I fell in love with this book at the first page! I became invested in the characters, wanting to know more and more as the book went on. I feel like it was very well written and really enjoyed the writing style. I really felt that I needed to know the whole truth that Seelie was keeping from us and towards the end what I thought was going to happen, did. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

First things first, it was truly refreshing to see a gay protagonist without it being a major focus of the plot - it was something she simply was. Another thing I loved was Seelie's relationships - with her mother, her friends, her lawyer - which were portrayed in a realistic and complex way. While I found the plot twists predictable and court scenes unrealistic, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from the author.

Super fast read. Read in under 24 hours! I enjoyed the pacing of this book as well as the story. The mom’s attitude and reactions didn’t feel believable, but it seemed to be written that way to emphasize the friendships and how important they were. I never understood why she called her small group of friends “the faction” and kept waiting for some sort of explanation. It never came. What happened to her was somewhat predictable but that didn’t detract from the story.

Imagine killing a classmate. Imagine it was self-defense. Now imagine going to trial over it and being accused of his murder. That’s this story in a nutshell, but there’s so much more to it. I can’t say much more without giving things away.... suffice it to say you may or may not be surprised at what comes to light.

WOW. What a ride.

This story will put you in your feels. There is seriously no other way to put it. You will be so sad and so infuriated and if you don't feel these emotions throughout this, then I'm just gonna go ahead and let you know that your heart is either nonexistent or has transformed into a cold, dark, black lump of coal and you really need to get that checked out.

Right off the bat, I loved that this started out after Seelie is attacked. This kind of leaves readers relying on Seelie's version of what happened, but keeps you feeling like there are still things left to be told (an accurate feeling, i'll add). Though we do get details later throughout the story about what happened in the barn, readers don't have to read the attack taking place, which I felt like was rather appropriate, considering there are no trigger warnings preceding this (there should be).

While the story focuses largely on Seelie's impending doom of prison time and a murder charge, it also spends time on other things, like the people in her life and the relationships she has with them, however weak and flimsy some of them may be. This really helped to make the story feel more realistic to me. While of course being charged with murder when you were merely defending yourself against an attacker would certainly take over anyone's life, a lot of this story has to do with the other things going on in Seelie's life as well.

The character's in this book felt really well planned out and written to me. The relationships between Seelie and her friends are real and raw and I won't spoil this, because it's definitely worth reading, but they go through shit, just like anyone else (albeit the murder charge). Seelie's mother is a rather upsetting character who is just as absent as she is a nuisance, and the fact that she finds Seelie responsible for what happened in the barn shows the reality that not everyone you love will always be on your side. The characters in this really made this story.

Well, them and the plot. Once again, I don't want to ruin anything, but this is a worthwhile read. From the synopsis alone, readers already get the gist of things, but the little details and plot bombs (they really didn't feel like twists, more like random spurts of information) really build what is going on here.

Overall... well let's just say I don't give five stars very often. This is a great story and I can't wait for it to be released so that everyone can have the chance to read it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Flux for this advance review copy. This title is planned for publication in October 2018.

"My Whole Truth" by Mischa Thrace is a first-person narrative of Seelie (Cecelia) Stanton. When we meet Seelie, she has just been attacked by Shane Mayfield, the older brother of a classmate. Seelie killed Shane in self-defense, but with Shane's father being a judge in their relatively small town, Seelie finds herself facing murder charges.

The beginning of this book grabbed me, and if it had held me, it would have gotten a 5-star review. It is well-written in the voice of a 17-year-old girl who doesn't fit in with her classmates and has the typical teenage chip on her shoulder. She relies heavily on her three closest friends, but we only scratch the surface with them. Perhaps this is a result of the story being from Seelie's point of view, but I have read other books where I have gotten to know the secondary characters even through the main character's lens. Seelie also has an extremely acrimonious relationship with her widowed mother, who is portrayed as a workaholic who doesn't care about Seelie at all. Their lack of a relationship doesn't add anything to the story line. I would have liked to see it develop over the course of Seelie's trial.

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Where I struggle with this book is Seelie's inability to confide in even her closest friends about what really happened to her. Throughout the beginning of the book, Seelie hints at the fact that she was sexually assaulted. I know it was meant to be this shocking twist, but I suspected early on that Seelie was going to wind up pregnant as a result. It's really the only way that she can be found not guilty since she didn't tell anyone and there wasn't any evidence collected. But I also find it hard to believe that the doctors and the detectives wouldn't have asked about whether there was a sexual assault. During trial, Seelie, admits that she killed Shane after he raped her, so I would assume his pants would have been undone. It should have been an obvious question, And when Seelie DID confide in one of her friends that she planned to get an abortion, it is the friend who is super religious and doesn't believe in abortion. And she doesn't tell the other two friends. For someone who claims these are the only people she can rely on, she doesn't give them much credit.

Seelie also finds herself to be a victim of bullying as a result of the charges. Shane was well-loved in the community, despite the fact that he had a history of being a delinquent. However, Seelie doesn't call the police when her car is vandalized, and the school administration doesn't do anything when either Seelie's locker or car are vandalized. When she and her friends confront the principal about it, he admits he suspects who it is but can't do anything unless they're caught in the act. Well, they could certainly keep an eye out! Another facet of the bullying appears to come from an English teacher who has lessons in class around developing arguments for and against a murder suspect in a fictional case. I find it hard to believe that any teacher would continue with a lesson like that when there is a student in a similar situation. It just seems hard to believe that the ENTIRE school is against Seelie, with the exception of her three friends.

FInally, there is a girl who was also assaulted by Shane, who leaves a note in Seelie's locker thanking her for what she did since Shane had hurt others in the past. When Seelie discovers who it is and approaches her about it, the girl tries to deny it, then tells Seelie the truth but swears her to secrecy. Seelie keeps her secret (because it's not Seelie's story to tell), but it never comes out after the fact. I thought it would end up being a part of the court case, to corroborate Seelie's story. I really didn't see the point in including it in the book at all.

All in all, this book quickly went from a potential 5-star down to 2. And I actually wouldn't recommend it for high-school-age readers because of the combination of elements. This would totally have been an R-rated movie, but even those require being accompanied by an adult. It would really bother me if I had a teenage child reading this without a parent.

My Whole Truth is a YA/Teen book that covers some dark subjects. Told first person from the view of 17 year old Seelie, the book starts with her calling 911 after being attacked by, and subsequently killing, a 20 year old former classmate. Without doubt, a great suspenseful beginning but that's where the novelty of this story ended for me. The main character is grossly undeveloped as is the story in general. Seelie has a turbulent relationship with her mother, which is a recurring theme in this story, however the author offers no explanation for it. Alot of the book is implausible and felt rushed.

I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book is nothing short of amazing. I couldn't put it down and read it in a day. Seelie is a complex protagonist, one I was eager to follow, and the other characters are beautifully drawn as well, especially her friends. The friendship and high school struggles create interesting conflicts that underlie the drama, high stakes, and suspense of the main plot line. Beautifully written and kept me on the edge of my seat. A must read.

My Whole Truth was a young adult novel that touches on some heavy topics, such a death, violence, substance abuse and sexual assault. The author creates a gripping story about a 17 year old girl who is violently assaulted by a classmate and is forced to fight back in self defense or lose her life. She fights back and her attacker and just when she thought her nigthmare was over, turns out to be just the beginning. Cecilia has killed the son of a powerful judge who wants nothing more than to see her locked away for murder. The corrupt justice system does her no favors and what is supposed to be " innocent until proven guilty" begins to feel more like " Guilty until proven innocent".
This book was pretty intense. I knew it was going to go to some darker places but i wasn't expecting such violence and sadness in a young adult book. I think the author did a fantastic job on portraying a rough but all too real perspective. Our main character was more than a victim, she was a survivor who was plagued by confusion, guilt and anger at the events that happened to her.
The characters were realistic and had their own strengths and faults just like most teens do. I feel this book will be very relatable to some teens and highly recommend it but maybe there should be a content/trigger warning for those who have suffered similar traumas or abuse.

Overall this was a great novel from begining to end. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!!

My Whole Truth takes us on a journey with trauma survivor Seelie Stanton. After being attacked, Seelie contends with disfiguring injuries and post-traumatic stress. She also has to deal with some classic YA struggles such as a selfish mom who doesn’t understand her at all and fissures within her closest friendships. On top of all of this, Seelie faces a possible conviction and life-sentence for the murder of her attacker.
The guilt Seelie grapples with makes her a sympathetic and realistic character who you can’t help but cheer on.

