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go_maggs_go's review against another edition
3.0
This was a heartbreaking, beautifully written story of rape culture and the aftermath of sexual assault. I just wanted to wrap Erica up in a hug and tell her it wasn't her fault.
alongreader's review against another edition
4.0
Phew. This is not an easy read. The author is not joking about this trigger warnings, and I did have to take a break here and there as I read. I'm glad I stuck with it, but I understand why some readers would have to stop or put it down.
The book is written from deep inside the minds of our two main characters, Erica and Thomas, and picks up immediately after the infamous party, with characters recalling or discussing things that happened beforehand. The secondary characters run the gamut from concerned bystander, to hanger on, to 'just having a laugh and regrets it afterwards' to actually apparently pyschopathic, and all the variations inbetween. (I'm considering the scale as running from Amber to Zac, to everyone else falling somewhere inbetween.)
Again, I'm astounded that anyone manages to survive high school nowadays, with everything saved onlince and shared at the simple click of a button, and the freedom people feel to be really horrendously horrible to each other online. I'm endlessly upset by the inventive ways people can be awful to each other when they don't have to face up to it, but the more we look at and discuss these things the more we can do to stop them.
Also, this all takes place over four days. That's how quickly someone's life can fall apart. Just four days.
I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed this read, because it really is difficult in spots, but I'm very glad that I stuck with it and got through, and I hope other people will feel the same way about it.
The book is written from deep inside the minds of our two main characters, Erica and Thomas, and picks up immediately after the infamous party, with characters recalling or discussing things that happened beforehand. The secondary characters run the gamut from concerned bystander, to hanger on, to 'just having a laugh and regrets it afterwards' to actually apparently pyschopathic, and all the variations inbetween. (I'm considering the scale as running from Amber to Zac, to everyone else falling somewhere inbetween.)
Again, I'm astounded that anyone manages to survive high school nowadays, with everything saved onlince and shared at the simple click of a button, and the freedom people feel to be really horrendously horrible to each other online. I'm endlessly upset by the inventive ways people can be awful to each other when they don't have to face up to it, but the more we look at and discuss these things the more we can do to stop them.
Also, this all takes place over four days. That's how quickly someone's life can fall apart. Just four days.
I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed this read, because it really is difficult in spots, but I'm very glad that I stuck with it and got through, and I hope other people will feel the same way about it.
z_brarian's review against another edition
4.0
A powerful story of the aftermath of a sexual assault, told in dual perspective. What Erica thought was a budding romance with Thomas turned out to be the worst night of her life, one she was unable to remember because she blacked out. This should be a 4.5 star rating. I originally felt that the story was dragging out the whole “what happened that night” but once the story hit its stride, I couldn’t put it down. Erica’s anxiety and fear of confronting the boy she loved and the boys who committed this heinous attack against her coming oozing across the page. Thomas’ guilt eats at him until his older brother convinces him to do the right thing, not what their father, who only believes this will affect HIS life. The surprise support from someone who Erica didn’t believe really liked her and the realization that it’s OK to tell the truth, as painful as it is. The story also including some incredible comic drawings of Erica’s alter-ego, superhero Erica Strange, who, through the drawings helps her to fight her way from the sharks to the shore. TW: Suicide, sexual assault, anxiety
hitbooksnotgirlz's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t really care for the illustrations in the book, and I wish that the ending had been more conclusive. But it was an incredibly powerful story. It was horrifying, and it was all too real.
Amber was my absolute favourite character. She stood up for what was right and took no shit.
Amber was my absolute favourite character. She stood up for what was right and took no shit.
zbrarian's review
4.0
A powerful story of the aftermath of a sexual assault, told in dual perspective. What Erica thought was a budding romance with Thomas turned out to be the worst night of her life, one she was unable to remember because she blacked out. This should be a 4.5 star rating. I originally felt that the story was dragging out the whole “what happened that night” but once the story hit its stride, I couldn’t put it down. Erica’s anxiety and fear of confronting the boy she loved and the boys who committed this heinous attack against her coming oozing across the page. Thomas’ guilt eats at him until his older brother convinces him to do the right thing, not what their father, who only believes this will affect HIS life. The surprise support from someone who Erica didn’t believe really liked her and the realization that it’s OK to tell the truth, as painful as it is. The story also including some incredible comic drawings of Erica’s alter-ego, superhero Erica Strange, who, through the drawings helps her to fight her way from the sharks to the shore. TW: Suicide, sexual assault, anxiety
booksicle's review
5.0
I don't even know where to start with this book.. so let's start with the obvious. I loved it. I finished this book faster than I've read any other in the past few years, I loved it that much. I didn't stop thinking about it while I was watching my show last night, I just wanted to see what happened next.
