Certainly a heavy YA contemporary, but it seemed to me very effective in its portrayal of human trafficking and especially in busting myths about sexual abuse and trafficking as something that only happens to people "elsewhere," that certainly couldn't happen in little Connecticut towns. The story was extremely engaging, and somehow uplifting considering the topic.

However, I did find that uplift one element which made the story not ring entirely true for me. Lex's recovery was so linear that, to me, it didn't feel realistic. While she did have panic attacks and a confused sense of her own sexual identity (e.g. in the scenes with both Zack and Mike), the fact that she was entirely able to resist drugs and alcohol, that she never attempted self-harm despite her history of doing so, never acted out or had outbursts or tried to run away, that she was willing to be open about her experience very quickly, that she always seemed to rationally accept help rather than pushing it away or trying to handle things on her own, alongside the fact that she was almost immediately surrounded by responsible adults who she trusted and tremendously understanding, ride-or-die friends...it all seemed so perfect to me, like something the author wanted to happen for the sake of the imagined story rather than the way real people might behave. Especially considering the fact that the book doesn't shy at all from graphic and direct descriptions of rape, the unwillingness to diversify the portrayal of recovery almost seemed confusing and did make me wonder a bit if the author felt that Lex had to be idealized in order to be sympathetic. (Also, a more minor point of confusion: would a home for teenage survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking really have a required viewing of a documentary about trafficking???)

The writing style was a little simplistic and tell-not-show, and I found a lot of the side characters sort of one-dimensional or introduced and then quickly forgotten by the narrative (Sarah stands out as an example of this), so it was really the plot that kept me reading. Overall, I found it a satisfying read, but a difficult one too.

This was the most affecting and amazing book I have ever read in my entire life. I wish every book in the world would be this good. If you are reading this and thinking about requesting it, please do it!! You will not be disappointed!!

My first thought after reading the description for What Unbreakable Looks Like was that I was going to need to prepare myself emotionally. It’s never easy reading about human trafficking, especially when those being trafficked are teenagers. While there are many moments in the book that were sad or upsetting, I actually found this book hopeful and inspiring, and a must-read for both teens and adults.

The book begins with the main character, Alexa, being rescued by detectives after years of being trafficked and abused. Having lived those years with six other girls, strung out on drugs, and “in love” with her pimp, she isn’t so sure this is a good thing. Luckily for Alexa, she’s given a home with her aunt and uncle and the opportunity for a new life.

Alexa returns to finish her senior year of high school, but now must learn to trust new friends, boyfriends, and even her own family. Not to mention there are people out there who want to draw her back into her old life. As the story unfolds, we see Alexa struggle with her past trauma, while learning to trust others and see herself as worthy of being loved.

Kate McLaughlin did an excellent job developing the characters and I loved how she slowly revealed Alexa’s past through flashbacks that were connected to the chapters. Through these flashbacks, we learn what life was like for Alexa before and during her time at the motel.

What Unbreakable Looks Like was extremely educational, exposing how people could become victims of human trafficking, as well as what survivors experience trying to readapt to the rest of the world once they escape. While often sad, this book leaves the reader with a sense of hope and with feelings of empowerment for the survivors of this horrible crime. What Unbreakable Looks Like is an excellent story, well-written, inspirational, and one I’d recommend to both teen and adult readers.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin in exchange for my honest review.

*Trigger warning: this novel includes topic of sex trafficking and rape*

What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin is a humanizing, take-no-shit, messy-beautiful YA romantic drama recommended for anyone who likes strong female leads, tell-it-like-it-is queer friendships, and sweet romances that know how to hold trauma at bay.

When Lex is rescued from sex-trafficking, she’s not sure if she’s ready to escape her life and start a new one with her aunt. Being taken care of means letting people down, and she’s not looking to hurt any more family than she has to. Running back to her old life would be easy. Mitch, her pimp, would take her, and she knows exactly what to expect from him. Except, her aunt is so kind, so thoughtful, and she insists something Lex can hardly even believe, Lex’s aunt genuinely wants to help make Lex’s life better, she wants to keep Lex safe.

Of course, even on her new and more secure path, the world is still terrifyingly complicated. Her neighbor and new best friend Elsa seems to have it so easy falling for a girl who is clearly in love with her. (though Elsa apparently can’t see that her crush shares those feelings?!) When Lex forms a crush of her own, it’s hard to know what instincts to follow. Her past life keeps taking over her present body, and on top of that it seems like her former pimp may be trying to find her.

What Unbreakable Looks Like doesn’t sugar coat pain or hide from sweetness and humor. It’s frank about trauma and rape and the violence survived trafficking victims as well as the trauma survived by others in varying ways. Lex’s mental health journey is as large as the outward steps she takes to reclaim her life. Unbreakable reminds us that being human is complicated: navigating rape culture and sexism, being a “victim” or “survivor” when you hate both of those terms, falling in love, watching your friends fall in love, realizing who your family is: nothing is straightforward, but it’s all worth the risk.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those raw, gets right down to the core of your soul, welcome to my emotional rollercoaster type of books. It's also a very difficult read that presents a lot of very heavy subjects( like rape, slut-shaming, sexual abuse). It is also the first novel(for me) that has dived into the subject of human trafficking.

Our main character, Alexa has escaped this life and the book carries us through the process that she goes through in order to move on from her experience. There were so many wonderful characters and there were plenty of villains, too. I feel like I have so much to say but I cannot fully express how greatly affected I am ever reading this book.

If this isn't one of the books nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award in 2020, I will be very very disappointed. Also, that book cover is gorgeous!

Goodreads review published 19/05/20
Expected Publication Date 23/06/20

I was a little nervous going into this. A YA novel about a sex trafficking victim seems like something that can go off the rails pretty easily. The subject matter feels like it might be beyond teenagers, but aren’t teenagers the ones who are more susceptible to being trafficked? Maybe I was initially apprehensive, but it turns out that Kate McLaughlin was more than up to the task.

What Unbreakable Looks Like skillfully walks a fine line between being honest about harsh realities without being exploitive. The story is about Alexa’s survival and coping after being freed from sexual slavery as a teenager. She’s not okay yet, and it can be difficult to read even a fictional account of the kind of turmoil that girls who have been through this experience while just trying to live a normal life.

What this is not like is My Dark Vanessa. It might be easy to make those comparisons, but Alexa is in a very different place than Vanessa was. My Dark Vanessa is, in part, the reflections of an adult woman decades after her abuse. She has rationalized away much of what happened to her and reading some of the excuses she comes up with on behalf of her abuser can be stomach-turning. Alexa and Vanessa have both been repeatedly sexually assaulted, blame themselves, were initially failed by those who were supposed to protect them and will have to bear some of this burden into adulthood, but the key difference here is Alexa got help. She got help she asked for and help she didn’t. Vanessa was left to fall through the cracks and try to put herself back together.

That’s where I think this book can do a lot of good for a YA audience. If they’re experiencing abuse or have feelings similar to Alexa’s, they can watch her come out of it better than when she started. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Vanessa’s story is not a happy one, because she still hasn’t completely surfaced from the hold her abuser had on her. In Unbreakable, we get to see a girl not just survive, but begin to thrive. Alexa has surrogate parents that love & understand her, best friends that are loyal to her, school administrators who listen to her and advocates in her local police department. I can only imagine what Vanessa would have been like if she had that type of support system.

I wouldn’t go so far as to call this novel uplifting. It’s hard to feel good while reading about child abuse and rape. But there’s a level of comeuppance and hope here that can be difficult to hold on to in books about sexual violence. McLaughlin is letting her readers know that yes, it does get better, in a way that feels real and attainable. I know it’s probably going to get banned from a lot of schools, but I hope this book is still able to make its way into the hands of teenagers who need and want to read it.

The type of subject matter "What Unkbreakable Looks Like" is something I rarely devel into. Facing sex trafficking and modern-day slavery was very raw and emotional; I shed tears during some of the story. The subject matter being dealt with can be triggering, and I wouldn't let teens under the age of 15 read something this graphic. The set of the story from present-day to flashbacks brought Alexa's feelings together in a coherent way for the reader. However, some of the transitions from present-day to past were awkward and bit disorientating for me. The jumps disrupted the flow of the dialogue and story occasional. Alexa was not a particularly likeable character for me; she existed around other more likeable characters. I have to give the author some grace for this though because she is trying to show how Alexa is rebuilding her life, and toward the end of the book I did begin to like Alexa a lot more. The complex emotions Alexa was dealing with could be seen throughout the book, and the evolution of Alexa could be seen as well. The dry writing style made for some dull scenes on occasion. I wanted more vibrancy in the writing. The subject matter of the book was interesting and written as well as could be. I haven't read many books with this type of subject matter so I can't compare it to another with the same subject.

Wow, this was a good book! It was a very heavy topic, but it was handled sensitively. I loved this and Lex. Also, Kudos for the author putting TW right in front of her book.

***TRIGGER WARNING***
human trafficking; sexual assault; violence; suicide; drug abuse

A raw, unflinching look at the journey of a teen rescued from sex trafficking. Lex was staying at a motel minutes from her drunk mother's home when cops busted the place, saving the girls who were groomed into the life of prostitution. Now she must integrate into society without the help of pills and out from under her pimp, Mitch.

Obviously, this is a tough subject matter and I can't comment on whether it was accurately portrayed, but I found this to be very vulnerable and incredibly gripping. If it wasn't for her Aunt Krys, Lex wouldn't have a safe place to stay. She had the ultimate support system that wanted to help her with everything she needed, even when she didn’t feel worthy or didn’t trust them. Zack and Elsa were such great friends and rocks that stayed by her side. I LOVED Zack as a character. I wanted even more with him.

Although this was a really dark and heartbreaking story, there was a tone of hopefulness throughout, even when Lex was at her lowest. I definitely recommend this book, but not for anyone under the age of 16, maybe even 17—an equivalent to an R rating.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I recieved. a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. What unbreakable looks like is not an easy book to read. Lex is a survivor of human trafficking and has to learn how to achieve some version of normal. The topic is handled with and honesty. I haven't read any other books about this topic but it is a powerful book.

I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of What Unbreakable Looks Like. I have never read a book that has moved me in such powerful way.
This book will not be for everyone — it tackles the gritty topics of child trafficking, rape, and assault in a gritty and raw way. This book brought me to tears several times. I faced so many emotions while reading it - heartbreak, anger, and even hope. This book holds such a powerful story that should be addressed more.
I will be posting my review on Instagram (@AReadingRedhead) as well as Goodreads on Sunday, May 10th.

This is a powerful story of the dark side of underage sex trafficking operations and one girl's determination to become more than a statistic.

It offers a truly emotional insight into the hardships of integrating into a society that judges you at every opportunity and the inability to trust anyone because of your past scars. A thoughtfully written novel of the road to recovery and the power of love and friendship!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc.

Absolutely Amazing! Trying to reenter society after trauma is not easy. Lex was kidnapped and forced to be a sex worker. When she is rescued, she must struggle to fit in, despite difficult interactions with peers and feeling unworthy of everything she is given. This novel captures the guilt that victims often carry how difficult it is to reprogram your brain to feel human. Though it is a hard story to hear, it is so important to read.

There is something about trafficking stories that draw me in. All I want is a HEA for the characters and sometimes they get them, and other times they don't. This story rocked me to my core and broke my heart several times. I felt so bad for Lex. I also got very frustrated with her and wanted her to snap out of it. I loved this story from the first page all the way to the last page.

<i> Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

3.5 stars

<u>What Unbreakable Looks Like</u> is one of the most tragic, heart-rending books that I have ever read. It is a harrowing journey about Lexie (alias "Poppy"), a 17 year old girl who is removed from her life of human trafficking during a police raid and given into the custody of her biological aunt, who proceeds to help integrate her back into "normal" American high school society.

"Sad" is the most accurate term to encompass my feelings while reading this novel. It is bursting at the seams with so many emotions - pain, anger, apathy, disconnection, happiness, hope - but I consistently felt so incredibly distraught over Lexie's life, as her experience is a reality for so many young girls across the world. I think that many women will be able to connect to descriptions of sexual assault and abuse, but the representation of human trafficking in this book is unique for YA literature. Human trafficking is a topic that is rarely discussed in the media and literature in general, but one that ought to be brought to the forefront more, as so many people (mostly women) are affected by it on so many different levels. It is America's dark secret that nobody wants to acknowledge.

This book has many triggers for individuals who have suffered sexual, physical, and mental abuse, so be warned. That being said, it is an important read to bring awareness of this issue to the table. This would be a fantastic read for a book club. McLaughlin clearly did her research and did well in showcasing the many conflicting emotions that someone in Lexie's position may experience when trying to escape a life of human trafficking. It was dark, but not as graphic or violent as I was expecting. The end felt a bit too drawn out and my interest was waning as the chapters went on, but I am glad Lexie had a happy ending. It felt too Utopian for the reality most people suffer, but it balanced out the tragedy McLaughlin was carefully trying to craft in this book which dealt with heavier topics than most YA literature does.

The author was not playing around with this book. It all begins with the cops breaking up a sex trafficking ring that sadly sixteen year old Lex had been trapped in. Now living with her aunt, Lex is trying to integrate back into a normal life while fighting what has been her life for the last year or so. Just when she’s starting to settle into her new life with her aunt and make new friends, something terrible happens that messes everything up. With the help from her aunt and her two new friends, Lex starts to become someone she never thought she would be able to be again. 


I read this book in three days. The author did an amazing job with the writing in this book. I felt so much for the main character that anytime she mentioned something that happened to her or she felt like she didn’t deserve something, it broke my heart. I wanted so much to reach through the book and give her a hug. 


Elsa and Zack are pretty awesome friends. Elsa is quirky and funny and even though she’s small, she won’t take any crap.

Zack is a tall, and protective of his mother and later Lex (and according to Lex, beautiful). I was smiling every time either of them stuck up for Lex when people were being jerks. Zack was probably my favorite character because he never gave up on Lex, no matter what she did.


This story was heartbreakingly inspirational. This story should teach you that no matter how broken you feel, you can overcome it, it just takes time.  This book definitely has some triggers, so I would consider that before deciding to read this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An eerie opening look into the horrors of human trafficking, this book shows how easy it can be for young people to get swept into this life. A well written, hopeful story about the strength of a young woman and the power of the love and support of family and friends.

Incredibly hard to read, but so much better than the other books in this vein I've come across in the last year. It's so eye-opening, seeing how easy trafficking is to fall into, and how often it takes place here. Lex was held only about 30 minutes from her mom's house.

What Unbreakable Looks Like is the story of Lex, an American teenager from a difficult home who was trafficked by her mother's boyfriend and his friend. Following a sting operation, Lex spends time at a rehabilitation facility before returning to "normal" life with her aunt and uncle. Over time, with the aid of family, friends, and other loved ones, Lex gradually begins to heal and reconciles with the fact that she was not responsible for the horrific violence she endured.

Right off the bat, there were a few things that I appreciated about this book. For one, the sexual violence Lex endured was never presented in graphic detail - no flashbacks, no descriptions, or anything that would otherwise glamorize or sexualize her trauma. Second, for as much as this book presents an unrealistic portrayal of recovery (at times, it felt far too linear), I liked that the message was ultimately one of hope. While the novel doesn't shy away from depicting the reality of trafficked women, I did find myself rooting for Lex and it was a relief to watch her grow and heal with the aid of her loved ones. I also appreciated that the book contains a positive portrayal of therapy - something that's, unfortunately, all too rare in YA.

Ultimately, this was a book that I enjoyed reading - which seems strange to say about a book that discusses human trafficking, but for as much as the book is about violence, it's also about healing and recovery. The majority of the book is spent on messages of love and support, and the characters, without being unrealistic or simplistic, love and support one another in ways that felt comforting. This is a book about violence and trauma, but it's also a book about healing - and, in the end, one that has a positive message for survivors of trauma that they can, and they will, recover.

I’m so happy that this book exists. The subject, domestic human trafficking, is one that we need to talk about more openly, and this book does just that. It is a work of fiction, but undoubtedly well researched because the plot and the characters could just as well have been real.

What Unbreakable Looks Like starts with a police raid on a motel where underage teenage girls are trafficked. Poppy/Alexa ends up in hospital and is offered an opportunity to get away from this life that she never chose in the first place. Her aunt Krys takes her in and together they work towards helping Lex find trust and stability again.

Written through Alexa’s eyes, in a way that sometimes reads like a journal, What Unbreakable Looks Like is a dark tale that ultimately provides light and hope, without ever telling us that Alexa’s journey is the norm. It’s very clear all the way through that Alexa is one of the few who is able to make it through to the other side after being trafficked, and she definitely does not make it through unscathed.

I’m still unpacking this book. Kate McLaughlin was able to incorporate so many feelings, so much trauma, but in a way that is naturally threaded through the narrative. We learn about the depths of Alexa’s trauma through flashbacks to her life in the motel in parallel with her progress in the present, and how this trauma triggers certain reactions and thoughts in her.

Important topics that often fall under the umbrella of human trafficking, such as child sexual abuse, disassociation, forced drug abuse, grooming, distrust, abuse in all forms, and unworthiness for example, are all openly discussed. Trauma is not something predictable, and there is no quick fix or solution, or salvation. In order to heal one requires a strong support system, time, and the ability to understand how certain situations cause certain reactions. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse there were parts of Lex’s journey I related to strongly, and it was not always easy to read without feeling like I was being punched in the stomach. But the author did such a good job recreating the guilt, the anger, the disassociation, the difficulty trusting anyone… No, we aren’t broken.

Every year there are thousands and thousands of (reported cases of) domestic human trafficking in the US. Kudos to Kate McLaughlin for shining a light on this epidemic in her novel. If something doesn’t look right, don’t turn away.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend everyone read this!