Three reasons to read Killing Sadie with your bestie (or book club!)
Friends, launch day is getting closer! My debut novel Killing Sadie arrives at booksellers everywhere on August 4th, 2026 (order your limited edition copy from your favorite spot while supplies last), and like so many unhinged mysteries and thrillers, devouring this story with your bestie, book club or class is the move. So, why is the world of Sadie Cooper and her ride or die, Liz, better with your bestie or book club? A few ideas from yours truly to toss your way:
1. The truth is complicated, why not unpack it together?
The singular truth in Killing Sadie is that the book jacket gives everything away! But the devil is in the smallest details, and if you love unreliable narrators, characters you adore one moment and absolutely loathe the next, and exploring messy questions about the real meaning of truth and the lies we tell ourselves, Killing Sadie might just be perfect for your group’s TBR list. Whether you’re in high school now or you’re an elder millennial with serious nostalgia for your Y2K teenage days (guilty), every big emotion and shocking twist is 100% better when unpacked together.
By the way, I LOVE nothing more than dropping into book club or class discussions! You can drop a note here anytime to inquire about joining your book discussion, virtually or in-person.
2. When the cracks start to show, you ought to know …
My fabulous editor, Kara, and I knew that readers would comb through the pages of Killing Sadie, looking for clues to what really happened on the night Sadie Cooper died – even if the local police believe this is an open and shut case. Reader becomes detective, reader solves case. But what we never expected was readers racing their friends to solve the case first, swapping theories and digging deep in a way that makes my author heart sing! So while I have to remain neutral (although if I join your book club discussion, my answers might be more revealing … ), you might just find “team Sadie” or “team Jayne” allegiances among your friends!
3. Every broken heart (necklace) has two sides
Okay, if anyone out there can make a real broken heart friendship necklace that looks identical to the Killing Sadie cover, I might just scream! As a quick aside, when I first met with my Simon Teen team at their offices, they held a little party for me with homemade broken heart cookies … This is when I knew I found the perfect publisher match. At the core of Killing Sadie is the truth that there is something amazing about teen friendship, vulnerability and trust, and friendship necklaces are symbolic of that. If you can find a reading partner-in-crime or bookish group that’s “friendship necklace-worthy”, that is truly is something worth celebrating!
I’m more author than detective, but I think we’ve gathered enough solid evidence for readers everywhere to partner up with your bestie, a dozen book club friends, a whole class, library or more when considering adding Killing Sadie to your TBR! After all, parties at the old McClain family farm are always killer. Get your limited edition copy in all of its sprayed edge, embossed cover glory from your favorite bookseller while you still can!