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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If Vicious’ story was dark and stormy, Dean’s was tragic and turbulent. The playboy with a shiny personality, the one they called Ruckus because he was the life of a party, had a very dark interior that was slowly increasing until it erupted like a volcano.
“When you needed drugs—you came to me. When you needed a good party—you came to me. When you needed an amazing f__k, you came to me—and on me. And this was what my smirk—the one I’d been practicing since I was f-ing five—said to the world.”
Reading this book felt like there was a huge boulder rock on the border of a cliff, waiting to fall and destroy everything below. This was the type of tension felt in this book as we see the deterioration of Dean’s serenity. There’s a woman called Nina who is constantly calling Dean, asking for money and harassing him to no end. As the book progresses we see how her calls drive Dean to drink.
We already know Rosie from Vicious’ book. She is Emilia’s younger sister, the one who has Cystic Fibrosis and who fled to New York to live with Emilia, yearning for independence and not be babied by her parents.
Dean’s and Rosie’s story is so bittersweet. They fell in love from the first moment they met, when he arrived at her home to visit his girlfriend, Emilia. He would have torn everything apart to be with Rosie but she didn’t let him. She sacrificed her love so he would protect Emilia from Vicious’s bullying. And he accepted the responsibility.
“She wanted her sister to be saved. I took Millie for an ice cream, this time not looking back. I took Millie when I should have taken Rosie. I took Millie, and I was going to kill Vicious.”
Eventually, Dean and Emilia became a good couple, and eventually they broke up. It was not tragic and not bitter, just necessary. Ten years forward, after having lost all connection, Dean learns that Rosie is living not just in New York but in one of FHH’s apartments in the same building as his. And he went on the hunt, decided not to lose his prey this time…
From this point forward the story is tumultuous and riveting. Dean is insistent, Rosie is hesitant because she loves Dean but doesn’t want to load him with a sick woman. The family and friends dynamics are interesting and Rosie’s parents got incredibly annoying. Meanwhile, we’re enjoying the preparations toward Vicious’s and Emilia’s wedding and the continuation of Nina’s torture and Dean’s deterioration.
Both Rosie and Dean go through turmoil and literally go through hell in order to have their HEA. Many scenes will make you tear up because the pain is so real and so deep. It was incredible for me to see a man who appeared so strong and cocky and find that he had such deep pain inside and that it drew him to booze and drugs. Like they say about addictions, it gets worse and you touch bottom before it gets better. And that is what happened in this book until Dean gets cheesy at the end.
I loved seeing Millie being so supportive of her sister, loved seeing the HotHoles in form as always, supporting each other and harassing each other, and giggled at Vicious being kind. And I loved, loved, seeing Dean’s devotion to Rosie! Entertaining and emotional as only LJ Shen can make it, I loved this book and love how LJ Shen can take a cocky man and turn him inside out. Her female characters, as always, are strong and full of sass.
“When you needed drugs—you came to me. When you needed a good party—you came to me. When you needed an amazing f__k, you came to me—and on me. And this was what my smirk—the one I’d been practicing since I was f-ing five—said to the world.”
Reading this book felt like there was a huge boulder rock on the border of a cliff, waiting to fall and destroy everything below. This was the type of tension felt in this book as we see the deterioration of Dean’s serenity. There’s a woman called Nina who is constantly calling Dean, asking for money and harassing him to no end. As the book progresses we see how her calls drive Dean to drink.
We already know Rosie from Vicious’ book. She is Emilia’s younger sister, the one who has Cystic Fibrosis and who fled to New York to live with Emilia, yearning for independence and not be babied by her parents.
Dean’s and Rosie’s story is so bittersweet. They fell in love from the first moment they met, when he arrived at her home to visit his girlfriend, Emilia. He would have torn everything apart to be with Rosie but she didn’t let him. She sacrificed her love so he would protect Emilia from Vicious’s bullying. And he accepted the responsibility.
