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lexi_gt's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
tee_tee_lou_lou's review against another edition
5.0
5⭐️'s
This series has just been so freaking good, Every book is just as good as the last in its own unique way... I'm obsessed!
Elena... wow, the girl we loved to hate waaaay back when her character was introduced in "start a fire", we didnt know her as much more that "the queen bitch" then by the time we reached pen and Gabe's book "burn it down" we began to see a slightly different side to her, her unique and interestingsnarky dialogue that she wore as a shield.
I have to admit when she was reintroduced into "soft like thunder" as Hell's roomie my first thought was "nooo please dont be bad again, please be more than a mean girl" and i wasn't let down. it was so great to watch her character bloom into the deep and intriguing character, to see such a tough chick who was like helen in so many ways but also with a very different background but also with that soft centre. A secret cinnamon roll... how did she get to be this way? Starting her story I was seriously gutted for this girl, she had so much darkness and toxicity surrounding her that any normal person would be drowning... and granted she had scars and demons, but she also was called them what they where, she was strong.
It was great to get inside her head and honestly i adored her character, I felt so much for her and what she had been through in her life and how incredibly selfless and caring she was under that granite shell of hers. She always held her head up high and had so much integrity, it was just so good to read about her.
Lachlan was also the biggest of cinna-buns... I adored his character even when I wanted to give him a slap. He made it good in the end, he came through for Elena, was strong for her and gave her all the love and devotion she truly deserved. ❤️ They where so different, but also the same. I love that Lock took her as she was, never wanted her crazy to change... just took her broken pieces and just put them inside himself for safe keeping. Such a teddy bear.
Epilogue was so lovely.
Also the covers for this whole series have been so good. But i especially love Lock's
This series has just been so freaking good, Every book is just as good as the last in its own unique way... I'm obsessed!
Elena... wow, the girl we loved to hate waaaay back when her character was introduced in "start a fire", we didnt know her as much more that "the queen bitch" then by the time we reached pen and Gabe's book "burn it down" we began to see a slightly different side to her, her unique and interestingsnarky dialogue that she wore as a shield.
I have to admit when she was reintroduced into "soft like thunder" as Hell's roomie my first thought was "nooo please dont be bad again, please be more than a mean girl" and i wasn't let down. it was so great to watch her character bloom into the deep and intriguing character, to see such a tough chick who was like helen in so many ways but also with a very different background but also with that soft centre. A secret cinnamon roll... how did she get to be this way? Starting her story I was seriously gutted for this girl, she had so much darkness and toxicity surrounding her that any normal person would be drowning... and granted she had scars and demons, but she also was called them what they where, she was strong.
It was great to get inside her head and honestly i adored her character, I felt so much for her and what she had been through in her life and how incredibly selfless and caring she was under that granite shell of hers. She always held her head up high and had so much integrity, it was just so good to read about her.
Lachlan was also the biggest of cinna-buns... I adored his character even when I wanted to give him a slap. He made it good in the end, he came through for Elena, was strong for her and gave her all the love and devotion she truly deserved. ❤️ They where so different, but also the same. I love that Lock took her as she was, never wanted her crazy to change... just took her broken pieces and just put them inside himself for safe keeping. Such a teddy bear.
Epilogue was so lovely.
Also the covers for this whole series have been so good. But i especially love Lock's
1bookobsessionconfessions's review against another edition
5.0
This story has many layers. It’s enjoyable, fun, sexy and emotional. There’s very serious subject matter as well.
I loved that balance, it gave such depth to an entertaining story and really complex characters.
Elena is perceived as an “Ice Queen”, vapid and snobby. She is standoffish so it reinforces this opinion to many people.
Knowing how she’s stood up for her friends/roommates I knew this wasn’t who she really was and I loved seeing her walls slowly come down and get to see her true nature.
I loved her relationship with a secondary character from previous books in the series, he’s recovering from a serious injury and they have an interesting friendship of sorts. The way she interacts with him showed her intelligence, dry humor and big heart.
Lachlan (Lock) is focused on getting his degree and heading out of state as soon as he graduates to help his dad run his very large ranch/estate. He’s a nice guy, fairly serious, pretty easy going but, Elena is the exception. He usually completely ignores her or calls her by incorrect names to annoy her.
They both get under each other’s skin big time.
Elena gets targeted by some frat guys and sorority girls (former “friends”) They hassle her and it escalates.
This sets in motion a very interesting dynamic between her and Lock.
Lock begins a protector role for Elena, and it made me fall hard for him.
She’s a strong young woman, but everyone can use someone to back them up and feel cared for. I loved this for her.
They have strong attraction to each other and they embark on a casual sex agreement. Their chemistry is smoking hot. I loved their sexual interactions. HOT!
The secondary characters from previous books play a big part in the story and I absolutely adore their banter and personalities.
Can Elena and Lachlan open their minds and hearts to each other? They both have ideas of what their futures hold and it doesn’t match up together. They have have beliefs of the future that are preventing them from going further than just sex even when emotions get involved.
This is such a great story, wonderful characters and a memorable addition to this series. I really loved it!
I loved that balance, it gave such depth to an entertaining story and really complex characters.
Elena is perceived as an “Ice Queen”, vapid and snobby. She is standoffish so it reinforces this opinion to many people.
Knowing how she’s stood up for her friends/roommates I knew this wasn’t who she really was and I loved seeing her walls slowly come down and get to see her true nature.
I loved her relationship with a secondary character from previous books in the series, he’s recovering from a serious injury and they have an interesting friendship of sorts. The way she interacts with him showed her intelligence, dry humor and big heart.
Lachlan (Lock) is focused on getting his degree and heading out of state as soon as he graduates to help his dad run his very large ranch/estate. He’s a nice guy, fairly serious, pretty easy going but, Elena is the exception. He usually completely ignores her or calls her by incorrect names to annoy her.
They both get under each other’s skin big time.
Elena gets targeted by some frat guys and sorority girls (former “friends”) They hassle her and it escalates.
This sets in motion a very interesting dynamic between her and Lock.
Lock begins a protector role for Elena, and it made me fall hard for him.
She’s a strong young woman, but everyone can use someone to back them up and feel cared for. I loved this for her.
They have strong attraction to each other and they embark on a casual sex agreement. Their chemistry is smoking hot. I loved their sexual interactions. HOT!
The secondary characters from previous books play a big part in the story and I absolutely adore their banter and personalities.
Can Elena and Lachlan open their minds and hearts to each other? They both have ideas of what their futures hold and it doesn’t match up together. They have have beliefs of the future that are preventing them from going further than just sex even when emotions get involved.
This is such a great story, wonderful characters and a memorable addition to this series. I really loved it!
bookishghoul_96's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kaydanielsromance's review against another edition
5.0
I had a major girl crush on Helen and seriously didn't think anyone could top it...Elena blew that crush away!! I LOVE when I get the opportunity to crawl inside the mind of a previous villain and truly get to see what makes them tick. Elena is fierce, brilliant, her own knight in shining armor, and I love how hard she loves those closest to her. I'm so happy she got her own story and Lachlan is the perfect man to stand by her side.
Up until the this point, Lachlan or Lock to his friends, has been a bit of a mystery. Not because he wasn't in the previous books, but mainly because he is just this big guy who prefers silence over filling quiet with needless talking. I loved his intensity everytime he was in the room, but I also loved that we didn't know much about his past or really where he always disappeared to. This layer of mystery only added to the storyline and Lachlan's overall persona.
Elena and Lachlan, I wouldn't call them enemies, but I also wouldn't call them friends. They both congregate in the same circle of friends, which puts them together a lot, but really until the two end up spending more time together their junior year, which leads to more...alone activities....let's just say before that you wouldn't have seen them hanging out in the past.
Once they spend more time together, it becomes obvious that they are more alike than they ever realized, but are their futures really going to end up in the same spot? Does spending all this time together really mean anything in the long run, or is it just fun for the here and now?
There is huge growth and character development throughout this book. I can't stop turning pages not only for characters falling in love, but for this very reason right here. When characters learn and become better people I fall in love with the story even harder. But let's walk through just some of it because hellooooooo...Elena wasn't the nicest person in the past. She is very aware of who she was, who she is, and who she wants to become. Lachlan is in the same boat, but his is much more subtle. He wasn't the villain before, but his goodness is so good that being with someone like Elena, who can not only take care of herself, but can also take care of others, throws him off his game. Lachlan is a fixer by nature and when he can't always fix her he is stumped. His personal growth just within his own wheelhouse is frustrating at times, but trying to fix a damsel that isn't in distress is something he has to learn if he truly wants to be with his ice queen.
Sweet Like Poison is super hot, who knew that the quiet, giant Lock was so intense? It also deals with some darker content, but Elena isn't a woman who goes away quietly. Just remember how she always stepped up for her roommates in the past, that girl is why I have a new serious crush to love and fawn over.
Great story, lots of passion, and a fantastic epilogue!!
Up until the this point, Lachlan or Lock to his friends, has been a bit of a mystery. Not because he wasn't in the previous books, but mainly because he is just this big guy who prefers silence over filling quiet with needless talking. I loved his intensity everytime he was in the room, but I also loved that we didn't know much about his past or really where he always disappeared to. This layer of mystery only added to the storyline and Lachlan's overall persona.
Elena and Lachlan, I wouldn't call them enemies, but I also wouldn't call them friends. They both congregate in the same circle of friends, which puts them together a lot, but really until the two end up spending more time together their junior year, which leads to more...alone activities....let's just say before that you wouldn't have seen them hanging out in the past.
