A really shocking and horrifying read. Although the author has clearly never written before, and is not a professional author, the story is told very well. I think the additions at the end of each chapter, where she speaks to herself, are unnecessary, and perhaps a little too twee. But I understand the reason why, and the emotion is clear for all to see. A truly heartwrenching story and your heart will go out to the author.

This book was very sad just like most books about child abuse. Our main character, Scarlet has anything but a normal life. Verbally abused by her mother and sexually abused by her father Scarlet just doesn't know where to turn. What I found was very interesting and different about this book was our author when she talks about what happened to her as a child she then goes on small breaks and talks about how she feels looking back on it as an adult. It was very different from what I've read in other abuse cases but it puts small light breaks into
what could have been a very dark and depressing read. I did find it very sad how Scarlet's mother didn't seem to notice or care that her daughter was being abused by her father. How could she let those terrible things happen to her own flesh and blood and not step in and do anything? It isn't long before Scarlet meets Ed and that is when the story really takes off. Very sad story but it was nice to see that there was a silver lining and just because terrible things happen to you in the past doesn't mean that you are destined for the kind of sorrow. So many terrible things happened to Scarlet both when she was living with her abuser but it also showed how the abuse doesn't always stop even though they are under different roofs. If you like books with sad events then this is one that you should check out. Thank you Scarlet Jones and Mirror books for allowing me to read this novel I enjoyed it very much.

Just A Girl by Scarlett Jones (a pseudonym) is a truly shocking book that offers a firsthand insight into the horrific experiences of someone who was raped and abused from the age of 8 ,first by her Dad then ,as a teenager, by her "boyfriend" ,who she'd initially seen as finally someone good in her life.
The book takes a unique form, as Scarlett tells the story of her younger life and the escalating abuse she suffers she ends each chapter with her "present self" looking on and counselling the young girl she was with the benefit of hindsight . If that sounds a bit odd it's a very effective device and shows how differently she sees what happened to her as a child and how she views it now.
The book is very raw and explicit, from her Dad's initial grooming to the constant sexual,psychological and physical abuse at the hands of various members of Telford's Asian community. It's a very uncomfortable read but essentially so as it graphically illustrates the depravity and brutality of those who abuse children . it's hard enough reading about any kind of rape and violent assault but to be reminded that the victims are children and their attackers are often supposedly pillars of their community is stomach-churning.
As shocking as Scarlett's life of being battered and raped repeatedly is, what makes it worse is that seemingly the protagonists were untouchable with a whole community being aware of what was going on ,and apparently still is, turning a blind eye if not actually exploiting the plight of the young girls being exploited.. Scarlett's whole life was being let down by people, parents, most of the males in her life,social workers, and the police that it still makes it hard for her to trust anyone. Her experiences with the courts when her Dad was finally brought to account are jaw-dropping .
Not a book for everyone, it's very explicit and could give you nightmares but of course as an honest account of what too many children go through at the hands of the disgusting individuals who abuse them it needs to be so that readers understand the true horror of Scarlett's experience.
Scarlett now works to help the victims of the kind of abuse she suffered, her life has been an ordeal that would have broken a lesser person ,respect to her. Definitely not a light read but a very important one, this is a book that will stay with you long after you've finished it.

Thanks to Scarlett Jones, Mirror Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Oh my! I have just finished this harrowing story of scarlett and the horrific abuse both mentally and sexually she suffered at the hands of her father and then her so called boyfriend.. It's is a true account by the author of her life.
It's hard reading at times but her strength comes through the words and her over riding need to survive.
I wept many times for little scarlett and older scarlett has words of encouragement scattered through the book.
To quote ' Just remember this – it was never you. It was never your fault. It wasn’t what you wore. It wasn’t what you said. It wasn’t how you looked.'
To the author. :- I am so proud of you having the strength to share your story.

Thank you netgalley and mirror books for the advance copy in return for a review #netgalley #mirrorbooks

Scarlett had been groomed by her father from an early age. She was sexually abused y him when she was just eight years old. Whilst walking home from school, she is befriended by a young man called Ed. He tells her that his friend wants to meet her. She agrees and Ed takes her to his house. But theres nomfriend waiting to meet Scarlett. Ed is part of a vicious grooming gang.

This is quite a distressing book to read. We hear so much about sex trafficking, grooming, sexual abuse and the violence these women had to endure. This is Scarlett's own account of thena usage suffered from her father and Ed. There's also advice Scarlett would now give her eight year old self. The investigation into this case is still ongoing. What an inspirational read this is.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Mirror Books and the author Scarlett Jones for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

what Scarlett went through . should not happen to any child or teenager . abused buy her father then later buy a groomer and this is still happening my heart goes out to Scarlett and her sister . i live in Shropshire . and it is still going on in that part now

Just a Girl by Scarlett Jones is the heartbreaking true account of a woman who was sexually abused from the age of eight at the hands of her own father. While this is horrific in and of itself, things get even worse for Scarlett when she manages to escape the evil clutches of her family, and falls into unimaginable circumstances when she meets Ed, a man whose actions are truly inconceivable.

This is a difficult read as the shocking details are presented truthfully and uncensored. The author seems oddly unemotional and detached for the most part, undoubtedly a survival technique that she has honed throughout her life. While this is an uncomfortable and deeply disturbing account, it is an important one as it serves to shine a spotlight on the growing epidemic that is violence and abuse against women. This is a truly brave story that most of us cannot even begin to fathom.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mirror Books for this ARC.

Fantastic book my heart really goes out to this girl what an awfull time last from pillar to post with those awful men I’m so pleased you kept your head up and stayed strong

A tragic and shocking tale, and a compelling page turner.

Wow. Sometimes you read something and think; most of us just know nothing. The author of this terrible story is a similar age to me-in fact she's four years younger. But she's been through so much more than you could ever imagine.

She was named after the Gone with the Wind character, her mum was reading the book when she went into hospital to have her daughter. That all sounds so lovely. Her home life was anything but.

Unexpectedly, when you consider how her childhood was, her mum became a foster parent. But she's like no other foster carer you've read about before. Unbelievable, considering she hardly looked after her own flesh and blood.

Scarlett was just 8 when these unspeakable things were done to her. By her own father. It just beggars belief. And that was just the start. But sadly, you hear of this all too often, there are many such memoirs.

Written in a simple, conversational style, her tale just pours out and keeps you turning the pages, it all moves along quickly. A difficult read, of course; because of the content, shocking, graphic. But sometimes you're just drawn to these memoirs. To try to understand. Of course, you never can. And to marvel how people get through such terrible times like this. You're compelled to read on, just hoping things will be better and come right for her one day. So many things happen to her. There's so much to overcome. So brave that she's told her story, and is now helping others.

Scarlett Jones (not her real name) is an incredible woman and amazing, talented author. Her start in life was so sad, a mother who doesn’t appear to want, or be capable of loving her children, and a paternal family rife with child sexual abusers. Scarlett was groomed by her father from an early age and the sexual abuse started age when she was just eight years old. It is no wonder that she did not know what a healthy relationship should be, and was targeted by another abusive man and fell prey to more child sexual exploitation which is now part of the ongoing investigation in Telford.
The book is written in such a touching way with Scarlett writing as she recalls her memories as a child and interspersing this with advice she would now give the child Scarlett. It really is a wonderful book, full of hope and shows how women in Scarlett’s position can not only survive, but actually thrive.
I wish Scarlett all the very best for the future.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such a brave lady this book is harrowing to say the least well written with a great message for other victims

I finished this book In a day as i couldn't start it and put it down as a needed to know what happened to Scarlett. This is a harrowing read but it is so important to get this message out there about abuse ,grooming and sex trafficking.
Scarlett was and is so brave, she is a true survivor and I hope it gives others hope that they too can get help and survive. I feel truly humbled and it makes other problems feel insignificant in comparison. God bless you for sharing your story to help others.

A heartbreaking read which has really left me feeling emotional. This is a read that has touched me and stayed with me after reading.

This book is similar to all of the books about Abuse
It’s is a strange thing that the girl called Scarlett is abused by her father and then Pakistanis
It’s sad

Just a Girl is a heart-breaking read about a young girl who is subjected horrific abuse, It's sad, shocking but uplifting as it brings home the message that your past does not define your future.