One of the best aspects of the storyline are Seelie’s relationships. Seelie desperately needs her friends and family to help her through this tragedy, but these bonds are constantly put to the test. She and her mother have never seen eye to eye but her mother fails to support her even during the most difficult point of her life. She and one of her closest friends have an unrequited love that hangs in the balance while another member of their friendship circle may have had a hand in events leading up to the attack.

This novel’s plot is well paced as Seelie’s “whole truth” unfolds. There is an element of suspense and urgency as Seelie’s prolonged secrecy affects not only court proceedings and relationships with the people she loves, but also impedes her own recovery.

"My Whole Truth" is an intense novel dealing with a difficult subject: How far are you allowed to go to protect yourself?

I liked Seeley as a protagonist because her reasonings and decisions felt really human and understandable. The impact the events have on her are depicted very well, I liked how she managed to reclaim control of the situation by the end of the novel, and I really enjoyed her relationship dynamics with her friends, especially Lyssa.

I didn't really like that some issues between the characters were just glossed over by the end of the novel, and Seeley's mom remains rather one-dimensional, but I felt that Seeley's development as a character made up for those flaws.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this novel. It is intense, well-written, and features a great protagonist.

I always enjoy reading an authors debut novel.....thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book I’m exchange for an honest review. This was a fantastic book. Very easy to get into and a real page turner! Looking forward to seeing what Mischa Thrace comes up with next!!

"The air is dead with the stench of blood.
Mine.
His."

When a book starts with a paragraph like that, I know I am in trouble because I am SOLD!!

My Whole Truth is a YA suspense novel about a 17-year- old Seelie who is brutally attacked by a 21-year-old Shane and kills him in self-defence. Or at least that's what it seems until she is arrested for murder.

Seelie does not have many friends but she has three very close ones - Lyssa, Finn and Ashlyn. The foursome looks to be unseparable at first but as new facts come to life, little cracks in their friendship start to appear.

The main premise of the book is a murder story but my heart went out to the relationships between the four characters. I was intrigued to discover their stories and secrets. And secrets there were! This book pulled me in and didn't let go until the last page. I will definitely watch out for the next Mischa Thrace novel.

4.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Flux for providing me with a free e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the premise of this story! It selves into places that the world tries to ignore and I am so happy that Netgalley and Flux gave me the opportunity with this DRC. The writing style was easy to follow and was a very heavy read that I was able flow through quite easily.

This book made me realize that I've never read an F/F Romance book. Sure I've read books with side characters that were lesbians, but never one about them, which is a tragedy in itself because seriously, I read an unhealthy amount of their male counterpart- M/M Romance.

That literally had nothing to do with the book in itself, but I just thought I'd mention it because why the hell not?

Anyways, since we are on the topic of a lesbian romance, I feel like I should mention that the romance took a second seat in this story.. or maybe third.. or fourth. Wait a minute, let me do a rerun-
• The murder trial
• Friendship
• Mommy issues
• Romance

See? It takes the fourth seat.

Okay moving on.. this story focused on 17 year old Seelie- a normal highschooler who had been attacked by her senior, and she ended up murdering him in self-defense. Turns out the murdered guy was the son of a very powerful judge who then drags her to court to get her a life-sentence or something like that. That seems to be the center plot of the story- the how's and why's and when's of how she moves on and stuff like that.

Thrown into the mix is one ultra-melodramatic mother, one drug dealing friend, one suuuuper religious friend in love with aforementioned drug dealer, and one artistic, dangerous and honestly kind of unstable love interest.

Talk about drama!

Although with all that there's still an HEA, it somehow feels inconclusive to me. Definitely there was a lot that could still be resolved with more that just one sentence- like the whole situation with her narcissistic mother, who I have a really tough time believing that she even existed because seriously, there's impossible, and there's IMPOSSIBLE. Guess which category mommy dearest fell into? And the whole thing with Lyssa felt like an afterthought. I wish there was a little more build to their story other that Seelie just loving her from before the book began, and Lyssa being weirdly overprotective of her.

And despite all that, I liked this book. It was really fast paced, and there were moments where you generally feel for the girl because life just kept shitting and shitting and shitting on her. Mischa's writing has a good tone to it- it fits right in with the genre she initially intended it for- YA and LGBTQ.

