Bully romances are already the least romantic thing in the world to me, but I wouldn’t even call this that. This was just plain bullying|| 1.0 star ||
Bully romances are already the least romantic thing in the world to me, but I wouldn’t even call this that. This was just plain bullying. No romance. Just cruel, unnecessary, childish, ridiculous bullying.
Oh, and of course, this was also written like it came straight from Wattpad. It kind of reminded me of some sort of awful Harry Potter fanfiction written by a 16 year old with an obvious masochism kink.
So, if you feel like reading a stupid, immature book that seems to be about nothing more than a whole school randomly abusing two girls, who, of course, do nothing but take it over and over again, then I’d say give this a go. If you’re interested in actual romance, a well-developed fantasy story, or just a remotely good book in general, then I’d recommend giving this book a wide berth....more
This was very trashy and it definitely wasn’t good. That said, it also wasn’t boring, so it kept me entertained for the most part.
Of co|| 2.5 stars ||
This was very trashy and it definitely wasn’t good. That said, it also wasn’t boring, so it kept me entertained for the most part.
Of course, the hero is about as morally dark as it can get, but that wasn’t really my problem. My problem was the awful writing and complete lack of depth or build-up within the relationship. If you write a hero who has supposedly never cared about another girl before, then you have to give him a reason as to why he’s suddenly obsessed with the heroine. Why does someone who usually doesn’t have feelings, suddenly overflow with them? What makes these two so compatible (aside from sharing sexual kinks)? Where are the bonding moments?? It was just very superficial, so I didn’t really care. Besides, he never became very soft or affectionate with her; he remained rather rough and bossy with her until the end, which I personally just don’t like. He was obviously obsessed with her, but he never treated her with respect. I prefer my morally dark heroes to treat their love interest like a princess, not like their property. And unfortunately, the heroine just accepts the bad behaviour from him since she has no backbone whatsoever.
All in all, this was not well-written whatsoever, but I can see why it would attract certain readers. I personally don’t like smut and I read romance for the emotional connection, so this book clearly wasn’t a great fit for me since their relationship was pretty much completely based on their sexual compatibility and nothing else.
I’m absolutely flabbergasted that anyone could call this a romance book. It’s a horror story, from start to f|| 1.0 star ||
Um… What. The. Fuck.
!??!?????
I’m absolutely flabbergasted that anyone could call this a romance book. It’s a horror story, from start to finish. I honestly don’t even want to believe that this book actually exists in this genre.
The hero literally rapes the heroine when they first meet and then he continues to rape her for almost the whole book until she finally gives into him completely and becomes his permanent fuck-toy without fighting back anymore. The heroine has a lot of self-esteem issues and doesn’t have the energy to fight against this monster in the end, so she just gives up. He tells her what to do at all times, and eventually she just does it without even bothering to say no or voice her opinion, because she knows she has no say anyway. He continues to slap, choke and rape her, but somehow that’s okay, because now she sort of wants it…?
How can this sound like a happy ending to anyone!?? This story is a goddamn tragedy, and it’s making me loose all faith in humanity that some people are actually SIMPING for this abusive rapist while calling the victim “boring”. There’s just no way.
I definitely liked this more than I thought I would. It’s been a while since I enjoyed anything in this series and I was really getting|| 3.0 stars ||
I definitely liked this more than I thought I would. It’s been a while since I enjoyed anything in this series and I was really getting sick and tired of Domenico, so I guess it’s not surprising that I liked this book better now that it was finally about a different couple!
Mark and Griffith were incredibly different from Seth and Domenico, and it really did feel like a breath of fresh air (or innocence, I guess). There was no toxicity and they were actually very cute. There was a sweet build-up with a lot of tenderness. I didn’t expect Mark to be so gentle, but he was. And Griffith was just a complete sweetheart, who deserved the absolute best.
I really liked the first half of this book the most, and got a little bored in the second half. I lost quite a lot of interest in them after they had sex for the first time since I enjoyed the build-up much more and the book became more smutty than I would have liked after that as well. I also didn’t appreciate Mark dumping Griff for the son he didn’t know he had. Sure, he eventually changed his mind pretty quickly but it irked me that he even entertained the idea of shoving Griff to the side like that. Especially since he is supposed to adore Griff completely!
➛First read: January 2024 | ★4.5 stars ➛Second read: April 2024 | ★3.5 stars
EDIT after my re-read: I didn’t like it as much as I did|| 3.5 stars ||
➛First read: January 2024 | ★4.5 stars ➛Second read: April 2024 | ★3.5 stars
EDIT after my re-read: I didn’t like it as much as I did the first time. It could be because I reread this way too soon and still remembered everything to a point that it became a little boring, but it could also be because I started to notice a few things that annoyed me. The most obvious thing being how often Nikolai dropped or ghosted Bran. He “dumped” him more times than I can count, and that’s not really the behaviour I expect or want from someone who’s supposedly obsessed. Furthermore, Bran always took Niko back immediately after Niko abandoned him or did some other shitty thing, and he was never angry about it. I really wanted him to make Niko grovel more, but I also just needed Niko to never ever give up on Bran in the first place. But nope, that’s not what happened. And that’s what made this book less enjoyable for me this time around.
Original Review: Wow. Just wow. I’m in love. Just utterly, irrevocably in love. Brandon and Nikolai were complete perfection and everything I wanted them to be. I just love them so much, it physically hurts my heart to know that it’s over. I miss them already.
“You’re a fucking nightmare,” he mutters, his throat working beneath my fingers. “Your nightmare.” “I hate you.” “I don’t.” “You’re fucking crazy.” “About you,” I whisper against his lips and claim them with a guttural moan.
This was my first Rina Kent book, and I’m truly so happy that I decided to skip ahead in the series to these two beautiful souls (after all, this book works perfectly as a standalone). I really wouldn’t have wanted to miss their story for the world!
I’m struggling a little bit to find the right words to describe the beauty and sublimity of this romance. But I’ll try my best. I think I should probably begin by explaining the two amazing main characters, because they’re both so complex and beautiful that you need to understand them to appreciate how epic their love story is:
First I’ll talk about beautiful, self-loathing Brandon. He was the kind of person who would always be kind and patient with the people around him. He wore a carefully constructed mask of pleasantries and politeness; all day, every day. He never lost control of himself; actually, he couldn’t lose control, or he would completely spiral. Thus, he managed to keep his breakdowns perfectly in check through a strict routine, until the day that he met Nikolai. Niko saw the true man behind the mask and he awakened a passion and rage inside of Brandon that he had tried to push deep down inside of him for many years. He believed he had to be perfect, that he had to be in control, because if he wasn’t, he’d be afraid everyone would see him as the weakling and waste of space he himself thought he was.
“You cut yourself?” My words are low, but they’re so loud in the silence. “Why?” “Because I’m fucked up.” His voice sounds like death’s lullaby, anguished and shattered. “Because I look at myself in the mirror and get the urge to shatter it to pieces. Because I’ve been haunted by the bitter taste of nausea and self-loathing for so long, I don’t know how to live without them. I was doing fine, pretending and putting on a façade, so why the fuck did you ruin that? Why did you come into my life and destroy every wall I built and ruin every lie I told myself? Why do you touch me like I’m beautiful? Why don’t you hate me when I can’t stand my-fucking-self?”
Then we have Nikolai. Oh, what a beautiful soul he was. It might sound a little strange to say this about a man whose favourite hobby was inflicting violence and chaos (before he met the love of his life), but he truly was beautiful to me. Yes, he was insane, but never in a sadistic way. The way he explained the violence was more like he needed a way to get rid of all the energy stuck inside of him; like he desperately needed an outlet he couldn’t find anywhere else (again, before he met the love of his life). But this violent part of him was not all there was to him. He was also incredibly caring, observant, funny, hyper, sweet and kind. And Brandon was the one who always brought out that side of him. Niko couldn’t be anything else around him, because he was always just so damn happy to be around the guy he adored with all his being. He actually reminded me of an over-eager puppy most of the time. And it was absolutely adorable.
“I love him and I want to be with him. Despite his violent exterior, he’s really a teddy bear deep down, you know. A golden retriever through and through. He’s extremely affectionate and respectful and makes sure I’m comfortable and happy.” “What type of voodoo did he use on my control-freak brother? More importantly, why did it have to be him? You’re allergic to violence and I’m pretty sure he’s illiterate.” “Lan! I’ll have you know he has a 4.15 GPA. Don’t make fun of his intelligence again or I’ll be really cross with you.” “Jesus Christ. You’re defending him?” “Get used to it. I won’t allow you or anyone else to insult him.”
Now, let’s continue with the romance:
At the beginning of their relationship there was of course lot of push-and-pull from Brandon because he was so very afraid of this man who brought out all these intense emotions inside of him. He didn’t want those. He wanted a simple, lifeless existence, not the fire that Niko lit inside him. But Niko would never take no for an answer. He knew Bran was the man he wanted and he would have fought tooth and nail to finally win this wonderfully infuriating man for himself.
I'm done for. Finished. Absolutely jumping off a cliff, rolling and cracking a few bones and not giving a flying fuck, because I have my prize at the bottom. Him.
Niko’s devotion and pure dedication to Bran was a gorgeous sight to behold from beginning to end; I’m not sure I have ever seen a man as whipped for anyone as Niko was for Bran. He was obsessed in the most literal sense of the word. From the moment he met Bran, it was like nothing else in the world existed besides this beautifully complex man. Bran was obviously a little later on the uptake, but it didn’t take too long for his defences to crumble under the incessant pursuit and courtship or the contagious hurricane of Niko’s feelings.
He can’t possibly expect me to stay away. It’s true that I last saw him this morning, but I’ve been going through withdrawals. My mood is dangerously dependent on him and that’s not even funny anymore, but I’m done trying to figure it out. I’m just obsessed with this man and everything about him. Some would argue it’s something a lot more dire than obsession. He consumes me, but he also grounds me. I’ve never felt as mentally strong as when I’m with him. Even the most mundane things we do together—having meals, watching movies, listening to him read the boring morning newspapers—bring a huge smile to my face. Brandon King is ravaging me alive.
I loved that Niko and Bran both had their own issues, but that the other person was always the one who quieted those demons for them. Niko always felt restless and Bran always felt empty, but when they were together Niko was calmer and able to focus on one thing (namely, his love for Bran), while Bran was finally able to feel anything and let go of his control. They both made each other a much better person, and their unwavering support for each other brought the comfort they both desperately craved. They finally found peace and happiness. Which was made even more exceptional by the fact that they found it in an epically complex and hard-fought romance, and with a person so much their opposite that they (or, more likely, Bran, since Niko was smitten from the very beginning) would have never expected it to work out. But it did. And it was beautiful and stunning and gorgeous.
“And, baby?” He kisses the top of my head and his next words nearly give me a heart attack. “Even if you hate yourself, I’ll love you for the both of us.”
Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to the relationship Brandon had with his identical twin, Landon. There were so many hidden emotions and deeper layers within their bond, I genuinely would read a whole book only about them! Alas, there isn’t one, but I would have given an arm and a leg for more of these two. It honestly broke my heart to see the inferiority complex Brandon had because he saw how easy everything seemed to be for his (supposedly) superior brother; how everyone flocked to him and admired his genius and brash personality. It especially hurt Bran so much when he compared all of that glitter and shine to how hard it was for him to simply find the will to live. He really felt so very small and insignificant next to his mighty brother, and thus, he began pushing him away around the time they hit puberty. He thought Landon didn’t care about him, and even when he did, that it was only because of the way Brandon’s flaws would reflect on Lan’s own reputation. Landon was, after all, a narcissistic sociopath, so those thoughts weren’t entirely without root. However, Bran couldn’t be more wrong because if there was anything in the world Landon cared most about it was him; his sweet brother who pushed him away without him ever understanding why. They truly both loved each other so much, and they would always do anything to help or save their other half. It really was beautiful to see them find their way back to each other:
“Come here.” I open my arms and I suspect he’ll push me away since he’s allergic to showing affection. However, my brother slides right between my arms and hugs me for the first time since that night eight years ago. “I love you, little bro,” he whispers. “I need you to know that. I need you to know you’re the first person I loved unconditionally and always will. I might annoy you, might act like a dick to get your attention, but that’s only because the thought of losing you scares the living fuck out of me.” “Love you, too, Lan.” I exhale against his neck, my chest nearly bursting with emotions.
All in all, I think it’s safe to say I am in love with this book. The characters completely captured my heart and the romance had me swooning uncontrollably. I am in love. Truly.
This wasn’t bad, but I don’t quite understand what all the fuss is about either. I get that this was likely a very progressive and revo|| 3.0 stars ||
This wasn’t bad, but I don’t quite understand what all the fuss is about either. I get that this was likely a very progressive and revolutionary entry for female mental health fiction in the 1960s, but compared to modern books on the subject this is by no means anything extraordinary or special. If anything, I mostly think it stands out for its historic value; it’s interesting to see how mental illness was treated in the 50s and 60s, and also to see what was considered as feminist back then.
Although still not perfect, mental health prevention and treatment has progressed immensely, and the creepiest part about this book for me really was the casual use of electrotherapy. And the fact that this book actually makes it seem like it worked...? Yikes. I mean, it was obvious that our main character didn’t like the shock treatment, but in the end, she does get better because of that. So, the book kind of makes it seem like a necessary evil? Which, obviously, it’s not. It’s absolute bullshit. But yea, they didn’t seem to think so in the that day and age.
I found it quite annoying that the feminism in this book mostly meant that our main character hated every single woman she encountered. She judged everyone and everything, but meanwhile she had no idea what she wanted either. She didn’t want to get married, but she didn’t really have the drive to become a careerwoman either... She was in limbo. She felt pushed in a lot of different directions, which eventually meant she had no passion to truly take any of those directions for herself. I suppose the book is trying to tell us that the pressures and expectations that are put on women can be very damning and can make it impossible for women to succeed. Which is a good point, but I don’t feel like the ‘hating every woman’ approach is the best way to show that.
All in all, this was an okay read (for the time it was written), but I’m not a big fan or anything. It doesn’t stand out to me at all....more
I actually really like a well-developed “enemies to lovers” trope, but I definitely do not like the “I hate you but I’m going to lust af|| 1.0 star ||
I actually really like a well-developed “enemies to lovers” trope, but I definitely do not like the “I hate you but I’m going to lust after you anyway” trope. It’s so shallow and annoying. This trope also makes every character seem beyond stupid and like their brains are just completely lust-addled. Besides, the protagonists here just had absolutely awful personalities and were just flat-out impossible to like. Jazz was even worse than Ant though; he was literally just the worst and most self-absorbed arsehole alive. Lastly, this was simply not a love story; it was lust. Truly nothing more than lust. They had no connection whatsoever and were somehow sexually drawn to each other for no reason, while still hating each other. I’m really not interested in that. It was so boring, I eventually just couldn’t help but start skimming.
I had such a difficult time getting into this one, and I really struggled with the first half. It kind of seemed like we were dropped s|| 3.0 stars ||
I had such a difficult time getting into this one, and I really struggled with the first half. It kind of seemed like we were dropped straight into a relationship I didn't know anything about yet, but was expected to love already. It doesn't work like that, and it happened way too often that I was more than a little confused about what was even happening. The thing that confused me the most was the ridiculous amount of banter, which sometimes just felt like overkill, and other times just didn't make sense to me. That said, the banter could also be charming at times, and definitely had its cute or humorous moments as well.
Lloyd and Wesley live in the same dorm room; Wesley as the resident flirt and life of the party, and Lloyd as the diligent and patient RA. They are opposites in almost every way, but they have been best friends for almost three years; basically from the moment Wesley started living there. It is obvious that they are both wildly attracted to each other, but Lloyd refuses to act on it because it's forbidden for RAs to hook up with their residents. Thus follows a long journey where both men are close in every way, and are basically boyfriends already, but without any of the physical intimacy.
All in all, I thought Lloyd and Wesley were both likable characters, and I especially thought Wesley was very sweet and precious, but something about the writing and/or pacing was just off, which made it a little difficult for me to fully connect to their relationship. I also didn't love the fact that the only reason they weren't together for all this time was because Lloyd chose his job over his feelings for Wesley. I really wish he would have prioritised Wesley in that... He supported and took care of him in every other way, so it’s not like he didn’t love him enough, but still. It didn’t seem like a good enough reason for them to be apart the entire book.
This was very short, but also very cute. It honestly made me a little giddy. I wish it had been longer though, because the progression o|| 3.0 stars ||
This was very short, but also very cute. It honestly made me a little giddy. I wish it had been longer though, because the progression obviously went way too fast now. I really feel like this had the potential to be absolutely fantastic as a full-length novel.
This is a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, hidden identity, sports romance set in college. It obviously has a whole || 2.5 stars ||
This is a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, hidden identity, sports romance set in college. It obviously has a whole bucketload of tropes, and they’re pretty damn good ones too!
I used to think I loved him. But that was before I hated him.
The premise is that of a boy and a girl who meet online when they are only 15 years old, and they form a deep connection together unlike any they have felt before. They go to the same school, but whereas Mary knows who Leo, the popular handsome football player, is, Leo has no idea that the girl he’s falling for is the weird girl in school nobody even knows the name of. It all goes wrong when Mary finally decides to approach Leo to tell him who she is, only for him to shut her down immediately. Mary thinks he rejected her because of her looks despite the emotional bond they formed together, but in reality, it was just one big misunderstanding since Leo didn’t realise what she was trying to tell him in the first place! He just wanted her to go away because he knew his friends would tease her relentlessly if she didn’t (which, unfortunately, did happen, since his friends bullied her a lot afterwards). After the whole situation Mary blocks Leo on everything, and she goes on hating him for the next seven years, and Leo goes on thinking he has been ghosted by the only girl he ever cared about for no reason at all.
Skip forward seven years, and Leo and Mary are next-door neighbours. Mary has a lot of resentment towards Leo, but she still won’t tell him who she is. Leo, on the other hand, is hardcore crushing on the beautiful bad-ass girl across the street, and he desperately tries for her to give him a chance.
“Damn it, woman,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m mad about you! Can’t you see that?” “You were once before and you don’t even remember!”
Honestly, I have to say that when Leo was persuading Mary to finally open up to him, I am embarrassed to admit that I would have folded like a house of cards after only a day or so. Seriously, he was way too charming and way too sweet. Like, I couldn’t possibly keep on thinking he did what I thought he did. There was just no way. And Mary was honestly a little silly for not realising that sooner. Then again, I did love how she really made him work for it. She didn’t just fall at his feet immediately, and it definitely made for a very entertaining chase!
“How do I prove to you that I’ve changed?” Leo lifted his eyes back to mine. “That I’m more than what you think I am, what I used to be.”
Leo was definitely my favourite. He was such a simp for her in the best way possible. Literally, if she said “jump”, he’d only ask “how high?”
Nonetheless, despite the good parts of this book, I have to admit I got very bored after about the halfway point. The build-up between them was great, but once they finally got together they lost their spark. It actually felt a little awkward and forced to me. Like, it suddenly occurred to me that they really didn’t have as much depth to their relationship as I would have liked. The fact that they jumped straight into bed after all that definitely did not sit right with me either. Not to mention, their sexual chemistry was uncomfortable to me as well; the dirty-talking legit had me gagging. Also, last but not least, the “I’m not like other girls” thing is pretty present in this book as well, which is just not my favourite at all....more
Okay, so this wasn’t amazing or anything, but it definitely wasn’t bad either. It was extremely toxic, and it was insta-love with a con|| 3.0 stars ||
Okay, so this wasn’t amazing or anything, but it definitely wasn’t bad either. It was extremely toxic, and it was insta-love with a connection mostly build on lust: those are things I usually don’t really appreciate. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading this and it was just... fun!
The book is about Rosen and Shane, who couldn’t possibly be any more different. Rosen is gentle and angelic, while Shane is rough around the edges. Rosen goes to college as an art student, while Shane just came out of prison and is already back to his usual criminal activity. These two would have normally never met or connected, but Shane has different plans. After all, it was Rosen’s father who falsely accused Shane of a crime he did not commit, which led to his 10 years in jail. Shane is out for revenge. And he wants to get it through Rosen. What he didn’t account for, however, was to fall in love with the boy in the process.
Ros was so cute it was impossible not to notice. Like a Disney Princess, he was sweet, and wished everyone well, and if he started singing in the woods, birds and rodents would flock to him as if he were made of grain. Shane shouldn’t have liked it. But he did. He just couldn’t understand what a guy like that saw in him.
What I loved about this book is the fact that Shane was so adoring when it came to Rosen. He really thought the sun shone right out of his arse, which is just adorable. Nonetheless, Shane still treated Rosen badly from time to time, which annoyed me. Rosen was definitely a push-over and I would have liked him to be a little less naive. Then again, I found his trusting nature also quite endearing, so it wasn’t all bad.
“You’re my first, my only, and I love you so much.” “Me too, baby. You’re the only one who ever counted.”
There is a big betrayal in this book, obviously, so we do get some good groveling from Shane. I personally would have never forgiven him for what he did (I won’t spoil what it was, but it was truly bad), and I find it a little hard to believe that Rosen would either, but it was what it was. I did like that Shane was truly apologetic and he would have done anything to earn Rosen's forgiveness; he would have literally walked through fire to get Rosen’s trust and affections back.
All in all, I thought this book was very entertaining and it had some tropes I really like. Was it executed in the most hard-hitting way possible? No. But it was decent at what it tried to do, and the writing was addictive enough to have me enjoy this book quite a lot.
'Wrong Side of the Tracks' series: 1. Scum - 3.0 stars 2. Primal - 4.5 stars 3. D!ckhead - dnf 4. Grind - 3.5 stars 5. Wanted - 3.0 stars...more
Oh my god. This was so good, I’m honestly shocked! I did not expect to like this as much as I did, and this far exceeded any of my expe|| 4.5 stars ||
Oh my god. This was so good, I’m honestly shocked! I did not expect to like this as much as I did, and this far exceeded any of my expectations.
“I’m like... stupidly in love with you.” “Baby... I’m fucking moronically in love with you.”
I mean, I’m normally not much of a fan when it comes to smut, and this is literally a romance where the two main characters create an OnlyFans together: That does not exactly sound like a match made in heaven for me, does it? But wow, did this surprise me! In a really really good way. Sure, it does have a lot of sex scenes, but they were somehow just... different. Not only were they one of the hottest sex scenes I have ever read, they were also meaningful. When they were being physical with each other, it did not feel like lust to me. Instead, it felt incredibly intimate, emotional and deep. Each time these two got together, it felt like they grew closer and closer, and I was completely enraptured. I was convinced I would grow bored with all the sex, especially since this book is incredibly long, but I simply didn’t. Not at all! And that’s coming from someone who literally does not like sex scenes whatsoever. So, if you are a smut reader? Damn, you will love this book with all your might!!
Each time we’re together, it gets deeper. More intense, more staggering, more... beautiful. More terrifying.
I also really appreciated the connection these two had with each other. It was a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance between step brothers, and the build-up was FANTASTIC! I don’t want to get in to anything too much, but the way these two truly could not stand each other at first, they way they slowly grew towards each other, the way they slowly let their walls down, the way they kept denying their true feelings, the way they both supported each other like no one else had before: I LOVED IT!
