Review: Hauntingly beautiful story! 5 stars!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 1, 2013
Tara Spears' "The Darker Side of Trey Grey" is a hauntingly beautiful book following the harrowing journey of a young man (Trey) who has been struggling, tenuously holding onto the barest whisper of sanity, after a childhood of abuse, rape and forced prostitution by his stepfather, Willie.Although Trey has a scholarship to a good college, he still works the streets. He believes it's the only place he belongs and in a way, making the choice of his own free will is empowering  because he knows the tricks, and no one else, will ever really own him again. Despite appearances of doing well (particularly at school), Trey's OCD is out of control and his interactive nightmares replaying past horrors eventually push him over the edge. After his psychotic break, the school requires him to see a counselor, but what is the true catalyst in Trey attempting to get better is because of his surprising (and first ever) desire for another person: Justin.Justin has his own set of issues and together, through mutual understanding and affection (and eventually love), Trey makes incredible progress despite some shocking, wrenching and intense bumps along the road. And although there isn't a happily ever after (ends in a way guaranteeing a continuation), there is certainly hope on the horizon.This book is chilling; waves of sympathetic fear and pity will be your constant companion throughout, but it is rewarding too. Trey and Justin are two people who reach through the pages (or screen, rather) and demand your attention, and your love. They are broken but not irrevocably so. Individually they are strong, but it's when they're together that you know they can make it.There was a few mistakes here and there with tenses, but I honestly don't care. The story, these people, are so profoundly powerful that it didn't matter. If there was anything else glaringly wrong, I didn't notice. Not a moment was boring or unnecessary; I couldn't put it down and I read it in one day; it is truly that good.