TRIGGER WARNING: Boys will be boys is never an excuse.
It’s been two years since the night that changed Ashley’s life. Two years since she was raped by her brother’s teammate. And a year since she sat in a court and watched as he was given a slap-on-the-wrist sentence. But the years have done nothing to stop the pain or lessen the crippling panic attacks that make her feel like she’s living a half-life.
It’s been two years of hell for Derek. His family is totally messed up and he and his sister are barely speaking. He knows she partially blames him for what happened, and totally blames him for how he handled the aftermath. Now at college, he has to come to terms with what happened, and the rape culture that he was inadvertently a part of that destroyed his sister’s life.
When it all comes to a head at Thanksgiving, Derek and Ashley have to decide if their relationship is able to be saved. And if their family can ever be whole again.
“You have no idea! You don’t stop to think about where you’ve parked your car and whether it will be dark when you get back to it. You don’t worry about the guys who step onto an elevator after you. And you probably never had to deal with dates who actually expect services in exchange for the money they just spent on you. It literally happens all the time.”
“No big deal, right? They’re funny. They’re not meant to be taken seriously. What’s the big deal? Well, if you look at the tweets under those hashtags, you’ll see. Better yet, ask. Go home tonight and ask the women you know— moms, sisters, friends. Ask them if they have a Me Too or Yes All Women story. I guarantee they will. In fact, they’ll have more than one. Because every day, while we’re busy pretending it’s not happening, the women we know are facing questionable, creepy, and outright threatening behavior from guys. What I’m saying is it doesn’t matter if you’re not that guy. What matters is we’re the guys who keep ignoring this crappy behavior because we’re afraid we’ll look like wusses.”
This book is Phenomenal!! Anyone who has a #MeToo or #YesAllWomen story or know someone who does (trust me you do!) should absolutely take some time out and read this book. Someone I Used to kNOw may help you see what you have been blind to. This story could not have more beautifully or elegantly ripped your heart out. The way Patty Blount told this story was absolutely perfect! Even going from the present, back two years ago, and then back before, Blount managed to make it fit together flawlessly and make you understand everything you needed to know about the story and the people involved. Even as a woman with my own #MeToo stories this book showed me views I may not have looked at closely enough and helped me understand things in a way I hadn’t fully. Someone I Used to kNOw has truly become one of the best books I’ve read and definitely on my favorites list. I am so grateful for the chance to read early and will have to have this as part of my physical book collection.
I hope you’ll take the time to read this wonderful book.
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Patty is best known for her internet issues novels, including SOME BOYS, a 2015 CLMP Firecracker winner and SEND, a 2012 Junior Library Guild Fall Pick. Visit her website at pattyblount.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter. She blogs at YA Outside the Lines and is also active online. She loves hearing from readers, especially when they tell her she’s cool (even though she knows it’s not true), and is easily bribed with chocolate. Never underestimate the power of chocolate.
Two Girls and a Book Obsession 