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75_sweetestbook's review against another edition
5.0
Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark
Merged review:
Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark
Dark
Merged review:
Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dark
1bookobsessionconfessions's review against another edition
2.0
2 Mixed feelings and melancholy stars
This was a really emotionally heavy story. I think Bodhi’s struggles and his past were handled okay and not told in great detail which I think suited such an emotional, dark and at times very tragic story.
I sympathized for Bodhi, I was angry on his behalf, I was rooting for his growth and happiness.
(Heed the trigger warnings, I don’t need them, but this has quite a few that could affect people.)
The forbidden aspects of Jules and Bodhi’s romance seemed small compared to the multiple traumatic aspects of their lives.
Both characters had heavy individual struggles and I wanted them to have happiness and joy.
Their chemistry was decent, they had an instant attraction and it made for steamy and sensual interactions.
I didn’t feel the emotional connection between them, I think the sexual connection overshadowed the emotional or anything deeper.
Bodhi is a tragic character, I wanted good for him. It was heart wrenching to know his thoughts of no self worth or hope for himself.
It was a look into a character who’s had a life mostly depressed and in a desperate emotional state. I felt it was a lot to process at times, the title says it well. It’s not a happy story.
I read and enjoyed the previous book in this series and what I really like about both books is the sex positive vibes, especially about sex workers. It’s refreshing and I think it’s so common in our culture yet it’s usually not spoken of in a real way and it’s usually portrayed as a negative. This is my favorite aspect of the story and series.
*There’s something in Jules’ story that I think will be problematic for some as it is for me. Some people believe bisexual people aren’t satisfied with one partner or in a committed monogamous relationship. (It’s an absurd and dangerous belief in my opinion.)
It was alluded to heavily regarding Jules’ relationship with his wife. I was able to overlook it once and just go with the story but it’s something that I feel feeds the belief and it was repeated quite a few times throughout the story. It didn’t sit well with me, it was quite frustrating and dampened my feelings for the story.
As I’ve stated this was a very emotionally heavy read, I think the portrayal of Bodhi’s struggles was portrayed ok until the end, I could identify with some of his struggles, it was at times difficult to read. I had to take breaks.
Jules’ character wasn’t accessible to me, I appreciated his desire for Bodhi to feel positive about himself, he was protective but he came across as a bit aggressive, too domineering in that respect and the relationship was based on sex so I never got the warm emotions about their relationship.
Overall I feel the story was Bodhi and his trauma, depression and harmful behavior. It was not a read that brought entertainment or much pleasure as it was fairly dark and extremely melancholy.
I have mixed feelings about the portrayal of Jules.
The way things moved forward towards the end was too easy for me. I don’t feel people recover just from the love of another person, that’s another dangerous belief in my opinion. I think the romantic/fate aspects of the story are a detriment to the bigger picture. People don’t actually get better from mental health issues and trauma just because the love of another person saved them.
There is light at the end of the story, for me it wasn’t on Bodhi’s strength alone and that bothered me.
It had a lot of promise, I liked the previous book and was so intrigued by Bodhi.
I think such deep subject matter needs more than an ending that explains everything away by using love and soulmates.
This was a really emotionally heavy story. I think Bodhi’s struggles and his past were handled okay and not told in great detail which I think suited such an emotional, dark and at times very tragic story.
I sympathized for Bodhi, I was angry on his behalf, I was rooting for his growth and happiness.
(Heed the trigger warnings, I don’t need them, but this has quite a few that could affect people.)
The forbidden aspects of Jules and Bodhi’s romance seemed small compared to the multiple traumatic aspects of their lives.
Both characters had heavy individual struggles and I wanted them to have happiness and joy.
Their chemistry was decent, they had an instant attraction and it made for steamy and sensual interactions.
I didn’t feel the emotional connection between them, I think the sexual connection overshadowed the emotional or anything deeper.
Bodhi is a tragic character, I wanted good for him. It was heart wrenching to know his thoughts of no self worth or hope for himself.
It was a look into a character who’s had a life mostly depressed and in a desperate emotional state. I felt it was a lot to process at times, the title says it well. It’s not a happy story.
I read and enjoyed the previous book in this series and what I really like about both books is the sex positive vibes, especially about sex workers. It’s refreshing and I think it’s so common in our culture yet it’s usually not spoken of in a real way and it’s usually portrayed as a negative. This is my favorite aspect of the story and series.
*There’s something in Jules’ story that I think will be problematic for some as it is for me. Some people believe bisexual people aren’t satisfied with one partner or in a committed monogamous relationship. (It’s an absurd and dangerous belief in my opinion.)
It was alluded to heavily regarding Jules’ relationship with his wife. I was able to overlook it once and just go with the story but it’s something that I feel feeds the belief and it was repeated quite a few times throughout the story. It didn’t sit well with me, it was quite frustrating and dampened my feelings for the story.
As I’ve stated this was a very emotionally heavy read, I think the portrayal of Bodhi’s struggles was portrayed ok until the end, I could identify with some of his struggles, it was at times difficult to read. I had to take breaks.
Jules’ character wasn’t accessible to me, I appreciated his desire for Bodhi to feel positive about himself, he was protective but he came across as a bit aggressive, too domineering in that respect and the relationship was based on sex so I never got the warm emotions about their relationship.
Overall I feel the story was Bodhi and his trauma, depression and harmful behavior. It was not a read that brought entertainment or much pleasure as it was fairly dark and extremely melancholy.
I have mixed feelings about the portrayal of Jules.
The way things moved forward towards the end was too easy for me. I don’t feel people recover just from the love of another person, that’s another dangerous belief in my opinion. I think the romantic/fate aspects of the story are a detriment to the bigger picture. People don’t actually get better from mental health issues and trauma just because the love of another person saved them.
There is light at the end of the story, for me it wasn’t on Bodhi’s strength alone and that bothered me.
It had a lot of promise, I liked the previous book and was so intrigued by Bodhi.
I think such deep subject matter needs more than an ending that explains everything away by using love and soulmates.
teenykins's review against another edition
3.0
'We're two people who realistically shouldn't be together, but it's as if he was sent here for me. We're two broken, jagged beings, who somehow manage to fit together and make a whole.'
This is my first Ashley James book but it won't be my last, even though the road was a bit rocky!
Bohdi's story is not an easy one. The bullying, the verbal and physical abuse from his brother, father and in the end from his best friend as well, is a punch to the stomach. The mother is unforgivable for me and I'm standing with Jules's in hating her. I don't care if you had leaving him to be tormented by "his father" and brother, turning a blind to all of it and then making excuses and being in denial when your kid talks to you, then F you to the ends of the earth! Hope you enjoy hell BEATCH! Also I'm wondering about the middle brother... both characters though, as well as the father pretty much disappeared after the first part of the story.
'The broken piece of him fits perfectly with the broken piece of me, and there is something to be said about two people being able to love through their tears, through their heartache, through the mess that is life.'
Jules and Bodhi, had incredible chemistry in the bed and out of it. I found though, the ILUs came early, since they had met 3 times and had limited interactions since Bodhi wasn't open to keep communicating with him, for the sake of his past friendship with Ryan.
I found Ryan to be an obnoxious character and his character doing a 180 after they slept together. Although we only got to know him through Bo's eyes for when they were friends. But really I found his character a bit of a comically villain, obnoxious and entitled for what he asked of his father and then blackmailed him. Really? And in the end their talk, after Bo's letter, was really stilted and it was so not natural.
Jules's thinks at some point that parents shouldn't have discussion with their kids pertaining to their sex lives, but I think that is beyond wrong, especially if that relationship is a healthy one and has different dynamics from the most common one. If you don't talk to your kids for safe, sane and consensual when it comes to their sexual adventures then who should talk to them? Their friends, strangers or the internet?
Bo getting better happened off page, and it happened almost in magical way.
Also through the entire book Bo's height of 5'10" (177.8cm) is treated like he is less than 5'2" (157.48cm), small and petite. Since when 5'10" is petite and not average towards tall? Yes his difference in height with Jules being 6'5" is a big one, but not to the extreme that the book wants to portray.
These aren't such big issues but for me they are enough to throw me off the story.
Anyways... I'll be going back to read Camden's book and can't wait for Elias's.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This is my first Ashley James book but it won't be my last, even though the road was a bit rocky!
Bohdi's story is not an easy one. The bullying, the verbal and physical abuse from his brother, father and in the end from his best friend as well, is a punch to the stomach. The mother is unforgivable for me and I'm standing with Jules's in hating her. I don't care if you had
Spoiler
an affair and the kid is the other guy's'The broken piece of him fits perfectly with the broken piece of me, and there is something to be said about two people being able to love through their tears, through their heartache, through the mess that is life.'
Jules and Bodhi, had incredible chemistry in the bed and out of it. I found though, the ILUs came early, since they had met 3 times and had limited interactions since Bodhi wasn't open to keep communicating with him, for the sake of his past friendship with Ryan.
I found Ryan to be an obnoxious character and his character doing a 180 after they slept together. Although we only got to know him through Bo's eyes for when they were friends. But really I found his character a bit of a comically villain, obnoxious and entitled for what he asked of his father and then blackmailed him. Really? And in the end their talk, after Bo's letter, was really stilted and it was so not natural.
Jules's thinks at some point that parents shouldn't have discussion with their kids pertaining to their sex lives, but I think that is beyond wrong, especially if that relationship is a healthy one and has different dynamics from the most common one. If you don't talk to your kids for safe, sane and consensual when it comes to their sexual adventures then who should talk to them? Their friends, strangers or the internet?
Bo getting better happened off page, and it happened almost in magical way.
Also through the entire book Bo's height of 5'10" (177.8cm) is treated like he is less than 5'2" (157.48cm), small and petite. Since when 5'10" is petite and not average towards tall? Yes his difference in height with Jules being 6'5" is a big one, but not to the extreme that the book wants to portray.
These aren't such big issues but for me they are enough to throw me off the story.
Anyways... I'll be going back to read Camden's book and can't wait for Elias's.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
alga96's review against another edition
4.0
With Storm Clouds and Devastation I feel there is a strong shift in the energy of the Hidden Affairs series. My heart was aching for Bodhi, throughout this whole read. If you struggle with mental health issues I do recommend checking the trigger warnings, because while the topics are dealt in an "elegant" way, they're still explicitly discussed so it might be best to be prepared ahead of time for some. Some parts of this story felt hard to get through because I just wanted to hug Bodhi and tell him how many people he has around loving him, but as someone who struggles with depression myself I feel that those thought patterns were very accurate to my experience.
Jules is, in my honest opinion, the only book boyfriend worthy of the title of Daddy. As someone who cringes HARD whenever that pet name comes up, it almost felt mandatory for Jules to be called Daddy. Because oh boy. Such a strong, patience and vulnerable man. I love how him and Bodhi found each other at two different ends of the tunnel and eventually found their way out together.
While I don't think this is a perfect book (sometimes the spice was a bit too frequent imo, but I expect that with Ashley James books), I don't feel like giving it less than 4 stars as I deeply enjoyed reading.
Jules is, in my honest opinion, the only book boyfriend worthy of the title of Daddy. As someone who cringes HARD whenever that pet name comes up, it almost felt mandatory for Jules to be called Daddy. Because oh boy. Such a strong, patience and vulnerable man. I love how him and Bodhi found each other at two different ends of the tunnel and eventually found their way out together.
While I don't think this is a perfect book (sometimes the spice was a bit too frequent imo, but I expect that with Ashley James books), I don't feel like giving it less than 4 stars as I deeply enjoyed reading.
laurasaur12's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
sdipenti's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.25
williebenz's review against another edition
5.0
This is Jules and Bodhi's love story. It is also very much about Bodhi learning to love himself, work through his trauma and demons, and to feel okay in his own skin.
Bodhi has been dealt with a card no person should endure. He believes his past is behind him and is in control but that is tested when one of his clients happens to be his high school best friend's dad.
I love the way Jules never gave up on Bodhi and not only told him but showed him that's he is loved, valued and cherished.
TW/Tropes
Severe mental illness, heavy suicidal ideations, abuse and sexual assault of a minor, sexual assault, bullying, death, drug use, eating disorder/ disordered eating, fatphobia, and homophobia.
Merged review:
This is Jules and Bodhi's love story. It is also very much about Bodhi learning to love himself, work through his trauma and demons, and to feel okay in his own skin.
Bodhi has been dealt with a card no person should endure. He believes his past is behind him and is in control but that is tested when one of his clients happens to be his high school best friend's dad.
