Reviews tagging 'Blood'

The Deal by Elle Kennedy

18 reviews

adreaminaqua's review against another edition

dark emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was a really fun rom com. It does cover some heavier themes/topics but still manages to be lighthearted somehow. The plot moves quickly towards the back half and I almost feel like the author tried to add too many subplots. The heavier themes are discussed with care but are brushed over a bit. There are several plot lines that feel rushed/thrown in and wrapped up so there weren’t any loose ends. It was published in 2015 so some of the language is dated but I didn’t mind. Also, the author is British and some of her colloquialisms really shine through (being an MA native myself, I could definitely tell what didn’t fit). All that being said, I laughed out loud so hard and also felt for these characters, especially a certain scene towards the end of the book.  I really liked all the characters and their interactions! I’m looking forward to reading more in the series! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual content

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use

shaesensual's review

dark emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

I want to say first that I’m reading this series after having read Briar U and I just know this series is all going to feel like a fun flashback to the characters I have already seen in glimpses! I loved loved loved Garrett and Hannah and seeing this story be the foundation of their future in Briar U is sooooo fun. For a romance book with some of the darkest themes I have read to date, it might have also been the most fun! Garrett is such a lovable character all the way throughout, by respecting Hannah’s intelligence, gaining her trust, and being appropriately persistent (stubborn!). This might also be the most authentic development of sparks between characters I have ever seen…their first sleepover night is SO realistic for realizing you are truly comfortable with somebody’s company. The moment where this gets referenced again later in the book seriously brought me to tears because of how true their ease is with each other. I cannot compliment this book enough! So serious, but so fun. 

Let’s not forget the spice because…wowow. Hannah’s sexual trauma is such a well handled topic and Garrett’s efforts are so sincere…and HOT. Their chemistry is intense and seeing their sexual tension develop in baby steps was so fun and flirty!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

saretta02's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Blood, and Death of parent

steve1213's review

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

edietz22's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Cancer, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

cait's review

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

aleclghtwood's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Why would an author take such heavy themes like rape and domestic abuse and simply decide not to deepen the subject or raise awareness, but to use as a tool to character development, like they need to have that experience to be who they are today? And even that is made poorly. And talking about character development: the only two characters in the book that she gave a personality are the main ones, the other ones are just shallow as this book as a whole - Justin, who is the main catalyst for everything in the beginning, is totally forgotten at some point, even with all the hints about his shady personality and potential he had for the overral plot. Hannah is the worst, she spends most of the first half of the book claiming that she's soooo not like other girls (istg she actually says the words at some point) because she's not interested in many guys and thinking that other girls are whores for it. Garret is actually a nice guy if you excuse the way he thinks how men and women relationships work in the first chapters, but Hannah and the narrative treats him like some sort of savior and I think it's disturbing when we are talking about a rape victim. She's not a strong female character when she needs to degrade other women to feel better about herself and needs the help of a man to overcome a trauma. And about the domestic violence, it was written a little better, but when Garret

sees that Cindy is a victim, he tells that "it's not his place to intervene"??? WHAT THE FUCK??? It felt so ooc after everything his mother and him went through.

I understand why we would like this book when it was released in 2015, but right now? I thought we're over the pick me trope, disappointed to see we aren't. The only thing I hope could be good were the smut scenes, but not even that, they're just a few and not satisfying. I started this book with low expectations, but it was worse than I thought, hope I never read Elle Kennedy again.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Grief

vj_thompson's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Drug use, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Blood

lilyyyy_b's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

one character (Hannah) was raped and doesnt like drinking in public as doesnt trust she wont get raped again. the other main character (Garrett) looks after her drinks to make sure shes ok. she went to therapy afterwards, also sees someone who testified against her saying shed given consent.

eule's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Basic romance. Very cute. Deals with rape and sexual abuse. Good smut, still to little. Guys, take notes from Garrett Graham. If all of you would act like him, the world would be a better place. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Death of parent