The Sharp Edge of Silence by Cameron Kelly Rosenblum follows three main characters Q who at the end of last year was sexually assaulted by one of her fellow students, Max who is a scholarship student who was struggling at school until he gets offered a place on the school rowing chain and automatically boosted to the top of the school food chain and Charlotte who is a star student who believes in the school and what they have to offer. These three characters discover many of the school's secrets and what is actually going on behind closed doors, and in turn have to work out how they feel about it and what the right thing to do is.

This book is set in an elite American boarding school and tackles some of the issues that are involved in that boarding school, its views on girls and the behaviour of boys. This book is for a YA audience but I would definitely say it’s for a more mature YA audience due to many of the trigger warnings involved that I would recommend looking into and that it’s also a book that could easily be enjoyed and understood possibly more than can be by a YA audience by an older audience.

The thing that first intrigued me about this book was the line on the bottom of the cover which instead of saying boys will be boys says boys will be held accountable, which obviously is the sort of thing that will catch your eye and I wanted to know what was meant by it. It also does portray the book really well and what this book is tackling.

There are three perspectives followed in this book, one from each of the main characters which meant that you really got to understand the characters and how they felt about what was going on along with what was truly going on in the school. I think that this worked really well for the book and what the book wanted to achieve in the best way possible.

The characters were all very well developed and even though I haven’t been through the same thing as all these characters I could really understand them and why they made the decisions they did Q especially. I really agreed with many of the decisions Charlotte made and I was glad she decided the way she did, I understood Q and what led to her decisions throughout the book and I’m proud of her for doing what she did later on in the book when it came to Max’s decisions I wasn’t a fan of them but you could see the peer pressure that was there and why he didn’t feel like he could say no to the other boys.

I really enjoyed this book and loved how boldly the issues were tackled and discussed in this book head-on. It was really unique in that fact and for that reason, I think it’s a really important book that needs to be discussed so that we can in turn talk about these issues more too. I felt so much over the course of this book and am so glad that I have read it. Highly recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley and Hot Key Books for a free e-arc in exchange for a honest review.

4.5⭐️

A devastating read packed with toxic masculinity and failing systems.

(This review contains sensitive topics⚠️)

This read made me feel angry, sad, frustrated and happy throughout. Just like one of the protagonists ballet dancing, Rosenblum has choreographed a fantastic read.

I always find books like this difficult to review due to the prominent themes of sexual assault, rape and the treatment of girls. The way that this book has been delivered was very clever and highlights the debelitating effects that sexual assault causes.

This book contained a strong plot and even stronger characters. Charlotte was a lovely MC and I could see myself being her friend. Seb was also really nice, however, his lack of actions towards his fellow male peers made him just as complicit. Max was very smart and overlooked and it was just painful to see him transform from the campus geek to hanging around with the alpha rowers. Q’s character was portrayed beautifully. She faced the unthinkable and her poem accounting for the events at Summer Sendoff was incomprehensible and utterly terrifying. Her character really encapsulates the blame that victims place on themselves.

Social, economic and power divisions rule this read and I learnt a lot from this book. I absolutely loved how each chapter had sub chapters for each characters POV. This worked incredibly well and was very engaging. I also loved the reference to having meetings to ‘Wine and Whine’.

Rosenblum has formed a brilliant read and although the ending felt rushed, I enjoyed this book. The girls totally kicked the guys in the balls and I loved it! 👏

A huge thank you to Bonnier Books UK, Hot Key Books, Netgalley and Cameron Kelly Rosenblum for this ARC of The Sharp Edge of Silence which is out now! 🥰

💬 (Quoted from ARC):
-“Awkwardness is worrying about what others think of you.”
-"Yeah, of course the woman's always the crazy one"

⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️

I hadn't realised this book was listed as 'YA' fiction and had I done so I am pretty sure I wouldn't have read it. But for the most part that would do it a disservice. Whilst the teenage girl romance (and to a lesser degree the teenage boy romance) was pretty vomit inducing, it is probably fairly accurate and it is just my old age showing through. I have little interest in the American elite college system, in part because of exactly the kind of issues this book is trying to address, so it was a refreshing change from my normal read. I am not 100% sure that the ending went far enough for my world-weary need for literary bloodlust, but it serves a purpose and is an interesting read all the same. One I may not recommend to my mates, but certainly hope it gets traction with the youth its message is clearly aimed at.

