Thanks to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for this eARC!

This book centers heavily around the impact that rape and rape culture has, so please heed this as a trigger warning, and note that my review will mention such topics as I see fit to do so.

Though the subject matter of this one is undeniably difficult, and it is not an easy read by any means, the author tackles the story with a lot of heart and care. This is the sort of story that most women can relate to in some way, whether they themselves have been victim to sexual assault or not. The idea of privileged men being protected over those that they hurt, because of their 'promising futures' and the lack of desire for those in charge to take responsibility or control of matters like this when brought to their attention are all to real in today's society. This book tells the horrors of that, through the eyes of three main characters.

Q, a girl who is hurting immensely; angry and disappearing, unable to cope with what has happened to her, and having to face the boy who did it on a daily basis in their prestigious private school. Charlotte, an older teen whose boyfriend is one of the most eligible bachelors on campus, who is faced with the harsh truth that even the boys who want to do good don't always live up to the task. And then Max - a boy who is easily manipulated into the lifestyle of richer, stronger, far more popular boys than he himself is, but who ultimately does the right things after making a few mistakes along the way.

There are some really impactful moments within the story. It is so easy to understand where Q is coming from, even when she makes decisions that might seem utterly unbelievable to some - fantasizing about killing the boy who hurt her, to the extent of acquiring a weapon to do so... it might be difficult to imagine for some. For me, I could understand her completely. It's heavy, it's dark, but it's written well and the story is important; it's also the kind that keeps you enthralled, wanting to read on even when you as a reader are angry and hurt by the going's on. You want an outcome that is satisfactory.

And the outcome to this story is, mostly, satisfactory. It is also very real and honest - I'd go so far as to suggest that it's perhaps less realistic, in the sense that justice is served to some extent here, when in reality it so often isn't.

I can't say I enjoyed reading this book, given the subject matter - it doesn't feel like the right way to describe my experience. But I couldn't put it down, and I would recommend it.

THE SHARP EDGE OF SILENCE by Cameron Kelly Rosenblum honestly wasn’t what I had expected it to be. And I liked that about it.

Quinn wants revenge on the person who sexually assaulted her. Charlotte wants to dance the night away and finally, finally, ask the guy she’s seeing if they’re actually dating. Max just wants to be known. We follow the three of them as they battle their individual problems and see how their stories weave together as they uncover a hidden truth about the school that could rock their boat and potentially upturn it. The three of them battle their morals, fight to get revenge on the people who deserve it, and try to stay standing.

This book balances the need for revenge and the need to be stronger than the person who wronged you very well. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for revenge fiction where the main character raises hell on the rapist, like in Hannah Capin’s Foul is Fair. But this took a slightly different approach, even though from the very first chapter, the reader feels like this is about to end bloody.

I liked how this book tackles mental health. It was honest, and blunt, and allowed the reader to really feel what the characters were going through. Quinn’s emotions and anger lend well to the story, and to me she definitely felt like a fully fleshed out character. I loved how while she refused to let her rapist win, she was also vulnerable and scared, rather than blinded by rage. Rosenblum handled this topic with delicate hands and so much care that I was rooting for Quinn to get the help she needed, and I was empathising with her until her very last page.

The prose in this book matched well with the characters, and I personally feel that Quinn’s obsession with music plus the intertwinement of small and long sentences allows the reader to understand Quinn’s emotional instability and the need to lean on something like music to keep her going throughout the day.

I felt like the resolution at the end was slightly rushed and didn’t have as big of an effort as was foreshadowed in the earlier chapters. It was slightly unsatisfying because instead of a bang, it really just felt more like a pop. But maybe that’s just me.

Overall, this book was extremely enjoyable, and I flew through it. I’m fairly certain it’s taken me out of a reading slump. I can’t wait for its release and I’m on my way to pre-order my own copy. I can’t wait to see what Rosenblum does next.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A really enjoyable read that grabbed me in right away and didn't let me go. The characters were so well developed and I loved them, I have taken them to my heart. This book is so good with so much going on and so many themes running throughout the story, it wouldn't be out of place on an academic syllabus

Heartbreakingly well written, this book will draw you in and chew you out

The 3 main characters are luring you into their heads and everything about this story works!

Highly recommend

Wow. I am completely speechless. This was a phenomenal and gut-wrenching read, and so nuanced in its thematic writing style. I have to applaud Rosenblum for writing such a raw story and being willing enough to share parts of herself with us readers. It’s the hardest thing in the world to allow other people to see the depths of your trauma and soul like Rosenblum bared to us. It’s a book I won’t be forgetting that’s for sure.

It was the cover with “boys will be boys” but with parts of the phrase crossed through that immediately grabbed my attention. Then upon reading the synopsis which included the phrase “tackles the contagious nature of toxic masculinity at an elite boarding school” while exploring rape culture, I *had* to read this book. One of my favourite books of all time is Mandy McGinnis’ “The Female of the Species”, and the description of “The Sharp Edge of Silence” felt very reminiscent of it in terms of its themes. So, that was another reason I was immediately drawn to the book.

First and foremost, the writing style was so poignant. The way Q, one of our three narrating characters, was characterised and how her inner thoughts were portrayed so viscerally was impeccable. She was without a doubt, the shining star of this book. She was my anchor. She made me heart ache and soar. She was so raw and wonderful. Her anger was a living breathing thing that pulsed throughout the whole book— she wouldn’t let me forget how angry she was and I didn’t want her to. Her anger was my anger. Her helplessness was my helplessness. She was an extension of myself and so many other girls who have been in similar circumstances. Reading the last few lines, my smile was so big as I got the privilege to watch her slowly begin her journey of healing and happiness. I adored her so much. One of my favourite book characters in a long time. Unforgettable.

Charlotte and Max are our other two narrators. For the first half of the book, I will say I found the three alternating narrators... odd. It meant there were lulls in the narrative at times and I wasn’t quite sure where things were going. But I loved watching how all three of their perspectives ultimately overlapped and converged. It was incredibly satisfying to read and in the end, Max’s and Charlotte’s points of view had the desired impact Rosenblum wanted. Q’s story was the more explicitly brutal result of rape culture and toxic masculinity, while Max and Charlotte’s were far more subtle and eye-opening, exemplifying how being silent is complicit. Turning the other way is complicit. Shrugging it off is complicit.

Rosenblum just nailed this.

And I can’t express how happy I am that this story ended on a hopeful note. I actually started cheering and grinning so big by the final few chapters. I was sad but I finished this book a bit lighter and more hopeful than I expected.

Everyone should read this book. It’s truly a must-read. Rosenblum has written a phenomenal book here. Go read it! I literally recommend this to everyone, to all ages and genders because this is a topic everyone needs educating about.