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The Damages
Sharp and propulsive, The Damages is an engrossing novel set in motion by the disappearance of a student during an ice storm, and explores themes of memory, trauma, friendship, and identity.
What I remember best about that week in January is trying to keep track of all the lies I told.
1997: For Ros, starting university at Regis is an opportunity for reinvention--a chance to be seen as interesting, to be accepted by the in-crowd, and maybe even get a boyfriend. But when she meets her roommate, Megan, with her pleated jeans and horse-print bedding, she sees her as a social liability. Outside of their dorm room, Ros distances herself from Megan and quickly befriends the cool kids, seeking status at all costs. Just after winter break, an intense ice storm hits campus, triggering a reckless, days-long dorm party, during which Megan goes missing. Ros is blamed for the incident and abruptly dropped by her social circle, casting a shadow over the next two decades of her life.
2020: Ros's former partner, Lukas, the father of her eleven-year-old son, is accused of a sexual assault. The accusation brings new details of an old story to light, forcing Ros to revisit a dark moment from her past. Ros must take a hard look not only at the father of her child, but also at her own mistakes, her own trauma, and at the supposed liberal period she grew up in.
The Damages is a page-turning, thought-provoking novel about the lies we tell other people and the lies we tell ourselves.
What I remember best about that week in January is trying to keep track of all the lies I told.
1997: For Ros, starting university at Regis is an opportunity for reinvention--a chance to be seen as interesting, to be accepted by the in-crowd, and maybe even get a boyfriend. But when she meets her roommate, Megan, with her pleated jeans and horse-print bedding, she sees her as a social liability. Outside of their dorm room, Ros distances herself from Megan and quickly befriends the cool kids, seeking status at all costs. Just after winter break, an intense ice storm hits campus, triggering a reckless, days-long dorm party, during which Megan goes missing. Ros is blamed for the incident and abruptly dropped by her social circle, casting a shadow over the next two decades of her life.
2020: Ros's former partner, Lukas, the father of her eleven-year-old son, is accused of a sexual assault. The accusation brings new details of an old story to light, forcing Ros to revisit a dark moment from her past. Ros must take a hard look not only at the father of her child, but also at her own mistakes, her own trauma, and at the supposed liberal period she grew up in.
The Damages is a page-turning, thought-provoking novel about the lies we tell other people and the lies we tell ourselves.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2023
27 people are currently reading
2630 people want to read
About the author
Genevieve Scott
2 books40 followersGenevieve Scott is a Canadian writer and writing teacher based in Southern California. Her first novel, Catch My Drift, was published in 2018 with Goose Lane Editions. Her second novel, The Damages, will be published by Random House Canada in July 2023. Genevieve’s short fiction has been published in literary journals in Canada and the UK, and her short films have screened at festivals worldwide. She was Story Editor for the indie feature film Jump, Darling, starring Oscar-winner Cloris Leachman, which has screened at film festivals worldwide. Genevieve currently teaches writing at the Laguna College of Art + Design in Laguna Beach, California and in the fiction MFA program at the University of King's College in Halifax. As a volunteer, Genevieve mentors at-risk teen writers through the LA-based nonprofit, WriteGirl. She is represented by Suzanne Brandreth at CookeMcDermid Literary Management in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
August 8, 2023
The Damages by Genevieve Scott discusses sex and consent in the 90s compared to now.
1997/98: Ros attempts to settle into her first year of university. She sees this as an opportunity to become who she always thought she was supposed to be and join the popular crowd. In Ros’ view, her new roommate, Megan, is decidedly uncool, so she makes sure everyone knows the two are not close in her effort to befriend the cool kids.
But when a winter storm hits; and Megan goes missing, everyone blames Ros.
2020: Ros’s ex, the father of her child, Lukas, is accused of sexual assault. This accusation forces Ros to confront her past and consider whether the allegations are true.
I’m of two minds with this book. The conversations on sex and consent are important discussions to have. But I felt that they sometimes overpowered the plot, and diverted my attention from the story. There could have been a better balance between the two, especially in the second part.
Readers that need to relate to characters or require them to be likeable might struggle with teenage Ros (and her crew). She is self-absorbed and obsessed with maintaining her social status at all costs. Although, I found this section more engaging than her adult years.
There are discussions on gender dynamics, consent, rape and SA. Also, since some of the plot takes place during early Covid, it discusses the pandemic alongside the #MeToo movement. I appreciate that it looked at men who claim to be feminists but use it as a shield to cover for themselves.
It ends on a realistic note.
3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending over a copy for review.
https://booksandwheels.com
1997/98: Ros attempts to settle into her first year of university. She sees this as an opportunity to become who she always thought she was supposed to be and join the popular crowd. In Ros’ view, her new roommate, Megan, is decidedly uncool, so she makes sure everyone knows the two are not close in her effort to befriend the cool kids.
But when a winter storm hits; and Megan goes missing, everyone blames Ros.
2020: Ros’s ex, the father of her child, Lukas, is accused of sexual assault. This accusation forces Ros to confront her past and consider whether the allegations are true.
I’m of two minds with this book. The conversations on sex and consent are important discussions to have. But I felt that they sometimes overpowered the plot, and diverted my attention from the story. There could have been a better balance between the two, especially in the second part.
Readers that need to relate to characters or require them to be likeable might struggle with teenage Ros (and her crew). She is self-absorbed and obsessed with maintaining her social status at all costs. Although, I found this section more engaging than her adult years.
There are discussions on gender dynamics, consent, rape and SA. Also, since some of the plot takes place during early Covid, it discusses the pandemic alongside the #MeToo movement. I appreciate that it looked at men who claim to be feminists but use it as a shield to cover for themselves.
It ends on a realistic note.
3.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending over a copy for review.
https://booksandwheels.com
July 21, 2023
Rosalind or "Ros" but please not "Rosie" is starting university in 1997 and is determined to be a different person than she was in high school. She wants to be one of the "in" crowd and is disappointed when her assigned roommate, Megan, is what she considers a social liability. Ros worms her way into a small group of cool kids and distances herself from Megan. Shortly after the winter break the area is hit by an extended ice storm during which Megan disappears.
This book is from a Canadian author and takes place in a fictional town close to Toronto Ontario. I was absolutely enthralled by the first part of the story and by Ros herself. She tried so hard to be somebody she wasn't that it was embarrassing at times but I still felt sorry for her. She just couldn't seem to stop lying in order to make herself appear more interesting. That all changed after Megan disappeared during the ice storm in January 1998. We pick up the story again in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic and Ros, now the mother of an 11-year-old, has just come back to Ontario from California to help out her mother who's recovering from a broken leg. She is estranged from the father of her child and has just learned that he's been accused of historic sexual assault. I wasn't nearly as invested in the second part as I was in the first half. Although Ros is nearly 40 now she doesn't seem to have matured much and still cares way too much about what people think. The resolution of the sexual assault allegation was rather anti-climactic and the end of the book was meh.
The writing was fine and I must say that I do love that cover but my reaction to the book as a whole is mixed. 3.5 stars rounded down.
My thanks to Random House Canada via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: July 25, 2023
This book is from a Canadian author and takes place in a fictional town close to Toronto Ontario. I was absolutely enthralled by the first part of the story and by Ros herself. She tried so hard to be somebody she wasn't that it was embarrassing at times but I still felt sorry for her. She just couldn't seem to stop lying in order to make herself appear more interesting. That all changed after Megan disappeared during the ice storm in January 1998. We pick up the story again in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic and Ros, now the mother of an 11-year-old, has just come back to Ontario from California to help out her mother who's recovering from a broken leg. She is estranged from the father of her child and has just learned that he's been accused of historic sexual assault. I wasn't nearly as invested in the second part as I was in the first half. Although Ros is nearly 40 now she doesn't seem to have matured much and still cares way too much about what people think. The resolution of the sexual assault allegation was rather anti-climactic and the end of the book was meh.
The writing was fine and I must say that I do love that cover but my reaction to the book as a whole is mixed. 3.5 stars rounded down.
My thanks to Random House Canada via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: July 25, 2023
July 7, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Canadian author, Genevieve Scott presents a story that takes readers from 1998 and a missing student to the COVID era where the main protagonist's ex-husband is at the center of a #MeToo allegation. I really liked that it was a Canadian setting( Toronto, to be exact) and the premise was attractive enough to have me clicking the request button.
However, this book was a struggle for me. Ros, our main protagonist was extremely unlikeable. Maybe that was the point but I sure would have enjoyed some various perspectives. Maybe it is because when Ros is describing her time at school, I recognized the toxic culture that was also part of my post-secondary institution in the early 2000s. Maybe there was some growth in Ros between part one(1998) and part two(2020), but it was hard to care. And the ending just left me saying "meh."
Expected Publication Date. 25/07/23
Goodreads Review. 06/07/23
Canadian author, Genevieve Scott presents a story that takes readers from 1998 and a missing student to the COVID era where the main protagonist's ex-husband is at the center of a #MeToo allegation. I really liked that it was a Canadian setting( Toronto, to be exact) and the premise was attractive enough to have me clicking the request button.
However, this book was a struggle for me. Ros, our main protagonist was extremely unlikeable. Maybe that was the point but I sure would have enjoyed some various perspectives. Maybe it is because when Ros is describing her time at school, I recognized the toxic culture that was also part of my post-secondary institution in the early 2000s. Maybe there was some growth in Ros between part one(1998) and part two(2020), but it was hard to care. And the ending just left me saying "meh."
Expected Publication Date. 25/07/23
Goodreads Review. 06/07/23
July 3, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 25, 2023
“The Damages” is the second novel by Canadian author Genevieve Scott. Modern, thought-provoking and engaging, it centres around the lies people, especially women, tell themselves, and how they can literally be life-altering.
In 1997, Rosalind is excited to be starting over in university, desperate to finally find a place where she belongs. She is paired with young, naïve Megan Main as her roommate, but Megan is not the type of person Ros wants to be seen with, so when she manages to become friends with Sue and Dutch, two of the university’s most popular freshman, she pretty much ignores the fact that Megan exists. Until the night Megan goes missing.
Now, in 2020, the country is in the middle of a pandemic and Ros is raising her young son alone, while trying to maintain a cordial relationship with her ex-partner Lukas. When the rise of the #metoo movement brings accusations and charges against Lukas, Ros is conflicted by her memories from her university days and begins to wonder how well she knows her partner, and herself.
Scott’s book is clever, provocative and relevant on so many levels. As someone who was brought up in the nineties, I connected to the plot deeply. The rise of the “feminist” #metoo movement means different things to different people, depending on the era in which they were raised, and this resonated in a big way. Things that were deemed “acceptable” even twenty years ago are now considered “assault” and “violations” (and rightly so), and the internal conflicts remaining after reading Scott’s book will likely not sit easy- but it’s worth it.
The novel is broken down into parts and begins with Ros’ first-year experience at university. Ros is not terribly likable during this period of the novel, but that can be chalked up to her immaturity and naiveté. Ros is an adult in the second part of the novel, where the accusations against Lukas come to light and Ros must battle with her internal conflicts. Ros it the sole narrator and protagonist, and although I was slow to warm up to her, her humanity and realism helped develop rapport, and I was rooting for her by the final pages.
“The Damages” ends in a hauntingly realistic way, which is the overall vibe this novel emits. Scott’s novel will make readers uncomfortable and will have them doubting their lifelong ways of thinking, in a good way. This is one of those novels that will be talked about for months to come.
Expected publication date: July 25, 2023
“The Damages” is the second novel by Canadian author Genevieve Scott. Modern, thought-provoking and engaging, it centres around the lies people, especially women, tell themselves, and how they can literally be life-altering.
In 1997, Rosalind is excited to be starting over in university, desperate to finally find a place where she belongs. She is paired with young, naïve Megan Main as her roommate, but Megan is not the type of person Ros wants to be seen with, so when she manages to become friends with Sue and Dutch, two of the university’s most popular freshman, she pretty much ignores the fact that Megan exists. Until the night Megan goes missing.
Now, in 2020, the country is in the middle of a pandemic and Ros is raising her young son alone, while trying to maintain a cordial relationship with her ex-partner Lukas. When the rise of the #metoo movement brings accusations and charges against Lukas, Ros is conflicted by her memories from her university days and begins to wonder how well she knows her partner, and herself.
Scott’s book is clever, provocative and relevant on so many levels. As someone who was brought up in the nineties, I connected to the plot deeply. The rise of the “feminist” #metoo movement means different things to different people, depending on the era in which they were raised, and this resonated in a big way. Things that were deemed “acceptable” even twenty years ago are now considered “assault” and “violations” (and rightly so), and the internal conflicts remaining after reading Scott’s book will likely not sit easy- but it’s worth it.
The novel is broken down into parts and begins with Ros’ first-year experience at university. Ros is not terribly likable during this period of the novel, but that can be chalked up to her immaturity and naiveté. Ros is an adult in the second part of the novel, where the accusations against Lukas come to light and Ros must battle with her internal conflicts. Ros it the sole narrator and protagonist, and although I was slow to warm up to her, her humanity and realism helped develop rapport, and I was rooting for her by the final pages.
“The Damages” ends in a hauntingly realistic way, which is the overall vibe this novel emits. Scott’s novel will make readers uncomfortable and will have them doubting their lifelong ways of thinking, in a good way. This is one of those novels that will be talked about for months to come.
December 5, 2023
Ros has a propensity to lie and because of that, she was unpopular in high school. When she begins college in 1998, she’s trying to reinvent herself and be friends with the more popular students. Her roommate Megan is problematic because while she’s a nice person, Ros thinks she’s uncool. Ros is friends with Megan in their shared room, but largely ignores her when on campus with her new friends. Shortly after the holiday break, a massive ice storm moves in and the students are stranded and partying hard. On the fourth night of the storm Ros and her friends take Megan to a bar in town and after a wild evening, Megan goes missing. Ros’ friends blame her for abandoning Megan and for being less than honest about many things. The story is told from Ros’ pov in the 90’s and 2020. In 2020 Ros’ former partner is accused of sexual assault and that forces her to revisit the trauma and her perceptions of what happened with Megan.
I thought this was a very good #metoo story that explores the issue of what consent meant in the late 90’s compared to today. I like how the author also held women accountable for many of the dated and misogynistic viewpoints on sexual assault. An example is the difference in how Monica Lewinsky was treated in a so called liberal time and how women have changed their views on consent, abuse of power and rape. Often times men who claim to advocate for women are the true wolves. Ewa Wolniczec was excellent in her performance of Ros.
September 24, 2023
Ros is a freshman in 1998 at a hard-partying university, "Regis," in "Creighton," east of Toronto, evidently modeled closely on Queens University in Kingston. She's painfully focused on becoming friends with and displaying her kinship with a handful of cooler students, and so she lies and distances herself from her perfectly nice but uncool roommate, Megan. During the big ice storm, Megan disappears, and Ros' self-absorption comes back to haunt her. Years later, while staying at a cottage north of Toronto with her son during COVID, Ros is forced to reckon with and evaluate new information about what happened that night. It forces her to think about how she and her friends thought of sexual consent and women's roles back in the 90s, and more particularly her own sense of self and culpability.
This was a good page-turner. I was really interested by the focus on how women who came of age in the 90s have sometimes been forced to re-evaluate their own experiences and those of others around them through a new lens given the evolution in how we think and talk about consent. Ros in the 1998 part of the book is pretty unbearable, but I enjoyed following the evolution in her thinking and her conflicted feelings in midlife.
"What I remember best about that week in January is trying to keep track of all the lies I told."
This was a good page-turner. I was really interested by the focus on how women who came of age in the 90s have sometimes been forced to re-evaluate their own experiences and those of others around them through a new lens given the evolution in how we think and talk about consent. Ros in the 1998 part of the book is pretty unbearable, but I enjoyed following the evolution in her thinking and her conflicted feelings in midlife.
"What I remember best about that week in January is trying to keep track of all the lies I told."
July 6, 2023
This is one of the bravest books I’ve read in a long time. I really only want to read books that depict the muck of real life with honesty—the writing is so clear and precise in this book that you recognize the situations without having been in them yourself. Nice to read something that is not nostalgic for the 90s — simpler times for who?
July 3, 2023
Thank you to Penguin Random House and the author for an advanced reading copy of this book.
This book shook me. It was so raw and real. If you’re going to read it (and you should; it’s very good), and you were in university or college in the 90s, be prepared for some unsettling feelings. If you’re still raw from the pandemic, please be gentle with yourself as you read and relive the anxiety we all experienced.
This book shook me. It was so raw and real. If you’re going to read it (and you should; it’s very good), and you were in university or college in the 90s, be prepared for some unsettling feelings. If you’re still raw from the pandemic, please be gentle with yourself as you read and relive the anxiety we all experienced.
October 16, 2025
(3.5) The Damages begins as an atmospheric 90s campus novel. Ros is an insecure and socially precarious first-year student at a small, cliquey Canadian university. When a brutal ice storm hits, her main priorities are attempting to preserve the tenuous friendships she’s made and shunning her uncool roommate Megan. All this ends in disaster when Megan goes missing, and Ros is (somewhat unfairly) blamed. In part two, we flash forward 22 years, with Ros blindsided when her son’s father is accused of sexual assault. These seemingly unconnected things – Megan’s disappearance and the accusation against Ros’s ex – actually turn out to be closely linked.
I signed up for an autumn-friendly mystery with an academic setting, and when I realised the second half of The Damages was going to involve a #MeToo plot, I rolled my eyes a bit. I tend to feel fiction has little that’s interesting or new to say on this subject – and a few years down the line from that particular cultural moment, when things seem to have got significantly worse in many ways, I often find them depressingly earnest and simplistic. I was primed to dislike this part of the story. But Scott takes a clever route, focusing on unpicking her main character’s attitudes rather than trying to make a big statement.
Ros comes to life beautifully. She’s messy like real people are (not in the now-cliched ‘my life is a disaster’ kind of way), and ‘different’ in ways we don’t usually see in this kind of fiction. The ‘outsider at an elite school’ archetype typically lacks wealth and privilege, but Ros has that – she’s just a bit clueless and paralysingly obsessed with being cool (which of course automatically makes her deeply uncool). Although sometimes frustrating to read about, the younger Ros is absolutely believable as a teenage girl desperate to be accepted.
As an adult, her outlook hasn’t evolved as much as she’d like to think. She bridles against the wave of #MeToo stories, convinced some women who call out harassment are basically just bragging. ‘Don’t you think some of these women are kind of wearing it like a badge? Yeah, me too, I’m also hot enough, or I was once hot enough, to be the recipient of unwanted attention.’ As Ros revisits her memories and tries to figure out how to talk to her son about this stuff, her reassessment functions as a sort of meta-commentary on the story – a similar thing to what Rebecca Makkai attempted in I Have Some Questions For You, except this worked much better for me.
I found the second half of the book less compelling than the first, mostly because the campus section is so evocative it’s hard to beat. Still, it holds together. No fireworks here, but this is a pleasingly dense and thoughtful novel with something to say about how much of our teenage selves remain in the adults we become.
I signed up for an autumn-friendly mystery with an academic setting, and when I realised the second half of The Damages was going to involve a #MeToo plot, I rolled my eyes a bit. I tend to feel fiction has little that’s interesting or new to say on this subject – and a few years down the line from that particular cultural moment, when things seem to have got significantly worse in many ways, I often find them depressingly earnest and simplistic. I was primed to dislike this part of the story. But Scott takes a clever route, focusing on unpicking her main character’s attitudes rather than trying to make a big statement.
