In Other News

by Dale Robbins

Would you whisper your deepest, darkest secret into the living room of every house in America?

Marlon Woods is the name on the lips of every sensationalist newscaster in the country. The Pine State University sophomore is now known for surviving a horrific sexual assault at the hands of Parker Sullivan, star quarterback and son of a former Washington governor. After vanishing for the summer, school is back in session, and Marlon must endure the ridicule and speculation of his cruel classmates. The trial date is fast approaching, and Parker stands accused of committing the most heinous crime in the university’s history. Every pixel of Marlon’s assault is available at the click of a button, but many questions still remain unanswered. The world is dying to know the truth. Forced to face his biggest fears under the watchful eye of the hungry media, Marlon is ready to show the world he is more than just a headline.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary, LGBT

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2019

About the author

Dale Robbins grew up in small towns across America—from Ohio to Louisiana and back—before settling in Nashville, Tennessee. Inspired by authors like Gillian Flynn and Stephen King, he decided to pursue his lifelong passion for writing. When he isn’t writing, he can be found in the nosebleed seats of a concert, streaming a true crime docuseries, or rewatching Halloween and The Wizard of Oz. Last Thursday is his second novel.

Reviews

[CarolG · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was based on an interesting and timely topic although different from most books in this vein in that the victim and the perpetrator are both male. The book felt like it would appeal more to a younger reader than myself but it was pretty well written and fairly realistic. It also highlighted how social media can affect people's opinions and how much damage it can do. At times, I felt the dialogue was a little contrived but that might just be my perception. I was really confused by the ending when the TV host asked a certain question as I'm not sure what she meant. I re-read that chapter but still can't figure out what she was talking about.

As I said, this is a pretty well written story but there are many instances of verbs and phrases used incorrectly in my opinion and I really wonder what happens during the editing process. In one instance, as a lawyer was approaching someone on the witness stand, the description was that he "wobbled around the floor"; in another instance "his mouth stuck open as he panted like a dog in heat"; in another paragraph Anna "rattled her head". It may be nitpicky but I found it very distracting.

Overall though I'd recommend this book and would probably read another book written by Mr. Robbins.

[Caroline Noe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marlon is the victim of rape, and that's just the beginning of his trauma. In Other News tackles a scourge of the justice system: the treatment of those brave enough to report sexual assault and the reliving of the nightmare through the bullying, disbelief and downright misinformation of others.

Robbins, unusually, has grounded the story from the point of view of the gay male victim, but, as a straight woman, I never felt any alienation or disconnect here, feeling empathy and sympathy for the horrors endured during and after the attack.

The course of media intrusion, social media poison and the weight of statistics against justice should, rightfully, make any reader angry and Robbins manages this feat without ever resorting to being graphic.

For me, at least, it had the sense of being written for a younger audience and would work well as a way to begin the discussion in a college setting.

Not an easy read, but a necessary and timely one.

[Rebecca Crunden]

Hi, I'm Marlon, and I'm sure you've seen my face all over the news. Nice to meet you, and yes, the rumors are true. No, he couldn't talk about it, let alone acknowledge its existence.

This is the first book I've read by Dale Robbins and I'm definitely going to be checking out more!

In Other News reminds me of Speak. The story follows Marlon when he returns to university after his assault is made public without his consent. He finds that not only are rumours swirling about what happened, but some people are downright hostile and blame him. Although the rapist has been kicked out of school, many people hold Marlon accountable. There's a lot of bullying and homophobia directed towards Marlon, but he eventually finds solidarity amongst those who believe him and help him get through the ordeal and ensuing trial.

This is a very raw and realistic tale of how people explain away the actions of rapists and blame the victim. You really feel for Marlon throughout the story.

[Samantha Josefa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was extremely emotional and poignant. Dale approached the topic of male sexual assault and was able to create a story that invokes rage, sadness and compassion for the victims. This should be a must read in all high schools and colleges to begin an open discussion on our justice system, reporting assaults and the outcome of victims lives. READ THIS BOOK!!!

[Kate Smith]

This was book was such an emotional read. It had ups and downs. Although it was not graphic you still knew exactly what this guy went through. It was described so well but without being too graphic.
I really felt for the character and what he had and was going through.
I have a read a few books like this, in terms of the type of audience but haven't read this type of story before.
I didn't like the ending but after reading the author's comments afterwards I completely understood the decision to do this and it made a lot more sense. It added to the story as well and got the author's point across. I also want to know what that character said right at the end of the book.
I enjoyed how strong the main character got throughout the book.
The only problem with this book is it kept resetting to the first page every time I turned on my Kobo which was very frustrating.
It was better than the blurb's description.
Please note I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

[Kasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all honesty, it is really difficult to write a review for this book that will actually do it justice. Despite the pages of notes and thoughts I recorded as I read, it is not easy to formulate them into a coherent review that could possibly demonstrate the greatness of this book to you.

In Other News is a very emotional and realistic story, despite that it is a work of fiction. The story is focused on a young gay man, Marlon, who recently survived being sexually assaulted by a straight male classmate. We follow Marlon as he tries to restabilize his life while dealing with the backlash in response to his bravery by coming forward to name his attacker. Marlon shows us how resilient survivors can be, and more importantly, how survivors are not victims. It is an emotional journey alongside Marlon and his return to school, intense invasions of privacy, aggressive behaviour by his peers, difficulty in developing trust, victim-blaming and public criticism, and the trial. This is a moving roller-coaster of a read, guaranteed to have you experiencing deep and raw emotions. This book will make you question our world and our society.

This book reminded me a little of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. It follows the survivor after a traumatic event and shows us how there are many ways that survivors heal from their trauma. It shows us how our society and peers respond to someone after reporting assault.

Robbins writes in such a way that I felt an actual physical reaction to how Marlon was treated by his classmates. In between wanting to reach through my ereader and shake these people by the shoulders, I had a pit in my stomach as if I could feel Marlon’s stress and anxiety. A horrible part of this is knowing that this isn’t really fiction – people who come forward after an attack will need to deal with how other people will not only not believe them, but judge them, talk about them behind their back, and make their lives hell – attacks, threats, verbal and/or physical assault – demeaning behaviour that continues to contribute to already existing trauma.

The book is easy to read, making it perfect for younger audiences (that is, high school age). The reading level is entirely appropriate for young adults, age 14 and up (this is my professional opinion as a high school English teacher). Robbins uses accessible language, making Marlon’s story available to a wide audience.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.

[Suzanne Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast reading book with a red herring plot. I kept on waiting for the second “news” story to happen, and it did, but not in the usual way. The afterward section is also a must read as it brings to light a much misunderstood subject. The interaction between the four main characters is believable especially for the age group represented. All in all this author portrayed what happens to the victim who dares to take a stand instead of being silent after being sexually assaulted and it’s ramifications.

[Mc Chanster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I don’t even know what to write here other than what many others have already said – everyone needs to read this book. It is raw, emotional and extremely relevant to so much of what is happening around the world today, particularly of the #metoo movement.

In Other News starts the summer after Marlon Woods, a sophomore at Pine State University, was sexually assaulted by Parker Sullivan, quarterback star and son of a former governor. Marlon has courageously returned to PSU after spending a summer away in an attempt to heal and recuperate from his trauma; but the moment he steps back on campus, rumors start with the biggest one being – is he telling the truth? With his every step watched by the media, he anxiously awaits his trial date, all the while doing his best to stay strong amidst the accusations and ridicule that threatened him every day.

I was honestly, a wreck after this. It was difficult to read, but I couldn’t put it down once I started. The bullying, judgement and victim-shaming Marlon went through made me physically angry and I wanted to reach through the pages and punch that smug-narcissistic-jerk-off Parker in the face. At the same time, I loved the Quinn – Marlon – Anna friendship and more than anything else, I love that Marlon is so, so strong. I wish that what he went through is a work of fiction, but the news and media beg to differ. Victims of sexual assault are often blamed for their situation or are accused of lying, and it is appalling to learn only 0.7% of rapists get felony convictions. More than anything else, this comments on the status of the American justice system and how it fails so many of the people it vows to protect.

