A hard hitting book with a gritty look at the sexual perversions in a fictional version written to understate the truth and bring the realities to the forefront.
2 timelines with Holly as the narrator in 1990 and Julianne in 2019, the book started with Julianne’s son finding files in the family dropbox which shattered their lives. Holly’s story had its own gruesome reality where a crush led to obsession which led to rape.
BP Walter’s writing came with a bold stroke with graphic details of all the acts at the uni. Lives destroyed were well written. The betrayal, the helplessness, the fear all rushed to hold me in their clutches. The characters were all dark or grey, each involved in the sexual crime, some more than others.
The book would be a difficult read with a lot of triggers for sexual abuse and rape. The first quarter meandered and wavered a bit with Julianne hiding from the facts. In the latter half, truths and realities kept hitting me, one after the other. None of the characters were likable, but they all made a strong impact
This book is for the strong hearted to be read on their strong days, after being fully aware of what they were getting into.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!!
All my reviews can be found here
Would you read such a book where sexual acts were graphic?
Barnaby Walter works as a social media co-ordinator for Waterstones, based at their HQ in Piccadilly. A Version of the Truth is his debut novel.
2019: Julianne is preparing a family dinner when her son comes to her and says he’s found something on his iPad. Something so terrible, it will turn Julianne’s world into a nightmare and make her question everything about her marriage and what type of man her husband is or is pretending to be.
1990: Holly is a fresher student at Oxford University. Out of her depth and nervous about her surroundings, she falls into an uneasy friendship with a group of older students from the upper echelons of society and begins to develop feelings for one in particular. He’s confident, quiet, attractive and seems to like her too. But as the year progresses, her friends’ behaviour grows steadily more disconcerting and Holly begins to realise she might just be a disposable pawn in a very sinister game.
A devastating secret has simmered beneath the surface for over twenty-five years. Now it’s time to discover the truth. But what if you’re afraid of what you might find?
Publication Date: 7th February 2019
Publisher: Avon Books UK
26 Responses
Excellent review Shalini
Thank you DJ 💕
This sounds like a nice read but I don’t think I can go past the rape and abuse scenes. Those kinds of scenes really leave me in tears sometimes. Awesome review though as always 🙂
This was really gruesome, everything was described… But somehow it worked but it was those shiver-y reads
I’m not sure that this would be a book I would pick up, but great review x
This is very different and very graphic
Wow this sounds real and brutal! Wonderful review!
It was quite graphic.. Tough read
Wow this looks intense. Looks really good though. I think books like these are important, but they do also need a trigger warning, because this could be really hard for sexual abuse victims
Ash @ JennRenee Read
True that… I read the other reviews so I was fairly prepared for graphic details, if I had gone in blind, I would have struggled
Are you guys on twitter?
You’re tougher than me, girl. I have a hard time stomaching violent rape scenes. I don’t think they are necessary when authors can easily hint at the violence without actually describing it in graphic detail and churning people’s stomachs. Readers aren’t dumb. They can figure out it without all the graphic violence, IMO. I will pass on this one. 🙂 Still, another awesome review, Shalini! Looking forward to your next review. 🙂
The gang rape/orgy was not described completely but the other acts were explained…
There was an aura of menace and opportunistic greed. But the book needs trigger warnings
It does sound like a graphic, tough read. Wonderful, enticing review, Shalini! ♥️
Verrryyy… Requires real strong days to read this. Thank you ❤️
This one sounds really powerful!!! Great review, Shalini!!!
Thank you ❤️ Mackie
Great review, Shalini! Also to such a special topic. Michael
Oh yes.. Tough topic. Michael how are you
Hi Shalini! Thank you, i am feeling a little bit better as the end of last week. Now i invited garlic, onions to the virus-party. Seems to take them down. I am not really fan of the antibiotic power tools. 😉 Hope you are fine? Best wishes, Michael
Omg omg you are not well.. Virus bitten? Hence you are biting onion and garlic. I too don’t believe in antibiotics.. But don’t tell anyone.. 😂 Get well soon.. Sending all healing vibes via the transporter ❤️
❤️ Thank you very much Shalini! You are soooo kind, and lovely too. ❤️ Michael
Love your reviews. You are very brave with these books. ❤❤❤
I read other reviews and then read this book on a strong day. I was careful.. I don’t think there was a trigger warning. Ideally there should be
Yeah, I think if it’s that difficult it should have a trigger warning. I’m glad you made it through. ❤❤
Good analysis of the book, but not one I would read.
When I requested for this book, I never realized from the cover or the Blurb that it would be so graphic. Luckily the other reviews had the trigger written. Hence, I read this book on a day when I was strong.