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ladyhawke's review against another edition
4.0
A dark erotica novel that focuses on rape-as-fantasy. The rape fantasies explored in the book are pretty explicit and detailed so this won’t be for everyone given the POV, but if the subject matter isn’t an issue for you give it a go. This book is told entirely from a single POV and so I think lacks a certain amount of depth and complexity. Still, an enjoyable read.
The female lead, Vivienne, can orgasm easily during sex but, for reasons that are known, only if she imagines that she’s being raped. The male lead, Jonah, desires to play the role of rapist in a consensual rape fantasy and has struggled to find a participating partner. — until he meets Vivienne. They are strangers who work at the same university and one evening attend the same party. When Jonah overhears about Vivienne’s fantasy - he proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement that she eventually accepts.
What follows is a series of erotic encounters where they meet to act out various rape fantasies that grows increasingly more intense with each encounter. Meanwhile bonds and feelings start to develop which sets the stage for some complications later on.
The female lead, Vivienne, can orgasm easily during sex but, for reasons that are known, only if she imagines that she’s being raped. The male lead, Jonah, desires to play the role of rapist in a consensual rape fantasy and has struggled to find a participating partner. — until he meets Vivienne. They are strangers who work at the same university and one evening attend the same party. When Jonah overhears about Vivienne’s fantasy - he proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement that she eventually accepts.
What follows is a series of erotic encounters where they meet to act out various rape fantasies that grows increasingly more intense with each encounter. Meanwhile bonds and feelings start to develop which sets the stage for some complications later on.
gimli5's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cshae's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️
bookdevouringmisfit's review against another edition
4.0
OMG I loved this book more than I expected and wanted to. I don't know how to write a review on this one. So tell me exactly, how do I words?????
This book is not for the faint of the heart and I admit, there were some scenes that disturbed me but what was more disturbing for me was how much I liked reading about them.
This book is not for the faint of the heart and I admit, there were some scenes that disturbed me but what was more disturbing for me was how much I liked reading about them.
booksafterone's review against another edition
Finished chapter 25.
Fantasizes about rape bc she was raped by sisters ex boyfriend
Fantasizes about rape bc she was raped by sisters ex boyfriend
courtney_saba's review against another edition
3.0
The taboo was very nice as well as the mature discussion about limits, boundaries, and trust between the characters during their encounters, but the heroine ended up using and manipulating our hero, and I wasn't too pleased about this.
Beyond the sex, the other stuff was just filler and boring.
I understood the fantasy and the sexual chemistry, but the emotional chemistry and connection wasn't there. They were in lust with each other and attached themselves to the first person that allowed them to live out their fantasies. That's it. There can be trust there and/or a friends with benefits situation, but I didn't see the romance as believable.
Also, why must a person who has rape fantasies have baggage, be damaged, broken, working on something, have rape or abuse in their background? As if a functional normal person couldn't have these fantasies, too. I get the context, the purpose, and I appreciated the therapist in the story, but our heroine was not really getting better. She was coming to rely on it solely for her pleasure and push her personal problems away bc there was someone willing to indulge her for once. She had more than a few issues as a person and as a character. She wasn't the most likeable person and this detracted from the entertainment factor.
And nothing gets me more pissed off than when family members, the people who are supposed to believe you and support you, don't believe what you tell them and brush it off as a story rather than a true fact. Trying not to spoil it here, but the context in the summary is pretty obvious.
Overall, it could've been better. It started out great, but then there was no character development. The hero's backstory is the main focus in the sequel, and I really can't continue with this duology.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
TW: sexual assault on page (not by hero - caveat here - there is rape fantasy play between 2 consenting adults/hero+heroine, but this may be a trigger for some).
Beyond the sex, the other stuff was just filler and boring.
I understood the fantasy and the sexual chemistry, but the emotional chemistry and connection wasn't there. They were in lust with each other and attached themselves to the first person that allowed them to live out their fantasies. That's it. There can be trust there and/or a friends with benefits situation, but I didn't see the romance as believable.
Also, why must a person who has rape fantasies have baggage, be damaged, broken, working on something, have rape or abuse in their background? As if a functional normal person couldn't have these fantasies, too. I get the context, the purpose, and I appreciated the therapist in the story, but our heroine was not really getting better. She was coming to rely on it solely for her pleasure and push her personal problems away bc there was someone willing to indulge her for once. She had more than a few issues as a person and as a character. She wasn't the most likeable person and this detracted from the entertainment factor.
And nothing gets me more pissed off than when family members, the people who are supposed to believe you and support you, don't believe what you tell them and brush it off as a story rather than a true fact. Trying not to spoil it here, but the context in the summary is pretty obvious.
Overall, it could've been better. It started out great, but then there was no character development. The hero's backstory is the main focus in the sequel, and I really can't continue with this duology.
Happy reading, Goodreads fiends.
TW: sexual assault on page (not by hero - caveat here - there is rape fantasy play between 2 consenting adults/hero+heroine, but this may be a trigger for some).
ana_banana13's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. I wasn’t expecting this to be so good. I love books that are heavy spice with a really good story and this book has a great mix. It was just rough enough to enjoy without making me uncomfortable. LOVED IT
meganmarie1212's review against another edition
5.0
Vivienne and Jonah share the same kinky preference and confide in each other to fulfill the need. They both have trauma and have to face their families and past through three books. Several breakups and reunions lager, they live happily ever after.
carladelgado's review against another edition
Personally, I think the author handled the topic pretty well. Based on other people's reviews, this novel is also way better than other books that tried to tackle the same topic, so that's good, I guess. It ended on a cliffhanger though, and while I want to kn0w what happened next, I'm not that interested in reading the next books in the series.