The Day My Soul Died by Rishi Vohra

The quick cut: A girl living in Mumbai finds her life shattered after a sexual assault. 

A real review: 

  Thank you to the author for providing the arc for an honest review.

 We all have moments that shape our lives and change the direction we take. While we all hope that these moments are uplifting ones, they often can be negative or dark in nature. How do you react to the dark ones? This is the struggle for Sunaina. 

 Sunaina's life is on the right track. She's got a supportive family, an amazing boyfriend, and a job that keeps her bills paid. While she has her struggles, her life is good. When she decides to improve her life by going to a gym, it all goes horribly wrong when she ends up sexually assaulted. She trusts the justice system and reports the crime, but ends up dismissing the case after substantial pressure from those in power. Can she rebuild her life? 

 This book discusses a very dark but true reality: sexual assault is a highly stigmatized crime for the victim still. While in America, that stigma is beginning to change, it's still a significant issue in countries where women are seen as second class citizens. 

 Sunaina is relatable on so many levels. She has her successes, but she also has her goals too and a vision for her future. She wants more than to just be married off and have a family. Seeing that life she imagined get completely thrown off course is devastating and the pain she struggles with is real. 

 The great part about the story here is that it isn't picture perfect. The victim isn't taking it in stride. Justice is flawed at best and for some, they buy their privilege of not meeting it. Where too many stories paint a rosy picture, this one gets realistic. 

 Prisons are filled with "criminals" who are victims of crimes themselves. Too many times, we imprison our populations who need mental health services instead of addressing the true problem. It's an unfortunate reality that a few people are trying to address and change. 

 The story here is powerful, raw, and your heart will break. It will change you too in the best possible way. 

 A powerful sexual assault story that will change your perspective. 

My rating: 5 out of 5