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katiereads716's review
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.75
allyreadsromance's review
4.0
Ok, this book was NOTHING like I was expecting! I thought I was in for Exes to come back together in a RH fashion. BUT not at all. This was so emotional and moving. Any woman, especially a mother, will be able to relate to Jodie. All the love, pain, and insecurities she feels are REAL. IF you are wanting a light smutty filled read this isn't it. If you want some super hot spice, heartache, emotions, betrayal, and learning to love again grab this book now!!! This is my second Jade West read and I can't wait for more.
magnafeana's review
2.0
So I…
I don’t know if I liked this enough to call it a 4 star read, but this was an average books made a tropes galore and questionable parenting and questionable friendships.
Bang Gang is a tale of swearing woe for Jodie (h), a mum whose motherhood is her whole personal, and Trent (h) a explicit mechanic baby daddy/father. When a high school pregnancy and high school sweetheart relationship doesn’t stand against the trails and tribulations of reality, Jodie and Trent go their explosive separate ways with Jodie taking a majority of custody of their two girls Ruby (8) and Mia (12).
(Why they thought having another child after their relationship was clearly not working is behind me.)
While Jodie has become a bit of a social outcast due to hammering in being a well-to-do mum with Nanna’s help, Trent has been earning a hefty side hustle in sex work with women who have loose lips. The word spreads around the village of Trent’s “career” and that’s what kick starts our story.
So let’s break it down:
Characters
H and h
Admittedly, I didn’t like Trent or Jodie because of their internal dialogue. Trent fell into the asshole archetype where he swears every other word and has sex because he likes it, but the money is good too. Jodie fell into the No one can replace him, maiden, weak woman trope.
I don’t care that Trent is there for their children, I really don’t. He is an Alphahole—an entitled one at that. He’s not sexy because he thinks his dick and fists are the way to the world. I get that this is “small town chic”, but I was off-put how just…entitled he felt.
And I found myself rooting for Jodie to finally meet someone decent.
Until I disliked Jodie falling into the trope of being stereotyped demisexual but never saying it.
A lot of authors write their characters as stereotyped demisexual yet not actually demisexual. If you don’t know, demisexuality is a sexuality identity where the individual requires a close emotional connection before developing sexual attraction.
No, this does not mean they will have a romp with their best mate, whom they’ve known all their life. But having that emotional bond is very necessary in a potential partner before any thought of sexual attraction.
Jodie is the stereotyped demisexual authors like to write about where there is only one person for them and sex is off to the table for anyone and their hearts are closed off to anyone and everyone since oh my starstheir ex was the only one they shared emotions with.
I hate that authors think this is romantic and relatable because it really isn’t. A lot of people have sex just to have sex with no romantic attachment, even if they do have a crush on another person. I’m veeeery pleased Jodie had her own “gang bang” because that is a step in the right direction.
But she lost it all as soon as she kept daydreaming about Trent—I mean, Darren—I mean, Trent—I mean, Darren—I mean, diddums—I mean, Trent.
Jodie just needed to grow up. I’m happy she sought out to be herself rather than solely being a mum. But for all of Lorraine’s ugliness, she did nail something down: I felt such secondhand embarrassment watching Jodie chase after Trent.
I like women chasing after anyone on the binary, non-binary, and spiritual spectrum. But I only like it when it makes sense. Nothing about Jodie and Trent make sense of her making a fool out of herself. He gives her the bare minimum, but she should be dressing up for him? He repeatedly fucked her friend, but she should go after him?
Sure, Jan..
There is nothing wrong with sex work, but this book put a bad taste in my mouth. Especially when Jodie’s holier-than-thou attitude stemmed into slut-shaming when they went “clubbing”.
Oh!—and let’s not forget baby #3 is coming so this means bloody marriage!
Jodie was right—she is stupid. She is very, very stupid. The reasons she gave for not being a responsible adult belong in a YA. But every romance books likes to suck on this trope because why let adults be adults and be responsible?
Now—let’s talk about the other characters.
I did not like anyone of Trent’s mates. Buck went to 0 the second he encouraged Jodie to go after Trent after he lost his shit in front of his children.
I liked Tonya—until I didn’t. She kept telling Jodie not to make excuses for Trent, yet when push came to shove, she really showed she was a Trent supporter at the nth hour. Bye, Tonya.
I don’t think I need to say anymore about Lorraine.
I liked Nanna until she kept reinforcing Trent should be around the house more often and how much Trent is a good man. Does she know Trent? She knows Father Trent but does she know Trent? The only time I like it when the nannies or grannies or aunties intervene is when they know the MMC inside and out.
She didn’t.
And their kids? I only liked Mia. I disliked Ruby strong. But of course, we have to have a child who sidles up to their father’s uncouth attitude and disrespect their mum.
I’m waffling. Next subject.
The Plot
Had this story been in the US, Trent needing a side hustle as sex workers when he is a mechanic—the only mechanic shop around the way—would have made me laugh. Top mechanics make bank. But I looked up the average salary of mechanics UK (mainly Wales) and it’s from £18k to £63k. Since salaries weren’t discussed in the book, it’s implied our lead and his bang gang make in the lower end.
I found the whole premise ridiculous still.
I don’t think people realize how hard and how easy it is to have sex for money. It’s hard when it’s actual sex work. It’s easy when it’s sex for money.
Sex work is work, and it deserves to be protected and not degraded into prostitution. But for all the soapboxing about how Trent is doing this as a job…he really isn’t.
Why is he not vetting out customers? Why is he not making sure regular STI panels, BC, protection, and hygiene are in place? What, because he’s a filthy mechanic with a filthy mouth so he doesn’t need to worry about safety not just for him but for his gang?
I can’t with this ish, I truly can’t. None of this makes sense. What would make sense is it Trent dabbled in care restoration or underground racing, not becoming that.
And there is nothing wrong with being with a sex worker romantically. But this book romanticizes a lot of the conversations and challenges of having a romantic partner who happens to be a sex worker.
But considering people fetishize sex working and the workers—it makes sense why none of that struggle is here.
Overall
I read this book due to a recommendation and the hope I would see good parenting along with good romance. What I got was an aggressive, explicit baby daddy who screws anything with a pulse and a whinging single mother who can’t literally do anything without her baby daddy. She can raise her girls but outside of that? She is like freaking Princess Aurora in the worst way.
2.75 ⭐️s rounded up to 3 since my requirements for any 2⭐️ rating have to meet the atrocities I have seen in a couple other YA Lite NA and YA lite CR.
This was just…notmy cup of tea, to say the least.
I don’t know if I liked this enough to call it a 4 star read, but this was an average books made a tropes galore and questionable parenting and questionable friendships.
Bang Gang is a tale of swearing woe for Jodie (h), a mum whose motherhood is her whole personal, and Trent (h) a explicit mechanic baby daddy/father. When a high school pregnancy and high school sweetheart relationship doesn’t stand against the trails and tribulations of reality, Jodie and Trent go their explosive separate ways with Jodie taking a majority of custody of their two girls Ruby (8) and Mia (12).
(Why they thought having another child after their relationship was clearly not working is behind me.)
While Jodie has become a bit of a social outcast due to hammering in being a well-to-do mum with Nanna’s help, Trent has been earning a hefty side hustle in sex work with women who have loose lips. The word spreads around the village of Trent’s “career” and that’s what kick starts our story.
So let’s break it down:
Characters
H and h
Admittedly, I didn’t like Trent or Jodie because of their internal dialogue. Trent fell into the asshole archetype where he swears every other word and has sex because he likes it, but the money is good too. Jodie fell into the No one can replace him, maiden, weak woman trope.
I don’t care that Trent is there for their children, I really don’t. He is an Alphahole—an entitled one at that. He’s not sexy because he thinks his dick and fists are the way to the world. I get that this is “small town chic”, but I was off-put how just…entitled he felt.
And I found myself rooting for Jodie to finally meet someone decent.
Until I disliked Jodie falling into the trope of being stereotyped demisexual but never saying it.
A lot of authors write their characters as stereotyped demisexual yet not actually demisexual. If you don’t know, demisexuality is a sexuality identity where the individual requires a close emotional connection before developing sexual attraction.
No, this does not mean they will have a romp with their best mate, whom they’ve known all their life. But having that emotional bond is very necessary in a potential partner before any thought of sexual attraction.
Jodie is the stereotyped demisexual authors like to write about where there is only one person for them and sex is off to the table for anyone and their hearts are closed off to anyone and everyone since oh my starstheir ex was the only one they shared emotions with.
I hate that authors think this is romantic and relatable because it really isn’t. A lot of people have sex just to have sex with no romantic attachment, even if they do have a crush on another person. I’m veeeery pleased Jodie had her own “gang bang” because that is a step in the right direction.
But she lost it all as soon as she kept daydreaming about Trent—I mean, Darren—I mean, Trent—I mean, Darren—I mean, diddums—I mean, Trent.
Jodie just needed to grow up. I’m happy she sought out to be herself rather than solely being a mum. But for all of Lorraine’s ugliness, she did nail something down: I felt such secondhand embarrassment watching Jodie chase after Trent.
I like women chasing after anyone on the binary, non-binary, and spiritual spectrum. But I only like it when it makes sense. Nothing about Jodie and Trent make sense of her making a fool out of herself. He gives her the bare minimum, but she should be dressing up for him? He repeatedly fucked her friend, but she should go after him?
Sure, Jan..
There is nothing wrong with sex work, but this book put a bad taste in my mouth. Especially when Jodie’s holier-than-thou attitude stemmed into slut-shaming when they went “clubbing”.
Oh!—and let’s not forget baby #3 is coming so this means bloody marriage!
Jodie was right—she is stupid. She is very, very stupid. The reasons she gave for not being a responsible adult belong in a YA. But every romance books likes to suck on this trope because why let adults be adults and be responsible?
Now—let’s talk about the other characters.
I did not like anyone of Trent’s mates. Buck went to 0 the second he encouraged Jodie to go after Trent after he lost his shit in front of his children.
I liked Tonya—until I didn’t. She kept telling Jodie not to make excuses for Trent, yet when push came to shove, she really showed she was a Trent supporter at the nth hour. Bye, Tonya.
I don’t think I need to say anymore about Lorraine.
I liked Nanna until she kept reinforcing Trent should be around the house more often and how much Trent is a good man. Does she know Trent? She knows Father Trent but does she know Trent? The only time I like it when the nannies or grannies or aunties intervene is when they know the MMC inside and out.
She didn’t.
And their kids? I only liked Mia. I disliked Ruby strong. But of course, we have to have a child who sidles up to their father’s uncouth attitude and disrespect their mum.
I’m waffling. Next subject.
The Plot
Had this story been in the US, Trent needing a side hustle as sex workers when he is a mechanic—the only mechanic shop around the way—would have made me laugh. Top mechanics make bank. But I looked up the average salary of mechanics UK (mainly Wales) and it’s from £18k to £63k. Since salaries weren’t discussed in the book, it’s implied our lead and his bang gang make in the lower end.
I found the whole premise ridiculous still.
I don’t think people realize how hard and how easy it is to have sex for money. It’s hard when it’s actual sex work. It’s easy when it’s sex for money.
Sex work is work, and it deserves to be protected and not degraded into prostitution. But for all the soapboxing about how Trent is doing this as a job…he really isn’t.
Why is he not vetting out customers? Why is he not making sure regular STI panels, BC, protection, and hygiene are in place? What, because he’s a filthy mechanic with a filthy mouth so he doesn’t need to worry about safety not just for him but for his gang?
I can’t with this ish, I truly can’t. None of this makes sense. What would make sense is it Trent dabbled in care restoration or underground racing, not becoming that.
And there is nothing wrong with being with a sex worker romantically. But this book romanticizes a lot of the conversations and challenges of having a romantic partner who happens to be a sex worker.
But considering people fetishize sex working and the workers—it makes sense why none of that struggle is here.
Overall
I read this book due to a recommendation and the hope I would see good parenting along with good romance. What I got was an aggressive, explicit baby daddy who screws anything with a pulse and a whinging single mother who can’t literally do anything without her baby daddy. She can raise her girls but outside of that? She is like freaking Princess Aurora in the worst way.
2.75 ⭐️s rounded up to 3 since my requirements for any 2⭐️ rating have to meet the atrocities I have seen in a couple other YA Lite NA and YA lite CR.
This was just…notmy cup of tea, to say the least.
suzysuzy34's review
5.0
What can I say? Anyone would look at the book cover and say what the fuck are you reading!!! I have to say it is so much more than a gang bang. Totally unexpected. What we have under all the village gang bang stuff at the heart of this story is it’s really about a second chance romance between Trent and Jodie. Great characters, I loved Trent, even though he swore a little too much, but to me that was him, it was who he was, dirty mouth and all.
This is my third Jade West book and I’m loving her books, love that they are very British too.
This is my third Jade West book and I’m loving her books, love that they are very British too.
othersian's review
emotional
funny
fast-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
3.75
sm_almon's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
I truly did not know what to expect from this second-chance romance which I originally picked up to complete a romance bingo square, but Jodie & Trent's hard-earned happily-ever-after was so surprisingly charming and emotional that it has low-key turned into one of my favourite romances to re-read!
frenchpressbookworm's review against another edition
while I have enjoyed this author this one just wasn't for me...had a few things that are no goes but you ladies that can over look it and just enjoy the down and dirty....this one is for you!
beckyrendon's review against another edition
4.0
Awkward is going to hang with the girls and learning your ex- the father of your children- is a gigolo. You heard me. Mother of two goes for coffee with the ladies to learn her baby daddy rode train on her friend. I can't even comprehend the amount of mortification involved.
The man you loved since you were a teen being paid for orgies. Definitely an unusual circumstances, I hope. I knew this book would be interesting. I knew it would be entertaining. Most of all, I knew it would be hot, filthy fu...n- fun. Jade West has a way with writing sex. You always feel apart of the action and naughty is never a bad thing.
Bang Gang is hot. It is a tease. It is a tantalizing tale for your heart, your mind, and the pulsing points on you body. Bang Gang is the whole package. It's a story that has some not your everyday sex scenes, but it is a story first.
Lots of incredible sex...yes
A storyline rife with troubles...yes
Insanely hot romps...it's Jade West!?!
This book has it all and my imagined accents running through my head did not hurt at all. I loved the raunchy flings, the second chance, and the ending.
Is it wrong to hope the others get a taste of what happened for Jodie and Darren.
reviewed for The Sweet Spot Sisterhood
The man you loved since you were a teen being paid for orgies. Definitely an unusual circumstances, I hope. I knew this book would be interesting. I knew it would be entertaining. Most of all, I knew it would be hot, filthy fu...n- fun. Jade West has a way with writing sex. You always feel apart of the action and naughty is never a bad thing.
Bang Gang is hot. It is a tease. It is a tantalizing tale for your heart, your mind, and the pulsing points on you body. Bang Gang is the whole package. It's a story that has some not your everyday sex scenes, but it is a story first.
Lots of incredible sex...yes
A storyline rife with troubles...yes
Insanely hot romps...it's Jade West!?!
This book has it all and my imagined accents running through my head did not hurt at all. I loved the raunchy flings, the second chance, and the ending.
Is it wrong to hope the others get a taste of what happened for Jodie and Darren.
reviewed for The Sweet Spot Sisterhood