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Blind Spot
When Dale stumbles into a bedroom at a party and sees a drunk girl being undressed by a group of guys, he backs away and runs. He’s pretty drunk himself, but he knows what he saw.
Why didn’t he stop them? Why did he run?
These questions haunt him. He wants to make things right but he doesn’t know how.
There’s no way he can talk to his dad. His mum walked out months ago. And his best friend, Kieran, wouldn’t understand. Dale’s not even sure Kieran would see a problem with what happened. Kieran is so casual about sex. And drugs. And life in general. The opposite of Dale.
Then Max arrives, Dale’s cousin. She’s older, smart, cool—with her own perspective on Dale’s problem. And problems of her own.
And there’s Brent. He’s a year older than Dale, and hot—everything Dale is looking for, but will he have the answers Dale needs?
Blind Spot is a nuanced and insightful exploration of the responsibility that comes with being a witness, the culpability of inaction and the complex nature of friendship—from an exciting new voice in Australian YA literature.
Why didn’t he stop them? Why did he run?
These questions haunt him. He wants to make things right but he doesn’t know how.
There’s no way he can talk to his dad. His mum walked out months ago. And his best friend, Kieran, wouldn’t understand. Dale’s not even sure Kieran would see a problem with what happened. Kieran is so casual about sex. And drugs. And life in general. The opposite of Dale.
Then Max arrives, Dale’s cousin. She’s older, smart, cool—with her own perspective on Dale’s problem. And problems of her own.
And there’s Brent. He’s a year older than Dale, and hot—everything Dale is looking for, but will he have the answers Dale needs?
Blind Spot is a nuanced and insightful exploration of the responsibility that comes with being a witness, the culpability of inaction and the complex nature of friendship—from an exciting new voice in Australian YA literature.
- GenresYoung AdultLGBT
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2023
2 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
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February 8, 2024The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Blind Spot
‘Blind Spot is a raw and honest depiction of adolescence in Australia, with all the joys, agonies and consequences that come with it. This is a compelling and emotional tale of feeling broken, of aching to put yourself back together, and wondering if it will ever truly be possible. Robyn Dennison’s writing is razor-sharp and nuanced, perfectly capturing the emotion, restlessness and ambivalence of youth. BLIND SPOT is a bold debut that doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of growing up. A brilliant read.’
Holden Sheppard
‘A sophisticated, challenging novel that explores themes of personal responsibility alongside a duty of care for others…Dennison writes Dale with great depth and empathy…A compelling, important novel for young people.’
Bec Kavanagh, Books+Publishing
‘Vulnerable and compelling, and I particularly enjoyed the relaxed treatment of queerness (no traumatic ‘coming out’ story or bullying narrative), as well as the sensitive and introverted narration inside the mind of a teenage boy.’
Writing NSW
‘An honest, authentic and compelling insight into the complexity of [Dale’s] life…You won’t be able to put this book down.’
ReadPlus
‘A raw and unflinching depiction of teenage life with some heavy hitting, complex issues. It’s a hard read, but one that I struggled to put down…It’s an impressive debut, full of empathy, raw and gritty, and not afraid to tackle the big issues.’
NZ Booklovers
‘Blind Spot provides the reader with warm and relaxed representations of queer relationships, positive demonstrations of consent and healthy relationships, and a cast of nuanced, dynamic, and complex characters.’
VATE YA Book Stack
‘A riveting read that takes an unflinching look at a likeable character dealing with the repercussions of a single, devastating decision.’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Blind Spot is a raw and honest depiction of adolescence in Australia, with all the joys, agonies and consequences that come with it. This is a compelling and emotional tale of feeling broken, of aching to put yourself back together, and wondering if it will ever truly be possible. Robyn Dennison’s writing is razor-sharp and nuanced, perfectly capturing the emotion, restlessness and ambivalence of youth. BLIND SPOT is a bold debut that doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of growing up. A brilliant read.’
Holden Sheppard
‘A sophisticated, challenging novel that explores themes of personal responsibility alongside a duty of care for others…Dennison writes Dale with great depth and empathy…A compelling, important novel for young people.’
Bec Kavanagh, Books+Publishing
‘Vulnerable and compelling, and I particularly enjoyed the relaxed treatment of queerness (no traumatic ‘coming out’ story or bullying narrative), as well as the sensitive and introverted narration inside the mind of a teenage boy.’
Writing NSW
‘An honest, authentic and compelling insight into the complexity of [Dale’s] life…You won’t be able to put this book down.’
ReadPlus
‘A raw and unflinching depiction of teenage life with some heavy hitting, complex issues. It’s a hard read, but one that I struggled to put down…It’s an impressive debut, full of empathy, raw and gritty, and not afraid to tackle the big issues.’
NZ Booklovers
‘Blind Spot provides the reader with warm and relaxed representations of queer relationships, positive demonstrations of consent and healthy relationships, and a cast of nuanced, dynamic, and complex characters.’
VATE YA Book Stack
‘A riveting read that takes an unflinching look at a likeable character dealing with the repercussions of a single, devastating decision.’
Sydney Morning Herald
January 21, 2024
3⭐️!
This was an alright book. The writing wasn’t amazing and felt very bland but the topic of this book was a great idea, it kept me intrigued and held my attention enough for me to continue reading. The characters were flawed In a way that felt real especially for a 17 year old. This book covered darker topics such as eating disorder and sexual assault.
While I didn’t mind this book, it certainly wasn’t anything amazing. It was aggressively average and took 50 pages for me to get into it. That being said the simple writing style while can be very boring, makes the book easy to read and makes the book a quick read.
This was a great idea, just not executed to the best it could’ve been.
This was an alright book. The writing wasn’t amazing and felt very bland but the topic of this book was a great idea, it kept me intrigued and held my attention enough for me to continue reading. The characters were flawed In a way that felt real especially for a 17 year old. This book covered darker topics such as eating disorder and sexual assault.
While I didn’t mind this book, it certainly wasn’t anything amazing. It was aggressively average and took 50 pages for me to get into it. That being said the simple writing style while can be very boring, makes the book easy to read and makes the book a quick read.
This was a great idea, just not executed to the best it could’ve been.
December 28, 2023
A raw look at the teenage experience and the very real issues they go through. It was murky with lots of issues and no right answers, it seemed to me the teens dealt with the things in a very true to life ‘think I’m an adult, still just a child’ manner. It reminded me of some of the students I teach. I’d love to teach this to my yr 12s. I think they’d see themselves reflected in some ways and it’s a good novel to show that life rarely has perfect answers to easily solved issues, that often we all muddle through painfully and it’s the support from others that we need more than anything. Highly recommend this book.
August 14, 2023
3 ⭐️
It was okay. Atrocious ending though
It was okay. Atrocious ending though
May 31, 2025
Blind Spot by Robyn Dennison is a contemporary young adult novel, and it was shortlisted in The Text Prize in 2021.
When Dale witnesses a sexual assault at a house party, he immediately leaves without telling anyone what he saw. He is wracked with guilt and regret. Meanwhile, he’s also grieving his parents’ divorce, and his older cousin Max has just moved in, who is struggling with an eating disorder.
The novel candidly explores the repercussions of being a bystander and provides an intimate snapshot of being a teenager.
Review
Content warning for the novel: sexual assault, eating disorder, and drug and alcohol use.
I appreciate how Robyn Dennison doesn’t shy away from exploring difficult topics in her novel as it provides a safe space for readers to encounter these topics and to understand them.
The novel is written from Dale’s first-person point of view and explores the repercussions of him being a bystander. Dale was very introspective and spent a lot of time regretting his decisions, so we spent the majority of the novel in his head. There was little plot. It was very slow at the beginning, and although it picked up pace, it didn’t make up for the lack of plot. It felt like a snapshot of Dale’s life.
It was very much a character-driven novel. The characters felt real, and their decisions reflected that of real people. The setting was also vivid, and I felt like I was there.
Minor spoiler:
When Dale witnesses a sexual assault at a house party, he immediately leaves without telling anyone what he saw. He is wracked with guilt and regret. Meanwhile, he’s also grieving his parents’ divorce, and his older cousin Max has just moved in, who is struggling with an eating disorder.
The novel candidly explores the repercussions of being a bystander and provides an intimate snapshot of being a teenager.
Review
Content warning for the novel: sexual assault, eating disorder, and drug and alcohol use.
I appreciate how Robyn Dennison doesn’t shy away from exploring difficult topics in her novel as it provides a safe space for readers to encounter these topics and to understand them.
The novel is written from Dale’s first-person point of view and explores the repercussions of him being a bystander. Dale was very introspective and spent a lot of time regretting his decisions, so we spent the majority of the novel in his head. There was little plot. It was very slow at the beginning, and although it picked up pace, it didn’t make up for the lack of plot. It felt like a snapshot of Dale’s life.
It was very much a character-driven novel. The characters felt real, and their decisions reflected that of real people. The setting was also vivid, and I felt like I was there.
Minor spoiler:
July 18, 2023
This book was un-put-downable from the first page.
Serious themes are discussed throughout, definitely needs a TW for Sexual Assault, Eating Disorders, Drug and Alcohol Use.
Our protagonist goes through a journey within the pages of this book. Finding himself but also finding what it means to be okay with who you are and your choices. How you can't make choices for other people. How to accept them and their choices.
Easy to read, fast paced and being set in Australia, made this one a joy to read. The heavier themes gave it a sense of urgency.
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Serious themes are discussed throughout, definitely needs a TW for Sexual Assault, Eating Disorders, Drug and Alcohol Use.
Our protagonist goes through a journey within the pages of this book. Finding himself but also finding what it means to be okay with who you are and your choices. How you can't make choices for other people. How to accept them and their choices.
Easy to read, fast paced and being set in Australia, made this one a joy to read. The heavier themes gave it a sense of urgency.
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 19, 2024
A story full of tortuous regret and self-punishing teenage behaviours, this novel manages the right number of uplifting moments to balance out what could have been a very depressing tale. Dale, a gay 17-year-old, has witnessed a crime at a party – but who do you talk to when the female victim refuses to acknowledge your admission? His straight friend tries to be an ally, his cousin arrives with anorexia, and the value of friendship in mid-teens is put to the test. With both gay and straight teens navigating hazardous behaviours and self-destructive actions, Dale’s story of redemption and heartbreak plays out against the New South Wales setting to great effect.
April 24, 2024
Dale is 17, doing VCE. At a party one night, he sees two boys preparing to rape a popular girl while she is unconscious. Dale doesn't do anything.
The book goes into his excessive guilt of not doing or saying anything about the crime.
It also examines his life in a snapshot of this moment, looking at his relationships with his mum and dad who have separated, his cousin moving in who is dealing with anorexia, his first relationship with a boy and his sexuality, his best friend and their drug taking, and the reality of life is not always good, it's difficult.
Bit of an abrupt ending.
The book goes into his excessive guilt of not doing or saying anything about the crime.
It also examines his life in a snapshot of this moment, looking at his relationships with his mum and dad who have separated, his cousin moving in who is dealing with anorexia, his first relationship with a boy and his sexuality, his best friend and their drug taking, and the reality of life is not always good, it's difficult.
Bit of an abrupt ending.
May 1, 2024
Blind spot by Robyn Dennison
@text_publishing
Wow, what a read. I couldn't stop thinking about these characters, a real page turner. Wanting more and more. Still wanting more. A real coming of age book, as we follow main character Dale through his final year of high school. Covering dark themes of drug use, sexual assault and mental health envelop this book. Though the writing was kept very simple, and I did find a couple grammatical errors. This didn't stop the book from being a page turner. Would check out trigger warnings before you start your read. But highly recommend!
@text_publishing
Wow, what a read. I couldn't stop thinking about these characters, a real page turner. Wanting more and more. Still wanting more. A real coming of age book, as we follow main character Dale through his final year of high school. Covering dark themes of drug use, sexual assault and mental health envelop this book. Though the writing was kept very simple, and I did find a couple grammatical errors. This didn't stop the book from being a page turner. Would check out trigger warnings before you start your read. But highly recommend!
March 9, 2025
"The future is a black hole, silent and terrifying, and I am a passive object approaching the event horizon; whatever it contains will happen, but I have no control over it. I am someone things happen to, not someone who directs the course of action."
I am sure we have all felt like this as a teenager.
This was an alright book, it keptme interested to find out what happened, it unfortunately does end abruptly. I think it could have improved it by having the different pov of his cousin, his best friend, the asulter, and the victim.
I am sure we have all felt like this as a teenager.
This was an alright book, it keptme interested to find out what happened, it unfortunately does end abruptly. I think it could have improved it by having the different pov of his cousin, his best friend, the asulter, and the victim.
June 14, 2023
Offt. This book is a knock out. Fresh, authentic, nuanced, gritty. I stared at the wall for a good twenty minutes when I finished it, just thinking. About what makes someone a good person, about if anyone else can ever know the real us, about the complexities of every single human life. The characters feel *so* real and my heart was aching for them with all the challenges they (and so many teens) have to face. Highly recommend.
August 19, 2023
An impressive and important book that addresses complex themes such as sexual assault and eating disorders with honesty, skill and above all, respect. The prose is gorgeous and highly readable - the protagonist Dale has such a subtle dry wit that at times I was laughing out loud at his observations. The secondary characters are so well drawn too, particularly Max and Kieran (who is also hilarious). A refreshing and brave Young Adult novel that I totally adored.
August 18, 2025
Engaging and easy to read. The main character Dale is a likeable, relatable teen who is going through many of life’s milestones & trying to get by while dealing with relationship issues, personal issues & the break up of his parents. The writing is engaging & easy to follow. A great read if looking for something in this genre. I do, however feel that the book started off strong but finished averagely. A shame really as the book had so much potential
November 7, 2023
A YA novel worth sharing. The inner dialogue of a teenager grappling with his own failure to speak up is well done. Dennison has shown a light touch with the emotions inherent in this book that makes understanding the ripple effects, internal and in the external social circle of the main character easy to understand and believe. A difficult but important topic well done.
July 7, 2024
After the belly-flop that was "The Piper's Son", I wondered where I'd get my Melina Marchetta-like teen drama fix from again. Robyn Dennison has filled that slot beautifully with this honest and real debut. I didn't know where it was going and knew at the same time, a feat for the ages. It's likely I'll read this again, something I only reserve for truly special stories.
December 12, 2024
As a YA novel this is a great book. Seen through the eyes of Dale, a 16 year old teenager who's Mum has left and he is coming to terms with his sexuality. He sees an appalling event happen but got rooted to the spot and didn't do anything about it. He has a cousin who comes to stay who suffers from anorexia. There is a lot going on and Dale must navigate through things.
October 6, 2023
I couldn’t put this down. I’ve never read a YA book that was still able to deal with such adult themes in a raw and honest way. I hope that one day this gets added to the curriculum in schools, because I know this story is one I would have benefitted from immensely as a teen.
January 10, 2024
I very much enjoyed this book. It was gritty and real, and reading about the experience of sexual assault from the pov of a male bystander was a very interesting slant. Excellent turn of phrase, and parts of it made me laugh as I thought about my own teenage experiences!
June 17, 2024
Blind Spot was alright. The concept is hard hitting, but I felt like the actually writing wasn’t the right fit. At times it felt like the story jumped around a lot, however it was still interesting enough to read reasonably quick.
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May 13, 2024Be a good book for high school boys to read - I only read it as a request from someone to see if it’d be appropriate to give to a class
June 3, 2024
This book touches on lots of serious themes. Trigger warnings. Not suitable for a young audience .
December 6, 2024
3.5 🌟 rounded up
September 6, 2023
A raw exploration of teenage angst, friendships, body image, eating and drinking disorders, and the aftermath of S.A.
August 18, 2023
I'm not the ideal person to be reviewing a young-adult novel. I'm neither young nor -- let's face it -- adult. And I'm hopelessly prejudiced, in that I've been following the author's career from its outset. So I'll say only this: that the best age-specific literature reminds people of my vintage what it was like to be young ourselves -- how it felt, I mean, and how we used to think. Not the smallest merit of Dennison's book, empathetic and closely observed, is that it evoked these sensations in me. I needed a long walk afterwards.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews