I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

DNF

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Cameron KellyRosenblum for allowing me to read and review this book.

Sadly I could not get into this book. When I requested the book the description caught my eye and it seemed interesting. However, I was unable to get into this book when I started it. I will try again in the future, as I may be able to one day in the future.

I will be rating it 3 stars here on Netgalley, but if I do read it in the future I will adjust the review and rating accordingly.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this advanced readers copy. I was really looking forward to reading this book. This novel is accurate about what girls and even women can go through that changes their lives forever. It not always ends happily ever after like this one did, but I am so grateful that it did for the character of Quinn, or Q. This novel made me appreciative of the term girl power, because if it weren't for the girls and women rallying around Q, she wouldn't have been able to have the strength to do everything she did to take down the perpetrator. All in all, a great novel to read, I highly recommend!

This probably could have been a five-star read, but I feel like it was just a little too long to pull that off. Overall, this is a really tight YA book. It does an excellent job at turning tropes on their heads and not doing what you expect it to do while also being a fantastic critique of rape culture and boys clubs - particularly at private campuses.

The book didn't do what I expected it to at all, but in the best way. I think this will have a lot of fans and that teens will really enjoy it.

If I could, I'd give this 3.5 Stars.

In all honesty-- I'm not sure I'm quite the intended audience for this book, so that might color my opinion. I read mostly YA but I would say this surprisingly skewed a little young for me writing wise. The story itself really appealed to me and I really enjoyed that aspect; I had some issues with the writing, not necessarily because of quality but more because of maturity, which is a matter of preference.

I want to say-- if I had read this in middle school or early high school, I think I would have been torn open by this book in the best way.

I liked a lot of the story-- the characters were interesting, the story was compelling, and I found the structure really interesting. I don't think the description of the book matches what the book actually is-- Q's assault doesn't become public in a way that propels the story, as it implies. I understand why they had trouble explaining it because it seems like they wanted to keep one of the central elements as a twist, which I understand. There isn't really a good way to explain it without using that element, in my opinion. I'd say that it's the story of three characters reckoning with the rape culture at their school; one as a victim, one as a bystander, and one as a complicit participant.

There is one bigger complaint I have that I would like to point out, but it is spoiler: Q spends the first half of the book trying to kill her assailant. When she is caught and she gets help, this is not addressed by anyone because Charlotte agrees to hide it. After she starts getting treatment, this isn't really brought up again. I already struggled a little bit with how active her plan to kill him was, so I struggled with it being pretty much completely dropped in the second half of the book. Because this book handles such serious and heavy subject matter, it felt strange that she "got away" with having stolen a firearm and pointed it at him and never got any support around that. My thought here is more that when she is firmly in a better place, it seems like something she might really struggle with.

If you are in a place where you think you can handle this book, I would recommend it, even for those hesitant to read based on what I said of the writing. I think it's really powerful and really relevant. If you're worried about the content, proceed with caution-- know that the chapters from characters other than Q do a really good job giving breathing room to the heavier parts of the narrative (though naturally this isn't as true later into the book).

Thank you to Netgalley for the eArc! I did receive this book in return for my review but that has not impacted my opinions here.

Thank you NetGalley!

Check TW!

This book highlights toxic masculinity, privilege, and how peers perpetuate the culture of “boys will be boys”. I enjoyed reading this book and appreciated how the author dealt with its tough subject.

All the characters are flawed which I appreciate because often YA protagonists, especially fem protagonists, are one dimensional.

The experience of Q mimic the experiences of far too many. The plot of Q seeking revenge was interested but did make me sad as she felt that the justice system would not hold her attacker accountable so she had to resort to taking it into her own hands.

Overall I enjoyed the book and I recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

This book is not a read for entertainment. It deals with an incredibly difficult subject of rape on campus, the intimate details of the aftermath of not only the victim, but those around them and how some try to minimize the severity of the situation. This book has three different point of views which gives a broader perspective.

I did not enjoy this book, but it is well written and an important story to hear. It felt real and brings about a lot of strong emotions.

4 stars

First, please note that I could not find an official Trigger Warning, this book contains a lot of discussion of rape, rape culture, misogyny, toxic masculinity, and the like.

This story follows three very different characters through their daily lives at boarding school. We have Q, who is for me the most compelling character. She is trying to cope with the aftermath of a horrific sexual assault, and wants nothing but revenge, full stop. And who could blame her? She hates that she has to see her rapist on campus every day, strolling around without a care in the world, while she attempts to deal with the aftermath of his vile crime. Charlotte has found herself in the thick of social life at Lycroft, basically watching all her assumed dreams come true. She's killing it in her dance classes, school is going great, and her boyfriend is the gorgeous, popular guy who everyone adores. But Charlotte is not exactly seeing the whole picture. Then, we have Max. He's basically a... not exactly an outcast, but he's a nobody in the grand scheme of the school. That is, until he finds himself saving the day for the champion rowing team, and therefore becoming one of the "cool guys" overnight. But what is the cost of fitting in? That is kind of the big question for all the characters in this story, even the side characters.

