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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Brutal Secret by Laurline Paige
"Hate you like I love you."
"Struth or Trip?"
Emmelina Quinna, twenty-one years old, goes to a club called Spice to celebrate her big birthday with her best friend, Denny. There, she captures the eyes of the man behind the bar, Reid, superman, Mr. Beardy, aka hot bartender, who likes hips, lips, and red hair. Reid is a player, and Lina is a virgin.
Lina's Irish father recently passed away, leaving her and her mom, Giulia, alone. Giulia looks like an Italian model and is getting married to Samuel Sabastian.
I enjoyed watching a Sebastian fall, hard and fast. It's nice to see someone from the Sebastian family acting somewhat normal.
I stopped and started this book several times so the dates wouldn't align.
"Hate you like I love you."
"Struth or Trip?"
Emmelina Quinna, twenty-one years old, goes to a club called Spice to celebrate her big birthday with her best friend, Denny. There, she captures the eyes of the man behind the bar, Reid, superman, Mr. Beardy, aka hot bartender, who likes hips, lips, and red hair. Reid is a player, and Lina is a virgin.
Lina's Irish father recently passed away, leaving her and her mom, Giulia, alone. Giulia looks like an Italian model and is getting married to Samuel Sabastian.
I enjoyed watching a Sebastian fall, hard and fast. It's nice to see someone from the Sebastian family acting somewhat normal.
I stopped and started this book several times so the dates wouldn't align.
the book is cute i like the couple more towards the end of the book but at the beginning i was a hater like the main guy annoyed me sm like why was he being such a hypocrite being like no we can’t be involved w each other you’re off limits but he’s the one going after her and all that and then gets bad when she wants to take it further like ugh but i will say the ending where he did that grand gesture thing was sweet and there wasn’t a third act breakup which i liked especially bc there was enough conflicts for the ending to be like entertaining without it being at the expense of the main couples relationship yk. i will say the book is a little cringy at times but that’s bc whenever books have pop culture references or specific humor from this generations makes me cringe bc it’s not gonna age well but that’s me personally. i really did enjoy the ending of the book that i’m forgetting all the parts i didn’t like bc the book annoyed me during the first half but it was bc of the back and forth thing and i was like can y’all stop fr but also they’re still step cousins like ig thats better than step brother bc it’s like further connection but that’s a little awkward for family reunions but also they met before they knew they were gonna be family so it’s excused ig. also why tf the main guy’s dad not in jail for the shit he be doing like i get its family but it’s implied he raped someone and then took away her kid from her and then he tried blackmailing his son w revenge porn of him and the main girl like lock that man up and the grandpa isn’t gonna do anything and let him have money and power still… yeah ok but at least the main guy didn’t get his dad’s shitty traits but yk it’s still weird but anyways i talk about the main guy too much i like the main girl i find her relatable but also she feels like those self insert wattpad characters but like she’s charming she’s sweet and i wish there was more focus on her backstory bc it’s mentioned how she was going through it during college and high school w her dad’s illness and how he passed away like i wanted to know more about her individually than her and her relationship like the whole dad thing seems like a big part of her character that we’re missing and since we get backstory w the main guy and his family bc she’s now in his family i wish we had that for her but also we didn’t get much about the main guy’s immediate family like there’s some talk about his mom being bought out by her dad to never seen him again so there’s something. the characters are interesting for sure i just wanted more to them besides fucking but like i read this book for the smut let’s be for real but i don’t mind having well developed characters and all that. i did enjoy the book tho like the main couple at the end made me happy w the way they overcame the whole conflict and it felt like a complete ending so i’ll give it like a 7.5/10 like it’s good but also not too memorable imma be honest but she’s cute.
6 stars!!!! So feel good with enough angst and humour to fill me whole! Oh Reid
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
I loved picking up a LP book again, forgot how good an author she is. I enjoyed this though not a fan of the insecure babbling type of heroine. Didn’t really like the push and pull at the beginning with the heroine practically chasing the hero until he finally gave in. I enjoyed the relationship in the last 30% though, it was cute and sweet and also the Sebastian family drama is just delicious. I’ll definitely pick up the others.
This story offers a captivating dive into a complex romance. Lina's endearing awkwardness and Reid's commitment issues draw readers in from the start. Their forbidden connection, complicated by familial ties, unfolds amidst family drama and societal pressures. The story delves into themes like virginity, body image, and inclusivity, albeit with controversial moments. Despite the messy nature of their relationship, the characters' depth and chemistry shine through. The book's unique approach to romance and well-developed characters create an engaging narrative. The audiobook narration enhances the emotional experience, making it a compelling read. This book will keep you hooked, offering a dramatic and memorable journey into the complexities of love and family dynamics.
Another Sebastian to love
When Laurelin Paige decided to continue writing about the Sebastians, she held nothing back. Brutal Billionaire wowed me and Brutal Secret was equally fantastic. We cover a lot of trope ground and do so in a delightful mix of age gap, one night stand, secret relationship, and billionaire romance. Also, I grabbed the audiobook and switched between reading and listening because the story was that good. I loved how dysfunctional the Sebastian family is with the feud and the mix of 3 generations of Sebastians. I also really enjoyed the little bit of happenstance when Lina and Reid met. This story is fast paced, perfectly complex, and a spicy good time… even if it begins with a one night stand that didn’t happen.
On her 21st birthday, Lina and her friend have one mission. Find a guy in the bar and take care of a little V problem that Lina is still having. She meets Reid the bartender and hopes he’s the one. But upon discovery of her predicament, he walks out on her. Months later at her mom’s wedding, she discovers that her would be one-night stand is none other than her new cousin, Reid Sebastian. He’s also the son of her new step-father’s rival. They continually run into each other at family events and the chemistry they shared is just as hot as ever. Even though they delight in tormenting one another, that flame burns even brighter.
At the beginning, it took me a little while to love Lina, but her charm really started showing once the story got going. I eventually found her runaway thoughts as endearing as Reid does; and in audio, Vanessa Edwin did a wonderful job portraying her. Paired with Jason Clarke, it’s even more obvious how opposite Reid and Lina are in the best of ways. The banter and dialogue is what really made me love this story. At times it’s funny and entertaining, there are some really interesting plot elements, and it’s very steamy. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series and know it will be a must read.
When Laurelin Paige decided to continue writing about the Sebastians, she held nothing back. Brutal Billionaire wowed me and Brutal Secret was equally fantastic. We cover a lot of trope ground and do so in a delightful mix of age gap, one night stand, secret relationship, and billionaire romance. Also, I grabbed the audiobook and switched between reading and listening because the story was that good. I loved how dysfunctional the Sebastian family is with the feud and the mix of 3 generations of Sebastians. I also really enjoyed the little bit of happenstance when Lina and Reid met. This story is fast paced, perfectly complex, and a spicy good time… even if it begins with a one night stand that didn’t happen.
On her 21st birthday, Lina and her friend have one mission. Find a guy in the bar and take care of a little V problem that Lina is still having. She meets Reid the bartender and hopes he’s the one. But upon discovery of her predicament, he walks out on her. Months later at her mom’s wedding, she discovers that her would be one-night stand is none other than her new cousin, Reid Sebastian. He’s also the son of her new step-father’s rival. They continually run into each other at family events and the chemistry they shared is just as hot as ever. Even though they delight in tormenting one another, that flame burns even brighter.
At the beginning, it took me a little while to love Lina, but her charm really started showing once the story got going. I eventually found her runaway thoughts as endearing as Reid does; and in audio, Vanessa Edwin did a wonderful job portraying her. Paired with Jason Clarke, it’s even more obvious how opposite Reid and Lina are in the best of ways. The banter and dialogue is what really made me love this story. At times it’s funny and entertaining, there are some really interesting plot elements, and it’s very steamy. I am already looking forward to the next book in the series and know it will be a must read.
This book…is clearly written for Gen Z on TikTok. Which is a fine demographic to target, but a complete shock for those of us who have been reading Laurelin Paige since 2013 like I have, and are finding the writing and direction are not growing and evolving with us. Instead, the FMCs work overtime to repeal feminism and do a nudge-nudge moment in EVERY book that they believe in women’s rights but are thirsty for men’s wrongs more, and the MMCs become terrifying as they argue about the rules about consent and make decisions for the FMCs.
I reviewed the first standalone novel in this duet similarly—that Paige is super keen on writing misogynistic white men who struggle every day with women in the areas of consent and autonomy, and bird-brained white women who are mouthy and some random queer best friend role. She ventured out of GayBFF territory and wrote an ace character but he is not named as such and is framed in a way that shows the male character ~cannot understand~ human beings who are not secksual, because he assumes that he is gay first as if there’s no other reason not to want to sleep with your best friend and roommate.
Reid (dangerously close to Reeve—those who know, know) and Lina are in an age gap relationship but they are the only two people on earth who seem to care about it. Lina even goes so far to ask Reid if he’s a groomer grooming her as if he’s going to slap his knee and say, “You got me!” Lina is also mid-sized and began constantly word vomiting her body image issues without any efforts to build upon that in a way that shows growth in the end. Instead, all we got was an, “Nooooo don’t say ur fat ur so beautiful xD” moment packed between Lina randomly deciding, 50% into the book, to be loudly insecure about her body.
Usually in Paige novels you can tell who is being set up for the next novel(s) and I couldn’t tell with this one, because absolutely zero of the other characters got much character development outside of the Logan Roy-esq grandfather, Lina’s mother, and very suddenly, within the last 20% of the novel, Reid’s father. Oh, there was the step-sister Adly (whose name I repeatedly read as “Adfly” throughout), but she just a placeholder for Girlboss Solidarity and sage advice because that group of friends we’re supposed to believe Lina is so close to actually don’t talk to her much on page in a way that makes them seem like anything other than set dressing.
