cornucopiaofbooks's review
4.0
I don't normally write up full reviews of non-YA fiction, but when I was contacted about Exposure I couldn't say no. Not only is it about a relevant topic in todays tech/media society, it's also something that the Fowler drew on experience from.
This book was intense. Fowler wrote this book in a way that had me emotionally invested in the characters. Once I got a few chapters in, I really couldn't set it down. This wasn't the case of a bad boyfriend sending a naked photo of his girlfriend to all of his friends, it involved a couple who were deeply in love, and a father snooping on his daughter's computer. It was nice to see a couple that were really in love, and that it clearly wasn't "puppy love" for them. It always bothers me when adults look down on teens in love, so I was glad that the relationship between these two characters was wasn't a superficial one.
The situation spiraled out of control quickly, and was made worse by Amelia's aggressively overprotective father, Harlan. The portions of the book that were narrated from his point-of-view were a struggle to get through...he was completely unreasonable. I don't have kids, so I can't claim to understand what it's like to try to protect your child. Still, to me he was the start of the problem, and continued to exacerbate it. The emotions in the book, woo boy. Can I say that it was intense again? I really wasn't sure how things were going to resolve, and I ended up finishing the second half of the book in a couple of hours. I had to know what was going to happen to the characters, particularly if Amelia and Anthony would be able to move past everything that had happened to them.
I would have liked to see more of Amelia's mother, and why she remained almost passive during most of the scandal. Some background on her would have been nice, although we do get quite a bit about Harlan and Kim. I'm also a bit biased about the Vermont scenes, being a Vermonter myself. There were a few portions where I thought the accent was a bit extreme...The fact that those are my only two issues should say a lot about the book. I thought the characters were real, and I felt like Fowler was able to use her experience to infuse the book with something that other author's would miss.
This book was intense. Fowler wrote this book in a way that had me emotionally invested in the characters. Once I got a few chapters in, I really couldn't set it down. This wasn't the case of a bad boyfriend sending a naked photo of his girlfriend to all of his friends, it involved a couple who were deeply in love, and a father snooping on his daughter's computer. It was nice to see a couple that were really in love, and that it clearly wasn't "puppy love" for them. It always bothers me when adults look down on teens in love, so I was glad that the relationship between these two characters was wasn't a superficial one.
The situation spiraled out of control quickly, and was made worse by Amelia's aggressively overprotective father, Harlan. The portions of the book that were narrated from his point-of-view were a struggle to get through...he was completely unreasonable. I don't have kids, so I can't claim to understand what it's like to try to protect your child. Still, to me he was the start of the problem, and continued to exacerbate it. The emotions in the book, woo boy. Can I say that it was intense again? I really wasn't sure how things were going to resolve, and I ended up finishing the second half of the book in a couple of hours. I had to know what was going to happen to the characters, particularly if Amelia and Anthony would be able to move past everything that had happened to them.
I would have liked to see more of Amelia's mother, and why she remained almost passive during most of the scandal. Some background on her would have been nice, although we do get quite a bit about Harlan and Kim. I'm also a bit biased about the Vermont scenes, being a Vermonter myself. There were a few portions where I thought the accent was a bit extreme...The fact that those are my only two issues should say a lot about the book. I thought the characters were real, and I felt like Fowler was able to use her experience to infuse the book with something that other author's would miss.
iiamsn01's review
5.0
This is the first book i Have written a review for in a while. Maybe because I liked it that much. Despite wanting to sock her dad in the face I loved how Anthony and Amelia were and I love that they didn't back down. I do wish that Amelia spoke up more but I realize even if she did her dipstick dad wouldn't listen.
This book came out at the right time. This whole 'sexting' thing is ridiculous. I would to know how a child could exploit themselves and I think it's overzealous parents are jumping the gun because their special snowflake could never do this etc. (and this is coming FROM a parent)
This book came out at the right time. This whole 'sexting' thing is ridiculous. I would to know how a child could exploit themselves and I think it's overzealous parents are jumping the gun because their special snowflake could never do this etc. (and this is coming FROM a parent)
mikolee's review
4.0
Forget the cheesy cover and salacious title Just read this gripping novel focused on southern high school lovers embroiled in a sexting scandal. So of the moment and captivating with interesting characters and arcs. Would be great high school reading and then discussion.
kellyhager's review
4.0
Anthony and Amelia are in love. They’re both high school seniors; she’s 17 and he’s 18. But because her parents are overprotective, they’re keeping their relationship a secret. Unfortunately, her dad finds pictures of Anthony on Amelia’s computer—naked ones—and he overreacts. The police are called. Even though Amelia tells the truth, the DA decides to make an example and those pictures are considered pornography. And since she’s 17, it’s sending porn to a minor. AND this situation ends up getting even worse.
This is the kind of “ripped from the headlines” book I tend to really enjoy (think Testimony by Anita Shreve or anything by Jodi Picoult) and this book was no exception. Until I read it, I figured the worst thing that could happen if you sent a naked picture to someone was that you’d end up having that picture sent to everyone you know in case you broke up later* but it didn’t even occur to me that it would be considered porn. (And if the person’s under 18, it’s child porn, which does NOT look good on the permanent record.)
Very scary and surprisingly plausible. Recommended.
* = And that happens all the time…it hasn’t happened to me, but it did happen to someone I used to know.
This is the kind of “ripped from the headlines” book I tend to really enjoy (think Testimony by Anita Shreve or anything by Jodi Picoult) and this book was no exception. Until I read it, I figured the worst thing that could happen if you sent a naked picture to someone was that you’d end up having that picture sent to everyone you know in case you broke up later* but it didn’t even occur to me that it would be considered porn. (And if the person’s under 18, it’s child porn, which does NOT look good on the permanent record.)
Very scary and surprisingly plausible. Recommended.
* = And that happens all the time…it hasn’t happened to me, but it did happen to someone I used to know.
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