This book is a contemporary YA book about a girl who was raped by one of the small town's favorite sons. And of course no one wants to believe her and so even though the boy is sent away, the rest of the town either shuns her or bullies her. When even Romy's best friend doesn't seem to believe her, and Romy feels that her best friend Penny let it happen to her, she becomes a loner. She has small routines to help her get through each day, making sure that her nail polish is perfectly done in the perfect color, as well as her lipstick being applied perfectly so that it is the perfect color and lasts. Other than that she has to deal with the mean girls at school who do things like steal her underwear during showers after gym class and then put them on display for the rest of the student body to see. While she isn't really friends with Penny anymore, Penny still seems to not put up with the bullying for very long.
Romy has met a really nice guy at the diner where she works, a little ways outside of the small town. Leon is newer to the area and doesn't know Romy's back story, and that's the way she wants to keep it. She wants to keep him, the good part of her life, separate from the small town and bad things in her past. There is the annual end of the year senior party where Romy follows her friend Penny to, and then once again wakes up on a dirt road not completely remembering what happened the night before. But that's not the worst part of the night. Penny is missing. The whole town is out looking for her, and Romy now wonders how much Penny might really have still been her friend, and if she is still out there to be found.
This story is a very intense story inside the head and life of a sexual assault victim. There were parts that were very emotional. I think if you know anyone personally who has been through this, or maybe have been through it yourself it will really get in your head and make you think and feel. It sure did for me. I highly recommend this book for the mystery, the reality of the situation, and even if you don't have a personal connection to this type of story, it will make you think. It is one that I think should be available in the school library where I work, and it is on my list of books to be ordered next year.
