shaykay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I went into this one thinking one thing but then left wanting more. So the whole premise of this book is that this FMC is down on her luck and ends up working at a club where people can go and watch some things happen and live out their voyeuristic dreams. Callum is a long-time member and has been going for quite a while. Still, Oaklyn only started working there to gain money for school since her mother took her loan check, and she needed cash fast, or she would get thrown out of school. As the book progresses, it is like Oaklyn's life is coming together, and she is finally getting to a place where she is happy, not stressed, and living a good life. But the whole goal was always to pay for school. Working at the club was never going to be a long-time thing.
Meanwhile, Callum's life went backward. When we first meet him, he's a college professor, his life is all put together, and even though he lives a boring life, he's happy with it, but things explode when he meets Oaklyn, and he falls hard and fast for her. Until he realizes that she's his student, things implode, and he spirals from there. Things go downhill for me when he starts getting super controlling over her and jealous of her job. He knows this is just a way for her to make money to pay for school, and he even met her there. By the point he starts getting jealous, she's primarily a bartender and never leaves the bar, so he has no reason to even get jealous. It's just a pain dealing with it, and the book went down a different road, and I missed the beginning of the book or even spending time at the club. Overall, The series centers around this club differently, but I liked this one even though I was left wanting more.
Meanwhile, Callum's life went backward. When we first meet him, he's a college professor, his life is all put together, and even though he lives a boring life, he's happy with it, but things explode when he meets Oaklyn, and he falls hard and fast for her. Until he realizes that she's his student, things implode, and he spirals from there. Things go downhill for me when he starts getting super controlling over her and jealous of her job. He knows this is just a way for her to make money to pay for school, and he even met her there. By the point he starts getting jealous, she's primarily a bartender and never leaves the bar, so he has no reason to even get jealous. It's just a pain dealing with it, and the book went down a different road, and I missed the beginning of the book or even spending time at the club. Overall, The series centers around this club differently, but I liked this one even though I was left wanting more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse and Alcoholism
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
sarianotsorry's review against another edition
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Child abuse
mus_books21's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Alcoholism
aliceajm's review against another edition
3.0
It was very steamy, which I loved. It was quite repetitive tho. It was the same argument over and over again. Chapters felt like it was repeating.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
my_throne_of_books's review against another edition
4.5
This book was not what I expected but it surprised me in such a great way. I really loved it a lot. Seeing as this was the 5 year anniversary edition it came with author notes throughout the book. Those were absolutely amazing to read as it gave me so much insight to the characters and thought process. Definitely recommend getting this edition as the extra’s are so worth it.
Oaklyn is a struggle student and to make ends meet she goes to work at a voyeur club. Meet Callum a teacher that goes to visit that club on a regular basis. When he first sees her he isn’t aware Oak is going to be his student. But even after he finds out he can’t get her out of his head. As Oaklyn accepts a teacher aid job they have to spend more time together. This is where their friendship and more starts to grow.
The story really intrigued me and the way the club was involved in the story was so well done. Cause as Daniel (the club owner) keeps reminding everyone it isn’t a sex club. So that brings a whole different dynamic than I am used to seeing. The age gap romance and the sneaking around cause so much great tension that I liked seeing them work out. Callum had such great character growth throughout the book. I really loved seeing him talk about Oaklyn as this book was also dual pov.
TW: sexual assault of main character (happened in the past but is described)
Thanks to Valentine pr for a eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Oaklyn is a struggle student and to make ends meet she goes to work at a voyeur club. Meet Callum a teacher that goes to visit that club on a regular basis. When he first sees her he isn’t aware Oak is going to be his student. But even after he finds out he can’t get her out of his head. As Oaklyn accepts a teacher aid job they have to spend more time together. This is where their friendship and more starts to grow.
The story really intrigued me and the way the club was involved in the story was so well done. Cause as Daniel (the club owner) keeps reminding everyone it isn’t a sex club. So that brings a whole different dynamic than I am used to seeing. The age gap romance and the sneaking around cause so much great tension that I liked seeing them work out. Callum had such great character growth throughout the book. I really loved seeing him talk about Oaklyn as this book was also dual pov.
TW: sexual assault of main character (happened in the past but is described)
Thanks to Valentine pr for a eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
renharms's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy
forgottencupoftea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Rape and Child abuse
tankytoon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked this book more than I thought I would. It touched on deeper subject matters than one would have have expected from an erotic novella.
True to his description, Callum is as sexy as sin, and his intense gaze actually hides years of trauma and his fight for a nuance of control. Something about a young university professor being so mysterious and broken at the same time intrigued me. Only when he did meet Oakley, a supposedly naive student moonlighting as an adult entertainer (not exactly a whore she insists, but entirely true), did Callum break his reservations and let himself feel.
Being both stubborn, Callum and Oakley finally succumbed to each other, after a lot of heartaches and forgiveness.
I was glad that it was more than sex between them but the scenes and even phrases started to get repetitive towards the back end. Could have added a bit of the aftermath, and also explained how Callum could have afforded to go to the exclusive sex-club in the first place for 5 years.
True to his description, Callum is as sexy as sin, and his intense gaze actually hides years of trauma and his fight for a nuance of control. Something about a young university professor being so mysterious and broken at the same time intrigued me. Only when he did meet Oakley, a supposedly naive student moonlighting as an adult entertainer (not exactly a whore she insists, but entirely true), did Callum break his reservations and let himself feel.
Being both stubborn, Callum and Oakley finally succumbed to each other, after a lot of heartaches and forgiveness.
I was glad that it was more than sex between them but the scenes and even phrases started to get repetitive towards the back end. Could have added a bit of the aftermath, and also explained how Callum could have afforded to go to the exclusive sex-club in the first place for 5 years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
anastashamarie's review against another edition
⚠️ Trigger warnings neededn: Graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse; sexual assault on a college campus; sexual content; alcohol abuse; significant age-gap; taboo relationship
DNF @ 66%.
This might be a little spoilery but I'm not saying anything I didn't already say in the TWs so 🤷🏻♀️
Look, I like a dark romance with over-the-top, toxic characters as much as the next gal, but this just doesn't do it for me.
The mental health professional in me was just screaming at the MMC the whole time. Like sir, MAYBE if you would actually focus on a relationship with a woman instead of just jumping to sex first thing, you'd feel comfortable enough to talk about your life and feelings instead of just panicking. Maybe the significant trauma you went through requires you to go slower and build trust and communicate. Maybe that's why you actually are finding success with this girl... because you got to know her as a human instead of just going on a date and then being like "why isn't sex working when I have trauma and don't trust this stranger?" Didn't you see a therapist? They should have talked to you about this if they were worth their copay. Why is a 19 year old the most emotionally intelligent person in this guy's life?
Nevermind the amount of internalized misogyny that is on display here by having a character who is a successful PhD-holder (with a university job and his own freaking astronomy lab) focused solely on sex as the end-all-be-all of life. And this expectation to bang strangers is forced on him by everyone in his life, too! I get it, sexuality is important, I'm a fierce advocate of that. But it's also not everything! There 👏 is 👏 more 👏 to 👏 life 👏. I fell like everyone just needs to chill.
Lastly, alcoholism isn't cute. I said it. So yeah, this book isn't for me.
DNF @ 66%.
This might be a little spoilery but I'm not saying anything I didn't already say in the TWs so 🤷🏻♀️
Look, I like a dark romance with over-the-top, toxic characters as much as the next gal, but this just doesn't do it for me.
The mental health professional in me was just screaming at the MMC the whole time. Like sir, MAYBE if you would actually focus on a relationship with a woman instead of just jumping to sex first thing, you'd feel comfortable enough to talk about your life and feelings instead of just panicking. Maybe the significant trauma you went through requires you to go slower and build trust and communicate. Maybe that's why you actually are finding success with this girl... because you got to know her as a human instead of just going on a date and then being like "why isn't sex working when I have trauma and don't trust this stranger?" Didn't you see a therapist? They should have talked to you about this if they were worth their copay. Why is a 19 year old the most emotionally intelligent person in this guy's life?
Nevermind the amount of internalized misogyny that is on display here by having a character who is a successful PhD-holder (with a university job and his own freaking astronomy lab) focused solely on sex as the end-all-be-all of life. And this expectation to bang strangers is forced on him by everyone in his life, too! I get it, sexuality is important, I'm a fierce advocate of that. But it's also not everything! There 👏 is 👏 more 👏 to 👏 life 👏. I fell like everyone just needs to chill.
Lastly, alcoholism isn't cute. I said it. So yeah, this book isn't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Blood
Significant age gap; taboo relationship