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They'll Never Catch Us
From rising star Jessica Goodman, author of They Wish They Were Us, comes a new fast-paced thriller about two sisters vying for the top spot on their cross-country team--the only way out of their stifling small town. But their dreams are suddenly thrown into peril when a new girl threatens to take away everything they've worked for... until she disappears.
Stella and Ellie Steckler are only a year apart, but their different personalities make their relationship complicated. Stella is single-minded, driven, and she keeps to herself. Cross-country running is her life and she won't let anything get in the way of being the best. Her sister Ellie is a talented runner too, but she also lets herself have fun. She has friends. She goes to parties. She has a life off the course.
The sisters do have one thing in common, though: the new girl, Mila Keene. Both Stecklers' lives are upended when Mila comes to town. Mila was the top runner on her team back home and at first, Ellie and Stella view her as a threat. But soon Ellie can't help but be drawn to her warm, charming personality. After her best friend moved away and her first boyfriend betrayed her, Ellie's been looking for a friend. In a moment of weakness, she even shares her darkest secret with Mila. For her part, Stella finds herself noticing the ways she and Mila are similar. Mila is smart and strong--she's someone Stella can finally connect with. As the two get closer, Stella becomes something she vowed she'd never be: distracted.
With regionals approaching and college scouts taking notice, the pressure is on. Each girl has their future on the line and they won't let friendships get in their way. But then, suddenly, Mila goes out on a training run and never returns. No one knows what happened, but all eyes are on the Steckler sisters.
284 pages, Hardcover
First published July 27, 2021
486 people are currently reading
43312 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Goodman
7 books2,144 followersJessica Goodman is the New York Times bestselling author of young adult thrillers They Wish they Were Us, They’ll Never Catch Us, The Counselors, and The Legacies.
She is the former op-ed editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, and was part of the 2017 team that won a National Magazine Award in personal service. She has also held editorial positions at Entertainment Weekly and HuffPost, and her work has been published in outlets like Glamour, Condé Nast Traveler, The Cut, Elle, Bustle, and Marie Claire.
She is the former op-ed editor at Cosmopolitan magazine, and was part of the 2017 team that won a National Magazine Award in personal service. She has also held editorial positions at Entertainment Weekly and HuffPost, and her work has been published in outlets like Glamour, Condé Nast Traveler, The Cut, Elle, Bustle, and Marie Claire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,731 reviews
July 20, 2021
Complicated sister dynamics always get me right in the meow meow.
July 28, 2021
Everyone hates themselves a little. If you get over that, you survive.
When I read the synopsis for They'll Never Catch Us, I immediately added it to my summer TBR. Then my friends at Penguin Teen offered me an advanced copy---big, huge thank you to them!---and my excitement for this book only intensified. (Who wouldn't love reading the YA thriller of the summer a little earlier than planned?)
So, did it live up to my expectations? Yes...but also kind of no. I really enjoyed this book. The chapters were short, so it was one of those books where I'd read a large chunk in one sitting without even realizing it because of the chapter length. There's also enough drama besides the murder mystery to keep the reader invested in multiple storylines.
And if you're familiar with my reviews, you know I'm ALL about feminist intellectualism. They'll Never Catch Us has some badass female characters and a strong feminist message...without actually talking about feminism. Goodman sheds light on female sports and competition, female's governing their own bodies, and even the role sisters play in each other's lives---both the good and bad.
What I struggled with was the endless talk of cross country. I usually don't struggle reading books about sports I never participated in (okay, I've never really participated in any sports...yay for being totally unathletic!) because I find if there's a healthy balance of sports talk and, well, anything else, the book can hold my attention. But with They'll Never Catch Us, I found myself thinking, "Oh, look, the girls are running somewhere...again," quite often. If cross country is your thing, you'll probably relate to this book more than I could.
Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars. Overall, a great YA thriller.
When I read the synopsis for They'll Never Catch Us, I immediately added it to my summer TBR. Then my friends at Penguin Teen offered me an advanced copy---big, huge thank you to them!---and my excitement for this book only intensified. (Who wouldn't love reading the YA thriller of the summer a little earlier than planned?)
So, did it live up to my expectations? Yes...but also kind of no. I really enjoyed this book. The chapters were short, so it was one of those books where I'd read a large chunk in one sitting without even realizing it because of the chapter length. There's also enough drama besides the murder mystery to keep the reader invested in multiple storylines.
And if you're familiar with my reviews, you know I'm ALL about feminist intellectualism. They'll Never Catch Us has some badass female characters and a strong feminist message...without actually talking about feminism. Goodman sheds light on female sports and competition, female's governing their own bodies, and even the role sisters play in each other's lives---both the good and bad.
What I struggled with was the endless talk of cross country. I usually don't struggle reading books about sports I never participated in (okay, I've never really participated in any sports...yay for being totally unathletic!) because I find if there's a healthy balance of sports talk and, well, anything else, the book can hold my attention. But with They'll Never Catch Us, I found myself thinking, "Oh, look, the girls are running somewhere...again," quite often. If cross country is your thing, you'll probably relate to this book more than I could.
Perfect for fans of Pretty Little Liars. Overall, a great YA thriller.
December 3, 2022
Welcome to Edgewater High. A school where fellow track mates will do anything, and I mean anything to make it to State and that coveted number one spot.
I was a runner in high school, so as I was reading this I was thanking my lucky stars I never attended a school quite like this. But also in reality my passion was short lived so I probably wouldn’t have been on any crazy competitive persons radar! 😂😂
I was highly anticipating They Will Never Catch Us after being hooked on Jessica Goodman’s last novel, They Will Never Be Us. I really freaking enjoyed that book and was hoping for some of the same magic. I have to be honest friends, sadly…it did not live up to my expectations. 😢
The Steckler Sisters are promising high school track stars in a rural New York town called Edgewater. The town was nicknamed Deadwater after several of the residents young runners were found murdered in the span of a year right near a secluded trail. All killed in the same way and with the laces removed from their shoes. All of the sudden after murder number 3 the killings stopped, but are not forgotten with an unknown murderer still in the loose. The sisters will do whatever it takes to come in first place and obtain a coveted scholarship to a good college and leave this small but morbid city behind. To add to their pressure and give them even more competition, Mila who is a top scoring runner, has transferred in from another school and is a new edition to the track team. Both Stella and Ellie, who are at first wary seem to start a friendship with their new teammate. And even though they make like her they always have to remember at the end of the day Mila is another top competitor and has to be held at arms length.
One morning Mila doesn’t show up for school, or work. The next day her Mom and the police are at the school questioning who had seen her last and does anyone know what happened to her. Mila was on her way to an early morning run that she never came back from. Both of the Steckler sisters are suspects, but Stella is suspect number one after what happened between her and Allison Tarley last year. Are either of the girls capable of doing something to Mila to secure the number one spot on the team? Or is it possible Mila could be a new Deadwater victim?
𝐏𝐫𝐨’𝐬
-Even though most of the book was predictable The author pulled some punches and surprised me with some of the characters (can’t say more or I will ruin the book)
-I liked that there was character diversity.
-One of the themes I noticed in this and JG’s prior book is about the problems that a lot of women, especially young ones face in a world that still caters more to men. Kudos JG for addressing some important issues!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬:
-Didn’t care for any of the characters. I hate to say it, but even Mila, the girl who goes missing.
-Took too long to get the story actually going. That was my biggest problem. It just felt like I was waiting for something to happen for most of the book.
-As stated above this was for the most part extremely predictable.
Although They Will Never Catch Us was not what I anticipated I am optimistically and expectantly waiting on Jessica Goodman’s next book.
On to the next adventure friends!
𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲, 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞. 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞..𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.
I was a runner in high school, so as I was reading this I was thanking my lucky stars I never attended a school quite like this. But also in reality my passion was short lived so I probably wouldn’t have been on any crazy competitive persons radar! 😂😂
I was highly anticipating They Will Never Catch Us after being hooked on Jessica Goodman’s last novel, They Will Never Be Us. I really freaking enjoyed that book and was hoping for some of the same magic. I have to be honest friends, sadly…it did not live up to my expectations. 😢
The Steckler Sisters are promising high school track stars in a rural New York town called Edgewater. The town was nicknamed Deadwater after several of the residents young runners were found murdered in the span of a year right near a secluded trail. All killed in the same way and with the laces removed from their shoes. All of the sudden after murder number 3 the killings stopped, but are not forgotten with an unknown murderer still in the loose. The sisters will do whatever it takes to come in first place and obtain a coveted scholarship to a good college and leave this small but morbid city behind. To add to their pressure and give them even more competition, Mila who is a top scoring runner, has transferred in from another school and is a new edition to the track team. Both Stella and Ellie, who are at first wary seem to start a friendship with their new teammate. And even though they make like her they always have to remember at the end of the day Mila is another top competitor and has to be held at arms length.
One morning Mila doesn’t show up for school, or work. The next day her Mom and the police are at the school questioning who had seen her last and does anyone know what happened to her. Mila was on her way to an early morning run that she never came back from. Both of the Steckler sisters are suspects, but Stella is suspect number one after what happened between her and Allison Tarley last year. Are either of the girls capable of doing something to Mila to secure the number one spot on the team? Or is it possible Mila could be a new Deadwater victim?
𝐏𝐫𝐨’𝐬
-Even though most of the book was predictable The author pulled some punches and surprised me with some of the characters (can’t say more or I will ruin the book)
-I liked that there was character diversity.
-One of the themes I noticed in this and JG’s prior book is about the problems that a lot of women, especially young ones face in a world that still caters more to men. Kudos JG for addressing some important issues!
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬:
-Didn’t care for any of the characters. I hate to say it, but even Mila, the girl who goes missing.
-Took too long to get the story actually going. That was my biggest problem. It just felt like I was waiting for something to happen for most of the book.
-As stated above this was for the most part extremely predictable.
Although They Will Never Catch Us was not what I anticipated I am optimistically and expectantly waiting on Jessica Goodman’s next book.
On to the next adventure friends!
𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲, 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞. 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞..𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.
November 9, 2021
Let me preface this review by saying that I know an excessive amount about Cross Country. From the moment I was born, Cross Country became everything. My dad has been a Cross Country coach for almost 30 years, and I have helped him coach as well. I also competed competitively for years. So when a book is about Cross Country I am more biased about the details than your average reader. If a book does Cross Country wrong then I am not able to look past those details. Unfortunately this book got so many things about the sport wrong. Some examples are practicing on the track every single day, getting the distances and the measurements on the track wrong, and some of the workouts just did not make sense for Cross Country. Also the mean girl side of things is almost nonexistent in Cross Country so that part of the story was just not realistic. These runners also partied and got drunk a lot, going so far as to party in the middle of a race. Not only is that unrealistic, but serious Cross Country runners that want to make a life out of racing do not act like that. Now on the non Cross Country side of things, these characters were so unlikeable. Some people don’t mind reading about unlikeable characters, but for me, if the characters are awful then I will not enjoy the book. The mystery aspect did not happen until about halfway through the book and I was hoping it would come into play sooner. By the end I didn’t even care about the reveal and I just thought everyone was awful. Overall, I believe this book is for people who don’t know Cross Country and who don’t care if the characters are likeable or not.
September 17, 2021
The latest book from Jessica Goodman,
They'll Never Catch Us
, is part coming-of-age story and commentary on girls who go after what they want, part satisfying YA thriller.
Stella and Ellie are sisters, and both are cross-country runners. Stella is an intense competitor; she knows the only way she can get into an elite college is to get a scholarship. But that intensity and competitiveness doesn’t make her an easy person to be friendly with, and when an incident occurs with a fellow classmate at the end of her sophomore year, her fellow students view her as crazy, even violent.
Ellie wants to be an elite competitor, too, but she is more laid-back and easier to get along with. She knows her sister is her biggest rival, and they used to be closer than ever, but both have secrets they’re not willing to share.
When Mila comes to town, it throws everything into an uproar. Mila was the best runner at her school, and suddenly Stella has to push herself even harder, between overcoming everyone’s perceptions of her, trying to get back the chances she lost following the incident sophomore year, and now she has to beat Mila.
Mila sees Stella for who she really is, and Stella starts letting her guard down, even if she’s not sure she can trust anyone. And of course, that wreaks havoc on her competitive spirit. Ellie, too, becomes close with Mila, even revealing a secret that she’s told no one else.
When Mila disappears on a run early one morning, the town is quick to blame Stella. But could a serial killer who terrorized the town years ago be back, or is the perpetrator someone closer to home?
This was a bit of a slow burn at first but I couldn’t put it down. It’s a family drama, a bit of a mystery, and commentary on the double standard that girls and women face when they’re competitive and go after what they want. I really enjoyed Goodman’s last book, They Wish They Were Us , and They'll Never Catch Us is just as good.
Thanks to BookSparks and Razorbill for providing me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review, as part of #SRC2021!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Stella and Ellie are sisters, and both are cross-country runners. Stella is an intense competitor; she knows the only way she can get into an elite college is to get a scholarship. But that intensity and competitiveness doesn’t make her an easy person to be friendly with, and when an incident occurs with a fellow classmate at the end of her sophomore year, her fellow students view her as crazy, even violent.
Ellie wants to be an elite competitor, too, but she is more laid-back and easier to get along with. She knows her sister is her biggest rival, and they used to be closer than ever, but both have secrets they’re not willing to share.
When Mila comes to town, it throws everything into an uproar. Mila was the best runner at her school, and suddenly Stella has to push herself even harder, between overcoming everyone’s perceptions of her, trying to get back the chances she lost following the incident sophomore year, and now she has to beat Mila.
Mila sees Stella for who she really is, and Stella starts letting her guard down, even if she’s not sure she can trust anyone. And of course, that wreaks havoc on her competitive spirit. Ellie, too, becomes close with Mila, even revealing a secret that she’s told no one else.
When Mila disappears on a run early one morning, the town is quick to blame Stella. But could a serial killer who terrorized the town years ago be back, or is the perpetrator someone closer to home?
This was a bit of a slow burn at first but I couldn’t put it down. It’s a family drama, a bit of a mystery, and commentary on the double standard that girls and women face when they’re competitive and go after what they want. I really enjoyed Goodman’s last book, They Wish They Were Us , and They'll Never Catch Us is just as good.
Thanks to BookSparks and Razorbill for providing me a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review, as part of #SRC2021!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
February 15, 2022
I hated this book. There were so many problematic things and inconsistencies.
Just a few of my grievances:
*The author repeatedly stated that girls are treated differently in society and held to a different standard than boys but did absolutely nothing to elaborate on that point or add depth to it. At all. If fact, the conclusion negated that she even mentioned it.
*The murder didn't happen until halfway into the book and by that point I was bored. It would have been cool if the unsolved murdered had been explored, but they were just glossed over.
*Which brings me to my next point-This is not a thriller. It is a contemporary fiction novel revolving around the relationship/sibling rivelry of two sisters.
*The author made many errors in her depiction of cross country. The whole plot revolves around cross country and it should have been research better.
*The ending was BS and I'm just going to leave it at that.
Just a few of my grievances:
*The author repeatedly stated that girls are treated differently in society and held to a different standard than boys but did absolutely nothing to elaborate on that point or add depth to it. At all. If fact, the conclusion negated that she even mentioned it.
*The murder didn't happen until halfway into the book and by that point I was bored. It would have been cool if the unsolved murdered had been explored, but they were just glossed over.
*Which brings me to my next point-This is not a thriller. It is a contemporary fiction novel revolving around the relationship/sibling rivelry of two sisters.
*The author made many errors in her depiction of cross country. The whole plot revolves around cross country and it should have been research better.
*The ending was BS and I'm just going to leave it at that.
January 18, 2023
Someone started a shoelace collection. But they are getting them from female track stars that they have killed!
Stella and Ellie are sisters with little in common. But they both live running! When a new star athlete joins their track team, the intense rivalry come out! The girls have to do their best at hitting the pavement to show the college scouts who they need to recruit. But will the competition lead to murder? And will the murderer be one of the sisters? All will be revealed at the end of this race!
This was a fun, twisty thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. A great story of two female track stars who also happen to be sisters. The competition is brutal, but aren’t sister there to push you to be your best? When a new student joins the track then the sister find her a threat. When she turns up dead, the sisters become suspects.
Stella and Ellie are sisters with little in common. But they both live running! When a new star athlete joins their track team, the intense rivalry come out! The girls have to do their best at hitting the pavement to show the college scouts who they need to recruit. But will the competition lead to murder? And will the murderer be one of the sisters? All will be revealed at the end of this race!
This was a fun, twisty thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. A great story of two female track stars who also happen to be sisters. The competition is brutal, but aren’t sister there to push you to be your best? When a new student joins the track then the sister find her a threat. When she turns up dead, the sisters become suspects.
July 12, 2021
4.5/5 stars, a really interesting thriller while also touching on some important topics
Thank you Penguin Teen for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
"The world breaks little girls. It stomps out our will, our joy, our curiosity - and replaces them with disdain, cynicism, and the need to fit into tiny boxes." (221)
I went into this thriller honestly expecting just a basic young adult mystery, one that had the same elements to it so many of my least favorites did. But this was actually such an interesting and amazingly well-done thriller. Honestly, the thriller didn't feel like the main plot at times and I was totally okay with that. Filling in the gaps of that was a story that features feminism, realistic characters, and teenage angst that wasn't too over the top. There are lots of trigger warnings in this book (featured at the end of my review) but I don't think anything is handled in a bad way.
I've never participated in cross country, and I honestly hate running, but I have participated in sports before and so I wanted to relate to the main characters. The two main sisters, Stella and Ellie are the stars of their small-town's cross country team. But the summer before the book takes place, they are both battling things that they're worried will make them distracted. They are still determined to be the best until new student Mina arrives, who's the best in the state at the very least. Both sisters are drawn to her, through competition and the possibility of friendship, but one day Mina goes on a run and never comes back. Suspicions are immediately held against the Steckler sisters, but things are even more complicated than anyone realized.
The setting of the small town is something that I really connected with, as I have lived in a small town my entire life. It's certainly a tight nit community but it's also nowhere close to perfect and I think this book represented that quite nicely. Small towns always seem really creepy for thriller novels and this story was no exception, we were a little set aside from the community with one of the characters but it made total sense. I can't speak on how accurate the cross country team was, I know the team at my high school doesn't go around partying, but I think it was a bit fictionalized. It made the book more exciting so I am okay with a bit more dramatization!
The plot of this book is very not black and white, while some parts were very predictable I think ultimately the last twist I didn't see coming at all. The parts that were predictable, I felt were supposed to be that way, considering the impact they had on the story and the message. I wasn't bothered by being able to guess some things, because the plot moved really fast and I felt like I was constantly running with the team to the next chapter. I was super invested based on the elements that the author added.
Some of the characters in this book, are NOT likable at all and are intended to be that way. If you cant enjoy characters for being not likable, but being super interesting and complicated, this might not be the book for you. I preferred one Steckler sister over the other, but at times it switched and at the end I really honestly loved both of them.
Stella Steckler was the older sister in the story and struggles with her mental health/aggressiveness. This is shown in the very first chapter of the book, so it's not really a spoiler. We learn there is something that happened to her, last summer that caused her to fall into this a bit, but you have to read the story to find out what it is. She was not a likable character for some (mysterious) reasons and that was perfectly fine with me, even when she wasn't I found her to still be interesting. I think readers will be drawn to her because of how real she felt at times, and how she grows.
Ellie Steckler was my favorite character from this book, she also felt very realistic and sweet. I think her story was a bit more compelling than Stella's, and so it was easier to empathize with her. She's young and wants someone to appreciate her, as we all did and still do at that age. She's experiencing a toxic relationship at the start of the story, which leads to some of the feminist themes in the story. Her dynamic with the story is great, she always feels like she's important even if it wasn't her pov chapter. Even at the end, I just really felt for her and I think the psychology behind her story is very interesting.
Mila was around for quite a while before the thriller aspect picked up and she went missing, and I have to say she was a really good character. I can't say too much surrounding her without spoiling some of the story, but I can say she was inspiring. She was also a very genuine person and brought something to the story that was really needed.
The side characters in this book were very vivid and real, I know I have been saying that about all of them but it's just the truth. Some of them felt like just stereotypes or archetypes on the surface, but as the story went on they seemed to grow more. I think acknowledging that a person doesn't just fit into one archetype was a good point of the story. I still dislike some of them, as intended, but I think there were also some important ideas surrounding some of the side characters.
Overall this is such a fun ya book, even when it wasn't heavy on the thriller side the entire time. There were a lot of other themes that I saw that I thought were important and especially how they were talked about. This was a super fast-paced book and this makes me want to pick up more ya thrillers, which I didn't think I would say for a long time!
[TW: pregnancy, abortion, gore, false accusations, trauma, sexual encounters, toxic relationships, parties, racism, drunk]
Thank you Penguin Teen for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
"The world breaks little girls. It stomps out our will, our joy, our curiosity - and replaces them with disdain, cynicism, and the need to fit into tiny boxes." (221)
I went into this thriller honestly expecting just a basic young adult mystery, one that had the same elements to it so many of my least favorites did. But this was actually such an interesting and amazingly well-done thriller. Honestly, the thriller didn't feel like the main plot at times and I was totally okay with that. Filling in the gaps of that was a story that features feminism, realistic characters, and teenage angst that wasn't too over the top. There are lots of trigger warnings in this book (featured at the end of my review) but I don't think anything is handled in a bad way.
I've never participated in cross country, and I honestly hate running, but I have participated in sports before and so I wanted to relate to the main characters. The two main sisters, Stella and Ellie are the stars of their small-town's cross country team. But the summer before the book takes place, they are both battling things that they're worried will make them distracted. They are still determined to be the best until new student Mina arrives, who's the best in the state at the very least. Both sisters are drawn to her, through competition and the possibility of friendship, but one day Mina goes on a run and never comes back. Suspicions are immediately held against the Steckler sisters, but things are even more complicated than anyone realized.
The setting of the small town is something that I really connected with, as I have lived in a small town my entire life. It's certainly a tight nit community but it's also nowhere close to perfect and I think this book represented that quite nicely. Small towns always seem really creepy for thriller novels and this story was no exception, we were a little set aside from the community with one of the characters but it made total sense. I can't speak on how accurate the cross country team was, I know the team at my high school doesn't go around partying, but I think it was a bit fictionalized. It made the book more exciting so I am okay with a bit more dramatization!
The plot of this book is very not black and white, while some parts were very predictable I think ultimately the last twist I didn't see coming at all. The parts that were predictable, I felt were supposed to be that way, considering the impact they had on the story and the message. I wasn't bothered by being able to guess some things, because the plot moved really fast and I felt like I was constantly running with the team to the next chapter. I was super invested based on the elements that the author added.
Some of the characters in this book, are NOT likable at all and are intended to be that way. If you cant enjoy characters for being not likable, but being super interesting and complicated, this might not be the book for you. I preferred one Steckler sister over the other, but at times it switched and at the end I really honestly loved both of them.
Stella Steckler was the older sister in the story and struggles with her mental health/aggressiveness. This is shown in the very first chapter of the book, so it's not really a spoiler. We learn there is something that happened to her, last summer that caused her to fall into this a bit, but you have to read the story to find out what it is. She was not a likable character for some (mysterious) reasons and that was perfectly fine with me, even when she wasn't I found her to still be interesting. I think readers will be drawn to her because of how real she felt at times, and how she grows.
Ellie Steckler was my favorite character from this book, she also felt very realistic and sweet. I think her story was a bit more compelling than Stella's, and so it was easier to empathize with her. She's young and wants someone to appreciate her, as we all did and still do at that age. She's experiencing a toxic relationship at the start of the story, which leads to some of the feminist themes in the story. Her dynamic with the story is great, she always feels like she's important even if it wasn't her pov chapter. Even at the end, I just really felt for her and I think the psychology behind her story is very interesting.
Mila was around for quite a while before the thriller aspect picked up and she went missing, and I have to say she was a really good character. I can't say too much surrounding her without spoiling some of the story, but I can say she was inspiring. She was also a very genuine person and brought something to the story that was really needed.
The side characters in this book were very vivid and real, I know I have been saying that about all of them but it's just the truth. Some of them felt like just stereotypes or archetypes on the surface, but as the story went on they seemed to grow more. I think acknowledging that a person doesn't just fit into one archetype was a good point of the story. I still dislike some of them, as intended, but I think there were also some important ideas surrounding some of the side characters.
Overall this is such a fun ya book, even when it wasn't heavy on the thriller side the entire time. There were a lot of other themes that I saw that I thought were important and especially how they were talked about. This was a super fast-paced book and this makes me want to pick up more ya thrillers, which I didn't think I would say for a long time!
[TW: pregnancy, abortion, gore, false accusations, trauma, sexual encounters, toxic relationships, parties, racism, drunk]
September 14, 2021
This was quite the impressive thriller, especially for a YA! I missed this author's debut, but won't make that same mistake again after thoroughly enjoying this one. I'm always a sucker for a string of unsolved murders, in a small town, but if i'm being completely honest it was the Cross Country theme that especially intrigued me, being a former Allstate high school runner myself, and I almost immediately connected with Stella, our protagonist. Not only did she have that intense tunnel-vision that I had at that age, but she was also a member of the LQBTQ+ community, which had me completely empathizing with her as she battled through the everyday hurdles of high school life. I also enjoyed Ellie, her younger sister and the other main protagonist, as well as new girl, Mila. All of the other side characters came across as realistic, especially the incredibly catty and unlikeable Julia. The overall intensity of the competition aspects were very nicely executed, which makes me think this author was most likely a former runner herself. If not, then she did some spectacular research!
While I did predict the first part of the 'whodunnit' reveal, the second twist really had me surprised, which is becoming incredibly hard to do, so kudos to Goodman for that! I don't usually read YA thriller on account of me being a wrong target audience, but the writing and overall execution in this novel was right up there with my favorite YA authors Kara Thomas and L. E. Flynn, which is quite the accomplishment! I will definitely keep my eye on this author's forthcoming releases and would recommend this one to my fellow suspense/thriller fanatics!
While I did predict the first part of the 'whodunnit' reveal, the second twist really had me surprised, which is becoming incredibly hard to do, so kudos to Goodman for that! I don't usually read YA thriller on account of me being a wrong target audience, but the writing and overall execution in this novel was right up there with my favorite YA authors Kara Thomas and L. E. Flynn, which is quite the accomplishment! I will definitely keep my eye on this author's forthcoming releases and would recommend this one to my fellow suspense/thriller fanatics!
January 24, 2025
I really liked this!!! I definitely thought I had it in the bag but it got me in the end 🙂↕️
I loved the narrators, as Jesse Vilinsky is a favorite of mine. They did a good job of differentiating the sisters and bringing them to life.
*Spoiler* I think it would have been five stars if the serial killer element would’ve come back into play/got solved at the end. I know the one guy was in jail but I wanted something ✨dramatic✨ in the eleventh hour.
I received a free audiobook from PRH Audiobook. All opinions are honest and my own.
I loved the narrators, as Jesse Vilinsky is a favorite of mine. They did a good job of differentiating the sisters and bringing them to life.
*Spoiler* I think it would have been five stars if the serial killer element would’ve come back into play/got solved at the end. I know the one guy was in jail but I wanted something ✨dramatic✨ in the eleventh hour.
I received a free audiobook from PRH Audiobook. All opinions are honest and my own.
September 9, 2021
They'll Never Catch Us was such a good mystery thriller book to dive into today. Maybe it's because I got like 4 hours of sleep last night.. or maybe I just needed a book to devour.. but I devoured the heck out of this.
In it, you will meet sisters Ellie and Stella. Very competitive when it comes to running and at times.. they don't really connect or see eye to eye. But when a murder happens to one of their teammates, these two get closer than ever. Honestly, I was on the edge of my couch with each twist that came my way. I will also admit that I didn't think it was Stella who did it all and just kind of seemed like she was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As for Ellie? Well, she surprised me a bit with what she went through throughout this book. I was not happy with her choice of being with Noah since he was in a relationship with her other teammate. Also the pull-out method? Come on! IT DOESN'T WORK PEOPLE!! I also just didn't like the douche canoe and he deserves to live forever alone.
Then there's the overall mystery. The big reveal was pretty good because I was suspicious of everyone but I still had no idea who was actually behind it. Mostly because their teammates were a bunch of assholes. Especially their coach. So it was really hard for me to narrow it down to one person.
In the end, I definitely enjoyed the heck out of this book and I can't wait to dive into another book of Jessica's!
In it, you will meet sisters Ellie and Stella. Very competitive when it comes to running and at times.. they don't really connect or see eye to eye. But when a murder happens to one of their teammates, these two get closer than ever. Honestly, I was on the edge of my couch with each twist that came my way. I will also admit that I didn't think it was Stella who did it all and just kind of seemed like she was always in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As for Ellie? Well, she surprised me a bit with what she went through throughout this book. I was not happy with her choice of being with Noah since he was in a relationship with her other teammate. Also the pull-out method? Come on! IT DOESN'T WORK PEOPLE!! I also just didn't like the douche canoe and he deserves to live forever alone.
Then there's the overall mystery. The big reveal was pretty good because I was suspicious of everyone but I still had no idea who was actually behind it. Mostly because their teammates were a bunch of assholes. Especially their coach. So it was really hard for me to narrow it down to one person.
In the end, I definitely enjoyed the heck out of this book and I can't wait to dive into another book of Jessica's!
September 20, 2021
My full thoughts can be found in this reading vlog.
I have to say I wish this wasn't pitched as a thriller. Thrillers I think have a set up that this book doesn't follow. Not only does the body not hit the page until just after the first third of the book, neither of the perspectives do much of an investigation that I think most readers come to expect from thrillers? It's kind of a genre convention that the mundane every day person takes the investigation into their own hands. And while there is a search party organized and at one point Stella links up with Mila's best friend to talk to Mila's dad, that's pretty much it? What we have instead is a straight forward mystery wherein our perspectives, Stella and Ellie are at the center of a investigation as the main suspects [ moreso Stella ] and them trying to get through the cross country season with that pressure on their shoulders.
Where this book really shines is in the character work. Sure the Stella/Ellie is a little stereotypical in that they're sort of set up as polar opposites in most ways except cross country. I did think that despite that Goodman did a really nice job in making me believe that these sisters would do anything to have the other's back when all the cards were on table and the shit was hitting the fan. In most ways I found this just generally a stronger book than the debut.
When it came time to unmask who was behind what happened to Mila I did like the explanation. I didn't think that Goodman relied on giving the readers as headspinning level of twists and turns. Instead I think like any good mystery she gave you enough breadcrumbs to think you had the mystery solved and then at the last minute was able to pin it on a different character that had an equal amount of buildup that still felt satisfying.
The book does touch on one of the sisters having an abortion, so if that's a triggering topic just know that going in.
Overall I had a good time reading it, it really scratched that itch for a good fall time read so if that's something you're looking for I think this could deliver.
I have to say I wish this wasn't pitched as a thriller. Thrillers I think have a set up that this book doesn't follow. Not only does the body not hit the page until just after the first third of the book, neither of the perspectives do much of an investigation that I think most readers come to expect from thrillers? It's kind of a genre convention that the mundane every day person takes the investigation into their own hands. And while there is a search party organized and at one point Stella links up with Mila's best friend to talk to Mila's dad, that's pretty much it? What we have instead is a straight forward mystery wherein our perspectives, Stella and Ellie are at the center of a investigation as the main suspects [ moreso Stella ] and them trying to get through the cross country season with that pressure on their shoulders.
Where this book really shines is in the character work. Sure the Stella/Ellie is a little stereotypical in that they're sort of set up as polar opposites in most ways except cross country. I did think that despite that Goodman did a really nice job in making me believe that these sisters would do anything to have the other's back when all the cards were on table and the shit was hitting the fan. In most ways I found this just generally a stronger book than the debut.
When it came time to unmask who was behind what happened to Mila I did like the explanation. I didn't think that Goodman relied on giving the readers as headspinning level of twists and turns. Instead I think like any good mystery she gave you enough breadcrumbs to think you had the mystery solved and then at the last minute was able to pin it on a different character that had an equal amount of buildup that still felt satisfying.
The book does touch on one of the sisters having an abortion, so if that's a triggering topic just know that going in.
Overall I had a good time reading it, it really scratched that itch for a good fall time read so if that's something you're looking for I think this could deliver.
June 24, 2021
~Thank you Penguin Publishing and Edelweiss for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review!~
My rating: 3.7(rounded up to 4)
What I liked:
The writing style
I liked Jessica Goodman's writing style for how it flowed nicely but was also powerful. It was really well done and made the book a lot better. My only problem with the style though, was sometimes how the flashbacks were set up. I liked the flashbacks, but I felt like they were abrupt at times and could have blended a bit better with the present moment.
The sister relationship between Stella and Ellie
The characters on their own were complex and life-like, but I especially liked reading about Stella and Ellie together. How they fought when they were kids and still fight now but they're still there for each other. I don't have a sister myself, but it seemed very realistic and very real to me.
The themes discusses throughout
The themes of teamwork and friendship were really awesome but what really stood out to me was the theme of feminism in it and how even without saying the word feminist the book still had those themes.
"'You girl are all the same.'
I kept my mouth shut but I knew what he meant. 'You girls'. The obsessive ones. The focused one. The ones who have enough grit and determination to break things and crush people and rip worlds apart. The one who call bullshit when things aren't fair. The ones who speak up and demand better. The ones who don't fit into neat little boxes."
"I learned that young in kindergarten, when the other kids called Stella a show-off for raising her hand during class, or when the boys in first grade said I was bossy for leading a reading circle. When Stella and I would overhear the other moms at the Elite Youth Runners Club: 'The Steckler sisters are just a little much'. That's how we were described while the boys were sprinting around the playground kicking and screaming, breaking and biting. The world doesn't celebrate girls who take up space, who demand to be heard, who are 'just a little much'"
There were other quotes too, but if I included those this review would be wayy too long.
The Character Change:
I liked how both Stella and Ellie changed in their own ways because it was so clearly there, without them explicitly saying it. I could see how they started one way but had slowly changed and it just made me enjoy this book so much more.
I also really liked how we didn't know exactly what happened with Stella before the start of the book, and how it left me feeling really curious.
What I didn't like:
My main problem with it was that there wasn't much focus on the mystery aspect of this book and since this was described as a "fast-paced" thriller, I expected a lot more of that in this book. This is why I couldn't give it a higher rating, but otherwise, it was really enjoyable and I can't wait for this book to officially come out!
✨ You can find this review and others on my blog! ✨
------------------------------------------------
Preview:
Edit: I just finished and I have a lot of thoughts. Review to come soon!
Arc received! Thank you Penguin Publishing and Edelweiss! I'm so excited to read and review this!
My rating: 3.7(rounded up to 4)
What I liked:
The writing style
I liked Jessica Goodman's writing style for how it flowed nicely but was also powerful. It was really well done and made the book a lot better. My only problem with the style though, was sometimes how the flashbacks were set up. I liked the flashbacks, but I felt like they were abrupt at times and could have blended a bit better with the present moment.
The sister relationship between Stella and Ellie
The characters on their own were complex and life-like, but I especially liked reading about Stella and Ellie together. How they fought when they were kids and still fight now but they're still there for each other. I don't have a sister myself, but it seemed very realistic and very real to me.
The themes discusses throughout
The themes of teamwork and friendship were really awesome but what really stood out to me was the theme of feminism in it and how even without saying the word feminist the book still had those themes.
"'You girl are all the same.'
I kept my mouth shut but I knew what he meant. 'You girls'. The obsessive ones. The focused one. The ones who have enough grit and determination to break things and crush people and rip worlds apart. The one who call bullshit when things aren't fair. The ones who speak up and demand better. The ones who don't fit into neat little boxes."
"I learned that young in kindergarten, when the other kids called Stella a show-off for raising her hand during class, or when the boys in first grade said I was bossy for leading a reading circle. When Stella and I would overhear the other moms at the Elite Youth Runners Club: 'The Steckler sisters are just a little much'. That's how we were described while the boys were sprinting around the playground kicking and screaming, breaking and biting. The world doesn't celebrate girls who take up space, who demand to be heard, who are 'just a little much'"
There were other quotes too, but if I included those this review would be wayy too long.
The Character Change:
I liked how both Stella and Ellie changed in their own ways because it was so clearly there, without them explicitly saying it. I could see how they started one way but had slowly changed and it just made me enjoy this book so much more.
I also really liked how we didn't know exactly what happened with Stella before the start of the book, and how it left me feeling really curious.
What I didn't like:
My main problem with it was that there wasn't much focus on the mystery aspect of this book and since this was described as a "fast-paced" thriller, I expected a lot more of that in this book. This is why I couldn't give it a higher rating, but otherwise, it was really enjoyable and I can't wait for this book to officially come out!
✨ You can find this review and others on my blog! ✨
------------------------------------------------
Preview:
Edit: I just finished and I have a lot of thoughts. Review to come soon!
Arc received! Thank you Penguin Publishing and Edelweiss! I'm so excited to read and review this!
October 5, 2021
TNCU had a lot of potential— I'm not gonna lie about that. Although, my biggest gripe will always be the handling of the killer and their motivations. It felt rushed and half hazard because there was so much build up for other character(s) that made far more sense. It was cheaply done in a way that felt like it wasn't the other characters just because the author didn't want the reader to guess beforehand. They wanted to be one of those few thriller authors who could pull a fast one on their readers. Well... this is what NOT to do.
This is a prime example of a author losing the trust of the reader because they themself don't trust the reader enough to come to their own conclusions. It's a backfire situation because it can then confuse and upset the reader since our knowledge and feelings are played with.
Moreover, I felt as if the voices of the two main MCs (Stella and Ellie) were one and the same. Besides Ellie's traumatic experiences and constant reference to it, I don't think there's much of anything that differentiates their tone and characterization.
Don't even get me started on the addiction and handling of abortion. This book had a chance to make these traumatic events more meaningful, especially for young adults who go through them, but instead, we are left with characters that do none of this at all. They just wallow and bring it up relentlessly as their only character trait. They're defined by this trauma instead of overcoming it., which I think is even worse because teens should work towards healing and bettering themselves. This novel doesn't give that meaningful theme or message.
Overall, a very sloppy book in terms of the planning for the true crime story. Mila was my favorite character, but I'm unsure if that’s because we got the least amount of time with her since she’s the killed teen. Personally, I think she had to die due to her maturity and common sense. You can't have a character live when their knowledge will deescalate the stress and tensions of immature characters like the rest of these students and adults. Maybe I'll further explain some of the issues about this book, but for now this is all I got.
TWs: Abortion (experience off screen but detailed), paranoia, murder, blood, serial killer discussion, abusive teen relationship, gas-lighting/ manipulation, non-consensual sex (condom wanted & not used), mental health bullying, PTSD from parental neglect/ unreliability, substance abuse with alcohol (parental and high schoolers)
This is a prime example of a author losing the trust of the reader because they themself don't trust the reader enough to come to their own conclusions. It's a backfire situation because it can then confuse and upset the reader since our knowledge and feelings are played with.
Moreover, I felt as if the voices of the two main MCs (Stella and Ellie) were one and the same. Besides Ellie's traumatic experiences and constant reference to it, I don't think there's much of anything that differentiates their tone and characterization.
Don't even get me started on the addiction and handling of abortion. This book had a chance to make these traumatic events more meaningful, especially for young adults who go through them, but instead, we are left with characters that do none of this at all. They just wallow and bring it up relentlessly as their only character trait. They're defined by this trauma instead of overcoming it., which I think is even worse because teens should work towards healing and bettering themselves. This novel doesn't give that meaningful theme or message.
Overall, a very sloppy book in terms of the planning for the true crime story. Mila was my favorite character, but I'm unsure if that’s because we got the least amount of time with her since she’s the killed teen. Personally, I think she had to die due to her maturity and common sense. You can't have a character live when their knowledge will deescalate the stress and tensions of immature characters like the rest of these students and adults. Maybe I'll further explain some of the issues about this book, but for now this is all I got.
TWs: Abortion (experience off screen but detailed), paranoia, murder, blood, serial killer discussion, abusive teen relationship, gas-lighting/ manipulation, non-consensual sex (condom wanted & not used), mental health bullying, PTSD from parental neglect/ unreliability, substance abuse with alcohol (parental and high schoolers)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2021
Reading vlog: https://youtu.be/5V9m-_qkz9g
They'll Never Catch Us is a super quick and engaging read about two sisters who run for their high school's cross country team. In their hometown, there is more than just competition, however... there's a murderer on the loose. When one of Ellie and Stella's cross country team members turns out to be missing, a serial killer in the town is suspected to be at large once again.
Goodman has a clear talent for writing and the process of reading the novel was enjoyable. I liked both of our main characters Ellie and Stella. However, their points of view sometimes muddle together as they do not have distinct enough voices for their own first person perspective chapters. I also did not feel as if Ellie and Stella were as close to the missing character as the author wrote them out to be. While it would be obviously devastating for a team member to be missing, I did not feel as if the friendships the characters were said to have had were actually represented on page.
In the end, I could not guess the killer the entire time and was genuinely surprised by the ending. They'll Never Catch Us is well written and surprising- I'll definitely pick up more books by Jessica Goodman in the future!
They'll Never Catch Us is a super quick and engaging read about two sisters who run for their high school's cross country team. In their hometown, there is more than just competition, however... there's a murderer on the loose. When one of Ellie and Stella's cross country team members turns out to be missing, a serial killer in the town is suspected to be at large once again.
Goodman has a clear talent for writing and the process of reading the novel was enjoyable. I liked both of our main characters Ellie and Stella. However, their points of view sometimes muddle together as they do not have distinct enough voices for their own first person perspective chapters. I also did not feel as if Ellie and Stella were as close to the missing character as the author wrote them out to be. While it would be obviously devastating for a team member to be missing, I did not feel as if the friendships the characters were said to have had were actually represented on page.
In the end, I could not guess the killer the entire time and was genuinely surprised by the ending. They'll Never Catch Us is well written and surprising- I'll definitely pick up more books by Jessica Goodman in the future!
August 29, 2021
Turns out I like reading about running as much as doing it.. this was a book about sibling dynamics more than a mystery. Slow burn. It takes a huge chunk of the book before the murder occurs. I was bored by that time.
August 15, 2021
I was a little surprised this mystery touched on some deeper topics, but I was surprised in a really good way. I was a expecting a little more of a thriller, but I was not disappointed by this twisty mystery. I liked the town’s back story even if we don’t get a resolution to all the unsolved murders (all of which were teenage girls who were runners).
Stella and Ellie are sisters with a complicated relationship that isn’t helped by how competitive they are with their cross country running. Stella had it all the scholarship with a full ride to Georgetown until an incident occurred with another runner which caused her to spend her summer at a mental health/cross country training facility. Ellie spent her summer getting into the secretive kind of trouble.
School starts and there’s new competition on the team talented runner Mila has moved to town. Stella and Ellie should be upset, but Mila befriends them both. After a minor disagreement with Stella and Ellie telling Mila Ellie’s biggest secret Mila goes missing while out on a run. It’s a race to figure out what happened while the rest of the town is already convinced that Stella is the monster.
Stella and Ellie are sisters with a complicated relationship that isn’t helped by how competitive they are with their cross country running. Stella had it all the scholarship with a full ride to Georgetown until an incident occurred with another runner which caused her to spend her summer at a mental health/cross country training facility. Ellie spent her summer getting into the secretive kind of trouble.
School starts and there’s new competition on the team talented runner Mila has moved to town. Stella and Ellie should be upset, but Mila befriends them both. After a minor disagreement with Stella and Ellie telling Mila Ellie’s biggest secret Mila goes missing while out on a run. It’s a race to figure out what happened while the rest of the town is already convinced that Stella is the monster.
October 20, 2022
Look, this book wasn’t the worst. But at the same time, I just cannot get myself to give it a higher rating than this. I think it’s because the parts I actually enjoyed were either petty and insignificant, or just weren’t the parts I was supposed to like or find profound, if you get what I mean. Basically I liked this book for all the wrong reasons, and hated the things I was supposed to like. Also if you’re offended by reviews that aren’t positive, then this won’t be for you! Honestly just don’t friend me/unfriend me if you can’t deal with total honesty in reviews!
I will say the people who say it’s not a thriller are right. It’s more of a mystery. But I disagree with it being a sibling rivalry story. There’s very little rivalry (though there is some) and it’s more so a story about a bond between sisters and the lengths they’ll go for each other… even when they aren’t close all the time and everyone is out to get them. This part I liked. It’s pretty much the only part I liked actually. That and Mila…. I really liked the parts she was in (she’s the one who goes missing) and I wish I got more of her lol. I did like one other character…. But other than that it’s irrelevant who i did or didn’t like.
Most of the characters are stale and barely stand apart. Especially the two we get POV from (the sisters). Though I will say my views On which one I liked more changed by the end. That’s for sure. They were both relatable. But both bland for the most part. They barely had their own voice. Despite having their own messy drama (one is a bitter and heartbroken lesbian who is also competitive af and just wants to win, but she has a supposed violent streak. And the other is the down to earth one but has pretty dark secrets, with the least serious one being an affair she’s having with some dude on her team), but even with that the drama turns into really poorly executed cliches…. In both cases. But ESPECIALLY the latter. Man does her storyline get frustrating! Sorry if that’s confusing but… spoilers aren’t cool lol.
That being said, this book is reeeeally slow burn and honestly pretty boring. It’s 70% backstory to that drama, 20% not well researched track talk, and only 10% excitement and “thriller” (which is still underwhelming).
Also I did get part of the twist right! But sadly the twist didn’t stop there and… I almost wish it did even though I wouldn’t have liked it. But I liked the extra twist that was added even less. It was soooooo poorly thought out and the motivation was just…. irritating. It made me feel like this book was a huge waste of my time. I’m also sad that the main twist and a lot of this book was so painfully predictable.
There is also a side story to this town and a series of cold cases it had years ago, which tie in with this story. Honestly this aspect was done so sloppily I’ll admit I’m kind of surprised it was allowed to be published as is. This isn’t meant to be mean, but at the same time…. Just how? There is no solid base to this story. Nothing. It’s just glossed over. Which would be fine if it wasn’t being used as a big plot point.
The underlying message the author tries to put into this in support of women is also glossed over, pointless and dull. Like…. It’s like she started ideas, plot points, or takeaways, and forgot that she pushed it into the final copy, therefore just forgot to solidify any meaningful point to any of it.
The ending of the book wasn’t it for me. The author wanted to be profound and tug on heart strings. But it just didn’t happen. Mostly because I didn’t care. By the time you even get to what the description promises, you’re bored out of your mind wondering where this could possibly go, or offended about how horrible some of the cliches are. So caring about these characters or any heart warming ending involving them? Not gonna happen. Honestly I would have liked the ending more if something bizarre happened, like a shark falling from the sky and crushing them all. Would make no sense…. But would be a better ending.
I would look up trigger warnings for this by the way! I don’t want to list them because they actually give stuff away…. But if you want to know what they are and can’t find them, feel free to message me! There are some pretty serious ones in here!
Also a lot of the dialogue and reactions from the characters reminded me of bad acting in movies. It was just so cringe to read.
But yeah basically I liked a small portion of the sister dynamic…. And that’s literally it. I didn’t even like all of it lol…. Just some of it. Other than that, this was a flop.
It’s sad because I really wanted to like this actually. I love these kinds of stories!
I will check this author out again though. I feel bad for being so harsh. I think I’ll check out her newer release!
I will say the people who say it’s not a thriller are right. It’s more of a mystery. But I disagree with it being a sibling rivalry story. There’s very little rivalry (though there is some) and it’s more so a story about a bond between sisters and the lengths they’ll go for each other… even when they aren’t close all the time and everyone is out to get them. This part I liked. It’s pretty much the only part I liked actually. That and Mila…. I really liked the parts she was in (she’s the one who goes missing) and I wish I got more of her lol. I did like one other character…. But other than that it’s irrelevant who i did or didn’t like.
Most of the characters are stale and barely stand apart. Especially the two we get POV from (the sisters). Though I will say my views On which one I liked more changed by the end. That’s for sure. They were both relatable. But both bland for the most part. They barely had their own voice. Despite having their own messy drama (one is a bitter and heartbroken lesbian who is also competitive af and just wants to win, but she has a supposed violent streak. And the other is the down to earth one but has pretty dark secrets, with the least serious one being an affair she’s having with some dude on her team), but even with that the drama turns into really poorly executed cliches…. In both cases. But ESPECIALLY the latter. Man does her storyline get frustrating! Sorry if that’s confusing but… spoilers aren’t cool lol.
That being said, this book is reeeeally slow burn and honestly pretty boring. It’s 70% backstory to that drama, 20% not well researched track talk, and only 10% excitement and “thriller” (which is still underwhelming).
Also I did get part of the twist right! But sadly the twist didn’t stop there and… I almost wish it did even though I wouldn’t have liked it. But I liked the extra twist that was added even less. It was soooooo poorly thought out and the motivation was just…. irritating. It made me feel like this book was a huge waste of my time. I’m also sad that the main twist and a lot of this book was so painfully predictable.
There is also a side story to this town and a series of cold cases it had years ago, which tie in with this story. Honestly this aspect was done so sloppily I’ll admit I’m kind of surprised it was allowed to be published as is. This isn’t meant to be mean, but at the same time…. Just how? There is no solid base to this story. Nothing. It’s just glossed over. Which would be fine if it wasn’t being used as a big plot point.
The underlying message the author tries to put into this in support of women is also glossed over, pointless and dull. Like…. It’s like she started ideas, plot points, or takeaways, and forgot that she pushed it into the final copy, therefore just forgot to solidify any meaningful point to any of it.
The ending of the book wasn’t it for me. The author wanted to be profound and tug on heart strings. But it just didn’t happen. Mostly because I didn’t care. By the time you even get to what the description promises, you’re bored out of your mind wondering where this could possibly go, or offended about how horrible some of the cliches are. So caring about these characters or any heart warming ending involving them? Not gonna happen. Honestly I would have liked the ending more if something bizarre happened, like a shark falling from the sky and crushing them all. Would make no sense…. But would be a better ending.
I would look up trigger warnings for this by the way! I don’t want to list them because they actually give stuff away…. But if you want to know what they are and can’t find them, feel free to message me! There are some pretty serious ones in here!
Also a lot of the dialogue and reactions from the characters reminded me of bad acting in movies. It was just so cringe to read.
But yeah basically I liked a small portion of the sister dynamic…. And that’s literally it. I didn’t even like all of it lol…. Just some of it. Other than that, this was a flop.
It’s sad because I really wanted to like this actually. I love these kinds of stories!
I will check this author out again though. I feel bad for being so harsh. I think I’ll check out her newer release!
December 24, 2021
Cry cry cry. Gripe gripe gripe. This isn’t some dark teenage-angst book with a backdrop of XC, it’s two whiny immature sisters with poor character development and a heck of a lot of baggage from past trauma they let rule their life and all of their character traits.
I didn’t like either of the sisters, and that’s because they’re virtually the same anyway. Despite the book exaggerating how different they are. The only character I really cared for was Mila, but of course because she’s likable, relatable and smart, she has to die to let the flat, one-dimensional characters shine.
Yawn.
I didn’t like either of the sisters, and that’s because they’re virtually the same anyway. Despite the book exaggerating how different they are. The only character I really cared for was Mila, but of course because she’s likable, relatable and smart, she has to die to let the flat, one-dimensional characters shine.
Yawn.
June 9, 2021
Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book.
I am of two minds when it comes to this book. I read THEY WISH THEY WERE US last year and, to be quite honest, did not enjoy it really at all, so going into this one, I had lower expectations and I certainly enjoyed Goodman's follow up much more. But on the other hand, I do not feel it is being marketed properly (from cover design--which is not to knock the cover itself, it's stunning--to it's branding and description calling it a "fast-paced thriller"). Quite simply, this isn't a thriller, and in many ways I don't even think it is a mystery.
Yes, at the center is a missing girl, a case which echoes the cold cases the town is still trying to come back from. But that feels so secondary to the stories of Stella and Ellie.
At its true center, this is a story of these two sisters trying to find their way back to one another despite years of being pitted against each other and constantly competing. It's a story about each of them dealing with their own problems in a town where they are misunderstood and vilified due to being misunderstood bye their peers.
At no point do the characters in the book try to take it upon themselves to solve the case, they all just sort of languish in the disappearance of this promising young track star, occasionally partaking in a search party or a difficult conversation with friends or family. It isn't until just before the mystery is solved that the tone feels even remotely thriller-esque.
Had this not been marketed and pushed as a "fast-past thriller," I think my feelings would be different. But as it is, this is neither fast-paced, nor a thriller.
I found Goodman's writing much improved, though she still relies rather heavily on near constant flashbacks which, while at times important to the events of the story, at other times feel so tangential and just as a way to pad the length and justify the book being longer.
The characters are...fine? Stella and Ellie's narrative voices are very similar, and while for the most part we alternate back and forth from chapter to chapter, I found it jarring that at times we would get 2 Stella chapters back-to-back, it felt like a strange break in routine and sometimes I would have to go back a page or 2 to make sure I was reading about the right person.
There are interesting family dynamics, and near the end a few well-written passages about how strong, determined women are always asked to dim themselves to make men comfortable, but these sections while definitely ringing true felt a little our of left field for me.
I also found it...almost not believable (?) that of all high school sports, cross country was the one that this town depended on the most. I'm sure this is the case somewhere, but it felt a little off to me.
Overall, an easy read though not nearly as enjoyable as I was hoping.
I am of two minds when it comes to this book. I read THEY WISH THEY WERE US last year and, to be quite honest, did not enjoy it really at all, so going into this one, I had lower expectations and I certainly enjoyed Goodman's follow up much more. But on the other hand, I do not feel it is being marketed properly (from cover design--which is not to knock the cover itself, it's stunning--to it's branding and description calling it a "fast-paced thriller"). Quite simply, this isn't a thriller, and in many ways I don't even think it is a mystery.
Yes, at the center is a missing girl, a case which echoes the cold cases the town is still trying to come back from. But that feels so secondary to the stories of Stella and Ellie.
At its true center, this is a story of these two sisters trying to find their way back to one another despite years of being pitted against each other and constantly competing. It's a story about each of them dealing with their own problems in a town where they are misunderstood and vilified due to being misunderstood bye their peers.
At no point do the characters in the book try to take it upon themselves to solve the case, they all just sort of languish in the disappearance of this promising young track star, occasionally partaking in a search party or a difficult conversation with friends or family. It isn't until just before the mystery is solved that the tone feels even remotely thriller-esque.
Had this not been marketed and pushed as a "fast-past thriller," I think my feelings would be different. But as it is, this is neither fast-paced, nor a thriller.
I found Goodman's writing much improved, though she still relies rather heavily on near constant flashbacks which, while at times important to the events of the story, at other times feel so tangential and just as a way to pad the length and justify the book being longer.
The characters are...fine? Stella and Ellie's narrative voices are very similar, and while for the most part we alternate back and forth from chapter to chapter, I found it jarring that at times we would get 2 Stella chapters back-to-back, it felt like a strange break in routine and sometimes I would have to go back a page or 2 to make sure I was reading about the right person.
There are interesting family dynamics, and near the end a few well-written passages about how strong, determined women are always asked to dim themselves to make men comfortable, but these sections while definitely ringing true felt a little our of left field for me.
I also found it...almost not believable (?) that of all high school sports, cross country was the one that this town depended on the most. I'm sure this is the case somewhere, but it felt a little off to me.
Overall, an easy read though not nearly as enjoyable as I was hoping.
July 27, 2021
While I thoroughly enjoyed Goodman’s debut They Wish They Were Us, I’ll admit that I enjoyed They’ll Never Catch Us even more because it’s darker, grittier, and really digs into complicated family dynamics.
Told in dual narration, the story follows sisters Stella and Ellie Steckler, who are highly competitive cross-country runners. Being that they’re only one year apart, their biggest competition is each other…that is until cross-country star Mila Keene joins their team.
Now that there’s a new rival in town, the rivalry between Stella and Ellie is even more fierce and secrets that could undo them both are threatening to spill over and keep them from being scouted by colleges.
If you’re looking for a fast paced, action packed thriller then this one will definitely not be for you. Instead, this is a slow burn atmospheric thriller that takes its time laying the foundation in terms of our main characters and their intense passion and competitive nature when it comes to cross-country before we get to the murder mystery aspect.
That being said, Goodman does a fantastic job of examining the double standard that females face when it comes to competitive sports. There were so many times that I just wanted to scream for both Stella and Ella when it came to the unfairness and the blatant sexism and misogyny. On the flip side, the girl power theme was spot on.
I also really enjoyed the overall messiness when it comes to the each of the characters and the decisions that they make. Nothing in this story is black and white but rather a sliding scale of grey, which definitely played on my own emotions when it comes to all of our players.
I know I’ve avoided major plot points, but honestly, I think it’s best to experience them on your own. Don’t get me wrong, there weren’t many jaw dropping revelations, but the final twist was one that I did not see coming.
Honestly, this story was just a really good time.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Told in dual narration, the story follows sisters Stella and Ellie Steckler, who are highly competitive cross-country runners. Being that they’re only one year apart, their biggest competition is each other…that is until cross-country star Mila Keene joins their team.
Now that there’s a new rival in town, the rivalry between Stella and Ellie is even more fierce and secrets that could undo them both are threatening to spill over and keep them from being scouted by colleges.
If you’re looking for a fast paced, action packed thriller then this one will definitely not be for you. Instead, this is a slow burn atmospheric thriller that takes its time laying the foundation in terms of our main characters and their intense passion and competitive nature when it comes to cross-country before we get to the murder mystery aspect.
That being said, Goodman does a fantastic job of examining the double standard that females face when it comes to competitive sports. There were so many times that I just wanted to scream for both Stella and Ella when it came to the unfairness and the blatant sexism and misogyny. On the flip side, the girl power theme was spot on.
I also really enjoyed the overall messiness when it comes to the each of the characters and the decisions that they make. Nothing in this story is black and white but rather a sliding scale of grey, which definitely played on my own emotions when it comes to all of our players.
I know I’ve avoided major plot points, but honestly, I think it’s best to experience them on your own. Don’t get me wrong, there weren’t many jaw dropping revelations, but the final twist was one that I did not see coming.
Honestly, this story was just a really good time.
Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
October 18, 2021
Not only does this book get incredibly basic facts about cross country wrong, but it also fundamentally misunderstands the soul of the sport. The main characters all believe that to be the best, they have to shun every person around them and see their own teammates as rivals. While cross country might seem like an unusual team sport from an outsiders perspective, on the inside the competition between runners is not such an angry and bitter thing. I laughed out loud every time a character was angry that someone else was keeping pace with them on a run or in a race - what better way to push yourself to speeds you never thought possible than to have someone right next to you, urging you on? Running alone is wonderful, but any runner will tell you that running with others is equally so and important to improving yourself. Even ignoring the butchering of my beloved sport, the dual first person POVs are virtually indistinguishable from each other and the twists are either incredibly predictable or completely absurd. Seriously - the final reveal may have been the stupidest thing I have ever read. I would advise people both looking for a good mystery/thriller and those intrigue by the cross country premise to avoid this book.
January 14, 2023
THEY’LL NEVER CATCH US might just be my favorite read of 2021. Filled with messy, misunderstood girls who don’t always make the best choices Jessica Goodman’s sophomore effort is even better than her debut.
Set in a backdrop of four unsolved teen runner murders THEY’LL NEVER CATCH US is nonstop intrigue. Older sister Stella is home from angry girl camp after an incident with a competitor last season. Ellie is keeping secret her relationship with a teammate’s boyfriend, which included a pregnancy and abortion. The two best runners on their cross country team until newcomer Mila challenges their supremacy. Then Mila goes missing and the sisters become suspects.
I also listened to the audiobook, which I enjoyed because the voices were distinct and on point.
At this point, I’ll read anything Goodman writes. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Set in a backdrop of four unsolved teen runner murders THEY’LL NEVER CATCH US is nonstop intrigue. Older sister Stella is home from angry girl camp after an incident with a competitor last season. Ellie is keeping secret her relationship with a teammate’s boyfriend, which included a pregnancy and abortion. The two best runners on their cross country team until newcomer Mila challenges their supremacy. Then Mila goes missing and the sisters become suspects.
I also listened to the audiobook, which I enjoyed because the voices were distinct and on point.
At this point, I’ll read anything Goodman writes. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
September 17, 2021
I'm honestly kind of annoyed I wasted my time on this book. The fact that the girls were in cross country and it looked like it would have a good mystery plot drew me in. I feel like it continuously just went downhill though. Stella got progressively more annoying and literally just cared about herself. This girl is co-captain of the team and talking about how she doesn't care if the other girls are drinking at a party because it will decrease their performance and eliminate her competition. Somewhere along the lines her morals significantly grayed and she doesn't realize that cross country is a team sport too? That was another thing, the author really didn't appear to know much about the sport.
The writing wasn't great, the plot was boring, there just really wasn't anything I did like about this book, but I don't care to waste more of my time on.
The writing wasn't great, the plot was boring, there just really wasn't anything I did like about this book, but I don't care to waste more of my time on.
February 9, 2022
with an honest portrayal of the intimacies of sisterhood and the pressure that comes with being a high school athlete vying to be the best of the best, jessica goodman crafts a story that i was enthralled by from beginning to end. stella and ellie are fully realized from the minute we’re introduced to them and they make for fascinating narrators. the thriller aspect of this wasn’t the main part of this but not to the book’s detriment in my opinion. the reveal was perfect for this story and the buildup was just as good!
January 21, 2022
Okay okay-
I’ve seen some negative comments about this book like “oh I don’t like the way it ended” or “the murderer didn’t have a good motive” but I absolutely LOVED this book!!
Yeah, it wasn’t perfect. Sometimes the characters really pissed me off *cough* Ellie *cough* but I think the plot was great. Even though the murder happened like halfway through the book, it was still intriguing and there was a separate plot before the murder. Now let’s talk about the actual murder…
Hold up-RAVEN?!?! I wasn’t exactly THAT shocked, and I kinda suspected that Noah aka shitface had something to do with it, but Ellie??? Cmon girl…
My take on Ellie’s involvement is that she was just manipulated by that scum bag and was too scared to stand up for herself. But that’s really no excuse. There were some moments where I was like GIRL STAND UP FOR YOURSELF THIS IS TOO MUCH-
Okay back to Raven: I mean…did I suspect it? No. But it seemed super random for her to kill Mila. But getting a chapter from Raven’s point of view really helped me understand her story a bit more. Again, that’s NOT AN EXCUSE, but the way her chapter was written was amazing. It was so sad how killing Mila was “technically” an “accident.”
And finally, my girl STELLAAAAA!!!! I didn’t like her in the beginning, but as the book went on my love for her grew (and my love for Ellie went down. Sorry gf!!) She was a total girlboss. And not to mention her and Naomi okayyyy 😏. I absolutely adore how she was brought to justice in the end. She deserved it.
Last noteI swear: Being a runner myself, I love finding books that focus on cross country. Which, by the way, you don’t find many of (gee shocker.) I found a little bit of myself in Ellie cause my older sis also runs. Except I’ve never left anyone to die at the bottom of a cliff…
Anyways, loved this book!! Solid 🪱🪱🪱🪱.8/5 worms
I’ve seen some negative comments about this book like “oh I don’t like the way it ended” or “the murderer didn’t have a good motive” but I absolutely LOVED this book!!
Yeah, it wasn’t perfect. Sometimes the characters really pissed me off *cough* Ellie *cough* but I think the plot was great. Even though the murder happened like halfway through the book, it was still intriguing and there was a separate plot before the murder. Now let’s talk about the actual murder…
Hold up-RAVEN?!?! I wasn’t exactly THAT shocked, and I kinda suspected that Noah aka shitface had something to do with it, but Ellie??? Cmon girl…
My take on Ellie’s involvement is that she was just manipulated by that scum bag and was too scared to stand up for herself. But that’s really no excuse. There were some moments where I was like GIRL STAND UP FOR YOURSELF THIS IS TOO MUCH-
Okay back to Raven: I mean…did I suspect it? No. But it seemed super random for her to kill Mila. But getting a chapter from Raven’s point of view really helped me understand her story a bit more. Again, that’s NOT AN EXCUSE, but the way her chapter was written was amazing. It was so sad how killing Mila was “technically” an “accident.”
And finally, my girl STELLAAAAA!!!! I didn’t like her in the beginning, but as the book went on my love for her grew (and my love for Ellie went down. Sorry gf!!) She was a total girlboss. And not to mention her and Naomi okayyyy 😏. I absolutely adore how she was brought to justice in the end. She deserved it.
Last noteI swear: Being a runner myself, I love finding books that focus on cross country. Which, by the way, you don’t find many of (gee shocker.) I found a little bit of myself in Ellie cause my older sis also runs. Except I’ve never left anyone to die at the bottom of a cliff…
Anyways, loved this book!! Solid 🪱🪱🪱🪱.8/5 worms
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2021
Based on the summary, I had high hopes, but the book didn't live up to its potential. Things felt very rushed. As a result, the character development was a bit lacking, and the killer's motivations didn't make much sense. Character voices weren't as distinct as they could've/should've been (specifically Ellie and Stella). The book had the potential to use the traumatic events in a way that could have been quite relatable and meaningful to those who've gone through a trauma, but it didn't. The author attempted to tackle a number of relevant issues (race, gender, addiction, etc), but more could've been done, particularly with the mental health aspect. The big "reveal" was lackluster. I enjoy this genre, in general, but I really struggled with this one, and I found myself skimming at times in the hopes it'd pick up and redeem itself. Sadly, it didn't.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
October 13, 2025
This is a powerful story of small town girls with dreams bigger than the boxes they are being forced into, growing up in a town with a dark history. I liked this feminist aspect more than the actual mystery, and I do feel that it could have been scrapped in favour of a simpler story.
July 14, 2021
This book definitely surprised me in a bunch of different ways. They'll Never Catch Us follows sisters Stella and Ellie Steckler, who are both star cross country runners. When Mila Keene, another fast runner, joins the cross country team, the Steckler sisters initially see her as competition, but then begin to bond with Mila in their own ways. Suddenly, Mila goes out on a training run and never returns. No one knows what happened, but all eyes are on the Steckler sisters.
I really enjoyed this book! It kept me hooked, especially during the last half, and the chapters were pretty short. I actually predicted part of the mystery/the murderer, but the other part I didn't see coming at all.
Two of the standout themes of this book were family/sister bonds and feminism. Stella and Ellie would do anything and everything to protect each other, and I love how they grew closer during the book. The book also tackles the topic of feminism through the way that Edgewater's girls' cross country team is perceived. They're almost like objects for people to admire and show off; the book also discusses how society tends to look down upon women who are "too much", who try to push the boundaries/lead or who aren't meek and submissive.
The book mentions that Stella is queer (and she has a budding romance with one of the side characters), so I enjoyed the mentions of queerness included in the book. The book also touches on racism, especially when it comes to the criminal justice system and how race affects how seriously criminal cases are taken. Overall, the book had a pretty diverse cast (rep: sapphic mc, sapphic Korean sc, half Puerto-Rican sc, Black sc).
Just a warning that this book talks about running and cross country... a lot. Running is these girls' lives, so it's brought up all the time. I personally have never run cross country, so I can't really say how accurate the depiction of the sport was.
In terms of critiques, I only have a few. I came into the book expecting a mystery and a fast-paced thriller, and I was let down a bit. The actual disappearance only happened 50% of the way through the book (the first half of the book really only focused on cross country and Mila being the new girl and new competition). In most mysteries, the main character is trying to solve the mystery/find the killer, but this book felt a bit different. Stella, despite being a main suspect, did a bit of investigating, with Ellie joining her at the end; however, for the most part, it felt like things were just constantly happening TO the sisters, and the book was focusing on their reactions to that. What I'm saying is that this book isn't exactly a detective story. In addition, I feel like there was a certain degree of emotional distance between me and the characters. The Steckler sisters definitely grew on me, though, and they definitely built their relationship as the book went on.
I would definitely recommend They'll Never Catch Us! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin/Razorbill for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
CW: alcoholism, abortion, cheating, murder, mentions of disordered eating
I really enjoyed this book! It kept me hooked, especially during the last half, and the chapters were pretty short. I actually predicted part of the mystery/the murderer, but the other part I didn't see coming at all.
Two of the standout themes of this book were family/sister bonds and feminism. Stella and Ellie would do anything and everything to protect each other, and I love how they grew closer during the book. The book also tackles the topic of feminism through the way that Edgewater's girls' cross country team is perceived. They're almost like objects for people to admire and show off; the book also discusses how society tends to look down upon women who are "too much", who try to push the boundaries/lead or who aren't meek and submissive.
The book mentions that Stella is queer (and she has a budding romance with one of the side characters), so I enjoyed the mentions of queerness included in the book. The book also touches on racism, especially when it comes to the criminal justice system and how race affects how seriously criminal cases are taken. Overall, the book had a pretty diverse cast (rep: sapphic mc, sapphic Korean sc, half Puerto-Rican sc, Black sc).
Just a warning that this book talks about running and cross country... a lot. Running is these girls' lives, so it's brought up all the time. I personally have never run cross country, so I can't really say how accurate the depiction of the sport was.
In terms of critiques, I only have a few. I came into the book expecting a mystery and a fast-paced thriller, and I was let down a bit. The actual disappearance only happened 50% of the way through the book (the first half of the book really only focused on cross country and Mila being the new girl and new competition). In most mysteries, the main character is trying to solve the mystery/find the killer, but this book felt a bit different. Stella, despite being a main suspect, did a bit of investigating, with Ellie joining her at the end; however, for the most part, it felt like things were just constantly happening TO the sisters, and the book was focusing on their reactions to that. What I'm saying is that this book isn't exactly a detective story. In addition, I feel like there was a certain degree of emotional distance between me and the characters. The Steckler sisters definitely grew on me, though, and they definitely built their relationship as the book went on.
I would definitely recommend They'll Never Catch Us! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin/Razorbill for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
CW: alcoholism, abortion, cheating, murder, mentions of disordered eating
October 18, 2021
Read for a reading vlog: https://youtu.be/8edOHAgdCX0
I really loved this! One of the best mystery/thrillers of the year in my opinion. The story follows two sisters with a fraught relationship and complicated histories. They are competitive cross country runners living in a town known for the brutal murder of young women years back. When a girl from their cross country team goes missing, the older sister is a suspect....
This was smart, dealt beautifully with complex and sensitive topics, and was quite twisty! I thought I knew what was coming, but I only guessed a piece of it. This is a book about girls who are "too much": too smart, too aggressive, too competitive... and why it's sexist they're treated the way that they are. It also deals with teen pregnancy and abortion, which is difficult to do well but I think this book kind of nailed it. Not to mention we get great queer rep! The older sister is an out lesbian. AND there are POC side characters where she explores race and microagressions. Would definitely recommend and the audio narration is fantastic! I received an audio review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I really loved this! One of the best mystery/thrillers of the year in my opinion. The story follows two sisters with a fraught relationship and complicated histories. They are competitive cross country runners living in a town known for the brutal murder of young women years back. When a girl from their cross country team goes missing, the older sister is a suspect....
This was smart, dealt beautifully with complex and sensitive topics, and was quite twisty! I thought I knew what was coming, but I only guessed a piece of it. This is a book about girls who are "too much": too smart, too aggressive, too competitive... and why it's sexist they're treated the way that they are. It also deals with teen pregnancy and abortion, which is difficult to do well but I think this book kind of nailed it. Not to mention we get great queer rep! The older sister is an out lesbian. AND there are POC side characters where she explores race and microagressions. Would definitely recommend and the audio narration is fantastic! I received an audio review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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