Date: November 2, 2025
Author: Jessica Knoll
Genre: psychological thriller, mystery, contemporary fiction
This story reminded me of children growing up too fast and wanting to act like adults. I totally understand the thought process though, as I too am from the same generation as Mz. Knoll’s cast of characters.
Raped when Ani was 13 by a party full of young boys that were drunk and high. Not knowing, or not caring, that the word no is in fact a full sentence. The story progresses from there and begins disclosing information about an up-and-coming documentary that adult Ani was to appear in. Mz. Knoll does a great job of keeping the subject of the film a secret til the very end when she drops it into the readers lap like a bomb!
I love that Ani, the main character, told her truth in the documentary and was able to finally embrace her given name. A name she’d shied away from. A name that had attached to it all sorts of negative connotations. I love that by the end of the story Ani was able to truly own who she was.
I definitely suggest to add this story and any others by Mz. Jessica Knoll to your reading bucket list!