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yoghurtcrumbs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
First of all, I was very entertained by this book and had a good time reading it. However, that doesn't mean that it's particularly good.
What makes me go 'meh' the most is the character Alex.For a so called 'genius' he really makes some dumb ass decisions throughout the book. Like oh noo who could've expected that Ava would get drawn into this? Yea.
The spicy scenes are good in my opinion, as they are rough but 100% consensual. Some other things don't reflect that consent though,as he straight up turns into a stalker to get her forgiveness in the end. He doesn't take a no for an answer and takes every chance of getting away from him away from her.
I usually like the grumpy x sunshine trope and yea, the posessiveness is kinda hot butnot taking a no for an answer and turning into a stalker...? ...Nah.
Also... Ana Huang said in an interview that she likes 'morally grey characters' like Alex. And I get it. But yoo that might be... a bit much...? He seeks justice himself and violently kills two people in the process and then turns the damn house to ashes to hide it all (Men would do anything instead of going to therapy lmao). And Ava just kind of... ignores that and is only hurt because she thinks his feelings for her are a lie. Everything else is just kind of overlooked.
The girl friend group are likeble though, as is her brother Josh. The plot was thrilling, though a little bit predictable. I'd say it's an easy read, and, as I said, still entertaining. Maybe a good entry into darker romance.
I will keep reading the series and I'm looking forward to the other characters, couples and tropes.
What makes me go 'meh' the most is the character Alex.
The spicy scenes are good in my opinion, as they are rough but 100% consensual. Some other things don't reflect that consent though,
I usually like the grumpy x sunshine trope and yea, the posessiveness is kinda hot but
Also... Ana Huang said in an interview that she likes 'morally grey characters' like Alex. And I get it. But yoo that might be... a bit much...?
The girl friend group are likeble though, as is her brother Josh. The plot was thrilling, though a little bit predictable. I'd say it's an easy read, and, as I said, still entertaining. Maybe a good entry into darker romance.
I will keep reading the series and I'm looking forward to the other characters, couples and tropes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Gaslighting, Murder, Torture, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Stalking, Physical abuse, Suicide, Drug abuse, Child abuse, and Blood
Minor: Vomit and Toxic relationship
readingduckling's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I liked the book but that doesn't mean it's a good book, I would recommend it as a slump breaker because it's very easy to read.
When I described the plot to my mum she said it sounds like grand opera
When I described the plot to my mum she said it sounds like grand opera
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Death and Child death
rae_meadows's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Stalking, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Child abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Violence
kat0523's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
kalefactory's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Abandonment
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Kidnapping and Violence
i_ashby's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
3.0
Twisted Love is a fun, quick read for anyone who loves a dark romance.
The book has the grumpy/sunshine trope and a morally grey MMC (though I think he is far beyond morally grey which made it hard for me to root for him to be with Ava (FMC) at times, since she is so lovable and bright). The plot was outlandish at times, but it was fun to read. I loved the dual POV to get insight into Alex's (MMC) true thoughts, and there were scenes that made me laugh out loud, whilst other scenes gave me all the feels.
A fun read for anyone into dark romance and typical romance tropes. Anyone looking for an innocent romance, this is most likely NOT for you. The book contains a lot of sexual content not suitable for younger readers, as well as scenes containing violence and murder.
The book has the grumpy/sunshine trope and a morally grey MMC (though I think he is far beyond morally grey which made it hard for me to root for him to be with Ava (FMC) at times, since she is so lovable and bright). The plot was outlandish at times, but it was fun to read. I loved the dual POV to get insight into Alex's (MMC) true thoughts, and there were scenes that made me laugh out loud, whilst other scenes gave me all the feels.
A fun read for anyone into dark romance and typical romance tropes. Anyone looking for an innocent romance, this is most likely NOT for you. The book contains a lot of sexual content not suitable for younger readers, as well as scenes containing violence and murder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Murder and Violence
amandaevans's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
this book is genuinely concerning lol - for those of you out there that have read it and LOVED it like gave it 5 stars, are you ok? like actually, are you ok?
overall the plot was interesting and I liked the supporting characters (Ava’s friends Bridget and Stella seem interesting to me, Jules or otherwise oddly referred to as Jessica Rabbit in the book — eh, she kinda fell flat for me). HOWEVER, Ava (female main character) seems far to sunshiny and rainbows following her every move for the literal world shattering trauma she has experienced. Like girl… let’s maybe take a second to go to THERAPY and feel our feelings instead of never having a problem with anyone or anything that should be a problem. Otherwise she had the potential to be a great main character, troubled home life, artsy, confident, kind, etc. But it felt like the author was trying way to hard to make her this happy-go-lucky character for the experiences Ava has had. Like miss girl literally had no memories of her childhood before age nine and is just okay with that? Seems a little odd.
