This book was really hard to listen to. It was about abuse in small town in Utah. I cringed a lot and it wasn’t my cup of tea.
It is horrible that this is a true story, I hate that people have these types of experiences

Hometown Betrayal is the heartbreaking life story of Emily Benedek who on the surface seemed to be living the perfect life in Mormon country in Utah. However, behind the perfect facade lay horrible secrets of abuse. This book is both difficult to get through and yet a must read, to show support to someone brave enough to tell her story, and to spread awareness that all that glitters isn't always gold.

Gripping, heartbreaking, and courageously told, Hometown Betrayal is both a personal reckoning and a broader exposé of how insular communities can protect abusers under the guise of faith and reputation. Emily Benedek does a powerful job weaving Valarie’s painful story into a larger, deeply unsettling portrait of systemic silence in a small Mormon town. The narrative is well-researched and emotionally raw, though the subject matter is heavy throughout. A tough but important read that sheds light on the resilience of one woman—and the culture that failed her.

This book….

It’s so scary how people in power (especially men) be so dark and corrupted…
The fact that people knew what was going on and did nothing is just sad and disgusting.

This is very important book to read to se how victims of adults especially during childhood are ignored and dismissed for the „grated good” of the community…

I can’t get over Valarie’s story. This will shake any woman to the core and that justice wasn’t truly ever served.

Hauntingly told and deeply troubling knowing the affect childhood trauma had on this woman. I’m convinced her later diagnosis was a direct result of repressed trauma.

Such a dark, sad story but one that needs to be read by men and women. To know the signs. To know how to help.

Hometown Betrayal sheds light on Valerie’s harrowing story, one I knew nothing about before listening, and it exposes the dark realities of abuse, secrecy, and systemic failure in a tight-knit Mormon community. My heart broke for everything she endured, and I’m glad her truth was finally told. This book is undeniably important, especially for those seeking to understand how power and silence enable abuse.

That said, the audiobook felt unnecessarily drawn out, and I found myself rewinding often because my attention drifted. The story could have been just as impactful if it were condensed. The pacing made it harder to stay engaged, despite the gravity of the subject. This is main reason for the 3 star review. I think it would be a solid 4 stars if it were a bit shorter.

A major warning to listeners: This is an extremely difficult book to get through due to detailed descriptions of abuse. While Valerie’s courage deserves recognition, the emotional toll of listening is real. Proceed with caution and care.

I am thankful to have been given the ALC of this book from Greenleaf Autdio and Netgalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

This was really sad what happened to Valerie Clark Miller. She was sexually abused and was not able to remember this for a long time. She thought she was going to have a perfect life, married, with children and living in her Mormon Community. Yet, her life starts to crumble apart. The audio book also exposes many other cases that happened in Utah. The narrator did a good job, but the book just felt flat, as I wasn’t immersed in the life of Valerie. It read more like a textbook. This happened, then that happened, without pulling me in to really attach to this horrible depravity. I do hope this book enlightens people to many women living behind clothes doors in unspeakable circumstances.

Thank you NetGalley, and Greenleaf Audiobooks. I always leave reviews of books I read

This book is absolutely tragic and disturbing. It is the detailed account of the abuses that one Mormon Utah woman faced in her small isolated town. It is about a community that failed her.

This is delicate subject matter and I think the story speaks for itself. My heart goes out to Valerie’s loved ones and may she rest in peace.

5 Stars

Hometown Betrayal left me SPEECHLESS and shocked. Yet, somehow, I honestly should not have been surprised by the story of this small Mormon community and the horrors that Valarie Clark Miller faced. As someone who grew up (most of her life) Mormon/LDS, the seemingly innocent nature of the purity culture and "mind your own business" mentality makes those in the church incredibly vulnerable to hellish attacks of sexual abuse. As Valarie's family uncovers the truth around her assault and abuse, a clear picture of a quiet community comes to light as a breeding ground for misconduct and men who are protected despite the abuse of their powers and their depravity. Valarie's story isn't just about her trauma but also the generational trauma that was inflicted on her children, her parents, and her grandchildren, as well as other members of the small community. Hometown Betrayal chronicles the investigation after Valarie's death and the meager "justice" she and her loved ones receive, much too late. It is a cautionary tale of how silence protects the guilty and can harm the most vulnerable and why it is so important to make space for survivors to tell their stories AND to have them believed. I will not forget Valarie or this book for a very long time.

hometown Betrayal was a super interesting read. the writing flowed well and the story was well told. I'd read more from this author.

