This was a really good story, with a lot of heart, about a really important topic. It covered touchy subjects with deft and grace and really conveyed the importance of getting this topic more into mainstream society in a way that made it more real, and really brought home the tragedy of it. My only critique, being a dog advocate, is the whole pitbull breeding thing. Really? It's 2020 and we're out here still talking about buying irresponsibly bred (you can't responsibly breed pitbulls. They're the number one most euthanized "breed" of dog nationwide) puppies from the next door neighbor? Huge pet peeve of mine and took away all enjoyment every time the dogs were mentioned.

WHAT UNBREAKABLE LOOKS LIKE by Kate McLaughlin | Grade: A+ | No spoilers ahead.

Wow. Just wow. This novel was absolutely one-of-a-kind! I personally have loved the recent trend in YA literature of expanding on social problems and fervent problems in the world through the teenage lens. In fact, I believe that the YA community quite honestly leads the charge in bringing important issues to the attention of the masses. And this one is no different. Before I began the novel, I of course knew what sex trafficking was in terms of a dictionary definition. I was even, as much as it pains to me to say now, pretty ignorant about it. But, now that I have finished the novel, I feel like I more truly understand the horrid industry and specifically, the lifelong and intense ramifications for those who are forced to participate. The main character, Alexa, is very likable and you simply could not help but root for her as she reacclimatizes to a life after being trafficked and relentlessly abused. The voice with which she spoke felt very authentic and honest which I appreciated. This was likely a result of the author’s extensive research on the interview and discussions with people who shared their first-hand accounts. I wrote this review only about 12 hours after I finished the novel, but I have no doubt that it will stick with me for the foreseeable future. There are lots of books that I love, but few that impact me in such a magnificent way. This novel informed, educated, and entertained me in ways that words cannot express. It is my hope that this book does the same for many more and that as a result, more can be done to help those who have been trafficked and to reduce the terrible practice in the future. I cannot wait to reread this book once it comes out this June and to read more from this author. A very special thank you to @netgalley and @wednesdaybooks for an advanced copy of the novel. While I of course appreciated this opportunity, my review is presented without bias.

Harrowing tale of recovery from being trafficked as a sexual slave.

This was a gritty realistic tale of a girl who was a survivor of human trafficking in the United States, and it was a very interesting book as well as a good story. When I think of human trafficking, I usually picture American girls who are snatched either here or while traveling abroad and immediately sent to another foreign country never to be heard from again. Either that or Eastern European or Asian women who are tricked into coming to the US and told they only have to work off their travel fees but end up working forever.

However, what happens to the girl in this book apparently happens to a lot of young girls in the U.S. Her name was Alexa and she was tricked by a guy named Mitch, a friend of her mothers boyfriend into thinking he was her boyfriend, then after a bit she moved in with him. Her mother was a drunk so she didn’t care when Alexa stopped attending school and moved in with this older guy. Then after a few weeks he tells her that he owes a friend a lot of money and the friend will kill him, but the friend wants her so if she has sex with the friend everything will be ok.

Soon after that, Mitch has her addicted to drugs and is her pimp and moves her into a motel with other girls just like her. Three years later the cops bust into the motel and Alexa, now known as Poppy is free. Her Aunt wants to take her and provide a home for her, but it is hard for her to trust anything. The book is written very well in that it goes from her new life to flashbacks of her old life showing how hard it is to move into a new life after being where she was..

Of course it is hard to trust any man after being used as a sex object by hundreds if not more than a thousand men in those three years, all while under the age of eighteen. Some of them were even cops. She is afraid to even trust her aunt’s husband at first, she was positive he would try to come into her bedroom at night.

It’s understandable really when your father leaves at a young age and your mother never cared about you, then the one person you thought was your Knight in shining armor turns out to be a pimp who sells you to slimy men and beats you if you try to say no. When Lex and the other girls are picked up by the cops, Mitch is not found because he was tipped off by his friends in the police force. So he was still out there and Alexa’s mother was calling her Aunt because her boyfriend, Frank is friends with Mitch and they want her back with Mitch.

