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Nothing Can Hurt You
Inspired by a true story, this haunting debut novel pieces together a chorus of voices to explore the aftermath of a college student's death.
On a cold day in 1997, student Sara Morgan was killed in the woods surrounding her liberal arts college in upstate New York. Her boyfriend, Blake Campbell, confessed, his plea of temporary insanity raising more questions than it answered.
In the wake of his acquittal, the case comes to haunt a strange and surprising network of community members, from the young woman who discovers Sara's body to the junior reporter who senses its connection to convicted local serial killer John Logan. Others are looking for retribution or explanation: Sara's half sister, stifled by her family's bereft silence about Blake, poses as a babysitter and seeks out her own form of justice, while the teenager Sara used to babysit starts writing to Logan in prison.
A propulsive, taut tale of voyeurism and obsession, Nothing Can Hurt You dares to examine gendered violence not as an anomaly, but as the very core of everyday life. Tracing the concentric circles of violence rippling out from Sara's murder, Nicole Maye Goldberg masterfully conducts an unforgettable chorus of disparate voices.
On a cold day in 1997, student Sara Morgan was killed in the woods surrounding her liberal arts college in upstate New York. Her boyfriend, Blake Campbell, confessed, his plea of temporary insanity raising more questions than it answered.
In the wake of his acquittal, the case comes to haunt a strange and surprising network of community members, from the young woman who discovers Sara's body to the junior reporter who senses its connection to convicted local serial killer John Logan. Others are looking for retribution or explanation: Sara's half sister, stifled by her family's bereft silence about Blake, poses as a babysitter and seeks out her own form of justice, while the teenager Sara used to babysit starts writing to Logan in prison.
A propulsive, taut tale of voyeurism and obsession, Nothing Can Hurt You dares to examine gendered violence not as an anomaly, but as the very core of everyday life. Tracing the concentric circles of violence rippling out from Sara's murder, Nicole Maye Goldberg masterfully conducts an unforgettable chorus of disparate voices.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2020
403 people are currently reading
8975 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Maye Goldberg
11 books157 followersNicola Maye Goldberg is the author of NOTHING CAN HURT YOU (Bloomsbury, 2020). She lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 572 reviews
January 19, 2020
A college student was murdered by her boyfriend, a schizophrenic whose friend said that they had done acid together the day the girlfriend went missing.
The boys lawyer pushed for a not guilty by reason of a temporary insanity. The defense said he was having a psychotic episode and didn’t know what he was doing.
Sara Rose Morgan, was found dead after two days, in the woods. Her throat cut so deeply she was nearly decapitated.
Blake Campbell, came from a nice family. He had an expensive lawyer....( hard not to feel prejudice against him).
Sara was dead.
Blake killed her.
The court appointed psychiatrist said that Blake was ‘severely’ schizophrenic.... that he heard voices from gods and gurus. He had no prior history of violence.
Blake didn’t go to prison.
There’s something very ‘different’ about this book.( novel?, true crime?, with changed names?)....
Maybe it’s because I went in blind.... but every single sentence kept me curious.
I don’t mean to be crass... but people are murdered every day. But I don’t read about them every day.
I got the feeling that ‘everyone’ associated with Sara or Blake....
( one or the other or both), would always be unsettled.
We learn of others killed - others abused - and meet the community who were affected, traumatized, and even infatuated with Blake and Sara.
There is something about this book... so incredibly intoxicating and startling...I never wanted a break from
reading it.....,
and....
ITS CREEPY in parts.
The dialogue was so close to my face...
...if it was any closer it would’ve bit me in the ass.
It’s HAUNTING...
...sent me to google wanting to know more about the true story...
but...
funny how that won’t work when you type in fiction names.
Thank you Netgalley,
Bloomsbury, and Nicola Maye Goldberg
The boys lawyer pushed for a not guilty by reason of a temporary insanity. The defense said he was having a psychotic episode and didn’t know what he was doing.
Sara Rose Morgan, was found dead after two days, in the woods. Her throat cut so deeply she was nearly decapitated.
Blake Campbell, came from a nice family. He had an expensive lawyer....( hard not to feel prejudice against him).
Sara was dead.
Blake killed her.
The court appointed psychiatrist said that Blake was ‘severely’ schizophrenic.... that he heard voices from gods and gurus. He had no prior history of violence.
Blake didn’t go to prison.
There’s something very ‘different’ about this book.( novel?, true crime?, with changed names?)....
Maybe it’s because I went in blind.... but every single sentence kept me curious.
I don’t mean to be crass... but people are murdered every day. But I don’t read about them every day.
I got the feeling that ‘everyone’ associated with Sara or Blake....
( one or the other or both), would always be unsettled.
We learn of others killed - others abused - and meet the community who were affected, traumatized, and even infatuated with Blake and Sara.
