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All the Rage by Courtney Summers - Review

Monday, September 14, 2015

Where did I get it? NetGalley - my first one! I signed up, had a browse, requested this, and got permission to have it just a couple of hours later! It's a bit complicated with getting permission for NetGalley to email your Kindle, so persevere if you sign up. 

What's it about? Well, here I sort of need to write two things. This is the official blurb from Summers' website
The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything–friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her past there. But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time–and they certainly won’t now–but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.
However, this description isn't, to me, entirely accurate. We don't see any of the first assault, Romy's rape. By the time we meet here, she's living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and is living out a pretty miserable life. She and her mum have moved in with her mum's new boyfriend, Todd. Romy likes work and her co-worker Leon, but hates school and is bullied relentlessly there. There's a big party (which I think is where Romy was raped the year before) and Romy goes. Her ex-friend goes missing, and the stress of it brings everything back to Romy. I had issues with keeping the timeline straight, and I don't think, from looking at Goodreads, that I was the only one

What age range is it for? 15+

Are any main characters LGBTQ+? No. 

Are any main characters non-white? Yes, Leon and his family. 

Are any main characters disabled either mentally or physically? Yes, Romy is living with some pretty big mental health problems. Her mum's boyfriend Todd is physically disabled, which some in the town think is fake as an excuse to not work. 

Is there any sex stuff? Yes - HUGE trigger warning for rape and sexual assault, obviously. 

Are drugs mentioned or used? Yes - there's some talk of a date-rape drug. 

Is there any talk of death? Yes, it's quite explicit. 

Are there swear words? Yes, lots

Would I recommend the book? Yes, definitely. It's one of the most brutal and unashamed books about rape that I've ever read, so I especially love that it's for a YA audience. I think any reader will love Romy but may be frustrated with her - she finds it very hard to open up to her mum and ask for help. Her relationship with Leon is extremely sweet, and also with Leon's sister. It isn't like the blurb says, but it is fantastically written. 

How many stars? 10 out of 10. It isn't perfect, but it's a fantastic example of YA. 

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