It is a tough way back for this girl but a pretty awesome story of recovery and getting to a place where she can accept what happened and be at peace with herself. She has help from a therapist, a cop, a few friends, a puppy and she goes through a few trials before getting on the right path. The book kept my interest throughout the entire length and the characters were well written and fully developed. I liked all of them in this story. The fact that Poppy/Alexa was held less than 30 minutes from her mother’s house was eye opening to me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I think we, as a country, have little understanding of how prevalent a problem sex trafficking actually is. In reading Kate McLaughlin's <em>What Unbreakable Looks Like</em>, I guess a part of me had the hope of understanding it more. And I'll be honest, despite the title, I have to admit that reading this book shattered a part of me. In a way, that's a good thing. Sometimes in life, we have grown and strengthened pieces of ourselves to see the world beneath a certain light. It is only in breaking down those pieces that we can allow them to grow in a new way, one that doesn't permit us to live with a blindfold over our eyes.

Can you imagine a world in which teenagers are taken from their homes, seduced almost, and in a few short months sold and forced to have their bodies used, broken, and battered all for the pleasure of those who pay for the ability to do it? In my own sheltered life, I recall being thoroughly shocked the day I learned sex trafficking was actually something that not only continues to happen but happens on a shockingly large scale.

<em>What Unbreakable Looks Like</em> is just a peek into this world.

Alexa (Lex), or Poppy as her pimp calls her, was just a Sophomore when a friend of her alcoholic mother's boyfriend began grooming her. Mitch brings her gifts, tells her how important and beautiful she is, and slowly pulls her away from her life and into a hell she never fathoms escape from. The story begins with a police raid that rescues Lex and puts her in the care of her aunt, setting her on a harrowing journey of recovery. This journey, fraught with countless difficulties and struggles, was painful to read.

And despite being painful and, at times, triggering, Lex's story is so incredibly important.

The fact of the matter is that the more people are kept in the dark about the fact that this is a very real and very serious problem that <em>still </em>happens today, the more innocent girls we'll have subjected to this sort of life. And that's heartbreaking. In that sense, I am grateful that this book exists. While it is a work of fiction, it sheds a light on very true things that happen within a subset of our world and culture that the majority of people would prefer to just ignore or pretend isn't as bad as it is. Lex got off a lot easier than most.

Her story remains difficult to read. I've left this book deeply uncomfortable. But it is the world that allows things like this to happen, most often to young girl's in poor situations, that I am uncomfortable with. <em>What Unbreakable Looks Like</em> merely opened a window through which I could see the truths of these horrors.

In general, this is an immensely important story.

It handles the truths and terrors of human trafficking well, showing readers just the right amount of disturbing experiences to truly set building blocks for some kind of understanding whilst keeping everything from going too far. In a large way, this book has the ability to educate many who read it. It has educated me in some ways, too.

I will admit that there is room to question the author's handling of race. First, in the way that the two girls of color involved in human trafficking are both described negatively. Secondly, in the use of the 'n' word. While there are people of color who are written in a positive light, Lex's uncle and the policewoman who first rescues her and remains on her case, it is unfortunate that of the girls who have gone through what Lex has, those of color are the ones she describes poorly.

Overall, I see <em>What Unbreakable Looks Like</em> as an important novel that I hope will increase awareness of what is a disgusting and terrifying problem that should be addressed as soon as possible.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

Review to go live on blog 03/30/20.

Lex, a teenager sold into sex trafficking gets rescued and a new opportunity to make the most of the type of life she always deserved.

I wanted to like this book but ended up DNF at 20%. I got to 10% and wasn’t connecting with it, but saw the unanimously great reviews so decided to keep going. At 20% I felt the same unfortunately. Most of it comes down to writing style. I feel the premise is very intriguing and important, but the writing just didn’t work for me. The dialogue in particular felt awkward and far too parsed and perfect to be realistic. The narrative voice didn’t connect with me as it should have and I had a hard time really seeing the story come together. The pacing was already messy and strange even in just the first bit. Maybe it finds its way but at least for now I won’t be sticking around to find out.

*Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a free DRC in exchange for an honest review.

The moment I read the summary of this book I knew I wanted to read it. Sex trafficking has always been a global issue but only in recent years have authorities in the U.S. begun to realize how bad it is in within our own borders. However, it is still a taboo subject that isn’t discussed, an issue that seems to get ignored. Although everyday in this country someone is affected by this repulsive crime.

