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The Choice
How do you heal from your past when you're still trapped within it?
I lost myself the night of the party. Just like that, my innocence and my sanity were torn away.
I would like to say that time heals all wounds, but it doesn't. And I would like to say that falling in love is what rescued me, but it wasn't. Nobody told me what to expect in the coming days and weeks and months after conceiving a rapist's child. Years later, my wounds are still just as fresh as the night they were made. It would be so easy to disappear and allow the memories to consume me.
But that's the choice, isn't it? To live instead.
**This book contains rape triggers. Discretion is advised.
I lost myself the night of the party. Just like that, my innocence and my sanity were torn away.
I would like to say that time heals all wounds, but it doesn't. And I would like to say that falling in love is what rescued me, but it wasn't. Nobody told me what to expect in the coming days and weeks and months after conceiving a rapist's child. Years later, my wounds are still just as fresh as the night they were made. It would be so easy to disappear and allow the memories to consume me.
But that's the choice, isn't it? To live instead.
**This book contains rape triggers. Discretion is advised.
- GenresAbuse
196 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2014
About the author
Allison J. Kennedy
6 books29 followersAllison is the author of four books, which have all caught fire with her young adult readership. She enjoys writing for a young adult audience, and her style is emotional, raw, and passionate.
Born and raised in Oregon, she now resides in Oklahoma with her husband and two cats.
Born and raised in Oregon, she now resides in Oklahoma with her husband and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 19, 2015
I've just finished this book and the first thing I did was text my book buddy saying this is a must read.
The topic isn't an easy topic to write about or read about. However the author wrote this beautifully. She portrayed May as a real character. My heart broke for May. We read of how traumatic the experience was and how she dealt with it ever since.
Although there are taboo subjects I thought the author did a beautiful job with this story. I've got to admit I had goosebumps reading parts of this. Excellent story.
The topic isn't an easy topic to write about or read about. However the author wrote this beautifully. She portrayed May as a real character. My heart broke for May. We read of how traumatic the experience was and how she dealt with it ever since.
Although there are taboo subjects I thought the author did a beautiful job with this story. I've got to admit I had goosebumps reading parts of this. Excellent story.
July 18, 2015
I really struggled with this book, the synopsis sounded like a great foundation for what should have been a really emotive and conflicted book. Sadly I found it lacked in a lot of areas. Once I was past the first few chapters quite frankly I was just bored.
I didn't connect with the characters, felt distanced from them and the story itself. I wanted it to have so much more depth to it than it did considering it was tackling such an important and difficult topic. It could have really gone to another level. It just didn't go anywhere and it was tepid to read. I see a few reviewers agree with me by looking at the mix of reviews.
This one was a "just okay" read for me. Nothing to rave about, but not the worst thing I have ever read. Others have liked it but for me it was a bit weak which is a shame as it had a lot of potential to be a stunner.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I didn't connect with the characters, felt distanced from them and the story itself. I wanted it to have so much more depth to it than it did considering it was tackling such an important and difficult topic. It could have really gone to another level. It just didn't go anywhere and it was tepid to read. I see a few reviewers agree with me by looking at the mix of reviews.
This one was a "just okay" read for me. Nothing to rave about, but not the worst thing I have ever read. Others have liked it but for me it was a bit weak which is a shame as it had a lot of potential to be a stunner.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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December 14, 2014 DNF @22%
In fairness to the author I gave up pretty quickly so please don't let my quitter tendancies deter you from reading The Choice. IMHO there was very little plot & a whole lot of fluff which is not my thing..
** I wish the author much success**
In fairness to the author I gave up pretty quickly so please don't let my quitter tendancies deter you from reading The Choice. IMHO there was very little plot & a whole lot of fluff which is not my thing..
** I wish the author much success**
January 22, 2015
* There was no way to write this review without having spoilers in it. So please beware... They are spoilers in my review!!*
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This book was a tough one. It deals with pretty heavy situations.
This book brought out a lot of emotions in me while reading it.
Lots of opinions will be flying around with this book. That's for sure.
Everyone is so divided on these two topics. And everyone has an opinion about it!
Huhhh...
All I can say is...
It's a personal choice....
What a person feels like they have to do in order for them to move on and move forward with their lives.
OK...I'm 100% pro choice...
Reading how everyone acted in this book was super tough for me. Because even though the author tried to be impartial with the whole abortion situation in this book... I felt this book was all a bit one sided. I didn't care for it at all.
Everyone told May that it was her decision to make.
but... They ALL felt she should keep the child. And when she did make her decision... They were just so damn upset with her. (I wish May would have spoke up for herself)
It's difficult to say what one would do in May's situation.
The name of this book really is very fitting. Everyone has a choice they can go either way. You can either tell someone or keep it bottled up.
I personally have never been in May situation. I can say what I think I would do if something like that would have happened to me.
My choice would have been to tell someone that night. Not hide it away.
But everyone processes things differently. They have their own way of dealing with major events that happens in their life's.
Do I think May handled things right for herself.
Hmmm.... I don't know...
The way I see it.. Why tear yourself up over someone else's actions. I felt like she should have said something the day it happened...
Then she would have had all the evidence the police would have needed to prosecute Tyler. Plus the party would have still been going on if she would have said something that night. And that would have been more evidence for May.
I really felt May had a prefect opportunity to tell her parents what had happened to her at the party when they found out about her condition.
I don't think her parents would have been upset with her. Especially her dad. He would have been by her side right from the beginning.
The fact that she didn't open her mouth...was extremely frustrating.
What also frustrated me was how nothing happens to Tyler! Nothing at all. And I think if the author was going to write about The consequences of having an abortion that she should have written about the consequences of raping a person. That whole thing I felt was just brushed on by.... Like nothing.
I didn't like that at all.
Elijah was such a good guy. I loved him. He was so patient and understanding with May. He truly came into her life when she really need someone. And I felt that she helped him just as much as he helped her. His story was just so sad.
Chapters 29 and on... It all seems a little rushed... 6 months past in one chapter... Then four years past in another. I didn't like that.
It also felt A little chaotic with what happened to her friend Addison. With everything going on in this book... It just seemed like too much.
I wasn't really feeling the whole past and present thing going on in this book. It was messing up the flow for me.
And...
This book seemed a bit one sided in the whole pro choice... Pro life debate. I WISH it would have been a little bit more even. I felt everyone kept pushing her one way.
I think everyone has a right to make their own decision with their own body. We all don't have to like the decision... We just have to respect it.
Overall.. This book was very heartbreaking. I felt for May and everything she had to go through.
I personally think she made the right decision. But that's just my opinion.
The writing in this book was good... The book flowed nicely. I was hooked from the first page.
But... I was mostly upset with how things went down in this book.
**ARC provided by author for an honest review*
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This book was a tough one. It deals with pretty heavy situations.
This book brought out a lot of emotions in me while reading it.
Lots of opinions will be flying around with this book. That's for sure.
Everyone is so divided on these two topics. And everyone has an opinion about it!
Huhhh...
All I can say is...
It's a personal choice....
What a person feels like they have to do in order for them to move on and move forward with their lives.
OK...I'm 100% pro choice...
Reading how everyone acted in this book was super tough for me. Because even though the author tried to be impartial with the whole abortion situation in this book... I felt this book was all a bit one sided. I didn't care for it at all.
Everyone told May that it was her decision to make.
but... They ALL felt she should keep the child. And when she did make her decision... They were just so damn upset with her. (I wish May would have spoke up for herself)
It's difficult to say what one would do in May's situation.
The name of this book really is very fitting. Everyone has a choice they can go either way. You can either tell someone or keep it bottled up.
I personally have never been in May situation. I can say what I think I would do if something like that would have happened to me.
My choice would have been to tell someone that night. Not hide it away.
But everyone processes things differently. They have their own way of dealing with major events that happens in their life's.
Do I think May handled things right for herself.
Hmmm.... I don't know...
The way I see it.. Why tear yourself up over someone else's actions. I felt like she should have said something the day it happened...
Then she would have had all the evidence the police would have needed to prosecute Tyler. Plus the party would have still been going on if she would have said something that night. And that would have been more evidence for May.
I really felt May had a prefect opportunity to tell her parents what had happened to her at the party when they found out about her condition.
I don't think her parents would have been upset with her. Especially her dad. He would have been by her side right from the beginning.
The fact that she didn't open her mouth...was extremely frustrating.
What also frustrated me was how nothing happens to Tyler! Nothing at all. And I think if the author was going to write about The consequences of having an abortion that she should have written about the consequences of raping a person. That whole thing I felt was just brushed on by.... Like nothing.
I didn't like that at all.
Elijah was such a good guy. I loved him. He was so patient and understanding with May. He truly came into her life when she really need someone. And I felt that she helped him just as much as he helped her. His story was just so sad.
Chapters 29 and on... It all seems a little rushed... 6 months past in one chapter... Then four years past in another. I didn't like that.
It also felt A little chaotic with what happened to her friend Addison. With everything going on in this book... It just seemed like too much.
I wasn't really feeling the whole past and present thing going on in this book. It was messing up the flow for me.
And...
This book seemed a bit one sided in the whole pro choice... Pro life debate. I WISH it would have been a little bit more even. I felt everyone kept pushing her one way.
I think everyone has a right to make their own decision with their own body. We all don't have to like the decision... We just have to respect it.
Overall.. This book was very heartbreaking. I felt for May and everything she had to go through.
I personally think she made the right decision. But that's just my opinion.
The writing in this book was good... The book flowed nicely. I was hooked from the first page.
But... I was mostly upset with how things went down in this book.
**ARC provided by author for an honest review*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2015
(I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read to review basis. Thanks to Allison, J. Kennedy, Booktrope and Net Galley.)
3/5 stars
The Choice is about a young girl May who just so happens to the in the wrong place and wrong time and sadly ends up getting raped. A couple of weeks later, she discovers as a result of getting raped, she is now pregnant with her rapist's child. How on earth does one cope when put in that situation? Completely unanswerable until you've been in the characters shoes.
Front Cover I absolutely adore. It looks exactly as I would imagine the character May to be. Extremely beautiful looking cover.
The storyline I thought was believable which helps to sell the story. A young girl who is still trying to discover her dreams for the future only to have them shatter instantly and then crumble the remains bits again when she finds out when she's pregnant. A very tough topic to tackle in a world where people are either for, against or sit on the fence when it comes to the choice of what to do when a girl becomes pregnant through the act of a rape. Especially when the main character lives in the family that she does. It certainly helped me to realise that little bit more about pregnancy through rape and how a person's character, attitudes, behaviours and feelings can change by having to go through that.
I would have however, loved to have seen more depth to the other side characters such as May's younger sister, her best friend Addison and so on. The relationships described by May, felt personally to me too brief and not enough explanation given, in regards to how and why the other characters were the way they were. Certainly would have added more much needed depth and variety to the plotline.
I believe that if a woman/young girl ends up getting pregnant unexpectedly and is not sure what to do, then I think it's always a tough topic to explore and venture into. Everyone is different; everyone copes with situations in their own way and that's fine but personally, I wasn't completely comfortable with how May dealt with the situation that was dealt to her. Not because I disapprove of her choice to cope with the pregnancy but more rather the manner in which she went about things. It was pretty much In agreement with another reviewer who has read this book, I do feel slightly betrayed about the title choice for this book. To me it felt like May didn't really have a choice to be completely honest. Yes she did end up making a choice, but other options weren't even really touched upon nor considered in the slightest, which was disappointing to see. But then again, relating back to the characters attitudes, family background and lack of support as well as taking into consideration her young age, I'm not entirely surprised about the final choice she made.
Overall a well done descriptive book about dealing with rape, unexpected and unwanted pregnancy; trying to cope with life after and learning to trust again, I found it to be a very pleasant read.
3/5 stars
The Choice is about a young girl May who just so happens to the in the wrong place and wrong time and sadly ends up getting raped. A couple of weeks later, she discovers as a result of getting raped, she is now pregnant with her rapist's child. How on earth does one cope when put in that situation? Completely unanswerable until you've been in the characters shoes.
Front Cover I absolutely adore. It looks exactly as I would imagine the character May to be. Extremely beautiful looking cover.
The storyline I thought was believable which helps to sell the story. A young girl who is still trying to discover her dreams for the future only to have them shatter instantly and then crumble the remains bits again when she finds out when she's pregnant. A very tough topic to tackle in a world where people are either for, against or sit on the fence when it comes to the choice of what to do when a girl becomes pregnant through the act of a rape. Especially when the main character lives in the family that she does. It certainly helped me to realise that little bit more about pregnancy through rape and how a person's character, attitudes, behaviours and feelings can change by having to go through that.
I would have however, loved to have seen more depth to the other side characters such as May's younger sister, her best friend Addison and so on. The relationships described by May, felt personally to me too brief and not enough explanation given, in regards to how and why the other characters were the way they were. Certainly would have added more much needed depth and variety to the plotline.
I believe that if a woman/young girl ends up getting pregnant unexpectedly and is not sure what to do, then I think it's always a tough topic to explore and venture into. Everyone is different; everyone copes with situations in their own way and that's fine but personally, I wasn't completely comfortable with how May dealt with the situation that was dealt to her. Not because I disapprove of her choice to cope with the pregnancy but more rather the manner in which she went about things. It was pretty much In agreement with another reviewer who has read this book, I do feel slightly betrayed about the title choice for this book. To me it felt like May didn't really have a choice to be completely honest. Yes she did end up making a choice, but other options weren't even really touched upon nor considered in the slightest, which was disappointing to see. But then again, relating back to the characters attitudes, family background and lack of support as well as taking into consideration her young age, I'm not entirely surprised about the final choice she made.
Overall a well done descriptive book about dealing with rape, unexpected and unwanted pregnancy; trying to cope with life after and learning to trust again, I found it to be a very pleasant read.
January 23, 2015
Let me just start by saying that this book was absolutely beautiful and it will be one that I will NEVER forget. I am not a crier and sometimes I have tears in my eyes ... one might leak free while I'm reading, but I had to sit this book down and just cry for a minute because oh my gosh!!! It was intense and it was just so beautifully written.
So the book synopsis talks about what happens in the book. May got raped and ended up pregnant with her rapist's child. When I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read this book, but I was not at all prepared for what this book would be like. It wasn't your typical YA/NA story where a victim is trying to move on with her life. It is so much more than that. I always find myself wanting to read a book where the victim is strong and stands up and sticks it to the asshole ... I want that in all the books. And sometimes I get frustrated with the characters when it doesn't happen. May chose not to tell anyone, she kept it a secret from almost everyone for a very long time, but I have NEVER understood a character's reasoning more than I did in this book. I have never felt so much from a character than I did in this book. It was just so beautifully written and the topics tackled were done so beautifully and respectfully. I just don't even know if a review can express the depth that this books resonated with me. Even if you can't relate to how May was raped, I think there is a piece where everyone can relate to keeping secrets that haunt us and we don't want to share with people. Will they believe us? Will they pity us? Will it really help anything? This book gave understanding new meaning. I have never read a more honest book. It was just beautiful.
The way the author set up the book kept you guessing about how the "then" and "now" would connect ... but they do. Don't worry!! Haha! I was so stressed, but so in love it was amazing. This isn't something I would necessarily characterize as a romance. It's there and it is really great, but the main part of this story is May's struggle. I would feel so much for her when she just wanted to forget and months later she still couldn't. Haven't we all just wanted to forget and move on even when it seems insurmountable. I really just don't have anything else to say ... just read this book. It is beautiful and wonderful and challenging and a life changer .... those are the best books ever!!! Don't miss out and enjoy!!!
Check me out at my blog for more fun reviews and giveaways!!
www.bookinlovetoread.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/bookinlovetoread
So the book synopsis talks about what happens in the book. May got raped and ended up pregnant with her rapist's child. When I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read this book, but I was not at all prepared for what this book would be like. It wasn't your typical YA/NA story where a victim is trying to move on with her life. It is so much more than that. I always find myself wanting to read a book where the victim is strong and stands up and sticks it to the asshole ... I want that in all the books. And sometimes I get frustrated with the characters when it doesn't happen. May chose not to tell anyone, she kept it a secret from almost everyone for a very long time, but I have NEVER understood a character's reasoning more than I did in this book. I have never felt so much from a character than I did in this book. It was just so beautifully written and the topics tackled were done so beautifully and respectfully. I just don't even know if a review can express the depth that this books resonated with me. Even if you can't relate to how May was raped, I think there is a piece where everyone can relate to keeping secrets that haunt us and we don't want to share with people. Will they believe us? Will they pity us? Will it really help anything? This book gave understanding new meaning. I have never read a more honest book. It was just beautiful.
The way the author set up the book kept you guessing about how the "then" and "now" would connect ... but they do. Don't worry!! Haha! I was so stressed, but so in love it was amazing. This isn't something I would necessarily characterize as a romance. It's there and it is really great, but the main part of this story is May's struggle. I would feel so much for her when she just wanted to forget and months later she still couldn't. Haven't we all just wanted to forget and move on even when it seems insurmountable. I really just don't have anything else to say ... just read this book. It is beautiful and wonderful and challenging and a life changer .... those are the best books ever!!! Don't miss out and enjoy!!!
Check me out at my blog for more fun reviews and giveaways!!
www.bookinlovetoread.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/bookinlovetoread
May 1, 2015
**MEGAN'S REVIEW**
I really hate to rate this so low but it's truly ONLY because it wasn't such a romance story as it was struggling with a very difficult situation. With a choice. Yes, there turned out to be happiness but first and foremost, to me, this is not a 'love' story.
I will be honest and say I almost stopped reading because I was over the whole high school, juice box, OMG story but then you meet Tyler and there is something that is fishy about him.
"Are you a bird or a fish?"
"What a cruel question to ask someone before trying to breaking their wings".
To be fair to the review reader, I won't give away the plot here but I believe this book could be transformed to an after school video for teens. This day and age this 'problem' exist and I believe this story was written very true to what a person would struggle with after living this nightmare. It's much easier to say 'do this' than facing that pain to actually 'do that'.
In the end May found someone who was there for her. It wasn't the quick emotional I'm all in. It was a struggle because the time Alex came into the picture her life was filled with many choices. Her choice to trust him, befriend him, listen to him was a good choice.
"You're not ruined. I'm not ruined. That's what I'm trying to show you."
I really hate to rate this so low but it's truly ONLY because it wasn't such a romance story as it was struggling with a very difficult situation. With a choice. Yes, there turned out to be happiness but first and foremost, to me, this is not a 'love' story.
I will be honest and say I almost stopped reading because I was over the whole high school, juice box, OMG story but then you meet Tyler and there is something that is fishy about him.
"Are you a bird or a fish?"
"What a cruel question to ask someone before trying to breaking their wings".
To be fair to the review reader, I won't give away the plot here but I believe this book could be transformed to an after school video for teens. This day and age this 'problem' exist and I believe this story was written very true to what a person would struggle with after living this nightmare. It's much easier to say 'do this' than facing that pain to actually 'do that'.
In the end May found someone who was there for her. It wasn't the quick emotional I'm all in. It was a struggle because the time Alex came into the picture her life was filled with many choices. Her choice to trust him, befriend him, listen to him was a good choice.
"You're not ruined. I'm not ruined. That's what I'm trying to show you."
June 2, 2015
The Choice is a thoughtful and sensitively written book about rape. While some readers will find this too difficult to read, it is a book that was surprisingly hopeful and shouldn't be avoided just because the topic is tough. The narrative jumps between the protagonist's present and the past which is probably the most effective way I could imagine for keeping this book from turning into the most depressing read ever. It is clear from the start that whatever went down, May survived her ordeal and went on to have a happy life. The author has done a good job of keeping the suspense of the titular choice alive for the duration of the book. While the prose does slip into a clinical mode at times, I think that reflects the distance that May is using to cope with her situation. This book works hard to present a neutral position about the choice while allowing her character to make a choice that she believes is right for her. I think this is a book that can represent hope and healing for any victim of this most destructive of crimes. The situation demands a mature reader, but, again, this was a very carefully crafted and sensitive look at a situation that I wouldn't hesitate to hand to one of my students. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2015
I received this book from netgalley to give my honest opinion.
The Choice is about a young girl May who when at a party is cruelly raped by a boy from her school. We follow before and after the incident and how May copes with the trauma o the rape and finding out she is pregnant.
I'm always intrigued by books like these and how such a sensitive subject is approached by the author . I think Allison J. Kennedy does a great job of telling May's story and approaching it in the correct way. The subjects of abortion and depression arise as well due to the nature of the story. Cleverly we hear all sides of the arguments to do with abortion and as a reader I didn't feel like my opinion was being swayed one way more than the other or being told what was right or wrong.
Throughout the book May has many kinds of relationships; with her parents, friends, partner and her horse. We get to experience the different ways all these people have an effect on May's life and her decisions and how important all of them are to her.
This is a quick read which I really enjoyed. I don't normally like short books as I don't have long enough to connect with any of the characters but this one was different. You care about May and care about what her life will become.
You will have to read it to find out.
https://natcentral.wordpress.com/2015...
The Choice is about a young girl May who when at a party is cruelly raped by a boy from her school. We follow before and after the incident and how May copes with the trauma o the rape and finding out she is pregnant.
I'm always intrigued by books like these and how such a sensitive subject is approached by the author . I think Allison J. Kennedy does a great job of telling May's story and approaching it in the correct way. The subjects of abortion and depression arise as well due to the nature of the story. Cleverly we hear all sides of the arguments to do with abortion and as a reader I didn't feel like my opinion was being swayed one way more than the other or being told what was right or wrong.
Throughout the book May has many kinds of relationships; with her parents, friends, partner and her horse. We get to experience the different ways all these people have an effect on May's life and her decisions and how important all of them are to her.
This is a quick read which I really enjoyed. I don't normally like short books as I don't have long enough to connect with any of the characters but this one was different. You care about May and care about what her life will become.
You will have to read it to find out.
https://natcentral.wordpress.com/2015...
June 27, 2015
I received a copy via net galley.
"Are you a bird or a fish?"
"What a cruel question to ask someone before trying to breaking their wings".
It's always a struggle to read about this topic, it's such a scary thing. But I think the author handled it flawlessly. The main character goes through a tragic thing a we take a journey with her in finding yourself again and learning to let go and realize it's not your fault and you can find happiness again. Elijah healed her in many ways but I truly think her strength was more powerful then she realized. I don't know what else to say, other then I hope people who go through thing kinda thing don't stay quite tell someone, it'll only fester and make you immensely depressed. Take the steps and get help, your not to blame they are...
"Are you a bird or a fish?"
"What a cruel question to ask someone before trying to breaking their wings".
It's always a struggle to read about this topic, it's such a scary thing. But I think the author handled it flawlessly. The main character goes through a tragic thing a we take a journey with her in finding yourself again and learning to let go and realize it's not your fault and you can find happiness again. Elijah healed her in many ways but I truly think her strength was more powerful then she realized. I don't know what else to say, other then I hope people who go through thing kinda thing don't stay quite tell someone, it'll only fester and make you immensely depressed. Take the steps and get help, your not to blame they are...
September 9, 2014
A.J. Adwen has written yet another wonderful book that I highly recommend for everyone to read. Though it is a touchy subject for some the story was bought together beautifully. I loved the main characters and how they were around for each other through thick and stone. Also seeing how far friendships can take you through a vulnerable time period means a lot too.
June 24, 2015
This book really touched me. I liked how the author wrote about rape and abortion, but yet it was written so beautifully that she didn't force her opinion on anyone. You can find the full review on my blog, I also have a guest post from the author on there.
http://southernbooknerd.blogspot.com/...
http://southernbooknerd.blogspot.com/...
September 14, 2014
Where to start? This was a very emotional read that sucked me in from the beginning. AJ Adwen's writing style sucked me in and I felt all of May's emotions. It was an incredible read that I would highly recommend.
April 10, 2015
An easy read of a traumatic subject.
I love the authors style and prose but it's her approach to the subject that I give her most credit for. Thoughtful and without judgement.
I love the authors style and prose but it's her approach to the subject that I give her most credit for. Thoughtful and without judgement.
December 22, 2022
4.5 stars
The thing about this book is, the thing it really does amazingly well is, neutrality. In a book confronting serious and difficult topics, rape, abortion, reporting sexual assaults, among others, neutrality from a narrative perspective is as necessary as it is hard to achieve. While characters clearly have opinions (religious and otherwise) about these topics, opinions that are strong and many-faceted, the fact that as a reader I never felt preached at or manipulated into valuing one opinion above the others by the narrative is fantastic. This narrative decision (not to mention its exquisite execution) allowed me to feel and question The Choice internally. There was room for me, as a reader, to decide for myself how I felt about the sequence of events, the characters, the choice(es) made. This crafting of space for the reader is finely wrought, and, to my mind, a crucial part of why this story is so captivating and so compelling. Had it demonstrated a clear stance on the issues, had it attempted to sway, cajole, lure, or lecture me, the alienation would have been absolute, immediate, and irreversible.
Of course there is more than just this narrative choice that lends itself to enjoyment of this book. The characters, and the relationships between the characters, have dimension and realism, particularly in the flaws that are revealed in the individuals as the story moves along. In addition to the crafted neutrality, the writing is crisp, well-paced, and often quite lyrical, making for a very comfortable and engaging read. This book would make an excellent required reading text for for middle and high school age kids learning about consent, though it is a wonderful read for all.
In short, I heartily recommend this book!
The thing about this book is, the thing it really does amazingly well is, neutrality. In a book confronting serious and difficult topics, rape, abortion, reporting sexual assaults, among others, neutrality from a narrative perspective is as necessary as it is hard to achieve. While characters clearly have opinions (religious and otherwise) about these topics, opinions that are strong and many-faceted, the fact that as a reader I never felt preached at or manipulated into valuing one opinion above the others by the narrative is fantastic. This narrative decision (not to mention its exquisite execution) allowed me to feel and question The Choice internally. There was room for me, as a reader, to decide for myself how I felt about the sequence of events, the characters, the choice(es) made. This crafting of space for the reader is finely wrought, and, to my mind, a crucial part of why this story is so captivating and so compelling. Had it demonstrated a clear stance on the issues, had it attempted to sway, cajole, lure, or lecture me, the alienation would have been absolute, immediate, and irreversible.
Of course there is more than just this narrative choice that lends itself to enjoyment of this book. The characters, and the relationships between the characters, have dimension and realism, particularly in the flaws that are revealed in the individuals as the story moves along. In addition to the crafted neutrality, the writing is crisp, well-paced, and often quite lyrical, making for a very comfortable and engaging read. This book would make an excellent required reading text for for middle and high school age kids learning about consent, though it is a wonderful read for all.
In short, I heartily recommend this book!
January 22, 2015
* There was no way to write this review without having spoilers in it. So please beware... They are spoilers in my review!!*
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This book was a tough one. It deals with pretty heavy situations.
This book brought out a lot of emotions in me while reading it.
Lots of opinions will be flying around with this book. That's for sure.
Everyone is so divided on these two topics. And everyone has an opinion about it!
Huhhh...
All I can say is...
It's a personal choice....
What a person feels like they have to do in order for them to move on and move forward with their lives.
OK...I'm 100% pro choice...
Reading how everyone acted in this book was super tough for me. Because even though the author tried to be impartial with the whole abortion situation in this book... I felt this book was all a bit one sided. I didn't care for it at all.
Everyone told May that it was her decision to make.
but... They ALL felt she should keep the child. And when she did make her decision... They were just so damn upset with her. (I wish May would have spoke up for herself)
It's difficult to say what one would do in May's situation.
The name of this book really is very fitting. Everyone has a choice they can go either way. You can either tell someone or keep it bottled up.
I personally have never been in May situation. I can say what I think I would do if something like that would have happened to me.
My choice would have been to tell someone that night. Not hide it away.
But everyone processes things differently. They have their own way of dealing with major events that happens in their life's.
Do I think May handled things right for herself.
Hmmm.... I don't know...
The way I see it.. Why tear yourself up over someone else's actions. I felt like she should have said something the day it happened...
Then she would have had all the evidence the police would have needed to prosecute Tyler. Plus the party would have still been going on if she would have said something that night. And that would have been more evidence for May.
I really felt May had a prefect opportunity to tell her parents what had happened to her at the party when they found out about her condition.
I don't think her parents would have been upset with her. Especially her dad. He would have been by her side right from the beginning.
The fact that she didn't open her mouth...was extremely frustrating.
What also frustrated me was how nothing happens to Tyler! Nothing at all. And I think if the author was going to write about The consequences of having an abortion that she should have written about the consequences of raping a person. That whole thing I felt was just brushed on by.... Like nothing.
I didn't like that at all.
Elijah was such a good guy. I loved him. He was so patient and understanding with May. He truly came into her life when she really need someone. And I felt that she helped him just as much as he helped her. His story was just so sad.
Chapters 29 and on... It all seems a little rushed... 6 months past in one chapter... Then four years past in another. I didn't like that.
It also felt A little chaotic with what happened to her friend Addison. With everything going on in this book... It just seemed like too much.
I wasn't really feeling the whole past and present thing going on in this book. It was messing up the flow for me.
And...
This book seemed a bit one sided in the whole pro choice... Pro life debate. I WISH it would have been a little bit more even. I felt everyone kept pushing her one way.
I think everyone has a right to make their own decision with their own body. We all don't have to like the decision... We just have to respect it.
Overall.. This book was very heartbreaking. I felt for May and everything she had to go through.
I personally think she made the right decision. But that's just my opinion.
The writing in this book was good... The book flowed nicely. I was hooked from the first page.
But... I was mostly upset with how things went down in this book.
**ARC provided by author for an honest review*
-Michelle
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This book was a tough one. It deals with pretty heavy situations.
This book brought out a lot of emotions in me while reading it.
Lots of opinions will be flying around with this book. That's for sure.
Everyone is so divided on these two topics. And everyone has an opinion about it!
Huhhh...
All I can say is...
It's a personal choice....
What a person feels like they have to do in order for them to move on and move forward with their lives.
OK...I'm 100% pro choice...
Reading how everyone acted in this book was super tough for me. Because even though the author tried to be impartial with the whole abortion situation in this book... I felt this book was all a bit one sided. I didn't care for it at all.
Everyone told May that it was her decision to make.
but... They ALL felt she should keep the child. And when she did make her decision... They were just so damn upset with her. (I wish May would have spoke up for herself)
It's difficult to say what one would do in May's situation.
The name of this book really is very fitting. Everyone has a choice they can go either way. You can either tell someone or keep it bottled up.
I personally have never been in May situation. I can say what I think I would do if something like that would have happened to me.
My choice would have been to tell someone that night. Not hide it away.
But everyone processes things differently. They have their own way of dealing with major events that happens in their life's.
Do I think May handled things right for herself.
Hmmm.... I don't know...
The way I see it.. Why tear yourself up over someone else's actions. I felt like she should have said something the day it happened...
Then she would have had all the evidence the police would have needed to prosecute Tyler. Plus the party would have still been going on if she would have said something that night. And that would have been more evidence for May.
I really felt May had a prefect opportunity to tell her parents what had happened to her at the party when they found out about her condition.
I don't think her parents would have been upset with her. Especially her dad. He would have been by her side right from the beginning.
The fact that she didn't open her mouth...was extremely frustrating.
What also frustrated me was how nothing happens to Tyler! Nothing at all. And I think if the author was going to write about The consequences of having an abortion that she should have written about the consequences of raping a person. That whole thing I felt was just brushed on by.... Like nothing.
I didn't like that at all.
Elijah was such a good guy. I loved him. He was so patient and understanding with May. He truly came into her life when she really need someone. And I felt that she helped him just as much as he helped her. His story was just so sad.
Chapters 29 and on... It all seems a little rushed... 6 months past in one chapter... Then four years past in another. I didn't like that.
It also felt A little chaotic with what happened to her friend Addison. With everything going on in this book... It just seemed like too much.
I wasn't really feeling the whole past and present thing going on in this book. It was messing up the flow for me.
And...
This book seemed a bit one sided in the whole pro choice... Pro life debate. I WISH it would have been a little bit more even. I felt everyone kept pushing her one way.
I think everyone has a right to make their own decision with their own body. We all don't have to like the decision... We just have to respect it.
Overall.. This book was very heartbreaking. I felt for May and everything she had to go through.
I personally think she made the right decision. But that's just my opinion.
The writing in this book was good... The book flowed nicely. I was hooked from the first page.
But... I was mostly upset with how things went down in this book.
**ARC provided by author for an honest review*
-Michelle
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2015
I found this book really struck a personal cord with me; the message was universal and applies to every breathing soul no matter what event tried to bring you to your knees. Are you a bird or a fish? Simple question really, do you swim on the ocean floor with the mass and hope to stay invisible or do you soar in the sky, willing to find your way solo, exposing your beauty? That is the question we should all ask ourselves, but the story doesn’t end there. What happens when people, life and events, try to break your wings and make you part of the mass?
May had to face that question and fight for her answer. Her parents loved her and her little sister Grace but they weren’t there for her. With her father being a surgeon, her mother a lawyer, May was the primary caregiver to her little sister. May was focused, she knew what she wanted for her future, she was going to become a doctor and she was willing to work hard to get there. One night, changed her world. After going to a party that her best friend begged her to attend, she found she was shattered. You can read in the synopsis what happened and what she would face later so I will not rehash that in the review.
Alex is a man who lost everything, his parents, and grandfather. He had to quit college with his study in music to come back to a small town he never wanted to return to so he could run his grandfather’s book store. His story plays a vital role in this plot, life has tried to defeat him, but he refuses to allow the death and evil, the mistakes by others and the dark emotions that come, change his perception on life. He will do the best he can with what he has and find a way to be happy and strong. Everything that happens has a purpose, but only you can make everything have a positive purpose in your life. He is going to take May and care about her, love her and value her. He will know her story, he will know the choices she will make but he will support her and help her never lose sight of the bird she once was and the beauty she could now be. After a traumatic event, we can never go back to the person we use to be but that doesn’t mean we can’t still succeed and find our new way out of the darkness.
So many things in this book flew from the pages and wrapped around my soul. I think the biggest message I received was no one can heal you just as you can’t heal anyone else. Alex gave May a safe place to fall, even a few bandages to use, but the actual healing from what happened to her had to come from within herself. The world around her needed to change, but she was only responsible for changing herself. She needed to forgive herself, allow her mind to rest and most of all accept that she deserved to be happy again and heal. May will find that there are more dramatic losses in her life coming but she will slowly discover she is strong enough to endure it.
There are times in life when a reader is struggling with something personal. They grab a book to escape and find that their escape has soon become their circle of healing. I can see this book doing that for thousands of readers, both male and female. In a world that tries to break the wings of the bird in our souls, we can see that we are not alone. We also can learn it is ok to be a fish among the masses, as long as that is what we were meant to be and we find our own place and purpose among the group. While the main topic in this book is a very sensitive one, the author did a brilliant job at approaching each event with a great deal of respect and grace. I can see where the emotions and events could be triggering to survivors, please know the author did NOT go into graphic detail nor did she sensationalize the topic to make an impact. She exposed the emotions that are left among the broken soul. She could be heard in the winds that placed the pieces back together again. She became the voice to those silent victims who refuse to talk about it. I highly recommend this book; it touched my heart and will be read over and over again by myself in the future.
May had to face that question and fight for her answer. Her parents loved her and her little sister Grace but they weren’t there for her. With her father being a surgeon, her mother a lawyer, May was the primary caregiver to her little sister. May was focused, she knew what she wanted for her future, she was going to become a doctor and she was willing to work hard to get there. One night, changed her world. After going to a party that her best friend begged her to attend, she found she was shattered. You can read in the synopsis what happened and what she would face later so I will not rehash that in the review.
Alex is a man who lost everything, his parents, and grandfather. He had to quit college with his study in music to come back to a small town he never wanted to return to so he could run his grandfather’s book store. His story plays a vital role in this plot, life has tried to defeat him, but he refuses to allow the death and evil, the mistakes by others and the dark emotions that come, change his perception on life. He will do the best he can with what he has and find a way to be happy and strong. Everything that happens has a purpose, but only you can make everything have a positive purpose in your life. He is going to take May and care about her, love her and value her. He will know her story, he will know the choices she will make but he will support her and help her never lose sight of the bird she once was and the beauty she could now be. After a traumatic event, we can never go back to the person we use to be but that doesn’t mean we can’t still succeed and find our new way out of the darkness.
So many things in this book flew from the pages and wrapped around my soul. I think the biggest message I received was no one can heal you just as you can’t heal anyone else. Alex gave May a safe place to fall, even a few bandages to use, but the actual healing from what happened to her had to come from within herself. The world around her needed to change, but she was only responsible for changing herself. She needed to forgive herself, allow her mind to rest and most of all accept that she deserved to be happy again and heal. May will find that there are more dramatic losses in her life coming but she will slowly discover she is strong enough to endure it.
There are times in life when a reader is struggling with something personal. They grab a book to escape and find that their escape has soon become their circle of healing. I can see this book doing that for thousands of readers, both male and female. In a world that tries to break the wings of the bird in our souls, we can see that we are not alone. We also can learn it is ok to be a fish among the masses, as long as that is what we were meant to be and we find our own place and purpose among the group. While the main topic in this book is a very sensitive one, the author did a brilliant job at approaching each event with a great deal of respect and grace. I can see where the emotions and events could be triggering to survivors, please know the author did NOT go into graphic detail nor did she sensationalize the topic to make an impact. She exposed the emotions that are left among the broken soul. She could be heard in the winds that placed the pieces back together again. She became the voice to those silent victims who refuse to talk about it. I highly recommend this book; it touched my heart and will be read over and over again by myself in the future.
January 24, 2015
So, I want to go ahead and mention that this book not only contains rape triggers, but it also discusses the definitely heavy topic of abortion, as well as Depression and Anxiety.
May is in the beginning of her senior year of high school when the unthinkable happens - she is raped. From this point, the story is about May learning to admit to herself that she was raped, learning to trust others again, and also making some big decisions regarding her body and her future. That all sounds so simple on a page or in a sentence, but May really struggles with each of these areas. To begin with, May is not a party girl. She didn't go to parties, normally, and was actually only at this particular party to make sure something similar did not happen to a friend of hers. May is actually pretty reserved and pretty focused, or I should say pre-May was both of those things. Post-May is a little different.
Post-May struggles. She struggles with getting out of bed; she struggles with eating; she struggles with looking anyone in the face. She has never had a lot of support from her parents, which was very difficult for me to see unfold. Her dad, who is a physician, is so busy and overworked that he does not see some pretty obvious signs. Her mom seems to have checked out, or maybe never checked in, years ago. And May's sister, Grace, is probably dealing with some serious Anxiety, herself, so she is not much of a rock for May, as well as being younger.
Instead, May receives most of her support from her friend Addison, as well as Alex, the new guy in town that comes on scene right after the party. As a woman and as a parent, it was so difficult to watch May struggle so much in silence and on her own. She did not tell anyone, she did not report the guy, and she did not take basic care of herself afterwards. I know that many women make these same decisions - out of fear, out of self-loathing, out of self-blame, guilt, etc, but that did not make it any easier to watch May experience it. I would like to think that it could have been different for her if she had more support at home, but we won't ever really know. All the burden for supporting her and trying to help her through it fell on the shoulders of two other 17 or 18 year old girls and one lonely 20 year old male.
For the most part, this is a good read. It's not an easy read, and it may make you extremely frustrated or angry. It may break your heart, and it may also make you realize that you can't take life for granted. There were a few things that I noticed that could maybe make the story tighter or possibly more fleshed out. At the end, May's parents all of a sudden seem involved and seem to care - which may be understandable once they realize what has happened. It felt inconsistent, though, because I was sort of picturing them as unfeeling and uncaring, rather than just absentmindedly forgetful, or something. May's mom, for instance, seemed pretty cold, and then, suddenly, she tells May she loved her too much when she was younger. The other aspect that would add depth to the story is maybe fleshing out May and Addison's friendship, as well as May and Alex's. We are told about things more than getting to experience it. Otherwise, prepare for a somewhat heartbreaking ride.
May is in the beginning of her senior year of high school when the unthinkable happens - she is raped. From this point, the story is about May learning to admit to herself that she was raped, learning to trust others again, and also making some big decisions regarding her body and her future. That all sounds so simple on a page or in a sentence, but May really struggles with each of these areas. To begin with, May is not a party girl. She didn't go to parties, normally, and was actually only at this particular party to make sure something similar did not happen to a friend of hers. May is actually pretty reserved and pretty focused, or I should say pre-May was both of those things. Post-May is a little different.
Post-May struggles. She struggles with getting out of bed; she struggles with eating; she struggles with looking anyone in the face. She has never had a lot of support from her parents, which was very difficult for me to see unfold. Her dad, who is a physician, is so busy and overworked that he does not see some pretty obvious signs. Her mom seems to have checked out, or maybe never checked in, years ago. And May's sister, Grace, is probably dealing with some serious Anxiety, herself, so she is not much of a rock for May, as well as being younger.
Instead, May receives most of her support from her friend Addison, as well as Alex, the new guy in town that comes on scene right after the party. As a woman and as a parent, it was so difficult to watch May struggle so much in silence and on her own. She did not tell anyone, she did not report the guy, and she did not take basic care of herself afterwards. I know that many women make these same decisions - out of fear, out of self-loathing, out of self-blame, guilt, etc, but that did not make it any easier to watch May experience it. I would like to think that it could have been different for her if she had more support at home, but we won't ever really know. All the burden for supporting her and trying to help her through it fell on the shoulders of two other 17 or 18 year old girls and one lonely 20 year old male.
For the most part, this is a good read. It's not an easy read, and it may make you extremely frustrated or angry. It may break your heart, and it may also make you realize that you can't take life for granted. There were a few things that I noticed that could maybe make the story tighter or possibly more fleshed out. At the end, May's parents all of a sudden seem involved and seem to care - which may be understandable once they realize what has happened. It felt inconsistent, though, because I was sort of picturing them as unfeeling and uncaring, rather than just absentmindedly forgetful, or something. May's mom, for instance, seemed pretty cold, and then, suddenly, she tells May she loved her too much when she was younger. The other aspect that would add depth to the story is maybe fleshing out May and Addison's friendship, as well as May and Alex's. We are told about things more than getting to experience it. Otherwise, prepare for a somewhat heartbreaking ride.
January 30, 2015
So, I want to go ahead and mention that this book not only contains rape triggers, but it also discusses the definitely heavy topic of abortion, as well as Depression and Anxiety.
May is in the beginning of her senior year of high school when the unthinkable happens - she is raped. From this point, the story is about May learning to admit to herself that she was raped, learning to trust others again, and also making some big decisions regarding her body and her future. That all sounds so simple on a page or in a sentence, but May really struggles with each of these areas. To begin with, May is not a party girl. She didn't go to parties, normally, and was actually only at this particular party to make sure something similar did not happen to a friend of hers. May is actually pretty reserved and pretty focused, or I should say pre-May was both of those things. Post-May is a little different.
Post-May struggles. She struggles with getting out of bed; she struggles with eating; she struggles with looking anyone in the face. She has never had a lot of support from her parents, which was very difficult for me to see unfold. Her dad, who is a physician, is so busy and overworked that he does not see some pretty obvious signs. Her mom seems to have checked out, or maybe never checked in, years ago. And May's sister, Grace, is probably dealing with some serious Anxiety, herself, so she is not much of a rock for May, as well as being younger.
Instead, May receives most of her support from her friend Addison, as well as Alex, the new guy in town that comes on scene right after the party. As a woman and as a parent, it was so difficult to watch May struggle so much in silence and on her own. She did not tell anyone, she did not report the guy, and she did not take basic care of herself afterwards. I know that many women make these same decisions - out of fear, out of self-loathing, out of self-blame, guilt, etc, but that did not make it any easier to watch May experience it. I would like to think that it could have been different for her if she had more support at home, but we won't ever really know. All the burden for supporting her and trying to help her through it fell on the shoulders of two other 17 or 18 year old girls and one lonely 20 year old male.
For the most part, this is a good read. It's not an easy read, and it may make you extremely frustrated or angry. It may break your heart, and it may also make you realize that you can't take life for granted. There were a few things that I noticed that could maybe make the story tighter or possibly more fleshed out. At the end, May's parents all of a sudden seem involved and seem to care - which may be understandable once they realize what has happened. It felt inconsistent, though, because I was sort of picturing them as unfeeling and uncaring, rather than just absentmindedly forgetful, or something. May's mom, for instance, seemed pretty cold, and then, suddenly, she tells May she loved her too much when she was younger. The other aspect that would add depth to the story is maybe fleshing out May and Addison's friendship, as well as May and Alex's. We are told about things more than getting to experience it. Otherwise, prepare for a somewhat heartbreaking ride.
Jessica
May is in the beginning of her senior year of high school when the unthinkable happens - she is raped. From this point, the story is about May learning to admit to herself that she was raped, learning to trust others again, and also making some big decisions regarding her body and her future. That all sounds so simple on a page or in a sentence, but May really struggles with each of these areas. To begin with, May is not a party girl. She didn't go to parties, normally, and was actually only at this particular party to make sure something similar did not happen to a friend of hers. May is actually pretty reserved and pretty focused, or I should say pre-May was both of those things. Post-May is a little different.
Post-May struggles. She struggles with getting out of bed; she struggles with eating; she struggles with looking anyone in the face. She has never had a lot of support from her parents, which was very difficult for me to see unfold. Her dad, who is a physician, is so busy and overworked that he does not see some pretty obvious signs. Her mom seems to have checked out, or maybe never checked in, years ago. And May's sister, Grace, is probably dealing with some serious Anxiety, herself, so she is not much of a rock for May, as well as being younger.
Instead, May receives most of her support from her friend Addison, as well as Alex, the new guy in town that comes on scene right after the party. As a woman and as a parent, it was so difficult to watch May struggle so much in silence and on her own. She did not tell anyone, she did not report the guy, and she did not take basic care of herself afterwards. I know that many women make these same decisions - out of fear, out of self-loathing, out of self-blame, guilt, etc, but that did not make it any easier to watch May experience it. I would like to think that it could have been different for her if she had more support at home, but we won't ever really know. All the burden for supporting her and trying to help her through it fell on the shoulders of two other 17 or 18 year old girls and one lonely 20 year old male.
For the most part, this is a good read. It's not an easy read, and it may make you extremely frustrated or angry. It may break your heart, and it may also make you realize that you can't take life for granted. There were a few things that I noticed that could maybe make the story tighter or possibly more fleshed out. At the end, May's parents all of a sudden seem involved and seem to care - which may be understandable once they realize what has happened. It felt inconsistent, though, because I was sort of picturing them as unfeeling and uncaring, rather than just absentmindedly forgetful, or something. May's mom, for instance, seemed pretty cold, and then, suddenly, she tells May she loved her too much when she was younger. The other aspect that would add depth to the story is maybe fleshing out May and Addison's friendship, as well as May and Alex's. We are told about things more than getting to experience it. Otherwise, prepare for a somewhat heartbreaking ride.
Jessica
July 3, 2015
Many thanks to Booktrope, via NetGalley, for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
3.5
This book was a hard one for me to read -- and probably a hard one for Kennedy to write -- because rape is a tough topic to write about. Although it reads fairly quickly, due to the subject matter, I found that I had to read only small bits at a time.
As aforementioned, I know that rape is a tough topic to write about -- but it's even more difficult to write about it in a sensitive, non-judgmental way. I admire Kennedy for being able to accomplish this. I also admire her for two other reasons -- first, because this novel was based partially on her personal experiences, and she explains this in the author Q&A at the end of the novel. That's a hard thing to put out there. And the second is that she makes it clear, at both the beginning of the novel and in the Q&A section at the end, that in writing this book in the way she did, she is not trying to sway her readers in one direction or the other, regarding such questions as "should I stay silent if I get raped? should I tell? if I get pregnant, should I abort? should I not?" that are raised throughout the book.
I did enjoy this book. However, the reason that I am giving this book a slightly lower rating that I would otherwise is because yes, although it was a realistic story of a girl getting raped, and having to make decisions that she wouldn't have had to otherwise -- it was not an empowering story.
One thing I really liked about the relationship between May and Alex is how utterly honest with herself that May was. She realized that she was looking to Alex to be her savior -- to fix her, to put her back together after the rape. And she knew that that was what she was doing, and she had the wisdom to let Alex know. Granted, that does seem a little wise beyond her years, since May is 17 for most of The Choice, but far be it from me to say that 17 year olds can't be wise beyond their years at times. :)
Definitely would recommend, but I would want the readers to be aware of the things I've pointed out in this review. This is not a cheerful book. It's a book about surviving a horrific event that really never should happen to anyone -- in a perfect world. There are probably a lot of people who can relate to May's situation, who are her age and/or younger (and also older). Well done, Ms. Kennedy, for being willing to write about such a harsh topic in an honest, yet gentle, manner.
3.5
This book was a hard one for me to read -- and probably a hard one for Kennedy to write -- because rape is a tough topic to write about. Although it reads fairly quickly, due to the subject matter, I found that I had to read only small bits at a time.
As aforementioned, I know that rape is a tough topic to write about -- but it's even more difficult to write about it in a sensitive, non-judgmental way. I admire Kennedy for being able to accomplish this. I also admire her for two other reasons -- first, because this novel was based partially on her personal experiences, and she explains this in the author Q&A at the end of the novel. That's a hard thing to put out there. And the second is that she makes it clear, at both the beginning of the novel and in the Q&A section at the end, that in writing this book in the way she did, she is not trying to sway her readers in one direction or the other, regarding such questions as "should I stay silent if I get raped? should I tell? if I get pregnant, should I abort? should I not?" that are raised throughout the book.
I did enjoy this book. However, the reason that I am giving this book a slightly lower rating that I would otherwise is because yes, although it was a realistic story of a girl getting raped, and having to make decisions that she wouldn't have had to otherwise -- it was not an empowering story.
One thing I really liked about the relationship between May and Alex is how utterly honest with herself that May was. She realized that she was looking to Alex to be her savior -- to fix her, to put her back together after the rape. And she knew that that was what she was doing, and she had the wisdom to let Alex know. Granted, that does seem a little wise beyond her years, since May is 17 for most of The Choice, but far be it from me to say that 17 year olds can't be wise beyond their years at times. :)
Definitely would recommend, but I would want the readers to be aware of the things I've pointed out in this review. This is not a cheerful book. It's a book about surviving a horrific event that really never should happen to anyone -- in a perfect world. There are probably a lot of people who can relate to May's situation, who are her age and/or younger (and also older). Well done, Ms. Kennedy, for being willing to write about such a harsh topic in an honest, yet gentle, manner.
July 29, 2015
I’ve recently gotten myself into a bit of a realistic/contemporary fiction obsession. Where I once filled my shelves and wish lists with the newest Dystopian/Scifi/Fantasy/Paranormal novels, I’m now starting to find myself drawn to these realistic novels with real-world problems and tearjerking moments (not to say that I’m done with the other genres!)
I received a copy of The Choice from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I started it on Friday, and I finished it very early Sunday morning, after taking a day off from reading on Saturday.
Without further ado, my spoiler-free review!
From the description, you can see that this isn’t a cute, breezy summer love story. This is a raw, real novel, with pain and angst, but also hope, painting the pages. Allison J. Kennedy did a great job of creating two amazing characters, May, our protagonist, and Alex, a new friend of May’s who helps her deal with her pain. Both of the characters are well rounded, and I’m so glad that they’re able to be there for each other throughout the novel.
I do have a few criticisms, mainly of the other characters. We don’t really understand much about May’s mother as an actual person until near the end on the novel, when she and May have a talk. Grace, May’s little sister, is very similar to their mother, and she’s a bit unlikable because of how little she’s characterized. May’s friends, Addison and Danika, are pretty much just the supportive friends, but they do drive the plot forward, each in their own ways. Danika leads May to pain, and in the end, Addison leads her (partially) from it.
Back to the plot, there was actually one moment in the book that had me EXTREMELY happy, even with the awful things going on in May’s life. I’m sure that when you get to that point, you’ll get know why I I felt the way I did. I don’t want to give it away, but that simple line was enough to make everything a little better.
Now, be warned, this book isn’t for everyone. There are difficult subjects in this, such as rape and other potentially triggering subjects. Still, I feel that even survivors of such traumas could find light in this book, especially in the last few chapters, in which you see the turnaround for the better in May’s life. The last chapter, and the ending specifically, was especially empowering.
All in all, this was a harrowing, powerful read that I feel that a lot of people need to read. This isn’t a read just for girls, either. I feel that guys should also read this, so that they can understand that the choices they make in regards to sexual assault can have a huge effect on someone else’s life. This book is called The Choice, and shows just how crucial the choices we make in life can be.
I received a copy of The Choice from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I started it on Friday, and I finished it very early Sunday morning, after taking a day off from reading on Saturday.
Without further ado, my spoiler-free review!
From the description, you can see that this isn’t a cute, breezy summer love story. This is a raw, real novel, with pain and angst, but also hope, painting the pages. Allison J. Kennedy did a great job of creating two amazing characters, May, our protagonist, and Alex, a new friend of May’s who helps her deal with her pain. Both of the characters are well rounded, and I’m so glad that they’re able to be there for each other throughout the novel.
I do have a few criticisms, mainly of the other characters. We don’t really understand much about May’s mother as an actual person until near the end on the novel, when she and May have a talk. Grace, May’s little sister, is very similar to their mother, and she’s a bit unlikable because of how little she’s characterized. May’s friends, Addison and Danika, are pretty much just the supportive friends, but they do drive the plot forward, each in their own ways. Danika leads May to pain, and in the end, Addison leads her (partially) from it.
Back to the plot, there was actually one moment in the book that had me EXTREMELY happy, even with the awful things going on in May’s life. I’m sure that when you get to that point, you’ll get know why I I felt the way I did. I don’t want to give it away, but that simple line was enough to make everything a little better.
Now, be warned, this book isn’t for everyone. There are difficult subjects in this, such as rape and other potentially triggering subjects. Still, I feel that even survivors of such traumas could find light in this book, especially in the last few chapters, in which you see the turnaround for the better in May’s life. The last chapter, and the ending specifically, was especially empowering.
All in all, this was a harrowing, powerful read that I feel that a lot of people need to read. This isn’t a read just for girls, either. I feel that guys should also read this, so that they can understand that the choices they make in regards to sexual assault can have a huge effect on someone else’s life. This book is called The Choice, and shows just how crucial the choices we make in life can be.
July 1, 2015
My first thought is how amazing and caring Elijah (Alex) is. Throughout the whole book once he is introduced he doesn’t see her May as broken or tainted. He only sees May as May. He sees her possibilities, her kindness and how beautiful she is on the inside. As they grow closer he sees how kind and smart she is. He never pressures her or makes her feel scared or unwanted. There is only kindness, patience and love from Elijah. What is more important is he lets her find her way and supports her the whole time. He doesn’t try to fix her because he knows that she is the only one that can fix herself.
This is a beautiful poignant book. We are privileged to get the past and the present and we see how the past has shaped May’s life. How for some time one act one violent horrible act shaped and changed May. We see how Alex and her friends helped her through this time and how her family was during this time. We see her sister be judgmental and show a side that is ridged and inflexible. We see her dad’s unconditional love and her mother bend a little. We see her deal with the physical and emotional aftermath of so many things. We see how one of May’s friends struggles with a decision May made and how this affected her. We see May have guilt over that as well. But through it all we see Alex her rock be there and support her no matter what. He never got upset when she pushed away or ran, never wavered in his kindness and understanding and was there with open arms when needed.
We the readers are privileged to get this book told from May’s perspective so we get to see how she agonized over decisions. We see how she made decisions and why those decisions were made. We see how loyal she was to her friends and how she felt when this loyalty was tested. We see her anger, her violation and her feeling like a victim. There was no sugarcoating in this book. The emotions are raw and real. Her reactions were in the moment and real. This is a beautiful book. Alex to me is what helps May the most. This relationship seen through May’s eyes blossomed and grew. There was understanding and respect and most of all unconditional love and support. He was there no matter what and May needed that. She needed the safety of his kindness and friendship.
This book is amazing. IT’s raw and real. Emotions will run high as you read the violation that is done to May and the tough decisions that she has to make after this violation. You will cry as you watch May try to put herself back together and smile as Alex helps her and shows her that not everyone is out to hurt her. A poignant journey this book is of a young girl violated and how she gets through it and her decisions that must be made due to that violation and how she comes through in the end with the help of a wonderful boy.
This is a beautiful poignant book. We are privileged to get the past and the present and we see how the past has shaped May’s life. How for some time one act one violent horrible act shaped and changed May. We see how Alex and her friends helped her through this time and how her family was during this time. We see her sister be judgmental and show a side that is ridged and inflexible. We see her dad’s unconditional love and her mother bend a little. We see her deal with the physical and emotional aftermath of so many things. We see how one of May’s friends struggles with a decision May made and how this affected her. We see May have guilt over that as well. But through it all we see Alex her rock be there and support her no matter what. He never got upset when she pushed away or ran, never wavered in his kindness and understanding and was there with open arms when needed.
We the readers are privileged to get this book told from May’s perspective so we get to see how she agonized over decisions. We see how she made decisions and why those decisions were made. We see how loyal she was to her friends and how she felt when this loyalty was tested. We see her anger, her violation and her feeling like a victim. There was no sugarcoating in this book. The emotions are raw and real. Her reactions were in the moment and real. This is a beautiful book. Alex to me is what helps May the most. This relationship seen through May’s eyes blossomed and grew. There was understanding and respect and most of all unconditional love and support. He was there no matter what and May needed that. She needed the safety of his kindness and friendship.
This book is amazing. IT’s raw and real. Emotions will run high as you read the violation that is done to May and the tough decisions that she has to make after this violation. You will cry as you watch May try to put herself back together and smile as Alex helps her and shows her that not everyone is out to hurt her. A poignant journey this book is of a young girl violated and how she gets through it and her decisions that must be made due to that violation and how she comes through in the end with the help of a wonderful boy.
Read
January 18, 2015Strong. Courageous. Brave. Too Young. Those are words I would use to describe the character Allison J. Kennedy has given us in her book The Choice. A Brave young girl faced with a decision I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Sensitive. Kind. Understanding. Perfect Timing. Are the words I would use to describe the boy who doesn't save, but rather helps the girl.
May is a seventeen-year old senior getting her school year in order, excited to start college. She is a bright girl and with a Neurosurgeon father and criminal lawyer mother, it's nothing you wouldn't expect from her. May lives with strict guidelines for her life, following them as to not let anybody down. She is all about school and some slight socializing with her girlfriends. Other than that, May rides her horse with her sister Grace and hangs out at home.
After doing a favor for a friend and going to a party of a classmates, May's life will never be the same.
Trying to move on as best as she can, May starts to turn into a different girl altogether, while hiding her secret. Going through the emotions of self-blame, May is embarrassed to tell anybody as she sees it as her fault. Wrong place at the wrong time, you name the scenario, she's gone through it in her head.
We are now on a journey of survival with May. Every choice she makes will have a rippling effect on her life. With only a few people knowing what is really going on, the decision is mainly hers. May knows what she wants to do deep down in her heart, but the opinion of those few others is always making her doubt her choice.
The one person she see's light in has darkness of his own. After a chance meeting, there is something May feels with this boy that she never thought she would again, comfortable. They share life stories and eventually, even with the dark surrounding them, he's the one to show her light again.
The book is well written and has a Now and Then POV. At first I was a bit confused with the timeline, however when things starting to click it was an "Ah ha" moment and I actually got a bit giddy. Allison J. Kennedy gave us a handful of complex characters that you loved and hated at the drop of a dime. The Choice is about exactly that, the choice of a young girl and how it impacts the rest of her life. It is a stand alone book that wraps up with a nice epilogue.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog
May is a seventeen-year old senior getting her school year in order, excited to start college. She is a bright girl and with a Neurosurgeon father and criminal lawyer mother, it's nothing you wouldn't expect from her. May lives with strict guidelines for her life, following them as to not let anybody down. She is all about school and some slight socializing with her girlfriends. Other than that, May rides her horse with her sister Grace and hangs out at home.
After doing a favor for a friend and going to a party of a classmates, May's life will never be the same.
Trying to move on as best as she can, May starts to turn into a different girl altogether, while hiding her secret. Going through the emotions of self-blame, May is embarrassed to tell anybody as she sees it as her fault. Wrong place at the wrong time, you name the scenario, she's gone through it in her head.
We are now on a journey of survival with May. Every choice she makes will have a rippling effect on her life. With only a few people knowing what is really going on, the decision is mainly hers. May knows what she wants to do deep down in her heart, but the opinion of those few others is always making her doubt her choice.
The one person she see's light in has darkness of his own. After a chance meeting, there is something May feels with this boy that she never thought she would again, comfortable. They share life stories and eventually, even with the dark surrounding them, he's the one to show her light again.
