Asking For It by Louise O'Neill

Emma is gang raped at a party. Photos are taken and posted on social media. How do you ever leave the house again when everyone from the boy you fancy to your local parish priest, your parents to your teachers, have all seen them? This is a powerful novel. Emma is no angel. She can be a bit of a cow, in fact. But what happens to her is appalling and unjustifiable. And as her life unravels she is faced with a variety of attitudes that we all recognise, from a defence of the ‘lad’ culture to the social isolation of her family. Prepare for a tough read. But do read it. It’s the most important book I’ve read for a long time.