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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
This is my kind of book, angsty with all the feelings, but the writing was so juvenile, it ruined the story for me. I got as far as Chapter 5 before I finally gave up. The writing appears like a young teenager tried to make it wordier and more "poetic" than it should be.
All of these are just from the first four chapters! I just couldn't make myself go any further. The story has potential, and Andy seemed like maybe she was okay, but I'll never know. I might give another one of her books a chance in the future, but honestly, after this one the chances are slim.
By the time I arrived in Brightmore, my head pounded in a not-so-nice way, making my eyes pulse as I walked down the ramp. It’d been two days without caffeine, and the raging hard-on my brain had for energy drinks made zero sense.First of all, what is a nice way for a head to pound? Second of all, the reason his brain has a raging hard-on for energy drinks is literally explained in the same sentence, so it does make sense.
The last time I’d been here, she had a shoulder-length bob, almost too sweet for her adventurous self. It was brown, a russet color that seemed dull and normal.How is a shoulder-length bob "sweet?" Even giving that line poetic license, why would you describe hair as "dull and normal?" What makes hair normal?
Without trying to startle her, I moved back a smidgen, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable.This one is just awkward to read. It would have been more fluent to say "Trying not to startle her, I moved back a smidgen." or "I moved back a smidgen so I wouldn't startle her."
The ceiling let out a fog, kind of similar to the ones in airplanes for oxygen and moisture. It only had my shirt clinging to me more.The author has clearly never been in a plane because those little fans in airplanes deliver cool air, not oxygen or moisture. Could you imagine how wet everything and everyone would be? That's just silly.
anxious most days, especially being this far away. I tucked my phone into my pocket, hoping Cars didn’t do anything while I spent the night with Andy.His best friend has just messaged him a cry for help, leading Madden to suspect he might be suicidal. So he tucks his phone away and goes back to partying with his pseudo aunt. Who needs enemies with best friends like him?
as he peered through me and Andy, dissecting a situation without the proper information. He had an aura around him, like a successful businessman with a possessive streak.This is just another example of the author trying to use flowery words instead of normal conversational words. Also, I had no idea auras were so descriptive.
While she’s on the tall side for many, both Asher and I towered over her easily. Her finger went to his chest, pressing against him more aggressively than seemed possible for her pixie-like self.So she's tall but also pixie-like? Okay.
His eyes were dark—it didn’t help that we were shrouded in darkness and mist.Again, the author is trying to be extra descriptive when it's unnecessary.
College started next fall and with Brookewood nearby, I knew it’d be an amazing opportunity to go to the campus and see what it had to offer. Sometimes, I wondered if Andy would hate the prospect of me moving down here. In the three weeks I’d been here, I bought a new laptop, and scheduled three appointments to walk the campuses of the colleges I got accepted to—Dupont, Brookewood, and Stanford.I'm not sure why that sentence about Andy is in the middle of Madden's thoughts about school. It's... jarring.
I felt my emotions boil a bit, outpouring through my eyes.That's an interesting way to say he started crying.
All of these are just from the first four chapters! I just couldn't make myself go any further. The story has potential, and Andy seemed like maybe she was okay, but I'll never know. I might give another one of her books a chance in the future, but honestly, after this one the chances are slim.
Omgosh this book was a rollercoaster of emotions! It is the most taboo-ish book I've personally read so far in my reading journey. I plan on reading more because I loved it! ❤️
The FMC, Andy, is the adopted aunt of Madden. They're only a few years apart so when Madden's rockstar dad goes on tour and his mom follows, they send him to Andy's. They grow up together becoming best friends and looking out for each other. And then something changes in their relationship to feelings more forbidden. Tragedy strikes that tears them apart, but after 5 years Madden comes back into Andy's life and turns it upside down.
Their chemistry and tension through the book was so good. It made all the spicy scenes
The FMC, Andy, is the adopted aunt of Madden. They're only a few years apart so when Madden's rockstar dad goes on tour and his mom follows, they send him to Andy's. They grow up together becoming best friends and looking out for each other. And then something changes in their relationship to feelings more forbidden. Tragedy strikes that tears them apart, but after 5 years Madden comes back into Andy's life and turns it upside down.
Their chemistry and tension through the book was so good. It made all the spicy scenes
Actually my favourite book EVER!!! Super spicy, made me laugh, made me cry- like full on sobbing ugly mess
Music Lights & Never Afters
I forget the original reason I had added this title to my kindle app. Then it popped up as a recommendation for pegging in a group post. So color me intrigued, and so I made it my next read. The author's trigger ⚠️ warnings were nothing like I've seen in other titles. Some of the words I didn't have a clue to what they were, but I waited till just now to look up their definitions. This book is one that has a lot of emotional turmoil from a major tragedy. I was all in my feels for this boy with everything he felt, did, and didn't do. This book also gave me insight to gender fluidity that I probably would have never known or understood. Toland's story ends in a HEA, but his journey there was one you wouldn't want anyone struggling with. You will feel every single moment. It was an amazing eye opening experience. A must read to expand on why we should be kind and understanding. If you lack empathy keep moving along.
I forget the original reason I had added this title to my kindle app. Then it popped up as a recommendation for pegging in a group post. So color me intrigued, and so I made it my next read. The author's trigger ⚠️ warnings were nothing like I've seen in other titles. Some of the words I didn't have a clue to what they were, but I waited till just now to look up their definitions. This book is one that has a lot of emotional turmoil from a major tragedy. I was all in my feels for this boy with everything he felt, did, and didn't do. This book also gave me insight to gender fluidity that I probably would have never known or understood. Toland's story ends in a HEA, but his journey there was one you wouldn't want anyone struggling with. You will feel every single moment. It was an amazing eye opening experience. A must read to expand on why we should be kind and understanding. If you lack empathy keep moving along.
Are you ready to be ripped to shreds?! No one quite marries the tintillating appeal of forbidden taboos with heartripping emotional angst like CL Matthews. This story is rife with heartache, grief, love, and longing- yet mired in the toxic, dark, and damaged romance within there is a beautiful tinge of hope and optimism. Hope that we can work our way through our demons, that we can accept the fullest parts of ourselves even if others see them as wrong, that we can find the true essence of our being from within our own hearts….and in the ways our hearts connect with others.
CL has the magic touch of delivering stories that are soulfully emotive while also pushing me to the edge of my comfort, pushing me to question myself. She explores characters and themes that others might shy away from - dynamics that feel less “accepted.” And in that vein, prepare yourself- this is not really a “rockstar” story. Her stories are designed to both unsettle and challenge- but also to highlight our sameness. How the shared human experience of pain and heartache supersedes all differences. She’s a bold and unapologetic story teller- and as such, this book is loaded with characters whose identities or whose approach to romance might not be that that is the typical “trope”- and that is what makes it so authentic and powerful. And she’s also not scared to explore the depths of pain, trauma, and heartbreak- in particular, the ways in which our demons impact both our minds and bodies. There are topics and experiences in this story that many might fight triggers- though others might appreciate an unflinching look and the worldview or experiences similar to their own. Our narrative is an interesting marriage of the psychologically dark character journeys CL is known for writing with the more plot twisting moments we’ve associated with her more recent work. It’s a turbulent and raw story, and at times I even had to put it down just because it felt so heavy. But that’s what I ‘ve always appreciated about her work- life, loving, LIVING isn’t always easy, it isn’t always “on trope,” and it certainly isn’t pretty. CL isn’t scared to help us find the beauty in the uglier parts of our humanity, in finding peace in the chaos.
CL has the magic touch of delivering stories that are soulfully emotive while also pushing me to the edge of my comfort, pushing me to question myself. She explores characters and themes that others might shy away from - dynamics that feel less “accepted.” And in that vein, prepare yourself- this is not really a “rockstar” story. Her stories are designed to both unsettle and challenge- but also to highlight our sameness. How the shared human experience of pain and heartache supersedes all differences. She’s a bold and unapologetic story teller- and as such, this book is loaded with characters whose identities or whose approach to romance might not be that that is the typical “trope”- and that is what makes it so authentic and powerful. And she’s also not scared to explore the depths of pain, trauma, and heartbreak- in particular, the ways in which our demons impact both our minds and bodies. There are topics and experiences in this story that many might fight triggers- though others might appreciate an unflinching look and the worldview or experiences similar to their own. Our narrative is an interesting marriage of the psychologically dark character journeys CL is known for writing with the more plot twisting moments we’ve associated with her more recent work. It’s a turbulent and raw story, and at times I even had to put it down just because it felt so heavy. But that’s what I ‘ve always appreciated about her work- life, loving, LIVING isn’t always easy, it isn’t always “on trope,” and it certainly isn’t pretty. CL isn’t scared to help us find the beauty in the uglier parts of our humanity, in finding peace in the chaos.
4.5
Weird and good at the same time.
I really don't know how to describe this book.
First of all... the triggers... I read a lot of dark romance so I'm not easily shocked. That said I'm not the best judge because I didn't think it was that dark. It is dark, but on another level as that I'm used to, but beware if you get triggered, because they aren't for the lighthearted.
That being said...
The author really sets the mood right. The tension between Andy and Madden is so palpable, I loved it.
All Madden and Andy's issues were so well described and especially Maddens were really intriguing for me. I don't know why.
I loved how the author used different sexuality's and just carelessly mentioned it and explained some things. It just felt so right.
It just didn't get the 5 stars, because I would've loved a little bit more about they're childhood, just to get a better image for the why. Even if it were just flashbacks.
The ending is so perfect it's to puke for haha. I really loved it and god... the sex was just really edgy.
Weird and good at the same time.
I really don't know how to describe this book.
First of all... the triggers... I read a lot of dark romance so I'm not easily shocked. That said I'm not the best judge because I didn't think it was that dark. It is dark, but on another level as that I'm used to, but beware if you get triggered, because they aren't for the lighthearted.
That being said...
The author really sets the mood right. The tension between Andy and Madden is so palpable, I loved it.
All Madden and Andy's issues were so well described and especially Maddens were really intriguing for me. I don't know why.
I loved how the author used different sexuality's and just carelessly mentioned it and explained some things. It just felt so right.
It just didn't get the 5 stars, because I would've loved a little bit more about they're childhood, just to get a better image for the why. Even if it were just flashbacks.
The ending is so perfect it's to puke for haha. I really loved it and god... the sex was just really edgy.
unnecessarily long, loved the beginning, the ending was too slow.
this was a first from this author, ill definitely be reading more books from her tho
this was a first from this author, ill definitely be reading more books from her tho
This book was absolutely fantastic! Madden was perfect. Andy was perfect. Their dynamic was written so well. This book definitely gets 5⭐! The spice, ooo wee, the spice in this book. Off the charts, hot. Madden definitely knows how to heat things up. That being said, please please please, make sure to check the TW in the beginning of the book. This does dip into some heavy topics.
I’m not sure where to start with this book, there’s so many layers to it. I already knew based off the dedication of the book that this was going to crush me in the most beautiful way. The whole book has dark somber tones that put their fangs into you, refusing to let go.
Madden is a tortured soul & Andy is his salve. It’s a forbidden love that takes dark twisted turns. You find yourself chasing down the characters highs and lingering in their lows.
The artistry in metaphors that Matthews used are hauntingly poetic. I’m not sure what inspired this story, but it was all let out, laid bare & raw. They don’t shy away from the honesty of how mental health affects our thoughts & drives behaviors.
The story is balanced nicely with the spice (and holy hot tamales does it get spicy).
It is also one of the most racially diverse & LGBTQ+ books that I’ve read and I loved every second of it.
I would highly recommend this book, it will definitely be one that I will not forget.
⚠️ Please check triggers before reading, the Author has them available.
Madden is a tortured soul & Andy is his salve. It’s a forbidden love that takes dark twisted turns. You find yourself chasing down the characters highs and lingering in their lows.
The artistry in metaphors that Matthews used are hauntingly poetic. I’m not sure what inspired this story, but it was all let out, laid bare & raw. They don’t shy away from the honesty of how mental health affects our thoughts & drives behaviors.
The story is balanced nicely with the spice (and holy hot tamales does it get spicy).
It is also one of the most racially diverse & LGBTQ+ books that I’ve read and I loved every second of it.
I would highly recommend this book, it will definitely be one that I will not forget.
⚠️ Please check triggers before reading, the Author has them available.
Ever since I discovered Inhale, Exhale, I knew C.L. was my kind of author. She’s not afraid to give you a raw and painfully gritty story.
This book was no exception. In fact, this story is on a whole other level. I will start off by saying that it has BIG triggers which C.L. has extensively detailed. So please read them and take them seriously.
I love me a good taboo story. Madden and Andy. Adopted aunt and nephew. Can you say TENSION
This book was no exception. In fact, this story is on a whole other level. I will start off by saying that it has BIG triggers which C.L. has extensively detailed. So please read them and take them seriously.
I love me a good taboo story. Madden and Andy. Adopted aunt and nephew. Can you say TENSION