Don’t even get me started on Alex. Our male main character is a walking red flag. He should legally be required to carry one because holy ****. And I’m CONCERNED because we are supposed to like this man? PASS. Everything about him gave me the ICK a hundred times over, and the spicy scenes that should’ve been interesting and well.. entertaining, made me giggle and made me actually uncomfortable. Like this man who Ava is supposed to be in love with should actually be committed. And I can get behind a dark romance with spicy scenes if they contribute to the story line but this guys only personality trait is that he is dark and brooding and incredibly violent? The sex scenes all felt very random and unnecessary and I still don’t really know how Ava and Alex ended up together in the first place.
I think this book had the potential to be great but yikes… if you genuinely love this book and this male main character, do everyone a favor and 1) go to therapy, and 2) value and love yourself and do not let a man walk all over you like this. Thank you, I love u bye
overall the plot was interesting and I liked the supporting characters (Ava’s friends Bridget and Stella seem interesting to me, Jules or otherwise oddly referred to as Jessica Rabbit in the book — eh, she kinda fell flat for me). HOWEVER, Ava (female main character) seems far to sunshiny and rainbows following her every move for the literal world shattering trauma she has experienced. Like girl… let’s maybe take a second to go to THERAPY and feel our feelings instead of never having a problem with anyone or anything that should be a problem. Otherwise she had the potential to be a great main character, troubled home life, artsy, confident, kind, etc. But it felt like the author was trying way to hard to make her this happy-go-lucky character for the experiences Ava has had. Like miss girl literally had no memories of her childhood before age nine and is just okay with that? Seems a little odd.
Don’t even get me started on Alex. Our male main character is a walking red flag. He should legally be required to carry one because holy ****. And I’m CONCERNED because we are supposed to like this man? PASS. Everything about him gave me the ICK a hundred times over, and the spicy scenes that should’ve been interesting and well.. entertaining, made me giggle and made me actually uncomfortable. Like this man who Ava is supposed to be in love with should actually be committed. And I can get behind a dark romance with spicy scenes if they contribute to the story line but this guys only personality trait is that he is dark and brooding and incredibly violent? The sex scenes all felt very random and unnecessary and I still don’t really know how Ava and Alex ended up together in the first place.
I think this book had the potential to be great but yikes… if you genuinely love this book and this male main character, do everyone a favor and 1) go to therapy, and 2) value and love yourself and do not let a man walk all over you like this. Thank you, I love u bye
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death, and Gaslighting
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Look, I knew what I wanted when I picked this book up. This is epic, soap opera, levels of drama. And I was *living* for it. I was thoroughly entertained. There was page-turning revenge and years-long cons and lies and (though it took longer than I had expected to get there, based on reviews/lists featuring this book) some very spicy scenes. It was so, deeply, unhealthy, as relationships go. And yet, like I said, I knew that going in and sometimes reading about an over-protective/possessive ass that I wouldn't touch with a 39.5-foot pole (grinch-style, you know?) IRL, is exactly the kind of escapist shit I want to read. So, in summary, this novel was unbelievably *stupid* good for my current reading mood. I shall be reading the next in the series post-haste.
Very small side note: not my fav third act breakup (like, honestly, I never like those - UGH least fav romance trope - so take this commentary with that grain of salt), but I *particularly* didn't like this one. Too much/long “time passing” to get back together - it just feels like, he should have caved sooner…but at least the friends/fam are holding the grudge still.
Very small side note: not my fav third act breakup (like, honestly, I never like those - UGH least fav romance trope - so take this commentary with that grain of salt), but I *particularly* didn't like this one. Too much/long “time passing” to get back together - it just feels like, he should have caved sooner…but at least the friends/fam are holding the grudge still.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Murder, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Toxic relationship
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this book! I liked that it had thriller elements while mainly focusing on the romance. It had really good plot twists and really great lead ups to the plot twists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Blood, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Misogyny
emily98griffin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Cursing, and Death