Going Under
By: S. Walden
Publication Date: March 19, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult
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.
(This is a New Adult fiction book with mature themes. It contains graphic sex and language and a description of sexual violence.)
My Thoughts:
This book shocked the hell out of me. I knew it was going to be about a "Fantasy Slut League" and a girl seeking revenge because of what the club did to her friend.... but oh man I was not expecting what this book really was. And what it is- is hard-core!! Everything in this book is high speed, balls-to-the-wall, exciting.
Brooklyn is having trouble forgiving herself for betraying her BFF Beth before Beth committed suicide. She knows the reason for the suicide wasn't all her fault, she knows it's because a guy at school raped her. Now that Brooke is going to Beth's school, she's able to create a revenge plan for said guy. But she doesn't realize that the rape of Beth goes beyond one guy. In fact the whole swim team is involved. They have a contest, or a Fantasy Slut League, where they earn points for getting with certain girls. This leads to a ton of date-rape and destroyed girls. Brooke wants to right all the wrongs that have been done, but she's only one girl. And honestly the method she chooses for her revenge (self-sacrifice) is more than a little disturbing. Meanwhile, Brooke meets a neighbor-boy named Ryan who gets her all hot-and-bothered... but completely interferes with her revenge plot.
I really enjoyed reading this story, but it may have been pushing the envelope a little too hard for my liking. This book was downright controversial... and while I like that in books, I wasn't really into a girl offering herself up to rape. That's a little too controversial for me. That being said, Brooke is a crazy-good character and I really enjoyed hearing her inner thoughts (even if they were a little dirty). There is also a really sweet father-daughter relationship in this book that touched my heart.
Like the author's note says, there is really really graphic sex in this book. It's about high school kids, but I'm not sure it's really for them to read. Maybe seniors. There's also swearing throughout and drug/alcohol use and abuse. And scary rape stuff. So if you don't normally get down with stuff like that, I would pass on this book. Otherwise, it's definitely worth reading. I know I'll never forget it.
Overall: A memorable, sexy, emotional, scary book. You might not like everything that happens in this book, but you WILL feel something. It's crazy-emotional. A must-read for New Adult fans and fans of controversy.
My Rating: 3/4
AUTHOR BIO
S. Walden
S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams include raising chickens and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens included). When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about it. She loves her fans and loves to hear from them.
Hey Michelle,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reviewing Going Under and for participating in my tour!
<3 Summer
Definitely controversial! I haven't read it but I know enough about it to know that. It does sound like an emotional read though and unique, too! Glad you enjoyed it overall, Michelle! :)
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