DAMAGE

 

SYNOPSIS

Sometimes, the true story is the hardest to believe.

TONY has always looked out for his younger brother, Nick. So when Nick is badly hurt and it looks like he was the victim of sexual assault, Tony's anger flares.

JULIA is alarmed by her husband Tony's obsession with Nick's case. She's always known Tony has a temper. But does she really know what he's capable of?

NICK went out for a drink. After that, everything's a blank. When he woke up he found himself in a world of confusion and pain, and the man who hurt him doesn't deny doing it. But he says the whole thing was consensual.

Three ordinary people; one life-shattering event. And when the police get involved, this family in crisis might be capable of anything...

Title: Damage

Author: Caitlin Wahrer

Publisher: Michael Joseph

Publication date: July 8, 2021

REVIEW

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It is hard to believe that Damage is a debut novel so impactful and powerful it is, taking a look at a male sexual assault and the way it affects not only the victim of the assault but all those around him.

Despite dealing with a very sensitive subject, the author writes about it delicately and with the utmost respect. The research she must have done to write this shows in every single page. The story focuses on the aftermath of the assault, showing the damage done, and thankfully doesn’t recreate on graphic descriptions of the assault itself (which would have been the case in some less capable hands).

The character development was absolutely brilliant. How far would you go to protect the ones you love? While trying to answer this question Wahrer builds the tension through the development of the relationships between the characters. She also points out the stigma associated with gay men and sexual assault and the way people act as judges on the media even without having all the facts, increasing the victim’s suffering.

Although it was not an easy read it was so well written that it was hard to stop turning pages, leading to an ending that will make you keep thinking about it long after you’ve finished it.

Poignant, heartbreaking, nuanced and, above all, necessary story that puts Caitlin Wahrer as one of the names to watch on the literary world.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.