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thehappysmutlife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story is about Kallum and Halen. Halen, yes, named after the iconic 80’s band Van Halen, is a crime scene profiler who endured loss and trauma. She’s recruited to lend her expertise on a murder case in Hollow’s Row. She enlists Kallum, a brilliant yet unhinged philosophy professor, for help. In the first chapter we learned that six months ago Kallum was locked in a psychiatric institution for being a (serial)killer due to the statement from Halen. The question lingers: Is he really the killer everyone suspects?
Halen is a feisty heroine who wants to keep Kallum at a distance, however, Kallum wants his muse to be his utterly and completely.
As the sexual tension between Halen and Kallum grows, they delve deeper into the case. Unravelling the secrets of the killer and secrets of their own.
While I guessed a few twists along the way, the shocking revelation at the end took me completely by surprise. What a perfect twist! With plenty of questions remaining, I’m eager to dive into the next book, “Lovely Violent Things”.
Trisha Wolfe’s writing kept me interested to keep on listening. There was a lot of philosophy talk and I needed to keep my attention to it to follow the story. It’s not a light book to read. Often I will fall asleep with an audiobook through my earbuds, but “Lovely Bad Things” will keep your mind at work.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Sebastian York and Lucy Rivers in duet narration. Their performances were outstanding! Sebastian York’s deep, dark voice was ideal for the mysterious Kallum, while Lucy Rivers perfectly captured Halen’s character.
I couldn’t stop listening. The balance of plot, character development, and smut was just right! And I can’t wait to discover more about Halen, Kallum, the Overman and the Harbinger killer.
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Xenophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage, Grief, and Car accident
katherineguild35's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Gore, Grief, and Car accident
kyleethecatlady's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Grief, and Car accident
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, and Cannibalism
earth2sammi's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I hope that this series keeps going well--I'm going to pick up the second book immediately after I'm done writing this review. And I never know how to go about talking about my love for dark romance books like these (Marrow, The Mindf*ck Series, etc.) without sounding unhinged. I think I just love that so many of the main characters, like the main character Halen in this one, are women whose life was disrupted by tragedy, and now they have a darkness in them. And the books aren't about punishing that darkness or trying to bring them back to the light, but the books are more about embracing the new trajectory their life is going in. Obviously these books are extreme and feature murder and killing but I love the overall...vibe, I guess. I don't know what I'm trying to say. I just know that my favorite relationships in my life are those that celebrate who I am, as I am, and not who I could be if I were a better/more positive survivor. I've been let down by a lot of people because I do have depressive episodes and I exhibit traits of, well, a victim. Some people really don't like hearing about me being sad or traumatized, and they care more about me being a "survivor". Anyway. Siri, play "That's the Way It Is" by Celine Dion!
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
bookdeviant86's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
ali_sun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
pegloumor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing
avialaeleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Enjoyed the characters and the setting, I just wish that it was more mystery based then romance based but that's just my preference.
Can't wait to start the next one especially with this one having ended on a cliff hanger.
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
sydneykidny's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
tieraneysreadingcorner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
omfg the way i am looking at this book in a whole new light! my review still stands, the philosophy shit fucks with your head no matter how many times you’ve read it.
i can’t believe all of the things that come to light are *right there*
initial read:
my brain hurts after reading this mindfuckery.
i love the serial killer x fbi agent/psychiatrist trope so much, but only some authors can write it well. trisha wolfe put her whole authussy into this.
the intricate plot was phenomenal. i quite literally have no words to describe how good this book was.
kallum was such a hot, sexy character 😩😩 i swear i would be on my knees in an INSTANT if he said any of those words to me 🧎🏻♀️that’s me.. assuming the position
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Car accident and Injury/Injury detail