⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Exposure by Ava Dellaira is a powerful, thought-provoking read that spans decades & delves into the far-reaching effects of one fateful night on Noah, Jess, Anna, & Juliette. It brilliantly explores how desire, ambition, & upbringing can ripple through multiple lives, changing them forever.

Dellaira masterfully addresses sensitive topics like racism, sexual assault, & the MeToo movement with empathy & depth. Though heartbreaking at times, I was hooked from the very first chapter, needing to know how the story would unfold. The writing style pulled me in, & I loved the use of multiple POVs & timelines, which added layers to the story & kept me guessing to the very end!

This was my first time reading Ava Dellaira & I’m already looking forward to diving into more of her work. Exposure is a must-read for fans of emotional, character-driven drama. Highly recommend!

Thanks to #NetGalley, #ZibbyBooks, and #Exposure for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I did not like this book. Nothing about it was good in my opinion. It was slow. Did not hold my attention. It did not make me feel any emotion except boredom. This doesn’t happen to me often but this time it did.

I read some very good reviews of others who lived the story. I just didn’t. I never connected with any of the characters. The storylines to me were just slow and kind of like the same thing over and over. Two girls fall in love with each other. They also have sex with boys. Then there is Noah who wants to be a screenwriter but no one will give him a chance. While I didn’t believe it was because he was black as very few people are successful screenwriters no matter they color, this author I think tried to make it a race issue. Noah came across as very racists in my opinion. Then he started watching violent porn while his girlfriend was away promoting her book. Good grief.

The story is told about four people. Noah and his girlfriend. I liked Jessie but not Noah. Also Anne and Juliette. Juliette and Noah met and had a short fling. Years go by and secrets come out that might ruin one’s life. This book was just over the top for me. I just didn’t like it.

Also the audio was horrible. The narrator sounded like she was reading a list instead of a story. Her voice was awful. She did not do a good job at all. I put the audio away and just read it but still hated this story.

I’m sorry but I really have to be honest. Awful book.

Thank you #netgalley for this ARC. This is my own thoughts about this book.

2 stars.

Exposure, by Ava Dellaira, is the type of book that leaves you with more questions than answers. Dellaira deftly offers the multiple perspectives of Annie, Juliette, Noah, and Jesse, all of whose lives turn out to be intertwined after one significant night in Chicago. She explores tricky issues - race, gender, and the "Me Too" movement - with nuance and grace. How can multiple and conflicting truths all be true at the same time? Dellaira provides readers with the space to ask this question through a gripping narrative. As a bonus, she explores the mother-daughter relationship and has some truly tender descriptions of what it feels like to be a new mother. A must-read for those who seek to live thoughtfully in our current climate!

Thanks to Zibby Books and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

"Exposure" by Ava Dellaira is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of human relationships and societal issues. The story is told from multiple perspectives, including Annie, Juliette, Noah, and Jesse, each offering a unique viewpoint on a fateful night that changes their lives forever.

The novel spans decades and locations, from Los Angeles to Chicago, exploring themes of race, artistic ambition, and grief. Dellaira masterfully weaves these elements together, creating a narrative that forces readers to confront conflicting truths and the gray areas of morality.

One of the standout aspects of "Exposure" is its ability to present two sides of a story with empathy and humanity. Dellaira’s writing is gripping and breathtaking, making it difficult to put the book down. The characters are well-developed and relatable, each grappling with their own struggles and emotions.

I feel "Exposure" is a must-read for anyone interested in a nuanced and powerful exploration of life’s complexities. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page, prompting deep reflection and discussion.

Unfortunately not for me. In a world with SO many books being published, I just don't see this as a must in our collection.

Thank you to Zibby Books and Libro.FM for the review copy of Exposure. This novel offers a nuanced exploration of relationships, college and post-college life, grief, and race. I appreciated the themes and felt that the audiobook's voice acting perfectly captured the moody, slow-burn style that Dellaira evokes throughout.

Exposure is a deft examination of the complexities that define present-day life and memories as grief and time intersect. The book is dark and contemplative, tackling challenging themes around consent, consensual relationships, and the fallout of loss and grief. Dellaira’s approach is thoughtful and restrained, never dictating what readers should think but instead allowing the story and character study to evolve as more is revealed.

I had a hard time getting into this. I appreciated the different perspectives and how it all lined up. It was a heartbreaking read.

Noah's life- and that of his wife Jesse- takes. a turn when Annie discovers what really happened to her best friend Juliette all those years ago. Juliette died two days after an ill thought out tryst with Noah, then a high school student. Now, he's happily married and on the cusp of totally making it but Annie, Annie who was Juliette's best friend and lover, has Juliette's diary. This is not the obvious me-too novel you might think it will be but rather a thoughtful examination of what can happen, And grief, So much grief and anger. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's dark it's thoughtful, it's a good read.

I was very excited to read this book - the story sounded interesting and Zibby Publishing has had some really fantastic books published lately.
The story of Juliette and Noah and Juliet’s childhood best friend Annie is a twisted love story that is completely overshadowed by grief. As young girls Juliette and Annie were drawn together because Annie did not have a mom and Juliette did and was willing to share. They were inseparable until college, and both struggled while apart. Noah had a difficult childhood and young adulthood until he meets Jesse, the love of his life. They are happy together, but both want success in their fields and work hard to get there. Their lives become very complicated when something that happened while they were all in college comes back and turns their lives upside down.
The grief felt by all of these people is on almost every page of this story and sticks with you even after reading. I did find it a bit depressing.
Thank you Netgalley and Zibby Publishing for the digital ARC.

Ava Dellaira's "Exposure" is a powerful novel that delves into identity, race, and sexual politics. Set in Chicago, it follows Juliette, a white artist, and Noah, a Black teenager, whose lives intertwine in ways that challenge their views on morality and privilege.

The story’s dual perspectives offer deep insights into both characters, highlighting the societal forces shaping their realities. Dellaira skillfully addresses themes of race and privilege through Noah’s struggles and Juliette’s moral dilemmas, fostering reflection without being preachy.

Dellaira’s lyrical yet grounded prose brings Chicago and the characters’ emotions to life. "Exposure" is a timely and thought-provoking novel that urges readers to reconsider their assumptions about race and privilege.

This book has a fascinating premise yet it does not illustrate the complexities of the situations it sets up. The characters are intersesting, and I appreciated the way the novel stayed with their voices.

This book had me tearing up almost the entire way through. A beautiful meditation on girlhood, feminism, grief, racism, family, and ambition. The raw emotion Ava Dellaira capture made me feel like a teenager experiencing my first piece of meaningful art—a human both destroyed and hopeful.

Oh, this is quite a read!

At its core, EXPOSURE is an ode to the power of mothers, and the impact of their presence, or lack thereof, in a child's life.

Or, it's an examination of present day race in America. Wait! It's also a meditation on identity and commentary on our culture's fixed view of success.

Or, it's a story of love, friendship and belonging...

This is why EXPOSURE is so rich: it is many, many enthralling things bundled into one gripping story.

In a nutshell, Juliette, a privileged white college student, and Noah, a Black high school senior, forge a connection and sleep together.

Twelve years later, Noah has defied the odds and is on the brink of Hollywood success. Meanwhile, Juliette’s best friend Annie returns to LA and her second home, that of Juliette and her renowned photographer mother, Margot.

When Annie makes a shocking discovery about Juliette she has the power to destroy the life Noah has struggled to build.

Who's story do you trust? And why?

Told through Annie, Noah, and Juliette's perspectives over several decades, EXPOSURE, illustrates how emotions are the driving force behind all our actions. And that nothing is ever black and white.

Kudos to @ava.dellaira for conceptualizing this layered story. And tip of the hat to EXPOSURE'S editor, @bridieclarkloverro.

Thank you @zibbybookspublishing
for the #ARC!

#preorder #septemberrelease #zibbybooks #readersofig #bookreview #jeanreads

WOW! Great writing intertwining the current societal times throughout the stories that jump back and forth through time. Where the way in which things are presented, end up sometimes becoming how we judge others. Exposure was a tough start, and at the point where I was about to give up I utterly gasped. The turn of the book was unexpected but also easy to follow utilizing so many news stories that we have recently lived through. Once I hit the turn of the book I could not put it down, finished it with in 3 sittings. Pick up this book you will not be disappointed!

Thanks to Zibby Books / Net galley for the advanced copy of this great read.

Engaging, immersive, and expertly crafted. EXPOSURE is a a recommended first purchase for fiction collections.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

An outstanding debut. Nuanced, precisely carved characters and a very compelling plot that touches on race, grief and ambition.

Such a powerful story that kept me guessing to the very end. Is Noah telling the truth? Or are Annie's suspicions founded?

I was drawn right in by the writing the characters I hated to put it down.A book that kept me involved from first to last page an author I will follow and recommend.#netgalley#zibbybooks

This story, or really a collage of stories that eventually blend together, completely pulled me in and I could not stop reading it. It’s ideal for readers who like (or don’t mind) several shifts in perspective and timelines. There is a strong theme of grief, which was clear from the beginning, but this developed to be even more emotional and complex than I expected. It’s a very compelling illustration of how opposing ideas and experiences can be simultaneously true. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.

Ratings
Quality of Writing 5/5
Pacing 5/5
Plot Development 4/5
Character Development 5/5
Overall Enjoyability 5/5

I couldn't put this down! The characters are rich and I was invested in the outcome of their stories immediately. The writing was easy to follow and captured my attention. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time. Thanks to NetGalley and Zibby Books for the ARC. Fuve stars.

I love a good love story especially one that involves a Hollywood theme. Exposure is that book. I cannot wait to share my thoughts and the perspectives from each of the different characters. We all view and remember things differently so it will be such a pleasure to share more on this very exciting upcoming novel and it will be a perfect read for the upcoming spring/summer season.