The Girl Before

“Dr. Mulligan???s eyes look sad, and my fears are confirmed. I am not normal. My beautiful relationship with Glen is not right.”

While I don't recall the sex being explicit, I need to clearly state the plot revolves strongly around issues of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, much of it concerning underage characters, some of it done to the main character, some of it perpetrated by the main character.

Explosions or introspection? This is the way I ask/share if the story relies on a lot of action or if it's more suited to people who are looking for a more thought-provoking story. This is decidedly in the latter camp, because the story is the journey of the main character to understanding the nature of her life – what's been done to her body, mind, past, and what she has been drafted to do to others. Not a lot “happens,” overall, other than in flashback.

“Clara” has been conditioned to see the abnormal as normal, to have a warped understanding of marriage and family. She might be frustrating for some reasons in her utter initial denial, the walls she's built in order to live her life. At least some of the people around her after she is taken from her home are frustrated as well. But I couldn't help but root for her, to take joy in her breakthroughs.

I read The Girl Before several months ago, and I can say it's one of the stories that most stuck with me in 2016. I'd have to call it in my top 5 reads of last year. Because of it being so introspective, because of “Clara” being so unable to see her own life at first, this is probably not the read for everyone, but I loved it. The story impacted me, and the author clearly knew a lot about the various topics.

I'd love for The Girl Before to find an appreciative audience!

I received a copy of The Girl Before by Rena Olsen through NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you to G. P. Putnam and to Rena Olsen for the opportunity.
Having a degree in psychology when I picked this book I had no idea what a roller-coaster book this would be, nor did I think human trafficking would be such a heavy topic but OH MY GOD I loved this so much I can't wait to see what else Ms. Olsen has up her sleeve with books.
Clara's world is broken up into a series of events Then/Now. Each one flowing seamlessly into the next, unraveling the fabric of who Clara Lawson is and was. The story is heart breaking and beautiful all in one and you can't help but to keep reading. You have to finish this journey with Clara because she is so lost that you have to see where the story ends.
Clara has so many internal struggles to navigate. Clara is caught in an impossible situation, yet she refuses to call herself a victim. She chooses to keep living. I found this refreshing. Had she played the victim and turned in on herself this would have been an entirely different story.
“The Girl Before” is a shivery, shattering story about seeing your life from two very different perspectives – and coping when the two collide. You will want to buy this for others you will want to talk about it and most of all you will want to talk about this real topic with others because it does exist and needs more exposure. 5 STARS all the way.