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Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over
Sadie Starr is obsessed with starting over. A new year, a new diet, a new social media identity. Anything that gives her a chance to be a better version of herself.
So when her dad’s job moves the family interstate, Sadie’s excited for a fresh start. It’s also the perfect excuse to leave behind the mess she’s made with her best friend and secret crush, Daniel, whose advances she rejected – for fear of screwing things up.
But at her new school, life gets complicated fast.
She meets glamorous Alexa and her pink-badged girl gang, on a mission to ‘support women’, and outcast Jack, who the girls say has been stalking fellow student Loz.
But Loz has a different story, one that changes everything.
Sadie’s torn. She wants to be popular. She wants to keep Loz’s secret. She wants to fix everything. But she’ll have to make choices. And the wrong ones could throw her perfect new life into complete chaos.
Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over is an engaging, funny – serious look at the downsides of aiming too high, the dangers of black and white thinking —and the journey to realising imperfections are part of being human.
So when her dad’s job moves the family interstate, Sadie’s excited for a fresh start. It’s also the perfect excuse to leave behind the mess she’s made with her best friend and secret crush, Daniel, whose advances she rejected – for fear of screwing things up.
But at her new school, life gets complicated fast.
She meets glamorous Alexa and her pink-badged girl gang, on a mission to ‘support women’, and outcast Jack, who the girls say has been stalking fellow student Loz.
But Loz has a different story, one that changes everything.
Sadie’s torn. She wants to be popular. She wants to keep Loz’s secret. She wants to fix everything. But she’ll have to make choices. And the wrong ones could throw her perfect new life into complete chaos.
Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over is an engaging, funny – serious look at the downsides of aiming too high, the dangers of black and white thinking —and the journey to realising imperfections are part of being human.
288 pages, Unknown Binding
Published August 2, 2022
7 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Luby
2 books11 followersMiranda Luby is an author, journalist, copywriter and animal lover living on Victoria’s Surf Coast. She has won several awards for her short stories, and her journalism features in publications such as National Geographic, BBC Travel and the New York Post. Miranda was shortlisted for the Text Prize for her debut novel, Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 6, 2022
Review contains talking about triggering subjects, read paragraph below for these!
Thank you to Miranda Luby and Netgalley for this ARC. Please do check TW going into this book some of which include: Binge Eating Disorder, OCD mentioned, body shaming, drug and alcohol use, bullying etc.
This book was really enlightening into Binge Eating Disorder, which is an eating disorder I knew less about until I read this book. Hearing the thoughts of Sadie and how it personally contributed to her eating disorder was informative to read. From someone who has OCD herself (but not the type of OCD mentioned in the book), I would say the representation of the OCD was handled well and showed that OCD isn't an adjective of 'I'm so OCD' and is a noun.
Overall, I will be reading a lot more from Miranda Luby in the future. Her work is stunning.
Thank you to Miranda Luby and Netgalley for this ARC. Please do check TW going into this book some of which include: Binge Eating Disorder, OCD mentioned, body shaming, drug and alcohol use, bullying etc.
This book was really enlightening into Binge Eating Disorder, which is an eating disorder I knew less about until I read this book. Hearing the thoughts of Sadie and how it personally contributed to her eating disorder was informative to read. From someone who has OCD herself (but not the type of OCD mentioned in the book), I would say the representation of the OCD was handled well and showed that OCD isn't an adjective of 'I'm so OCD' and is a noun.
Overall, I will be reading a lot more from Miranda Luby in the future. Her work is stunning.
June 9, 2023
This was good, one of the better novels involving young people I've read in a while.
Sadie is moving from Sydney to Melbourne (bad move in my eyes, but whatever) as her dad has a new job there. So it's an opportunity to start over, remake herself into a new person and totally cut out her previous life. But of course that's not really going to happen is it.
'When I'm lying in bed that night,reeling from the sense that everything in my life is totally out of control. I realise something horrifying. Maybe I never lost control. Maybe the idea that I ever had control over my life to begin with was an illusion.'
There are some good characters in this first novel by Ms Luby, while the growth Sadie and some others go through seems very real and often spot on to me. Good one. Library ebook.
Sadie is moving from Sydney to Melbourne (bad move in my eyes, but whatever) as her dad has a new job there. So it's an opportunity to start over, remake herself into a new person and totally cut out her previous life. But of course that's not really going to happen is it.
'When I'm lying in bed that night,reeling from the sense that everything in my life is totally out of control. I realise something horrifying. Maybe I never lost control. Maybe the idea that I ever had control over my life to begin with was an illusion.'
There are some good characters in this first novel by Ms Luby, while the growth Sadie and some others go through seems very real and often spot on to me. Good one. Library ebook.
July 25, 2022
This is a fresh and engaging coming-of-age story that many young people are sure to relate to. Sadie is a flawed and likeable protagonist with a strong voice, and I loved the vivid Melbourne setting. This is perfect for fans of It Sounded Better in My Head by Nina Kenwood, Loner by Georgina Young And Please Don't Hug Me by Kay Kerr.
