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lezreadalot's review against another edition
4.0
“I think I’m going to die of love sometimes, Benjamin. It’s terrifying.”
I think the reason this series and this couple is working so well for me, (especially when I don't usually consume romance series about one couple, especially just a plain old contemporary romance) is because it shows them making mistakes. This is such a perfect exploration of how things can go wrong after you get together, even if you love each other completely. Some of their mistakes are wrapped up in the kinks they're into, but many are not. This continues to be a really wholistic love story.
I'm just so glad we continued to explore Ben's anger issues, the places that leads him, the times he's wrong to be angry and the times he's very right. And what the author did with Xander is so cool. He seems so collected and sure of himself, but he's wracked with insecurities. There were times where he would say certain things are do certain things that were NOT OKAY, (BDSM as payback??) but the story never slowed down to acknowledge that, and I was worried those things would just pass on by? But even though it took a while, we eventually circle back to it, and it's great. Like, the 24/7 experiment was both awful and perfect, for what it made them confront and discuss. I honestly don't need every romance I read to be focused on the couple doing the absolute healthiest thing all the time, but the things this series chooses to focus on, the things they have to work on as a couple, are exactly pitch perfect. There's a break up that needs to happen, and grovelling that hits just right. This is really so satisfying, and I came out of this book loving Xander more and more. They still have some things to work on, and I hope the conclusion to their story can tie it up neatly.
Content warnings:
Spoiler
BDSM, with particular emphasis on sadism. impact play, biting, bruising, blood play, knives, needles, fear kink, breathplay/asphyxiation, physical assault“So even if I did have no limits, it means…”
“There’s no limit on your capacity to love.”
lost_windsock's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
5.0
This book was an emotional rollercoaster. I feel like so much happened... and so much of it was big, sad emotion. My soul cracked in half at the break up and the fallout of it. Watching Ben spiral out and try to find what he was missing, not caring about being safe, was terrible. Especially when it ended as badly as he knew it would. When Xander finally shows back up, I felt his anguish and desperation so deeply. Watching them build a new and hopefully better relationship was such a relief, and I'm hoping the last book doesn't make me want to cry like this one did. Only happiness for them, PLEASE!
astornant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
ninnine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.0
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