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annabithebook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I cannot tell you how Arden-tly I love this series. If you love MM romance filled with witty banter, beautifully addressed trauma, deeply impactful messages of who gets to determine who and what you are, brilliantly strong character growth, and the absolute Best Manic Pixie Dream Gay™️ that has ever been. Caspian Hart and Arden St. Ives are for you.
This was my second read of the series and on reflection, there is actually quite a bit less on page sex and specifically much less heavy BDSM than I remember from the first read through. Not that it is not there, but the emotional growth and plot carries the bulk of the book, rather than being spice held together by the wisp of a plot. The way Alexis Hall makes you love these deeply flawed and imperfect characters through their imperfection is simply masterful.
Alexis Hall is my all time favorite author and this is one of, if not my favorite series from him. 👏🏻
This was my second read of the series and on reflection, there is actually quite a bit less on page sex and specifically much less heavy BDSM than I remember from the first read through. Not that it is not there, but the emotional growth and plot carries the bulk of the book, rather than being spice held together by the wisp of a plot. The way Alexis Hall makes you love these deeply flawed and imperfect characters through their imperfection is simply masterful.
Alexis Hall is my all time favorite author and this is one of, if not my favorite series from him. 👏🏻
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Drug use
Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
Minor: Dysphoria and Rape
dobbsthedog's review against another edition
5.0
CW: rape (not on page), attempted sexual assault, stalking
Reread April 2022
Sigh… this trilogy is just so freaking good. And this reread was done as a buddy read, which has been great, and I’m so sad it’s over! 😩
I recently read And They Lived by Steven Salvatore and the title comes from the bit at the end of fairy tales, “And they lived happily ever after”. One of the characters was talking about how everyone puts so much importance on the last part, the HEA, but not on the and they lived, which really is the more important part. I thought about this a lot throughout this reread. How to Belong really isn’t your typical romance, as the MC and LI aren’t together for the majority of the book. Obviously it’s a bit different where it’s part of a trilogy, but in this one we see Arden living his life, having other relationships, and being okay without Caspian. And honestly, at one point, about 5 chapters from the end, Arden tells Caspian to choose himself and choose happiness, even if that doesn’t include Arden, and I would have been completely happy with the book if it had ended there. Because I would have known that they lived, and they were okay. I think it takes some serious storytelling skill to be able to leave people feeling good about a romance ending without an HEA. I mean, that didn’t happen, but it almost felt like the last few chapters were more of an epilogue, if that makes sense?
Anyway, I love this trilogy, and it was even better as part of a buddy read.
_____
Reread December 2021, still fucking fantastic.
This series was fantastic. I wasn’t really sure what to expect going in, as I’ve had zero interest in reading any of the Fifty Shades books or any other similar books, but I thoroughly enjoyed these. There was a lot of very kinky sex, but there was also so much other stuff going on and everything was written with the author’s typical sense of humour and geekiness.
Though it’s not my place to say, it felt like the very heavy topics were handled really well. And there were a lot. Abuse, rape, disability, stalking. It felt like they were handled in a kind and respectful way and I appreciated that.
Also, the level of geekiness and for want of a better word, nostalgia, in this book was just amazing. Some favourite bits:
• Caspian reading The Princess Bride to Arden 🥺
• Arden’s safe word with George is Poe
• Ellery, Arden, and Nik reading Choose Your Own Adventure books
• 8 gazillion Hugo Weavings
Just so much to love with these three books, and I think that this last one was the best.
Reread April 2022
Sigh… this trilogy is just so freaking good. And this reread was done as a buddy read, which has been great, and I’m so sad it’s over! 😩
I recently read And They Lived by Steven Salvatore and the title comes from the bit at the end of fairy tales, “And they lived happily ever after”. One of the characters was talking about how everyone puts so much importance on the last part, the HEA, but not on the and they lived, which really is the more important part. I thought about this a lot throughout this reread. How to Belong really isn’t your typical romance, as the MC and LI aren’t together for the majority of the book. Obviously it’s a bit different where it’s part of a trilogy, but in this one we see Arden living his life, having other relationships, and being okay without Caspian. And honestly, at one point, about 5 chapters from the end, Arden tells Caspian to choose himself and choose happiness, even if that doesn’t include Arden, and I would have been completely happy with the book if it had ended there. Because I would have known that they lived, and they were okay. I think it takes some serious storytelling skill to be able to leave people feeling good about a romance ending without an HEA. I mean, that didn’t happen, but it almost felt like the last few chapters were more of an epilogue, if that makes sense?
Anyway, I love this trilogy, and it was even better as part of a buddy read.
_____
Reread December 2021, still fucking fantastic.
This series was fantastic. I wasn’t really sure what to expect going in, as I’ve had zero interest in reading any of the Fifty Shades books or any other similar books, but I thoroughly enjoyed these. There was a lot of very kinky sex, but there was also so much other stuff going on and everything was written with the author’s typical sense of humour and geekiness.
Though it’s not my place to say, it felt like the very heavy topics were handled really well. And there were a lot. Abuse, rape, disability, stalking. It felt like they were handled in a kind and respectful way and I appreciated that.
Also, the level of geekiness and for want of a better word, nostalgia, in this book was just amazing. Some favourite bits:
• Caspian reading The Princess Bride to Arden 🥺
• Arden’s safe word with George is Poe
• Ellery, Arden, and Nik reading Choose Your Own Adventure books
• 8 gazillion Hugo Weavings
Just so much to love with these three books, and I think that this last one was the best.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Stalking
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