A review by cozypete
American Rapture by CJ Leede

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I was blown away by how accurately CJ Leede was able to describe religious guilt and trauma. One important thing to note though is that this story is told through a first person perspective from our protagonist, Sophie, so we feel all these emotions and responses as unsurely as she does at age 16. I can understand how this might be confusing or even frustrating for readers who didn’t grow up religious and/or for people who are now much older and have outgrown these feelings but to me it was incredibly well done.

This book had SO MUCH to say and it said it well.

The premise of this book is that there’s a virus that makes people violently sexual. Despite this, there are NO graphic rape scenes in this book. However, there are many instances of assault and attempted rape - which, as the book discusses, is just as traumatising and scary as the actual act. She manages to convey how terrifying this virus is without any actual graphic depictions.

This was nothing like Maeve Fly at ALL but I actually enjoyed that. Being able to nail two completely different moods is so impressive. THANK U FOR THIS MASTERPIECE CJ 
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