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Don't Forget the Girl
We never remember the dead girls. We never forget the killers.
Twelve years ago, 18-year-old University of Iowa freshman Abby Hartmann disappeared. Now, Jon Allan Blue, the serial killer suspected of her murder, is about to be executed. Abby's best friends, Bree and Chelsea, watch as Abby's memory is unearthed and overshadowed by Blue and his flashier crimes. The friends, estranged in the wake of Abby's disappearance, and suffering from years of unvoiced resentments, must reunite when a high-profile podcast dedicates its next season to Blue's murders.
Tense and introspective, for readers of Megan Goldin and Heather Gudenkauf, Don’t Forget the Girl is an astonishing debut thriller that mines the complexities of friendship and the secrets between us that we may take to the grave.
Twelve years ago, 18-year-old University of Iowa freshman Abby Hartmann disappeared. Now, Jon Allan Blue, the serial killer suspected of her murder, is about to be executed. Abby's best friends, Bree and Chelsea, watch as Abby's memory is unearthed and overshadowed by Blue and his flashier crimes. The friends, estranged in the wake of Abby's disappearance, and suffering from years of unvoiced resentments, must reunite when a high-profile podcast dedicates its next season to Blue's murders.
Tense and introspective, for readers of Megan Goldin and Heather Gudenkauf, Don’t Forget the Girl is an astonishing debut thriller that mines the complexities of friendship and the secrets between us that we may take to the grave.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published June 20, 2023
264 people are currently reading
16724 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca McKanna
2 books162 followersRebecca McKanna was born and raised in Iowa. Her debut novel, Don’t Forget the Girl, will be published by Sourcebooks Landmark in June 2023. The book’s TV/film rights have been optioned by HeyDay Films.
Her short stories have been anthologized in The Best American Mystery Stories 2019 and recognized as distinguished in The Best American Short Stories 2019. She has been published in Colorado Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Rumpus, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Third Coast, Joyland, and as one of Narrative's Stories of the Week, among other publications. She is an assistant professor of English at the University of Indianapolis and is represented by Rebecca Gradinger at Fletcher & Company.
Her short stories have been anthologized in The Best American Mystery Stories 2019 and recognized as distinguished in The Best American Short Stories 2019. She has been published in Colorado Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Rumpus, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Third Coast, Joyland, and as one of Narrative's Stories of the Week, among other publications. She is an assistant professor of English at the University of Indianapolis and is represented by Rebecca Gradinger at Fletcher & Company.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 596 reviews
June 30, 2023
Actual Rating 3.5
It’s been 12 years since Abby Hartmann disappeared while she was a freshman at the University of Iowa. Her two best friends, Bree and Chelsea, have since become estranged. But now, a man who was imprisoned for being a serial killer and is thought to have been Abby’s killer, is about to be executed. Chelsea and Bree find themselves reliving the last moments they had together and with their friend as the story is brought back into public memory. And when a high-profile podcaster wants to do a season about the serial killer’s murders, the two friends find themselves brought together again and reliving painful memories.
This work was marketed as a thriller, but it certainly is not; however, it is a solid drama with a less strong mystery but excellent character exploration. As soon as I realized this wasn’t going to be a thriller and changed my mindset, I enjoyed the work much more. The story is told from Chelsea’s and Bree’s third person POV in 2015 and Abby’s second person POV in 2003. I didn’t particularly like the use of the second person, but it didn’t detract much from my enjoyment other than being a bit jarring until I got used to it.
The best part of this story was the intensity with which the author dug into its characters. This was largely an exploration of how trauma, guilt, and lies can intertwine and eat away at people in different ways. These characters were flawed and not the most likeable, which was well done. I also enjoyed the intersections of identity that were explored through the characters, especially relating to sexuality and religion. The pace of the plot is quite slow as the focus is more on the characters and their thoughts/feelings, and the mystery was simple and didn’t ever feel like the focus of the work.
I don’t recommend this if you’re looking for an intricate mystery or a tense thriller, but I do recommend it if you’re looking for a well written character study or a darker literary read that deals with some difficult topics. My thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
It’s been 12 years since Abby Hartmann disappeared while she was a freshman at the University of Iowa. Her two best friends, Bree and Chelsea, have since become estranged. But now, a man who was imprisoned for being a serial killer and is thought to have been Abby’s killer, is about to be executed. Chelsea and Bree find themselves reliving the last moments they had together and with their friend as the story is brought back into public memory. And when a high-profile podcaster wants to do a season about the serial killer’s murders, the two friends find themselves brought together again and reliving painful memories.
This work was marketed as a thriller, but it certainly is not; however, it is a solid drama with a less strong mystery but excellent character exploration. As soon as I realized this wasn’t going to be a thriller and changed my mindset, I enjoyed the work much more. The story is told from Chelsea’s and Bree’s third person POV in 2015 and Abby’s second person POV in 2003. I didn’t particularly like the use of the second person, but it didn’t detract much from my enjoyment other than being a bit jarring until I got used to it.
The best part of this story was the intensity with which the author dug into its characters. This was largely an exploration of how trauma, guilt, and lies can intertwine and eat away at people in different ways. These characters were flawed and not the most likeable, which was well done. I also enjoyed the intersections of identity that were explored through the characters, especially relating to sexuality and religion. The pace of the plot is quite slow as the focus is more on the characters and their thoughts/feelings, and the mystery was simple and didn’t ever feel like the focus of the work.
I don’t recommend this if you’re looking for an intricate mystery or a tense thriller, but I do recommend it if you’re looking for a well written character study or a darker literary read that deals with some difficult topics. My thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
April 29, 2023
So much more than a thriller. I can’t believe that this is the authors debut novel. It was fantastic. The title makes you think, it is always about the killer, not the victims. How true crime focuses on the serial killer, they are glamourised and revered. But how often do you remember the names of their victims?
This story is heartbreaking and eye opening. In 2003, 18 year old Abby Hartmann went missing in Halloween night after a fight with her best friends, Bree and Chelsea. She has never been found, but it is widely suspected that she was a victim of serial killer, Jon Allan Blue. Blue is about to be executed and still hasn’t confessed to killing Abby. Bree and Chelsea have been estranged for years, both struggling with their grief. They have reunited to try to get to the truth, while their lives fall apart around them.
This book was so much more than I expected. It is a story of friendship, of grief, love and jealousy. How grief never goes away, how these women’s lives changed the night Abby disappeared. It is a must read.
Thanks to Sourcebook Landmark and NetGalley for my advanced copy to read. Published on June 20th, get this on your TBR.
This story is heartbreaking and eye opening. In 2003, 18 year old Abby Hartmann went missing in Halloween night after a fight with her best friends, Bree and Chelsea. She has never been found, but it is widely suspected that she was a victim of serial killer, Jon Allan Blue. Blue is about to be executed and still hasn’t confessed to killing Abby. Bree and Chelsea have been estranged for years, both struggling with their grief. They have reunited to try to get to the truth, while their lives fall apart around them.
This book was so much more than I expected. It is a story of friendship, of grief, love and jealousy. How grief never goes away, how these women’s lives changed the night Abby disappeared. It is a must read.
Thanks to Sourcebook Landmark and NetGalley for my advanced copy to read. Published on June 20th, get this on your TBR.
July 23, 2023
Bree, Chelsea and Abby are best friends who are navigating the stress that comes with friendship as well as their place in the world. Then Abby disappears without a trace after she runs off after a fight with Chelsea after a Halloween party. Her body is never found, and her disappearance is quickly overshadowed by the murders of two college girls by the man suspected of kidnapping and killing Abby. She quickly becomes a footnote in the story but, her life and her suspected murder has left a huge hole and, caused trauma for her friends left behind..
Told in alternating POV Bree and Chelsea’s narratives are in the third person and in the present, while Abby, speaking in the second person explains the story from the past. The Author casts a critical eye’s towards society’s treatment of women, as well on the current cultural obsession with true crime podcasts murder and serial killers. Which I find disturbing in a way. The characters are were hard for me to love the way they were portrayed. I found Bree very annoying. The pace is slow at pealing back the layers in the plot built up by trauma, blame and self loathing. Their grief and guilt cut deep and their trauma is palpable, they never got their chance to talk about the complicated ways that friends love, kept secrets and hurt each other intentionally or unintentionally. Their most traumatic moments were frozen in time and subject to public opinion thanks to a detective’s best selling book about the hunt for the sorority murders, and a movie release about the serial killer.
A special thanks to the publisher(s) Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of Don’t forget the Girls in exchange for a honest review
Told in alternating POV Bree and Chelsea’s narratives are in the third person and in the present, while Abby, speaking in the second person explains the story from the past. The Author casts a critical eye’s towards society’s treatment of women, as well on the current cultural obsession with true crime podcasts murder and serial killers. Which I find disturbing in a way. The characters are were hard for me to love the way they were portrayed. I found Bree very annoying. The pace is slow at pealing back the layers in the plot built up by trauma, blame and self loathing. Their grief and guilt cut deep and their trauma is palpable, they never got their chance to talk about the complicated ways that friends love, kept secrets and hurt each other intentionally or unintentionally. Their most traumatic moments were frozen in time and subject to public opinion thanks to a detective’s best selling book about the hunt for the sorority murders, and a movie release about the serial killer.
A special thanks to the publisher(s) Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of Don’t forget the Girls in exchange for a honest review
January 10, 2023
My first @netgalley read of 2023, and it was AMAZING.
As a true crime podcast listener, I knew I had to read this book. The story is told in 3 different perspectives and dual timelines, it’s also told by interviews and of course podcast script. At one point I thought something happened, and I had to put the book down and just stare at the wall (turns out I was wrong in my assumption, but that’s besides the point). All I am saying is this book was SO GOOD, I have a feeling this is going to blow up on bookstagram when it’s released in June. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
As a true crime podcast listener, I knew I had to read this book. The story is told in 3 different perspectives and dual timelines, it’s also told by interviews and of course podcast script. At one point I thought something happened, and I had to put the book down and just stare at the wall (turns out I was wrong in my assumption, but that’s besides the point). All I am saying is this book was SO GOOD, I have a feeling this is going to blow up on bookstagram when it’s released in June. MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
June 26, 2023
This was a bit of a slow burn mystery for me more than it was a thriller, but it was an enjoyable read. It wasn’t your traditional mystery because while two of the main characters do what to know what happened to their friend when she went missing at 18 it wasn’t a book of tracking down clues or interrogating suspects like you might suspect. More than a book about a murdered co-ed this is a story about friendships and romantic relationships and identity. Chealsea and Bree haven’t kept in touch much since they lost their best friend Abby when they were all 18. While her body wasn’t found it was generally believed she was killed by the serial killer who was apprehended shortly after her disappearance and after he murdered multiple girls in a sorority house. The story flips between Chelsea and Bree’s current lives including discovering that Abby’s body has finally be found. The other narrator is from Abby’s perspective from the year when she was murdered. Overall I thought this book tackled a bunch of hard topics and did a good job. It just wasn’t quite the gripping thriller I had thought it was from the description.
July 29, 2023
Leaning much more literary suspense than thriller, this is a story focusing on what happens to the friends and family of missing persons/murder victims, long after justice is brought. For two of our three MCs, their lives were forever changed by just one night. Years later, the repercussions are still being felt as they prepare to witness the execution of the serial killer charged with their friend’s murder.
This story has a unique shift in point of view as we hear from the victim herself throughout. It also involves the podcast trope which is really having it’s moment in the sun. Yet another powerful book, and one I wound recommend reading on audio.
"𝐖𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬. 𝐖𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬."
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted copy.
This story has a unique shift in point of view as we hear from the victim herself throughout. It also involves the podcast trope which is really having it’s moment in the sun. Yet another powerful book, and one I wound recommend reading on audio.
"𝐖𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬. 𝐖𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬."
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted copy.
July 15, 2023
Serial killer Jon Allan Blue is days away from execution for the murders of several women, mostly university students. But this isn’t really his story He was also suspected of the murder of another woman, 18-year-old Abby Hartman who disappeared on Halloween night twelve years ago but whose body has never been found. This is her story and that of the two best friends she left behind.
Chelsea has been her best friend most of their lives and more than friends for much of that time. She is now an Episcopal priest and married but she has never gotten over Abby. Bree has been friends with Chelsea and Abby since high school but has always felt insecure beside their wealthy upbringings. She is now a professor and having an affair with a much younger student.
I have mixed feelings about Don’t Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna. It’s well-written and I liked the concept. It’s true that we always remember the names of serial killers but rarely the names of their victims. In fact, I’d guess everyone reading the book will guess who Blue was patterned on. So it was a nice change to make the victims (because those left behind are also victims) and how they were affected the main theme of the novel.
The story is told from the three different perspectives with Chelsea and Bree’s story told in third voice while Abby's story is in second voice. The story also goes back and forth in time. The problem is, outside of their shared grief, there is not enough here to make me feel connected to their lives and what is here became repetitive- Bree’s insecure, Chelsea’s angry, neither can move on. By the end, the last few pages were a struggle and I just wanted it to be over.
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review
Chelsea has been her best friend most of their lives and more than friends for much of that time. She is now an Episcopal priest and married but she has never gotten over Abby. Bree has been friends with Chelsea and Abby since high school but has always felt insecure beside their wealthy upbringings. She is now a professor and having an affair with a much younger student.
I have mixed feelings about Don’t Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna. It’s well-written and I liked the concept. It’s true that we always remember the names of serial killers but rarely the names of their victims. In fact, I’d guess everyone reading the book will guess who Blue was patterned on. So it was a nice change to make the victims (because those left behind are also victims) and how they were affected the main theme of the novel.
The story is told from the three different perspectives with Chelsea and Bree’s story told in third voice while Abby's story is in second voice. The story also goes back and forth in time. The problem is, outside of their shared grief, there is not enough here to make me feel connected to their lives and what is here became repetitive- Bree’s insecure, Chelsea’s angry, neither can move on. By the end, the last few pages were a struggle and I just wanted it to be over.
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review
February 7, 2023
Great character development. This was a story of females and all the traumas they can face in their lives. Great empowering, thrilling book. Reunion of estranged friends at a podcast, to piece together the disappearance of their missing friend. Or murdered friend? More mystery than thriller, still a great read if you like either genre.
Thanks to sourcebooks and author for the arc copy of this book for my honest review.
