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xlovelylaurencalistax's review
4.0
4.5 stars
This book is so important. High school student Romy has dealt with a horrible incident she so bravely tries to move on from. She lives in the kind of small town where having bad things happen involving important people and not-so-important, like Romy, means her social demise. She is shunned and shamed for speaking her truth. While reading, you are disgusted with her persecutors, but Romy shows such great strength that we too become strong. In the midst of Romy's struggle, her persecutors end up dealing with their own heartbreak as an important student in Romy's class goes missing. Summers paints the story in a way where we see vulnerable and strong sides of each character, even the wrong-doers. She writes the story with pure honesty and imagery. It is beautiful.
It doesn't tip-toe. It asks important questions. Its ends tie up and fake no happiness or sadness. It's real. I will be reading more books of Courtney's.
Behind the building was a field and when the popourri scent of her cleaner made me sneeze, I went outside. There were calves there, these sweet things that watched me with less interest than I watched them. There was this raggedy one, sitting in the middle of the field, its mother nearby. I didn't realize it was sick until it tried to get up and it couldn't. It kept trying and it couldn't and then, eventually--it didn't. After a while, a truck drove in. A man and a boy got out, looked it over while its mother stood close. It was dead, the calf. Dead and too heavy to load into the truck bed, so they tied a rope around its neck, tied the other end to the truck and dragged it off the field like that. Its mother watched until it disappeared and when it was out of view, she called for it. Just kept calling for it so long after it was gone. Sometimes I feel something like that, between my mom and me. That I'm the daughter she keeps calling for so long after she's been gone.
--What I understood and loved about this part was the way the writer compared an innocent and beautiful animal to her main character. The fact that the character notices this animal and feels empathy, while also comparing herself to it, showed a complexity and great understanding for how truly real and vulnerable we are as human beings. Romy recognizes herself in the calf and she feels sorry for its mother, along with her own. She is able to see outside herself and feel sympathy for people she knows who hurt alongside her and that was so powerful to me as a reader.
I don't believe in forgiveness. I think if you hurt someone, it becomes a part of you both. Each of you just has to live with it and the person you hurt gets to decide if they want to give you the chance to do it again. If they do and you're a good person, you won't make the same mistakes.
--How can you not want lovely advice to add to the overall story? It's wonderful.
I wonder if it feels like something, the dark...I imagine the tiniest points of light, the stars through the water, but she can't reach them before she goes out.
The first two chapters were a little slow and too detailed for my taste but I understood what the author was trying to do. I just felt maybe something could take the place of nail polish much better. The repetition at the end was perfect, despite my not liking the nail polish description. I think I would have preferred to have a repetition of the cow scene, except I would have liked it to end with something like:
I would also change the last lines to:
Hope you enjoy my review, as well as my writing suggestions. I recommend this book highly.
This book is so important. High school student Romy has dealt with a horrible incident she so bravely tries to move on from. She lives in the kind of small town where having bad things happen involving important people and not-so-important, like Romy, means her social demise. She is shunned and shamed for speaking her truth. While reading, you are disgusted with her persecutors, but Romy shows such great strength that we too become strong. In the midst of Romy's struggle, her persecutors end up dealing with their own heartbreak as an important student in Romy's class goes missing. Summers paints the story in a way where we see vulnerable and strong sides of each character, even the wrong-doers. She writes the story with pure honesty and imagery. It is beautiful.
It doesn't tip-toe. It asks important questions. Its ends tie up and fake no happiness or sadness. It's real. I will be reading more books of Courtney's.
Behind the building was a field and when the popourri scent of her cleaner made me sneeze, I went outside. There were calves there, these sweet things that watched me with less interest than I watched them. There was this raggedy one, sitting in the middle of the field, its mother nearby. I didn't realize it was sick until it tried to get up and it couldn't. It kept trying and it couldn't and then, eventually--it didn't. After a while, a truck drove in. A man and a boy got out, looked it over while its mother stood close. It was dead, the calf. Dead and too heavy to load into the truck bed, so they tied a rope around its neck, tied the other end to the truck and dragged it off the field like that. Its mother watched until it disappeared and when it was out of view, she called for it. Just kept calling for it so long after it was gone. Sometimes I feel something like that, between my mom and me. That I'm the daughter she keeps calling for so long after she's been gone.
--What I understood and loved about this part was the way the writer compared an innocent and beautiful animal to her main character. The fact that the character notices this animal and feels empathy, while also comparing herself to it, showed a complexity and great understanding for how truly real and vulnerable we are as human beings. Romy recognizes herself in the calf and she feels sorry for its mother, along with her own. She is able to see outside herself and feel sympathy for people she knows who hurt alongside her and that was so powerful to me as a reader.
I don't believe in forgiveness. I think if you hurt someone, it becomes a part of you both. Each of you just has to live with it and the person you hurt gets to decide if they want to give you the chance to do it again. If they do and you're a good person, you won't make the same mistakes.
--How can you not want lovely advice to add to the overall story? It's wonderful.
I wonder if it feels like something, the dark...I imagine the tiniest points of light, the stars through the water, but she can't reach them before she goes out.
The first two chapters were a little slow and too detailed for my taste but I understood what the author was trying to do. I just felt maybe something could take the place of nail polish much better. The repetition at the end was perfect, despite my not liking the nail polish description. I think I would have preferred to have a repetition of the cow scene, except I would have liked it to end with something like:
Just kept calling for it so long after it was gone... Sometimes I feel something like that, about myself. That I keep calling out for the girl I used to be. Before. I wonder if she has been dragged off, away from who I am now, and I wonder if I will ever see her again. I think not. But I think maybe now that's a good thing.
I would also change the last lines to:
Open your eyes.
Uncover your mouth.
Look at me.
I'm here.
Hope you enjoy my review, as well as my writing suggestions. I recommend this book highly.
timelordmom's review
5.0
My second read by Courtney Summers and I think I have a new favourite author. This was an incredible and emotional read
alexandramtrawick's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
q8popup's review
3.0
Such a depressing and frustrating book but I can't seem to put it down. Worth a read
rachcannoli's review
5.0
**Massive trigger warning for rape**
Oof, this book is a literal punch to the heart and stomach, but also so incredibly realistic and important. Truly if you’ve ever been through abuse or rape, I need you to know before reading (because I don’t think the blurb fully says it) but also hope maybe this can help you see you’re not alone and give you that extra strength to reach out to those who love you. But I also understand if it’s too much so I want readers to know what it’s about before they get into it.
This story is so powerful and it’s, unfortunately, too relevant and commonplace. Victim comes forward and is immediately not believed, but then her life is ruined forever, not the scum bag who did this to her. Yet it’s also a thriller mixed with a friendship tale that is so gripping I just needed to know every detail.
The protagonist, Romy, breaks my heart and I do think she gains some understanding and support, but she goes through such a rough deal. Add that horrendous trauma to the typical high school bullshit of kids being cruel, teens not wanting to open up, and extreme bullying. Powerful, upsetting, gripping, fucked up, and yet I do think it’s an important read to keep reminding everyone this is not a random occurrence and something’s got to change. We have to teach our boys to stop being assholes, to realize no means no, to know they can’t just take whatever they want, to learn from the shit heads of the past so our girls can be safe. The fact that girls are told what to do, dress, act, and how to defend themselves but boys aren’t told a simple no means no, disgusts me. I’m just so sick of it. But until that happens we need to keep sharing difficult stories like this in hopes we’ll learn something and at least come together.
Basically I still can’t fully reign in my thoughts, but just read the book if you can. It’s very well done, but extremely heart breaking.
Oof, this book is a literal punch to the heart and stomach, but also so incredibly realistic and important. Truly if you’ve ever been through abuse or rape, I need you to know before reading (because I don’t think the blurb fully says it) but also hope maybe this can help you see you’re not alone and give you that extra strength to reach out to those who love you. But I also understand if it’s too much so I want readers to know what it’s about before they get into it.
This story is so powerful and it’s, unfortunately, too relevant and commonplace. Victim comes forward and is immediately not believed, but then her life is ruined forever, not the scum bag who did this to her. Yet it’s also a thriller mixed with a friendship tale that is so gripping I just needed to know every detail.
The protagonist, Romy, breaks my heart and I do think she gains some understanding and support, but she goes through such a rough deal. Add that horrendous trauma to the typical high school bullshit of kids being cruel, teens not wanting to open up, and extreme bullying. Powerful, upsetting, gripping, fucked up, and yet I do think it’s an important read to keep reminding everyone this is not a random occurrence and something’s got to change. We have to teach our boys to stop being assholes, to realize no means no, to know they can’t just take whatever they want, to learn from the shit heads of the past so our girls can be safe. The fact that girls are told what to do, dress, act, and how to defend themselves but boys aren’t told a simple no means no, disgusts me. I’m just so sick of it. But until that happens we need to keep sharing difficult stories like this in hopes we’ll learn something and at least come together.
Basically I still can’t fully reign in my thoughts, but just read the book if you can. It’s very well done, but extremely heart breaking.
brennakay's review
dark
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I like Summers writing because she doesn't hold her audience's hand. She trusts them to follow her writing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Bullying, and Sexual assault
missbookiverse's review against another edition
4.0
Der Einstieg in das Buch ist ein wenig verwirrend. Viele Erinnerungsfetzen, ein Zeitsprung und dann geht es los, ohne dass man genau weiß, was wann mit wem passiert ist. Allerdings puzzelt man sich die Ereignisse schnell zusammen und schon ist man drin, in Courtney Summers mitreißendem Lesesturzbach.
Ich will kein Geheimnis darum machen, dass es in dem Buch um mindestens eine Vergewaltigung geht. Romy spielt dabei nicht die typische Opferrolle. Sie ist zwar in sich gekehrt, reagiert aber auf sämtliche Anfeindungen mit bissiger Schlagfertigkeit und eisiger Kühle. Das fand ich kraftvoll und ermutigend zu lesen. Natürlich belastet sie das Verbrechen emotional, aber sie gibt der Welt nicht komplett klein bei (wobei ich diese Reaktion genauso nachvollziehbar fände). Stattdessen achtet sie auf ihre perfekt lackierten Fingernägel und rot geschminkten Lippen. Diese Macke zieht sich als Stilmittel durchs komplette Buch. Rot wie die Sünde und Verführung, aber auch Rot wie die Wut.
