They'll Never Catch Us

They’ll never catch us is a mystery thriller in which a killer, thought to have disappeared a decade ago, seems to be back in town when a cross-country runner goes missing once more.While I did enjoy this book, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations of it. It has a lot of drama to keep you invested in multiple storylines, but I expected the murder plotline to be more present. A lot of times it felt like the murder was something on the background. I would’ve liked it if there had been a bit more focus on that.I also struggled a bit with the amount of cross-country talk. It is not a sport I participate in, on the contrary, I hate running. Usually, I don’t struggle with this, but the talk and the running started to feel repetitive and had me going like “oh… again…”The writing style was nicely done. It flowed and was powerful at the same time. Only point is how the flashbacks were sometimes quite abrupt, they could’ve been woven in a bit more seamlessly.The main characters, sisters Stella and Ellie, were really complex and life-like. I mostly liked reading about them together, their dynamics was really interesting and seeing how they reacted to the pressure put on them by themselves and how the other performed. I also liked how both sisters grew character-wise. You could really see how they slowly changed and it made them more likable and the book more enjoyable.The themes of teamwork and friendship were present, but the theme of feminism really stood out to me, even without saying the word.Overall, it was a good book that felt a lot more like a coming-of-age story in a town where there happened to have been a murder than a thriller, mystery YA story.

This book is just another push to normalize abortion & make it seem like a casual and common occurrence for young women. From a female writer it's disappointing to see. The book is a quick read and really is captivating but the end was just too much of a let down for anything more than 2 stars.

Jessica Goodman has been on my radar since she published her debut novel, They Wish They Were Us last year (I own that one too!). When I saw this go live I immediately one clicked and never even had to think twice about it because I just KNEW her book(s) would blow me away. Did it? Yes! While the beginning was a little slow for my tastes it picked up quite a bit after about 100 pages and then became a fast-paced ride filled with mystery and suspense. I don’t want to say it’s necessarily thrilling because I found this to be a bit slower burning in its suspense, but it still FELT fast paced because I whipped through the pages without looking back. Overall, its just a really good book that held my interest the entire day (yep, I read it in one sitting).One thing I found so unique about this story is how the author portrays the girls (or women, they are high schoolers though). Every one of us is flawed, we all have a little weirdness in us, and sometimes things seem to take over our lives before we even realize it. All of this is described in this book through the characters thoughts and actions, and I commend the author for doing so. Some leading examples include making decisions for YOURSELF rather than what’s expected of you, being your own person despite how others are trying to portray you, and even mental health issues. It’s depicted quietly but its quite apparent when reading. I really loved this.All in all, I really enjoyed this book especially the depth the author put into the characters. The sports behind the story were really cool too and I found it so intriguing to be in the shoes of an athlete for a few hours. I never knew too much about running/cross country besides what I do on a treadmill, so I was really intrigued with how this fit (and made) the story! Kudos! If you enjoy young adult mystery novels, grab this one!𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗙:• Young Adult mystery and suspense novels• A fast paced and page turning read• Authors like Kara Thomas, Karen McManus, and Sarah Shepard𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Steckler sisters are on their high school cross country running team. They live in Edgewater which is known for a string of murders of young adult women runners. The town’s name was changed to Deadwater in the papers because of these unsolved murders. Nothing fatal has happened recently and the town is booming with tourism once again. Ellie and Stella Steckler are both keeping secrets from each other but they eventually realize that they are there for each other to lean on and have each other’s backs. A runner goes missing and the town goes into lockdown mode once again until safety can be ensured. Secrets are revealed and eyes are opened in this small tourist town, 4 stars!

As a new reader of young adult thriller novels, Jessica Goodman’s book, They’ll Never Catch Us, effectively sucked me into wanting to read more of the literary genre. The book was witty, vivid, captivating, and downright charming as the main characters felt like my own best friends by the end. A huge attribute to this is Goodman’s effective storytelling and narration as every chapter had sharpened and detailed descriptions of the plot, which were key to pulling the reader into a frankly, crazy story.The dramatic nature of the book is oftentimes clear, which is easy given the setting of the book is the breeding ground for an effective thriller. There’s an intense coach, a former alcoholic mom, an emotionally unavailable dad, and a whole lot of high school girls. One line of the book I even had to chuckle and roll my eyes to (SPOILER!): “I blurted out my biggest secret to my competition, who is also becoming friends with my secret ex-boyfriend’s actual girlfriend. How did this happen?” It wouldn’t, not unless you’re a character in a young adult fiction novel.The setting seemed straight out of a movie (which is great because the book got signed to HBO Max!), and the characters felt vivid. I could visualize every scene. I imagined myself in the school locker room, the running trails, and the woods.There are a few key themes of the book that help drive the narrative. One is the idea of survival. Some cross country girls died while running, yet the remaining cross country girls still continued to run, even with the threat of death. To the girls, they ran “for survival.” They run to face the forces that constrain them, the author said. Even if that means it’s dangerous, they take the risk. It’s an inspiring message that the book hammers down.However, most notably, the book was about the power of sisters. Ellie and Stella taking care of each other and being there for each other were pivotal in the plot. The sister story was a beautiful one.The book overall was both an easy and enjoyable read. Realistic? No. However, the book was still a pleasant enjoyment nonetheless and showed Goodman’s effective ability to write for a young adult audience. There are also many plot points that arent finished that make it confusing when the book is over. hence 4/5