Broken Beauty by Lizzy Ford, writing as Chloe Adams.

Title - Broken Beauty 

Author - Chloe Adams, a.k.a, Lizzy Ford

Genre - Adult, Rape, Violence, Contemporary

Source - NetGalley

Synopsis - **Contains graphic content and the sensitive topic of rape and its aftermath. Not intended for teens under the age of 18.**

Sometimes bad things happen to beautiful people.

When socialite party girl Mia Abbott-Renou wakes up in a garden she has little recall of the previous night -- except that she is naked...hurt...terrified. Not only has she been raped, but she knows one of her assailants: the son of a wealthy politician who happens to be her own father’s political ally.

Mia wants and needs justice. Except this privileged boy has an alibi and her father forbids her from going to the police. It’s a critical election year, one that his party might lose if his image as a doting father is soured due to Mia being labeled a lush or worse, promiscuous.

Devastated at not having the support of her family, Mia finds herself in a tug-of-war with her conscience over what to do, especially since she can’t remember exactly what happened that night. Worse, the men who attacked her have hurt several other girls, and Mia may be the key to stopping them.

Mia tries to forget, until the unthinkable happens, and she’s left reeling once again, faced with a new challenge that will force her to take more control of her life.

The buzzing and light wrench me from the dream, and I wake up to see lights flashing by. i'm on my back. The world freaks me out: the lights are too bright, the voices too loud. We're moving so fast, I feel nauseous. I can't make sense of it. I don't recognize anyone or anything- but the brown eyes and blue uniform. I won't let go. I can't let go, not until my mind is right again. 
        Finally, the world stops, and the lights are dimmed. I'm in a small room with three people. 
"Miss? Can you hear me?" The female cop is there. "We need to take pictures of what happened to you. Can you let go of Dom?" She takes my hand and starts to pry away my fingers. 


As soon as I read the author's note at the beginning of this novella, I felt honored that I was able to read this book. I have never read such a sentimental author's note before the actual story starts and I've never read a book about something so personal to the author either. It made me appreciate the book all the more.

The novella was incredibly emotional. My heart ached, my stomach dropped and I willed Mia to be ok. I wanted to physically hurt pretty much everyone in her life... But all I wanted was for Mia to find her happy ending, unfortunately for me I'd forgotten about the fact that this book was a novella and not a full length book. That's why when I did reach the ending I felt like I'd been robbed. I can't explain it but I can't help but feel like this book shouldn't have been turned into novellas. It's too important of a subject and for girls who have been in a similar tragic circumstance it's got to be all the harder to be left at such an emotional point in the book.

4.5/5 - A gut-wrenching read. I've never thought how much a disgusting act can change a person's life and how deeply.

Image and Synopsis via Goodreads.