In Other News has been out for over a month now, and the last few weeks have been nothing short of life changing. I’ve received messages, tags, and reviews from people all over the world who have connected with my book—a story I wrote all on my own—and the heartwarming, butterflies-in-my-stomach sensation never ceases to blow me away.
No words can describe how much it means to have people read my book, let alone enjoy it. When I was writing and editing In Other News, there were times when I would just close my eyes, think ahead to this day, and dream of a stranger reaching out to me to say they enjoyed my characters. And here I am, and it feels so surreal.
I’d like to think of myself as an optimistic person on the outside but I am sometimes guilty of beating myself up over the small stuff. But I’m really proud of myself for how this all came together. And I’m forever grateful for everyone who has read my book thus far. Your kind words and feedback have changed my life.
Too often, we focus on our shortcomings more than our successes. Don’t do that. Take a step back, be proud of all you’ve accomplished, and allow yourself to enjoy the moment. And don’t be afraid to share it with everyone else because you didn’t reach this point alone. Never forget the people who helped you along the way.
Below are some of the reviews I’ve received for In Other News thus far.
What an amazing and emotional book. I was blown away by the intense feelings and emotional angst and heartbreak. The ostracization and feelings of being an outcast. The instant judgment, the bullying, innuendo, the fear ripped at my heart and I cried. Ugly tears and my heart broke. This is not a happy ever after and I am sad because of it. You want the rainbow and the happy ever after and it isn’t real life and people live this every day. Thank you for writing this and sharing. It matters and makes a difference.
I fell in love with Dale Robbins’ storytelling from the get go. His characters felt real, and their emotions grabbed me. Their dialogue, action, and thought drew me into the lives right away, investing me.
I thought I was just reading a good story, and at the end, I realized with surprising inevitability that I had participated in a movement of justice.
I can’t wait to see reform. I can’t wait to read more from Dale Robbins.
This was a compelling story about a sensitive topic. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in two days. It’s been a long time since I read a book that kept me so interested that I felt like I wanted to bring it to work with me so I could read more on my lunch hour. Dale Robbins is an excellent storyteller with vivid characters. I highly recommend you read this book!
A topic that I assume isn’t often talked about yet Dale Robbins has the bravery to bring it to the forefront. A young, new author with a bright future. I can’t wait to watch him grow and mature in to one of the great novelists of our time with his fresh, modern day views of the world we live in. The suspense builds slowly, but once it hits its stride, you won’t be able to put the book down!
This one is a real page turner! Very well written, suspenseful, and kept me on my toes. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for wave of emotions and real subjects that are not talked about enough. Happy reading guys!
Marlon is having a hard time at school. With the trial coming up he is trying to get by but everyone has to talk and push the issue. Marlon deals with bullying and being attacked when he is in public. This is a very emotional story with real issues. This story shows how an abused person deals with his life. Marlon goes through life and is confronted by different people. How will the trial go? Who will win in the end?
I was super excited to get my copy and when I received it, I didn’t want to put it down. It took me two sittings to finish, and it left me wanting more. I recommend this book to anyone that enjoy
books about real life situations. Dale touched on a very serious issue that many people do not talk about. Definitely sit down and read, you won’t be disappointed.
What an amazing book!!!!
Author Dale Robbins pulls at your heart strings with this emotionally gripping read. The character development really allows you to get as close as humanly possible to a character that outside of Dale’s mind wouldn’t exist. You feel, you wonder, you cry and maybe even die a little inside when you realize just how accurate this writing is (especially when compared side by side to our current society).
In Other News is about so much more than just characters, its a reflection of our culture, character and so much more. I am not one to spoil a book for others so I wont go into any details and I honestly wouldn’t want to because this is a book you have to experience.
Dale has given this genre a soul and has written something about the LGBTQ that speaks to any and everyone willing to read.
Marlon is the victim of rape, and that’s just the beginning of his trauma. In Other News tackles a scourge of the justice system: the treatment of those brave enough to report sexual assault and the reliving of the nightmare through the bullying, disbelief and downright misinformation of others.
Robbins, unusually, has grounded the story from the point of view of the gay male victim, but, as a straight woman, I never felt any alienation or disconnect here, feeling empathy and sympathy for the horrors endured during and after the attack.
The course of media intrusion, social media poison and the weight of statistics against justice should, rightfully, make any reader angry and Robbins manages this feat without ever resorting to being graphic.
For me, at least, it had the sense of being written for a younger audience and would work well as a way to begin the discussion in a college setting.
Not an easy read, but a necessary and timely one.
Dale Robbins has perfectly encapsulated what I always wanted to say about the horrors of the justice system when it comes to sexual assault victims. And to make what could have been a cut and dry statement about these injustices, Robbins did something even braver by anchoring it from the viewpoint of a gay character, but not at the expense of more traditional victims and by giving us a multi-faceted, complicated case which feels as real any story in the news.
This book is important. Without giving anything else away, I recommend it to readers of all ages, orientations and tastes. Once in a while, one book comes along that makes us question what side of the argument we’re on.
This is the one. Just get it.
I highly recommend this poignant book. Marlon’s experience is heartbreaking and his denial of justice is all too real. I read this entire book with a lump in my throat. My heart ached for Marlon, for all victims that are forced to endure the abuse, the public shaming, and bullying only to be revictimized by the travesty that is the ‘justice’ system.
This timely story showcases perfectly how we as a society need to do better in the post #metoo era. We need to be better than this. We need to care. We need to believe. We need to support. This is happening all around us, and it must stop.
If a story of this magnitude is Dale Robbins’ debut, I can only imagine the exceptional work to come.
Read this book.
This book was extremely emotional and poignant. Dale approached the topic of male sexual assault and was able to create a story that invokes rage, sadness and compassion for the victims. This should be a must read in all high schools and colleges to begin an open discussion on our justice system, reporting assaults and the outcome of victims lives. READ THIS BOOK!!!
This is a novel the world needs. A story that is real and raw and everything in between. The cast of characters are class. There are ones I loved and ones I loved to hate. I loved how realistic all of them felt. Their actions, their words, were so believable. Marlon was the perfect MC–I loved hearing his own thoughts, and my only critique is that I wish the entire novel had been written from his perspective. I love that this book doesn’t have an “ideal” ending, because not every story is tied up with a pretty little bow. I thank Dale Robbins for that. He left us thinking, wondering, and that was beyond brilliant. Beautiful debut, from an amazing author. Well done!
