Name: Sven Test's review of Wrecked by Maria Padian
Item: Wrecked
Rating: 4
Author: Sven Test

Maria Padian

“Outstanding, powerful, and important . . . This is, hands down, one of the best sexual assault reads in YA.”—Book Riot What really happened at the party that night? Haley saw Jenny come back to the dorm, shell-shocked. Richard heard Jordan brag about the cute freshman he hooked up with. When Jenny accuses Jordan of rape, Jordan claims she’s lying. Haley and Richard, who have just started dating, are pushed to opposite sides of the school’s investigation. Will the truth ever come to light? Reputations, relationships, and whole lives depend on it.

Wrecked

Sven Test

This 3.5 review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.

I'm upset with this book but not because of the story. I'm upset because it's actually how it is in real life. And it's frustrating to think that colleges make decisions that aren't good just to keep their reputation safe. It's disgusting. Maria Padian shed so much light to this matter. It showed through her writing that she did a lot of research for this story. I learned a lot about the legal actions when it comes to assaults in colleges and how they handle it.

I was disappointed when it came to what really happened because it wasn't explained more. I feel like there were holes in the story so I was left a little bit confused.

Overall, Wrecked is a very eye-opening and heart-wrenching story on assault in colleges and how colleges handle these cases. Event though the setting counts for this story to be New Adult, I find that it's also great for readers of 15 and above.


I received an eARC and ARC from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.

"Published simultaneously in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son Limited"--Title page verso.

Maggie Gordon

In the past few years, there's been some excellent books for the teenage crowd released dealing with this complex topic. Wrecked is a fantastic addition as it gives readers something new. The main character is not the person who was raped, Jenny. Instead, the narrative is split between Haley, Jenny's roommate, and Richard, one of the men living at the house where Jenny was assaulted. Padian very realistically showcases the different types of responses people have to sexual assault. She doesn't shy away from the fact that people aren't always super understanding, and the learning process of how to respond and understand these situations is difficult. This is not a story about the perfect response to sexual assault, but it is a careful examination of how ordinary students can struggle to respond appropriately, and the realities and inadequacies of dealing with sexual assault on university campuses.

The weakest point of this book is the fact that it tries to combine a romance with the sexual assault plot. It doesn't feel offensive or hurtful, it's just a bit of an awkward combo.

Chrissy

Told in 3rd person but following the point of views of two characters, as a reader we slowly find out what happened during a college party one night. 
This book is about rape and that is not a spoiler because its written on the back, that a freshmen college student, Jenny, accusing another student of wrapping her during a part. One of the unique qualities of this book is that you follow the "point of views" of two characters who happen to be roommates/housemates of the victim and the accused. So as the reader you get an outside view. 
You see how Jenny's roommate learns about what happened to Jenny and how she gets wrapped up in being her adviser meanwhile dealing with her own life, a recent concussion. Haley struggles with trying to be a friend to Jenny when they never really considered each other friends before. 
We also follow Richard who is the housemate of the Jordan, the student Jenny accused of raping her. You see how Richard gets wrapped up in Jordan's actions even though Richard doesn't entirely like Jordan himself. As well as how strangely both Haley and Richard end up crossing paths and form their own kind of relationship throughout all the chaos that has now become their lives. 

The interesting part of this book is that it gives readers a view on how colleges handle such accusations. It goes through the steps Jenny, a victim, has to take in such a situation and what the school does for her, or in ways it feels like lacks doing for her. I cant talk on the accuracy of the colleges steps and actions but I did find it interesting. It is stated that this is a private school so they may do things different than say a non private college. I have to say I was disappointed in how they dealt with things and it makes me sad to think of how accurate this can be. In my opinion I feel as though this book takes a very honest and unique side to the story. It doesn't paint Jenny as a girl who put herself in this situation but it also doesn't take her words for 100% fact. It tries really hard to find out as much of the truth as possible. It made me question if who Jenny accused was actually guilty. Not denying what happened to her but if her story matched up with the person she accused. 
Unfortunately the ending did not satisfy me in a justice stand point but I guess that made it more realistic. I found myself feeling like I needed to reread the last few chapters to really understand what happened. I still feel bad for Jenny's character.
 
There is so much more i can say about this book but i would be going on for forever. I think this could be used for writing essays for sure. This was a great opener to my 2018 reads.

Jessica 

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  As a note, a printed galley of this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.


Let's start right off the bat with the topic at hand the trigger warning that is laying in the central plot. Wrecked tackles the subject of rape. This will not be for everyone. I need to lay that out there for my readers. Because, it is a sensitive topic. Remember, as always, to look into the novel and protect yourself from triggering any memories. Although it tackles the topic, it is not in the usual way--the story is not narrated by the victim, instead, it's a bit of an outsiders view of the aftermath.

That being said, Maria Padian has a realistic way of approaching the topic and breathes a life into her story that makes you feel deeply from page one until the end. It's deep, it's a bit of a painful experience, there's humor and it just remains true to itself in a way that most novels cannot manage. Wrecked isn't an after school special but a frank look into the characters' we meet and their lives. You look into the community of a college and the all-too-real look at sexual assault. 

Continued: BOOKEDJ

caro(lee)na

tw: rape, sexual assault 

this is a super important read i think everyone should read to start the necessary conversation about rape and consent. a book full of flawed but so well done characters and an amazing storyline. really recommend it

Sven Test &
Wrecked by Maria Padian

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