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Pretty Thing
When fifteen-year-old Becs meets Bracken, she is convinced she's found her soul mate. So what if he's much older, and who cares about her exams? He's gorgeous, he gets her, she feels free with him, and when he holds her she feels safe.
But is she?
When her best friend is assaulted, one of a spate of attacks against girls from her school, the world suddenly seems a much more dangerous place. Who is it safe to trust? Should she follow her head or her heart? Becs is forced to make choices that will affect the rest of her life.
Set during the summer of '76, to the music of David Bowie and the Rolling Stones, Pretty Thing is a powerful story of first encounters, dark obsession and last chances. It pits true love against real life and asks: is love really all you need?
But is she?
When her best friend is assaulted, one of a spate of attacks against girls from her school, the world suddenly seems a much more dangerous place. Who is it safe to trust? Should she follow her head or her heart? Becs is forced to make choices that will affect the rest of her life.
Set during the summer of '76, to the music of David Bowie and the Rolling Stones, Pretty Thing is a powerful story of first encounters, dark obsession and last chances. It pits true love against real life and asks: is love really all you need?
- GenresYoung Adult
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2015
3 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Nadel
8 books19 followersJennifer Nadel is an award-winning broadcast journalist, qualified attorney, writer, and activist. American-born, she lives in London with her three sons.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 31, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Little Brown Book Group.)
“I didn’t like lying, but I had to.”
This was a good coming of age story, although I was so worried for Becs!
Rebecca/Becs just seemed like such a normal girl, and it felt realistic how she was quite innocent and believed in finding love down the pub!
The storyline in this was mainly about Rebecca’s relationship with the man she met down the pub – Bracken, who as it turned out was much older than her! I have to say that I got really worried about the way that he told her not to worry about falling pregnant, and seemed to have no qualms about sleeping with a girl half his age.
The ending to this was so much better for Rebecca than I hoped, she was really lucky that things worked out the way they did, because things could have been so, so much worse for her!
7 out of 10
“I didn’t like lying, but I had to.”
This was a good coming of age story, although I was so worried for Becs!
Rebecca/Becs just seemed like such a normal girl, and it felt realistic how she was quite innocent and believed in finding love down the pub!
The storyline in this was mainly about Rebecca’s relationship with the man she met down the pub – Bracken, who as it turned out was much older than her! I have to say that I got really worried about the way that he told her not to worry about falling pregnant, and seemed to have no qualms about sleeping with a girl half his age.
The ending to this was so much better for Rebecca than I hoped, she was really lucky that things worked out the way they did, because things could have been so, so much worse for her!
7 out of 10
October 30, 2015
The writing in this one was great but certain aspects of the story really creeped me out!
March 16, 2015
This was a beautifully evocative story, quite heart wrenching but so atmospheric and with an authentic sense of place, I was left feeling vaguely melancholy at the end.
We meet Becs – Becs is a child of the 70’s, she and best friend MJ roam their world fairly carefree. Then Becs meets Bracken, he is older and intriguing and she falls in love. Meanwhile MJ experiences a traumatic assault and begins to withdraw from her life.
It is quite difficult to capture the ambience of this novel in a review – it is elegantly written and the characters are brought to vivid life. Becs is a typical teenager, coming of age and to an awakening of her emotions, led towards adulthood possibly way too early by her interaction and relationship with Bracken. This has the added affect that she misses how unwell and deeply disturbed MJ is becoming – the friendship falters just at the time that it is most needed.
This flows beautifully, it pretty much has its own soundtrack, the musical memories interwoven into the plot giving it that added frission, the setting is beautifully described and realistically drawn. Set against this backdrop is a tale of friendship, love and growing up, the decisions we make that can define us and the true nature of hindsight. The very definition of a coming of age tale, I would highly recommend this.
We meet Becs – Becs is a child of the 70’s, she and best friend MJ roam their world fairly carefree. Then Becs meets Bracken, he is older and intriguing and she falls in love. Meanwhile MJ experiences a traumatic assault and begins to withdraw from her life.
It is quite difficult to capture the ambience of this novel in a review – it is elegantly written and the characters are brought to vivid life. Becs is a typical teenager, coming of age and to an awakening of her emotions, led towards adulthood possibly way too early by her interaction and relationship with Bracken. This has the added affect that she misses how unwell and deeply disturbed MJ is becoming – the friendship falters just at the time that it is most needed.
This flows beautifully, it pretty much has its own soundtrack, the musical memories interwoven into the plot giving it that added frission, the setting is beautifully described and realistically drawn. Set against this backdrop is a tale of friendship, love and growing up, the decisions we make that can define us and the true nature of hindsight. The very definition of a coming of age tale, I would highly recommend this.
May 13, 2015
Brilliantly written, but the storyline creeped me out just a little too much.
The writing really is beautiful, and I will happily read more by Nadel, but I wasn't at all keen on the storyline or the way it finished.
The writing really is beautiful, and I will happily read more by Nadel, but I wasn't at all keen on the storyline or the way it finished.
April 2, 2022
I wanted to like this because I went to school with the author. (I never really knew her personally, she was a very good friend of a friend.)
This book absolutely describes what life was like as a teenager in the rich rural south of England in the middle of the 1970s (specifically, that hot summer of 1976, although since all the action took place in the spring, that sort of confuses the issue for me somewhat, I don't remember the spring being that wonderful.)
Nadel focuses sharply on bullying and rebellion in equal measure, coupled with the seeming complete indifference and ignorance of most of the adults to what is going on under their noses. Bad things happen and nobody is there to stop them. (Remember, it was a different world back then. Teenagers used to drink and smoke and shag without let or hindrance. I remember, I was there. I remember buying drinks at bars from age 14, no big deal, and I was smoking from 11. We all did.)
I think what I hated about it most was the complete realism of it all. There are no happy endings, there are no grand epiphanies, there isn't even any real growing up done. Just shameful and unhappy people doing sordid things for short-term ends. And worst of all, everybody comes across as being desperately shallow. Maybe this is because everything is filtered through the heartbreakingly dysfunctional psyche of the first-person protagonist, whose romantic obsession with a handsome but ultimately hopeless loser blinkers her to everything else around her.
If you have a teenage daughter, particularly if you are a father in a one-parent family, you will have nightmares for weeks.
This book absolutely describes what life was like as a teenager in the rich rural south of England in the middle of the 1970s (specifically, that hot summer of 1976, although since all the action took place in the spring, that sort of confuses the issue for me somewhat, I don't remember the spring being that wonderful.)
Nadel focuses sharply on bullying and rebellion in equal measure, coupled with the seeming complete indifference and ignorance of most of the adults to what is going on under their noses. Bad things happen and nobody is there to stop them. (Remember, it was a different world back then. Teenagers used to drink and smoke and shag without let or hindrance. I remember, I was there. I remember buying drinks at bars from age 14, no big deal, and I was smoking from 11. We all did.)
I think what I hated about it most was the complete realism of it all. There are no happy endings, there are no grand epiphanies, there isn't even any real growing up done. Just shameful and unhappy people doing sordid things for short-term ends. And worst of all, everybody comes across as being desperately shallow. Maybe this is because everything is filtered through the heartbreakingly dysfunctional psyche of the first-person protagonist, whose romantic obsession with a handsome but ultimately hopeless loser blinkers her to everything else around her.
If you have a teenage daughter, particularly if you are a father in a one-parent family, you will have nightmares for weeks.
February 10, 2018
I felt like I wasn’t given enough answers with this book. It’s left me frustrated. Bec was also annoying - why was she so obsessed with a loser of a guy?! *eye roll*
August 8, 2022
Well... this was unsettling.
July 26, 2017
I was a bit torn on how to rate Pretty Thing. I think Nadel pulls off some things very well indeed, and I did feel emotionally moved by the story and a little sick as events unfolded, but I was left frustrated by the conclusion, and wishing for a little more.
Things I liked about Pretty Thing: the 1976 setting was refreshing whilst never becoming overly-dominant. This is a story I don't think could have been written set in present day, as fifteen year old girls are no longer so naive. Speaking of naivity, I thought Nadel handled Becs' belief in love and fear of losing Bracken very well indeed. I felt sad for her when she made wrong decisions rather than frustrated, as it was clear she was just a young girl flattered by an attractive man's attention and prepared to sacrifice everything to keep him. It's very easy as a reader to become frustrated with a character who consistently makes bad decisions but I only felt sorry for Becs. It was quite painful to read about how desperate she was to impress Bracken and see her turn her back on her friends, including the one who needed her most. It's never specified in as many words what happened to Mary-Jane (though the reader can guess) - I did think Becs and the other girls might have been a bit better friends given the horror of her ordeal, even though they were self-absorbed and felt awkward about it. I also liked how it is clear that Bracken is much older than Becs but how this is never heavy handed; Becs' friends comment on it, but don't hammer the age difference home. This attitude reflects a more innocent age, as, again, I don't think teenagers would behave this way now as they are so much more aware of such things.
The things I liked less: I found the secondary characters quite interchangeable. I'm not sure what the difference was between Sarah, Pen or Marion, and I had Phil and Pete confused for most of the book. There are also no fewer than three minor characters called Dave! I think Nadel could have fleshed them out a little more - it would have been easy to do. This is especially the case with Pen, who is the friend Becs eventually tells everything to - I would have liked to have known why Becs felt she could trust her.
I would also have liked to have known more what Becs and Bracken talked about. I get why she was attracted to him, but their emotional connection could have been stronger - which would have made Becs' dilemma at the end of the book more palpable and moving.
This brings me nicely to the ending, which I didn't like. I am all for books not spelling things out, but the final chapter just leaves too much to the imagination - I would like to know what Becs' choice is, even if it isn't spelt out. That the last fifth of the book is quite rushed doesn't help, either - I would have liked more reflection, especially on how Becs' felt about Mary-Jane.
Pretty Thing is a thought provoking read - I am older than the target market, and would be very interested to know how a teenage reader would feel about Becs' and Bracken's love story as I have a feeling their reaction might be very different to an older person's!
Things I liked about Pretty Thing: the 1976 setting was refreshing whilst never becoming overly-dominant. This is a story I don't think could have been written set in present day, as fifteen year old girls are no longer so naive. Speaking of naivity, I thought Nadel handled Becs' belief in love and fear of losing Bracken very well indeed. I felt sad for her when she made wrong decisions rather than frustrated, as it was clear she was just a young girl flattered by an attractive man's attention and prepared to sacrifice everything to keep him. It's very easy as a reader to become frustrated with a character who consistently makes bad decisions but I only felt sorry for Becs. It was quite painful to read about how desperate she was to impress Bracken and see her turn her back on her friends, including the one who needed her most. It's never specified in as many words what happened to Mary-Jane (though the reader can guess) - I did think Becs and the other girls might have been a bit better friends given the horror of her ordeal, even though they were self-absorbed and felt awkward about it. I also liked how it is clear that Bracken is much older than Becs but how this is never heavy handed; Becs' friends comment on it, but don't hammer the age difference home. This attitude reflects a more innocent age, as, again, I don't think teenagers would behave this way now as they are so much more aware of such things.
The things I liked less: I found the secondary characters quite interchangeable. I'm not sure what the difference was between Sarah, Pen or Marion, and I had Phil and Pete confused for most of the book. There are also no fewer than three minor characters called Dave! I think Nadel could have fleshed them out a little more - it would have been easy to do. This is especially the case with Pen, who is the friend Becs eventually tells everything to - I would have liked to have known why Becs felt she could trust her.
I would also have liked to have known more what Becs and Bracken talked about. I get why she was attracted to him, but their emotional connection could have been stronger - which would have made Becs' dilemma at the end of the book more palpable and moving.
This brings me nicely to the ending, which I didn't like. I am all for books not spelling things out, but the final chapter just leaves too much to the imagination - I would like to know what Becs' choice is, even if it isn't spelt out. That the last fifth of the book is quite rushed doesn't help, either - I would have liked more reflection, especially on how Becs' felt about Mary-Jane.
Pretty Thing is a thought provoking read - I am older than the target market, and would be very interested to know how a teenage reader would feel about Becs' and Bracken's love story as I have a feeling their reaction might be very different to an older person's!
May 24, 2015
This has been called a coming of age story. To me, it is a coming of a nightmare for fifteen-year-old friends Rebecca (Becs) and Mary Jane. On the same night Becs sneaks out to join some friends at a club, Mary Jane decides to stay home with her family. Becs meets Bracken who is nearly twice her age while the next morning, Mary Jane encounters a man who forces her to touch him. Such was the encounter that Mary Jane never did get over it. Becs continues to meet Bracken, even feeling proud when her friends see she has a grown man interested in her. Becs is the protagonist and I kept thinking she’d wake up or some adult would intercede to make her realize that when you’re fifteen, a relationship with a twenty-nine-year-old man is just too out there. Becs mother had left her father and her to fend for themselves. Neither ever recouped. Becs father was too wrapped up in him own emotions to provide any solid foundation for Becs. So, Becs was very vulnerable.
This could be considered historical fiction as it is set in 1976. There are certain things that even in fiction, they are still true. Oranges are still oranges; apples are still apples. And … statutory rape is still statutory rape! However, in this novel, it appears as true love and romance. Perhaps laws are different in England, where I believe the story takes place. There was too much left unsaid. The author hinted at Bracken being the one who had assaulted Mary Jane, but that was never cleared up. The ending left Becs at a decision point – we don’t know for sure what path she chose. There is an epilogue written, but it is online. What about all of those people who will buy it because of the blurb or pick it up from the library … they may never know an epilogue is available. This is classified as Young Adult. Since the protagonist is fifteen, generally that is the age group it is geared toward. I think fifteen is too young to read a story about a fifteen-year-old girl with a twenty-nine-year-old man. The story flowed well and I still had an interest to know how it ended, so I rated Pretty Thing at 2.5 out of 5.
This could be considered historical fiction as it is set in 1976. There are certain things that even in fiction, they are still true. Oranges are still oranges; apples are still apples. And … statutory rape is still statutory rape! However, in this novel, it appears as true love and romance. Perhaps laws are different in England, where I believe the story takes place. There was too much left unsaid. The author hinted at Bracken being the one who had assaulted Mary Jane, but that was never cleared up. The ending left Becs at a decision point – we don’t know for sure what path she chose. There is an epilogue written, but it is online. What about all of those people who will buy it because of the blurb or pick it up from the library … they may never know an epilogue is available. This is classified as Young Adult. Since the protagonist is fifteen, generally that is the age group it is geared toward. I think fifteen is too young to read a story about a fifteen-year-old girl with a twenty-nine-year-old man. The story flowed well and I still had an interest to know how it ended, so I rated Pretty Thing at 2.5 out of 5.
March 4, 2015
Although this book is aimed at a YA audience I loved it and I'm way way outside the target age range.....
A charming, vulnerable, complex heroine that you're rooting for from the very first chapter. Emotionally spot on, great sense of the 70s - a coming of age thriller that doesn't let you go until the very last page - and not entirely even then! Read it in one delicious gulp and can't wait for the next one.
An author to watch.
A charming, vulnerable, complex heroine that you're rooting for from the very first chapter. Emotionally spot on, great sense of the 70s - a coming of age thriller that doesn't let you go until the very last page - and not entirely even then! Read it in one delicious gulp and can't wait for the next one.
An author to watch.
February 8, 2021
This book brings us the story of Becs, a 15 year old girl who was finding herself. She found love, she learned a terrible fate had befallen her bestfriend and she had a bad relationship with her dad to think of.
At some points in the book, I did get frustrated with her because I was like "HOW COULD YOU BE SO SELFISH AND STUPID!!" But then I thought, that's what being teenagers is all about, isn't it? We were all teens once. It was the most frightening, confusing time of our life. The underage relationship did creep me out a bit and I did wish for her and Bracken not to end up together. I kept thinking that if Bracken had really cared for her, he would know what was best and would leave her be. Even though he was supposed to be the older one, he wasn't actually thinking about her. His temper. His tendency to just do what he pleased. Those were huge red flags for me. And the obvious grooming!
The ending though. I was frustrated at first because it felt so incomplete. But at the same time it was SO brilliant!!!
At some points in the book, I did get frustrated with her because I was like "HOW COULD YOU BE SO SELFISH AND STUPID!!" But then I thought, that's what being teenagers is all about, isn't it? We were all teens once. It was the most frightening, confusing time of our life. The underage relationship did creep me out a bit and I did wish for her and Bracken not to end up together. I kept thinking that if Bracken had really cared for her, he would know what was best and would leave her be. Even though he was supposed to be the older one, he wasn't actually thinking about her. His temper. His tendency to just do what he pleased. Those were huge red flags for me. And the obvious grooming!
The ending though. I was frustrated at first because it felt so incomplete. But at the same time it was SO brilliant!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2022
sebenarnya nak DNF tapi rasa buku ni readable maka saya teruskan baca. lagipun buku ni agak nipis dan lebih kepada pembacaan santai.
cerita pasal rebecca sebagai awal remaja yang mula meneroka cinta, yang mahu mencintai dan dicintai. walaupun rasa dia ni bebal tapi sebagai manusia yang pernah melalui fasa remaja saya faham dengan episod bebal yang ditonjolkan. saya terfikir juga, kalau saya ni ayah rebecca apa yang saya akan buat. saya akan buat macam apa yang ayah dia buat ke? adakah itu perkara yang terbaik?
cuma ending dia tergantung sikit. ada buku sambungan (pretty thing: epilogue)
cerita pasal rebecca sebagai awal remaja yang mula meneroka cinta, yang mahu mencintai dan dicintai. walaupun rasa dia ni bebal tapi sebagai manusia yang pernah melalui fasa remaja saya faham dengan episod bebal yang ditonjolkan. saya terfikir juga, kalau saya ni ayah rebecca apa yang saya akan buat. saya akan buat macam apa yang ayah dia buat ke? adakah itu perkara yang terbaik?
cuma ending dia tergantung sikit. ada buku sambungan (pretty thing: epilogue)
November 28, 2022
4.5/5 stars
I love this book but it does have many cons these being:
Romanticisation of pedophilic/illegal relationships
Mishandling of serious topics such as suicide and trauma
But on the whole this book is a great coming of age would recommend for older teens. Wonderful imagery and feel to this book with the mixtape as well.
I love this book but it does have many cons these being:
Romanticisation of pedophilic/illegal relationships
Mishandling of serious topics such as suicide and trauma
But on the whole this book is a great coming of age would recommend for older teens. Wonderful imagery and feel to this book with the mixtape as well.
January 5, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I love how it highlights how people can't be categorised into good or bad; they are just people who do good and bad things. The only downer for me was the graphic description of what was effectively rape but I suppose it helped show the reality of the situation.
November 20, 2021
I hated this so much. Everytime they mentioned the love interest I audibly groaned. I was just imagining a greasy, crusty old man going out with a young girl. And the end decision.... don't even go there-
May 28, 2017
A short but well written coming of age story. Jennifer has captured the way British teenagers act and behave perfectly. The story flowed excellently between one chapter and the next.
July 14, 2024
Enjoyed this book so much... However, the ending was a bit of a let down with a serious cliffhanger😔😁
March 13, 2015
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
The cover for Pretty Thing is so striking. It instantly caught my eye and made me want to read it.
Pretty Thing is the ultimate coming of age novel. It's true to life, making it gritty and raw. It's a brutally honest read. It deals with the loss of innocence and trying to grow up too fast and how the world isn't a protective bubble. No detail, no matter how small is left untouched. There is one scene involving a slightly gone off tin of dog food that has really stuck with me. It really enhances how first times are not always so special and are actually a little scary. First love isn't always smooth running and magical as we want it to be and Jennifer has written this honestly, which is what makes this stand out so much from other coming of age novels.
Rebecca is a character that I think a lot of us can relate to. The want of fitting in at school and having a boyfriend being top priorities for girls even today. Jennifer really shows us Rebecca's vulnerable side and that even though she wants to grow up, she is still so young and naive. It's the realisticness and honesty that make Rebecca so easy to empathise with and show exactly what it is like growing up as a teenager.
What I particularly liked about this was that it was set in the summer of the 1970's. Despite not growing up in this era, I felt almost transported there with the songs from the likes of David Bowie, that are still played today.
Although this is a Young Adult novel, this is definitely a book for all ages as you can relate back to your own time as a teenager.
The only thing I wasn't so sure about was the ending. It leaves you to make up your own mind as to what you want to happen, which in itself is a good idea, but for me I would have liked it to have been wrapped up.
Overall though, an honest, gritty and raw coming of age novel.
The cover for Pretty Thing is so striking. It instantly caught my eye and made me want to read it.
Pretty Thing is the ultimate coming of age novel. It's true to life, making it gritty and raw. It's a brutally honest read. It deals with the loss of innocence and trying to grow up too fast and how the world isn't a protective bubble. No detail, no matter how small is left untouched. There is one scene involving a slightly gone off tin of dog food that has really stuck with me. It really enhances how first times are not always so special and are actually a little scary. First love isn't always smooth running and magical as we want it to be and Jennifer has written this honestly, which is what makes this stand out so much from other coming of age novels.
Rebecca is a character that I think a lot of us can relate to. The want of fitting in at school and having a boyfriend being top priorities for girls even today. Jennifer really shows us Rebecca's vulnerable side and that even though she wants to grow up, she is still so young and naive. It's the realisticness and honesty that make Rebecca so easy to empathise with and show exactly what it is like growing up as a teenager.
What I particularly liked about this was that it was set in the summer of the 1970's. Despite not growing up in this era, I felt almost transported there with the songs from the likes of David Bowie, that are still played today.
Although this is a Young Adult novel, this is definitely a book for all ages as you can relate back to your own time as a teenager.
The only thing I wasn't so sure about was the ending. It leaves you to make up your own mind as to what you want to happen, which in itself is a good idea, but for me I would have liked it to have been wrapped up.
Overall though, an honest, gritty and raw coming of age novel.
April 8, 2015
Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2015/04...
Set in a hot summer in the 70s Pretty Thing is a tale about growing up and love but with an added dark atmosphere. Becs is a character easy to relate with. She is a teenager eager for love and for a place to fit. She is not a brazen girl and neither is she extremely beautiful so when Bracken, older and quite handsome pays attention to her, she becomes quite smitten with him. Even forgetting a bit about her friends.
What surprised me about this story was its honesty and how well the author expressed the raw emotions going on with Becs. She is discovering her sexuality and wants her first time to be special. But life has its own ways and Bracken too. I was actually in two minds about him. I really couldn't read him. And only seeing him through Becs' eyes, who idolizes him didn't help. I had a bad feeling about him and just couldn't believe him and his act.
Pretty Thing is quite a short book, just over two hundred pages but filled with emotions and with some unexpected twits that make this coming of age story darker and grittier. I was certainly hooked at the beginning. I have to say though that I wasn't convinced by the last part of the story, especially with the open ending, as I felt like it was a bit rushed and left me a bit confused. However I am sure this story will appeal to both young adults and adults too, as the setting in the 70s might bring lots of memories and who hasn't been a teenager like Becs or has a kid going through the same, doubts about the future, the desire to be cool and fit in, wanting to be loved...
Set in a hot summer in the 70s Pretty Thing is a tale about growing up and love but with an added dark atmosphere. Becs is a character easy to relate with. She is a teenager eager for love and for a place to fit. She is not a brazen girl and neither is she extremely beautiful so when Bracken, older and quite handsome pays attention to her, she becomes quite smitten with him. Even forgetting a bit about her friends.
What surprised me about this story was its honesty and how well the author expressed the raw emotions going on with Becs. She is discovering her sexuality and wants her first time to be special. But life has its own ways and Bracken too. I was actually in two minds about him. I really couldn't read him. And only seeing him through Becs' eyes, who idolizes him didn't help. I had a bad feeling about him and just couldn't believe him and his act.
Pretty Thing is quite a short book, just over two hundred pages but filled with emotions and with some unexpected twits that make this coming of age story darker and grittier. I was certainly hooked at the beginning. I have to say though that I wasn't convinced by the last part of the story, especially with the open ending, as I felt like it was a bit rushed and left me a bit confused. However I am sure this story will appeal to both young adults and adults too, as the setting in the 70s might bring lots of memories and who hasn't been a teenager like Becs or has a kid going through the same, doubts about the future, the desire to be cool and fit in, wanting to be loved...
February 19, 2023
Amazingly written. Interesting read. Content is a bit disturbing though. Do not recommend if easily triggered or disturbed by anything related to SA.
I got this book as a recommendation from a fellow reader and I must say I would not do the same. I was only 17 when I read this and it honestly gave me nightmares.
It is a good book though and sort of? brings awareness to the whole topic that is sexual assault.
I do not however appreciate the fact that the author made as if the relationship was a good thing for the main character.
Can be read at own discretion.
If you do read it, I do recommend reading it with the thought that this honestly could happen to any teenager male or female alike and we should seriously be looking for this type of thing nowadays in society.
I got this book as a recommendation from a fellow reader and I must say I would not do the same. I was only 17 when I read this and it honestly gave me nightmares.
It is a good book though and sort of? brings awareness to the whole topic that is sexual assault.
I do not however appreciate the fact that the author made as if the relationship was a good thing for the main character.
Can be read at own discretion.
If you do read it, I do recommend reading it with the thought that this honestly could happen to any teenager male or female alike and we should seriously be looking for this type of thing nowadays in society.
March 10, 2015
A book that takes you on a journey of self discovery for 15 year old Becs. Becs finds love and experiences intimacy and soon becomes besotted. All this during a difficult time at school with exams looming. A terrible tragedy happens to her best friend and the whole community are struggling to cope with the consequences. Becs has to find an inner strength in her to help her friend but is it enough. A book filled with emotion, desire, teenage angst, tragedy. The author was very good at describing the setting for the story I could feel myself stepping back to 1976. I would give the story 3.5/5*, it was a good read and the story flowed well.
June 30, 2015
The book was ok. I would not read again however it was a moderately quick read. I didn't like how the ending was not definite There an epilogue that is available online, however it did not give me the answers I was after.
January 21, 2020
This book was a super short read about a really tough selection of topics. I’m in two minds about this book. Part of me loved it, loved the characters and the themes and the commentary. The other part of me was a little bored even though it was a short book.
April 16, 2015
This is not my usual sort of book and if I am honest this book angered me a lot. Full review will be on www.dark-readers.com soon.
April 22, 2016
This book is for mature readers about how true love fights against reality. I would absolutely recommend this book to readers over the age of 15. Genres include: Romance, drama, suspense.
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July 25, 2016it was good, and interesting but it should have an age restriction as it has quite sexual and has a few swear words...
November 22, 2020
1.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews