Scan barcode
donasbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
"I'm sorry honey, but it's over," I told my poor heart. "You don't belong to me anymore." (5:16:01)
I know a lot of people read books like this for the sex, but this one doesn’t have that much sex in it. Plenty of smoldering! But only a few primary ignitions. I enjoyed the tension that built between the two lovers more than I did the releases. The sex was dirty, but not well expressed on the page. Honestly, during the sex scenes, I empathized more on a pain level than pleasure, because everything was written to sound like it hurt. Also, it's really not this easy to find someone who shares your kink, I mean, he basically fell in her lap. And she was just like, wanna choke me, heard thats your jam? And he was like, yeah. I'm paraphrasing, of course. But I do not like convenient plot points, they feel fictional. I want things to feel real when I read.
It may not sound like it, but I liked this book! I'm really happy with the plot and character development. This story and these characters are accessible to me. I honestly can take or leave this kind of sex-- what can I say? I like tenderness lol! But sex is not all this book has to offer either!
Stylistically, this is a very pleasant read, and the story and characters develop at a perfect pace. I enjoyed a the secondary characters as well, like Ava's brother. I'm so pleased that this was not a book built of tropes. Ava at 5'5" is sexier to me than all the 98-pounders I've ever read in one of these sex books, combined. Forced proximity is not so mundane as one bed in a shared hotel room; it is a strictly governed guardian/minor relationship, which is way more nuanced and believable. I could go on about how this book tramples weak and annoying tropes, but it's not necessary. I'll just say Huang's writing is skillful.
"[...Your] enemies are my enemies. Your friends are my friends. And if you wanted, I would burn down the world for you." (9:46:00)
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Honestly, I'm surprised at how good this writing is, and that makes me feel bad lol
2. I adore the protective older brother trope.
3. I'm 25% of the way through and I'm so relieved that no one has boned yet! I just cannot handle steamy scenes in every chapter. Plus, I love a slow burn plot!
4. Oh thank goodness she's not four foot seven. I get so sick of the teeny woman trope.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I love Cindy Kay, the narrator for Ava, but not Aiden Snow, the narrator for Alex.
2. I'm not a fan of this book's treatment of the mental health theme. There is so much toxic positivity. Ava actually tells herself that she should be grateful because only one of her parents died from suicide. But no worries, she still has her dad who doesn't express emotion or show affection! (You're going to
sh-t when you find out why he's so cold to her.)
3. I can do without "nub." At least she's not using "nubbin."
Rating: 👩🏻❤️💋👨🏽👩🏻❤️💋👨🏽👩🏻❤️💋👨🏽.5 burgeoning romances
Spice: 🔥🔥.5
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Sep 26 '24
Format: Audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
⛓️ sub / dom and bdsm
👨👩👧👦 family stories, family drama
💇♀️ women's coming of age
🩹 pain and pleasure
❤️🔥 dark romance
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
anavpereira's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse
megs_k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sometimes you just want to read a toxic red flagged romance.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
thespycrowreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Sexual content
shinyfox'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
3.0
There were times that I felt the plot wasn't very believable or the characters actions made me raise an eyebrow in disbelief. Also there was a certain point in the book where it was very obvious (to me at least) what the upcoming 'twist' was and where this whole thing was headed.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Suicide, and Torture
Minor: Kidnapping and Alcohol
smartcookiesca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
megcat13's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
nixdrafts's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
nix_jinx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
bees_bookcorner's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
🚩🚩🚩
There is DV (domestic violence) in this book. I’m a DV advocate and this book triggered vicarious trauma I didn’t even know I have, if it was listed in the Trigger Warnings it would’ve helped me mentally prepare myself for that.
Besides it not being on the TW list, I disliked how Liam’s actions were never labeled as such. It felt like it was brushed over and kind of used as a plot device. 85% loved what Alex did to him, but it could’ve been worse. Should’ve been pure agony for him!!!
It also felt that Alex’s stalking was in a way ‘romanticized’. What he did when he arrived in London was DV.
Was his persistence to get Ava back kinda sweet at the end? Yes, it still felt gross and yucky though • - •.
Please take care of yourself, you’re mental health matters <3
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Minor: Physical abuse