Review: They’ll Never Catch Us, Jessica Goodman

After reading and loving They Wish They Were Us, I knew I had to read more of Jessica Goodman’s books. They’ll Never Catch Us sounded just as exciting and SISTERS. Honestly, I love a good story about sisters so I was excited. Check out my full review below!

They'll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman
Published by Razorbill on July 27, 2021
Genres: thriller, young adult
Format: Paperback
Buy on Amazon, Book Depository, Bookshop, Blackwell's
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A 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 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.

☂️ TRIGGER WARNINGS:

abortion, murder, blood, cheating, alcoholism, substance abuse, underage drinking, peer pressure.

☂️ DIVERSITY:sapphic main character, half-Puerto Rican side character, Black side-character.

There are no spoilers in this review.

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I ENJOYED…

☂️

• They’ll Never Catch Us is about two sisters, competing for the top spot on their cross-country team… until a new girl arrives and puts everything into jeopardy. For starters, let me say this: I LOVE stories about sisters. Maybe it’s because I have one myself, but I just adore it when sisters’ relationships are at the heart of a story.
  • In this book, I loved the complex relationship between Ellie and Stella. They’re very different and they fight, they don’t get along sometimes, or don’t even understand each other, but they will still be very protective of each other every single time. I loved exploring this complex relationship so much, loved seeing it grow, change as secrets are revealed and more. SISTERS, I love it okay.
• This story is told from both sisters’ POV.
  • Let’s start with Stella: she’s not the most likeable character, I’ll admit it. Fiercely competitive, smart, not that sociable, she’s focused on her only goal of getting a scholarship and being number one. While she’s not someone you’ll fall for instantly, I found that following such an intense character and seeing her grow thorough the story was SO interesting.
  • Ellie is different from her sister in many, many ways. She likes to party, she’s more open with others, she’s warmer and easier to approach, as well. It was easier to fall for Ellie as a character because of this, I’ll admit it. That being said, Ellie is also a fiercely competitive person, just like her sister and she’s determined to get what she wants… and for what she doesn’t want to get out, to stay in, as well.
• I really, really loved how each sister had her own storyline, her own voice and her own secrets, just as well, yet I loved seeing them coming together, fighting for each other despite everything else. The little peek we get at their relationship as children, facing complicated family dynamics and now, before and after their lives are messed-up by a disappearance, was wonderfully done.

• At the heart of this story is a mystery including the two sisters, as the new girl on the cross-country team disappears. I have to say: just like in Jessica Goodman’s debut, They Wish They Were Us, I found the mystery part of this book thrilling to read. I had many theories and, while some of them ended up being true, I didn’t guess what would happen or what really happened, either and I really loved it. I was hooked, right from the start and up until the very last page.
• Another thing I love and was how this story explores how women are perceived, both in competitive sports and in the rest of their lives. Women like Stella and Ellie, the competitive, unapologetically going after what they want in life ones. Women fighting, screaming, women that won’t shut up or take any of your bullshit. I loved loved loved this theme and this girl power going on thorough the story. Much, much appreciated.

OVERALL

☂️

A little darker than Jessica Goodman’s debut, They’ll Never Catch Us was just as thrilling to read. I loved the mystery, the sisters relationship and I just can’t wait to read more from the author. Definitely recommending this!

FINAL RATING : 4,5 stars!

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Did you read They’ll Never Catch Us, or do you want to? I seem to be really into YA thriller these days, so… do you have any recommendations for me? Let me know in comments!

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