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melissaslibraryy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
DEAR GOD i think I finally found my first 6 star book đâŒïž Iâm completely obsessed with Lyla and Lochloneâs story. I was hooked from beginning to end and best believe I balled my eyes out when we figure out her backstory about why sheâs so closed off with people and doesnât get too attached to anyone other than her best friends. Iâm so glad that she was able to get her justice and that the fucker who ruined her and other peoples lives is gone for good. My thoughts are everywhere atm so writing them out is gonna take too long lol but this is a book I will forever recommend to people and make sure to check tw !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Pregnancy
whiskers_and_lipstick's review
dark
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
1.0
The story moved at a snailâs pace without any apparent reason. Each scene in both the past and present timelines became redundant and predictable.
Both MCs were unlikable and neither really demonstrated growth until perhaps the epilogue (at which point I was already desperate for it to be done). Their instant love story didnât feel believable. Yes, their chemistry was instantaneous, but they donât actually get to know each other and their time together is so short that it doesnât make sense they would still be holding a candle for the other 3 years later.
No one connected to Lyla was likeable either - definitely not anyone Iâd want in a friend group. For all the people (powerful rich people) who knew Lylaâs secret and how dangerous it is, none use their power to help her in a meaningful way or to take care of/prepare Lachlan for the risk they were taking and the danger she (they) put him in by lying about everything.
The villain doesnât really appear to have any motive; their actions seem to be more â⊠because I canâŠâ or âthatâs just how I am.â And for all the talk about the villainâs connections and how theyâre able to skirt above the law, the resolution of conflict doesnât seem to address whether the villainâs influence has ended and if their protectors and coconspirators will face consequences.
Both MCs were unlikable and neither really demonstrated growth until perhaps the epilogue (at which point I was already desperate for it to be done). Their instant love story didnât feel believable. Yes, their chemistry was instantaneous, but they donât actually get to know each other and their time together is so short that it doesnât make sense they would still be holding a candle for the other 3 years later.
No one connected to Lyla was likeable either - definitely not anyone Iâd want in a friend group. For all the people (powerful rich people) who knew Lylaâs secret and how dangerous it is, none use their power to help her in a meaningful way or to take care of/prepare Lachlan for the risk they were taking and the danger she (they) put him in by lying about everything.
The villain doesnât really appear to have any motive; their actions seem to be more â⊠because I canâŠâ or âthatâs just how I am.â And for all the talk about the villainâs connections and how theyâre able to skirt above the law, the resolution of conflict doesnât seem to address whether the villainâs influence has ended and if their protectors and coconspirators will face consequences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse
shaykay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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
4.75
Reread 2024
It's one of those books that's hard to explain and is a good one to go in as blind as possible. However, it is a dark book; you must look up the trigger warnings before picking it up. So, in the first half, we are in a college setting. We're seeing the two main characters meet, but it's the end of their college careers. Lachlan is getting ready to go pro and is an open book, but Lyla has a lot of secrets and is very guarded. But we see these two meet and fall for one another. But then we do a time skip, and suddenly, it's about four years later, and Lachlan has achieved all of his goals and is working on finding Lyla. We learn all of her secrets during this reunion, and the book gets dark. The book is mysterious and tense, but we don't learn just how bad it is until, towards the end, the truth starts coming out. I wish there were more books in this world.
Initial Read
I need to read more Clare Conteras books! This one was amazing, and it's one of those books you feel wrong about loving so much because it's super dark. So I picked it up right after Conteras was announced to be at Sweetgrass next year because it's been on my radar since it got some traction on TikTok. Still, it was just sitting on my KU TBR. I'm so glad that pushed me to pick it up. It's hard to explain this one because it spans over a few years, and it's split into two parts. So, in the first part, we are with Lyla and Lachlan while they are in the last semester of college. He's a pretty big hockey player for the school and has plans to go pro.
Meanwhile, we know quickly that something is going on with Lyla, but we need to know what. It's initially played off like she's just a big homebody, but we soon learn what's happening with her. But these two hit it off really fast, and we see it go from 0-60 super-fast between them. It was so much fun, but things with Lyla hit a whole new level, which caused her to run away and start over. She literally vanishes, which starts part two. We see her in this new life she's created, and she's flourishing but living at the same time, she's been keeping everyone an arm's length away.
Meanwhile, Lachlan went pro and has been living out his ice hockey dreams. But he never forgot about her, and she was always the one that got away. Eventually, he finds her, and we see the whole truth emerge. It is insane just how much she's gone through over the years. By the end of the book, we do get a HEA because this is standalone, but we tie up everything to the point where she finally gets to live a happy, carefree life with him, and it's just amazing. This is another one I need to reread. I bought the physical copy to take and get signed, and it would be fun to annotate it since I have the physical copy now.
