Wow! What a book! I found myself cheering for Avery and waiting, not so patiently, on the rapist to get what he deserved. This book was a bit gut wrenching and sad, but the characters were written well and it kept me interested. Thx to Netgalley for the ARC.

A beautifully complex and raw novel about the life altering impact of sexual assault and how even if this day an age it's a fight for women to believed. We follow a year in Avery's life in the aftermath of her rape in college and explore the impact it has on her life, her work and relationships. The character development in nuanced and LaFata deals well with an 'imperfect victim' concept and how destructive behaviours can be coping mechanisms. It's beautifully written and a hard but necessary read that will stay with you long after the last page.

She Used To Be Nice seems to set out to expose a lot of the myths we have about sexual violence. As such it feels like being lectured to, rather than taken on a journey into someone's experiences of regaining a sense of control over their life following sexual violence.

"That her female friends thought she'd cheated on her college boyfriend and now she was a shell of a human being, everything good about her gutted out like a fish." If you've experienced sexual violence, you might like the endorsement that things like hypersexuality, flashbacks, being unable to commit to new relationships and struggling to disclose the violence, are all normal. It's great to see this sort of educative material exists, but does it make it work as a book, in my mind no, it doesn't.

You can see the author, Alexia LaFata's media account of her own experience of sexual violence reflected in the book: "The sex wasn't good though. He basically used me as a human Fleshlight." So some of it is clearly drawn from personal experience, but it's written in such a preachy abstract way for the first half (which really drags on), it's actually less impactful than many memoirs I have read from women who have experienced the same. For example: "If her flashes of memory fit into an existing version of events, why add complexity about consent that would've only caused her more anguish?" Do you feel lectured to? I did.

Raw, traumatic, powerful.

We follow a young woman - Avery - over the course of a year or so as she changes her relationships with her friends and family in the aftermath of her rape in her final year at college. I read this in a couple of sittings and I aged both at and for Avery, at times the most frustrating of women but you could totally understand and relate to her acts of self sabotage.

A brilliant read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Alcove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't imagine how a young woman such as Avery could regain any sort of self confidence given how easily "her friends" turned against her as the cheating rumor against Ryan grew rampant. No one believed her and as result, she saw her body as a means to be sexualized and not that there was anything else she deserved. She was simply a voluptuous woman. It was only that she started speaking out and with the support of Morgan, Charlie and Pete, did she realize how powerful she was. Noah deserved to be punished and not live the idyllic life he had on Instagram and he had with Blair. I am sure that many women identified with both their experiences as well as the emotions that subsequently followed. At the end of the day, Avery found her voice and herself as a person again.

I received a copy from NetGally and I cannot wait to have more people read this absolutely masterful book. The story of Avery was so moving and dark, I can’t recommend it more! Read the trigger warnings, though, and proceed with caution, but I think this book told its story in a very heartfelt, raw, and real way.

I enjoyed this book! It did feel like it was missing something, and I am not even sure exactly what it was, but it was just lacking. It was a good attempt and it had a goo storyline, but it felt a bit empty

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This is a slow burner to get started but don't let that put you off because this book is amazing, honestly I read it in one sitting. I am not going to say much about the book because I don't want to give anything away and I went in blind and I am so glad I did. However I think it is important that this book comes with trigger warnings for SA and that is for very good reason so definitely check trigger warnings.

I don't even know where to start with this one, but maybe I'll start by saying I finished this in one sitting. This is a very powerful and important read about identity, relationships, and how trauma can impact not only the one going through it but their connections with others around them.

I absolutely loved Avery and saw a bit of myself in her in a lot of ways. She's young and successful but also confused and traumatized with a lot of growing to do. While I understood the reasonings behind her actions, I wanted to both shake and hug her at the same time! While a longer, slow-burn in terms of pacing, I think it was necessary to tell this story with the depth and fidelity it deserved. I especially loved how it focused on Avery's growth and finding her strength rather than on her attacker and romantic relationships. This one is going to spark a lot of conversations and hopefully encourage others to share their stories. Thanks so much for this ARC!

It is no secret that this book definitely comes with a trigger warning for SA. This page turner will keep you hooked on a roller coaster of a journey! I found myself wanting to scream both at Avery, and FOR Avery. No matter which part of Avery's story I was sucked into, I was always rooting for her to see her self worth. The writer's style is vivid and comprehensive, allowing you to visualize and feel engaged in emotion. I found myself pining to grab my e-reader at every chance I could - even if I was only pressing through a page at a time. For three years, I have struggled to finish a book - very unlike me. This book successfully pulled me back into my love of reading; finishing in just 5 days!

A very hard book to read, but such a great book for the author to write. This was so good and the writing made me mad and so emotional for the main character and women who have been through sexual assault and have to deal with the aftermath and trauma. This was powerful and I love that see stood up for herself. All women should read this.

Do you enjoy books about strong women standing up for themselves? Pick up She Used to Be Nice by Alexia LaFata.

*She Used to Be Nice* by Alexia LaFata is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of friendship, personal transformation, and the complexities of human relationships. The story revolves around a group of friends who, over time, experience shifts in their identities and dynamics, leading to a series of emotional confrontations and realizations.

LaFata’s writing is sharp and insightful, capturing the intricacies of growing up and navigating the ever-changing nature of friendships. The central character’s journey is relatable and poignant, as she reflects on how she has changed over the years and grapples with the version of herself she used to be. The novel delves deeply into the emotional weight of self-discovery, loss, and the sometimes painful process of understanding who we are.

The pacing is steady, though the book focuses heavily on the introspective and emotional side of the narrative, which might feel slower to some readers. The complexity of the characters adds depth to the story, making it easy to empathize with their struggles, but also leaves room for the reader to question their choices.

While some might find the tone bittersweet or heavy at times, the themes of growth and reflection give the novel a powerful, cathartic edge. The ending feels both satisfying and true to the overall emotional journey of the characters.

Overall, *She Used to Be Nice* is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story, perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven novels that explore the nuanced aspects of friendships, change, and self-identity. LaFata offers a deep, introspective look at the evolution of relationships and the challenges of holding onto who we once were.

Searing. A brutal take on a woman one year after her sexual assault forced to interact with her assailant. It’s hard to say you like this book but only because the author so vividly puts you into the head of the main character which is a an angry, self loathing broken place.
I wanted to give this woman a hug and tell her it’s not her fault. I also stayed up until three am reading this book. Deeply
Engrossing.

This book was an emotionally difficult read, but I really liked it. The description of the lasting effects of sexual assault was spot on. Highly recommended for readers of literary fiction.

This book is so beautifully emotional. It was brave and authentic and so relatable as a young woman.
I love the message that although we may feel shame, we have no reason to and we can set that feeling free. LaFata brilliantly writes about this through the main character's actions and dialogue- the writing is sensitive and touches on really important themes. I thought this was fantastic. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was brave and authentic and reminded me of stories going around during my college years long ago. Our shame stays with us but there is hope of setting the truth free. LaFata brilliantly writes about this through the main character's actions and dialogue. I thought this was fantastic. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.