can be jealous and shallow. I felt like she made some positive strides forward and have hope for her future.
The other characters fell kind of flat for me and the cousin was not a good person. I didn't understand the obsession everyone had with her, other than her being pretty in a small town.
A decent mystery and quick read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Viking Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the copy.
January 14, 2025
This book started out weird for me but it definitely got better by the end. Was not expecting the "side hustle" to be what it was, though. Like, excuse me? You started a what? Uh huh, okay.... riiiiight.
February 22, 2024
This ended up being quite different than I thought it would be but I still really enjoyed it. Honestly, from the title, I should have known it was going to be different lol but somehow I didn’t pick up on the fact until the very end.
The base of this story felt very much like girl power, friendship, grief but told as a thriller. This one really did make me sad at times but it felt like an important story. The mystery/thriller aspect really kept me going and I didn’t see any of the twists until they were pretty much happening lol.
This book felt very reminiscent to Sadie by Courtney Summers, especially the tone of the story. It was also pretty fast paced and easy to pick up and read!
Overall, it’s sad and heartbreaking at times but felt like an important story for readers to digest!
The base of this story felt very much like girl power, friendship, grief but told as a thriller. This one really did make me sad at times but it felt like an important story. The mystery/thriller aspect really kept me going and I didn’t see any of the twists until they were pretty much happening lol.
This book felt very reminiscent to Sadie by Courtney Summers, especially the tone of the story. It was also pretty fast paced and easy to pick up and read!
Overall, it’s sad and heartbreaking at times but felt like an important story for readers to digest!
April 11, 2024
* Thank you NetGalley & Penguin Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. *
This Is Not a Dead Girl Story is a complicated book about complicated girls, and how uncomplicated men treat them. A few days after her boyfriend dies, Remy goes missing - her cousin/best friend, Jules, is left to pick up the pieces after the two most important people in her life are gone.
I loved Jules, and how she struggled with viewing herself, her body, her friendships, her life. Despite having an empowering mother, Jules still struggled with being a girl in this world, and often fought the urge to be the Good Girl that didn't hurt or anger anyone or say no. Everywhere she turned was a man who wanted something from her, wanted to take something from her. And it was painful, witnessing the realization that these adult men, some who swore to protect her and others, were going to continue hurting her and other girls if she didn't stop them.
In a lot of ways, This Is Not a Dead Girl Story hurt my feelings. I still loved it. You should read it.
"To anyone who has experienced girlhood, whether by choice or not. May this book help you find a little joy and violence in your heart."
This Is Not a Dead Girl Story is a complicated book about complicated girls, and how uncomplicated men treat them. A few days after her boyfriend dies, Remy goes missing - her cousin/best friend, Jules, is left to pick up the pieces after the two most important people in her life are gone.
I loved Jules, and how she struggled with viewing herself, her body, her friendships, her life. Despite having an empowering mother, Jules still struggled with being a girl in this world, and often fought the urge to be the Good Girl that didn't hurt or anger anyone or say no. Everywhere she turned was a man who wanted something from her, wanted to take something from her. And it was painful, witnessing the realization that these adult men, some who swore to protect her and others, were going to continue hurting her and other girls if she didn't stop them.
In a lot of ways, This Is Not a Dead Girl Story hurt my feelings. I still loved it. You should read it.
"To anyone who has experienced girlhood, whether by choice or not. May this book help you find a little joy and violence in your heart."
February 26, 2024
This is my second read from this author and the two books couldn't be more different. I think that showcases Sweeney's scope and ability, as they have both been amazing for what they were. This book shows the intricacies of small town dynamics, relationships between friends and family members, and dealing with grief.
Jules, her cousin Remy and their best friend-turned-Remy's-boyfriend, River grew up together; the best of friends through their entire childhood. When River dies, it shakes their entire bedrock... but when Remy goes missing just a week later, Jules is left reeling. She has lost her tethers, but she is determined to find Remy, not even wanting to entertain the idea that she could be dead.
Sam, River's cousin arrives in town, and even though he wears River's face, he is wholly different. So, why does Jules find herself drawn to him? Jules and Sam form an alliance and try to figure out the deeper, and much darker secrets that Remy and subsequently River were hiding...
This had such a fantastic flow. The events that play out do so in such a way that I was holding my breath waiting for the next big blow to hit. I love when YA doesn't shy away from going into the dark stuff and this one kind of goes there. I had a great time reading this one!
Jules, her cousin Remy and their best friend-turned-Remy's-boyfriend, River grew up together; the best of friends through their entire childhood. When River dies, it shakes their entire bedrock... but when Remy goes missing just a week later, Jules is left reeling. She has lost her tethers, but she is determined to find Remy, not even wanting to entertain the idea that she could be dead.
Sam, River's cousin arrives in town, and even though he wears River's face, he is wholly different. So, why does Jules find herself drawn to him? Jules and Sam form an alliance and try to figure out the deeper, and much darker secrets that Remy and subsequently River were hiding...
This had such a fantastic flow. The events that play out do so in such a way that I was holding my breath waiting for the next big blow to hit. I love when YA doesn't shy away from going into the dark stuff and this one kind of goes there. I had a great time reading this one!
October 31, 2024
2/5
Ok, so this book wasn’t really my favorite. I guess I just didn’t like how there wasn’t a sense of tension for me with the story itself. The ending for me also felt like of predictable, which I don’t usually mind, but I guess after reading so much I would wish the story to be different, or hard to know what happened. I also wasn’t particularly fond of the characters in the book. There was just a lot of things I felt were going against the book for me. The ending was alright to be honest, but i’m just glad it wasn’t slow paced for me.
Ok, so this book wasn’t really my favorite. I guess I just didn’t like how there wasn’t a sense of tension for me with the story itself. The ending for me also felt like of predictable, which I don’t usually mind, but I guess after reading so much I would wish the story to be different, or hard to know what happened. I also wasn’t particularly fond of the characters in the book. There was just a lot of things I felt were going against the book for me. The ending was alright to be honest, but i’m just glad it wasn’t slow paced for me.
February 22, 2024
A huge thank you to Penguin Teen for a NetGalley ARC of THIS IS NOT A DEAD GIRL STORY by Kate Sweeney. If you love a fast paced plot with an intriguing mystery and emotional story all around then you’ll love this thriller! It reminded me of all the things I loved about Sadie by Courtney Summers and more! This is indeed not a dead girl story. It’s about finding one’s voice, grief, family struggles and friendship. Jules goes through it all to find her cousin Remy who goes missing- all the while dealing with the grief of one of her best friends River and it is both inspiring as well as heartbreaking to read. Everything she knows or thinks she knows comes crashing down when secrets are revealed.
Please check trigger warnings before reading!
Please check trigger warnings before reading!
March 8, 2024
ARC for review. To be published August 6, 2024.
In Black Falls, New York, River O’Dell died. Then, eight days later, his girlfriend, Remy Green goes missing. Jules Green, Remy’s cousin is her opposite, awkward, shy, an odd, but she always felt like she fit in with her best friends River and Remy. But now everyone but Jules believes Remy is dead too. However Jules and River’s cousin Sam are going to find out the truth.
I am torn about this book. The writing was good but there were a number of things about the content that bothered me a lot, however it’s impossible to review those things without spoilers, other than to say Remy makes terrible, terrible choices. I would hate for a young girl reading this to feel led by them. So I don’t know.
In Black Falls, New York, River O’Dell died. Then, eight days later, his girlfriend, Remy Green goes missing. Jules Green, Remy’s cousin is her opposite, awkward, shy, an odd, but she always felt like she fit in with her best friends River and Remy. But now everyone but Jules believes Remy is dead too. However Jules and River’s cousin Sam are going to find out the truth.
I am torn about this book. The writing was good but there were a number of things about the content that bothered me a lot, however it’s impossible to review those things without spoilers, other than to say Remy makes terrible, terrible choices. I would hate for a young girl reading this to feel led by them. So I don’t know.
November 22, 2023
Thank you to Penguin Teen for my arc!
I really enjoyed this. a fast paced thriller about grief and friendship and female power and i couldn't get enough!
I really enjoyed this. a fast paced thriller about grief and friendship and female power and i couldn't get enough!
April 16, 2025
THIS IS NOT A DEAD GIRL STORY was an interesting Young Adult mystery. While it includes a few of the YA tropes, it handles them well.
Jules Green is dealing with lots of trouble. She's sixteen and in high school. She grew up with River O'Dell and her cousin Remy Green. The trio was inseparable and was quite a triangle. Jules has been in love with River since they were small. He's the school's golden boy: a straight arrow and athlete. But River loves Remy who is the school's golden girl. Her sparkling personality draws people to her in droves. Jules has always felt like the weak third of their triangle with her quiet nature and unobtrusive appearance. She and Remy were best friends and didn't keep secrets from each other. At least that is what Jules believed.
But when River dies in what was either an accident or a suicide, the world falls apart for Jules. Then, a few days later Remy disappears. The town thinks she's dead and organizes searches for her. Jules can't believe that Remy is dead and determines to find her.
Jules isn't quite alone in her search. Joining her is Sam who is River's cousin. He got in some trouble with drugs and fighting and his parents have sent him to live with his aunt and uncle for a while. He physically resembles River which gives Jules quite a start when she first sees him at River's funeral, but he is a very different personality.
Together the two begin looking for Remy and trying to come to terms with River's death. Along the way, Jules discovers that the two people she loved the most were keeping secrets from her. As she investigates, she learns those secrets and discovers that she has the strength to step out of the shadows and be her own independent person.
This was an engaging story with an intriguing protagonist. Jules isn't good at self-evaluation. Like a lot of teens, she's focused on her flaws and doesn't have a strong self-image. She does have strong parental support in her single mother who gets out of the way so that Jules can act by being a midwife working long shifts in nearby Albany.
Fans of YA mysteries and drama filled stories will enjoy this one.
Jules Green is dealing with lots of trouble. She's sixteen and in high school. She grew up with River O'Dell and her cousin Remy Green. The trio was inseparable and was quite a triangle. Jules has been in love with River since they were small. He's the school's golden boy: a straight arrow and athlete. But River loves Remy who is the school's golden girl. Her sparkling personality draws people to her in droves. Jules has always felt like the weak third of their triangle with her quiet nature and unobtrusive appearance. She and Remy were best friends and didn't keep secrets from each other. At least that is what Jules believed.
But when River dies in what was either an accident or a suicide, the world falls apart for Jules. Then, a few days later Remy disappears. The town thinks she's dead and organizes searches for her. Jules can't believe that Remy is dead and determines to find her.
Jules isn't quite alone in her search. Joining her is Sam who is River's cousin. He got in some trouble with drugs and fighting and his parents have sent him to live with his aunt and uncle for a while. He physically resembles River which gives Jules quite a start when she first sees him at River's funeral, but he is a very different personality.
Together the two begin looking for Remy and trying to come to terms with River's death. Along the way, Jules discovers that the two people she loved the most were keeping secrets from her. As she investigates, she learns those secrets and discovers that she has the strength to step out of the shadows and be her own independent person.
This was an engaging story with an intriguing protagonist. Jules isn't good at self-evaluation. Like a lot of teens, she's focused on her flaws and doesn't have a strong self-image. She does have strong parental support in her single mother who gets out of the way so that Jules can act by being a midwife working long shifts in nearby Albany.
Fans of YA mysteries and drama filled stories will enjoy this one.
March 14, 2024
Book:
THIS IS NOT A DEAD GIRL STORY by Kate Sweeney
Thank you to PenguinTeen and Netgalley for this arc. Out: August 6th
Review:
5⭐
The prologue of THIS IS NOT A DEAD GIRL STORY instantly pulled me in, continuing to do so as I read the next chapter and so on and so forth. When I tell you I was utterly dumbfounded, reading each chapter of this pragmatically, emotional-rollercoaster of a story, I was ...literally my eyes went wide, and then wide again as the story went on. It was honestly so heartbreaking. This book was emotionally riveting, and oh so gripping as the mystery unfolded. Seriously, my suspicions were high throughout this book---it seemed like everyone was hiding something, and I wanted to unravel it at the seams as I read it. THIS IS NOT A DEAD GIRL STORY was full of drama and secrets. This book contains themes that don't get enough representation, and I applaud the author for writing such a tale. This book is a must read for anyone who wants a dramatic mystery that focuses on real problems throughout a fast-paced thriller. Preorder and add to your tbr today.
What I Liked About It:
*everything
THIS IS NOT A DEAD GIRL STORY by Kate Sweeney
Thank you to PenguinTeen and Netgalley for this arc. Out: August 6th
Review:
5⭐
The prologue of THIS IS NOT A DEAD GIRL STORY instantly pulled me in, continuing to do so as I read the next chapter and so on and so forth. When I tell you I was utterly dumbfounded, reading each chapter of this pragmatically, emotional-rollercoaster of a story, I was ...literally my eyes went wide, and then wide again as the story went on. It was honestly so heartbreaking. This book was emotionally riveting, and oh so gripping as the mystery unfolded. Seriously, my suspicions were high throughout this book---it seemed like everyone was hiding something, and I wanted to unravel it at the seams as I read it. THIS IS NOT A DEAD GIRL STORY was full of drama and secrets. This book contains themes that don't get enough representation, and I applaud the author for writing such a tale. This book is a must read for anyone who wants a dramatic mystery that focuses on real problems throughout a fast-paced thriller. Preorder and add to your tbr today.
What I Liked About It:
*everything
July 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was the first book I've read by Sweeney and I really enjoyed it. The message in the story really resonated with me. Jules is best friends with her cousin Remy, and River, the boy down the way that she grew up with but is also madly in love with, albeit an unrequited love. Remy and River are the golden couple, but the three are all best friends. But, this friendship has some deep secrets.
Without warning, though there may have been some missed signs, River ends up dead. Then, after a period of grieving, Remy disappears. Jules doesn't know how to cope with these loses. However, she is positive that Remy is not dead too. She has to be okay. Because, after all, this is not a dead girl story.
This mystery was really great. I appreciated the development of Jules' character and the progression of the plot. I recommend this story and look forward to reading more books by this author.
This was the first book I've read by Sweeney and I really enjoyed it. The message in the story really resonated with me. Jules is best friends with her cousin Remy, and River, the boy down the way that she grew up with but is also madly in love with, albeit an unrequited love. Remy and River are the golden couple, but the three are all best friends. But, this friendship has some deep secrets.
Without warning, though there may have been some missed signs, River ends up dead. Then, after a period of grieving, Remy disappears. Jules doesn't know how to cope with these loses. However, she is positive that Remy is not dead too. She has to be okay. Because, after all, this is not a dead girl story.
This mystery was really great. I appreciated the development of Jules' character and the progression of the plot. I recommend this story and look forward to reading more books by this author.
September 15, 2025
I went into this thinking it would be a “missing girl mystery,” but it’s really about the quieter, more insidious ways violence against women shows up—and how it doesn’t always look like abuse at first. That made it sad to read at times, but also really important.
The suspense was strong, the pacing kept me hooked, and I loved the way Jules’ grief and complicated emotions were explored. The book also delivered some powerful messages about body autonomy and girls reclaiming their power.
That said, I had some issues. Jules’ obsession with certain characters felt like a real mental health concern that wasn’t fully addressed, and a lot of her emotional baggage was just left hanging. Plus, while the girls take control, the story never even touches the very real criminal consequences of their choices. And the ending? Way too abrupt. Honestly, the ending was hot garbage.
Overall, this is a suspenseful, thought-provoking read that tackles some weighty themes.
The suspense was strong, the pacing kept me hooked, and I loved the way Jules’ grief and complicated emotions were explored. The book also delivered some powerful messages about body autonomy and girls reclaiming their power.
That said, I had some issues. Jules’ obsession with certain characters felt like a real mental health concern that wasn’t fully addressed, and a lot of her emotional baggage was just left hanging. Plus, while the girls take control, the story never even touches the very real criminal consequences of their choices. And the ending? Way too abrupt. Honestly, the ending was hot garbage.
Overall, this is a suspenseful, thought-provoking read that tackles some weighty themes.
March 14, 2024
This book started showing us all these characters just to have one taken too soon. This reminded me of the death of my childhood friend and the piercing silence that arrived when he died. I also feel like we did not have enough time with this character but I guess that is the point. This book took me on a ride that I thought I expected but I never did, it was so crazy I loved it so much and it hold as special place in my heart as the first arc that I completed and loved. I would recommend this book to anyone and I will be buying it when it comes out!
Favorite quote: "It turns out people thinking you are perfect is the worst thing that can happen"
Rated it 5/5 stars!
Favorite quote: "It turns out people thinking you are perfect is the worst thing that can happen"
Rated it 5/5 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2024
ARC Review
1.5 stars rounded up
Initial thoughts: Absolutely the fuck not.
