What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin

Oct 30, 2019 Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, netgalley, dark-romance, suspense, a-z-2020, tear-jerkers

Harrowing tale of recovery from being trafficked as a sexual slave!

This was a gritty realistic tale of a girl who was a survivor of human trafficking in the United States, and it was a very interesting book as well as a good story. When I think of human trafficking, I usually picture American girls who are snatched either here or while traveling abroad and immediately sent to another foreign country never to be heard from again. Either that or Eastern European or Asian women who are tricked into ...more

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Jun 21, 2020 Deanna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs, 2020

My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...

A gritty, honest, and raw story that I couldn’t put down!

“We never asked for this”

This book opens as police raid a motel; rescuing girls trafficked by a local pimp. The motel is both a prison and a home for Poppy (Lex) and Mitch Anderson's other “nighttime girls”.

The noise wakes Lex who then wakes Ivy. They both rush to get dressed. When the cops break the door down, the girls try to run but they don’t make it far. The p ...more

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Jun 17, 2020 destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries] rated it did not like it

Shelves: review-copies, owned-physical, young-adult, tough-topics, z-2020-reads, contemporary

ETA: My amazing friend Leelynn read and reviewed this book recently and had such important things to say about it, so please check her review out, too.

Given that sex trafficking is such an under-discussed topic that affects so many teens around the world, What Unbreakable Looks Like had endless amounts of potential to be a new favorite for me. I love when authors are willing to tackle dark, important topics such as this — when it's done well. Unfortunately, this story was quite the disappointing ...more

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May 19, 2020 Elle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, 2020

I was a little nervous going into this. A YA novel about a sex trafficking victim seems like something that can go off the rails pretty easily. The subject matter feels like it might be beyond teenagers, but aren’t teenagers the ones who are more susceptible to being trafficked? Maybe I was initially apprehensive, but it turns out that Kate McLaughlin was more than up to the task.

What Unbreakable Looks Like skillfully walks a fine line between being honest about harsh realities without being exp I was a little nervous going into this. A YA novel about a sex trafficking victim seems like something that can go off the rails pretty easily. The subject matter feels like it might be beyond teenagers, but aren’t teenagers the ones who are more susceptible to being trafficked? Maybe I was initially apprehensive, but it turns out that Kate McLaughlin was more than up to the task.

What Unbreakable Looks Like skillfully walks a fine line between being honest about harsh realities without being exploitive. The story is about Alexa’s survival and coping after being freed from sexual slavery as a teenager. She’s not okay yet, and it can be difficult to read even a fictional account of the kind of turmoil that girls who have been through this experience while just trying to live a normal life.

What this is not like is My Dark Vanessa. It might be easy to make those comparisons, but Alexa is in a very different place than Vanessa was. My Dark Vanessa is, in part, the reflections of an adult woman decades after her abuse. She has rationalized away much of what happened to her and reading some of the excuses she comes up with on behalf of her abuser can be stomach-turning. Alexa and Vanessa have both been repeatedly sexually assaulted, blame themselves, were initially failed by those who were supposed to protect them and will have to bear some of this burden into adulthood, but the key difference here is Alexa got help. She got help she asked for and help she didn’t. Vanessa was left to fall through the cracks and try to put herself back together.

That’s where I think this book can do a lot of good for a YA audience. If they’re experiencing abuse or have feelings similar to Alexa’s, they can watch her come out of it better than when she started. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Vanessa’s story is not a happy one, because she still hasn’t completely surfaced from the hold her abuser had on her. In Unbreakable, we get to see a girl not just survive, but begin to thrive. Alexa has surrogate parents that love & understand her, best friends that are loyal to her, school administrators who listen to her and advocates in her local police department. I can only imagine what Vanessa would have been like if she had that type of support system.

I wouldn’t go so far as to call this novel uplifting. It’s hard to feel good while reading about child abuse and rape. But there’s a level of comeuppance and hope here that can be difficult to hold on to in books about sexual violence. McLaughlin is letting her readers know that yes, it does get better, in a way that feels real and attainable. I know it’s probably going to get banned from a lot of schools, but I hope this book is still able to make its way into the hands of teenagers who need and want to read it.

*Thanks to St. Martin’s Press & Netgalley for an advance copy! ...more

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Apr 11, 2020 Ari rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads, favorites, netgalley-arc

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Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are mine.

"Once you lose control,
it's easier to let other people take it."

After reading the synopsis for this book, I knew that it was going to be moving.

Starting with a whisper and building to a crescendo, the voice of Lex is a beautiful and heartbreaking thing. This is a young woman who has seen and felt everything horrible that can be inflicted upon a person, and survived. Bu ...more

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May 26, 2020 Sandra Hoover rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-publisher, dark-disturbing, netgally-arc, review-requests, ya, blog-tour-2020

What Unbreakable Looks Like is a raw, gut-wrenching, emotional story of a young girl's long road back to "normal" after being rescued along with a few other girls from a dirty, seedy motel room - all victims of sex traffickers who kept them drugged and in sexual slavery. Alexa spends a few weeks in rehab . . . every minute spent looking for a chance to run back to the only life she knows. She's skeptical of her aunt's offer of a home, family, and love wondering what she and her husband want in r What Unbreakable Looks Like is a raw, gut-wrenching, emotional story of a young girl's long road back to "normal" after being rescued along with a few other girls from a dirty, seedy motel room - all victims of sex traffickers who kept them drugged and in sexual slavery. Alexa spends a few weeks in rehab . . . every minute spent looking for a chance to run back to the only life she knows. She's skeptical of her aunt's offer of a home, family, and love wondering what she and her husband want in return. Alex's pimp has conditioned her to accept that she's the blame for all that happened to her, and she doesn't deserve anything better. He broke her will and spirit. Or did he?

The story that unfolds is one of a survivor of human trafficking digging deep, finding the will, strength, and desire to reclaim control of her life. Through present chapters, readers see and feel Alex's struggle to cope with regular everyday life. She doesn't know how to trust, refuses to allow herself to feel, and is betrayed once again when she finally does. Her loss of innocence, self-blame, and frail self-esteem are evident through often-too-real scenes that broke my heart. Through past chapters, readers experience a little of the horrifying daily life of a young girl trapped in a life of drugs, alcohol, and sex slavery often betrayed by the ones who should be their protectors. I applaud the author for handling the subject with blunt honesty while affording these victims the care they deserve. The way these girls are beat down and broken beyond repair is absolutely heart wrenching. Unfortunately, most are unable to make it out alive and if they do, the road to full recovery is long, hard, and treacherous. Many relapse to the only life they identify with or commit suicide.

What Unbreakable Looks Like is a character driven story that focuses on Alex as step by step she dares to hope, dream and finally reclaim her life. The story is brilliantly rendered through the voice of Alex as she reacclimates to living in a safe place, attending high school, making friends - all the normal teenage things that were stolen from her. Hopefully, this story will open some eyes to the danger lurking around young girls as well as boys - from small towns to big cities - from family friends to boyfriends to evil strangers - no one description fits all sex traffickers. I hope this message of hope reaches those struggling to overcome their pain, grief, and addictions. What Unbreakable Looks Like is the story of a girl who refused to be broken. One who survived and reclaimed a full, rich life. One who could finally look at her own face in a mirror and think, "This is what unbreakable looks like!" While this book is dark, raw, and graphic, its message is one of hope, light, and love. I believe all readers will benefit from reading it. Highly Recommended.

*Many thanks to Minotaur Books for an arc of this book. #Minotaur Influencers
**This review will appear on Cross My Heart Reviews on June 24, 2020 during the Blog Tour. ...more

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Feb 02, 2020 Kendall rated it it was amazing

Wow... what a punch to the gut.

Kate McLaughlin delivers a raw and powerful story about sex trafficking, drug use, prostitution, and sexual assault. I will say this is not the easiest book to read but I thoroughly enjoyed this so much.