While living with her alcoholic mother, 16 year old Alexa, was seduced by Mitch, a friend of her stepfather. Vulnerable and looking to be loved, she is a perfect target. Unbeknownst to her he begins grooming her with gifts and compliments. While no one is paying attention, Alexa begins to stay more and more with Mitch than in her mother’s home. And before she has a chance to realize what is happening she is trapped in a world where there is no easy escape.

This story follows Alexa as she battles being in a constant state of survival mode. Rescued by her aunt and uncle who provides her with a loving environment, Lex slowly begins to start the long journey on the road to finding herself once more. This amazing, gut wrenching fictional journey into Lex’s horrific experience, shows us how vulnerable young people are to this incredible growing problem.

This is such a powerful book I couldn't put it down. This is a story about human trafficking that is presented in a realistic and informational manner. Thankfully, the sexual details aren't gone into, as they really aren't necessary to the story. It is a very eye-opening account of the horror these victims go through, and how difficult it is to recover. This book broke my heart and at some points had me in tears. I found it hard not to sympathize, empathize, and cheer for Lexi as she went through the experience of once again finding herself. Refusing to have her life stolen due to this ordeal she became stronger. Unbreakable.
I loved this book however it is not for the faint of heart. I cannot recommend this enough! Powerful!
Highly recommended.

I knew this would be a heavy topic to read, but I felt that it had the potential to be an important read if done well.

This book was done incredibly well. While it addresses issues that can be triggering, such as substance use, sex trafficking, rape, parental neglect, violence, and self-harm, it wasn't gratuitous, and the author included a content warning at the beginning of the book.

What I most appreciated about the book was the way the author focused on Alexa's journey of healing and learning how to adjust to her new life. While I can't even imagine what this process must be like, it was handled sensitively and felt authentic, but it broke my heart for Alexa, other girls in the book, and the many people around the world for whom this is not fiction but a reality.

I don't usually cry while reading books, but this one got me - it's touching, heartbreaking, painful, and hopeful. If you can handle the material, I'd strongly suggest reading it. It's worth it.

Poppy is her name given to her by her pimp. Her real name is Alexa and she was lured into sex trafficking by a friend of her mothers. When she is saved out of this life, her aunt, Krys, and uncle, Jamal, take her in.
Lex goes through many issues on her return to normal. She goes to a recovery center for girls like her. She has to catch up on the school she has missed before returning for her senior year. Her boyfriend, whom she has told about her past, corners her in the bathroom with four other guys. People find out about her past and ostracize her.
With her best friend and a male friend, she slowly recovers and takes back her life.
I was afraid to read this book at first. I knew it would be an emotional book that would take me on a roller coaster ride. Once I started it though, I couldn’t put it down. This book is gripping. It has its ups and downs but it is such a book of empowerment that I absolutely loved it. This is my favorite young adult book of the year.
Ms. McLaughlin weaves the story of Alexa being trafficked into the story of her recovery. Lex goes through many a battle but the book is so well written that you can’t help but feel. I felt compassion for her when I saw how her moms friend lured her into it. I felt sympathy when her boyfriend had his friends assault her in the bathroom. I felt relief when they sentenced her pimp. I felt so much through this entire book. You will finish this book but it will stay with you.

What an intense book! This book was a look inside the world of sex trafficking. Scary, terrifying, and heart breaking.

Alexa was groomed at a young age by a friend of her mothers. She feel in love with an older man that had an ulterior motive. Soon she was trapped in the underground world of trafficking. When police finally rescue her, along with a few other girls, Alexa doesn’t know how to live outside the world of trafficking. She’s not sure if the real world is where she belongs anymore. With a supportive, loving aunt Alexa must try to learn to live like a normal teenager again. She’s not sure that she will be able to or even wants to.

This book was hard to put down. Be warned that there are graphics parts and it could be a trigger for some that have experienced trauma. It was such an eye opening experience for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this hard-hitting and devastating novel! I haven't ever really researched much into sex trafficking; it is a terrifying reality that countless kids are thrust into, but it is a topic that remains mostly untouched whether it be in fiction or nonfiction. I applaud Kate for what she has accomplished with this novel. She brings us a story that gives us an unapologetic look at the lives of these young adults that have been irrevocably changed, but she inserts a spark of hope. There is the ever-present threat of danger, the fear of being too broken, and the struggle of returning to a normalcy that has since left you behind-- but the protagonist shows us all how strong women are, and no matter what your circumstances, you deserve happiness.

Alexa, better known as Lex, was taken by a man she trusted and turned into Poppy; a girl who was forced to have sex with men along with several other 'flowers'. She watched girls come and go, made bonds with a few, and attempted to hold on to herself while being plied with drugs and beaten to keep her docile and submissive. She never thought she would see anything else but the hotel she was confined to, and she was almost resigned to that fact until the police showed up one day. After being rescued, she finds out her estranged aunt is going to adopt her, and things start clicking into motion for her recovery. She watches her best friend from the hotel, Ivy, run straight back into the life, but she herself is stopped by the idea of a family. She endures rehab, making new friends, trusting the wrong boys, losing people she loves, getting talked about at school, and maybe even falling in love for the first time-- all while wondering how much of it she deserves, or even how much of it is real.

Lex is such a powerful character, because she has been through so much and yet is still able to see the good in people. The development that she has from page one to the end is like night and day-- the reader watches her build her self worth back and though it takes a long time, she also finds a sense of security and belonging that she had never felt before. This novel truly shows the magic of a good support system, as Lex is surrounded by love from her aunt, Krys from her release on, and all the people she meets afterwards act as a wall around her, protecting her from set backs and hardships, and lets her figure out who she is in her own time, but loving her every step of the way. This novel is not only a call to open our eyes to the harsh existence of sex trafficking, but also to treat those you meet in life fairly, as you never know what scars lie just beneath the surface.

Knowing Lex's history, some would be inclined to make snap judgments about her. Those people would never know her love for books and research, her affinity for public speaking, her strength, or the love she is capable of. She is a truly captivating protagonist, and though this story is heart-wrenching just know that it is a beacon of hope. Sometimes saving yourself will be the hardest thing you ever have to face. If you're taught your worth at a young age, it's going to be hard to overcome that, but it is always possible to change. You are not what this world will try to make you. It is cold and it is unforgiving, but you can find your people and yourself in spite of it. No matter how broken you feel, we are all stronger than we know. Lex's tale is sure to remind us all what unbreakable looks like, and if you look in the mirror, I know you'll see it too.

What Unbreakable Looks Like is a powerful story about healing and self-discovery told from the perspective of Alexa, who was groomed, manipulated, and trafficked as a young teen. When she is rescued and taken in by her Aunt Krys, she struggles to reintegrate into society and live as a “normal” teenager. Her connections with her Aunt, Uncle, and new friends, Elsa and Zack, help her learn to trust again and to discover her self-worth. This story is incredibly raw and real. I felt every ounce of Alexa’s pain, confusion, anger, shock, and joy as she fought for control of her life and learned to find comfort in others. The author successfully covers incredibly difficult topics, including assault, harassment, and self-harm/suicide, in a sensitive and profound manner. Thank you for spreading awareness of these topics and helping create a world where survivors are met with compassion, love, and a sense of security.

**WARNING: this book may trigger those who have been through a trauma.

Wow. That’s all I can say after finishing this book. I was completely engrossed in this book and had a difficult time putting it down. I was at the edge of my seat, not sure what would happen next. The author does an excellent job of showing that just because Poppy/Lex is out, that doesn’t mean life is great after. She still struggles. I love that she’s not perfect – in fact, she screws up left and right. I was particularly loving her relationship with her aunt. It filled my heart to see her gain friends, Elsa and Zach, and watch those characters develop as well. This book was HARD to read, from an emotional standpoint. I cried several times during this book. I will definitely seek out more from this author, and definitely recommend this!

5 Stars

What an amazing book! It was a little uncomfortable to read sometimes but that is one of the reasons it is such a great book. It also made me want to cry sometimes. I loved everything about this book. The plot was great, the characters were great, and you get enough of a resolution without everything being wrapped up in a neat little bow.

This book really blew me away. It brought out many emotions that I felt deeply in my soul. I cried more than I ever have while reading a book and it’s not a bad thing. This may be a hard read for some readers. Proceed with caution. We follow Alexa’s “Lex” on her recovery from sexual trauma. Her own healing process isn’t pretty and it isn’t meant to be. Lex struggles with her demons and the things that has happened to her. Through all of it, she finds her voice. She refuses to be a victim and her strength shines through. I applaud her! I was rooting for her the whole way.

The author did an amazing job on both the story and the characters. The story is emotional. One of the things I appreciated was how relatable it was. Some of the situations I have seen in real life. Like I mentioned earlier, I cried a lot. Most of the characters have a special place in my heart. I look forward to reading more from this author! Even though the subject isn’t a nice one, I highly enjoyed this book. I give this 5 stars.

~ Impossible to put this book down. Realistic, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. Definitely a hard topic to read about BUT definitely necessary to have on the shelves. Reads as a realistic voice.

Book: What Unbreakable Looks Like
Author: Kate McLaughlin
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC.

I’ve actually had this title for awhile now. I’m glad I read it when I did. I’ve been in the mood for a hard hitting book and this one had it for me. The why it was written and the way the characters were presented just hit me in all of the right places. I love how the recovery period wasn’t shown as something quick and easy, but rather we got to see the hardships and difficult things that went along with it. What I’m getting out is I like how the road back to a so called normal life isn’t always easy and that the scars may never heal.

When most people think of human trafficking, they probably think of foreign countries. Kate doesn’t go there. She takes normal high school girl who finds herself in the life. We get to see how Alexa was pulled in. Not only that, but she could be the girl next door, she could be your best friend, you daughter. She’s the girl who everyone can relate to. This book will make people more aware of just how close to home this is and will maybe make them stop and think about these things before they judge. After all, you really don’t know what happened in someone’s life to make them get to this point.

This book also plays into the fact that it is so important to have a good support system. Kate talks about how Alexa was one of the only girls who didn’t go back. Alexa had some family who was willing to take her int and make her feel wanted. Those who went back, didn’t have this or believed that they had no other choice, but to return to the life. I think that if Alexa hadn’t had this support system, then she probably would have gone back.

We also get to see the ups and downs of trying to return to normal. Alexa goes through a lot of rough patches. We see bullying and her trying to move on. We get to see how she views herself and how this view of herself changes overtime. Like I said earlier, she is one of those characters that you can’t help but to fall in love with. You want her to be okay; you want her to get a second chance. You want her to find love and everything. However, the journey isn’t always easy. A lot of people will not go through what Alexa did, but everyone needs to heal at some point in their life. This book shows that it’s okay to take time to heal and to say that you’re not okay. There’s not a lot of books out there like this and I think that is why this book will be important.

I’m also going to put out there that this book does have some triggers. Just read the summary people before you pick this one up. I do not recommend this for more sensitive readers and younger readers. Kate does not sugarcoat anything.

I really enjoyed reading this one and I’m glad Wednesday Books recommended it to me. The release day is on June 23, 2020, so it is a bit away.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/oEXF5Tp0t4U

This is a powerful and horrifying book on the aftermath of sex trafficking. Told from the perspective of a teenager named Alexa (also named Poppy by her pimp), this novel reads like a memoir. It’s heartbreaking and eye-opening, and really sheds light on how a young girl is taken into this violent and tragic life. This isn’t an easy read. There are many descriptions of sexual assault that brought tears to my eyes. Alexa’s recovery and rebound are painful to bear witness, but you’ll find yourself rooting for her throughout the entire book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me captivated from the first page. At times heartbreaking, horrifying, uplifting, redeeming, and humorous, this book is not for the faint-hearted! The main character is a 17 year old girl who has been the victim of sex-trafficking, made worse by the fact that her mom's boyfriend is involved and mom is too strung out to care. While the effects of addiction are mostly glossed over, the horrors of sex trafficking are not.

I have no personal experience with trafficking from which to draw, but the book felt so real to me. The main character, Alexa, struggles with paranoia, depression, anxiety, worthlessness, and more. The book focuses more on her recovery experiences, but it does touch on some of the statistics worldwide. There are a few peripheral characters (other girls who also "belonged" to the her pimp) whose fates we get to see as well.

Although I found the wrap up just a little too tidy, I'm still giving the book 5 stars because I could not put it down.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book still haunts me and I finished reading it a month ago! McLaughlin paints an all too accurate and believable vision of what sex trafficking looks like in our own backyards. The characters are so well developed--I feel like Lex is an actual person that I could meet. I could not put this book down. a must read for anyone who thinks sex trafficking can't happen in their town.

I knew going into it this story would be dark, but what I didn't anticipate was how connected I would feel to Lex. She is a strong, powerful character and watching her reclaim her agency was inspiring!