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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
*ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
At first I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book. I had absolutely loved the first book but am not often a fan of series that centre around different characters, especially ones you have never met before. However, after downloading the prequel novella i fell in love with Dovey and Cuba and just couldn't resist finding out more about there story. Also we got more glimpses of the lovely Sebastian :)
Cuba is the most popular guy in school but no one knows the pain he holds inside, all they see is the Rich, Popular, Gifted football player. In Very Wicked Beginnings we see how Cuba and Dovey first meet and we get a glimpse of Cuba's hidden past. In Very Wicked Things the focus is more on Dovey. We find out about her hidden past and how that has shaped her into the person she is today.
Set a year after Very Wicked Beginnings ends a lot has happened in that gap and you get the odd flashback that explains things as the story progresses. I really enjoyed this element as well as the switching of viewpoint between Cuba and Dovey.
The story is action packed with not just their relationship or lack thereof and interactions, but with danger, secrets. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait for the next book in the series when Sebastian gets a turn :D
At first I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book. I had absolutely loved the first book but am not often a fan of series that centre around different characters, especially ones you have never met before. However, after downloading the prequel novella i fell in love with Dovey and Cuba and just couldn't resist finding out more about there story. Also we got more glimpses of the lovely Sebastian :)
Cuba is the most popular guy in school but no one knows the pain he holds inside, all they see is the Rich, Popular, Gifted football player. In Very Wicked Beginnings we see how Cuba and Dovey first meet and we get a glimpse of Cuba's hidden past. In Very Wicked Things the focus is more on Dovey. We find out about her hidden past and how that has shaped her into the person she is today.
Set a year after Very Wicked Beginnings ends a lot has happened in that gap and you get the odd flashback that explains things as the story progresses. I really enjoyed this element as well as the switching of viewpoint between Cuba and Dovey.
The story is action packed with not just their relationship or lack thereof and interactions, but with danger, secrets. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait for the next book in the series when Sebastian gets a turn :D
fast-paced
I liked this story better than book one. Although this one still felt fast and disjointed at times. I didn’t think I would get into Cubas story because in book one I found him to be a meh side character, but I liked it.
My shelves say it all. I would've written more but this book doesn't deserve the effort. This just isn't for me.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
I was nervous to dive into this because I love Leo and Nora’s story so much- would this series suffer with sequelitis? I should never have doubted- Ilsa has proven herself an expert
Our heroine Dovey is a devoted dancer- willing to do whatever it takes to succeed despite some of the limitations she feels because of her social status. Like so many Ilsa heroines that I adore, she’s had to adjust to adult responsibilities and situations and make sacrifices long before she was really an adult while also maintaining that youthful hope. She’s resilient and kind- and her story tugs at your heartstrings but you admire her strength and compassion. And outside of these challenges, she has to make hard decisions to protect her life and loved ones in ways that some may not understand.
I love Ilsa’s books because while you have your typical new adult/steamy romance, you often have a story of redemption, catharsis, and rebirth for heroines that have suffered- who are finding their strength and trying to regain control over their own narratives, alongside the love not only because of it. Dovey is no exception- and like many other Ilsa heroines before, I’m drawn to the nuances of her character journey and she struggles.
Cuba “Hollwood” Hudson is your classic star athlete on the surface- popular, talente rich. But, like so many, underneath the surface he has burdens of his past weighing upon him. It took me a while to warm up to him- I knew he had a big heart, but he camouflaged his pain and guilt in arrogance and bad choices, including treating Dovey badly, even when his heart beats for her. At points I wasn't sure I could forgive his actions, but Ilsa keeps the pace moving and helps us dive more and more into the ways in which the horrible life experiences of our characters are shaping their actions. Reading some of what happens to them was not only emotional but at times hard to read, but their connection and the hope I had for them inspired me to read beyond the painful moments to find the moments of light.
Ilsa really let us get up inside their hearts and see who these characters are- which made me feel so connected to them, especially Dovey. She is so talented at taking us on character journeys that are emotional and about understanding accepting oneself because of your pain and experience, not in spite of it. And, about how until you confront those aspects, it is hard to love yourself or others. All while delivering an engaging, twisty, well paced plot and sizzling romantic connection. I enjoyed this emotional story.
