A review by greystory
Owen by Elle M. Drew
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
This is more paranormal romance than monster romance proper due to it being a bear shifter but it's a solid shifter romance. I'd heard great things about Owen and they were all true. It's sweet, fast-paced without feeling too fast, and the spice is great. Owen and Cordelia are both lovely characters and I enjoyed them enjoying each other.
Some more things I enjoyed in no particular order:
* Cordelia being plus size
* Cordelia's larger body being worshipped without being fetishized
* Owen being confused and then angry about the shittiness of women's clothing sizing and the way plus sizes are fucked over by the fashion industry
* Bear shifter is kinda cute
* Cordelia getting so damn excited over Owen having bath sheets instead of bath towels. Like damn girl, I understand
* Cordelia being an independent person prior to Owen and taking things into her hands to get the relationship kicked off
* Cordelia chastising herself when she was pouting over Owen
Some more things I enjoyed in no particular order:
* Cordelia being plus size
* Cordelia's larger body being worshipped without being fetishized
* Owen being confused and then angry about the shittiness of women's clothing sizing and the way plus sizes are fucked over by the fashion industry
* Bear shifter is kinda cute
* Cordelia getting so damn excited over Owen having bath sheets instead of bath towels. Like damn girl, I understand
* Cordelia being an independent person prior to Owen and taking things into her hands to get the relationship kicked off
* Cordelia chastising herself when she was pouting over Owen
She had a personality, dammit! She was fun! She was a fun-loving, vivacious, intelligent, and creative woman! She existed before Owen, and she would continue existing without him! She didn’t need a man to fulfill her! She was so much more than a woman crying over a guy! She had goals, dammit! She wanted things! So why the fuck was she just sitting around crying about Owen?
* Owen's relationship with his brothers
* Owen wanting to support Cordelia's hobbies and interests and needs
* Owen calling himself an old bear (he's in his 30s, he's not old)
* Owen's bear reveal scene
* Owen's dirty talk
* Bethany's own relationship.. stuff.. and the way it unfolded to set it up for the next book
* Mrs Free casually understanding
That's non-exhaustive so, yeah, lots of great stuff. I could have done with a tidbit more of some of the side characters given the length of the story and (I know this will sound like blasphemy) a tad less smut in favor of a bit more of them bonding through other activities.
Be aware of the trigger warnings:
* Owen wanting to support Cordelia's hobbies and interests and needs
* Owen calling himself an old bear (he's in his 30s, he's not old)
* Owen's bear reveal scene
* Owen's dirty talk
* Bethany's own relationship.. stuff.. and the way it unfolded to set it up for the next book
* Mrs Free casually understanding
Spoiler
the concept of getting yourself "accidentally" on purpose stranded at a remote cabin for the purposes of an extended sexcation (Mrs Free must have had her own youthful adventures, surely??)That's non-exhaustive so, yeah, lots of great stuff. I could have done with a tidbit more of some of the side characters given the length of the story and (I know this will sound like blasphemy) a tad less smut in favor of a bit more of them bonding through other activities.
Be aware of the trigger warnings:
Spoiler
Dear reader, Owen contains the following: Explicit Sexual Content, Breeding Kink, Forced Orgasms, Stuffing and Stretching, Hint of Choking, Discussion of Future Children, NO PREGNANCY, Self Sabotage (MMC), Self Degradation (MMC), Discussion of Parental Alienation, Discussion of Fat Girl Fashion
Content Warnings
Minor: Pregnancy