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A review by gennareads
The Sharp Edge of Silence by Cameron Kelly Rosenblum
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
All I can say is WOW. From the title, the cover, the acknowledgements at the start, right the way through to the last page. Just wow.
TWs: Rape, PTSD, sexual abuse recovery, rape culture, toxic masculinity, misogyny, plus more that I've definitely missed.
I would definitely advise anyone wanting to read this book to check out the TWs beforehand.
At the start I really didn't feel in the correct headspace to be reading this book with it's heavy topic, and the reader is thrown right in. However, I could tell that this book is a piece of incredible art from Rosenblum and I wanted to carry on. I was afraid my headspace was going to affect me being able to do her writing justice as I read. I didn't want to DNF this book so I decided to carry on. I really do not think this is a 'read bits here and there' kind of book. I found it quite confusing at the start as the narrative is split between 3 POVs - Max, Quinn, and Charlotte - at an elite American boarding school and there are a lot of characters to remember. It wasn't until I sat down and spent a good hour reading that everything started to click into place, and when it does, oh boy does it click! Each character represents something that I'm sure we all remember from school - the jocks, the nerds, the artsy ones, the girls that are sweet and lovely, the head teacher that is a d*ck, etc. All these characters cross over between POVs and we see different sides and what they represent in the story - this is very important as you read on.
The subject matter of The Sharp Edge of Silence is emotional and dark. Max's POV shows the peer pressure and a side of toxic masculinity from inside the 'boys club', especially how easy it is to be swept up in the moment and how hard it is to speak out. Charlotte's POV is of a very talented dancer, in a relationship with a member of the 'boys club', and all is well in her world until she starts receiving notes that show that everything is not as it seems... Her POV helps the reader to understand how far the culture spreads, it goes throughout the school. Quinn is an artsy student (from a long line of attendees of the boarding school) learning to cope with the sexual abuse that happened to her the previous summer. Her idea of 'coping' is extreme, however Rosenblum's writing of her POV is exceptional. You really understand how Quinn is feeling, why her thought process is as it is.
Quinn's narrative was inspired by Rosenblum's own experices of sexual assault and I felt this made her POV the strongest, most heart wrenching and emotional. I loved Max's character too, providing insight into the 'boys club' and his inner turmoil was so well written, with a conflict of what is right or wrong and how his choices can shape the whole future.
I was angered by the response from the boarding school and how they try to cover up the traumatic events that have happened, however the conclusion to this story is epic. It will have you cheering, crying, smiling, and even laughing at the demise of the 'boys club'.
The Sharp Edge of Silence is incredible, especially in this time period following movements such as #MeToo and documentaries of survivors speaking up. I am so pleased I read this book.
Thank you NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and most importantly Cameron Kelly Rosenblum for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
TWs: Rape, PTSD, sexual abuse recovery, rape culture, toxic masculinity, misogyny, plus more that I've definitely missed.
I would definitely advise anyone wanting to read this book to check out the TWs beforehand.
At the start I really didn't feel in the correct headspace to be reading this book with it's heavy topic, and the reader is thrown right in. However, I could tell that this book is a piece of incredible art from Rosenblum and I wanted to carry on. I was afraid my headspace was going to affect me being able to do her writing justice as I read. I didn't want to DNF this book so I decided to carry on. I really do not think this is a 'read bits here and there' kind of book. I found it quite confusing at the start as the narrative is split between 3 POVs - Max, Quinn, and Charlotte - at an elite American boarding school and there are a lot of characters to remember. It wasn't until I sat down and spent a good hour reading that everything started to click into place, and when it does, oh boy does it click! Each character represents something that I'm sure we all remember from school - the jocks, the nerds, the artsy ones, the girls that are sweet and lovely, the head teacher that is a d*ck, etc. All these characters cross over between POVs and we see different sides and what they represent in the story - this is very important as you read on.
The subject matter of The Sharp Edge of Silence is emotional and dark. Max's POV shows the peer pressure and a side of toxic masculinity from inside the 'boys club', especially how easy it is to be swept up in the moment and how hard it is to speak out. Charlotte's POV is of a very talented dancer, in a relationship with a member of the 'boys club', and all is well in her world until she starts receiving notes that show that everything is not as it seems... Her POV helps the reader to understand how far the culture spreads, it goes throughout the school. Quinn is an artsy student (from a long line of attendees of the boarding school) learning to cope with the sexual abuse that happened to her the previous summer. Her idea of 'coping' is extreme, however Rosenblum's writing of her POV is exceptional. You really understand how Quinn is feeling, why her thought process is as it is.
Quinn's narrative was inspired by Rosenblum's own experices of sexual assault and I felt this made her POV the strongest, most heart wrenching and emotional. I loved Max's character too, providing insight into the 'boys club' and his inner turmoil was so well written, with a conflict of what is right or wrong and how his choices can shape the whole future.
I was angered by the response from the boarding school and how they try to cover up the traumatic events that have happened, however the conclusion to this story is epic. It will have you cheering, crying, smiling, and even laughing at the demise of the 'boys club'.
The Sharp Edge of Silence is incredible, especially in this time period following movements such as #MeToo and documentaries of survivors speaking up. I am so pleased I read this book.
Thank you NetGalley, Bonnier Books UK and most importantly Cameron Kelly Rosenblum for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.