If sexual shenanigans disqualified candidates for Congress, the U.S. would have no government. But what if the candidate wasn’t a garden-variety adulterer? What if he was a pro-choice Republican supported by feminist groups – and also a college rapist whose secret could be exposed by a leading women’s rights advocate? One woman’s choice could determine control of the Senate, the course of a friendship, and the fate of a marriage.
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Book Excerpt
Enjoy a preview of Again and Again.
“Ellen Bravo’s Again and Again is a riveting page-turner that tackles some of the most important issues of our day — campus sexual violence, male privilege, and beltway politics. She takes on these issues with a deeply sympathetic eye for both the short-term and long-term harmful effects of rape on survivors as well as those who are its secondary victims, friends, family members, and romantic partners. That she does so with such sensitivity and insight is already a huge feat, but that she provides us with models of accountability and social justice is what makes this novel both a pleasurable, indispensable and timely read for us all.”
— Salamishah Tillet, Co-Founder of A Long Walk Home
Testimonials
ORDER Again and Again: A Novel on Amazon
Each of us, women included, has a right to make decisions about our own body; we only gain power and community when we act together; there’s no such thing as an innocent bystander — all these core concepts of common sense and feminism come to vibrant and subtle life in Again and Again. This new novel by Ellen Bravo will be your friend — and the perfect gift for any book club, college student, or moment when you need growth, support and the pleasure of an important story well told.
— Gloria Steinem, author and activist
Ellen Bravo’s debut novel is like she is — brave, poignant, tough, assured. The story tugs you in, and doesn’t let go. If you’re banished to a desert island this coming season, take some good sunscreen, and this novel.
— Jacquelyn Mitchard, author, The Deep End of the Ocean
Again and Again, Ellen Bravo delivers the nearly impossible: a fast, funny romp about friendship, activism, what happens when the personal and political collide, and the difficult choices made by rape survivors regarding when and if to come forward. With humor, pathos, and a keen eye for political and human detail, Bravo takes a graceful and rewarding leap from non-fiction to a rollicking, pitch perfect debut novel. Bravo!
— Mary Lowry, author, Wildfire
A political thriller with heart, Again and Again forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about personal and institutional culpability in sexual violence. Ellen Bravo presses fast-forward on today’s conversations about campus sexual violence to confront what it means — for victims and for our country — for young rapists to grow into powerful men. The novel offers insight not only into hotly debated political issues but to universal questions of memory, trauma, and sacrifice.
— Alexandra Brodsky, Co-Founder, Know Your IX
Again and Again, an unusual, honest exploration of college rape comes at a time when this crucial subject is finally coming to light. Gifted writer Ellen Bravo tells an important and difficult story with courage, with humor, and with heart.
— Esther Cohen, author, Book Doctor
Ellen Bravo has written an insightful, motivating, and, dare I say it, entertaining novel about one of our most pressing social problems. Highly recommend.
–Rinku Sen, publisher, Colorlines
Reviews
A selection of reviews – Again and Again.
- “Again and Again is an emotionally powerful book with so many vital ideas packed in the pages…” Read more at Jen’s Book Thoughts
- “This is a VERY intricate and complex realistic look at rape, rape survivors and attackers… A book serving as a tool demonstrating the damages of rape/date rape – emotionally, psychologically, physically, the difficulties legally through compelling and empathetic characters…” Read more at Raven Haired Girl
- “…excellent book. I’ve been on a kick with books revolving around the political and justice system and I’m always left feeling a little bit jaded. …
But I highly recommend this. I think you’ll really enjoy it.” Read more at Sara’s Organized Chaos - “Again and Again will definitely make you angry, it will make you think about what you would do if you were in Deborah’s place and there was not a clear “right” answer, and it will make you want to hand it to every college-bound young woman (or man) you know. Finally, it will make you turn the pages–eager to get to the end to learn the resolution, and you will still be thinking about it long after the last page is turned.” Read more at Kahakai Kitchen.
- “A political drama with an interesting twist…. This is Ellen Bravo’s first fiction and I loved it!” Read more at Kritters Ramblings.
- “Again and Again is a thoughtful, well written novel about the effects of date rape, how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go. I encourage anyone to read this.” Read more at Girls Just Reading.
- “I think what touched me the most about this book is how easily rape can be swept under the rug….But what really had me captivated was the friendship between Deborah and her best friend and roommate Liddie. This book moves between their college days and their present day as adults and despite the very heavy topics there is also a lot of heart. Ellen Bravo did a great job of winding the two together. Pick this book up and take the time to really read it. It’s important and it’s so good.” Read more at Why Girls are Weird.
- “Again and Again was a real eye opener into the reality of life as a rape victim. Not an easy topic to address, Ellen Bravo handled it with aplomb…. I found it a little bit unbelievable that the story her first as the writing was so wonderful.” Read more at Novel Escapes.