A review by kat1105
Red Thorns by Rina Kent

Did not finish book. Stopped at 71%.
Dnf at 71%. I wanted to like this book and the characters but there were just too many problems I couldn't get past.
  1. The main characters in this book are supposed to be in their fourth year of college but the characters and setting feel more like a highschool. The interactions between the cheerleaders is reminicent "Mean Girls" and not in a good way. 
  2. The best trope in this book doesnt make any sense and is very poorly executed.
  3. What was the point of the penpal subplot. The penpal comes up twice and the letters add little to the story overall. The letter responding to Naomi's confession about having CNC fantasies was hard to read and perpetuates alot of negative stereotypes about people who engage in CNC. (They are crazy, messed up, wrong, need therapy...) None of which are true. 
  4. On the topic of CNC...  it is very poorly and unrealistically executed in this book. In BDSM consensual non-consent is considered edge play for a reason. If not done carefully it can cause serious physical and psychological harm to both parties. CNC is not something you jump into with a partner becuase you "just know" they will be into it. Forcing yourself on someone saying no without prior discussion, negotiation and agreement is rape. The first time Naomi and Sebastian have sex it is not CNC it is rape. He breaks into her home, shuts off the lights and forces himself on her while she is bleeding and begging him to stop. He gives her a safeword and claims he will stop it she uses it but there was no negotiation of that safeword and he refuses to allow her to set any boundaries or limits for the encounter. This was not CNC this was rape that he gaslights her into believing was consensual. Later on in the book it is made clear that using her safeword would harm their relationship. Safewords are sacred and using a safeword should never have negative repercussions on the relationship as a whole. I knew going into this that there were dark themes to this book and not all aspects of healthy BDSM would be followed but this book takes it too far. This book doesnt tow 00⁰000 the line between CNC and rape it blows right past it and then tries to gaslight you into thinking it didn't and it perpetuates alot of harmful stereotypes about people with a CNC kink in the process. 
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