There is not alot to say about this book other than buckle up for pure heartbreak. Such a sad story and makes your heart hurt.

Such an eye opening story thats written beautifully. Heart wrenching narration. I would highly recommend.

This book started out pretty good but I'm right in the middle of it now and I have to make myself listen to it. I know the subject matter is important but I'm done.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

3.5 ⭐️
Reading this was very heartbreaking and it made me feel all kinds of emotions. Most notably probably anger. I was so angry at the men and the whole society as well as the system in place during that period of time. It broke my heart to see how poorly Valerie was treated. Also this book just further proves that during difficult periods of time, when one partner is struggling with illness (either physical or mental) men are more likely to leave. I was furious while reading how terribly did most of the people behave towards Valerie.

The book was great, it just felt very long and while I was enjoying it while listening to the audiobook, I didn’t feel a particular need to pick it up. However the story said is truly important.

The narrator was amazing, she did a great job!

Compelling story highlighting the misogyny and abuse surrounding/perpetuated by a Mormon community. Was a really interesting insight into their culture and beliefs. While heartbreaking, it was a bit difficult to sympathize with Valarie during her adult years - particularly in the abuse of her children. I was actually a bit upset that the author tried to justify it. Yes, obviously, her childhood was tragic and played a significant role in her development/how she mothered, but it was wrong. Screaming at children is *abuse* and is wrong. It cannot be justified. I know this is probably because it hits way too close to my own personal experiences, but it just left a really sour taste in my mouth. I empathize with the child who suffered, and with the adult woman who was doing her best to seek help and do the right thing. It left me with a mix of complicated emotions.
In addition, while fascinating, I felt like the last half of the book was kind of drawn out. I think the shift in focus to individuals in the community did a bit of a disservice to Valarie's story. This was a little disappointing considering I really enjoyed the pacing in the first part of the book.
To end on a high note, the forward by Elizabeth Smart was *chefs kiss*
Thank you Greenleaf Book Group and Netgalley for the ARC!
#ArcReview #NetGalley #HometownBetrayal

I liked this audiobook. It was heavy and intriguing during the initial story but once that ended it became a lot more just informative and I had a harder time holding interest. Still finished it, still enjoyed it just wish the book as a whole was structured a bit differently.

I don’t really want to use the word “enjoyed” about this book because it doesn’t seem like the appropriate verbiage, but I did like this book. It was very informative and extremely sad as well.

Valerie had a very hard life. It was so upsetting reading about the disjustice she endured. Unfortunately she never could get the correct help she was entitled to or deserved. Her upbringing was fraught with sexual abuse by people in power and her adult life was full of ptsd and an overwhelming amount of anxiety and distrust. I think the author did a great job researching and putting together Hometown Betrayal to honor Valerie and the hardships she endured.

***Thank you Netgalley and Greenleaf Audio for an ARC copy***

What a whirlwind story! The author took us on a journey into the deeply disturbing story of a woman who was a victim of many things including her religion and upbringing. I listened to this story on my work commutes and didn’t want to leave the car. I was plugged in to finding out what happened next and was emotionally invested in hearing this story.

I would recommend this to friends and family and especially to those who are fascinated by the upbringing of someone suppressed by religion.

Thank you to #netgalley and #EmilyBenedek for providing this ARC in exchange for my review.

It was difficult to finish the book. I just couldnt follow all the jumping around and various viewpoints that were being thrown at me.

This book was very dark and sad. The subject matter was shocking! The fact that some many people in this town knew what was happening the whole time and that it was going on for so long just made me sick.