Name: Shay Lynn Crace's review of The Wicked Truth by Pru Schuyler
Item: The Wicked Truth
Rating: 5
Author: Shay Lynn Crace

Pru Schuyler

Stella Sullivan just wants to forget. But forgetting that night isn't possible. She's now navigating life with constant anxiety and nightmares she can't escape, even after her mom got a job offer that took her far away from the living reminder of what had happened. With this fresh start, Stella plans on staying under the radar--no friends, no extracurriculars, no distractions, and especially no boys. That is, until she meets her new neighbors. With emerald eyes and dark hair, Cade Carver is everything she desperately needs to avoid, but that proves to be impossible when his sister, Brooke, becomes the one person capable of breaking her rule. As their friendship grows, Brooke's dark secret comes to light, forcing Stella to confront the demons of her past. She's the only one who can discover the truth of what really happened to Brooke. But will Stella risk everything to uncover it ... even if it means losing the one boy she never planned on falling for? Sometimes, the truth is better left buried.

The Wicked Truth

Shay Lynn Crace

Samantha

https://bewildbird.wordpress.com/2021...

TW: Sexual Assault
Review may contain spoilers.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review* 
“Her eyes. That’s what drew me to her. I recognized myself in her eyes, the window to the soul. I didn’t know it the night we met, but I connected to her in a way I never had with anyone else. It was instant. Her demons sought mine out, and together, they are slowly destroying each other’s darkness”
To begin with, right from the start of the book you are greeted by a page displaying a trigger warning for any readers who may be sensitive to the topic, which I think is amazing, because I personally have never seen a trigger warning in a book, and it – to me- shows massive compassion for her readers. There is a playlist given to enhance the reading experience, and I do recommend listening to the songs even just once to get the mood, or on repeat like I did because I was hooked!
Stella Sullivan is our main character, and she is dealing with the aftermath of being sexually assaulted by her boyfriend. The readers get an emotional connection to her, because she’s a a great balance between being both strong and vulnerable. She and her mom move to a new place for a fresh start, and rightfully, Stella has her guard up. She resolves: No friends, no boys. No one can hurt her if she doesn’t let them in. 
Enter Brooke. The friend Stella didn’t want…but she desperately needed. Brooke and Stella click almost instantly, and Brooke is the kind of best friend every girl dreams of having. She’s spunky, she’s fun, she’s supportive and strong. But we find out she’s hiding her own secret behind her smile – she too was sexually assaulted, but unlike Stella, she has no idea who it was that did it to her. When Stella finds this out, she makes it her own personal mission to find out who it was that hurt the girl she grew to love so dearly. She is willing to do anything, even risking herself, if it means healing even an ounce of hurt Brooke had to suffer. I won’t go into that more because I don’t want to ruin it! 
And then there’s Cade, Brooke’s twin brother. Stella meets cade and -reasonably- wants to avoid him like the plague. After what happened to her, being around a boy (especially one she’s attracted to physically) is the last thing she wants. But at the same time, he’s magnetic and she feels drawn to him. She’s resistant at first, but the more she gets to know Cade, the more he becomes a safety net for her. He is protective of both her and of his sister. Brooke and Cade, along with a few awesome other friends, teach Stella to love and trust again.

The Wicked Truth is a smooth read, and very compellingly written. Sexual assault is a very hard thing to write and talk about, but Pru did it in such a way that was both compassionate and powerful. She showed both the raw hurt/vulnerability, and also the growth and strength survivors have. She makes it known that if you are a survivor: you are not irreparably broken, you are not worthless, and you are not alone.

Shay Lynn Crace &
The Wicked Truth by Pru Schuyler

Reviews

Join the club

Shay Lynn Crace &The Wicked Truth by Pru Schuyler

Reviews

Join the club

Shay Lynn Crace &
The Wicked Truth by Pru Schuyler