“She wanted her sister to be saved. I took Millie for an ice cream, this time not looking back. I took Millie when I should have taken Rosie. I took Millie, and I was going to kill Vicious.”
Eventually, Dean and Emilia became a good couple, and eventually they broke up. It was not tragic and not bitter, just necessary. Ten years forward, after having lost all connection, Dean learns that Rosie is living not just in New York but in one of FHH’s apartments in the same building as his. And he went on the hunt, decided not to lose his prey this time…
From this point forward the story is tumultuous and riveting. Dean is insistent, Rosie is hesitant because she loves Dean but doesn’t want to load him with a sick woman. The family and friends dynamics are interesting and Rosie’s parents got incredibly annoying. Meanwhile, we’re enjoying the preparations toward Vicious’s and Emilia’s wedding and the continuation of Nina’s torture and Dean’s deterioration.
Both Rosie and Dean go through turmoil and literally go through hell in order to have their HEA. Many scenes will make you tear up because the pain is so real and so deep. It was incredible for me to see a man who appeared so strong and cocky and find that he had such deep pain inside and that it drew him to booze and drugs. Like they say about addictions, it gets worse and you touch bottom before it gets better. And that is what happened in this book until Dean gets cheesy at the end.
I loved seeing Millie being so supportive of her sister, loved seeing the HotHoles in form as always, supporting each other and harassing each other, and giggled at Vicious being kind. And I loved, loved, seeing Dean’s devotion to Rosie! Entertaining and emotional as only LJ Shen can make it, I loved this book and love how LJ Shen can take a cocky man and turn him inside out. Her female characters, as always, are strong and full of sass.
I have cystic fibrosis. I read three pages of this. And I am horrified that this is being touted as a book that is good for disability representation. It isn’t. It is misinformation about CF. It is sick girl porn. It is dramatic trash. She’s not allowed to date because she has cystic fibrosis? Her “clock is ticking faster, she isn’t born like the rest?” Oh my god, what insufferable ableist bullshit is this? Is this some Lurlene McDaniels fanfiction?
Also, the writing is shit. I can’t believe people say this is good. It is overwrought and unreadable. Gross.
Also, the writing is shit. I can’t believe people say this is good. It is overwrought and unreadable. Gross.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Creo que sin duda lo mejor ha sido el epilogo con los peques que risas jajajaja
Porque el libro en si a veces se me ha hecho un poco repetitivo ya solo me queda la historia de Trent y el del spin off asi que a ver que tal
Porque el libro en si a veces se me ha hecho un poco repetitivo ya solo me queda la historia de Trent y el del spin off asi que a ver que tal
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
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
physical - this book both made my heart so happy and broke it multiple times. The love story between Rosie and Dean was not an easy one by any means, and really did take a lot of effort on both of them but the hea is the perfect ending even through the multiple crying spots. Dean, the man-whore of the Four Hot Holes always knew he loved Rosie and Rosie knew she loved Dean the first moment she saw him. but the time never seemed to be right. Finally, the timing is perfect for the two of them the week before her sisters wedding, and they make the most of it. Rosie's parents baby her way too much pushing her to the only person to treat her as an adult with valid decisions and she leans in with her entire life on the line. Her family is POS, honestly just treating her like her disease instead of an adult whom can make her own decisions. They guilt trip her into choosing their decisions and don'l like it when she wants to be strong and independent (or as independent as she can be). Her relationship with Dean is not easy as he has is own demons (in the form of a nagging birth mom and unknown father that wants to 'know' him) looming over his head daily to every 30 minutes. Of course all the stress and issues are going to end up in flames with Rosie's life on the line and her parents yet again trying to tell her what is best for her. Thankfully Dean sticks with it and in the end they marry and have 2 kids, 1 of their own and 1 adopted.
Favorite Quotes:
"You made you fucking bed. Now lie in it. Not my war. Not my battle. None. Of. My. Fucking. Business." - Dean
"'Dean...I find you personally offensive because everyone has tapped you.'
'Welcome to the club, sweetheart. We have T-Shirts.'
'Good because you ripped mine off my body.'" - Rosie & Dean
"What makes you feel alive? Love. When it is fierce and depraved. Raw and delicious. But it also reminds me that one day-soon-it will all end for me." - Rosie
"You think I fucking like you? Are you kidding me here. I don't like you. I love you. Even that's an under-fucking-statement. I live for you. I breathe for you. I will die for you. It. Has. Always. Been. You. Ever since I saw your sorry ass for the first time on that threshold and you fucking poked me in the chest like I was a toy." - Dean
Favorite Quotes:
"You made you fucking bed. Now lie in it. Not my war. Not my battle. None. Of. My. Fucking. Business." - Dean
"'Dean...I find you personally offensive because everyone has tapped you.'
'Welcome to the club, sweetheart. We have T-Shirts.'
'Good because you ripped mine off my body.'" - Rosie & Dean
"What makes you feel alive? Love. When it is fierce and depraved. Raw and delicious. But it also reminds me that one day-soon-it will all end for me." - Rosie
"You think I fucking like you? Are you kidding me here. I don't like you. I love you. Even that's an under-fucking-statement. I live for you. I breathe for you. I will die for you. It. Has. Always. Been. You. Ever since I saw your sorry ass for the first time on that threshold and you fucking poked me in the chest like I was a toy." - Dean
It says it all that this took me a month to get through.
If I hadn’t read Vicious, I would have bought into the Dean x Rosie dynamic a lot more. If you read this as a stand-alone romance, they have adequate chemistry and the sex scenes are bomb AF. But reading this as a sequel, the characterisation and continuity are SO OFF. These don’t feel like the characters of the first novel, and Dean’s motivations and views of Rosie don’t mesh with what we saw of him in the first book.
This book is also SO fucking ableist when it comes to Rosie. Her family treat her like absolute shit and deprive her of having any agency, all under the guise of caring for her. She’s living independently and relatively happy in NYC, but her parents are honestly fucking VILE to her and they’re never appropriately pulled up on their bullshit. This book could’ve had a strong disability pride theme, but it’s just grossly mishandled and devoid of nuance. Her parents need to get in the fucking bin.
Dean treats Rosie a lot better than her own family, though he puts her in at least two situations which result in her getting sick. Ughhhhhh.
Dean is kinda boring and one dimensional, but I enjoyed seeing him deal with his addictions and family trauma. However, I ultimately wanted more from him as a person - the passion for astronomy specifically could’ve been explored further. He could be more than a big dick in a nice suit, but he’s never given the room to be anything other than that.
Vicious was legit AMAZING but this was mehhhh. Gonna trudge onward and finish out the series, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up the kids’ spin-off anytime soon!
If I hadn’t read Vicious, I would have bought into the Dean x Rosie dynamic a lot more. If you read this as a stand-alone romance, they have adequate chemistry and the sex scenes are bomb AF. But reading this as a sequel, the characterisation and continuity are SO OFF. These don’t feel like the characters of the first novel, and Dean’s motivations and views of Rosie don’t mesh with what we saw of him in the first book.
This book is also SO fucking ableist when it comes to Rosie. Her family treat her like absolute shit and deprive her of having any agency, all under the guise of caring for her. She’s living independently and relatively happy in NYC, but her parents are honestly fucking VILE to her and they’re never appropriately pulled up on their bullshit. This book could’ve had a strong disability pride theme, but it’s just grossly mishandled and devoid of nuance. Her parents need to get in the fucking bin.
Dean treats Rosie a lot better than her own family, though he puts her in at least two situations which result in her getting sick. Ughhhhhh.
Dean is kinda boring and one dimensional, but I enjoyed seeing him deal with his addictions and family trauma. However, I ultimately wanted more from him as a person - the passion for astronomy specifically could’ve been explored further. He could be more than a big dick in a nice suit, but he’s never given the room to be anything other than that.
Vicious was legit AMAZING but this was mehhhh. Gonna trudge onward and finish out the series, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up the kids’ spin-off anytime soon!
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes