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Girls Like Her
A raw, gripping, authentic, and boldly original novel about a fifteen-year-old Texas girl set to stand trial for murder—and the one person who might be able to help her clear her name. A wealthy businessman is dead, and fifteen-year-old Ruby Monroe is in a Dallas jail awaiting trial for his murder. Ruby has no one she can count on—no one, except her state-appointed caseworker, a woman named Cadence Ware. In Ruby’s experience, that’s not anyone she can trust. Cadence is familiar with the cold reality of Ruby’s situation, even before she was arrested. Angry and alone, homeless and hungry, breaking the law just to survive, Ruby is the kind of girl no one wants to listen to, especially not the prosecutor who wants to put her away for life. But no one knows the story—the real story—of what happened the day Ruby met the man who would end up dead. As the layers of truth are peeled away and time is running out, Ruby and Cadence will both have desperate choices to make—choices that could mean the difference between Ruby spending her life in prison or her name being cleared. Told through a collection of letters, meeting notes, news articles, court transcripts, and more, Girls Like Her is a riveting and unflinching tale of the truths so often lost in the American justice system, and one girl’s fight to be heard.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2024
About the author
Melanie Sumrow
3 books90 followersMELANIE SUMROW is the author of the novels The Inside Battle, a 2020 New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, and The Prophet Calls, a 2018 Writers' League of Texas Book Award finalist. Girls Like Her is her YA debut. Before turning her attention to writing, she worked as a lawyer for more than sixteen years, many of her cases involving children and teens. She received her MFA in Writing from Hamline University and lives in Dallas. You can visit her online at melaniesumrow.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 1, 2024
So good! It was hard to put down.
January 14, 2024
This is not a feel-good book, but it is an important one. It's a heavy one.
Girls Like Her by Melanie Sumrow tells the story of 15-year-old Ruby Monroe, who is on trial for the murder of a local Texas millionaire. She was only 14 when the murder happened, and all evidence points to her. This is not a whodunnit mystery, which I mistakenly thought going in, and that's pretty clear from the get-go. This is about Ruby's trial and her testimony at that trial. The story is told through news clippings, letters (from Ruby to her former best friend, Maya), court transcripts, and 3rd person scenes which are mostly meetings between Ruby and her social worker, Cadence. These scenes alternate whose head we're inside, so we get to know both Ruby and Cadence closely. We also sometimes see Cadence's handwritten notes (or portions of them) from these meetings. One of the things I appreciated most is that you start getting court transcripts "early" in the narrative, so technically the book isn't in full chronological order, but it's done in a way that flows really well. It helps balance the story, build suspense, and it's not done in a confusing way. (And I'm usually a stickler for full chronological order!)
This book was intense, realistic (I'm not someone who watches Law and Order or other court dramas, but the court excerpts read as very realistic to me, and given that the author has a background in law, it makes sense that things feel authentic), and un-put-down-able. It made me cry (that's uncommon for me with books). It kept me guessing. I never knew what was going to happen, even when I thought that all my questions had been answered.
In short, this book is superb, and I highly, highly recommend reading it. Read through the trigger warnings/author's note at the beginning, though, and prepare yourself for the material. Sumrow pulls very few punches. But the punches are worth it.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the eARC of this title. I received it in exchange for my honest opinion.
Girls Like Her by Melanie Sumrow tells the story of 15-year-old Ruby Monroe, who is on trial for the murder of a local Texas millionaire. She was only 14 when the murder happened, and all evidence points to her. This is not a whodunnit mystery, which I mistakenly thought going in, and that's pretty clear from the get-go. This is about Ruby's trial and her testimony at that trial. The story is told through news clippings, letters (from Ruby to her former best friend, Maya), court transcripts, and 3rd person scenes which are mostly meetings between Ruby and her social worker, Cadence. These scenes alternate whose head we're inside, so we get to know both Ruby and Cadence closely. We also sometimes see Cadence's handwritten notes (or portions of them) from these meetings. One of the things I appreciated most is that you start getting court transcripts "early" in the narrative, so technically the book isn't in full chronological order, but it's done in a way that flows really well. It helps balance the story, build suspense, and it's not done in a confusing way. (And I'm usually a stickler for full chronological order!)
This book was intense, realistic (I'm not someone who watches Law and Order or other court dramas, but the court excerpts read as very realistic to me, and given that the author has a background in law, it makes sense that things feel authentic), and un-put-down-able. It made me cry (that's uncommon for me with books). It kept me guessing. I never knew what was going to happen, even when I thought that all my questions had been answered.
