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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This wasn’t really my jam. I feel like it was rinse and repeat over and over. Zayne gets high, Hallie leaves him, Zayne has sex with her to get her to take him back then repeat the process in every other chapter. There is zero chemistry between to FMC and MMC, they’re toxic and not in a good way. I love a good toxic relationship as much as the next girl but this was not it. There is Excessive Drug use / addiction so if you’re triggered by that do not read this book or do so with caution.
TWs: drug abuse, drug addiction, rape, self harm, suicide attempt
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Self harm, Suicide, Suicide attempt
dark
sad
tense
If I can resume my feelings:
Send help
This is one of the hardest book I've read.
Zayne and Hallie are both struggling with their own life.
Zayne is a hardcore addict.
Hallie suffers from severe PTSD related to her repetitive abuse when she was a child.
Now you know what you are heading to if you want to dive in this torturous toxic relationship of two lost soul mates.
As someone who used to be a social worker, I was amazed by the accuracy of the mental illness description. Everything felt right even if everything was wrong.
The toxicity consumes you as it consumes people who suffer from these conditions.
The spice (🌶️🌶️🌶️) is also particulary sensual and well written.
Send help
This is one of the hardest book I've read.
Zayne and Hallie are both struggling with their own life.
Zayne is a hardcore addict.
Hallie suffers from severe PTSD related to her repetitive abuse when she was a child.
Now you know what you are heading to if you want to dive in this torturous toxic relationship of two lost soul mates.
As someone who used to be a social worker, I was amazed by the accuracy of the mental illness description. Everything felt right even if everything was wrong.
The toxicity consumes you as it consumes people who suffer from these conditions.
The spice (🌶️🌶️🌶️) is also particulary sensual and well written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment
The title is so fitting for this book. The writing is incredible. You fall for the characters, and you break for them. The twists and turns. Amazing. I thought this was a typical sad love story, and boy, was I wrong. I had higher hopes for the ending, but over, still a good book. (A dark and sad book but good nonetheless.)
Triggers include but aren't limited to: drug use, sexual abuse to a minor, domestic abuse, and self-harm.
I received an arc copy of this book for an honest review. I leave this review voluntarily.
Triggers include but aren't limited to: drug use, sexual abuse to a minor, domestic abuse, and self-harm.
I received an arc copy of this book for an honest review. I leave this review voluntarily.
Spoiler
This book was kind of devastating and not at all what I expected. The main characters are beautifully written so painfully broken. MMC can’t tell the difference between obsession and love because of his illness and the MFC can’t tell the difference between love and abuse because of her trauma. I do wish the book had more resolution, I like my romance with a HEA but I understand that this is just the first book in the trilogy, I hope these characters can find peace
This was a rough read. I rarely ever cry or get tear eyed reading books but this one got a few tears out of me.
The book is dark and has heavy content material throughout.
Overall, this book truly captures the lives of those involved in toxic, dependent, and heavily addicted relationships. Another review mentioned how exhausting this story is and I completely agree. Exhausting in a way that the couple never comes up for air. They are truly dependent on their own addictions, each other, and the constant need to escape their past.
Exceptionally heavy drug use and descriptions, so as always, please check your trigger warnings.
18+ material
Overall, this book truly captures the lives of those involved in toxic, dependent, and heavily addicted relationships. Another review mentioned how exhausting this story is and I completely agree. Exhausting in a way that the couple never comes up for air. They are truly dependent on their own addictions, each other, and the constant need to escape their past.
Exceptionally heavy drug use and descriptions, so as always, please check your trigger warnings.
18+ material
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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:
Yes
This book could not have been more of a gut-wrenching emotional roller coaster with two characters who were so toxic for each other.
What to expect
- dark romance
- college age
- breath play
- ch0king
Zayne are so fatal for each other. Beyond toxic relationship and co-dependency where they try to heal each other’s broken parts 💔 This is a very dark romance and I’ll be honest, I cried! I desperately need an HEA for them 🥺
I enjoyed the plot and themes of the book. Some of it felt a little repetitive. I almost wish more time was spent on the tiny little details and then it would have been perfect!
CW/spoilers:
- child SA
- grape
- addiction
- mental health rep (bipolar, ptsd)
- DV
- self harm, suicidal ideation
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
What to expect
- dark romance
- college age
- breath play
- ch0king
Zayne are so fatal for each other. Beyond toxic relationship and co-dependency where they try to heal each other’s broken parts 💔 This is a very dark romance and I’ll be honest, I cried! I desperately need an HEA for them 🥺
I enjoyed the plot and themes of the book. Some of it felt a little repetitive. I almost wish more time was spent on the tiny little details and then it would have been perfect!
CW/spoilers:
- child SA
- grape
- addiction
- mental health rep (bipolar, ptsd)
- DV
- self harm, suicidal ideation
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book and idea behind the story is great.. but the characters are absolutely horrible. So many times I lost interest because of how naïve Hallie was.. she was in her last semester of nursing school and she didn’t see any of the signs of addiction or a mental health issue? I find that very unrealistic.
Zayne was the definition of a dirtbag. He knew what he was doing and didn’t care. Not to mention he was a dick to everyone around him.. there is zero redeeming characteristics that will make me like him. He doesn’t have a shred of love in his body.
To be honest the only reason i finished the book was because I read this was because I enjoyed the idea behind it. It shows the struggle of addiction, the damage addiction does to everyone around you, and the demons they face. I don’t think this book has any business being classified as a romance, there was no love or romance in it.
That being said, this book reminds me of Opium Skies; the same story line, the same characterizes, same FMC, the same background, etc.
Zayne was the definition of a dirtbag. He knew what he was doing and didn’t care. Not to mention he was a dick to everyone around him.. there is zero redeeming characteristics that will make me like him. He doesn’t have a shred of love in his body.
To be honest the only reason i finished the book was because I read this was because I enjoyed the idea behind it. It shows the struggle of addiction, the damage addiction does to everyone around you, and the demons they face. I don’t think this book has any business being classified as a romance, there was no love or romance in it.
That being said, this book reminds me of Opium Skies; the same story line, the same characterizes, same FMC, the same background, etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abandonment
First of all I want to thank Shae for the copy of this book that she gifted me and I am glad I was able to read it. I just want to say please read the trigger warnings for this book prior to reading. I really enjoyed this book and how in depth Shae went with the issues of mental health and drug addiction. It really was well written and I never expected to enjoy the book as much as I did. Hallie suffers trauma as well as other mental illnesses and I can feel for her and understand what she went through by how the book was written. How Shae wrote about Zayne and what he goes through was well written very well and I could really feel the emotion in this book. I recommend reading if the triggers aren't too much for you!
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes