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gabrielleint's review
3.0
I intend this to be a very complimentary three stars. This did not have a lot of the things that make me hate thrillers. I felt it was pretty well written and didn’t rely on just writing in a really obfuscatory manner or putting in really dumb twists that didn’t make any sense. I think this is the perfect beach or airplane read. It’s pretty easy to follow, has some twists and turns and decent enough character exploration to keep you interested, but isn’t difficult to read or dense.
pianorunner421's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
litwithleigh's review
5.0
HAPPY PUB DAY TO ONE OF MY 2022 FAVES!!!
Btw I'm hosting a giveaway for THREE copies of this amazing novel from June 8-June 12 on my Instagram (@girlwiththepinkskimask).
Thank you Cate Ray and Park Row for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
BIG ASS TRIGGER WARNING sexual assault/violence
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 5/5 | Ending: 5/5
THE PLOT
Three wives, Jess, Stephanie, and Priyanka, receive the same letter accusing their husbands of gang raping and impregnating a woman 30 years ago, forever upturning their lives, marriages, and core beliefs.
MY OPINION
I WANT TO MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR: If you are looking for a beach read, cozy mystery, or your avg commercial/popcorn thriller, THIS IS NOT IT. This is a contemporary fiction novel with layers and strong messaging. If you want to explore society's core beliefs around sexual assault, women's issues, and marriage, this is the one.
I am giving this 5 stars because I consider the messaging extremely thoughtful, intelligent, and ON POINT. Cate Ray expertly incorporates many facts and figures about rape in the UK, making this an educational read as well. And beyond the main theme of the book, she NAILS the power imbalance in Stephanie and Dan's marriage. It really hit close to home for me.
The next reason for my 5 star endorsement is the characters. WOW. Each character is masterfully crafted and intentional with stellar development throughout the book. They each not only represent the three main viewpoints on rape (she deserved it, riding the fence/neutral, and the firm "I'm with her" believer) BUT they also represent the three phases of grief: denial, bargaining, and anger.
So, not only do you get a layered look at the WHY behind their beliefs (right back to their childhood) but you see their grief journey toward acceptance. I also appreciated that the author didn't make any of them sexual violence survivors, and therefore not creating an obvious alignment. You don't need to burn yourself to know fire is hot.
This book will certainly be polarizing in the same way as [b:My Dark Vanessa|44890081|My Dark Vanessa|Kate Elizabeth Russell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583447793l/44890081._SY75_.jpg|67044583]. You will feel frustrated, sad, hopeless, and (hopefully) empowered. LET ME REPEAT MYSELF: If you do not want to get your "SJW" on, then this isn't the book for you. If you want to explore the complexities of society's beliefs about sexual assault and survivors, then this is the one.
I gave this book 4/5 on writing because the style is very particular. It isn't a Shakespearean masterpiece, but I appreciated the lack of closed caption details. The book really hit its stride in the last 50%.
I am so glad I read this. I was highlighting passages like a mf. Thank you Cate Ray for such a powerful book about sexual assault, marriage, and grief.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: character development, expert representation of the three core beliefs about sexual assault and survivors as well as the stages of grief, deep understanding of emotionally abusive relationships, great look at the WHY behind our beliefs, informative stats included
Cons: if I'm being picky, the writing quality wasn't bangerlicious but I don't consider it bad.
Btw I'm hosting a giveaway for THREE copies of this amazing novel from June 8-June 12 on my Instagram (@girlwiththepinkskimask).
Thank you Cate Ray and Park Row for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
BIG ASS TRIGGER WARNING sexual assault/violence
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 5/5 | Ending: 5/5
THE PLOT
Three wives, Jess, Stephanie, and Priyanka, receive the same letter accusing their husbands of gang raping and impregnating a woman 30 years ago, forever upturning their lives, marriages, and core beliefs.
MY OPINION
I WANT TO MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR: If you are looking for a beach read, cozy mystery, or your avg commercial/popcorn thriller, THIS IS NOT IT. This is a contemporary fiction novel with layers and strong messaging. If you want to explore society's core beliefs around sexual assault, women's issues, and marriage, this is the one.
I am giving this 5 stars because I consider the messaging extremely thoughtful, intelligent, and ON POINT. Cate Ray expertly incorporates many facts and figures about rape in the UK, making this an educational read as well. And beyond the main theme of the book, she NAILS the power imbalance in Stephanie and Dan's marriage. It really hit close to home for me.
The next reason for my 5 star endorsement is the characters. WOW. Each character is masterfully crafted and intentional with stellar development throughout the book. They each not only represent the three main viewpoints on rape (she deserved it, riding the fence/neutral, and the firm "I'm with her" believer) BUT they also represent the three phases of grief: denial, bargaining, and anger.
So, not only do you get a layered look at the WHY behind their beliefs (right back to their childhood) but you see their grief journey toward acceptance. I also appreciated that the author didn't make any of them sexual violence survivors, and therefore not creating an obvious alignment. You don't need to burn yourself to know fire is hot.
This book will certainly be polarizing in the same way as [b:My Dark Vanessa|44890081|My Dark Vanessa|Kate Elizabeth Russell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1583447793l/44890081._SY75_.jpg|67044583]. You will feel frustrated, sad, hopeless, and (hopefully) empowered. LET ME REPEAT MYSELF: If you do not want to get your "SJW" on, then this isn't the book for you. If you want to explore the complexities of society's beliefs about sexual assault and survivors, then this is the one.
I gave this book 4/5 on writing because the style is very particular. It isn't a Shakespearean masterpiece, but I appreciated the lack of closed caption details. The book really hit its stride in the last 50%.
I am so glad I read this. I was highlighting passages like a mf. Thank you Cate Ray for such a powerful book about sexual assault, marriage, and grief.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: character development, expert representation of the three core beliefs about sexual assault and survivors as well as the stages of grief, deep understanding of emotionally abusive relationships, great look at the WHY behind our beliefs, informative stats included
Cons: if I'm being picky, the writing quality wasn't bangerlicious but I don't consider it bad.
karlyo83's review
4.0
My Rating System: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ticked most boxes ALMOST LOVED IT!!!
A 30 year old secret that is going to change everything… What do you? You would like to think you would do the right thing…. Wouldn’t you????
Would you confront it head on no matter the consequence? Think it through consider all the options before deciding? Or Ignore it completely and pretend you never found out?
Jessica, Priyanka and Stephanie are complete strangers who are about to be thrown together in the worst of circumstances. On the same day each woman receives a letter stating that their beloved husband was involved in the gang rape of a women 30 years earlier. Their worlds are thrown into turmoil and each woman handles the initial news differently and the subsequent actions of each of the other wives in glaringly different ways.
The three women eventually come together (somewhat reluctantly) to hunt for the truth, are they going to be able to live with what they find out and what will be consequences be for their husbands, families and for themselves??
Firstly, I want to congratulate the author on tackling this controversial topic with the grace and candour that I think it deserved. The author told a story that was interlaced with facts and figures and took the reader on a journey. There was no slamming an agenda down your throat you were able to read the story, (and while it was fiction) and it allowed you to very much feel the emotion, anguish and devastation for each of the characters allowing you to draw conclusions and opinions for yourself.
A 30 year old secret that is going to change everything… What do you? You would like to think you would do the right thing…. Wouldn’t you????
Would you confront it head on no matter the consequence? Think it through consider all the options before deciding? Or Ignore it completely and pretend you never found out?
Jessica, Priyanka and Stephanie are complete strangers who are about to be thrown together in the worst of circumstances. On the same day each woman receives a letter stating that their beloved husband was involved in the gang rape of a women 30 years earlier. Their worlds are thrown into turmoil and each woman handles the initial news differently and the subsequent actions of each of the other wives in glaringly different ways.
The three women eventually come together (somewhat reluctantly) to hunt for the truth, are they going to be able to live with what they find out and what will be consequences be for their husbands, families and for themselves??
Firstly, I want to congratulate the author on tackling this controversial topic with the grace and candour that I think it deserved. The author told a story that was interlaced with facts and figures and took the reader on a journey. There was no slamming an agenda down your throat you were able to read the story, (and while it was fiction) and it allowed you to very much feel the emotion, anguish and devastation for each of the characters allowing you to draw conclusions and opinions for yourself.
kileslifestile's review
2.0
Interesting plotline that kept me guessing or considering between the suspects and viewpoints of their partners. I did feel at times though, a sense of redundancy and that the story was not always progressing but rather stagnant at several points.
poppyharveyxoxo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.5
saltylemonsqueeze's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
samanthaleeshea's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rmarcin's review
3.0
Three women, an art gallery worker, a housewife, and a receptionist, all receive a letter that their husbands created a terrible act years earlier. These women don't know each other, but one of the wives reaches out to each of them to determine if the author of the letter is telling the truth, which will upset their lives and everything they thought they knew. As they investigate, they find that the writer was an artist, and both she and her mother are dead.
The women bond together trying to learn the truth. There is a tragedy and also a surprise at the end.
This was an interesting book, and I can see how learning about this act would destroy your life. But what was more surprising was the real plot revealed at the end.
The women bond together trying to learn the truth. There is a tragedy and also a surprise at the end.
This was an interesting book, and I can see how learning about this act would destroy your life. But what was more surprising was the real plot revealed at the end.
tksgb05's review
dark
tense
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? Yes
3.5