After being turned out Lex, known as Poppy, lives in a hotel with several other girls. When the police raid the hotel, she is hooked on drugs, malnourished, and completely untrusting of anyone around her. When her aunt takes her in, Lex is immediately wary, constantly wondering what her aunt wants from her. As she struggles to return to a normal life, Lex must fights her own urges and instincts to turn back to a familiar and drug fueled existence.

This was a well paced, interesting, and heartbreaking book. Lex felt completely realistic, she could have been anyone. Overall, well worth picking up. ( )

"Sometimes I think that's all life is𑁋just showing up."

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

What Unbreakable Looks Like made me RAGE, it made me sick to my stomach, and it made me want to get involved and do something. We need to permanently put an end to the trafficking of people, and it needs to be something the WORLD is talking about. It's not an issue you would think existed in 2020, BUT IT IS. The world is advanced! A better place, right? People aren't supposed to be treated like slaves, or forced to provide sexual acts for others against their will. These girls were repeatedly abused (raped, beaten, drugged) and made to feel hopeless and worthless.

I can't imagine seeing someone in Lex's situation (whether I was a legitimate visitor to the hotel, or just saw something while passing by) and not saying anything. How can you witness a CHILD being used against their will and simply look the other way? My stomach turns every time I think about mothers who are missing their daughters (and in some cases their sons), and eventually learning that their babies were trafficked for the pleasure of others.

It takes a really twisted motherfucker to do that to children, and it's disturbing how many of them get away with it. I know this book is fictional, but it's inspired by true events and people's stories. Lex wasn't kidnapped and brought to the motel. No, Mitch bought her expensive gifts and made her fall in love with him (a child who didn't have a lot, and who lived with an alcoholic mother). He made himself look like a hero in comparison, and he easily manipulated Lex into doing what he wanted. When she finally found her voice, it was too late. His claws were in too deep, and she didn't have anyone who'd care that she was missing. Even more disturbing, her mother and stepfather were friends with Mitch, and knew where she was. Her mother might not have known to what extent Lex was being used, but Frank definitely did.

My heart broke so many times while reading this book, and I don't think the shards will ever fully realign and repair themselves. I kept thinking, "What if this had been me? What if this happened to one of my girls? What would I do?" The story really hit me hard, and I think the author did an amazing job navigating the world of sex trafficking, and the impact it has on someone's mental and physical state. Lex was relatable, likable, and totally root-for-able. She didn't make stupid decisions once she started living with her aunt and uncle, like not telling them something they needed to know (at least... not for long), and I appreciated how honest she was about herself and her situation.

Lex has lost all sense of what it's like to be normal. She's struggling to come to terms with what happened to her, and to believe that her aunt and uncle want her around. She feels like a burden, or that something will happen and they'll decide she's not worth the trouble. I loved both Krys and Jamal, and I'm thankful they were there and willing to take Lex home and away from the world she'd previously known. They only ever showed her compassion, love, and kindness, and I think that helped her more than they realized. They didn't always understand what she was going through, but they were willing to listen, be patient, and learn. They wanted to give Lex everything she deserved and more, and I wish everyone had people like that in their lives. The world would be a better place for it.

The secondary characters were wonderfully written, and I loved both Elsa and Zack. They were there for Lex in a way she wasn't expecting, and their friendships (in addition to the love and acceptance from Krys and Jamal) did a lot to help Lex heal. They made her feel normal, and didn't pry into her past. They didn't make her talk about what she didn't want to discuss, and they never judged her decisions. Lex wasn't always great to Zack, letting her emotions rule her actions, but she always apologized, and he was understanding and forgiving. Both of her friends could relate𑁋to some extent𑁋to what she was going through, and I really enjoyed learning more about them as well.

Other characters, like Mike and his friends, or the people that visited Lex at the hotel, were people that brought out my anger and hated. They are despicable pieces of trash, and I really hope they all get what they deserve (fictional or not). The detective, doctors, therapist, principal, teachers𑁋all amazing. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to work with children who've been through something so traumatic, and it was heartwarming to see how much they truly cared about Lex and the other girls in this book.

What Unbreakable Looks Like is a hard read because it's based in truth. Everything that happened in this book is currently happening in the world (and probably on a more extreme level). I was absorbed in this story from the start, and my emotions ricocheted all over the place while I read it. If you can stomach the atrocities that happen in this story, I highly recommend reading it. It was an eye-opening experience, and something I think more people should be aware of. (★★★★★)

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What Unbreakable Looks Like follows Lex who was sex trafficked by her stepfather's friend whom she believed she was in love with. As the book continues, we follow her journey in healing from her past and learning how to not only trust and love other, but to let them love and trust her. We see Lex try to navigate through her new life and feelings as well as how others react when they learn about what she's been through.

This story really pulls you in until you finish the book. Every detail is so raw and real. In the beginning the book, we Lex at her most vulnerable and lowest, but as the story progresses, we see her struggle to get back on her feet. Although she does stumble here and there, she remains determined in her fight towards a better life. I love the progression of her mindset from being a victim, to a survivor, and finally into an activist.

I also liked that McLaughlin included a lesbian character in this book. It was nice to see a f/f relationship that was relatively normal.

One of the main things that kept coming up was how Lex could not have gotten to where she did without her aunt, uncle, friends, etc. aka her support system. I think this was a really good point to make because in real life, everyone needs a support system. People who don't have that are more likely to go down a dark path and it's really important for people to know that if they need help, they should reach out to the people around them. ( )

What Unbreakable Looks Like is a powerful story that will make you want to rise up and make a change in our society today. Human trafficking is a timely subject that is quietly happening in many cities. The book starts with a bang of action as 17 year old Lex is rescued from a motel. She is the lucky one who has someone to love her and help her readjust to "normal" teenage life. The first person narrative feels like a real life experience. Emotions are raw but mature. I was sure the author end note would tell us this was partially memoir, but it is fiction. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down! ( )

5 perfect stars!

I finished What Unbreakable Looks Like half an hour ago and I'm still emotional. Going into it, I didn't expect it to hit me this hard. I've gone through a lot of trauma - including sexual assault - and this is one of the first book I've read involving these topics that feels "real".

It was an emotional roller coaster. Lex, the narrator, is a victim and a survivor of sex trafficking. When you think about sex trafficking you might picture girls being kidnapped in foreign countries and sold for sex, but her story takes place close to home. With more and more stories on the news about sex trafficking just in our back yard, the importance of this book grows. The harsh truth is that this is happening every day to people just like us. It's happening right here. It could be happening next door.

Kate McLaughlin approaches the topic without holding anything back and I have so much respect for her because of it. Lex is a lovable character that I could instantly relate to. She doesn't feel manufactured. When she's rescued from her pimp, she instantly begins a journey full of denial, anger, resentment, and regret, but also growth, acceptance, survival, and love. Thanks to her Aunt Krys and a few amazing friends she makes at her new school, Lex is eventually able to learn that she's worth more than a cheap orgasm. I wanted nothing more than to reach through the pages and give her a hug while simultaneously punishing everyone who ever hurt her.

My only gripe is the transition from the past to present. There was no indicator of a timeline change, so the random jumps were a little frustrating. That's really a simple editing fix, though!

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of What Unbreakable Looks Like by Kate McLaughlin in exchange for my honest review.***

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