Paulette Stout

This is the story of Rebecca. She is single and lives along after her roommate Barbara moves out. One night as she is arriving home for the evening, she runs into a young man who is visiting his aunt. There is instant chemistry between them but she figures they will never see each other again. Shortly afterward, she comes home to find him moving boxes into the apartment and she helps him and learns that he is moving in with his aunt who had recently fallen. Rebecca has known Kyle’s aunt since she was little. She and Kyle start flirting and then dating.
Rebecca’s previous boyfriend had told her that she is a “frigid ice queen” because she can’t have an orgasm. She finds a clinical study and goes for a few weeks but then quits because she just didn’t feel right.
This book delves into the relationship between Rebecca and Kyle. His former fiancée, Vivian, and Rebecca’s former boyfriend, Ethan, both come into play in the story too. They each cause a little friction between Rebecca and Kyle. It also discusses Rebecca’s struggle with her sexuality.
I also read the prequel “Love, Only Better All About Kyle” – a short story that goes into Kyle’s life in California and eventual relocation back to NYC to live with his aunt.… (altro)

Rebecca, the protagonist of What We Never Say by Paulette Stout, has finally come into her own. For most of her life she has been insecure about her sex life. She ended up seeing a sex therapist and then decided to start writing a blog about her experiences of lack thereof. She gets noticed by a popular fashion magazine, MOD, and they ask her to write an article for publication.
Kyle, her boyfriend, is concerned about the article but does not want Rebecca to do it. He has secrets from his past he would rather not share. But he does with Rebecca. Turns out he was a model in the past and had been sexually molested by the head lady. Yes, I said lady. This "lady" gets in touch with Kyle hoping to rekindle their "relationship". Kyle is of course reluctant because of the scars the relationship left with him. He has had therapy and found out that he was not the only one with a history with his abuser.
Rebecca and Kyle concoct a plan to expose her. Kyle goes with his abuser to a Gala and exposes her with a tape that he had done in her apartment while getting ready for the Gala. What ensues is he said, she said scenario. Are Kyle and Rebecca successful? There are a few other characters in the story, including Kyle's sister, who is getting married but does not like Rebecca. Rebecca is included in the wedding party, of which she would rather not be, but she goes along with the dress shopping, rehearsals etc. The sister has secrets of her own and Rebecca finds out about them and wants to help her as much as she can.
This book is a sequel, of which I did not know, but that is ok. I enjoyed the story a lot as it was really about sexual abuse instead of man on woman it was just the opposite, woman on man. I think that the author handled this sensitive topic with empathy and a real caring for Kyle. This is not just another romantic book; it is so much more than that.
I liked the book well enough to give it 5 stars.
I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.… (altro)

Kyle Dillon believes he has finally moved on from the sexual abuse he received from his boss when he was a model. Now, as a food photographer, Kyle has a steady career and a loving girlfriend, Rebecca. Rebecca had personal troubles of her own, but since therapy has overcome them. On the side Rebecca blogs about overcoming her troubles on Bedroom Diaries. Her site gains the attention of the magazine, MOD and Rebecca happily jumps into a new endeavor. However, she learns that the executive at MOD is exactly who hurt Kyle. Rebecca thinks there is no way that they'll be connected, but Rebecca's involvement with MOD takes a toll on Kyle. Luckily, Kyle is also going to counseling. The secrets that Kyle and Rebecca have kept come to a head as Kyle's sister's wedding approaches and soon become unavoidable.

What We Never Say is hard hitting contemporary fiction. Centering around male survivors of sexual abuse, but covering a wide variety of issues such as seeking help, female pleasure and reporting abusers, What We Never Say covers a lot of topics in one story. Opening right into the action as Rebecca discovers a secret from Kyle's past, the entire book carries a tumultuous undercurrent as secrets are revealed to the reader that not all of the characters know. Suspense was created as the consequences of all of the secrets began to unravel and affect the lives of every character. Each of the characters were very realistic and flawed in some way. While I definitely didn't agree with all of their decisions, it made for a fast paced entertaining read. In the end, everyone did receive the help that they needed and actions were accounted for.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (altro)

Rebecca may not think she was a brave woman, but she was, really and truly. It takes a lot to admit you have a problem, but to own it and do something about it, that's where the real winners are uncovered. She was treated badly in her relationships in the past, and over something that really had no baring on the other person, but it did directly affect her...and if she wasn't complaining, who were they to? Watching her feelings get hurt by even those she called friend, seeing her try medical advice, and then undertaking a place on that unusual study, understanding that while her interactions with Kyle stoked something, she was still far from where she wanted to be...all of these steps and missteps went into creating a character WITH character; someone that readers could feel a connection with, even if they didn't relate to her struggles, and ride the emotional rollercoaster by her side.

All in all, the story does well not only to entertain as any Contemporary Fiction, or Women's Fiction title should, but it also informs, and brings awareness to an issue that has long been there and still is, but remains shuddered behind closed hearts and minds. There's no harm in seeking help for anything that ails you, so why should there be when you have a mental or emotional block keeping you from fully experiencing everything love has to offer? Rebecca is a character that certainly champions this issue for women, and her relationship with Kyle, though it had its disastrous moments, felt realistic enough to root for. I still feel that the book is better aimed at adult readers due to content as there are frank sexual discussions and some between the covers scenes, but once you've hit the age of majority, I'd say it's fair game.


**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own… (altro)