ALL THE SILENT VOICES by Elena Mikalsen

When I started this book I was not sure I was going to be able to handle it. It starts out quite violently. A young college girl getting beaten and raped in a stairwell outside a frat party. It was horrific. But it was the beginning of a book that will give you a lot to think about.

This book sure touches on quite a few subjects. College football players getting away and even encouraged to rape young freshman girls. The girls being told it’s their fault and subsequently being forced out of the college. The sad thing is this is actually happening in colleges all across this nation and they are getting away with it. The corruption that goes into choosing players. Paying them off to come to each college. The promise of drugs and girls. I sure hope all colleges do not do this but am willing to bet almost all of them do. It definitely needs to be stopped.

Also the drug manufacturers and what is going on there. It’s a huge money making racket that some very high up people are getting rich from at the expense of us as humans who may depend on said drugs to live. Money being paid to officials to keep quiet about the side effects of dangerous drugs. It’s all for the profit not the health of the people.

Combine these two things and you have a story of a woman who was brutally raped and then years later having to face that rapist as her boss. That alone would be more than I could handle but Emma is a very strong woman. She’s already been through a lot in her life. She’s happily married and has a daughter who will soon be leaving for college. She also suffered numerous miscarriages that ripped her and her husbands hearts into. It’s a sad story in many ways but also a happy one in that they have such a strong marriage that they can endure almost anything. Aidan, Emma’s husband does not know for a long time why Emma hates Richard so much and so deeply. But when he does find out he is beside her through everything. He supports her no matter what. As he should. It took Emma a long time to face what happened after being made to feel she did something wrong and was the cause of the attack.

This book will give you many feelings. Some of hatred. Some of loss and a lot of anger. It made me cry in so many places to think about what Emma went through as a young girl starting out. She had already lost so much. But she does have a happy life twenty one years later and that is so wonderful. You will root for her and Aidan to make it. To be strong and be there for each other. For their daughter Sophie too. She plays a very important part in this story as does Emma’s roommate in college.

Most of the characters in this book are very likable. Lovable actually. But a few you will totally detest and wish bad things on so be warned. When a person is that evil you just want to see them hurting.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ElenaMikalsen and #WildRosePress for the eARC of this book. This is my own true review of this story.

I gave it a  star and a very high recommendation.. You have to read this one to believe it.