There is something about this book... so incredibly intoxicating and startling...I never wanted a break from
reading it.....,
and....
ITS CREEPY in parts.
The dialogue was so close to my face...
...if it was any closer it would’ve bit me in the ass.
It’s HAUNTING...
...sent me to google wanting to know more about the true story...
but...
funny how that won’t work when you type in fiction names.
Thank you Netgalley,
Bloomsbury, and Nicola Maye Goldberg
October 26, 2021
I feed off of controversy.
I live to be unique. I hate books people love and love books people hate like it's my job. I have a 24/7 IV drip of not-like-other-girls content constantly entering my veins, or something.
But...
I spent the entirety of this book trying to figure out why it has such a low rating.
And I got nothing. i thought it was excellent.
It was beautifully written. It followed about 2478937428 different characters and not only did I not hate any of them, but I wasn't confused. They all felt distinct. Its portrayal of violence against women as a societally engrained part of life was masterful.
What am I missing? Was there a two-page bigotry-filled diatribe I missed because pages stuck together? Was my ARC the penultimate edition, before they inserted a dancing talking elephant character with cotton-candy ears? Did they send me the wrong book?
Because everything I read, I liked. Almost loved, even.
I'm 4.5-starring it, for god's sake.
Bottom line: Who's the problem here?! Me? The book? Everyone else on earth?
My heart says go with the last one.
(thanks to the publisher for the copy)
I live to be unique. I hate books people love and love books people hate like it's my job. I have a 24/7 IV drip of not-like-other-girls content constantly entering my veins, or something.
But...
I spent the entirety of this book trying to figure out why it has such a low rating.
And I got nothing. i thought it was excellent.
It was beautifully written. It followed about 2478937428 different characters and not only did I not hate any of them, but I wasn't confused. They all felt distinct. Its portrayal of violence against women as a societally engrained part of life was masterful.
What am I missing? Was there a two-page bigotry-filled diatribe I missed because pages stuck together? Was my ARC the penultimate edition, before they inserted a dancing talking elephant character with cotton-candy ears? Did they send me the wrong book?
Because everything I read, I liked. Almost loved, even.
I'm 4.5-starring it, for god's sake.
Bottom line: Who's the problem here?! Me? The book? Everyone else on earth?
My heart says go with the last one.
(thanks to the publisher for the copy)
July 13, 2020
A very different kind of read. There are murders, one a serial killer who has had many victims, the other a young woman killed by her boyfriend. One is jailed and one set free after a short stint in a mental institution. So these murders are at the center of the story, but outside the center life carries on in one way or another. Many tell their stories, people who are affected by the violence, family members, friends, etc. The murders are ever present but the focus is on what happens after.
A large challenge for a debut novel, and the crime novel presented in an original manner. How the victims names are hardly remembered, but the killers seldom forgotten. So very true, in most cases. Makes for very interesting reading, and I was drawn into this. Sometimes I couldn't quite figure where it was going, but by books end I thought, how amazingly clever. After one finishes reading and puts it all together, it becomes apparent that not only hs the author succeeded in her endeavor but that she has written something that is totally new and original.
ARC by Netgalley.
A large challenge for a debut novel, and the crime novel presented in an original manner. How the victims names are hardly remembered, but the killers seldom forgotten. So very true, in most cases. Makes for very interesting reading, and I was drawn into this. Sometimes I couldn't quite figure where it was going, but by books end I thought, how amazingly clever. After one finishes reading and puts it all together, it becomes apparent that not only hs the author succeeded in her endeavor but that she has written something that is totally new and original.
ARC by Netgalley.
June 11, 2020
This is a unique book which was inspired by a true story that shows the aftermath of a college students murder. The book shows how the murder affected those who knew her, knew her boyfriend who killed her, and those in the community ranging from the woman who found her body to the journalist who senses a connection between her murder and a local convicted serial killer.
Sara Morgan was killed on a cold winter’s day in 1997. Her body was found two days later. Her boyfriend, Blake Campbell, confessed and plead temporary insanity.
This book is told through multiple character's perspectives. This book jumps around and goes from one person to the next which may work for some and may be frustrating for others. I am solidly in the middle on this one. At times, this book frustrated me, at times it was confusing, at times I really enjoyed it. I did like how the Author showed how one person's murder can affect not only direct family members and friends but how it also affects individuals in the community. What is also interesting is that this book shows how people are affected by coming into contact with Blake as well.
One thing that is confusing is how this book is classified. Having said that, I am not even sure what genre this book should be in. It is listed as Mystery &Thrillers/True crime (on NetGalley) but it really is not any of them IMO. Although inspired by a True Story - this book is not about the story it is inspired by. So, in my mind, it is not True Crime. Plus, we know who the killer is, there is no mystery, no suspense, no huge reveals, or twists and turns, etc. So, for me it is not really a mystery or suspenseful book either. It is a head scratcher. But it is unique. Either way, it kept my attention and did a good job showing the ripple effect of one woman's murder and how many were affected.
