A review by annica_reads_books
Green Light by Jescie Hall

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Jescie Hall is back, y’all, and she’s coming at ya with a toxic bully romance! What she didn’t tell you was that not only does this book heavily layer on the bullying and toxicity, but it’s also her most plot-driven story to date. If you like your bully romance with a little side of murder mystery, look no further than  Green Light. 

This book starts out with a bang (quite literally), and it doesn’t ever let up. The two love interests, Shane and Montana, are perfectly paired in their toxicity and trauma. If you’re looking for an anti-hero to whisper sweet nothings in your ear, you might want to change your expectations. Shane’s way of showing love is unconventional at its best and destructive at its worst. 

“Watch yourself, gutter rat,” I breathe. “See all the things I saw as a boy in love. The faces you make, the pain you’ll emit. I want you to watch as I break you.”

If you’re reading this feeling sorry for the heroine, Montana, don’t. She’s the perfect match for Shane – his twin flame, meeting him and loving him in his darkness. What I appreciated most about Montana was her tenacity. Nothing is going to stop her from getting what she wants. Montana is an anti-heroine who’s willing to let her claws come out. 

I hunger for the way men become weak around me, beneath me, inside of me. They think they’re using me, but I know. I know what it takes to make them fold. What makes them fall on their sword for a taste of the promised land. And I assure you, it isn’t much.

The plot's pacing was executed masterfully, and every chapter had a purpose. Revelations were subtly added throughout the book, but most of the big reveals came at the end. This worked well for me as a reader because it kept me engaged, wanting to know more from the moment I started the book until the moment I finished it. 

Green Light delivered on the way it was marketed, but it’s so much more. I loved it. Undoubtedly, it will be one of my top reads of 2024. I highly recommend this book to dark romance lovers that want something fast-paced and toxic. 

"You,” she whispers back. “You are the darkness that I want to wear proudly.”

Be sure to check your triggers before diving into this book. There are scenes and situations that Jescie has not included in her previous books. Your mental health matters. You can learn more on her website: https://jesciehall.com/trigger-warnings/ 

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