Mini-Review: ALL THE RAGE by Courtney Summers

Title: All the Rage
Author: Courtney Summers (@courtney_s)
Published: April 14th, 2015
Series: N/A
Genre: YA contemporary
POV: 1st person, past |  present
Pages: 321
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: electronic ARC | hardcover
Source: Netgalley + Publisher |  Purchased
Rating: The Royal Library, Top Shelf

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 name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous. 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.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out,All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?

All the Rage features Courtney Summers usual writing style, and that's a compliment. Unflinchingly honest, this book throws harsh truths in your face and dares you to acknowledge them. Nothing is simple or easy when it comes to Romy's story, and this is not an easy read when it comes to your emotions. The novel throws all the ways we fail one another out into the open, and demands a changes in ourselves and in society when it comes to sexual assault victims. Powerful, heartbreaking, and disconcerting, All the Rage is an important story, and it's one that everyone should read. Borrow or buy it, but please, read this book. 

Highlights: Summers' previous novels end feature complex characters and invoke strong emotions, and this book continues that trend. Romy is a flawed protagonist, and she doesn't shy away from that side of herself. Instead, she embraces her reputation, and she demands attention while also trying to fade into the background. Her relationship with her family was nicely portrayed, and I especially loved the budding romance. 

Lowlights: The timeline is admittedly perplexing, but perhaps that was intentional (or maybe the ARC I read was incorrect). I was expecting Kellan to play a larger role in this story, but it has more do with Romy and the residents of the town.

Note: This is a rape story. It's the aftermath of rape, featuring the psychological effects of such horror. It features plenty of bullying and abuse. It's a bit jarring at times, but it's an important story. 

Rating: The Royal Library, Top Shelf: Loved, 5 out of 5. Courtney Summers never disappoints. Her work is daring, honest, and forces you to take a hard look at your life and society. All the Rage is a powerful story, and I cannot wait to see what Summers writes next. 

I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher for review consideration. 

This is no way affected my opinion of the novel. 

Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers Review

Book: Cracked Up To Be 

Author: Courtney Summers

Release date: December, 2008

Source: Bought

Summary: 

What's the worst thing you've ever done?

When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all.

Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

Review: Powerful and raw, Cracked Up To Be is one of the most realistic novels I've read in some time.

Parker Fadley is one of those characters you want to hate. She's sarcastic, blunt, and a bit cold in her attempts to alienate herself from everyone else...but it's almost impossible to hate her. In fact, it was refreshing to have a narrator that wasn't perfect, that isn't one of those shy-weak-insert adjective here-but-transforms-into-butterfly girls. Parker is the freaking butterfly, but she's got some broken wings. Her memories from the night that haunts her show up interspersed here and there, in an almost Laurie Halse Anderson fashion. 

But just as a warning, there is cussing, drinking, et cetera. As long as you're the type of reader who doesn't mind, then it won't be a problem. 

If you want to read a novel that will tug at your heartstrings, make you laugh, and gasp with surprise, then read Cracked Up To Be. 

Highlights: The realism was a major plus, because at times it felt like I was reading something personal to somebody. Parker was a major highlight because she's so different, so broken, and did things I would morally question, but I still liked her. The girl has flaws, and it was nice to see in comparison to the usual set of narrators (nothing against those usual narrators, but it is nice to see a variety of personalities, especially one like Parker's). 

Lowlights: There are some slow points, but then the story would pull me back in. I also thought it was a bit weird how drawn Jake was to her, considering she's not exactly nice to him. But the relationship they have was fun to watch develop. 

Rating: