This book is going to remain a YA stand-out for me for the rest of the year. Pure young adult thriller perfection. When new-to-town cross-country runner, Mila, vanishes while running early one morning, it turns the town of Edgewater on its head. Is the serial killer who murdered two young female runners years ago back? Or was it one of the Steckler sisters, overly competitive runners and allegedly prone to violence?
The book alternates perspectives between Ellie and Stella, the Steckler sisters and top runners on Edgewater's high school cross-country team. This is definitely a keeps-you-guessing until the end book, and I know the killer took a lot of people by surprise (I'll confess: I peaked). Even having glanced at the last few pages, there were still loads of secrets to unravel and plenty of plot to keep me enthralled. Goodman is masterful, and I can't wait to read more of her work.
I also can't leave out of this review how much this book speaks to me as a young woman. I am an adult (27) and not a high-schooler, but its commentary on the expectations of women in society and sports, the double-standards and sexism, and increased fear for their safety women face--it's all ingrained in the plot in a way that doesn't seem preachy and instead should make all women mad that we have to put up with things being this way. Stella and Ellie each challenge the norms of what it means to be a "young" girl in their own way, and it really makes you think.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars - 10/10
The book alternates perspectives between Ellie and Stella, the Steckler sisters and top runners on Edgewater's high school cross-country team. This is definitely a keeps-you-guessing until the end book, and I know the killer took a lot of people by surprise (I'll confess: I peaked). Even having glanced at the last few pages, there were still loads of secrets to unravel and plenty of plot to keep me enthralled. Goodman is masterful, and I can't wait to read more of her work.
I also can't leave out of this review how much this book speaks to me as a young woman. I am an adult (27) and not a high-schooler, but its commentary on the expectations of women in society and sports, the double-standards and sexism, and increased fear for their safety women face--it's all ingrained in the plot in a way that doesn't seem preachy and instead should make all women mad that we have to put up with things being this way. Stella and Ellie each challenge the norms of what it means to be a "young" girl in their own way, and it really makes you think.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars - 10/10