Review: The Girl Before by Rena Olsen

Genre: Fiction, Psychological

Page Count: 320

Publisher: G.P. PUTNAM’S SONS

Cover Artist: Amanda Dewey

Release date: August 9 2016

My Rating: ★★★★☆

      This is a harrowing story demonstrating how impressionable a child is, the sad realism of human trafficking, and an uncommon portrayal of love and power. The main character, Diana, in some aspects is the hero.  In other aspects she’s just as bad as the villain. Rather than chapters, this book bounces back and forth between the past and present being unfolded in a "Then" and "Now" format. “Then” (the cause) takes you back to her delusional little house on the prairie and of instances she recalls with her “sisters” and “children.” “Now” (the effect) is her being questioned by police and the slow unraveling of what’s happened, and what’s to come. Diana, will have you hating her for being so blind, but loving her for her strength.

 Highlights and Thoughts:

• A quarter of Diana’s life was a lie.

• Love as Diana knew it, was a mix of real desire, aggression, and bruises. Though I honestly think Glen did love her, he too had been raised in a world where women were property and it was evident.

• The psyche can be one hell of a monster, if you think and believe in something enough you can convince yourself of anything.

• There’s a strong need for the main character to mother and nurture, when her “children” are “taken” away her world shatters. Maybe this need developed as a coping mechanism from early childhood; the strict routine and consequences and the belief that her own parents no longer wanted her.

• I find it commendable, how once Diana starts realizing her role in the whole operation she wants to be prosecuted and held accountable for her part, regardless of having also been a victim.

• Although this book is about trafficking, the reading is not explicit.  The trauma is the focus, the rest is rather implied in a fill in the gap kind of way.

• There were moments when this book made me cringe or I had to walk away before returning to read it, the empathetic in me broke for Diana's character. That being said, this book isn't going to be up every readers alley. 

• I think this would be a great read for any female who has had a history with domestic violence or sexual abuse.

       I received this book, an uncorrected proof for limited distribution through a giveaway listed by G.P. PUTNAM'S SONS (an imprint of Penguin Random House), on Goodreads.com. In return this is my honest opinion and review of the reading.

RAD MOUTH