In short, this book is superb, and I highly, highly recommend reading it. Read through the trigger warnings/author's note at the beginning, though, and prepare yourself for the material. Sumrow pulls very few punches. But the punches are worth it.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the eARC of this title. I received it in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 24, 2024
This is an eye opening fictional story, highlighting real issues in our world. This was heartbreaking to read.
January 15, 2024
This will break your heart. How can someone be treated so poorly, by so many different people, all before the age of 15? Everyone has let Ruby down. It’s no wonder that she doesn’t allow herself to trust anyone.
The story is related slowly, going back and forth between timelines. We get to know Ruby and other characters through letters, court transcripts and personal accounts. Certain chapters are through Ruby’s own eyes, and some are through the eyes of Cadence, the appointed social worker.
If you read the epilogue (and you most definitely should), Ms. Sumrow explains why she was able to craft this novel so expertly. There are some shocking, real life statistics about sex trafficking at the end. This is not an easy book to read—but it’s a necessary book. The plights of these girls are heartrending. Their stories should be told.
Trigger warnings: rape, child sexual abuse, physical abuse, sex trafficking, violent death
I received an eARC from NetGalley, HarperCollins and Balzer & Bray in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The story is related slowly, going back and forth between timelines. We get to know Ruby and other characters through letters, court transcripts and personal accounts. Certain chapters are through Ruby’s own eyes, and some are through the eyes of Cadence, the appointed social worker.
If you read the epilogue (and you most definitely should), Ms. Sumrow explains why she was able to craft this novel so expertly. There are some shocking, real life statistics about sex trafficking at the end. This is not an easy book to read—but it’s a necessary book. The plights of these girls are heartrending. Their stories should be told.
Trigger warnings: rape, child sexual abuse, physical abuse, sex trafficking, violent death
I received an eARC from NetGalley, HarperCollins and Balzer & Bray in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 5, 2024
1.5/5
The story in and of itself was very interesting but with there being no way to tell when the chapters ended and with a mix of the letters, interviews and court hearings it just felt very slow, so much so I went to the end of the book and read it backwards so I could piece together what happened and not have to read as much. When it came down to the characters, it also just felt like they were one dimensional in a way. There wasn’t anything to really have me connect with them. I will say I am impressed by the author having had the job of a lawyer which made this story feel real in a way.
The story in and of itself was very interesting but with there being no way to tell when the chapters ended and with a mix of the letters, interviews and court hearings it just felt very slow, so much so I went to the end of the book and read it backwards so I could piece together what happened and not have to read as much. When it came down to the characters, it also just felt like they were one dimensional in a way. There wasn’t anything to really have me connect with them. I will say I am impressed by the author having had the job of a lawyer which made this story feel real in a way.
May 18, 2024
***TRIGGER WARNING: sexual assault***
Girls Like Her follows troubled teen Ruby who is on trial for murdering someone. She is determined to prove that she’s innocent; with the help of her case worker Cadence. Will they be able to prove that she is innocent?
I thought this book was just okay. It felt very repetitive I think it would have better if it was shorter. I did want to read it to see what happened. But by the time it ended I didn’t really care what happened. I also hated the main character she was not likable at all. And the whole point of this book was to get you to root for her, but I just didn’t think she deserved it. Nothing really stood out in this book to me. I would not suggest this one.
Girls Like Her follows troubled teen Ruby who is on trial for murdering someone. She is determined to prove that she’s innocent; with the help of her case worker Cadence. Will they be able to prove that she is innocent?
I thought this book was just okay. It felt very repetitive I think it would have better if it was shorter. I did want to read it to see what happened. But by the time it ended I didn’t really care what happened. I also hated the main character she was not likable at all. And the whole point of this book was to get you to root for her, but I just didn’t think she deserved it. Nothing really stood out in this book to me. I would not suggest this one.
June 29, 2024
4.5 STARS
Remarkable.
GIRLS LIKE HER grabbed me from the first sentence and hasn’t yet let go.
Ruby is charged with killing a man with a reputation for helping needy children. The prosecution attests although she killed three victim at age fourteen, the murder was perpetrated in the commission of a crime and should be charged as an adult.
Cadence, her forensic social worker believes Ruby acted in self-defense and that the victim had a darker side. As Cadence fights to save her client, sometimes harder than Ruby herself, Cadence sees parallels to her own life.
I loved how Melanie Sumrow used court transcripts and letters as part of the storytelling, which added depth to GIRLS LIKE HER. Sumrow also used both Ruby’s and Cadence’s third person points of view, unusual for a YA novel yet very effective.
What kept GIRLS LIKE HER from being a whole five stars for me was that with a read through by a social worker or psychologist, Sumrow could have tied up some of the inaccuracies about Cadence’s testing and evaluation. I have a master of social work and doctorate of psychology, so these technical issues might not bother everyone. One example is a forensic evaluation complete with psychological testing would have been done, which with a doctorate Cadence would have been trained to do. The exercise with the cards where Ruby told stories about the characters is an actual test called the CAT-Children's Apperception Test, one of a battery of tests in an evaluation. The reason this matters is as an expert witness, Cadence should have referred to the test rather than her own similar exercise.
Still, I enjoyed GIRLS LIKE HER so much I decided to relisten while writing this review.
Remarkable.
GIRLS LIKE HER grabbed me from the first sentence and hasn’t yet let go.
Ruby is charged with killing a man with a reputation for helping needy children. The prosecution attests although she killed three victim at age fourteen, the murder was perpetrated in the commission of a crime and should be charged as an adult.
Cadence, her forensic social worker believes Ruby acted in self-defense and that the victim had a darker side. As Cadence fights to save her client, sometimes harder than Ruby herself, Cadence sees parallels to her own life.
I loved how Melanie Sumrow used court transcripts and letters as part of the storytelling, which added depth to GIRLS LIKE HER. Sumrow also used both Ruby’s and Cadence’s third person points of view, unusual for a YA novel yet very effective.
What kept GIRLS LIKE HER from being a whole five stars for me was that with a read through by a social worker or psychologist, Sumrow could have tied up some of the inaccuracies about Cadence’s testing and evaluation. I have a master of social work and doctorate of psychology, so these technical issues might not bother everyone. One example is a forensic evaluation complete with psychological testing would have been done, which with a doctorate Cadence would have been trained to do. The exercise with the cards where Ruby told stories about the characters is an actual test called the CAT-Children's Apperception Test, one of a battery of tests in an evaluation. The reason this matters is as an expert witness, Cadence should have referred to the test rather than her own similar exercise.
Still, I enjoyed GIRLS LIKE HER so much I decided to relisten while writing this review.
July 12, 2024
This was a very hard hitting and emotional contemporary novel about crime, circumstance and the way we see victims/perpetrators involved in these cases.
In this book we follow our main character Ruby who is set to stand trial for murder. Ruby is alone and has no one to turn to until a support worker is sent in to get her side of the story in order to try and help Ruby with this process and reduce her sentence. Because of Ruby's background we see that trusting people doesn't come naturally to her, but as the reality of her situation starts to dwell on her she realises that Candace might be the only person that can turn her life around.
This book is told in dual timeline which added to the mystery, suspense and divulging of information. This also helped with the pacing and kept me intrigued throughout the book as I felt like I needed to know what was happening in the run up to the trial and the trial itself.
Told through a collection of letters, meeting notes, news articles, court transcripts, and more, Girls Like Her is a story that highlights the injustices that young people can face in the American justice system due to prejudices and pre-conceived ideas of what these individuals are like. It was a powerful story that will stay with me and I would highly recommend it.
In this book we follow our main character Ruby who is set to stand trial for murder. Ruby is alone and has no one to turn to until a support worker is sent in to get her side of the story in order to try and help Ruby with this process and reduce her sentence. Because of Ruby's background we see that trusting people doesn't come naturally to her, but as the reality of her situation starts to dwell on her she realises that Candace might be the only person that can turn her life around.
This book is told in dual timeline which added to the mystery, suspense and divulging of information. This also helped with the pacing and kept me intrigued throughout the book as I felt like I needed to know what was happening in the run up to the trial and the trial itself.
Told through a collection of letters, meeting notes, news articles, court transcripts, and more, Girls Like Her is a story that highlights the injustices that young people can face in the American justice system due to prejudices and pre-conceived ideas of what these individuals are like. It was a powerful story that will stay with me and I would highly recommend it.
January 22, 2024
Ruby Monroe is fifteen years old and waiting in a Texas jail to stand trial for the murder of a local (wealthy) businessman. With the state lobbying to charger her as an adult, which would mean life in prison or possibly the death penalty if she's found guilty, Ruby has few people on her side. The prosecution is painting her as an angry troublemaker and that's the face the media wants to see. Only her court appointed lawyer and her social worker, Cadence Ware, believe she is someone worth fighting for, but Ruby has been burned too many times by adults she was supposed to be able to trust to open up right away. Told through a variety of mediums including Ruby and Cadence's points of view, meeting notes, court transcripts, and newspaper articles, this story takes an unflinching look at Ruby's story of abuse, drug use, sex trafficking, and possibly redemption?
