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mels_reading_log's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
dlsmk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
There is something addictive in this shit because I am obsessed. By far my favourite in the series. I was giggling and squealing and just truly having THE BEST time (until the 80 - 91% mark, but we shall overlook that). On to the next.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual content, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Death, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual harassment
passionatereader78's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment and Adult/minor relationship
britbrit29's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment and Adult/minor relationship
passionatereader78's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, and Cursing
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol
cdoubet's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Grief, Violence, Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Mental illness
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Kidnapping
zoe_senaye's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Death of parent, Child abuse, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Murder, Alcoholism, Violence, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Drug use, Drug abuse, Death, and Addiction
abi2xoxo's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
This is such an amazing book. I was apprehensive to start at book 3 when I hadn't actually read any of the other series! You do not need to read the rest if you only want to read this one. This book was just so wonderful! All characters were amazing! Josh and Jules are such lovely characters in their own sense. They're so deep and just want love. I loved their backgrounds and I liked how the 'voices in their heads' were portrayed.
Graphic: Blood, Death, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Moderate: Kidnapping, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault
Minor: Stalking
mabelsyrup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My main takeaway from this is that Ana Huang rly knows how to write enemies to lovers, like she excels at it! Every single moment of banter and clap backs and (kinda) hate sex was SO GOOD. Matter of fact most of the dialogues are so fun and witty; idk what changed between Twisted Games and this one but the upgrade in writing was noticeable, Jules and Josh were imho really fleshed out and had their own personality and quirks and distinctive attitudes but at the same time their similarities and issues really connect them and establish the book’s theme of trust and intimacy.
Now Josh… mm mm MMH WHAT A MAN OOF. Again going back to how well him and Jules were fleshed out I noticed it most with him; in previous books the mmc were just hot, traumatized and possessive (which, nothing against it i still adore RHYS.. Alex is fine too) but Josh was just so real: suave, smug, cocky, practical, good at his job, funny, interesting, actually had a side plot that carried some weight to the plot when i thought he’d either not bring anything or his trauma with his dad would be super forced but surprise it was actually v good! although I did want to see more of his struggle, yes i been knew that Jules’s trauma is the main driving point but I could’ve used more from Josh’s side cuz what we got was compelling. there is one drawback tho and that’s chapter 46… istg i wanted to hit him in the face, and his apology wasn’t the best either, basically “I’m sorry i called you a whore I’m dumb lol” but other than that he’s a very close second after Rhys.
Jules was also fantastic; spunky, fun, witty, sexy, confident, smart, chaotic and sex positive. Idk if i wanna be her or be with her tbh. Her whole plot was very interesting and rough, it put her in a spot were you’d think she wouldn’t be any of the adjetives i just said but she remained the life of the party. Same as Josh she was v well fleshed out, not only bc of her plot but bc of how much we get to know of her and what she’s like, what she likes or doesn’t and the things that affect her. She is so far the best fmc of the series by a landslide.
The series still suffers from a weak ending, the last 2 chapters were cute but very meh. That and some overkill moments were they’re rly hammering the point of the story or trying to recap things from the other books so you can still “read them as standalones” bullllshiiitt. But literally that’s kinda my only criticisms. That and the fact that the author used the forbidden “our tongues fighting for dominance” phrase 💀 BUT she did also use the “who did this to you?” Phrase so maybe it cancels out.
TLDR: exceded expectations in every way, god tier banter, god tier hate sex, god tier main characters. But i won’t give it 5 stars or lower Twisted Games so they’ll have to share.
“He kissed the way we fought. Hard. Rough. Explosive. I hated how much i loved it” “Jules fucked the way she fought- fierce and fiery, no holds barred”
“I’d always been a chocolate guy, but cinnamon was fast becoming my new favorite flavor”
“What would it be like to be loved so deeply by someone I wouldn’t have to worry about every little move possibly driving them away”
“In a world where i was surrounded by death, she was the only thing that made me feel alive”
“One mistake I’ll never make is letting you go, not when there’s even a sliver of a chance left for us. Because the possibility of you is better than the reality of anyone else”
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Violence
zaynascz's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
- friends w benefits trope
- THAT scene after Jules confessed about the painting
- Josh
1. The friends with benefits trope isn’t my favourite because you don’t get the confession scene and the first kiss, but thats just my own personal opinion and isn’t my biggest problem with the book since its just a trope i don’t like and not a problem with the actual plot or writing as a whole.
2. Don’t even TRY to defend josh here because that was so wrong in so many different ways. I understand that he was hurt and felt betrayed, especially from past experiences but that was absolutely no excuse for manipulating Jules like that. Call it whatever you want but that was plain manipulation, and me personally would NOT have forgiven josh in that situation. Tbh i would’ve started going out with that Asher dude instead.
3. I think its clear why i hate josh. Although the max scene redeemed him, a little bit.
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide, Car accident, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Sexual content, Blood, Sexual harassment, Violence, Murder, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Fire/Fire injury