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hapalyn's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
About 3/4 of the way through this book, I knew my review would be (unfortunately) not... entirely positive.
I adore Mariana Zapata, and I've read at least four of her other books (All Rhodes Lead Here, The Wall of Winnipeg, Kulti, From Lukov With Love), and I know this is one of her earliest releases if not her first. So, I recognize this isn't really her best.
All of that out of the way, this book is pretty rough. There's redeeming qualities; the characters have cute moments and the dynamics are generally sweet on the outside. I think certain scenes really just had me jaw-dropped with how they were even published. Spoilers ahead here that aren't super life-changing but here's a warning anyway ->After the fmc is slapped in the face and threatened at gunpoint by some Croatian gangsters (which don't get me started on the logistics of that), the mmc is obviously really upset. Totally natural. Tell me why, after they were both safely at home figuring out a plan to resolve the conflict at hand, SHE calms HIM down with a blowjob?? It felt very ridiculous and just like the guy was being too self-centered. I mean she was the one assaulted and threatened??
CHARACTERS: The mmc was kind of easily angered, I don't think he was an overall abusive character (by my standards, which I think are generally fair), but he had moments where his emotional outbursts would be considered abusive. The age gap really wasn't anything too insane (fmc - 24 ; mmc - 33?), but the fmc was treated like a rogue teenager by mmc and her brother (also 33). It felt juvenile. Like, the fmc is very infantilized (generally refuses to swear, calls 33 year olds "old" in a way that just seems ridiculous... most 24 y/os don't really notice or care about this type of gap, she's constantly lectured and chewed out in public scenarios in an embarrassing manner) whilst the other adults around her are relatively normal.
LANGUAGE/GRAMMAR: If you're a person easily pissed off by overuse of words in books (not catchphrases, just ... the same additives), you're going to be trekking through hell in this one. The use of "friggin'" instead of fuck or frick was like...... exhausting. The mmc uses babe/baby/honey a lot, which I figured was just an attempt at southern hospitality, but I noticed a lot of other people irritated with this. It was just exhausting.
FMC/MMC RELATIONSHIP: For a Mariana Zapata book, the character got together pretty quickly, which had me thinking "Oh, great.. the third act breakup is going to be so irritating and long and drawn out". Which, fortunately or unfortunately it wasn't. Spoilers again ->FMC went to a dangerous rival club to confront rival gang leader, left unscatched. Keep in mind she's a grown adult. Later on when this blows back on her (naturally), mmc freaks out and chews her out publicly (degrading and embarrassing). She naturally is pissed off with his careless words, he is basically only angry that she's angry with him. It lasted a short amount of time (maybe less than 10 pages). Just dramatic and ended up with fmc feeling guilty for her rightful anger? subsequently apologizing... which was annoying
SPICE & MISC SEX STUFF: Compared to her newer books, this book had several detailed and graphic sex scenes. It wasn't really for me, but if that is what interests you the most, then there's enough to be somewhat satisfying in my opinion. However, there is the virgin girl with guy who's been around trope. It was really just kind of grating. She would feel insecure about his past hookups (which, I'd say is valid? I really think it is a natural thing to come up in this scenario and valid "concern" for lack of a better word, but he'd kind of brush it off and she'd convince herself she was being "dramatic") and it was just an unnecessarily subplot. Not to mention the fact that, if you're a feminist, you'll for sure be bothered by the slut-shaming and use of bitch/whore/etc.
CLIMAX/PLOT/RESOLUTION?: The way this book ended felt rushed. Around page 300, I was like.. "Why is there another 100+ pages to go?". By then we'd already had an established relationship, but then we had family drama + and unnecessary (in my opinion) gang plotline. The resolution between fmc and her dad that happened like 10-20 pages before the end of the book was unsatisfying, rushed, and just not even needed. It was unsatisfying all around. I don't think the plot (aside from the romance) in general was anything to write home about. If you're going to read it, read it for the characters or romance - not the plotline.
And as long as this review is, I can say there was enough "cute" moments to push me through it (I almost DNFed around page 300). I probably wouldn't reread this book compared to some of her others, but if you do have an interest in tattoos, bikers, etc. then maybe it has some value to you. I would never recommend starting off your Zapata introduction with this book, read her newer stuff. Despite not being totally horrible, there was enough to irritate me into not wanting to read this again.
trigger warnings & tropes (i get detailed):
- cancer (main character & side character's child)
- death of a parent (cancer)
- alcohol, bars
- hookup culture, sex, graphic sex scenes
- swearing
- brother's... friend? not best friend
- biker gang
- age gap (24 fmc & 33 mmc)
- deadbeat dad
- alcoholic dad
- pregnancy in epilogue
- descriptions of vomit
- (for all of those who regularly read mariana zapata, you know) there's fart mentions, shit mentions, etc. the typical from her
that's all i can think of off the top of my head
I adore Mariana Zapata, and I've read at least four of her other books (All Rhodes Lead Here, The Wall of Winnipeg, Kulti, From Lukov With Love), and I know this is one of her earliest releases if not her first. So, I recognize this isn't really her best.
All of that out of the way, this book is pretty rough. There's redeeming qualities; the characters have cute moments and the dynamics are generally sweet on the outside. I think certain scenes really just had me jaw-dropped with how they were even published. Spoilers ahead here that aren't super life-changing but here's a warning anyway ->
CHARACTERS: The mmc was kind of easily angered, I don't think he was an overall abusive character (by my standards, which I think are generally fair), but he had moments where his emotional outbursts would be considered abusive. The age gap really wasn't anything too insane (fmc - 24 ; mmc - 33?), but the fmc was treated like a rogue teenager by mmc and her brother (also 33). It felt juvenile. Like, the fmc is very infantilized (generally refuses to swear, calls 33 year olds "old" in a way that just seems ridiculous... most 24 y/os don't really notice or care about this type of gap, she's constantly lectured and chewed out in public scenarios in an embarrassing manner) whilst the other adults around her are relatively normal.
LANGUAGE/GRAMMAR: If you're a person easily pissed off by overuse of words in books (not catchphrases, just ... the same additives), you're going to be trekking through hell in this one. The use of "friggin'" instead of fuck or frick was like...... exhausting. The mmc uses babe/baby/honey a lot, which I figured was just an attempt at southern hospitality, but I noticed a lot of other people irritated with this. It was just exhausting.
FMC/MMC RELATIONSHIP: For a Mariana Zapata book, the character got together pretty quickly, which had me thinking "Oh, great.. the third act breakup is going to be so irritating and long and drawn out". Which, fortunately or unfortunately it wasn't. Spoilers again ->
SPICE & MISC SEX STUFF: Compared to her newer books, this book had several detailed and graphic sex scenes. It wasn't really for me, but if that is what interests you the most, then there's enough to be somewhat satisfying in my opinion. However, there is the virgin girl with guy who's been around trope. It was really just kind of grating. She would feel insecure about his past hookups (which, I'd say is valid? I really think it is a natural thing to come up in this scenario and valid "concern" for lack of a better word, but he'd kind of brush it off and she'd convince herself she was being "dramatic") and it was just an unnecessarily subplot. Not to mention the fact that, if you're a feminist, you'll for sure be bothered by the slut-shaming and use of bitch/whore/etc.
CLIMAX/PLOT/RESOLUTION?: The way this book ended felt rushed. Around page 300, I was like.. "Why is there another 100+ pages to go?". By then we'd already had an established relationship, but then we had family drama + and unnecessary (in my opinion) gang plotline. The resolution between fmc and her dad that happened like 10-20 pages before the end of the book was unsatisfying, rushed, and just not even needed. It was unsatisfying all around. I don't think the plot (aside from the romance) in general was anything to write home about. If you're going to read it, read it for the characters or romance - not the plotline.
And as long as this review is, I can say there was enough "cute" moments to push me through it (I almost DNFed around page 300). I probably wouldn't reread this book compared to some of her others, but if you do have an interest in tattoos, bikers, etc. then maybe it has some value to you. I would never recommend starting off your Zapata introduction with this book, read her newer stuff. Despite not being totally horrible, there was enough to irritate me into not wanting to read this again.
trigger warnings & tropes (i get detailed):
- cancer (main character & side character's child)
- death of a parent (cancer)
- alcohol, bars
- hookup culture, sex, graphic sex scenes
- swearing
- brother's... friend? not best friend
- biker gang
- age gap (24 fmc & 33 mmc)
- deadbeat dad
- alcoholic dad
- pregnancy in epilogue
- descriptions of vomit
- (for all of those who regularly read mariana zapata, you know) there's fart mentions, shit mentions, etc. the typical from her
that's all i can think of off the top of my head
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Cancer, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content and Vomit
Minor: Pregnancy
birbpal's review
emotional
slow-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
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 Stars
This book was such a delight from Miss Mariana. Seriously, I was not expecting the spice level this book supplied! 😳 I was pleasantly surprised.
What I wasn't surprised about was the deliciousy grumpy MMC that is Dex Locke. He was low-key a jerk but swoon nonetheless. He was fiercely loyal, protective, and hot. Tattoos and piercings? Hell yes!🫠🙏
Now in typical Mariana fashion, this book was single-pov in the FMC's perspective. As the FMC, Iris was kind of hard to like sometimes. She made dumbass decisions, and she was a pushover. These were frustrating qualities, but the worst thing about her has to be her dry personality.
Iris really didn't do much. She liked to swim and read, but other than a few instances or mentions, those hobbies really didn't make her feel fleshed out to me. Iris let others dictate what she did, even in the end, when she decided to go back to school. I also hate that she apparently has a best friend named Lanie, who was mentioned a couple of times, and yet, we never got a single instance of her and Iris interacting with each other. Like, what's even the point?
Yes, I liked reading this book, but Iris as a character was hard to enjoy. Everything else about the book was really great. Sonny was an amazing older brother, Dex's employees were funny and sweet, even Luther the prez of the MC was an interesting character.
Overall, if you have a hefty amount of patience, I think you'll be able to read this book. All other aspects were enjoyable, especially if you are looking for something a bit spicier from Miss Mariana. Give it a go.🐥💕
This book was such a delight from Miss Mariana. Seriously, I was not expecting the spice level this book supplied! 😳 I was pleasantly surprised.
What I wasn't surprised about was the deliciousy grumpy MMC that is Dex Locke. He was low-key a jerk but swoon nonetheless. He was fiercely loyal, protective, and hot. Tattoos and piercings? Hell yes!🫠🙏
Now in typical Mariana fashion, this book was single-pov in the FMC's perspective. As the FMC, Iris was kind of hard to like sometimes. She made dumbass decisions, and she was a pushover. These were frustrating qualities, but the worst thing about her has to be her dry personality.
Iris really didn't do much. She liked to swim and read, but other than a few instances or mentions, those hobbies really didn't make her feel fleshed out to me. Iris let others dictate what she did, even in the end, when she decided to go back to school. I also hate that she apparently has a best friend named Lanie, who was mentioned a couple of times, and yet, we never got a single instance of her and Iris interacting with each other. Like, what's even the point?
Yes, I liked reading this book, but Iris as a character was hard to enjoy. Everything else about the book was really great. Sonny was an amazing older brother, Dex's employees were funny and sweet, even Luther the prez of the MC was an interesting character.
Overall, if you have a hefty amount of patience, I think you'll be able to read this book. All other aspects were enjoyable, especially if you are looking for something a bit spicier from Miss Mariana. Give it a go.🐥💕
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Cancer, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism
bluejayreads17's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
marippe's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.25
Includes spoilers + talks of sexism
I feel very conflicted about this book. I enjoy Mariana's writing style a lot, it really lets me feel like we're entering into a real town, with all the local personalities. I feel like Iris' voice was very fleshed out.
