I think this would be an excellent pick for readers who enjoy multidimensional dramas. I went into it mistakenly anticipating a thriller (I saw it tagged that way- it shouldn’t be) and felt throw off by the pacing as a result; however, this was overall a solid drama that explored both familial dynamics and the implication of attempting to recover from trauma & navigate life after.

Thank you so much Netgalley & PRH for the eArc!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my review. This does not affect my opinion or review.
I personally really enjoyed this book! I really like how in this story not only were the effects of sexual assault present for the victim but it also explored the ways that this affected their family and the people around them.

The Damage, by Caitlin Wahrer, is a psychological thriller set in a small town in southern Maine, the picturesque life enjoyed by an attorney, her husband, and their children is shattered by violence and lies when her brother-in-law, a college student, is brutally raped by a man who seems likely to escape justice.

It's hard to believe that this burner of a book is the debut novel by author Caitlin Wahrer. The Damage explores a wide array of touchpoints including family dynamics, ethical dilemmas, LGBTQ+ relationships, sexual assault and rape, but please do not be fooled. This isn't a salacious romp, but one of a much deeper emotional depth that's wrapped in family drama and mystery.

Also worth noting, The Damage explores an often overlooked area of men being the victims of a sexual assault. And please be aware of these Trigger Warnings: Sexual violence, Domestic violence; Rape; Assault.

I was a little apprehensive about reading a book about such a violent attack, but the reviews were so solid I knew I had to give this one a try. The pace is rapid fire and a "you will never guess the entire ending" that adds to the experience.

A special shout out to NetGalley for sending me an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Damage scores smart narration, characters, and plot development chapter after chapter until you reach the unbelievable conclusion. Caitlin Wahrer is going to be an author to watch and her debut novel The Damage is now available wherever you purchase books.

I enjoyed this book. I like books that flip back and forth between present and past. I like how it was told through different points of view. Tony and the wife’s character bothered me, just these little things of their personality that was irritating as it was reoccurring. I’ve never liked vigilantes, but I liked how realistic the sexual assault and its effects on all the parties was. There was some predictability to the book, but the very ending was a bit of a surprise in two ways. It is a 3.5; but I am feeling generous

Poignant and beautifully written. Very emotional and great LGBT representation. I can't wait to see what else this author does in the future.

When Nick, a young gay man, is sexually assaulted, it has repercussions, not only for him but his family and all those around him including the investigating officer. The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer is a compelling tale of suspense, justice, revenge raising the question how far will a family go to protect their own. There's plenty of twists and turns that kept me reading...and guessing...from first page to last. The story is told from multiple viewpoints and split between two timelines, keeping the story moving and the the suspense ramped up right until the very satisfying ending. The story is well-written and well-plotted and deals with an extremely emotional issue in a very sympathetic way. Given the subject matter, I won’t say it was the most comfortable of reads but it is one of the most unputdownable I have read this year. It’s even more impressive knowing this is Wahrer’s debut novel. A definite high recommendation from me.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

The Damage tells the story of just how far reaching the tendrils of a rape crime can go as it touches the lives of one family and the detective investigating it. It's intoxicating to get caught up the close family bonds and the teasing way the story switches between past and present. It's the best of crime fiction and psychological thriller mixed with family drama! Also, how the heck is this a debut?!

Phenomenal! I couldn't stop reading!

This book delves into the effect a sexual assault has on the extended family, the detective assigned to the case as well as the victim. The family dynamics are very involving and there are Aldo mystery/thriller elements that pack a gut punch. It was so much better than many of the overly hyped books of the first half of 2021.
This book was provided by NetGalley and Doubleday Canada.

The Damage is tense, slow building thriller of a little discussed topic; male rape. Although we know very soon in the story, who the attacker is, the authors descriptive writing leads shows how trauma and victimization can be a family ordeal and not just for the victim.
The twists and turns are compelling and the characters are well developed to leave you wanting more when the book is done.
This debut author provides all the feels of creepy chiller that leaves the reader feeling unsettled, and questioning, who can you really trust?

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

I had issues with my download and went back to check on the books I still needed to read and review, this book had already been archived and no longer downloadable, my apologies for this, I had a few busy months where I couldn't make reading my priority. Stars are based on avg of others reviews

This debut novel is about two half brothers, and how far someone will go to keep their family safe. One of two half brothers go through a traumatic experience, and it affects the entire family. You can tell the author has been in law school and practiced law. The story wasn't flimsy like most of the genre. I liked the whole question of what makes you a good person? Is it being legally responsible and just, or doing what's best for those you love at your expense?

Anyways, I give this 3.5 stars. I didn't love it but I really enjoyed it. Thank you Penguin Random House for the ARC.

The Damage is a fast paced thriller about one family deals with a terrible crime. As the events unfold you are left wondering how you would react in a situation like this. It starts in Maine, in winter and it had me hooked in the first few pages! Caitlin Wahrer has written an excellent first novel.

Caitlin Wahrer's debut novel, The Damage, is a powerful, emotional look at how far we will go to protect those we love.⁣

⁣ Nick, a college student, enjoys a night at a bar with a close friend. After some drinking and dancing, he’s approached by a handsome older man. They flirt, talk, and ultimately decide to go to the man’s motel room. The next thing he knows, Nick wakes up bruised and bloody—and he has been raped.⁣

⁣ As Nick helps the police try to identify his rapist, he must confront a jumble of intense emotions. Meanwhile, his older brother Tony, who had always been a surrogate father to Nick, feels powerless in the face of Nick’s pain and wants to solve his problems and protect him.⁣

⁣ When Nick’s rapist is identified and he publicly contradicts Nick's story, shifting the blame to him and raising ideas about Nick's proclivities, Tony’s wife Julia, a former defense attorney, worries that Nick may be harmed by the scrutiny of a trial. She becomes increasingly worried Tony might take matters into his own hands to try and fight his brother's battles.⁣

⁣ This is a story that packs a punch on so many levels. It’s narrated by Nick, Tony, Julia, and the detective mounting the case. There is so much rich character development in this book it’s so hard to believe it’s a debut novel.⁣

⁣ I’ll admit I hesitated to read The Damage because as a survivor I worried this would be too painful of an experience for me. But I commend Caitlin Wahrer for doing right by survivors of sexual assault and presenting their struggles and challenges in an accurate, not overly dramatic way. ⁣

⁣ NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Doubleday Canada provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available! Really a great and thought-provoking read.

Absolutely loved this stunning debut mystery. I read it in two sittings. A compulsive read, extremely well-written with deep character development.

I really enjoyed The Damage, which is unusual because the pacing was definitely slower than I typically appreciate in a thriller. However, it did keep me interested enough to finish, in part because the characters were well developed and the story felt well researched. Overall this was a very well done debut novel by Ms Wahrer and I am looking forward to reading more by this author!

This was a near perfect story for me. This is phenomenal, captivating, emotionally packed, and you cannot put this down to see how it plays out. The story dives into the Hall family, brothers Nick and Tony, and Tony's wife, Julia. This story centers around the sexual assault Nick experiences, and male rape is not a heavily discussed topic in literature. I thought this was very respectfully done, covering many facets and layers, and discusses rape culture so well, especially within the gay community. This did run a touch long for me, but my interest also never wavered and I was extremely invested throughout this story.

This was a real delight to read. The story flows nicely and the suspense and mystery is steadily build.
The author does a great job in misdirecting the reader, although some things can be suspected, the exact way of execution are revealed in the end as a nice surprise.

I really enjoyed this book! The theme of a male rape victim, it is equally tragic and new as not a lot of authors have explored this avenue as of yet. The devastating impact that has on the victim and his family are very well described in the book, without losing countless time on internal chatter, the message is strong and the pain is real.

A beautiful story about family, love, choices, individual strength, personality and a good mystery.
Thank you Net Galley for this great book!

So, first of all, this book comes with... a lot of content/trigger warnings. It's brutal, but not in the creepily voyeuristic and indulgent way that happens in some thrillers. It takes the aftermath of a horrible sexual assault and examines how it impacts the family of the victim and the lead detective on the case. Told through shifting perspectives and multiple timelines, it's an engrossing read. There are twists, to be sure, but none of them feel contrived or added just for shock value. Also, while the characters may make some questionable decisions, they're not unlikable or irredeemable. Rather, they're people placed into a horrible situation that are doing what they feel is best - even if it turns out to be morally questionable. This might be my favorite thriller of the year.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sharing a copy of The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer for review.

The Damage is a really good mix of legal thriller and family drama. The Damage explores the affect a sexual assault and the following criminal charges have on the victim and their family. A tough read but really handled well.

Many thanks to NetGalley for a free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I won’t lie. This was a tough book to read. It’s loaded with hard topics like sexual assault, child abuse, violence, and hints at organized crime.

That being said, it’s a deep exploration into what you would do if someone you loved was about to do a terrible thing.

After his brother is raped by a man he met at a bar, Tony is determined to see justice done no matter what. When Tony’s wife realizes the lengths he will go to, she has to decide what to do. Can she stop an act of violence? Does she even want to?

This is a story of family and love and trust. It was also a crime procedural that cast a bright light on the way justice fails assault victims. As I said, it’s a tough read but a good book.