Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo (review)

Reviewed by: Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo Alaine Martaus Adamo, Meredith Not Like Other Girls. Bloomsbury, 2024 448p Trade ed. ISBN 9781547614004 19. 99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9-12 Even before nude pictures of her circulated among her senior class and ruined her reputation, seventeen-year-old Jo-Lynn Kirby knew people had a problem with her, deeming her boy-crazy and a troublemaker, definitely not the right friend for girls like pretty, nice Maddie Price. However, when Maddie comes asking for help and then goes missing, Jo dedicates herself to uncovering who's behind the disappearance, even if it means getting back in with the popular crowd and pretending to date Hudson Harper-Moore, the one boy who could break her heart. A low-key investigation soon uncovers plenty of surprising suspects: the catty best friends seeking revenge for betrayal, the seemingly loving boyfriend with a penchant for revenge porn, the high-status parents hiding a family scandal—or maybe Maddie just ran away. Trawling Maddie's hidden life raises ghosts from Jo's past as well, and she soon realizes that uncovering the truth about Maddie may mean exposing painful truths of her own. At first glance this is a by-the-books girl-detective story, but a complex personal narrative lies its heart, bringing surprising depth. 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. Even those who piece together the solution early will stick around to see Jo get what justice she can and a happy ending she earns. 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. Give this to fans of the show Cruel Summer, Hannah Capin novels, and stories of young women fighting might with righteousness. Copyright © 2024 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois