A compelling read throughout . This story drew me in from the start. I was hopeful of Q getting her revenge for the attack she suffered. A great cast of characters, some likeable and some not!

📚Book Review: The Sharp Edge of Silence by Carmen Kelly Rosenblum

The Sharp Edge of Silence follows Quinn, a teenage girl with a scholarship to boarding school, as she deals with having been raped by one of the popular boys after their summer prom.

It’s super dark and twisty as Quinn plots revenge and even tries to get her hands on a gun so she can kill him for what he did to her.

Some of the chapters also switch to providing the perspectives of Charlotte and Max. Charlotte is one of Quinn’s friends and is also dating one of the other super popular boys. Whilst Max is a bit of a geek, but finds himself trying to impress the popular boys when he gets chosen to be the cox for their rowing team.

All in all this book was a good insight into US boarding school dynamics and I liked the characters. It had some dark twists and turns as Quinn struggled to cope with what had happened to her but I liked where this story line went. Overall I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.

This was a DNF for me - I read the first 50% and although there was a lot of scene setting the overall plot was moving at too slow a pace. I appreciate the opportunity to read it - and because I’ve not completed the book I won’t be leaving a review on any platform, as it’s just the pacing that didn’t suit me personally.

Starting with the author’s note you know this is going to be a gripping but emotional read. The characters are compelling and the book is well written. The sad part is that it IS believable and that message is likely to stay with me.

Although the beginning was slow and there were many characters to keep track of, I'm glad I kept reading because it turned out to be an excellent novel. The book deals with sensitive topics such as rape, sexualization, masculinity, and the objectification of women in a thoughtful and delicate way. The storyline is captivating, and I found myself completely absorbed in it, rooting for some characters and hoping others would face the consequences of their actions. Overall, it's a compelling and thought-provoking read.

This book is a thrilling political intrigue story that follows a determined protagonist as she uncovers dangerous secrets. It keeps readers hooked from beginning to end with its tense plot and compelling characters, providing both thrills and deep insights, making it a truly captivating read.

This is set in an elite boarding school. It is told from multiple perspectives. It is well written and the characters are well developed.

A harrowing read but an important one. It makes my skin crawl to think of the things that happen in this book happening day in day out and the perpetrators getting away with it.
The authors note makes it even more real too.

“There are monsters amongst us and they look like us - ‘not all men.’”

This hit me so hard, but it was really an excellent piece of literature. Please check the trigger warnings for this one, but I highly recommend it,

I was really drawn in to this book and so excited for it, thinking it would be exactly what I was looking for, but 15% in and I just... didn't care.
I do struggle with multi-pov as I can forget who's who or who done what etc. but ultimately, nothing piqued my interested and I found myself not being interested in reading anything because I just didn't want to read this, so I've dnf'd.

I don't think it's a bad book. I definitely think it will have it's audience, it just wasn't what I was looking for and I felt forcing myself to finish it would lend to a poorer review, and also affect my desire to read other books.

DNF at 68 pages

This sounded like it would be right up my alley but I don’t think it’s going to be for me. The pacing is far too slow and I didn’t get attached enough to any of the characters to care about how they are connected to Q and what happened to her and what’s she’s planning. The writing is great, really descriptive and easy to envision but the pace was a lot slower than I was expecting and I don’t think I’ll enjoy it the way I want to.

I found it a bit slow to start but I persevered. What an important and challenging topic to write about. Credit to the author giving the subject the weight it deserves.

I think this has become one of my favourite YA academic setting books that deal with SA and toxic masculinity

I think this is a book everyone should read at least once!

I found this book’s plot far too slow. By a third of the way through nothing had actually happened and I’m afraid I gave up, it’s rare for me to not finish a book but I think I gave it a fair go. Some will enjoy it - just not for me.

This book is superbly well written, tackling the subject of toxic masculinity and sexual assault with honesty and raw passion.
Sadly, it’s also a book that needs to be read by both sexes, as misogyny is still rife in schools. Rosenblum depicts a culture of privilege and hypocrisy, where diversity is supposedly “championed”, yet traditional values and orthodoxies rule the day. The cover sums it up nicely: “boys will be boys” has been used for too long as an excuse for appalling behaviour.
Rosenblum didn’t use the narrative as a means of male bashing - pleasingly, the main character, Quinn, was supported by male and female friends, ultimately leading her to gain revenge. A satisfying end to an emotional read.

This unfortunately is a DNF at 18%. I tried really hard but the writing style isn't for me, I just couldn't get into it.

Not going to lie it was the cover of this that initially drew me straight in and had me intrigued. I was actually worried when I read the plot and thought that it sounded amazing too that it would disappoint.. spoiler it did not! It was incredibly powerful and definitely eye opening, would be ideal for younger readers I think too! I couldn’t put it down as it became so addictive to find out what was going to happen next as the chain of revenge started for Quinn. I think it was upsetting in parts, unsettling in others but ultimately amazingly well written and important to read.

This book was so good. It sends such a crucial message. I felt myself relating to the book a little which I didn’t expect and I did cry a little. We are always told boys do certain things because “that’s just the way they are” or “they have a crush on you”. We’re never told it’s for nefarious reasons. One of the reasons I love this book is that it breaks that down. It gets rid of that notion, in a healthy way. More adult driven books resort to violence when the FMC is wronged or hurt by a man. Not this book. It handles the situation so delicately. I will defo be reading more from this author.

Tackled impotent topics,lots of emotions.
Enjoyed the complexity of the characters as it’s just humans, morally grey characters. Very well written excited to see what else comes out from This author.

I really enjoyed this story, it was a different take on issues and I thought came together really well. The characters were well thought out and I was hooked from the start.

⭐️⭐️ 2 very disappointing stars. This book is full of unlikeable characters and slow, slow chapters and storytelling.

I kept waiting for something to happen. After about 30% I gave up then tried again a week later. It plodded on.

Not sure why I am not getting what all the 5 star reviews are getting.