Overall, I was finding myself extremely irritated. This book is extremely sexist, and I get that's the town it's set in, but our narrator and FMC Iris does little to counter this. She expresses when people are objectifying her and how she dislikes it but she does little about it in the narrative.
Rather, she expresses a misogynistic view of her own - slut shaming the many women around her. For example:
I feel very conflicted about this book. I enjoy Mariana's writing style a lot, it really lets me feel like we're entering into a real town, with all the local personalities. I feel like Iris' voice was very fleshed out.
Overall, I was finding myself extremely irritated. This book is extremely sexist, and I get that's the town it's set in, but our narrator and FMC Iris does little to counter this. She expresses when people are objectifying her and how she dislikes it but she does little about it in the narrative.
Rather, she expresses a misogynistic view of her own - slut shaming the many women around her. For example:
- "A blonde woman in a very wrinkled dress that screamed she wasn’t opposed to public fondling."
- "I felt like a drunken prostitute on the way through the hotel lobby and up the elevator with the two friends."
- "Most girls my age were usually trying to take clothes off instead of putting more on. That seemed to be the story of my life. When some people my age were worrying about certain things, I’d be stuck tackling a whole different type of monster. Oh well."
- "I bet no one else got to see his spare bedroom of comic stuff. Iris 1, Hookers Pre-Iris 0."
This "i'm not like other girls" slut-shamey bullshit was AWFUL. She feels as if she feels better than the other women just because she's a virgin and hasn't slept around. Her reaction to Luther's activities in the bar was odd to me, why is it not the predatory men going after women that are young enough to be their children? I get she doesn't agree with Luther wanting younger women, but it's not an equal blame scenario when the women in this town are basically second class citizens. I'm sad we didn't really get to know more about Blue, she could've helped counter this.
Dex was alright, his use of bitch to address women was a major ick and just personally turned me off. I know he's supposed to be a bad guy and sure he can be that bad guy, but that doesn't mean I gotta route for him. At least he's self aware, and he seemed to learn not to address women like that. His nicknames and dirty talk made me cringe tho.
Also??? why is it in books/media that people feel so entitled to know everything about each other? like being mad a friend held a personal secret. why is slim irritated that iris never mentioned that she had cancer? she didn't need to mention it.
Also also? The constant reference to refer to Sonny as her "half-brother" and how he's "not really her sibling" is very ??? That is your brother stop being so weird about it
This book had good potential because I did think it had interesting points, but it needed a lot more reworking and self awareness.
Dex was alright, his use of bitch to address women was a major ick and just personally turned me off. I know he's supposed to be a bad guy and sure he can be that bad guy, but that doesn't mean I gotta route for him. At least he's self aware, and he seemed to learn not to address women like that. His nicknames and dirty talk made me cringe tho.
Also??? why is it in books/media that people feel so entitled to know everything about each other? like being mad a friend held a personal secret. why is slim irritated that iris never mentioned that she had cancer? she didn't need to mention it.
Also also? The constant reference to refer to Sonny as her "half-brother" and how he's "not really her sibling" is very ??? That is your brother stop being so weird about it
This book had good potential because I did think it had interesting points, but it needed a lot more reworking and self awareness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexual content, Vomit, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Violence
popdrinkm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
tsiuqtluh's review against another edition
emotional
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Cursing, and Violence
ash's review against another edition
1.0
minus one star for writing “babe” 160 goddamn times into this book. minus another star for man with severe anger management issues and NO PLANS FOR THERAPY i fear for that kid on the way truly . minus another star for the “slutty women” trope and calling a random lady a hussy bc she wore a mini skirt. and minus one last star for not respecting the basic rules of consent. thank you and good night
also why was he totally fine with smoking around her (despite supposedly knowing secondhand smoke kills) before he knew about her cancer and then after finding out all of a sudden he’s a no smoking boy scout????? like bro? when he didn't know she had cancer, he wasn’t willing to quit and asked her if she was gonna make a big deal about it, but after finding out about the cancer all of a sudden that secondhand smoke is bad and not good to be around????????? AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SWOON WHEN HE SAYS THIS??????????????? be so fucking for real right now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Grief, Gun violence, Death of parent, Cancer, Cursing, Medical content, and Violence
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
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
2.5
Iris has recently lost her job and moves from Florida to Austin to live with her half brother, Sonny. Sonny gets her a job at a tattoo shop belonging to Dex.