I'll also preface this with the warning that there's a trigger warning at the beginning of this book. I'm no stranger to those, I love picking up a book that has a realistic feel to it and may take on some very serious subjects. I didn't expect it to be any different than any other book that may have a trigger warning at the beginning, but it was. It went into depth. It almost felt like what I used to write when I was a teenager. It was raw. It spreads an amazing message, not only for those who may have been a victim, but for those on the sidelines too. That was my favorite part, it had both sides of the situation and their thoughts written true to what they may be feeling in that moment. It felt like they were teenagers, ones who didn't know what they got themselves into. Ones who made a very drastic mistake and have to face the consequences.
There was one character who stood out to me. It wasn't either of the main characters, and they weren't even a teenager. But I had an absolute hatred for Thomas's father. Not only because of how awful he was to Thomas. I'm so glad that Cassie wrote him into this, because he, and people like him, are the reason that these victims never get the closure they deserve.
I know the exact moment where my heart broke too, where I knew I was going to love how this book portrayed itself. The hallway. Anyone who has read or will be reading this will know exactly what I mean by that. I can't tell you how many times I could feel my heart aching for Erica after that moment. Had that moment been different, it may have changed the entire course of the book and those characters lives.
If you're able to read this, and I totally understand if you can't simply because of how heavy this content is, please do. Even if you've never experienced this sort of thing first hand because the way that Cassie writes this makes you understand, even just a little bit, what happens. What can happen. And it's so important.
I love this book, and when it comes out you bet that I am going to do my hardest to get people to read it.
I'll also preface this with the warning that there's a trigger warning at the beginning of this book. I'm no stranger to those, I love picking up a book that has a realistic feel to it and may take on some very serious subjects. I didn't expect it to be any different than any other book that may have a trigger warning at the beginning, but it was. It went into depth. It almost felt like what I used to write when I was a teenager. It was raw. It spreads an amazing message, not only for those who may have been a victim, but for those on the sidelines too. That was my favorite part, it had both sides of the situation and their thoughts written true to what they may be feeling in that moment. It felt like they were teenagers, ones who didn't know what they got themselves into. Ones who made a very drastic mistake and have to face the consequences.
There was one character who stood out to me. It wasn't either of the main characters, and they weren't even a teenager. But I had an absolute hatred for Thomas's father. Not only because of how awful he was to Thomas. I'm so glad that Cassie wrote him into this, because he, and people like him, are the reason that these victims never get the closure they deserve.
I know the exact moment where my heart broke too, where I knew I was going to love how this book portrayed itself. The hallway. Anyone who has read or will be reading this will know exactly what I mean by that. I can't tell you how many times I could feel my heart aching for Erica after that moment. Had that moment been different, it may have changed the entire course of the book and those characters lives.
If you're able to read this, and I totally understand if you can't simply because of how heavy this content is, please do. Even if you've never experienced this sort of thing first hand because the way that Cassie writes this makes you understand, even just a little bit, what happens. What can happen. And it's so important.
I love this book, and when it comes out you bet that I am going to do my hardest to get people to read it.
deidraroth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- 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
3.75
sorayareihe's review
4.0
heartbreaking. puts sexual assault really in true perspective of what happens.
imleahy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
beth_menendez's review
5.0
This book is hard to read- not the writing, as that is something that you fly through. The subject matter of this story told over four days is heart wrenching. There are no easy outcomes to this story and it is full of characters you easily will hate. It ends so quickly you have to catch your breath and find someone who can handle the heaviness so you can say, What did I just read!?! How should the next 3 months look for these kids? What is the right answer for those who stand by and watch assault happen even while knowing that speaking up will damage their futures? So many thoughts and feelings. That is what makes an excellent read and this one is excellent though it is doubtful I could read it again. Very tough subject matter with an ending that left me needing another chapter to know how Erica does. How does Thomas fare?
Definitely take the trigger warnings seriously.
Definitely take the trigger warnings seriously.