anbar 's review for:

All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

4.0

---

I enjoyed this so much. The writing style is interesting, with very short, introspective chapters that gradually uncover the mystery of the character's past and her current circumstances bit by bit, so the reader has to try to piece together the things the protagonist isn't telling. Also, at the point where most novels would finish (big battle! Annnnnd DONE!), this story is just beginning - the real story starts getting dredged up in the aftermath of this big event, and we follow the fallout of everyone interpreting and reacting to the revelations in their different ways. This was a refreshing surprise.
Another plus: though a big part of the story is the unspoken but pervasive victim-blaming rape culture in this puritanical village (nobody knows exactly what happened to the protagonist years ago, but everyone has very strong opinions about her because of it), this novel doesn't leave you raging or depressed at the end, so it's a good vehicle for discussions about the subject of rape culture and its effects on a society and the people in it.
Recommended for both teens and adults!