Fiction
Simon and Schuster
March 28, 2017
Audiobook
320
From master storyteller Amy Hatvany—whose writing has been hailed as “gripping and emotionally honest” (Stephanie Evanovich, New York Times betselling author)—comes a provocative and compelling novel about two friends whose lives are changed by a drunken kiss.
I want to rewind the clock, take back the night when the world shattered. I want to erase everything that went wrong.
Amber Bryant and Tyler Hicks have been best friends since they were teenagers—trusting and depending on each other through some of the darkest periods of their young lives. And while Amber has always felt that their relationship is strictly platonic, Tyler has long harbored the secret desire that they might one day become more than friends.
Returning home for the summer after her college graduation, Amber begins spending more time with Tyler than she has in years. Despite the fact that Amber is engaged to her college sweetheart, a flirtation begins to grow between them. One night, fueled by alcohol and concerns about whether she’s getting married too young, Amber kisses Tyler.
What happens next will change them forever.
In alternating points of view, It Happens All the Time examines the complexity of sexual dynamics between men and women and offers an incisive exploration of gender roles, expectations, and the ever-timely issue of consent.
WrensReads Review:
This book absolutely breaks my heart.
“There are some wounds unreachable by words,
some sins immune to apology.”
This is one of the hardest reviews to write because I feel like this has actually happened and it probably has actually happened to many women across the world. rape is a real thing. It isn’t just a scary story to tell your children.
This book can get graphic and it probably has some triggers for people who have been through similar situations. I would read it at your own risk. As for everyone else, you need to read this book because it brings to light so many things that people say are “in the grey area” but are completely and utterly in the black and white situation. Consent is not in a grey area. Yes or No. White or Black.
I don’t even think this is going to be a review on this book at this point, but I am going to try my absolute best to make it more about the book. We have two points of view: Amber Bryant and Tyler Hicks. The two of them go way back and are family friends and more importantly best friends.
Amber used to have a huge eating disorder (whole other topic I wish I could dive into) (and also, this book portrays that excellently [coming from someone who would know]) and has a dream of helping athletes and training them to be their best. Tyler is a parametric and just wants to be able to help people.
Tyler also “knows” Amber is his soulmate and doesn’t know why she is engaged to someone who is not him, but he keeps quiet because he would rather have her in his life than not have her at all.
“I want to rewind the clock, take back the night when the world shattered. I want to erase everything that went wrong.”
Amber starts to see Tyler with different eyes and on the Fourth of July at a party, starts to flirt with him and makes a move. Tyler, who has problems containing his anxiety, is beyond ready to grab this moment and show Amber he is the one for her.
But what about when she wants to stop? When she comes to her senses? When she wants to leave? When she doesn’t want to go any further? When she says no?
“The world is full of seemingly nice guys who assault women.
Guys who don’t have healthy attitudes about women and sex in general,
who see sex as something they are entitled to,
who hurt women and don’t even know they are doing
it because we don’t educate our young men on
how not to become rapists.”
I know what it feels like to have someone take over your control and you feel worthless. This book… portrays the after effects on both sides of the equation. Of a guy who didn’t think he did anything wrong and a girl who deals with the pieces left after the night that changed her life forever. It isn’t for the light-hearted. But I do believe it is a book that everyone needs to read eventually.
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