First published 2018
Mara has always trusted her twin brother Owen completely. When her friend Hannah accuses Owen of rape, Mara's world splits apart. She cannot reconcile the brother she knows with the violent crime Hannah describes. Mara finds herself caught between loyalty to her family and her moral compass. Her relationship with ex-girlfriend Charlie adds another layer of complexity as emotions run high. Hannah, Mara, and Charlie must navigate the aftermath of the accusation together. The crisis forces Mara to confront her own buried trauma while questioning everything she believed about consent and justice. She struggles with victim blaming dynamics and her own past experiences. As the truth emerges, Mara must decide not only what she believes about her brother but also whether Charlie belongs in her future. The three young women support each other through a devastating situation that tests their understanding of assault, family loyalty, and survival.
Genres: contemporary, young-adult, psychological-thriller, social-justice, family-drama
Vibes: dark, emotionally-intense, intimate, introspective, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance-romance, unreliable-perspective
Period: contemporary
295 pages · Paperback · Clarion Books
Content warnings: abuse, sexual-assault