Once they spend more time together, it becomes obvious that they are more alike than they ever realized, but are their futures really going to end up in the same spot? Does spending all this time together really mean anything in the long run, or is it just fun for the here and now?
There is huge growth and character development throughout this book. I can't stop turning pages not only for characters falling in love, but for this very reason right here. When characters learn and become better people I fall in love with the story even harder. But let's walk through just some of it because hellooooooo...Elena wasn't the nicest person in the past. She is very aware of who she was, who she is, and who she wants to become. Lachlan is in the same boat, but his is much more subtle. He wasn't the villain before, but his goodness is so good that being with someone like Elena, who can not only take care of herself, but can also take care of others, throws him off his game. Lachlan is a fixer by nature and when he can't always fix her he is stumped. His personal growth just within his own wheelhouse is frustrating at times, but trying to fix a damsel that isn't in distress is something he has to learn if he truly wants to be with his ice queen.
Sweet Like Poison is super hot, who knew that the quiet, giant Lock was so intense? It also deals with some darker content, but Elena isn't a woman who goes away quietly. Just remember how she always stepped up for her roommates in the past, that girl is why I have a new serious crush to love and fawn over.
Great story, lots of passion, and a fantastic epilogue!!
spazzykatie's review
emotional
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Savage universe gets better with every book. This is no exception. Elena and Lachlan were so much more than I expected.
We first meet Elena in Start a Fire, the first Savage Crew book, and she was awful. AWFUL. Meanest of the mean girls. She starts to act a little more human in Pen and Gabe's book, but we don't really start to see her until the Savage U series. Then we get to start watching her change. She embraces Helen and Zadie. She puts her blond bitch friends in their place. She helps destroy the Pi Sig house.
In Sweet Like Poison, we finally get to see the why of all of it. Her mother's mental illness. Her father's absence. Nate's abuse. Nate's death. It all starts to come together and make sense.
Let's talk about Lachlan (aka Lock). He becomes friends with Helen, then Theo, and ends up moving into a house with Theo and Julien, right next door to Elena, Helen, and Zadie. Lock dislikes Elena from the beginning. He thinks she's a vapid rich girl and immediately writes her off. Only, he starts to realize how wrong he is.and they eventually get together.
I was so disappointed in Lock in the beginning. He was being such a judgmental asshole and I had a hard time liking him. Watching the two of them fall and Elena open up was really beautiful. The scene when she finally told him about Nate and he revealed his connection to that night was hard. I had predicted it from the beginning but it was still hard to read.
I knew he was going to end it eventually and I really felt like I was reading with one eye open, dreading what was coming. Ugh they made me cry so hard. But the ending? The ending was beautiful. I'm overwhelmed with feelings right now, so I'm going to go stare at a wall and wallow for a bit. 💜
We first meet Elena in Start a Fire, the first Savage Crew book, and she was awful. AWFUL. Meanest of the mean girls. She starts to act a little more human in Pen and Gabe's book, but we don't really start to see her until the Savage U series. Then we get to start watching her change. She embraces Helen and Zadie. She puts her blond bitch friends in their place. She helps destroy the Pi Sig house.
In Sweet Like Poison, we finally get to see the why of all of it. Her mother's mental illness. Her father's absence. Nate's abuse. Nate's death. It all starts to come together and make sense.
Let's talk about Lachlan (aka Lock). He becomes friends with Helen, then Theo, and ends up moving into a house with Theo and Julien, right next door to Elena, Helen, and Zadie. Lock dislikes Elena from the beginning. He thinks she's a vapid rich girl and immediately writes her off. Only, he starts to realize how wrong he is.and they eventually get together.
I was so disappointed in Lock in the beginning. He was being such a judgmental asshole and I had a hard time liking him. Watching the two of them fall and Elena open up was really beautiful. The scene when she finally told him about Nate and he revealed his connection to that night was hard. I had predicted it from the beginning but it was still hard to read.
I knew he was going to end it eventually and I really felt like I was reading with one eye open, dreading what was coming. Ugh they made me cry so hard. But the ending? The ending was beautiful. I'm overwhelmed with feelings right now, so I'm going to go stare at a wall and wallow for a bit. 💜
beaniebookcorner's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Rape, Car accident, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Suicide attempt, and Infertility
bookboyfriendandhusbandmake3's review against another edition
5.0
Sweet Like Poison is one of the best books I’ve read all year. I’ve loved this series and also the Savage Crew series, but this was on a whole different level.
Maybe because if, like me, you’ve read all the previous books, you saw Elena through the eyes of others, knowing there was something more to her than met the eye, but I didn’t expect this story. I wasn’t ready, my head nor my heart, and I will tell you that whatever you think you know, it’s very likely very very wrong.
Elena might have had a side that was less than kind, but she owned it. She didn’t try and pretend she didn’t have that side; she didn’t make excuses or blame others. She was who she was, and who she was in the present wasn’t the girl we first met. She was still fiery and a bit brash at times, but she wasn’t a girl out to destroy; she was a girl who was embracing who she had been and using it to protect those she loved and cared about. Elena is the type of heroine you want to read when you are feeling anything but strong. As fictional as she may be, the strength of her character bleeds through the pages.
Lachlan was all sorts of swoony alpha hotness. He was a bit of a jerk at times, but more often than not he was the type to buckle his woman’s seatbelt, kind and gentle, a protector to his core. He could switch from *sigh* worthy swoon to "take control alpha AF hotness" in 2 seconds flat. He’s a book boyfriend supreme. He's sweet and swoony but doesn’t hesitate to toss his woman over his shoulder and take control in all the right ways.
The chemistry between Lock and Elena was apparent in the previous books, and the misconceptions they had of one another were something that fueled the intensity. They were both fiercely protective, although in different ways. Once Elena cared about someone, she would scorch the earth in order to protect them or wreak havoc on the ones who hurt them. They were made for each other. Lock seemed to be able to read Elena in a way that nobody else could. When her mind was wrought with fears and anxiety, Lock was able to bring her a sense of peace she had never had before. He was the antidote to her poisonous thoughts.
I can’t even explain the waves of emotion that annihilated me. It wasn’t just a tear shed, I was sobbing. A lump formed in my throat, my chest ached, and my stomach was in knots. I also giggled and laughed out loud at the banter between this amazing group of friends. For so many reasons, they have become one of my favorite groups of fictional friends. The no questions asked way they rush to one another’s side, the unyielding loyalty, and the epicness that is the gift of a pink bat.
Sweet Like Poison is without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read this year and my new favorite novel by Wolf. An unputdownable blend of fervent chemistry, a swoony yet alpha-AF hero, and a fierce and incredibly strong heroine, the emotions in this story didn’t just bleed from the pages into my heart, they seared my soul. I couldn’t tell you the last time a book broke me to this degree, while simultaneously mending me back together.
None of my words will have done this story justice. I would recommend starting from book 1 so you can truly enjoy the evolution of the love stories and the friendships that are formed along the way.
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Maybe because if, like me, you’ve read all the previous books, you saw Elena through the eyes of others, knowing there was something more to her than met the eye, but I didn’t expect this story. I wasn’t ready, my head nor my heart, and I will tell you that whatever you think you know, it’s very likely very very wrong.
Elena might have had a side that was less than kind, but she owned it. She didn’t try and pretend she didn’t have that side; she didn’t make excuses or blame others. She was who she was, and who she was in the present wasn’t the girl we first met. She was still fiery and a bit brash at times, but she wasn’t a girl out to destroy; she was a girl who was embracing who she had been and using it to protect those she loved and cared about. Elena is the type of heroine you want to read when you are feeling anything but strong. As fictional as she may be, the strength of her character bleeds through the pages.
Lachlan was all sorts of swoony alpha hotness. He was a bit of a jerk at times, but more often than not he was the type to buckle his woman’s seatbelt, kind and gentle, a protector to his core. He could switch from *sigh* worthy swoon to "take control alpha AF hotness" in 2 seconds flat. He’s a book boyfriend supreme. He's sweet and swoony but doesn’t hesitate to toss his woman over his shoulder and take control in all the right ways.
The chemistry between Lock and Elena was apparent in the previous books, and the misconceptions they had of one another were something that fueled the intensity. They were both fiercely protective, although in different ways. Once Elena cared about someone, she would scorch the earth in order to protect them or wreak havoc on the ones who hurt them. They were made for each other. Lock seemed to be able to read Elena in a way that nobody else could. When her mind was wrought with fears and anxiety, Lock was able to bring her a sense of peace she had never had before. He was the antidote to her poisonous thoughts.
I can’t even explain the waves of emotion that annihilated me. It wasn’t just a tear shed, I was sobbing. A lump formed in my throat, my chest ached, and my stomach was in knots. I also giggled and laughed out loud at the banter between this amazing group of friends. For so many reasons, they have become one of my favorite groups of fictional friends. The no questions asked way they rush to one another’s side, the unyielding loyalty, and the epicness that is the gift of a pink bat.
Sweet Like Poison is without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read this year and my new favorite novel by Wolf. An unputdownable blend of fervent chemistry, a swoony yet alpha-AF hero, and a fierce and incredibly strong heroine, the emotions in this story didn’t just bleed from the pages into my heart, they seared my soul. I couldn’t tell you the last time a book broke me to this degree, while simultaneously mending me back together.
None of my words will have done this story justice. I would recommend starting from book 1 so you can truly enjoy the evolution of the love stories and the friendships that are formed along the way.
Website | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram