Cam GirlAuthor: Leah Raeder
Published by: Atria Books
Publication Date: November 3, 2015
Format: eARC
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher
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.
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
I swear, Leah Raeder’s writing fucks with my emotions. It’s extremely hard for me to express my feelings, especially when it comes to something I connect with so deeply with. All of her books have hit me in some very profound way, and I get this huge churning storm of feelings and emotions that I struggle to let out. It’s just easier for me to swallow them and keep them hidden away. I also feel like whatever I say won’t come anywhere near what I truly feel, because a pathetic “I love it” just won’t do.
Listen, Cam Girl isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. In order to get to the light, Raeder takes her characters through the gritty darkness. I love every minute of it!
Leah Reader is without a doubt an artist. I think there are authors who write amazing books, but then there are those who genuinely make it into a piece of art. Her writing is gorgeous. And the way she incorporated Vada’s artwork was done beautifully.
While her books take place in the same universe that have connecting characters, they all have a different feel to them. I get super giddy seeing certain characters from previous books appear or get mentioned.
There’s some suspense and mystery that had me totally intrigued and wondering what was really going on. Raeder brings it all together wonderfully though.
Gah! Raeder’s books do this to me every time. There’s so, so much to love about Cam Girl, but I can’t seem to form coherent thoughts. So just know that it is an absolutely stunning read!
My love is savage and rapacious. It isn’t content to touch. It wants to be inside, crawl into the marrow, caress each vein until the cells are all mixed up and there is no you and me anymore, no secrets or shadows sliding between our skin. Only this endless devouring of each other.
I can’t wait to read Cam Girl, now that I’ve read Black Iris and I know what you’re raving about! Glad you enjoyed it.
I love how the stories are easily distinguishable. I should add that this book is more sexually explicit than BI since she’s involved in a … sexual profession.
Yes! This was such a great book. I agree Raeder’s writing is totally art and gorgeous. Which is why I can’t wait to read her other stuff! Great review!
Yup, read the rest!
She’s the best author! And yes, it’s hard to form coherent thoughts while writing a review of a book written by such an amazing author. Mine is not coherent and it’s horrible but I hope it gets the message across haha Lovey review!
And especially when parts hit on such a personal level.
I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about her writing, Christy, but I don’t know what it is about her books, but they just don’t draw me in. I think it might be the hype and the author’s attitude towards certain things.
I’m glad that this was another winner for you! 🙂
Lovely review!
You should listen to the hype. Her books hit me on a very personal level, so they mean a lot to me. As for Leah herself, I totally crush on her.
I’m all about light and fluffy for the moment Christy, so a read that messes with my emotions is probably more than I can handle, but this is going on the list for sure. I need to check out the other books too! Glad this was such an epic read for you:)
Oh, Jenny, you have got to read this. Black Iris is my favorite, but this one is really good.
I love emotional reads, Christy, and if I have to go through the dark and gritty with the characters to find the light, I’m all for it! This sounds amazing, and I’m sure it will be like an emotional rollercoaster for me! Thanks for sharing, and for adding yet another book to my TBR shelf.
It’s emotional for me because of the connection I feel to the characters and story, so it’s hard for me to judge how emotional it would be for other readers. It might get dark and gritty, but it beautifully done.
The suspense and mystery sounds great
It was really good.
I have no idea why it is taking me so long to pick up one of her books. I think I am intimidated by all the emotion she seems to bring to the table. Not that I don’t like intense books but they are books I really have to space out or else MAJOR BOOK SLUMPS. Gahh
You have to try her books, Sarah. The amount of emotions has a lot to do with me personally, so I’m not sure how it is for other readers. lol/
I still haven’t read Black Iris. This one sounds very interesting. I like the sound of the characters.
recently seeing this book everywhere, I hear its very… deep
The blurb on on this did not grab me at all but I’ve seen a couple of positive reviews and you make it sound this is a book and author not to be missed! Great review!
I guess I should try her then 🙂
Only you can pull off the F-bomb in the first few sentences and it works. I’m jealous. This author is so totally YOU!!!
I love it and sometimes love to hate it when authors do that to you. You know it is so good but it just tears you up. Hm… I do think I need to get a book by this author.
Crap have I tried this author yet? I so need to if I haven’t! Wonderful review Christy, I can tell this story meant a lot to you.
It’s great when a book can inflict so many emotions in you when reading, although it sounds a bit intense. Those books that you love so much and made you feel so many things are the hardest to review. I often enjoy reading about artistic characters, it makes for a fun hobby/ passion to read about I think. It sounds like the mystery/ suspense element worked really well to. Great review!
I’ve never read any books by this author. I think I need to try to pick one up soon. Great review.
Awesome review! Gonna be reviewing this one next week so it’s great seeing so many enjoy it. I agree about Leah’s writing. It definitely is like art 🙂
The quote in the end is a great touch. Will definitely read this 🙂
I do not have the courage to read her books. I know. I’m a chicken. :/
C’mon, Joy, I want you to read her books so freaking bad. I think you’d appreciate the poetic aspect of Black Iris and the artistic one in this. I promise it isn’t like the heartbreaking emotions. They’re not sad or anything. Seriously, just read one.
Wow girl! This book seems to have you all riled up! Love the ones that leave you flabbergasted! I think I need to take the plunge and try Leah Raeder’s work!
I LOVED THIS ONE SO MUCH!!! Raeder’s writing is so poetic. Though dark and haunting, it’s also touching yet totally messes with my mind throughout. This was my favorite of hers so far. So much love for this book!! 🙂
I want to read this author so freaking bad thanks to you and Kim!! OMG, this book sounds amazing. I can’t even be mean to you because it sounds so good.
I am really digging your new design, too.
I’ve heard so many great things about Black Iris and Leah Raeder. I’ll definitely have to pick up something by her!! I like this darker contemporary style even though it’s not something that I gravitate towards. But seeing your review, I’m keen to try it out.
Wow! I’ve never read anything by Leah Reader but after reading a review for one of her other books and now yours, I’ll have to jump on the bandwagon. This is what NA should be about, A storyline. It’s far darker than I would normally read but super excited to grab a copy now that it’s been released. Awesome review Christy and so glad you loved this one so much, it sounds really lyrical as well, which always sucks me in <3
I can not wait to read this. Her books just dig down so deep and mix everything up!!!
I absolutely love Leah Raeder. Black Iris is one of my favorite books read this year. This one was not as good, but I still loved it. Raeder is an amazing author and creates characters that are flawed, but still very likable.
Oh my! I need to catch up with her books!
*deep sigh* There are too many books that wanna come home with me today. Too many books.
I completely fell in love with Leah when I first read Unteachable back in I believe 2012. Just off of that book alone she became one of my favorite authors, and I’m so glad I’m reading Black Iris and Cam Girl this and next month. I really love how she pushes the envelope, and forces you to see the nitty gritty of people and relationships. I so can’t wait to read this!
Yeah, Unteachable was fantastic. I love how the three books have overlapping characters, are very different from each other. Black Iris is my favorite. Hope you love them just as much.
Wow, the writing does look amazing! But these emo reads scare me. I like my unemotional robot thing I have going.
Oh hell, Jennifer, don’t be discouraged by my emotional reaction to it. It’s just that they hit me on a personal level. You should absolutely try her books. They are dark and gritty, and … whoa! lol. Black Iris is my favorite. Cam Girl is the most sexually explicit and involves some breath play. Seriously, you need to read some Raeder.
That quote just gives me all the feels all over again. She sure does have a way with words.
This is exactly what I keep hearing. I did read her first book and was pretty pleased so I’m thinking this one will do the same. Nice review! Don’t you just love when you can connect with a book like that?!