We never remember the dead girls. We never forget the killers. Well, I will not forget this authors debut book. Good job!
Thanks to sourcebooks and author for the arc copy of this book for my honest review.
We never remember the dead girls. We never forget the killers. Well, I will not forget this authors debut book. Good job!
December 27, 2022
I love this tagline : We never remember the dead girls. We never forget the killers.
That is the premise of this fast moving thriller. An infamous serial killer is about to be put to death and old college friends are desperate to find out if their friend was one of his victims. Bree and Chelsea both have their own secrets to keep and the balance is upset when a popular podcaster comes to town to highlight the execution. Dual timelines give us insight on what happened when the three were best friends many years ago as well as what happened to Abby. If you like stories about serial killers, flashbacks and thrills or just want to read a up and coming author, Don't Forget the Girl is for you! #Sourcebooks #DontforgettheGirl. #RebeccaMcKanna
That is the premise of this fast moving thriller. An infamous serial killer is about to be put to death and old college friends are desperate to find out if their friend was one of his victims. Bree and Chelsea both have their own secrets to keep and the balance is upset when a popular podcaster comes to town to highlight the execution. Dual timelines give us insight on what happened when the three were best friends many years ago as well as what happened to Abby. If you like stories about serial killers, flashbacks and thrills or just want to read a up and coming author, Don't Forget the Girl is for you! #Sourcebooks #DontforgettheGirl. #RebeccaMcKanna
May 18, 2023
Don't Forget the Girl
by Rebecca McKanna
Pub Date: 20 Jun 2023
SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark
General Fiction (Adult)
Rating: 4.5/5
Rebecca McKanna's debut Don't Forget the Girl dives deep into relationships and secrets. The powerful book leaves readers with a new understanding of love, friendship, and healing.
Synopsis:
Abby Hartman, an 18 year old college student disappeared from the University of Iowa twelve years ago. Her suspected killer Jon Allan Blue will be executed in the coming weeks for other murders. Abby's best friends Chelsea and Bree remain haunted by her disappearance even as Blue faces execution.
Having been estranged for years after Abby's disappearance, and suffering from unspoken resentment, Bree and Chelsea reunite when the next season of a high-profile podcast focuses on Blue's crimes. In order to get justice for Abby, they need to uncover clues about what happened to her. As they search for answers, they must confront their past and secrets, but can they uncover the truth before it's too late?
Thank you Rebecca McKanna and Sourcebooks Landmark @Bookmarked for this gorgeous complimentary book. I highly recommend it to mystery lovers.
#Don'tForgetTheGirl #SourcebooksLandmark @advancedreaderscopy #gifted #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
by Rebecca McKanna
Pub Date: 20 Jun 2023
SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark
General Fiction (Adult)
Rating: 4.5/5
Rebecca McKanna's debut Don't Forget the Girl dives deep into relationships and secrets. The powerful book leaves readers with a new understanding of love, friendship, and healing.
Synopsis:
Abby Hartman, an 18 year old college student disappeared from the University of Iowa twelve years ago. Her suspected killer Jon Allan Blue will be executed in the coming weeks for other murders. Abby's best friends Chelsea and Bree remain haunted by her disappearance even as Blue faces execution.
Having been estranged for years after Abby's disappearance, and suffering from unspoken resentment, Bree and Chelsea reunite when the next season of a high-profile podcast focuses on Blue's crimes. In order to get justice for Abby, they need to uncover clues about what happened to her. As they search for answers, they must confront their past and secrets, but can they uncover the truth before it's too late?
Thank you Rebecca McKanna and Sourcebooks Landmark @Bookmarked for this gorgeous complimentary book. I highly recommend it to mystery lovers.
#Don'tForgetTheGirl #SourcebooksLandmark @advancedreaderscopy #gifted #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
June 16, 2023
Twelve years ago Abby Hartmann, a freshman in college, went missing. Two weeks later, two women were killed in a sorority house (and a third injured and disfigured) on the same campus. Abby’s best friends Bree and Chelsea have long suspected Jon Allan Blue to be responsible for their friend’s murder. But with no evidence and a body never found, they have little to go on… besides similarities to crimes Blue is later convicted of. In the present day, as Blue is fast approaching his execution date, Bree and Chelsea reunite when a popular podcast decides to feature Blue’s murders. Estranged from each other in the years since Abby’s disappearance and all that went down before it, can Bree and Chelsea finally find the answers they’ve been looking for?
Don’t Forget the Girl offers a deep exploration of its characters and the effects of trauma on their lives and actions. The slow building, character focused nature of the book took me by surprise because after reading the blurb, I was expecting a creepy serial killer mystery/thriller with twists and turns. Instead, there were little to no mystery or thrills to be had. I might have been able to get on board, after I readjusted my expectations, but the characters were much too unlikeable—particularly Bree. Her sleeping with her 18 year old student gave me such the “ick” (for lack of a better word) that I nearly put the book down. On one hand, I can acknowledge that Bree’s actions are supposed to be a result of her unresolved trauma, but on the other they are simply inexcusable in my eyes. Though it is a work of fiction, I had no desire to read about or root for her.
As the story progresses, each chapter alternates between Bree, Chelsea, and Abby (in the past). While both Bree and Chelsea’s chapters are written in third person, Abby’s are written in second. I found the switch of POV to be jarring each time I got to Abby’s chapters and the continually changing perspectives to be confusing to keep track of.
In addition to missed expectations, extremely unlikable characters, and confusing POVs, this book felt like it was trying to tackle too much. In moments it was exploring trauma and the ways it leads people to do incredibly terrible things. In others it was commenting on the way women are portrayed in the media, the way the names of victims often are forgotten, the experience of queer women in the early 2000s, and on religion. Though each of these are notable, I felt myself wishing the author had picked a singular or more narrowed focus.
All in all, I am sad to say this book was not for me. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for access to an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Don’t Forget the Girl offers a deep exploration of its characters and the effects of trauma on their lives and actions. The slow building, character focused nature of the book took me by surprise because after reading the blurb, I was expecting a creepy serial killer mystery/thriller with twists and turns. Instead, there were little to no mystery or thrills to be had. I might have been able to get on board, after I readjusted my expectations, but the characters were much too unlikeable—particularly Bree. Her sleeping with her 18 year old student gave me such the “ick” (for lack of a better word) that I nearly put the book down. On one hand, I can acknowledge that Bree’s actions are supposed to be a result of her unresolved trauma, but on the other they are simply inexcusable in my eyes. Though it is a work of fiction, I had no desire to read about or root for her.
As the story progresses, each chapter alternates between Bree, Chelsea, and Abby (in the past). While both Bree and Chelsea’s chapters are written in third person, Abby’s are written in second. I found the switch of POV to be jarring each time I got to Abby’s chapters and the continually changing perspectives to be confusing to keep track of.
In addition to missed expectations, extremely unlikable characters, and confusing POVs, this book felt like it was trying to tackle too much. In moments it was exploring trauma and the ways it leads people to do incredibly terrible things. In others it was commenting on the way women are portrayed in the media, the way the names of victims often are forgotten, the experience of queer women in the early 2000s, and on religion. Though each of these are notable, I felt myself wishing the author had picked a singular or more narrowed focus.
