Amy Reed’s latest novel battles rape culture with self-discovery



Two years ago, when the news came out about Waking Life (the since-shuttered West Asheville coffee shop whose owners were revealed to have blogged and podcasted about sexual encounters with women, offering dating tips spiked with predatory and misogynistic commentary), local YA novelist Amy Reed was already at work on a novel dealing with rape culture.

“I had it all plotted out, and then that whole thing happened,” she says. But once the story broke, “I did all of this in-depth, down-the-rabbit-hole looking into the world of ‘the manosphere.’” What she found shocked her. (“There are communities that are all about sharing the different ways you can hurt women, and I wasn’t aware of that.”) And when she modeled some of her main antagonist’s blog posts on those of the Waking Life owners, Reed’s editor wanted her to take those parts out: “She thought it was too unrealistic.”

Reed’s experience with her editor echoes, if faintly, the premise of The Nowhere Girls, which she will launch with an event at Malaprop’s on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Set in rural Oregon, the novel begins months after high school sophomore Lucy Moynihan has come forward about being raped, only to find her community refuses to believe her. But the way the Asheville community came together to speak out against attitudes exposed by the Waking Life controversy reinforced Reed’s desire to tell a story about how the girls in Lucy’s town empower themselves and fight back.

In the novel, three girls — Grace, Erin and Rosina (dubbed “the Nowhere Girls” to preserve their anonymity) — lead the charge to get justice for Lucy. Each of them has to grow, however, to create real, lasting change. Growth out of adversity isn’t a new subject for Reed: Many of her previous novels depict young people finding the strength to deal with mental illness and other challenges. And yet the main characters of The Nowhere Girls challenged Reed in some new ways.

For example, Grace, the ringleader, has faith as her motivation — a subject Reed hasn’t touched on before. “I wanted to write a story about somebody getting the good stuff from [religion],” even if their faith leads them to dispute their church’s teaching, Reed says. “I also felt love and responsibility for kids who might read my book who were Christian.”

Reed says she believes that this approach — a desire to create art based on teens’ experience, art that gives them hope and courage — is what defines writing for kids in general and her approach in particular. And as much as Reed’s depiction of Grace exemplifies this approach, her rendering of Erin goes further.

“The more I wrote her,” Reed says, “she started shifting and changing.” Eventually, Reed realized that Erin had Asperger’s and wanted to be sure that her depiction didn’t reinforce stereotypes. “I worked with three sensitivity readers who had Asperger’s,” Reed says. “I sent them the first draft. It was not good.”

The author discovered that she had drawn too heavily on research that approached Asperger’s from the point of view of parents and clinicians. With the help of her sensitivity readers, she strove to create a compassionate portrayal of a young woman with the disorder leaning into a fuller experience while remaining true to her nature.

“I wanted them to be so different from each other,” Reed says of her characters. “They have nothing in common on the outside, but all girls and women have things that bind us together.”

Reed hopes readers will be inspired by the Nowhere Girls’ self-discovery, by their creation of community and by the way the two processes work together. “The girls of the school realize that they aren’t enemies, and once they start looking at things that way, things start changing for them internally,” she says.

“In the end,” Reed continues, “it’s not what happens at the level of power or administration, or anything. It’s about what happens in us and within our communities.”

WHAT: Amy Reed launches The Nowhere Girls
WHERE: Malaprop’s Bookstore, 55 Haywood St., malaprops.com
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m.

This book tackles a topic that is close to me personally, and I absolutely enjoyed how well it portrayed it. There are a lot of great scenes in which the author accurately portrays sexism and the subtle ways it permeates our culture and our thinking as a whole.


The characters in this book are the main drivers of the plot. They are the ones who come together to combat such erroneous misogyny, and it's super empowering to read about. I wanted to start my own girl gang just reading about them! Rosina was definitely my favorite character. She held herself back in the beginning, but as the story unfolds you see her transform into this stronger woman who is unafraid to stand for injustice and embrace her own self.


Overall this is a book that everyone should read. It speaks volumes about rape culture, sexism, and what small things we can do to fight it ourselves.

One of my favorite books, a great story of feminism and friendship and fighting against rape culture. I loved the sapphic, fat and autistic rep.

I loved this book! The full review will be posted soon at kaitgoodwin.com/books! Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity to connect books to their readers!

