3.5 stars, rounding up to 4. It loses points because I am beyond sick of seeing rape as tragic backstory in my fiction. However, the way that Vincent van Gogh is integrated into this book is so excellent (he's one of my favourite artists) that it almost makes up for it. It's a compelling read that's relatively low on the melodrama, which can't have been easy given the subject matter, but that low-key approach makes it all the more effective. The main character is relatable and I felt for her a lot - the unending rain of misery that is her teenage life would be unbearable in the hands of another character. Yet Tara's able to keep her dreams and basic kindness alive and so I was really invested in her getting a happy (happier?) ending.