But, I'm sorry Vogue.com, Gone Girl it is not! Why does every other book on the planet have to be the next Gone Girl?UGH! Let's let Gone Girl by Gone Girl and other books stand on their own merit for a change.
Uniquely told, interesting premise which could have done with slightly less POV's and less jumping around. Plus, the title of this book had me singing Barbara Streisand's "Not While I'm around" (Nothing's gonna harm you, Not while I'm around, Nothing's gonna harm you,No sir, not while I'm around). Word association and all that.
I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sara Morgan was killed on a cold winter’s day in 1997. Her body was found two days later. Her boyfriend, Blake Campbell, confessed and plead temporary insanity.
This book is told through multiple character's perspectives. This book jumps around and goes from one person to the next which may work for some and may be frustrating for others. I am solidly in the middle on this one. At times, this book frustrated me, at times it was confusing, at times I really enjoyed it. I did like how the Author showed how one person's murder can affect not only direct family members and friends but how it also affects individuals in the community. What is also interesting is that this book shows how people are affected by coming into contact with Blake as well.
One thing that is confusing is how this book is classified. Having said that, I am not even sure what genre this book should be in. It is listed as Mystery &Thrillers/True crime (on NetGalley) but it really is not any of them IMO. Although inspired by a True Story - this book is not about the story it is inspired by. So, in my mind, it is not True Crime. Plus, we know who the killer is, there is no mystery, no suspense, no huge reveals, or twists and turns, etc. So, for me it is not really a mystery or suspenseful book either. It is a head scratcher. But it is unique. Either way, it kept my attention and did a good job showing the ripple effect of one woman's murder and how many were affected.
But, I'm sorry Vogue.com, Gone Girl it is not! Why does every other book on the planet have to be the next Gone Girl?UGH! Let's let Gone Girl by Gone Girl and other books stand on their own merit for a change.
Uniquely told, interesting premise which could have done with slightly less POV's and less jumping around. Plus, the title of this book had me singing Barbara Streisand's "Not While I'm around" (Nothing's gonna harm you, Not while I'm around, Nothing's gonna harm you,No sir, not while I'm around). Word association and all that.
I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 15, 2020
Nothing Can Hurt You by Nicola Maye Goldberg is a novel written in a most original fashion. At the center of the story is the brutal murder of NY college student Sara Morgan at the hands of her boyfriend Blake Campbell. Blake will be proven to have been temporarily insane at the time of the crime and therefore he was not sentenced to prison time. Each chapter is written in the voice of someone who knew the deceased victim. Each person had been influenced by Sara, before or after her murder. This novel’s many voices give the reader a different point of view and each character looks at Sara in terms of their relationship with her or knowledge of her. The novel is based on a true story and serves as a cautionary tale about violence against women, which occurs much too frequently. If you are looking for a different kind of mystery, I highly recommend Nothing Can Hurt You. Thank you to Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review,
August 4, 2020
3.5 rounded up
Inspired by a true story, this novel is told through 12 Vignettes.
Each character will share their connection to a local college girl’s murder JUST ONCE, though some ties are more tenuous than others.
Because each one reads, like a short story, some captivated me, and others did not, though I loved the concept.
Marianne
Katherine
Juliet
Sam
Gemma
Serena
Tracy
Jessica
Lizzie
Christabel (Sara’s mother)
Luna
Sara (the Victim)
My favorite chapters belonged to Marianne, Katherine, Gemma, and Luna.
Just 240 pages and available now
Inspired by a true story, this novel is told through 12 Vignettes.
Each character will share their connection to a local college girl’s murder JUST ONCE, though some ties are more tenuous than others.
Because each one reads, like a short story, some captivated me, and others did not, though I loved the concept.
Marianne
Katherine
Juliet
Sam
Gemma
Serena
Tracy
Jessica
Lizzie
Christabel (Sara’s mother)
Luna
Sara (the Victim)
My favorite chapters belonged to Marianne, Katherine, Gemma, and Luna.
Just 240 pages and available now
May 31, 2020
This novel centres around the murder of Sara Morgan in 1997 by her boyfriend Blake Campbell during a schizophrenic episode. Although Blake is charged with her murder he is found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. This book takes a different path from most books that surround a murder as it looks at a number of different characters affected to a greater or lesser degree. Thus it’s hard to categorise as it’s atypical and is more of a social commentary on the ripple effects of a terrible event rather than a thriller or crime novel which makes it very interesting. However, there are multiple points of view and it jumps from character to character so jotting down who is who is very helpful! I hasten to add that is not a negative comment as I think this is a clever book. It’s character driven and peers into the heart and soul of a crime. I really like how Sara is portrayed as a person rather than a victim and we really get to ‘see’ her. We can understand how a murder impacts on family members and friends who continue to ‘see’ her everywhere and she remains an constant in their lives. Taking this direction and slant allows us to see how lives are blighted and change irrevocably. This is a well written book and has a good pace.
Overall, this is a fascinating theme and a good read and it’s worth sticking with the multiple perspectives as it’s very illuminating.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Press for the ARC
Overall, this is a fascinating theme and a good read and it’s worth sticking with the multiple perspectives as it’s very illuminating.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Press for the ARC
June 11, 2020
2.5 stars
Quirky, jumpy, and not always sure where I was or who I was reading about, was how I initially felt about this story. However, I didn't give up and felt it had quite a different look into the death of a young college girl.
It took me a bit to get into the story for all the aforementioned reasons, but when I did it felt like the ripples ones sees in the water after you throw a pebble into it. The death of one, like the butterfly's beat of its wings affects many, leaves some forever changed, and allows others to continue with life that is altered and adjusted.
Sara Morgan killed by her boyfriend, Blake, in a psychotic episode, leaves a hole in many people's lives. From the person who discovered her body to Sara's half sister, we learn about what enters and seems to find residence in their thoughts and minds. The boyfriend, Blake, after a stint in a mental institution, is freed and goes onto live a life that was denied to Sara. He does become a focus in the life of two of the characters and there is also a tie in to a serial killer named John Logan.
Confusing at times, frustrating as well, but somehow there was a thread of an allure to this new author's story.
Thank you to Nicola Maye Goldberg, Bloomsbury Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out June 23, 2020
Quirky, jumpy, and not always sure where I was or who I was reading about, was how I initially felt about this story. However, I didn't give up and felt it had quite a different look into the death of a young college girl.
It took me a bit to get into the story for all the aforementioned reasons, but when I did it felt like the ripples ones sees in the water after you throw a pebble into it. The death of one, like the butterfly's beat of its wings affects many, leaves some forever changed, and allows others to continue with life that is altered and adjusted.
Sara Morgan killed by her boyfriend, Blake, in a psychotic episode, leaves a hole in many people's lives. From the person who discovered her body to Sara's half sister, we learn about what enters and seems to find residence in their thoughts and minds. The boyfriend, Blake, after a stint in a mental institution, is freed and goes onto live a life that was denied to Sara. He does become a focus in the life of two of the characters and there is also a tie in to a serial killer named John Logan.
Confusing at times, frustrating as well, but somehow there was a thread of an allure to this new author's story.
Thank you to Nicola Maye Goldberg, Bloomsbury Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this story due out June 23, 2020
September 13, 2020
Nothing Can Hurt You was a book like no other that I have read. It is made up of chapters, or individual short stories, all different. Each chapter is told from a different characters perspective in the aftermath of the murder f a young college girl, Sara Rose Morgan.
In 1997 Sara was murdered and her boyfriend confesses. He is found not guilty for reasons of insanity. We hear from the woman who finds her body, a journalist, Sara’s friends, her mother, Her boyfriend and herself at the end.
It is a short book , just over 200 pages so stick with it. Some stories are better than others and the ending was a bit nothing really. In saying that I read this in an evening.
Thanks to Bloomsbury’s Books Australia for my copy of this book to read. It is in stores now.
In 1997 Sara was murdered and her boyfriend confesses. He is found not guilty for reasons of insanity. We hear from the woman who finds her body, a journalist, Sara’s friends, her mother, Her boyfriend and herself at the end.
It is a short book , just over 200 pages so stick with it. Some stories are better than others and the ending was a bit nothing really. In saying that I read this in an evening.
Thanks to Bloomsbury’s Books Australia for my copy of this book to read. It is in stores now.
March 16, 2020
This started out sounding like it was going to be a good story. Maybe I should stick to strictly non-fiction, because I got lost in all of the characters and never quite got back to knowing what was what from that point on. I understood the basic story about the college student who was killed by her boyfriend. Then there’s the newspaper reporter who felt it might have something to do with the serial killer of several women. But the melange of characters rotate so much that I couldn’t keep up, until I'd wasted a lot of time, and then it was time to switch to another character again. I read this mostly in one day, so it's not like I dragged it out over weeks and lost the thread of the story or the characters. It just felt like too many balls juggling in the air at one time to me. I’m staying away from fiction with my crime. Just the facts, Ma’am, from now on. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Nicola Maye Goldberg, and Bloomsbury Publishing.
April 20, 2020
My interest was piqued in this title because it was true crime, a genre which I enjoy reading. This, however, is fiction. It states right in the beginning. "Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental."
Regardless, this kept my attention from start to finish. The murder of a college student by her boyfriend made headlines when he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Like ripples in the water after a stone hits the surface, the loss is far reaching. The author weaves the stories of all those impacted and the relation to Sarah, the deceased. The cast of characters is many and I found myself going back several times to remind myself of the connection some characters had. But overall, this was a good, fast paced read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Bloomsbury.
Regardless, this kept my attention from start to finish. The murder of a college student by her boyfriend made headlines when he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Like ripples in the water after a stone hits the surface, the loss is far reaching. The author weaves the stories of all those impacted and the relation to Sarah, the deceased. The cast of characters is many and I found myself going back several times to remind myself of the connection some characters had. But overall, this was a good, fast paced read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Bloomsbury.
April 18, 2021
Whilst I definitely found this book quite compelling, I'm not entirely sure I know what happened.
Each chapter follows a different character and reads like a short story, however a few of them felt very aimless and made me feel as though I'd missed something important.
Each chapter follows a different character and reads like a short story, however a few of them felt very aimless and made me feel as though I'd missed something important.
September 23, 2020
Review coming soon.
June 6, 2020
This novel is based on a real crime, and is a truly haunting exploration of what the death of a young college student, Sara Morgan, has on everyone connected to the event. Sara is killed by her boyfriend, Blake. Blake later claims he can remember nothing of the events surrounding Sara’s death and, having been on drugs at the time, is found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity.
Although this is really a series of inter-connected characters, and events, it reads very much as a whole and complete novel, which is quite difficult to pull off. We read of the repercussions of the murder from those who were very close to either Sara or Blake – Sara’s mother, Blake’s sister. There are also those who recall very little, but feel the presence of both Sara, and what happened, as a huge presence in their life – such as Sara’s half-sister, just a toddler at the time, or the young girl that Sara babysit for. Other characters are really on the periphery of events – a town sheriff who knows Sara’s mother, the woman who finds Sara’s body – but whose lives intersect with the aftermath of the murder.
Alongside Sara’s storyline, is that of a serial killer, arrested at almost the same time of Blake. Logan is found guilty of the murder of six women, one whose name is dropped neatly into the first chapter, for us to shockingly discover as a victim later in the book. Indeed, one of the creepiest sections of this novel are a series of letters between a young girl, connected with Sara, who begins to correspond with Logan in prison.
It is difficult to say that you enjoyed a book, written about such a troubling subject, but I thought this was thought provoking and well written. Goldberg shows how easily those who purport to love, can hurt. How being touched by tragedy leads people to question themselves, or the behaviour of those around them. How it is a constant presence, or a troubling empty space – unresolved and tragic. I think this would be an excellent choice for book groups, with much to discuss. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Although this is really a series of inter-connected characters, and events, it reads very much as a whole and complete novel, which is quite difficult to pull off. We read of the repercussions of the murder from those who were very close to either Sara or Blake – Sara’s mother, Blake’s sister. There are also those who recall very little, but feel the presence of both Sara, and what happened, as a huge presence in their life – such as Sara’s half-sister, just a toddler at the time, or the young girl that Sara babysit for. Other characters are really on the periphery of events – a town sheriff who knows Sara’s mother, the woman who finds Sara’s body – but whose lives intersect with the aftermath of the murder.
Alongside Sara’s storyline, is that of a serial killer, arrested at almost the same time of Blake. Logan is found guilty of the murder of six women, one whose name is dropped neatly into the first chapter, for us to shockingly discover as a victim later in the book. Indeed, one of the creepiest sections of this novel are a series of letters between a young girl, connected with Sara, who begins to correspond with Logan in prison.
It is difficult to say that you enjoyed a book, written about such a troubling subject, but I thought this was thought provoking and well written. Goldberg shows how easily those who purport to love, can hurt. How being touched by tragedy leads people to question themselves, or the behaviour of those around them. How it is a constant presence, or a troubling empty space – unresolved and tragic. I think this would be an excellent choice for book groups, with much to discuss. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
June 3, 2020
Not sure what I think of this one. Maybe I'm not smart enough to get the gist of its message.
We have a murder at the centre of the story. Each chapter, all focusing on different females, covers the perspective of those impacted and haunted by the case.
I thought it was all leading somewhere and wondering whether all the different narratives and time lines would link. After finishing it, I'm now wondering whether I missed something.
We have a murder at the centre of the story. Each chapter, all focusing on different females, covers the perspective of those impacted and haunted by the case.
I thought it was all leading somewhere and wondering whether all the different narratives and time lines would link. After finishing it, I'm now wondering whether I missed something.
March 27, 2020
Inspired by a true story, this is the tale of a young college student, Sara Morgan, who was murdered by her boyfriend, Blake Campbell. Ultimately he is found not guilty as he was high on drugs and alcohol, his plea of temporary insanity leaving more questions than not.
This murder affected many others .. not only her friends and family, but also the person who found her body .... Sara's half sister, a local reporter who believes there were more deaths in Blake's wake .... a teenager Sara babysat at one time... and many, many more.
And therein lies the problem I had with this book. The concept is a good one... it's a story of love and loss, murder, violence. But there are SO many characters speaking out, the story is lost among their voices. It was difficult to follow, and frankly, I just lost interest.
Many thanks to the author / Bloomsbury Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
This murder affected many others .. not only her friends and family, but also the person who found her body .... Sara's half sister, a local reporter who believes there were more deaths in Blake's wake .... a teenager Sara babysat at one time... and many, many more.
And therein lies the problem I had with this book. The concept is a good one... it's a story of love and loss, murder, violence. But there are SO many characters speaking out, the story is lost among their voices. It was difficult to follow, and frankly, I just lost interest.
Many thanks to the author / Bloomsbury Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 16, 2020
Tender, brutal, beautiful. This book haunts me.
March 5, 2023
This book is about a psychotic murder and how it effects the lives of those around the victem and the murderer. It is very well thought out and it makes you think about how your own actions effect others.
April 22, 2020
I honestly didn't get the point of this story, I'm sorry. The blurb sounded sooo good but the story was just bland. Considering it was based on a true story I was really interested. On top of that he was a true crime thriller. But the story was so disjointed and it just did not make proper sense. I understand that this story was supposed to show show how the death of one person can impact so many other people. However this was not so clear in the book. It started so well, with the writing being extremely beautiful an I was really interested to see where the story would go. But after a point I just got totally confused. There were no chapter breaks and the perspectives just changed without any e warning. And that confused the hell out of me. The story was just jumping from One character to the other coma from one instance to the other. And the characters were just there. Like they did there work and were simply forgotten. I did not like that. Honestly there was a lack of flow and the story kept switching between the past, and present and of course the different characters with their different POVs. It just confused me too much and I honestly couldn't keep up with the characters.
All in all I think this book was a hot mess. The story could have been written in a beautiful thrilling mystery but author missed the chance. It just infuriated me and I just want to get over with the book.
All in all I think this book was a hot mess. The story could have been written in a beautiful thrilling mystery but author missed the chance. It just infuriated me and I just want to get over with the book.
June 4, 2022
Nothing Can Hurt You by Nicola Maye Goldberg has somewhat of a lower average on Goodreads, and after reading it I can understand why. This is definitely not going to be a book for everyone, and I had a hard time understanding exactly what the point of it was and why there were so many different viewpoints. After reading other reviews I understand now that really this is looking at how a community is affected after a young woman is murdered, and most of the viewpoints take place after this has already happened. I didn't understand Marianne's viewpoint (first perspective of the story) at the end of the chapter (she was happy about finding the body??), nor did I understand why Goldberg ended with something completely mundane as Sara hanging out with a friend. Perhaps this book was too smart for me, but I felt like I was missing something.
If there is one blindingly good part about the book, it is the audiobook which is narrated by a full cast. And if you want to know how many viewpoints there are just take a look at this list of people who narrate - Kate Handford, Lance C Fuller, Jennifer Woodward, Laurence Bouvard, Patricia Rodriguez, Deborah McBride, Lexie McDougall, & Madeleine Rose; see what I mean? I really liked the performances of each of these narrators, and if you enjoy audiobooks, I think it is a great way to go for Nothing Can Hurt You. If you enjoy slow burns and original stories that focus on violence against women (cautionary tale here), then I think you should check it out. Each viewpoint is only once in the book, and it read a bit like a short story with everything coming back to Sara.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
If there is one blindingly good part about the book, it is the audiobook which is narrated by a full cast. And if you want to know how many viewpoints there are just take a look at this list of people who narrate - Kate Handford, Lance C Fuller, Jennifer Woodward, Laurence Bouvard, Patricia Rodriguez, Deborah McBride, Lexie McDougall, & Madeleine Rose; see what I mean? I really liked the performances of each of these narrators, and if you enjoy audiobooks, I think it is a great way to go for Nothing Can Hurt You. If you enjoy slow burns and original stories that focus on violence against women (cautionary tale here), then I think you should check it out. Each viewpoint is only once in the book, and it read a bit like a short story with everything coming back to Sara.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 17, 2020
Nothing Can Hurt You starts where just about every thriller starts nowadays: a dead girl, brutally murdered, in the woods. Nicola Maye Goldberg sets out to do something different, though, a deliberate reinvention (some are saying subversion) of the “dead girl” trope. This is a thriller for the #MeToo era, one that examines how and why male killers become celebrities while female victims are forgotten.
My extended review is available at Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My extended review is available at Keeping Up With The Penguins.
September 24, 2020
This deservedly has been labeled "Best Book of Summer 2020". This is the story of a murder, and the people affected by it. This is Goldberg's first novel and is beautifully written. It is structured in a quite creative way. The murder of a college student is discovered in the very first chapter. Each chapter of the book centers on a different person who knew the victim or the murderer. This approach to telling this story reveals many layers to this story, and a depth that leaves the reader feeling the sad impact of a murder in a way I've not encountered before.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
July 7, 2020
Very rarely do I give ratings so low, but this book had the potential to be a great read and frankly it fell flat on it's face. There were way too many loose ends by the time we got to the last page, not only that but the timeline from character to character jumped so much I got whiplash. I was literally on the last sentence of the book before I realized that that was it! Nothing, not one thing was ever repeated for each character. One entire chapter is one person letter narrative...it's like being on one side of the phone conversation, you don't get the whole story. Pun intended.
The excitement that ran through my veins when this book came in was pure and unaltered. A fictional crime story based on true events?! Heck yes! But that's not what I got, or at least the way I see it.
The writing style was great, she grabbed onto your attention and feed it just enough to keep you turning the page. I would try something else by this author with no hesitation, but I would have my guard up for another story line to fall flat.
The excitement that ran through my veins when this book came in was pure and unaltered. A fictional crime story based on true events?! Heck yes! But that's not what I got, or at least the way I see it.
The writing style was great, she grabbed onto your attention and feed it just enough to keep you turning the page. I would try something else by this author with no hesitation, but I would have my guard up for another story line to fall flat.
June 23, 2020
Happy release day! I thought that this being based off a true story would keep me hooked. What I got instead was a muddle of voices - there were way too many POVS and I ended up losing track of people. I wouldn’t really call this a mystery or thriller because we already knew who the killer was the entire time and even meet him in the beginning. It’s more about the effect murder can have on people but it was too hard to distinguish who was who. The different voices just kinda flowed into another without any breaks. Once you get the hang of that, some people's perspectives were very interesting and heart breaking as well. This was a solid 2.5 stars - I realize my review seems negative but this wasn't a bad book at all. It's a pretty quick read as well.
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the advanced copy!
Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the advanced copy!
October 23, 2021
why does this book have a 3.2 average rating??
the concept and the execution was fantastic.
the concept and the execution was fantastic.
November 1, 2022
This audiobook was so good! Usually when a book has me this hooked I can’t wait to get to the end, to find out the who, what, why.. But not here! I relished each chapter & would’ve happily followed this spider web onward & outward for generations! What a fresh take! Not sure what genre this falls into.. Not at all your typical thriller, although I think thriller readers are who would primarily enjoy this. But it’s also a type of character study (or “people” study.) Which reminds me, don’t be nervous about the amount of characters. They’re woven together so seamlessly, I had no trouble keeping track & following the threads between them. Really, really good.. I’m sorry it’s over.
The more I think about it, the more excited I am to see what else this author does. (I’d even blindly follow her out of my usual genres..) She “gets” people. & did an excellent job demonstrating different perspectives & how what someone does, affects so many others. The concept may not be new but her characters (& the ripple effects) felt so authentic, never obvious and never forced. I don’t understand the mediocre ratings, I feel it’s an actual work of art. Unique & exceptional.
The more I think about it, the more excited I am to see what else this author does. (I’d even blindly follow her out of my usual genres..) She “gets” people. & did an excellent job demonstrating different perspectives & how what someone does, affects so many others. The concept may not be new but her characters (& the ripple effects) felt so authentic, never obvious and never forced. I don’t understand the mediocre ratings, I feel it’s an actual work of art. Unique & exceptional.
July 9, 2020
Nothing Can Hurt You is a literary thriller seemingly based on a true story that throws the rule book out of the window and does things differently. It explores the impact of a killing on a large cast of characters, both those directly and indirectly affected and those both in the inner circle of friends and family, and those on the periphery. Highlighting the extent to which people are deeply affected by the brutal murder of a young woman in their community we are treated to multiple perspectives on the case. When the apparent murderer, the girl's boyfriend Blake Campbell, confesses to the crime stating that when he slit her throat he was high on LSD the community and family are thankful that justice will now be served, however, this feeling does not last long. The mood rapidly changes when he is acquitted due to a plea of temporary insanity linked to a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Blake comes from a prominent, affluent family who are well connected and can afford to pay for a top lawyer. The characters go through a gamut of emotions as their quest for justice continues.
This is a riveting and captivating read from the very beginning and with each chapter dedicated to a single character the clever construction helped build the atmosphere. It is haunting and moving with an inevitable focus on the issue of white privilege when it comes to the law and criminality. And so the intersectionality of topics such as race, class, power and wealth and how they combine to create modes of discrimination is touched upon. It is not a thriller in the traditional sense but more nuanced and philosophical in nature showing the deconstruction of a murder, its aftermath and the ripple effect a brutal crime can have on a close knit community. I thought the writing style and structure of the story was well thought through; you can tell it wasn't just simply thrown together. Quite often having a large cast and changing perspectives can be confusing but I didn't feel any confusion at all as I raced through this in one sitting. Many thanks to Raven Books for an ARC.
