The Truth About Unspeakable Things by Emily A. Myers

This was not an easy book to read, but it is a subject that people avoid. Like the elephant in the room, it should be addressed more. Rape - an ugly subject, marital rape almost glossed over and then rape in a committed relationship which is so hard to move away from, when you've trusted someone and hope that you are going to be together for a long time. This is what happened to Emma. Engaged to be married to flashy, bright Beaux she did not see the violence just simmering below the surface. When it exploded, she had the courage to break off the relationship but she did keep it all bottled inside. Her parents were the last people she could talk to on the subject - her mother particularly came across as being vacuous, selfish and an egoist. Till Emma met her knight in shining armour in the form of Julian Cole, next door neighbour who was an answer to a damsel in distress! The story flows from the abuse and is very well handled. Like most abused women, Emma hid her hurt and her fears. Sent by the Independent Book Publishers Association for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.