CAM GIRL
LEAH RAEDER
Vada Bergen is broke, the black sheep of her family, and moving a thousand miles away from home for grad school, but she’s got the two things she loves most: her art and her best friend—and sometimes more—Ellis Carraway. Ellis and Vada have a friendship so consuming it’s hard to tell where one girl ends and the other begins. It’s intense. It’s a little codependent. And nothing can tear them apart. Until an accident on an icy winter road changes everything.
Vada is left deeply scarred, both emotionally and physically. Her once-promising art career is cut short. And Ellis pulls away, unwilling to talk about that night. Everything Vada loved is gone. She’s got nothing left to lose.
Vada is left deeply scarred, both emotionally and physically. Her once-promising art career is cut short. And Ellis pulls away, unwilling to talk about that night. Everything Vada loved is gone. She’s got nothing left to lose.
So when she meets some smooth-talking entrepreneurs who offer to set her up as a cam girl, she can’t say no. All Vada has to do is spend a couple hours each night stripping on webcam, and the “tips” come pouring in.
It’s just a kinky escape from reality until a client gets serious. “Blue” is mysterious, alluring, and more interested in Vada’s life than her body. Online, they chat intimately. Blue helps her heal. And he pays well, but he wants her all to himself. No more cam shows. It’s an easy decision: she’s starting to fall for him. But the steamier it gets, the more she craves the real man behind the keyboard. So Vada pops the question: Can we meet IRL?
Blue agrees, on one condition. A condition that will bring back a ghost from her past.
Now Vada must confront what she’s been running from. A past full of devastating secrets—those of others and those she’s been keeping from herself…
Leah Rader has easily become one of my new favorite authors. The intensity and gritty truth that she puts into her novels Is undeniable and refreshing. The fact that she broaches on subjects that aren’t in the “norm” is just one of the more admirable qualities that she has as well. I will never hesitate to pick up a Raeder book, because I know I’ll instantaneously fall in awe with the passion behind her words.
With that being said, this is one of those hard reviews to write. I’m not exactly sure where my emotions lie with this novel. Did I love it? Yes. But putting into words the feels that you get from reading this is unexplainable in words. I have to say that all of Leah’s works are the same way for me. I’m literally blown away with every page I read from every novel that she writes. As I come out of reading one of Leah’s novels I feel like I’m left in a haze of confusing emotions. There is literally no connection from my brain to my mouth to tell you how I feel.
The way that Leah transforms words to art and art to words is stunning. I literally can’t even. I’m not really understanding of art, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate it and dabble in things myself. The way that the art is described in this novel is exquisite. I felt like I understood everything. The colors and the meaning behind the artful phases that I never in a million years could think I could relate to, I related to. The simplicity of the imagery is astonishing, because it’s not at all simple; it’s complex. However that doesn’t stop you from loving every word.
Honestly, there’s nothing I can tell you about this book that wouldn’t be spoiling it. So for that reason, all I can say is that I loved it, and that you need to read this. The raw emotions that run through you because of these characters is incomparable to anything. I will say that I definitely had my issues with some of the characters, but everyone is entitled to have their moments. At times I hated Vada, but then I couldn’t get enough of her. Read this. You’ll see what I mean, or what I haven’t said… and you’ll understand why I haven’t said it.
Leah Raeder, I swear to god you make me question my own sexuality with every book you write. That’s probably one of the more significant things that I adore about you. Not only is she challenging and bold, but artistic and not afraid to push the limits or boundaries on subjects that aren’t so widely talked about. My imaginary hat tips off to you.
Leah Raeder is a writer and unabashed nerd. She is also the USA Today bestselling author of Unteachable and Black Iris. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago. Visit her at www.leahraeder.com.
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