Reviews

Dirty Devil by Heather Long

adlerje1's review

5.0

Heather consistently wows me each book. This book was a rollercoaster. I don’t know how Heather does this. Her brain amazes me and the ideas she comes up with. She has created quite honestly one of the best stories I’ve read in a while. I love Emersyn and her gang. Each book
keeps building and building. It gets better and more twisted and I love it. I have SO many questions and just can’t stand waiting to find out the answers.
Freddie was the shining light in this book and he just makes me smile. The twins are my all time favorite, without a doubt. Emersyn is pretty lucky. But dang I want her to have all the darn happiness she deserves! This book had me on the edge of my seat. Be warned it’s like a thriller movie where you know something is coming up but it still surprises you. I can’t recommend this book or series enough. Heather. You are amazing and quite simply the best ❤️

shedevilreads's review

4.0

Dirty Devil by Heather Long is a reverse harem romance. This is the fourth book in the 82 Street Vandals series.

I absolutely love this series! Heather does an amazing job pulling me in from the first chapter and keeping me hooked until the very end. I am loving the relationship that's blooming between Emersyn and the Vandals.

I really enjoyed getting Emersyn, Milo, Liam, Rome, Jasper, Vaughn, Freddie, Kellan, Lainey and Doc's point of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life. 

I was so excited to get more of Freddie and Emersyn story. Freddie stole my heart in this book. 

The book ends on another cliffhanger, which isn't a surprise since Heather warned us it would happen. I am left with so many questions that I can't wait to get answered in the next book Brutal Fighter that will be released on May 31, 2022. 

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves dark romances, enemies-to-lovers romance, new adult romances, reverse harems, or romantic suspense.

booksfirst_sleeplater's review against another edition

5.0

Whewwww. I finished this almost a week ago and it has taken me that long to collect my thoughts and emotions. This book wrecked me. It was HEAVY and yet so beautiful. It was such a necessary part of Emersyn's story (as well as the men in her life) and it was a hard subject but Heather told it BEAUTIFULLY.

Now let's talk about Freddie. If I didn't already love Freddie with everything I have, this book would have done the trick. He's an absolute HERO, knight in sarcastic shining armor, just all the things. He was vulnerable with Emersyn when she needed it most, and he proved to her that she belongs with the Vandals and that they (and him) will do absolutely anything for her.

I loved the storyline unfolding back at the Vandals clubhouse as well, with Milo and his (possible) new woman, Liam and Adam, and so much more. Things are about to get VERY interesting in the Vandals world and I can't wait to see what Heather has in store for us!!!

....I also would like my own emotional support stapler. If you know, you know.

bookwormbetty's review

5.0

Yaaaaasssss. OMG this book was flippin intense, and I was sweating bullets, laughing, crying, and gasping in outrage. Every time I don't think this series can get better Ms. Long says "Here, hold my beer and watch this." No joke, this book has me blurry eyed, from reading so fast, and I am not even sorry. The characters are so rich in development, and just when you think you have them figureed out, something happens and makes you wonder if you will ever fully know them.
Emyerson(lord I'm probably spelling it wrong) is the strongest female character I think I have ever read. Part of it, is blocking things, which I totally get, part of it is she is just a bad betty, and knows what she wants and she makes sure she knows how to get it, and what I love best, is she doesn't give up, and she gives as good as she gets. The men in the book are for sure deeper than you would think in the beginning, and they continue to develop. This is told in multiple POV, and yeah, I'm gonna need more.

becky_102's review

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

5.0

kfriend's review against another edition

5.0

This series is just such a captivating study of character- of the things that make us who we are, and the things that break our humanity, the transfixing dichotomy of nature and nurture and how both can work in concert, or at odds, in how we formulate our identity. How people do, or don't, grow and involve, how they move forward when they are still mired in the consequences and ghosts of their pasts. Heather is unapologetically emotive and meta in how she approaches this narrative- while our characters have trigger-happy urgency in resolving the power games, in culling the answers, our dear author does not. She’s carefully meting out the pieces of this complicated puzzle one character moment at a time, boldly asking us to dive deeply into their psyche, to wade through the waters of their trauma and pain and SIT in it, to linger. Not only does that make this series a more emotively immersive experience, but it also beautifully illuminates the themes Heather is weaving throughout, the essence of these character’s connections- the themes of trauma and identity, of redemption and resilience, of SURVIVAL, because we don’t just see the aftermath of their survival, oh no. We are so intimately connected to these characters (truly a master fete considering the sheer number of them) we experience their survival, past and present. Their pain is our own. But this also gives us the tinge of hope throughout the series, how connection and understanding can drown out the dark, can help us find power in the most powerless of places. But this fourth outing feels pretty absent of hope for much of it- intentionally so. We got too comfortable in the tender embrace of the Vandals, so Heather brilliantly reminds us of the stakes, while also giving us an unflinching view into the lived reality of our brave but oft enigmatic heroine…and a deeper look into some of our Vandals, especially Freddie. AND IT HURTS- Dirty Devil is emotionally savage. Heather continues to layer the pain, to unveil the scars, scars that often turn out to be barely triaged gaping wounds camouflage by the bold courage and brash resilience of her characters. But beneath it all they are just wounded and lost.

And that is what makes her narrative choice in this book so risky and bold- because she removes their center for much of the story (which certainly impacts the RH steamy fun we’re used to thus far). But what a brilliant catalyst to the relationally-recalibrating that has been bubbling within the Vandals. Their center of gravity has long since shifted, but they’ve not quite confronted how that impacts their brotherhood…or for some of them, themselves. We get to watch them grapple with that, watch them be thrown further off kilter, see them rise and stumble. The impact of this book is yet to be known, but this feels like a real and powerful turning point not just for Emersyn as a character but also this crew as a whole. With several books left I know we’re not yet close to our warmth and fuzzies and some characters are still being unpacked , but with every passing page my heart beats more voraciously for each of these characters. And my admiration for Heather’s ability to weave together intense character arcs with such compelling relationship dynamics and a broader dark arc only grows. Her story telling is purposefully, every moment intentional- even if we don’t yet know to what end. There’s really nothing like this series- and I for one can’t wait for more.

bookfreak08's review

5.0

Ok! This was another punch in the gut by Heather Long! I completely fell in love with Freddie this time, and with the way my favorites keep changing every book in the 82nd Street Vandals series, I might end up needing a psychiatrist❤️‍

kayleereads's review

challenging 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

4.0

eamacire's review against another edition

5.0

Oh man. This book. Here we deal with all the repercussions of Emersyn’s decision to return home, and whoo boy are there repercussions. The guys are a mess, all wanting to go after her and bring her back. Milo is stupid and says if she wanted to go then leave her be. The rest of them absolutely refuse, they WILL get her back. Meanwhile poor Emersyn is in h*ll. Eventually they discover through her friend Lainey that she is in a treatment facility, and a plan is hatched for Freddie to go in as a patient and get her out. Freddie really shines here, I already had a soft spot for him but now I just love him so much more. All the guys are amazing, Liam needs to stop worrying about stealing his brother’s girl and realize Emersyn has room in her heart for all of them. Doc needs to get over himself, I still kinda wanna punch him on her behalf. Milo is thankfully coming around by the end. There’s a lot of heavy subject matter and trauma in this book but it’s very well written and dealt with. I’m absolutely loving this series and can’t wait for more

brookes_booknook's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book made my head spin. It constantly had me questioning everything and everyone. Seeing for of the past from different perspectives was great and helped me see more sides to each story. 

My heart shattered for Emersyn and everything she was put through in this book. Seeing her lose so much of herself in that place was hard. 

Her uncle is a piece of trash and everyone that helped him is too. 

And way to go Freddie for sticking to his guns with his gut feeling about Emersyn👏🏼👏🏼 

Milo and Lainey is something I absolutely need. But I also want her with Adam and Ezra. 

I AM SO PROUD OF EMERSYN getting it done with that creepy Dr. Sneeze. Brought a whole new meaning to office supplies😂

I love that the guys are showing her that they are there in anyway that she needs.

I also love the steps both Emersyn and Milo are taking in becoming closer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

0/5🌶️