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erostherose's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
“This is mine,” he whispers aggressively. “All mine. Do you understand?”
So firstly, LOL.
I’ve seen the movies multiple times and have never read the books although they’ve been on my bookshelf for years.
I went into this expecting a sense of unintended comedic relief, which I received. The book isn’t TERRIBLE for what it is but it’s definitely cringy and basic.
I’m not a “spicy” book reader but as a nonbinary, black and queer person… I am not the target audience nor did it reach my own wants if I was to read a spicy novel.
I watched the movie afterwards and it makes so much sense why people were so upset with the casting of Christian Grey. 😂 Again, not a spicy reader but I had high hopes of who could play these roles (excluding me knowing who was already casted)… so I can side with the Fifty Shades haters on that one.
I recommend this book if you are into BSDM adjacent ventures or a spicy book reader.. you’ll get a laugh or two by the end of it.
So firstly, LOL.
I’ve seen the movies multiple times and have never read the books although they’ve been on my bookshelf for years.
I went into this expecting a sense of unintended comedic relief, which I received. The book isn’t TERRIBLE for what it is but it’s definitely cringy and basic.
I’m not a “spicy” book reader but as a nonbinary, black and queer person… I am not the target audience nor did it reach my own wants if I was to read a spicy novel.
I watched the movie afterwards and it makes so much sense why people were so upset with the casting of Christian Grey. 😂 Again, not a spicy reader but I had high hopes of who could play these roles (excluding me knowing who was already casted)… so I can side with the Fifty Shades haters on that one.
I recommend this book if you are into BSDM adjacent ventures or a spicy book reader.. you’ll get a laugh or two by the end of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Stalking
heather667's review
dark
emotional
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Grief, and Stalking
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Child abuse
cc_1978's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
inkshadows's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infidelity, and Pedophilia
elledanie's review against another edition
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
2.5
Was going to give it only two stars but love that they broke up as the ending😂 even tho I know they get back together🙄 Not cool for the author to not answer all questions or fill-in character/plot holes but to purposely drag it out into another book🙄🙄
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
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.emadisonc's review
emotional
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
“Grey—you’re on my shit list, and I’m watching you.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Stalking
rain_buck's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Stalking
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Cursing