A haunting, hopeful coming-of-age story about surviving what you were never meant to endure — and finding power in your own voice.
When fifteen-year-old Raya is sent to live with her grandparents after her parents’ divorce, she expects boredom. Not betrayal. Not fear. Certainly not the kind of secrets that make your skin crawl.
Her grandfather is a charming drunk to the outside world — but behind closed doors, he crosses lines no child should ever know.
Her grandmother turns a blind eye, sweeping discomfort under a rug that’s already stained. Raya holds her silence so long, it starts to fester.
Then her mother reappears, newly remarried, and ready to take Raya overseas for a fresh start.
But instead of safety, Raya finds herself trapped once more — this time in the gaze of a stepfather whose eyes linger too long and whose friends laugh too loudly.
One night shatters everything.
But when Raya runs, a fast-food cashier with a sharp eye – and a sharper instinct – does something radical — she listens. That small act of belief becomes the first thread Raya uses to stitch herself back together.
With raw honesty, If Your Skin Crawls traces the quiet courage of one girl who refuses to let monsters define her, who learns that survival isn’t passive. It’s a fight. A scream. A reclamation.
⚠️ Trigger warning: This book contains depictions of abuse, grooming, and trauma recovery. Read with care.
💬 But also: Found family. Female friendship. Quiet rebellion. And the fierce beauty of finding your voice.
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