The Book:
The Truth About Unspeakable Things by Emily Myers, 2021
Published April 6, 2021
Date read: September 28, 2021
The Characters:
Emma
Her ex Beaux
Buy it on Bookshop.org | Amazon
The Plot (from Goodreads):
Emma Marshall is haunted by the trauma of her past. The night she ended her engagement to cheating fiancé, Beaux, was meant to be the night she took back control, but it was only the beginning of his true hold over her. Nine months after suffering an intimate assault by the man who pledged his life to her, Emma is doing – okay. At least, that’s what everyone thinks. No one knows the unspeakable truth of what happened between her and Beaux. It’s a secret Emma plans to carry to the grave, until Julian Cole moves in next door and opens Emma’s mind and heart to the possibility of love after betrayal. As the reporter and music executive grow closer in the music-filled city of New Orleans, Emma must risk everything to protect her newfound happiness. As Emma embarks on a dangerous journey to bring her ex to justice, the bounds of forgiveness are tested as more unspeakable truths come to light. Will Emma overcome her trauma and have her second chance at love? Or, will her past destroy her and everyone she holds dear?
Trigger Warnings: sexual assault/ rape (depicted), self-harm (referenced), abortion (discussed)
The Twist:
Beaux killed Mr. Turnip. Emma broke up with Julian and pretended to sleep with his brother to get him out of New Orleans, because she knew Beaux would go for him next. She tracked down a handful of Beaux’s victims and wrote an article outing him and Club Gent.
Emma’s father and Mason were both also part of Club Gent.
Mr. Turnip was Julian’s grandfather.
Beaux threatened Emma’s editor to prevent the article from running.
The Review:
Thank you to the author for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like many other readers, this book what nowhere near what I was expecting from the blurb! I think I would classify it as romantic suspense, but with a strong commentary on the survival of sexual abuse. It’s emotional, heartwrenching, and hopeful, and somehow very entertaining at the same time. I really loved the author’s writing style and could easily picture the New Orleans setting.
Emma was a great protagonist: strong and resilient, and unwilling to let her ex get away with what he did to her. I couldn’t wait to see Beaux get what he deserved.
The plot was fast-paced and enthralling. There were certainly some aspects added for shock value, but I enjoyed that Myers didn’t pull any punches when it came to plot.
Myers is definitely a writer to watch after this fascinating debut.
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