It's one of those books that's hard to explain and is a good one to go in as blind as possible. However, it is a dark book; you must look up the trigger warnings before picking it up. So, in the first half, we are in a college setting. We're seeing the two main characters meet, but it's the end of their college careers. Lachlan is getting ready to go pro and is an open book, but Lyla has a lot of secrets and is very guarded. But we see these two meet and fall for one another. But then we do a time skip, and suddenly, it's about four years later, and Lachlan has achieved all of his goals and is working on finding Lyla. We learn all of her secrets during this reunion, and the book gets dark. The book is mysterious and tense, but we don't learn just how bad it is until, towards the end, the truth starts coming out. I wish there were more books in this world.
Initial Read
I need to read more Clare Conteras books! This one was amazing, and it's one of those books you feel wrong about loving so much because it's super dark. So I picked it up right after Conteras was announced to be at Sweetgrass next year because it's been on my radar since it got some traction on TikTok. Still, it was just sitting on my KU TBR. I'm so glad that pushed me to pick it up. It's hard to explain this one because it spans over a few years, and it's split into two parts. So, in the first part, we are with Lyla and Lachlan while they are in the last semester of college. He's a pretty big hockey player for the school and has plans to go pro.
Meanwhile, we know quickly that something is going on with Lyla, but we need to know what. It's initially played off like she's just a big homebody, but we soon learn what's happening with her. But these two hit it off really fast, and we see it go from 0-60 super-fast between them. It was so much fun, but things with Lyla hit a whole new level, which caused her to run away and start over. She literally vanishes, which starts part two. We see her in this new life she's created, and she's flourishing but living at the same time, she's been keeping everyone an arm's length away.
Meanwhile, Lachlan went pro and has been living out his ice hockey dreams. But he never forgot about her, and she was always the one that got away. Eventually, he finds her, and we see the whole truth emerge. It is insane just how much she's gone through over the years. By the end of the book, we do get a HEA because this is standalone, but we tie up everything to the point where she finally gets to live a happy, carefree life with him, and it's just amazing. This is another one I need to reread. I bought the physical copy to take and get signed, and it would be fun to annotate it since I have the physical copy now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Medical content, Sexual content, Stalking, Rape, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder
spicycronereads's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I had previously read one of this authorâs prior works and came away from it really frustrated by a plot that just didnât hang together. I am so glad that I tried another of her books. I needed a sports-themed romance for a reading challenge and did not want something cutesy.
I think in terms of the romance, plot, and the character arc of the MMC, I probably would have rated it at 3.5. However, I thought that once certain events unfolded, they explained so much of the FMCâs backstory and her character arc, that it bumped it up a bit in the ratings for me. Be sure you read the content warnings carefully becausethere are multiple explicit scenes of SA and strong themes of stalking. That said, I really appreciated how her reluctance to tell anyone was treated as I think it aligns with the experiences of many SA survivors. And then to have her dad believe her so readily and reconcile the relationship at the end, was really sweet. Those things taken together show how pervasive the social stigmas are around reporting SA and connect to why a lot of assaults go unreported.
Lilah, the FMC, and her relationship with Lachlan, the MMC, is really special. Itâs almost like a grumpy-grumpy book. She has a dark sense of humor and qualities that, honestly, I would crush on. At one point Lachlan refers to her as his Wednesday Addams and that seemed perfect. I really loved their dynamic. And the way their relationship continue to burn, despite obstacles.Lachlanâs more obsessive turn after the time jump definitely pushes him into morally grey territory and I am here for it. I shared Lilahâs fear that he was going to kill Jameson and be separated from her.
The book has a fair amount of diverse racial representation. Lilah and her family are Dominican-American and multiple of the secondary characters are Latinx or Black.
The spice is pretty spicy. I mean, Lachlan smirks and smolders his way right into the readerâs heart. And their seggs scenes tick a lot of boxes.
Overall I enjoyed this. I thought difficult plot points, while sometimes graphic, integrated into the story in a way that made sense.
I think in terms of the romance, plot, and the character arc of the MMC, I probably would have rated it at 3.5. However, I thought that once certain events unfolded, they explained so much of the FMCâs backstory and her character arc, that it bumped it up a bit in the ratings for me. Be sure you read the content warnings carefully because
Lilah, the FMC, and her relationship with Lachlan, the MMC, is really special. Itâs almost like a grumpy-grumpy book. She has a dark sense of humor and qualities that, honestly, I would crush on. At one point Lachlan refers to her as his Wednesday Addams and that seemed perfect. I really loved their dynamic. And the way their relationship continue to burn, despite obstacles.
