Really more like a novella at 154 pages, easily read in a couple of hours. This book was recommended to me by a couple of people. 
 Rape, a love story has an unusual perspective where Bethie is remembering/retelling the story to herself so a lot of the text is in second person narrative. I always find it takes me awhile to 'settle in' to 2nd person and it was the case with this book too. 
 After Bethie's mother is brutally raped, Bethie must cope with the aftermath - her mother's declining health and victim shaming via the press and legal trial. Despite this her love for her mother and the police officer who was first on the scene shine throughout the book offering a glimmer of hope amongst the horror of what happened. 
 This book is very short. Too short really for such an emotional subject. The ending felt rushed (particularly Teena's postcard)and I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more plot and character development.