Our heroine Dovey is a devoted dancer- willing to do whatever it takes to succeed despite some of the limitations she feels because of her social status. Like so many Ilsa heroines that I adore, she’s had to adjust to adult responsibilities and situations and make sacrifices long before she was really an adult while also maintaining that youthful hope. She’s resilient and kind- and her story tugs at your heartstrings but you admire her strength and compassion. And outside of these challenges, she has to make hard decisions to protect her life and loved ones in ways that some may not understand.
I love Ilsa’s books because while you have your typical new adult/steamy romance, you often have a story of redemption, catharsis, and rebirth for heroines that have suffered- who are finding their strength and trying to regain control over their own narratives, alongside the love not only because of it. Dovey is no exception- and like many other Ilsa heroines before, I’m drawn to the nuances of her character journey and she struggles.
Cuba “Hollwood” Hudson is your classic star athlete on the surface- popular, talente rich. But, like so many, underneath the surface he has burdens of his past weighing upon him. It took me a while to warm up to him- I knew he had a big heart, but he camouflaged his pain and guilt in arrogance and bad choices, including treating Dovey badly, even when his heart beats for her. At points I wasn't sure I could forgive his actions, but Ilsa keeps the pace moving and helps us dive more and more into the ways in which the horrible life experiences of our characters are shaping their actions. Reading some of what happens to them was not only emotional but at times hard to read, but their connection and the hope I had for them inspired me to read beyond the painful moments to find the moments of light.
Ilsa really let us get up inside their hearts and see who these characters are- which made me feel so connected to them, especially Dovey. She is so talented at taking us on character journeys that are emotional and about understanding accepting oneself because of your pain and experience, not in spite of it. And, about how until you confront those aspects, it is hard to love yourself or others. All while delivering an engaging, twisty, well paced plot and sizzling romantic connection. I enjoyed this emotional story.
This was fine.
I found it quite difficult to read just because its quite depressing actually.
100% only go into this book if you're having a good week and can take the mood hit. Not sure the middle of a lockdown is the best time for me to read this!
I found it quite difficult to read just because its quite depressing actually.
100% only go into this book if you're having a good week and can take the mood hit. Not sure the middle of a lockdown is the best time for me to read this!
When we met Cuba in Very Bad Things he was the stuff that mothers warned their daughters about. Player. Heartbreaker. Manwhore. It’s not that Cuba is a bad guy, actually that is far from it. He never offers anything more than a good time. But even knowing who he is, Cuba still manages to leave broken heart-ed girls in his wake. One of those girls happens to be Dovey.
Dovey is the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Studying at the infamous Briarcrest Academy on a scholarship, Dovey is determined to become something more than what society and her fellow classmates think she is. With hopes that after graduation she can find a job doing her true life’s passion, dancing as a ballerina, Dovey won’t let anything stand in her way. That is until the circumstances of her past come back to haunt her. With all of this going on Dovey is still left reeling from the pain inflicted by Cuba. But he just might be the one help her.
Without giving too much away, Very Wicked Things is a book full of angst, heartache, love and redemption. Cuba and Dovey despite the roles they portray to protect their hearts, are truly two of the most heartbreaking characters I have read about. Human to a fault, the lengths they go to spare themselves and each other pain is maddening and yet I understood exactly why they did it. Very few people see Cuba behind his armor, and Dovey behind her pride. The feelings, connection and circumstance surrounding their past and their present create a story so full of emotion and hope that will keep you hooked to the pages and invested in Cuba and Dovey.
Very Wicked Things is everything that New Adult should be.
4.5 stars*
Dovey is the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Studying at the infamous Briarcrest Academy on a scholarship, Dovey is determined to become something more than what society and her fellow classmates think she is. With hopes that after graduation she can find a job doing her true life’s passion, dancing as a ballerina, Dovey won’t let anything stand in her way. That is until the circumstances of her past come back to haunt her. With all of this going on Dovey is still left reeling from the pain inflicted by Cuba. But he just might be the one help her.
