This was a heartbreaking novel, filled with passionate moments and poignant truths. We experience Grace's grief, for the loss of her father, for the loss of trust in all those around her, and for the loss of her innocence. There were a handful of beautifully worded paragraphs that made me pause for a deep breath and others that were a punch to the gut. The book perfectly captured the essence of rape and the aftershocks. Grace is no longer the person she was; and, as her story is revealed to others, they too are affected and their lives forever altered, both in small ways and large. The healing process takes years, and while Grace begins to heal as the story of what happened that night unfolds and reveals the truth, there is that ever persistent question of why. Why did this happen? As well, Grace will always wonder about whether she could have done something differently to avoid being assaulted, even when she is in no way at fault. Society has led women to believe that they are somehow culpable or at fault when they are assaulted, giving the perpetrator a sense of being in the right. We can see all of this in the way Grace acts, reacts and thinks about what has happened to her, her fear and shame about going to the police, her twisted form of justice against other men, and her confrontation with her abuser. Characterization was spot on, each character was so well thought out and blended well in to the story. The interactions with Grace added to her sense of dread, pain, and eventual healing. I loved everything about this narrative. Each character grows and changes and develops with the novel, adapting to the new information, realizing their power over others and their ability to help. I enjoyed that Grace's was not the only story of trauma, that others were also experiencing grief and pain. Through sharing their hurt they were able to heal. I read through it so quickly, from the beginning of the novel I was pulled in to the trauma of Grace's life. I absolutely loved the emphasis on her continuous healing, how she may never be right again, but that she can move forward with her life. I also felt very deeply for her in terms of the loss of her father and found several of her passages about him and remembering him beautiful and honest. A truly heartfelt, shocking and inspiring novel. Highly recommend! I was given an advanced copy of this novel by KCP Loft in exchange for an honest review.
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