This is a tough story to read. Ruby's story is heartbreaking and reading about the level of abuse she faced prior to landing in jail and her mistreatment at the hands of the justice system is difficult. Sumrow does an incredible job weaving together the different mediums she uses to tell this story in an unflinching way. There is an incredibly important message here about how the media portrays and the world views girls like Ruby only at their worst and turn a blind eye when help could and should have been rendered. I was surprised by the amount of tension and suspense I felt building throughout the story, unsure of how far Ruby would be willing to trust Cadence and if there was really any hope even if she did.
This is a tough story to read. Ruby's story is heartbreaking and reading about the level of abuse she faced prior to landing in jail and her mistreatment at the hands of the justice system is difficult. Sumrow does an incredible job weaving together the different mediums she uses to tell this story in an unflinching way. There is an incredibly important message here about how the media portrays and the world views girls like Ruby only at their worst and turn a blind eye when help could and should have been rendered. I was surprised by the amount of tension and suspense I felt building throughout the story, unsure of how far Ruby would be willing to trust Cadence and if there was really any hope even if she did.
June 8, 2024
I received an arc from a local bookstore and all opinions given are my own.
This was a fairly heavy book to read. Following Ruby Monroe, a 15 year old girl from Dallas, we are taken through her journey in the adult legal system in Texas after she is arrested for murder at 14. The story is told in pieces by letters, court transcripts, and two different povs during talks between Ruby and her social worker Cadence. The story tackles the topic of sexual assault and trafficking of minors and how those events affect them. While it is a heavier topic and the things that happened to Ruby from a young age up till her arrest are all difficult to read about, I feel it is a worthwhile read to get a closer look at how the justice system handles these sensitive cases.
This was a fairly heavy book to read. Following Ruby Monroe, a 15 year old girl from Dallas, we are taken through her journey in the adult legal system in Texas after she is arrested for murder at 14. The story is told in pieces by letters, court transcripts, and two different povs during talks between Ruby and her social worker Cadence. The story tackles the topic of sexual assault and trafficking of minors and how those events affect them. While it is a heavier topic and the things that happened to Ruby from a young age up till her arrest are all difficult to read about, I feel it is a worthwhile read to get a closer look at how the justice system handles these sensitive cases.
June 10, 2024
Oh wow, this book was so so good. I was definitely not expecting it to be so intense and so heartbreaking, I felt so much while reading Ruby’s story. She is a young girl forced to live through lots of trauma and abuse and that pushes her to murder someone - we then follow the story of Ruby’s trial and I was waiting on the edge of the seat to find out if she is found guilty or not. I loved the format of the book, the dialogues between Ruby and Cadence and the transcripts from the court, I felt like I was right there with them while they were trying to help Ruby and I felt so sorry for her because she had such a horrible life.
March 5, 2024
Thank You to Netgalley for the Arc. Girls Like Her is a challenging read. If topics of sexual violence could upset you, I would recommend that you save this book to your TBR until you feel safe reading it. Ruby Monroe is 15 when she is charged with the murder of a local millionaire, and the state is now trying her as an adult. Girls Like Her is perfect for fans of Law and Order; unfortunately, I struggled with this aspect as the harsh reality of the justice system was explored, but not to the extent I would have liked. Women who are victims of sexual violence often are traumatized by having to relive their stories, and I wish we could have seen this from Ruby.
June 24, 2024
A 15 year old on trail for murder with no one who seems to support her. This is the story of Ruby. Even though this book is fictional, it could have been realistic. This book really shows another side of the legal system in America. The story is told through letters, flashbacks, court transcripts and meetings between Ruby and her social worker. How did Ruby end up in jail? What will her sentence be?
Girls Like Her is a good book and Ruby is a great main character. The whole story just felt so real. This book also has great movie potential, since I feel like this book features a story that deserves to be told.
Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
Girls Like Her is a good book and Ruby is a great main character. The whole story just felt so real. This book also has great movie potential, since I feel like this book features a story that deserves to be told.
Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg
May 24, 2024
Oh, this was such a great read, it really got the emotions going, and I loved reading it!
February 9, 2024
This was SUCH a good read!! While I had an inkling about the *twist*, I still was very pleasantly surprised when it was revealed. Even though Ruby is in jail for something she has confessed to, you still can’t help but empathize and pray that she catches a break. It also sheds even more light on our (in)justice system, and how many people can fall through the cracks if they don’t have a good support system in place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2024
Girls Like Her does feel grippingly realistic to young girls who have witnessed so much trauma at a young age. You see how Ruby got to this point in life without anyone having her best interests. Overall, this was a quick and approachable read, especially for teens. But, the writing style was not for me. There was a lot of telling rather than showing the audience. At times, I felt like this book was trying to resemble Tiffany Jackson's Allegedly. Ultimately, teens will empathize with Ruby's struggles and will root for her.
February 27, 2024
3.5 - This one definitely made me think and has stuck with me. It's extremely well written. But in the end... It was the end that had me knock off a star. I am looking forward to others reading this one so I can hear their thoughts! Maybe my mind can be changed.
January 14, 2024
Utterly fantastic thriller. I really liked this one quite a lot it was so tragic throughout thanks for the arc
March 23, 2024
It is not a stretch of fiction to say that I was fully addicted to this book. I started and finished it over the course of 24 hours. I fell asleep with it smashed into my face and woke up like a hangover and turned off the light. This story was incredibly gripping and would not let me go.
15-year-old Ruby Monroe has been accused of murder, but her legal team is determined to set the record straight and return her freedom. Told through interviews, letters, and court transcripts, Girls Like Her follows the story of Ruby's incarceration, trial, and aftermath with a no-stop fever that will pull readers in from the jump.
This book really did it all for me. I love books that are told through unconventional means like the notes, letters, transcripts, and interviews that we see in this book. Something about having more than just descriptions and dialogue really appeals to me, and I love when something looks more like a photocopy than a real page in a book.
The pacing was absolutely break-neck and only really slowed down when Ruby was writing letters to her friend, Maya. Those were more reflective than most of the other sections and gave the reader a quick second to breathe before diving right back into the fray of interviews and emotional outbursts. This made it incredibly hard to tear my eyes away from the page.
The one place where this book frustrated me a little bit was Ruby herself. Ruby is described as "difficult" in the first few chapters and boy-oh-boy is she. This girl has six walls built around her and a complete disdain for anything even remotely resembling authority. While I get that Ruby's life experiences have made her defensive, it really irritates me when characters lack self-preservation skills. Yes, Ruby has been abused. Yes, her life has been hard. But if her goal of getting out of jail, sniping at the only people trying to help her isn't the way to go. I did gain some sympathy over the course of the book and was really rooting for her by the end, but I never really grew to actually like her.
The final twist was one I absolutely did not see coming. I loved the aspect of the "missing" files that were clearly going to be leading somewhere, but it was really anyone's guess where. The reveal literally made me catch my breath. A true twist that you absolutely could have guessed early one, but didn't give you so much that it was obvious where the story was taking you.
Overall this was a very solid YA thriller and I am thoroughly grateful to #NetGalley and the publisher for the DRC.
15-year-old Ruby Monroe has been accused of murder, but her legal team is determined to set the record straight and return her freedom. Told through interviews, letters, and court transcripts, Girls Like Her follows the story of Ruby's incarceration, trial, and aftermath with a no-stop fever that will pull readers in from the jump.
This book really did it all for me. I love books that are told through unconventional means like the notes, letters, transcripts, and interviews that we see in this book. Something about having more than just descriptions and dialogue really appeals to me, and I love when something looks more like a photocopy than a real page in a book.
The pacing was absolutely break-neck and only really slowed down when Ruby was writing letters to her friend, Maya. Those were more reflective than most of the other sections and gave the reader a quick second to breathe before diving right back into the fray of interviews and emotional outbursts. This made it incredibly hard to tear my eyes away from the page.
The one place where this book frustrated me a little bit was Ruby herself. Ruby is described as "difficult" in the first few chapters and boy-oh-boy is she. This girl has six walls built around her and a complete disdain for anything even remotely resembling authority. While I get that Ruby's life experiences have made her defensive, it really irritates me when characters lack self-preservation skills. Yes, Ruby has been abused. Yes, her life has been hard. But if her goal of getting out of jail, sniping at the only people trying to help her isn't the way to go. I did gain some sympathy over the course of the book and was really rooting for her by the end, but I never really grew to actually like her.
The final twist was one I absolutely did not see coming. I loved the aspect of the "missing" files that were clearly going to be leading somewhere, but it was really anyone's guess where. The reveal literally made me catch my breath. A true twist that you absolutely could have guessed early one, but didn't give you so much that it was obvious where the story was taking you.
Overall this was a very solid YA thriller and I am thoroughly grateful to #NetGalley and the publisher for the DRC.
June 19, 2024
Thank you to the publisher for the earc!
Do you have books that you started with little expectations but it ended up being an instant favorite? Girls Like Her was that for me. In recent years I have grown a love for YA crime/thriller books, but usually I don’t expect much from them, just a few hours of entertainment. But this one ripped my heart out and broke it multiple times.
Ruby is in jail for murdering a local millionaire, and the only person who can help her to get out is a social worker and a lawyer. As the book goes on we learn not only Ruby’s story, but also Cadence’s.
This book was a brutal reminder that the world is cruel. Especially to young girls who don’t have a supportive family to lean on. Ruby was only 14 years old when the murder happened. I repeat. only 14. No one knows what actually happened that day, because Ruby doesn’t talk to anyone. By that age she learnt that adults will use and abuse you, and anyway who would believe her? She trusts no one, but unless she wants to spend her life in prison, she has to start trusting people who want to help her.
The book isn’t about the investigation, but the trial and how Cadence prepread Ruby for it. And she went through a really amazing character development.
The story is told through letters (from Ruby to her old friend), newspaper articles, court transcripts and sessions between Ruby and Cadence (from both perspectives). I think this added a little extra to the book, it was even more exciting to read it with all these different formats.
I have to admit, the ending surprised me. I did not see that plot twist coming! I should have expected something, there were some non-obvious signs that made it clear something had happened.
This is the kind of book I wish everyone would read, but I understand that this is not for everyone. If you like YA crime books you should definitely add it to your TBR, but check the trigger warnings, as it deals with many heavy topics!
Do you have books that you started with little expectations but it ended up being an instant favorite? Girls Like Her was that for me. In recent years I have grown a love for YA crime/thriller books, but usually I don’t expect much from them, just a few hours of entertainment. But this one ripped my heart out and broke it multiple times.
Ruby is in jail for murdering a local millionaire, and the only person who can help her to get out is a social worker and a lawyer. As the book goes on we learn not only Ruby’s story, but also Cadence’s.
This book was a brutal reminder that the world is cruel. Especially to young girls who don’t have a supportive family to lean on. Ruby was only 14 years old when the murder happened. I repeat. only 14. No one knows what actually happened that day, because Ruby doesn’t talk to anyone. By that age she learnt that adults will use and abuse you, and anyway who would believe her? She trusts no one, but unless she wants to spend her life in prison, she has to start trusting people who want to help her.
The book isn’t about the investigation, but the trial and how Cadence prepread Ruby for it. And she went through a really amazing character development.
The story is told through letters (from Ruby to her old friend), newspaper articles, court transcripts and sessions between Ruby and Cadence (from both perspectives). I think this added a little extra to the book, it was even more exciting to read it with all these different formats.
I have to admit, the ending surprised me. I did not see that plot twist coming! I should have expected something, there were some non-obvious signs that made it clear something had happened.
This is the kind of book I wish everyone would read, but I understand that this is not for everyone. If you like YA crime books you should definitely add it to your TBR, but check the trigger warnings, as it deals with many heavy topics!
March 31, 2024
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
A wholly original YA novel by @melaniesumrowbooks that’s going to change the game for the industry.
🔫
A wealthy construction company CEO is shot to death in Dallas and all signs point to fifteen-year-old Ruby Monroe being the only suspect in the crime. As her murder trial gets closer, the reader tries to piece together the real story from newspaper articles, interviews and letters. Cadence Ware is Ruby’s caseworker and is trying desperately to work with both Ruby and her lawyer to help get her acquitted. As the #book builds to the stunning finale we see what being a survivor looks like.
🔫
WOW. When @harpercollins asked me to read this novel to provide an honest review, saying I would be blown away by this YA debut, they were right. Sumrow’s history as a lawyer really shown on the pages, as you knew she was well-versed in what she was writing about. The reader will be dying to know what happens with each turn of the page. This was told so intentionally, even until the final word. Please check content warnings on this one, as it discusses very important topics, but ones that aren’t always easy to read. High school libraries should grab this one up when it releases June 25! 5⭐️
CW: addiction, alcoholism, drug use, gun use, murder, blood, vomit, adult/child relationship, domestic abuse, sexual assault, physical abuse, emotional abuse, abortion, violence, prostitution, abandonment, unhoused youth, incest
A wholly original YA novel by @melaniesumrowbooks that’s going to change the game for the industry.
🔫
A wealthy construction company CEO is shot to death in Dallas and all signs point to fifteen-year-old Ruby Monroe being the only suspect in the crime. As her murder trial gets closer, the reader tries to piece together the real story from newspaper articles, interviews and letters. Cadence Ware is Ruby’s caseworker and is trying desperately to work with both Ruby and her lawyer to help get her acquitted. As the #book builds to the stunning finale we see what being a survivor looks like.
🔫
WOW. When @harpercollins asked me to read this novel to provide an honest review, saying I would be blown away by this YA debut, they were right. Sumrow’s history as a lawyer really shown on the pages, as you knew she was well-versed in what she was writing about. The reader will be dying to know what happens with each turn of the page. This was told so intentionally, even until the final word. Please check content warnings on this one, as it discusses very important topics, but ones that aren’t always easy to read. High school libraries should grab this one up when it releases June 25! 5⭐️
CW: addiction, alcoholism, drug use, gun use, murder, blood, vomit, adult/child relationship, domestic abuse, sexual assault, physical abuse, emotional abuse, abortion, violence, prostitution, abandonment, unhoused youth, incest
June 27, 2024
Thank you Harper 360 YA for a copy of this book.
This is a harrowing story based around circumstances that are very real for so many people. This story is about poverty, drugs and sex trafficking. When Ruby is jailed for killing a well known millionaire, the justice system wants to trial as an adult. The story is told through newspaper articles, court transcripts, letters and meetings Ruby has with her social worker. It looks at whether someone can be a victim when they have committed a crime.
The writer does a brillant job of creating a thought provoking and harrowing piece of literature that may be fictional, yet is only one story of many real ones that exist today. The authors note was vital to this story too, an experience lawyer working on criminal cases, this writer has used her experiences to bring attention to the issue of child trafficking, abuse and the flaws that still exist in the American justice system.
I want to say I enjoyed this book, but I don’t think that’s their right thing to say for this kind of book. A book that talks about the many horrid ones humans can hurt and dehumanise other humans. How children are still not protected from these horrid people and situations and that the law is failing its people time after time.
This books is an important and harrowing story about society and how it treats girls.
This is a harrowing story based around circumstances that are very real for so many people. This story is about poverty, drugs and sex trafficking. When Ruby is jailed for killing a well known millionaire, the justice system wants to trial as an adult. The story is told through newspaper articles, court transcripts, letters and meetings Ruby has with her social worker. It looks at whether someone can be a victim when they have committed a crime.
The writer does a brillant job of creating a thought provoking and harrowing piece of literature that may be fictional, yet is only one story of many real ones that exist today. The authors note was vital to this story too, an experience lawyer working on criminal cases, this writer has used her experiences to bring attention to the issue of child trafficking, abuse and the flaws that still exist in the American justice system.
I want to say I enjoyed this book, but I don’t think that’s their right thing to say for this kind of book. A book that talks about the many horrid ones humans can hurt and dehumanise other humans. How children are still not protected from these horrid people and situations and that the law is failing its people time after time.
This books is an important and harrowing story about society and how it treats girls.
April 7, 2024
Girls Like Her by Melanie Sumrow is a compelling read that delves deep into the heavy subject matter without sugarcoating. The narrative revolves around 15-year-old Ruby Monroe, who stands accused of murdering a local Texas millionaire at the tender age of 14. Unlike a typical whodunnit mystery, the focus here is squarely on Ruby's trial and her testimony, presented through a mix of news clippings, letters to her former friend Maya, court transcripts, and third-person scenes featuring Ruby and her social worker, Cadence Ware. The author skillfully weaves these elements together, occasionally diverging from strict chronological order to heighten suspense without sacrificing coherence.
What sets this book apart is its raw intensity and realism. The court excerpts feel authentic, likely owing to the author's background in law, and the narrative doesn't shy away from the emotional weight of Ruby's situation. It's a gripping read that kept me engaged from start to finish, eliciting genuine tears and leaving me guessing until the very end (I did not see the twist that came near the end of the story!). Despite its weighty themes, Girls Like Her is a profoundly important and unputdownable book that deserves attention.
What sets this book apart is its raw intensity and realism. The court excerpts feel authentic, likely owing to the author's background in law, and the narrative doesn't shy away from the emotional weight of Ruby's situation. It's a gripping read that kept me engaged from start to finish, eliciting genuine tears and leaving me guessing until the very end (I did not see the twist that came near the end of the story!). Despite its weighty themes, Girls Like Her is a profoundly important and unputdownable book that deserves attention.
June 29, 2024
Before I get into my review, I just wanted to put out there that I'm not sure this book should be marketed as a YA genre because of the extremely heavy content and subject matters. However, there is content/trigger warnings at the beginning of the book that I highly recommend checking out before reading this because it is a very heavy book. There is also a page dedicated to resources for various forms of help.
I read this book in one sitting with absolutely no breaks. Once I started reading, I could not put it down to save my life. It has been a very long time since a book had me completely and absolutely hooked from the very first page. I was not expecting for it to get as hard to read as it did at times, especially when it came to the court testimony of what Ruby did. But no matter how hard it was to read, I couldn't stop. I had to know if this poor girl was going to be found guilty over a situation that no one (especially that age) should have ever been put in. Then, just when I thought the book was over, the very last chapter turned the whole book upside down. I know this is going to be a book that sticks with me for a long time. While this book is a work of fiction, this story is all too real.
I read this book in one sitting with absolutely no breaks. Once I started reading, I could not put it down to save my life. It has been a very long time since a book had me completely and absolutely hooked from the very first page. I was not expecting for it to get as hard to read as it did at times, especially when it came to the court testimony of what Ruby did. But no matter how hard it was to read, I couldn't stop. I had to know if this poor girl was going to be found guilty over a situation that no one (especially that age) should have ever been put in. Then, just when I thought the book was over, the very last chapter turned the whole book upside down. I know this is going to be a book that sticks with me for a long time. While this book is a work of fiction, this story is all too real.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2024
First off this is not an easy read, it tackles some very heavy topics like sexual violence, trafficking, abuse and murder. But it is written well, I feel like it was using these topics to highlight some very real problems we have in society. The main character is on trial for murdering someone and the whole story is told through a collection of letters, meeting notes, news articles, court transcripts, and more. This really helps to show the full scope of what is happening. I found the main character to not be that likeable, but that ties in with the story as to why people are so quick to write her off. Also if you had been through half of the stuff she had I doubt you would want to be likeable. This narrative had me engrossed, I really wanted to know what would happen to her and how her lawyers would help her. This is not a pleasant topic but the author handled it with care and made me really feel for the character.
July 8, 2024
In this riveting book told through letters, court transcripts and newspaper articles, a millionaire is found dead and Ruby, 14, is accused of stealing his wallet and truck. She’s sent to juvie awaiting a trial. At the motel where she was found, they found the victim’s wallet and blood on her clothes. Her social worker talks to Ruby wanting to know about Ruby and hearing what an abusive life she has had. Ruby met the victim for money and he invited her back to his house. What really happened, and at the trial is Ruby found guilty?
Read
July 1, 2024Fifteen year old Ruby is incarcerated in Texas, accused of killing a man who was considered a pillar of the community. Forensic counselor Cadence begins meeting with Ruby in an attempt to find out what really happened and to assist with Ruby’s defense. In a series of letters, transcripts, and flashbacks, Ruby’s story of abuse and trafficking emerges, along with a plot twist that will leave readers with even more questions. EARC from Edelweiss.
July 12, 2024
5 stars-First let me say that this was labeled as “teen” by the library (and they do have young adult labels too) and imo this is not a novel for kids or young adults. I teach middle school and this is not something I would want one of my kiddos to read. That being said, this book is HARD to read, it is so raw, and so damn sad. The author did an amazing job handling a very tough subject. It is a book that know I will think about for a long time to come…
January 6, 2024
Excellent realistic look on what sex trafficking is for young girls. Not the sound of FREEDUMB target moms a brown man is following me around. Not the privileged YT runaways who instantly get media attention while their parents lie that they were trafficked. Actual trafficking. Maybe the garden club can pick this for their next read.
April 24, 2024
ARC:
This was an extremely painful, yet necessary book to read. I felt so captivated with the way Sumrow told this story. "Girls Like Her" is a story I don't think I could forget. Once this novel comes out, I might share more of my thoughts.
Read the content warnings before deciding to read this novel. I will highly recommend this! 5/5 stars.
This was an extremely painful, yet necessary book to read. I felt so captivated with the way Sumrow told this story. "Girls Like Her" is a story I don't think I could forget. Once this novel comes out, I might share more of my thoughts.
Read the content warnings before deciding to read this novel. I will highly recommend this! 5/5 stars.
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