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Freedom #1
Unspeakable
“Breathe. No one will break me. I’m strong. Breathe. Just breathe.”
On the outside, Willow appears to have it all. She’s beautiful, smart, from an influential family, and she dates the most popular guy in school—Jaden. But she would walk away from it all in a second. Willow is tormented by lies and suffocating guilt, not the hearts and flowers people believe her life is full of.
She carries a dark secret. Plagued by nightmares and pain, the secret dominates her life. If she hadn’t walked away. If she had just…but she didn’t. And now she has to live with her choice. But when someone uncovers her family’s past, they use it against her, crushing her spirit little by little. She tells herself she just has to make it to graduation. Then she can leave Middleton, and her secret, far behind.
When Brody transfers to Cassidy High, he turns Willow’s life upside down. He shows her what it feels like to live again, really live. And suddenly, she isn’t satisfied with just surviving until graduation. She wants a normal life—with Brody—and he wants her. But the closer they become, the more it threatens to unravel the secret she’s worked so hard to hide.
Willow finds true love with Brody. Will she let his love save her, or walk away from him to keep her secret safe?
On the outside, Willow appears to have it all. She’s beautiful, smart, from an influential family, and she dates the most popular guy in school—Jaden. But she would walk away from it all in a second. Willow is tormented by lies and suffocating guilt, not the hearts and flowers people believe her life is full of.
She carries a dark secret. Plagued by nightmares and pain, the secret dominates her life. If she hadn’t walked away. If she had just…but she didn’t. And now she has to live with her choice. But when someone uncovers her family’s past, they use it against her, crushing her spirit little by little. She tells herself she just has to make it to graduation. Then she can leave Middleton, and her secret, far behind.
When Brody transfers to Cassidy High, he turns Willow’s life upside down. He shows her what it feels like to live again, really live. And suddenly, she isn’t satisfied with just surviving until graduation. She wants a normal life—with Brody—and he wants her. But the closer they become, the more it threatens to unravel the secret she’s worked so hard to hide.
Willow finds true love with Brody. Will she let his love save her, or walk away from him to keep her secret safe?
304 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2015
164 people are currently reading
5230 people want to read
About the author
Michelle K. Pickett
11 books894 followersNote: Though Michelle's blog entries are cross posted here, she does not frequent Goodreads regularly. The best way to contact her is through her
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Michelle is an award-winning YA author... but if you ask her who she really is, she'll answer, "I'm the wife of an amazing man, mom of four awesome kids, a reader of words, and writer of stories. I love candles and books, think garden gnomes are creepy and M&Ms are the perfect food (especially peanut butter). I live and write in Texas, but was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and will always think of the Great Lakes state as home."
Michelle is an award-winning YA author... but if you ask her who she really is, she'll answer, "I'm the wife of an amazing man, mom of four awesome kids, a reader of words, and writer of stories. I love candles and books, think garden gnomes are creepy and M&Ms are the perfect food (especially peanut butter). I live and write in Texas, but was born and raised in Flint, Michigan and will always think of the Great Lakes state as home."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
July 9, 2015
POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!!! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
Breathe. No one will break me. I’m strong. Breathe. Just breathe.”
As most people know that follow and read my reviews know that Paranormal is my genre, but I always like to go outside my comfort zone and give other books a try.
WOW, I am trying to write a review with my head spinning, my heart break and mending at the same time, my eyes leaking, and my nose running. There is not enough tissues in the world while reading this story. Reading this story brought back a lot of bad memories of my teenage years. All the abuse, be it physical, mental, social, or spiritual, my life was awful and I had no way out of it. I am giving this book the stars it deserves because the author didn’t know how close my life was to this character nor would I tell anyone, but this is one story that hit so close to home, I almost started reliving my own past while reading it. The feelings were so raw and the emotional roller-coaster kept me putting the book down, because it brought something up in my past, but then I had to know if this character was as strong as I was and fought her way through it. And sure enough, she did and that kept me reading. Though, my situation was different, I really could relate to this character and I hope this story helps out others just as it did me. I highly recommend this story to anyone who is in any way in an abusive relationship, because this book will actually give you hope and remind us all that no matter the situation we are all strong enough to pull through and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Breathe. No one will break me. I’m strong. Breathe. Just breathe.”
As most people know that follow and read my reviews know that Paranormal is my genre, but I always like to go outside my comfort zone and give other books a try.
WOW, I am trying to write a review with my head spinning, my heart break and mending at the same time, my eyes leaking, and my nose running. There is not enough tissues in the world while reading this story. Reading this story brought back a lot of bad memories of my teenage years. All the abuse, be it physical, mental, social, or spiritual, my life was awful and I had no way out of it. I am giving this book the stars it deserves because the author didn’t know how close my life was to this character nor would I tell anyone, but this is one story that hit so close to home, I almost started reliving my own past while reading it. The feelings were so raw and the emotional roller-coaster kept me putting the book down, because it brought something up in my past, but then I had to know if this character was as strong as I was and fought her way through it. And sure enough, she did and that kept me reading. Though, my situation was different, I really could relate to this character and I hope this story helps out others just as it did me. I highly recommend this story to anyone who is in any way in an abusive relationship, because this book will actually give you hope and remind us all that no matter the situation we are all strong enough to pull through and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
July 11, 2016
This was a hard book to read, but the author found a delicate way to tackle the issues of bullying and abuse. The physical scenes made me a little uncomfortable, only because I felt so helpless while reading them, and I think that spoke to how potent the scenes the author created were.
My heart went out to Willow. No one should have to endure what she did. But I cannot tell a lie. There were many times that she aggravated me. I wanted her to speak up. Get the authorities involved. Tell a friend. Something. Anything was better than the life she was living. For such a strong and smart girl, she sometimes came off weak and dumb. I'm not sure this character had the capacity to send the right message to those who may be in similar circumstances. IF YOU'RE BEING ABUSED AT HOME, SEEK HELP. PLEASE!! Especially when it comes to children!!
Brody was freaking spectacular and everyone needs one of him in their lives. He was intelligent, handsome, sexy, smooth, considerate, and most importantly, concerned and supportive. I kept hoping for Willow to really put her trust and faith in him and LET HIM IN!! . I'm just glad he was there for her.
I'm unsatisfied with the ending. It seemed like Jaden got away with everything he did. Why wasn't he held accountable for any of his actions???
I liked the supporting characters Jenna and Tim, however, I kept wondering why everyone was allowing what was happening to continue. Why did no one else contact the authorities??? Why did no one speak up??? And why didn't the faculty at the school get involved???
Ah well, evil didn't prosper in the end thankfully.
XO
My heart went out to Willow. No one should have to endure what she did. But I cannot tell a lie. There were many times that she aggravated me. I wanted her to speak up. Get the authorities involved. Tell a friend. Something. Anything was better than the life she was living. For such a strong and smart girl, she sometimes came off weak and dumb. I'm not sure this character had the capacity to send the right message to those who may be in similar circumstances. IF YOU'RE BEING ABUSED AT HOME, SEEK HELP. PLEASE!! Especially when it comes to children!!
Brody was freaking spectacular and everyone needs one of him in their lives. He was intelligent, handsome, sexy, smooth, considerate, and most importantly, concerned and supportive. I kept hoping for Willow to really put her trust and faith in him and LET HIM IN!! . I'm just glad he was there for her.
I'm unsatisfied with the ending. It seemed like Jaden got away with everything he did. Why wasn't he held accountable for any of his actions???
I liked the supporting characters Jenna and Tim, however, I kept wondering why everyone was allowing what was happening to continue. Why did no one else contact the authorities??? Why did no one speak up??? And why didn't the faculty at the school get involved???
Ah well, evil didn't prosper in the end thankfully.
XO
April 6, 2017
5 Stars!!!!
August 7, 2014
This is one of those books that will hook you from the first page and will hold you there until the very last words. I read A LOT of books and very few grabbed me the way that this one did.
I will admit it would probably not be my first choice genre wise but I defy anyone that enjoys books to read this and not find themselves completely captivated.
From the very beginning you know that there are secrets but you have no idea how deep the secrets run. This book had me alternating between yelling at, and wanting to hug some of the main characters and by the end I think my nerves were shot (there were definitely times when my heart was physically pounding) but it was totally worth the ride.
Add this one to your TBR lists NOW!! Trust me ... you don't want to miss out! V""V
I will admit it would probably not be my first choice genre wise but I defy anyone that enjoys books to read this and not find themselves completely captivated.
From the very beginning you know that there are secrets but you have no idea how deep the secrets run. This book had me alternating between yelling at, and wanting to hug some of the main characters and by the end I think my nerves were shot (there were definitely times when my heart was physically pounding) but it was totally worth the ride.
Add this one to your TBR lists NOW!! Trust me ... you don't want to miss out! V""V
August 5, 2014
You know those books that make your heart ache? The ones that leave you wishing you could read that last chapter really slow, just so it won't end? Unspeakable is one of those. It's going to make you wish you could give Willow a big hug, get a pedi with Jenna, and definitely get to know Brody. Oh, Brody. I'm seriously going to have to make a t-shirt that says "Team Brody". *Swoons* He's definitely book-boyfriend worthy and then some! Willow is stuck in an impossible situation, one that makes you cringe and want to wrap her in a giant hug. Her strength in dealing with it all is amazing, but sometimes the hardest part is learning how to get help. I know you'll be cheering her on, and praying things work out well for her all through the book. That, and loving her snarky t-shirts! Beyond the amazing characters, this book also has a message that I think is vital for women of all ages. The portrayal of an abusive relationship is all too real, especially in its contrast to how Willow and Brody work together. No one deserves to be stuck in a relationship that's abusive and I think that is so clearly expressed through Willow's story that I wish teens everywhere should read this book. Find the strength to get out and get help. There are so many layers to this novel, and I don't want to give away spoilers, but it's a heartwarming novel that's stuck with me and I can't say anything better than just Go Read It!
