Short & Sweet Reviews: The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

Short and Sweet Reviews is a regular feature on Pop! Goes The Reader in which I share short, one, two or three paragraph reviews of books I’ve recently read.

Title The Devil You Know
Author Trish Doller
Published June 2nd, 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages 246 Pages
Intended Target Audience Young Adult
Genre & Keywords Contemporary, Romance, Thriller
Part of a Series? No
Source & Format Purchased, Paperback
Find It On GoodreadsAmazon.comChaptersThe Book Depository

Cadie Wells has spent most of her life doing the right thing: going to school, working, and taking care of her family. But it’s the summer after her high school graduation and she’s ready for something big to happen.

So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. There’s the mysterious, seductive Noah. Then there’s intelligent, good-natured Matt. When they invite her and a friend to join them on a road trip, it’s just the escape Cadie has been craving. But what starts out as a carefree journey quickly turns deadly when she discovers that one of the boys is not who he claims to be at all.

From giving up her position on her high school soccer team to breaking up with her longterm boyfriend, Arcadia (Cadie) Wells’ life has been one of duty and sacrifice as Cadie made the difficult choices necessary to better help care for her grieving father and younger brother and help support her family’s fledgling business in the wake of her mother’s death. Reduced to merely dreaming of the adventures she longs to take, Cadie is therefore understandably excited when given the opportunity to take a spontaneous road trip across Florida with two charming, handsome cousins she meets at a local party. What begins as a idyllic adventure quickly transforms into an unpredictable nightmare, however, as Cadie learns that not everything – or everyone – are always as they appear.

The Devil You Know‘s greatest strength is arguably Cadie herself and, by extension, the protagonist’s (and the novel’s) unapologetic, empowering, feminist philosophy. Cadie is an assertive, outspoken heroine who is quick to point out – and actively challenge – the injustice and misogyny inherent in the world around her. Whether she’s confronting issues of toxic masculinity (“Poach? Seriously? Like, I’m an endangered white rhino instead of a person? Pretty sure I’m capable of choosing for myself, instead of waiting around for you guys to decide who gets me.”) or female sexuality (“Your goodness doesn’t lie between your thighs. And you don’t lose value by having sex.”), Doller’s use of Cadie as a conduit for candid, necessary discussions about consent, bodily autonomy and other issues relevant to those who identify as female is powerful and empowering.

While much of Cadie’s behaviour could be considered reckless and self-destructive, her choices are consistent and credible within the context of the narrative. A girl who has always put the needs of others before her own, Cadie’s desperate desire to escape a routine that had become stagnant and suffocating, and her subsequent willingness to take a risk to accomplish this, is understandable, particularly given her age. Cadie’s chemistry with the novel’s primary love interest is also well-rendered, being both intoxicating and irresistible. This is a particularly admirable accomplishment given that, based on the novel’s synopsis, the reader is instinctively inclined to distrust Matt and Noah and suspect them of being disingenuous. Doller perfectly captures the overwhelming, exhilarating desire of a new relationship and the terrifying uncertainty when said feelings and relationship grow more serious than either party initially imagined or intended.

The Devil You Know is a sexy, suspenseful, riveting thrill ride that seamlessly combines a series of seemingly disparate genres to thrilling – and chilling – effect as the novel hurtles towards its breathless, blood-soaked conclusion.

3 Responses

  1. OKAY YOUR REVIEW OF THIS PERFECTLY SUMS ALL MY FEELINGS FOR THIS BOOK UP INTO WORDS! I felt the same way where it was so thrilling and hard to put down! There was no knowing what would happen next and it was impossible to trust anyone, including the main character because of her reckless choices!

  2. Wow, I remember being really interested in this book back when it just came out, but totally forgot about it later. I’m always a fan of a good thriller, and it seems like there are great characters & suspense in this one. Great review!

  3. YES what a classic and you nailed it with the strongest elements – particularly the feminism! I remembered talking about the book with Gaby and I was shaking the book with all the reckless choices she was making but Gaby was like “um I could tooootally see my teen self doing those things” at which I fainted.

    Love this read! It packs a surprising amount of punch and sticks with you.

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Hi! I’m Jen! I’m a thirty-something introvert who loves nothing more than the cozy comfort of home and snuggling my two rescue cats, Pepper and Pancakes. I also enjoy running, jigsaw puzzles, baking and everything Disney. Few things bring me more joy than helping a reader find the right book for them!

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