Asking For It

the bestselling novel from feminist powerhouse Louise O'Neill

By: Louise O'Neill

Narrated by: Aoife McMahon

'A soul-shattering novel that will leave your emotions raw. This story will haunt me forever. Everyone should read it' Guardian

In a small town where everyone knows everyone, Emma O'Donovan is different. She is the special one - beautiful, popular, powerful. And she works hard to keep it that way.

Until that night . . .

Now, she's an embarrassment. Now, she's just a slut. Now, she is nothing.

And those pictures - those pictures that everyone has seen - mean she can never forget.

For fans of Caitlin Moran, Marian Keyes and Jodi Picoult.

BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2015. The award-winning, bestselling novel about the life-shattering impact of sexual assault, rape and how victims are treated.

(P)2017 WF Howes Ltd©2015 Louise O'Neill

Critic reviews

'Riveting and essential'

Brilliant, harrowing

A brutal and shocking novel that strikes to the heart of the current debates around consent

'Establishes Louise O'Neill as a literary tour de force'

A difficult, confronting and vital read

Heartbreakingly accurate . . . handled with both sensitivity and unflinching honesty. A compelling and brave story that deserves to be read by all

A stunning portrait of a girl, a family and a town in trouble

A brutal, unflinching look at the culture of slut-shaming and trial by social media. It broke my heart.

A brave and important book about rape culture, sexism and victim-blaming in modern society.

Bold, brave . . . and brutal

O'Neill has a keen ear for the catty argot of teenage girls and her writing is razor sharp . . . unsparing and unsentimental

A razor-sharp look at gender issues - Glasgow Herald

Riveting . . . a timely, gripping and vital novel.

A nuanced and insightful commentary on the intricacies of teenage female friendship and the internal and external pressures that young women face as they reach adulthood

Blistering, unapologetic and vitally important (Anna James)

This unflinching, timely novel asks important questions about rape culture, sexism and social media abuse, tackling taboo themes with subtlety and sensitivity (Anita Sethi)

Emotional wonderfulness

When I heard about this book, I knew I want to listen to it. And it was a really great decision.

I got emotional many times (I almost cried at times).

I would describe it as a painful picture of the reality.