Holy Hell.. This book genuinely frustrated me to no end. I kind of despised everything about it, even though it had the potential to be|| 1.5 stars ||
Holy Hell.. This book genuinely frustrated me to no end. I kind of despised everything about it, even though it had the potential to be everything I love. I mean, taking this plot and set-up at face value, I thought I was going to really like it. However, the actual book itself managed to execute everything so horribly and so annoyingly, that there was no way I could even enjoy it.
I think what bothered me most about this book were the characters and their absolute lack of a connection. Both of the love interests had an unlikable personality to begin with, but sometimes it’s possible for two arseholes to still create some chemistry. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case in this situation. All these two had was a long history and even that history does not get explored at all. There weren’t any loving or sweet moments between them. Why and if these two even really liked each other? Who the Hell knows. I would grow pretty damn sick of the other person if I were either of them. After all, Blue was such an undeciding dumbass, while Kelly was so incredibly entitled and demanding. So much so, I don't think there is even one moment where Kelly is in a mood other than angry or cranky.
Their whole story was honestly just boring. I found myself pushing to read further just to be done with it. There were also absolutely no stand-out moments: not a single one. It was bad from start to finish. I am just glad to be done with it, and I have absolutely zero intentions of ever reading the sequel.
Merged review:
|| 1.5 stars ||
Holy Hell.. This book genuinely frustrated me to no end. I kind of despised everything about it, even though it had the potential to be everything I love. I mean, taking this plot and set-up at face value, I thought I was going to really like it. However, the actual book itself managed to execute everything so horribly and so annoyingly, that there was no way I could even enjoy it.
I think what bothered me most about this book were the characters and their absolute lack of a connection. Both of the love interests had an unlikable personality to begin with, but sometimes it’s possible for two arseholes to still create some chemistry. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case in this situation. All these two had was a long history and even that history does not get explored at all. There weren’t any loving or sweet moments between them. Why and if these two even really liked each other? Who the Hell knows. I would grow pretty damn sick of the other person if I were either of them. After all, Blue was such an undeciding dumbass, while Kelly was so incredibly entitled and demanding. So much so, I don't think there is even one moment where Kelly is in a mood other than angry or cranky.
Their whole story was honestly just boring. I found myself pushing to read further just to be done with it. There were also absolutely no stand-out moments: not a single one. It was bad from start to finish. I am just glad to be done with it, and I have absolutely zero intentions of ever reading the sequel....more
Quite honestly, I was bored out of my mind. I started to drift off so often, I simply couldn’t help but skim the hell out of this book.
T|| 1.0 star ||
Quite honestly, I was bored out of my mind. I started to drift off so often, I simply couldn’t help but skim the hell out of this book.
This book was the definition of “telling, not showing”. I was told from the very beginning that these two have been in love with each other for years, but I was never actually shown what that looked like or why they fell in love. They are constantly waxing poetry about how much they care about each other, but I didn’t get to see an actual connection. It was very superficial, and there was zero development. Everything stayed the same from beginning to end, and I couldn’t care any less.
It was even worse because they were so over-the-top and intense with their emotions and declarations, yet it all felt so fake and forced to me. Their entire love story simply fell flat, and was almost a bit ridiculous. Besides, when they finally got together, all they did was have (weird, domineering) sex, which really hammered home how lust-focused, rather than meaningful, their attraction towards one another had been the whole time.
Anyway, long story short, I literally read this whole thing with a scowl and the occasional eye-roll or raised eyebrow, which is clearly not the vibe you want to have when it comes to a romance book.
WARNING: THIS BOOK WILL GIVE YOU THE FIERCEST BOUTS OF CRINGING YOU’LL EVER EXPERIENCE!
I was only one chapter in and already near tears.|| 1.0 star ||
WARNING: THIS BOOK WILL GIVE YOU THE FIERCEST BOUTS OF CRINGING YOU’LL EVER EXPERIENCE!
I was only one chapter in and already near tears. It told me everything I needed to know about the kind of book this would be, and I immediately had a feeling I would be in for a miserable time, which unfortunately, proved to be true. After about the halfway point I couldn’t take it anymore and decided to skim. I think it surprises no one that I missed absolutely nothing while doing this, since it was the simplest, most meaningless, uneventful book that gave me nothing but ridiculous quirkiness and over-the-top immaturity. Every single page was the exact same and nothing ever changed!
The beginning already showed me exactly how dreadful the heroine would be as it had me sit through an entire monologue about how AWFUL Bree thinks Nathan’s girlfriend is because said girlfriend doesn’t like her. Of course, the girlfriend’s dislike is entirely valid since Bree DID have feelings for her boyfriend, Bree DID want to steal him from her, Bree DID treat her like she didn’t remotely matter to Nathan, and Bree DID look down on her for merely existing as a female like the big pick-me girl she is.
These men could all squash me between their thumb and forefinger, but they are all softies who honest-to-goodness treat me like their queen. They would carry me around on a chair lifted above their shoulders if I let them. I have no idea why—probably because I’m that girl who doesn’t have an ounce of threat in my five-foot-four body. To these guys (Nathan included), I’m just Bree Cheese, the fun-loving, curly haired girl everyone loves with the dance studio above the pizza parlor.
Anyway, clearly I hated “I’m not like other girls” Bree with a fiery passion, and, although he was definitely better, I did not hold any love for Nathan either. These two were so painfully immature, and I couldn’t deal with their whole quirky dynamic that was supposed to be cute somehow, but just wasn’t. They both just needed to shut. up. Mostly Bree, but still. Nathan deserves to get shamed too just for loving that behaviour and going along with it.
Also, both of them had to be the most blind people on the planet. They both think the other had “friend zoned” them, even though they’ve clearly been desperately in love with each other for years. Of course, neither of them is ever willing to admit their feelings to the other or act on them, so they’re continually in this stupid kind of limbo where they keep dating other people (basically stringing them along) while behaving towards each other like they’re in a relationship anyway. I mean, God, they really gave me a headache. Just be honest and communicate with each other, or at least just open your damn eyes! It’s not that hard. In all fairness, though, I blame Bree a lot more for their miscommunication than Nathan. At least Nathan actually had to deal with Bree constantly shouting she only saw him as a friend or as a brother and saying she would never date him, so I get why he’d be confused by the mixed signals. Bree had zero excuse, though, since Nathan was obviously in love with her and never really claimed he wasn’t. He tried to, sort of, make multiple moves on her and she shot it down each time for no reason.
Honestly, the only thing I did like here was how insanely whipped Nathan was. That boy was head-over-heels and in full-on adoration mode when it came to Bree. He would have done anything for her and loved every little bit about her. I adore love-sick heroes like that, especially if they treat their girl delicately and like they’re the most important thing in the world. Even when the heroine doesn’t deserve it because she’s an annoying pick-me girl like Bree, I can still appreciate the love he has for her. Sort of....more
I really did not expect to get another book in this series, but this fit as a surprisingly perfect addition. It’s about two entirely ne|| 3.0 stars ||
I really did not expect to get another book in this series, but this fit as a surprisingly perfect addition. It’s about two entirely new characters and I initially wondered how they would fit in at the junkyard, but I shouldn’t have worried, because they matched perfectly. The way Knox and Liv found a new family with these crazy, oddly lovable people just warmed my heart.
Of course, the main focus of the book is the romance between Knox and Liv, and it was honestly pretty great. It’s about two best friends, who truly never thought they would be anything more than that, but who are, due to circumstances, forced to see each other in a new light. I thought the sexual discoveries for both of them were very well done: Each had a very different journey, but neither was less valid and it was interesting to see their contrast. I personally had the biggest soft spot for Knox though, and I absolutely loved seeing the way he blossomed into his best self by finally accepting his sexuality but also his own vulnerability.
The dynamic between Knox and Liv was complete ride-or-die. These two would have done absolutely anything for the other and they were each other’s whole entire world. The love between them ran very deep, and their interactions were so sweet and authentic. Their relationship started out with a lot of banter, teasing and the occasional hostility (just like a regular close “bro” friendship), but it eventually became incredibly soft and gentle. They were constantly giving each other comfort through touch, actions and words, and I just kept swooning at how adorable they were together. They were truly enamored and it was beautiful to see them both discover how completely obsessed and in love they were with each other.
'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, this was so fun and sweet! The writing was very light, the characters instantly endearing, the banter endlessly charming and the ro|| 4.0 stars ||
Oh, this was so fun and sweet! The writing was very light, the characters instantly endearing, the banter endlessly charming and the romance just absolutely adorable!
Oh, what a lovely book this was. It’s a classic, but somehow doesn’t suffer from the same afflictions that would make it a boring, pret|| 4.0 stars ||
Oh, what a lovely book this was. It’s a classic, but somehow doesn’t suffer from the same afflictions that would make it a boring, pretentious and drawn-out read like so many other “classics” are. Is it because this was written by a woman, unlike most other older classics? Well, I won’t say so in fear of sounding a little offensive, but secretly I think: Yes, duhh.
This story really had such pure warmth and feeling with such lovely and tender characters, you truly couldn’t help but love every person that appeared on the page. Everyone had a special little something about them that made them uniquely sweet and endearing; even the characters that were only there for a little while. I can’t quite explain it, but every person just felt so fleshed out and real, yet better somehow: This book showed quite an idealistic world since I don’t think everyone is quite so fair and good in real life, but it was a very idyllic and peaceful world to reside in for a while!
The sisters were all probably a little too good to be true, but I didn’t mind it too much and just decided to admire them for their sweetness and humbleness: I couldn’t help but be charmed by Meg’s pretty and calm poise, I couldn’t help but laugh at Jo’s wild and unabashed antics, I couldn’t help but feel affection for Beth’s selflessness and purity, and neither could I help but adore Amy’s charming and graceful nature. I have to admit to having a secret favourite in Amy, whom I personally thought had the most fun and interesting scenes and personality; she was so funny to me as a child and so perfectly lovely as an adult. Her growth was really nice, and I just loved everything about her.
[SPOILERS FROM HERE ON OUT]:
I know there’s quite a debate about who Laurie should have ended up with as many people are not happy with the author’s choices, but I personally think all ended as it should have. Jo and Laurie were never more than friends, and neither do I think they could have successfully been anything more. Their friendship was very brother/sisterly and well-suited in that way, but it never, not once, felt romantic to me. Opposingly, Laurie’s interactions with Amy always seemed more tender and gentle to me, even when they were young. There were already quite a lot of little scenes that showed how well he cared for her and wanted her to feel good. And of course, when they grew older it became even more apparent that they would make a good match. Especially the way they acted with each other when they were abroad truly settled the matter for me and showed me that Laurie could find no better match for him than Amy. What they had was romantic love, while him and Jo had pure platonic love. It was very obvious to me. And I admire the author for making the right choice, despite knowing it would upset a lot of readers.
However, although an entirely different matter, I did have one big complaint: I personally think Beth should have died in part 1 instead of part 2. I don’t quite understand why the author let her survive her illness in the first place if she was simply going to ignore Beth’s existence after that, just to kill her anyway, only now when we don’t care as much for sweet little Beth as we used to when we knew her well. It was just an odd choice, since it really limited the emotional impact her death could have had for me.
All in all though, this was a really nice and warm book that I treasured reading. Even if it could be a little preachy and sanctimonious sometimes....more
Well. What a major disappointment. This started out so great, but in the end, it lost me completely.
This book is about two childhood be|| 2.5 stars ||
Well. What a major disappointment. This started out so great, but in the end, it lost me completely.
This book is about two childhood best friends, who love each other deeper and more intensely than anything else in the world, who are beyond obsessive and possessive when it comes to the other, who would go through great lengths to stay together forever, but who are also utterly incapable of communication, honesty, and a healthy relationship.
I really loved how this story began with these two having such a strong relationship and how co-dependent they were. They were so needy and desperate for the other’s affection, and I truly do love those things in a romance. However, everything became insanely repetitive after a while, and I honestly ended up feeling very annoyed with everything. The fact that these two refused to have a damn conversation together that would have made both of their lives’ so much easier really got on my nerves. After a while, I truly didn’t even believe in their love anymore; how can you claim to love each other so much if you continually make it so incredibly difficult for the other? It just became very boring to see these two do nothing but whine about how much they wanted to touch each other, and not have much of a relationship beyond that.
So, all in all, no matter how much I would have normally loved this type of needy, pining, and co-dependent dynamic, I wasn’t impressed with the execution here. It way just way too dramatic without any real substance....more
This was one giant explosion of angst. There were a lot of intense emotions and bonds and jealousies and pain and hurt and love and bro|| 3.5 stars ||
This was one giant explosion of angst. There were a lot of intense emotions and bonds and jealousies and pain and hurt and love and brotherhood and family and despair and confusion and trust.
The writing style was extremely unconventional and I wasn’t always entirely sure what to make of it. Sometimes I really liked it and sometimes I thought it was a little weird. It was definitely different, and therefore interesting. It surely managed to make me feel everything Ox was feeling.
This book started out pretty damn amazingly. The first few chapters were especially beautiful; the way we got to see Ox’s feelings as a young child, the way we understood his relationship with his father, his mom and his Gordo, the way we understood how he felt and thought about himself: his insecurities and loneliness were visceral and the story of his youth was simply done so freaking well. It broke my heart.
And then when Ox met the Bennett’s and when he met the one (even though it wasn’t romantic at first), we saw the relief he felt at having found a new home, a new place to start believing in others again, and most importantly, start believing in himself. All those emotions that were going through him were so real, and I felt so much pure happiness for the trust and unconditional love this precious and sweet boy finally got, especially after having been denied it for so long. I really felt what Ox was feeling in all of these moments, and I truly thought: WOW, this book is going to be absolutely stunning the whole way though.
And I guess it was a little bit, but I personally did think this book was way too long. I feel like the length of it could have been cut almost in half, and it would have probably been a lot more enjoyable for it. After all, it really did start to drag at the end and it did begin to feel repetitive.
One of the things I loved most about this book were all the beautiful relationships Ox had with so many different people and the gorgeous found-family he created: I loved the familial relationship he had with Elizabeth and Thomas, and I adored the way they took him in with open arms like a set of bonus parents. The teasing and light relationship he had with Carter and Kelly was adorable and fun. The love he had for his mother was heartwarming. The brotherhood he had with Chris, Tanner and Rico was humorous, joyful and touching. The adopted brother/father relationship he had with Gordo might have been my favourite, though. The protectiveness and care Gordo had for him was so warm and tender. I truly believe Gordo loved him more than anyone or anything else in the world. Last but not least, the slow-burn romance he had with Joe was unique and instinctive. They had a very intense relationship and their path was unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. They started out as something completely different from a romance, but no less meaningful. They loved each other something fierce, and nothing could stand in the way of that; not age, not time, not species, not anything. It was really something...
All in all, this was a fascinating and engrossing book that had a lot of compelling aspects, but its one big downfall, for me, was its overdone length, which really took the enjoyment down a bit for me. Nonetheless, this was definitely memorable.
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 sorry, but this was super bland and honestly just plain boring. I especially got very annoyed at Winston’s reluctance to come out. I|| 2.0 stars ||
I’m sorry, but this was super bland and honestly just plain boring. I especially got very annoyed at Winston’s reluctance to come out. It didn’t really make any kind of sense, and worst of all, it seemed like Winston didn’t even care about how much them hiding their relationship was hurting Rhys. But honestly, not only was Winston a bit of a selfish prick, their relationship also lacked any chemistry or depth in general. This just wasn’t it for me.
'Lionheart Academy' series: 1. Betting You - 3.0 stars 2. Omitting You - 2.0 stars...more
Oh my god, why!? Why did this need to be such a disappointment? Again! It’s really starting to become a running theme with this author,|| 2.0 stars ||
Oh my god, why!? Why did this need to be such a disappointment? Again! It’s really starting to become a running theme with this author, and I’m getting kind of sick of it. No matter how much I loved Sem and Emery, I think I will be parting ways with this author from now on. She’s just lost her spark for me. Whereas her characters used to be endearing and funny, now they’re just annoying and ridiculous. Whereas the romance used to be all-consuming and devoted, now it’s just silly and frustrating. Her latest books just feel empty and I don’t like much about them.
The worst part is that I was genuinely so excited for this book. Finn and Landon seemed like the perfect pairing to write a book about, and I could not wait to see it all play out! Unfortunately, it played out like the biggest disappointment imaginable and all potential was completely lost.
I knew this would have the best friends-to-lovers trope with a heavy dose of pining and unrequited love; I was sooo ready for that! I mean, I love that dynamic! So colour me surprised when Finn, who’s supposed to be pining for Landon and doting on him hand and foot, has the personality of a cold dead fish. If I didn’t already know he was in love with Landon, I would have never guessed it from the way he acted. He literally did nothing but exist with a stoic face, pretending like every time Landon touched him was the biggest hardship imaginable. Dude honestly did not do anything remotely interesting and he never showed an ounce of emotion or personality! The only thing Finn did passionately was continuously text with this other guy, Archer, even though he knew how much it was bothering Landon and he knew that it was driving a wedge between them. I mean, call me crazy, but if the man that I have been in love with for EIGHT WHOLE YEARS is finally giving me the time of day, you will not see me texting another man 24/7. Like, why? I understand he was supposedly talking about Landon the entire time, but it was still freaking stupid. Finn just sucked as a love interest. Plain and simple. And that honestly came as a shock to me because based on the previous book I thought he would be amazing…
And honestly, do not even get me started on Landon, because this man drove me absolutely mad! He had such a terribly infuriating personality and I wanted to smack him repeatedly. He did nothing but whine and be stupid. Literally, that’s all he did. Nothing else. Just whine. Be stupid. Whine. Be stupid. Repeat that over and over again and you have this book.
Also, just to be clear, the premise of this book was utterly insane and did not make any sense whatsoever. Supposedly Finn wants nothing more than to be with Landon, but he does everything in his power for that not to happen. He never made any kind of effort to win Landon over and he never attempted to make Landon see him in a romantic light. If anything, it seemed like he was working hard to achieve the exact opposite. He was working against himself so hard, sometimes I couldn’t even be sure if he really did want to be with Landon or if maybe he changed his mind. It was just too crazy to think that he would act this way if he did want him. And you know, maybe it could have all been more understandable inside Finn’s head, but we don’t get to know that because we only get his POV during the chapters when they were young! Everything in the present is narrated by Landon, and I’m certain this dragged the book down further. We definitely needed to know what Finn was thinking in the present because it just wasn’t working this way.
Oh, and the worst part about it all might be that this relationship was entirely build on sex. They didn’t have a genuine connection and there was absolutely no chemistry between them. They didn’t do anything together other than touch and hump each other; no depth to be found anywhere. I’d be surprised if they had a heartfelt conversation even once.
But anyway, not only was everything lacking in the emotional or romantic department, this book was also super boring. It was repetitive like you can’t even imagine, and I was over it after only a few chapters. Nothing interesting happens; it’s constantly the same thing. I mean, okay, that’s not entirely true; something does happen at the very end... but honestly, I wish it hadn’t. Because holy hell that situation was such nonsense, I can’t even. I’m not going to “spoil” it but just know that it was utterly ridiculous, over-the-top and resolved way too fast for something so randomly enormous. It was just such… bullshit. I’m sorry but it was. And honestly, so was this whole book. No offense, but I’m just so disappointed; I’m almost a bit mad that a couple that had so much easy potential was still ruined so spectacularly. What a waste.
I know this has been a rather harsh review, and I apologize if I offended anyone, but for some reason I simply couldn’t find the will to sugar-coat it. Maybe the huge disappointment I’m feeling is making me feel more intensely about the whole thing or something. I don’t know.
'Inevitable' series: 1. Until Him - 2.5 stars 2. Always Him - 2.0 stars...more
I’m sorry, but I honestly found Kingston very annoying. Not only was he dense, self-centred and dramatic, his rea|| 1.5 stars ||
Damn. What a letdown.
I’m sorry, but I honestly found Kingston very annoying. Not only was he dense, self-centred and dramatic, his reaction to Cam telling him he’s been in love with him for as long as he can remember pissed me off. And not the part where he says he’s straight, so he doesn’t feel the same. No, that’s normal. The part I couldn’t stand was that after this revelation Kingston constantly asks questions like “what’s your type?”, “do you think I’m hot?”, “can you look at my dick for me, please?” and the kicker: “can you have sex with me so I can practice my sexual skills, because my girlfriend said I suck?” LIKE WTF. How selfish and narcissistic can you be to ask such questions when you KNOW your best friend is in love with you? God. It pissed me off. His whole vibe was just unlikable: I kinda hated the guy. And then when he started getting angry at Cam for not sticking up for “gay people”? Fucking excuse me? Kingston suddenly wants to play hero and just because Cam isn’t suddenly also up to that and would rather stay in hiding, little straight boy Kingston gets all self-righteous on him? Urgh. Fuck off, honestly.
And genuinely, I just had no idea why Cam was so into Kingston. He keeps saying he is like “sunshine” and “a light in the dark”, but I didn’t see that at all. All Kingston did was be selfish, demand things from Cam and be generally stupid as hell. I didn’t see much of a deeper bond between them either. Kingston literally doesn’t even admit his romantic feelings until the very end. Cam honestly deserved so much better. I mean, even though he had zero personality; at least he wasn’t an arse. The whole thing was just odd.
This book was genuinely repetitive, overly simple, boring and even frustrating. The writing was pretty damn bad too. I didn’t like it at all, which is a shame since I was actually looking forward to reading this....more
This story follows two boys who decide to run away from the deeply religious cult they grew up in. This premise immediately held my att|| 3.0 stars ||
This story follows two boys who decide to run away from the deeply religious cult they grew up in. This premise immediately held my attention and seemed very interesting. However, I personally felt the plot and characterization was lacking a little bit. The story didn’t dive into a lot of details and neither did most of the emotions feel very well-developed. Everything went a little too easily, and there weren’t many issues involved with Josh and Caleb’s escape from the cult. It went quickly and smoothly, which I was not expecting, and I genuinely think it would have been better if they faced more hardships. Honestly, the whole thing just fell a little flat, which is a shame, especially for a story with such a potentially intense and intriguing subject.
The romance between Josh and Caleb was unfortunately not anything special. I was expecting more depth within their relationship, especially considering they have been best friends since childhood and have undergone the same abusive upbringing in the cult. Instead, though, I felt like Caleb could have shown Josh more devotion and also shown more care for him. Sometimes he did this really well, but it wasn’t consistent. In the end he even did something that I find pretty much unforgivable. I also would have liked to see more conversations between them that showed me how close they were or how well they understood each other; but that did not happen. The romance was honestly a little weak, in my opinion.
I definitely liked Josh a lot more than I did Caleb and that’s probably why I was very interested in seeing Josh flourish and grow in his new environments. I especially loved seeing his relationship with Maggie and her baby, Chloe, develop, which was very sweet and exactly what he deserved: a loving and caring family of his own. I was happy he got that, at least.
All in all, I thought the premise of this book was awesome, but it could have been done a lot better. It was still interesting enough to keep my attention throughout, though....more
➛First read: September 2022 | ★4.0 stars ➛Second read: December 2022 | ★3.5 stars ➛Third read: January 2024 | ★3.0 stars
This story is abo|| 3.0 stars ||
➛First read: September 2022 | ★4.0 stars ➛Second read: December 2022 | ★3.5 stars ➛Third read: January 2024 | ★3.0 stars
This story is about Teddy and Liam, who have been friends since early childhood. They have been inseparable from the very beginning and no one can come between them. They are as close as can be, and Liam’s stoic disposition only ever softens in Teddy’s sweet and sunshiny presence. Liam also has a bit of a protector role over Teddy, and when they got to high school, Teddy easily developed a strong crush on him that developed into love. However, Liam has always been straight, and now that they have left high school behind them, Teddy decides he must distance himself from his best friend to get over this unrequited love. The problem, though, is that Liam will never let that happen. No one means more to him than Teddy and he will do anything to keep him in his life, right next to him, where he belongs, forever.
This is really quite a gritty story as it focuses on a group of boys who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. They are poor, often have shitty parents, and do all kinds of drugs. Liam and Teddy truly were each other’s rocks and when times got rough, they used their friendship for comfort and to hold onto their sanity. It was obvious how much they cared about each other, and I loved how Liam only ever truly felt comfortable with Teddy and no one else. They were each other’s person.
“Of course I love him. I love him more than anyone or anything else on this fucked-up planet.”
I really loved how shockingly steady Liam was in his complete and utter devotion for Teddy. Nothing deterred him. No gay freak-out and no angry feelings about anything that happened: as long as Teddy was happy and with him, he was content. He just loved Teddy so much and that’s all he cared about.
“Did I ever tell you why I call you my golden angel? In my head, you’re like sunshine. Just this beacon of light that no one can help being drawn to. You’re warmth and kindness and laughter. It’s intoxicating. For someone like me who always feels dull, you’re like a miracle—the way you’ve always made me feel so much when nothing else does. Nothing or no one even stand a chance in comparison. You shine too bright.”
These two were honestly just so utterly in love with each other. Teddy adored Liam and was convinced he hung the moon and stars. Meanwhile, Liam thought Teddy was quite literally the sun, and that nothing shone brighter than him. He was also extremely possessive and protective of him.
“You’re so fucking perfect, it’s insane how anyone could look like this, like a God or something.” I scoff. “Says you. You’re the angel. I’m a mere fucking mortal at your feet.” His eyes go comically wide. “When will you finally see the hold you have on me?”
Their relationship was just so lovely. It was sweet, swoon-worthy, devoted and all-consuming. However, the reason I didn’t end up loving this book is because it was way too smutty for me. I wanted more meaningful conversations and depth between them instead of so much sex.
Oh my god, this was awful. I hate it so much. This might have been the worst relationship to ever exist.
Nick called Tyler a woman during|| 1.0 star ||
Oh my god, this was awful. I hate it so much. This might have been the worst relationship to ever exist.
Nick called Tyler a woman during sex, and not even in a kinky way, but instead he did it as a punishment and to humiliate him. I guess it turned into kink later on, but still. The intentions were horrible. Nick took hate-sex to a whole new level and it bordered on sexual assault. It was even worse since they were supposed to be best friends. It’s not even an enemies-to-lovers thing (not that it would have been okay then). It was just uncomfortable and sad.
Even though Tyler was ridiculous and stupid in a way that was anything but endearing, he still had good intentions and was a nice guy overall. I felt really bad for him that Nick was such a bastard and that Nick suddenly turned so mean whereas he was supportive before; it was heart-breaking. Tyler basically lost his only friend and instead got humiliation, hatred and dismissiveness from the same guy in return.
Despite the awful treatment he got, Tyler was somehow still completely obsessed with Nick and was pretty much willing to do anything for his affection, approval and attention. He was constantly scared that Nick would get angry or get sick of him, and Nick gave him plenty of reason to fear such a thing. It seemed to me that Tyler was basically in an abusive relationship now. How awful.
Also, I’m pretty sure Nick was either a psychopath or had dissociative identity disorder. This dude creeped me out with his mood swings and personality switches. It was pretty insane and not at all normal.
The sex scenes were far too frequent and also anything but hot. Tyler was hyper-focused on dick, and was completely insatiable. He didn’t like men, but he always wanted a dick in his arse. Right.. And then when he did get that dick from his best friend, it didn’t take long for Nick to start aggressively calling him a slut and to always refer to his (non-existent) “wet pussy”. Um. No, thank you.
Anyway, it was so frustrating and so draining to be stuck inside Tyler’s head. It made me so mad and I genuinely just had to skim sometimes because I got so annoyed. I was really hoping Tyler would tell Nick to fuck off and never speak to him again, but unfortunately that did not happen. He was a major doormat who repeatedly let himself get stomped on. I HATED IT.
➛First read: August 2022 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: March 2024 | ★1.5 stars
EDIT after my re-read:
I’m not sure what kind of insane h|| 1.5 stars ||
➛First read: August 2022 | ★3.5 stars ➛Second read: March 2024 | ★1.5 stars
EDIT after my re-read:
I’m not sure what kind of insane high I was on when I first read this, but there’s no way I actually thought this was good. It was so damn awful. Not only was it very toxic and weird, it was also just plain boring. I feel like Jamie emotionally manipulated Ryan into being with him and kind of abused Ryan’s affection towards him to create something sexual between them, while Ryan honestly was just NOT into Jamie like that. I don’t care that they eventually ended up together; Ryan was obviously straight, and that doesn’t just change. Ryan was happy with his girlfriend and he was truly in love with her; Jamie ruined that and Ryan let him. It’s not a cute story.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Ryan and Jamie were unhealthy, co-dependent and kind of crazy together, but I couldn’t help but love it.
These two have been best friends since early childhood, and Jamie has been in love with Ryan the whole time. Ryan, however, is unaware and also ‘straight’, so they go on with their friendship (included with cuddles and all) until Jamie tells him how he feels. Neither man wants to lose the other, but how can their relationship work if one’s love is platonic while the other’s is romantic? Ryan would desperately want to love Jamie back in the same way, but he can’t.. Or can he?
The obsessive need between them had me in a chokehold. Their chemistry was also pretty awesome, and I could genuinely see the true devotion and care between them. They might have had a fucked-up relationship, but it was definitely intense and all-consuming in a loving way. They were each other’s number 1, always. Nothing was more important to them than the other person, and I honestly adore that sort of thing.
It’s just that they were both so confused and they simply didn’t know what they wanted or how they could have it. It was all a bit impossible between them, but their longing and pining never wavered. It was perfectly angsty.
Don't mind me, I've just been (not so discreetly) bawling my eyes out for the past two days.
Letting my heart get ripped out by this boo|| 5.0 stars ||
Don't mind me, I've just been (not so discreetly) bawling my eyes out for the past two days.
Letting my heart get ripped out by this book? Yea sure, I guess I didn't need it that much anyway.
This book has:
A romance so epic with a love so pure, suffering a fate so unfair.
Hauntingly real characters with piercing character arcs, invoking a true connection and deep-rooted attachment.
A writing-style remarkably poignant featuring symbolism that will touch the soul.
A plot stunningly beautiful, yet devastatingly heart-breaking.
“Why does it take a life ending to learn how to cherish each day? Why must we wait until we run out of time to start to accomplish all that we dreamed, when once we had all the time in the world? Why don’t we look at the person we love the most like it’s the last time we will ever see them? Because if we did, life would be so vibrant. Life would be so truly and completely lived.”
Ughh, this was so incredibly bland. Literally. This was dry as all hell.
There is nothing interesting about this plot, these characters || 2.0 stars ||
Ughh, this was so incredibly bland. Literally. This was dry as all hell.
There is nothing interesting about this plot, these characters or this relationship. Everything was boring, superficial, and often times even frustrating.
I felt no connection with Roo or Tanner, and I was struggling to see any chemistry between them. The constant miscommunications and insecurities between them got annoying real quick, and also contained a lot more stupid than I can handle. It just didn't make any sense, and was overly dramatic for no reason.
This whole book was just Roo feeling sorry for himself about Tanner not wanting him, while Tanner was struggling to have a personality other than being the 'Golden Boy' and screaming “I love Roo! Please Roo, stay with me, please!” *sigh*
I mean, when the stupidity isn't even entertaining, then what do you still have left? Nothing but this trash book, I guess.
Holy Hell.. I don't think this book could be any more dramatic even if it really tried. There is a constant string of bad things happen|| 3.0 stars ||
Holy Hell.. I don't think this book could be any more dramatic even if it really tried. There is a constant string of bad things happening here, and it definitely started to feel a little bit oppressive. The story deals with death, abuse, addiction, mental health, war, abandonment, cheating, homophobia, sexual assault, financial issues, and that still wouldn't be all of it. It's truly a lot of drama and angst.
This story follows the lives of Deacon and Crick for about 14 years. They meet when Crick is 9 and Deacon is 14, which was immediately a little bit icky for me, since Deacon claims to have loved Crick for a way longer time than I would think is appropriate, since they were so young and so many years apart. I think it was cute that Crick had been totally in love with Deacon from the start, but I don't think those feelings should have been reciprocated until both of them were of legal age. I don't care that they didn't kiss until Crick was 20, it's just weird to me that Deacon even saw him in that light when Crick was merely a kid. He doesn't have to act on it for it to still be creepy. But okay, I think I have probably focused on this plenty now, so I'm going to let it slide for the rest of my review.
The first part of the book focuses on Crick and Deacon's childhood years. We only get to see these years from Crick's perspective, which I think was a good choice. It was cute to see how pure his love for Deacon was and I adored the little 'found family' thing they had going on. I really felt for the hardships Crick had to endure as a kid, and I was really happy that he at least had Deacon and Parish to have his back. After this first part though, I do think the book started to go downhill. First of all, we are let in on the little secret that Deacon was in love with Crick all this time (which, I won't get into again, but still; yikesss), but the story also became a little bit too depressing. There was just too much shit going on, and I started to feel like their later issues were kind of.. their own fault. Or at least, some of their issues were. They were being so whiny, so stupid and so bad at communicating. It grated on me and was actually annoying.
Whereas the book started out with a childhood love, it eventually grew into one of the unhealthiest relationships I have ever seen. Crick and Deacon were terrible together. Deacon is quite literally the most passive person in the world, and this guy would not ever communicate properly. He seemed inhuman to me, as he didn't appear to have any of the appropriate emotions and reactions when it came to Crick’s actions. He did have some moments where he would just snap, but usually he just let everything happen to him and not even show any signs of anger. He honestly let Crick get away with horrible things, such as joining the Army for two years due to a hissy fit, but also literally SLEEPING WITH SOMEONE ELSE because he was 'lonely'. I'm sorry, but what? That bugged the hell out of me. Why on earth did Crick have to sleep with some random dude? And why would he even want to? Nope. Sorry. I couldn't take his love for Deacon seriously after that, and I couldn't respect Deacon as a person anymore. Deacon literally told Crick that him cheating was okay and that he still loves him. He didn't even get angry for one second. WTF. And the worst part perhaps is that Crick never even feels apologetic or guilty for all the things he does. When they were kids, Crick was desperate to always make Deacon happy and never let him down, but as they grew older, he didn't seem to care about Deacon and his feelings as much anymore. It was disappointing and kind of sad.
I can also honestly say that I find every single character in this book completely insane, except one. They all act erratic, obsessed, dumb, and just flat-out weird for most of the time. The only one who didn't frustrate me to no end was Benny. I actually really liked her.
All in all, this review makes it sound like I hated the book. But, the thing is, I didn't. I actually rather enjoyed it. Yes, this relationship is toxic as hell. Yes, the angst is literally never-ending. Yes, these people are absolutely deranged. Yes. Yes. Yes, and a whole bunch of more yeses to all these types of questionable things. BUT I still felt bad for these characters and I was still intrigued by the story. I was still connected to the book and eager to read on. Ergo, I didn't hate it. I liked it. I liked it more than enough for me to want to read the second book in the series. However, if that book will be anything like the first, I don't think I am quite ready for it yet, as I still need to calm down from this emotional rollercoaster and drama-fest. I'm sure I'll want to read the next book in the future after some more fluffy or different kind of reads. We'll see....more
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