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meeklovestoread's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I hate to say it but I'm not going to be continuing this series. I'm done. I really wanted to like it, but this book has turned me off from the entire series. My gosh, this book!π This book ruined Rose and Connor for me. I think I enjoyed it when they were just casually flirting and teasing one another.
As for the rest of the characters:
Daisy - I worry for her so much. It seems like she never had a childhood and in turn, I think that's also one of the main reasons for her unhappiness. And it doesn't help that she's constantly hanging out with her sisters friends who are 21+ while she's freshly 17 (in this book) as well as all her modeling friends.
Ryke- I don't care how much this book tries to spin Ryke as a "protector" of Daisy he's still a ephebophile (I wanted to get the term right because I know these books have a wide fanbase). Now although I know this is a piece of fiction and there are probably many viewers that are willing to look pass the age difference for the sake of their own entertainment. Good for them, I guess, but I am not one of those viewers. There are just certain things that I can't brush aside just because it's fiction. I just can't root for an adult-minor relationship, fiction or not. (also Ryke's a prick at times and is so unlikeable) And I know the next book is about them. Another reason why I won't be continuing the series.
Loren - probably the most tolerable character out of this book (however I don't appreciate what he did to Rose when he knocked down all her childhood fashion drawings on the ground in an angry rage and I also just don't like how he pokes fun at Rose's virginity because it's quite frankly none of his business)
Lily - I do really like Lily, but I feel like this book dubbed her down and turned her into a whiny, sensitive crybaby who always needs someone to comfort her; like she was always attached to Loren and never really voiced her opinion that much. This applies to most of the characters, but this appeals especially to Lily I feel like we never get to know Lily as a character. She doesn't have much personality aside from her addiction. I just wished in the first three books they would've flushed out their characters more.
In this book, althought for the most part I really did like Rose I found that her character regressed in here. For such a supposed smart girl she would make some idiotic decisions like not having a lawyer look over their contracts and excusing that behavior on the fact that she didn't want to look weak in front of Scott and took some law classes at Princeton; like girl, if it was that easy to decipher a legal contract like that then many people that took "a few" law classes could be lawyers, but they can't so what made her think she was above the rest?π€¦ββοΈOr about Connor's cat. It kept harassing her and all the other girls and when they sell her they buy her back. Make that make sense. . And one common tactic that I can't stand is when author will go out of their way to portray a girl as smart then her actions don't match her intelligence. And this book made me dislike and be more repulsed by Connor than I was in the first book.
Like for example, the first time Connor and Rose actually have sex is anything but romantic. . First of all the first time they have sex comes out of nowhere, very random. And their whole sexual encounter made me feel so uneasy. Throughout the book, it is widely known by the group that Rose has major intimacy issues. Literally, they mentioned that although Connor and Rose have been dating for over year Rose was still hesitant in letting Connor simply touch her (like holding hands, hugging, simple touches, etc). So when they finally do have sex, Connor goes all BDSM on her and starts tying her up with his belt, making her wear a dog collar, and goes full dominatrix on her. And what I found even more jarring was that when she would protest he would never take what she says into consideration unless she was saying "more" or praising him. Reading that was so disturbing.
However, I want to clarify that I have nothing against BDSM practices (there's nothing wrong with the fact that Connor is obviously a "dom" and Rose is a "sub") as long as all the parties are consenting and that all parties sentiments, worries, and concerns are taken into consideration. That, in my opinion, wasn't what was happening between Rose and Connor. I felt like whenever Rose was trying to gain control, Connor would dismiss her and "put her in their place" not allowing her to have a voice in their sex practice unless she was agreeing with him. Passages such as C- " ' I'll be the judge of when you're ready,"....." ' That's debatable, and competitive. Two qualities that make you a terrible judge." R- " ' I can do it myself." ' For context, this happened after they had sex so many times that he exhausted her body and Rose was sore all over. After he insists on going again instead of making sure she's okay. I respect Rose and her choice. She's a big girl if she wants sex then she can have it, but I'm just disgusted by how Connor handled her first time. What type of guy pulls out a dog collar, ties a girl up, and performs rough sex to a girl when it's her first time experiencing fornication?
Also, what also unnerves me is that I felt like Connor was pushing Rose to have sex instead of waiting until she made up her own mind about it. Instead of working and talking about her problems with intimacy and working out how to solve that, he just kept gradually pressuring her to have sex with him by manipulating her innate sexual impulses. I found the whole ordeal to be distasteful. And the whole dilemma with Connor not being able to love Rose (or anyone for that matter) in my opinion was a viable plotline and was a trait synonymous to Connor's personality. However, I think the execution was handled poorly. Why would Rose (a smart, confident, and pragmatic) settle for someone who explicitly stated that he could not love her? I couldn't count the number of times I kept shaking my head at her. And apparently, in the future books she ends up giving everything up for him and having children when she's stated multiple times that she doesn't want any, what a character assassination. I already feel like the power imbalance between Connor and Rose (Connor's always portrayed to be one over Rose every time) and now you're telling me she gave up her livelihood for him. Ridiculous!
Overall, I didn't hate this book. I thought it was okay. I was entertained, but that's all I'm willing to endure. It took all my strength to finish it. I find that there's not much depth when it comes to the characters. The books are like 70% smut or talk about sex (and while I understand Lily is a sex addict and they're all sexually active adults that doesn't mean the books have to lack character development, backstory, and complex characters). And I'm honestly just not a fan of the writing and quite frankly don't care about the character to continue.
As for the rest of the characters:
Daisy - I worry for her so much. It seems like she never had a childhood and in turn, I think that's also one of the main reasons for her unhappiness. And it doesn't help that she's constantly hanging out with her sisters friends who are 21+ while she's freshly 17 (in this book) as well as all her modeling friends.
Ryke- I don't care how much this book tries to spin Ryke as a "protector" of Daisy he's still a ephebophile (I wanted to get the term right because I know these books have a wide fanbase). Now although I know this is a piece of fiction and there are probably many viewers that are willing to look pass the age difference for the sake of their own entertainment. Good for them, I guess, but I am not one of those viewers. There are just certain things that I can't brush aside just because it's fiction. I just can't root for an adult-minor relationship, fiction or not. (also Ryke's a prick at times and is so unlikeable) And I know the next book is about them. Another reason why I won't be continuing the series.
Loren - probably the most tolerable character out of this book (however I don't appreciate what he did to Rose when
Lily - I do really like Lily, but I feel like this book dubbed her down and turned her into a whiny, sensitive crybaby who always needs someone to comfort her; like she was always attached to Loren and never really voiced her opinion that much. This applies to most of the characters, but this appeals especially to Lily I feel like we never get to know Lily as a character. She doesn't have much personality aside from her addiction. I just wished in the first three books they would've flushed out their characters more.
In this book, althought for the most part I really did like Rose I found that her character regressed in here. For such a supposed smart girl she would make some idiotic decisions
Like for example, the first time Connor and Rose actually have sex is anything but romantic.
However, I want to clarify that I have nothing against BDSM practices (there's nothing wrong with the fact that Connor is obviously a "dom" and Rose is a "sub") as long as all the parties are consenting and that all parties sentiments, worries, and concerns are taken into consideration. That, in my opinion, wasn't what was happening between Rose and Connor. I felt like whenever Rose was trying to gain control, Connor would dismiss her and "put her in their place" not allowing her to have a voice in their sex practice unless she was agreeing with him. Passages such as C- " ' I'll be the judge of when you're ready,"....." ' That's debatable, and competitive. Two qualities that make you a terrible judge." R- " ' I can do it myself." ' For context, this happened after they had sex so many times that he exhausted her body and Rose was sore all over. After he insists on going again instead of making sure she's okay. I respect Rose and her choice. She's a big girl if she wants sex then she can have it, but I'm just disgusted by how Connor handled her first time. What type of guy pulls out a dog collar, ties a girl up, and performs rough sex to a girl when it's her first time experiencing fornication?
Also, what also unnerves me is that I felt like Connor was pushing Rose to have sex instead of waiting until she made up her own mind about it. Instead of working and talking about her problems with intimacy and working out how to solve that, he just kept gradually pressuring her to have sex with him by manipulating her innate sexual impulses. I found the whole ordeal to be distasteful.
Overall, I didn't hate this book. I thought it was okay. I was entertained, but that's all I'm willing to endure. It took all my strength to finish it. I find that there's not much depth when it comes to the characters. The books are like 70% smut or talk about sex (and while I understand Lily is a sex addict and they're all sexually active adults that doesn't mean the books have to lack character development, backstory, and complex characters). And I'm honestly just not a fan of the writing and quite frankly don't care about the character to continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Pedophilia, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Sexual harassment
chris_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Classism, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Misogyny
Moderate: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Minor: Terminal illness
_malia_pt's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Mental illness
Minor: Cancer
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