Scan barcode
A review by nicolemarcell
Exposed by Jessica Love
3.0
Received a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Just based on the premise, I knew this book was going to be interesting: sex clubs? Attempted murders? A woman set on finding herself and getting some revenge? What else could I ask for in a book?
Despite my initial interest in this book, Exposed exceeded my expectations. It’s honestly amazing how much stuff was just packed into this 236 page novel: character development, thoughts on slut shaming and sex, conversations about moving on from the past and into a better future. I was prepared for sex, attempted murder, and intrigue, and I get all of that and so much more. Love really dug down deep and came out with a novel that opened up conversations: for example, why is it acceptable for a man to be promiscuous, but a woman is considered a slut for doing the same? Why do women need to bend over backwards for the delicate egos of men? How far do you need to escape from your world in order to find yourself? Exposed comes with a lot of self-discovery from the main character I wasn’t prepared for, but that I am pleased with nonetheless.
It’s hard to find a book that deals with these kinds of topics that really develops the main character; most of the time, the novel centers in on the sex, the murder attempt, the revenge plot, the court cases, and the drug scandals. Jessica was so fleshed out, I felt like I had gotten to know her the same way you get to know a future friend. She spoke honestly and unabashedly. She gave up her every secret to the readers and the outcome was honestly just so incredible.
I think my only complaint for Exposed had to do with the writing and the pacing. Love did a lot of telling rather than showing, and it sometimes ripped me away from her. I felt less immersed in the novel because of this lack of showing me what was going on. The pacing seemed off as well; very little happened in the beginning, but then everything started happening within the last quarter of the book. I suddenly felt overwhelmed with all of the drama that was going on, to the point that it almost felt forced or fake. Then, smack in the middle of all of this drama, came a death and a trip to France that slowed down the pace so rapidly, it felt like I was getting whiplash. But when you have an interesting plot and an incredible character portrait like Exposed does, the writing sort of takes a backseat anyways.
In many ways, Exposed didn’t really feel like a book about romance or revenge; it didn’t feel like erotica or mystery. It felt a lot more like a character breakdown, like a portrait of a woman and her thoughts on the world and herself. Exposed provided an introspection that was so unexpected for me, and I loved the surprise of it.
Just based on the premise, I knew this book was going to be interesting: sex clubs? Attempted murders? A woman set on finding herself and getting some revenge? What else could I ask for in a book?
Despite my initial interest in this book, Exposed exceeded my expectations. It’s honestly amazing how much stuff was just packed into this 236 page novel: character development, thoughts on slut shaming and sex, conversations about moving on from the past and into a better future. I was prepared for sex, attempted murder, and intrigue, and I get all of that and so much more. Love really dug down deep and came out with a novel that opened up conversations: for example, why is it acceptable for a man to be promiscuous, but a woman is considered a slut for doing the same? Why do women need to bend over backwards for the delicate egos of men? How far do you need to escape from your world in order to find yourself? Exposed comes with a lot of self-discovery from the main character I wasn’t prepared for, but that I am pleased with nonetheless.
It’s hard to find a book that deals with these kinds of topics that really develops the main character; most of the time, the novel centers in on the sex, the murder attempt, the revenge plot, the court cases, and the drug scandals. Jessica was so fleshed out, I felt like I had gotten to know her the same way you get to know a future friend. She spoke honestly and unabashedly. She gave up her every secret to the readers and the outcome was honestly just so incredible.
I think my only complaint for Exposed had to do with the writing and the pacing. Love did a lot of telling rather than showing, and it sometimes ripped me away from her. I felt less immersed in the novel because of this lack of showing me what was going on. The pacing seemed off as well; very little happened in the beginning, but then everything started happening within the last quarter of the book. I suddenly felt overwhelmed with all of the drama that was going on, to the point that it almost felt forced or fake. Then, smack in the middle of all of this drama, came a death and a trip to France that slowed down the pace so rapidly, it felt like I was getting whiplash. But when you have an interesting plot and an incredible character portrait like Exposed does, the writing sort of takes a backseat anyways.
In many ways, Exposed didn’t really feel like a book about romance or revenge; it didn’t feel like erotica or mystery. It felt a lot more like a character breakdown, like a portrait of a woman and her thoughts on the world and herself. Exposed provided an introspection that was so unexpected for me, and I loved the surprise of it.