Speaking of sassy quirks, and to go back to my original point of how this is geared toward a newer audience for Paige, there’s a lot of African American Vernacular English like “tea” and “no shade” and “Zaddy” (a true on-page jumpscare) used a handful of times in this book—which, contrary to popular belief, is not simply ~internet slang~ because it has rules and frameworks it should exist in and doesn’t fit well outside of those rules and frameworks. Which is why it was so jarring to in this novel, which features absolutely zero discernible Black characters in the New York City night scene and corporate space, unless you want to make the assumption that only Black men are named Jamal, and that Jamal exists only to challenge the MMCs masculinity because he’s framed as a weak threat to his acquisition of Lina.
I just…this wasn’t for me. I’ve noticed that the last few novels I’ve read from Paige have not been it in such a way it feels drastically different from her older works. I can only imagine what it’s like to be a romance writer right now because the genre has shifted so drastically over the last 5 years or so, but I hope she writes something that gives that original feeling soon. Paige had a great opportunity to write an appropriate age gap romance with a virgin FMC who actually is okay with casual secks and a MMC who doesn’t act like a caveman, and dynamic side characters who elevate the story and fill in plot holes.
In the meantime, mouthy female characters who talk a lot and are immature and cringe and quirky™️ are as exhausting to read as super mean, intentionally cruel, emotionally unintelligent, physically manipulative alpha males™️ if they’re going to be the same book to book.
1 ⭐️’s
4
I reviewed the first standalone novel in this duet similarly—that Paige is super keen on writing misogynistic white men who struggle every day with women in the areas of consent and autonomy, and bird-brained white women who are mouthy and some random queer best friend role. She ventured out of GayBFF territory and wrote an ace character but he is not named as such and is framed in a way that shows the male character ~cannot understand~ human beings who are not secksual, because he assumes that he is gay first as if there’s no other reason not to want to sleep with your best friend and roommate.
Reid (dangerously close to Reeve—those who know, know) and Lina are in an age gap relationship but they are the only two people on earth who seem to care about it. Lina even goes so far to ask Reid if he’s a groomer grooming her as if he’s going to slap his knee and say, “You got me!” Lina is also mid-sized and began constantly word vomiting her body image issues without any efforts to build upon that in a way that shows growth in the end. Instead, all we got was an, “Nooooo don’t say ur fat ur so beautiful xD” moment packed between Lina randomly deciding, 50% into the book, to be loudly insecure about her body.
Usually in Paige novels you can tell who is being set up for the next novel(s) and I couldn’t tell with this one, because absolutely zero of the other characters got much character development outside of the Logan Roy-esq grandfather, Lina’s mother, and very suddenly, within the last 20% of the novel, Reid’s father. Oh, there was the step-sister Adly (whose name I repeatedly read as “Adfly” throughout), but she just a placeholder for Girlboss Solidarity and sage advice because that group of friends we’re supposed to believe Lina is so close to actually don’t talk to her much on page in a way that makes them seem like anything other than set dressing.
Speaking of sassy quirks, and to go back to my original point of how this is geared toward a newer audience for Paige, there’s a lot of African American Vernacular English like “tea” and “no shade” and “Zaddy” (a true on-page jumpscare) used a handful of times in this book—which, contrary to popular belief, is not simply ~internet slang~ because it has rules and frameworks it should exist in and doesn’t fit well outside of those rules and frameworks. Which is why it was so jarring to in this novel, which features absolutely zero discernible Black characters in the New York City night scene and corporate space, unless you want to make the assumption that only Black men are named Jamal, and that Jamal exists only to challenge the MMCs masculinity because he’s framed as a weak threat to his acquisition of Lina.
I just…this wasn’t for me. I’ve noticed that the last few novels I’ve read from Paige have not been it in such a way it feels drastically different from her older works. I can only imagine what it’s like to be a romance writer right now because the genre has shifted so drastically over the last 5 years or so, but I hope she writes something that gives that original feeling soon. Paige had a great opportunity to write an appropriate age gap romance with a virgin FMC who actually is okay with casual secks and a MMC who doesn’t act like a caveman, and dynamic side characters who elevate the story and fill in plot holes.
In the meantime, mouthy female characters who talk a lot and are immature and cringe and quirky™️ are as exhausting to read as super mean, intentionally cruel, emotionally unintelligent, physically manipulative alpha males™️ if they’re going to be the same book to book.
1 ⭐️’s
4
Why am I crying?
Laurelin Paige does it again! I loved Lina and Reid's story. This was a funny read — fast paced and so touching. Automatic re-read. Or re-reid? Ba-dum-tch!
Laurelin Paige does it again! I loved Lina and Reid's story. This was a funny read — fast paced and so touching. Automatic re-read. Or re-reid? Ba-dum-tch!
