Hot Pick of the Week: Going Under by S. Walden and Giveaway

Summary

Brooke Wright has only two goals her senior year at Charity Run High School: stay out of trouble and learn to forgive herself for the past. Forgiveness proves elusive, and trouble finds her anyway when she discovers a secret club at school connected to the death of her best friend. She learns that swim team members participate in a “Fantasy Slut League,” scoring points for their sexual acts with unsuspecting girls.

Brooke, wracked with guilt over her friend’s death, decides to infiltrate the league by becoming one of the “unsuspecting girls,” and exact revenge on the boys who stole away her best friend. An unexpected romance complicates her plans, and her dogged pursuit of justice turns her reckless as she underestimates just how far the boys will go to keep their sex club a secret.




Our 4.5 star review

Warning:  Content is for mature readers only.  Contains themes of sexual violence, revenge for sexual violence, and a detailed account of sexual violence.

Brooklyn is a senior attending a new school after moving in with her father.  Brooklyn has just attended the funeral for her best friend, Beth.  Beth and Brooklyn had a falling out a few months before Beth’s death due to a betrayal and Brooklyn feels tremendous guilt. It’s because of this guilt and a secret that Beth told Brooklyn that has Brooklyn seeking vengeance.  She will find this vengeance at her new school, the same school that Beth attended.

Brooklyn has become aware that the swim team has formed a fantasy league…a fantasy league of scoring women.  Only it’s not fantasy…it’s happening in real life.  Brooklyn wants to bring these players down and she is willing to sacrifice herself to bring them to justice.

Brooklyn starts noticing there are girls that are hiding in their own shadows.  Girls that have suddenly changed within the course of a year.  Girls that are trembling in fear.  What has happened to them?  Brooklyn makes it her mission to reveal their stories. 

Brooklyn meets Cal on registration day at her new school.  Cal is on the swim team and part of the fantasy league.   He appears to show an interest in Brooklyn.  Will he keep her safe or will he use the knowledge of Brooklyn’s fears against her?

Ryan is holding back a secret.  What makes him withdrawn?  Why doesn’t he have any friends?  Cal warns Brooklyn to stay away from Ryan.

“Why was Cal out to get this guy?  Ryan never talked to anyone at school.  He was quiet.  He stayed out of the way.  What was the big deal?”

 Brooklyn and Ryan begin dating.  After a news-breaking story their relationship is suddenly pulled apart.  Can forgiveness bring them back together?

“You must forgive him.”

I applaud the author for managing to take a theme that is sexually violent in nature and allow readers to still stay in their comfort zone.  The author includes a letter at the end of the book that I implore all readers to read, as it is very informative and may even answer a question that you have been asking “how can that happen?”

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