June 19, 2022
Sadie Starr is the kind of character you remember long after you've finished the book. She's going through some stuff. It is big stuff. And she's suffering alone. She appears, on the surface, to the kids at her new school, as if she's pretty together, she's hanging out with the cool girls, even though some of their attitudes seem a bit off, she's tried to talk to the troubled boy next door but it seems like the rumours of his utter weirdness might be true. The cute boy Sam at the new school seems to think she's cute and her academic success seems to be on track. It all looks like Sadie is doing really well. But she isn't. She's sad that her relationship with her long loved bff seems to have become broken. They aren't talking and it is breaking her heart. And then there is the binging that seems to plague her life. Eating a vast amount and then starving herself, running until she can't move and calorie counting at an extreme level. It it a lot. Her mum puts pressure on her to look good, and her Dad is working too hard, and on at her about her academics.
So, with all this going on it is no wonder she is drawn to the popular girls, and excited to be accepted into their group. They call themselves feminists and are all about the rights of women, but there is a tone to it. Something that just doesn't sit right. The queen of the group Alexa, daughter of a famous actor and with money to burn. Alexa anoints her followers with badges to show that they are part of the group and all for women's rights. As Sadie gets drawn into the group, desperate to fit in and start her life over again, she starts to question Alexa's motives and becomes more and more uncomfortable.
There is a lot going on in this book, and I loved it all. I loved Sadie, her plucky nature, her kindness and her constant striving to be a better friend but not always getting it right. She's a loveable, likeable girl and I wanted the best for her. A really great read.
So, with all this going on it is no wonder she is drawn to the popular girls, and excited to be accepted into their group. They call themselves feminists and are all about the rights of women, but there is a tone to it. Something that just doesn't sit right. The queen of the group Alexa, daughter of a famous actor and with money to burn. Alexa anoints her followers with badges to show that they are part of the group and all for women's rights. As Sadie gets drawn into the group, desperate to fit in and start her life over again, she starts to question Alexa's motives and becomes more and more uncomfortable.
There is a lot going on in this book, and I loved it all. I loved Sadie, her plucky nature, her kindness and her constant striving to be a better friend but not always getting it right. She's a loveable, likeable girl and I wanted the best for her. A really great read.
July 14, 2022
There should have really been a trigger warning for the main characters eating disorder as well as other series topics - especially as this is YA.
Overall, I found the book fine. There wasn’t much remarkable or that made it stand out from other similar books available. The writing though was strong so I’d be interested in reading future books from her
Overall, I found the book fine. There wasn’t much remarkable or that made it stand out from other similar books available. The writing though was strong so I’d be interested in reading future books from her
August 3, 2022
Here is a bruising and beautiful story that I think so many young readers will relate to, and feel seen on the page. It’s a classic coming-of-age with a deft touch, an homage to Melbourne and figuring yourself out. I think this one is an absolute gem, and I’d like to press it into everyone’s hands!
July 29, 2022
This book... THIS BOOK!
I'm obsessed. Sadie Starr's Guide to Starting Over is like a feminist, Australian retelling of Mean Girls.
All the characters were great, but it was Sadie and Alexa's dynamic that stood out most to me. I loved these two characters so much. They could both be mean, power-hungry and naive, but they were always doing their best, and made up for their mistakes. These were authentic teen girls who were still learning and becoming adults.
Through this story, Luby discusses the moral grey zones that can appear when 'feminism' goes wrong. However, she never villainises the characters for making these mistakes, instead giving them chances to grow. Alexa has a very privileged and misinformed take on feminism, which, although she means well, causes a lot of harm. And Sadie doesn't critique it much at first, because she doesn't know any different; she learns slowly that Alexa isn't always right. We watch them become better people, learning and developing, rather than just outing them as bad people and moving on. It's a tricky subject that the author handled impressively well.
I feel like I could talk about the layers of this book for hours, but I won't because this is a review, not an essay. There was just so much subtext, and I was glad Luby chose to show us things through Sadie's eyes rather than write clear messages and lessons. There weren't pushy, preachy monologues or out-of-character thoughts and discussions. It was all written in a digestible, patient way that's perfect for the teen audience. This book is a brilliant avenue for people to start learning about feminism, as well as its dangers, without scaring them away from it.
The way Luby wrote Sadie's eating disorder and perfectionist tendencies felt very authentic (also Jack's OCD). Like the feminist aspects, these things were woven into the story seamlessly, as we watch them from Sadie's eyes and learn with her. This book had so much to say - really, SO MUCH - but never felt over-the-top or condescending, which so many books trying to do the same thing do.
The writing was good, the plot developed well, Sadie was a wonderfully flawed and funny character who had amazing development... I really could go on and on about how great this book is.
I think my only criticism is that I'd have liked the minority characters to have a bit more time on the page. For all the messaging on intersectionality, I think we needed more from characters like Ish and Harper. It also needed trigger warnings for content such as mental illness, eating disorders and bullying.
In conclusion, read this book!
(Huge thank you to Text Publishing for my review copy.)
I'm obsessed. Sadie Starr's Guide to Starting Over is like a feminist, Australian retelling of Mean Girls.
All the characters were great, but it was Sadie and Alexa's dynamic that stood out most to me. I loved these two characters so much. They could both be mean, power-hungry and naive, but they were always doing their best, and made up for their mistakes. These were authentic teen girls who were still learning and becoming adults.
Through this story, Luby discusses the moral grey zones that can appear when 'feminism' goes wrong. However, she never villainises the characters for making these mistakes, instead giving them chances to grow. Alexa has a very privileged and misinformed take on feminism, which, although she means well, causes a lot of harm. And Sadie doesn't critique it much at first, because she doesn't know any different; she learns slowly that Alexa isn't always right. We watch them become better people, learning and developing, rather than just outing them as bad people and moving on. It's a tricky subject that the author handled impressively well.
I feel like I could talk about the layers of this book for hours, but I won't because this is a review, not an essay. There was just so much subtext, and I was glad Luby chose to show us things through Sadie's eyes rather than write clear messages and lessons. There weren't pushy, preachy monologues or out-of-character thoughts and discussions. It was all written in a digestible, patient way that's perfect for the teen audience. This book is a brilliant avenue for people to start learning about feminism, as well as its dangers, without scaring them away from it.
The way Luby wrote Sadie's eating disorder and perfectionist tendencies felt very authentic (also Jack's OCD). Like the feminist aspects, these things were woven into the story seamlessly, as we watch them from Sadie's eyes and learn with her. This book had so much to say - really, SO MUCH - but never felt over-the-top or condescending, which so many books trying to do the same thing do.
The writing was good, the plot developed well, Sadie was a wonderfully flawed and funny character who had amazing development... I really could go on and on about how great this book is.
I think my only criticism is that I'd have liked the minority characters to have a bit more time on the page. For all the messaging on intersectionality, I think we needed more from characters like Ish and Harper. It also needed trigger warnings for content such as mental illness, eating disorders and bullying.
In conclusion, read this book!
(Huge thank you to Text Publishing for my review copy.)
July 31, 2022
Sadie Starr is getting a chance to start over. He father has a new job and so she is moving from Sydney to Melbourne. This means a chance to re-make her life and be a better version of herself - thinner, more popular, better marks.
It also means leaving behind the boy next door, Daniel. That wasn't a good thing until their friendship got complicated when she tried kissing him on her last night before the big move.
At her new school Sadie finds herself befriended by the popular girls and life is good. She is exercising, controlling her eating, meeting cute boys and doing well at school.
But just how long can she keep up her perfect control of everything, and really, does she even want to?
It floors me that this is a debut novel.
Covering mental health issues and complex social issues - real issues that I think will really resonate with a teen audience (and those of use just slightly older than teenagers).
Sadie is such a complete character - flawed, but real - someone we would all know.
I read this book in one day and enjoyed every minute of it.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Text Publishing for the review copy of this book
It also means leaving behind the boy next door, Daniel. That wasn't a good thing until their friendship got complicated when she tried kissing him on her last night before the big move.
At her new school Sadie finds herself befriended by the popular girls and life is good. She is exercising, controlling her eating, meeting cute boys and doing well at school.
But just how long can she keep up her perfect control of everything, and really, does she even want to?
It floors me that this is a debut novel.
Covering mental health issues and complex social issues - real issues that I think will really resonate with a teen audience (and those of use just slightly older than teenagers).
Sadie is such a complete character - flawed, but real - someone we would all know.
I read this book in one day and enjoyed every minute of it.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Text Publishing for the review copy of this book
July 13, 2022
CW: Disordered eating, bullying, body shaming, OCD, drug & alcohol use
Favorite Quotes:
“Freedom of expression comes with a responsibility to understand how that expression could cause harm to others.”
“You can’t run away when things get messy. Which I think really sucks.”
“..the bigger we think a problem is, the less humans tend to be able to do about it. We get overwhelmed if we feel like it’s out of our control and we end up doing nothing, or making it worse, even when doing something small would help. Going to one protest. Signing one petition. It all adds up.”
Review:
I was first drawn to this book by its cover and title. But let me tell you, this book is so good! I thoroughly enjoyed it and was incredibly moved. I could see my teenage self in each character: Sadie, Jack, Loz, Alexa. I found myself rooting for them all! Jack’s story completely broke my heart, and I found myself devouring every chapter waiting to make sure he was going to be okay. Each experience presented for the teens were things that kids go through in real life every day. I think that so many kids/teens will be able to see themselves in this book and hopefully feel a sense of hope that things can change and get better. It really only takes small acts.
I laughed, teared up a little, and found myself truly invested in these character’s stories! This one will be a hit.
My main complaint was the use of the word “reckon” by the teens. I know the story is set in Australia so it may be a thing, but as an American, every time I read the word I pictured a 70-year-old man on the back of a horse in the wild wild west😆.
This one is very YA, but if you’re looking for a moving story that will have you rooting for the characters, I highly recommend!
Thank you to @netgalley and @mirandaluby for providing this arc!
Favorite Quotes:
“Freedom of expression comes with a responsibility to understand how that expression could cause harm to others.”
“You can’t run away when things get messy. Which I think really sucks.”
“..the bigger we think a problem is, the less humans tend to be able to do about it. We get overwhelmed if we feel like it’s out of our control and we end up doing nothing, or making it worse, even when doing something small would help. Going to one protest. Signing one petition. It all adds up.”
Review:
I was first drawn to this book by its cover and title. But let me tell you, this book is so good! I thoroughly enjoyed it and was incredibly moved. I could see my teenage self in each character: Sadie, Jack, Loz, Alexa. I found myself rooting for them all! Jack’s story completely broke my heart, and I found myself devouring every chapter waiting to make sure he was going to be okay. Each experience presented for the teens were things that kids go through in real life every day. I think that so many kids/teens will be able to see themselves in this book and hopefully feel a sense of hope that things can change and get better. It really only takes small acts.
I laughed, teared up a little, and found myself truly invested in these character’s stories! This one will be a hit.
My main complaint was the use of the word “reckon” by the teens. I know the story is set in Australia so it may be a thing, but as an American, every time I read the word I pictured a 70-year-old man on the back of a horse in the wild wild west😆.
This one is very YA, but if you’re looking for a moving story that will have you rooting for the characters, I highly recommend!
Thank you to @netgalley and @mirandaluby for providing this arc!
August 2, 2022
✍️ This is the wonderful story of Sadie Starr who has a chance to start over after her family move interstate to Melbourne. New school, new friends and new beginning.
This has to be one of my FAVOURITE books I have read in a while. I LOVED it! What a debut. A heartwarming and uplifting coming of age YA story filled with every day life matters experienced and related by so many people especially adolescents . I was engrossed by the exquisitely written and meticulous narration throughout. The story was very ingeniously plotted. The characters were acutely well developed. I didn't want it to end. A perfect balance of highs and lows.
I adored the storyline as well as appreciated the significant and profound issues constructed such as mental health. I delighted in the character of Sadie who is identified as a polished, sweet and tenacious young lady.
This has to be one of my FAVOURITE books I have read in a while. I LOVED it! What a debut. A heartwarming and uplifting coming of age YA story filled with every day life matters experienced and related by so many people especially adolescents . I was engrossed by the exquisitely written and meticulous narration throughout. The story was very ingeniously plotted. The characters were acutely well developed. I didn't want it to end. A perfect balance of highs and lows.
I adored the storyline as well as appreciated the significant and profound issues constructed such as mental health. I delighted in the character of Sadie who is identified as a polished, sweet and tenacious young lady.
July 14, 2022
A novel about self-discovery and finding yourself in a new place. This novel discusses eating disorders and other mental health rep like OCD which I appreciated. I would consider this something easier to read if you want something light. However, I’ve read a similar storyline before. Multiple times. Girl starts a life at a new school where she doesn’t know where to fit in with overbearing parents who aren’t super supportive, as well as coming into paths with very toxic male and female students. I feel like if this isn’t something you have read a lot of, you’ll enjoy it. But I need some more diverse characters and storyline.
September 3, 2022
Trigger warnings: bullying, disordered eating, slut shaming, parental pressure to achieve, mental health
I flew through this is about an hour and a half, and let me say, Luby has done a FANTASTIC job of capturing the toxic nature of teenage interactions with social media and the way rumours spiral out of control in an instant. She's also done a brilliant job of discussing the difficulties of finding your place at a new school, of trying to control what you can when your life has been unrooted, and of trying to maintain friendships from a distance.
Were there times when I wanted to shake some sense into Sadie? Absolutely. Did I also feel for her throughout and desperately want to give her a hug and tell her that everything is going to be okay? YUP.
I flew through this is about an hour and a half, and let me say, Luby has done a FANTASTIC job of capturing the toxic nature of teenage interactions with social media and the way rumours spiral out of control in an instant. She's also done a brilliant job of discussing the difficulties of finding your place at a new school, of trying to control what you can when your life has been unrooted, and of trying to maintain friendships from a distance.
Were there times when I wanted to shake some sense into Sadie? Absolutely. Did I also feel for her throughout and desperately want to give her a hug and tell her that everything is going to be okay? YUP.
August 29, 2022
I don't usually read YA fiction but this one had me hooked...Sadie is like a portal into my teenage self and I really enjoyed the ride. Miranda Luby's captured the essence of the 21st-century teen with a message for young and old. Perfectionism is baked into our culture and it's so important to examine why. Sadie is a highly relatable character whose mission to start over in a new state and school had me turning pages fast. I wish this book had been around for me when I was in high school!
July 23, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you like YA, you'll definitely like this one. But I wish it had a trigger warning about mental health issues, etc as I was not expecting it.
It is easy to read and follow and I think teenagers would enjoy this book as it relates to them, dealing with social media, etc.
I give this ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the opportunity to read this prior to being published on 2 August 2022.
It is easy to read and follow and I think teenagers would enjoy this book as it relates to them, dealing with social media, etc.
I give this ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for the opportunity to read this prior to being published on 2 August 2022.
July 10, 2022
This book is a memorable one. It made me think about eating habits, and just how food can be thought of in general. Sadie is going through ALOT I just wanted to climb into the book and hug her. It also made me think about toxic feminism or being feminist to be cool or to be popular.
It also reminded me of the movie mean girls. (Not to say they’re the same because they aren’t, writing style and where the story goes are VERY different) The similarities that I couldn’t stop thinking of were; moving to a new school, a seemingly nice group of popular girls (with an ominous vibe) befriending you immediately, trying to change your social image and what people think of you, an ‘uncool’ friend being one of your only real friends but the popular girls can’t know that you’re friends with her, the pink social statuses or markers that you’re cool pink shirts… pink badges. I’m assuming the author probably saw mean girls because it is a big movie but I’d be curious if she was influenced by the movie while writing it. Realistically she probably wasn’t even thinking of it, and if she was it was probably just an ‘oh that’s funny it has a lot in common with mean girls’.
I know this is very irrelevant but as someone who has seen the movie for the first time this year, it was on my mind the entire time I was reading.
I would 100% recommend this book to someone who would not be triggered easily by food or eating disorders or anything like that. Looking forward to hopefully reading more from this author in the future. This being her debut book is wild to me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It also reminded me of the movie mean girls. (Not to say they’re the same because they aren’t, writing style and where the story goes are VERY different) The similarities that I couldn’t stop thinking of were; moving to a new school, a seemingly nice group of popular girls (with an ominous vibe) befriending you immediately, trying to change your social image and what people think of you, an ‘uncool’ friend being one of your only real friends but the popular girls can’t know that you’re friends with her, the pink social statuses or markers that you’re cool pink shirts… pink badges. I’m assuming the author probably saw mean girls because it is a big movie but I’d be curious if she was influenced by the movie while writing it. Realistically she probably wasn’t even thinking of it, and if she was it was probably just an ‘oh that’s funny it has a lot in common with mean girls’.
I know this is very irrelevant but as someone who has seen the movie for the first time this year, it was on my mind the entire time I was reading.
I would 100% recommend this book to someone who would not be triggered easily by food or eating disorders or anything like that. Looking forward to hopefully reading more from this author in the future. This being her debut book is wild to me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Text Publishing for an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2022
“𝐼 𝑡𝑟𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔．𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑐 𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑟 𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒．𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙 𝙞𝙣 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑎 𝑔𝑢𝑟𝑙 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑．𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑜𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓“．
Such a wonderfully written upcoming YA book 🖤 I really enjoyed the Aussie setting, plot, pace & all the characters development & journeys! Especially Jacks….I just want to give him a big hug & protect him forever 🥺
Many important topics were incorporated; distorted eating, Bullying, OCD, Peer pressure +more!
The rep is amazing & hit close to home🖤
It’s always amazing to see accurate representation, especially when there’s such strong stigmas & generalisations attached to disorders such as OCD.
“𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑎 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑎 𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡．𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 ＆ 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 ＆ 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑘 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒．“
Sadies journey is special & one I’m sure so many of us can relate to. Sadie learns so much from her mistakes, loved ones, new experiences & haunting habits. Whilst navigating a new city, school, friends & love life.
It’s a brilliant read for teens as I’m sure many will relate to what these characters experience in school & will give a glimpse of hope 💫
If you’re in the mood for a very YA & heartfelt page-turning story where you adore all the characters then this is the one to pick up!
Such a wonderfully written upcoming YA book 🖤 I really enjoyed the Aussie setting, plot, pace & all the characters development & journeys! Especially Jacks….I just want to give him a big hug & protect him forever 🥺
Many important topics were incorporated; distorted eating, Bullying, OCD, Peer pressure +more!
The rep is amazing & hit close to home🖤
It’s always amazing to see accurate representation, especially when there’s such strong stigmas & generalisations attached to disorders such as OCD.
“𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑎 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑎 𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡．𝐼𝑡’𝑠 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 ＆ 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 ＆ 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑘 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒．“
Sadies journey is special & one I’m sure so many of us can relate to. Sadie learns so much from her mistakes, loved ones, new experiences & haunting habits. Whilst navigating a new city, school, friends & love life.
It’s a brilliant read for teens as I’m sure many will relate to what these characters experience in school & will give a glimpse of hope 💫
If you’re in the mood for a very YA & heartfelt page-turning story where you adore all the characters then this is the one to pick up!
August 9, 2022
Where was this book when I was in high school?
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK! The ending was somewhat of a cliche, but the first 3/4 of the story, the themes, the characters and Luby's superb writing more than make up for it.
Stellar debut, excited to read more from this author.
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK! The ending was somewhat of a cliche, but the first 3/4 of the story, the themes, the characters and Luby's superb writing more than make up for it.
Stellar debut, excited to read more from this author.
August 17, 2022
Australian YA just keeps getting better and better, and Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over is contemporary YA at its best. We are invited into Sadie’s world so unobtrusively but become immersed there, discovering with her, growing with her, hurting with her. The story covers a lot of ground but it never feels weighed down – I was compelled to keep turning page after page. Luby tackles issues like mental health, feminism and intergenerational addiction almost by stealth, never calling attention to itself or drowning the reader in a didactic message. This is an excellent book that I can’t recommend enough.
August 26, 2022
On the surface it looks like a generic YA bubblegum novel but there’s a lot to love here. I really liked the exploration of false feminism vs legitimate efforts towards social change - very nuanced! This gave me Saving Francesca vibes but with social media users.
June 13, 2022
the issues discussed in the book is something I relate to, especially the disordered eating and the obsession with wanting to start over, but I am 75% sure I'm not as annoying as Sadie.
I feel like this book would have done better as a short film or better yet, a children's movie because a) there was way too much dialogue, and b) I found it difficult to envision these characters with the lack of descriptions. besides the many many pop culture references cram-jammed in every single line, I felt old when I found out I understood absolutely nothing.
also the fact that she had the vocabulary of a tik tok video made me want to throw up x
I feel like this book would have done better as a short film or better yet, a children's movie because a) there was way too much dialogue, and b) I found it difficult to envision these characters with the lack of descriptions. besides the many many pop culture references cram-jammed in every single line, I felt old when I found out I understood absolutely nothing.
also the fact that she had the vocabulary of a tik tok video made me want to throw up x
June 23, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for providing me an Arc of this book! I absolutely loved this story and read the whole thing in one sitting. Sadie is a character I could really relate to throughout the story. I also loved all the side characters and how well-developed their personalities were. It truly was such a wonderful read and I highly recommend reading it!
