Scan barcode
yokaisbabe's review against another edition
- 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: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
dlsmk's review against another edition
2.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
ephemeral_remi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
jesshart8'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
1.0
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
roseamillerg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
alilbitofeveryth1ng'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? No
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
koistyfishy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
What in the name of these fucking people all need therapy did I just read?
This book is a literal definition of a car crash in text form, and there is me driving ("reading") past the wreckage on the side of the road with morbid curiosity, enthralled and captivated. Staring at it constantly, just trying to see what in this shit show of a crash happened.
There was something about this book that just put you on edge. This underlying anxiety caused by the whole experience of reading it, mainly due to the fact that I don't necessarily agree with the aspects of the story, but can't look away. This was the first "Bully Romance' that I have read, and it is probably not going to be the last.
This is a dual-POV story, basically revolving around a misunderstood situation. It follows Rika (Erika) and Michael. Rika has been, for her entire life, in love with Michael, her ex-boyfriend's older brother. She's grown up with the family and he's always been there, she's always been drawn to him and felt this attraction to him. But she also has this almost submissive fear that she can't look at him for too long because of the power that he exudes.
Rika darling feels a little bit sheltered and suffocated by her rich and pampered life, so she chooses to move from her Ivy League university to a big city so she can live on her own and break free from the suffocating society nest. On the first night in her fancy new penthouse apartment (that she has been given "due to a misunderstanding hiccup with her rental agreement") she runs into Michael, who happens to live in the penthouse above her. Michael, however, has concocted this little devious scheme with three of his very, very close best friends who have just spent a couple of years in prison because of Erica. So they concoct a scheme to ruin her life... as she ruined theirs.
The characters in this are awful. I didn't like any of them! Rika is, quite frankly, the definition of too stupid to live with a brave face. She thinks that she's being all-powerful facing her fears, but ends up being beaten and bruised, thrown around and just making stupid decisions.
Michael is the definition of douchebag, alpha asshole dick! Think of the most stereotypical rich man asshole who has never had to work for anything really in his life. Make him a basketball star and make him think that he is the shit everyone wants to be ...that's who he is! He is an arrogant asshole that has absolutely nothing redeeming about him. Did I mention he is an asshole? His friends are also pretty awful people. Every single one of them, they are terrible! Terrible people!!!
But that doesn't stop the fact that I ate this shit like popcorn. I could just not stop eating ("reading")!!! This to me is the perfect book to get you out of a book slump! Penelope Douglas's writing is captivating and enticing. I inhaled this as I was in a haze of turning pages over and over and over and over. And the next thing you know, you're 500 pages down, and you're like, "What the fuck did I just read?"
But...now I'm addicted to this crack and I need more....
If you are sensitive to triggers, I do recommend that you look them up. But if you don't really have morals (like me apparently) go in blind for the wild ride that this was because it was highly enjoyable and sexy...very sexy!
Personal Note:
Reading books with trigger warnings is a personal choice, and it's important to recognize that the actions depicted in these books may not be socially acceptable in real life. I don't agree with what happens in this book. It is not socially acceptable! But I also believe that I can read about this and not need to justify that I don't support bully romance or these types of relationships. I know the differences between fiction and reality!
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent
dkgreads'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
lexi_hexi'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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Car accident and Death of parent
bigbookslay's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, and Death of parent