itsnoterindavis's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
justcrystalxo's review against another edition
5.0
some people shy away from reading a book of this subject matter. i do agree it is disturbing but it happens to alot of people out in this world. you couldn't help but feel for meredith and andy. & you seriously will want to do bodily harm to Charles yourself. really good book.
blakehalsey's review against another edition
4.0
So heartbreaking and awful, and yet Wiess manages to leave you feeling pretty damn hopeful.
roniquereads's review against another edition
5.0
This might be one of the most poignant stories I have read, in all meanings of the word. What, as a teenage girl would you do if the people you are supposed to trust to keep you safe from the world are the people who are hurting you the most? I loved this story, and the message behind it.
syddybee's review against another edition
4.0
A super quick read for anyone who is looking. Keep in mind, it’s dark and definitely contains triggers.
I really enjoyed it, but I wish the author had taken more time to tell the story. I feel like there’s so much that could have been done with it but instead it ended kind of abruptly in my opinion.
I really enjoyed it, but I wish the author had taken more time to tell the story. I feel like there’s so much that could have been done with it but instead it ended kind of abruptly in my opinion.
ama_reads's review against another edition
3.0
It's a fast read...must be, as I finished in the same day I started it.
I enjoyed the story - as well as one can enjoy a story about a teenage girl who was raped by her father...who happens to be released from prison 5 years early. Although not explicit, the book is still not for the squeamish. It's a well written story, full of empowerment (and how hard it is to become empowered when faced with one's enemy). Too bad it seems a little far fetched.
I enjoyed the story - as well as one can enjoy a story about a teenage girl who was raped by her father...who happens to be released from prison 5 years early. Although not explicit, the book is still not for the squeamish. It's a well written story, full of empowerment (and how hard it is to become empowered when faced with one's enemy). Too bad it seems a little far fetched.
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
a powerful story of the court's failure to protect a teenage girl raped by her father. he was supposed to be in jail until she was 18, but meredith's dad is out after serving only three years, and her insane mother has arranged for him to live in the same condo development. meredith could call her dad in for petty violations, or run away, but she knows he would only find someone else to molest. so she takes it on herself to put him back in prison.
let's talk about meredith's mom. i found it really interesting that she was so unsympathetic. that she was jealous of meredith and blamed her for ruining her marriage. in a perfect world parents would always defend their children. but the teenagers i work with have given me some real life examples where this definitely isn't true. so she's horrifying, but realistic.
i thought pauline and andy were a little creepy in their religious fervor, but it worked with the story and provided some interesting plot developments.
forgive my cliche, but i couldn't put this down. i'm looking forward to wiess' other books.
let's talk about meredith's mom. i found it really interesting that she was so unsympathetic. that she was jealous of meredith and blamed her for ruining her marriage. in a perfect world parents would always defend their children. but the teenagers i work with have given me some real life examples where this definitely isn't true. so she's horrifying, but realistic.
i thought pauline and andy were a little creepy in their religious fervor, but it worked with the story and provided some interesting plot developments.
forgive my cliche, but i couldn't put this down. i'm looking forward to wiess' other books.
nikkihrose's review against another edition
3.0
Have you ever imagined what life would be like if the one person who destroyed your life was suddenly back in it, every day, looking for ways to destroy it further?
Have you ever considered what happens to the hundreds upon thousands of survivors of abuse who society refuses to believe once they are cast away back into their shell of a life?
Meredith escaped her abuser. Her father was locked up for nine years — or so they told her. He got out in three. And now he’s back in her life.
She’s fifteen now, and she hoped that that would make her less desirable to him. She was wrong. She hoped that she could hide herself behind baggy clothing and filthy hair and hygiene. She was wrong. He wanted her — and being locked up hadn’t changed that in the slightest.
She tries to hide. She runs away. She looks to police officers, relatives, and friends for comfort. She curls in on herself, hiding behind her curtain of shame.
She is a pretty girl, devastated and destroyed inside.
She is a pretty girl — unable to escape her past.
She is a pretty girl — afraid that she will have to put herself in harm’s way in order to protect the innocence of others. In order to have a life. In order to survive.
Laura Wiess paints this devastating tale into a short novel — one relatable to far too many individuals in the world today. Meredith’s world becomes smaller, insignificant, and boxed in when her abuser returns to her household. When the laws put in place to protect her are ignored. When her own mother views her as a homewrecker instead of as her daughter who is in need of help and love. Meredith feels alone and so she fights for her own survival.
Have you ever considered what happens to the hundreds upon thousands of survivors of abuse who society refuses to believe once they are cast away back into their shell of a life?
Meredith escaped her abuser. Her father was locked up for nine years — or so they told her. He got out in three. And now he’s back in her life.
She’s fifteen now, and she hoped that that would make her less desirable to him. She was wrong. She hoped that she could hide herself behind baggy clothing and filthy hair and hygiene. She was wrong. He wanted her — and being locked up hadn’t changed that in the slightest.
She tries to hide. She runs away. She looks to police officers, relatives, and friends for comfort. She curls in on herself, hiding behind her curtain of shame.
She is a pretty girl, devastated and destroyed inside.
She is a pretty girl — unable to escape her past.
She is a pretty girl — afraid that she will have to put herself in harm’s way in order to protect the innocence of others. In order to have a life. In order to survive.
Laura Wiess paints this devastating tale into a short novel — one relatable to far too many individuals in the world today. Meredith’s world becomes smaller, insignificant, and boxed in when her abuser returns to her household. When the laws put in place to protect her are ignored. When her own mother views her as a homewrecker instead of as her daughter who is in need of help and love. Meredith feels alone and so she fights for her own survival.