All in all, I am sad to say this book was not for me. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for access to an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2023
When Abby Hartmann disappeared, her best friends, Bree and Chelsea, were left reeling with grief and guilt. Twelve years later, her suspected murderer, the serial killer Jon Allan Blue, is about to be executed, and a popular podcast is going to cover his crimes. Chelsea and Bree come together after years of estrangement to tell Abby’s real story, so she isn’t lost again.
I LOVED this book. The title alone was perfect, and McKanna made a lot of excellent points throughout the book about true crime consumers forgetting the victims and glamorizing the killers. This story isn’t a whodunnit serial killer book with twists and turns (though there were some omg - what? moments that added some jolts) - it’s a character-driven tragedy about the complexities of female friendship and sexuality and guilt and the self-destructive side of grief and how society and the media tell girls’ stories for them when they can’t tell their own.
I will say that I didn’t love how Abby’s sections were told in second person - it threw me off a bit - but I’m sure it was done for a good (aka smart writer person) reason, and I’m curious to hear why!
Overall, this was a super impressive debut that had better get a ton of hoopla when it’s released!
* thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the NetGalley review copy. Don’t Forget the Girl publishes June 20, 2023.
I LOVED this book. The title alone was perfect, and McKanna made a lot of excellent points throughout the book about true crime consumers forgetting the victims and glamorizing the killers. This story isn’t a whodunnit serial killer book with twists and turns (though there were some omg - what? moments that added some jolts) - it’s a character-driven tragedy about the complexities of female friendship and sexuality and guilt and the self-destructive side of grief and how society and the media tell girls’ stories for them when they can’t tell their own.
I will say that I didn’t love how Abby’s sections were told in second person - it threw me off a bit - but I’m sure it was done for a good (aka smart writer person) reason, and I’m curious to hear why!
Overall, this was a super impressive debut that had better get a ton of hoopla when it’s released!
* thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the NetGalley review copy. Don’t Forget the Girl publishes June 20, 2023.
December 10, 2025
This book was difficult to read; it wasn't intriguing and didn't draw me in by the end of the chapter. I just couldn't sustain my interest.
July 21, 2023
Wow! What a brilliant debut! True crime buff’s this one is for you.
Following the perspective of three girls - Bree, Chelsea and Abby. What makes this book unique, is it’s from the victims point of view rather than the killer.
Written from a duel time line - the past to present - we gain significant insight into the characters and place. Bree and Chelsea’s narrative is written in (present) third person while Abby is in 2nd person (past). As the girls reunite, they must address past resentments and search for answers from that tragic night. Beautifully atmospheric and captivating, the novel weaves a complex plot of secrets, lies, jealousy and ultimately healing.
More than a serial killer story, Don’t Forget the Girls is a tale of the grief left behind after tragedy. It’s a story of love and friendship with a nod to victims and their voices.
Many thanks to @netgalley @sourcebooks @bookmarked #rbmedia for an advanced reading copy and ALC 🥰
Following the perspective of three girls - Bree, Chelsea and Abby. What makes this book unique, is it’s from the victims point of view rather than the killer.
Written from a duel time line - the past to present - we gain significant insight into the characters and place. Bree and Chelsea’s narrative is written in (present) third person while Abby is in 2nd person (past). As the girls reunite, they must address past resentments and search for answers from that tragic night. Beautifully atmospheric and captivating, the novel weaves a complex plot of secrets, lies, jealousy and ultimately healing.
More than a serial killer story, Don’t Forget the Girls is a tale of the grief left behind after tragedy. It’s a story of love and friendship with a nod to victims and their voices.
Many thanks to @netgalley @sourcebooks @bookmarked #rbmedia for an advanced reading copy and ALC 🥰
May 18, 2023
"Don't Forget the Girl" is a debut novel by Rebecca McKanna and my head is still in awe from this fantastic book. I can't believe this is a debut book. This book was amazing and I was constantly under the spell of this author. There was a total "Oh Shit!" moment late in the book when a masterful piece of misdirection is presented and I totally fell for it. Never again, Rebecca McKanna. I'm on to you.
You have already read the synopsis so I'll throw that real quick because just go in blind. Three young adult female friends attending the University of Iowa (And you feel like you're there) One goes missing. Two weeks later there is a brutal slaying at a sorority house by a serial killer. Serial Killer is caught. Fast forward twelve years. Said Serial Killer is getting executed. A book has been written about him. A "netflix" type show is also released about him. A popular podcast has a season dedicated to him. The remaining two women go through the all the fallout.
I'm not sure what to even write at this point. Secrets come out that have been hidden for years. These women bravely confront demons they have hidden for years. Friendships strained face even more adversity as the execution date of the serial killer grows nearer.
This is not a light beach read. There are layers and layers of plot that slowly get peeled. We never really know what direction this book is headed and how it is going to end but I couldn't stop reading. It's not perfect..... After a strong beginning there was a slight lull in the middle. It got pretty slow but then found it's pacing again.
Just a fantastic book if you love the serial killer genre and want a different take on it. Highly recommended.
I really appreciate Sourcebooks Landmark for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free for my honest opinion and it has a publication date of June 26, 2023.
You have already read the synopsis so I'll throw that real quick because just go in blind. Three young adult female friends attending the University of Iowa (And you feel like you're there) One goes missing. Two weeks later there is a brutal slaying at a sorority house by a serial killer. Serial Killer is caught. Fast forward twelve years. Said Serial Killer is getting executed. A book has been written about him. A "netflix" type show is also released about him. A popular podcast has a season dedicated to him. The remaining two women go through the all the fallout.
I'm not sure what to even write at this point. Secrets come out that have been hidden for years. These women bravely confront demons they have hidden for years. Friendships strained face even more adversity as the execution date of the serial killer grows nearer.
This is not a light beach read. There are layers and layers of plot that slowly get peeled. We never really know what direction this book is headed and how it is going to end but I couldn't stop reading. It's not perfect..... After a strong beginning there was a slight lull in the middle. It got pretty slow but then found it's pacing again.
Just a fantastic book if you love the serial killer genre and want a different take on it. Highly recommended.
I really appreciate Sourcebooks Landmark for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free for my honest opinion and it has a publication date of June 26, 2023.
June 20, 2023
12 years ago Abby Hartman, college freshman disappears. She is thought to be the victim of serial Killer Jon Allan Blue, but was not confirmed, also her body was not found. Now in the present Blue is facing execution, a podcast reaches out to Abby's best friends at the time to participate, both desperate for answers, they agree. Secrets are revealed about both and their friendship along the way.
Chapters are dated with past and current timeline, told from all three girls perspectives.
Both girls in current timeline have some issues going on in their lives and have not really gotten over Abby's disappearance but for different reasons.
So this book was marketed as a thriller.......not truly accurate for me--more of a womans drama, or general fiction---there is not big twists, no thrills to speak of and does not have much in the line of events. Story focuses overwhelmingly much on the sexual relationships and content is disturbing and overkill at times. Identity of killer is not shocking. The secret that was kept for 12 years, not really a big reveal either. Just really was not captivating and struggled to finish and skipped paragraphs due to sexual descriptions.
Thanks to Netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Chapters are dated with past and current timeline, told from all three girls perspectives.
