kotashomelibrary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death and Infidelity
gnlee26's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
it was good i actually really liked the story, i just didn’t know i liked the story until about 60% of the way in. i really liked arya she was feisty and likes to take things head on, but she was also really naïve and spent so long denying literally everything that was right in front of her and i wasn’t a super fan of that. i also liked christian to an extent he definitely had his moments but it was only moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Child abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Abandonment
Moderate: Infidelity and Child death
tatiannaskye's review
emotional
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Wow I loved every minute of this book and it brought me back to my early Wattpad days!!! The emotions that I felt were intense in all the best ways! The story omg was amazing and made me want to throw my phone into the wall but again in a good way! I would definitely read this book again especially if I am feeling down or in a slump!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
Really just some smut not much, the tiniest amountnikitanavalkar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I’ve never met an LJ Shen book I didn’t devour in a single sitting, and this one was no different. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this childhood friends to enemies to lovers romance, but what is even the point because it would blow my expectations out of the water anyway. This story had all the elements of some of my favorite Bollywood romances growing up, the rich girl with a sinisterly protective father, the poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks, betrayals, hidden identities, and second chances. I was in teenage Nikita’s idea of angsty heaven. What makes it better and updated however, is how these Christian and Arya deal with the poop show that is their dramatic life. It’s both mature and swoony and heartbreaking, even when they eventually snap and go full unhinged in their actions (I may not be making sense, just take my word for it).
Vengeance and betrayal as primary themes for a romance may not always work, but I’m a sucker for some angsty betrayal where the betrayer makes questionable choices in their quest for vengeance and is in too deep to get themselves out of it when they realize the love of their life is more important than stupid revenge fantasies. All this to say, Christian may be a big bad legal shark, but inside he’s still just a broken little boy, insecure and lonely, but helpless against the power Arya has over him. He might try his damnedest to be an unfeeling jerk face, but we can see right through him, you sucker. And through everything, he is a total SIMP for Arya and can barely control that part of him. We love to see it. And of course, he gives good grovel once he’s fucked up plenty and has to get back in her good graces.
Arya is that rare heroine, aware enough to know her feelings but hardened by her past and pragmatic enough to not be not controlled by them. At least for as long as she can. She values her bad boss bish self but isn’t above acknowledging her weaknesses and occasionally giving in to them. Her denial/inability to see Christian for who he drove me a little nuts, but I tried to give her grace, because no one expects to see ghosts of the past strolling back to their life, and her blind faith in her father had a lot to do with it too. Christian and Arya find common ground in their loneliness and abandonment issues, and their deep love for books and thirst for knowledge (be still my bookish heart). And of course, their jaded, grumpy dispositions. My girl Arya can out grumpy Christian any day. I just wanted to give the sad babies a giant cuddle, and rail at the injustice of it all, even as I wanted to bash their heads together. Ultimately I ended up loving what they made of themselves through the lessons learned and the heartache suffered.
Arya’s relationship with her parents is a study in layers of pain and fond memories, and captures the messiness of family ties exceptionally well. We often commend girl squads and sisterhoods and the found families of heroines—male main characters have them too they’re just not as often portrayed with as much emotion—but the family Christian has in Arsène and Riggs, and even Alice stole my heart. The three are sappy and close as brothers and high key nerds and their Bromance just made me so ridiculously happy. If Christian is obsessed with Arya, I am equally obsessed with Arsène and can’t wait to see the stories that’ll unfold within this world.
Vengeance and betrayal as primary themes for a romance may not always work, but I’m a sucker for some angsty betrayal where the betrayer makes questionable choices in their quest for vengeance and is in too deep to get themselves out of it when they realize the love of their life is more important than stupid revenge fantasies. All this to say, Christian may be a big bad legal shark, but inside he’s still just a broken little boy, insecure and lonely, but helpless against the power Arya has over him. He might try his damnedest to be an unfeeling jerk face, but we can see right through him, you sucker. And through everything, he is a total SIMP for Arya and can barely control that part of him. We love to see it. And of course, he gives good grovel once he’s fucked up plenty and has to get back in her good graces.
Arya is that rare heroine, aware enough to know her feelings but hardened by her past and pragmatic enough to not be not controlled by them. At least for as long as she can. She values her bad boss bish self but isn’t above acknowledging her weaknesses and occasionally giving in to them. Her denial/inability to see Christian for who he drove me a little nuts, but I tried to give her grace, because no one expects to see ghosts of the past strolling back to their life, and her blind faith in her father had a lot to do with it too. Christian and Arya find common ground in their loneliness and abandonment issues, and their deep love for books and thirst for knowledge (be still my bookish heart). And of course, their jaded, grumpy dispositions. My girl Arya can out grumpy Christian any day. I just wanted to give the sad babies a giant cuddle, and rail at the injustice of it all, even as I wanted to bash their heads together. Ultimately I ended up loving what they made of themselves through the lessons learned and the heartache suffered.
Arya’s relationship with her parents is a study in layers of pain and fond memories, and captures the messiness of family ties exceptionally well. We often commend girl squads and sisterhoods and the found families of heroines—male main characters have them too they’re just not as often portrayed with as much emotion—but the family Christian has in Arsène and Riggs, and even Alice stole my heart. The three are sappy and close as brothers and high key nerds and their Bromance just made me so ridiculously happy. If Christian is obsessed with Arya, I am equally obsessed with Arsène and can’t wait to see the stories that’ll unfold within this world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
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