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emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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
kolya…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Stalking
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Suicide attempt
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book starts out hot and heavy with the spice. Not a book you want to read if you are worried about someone reading over your shoulder but it was definitly entertaining. I cant say it is a favorite book of all time but I also did finish this in one weekend... I was entertained. The main plot is the relationship between Nikolai and Brandon, they are the primary focus of the book and if you like plot driven books and not character driven books this one might not be for you (Definitely could be a triggering book for anyone who struggles with self harm, proceed with caution!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
Honestly, I found this story enjoyable for what it was. Please note good is different enjoyable/compelling.
I really think that the characters could have been aged up five years and removed from college (it had no meaningful relationship and the Mafia (mafia royalty feels like the modern version of Cherokee princess).Featuring a male SA survivor and the actual emotional toll of it was a choice I didn't expect and actually done well as someone who has worked with SA survivors of all genders.
I really think that the characters could have been aged up five years and removed from college (it had no meaningful relationship and the Mafia (mafia royalty feels like the modern version of Cherokee princess).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-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:
Yes
WHAT. THE. HELL. (mind my language i just finished reading and i think rina’s wiritjfng has infected my brain or something 💔)
i thought all the tiktoks and hype was glazing.
NO THE FUCK IT WASNT!!!!!
this book has done irreversible damage to me because there was genuinely no reason for it to be THAT addicting like holy shit i finished this entire thing in a day even though i was busy as hell. like. i was reading this shit in public. i picked this up in barnes and noble and expected to read the first few pages, maybe to buy and download it on my phone, but i genuinely couldn’t put it down. what the fuck. i hate buying physical books especially at full price. so this was me exploring a new part of me just like bran HA HA
okay okay now i need to get into what genuinely made this probably my #1 book of the year:
NIKOLAI AND BRANDON DONT FIX EACH OTHER THEY HEAL EACH OTHER
it is so easy to create a plot which revolves around both LIs being fucked in the head and to just have them magically fixed with #power of love, and to an untrained eye this book MAY seem like it fits in that category. but absolutely FUCKING not!!! they STRUGGLE, they RELAPSE, THEY ARE REAL
and also…the PROGRESSION… wow…to see them both evolve, to become more like each other and admire each others’ lifestyle but while staying true and authentic to themselves..???? peak. just peak.
i genuinely really liked both characters SO MUCH from the literal get go, which i think is a major factor in how enjoyable this book was. i literally cannot choose if i like nikolai or brandon more as a character because they’re both like their own seasoning, they completely excel at what they are, but they’re completely different and somehow infinitely better when combined. ik some people found nikolai naming his dingaling weird but i fear this isn’t the weirdest thing he’s done guys 😭😭 also i fear ive named both of my boobs years before i read this book so like it’s not that uncommon guys! nikolai is me in another universe. anyways BRANDON wow he’s chefs kiss, i completely enjoyed all of his POVs because he’s absolutely nothing like me and i love seeing different ways of thinking. also, his entire arc, backstory, thoughts…dude i was in the TRENCHES for this guy, i was looking all melancholy out the window like i knew him personally!!!
additionally i fear opposites attract and grumpy x sunshine are my two ABSOLUTE FAVORITE tropes so like no wonder im glazing the fuck out of this
TL;DR
READ RHE FUCKING BOOK ALREADYYYYYYYY 😁
i thought all the tiktoks and hype was glazing.
NO THE FUCK IT WASNT!!!!!
this book has done irreversible damage to me because there was genuinely no reason for it to be THAT addicting like holy shit i finished this entire thing in a day even though i was busy as hell. like. i was reading this shit in public. i picked this up in barnes and noble and expected to read the first few pages, maybe to buy and download it on my phone, but i genuinely couldn’t put it down. what the fuck. i hate buying physical books especially at full price. so this was me exploring a new part of me just like bran HA HA
okay okay now i need to get into what genuinely made this probably my #1 book of the year:
NIKOLAI AND BRANDON DONT FIX EACH OTHER THEY HEAL EACH OTHER
it is so easy to create a plot which revolves around both LIs being fucked in the head and to just have them magically fixed with #power of love, and to an untrained eye this book MAY seem like it fits in that category. but absolutely FUCKING not!!! they STRUGGLE, they RELAPSE, THEY ARE REAL
and also…the PROGRESSION… wow…to see them both evolve, to become more like each other and admire each others’ lifestyle but while staying true and authentic to themselves..???? peak. just peak.
i genuinely really liked both characters SO MUCH from the literal get go, which i think is a major factor in how enjoyable this book was. i literally cannot choose if i like nikolai or brandon more as a character because they’re both like their own seasoning, they completely excel at what they are, but they’re completely different and somehow infinitely better when combined. ik some people found nikolai naming his dingaling weird but i fear this isn’t the weirdest thing he’s done guys 😭😭 also i fear ive named both of my boobs years before i read this book so like it’s not that uncommon guys! nikolai is me in another universe. anyways BRANDON wow he’s chefs kiss, i completely enjoyed all of his POVs because he’s absolutely nothing like me and i love seeing different ways of thinking. also, his entire arc, backstory, thoughts…dude i was in the TRENCHES for this guy, i was looking all melancholy out the window like i knew him personally!!!
additionally i fear opposites attract and grumpy x sunshine are my two ABSOLUTE FAVORITE tropes so like no wonder im glazing the fuck out of this
TL;DR
READ RHE FUCKING BOOK ALREADYYYYYYYY 😁
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Acephobia/Arophobia
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Dysphoria
Minor: Violence, Blood
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The smut is good but there is zero character development. Their character traits/jobs/actions don’t match how they act in relationships. Actions don’t make sense. Lots of psychological drama and trauma that is unaddressed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read trigger warnings before reading book. Has Mafia references but not Mafia focused.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Addiction
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
I thought I'd hate this book, but no. I did not expect I would cry over them and over what happened and be happy they got together. I HATE THEM
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Stalking
Minor: Homophobia, Blood
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
Yep. I was right. I knew this book would take a the cake. Easily my favorite out of all the rina kent books i’ve read.niko and brandon were bound to my favorites after their first mention.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt