This reader review of my book Horseshoes and Hand Grenades is from a few weeks ago, but I’m just now finding time to post it. (I’ve been moving.)
I completely respect the reviewer’s different take on modern sexuality, and appreciate that the story of Astrid and Shelby resonated with her. Here’s her review:
Great read that’s horrifying at exactly the right moments — I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All I can say is wow… I want to throw this book at men who have no idea what we women go through on a daily basis. Stevens does an amazing job of portraying this through engaging characters who are enjoyable to read about while being completely and unexaggeratedly human.
Even as someone with pretty old-school views about casual sex who might not necessarily agree with the presented view of a good relationship in this day and age, I think this novel is incredibly important for spreading awareness of how serious the problems are at the opposite end of the spectrum and promoting solidarity to help overcome them.
Sexual assault and victim blaming are enormous problems we still haven’t resolved, and spending time with these characters can truly put anyone in their shoes.
Clare Urbanski, the reviewer, is an author as well. Read about all her novels here, and her new novel The Witch’s Apprentice here.
Read the review as posted on Amazon here.
