red

By: Annie Cardi

Genre: YA, Contemporary 

Number of Pages: 256

Published: January 30, 2024

Publisher: Union Square & Co.

Dates Read: January 9, 2024 - January 15, 2024

Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warnings: abortion, misogyny, religious bigotry, grooming, adult/minor relationship

After Tess’s mom loses her job, the two move in with her grandparents in Hawthorne. The one condition is that the two must attend church. Tess’s mom isn’t too happy about it, but Tess enjoys the community and quickly finds a place among the youth group and choir.

But after a very personal decision becomes public, Tess faces both harassment and rejection from the church community. After meeting some kids in the band room during lunch – the only place she’s able to find solitude, she learns to find her voice again with their support.

I like that this book had a religious theme, but it wasn’t overly preachy. Tess had a relationship with God before and she spends the duration of the book talking about that and how she wants to reconnect but isn’t sure how to do so.

I appreciated the fact that Annie Cardi addressed the subject of abortion and how it can still be considered controversial today but that it’s not so black and white that some people think it is. The fact that characters changed their views throughout the story was authentic and felt right – now granted, some still had a hard time “accepting” Tess’s decision but it was still nice to see.

This novel also shows how the act of grooming and abuse aren’t always so easily detectable. Predators can be anyone.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. This is unfortunately something that young women can go through and I feel like this will help a lot of girls feel seen.

*Thank you Union Square & Co. for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review