This could have been a great story but it missed the mark because...
1. This book is based on a violent rape. No warning in any descriptions-the boy friend "gets violent." And since the story revolves around everything that came after that, I think warning readers might be important, especially if rape is a trigger for a reader.
2. Beth, the rape victim, is not very easy to like. And, isn't that a horrible thing to say about a rape victim? She is bossy, selfish, not concerned with anyone but herself, uses her friend and just is unlikable.
3. Nick, the lifelong friend, either saves the day over and over with Beth not having to accept any responsibility for her recovery OR tries to force behavior that takes time to achieve. He either bullies or takes over.
4. Everything the experts preach about rape and rape victims is ignored in this story. Report the rape? Ahh, no. Seek professional help? Ahh, no.
5. Story dragged on and on, saying the same stuff over and over.
I wanted to read about a young woman who has a horrible, life changing experience and learns to deal with it with help from her friends not a selfish little girl waiting for others to take care of her.
This is a first book in a series.