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Graphic: Sexual content
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
The story follows Whit Lancaster and Summer Savage they meet a 14 at a party and Whit tells summer that her mum is sleeping with his father. We then skip a few years later we find out Summer hasn’t had a great time and after losing her step father and step brother she moves to the very private Lancaster Prep which is owned by Whits family. Whit decided to make summers life hell blaming her mother’s sins on her however no matter how badly he treats her or tells her he hates her he just can’t get enough of her.
I felt Whit was really problematic and most of what he does to Summer is awful, however I couldn’t help routing for them and hoping they got their happy ending.
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Grief
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Rape
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury
My Review: Things I Wanted to Say by Monica Murphy is book #1 in the Lancaster Prep series.
About the Book: "[a] dark and twisted bully romance full of secrets and lies..."
In My Own Words: Two damaged people fall hard, fall out, and ultimately fall in love.
Question: Is it possible for the depraved, the disconnected, the damaged, the discouraged or the disillusioned to find love?
About the Characters: The whole cast had issues. Were there any well intentioned people? Unselfish people? Innocent people?
Each character seemingly had a dark side, a dark challenge, and/or a dark ulterior motive.
About the Conflict: There were so many. They all propelled the story forward at a breakneck pace.
My Final Say: This is such a tragic story with heartbreak after heartbreak. It is not the kind of story that is warm and fluffy. It's not easy. It is dark. It is disturbing. It is even disgusting. It is a bully romance, to be sure, but it is also harder than that. With that said, the story of Whit and Summer's coming together is paved with ugliness and in a way a strange beauty.
As difficult as some of the events and choices in the story were, I am of the mindset that they were entirely (and sadly) realistic.
Even imperfect stories can birth necessary transformations.
Other: This has a lot of triggers. It gets a red light warning, without hesitation.
Victims, survivors, abusers, enablers, betrayers, MDKers, etc. are a part of this story.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: 💬
Audience: 💬
Status: 🚨
Level: M
Triggers: Yes
Series: Yes
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
#libraryfind
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Minor: Pedophilia
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Incest, Rape, Murder
Minor: Drug use