sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
I received this as an eARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Ryan finds release in boxing, especially because his step family is the worst. Ever since his mother married a local policeman, Ryan has lost his place in his family. In attempt to get away and move on, Ryan leaves for Mexico, in hopes of training to compete as a boxer. Dalila crosses paths with Ryan when he starts training in his new Mexican gym. While the two should stay apart and Ryan should keep his head down, their chemistry keeps bringing them together. As drugs and gang violence surround the two, Ryan will need to stay strong if he is going to survive.
I had trouble with the insta-love because I had trouble warming up to the characters. It felt that everything that could go wrong did. It felt very Lifetime movie, which is something that some readers will want.
Ryan finds release in boxing, especially because his step family is the worst. Ever since his mother married a local policeman, Ryan has lost his place in his family. In attempt to get away and move on, Ryan leaves for Mexico, in hopes of training to compete as a boxer. Dalila crosses paths with Ryan when he starts training in his new Mexican gym. While the two should stay apart and Ryan should keep his head down, their chemistry keeps bringing them together. As drugs and gang violence surround the two, Ryan will need to stay strong if he is going to survive.
I had trouble with the insta-love because I had trouble warming up to the characters. It felt that everything that could go wrong did. It felt very Lifetime movie, which is something that some readers will want.
malloryeasterday15's review
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
The story was fine but it was too insta lovey for me and clingy.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence
lilith_walker's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
sara_stars567765's review against another edition
3.0
3/5 | I personally wouldn't recommend
⚠️SPOILER ALERT THROUGHOUT THIS REVIEW⚠️
Enjoyment
I was expecting to enjoy this book, and the fact that I stayed up until 2am proves that I did. There were some things that bugged me though, like how Simone wasn't descriptive enough for me. If a character gets punched, WHERE does he/she/they get punched???? And to be fair this book didn't bring out a lot of emotions as I think it was supposed to. But despite that I would have read the book again, if it wasn't for the ending. [Internally screaming]
Characters
Dalila, for all her 'I'm a tough woman attitude', is not a very tough woman. She was a bit needy, and wouldn't have gotten anywhere without Ryan. Ryan, on the other hand I absolutely loved
⚠️SPOILER ALERT THROUGHOUT THIS REVIEW⚠️
Enjoyment
I was expecting to enjoy this book, and the fact that I stayed up until 2am proves that I did. There were some things that bugged me though, like how Simone wasn't descriptive enough for me. If a character gets punched, WHERE does he/she/they get punched???? And to be fair this book didn't bring out a lot of emotions as I think it was supposed to. But despite that I would have read the book again, if it wasn't for the ending. [Internally screaming]
Characters
Dalila, for all her 'I'm a tough woman attitude', is not a very tough woman. She was a bit needy, and wouldn't have gotten anywhere without Ryan. Ryan, on the other hand I absolutely loved
lauren716's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this book! To see full review go to blog
https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/crossing-the-line-review
https://laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/crossing-the-line-review
cristina0194's review against another edition
5.0
Damn, this book broke my heart into millions of pieces... 😞
I loved it, with all I have: my heart, my soul and my mind. But the ending was not what I expected. At all...
First of all, I love those books which have Spanish sentences as parts of a conversation. Spanish makes a book more interesting from my point of view. And this one had a lot of them.
Second, Ryan and Dalila (such an interesting name as well) had a unique love story. One that you could feel from their first kiss.
Pablo... such a good friend. Each character needs a friend like him. Even in the darkest moments.
I also loved the idea of cartels in this book. Usually cartels and mafia make the action better. The suspense, the fear, the guns, the bad guys etc.
But that ending! Yeah, I know I’ve said it before... but damn that ending! Why?! Just why?
I loved it, with all I have: my heart, my soul and my mind. But the ending was not what I expected. At all...
First of all, I love those books which have Spanish sentences as parts of a conversation. Spanish makes a book more interesting from my point of view. And this one had a lot of them.
Second, Ryan and Dalila (such an interesting name as well) had a unique love story. One that you could feel from their first kiss.
Pablo... such a good friend. Each character needs a friend like him. Even in the darkest moments.
I also loved the idea of cartels in this book. Usually cartels and mafia make the action better. The suspense, the fear, the guns, the bad guys etc.
But that ending! Yeah, I know I’ve said it before... but damn that ending! Why?! Just why?
twiinklex's review against another edition
3.0
Before I met Ryan I didn't know what falling in love meant. Love makes you weak and strong. It makes you secure in your feelings and insecure that something will come along to ruin everything. Love makes you have purpose and passion. I'd run to the ends of the earth to find Ryan. If he doesn't feel the same way, it won't matter. For better or worse, my heart is seared with my love for him.
I was totally in love with the Perfect Chemistry series and was excited when I came across this book because it seemed to have a similar format: Bad boy and good girl of different social classes with gangs and the mafia in the background setting. Unfortunately this book didn't work for me and was very tiresome instead.
I felt no connection to the two main characters and couldn't care less about what happened to them. Despite the description of electrifying scenes between them, I couldn't feel their chemistry at all. Dalila, for al her feminism, was just lame.
There were also two twists involving two characters that I figured out within the first few chapters of the book LOL. I guess that's what happens when you are an avid thriller fan. Everything was obvious to me.
Not a bad ending though, which pushed my rating up to 3 stars.
pixiechild25's review against another edition
1.0
It’s basically the same as every single book Simone Elkeles writes. Rich girl falls for poor boy, complications, yada yada. There’s a good twist at the end, but it was too insta lovey and the characters were completely useless. If it had been longer and allowed for more character development and more of an actual plot, maybe it would’ve been higher for me.
the_coriolis_effect's review against another edition
3.0
That was... interesting, to say the least. I'll admit the end surprised me, and it was definitely bold. I suppose I should give her credit for that.
Otherwise the romance was pretty meh. It was very instalovey. It IS possible to write a standalone that isn't instalove, but this definitely was. Like. Chill. You don't have to say you'll die for someone you've known for two weeks. I didn't particularly feel any chemistry between them, and when Dalila told him she was falling in love with him, I was like YOU BARELY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM!!!
I did listen to the whole thing in one sitting though on a long car drive. So it at least kept my attention for 6+ straight hours.
Otherwise the romance was pretty meh. It was very instalovey. It IS possible to write a standalone that isn't instalove, but this definitely was. Like. Chill. You don't have to say you'll die for someone you've known for two weeks. I didn't particularly feel any chemistry between them, and when Dalila told him she was falling in love with him, I was like YOU BARELY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM!!!
I did listen to the whole thing in one sitting though on a long car drive. So it at least kept my attention for 6+ straight hours.