Boys have always liked Rosie Fuller, and she has always liked them back. Which is how she has developed a reputation as being the most beautiful - but also easy - girl in her small town in Tornado Valley. Now at the start of her senior year, her best friends Madelyn and Ryan are acting more judgmental of her 'easy' ways. Rosie doesn't let it get to her, though - she's just having a good time. Then Alex, the cousin of her most recent fling, moves to town. Last year Alex earned hero status by stopping one of his classmates from carrying out a shooting rampage at his old high school. Rosie is immediately drawn to Alex - in a way she's never experienced for a boy before - and he has no pre-conceived notions about her and for once a boy is treating her with respect. Things are looking brighter ...until a party turns disastrous in more ways than one, throwing her life into a tailspin. Forced to face uncomfortable truths about herself and high school culture, Rosie is set on a journey to discover the type of person she is - and who she wants to be.
Amanda Maciel, the author of the acclaimed Tease, unflinchingly explores ideas of beauty and reputation, as well as issues of slut-shaming and homophobia, in this story of a teen girl learning to truly see herself and her world. 'An emotional, deftly paced and heartbreaking first novel.' Kirkus Reviews on TEASE
I can see what he sees. A girl who drinks, who wears short skirts. Who gets dressed up so that people will look at her, think she’s pretty. A girl everyone does think is pretty. A girl who likes attention and dark rooms and boys and parties and dumb, flirty conversation.
It’s my fault he sees me like that—I am like that.
But it’s not my fault he doesn’t see that I’m a person, too.
— An exploration of beauty, self-worth, slut-shaming, and rape culture. It’s a relevant read, but the plot was kind of all over the place. I wish it focused more on the issues that mattered.