This book had such a promising premise and it just lost the plot, its mind, and the thread. I'm not going to post spoilers but the minute this book made a certain decision that involves a certain crime and tried to turn it around, no. I understand the attempt at the message, but no. Absolutely the fuck not.
Just no.
1.5 stars rounded up
Initial thoughts: Absolutely the fuck not.
This book had such a promising premise and it just lost the plot, its mind, and the thread. I'm not going to post spoilers but the minute this book made a certain decision that involves a certain crime and tried to turn it around, no. I understand the attempt at the message, but no. Absolutely the fuck not.
Just no.
September 4, 2024
3.5 stars. I liked this story but the ending and lack of follow through at the end lost me. It was really good until like 85%.
September 5, 2024
This is a really well crafted story. The characters are well written. The pacing is good. The subject matter is handled well. Special Thank you to Kate Sweeney, Penguin Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2024
3.5
A Pretty Little Liars-esque mystery whose message, 90% of the way through, turns into “girl power.” Not quite what I was expecting, but still an entertaining read!
A Pretty Little Liars-esque mystery whose message, 90% of the way through, turns into “girl power.” Not quite what I was expecting, but still an entertaining read!
August 28, 2025
I realise things might get a little crazy when you try to overthrow the patriarchy, but WTAF!?!?
December 22, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded down
This is one of those books that leave me really torn and especially wish Goodreads had a better rating system.
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for the Arc in exchange for my honest review.
This is hard to write without spoilers but I am going to try..
To start with the positive, this is a very fast paced book as in it’s 9:30 am, I’m finished and while I read the first 10 pages last night, I continued at 6:30 this morning. While I easily figured out the culprit (there were actually multiple) it didn’t bother me as it was well written and not in your face.
I liked the flawed narrator Jules as while she tried to sort things on her own, she easily lets go and doesn’t double down on trying to continue once her mother turns a key piece of evidence to the police. In so many YA books the teen detectives just reinforce efforts to circumvent the police which is a tired trope. Jules doesn’t fall victim to that and has good reason to not run to them immediately.
She also realist shares information with several people. It is a natural unfolding of what a typical teen would do. While it maintains the trope of the awkward sidekick to the popular girl, it doesn’t get bogged down by it. Her friend group whom she doesn’t think she connects with outside of her cousin Remy, actually like her and do not treat her poorly. It was refreshing.
The book had some good messages about body autonomy and how girls should view taking power over their bodies and such through the voice of reason, Jules mother. She of course isn’t always around as she of course worse overnights as a nurse (YA authors really need to start giving other professions to the Moms other than Nurse or other healthcare professional or the deadbeat parent trope)
The mystery aspect which has several subplots is decent as many things need to unfold, keeping the reader engaged.
Now for the other side of the coin.
The repetition of certain things wanted me to
Pull my hair out. The obsession Jules has for certain characters crosses the line of being a mental health issue that needs to be addressed. While she does learn things in the end, she has a lot of things that need to be dealt with insofar as her self worth and d emotional attachments and they are just left out there. This book which clearly was written as a self discovery type journey and to focus on certain historic issues, did a poor job of the resolution of those things. That is frustrating when dealing with a YA book that can leave impressions on a teen.
The book focuses on the girls taking control of things but fails to talk at all about the very real potential criminal consequences of their actions. I won’t mention what they did as not to spoil but what they did was 100% a crime. Failure to even mention that seems irresponsible of the author.
Also, tension is built up with certain characters being angry that they need to get paid. Some of them wanting that doesn’t make sense. Maybe they thought they should get their money back but that wasn’t made clear. And those that should have indeed been paid, the plot thread just seemed to disappear even after some strong “this must happen” type language. However, the girls were never out any money so it just seemed like a random thing to throw in to get action started and once it served it purposely it was abandoned without another word.
Finally, the ending. All I’ll say was it was just an awful way to end a book. It felt like a word count was met and they said “ok, time to stop.” It was Just bizarre.
With all that said, I do recommend reading it for those that like the genre. The description of the book doesn’t do a good job in telling you what you’ll get involved but for those that like crime type YA where the kids try to figure things out without the police, this may be for you when it gets published in August 2024.
Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
This is one of those books that leave me really torn and especially wish Goodreads had a better rating system.
Thank you NetGalley and Viking Books for the Arc in exchange for my honest review.
This is hard to write without spoilers but I am going to try..
To start with the positive, this is a very fast paced book as in it’s 9:30 am, I’m finished and while I read the first 10 pages last night, I continued at 6:30 this morning. While I easily figured out the culprit (there were actually multiple) it didn’t bother me as it was well written and not in your face.
I liked the flawed narrator Jules as while she tried to sort things on her own, she easily lets go and doesn’t double down on trying to continue once her mother turns a key piece of evidence to the police. In so many YA books the teen detectives just reinforce efforts to circumvent the police which is a tired trope. Jules doesn’t fall victim to that and has good reason to not run to them immediately.
She also realist shares information with several people. It is a natural unfolding of what a typical teen would do. While it maintains the trope of the awkward sidekick to the popular girl, it doesn’t get bogged down by it. Her friend group whom she doesn’t think she connects with outside of her cousin Remy, actually like her and do not treat her poorly. It was refreshing.
The book had some good messages about body autonomy and how girls should view taking power over their bodies and such through the voice of reason, Jules mother. She of course isn’t always around as she of course worse overnights as a nurse (YA authors really need to start giving other professions to the Moms other than Nurse or other healthcare professional or the deadbeat parent trope)
The mystery aspect which has several subplots is decent as many things need to unfold, keeping the reader engaged.
Now for the other side of the coin.