The book has a fair amount of diverse racial representation. Lilah and her family are Dominican-American and multiple of the secondary characters are Latinx or Black.
The spice is pretty spicy. I mean, Lachlan smirks and smolders his way right into the readerâs heart. And their seggs scenes tick a lot of boxes.
Overall I enjoyed this. I thought difficult plot points, while sometimes graphic, integrated into the story in a way that made sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Sexual assault, Rape, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Vomit
enchantedtaleswithlaur's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book - wow. From the very first chapter, Lyla and Lachlan had me hooked. This story had a lot of super heavy themes (TW: mention of suicide, death, murder, rape, to name a few), but I think Claire Contreras approached these topics in a delicate and tasteful manner.
In addition to completely sucking me in, I found myself rooting for both Lyla and Lachlan throughout, which I really loved. These characters were in no way without their flaws and red flags, but that only made them more real.
All that being said, I highly encourage anyone who may read this book to look at the trigger warnings first, as there were a few chapters that were very hard for me to read.
In addition to completely sucking me in, I found myself rooting for both Lyla and Lachlan throughout, which I really loved. These characters were in no way without their flaws and red flags, but that only made them more real.
All that being said, I highly encourage anyone who may read this book to look at the trigger warnings first, as there were a few chapters that were very hard for me to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, Suicide, Death, Physical abuse, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
bri_margaret's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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, Stalking, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident
gabsherm33's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Murder, Grief, and Child abuse
what_karla_reads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
5/5 stars
3.5/5 spice
A dark sports romance that will completely consume you from the first page... first sentence...
"Sometimes wings are built from despair."
Tropes:
Hockey romance
Possesive MMC
Strangers to lovers
Opposites attract
Anti-hero/Alphahole
He falls first
"Touch her and die" vibes
The angst in this book was intense. So much happens in the first part. You think that there will be some relief in the second... but no. You will suffer... but you're going to be happy about it. There are dark themes in this book that add suspense to the storyline.
Lyla is a survivor. I want to wrap her in warm hugs and comfort, so I can totally understand Lachlan's protectiveness with her. But she's also strong and resilient. She sacrifices so much and survives so much. I loved how she was the complete opposite of what Lachlan was used to from women. He had to work hard for her trust and affection, but once these two admitted their feelings, they were so good together. Was he a possessive, alphahole ready to break/kill any guy who tries to talk to his girl? Yes. Do we love him anyways? Yes.
Their story spans a little over 3 years, starting in college and their lives after college. It's such an emotional roller coaster. Just when you think they are going to be OK, something happens to derail their plans. But the love they share for each other is so much deeper than anything I've read... they are soulmates. The connection, the love, the passion they have for each other is just next level.
'âYou can shut out the entire world, Lyla James.â He kisses my lips hard, making my heart skip a beat. âBut never me.â' đ„čđ«¶đœ
I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings with this book because of the trauma that was experienced and discussed my the MCs.
I received an ebook ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered freely.
3.5/5 spice
A dark sports romance that will completely consume you from the first page... first sentence...
"Sometimes wings are built from despair."
Tropes:
Hockey romance
Possesive MMC
Strangers to lovers
Opposites attract
Anti-hero/Alphahole
He falls first
"Touch her and die" vibes
The angst in this book was intense. So much happens in the first part. You think that there will be some relief in the second... but no. You will suffer... but you're going to be happy about it. There are dark themes in this book that add suspense to the storyline.
Lyla is a survivor. I want to wrap her in warm hugs and comfort, so I can totally understand Lachlan's protectiveness with her. But she's also strong and resilient. She sacrifices so much and survives so much. I loved how she was the complete opposite of what Lachlan was used to from women. He had to work hard for her trust and affection, but once these two admitted their feelings, they were so good together. Was he a possessive, alphahole ready to break/kill any guy who tries to talk to his girl? Yes. Do we love him anyways? Yes.
Their story spans a little over 3 years, starting in college and their lives after college. It's such an emotional roller coaster. Just when you think they are going to be OK, something happens to derail their plans. But the love they share for each other is so much deeper than anything I've read... they are soulmates. The connection, the love, the passion they have for each other is just next level.
'âYou can shut out the entire world, Lyla James.â He kisses my lips hard, making my heart skip a beat. âBut never me.â' đ„čđ«¶đœ
I highly recommend reading the trigger warnings with this book because of the trauma that was experienced and discussed my the MCs.
I received an ebook ARC from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered freely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Stalking, Physical abuse, Grief, Rape, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Car accident, Cursing, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Blood
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