Ros comes to life beautifully. She’s messy like real people are (not in the now-cliched ‘my life is a disaster’ kind of way), and ‘different’ in ways we don’t usually see in this kind of fiction. The ‘outsider at an elite school’ archetype typically lacks wealth and privilege, but Ros has that – she’s just a bit clueless and paralysingly obsessed with being cool (which of course automatically makes her deeply uncool). Although sometimes frustrating to read about, the younger Ros is absolutely believable as a teenage girl desperate to be accepted.
As an adult, her outlook hasn’t evolved as much as she’d like to think. She bridles against the wave of #MeToo stories, convinced some women who call out harassment are basically just bragging. ‘Don’t you think some of these women are kind of wearing it like a badge? Yeah, me too, I’m also hot enough, or I was once hot enough, to be the recipient of unwanted attention.’ As Ros revisits her memories and tries to figure out how to talk to her son about this stuff, her reassessment functions as a sort of meta-commentary on the story – a similar thing to what Rebecca Makkai attempted in I Have Some Questions For You, except this worked much better for me.
I found the second half of the book less compelling than the first, mostly because the campus section is so evocative it’s hard to beat. Still, it holds together. No fireworks here, but this is a pleasingly dense and thoughtful novel with something to say about how much of our teenage selves remain in the adults we become.
August 2, 2023
A very good contemporary fiction around sexual abuse and #MeToo movement, set in two timelines, 1998 and 2020.
I did enjoy the writing and the development of the story.
It’s slow but I was engaged, even though I did not care for any of the characters (none are likeable).
In the first part, 1998, we have the perspective of a very insecure (and immature) young girl in the university, craving for attention in a very toxic environment, until the disappearance of one of her friends.
In the second part, 2020, COVID and #MeToo era, we have the disclosure of a sexual abuse, which leads to a number of questions.
It’s a thought provoking situation.
I really liked how the author structured this book and her choices of dialogues.
I just wished that there were multiples POV.
The conclusion was not very satisfying, but I did accept the author’s decision.
A brilliant job.
I did enjoy the writing and the development of the story.
It’s slow but I was engaged, even though I did not care for any of the characters (none are likeable).
In the first part, 1998, we have the perspective of a very insecure (and immature) young girl in the university, craving for attention in a very toxic environment, until the disappearance of one of her friends.
In the second part, 2020, COVID and #MeToo era, we have the disclosure of a sexual abuse, which leads to a number of questions.
It’s a thought provoking situation.
I really liked how the author structured this book and her choices of dialogues.
I just wished that there were multiples POV.
The conclusion was not very satisfying, but I did accept the author’s decision.
A brilliant job.
June 26, 2023
Synopsis: In a multi-timeline plot, we meet Ros who in 1997 enrolls at a university outside of Toronto, Ontario. Ros was not one of the popular students in high school and her main goal for her university years was to be one of “the cool kids” and within a couple of days of moving into the dorms, she manages to insinuate herself into a group of students that she considers the “in-crowd”. Her one liability as she sees it is her roommate, Megan; a student that takes her classes seriously, dresses in out-dated fashion and is definitely not a member of the in-crowd. Just after the new year, an ice storm hits and Ros’ is the only dorm with power. The buddy-system is in place with Megan being Ros’ buddy – the message from the university being that buddies are to stay together during this crisis. Classes are cancelled and dorm parties break out, during which Megan disappears. A few days go by before Ros even notices that Megan is missing and by the time the university discovers Megan’s absence, the students and administration are questioning why Ros was so negligent in being Megan’s buddy.
The storyline then moves ahead to 2020. The world is smack-dab in the Covid-19 pandemic and Ros has just found out that her estranged partner and father of her eleven-year-old son is being sued in civil court over accusations of a sexual assault. The lawsuit stirs up memories from the past which makes Ros confront her past behavior and question what really happened to Megan all those years ago.
My thoughts: I thought the author did an impressive job of making the reader examine their beliefs and thoughts about what constitutes a sexual assault, the #Metoo movement and the consequences of our actions. I found Ros and her ex-partner to be unlikeable characters, but it was necessary to the storyline and by the end of the book, I was able to see that at times Ros had also suffered in her life and that she was turning things around for herself and actively trying to be a better person.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and gave it 4/5 stars. It kept me engaged, certainly provided food for thought with respect to sexual assault and I always looked forward to picking it up and continuing with the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The storyline then moves ahead to 2020. The world is smack-dab in the Covid-19 pandemic and Ros has just found out that her estranged partner and father of her eleven-year-old son is being sued in civil court over accusations of a sexual assault. The lawsuit stirs up memories from the past which makes Ros confront her past behavior and question what really happened to Megan all those years ago.
My thoughts: I thought the author did an impressive job of making the reader examine their beliefs and thoughts about what constitutes a sexual assault, the #Metoo movement and the consequences of our actions. I found Ros and her ex-partner to be unlikeable characters, but it was necessary to the storyline and by the end of the book, I was able to see that at times Ros had also suffered in her life and that she was turning things around for herself and actively trying to be a better person.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and gave it 4/5 stars. It kept me engaged, certainly provided food for thought with respect to sexual assault and I always looked forward to picking it up and continuing with the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2024
3.5 stars
First off, I loved the writing style. It was inviting and brought me into the story immediately. I literally read over half the book in one sitting. And then read the rest of it the next day. An interesting and nuanced story involving the sexual boundaries of rape in past decades versus modern day, how memories shape us and the impact of low self-esteem.
The book was divided into two parts that reflect two timelines - the 1990s and 2020s. We are first introduced to Roz as a freshman starting at a prestigious college in Toronto. She is insecure and looking to reinvent herself, having moved from California. She makes fast friends with two ultra cool people, Sue and Lukas (AKA Dutch). She perceives her roommate as a "square" and tries to keep her distance for fear of ruining her college reputation. Things seem to be going pretty well until her roommate disappears during a winter storm, and she becomes the scapegoat. Fast forward to now, Roz and Lukas share an 11 year old son. Lukas, a successful writer of teen books, has been accused of sexual assault. He claims to be innocent, and Roz doesn't believe he could ever do such a thing. Her mind goes back to their history together to see if she can make the pieces fit.
I would describe this book as domestic fiction with an element of suspense. The reader is taken into the MC's life and how her past has shaped her present. My biggest issue was how the MC was beyond insecure and came across as weak and incapable, to the point of having no compassion for others. I kept hoping to see growth and transformation, but she seemed to change very little. This aspect bothered me.
I also couldn't relate to her decision-making at all. Particularly as an adult in her relationship with Lukas. It really didn't make sense. I automatically went to traumatized but there wasn't anything in her backstory to suggest this was a significant issue. Perhaps a better connection between past and present in rhat way and more character growth would've made this book more relatable and emotional for me.
Thank you #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I loved the writing style. It was inviting and brought me into the story immediately. I literally read over half the book in one sitting. And then read the rest of it the next day. An interesting and nuanced story involving the sexual boundaries of rape in past decades versus modern day, how memories shape us and the impact of low self-esteem.
The book was divided into two parts that reflect two timelines - the 1990s and 2020s. We are first introduced to Roz as a freshman starting at a prestigious college in Toronto. She is insecure and looking to reinvent herself, having moved from California. She makes fast friends with two ultra cool people, Sue and Lukas (AKA Dutch). She perceives her roommate as a "square" and tries to keep her distance for fear of ruining her college reputation. Things seem to be going pretty well until her roommate disappears during a winter storm, and she becomes the scapegoat. Fast forward to now, Roz and Lukas share an 11 year old son. Lukas, a successful writer of teen books, has been accused of sexual assault. He claims to be innocent, and Roz doesn't believe he could ever do such a thing. Her mind goes back to their history together to see if she can make the pieces fit.
I would describe this book as domestic fiction with an element of suspense. The reader is taken into the MC's life and how her past has shaped her present. My biggest issue was how the MC was beyond insecure and came across as weak and incapable, to the point of having no compassion for others. I kept hoping to see growth and transformation, but she seemed to change very little. This aspect bothered me.
I also couldn't relate to her decision-making at all. Particularly as an adult in her relationship with Lukas. It really didn't make sense. I automatically went to traumatized but there wasn't anything in her backstory to suggest this was a significant issue. Perhaps a better connection between past and present in rhat way and more character growth would've made this book more relatable and emotional for me.
Thank you #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2023
The Damages reminded me of many novels I've read recently about American or Canadian women returning to their school or college pasts to figure out why things are the way they are in their lives right now, and whether justice was done back then: Rebecca Makkai's
I Have Some Questions For You,
Jessica Knoll's
Bright Young Women,
Jenny Hollander's Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead. But Genevieve Scott makes a very brave choice: her book is about somebody who really is completely unremarkable. I've long thought that the general moral standard of fictional protagonists is too high, probably in the pursuit of 'likeability'; most people, in real life, don't behave as well as made-up people do, and this especially wouldn't be the case if we had access to the insides of their heads. Ros, the protagonist of The Damages, is pretty shallow and self-centred, but she is realistic. At nineteen, she does wrong but is punished for it beyond anything she deserves. In her early forties, she tries to do right but probably doesn't actually help anyone at all, including herself. There's no big redemption arc for Ros, only the acknowledgement that being told you're a bad person in your teens really can get in the way of you becoming a better person, and I loved it.
I also loved the first 40% or so of The Damages, which is set during an ice storm at a small university east of Toronto, modelled on Queens. I was a kid in the 90s, but I felt that Scott perfectly captured why it was so horrendous to be a teenager in the 90s and the 00s: how you weren't allowed to care about anything, how coolness was all, how any hint of being different was aggressively punished. Ros is absolutely a part of this culture, but she also suffers because of it. Scott also properly evokes the atmosphere of the ice-bound campus and the rising tension when a girl goes missing. The next 60% of the book, which flashes forward to the Covid-19 pandemic, is less gripping (it could have been shorter) but largely necessary. I've read plenty of #MeToo novels, but Scott really picks apart how we handle changing social mores, and how unacknowledged wrongs are still important. It also made me reflect on, despite how times have changed, Ros still doesn't have the language for what was done to her. Other characters rightly call out racism and sexual assault on campus, but Ros's systematic social shunning, which led her to drop out of university, is difficult to voice. A reminder that you don't have to like a character to feel their pain. Another hit from Verve Books (the UK publisher for this Canadian novel), who are fast becoming one of my favourite indies.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
I also loved the first 40% or so of The Damages, which is set during an ice storm at a small university east of Toronto, modelled on Queens. I was a kid in the 90s, but I felt that Scott perfectly captured why it was so horrendous to be a teenager in the 90s and the 00s: how you weren't allowed to care about anything, how coolness was all, how any hint of being different was aggressively punished. Ros is absolutely a part of this culture, but she also suffers because of it. Scott also properly evokes the atmosphere of the ice-bound campus and the rising tension when a girl goes missing. The next 60% of the book, which flashes forward to the Covid-19 pandemic, is less gripping (it could have been shorter) but largely necessary. I've read plenty of #MeToo novels, but Scott really picks apart how we handle changing social mores, and how unacknowledged wrongs are still important. It also made me reflect on, despite how times have changed, Ros still doesn't have the language for what was done to her. Other characters rightly call out racism and sexual assault on campus, but Ros's systematic social shunning, which led her to drop out of university, is difficult to voice. A reminder that you don't have to like a character to feel their pain. Another hit from Verve Books (the UK publisher for this Canadian novel), who are fast becoming one of my favourite indies.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
July 9, 2023
This is my favourite book of the year so far. Not because of the subject matter, (That part gives me a sicky feeling in the pit of my stomach) , but because the writer does an excellent job of dealing with the subject matter in a then and now kind of scenario. Basically it shows you how we dealt with sexually assault, sex, and other things, in the nineties compared to the #metoo era. It was an amazing to see a writer stretch the ink on their computer, typewriter, hand , or however the author writes their books. It was raw, dirty, and felt like real people reacting to the news because Genevieve Scott created a very human book.
I like to start with the bad of every review that I do because I want you to see if you are going to like it enough to pick it up. If you are not a fan of stories about such a dark subject, then this is not for you. If you are not a fan of unlikable main characters or side characters, then this book will not be for you. Other than that, everyone should find something they like in this book.
What I liked about this book, is that the writer was able to bring me back to the land of Fruitopia, party of five, and how we talked about sex in that time period. I also really liked the fact that the writer did a great job of making me despise Ros so much, but understand how human her reactions were. to the events in her past and future. I thought it was a very remarkable read, even if I had to read so little at a time because the world she created was so deep and real.
If any new writers out there want to learn how make a book about unlikable people stick with you, then this is the book they should pick up and learn from. Hell, they could also learn how to drop enough reference's in there to not feel like a magazine Ad, but enough to get you to flash back to that time.
As you can tell I really enjoyed this book and because the author did such a good job, but will warn you that this not for everybody. On a side note, if anybody has Sarah Pooley's contact information, this might be the perfect book for her to adapt into a feature film.. Cough, Cough! One of us can dream, okay both of us can dream.....
Keep reading but remember to stay out of trouble!
Chris Humphrey
I like to start with the bad of every review that I do because I want you to see if you are going to like it enough to pick it up. If you are not a fan of stories about such a dark subject, then this is not for you. If you are not a fan of unlikable main characters or side characters, then this book will not be for you. Other than that, everyone should find something they like in this book.
What I liked about this book, is that the writer was able to bring me back to the land of Fruitopia, party of five, and how we talked about sex in that time period. I also really liked the fact that the writer did a great job of making me despise Ros so much, but understand how human her reactions were. to the events in her past and future. I thought it was a very remarkable read, even if I had to read so little at a time because the world she created was so deep and real.
If any new writers out there want to learn how make a book about unlikable people stick with you, then this is the book they should pick up and learn from. Hell, they could also learn how to drop enough reference's in there to not feel like a magazine Ad, but enough to get you to flash back to that time.
As you can tell I really enjoyed this book and because the author did such a good job, but will warn you that this not for everybody. On a side note, if anybody has Sarah Pooley's contact information, this might be the perfect book for her to adapt into a feature film.. Cough, Cough! One of us can dream, okay both of us can dream.....
Keep reading but remember to stay out of trouble!
Chris Humphrey
May 4, 2024
The Damages, by Canadian author Genevieve Scott, is a #MeToo novel and a compelling character study about a woman who grew up in the so-called liberal 90s, and who carries around a guilt from that time over an incident concerning her roommate.
The book opens in 1997, where Ros is a newly minted student at university in Canada and sharing a room with Megan. Eager to be perceived as cool and to fit in with the right crowd, Ros distances herself from Megan, who she considers a bit square. Ros faces the consequences of her actions (or inaction) in the aftermath of an epic ice storm when Megan goes missing.
Years later, in 2020, Ros is a mother and is estranged from her son's father, a man she first met at university years prior, when Megan emerges from the woodwork with a sensational accusation. In an attempt to process the past and the guilt she cannot shake off, Ros explores her own complicity in an effort to reconcile the times with what she now knows.
I've seen this described as a propulsive thriller which I think is a bit misleading. This is more of an absorbing slow-burn but an interesting one, especially for those who came of age in the 1990s and look back at what things were like through the prism of today. Women were enjoying freedoms that our mothers did not, but our value and our place in the world was not assured. It’s just a bit too slow in places though.
If you enjoyed #MeToo campus novels like Rebecca Makkai's I Have Some Questions for You, or My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, then I think this is one you'll like too. 3.5/5 ⭐️
*Many thanks to Verve Books for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Damages is available in all good bookshops.
The book opens in 1997, where Ros is a newly minted student at university in Canada and sharing a room with Megan. Eager to be perceived as cool and to fit in with the right crowd, Ros distances herself from Megan, who she considers a bit square. Ros faces the consequences of her actions (or inaction) in the aftermath of an epic ice storm when Megan goes missing.
Years later, in 2020, Ros is a mother and is estranged from her son's father, a man she first met at university years prior, when Megan emerges from the woodwork with a sensational accusation. In an attempt to process the past and the guilt she cannot shake off, Ros explores her own complicity in an effort to reconcile the times with what she now knows.
I've seen this described as a propulsive thriller which I think is a bit misleading. This is more of an absorbing slow-burn but an interesting one, especially for those who came of age in the 1990s and look back at what things were like through the prism of today. Women were enjoying freedoms that our mothers did not, but our value and our place in the world was not assured. It’s just a bit too slow in places though.
If you enjoyed #MeToo campus novels like Rebecca Makkai's I Have Some Questions for You, or My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell, then I think this is one you'll like too. 3.5/5 ⭐️
*Many thanks to Verve Books for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Damages is available in all good bookshops.
December 16, 2024
I picked this up because I thought it would be a revisited mystery set during storm. However, this was more a story about an unreliable narrator who was a Pick Me in college and was ultimately, 20-odd years later a woman still preoccupied with what others think of her. I preferred the first part of the story to the second and given the ending, this was fairly unsatisfying. I see what the author was trying to do but her main character wasn't one who could sell me.
YMMV.
YMMV.
June 27, 2023
This is the story of a university student, Megan, who goes missing in the winter of 1998-1999 from the university campus during a winter storm. Ros, the protagonist, Megan’s roommate, tells the story of what she knows and when she knows it. Ros is ostracized for her potential role in what has unfolded. Ultimately, the book is about the growth and maturation of Ros as she grows over a lifetime of insecurity to perhaps imagining a better future that she chooses for herself and her preteen son, Benji. I enjoyed the writer’s voice, the style of writing and the important questions that are asked during the excavation of the past through the lens of the present. It was nice recognizing the Canadian locations and our way of life through the characters. A great read! I look forward to more from this author. 4.5 stars out of 5.
August 14, 2023
This book works on a few levels. It reads quickly, and the author pulls you along throughout, with no missteps. The shift in time is not intrusive and is easy to follow. The incremental reveal of background information keeps the reader conscious of the complexity of the situations and issues, rather than feeling manipulated.
The compulsive content was a result of the narrator's vulnerability; she was easy to identify with, but complex enough that her reactions were sometimes questionable. This novel is a good example of generational dynamics as well as the fallout that can echo throughout our lives from a single event in late teens - also an examination of the changing cultural perspectives over the last 4-6 decades.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Second reading: well worth a second go through, and more questions emerge as to the narrator’s character and her own assessment of it, her relationship with her mother, and final meaning of the conclusion. I really enjoyed it on second read through and find enough meat in it to sustain future readings and discussions. Part of what is interesting is what is left out of this story- the POVof privilege. It’s unstated, but it’s obvious that the author knows where the narrator is coming from and we are not to confuse the narrator with the author. This is a tale of flawed people, confronting a climatic shift and cultural changes. So much to think about: I find it thought provoking and unsolved.
The compulsive content was a result of the narrator's vulnerability; she was easy to identify with, but complex enough that her reactions were sometimes questionable. This novel is a good example of generational dynamics as well as the fallout that can echo throughout our lives from a single event in late teens - also an examination of the changing cultural perspectives over the last 4-6 decades.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Second reading: well worth a second go through, and more questions emerge as to the narrator’s character and her own assessment of it, her relationship with her mother, and final meaning of the conclusion. I really enjoyed it on second read through and find enough meat in it to sustain future readings and discussions. Part of what is interesting is what is left out of this story- the POVof privilege. It’s unstated, but it’s obvious that the author knows where the narrator is coming from and we are not to confuse the narrator with the author. This is a tale of flawed people, confronting a climatic shift and cultural changes. So much to think about: I find it thought provoking and unsolved.
December 28, 2023
The cool girl is a fraud and a fool. She’s giving Fatal Attraction. Insane. The main character is a maniac.
