Marci Lyn Curtis

"When you’re a virgin for fifteen years of your life, it’s pretty easy to tell when you suddenly aren’t."

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

The Leading Edge of Now made my skin crawl. You know that feeling you get when you think you're being watched? That's pretty much what it feels like to read this book. The little hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I barely breathed while I waited for the other shoe to drop. It was hard watching Grace revisit the ghosts of her past, and I desperately wished she hadn't been alone for so many years. She really needed her friends, but she'd already isolated everyone by that point.

At the beginning, I had a hard time connecting with Grace as a character. She would say or think things that were meant to be funny or sarcastic, but they came across feeling forced and unnatural. However, there were times the comments were so unexpected they surprised a laugh out of me. "But in New Harbor, where it’s so quiet, a squirrel scurrying up a tree sounds like an assassin wading through the sawgrass with a hatchet." She grew on me towards the end, and I learned to appreciate her personality.

I wish some of the people in Grace's life had been more proactive. After her dad died, she didn't really have anyone in her corner. There was no support system, and she was left to deal with her grief on her own. Sexual assault, the death of her father -- she was 15-years old. When she starts searching for the bastard that assaulted her, we find out that quite a few people knew something was wrong or off with the situation. I wish one of them had been brave enough to come forward, or at least expressed concern on her behalf.

It also didn't seem fair to me that everyone judged Grace for cutting ties with them, but they made no effort of their own to reach out to her. Janna and Owen's parents were like a second mom and dad for Grace, but they didn't think to check on her when she'd been absent for two years? She basically lived in their house every summer and holiday since she was four, but then years go by without a word. A few things are explained later on, but still... someone should have made contact.

Rusty (her uncle) is spontaneous and easygoing. He's a child masquerading as an adult most of the time, but he loves Grace. He and her father were really close, and his death affected him as much as it did his niece. Rusty felt responsible in a way, so he kept his distance from Grace when she needed him the most. It was heartbreaking to see on both sides, because they were both hurting, and I'm glad they were finally able to grieve together.

Owen is a beautiful, broken soul. He always has the best intentions, but life keeps taking him out at the knees. First, there was the accident that has taken him years to cope with, and then he was blamed for something he would never even dream of doing. He is a genuinely good person, and I hated to see him hurting for the bulk of the book.

The Leading Edge of Now was a quick read that made me feel violated on Grace's behalf. It's sickening how often people are taken advantage of, and I think the author does a good job of expressing Grace's inner turmoil and how it effected her day-to-day life. A guy on the bus kept glancing at her breasts and then touched her without her permission -- it messed with her head. No one should ever have to feel that way. Also, people have the right to say no, and that response should be respected.

NetGalley had some additional information I wanted to share: Marci Lyn Curtis, the critically acclaimed author of The One Thing, has crafted an honest and emotional story that will resonate with the wide range of readers impacted by sexual assault. Sexual assault does not define this story, however, just as it does not define Grace. Wry humor and true love emerge as Grace, like many in the #MeToo era, seeks to find her truth, face her truth, and speak her truth.

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on August 30, 2018.… (más)

Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.

Grace once loved New Harbor, it was a place of summer escape and lifelong friendship, until one visit it isn't and she hasn't been back since. Now in the care of her Uncle Rusty after having just adjusted to life as an orphan she is back and the happy and painful times are mixing all together. Everything in New Harbor reminds her of her innocence, the one she has lost. She knows she has to find out the truth in order to heal, in order to trust again, but the truth may just hurt the very people she's missed having by her side.

Marci Lyn Curtis has created a cast of characters that you can't help but love and a story that is impossible to put down. In just one sitting I read The Leading Edge of Now cover to cover, desperate to uncover the truths Grace sets out to find, hoping she'd heal and find that life's circumstances only make her stronger. The losses in her life are difficult and heartbreaking, I too had no trust for the uncle that took so long to rescue her from orphanhood and brought her back to the one place she and her father had run from. But I also loved that the move back to New Harbor brought old friends back into her life, friends that despite the time and the hurt between them want so much for things to be good again. New Harbor brought the truth to light and though it changed Grace and those around her forever, it is used in the story to show the hope and the good that can come from fighting through the difficult.

"That the best and worst parts of my life are suddenly woven together as one. That this part-here, now-this is the one I want to pay attention to."

I don't often reach for books that are marked as having a trigger warning for rape, in this case the dazzling early reviews convinced me I needed to read on. Grace's story is incredibly similar to my own, her brain having blocked the painful details of a night that changed her forever. This story, however, is not a painful one, it's a beautiful story about growth, boundaries, and learning to fly. Grace is headstrong, hilarious, a little too forward sometimes, and coming into her own as a woman. She's relatable, realistic, and inspirational. Secondary characters Owen, Janna, and Rusty were also incredible, with each going through extensive growth as they began to walk alongside Grace in her hunt for answers.

I loved that Marci Lyn Curtis takes such a difficult topic, one that many have experienced, and doesn't take it on the stereotpyical route. She tackles the hard questions, she portrays things in a senstive manner, and didn't tie things up in a neat bow that makes the resolution seem easy to get to. Grace's journey, the steps she has to take, the reliving of her experiences, are not easy, and I like that they weren't glossed over. She questions her friends, her family, her own memory, and those things are very natural and real. The story is thoughtful, providing readers with a sympathetic viewpoint that readers with and without personal experience will be able to connect with.

"I don't need someone to yank me toward wellness. I need someone to walk beside me as I find it on my own."

I loved The Leading Edge of Now; I smiled and cried and ached for Grace, I felt those things for myself when I looked back on the things I had to overcome, and I think Marci Lyn Curtis did an incredible job telling a story that needs to be heard. It is relevant, it is impactful, and it is memorable. I highly recommend this book.

ARC provided.… (más)

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Great
Recommended: Yes
Level: 8-12

After the death of her father, 17 year old Grace has spent the past two years in the foster care system. Now her Uncle Rusty is finally stepping in as her guardian. This requires Grace to return to New Harbor, Florida - a small town holding constant reminders of what she's left behind, and now must face: her best friend, her boyfriend and the single night that changed everything.

The Leading Edge of Now follows Grace as she deals with losing her father, reconnecting with Rusty, and reconciling with her best friend, Janna. Grace is also trying to understand what happened that summer night two years ago when she was sick and took an Ambien in order to sleep. She only remembers bits of that night, and believes that her boyfriend, Owen (Janna's brother) took advantage of her. But she isn't 100% certain. Grace's doubts lead her to a shocking truth that will change the lives of those dear to her forever.

This is a timely book that touches on the heartbreaking reality of rape and sexual assault. Marci Lyn Curtis has created a realistic protagonist in Grace. She is broken, yet strong - a wonderful example of survival. The minor characters are equally developed in their own right. There aren't any abandoned plot lines in this novel. The ending is hopeful for the characters that deserve hope. I think mature 8th graders would be able to tackle the subject matter in this book, but recommend with care. This book is geared toward an older audience.… (más)