Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Reckless

This book had no right to make me tear up as much as it did. Now don't yell at me, but I read this as book 2. I started off with "Powerless" and continued forward. I don't care. I heard "inter-connected standalone" and was on the fence about this series so I decided to start with the premise that interested me the most. And I don't regret that. As of right now, I'm surprisingly enjoying the series.

Anyways, let's list the positives:

I relate to Winter on so many levels like it's not even funny. I would tear up so many times during her insecure monologues because I'd find myself thinking the same things about myself. I know many people may find her self-doubt and her need for constant reassurance annoying but when you grow up in an environment where love was denied to you (by both parents) and have to overwork yourself for the smallest of affections that should've been self-evident for all your life you'd feel the same way. I didn't read "Flawless" obviously and I'm so glad I didn't because I would hate to have judged Winter before I got to know her because I seriously love her! (I'm still gonna read flawless eventually)

And speaking of that, I'm so glad Theo was the odd one out when it came to Winter. He never believed she was the "ice queen" that everyone was portraying her out to be and I love that. Theo Dale Silva was so ideal and I really felt more for him because I see so much of myself in Winter. And with people like her, they need certain individuals in their lives to show them that they're worth loving.

Winter x Theo! Perfection! Literal perfection. They just fit so well together. I don't think any couple in this series will top them for me.

Okay, I have to gush about Theo a bit more. I feel like certain behavior he displayed was a little over the top and not in the sense that it wasn't endearing but that it was too endearing to the point where I was like "does a man like this even exist" in real life.
As he goes on to say earlier on, the instant connection he felt for Winter was his motivation to change his player ways so he could be the best person she needed. Now, although this approach is very mature (not a lot of people are willing to do that). However, what made it unrealistic to me was that he was thinking this just after having a one-night stand with her. Like he literally waits 18 months for her. That's very cute, but c'mon now. A girl can dream, I guess, considering this is all fictional.
Theo is just perfection in a man. I love how down-bad he was for Winter. Like he only had eyes for her and he let that be known to everyone. He was so attentive to her and her needs. Let's her be her own person. Always, and I mean ALWAYS defended her. Gushes about her to his mom. Gives her that constant reassurance that she needs (very important). And the way he's with Vivi, like STOP!

I LOVE her friendship with Sloane! I loved it in "Powerless" and I love it here!

I also did enjoy Winter coming back together with her sister, Summer.

Loved Theo's mom!

I love Harvey too! Lowkey wouldn't be mad if he got his own book. He's literally hilarious!

Onto the negatives:

Now, after reading "Powerless" and now this book it's become evident that these books are very steamy. Which I don't mind (funny enough there aren't even that many scenes in this book and the ones that were there I enjoyed). What irritates me, and it irritated me in "Powerless" too is that both characters are always so horny all the time. Like we'd be in their heads and they'd just have constant sexual thoughts about one another at the most inopportune times. Like yes, we'd get it. They're adults! They have sex! But I honestly don't read about how they're constantly horny for one another every few pages or so.

On top of what I said earlier, this is just a me thing, but there was a bit later in the book where Theo was asking for nudes and I just couldn't deal. Again, this is most definitely a personal qualm of mine, but it gives me the ick every time when a guy asks for nudes and it being in books is no different.

Although I love learning about Winter and her struggles. I don't think we learn much about Theo and his problems in this book. Like yes, we learn he's a former playboy, but we're just told this really. Maybe it's in the previous books, but we really don't get any descriptions about that. Also, there is a part where Theo wonders if Winter will be able to love him the way he loves her and I really wish they would've expanded upon that more. Also, we learned that Theo has a sister and yet we never see her. That's what I mean, you know. He's not really expanded on much in this book.

I know I said that I loved it before, but I kinda wished Summer and Winter's recollection was expanded upon more. I don't know. What we got was sufficient, but I felt like they could've had more scenes together, you know.

I'm sorry, but Winter's father didn't need to be redeemed. He saved her dollhouse, okay! He's a grown adult. He had ample time to fix his relationship with her and chose not to. Theo was right when he slammed him at the wedding reception. Summer is his daughter. He's done nothing for Winter and I'm not going to accept his plea of forgiveness just because he saved her childhood dollhouse. Get real!
I sensed Harvey's relationship with Cordelia, Sloane's mom, towards the end of "Powerless" although I didn't mind it then. Now that I've had time to think about it, I honestly can't stand when authors have adjacent family members get together. Feels a little incestuous to me and I wasn't vibing with it.

Overall, although I had a few qualms with this book. I still loved it! Winter and Theo literally have my heart and soul and I just love them together!

Spice Rating:🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Content Warnings