June 4, 2015
Unspeakable earned a Crowned Heart award from InD'Tale magazine, and the Readers' Favorite 5-star seal!
"The book portrays Willow's plight realistically. An insightful, cautionary tale." ~Kirkus Reviews
"The book portrays Willow's plight realistically. An insightful, cautionary tale." ~Kirkus Reviews
June 10, 2020
This is an incredibly heart-wrenching novel. I absolutely loved it. However, I had to reduce my star rating because of the sheer stupidity of the protagonists towards the end. I have chosen to pretend that the last bit of the book didn’t happen.
There are some inconsistencies in Willow’s character that also bothered me a little. She can’t trust anyone with the “truth”, but honestly, I do believe that she would have trusted Brody, especially after they’d grown close. She was also being blackmailed into staying with her boyfriend, yet she didn’t seem nearly frightened enough. She was rude to him, even (mild spoiler) , which aren’t necessarily characteristics of someone who’s frightened that their huge, terrible, super mysterious “secret” will come out.
I’m being a little critical, but only because the first two thirds of this book were so damn good. It was infuriating to see it go downhill. I was so invested in the characters, that their inconsistencies really tore me up. I will never be the same. ;)
I still recommend this book to those who love a good teenage angst-ridden romance novel.
There are some inconsistencies in Willow’s character that also bothered me a little. She can’t trust anyone with the “truth”, but honestly, I do believe that she would have trusted Brody, especially after they’d grown close. She was also being blackmailed into staying with her boyfriend, yet she didn’t seem nearly frightened enough. She was rude to him, even (mild spoiler) , which aren’t necessarily characteristics of someone who’s frightened that their huge, terrible, super mysterious “secret” will come out.
I’m being a little critical, but only because the first two thirds of this book were so damn good. It was infuriating to see it go downhill. I was so invested in the characters, that their inconsistencies really tore me up. I will never be the same. ;)
I still recommend this book to those who love a good teenage angst-ridden romance novel.
January 25, 2015
This book drew me in with the first chapter,a captivating story whose quirky and serious elements all balance out to make a breathtaking combination of love and suspense. This book will grab you by the heartstrings and emerge you into Willow's world of sass and secrets.(#teambrody) This book for me is of those books that I couldn't put down, I could go on and on about this wonderful story but I don't want to give any more spoilers! Along with PODs this story is one of my favorites of all time! I suggest this book to anyone but especially if you love romance and suspense. This book is so amazing and definitely go get and get your hands on it when it comes out!! Thanks Michelle for letting me be a beta reader!
August 6, 2014
Unspeakable is a beautifully dark tale of the cost we pay to keep secrets for the people we love. Woven with threads of mystery, romance, and suspense, it is a journey, from abuse, to freedom, from fear to courage. Willow's story is as complex as it is rich and decadent, yet somehow, despite the troubled subject matter, it remains tender. It will break you down, and then build you back up again, feeling all the stronger for it. A must read!
June 10, 2015
In Unspeakable, the first book in the Freedom series, by Michelle K. Pickett, Willow is beautiful, smart, has awesome friends, and is dating Jaden, captain of the football team and most popular guy in school. It can’t get any better than that, right? Looks can be deceiving. She has kept a horrible secret from everyone, and when someone finds out, this person uses it against her and makes her feel like a prisoner. If she doesn’t do what he says, he will tell everyone. Then, Brody comes into her life. He affects her in a way she never thought possible. She finds herself falling for him but is scared to take things further and leave Jaden. Now she has to figure out if Brody and the life she could have with him is worth risking it all.
This just became my new favorite book. I’m not exaggerating. And I am officially sleep-deprived because of this book. Staying up until 5 in the morning because I can’t bear the thought of going to sleep without knowing what happens to fictional people is not a consistent habit of mine. I loved Willow. Her obsession with caffeine, her sarcastic t-shirts, and the fact that she’s both tough and vulnerable make her such a unique character that you can’t help but root for. She is going through the unimaginable at both home and school, and throughout the book, you hope she finds the strength to stand up for herself. And then there’s Brody. Oh, Brody. Before Brody, Willow was just going through the motions, counting down the days to graduation when she could escape, but after meeting him, she begins to feel alive and yearns to truly be happy and feel loved. I give kudos to Michelle K. Pickett for not only creating such amazing characters but also for portraying such a realistic relationship. The pace was perfect, and the gradual buildup from annoyance with each other to friendship to something more was flawless. While the story does tackle some serious issues, it goes to show how real this book really is. If you’re anything like me, you’ll smile from ear to ear, cry uncontrollably, practically scream with excitement, and want to do unthinkable physical harm to some characters in the book. Unspeakable is an absolute must-read, and I will be impatiently waiting for the rest of the series. Thank you Michelle K. Pickett for writing such an incredible book.
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
This just became my new favorite book. I’m not exaggerating. And I am officially sleep-deprived because of this book. Staying up until 5 in the morning because I can’t bear the thought of going to sleep without knowing what happens to fictional people is not a consistent habit of mine. I loved Willow. Her obsession with caffeine, her sarcastic t-shirts, and the fact that she’s both tough and vulnerable make her such a unique character that you can’t help but root for. She is going through the unimaginable at both home and school, and throughout the book, you hope she finds the strength to stand up for herself. And then there’s Brody. Oh, Brody. Before Brody, Willow was just going through the motions, counting down the days to graduation when she could escape, but after meeting him, she begins to feel alive and yearns to truly be happy and feel loved. I give kudos to Michelle K. Pickett for not only creating such amazing characters but also for portraying such a realistic relationship. The pace was perfect, and the gradual buildup from annoyance with each other to friendship to something more was flawless. While the story does tackle some serious issues, it goes to show how real this book really is. If you’re anything like me, you’ll smile from ear to ear, cry uncontrollably, practically scream with excitement, and want to do unthinkable physical harm to some characters in the book. Unspeakable is an absolute must-read, and I will be impatiently waiting for the rest of the series. Thank you Michelle K. Pickett for writing such an incredible book.
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
March 3, 2015
Reviewed on behalf of Readers' Favorite
Unspeakable by Michelle K. Pickett is a young adult novel about a young girl suffering in controlling and abusive relationships. Willow Rutherford appears to have an idyllic life. She’s dating her high school’s star football player, Jaden, and excelling in all her classes. What people do not see is the horrific abuse she suffers at home at the hands of her stepfather, Ralph, and the controlling nature of her boyfriend. Jaden and Ralph hold a terrible secret over Willow’s head and threaten if she reveals what’s happening to anyone, they will tell everyone. Then, Brody Victor starts at her school and Willow finds herself falling hard and fast for the new guy. Can she get up the courage to break the cycle of abuse and finally come to terms with the dark secret in her past?
Miss Pickett’s novel is definitely intense. Although it is classed as a book for young adults, I am not quite sure the material is suitable for teenagers. I feel strongly about advocating against domestic violence and abuse, but I felt parts were too graphic, even for me. I would recommend a warning at the beginning about the level of violence. Aside from that, I found the story pretty captivating. I will admit, I was disappointed at the ending and what the “big secret” was, but I cannot fault the writing style and way the author conveyed her characters’ emotions. Unspeakable is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it carries a powerful message that no one should suffer abuse silently.
Unspeakable by Michelle K. Pickett is a young adult novel about a young girl suffering in controlling and abusive relationships. Willow Rutherford appears to have an idyllic life. She’s dating her high school’s star football player, Jaden, and excelling in all her classes. What people do not see is the horrific abuse she suffers at home at the hands of her stepfather, Ralph, and the controlling nature of her boyfriend. Jaden and Ralph hold a terrible secret over Willow’s head and threaten if she reveals what’s happening to anyone, they will tell everyone. Then, Brody Victor starts at her school and Willow finds herself falling hard and fast for the new guy. Can she get up the courage to break the cycle of abuse and finally come to terms with the dark secret in her past?
Miss Pickett’s novel is definitely intense. Although it is classed as a book for young adults, I am not quite sure the material is suitable for teenagers. I feel strongly about advocating against domestic violence and abuse, but I felt parts were too graphic, even for me. I would recommend a warning at the beginning about the level of violence. Aside from that, I found the story pretty captivating. I will admit, I was disappointed at the ending and what the “big secret” was, but I cannot fault the writing style and way the author conveyed her characters’ emotions. Unspeakable is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it carries a powerful message that no one should suffer abuse silently.
February 13, 2015
This is a beautifully heartbreaking story. Willow is such a strong girl keeping the secret she has and enduring the hand in life she has been given. Jaden is a freaking douchebag. Brody is everything Willow needs and deserves.
This book is filled with sweetness, friendship, love, hope and of course douchebags.
The story hits hard with a very real problem so many people live with, though and survive. The story is beautifully written and highly recommend.
This book is filled with sweetness, friendship, love, hope and of course douchebags.
The story hits hard with a very real problem so many people live with, though and survive. The story is beautifully written and highly recommend.
February 12, 2017
OMG! This book brought on so many emotions, I loved it so much!
October 23, 2014
Let's start with this cover. It's stunning. You could interpret so much just from her eyes alone.
Unspeakable, deals with a very serious topic. (Read it, that way you can find out what it is) No one is ever immune, and you may never know this is happening.
I found Willow very strong and a surviver. I love her T-shorts.
Swoon over smexy Brody. He was a doll, he managed to obtain 10 cool points from me. But I'm a total sap.
Michelle did amazing helping me connect to Willow, her feelings, her situation and everything. It's definitely one you should grab and share.
Unspeakable, deals with a very serious topic. (Read it, that way you can find out what it is) No one is ever immune, and you may never know this is happening.
I found Willow very strong and a surviver. I love her T-shorts.
Swoon over smexy Brody. He was a doll, he managed to obtain 10 cool points from me. But I'm a total sap.
Michelle did amazing helping me connect to Willow, her feelings, her situation and everything. It's definitely one you should grab and share.
October 25, 2015
Check out this and other reviews on my blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
Willow seems like your average teenage girl – she has a few close friends, she goes to football games, and she likes spending time with her boyfriend, Jaden. Jaden is every girl’s dream boyfriend – he’s good looking, the captain of the football team, and incredibly popular. Jaden is also controlling, abusive, and downright mean to Willow, and doesn’t care who knows about it. But Willow feels like she has to stay with Jaden, because Jaden knows a secret about her family that could tear them apart and destroy her. So Willow deals with Jaden telling her who she can and cannot hang out with, whether or not she is allowed to leave her house, and what they will do when they spend time together. He even orders her food for her.
When Willow goes home at the end of the day, she can’t even find relief there – Ralph, Willow’s step-father, is even more abuse than Jaden. Ralph isn’t afraid to physically abuse Willow, and she is forced to cover her bruises and injuries with long sleeves and make-up, so that no one finds out. Willow’s mother doesn’t do anything to stop the abuse, either – for various reasons, including fear of abuse for herself, and fearing that her secret will get out if she says anything, because Ralph knows what it is. Even worse, Ralph absolutely adores Jaden, and practically insists that Willow stays with him. When Willow tries to break up with Jaden, Ralph makes it clear that he expects her to stay with him.
While home and school are both hard for Willow, she’s good in school and tries to spend as much time with her friends as she can. At the beginning of her senior year, a new student shows up – Brody. Brody has quite the reputation for dating girls, using them, and then breaking up with them, so Willow doesn’t really want to waste her time befriending him. However, he is in a few of her classes and makes sure to sit next to her and talk to her as often as possible. While their relationship starts off as dislike for one another, complete with insulting each other daily, they slowly become friends, and Willow finds herself falling in love with him. Jaden doesn’t allow to spend time with him, and he becomes even more controlling when he finds out that the two of them are friends (he walks her to every class and insists she stay put at her house unless she is with him). Willow and Brody start sneaking around in the middle of the night just to see each other, and eventually Willow tries to break up with Jaden for Brody – only it doesn’t go quite as smoothly as she would have hoped.
This book deals with some really dark topics. There is a lot of abuse and control issues present here, so if those are topics that might be problematic for you to read about, this book probably isn’t for you. The violence in this book is kind of graphic in my opinion, and even I thought it was kind of hard to read. However, once I started reading this book, I found myself not wanting to put it down. It told a difficult story similar to those that a lot of women and girls have to deal with, and that fact is incredibly frightening. I can’t remember the last time I despised a character in a book the way I did with Jaden and Ralph.
It was heartbreaking to watch the story unfold and how horrible Willow’s step-father treated her, not to mention the fact that her mother just sat by and let it go on. The even more heartbreaking part of this is to know that this kind of abuse goes on all over the world, every day. This book is a real eye-opener, and if was written with those intentions, it definitely got its point across.
Also, the parts with Willow and Brody are cute in some places, and just plain romantic in others (like swoon-worthy kind of romantic). Just wanted to throw that out there.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Willow seems like your average teenage girl – she has a few close friends, she goes to football games, and she likes spending time with her boyfriend, Jaden. Jaden is every girl’s dream boyfriend – he’s good looking, the captain of the football team, and incredibly popular. Jaden is also controlling, abusive, and downright mean to Willow, and doesn’t care who knows about it. But Willow feels like she has to stay with Jaden, because Jaden knows a secret about her family that could tear them apart and destroy her. So Willow deals with Jaden telling her who she can and cannot hang out with, whether or not she is allowed to leave her house, and what they will do when they spend time together. He even orders her food for her.
When Willow goes home at the end of the day, she can’t even find relief there – Ralph, Willow’s step-father, is even more abuse than Jaden. Ralph isn’t afraid to physically abuse Willow, and she is forced to cover her bruises and injuries with long sleeves and make-up, so that no one finds out. Willow’s mother doesn’t do anything to stop the abuse, either – for various reasons, including fear of abuse for herself, and fearing that her secret will get out if she says anything, because Ralph knows what it is. Even worse, Ralph absolutely adores Jaden, and practically insists that Willow stays with him. When Willow tries to break up with Jaden, Ralph makes it clear that he expects her to stay with him.
While home and school are both hard for Willow, she’s good in school and tries to spend as much time with her friends as she can. At the beginning of her senior year, a new student shows up – Brody. Brody has quite the reputation for dating girls, using them, and then breaking up with them, so Willow doesn’t really want to waste her time befriending him. However, he is in a few of her classes and makes sure to sit next to her and talk to her as often as possible. While their relationship starts off as dislike for one another, complete with insulting each other daily, they slowly become friends, and Willow finds herself falling in love with him. Jaden doesn’t allow to spend time with him, and he becomes even more controlling when he finds out that the two of them are friends (he walks her to every class and insists she stay put at her house unless she is with him). Willow and Brody start sneaking around in the middle of the night just to see each other, and eventually Willow tries to break up with Jaden for Brody – only it doesn’t go quite as smoothly as she would have hoped.
This book deals with some really dark topics. There is a lot of abuse and control issues present here, so if those are topics that might be problematic for you to read about, this book probably isn’t for you. The violence in this book is kind of graphic in my opinion, and even I thought it was kind of hard to read. However, once I started reading this book, I found myself not wanting to put it down. It told a difficult story similar to those that a lot of women and girls have to deal with, and that fact is incredibly frightening. I can’t remember the last time I despised a character in a book the way I did with Jaden and Ralph.
It was heartbreaking to watch the story unfold and how horrible Willow’s step-father treated her, not to mention the fact that her mother just sat by and let it go on. The even more heartbreaking part of this is to know that this kind of abuse goes on all over the world, every day. This book is a real eye-opener, and if was written with those intentions, it definitely got its point across.
Also, the parts with Willow and Brody are cute in some places, and just plain romantic in others (like swoon-worthy kind of romantic). Just wanted to throw that out there.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2017
2.75 Stars
Overall Opinion: I don't normally like doing the 1/4 star, but I couldn't quite give it 3 stars. I'm not sure why I'm on a YA kick, but this had potential. I thought that the h's circumstances were sad, and I enjoyed the H...until I didn't. . This just ruined it for me, especially when months went by before things really escalated and he saw the light!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Willow and Brody's story. He is a new kid at the school and they get their first meeting at a football game, but they actually start conversing when they have a lot of classes together. Willow is in an abusive relationship with the star football player, and has some major issues at home too. Her boyfriend scares away anybody (other than her 2 friends), so she is surprised when Brody isn't intimidated and sits by her for all of their classes. They start a bickering friendship - that turns to true friendship - that turns into more. They have to deal with the jerk boyfriend, some family issues, and some big secrets being revealed...but they get their HFN ending.
POV: This was told in Willow's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I didn't have any moments where I felt the need to skim.
Instalove: No. They had a good development from friends to more.
H rating: 2 stars. Brody. I liked him a lot until their main conflict where he acted stupidly, and I personally couldn't get over that.
h rating: 3 stars. Willow. She was in a tough situation, but I really wish that she confided in Brody.
Sadness level: Moderate. There were a few times that I teared up, but not to the point of needing tissues.
Heat level: Low. We get some kisses and some tension, but that's it.
Descriptive sex: No
OW/OM drama: Yes. The h is forced to be in a "relationship" with OM because he is blackmailing her. The OM is one of our villains.
Sex scene with OW or OM:
Cheating:
Possible Triggers:
Closure: I would call this a HFN ending. I would've loved a jump ahead epilogue into their far future to see them as a committed and successful couple, but that's me and my need for a lot of closure.
How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Overall Opinion: I don't normally like doing the 1/4 star, but I couldn't quite give it 3 stars. I'm not sure why I'm on a YA kick, but this had potential. I thought that the h's circumstances were sad, and I enjoyed the H...until I didn't. . This just ruined it for me, especially when months went by before things really escalated and he saw the light!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Willow and Brody's story. He is a new kid at the school and they get their first meeting at a football game, but they actually start conversing when they have a lot of classes together. Willow is in an abusive relationship with the star football player, and has some major issues at home too. Her boyfriend scares away anybody (other than her 2 friends), so she is surprised when Brody isn't intimidated and sits by her for all of their classes. They start a bickering friendship - that turns to true friendship - that turns into more. They have to deal with the jerk boyfriend, some family issues, and some big secrets being revealed...but they get their HFN ending.
POV: This was told in Willow's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I didn't have any moments where I felt the need to skim.
Instalove: No. They had a good development from friends to more.
H rating: 2 stars. Brody. I liked him a lot until their main conflict where he acted stupidly, and I personally couldn't get over that.
h rating: 3 stars. Willow. She was in a tough situation, but I really wish that she confided in Brody.
Sadness level: Moderate. There were a few times that I teared up, but not to the point of needing tissues.
Heat level: Low. We get some kisses and some tension, but that's it.
Descriptive sex: No
OW/OM drama: Yes. The h is forced to be in a "relationship" with OM because he is blackmailing her. The OM is one of our villains.
