Review by kspens223 - Releasing 10

kspens223 's review for:

Releasing 10 by Chloe Walsh

4.75

challenging dark emotional 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: Complicated

The book does not shy away from the darkest corners of trauma. The author bravely explores the silent suffering of childhood sexual assault, the guilt and shame that survivors often carry, and the heartbreaking aftermath — including self-harm, mental illness, and the shattering grief of losing a sibling.

What makes this novel exceptional is not just the storytelling, but its purpose. It is a lifeline to parents, educators, and caregivers. Through its pages, the author has created a guide — one that doesn’t preach, but shows — what the signs of trauma look like. It offers painful but necessary insight into what it means when a child starts cutting, when they shut down, when they cling to toxic love, and when they seem unreachable.

This novel is not an easy read — but it’s an essential one. It demands that we pay attention. It humanizes those we often label as “too much” or “unstable.” And in doing so, it offers something rare: hope. Not the kind wrapped in a perfect ending, but the kind that says healing is possible — even if it’s messy, painful, and slow.

Content Warnings