Description
“Powerful, brilliantly plotted, voicey, gripping, beautiful, heart-wrenching, hilarious . . . Read this book.” -Liz Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of The Agathas
When Jo-Lynn Kirby 's former best friend-pretty, nice Maddie Price-comes to her claiming to be in trouble, Jo assumes it's some kind of joke. After all, Jo has been an outcast ever since her nude photos were leaked-and since everyone decided she deserved it. There's no way Maddie would actually come to her for help.
But then Maddie is gone.
Everyone is quick to write off Maddie as a runaway, but Jo can't shake the feeling there's more to the story. To find out the truth, Jo needs to get back in with the people who left her behind-and the only way back in is through Hudson Harper-Moore. An old fling of Jo's with his own reasons for wanting to find Maddie, Hudson hatches a fake dating scheme to get Jo back into their clique. But being back on the inside means Jo must confront everything she'd rather forget: the boys who betrayed her, the whispers that she had it coming, and the secrets that tore her and Maddie apart. As Jo digs deeper into Maddie's disappearance, she's left to wonder who she's really searching for: Maddie, or the girl she used to be.
Not Like Other Girls is a stunning debut that takes a hard look at how we treat young women and their trauma, through the lens of a missing girl and a girl trying to find herself again.
About the Author
Meredith Adamo is a YA author based in hot, humid North Carolina, but she's originally from Rochester, New York, which is her favorite place on the planet. She likes to write about girls who can make you laugh and break your heart--ideally on the same page. Her non-writing interests include collecting vintage bakeware, crocheting the ugliest blankets you've ever seen, and grocery shopping. Not Like Other Girls is her debut novel. Connect with Meredith @mere_adamo on Instagram and meredithadamo.com.
Praise For…
“A superbly crafted, timely, and enthralling mystery that unflinchingly examines the painful realities of being a teenage girl. Meredith Adamo's debut is a stunner.” —Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of GIRL IN PIECES and THE AGATHAS
“Brave, witty, and razor-sharp, Not Like Other Girls is a gut-punch of a debut.” —Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of THE LEGACIES and THE COUNSELORS
“Powerful, brilliantly plotted, voicey, gripping, beautiful, heart-wrenching, hilarious. . . . Not Like Other Girls is a blistering indictment of the numerous ways our society fails young women, wrapped in a twisting, gripping mystery about a missing girl. Read this book.” —Liz Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of THE AGATHAS, THE NIGHT IN QUESTION, and THE LUCKY ONES
“Occasionally you crack open a book to find yourself blown away by the searing honesty of the voice, the sharpness of the prose, and the authenticity of the characters. Not Like Other Girls is one of these rare finds; I am incredibly excited for readers to discover Meredith Adamo.” —Kit Frick, author of THE REUNION and I KILLED ZOE SPANOS
“A deep dive into the complexities of being a girl. . . . Heartbreakingly real, with a flawed narrator who attempts to untangle the braid of herself--the good, the bad, and the ugly.” —Mindy McGinnis, author of A LONG STRETCH OF BAD DAYS and THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES
“Adamo breaks through the teen-sleuth genre with outstanding takes on themes of consent, power, and the devastating end to friendships. It hits all the right notes to make a gripping and impactful book, from its compelling voice to its hurtling enigma of a plot, all while juggling several themes with nuance and profundity. . . . Effective and compulsively readable, this is a must-read” —Booklist, starred review
“Edgy and authentic, this stunning gut-punch of a novel unravels the complexities of teen girlhood, toxic friendships, and trauma. . . A timely, suspense-building thriller and a powerful story of healing.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“The mystery has all the elements of a good thriller: characters you can't necessarily trust; nail-biting suspense; and a twisty, surprising conclusion. But there's another layer . . . Adamo writes with compassion for 'girls like me' who deserve to be listened to, believed, and loved--and nothing less.” —The Horn Book Magazine
“Jo is an updated version of Veronica Mars in all the best ways as the damaged but resilient heroine, and the layered mystery will likely keep readers guessing through a well-paced series of reveals. . . Beyond the core mystery, there's nuanced portrayals of female friendships, a love interest as supportive as he is gorgeous, a suitably villainous 'nice guy,' and plenty of sex positivity and discussions about consent.” —BCCB
“A thoughtful and thought-provoking feminist tale woven into an expansive mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews