Not Like Other Girls

On the surface this YA mystery, set against the backdrop of a pressurised high school environment, would seem to be about a missing girl, a scandal and the corruption caused by power and privilege, but appearances can be deceptive. This multi layered debut novel uses the tropes of fake dating and Mean Girls style behaviour, but it also bravely tackles toxic masculinity, slut shaming, text bullying, the violation of privacy, predatory male behaviour and what constitutes consent. It exposes the manipulation of stories by the press and casts a spotlight on the damage caused by social cliques casting judgements.

Set in Rochester, New York, Not Like Other Girls is deeply personal. The protagonist Jo-Lynn is achingly portrayed as an imperfect, extremely vulnerable, sassy girl who deserves better and ‘who can make you laugh and break your heart.’ Like Cadence in Lockhart’s We Were Liars, she has lost her own narrative and can’t process or communicate to the reader what has happened to her. She has gone from popular to social outcast over night after a sequence of events which remain tangled in her sub conscious. It’s only by finding her ‘wholly unique voice’ and unravelling the past three years that she can begin to heal.

The catalyst is the sudden disappearance of Jo-Lynn’s ambitious ex best friend Maddie. Where do the Birds [equivalent of Grease’s Pink Ladies], fake boyfriend Hudson, high achiever Miles, aggressive jock Cody and Maddie’s family fit in? Who is telling lies and hiding dark secrets?

What is Keystone? As Jo investigates, questioning her heart and mind, events start to spiral out of control and she is unsure of who to trust.

While this is a crime thriller, it also teaches young adults powerful lessons, highlighting the dangers of self-destructive behaviour and red flags to watch out for. Skilfully capturing the challenges and savage realities of navigating life as a restless teenage girl in a small American town, it resonates with universal themes. Adamo takes a scalpel to the phrase ‘Not Like Other Girls’ and investigates how cruel assumptions can undermine self-esteem. She also empowers healthy female sexuality by reclaiming the narrative and letting the reader know what is not ok. As she states, ‘My justice is that I get to tell this story- Jo’s and mine.’

Trigger warnings- Alcohol, Violence, Drugs, Sexual Assault