Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - Torn

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Torn by Carian Cole

10 reviews

vanessaedwards1882's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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geooo's review against another edition

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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? No

So he has sexual thoughts about her at 17, raised her since the moment she was born, changed her diapers, when asked in public by a stranger said she was his daughters, the multiple comments about being like a dad to her, her saying that he would be a good father because of how good he raised her and people around them actually supporting and having no problem with an adult and a 17 year old (he kissed her at that age) and saying that the age of consent is 16 so it doesn't fucking matters. Also his brother (accused of raping another girl), the main character in the next book, has said to her this: ""My car died and my phone doesn't work. I didn't know what to do."
"Evil lurks in the dark, waiting for girls like you. I could have just raped the shit out of you. Or worse. Don't think it didn't fuckin' cross my mind."
I blink at him, frozen with fear. I'm alone in the dark with a lunatic who just admitted he thought about raping me." Yeah, who doesn't like rapists and pedophiles.

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samalamav's review against another edition

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challenging medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

I saw this book when I was strolling through Barnes & Noble and did a double take after reading the synopsis because I could not believe what I read. And I think the majority of us could understand why (at least the sane girlies). Because what do you mean the man who helped raised you is now the object of your affections? I was going to give zero stars immediately but I was urged by my peers to read before I rate anything. In hindsight, I should've just gave it the zero stars (which unfortunately doesn't exist on here) instead of spending three days inducing brain rot.

Toren, who raised our main character (and should be in jail) mirrors the same thoughts, but also doesn't listen to them. He defines the situation perfectly at some point saying,

"She’s so damn perfect for me. And maybe I made her that way by spending too much time with her over the years. I meshed her into every part of my life, and now she’s grown into someone who cares as much about the things that are important to me as I do."

Homeboy is declaring, shouting from the rooftops about how he groomed her. Hello? Anyone home??

Main plot aside, the story is a bit messy. To start, I didn't feel like the author set the scene right. There is really no depth to the characters. Kenzi, the child, has no dreams. At 17 years old, she's like, "Ah, I'm so different from all the kids my age...I just want a family." Meanwhile, she has the resources to do literally anything. I don't even want to save anyone.

The author leaves us with a note stating,

"I hope you enjoyed their love story. My goal for every book I write is to showcase an unconventional romance that will leave the reader closing the book believing in all kinds of happily-ever-afters."

I don't think this a battle we should be fighting for, truly. I did not finish this with a lighter heart. Actually, my heart is heavy. Reading this book was an experience. To read how the characters are rationalizing the situation was unsettling. To mention she's a legal adult? As if any law dictates when a person can make a rational choice and avoid manipulation? It is more than the age gap. It is the fact that he raised her and she hasn't experienced life outside of that small town bubble.

The way every chapter starts with a flashback? It somehow made the story worse. Why would I want to know how their relationship was at 5 years old and 20 years old? I don't even want to know what's going on at 18 and 33. The bouts of jealousy throughout the years when Kenzi is younger regarding Toren and his partners is beyond weird. Incomprehensible. And when Toren meets Kenzi for the first time, it gives Jacob imprinting on Renesmee. Actually, speaking of the supernatural, that is what this book gave. They are not humans with brains. They are just controlled by urges. Be so fr.

I think the timing is also very off. The day Kenzi turns 18, they're essentially texting sexy pics to each other??? and he downloads them onto his computer to wank? and then within a month or two of her turning 18, they have unprotected xxx where she could've been pregnant if she wasn't on the pill? cause he did in fact nut and it was her first time??? I couldn't enjoy the sexy parts because it just felt so wrong. In so many ways. Someone call the feds, please.

And then Kenzi's father finds out about them pretty late in the story, but also the end of the story is just a whole lot of whiplash that's not worth talking about. Anyway, they marry and have a baby, Kenzi's dream.

All in all, I would not recommend this to anyone. I could not relate to any character because Kenzi is a child and Toren, the adult, acted like a child as well. It gave pick me. It gave no one else understands me like you. It gave loneliness and they found solace in each other when in actuality Kenzi should've had a euro summer or something. Literally anything. She had the funds.

I could keep going, but I would love to put this story to rest and never think about it again. But before I do, I would love to share a wish of mine (like Kenzi and Toren do throughout the story).

I hope every girl in this world experiences many things in life! Live their life to the fullest! Grow into the best version of themself! Kiss many people! Love many people! And do many things that spark joy! Before making someone else in their life happy their life's purpose.

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adnaram's review against another edition

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challenging medium-paced

2.0

Yowza

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ummmokaythen's review against another edition

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0.25

when kenzie’s dad punched toren in the face angels started singing

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lololovesthings's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

I am honestly struggling to give "Torn" by Carian Cole a traditional star rating because of how I felt about the story's premise from the get-go. Look... this one's on me. I should have read the description before I pushed "ACCEPT" on this book. I totally understand that some readers *love* taboo books. Some people think "the more taboo, the better." Age gaps in romance are fine... unless one of the characters is hardly over the age of consent. To me, there's a stark difference between taboo and straight-up gr00ming. The main male character, Tor, is 32, and the main female character, Kenzi, is 17 when the book begins, and she is the same age when they share their first romantic kiss. Tor has essentially been an "uncle" type of figure to Kenzi and was there the literal first day she was born. Tor is Kenzi's dad's best friend, and Tor was in love with Kenzi's mother before her father swooped and scooped her away from him. Only a short time later, when they were all 15/16-ish, Kenzi was born. Tor changed her diapers. He read her stories to help her go to sleep. He kept the Valentine's Day cards Kenzi gave him. He said she was the love of his life, that they were destined to be together, that she was born to be his. How do I know all of these details from when Kenzi was growing up? Carian Cole alternates the present-day storyline with flashbacks of their childhoods (!!!) to tell the tale of their "epic forbidden love story." ICK ICK ICK ICK ICK. No, no, no! I read the whole book, but I sort of wish I hadn't. The only way for this story to work at all without the FBI getting involved is for Cole to mention that the age of consent is 16 in the state they are in (which is mentioned a handful of times, just for good measure). That's literally how they skirt around it being "icky." Well, guess what... IT'S STILL ICKY! Tor calling Kenzi "a mature 17-year-old" is also giving P3RVERT! In my mind, if you *don't* call her mature and set that precedent early on, you're running the risk of getting yourself put on a government watchlist.

So, what's good about this book? Well, besides its content, it is competently written. I like that Tor saves dogs. That's about it, so I guess I'll give it 2 stars, one for each thing I liked. Again, this might be the book for you, but it certainly was not for me.

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what_karla_reads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

4/5 stars
3/5 spice

Tropes:
Taboo/Forbidden romance
Age gap (15yrs)
Virgin FMC
Mutual pining
Secret relationship
Dual POV

Despite the taboo aspect of the story it was very sweet. I enjoyed the mutual pining and forbidden romance but I honestly wish the MCs were a bit older in the story. Just my personal preference. Overall, the storyline was good and full of tension. I will definitely read up on the other characters because I'm invested in this whole family now.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

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