A well written book that deals with rape culture in a mature way. I found it difficult to follow at times but I feel like that more of a ‘me’ issue than an issue with the writer.
I will definitely be purchasing other books by this author as soon as possible!

A gripping YA book about the toxic rape culture and the language we use. Set in an elite US High School, Quinn has been sexually assaulted by one of her fellow pupils, and is struggling to find a way through in a world that glorifies misogynistic language and actions, Hard hitting and vital reading, this is one for older teens to have on their radar

Coming of age story that talking about really important #MeToo topics. Amazing YA book that I enjoyed and would recommend!

The Sharp Edge of Silence is about an American Public School and I found it a difficult story to follow. I kept picking it up and putting it down and as a consequence of this I find it difficult to give an objective review. The book is well written and what I say it may not be for me but you should give it a try.

Very much enjoyed reading this. At first I found it a little difficult to keep track of the many different characters - there were a lot. But as the story developed, it got easier. Really enjoyed it. Very relevant to today and very believable.

The Sharp Edge of Silence is a YA contemporary standalone novel which explores toxic masculinity and rape culture at a prestigious American private school in a raw and heart wrenching way. Although it is a YA novel, the mature writing style and the way it tackles important hard-hitting and mature topics means that adult readers can also take so much from the story.
Something that makes the novel really stand out from others is the way it tackles lesser-explored aspects of rape culture. This includes the generational passing down of the toxic ideologies that contribute to it, the idea of individuals being complicit by ignoring and not reporting sexual violence they witness and the repeated examples of systems protecting those guilty of rape and sexual violence because of their athletic ability.
The story is told in three alternating perspectives: Quinn, Charlotte and Max. Although the chapters sharing the POVs of Charlotte and Max did feel initially out of place alongside Quinn’s raw and explicit accounts of rape and the mental impact it had on her, they became increasingly important as the story progressed and the perspectives begin to overlap. Through Max’s perspective we get an exploration of silent complicity and through Charlotte’s perspective we explore the group of girls who supported Quinn and fought for revenge and justice, determined that the boys would be held accountable. It was wonderful to see this representation of strong female friendships, particularly as they immediately believed and supported Quinn without belittling or questioning her experiences.
The characters are beautifully complex and I want to particularly commend Cameron Kelly Rosenblum for how she’s written the character of Quinn. We have strong mental health representation through the raw and authentic portrayal of Quinn’s PTSD and the book captures how her anger towards her rapist turns her self-destructive prior to intervention by others. We get to follow her journey towards a path of healing from her trauma and it felt particularly credible that her recovery wasn’t linear. I also particularly enjoyed the references to Quinn’s use of music to help her process the difficult emotions she’s experiencing (and not just because she has an impeccable taste in music).
Overall, The Sharp Edge of Silence is a powerful, heart wrenching and truly ground-breaking story. Although this isn’t an easy read given the difficult subject matter, I think it’s a story which should be read by everyone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

Sorry I think this was a little too teenage for me to get into. I personally would have preferred the book from only one of two perspectives. Too many characters for me to try and keep track of in the different friendship groups

13/14 year old me might have like this but 45 year old me struggled with it a bit. There’s a very important story in here but you need to wade through pages that are very dialogue heavy to find it. I got the distinct impression that this was written with an eventual TV adaptation in mind and feel it might be quite suited for that! The author states that this was inspired by a personal experience but I think it’s safe to say that Thirteen Reasons Why may also have been an influence.

Between what feels like 250 filler pages of mindless teenage chat, the excessive amount of characters and the fact I couldn’t get behind the adults response (or lack of) to a rape - this one just wasn’t for me.

Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

Found this very, very slow to start and had to push myself to continue reading! In a way, I'm very glad I did continue as the author has covered lots of situations some youngsters find themselves in without knowing how to move on and resolve the problems.
A very modern book highlighting certain attitudes of today's youth. Makes the reader think!

In summary: i liked the idea behind the plot but i just felt it wasn't executed as well as it could be and i found it rather slow.

This book is set in an elite, expensive, American boarding school. Those who attend (with the exception of a handful of scholarship kids) are privileged and know it. Attending this school will guarantee entry into one of the top universities and a charmed life will follow. However, for some students, that privilege results in an abuse of power.

At the end of last term, one student was raped.

The book follows the stories of several students as they uncover the extent to which the school has a culture of male toxicity and how they work together to eradicate it.

I really enjoyed the second half of the book but I found it very hard to get into as there were so many different characters to remember and keep up with. I considered giving up but am glad I didn’t because I really enjoyed it once I understood who was who.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a difficult and harrowing read. Such an important book that explores rape culture, staying silent and complicity. Told from three narrators about the same people is insightful. It took me a while to read it as it's such a harrowing topic, it' snot one I felt I could spend long on each time, but this is an important book. I have a feeling this will become a classic and be studied - it's that important.

Trigger warning - sexual assault, rape
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This is an important read and should not be confined to its young adult market.
It's a new term at Lycroft Phelps, a New England boarding school as Charlotte, Max, Q and others return after summer break. The novel explores Q's journey as she tries to return to school having been raped by a member of the elite rowing crew at the end of summer term. Scholarship student Max is a STEM whiz but circumstances find him pulled into that rowing crew and he has to explore what his boundaries are in trying to be accepted. Charlotte is the model pupil and dance leader whose popular boyfriend is also on the rowing crew - she struggles to balance roles and relationships.
Without trying to give too much of the plot away the journey that each of these pupils take has consequences - for them and for the school. A school community which is forced to confront ingrained toxic masculinity and the impact that can, and has had, on lives.

The ending felt just a bit rushed but this novel does not shy away from tough topics and should provoke discussion about cultural norms, the courage to challenge these, and the cost of friendship.
I'd have given this 4 1/2 starts if I could have made that work

The Sharp Edge of Silence is a book that cuts deep.

This is a book that fills you with rage at the injustices and violence perpetuated by toxic masculinity, rape culture and a society that is determined to allow it continue. It tears apart the ‘boys will be boys’ mindset and deconstructs the way toxic masculinity warps boys into this, while also holding them accountable for their unspeakable actions. There is definitely nuance here, but not at the cost of forgiving the unforgivable.

For me, this was a searing and incredibly moving book that delves into the myriad emotions and reactions to sexual assault and toxic masculinity. Rosenblum presents this through several different viewpoints, all of whom experience different aspects of this toxic culture. This was a smart move and a sharp indictment of this culture. These characters are so lovable and I connected with all of them quickly, despite their flaws. Rosenblum just makes them so fallible and human and I was drawn to that. My standout by far has to be the combination of Charlotte and Quinn. One of them is consumed with rage and a deep desire for revenge. Rosenblum validates this but also indicates the dangers of letting it control you. The other is slowly awakening to the bubbling darkness beneath the surface of the perfection and social structure of the school.

I loved how raw this felt. Every page is filled with building intensity and tension. It creates such a dynamic atmosphere and means that the stakes feel real. It is definitely a tense and thrilling read, with the pacing and plotting top-notch.

The Sharp Edge of Silence is a book that refuses to let accountability slip by. Let your rage fly, just be careful that it does not consume you.

Harrowing read.

I felt that it could hve had less padding and got to the point quicker but it still hit home. Made me cry in parts.

Boys will be boys is a frustrating phrase and this book sets a scene where it is still very much thought.

I'm glad I read it.

i kept putting off reading this book because i knew that it was going to be a very hard read. just to list some of the trigger warnings, this books contains rape culture, sexual assault, PTSD and many, many more.the thing that drew me to this book was the quotation ‘boys will be boys’. this term has been used so often to dismiss shameful activities throughout history and this book calls this out.

i was in tears at multiple points during this novel, especially with Q’s flashbacks. i really wanted to give her a hug so badly. now, this book will definitely be distressing to those who read it, i had to take numerous pauses while reading because it was so harrowing. i loved the three different POVs to this book, as it showed how some people being silent are being complicit to these crime.

rosenblum has such a powerful writing style and emphasised the inner monologue of her characters perfectly. i felt such a true connection to these characters and felt their pain, happiness, sadness, any of their emotions. i think the reason this book caused so much pain and sadness for me is that i saw reality in it. women and even young girls go through this so often and it is so heartbreaking. i cannot thank rosenblum enough for writing this book; yes, it was painful, but it was necessary.

this is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year, hell, one of my favourite reads ever. thank you for allowing me to read this.

Very relevant book in todays he said/she said instances. This book was really good even tho upsetting at times, which I’m sure was the point. 4.5 stars