This book was completely amazing. I still haven't gathered my thoughts enough to post a review on my blog but I do tell people to buy this book very often. I loved the girls fighting back again rape culture and the feminism that was displayed throughout the book.

This book was heart-breaking and STUNNING and really dealt with rape and privilege and even feminism in the midst of it all and I was CRYING by the time I reached the end because I haven’t had a book make me feel and think as much as The Nowhere Girls did in a WHILE.

THE NOWHERE GIRLS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOOK FOR GIRLS EVERYWHERE. It’s uplifting, real, heart-breaking and filled with girl power. The story itself is centred on girls from different ethnic and economic backgrounds as well as just girls with different personalities. In fact, most of the chapters are told from the point of view of ‘Us’ – that is, all these different and wonderful girls and IT WAS SO TOUCHING.

MY THOUGHTS:

1. Before we go any further, this book might contain a lot of triggers from someone who is a victim of abuse, so TRIGGER WARNINGS: Rape, sexual and physical assault, sexual harassment and panic attacks.

2. This book was INTENSE. Not only the story itself, but the descriptions that came along with it – from what all the girls banding together felt and thought to the descriptions of the abuse itself. It didn’t let up, because it was tackling such an important issue and I really appreciated the intensity.

3. The first character we’re introduced to is Grace Salter, who is an empathetic girl that is pretty much left to her own devices who lives in the room of a girl who was raped and run out of town. Her viewpoint is harrowing and I loved the growth she went through in this book.

4. Erin, the second girl we’re introduced to, has Asperger’s. I love that we got to know Erin outside of where she stood on the spectrum, as well as about her disease. We see how she views life and relationships and everything about her was wonderfully done.

5. I’m still on the fence as to how I feel about the third girl – Rosina. I felt for her, definitely, but I didn’t connect with her.

6. Like I said in the beginning, though we were introduced to the world from these three girls’ viewpoints, a LOT of the book was told from the Viewpoint of “Us.” Us stands for all the girls that are a part of the town, facing different battles in their lives. They talked about double standards, choice, reputation, beliefs, experiences and SO MUCH MORE. Honestly, reading this book from an “Us” perspective made me CONNECT. It made this book heart-wrenchingly read and it broke me.

The Nowhere Girls is probably one of the MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS OUT THERE FOR TEENAGE GIRLS because it tackles the rape culture, patriarchy, double standards and misogyny and in the centre of it all, shows you how powerful girls standing by each other can be.

I could not recommend it more. This should be on all essential reading lists.

3.5 for me.

I had a really hard time getting into this at first, but because so many people were praising the major issues addressed in here, I kept on when I could. I didn't fully appreciate the way it was written until the end, when it all kinda flowed into place. For those who quit when not initially engaged, keep going. It took me like a month to finally get over the way it was written because it personally felt like I couldn't connect with the girls no matter how hard I tried. It definitely had its great moments, though, as I could relate to a few of the things in here. It'd do a 180 on me and I'd go from annoyed with the disconnect to sniffing at some of the victims' different perspectives. There's a lot of rape culture and feminism going on, obviously, but for me, my favorite part was seeing all the types of victims the girls were in their own right... if that makes sense. Overall, great lesson, disconnected delivery, beautiful cover.

I tend to gravitate toward these types of stories because of my own similar past experiences. This book definitely held up and made me feel all the things that this type of story should. Some people may call that a trigger, and in fact, for one of the characters who had also had a similar experience did get "triggered" by the talk and experiences of other girls in the story. But what I really liked about this was how there were so many different characters. I like how they could come together in some ways, but I also felt it was very realistic in that there are some people who either cannot get over their own feelings and opinions to see the other side, or who may begin to understand, until something little happens that causes them to feel foolish, and they strike out in their own hurt or embarrassment. In that way, this did not end up becoming one of those really sappy perfect endings, where everyone holds hands and becomes best friends.

Other realistic parts of the story, besides what the girls went through, and how they dealt with each other, was the fact that authority figures aren't always going to do what should really be done. They will often do what is expected of them, or what they think needs to be done based on their own personal experiences. Such as the principal in the story. A woman, yet a woman who let the pressures put on her by the men in charge, cause her to not be what she should have been. Part of it again was the whole small town mentality. But even then, I don't want to say that all small towns are like that.