Lex was taken and is now in the life known as "poppy." Lex was rescued at a hotel with a number of other girls. Lex was taken in by her aunt and uncle and is trying to survive as Lex and not "Poppy."

Kate McLaughlin truly approaches the topic of sex trafficking wit ...more

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May 21, 2020 Kristy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: hardcopy-from-pub, fiction, read-in-2020, ya, arc, a-real-book-wow, social-themes, wednesday-books

One of my absolute favorite reads of the year

This amazing, heartbreaking and powerful book blew my mind. It tugged at my heartstrings and will stay with me for quite some time. This is a must-read, everyone.

Lex is human trafficked and becomes Poppy, kept in a hotel with other girls with flower names. But then the girls are rescued, and Poppy must try to become Lex again. She moves in with her aunt and uncle—a place where’s she’s truly safe for the first time in a long time. But she’s been so hur

One of my absolute favorite reads of the year

This amazing, heartbreaking and powerful book blew my mind. It tugged at my heartstrings and will stay with me for quite some time. This is a must-read, everyone.

Lex is human trafficked and becomes Poppy, kept in a hotel with other girls with flower names. But then the girls are rescued, and Poppy must try to become Lex again. She moves in with her aunt and uncle—a place where’s she’s truly safe for the first time in a long time. But she’s been so hurt and broken and has a hard time trusting or believing she deserves anything good in her life. When she’s sexually assaulted by her boyfriend, Lex has to reckon with the fact that this isn’t something she deserves because of her past.

This book broke my heart and then patched it back together. McLaughlin writes Lex in such a way that she jumps off the page—a realistic, amazing, and wonderful heroine learning to be in charge of her own story. She covers human trafficking in its stark reality and yet this story is hopeful and tender. I loved the character of Lex, as well as her aunt, Krys. Knowing that Lex has been conditioned to think she deserves to be treated badly just breaks your heart--thinking sex is her only power, all she's worth. The way McLaughlin shows how human trafficking has destroyed Lex and distorted her self-image is one of the most powerful things I've read in ages.

This book blew me away. All the stars.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for my copy in return for an unbiased review.

You can support indie bookstores and buy a copy of this book here.

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May 18, 2020 Erin rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle, netgalley

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those raw, gets right down to the core of your soul, welcome to my emotional rollercoaster type of books. It's also a very difficult read that presents a lot of very heavy subjects( like rape, slut-shaming, sexual abuse). It is also the first novel(for me) that has dived into the subject of human trafficking.

Our main character, Alexa has escaped this life and the book carries us through t ...more

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Oct 30, 2019 PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps rated it it was amazing

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of WHAT UNBREAKABLE LOOKS LIKE by Kate McLaughlin in exchange for my honest review.***

Reading the first page of WHAT UNBREAKABLE LOOKS LIKE, I felt a rare tingle in my stomach letting my know I was reading something special. A few chapters in, I realized WHAT UNBREAKABLE LOOKS LIKE might be one of my all time favorite books.

Kate McLaughlin blew me away with this special, poignant story of Alexa, a teenager trafficked, now living with h ...more

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Jun 03, 2020 Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: giveaways-arcs

4.5/5

Mitch is a pimp and makes his living by seducing teenage girls and grooming them to become sex workers. Housing them in a trashy motel, men (and sometimes women), roll through and have their way with the girl of their choosing. Poppy is one such girl - introduced to Mitch through her mother's boyfriend and ultimately given over to him by her mother in exchange for fuel for her alcohol addiction.

When the motel is raided by police, Poppy and the other girls are taken to a nearby hospital to 4.5/5

Mitch is a pimp and makes his living by seducing teenage girls and grooming them to become sex workers. Housing them in a trashy motel, men (and sometimes women), roll through and have their way with the girl of their choosing. Poppy is one such girl - introduced to Mitch through her mother's boyfriend and ultimately given over to him by her mother in exchange for fuel for her alcohol addiction.

When the motel is raided by police, Poppy and the other girls are taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for STIs, malnourishment, and any other wounds that have been inflicted upon them. Most of the girls are eager to get back to the life - they don't know anything else and the abuse runs so deep, many are likely suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. But Poppy, Alexa in her real life, has an aunt who wants her and may actually love her. When Poppy's roommate and friend Ivy breaks out of the hospital, Poppy chooses to stay behind, and to leave Poppy behind as well.

Moving in with her Aunt Krys and Krys' husband Jamal in suburban Connecticut is an adjustment. After over a year in the life, Alexa is untrusting and feels dirty and broken. The scars on her body and the scars in her heart run deep and she often wonders if she'll ever be able to escape her past. She has to acclimate to a scheduled day, home cooked meals, adults who care about what she wears and how she speaks, making friends, and going back to school. She slowly builds trust in two neighborhood kids who become friends, and the love and patience Krys and Jamal repeatedly demonstrate starts to crack through Alexa's tough exterior.

But with Mitch still out there, abusing and trafficking more young women, Alexa has to choose every day to stay sober and to stay out of the life. Mitch and her mother's boyfriend will snatch Alexa and bring her back at the first opportunity. Even Ivy has fled back to Mitch and begs Alexa to come back with her. As Alexa learns that she was one of many girls trafficked in the United States, she has to choose how to proceed with the rest of her life. She can go back to Mitch and numb herself with drugs, possibly end up dead like so many other girls in her situation. She can stay broken and fragile, defined by her past. She can choose to be a victim, or even a survivor. What Alexa learns is, she finally has a choice, and a choice is a powerful thing.

A beautiful story of overcoming the most challenging of circumstances, What Unbreakable Looks Like takes a hard look at human trafficking in our own backyard. We see how johns are able to seduce or kidnap young women, manipulate them, strip their identities and emotions, and control their entire being. We also see some of the emotional impact and post-traumatic stress suffered by trafficked women and their loved ones. Powerful, raw, and extremely emotive, this novel has a profound effect on its readers.

Trigger warnings: Rape, violence against women and juveniles, human trafficking, sexual assault, drug use.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Wednesday Books) for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. ...more

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Sep 02, 2020 Corina rated it really liked it

Shelves: debut-novel, audiobook, emotional

Incredible book!!!

I was hooked on the audiobook from the very beginning. But fact is that this book won't be the right one for everyone, it just has too many triggers.

It's raw, gritty, and dark at times. But wow, what a book!!!

Full review to come....

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Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog
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Jun 15, 2020 ABookwormWithWine rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: abuse, disturbing, blog-tours, contemporary, cover-love, crime, ebooks, netgalley, from-the-publisher, kindle-books

Wow! I don't know what I was expecting from What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin but it was so much more than I ever could have imagined.

For a debut young adult novel What Unbreakable Looks Like sure hit me hard. I was laughing and had tears in my eyes throughout the entire book and it was a real work of art. I don't think human trafficking gets talked about in books enough as it is but having a survivor story is just even better. This book is raw and emotional and will make your hear ...more

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May 28, 2020 Schizanthus Nerd rated it it was amazing

Shelves: content-warnings, netgalley, ugly-cry, kindle-food

He names them after flowers. Daisy. Ivy. Iris.

This is Poppy’s story. She’s one of the lucky ones, if you can call her that, considering all of the trauma she has experienced. He called her Poppy. Her real name is Alexa.

Am I ever going to feel like a whole person again?

If you are on the fence, for whatever reason, about how crucial having supportive people around you after trauma is, this is the book for you. I don’t know how extraordinary Lex’s experiences of trafficking are, although I susp ...more

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May 21, 2020 Dennis rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-read, dark, young-adult, 2020-pub, chick-lit, coming-of-age, contemporary

WHAT UNBREAKABLE LOOKS LIKE is a very dark young adult novel. It focuses on a young woman named Alexa (Lex) and her assimilation back into society after being sex trafficked by her stepfather’s friend. Through rehab and her aunt’s guardianship, Lex learns to try and put the past behind her. WHAT UNBREAKABLE LOOKS LIKE really guts the reader emotionally, so it can allow you to build yourself up with Lex by your side. In a weird sense, this book shows a side of hope in an environment that has ravi ...more

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Jun 19, 2020 alana ♡ rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed-arcs, contemporary, from-publisher, tough-topics, lgbt

I want to burn down the world, but I’m too afraid to strike the match.”

