Good Girls Stay Quiet

By: Jo Cassidy

Narrated by: Alexa Elmy

Stay silent to stay alive....

Fifteen-year-old Cora Snow has a dark secret she only shares with her journal and her best friend Noah, who happens to be her talking stuffed elephant. Well, and Sally, a wrench and trusted confidant for when Cora's locked in the basement after breaking one of "Daddy's" rules.

House rules: Keep hair neatly braided. Prepare Daddy's favorite meals. Keep the house perfect. Stay locked in room when Daddy isn't home. Call Daddy "Daddy."

School rules: Get good grades. No friends. No boys. Don't ever attract attention.

And the most important rule of all: Never, ever make Daddy angry.

Cora follows all of the rules to avoid suffering the painful consequences until one day her journal goes missing. A note appears in her locker saying, "I know your secret," and its followed by a series of blackmail demands that take Cora far out of her comfort zone.

For most girls, losing your diary might be embarrassing, but for Cora? Finding the missing journal could be a matter of life and death—and uncovering who took it requires breaking all the rules.

Question is, how far is Cora Snow willing to go to protect her and "Daddy"?

An intense psychological thriller for fans of Natasha Preston, Good Girls Stay Quiet will take you on an emotional journey and help you uncover the importance of finding your voice in dangerous situations.

©2018 Jo Cassidy (P)2023 Jo Cassidy

interesting story

the book starts very good and keeps You interested almost until the end. i Say almost because the end felt a Little rushed and too happy for someone who had been through what Cora had been.

Powerful and entertaining!

Good Girls Stay Quiet is a powerful and harrowing novel about a young woman's journey to escape from an abusive home. The book is told from the perspective of Cora Snow, a 15-year-old girl who has been living in fear of her "Daddy" since she was a child. Daddy is a controlling and abusive man who has isolated Cora from the outside world and made her believe that she is worthless. When Cora's secret journal goes missing she must do whatever it takes to find it to keep her and Daddy's secret safe.

Cassidy does an excellent job of capturing the raw emotions of someone suffering abuse. Cora's fear, confusion, and self-loathing are all vividly portrayed, and the reader can't help but feel her pain. The book is also suspenseful, as Cora tries to find her stolen journal and discover the motives of the thief.

In addition to Cora, Cassidy also creates a cast of rich and warm characters who are at times both suspects and new friends as they do their best to help her. These characters all play important roles in her journey.

Good Girls Stay Quiet is an excellent and important read. It is a story that needs to be told, and Cassidy does it with compassion and understanding. The book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the impact of abuse and the power of hope.

The book is well-written and engaging. The pacing is perfect, and the plot is full of twists and turns. The characters are complex and believable. Cora is a sympathetic and relatable protagonist, and the supporting characters are all well-developed. The book deals with difficult topics in a sensitive and nuanced way. Cassidy does not shy away from the harsh realities of abuse, but she also offers hope and inspiration.

Narrator Alexa Elmy brings a rich vocal performance to the reading giving each character a unique voice and depth. She does an excellent job and I look forward to listening to more of her work.

Great story meh narration

Fifteen year old Cora must obey her “Daddy” or risk beatings and being locked in the basement. Now she’s attending school for the first time, trying to follow Daddy’s rules to talk to no one and avoid attention. Two students are determined to befriend her, which could result in their death. Or Cora’s.

GOOD GIRLS STAY QUIET is a creepy, creepy story. Kidnapped from foster care, Daddy is the only family Cora has ever known. For years her stuffed animals, who talk to her, have been her only companions. Jo Cassidy never addresses the mental health aspect of Cora hearing the voices of her stuffed animals, understandable as a coping mechanism, but still a sign of deeper pathology. Cassidy did a good job of showing the naïveté of a girl isolated from everyone, believing in Santa Claus for example.

The stolen journal/blackmail angle of the story was least credible of GOOD GIRLS STAY QUIET. Teenagers can be unkind to each other, but most don’t blackmail a kidnapped victim (only the journal knows), threatening exposure. Other disconnects in the story include a neighbor being suspicious so Daddy deciding to send Cora to school without homeschool records, a birth certificate or ID never felt authentic.

With all its faults, GOOD GIRLS STAY QUIET is still a satisfying read with engaging characters.

The narrator spoke way too quickly and didn’t do different characters’ dialog well.

I couldn't stop listening

From start to finish, I was on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed the narration. She changed her voice so effortlessly. Wonderful listen!

Constant movement through the book

I liked this book because the characters changed. The author did a great job of keeping me interested throughout the book. I had to keep listening! There are triggers. And the word “daddy” grosses me out now.