I will admit that at first I had a bit of trouble getting into the story. There were so many different characters, not just the three major ones, Erin, Grace, and Rosina, but every so often there was a chapter where you would get the thoughts or happenings from other girls' points of view. Some of the girls we got their names, and then got to see them later on as the Nowhere Girls began to come together, others we didn't get their names, but their stories fit in, and made you see just how life really is. Just how the environment is in the world today. But where I mentioned that not all small towns are that way? And how not all the girls really sided as they should have, not all the guys are bad. In fact one of them that we get to know, Otis. I really, really liked him. And even though I said that all the different characters were part of making it hard to start, by the end, I loved how the Nowhere Girls included all different types.

Again, based on my own personal experiences, there were parts that as I felt my own connection to what was happening, it was depressing to realize how true it was. But in the end, bringing all of it out, the girls realizing how important it was to support each other, and not feed into judging each other, that is where I'd like to see the world go.

Definitely a book I'll want to order to put in my school library to make available for my students.

The very first chapter gave me chills and I knew then that this book would change something deep inside of me and it did, it really did. The Nowhere Girls are the epitome of modern feminism. They are girls who dream and girls who work day in and day out. They are girls who just want a bite of pizza and girls who are discovering themselves. The Nowhere Girls are every girl. You (guys too 🙂 ) and me and everyone who believes in woman and who they are at there core.

This book is about acceptance beyond gender identity, color of skin, equal orientation, political association, or disability. Because we all should cheer each other on despite any stigma that parts of what we are could have. We are more then our parts. We all live and hope and dream of better lives. We all want a world thats better so why not start with ourselves by accepting those around us and making change when it is in our power to do so.

As much as I loved this book for its beautiful diversity and strong and real female characters I loved it even more for the anger it awakened in me. It was an anger that made me want to go out and actually take action for the things that I believe in and that was one of the biggest gifts that a book could give me.

Let’s talk about the root of my anger: sexism and manosphere. Manosphere is something I wasn’t aware of as being a real and prevalent thing on the internet, but now that I am aware I am filled with complete and utter hatred for it and all that it stands for. Manosphere is basically a blog where a man writes about woman and how to get into her pants among other undesirable concepts. It makes my skin crawl to think that there are a lot of men out there that subscribe to manosphere and its ideals and actually believe what is being said is right. Manosphere is degrading towards women, in feminist, and downright appalling and I am not ok with its existence. The way women are degrading to less then objects on these sites makes me want to puke and after reading some of their posts on my own out of pure curiosity I found myself hating that as time moves forward and we all try to change there are till many out there that want to keep woman as playthings worthless except for their bodies and the pleasure they can provide and I can’t stand the thought of it.


What makes this book really special for me though is how the power of its message is conveyed through lyrical and at times poetic prose with unflinching truths that literally gave me goosebumps. This novel is GORGEOUSLY written and it made me want to rave and cheer and cry all at once. Grace, Erin, and Rosina are my personal heroes. There nonstop hope and pride for themselves made this story evolve into something I couldn’t stop reading. This book has definitely made my top favorites of 2017 and I am so happy to have read it.

I have so many thoughts on this book and I’m trying to pull it all together. First, given the topic of the book, there are a few trigger/content warnings that are necessary. Let’s get them out of the way.

Ablism (addressed internally on the page)
Misgendering
Transmisia
Suicide Jokes
Gang Rape (Chapter 9 – Lucy, Chapter 52 – Erin: both these chapters contain thorough recountings of separate instances of gang rape)
Mentions of rape
Sexual assault
Nonconsensual sex
Homomisia (addressed on the page)
The characters in The Nowhere Girls were incredibly well developed and I could imagine having full interaction with all of them. Because I was planning my dream cast while reading, I did notice that the physical descriptions are fairly vague, but the personalities were all so distinct and fleshed out so much that I could easily know any of them.

I like how the use of multiple points of view allowed for me to see the characters not only as they see themselves but as they see each other. I feel like this is an instance where using multiple points of view really added to the character development and story. I’m still not sure how I feel about the Us. chapters, but there were parts of them that really added to the characters and story.

The Nowhere Girls is set in Prescott, Oregon, which could easily be any small town in the United States. The world was built up enough to give an immersive feel to the story. Everything from the high school to the characters’ homes to the town itself is developed enough to be easy to visualize while reading.

The story has so much going on while still focusing on the main plot. I really love how we got to follow the separate stories of the main characters and a few side characters in addition to the main plot following the Nowhere Girls as a group. I do want to say that this is definitely not a feel-good novel so if you’re looking for something sweet and fluffy, you might want to pick up something else. If you’re looking for one of the most important and well written novels of the year, look no further. The Nowhere Girls shines a spotlight on rape culture and doesn’t shy away from the painful truth that so many girls and women live with today.

Wow. Where do I begin? Let me start by saying this is a book everyone must read. Not only does it portray what rape culture is but how it persists within schools and societies, but most importantly how it affects those victimized. Tired of the injustice in their town, Grace, Erin, and Rosina decide to do something about it.

What I loved about this book the most was how the author wrote the friendship of these three very different girls and how it developed into something extirodinaringly inspiring throughout the book. And the fact each girl was so independent of one another where they could stand by themselves as their own person was amazing! The diversity within their group was great!

One of the things you will notice throughout the book is the various points of view between our three main characters, but the points of view from many unnamed girls. This was the first time I had seen this being used in a book, but I found it very supporting of the story overall and how it added to the fight agains rape culture and misogyny. They were definitely not cookie cutter stories because I read diverse pieces that depicted experiences of girls who have had to deal with “boys being boys” and society perpetuating rape culture. This is where I felt my heart breaking constantly because I knew these stories are a reality for some young girls and boys; thus, reminding me how much change we really need to tackle this issue.

Overall, I found The Nowhere Girls to be such an extraordinary book that challenges rape culture and misogyny in society. It is a book that will get the conversation started to explore how society treats those affected and how not addressing this concept can be detrimental. It puts forth the opinions and voices that need to be heard and validated, whilst paving the way for strong young girls.

The Nowhere Girls was such an important and empowering book with brave female characters. THIS IS A BOOK THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ!!! There were so many relevant and important topics in this book including; rape culture, the treatment of women, and feminism. THIS BOOK GAVE ME SUCH GIRL POWER VIBES AND I WAS LIVING FOR IT. GIRLS WERE SUPPORTING GIRLS AND THEY WERE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. The girls in this book created a movement to bring justice for women, and it was wonderful.

This book discusses rape quite a bit, so there are definitely trigger warnings for that. The Nowhere Girls really showcased how rape is handled in this day and age. I have no personal experience with the topic but based on the stories I have heard, this book seemed to handle this aspect in a very real and honest way. This book touched on the common issue of the idea that when women are coming forward and saying they were raped, they are just using that as a cry for attention. THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY AND I WAS SO GLAD THAT THIS BOOK TOUCHED ON THAT SUBJECT. The book talked about privileged men getting away with rape and how THAT IS NOT OKAY! It also discussed how deeply rape effects the victim. This book really showed how the victim doesn't simply forget the incident and move on. It showed how this sticks with the victim for a very long time.

I will say that there was one comment made in regards to a trans character in this book that made me a little uncomfortable. I felt like it was an unnecessary comment that could have been left out of the book. It was only one instant, but I still wish it wouldn't have been there. I also will say that this was a slow moving book. I was invested in the story the entire time, but it was a tad bit slower paced than I would have liked.

The three main characters were all such unique and well-developed characters. Grace was such an understanding and kind person. She truly wanted the best for everyone and it warmed my heart to see how far she would go for people. Rosina was an extremely supportive, selfless, and strong girl. SHE LITERALLY SUPPORTED ALL THE GIRLS AND IT WAS SO ADORABLE. Erin was a strong, passionate, and dynamic character. I loved the development of her character and how she took down stereotypes for people who are on the spectrum. I don't have any personal experience with Asperger's, but I thought the author did a good job at representing it. Grace, Rosina, and Erin had such a supportive and powerful friendship. I loved how important their friendship was to the story.

I also loved how diverse the characters were in this book. IT WAS SERIOUSLY WONDERFUL!

The Nowhere Girls was an important book that takes on rape culture and misogyny. This book showed the importance of supporting each other, giving women a choice, and for fighting for a better world. The Nowhere Girls is a book I would recommend to EVERYONE.

4 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

The Nowhere Girls is phenomenal, it has such a strong and inspiring message, looking at misogyny and rape culture and how it can be challenged. What’s wonderful about it though is that it feels like a conversation as opposed to a mandate, it explores different women’s opinions in a way that makes it clear that those opinions are valid in the debate.

That might not make sense unless you read, so go read it!!

The characters were brilliant, whilst the reader gets to hear from a variety of people the three main characters and the founders of The Nowhere Girls are Grace, Rosina, and Erin. I loved all of them, I liked that they were the misfits to begin with and that through their actions they become part of this large and supportive group. The three of them have such different personalities but I liked how they gelled together.

I love how Grace finds her strength in helping others and finds people that truly like her for who she is.

Rosina puts up a good front but it was really nice to see her become vulnerable around Melissa and I loved the relationship between her and Erin.

Erin was my favourite, how she manages to be herself and be unapologetic for it whilst dealing with a lot of situations she isn’t used to.

Getting glimpses into the other girl’s lives and also the nameless thoughts gives the story another dimension, it provides a lot of different perspectives especially with regards to sex and I think is a brilliant way to highlight that there is not one size fits all when it comes to sex or sexuality.

The Nowhere Girls really makes you think about what you can achieve if you put your mind to something and how we should all be more supportive of one another especially when going against societal norms.

I don’t really know what else to say except that I believe that this is a very important book, anything that can create conversation on sex, consent, and rape is. It’s a book that I wish I had access to when I was younger so that maybe I wouldn’t have felt so ashamed of my feelings towards sex and sexuality. I highly recommend it.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! This book is based on 3 characters, Grace, Erin and Rosina who decide that the rape culture that has persisted in their school for years needs to be put to an end.

Grace is new to town and lives in the house formerly owned by the family of a girl named Lucy. She was raped at a party and ostracized by the town so they had pretty much no choice but to move away. Grace’s mom is a fairly liberal Christian Minister. Her family moved due to her mother’s liberal views were ostracized from their previous church for that. So she is no stranger to being disliked. She hears about Lucy through Erin and Rosina and can’t stop wanting to learn more.

Rosina is pretty much her families slave, she helps them run the restaurant, babysits cousins, whatever they need shes expected to provide. She is tired of it! She was friends with Lucy and was wrestling with whether to do something. Her family keeping her busy has added to that fact because how can she do something if they keep her so busy?

Erin has Aspergers and a few years before was raped by an acquaintance at her old school. They decided to move and not press charges and it is a secret from everyone she knows other than her family. Because of her Ashbergers, her brain works in absolutes she knows what the boy who raped her is wrong but is unsure what to do to fix the situation.

Together they decide to band together and create The Nowhere Girls. If you want to know more I strongly suggest you read this book!

Initial Excitement & Summary

I was over the moon when I got approved for this book. It ended up being one of those digital ones you can't use on your Kindle, so I added it to my other ebook app. Loooong, annoying story: the book was set to expire on 9/13 (and I just happened to open the book up that day, thinking maybe I'd read it). I decided to binge it in one day to finish before it expired, updated Goodreads, and made my reading plans for after work. The next time I opened the book that day, it had expired. I spent a good 30-45 minutes trying to figure out if I could redownload it and screaming at my computer. I ended up just having to go to Netgalley and redownload it onto my iPad. SIGH. ANYWAYS, all of these issues led up to me just reading the book anyways.

The story is about three girls from very different backgrounds who band together against the horrible boys in their high school. A former student was gang raped and no one believed her. Grace, Rosina, and Erin start "The Nowhere Girls" to take on the school's sexist, lopsided views of what happened and try to make it a better place.

Storytelling & Characters

The chapters focus on the individual girls, plus a bunch of chapters called "Us." I thought those chapters were incredibly powerful, as they focused on various girls around the town and what they were feeling. Those thoughts ranged across the entire spectrum of sexuality, personality, and everything else. There were real reactions about the Nowhere Girls from every walk of life - I thought the POV from the black female student and conservative female student to be particularly relevant and poignant.

Grace, Erin, and Rosina were really great main characters. They had complex backstories. It was nice to read about a chubby white girl whose mom runs a liberal church, a girl with Asperger's and an overly supportive mom, and a Mexican lesbian whose familial obligations and expectations take over her life. It wasn't just white feminism shoved down your throat, especially with the other perspectives included in the "Us" chapters or during the Nowhere Girls meetings.

I think every single person reading this book could find at least a couple of characters to relate to. They all talk openly about sex, rape, sexism, virginity, religion, and countless other things that shape the average high-schooler's life. I loved the thoughts people had about "not all men" because it's something we here time and time again. Every character brought a new voice into the discussion and shared their own feelings about what was happening.

I felt the complete range of emotions throughout reading this story. I was furious with the town of Prescott for ignoring the girls and favoring the boys the entire time. The people in leadership positions threatened them with horrible things and didn't care about what they said. I wanted to throw my book across the room because this kind of thing happens too often today. I teared up quite a few times when the conclusion of the book came. I smiled at the friendships and sisterhood that was developed too.

This book was extremely powerful. I can't think of too many negatives because it was extremely well-written. I loved the writing style, even though it took some getting used to for some reason. (I must have been used to first person instead of third person for the past few books I read).

Ending Feels

Yeah, I totally got emotional at the conclusion of this story. I was really nervous that these girls would never be heard or their voices wouldn't make a difference; my rage was going to be off the charts. I won't spoil how it ends but I have to say, it was incredibly well-done. I loved the bond the girls quickly developed with Cheyenne and how they helped her through everything. Without her, I'm not sure anything would have changed.

TL;DR

If you're looking for a powerful book involving inter-sectional feminism, a multitude of teen voices that make a difference, and just extreme WE CAN DO IT vibes, you've come to the right place. Everyone can find a character or perspective to relate to here.

This book has no rating because it is without a doubt the most difficult book I’ve ever had to rate in my history of being a reviewer. Interpret and make your own judgments about what you think my rating of the book is based solely on this review and nothing as limited as a star rating.

The Nowhere Girls is a battle cry, an ode, a bittersweet mourning, and a rage-inducing awakening. This book is more than necessary, it should be required reading for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or political leanings. Here’s the thing, The Nowhere Girls reads a little Perks of Being a Wallflower meets The Breakfast Club mixed with profound, contemporary questions about society and feminism. At times it feels like your run-of-the-mill coming of age story split in various POVs and as someone who generally loathes coming of age, it lagged for me, despite the eye-opening questions and they way it made me think (which is what marks great, life-changing books for me). I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters, which with so many POVs and an US POV that had the voices of several girls, it’s puzzling that none of them resonated with me. Not that the characters weren’t defined. They were more than multi-dimensional, they practically screamed from the pages with their unique and interesting personalities and their determination to succeed.

I absolutely dislike the synopsis for this book. It makes the story seem like something it’s not-a revenge plot or some weird, let’s get back ALL THE MALES story. This is far from that. It’s an exploration of what it means to be female in our society and then breaks that down further into all the ways that sexuality, race, and choice intersect with that.

Here is a list of the many important and critical pieces of what it means to be female that this book discusses in its short number of pages:

No means no.
Why we think that if you’re dating someone and they force you that it’s not rape.
How saying yes is a choice and it can be an empowering one.
That girls should not be afraid of their sexuality or that they enjoy sex.
The double standard of “boys will be boys” but a girl who actively explores her sexuality and enjoys being sexual is a slut.
Trans girls and whether they feel they have or can find a place in feminist culture. Transitioning girls and the same sort of questions.
How girls who are known “sluts” are ignored when they “cry rape,” how women are treated differently and their allegations taken less seriously if they’re a certain “type” of girl or from the wrong “side of the tracks.”
Differing perspectives on virginity.
Why a sex strike is problematic.
Why we think that if we’re drunk and we say no and are ignored, that it’s our “fault.”
The many many reasons that women fail to report their assault.
The many levels of fear women face every single day that men do not ever consider.
Why we feel the need to pass judgment on other girls.
Small town mentality.
Privilege and “getting away with it.”
And many, many more.
I can’t even count the number of times I found myself nodding at the scenarios discussed, all the many feelings and experiences females go through in every encounter they have with males and even other girls. So much of this book made me remember and reflect and that is the reason WHY I put a trigger warning on this apart from the constant references to rapes and assaults and the feelings associated with these events well after they occurred (because how can anyone forget? This is another thing that’s discussed).

I was also so angry after I read this. Angry that women have to deal with any of this stuff. Angry that men think they have the right. Angry at all the misogynistic, horrible, and derogatory ways that women are looked at as possessions or to be used and discarded. It’s sickening.

I feel like I should say that you need to be in the right frame of mind to read this without completely losing it. That if you don’t want to be ragey and heartsick and possibly triggered to put this aside until you’re ready but at the same time, this book is cathartic. It lets you voice everything you didn’t know you needed to say through the proxy of these characters. In a way that is both enlightening and lifts the weight off your shoulders.

One of the worst and most heartbreaking moments in this book for me is when one of the girls says that she didn’t know she could or was allowed to say no. Holy crap that pretty much knocked the air out of my lungs. It is so hard to be female. You very well might cry several times and at the end, you might not feel satisfied, but you will feel invigorated and fellowship with every female you see afterwards and that itself is a gift.

Read, read some more, and for the love of Pumpkin Spice use that reading to inspire change in yourself and in the world.

I'm not sure I can express how timely and necessary this book is. The rape culture in America is terrifying, and I'm really glad that this book is going to exist in the near future.

Rosina, Grace, and Erin are wonderful characters, each with their own voices and worries and feelings. The other girls are all well-developed, even if we hardly know them, and the way the boys are painted is simultaneously disgusting and realistic. I particularly loved Jesse and Otis, but I think that's a given.

I loved that a Latina character was front and center. I loved that an autistic character was front and center. I loved that the girls all loved each other, even though they're all different. I loved everything.

Everyone should read this book.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

First off, this book has some DEEP triggers so don’t read this if you get easily offended and it might make you become a man hater if you aren’t already one. This is a brutal, difficult story to get through but it’s an important voice for those who feel like they don’t have one.

It’s not one you will necessarily ‘enjoy’ reading, it’s not the kind you sit down one sunny afternoon with the hope of just passing the time. It’s one you read with purpose, to learn, to understand and hopefully will walk away from wanting to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

We have multiple narrators giving us their view on how things played out and providing lessons on feminism, racism, rape culture and how we define sexuality in the modern age particularly when it comes to teens.

Thankfully you get a decent amount of diversity so the views and issues are painted in a variety of contexts to give us a fuller picture of how different sets of people experience the same thing.

Since this is a book about rape there are characters you are going to hate, there are those who your heart will break for, and there are those who you champion. Some strong female characters are provided to show the power that comes when they can work together.

Your heart will break at times for what women are put through, how horrible it is when our own gender stands against basic rights that affects us all, anger at how men are treated as all powerful and the extent those in society will go to silence the dissenting voices who demand something as simple as the right to not have their bodies violated.

The issues this brings up are important to discuss and hopefully will provoke more people to stand up, speak out and bring about change.

How do I say this? I FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK.
The opening was poetic. What I love about this book is it doesn't shy away from what real teens do. Many teens drink, smoke, sneak out, and have sex. Not all of them do but many of them at least try some of these vices. This book doesn't shy away from the rebellious nature of teens. It doesn't offer you a cardboard cutout of barbie to substitute what all girls are presumably like.

We meet Grace, whose family is driven out of town because her pastor mother was too liberal, Rosina, a lesbian in a rock band who comes from a traditional catholic family, and Erin, who is Autistic and loves Marine Biology and Star Trek. The diversity among the female characters is well done and makes their war against boys at school who raped another female.

The Nowhere Girls doesn't hate on men or seek to shove feminist agendas down anyone's throat. It demands justice for the raped, encourages girls to speak up when adults will not, and the story evolves to include more girls being empowered to speak out against sexual assault. It's an uprising of protests and I love that it's not violent but still effective.

The writing style is poetic. It is raw and honest and doesn't shy away from painful details.

I don't want to give away too much because I want other readers to see how great this story is. I would definitely recommend.

I absolutely loved this book. It was so smart and I seriously cheered so hard for Erin, Rosina and Grace. I love the way they all evolve throughout the novel (especially the fact that Erin falls for a guy--and she's autistic, which I also love, because how unusual is it that we see autistic people in relationships? I think this is the first story where I've seen that).

I also love the fact that it's initially a trio of women but it becomes so many different girls. Also, it's not really vigilantism--it's more of a protest, but it's not very violent.

Recommended.

(This will go live on my blog on its release date, kellyvision.wordpress.com)