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A review by donasbooks
Twisted Love by Ana Huang
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I found a digital copy of TWISTED LOVE by Ana Huang on Libby. All views are mine
"I'm sorry honey, but it's over," I told my poor heart. "You don't belong to me anymore." (5:16:01)
I know a lot of people read books like this for the sex, but this one doesnβt have that much sex in it. Plenty of smoldering! But only a few primary ignitions. I enjoyed the tension that built between the two lovers more than I did the releases. The sex was dirty, but not well expressed on the page. Honestly, during the sex scenes, I empathized more on a pain level than pleasure, because everything was written to sound like it hurt. Also, it's really not this easy to find someone who shares your kink, I mean, he basically fell in her lap. And she was just like, wanna choke me, heard thats your jam? And he was like, yeah. I'm paraphrasing, of course. But I do not like convenient plot points, they feel fictional. I want things to feel real when I read.
It may not sound like it, but I liked this book! I'm really happy with the plot and character development. This story and these characters are accessible to me. I honestly can take or leave this kind of sex-- what can I say? I like tenderness lol! But sex is not all this book has to offer either!
Stylistically, this is a very pleasant read, and the story and characters develop at a perfect pace. I enjoyed a the secondary characters as well, like Ava's brother. I'm so pleased that this was not a book built of tropes. Ava at 5'5" is sexier to me than all the 98-pounders I've ever read in one of these sex books, combined. Forced proximity is not so mundane as one bed in a shared hotel room; it is a strictly governed guardian/minor relationship, which is way more nuanced and believable. I could go on about how this book tramples weak and annoying tropes, but it's not necessary. I'll just say Huang's writing is skillful.
"[...Your] enemies are my enemies. Your friends are my friends. And if you wanted, I would burn down the world for you." (9:46:00)
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Honestly, I'm surprised at how good this writing is, and that makes me feel bad lol
2. I adore the protective older brother trope.
3. I'm 25% of the way through and I'm so relieved that no one has boned yet! I just cannot handle steamy scenes in every chapter. Plus, I love a slow burn plot!
4. Oh thank goodness she's not four foot seven. I get so sick of the teeny woman trope.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I love Cindy Kay, the narrator for Ava, but not Aiden Snow, the narrator for Alex.
2. I'm not a fan of this book's treatment of the mental health theme. There is so much toxic positivity. Ava actually tells herself that she should be grateful because only one of her parents died from suicide. But no worries, she still has her dad who doesn't express emotion or show affection! (You're going to
sh-t when you find out why he's so cold to her.)
3. I can do without "nub." At least she's not using "nubbin."
Rating: π©π»ββ€οΈβπβπ¨π½π©π»ββ€οΈβπβπ¨π½π©π»ββ€οΈβπβπ¨π½.5 burgeoning romances
Spice: π₯π₯.5
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Sep 26 '24
Format: Audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
βοΈ sub / dom and bdsm
π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ family stories, family drama
πββοΈ women's coming of age
π©Ή pain and pleasure
β€οΈβπ₯ dark romance
"I'm sorry honey, but it's over," I told my poor heart. "You don't belong to me anymore." (5:16:01)
I know a lot of people read books like this for the sex, but this one doesnβt have that much sex in it. Plenty of smoldering! But only a few primary ignitions. I enjoyed the tension that built between the two lovers more than I did the releases. The sex was dirty, but not well expressed on the page. Honestly, during the sex scenes, I empathized more on a pain level than pleasure, because everything was written to sound like it hurt. Also, it's really not this easy to find someone who shares your kink, I mean, he basically fell in her lap. And she was just like, wanna choke me, heard thats your jam? And he was like, yeah. I'm paraphrasing, of course. But I do not like convenient plot points, they feel fictional. I want things to feel real when I read.
It may not sound like it, but I liked this book! I'm really happy with the plot and character development. This story and these characters are accessible to me. I honestly can take or leave this kind of sex-- what can I say? I like tenderness lol! But sex is not all this book has to offer either!
Stylistically, this is a very pleasant read, and the story and characters develop at a perfect pace. I enjoyed a the secondary characters as well, like Ava's brother. I'm so pleased that this was not a book built of tropes. Ava at 5'5" is sexier to me than all the 98-pounders I've ever read in one of these sex books, combined. Forced proximity is not so mundane as one bed in a shared hotel room; it is a strictly governed guardian/minor relationship, which is way more nuanced and believable. I could go on about how this book tramples weak and annoying tropes, but it's not necessary. I'll just say Huang's writing is skillful.
"[...Your] enemies are my enemies. Your friends are my friends. And if you wanted, I would burn down the world for you." (9:46:00)
Reading Notes
Three (or more) things I loved:
1. Honestly, I'm surprised at how good this writing is, and that makes me feel bad lol
2. I adore the protective older brother trope.
3. I'm 25% of the way through and I'm so relieved that no one has boned yet! I just cannot handle steamy scenes in every chapter. Plus, I love a slow burn plot!
4. Oh thank goodness she's not four foot seven. I get so sick of the teeny woman trope.
Three (or less) things I didn't love:
This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.
1. I love Cindy Kay, the narrator for Ava, but not Aiden Snow, the narrator for Alex.
2. I'm not a fan of this book's treatment of the mental health theme. There is so much toxic positivity. Ava actually tells herself that she should be grateful because only one of her parents died from suicide. But no worries, she still has her dad who doesn't express emotion or show affection! (You're going to
sh-t when you find out why he's so cold to her.)
3. I can do without "nub." At least she's not using "nubbin."
Rating: π©π»ββ€οΈβπβπ¨π½π©π»ββ€οΈβπβπ¨π½π©π»ββ€οΈβπβπ¨π½.5 burgeoning romances
Spice: π₯π₯.5
Recommend? Yes
Finished: Sep 26 '24
Format: Audiobook, Libby
Read this book if you like:
βοΈ sub / dom and bdsm
π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ family stories, family drama
πββοΈ women's coming of age
π©Ή pain and pleasure
β€οΈβπ₯ dark romance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse