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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
This book is mostly about the manipulation of the main character to get raped non-stop. There is no character arc for her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Five Flirty, filthy, and Fabulous Stars
I haven't read a Jade West Book; I didn’t love. Kudos to the author for always thinking outside the box. Love and lust are complicated. She writes perfectly flawed characters that will knock your socks off. It is pretty refreshing to have such a unique story.
My review will be very vague. You will not even get a synopsis from me. Here is my suggestion, go in blind and keep an open mind. I think you will enjoy the book on a different level; if you do, I still recommend reading the trigger warnings. This book is not for everyone, and that is okay.
Strangers In My Bed is an intense read that is gloriously filthy (I am waving my freak flag high and proud). It's full of twists and turns that is psychologically thrilling. It is also full of lies and manipulations. All is not what it seems.
Jade West is my one-click author. I would love to know how her brain works. She paints such a vivid and steamy picture. I have said it before, and I will repeat it. The author is the Queen of kink. Mic drop. This book will blow your mind—one of my top reads.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
Jesus Christ this book needed actual trigger warnings instead of just “dark themes”. I saw his coercive controlling behaviour from a mile away and I found myself becoming genuinely scared for the the FMC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse
This book literally blew my mind! Initially I thought it was a dark, erotic story, realized it’s not really a romance, then later started suspecting a suspense story. Since I don’t want to spoil it for readers, suffice to say that the first 45% of the book is dark and disturbing, then it changes to intriguing and hopeful, and ends in an HEA.
I wasn’t convinced by Ant’s attractiveness, always saw him as sleazy and controlling, I saw Cass as a woman so starved for love that she believed what she wanted for the sake of love. She was hurting from being dumped by her boyfriend, so she was easy pickings. Then when Gerwyn appears, I sighed in relief, because he’s such a decent person, warm and caring, and a real crusader.
The first part of the book I found disgusting because of the degradation involved, then the second part I was riveted and enthralled, waiting for how it would sort out. This is not a normal romance, but more like a mind blowing story. I didn’t end up happy and sighing like when you read a yummy romance, more like relieved.
I wasn’t convinced by Ant’s attractiveness, always saw him as sleazy and controlling, I saw Cass as a woman so starved for love that she believed what she wanted for the sake of love. She was hurting from being dumped by her boyfriend, so she was easy pickings. Then when Gerwyn appears, I sighed in relief, because he’s such a decent person, warm and caring, and a real crusader.
The first part of the book I found disgusting because of the degradation involved, then the second part I was riveted and enthralled, waiting for how it would sort out. This is not a normal romance, but more like a mind blowing story. I didn’t end up happy and sighing like when you read a yummy romance, more like relieved.
challenging
dark
emotional
Loveable characters:
No
Massive triggers abusive coercive control.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well that was something else...no really that was definitely not a story with a relatively straight line romance. I will be honest I was not going to continue with the book after about the 20% mark because by that point I realized the MMC1 was not going to be redeemable in my mind and I was not sure I wanted to invest myself in what I thought would be reader heartbreak...soooo like a bad reader I went and read some other review and spoilers, which I highly recommend doing if you are on the fence about reading this book because it gave me enough insight to understand what the point of the 1st part of the story relationships were and that they had a bigger purpose down the road. This was a well written story. I think it can be incredibly triggering for a lot of people who either have been in relationships like this or have seen it first hand. This book made me uncomfortable, angry, sad, frustrated, disgusted and also hopeful. While there were some places that either seemed a little too drawn out and some others a bit rushed this felt like a very real situation that almost anyone could find themselves in whether romantic or friendship. The story was engrossing kind of like watching a car accident hoping for a miracle happy ending. Which there is a happy ending just not in the way you would imagine from the majority of this book. While not exactly what I would call a "feel good" story this really had me by the balls to see how the cookie would crumble and made me feel some kinda ways. I loved it but also hated it a little and to me that is a recipe for a great story. This will not be everyone's cup of coffee (inside book joke) but I will certainly remember this book over many other lighter impact books I have read this year.