Wut hat sich schon nach wenigen Kapiteln bei mir ausgebreitet. Der Titel ist Programm. Diese Kleinstadtidioten treiben mich an den Rande des Wahnsinns mit ihrer Engstirnigkeit und ihren Vorurteilen. Was da manche vom Stapel lassen oder sich herausnehmen über andere zur urteilen. ARRRGH! Geht verrotten in einer Welt ohne Schokolade und Bücher! Leider ist die Darstellung so einer Gemeinde wohl ziemlich realistisch. Ich kann mir vorstellen, dass heutzutage noch vielerorts so mit einer Vergewaltigungsbeschuldigung umgegangen wird.
Zum Glück hat Romy eine liebevolle Mutter und den tollsten Stiefvater der Welt in ihrem Zuhause. Sie lässt die beiden zwar wenig an sich ran, aber jede kleine Geste der beiden hat mein Herz zu Karamellsoße geschmolzen. Und einen besonderen Jungen gibt’s übrigens auch noch, und zwar, Achtung Diversity, mit schwarzer Hautfarbe. Den einzigen Minuspunkt gibt es für den wahllosen Truckertypen. Der wirkte mir wie nachträglich in die Geschichte geworfen, um ein bisschen Verwirrung zu stiften.
Was das Thema Rape Culture angeht, hat das Buch alles richtig gemacht, denn es kommt nie belehrend daher. Es werden viele kleine Diskussionen rund um das Thema angestoßen, aber Romy geht nie aktiv darauf ein und tritt so nie als Moralapostel auf. Man muss definitiv selbst mitdenken und die subtilen Feinheiten rausfiltern und in Frage stellen. Ich mag das. Soweit können wir inzwischen nämlich hoffentlich alle selbst denken.
Ich will kein Geheimnis darum machen, dass es in dem Buch um mindestens eine Vergewaltigung geht. Romy spielt dabei nicht die typische Opferrolle. Sie ist zwar in sich gekehrt, reagiert aber auf sämtliche Anfeindungen mit bissiger Schlagfertigkeit und eisiger Kühle. Das fand ich kraftvoll und ermutigend zu lesen. Natürlich belastet sie das Verbrechen emotional, aber sie gibt der Welt nicht komplett klein bei (wobei ich diese Reaktion genauso nachvollziehbar fände). Stattdessen achtet sie auf ihre perfekt lackierten Fingernägel und rot geschminkten Lippen. Diese Macke zieht sich als Stilmittel durchs komplette Buch. Rot wie die Sünde und Verführung, aber auch Rot wie die Wut.
Wut hat sich schon nach wenigen Kapiteln bei mir ausgebreitet. Der Titel ist Programm. Diese Kleinstadtidioten treiben mich an den Rande des Wahnsinns mit ihrer Engstirnigkeit und ihren Vorurteilen. Was da manche vom Stapel lassen oder sich herausnehmen über andere zur urteilen. ARRRGH! Geht verrotten in einer Welt ohne Schokolade und Bücher! Leider ist die Darstellung so einer Gemeinde wohl ziemlich realistisch. Ich kann mir vorstellen, dass heutzutage noch vielerorts so mit einer Vergewaltigungsbeschuldigung umgegangen wird.
Zum Glück hat Romy eine liebevolle Mutter und den tollsten Stiefvater der Welt in ihrem Zuhause. Sie lässt die beiden zwar wenig an sich ran, aber jede kleine Geste der beiden hat mein Herz zu Karamellsoße geschmolzen. Und einen besonderen Jungen gibt’s übrigens auch noch, und zwar, Achtung Diversity, mit schwarzer Hautfarbe. Den einzigen Minuspunkt gibt es für den wahllosen Truckertypen. Der wirkte mir wie nachträglich in die Geschichte geworfen, um ein bisschen Verwirrung zu stiften.
Was das Thema Rape Culture angeht, hat das Buch alles richtig gemacht, denn es kommt nie belehrend daher. Es werden viele kleine Diskussionen rund um das Thema angestoßen, aber Romy geht nie aktiv darauf ein und tritt so nie als Moralapostel auf. Man muss definitiv selbst mitdenken und die subtilen Feinheiten rausfiltern und in Frage stellen. Ich mag das. Soweit können wir inzwischen nämlich hoffentlich alle selbst denken.
jmj697mn's review
5.0
It's hard to rate a book like this. It was horrific and so relevant and I had a hard time reading it and a hard time putting it down. It made me sick to my stomach and so, so angry. This book needs to be read because this is the world we are living in.
nataliem1017's review
5.0
i want to punch everyone who hurt romy in this book (which is basically everyone except for maybe todd and leon and caro). this book was incredible, it put so many things that i had been thinking forever into words. this is an essential read.