Sex scene with OW or OM:
Cheating:
Possible Triggers:
Closure: I would call this a HFN ending. I would've loved a jump ahead epilogue into their far future to see them as a committed and successful couple, but that's me and my need for a lot of closure.
How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
January 10, 2017
This story is about abuse. Physical and verbal abuse by not just a boyfriend but a parent as well. I wanted to throw that out there because some people don't like reading about delicate subjects.
Willow has a secret. Well, at least until her douchebag boyfriend, Jaden threatens to tell the whole school if she doesn't do what he says. Along comes Brody and it's not long until he figures out that something's just not right. If Willow wants to be with Brody then she's going to have to deal with the damage that Jaden might cause.
First off, Jaden is an asshole. A prick. A loser. A douchebag. He's scum. I hated him. I wish I was Willow for 2 seconds so I could kick him in his nuts, rip his tonsils out then shove them down his throat so he can choke on them. So yea, that sums him up. He didn't even care about Willow. He just wanted to control her.
Willow, I felt sad for. Her home life is bad. Her moms not even really a mom and her stepdad, well he's everything I said Jaden was only much much worse. She's just trying to survive until graduation so that she can get as far away from Michigan as possible.
How patient was Brody? Whoa! He was pretty amazing. He came along and showed Willow that there are good guys out there. She doesn't have to sit by and let Jaden treat her like dirt. Brody was sweet, kind and an all around likable guy. Willow needed him in her life.
I get it, when someone is being abused or bullied, friends don't really want to get too involved. They're afraid the person will be mad at them. But I'm disappointed in Willow's friends. They knew something was going on. Tim, Jenna and Brody pretty much sat by and when Willow said she didn't want to discuss things, they let it go. They should've pushed harder or told someone.
This book was really good. But the problem I had was it took forever to get to the real problem at hand. I think a lot of stuff could've been left out. Felt like it was just filler to make the story longer. I was starting to get agitated and impatient. Also, I was confused by Willow's mom. It was kind of made out that she wouldn't accept Willow with anyone besides Jaden but when she met Brody, she was all for him. Kinda weird. Didn't really see why Ralph cared if Willow stayed with Jaden or not either. You'd think with the way he was and how much he disliked her that he wouldn't want her with Jaden. I don't know though.
I just didn't care for Willow's mom at all. She wasn't nearly as bad as Ralph and Jaden but how she stood by and let someone do horrible things to her daughter is unbelievable. She's an idiot anyways for believing that ridiculous spiel Ralph gave when they met. She actually fell for that. I would've took my damn chances rather than be with that asshole.
This was a hard one to rate. I liked the idea of the story. I liked Willow, Brody and Jenna a lot. I didn't like that it took so long to get to the secret. I didn't like all the threats Jaden made about telling Willow's secret. He was all talk. I didn't like what the secret was because I feel like it could've all been avoided had her mother not been an idiot. Willow went through hell all because of her mom. So I gave it 3 stars.
Willow has a secret. Well, at least until her douchebag boyfriend, Jaden threatens to tell the whole school if she doesn't do what he says. Along comes Brody and it's not long until he figures out that something's just not right. If Willow wants to be with Brody then she's going to have to deal with the damage that Jaden might cause.
First off, Jaden is an asshole. A prick. A loser. A douchebag. He's scum. I hated him. I wish I was Willow for 2 seconds so I could kick him in his nuts, rip his tonsils out then shove them down his throat so he can choke on them. So yea, that sums him up. He didn't even care about Willow. He just wanted to control her.
Willow, I felt sad for. Her home life is bad. Her moms not even really a mom and her stepdad, well he's everything I said Jaden was only much much worse. She's just trying to survive until graduation so that she can get as far away from Michigan as possible.
How patient was Brody? Whoa! He was pretty amazing. He came along and showed Willow that there are good guys out there. She doesn't have to sit by and let Jaden treat her like dirt. Brody was sweet, kind and an all around likable guy. Willow needed him in her life.
I get it, when someone is being abused or bullied, friends don't really want to get too involved. They're afraid the person will be mad at them. But I'm disappointed in Willow's friends. They knew something was going on. Tim, Jenna and Brody pretty much sat by and when Willow said she didn't want to discuss things, they let it go. They should've pushed harder or told someone.
This book was really good. But the problem I had was it took forever to get to the real problem at hand. I think a lot of stuff could've been left out. Felt like it was just filler to make the story longer. I was starting to get agitated and impatient. Also, I was confused by Willow's mom. It was kind of made out that she wouldn't accept Willow with anyone besides Jaden but when she met Brody, she was all for him. Kinda weird. Didn't really see why Ralph cared if Willow stayed with Jaden or not either. You'd think with the way he was and how much he disliked her that he wouldn't want her with Jaden. I don't know though.
I just didn't care for Willow's mom at all. She wasn't nearly as bad as Ralph and Jaden but how she stood by and let someone do horrible things to her daughter is unbelievable. She's an idiot anyways for believing that ridiculous spiel Ralph gave when they met. She actually fell for that. I would've took my damn chances rather than be with that asshole.
This was a hard one to rate. I liked the idea of the story. I liked Willow, Brody and Jenna a lot. I didn't like that it took so long to get to the secret. I didn't like all the threats Jaden made about telling Willow's secret. He was all talk. I didn't like what the secret was because I feel like it could've all been avoided had her mother not been an idiot. Willow went through hell all because of her mom. So I gave it 3 stars.
June 11, 2015
***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.***
This is one of those books. The kind of book which reels you in like a fish on a line. I was skeptical about this book in the beginning, mostly because I have read many books with a similar synopsis as this one. First thing that came to my mind was, "Oh no. Not another book where the heroine acts like her world is crumbling around her and it really isn't." But this book isn't like that at all. Unspeakable is a book showing the darker sides of life, a side not many people talk about. It's about betrayal and loss of trust in someone who should have protected you; it's about trying to deal with the cards life has given you, even if the burden is not yours to carry.
I was hooked from the first page. It's not a predictable plot, and when you think, "Yes, finally she gets a break!" it's only to be shoved back into the storm and ripped apart into a gagillion pieces. The main character, Willow, is relatable and likeable, and I wished at times I could have jumped into the book and given her a hug when the person who was supposed to help her didn't. Not many books get to me like this one did, and I think it's because I have known people who have been in Willow's situation.
There were only two issues (and a couple more teensy, tiny issues) that I had with this book. One was the character of Tim, one of Willow's friends. Though he is mentioned throughout the book and is given dialogue here and there, he felt more to me like a filler character. I would have liked to see him given a bigger role in helping Willow, like Jenna does throughout the book.
My second issue is certain stereotypes that made an appearance in this book. Specifically, it was the portrayal/description of the football players and cheerleaders that bothered me. I know a lot of fiction portrays jocks as dumb and cheerleaders as airhead bimbos, but that's not something that flies with me. Being stereotyped in real life is bad enough and I think it would be nice if it could be left out of books, as all it does is foster those negative stereotypes in real life.
There are some things that I noticed were left unresolved, but I hope since this is described as being the 1st book of a series that the issues are resolved/answered in later books.
Overall, this is a heart-wrenching read, and was docked a platypire for issues mentioned above. I'll be looking for the second book whenever it becomes available. Also, there is a prequel to this book available on Amazon, called Finding Willow.
Finally, I give this book 4 out of 5 well deserved Platypires.
This is one of those books. The kind of book which reels you in like a fish on a line. I was skeptical about this book in the beginning, mostly because I have read many books with a similar synopsis as this one. First thing that came to my mind was, "Oh no. Not another book where the heroine acts like her world is crumbling around her and it really isn't." But this book isn't like that at all. Unspeakable is a book showing the darker sides of life, a side not many people talk about. It's about betrayal and loss of trust in someone who should have protected you; it's about trying to deal with the cards life has given you, even if the burden is not yours to carry.
I was hooked from the first page. It's not a predictable plot, and when you think, "Yes, finally she gets a break!" it's only to be shoved back into the storm and ripped apart into a gagillion pieces. The main character, Willow, is relatable and likeable, and I wished at times I could have jumped into the book and given her a hug when the person who was supposed to help her didn't. Not many books get to me like this one did, and I think it's because I have known people who have been in Willow's situation.
There were only two issues (and a couple more teensy, tiny issues) that I had with this book. One was the character of Tim, one of Willow's friends. Though he is mentioned throughout the book and is given dialogue here and there, he felt more to me like a filler character. I would have liked to see him given a bigger role in helping Willow, like Jenna does throughout the book.
My second issue is certain stereotypes that made an appearance in this book. Specifically, it was the portrayal/description of the football players and cheerleaders that bothered me. I know a lot of fiction portrays jocks as dumb and cheerleaders as airhead bimbos, but that's not something that flies with me. Being stereotyped in real life is bad enough and I think it would be nice if it could be left out of books, as all it does is foster those negative stereotypes in real life.
There are some things that I noticed were left unresolved, but I hope since this is described as being the 1st book of a series that the issues are resolved/answered in later books.
Overall, this is a heart-wrenching read, and was docked a platypire for issues mentioned above. I'll be looking for the second book whenever it becomes available. Also, there is a prequel to this book available on Amazon, called Finding Willow.
Finally, I give this book 4 out of 5 well deserved Platypires.
February 12, 2015
Hi guys! Firstly I have to thank Clean Teen Publishing for dropping this little gem into my inbox this morning! This book was released on the 10th and I am glad that I got a copy to review!
Where to begin?? From the very first page I was flung onto a roller coaster ride, which I am happy to say I survived! I wasn't quite expecting what I got, especially so early on in the book without any sort of forewarning or lead up to it. In short - I was shocked! I guess shocked in a good way because I feel like I got more than I bargained for when I requested this book.
