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Ravenswood #1.5
Damaged Goods
Second chances shouldn't be this sinful.
Laura Burne‘s husband is a monster, her diamond ring is a trap, and her pregnancy is the push she needs to finally escape. She runs away seeking safety… and finds Samir Bianchi, her long-lost teenage sweetheart.
With his kind eyes and dirty smile, Samir’s still hot as hell—and he still treats Laura like a goddess, baby bump and all. The wild boy she spent one magical summer with is every inch a man, and he’s more than ready to care for her tiny family.
But Laura’s been keeping a secret Samir might never forgive. When she finally confesses, will he remain by her side? Or is this fairytale ending too good to be true?
Please be aware: this book contains depictions of domestic violence that could trigger certain audiences.
Laura Burne‘s husband is a monster, her diamond ring is a trap, and her pregnancy is the push she needs to finally escape. She runs away seeking safety… and finds Samir Bianchi, her long-lost teenage sweetheart.
With his kind eyes and dirty smile, Samir’s still hot as hell—and he still treats Laura like a goddess, baby bump and all. The wild boy she spent one magical summer with is every inch a man, and he’s more than ready to care for her tiny family.
But Laura’s been keeping a secret Samir might never forgive. When she finally confesses, will he remain by her side? Or is this fairytale ending too good to be true?
Please be aware: this book contains depictions of domestic violence that could trigger certain audiences.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2018
About the author
Talia Hibbert
33 books32.8k followersTalia Hibbert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in a bedroom full of books. Supposedly, there is a world beyond that room, but she has yet to drum up enough interest to investigate.
She writes sexy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalised identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include beauty, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm. She also rambles intermittently about the romance genre online.
Talia self-publishes via Nixon House and is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary.
She writes sexy, diverse romance because she believes that people of marginalised identities need honest and positive representation. Her interests include beauty, junk food, and unnecessary sarcasm. She also rambles intermittently about the romance genre online.
Talia self-publishes via Nixon House and is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 574 reviews
June 1, 2018
I read this while I was writing it and I quite enjoyed myself
April 5, 2022
#1 A Girl Like Her ★★★★★
#1.5 Damaged Goods ★★★★★
#2 Untouchable ★★★★★
#3 That Kind of Guy ★★★★★
She was different now. She was a little bit ruined. She was damaged.
RE-READ UPDATE — March 2022:
This was honestly just as wonderful the second time around, and I'm so happy I re-visited these lovebirds.
———
ORIGINAL REVIEW — December 2018:
When we first met Laura in A Girl Like Her, it was hard for me to know what to make of her. The fact that she was married to Daniel — Ruth's abusive ex, if you don't recall — and pregnant with his child was enough to make one wary of her, but knowing Talia Hibbert's writing as I did, I knew to expect better from her than the vilification of an abuse victim, so I went into Damaged Goods feeling optimistic and hopeful.
"It's rather simple. You met her. You fell in love with her. You never saw her again. You never fell out of love.
Right from the start, it's clear that Laura is nothing like Daniel, and no longer wants anything to do with him — and I loved her. She's a powerhouse, and she deserves only the best in life, which luckily for Samir, happens to include the total teddy bear of a former flame she finds in her old beach town. Samir Bianchi is one of the most lovable, incredible romance heroes I've ever met, and I will forever sing his praises. (He's also half-Moroccan, if you're curious about the rep in this book!)
Really, half-nakedness was highly irresponsible, coming from a man who looked like that.
I also have to say that, despite the fact that there is some triggering content in the base plot (after all, Laura is an abuse survivor), Damaged Goods is overall one of the cutest, happiest, funniest, and most tender romances I've ever read. I laughed out loud at so many quotes (my endless favorite being: "Permission to beat the shit out of your husband?"), and I just honestly look back on this entire story and these characters with so much fondness, it's sickening. ♥
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September 12, 2018Joyous. A really lovely story of a woman escaping an abusive marriage and finding her first love again. Laura is also pregnant for the first time, and Samir is the hero we'd all want in that situation. The author combines a really pretty brutal backstory for both characters with a sexy and, importantly, *happy* romance--I'm beginning to think that's what makes Talia Hibbert so outstanding, that her couples are genuinely happy together, that in the midst of situations that would be an angst wallow in other books, they find joy, or kindness, or giggles.
Also Samir gets to confront horrible Daniel from A Girl Like Her and gleeee. Loved this.
Also Samir gets to confront horrible Daniel from A Girl Like Her and gleeee. Loved this.
May 15, 2019
Hope, strength and new beginnings are front and centre in this little book and although it all begins with the heavier subject of a pregnant woman walking away from her abusive husband, what develops is a romance that warms the cockles of your heart whilst bringing a good injection of sexy.
I want to complicate things with you. I want us tied together in a knot so indecipherable, people look at us and can’t imagine how we’d ever come apart.”
My only grumble is that the conversations were a bit top heavy on dialogue tags but that aside, with memorable, real characters whose plights beat a path straight to your heart, I’d have no qualms in reading more from Talia Hibbert.
I want to complicate things with you. I want us tied together in a knot so indecipherable, people look at us and can’t imagine how we’d ever come apart.”
My only grumble is that the conversations were a bit top heavy on dialogue tags but that aside, with memorable, real characters whose plights beat a path straight to your heart, I’d have no qualms in reading more from Talia Hibbert.
August 9, 2019
I am mush!!
I'm pretty sure Talia Hibbert is making her way up there as one of my favourite romance authors. This story was so great even though it as a novella. I felt content and satisfied with how the story was dealt with and it packed a whole lot of goodness and happiness though the plot was slightly bleak.
This was a romance so wholesome and adorable I couldn't get enough.
Onto adding all of Talia Hibbert's books to my TBR.
I'm pretty sure Talia Hibbert is making her way up there as one of my favourite romance authors. This story was so great even though it as a novella. I felt content and satisfied with how the story was dealt with and it packed a whole lot of goodness and happiness though the plot was slightly bleak.
This was a romance so wholesome and adorable I couldn't get enough.
Onto adding all of Talia Hibbert's books to my TBR.
June 16, 2018
Remember in my prior review (yeah, I doubt it, but I do) when I said that I had that I was feeling awfully grumpy at contemporary and this unknown to me author named Talia Hibbert crumpled up that feeling, threw it in my face then lit it on fire?
That.She is, without a doubt, a fresh (to me) voice in contemporary romance. There's something so true and stripped, yet beautiful about her style. Elegant with a flare of humor, minimalist with a touch of whimsy. As I've read her books I've felt more than with other authors who are low angst that the arc is a little different. It's not the why or despite-all-odds getting together love stories. It's a romance about how two people find each other, stripped bare, and become each other's. It's simple, it deals with the essentially mundane of a couple falling in love and deciding to be together, yet both books I've read of hers feel unique and like nothing I've ever read before. (And great humor!)
In Damaged Goods, we have Laura-wife of Daniel-becoming herself after surviving her marriage to Daniel. Her backstory is intricately woven in the story, but it doesn't detract or consume or add dependency to Samir and Laura's relationship (second chance type), it just is. It's painful, it's real, but it's something the couple deals with as a couple and moves on. Samir is lovely too, and like Evan comes off a bit too perfect. I'm left feeling I know the heroines a touch better than the heroes thus far in her books (we did have his back story it didn't seem to be integral, if that makes sense)...but for me that isn't really a bad thing. That said, though Samir was a bit infallible, you can't help loving him or his smitten, torch-carrying self. Laura and her friendship with Ruth are highlighted, and so is a delicate balance of coming off one relationship into another. This 'rebound' wouldn't always play well with this backstory, but again, here it just is. We also get a glimpse of Hassan, Samir's brother and I have to say I would've loved to meet him and his husband in the story. I loved that interaction, and it added to Samir's character.
Honestly, two more perfect and idealized heroes have never existed in my mind (Ravenswood are her only books I've read), so I guess a kudos for that. I do have a strong desire to see one of her heroes with a really rough edge though, I believe Hibbert is the kind of author who could write me into love with anyone.
Parts of it are quite *ahem* hot, so you won't be disappointed there.
All this said, though Hibbert's Ravenswood series have become a beacon in the sludge of CR I feel like I've been wading through, I'm giving this a 4. It's a novella, though a hefty one, and I can always use a bit more depth. The 4 is also for the perfection of the characters-or at least the heroes. I love the snappy humor and writing style and can't wait to read the backlist & more from this talented author.
That.She is, without a doubt, a fresh (to me) voice in contemporary romance. There's something so true and stripped, yet beautiful about her style. Elegant with a flare of humor, minimalist with a touch of whimsy. As I've read her books I've felt more than with other authors who are low angst that the arc is a little different. It's not the why or despite-all-odds getting together love stories. It's a romance about how two people find each other, stripped bare, and become each other's. It's simple, it deals with the essentially mundane of a couple falling in love and deciding to be together, yet both books I've read of hers feel unique and like nothing I've ever read before. (And great humor!)
In Damaged Goods, we have Laura-wife of Daniel-becoming herself after surviving her marriage to Daniel. Her backstory is intricately woven in the story, but it doesn't detract or consume or add dependency to Samir and Laura's relationship (second chance type), it just is. It's painful, it's real, but it's something the couple deals with as a couple and moves on. Samir is lovely too, and like Evan comes off a bit too perfect. I'm left feeling I know the heroines a touch better than the heroes thus far in her books (we did have his back story it didn't seem to be integral, if that makes sense)...but for me that isn't really a bad thing. That said, though Samir was a bit infallible, you can't help loving him or his smitten, torch-carrying self. Laura and her friendship with Ruth are highlighted, and so is a delicate balance of coming off one relationship into another. This 'rebound' wouldn't always play well with this backstory, but again, here it just is. We also get a glimpse of Hassan, Samir's brother and I have to say I would've loved to meet him and his husband in the story. I loved that interaction, and it added to Samir's character.
Honestly, two more perfect and idealized heroes have never existed in my mind (Ravenswood are her only books I've read), so I guess a kudos for that. I do have a strong desire to see one of her heroes with a really rough edge though, I believe Hibbert is the kind of author who could write me into love with anyone.
Parts of it are quite *ahem* hot, so you won't be disappointed there.
All this said, though Hibbert's Ravenswood series have become a beacon in the sludge of CR I feel like I've been wading through, I'm giving this a 4. It's a novella, though a hefty one, and I can always use a bit more depth. The 4 is also for the perfection of the characters-or at least the heroes. I love the snappy humor and writing style and can't wait to read the backlist & more from this talented author.
June 29, 2018
3.5 Stars
This little Ravenswood novella was super sweet and deliciously steamy. It left my heart full and content.
I’m not generally one for second-chance romances, but Hibbert made this trope work a treat here. I usually miss all the initial interactions and first time moments that get skipped over or briefly rehashed unsatisfactorily in these kinds of stories, but Hibbert was able to make me feel Samir and Laura’s past connection and current sizzle from the moment they reunited. Their chemistry was great and I didn’t even mind not knowing all the details from their time together as teenagers - in fact, the obscurity of their past romance probably helped in this instance.
I absolutely adored the character of Samir. This guy was fantastic. He was witty, intelligent, protective, caring, and so very sexy and romantic when he got down to business. Laura was one lucky lady finding this guy again after all the crap she’d endured to get to this point.
Now, Laura? She was a little less loveable for me. I couldn’t stand her in A Girl Like Her and I honestly went into this with a negative construct of her in mind. Thankfully, Hibbert was able to turn me around, mostly. I grew to understand Laura, and I even felt sympathetic to the horrors she’d endured at the mercy of her abusive douchewad husband (soon-to-be-ex-husband) Daniel - Ruth’s ex and constant tormentor from book one. With Samir I grew to like Laura well enough, but something ultimately held me back from truly loving her character, and I have no idea what that was exactly.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this little sidebar to the Ravenswood series. Even though I didn’t particularly want Laura’s story, I’m so glad I got it anyway.
This little Ravenswood novella was super sweet and deliciously steamy. It left my heart full and content.
I’m not generally one for second-chance romances, but Hibbert made this trope work a treat here. I usually miss all the initial interactions and first time moments that get skipped over or briefly rehashed unsatisfactorily in these kinds of stories, but Hibbert was able to make me feel Samir and Laura’s past connection and current sizzle from the moment they reunited. Their chemistry was great and I didn’t even mind not knowing all the details from their time together as teenagers - in fact, the obscurity of their past romance probably helped in this instance.
I absolutely adored the character of Samir. This guy was fantastic. He was witty, intelligent, protective, caring, and so very sexy and romantic when he got down to business. Laura was one lucky lady finding this guy again after all the crap she’d endured to get to this point.
Now, Laura? She was a little less loveable for me. I couldn’t stand her in A Girl Like Her and I honestly went into this with a negative construct of her in mind. Thankfully, Hibbert was able to turn me around, mostly. I grew to understand Laura, and I even felt sympathetic to the horrors she’d endured at the mercy of her abusive douchewad husband (soon-to-be-ex-husband) Daniel - Ruth’s ex and constant tormentor from book one. With Samir I grew to like Laura well enough, but something ultimately held me back from truly loving her character, and I have no idea what that was exactly.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this little sidebar to the Ravenswood series. Even though I didn’t particularly want Laura’s story, I’m so glad I got it anyway.
June 2, 2021
a powerful and hopeful story about a woman escaping abusive marriage and finding love again with her childhood friend/sweetheart
Shelved as 'avoid'
July 14, 2018DNF.
I just couldn’t make myself feel pity for Laura beyond the abuse.
No one deserves what she received from Daniel. But that’s where my sympathy ended.
As a reader I’m viciously cold and unforgiving. Every contempt Laura received from Hayley and her mother, she deserved it. She needed to know how it feels not to be trusted and how Ruth would’ve felt thanks to Laura’s campaign of Ruth-hate and slut-shaming. She deserved to know how it feels to pay for someone else’s sin while that someone else is deemed a hero.
I knew Ruth would have reached out. Ruth is exactly that kind of woman and because she knew Laura had one thing in common with her, daniel’s abuse she was automatically an ally, which Laura failed to do for a very long time.
She WAS in fact a snob. She in NO way deserved this hero, who was a dream. And no, Laura didn’t learn to be accepting because she grew up, and grew as a person. She became less snobbish because her hands were forced and the common people are the only one helping her now and Samir is there for her when her family wasn’t there. Circumstances forced her to reassess life’s choices and suddenly Ruth is a friend and Samir is the love of her life.
I’m sorry if couldn’t be that forgiving. She did NOT deserve Daniel, but she also didn’t deserve Samir.
What she did deserve however was a safe life with her kid.
Also safe to say I will never warm up to the idea of Hayley’s HEA.
Off topic: I saw the author making a little note explaining how being POC was not a hindrance in writing a white character. Numerous white authors have written about POC MCs, I cannot remember seeing such disclaimer before. I’m not sure how I feel, but her points were correct, we’re all humans with human emotions.
=====
No one deserves an abusive spouse.
No one. Not even this heroine. That is not my issue.
But this woman while being abused by her husband spread rumour about her friend about being a gold digging slut trying to steal her husband and let her sister publicly humiliate her.
Not once she thought hey, my abusive husband, who was so perfect before marriage but now his whole demeanour is a lie may have lied about my friend too.
So I’m not sure respect is something she deserves.
Safety. Definitely. A good life with security, absolutely! An HEA with love, I don’t feel like giving her that as a reader.
I just couldn’t make myself feel pity for Laura beyond the abuse.
No one deserves what she received from Daniel. But that’s where my sympathy ended.
As a reader I’m viciously cold and unforgiving. Every contempt Laura received from Hayley and her mother, she deserved it. She needed to know how it feels not to be trusted and how Ruth would’ve felt thanks to Laura’s campaign of Ruth-hate and slut-shaming. She deserved to know how it feels to pay for someone else’s sin while that someone else is deemed a hero.
I knew Ruth would have reached out. Ruth is exactly that kind of woman and because she knew Laura had one thing in common with her, daniel’s abuse she was automatically an ally, which Laura failed to do for a very long time.
She WAS in fact a snob. She in NO way deserved this hero, who was a dream. And no, Laura didn’t learn to be accepting because she grew up, and grew as a person. She became less snobbish because her hands were forced and the common people are the only one helping her now and Samir is there for her when her family wasn’t there. Circumstances forced her to reassess life’s choices and suddenly Ruth is a friend and Samir is the love of her life.
I’m sorry if couldn’t be that forgiving. She did NOT deserve Daniel, but she also didn’t deserve Samir.
What she did deserve however was a safe life with her kid.
Also safe to say I will never warm up to the idea of Hayley’s HEA.
Off topic: I saw the author making a little note explaining how being POC was not a hindrance in writing a white character. Numerous white authors have written about POC MCs, I cannot remember seeing such disclaimer before. I’m not sure how I feel, but her points were correct, we’re all humans with human emotions.
=====
No one deserves an abusive spouse.
No one. Not even this heroine. That is not my issue.
But this woman while being abused by her husband spread rumour about her friend about being a gold digging slut trying to steal her husband and let her sister publicly humiliate her.
Not once she thought hey, my abusive husband, who was so perfect before marriage but now his whole demeanour is a lie may have lied about my friend too.
So I’m not sure respect is something she deserves.
Safety. Definitely. A good life with security, absolutely! An HEA with love, I don’t feel like giving her that as a reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2023
I loved how much feeling, depth, and character details were packed into this novella. Also, how even though Samir (H) and Laura (h) had short-lived relationship decades ago when they were young, the book didn't depend solely on their past for their present. Yes, they still had all the lovely chemistry and quickly settled into familiar feelings, but they were also different and got to know each other in the present. Which was esp important since Laura's coming out of an abusive relationship, is pregnant, and is trying to find herself before becoming a mom. All of which Samir is very much on board with helping her with, he was incredible and absolutely earned a spot as one of my favorite book heroes despite the limited time with him. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow drama, slight om drama cause h's soon-to-be-ex husband can't just let go, and neither are virgins (they actually lost their virginities to each other when they were teenagers, no details given of his experience since but h had been married).
There are steamy scenes (Laura is pregnant obviously so FYI for those that maybe wouldn't enjoy that). There is some angst about it at first and their developing relationship because Laura's in a delicate place and trying to sort everything out. But Samir was so...everything. He also has manipulation and abuse in his past, although different, however his personality and how he grew from those experiences are completely unique to him, but they are also mentioned on page as recollections.
Most of the story is focused on Samir and Laura, but there are also side characters. Samir's best friend and his family are warm and accepting of Laura and the best friend gives Samir a push in the right direction. Laura's sister is only on page from a distance but I was glad for that. Laura's friend Ruth (who's from book 1, which I haven't read) was great and we get a brief time with her and her boyfriend being solid friends. The ex is on page briefly and I liked the author's choices in how it all played out and what roles both Samir and Laura played in the confrontation.
The ending was sweet and the epilogue is decades later and made me feel like mush on the inside. Would I have liked some more details about what their life was like in between the end and the epilogue? Yes, of course, I eat that stuff up. But what the author chose to have as the epilogue was just perfect from a family perspective so I was happy and I would definitely recommend this one.
There are steamy scenes (Laura is pregnant obviously so FYI for those that maybe wouldn't enjoy that). There is some angst about it at first and their developing relationship because Laura's in a delicate place and trying to sort everything out. But Samir was so...everything. He also has manipulation and abuse in his past, although different, however his personality and how he grew from those experiences are completely unique to him, but they are also mentioned on page as recollections.
Most of the story is focused on Samir and Laura, but there are also side characters. Samir's best friend and his family are warm and accepting of Laura and the best friend gives Samir a push in the right direction. Laura's sister is only on page from a distance but I was glad for that. Laura's friend Ruth (who's from book 1, which I haven't read) was great and we get a brief time with her and her boyfriend being solid friends. The ex is on page briefly and I liked the author's choices in how it all played out and what roles both Samir and Laura played in the confrontation.
The ending was sweet and the epilogue is decades later and made me feel like mush on the inside. Would I have liked some more details about what their life was like in between the end and the epilogue? Yes, of course, I eat that stuff up. But what the author chose to have as the epilogue was just perfect from a family perspective so I was happy and I would definitely recommend this one.
August 11, 2022
i think? this is my fave talia hibbert? i am so soft
February 6, 2021
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
Really enjoyed this novella in the Ravenswood series! Laura is super pregnant and has finally left her abusive husband, returning to a seaside town from her childhood where she reconnects with her teenage flame: Samir. Samir now runs a cafe and sparks immediately fly between the two of them. This is a beautiful story about healing and finding a healthy relationship after an abusive one. Do be aware there are content warnings for depictions of some of that abuse. And occasionally there are details about the pregnancy that are inaccurate, but mostly it's done pretty well and not everyone will even notice. I loved seeing Laura grow and get an HEA, with cameos from Ruth who I love! (MC from A Girl Like Her) Talia's books are always reliably great.
Really enjoyed this novella in the Ravenswood series! Laura is super pregnant and has finally left her abusive husband, returning to a seaside town from her childhood where she reconnects with her teenage flame: Samir. Samir now runs a cafe and sparks immediately fly between the two of them. This is a beautiful story about healing and finding a healthy relationship after an abusive one. Do be aware there are content warnings for depictions of some of that abuse. And occasionally there are details about the pregnancy that are inaccurate, but mostly it's done pretty well and not everyone will even notice. I loved seeing Laura grow and get an HEA, with cameos from Ruth who I love! (MC from A Girl Like Her) Talia's books are always reliably great.
April 26, 2021
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Usually, I don't read a lot of romance books, but Talia Hibbert has won me over. Her books are so heartwarming, thoughtful, sensitive, and just amazing. I'm glad I found her thanks to Goodreads!!
Damaged Goods is such a beautiful story, I loved it even more than A Girl Like Her. I'm almost sad that this is a novella rather than a full-length novel, but it was still close to perfect.
It was a bit difficult to fully get into it in the beginning, but once the story got going I was quickly hooked!
____________________
1.) A Girl Like Her ★★★★✩
❝And not just because he deserved honesty— not just because a lie, even a lie of omission, would be like taking his trust and drowning it. She had to tell him because she loved him.❞
Usually, I don't read a lot of romance books, but Talia Hibbert has won me over. Her books are so heartwarming, thoughtful, sensitive, and just amazing. I'm glad I found her thanks to Goodreads!!
Damaged Goods is such a beautiful story, I loved it even more than A Girl Like Her. I'm almost sad that this is a novella rather than a full-length novel, but it was still close to perfect.
It was a bit difficult to fully get into it in the beginning, but once the story got going I was quickly hooked!
❝I want to complicate things with you. I want us tied together in a knot so indecipherable, people look at us and can't imagine how we'd ever come apart.❞
____________________
1.) A Girl Like Her ★★★★✩
June 3, 2024
4.5 stars
this was SO good. i cant believe how much emotion she managed to pack into a short novella. i freaking loved samir.
pregnant fmc from a past abusive relationship, golden retriever mmc, second chance, fmc has a crappy family
there were a LOT of good quotes ill come back and add probably but this was the one that really stuck with me
"He couldn’t punch a wall ever again, actually. He couldn’t even slice up onions like a madman. He could never come close to losing his temper, Samir decided, because he would rather die, boiled alive from the inside out by pent-up rage, than ever do anything to make Laura flinch, or hesitate, or remember."
this was SO good. i cant believe how much emotion she managed to pack into a short novella. i freaking loved samir.
pregnant fmc from a past abusive relationship, golden retriever mmc, second chance, fmc has a crappy family
there were a LOT of good quotes ill come back and add probably but this was the one that really stuck with me
"He couldn’t punch a wall ever again, actually. He couldn’t even slice up onions like a madman. He could never come close to losing his temper, Samir decided, because he would rather die, boiled alive from the inside out by pent-up rage, than ever do anything to make Laura flinch, or hesitate, or remember."
March 10, 2021
4.5 stars!
TW: Abuse (physical, mental, sexual)
Talia Hibbert is such a good romance author.... phew. That novella left the impact of a full book, it was sweet, tender, and healing. It has reminded me that I NEED to read more of her romance series if this is what I can expect from a NOVELLA of hers. Do yourself a favor and read this novella or one of The Brown Sister's books!
TW: Abuse (physical, mental, sexual)
Talia Hibbert is such a good romance author.... phew. That novella left the impact of a full book, it was sweet, tender, and healing. It has reminded me that I NEED to read more of her romance series if this is what I can expect from a NOVELLA of hers. Do yourself a favor and read this novella or one of The Brown Sister's books!
May 6, 2021
"She was different now. She was a little bit ruined. She was damaged."
How do I explain how obsessed I am with this novella? It is currently free on Kindle, so if you do not go ahead and buy it... you are making a massive mistake.
Not only is the steam factor high, but it is the best second-chance romance I have ever read. I loved the slow-burn between Laura and Samir. How they had this immense sexual tension between one another that was balanced out by hilarious banter.
Trigger Warning that our female love interest has trauma from a physically and mentally abusive marriage. We do have a lot of on-page trauma and PTSD. Our MC mentions that when she would have sex with her husband, it was because she "had to." So there is, in my opinion, marital rape. None of our heroines family believes her when she reveals the abusive and it made me cry my eyes out. I thought everything was dealt with and explained amazingly. I really connected with our heroine despite having dealt with anything remotely similar to her own experiences.
How do I explain how obsessed I am with this novella? It is currently free on Kindle, so if you do not go ahead and buy it... you are making a massive mistake.
Not only is the steam factor high, but it is the best second-chance romance I have ever read. I loved the slow-burn between Laura and Samir. How they had this immense sexual tension between one another that was balanced out by hilarious banter.
Trigger Warning that our female love interest has trauma from a physically and mentally abusive marriage. We do have a lot of on-page trauma and PTSD. Our MC mentions that when she would have sex with her husband, it was because she "had to." So there is, in my opinion, marital rape. None of our heroines family believes her when she reveals the abusive and it made me cry my eyes out. I thought everything was dealt with and explained amazingly. I really connected with our heroine despite having dealt with anything remotely similar to her own experiences.
July 17, 2018
Trigger Warnings: panic attack, partner abuse (graphic), parental abuse (graphic), gaslighting, birth scene, death of parents (briefly mentioned)
THIS REVIEW IS ALSO ON MY BLOG. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE
Damaged Goods by Talia Hibbert was amazing. I know I say this with almost every Talia Hibbert book but, look, this author is talented. She has an incredible talent for creating characters that you feel as if you have known for your entire life. I was a bit nervous going into Damaged Goods though. It’s a novella after the authors A Girl Like Her (review), a book I loved to absolute pieces. Another reason why I was feeling a bit nervous going into this one was that it’s a second chance romance. I know some people adore second chance romances but I honestly hate them. I don’t know why I just do. Talia Hibbert has changed the game on that one though.
Damaged Goods follows Laura, who we met in A Girl Like Her. She is pregnant and escaping from her incredibly abusive partner. The only place safe for her is escaping to a small beach town that her family owns a house in and they summered at once in her childhood. It is an unfortunate tale if you look at it in a very analytical way. That is until Laura comes across the man who she first loved, Samir. He still lives in the little beach town and even owns a little café (that has an Italian flag on it but doesn’t serve Italian food!). The pair reconnects on Laura’s first night in the town and is inseparable from the moment. It sounds like it could be a fluffy and happy story but it is unfortunately not all good moments. Lots have happened to the pair since they first met all those summers ago and getting to know each other once more is something that takes time. What I loved most about this story is that despite its short length the time span is actually quite long – spanning months. A problem I have with Talia Hibbert’s books sometimes is how fast the romances do come about and I truly feel as if this novella was perfectly set up.
I’m going to try and keep this review shorter than my typical reviews purely because this is a novella and I don’t want to accidentally spoil anything for anyone. I just want to talk more about what I enjoyed specifically about this book and promote the heck out of it (seriously, read all of Talia’s books!).
what I liked
✗ GREAT DEPTH
This is a novella and is an incredibly fast read, however since Talia is such a talented author the depth she is able to create within these pages is absolutely amazing. I am truly still slightly speechless. The characters all have such clear distinct personalities, something I find a lot of authors struggles with.
✗ I LOVE LAURA AND SAMIR
Laura and Samir are definitely a new favourite pairing for me. Talia Hibbert has an absolute talent for writing soft heroes. It is incredible. I really thought I was someone who liked alpha males, but this author is constantly changing the game for me. Samir and Laura truly are so damn romantic and sexy together. It is AMAZING.
✗ RUTH AND EVAN ARE HERE
I think I made it pretty clear in my review for A Girl Like Her that I absolutely loved Ruth and Evan. Seeing Ruth and Evan appear in this book really was such a treat. It was also just so good to see women supporting other women and coming together in their shared trauma (Ruth and Laura). I feel like this kind of representation in books is so important.
what I didn’t like
✗ NOT LONG ENOUGH
I don’t have a lot to say on this point. I really believe that this book could have been so much longer. I would have loved this to be full length.
Overall, it’s currently four degrees (40 Fahrenheit) where I am and my fingers are so damn cold so I’m going to wind up this review. Damaged Goods is another incredible story from Talia Hibbert. I truly can’t wait to read the second book in this series. Laura and Samir were a delightful tale though, they truly were one of the sweetest couples I have had the gift of reading. Trust me okay, if you’re looking at getting into romance pick up this series. It will push you into the genre head first.
THIS REVIEW IS ALSO ON MY BLOG. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE
Damaged Goods by Talia Hibbert was amazing. I know I say this with almost every Talia Hibbert book but, look, this author is talented. She has an incredible talent for creating characters that you feel as if you have known for your entire life. I was a bit nervous going into Damaged Goods though. It’s a novella after the authors A Girl Like Her (review), a book I loved to absolute pieces. Another reason why I was feeling a bit nervous going into this one was that it’s a second chance romance. I know some people adore second chance romances but I honestly hate them. I don’t know why I just do. Talia Hibbert has changed the game on that one though.
Damaged Goods follows Laura, who we met in A Girl Like Her. She is pregnant and escaping from her incredibly abusive partner. The only place safe for her is escaping to a small beach town that her family owns a house in and they summered at once in her childhood. It is an unfortunate tale if you look at it in a very analytical way. That is until Laura comes across the man who she first loved, Samir. He still lives in the little beach town and even owns a little café (that has an Italian flag on it but doesn’t serve Italian food!). The pair reconnects on Laura’s first night in the town and is inseparable from the moment. It sounds like it could be a fluffy and happy story but it is unfortunately not all good moments. Lots have happened to the pair since they first met all those summers ago and getting to know each other once more is something that takes time. What I loved most about this story is that despite its short length the time span is actually quite long – spanning months. A problem I have with Talia Hibbert’s books sometimes is how fast the romances do come about and I truly feel as if this novella was perfectly set up.
I’m going to try and keep this review shorter than my typical reviews purely because this is a novella and I don’t want to accidentally spoil anything for anyone. I just want to talk more about what I enjoyed specifically about this book and promote the heck out of it (seriously, read all of Talia’s books!).
what I liked
✗ GREAT DEPTH
This is a novella and is an incredibly fast read, however since Talia is such a talented author the depth she is able to create within these pages is absolutely amazing. I am truly still slightly speechless. The characters all have such clear distinct personalities, something I find a lot of authors struggles with.
✗ I LOVE LAURA AND SAMIR
Laura and Samir are definitely a new favourite pairing for me. Talia Hibbert has an absolute talent for writing soft heroes. It is incredible. I really thought I was someone who liked alpha males, but this author is constantly changing the game for me. Samir and Laura truly are so damn romantic and sexy together. It is AMAZING.
✗ RUTH AND EVAN ARE HERE
I think I made it pretty clear in my review for A Girl Like Her that I absolutely loved Ruth and Evan. Seeing Ruth and Evan appear in this book really was such a treat. It was also just so good to see women supporting other women and coming together in their shared trauma (Ruth and Laura). I feel like this kind of representation in books is so important.
what I didn’t like
✗ NOT LONG ENOUGH
I don’t have a lot to say on this point. I really believe that this book could have been so much longer. I would have loved this to be full length.
Overall, it’s currently four degrees (40 Fahrenheit) where I am and my fingers are so damn cold so I’m going to wind up this review. Damaged Goods is another incredible story from Talia Hibbert. I truly can’t wait to read the second book in this series. Laura and Samir were a delightful tale though, they truly were one of the sweetest couples I have had the gift of reading. Trust me okay, if you’re looking at getting into romance pick up this series. It will push you into the genre head first.
July 4, 2019
2.5 meh
January 24, 2021
Actual rating 4.5 stars!
CW: domestic abuse and physical and verbal assault, discussion of abortion
This novella was so sweet and done so well. Samir’s response toLaura’s past was so gentle and more men should be like him! The epilogue wasn’t my favorite choice but I understand why she did it.
CW: domestic abuse and physical and verbal assault, discussion of abortion
This novella was so sweet and done so well. Samir’s response toLaura’s past was so gentle and more men should be like him! The epilogue wasn’t my favorite choice but I understand why she did it.
June 28, 2021
This was fucking beautiful. I am crying. It was the perfect novella even though I want more. I love it.
October 20, 2020
Read this in between books 1 and 2. I only saw it pop up on my recommendations yesterday and decided to buy it (it's free). I think that the novella format did not serve this particular romance very well. We hear about Laura via Ruth's story in book #1, but honestly there's not a lot to like about her based on what is revealed. I think that Hibbert glossed over a lot of things with her. Not saying that Daniel was abusive (he is) but she did a lot of cruel things that definitely had very little to do with him I thought. I also thought that it may have been a good idea to show a prologue of Laura and Samir as teens when they met so you can see why she still has a hold on him and vice versa. We had way too much information thrown at us about both of their parents. Samir's parents sounded awful. The romance felt a little shoehorned in after a while.
October 20, 2023
4⭑
I loved this novella and wished it was a full book because I can’t get enough of Laura and Samir!! And the epilogue omg 🥺
Also I loved that Ruth and Evan made an appearance, my babies I love them.
Daniel and Hayley are the worst. The way I wanted to punch Hayley in the face because she was seriously pissing me off *bam* *bam*
I loved this novella and wished it was a full book because I can’t get enough of Laura and Samir!! And the epilogue omg 🥺
Also I loved that Ruth and Evan made an appearance, my babies I love them.
Daniel and Hayley are the worst. The way I wanted to punch Hayley in the face because she was seriously pissing me off *bam* *bam*
May 11, 2019
Loved! This is how you write a novella. Full of heart and passion. I'm now a Talia Hibbert fan. :)
May 4, 2020
Loved this! I'm o glad we got to catch up with Laura, Daniel's wife, in this one. Her story definitely deserved to be told. I was also excited to see Ruth here because I love her so much. The only thing is, I wish we'd seen what happened to Laura's sister after everything happened, but maybe that will come later. Who knows. Either, definitely a cute read.
August 8, 2018
Here's the thing. Unless a murderer is on the loose (that damn Dateline again) or aliens are attempting to overthrow the United States government (if only), I often grow bored with romance novels set in the present day. That isn't to say that I don't ever find enjoyable reads in the contemporary romance genre. But it is rare that I find deeply moving, joy-inducing, unputdownable (is that a word? I'm deciding it is a word) ones.
But Talia Hibbert's A Girl Like Her, the first novel in the Ravenswood series, was a revelation. So much of what shocked and awed me in A Girl Like Her - the dueling simplicity and complexity that made the story as accessible as it was thoughtful, the sharp humor, the sheer uniqueness - is present in Damaged Goods. My greed typically exceeds what a novella can offer, but I found it an affecting and fun story.
I'm not good at writing plot summaries, and I figure that the book blurb is as effective as anything that I could write, but I usually attempt a base effort. Laura is pregnant, having left her abusive husband and fled to the small coastal town where she once knew happiness. The boy that she had found happiness with, Samir, is now a man. And he is sexy, kind, and utterly smitten with her. It's not even a question that Samir will support Laura, that he wants her, that he has always wanted her, that he will comfort her without patronizing her. That easy and nurturing manner soothed Laura as she struggled to heal, to forgive, to move upward and forward.
In an attempt to reign in the fangirling, I will end by noting how much I appreciate this story. I appreciate that two souls, having known deep pain, found happiness. I appreciate that Hibbert recognizes that sweet heroes are just as sexy to many romance readers (because I'd sooner knee some romance novel "heroes" in the balls than roll over for them).
Talia Hibbert is a talent. She is wicked funny, too (following her on Twitter ranks with "deleting Facebook" as my smarter social media decisions). A highly recommended read.
But Talia Hibbert's A Girl Like Her, the first novel in the Ravenswood series, was a revelation. So much of what shocked and awed me in A Girl Like Her - the dueling simplicity and complexity that made the story as accessible as it was thoughtful, the sharp humor, the sheer uniqueness - is present in Damaged Goods. My greed typically exceeds what a novella can offer, but I found it an affecting and fun story.
I'm not good at writing plot summaries, and I figure that the book blurb is as effective as anything that I could write, but I usually attempt a base effort. Laura is pregnant, having left her abusive husband and fled to the small coastal town where she once knew happiness. The boy that she had found happiness with, Samir, is now a man. And he is sexy, kind, and utterly smitten with her. It's not even a question that Samir will support Laura, that he wants her, that he has always wanted her, that he will comfort her without patronizing her. That easy and nurturing manner soothed Laura as she struggled to heal, to forgive, to move upward and forward.
In an attempt to reign in the fangirling, I will end by noting how much I appreciate this story. I appreciate that two souls, having known deep pain, found happiness. I appreciate that Hibbert recognizes that sweet heroes are just as sexy to many romance readers (because I'd sooner knee some romance novel "heroes" in the balls than roll over for them).
Talia Hibbert is a talent. She is wicked funny, too (following her on Twitter ranks with "deleting Facebook" as my smarter social media decisions). A highly recommended read.
June 25, 2018
2.5 stars rounded down
Considerably better. But still so fucking corny and cheesy that I laughed during the most poignant bits.
Don't even get me started about the pet names... so annoyingly ridiculous. So fucking hackneyed.
I didn't think it could get worse than "kitten" from Evan in the last book. But it did.
And then Laura sounds like a child. Like an actual kid, during the last half of the story. I'm not using a hyperbole here. She really does read like it's a seven year old speaking in some sentences.
Another thing that I loathed and I forgot to mention in my review of "A Girl Like Her" is that the book actually ends at 73%. The rest are "sneak peaks" of other books -_-
Serious kudos for the trigger warnings though. That's the most positive thing I can rescue from my read.
Considerably better. But still so fucking corny and cheesy that I laughed during the most poignant bits.
Don't even get me started about the pet names... so annoyingly ridiculous. So fucking hackneyed.
I didn't think it could get worse than "kitten" from Evan in the last book. But it did.
And then Laura sounds like a child. Like an actual kid, during the last half of the story. I'm not using a hyperbole here. She really does read like it's a seven year old speaking in some sentences.
Another thing that I loathed and I forgot to mention in my review of "A Girl Like Her" is that the book actually ends at 73%. The rest are "sneak peaks" of other books -_-
Serious kudos for the trigger warnings though. That's the most positive thing I can rescue from my read.
June 24, 2018
I should have liked this book more. The characters are good people, supportive and loving. I just didn't see why Samir loved Laura so much, except for the fact that he did 10+years ago.
... and some misspelled words: Still, a taught heartbeat passed before he replied.
... and some misspelled words: Still, a taught heartbeat passed before he replied.
July 10, 2019
This had surprisingly strong development for both a novella and a story that hinges on characters having known each other in the past (a trope I like, and that is a good way to avoid instalove, but that often gets relied on as a shortcut to chemistry and development without actually doing the work of it).
I love a good cinnamon roll male lead, and Samir was fantastic.
Really nicely done overall.
I love a good cinnamon roll male lead, and Samir was fantastic.
Really nicely done overall.
January 20, 2021
3.75⭐️
August 13, 2018
Actual Rating: 4.5 stars
I received an arc of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review
Full review originally posted on my blog: Word Wonders
CW: Descriptions of domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, and child abuse.
Now to the book that was the reason my Hibbert reading journey started. A ROMANCE WITH A HALF MOROCCAN HERO. Listen. Listen. Listen. I never ever see moroccans in books ever so can you blame me for jumping at this rare occasion? And it did not disappoint a single bit. I loved A Girl Like Her, but this sweet sweet novella literally melted my heart and healed my soul. Plus it's a second chance romance, which is my second favourite trope ever so let's just say that I was very well fed by this book.
Laura, the heroine, went to her beach house escaping an abusive relationship and looking for a calm environment to carry on her pregnancy. and let me tell you she's one heck of a strong woman. Definitely flawed Because the insecurities from her toxic relationship made her an absolute bitch towards people (and especially Ruth) but we learn in this book that she's redeemed herself and they're now close friends and Ruth is basically her only stable emotional support system. Laura, as we see her in Damaged Goods, is nice and resilient, but still dealing with an incredible amount of trauma from the abuse she endured which -how I read it- she has PTSD from.
Then we have Samir, who's Moroccan-italian and who, FYI, has ruined every Moroccan man is existence for me. He literally has no filters (in a good way), is incredibly sweet, soft and hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud more than once reading their interactions. The only thing he wants from Laura is a chance to be with her for real this time, because he realises that his love for her from when they were teenagers remains the same. He's upfront and honest with her about it but never forces her to do anything or takes her rejecting him to heart, he knows she's dealing with a lot of things without her having to tell him and he genuinely just wants to be there for her in any way she needed and SUPPORT her. His excitement about her baby just warmed my heart soooo much, HE EVEN BOUGHT AND READ BABY BOOKS, OKAY? Why are you doing this to me, Talia? W H Y?
Don't even get me started on how hot this book is, it has me SWEATING (no shame, friends). As well as how incredibly soft. This is what I love most about Talia's books. How she can give you a perfect balance of the two. Their conversations and interactions are so natural and effortless, it's like they picked up from where they left things off as teenagers and that was so cute to read.
I received an arc of this book from the author in exchange of an honest review
Full review originally posted on my blog: Word Wonders
CW: Descriptions of domestic abuse, intimate partner violence, and child abuse.
Now to the book that was the reason my Hibbert reading journey started. A ROMANCE WITH A HALF MOROCCAN HERO. Listen. Listen. Listen. I never ever see moroccans in books ever so can you blame me for jumping at this rare occasion? And it did not disappoint a single bit. I loved A Girl Like Her, but this sweet sweet novella literally melted my heart and healed my soul. Plus it's a second chance romance, which is my second favourite trope ever so let's just say that I was very well fed by this book.
Laura, the heroine, went to her beach house escaping an abusive relationship and looking for a calm environment to carry on her pregnancy. and let me tell you she's one heck of a strong woman. Definitely flawed Because the insecurities from her toxic relationship made her an absolute bitch towards people (and especially Ruth) but we learn in this book that she's redeemed herself and they're now close friends and Ruth is basically her only stable emotional support system. Laura, as we see her in Damaged Goods, is nice and resilient, but still dealing with an incredible amount of trauma from the abuse she endured which -how I read it- she has PTSD from.
Then we have Samir, who's Moroccan-italian and who, FYI, has ruined every Moroccan man is existence for me. He literally has no filters (in a good way), is incredibly sweet, soft and hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud more than once reading their interactions. The only thing he wants from Laura is a chance to be with her for real this time, because he realises that his love for her from when they were teenagers remains the same. He's upfront and honest with her about it but never forces her to do anything or takes her rejecting him to heart, he knows she's dealing with a lot of things without her having to tell him and he genuinely just wants to be there for her in any way she needed and SUPPORT her. His excitement about her baby just warmed my heart soooo much, HE EVEN BOUGHT AND READ BABY BOOKS, OKAY? Why are you doing this to me, Talia? W H Y?
Don't even get me started on how hot this book is, it has me SWEATING (no shame, friends). As well as how incredibly soft. This is what I love most about Talia's books. How she can give you a perfect balance of the two. Their conversations and interactions are so natural and effortless, it's like they picked up from where they left things off as teenagers and that was so cute to read.
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