I'm glad I read this book. As a former rape victim I often seek out romance stories about characters dealing with the aftermath, and authors don't always get the emotion right, at least for me. Ms. Lin got it so "right" that I was bawling by the second page.

This book isn't only about Allie getting over her past, however. It's about her looking to her future and "finding her consent", a beautiful concept that also sent me scrambling for the tissues. I'll remember that scene for a long time. I don't want to make anyone who's suffered rape avoid this book for fear of triggers and crying, though. There may be triggers and you may cry, but you will find your struggle respectfully represented too.

As to some reviewers who ask "Why don't they just talk to each other?"--there is no talk more vicious than a rape victim's talk to herself, as Allie did in parts of this book. A lot of victims stop talking to those they love because the words aren't there or they come out wrong, or they are just afraid. I loved that over the course of the book, we got to see Allie heal from that kind of mute distress.

BUT the five stars aren't even for THAT. The five stars are because, in addition to this real, very affecting story of a rape survivor, we also get a well-written suspense plot that I could not guess at, which kept me reading to figure out WTF was going on. Yes, I agree there was a lot of inner dialogue at parts, but the suspense aspect and my interest in the characters' emotional journey kept me reading and I was glad I did.

Oh, and I loved the hero. He was an honest representation of a guy...wanting to help, but not always knowing how. Sometimes I get tired of the uber-perfect, expressive, nurturing hero who magically knows exactly what the heroine needs and provides it as soon as she needs it. Sometimes I want a guy who's a little more conflicted and imperfect, who IS TRYING ANYWAY. Somehow that's almost more attractive/endearing.

I feel like this review is a little garbled. I think my brain felt a little garbled and wrung out after I read this book, but I was left satisfied as well. Giving It Up is original, affecting, emotionally draining, but well worth reading if you are brave enough to go along for the ride.