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lilbookdreamer's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Death of parent
lowercaselettersandnumbers's review
dark
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol
darknesslighttt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
π ππππππ π
π§πΏπΌπ½π²π: dark, mafia, touch her & you die, college
π§πΏπΆπ΄π΄π²πΏπ: r*pe, violence, body shaming, bullying, cancer, emotional abuse
Sebastian is dark and twisted, but he also has a sweet spot, which is Naomi. He accepts a bet from Reina that has something to do with Naomi, but in the end he falls deep and hard for her. Naomi is sassy and I loved her sarcasm, but she also has something dark in her. She is a little anti-social, hence why her mother wanted her to be a cheerleader.
I loved the chemistry between them, and that Rima put some Japanese themes in the story. Naomi was half Japanese, and both her and Sebastian liked anime. The spicy scenes are hot, but thatβs not something new, we already know that Rina knows how to write them very well.
The book and on a cliffhanger, and I canβt wait to read the second book in the duology. I have a feeling that we will find way more information and the truth in that book.
π§πΏπΌπ½π²π: dark, mafia, touch her & you die, college
π§πΏπΆπ΄π΄π²πΏπ: r*pe, violence, body shaming, bullying, cancer, emotional abuse
Sebastian is dark and twisted, but he also has a sweet spot, which is Naomi. He accepts a bet from Reina that has something to do with Naomi, but in the end he falls deep and hard for her. Naomi is sassy and I loved her sarcasm, but she also has something dark in her. She is a little anti-social, hence why her mother wanted her to be a cheerleader.
I loved the chemistry between them, and that Rima put some Japanese themes in the story. Naomi was half Japanese, and both her and Sebastian liked anime. The spicy scenes are hot, but thatβs not something new, we already know that Rina knows how to write them very well.
The book and on a cliffhanger, and I canβt wait to read the second book in the duology. I have a feeling that we will find way more information and the truth in that book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Violence
kat1105's review against another edition
Dnf at 71%. I wanted to like this book and the characters but there were just too many problems I couldn't get past.
- The main characters in this book are supposed to be in their fourth year of college but the characters and setting feel more like a highschool. The interactions between the cheerleaders is reminicent "Mean Girls" and not in a good way.
- The best trope in this book doesnt make any sense and is very poorly executed.
- What was the point of the penpal subplot. The penpal comes up twice and the letters add little to the story overall. The letter responding to Naomi's confession about having CNC fantasies was hard to read and perpetuates alot of negative stereotypes about people who engage in CNC. (They are crazy, messed up, wrong, need therapy...) None of which are true.
- On the topic of CNC... it is very poorly and unrealistically executed in this book. In BDSM consensual non-consent is considered edge play for a reason. If not done carefully it can cause serious physical and psychological harm to both parties. CNC is not something you jump into with a partner becuase you "just know" they will be into it. Forcing yourself on someone saying no without prior discussion, negotiation and agreement is rape. The first time Naomi and Sebastian have sex it is not CNC it is rape. He breaks into her home, shuts off the lights and forces himself on her while she is bleeding and begging him to stop. He gives her a safeword and claims he will stop it she uses it but there was no negotiation of that safeword and he refuses to allow her to set any boundaries or limits for the encounter. This was not CNC this was rape that he gaslights her into believing was consensual. Later on in the book it is made clear that using her safeword would harm their relationship. Safewords are sacred and using a safeword should never have negative repercussions on the relationship as a whole. I knew going into this that there were dark themes to this book and not all aspects of healthy BDSM would be followed but this book takes it too far. This book doesnt tow 00β°000 the line between CNC and rape it blows right past it and then tries to gaslight you into thinking it didn't and it perpetuates alot of harmful stereotypes about people with a CNC kink in the process.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
nat29's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Racism and Abandonment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Murder