I love the way Jules never gave up on Bodhi and not only told him but showed him that's he is loved, valued and cherished.
TW/Tropes
Severe mental illness, heavy suicidal ideations, abuse and sexual assault of a minor, sexual assault, bullying, death, drug use, eating disorder/ disordered eating, fatphobia, and homophobia.
Bodhi has been dealt with a card no person should endure. He believes his past is behind him and is in control but that is tested when one of his clients happens to be his high school best friend's dad.
I love the way Jules never gave up on Bodhi and not only told him but showed him that's he is loved, valued and cherished.
TW/Tropes
Severe mental illness, heavy suicidal ideations, abuse and sexual assault of a minor, sexual assault, bullying, death, drug use, eating disorder/ disordered eating, fatphobia, and homophobia.
Merged review:
This is Jules and Bodhi's love story. It is also very much about Bodhi learning to love himself, work through his trauma and demons, and to feel okay in his own skin.
Bodhi has been dealt with a card no person should endure. He believes his past is behind him and is in control but that is tested when one of his clients happens to be his high school best friend's dad.
I love the way Jules never gave up on Bodhi and not only told him but showed him that's he is loved, valued and cherished.
TW/Tropes
Severe mental illness, heavy suicidal ideations, abuse and sexual assault of a minor, sexual assault, bullying, death, drug use, eating disorder/ disordered eating, fatphobia, and homophobia.
brutalistemerald's review
1.0
I have so, so many issues with this book. Some of them are niggly little things, others not so much. All together they made this book a painful read. I’m not even sure why I persisted - it was a little like watching a car crash, knowing you shouldn’t but you can’t tear your eyes away.
Jules stalks and pursues Bodhi, and doesn’t seem to understand the word “stop”, nor does he respect the boundaries of a hired sex worker, he’s purely driven by his desires for his ‘pretty boy’ who he seems to fetishise.
There are trigger warnings, but I think you need to go to the author’s website to actually view these which isn’t the best. I prefer the trigger warnings to be in the book, upfront and obvious. Two of the biggies for me:
There is a short but somewhat graphic scene involving the sexual abuse of a child. Which is then mirrored in a scene involved the sexual assault of an adult.
The stalkerish, obsessive behaviour of Jules towards Bodhi, particularly early in the book. Is this supposed to be romantic or endearing? It wasn’t; it was creepy, unsettling and deeply unromantic/unsexy. “Stop” means stop, not ignore what the other person is saying and do what you were going to do anyway.
There were a couple of factual things that I found distracting too. I had a problem with the premise of Jules as a Supreme Court Judge. Perhaps the author meant he was a State Supreme Court Judge, and the more I read I think this was the case, but for a significant part of the book I thought Jules was supposed to be a Supreme Court Judge … who lives in North Carolina and not Washington DC, is only 42, and pays for male escorts. I can suspend disbelief a certain amount, but this was a step too far for me. If a character is referred to as a Supreme Court Judge my mind is automatically going to think of those select few judges who sit in the Supreme Court.
Frustratingly, Jules’s wife is described more than once as “braindead”. Just to be clear, a person with brain death cannot breathe on their own.
Also, I’m just putting it out there that I’m fairly confident that complementary hotel lotion shouldn’t be used internally - eek!
I read a review here on Goodreads where someone referred to it as ‘torture porn’ - that’s about right. There’s nothing romantic or sexy in this book. It’s a whole heap of abusive and toxic relationships.
Yeah, so I didn’t like it very much.
Spoiler
I’m not a big fan of age gap romances and this one just made me feel a bit grubby. Jules was literally old enough to be Bodhi’s father and had known Bodhi as a child, and possibly as a vulnerable child. As an adult Bodhi is vulnerable too, and Jules seems to recognise this early on (he thinks he looks “broken”), but yet he still pursues him even when Bodhi is clearly rejecting his advances. That Jules calls Bodhi “pretty boy” all the time is weird too - infantilising Bodhi that way is creepy given the age gap and what we the reader know about Bodhi’s abusive childhood.Jules stalks and pursues Bodhi, and doesn’t seem to understand the word “stop”, nor does he respect the boundaries of a hired sex worker, he’s purely driven by his desires for his ‘pretty boy’ who he seems to fetishise.
There are trigger warnings, but I think you need to go to the author’s website to actually view these which isn’t the best. I prefer the trigger warnings to be in the book, upfront and obvious. Two of the biggies for me:
There is a short but somewhat graphic scene involving the sexual abuse of a child. Which is then mirrored in a scene involved the sexual assault of an adult.
The stalkerish, obsessive behaviour of Jules towards Bodhi, particularly early in the book. Is this supposed to be romantic or endearing? It wasn’t; it was creepy, unsettling and deeply unromantic/unsexy. “Stop” means stop, not ignore what the other person is saying and do what you were going to do anyway.
There were a couple of factual things that I found distracting too. I had a problem with the premise of Jules as a Supreme Court Judge. Perhaps the author meant he was a State Supreme Court Judge, and the more I read I think this was the case, but for a significant part of the book I thought Jules was supposed to be a Supreme Court Judge … who lives in North Carolina and not Washington DC, is only 42, and pays for male escorts. I can suspend disbelief a certain amount, but this was a step too far for me. If a character is referred to as a Supreme Court Judge my mind is automatically going to think of those select few judges who sit in the Supreme Court.
Frustratingly, Jules’s wife is described more than once as “braindead”. Just to be clear, a person with brain death cannot breathe on their own.
Also, I’m just putting it out there that I’m fairly confident that complementary hotel lotion shouldn’t be used internally - eek!
I read a review here on Goodreads where someone referred to it as ‘torture porn’ - that’s about right. There’s nothing romantic or sexy in this book. It’s a whole heap of abusive and toxic relationships.
Yeah, so I didn’t like it very much.
readsomemorekatie's review against another edition
5.0
My reviews for Ashley’s books are always biased, but trust me when I say this book is the real deal if you love broken boys and hurt/comfort.
Here’s some insider information about SCaD that I don’t think will be a shock once you read it:
Bodhi means the world to Ashley.
And me. And (hopefully) everyone who reads this story, but more than anyone, to Ashley. A lot of his pain is her pain and that is tangible on the pages. It’s right there in front of you, screaming in ink to FEEL IT.
The ultimate broken boy, this story is Bodhi’s redemption arc within his own head. Haven’t we all been there in some shape or form? You feel yourself digging into the hole of your darkest thoughts but have no way to stop the depth from getting deeper. In Bodhi’s case, he had a few choices. He’d tried them all before but this time… this time he looks up and sees a hand reaching in to help him out. Jules. The man he should not want and cannot have.
There’s always the fear that he’s too much, his burdens and body too heavy. That the hole is too deep. That he’ll pull the person trying to help into the darkness with him. The weight of it all is suffocating - but Jules is used to getting what he wants, and what he wants is Bodhi. What Bodhi doesn’t see is that he’s rescuing Jules at the same time.
Sometimes being saved is having someone meet you where you are right at that moment and having them say that it’s enough. You’re enough.
Then you take a small step toward the light.
Merged review:
My reviews for Ashley’s books are always biased, but trust me when I say this book is the real deal if you love broken boys and hurt/comfort.
Here’s some insider information about SCaD that I don’t think will be a shock once you read it:
Bodhi means the world to Ashley.
And me. And (hopefully) everyone who reads this story, but more than anyone, to Ashley. A lot of his pain is her pain and that is tangible on the pages. It’s right there in front of you, screaming in ink to FEEL IT.
The ultimate broken boy, this story is Bodhi’s redemption arc within his own head. Haven’t we all been there in some shape or form? You feel yourself digging into the hole of your darkest thoughts but have no way to stop the depth from getting deeper. In Bodhi’s case, he had a few choices. He’d tried them all before but this time… this time he looks up and sees a hand reaching in to help him out. Jules. The man he should not want and cannot have.
There’s always the fear that he’s too much, his burdens and body too heavy. That the hole is too deep. That he’ll pull the person trying to help into the darkness with him. The weight of it all is suffocating - but Jules is used to getting what he wants, and what he wants is Bodhi. What Bodhi doesn’t see is that he’s rescuing Jules at the same time.
Sometimes being saved is having someone meet you where you are right at that moment and having them say that it’s enough. You’re enough.
Then you take a small step toward the light.