These Violent Delights handles the very personal and intense topic of sexual abuse with passion and grace. A young woman interning at a newspaper chooses to reveal her story of sexual abuse years earlier at an elite private school. This begins the story of others coming forward, Following these women's stories and continuing thought the trial of the teacher who abused them gives the reader some sense of closure,. But these women will live or die with having been sexually abused.

This book is a very timely piece on women coming forward to report historic abuse and the reactions of those they know and those they don’t online. The story is very well written, and most of all realistic.

The characters are likeable, believable and many women will be able able to relate to them and their stories. I went through a range of emotions reading this, the most common being angry. Not only at the acts themselves, but when the characters are reading online comments and mail from people who are judging them, which are the hate and non-belief of victims we see every time victims of abuse and harassment come forward.

The ending of the story is heartbreaking, but again honest and what happens in many cases.

“Don’t you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women- whether it’s violence, sexual assault, rape- are the only kinds we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?”


This book discusses child abuse and rape culture in general in one of THE BEST ways i have seen to date.

The author clearly did her research, clearly had a lot to say and a lot of real and honest and good options on the topic.

BUT it reads more like newspaper articles or very dry nonfiction. Which is not to say thats a bad thing. I actually enjoy both. BUT its marketed as something different. And so a lot of readers will be put of with the very, very dry writing and the not at all flowing style this story is told.

Of course that is not the most important thing about this book!

But it is an important factor that has to be mentioned when reviewing and rating a book like this. If its hard to read even if it talks about a topic everyone should read and talk about? That has to be mentioned and taken into consideration.

Because sadly?
This book is not for everyone. And not because of the topic. But because of how it is written.

Because the topic? That has to be for everyone, for the topic this book is a MOST READ.

But sadly the writing, the characters and the plot outside of the issues it discusses is pretty lacking sadly. And if it would have been about such an important topic as rape and abuse which i am personally very passionate about this book would have gotten a very low rating.

Still, because it discusses the topic of rape and abuse, especially in young children so wonderfully and from all sides? It deserves people to read it and give it a shot and work their way through the dry writing.

There should be more books like this, that take a real topic, a real issue and talk about it, point out the issues, point out the problems and make them relatable and realistic and available for more people.

Because as it is shown in the opening quote from the book and from other moments in the book: why is it that nobody cares for you to prove that you have been robbed? But if you say you have been violated you have to prove it? How come nobody speaks up positively for someone stealing in the same way they speak up for an abuser? How come ANYBODY speaks up positively for an abuser? And how come the abused ALWAYS have to defend themselves?

This book is an important read and i do think everyone should give it a try even if its a hard topic, but because of that its so important for many people to read it.

But i wish it would have been co-written with someone that knew how to completely suck you into the story and make you actually FEEL with the characters to take this story even deeper, make it more emotional and with that more unforgettable for the readers!

This book couldn't be much more ripped out of the headlines at the moment, dealing with issues of sexual assault by a predatory high school teacher with multiple young women groomed to be his targets. I thought it was reasonably well done, speaking as someone who is professionally steeped in this subject as well. The multiple voices and perspectives make clear that there is no one type of woman who is harassed or targeted, as the women involved were all very different from each other. And the plot unfolded as countless ones are unfolding these days, with one person coming forward and opening the floodgates for several others, as rarely are these incidents confined to a single person. Sometimes it all seemed a little too pat, but maybe because the same excuses and reactions and denials happen in virtually every case, regardless of how many #metoos are involved. I have a tiny quibble with the title -- yes, I know it's from Shakespeare, but some may not, and it almost conveys a different kind of book than one where young women are selected by a trusted and popular teacher for sexual relationships when they are 15. But all in all, this book was a good fictionalized treatment of an issue we cannot think about too much right now. There couldn't be better timing for the release of this book.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Well, the upcoming release of the novel, These Violent Delights, by Victoria Namkung could not be timelier. Women all over the world are using the hashtag “Me Too” to make the world aware of the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment. Dozens of celebrities are naming Harvey Weinstein’s abuse of women. Kevin Spacey is currently in the news for his behavior towards an underaged boy. So, this book is coming out at just the right time.

These Violent Delights delves into sexual abuse issues within an elite private school setting. After a young journalist pens her story about her male teacher coming on to her and her requests for help from the school being dismissed, other women come forward with their own stories about the same teacher.

The problem is that this teacher has a fantastic reputation. He is a stellar teacher, a husband, a father, a churchgoer, and apparently, a man who preys on young women. So, the school decides to keep him in his respected position rather than listen to the initial student who accuses him of misconduct. (Don’t think this happens? It does.) This novel revolves around the young journalist, her mentor at work, and two other abused women working to bring him down.

For me, this story read more like nonfiction than fiction simply because this type of thing happens all the time. All. The. Time. I can use the #metoo hashtag, as well as many of my female friends. So, the book, while fictional, was just a reminder of the stories I’ve lived or the stories I’ve heard.

I like the author using fictional characters and a swift plot to talk about something serious. The book is designed to make you talk. It will make you angry. It will make you feel things you don’t want to feel.

The author does a wonderful job of showing just how easily we dismiss these types of occurrences and why it is so dangerous. It will make you think twice before you try to ignore or dismiss these claims in the future. And, if that is the author’s whole point, then good for her!

However, I will say, I HATED the ending. HATED IT. I should have known when the title comes from Romeo and Juliet quote “These violent delights have violent ends” that I would not like the ending. But, I still was not prepared. And, it felt icky. But, I think the ending is designed to make you talk.

The best books cause reactions. This one could not come at a better time.

At Windmere, an elite all-girls school, an English teacher is accused of sex crimes with some of the young women he taught. The entire community is rocked to its core and sides are drawn, some refusing to believe it and others coming out with stories of their own.
This was a very timely book. with all of the attention in the media focusing on men who abused their power to take advantage of those younger and under their control. This book gives you a lot to think about.

I have to start out by saying that the cover of this book is gorgeous, and I'm sure it will look even better in person. That simple fact is what initially drew me to this book.

The subject matter of this book is incredibly relevant right now (#MeToo anyone?) and These Violent Delights gets straight to the point. The book focuses on 3 women that have had a relationship with a teacher at the private school that they went to, and one investigative reporter that is helping tell the world the story.

I don't want to say too much because I think it is best to read this book for yourself, but abuse is something that really makes me angry and we need books like this one to "get the word out" so to speak. I think it is incredibly important that girls and women alike understand that it is SO important not to stay silent when you have been abused. So many women say nothing and live in hell for the rest of their lives thinking they somehow brought it upon themselves. I know it can happen to men and boys as well, but this book is definitely more focused towards the women. That is not to say this book is bashing men either, but rather making you aware of what it is like for women that get abused as children or as adults.

This book read like a nonfiction book for me which made it even more moving than it already was. There was also a bit of humor as well which was a nice respite from the heavy subject matter.

The only thing I did not like about this book (and why I couldn't rate it past a 4) is because the dialogue in this book is incredibly confusing. I seem to be the only person that had an issue with this, but the way the author wrote the dialogue out made it very hard for me to understand who was speaking at times and it was very frustrating.

Other than that this book was hard-hitting, and the writing was easy for me to get into.

"These violent delights have violent ends" is one of my favorite lines from Romeo and Juliet, and so I knew I was going to love this book! Of course the author is alluding to how quickly teen love can flourish and often--just as quickly-- implode, as the young lovers in Shakespeare's play commit suicide believing the other is dead. When Caryn, a young intern for the Daily Journal brings her story to Jane, the seasoned and well-respected journalist, Jane realizes it is a story that must be told for Caryn has accused her ex high-school English teacher, Dr. Copeland of attempting to seduce her. When the story hits, several other young women come forward and things get messy--as they always do in a scandal such as this involving underage girls and older men. So relevant to today in the wake of the Cosby and Weinstein debacles, the novel is gritty, realistic and pulls no punches. It's a truly accurate portrayal of the guilt, regret, pain, sadness--and often poor mental health--suffered by the victims. This is a book that every parent and adolescent should read as it sheds light on a subject all too common in today's society!

This book grabbed me right from the beginning. It is also very timely, with everything in the real world. I feel like I would have liked a little more background and character development at the beginning, instead of jumping right into the story. But, it was still very good and would definitely recommend!

I found this book incredibly topical with all the that’s been going on in the media at the moment. It’s staggering how many women will quietly relate to issues within this book. The prevalence of sexual assault and abuse is sadly all too common so books like these are incredibly important and relevant. I raced through this book, I enjoyed the fact that it was straight to the point, it’s not glossy or full of filler. It did feel less like a novel than an investigative journalistic piece though which did not deter me at all. Although some parts felt slightly rushed and incomplete. Still I was fully invested in this story and the characters. This book shows the lasting effects of abuse how devastating the impact whether the actions are considered big or small, the subtle forms of abuse can be just as damaging and how it can change someone’s life so profoundly, it made me feel intense emotions for all the women in this book. Also showing how the impact is different for every individual and no victim is cut from the same mould as another victim. The banding together and the support of the women towards each other was such a appealing part of why this book worked so well for me.

I received a free copy from NetGalley for my honest review. This was my first experience with NetGalley and I am very pleased.
These Violent Delights by Victoria Namkung hit home for me. Victoria Namkung did a wonderful job on portraying how society acts when dealing with rape or assault. I related to the characters and the frustration and pain they felt.
From the moment I started reading I could not put this book down. As the story went on I just kept getting frustrated with the fact that the school did nothing for these poor girls. Which is another part I can relate to. How women are meant to feel at fault or put all the blame on the girls. I’m so happy that there was justice in the end. Only negative thing I have to say is I wish there was more of an ending, I would love to know what happens further into the future with the characters and know if Mr Copeland ever got that letter or his reaction to the letter.
Overall, this book was a perfect read. I will definitely recommend this book to my friends.

"This idea that an occasional false accusation is a more serious problem than thousands of actual instances of abuse or assault or rape enrages me like nothing else." <----- THIS.

This book is so important and so relevant. It focuses on numerous women who were sexually abused as teenagers by the same man. The story felt so realistic and the book itself was very gripping and addictive. I enjoyed reading this and I think everyone should read it.

We got a look into the different character's minds through different POV's but it felt like a very shallow look into their thinking and their life (outside of the sexual abuse). It was easy to see how the sexual abuse impacted them but I felt like I needed more because they didn't feel entirely three-dimensional. I also found it hard to connect with the main characters. Although I could sympathise with them, I felt quite distanced from them. The one really good thing about some of the characters is that you could feel the anger that they had, it was so palpable that it felt like it was just pouring out of the book. I feel like that anger was Namkung's and of course she is angry because I'm angry and women and men all over the world are also angry at the way society deals with sexual assault and harassment. So I felt like Namkung was good at putting that anger and frustration into some of the characters but the characters needed more.

The writing was very good. Namkung wrote quite logically about the facts of sexual abuse, rape, victim-shaming, etc but I could still feel her frustration and anger coming out. The book was a good blend of logic and emotion while still telling the story.

I would recommend it and I would read more books by Victoria Namkung.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Don’t you find it interesting that these types of crimes against women—whether it’s violence, sexual assault, rape—are the only kinds where we force the victim to make a case about their own innocence before even investigating?”

"He could claim that I made the entire thing up for attention, although why any young woman would want this type of attention is beyond me."

"Contrary to our society’s everyone-getsa-ribbon mentality, not all opinions need to be amplified."

"It’s so bizarre because I haven’t spent much time thinking about him in recent years, but I guess the past is always there, simmering."

"They also write to say that most sexual assault and rape accusations are false. They don’t cite studies or crime statistics from police agencies. They just know."

"I didn’t think anyone would believe me because in our culture, being a woman often means no one believes you until it is too late."

"I’m still furious. Furious on behalf of myself and other victims. Furious about a society that so easily casts doubt and blame on women as though we have nothing better to do than make up stories. Furious about the fact that men like this believe they are entitled to do what they please, regardless of laws, common sense, or decency."

“Sometimes getting the thing you want most feels different than you thought.”

"The stigma around sexual abuse, and child sexuality in general, is pervasive, and survivors often mention not coming forward sooner (or ever) due to deep shame, confusion, and an unyielding fear of not being believed."

It took me a few days to get through this book, but mainly because it wasn’t what I expected. It was slow to take off, but the ending was outstanding. I’d give the final 40% of the book five stars.

3.5 Stars for this interesting look at sexual abuse by educators. Explores the typical guilt, blame, shame of any exploitative situation. Nothing really new here, but fairly well done.

