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shelikesbig_books2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Physical abuse, Torture, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Grief, Gun violence, Death, Miscarriage, and Self harm
Minor: Infidelity and Dementia
sunraven's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is so hard to explain considering the subject matter, but the author really helps you understand why both the main characters go through the wringer the way they do.
This really ripped my heart out, but reading it was worth it.
This really ripped my heart out, but reading it was worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Torture
homebodynate's review against another edition
female lead got on my nerves
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage
kimkybooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Iโm trying to gather my thoughts and feelings on this.. and put them into words.
โ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐, ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ง๐๐, ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ โ ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ. ๐๐โ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ. ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ญ, ๐โ๐ฏ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐.โ
This was like one big trip down PTSD lane and it was beautiful yet heart wrenching.
Cora and her brother in law, who she despises are being held captive by a serial killer.
They try to survive for 3 weeks in horrible circumstances and become each others lifeline.
โ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐โ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง..โ
While reading this book you get a little glimpse of how people try to survive after trauma. When you are still mentally chained and unable to get free. When you are trying to float but feel life is pulling you under and youโre drowning. Every day. The romance isnโt easy, nothing about this story is. Itโs complicated, raw and messy.
I wouldnโt say this is a dark romance perse but this is definitely trigger heavy, especially in the trauma department. Some potential triggers: ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐, ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐จ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ช๐ก๐ฉ, ๐จ๐ช๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ช๐จ๐, ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐๐ฉ๐จ, ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐จ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ช๐จ๐, ๐ซ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฟ.
The reason why I rated it 4,5 stars is that I might have preferred it to be a non-HEA..
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Alcoholism
monica_85's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage
hannahbeanies's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Miscarriage, and Grief
juliemittan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.0
Part of me wishes I DNFโd this about 25% in. Super messed up/graphic startโฆ middle just ok for meโฆ end was best part of the book and made it so I wasnโt as mad that I stuck to finishing the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Murder, Kidnapping, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide attempt
vsanson97's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
holy. fucking. shit.
i knew going into this that it was going to be a very heavy, intense book but even though i read dark romances no problem i did have to stop a couple times and just sit there and process.
if you decide to read this book PLEASE DEAR LORD read the trigger warnings, iโll list them below.
****MAY BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS*****
trigger warnings:
โ Rape
โ Abduction
โ Physical Abuse
โ Thoughts of Suicide
โ Victim Blaming (i donโt know if this counts as a trigger, but iโm sure that it would bother a lot of people who have the previous triggers stated)
this book is more than just the trigger warnings though, and while it has romance the underlying message is so much more than that.
the characters went through A LOT just with their trauma and then we see the after effects on how they chose to navigate through the trauma and how they learned to grow through it as well.
this book did have the โsisters exโ trope, which normally i steer clear from, but i feel like with this book specifically it didnโt bother me as much - especially finding out more things about melody as the book progressed.
i found the epilogue to be very sweet, i feel like it was what was needed after such an intense book and wrapped up Dean and Cora perfectly.
i knew going into this that it was going to be a very heavy, intense book but even though i read dark romances no problem i did have to stop a couple times and just sit there and process.
if you decide to read this book PLEASE DEAR LORD read the trigger warnings, iโll list them below.
****MAY BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS*****
trigger warnings:
โ Rape
โ Abduction
โ Physical Abuse
โ Thoughts of Suicide
โ Victim Blaming (i donโt know if this counts as a trigger, but iโm sure that it would bother a lot of people who have the previous triggers stated)
this book is more than just the trigger warnings though, and while it has romance the underlying message is so much more than that.
the characters went through A LOT just with their trauma and then we see the after effects on how they chose to navigate through the trauma and how they learned to grow through it as well.
this book did have the โsisters exโ trope, which normally i steer clear from, but i feel like with this book specifically it didnโt bother me as much - especially finding out more things about melody as the book progressed.
i found the epilogue to be very sweet, i feel like it was what was needed after such an intense book and wrapped up Dean and Cora perfectly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Violence, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Miscarriage
jocee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Torture, Sexual assault, Rape, and Miscarriage
dontbechey20's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
This book absolutely DESTROYED me in every way possible...and has become one of my favorite books because of it. I initially tried so hard to not like this book. Seriously! I was fighting it. It's beyond messed up to fall for your sister's fiance after he is forced to do unspeakable things to you after being kidnapped together...right?! WRONG! Jennifer did such an impeccable job unraveling the story of Dean and Cora, both as enemies and lovers.
One of my favorite things about this book is how raw and real it is. It's not an insta-love story that works out perfectly. It has glaringly obvious and frustrating bumps along the way, which makes the love between Dean and Cora feel so real and authentic. As a reader, I was THROWN every which way with my emotions. I spent the entirety of this book crying, laughing, swooning, and yelling from pure and utter frustration.
Authors can very quickly and easily fall into a "pit" of trauma and pain. Writing a story stemming from pain, dispair, and trauma can be easy. Jennifer seamlessly joined two timelines together to tell the love (and hate) story between Dean and Cora. She somehow brings awareness to dark, heavy, and deep topics, while simultaneously keeping the book hopeful and hauntingly beautiful. I was honestly worried the entire book was going to be focused on the abduction, so as I got through the first chapters that were utterly disgusting (in the best way possible), I was worried Jennifer was only going to hone in on the ugly. To my surprise, she pivoted the story rather quickly to focus on the part of the story a lot of people avoid - the recovery. That is why this book is so powerful.
This book is not meant for everyone, but if you can find the mental space and capacity to read it, please do. You will not regret it. It will leave you aching, crying, and in love with both characters individually and together. Also, this book is NOT focused on the spice. Expect spice (don't worry, it gets better), but that is not the focus of this story.
Quote from the book: "I know I said youโre holding me underwater but youโre the only thing keeping me afloat." I CAN'T!! How can you read that and not fall in love?!
BRB, going to see if I can find a matching necklace, because I need to torture myself every single day with a reminder of a chef kiss of a book boyfriend.
One of my favorite things about this book is how raw and real it is. It's not an insta-love story that works out perfectly. It has glaringly obvious and frustrating bumps along the way, which makes the love between Dean and Cora feel so real and authentic. As a reader, I was THROWN every which way with my emotions. I spent the entirety of this book crying, laughing, swooning, and yelling from pure and utter frustration.
Authors can very quickly and easily fall into a "pit" of trauma and pain. Writing a story stemming from pain, dispair, and trauma can be easy. Jennifer seamlessly joined two timelines together to tell the love (and hate) story between Dean and Cora. She somehow brings awareness to dark, heavy, and deep topics, while simultaneously keeping the book hopeful and hauntingly beautiful. I was honestly worried the entire book was going to be focused on the abduction, so as I got through the first chapters that were utterly disgusting (in the best way possible), I was worried Jennifer was only going to hone in on the ugly. To my surprise, she pivoted the story rather quickly to focus on the part of the story a lot of people avoid - the recovery. That is why this book is so powerful.
This book is not meant for everyone, but if you can find the mental space and capacity to read it, please do. You will not regret it. It will leave you aching, crying, and in love with both characters individually and together. Also, this book is NOT focused on the spice. Expect spice (don't worry, it gets better), but that is not the focus of this story.
Quote from the book: "I know I said youโre holding me underwater but youโre the only thing keeping me afloat." I CAN'T!! How can you read that and not fall in love?!
BRB, going to see if I can find a matching necklace, because I need to torture myself every single day with a reminder of a chef kiss of a book boyfriend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Sexual content, Rape, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Self harm, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol