quillbot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Not very conclusive endingÂ
chyreads29's review against another edition
4.0
This is another one of those stories that will grab you and hold you hostage until the very last page. Summers' writing is absolutely stunning; I am definitely captivated by her style. Romy Grey, the main protagonist, is so complex and difficult, it's hard to wrap your head around who she is at times. But she is my favorite thing about this story. Romy's struggles with her sexual assault and the bullying she experiences, as a result, is painfully messy and honest. When she recounts her assault, she speaks in the third person, indicating a dissociation from her body, which is the site of her trauma. By the end of the novel, she doesn't resolve this. By the end of the novel, her community still rallies behind violent aggressors rather than innocent victims. Summers doesn't shy away from a realistic ending that mirrors how these things work in the real world, which I greatly appreciate. She also starts so many conversations about privilege, abused power, and rape culture and who can be the perpetrators.
kmj98's review against another edition
5.0
Book was a real page turner. The author has a rhythm to her writing. Exceptional writing style and strong plot and characters. Very deep and thoroughly thought out plot. Lovely.
ambrek's review against another edition
5.0
It's more like 4,75.
I loved this book. The story is heartbreaking. It was really well writing even if I was a little confused sometimes.
We don't know anything until the end.
It just a blown away story.
But I was expected a different end that's why it's not 5/5. There are some things I wanted to happen but never happened... I needed a little more about what happens next.
But a really good book that everyone need to read.
I loved this book. The story is heartbreaking. It was really well writing even if I was a little confused sometimes.
We don't know anything until the end.
It just a blown away story.
But I was expected a different end that's why it's not 5/5. There are some things I wanted to happen but never happened... I needed a little more about what happens next.
But a really good book that everyone need to read.
forsakenfates's review against another edition
5.0
FYI, there is a huge trigger warning for this book, abuse, bullying, and rape.
I don't even know what to say about this book. It was beyond infuriating and so real. The writing was beautiful and at the same time hauntingly disturbing. The fact that what Romy went through in this book is something so many people go through everyday is disgusting. This book is accurately named and while I made me so angry and upset to read, at the same time I loved it. This book is important. It showcases something our society typically shies away from. It is important that people see what victims of abuse and bullying, and everything else Romy went through.
This book is told post-trauma in Romy's point of view. We see her hate herself more and more as a result of something that was never her fault. I hated how everyone in the town treated her. It was horrible to read.
One thing that I found interesting about this book is that we never actually meet Kellan. I really liked this choice, because it focused the book solely on Romy's story. It kept the book about her and how she was dealing with it.
This book is adequately named due to the feelings it evoked in me. There were so many times where I was so aggravated at what Romy's was going through and how she did not think she could tell anyone what was going on with her. That upset me so much that she felt that alone that she could not share her life with someone.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway*
I don't even know what to say about this book. It was beyond infuriating and so real. The writing was beautiful and at the same time hauntingly disturbing. The fact that what Romy went through in this book is something so many people go through everyday is disgusting. This book is accurately named and while I made me so angry and upset to read, at the same time I loved it. This book is important. It showcases something our society typically shies away from. It is important that people see what victims of abuse and bullying, and everything else Romy went through.
This book is told post-trauma in Romy's point of view. We see her hate herself more and more as a result of something that was never her fault. I hated how everyone in the town treated her. It was horrible to read.
One thing that I found interesting about this book is that we never actually meet Kellan. I really liked this choice, because it focused the book solely on Romy's story. It kept the book about her and how she was dealing with it.
This book is adequately named due to the feelings it evoked in me. There were so many times where I was so aggravated at what Romy's was going through and how she did not think she could tell anyone what was going on with her. That upset me so much that she felt that alone that she could not share her life with someone.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through a giveaway*
girlreading's review against another edition
4.0
Reading this felt like being punched in the gut over and over again. It was gut wrenching, emotionally draining, frustrating and utterly heartbreaking. Brilliantly written but none the less terrifying in its relevance and candour.
TW: rape, sexual assault, ableism
TW: rape, sexual assault, ableism
sjj169's review against another edition
2.0
Unpopular opinion time:
The blurb of this book says The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact.
The thing is....we never meet Kellan Turner in this book.
The book starts after Kellan Turner rapes Romy. (That is not a spoiler)
This is the after effects of Romy's story. It begins with her using her nail polish and lipstick as armor against the hate from the small town that she lives throws at her. She accused the sheriff's precious son of rape. *gasp*
Nothing happens to him at all.
She is shunned at school so she builds up walls around herself. Never telling anyone what happened. Never talking about anything. Her mom tries to help but Romy has shut everyone out.
The Bad:
The story jumps from NOW until TWO WEEKS LATER, but didn't really keep the storyline straight for me. I was confused with what was happening most of the time. I kept thinking things would clear up later in the book but for me it never really did.
The main character Romy. I didn't care for her. I just didn't get enough of a sense of her personality that I never formed an attachment to her. I should have. In a book of this type you SHOULD rage for that girl. Every-time she would have something bad happen it seemed like she just made things worse for herself. Then she would never explain anything to anyone so it just became one big cluster fuck. I know that she had been traumatized and wasn't thinking straight but it was just too much for me.
She has somewhat of a love interest in the book. I don't think it added to the story at all. It actually took away from it. She was so traumatized that a boy should not have entered into the picture yet.
I wanted to feel more for these characters. This book has bullying even of her mom's boyfriend who is disabled due to a car accident. The townspeople openly mock him for being lazy. Then the whole thing with Romy should have had me furious. It just didn't.
There is girl on girl hate........
and through it all I just kept waiting on the story to really start.
Now for the good:
The book does have a powerful message and the writing is good. I love Courtney Summers so don't go thinking I'm hating on her. I'm not.
The story line of a girl being shunned for accusing a popular boy of rape. This happens. The stories need told.
Stick up for your women/girl sisters people! Even you guys.
The blurb of this book says The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact.
The thing is....we never meet Kellan Turner in this book.
The book starts after Kellan Turner rapes Romy. (That is not a spoiler)
This is the after effects of Romy's story. It begins with her using her nail polish and lipstick as armor against the hate from the small town that she lives throws at her. She accused the sheriff's precious son of rape. *gasp*
Nothing happens to him at all.
She is shunned at school so she builds up walls around herself. Never telling anyone what happened. Never talking about anything. Her mom tries to help but Romy has shut everyone out.
The Bad:
The story jumps from NOW until TWO WEEKS LATER, but didn't really keep the storyline straight for me. I was confused with what was happening most of the time. I kept thinking things would clear up later in the book but for me it never really did.
The main character Romy. I didn't care for her. I just didn't get enough of a sense of her personality that I never formed an attachment to her. I should have. In a book of this type you SHOULD rage for that girl. Every-time she would have something bad happen it seemed like she just made things worse for herself. Then she would never explain anything to anyone so it just became one big cluster fuck. I know that she had been traumatized and wasn't thinking straight but it was just too much for me.
She has somewhat of a love interest in the book. I don't think it added to the story at all. It actually took away from it. She was so traumatized that a boy should not have entered into the picture yet.
I wanted to feel more for these characters. This book has bullying even of her mom's boyfriend who is disabled due to a car accident. The townspeople openly mock him for being lazy. Then the whole thing with Romy should have had me furious. It just didn't.
There is girl on girl hate........
and through it all I just kept waiting on the story to really start.
Now for the good:
The book does have a powerful message and the writing is good. I love Courtney Summers so don't go thinking I'm hating on her. I'm not.
The story line of a girl being shunned for accusing a popular boy of rape. This happens. The stories need told.
Stick up for your women/girl sisters people! Even you guys.
bookspinesandwine's review against another edition
5.0
This book made me feel a lot of things. Mostly rage (it is aptly titled). I strongly wish for a sequel in which certain characters are given a terrible fate that they deserve but life doesn't always deliver perfect justice.
The writing was different, which was confusing at times just because it broke up the flow for me. However I could tell it was intentional and unapologetic and it was new and different so I don't fault the author for her style. Parts of it I really loved, because in the throws of anger and despair it is how we may actually think. We don't necessarily think in clear perfect sentences when we feel broken.
This book is not a feel good nice story, it's gritty, raw, and real. Unfortunately it's an all too realistic portrait of what high school teens can be like.
The writing was different, which was confusing at times just because it broke up the flow for me. However I could tell it was intentional and unapologetic and it was new and different so I don't fault the author for her style. Parts of it I really loved, because in the throws of anger and despair it is how we may actually think. We don't necessarily think in clear perfect sentences when we feel broken.
This book is not a feel good nice story, it's gritty, raw, and real. Unfortunately it's an all too realistic portrait of what high school teens can be like.
missamandamae's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, yikes. This book. VERY compelling, and I could barely put it down. It made me so ANGRY and uncomfortable, and that's what it's supposed to do. A difficult subject for sure, but one that needs to be addressed. It's incredibly upsetting that this is a scenario that is still relevant; this still happens. This is a book that NEEDS to be read and discussed. And the adults and authority figures in teens' lives need to read and discuss this book and check themselves for the deplorable behavior featured in it, and stop the teens in their care from repeating the actions of this book. Very well-written, terrifyingly true, and a sadly necessary story to be told.
I received an ARC from the publisher.
I received an ARC from the publisher.