Saturday, October 12, 2013

Review: Fault Line by Christa Desir

Fault LineRelease date: October 15th 2013
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Ben could date anyone he wants, but he only has eyes for the new girl — sarcastic free-spirit, Ani. Luckily for Ben, Ani wants him too. She’s everything Ben could ever imagine. Everything he could ever want.

But that all changes after the party. The one Ben misses. The one Ani goes to alone.

Now Ani isn’t the girl she used to be, and Ben can’t sort out the truth from the lies. What really happened, and who is to blame?

Ben wants to help her, but she refuses to be helped. The more she pushes Ben away, the more he wonders if there’s anything he can do to save the girl he loves.


*Received ecopy from Publisher for review.





Fault Line wasn't perfect. If anything it was rough, real. It dealt with a serious topic, along with some stereotypical issues at start that made me go hmm...But in all honesty, it wasn't a bad read. The story was good.

My problem is I didn't really like the main character/narrator. Ben just didn't rub me in the right way, but after getting over the flirtatious segments I accepted and understood Ani, all she had experienced and was going through. Ben, on a side note, just turned me off from opening chapter. Even worse in the way he reacted to what happened to Ani. It's normal to feel guilty and want to make everything better again. But it took him so long to realize he couldn't. Throughout the book,  Ben gave me the impression he wanted her to get over it because the whole thing was affecting HIM. Like, she embarrassed him because she was his girlfriend and he wasn't looking too good. I know he's a kid and once more, it's a natural reaction, but I seriously just wanted to slap him and say, "Shut up. She can't be normal again." Not like Ani ever was normal, anyway. 

The way Ani was portrayed at first wasn't very likable. Many might even join in with what society has done often, which is to point fingers at the victim, say she deserved it. Her initial behavior surely left room from that pre-judgment but Ani is no way at fault for what happened to her. Still, I liked how realistic the story was in depicting the disgusting way her schoolmates reacted after hearing about it: very insensitive. The book is indeed, truthfully written.

Fault Line delineated how a terrible event changed the lives of a young couple who seemed very much deeply into each other prior. Ben had a lot going for him, being a great swimmer up for a wonderful scholarship. While Ani was a promising artist in various ways. The story showed how fun and exciting things were and how it all turned into a complete nightmare, vividly.  Suddenly, one night disrupted their relationship and like Ben, I wanted desperately for Ani to recover some essence of herself and make it through. Unfortunately, his love for her didn't seem to be getting through and he had to stand by helplessly and watch her bury herself deeper in the ground, hurting herself over and over. It was rather sad to read, and experience through words how hard it was for someone who cared about you not capable of helping. And I really wanted Ben to reach out to Ani's mom from the moment it happened. That part I didn't like so much. But in trying to put myself in his shoes, I'm not sure I would've told her mother either when Ani insisted on him not betraying her trust. He already felt guilty for not being there to stop tragedy from taking place so it was understandable he would do anything to try and keep her happy.

To conclude, it was a good, realistic plot. I haven't read much on the subject matter because of all the emotion such books can stir up, regardless if you've experienced the turmoil. I had actually stopped a few chapters in because I wasn't connecting with the story fully. But once I started it over and continued to the end, I finally grasped its overall purpose. Not many would like the story, but if you have an open mind I suggest you give Fault Line a try. Who knows, it just might provoke your thoughts.






Christa Desir
About the Author
Christa Desir is an avid reader who has been in love with YA books ever since reading Judy Blume’s FOREVER (while hiding between the stacks in the library). 

She lives outside of Chicago with her awesome husband, Julio, and their three children. When Christa isn't writing, she is an editor of romance novels. (This job rules.) She is also a feminist, former rape victim advocate, lover of coffee and chocolate, and head of the PTA. It is a rare day when Christa doesn’t humiliate herself somehow, and she frequently blogs about her embarrassing life moments.



4 comments:

  1. I've heard very good things about this book, but I'm not sure when I'll get to it since I'm sure it's gonna be a very emotional read with such a hard topic!

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  2. Yours isn't the first review to have these conflicting feelings. It seems to be a really good story with very unlikeable characters. Thanks for the review, Shane!

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  3. Well, you are way more forgiving than most to Ben. I can't say I'll give him the same benefit though. I'm one of those readers who likes to make a decision about a book right away then move on. I have to. I have piles in my TBR. LOL. Anyway, at least you gave it your all, Shane. :)

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  4. I am still stunned after finishing this book in two sittings. Everyone will say that teenage girls should read "Fault Line," but I posit even more importantly, young men should as well. I can't think of another YA novel about sexual violence told from the boyfriend's perspective. "Fault Line" doesn't pull and punches, but it's difficulty is what makes it worthwhile. Quite the debut!

    Marlene
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