It's clear from the start that the social hierarchy at this place is messy at best, toxic at worst. The further on you read, the angrier you'll be that this school is allowed to continue as it is, and has been for so damn long. And your heart will break for Q over and over again as she tries to survive. The messages in this book are fabulous, and they deal a lot with mental health and taking back your power and all that good stuff. In the middle, I felt there was a bit of dragging? But it wasn't overwhelming. I think that each of the characters was very well developed, and the author did a great job of making it clear just how easy it can be for people to get caught up in misogynistic group dynamics. It's incredibly emotional, and handled these very difficult topics fabulously

Bottom Line: It's a gut punch, but an important one. Very emotional, very relevant, and definitely worth reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars. CW: Sexual assault, misogyny, toxic masculinity, r*pe culture

Whew. Okay, this one made me cry. I knew it was going to, but seeing Q work through her trauma and share the story multiple times and have people support her but also her rage, just her rage, was a lot to process and absolutely also needed in YA lit. While it does have three different POVs, they end up converging toward the end. I liked each individual storyline, but I also liked how it was tied together at the end and brought Q justice. I also like how Q's justice didn't out her as a survivor, but it still gave her (and others) closure.

This was a beautiful, yet harrowing, look at toxic masculinity. While it is set at an elite boarding school, the rhetoric of the situations presented can be found anywhere. This is a must read for how bluntly it discusses the topic, but it definitely needs to be read with awareness of triggers. Star deduction because some of it felt a tad unnecessary plot wise and could have been condensed (also, Q's gun plot....yet it was her rage but then it was never addressed...like surely they would have noticed a missing gun?!)

Lycroft Phelps is back in session and Quinn, Charlotte, and Max have returned to the elite boarding school for the year. But, there is a culture of toxic masculinity that has persisted under the surface at LPS and it’s going to make for a very different year for all three students.

Quinn Walsh had the most amazing first year at LPS, until she was raped by her date at the Summer Sendoff. Now she is back at school and her rage and depression are so consuming that the only thing keeping her afloat as the fall quarter begins is her plan to kill Colin Pierce, her attacker. Charlotte Foresley had a much different Summer Sendoff experience, with Seb McNeilly the genetic miracle, and after a summer of long distance, they are beginning the school year together. But with notes arriving claiming Seb is a cheater, Charlotte begins to wonder if the genetic miracle is actually as wonderful as the show he puts on. Max Hannigan-Loeffler is attending LPS on scholarship due to his genius in robotics, in other words he is a big dork. But, when the Varisty 1 crew boat loses it’s cox, Max is brought onto the team and finds himself being welcomed into the social group of LPS’s most elite boys. What Quinn, Charlotte and Max don’t know is that their stories will collide in a way that will expose and change LPS in a profound way.

Told in alternating chapters from these three student’s points of view, The Sharp Edge of Silence, effectively shows multiple ways that toxic masculinity affects people, particularly young adults, but also in general. Quinn’s portrayal of someone struggling in the wake of a major trauma is outstanding, but the real unique part of this novel is the way that Max shows how easily someone with even the best intentions can be sucked into sexist ideologies. I also appreciated that he had consequences for his actions, granted nothing like the other boys (but he also did not truly partake in their disgusting traditions, just allowed them to happen), but he still lost his dream girl because of it. I felt Max’s portions of the story really showed the immense range of sexism in men, as all the boys in this book really fall all over the spectrum, and how toxic masculinity impacts them pretty significantly as well, though often in different ways than it impacts women.

The unfortunate part of this novel is that it can get pretty pedantic at times. Especially as I got towards the end of the book, it was giving major “I’m teaching you a lesson” vibes. Teen readers, especially those who want plot plot and more plot, may find this a little off-putting. The focus on Quinn’s therapy once she finally gets help, may also put some readers off, but I did appreciate that there wasn’t a miracle cure for her problems, she had to really work to be better, and that’s the truth of trauma recovery, it is some of the hardest work you’ll ever do.

It’s pedanticism aside, The Sharp Edge of Silence deserves a spot on every shelf. Girls and boys alike will see themselves in this important story of toxic masculinity and its horrifying effects. It may require a little work to find an audience, but in the right hands it could be life changing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Told from the perspectives of three different people, Charlotte, Max, and Quinn, this book is a hard look at privilege and what goes on behind the ivied walls of moneyed academia.

Trigger warnings for sexual assault! Quinn's sexual assault is what the plot of this book hinges on, so if you can't handle that, please don't read this one. It's incredibly hard to read. While the book isn't graphic about it at all, the situation itself is just difficult.

The pacing and characters were well done in this book. Quinn's rage and pain came through almost viscerally, and I wanted so much to sweep her away and protect her. I thought the subject matter was handled with a deft hand and not overdone or used as a way to just make a statement. Quinn was treated like a living, breathing person and not just a character in a book.

Wow, just wow.

This is so powerful. Empowering.

The story is coming from various points of view, which I thought might be a little confusing, but they were absolutely necessary. The various voices help us, the readers, to understand even if we do not endorse certain behaviors from all of the protagonists. I appreciated how the author weaved the relationships of all the many characters into a seamlessly thrilling story. Sometimes a happy ending feels too forced, but that was absolutely not the case here. I was rooting for voices to be heard and believed, and appropriate reactions/actions to happen to our antagonists. I quite literally found myself cheering during a certain moment. I cannot say too much without any spoilers, but I do highly recommend this empowering story. Truth, justice, and girl power.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the opportunity to review this story and give my honest opinion.

Are you looking for a YA book about standing up for yourself or someone else? Here is:
Prestigious Academy - The elite academy of Lycroft Phelps prides itself on being a place where young people can be their best self
3 POV - we follow Max, Charlotte, and Quinn as they navigate relationships and life
A Victim - but one of them is a victim of sexual assault. How do they handle it and what repercussions are there for the attacker?
I need to start off by saying this book will definitely be an issue if you are triggered by sexual assault. It’s not graphic, but watching the victim relive it over and over is very hard sometimes. Overall this book is a slow burn, and kind of long. The ending is satisfying in what actually happens to all our characters, but also realistic in that the end results are pretty right on with what happens in real life. If you like books that really explores mental health and relationships, this book might be on to pick up.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Sharp Edge of Silence" fell short of my expectations. While the premise sounded promising — a YA contemporary novel tackling toxic masculinity and sexual assault at an elite boarding school — the execution left much to be desired.

The main issue I had with is book is the pacing. The synopsis promised a fast-paced read, and while I did manage to read it all in one sitting, it felt like a slog to get through. For the first 60% of the book, there is nothing that moves the plot along, and much of the story was the characters' school lives that didn't really seem to add anything to the overall message of the novel.

Additionally, this book is told through three alternating perspectives, which did not work well. This book is almost 500 pages, and Charlotte and Max’s POVs were basically filler. I would have preferred this book to be told entirely through Q’s POV, as it is essentially her story on sexual assault. The other POVs were unnecessary and shifted the story from an important exploration of rape culture to everyday teen life.

The novel has an important message, but overall, the story feels disjointed and all over the place.

4.5/5 Stars

TW: Sexual Assault

I think the author did a wonderful job portraying the myriad, complex emotions and events relating to the assault in this book. Not only the feelings of the actual assault victim but all those who care about her, as well. I was riveted throughout. I think the multiple POVs only added to the whole picture. For me, the story flowed once I learned each character. I didn’t really notice any parts that lagged, in spite of the book being on the longer side.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books for this ARC.

A little scattered but overall really well done. I liked seeing the school through different characters eyes. I almost feel like it would have been more interesting to see it through Seb's eyes rather than Charlotte's His insider knowledge and the way he wrestled with his feelings about going along with the group but how his feelings for Charlotte made him want something different may have been a more interesting storyline than Charlotte's. 3.5 stars

This was a really devastating read, it accurately captures (in my experience) the complicated anger and grief that comes with being a survivor.

I picked up The Sharp Edge of Silence because of the main plot—a rape at a private high school. As my debut novel tackled rape, acceptance, and healing, I knew this book would be for me.

The novel follows three narrators: Q(Quinn), Charlotte, and Max. They each hold a vital piece to the puzzle and offer varying perspectives on the culture (and secret organization) of Lycroft Phelps. As someone who has struggled with sexual harassment and assault, Q's journey and rage sat with me in a way only I believe a fellow victim can understand. Q's story was raw, painful, and honest about living with trauma, and I believe Rosenblum did a phenomenal job conveying the struggles of living through sexual assault and how—until you've healed—your body no longer feels like yours.

While Q's narrative was compelling and important, Charlotte's and Max's felt bloated. I enjoyed their commentary on jock culture and the secretive nature of Slycroft but ultimately felt their sections lagged and only offered something of real importance near the latter quarter of the novel. I also didn't need 20+ pages of Max rowing with the crew. After a while, I began glazing over those scenes.

Overall, I loved Q's plot—from depression to rage to eventual acceptance and healing. I just felt it would have been more poignant and rich without so much commentary from Charlotte and Max.

I recommend this novel to anyone interested in YA novels that tackle sexual assault, healing past traumas, or toxic sexual expectations.

I will be holding my review in support of the HarperCollins Union. Once they receive a fair contract, my review will be posted in full.