The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
booklloveer101's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Rape, and Sexual assault
emilynied'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I understand why readers enjoy dark romance and fictional romance so much - it's because it's not real. If it was real, we would probably all be questioning our sanity. I usually don't mind books like these, but I don't get the hype around Damon Torrance, I really don't. His background is dark and the things that he went through are horrible - it explains why he's so messed up in the brain. BUT, I don't think it justified most of the things that he did in the past and present timelines of this book. He tries to kill his best friends in the first book, in the second book he terrorizes all of them and now he's just forgiven. There are, of course, lingering effects and we do see that in this book, but I don't think it's enough. We start the story super abruptly with him getting control of Winter, her sister and her mother just out of no where in his quest to force Winter to be with him and I just think that's gross. He puts her in these weird situations and in my mind, controls her (not letting her leave the house, having security follow her around...). I was so turned off by the first part of this book because of that. I just couldn't fathom how we could go from this to a potential love story.
But, it did happen. I will say, I was kind of convinced towards the end of the book because he felt like a different character and everyone just *forgot* about all the shit he did. The character development just wasn't there for me to explain the switch up. Also, I feel like there was so much of Damon in Kai/Banks' book, but none of them are super prevalent in this book - I would have loved to see more of the present dynamic between him and Banks after it's revealed that they're siblings but that was definitely lacking here.
As far as the storytelling techniques, I think I'm getting a little tired of this series' flashbacks. They are about 50% of the book and particularly in this story, reading the past chapters was so exhausting because they just felt like fillers? I don't know exactly how to explain it but it feels like the present narrative is just waiting for the big reveals in the past, and until that happens, there's a lull in the story which got pretty dull. The present chapters relied too much on the past chapters in my opinion, which also contributed to the eh reading experience.
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Death, and Sexual harassment
ale9417's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, Bullying, Blood, and Adult/minor relationship
meghanperkins's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Murder, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Pedophilia, and Car accident
sienasummerrreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Medical content, Emotional abuse, and Self harm
theteamsreader'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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Minor: Car accident
feriel_b's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I was told this book was supposed to redeem Damon and not gonna lie, his backstory was heartbreaking , but how is he better when he himself grew up to SA women ?? His own sister??? But it's okay his defense he didn't know she's his sister when he decided to grope and force kiss her 🙄 that's the stupid excuse the penelope douglas cult give him each time the SA topic is brought up in this series ( heavely ) and he books in general ,because god forbid we criticize an author
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
jen1804's review
- 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
4.0
Damon has obviously committed a lot of really bad shit and we cannot excuse some of his behaviour, but this book does an excellent job of exploring his past trauma and layering the reasons behind his decisions. It is heartbreaking to read at times, nobody deserves the childhood that he had.
I absolutely adore his and Winter’s story, the secrecy of their earlier relationship when Winter didn’t know who he was, because he was scared she would hate him if he revealed his identity which is heartbreaking, but the scenes were so beautiful - the driving of the car, the motorcycle ride. I also love that they have this back story from when they were kids, with the fountain and the tree house and how it all comes full circle when they’re older.
I really loved the internal struggle between Winter and Damon, with the slow burn enemies to lovers and them finally giving into each other. I think it made it spicier at times too. I love that they are both each other’s downfalls and yet each other’s saviours. Damon’s confession of his feelings toward Winter was so beautiful. And the fucking poem behind her name and then his tattoo of the decaying snowflake, omg send help I am dead. And the note he leaves her in fucking braille. Stop it!
The disability of Winter being blind is really beautifully explored in this book actually and I just loved it so freaking much. The descriptions of her listening to the rain, the snow, chef’s kiss, her feeling her sandpaper markers on the floor so that she can still dance and do what she loves. There’s kind of a story within this story of self acceptance and how Winter loves how her other senses are enhanced, she also doesn’t let it stop her from doing anything. There are definitely times when her blindness is taken advantage of don’t get me wrong, but I loved how Winter had people who were there for her and took care of her, being her eyes for her when she needed.
Add to the story how Damon finally gets his group of friends back and my heart is happy, thank god because by the end of book 2 I was feeling sad for him, he needs them! Though perhaps he defo needed to do more grovelling than he did…
I loved the further layers about Damon and Will’s friendship too. I think the scene of the car underwater and Will essentially having a panic attack as it brought back the trauma of drowning in the first book was really beautifully done too, with him being calmed by both Damon and Winter. And Damon’s inner turmoil about what his friend has been through knowing that he’s responsible.
Overall a really good book with some extremely complex themes. It’s not a 5/5 for me but it gets a well rounded 4.
Satisfactory ending? Yes.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Ableism, Abandonment, Blood, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic relationship, Addiction, and Panic attacks/disorders
dianasofia8'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
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
jlaz_13's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Cursing, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Stalking, Blood, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse