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A review by jonetta
Sex & Violence by Carrie Mesrobian
5.0
Sex has always come without consequence for seventeen-year-old Evan. It was easy for him, even. That is, until he hooks up the wrong girl and finds himself in the wrong place at very much the wrong time. After an assault that leaves Evan scarred inside and out, he and his father retreat to the family cabin in rural Minnesota—which, ironically, turns out to be the one place where Evan can't escape other people. Including himself. Yet it may also offer him his best shot at making sense of his life again.
I’m not usually a fan of YA written in a male’s POV. Not so with this book. It made me rethink my semi-strict rule of staying away from “boy” fiction. Mesrobian flawlessly enters the mind of 17-year old Evan and lets his story flow seamlessly through the pages. It’s gritty, unapologetic, and most importantly, believable.
Evan undergoes a major transformation in this story. He starts off as a care-free, cocky kid with no plans for the future. Then his whole world is rocked and he, along with his mostly absent dad, is left to pick up the pieces. This is when a new Evan is introduced. He’s vulnerable, and not so sure about life anymore. He struggles to do everyday things, like showering, and doesn’t know his place anymore. But with the help of a therapist, a motley crew of friends, an island, and handwritten letters, Evan begins to figure things out again. Even if he doesn’t have all the answers, life goes on and he’ll move on with it.
I’m a character-driven reader, so as long as I can connect to the characters, the story is golden (for the most part). Yet, had I not connected to Evan, this story was so well-written, I could have forgiven the lack of connection. From start to finish, I was sucked in and couldn’t turn away. Months later and I’m still thinking about these characters and their stories. Their stories were complex yet realistic. The content in this book tended to lean to the heavy, no light-hearted reading here, and luckily it still managed to stay away from the angsty teen drama found in so much YA. My only complaint is that I’d liked to have seen what became of Collette and Evan’s letters. I’m okay with open-ended endings, but I became so invested in this book, that I wanted just a bit more.
You are instantly drawn to Evan and his story. The story is hard to get through at times, but Evan tells it so matter-of-factly, so unfalteringly, that it’s easy to stay with him. He’s not the frequently found hero, Evan is flawed. He’s flawed and knows it. Yet, his charm, wit, and self-deprecating humor pulls you in. He might not be perfect, but he’s honest, deceivingly caring, and not afraid of taking chances. The other characters are introduced in different depths, but all well done and fleshed out. Most of the book I wanted to shake his dad, hug his therapist, and nudge a friend or two. And even when Evan doesn’t behave in exactly the way you’d want him to, you root for him. You root for the mismatched relationships he’s forged. And you root for his survival.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)
I’m not usually a fan of YA written in a male’s POV. Not so with this book. It made me rethink my semi-strict rule of staying away from “boy” fiction. Mesrobian flawlessly enters the mind of 17-year old Evan and lets his story flow seamlessly through the pages. It’s gritty, unapologetic, and most importantly, believable.
Evan undergoes a major transformation in this story. He starts off as a care-free, cocky kid with no plans for the future. Then his whole world is rocked and he, along with his mostly absent dad, is left to pick up the pieces. This is when a new Evan is introduced. He’s vulnerable, and not so sure about life anymore. He struggles to do everyday things, like showering, and doesn’t know his place anymore. But with the help of a therapist, a motley crew of friends, an island, and handwritten letters, Evan begins to figure things out again. Even if he doesn’t have all the answers, life goes on and he’ll move on with it.
I’m a character-driven reader, so as long as I can connect to the characters, the story is golden (for the most part). Yet, had I not connected to Evan, this story was so well-written, I could have forgiven the lack of connection. From start to finish, I was sucked in and couldn’t turn away. Months later and I’m still thinking about these characters and their stories. Their stories were complex yet realistic. The content in this book tended to lean to the heavy, no light-hearted reading here, and luckily it still managed to stay away from the angsty teen drama found in so much YA. My only complaint is that I’d liked to have seen what became of Collette and Evan’s letters. I’m okay with open-ended endings, but I became so invested in this book, that I wanted just a bit more.
You are instantly drawn to Evan and his story. The story is hard to get through at times, but Evan tells it so matter-of-factly, so unfalteringly, that it’s easy to stay with him. He’s not the frequently found hero, Evan is flawed. He’s flawed and knows it. Yet, his charm, wit, and self-deprecating humor pulls you in. He might not be perfect, but he’s honest, deceivingly caring, and not afraid of taking chances. The other characters are introduced in different depths, but all well done and fleshed out. Most of the book I wanted to shake his dad, hug his therapist, and nudge a friend or two. And even when Evan doesn’t behave in exactly the way you’d want him to, you root for him. You root for the mismatched relationships he’s forged. And you root for his survival.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley)