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A review by lauren_soderberg
The Harder You Fall by L.A. Cotton
2.0
The Harder You Fall is the third and final installment of LA Cotton’s Rixon Raiders series. It’s poignant and angsty, but unfortunately relies too heavily on ethnic and cultural stereotypes for me to rate this higher.
Mya and Asher both bear the weight of trauma and secrets. While they might seem like polar opposites, they are nevertheless drawn to each other. But can their connection withstand exterior forces?
First off, let me say that I admire Cotton’s willingness to not shy away from issues involving racism and prejudice. I just don’t know if a white women is the right person to tell a character like Mya’s story. Unfortunately, in the case of this novel, various stereotypes were upheld rather than were dismantled. I think that more diverse stories need to be told, not only in romance, but across the board, but I think that white authors need to cede space to writers of color to tell these stories. Or, at the very least, include sensitivity readers in the beta reading process that will help add perspective.
All of those concerns aside, I did enjoy the push-pull dynamic between Mya and Asher, as well as their chemistry. It was a fitting end to the series, but left me feeling a little disappointed.
Mya and Asher both bear the weight of trauma and secrets. While they might seem like polar opposites, they are nevertheless drawn to each other. But can their connection withstand exterior forces?
First off, let me say that I admire Cotton’s willingness to not shy away from issues involving racism and prejudice. I just don’t know if a white women is the right person to tell a character like Mya’s story. Unfortunately, in the case of this novel, various stereotypes were upheld rather than were dismantled. I think that more diverse stories need to be told, not only in romance, but across the board, but I think that white authors need to cede space to writers of color to tell these stories. Or, at the very least, include sensitivity readers in the beta reading process that will help add perspective.
All of those concerns aside, I did enjoy the push-pull dynamic between Mya and Asher, as well as their chemistry. It was a fitting end to the series, but left me feeling a little disappointed.