I received this book for free Book Expo America in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Find Me (Find Me #1) by Romily BernardPublished by HarperTeen on 24 September 2025
Source: Book Expo America
Goodreads
“Find Me.”
These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.
Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.
Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?
Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.
But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.
Because it just got personal.
Thoughts:
Of all the ARCs that I picked up at BEA, Find Me was my most anticipated. Hackers, foster kids, sisters, a serial killer, and a mystery? It sounded perfect for me. And it was. First, you should know going in that this isn’t really a serial killer book. Tessa actually kills herself after an abusive and sexual relationship with an older man (that would be rape). So it’s not just that Wick’s little sister is in the sights of a killer. It’s that she is in the sights of a rapist… one who blends in and seems like a nice guy.
Probably my favorite part is Wick’s relationship with her sister, Lily. Wick loves Lily more than anything, but that love has always been used to hurt and control Wick. Now that they are living on the “good” side of town with foster parents who seem to really care, Wick struggles with the new situation. She hopes that things work out for Lily, but for herself, Wick thinks she is beyond loving. For me, it made the story really emotional. It wasn’t just that Wick needed to protect Lily, it was that she needed to learn when to protect Lily and when to let someone else do it.
As for the mystery and thriller aspects, I really enjoyed them. I had no idea who the rapist was going to be, although part of the problem was that I really, really didn’t want the bad guy to be a bad guy. His identity brought along a new set of emotional traumas, but I thought it was handled well.
There is also a little bit of romance between Wick and fellow hacker, Griff. I liked him from the moment I realized that he called her “Wicked” instead of “Wick”. She is pretty wicked. His role also helps to set the book up for a sequel, which I am looking forward to reading.
Moments I Loved: Any moments between Wick and her sister. I love sister stories and this one had just the right balance of complicated love.
WTF Moments: The final showdown with the killer/rapist, when Wick is still trying to wrap her head around the truth. The things he said to her… shudder.
Overall: A promising start to a new series.
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brandileigh2003 says
Her relationship with her sister sounds so well done, and I can’t wait to give this one a second shot
Bernard did a great job making a bunch of people creepy, which made them all seem suspect and pinning down the murderer difficult. I probably would have guessed correctly if I’d been forced, but I definitely wasn’t sure.
Also, I did like the sisterly bond, particularly toward the end when we got to see her little sister a bit more. I hope for more sisterly dynamics in book two!
Just fyi, in my ARC, she wrote her name as Wick with a K.
fakesteph says
Thank you for pointing out the spelling! I think I meant to go back and check the spelling when I was drafting this post and then forgot! I’ve fixed it now.
The series hasn’t been on my radar but it sounds intense. I haven’t read a lot of book about hacking lately.
P.E. @ The Sirenic Codex says
Sounds pretty exciting! I’m always into stories about hackers and the mystery in this one calls to me. I’ll totally be looking forward to reading it! Also, I generally love sister stories too.
Heather @ Buried in Books says
Yours is the best review I’ve read so far of this book. I definitely want to read this one, one day! After my TBR gets lower. But I definitely want to read this one, I had no idea it was going to be a series!
Kate- Midnight Book Girl says
You know I want to read this, for all the reasons you wanted to! It’s nice to have a bookish friend that appreciates the dark and twisty things in lit too. 😉
Jen @ YA Romantics says
I am here to attest that you have wanted to read this book forever! In fact, I think that you were the one who told me about it! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. I did too, though I thought the culprit was super-obvious…..
I loved the sister relationship and I also sort of loved the gruff detective…
Jen @ YA Romantics
Andrea @ The Overstuffed Bookcase says
This one does sound really good! I’m off to check out if I have it on my TBR list! Great review, Steph!