There is no shying away from it, this book is about one of the worst violations that can take place. A young woman is raped and has to live with the emotional aftermath as best she can. It's really important to note that this book, while not gratuitous in its handling of the subject matter, also doesn't avoid the stark realities and details that go hand in hand with such an earth shattering experience. So please be warned if this subject matter is triggering for you, there is no dancing around the issue.

So naturally, its an uncomfortable read. The lightness the book starts with (almost like a rom-com in a way until you realise the two main characters are never going to end up as anything other than friends) is shattered about 15% of the way in and after that, its tough, emotional going. The incident itself happens under really believable circumstances, which makes it no less jarring or shocking than if it had been a random attack, But made Kate's subsequent reactions all the more understandable. There are such strong figures to demonstrate that those who know their attackers, even if only through a mutual acquaintance, are far less likely to report, than those who are raped by total strangers.

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Not only does Kate have to deal with the trauma after the fact, but also with the potential that she could bump into her attacker again. That she cannot share what happened to her, and who did it to her is heartbreaking. One of the hardest things to stomach in this book, is seeing the attack from the point of view of the perpetrator. Seeing him rationalise his behaviour is nothing short of sickening and definitely felt like an additional blow to the heart.

But, despite the vivid and raw descriptions of her struggle, Kate's emotional turmoil never got to me. It felt like we were being kept at arms length all the time, like we were watching it from a distance. When you compare this to the raw, brutal heartbreak I felt at 'Asking for it' it seems tame in comparison.... but then maybe that's an unfair comparison. In that story, she publicly names her attacker and the reaction from those around her is brutal. And actually, its really interesting that while the #metoo movement is so big right now, this is a story about a woman that cannot bring herself to speak out. If I'd felt a little bit closer to Kate's grief and if the ending had been stronger, instead of fizzling out, this would have been utterly excellent. As it is, it's still a really powerful, challenging read - but one that is most definitely worth your time.

What Red Was was released on 9th May 2019 by Random House UK, Vintage Publishing.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A difficult subject matter handled sensitively, “What Red Was” explores a variety of interpersonal relationships and the ripple effects of trauma.

What Red Was is the sort of book that we should all read at some point in our lives. Particularly poignant in the aftermath of #metoo, it forces the reader to consider sexual assault and its effects and consequences for everyone; not just the victim but their friends, family, colleagues, strangers and society as a whole.

Following an assault at her close friend Max's party, Kate's life is turned upside down and she has to face life as a different person. Over the coming months and years, she is forced to navigate friendships, family and her career in a body that no longer feels like her own. Brutally honest throughout, What Red Was gives an excellent explanation of what it might feel like to face the future after surviving such a hideous trauma. The ending was satisfying without being a fairytale; unashamedly honest that life for Kate cannot go back to being the way it was before. This is an important read for both men and women, and covers consent, sexual violence and psychological trauma very well.

(CN: Discussions of rape/sexual assault)

I'm slightly surprised that I haven't heard more about 'What Red Was' considering how timely it is to the #metoo conversation. This is an exceptionally well written book about sexual assault, trauma and the ripples it has across the generations. I have rarely read something which is so on the nose about the ways trauma affects the relationship you have with your body and the way you perceive it, or just how difficult it can be to tell other people about what happened to you (and the ways in which it affects them too.) When you tell someone you've been sexually assaulted, is it still your story? How does it become interpreted by others?

I felt that aspects of this book were done exceptionally well. The relationship between Kate and Max will inevitably be compared to Sally Rooney, but the class elements - as well as the idea of the class interloper - also reminded me of 'The Line of Beauty' by Alan Hollinghurst. I also like the way Price handled the relationship between Kate and Zara, Max's Mum, who is another survivor of sexual assault. Seeing the way that this news triggered her and later went on to impact the decisions she went on to make with her work is something that I've rarely seen in other books of this nature.

I wasn't so keen on the plot lines concerning the brothers and the sale of the house - this often felt like it was an unwanted deviation from the main meat of the plot and did nothing to provide me with any sympathy for them.

I want more people to talk about 'What Red Was,' because it asks important questions of who to gets to talk about sexual assault and trauma and the effects that these revelations can have. I haven't stopped thinking about it since I read it and I probably won't stop thinking about it for a long time.

What Red Was was a difficult read, to say the least. For starters, I'd like to warn you of a rape scene and self-harm.

The story starts off with telling us about Kate and Max's friendship. While they were at university, Kate was attending a gathering at Max's family home and this is also where Kate is raped by his cousin. Kate doesn't tell anyone about her rape for a long time and What Red Was shows us the aftermaths of her rape.

<spoiler>The title "What Red Was" is probably coined because of the times Kate had to bleed, the first being at the time of her rape and later when she cuts herself</spoiler>

While the book shows us the before and after of sexual assault quite well but at times the plot runs away to show us other characters, whose POVs are quite necessary. The pacing felt slow at times but the writing kept me going. As I have said before, the topic is extremely triggering- for anyone- and I would advise you to read the synopsis and reviews before deciding to jump on this book.

Overall, this was a great debut and if it weren't for the multiple subplots, I would have easily rated this 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a study of trauma and its consequences reverberating throughout the life of young girl and those around her. It begins as a story of two young people from different backgrounds (Normal People and Little Life anyone?) but soon we really leave Max behind to concentrate on Kate as she deals with a rest of her life after she is raped. Her story is parallel with the one of Max's mother, Zara, who is a filmmaker and uses film as a medium for processing and dealing with her own rape. On one hand this is a very well-written depiction of different ways of processing trauma, as Kate first starts to share tidbits of information with people she trusts and at the same time tries to stop unraveling herself. On the other hand it is a story of Max's family, and the more I think about it, the less sure I am of the reason why the author gives them so much space and voice. However, Kate's story is visceral and raw and her character is so beautifully written, that I did not really care about the other parts of the story.

Beautifully written - realistic and moving even when it was uncomfortable reading. The ending felt quite abrupt and I would've liked to see a conclusion between Max and Kate, but that doesn't detract from the amazing build-up of their intersecting lives.

Kate and Max have the closest of platonic friendships; inseparable, Kate accompanies Max to his family home where a terrible violation by one of his cousins alters her life forever.

A graphic story of friendship, betrayal, family, love, and the journey of discovering oneself. A hard and brutal read, but also very engaging at times.

Max and Nicole are as you would expect of university students and the first time we meet them is late at night, after a party.

We follow Nicole as she leaves university and into the life she expects with her best friend and the ever present Max until one fateful party.

As Nicole is off-balanced by events so is the reader. Amazing insight is given to help the reader understand the impact a small moment can have on the rest of your life. We have the comparison of Zara, a mature woman, in comparison to Nicole, a university student, to fill the gaps and help us comprehend what the lifelong impact may be. The devastation is significant and breaks and tests relationships to their limits.

Nicole is so honest we feel she is authentic. The 'Me2' campaign has raised awareness of the numbers but not really helped society understand why/how we need to support those who shared. How many of us have the guts to ask 'what' and 'how' those victims feel if they are unable to speak out?

That's the basis for the novel.

Nothing is as it seems and nothing moves as expected in this insightful and enlightening story.

I was given the novel free by netgalley.com for my fair and honest review.

Kate and Max become friends at university.

Kate comes from a single-parent home. Her mother suffered from depression and Kate’s journey to university is by no means a foregone conclusion, though she is smart.

Max has well-connected and rich parents and his mother is a famous film director.

Kate and Max build a close, platonic friendship whose limits are tested (spoiler alert) when Max’s cousin rapes Kate at a party. What this does to Kate, her ability to confront the experience, who she confides in, turns a fun coming of age comedy full of parties, drugs and alcohol, into something much more complex.

A novel about the cruel edges of creativity and the difficulty of overcoming rape, What Red Was felt like a novel I should enjoy. I admired its exploration of friendship, class and the ways in which we help others to feed our own needs, however – and I may well be a lone voice in this – I can’t say that this was a novel for me.

There is a lot to embrace. There is a rich seam of filmography and film-reference. There is an honest approach to the difficulties of cross-class friendships not only between contemporaries but with the families of those friends, allowing us to examine the rewards and blindnesses of privilege. Addiction, depression, anxiety are all looked at from different angles, exploring a personal struggle with mental health as well as its implications for family and friends. There is also a clear and brazen exploration of rape from both perspectives. All this is impressive and undoubtedly will appeal to and inspire many readers. That it didn’t connect with me, is merely my honest response to What Red Was. I want to like the novel, I just can’t feel it in my guts. I’m sure there will be many who do though and you’ll know if this sounds like your kind of book. You’ll be able to get your hands on a copy in May 2019.

Searing, relevant and beautifully judged. There is so much here to admire I hardly know where to start. The characters are so impeccably drawn it feels like I've been eavesdropping on them rather than reading about them. Everything here feels authentic. The relationships, dialogue, internal landscapes are all incredibly astute. Rosie Price displays so much insight into what makes people tick I can only assume she has somehow lived all of these lives herself. As a reading experience, What Red Was sits at the junction between One Day and #MeToo. By making us fall in love with her funny, flawed and sometimes infuriating people, Ms Price ensures we are too committed to everyone involved to look away from the trauma unfolding before us. A harrowing, cathartic and read.

With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to see an advance copy of What Red Was.

2.5 rounded up

I'm struggling with how to review <i>What Red Was</i> - there are moments where it feels like a well-handled depiction of how one young woman deals with the aftermath of rape, and at others it feels like a bit of a drawn out and confused narrative lacking nuance, where the characters are kept at a distance (which is probably due to the style of writing). Yet something kept me reading, so if it sounds vaguely up your street I'd probably recommend checking it out.

