Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Truly Forbidden

Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Truly Forbidden by L.J. Shen

16 reviews

everythinginbetween's review against another edition

3.5

emotional funny hopeful sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This hooks you right from the start, but the drammmmaaaa. I did feel Row and Dylan were just a tad harsh on Cal, and our MCs were immature at times. I did enjoy the authenticity that L.J. used to represent the FMC, and the banter was truly entertaining. You end up really feeling for these characters and all that they go through and the growth they experience over the course of those 5ish years. As always, check those trigger warnings.

Tropes:
🌟 Grump x sunshine (like hard-core grump)
🌟 He's different with her
🌟 He falls first
🌟 Childhood frienemies to lovers
🌟 All the banter
🌟 FMC who has all the 90s vibes

Content Warnings

cmaree88's review against another edition

2.75

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I'll admit that I read this book because I saw a VERY spicy snippet on FB of the 2nd book in the series. Being a completionist, I wanted to start with the first book. I needn't have bothered.

I've read my fair share of spicy romance and some straight up smut. Some have interesting plots and engaging or even memorable characters. Plenty are well-written. This one was just drowning in its own drama with a hefty dose of emotional turmoil. I really should've read the trigger warnings for once.

I read closely for the first half and then skimmed the second half to make sure I got the pertinent dialogue and spice. There was plenty of spice (though later in the book than I expected) but some of it got...icky. I don't want to kink shame, but it just wasn't all for me.

The dialogue was so quippy--and yet profanity filled--that Amy Sherman Palladino would be proud. Never was a metaphor opportunity missed, and it was pretty cringe overall. The characters all went by gender neutral nicknames and don't get me STARTED on the horrible baby name!

I'm all for an enemies to lovers but the amount of crap that our MMC throws on the FMC is an effort to distance himself was upsetting. He emotionally and verbally abused her and claimed he loved her in the same breath. I get that all these people had traumatic childhoods but this isn't healthy.

Finally, maybe I'm being a 33yo millennial grump but I really couldn't take seriously that the FMC's passionate, scary dream career goal was to be a true crime podcast host. Really?

Content Warnings

myhearteatsbooks's review against another edition

4.5

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

ali_gilbertson's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional medium-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

Content Warnings

jennn_3's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 41%

I gave a good try because I was intrigued by the plot but it was poorly handled. Checked some other reviews and saw that some trigger warning are missing. That the plot stays drawn out and more concerns of mine were gonna happen. So yeah I’m not gonna keep putting in the time on this one

Content Warnings

mcspillsted's review against another edition

2.75

lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

is it a third act break up if they were never together and always in luv

Content Warnings

kreiserr's review against another edition

5.0

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

Content Warnings

thatdamntiffy's review against another edition

3.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

Content Warnings

kats_got_your_bookstagram's review against another edition

4.0

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was a sweet and spice enemies to lovers/grumpy x sunshine romance that really shows the rollercoaster of love. I really enjoyed the banter between Ambrose and Cal and their overall chemistry was was so well written that I was rooting for them the whole time!

This book did discuss some tough subjects such as mental health and abuse that I thought was handled very well.

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the performances by Teddy Hamilton and Lila Winters.

Content Warnings

rearose's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

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