Not Like Other Girls

Starred review from January 15, 2024
Debut author Adamo unflinchingly reckons with rape culture in this twisty, gripping mystery. Jo-Lynn Kirby used to reign supreme at her Rochester, N.Y., magnet high school. But after stolen private photos of her are leaked to her classmates, she’s ostracized and branded as the “Senior Slut,” events that derail her ability to focus on schoolwork and land her on academic probation. When former best friend Maddie Price turns to Jo with an enigmatic plea for help, Jo is suspicious; but after Maddie misses their meet-up and mysteriously vanishes, Jo is unnerved. As Jo’s investigation into Maddie’s disappearance homes in on a dangerous truth, she confronts a revelation of her own about a night she doesn’t want to remember. Edgy and authentic, this stunning gut-punch of a novel unravels the complexities of teen girlhood, toxic friendships, and trauma while a romantic subplot sensitively explores the challenges of reclaiming one’s sexuality after surviving sexual assault. Vividly voiced in Jo’s blunt, biting first-person narration, this is both a timely, suspense-building thriller and a powerful story of healing. Characters read as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House.

Starred review from January 15, 2024
Seventeen-year-old Jo-Lynn Kirby, ostracized by the guys she used to be friends with, comes to terms with many difficult experiences while she looks into the case of a missing girl. Smart but struggling Jo is on academic probation at Rochester, New York's Culver Honors High School and trying to conceal her school troubles from her loving but unsupportive and checked-out parents. When Maddie, her former best friend, goes missing, Jo gets pulled into a scheme to find out what happened to her. Jo's working with Hudson, a guy with whom she has a long and smoldering history, setting the stage for what proves to be a banter-filled, funny, sex-positive, and ultimately poignant romance that grows out of a fake-dating scenario. This, and the gradual reveal of Jo's heartbreaking social history involving betrayal, bullying, and multiple instances of sexual harassment and assault, provide a strong emotional grounding for the sometimes-unwieldy twists and turns of the central mystery. Jo is an authentic, multidimensional character, and her relationships with a whole host of secondary characters are explored throughout, including what led to the end of her friendship with Maddie. All the main characters read white; there is some diversity in race and sexual orientation among background characters. A thoughtful and thought-provoking feminist tale woven into an expansive mystery. (Mystery. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2024
Grades 10-12 *Starred Review* Jo is determined to get to the bottom of her ex-best friend's mysterious disappearance, even after the rest of Rochester deems her a runaway. Soon caught up in a revelation far bigger than she could have ever imagined, Jo also must confront her past trauma and navigate a maybe-not-so-fake relationship. Combining story lines that many teens will find irresistibly grounded in their own realities, Adamo breaks through the teen-sleuth genre with outstanding takes on themes of consent, power, and the devastating end to friendships. The book hits all the right notes to make a gripping and impactful read, from its compelling voice to its hurtling enigma of a plot, all while juggling several themes with nuance and profundity. Satisfyingly complex, the mystery around Maddie's disappearance sets the stage for Jo to contemplate complicated feelings and come to new perspectives in propulsive character development. Effective and compulsively readable, this is a must for lovers of YA mysteries and readers who enjoy tough topics saturated with realism. A promising debut, this is an unforgettable start to what will likely be a remarkable career. Hand especially to readers who enjoyed After Dark with Roxie Clark (2022), by Brooke Lauren Davis, and How to Live without You (2022), by Sarah Everett.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2024
Seventeen-year-old Jo is quick to list qualities she's learned are "the trouble with girls like me." She's "wild," "difficult," "a slut." A social outcast after a classmate leaked nude photos, she's mostly ignored by her parents and failing school. When her ex-best friend, Maddie, one of the popular girls, asks for help, Jo can't imagine why -- but before Maddie can explain, she disappears. Everyone thinks she ran away, but Jo believes it's not that simple. She teams up with Hudson, a friend (or maybe more) who has his own reasons to investigate Maddie's disappearance; together, they uncover a schoolwide scandal with dangerous implications. The mystery has all the elements of a good thriller: characters you can't necessarily trust; nail-biting suspense; and a twisty, surprising conclusion. But there's another layer: what happened to Jo at age fifteen, when she and Maddie stopped being friends. Jo's experience, once revealed, is clearly sexual assault, contextualizing her bitterness, rage, and self-blame. It takes time, and some help, for Jo to recognize it, too, and reclaim her body and her voice. Adamo writes with compassion for "girls like me" (an author's note acknowledges firsthand experience) who deserve to be listened to, believed, and loved -- and nothing less. Rachel L. Kerns

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 3, 2024

Gr 10 Up-"I think I'm in trouble, but I think you can help me." These are some of Maddie Price's last words to her former friend Jo-Lynn Kirby before she disappears. The rest of Rochester may deem her a runaway, but it's the last interaction with Maddie that Jo can't get past. While it means digging into her past trauma and facing former friends, Jo is determined to get to the bottom of what happened to Maddie. The deeper she digs into Maddie's disappearance, the more Jo questions what she knows and who she is really searching for. Is it Maddie or the girl she was before? Of course, there is more to the story than even Jo expected. This is a captivating novel about finding the truth and oneself: readers will enjoy trying to figure out what happened to Maddie along with Jo and figuring out who they can and who they shouldn't trust. Adamo has a good grip on being a teenager in today's world, making many situations relatable and realistic. This title may be a mystery, but it's also very much about being a teenager. The topic of sexual assault does occur within the book, which can be triggering for some readers. Most of the cast cues white; there is LGBTQIA+ representation among supporting characters. VERDICT This strong debut belongs on library shelves, especially where mysteries are popular.-Amanda Borgia

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2024
Seventeen-year-old Jo is quick to list qualities she's learned are "the trouble with girls like me." She's "wild," "difficult," "a slut." A social outcast after a classmate leaked nude photos, she's mostly ignored by her parents and failing school. When her ex-best friend, Maddie, one of the popular girls, asks for help, Jo can't imagine why -- but before Maddie can explain, she disappears. Everyone thinks she ran away, but Jo believes it's not that simple. She teams up with Hudson, a friend (or maybe more) who has his own reasons to investigate Maddie's disappearance; together, they uncover a schoolwide scandal with dangerous implications. The mystery has all the elements of a good thriller: characters you can't necessarily trust; nail-biting suspense; and a twisty, surprising conclusion. But there's another layer: what happened to Jo at age fifteen, when she and Maddie stopped being friends. Jo's experience, once revealed, is clearly sexual assault, contextualizing her bitterness, rage, and self-blame. It takes time, and some help, for Jo to recognize it, too, and reclaim her body and her voice. Adamo writes with compassion for "girls like me" (an author's note acknowledges firsthand experience) who deserve to be listened to, believed, and loved -- and nothing less.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)