Kyran Harbor is the love of my life. That’s it. I’ve fallen. Hook, line, and sinker, he has my whole heart.
Also, the role-reversal between these two was amazing! The character who’s popular and seemingly more confident, Kyran, becomes more submissive(-ish) and needy, while the geeky one, Avi, is more of a leader in bed with a dirty mouth and a gentle touch.
“Tell me you think I’m beautiful.” “Baby... You are so goddamn beautiful. I don’t think, I know.”
Still, Avi is so obsessed with Kyran he would do anything for him. He is patient beyond words, and he would have done anything to be with Kyran, or even be close to him. He would never do anything to hurt or upset him. It was so well done and their dynamic felt super authentic for them.
“I just thought you might like to know that Zeb found your OnlyFans.” “He what!?” Kyran barks, eyes widening in terror. “Kyran, will you please just go eat your food?” I hiss at him. “I’m handling this.” He pins me with a glare, and I gulp, instantly backpedalling. “I’m sorry, baby.” I try to rub his shoulder, but he rips away from me. “That was rude... I didn’t mean it. I just don’t want you to worry, okay?”
The hurt-comfort trope was also really strong here, especially since one of the main characters has a deeply traumatic history, which I will not reveal, but it was devastating, and his character had so many layers. His trauma truly felt like it was part of him from beginning to end and it was just beautiful as well as heartbreaking. His character was truly so well developed, and it once again showed the depth this story was able to portray. I was so happy that he got someone who was there for him unconditionally. These two were honestly so dependant on each other and they truly became each other’s world. They were each other’s comfort and one remaining light in the darkness.
“Every single thing I did... I did for you. To have you.”
Honestly, I loved both of these characters so much and I’m genuinely obsessed with their love story. I couldn’t get enough of them! I'm not sure what else I can say about this book other than: wow....more
This is a frenemies-to-lovers college romance with lots of tension-filled banter and unresolved feelings. The heroine, Willa, is a prof|| 3.0 stars ||
This is a frenemies-to-lovers college romance with lots of tension-filled banter and unresolved feelings. The heroine, Willa, is a professional soccer player, who has a chip on her shoulder and an inability to open up to people. She has steeled her heart from everyone but her dying mother, and uses comedy to deflect from her vulnerabilities and softer side. The hero, Ryder, is a gentle but blunt giant of a man, who has suffered a major setback in life when he lost his up-and-coming soccer career to an illness that took away his hearing. He goes through life near-deaf and completely mute, which has made him crawl into his shell, not really interacting with people anymore.
When these two meet, it was not love at first sight. They immediately get off on the wrong foot, and thus begins their love/hate relationship where they constantly tease each other and try to get a rise out of the other. However, the more these two hang out, the more passionate their feelings for each other become. Both are reluctant to give into it (especially Willa), but they continue to grow closer and closer.
I thought these two were likable characters and I thought they had great chemistry together. They were exactly what the other needed and it was clear they both accepted the other exactly as they were. Willa never even blinked twice at Ryder’s disability, and she took him exactly as he was. Opposingly, Ryder was also incredibly patient and understanding when it came to all of Willa’s emotional walls. He never let Willa scare him away. Nonetheless, despite their understanding and acceptance of each other, they had a really tough time communicating together. They beat around the bush a lot, and sometimes that did get a little annoying. I mean, don’t get me wrong: I love a good slow-burn, but in this case I just felt like they were being difficult for no reason.
I personally liked the first half of this book a lot more than the second half. It started to drag a bit, and that was unfortunate. I also feel like some of the things I loved about this book at first, fell a little flat later on. The romance and banter being among those things.
I also want to point out something I really disliked about this book: As I mentioned before, Ryder had gone nearly deaf and because of that, he didn’t speak anymore. I thought this was incorporated pretty well into the book (even though Ryder seemed to function better than I would realistically expect). However, it then really frustrated me when Ryder suddenly got an operation that made him able to hear and speak like he never had an issue in the first place. It was so strange to me, and I didn’t like it. I would have really loved it if Ryder would have been able to find love and happiness with his disability still intact, as he was already well on his way to achieving that anyway. It wasn’t necessary for him to get ‘fixed’, and I would have preferred for it to not have happened.
Anyway, long story short, I thought this was a fun read and I enjoyed it, but I unfortunately can’t say I loved it.
I also want to give a quick thank you to walreads for writing her gushing review, which was so infectious, it made me want to read this book immediately!...more
This wasn’t really what I expected it to be, and I mean that in a good as well as in a bad way: The writing was a lot more flowery and || 3.5 stars ||
This wasn’t really what I expected it to be, and I mean that in a good as well as in a bad way: The writing was a lot more flowery and dragged-out than I was expecting (bad), but it did make their love story feel more pure than I thought it would be (good). The whole thing was also quite over-the-top, but that was actually something I was already expecting.
The idea of Max and Wes intrigued me immediately. The fact that Max was not only super protective and possessive, but he was also Wes’s pseudo-brother resulted in a great mix: It gave their relationship a swoon-worthy dynamic, but it also made it filled with plenty of angst and depth. Max would literally drop everything at the drop of a hat if Wes so much as made a peep; he would do anything for him because Wes was his whole damn universe. He would snarl and bark at everyone else, but for Wes he could be incredibly soft.
However, I did get a little bit annoyed at how much Max kept denying his feelings at the start. At least he never denied he cared deeply, but I wish he didn’t so steadfastly refuse to give in to his romantic feelings or that at least Wes would have pushed back against him some more. Later on, when they did get together, the love-bombing actually became a bit too much though. It was cute, do not get me wrong, but it was also slightly repetitive and eventually I was kind of over it. Keep in mind, this book is really really long, so the romance does drag quite a bit. I also wasn’t a big fan of their sexual dynamic; Max was too bossy and the praise kink wasn’t for me. I’m sure a lot of people would like this though. The scenes were just too long for me personally and also not really my style. Then again, I’m not much of a smut fan in general, so take my opinion with a pinch of salt here.
Now, I want to take a little moment to talk about the side characters because I LOVED THEM! Ryan and Jamie were such amazing friends and the way they always had Wes’ back made my heart so happy! Jamie was generally just hilarious and he cracked me up on multiple occasions. Rory and Madison were honestly just sweethearts and I loved how these girls always showed up for Wes. I thought their own relationships with their boyfriends (Ryan and Jamie) were also very cute! I almost want to go back and read the previous books! Win was an awesome brother to Wes and Max, and he constantly put a smile on my face. He fit in effortlessly with everyone and he was always there for his baby bro. I definitely might check out his book with Lars when it comes out. Anyway, all these characters had so many hilarious or sweet interactions with either Wes, Max or each other, and I adored it each time. This is definitely one of those found family series that really succeeds in making you see that the group cares about and loves each other deeply, but also seems like they would be so much fun to be around....more
The thing with these books is that the premise always sounds amazing, and it usually starts with a lot of delicious obsession and adora|| 2.5 stars ||
The thing with these books is that the premise always sounds amazing, and it usually starts with a lot of delicious obsession and adoration coming from our so-called “psychopaths”. Yet, somehow the progression stagnates pretty early on, leaving the romance to be a little lacklustre. I mean, do I like the general dynamic of this couple? Yes. But did I feel very invested in them? No, sadly.
What I liked about these two though was the fact that they’ve known each other since childhood and they’ve been pining for each other for years, thus leaving their romance to feel a little less like insta-love, which was one of the major issues I had with the previous books. Nonetheless, if I were asked the question whether I liked this couple more than, for example, Noah and Adam, the answer would still be no.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this, but the first two chapters or so were already the best the book had to offer, and after that it got a bit boring and was just mweh.
I’m going to be honest here and start this out by saying that I skimmed a lot of this book. I noticed early on that the writing was juv|| 2.0 stars ||
I’m going to be honest here and start this out by saying that I skimmed a lot of this book. I noticed early on that the writing was juvenile and that I did not feel very interested in the overall story. Thus, I decided I wasn’t going to get very caught up in the details and only tried to read the parts that featured Arthur and Merlin’s romance. Unfortunately, not even their relationship could make me very happy. It was too simple and too… mweh. It was nothing to write home about.
I watched the BBC show years ago and I never really thought about Merlin and Arthur as a romantic ‘ship’ while watching. However, their bromance was always amazing. I’m definitely thinking about re-watching the show now with this new perspective: I’m sure it could be very lovely and swoon-worthy. After all, their chemistry has always been insane and their dynamic is filled with potential.
Anyway, this was the first fan-fiction I have ever read, and I really like the idea of trying more. I mean, reading a story with characters I already know and love sounds awesome! But… This one unfortunately did not really work for me. It felt a bit empty and surface-level to me. I’m hoping I’ll have better luck the next time I might try some fan-fiction. Fingers crossed!...more
I have mixed feelings on this one, and even now, I’m still not really sure what to think of it. There was something about this that jus|| 3.0 stars ||
I have mixed feelings on this one, and even now, I’m still not really sure what to think of it. There was something about this that just worked for me, despite the execution of the story being quite lacklustre and superficial. The writing itself also wasn’t very good. So, really, why did I like this? I don’t know, but I did somehow enjoy it. So… That’s that.