The repetition of certain things wanted me to
Pull my hair out. The obsession Jules has for certain characters crosses the line of being a mental health issue that needs to be addressed. While she does learn things in the end, she has a lot of things that need to be dealt with insofar as her self worth and d emotional attachments and they are just left out there. This book which clearly was written as a self discovery type journey and to focus on certain historic issues, did a poor job of the resolution of those things. That is frustrating when dealing with a YA book that can leave impressions on a teen.
The book focuses on the girls taking control of things but fails to talk at all about the very real potential criminal consequences of their actions. I won’t mention what they did as not to spoil but what they did was 100% a crime. Failure to even mention that seems irresponsible of the author.
Also, tension is built up with certain characters being angry that they need to get paid. Some of them wanting that doesn’t make sense. Maybe they thought they should get their money back but that wasn’t made clear. And those that should have indeed been paid, the plot thread just seemed to disappear even after some strong “this must happen” type language. However, the girls were never out any money so it just seemed like a random thing to throw in to get action started and once it served it purposely it was abandoned without another word.
Finally, the ending. All I’ll say was it was just an awful way to end a book. It felt like a word count was met and they said “ok, time to stop.” It was Just bizarre.
With all that said, I do recommend reading it for those that like the genre. The description of the book doesn’t do a good job in telling you what you’ll get involved but for those that like crime type YA where the kids try to figure things out without the police, this may be for you when it gets published in August 2024.
Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
July 29, 2024
This is Not a Dead Girl Story' captivated me from the start with its intriguing mystery surrounding Remy and River. The characters were well-developed, and the plot twists kept me guessing. The author skillfully built suspense, making it hard to put the book down. However, I felt the ending was a bit abrupt and left me wanting more closure. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and would recommend it to fans of mystery and suspense.
October 4, 2025
(3.5 rounded up)
Jules Green has just lost one of her best friends, River O’Dell. Eight days later her cousin, Remy Green disappears too. Everyone in her small town is quick to think Remy is dead but Jules is determined to find her cousin. Jules and Remy are opposites in almost every way. Remy is popular and loves horror movies and was dating the boy Jules loved. Now, Jules must team up with River’s cousin Sam to find out what really happened to Remy. She finds that she might not have known Remy and River and well as she thought.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The premise was intriguing and the mystery kept my attention, most of the time. The pacing sometimes felt a little off. At times I felt like things slowed down a little bit too much although I understand it’s necessary to slow the pace down at times. I have to admit that occasionally I found Jules to be a bit annoying. This was when she was acting really mopey, but the way she was acting was fairly normal for a teenager who had just lost the people closest to her. I was somewhat surprised by some of what Jules and Sam uncover during their search for the truth. The resolution wasn’t what I was expecting but I enjoyed it. I do like that this book turned the dead girl trope on it’s head. Just a note: I read the digital and audiobook versions of this book. I’d recommend both.
Some aspects of the story reminded me of the beginning of Twin Peaks. Those who have seen the show will know why.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and liked what it had to say. That said, sometimes the plot moved at too much of a sluggish pace for me. I’d recommend this to readers who like thrillers or mysteries as the mystery is a big aspect of the book. Hardcore horror fans might find this too tame but I found it to be a good read, just keep in mind that this book is YA. I’d definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and the author for providing me with an ARC for review.
Jules Green has just lost one of her best friends, River O’Dell. Eight days later her cousin, Remy Green disappears too. Everyone in her small town is quick to think Remy is dead but Jules is determined to find her cousin. Jules and Remy are opposites in almost every way. Remy is popular and loves horror movies and was dating the boy Jules loved. Now, Jules must team up with River’s cousin Sam to find out what really happened to Remy. She finds that she might not have known Remy and River and well as she thought.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The premise was intriguing and the mystery kept my attention, most of the time. The pacing sometimes felt a little off. At times I felt like things slowed down a little bit too much although I understand it’s necessary to slow the pace down at times. I have to admit that occasionally I found Jules to be a bit annoying. This was when she was acting really mopey, but the way she was acting was fairly normal for a teenager who had just lost the people closest to her. I was somewhat surprised by some of what Jules and Sam uncover during their search for the truth. The resolution wasn’t what I was expecting but I enjoyed it. I do like that this book turned the dead girl trope on it’s head. Just a note: I read the digital and audiobook versions of this book. I’d recommend both.
Some aspects of the story reminded me of the beginning of Twin Peaks. Those who have seen the show will know why.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and liked what it had to say. That said, sometimes the plot moved at too much of a sluggish pace for me. I’d recommend this to readers who like thrillers or mysteries as the mystery is a big aspect of the book. Hardcore horror fans might find this too tame but I found it to be a good read, just keep in mind that this book is YA. I’d definitely read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and the author for providing me with an ARC for review.
November 7, 2025
Small Town Hide BIG Secrets
“He told me about the way wildflowers drop their seeds at the end of the summer and then they just wait there, all winter long, in the dark. He made it sound like the most romantic sacrifice anyone has ever made.”
One friend dead .
Was it an accident ?
Did he take his own life?
All anyone knows is the River was found dead in…a river, from a severe head injury, after his car careened off a bridge.
Wow!
Thank you Kate Sweeney 🙏🏼
This book has come from the heart.
It’s clear from the personal experiences that Jules, MFC, goes through,her inner battles about her looks, body, her place in the world, trying to fit in, come from personal experiences.
This starts with a party that Jules will remember for two reason:
1: The decision to lose her V card to Bailey.
He’s handsome, athletic, and reasonably popular.
He’s also a 💩kisser, and a lousy lay.
But!
At least, the deed is now done.
2: It’s also the night that one, of her two best friends die’s
River.
The boy she has known for most of her life.
The boy she has secretly crushed on, like…FOREVER!
The boy that was her OTHER best friend, ( and cousin ) Remi’s boyfriend.
Now killed by his own hands.
Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
So when Jules was in the backseat of Bailey’s car pretending to be enjoying his slopping kisses, the boy of her dreams was dying.
Then it comes to light that, just before he left in his car he was seen with Remy, that he had proposed to her, and she had turn me down.
So Jules has to go through the agonising process of letting River go and to rest,
The fall out that his sudden passing has, only family, but on his friends and the town of Black Falls is huge.
THEN.
Jules loses Remy not long afterwards.
In THIS case, it’s a disappearance.
One night Remy gets a text while she’s been staying at Jules’s house, leaves, and is…gone!
She can’t be found anywhere.
After the flyers are posted, After searches parties come to an end, the case remains open, but everyone believes her disappearance involves foul play.
The loss of her two closest friends so close together sends Jules over the edge mentally.
Every part of her small town holds memories from childhood through to adulthood.
At this point Jules is barely able to function through life, she is so depressed.
Then, the dark haired Sam arrives with all his New York, pot smoking, swagger
All broad shoulders and long limps.
He looks Soooo much like River!
The first time Jukes sees in walking out of the Forrest, she almost thinks it IS him!
Ah! Ha!
That would be because he is Rivers cousin.
When they first meet, Sam knows her, he remembers her from his childhood visits to his Aunt and Uncles, were as Jules is having trouble remembering the younger Sam.
So as the summer drags on, these two find themselves getting closer as they spend more time in each other’s company , both grieving for the same person.
However, there is a secret that Remy has left behind, a secret that several people in town want to bury.
Starting with…
Where the heck is Remy’s SIM card, and why wasn’t it discovered with her phone?
So, as Jules and Sam try to come to terms with their grief, along with their blossoming relationship, elements in the town are coming together to try and thwart Jules’s investigations.
Then there is an issue of a certain bundle of letters Remy was keeping hidden from a boyfriend that isn’t River.
This is a story about a girl that is lost.
A girl that has never been able to find her true self because, she was always part of the golden couple known as River/Remy
So when they are no longer around, she struggles to find her own identity
It’s also about a dark underbelly so a small town, where there isn’t much to do.
This was, on one level, suspense story but, it was also about small towns, friendship, obsession, family drama, and a girl trying to figure out who she is.
“I never had a chance with River. River never had a chance with Remy. Maybe none of us really loved each other at all,”
“He told me about the way wildflowers drop their seeds at the end of the summer and then they just wait there, all winter long, in the dark. He made it sound like the most romantic sacrifice anyone has ever made.”
One friend dead .
Was it an accident ?
Did he take his own life?
All anyone knows is the River was found dead in…a river, from a severe head injury, after his car careened off a bridge.
Wow!
Thank you Kate Sweeney 🙏🏼
This book has come from the heart.
It’s clear from the personal experiences that Jules, MFC, goes through,her inner battles about her looks, body, her place in the world, trying to fit in, come from personal experiences.
This starts with a party that Jules will remember for two reason:
1: The decision to lose her V card to Bailey.
He’s handsome, athletic, and reasonably popular.
He’s also a 💩kisser, and a lousy lay.
But!
At least, the deed is now done.
2: It’s also the night that one, of her two best friends die’s
River.
The boy she has known for most of her life.
The boy she has secretly crushed on, like…FOREVER!
The boy that was her OTHER best friend, ( and cousin ) Remi’s boyfriend.
Now killed by his own hands.
Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
So when Jules was in the backseat of Bailey’s car pretending to be enjoying his slopping kisses, the boy of her dreams was dying.
Then it comes to light that, just before he left in his car he was seen with Remy, that he had proposed to her, and she had turn me down.
So Jules has to go through the agonising process of letting River go and to rest,
The fall out that his sudden passing has, only family, but on his friends and the town of Black Falls is huge.
THEN.
Jules loses Remy not long afterwards.
In THIS case, it’s a disappearance.
One night Remy gets a text while she’s been staying at Jules’s house, leaves, and is…gone!
She can’t be found anywhere.
After the flyers are posted, After searches parties come to an end, the case remains open, but everyone believes her disappearance involves foul play.
The loss of her two closest friends so close together sends Jules over the edge mentally.
Every part of her small town holds memories from childhood through to adulthood.
At this point Jules is barely able to function through life, she is so depressed.
Then, the dark haired Sam arrives with all his New York, pot smoking, swagger
All broad shoulders and long limps.
He looks Soooo much like River!
The first time Jukes sees in walking out of the Forrest, she almost thinks it IS him!
Ah! Ha!
That would be because he is Rivers cousin.
When they first meet, Sam knows her, he remembers her from his childhood visits to his Aunt and Uncles, were as Jules is having trouble remembering the younger Sam.
So as the summer drags on, these two find themselves getting closer as they spend more time in each other’s company , both grieving for the same person.
However, there is a secret that Remy has left behind, a secret that several people in town want to bury.
Starting with…
Where the heck is Remy’s SIM card, and why wasn’t it discovered with her phone?
So, as Jules and Sam try to come to terms with their grief, along with their blossoming relationship, elements in the town are coming together to try and thwart Jules’s investigations.
Then there is an issue of a certain bundle of letters Remy was keeping hidden from a boyfriend that isn’t River.
This is a story about a girl that is lost.
A girl that has never been able to find her true self because, she was always part of the golden couple known as River/Remy
So when they are no longer around, she struggles to find her own identity
It’s also about a dark underbelly so a small town, where there isn’t much to do.
This was, on one level, suspense story but, it was also about small towns, friendship, obsession, family drama, and a girl trying to figure out who she is.
“I never had a chance with River. River never had a chance with Remy. Maybe none of us really loved each other at all,”
June 2, 2025
the story starting off with Remy being missing is very direct and to the point. it sets the scene off for what this book is. then part 1 plays out, and I see that this is more like a flash to the future and from what i can guess so far, a lot of this book is probably flashing to the past. just my interpretation so far! i really do like how Remy and Jules interact with each other. it reminds me of the connection i used to have with my own cousins, though we were younger than J and R are in the book when my cousins and I connected the most. River dying is very abrupt, and isn't explained in much detail at first. we hear that he drowns, but not much else. The funeral scene was so pointed and I could feel every moment as if i were really there. I hate funerals so it was a tough read. hearing that Remy is waiting for a text is so ominous because you just know that's the reason she goes missing. When she does go missing, Jules goes through a mantra is saying that this is not a true crime documentary. She is not a dead girl. This is honestly very powerful and reminds me of the moment i found out one of my close friends died. this pure shock and awe of "This isn't real. This is a dream. This is a nightmare, actually" and having to live through the denial process. i genuinely like Sam as a character. so far, at least. he's dark and troubled and has his own qualms with Remy's disappearance and he copes by smoking a lot of weed and getting drunk. I see how this connects him to Jules. i also really like the narrative of Remy "speaking" to Jules. this is (i think) a pretty decent coping mechanism but i could be entirely wrong as i am not a trained professional. i just see how it keeps her going and motivated to believe that Remy is alive. the reveal that Remy was running a teenage onlyfans called Fawn is wiiiild like im sorry to be that person but thats literal Cheese Pizza. despite this, i think Jules connecting with Remy's (and her old) friends is really important. she doesn't just need their information, but them in general. their support and guidance. Seeing that Zach, an adult, was viewing Remy's material is soooo eerie and knowing he's out there looking for, allegedly, her sim card, it just the cherry on top. I do not like this man nor the way he acts. Jules basically getting kidnapped by the nutjobs until they swerved off the road is just typical douchebag behavior of mystery novels, i think. at least, that's my experience so far. I doubt they're heavy in the lore relevance at the end of the story idk. they just dont feel important yet. maybe thats an issue maybe it's a fact who knows i havent finished the book yet. Jules' mom finding the letter from "Remy" and turning it in to the police is a twist i wasn't expecting. this means that Zach now knows about it, and could do something about it. but everyone is looking for that damn sim card. What is Remy has it? what if she fled? What if what if what if!!! Sam finding the River Drawer is soooo tragic to me because i was literally JUST thinking "wow wouldn't it be soooo cool if mystery books just had easy relationships" no. no. they dont. i don't know why i'd be so misguided to believe this but i did, and i was wrong. O'dell being a weird ass bitch towards Jules was the dead give away to me. he KNEW. He had a pedophilic power dynamic relationship with Remy?? He kissed Jules?? Jules attacking him multiple times was a perfect response. I loved how it was handled, but now we have to see what the consequences are. Jules finding Remy?? WOWW. Jules gets to grieve was she didn't realize she was grieving. Remy deciding to call their mom and tell her everything was exactly what was needed. she tells them that its a small town and everything WILL come out eventually. Remy decides to stay at the farm, and Jules reported O'dell. Sam reconciling with Jules and realizing that she's grieving River in her own way, and the relationship the never would have and now never could, he decides they can be civil it sweet. the ending of the book was so smooth and i love how it ends.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2024
2.5⭐️ maybe? The ending really took it down some notches for me.
Wow. Okay. I don’t know how to rate this because what I did not expect in the year of our Lord 2024 was a teenage only fans style sex worker ring. I’m not sure how this one will go over with the crowd that is repulsed by sex scenes in YA books. To be clear there’s only one sex scene in this book to my recollection and it’s extremely tame and kind of sad. I’m just never going to get over the sex work for teenagers.
This really reminded me quite a bit of Sadie by Courtney Summers. However Sadie felt like an adult book written about a teenager while this one felt like a YA book with adult themes. I will say the last 15 ish % really took a hard right into Secret Life of the American Teenager territory as far as decision making skills were concerned. But it did really remind me that 16 year olds still have a decade until their brains are fully developed and they start understanding that their great ideas are not nearly as thought out as they would say.
I found myself getting annoyed with the main character, Jules, a lot honestly. I wanted to scream several times “ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!!” because there were at least a dozen times when people alluded to what was going on with Remy and Jules just said and did absolutely nothing. How exactly did she expect to find Remy while asking zero questions? Wild.
Also at the end when Remy was found she casually mentions that she talked to the FBI a week ago. EXCUSE ME?! So the FBI knew a missing 16 year old girl was alive across state lines on a farm and they just left her there and didn’t think to inform her mom or the local police? Mmk. Absolutely plausible 🙄
I don’t think the content warnings listed in the book are nearly enough. There is possible suicide, drug use and abuse, sexual harassment, violence, and grooming but there is wayyyy more than that. There’s literal CP, slut shaming, alcohol, body dysmorphia, child death, parent death, parental abandonment, grief, and toxic friendships and relationships. I’m sure I’m missing a few.
I realize this review was truly all over the place but my God.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! It was certainly an experience.
**editing to add that this was a quick read that I devoured but the wheels just really fell off at the end.
Wow. Okay. I don’t know how to rate this because what I did not expect in the year of our Lord 2024 was a teenage only fans style sex worker ring. I’m not sure how this one will go over with the crowd that is repulsed by sex scenes in YA books. To be clear there’s only one sex scene in this book to my recollection and it’s extremely tame and kind of sad. I’m just never going to get over the sex work for teenagers.