This is a riveting and captivating read from the very beginning and with each chapter dedicated to a single character the clever construction helped build the atmosphere. It is haunting and moving with an inevitable focus on the issue of white privilege when it comes to the law and criminality. And so the intersectionality of topics such as race, class, power and wealth and how they combine to create modes of discrimination is touched upon. It is not a thriller in the traditional sense but more nuanced and philosophical in nature showing the deconstruction of a murder, its aftermath and the ripple effect a brutal crime can have on a close knit community. I thought the writing style and structure of the story was well thought through; you can tell it wasn't just simply thrown together. Quite often having a large cast and changing perspectives can be confusing but I didn't feel any confusion at all as I raced through this in one sitting. Many thanks to Raven Books for an ARC.
March 13, 2021
Disclaimer: I receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"She was a sweet girl, until she wasn't, until she was dead and frozen, her head almost separated from her body, in a shallow grave near a steam."
This was a very dark psychological thriller that will literally get into your head.
It's like an episode of Black Mirror just that its not dystopian.
Its very unique in a way that it does not focus on the murder case on who is the killer and why was she killed. We already know the answer to that.
However, it focuses on what Sara's death has meant to people directly or indirectly related to her.
I enjoyed the short stories and each chapter was a story or a voice of different characters.
It made the story much more addicting.
Although some plotline hanging did leave me frustrated but I guess no definite happenings in life has a straight to the point answer.
The plotline also shows a different side of how people are handling Sara's death.
Depression, grief, rehab, issues, therapist, thoughts, theories, serial killers, hallucination, memories and so much more.
This books is the type to annoy me because it left me hanging but at the same time I can't stop thinking about it.
"She was a sweet girl, until she wasn't, until she was dead and frozen, her head almost separated from her body, in a shallow grave near a steam."
This was a very dark psychological thriller that will literally get into your head.
It's like an episode of Black Mirror just that its not dystopian.
Its very unique in a way that it does not focus on the murder case on who is the killer and why was she killed. We already know the answer to that.
However, it focuses on what Sara's death has meant to people directly or indirectly related to her.
I enjoyed the short stories and each chapter was a story or a voice of different characters.
It made the story much more addicting.
Although some plotline hanging did leave me frustrated but I guess no definite happenings in life has a straight to the point answer.
The plotline also shows a different side of how people are handling Sara's death.
Depression, grief, rehab, issues, therapist, thoughts, theories, serial killers, hallucination, memories and so much more.
This books is the type to annoy me because it left me hanging but at the same time I can't stop thinking about it.
March 28, 2020
3.5 rounded up
Nothing Can Hurt You is a wholly original novel centred on the murder of a young college student, Sara, who dies at the hands of her boyfriend when he's on LSD. But it's not a mystery/thriller like you might expect: we know who did it and (more or less) why; the book takes us on a journey of the fallout of the murder of a young woman with everything to give. Goldberg changes the focus of the story, chapter by chapter, following a different person (each with a link to the person of the previous chapter) impacted by Sara's death, 12 characters in all.
I didn't quite get that this was the scathing social commentary on the murder of/gendered violence against young women - sure, it had some small elements of that - but nevertheless it made for an engaging and pacy read.
Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for the advance copy, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Nothing Can Hurt You is a wholly original novel centred on the murder of a young college student, Sara, who dies at the hands of her boyfriend when he's on LSD. But it's not a mystery/thriller like you might expect: we know who did it and (more or less) why; the book takes us on a journey of the fallout of the murder of a young woman with everything to give. Goldberg changes the focus of the story, chapter by chapter, following a different person (each with a link to the person of the previous chapter) impacted by Sara's death, 12 characters in all.
I didn't quite get that this was the scathing social commentary on the murder of/gendered violence against young women - sure, it had some small elements of that - but nevertheless it made for an engaging and pacy read.
Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for the advance copy, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2021
I received a free e-copy of Nothing Can Hurt You from Nicola Maye Goldberg from NetGalley for my honest review.
This book is based and inspired by a true story about a college student, Sara Morgan, who was murdered. Sara's boyfriend, Blake Campbell, who confessed with a plea of temporary insanity and was acquitted.
An interesting and unique read. Each chapter is written as short synopsis of views, questions and thoughts of family members, friends and people in the community.
This book is based and inspired by a true story about a college student, Sara Morgan, who was murdered. Sara's boyfriend, Blake Campbell, who confessed with a plea of temporary insanity and was acquitted.
An interesting and unique read. Each chapter is written as short synopsis of views, questions and thoughts of family members, friends and people in the community.
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