The book is well written and has a Now and Then POV. At first I was a bit confused with the timeline, however when things starting to click it was an "Ah ha" moment and I actually got a bit giddy. Allison J. Kennedy gave us a handful of complex characters that you loved and hated at the drop of a dime. The Choice is about exactly that, the choice of a young girl and how it impacts the rest of her life. It is a stand alone book that wraps up with a nice epilogue.
Reviewed for Renee Entress's Blog
June 4, 2015
I found this to be a fast and compelling read. At first I wasn't all that sure what the point of the "now" chapters were - every so often we'd get a few pages set a few years after the rape and they just seemed kind of irrelevant.
April 14, 2016
I was a little bit apprehensive going into 'The Choice', because rape is such a sensitive issue. Sometimes authors just don't deal with it properly, and it comes off as cheap and unemotional - just a gimmick to sell more copies of their novel - but I'm happy to say that the topic is not used like that at all in this novel.
We follow May, from the night before the party where she gets raped to a place four years down the line from the incident. The rape occurs at the very start of the novel, just two or three chapters in, so we don't get to know her character at all beforehand; our perspective of her is only shaped after the life-changing event that turns her world upside down. This does mean that some of the scenes where she's reminiscing over the loss of her old self and the change of her personality aren't as effective as they could have been if her back story had been developed a bit more before. On the other hand, the emotion following the rape is so raw and realistic - the imagery is heart-breakingly powerful - that you can't help but empathise for her character, even if you didn't know her before.
Despite the fact that the book focused on such dark and serious subject matter, I really did find myself enjoying Allison J. Kennedy's writing style.
Read the rest of my review here!
We follow May, from the night before the party where she gets raped to a place four years down the line from the incident. The rape occurs at the very start of the novel, just two or three chapters in, so we don't get to know her character at all beforehand; our perspective of her is only shaped after the life-changing event that turns her world upside down. This does mean that some of the scenes where she's reminiscing over the loss of her old self and the change of her personality aren't as effective as they could have been if her back story had been developed a bit more before. On the other hand, the emotion following the rape is so raw and realistic - the imagery is heart-breakingly powerful - that you can't help but empathise for her character, even if you didn't know her before.
Despite the fact that the book focused on such dark and serious subject matter, I really did find myself enjoying Allison J. Kennedy's writing style.
Read the rest of my review here!
January 22, 2015
4.25 Stars!
This was such a different book. I did not know what to expect when I started this book, going in rather blind but I quickly caught on and was taken on an emotional journey. This book will make you feel emotions. This book will make you look at life a little differently. This book will show that with every choice in life there is a consequence.
This is May's journey. May is just a young girl excited for college. She lives in a structured environment and has a few close friends. Her life is mapped out. What May doesn't know is that her life is going to be altered in a very big way with one decision. Now lost, scared, and alone May faces tough choices that will impact her life in many ways. Flipping from the past to the present, get ready for May's journey in life. It will tear and shred you, but I promise you will be put back together.
This book really touched on some very sensitive subjects. This book should be read with cautions as it could be considered a trigger. With that, thoroughly enjoyed this book. This author took a leap with this subject but truly showed in a survival way. She showed the aftermath of it.
I recommend this book.
Review Post---> http://reneeentress.blogspot.com/2015...
This was such a different book. I did not know what to expect when I started this book, going in rather blind but I quickly caught on and was taken on an emotional journey. This book will make you feel emotions. This book will make you look at life a little differently. This book will show that with every choice in life there is a consequence.
This is May's journey. May is just a young girl excited for college. She lives in a structured environment and has a few close friends. Her life is mapped out. What May doesn't know is that her life is going to be altered in a very big way with one decision. Now lost, scared, and alone May faces tough choices that will impact her life in many ways. Flipping from the past to the present, get ready for May's journey in life. It will tear and shred you, but I promise you will be put back together.
This book really touched on some very sensitive subjects. This book should be read with cautions as it could be considered a trigger. With that, thoroughly enjoyed this book. This author took a leap with this subject but truly showed in a survival way. She showed the aftermath of it.
I recommend this book.
Review Post---> http://reneeentress.blogspot.com/2015...
January 4, 2015
I just finished The Choice and man, what a read. This story has a lot going for it. It does deal with sensitive things so keep that in mind while you read it. Its not easy but it had to be done in this way for a reason. I give kudos to the author for taking rape and turning it into an enjoyable read, so not saying rape is enjoyable because it is totally not but what I mean is, its about the characters and we get to read from start to finish with rape and it turns into a beautiful story.
I didnt want to put this story down. I felt myself in Mays shoes, from being happy to anxious to being upset, denial, blameful. The choices that she makes are hard and we all can say that we would do things differently but we will never know or at least I hope and pray to God that we do not ever have to go through what she did.
One of the things I loved about this story the most is the now and then parts. Going from past to present is hard to do when you need to keep up with the story line and the author did an amazing job with that. She should be very proud!
Story 5
Sex 1
Overall 5
Reviewed by Beggin from Mommys a Book Whore
I didnt want to put this story down. I felt myself in Mays shoes, from being happy to anxious to being upset, denial, blameful. The choices that she makes are hard and we all can say that we would do things differently but we will never know or at least I hope and pray to God that we do not ever have to go through what she did.
One of the things I loved about this story the most is the now and then parts. Going from past to present is hard to do when you need to keep up with the story line and the author did an amazing job with that. She should be very proud!
Story 5
Sex 1
Overall 5
Reviewed by Beggin from Mommys a Book Whore
June 20, 2015
No matter how many books I read that deal with the subject of rape it's always gut-wrenching to imagine and comprehend such an awful situation, and the agony it inflicts on the victim. Always. On that note, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who finds the topic of rape or abortion intolerable.
The Choice is a fast-paced and absorbing story about a girl named May who is raped at a party and struggles to cope with the aftermath, naturally. Frankly, I thought the choices she made throughout the book were horrendous. *Sigh* Even though the main character is frustrating as hell, I thought The Choice was pretty good. If anything, it kept me on my toes.
The Choice is a fast-paced and absorbing story about a girl named May who is raped at a party and struggles to cope with the aftermath, naturally. Frankly, I thought the choices she made throughout the book were horrendous. *Sigh* Even though the main character is frustrating as hell, I thought The Choice was pretty good. If anything, it kept me on my toes.
August 17, 2015
The author tackles the emotionally charged topic of rape & abortion with love, compassion, incredible insights, understanding, and without judgements.
It's painful and heartbreaking but it grabs you. An extraordinary, beautifully written story and one I will not soon forget, long after reading the last page.
The author included an interview at the end of the book where she spoke about writing to heal. The entire interview is a must read!
A brief example of what she said, "I wrote this book because at least some of it is based on personal experience.........." "I write to process things. My "choice" has been processing for many years, and in writing this book, I did feel myself beginning to heal."........"this was just a stepping-stone to that healing."
As I was reading the interview it confirmed what I had been feeling while reading this story. Only someone who had some personal experience/insight with the topics would be capable of writing this profound novel.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
It's painful and heartbreaking but it grabs you. An extraordinary, beautifully written story and one I will not soon forget, long after reading the last page.
The author included an interview at the end of the book where she spoke about writing to heal. The entire interview is a must read!
A brief example of what she said, "I wrote this book because at least some of it is based on personal experience.........." "I write to process things. My "choice" has been processing for many years, and in writing this book, I did feel myself beginning to heal."........"this was just a stepping-stone to that healing."
As I was reading the interview it confirmed what I had been feeling while reading this story. Only someone who had some personal experience/insight with the topics would be capable of writing this profound novel.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 19, 2015
MY REVIEW
The Choice is a emotional thought provoking journey about a girl who has a horrible crime committed against her at a party, and the aftermath of this event how it affects her life, that of her friends and family and her future.
I just love the way this book was written, we go from now to then throughout the story so we see glimpses of the past and the present. For such a touchy subject this story was put together beautifully and so full of compassion and emotions, it is breathtakingly real.
The Choice contains the hard subject of rape but it is much more than that, this is also a love story.
I loved the main characters and the friendships that Addison and May had a true unconditional friendship to the end.
The relationship/friendship that built so beautifully between Alex and May is wonderful understanding, it's turns out to be a healing partnership developing between May and Alex.
This book is a five star read just beautiful.
The Choice is a emotional thought provoking journey about a girl who has a horrible crime committed against her at a party, and the aftermath of this event how it affects her life, that of her friends and family and her future.
I just love the way this book was written, we go from now to then throughout the story so we see glimpses of the past and the present. For such a touchy subject this story was put together beautifully and so full of compassion and emotions, it is breathtakingly real.
The Choice contains the hard subject of rape but it is much more than that, this is also a love story.
I loved the main characters and the friendships that Addison and May had a true unconditional friendship to the end.
The relationship/friendship that built so beautifully between Alex and May is wonderful understanding, it's turns out to be a healing partnership developing between May and Alex.
This book is a five star read just beautiful.
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