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cait's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wowowowow.
That's it. That's my review.
Okay. I have a little more.
This is a dark romance. It's entirely composed of triggers, so go into the story with that awareness.
The story begins when, after discovering her wallet's been stolen and with no one else to turn to, Cora calls her sister's douchey fiance, Dean, for a ride home from a bar late one night. They never make it. An unknown number of hours later, Cora and Dean wake up chained in a musty basement and facing horrors they could never imagine. They've been kidnapped by a serial killer known as The Matchmaker, who always takes his victims in pairs, manipulates them into falling in love with each other, and then kills them in front of each other.
Not, of course, that Cora or Dean realize this. They've never heard of The Matchmaker. No one has. But now, living in hellish torment, these two mortal enemies have only each other left to rely on.
This book was incredible. These characters were wonderful. I loved this so much more than I imagined I would!
Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Torture, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Medical trauma, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
etdavenport's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Kidnapping, Grief, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Sexual assault, Blood, Cursing, and Death
kc1234's review against another edition
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Torture, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Cursing, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
giuliaathenalombardo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
However, it also shows how if you surround yourself with supportive, kind and loving people, who have your best interest at heart, the feeling of loneliness can be alleviated and you can, with their help but also due to your own willpower, grow and develop as a person.
Although this was a rough read, I loved the dynamics between the characters and really enjoyed the writing and structure of the novel.
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Cursing, Death, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Miscarriage
mrsschreave's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Gun violence, Mental illness, Stalking, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Miscarriage, and Misogyny
maybhank's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I honestly went in for a quick steamy dark romance (which I got), but this book is more than that. It's about two people who were put in an unimaginable situation and had to learn to put pieces back together after surviving it.
It's really interesting because that was also the exact same expectation the author herself had when she started writing it. From her Author's Note she said, "I anticipated it being nothing more than an erotic novella. Then I gave it a little heart, then a little more, and all of a sudden, this beautifully tragic love story began to unfold."
She turns this story into more than just a taboo romance. I like that she acknowledges the relationship between Dean and Cora wasn't healthy. Everything was messy and everything is fucked up. It's not going to work unless something changes.
What I like the most though is that she didn't romanticize the abuse (when the killer forced them to be intimate.) The author made sure to show that the situation was fucked up and both parties were traumatized by it. The characters didn't fall in love with each other because of that. It was when they were alone in the basement and had to comfort each other with a song, shoes, 20 questions, a confession for a confession that they realized maybe they didn't really hate each other that much.
For some people Cora can be annoying, but to me it feels realistic for a person who just went through traumas like that. Dean as well. I'm happy about the decision he made closer to the end. And I like that Mandy isn't quick to forgive her sister. It makes the story feels more realistic.
I don't know what else to say except that I love this book and I love it even more when I know the author put her love and soul into it. Her husband create this book cover while their toddler running around and the hands are actually hers and her husband's. Something about all of these just make this book feels so special.
Also this book screams "TRIGGERED". It's about a woman and her soon-to-be brother-in-law getting kidnapped by a serial killer and forced to be intimated with each other. It's a lot. So beware before diving into it.
Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Cursing, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Bullying and Miscarriage
Bro, that's deep. I did not expect a taboo romance to be this emotional. And the meaning behind the book title? Ahhhhhhhhhhhh I honestly went in for a quick steamy dark romance (which I got), but this book is more than that. It's about two people who were put in an unimaginable situation and had to learn to put pieces back together after surviving it. It's really interesting because that was also the exact same expectation the author herself had when she started writing it. From her Author's Note she said, "I anticipated it being nothing more than an erotic novella. Then I gave it a little heart, then a little more, and all of a sudden, this beautifully tragic love story began to unfold." She turns this story into more than just a taboo romance. I like that she acknowledges the relationship between Dean and Cora wasn't healthy. Everything was messy and everything is fucked up. It's not going to work unless something changes. What I like the most though is that she didn't romanticize the abuse (when the killer forced them to be intimate.) The author made sure to show that the situation was fucked up and both parties were traumatized by it. The characters didn't fall in love with each other because of that. It was when they were alone in the basement and had to comfort each other with a song, shoes, 20 questions, a confession for a confession that they realized maybe they didn't really hate each other that much. For some people Cora can be annoying, but to me it feels realistic for a person who just went through traumas like that. Dean as well. I'm happy about the decision he made closer to the end. And I like that Mandy isn't quick to forgive her sister. It makes the story feels more realistic. I don't know what else to say except that I love this book and I love it even more when I know the author put her love and soul into it. Her husband create this book cover while their toddler running around and the hands are actually hers and her husband's. Something about all of these just make this book feels so special. Also this book screams "TRIGGERED". It's about a woman and her soon-to-be brother-in-law getting kidnapped by a serial killer and forced to be intimated with each other. It's a lot. So beware before diving into it.