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lilyst's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
pixieqirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kookie9200's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
Told from the perspectives of three different people, Charlotte, Max, and Quinn, this book is a hard look at privilege and what goes on behind the ivied walls of moneyed academia.
Trigger warnings for sexual assault! Quinn's sexual assault is what the plot of this book hinges on, so if you can't handle that, please don't read this one. It's incredibly hard to read. While the book isn't graphic about it at all, the situation itself is just difficult.
The pacing and characters were well done in this book. Quinn's rage and pain came through almost viscerally, and I wanted so much to sweep her away and protect her. I thought the subject matter was handled with a deft hand and not overdone or used as a way to just make a statement. Quinn was treated like a living, breathing person and not just a character in a book.
Told from the perspectives of three different people, Charlotte, Max, and Quinn, this book is a hard look at privilege and what goes on behind the ivied walls of moneyed academia.
Trigger warnings for sexual assault! Quinn's sexual assault is what the plot of this book hinges on, so if you can't handle that, please don't read this one. It's incredibly hard to read. While the book isn't graphic about it at all, the situation itself is just difficult.
The pacing and characters were well done in this book. Quinn's rage and pain came through almost viscerally, and I wanted so much to sweep her away and protect her. I thought the subject matter was handled with a deft hand and not overdone or used as a way to just make a statement. Quinn was treated like a living, breathing person and not just a character in a book.
bookgramer_'s review against another edition
4.0
Book in frame : The Sharp Edge of Silence
Author : Cameron Kelly Rosenblum
My Rating : 4.5 / 5 ⭐
Goodreads Rating: 4.3 / 5 ⭐
Genre : YA contemporary feminism
Trigger warnings : Rape, Misogyny
Favourite Quote - “If men were sexually assaulted as often as women? We'd get violent. We'd get revenge. And you
can be damn sure we'd make the laws work for us. But women-girls-a lot of them just have to get over it and move on."
Author : Cameron Kelly Rosenblum
My Rating : 4.5 / 5 ⭐
Goodreads Rating: 4.3 / 5 ⭐
Genre : YA contemporary feminism
Trigger warnings : Rape, Misogyny
Favourite Quote - “If men were sexually assaulted as often as women? We'd get violent. We'd get revenge. And you
can be damn sure we'd make the laws work for us. But women-girls-a lot of them just have to get over it and move on."
yourschloex's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bookstarreviews_'s review against another edition
4.5
4.5⭐️
A devastating read packed with toxic masculinity and failing systems.
(This review contains sensitive topics⚠️)
This read made me feel angry, sad, frustrated and happy throughout. Just like one of the protagonists ballet dancing, Rosenblum has choreographed a fantastic read.
I always find books like this difficult to review due to the prominent themes of sexual assault, rape and the treatment of girls. The way that this book has been delivered was very clever and highlights the debelitating effects that sexual assault causes.
This book contained a strong plot and even stronger characters. Charlotte was a lovely MC and I could see myself being her friend. Seb was also really nice, however, his lack of actions towards his fellow male peers made him just as complicit. Max was very smart and overlooked and it was just painful to see him transform from the campus geek to hanging around with the alpha rowers. Q’s character was portrayed beautifully. She faced the unthinkable and her poem accounting for the events at Summer Sendoff was incomprehensible and utterly terrifying. Her character really encapsulates the blame that victims place on themselves.
Social, economic and power divisions rule this read and I learnt a lot from this book. I absolutely loved how each chapter had sub chapters for each characters POV. This worked incredibly well and was very engaging. I also loved the reference to having meetings to ‘Wine and Whine’.
Rosenblum has formed a brilliant read and although the ending felt rushed, I enjoyed this book. The girls totally kicked the guys in the balls and I loved it!
A devastating read packed with toxic masculinity and failing systems.
(This review contains sensitive topics⚠️)
This read made me feel angry, sad, frustrated and happy throughout. Just like one of the protagonists ballet dancing, Rosenblum has choreographed a fantastic read.