My heart leapt out of my chest to Willow throughout this book. I wanted to swoop in and save her - just like Brody wanted too. I just felt so angry and sorry for her and I felt almost helpless. It is kind of a weird feeling to feel helplessness at a fictional story that you are reading. There were times within the story where I wanted more "grit". I wanted to see some of the stuff that was happening to her - not just find out about it afterward like I was one of her friends. When I got what I wished for, however, I just had tears streaming down my face. This wasn't like a graceful tear... oh no no no. This was a blubbering, snotty messball of tears. The worst thing - I wasn't even prepared! I didn't have that much needed box of tissues by my side. So, thank you for that, Michelle.
I like the way that the author handled such a taboo subject and how she represented the unwillingness of Willow to talk about it. She kept a lot of secrets that weighed her down and, as a reader, you felt like you wanted to help her and lighten her burden a bit. I feel like she represented public reactions well as well as the reaction of the receiver.
What I would have liked to have seen was what happened to Jaden at the end. I would have liked to have seen him punished in some way and I don't feel that what happened to him was enough. I just wanted to see him suffer just as much as Willow did. Maybe that's just the hatred talking.
That ending though! I was going through a whole ride of emotions that I didn't even know where to begin. I was a mess all over. I was happy, angry, sad and disappointed. I still don't know how to bring my frayed emotions into order. So, thank you Michelle for creating this masterpiece, and thank you Clean Teen Publishing for giving me a copy!
Where to begin?? From the very first page I was flung onto a roller coaster ride, which I am happy to say I survived! I wasn't quite expecting what I got, especially so early on in the book without any sort of forewarning or lead up to it. In short - I was shocked! I guess shocked in a good way because I feel like I got more than I bargained for when I requested this book.
My heart leapt out of my chest to Willow throughout this book. I wanted to swoop in and save her - just like Brody wanted too. I just felt so angry and sorry for her and I felt almost helpless. It is kind of a weird feeling to feel helplessness at a fictional story that you are reading. There were times within the story where I wanted more "grit". I wanted to see some of the stuff that was happening to her - not just find out about it afterward like I was one of her friends. When I got what I wished for, however, I just had tears streaming down my face. This wasn't like a graceful tear... oh no no no. This was a blubbering, snotty messball of tears. The worst thing - I wasn't even prepared! I didn't have that much needed box of tissues by my side. So, thank you for that, Michelle.
I like the way that the author handled such a taboo subject and how she represented the unwillingness of Willow to talk about it. She kept a lot of secrets that weighed her down and, as a reader, you felt like you wanted to help her and lighten her burden a bit. I feel like she represented public reactions well as well as the reaction of the receiver.
What I would have liked to have seen was what happened to Jaden at the end. I would have liked to have seen him punished in some way and I don't feel that what happened to him was enough. I just wanted to see him suffer just as much as Willow did. Maybe that's just the hatred talking.
That ending though! I was going through a whole ride of emotions that I didn't even know where to begin. I was a mess all over. I was happy, angry, sad and disappointed. I still don't know how to bring my frayed emotions into order. So, thank you Michelle for creating this masterpiece, and thank you Clean Teen Publishing for giving me a copy!
January 22, 2015
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review *
Unspeakable was kind of a difficult read for me. Not in a bad way- it was just emotionally difficult at times. Willow is abused, and reading about abuse is never easy. That being said, I thought it was handled very well by the author. It was intense and unsettling, but it felt real. At first I didn't quite grasp how Willow could have such an outspoken personality considering what she was going through at home, but as I read on I thought her personality did fit. The more you see inside of her head the more you come to understand why she is the way she is, and I discovered that my initial reaction to her was just based off a stereotype that I had in my head. So I learned something. ;-)
The growth in all the characters was one thing that really stuck out to me as superb. Not only do we see Willow beginning to crack, but we see Jaden growing more evil as he becomes more secure in his actions, we see Brody's attitude changes as he gets in deeper. Even her friends begin to grow as they see what is happening to Willow. Everyone in the book evolved in some way as things progressed and I think that's very important in a story.
Brody was (Unsurprisingly) my favorite character. He isn't just a 'knight in shining armor' for Willow. He doesn't just swoop in and save the day. He's real and he reacts to events in what I found to be an appropriate and understandable way.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it felt too long in the beginning. There was just a little bit too much monotony there, and I felt like it could have been trimmed down to move things along quicker and still achieve what needed to be achieved.
There was also something that bothered me concerning the big secret, but I can't really say what it was because- SPOILERS! ;-)
Overall this was a great book and I've already downloaded the prequel, Finding Willow.
Unspeakable was kind of a difficult read for me. Not in a bad way- it was just emotionally difficult at times. Willow is abused, and reading about abuse is never easy. That being said, I thought it was handled very well by the author. It was intense and unsettling, but it felt real. At first I didn't quite grasp how Willow could have such an outspoken personality considering what she was going through at home, but as I read on I thought her personality did fit. The more you see inside of her head the more you come to understand why she is the way she is, and I discovered that my initial reaction to her was just based off a stereotype that I had in my head. So I learned something. ;-)
The growth in all the characters was one thing that really stuck out to me as superb. Not only do we see Willow beginning to crack, but we see Jaden growing more evil as he becomes more secure in his actions, we see Brody's attitude changes as he gets in deeper. Even her friends begin to grow as they see what is happening to Willow. Everyone in the book evolved in some way as things progressed and I think that's very important in a story.
Brody was (Unsurprisingly) my favorite character. He isn't just a 'knight in shining armor' for Willow. He doesn't just swoop in and save the day. He's real and he reacts to events in what I found to be an appropriate and understandable way.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it felt too long in the beginning. There was just a little bit too much monotony there, and I felt like it could have been trimmed down to move things along quicker and still achieve what needed to be achieved.
There was also something that bothered me concerning the big secret, but I can't really say what it was because- SPOILERS! ;-)
Overall this was a great book and I've already downloaded the prequel, Finding Willow.
January 30, 2015
**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
Ever read one of those books where you just want to crawl in the pages and give one character a hug and empathize with everything she's going through, wishing you could be there to be her friend? On the other hand, there are other characters you want to strangle just for the principle of it all because of the way they act? Unspeakable is a book just like that. I was immediately drawn into the story, and simply had to keep on reading to find out what was going to happen to Willow.
She was well-developed and three-dimensional as well. Because the book is told from her perspective, we really got to know her and the thoughts and fears she had as the story continued. If there's ever a character that not only needed but completely deserved happiness, it was Willow. She had a jerk of a boyfriend in Jared, who I definitely wanted to strangle on a number of occasions. I didn't really care that much for her mother either, not to mention her stepfather (another character I wanted to slap). She sees and knows what's going on, but really doesn't say anything and prefers to remain in the background most of the time, so as not to rock the boat. Then again, she was forced into a very bad situation, and I think she was a victim of circumstances.
And Brody? What can I say about him? He walks into her life one evening after a football game, and there was no doubt who the better match for her was. I loved the relationship that formed between the two, and the fact that he treats her the way a boyfriend should treat his girlfriend. I'll also state there were plenty of times when I had the feels because of what was going on, and while I didn't tear up, this book certainly evoked emotions as I read it.
This is the first in a series, and I'm interested to see how it continues. My rating is 5/5 platypires.
Ever read one of those books where you just want to crawl in the pages and give one character a hug and empathize with everything she's going through, wishing you could be there to be her friend? On the other hand, there are other characters you want to strangle just for the principle of it all because of the way they act? Unspeakable is a book just like that. I was immediately drawn into the story, and simply had to keep on reading to find out what was going to happen to Willow.
She was well-developed and three-dimensional as well. Because the book is told from her perspective, we really got to know her and the thoughts and fears she had as the story continued. If there's ever a character that not only needed but completely deserved happiness, it was Willow. She had a jerk of a boyfriend in Jared, who I definitely wanted to strangle on a number of occasions. I didn't really care that much for her mother either, not to mention her stepfather (another character I wanted to slap). She sees and knows what's going on, but really doesn't say anything and prefers to remain in the background most of the time, so as not to rock the boat. Then again, she was forced into a very bad situation, and I think she was a victim of circumstances.
And Brody? What can I say about him? He walks into her life one evening after a football game, and there was no doubt who the better match for her was. I loved the relationship that formed between the two, and the fact that he treats her the way a boyfriend should treat his girlfriend. I'll also state there were plenty of times when I had the feels because of what was going on, and while I didn't tear up, this book certainly evoked emotions as I read it.
This is the first in a series, and I'm interested to see how it continues. My rating is 5/5 platypires.
July 22, 2018
This story has really driven home the fact that you never really know what goes on behind closed doors; never judge people or their situation.
Willow is a beautiful young girl, had a few great friends and family and dated the jock, sounds great right ??!....
Wrong..
I really don’t understand.. Willow had a few chances to speak up but she never said a word. I understand the consequences would have been dire to begin with but to suffer day after day at home and school..
Jenna and Tim ... they were really supportive and tried to help Willow even if they didn’t know the full story but surely you would have told someone to protect your friend ?
Brody... the life saver, literally. He knew something was wrong and it was hurting Willow so I don’t understand why he walked away from her after he knew that things weren’t always what they seemed?
The Jock.. Urgh. How many times did I wish Brody would just turn around and take him on after everything. Yet he seemed to get away with things ? No real punishment was mentioned?
The ending...... a super cute quote that made total sense and left us hoping all was good in the world of Willow, yet I didn’t feel satisfied. I wanted closure, a solid HEA.
These are just a few things that my mind picked up on that bothered me during reading this story, but it’s well deserved 5 stars. It broke my heart the things Willow had to endure everyday. No one should have to go through it. Ever
Willow is a beautiful young girl, had a few great friends and family and dated the jock, sounds great right ??!....
Wrong..
I really don’t understand.. Willow had a few chances to speak up but she never said a word. I understand the consequences would have been dire to begin with but to suffer day after day at home and school..
Jenna and Tim ... they were really supportive and tried to help Willow even if they didn’t know the full story but surely you would have told someone to protect your friend ?
Brody... the life saver, literally. He knew something was wrong and it was hurting Willow so I don’t understand why he walked away from her after he knew that things weren’t always what they seemed?
The Jock.. Urgh. How many times did I wish Brody would just turn around and take him on after everything. Yet he seemed to get away with things ? No real punishment was mentioned?
The ending...... a super cute quote that made total sense and left us hoping all was good in the world of Willow, yet I didn’t feel satisfied. I wanted closure, a solid HEA.
These are just a few things that my mind picked up on that bothered me during reading this story, but it’s well deserved 5 stars. It broke my heart the things Willow had to endure everyday. No one should have to go through it. Ever
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2020
We meet Willow and Jaden after a football game, and very quickly understand two things: Jaden as a possessive asshole and for some reason Willow puts up with it.
We quickly meet Brody right after, and immediately think a spark has been ignited.
Something is going on between Willow & Jaden, he's calling the shots, reminding her that he knows some big secrete and will tell if she doesn't behave. Not only is he calling the shots, he just plain makes her life miserable. Tells her where she's going, when she's going, who she can/cannot talk to, you better not do anything to embarrass me...that kind of think. Totally controlling and if not physically abusive, definitely emotionally and verbally.
Brody quickly becomes a thorn in Willows side--he's her new AP biology partner, and then shows up in most of her other AP courses. As much as the two bicker and banter, there's definitely something below the surface that you want them to get after. They slowly morph from tolerable dislike to budding friends.
Brody doesn't understand why she's with Jaden, when it's clear its the last place she wants to be, but the secrete she's hiding apparently is worth it to stand Jaden.
Willow starts showing up to school with bruises and cuts and Brody goes crazy begging for her to tell him what's going on. He thinks it's Jaden. But we find out is her step-father Ralph. A drunkard who likes to beat women--her mother suffers as well. And both do everything they can to not rock the boat...
Willow finally breaks up with Jaden--and he takes it about as well as a controlling possessive asshole does, but whatever, Willow is done. You go girl.
For a time, Jaden is quiet and stays away...surprising...and Willow and Brody explore each other beyond friends. And lord are you rooting for these two! Brody is everything Jaden isn't and Willow realizes quickly that this is what a real relationship feels like--heart eyes and not indifference.
Just when its going really well--Willow introduces Brody to her mom while Ralph is away on business--Ralph comes home unexpectedly early with Jaden in tow, drunk and spewing hate. She begs Brody to leave--she doesn't want him to witness the horrors that will surely unfold, so she does the only thing she can think of to get him to leave. With tears in her eyes she tells Brody she loves Jaden and has gotten back together with him, that she was only spending time with him to make him jealous. Brody walks out the door, a tear trailing down his cheek...and as the door shuts, Willow gets a beat down.
When she shows up at school Brody is there, standing in the door of biology fuming, but doesn't say anything to her, and she's crushed.
The next several months go buy, she's back w/Jaden...Brody moved on with another classmate, and she's devastated, but what did she expect when she lied, and wouldn't tell him what was going on.
Then, one day she says fuck it. I'm done. She breaks up w/Jaden--wearing one of her new t-shirts made especially for the occasion--"I'm single and you better be awesome if you wanna change that" or something to the effect. She doesn't have a hoodie to wear to cover her bruises, and says fuck it again. Let people see the bruises. Jaden flips his lid about the t-shirt. Her besties Jenna and Tim are shocked to she her arms. She see's Brody in their independent study and tells him she's sorry, she never lied to him, and that she was hoping that he'd remember that, and maybe that the things she said were to protect someone she loved more than life...basically telling him you ass, why didn't you read between the lines and know I didn't mean what I said--I had to get you out of the house before he saw you...
A few weeks go by, and at dinner, Willow casually says she & Jaden aren't getting along, he's sleeping with other girls and she thinks they should just end it and go their separate ways once and for all.
World. War. Three. Unleashes. Beat down of all beat downs. I thought Willow was going to die--that Ralph was going to kill her. Then the doorbell rings, and will all her might she screams as loud as she can as she grabs for the door, it opens and Ralph pulls her back, and Brody is there. She screams for him to run. He comes inside. Smacks Ralph in the face. He goes down. Smacks him again and again every time he gets up. Calls 9-1-1 and slides the phone across the floor to Willow...
She wakes up in the hospital some time later. There are two officers waiting for her to wake up to talk to her. She finally lets go of the secret she's been carrying. The reason she's been beaten all these years...
There was a drunk driving accident: her and her mother, and step-father--he was driving, hit a tree, airbags when off, Willow and her Mom got out, the car caught fire, and the step-father was suck in the seatbelt...they stood there and watch him burning, the car exploded, and mom says "well he'll never knock me around again"...and out of the darkness Ralph appears. Says he'll tell the cops what he saw unless mom agrees to give him half of the insurance money...and that's how Willow found herself in the mess she was in. She kept quiet, to protect her mother, when her mother stood by for years as Ralph beat the shit out of her.
After getting out of the hospital, Willow is able to test out of the rest of her classes after testifying against Ralph. She has enough money in scholarships/grants/saving to pay for school, and head immediately out to UCLA. She tried to see Brody before she left, but he was unresponsive.
On the first day of classes, sitting in the lecture hall, she feels him...he comes in, sets her Starbuck drink on the desk and tells her he'll be waiting for her outside after class.
Brody. He's here.
She talks to him after class...finds out he's madly in love with her, that the deserve another chance given what happened, that they belong together and she knows it. But she cannot do a long distance relationship, and will NOT step foot back in Michigan...
Then Brody tells her he lives in the dorm next to hers and is going to school at UCLA too...
BIG SMILES!!!
We quickly meet Brody right after, and immediately think a spark has been ignited.
Something is going on between Willow & Jaden, he's calling the shots, reminding her that he knows some big secrete and will tell if she doesn't behave. Not only is he calling the shots, he just plain makes her life miserable. Tells her where she's going, when she's going, who she can/cannot talk to, you better not do anything to embarrass me...that kind of think. Totally controlling and if not physically abusive, definitely emotionally and verbally.
Brody quickly becomes a thorn in Willows side--he's her new AP biology partner, and then shows up in most of her other AP courses. As much as the two bicker and banter, there's definitely something below the surface that you want them to get after. They slowly morph from tolerable dislike to budding friends.
Brody doesn't understand why she's with Jaden, when it's clear its the last place she wants to be, but the secrete she's hiding apparently is worth it to stand Jaden.
Willow starts showing up to school with bruises and cuts and Brody goes crazy begging for her to tell him what's going on. He thinks it's Jaden. But we find out is her step-father Ralph. A drunkard who likes to beat women--her mother suffers as well. And both do everything they can to not rock the boat...
Willow finally breaks up with Jaden--and he takes it about as well as a controlling possessive asshole does, but whatever, Willow is done. You go girl.
For a time, Jaden is quiet and stays away...surprising...and Willow and Brody explore each other beyond friends. And lord are you rooting for these two! Brody is everything Jaden isn't and Willow realizes quickly that this is what a real relationship feels like--heart eyes and not indifference.
Just when its going really well--Willow introduces Brody to her mom while Ralph is away on business--Ralph comes home unexpectedly early with Jaden in tow, drunk and spewing hate. She begs Brody to leave--she doesn't want him to witness the horrors that will surely unfold, so she does the only thing she can think of to get him to leave. With tears in her eyes she tells Brody she loves Jaden and has gotten back together with him, that she was only spending time with him to make him jealous. Brody walks out the door, a tear trailing down his cheek...and as the door shuts, Willow gets a beat down.
When she shows up at school Brody is there, standing in the door of biology fuming, but doesn't say anything to her, and she's crushed.
The next several months go buy, she's back w/Jaden...Brody moved on with another classmate, and she's devastated, but what did she expect when she lied, and wouldn't tell him what was going on.
Then, one day she says fuck it. I'm done. She breaks up w/Jaden--wearing one of her new t-shirts made especially for the occasion--"I'm single and you better be awesome if you wanna change that" or something to the effect. She doesn't have a hoodie to wear to cover her bruises, and says fuck it again. Let people see the bruises. Jaden flips his lid about the t-shirt. Her besties Jenna and Tim are shocked to she her arms. She see's Brody in their independent study and tells him she's sorry, she never lied to him, and that she was hoping that he'd remember that, and maybe that the things she said were to protect someone she loved more than life...basically telling him you ass, why didn't you read between the lines and know I didn't mean what I said--I had to get you out of the house before he saw you...
A few weeks go by, and at dinner, Willow casually says she & Jaden aren't getting along, he's sleeping with other girls and she thinks they should just end it and go their separate ways once and for all.
World. War. Three. Unleashes. Beat down of all beat downs. I thought Willow was going to die--that Ralph was going to kill her. Then the doorbell rings, and will all her might she screams as loud as she can as she grabs for the door, it opens and Ralph pulls her back, and Brody is there. She screams for him to run. He comes inside. Smacks Ralph in the face. He goes down. Smacks him again and again every time he gets up. Calls 9-1-1 and slides the phone across the floor to Willow...
She wakes up in the hospital some time later. There are two officers waiting for her to wake up to talk to her. She finally lets go of the secret she's been carrying. The reason she's been beaten all these years...
There was a drunk driving accident: her and her mother, and step-father--he was driving, hit a tree, airbags when off, Willow and her Mom got out, the car caught fire, and the step-father was suck in the seatbelt...they stood there and watch him burning, the car exploded, and mom says "well he'll never knock me around again"...and out of the darkness Ralph appears. Says he'll tell the cops what he saw unless mom agrees to give him half of the insurance money...and that's how Willow found herself in the mess she was in. She kept quiet, to protect her mother, when her mother stood by for years as Ralph beat the shit out of her.
After getting out of the hospital, Willow is able to test out of the rest of her classes after testifying against Ralph. She has enough money in scholarships/grants/saving to pay for school, and head immediately out to UCLA. She tried to see Brody before she left, but he was unresponsive.
On the first day of classes, sitting in the lecture hall, she feels him...he comes in, sets her Starbuck drink on the desk and tells her he'll be waiting for her outside after class.
Brody. He's here.
She talks to him after class...finds out he's madly in love with her, that the deserve another chance given what happened, that they belong together and she knows it. But she cannot do a long distance relationship, and will NOT step foot back in Michigan...
Then Brody tells her he lives in the dorm next to hers and is going to school at UCLA too...
BIG SMILES!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2015
Unspeakable is a book that pulls on your heartstrings. There were times I wanted to throttle Willow and tell her to wake up and get out of her situation. However, having never been a victim of violence, I can't say that I understand her mindset. It's also hard because her friends seem helpless. They clearly know something is wrong, but maybe not exactly what, and they aren't doing much to help her. Most likely, because they don't know how. It's the ugly side of abuse. It's noticing all the signs but not wanting to believe it. It's the truth that no one wants to hear about or speak, and I applaud Ms. Pickett for tackling this issue head on.
Woven delicately throughout this story is the romance that builds between Brody and Willow. It's sweet and beautiful. It's also very realistic. Not perfect. They argue. They don't see eye to eye. They work hard to make it work. That's real life.
I recommend Unspeakable to anyone who likes realistic fiction with a romantic overlay. This is a well told story of love, loss, and secrets that hurt.
Woven delicately throughout this story is the romance that builds between Brody and Willow. It's sweet and beautiful. It's also very realistic. Not perfect. They argue. They don't see eye to eye. They work hard to make it work. That's real life.
I recommend Unspeakable to anyone who likes realistic fiction with a romantic overlay. This is a well told story of love, loss, and secrets that hurt.
May 1, 2015
It took me one day to finish this book. One day filled with a rollercoaster of emotions from happiness to sadness, from hate to pure anger.
Willow is such a real character. You don't question any of her choices, you do understand why she has to act that way. You don't just share her pain, you feel it so deeply that it's hard to seperate which emotions don't really belong to you.
I even found myself grinning like a cheshire cat at Brody's Parts. Oh Brody, Brody, you made me fall in love with you too. Now I need to break up with my boyfriend, because I keep wondering if there's a Brody out there for me too haha.
Willow is such a real character. You don't question any of her choices, you do understand why she has to act that way. You don't just share her pain, you feel it so deeply that it's hard to seperate which emotions don't really belong to you.
I even found myself grinning like a cheshire cat at Brody's Parts. Oh Brody, Brody, you made me fall in love with you too. Now I need to break up with my boyfriend, because I keep wondering if there's a Brody out there for me too haha.
June 10, 2015
A YA contemporary novel, “Unspeakable” explores the life of a teen dealing with abuse and what it takes to fight back.
Read full review in the 2015 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2015 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 7, 2017
Absolutely loooooved it.
Read
May 25, 2015Very good Book also a sad one. I felt her pain and her heartache. Not sure about the ending made me think there will be a part 2. The book was an easy read.
November 14, 2015
The full review can also be found HERE, on my blog, Stefanie MacWilliams Young Adult Author.
"Breathe. No one will break me. I’m strong. Breathe. Just breathe."
After reading several mystery/thriller type books (some of which have scheduled reviews) it was nice to pick up something contemporary that still had an element of mystery and secrets to it :) I have been so happy with October and November as far as reading goes! So many good picks. And as you're about to see, this book was no exception. It's totally one of my favourites of 2015.
What I Liked:
EVERYTHING.
THE WHOLE BOOK.
PLEASE LET ME READ MORE! *flail*
This book was awesome. One of my favourite things about it was that we got to watch how family and intimate partner violence intensifies over time - without having us (the reader) lose respect for the main character or feel like her staying in those situations is unrealistic. By having Willow be a victim of blackmail from her abusers, it allows us to see the crisis points in Willow's life and watch as things get worse and worse for her. And it keeps us rooting for her.
Unfortunately, in real life, we do often lose respect for victims of abuse. We wonder why they stay. We wonder why it's so hard to just walk away. I think that the way this book handles this, the way we feel Willow's agony at why she can't just walk away, will go a long way to helping people understand what keeps people in the cycle of abuse.
The author did an amazing job of showing how abuse starts and how it escalates. There are many scenes near the beginning where Willow recalls the past with her abusive boyfriend, back when he treated her better. The changes between the past and present are often subtle - but they show just how easy it is for an abusive partner to cross the line.
The family aspect of her abuse is stunningly well done. We don't just see physical abuse in this book. There is a lot of emotional abuse and neglect, and we see through Willow's mother how domestic abuse is a family issue and rarely as simple as a villain and a victim.
I love Willow's two closest friends, Jenna and Tim. They're both fleshed out characters, and they really do love and care for their friend, even though they are put in an impossible situation where they know about Willow's situation but feel powerless to help her, As the reader, you can connect with them, and though I may not always agree with how they handled things, I could understand their reasoning.
The romance Willow has with Brody is beautiful, and it built slowly and felt natural. I really believed in it. And the part I liked the best is that it wasn't about one boy saving her from another boy's abuse. Because as you can probably guess, it rarely works that way in real life. It was about how positive people in her life, including the new boy she falls in love with, help her to realize her worth. Ultimately, it's Willow who saves herself and makes the decision to be strong.
Cover Thoughts: Okay, can we talk about how downright gorgeous this book is?! The cover is beautiful and fits the story perfectly. I ordered this book from Amazon in paperback. Sometimes small publishers have books that aren't quite as nice as ones from major houses. Not the case here! This book has a sort of 'soft' feeling to the cover and the inside formatting is gorgeous as well, with tons of attention to the chapter openings and the markings between scenes, etc.
What I Didn't Like: I loved this book. No question. Most of this is nitpicking on the actions of characters, not nitpicking the writing itself or the storytelling. I think characters can do things I hate and still be awesome, well written characters! This applies here!
I flat out hated the way Brody talked about other girls in front of Willow. Hated it. And I hated how Willow acted all 'cool' about it. I guess some girls must really not mind men talking about other women's bodies and the past sex they've had, but I don't buy that it's very common. So that kind of bugged me. I have no shame in saying that I find it gross when guys behave that way. Just because your partner thinks a girl is hot doesn't mean it's cool for him to say that to you constantly, IMO.
I liked the use of text messages in the book, but I wish it had been mentioned somewhere why/how Willow's abusers never read her phone or checked her calls! That's one of the biggest things an abuser, especially a partner, would most definitely do.
There are a few scenes where Willow and Brody think the other doesn't like them and blah blah because of stupid reasons. I didn't find those scenes cute, because they didn't feel realistic. I just wanted to scream "OBVIOUSLY HE/SHE LIKES YOU, YOU NITWIT!" in their faces.
There were some minor grammar and spelling mistakes in the book, which weren't a big deal, but sort of disappointing for such a well formatted and designed paperback.
Final Thoughts: This is a hard book to read. It mad me angry, and sad, and disgusted. There were points where I had to put it down to take a breath. But it was so important and so engaging as well.
Seriously, give this book a chance and I think you'll really enjoy it. It's been on my TBR since probably before it came out, and I am so glad that for once I'm less than a year behind reading something ;) Lots of people agree with me, too! Awesome novel about the very real issue of intimate partner violence.
There's also a short story/novella free on Amazon that's a prequel to this book. I've downloaded it already and will be reading it ASAP!
***I purchased this book in paperback from Clean Teen Publishing. All opinions are my own and are as unbiased and honest as possible.***
Love,
"Breathe. No one will break me. I’m strong. Breathe. Just breathe."
After reading several mystery/thriller type books (some of which have scheduled reviews) it was nice to pick up something contemporary that still had an element of mystery and secrets to it :) I have been so happy with October and November as far as reading goes! So many good picks. And as you're about to see, this book was no exception. It's totally one of my favourites of 2015.
What I Liked:
EVERYTHING.
THE WHOLE BOOK.
PLEASE LET ME READ MORE! *flail*
This book was awesome. One of my favourite things about it was that we got to watch how family and intimate partner violence intensifies over time - without having us (the reader) lose respect for the main character or feel like her staying in those situations is unrealistic. By having Willow be a victim of blackmail from her abusers, it allows us to see the crisis points in Willow's life and watch as things get worse and worse for her. And it keeps us rooting for her.
Unfortunately, in real life, we do often lose respect for victims of abuse. We wonder why they stay. We wonder why it's so hard to just walk away. I think that the way this book handles this, the way we feel Willow's agony at why she can't just walk away, will go a long way to helping people understand what keeps people in the cycle of abuse.
The author did an amazing job of showing how abuse starts and how it escalates. There are many scenes near the beginning where Willow recalls the past with her abusive boyfriend, back when he treated her better. The changes between the past and present are often subtle - but they show just how easy it is for an abusive partner to cross the line.
The family aspect of her abuse is stunningly well done. We don't just see physical abuse in this book. There is a lot of emotional abuse and neglect, and we see through Willow's mother how domestic abuse is a family issue and rarely as simple as a villain and a victim.
I love Willow's two closest friends, Jenna and Tim. They're both fleshed out characters, and they really do love and care for their friend, even though they are put in an impossible situation where they know about Willow's situation but feel powerless to help her, As the reader, you can connect with them, and though I may not always agree with how they handled things, I could understand their reasoning.
The romance Willow has with Brody is beautiful, and it built slowly and felt natural. I really believed in it. And the part I liked the best is that it wasn't about one boy saving her from another boy's abuse. Because as you can probably guess, it rarely works that way in real life. It was about how positive people in her life, including the new boy she falls in love with, help her to realize her worth. Ultimately, it's Willow who saves herself and makes the decision to be strong.
Cover Thoughts: Okay, can we talk about how downright gorgeous this book is?! The cover is beautiful and fits the story perfectly. I ordered this book from Amazon in paperback. Sometimes small publishers have books that aren't quite as nice as ones from major houses. Not the case here! This book has a sort of 'soft' feeling to the cover and the inside formatting is gorgeous as well, with tons of attention to the chapter openings and the markings between scenes, etc.
What I Didn't Like: I loved this book. No question. Most of this is nitpicking on the actions of characters, not nitpicking the writing itself or the storytelling. I think characters can do things I hate and still be awesome, well written characters! This applies here!
I flat out hated the way Brody talked about other girls in front of Willow. Hated it. And I hated how Willow acted all 'cool' about it. I guess some girls must really not mind men talking about other women's bodies and the past sex they've had, but I don't buy that it's very common. So that kind of bugged me. I have no shame in saying that I find it gross when guys behave that way. Just because your partner thinks a girl is hot doesn't mean it's cool for him to say that to you constantly, IMO.
I liked the use of text messages in the book, but I wish it had been mentioned somewhere why/how Willow's abusers never read her phone or checked her calls! That's one of the biggest things an abuser, especially a partner, would most definitely do.
There are a few scenes where Willow and Brody think the other doesn't like them and blah blah because of stupid reasons. I didn't find those scenes cute, because they didn't feel realistic. I just wanted to scream "OBVIOUSLY HE/SHE LIKES YOU, YOU NITWIT!" in their faces.
There were some minor grammar and spelling mistakes in the book, which weren't a big deal, but sort of disappointing for such a well formatted and designed paperback.
Final Thoughts: This is a hard book to read. It mad me angry, and sad, and disgusted. There were points where I had to put it down to take a breath. But it was so important and so engaging as well.
Seriously, give this book a chance and I think you'll really enjoy it. It's been on my TBR since probably before it came out, and I am so glad that for once I'm less than a year behind reading something ;) Lots of people agree with me, too! Awesome novel about the very real issue of intimate partner violence.
There's also a short story/novella free on Amazon that's a prequel to this book. I've downloaded it already and will be reading it ASAP!
***I purchased this book in paperback from Clean Teen Publishing. All opinions are my own and are as unbiased and honest as possible.***
Content Warnings: I love not having to write the content warnings myself! Something I love about Clean Teen Publishing is that they actually have a system to review and rate books. This book is rated YA(M), you can see the full content rating information here and more about CTP's disclosure and rating system here. I will say I'd recommend this for 17-18 and up as it's pretty mature, and there is a lot of 'steamy' parts to it even though the main characters do not ever have sex.
Love,
June 13, 2021
I had a really hard time reading this book. The events portrayed are hard to sit through; and many times I wanted to just close the book and stop reading. And having read it through to the end, I am not convinced that this is a good book to recommend to people. I expect books like this to show the readers how the victims take back control over their lives and stand up for themselves and their rights. It's got to do this, because otherwise it just exploits depictions of abuse to sell books to readers sympathetic to the cause. Our MC, Willow, does not really gain agency through the course of this book.
Firstly, the backstory given to explain why Willow and her mom have to put up with Ralph makes no sense. Is a woman expected to abandon her young daughter on the road and run to a burning car to rescue her husband? I mean, it would be nice, but no one expects it of her. The car even blew up, so clearly it was dangerous. And some guy saying he saw the whole event would not be ground to classify this as a murder. People freeze up in a traumatic situation. Why on Earth would Willow's mother just take the words of a random man on the side of the road as gospel truth? If she did it because she is just that easy to manipulate and lacks enough social support to give her better advice, then I wish the story had depicted that. She is also a victim of domestic abuse, and the author ought to provide good representation for both women.
Secondly, why does Willow not use any of the tools available to her to escape the domestic abuse? The author makes it a point to list several helplines and NGOs that can offer help to victims at the end of the book. but the advice rings hollow when the book's MC did not use any of that. What lesson is someone supposed to learn from this? I would have been much happier if Willow actually used the helplines or got advice from good elements in society. But it seems like everyone in this town is conspiring to keep this abuse an ongoing secret. Willow's friend know the truth, as do Brody and his female relatives. That's plenty of people who should have taken some action. The hospital staff have an extensive record of injuries on this girl, and no one even calls CPS? Really? Is this some small mountain town in the 1990s? Or maybe this is just the realistic situation in small towns across the country even today. I don't know. I wish the author had handled this with more sensitivity. I needed Willow to take back control for her life and make choices. But in the end what wins the day is a knockout punch from Brody and Willow telling the truth for the first time in years?
This is what makes the book bittersweet for me. Willow may indeed have her happily-ever-after in California, but she could have had a good life in Middleton too, if only she had approached the helplines and agencies dedicated to helping women like her. I wish the author had stressed that. Instead, the author makes it clear that the case of her stepfather's death is reopened, meaning the secret she kept all these years at the cost of her safety has been for nothing.
Also, the author stresses that Willow is a virgin, and that her abusive boyfriend and stepfather have never sexually abused her. I find this especially to be unrealistic. No guy as abusive as Jaden is respectful of his girlfriend's boundaries in the bedroom. And it honestly should not matter. Willow is no less worthy of justice, love or good, consensual sex if she has been raped or abused. Of course, the last thing this book needed were graphic scenes of sexual abuse. I may really have stopped reading then. But I wish the author had handled this side of the issue a little better.
But otherwise, it's an average beach read. Brody is supposedly the midwest's Ad0nis, which I thought was fine. Some elements of fantasy in a romantic novel is necessary. But his breaking up with Willow after 2 months of dating is honestly pathetic. It is obvious the author had to suddenly dumb down his character so that she could draw out the story. And most of the other characters have little to no character development. A lot of the plot just details Willow's endless torment at the hands of Jaden. If, for some reason, you like reading that, this book is great. Otherwise, for readers like me, it will likely be a frustrating experience.
Firstly, the backstory given to explain why Willow and her mom have to put up with Ralph makes no sense. Is a woman expected to abandon her young daughter on the road and run to a burning car to rescue her husband? I mean, it would be nice, but no one expects it of her. The car even blew up, so clearly it was dangerous. And some guy saying he saw the whole event would not be ground to classify this as a murder. People freeze up in a traumatic situation. Why on Earth would Willow's mother just take the words of a random man on the side of the road as gospel truth? If she did it because she is just that easy to manipulate and lacks enough social support to give her better advice, then I wish the story had depicted that. She is also a victim of domestic abuse, and the author ought to provide good representation for both women.
Secondly, why does Willow not use any of the tools available to her to escape the domestic abuse? The author makes it a point to list several helplines and NGOs that can offer help to victims at the end of the book. but the advice rings hollow when the book's MC did not use any of that. What lesson is someone supposed to learn from this? I would have been much happier if Willow actually used the helplines or got advice from good elements in society. But it seems like everyone in this town is conspiring to keep this abuse an ongoing secret. Willow's friend know the truth, as do Brody and his female relatives. That's plenty of people who should have taken some action. The hospital staff have an extensive record of injuries on this girl, and no one even calls CPS? Really? Is this some small mountain town in the 1990s? Or maybe this is just the realistic situation in small towns across the country even today. I don't know. I wish the author had handled this with more sensitivity. I needed Willow to take back control for her life and make choices. But in the end what wins the day is a knockout punch from Brody and Willow telling the truth for the first time in years?
This is what makes the book bittersweet for me. Willow may indeed have her happily-ever-after in California, but she could have had a good life in Middleton too, if only she had approached the helplines and agencies dedicated to helping women like her. I wish the author had stressed that. Instead, the author makes it clear that the case of her stepfather's death is reopened, meaning the secret she kept all these years at the cost of her safety has been for nothing.
Also, the author stresses that Willow is a virgin, and that her abusive boyfriend and stepfather have never sexually abused her. I find this especially to be unrealistic. No guy as abusive as Jaden is respectful of his girlfriend's boundaries in the bedroom. And it honestly should not matter. Willow is no less worthy of justice, love or good, consensual sex if she has been raped or abused. Of course, the last thing this book needed were graphic scenes of sexual abuse. I may really have stopped reading then. But I wish the author had handled this side of the issue a little better.
But otherwise, it's an average beach read. Brody is supposedly the midwest's Ad0nis, which I thought was fine. Some elements of fantasy in a romantic novel is necessary. But his breaking up with Willow after 2 months of dating is honestly pathetic. It is obvious the author had to suddenly dumb down his character so that she could draw out the story. And most of the other characters have little to no character development. A lot of the plot just details Willow's endless torment at the hands of Jaden. If, for some reason, you like reading that, this book is great. Otherwise, for readers like me, it will likely be a frustrating experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews