It Happens All the Time was a difficult book to read, but it was well worth it. This was certainly a timely and important story.

I've enjoyed Amy Hatvany's writing for awhile now. I had no doubt I would enjoy this. She writes in a way that you just can't walk away from the story. This story deals with a very difficult issue, sexual assault.

I love how she looks at all sides of this conflict, but never excuses it. Our main character who was attacked, has other issues in her life. So there is so much going on in this story.

It's heavy, it may be a trigger (so avoid this if you think it might be you), and it's captivating. She's very fair with all characters, and the development is sneaky. You are just reading, and next thing you know, you understand what makes them tick.

4 stars. Very good tale that held my interest and made me invested in Amber and Tyler's story. For some reason, I didn't connect with Tyler like I hoped I would throughout the book. I felt Hatvany, as always, knows how to tell a story and keep you interested in her characters and I was very satisfied by the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

**Rapists can be men, women, teens and even children as can victims/survivors. For the purposes of this review I am referring to rapists as he and victims/survivors as she.**

What does a rapist look like? Ask most people and a scary, brutal, stranger comes to mind. Actually, most rapists are known to their victims, boyfriends, family, friends, acquaintances.

Thinking of rapists as one dimensional bad guys is somehow easier that realizing a rapist can be your neighbor, friend, doctor, the supermarket clerk. How can we know who to trust?

Amber trusts her childhood best friend as much as anyone, including her fiancé. She doesn't realize his feelings run much deeper. Tyler loves Amber and has since the day they met, secretly harboring wishes she'll leave her fiancé for him. At an Independence Day party after Amber's college graduation, she and Tyler have too much to drink. She says no, he doesn't listen.

Told in both Amber's and Tyler's points of view in alternating chapters, Amy Hatvany created two sympathetic characters. Amber suffers under the weight of her parents expectations and overprotection. Recovering from an eating disorder, she's probably someone who left therapy too soon, with work left to do. Every rape victim should have parents as supportive as hers. Tyler grew up hearing emotionally abusive words from his father. Nothing was ever good enough, Tyler was never man enough. His father is a one-dimensional misogynistic bully. Like most abused kids, Tyler longs to please the man he loathes. While his mom loves him, she's often more concerned for herself than meeting his needs. My favorite character was Mason, Tyler's no nonsense coworker.

Tyler was sympathetic up and until the rape. His difficult backstory was no excuse. Looking back on the whole story, I realized perhaps he was more controlling and selfish than I originally thought, in small ways like refusing to leave Amber's side when she was hospitalized. In her shoes, I can see why some of his actions hovered between pushy and charming, but giving him the benefit of doubt, then looking back and saying, "I should have known." Girls and young women aren't told often enough to trust their instincts.

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME starts off months after the rape, when Amber confronts Tyler then weaves back to their meeting as young teens through young adulthood until the rape and its aftermath. I finished the book in an afternoon, enthralled by the plot, characters and writing. The confrontation wasn't completely realistic, though not out of the realm of possibility.

The title is perfect for the story, unfortunately. It does happen all the time. Parents should read this important novel and share the book with their teenagers and discuss. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME would also be great reading for high school English classes.

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME is a hopeful story of acquaintances rape and recovery.

I have read other books by Hatvany and she never disappoints. IHATT is a highly emotional read and will grab your attention from the very first page. I could not put this book down. It has been a long time since I have read a book that touched me so deeply and stayed with me, long after I finished it.

I would highly recommend this book.