As an intern, Caryn didn’t expect her writing to get too much exposure, but when she submits an article about the sexual abuse of her former teacher at Windemere Academy, she unleashes a firestorm as other women come out to state their claims that the same teacher did something similar to them, the teacher who happens to still have a job at the same school. These Violent Delights by Victoria Naming is a raw and uncensored peek into the world of sexual harassment, adolescence, and culpability, as well as consent and justice. It seems that now more than ever, we need a book like this to shake up the conversation.

The story Caryn tells is one that many people have probably heard before, a teacher gets too close, she feels uncomfortable, then when she brings it up to the authorities, or the people that are supposed to protect her from the perpetrator, they don’t do much about the situation. A little slap on the wrist, at best. This happens more than we can ever know in this country. Hearing Caryn’s story makes me sick, especially have I have a daughter. When Caryn starts to receive emails from other girls who have been in the same predicament that she was in with the same teacher, she starts to feel less alone, and more like they can actually do something about the trauma that they all endured.

This book is written beautifully, it’s not too heavy where you feel like your re getting punched in the stomach by the information, and you will be rooting for Caryn to get her justice after all these years. Naturally, there are the naysayers within the book, the people that don’t believe her, and of course the person that’s screaming “WHY NOW?” but as you watch Caryn rise above them, you can’t help but be proud as if she was one of your own children.

Thankfully, I have not experienced the trauma of sexual abuse, though I have been sexually harassed before (to be honest, I don’t think there is a woman alive who hasn’t been at some point in her life), but reading this story made me want to stick up for all the people who have been treated wrongly, unfairly, and to seek justice and get the answers they deserve. When your family and your school won’t stick up for you and do what’s right, then you have to do it yourself. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, it was incredible. Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this book.

THis is the book to read this year! What a fresh take on a delicate subject. The writing is so crisp, clear, and concise. I could not put this book down. I ravenously read this book, like it was the last book on Earth. In the end, I wanted more.
I thought that the author really looked at the subject of sexual abuse by a teacher and offered many view points from the victims, the school, and even how it would affect a victim later in life.
A breath of fresh air to the genre....LOVED IT!

These Violent Delights is a poignant story of three women who were sexually assaulted in the past, by a well loved English professor from their all girls private school, Windemere. In the present they come forward with their stories. The stories are gripping, and a very REALISTIC look at how a predator seeks out, grooms, and abuses a victim. It's also an all too real story of the failures of our justice system. Victoria Namkung does a fantastic job combining relevant message with entertaining story.

This story as a whole highlights the failure of our culture surrounding sexual assault. The shaming and blaming of victims. Raising young women to think that being assaulted is ok or their fault. That being sexually assaulted is a shame they should keep private. It is an extremely relevant story, and I hate giving it less than five stars because of that, BUT even though this story was told in multiple POV's I never really felt connected to any of the characters. Even though each characters stories were extremely emotional, outside of them it was hard to connect.

Do I think this book is a game changer? Yes. I think young women/people should read this, because it could make them feel brave, and realize that they are not alone. I think they should read this because it could open up their eyes to what they may have been naive to before. I think that this book gives a reality that is hard, but is REAL.

This book may cause tears. It may cause anger. You may even feel happy. It's worth every emotion.

This started out a little rocky for me I wasn’t immediately drawn in. Perhaps I needed a little more world and character building before jumping into the heart story. I also found the dialog to be slightly strange and a little hard to follow at times. But as the book progress it got really good and I was glad that I stuck with it.

This story itself is an important one, it shows just how easy it is to be a victim and not really understand what happened and to even blame oneself for what occurred. In this case a popular teacher with a since of power and charm prays on his young students for years while the school seems ignore any warning signs that something might be going on. Each victim having a different experience with similar threads of how they were impacted. This book does a good job of highlighting different levels of abuse and the effects it has on the victims; even many years after the crime. It also explores the many reason victims stay silent and how sexual assault still seems to be a crime that has many people questioning the victim’s role.

I would recommend this book and it would a be a great book club book so many things to talk about.

Thank you NetGalley and Griffith Moon Publishing for the ARC of These Violent Delights by Victoria Namkung.

This was a difficult novel to read, yet an important one. When a private girls' school alumnae writes an essay for a leading newspaper about her experiences with her high school English teacher's sexual advances, the flood gates open with other girls sharing similar experiences. The novel takes the reader from from the writing and publishing of the essay through the lives of some of the women involved and the aftermath. I am thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for my fair and honest review.