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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Uhhh Idk this book was just messy repetitive and downright weird. The mc is a pick me girl, so different from the others. The representation of BDSM is damaging and don't get me started on Christian Grey. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

-5 stars*

Short Version:
- Unhealthy relationship is romanticized 
- No consent
- Actually plotless and not in a pwp way
- Painful to read
- Repetitive
- Overhyped
- Barely changing anything—except the names—from the original??
- Lazy writing tbh


Long Version:
I feel like this was one of those books were I could go off on a tangent every time I hear the name.  There are so many problems with it and yet there are so SO many people who read this as if it is the kinkiest, nastiest, amazing romance they had ever read.  How??  Frankly it’s very vanilla, so I’m just confused with why people are saying it is so X rated or the worst thing they have read in regards of smut.

There was no—to very little—consent is given with this relationship, which isn’t really my thing even in fiction.  I mean you are telling me that he made a big deal about what’s her face signing a contract (which was one of the only things that made sense) and then goes and hits her (without consent of course) before she signs it??  Makes SO much sense.  It’s not like she sobbed to her mom after that—oh wait.

BDSM is about communication, consent, things are discussed before scenes are done.  Limits/boundaries are respected and etc. this book has none of that.

This isn’t even talking about the characters I mean both of them were annoying.  Christian only liked Anastasia because she reminded him of his mom.  Yeah, not creepy at all…  They both needed therapy, Christian most of all.  Anastasia was one of those characters that “isn’t like other women” quirky, clumsy, nervous, shy, and boring to default.  Christian was one of those characters that was the “attractive rich man who everyone wants” the “man” had severe mommy issues and he is praised for it almost, he has past trauma that he takes out on others, he’s really clingy, and manipulative, and selfish, and boring as well to read.

To be honest I hate giving books this low of a rating, especially when I find out it started as a fan-fiction, however, even the fan-fiction seems to be exactly like the original work, again with just switching out the names.  How did this get so popular??  Do yourself a favor and just read the fan-fiction version on this if you what to, at least it’s free.

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: N/A
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is Twilight basically, just minus the wolves and vampires 

Ana is a horny girl who's main driving force is her hormones despite having gotten passed puberty. She think she's "in love" with Christian despite being only in love with his body and her romanticisation of his past despite him being emotionally unavailable and sexually not fit for her. But nope, it's got to be him 

Christian Grey is just a sad man with trauma as excuse for being bad and one sided as a character

The only reason why I'm rating it 2 stars is that the ending gave Ana some sense and Christian Grey an ending that should have made him reflect

Update: This is better than what if it’s us. I actually had fun reading this although it’s quite stressful (Dec 22, 2024) 

2.25 stars ⭐️ 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
dark fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is the worst book I have ever read. Christian is a toxic manipulative person and Anastasia isn’t a good person either.

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abyish's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 14%

it was just horrible tbh 😭. it was badly written and i couldn’t get past chapter 5.. it was so cringe and i could get through the movies but the books are absolutely horrific.

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