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A review by onepersonbookshow
The Sharp Edge of Silence by Cameron Kelly Rosenblum
Did not finish book. Stopped at 31%.
DNF
I was looking forward to reading this novel; the synopsis and tagline of 'Boys will beboys, held accountable', really drew me in, but ultimately the book fell short of my expectations.
Unfortunately, after getting through 150 pages, I knew this wasn't for me. This YA novel explores an extremely important topic of toxic masculinity while examining themes of rape culture and the “boys will be boys” mentality. But to uncover this discussion you need to get through dialogue-heavy, dense chapters that don't feel gripping or relevant.
The novel is split into 3 perspectives of Quinn “Q” Walsh, Charlotte Foresley, and Max Hannigan-Loeffler, with Q being directly affected by the rape culture within the elite Lycroft Phelps school. She was the character that gripped me most, her inner thoughts were visceral and thought-provoking, and illustrated the pain and disorder that come with being sexually assaulted, while the perpetrator walks free with no consequences for his actions.
However, I did not care for Charlotte and Max, their chapters felt like irrelevant filler and didn't make me care for the characters. In fact, I just wanted to skip their sections entirely, and this was when I knew that I would not finish this book.
What should have been the focus of the book - victims of a misogynistic despicable system, that continues to be perpetrated in all areas of our society - took second place, sandwiched in between chapters of little relevance.
I was looking forward to reading this novel; the synopsis and tagline of 'Boys will be
Unfortunately, after getting through 150 pages, I knew this wasn't for me. This YA novel explores an extremely important topic of toxic masculinity while examining themes of rape culture and the “boys will be boys” mentality. But to uncover this discussion you need to get through dialogue-heavy, dense chapters that don't feel gripping or relevant.
The novel is split into 3 perspectives of Quinn “Q” Walsh, Charlotte Foresley, and Max Hannigan-Loeffler, with Q being directly affected by the rape culture within the elite Lycroft Phelps school. She was the character that gripped me most, her inner thoughts were visceral and thought-provoking, and illustrated the pain and disorder that come with being sexually assaulted, while the perpetrator walks free with no consequences for his actions.
However, I did not care for Charlotte and Max, their chapters felt like irrelevant filler and didn't make me care for the characters. In fact, I just wanted to skip their sections entirely, and this was when I knew that I would not finish this book.
What should have been the focus of the book - victims of a misogynistic despicable system, that continues to be perpetrated in all areas of our society - took second place, sandwiched in between chapters of little relevance.