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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
This is going to be my comfort read foreverrrrr i love this book sooooooo much
I didn't really enjoy the main characters as much as I was led to believe I would. I usually enjoy the miscommunication trope, but this was not executed in a way it was enjoyable for me.
nico russo. read this book more than four years ago and the effect this man still has on me needs to be studied THOROUGHLY.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
TRIGGER WARNING! AFTER LOOKING THROUGH THIS AUTHOR'S REVIEW ON BOOKS WITH THEMES OF S.A. AND THEIR CHOICE OF NOT ONLY DEFENDING BUT OUTRIGHT PRAISING R-WORDING IN BOOKS, I CAN SAFELY SAY THAT THIS AUTHOR CAN GO F' THEMSELVES.
So, my review was mysteriously deleted, but Goodreads messaged me and now I have to re-do this all over again. Let me preface this by saying that if the problematic views of an author is beginning to become ever so apparent in their works, you should 100% be allowed to not like their book.
Since this book is based on a sub-genre with already problematic clichés it's hard to know if the author shares the same narrow-mindedness of their characters or not. But as Lori's rather distressing political views became more apparent through their social media, so did all the underlying and disgusting reflections of her views in the book. Compare it to reading a story about a murderer where their actions are being justified in text. You're allowed to enjoy such a story, even view it as some harmless fun. But would it be as harmless if you found out that the author themselves had killed someone? (Not comparing Lori to a murderer, just making a point about how the views of an author can change the meaning of a literary work). You start questioning things in The Sweetest Oblivion. Like why is the Italian and Russian mafia always described as being rich and sophisticated while the South American mafia are almost always attributed to being crude and unrefined? Why are the women in such inferior positions even compared to the most pathetic of men?
Stuff like that might be overlooked, especially if it's considered an innocent error, but when an author begins to display bad intent through their actions, you should be more than allowed to change your views on the story, specifically if you feel like some of it might have been written for reasons other than mindless fun.
As for the old review:
0 stars for the author. 2.5 for the story, 1 for the Main Characters and 5 for Nadia Abelli.
P.S., prior to the revelation of the author's true nature, I had already acquired all 3 current MADE books. I have chosen to keep on reading just in case I might change my mind about the books, but know that if I find anything else disturbing in the other novels, just as fair a rating as this. .
So, my review was mysteriously deleted, but Goodreads messaged me and now I have to re-do this all over again. Let me preface this by saying that if the problematic views of an author is beginning to become ever so apparent in their works, you should 100% be allowed to not like their book.
Since this book is based on a sub-genre with already problematic clichés it's hard to know if the author shares the same narrow-mindedness of their characters or not. But as Lori's rather distressing political views became more apparent through their social media, so did all the underlying and disgusting reflections of her views in the book. Compare it to reading a story about a murderer where their actions are being justified in text. You're allowed to enjoy such a story, even view it as some harmless fun. But would it be as harmless if you found out that the author themselves had killed someone? (Not comparing Lori to a murderer, just making a point about how the views of an author can change the meaning of a literary work). You start questioning things in The Sweetest Oblivion. Like why is the Italian and Russian mafia always described as being rich and sophisticated while the South American mafia are almost always attributed to being crude and unrefined? Why are the women in such inferior positions even compared to the most pathetic of men?
Stuff like that might be overlooked, especially if it's considered an innocent error, but when an author begins to display bad intent through their actions, you should be more than allowed to change your views on the story, specifically if you feel like some of it might have been written for reasons other than mindless fun.
As for the old review:
0 stars for the author. 2.5 for the story, 1 for the Main Characters and 5 for Nadia Abelli.
P.S., prior to the revelation of the author's true nature, I had already acquired all 3 current MADE books. I have chosen to keep on reading just in case I might change my mind about the books, but know that if I find anything else disturbing in the other novels, just as fair a rating as this. .
This is a good starter dark mafia romance. Just a classic arranged marriage situation
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to be obsessed with this book. And in some ways? I kind of was. But also… a few things made me side-eye hard 👀
🖤 Tension? Off the charts.
One thing this book nailed was the tension—and I don’t just mean a little chemistry, I mean that real, chest-tightening kind of tension. The glances, the awareness, the push and pull… it was so well done 🔥
Honestly, it proves you don’t need ten spicy scenes to make it hot. The anticipation is the payoff 😮💨 Nico and Elena tried so hard to keep it platonic, but come on. They had less self-control than a toddler near cake 🎂
😈 Nico: walking red flag, fictionally delicious
Nico 100% carried the book for me. His chaotic possessiveness, his sharp protectiveness. He’s wild, but you can tell he cares. Just, you know, in morally messy ways 🖤
I didn’t mind his dark humor or the shady stuff he did—I mean, it’s a mafia romance, not a Hallmark movie 💅
Also, his POV? Delicious. I wish we got more. The way he thought about Elena, how badly he wanted her while pretending not to? Babe, you are absolutely delulu, and I fully support your spiral.
Let’s be real: he fell first, fell hardest, and somehow managed to (mostly) respect her boundaries while still being completely unhinged. That’s fictional growth
👩🏻 Elena: soft, sweet… a little forgettable
Elena wasn’t bad, she just didn’t stick. I liked her more when she dropped the polite mask and gave Nico actual attitude. Her perfectionism and caregiver energy were relatable, but personality-wise? She was kind of a blurry sketch.
That said—her internal conflict? Juicy 🍷 She thought she wanted a kind, gentle man… but what she really wanted was Nico, rage issues and all.
“A man with a clean conscience and clean hands would never fit me just right.”
OKAY. POETRY ✍️
🕴️ Side characters: blurry shadows in suits
Outside of Elena’s immediate family (and even that’s pushing it), I couldn’t tell you who anyone was. Another uncle? A cousin? A man in a suit? I gave up trying to keep track
Except Nonna. Nonna was absolutely unhinged in the best way. She deserves her own novella 🐍
Adriana (the younger sister) had potential but felt like three different personalities in one dress
📉 Plot? I barely know her.
Was there a mafia storyline? Technically yes. Did it matter? Not really. This was very much vibe first, action second. The real drama came from the whole he’s-engaged-to-her-sister situation
🇮🇹 The Italian… ti prego, no.
Mini rant. If you’re writing about an Italian-American mafia family… please, I beg you, get the Italian right 😩
There were random errors throughout, but the worst? Elena acting confused when someone says “belleza” in Spanish (aka bellezza in Italian) like she’s never heard the word before. GIRL. Your family is Italian. Be serious
Small thing, but it yanked me right out of the moment.
😤 Miscommunication: their toxic love language
You know what assuming gets you? Apparently, this entire relationship 😮💨
Half of this book could’ve been resolved if they’d had one honest conversation. But no—he thinks she’s in love with someone else, she thinks he doesn’t care, and neither of them bothers to ask a single clarifying question
It’s not third-act-breakup bad, but the constant low-key miscommunication wore me out. Just TALK 🗣️
✨ Favorite moments:
- The slap scene — Nico stepping in like: “Hit a woman in front of me and you won’t be alive to do it again.” Protectiveness level: 🔥
- The gas station — he senses something’s wrong, promises not to overreact, then burns the place down anyway. Romantic in the most mafia way 🖤
- The “platonic” kiss bluff — and how it wrecked both of them 😮💨
- “You are my psychosis.”
🖤 Tension? Off the charts.
One thing this book nailed was the tension—and I don’t just mean a little chemistry, I mean that real, chest-tightening kind of tension. The glances, the awareness, the push and pull… it was so well done 🔥
Honestly, it proves you don’t need ten spicy scenes to make it hot. The anticipation is the payoff 😮💨 Nico and Elena tried so hard to keep it platonic, but come on. They had less self-control than a toddler near cake 🎂
😈 Nico: walking red flag, fictionally delicious
Nico 100% carried the book for me. His chaotic possessiveness, his sharp protectiveness. He’s wild, but you can tell he cares. Just, you know, in morally messy ways 🖤
I didn’t mind his dark humor or the shady stuff he did—I mean, it’s a mafia romance, not a Hallmark movie 💅
Also, his POV? Delicious. I wish we got more. The way he thought about Elena, how badly he wanted her while pretending not to? Babe, you are absolutely delulu, and I fully support your spiral.
Let’s be real: he fell first, fell hardest, and somehow managed to (mostly) respect her boundaries while still being completely unhinged. That’s fictional growth
👩🏻 Elena: soft, sweet… a little forgettable
Elena wasn’t bad, she just didn’t stick. I liked her more when she dropped the polite mask and gave Nico actual attitude. Her perfectionism and caregiver energy were relatable, but personality-wise? She was kind of a blurry sketch.
That said—her internal conflict? Juicy 🍷 She thought she wanted a kind, gentle man… but what she really wanted was Nico, rage issues and all.
“A man with a clean conscience and clean hands would never fit me just right.”
OKAY. POETRY ✍️
🕴️ Side characters: blurry shadows in suits
Outside of Elena’s immediate family (and even that’s pushing it), I couldn’t tell you who anyone was. Another uncle? A cousin? A man in a suit? I gave up trying to keep track
Except Nonna. Nonna was absolutely unhinged in the best way. She deserves her own novella 🐍
Adriana (the younger sister) had potential but felt like three different personalities in one dress
📉 Plot? I barely know her.
Was there a mafia storyline? Technically yes. Did it matter? Not really. This was very much vibe first, action second. The real drama came from the whole he’s-engaged-to-her-sister situation
🇮🇹 The Italian… ti prego, no.
Mini rant. If you’re writing about an Italian-American mafia family… please, I beg you, get the Italian right 😩
There were random errors throughout, but the worst? Elena acting confused when someone says “belleza” in Spanish (aka bellezza in Italian) like she’s never heard the word before. GIRL. Your family is Italian. Be serious
Small thing, but it yanked me right out of the moment.
😤 Miscommunication: their toxic love language
You know what assuming gets you? Apparently, this entire relationship 😮💨
Half of this book could’ve been resolved if they’d had one honest conversation. But no—he thinks she’s in love with someone else, she thinks he doesn’t care, and neither of them bothers to ask a single clarifying question
It’s not third-act-breakup bad, but the constant low-key miscommunication wore me out. Just TALK 🗣️
✨ Favorite moments:
- The slap scene — Nico stepping in like: “Hit a woman in front of me and you won’t be alive to do it again.” Protectiveness level: 🔥
- The gas station — he senses something’s wrong, promises not to overreact, then burns the place down anyway. Romantic in the most mafia way 🖤
- The “platonic” kiss bluff — and how it wrecked both of them 😮💨
- “You are my psychosis.”
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes