Scan barcode
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
zc2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Chronic illness, Drug use, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Alcohol
queenie_ofthe_void'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
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
danaegg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
2.0
the only one of the series i really had an interest in was the third book, but i thought i would read this one first as josh and jules are extremely close with alex and ava. but ofc now im a teeny bit interested in the second book so sigh
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury
freakofafangirl'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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Body horror and Gore
abby_shupe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I personally don’t like how the first plot twist was carried out, it seemed too unrealistic, like a soap opera. And the second, way too predictable, Which leads me to say, this whole book is a complicated soap opera. Interesting, unrealistic, dramatic, dark. Some parts were cringy, some predictable.
And specific quotes did make me want to throw up, but you get through it. Specifically, “you’re about to find out what happens when you invite yourself into the lion’s den”. And “with her doe eyes and innocent features, she resembled a sacrificial virgin awaiting defilement. My cock throbbed harder”, … yeah.
I also didn’t expect to agree with reviews I had read beforehand, but the Sunshine nickname got old quick.
I mean, halfway though the book I was rolling my eyes when the first plot twist rolled in, and you’ll find out why. I was throwing my book down, looking to the ceiling, exasperated. Like what the fuck.
I read reviews mentioning Alex groveling, and I suppose I pictured him at Ava’s feet pleading, because the reality was underwhelming.
I expected in one of the many sex scenes, for the dynamic to change, Ava to take a little charge. Nope. The smut was still great though, Huang definitely has talent in that department.
If you like Lauren Asher’s work, I would say the two authors wrote similar dynamics, but Huang writes heavier smut with darker and dramatic plot lines, though I prefer Asher’s writing style.
Alex and Ava are like a couple you see in an amusement park line, full of PDA. I wasn’t necessarily rooting for the two, but they’re cute together.
Still, it was a very interesting book, and I do recommend it since it was a great break from all the YA books I’ve been reading lately.
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Drug use, and Excrement
agnesbebon's review against another edition
2.5
I asked for something fast and spicy, and I got it. I love a morally grey MC/love interest and dual POV.
The hotel scene was hot, the book is fast paced and easy to read. The epilogue was cute, the spice was there (though I do wish there was more). The thirty or so pages (this could be the completely wrong number, I’m bad at math) in the uncles house was the best part of the book and really had me. I wish it was more like that. Every once in a while there was a beautifully written sentence of passage, so I absolutely see the potential for the series to get better.
I did not like the use and frequency of flashbacks, and I found them poorly written. They felt thrusted into the middle of scenes and used as a way to just tell the reader what’s going on. There was a a lot of summarizing of the plot and this book would’ve benefited from more show less tell.
I wanted some more development before Alex and Ava got together. Really felt like it was missing the development before getting to the alumni gala, and I think more show less tell would’ve helped with that. Same goes for when she just suddenly comes to terms with her nightmares being memories.
While I appreciated the fast pacing of the book, I will say the timeline was confusing to a point where it took away from the overall plot.
Also why did Alex sing at the end? I hated that.
While I did not love this book, I would say I generally enjoyed it and I’m excited to read the rest of the series!
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
thefatpaperback's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Rape