Both girls in current timeline have some issues going on in their lives and have not really gotten over Abby's disappearance but for different reasons.
So this book was marketed as a thriller.......not truly accurate for me--more of a womans drama, or general fiction---there is not big twists, no thrills to speak of and does not have much in the line of events. Story focuses overwhelmingly much on the sexual relationships and content is disturbing and overkill at times. Identity of killer is not shocking. The secret that was kept for 12 years, not really a big reveal either. Just really was not captivating and struggled to finish and skipped paragraphs due to sexual descriptions.
Thanks to Netgalley for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 16, 2023
Twelve years ago, Abby Hartmann disappeared amongst the victims of an active serial killer. Now, that convicted killer has been sentenced to death, and Abby’s once best friends, Bree and Chelsea, find themselves coming together for answers and to remind everyone of Abby’s name.
DON’T FORGET THE GIRL by Rebecca McKanna is a de-freakin-but!! For being a mystery, this book really packed an emotional punch and reminds the reader of the importance of remembering the victims.
Told through three POVs: Bree, Chelsea, and Abby from the past - their stories weave together in a beautiful way, creating tension while also showcasing the friendship these girls had. McKanna also popped in news, podcast, and interview transcripts, which I really enjoy in books that boast an investigative nature like this one does!
This one was difficult to read at times because of the delicate subject matter, but McKanna handled it with grace and really built some characters to fall in love with.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: June 20
DON’T FORGET THE GIRL by Rebecca McKanna is a de-freakin-but!! For being a mystery, this book really packed an emotional punch and reminds the reader of the importance of remembering the victims.
Told through three POVs: Bree, Chelsea, and Abby from the past - their stories weave together in a beautiful way, creating tension while also showcasing the friendship these girls had. McKanna also popped in news, podcast, and interview transcripts, which I really enjoy in books that boast an investigative nature like this one does!
This one was difficult to read at times because of the delicate subject matter, but McKanna handled it with grace and really built some characters to fall in love with.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: June 20
August 9, 2023
Iowa City is an officially designated UNESCO City of Literature (alongside Nottingham, I’m happy to add), most likely because the presence of the University of Iowa creative writing program. Hence we have the genre of Iowa City novel. (I’ve even written one myself, enquiries from publishers and agents welcome.) Recently I’ve enjoyed Candice Wuehle’s Monarch and now Rebecca Makanna’s Don’t Forget the Girl has struck me to the heart. One poignant buried memory was the case of Sarah Ann Ottens, a nursing student who was murdered in a dorm in 1973, during my first semester teaching at Iowa. I love stories about tragic friendships among university students. Donna Tartt’s The Secret History is my touchstone, but this novel also recalls Rebecca Makkai’s I Have Some Questions for You, but without the annoying obsession with contemporary issues. Makanna tells the story in two time sequences, 2015 and flashbacks to 2003 when Bree, Chelsea and Abby were best friends and undergraduates at the University of Iowa, and the latter pair roommates and lovers as well. On Halloween night Abby disappeared after the friends had a quarrel and is believed to have been murdered by the serial killer Jon Allen Blue, who now is scheduled for execution in Kentucky. Bree is currently teaching photography at a small college in Indiana and Chelsea has been ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church and is married to a carpenter, although both are in fragile emotional condition. Unfortunately, McKanna’s ecclesiastical knowledge is somewhat limited. Her references to a “priest collar” and “altar robes” (I suspect she means “clerical collar” and “alb”) are annoying, and “standing on the altar with the deacon and the priests, swinging a thurible” was a hilarious image (even though it’s good she knows the correct term for an incense pot). A major flaw in the plot was concealing important information about Blue’s relationship to the three young women till halfway through the book. But artistic flaws scarcely matter because these three characters so engage our affections and we come to care so much about what happens to them, especially how we look back on offenses in our relationships that are now too late ever to repair, and yet how we can still heal those we can. While unsatisfactory as a crime novel, the motivations of the villain remain obscure, in a story about friendship and tragedy indeed cannot we cannot forget these girls.
June 29, 2025
Don’t Forget the Girl by Rebecca McKanna
⭐️ 2 stars
Tropes & Themes:
🔹 True crime obsession
🔹 Victim-centered narrative
🔹 Female friendship
🔹 Grief & closure
🔹 Podcast culture + media ethics 🎙️🕵️♀️
⸻
Okay sooo this had a really strong premise but it just didn’t live up to what I was hoping for 😕 Don’t Forget the Girl is about two best friends, Bree and Chelsea still grieving the loss of their friend Abby who was murdered by a serial killer when they were in college. Years later as the killer’s execution date approaches, they’re both forced to confront what really happened and how the world forgot Abby in favor of focusing on the man who took her life.
I loved the idea of centering the victim’s story instead of glorifying the killer especially with how true crime has become weirdly entertainmenty. But the execution didn’t land. The pacing was uneven and even though I appreciated the emotional depth, it felt more like a slow literary drama than a thriller. Which is fine! Just not what I was expecting.
Also… the characters didn’t fully work for me. I wanted to feel more connected to Bree and Chelsea but a lot of their decisions felt kind of frustrating or flat. The themes were important but the plot never fully came together the way I hoped it would 😩📉
⸻
Final Thoughts:
I appreciate what Don’t Forget the Girl was trying to do and it did have some powerful moments but it didn’t totally deliver for me. If you’re into slower, grief heavy character studies with a side of true crime critique, it might be your thing. Just don’t go in expecting a fast paced thriller.
⭐️ 2 stars
Tropes & Themes:
🔹 True crime obsession
🔹 Victim-centered narrative
🔹 Female friendship
🔹 Grief & closure
🔹 Podcast culture + media ethics 🎙️🕵️♀️
⸻
Okay sooo this had a really strong premise but it just didn’t live up to what I was hoping for 😕 Don’t Forget the Girl is about two best friends, Bree and Chelsea still grieving the loss of their friend Abby who was murdered by a serial killer when they were in college. Years later as the killer’s execution date approaches, they’re both forced to confront what really happened and how the world forgot Abby in favor of focusing on the man who took her life.
I loved the idea of centering the victim’s story instead of glorifying the killer especially with how true crime has become weirdly entertainmenty. But the execution didn’t land. The pacing was uneven and even though I appreciated the emotional depth, it felt more like a slow literary drama than a thriller. Which is fine! Just not what I was expecting.
Also… the characters didn’t fully work for me. I wanted to feel more connected to Bree and Chelsea but a lot of their decisions felt kind of frustrating or flat. The themes were important but the plot never fully came together the way I hoped it would 😩📉
⸻
Final Thoughts:
I appreciate what Don’t Forget the Girl was trying to do and it did have some powerful moments but it didn’t totally deliver for me. If you’re into slower, grief heavy character studies with a side of true crime critique, it might be your thing. Just don’t go in expecting a fast paced thriller.
June 19, 2023
Rebecca McKanna's captivating debut, DON'T FORGET THE GIRL, is perfect for June's LGBT Pride Month!
Secrets, friendships, grief, sexuality, shaming, self-identity, loss, love, forgiveness, and grief are some topics in this emotional and lyrical new novel.
In 2003, 18 yr old Abby Hartmann went missing on Halloween night after an argument with her best friends, Bree and Chelsea.
Her body had not been found but suspected Abby was another victim of the serial killer, Jon Allen Blue. In the present, Jon Allan Blue is soon to be executed and still has not confessed to killing Abby.
Bree (professor) and Chelsea (priest) have been estranged for years, struggling with their grief and reuniting to find answers.
What happened the night Abby went missing? The author slowly unravels the events leading up to the night Abby went missing in dual timelines.
Abby was in a secret relationship but could not come out to her parents. Her partner was pressuring her, but she knew her parents would not understand.
You are unsure where the author is going with the story; however, she keeps you in suspense while you are reading (listening into the wee hours of the morning).
A character-driven, heartbreaking, emotional, and moving story that focuses on the three girls' friendship, their demons, guilt, resentments, and their relationship with Abby—the fallout after she was taken and how the trauma has shaped their lives and those connected to her.
The podcast with podcaster Rachel adds to the overall story dedicating its season to Blu's murders and the personal relationships with the victim and the parents. There is also a bestselling book by the detective. The news, podcast interviews, and interview transcripts are blended within the chapters.
Told in alternating POV, Bree and Chelsea’s narratives are in the third person in the present, while Abby speaks in the second person in the past—a little confusing while listening to the audio version.
The author expertly explores how society and media embellish serial killers but often forget about the victims and those connected to the lost ones.
DON'T FORGET THE GIRL is for fans of Megan Goldin, Laura Lippman, and Heather Gudenkauf and those who enjoy true crime. Ideal for book clubs. I am looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
I listened to the audiobook by Jennifer O'Donnell for an engrossing performance, listening experience, and the e-book.
Thanks to #RBMedia #RecordedBooks for a gifted ALC and #SourcebooksLandmark for an ARC via #NetGalley for review purposes.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 20, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
June 2023 Must-Read Books
Secrets, friendships, grief, sexuality, shaming, self-identity, loss, love, forgiveness, and grief are some topics in this emotional and lyrical new novel.
In 2003, 18 yr old Abby Hartmann went missing on Halloween night after an argument with her best friends, Bree and Chelsea.
Her body had not been found but suspected Abby was another victim of the serial killer, Jon Allen Blue. In the present, Jon Allan Blue is soon to be executed and still has not confessed to killing Abby.
Bree (professor) and Chelsea (priest) have been estranged for years, struggling with their grief and reuniting to find answers.
What happened the night Abby went missing? The author slowly unravels the events leading up to the night Abby went missing in dual timelines.
Abby was in a secret relationship but could not come out to her parents. Her partner was pressuring her, but she knew her parents would not understand.
You are unsure where the author is going with the story; however, she keeps you in suspense while you are reading (listening into the wee hours of the morning).
A character-driven, heartbreaking, emotional, and moving story that focuses on the three girls' friendship, their demons, guilt, resentments, and their relationship with Abby—the fallout after she was taken and how the trauma has shaped their lives and those connected to her.
The podcast with podcaster Rachel adds to the overall story dedicating its season to Blu's murders and the personal relationships with the victim and the parents. There is also a bestselling book by the detective. The news, podcast interviews, and interview transcripts are blended within the chapters.
Told in alternating POV, Bree and Chelsea’s narratives are in the third person in the present, while Abby speaks in the second person in the past—a little confusing while listening to the audio version.
The author expertly explores how society and media embellish serial killers but often forget about the victims and those connected to the lost ones.
DON'T FORGET THE GIRL is for fans of Megan Goldin, Laura Lippman, and Heather Gudenkauf and those who enjoy true crime. Ideal for book clubs. I am looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
I listened to the audiobook by Jennifer O'Donnell for an engrossing performance, listening experience, and the e-book.
Thanks to #RBMedia #RecordedBooks for a gifted ALC and #SourcebooksLandmark for an ARC via #NetGalley for review purposes.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 20, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
June 2023 Must-Read Books
May 15, 2023
Twelve years ago college freshman Abby Hartmann disappeared. Everyone believes serial killer Jon Allan Blue killed her but it was never confirmed. Now, in the present, he is about to be executed for the crimes he waa convicted of. News stories are brought up again and someone wants to make a podcast about him. Abby's best friends, Bree and Chelsea, are asked to participate. While they would rather forget about Blue they can't and there are still answers they need.
There is a past and present timeline and we get chapters from each of their perspective. This helps us get to know about what was going on in their lives. There are secrets that were not told twelve years ago and the impact continues into the present. We also learn about Bree and Chelsea's lives today.
Bree and Chelsea have never gotten over Abby's death, naturally. It's hard to say how much it's impacted them. Bree, especially, is going through some personal matters. Her life is a mess. As the story continues things are increasingly messy for both of them.
Don't Forget The Girl is described as a thriller but I don't think the description is accurate. There isn't any tension or suspense in the story and nothing much happens. The story is focused on the personal lives of the three young women. A lot of time is spent on their internal feelings and struggles. There is an overwhelming focus on sexual relationships and content. Much of it is disturbing and overkill. The identity of the killer is not shocking and is the only real thriller element. Also, the secret that was kept for twelve years doesn't seem big enough for a story. It took a long time to get through due to the writing style.
I think readers will appreciate the idea behind the story. It just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read.
There is a past and present timeline and we get chapters from each of their perspective. This helps us get to know about what was going on in their lives. There are secrets that were not told twelve years ago and the impact continues into the present. We also learn about Bree and Chelsea's lives today.
Bree and Chelsea have never gotten over Abby's death, naturally. It's hard to say how much it's impacted them. Bree, especially, is going through some personal matters. Her life is a mess. As the story continues things are increasingly messy for both of them.
Don't Forget The Girl is described as a thriller but I don't think the description is accurate. There isn't any tension or suspense in the story and nothing much happens. The story is focused on the personal lives of the three young women. A lot of time is spent on their internal feelings and struggles. There is an overwhelming focus on sexual relationships and content. Much of it is disturbing and overkill. The identity of the killer is not shocking and is the only real thriller element. Also, the secret that was kept for twelve years doesn't seem big enough for a story. It took a long time to get through due to the writing style.
I think readers will appreciate the idea behind the story. It just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read.
June 22, 2023
I have a lot to say about this absolutely phenomenal book. This is one of the best books I have read this year. I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
This story centers around three friends: Bree, Chelsea, and Abby. They are childhood friends who end up at the same college. During their freshman year, Abby goes missing. She is presumed to be the victim of Jon Allan Blue. He is a convicted serial killer awaiting execution in Kentucky. He was never convicted in Abby's disappearance. She was never found.
I am not going to give anything away here. This story focuses on the survivors, Chelsea and Abby, and their trauma and the fact that they never got the answers they were looking for. This story is told from all three perspectives - Chelsea and Bree in 2015, and Abby in 2003. The story is also told through interviews, social media posts, and podcast episodes. A central focus of the story is a popular podcaster who wants to tell Abby's story.
While this book has all the hallmarks of a great mystery/thriller, this is really a story about the three women at the heart of the novel. There is a scene towards the end where Chelsea and Bree are trying to find the closure they so desperately need and Bree says something to Chelsea that managed to break my heart and put it back together at the same time. I would love to quote it here, but you need to read if for yourself. Also, the last page of the book - just perfect.