I really liked Iris. She was quiet and shy, but once she became more comfortable around her coworkers, she was very funny and loyal. She has been through so much pain in her 24 years. She suffered so much loss, abandonment, health issues, and having to raise her sibling. I felt like she was very naive and overly trusting. She was very self-conscious of her scar, which any 20 year old woman would be, but that was the focus of way too much of the book.
I struggled to understand Dex. He is very one dimensional. We know that he is an angry, possessive, tall, tattoo covered hot guy, and that's about it. We don't really get much depth from his character.
He was such an asshole to Iris from the start, but called her babe and baby. Weird. He was unnecessarily angry all the time. He would blow up over the most minor things. We don't really get a reason as to his anger issues (other than the mention that his dad was a dick), nor did he really deal with his issues. This is a major red flag. Then all of a sudden he flips and goes alpha possessive over Iris. The complete 180 is very confusing. He was just way too misogynistic and sexist IMHO.
The bad boy/good girl trope was definitely being played up. The problem is that Iris is way too good for Dex. Yes, she thought he was hot, but he treated her like shit. Then he just laid claim to her one day and she just accepted it. She never really took the time to heal or learn about herself. She just went from a shitty situation to a relationship with an overbearing man.
I liked the Tattoo shop setting and Iris' coworkers. I enjoyed the bond she formed with them and how open she was able to be with them. I also really appreciated how much Sonny looked after her and took care of her.
Tropes: workplace, Biker Gangs, Slowburn, Forced Proximity, Brother's friend, Age Gap (24 x 33), Grumpy x Sunshine, Virgin FMC
I really liked Iris. She was quiet and shy, but once she became more comfortable around her coworkers, she was very funny and loyal. She has been through so much pain in her 24 years. She suffered so much loss, abandonment, health issues, and having to raise her sibling. I felt like she was very naive and overly trusting. She was very self-conscious of her scar, which any 20 year old woman would be, but that was the focus of way too much of the book.
I struggled to understand Dex. He is very one dimensional. We know that he is an angry, possessive, tall, tattoo covered hot guy, and that's about it. We don't really get much depth from his character.
He was such an asshole to Iris from the start, but called her babe and baby. Weird. He was unnecessarily angry all the time. He would blow up over the most minor things. We don't really get a reason as to his anger issues (other than the mention that his dad was a dick), nor did he really deal with his issues. This is a major red flag. Then all of a sudden he flips and goes alpha possessive over Iris. The complete 180 is very confusing. He was just way too misogynistic and sexist IMHO.
The bad boy/good girl trope was definitely being played up. The problem is that Iris is way too good for Dex. Yes, she thought he was hot, but he treated her like shit. Then he just laid claim to her one day and she just accepted it. She never really took the time to heal or learn about herself. She just went from a shitty situation to a relationship with an overbearing man.
I liked the Tattoo shop setting and Iris' coworkers. I enjoyed the bond she formed with them and how open she was able to be with them. I also really appreciated how much Sonny looked after her and took care of her.
Tropes: workplace, Biker Gangs, Slowburn, Forced Proximity, Brother's friend, Age Gap (24 x 33), Grumpy x Sunshine, Virgin FMC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, Abandonment, Body shaming, Grief, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
landawn's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Turns out mafia-adjacent romances are definitely NOT for me.
Main gripes:
The slut shaming.
The asshole MMC who won’t try to regulate his emotions.
The immature FMC.
The unnecessary length (300 pages too many)
Should’ve been a DNF!
Main gripes:
The slut shaming.
The asshole MMC who won’t try to regulate his emotions.
The immature FMC.
The unnecessary length (300 pages too many)
Should’ve been a DNF!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, and Cancer
Minor: Grief and Death of parent
kiahmarieee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy and Murder