Read
December 9, 2022The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Sadie Starr's Guide to Starting Over
‘A wonderful exploration of fledgling feminism, diametrically opposed ideologies, and the complexities involved in filtering a kaleidoscope of messaging. Swings the pendulum high and low, then aims it squarely at your heart. Sadie Starr is a collision of sass and vulnerability, assuredness and confusion, burning and imploding beliefs, and a convincing portrait of all the shades of grey between. Perfectly highlights the pitfalls of perfectionism. Charming, honest, and so very now.’
Allayne Webster
‘Sadie is an incredibly relatable character…Powerful and engaging, Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over explores performative feminism, #MeToo, eating disorders, bullying, family dynamics and grief.’
Lucie Dess, Readings
‘This beautiful and touching story teaches us so many things…Heartwarming, sad, and happy, but most of all a really good read.’
Sue Mauger, GLAM Adelaide
‘The feel-good factor throughout this book is very high…[It has] contemporary attitude and representation, endearing characters, dialogue that’s ripe for the picking and great descriptions of Melbourne.’
Kids’ Book Review
‘The characters reveal themselves to be incredibly nuanced…Miranda Luby subverts the classic high school characters to highlight her message…A realistic portrayal of teenage friendship and growth. An enjoyable and enlightening read!’
Good Reading
‘A wonderful exploration of fledgling feminism, diametrically opposed ideologies, and the complexities involved in filtering a kaleidoscope of messaging. Swings the pendulum high and low, then aims it squarely at your heart. Sadie Starr is a collision of sass and vulnerability, assuredness and confusion, burning and imploding beliefs, and a convincing portrait of all the shades of grey between. Perfectly highlights the pitfalls of perfectionism. Charming, honest, and so very now.’
Allayne Webster
‘Sadie is an incredibly relatable character…Powerful and engaging, Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over explores performative feminism, #MeToo, eating disorders, bullying, family dynamics and grief.’
Lucie Dess, Readings
‘This beautiful and touching story teaches us so many things…Heartwarming, sad, and happy, but most of all a really good read.’
Sue Mauger, GLAM Adelaide
‘The feel-good factor throughout this book is very high…[It has] contemporary attitude and representation, endearing characters, dialogue that’s ripe for the picking and great descriptions of Melbourne.’
Kids’ Book Review
‘The characters reveal themselves to be incredibly nuanced…Miranda Luby subverts the classic high school characters to highlight her message…A realistic portrayal of teenage friendship and growth. An enjoyable and enlightening read!’
Good Reading
July 16, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. All thoughts are my own.
This book failed to stand out from other books. The plot line was cliched and all the characters were walking stereotypes. I also felt like there was too much dialogue, and no proper descriptions. Not to mention the pop culture references that just straight up annoyed me. There were so many, and they did nothing to further the story.
Not to mention the main character. Sadie was obsessed with starting over, which I get, but she was just SO ANNOYING. I found it so hard to like the story, with her as the protagonist. It was so hard to envision the actual characters, as there was barely any descriptions in this book. Despite that, writing itself, was decent; but plain. It really doesn’t stand out from other ya books.
5.5 /10 wouldn’t recommend
This book failed to stand out from other books. The plot line was cliched and all the characters were walking stereotypes. I also felt like there was too much dialogue, and no proper descriptions. Not to mention the pop culture references that just straight up annoyed me. There were so many, and they did nothing to further the story.
Not to mention the main character. Sadie was obsessed with starting over, which I get, but she was just SO ANNOYING. I found it so hard to like the story, with her as the protagonist. It was so hard to envision the actual characters, as there was barely any descriptions in this book. Despite that, writing itself, was decent; but plain. It really doesn’t stand out from other ya books.
5.5 /10 wouldn’t recommend
February 7, 2023
Loved how this book was set in Melbourne!! I really liked the first half of the book, i.e, the whole fresh start and the motivational energy just flowing from the pages. The heavier stuff in the second half of the book lowkey unsettled me, and I got confused with all the 'J' names, but other than that, really liked this book <3
June 18, 2022
When Sadie Starr's parents announce a sudden move interstate, Sadie is secretly thrilled to have the chance to start over. A chance to make new friends, lose some weight, get good marks and hopefully get over her crush on best friend Daniel back in Sydney. But when complications arise with popular friends and their exclusive feminist group , and when her attempts at the perfect teenage life keep falling short--Sadie is forced to look hard at what she stands for and who she really is.
I adored this story. Sadie is so relatable and real- with her sky-high expectations for herself and her challenge of wanting to hold on to her status and relationships while being genuine in her attempts to look out for others. I was riding along with Sadie on her downward spiral, tearing up at the tender moment when people were there for her, and ultimately when she began to be kinder to herself.
Looking at the issues addressed in the book: Me too, disordered eating, bullying, complicated friendship-- there were some pretty serious things to tackle all at once. But just as Sadie learnt to view things in less black and white ways-- so these issues were addressed with nuance and depth, while never moving into preaching territory. And while Sadie's friends or even her somewhat pushy parents could have been villains of the story-- they were given time to be real and understood. The ending was satisfying and sweet.
An moving, wonderful read and an excellent addition to the Aussie YA contemporary shelf.
I adored this story. Sadie is so relatable and real- with her sky-high expectations for herself and her challenge of wanting to hold on to her status and relationships while being genuine in her attempts to look out for others. I was riding along with Sadie on her downward spiral, tearing up at the tender moment when people were there for her, and ultimately when she began to be kinder to herself.
Looking at the issues addressed in the book: Me too, disordered eating, bullying, complicated friendship-- there were some pretty serious things to tackle all at once. But just as Sadie learnt to view things in less black and white ways-- so these issues were addressed with nuance and depth, while never moving into preaching territory. And while Sadie's friends or even her somewhat pushy parents could have been villains of the story-- they were given time to be real and understood. The ending was satisfying and sweet.
An moving, wonderful read and an excellent addition to the Aussie YA contemporary shelf.
July 1, 2022
CW: body image issues, disordered eating, binge eating disorder, stalking, bullying, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), recreational drug and alcohol use, running away
I would like to thank NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Sadie Starr finds her dad’s job relocation to be the thing she needs to completely reinvent herself. After ruining her friendship with best friend and sort-of crush Daniel, Sadie is ready to become a new, popular version of herself at Morebrae Academy.
Once she arrives, Sadie is quickly ushered in by Alexa and her group of followers in their pursuit to support women at their school. Soon enough, she finds herself hearing both ends of a prominent stalking case between school outcasts Jack and Loz, and now Sadie has to decide about where she stands amongst the mess she’s gotten herself into.
I personally think that Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over is an interesting YA book coming out in August. Luby provides multifaceted characters amongst a unique plot in this book. You can definitely relate to the characters that Luby created and I thought that it was really interesting to see how the so-called mean girls in the book were active feminists who want to create a safe space for other girls in their school.
This book can be a quick and easy read. All of the chapters are not too long, the pacing is good, and one could go through this book in a reading session or two if they really want to. Though, I did feel that some of the chapters weren’t really necessary and that the only reason they’re there was to serve as a filler. I think this could be improved by either eliminating said chapters or combining them with others.
If you’re looking for a twist on the mean girl(s) meet new girl tropes or a book about teens coping through an image-obsessed culture, Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over is for you.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Sadie Starr finds her dad’s job relocation to be the thing she needs to completely reinvent herself. After ruining her friendship with best friend and sort-of crush Daniel, Sadie is ready to become a new, popular version of herself at Morebrae Academy.
Once she arrives, Sadie is quickly ushered in by Alexa and her group of followers in their pursuit to support women at their school. Soon enough, she finds herself hearing both ends of a prominent stalking case between school outcasts Jack and Loz, and now Sadie has to decide about where she stands amongst the mess she’s gotten herself into.
I personally think that Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over is an interesting YA book coming out in August. Luby provides multifaceted characters amongst a unique plot in this book. You can definitely relate to the characters that Luby created and I thought that it was really interesting to see how the so-called mean girls in the book were active feminists who want to create a safe space for other girls in their school.
This book can be a quick and easy read. All of the chapters are not too long, the pacing is good, and one could go through this book in a reading session or two if they really want to. Though, I did feel that some of the chapters weren’t really necessary and that the only reason they’re there was to serve as a filler. I think this could be improved by either eliminating said chapters or combining them with others.
If you’re looking for a twist on the mean girl(s) meet new girl tropes or a book about teens coping through an image-obsessed culture, Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over is for you.
August 1, 2022
"Because maybe this is where life happens. On the border between potential happiness and potential heartbreak. Between everything falling apart and everything working out perfectly."
Sadie Starr is starting over again... and again... and again. When her family moves from Sydney to Melbourne, Sadie leaves behind her best friend, Daniel. At her new school, Sadie is excited to become friends with the popular kids. But things quickly get complicated and as Sadie befriends other not-so-popular students, she's unsure where her allegiance lies. Add in crushes, struggling with an eating disorder and trying to ace her studies to please her father, and Sadie's life is anything but smooth sailing.
There's no doubt Sadie is a flawed protagonist, but it's her imperfections and struggles that make her so relatable. I think most people will see a piece of themselves reflected in Sadie, whether that's her home or school life, and thus will easily empathise with her. "I wonder what version of myself I'll be unpacking when I get home."
I think this is a really strong debut and refreshing coming-of-age story from Miranda Luby. I found the storyline to be both unique and interesting, and I felt right at home in the Melbourne setting, having lived there before. I definitely recommend this book to fellow Australian YA enthusiasts.
Thank you to Text Publishing and NetGalley for the early copy of the book.
Sadie Starr is starting over again... and again... and again. When her family moves from Sydney to Melbourne, Sadie leaves behind her best friend, Daniel. At her new school, Sadie is excited to become friends with the popular kids. But things quickly get complicated and as Sadie befriends other not-so-popular students, she's unsure where her allegiance lies. Add in crushes, struggling with an eating disorder and trying to ace her studies to please her father, and Sadie's life is anything but smooth sailing.
There's no doubt Sadie is a flawed protagonist, but it's her imperfections and struggles that make her so relatable. I think most people will see a piece of themselves reflected in Sadie, whether that's her home or school life, and thus will easily empathise with her. "I wonder what version of myself I'll be unpacking when I get home."
I think this is a really strong debut and refreshing coming-of-age story from Miranda Luby. I found the storyline to be both unique and interesting, and I felt right at home in the Melbourne setting, having lived there before. I definitely recommend this book to fellow Australian YA enthusiasts.
Thank you to Text Publishing and NetGalley for the early copy of the book.
July 6, 2022
Thank you to Miranda Luby, Text Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review an advance reader copy of Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over.
I think we’ve all struggled with our self-image and aim to be a more confident, more attractive version of ourselves. However, for Sadie Starr, nothing short of perfect will do.
As Sadie finds herself faced with a new school and a new social scene, she is challenged to find a place for herself and ends up joining the popular clique, led by a low-key mean girl, Alexa. The group promotes feminist values, but Sadie soon learns that their actions do not fully align with their words, and she wrestles with how to make things right.
The book tackles important mental health issues, such as OCD, Binge Eating Disorder, intrusive thoughts, and grief. The portrayal of how it feels to have an eating disorder especially resonated with me. The longing for any kind of control, combined with the reinforcement of diet culture ideals from a parent was all too familiar. I genuinely believe that books like this can save lives by showing young people what these issues surrounding food look like so that they can recognize problems with themselves or their friends before serious damage is done. Kudos to Miranda Luby for shining light on a very common but less talked about disorder.
I think we’ve all struggled with our self-image and aim to be a more confident, more attractive version of ourselves. However, for Sadie Starr, nothing short of perfect will do.
As Sadie finds herself faced with a new school and a new social scene, she is challenged to find a place for herself and ends up joining the popular clique, led by a low-key mean girl, Alexa. The group promotes feminist values, but Sadie soon learns that their actions do not fully align with their words, and she wrestles with how to make things right.
The book tackles important mental health issues, such as OCD, Binge Eating Disorder, intrusive thoughts, and grief. The portrayal of how it feels to have an eating disorder especially resonated with me. The longing for any kind of control, combined with the reinforcement of diet culture ideals from a parent was all too familiar. I genuinely believe that books like this can save lives by showing young people what these issues surrounding food look like so that they can recognize problems with themselves or their friends before serious damage is done. Kudos to Miranda Luby for shining light on a very common but less talked about disorder.
August 8, 2022
“Sadie what star sign are you?”
“Gemini”
“Oh I knew it. Intelligent and inquisitive.”
Sadie’s got an obsession with starting over, whether it be a social media wipeout, a new year or a new diet she’d give anything for a chance to be a better version of herself.
So when her dads job has them relocating to Melbourne, Sadie is excited for a fresh start. Leaving behind a messy bestfriendship, aka Daniel who she’s secretly in love with but is too scared to tell him how she really feels, sets off for a new chapter.
With a new school comes new friends, Alexa the popular girl takes a liking to Sadie. She’s all for supporting woman and ensuing Sadie doesn’t become friends with the ne our hood stalker Jack. Pretty quickly Sadie learns there’s always two sides to every story.
Sadie reaches a crossroad and had to decide if she wants to be popular and keep Loz’s secret or right the wrong that will see her perfect life catapulted into utter chaos.
What a fabulous debut novel Miranda Luby I loved this coming of age story and Sadie’s realisation that being imperfect is your own kind of perfect. It’s in stores now, for all my YA lovers!
“Gemini”
“Oh I knew it. Intelligent and inquisitive.”
Sadie’s got an obsession with starting over, whether it be a social media wipeout, a new year or a new diet she’d give anything for a chance to be a better version of herself.
So when her dads job has them relocating to Melbourne, Sadie is excited for a fresh start. Leaving behind a messy bestfriendship, aka Daniel who she’s secretly in love with but is too scared to tell him how she really feels, sets off for a new chapter.
With a new school comes new friends, Alexa the popular girl takes a liking to Sadie. She’s all for supporting woman and ensuing Sadie doesn’t become friends with the ne our hood stalker Jack. Pretty quickly Sadie learns there’s always two sides to every story.
Sadie reaches a crossroad and had to decide if she wants to be popular and keep Loz’s secret or right the wrong that will see her perfect life catapulted into utter chaos.
What a fabulous debut novel Miranda Luby I loved this coming of age story and Sadie’s realisation that being imperfect is your own kind of perfect. It’s in stores now, for all my YA lovers!
July 28, 2025
I loved this book so much. It really brought an insight into binge eating disorders so well. As someone who had one during their entire adolescence, I really appreciated the depth of it. It did bring back a lot of memories though.
“The problem is, it never does fill me up. Not in the way I want it to. It just makes me hate myself even more. This is the worst I've ever been and I can't seem to stop. I tried to throw up one night but I can't even do that right, bile-covered fingers and tear-stained cheeks. Pathetic.”
Absolutely destroyed me, in a good way ofc.
“The problem is, it never does fill me up. Not in the way I want it to. It just makes me hate myself even more. This is the worst I've ever been and I can't seem to stop. I tried to throw up one night but I can't even do that right, bile-covered fingers and tear-stained cheeks. Pathetic.”
Absolutely destroyed me, in a good way ofc.
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