I really wanted to read this book because it's not often that there's a book set in college that is about something of substance. I'm not going to go on a New Adult rant, but seriously there are so many important stories about the college experience that aren't getting told (I'm thinking more books like [b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] and less books like [b:Beautiful Disaster|11505797|Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful, #1)|Jamie McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1358259032s/11505797.jpg|16441531]).

So, I was very interested to read a book about something as important as sexual assault on college campus. I don't have all my facts in line, but it's something like a quarter of women will be victims of sexual assault during their college career. And with the whole Brock Turner injustice happening recently.... well, books like this couldn't be more important.

Having said all that, this book gave me such odd feelings. I could not put the book down, but I felt so complicated about the characters. I felt like almost every single one was equally sympathetic and aggravating. I don't have to like the characters to like the book, which was sort of the case here, but it felt weird to feel so many different feelings towards the victim. The bottom line is no one should have to go through what Jenny went through, whether I love her as a person or not. That in of itself made me feel icky because I WANTED to love her as a person and I just couldn't... which is kind of messed up of me, but it was how I was feeling!! (See what I mean?? That's totally icky)

I kind of think that this book became more interesting because of the frustrating characters.

Haley was put in this really uncomfortable position of being Jenny's sole confidant when they weren't really friends at all beforehand. But she didn't just roll with it and came off as selfish at times.

Richard (the guy who lives with Jenny's rapist) was shown as the ignorant guy-- always saying offensive stuff, but not really knowing why it was offensive.

And then there's Carrie. She's this uber-feminist woman who Richard has a fling with pre-Jenny situation, but ultimately she became almost the villain of this book because of how harsh she was.

If I could change anything about this book it would definitely be Carrie. Her portrayal to me just enforces femi-nazi stereotypes that feminists are man-hating and unlikable and hard-headed. I also am a tad bit over the over-sensitivity of our society, and this book spotlights it. There's a lot of freaking out about things that Richard says that, yes most of it was super-dumb and inappropriate. Maybe I'm crazy, but to stop and have like a LESSON over it just feels a little contrived. People say dumb stuff all the time, and I just CAN'T stop every time it happens and have a reaction to it.

The hardest part for me was just realizing how hard it was for Jenny to prove her case. There was alcohol involved, the attack wasn't videotaped or photographed, and her grasp of all the details were foggy. BUT SO WHAT!!! It supremely sucks that we live in a culture that it has to be a perfect case for a rape victim to be believed and get justice.

OVERALL: Really great, unputdownable book that made me feel really conflicted about every single character. I loved the way the process was shown and it was super sad to see how hard it is for victims to just be believed. I think we need a lot more books like this!! It made me feel uncomfortable and I'm pretty sure that was the whole point.

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This novel, described as YA, would be a valuable read for all genders and all ages. It deals with a rape on a college campus and the impact on all parties involved. The setting, a frat party, is pretty standard. But the aftermath, with the survivor's confusion about the circumstances, the bullying of her by other students, friends of the perpetrator, and her own parents, is extraordinary. Swept up in the events are Haley and Richard, the roommates of Jenny, who was assaulted, and Jordan, the accused. Haley had been recruited to play soccer but her third concussion prevents her from continuing her sports journey. This is a fraught subject in and of itself, and Haley's loss of identity and need to adjust to such a major life change could be its own novel. Richard has his own journey to complete as he grows from "bro" into a mature man. The campus proceedings still beg the question of whether sexual assault should be handled by outside law enforcement or kept separate as a college investigation. ( )

I won this book in an online giveaway from Alogonquin Young Readers. All opinions are my own. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Wrecked by Maria Padian. This is a wonderful draw you in to the story read. The character personalities are typical college attitudes both boys and girls alike. While I totally knew how this book would end I enjoyed the read itself. As an adult there is no "good" solution to a college sexual assault. Everyone who comes in contact with the victim or the accused is forced to pick a side and ultimately both sides are effected with the outcome. This book is just that how to reach closure even when there is no answer you want to hear. Every person in this story truly walked away "wrecked". It's human nature to seek and want justice for what we believe or know is wrong but when it doesn't happen then what? Review also posted on Instagram @borenbooks, Amazon, Goodreads/StacieBoren, Twitter @jason_stacie , Go Read, and my blog at readsbystacie.com ( )

I was sent this book from the publisher. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I am not sure why more people are not talking about this book. I think this is a very important read for everyone, especially those in High School and College. This books really focuses on the rape culture of today. It was such a real look into some of the stigmas in our society around rape including victim blaming and denial from others. Social media is also linked within in the story and the role it can play during horrific incidents such as this. It was heartbreaking! It is even more heartbreaking since this is real life.

I love that this also educates around consent and ways to ask for consent. It talks about how kissing and thinking someone may want more does not mean consent. I liked how this book not only talked about rape, but provided some education.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and feel everyone should read this. ( )

MY RATING: 4/5
GOODREADS: 3.98/5
Hardcover, 368 pages
Published: October 4, 2016 by Algonquin Young Readers
Haley and Jenny are roommates at MacCallum College. The two have basically nothing in common and do not run with the same crowd. Haley is a star athlete who has just gotten a “career ending injury”, and Jenny is a quiet mouse-like biology major who pretty much has time for nothing but homework and labs.

Richard and Jordan live next door to the party house on campus, Conundrum, and spend much of their free time chugging beer, playing “pool shots” and beer pong.

Carrie is a crunchy-granola type who lives in “Out House”, the environmentally focused, vegan obsessed house on campus. She also volunteers for the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) where women on campus can call to get help if they have been a victim of a sexual crime.

The lives of these five people converge when Jenny reports being raped by Jordan during a rager at Conundrum House.

This is a very timely book, with all the talk about “rape culture” on college campuses, the Brock Turner rape trial earlier this year, etc. What this book becomes is a vessel to bring up conversations about these things. Rape is not at all an easy topic to cover in fiction in a way that would encourage the reader to read it. But the author handles the topic in such a respectful way, the reader can’t help but read as fast as possible to find out how it all ends. Trust me, I stayed up until almost 4am because I simply could not put this book down.

One thing that stood out to me in this book that was unique and fresh was the reversal of gender stereotypes of Haley and Richard. Haley is a soccer player. She’s a jock. Richard is a “math dude”, but he also gets his heart pretty much broken after being in a casual sexual relationship with Carrie, the hardcore feminist environmentalist. He’s the one pining after lost love, while Haley is brooding over no longer being able to play soccer.

Although this is a book covering a very serious and emotional topic, there are some lighter moments. For example, the following quote, which has applied to me personally many times throughout my life:

Duct tape. Permanently adhered to my mouth. It’s the only way to save myself—and others—from the things I say.

Maria Padian is an author who writes in a very believable way. Most of the characters are so well rounded, they could absolutely pass for real people. Her character development is en pointe. The only main(ish) character who doesn’t seem to grow much is Carrie, and this is probably my only real complaint about the book. I think Carrie should have shown more growth and maybe get knocked down a few notches so she realized she isn’t the know-it-all she thinks she is, or maybe simply she should have been made to realize that everything isn’t as black and white as she thought.

I would recommend that anyone and everyone read this book. There is some strong language used, but I do not recall it being overly abused. Topics such as victim shaming, college drinking, and date-rape are all covered.

Some other good books that tackle the difficult topics of rape and sexual assault respectfully:

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
Push (Precious) by Sapphire

This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )