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saavikreads's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
jessanicolesingh's review against another edition
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Let me start by saying this series begins very similar to Fifty Shades of Grey, a workplace romance with a control obsessed billionaire, HEAPS of steam, and themes of surviving sexual abuse trauma. Looking at other people’s reviews, the feedback is completely split; half felt like it was an exact copy of FSOG, and a poor one at that, while the other half LOVED it because it scratched the same itch and said it was the better of the two 🤷♀️ Me personally, I gobbled it up happily!
The relationship between the main characters is quite the ride. They spend almost the entire series fighting and making up, a new miscommunication each time they see each other, giving some serious whiplash. Though they have a decidedly toxic relationship, I found myself still yearning for a HEA. Additionally, I found the scenes with their therapist most significant. Though you shouldn’t take a billionaire romance novel too seriously, there were some very insightful and valuable takeaways. It was quite an unexpected aspect that I think will stick with me the most.
The first three books were written in standard single POV, whereas the last two advanced to dual. This lent a hand to adding initial mystery and slight mistrust towards the MMC, and then evolved into well deserved understanding of his perception and devastation in the later books.
Overall, I really enjoyed the characters as well as the plot, but sometimes the author’s writing style was a bit too wordy and redundant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide and Death of parent
iamusamu's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual content
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicide, and Death of parent
kollieollie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Oof I’m not usually one to hate on a book, but I have never read a book that is as problematic as this one. I’d give it a negative rating if I could- it’s that bad. The relationship dynamic is horribly toxic between the two main characters and the author casually drops mentions of questionable consent throughout the book like that is a normal part of relationships. The only redeeming quality is the causally included LGBTQ characters but even then that’s only one of the LGBTQ couples in the book - the other is really relies on harmful outdated stereotypes. I only managed to finish this book because I was on a plane without WiFi and finished the other two books I had downloaded for my trip. This book isn’t worth anyone’s time unless you want to read something smutty and don’t mind an author describing sexual assault as if it’s romantic. 🙄
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Biphobia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Miscarriage, Suicide, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
bootsmom3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Emotional abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
vulcanzaddy's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a quick afternoon read. I didn’t like the main characters but I am interested in everything else. There are things, “wrong" with just about everyone in the story except maybe the Dads and Dad adjacent (i.e, mark).
The smut is good! Though this is not a fluff piece. Sex is had and talked about in recreational, self sabotaging, nonconsensual and worrisome ways. The consensual sex is vanilla but has a passionate twist on it. And, the type of sex changes in intensity as the book goes on so I wouldn’t assume it will be the same in the series. There was a very quick bi scene at the end that, if I wasn’t already invested, would’ve invest me into reading book 2.
The drawbacks for me were small and very niche. The use of the c-word in a sexual situation was a moment. Each time I went, "ok, this must be a cultural thing" because that's just... different. Lol. I think the only other thing I got caught up on is one of his outfits. The silver tie? I could get over it. Lol. Kept making me think of those old prom suits from the 80s or something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Rape
Moderate: Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicide, and Death of parent