I would also like to mention the true crime aspect of this novel. I have read, watched, and listened to true crime for about 30 years. The author really focuses on what good true crime should: the victims. We need to remember their names. We should celebrate their lives. They should be the focus - not the sensationalized parts of the story. I absolutely loved this aspect of the book!
This book is an emotional roller coaster that I will never forget. I tagged quite a few quotes and passages to go back to and revisit. This book is a debut, and I cannot wait to see what this author writes next. I will be first in line to read it.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this novel. I will be letting everyone know just how much I loved it. I am really into books right now with the true crime theme. Pick this one up - I highly recommend it!
This story centers around three friends: Bree, Chelsea, and Abby. They are childhood friends who end up at the same college. During their freshman year, Abby goes missing. She is presumed to be the victim of Jon Allan Blue. He is a convicted serial killer awaiting execution in Kentucky. He was never convicted in Abby's disappearance. She was never found.
I am not going to give anything away here. This story focuses on the survivors, Chelsea and Abby, and their trauma and the fact that they never got the answers they were looking for. This story is told from all three perspectives - Chelsea and Bree in 2015, and Abby in 2003. The story is also told through interviews, social media posts, and podcast episodes. A central focus of the story is a popular podcaster who wants to tell Abby's story.
While this book has all the hallmarks of a great mystery/thriller, this is really a story about the three women at the heart of the novel. There is a scene towards the end where Chelsea and Bree are trying to find the closure they so desperately need and Bree says something to Chelsea that managed to break my heart and put it back together at the same time. I would love to quote it here, but you need to read if for yourself. Also, the last page of the book - just perfect.
I would also like to mention the true crime aspect of this novel. I have read, watched, and listened to true crime for about 30 years. The author really focuses on what good true crime should: the victims. We need to remember their names. We should celebrate their lives. They should be the focus - not the sensationalized parts of the story. I absolutely loved this aspect of the book!
This book is an emotional roller coaster that I will never forget. I tagged quite a few quotes and passages to go back to and revisit. This book is a debut, and I cannot wait to see what this author writes next. I will be first in line to read it.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this novel. I will be letting everyone know just how much I loved it. I am really into books right now with the true crime theme. Pick this one up - I highly recommend it!
December 10, 2023
A powerful, raw, and compassionate debut!
First off, reading friends, do not pick this up if you’re looking for a thriller. I have no idea why it’s been marketed that way. It’s such an injustice to the beautiful thing it actually is.
Although Don’t Forget the Girl does involve a serial killer and there is a surprise reveal within it, this lacks the qualities that hardcore thriller lovers seek. You should absolutely read it, even if you are that hardcore thriller lover, but don’t expect a mystery. This is a slow burn character study that sensitively and realistically examines the lives of two women indelibly impacted by the murder of one of their best friends. The author also uses a second person narrative to allow us to get to know the victim, putting us right in her head, forcing us to become her. We walk the distance in her shoes and it’s incredibly effective and haunting.
There are so many important things going on in this story, which include, but are not limited to, what the title reminds us to do. We should not forget the victims. We should not sensationalize the crime. We should not only be able to say the infamous killer’s name.
But you know what really shook me? The way the story aptly depicts how casually the world shrugs off a female’s concerns over potentially dangerous men. If a woman tells you a man has made her uncomfortable, listen. If experience hasn’t taught you this yet, Don’t Forget the Girl will make the consequence of such dismissive actions clear. I cherished this message and was grateful for how accurately it was conveyed.
I am immensely grateful to Recorded Books and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
First off, reading friends, do not pick this up if you’re looking for a thriller. I have no idea why it’s been marketed that way. It’s such an injustice to the beautiful thing it actually is.
Although Don’t Forget the Girl does involve a serial killer and there is a surprise reveal within it, this lacks the qualities that hardcore thriller lovers seek. You should absolutely read it, even if you are that hardcore thriller lover, but don’t expect a mystery. This is a slow burn character study that sensitively and realistically examines the lives of two women indelibly impacted by the murder of one of their best friends. The author also uses a second person narrative to allow us to get to know the victim, putting us right in her head, forcing us to become her. We walk the distance in her shoes and it’s incredibly effective and haunting.
There are so many important things going on in this story, which include, but are not limited to, what the title reminds us to do. We should not forget the victims. We should not sensationalize the crime. We should not only be able to say the infamous killer’s name.
But you know what really shook me? The way the story aptly depicts how casually the world shrugs off a female’s concerns over potentially dangerous men. If a woman tells you a man has made her uncomfortable, listen. If experience hasn’t taught you this yet, Don’t Forget the Girl will make the consequence of such dismissive actions clear. I cherished this message and was grateful for how accurately it was conveyed.
I am immensely grateful to Recorded Books and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
October 28, 2023
This is my second book, almost back to back, framed around the same serial killer. I love how both stories really embraced him being small and unimportant. I love that both, instead, told us about the presumed victims he took from friends and family.
In this one, I loved the complex female relationships. Chelsea, Abby and Bree have been inseparable since high school. They are now in college, 2 of them rooming together, the other dropping by whenever, and they are loving the new classes and freedom. But they are navigating a world they don't know and trying to rely on each other and gut instinct as girls around them disappear.
This story is told a little tangled - as it jumps from Previous POV to the now POV. But it does give all three POV, so it was important for me to read the chapter and know name and date before I read the next part. Luckily, I read it all close together so I was able to keep it all straight - but I can see an audio book being a struggle. I love how messy this was. The girls weren't perfect. Each of them made mistakes, hurt each other but their chance to make up was cut short as Abby went missing. But I love that the previous chapters had a sense of foreboding, knowing girls had gone missing. Knowing one of the girls telling her story would too.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
In this one, I loved the complex female relationships. Chelsea, Abby and Bree have been inseparable since high school. They are now in college, 2 of them rooming together, the other dropping by whenever, and they are loving the new classes and freedom. But they are navigating a world they don't know and trying to rely on each other and gut instinct as girls around them disappear.
This story is told a little tangled - as it jumps from Previous POV to the now POV. But it does give all three POV, so it was important for me to read the chapter and know name and date before I read the next part. Luckily, I read it all close together so I was able to keep it all straight - but I can see an audio book being a struggle. I love how messy this was. The girls weren't perfect. Each of them made mistakes, hurt each other but their chance to make up was cut short as Abby went missing. But I love that the previous chapters had a sense of foreboding, knowing girls had gone missing. Knowing one of the girls telling her story would too.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
June 20, 2023
Rebecca McKanna, I do not know where you came from but now that you are here, I am never letting you leave!
Don't Forget the Girl, is an incredible breakthrough debut and it was an honor to be selected as an early reviewer in exchange for an honest opinion!
YIKES BIKES!
This was one hell of a wild ride and I became fully vested on page one. My emotions ran wild and I just wanted justice! This book played out like a movie right before my eyes and the twist was indescribable!
This is a book you do not want to miss!
Teaser:
We never remember the dead girls. We never forget the killers.
Twelve years ago, 18-year-old University of Iowa freshman Abby Hartmann disappeared. Now, Jon Allan Blue, the serial killer suspected of her murder, is about to be executed. Abby's best friends, Bree and Chelsea, watch as Abby's memory is unearthed and overshadowed by Blue and his flashier crimes. The friends, estranged in the wake of Abby's disappearance, and suffering from years of unvoiced resentments, must reunite when a high-profile podcast dedicates its next season to Blue's murders. Tense and introspective, Don't Forget the Girl is an astonishing debut thriller that mines the complexities of friendship and the secrets between us that we may take to the grave.
Don't Forget the Girl, is an incredible breakthrough debut and it was an honor to be selected as an early reviewer in exchange for an honest opinion!
YIKES BIKES!
This was one hell of a wild ride and I became fully vested on page one. My emotions ran wild and I just wanted justice! This book played out like a movie right before my eyes and the twist was indescribable!
This is a book you do not want to miss!
Teaser:
We never remember the dead girls. We never forget the killers.
Twelve years ago, 18-year-old University of Iowa freshman Abby Hartmann disappeared. Now, Jon Allan Blue, the serial killer suspected of her murder, is about to be executed. Abby's best friends, Bree and Chelsea, watch as Abby's memory is unearthed and overshadowed by Blue and his flashier crimes. The friends, estranged in the wake of Abby's disappearance, and suffering from years of unvoiced resentments, must reunite when a high-profile podcast dedicates its next season to Blue's murders. Tense and introspective, Don't Forget the Girl is an astonishing debut thriller that mines the complexities of friendship and the secrets between us that we may take to the grave.
June 7, 2023
This was my first NetGalley read and I discovered it from a fellow reader that I follow on Instagram. I was excited to read it when I saw that the book was set on the University of Iowa campus.
The book is about three college friends and one was murdered. Chelsea and Bree have been estranged since the incident, but come back together to speak on a podcast about their friend Abby. They rekindle their freindship while finding closure for Abby's murder.
I loved this book and had a difficult time putting it down. It's a good one to add to your TBR list.
The book is about three college friends and one was murdered. Chelsea and Bree have been estranged since the incident, but come back together to speak on a podcast about their friend Abby. They rekindle their freindship while finding closure for Abby's murder.
I loved this book and had a difficult time putting it down. It's a good one to add to your TBR list.
September 24, 2025
Wow. This book exceeded my expectations in every way. The religious imagery and connections, the complex and extremely well-written characters, all the twists and turns, the calling out of how true crime romanticizes the perpetrators and blames women and victims — just amazing. This story was excellent, and I appreciated how the author included real details related to the University of Iowa and Iowa City. McKanna’s attention to detail and making everything fit together was perfect. I’m just blown away. This book was incredible, and I can’t recommend it enough.
November 17, 2023
This book started off strong, but I had such a difficult time staying engaged during the earlier timeline that was written in 2nd person. It wasn't easy to follow and confused me. I think this book would've worked so much better for me if it had been written in 3rd or 1st person the whole way through.
There are readers who enjoyed this book more than I, and I would encourage anyone thinking about reading this one to check out the higher reviews. This was just one of those writing styles that didn't work for me.
I received an audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There are readers who enjoyed this book more than I, and I would encourage anyone thinking about reading this one to check out the higher reviews. This was just one of those writing styles that didn't work for me.
I received an audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2023
I have a lot to say about this absolutely phenomenal book. This is one of the best books I have read this year. I will be thinking about it for a long time to come.
This story centers around three friends: Bree, Chelsea, and Abby. They are childhood friends who end up at the same college. During their freshman year, Abby goes missing. She is presumed to be the victim of Jon Allan Blue. He is a convicted serial killer awaiting execution in Kentucky. He was never convicted in Abby's disappearance. She was never found.
I am not going to give anything away here. This story focuses on the survivors, Chelsea and Abby, and their trauma and the fact that they never got the answers they were looking for. This story is told from all three perspectives - Chelsea and Bree in 2015, and Abby in 2003. The story is also told through interviews, social media posts, and podcast episodes. A central focus of the story is a popular podcaster who wants to tell Abby's story.
While this book has all the hallmarks of a great mystery/thriller, this is really a story about the three women at the heart of the novel. There is a scene towards the end where Chelsea and Bree are trying to find the closure they so desperately need and Bree says something to Chelsea that managed to break my heart and put it back together at the same time. I would love to quote it here, but you need to read if for yourself. Also, the last page of the book - just perfect.
I would also like to mention the true crime aspect of this novel. I have read, watched, and listened to true crime for about 30 years. The author really focuses on what good true crime should: the victims. We need to remember their names. We should celebrate their lives. They should be the focus - not the sensationalized parts of the story. I absolutely loved this aspect of the book!
This book is an emotional roller coaster that I will never forget. I tagged quite a few quotes and passages to go back to and revisit. This book is a debut, and I cannot wait to see what this author writes next. I will be first in line to read it.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this novel. I will be letting everyone know just how much I loved it. I am really into books right now with the true crime theme. Pick this one up - I highly recomment it!
This story centers around three friends: Bree, Chelsea, and Abby. They are childhood friends who end up at the same college. During their freshman year, Abby goes missing. She is presumed to be the victim of Jon Allan Blue. He is a convicted serial killer awaiting execution in Kentucky. He was never convicted in Abby's disappearance. She was never found.
I am not going to give anything away here. This story focuses on the survivors, Chelsea and Abby, and their trauma and the fact that they never got the answers they were looking for. This story is told from all three perspectives - Chelsea and Bree in 2015, and Abby in 2003. The story is also told through interviews, social media posts, and podcast episodes. A central focus of the story is a popular podcaster who wants to tell Abby's story.
While this book has all the hallmarks of a great mystery/thriller, this is really a story about the three women at the heart of the novel. There is a scene towards the end where Chelsea and Bree are trying to find the closure they so desperately need and Bree says something to Chelsea that managed to break my heart and put it back together at the same time. I would love to quote it here, but you need to read if for yourself. Also, the last page of the book - just perfect.
I would also like to mention the true crime aspect of this novel. I have read, watched, and listened to true crime for about 30 years. The author really focuses on what good true crime should: the victims. We need to remember their names. We should celebrate their lives. They should be the focus - not the sensationalized parts of the story. I absolutely loved this aspect of the book!
This book is an emotional roller coaster that I will never forget. I tagged quite a few quotes and passages to go back to and revisit. This book is a debut, and I cannot wait to see what this author writes next. I will be first in line to read it.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this novel. I will be letting everyone know just how much I loved it. I am really into books right now with the true crime theme. Pick this one up - I highly recomment it!
July 27, 2023
This is the book I've been wanting to read for years. A book set in a place I'm intimately familiar with, a thriller that perfectly captures the creepy vibes of the midwest, characters that are all flawed and deeply fascinating. I was enthralled by the story right away and read the majority of this book in one day. I love the way this book comments on "true crime" as entertainment, the death penalty, and the use of religious imagery was stunning. I loved the structure of the book, with so many chapter endings that ended in such compelling cliffhangers. Most of all, I loved the setting, how this book is so rooted in time and place and how the author took care to really situate the reader in those settings. With two timelines going on and three perspectives, I have to hand it to the author for creating such unique personalities and voices for each character and creating such complex relationships amongst the three main characters. This is beyond your standard thriller; in fact I would say it's more literary leaning than mystery. But the way these characters are written and the tense atmosphere kept me always wanting to read more.
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