In Other News is an absolute must-read. I don’t care who you are. Get this book. Read it. Discuss it. Thank you Voracious Readers and Dale Robbins for a copy of this. I will be very much looking forward to his next novel.

[J.Q. Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly makes you open your eyes and wonder how often rape victims out there do not receive the justice they deserve. It also opens your heart to those victims and the unfortunate situations they have been put in. I believe books like this are very important to read, to remind people that things like this DO happen around the world. It's important to support these victims and understand how life-changing a crime like this could be.
I also commend the author for writing a book about such a sensitive topic. A very well-written debut novel.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional book detailing the experience of the victim after reporting a sexual offense all the way through to the court process written from the victim's viewpoint.

I felt empathy for the victim in this book as they tried to move forward with their life. The author really hits home how sexual offenses can ripple out to impact friends, families and communities. This was well written an emotionally gripping story.

I received an ARC through VRO for review.

[Shelly Lindsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Dale Robbins and Voracious Readers Only for my free copy. It was very well written and brings attention to a huge issue in America and the world. The characters were believable and likable. While I thought the end was predictable it really couldn’t have gone another way.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The debut novel of Dale Robbins is a dark tale of Marlon Woods who was raped by classmate, Parker Sullivan, and now must face against him at the trial to determine their lives. Marlon doesn't have it easy, returning to campus to find out that more than half the student population recognize him from the news outlet spouting his name across the state. Due to Parker's popularity, many of his peers harassed Marlon for ruining his life, targeting his sexuality and refusing to believe their friend could do something so horrendous. Despite suffering from PTSD and the slander, he is determined to have some normalcy upon continuing his education, hoping to find ways to move on from his assault no matter how grim his outlook appears to be.

Despite this being a work of fiction, the way Robbins wrote this is in a sense of severe grounded realism. In an era where sexual assault and harassment have gained more notoriety in the media now, this book presents an outlook for how it things must be for survivors of assault. Marlon is still in a relatively dark place, jumpy and living with hidden fears he refuse to show outward. He is afraid of having to face his attacker in court, but knows that it will forever haunt him if he let's Parker win the case without a fight. And with the support of his few friends, he finds courage to speak the truth of the incident to the jury. Another thing that makes this novel unique is that the victim is male. We not the publicity of how many women have came forward of expressing the violence they face, but rarely do we hear much about male victims.

Maybe it's because of society's views on men, but men who are victims rarely get much attention due to how little is reported, and it may due to the scrutiny they face which is as much discrimination as it is towards female survivors. This novel not only touches on the subject of sexual assault, but also victim blaming, faking claims, and the failure of the justice system. While there are fake claims out there, it doesn't take away the trauma of the victims in real rape cases. In which, this story shows all to real the realities of what happens to a survivor in its dark narrative and when they lack the power to be able to speak with their voice. While the writing is a little off at times, the characters and actions that occur are highly believable that it can lend a voice out to how society needs to change the narrative from always blaming the victim and start showing how to help them instead.

[Scott Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Other News is one of the best books I’ve ever read.... and one everyone needs to read. It’s the story of what happens to a person in the aftermath of sexual assault and rape. And yes, men can be raped.

This great read explores the all too common experience of sexual violence perpetrated on men that is rarely reported or talked about. Despite this heavy topic I did not find it to be a heavy read. The plot is engaging and the story is true to life. The characters are well developed, the dialogue fresh, and the story is one of hope and the ability to heal and move forward. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore what it means to be a man in today’s world.

[Nicholas Gagnier · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book

Earlier this year, I released a novel about sexual assault- a woman, rescued by kids from their neighbour's cellar; and given shelter by the same family, pending the outcome of the accused's arrest and trial. In the wake of the #metoo movement, I was trying to say something about injustice, all through the eyes of a thirteen year old in therapy over the death of her mother.

The reason I even mention this in a review of another author's book, is to give context to what I am going to say next. Dale Robbins has perfectly encapsulated what I always wanted to say about the horrors of the justice system when it comes to sexual assault victims. And to make what could have been a cut and dry statement about these injustices, Robbins did something even braver by anchoring it from the viewpoint of a gay character, but not at the expense of more traditional victims and by giving us a multi-faceted, complicated case which feels as real any story in the news.

This book is important. Without giving anything else away, I recommend it to readers of all ages, orientations and tastes. Once in a while, one book comes along that makes us question what side of the argument we're on.

This is the one. Just get it.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing and emotional book. I was blown away by the intense feelings and emotional angst and heartbreak. The ostracization and feelings of being an outcast. The instant judgment, the bullying, innuendo, the fear ripped at my heart and I cried. Ugly tears and my heart broke. This is not a happy ever after and I am sad because of it. You want the rainbow and the happy ever after and it isn't real life and people live this every day. Thank you for writing this and sharing. It matters and makes a difference.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bre Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel the world needs. A story that is real and raw and everything in between. The cast of characters are class. There are ones I loved and ones I loved to hate. I loved how realistic all of them felt. Their actions, their words, were so believable. Marlon was the perfect MC--I loved hearing his own thoughts, and my only critique is that I wish the entire novel had been written from his perspective. I love that this book doesn't have an "ideal" ending, because not every story is tied up with a pretty little bow. I thank Dale Robbins for that. He left us thinking, wondering, and that was beyond brilliant. Beautiful debut, from an amazing author. Well done!

[Iona Wayland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book bravely talks about what society would rather ignore.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting this when I put my hand up to review In Other News. Marlon’s raw emotions and reading him navigate the well-worn path so many rape victims/survivors take is heart-wrenching. The reactions of Parker’s friends and their subsequent treatment of Marlon is hard to read.
Marlon’s strength in pursuing justice, even while knowing he might not get it is commendable. His friends are supportive in all the best ways and his burgeoning friendship with Quinn is lovely to read. Especially when Quinn expresses his feelings and Marlon is able to respectfully express his own back with confidence. I thought for a while Quinn was an undercover reporter and I was happy to learn this wasn’t the case.
Marlon’s family is so supportive, and it is a beautiful thing to read. Reading Marlon read though things he wrote in the immediate aftermath of his rape was devastating. We often hear talk about rape survivors, and unless it’s something we have experienced, we really have no idea about the hidden consequences victims go through.
There were many incidents in this that made me extremely uncomfortable, and they should because it’s a reality so many, too many people face. The about-face of a few of Parker’s friends was good, especially when it was put into action like when saved Marlon and genuinely apologized for his earlier treatment.
The trial was frustrating, and when Parker’s girlfriend was on the stand and Marlon’s lawyer questioned her, I felt sad for her when she described her sex life with Parker and the realizations she must have come to after she went home.
Parker’s parents, his mother, in particular, sickened me with her involvement’
I truly hoped Marlon would see justice, but In Other News is an incredibly realistic portrayal of how justice is rarely served and how juries can be too blasé about sexuality and violence.
The stats at the end of the book should serve to spur readers into action. Support survivors, charities, and demand justice be done.
This book reminds me of a high-profile case from a few years ago and maybe that adds to the realism. But just as easily it could have been an episode from Law and Order: SVU.
I could not put this book down.
I received a free copy of In Other News from Voracious Readers in exchange for an honest review.

[Kailyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received a complimentary copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only**

I absolutely devoured this book, finishing it much faster than I initially thought I would. Right from the start, Robbins wastes no time in establishing the situation and flinging the reader right into the middle of it. It remains fast-paced from there, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages, needing to know what happened next.

This story was an impactful one, and it paints an unfortunately accurate portrait of today's society and the issues that currently plague the justice system. It may be a slightly harrowing read for those who can relate to Marlon's experience, but I believe it's an important read nonetheless.

My complaints with this book are minor. The writing and dialogue were good, but I wish some characters had been more fleshed out. Marlon is evidently the most well-developed character, but Quinn and Anna, who are heavily present throughout the entire book, get very little in this department. We get to know Quinn a little bit, but looking back on the book after having finished it, it stunned me how little in-depth knowledge I had about Anna. We get a bit of her backstory, but she primarily only appears in the book as Marlon's emotional support.

The other small gripe I have with this is that it takes place on a university campus, but the way people behave and the way some of the drama unfolds feels much more suited to a high school setting. There are horrible people of all ages, I know, but the level of immaturity in many of these characters makes them feel more like high school stereotypes than university students. As someone who has recently graduated from university, I also found it a bit difficult to believe that everyone seemed to know each other or care about each other's business. Then again, perhaps Pine State University is meant to be a very, very small campus. I just wasn't able to relate to the university experience described in this book at all, despite having the same major as the main character.

The ending I think could be a bit divisive among readers, but I personally liked the way this book ended. It maintained its sense of realism, and I felt satisfied because a complete arc had indeed occurred, though not in the way I had anticipated. Marlon undergoes a transformation throughout this book, and by the end, that transformation is complete. What further cements my love of the ending is the afterword that the author provides. Robbins gives it to you straight, and this afterword amplifies the meaning and impact of the book's ending. The only thing I will say about the ending, is that I wish we'd had a bit more resolution with Quinn, but I'm not mad at the way things were left open to the imagination.

All in all, I'd definitely recommend this book to absolutely anyone of high school age and above, and though this does deal with tough subjects, there are some positive messages that can be gleaned from the story, as well as very important lessons to be learned. It's a very relevant story that I hope will help spread some awareness and change people's perspectives.

[Helena Ison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an emotional read for me, it was raw and realistic. In Other News is told from the perspective of Marlon Woods, a rape victim. His story brought tears to my eyes and made me want to reach into the pages and give him a big hug of reassurance. I wanted to tell him I was in his corner even when he felt no one else really was. I became shocked to the point of anger from the backlash he received from fellow students and the school staff for proceeding to press charges! This book hits hard because it shows you the darker side of recovering from an assault. This book highlights aspects of situations that people often overlook when it comes to sexual crimes. It shows how brave someone has to be in order to share their story and the hell they have to go through to try to get justice. People can be cruel and lack empathy, while jumping to conclusions before hearing all details of a situation. I hated how Marlon’s sexuality seemed to give some people a reason to think it was HIS fault he got assaulted. When let’s be real here, someone’s sexuality has absolutely no influence and never should be the determining factor for an assault or anything of the sort. This too angered me to my core.

Poor Marlon had to endure bullying, fear, and fought often with his self-conscious all because of one narcissistic jerk. (I so could use a worst word here, trust me I want to, but I won’t) The ending bothered me, but I understand why the author decided to go with it. I am also grateful that the author took the time to explain his reasoning in the afterword.

I am looking forward to reading the next book and seeing where Marlon’s life takes him. I’m crossing my fingers that things will work out to his advantage and that he will be happy.

* I recieved this book in exchange for review from Voracious Readers Only*

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of In Other News through Voracious Readers. I read this book a lot quicker than I expected! It's a page-turner, with a quick pace that keeps you engaged. I was frustrated at first by the lack of depth as the setting is layed out for the reader- everything seems so brief and forced. But as the true pulp of the novel comes in to play, the details fill in. Marlon is a relatable character in that his struggles are genuine, his moods are understandable, and his inner turmoil hits close to home. Not a happy ending per se, but fitting for the tone and subject of the book. Would recommend!

[Kelleigh Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me this book was far from a happy story, given the subject matter of sexual assault and the subsequent public aftermath the victim experiences, but it's a story that needs to be told, and I still enjoyed reading it. I generally like my books to have, if not happy endings then at least satisfactory conclusions, but this one did not. However what is does have is a *real* ending, one that unfortunately many people in this type of situation experience and have to live with. The book was well written but I felt it was a little rushed in places. I look forward to reading the sequel one day.

[Sarah West Ervin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strong, compelling story that I'm glad I read. I truly felt for the main character, and his experience seemed real—heartbreaking yet hopeful. I could tell that the author was sharing something deeply personal and true, and I'm grateful for the insight he's offered here. I also loved the main character's growth, and the suspense of the court case, which made for a page-turner. While some of the dialogue felt unnatural and a few of the other characters didn't seem fully fleshed out (the rapist's girlfriend felt especially like a bad stereotype), I think this author has more to offer and his story is well worth the read!

I want to thank the author for the free review copy of this book I received through Voracious Readers Only.

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sensitively crafted narrative of a young, gay college student's life changing experience after being sexually assaulted by a popular straight-identified jock at classmate's house party. The author explores the anguish, shame, pain and resilience of the survivor as he navigates returning to campus amidst his internal struggles, facing victim blaming and shaming, homophobia, learning to trust and relearn friendships and the hard journey of making it through in one piece. All this as he steers his personal life and faces the raw exposure in the media, social media and the criminal justice system. Based loosely on the author's own lived experience. Would serve well in the YA and adult genre.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and BookFunnel for an honest, unbiased review*

[Lee Godfrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a well written brave story! I’m looking forward to the sequel. This is the type of book that you keep thinking about when you have to put it down to sleep or go to work! A topic that you normally won’t spend much time thinking about but you know exists. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this talented author.

[evvy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy of In Other News via Voracious Readers.

This book was extremely impressive to me for a debut novel. The choice to throw the reader right into the story from the start made it all the more real and enveloping. It was a fantastic book that read easily and kept my interest throughout. My biggest issue was with the start of the book, where I felt there were pacing issues and the relationships with the main character were not well developed. Throughout reading, I had some issues with the dialogue and flow of the story but it didn't necessarily take away from my enjoyment. I am excited to see how Dale Robbins' writing style evolves and look forward to future publications from him.

[Amy Voltaire]

This book was hard to put down. I HAD to know what happened. I am so glad the author was brave enough to write this story. Too often, rape victims are blamed for being victims. “She dressed too provocatively,” is just one example. But what about when the victim is a gay male? Society has a LONG way to go with accepting homosexuality, and it’s even worse when a gay man is the victim of a sexual assault. In this story, the rapist was an all-star quarterback who came from a prominent family, and had a girlfriend. Because of the rapist’s social status, the victim, Marlon, was bullied and tormented, and many people did not believe him. They did not understand (as many people in real-life don’t understand) that rape is a crime of violence and just because a rapist is heterosexual, doesn’t mean he won’t rape someone of the same sex. This story brings the truth to light and exposes the hell that many rape victims endure, even long after the crime itself is over. I could see this being turned into a movie...it needs to be.

[Sean Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book!!!!

Author Dale Robbins pulls at your heart strings with this emotionally gripping read. The character development really allows you to get as close as humanly possible to a character that outside of Dale’s mind wouldn’t exist. You feel, you wonder, you cry and maybe even die a little inside when you realize just how accurate this writing is (especially when compared side by side to our current society).

In Other News is about so much more than just characters, its a reflection of our culture, character and so much more. I am not one to spoil a book for others so I wont go into any details and I honestly wouldn’t want to because this is a book you have to experience.

Dale has given this genre a soul and has written something about the LGBTQ that speaks to any and everyone willing to read.

Bravo!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start off with saying this is not the type of book I normally read and enjoy but it was something I needed to read. This book provided an incredibly eye opening experience into a man named Marlons life who became a victim of rape. The bullying and abuse he suffered after already surviving a rape had me suffering right there with Marlon.

I think everyone needs to read this book and change needs to happen. I don't want to give anything away that occurs in this book because I feel you need to take the time to experience it for yourself. Brilliantly written by the author. I will suggest this book to absolutely anyone, teens, young adults, adults and seniors should all read this book. You might think differently about something you see on the news or hear in the media after reading this book.

"In Other News" it's time for a change in the justice system!