I received this title as an ebook from Netgalley. . Unfortunately the formatting is very bad, with numerous words split by a dash, and words missing at the start of every chapter. I read to 20% but these issues became so irritating, completely spoiling the flow of the narrative for me, so it’s a DNF I’m sorry to say.
No fault of the author, just the formatting. Hopefully it can be sorted out.

Devastating and powerful, this book explores the ripple effect of a violent sexual assault, and the ways in which it intensely affects the survivor, Nick, as well as his protective older brother Tony, Tony's wife Julia, and even the detective investigating the case. Told with two timelines, one following the immediate aftermath of the attack and one several years later, we see how deeply and heavily marked each person is by the harrowing event at the story's centre. The author has clearly researched the subject thoroughly and has written with compassion and grace, building a story that is about truth, family, and, ultimately, survival.

Well this laboured a bit with me to start with and was a slow burn, so much so that at 30% in I was in two minds to ditch it, but boy am I glad I didn’t. A hard subject matter rape, and male rape at that, so less written about. The book brilliantly shows the repercussions of this not only on the victim Nick but his wider family too and the justice system. Add to that a complex childhood, mixed family dynamics and you’re in for what in the end became a great read

When Julia is asked if she will visit a retired detective, who worked on the rape case four years earlier that her brother-in-law was the victim of, she is reluctant to take up the offer. But Detective Rice, a religious man, has terminal cancer and doesn’t have long to live. He needs to make peace with himself and God on a few issues that he feels Julia can lay to rest for him and give him a clear conscience before he meets his maker.

Tony was seventeen when his brother Nick was born and soon became his protector from the neglect he was raised in. When Tony married Julia, she stepped into the caring role for Nick too. With the couples’ guidance, Nick was now a confident young man at university. Nick had a casual relationship with a male friend at university who wasn’t the most reliable person to turn up for a date. When a good looking older man approached Nick, they got on well and, when the man suggested that they go back to his hotel, Nick went with him.

Nick came round in a terrible state, badly beaten, bleeding and eventually ended up at the hospital where he told doctors he had been raped. Tony and Julia were determined to be there for him, and a search began to find the man responsible. The worse was still to come in this riveting story that took a new turn at every chapter. This story dives deep into how the victims family deal with the rape and how the person accused reacts in the story.

Not everyone will feel at ease with the story, not because it is rape but because it is about a man been raped. There are some hard to read pages of life afterwards. This story does not just have twists, it made my mind spin. I had no idea where it would all go. All I can say is read it, it has jaw-dropping chapter after stunning chapter.

I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

This was an excellent story, not a very nice thing to read about but it does happen and I think this exposes the emotional responses from the whole family. How do you get over something like this? This takes you through everyone’s emotions and feelings and how they each react. This is written with such feeling you can almost feel their pain.

I can’t say I’ve read many, if any, books that focus on male rape so I applaud the author for going down that route and shining a light on this.

Whilst this book is about what happens to Nick that night, it isn’t really a police procedural, this book focuses more on the aftermath of this event and how it affects everyone’s lives, not just Nick’s as they deal with the lengthy process of waiting to see whether it will go to court and whether Nick will have to testify.

It’s definitely a slow burn as chapters flip from back when it happened to years later – this is where we discover not everything may be as it seems and we are then taken on this journey from Nick reporting the assault to everything that happens after.

I think the author did a fantastic job of really portraying just how a crime like this can affect everyone, especially family members and the turmoil / anger they go through at just wanting to help or do something to make it all better.

Overall I wouldn’t say this was a thriller but more of a domestic drama. The book is slow paced but really builds on these characters, their lives, their decisions and just how far they are willing to go for the ones they love.

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

📕 Damage By Caitlin Wahrer
📕 Publication Date - 8th July 2021

First time reading this authors work. This book tells the story of Nick, who is attacked. It goes through the aftermath of this and the main characters are Nick, Tiny his brother and Julia his sister in law and of course Detective Rice.

So the subject of this story is not pleasant one BUT this book had me gripped. It was a good paced storyline and I really liked the main characters. A couple of twists at the end ..... did not see that coming!!

My reviews are always brief but I never like to give too much away!!

#netgalley #bookstagramshaz #damage #caitlinwahrer


https://www.instagram.com/Bookstagramshaz

Nick Hall, 20 years old student in Maine, meets a much older man, Josh, at a bar and decides to leave with him. But this encounter transforms in Nick being brutally sexually assaulted. He reports it to the police and Detective Rice is determined to do his best to get justice. In the meanwhile the whole family is deeply affected, especially Tony, Nick’s older brother, as he feels helpless and guilty that he wasn’t there for his younger brother.
The perpetrator is then finally identified and charged, but upon attaining bail he declares on the media that everything was a lie and that it was Nick himself to request “rough sex”.
Once the story goes on the media, then the psychological toll on the young boy and his finally.

The story is incredibly well written and brings attention to a very real subject, which unfortunately is still a taboo in today’s society. The fact that the author can bring awareness and create a huge amount of suspense had me astonished.

I got so invested in the story and characters that I found it difficult to let go. I definitely hope there would be more books related to this world! 🙈

4.5*

An intense, unsettling and heart-breaking drama about assault, family, loyalty, and the consequences of our actions

Tony only wants to protect his brother Nick.
Nick only wanted a drink with his crush, but becomes a victim after being sexually assaulted and beaten.
Julia is worried about both her husband Tony, and her brother-in-law Nick. Nick is spiralling, and Tony is obsessed with his case.

One horrific rape. One family. Untold damage...

Firstly, I cannot believe this powerful, slow burn was Caitlin Wahrer' debut! It was long, but well researched, well written and sensitively handled. Wahrer took an unflinching look at a topic with much stigma attached to it, male rape in the gay community. The Damage really delved into masculinity, being a victim and the loss of identity. It also discussed the emotional aftermath of assault on mental health on a victim, as well as the wider impact on family.

This character focussed book burrowed under my skin. The characters of Nick and his family had me turning the pages of this dark and gritty book; they all felt so real to me, like I knew them personally by the end. They weren't perfect, and I could feel the pressure on them from the media coverage of the case, and from the looming court case. The tension between them was palpable.

Told in dual timelines from 2015, when the attack happened, and 2019, by Nick, Julia, Tony and Detective John Rice, this book made me feel angry, sad and uncomfortable. I think that's why it took me a little longer than usual to read, I was really out of my comfort zone here. Ah the judgment, ignorance and irritating opinions on social media in the book enraged me! In real life I can't stop myself from looking at the comments on articles, which frustrates me, and similarly the public opinions in the book made me feel the same, it felt so realistic!

The Damage also looked at alcoholism, family abuse, anger and vengeance. Nick's character broke my heart. I openly cried reading about his self loathing.

This not a light hearted book, it was hard hitting, and thought provoking, if a little slow at times. But it also had surprising twists and a satisfying ending.

It's no secret I love a psychological suspense/thriller that is if there's some unpredictability or originality in the book and this definitely has both.
Tony has always been close to his brother Nick, always looked out for him when his parents didn't always do the best job they could of.
So when Nick goes for a night out and is sexually assaulted the ramifications not only for Nick but the whole family are devastating.
When the perpetrator is arrested, things begin to ramp up, denying the true versions of what actually happened trying to cause a shadow of doubt over what actually happened to Nick, The whole family need justice but it seems like somebody can't wait for justice to be served and instead seeks revenge....

A story of doubt and suspicion this book had me hooked! The first half reads at a slower pace but I really found it insightful. It's not often that male to male sexual assault is wrote about in psychological thrillers and you can tell how much research Caitlin Wahrer has undertaken and compassion she has for this topic. Nick is so vulnerable and is clearly broken by the tragic incident, but this book really highlights how sexual assault affects the whole family, which in my opinion needs to be spoken about more.
The second half of the book sees the build up of the case going to court and really becomes intense. It's twisty and makes for compulsive reading as the revenge element comes into play and that ending....
Overall I really enjoyed this book! I didn't predict where it was going and think this is a brilliant debut.
I can't wait to see what this author writes next.

What an awesome read! Thought-provoking and at times extremely sad!


"Your brother was sexually assaulted last night" One of the worst things you can hear.
When it comes to our family we would do anything to protect them but sometimes we can do more harm than good.
There are so many layers to this book. On the surface, it's a story about a young guy being raped and beaten up by someone he met in a bar. How will he cope with this assault and what will it do to his family, especially his brother who is like a father figure to him. When we peel back the layers we see deeply flawed characters all battling their own demons. It is a story about love and loyalty. About right and wrong and in the end about doing the right thing. But whose right is right and whose wrong is wrong.

"When you're good, bad things can still happen. And if you're bad, you can still be lucky"

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK, Micheal Joseph for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Damage" is a dark tale which unfolds across dual timelines. Caitlin Wahrer's stunning début tackles sexual assault. She focuses most of her attention on the impact on the family in the aftermath, especially the pervasive shame and specific issues pertaining to male victims. A very compelling read!

Although this was a really good book I found it quite a difficult book to read due to the subject matter. Reading it made me feel very uncomfortable. Truth be told I don’t think I would have bought this book without checking out what it was about. We all know that things like this go on in the world but I really don’t want to read about them. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Damage is a very good debut by Caitlin Wahrer and I am interested to see where the next book takes me.
This book looks into a caring family and how a sexual assault rips through them and leaves them all different people. Nick has been on a night out and has met a good looking man, he goes with him to a hotel he is staying at and is battered and raped. Nick has had a tough life and has been basically brought up by his stepbrother, Tony. There is nothing in life Tony won’t do for Nick. Tony’s wife, Julia, is the same but is much more organised with her thoughts than violent like her husband can be. Tony thinks violence will sort this out as the man that raped Nick denies any wrongdoing and gets online support from people which angers Tony more.
This was an interesting and twisty read, there were so many twists I didn’t see the ending coming at all!! This was a brilliantly observed book looking into the depths of how one awful event can cause a split in such a tight knit family and can forgiveness be the answer to the happiness to return?
I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

What a debut! Julia Hall goes to the house of a 'dying detective', John Rice in 2019 - she does not want to be there and is worried. Then we move back to 2015 and how they first met. Julia's brother-in-law, Nick, is hospitalised after a serious sexual assault and the police are involved. This story not only covers Nick's assault and the effects it has on him but also the far-reaching effects it has on the rest of the family. The story is well plotted, well written and a compulsive read.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Caitlin Wahrer/Penguin Michael Joseph for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow, such a great read with really well written characters and a subject that is very rarely written about.
It was full of suspense with twist and turns a plenty which made it into a real page turner for me.
It is one of those books that stays with you long after finishing it and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Nick is a student picked up in a bar by a 39yr old business man and viciously raped, he struggles to come to terms with the rape suffering from mental health problems and self harm.
Tony is Nicks eldest brother by 17yrs who he treats as a son taking over from their abusive alcoholic father.
The story is very sympathetically done covering a very difficult subject.

The second half of the story is the struggle the family goes through and the length they go to protect the family and keep them safe and together.
The story goes very slow and wanders off a bit some unbelievable so knocked down one star, but ends well.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

When a impromptu night out turns sour Nick just wants to forget it. However it is hard to put the physical scars behind him. He doesn't like to draw attention to himself and doing the right thing will do exactly that. Tony has always protected his baby brother but Nick is an adult now and needs to deal with things on his own.

This was a heavy but vitally important read. Many a book has been written about female rape and sex crimes but to focus on male victims is rare. As the story unfolded my eyes were opened to the obvious differences in how everyone from the media, the general public and even the families involved react to a gay man's accusations. Assumptions are made due to a lack of understanding and very little sympathy is present which was just as shocking to me as the crime itself. Furthermore I really don't think I have ever read a book that centres round the aftermath of a crime in such a detailed way. Often the drama is reserved for the courtroom but with this book as the title suggests the damage is done from the minute the crime is committed and for both the victim and the accused there is no getting away from it. Then the devasting erosion spreads to the families concerned and this book perfectly portrays just how deep and ultimately life changing this can be. The time waiting for a trial that no-one can predict the outcome is depicted perfectly in this slow burn of a read

Caitlin Wahrer's debut is a compellingly raw and visceral family drama that will take a long time to forget.

