I've been a fan of Ava Dellaira for years, and this latest story was just as I hoped. The characters are complex and so real.

This was an interesting read and I think it will spark a lot of conversation. I think the way that it handles grief is something that people will connect to. Thank you Zibby Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

Thanks Zibby Publishing for this gifted finished paperback copy to read, review, and share in a Little Free Library drop! I also had an advanced readers copy through Netgalley as well. As much as I absolutely love the cover arts for this one, it sadly is not one for me.

I didn’t remember the premise of this when I received the physical copy so I was genuinely surprised by the content that occurs in the first several chapters and I was unsure of what that would mean for the rest of the story. Honestly, I could have done without a lot of this back story content of the characters’ lifestyle choices as even before 10% in I wanted to DNF because I personally 1) don’t want to read about all that and 2) it did not make me feel connected to or even know the characters enough to care about them. I felt I was trying to skip over so much that it was as if there was little story beyond this and since it seemed as though this would be how the rest of the story would continue I ultimately did DNF.

Content includes a LOT of various sexual content (mostly vague with several references to genitalia, and oral and sapphic encounters), cancer, some profanity, and goodness knows what else it contains.

Just as we can’t judge books by their covers when it comes to bad cover art, you can’t judge pretty covers either (both the hardcover and paperback for this one are stunning). Refreshing myself on the premise I thought, “okay yeah, this could be an interesting, emotional read that dives into characters’ psyches,” but it was far too much about the characters’ sexual escapades than anything remotely interesting. Call me a harsh critic but I’ll always be honest in my reviews. So yeah, a hard pass from me.

This is a masterfully and beautifully written novel with a slow burn, multiple complex characters, a twist that took me completely by surprise half-way through and turned a story of young relationships in all their messiness into a much darker story of destruction of these relationships, questions of what to believe, who to believe, the fallibility of memory especially when questions of culture, race, prejudice and social media come into play, and for me by the end, who did I believe? Add to this a story of a mother who had a way too entangled relationship with her daughter and her daughter’s best friend, indeed an exploitative relationship, and here is a great book- club read. Some of the characters in this story were, for me, very hard to like, and I suspect my most liked and least liked characters will be quite different from those of other readers. As in life. We each have our own set of values shaped by our own stories and perhaps our age, and these in turn shape who we find genuine or exploitative, selfless or selfish, innocent victims or sometimes even innocent villians. For me the ending didn’t quite work. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

I loved this book! The first couple of chapters it took me a bit to get used to the characters and how they were connected or not connected. I was shocked by the turn of events and the way in which everyone was intertwined. I listened to the audiobook of this but I will be rereading with my eyes. I have recommended this book multiple times.

I really love this book and thought the author did a fabulous job with layers and textures of the characters. It took a talented storyteller to pull of the race issue and it really worked in this book. It's a good lesson and reminder that people are complex and that it does a great disservice to simplify people and our stories.

This is so thought provoking. It really dives into the complexities of the human experience, but it also makes you think about the simplicities.
The good, the bad, and all the grey area in between.

Wow.

This book is a beautifully sad depiction of the phrase “gray area.” It had me pondering if death itself is the gray area, or in fact, is the realm of grief the gray area? Does white represent life, black represent death, and the gray area in between is life after the death of a piece of you? You’re left living with grief; wanting to die but knowing you must live? Is that gray?

What about moral grayness? Can two things be true at the same time? How is objective truth determined if more than one perspective exists? Can a person make a mistake and not be a monster? Can a person’s past influence their perception of the present? If it’s all gray, what do we define as objective black and white?

Existential and moral grayness are the largest motifs in this novel that explores themes of grief, visceral love, and isolation. I think the title “EXPOSURE” speaks to the existential & moral grayness this book forces readers to explore.

Dellaira created a masterpiece, and I’m so happy to end my year with such a memorable and reflective reading experience. Her prose brought me to actual tears when she describes each character’s experience with grief. While the main plot was a slow burn, the subplot of parallel grief gripped me so much that the main plot line felt like an added treat that pushed this one to five stars for me.

While this one is profoundly sad, it is also cathartic. I will be thinking about this one & its portrayal of human morality for a long time.

Thanks to @zibbypublishing and @netgalley for the digital review copy. EXPOSURE is available as of 9/10/24.

Exposure by Ava Dellaira is a character-driven novel exploring grief, ambition, and the complexities of truth. With lyrical writing and themes like racism and #MeToo, it’s powerful but slow-paced, and some plotlines feel unresolved. A thoughtful read, though not without flaws.

Exposure is an enthralling, read that hooked me from start to finish. Featuring complex, well developed characters and addressing topics such as race, sexual assault, and socioeconomic status, it's a thought provoking book that will allow for great discussion making it an excellent selection for book clubs.

I'm getting to this review late, unfortunately, but I loved this book! I am not sure that the title and the cover really match the vibe of the story ; I liked the book much more than I thought I would have based on the cover - in fact, that's why it took so long for me to get to it! But this was a beautifully written, complex, and heart-breaking story. I am so glad I took a chance on it, and I look forward to whatever Dellaira writes next.

This book was enthralling and dramatic from start to finish. A couple in Hollywood navigate the world of fame, money, status, and most importantly race-relationships. Trigger Warning: this deals with Sexual Abuse and the #MeToo movement.

Juliette and Noah meet in their late teens. They bond over their love of writing and their deep grief over the deaths of their mothers. After one drunken date, Noah never sees Juliette again. He thinks he’s been ghosted. He won’t learn until much later that she died.

Fast forward about a decade, and Noah is about to make it big as a filmmaker. After years of crappy restaurant jobs and rejected scripts, his debut film is getting a ton of buzz. That is, until Juliette’s best friend discovers something in Juliette’s diary. Something that might tie Noah to Juliette’s death. His newly stable life is about to explode.

I really enjoyed this book, because the characters and their choices are so complex. None of them are purely good or bad (even the ones who do very bad things), and as they’re thrust into each other’s lives, they alternately hurt and help one another. In the hands of a lesser writer, this story could have been in poor taste, but the author has created characters with such well-crafted inner worlds that I empathized with all of them. This book is so beautifully written, and I definitely recommend it to fellow lit fic lovers.

I went into this book blind and was stunned by the direction that it took.

I appreciated how poignantly and appropriately the author addressed several sensitive topics such as race, sexual preferences and sexual assault.

The book essentially addresses the age old "he said/she said" debate where the reader sees both sides of the story, but we are left with no definitive answer and needing to decide for ourselves who to believe. The book also leans heavily into addressing current social media culture where a video can go viral and ruin someone's life in an instance, regardless of whether the information is true or not.

It was one of those books that was super interesting to read but leaves you sad for everyone involved.

This was so well written and so well paced. I don’t know why it didn’t get the attention it deserved—perhaps release date timing? I thought jt was very smart, and an important read, and I’ll be selling it alongside strong comps. I look forward to what she writes next!

This book starts out when the main characters are in high school, and follows them through early adulthood. It encompasses racial diversion, socioeconomic differences, and family life.

Look out book clubs, riveting discussion awaits!

The power of EXPOSURE lies in the compelling questions it raises surrounding consent, cancel culture, and race. The story follows Noah, a Black high school senior, and Juiety, a white college freshman and the way their conflicting perceptions and stories surrounding the same event.

This character-driven novel by Ava Dellaira skillfully interrogates readers with a fascinating question: what happens when two people have valid yet conflicting stories about a shared experience? Can absolution or true redemption exist if the victim will never see justice? What does justice even look like twenty years later? What happens when “my truth” is conflated with “THE truth”?

READ THIS IF YOU:
-appreciate a provocative and thought-provoking read
-are willing to take a nuanced approach to a sensitive topic
-want a book that will promote a great book club discussion

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: September 10, 2024

WOW! The writing in this book was amazing! I was a little reluctant going in when I saw how long the book was, but it was worth it. This story was deep and complex and really developed the characters. I was debating 4 or 5 stars, then when discussing it with a friend, I realized how passionately I was telling her the story and it hit me, 5 stars! Even with how long the book was I didn’t feel any points where the book was dragging. I was actually holding my breath at the end waiting for Juliette’s last perspective. Perspective is everything! There may be some triggers with heavy topics like sexual assault and race. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader’s copy.

I don’t know what it was about this book, but I could not put it down. The author’s writing was so thought-provoking and had me reflecting on the roles (or lack thereof) of mothers in our lives.

Exposure is told from multiple points of view, each character offering their own perspectives of a fateful night that changes their lives forever. Spanning decades and locations, Ava Dellaira expertly explores themes of grief, motherhood, race and ambition. The characters were well developed, complex and relatable, and I felt compassion for each in their own struggles.

I hope this book will get the exposure it deserves.

Thank you to Ava Dellaira, Zibby Books and NetGalley for an advance e-copy for an honest review.

*EXPOSURE* by Ava Dellaira is a debut you won’t want to miss! The novel’s structure is both unique and captivating, with an encounter between two individuals that ultimately affects the lives of two others twelve years later. The story follows four characters over several years, moving through different cities and stages of life, while delving into heavy topics such as sexual assault and the #MeToo movement. It also touches on themes like race, class, desire, and ambition, making it a richly layered narrative.

At its core, *EXPOSURE* is a multidimensional exploration of race, love, friendship, and the devastating event that binds these characters together. Spanning over three decades, the story shifts between Juliette and Annie—high school best friends who later become lovers—and Noah and Jesse, two aspiring writers trying to find their way in Hollywood. As their lives intertwine, not all their connections are positive.

Gritty, moving, and beautifully written, *EXPOSURE* stands out as one of this year’s literary gems. Dellaira masterfully navigates complex relationships and deep emotions, making this a must-read for anyone who enjoys intricate storytelling.

**READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY**:
- Multiple POVs and timelines
- Stories about writers
- Reflections on loss and grief
- Complex, layered relationships
- Dark, gritty narratives
- California and Chicago settings