Without giving too much away, Very Wicked Things is a book full of angst, heartache, love and redemption. Cuba and Dovey despite the roles they portray to protect their hearts, are truly two of the most heartbreaking characters I have read about. Human to a fault, the lengths they go to spare themselves and each other pain is maddening and yet I understood exactly why they did it. Very few people see Cuba behind his armor, and Dovey behind her pride. The feelings, connection and circumstance surrounding their past and their present create a story so full of emotion and hope that will keep you hooked to the pages and invested in Cuba and Dovey.
Very Wicked Things is everything that New Adult should be.
4.5 stars*
3.5
I really liked this book. I thought this story was really interesting and just original enough to make it even more intriguing.
This was Cuba's story. About a year before the story takes place, he dated Dovey and fell in love with her but pushed her away, because he was being a martyr and thought she'd be better off without him. He spent the next year living in a fog without her. At the end of that year is where the story picks up and we see that Dovey and Cuba still have a strong connection, but it is heavily muddled with hurt and confused feelings. Dovey is a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, hoping to improve her life and get out of her situation through ballet. She's got perseverance in spades and she utilizes that when her guardian (the only person who has ever loved her) gets into a pickle with the mob. Dovey makes choices she has to learn to live with, ones that push her maturity well past her age, all while dealing with typical teenage/high-school things. Through it all, Dovey and Cuba find ways to infuriate and compel one another (usually in equal measure). By the end of the novel, they each have to decide if a relationship with the other person is worth all the hurt they'll have to overcome to be happy.
This book was definitely high on drama, but that is part of what made it a quicker, more interesting read. I honestly didn't love any of the characters except Sebastian (who also was featured a lot in the first novel). However, I came to understand the characters' decision and that is all I can really ask for from an author. I felt like I knew them and lives.
At the end of the book, Ilsa Madden-Mills asks if readers would rather read a story about Spider (Dovey's friend that fell in love with her) or Sebastian. I was not happy with that question because it probably means that no real book is in the works, so it's probably going to be a while until the next one. And I like the author's writing style enough that I would read the next one, though I'm not particular to Spider and whether he finds happiness, and while I like Sebastian, I am not sure that the future that was set up for him in this book is my favorite (it certainly doesn't make me want to grab Sebastian's story, anyways). So I guess I will see what the next book will be and check it out from there.
I really liked this book. I thought this story was really interesting and just original enough to make it even more intriguing.
This was Cuba's story. About a year before the story takes place, he dated Dovey and fell in love with her but pushed her away, because he was being a martyr and thought she'd be better off without him. He spent the next year living in a fog without her. At the end of that year is where the story picks up and we see that Dovey and Cuba still have a strong connection, but it is heavily muddled with hurt and confused feelings. Dovey is a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, hoping to improve her life and get out of her situation through ballet. She's got perseverance in spades and she utilizes that when her guardian (the only person who has ever loved her) gets into a pickle with the mob. Dovey makes choices she has to learn to live with, ones that push her maturity well past her age, all while dealing with typical teenage/high-school things. Through it all, Dovey and Cuba find ways to infuriate and compel one another (usually in equal measure). By the end of the novel, they each have to decide if a relationship with the other person is worth all the hurt they'll have to overcome to be happy.
This book was definitely high on drama, but that is part of what made it a quicker, more interesting read. I honestly didn't love any of the characters except Sebastian (who also was featured a lot in the first novel). However, I came to understand the characters' decision and that is all I can really ask for from an author. I felt like I knew them and lives.
At the end of the book, Ilsa Madden-Mills asks if readers would rather read a story about Spider (Dovey's friend that fell in love with her) or Sebastian. I was not happy with that question because it probably means that no real book is in the works, so it's probably going to be a while until the next one. And I like the author's writing style enough that I would read the next one, though I'm not particular to Spider and whether he finds happiness, and while I like Sebastian, I am not sure that the future that was set up for him in this book is my favorite (it certainly doesn't make me want to grab Sebastian's story, anyways). So I guess I will see what the next book will be and check it out from there.
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Me encantó!! Cuando leí el anterior quería saber que pasaba con ellos 2 y aunque la mayoría del tiempo estaban enojados amé como se fue dando la historia y como llegaron hasta el final. Sufrí con la mayoría del libro pero me gustan las historias que te hacen sentir varias cosas.
Ahora a leer los otros y saber qué pasa con Sebastian y Spider :)
Ahora a leer los otros y saber qué pasa con Sebastian y Spider :)