I always find books like this difficult to review due to the prominent themes of sexual assault, rape and the treatment of girls. The way that this book has been delivered was very clever and highlights the debelitating effects that sexual assault causes.
This book contained a strong plot and even stronger characters. Charlotte was a lovely MC and I could see myself being her friend. Seb was also really nice, however, his lack of actions towards his fellow male peers made him just as complicit. Max was very smart and overlooked and it was just painful to see him transform from the campus geek to hanging around with the alpha rowers. Q’s character was portrayed beautifully. She faced the unthinkable and her poem accounting for the events at Summer Sendoff was incomprehensible and utterly terrifying. Her character really encapsulates the blame that victims place on themselves.
Social, economic and power divisions rule this read and I learnt a lot from this book. I absolutely loved how each chapter had sub chapters for each characters POV. This worked incredibly well and was very engaging. I also loved the reference to having meetings to ‘Wine and Whine’.
Rosenblum has formed a brilliant read and although the ending felt rushed, I enjoyed this book. The girls totally kicked the guys in the balls and I loved it!
nomonbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I was addicted to this book but reading very slowly because of the subject matter. Is it unhealthy how much I want Q to go through with her plan? I would enjoy the whole book just being… that but it’s also predicable (since it’s YA) that there will be no gruesome murder and I know such things aren’t healthy coping mechanisms.
But this was very calmly and quietly good. Brilliantly written. Not too painful but also well done. I would definitely recommend.
I liked all of the main characters and it is so easy to get swept along with all of their narratives. And I think, quite realistic? Kind of depressingly so, in that it didn’t leave me elated, it just left me with a feeling that it all could have happened. All is happening. Over and over again.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
selondonreads's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings: Rape, sexual assault, ,misogyny, self-harm.
The Sharp Edge of Silence is a YA novel with an urgent message. Through the viewpoints of three students at prestigious Lycroft Phelps, the schools toxic undertones become clearer and clearer.
Firstly, my favourite element of this book was probably the portrayal of female sisterhood. I felt like the writer really got the nuance of 'friendship after trauma' and how young women will hold each other up whilst struggling with their own reactions and the challenges of navigating complicated stories. I also felt like the writer was completely on the victims side, there wasn't pandering to the 'accused' as I have seen in other art exploring similar themes. That being said, I wanted the school to take more accountability and struggled with the way the teachers discussed the sexual assault in text messages in a fairly lax manner... I'd hope that safeguarding has gotten us past this type of insensitivity!
The book isn't a massive page-turner and is fairly slow-paced for YA, although I did feel there was a pick up at the end and I was keen to see how Charlotte, Q and Max would complete their stories. Overall, it was a solid four stars and I feel sure the teenagers I work with would get a lot from it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review and thanks to the writer for exploring an important topic!
The Sharp Edge of Silence is a YA novel with an urgent message. Through the viewpoints of three students at prestigious Lycroft Phelps, the schools toxic undertones become clearer and clearer.
Firstly, my favourite element of this book was probably the portrayal of female sisterhood. I felt like the writer really got the nuance of 'friendship after trauma' and how young women will hold each other up whilst struggling with their own reactions and the challenges of navigating complicated stories. I also felt like the writer was completely on the victims side, there wasn't pandering to the 'accused' as I have seen in other art exploring similar themes. That being said, I wanted the school to take more accountability and struggled with the way the teachers discussed the sexual assault in text messages in a fairly lax manner... I'd hope that safeguarding has gotten us past this type of insensitivity!
The book isn't a massive page-turner and is fairly slow-paced for YA, although I did feel there was a pick up at the end and I was keen to see how Charlotte, Q and Max would complete their stories. Overall, it was a solid four stars and I feel sure the teenagers I work with would get a lot from it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review and thanks to the writer for exploring an important topic!
hymynaama's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
wheezy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0