I got Damage by Caitlin Wahrer from NetGalley for free for a fair and honest review.

Damage tells the story of Nick a young man, who has always looked up to his much elder half-brother, in fact, in many ways tony was more of a father figure than a brother.
Then one night one night while Nick is out with a friend, he is going out for a drink to meet someone he fancies. However, when he does not arrive, Nick meets a man in at the bar and they go to a hotel room for a one-night stand with a businessman.
In the morning Nick wakes up in a hotel room after being brutally assaulted and raped.
We then see the how Nick and his brother Tony who is married to a former state public defender, deal with the after affects, of the tape and the legal proceedings.

Damage novel is told in the two-timeline format, the novel is stats in 2019 when Julia, Tony’s wife goes to meat the detective in charge of the investigation, who is now dying of cancer. This leads to the story going backwords and forwards between the interview and when the case was being investigated.
As the story goes back and forwards in time the story is told through multiple perspectives, these are Nick, Tony, Julie and the detective amongst others.
This could have made Damage, which is already told using two different timelines, could make this story with multiple perspectives, if handled badly really confusing for readers. However, with Catlin Wahrer writing (a debut novelist as well), this was never the case with this novel.
While Damage is a truly suspenseful novel with twist and turns along the way, which would grace most thrillers. What the writer does is take the book to the next level with her ability to write about human emotions, well.
This is particularly true with Nick the young man who is raped and how he deals with the mental anguish of losing control, of the situation. There is one part of the story when he is at a low edge, when he looks at the toilet and wishes that he could just disappear into the water, which I felt was very poignant.
Damage may seem to be a novel about the rape of one man, but it is more than that, this is because it uses this plot line to examine being in control.
This is lose of control is seen through at first the eyes of Nick as he feels he lost control of events in the hotel room, Tony his brother who wants to be able to fix things for his younger brother and Julia who thinks that wants to control the situation by making everything better.
All this makes Damage a debut novel by Caitlin Wahrer a novel that you will both enjoy and is a much deeper story that will stay with you after you have finished and make you think about what you read.

Damage is a thriller centring around the notion of what happens when a small-town family is pushed to the brink, how far will they go to protect one of their own? Tony has always looked out for his younger brother, Nick. So when he's called to a hospital bed where Nick is lying battered and bruised after a violent sexual assault, his protective instincts flare, and a white-hot rage begins to build. As a small-town New England lawyer, Tony's wife, Julia, has cases involving kids all the time. When Detective Rice gets assigned to this one, Julia feels they're in good hands. Especially because she senses that Rice, too, understands how things can quickly get complicated. Very complicated. After all, one moment Nick was having a drink with a handsome stranger; the next, he was at the centre of an investigation threatening to tear not only him but his entire family, apart. And now his attacker, out on bail, is disputing Nick's version of what happened.

As Julia tries to help her brother-in-law, she sees Tony's desire for revenge, to fix things for Nick, getting out of control. Tony is starting to scare her. And before long, she finds herself asking: does she really know what her husband is capable of? Or of what she herself is? This is a compulsive, edgy and propulsive read about what we will do in the name of love and blood. Exploring elements of doubt, tragedy, tension, and justice, The Damage is an all-consuming read that marks the explosive debut of an extraordinary new writer and in it, she addresses the topic of sexual assault with sensitivity and aplomb; the sheer talent it takes to raise awareness of a justice system truly lacking in terms of legal ramifications relating to the committal of sexual harassment, or worse, and maintaining a riveting and enthralling storyline is difficult to fathom. A powerful, hard-hitting and thought-provoking psychological thriller and an intense, palpably suspenseful and deeply emotional read. Highly recommended.