Ray
I didn't enjoy the second book in this series as much as I did the first.
Firstly because this was much more plot heavy than the first book, and much less romance elements, which is fine, i liked the plot but I wish it was steamier.
Secondly because I just didn't like Vincent's character as much as I liked Orlando. I feel like he just got pissed off at Henri for most of the duration of the book. I was hoping for a more epic love tale.
As usual I loved the author's writing.
So yeah i feel like this book didn't meet my personal expectations, but it was a fun read nonetheless.
PS Henri basically raises Vincent as a third parent and watches him grow and even though nothing romantic happens between them untill Vincent is 18, if this set up isn't for you it's totally understandable.
The way this is marketed I was expecting a sports romance but this is definitely more emotional stepbrothers romance.
I enjoyed the first half of this book, slowly building up the chemistry, alluding to Lane's past.
I don't think the second half held up the with it though. The sex became very repetitive (except literally the very last chapter something REALLY uniquely spicy happened, but the rest of the book was repetitive), and I feel like Lane's character and trauma wasn't as deeply explored as I would have wanted.
Also one of my favourite parts to read in forbidden romances is the part where everyone finds out and the couple come out and be comfortable with who they are, but that part in this book felt incredibly unsatifisying.
It dragged on in some parts too, I don't think this book needed to be nearly 500 pages long.
Weaker than the first book in this series, in my opinion, but I will still be picking up the next one when it releases!
Not a fan of novellas in general, but I'm glad I read this to understand more about this universe
Such unique writing, the combination of sexual content and gory content. Just when I thought volume 1 was good, this happened.
Each story, each character was so fresh and a different kind of terror.
I thoroughly enjoyed each story in this one, but Killstream will be one of my favourite extreme horror stories ever written.
AMAZINGGG collection of stories, I'd you're into gore with a very sexual theme.
I can't believe I'm dnfing a book that's 80 pages long in the first place but it's so boring I can't continue anymore
This book was sweet and tender while also bringing great spice to the table, which I think is really rare to find, so I'm really happy about that!
I loved both the characters, they had such sweet banter while also having meaningful conversations, and also bonding over their dorky video games and gay sci fi novels, it was so cute.
I'm not even a dog person but the dogs were such an adorable addition to the story
This was a solid thriller I would say, except for the ending. I would say I am yet to read a book from this author to have a solid ending lol
I loved the psychological aspect of it and how it played with my mind because the logical side of me knows that children aren't evil, but the author builds the mom and dad character so well into the sane, rational people they are that you can't help but wonder what could have possibly led to this. Also given the fact that you never get the child's perspective throughout.
I enjoyed this, now I'm gonna go and read the sequel novella.
Sweet home (desi) alabama aside, this was actually a beautifully well written book. If you asked me to explain to you what happens i probably couldn't tell you very well but all I know is that colonial Calcutta setting, middle class Indian upbringing and the weirdness undertones delivered in an eloquent writing style captivated me for the time I read this.
This is the first Avril Ashton book I'm reading, I had no idea she has so many books already written and there are so many references here, so I kinda wish I had read all her other books before jumping into this.
I still absolutely enjoyed it, I love this world, I'm definitely gonna be reading more. It's been a while since I read my last mafia romance, and the fact that this is MM makes it so much better. The chemistry between Stav and Daniel was so good. The sex was amazingly well written. The writing was surprisingly beautiful, I was not expecting to highlight this as much as I did.
I can't wait to read her other books especially Levi and Van's romance.
Exactly the kind of book that plays out like a movie that my parents wouldn't have allowed to me to watch as a child!! Fun, campy, gory. Amazing time.
Such a fresh take on classic domestic thriller plots. Loved the sisterhood between Hazel and Lee throughout the book, very refreshing to see strong, level headed female protagonists and a healthy friendship between them.
Loved this.
I really enjoyed this book.
Something about Logan and Mattie's connection felt so pulsatingly real to me, the characters are so incredibly vulnerable, and honest with each other. Especially towards the end when everything makes more sense, it became so soft, so beautiful, I loved it. It would be impossible not to adore these two.
Another aspect that I realy enjoyed is the commentary on movies and how we glamorise movie stars and how we often forget that they are just human too. There is also commentary about being gay and bi, and finding acceptance from family.
I absolutely adored this book, highly recommend it.
I loved the first book, and I love Madd and Dev, but I just didn't vibe with this one as much.
I found a lot of it repetitive, especially the boys confessing their love to each other, it just happened in a very similar way throughout the book so it felt repetitive.
There is a plotline running here, it was okay but I feel like personally, the villainous dad trope in romance sequels for a plot is just so overused. I'm just personally tired of reading the same thing over and over again.
Anyway, i did love some of the scenes here, they were so cute.
Excited for the 3rd one!
I can never resist a good MM sports romance. This book though, is an age gap, coach-athlete romance, and it made it even better.
I love their power dynamic. The writing is done so well, with portraying Jack with his bratty fratboy attitude, and then him becoming submissive in the relationship yet still being bratty in the most fun way possible.
The spice was so well written too, and such fun scenes I was screaming in delight XD
This book is sweet and spicy in equal measure, and while there is a little bit of heavy content at the end, it doesn't overpower the story.
I really wish this had an epilogue at the end though, in fact I could take another full book of these two because I loved it!!
This is a sweet and tender romance that is very low in angst. I was personally expecting it to be more angsty and fobidden since the title promises a ‘rivals' to lovers romance but it was okay.
This was my first book from this author and I found the writing to be cute and charming. I definitely would be interested to check out more from this series.
What lowered my rating personally is the third act breakup, I'm just so tired of those
This would be a great palate cleanser read to binge on after reading heavier books.
Instantly turned off due to the internalised misogyny. My dude explicitly asks women if they would like to take 2 c*cks at once and shame them if they answer “sluttily”. What are you expecting?! You're on a sugar daddy dating website!
Also lots of weird shit I can't personally take. ‘Whore-gown'? ‘slutty knickers'? lots of shaming women for wearing makeup.
I read a few sex scenes and no I can't do this im out
I feel like my expectations were let down for this book because the cover gives such eerie vibes and the horror narnia aspect of it sounds so interesting and so I was expecting this to be creepier than it is.
I wanted more exploration into the Narnia world, more description, more weird things happening, I feel like it had great potential had this book chosen to lean more heavily into the horror side.
However I found this to be on the more fun, light side. The writing was light and almost quirky like you would find in a romcom. Which weirdly was the thing I loved most about this, the characters had great banter which was entertaining.
I love how all the books in this series are literally 99% smut with the tiniest bit of plot but they don't feel like it, if that makes any sense. It doesn't feel too sex heavy (but it totally is). Idk, literal magic I guess.
Anyway, this was a brother's best friend + hidden identity + size difference romance. I'll admit I wanted to shove Gabe a little bit, he was pretty toxic at times but otherwise solid 4 star romance.
I loved the setting of this book, this series & all these characters. I also enjoyed the conversations about demisexuality.
Lost interest by the end though. Still a fun read.
This is the one of the most unhinged thing ive ever read and i hate that i enjoyed it as much as I did lol
weird stepbrother manipulation shit involved, I don't know if it made any sense but I couldn't care less
As someone who watched Raazi when it first came out in 2018, I had naturally forgotten a lot of plot points so I had a good time with the book. It might be boring to read this if you recently watched the movie, and honestly I think this story did really well in the movie format, it just hit harder to watch the movie for the heart pumping thrilling moments whereas in writing I felt it wasn't as effective to bring me to the edge of my seat.
But the beginning parts with her former life as a regular college student i think was written very well, it was tender and sweet, and I liked that.