The story itself is about Tyler, a sarcastic and moody biology major, who was shunned by his family for being gay, and is now working 24/7 to pay for college and housing. One night, at work, he meets a pretty athlete, who he has a rather unpleasant encounter with. Turns out, this athlete, Carson, is the most famous football player on campus and has secretly been obsessing over Tyler from afar for over a year. From there on out, everything goes super-fast: Carson confesses his feelings, and Tyler is immediately wary but also recipient of his feelings.
It’s very insta-love, and does not make a ton of sense. Maybe it would have been easier to understand if we had gotten Carson's POV as well, but I guess we’ll never know. The writing was also a bit clunky and could at times be quite hard to follow. Then again, I found most of it to be very entertaining and seeing someone be adored and get completely obsessed over has always been a secret weakness of mine. So yea, make of all that what you will....more
This was yet another boring and bland read: It had absolutely nothing interesting going on. Even worse, it was extremely superficial an|| 1.5 stars ||
This was yet another boring and bland read: It had absolutely nothing interesting going on. Even worse, it was extremely superficial and super awkward. Their relationship made me roll my eyes more than anything, and they didn’t even get a single swoon out of me.
The premise of this entire book doesn’t even come to fruition either, because the dad is not the best friend at all. They hadn’t talked in over a decade, and they hardly even talk during this book either. They’re not remotely friends anymore. It’s silly.
The online aspect was a lie as well, because these two have a conversation on a Grindr type of app that lasts a whole of three sentences and then they meet up, reveal their identities, and that’s that.
This was insta-love to the maximum degree; their love had absolutely no foundation at all, and their entire relationship consisted of either Daddy kink or just sex.
Also, if I never encounter the word “brat” again, then it will honestly still be too soon....more
➛First read: October 2022 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: March 2024 | ★3.5 stars
I’m not sure how to feel about this one. I mean, I liked it,|| 3.5 stars ||
➛First read: October 2022 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: March 2024 | ★3.5 stars
I’m not sure how to feel about this one. I mean, I liked it, but it really was pretty ridiculous.
Alex’s silly alpha-male behaviour made me snort through my nose or role my eyes at least fifty percent of the time; I just could not take him all that seriously. The plot was also overdramatic and some of the phrases used were just awkward. The writing will definitely not be winning any awards sometime soon.
However, I did enjoy a lot of the jealousies, overprotectiveness, possessiveness, and just the general idea of Alex hating everything in the world except for Ava. I love it when a man has a soft spot for his love interest only. And although Alex could be overbearing, he truly was devoted to Ava. He cared a lot about her and always treated her delicately; except during sex where he could be rough-ish and called her degrading names, which, to be honest, wasn’t my favourite dynamic, but whatever. At least it never went too far or played a huge part in the story. And honestly, a lot of the things Alex did for Ava in everyday life were genuinely very sweet and I even swooned once or twice.
I also appreciated that Ava wasn’t a doormat. Even though Ava was sweet and pure, she did not let Alex walk all over her. Not even at the beginning, and especially not at the end. When Alex really fucked up, she literally let this man grovel for over a year. Love that for her.
Long story short, this book had its flaws and it was kind of ridiculous, but I did enjoy it quite a bit. It entertained me and I liked a lot of the romantic tropes present here. It wasn't mind-blowing or even close to being one of the better romances out there, but overall, I liked the book. Just shut off your brain and try not to take it too seriously: I promise this read has the potential to be mostly fun if you do so.
Unfortunately, I really did not like this one. I had pretty high expectations of it going in, but I was ultimately very disappointed. N|| 2.0 stars ||
Unfortunately, I really did not like this one. I had pretty high expectations of it going in, but I was ultimately very disappointed. Not only did I think the plot was extremely uneventful, repetitive and boring, I also struggled to feel emotionally connected to any of it.
The romance was especially lacklustre to me. Vaugh and Oryn’s relationship lacked any form of foundation and I was not quite sure why Vaugn fell in love with Oryn. It was quite random. Their connection was honestly shaky at best and I often found myself being confused regarding their feelings for each other. Their relationship simply did not feel romantic to me… Vaugh seemed to care about Oryn, sure, but not like a partner. He mostly just seemed to be worried about Oryn’s well-being and about wanting him to function better in the world. Vaughn honestly felt more like a caretaker. Like a nurse or something? Not sure how to explain it better than that. But I definitely did not feel the romantic love.
Speaking of, I understand that since Oryn had Dissociative Identity Disorder, Vaugn needed to love him as a whole, and he needed to connect with all Oryn’s many alters. But I still feel like that bond could have been built without any romantic connections to the other alters. I mean, Vaughn’s relationship with Cohen (one of Oryn’s alters) really did not sit right with me. Not only did he form a sexual relationship with Cohen outside of Oryn, he eventually also admitted to loving them both equally. It irked me. It almost felt like cheating to me. I know it was all encouraged by Oryn, but I personally hated it....more
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