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livermoresweetheart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Everly was a bright, young, 24 year old reporter when she sent 10 year old Cullen Ayer's father to prison for his crimes. And that one event has a snowball effect on Cullen's entire childhood. He grew up without his father, he was abused by his guardian, and he thought his life was worthless. So when he showed up to his college journalism class 8 years later, and she was the professor, he vowed then and there to make her life a living nightmare. And Sara Cate wrote this dynamic so deliciously!
I love that this book tipped a little dark, and had a heavy degradation smink with a side order of praise, it also has a long shopping list of triggers, so if you need that, it is available for you in her book! I was sad when this book ended, and would have loved 300 more pages of bullying before they got together, it was THAT GOOD.
The voice narrators were amazing as well, they were engaging, and enhanced the story with their incredible acting skills. It was well done all around!
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, and Trafficking
Moderate: Suicide
ednam0dewannabe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Trafficking, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
bendy_bookworm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, and Suicide
ashham109'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
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Trafficking, and Murder
emilycruz1016's review against another edition
5.0
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
- 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
⭐ 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 😂
Graphic: Bullying and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
laura_rheads_too_much's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Death of parent
Minor: Death, Trafficking, and Murder