Marissa

“My past had damaged me in ways that she could never know. I didn’t want her to know. I couldn’t bear to let her think that I was weak.”

BOOOOOO. ugh insecure men. YUCK.

(yes ik trauma and whatnot but having it isn’t weak shawty)

Okay overall this book was good. I had originally rated it a 5 but brought it down to 4.5. And it was honestly for more comments like this, and the CONSTANT use of sweetheart.

Like babe we aren’t below the Mason Dixon Line???

Anyways. Their banter was cute. Probably the most intense “Touch Her You Die” trope I’ve seen in a book. Erm the MMC development was there, but not super standout-ish. I honestly loved that he bought her a cat. It was cute. I liked how the FMC consistently brought up to them how they had horribly gotten her in the situation (kidnapping). I feel like most FMC (in dark romances) fall love-sick and then don’t actually take a step back. She was super in-tuned with gravity of the situation, which is more than most. Even her acknowledging the potential feelings she has but breaking down crying because she didn’t know if she had Stockholm Syndrome. Yes Ashlee!! I’m so glad you still have a rational brain!!!!!

OKAY THE CLIFFHANGER WAS ACTUALLY DECENTLY GOOD.

I didn’t know I was at the end of the book till kindle was asking me if I wanted to buy the second one for $2.99…

Considering most books I’ve read labeled as dark romance have a complete love story but then an underlying plot that’s more intense but so far I haven’t been completely grasped in the moment as much as this book. I guess you could say their love story was completely but imo it’s not quite because of her condition at the end of the book.

Honestly, I almost put down this book as soon as tiktok was mentioned. But I did not. That's the main reason for the rating because I feel like it tried to "glamorize" something that is very real and it does not go the way it did in the book. The redeeming qualities were: FMC and MMC banter, acknowledging of the potential danger from the MMC, and there actually being a plot other than a social media trope and BDSM.

I saw someone say that it was hard to rate it and just writing their thoughts about it. However, it feels wrong NOT to rate it. Anyways, I gave it a 3.5 mostly because it became predictable (to me) about 65-70% of the way through the book. Which isn’t a bad thing, but I want my mind to be spinning by the end and questioning everything. I think it was a good, quick read, and kept me intrigued. I usually don’t like how much something is repeated throughout the book, however, describing Olivia’s eyes was SO GOOD and made such a beautiful image in my head of her character.

***SPOILERS BELOW***

I lowkey hate the ended because of how much they went through, that was a “twist” that surprised me and made me a bit sad lol. The other unexpected for me was Olivia and Oscar with his book. Towards the end of the book when they are in the woods, I did somewhat believe a few of the things she said about Oscar because it makes sense and adds to the winding plot. For me, the element that connected the dots was the way the unknown narrator described each male character and their distinct scent nearly every time they were mentioned. Which I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but I could tell where it was going.

This book is the damn near epitome of “New Adult Contemporary.

I genuinely loved this book. I read it in one day, probably could have been quicker except I highlighted A LOT.

Overall, this was written beautifully. Specifically, how she approached fulfilling your partners sexual desires, acquiring and reassuring consent, meaningful discussions about specific boundaries, and how to have an overall healthy relationship with those elements. As a former D1 athlete, I think she captured the lifestyle surprisingly well. Their banter was so cute.

I was a bit skeptical about reading another one of her books. I read The Love Hypothesis, absolutely loved it but that was nearly 4 years ago. Back then, I read YA and used to like it, but it’s generally not my forte anymore. But this book exceeded expectation.

Honestly the only thing I really didn’t like about it, was switching it to third person POV in the epilogue. I liked it was Lukas, but I wish it had been first person POV.