P. 240: “He just needed to know that I wasn’t judging him. He explained that he’d gone through long periods in the past of thinking his behaviour was wrong—he’d delete his dating profiles and chat histories—but eventually, he would seek out new, anonymous experiences because it was fun for him, a way to relax and let off steam.” — hmmm… I don’t know why I was so deeply annoyed by this, like deeply.
Our main character Rosalind is a maniac and a fool and it hurts my heart to say that because there’s something inside her that makes her desperate, and insane. As judgmental as I was reading this I was tripped out that yo there are people who are really like that: cold, calculating, they make excuses for their bad behaviour and others. I find it really confusing and astonishing.
The writing was good, but it was also an exercise in bad vibes: developing bad vibes, sitting in, and building off of bad vibes. It was 3.5 stars rounded down, just to uphold the level of bad vibes.
P. 240: “He just needed to know that I wasn’t judging him. He explained that he’d gone through long periods in the past of thinking his behaviour was wrong—he’d delete his dating profiles and chat histories—but eventually, he would seek out new, anonymous experiences because it was fun for him, a way to relax and let off steam.” — hmmm… I don’t know why I was so deeply annoyed by this, like deeply.
Our main character Rosalind is a maniac and a fool and it hurts my heart to say that because there’s something inside her that makes her desperate, and insane. As judgmental as I was reading this I was tripped out that yo there are people who are really like that: cold, calculating, they make excuses for their bad behaviour and others. I find it really confusing and astonishing.
The writing was good, but it was also an exercise in bad vibes: developing bad vibes, sitting in, and building off of bad vibes. It was 3.5 stars rounded down, just to uphold the level of bad vibes.
August 27, 2023
This is a nope for me. And it all has to do with the unlikable main character Ros. No maturity growth between Then and Now. Is it insecurity? Maybe, maybe not.
A lot of strings were left unattached, like what was Megan’s point of view in all this? The end felt rushed and didn’t resolve anything.
A lot of strings were left unattached, like what was Megan’s point of view in all this? The end felt rushed and didn’t resolve anything.
July 24, 2023
As Ros tries to navigate fitting in at Regis, and tell a carefully curated story about who she is and her own importance to others, her shaky self-esteem and need to protect herself from potential repercussions spins out of control when her roommate goes missing.
Because Ros has never told the truth about herself to others, it is hard to discern what is the truth, even as we come at the storyline from two angles, past and present. Is the present Ros telling the truth any more the past Ros didn't? Even Ros admits there are holes in her story from when Megan went missing.
This is a gripping story about consent and how it was viewed differently in the 90s. I did find it interesting that there was this belief that the idea of consent started to shift from a clear-cut idea of propriety and where the lines were in the 90s. But if we are truthful, that shift around how women were to view sex started to occur in the 60s and blew up with the #metoo movement. Women were given the impression that sex was as much our right as for a man, and our ability to say no crumbled under the pressure we all felt to be "just like the guys" in that regard.
I grew up in the 70s and there was this constant pressure to give in to guys, and being called a slut, or taken advantage of if you did. Girls that felt the need to maintain dignity and say no were labelled frigid or cut out of social circles (ask me how I know). Parties in general were a landmine when alcohol and drugs were involved, and self control (for one part of the population) wasn't.
All that said, this book has an important message to tell about consent. That abuse comes in more forms than just one. Consent is an important message to learn, and one we really need to teach the next generation. Perhaps books like this one will get that message across. It certainly shows the damage it causes if we don't.
Because Ros has never told the truth about herself to others, it is hard to discern what is the truth, even as we come at the storyline from two angles, past and present. Is the present Ros telling the truth any more the past Ros didn't? Even Ros admits there are holes in her story from when Megan went missing.
This is a gripping story about consent and how it was viewed differently in the 90s. I did find it interesting that there was this belief that the idea of consent started to shift from a clear-cut idea of propriety and where the lines were in the 90s. But if we are truthful, that shift around how women were to view sex started to occur in the 60s and blew up with the #metoo movement. Women were given the impression that sex was as much our right as for a man, and our ability to say no crumbled under the pressure we all felt to be "just like the guys" in that regard.
I grew up in the 70s and there was this constant pressure to give in to guys, and being called a slut, or taken advantage of if you did. Girls that felt the need to maintain dignity and say no were labelled frigid or cut out of social circles (ask me how I know). Parties in general were a landmine when alcohol and drugs were involved, and self control (for one part of the population) wasn't.
All that said, this book has an important message to tell about consent. That abuse comes in more forms than just one. Consent is an important message to learn, and one we really need to teach the next generation. Perhaps books like this one will get that message across. It certainly shows the damage it causes if we don't.
June 28, 2023
[arc review]
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Damages releases July 25, 2023
“Until she disappeared, I considered her a footnote to my life at Regis.”
cw: cheating, discusses SA
Wow. There’s unlikeable, and then there’s UNLIKEABLE.
This story is split into 2 parts, and dual timeline — 1998 and 2020 (covid).
Rosalind and Megan were roommates in their first year of university. During the first week of January in 1998, their city was hit with the biggest ice storm, shutting down nearly all power.
It was during this time that Megan went missing, but Rosalind, failing to keep to a buddy system, mislead everyone into thinking that Megan went back to Toronto to be with her family, when that was the furthest thing from the truth.
Part 1 of this story was so heavy and uncomfortable for me to read and I could not find any enjoyment whatsoever.
Rosalind exuded this toxicity of seeking the validation of the popular girl, while undervaluing and taking advantage of the niceties of her roommate in private. Her motives were 100% performative, and I wish she would have had the confidence to be herself instead of so two-faced and a compulsive liar.
Roughly 20 years later, in part 2, in the midst of all the #metoo movements, Megan comes out with a lawsuit and allegations towards Lukas (Dutch) that he sexually assaulted her that weekend that she went missing. But where things get twisty is that Lukas and Rosalind ended up reconnecting and having a child together somewhere around 2008.
I found part 2 so underwhelming. Instead of diving further into Megan as a character, we focused on Rosalind and Lukas’ sexual relationship and his obsession with sex/lack of monogamy.
In all honesty, it felt very weird to have an entire book surrounded on sexual assault and not even get a direct pov from the victim, Megan.
Despite the large jump in time, it did not feel like Rosalind matured at all and she still struggled to create an identity for herself post-uni.
“But what feels truer is that I was avoiding identity—I was afraid of fixing myself to the wrong places, wrong interests, wrong people. I was afraid to choose who I was in case I chose wrong.”
Objectively, the writing was good, but the execution was not there for me.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Damages releases July 25, 2023
“Until she disappeared, I considered her a footnote to my life at Regis.”
cw: cheating, discusses SA
Wow. There’s unlikeable, and then there’s UNLIKEABLE.
This story is split into 2 parts, and dual timeline — 1998 and 2020 (covid).
Rosalind and Megan were roommates in their first year of university. During the first week of January in 1998, their city was hit with the biggest ice storm, shutting down nearly all power.
It was during this time that Megan went missing, but Rosalind, failing to keep to a buddy system, mislead everyone into thinking that Megan went back to Toronto to be with her family, when that was the furthest thing from the truth.
Part 1 of this story was so heavy and uncomfortable for me to read and I could not find any enjoyment whatsoever.
Rosalind exuded this toxicity of seeking the validation of the popular girl, while undervaluing and taking advantage of the niceties of her roommate in private. Her motives were 100% performative, and I wish she would have had the confidence to be herself instead of so two-faced and a compulsive liar.
Roughly 20 years later, in part 2, in the midst of all the #metoo movements, Megan comes out with a lawsuit and allegations towards Lukas (Dutch) that he sexually assaulted her that weekend that she went missing. But where things get twisty is that Lukas and Rosalind ended up reconnecting and having a child together somewhere around 2008.
I found part 2 so underwhelming. Instead of diving further into Megan as a character, we focused on Rosalind and Lukas’ sexual relationship and his obsession with sex/lack of monogamy.
In all honesty, it felt very weird to have an entire book surrounded on sexual assault and not even get a direct pov from the victim, Megan.
Despite the large jump in time, it did not feel like Rosalind matured at all and she still struggled to create an identity for herself post-uni.
“But what feels truer is that I was avoiding identity—I was afraid of fixing myself to the wrong places, wrong interests, wrong people. I was afraid to choose who I was in case I chose wrong.”
Objectively, the writing was good, but the execution was not there for me.
June 23, 2023
This was a fascinating peek into the life of a woman who lived through 2 major Canadian events ... the icestorm that shut down provinces and showed the resilience of people and the pandemic that lasted far longer than we all expected, also showing the resilience of people, but in a different way.
I found myself identifying with the main character, Rosalind Fisher, and the uncertainty of wanting to fit in and struggling to find my place; of the uncertainty that is inherent in divorce when you have been led on and betrayed, but feeling that you need to take care of everyone else and make sure that THEY are okay before looking closely at your own emotions. Of riding that very fine line of being angry and bitter, but not wanting to burden others with your emotions.
I found myself identifying with the main character, Rosalind Fisher, and the uncertainty of wanting to fit in and struggling to find my place; of the uncertainty that is inherent in divorce when you have been led on and betrayed, but feeling that you need to take care of everyone else and make sure that THEY are okay before looking closely at your own emotions. Of riding that very fine line of being angry and bitter, but not wanting to burden others with your emotions.
August 7, 2023
The Damages is told in a dual timeline-- 1998 and 2020 by Rosalind ('Ros'). In 1998 Ros is in her first year of college. During that winter, the town experiences a devastating ice storm that cuts power to nearly the entire town. On one particular night in the aftermath of the storm, Ros's roommate Megan goes missing. Ros's actions (or lack of) following Megan's disappearance result in her fall from grace, and destroys the reputation she was so desperate to curate and maintain.
I had a visceral reaction to how her character is written during this first half of the story-- Ros is insecure, dishonest, jealous, self-absorbed, unsure of herself and desperate to be liked by the 'cool kids'. She's entirely unlikable, but I think it takes a real talent to write a protagonist with such obvious character flaws, generating such a negative reaction in the reader, while simultaneously captivating enough interest to want to keep reading about them.
In the second half of the book, more than twenty years later, COVID has just begun and Ros's ex partner and father of her child has recently been accused in a sexual assault case from decades before. On the heels of the #MeToo movement, Ros is now forced to confront her own uncomfortable past and the decisions she made. Unfortunately, Ros has not matured a great deal from her people pleasing college years, and her thoughts/decisions are still heavily influenced by how she may be perceived by others.
Ros was a complicated character, however, despite this, I still found myself rooting for her. The conclusion was satisfying-- our pasts do not have to define us, and it's never too late to discover oneself. I think Genevieve Scott wrote this novel with beautiful honesty, and proved that a brilliant novel doesn't need to be complicated in order to be good.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for this ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I had a visceral reaction to how her character is written during this first half of the story-- Ros is insecure, dishonest, jealous, self-absorbed, unsure of herself and desperate to be liked by the 'cool kids'. She's entirely unlikable, but I think it takes a real talent to write a protagonist with such obvious character flaws, generating such a negative reaction in the reader, while simultaneously captivating enough interest to want to keep reading about them.
In the second half of the book, more than twenty years later, COVID has just begun and Ros's ex partner and father of her child has recently been accused in a sexual assault case from decades before. On the heels of the #MeToo movement, Ros is now forced to confront her own uncomfortable past and the decisions she made. Unfortunately, Ros has not matured a great deal from her people pleasing college years, and her thoughts/decisions are still heavily influenced by how she may be perceived by others.
Ros was a complicated character, however, despite this, I still found myself rooting for her. The conclusion was satisfying-- our pasts do not have to define us, and it's never too late to discover oneself. I think Genevieve Scott wrote this novel with beautiful honesty, and proved that a brilliant novel doesn't need to be complicated in order to be good.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for this ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2024
Incredible at the beginning, loved the campus novel vibes. Quite an interesting concept overall but poorly executed towards the end. Also, very dislikable main protagonist, and I’m not sure if that was on purpose. Absolutely no character development to be seen, very flat in that regard, nothing-y ending really. Anyway, fun read overall though, yay.
October 2, 2023
The first part of the book is set in a thinly-disguised Kingston — Creighton — at Regis University, during the ice storm of 1998.
December 19, 2023
This book was great! Sped through it. The plot revolves around issues of consent and sex in the 90s vs now.. which is really interesting.. especially if you were alive then. The main character Ros is so real and honest and quite unlikeable but you find yourself rooting for her. It’s nostalgic, engaging, and really well done! (Plus it’s extra enjoyable if you are from Ontario)
July 11, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Damages by Genevieve Scott. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to read this book written by a Canadian author with the setting in Ontario where I have lived my life. I really enjoy being able to relate to books and having an understanding of the places mentioned. Not only does it talk about actual historic happenings (the ice storm of 1998 as well as the Covid era, and #MeToo movement), but it is very relatable. The book is very relevant and helps to explain how things that were acceptable in the 90's are now considered to be "violations" as they should be. I really enjoyed this book and rated it with a 5 star rating. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
December 5, 2023
Excellent. This book felt really important to me and raised issues and questions that left me a little bit shook. I'm just a few years older than the protagonist and have had many similar thoughts.
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