Have you ever felt like an author writes their books with you specifically in mind?

I've come to the conclusion that Courtney Summers is one of my favorite authors. Like, at this point she just has to be. I've read three books by her (Sadie and All the Rage were the other two) and I've given them each 5 stars. That pretty much never happens with me, even with authors I love. This is my first 5 star book since 2019 and I am in love.

For me, it's not so much the story that draws me in. Which is not to say anything negative about it. It's told in dual perspectives and dual timelines as two sisters get involved in a cult in different ways, and it deals with the unraveling of their lives a bit. It's a fine story, but I don't think I would have loved it had it been written by anyone else.

Summers's writing style is gorgeous. Nothing I can put my finger on exactly, but her storytelling draws me in completely. I spend the first twenty pages of each of her books worrying that I won't love it as much as the others, and then the next three hundred pages forgetting to breathe because I am utterly absorbed in the story. What I want more than anything when I'm reading is to be so involved in the book that I forget reality exists, and Summers delivers that every time.

I'm terrible at reviewing books I adored beyond reason. I can't sit here and critique the minutiae because to be perfectly honest, I don't remember it. I enjoyed the experience so much that any tiny flaws that may have existed were totally erased in my mind. And everything good is mostly just, wow amazing yeah loved it.

So here's a potentially unhelpful (and incomplete) list of what I loved:
-the fact that the two sisters are almost never have screen time together throughout the whole book, but their relationship is so visceral
-how present the entire book feels (okay yes it's in present tense, but I usually prefer past and Summers is basically one of the only people I love in present tense)
-the circular nature of the story/events
-the minor cast of characters all felt like real people, even though some of them barely had any screen time
-the ending
-Lo's personality. She's bitter and she's allowed to be bitter without being cast as a wholly negative person
-the constant question of what makes a cult, and who these people really are from the perspectives both of insiders and those already biased against
-how characters are allowed to fall and rise again, without needing redemption arcs because they're just people making mistakes
-everything, just everything I think I may have cried not because it was sad but because it was so good

What I didn't love:
-???????

No, I'm kidding. There were a few moments and events at the end that I felt needed more development. Not that I didn't feel like they fit the story, but some of them seemed to happen so quickly and be such an abrupt turn for those involved. I think a little more time could have been spent to ease the flow between point A and point B.

I loved it, though. I managed my one somewhat negative thought, but eventually I will buy this book and add it to my Courtney Summers collection that grows ever larger on my shelf. I don't think I would recommend this as your first of her novels, though. I think All the Rage and Sadie were both just a touch stronger, ever so slightly. But considering I'm comparing three of my nine 5 star reads from the past five years, I'd take that with a grain of salt.

I recommend this book. I recommend Courtney Summers. If you haven't read her yet, just do it. Can't promise she's for everyone, but she's definitely for me.