Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Wrecked” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Wrecked

by Maria Padian (Goodreads Author)

3.73 · Rating Details · 733 Ratings · 223 Reviews

Everyone on campus has a different version of what happened that night.

Haley saw Jenny return from the party, shell-shocked.

Richard heard Jordan brag about the cute freshman he hooked up with.

When Jenny accuses Jordan of rape, Haley and Richard are pushed to opposite sides of the school’s investigation. Now conflicting versions of the story may make bringing the truth to l ...more

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published October 4th 2016 by Algonquin Young Readers

More Details... edit details

Get a copy:

Or buy for

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Wrecked, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Girl Against the Universe by Paula Stokes

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

2016 YA Contemporary

271 books — 748 voters

A Bond Of Venom and Magic by Karen Tomlinson

New YA Releases October 2016

79 books — 166 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30)

filter | sort: default (?) | Rating Details

Sep 14, 2016 Emily May rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, contemporary, new-adult, 2016

“These lists are about… point of view. Who tells the story. Ms. James gives us a list of narrators and Mr. Bockus gives us a different one. All in an attempt to grasp that great, elusive, bothersome thing: the truth. I wonder, Richard, why Mr. Bockus doesn’t want you to tell his side of the story?”

An emotional and timely look at sexual assault on a college campus.

We're seeing a lot more books on this issue. Though there's still a long way to go, issues such as rape culture, victim-blaming and ...more

flag 326 likes · Like · see review

Oct 02, 2016 Lola Reviewer rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, alternative-pov, 3rd-person-pov, 2016-publications, rape

3.5 stars.

TIGGER WARNING : Rape

Or is it? That’s one of the things I liked best about WRECHED; the fact that it makes us ask ourselves multiple questions, one of them being, ‘‘Did Jenny really get raped by Jordan or is she making this up?’’

I’m used to reading books with rape victims. But I’m not used to doubting the credibility of the victim (victim?) and I’m certainly not used to the main character not being the victim herself.

And that’s another thing I liked. It felt different – a different sor ...more

flag 72 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2016 Kelly added it

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2016

This is, hands down, one of the best sexual assault reads in YA, and it's a book that high schoolers of all genders should read.

Told through the points of view of Haley -- a soccer player whose been benched due to her third concussion and roommate of Jenny, who was raped -- and Richard, a housemate of the boy who raped Jenny, and interspersed with short vignettes of the events that actually went down that night, this is a story about who knows the truth, who tells the truth, and the ways that th This is, hands down, one of the best sexual assault reads in YA, and it's a book that high schoolers of all genders should read.

Told through the points of view of Haley -- a soccer player whose been benched due to her third concussion and roommate of Jenny, who was raped -- and Richard, a housemate of the boy who raped Jenny, and interspersed with short vignettes of the events that actually went down that night, this is a story about who knows the truth, who tells the truth, and the ways that the truth can be confusing, challenging, and ultimately be wielded to best serve those in charge of determining it. At first, it seems so clear what happened, that Jenny was raped by Jordan, but as details come together, we're given the look into how victims can forget things that happened in ways that those charged with "uncovering the truth" can manipulate and make work against them. It was absolutely impossible not to think about the recent verdict in the Ghomeshi case and how the women were accused of being liars when they couldn't remember the color of a car or the color of a shirt or other details that, in the face of trauma, DO NOT MATTER. This book made me angry at so many characters at so many different times.

This is set on a small private college campus. As someone who went to one where a massive Situation About Rape Culture occurred, it was impossible not to see how painfully realistic this was. The way the book was told, through those points of view that weren't the accused and the accuser was brilliant, since it allowed us to see the depths and expanses to which rape culture does and does not work. It was also really refreshing (view spoiler). There is, unfortunately, (view spoiler)

This book is outstanding, powerful, and important. It's extremely readable, and both Haley and Richard are compelling, well-rounded, flawed characters who are, ultimately, doing the things that they think are best to do.

Pair this with SPEAK, ALL THE RAGE, and WHAT WE SAW. ...more

flag 30 likes · Like · see review

Jun 09, 2016 Erin rated it really liked it

Wow! Given the outcome of the Brock Turner sentencing and the increase of North American media highlighting the ongoing campus rape culture, "Wrecked" is quite timely. The story is dually narrated by two college students, Haley and Richard, that just happen to meet after the alleged crime has taken place. Neither are aware of the other person's connection to the victim or to the accused.

Unlike the main protagonist of What We Saw who was a bystander that wanted to seek the real story, Haley and ...more

flag 24 likes · Like · see review

Apr 16, 2016 Carla rated it did not like it

This review and more https://wordsmalarkey.wordpress.com/

I had a lot of problems with this book, so I guess we should just get right to it.

A young woman comes home after a night out and tells her friends she’s been raped. A young man comes home after a party and tells his friends he hooked up with a girl. Who’s telling the truth? Who’s lying? And can two people who are on opposing sides keep their budding romance from being dragged into the fray.

Honestly, I thought this sounded really interestin ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Apr 19, 2016 lauren ♡ (wonderless reviews) rated it really liked it

Shelves: genre-contemporary, made-me-cry, read-in-2016, review-books

I received a free ARC of this book via Netgalley and the Publishers in exchange for an honest review. This is no way affects my opinion.

It's going to take me a while to accumulate my thoughts because right now it would just consist of me typing over and over again how much I hate society. I also want to leave posting my review closer to the release date. In short though this has been one of the hardest books I've had to read. It's heartbreakingly and angrily realistic. It's important and devasta ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Sep 25, 2016 Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Books) rated it really liked it

I really wanted to read this book because it's not often that there's a book set in college that is about something of substance. I'm not going to go on a New Adult rant, but seriously there are so many important stories about the college experience that aren't getting told (I'm thinking more books like Fangirl and less books like Beautiful Disaster).

So, I was very interested to read a book about something as important as sexual assault on college campus. I don't have all my facts in line, but i ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

May 11, 2017 Latanya rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya, society, contemporary, realistic-fiction

(Review courtesy of www.craftyscribbles.com)

During a party, Jenny accuses rape by Jordan. Its aftermath leaves friends, acquaintances and a college swaying towards fact or fiction and what's best for Jenny or Jordan. Verdicts lay in the corners of both students, leaving us all wrecked in its path.

Wrecked offers an unflinching look at sexual assault within our college campuses. Rape, rape-culture, victimization, and perpetrator alignment receive a trial throughout this story's pages. Told between (Review courtesy of www.craftyscribbles.com)

During a party, Jenny accuses rape by Jordan. Its aftermath leaves friends, acquaintances and a college swaying towards fact or fiction and what's best for Jenny or Jordan. Verdicts lay in the corners of both students, leaving us all wrecked in its path.

Wrecked offers an unflinching look at sexual assault within our college campuses. Rape, rape-culture, victimization, and perpetrator alignment receive a trial throughout this story's pages. Told between two perspectives, not of the rape survivor, but her roommate and her roommate's love interest as readers, we see how we play a role in bolstering or chipping away at this hurtful societal ill.

Padian paints her picture via a believable plot with well-developed characters and dialogue. Furthermore, she flips gender roles. Haley's the jock and Richard's the lovelorn fellow trying to figure himself out. You witness discussions with college students without the use of hyper-aware language (Take note, Josh Whedon!). In other words, eighteen year-olds sound reasonable and not as though they're thirty-somethings trapped in younger bodies. The two observers, see murkiness in the situation - most of which they present themselves. Doubt permeates each page. However, victim-blaming never receives a welcomed vibe from the go. Good.

Furthermore, I appreciate how Padian set events leading to Jenny's rape in specks in-between each chapter. Dread speckles with each turn as you know what's about to arrive, and when the moment comes, without gratuity, you feel the emptiness and sadness she encounters before, during, and after. It's heavy and will not let go, as sexual assault refuses to do in reality.

You will feel anger at Jordan, Haley, Richard - even misplaced at Jenny because you want to prevent the inevitable. Her helplessness becomes your own.

With all books, cons present themselves. Two such cons are the one-note Carrie character (the "Angry Feminist/Social Do-Gooder") and an inappropriate love story (while not Insta-love, which I detest, the subplot builds).

Con #1: Carrie's angry, justified, of course. But, as readers, we often do not see glimmers of anything more, unless you count jealousy. However, what's jealousy without anger attached? I would have preferred moments of joy or indifference. In a way, the Mona character could have splintered into Carrie.

Con #2: The inappropriate love sub-plot of Haley and Richard. Yeah, I get it. Living life includes moments where you move on, despite negativity rimmed around you. I felt dirty though as I witnessed a scene where consent teaching came off as jokey. You may feel otherwise. Yet, I can't shake that feeling.

Regardless of those two cons, these story deserves a read. Padian writes a realistic telling of the all too familiar course many college stories unwittingly registered for in their matriculation. Verdict: 4 out of 5.

*This book happily sits on my bookshelf from my own wallet.* ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Jun 15, 2016 The Bookavid rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016-releases, other-compulsory-reading

Originally Published On My Review Blog The Bookavid

In WRECKED, Jenny gets raped by Jordan at a party, but the people around her are too preoccupied with their own lives to get what's going on.

What intrigued me: I usually don't go for novels with themes like these, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone.

Smart and Compelling

WRECKED is an incredibly unique read. It's written in multiple perspectives from people who in some way are connected to Jenny and the rape. Padian cleverly gives all of t ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2016 Sara Grochowski rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, algonquin, big-issues, sexual-abuse, august-2016, college, october-2016

Beginning the morning after the sexual assault of a freshman college student, Wrecked is told from two adjacent perspectives, including that of Haley, the victim’s roommate, and Richard, the rapist’s housemate. With the start of the school year only weeks behind them, neither Haley nor Richard knows those involved well, yet they both find themselves involved in the resulting inquiry. The situation is further complicated when Haley and Richard, unaware of the other’s relation to the victim and ag ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2016 Karen Barber rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

Frustrating that this isn't out until October 2016, as I want to tell so many people I know to read this. A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for granting me access to an ARC.
A timely novel exploring attitudes to sexuality on American college campuses.
While the story itself might seem a common one - and a definite publishing theme of the moment - it is skilfully narrated. We are told the story of what happened to Jenny through the eyes of her roommate, Hayley, and Richard, a friend ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2016 Amy's Book Reviews rated it it was ok · review of another edition

WRECKED is an important story about rape on college campuses encompassing such important themes as consent, drinking, drugs, responsibility to look after friends, how victims and accused are treated.

Told in alternating chapters between the survivor's roommate and a housemate of the accused Maria Padian's novel is at times heavy-handed, feeling like a primer on consent or a lecture on taking care of victims. The writing lacked voice and the prose read as clunky.

None of the characters felt fully ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Mar 15, 2016 Gail rated it it was amazing

Maria Padian’s Wrecked gave me the feeling I have watching a tightrope walker – I’m scared of what I might see, yet I can’t take my eyes away. In this “he said, she said” story, Jenny, the accuser, says one thing. Jordan, the accused, says another. The tension is only heightened as Haley and Richard, the chosen confidantes of Jenny and Jordan, seem to be on the road to being two of the most star-crossed lovers in contemporary young adult literature. Wrecked is a riveting drama, complete with a b ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2016 Kelly Hager rated it it was amazing

Richard and Haley are college students and potentially about to start dating. Except Haley's roommate was raped at a party and Richard's housemate was the one accused of the crime. And the guy even told Richard he hooked up with a freshman. Everyone has a different theory about what happened (and a viewpoint on who's to blame).

This is such an important novel and I love that this topic (consent, and what constitutes consent) is presented here. I also love how sensitively it's handled. None of th ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 06, 2016 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: physical-arcs

Full review on www.novelgossip.com

Every once in awhile a book comes along that tackles difficult subject matter head on in a moving and poignant way. Some of you may remember my glowing review of It Ends With Us and a big part of why I liked that book so much was that Colleen Hoover was not afraid to shed light on a disturbing, yet important subject. Though the issues explored in Wrecked are different, they are no less important and I found myself thinking that it is similar because it’s such an Full review on www.novelgossip.com

Every once in awhile a book comes along that tackles difficult subject matter head on in a moving and poignant way. Some of you may remember my glowing review of It Ends With Us and a big part of why I liked that book so much was that Colleen Hoover was not afraid to shed light on a disturbing, yet important subject. Though the issues explored in Wrecked are different, they are no less important and I found myself thinking that it is similar because it’s such an important book for young people to read. This is another one that I want my kids to read, it will be especially relevant at the end of high school before they head off to college.

This one is told from two perspectives, that of Haley and Richard. Haley is a soccer playing freshman who has just been sidelined after her third concussion and Richard is a sophomore math whiz. Their paths cross in unexpected ways after Haley’s roommate, Jenny claims Richard’s housemate, Jordan sexually assaulted her. At the same time Haley and Richard begin to explore their very new relationship, the two are placed unwillingly on opposite sides of the schools investigation into the matter. The truth of what really happened that night is slowly and painstakingly revealed through small snippets at the end of each chapter. At times this frustrated me, but it was also very clever on Padian’s part because the reader is just as much in the dark about what went down as the rest of the characters.

As details about the investigation are leaked on campus, rumors spread like wildfire. Jenny becomes the target of cyber bullying and harassment and everyone even remotely connected to the events of that fateful night are forced to take sides. Though it pains me to admit this, I found myself questioning if Jenny was telling the truth several times. She was wasted and barely remembers anything that happened, so how can she know for sure that she was raped? Padian was so skillful in showing how this event affected an entire college and she successfully managed to make me, as a reader experience all the emotions and conflicting thoughts that the characters were feeling themselves.

Rape culture is such a heavy topic but one that couldn’t be more timely and relevant, especially when it happens on a college campus. It’s running rampant and I googled some statistics that were shocking and horrifying. What happened to Jenny is happening to young women all across the country and it is not ok. The importance of consent is prevalent in this book and for that reason alone I will be encouraging everyone to read this.

This isn’t a story with a neat and tidy ending, but you know what? That’s ok for me this time. Why? Because it’s true and accurate and I can definitely see things playing out in the exact same way at colleges across the country. Victim blaming/shaming, people only worrying about covering their own asses, and frankly, appalling behavior is the sad and unfortunate truth of what usually happens when a college student is sexually assaulted. I applaud Padian for taking on a tough issue and sharing it in a book that teenagers will actually want to read. She’s created a story that is relatable and well timed with characters that you would see at any college in America. She succeeded in making me really think all the while going through a plethora of emotions that will stay with me for quite some time. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 30, 2017 Emily Cait rated it really liked it

Wrecked got pretty heavy handed with its lesson in some places. The conversations around the difference btwn "yes means yes" compared to "no means no" are incredibly important and I think the novel did a really good job of making the difference between the two clear. But it did so at the expense of character nuance. At times Richard seemed to be unreasonably obtuse purely for the sake of teaching young readers about consent. Maybe it's because I'm an adult, I've encountered this discussion befor ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 02, 2016 Lilly (Lair Of Books) rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-lit, 2016-reads, netgalley, egalley

I finished Wrecked last night but was left feeling like I had no closure over the events that transpired. Ironic really considering the topic...I'm at a loss here...it's definitely a story that should be read especially given the underwhelming/disappointing response to the rape culture in universities. Full review to come on my blog (Link is in the bio).

Update: Full Review:
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com...

I’d like to thank Algonquin Young Readers for approving me to receive an eGalley of I finished Wrecked last night but was left feeling like I had no closure over the events that transpired. Ironic really considering the topic...I'm at a loss here...it's definitely a story that should be read especially given the underwhelming/disappointing response to the rape culture in universities. Full review to come on my blog (Link is in the bio).

Update: Full Review:
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com...

I’d like to thank Algonquin Young Readers for approving me to receive an eGalley of Wrecked by Maria Padian via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book from Netgalley after reading the synopsis & thinking…this sounds like an episode of Law & Order:SVU which I used to love watching! I figured that this book would have to be told from multiple points of views which is also a favorite format of mine. The book didn’t disappoint, the author handled the topic well & in doing so, she sheds some much needed light on the rape culture in colleges/universities. Another topic/theme playing in the background is sports related head injuries leading to concussions. We first get introduced to Haley who has suffered her 3rd sports related concussion on the field & is facing the very real possibility of not being able to continue playing soccer in college. Haley is sharing a college dorm room with Jenny who enters the room acting very strangely but not really saying much other than to grab some of her things. Haley & Jenny are polar opposites & don’t really know each other this being their freshmen year of college. Where Haley is more outgoing, athletic, and quick witted…Jenny is quiet, small framed, referred to as “mousy”, and always in the schools lab. Their schedules are set-up such that they barely cross paths. Jenny had accepted an invitation to attend a party with the request that she bring other freshmen females along with her. The events that took place at the party are basically given to us the readers as the story unfolds. Bits & pieces fall into place with every account that is given and just like in a game of old school Telephone, different versions start to convolute the truth.

We meet Richard & Carrie who have just broken up, Richard is a math tutor where Haley goes to work on her math sets & Carrie happens to be the person who works at the hotline set up for victims of sexual assault. Carrie is the person who takes Jenny’s call & quickly befriends Jenny. We also meet Jordan, the accused rapist who also happens to live in the same house as Richard. Haley & Richard find it easy to be in each others company and start seeing each other outside of math tutoring. None is the wiser to just how connected everyone in their lives are to the events that took place the night of the party. The chapters bounce back & forth between Haley & Richard as they tell their sides of the story. In between chapters there are pages that offer a different piece to the puzzle of what really happened that night. So in some pages you may read the thoughts Jenny was having as she is making her way around the party house while extremely intoxicated. These parts capture vividly what it feels like to be intoxicated at a level where you lose yourself in your surroundings. Some pages are the thoughts of other key players who witnessed Jenny stumbling around but who also never come forward. When the university begins it’s investigation, it is days after the rape took place & Jenny has forgone the option of reporting it to the police. In doing so, the university now carries a formal investigation away from the public and the possible outcomes are: expulsion for the accused OR if no evidence or witnesses can be found, a “no sanction” can be ruled & the accused would be permitted to remain in the school.

The way this book was written hooked me in & kept me turning the pages. I really wanted to get to those in between pages that offered a little bit of insight as to what happened the night of the rape but it was never enough. I realized that this was purposefully done by the author to give an accurate portrayal of what happens when a college student loses consciousness due to intoxication & is taken advantage of. The victim would NOT be able to recount details with absolute certainty during the time they lost consciousness (scary thought). I often found myself trying to decipher what was fact from fiction. I could NOT stop myself from thinking about the real life Broch Turner case & how that played out. I felt a range of emotions, confusion, frustration, and helplessness for Jenny. Just like Jenny, I was left feeling a whole lot of anger for many different reasons. Some ranging from where were the “friends” she came with to the party? why weren’t they trying their hardest to look for her? why is everyone keeping quiet? why is everyone more worried about the fact that they were drinking? I mean the questions in my head just kept me turning the pages faster hoping for closure. Maria Padian handled this sensitive topic really well & I honestly believe that this story should be read. Wrecked is a book that sheds light on a prevalent issue in our current day & the underwhelming attention placed on the rape culture within our colleges & universities. I would absolutely recommend this book if you’re looking for a very real take on this sensitive topic. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 25, 2016 Jillian Quinn rated it really liked it

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and I'm happy to say that this book is a Rave. The first thing I noticed about this book is the cover, which I love, but the synopsis is the reason I had to read Wrecked. I'm trying to read more books that deal with tough topics, rape being among them, and Padian did an excellent job addressing a very sensitive topic.

Narrated from both male and female third person POV, the book follows Haley and Richard, friends of the rape I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and I'm happy to say that this book is a Rave. The first thing I noticed about this book is the cover, which I love, but the synopsis is the reason I had to read Wrecked. I'm trying to read more books that deal with tough topics, rape being among them, and Padian did an excellent job addressing a very sensitive topic.

Narrated from both male and female third person POV, the book follows Haley and Richard, friends of the rape victim, Jenny, and the accused, Jordan. Haley and Jenny are freshman at MacCallum College and complete opposites who share a dorm room. The book opens with Haley recovering from another concussion from soccer and finding out that her career is now over. She's the ultimate tomboy, obsessed with soccer, and in the beginning of the novel, that's all she's worried about.

Jenny is the shy and quiet type that spends most of her time in the science lab. Based on Haley's description of her roommate, I wouldn't have expected Jenny to go to a party, let alone attend with the girls who left her at Conundrum House. Jenny is a very sympathetic character who displays all the signs of a victim that felt very real to me. It would've been a completely different book if it was told from Jenny and Jordan's POV, but I'm not sure it would've worked as well as it did here.

Unlike most of the students at this school, Richard's parents can barely afford to pay his tuition. He works as a math tutor as part of his work study, and while following around his ex-girlfriend, he runs into Haley, mostly because he's curious about why she's hanging out with his ex. Richard is a good guy, but some of the things he says make him sound like an insensitive caveman, provoking a negative response from some of the women in the book. This is something he learns to work on by the end of the novel.

When Haley learns that Jenny was raped and has filed a complaint with the school, she becomes part of the university's formal investigation. Instead of a lawyer, Jenny requests Haley as her counselor, despite Haley's protests that she's not the right person for the job. As Jordan's housemate, Richard is pulled into the investigation as a counselor, making it difficult for Haley to trust Richard when she finds out he's friends with the accused.

At the end of each chapter, there are small clips of the past that range from Jenny pre-gaming with the girls she attended the party with to the specific details of what happened between Jenny and Jordan. By the end of the book, I was sympathetic to both Jenny and Jordan because there are always two sides to a story, and as the truth is revealed, it's hard to put all the blame on Jordan. There's a lot of doubt about Jenny's story and the accuracy of the events throughout that were very realistic. I was constantly wondering if Jenny was raped and if Jordan was the person responsible. The investigation pulls in different guys and girls who know Jenny and Jordan, making it a bit of a guessing game until the very end.

As I mentioned, this book is a Rave that I highly recommend for young adult to adult readers. Wrecked contains an important message everyone should read and a story that's relevant after all of the college rape investigations that we've seen over the past few years. Without evidence, rape is extremely hard to prove, and in cases such as these, the only recourse a victim may have available is a formal investigation by the school.

Note: I'm waiting until September to publish this review on my blog. The publication date is October 4, 2016. Check out the rest of my reviews at rantandraveaboutbooks.com ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 31, 2016 Mima rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Mima by: Kelly

Shelves: favourites, young-adult-contemporary, abuse, 2016

"Here's one thing I've learned: the real snakes in the world? Don't look anything like you'd expect them to."

This is not a 'Rape Book'. Okay, sure, sexual abuse is one of the (many) themes. But it's so much MORE than that: a mystery/thriller, a YA contemporary, a romance. A book about College, and feminism. I really liked the way it had me doubting everyone's motivations.

This book is written in the third person, which I thought made it infinitely more readable. Paired with following Haley and R "Here's one thing I've learned: the real snakes in the world? Don't look anything like you'd expect them to."

This is not a 'Rape Book'. Okay, sure, sexual abuse is one of the (many) themes. But it's so much MORE than that: a mystery/thriller, a YA contemporary, a romance. A book about College, and feminism. I really liked the way it had me doubting everyone's motivations.

This book is written in the third person, which I thought made it infinitely more readable. Paired with following Haley and Richard instead of Jenny and Jordan, there was just a little bit of distance. When a story is more connected and emotive it is harder to see clearly what is happening, and the issues we're dealing with here are complex enough without that extra element. I also really liked the format of the book, the way that between each chapter we learned a little more about what really happened that night.

I am saddened that the college failed to find alternative housing for Jenny when she asked for it, and didn't respond adequately to the social media harassment. I say saddened because I have seen and heard (and read) of this sort of thing so many times now I just don't have the energy to be angry about it any more.

Jenny made a big choice in this situation: (view spoiler) I felt that this book showed the implications of this very well, but also affirmed Jenny's right to choose whatever she felt was best for her.

The characters were well done, all completely different. I really liked Haley's character, she tries to be a good friend to Jenny, even though she has her own issues that absolutely no one is supporting her through, and they don't seem to have been that close beforehand. The situation is also causing minor problems with Haley's new relationship and Haley is nothing but supportive, even if she doesn't understand. She's so kind, but doesn't put up with any bullshit.

I was amazed when I got to the end and Richard and Jenny actually met for the first time. Richard spent all this time thinking about this girl he's never even laid eyes on? Their meeting brought back the message that this could and does happen to anyone.

"she's the girl guys tend to overlook. Who dresses in forgettable clothes. Listens instead of inserting herself. The chorus, the wallpaper, the background-music girl." ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

May 06, 2016 Sarah Laurence rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-fiction, contemporary-fiction, maine-author, galley

After the Stanford sexual assault case, this new YA novel about date rape on a college campus should be required reading for incoming college freshman. The book presents a fictional case with conflicting versions of the truth: an omniscient narration about the rape; the point of view of victim's roommate, and the contrasting POV of the accused's housemate. The sweet romance that develops between the roommate and the housemate models a consensual relationship in sharp contrast to the date rape ca ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 29, 2016 Kelsey Marie rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2016

*****For my full review, stop by Darling & Co.*****

Wow! Just wow! That is how I felt when I finished Wrecked. I felt wrecked. There was so much truth and accuracy in this book on rape culture; Maria Padian really hit the nail on the head. It was almost sickening reading about it and knowing that it is that correct. This book really needs to be on a high school reading list. I know it won't because of the subject matter, but that's a different story. This book is really incredible and I belie ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Apr 03, 2016 Charlotte rated it it was amazing

High schools and colleges and their wider communities need this book and the discussions it's going to spark. The characters are beautifully rendered and absolutely believable ... and we believe them. So which one is telling the truth?
Read this book!

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 27, 2016 Falling Asleep Reading rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book, overall, was good but the ending really pissed me off…sigh

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 13, 2016 Wendy rated it it was amazing

When I was approached by Thomas Allen & Son in regards to Wrecked by Maria Padian, I had no idea what to expect. I was told it was a title about campus rape, a title that would be narratively promising and an emotional roller coaster ride, and although I had read and enjoyed Exit, Pursued by a Bear not long before hearing about Wrecked, I wasn't sure how the tale would impact me emotionally. The reaction was fierce!

"Her roommate shakes with silent sobs. Haley just holds on. She doesn’t know ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 01, 2016 niniadepapa rated it really liked it

the fact that this book does not use the victim or the rapist's perspective is such a great move, tbh? because that's the lucky place from where a lot of us see these things unfold, and it's from different parties that we hear what went down and for us to judge (sad, i know) what actually happened, trusting one testimony above other, navigating through a story that has holes in it due to the alcohol and disorientation.
but, above all, it'll make you rage. rage at the victim's helplessness and su ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 15, 2016 Cynthia (Bingeing On Books) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs

I received an ARC from both NetGalley and Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

I have read a lot of books on sexual assault. I think each one is important in its own way. While this one may not be one of my favorites, I still thought it was powerful and a very important read. What made this book a bit more interesting is that we never get the POV of the rape victim. No, this is about the people surrounding both the victim and the rapist and how muddled the truth can get and how there can b I received an ARC from both NetGalley and Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

I have read a lot of books on sexual assault. I think each one is important in its own way. While this one may not be one of my favorites, I still thought it was powerful and a very important read. What made this book a bit more interesting is that we never get the POV of the rape victim. No, this is about the people surrounding both the victim and the rapist and how muddled the truth can get and how there can be more than two sides to a story.

First, we meet Haley. Haley has just been removed from the college soccer team because she suffered her third concussion and it's too risky for her to play anymore. She is also roommates with Jenny, the rape victim. Haley and Jenny really don't interact much prior to the rape. Haley spent most her time with her teammates and Jenny is a premed student, so she is always at the library. Haley doesn't hesitate to offer her support when she finds out what happened to Jenny and she quickly gets sucked in, maybe more than she wanted to.

Then there is Richard. Richard was not even at the party where Jenny was raped, but he is housemates with Jordan, the guy accused. Okay, Richard was a hard guy to like at times, but I think I sympathized with him. Jordan tells him that he and Jenny had consensual sex and I can see why it would be hard to believe that someone you think you know is a rapist. Richard makes some off color jokes at times, but he said something once that really made me think. He said that since he wasn't at the party or in the room with Jenny and Jordan, no one except the two of them can say for certain what happened. Richard says that it's hard to determine whether Jordan is lying to him or himself or whether he's telling the truth, but that's what the investigation is for and he's not a bad guy because he doesn't necessarily want to take sides and because he wants to let them do their job. I kind of get where he is coming from with that. I mean, I am all for believing the victim 100%. I just think that if a male friend of mine were accused of something so heinous, it would be hard for me to automatically think he's a rapist. Does that even make sense?

Richard and Haley meet and start up a romance. I probably could have done without that part, but I guess it did make for an added level of drama. And they did have nice chemistry together. But they are on opposite sides of this whole thing. This book did a great job of talking about consent and what it means and they showed the ugly side that can come from rape accusations, manly victim blaming. There was a lot of victim blaming here and it turns my stomach. Richard even made a couple of comments like that and I was glad that Haley put him in his place. I do think there was some character development there though so that was good.

Now in between the Haley and Richard chapters, there were also snippets of what happened the night of the party. It was kind of an objective, third party account as opposed to being told from the POV of the victim or the rapist. These snippets give us the truth, a little bit at a time.

I loved the main characters and all the secondary characters as well. There were so many viewpoints in this book and I could see everyone's side in this. This author did a great job of showing the emotions that come about after a rape, not just with the victim, but with the people surrounding both the victim and the rapist. This book will make you think and it will make you angry, but it is such an important one to read.
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2017 Jessica | Booked J rated it really liked it

As a note, a printed galley of this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Let's start right off the bat with the topic at hand the trigger warning that is laying in the central plot. Wrecked tackles the subject of rape. This will not be for everyone. I need to lay that out there for my readers. Because, it is a sensitive topic. Remember, as always, to look into the novel and protect yourself from triggering any memor ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2016 Filipe rated it liked it · review of another edition

First of all I’d like to thank Algonquin Young Readers and Netgalley for giving a e-arc in exchange of a honest review.

This book focus on a teenager’s life that’s about to go bananas. It all starts when they are home from a party and the main character accuses a boy of having raped her. Jenny is the victim and Jordan is the supposed rapist. Then we have Haley and Richard who don’t know who to believe in so they stay alert to the police investigation.

At first I was really confused as to why her ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 16, 2016 Oswego Public Library District added it

Shelves: young-adult, realistic-fiction

When college freshman Haley sustains her third concussion she knows it’s the end of her soccer career so she heads back to her dorm to recuperate. The same night she sustains her injury, her roommate Jenny is raped at a campus party. Across campus, Richard’s housemate Jordan is bragging about how he hooked up with a freshman at that same party. When Richard and Haley become recruited as advisors for different sides in the sexual misconduct hearing, they become embroiled in the aftermath of a cam ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 28, 2017 Lianna rated it really liked it

Sexual assault, especially among young people and especially on college campuses is a very timely topic. Wrecked is a novel that takes on this difficult topic and gray areas that are all too often associated with it. Through alternating perspectives of two characters outside of the accuser and accused (I found this an interesting and novel way to tackle the topic), we watch the havoc that consent (or lack thereof), underage drinking, and the influence of others can have in this type of situation ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Readers Also Enjoyed

Genres

Young Adult

106 users

Contemporary

83 users

New Adult

34 users

Fiction

33 users

Realistic Fiction

27 users

See top shelves…

About Maria Padian

I'm a reader and an author: not a critic or a reviewer! I believe in the power of stories. So while I definitely have my opinions about the things I read, my primary goal is to share great books and promote literature, which is one of my great, abiding passions.

That said, I'm no longer going to affix stars to the books I read. I'll offer a comment or two, and maybe if I'm deliriously in love and ...more

More about Maria Padian...

Books by Maria Padian

Wrecked: Special Preview - The First 5 Chapters

More…

Share This Book

+ Share on your website

Trivia About Wrecked

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Wrecked

“Entitlement you could practically smell, like a fragrance.” — 0 likes

More quotes…

title link	preview: Wrecked
avg rating	preview: Wrecked Goodreads rating: 3.73 (733 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28110862-wrecked?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1468787253l/28110862.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28110862-wrecked?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Wrecked by Maria Padian[/url]

See a Problem?

Preview — Wrecked by Maria Padian

Wrecked

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Popular Answered Questions

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers Also Enjoyed

Genres

About Maria Padian

Books by Maria Padian

Share This Book

Share on your website

Trivia About Wrecked

Quotes from Wrecked