Seelie Stanton is a fairly normal seventeen year old. She enjoys horseback riding and spending time with her small group of friends (who call themselves the faction.) While at work one day, she is attacked by Shane Mayfield, the brother of one of her classmates and son of a local judge. Shane dies as the result of Seelie defending herself. Seelie is left in the difficult position of having to convince the small town she grew up in and the legal system that she was defending herself from an attack.

I liked a few things about this book, but I disliked even more.

The things I liked:
-I loved Seelie and the faction. They felt like very real teenagers. Sometimes I feel like teens in YA are written a lot more mature than your average teenager. It wasn't the case in My Whole Truth. I loved the little mentiosn of things like Doctor Who, Supernatural, etc, because those were things I also relate to my teen years.
-It is written beautifully. There's a few lines that conveyed what Seelie was feeling perfectly.
-I liked how there were mentions of Seelie's crush on Lyssa, but that it wasn't a main storyline.

The things I disliked:
-Seelie's mom. She's awful. I don't understand how or why she constantly blamed Seelie for the attack. I also feel like there was no growth between Seelie and her mother and it left something to be desired. I would have at least liked there to have been a reason why her mother was so awful.
-I felt like the story was super unrealistic. Usually I want my contempory reads to be somewhat realistic. Things that struck me as being unrealistic would be the fact that the school allowed Seelie to attend class even though she was on trial for murder. Another is how the hospital never once considers that she could've been raped and never even mentioned collecting a rape kit. I also felt like Seelie was discharged from the hospital a little early considering her wounds.
-The tone felt a little too light for the story. It felt like almost no one was taking anything seriously.

Overall the story was okay, but it just didn't feel complete.

This was a good read. Seelie is a well developed character in a terrible situation. This book is great for young teens and adults.

the last time I had this hard of a time getting thru a book due to the intense nature was "13 Reasons why"
There does need to be a trigger warning for sexual abuse, murder, bullying etc.
This is truly hard for me to rate. It was a very good book and probably one of the best books I read on this sensitive subject.
I had heard that there was a lesbian side story, but it was so subtle that I would not recommend this book as a LGBT book at all, nor is it truly a thriller. It is a heart breaking work of art. Calling it a thriller is an injustice to the book as it should be marketed as Fiction. I don't even think it qualifies as YA. I'm can't desribe why I can't get this book out of my head.

Gripping and devourable as an episode of Law & Order, covering lots of dark and thorny territory in a quick and compelling read.

This was my first time reading one of Mischa Thrace's books and I must say that it is a good read and it kept my attention, but it also frustrated me to no end. While I enjoyed reading this book that began in the present and backtracked to a traumatic day (October 21st) for Cecelia "Seelie" Stanton throughout the story, at times I became so irritated with her I could scream. I understand why the book is entitled, "My Whole Truth", but Seelie really should have just told the truth from the beginning which would have saved her a whole lot of trouble in the end. As she lay in the hospital bed, it was totally obviously to me what her attacker, Shane, had done to her and that surprise after a 20 minute trip to Walmart later on in the story really wasn't much of a surprise at all to me because it was obvious what had happened. I have so many mixed emotions pertaining to this book right now. While it's a good story, I am sitting her typing out this review feeling frustrated that I even read the book in it's entirety because she should have just told the truth. I'm really steaming hot mad at her. Like, seriously. I haven't been this frustrated with a fictional book character in a very long time. I would suggest reading this story only if you have patience to deal with a 17 year olds version of untruths which will eventually lead up to her "whole truth". I almost want to pull my hair out, I am so irritated right now and not in a good way.

However, emotions and feelings set aside, this book was well written and flowed well. The author does a great job at telling the story and is really detailed about the character's emotions, feelings, and fears. The author also did a great job in writing the judicial aspect of the book. I did enjoy reading about Seelie's feelings for one of her friend's in the "Faction", but I had guessed early on it the story she felt that way before it was revealed. If you are looking for a drama filled YA book, then this one is definitely for you. If you end up as nearly as frustrated as I am, don't say that I didn't warn you ahead of time.

Very heartbreaking story. I wished through the whole book she would find her voice, and she finally did! Great read!