Scan barcode
cc_shelflove's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“And maybe she’d been right. That she could look those people in the eye and treat them like they were anyone else, regardless of what they were accused of . . . he might have judged her for it before. Might have judged her just now, in his mind a moment ago. But he was lucky, he realized. So lucky to have a wife who was calm in the face of darkness.”
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug abuse, Murder, and Alcohol
davidbythebay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My biggest problem with this was not the plot, but the questions it raises. The plot was satisfactorily concluded, as I said before, despite it not being enthralling. No, the issue I have is with the topics this novel covers and the questions it raises. In sum, I feel as though the questions raised weren't fully explored or expanded on. They were mentioned and moved on from more than questioned and analyzed. Yes, the ending was satisfying to an extent, but it breaks down with a few threads pulled.
The following is set as a spoiler because it gets into a few plot points which are kind of in the summary description but I'm going to go just a bit deeper.
Then we have the question of gay men. It is still an unbelievably harmful stereotype that gay men are overly concerned with finding and engaging in rough and dangerous sex. Not true. The assumptions about gay men interacting with the rape plot line are again mentioned but not explored. At best it's an aside a few times. This deserved more discussion and exploration. Especially as I felt there was some stuff that could have been cut unless it went somewhere else, like Julia's use of a private eye to find other victims; this could have opened up the discussions I wanted from this thriller - discussions I only wanted after they were raised, not when I entered the book. As it stands, the private eye and some of the side quests of this felt very much like a waste when it was over. Those sections could have been halved at least and allowed for more interesting discussions.
A final issue I had is with the dynamics of the effects of rape on the family. Nick, our victim, has some of his psychological reactions explored but the story doesn't really focus on him much. No, the story is focused almost exclusively on Julia and Detective Rice. And with Julia and her husband Tony - of whom we do get narrated chapters - we see the strain on their marriage and themselves, but again it was half-hearted. There was so much to explore and dive into there which could have supported the thriller aspects of this novel by, for example, playing on the inner psychological ramifications of Nick's ordeal on Tony and Julia separately and how that was really impacting the marriage and the kids. These aspects were there, but I felt they were again just forgotten about. When the back description calls out the small-town family effect of this crime - "When a small-town family is pushed to the brink, how far will they go to protect one of their own?" - I wanted more about the family dynamics. Nick's formerly abusive father who seems to have a character shift I don't fully accept - I felt he would hold onto some of his more aggressive traits - and the more extended family beyond Nick, Tony and Julia are brought together but never given much attention to. The background stories about why Tony is so protective of Nick were amazing at explaining his current motivations, but either work with the characters it introduces when they appear again or forget bringing them in again.
REAL SPOILER FOR THE ENDING!!!!!!!!! As for the ending, I don't understand why the arrogant and confident Ray - the rapist - would follow Julia's plan at all. It felt completely far from his character unless he had done this before and wanted the chance to do this again. There are hints he raped and sexually assaulted before, but nothing is confirmed. So why follow the plan of your victim's sister-in-law at all? And I understand Julia's connections to have Ray disappear, but again there is a level of unbelievability of the situation.
Overall, it was good though it was a bit of a let down that I don't think I'll remember much of n a few months beyond the questions it raises.
Graphic: Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse and Homophobia
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Murder, and Alcohol
lindsaysofia_25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
While of course Nick's sexual assault is the centre of the story (and dealt with well, might I add), readers come to understand the title as the story moves on and we see that the book is really about how the assault damages the family. At the same time though, it's suggested that perhaps this perceived damage was good for the family in the end by forcing them to test how unconditional their love really is. The conclusion of the novel raises interesting ethical questions and forces the reader to really reflect, as any good book should. Fast-paced mystery is paired with sharp commentary on gendered expectations to create a fantastic novel I'd recommend to any reader looking for their next read in the genre!
The writing style complemented the content well and was incredibly well thought out. Bits of information were introduced at precisely the right time to build suspense and to pull the reader along with the mystery. Even the tiniest details were called back into the reader's memory at the perfect moment to evoke specific emotions and responses to certain events. Honestly, the writing can only be described as artful!
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Murder
leannecs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Murder
spookybookylonnie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
I love the little book club I decided to start on Instagram. Not only have I made some awesome friends, I’ve also found a fun way to branch out into genres I wouldn’t normally choose.
I love how Wahrer jumps straight into the story with Nick’s assault. Some of you will know, as I’m not afraid anymore to share my story, that I am a child sexual abuse and adult domestic abuse survivor, so this graphic read hit hard for me, but I also appreciated how it wasn’t shied away from. It was raw, honest and brutal, which is the unfortunate truth. Some of you have shared your own stories with me, and I am honoured. My inbox is a confidential safe space.
We see how such a horrific incident, isolated or repeated, affects the whole family. Nick’s brother takes it especially hold, being the one who’s always protected him from harm, and he wasn’t there to save him. How far will he go to redeem himself and protect his family?
Loved the twist at the end; I gasped out loud. This was a wonderful introduction to thrillers for me. I will definitely be reading more and would love to read more by Caitlin Wahrer too.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Murder
jberg216's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
cayv97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
danielghurst's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
THE DAMAGE by Caitlin Wahrer is the tense story of the Hall family dealing with a major trauma. When twenty-year-old Nick is the victim of a sexual assault, he turns to his protective older brother, Tony, and Tony's wife, Julia, for help. Told in a dual timeline in which Julia meets with the detective from Nick's case years later, the story is about how the characters' actions affect their relationships and the damage that reverberates from that one awful night. This book is a fantastic blend of suspense and character study. With the juxtaposition of the dual timelines, some well-placed cliffhangers, and a touch of dramatic irony, Wahrer keeps the pages turning in this small story. We do see glimpses of the wider world of the court system, police department, and local press, but most of the drama is contained to a handful of characters. Each one is well-developed and comes alive on the page with just enough backstory to inform their present choices and with dialogue that feels true to life and the individuals. Much of the tension in the story comes from their relationships, and the light touch of suspense allows space to address difficult topics (see content warnings below) with the care they deserve while keeping the story compelling. THE DAMAGE is a stunning debut, and I look forward to seeing what Wahrer does next!CW: sexual assault, physical violence, self-harm, overdose, suicide attempt, alcoholism, child abuse
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Abandonment