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Liar Liar: Breaking the Silence on Sexual Assault
Laurie Katz has always been a city girl. She thrived during her childhood in Boston, MA, and was all set to explore new places, beginning with her college experience in Chicago. Just three weeks in, however, that college experience took a sinister turn.
What had started as a fun night out ended with Laurie alone in her dorm room, struggling to even think about what had happened ... she had been sexually assaulted.
Laurie set out to get justice against her attacker, but it wasn’t that simple. Dismissed by the Resident Assistant at college, failed by the dean of students, and warned that she was facing expulsion from her course, Laurie was running out of options – and then her attacker filed his own case.
What had started as a fun night out ended with Laurie alone in her dorm room, struggling to even think about what had happened ... she had been sexually assaulted.
Laurie set out to get justice against her attacker, but it wasn’t that simple. Dismissed by the Resident Assistant at college, failed by the dean of students, and warned that she was facing expulsion from her course, Laurie was running out of options – and then her attacker filed his own case.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2019
About the author
Laurie Katz
4 books4 followersLaurie Katz is a rape survivor and advocate. After she was sexually assaulted during her freshman year of college in 2011, Laurie struggled with her mental health.
She is very grateful for her life now, thanks to the the help she eventually received. She now lives in Boston with her husband, their three cats, and their fish. She loves her work as an elementary teacher and she enjoys running, hiking, and baking.
Laurie decided to share her story in the hopes of helping others. She is passionate about fighting rape culture and helping other survivors find healing.
She is very grateful for her life now, thanks to the the help she eventually received. She now lives in Boston with her husband, their three cats, and their fish. She loves her work as an elementary teacher and she enjoys running, hiking, and baking.
Laurie decided to share her story in the hopes of helping others. She is passionate about fighting rape culture and helping other survivors find healing.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 27, 2020
Before I say anything else, I want to make a few things clear. I believe Laurie. What she experienced - being sexually assaulted, the perpetrator’s subsequent behaviour, the harmful responses she received from friends and university staff members - was horrific and she is not to blame for any of it. She deserved to be believed and supported while she was at college and she deserves those same things now.
What Laurie has accomplished here is remarkable. Writing about the events of your life is a difficult task under the best of circumstances. Needing to write accounts of my own experiences of sexual assault for non-public reasons has given me a general idea of just how daunting and painful a process this can be. I can’t even begin to imagine the vulnerability people must feel sharing this publicly and I commend Laurie for the courage and resilience this finished book represents.
Laurie was raped on the third Saturday of her freshman year of college. She was not only discouraged from reporting this to the police by university staff members but was also denied justice through the university’s own reporting process. Worse still, she was formally accused of lying by the university.
After essentially trying to cope with this trauma by herself, managing the best she could by overachieving and self-medicating, Laurie eventually found the support she deserved from the very beginning.
Given the subject matter, this was always going to be a difficult read, even though the book itself is quite short. If you find descriptions of sexual assault triggering, please be safe while reading this book. I had psyched myself up for the details I knew would be coming but was surprised by a few additional descriptions that I didn’t have time to prepare for. In particular, I thought the book was winding up so I let my guard down, then got hit by a major new revelation in the final chapter.
The next part of this review is difficult for me to write. I don’t feel like I have the right to judge anyone’s experiences or the choices they make so this isn’t that. However, I’m also uneasy critiquing the way anyone writes about their experiences, and that’s what this feels like.
Having said that, at times Laurie’s story came across as quite disjointed and could have benefited from some further editing. I recognise that traumatic memories are not formed in the nice, neat, linear way that non-traumatic memories are. Sometimes memories are only retained in flashes. They’re not necessarily remembered in the right order. There may be aspects of a sexual assault a victim never remembers.
All of this makes it harder to form a step by step narrative in our own heads, let alone when we try to make sense of it with others. I asked myself if I needed to take that into consideration as I was reading this book. I’d wonder about things, like where Sarah was or why no one accompanied Laurie to court, only to find out the answers in later chapters. The narrative jumped back and forth in time, making it more difficult to get a clear idea of the order of events.
The publisher says this book is part of a series that “tells the stories of the people who have battled and beaten mental health issues.” Although this should be obvious I feel I need to point out that sexual assault is not a mental health issue. Granted, it can result in a wide variety of trauma impacts, some of which include depression, anxiety and PTSD, but in and of itself it is not a mental health issue.
Content warnings include .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Trigger Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
What Laurie has accomplished here is remarkable. Writing about the events of your life is a difficult task under the best of circumstances. Needing to write accounts of my own experiences of sexual assault for non-public reasons has given me a general idea of just how daunting and painful a process this can be. I can’t even begin to imagine the vulnerability people must feel sharing this publicly and I commend Laurie for the courage and resilience this finished book represents.
Laurie was raped on the third Saturday of her freshman year of college. She was not only discouraged from reporting this to the police by university staff members but was also denied justice through the university’s own reporting process. Worse still, she was formally accused of lying by the university.
After essentially trying to cope with this trauma by herself, managing the best she could by overachieving and self-medicating, Laurie eventually found the support she deserved from the very beginning.
Given the subject matter, this was always going to be a difficult read, even though the book itself is quite short. If you find descriptions of sexual assault triggering, please be safe while reading this book. I had psyched myself up for the details I knew would be coming but was surprised by a few additional descriptions that I didn’t have time to prepare for. In particular, I thought the book was winding up so I let my guard down, then got hit by a major new revelation in the final chapter.
The next part of this review is difficult for me to write. I don’t feel like I have the right to judge anyone’s experiences or the choices they make so this isn’t that. However, I’m also uneasy critiquing the way anyone writes about their experiences, and that’s what this feels like.
Having said that, at times Laurie’s story came across as quite disjointed and could have benefited from some further editing. I recognise that traumatic memories are not formed in the nice, neat, linear way that non-traumatic memories are. Sometimes memories are only retained in flashes. They’re not necessarily remembered in the right order. There may be aspects of a sexual assault a victim never remembers.
All of this makes it harder to form a step by step narrative in our own heads, let alone when we try to make sense of it with others. I asked myself if I needed to take that into consideration as I was reading this book. I’d wonder about things, like where Sarah was or why no one accompanied Laurie to court, only to find out the answers in later chapters. The narrative jumped back and forth in time, making it more difficult to get a clear idea of the order of events.
The publisher says this book is part of a series that “tells the stories of the people who have battled and beaten mental health issues.” Although this should be obvious I feel I need to point out that sexual assault is not a mental health issue. Granted, it can result in a wide variety of trauma impacts, some of which include depression, anxiety and PTSD, but in and of itself it is not a mental health issue.
Content warnings include .
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Trigger Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
October 14, 2020
A story of the processing and the events of trauma, this book is a clarion call to universities around the world to actually do something when their students get affected by rape and sexual assault. There's so much in the system that is designed to let people down, and yet the author manages to make it through- certainly not unscathed, but it is a testament to her strength in the face of extreme adversity.
I thought that while this book was a little disjointed, it was an important testament to the ways in which the world needs to change. It was clear that this book was written as a catharsis, but it still holds up a beacon for those who have faced this in their lives and shows that there can be a life after, even if it may not seem so at the time.
I thought that while this book was a little disjointed, it was an important testament to the ways in which the world needs to change. It was clear that this book was written as a catharsis, but it still holds up a beacon for those who have faced this in their lives and shows that there can be a life after, even if it may not seem so at the time.
February 22, 2020
Liar Liar is a hauntingly personal memoir of sexual assault.
In this frank and conversational book, Laurie Katz is pushing boundaries and breaking the silence on sexual assault. She discusses how there is a stigma attached to being raped, how the subject is taboo and opens up not only about the assault itself but the distress in the aftermath.
Laurie bravely shares her own experiences, her efforts to get support and justice, and tells of the strength it takes to begin to heal.
I honestly think this is a book everyone should read.
In this frank and conversational book, Laurie Katz is pushing boundaries and breaking the silence on sexual assault. She discusses how there is a stigma attached to being raped, how the subject is taboo and opens up not only about the assault itself but the distress in the aftermath.
Laurie bravely shares her own experiences, her efforts to get support and justice, and tells of the strength it takes to begin to heal.
I honestly think this is a book everyone should read.
October 15, 2018
A haunting memoir of sexual assault that shows just why the #metoo movement is so necessary. Laurie writes candidly about her experiences and brings the reality of how it affects its victims into harsh light.
May 17, 2022
I would of given this 5* but the way it is written in some elements is so poor I found myself cringing. The plot is beautiful and is a fantastic expression of healing and the aftermath from SA rather than simply glossing over it as many do. I don’t normally highlight/write in books but I felt I very much needed to for this one. Some quotes I particularly contemplated over were “allowed myself to have fun, was this my punishment” and “ when I saw him I started to shake… I feel like I needed to throw up”. If a book could sum up experiences I feel this does massively ( of course everyone’s situation is different ) from the initial shock to the reporting and then to recovering. The most stunning is part is when she realises that she does not need to commit suicide but rather there are people there to help her. Some shocking statistics are also mentioned that make it even more worthy of a read. Would of been 5* if not for the somethings cliche expression and “gotten” 4/5
April 16, 2021
[Disclaimer: e-ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
3.5 stars
I personally find stories around the trauma of sexual assault incredibly powerful and incredibly important and Laurie's story is no different.
I found the story to be a little disjointed and confusing in its non-linear narrative style but I don't think this would be an issue for a lot of readers.
I truly hope that writing this story and publishing it provided Laurie with some catharsis and healing.
Check out my BookTube Channel for more bookish content.
3.5 stars
I personally find stories around the trauma of sexual assault incredibly powerful and incredibly important and Laurie's story is no different.
I found the story to be a little disjointed and confusing in its non-linear narrative style but I don't think this would be an issue for a lot of readers.
I truly hope that writing this story and publishing it provided Laurie with some catharsis and healing.
Check out my BookTube Channel for more bookish content.
October 4, 2020
Thank you Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of a honest review
First of all ,I would like to say I am very vocal about this issue and my opinions might hurt the male community.
Why the fuck does it always happen that the victim is portrayed as wrong and system sides with the culprit?
I thought this is the case of Indian society but this is everywhere.
"I could have been wearing a
burlap sack and I still would have been raped. This is just a part
of the story and it’s my story, so I can include whatever I want.
Also, think of all the countries where women wear saris or
burkas and rape is still prevalent. What someone was wearing
is just a ridiculous excuse."
What is this bullshit?Don't tell me a girl to not wear clothes of her choice but lower your eyes when she walks .The world would be a better place .
"If you are in position
of power, you always have an opportunity to be a helper and
not a hurter and you can always change the way you conduct
yourself. Maybe he really did realize that protecting a school at
all costs was not how he wanted to live his life. If he has changed,
maybe this shows that deans and schools can change. Things
don’t have to continue the way they are"
This is a story about Laurie who is sexually assaulted and is denied justice. Guess what? She was portrayed as wrong and was shown as culprit here .
This is our mentality .When a girl says we won't regard it and then we are the only ones who show double standards .
“nice guy” is the guy
who you study with, and when you won’t have sex with him he
gets angry and complains that, “girls never want the nice guy.”
Their niceness means the world owes them, and to “friendzone”
at all. “Nice guys” have a similar mentality to rapists. It’s not
about the phone number or the kiss or sex, it’s about needing
power over another person.
The concept of nice guy has become an illusion. I am not denying there might be still some decent guys but some incidents degrade the whole male community.
Rape culture or the normalization of rape is disturbingly
widespread, and so much of what we do to “prevent” rapes
is born from this mindset that rape is inevitable. So much of
the rhetoric about campus rape or rape in general is “don’t
drink, and if you do, watch your drink. Always walk home with
a friend, and carry pepper spray.” Yes, always be as careful as
simple. Stop putting the burden of preventing sexual assault
and the blame on the victim. And maybe when we start taking
these crimes seriously, having genuine conversations about
consent, and holding the perpetrators accountable these
crimes will stop.
"Why is it that an assault is okay to talk about, but when you add
Victim blaming does not just apply to sexual crimes. I think
it makes us feel some control over our lives"
This is the biggest question .People will click pictures and take videos but no one will help .Atleast in name of the humanity help .
Stop normalizing that rape is inevitable. Stop normalizing that
perpetrators will not be held accountable. Stop normalizing
suicide after rape. Normalize therapy and medication. Normalize
that schools and judges and the public believe victims. Most of
all, we need to normalize the idea that you can live a normal life
after being raped.
First of all ,I would like to say I am very vocal about this issue and my opinions might hurt the male community.
Why the fuck does it always happen that the victim is portrayed as wrong and system sides with the culprit?
I thought this is the case of Indian society but this is everywhere.
"I could have been wearing a
burlap sack and I still would have been raped. This is just a part
of the story and it’s my story, so I can include whatever I want.
Also, think of all the countries where women wear saris or
burkas and rape is still prevalent. What someone was wearing
is just a ridiculous excuse."
What is this bullshit?Don't tell me a girl to not wear clothes of her choice but lower your eyes when she walks .The world would be a better place .
"If you are in position
of power, you always have an opportunity to be a helper and
not a hurter and you can always change the way you conduct
yourself. Maybe he really did realize that protecting a school at
all costs was not how he wanted to live his life. If he has changed,
maybe this shows that deans and schools can change. Things
don’t have to continue the way they are"
This is a story about Laurie who is sexually assaulted and is denied justice. Guess what? She was portrayed as wrong and was shown as culprit here .
This is our mentality .When a girl says we won't regard it and then we are the only ones who show double standards .
“nice guy” is the guy
who you study with, and when you won’t have sex with him he
gets angry and complains that, “girls never want the nice guy.”
Their niceness means the world owes them, and to “friendzone”
at all. “Nice guys” have a similar mentality to rapists. It’s not
about the phone number or the kiss or sex, it’s about needing
power over another person.
The concept of nice guy has become an illusion. I am not denying there might be still some decent guys but some incidents degrade the whole male community.
Rape culture or the normalization of rape is disturbingly
widespread, and so much of what we do to “prevent” rapes
is born from this mindset that rape is inevitable. So much of
the rhetoric about campus rape or rape in general is “don’t
drink, and if you do, watch your drink. Always walk home with
a friend, and carry pepper spray.” Yes, always be as careful as
simple. Stop putting the burden of preventing sexual assault
and the blame on the victim. And maybe when we start taking
these crimes seriously, having genuine conversations about
consent, and holding the perpetrators accountable these
crimes will stop.
"Why is it that an assault is okay to talk about, but when you add
Victim blaming does not just apply to sexual crimes. I think
it makes us feel some control over our lives"
This is the biggest question .People will click pictures and take videos but no one will help .Atleast in name of the humanity help .
Stop normalizing that rape is inevitable. Stop normalizing that
perpetrators will not be held accountable. Stop normalizing
suicide after rape. Normalize therapy and medication. Normalize
that schools and judges and the public believe victims. Most of
all, we need to normalize the idea that you can live a normal life
after being raped.
September 30, 2020
Liar Liar by Laurie Katz tells her story of being raped in her first year of college, and the school’s (mis)handling of the matter. It’s part of the Inspirational series by Trigger Publishing, a mental health publisher.
The book opens with the night she was raped. Afterwards, contrary to society’s expectations that someone go to ER for a rape kit and report to police, she followed the more human instinct to go home and spend hours in the shower.
The author shares that she was very drunk when she was raped by a guy she’d just met, and she remembers saying the words “you can take my bra off if you want to.” She’s very open about how much she questioned herself because of that, despite the bruises and bite marks on her body, and it comes up repeatedly through the book as she tells her story. She writes “I felt dirty. I felt responsible.”
From when she first reported the incident to student housing staff, it’s clear that the school’s handling of it was a disaster. She was told to deal with it through the school rather than going to police, and the school’s response is jaw-dropping. The VP of student affairs threw out an assortment of rape myths, and then told her “We might have to put a letter in your file so that if something like this ever happens again, we’ll know it’s ‘Liar Laurie.’” Laurie’s story is a perfect example of how a school should not to handle a student complaint.
The book also addresses the significant impact the rape had on Laurie’s mental health; she already had a history of depression from high school. Eventually she was able to find a therapist who she says saved her life.
Laurie writes about the effect her assault had on her relationships with others. Describing an incident when a guy had pushed her boundaries, she wrote that she’d come to associate “nice guys” with ulterior motives. “Their niceness means the world owes them, and to ‘friendzone’ a ‘nice guy’ is the highest offense. ‘Nice guys’ aren’t really nice at all. ‘Nice guys’ have a similar mentality to rapists. It’s not about the phone number or the kiss or sex, it’s about needing power over another person.”
The book closes by addressing broader issues such as rape culture, victim blaming, and the fact that female students are warned what they should do to prevent being raped, but there’s no effect to tell anyone not to rape.
Liar Liar is well written, and offers an interesting insight into what it’s like to be sexually assaulted within the context of campus culture and universities that are more interested in protecting themselves than their students. This is clearly an important issue where there’s much left to be done. Just a short time before I read this book, I happened to read Chanel Miller’s victim impact statement as Emily Doe in the case against her rapist, Stanford swimmer Brock Turner. This isn’t an individual matter, it’s a cultural matter.
The only thing I struggled with while reading this book was that it was only loosely in chronological order. My own concentration is at a place where I sometimes wasn’t sure of the sequence of events, but the overall story was still clear, and I suspect it wouldn’t be a problem for someone who’s not operating at mashed potato brains level, where I am.
Aside from that minor issue, though, I thought the book was really well done, and Laurie’s story is one that needs to be heard.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This review originally appeared on https://mentalhealthathome.org/2020/0...
The book opens with the night she was raped. Afterwards, contrary to society’s expectations that someone go to ER for a rape kit and report to police, she followed the more human instinct to go home and spend hours in the shower.
The author shares that she was very drunk when she was raped by a guy she’d just met, and she remembers saying the words “you can take my bra off if you want to.” She’s very open about how much she questioned herself because of that, despite the bruises and bite marks on her body, and it comes up repeatedly through the book as she tells her story. She writes “I felt dirty. I felt responsible.”
From when she first reported the incident to student housing staff, it’s clear that the school’s handling of it was a disaster. She was told to deal with it through the school rather than going to police, and the school’s response is jaw-dropping. The VP of student affairs threw out an assortment of rape myths, and then told her “We might have to put a letter in your file so that if something like this ever happens again, we’ll know it’s ‘Liar Laurie.’” Laurie’s story is a perfect example of how a school should not to handle a student complaint.
The book also addresses the significant impact the rape had on Laurie’s mental health; she already had a history of depression from high school. Eventually she was able to find a therapist who she says saved her life.
Laurie writes about the effect her assault had on her relationships with others. Describing an incident when a guy had pushed her boundaries, she wrote that she’d come to associate “nice guys” with ulterior motives. “Their niceness means the world owes them, and to ‘friendzone’ a ‘nice guy’ is the highest offense. ‘Nice guys’ aren’t really nice at all. ‘Nice guys’ have a similar mentality to rapists. It’s not about the phone number or the kiss or sex, it’s about needing power over another person.”
The book closes by addressing broader issues such as rape culture, victim blaming, and the fact that female students are warned what they should do to prevent being raped, but there’s no effect to tell anyone not to rape.
Liar Liar is well written, and offers an interesting insight into what it’s like to be sexually assaulted within the context of campus culture and universities that are more interested in protecting themselves than their students. This is clearly an important issue where there’s much left to be done. Just a short time before I read this book, I happened to read Chanel Miller’s victim impact statement as Emily Doe in the case against her rapist, Stanford swimmer Brock Turner. This isn’t an individual matter, it’s a cultural matter.
The only thing I struggled with while reading this book was that it was only loosely in chronological order. My own concentration is at a place where I sometimes wasn’t sure of the sequence of events, but the overall story was still clear, and I suspect it wouldn’t be a problem for someone who’s not operating at mashed potato brains level, where I am.
Aside from that minor issue, though, I thought the book was really well done, and Laurie’s story is one that needs to be heard.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This review originally appeared on https://mentalhealthathome.org/2020/0...
November 24, 2021
"A girl should be able to tell a guy he can take her bra off and not be obligated to have sex with him. Maybe she changed her mind, maybe she had no intention of doing it in the first place. If she was drunk she can't consent anyway. It is still rape even if you do not say the exact words, "stop," or, "no" and you do not need to verbally say anything for a rape to still be just that. If someone stopped eating a cupcake after a bite, would you shove it in their face?"
A good book that's badly edited. A lot of back and forth with everything is all over the place. The lack of support that the author received is infuriating and almost insane. Still, I didn't like how she was bashing more than half of the characters mentioned in the book (aka the people around her) and felt that she was overly judgmental about Sarah, but criticising this book in any way at all feels wrong.
I was surprised by how relatable the author's feelings are even though her experiences are different from mine. In all of my extensive reading, this is the first time I've come across someone who wrote a narrative account of what happened disguised as fiction, which is the same thing I did. Even her thoughts were on the same frequency.
"...I fell into a fugue of partying and putting myself in dangerous situations. The worst thing that could happen had already happened and it had been my fault, so why not tempt fate? I couldn't understand how I had been raped the first time I put myself in a "dangerous situation" and that after that, even with all my partying, nothing too terrible ever happened."
October 21, 2020
Wow, just wow.
I sit here writing this review surrounded by crumpled and used tissues, cried eyes and no words.
I am so incredibly thankful that I requested this book on NetGalley and that Trigger sent it to me. My heart was shattered and pieced back together.. then shattered again.. then pieced back together again.
I review mainly fiction work, but I truly cannot love this book more than any I do now. I love this piece in a different way I like and review fiction. The rawness and clear cathartic nature of the entire novel makes me want to hug Laurie Katz and just never let go as she depicts her life changing experience of sexual assault and the before / afters. My E-Arc copy is filled to the electronic brim with highlights, bookmarks, annotations and notes because so much of it resonated with me, broke me and healed me. I had never heard of Trigger publishing until this book but I will now be promoting it to everyone everywhere and I truly think they are a fantastic company with beautiful morals.
By putting her experience and story out there, or even just telling one person, I have no doubt she has inspired others to come forward and that is such a strong and beautiful thing (I wish I had a physical copy of the book to clutch to my heart as I say this).
I truly cannot wait to see what else lands in store for this publishing company and I will definitely be lining up front row for anything and everything Katz creates.
I sit here writing this review surrounded by crumpled and used tissues, cried eyes and no words.
I am so incredibly thankful that I requested this book on NetGalley and that Trigger sent it to me. My heart was shattered and pieced back together.. then shattered again.. then pieced back together again.
I review mainly fiction work, but I truly cannot love this book more than any I do now. I love this piece in a different way I like and review fiction. The rawness and clear cathartic nature of the entire novel makes me want to hug Laurie Katz and just never let go as she depicts her life changing experience of sexual assault and the before / afters. My E-Arc copy is filled to the electronic brim with highlights, bookmarks, annotations and notes because so much of it resonated with me, broke me and healed me. I had never heard of Trigger publishing until this book but I will now be promoting it to everyone everywhere and I truly think they are a fantastic company with beautiful morals.
By putting her experience and story out there, or even just telling one person, I have no doubt she has inspired others to come forward and that is such a strong and beautiful thing (I wish I had a physical copy of the book to clutch to my heart as I say this).
I truly cannot wait to see what else lands in store for this publishing company and I will definitely be lining up front row for anything and everything Katz creates.
January 28, 2022
Laurie's story isn't just about one awful, painful episode of an all-too-common occurrence for young people. It's also about a young woman's struggle to tell her story and turn her pain into strength. You don't have to be an assault survivor to appreciate Laurie's powerful account -- but after reading it, you will feel implored to hug ALL of your friends a little closer.
What's special about this book -- in addition to its nuanced and painfully honest accounts of mental illness, assault, and finding your voice -- is that the author, through her harrowing experience, provides wonderful wisdom for anyone going through a tough time. Courage to share your truth with the world, in my view, is rare; but even rarer is powerful insight into what brought you out of the dark times and how that might help others.
Laurie's story is heart-breaking and inspirational all at once. I read it in one sitting -- and if you've gone through painful periods before, or if you know someone who has, you'll love it too.
What's special about this book -- in addition to its nuanced and painfully honest accounts of mental illness, assault, and finding your voice -- is that the author, through her harrowing experience, provides wonderful wisdom for anyone going through a tough time. Courage to share your truth with the world, in my view, is rare; but even rarer is powerful insight into what brought you out of the dark times and how that might help others.
Laurie's story is heart-breaking and inspirational all at once. I read it in one sitting -- and if you've gone through painful periods before, or if you know someone who has, you'll love it too.
October 14, 2020
Every time there is a sexual assault, victim blaming springs up, especially when the victim is a female. From asking questions that indirectly and directly make the victim feel it all happened because of them, to making them feel guilty about ruining the life of the perpetrator(?) and so on, to keep bullying them for the strength they garnered to come out with the accusation in public, people don't stop making life unbearable.
The matter of consent is so much an assumption and does not exist for most people who are too quick to judge, and opine the dress, body language, and even silence of the victim as consent. On the one hand the assault, the trauma, and to top it all living a life full of cat calls, blames and what not.
Laurie's account of her assault and the aftermath, the humiliations she was subjected to, and everything she had to go through for standing by her side, her courage and resilience make a compelling reading. More powers to her!
The matter of consent is so much an assumption and does not exist for most people who are too quick to judge, and opine the dress, body language, and even silence of the victim as consent. On the one hand the assault, the trauma, and to top it all living a life full of cat calls, blames and what not.
Laurie's account of her assault and the aftermath, the humiliations she was subjected to, and everything she had to go through for standing by her side, her courage and resilience make a compelling reading. More powers to her!
July 2, 2019
Liar Laurie is both personal and universal in its exposure of campus sexual assault. First-time author Laurie Katz demonstrates a style that is both candid and conversational in this silence-breaking book. The stigmas around rape and sexual assault are laid bare, illustrating not only the distress of the crime itself, but also the efforts to seek support and justice in the aftermath. Bravely sharing difficult details that often get buried, Liar Laurie takes the reader inside the personal struggles and terrible truths of campus sexual assault, and recounts the inspiring strength and resolve it takes to overcome the darkness and begin to heal.
October 16, 2020
This book was free and sent to me as an ARC on NetGalley. However, all reviews are of my own opinion.
I have so much to say about this book. First, I just want to say how refreshing it is to read a book and relate to every single word. Laurie wrote her story in such detail that it feels real for the person reading it - as I was reading the book, I was able to understand other peoples views and opinions. Sometimes it’s hard and you feel alone but after reading this I felt a close connection with the book.
This book is upsetting to read, however it offers both advice and guidance to another person who potentially wants to share their story. Laurie openly speak about being sexually assaulted and her mental health issues that she had to due to this. The story it’s just one in many stories that need to be told. I think even as Laurie was writing the book it came across as though she was still trying to process her trauma and it’s okay to feel that it takes a long time, there was no pressure to forgive or forget. There was many sentences in the book which were very relatable but also looks at you as a person and shows how strong a person really is after going through trauma. It’s easy to blame yourself and take it out on yourself of things that happened to you but in reality you are much stronger because you have been able to get through that situation and you’re still going. I will personally buy this book so that I can highlight sections it has also prompted me to write a diary. Liar liar is definitely a book that needs to be read by a lot of people, especially young girls. As scary as it might seem to read I think sometimes people hide behind the harsh reality of things that are happening.
Laurie is extremely brave for sharing her story - it’s poignant, it’s relevant, it’s sad, it’s funny, it’s heartbreaking but most of all it shows how strong she was. Laurie may have been a victim of sexual assault but she is a survivor and she is thriving and she has so much of her life to live - this book has given me a reason to live.
I have so much to say about this book. First, I just want to say how refreshing it is to read a book and relate to every single word. Laurie wrote her story in such detail that it feels real for the person reading it - as I was reading the book, I was able to understand other peoples views and opinions. Sometimes it’s hard and you feel alone but after reading this I felt a close connection with the book.
This book is upsetting to read, however it offers both advice and guidance to another person who potentially wants to share their story. Laurie openly speak about being sexually assaulted and her mental health issues that she had to due to this. The story it’s just one in many stories that need to be told. I think even as Laurie was writing the book it came across as though she was still trying to process her trauma and it’s okay to feel that it takes a long time, there was no pressure to forgive or forget. There was many sentences in the book which were very relatable but also looks at you as a person and shows how strong a person really is after going through trauma. It’s easy to blame yourself and take it out on yourself of things that happened to you but in reality you are much stronger because you have been able to get through that situation and you’re still going. I will personally buy this book so that I can highlight sections it has also prompted me to write a diary. Liar liar is definitely a book that needs to be read by a lot of people, especially young girls. As scary as it might seem to read I think sometimes people hide behind the harsh reality of things that are happening.
Laurie is extremely brave for sharing her story - it’s poignant, it’s relevant, it’s sad, it’s funny, it’s heartbreaking but most of all it shows how strong she was. Laurie may have been a victim of sexual assault but she is a survivor and she is thriving and she has so much of her life to live - this book has given me a reason to live.
December 7, 2020
cw: sexual assault, rape, eating disorders
Have you ever heard of the red zone? No - not in football. THIS red zone represents the months in which college sexual assaults are most likely to happen, and occurs between August and October (aka the first few months of university) every year. Liar Liar is Laurie Katz's story - an autobiographical telling of her college experience, centered around the sexual assault that she experienced in her first term and sprinkled with advice for readers who may have overcome similar trauma.
Thank you so much to @triggerpub and @netgalley for allowing me an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This novel hit close to home for me. I have to say that I wasn't completely sold for the first half of the book, but the book took a turn for the (much) better around the 60% mark. I loved Laurie's explanation of her recovery journey through the months and years following her assault, even touching on the therapeutic nature of writing and sharing this novel itself. This novel highlights the many roadblocks Laurie has overcome - academic, social, physical and personal - since her assault, but ends with a message of hope and resilience.
All in all, I would give this novel four stars. I found the beginning a tad bit slow and I felt as though I was almost invading Laurie's privacy by reading the details, though I thoroughly appreciate her work and the narrative that it promotes. I would recommend this book to any individual who is interested in social causes and areas that need to be addressed by academic entities. With that being said - this novel was REAL, and is not for the faint of heart. Please - consider your mental state and personal wellbeing before diving into this one. If you are not up to it, put it back on the shelf for another day.
Have you ever heard of the red zone? No - not in football. THIS red zone represents the months in which college sexual assaults are most likely to happen, and occurs between August and October (aka the first few months of university) every year. Liar Liar is Laurie Katz's story - an autobiographical telling of her college experience, centered around the sexual assault that she experienced in her first term and sprinkled with advice for readers who may have overcome similar trauma.
Thank you so much to @triggerpub and @netgalley for allowing me an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This novel hit close to home for me. I have to say that I wasn't completely sold for the first half of the book, but the book took a turn for the (much) better around the 60% mark. I loved Laurie's explanation of her recovery journey through the months and years following her assault, even touching on the therapeutic nature of writing and sharing this novel itself. This novel highlights the many roadblocks Laurie has overcome - academic, social, physical and personal - since her assault, but ends with a message of hope and resilience.
All in all, I would give this novel four stars. I found the beginning a tad bit slow and I felt as though I was almost invading Laurie's privacy by reading the details, though I thoroughly appreciate her work and the narrative that it promotes. I would recommend this book to any individual who is interested in social causes and areas that need to be addressed by academic entities. With that being said - this novel was REAL, and is not for the faint of heart. Please - consider your mental state and personal wellbeing before diving into this one. If you are not up to it, put it back on the shelf for another day.
September 27, 2020
I’m putting this review on both editions cause I wasn’t sure which I should put it on- also adding that when I talk about tv shows moving through time and then revisiting things the show that does this that sticks out the most is The Witcher. This book moves around like that and it’s pretty cool reading it and seeing it all come together (although not confusing like The Witcher can be :)
Here’s my review!
This book. Wow this book. It is upsetting of course, but also offers so much advice and I love how it’s funny! It feels like a friend is talking to you and sharing their story.
The author shares openly about her assault and the mental health struggles that followed. Reading about how she over came all that she went through is just plain inspiring.
I felt I needed to add- I’m genuinely confused over some reviewers finding fault with the flow of the book. This is one of the best parts! I appreciate that the author writes about themes and has chapters surrounding different people- as opposed to a purely linear account. It reminds me of how tv shows will revisit some event later on in a later season and you get to learn more about it. It’s a pretty creative way of writing and it made a book on a dark subject more interesting.
This is a good one to read. Go into it with eyes open because of the subject matter, but reading this book is an experience you won’t regret.
Here’s my review!
This book. Wow this book. It is upsetting of course, but also offers so much advice and I love how it’s funny! It feels like a friend is talking to you and sharing their story.
The author shares openly about her assault and the mental health struggles that followed. Reading about how she over came all that she went through is just plain inspiring.
I felt I needed to add- I’m genuinely confused over some reviewers finding fault with the flow of the book. This is one of the best parts! I appreciate that the author writes about themes and has chapters surrounding different people- as opposed to a purely linear account. It reminds me of how tv shows will revisit some event later on in a later season and you get to learn more about it. It’s a pretty creative way of writing and it made a book on a dark subject more interesting.
This is a good one to read. Go into it with eyes open because of the subject matter, but reading this book is an experience you won’t regret.
July 16, 2022
📖My Thoughts📖
First off, I would like to commend the author for having the strength and courage to write about something so personal. I cannot for a second imagine how hard this must have been, but I also believe (and hope) that maybe after writing this story, it was followed by a sense of relief to finally get it out in the open. This was one of the most difficult, heart wrenching and insightful books I’ve ever read. Thought it was difficult at times to read something with so many triggers, I am so glad that I did. It’s awful to think that someone can go through the traumatic event of being raped, being brushed off, made to feel as if it were their fault, being given fake support followed by no support at, and being called a liar. The unfortunate reality is that this is something that seems to be common. This was such a powerful book to read, seeing the inside view of one persons journey while pushing through such a horrific incident and how they got through everything. I think this is definitely a book that needs to be read to help raise awareness about rape and how it slides under the radar. This book is available now and I highly encourage you to read it. Please be aware that there are triggers throughout the entire book.
Thank you Netgalley, Laurie Katz and Trigger Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First off, I would like to commend the author for having the strength and courage to write about something so personal. I cannot for a second imagine how hard this must have been, but I also believe (and hope) that maybe after writing this story, it was followed by a sense of relief to finally get it out in the open. This was one of the most difficult, heart wrenching and insightful books I’ve ever read. Thought it was difficult at times to read something with so many triggers, I am so glad that I did. It’s awful to think that someone can go through the traumatic event of being raped, being brushed off, made to feel as if it were their fault, being given fake support followed by no support at, and being called a liar. The unfortunate reality is that this is something that seems to be common. This was such a powerful book to read, seeing the inside view of one persons journey while pushing through such a horrific incident and how they got through everything. I think this is definitely a book that needs to be read to help raise awareness about rape and how it slides under the radar. This book is available now and I highly encourage you to read it. Please be aware that there are triggers throughout the entire book.
Thank you Netgalley, Laurie Katz and Trigger Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 8, 2020
This book was received as an ARC from Independent Publishers Group - Trigger Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
My heart was broken for Laurie when I read this book. What seemed to be a simple college party turned into a case of sexual assault. But what really made me angry was the fact that the university without even hearing her side of the story not only dismissed her case but threatened to have her expelled if she persists further with this. Feeling helpless and violated, Laurie did not know what to do and to make matters worse, her attacker filed his own case against her and they pressed on with it. Laurie has every right to share her story and shout it on the top of her lungs thanks to the #metoo movement and now women have so much empowerment thanks to stories similar to Laurie's. This book should be read in every classroom to increase the awareness of sexual assault and the #metoo movement and speak out for their freedom and justice.
We will consider adding this title to our Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
My heart was broken for Laurie when I read this book. What seemed to be a simple college party turned into a case of sexual assault. But what really made me angry was the fact that the university without even hearing her side of the story not only dismissed her case but threatened to have her expelled if she persists further with this. Feeling helpless and violated, Laurie did not know what to do and to make matters worse, her attacker filed his own case against her and they pressed on with it. Laurie has every right to share her story and shout it on the top of her lungs thanks to the #metoo movement and now women have so much empowerment thanks to stories similar to Laurie's. This book should be read in every classroom to increase the awareness of sexual assault and the #metoo movement and speak out for their freedom and justice.
We will consider adding this title to our Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
October 14, 2020
Every time there is a sexual assault, victim blaming springs up, especially when the victim is a female. From asking questions that indirectly and directly make the victim feel it all happened because of them, to making them guilty about ruining the life of the perpetrator(?) and so on, to keep bullying them for the strength they garnered to come out with the accusation in public, people don't stop making life unbearable.
The matter of consent is so much an assumption and does not exist for most people who are too quick to judge, and opine the dress, body language, and even silence of the victim as consent. On the one hand the assault. the trauma, and to top it all living a life full of cat calling, blames and what not. Laurie's account of her assault and the aftermath, the humiliations she was subjected to, and everything she had to go through for standing by her side, her courage and resilience make up for a great reading. More powers to her!
The matter of consent is so much an assumption and does not exist for most people who are too quick to judge, and opine the dress, body language, and even silence of the victim as consent. On the one hand the assault. the trauma, and to top it all living a life full of cat calling, blames and what not. Laurie's account of her assault and the aftermath, the humiliations she was subjected to, and everything she had to go through for standing by her side, her courage and resilience make up for a great reading. More powers to her!
October 29, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy of Liar Liar.
This survivor story absolutely comes with a trigger warning, which I feel is so important that they included that right at the beginning.
Wow. I have so many things to say, but.. just wow.
Laurie is such a brave, inspiring woman. I'm sure writing her story must have been tough, not as tough as facing all the pain that the trauma caused to her. I really appreciate that she shared everything, including the parts that some might perceive as making her "look bad". This book is raw. Reading this book made me feel so powerless, so angry by the way the university handled this case, but I've heard about things like that happening over and over again, so it wasn't a shock, but at the same time it was. Because it doesn't matter how many time something wrong happen, we must not feel like "oh well it always happens" because it's not right and it has to stop at some point. The victim blaming has got to stop
This survivor story absolutely comes with a trigger warning, which I feel is so important that they included that right at the beginning.
Wow. I have so many things to say, but.. just wow.
Laurie is such a brave, inspiring woman. I'm sure writing her story must have been tough, not as tough as facing all the pain that the trauma caused to her. I really appreciate that she shared everything, including the parts that some might perceive as making her "look bad". This book is raw. Reading this book made me feel so powerless, so angry by the way the university handled this case, but I've heard about things like that happening over and over again, so it wasn't a shock, but at the same time it was. Because it doesn't matter how many time something wrong happen, we must not feel like "oh well it always happens" because it's not right and it has to stop at some point. The victim blaming has got to stop
December 29, 2020
This is a very well written, powerful, but absolutely heartbreaking story. It was very difficult to hear Laurie Katz story, from the assault itself to the assault by everyone after, who didn’t believe her and would not listen. This book will definitely have you in emotional turmoil, it’s a difficult read, and may not be one all can even read, as it could be quite triggering. I think that Laurie Katz was telling the truth, but it is quite difficult to read about someone going through what she did, then the enduring those who wouldn’t listen or believe her. I do think this book is quite powerful, but prepare yourself as it’s a very hard, difficult, and soul shattering read! I highly recommend to those that are able to read books on sexual assault and the aftermath, especially when you’re not believed. Make sure you do not have triggers, as this is one that will definitely be triggering if you do.
Will buzz it around platforms!
Will buzz it around platforms!
December 14, 2020
In her powerful memoir, Laurie shares the story of sexual assault and coming out of it. When Laurie was just 18 years old, she moved away to Chicago for school, and within her first month there, she was raped. She had her life taken away from her at an age when she was meant to be figuring life out. Her honest account also sheds light on what survivors go through: friends not believing her, victim-blaming by schools and authorities, and law enforcement not taking it seriously. Laurie opens a window to us and lets us in her process of navigating through the trauma on the way to healing herself. It can be a really heavy read but Laurie’s courage is truly commendable.
January 31, 2023
This book was honestly really heartbreaking to read obviously given what Laurie went through - and rating her own story feels so weird but this book was really well written and provided a good insight into how victims of SA are taught everything so wrong especially within college campuses where you’re made out to be the perpetrator. My favourite part of the book was reading her old journal entries from her time in college where you could just see how scattered her mind was and her thought process but also gradually her healing journey which was amazing for her.
December 13, 2020
I enjoyed her writing and think she’s a powerful and brave person. The summary though leads you to believe there would be more info on the interaction of the case between her and her school, precisely the topic of my thesis and why I picked up this book, but that wasn’t the case and is the only reason I lowered the star rating. All in all it’s a powerful read and I wish I could invite her to my graduation to read her speech.
October 1, 2020
What a powerful story of a survivor telling her story and calling out the powers that be who wronged her on so many levels. This should be required reading for people entering college and I will definitely have my future children read this before going to college so they know about consent from every angle and how things should be properly handled because this situation was horrible.
September 26, 2020
Laurie’s retelling of her story is very sobering and hard to take in at points. This is a must read for any parent, friend, or relative of a survivor of sexual assault to better understand the challenges they face from school administrators to the courts.
September 27, 2020
This book. Wow this book. It is upsetting of course, but also offers so much advice and I love how it’s funny! It feels like a friend is talking to you and sharing their story.
The author shares openly about her assault and the mental health struggles that followed. Reading about how she over came all that she went through is just plain inspiring.
I felt I needed to add- I’m genuinely confused over some reviewers finding fault with the flow of the book. This is one of the best parts! I appreciate that the author writes about themes and has chapters surrounding different people- as opposed to a purely linear account. It reminds me of how tv shows will revisit some event later on in a later season and you get to learn more about it. It’s a pretty creative way of writing and it made a book on a dark subject more interesting.
This is a good one to read. Go into it with eyes open because of the subject matter, but reading this book is an experience you won’t regret.
The author shares openly about her assault and the mental health struggles that followed. Reading about how she over came all that she went through is just plain inspiring.
I felt I needed to add- I’m genuinely confused over some reviewers finding fault with the flow of the book. This is one of the best parts! I appreciate that the author writes about themes and has chapters surrounding different people- as opposed to a purely linear account. It reminds me of how tv shows will revisit some event later on in a later season and you get to learn more about it. It’s a pretty creative way of writing and it made a book on a dark subject more interesting.
This is a good one to read. Go into it with eyes open because of the subject matter, but reading this book is an experience you won’t regret.
October 7, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this copy. It’s a book that I truly believe we all should read. I will say that I applaud Laurie and the publishers for including a trigger warning at the beginning of her story. I won’t lie, there are a lot of tough subjects and definitely isn’t for the faint of heart; but it’s important. Laurie, 18 moved to Chicago for school, her third Saturday in the city she was raped. When most young adults love this time in their lives, learning, exploring, living Laurie had that taken away from her. Follow her has she shares her story, from the actual rape, to her best friend not believing her, to the school basically blaming her, to the police not actually caring. See her navigate through the trauma, the emotions and the eventual start of what can be described as the healing process. Again, it’s not easy to read, but it’s well worth it. Laurie is brave, strong and inspiring.
December 29, 2020
I want to thank the author for being vulnerable by sharing her story.
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