As I suspected when I first read the synopsis, this book is going to be very divisive. I suspect the style is very 'marmite' and that, potentially, if you're a fan of someone like Sally Rooney, where the prose is very sparse and you're thrown right into the middle of something without much of an introduction, you might get on with this book. However, I am not one of those people. There was no build up, no interest between the main characters for me. It felt as though were pages missing or sections that were just left out for no reason. We were missing huge amounts of detail that might have given the book a bit more levity. Not for me, unfortunately.

I feel like I'm missing something - Emperors New Clothes? I didn't enjoy this novel. I found it thoroughly depressing and struggled to make my way through it. Kate and Max forge an unlikely friendship. They have contrasting upbringings and perspectives and yet they are able to form a platonic relationship (not sure why it never became romantic). They offer each other incredible support. Until Kate gets raped and her world falls apart, impacting her relationships.

For me, the story lacked pace and the different characters and sub-plots felt like tangents. I struggled to see where the story was heading other than to emphasize all the destructive elements of society. Everyone appeared to be weak and "abusing" - smoking, drinking, drugging and self mutilation. I was confused whether this was going to be a story of love or redemption. In the end I don't think it was either. When I stop reading every word and start scanning, I know that I'm at risk of not completing a book. While I recognized some important themes were being raised, I kept waiting for more, but in the end I just felt let down by a rambling plot and spineless characters. .

I enjoyed What Red Was - it was a well-written, thoughtful read on an important contemporary issue. I particularly liked that the ending didn’t tie everything up too neatly. However, I found the plot a bit slow to get going - you need to get to the 25% mark before the author moves beyond what feels like setting everything up, and I wasn’t sure why some of the characters needed to be included - the book has a pretty large cast and I wasn’t sure what purpose they all served.

What Red Was is a chilling read about a rape survivor and mental and physical impact it has on the victim, life and the surroundings. I enjoyed reading the book but often couldn't see the thread throughout the story and the different protagonists.

This is a tricky one to review as there were many elements I liked. The dialogue and character relationships are spot on and I did get pulled into their lives easily. And the trauma - in terms of both the event and its aftermath - were done very well and sensitively. But then the book kind of drifted. I wanted the main character, Kate, to be more responsible for her destiny, to have more agency. I didn't like that Max's mother seemed to claim the main role in terms of driving the narrative. I wanted a bit more to happen and I felt it ended rather limply.

For fifty or so pages What Red Was trundles along unproblematically and rather listlessly. Kate meets Max, a posh boy, at University. They become close friends but never get together romantically, as you know they won’t. Then, at a party at the posh boy’s posh parents’ posh house, Kate is raped by Max’s cousin, a man who has To live is to suffer tattooed near his penis. Kate unravels.
For reasons that are entirely justifiable, she is selective in who and what she tells. Zara, Max’s filmmaker mother, has herself been raped years earlier. As the character with the most agency Zara seeks restitution for her own self and for Kate, via the medium of her work.
A sizeable chunk of the novel is taken up with the saga of Max’s family, with subplots around inheritance, a house and some problematic uncles. I found this frustrating, wanting to get back to the kernel of the story. I wanted more of Kate and Zara. The writing can feel a little flat, with some odd coinages- “under-exaggerating”, for example.
The novel’s at its best when the author writes about sex and the body. The assault itself is unflinchingly described, as Kate’s body lets her down – “the ridges inside her softening, acquiescing to the rhythm he dictated.” When she later finds herself self-harming, the knife scars on her thighs are “pale red ladders leading the way to her cunt…” I was left wanting much more of this visceral detail, less of the tribulations of monied folk in West London and leafy Gloucestershire.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The start of this book reminded me of Brideshead Revisited. Kate Quaile starts university and makes friends with the charismatic Max who comes from a wealthy family background (for Brideshead read Bisley ). Like Charles Ryder, Kate is quickly involved in the flawed Rippon family .Is Max with his drinking and drug habits the new Sebastian Flyte? What is his relationship with Elias?

Kate is raped at a Rippon family party. It is NOT a date rape. Psychologically the rest of the book is about how Kate deals with the traumatic experience.

Like many other rape survivors Kate feels unable to process what has happened to her and is unable to disclose to anyone, partly because she feels that she won't be believed.

She experiences reactions of why me, why didn't I scream, guilt, shame and other conflicting emotions. When she does make an important disclosure, her rape is "appropriated" in some ways by the person she told. This is important to the plot.

Having worked as a counsellor with survivors of sexual abuse and rape there was a lot of psychological truth in how Kate processes her rape over time.

The perpetrator convinces himself that it was consensual sex.and is able to justify what he did in a warped way.

There is a crowded cast of minor characters and like other reviewers, I wondered if this cast diverted attention away from the most important part of the book..

I found the book to be a compelling read with important messages about rape. Here is a debut writer ( I believe) who will flourish in years to come because she has talent.
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

A great compelling read.
Recommended
Thank you to both NetGalley and Random House uk for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review