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''Crush'' is a deeply compelling story and Will is no one-dimensional abuser. He has his own backstory and his own problems, which Ainsworth gradually reveals through short passages told from his point of view interspersed through the main narrative. So we can pity him even while our main sympathies lie with Anna, who is crying out for love and attention but finds the wrong kind. I liked Anna a great deal. She is a strong character and she defies the stereotype that only weak people find themselves in abusive situations. She just falls in love. That's all. And it's awful to see her undermined by Will. You're rooting for her to see the light more and more as you turn each page.
Ainsworth has worked in child protection and the resulting clear sight informs this story, which is honest and non-judgemental and very, very truthful. It's also beautifully written, with sensitive descriptions of feelings and violent situations alike. And the dialogue is great - never stilted or used for info dumps. I think ''Crush'' will have a big impact on readers. It certainly did on me. We need stories like this: ones that lay out layout how abusive relationships develop and the awful effects they can have. But also stories that show there ''is'' a way through them and into the light.
Recommended.
[[Meet Me At The Boathouse by Suzanne Bugler]] also explores abusive relationships with both honesty and sensitivity. We also liked [[Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas]], which is told in poetry.
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