This really reminded me quite a bit of Sadie by Courtney Summers. However Sadie felt like an adult book written about a teenager while this one felt like a YA book with adult themes. I will say the last 15 ish % really took a hard right into Secret Life of the American Teenager territory as far as decision making skills were concerned. But it did really remind me that 16 year olds still have a decade until their brains are fully developed and they start understanding that their great ideas are not nearly as thought out as they would say.
I found myself getting annoyed with the main character, Jules, a lot honestly. I wanted to scream several times “ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!!” because there were at least a dozen times when people alluded to what was going on with Remy and Jules just said and did absolutely nothing. How exactly did she expect to find Remy while asking zero questions? Wild.
Also at the end when Remy was found she casually mentions that she talked to the FBI a week ago. EXCUSE ME?! So the FBI knew a missing 16 year old girl was alive across state lines on a farm and they just left her there and didn’t think to inform her mom or the local police? Mmk. Absolutely plausible 🙄
I don’t think the content warnings listed in the book are nearly enough. There is possible suicide, drug use and abuse, sexual harassment, violence, and grooming but there is wayyyy more than that. There’s literal CP, slut shaming, alcohol, body dysmorphia, child death, parent death, parental abandonment, grief, and toxic friendships and relationships. I’m sure I’m missing a few.
I realize this review was truly all over the place but my God.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! It was certainly an experience.
**editing to add that this was a quick read that I devoured but the wheels just really fell off at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2025
This book seriously messed with my head. Suicide, sexual abuse or minors and grooming behaviors, possible murder/kidnapping. It's got a lot of dark stuff. And dealing with so much grief and realizing you never really know people as much as you think. It was tough. Good, but tough.
Quotes (SPOILERS):
River is dead. Once I think it, I can’t stop. River is dead. I think it over and over, waiting for the words to lose their meaning. River is dead. The world is not the world anymore. The world can’t be the world without River in it. But somehow, sunlight is still coming through the curtains. Air moves in and out of my lungs. Downstairs, in the kitchen, my mother is opening cupboards, turning on the sink.
Mom makes me a cup of tea, something strong and herbal. “This will help with your hangover,” she says. She sets it on the counter next to me and then presses her hands to the sides of my face, smooths my hair down the back of my head, leans her forehead into mine. Breathes me in. Like she is not quite sure that I’m really here. Maybe I’m not. Maybe none of us are. Maybe we are all dead. But outside the water-spotted kitchen window, birds are singing. Actually singing. The too-long grass is thick and lush. The sky is blue. Everything is alive. Everything but River.
Mom makes Remy a cup of tea; Remy doesn’t drink it. She makes us breakfast, but nobody eats a thing. What’s the point? River is gone. Someone tell the grass and the birds and the soft spring breeze. The world is ending any minute now. There’s no reason to try.
I force myself to take long, slow, even breaths. Everything is so alive. Alive, alive, alive. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that River is not alive like me. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that I am not dead like River.
I pick up the geode from the center of the table. I feel its weight in my hands, watch the crystals gleam in the low kitchen light. Liliana said that Fawn gave girls power, but now I’m not sure. I felt a certain strength when Kendall took those pictures today, but I have never felt as powerful as I did when I used this stone to hurt Mr. O’Dell. What does that say about me? About power? Maybe when boys send pictures of us to each other, the power is not in the pictures but in the violence behind the act of sending them. Maybe our power is in stopping that violence, in hurting them back. Or maybe power is something else. Something in us that we haven’t even discovered yet. Something bigger than violence. Something bigger than anything.
In the end, River’s cause of death is inconclusive. A poetic word if you think about it. River was a nesting doll just like Remy. We all are, in some way or another. Selves inside selves. Inconclusive.
Quotes (SPOILERS):
River is dead. Once I think it, I can’t stop. River is dead. I think it over and over, waiting for the words to lose their meaning. River is dead. The world is not the world anymore. The world can’t be the world without River in it. But somehow, sunlight is still coming through the curtains. Air moves in and out of my lungs. Downstairs, in the kitchen, my mother is opening cupboards, turning on the sink.
Mom makes me a cup of tea, something strong and herbal. “This will help with your hangover,” she says. She sets it on the counter next to me and then presses her hands to the sides of my face, smooths my hair down the back of my head, leans her forehead into mine. Breathes me in. Like she is not quite sure that I’m really here. Maybe I’m not. Maybe none of us are. Maybe we are all dead. But outside the water-spotted kitchen window, birds are singing. Actually singing. The too-long grass is thick and lush. The sky is blue. Everything is alive. Everything but River.
Mom makes Remy a cup of tea; Remy doesn’t drink it. She makes us breakfast, but nobody eats a thing. What’s the point? River is gone. Someone tell the grass and the birds and the soft spring breeze. The world is ending any minute now. There’s no reason to try.
I force myself to take long, slow, even breaths. Everything is so alive. Alive, alive, alive. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that River is not alive like me. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that I am not dead like River.
I pick up the geode from the center of the table. I feel its weight in my hands, watch the crystals gleam in the low kitchen light. Liliana said that Fawn gave girls power, but now I’m not sure. I felt a certain strength when Kendall took those pictures today, but I have never felt as powerful as I did when I used this stone to hurt Mr. O’Dell. What does that say about me? About power? Maybe when boys send pictures of us to each other, the power is not in the pictures but in the violence behind the act of sending them. Maybe our power is in stopping that violence, in hurting them back. Or maybe power is something else. Something in us that we haven’t even discovered yet. Something bigger than violence. Something bigger than anything.
In the end, River’s cause of death is inconclusive. A poetic word if you think about it. River was a nesting doll just like Remy. We all are, in some way or another. Selves inside selves. Inconclusive.
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