I don’t understand how this was written by the same author who wrote “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife.” I enjoyed that book so much. This one? Not so much. I think this was supposed to be some girl-power revenge tale. It was not. It was somehow misogynistic and misandrist at the same time. The graphic description of assault was unnecessary and reeked of the author desperately trying to do something controversial that would get her those 5 GoodRead stars. And don’t get me started on the daddy issues at play.

At about the 25% mark, when they introduced the roommate’s dad, I knew instantly how this was going to play out and I was correct. If you know anything at all about NXIVM and/or The Sarah Lawrence cult, you also will know exactly how this story will go. The author would shove in your face the things that were should have breadcrumbs for you to figure out along the way. As soon as she said that the two roommates looked exactly alike, I just had to wait 300 pages for the reveal I knew was coming. And the end? The end was just so terrible. 

If I had a list of fictional characters who should have gone to therapy instead of the plot of their book, this girl would be at the top. So if you like poorly presented cults, a main character that wouldn’t know how to make a good decision if it bit her on the nose, and just overall terrible people except for one person who should have bailed the first chance he got, then this book is for you. Otherwise, I suggest you watch the documentaries “The Vow”, “Seduced”, and “Stolen Youth” to learn about the actual cults this atrocity was based on.