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ashham109's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Trafficking, and Murder
emilycruz1016's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Trafficking
weelasswithabook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
CW: dubious consent, bullying, death of a parent, historic abusive childhood, attempted murder, human trafficking, blackmail, graphic sexual content
⭐ Age gap (OWYM)
⭐ Teacher/student
⭐ Enemies to lovers
🌶️ O denial
🌶️ Edging
🌶️ Hate sex
🌶️ 🍑
Oh this was a difficult one. I actually almost DNFed near the beginning because Cullen was exactly the type of hero who instantly puts me off. HOWEVER, I trust Sara Cate and I decided to see how this played out. I'm glad I did.
The first interactions between the two MCs are very bully oriented, sketchy consent, blackmailing, all that stuff that usually has me running for the hills. But I continued on through the book as I was curious to see how the character ARC went because I genuinely kept thinking that there's no way I'm gonna soften up to this dude 😂
But we were gifted with ✨ vulnerability ✨ and I eat that shit up EVERY SINGLE TIME. A very broken and angry man who hasn't experienced love either given or received, had an abusive childhood, essentially lost both of his parents, it's tragic really. Would I tolerate any of that nonsense IRL? Fuck no. But it really worked for me in the story.
I liked the concept of trauma bonding being used. Everly has an extremely misplaced sense of guilt and responsibility for Cullen's hideous childhood, even though she was just doing her job. Cullen has resentment toward Everly for just doing her job. So the whole relationship is built on a toxic foundation of hatred. But it was unpacked really well throughout the course of the book until we got to see the characters really face up to the whole "do we actually love each other, or are we bonded by trauma?" scenario.
I really enjoyed this after pushing past my extreme discomfort with our toxic af hero 😂
⭐ Age gap (OWYM)
⭐ Teacher/student
⭐ Enemies to lovers
🌶️ O denial
🌶️ Edging
🌶️ Hate sex
🌶️ 🍑
Oh this was a difficult one. I actually almost DNFed near the beginning because Cullen was exactly the type of hero who instantly puts me off. HOWEVER, I trust Sara Cate and I decided to see how this played out. I'm glad I did.
The first interactions between the two MCs are very bully oriented, sketchy consent, blackmailing, all that stuff that usually has me running for the hills. But I continued on through the book as I was curious to see how the character ARC went because I genuinely kept thinking that there's no way I'm gonna soften up to this dude 😂
But we were gifted with ✨ vulnerability ✨ and I eat that shit up EVERY SINGLE TIME. A very broken and angry man who hasn't experienced love either given or received, had an abusive childhood, essentially lost both of his parents, it's tragic really. Would I tolerate any of that nonsense IRL? Fuck no. But it really worked for me in the story.
I liked the concept of trauma bonding being used. Everly has an extremely misplaced sense of guilt and responsibility for Cullen's hideous childhood, even though she was just doing her job. Cullen has resentment toward Everly for just doing her job. So the whole relationship is built on a toxic foundation of hatred. But it was unpacked really well throughout the course of the book until we got to see the characters really face up to the whole "do we actually love each other, or are we bonded by trauma?" scenario.
I really enjoyed this after pushing past my extreme discomfort with our toxic af hero 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury