"A person’s opinion of you is not fact… What makes someone else more qualified to know you than you?”

The FMC of #SheUsedToBeNice life was LIFEing. Imagine being asked to be the maid of honor for your best friend's wedding but your rapist is the best man, and no one knows? That's horrifying in and of itself, but I was also horrified by how Avery was treated, and generally so sad for her silence. I swore at this book so much. I got emotional when it hit a certain point because I was gearing up for something, but I was wrong and surprised. A good thing. Avery is awesome, and really fucking tough.

This was harrowing yet a totally immersive exploration. It's such a necessary and poignant read for everyone - considering the definition of rape is still something society struggles with today - but especially for women and the hell we crawl through to get to the other side.

5️⃣👑 Thank you to @netgalley and @alcovepress for this ARC. BUY this one on August 12th!

This was a great read! While the topic could be heavy for some to read, it's probably relatable in some way to almost everyone. I read it rather quickly and was eager to see how the story unfolded and what Avery's choices would be. Definitely would recommend and I can't wait to see what Alexia LaFata writes next :)

I loved this book even though it was often painful to read as it deals with rape--and of course the male is the one believed initially. When Avery's best friend, Morgan gets engaged, Avery will be the Maid of Honor. But when she discovers Noah will be the Best Man, she is saddened as he is someone she doesn't want to see. Fortunately she is a strong woman now and realizes she has the power to make good choices and accept the consequences for those things!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I found this one quite a difficult read.

I went into it knowing that there were some difficult topics and so I was aware that the reading experience would be tough,

The start of the book set me up to feel that this book would be really moving and powerful but for some reason I didn’t click with it. Despite being told early on what has happened, it feels like it does take a while for the story to really start. Avery is clearly struggling with her past and being forced to relive her awful SA experience when her rapist resurfaces in her life, Avery is faced with a really tough decision.

I found the earlier interactions between Avery and her rapist soo uncomfortable and I really wanted to give her a hug. I wanted to shake Morgan for her to see the distress Avery was experiencing but clearly trying to mask,

I loved how this book was driven by its characters, the development of them was excellent. The book was very thought provoking and I can see how this would be a compelling read for some.

OUCH, that was a tough read. It took me quite a bit to get through this story because it was so heavy and so personal. I think the author did an incredible job at portraying a realistic journey for us women who have been in our main characters shoes. At times it felt repetitive and frustrating to read about but that made it all the more realistic. This isn’t a comfortable story to share. This is definitely triggering at times but not overly graphic, which makes it easier to consume. Avery made me so proud and so did her closest friends. That being said, I love how the author didn’t try to tie everything up in a tidy little bow. It would have made the story lose some of that authenticity.

This book made for a compelling read, and I say that as someone who put the book down a number of times but had to keep coming back to it. There are so many women out there, me included, who can relate to SA in one form or another, and the struggle to be believed after the fact. This story tackles multiple facets of that experience in a way that had me hooked from start to finish.

Avery had a horrible experience at college and in the aftermath the only person who stands by her is her best friend, and even that loyalty is called into question when Morgan gets engaged. The college group of friends and acquaintances begins to converge around the wedding plans and Avery is literally face to face with assailant, who besides her, is the only other person who knew what happened. As is usually the case, he's the hero because he's a smooth-talker with money and a seemingly bright future.. By contrast, Avery has had years of internalising the situation and self-medicating with alcohol and hookups. At face value Avery is a hard character to like because she's so full of trauma and self-loathing, but that also comes down to societal conditioning. The more you learn about Avery, the more the slow burn of injustice starts to build up, along with the inevitable "but why didn't she say something?" Life just isn't that easy.

Along comes Pete, who has a peripheral contact with her extended social group but doesn't know a thing about her past. It's not a clean slate, but he's someone who likes her for who she is, and it takes her a long time to get on board with the idea that she just might be worth it. He's a nerdy guy still living with his parents (a fact he's mortified about but decides to own it), and his parents are great. Which leads me to her parents. The comments her parents make about other women making claims after the fact are almost word-for-word what a lot of women have heard over the dinner table over the years. It's exhausting.

The author really knows how to build the slow burn, the occasional flashbacks to flesh out a moment, the interior thoughts, and above all the tension and loathing. It really is an incredible piece of writing. There were times when I was so frustrated with Avery and could really relate to Morgan's hurt and confusion over why her best friend was self-sabotaging so much. The reveal of the wedding party participants was breathtaking, particularly when Morgan is being wide-eyed and unknowingly complicit, but Avery can't tell them why because she's so loyal to her friend and doesn't want to be problematic. Blaire is in direct direct comparison to this, the angry crumb-maiden who thought she had finally won. She hates Avery with a passion think is from a form of female misogyny; she's competing for something and someone, not realising that Avery never wanted to be in the race.

Help comes from unexpected quarters, and the truth comes out in a vastly satisfying way. The story does not finish with everything wrapped up with a nice ribbon, but there is the prospect of happiness ahead, and that's marvellous.

A challenging read for me at times, but oh so rewarding.

Wow! What a book! I found myself cheering for Avery and waiting, not so patiently, on the rapist to get what he deserved. This book was a bit gut wrenching and sad, but the characters were written well and it kept me interested. Thx to Netgalley for the ARC.

A beautifully complex and raw novel about the life altering impact of sexual assault and how even if this day an age it's a fight for women to believed. We follow a year in Avery's life in the aftermath of her rape in college and explore the impact it has on her life, her work and relationships. The character development in nuanced and LaFata deals well with an 'imperfect victim' concept and how destructive behaviours can be coping mechanisms. It's beautifully written and a hard but necessary read that will stay with you long after the last page.

She Used To Be Nice seems to set out to expose a lot of the myths we have about sexual violence. As such it feels like being lectured to, rather than taken on a journey into someone's experiences of regaining a sense of control over their life following sexual violence.

"That her female friends thought she'd cheated on her college boyfriend and now she was a shell of a human being, everything good about her gutted out like a fish." If you've experienced sexual violence, you might like the endorsement that things like hypersexuality, flashbacks, being unable to commit to new relationships and struggling to disclose the violence, are all normal. It's great to see this sort of educative material exists, but does it make it work as a book, in my mind no, it doesn't.

You can see the author, Alexia LaFata's media account of her own experience of sexual violence reflected in the book: "The sex wasn't good though. He basically used me as a human Fleshlight." So some of it is clearly drawn from personal experience, but it's written in such a preachy abstract way for the first half (which really drags on), it's actually less impactful than many memoirs I have read from women who have experienced the same. For example: "If her flashes of memory fit into an existing version of events, why add complexity about consent that would've only caused her more anguish?" Do you feel lectured to? I did.

Raw, traumatic, powerful.

We follow a young woman - Avery - over the course of a year or so as she changes her relationships with her friends and family in the aftermath of her rape in her final year at college. I read this in a couple of sittings and I aged both at and for Avery, at times the most frustrating of women but you could totally understand and relate to her acts of self sabotage.

A brilliant read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't imagine how a young woman such as Avery could regain any sort of self confidence given how easily "her friends" turned against her as the cheating rumor against Ryan grew rampant. No one believed her and as result, she saw her body as a means to be sexualized and not that there was anything else she deserved. She was simply a voluptuous woman. It was only that she started speaking out and with the support of Morgan, Charlie and Pete, did she realize how powerful she was. Noah deserved to be punished and not live the idyllic life he had on Instagram and he had with Blair. I am sure that many women identified with both their experiences as well as the emotions that subsequently followed. At the end of the day, Avery found her voice and herself as a person again.

I received a copy from NetGally and I cannot wait to have more people read this absolutely masterful book. The story of Avery was so moving and dark, I can’t recommend it more! Read the trigger warnings, though, and proceed with caution, but I think this book told its story in a very heartfelt, raw, and real way.

I enjoyed this book! It did feel like it was missing something, and I am not even sure exactly what it was, but it was just lacking. It was a good attempt and it had a goo storyline, but it felt a bit empty

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This is a slow burner to get started but don't let that put you off because this book is amazing, honestly I read it in one sitting. I am not going to say much about the book because I don't want to give anything away and I went in blind and I am so glad I did. However I think it is important that this book comes with trigger warnings for SA and that is for very good reason so definitely check trigger warnings.

I don't even know where to start with this one, but maybe I'll start by saying I finished this in one sitting. This is a very powerful and important read about identity, relationships, and how trauma can impact not only the one going through it but their connections with others around them.

I absolutely loved Avery and saw a bit of myself in her in a lot of ways. She's young and successful but also confused and traumatized with a lot of growing to do. While I understood the reasonings behind her actions, I wanted to both shake and hug her at the same time! While a longer, slow-burn in terms of pacing, I think it was necessary to tell this story with the depth and fidelity it deserved. I especially loved how it focused on Avery's growth and finding her strength rather than on her attacker and romantic relationships. This one is going to spark a lot of conversations and hopefully encourage others to share their stories. Thanks so much for this ARC!

It is no secret that this book definitely comes with a trigger warning for SA. This page turner will keep you hooked on a roller coaster of a journey! I found myself wanting to scream both at Avery, and FOR Avery. No matter which part of Avery's story I was sucked into, I was always rooting for her to see her self worth. The writer's style is vivid and comprehensive, allowing you to visualize and feel engaged in emotion. I found myself pining to grab my e-reader at every chance I could - even if I was only pressing through a page at a time. For three years, I have struggled to finish a book - very unlike me. This book successfully pulled me back into my love of reading; finishing in just 5 days!

A very hard book to read, but such a great book for the author to write. This was so good and the writing made me mad and so emotional for the main character and women who have been through sexual assault and have to deal with the aftermath and trauma. This was powerful and I love that see stood up for herself. All women should read this.

Do you enjoy books about strong women standing up for themselves? Pick up She Used to Be Nice by Alexia LaFata.

*She Used to Be Nice* by Alexia LaFata is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of friendship, personal transformation, and the complexities of human relationships. The story revolves around a group of friends who, over time, experience shifts in their identities and dynamics, leading to a series of emotional confrontations and realizations.

LaFata’s writing is sharp and insightful, capturing the intricacies of growing up and navigating the ever-changing nature of friendships. The central character’s journey is relatable and poignant, as she reflects on how she has changed over the years and grapples with the version of herself she used to be. The novel delves deeply into the emotional weight of self-discovery, loss, and the sometimes painful process of understanding who we are.

The pacing is steady, though the book focuses heavily on the introspective and emotional side of the narrative, which might feel slower to some readers. The complexity of the characters adds depth to the story, making it easy to empathize with their struggles, but also leaves room for the reader to question their choices.

While some might find the tone bittersweet or heavy at times, the themes of growth and reflection give the novel a powerful, cathartic edge. The ending feels both satisfying and true to the overall emotional journey of the characters.

Overall, *She Used to Be Nice* is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story, perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven novels that explore the nuanced aspects of friendships, change, and self-identity. LaFata offers a deep, introspective look at the evolution of relationships and the challenges of holding onto who we once were.

Searing. A brutal take on a woman one year after her sexual assault forced to interact with her assailant. It’s hard to say you like this book but only because the author so vividly puts you into the head of the main character which is a an angry, self loathing broken place.
I wanted to give this woman a hug and tell her it’s not her fault. I also stayed up until three am reading this book. Deeply
Engrossing.