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sombre_confetti's review
I only got a 100 pages in and had to stop. I don't force myself to read terrible, awful things.
The writing is juvenile in every way, it's so cliched it's ridiculous. Just because you change the names and descriptions of the characters from your Twilight fanfiction doesn't make it original fiction. There is no plot only sex and not good/hot sex either. The author has no idea what real sex is like. The sex in the book is unrealistic and if it happened in real life would be painful! The female lead acts like a naive, and clueless 16/17 year old not a 21 almost 22 year old is that is going to graduate with a degree in English Literature. She has the emotional depth of a puddle. The male lead is supposed to be well versed in BDSM sex but he has no idea how to have vanilla sex. Sex if done right, even if it's the females first time, should be pleasurable and there should be no blood on the sheets from penetration!
This book is awful! The author is a terrible, juvenile writer. The characters are one dimensional, and it's clear that she did no research into BDSM culture or American culture. There are British-isms all over the place.
The writing is juvenile in every way, it's so cliched it's ridiculous. Just because you change the names and descriptions of the characters from your Twilight fanfiction doesn't make it original fiction. There is no plot only sex and not good/hot sex either. The author has no idea what real sex is like. The sex in the book is unrealistic and if it happened in real life would be painful! The female lead acts like a naive, and clueless 16/17 year old not a 21 almost 22 year old is that is going to graduate with a degree in English Literature. She has the emotional depth of a puddle. The male lead is supposed to be well versed in BDSM sex but he has no idea how to have vanilla sex. Sex if done right, even if it's the females first time, should be pleasurable and there should be no blood on the sheets from penetration!
This book is awful! The author is a terrible, juvenile writer. The characters are one dimensional, and it's clear that she did no research into BDSM culture or American culture. There are British-isms all over the place.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Sexual harassment
malreads33's review
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
1.0
Such bad grammar that it was distracting. The main character says, “Oh my,” as a response over 200 (!!!) times. I looked it up because it was getting so ridiculous. The character development felt inauthentic. The tragic backstory of the MMC was watered-down and glanced over, leaving him just looking like a kinky asshole who doesn’t want to be close to anyone, except he can’t help it because of some random alluring charm of the FMC. Also was deeply disturbed about the fact that child molestation is painted as okay, just because one of the characters found pleasure in being molested as a child. So gross and disturbing. Sigh. Would not recommend and won’t finish the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, and Blood
nicoletiff's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Stalking, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
pomegranate_muse's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Gaslighting
orionmerlin's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Characters – 4/10
Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele are certainly memorable, but not necessarily for the right reasons. Christian is painted as a tortured, enigmatic billionaire with a dark past, but his character depth never evolves beyond repetitive trauma references. Anastasia, on the other hand, feels one-dimensional, often making decisions that contradict her supposed intelligence. Their dynamic lacks natural progression, and the secondary characters—Kate, José, and Elliot—exist more as plot devices than as meaningful additions to the story. I found myself frustrated by the characters rather than invested in their fates.
Atmosphere/Setting – 5/10
The novel’s setting, largely confined to lavish penthouses, offices, and a few trips outside Seattle, felt serviceable but uninspired. The world lacked the rich detail that makes a setting immersive. While some scenes—particularly those in Christian’s “playroom”—were vividly described, they did not build a compelling world outside of the central relationship. The atmosphere aimed for dark sensuality but often felt superficial, lacking the true psychological weight that would have made the themes more impactful.
Writing Style – 3/10
The writing was repetitive, simplistic, and often awkward. The excessive inner monologue, frequent use of clichés, and over-reliance on phrases like “my inner goddess” made it difficult to take the story seriously. Dialogue felt stilted, and the prose lacked polish. While the writing was easy to follow, it lacked the depth and nuance that could have elevated the book beyond its sensational premise.
Plot – 4/10
The story’s pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of repetitive internal conflict that felt tedious. The central conflict—Christian’s unwillingness to form an emotional bond versus Anastasia’s desire for love—was interesting in theory but became cyclical and frustrating in execution. The tension lacked real stakes, and the narrative relied too heavily on sexual encounters rather than meaningful plot development. The book introduced intriguing themes about control, trauma, and emotional barriers, but it never fully committed to exploring them beyond surface level.
Intrigue – 6/10
Despite its many flaws, the book maintained a level of intrigue. I wanted to see how far the story would push its premise and whether it would evolve into something more profound. The dynamic between Christian and Anastasia, while problematic, had an addictive quality that made it difficult to put the book down. However, much of this intrigue stemmed from curiosity rather than deep emotional investment.
Logic/Relationships – 3/10
The logic behind the relationship was deeply flawed. Christian’s controlling behavior, often excused by his past trauma, lacked genuine emotional depth. Anastasia’s willingness to ignore red flags and dismiss her own discomfort for the sake of being with Christian felt frustratingly inconsistent. The relationship dynamics often romanticized unhealthy power imbalances rather than exploring them in a meaningful way. Many of Anastasia’s reactions to Christian’s actions felt out of character, making the romance feel forced rather than organic.
Enjoyment – 5/10
Despite my many criticisms, I can’t deny that the book had a certain compulsive readability. It was frustrating yet oddly engaging, flawed but undeniably attention-grabbing. I wouldn’t recommend it for its literary merits, but I can understand its appeal as a guilty pleasure or escapist fantasy. However, the problematic relationship dynamics and repetitive writing detracted significantly from my enjoyment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, and Classism
The book heavily features themes of control and power imbalance in relationships, with depictions of emotional and psychological manipulation. While it is framed as a consensual BDSM relationship, aspects of coercion and disregard for boundaries are present. Those sensitive to themes of unhealthy or toxic romantic dynamics should approach with caution.megb64's review
challenging
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? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
cady_sass's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Seemed like the right time to finally give this a shot, was not disappointed. I am slightly baffled as to what made this one particular erotic novel become the absolute pop culture phenomenon that it did, but I have no complaints
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
annaofjesup's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Vomit, and Abandonment
mahra's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I will be very blunt.
I read this when I was 15 (too young, I know), and even at the time I could not believe that a grown adult wrote this. It reads like a bad fanfic written by a teen.
I am not even going to get into this abusive relationship depicted as romantic, and somehow desirable. Shameful.
I read this when I was 15 (too young, I know), and even at the time I could not believe that a grown adult wrote this. It reads like a bad fanfic written by a teen.
I am not even going to get into this abusive relationship depicted as romantic, and somehow desirable. Shameful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
nidaelboustany's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Suicide, Death of parent, and Alcohol