Going into this I knew it was going to be a tough read just based off the premise but WHEW this was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. While I do think is book can be powerful for some it is most definitely not going to be for everyone largely because of the topic but also because of how raw and real this story is. Nothing is sugar coated and there are plenty of tough scenes with graphic details/descriptions of Lex ...more

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Jun 25, 2020 JP rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, audiobook

Loved it! It was difficult but not to much. This is a very serious, important subject. It’s happening right under our noses and it makes me sick. I watched something about this on Netflix and cried almost the whole time.
Very telling story about after someone gets rescued. I highly recommend it.

This was a Netgalley ARC from the publisher and Ive given my honest review.

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Jun 17, 2020 Melissa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-bk-from-publisher, own-paper-english, z-2020, arc-giv-goodreads

This book is an incredibly hard read, but I think it's a necessary one. I feel like I need to know that everything in life is not only sunshines and rainbows, and to see the darkness in people, how bad it could get. I wasn't sure about how human trafficking could be brought in a YA book, but Kate McLaughlin explores the subject in all the right ways. I felt a roller-coaster of emotions while reading it, and I am so proud of Lex for facing her trauma and becoming this new version of herself that ...more

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Mar 09, 2020 Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell marked it as to-read

Sex trafficking is such an important issue and I'm really excited for this book! ...more

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May 23, 2020 Polly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Strong CW: sex trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, child abuse, alcoholism

"What if it never happens?" I ask. "What if I never feel whole again?"
"Then maybe – like a lot of us – you'll have to find strength in being a little cracked."

Poppy exists in a motel. She used to be Lex, but now she's Poppy, and under a fog of drugs and abuse, she is forced to have sex with whichever men her pimp sells her to. Until a police raid leads to her being taken in by her kindly aunt, and learning who Lex is, and whe ...more

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Jun 20, 2020 Jypsy rated it really liked it

Thank you Wednesday Books for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

What Unbreakable Looks Like
By: Kate McLaughlin

"This book contains depictions of human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence. Please proceed with caution if you have been affected by any of these issues."

REVIEW ☆☆☆☆

"Who the hell wants to take in a seventeen year old who's been passed around and discarded like loose change?"

Difficult. Uncomfortable. Hellish. I could go on ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 laura ☼ rated it liked it

Shelves: 3, reviews, contemporary-literary, 2020-reads

3/5 stars

In this, we follow Lex in the aftermath after she's rescued from being trafficked. This is a pretty heavy read. There's many graphic scenes depicting sexual assault, rape, drug abuse, self harm, and probably some more things that aren't coming to mind right now. There's also a lot of strong language. I usually don't mind graphic scenes or care if the F bomb is dropped a hundred times within a book, but this being a young adult book I didn't expect it to be so crass and explicit. Just st ...more

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Feb 28, 2020 Alyson Stone rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, teen-fic

Book: What Unbreakable Looks Like
Author: Kate McLaughlin
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC.

I’ve actually had this title for awhile now. I’m glad I read it when I did. I’ve been in the mood for a hard hitting book and this one had it for me. The why it was written and the way the characters were presented just hit me in all of the right places. I love how the recovery period wasn’t shown as something quick and easy, but rather w Book: What Unbreakable Looks Like
Author: Kate McLaughlin
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC.

I’ve actually had this title for awhile now. I’m glad I read it when I did. I’ve been in the mood for a hard hitting book and this one had it for me. The why it was written and the way the characters were presented just hit me in all of the right places. I love how the recovery period wasn’t shown as something quick and easy, but rather we got to see the hardships and difficult things that went along with it. What I’m getting out is I like how the road back to a so called normal life isn’t always easy and that the scars may never heal.

When most people think of human trafficking, they probably think of foreign countries. Kate doesn’t go there. She takes normal high school girl who finds herself in the life. We get to see how Alexa was pulled in. Not only that, but she could be the girl next door, she could be your best friend, you daughter. She’s the girl who everyone can relate to. This book will make people more aware of just how close to home this is and will maybe make them stop and think about these things before they judge. After all, you really don’t know what happened in someone’s life to make them get to this point.

This book also plays into the fact that it is so important to have a good support system. Kate talks about how Alexa was one of the only girls who didn’t go back. Alexa had some family who was willing to take her int and make her feel wanted. Those who went back, didn’t have this or believed that they had no other choice, but to return to the life. I think that if Alexa hadn’t had this support system, then she probably would have gone back.

We also get to see the ups and downs of trying to return to normal. Alexa goes through a lot of rough patches. We see bullying and her trying to move on. We get to see how she views herself and how this view of herself changes overtime. Like I said earlier, she is one of those characters that you can’t help but to fall in love with. You want her to be okay; you want her to get a second chance. You want her to find love and everything. However, the journey isn’t always easy. A lot of people will not go through what Alexa did, but everyone needs to heal at some point in their life. This book shows that it’s okay to take time to heal and to say that you’re not okay. There’s not a lot of books out there like this and I think that is why this book will be important.

I’m also going to put out there that this book does have some triggers. Just read the summary people before you pick this one up. I do not recommend this for more sensitive readers and younger readers. Kate does not sugarcoat anything.

I really enjoyed reading this one and I’m glad Wednesday Books recommended it to me. The release day is on June 23, 2020, so it is a bit away.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/oEXF5Tp0t4U
...more

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Jun 17, 2020 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: she-spoke, june-2020, 2020, young-adult, net-galley, blog-tour

What Unbreakable Looks Like was a heart wrenching punch to the gut. The topic of this novel is human trafficking. McLaughlin shows how young girls are sometimes seduced into bondage. "Mitch was there for me when no one else was. He took care of me. He sold me. Beat me. Told me I was beautiful and said I was an ugly bitch. He said he loved me . . . " I cried when I read these words. I cried knowing that there are girls out there living in dysfunctional homes who are willing to accept this kind of ...more

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Jun 09, 2020 Nadine rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs

If you read the description for this novel, then you probably know if comes with trigger warnings. So, for posterity, trigger warnings for human trafficking, sexual assault, violence, and substance abuse.

When I was offered the chance to review What Unbreakable Looks Like, I jumped on it since I assumed it would have a similar impact on me that Sadie by Courtney Summers did. I was not wrong. What Unbreakable Looks Like is a raw and unflinching look at human trafficking and the trauma it inflicts If you read the description for this novel, then you probably know if comes with trigger warnings. So, for posterity, trigger warnings for human trafficking, sexual assault, violence, and substance abuse.

When I was offered the chance to review What Unbreakable Looks Like, I jumped on it since I assumed it would have a similar impact on me that Sadie by Courtney Summers did. I was not wrong. What Unbreakable Looks Like is a raw and unflinching look at human trafficking and the trauma it inflicts. What makes this novel stand out is its setting and main character. When most people think of human trafficking they may think about the seedy places in Europe or third world countries. What Unbreakable Looks Like presents readers with a young white girl in the United States recovering from being trafficked in the city she grew up in.

What Unbreakable Looks Like has scenes that are difficult to read, but are never gratuitous. McLaughlin walks a fine line of heavily implying what’s happening to the main character without ever describing all the horrific details. So, if you’re worried about heavily descriptive scenes you don’t have to be.

What Unbreakable Looks Like highlights the need for healthy coping mechanisms and a strong support system. McLaughlin doesn’t sugar coat the recovery process by allowing the main character, Lex, to adopt healthy coping mechanisms right away and heal. Instead, Lex stumbles often and if it weren’t for her support system she may have reverted to her life of being trafficked. This novel highlights the importance of a support system, but not just for individuals who have faced significant trauma. A good and healthy support system is important for any person regardless of their trauma.

Overall, What Unbreakable Looks Like is a raw and unflinching look at human trafficking and its trauma. Human trafficking is not just a problem overseas, but right here in our own backyards. McLaughlin does not shy away from the horrific experiences these women experience. What Unbreakable Looks Like is definitely worth the read.

*** I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 29, 2020 Yna the Mood Reader rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc

The book is about:
What Unbreakable Looks Like is a story about going through the worst things in life and the journey to moving on and recovery. Lex became a victim of human trafficking when a friend of her mother took her and stuck her in a hotel to do sexual favors for strangers. The motel got raided and she gets rescued by the police. This story is told through the mind of Alexa/Lex and how she processes her pain and her past while dealing with her present and finding the chance of healing.

Wh The book is about:
What Unbreakable Looks Like is a story about going through the worst things in life and the journey to moving on and recovery. Lex became a victim of human trafficking when a friend of her mother took her and stuck her in a hotel to do sexual favors for strangers. The motel got raided and she gets rescued by the police. This story is told through the mind of Alexa/Lex and how she processes her pain and her past while dealing with her present and finding the chance of healing.

What drew me in:
I had doubts about going through reading What Unbreakable Looks Like when Meghan from Wednesday Books reached out to me. It’s because when I read the blurb, I know that this book will hit quite hard. Despite this fact, I took on the chance to read this story because this is not one that we hear everyday. Human trafficking is very real and it happens all over the world. This book is a way to spread awareness, especially for young adults, and I was very eager to find out how the author Kate McLaughlin chooses to send the message.

Characters & connections:

The plot of the story is very character-driven. It all revolves around Alexa – her thoughts, her feelings, and her actions. At first, there was not enough introspecting for Lex to deal with her pain. There were lots of denial and it was like she was withdrawn from the scenes within her life and was just a casual observer. However, more of Alexa’s thoughts and emotions were expressed as the story unfolds, making the experience of knowing her even more whole.

On the question if this was an accurate portrayal of a victim of sexual trafficking, I don’t really know. And again, it is important to acknowledge that people react differently to the challenges that life throws at them. This story might be 100% accurate to some, and that would be more than enough reason to tell this story the way it is.

Everything I liked:
Throughout the process of reading this book, I felt my heart clench so many times and that was the best part. It delivered a strong message the way it should be – raw and real. Though it was difficult to keep on reading the triggering content, I have to agree that this book gave us a glimpse at a very important issue that is not often discussed.

Overall thoughts:
If you are someone who can survive all the possible triggers I have mentioned above, you should give this book a chance. It will bring you to a journey that will bring you to a different life perspective – possibly, give you hope and entice you to help support causes like this one. ...more

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May 24, 2020 Alexx rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, really-really-good, absolutely-amazing, young-adult, e-arc, mental-health, loved-it, may-2020-reads

Oh, boy. This book! It was raw and gritty, heartbreaking, beautiful, and also hopeful! ~~(I may or may not have cried)~~

Full review will be posted soon as part of the What Unbreakable Looks Like Blog Tour! Thank you Wednesday Books for the e-arc!

Find me elsewhere: Blog | Instagram | Twitter ...more

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Jun 19, 2020 Kelsea rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed

4.5 stars!

This was yet another case of Wednesday Books knowing me better than I know myself. Much like Jane Anonymous, (my review here) it's likely I would never have picked up this book, if left to my own devices. I do read books featuring heavier subject matter, but shy away from choosing certain types of stories for whatever reason. In this case, I'm so glad the wonderful team over at Wednesday Book kindly sent me copies of both books -- I read them out of sheer curiosity, and both turned out 4.5 stars!

This was yet another case of Wednesday Books knowing me better than I know myself. Much like Jane Anonymous, (my review here) it's likely I would never have picked up this book, if left to my own devices. I do read books featuring heavier subject matter, but shy away from choosing certain types of stories for whatever reason. In this case, I'm so glad the wonderful team over at Wednesday Book kindly sent me copies of both books -- I read them out of sheer curiosity, and both turned out to be excellent reads!

This was such a powerfully written, emotional story. I love thrillers (both adult and YA) and I'm really used to stories that focus on the search and rescue. Usually, the story ends there. But books like Jane Anonymous and What Unbreakable Looks Like begin there. They begin with the rescue and dive into the complex emotional period that is the afterward. It's a lot to tackle, and I love how it's handled here.

Lex is so well-written. She's really believable as a teen character and someone who's survived the horrors of sex trafficking. She comes off as stony and unfeeling at times, but it felt clear to me that this was because of what she's been through, not because that's her natural personality or any lack of skill on the author's part. I loved seeing those moments of the real Lex, the before Lex, shine through, when she starts to move forward and learn how to navigate the after.

I honestly don't want to say too much, because I think this story is best explored without too many preconceived notions, but I'll just say I thought the author did a fantastic job of balancing joy and despair, hopefulness and hopelessness, and I loved Lex's journey and how it turns out. I also love that there's such a mix of characters in the book. The worst and best of humanity.

Just note that this story goes GRITTY. It is a pretty rough read, but appropriately so, considering the subject matter. This is a book that pushes readers to open their eyes to the horrific, worldwide industry of sex trafficking. It personalizes a horror that is so often reduced to statistics.

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Out TODAY (June 23, 2020)! ...more

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Nov 08, 2019 Janet rated it it was amazing

Shelves: k-e-k, zz-2019ng-when-i-read

Superspeed readers like me can read 150 - 200+ pages/hour, so yes, I have read the book … and many more today. LOL

I received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.

Lex was taken – trafficked - and now she’s Poppy. Kept in a hotel with other girls, her old lif ...more

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May 08, 2020 fanna rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-releases

July 02, 2020: There's no doubt this book deals with an important, and unfortunately unexplored, theme of sex trafficking especially as a story for the YA demographic. The story is raw and a difficult read; it's evident that the stark reality of it all can impact the readers in an unexpected yet important manner since many teens are sadly living or have lived through this nightmare of sexual assault.

However, the execution was bad. The narration felt off right from the start; the pacing is bumpy July 02, 2020: There's no doubt this book deals with an important, and unfortunately unexplored, theme of sex trafficking especially as a story for the YA demographic. The story is raw and a difficult read; it's evident that the stark reality of it all can impact the readers in an unexpected yet important manner since many teens are sadly living or have lived through this nightmare of sexual assault.

However, the execution was bad. The narration felt off right from the start; the pacing is bumpy and everything is mushed together in an often incoherent manner. A benefit of doubt can be given to the premise of the story since the theme is gritty that the atmosphere and tone is purposefully hazy. But there wasn't a single chapter where the voice strengthened so the expectations were clearly not met.

Furthermore, The use of AAVE and the N-word in the writing style is absolutely disgraceful and inappropriate and could've been easily avoided. While I couldn't have easily picked on the vernacular influence since I'm and have always been situated outside the American continent, the N-word was striking and hard to ignore. Other reviewers—especially those I admire & trust—like Destiny and Leelyn have made a clearer comment on this aspect and I would gladly redirect everyone to their reviews.

It's clear that the book could've made a strong impact since the character growth was good and the romantic inclinations while recovering from the past torturous experiences is gradually developed. But there are evidently wrong aspects of this book and that doesn't allow me to highly or even slightly recommend it unless someone wishes to pick this up at their own accord.

June 21, 2020: It was indeed a difficult read. Took me a week to get through the book. And towards the end, I came across the author invading a reviewer's space on Twitter and that's just made this book even worse for me. Full review to come.

May 8, 2020: This is going to be a difficult read. I can feel it. Received a digital copy from Wednesday Books via Netgalley! ...more

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