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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
yeah... so I DON'T recommend . I've read some pretty trashy books and this one deff makes the list
Samaisling deserved better.
at this point, I don't even want Belle's I know she'll ruin her smh
Samaisling deserved better.
at this point, I don't even want Belle's I know she'll ruin her smh
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely unhinged and toxic but I enjoyed it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment
Tropes:
✔ Forbidden
✔ Bully
✔ Mafia
✔ Emotional scars
✔ She always loved him
Dive into the tumultuous world of Sam Brenan, a mafia boss with a heart guarded by layers of scars, in "The Monster" by L.J. Shen. This much-anticipated story exceeds expectations, unraveling Sam's defenses brick by brick, revealing a man capable of profound love.
✔ Forbidden
✔ Bully
✔ Mafia
✔ Emotional scars
✔ She always loved him
Dive into the tumultuous world of Sam Brenan, a mafia boss with a heart guarded by layers of scars, in "The Monster" by L.J. Shen. This much-anticipated story exceeds expectations, unraveling Sam's defenses brick by brick, revealing a man capable of profound love.
I don't understand all the bad reviews. Seems that a lot of people put the one star rating admitting they haven't even read the book. That sounds like bullying to me!
The Monster is actually really ok, if you like mafia romance with strong families and original characters. I was pleasently surprised! Go make your own opinion.
The Monster is actually really ok, if you like mafia romance with strong families and original characters. I was pleasently surprised! Go make your own opinion.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
lendo achei que ia ser um pouco melhor do que o livro do hunter mas é tão ruim quanto. normalmente gosto desse tipo de livro, não querendo entrar em muitos detalhes, mas esse foi o pior. lj shen mais uma vez você me entregando uma bomba logo depois do livro maravilhoso do kill, não aguento mais!
Yooooo I’ve been waiting for Sam Brennan’s book for ages, honestly. Since I was reading Cillian’s story and Sam shot up to the top of my INTERESTING list, and boy, I had fun.
Yes, we’ve seen sections of this type of story before, but I don’t even care. I thoroughly enjoy Shen’s work, especially the work built into series.
Aisling certainly was a bit spineless at times, but was also the perfect complement to Sam - they just worked. Sam, too, did/said some things that weren’t great, but damn, he worked for me on so many levels! The wait for his story totally paid off.
Anyway, had fun with this read for sure.
Yes, we’ve seen sections of this type of story before, but I don’t even care. I thoroughly enjoy Shen’s work, especially the work built into series.
Aisling certainly was a bit spineless at times, but was also the perfect complement to Sam - they just worked. Sam, too, did/said some things that weren’t great, but damn, he worked for me on so many levels! The wait for his story totally paid off.
Anyway, had fun with this read for sure.
DNF girl stand the fuck up
edit: skimmed thru the whole book again. girly only stood up at 65%. needed more groveling.
edit: skimmed thru the whole book again. girly only stood up at 65%. needed more groveling.
Incredibly fascinating, a very convoluted story, and I couldn’t believe LJ Shen could domesticate Sam Brennan but she did!!
Sam Brennan sees himself as a monster. He’s definitely more dark and sinister than Troy Brennan, his adoptive father. He took up the reigns of Troy’s work in underground Boston and developed it further. More than The Fixer, he turned mobster and took up more areas of Boston that Troy had. He’s richer and dangerous and now works for Aisling’s father.
In this book, we read how close the Brennan and Fitzpatrick families are, courtesy of Hunter and Sailor’s marriage and their common business. Aisling graduated in medicine and is working, and we later learn she has dark secrets of her own. Despite all their frequent reunions, Aisling’s love for Sam remains unrequited. He won’t even look at her, much less talk to her. So she took matters into her own hands, and appeared at his night club Badlands, on a Halloween night, disguised and decided. They hook up but he recognized her scent, realized they were inevitable, and they negotiate a fling. After, Sam learns damaging news about Gerard Fitzpatrick, Aisling’s father, and a new plot surfaces, revenge of the very devious and serious kind.
There are so many plot lines in this book that keep the reader riveted to the story. Aisling’s secrets that are unknown to her family and friends. Sam’s revenge on Gerard Fitzpatrick. Aisling’s unrequited love for Sam and how it changes intensity through the book. Sam’s growing fascination with Aisling as he learns of all her underlying layers. And through it all, the Boston Belles, always there supporting their friend. I loved seeing Cillian as a doting father and doting husband, what a departure from the business icicle he used to be! Hunter, entertaining as ever, Sailor adorably dorky. Belle, as irreverent and effervescent as ever, and Devon is mesmerized by her. New book in the future!
I really had no idea that Sam would ever bend and accept Aisling into his life. For one, his life is incredibly dangerous and rife with murder and mayhem. He sees himself as a monster, incapable of love. And yet, I knew it was not true, since he loves his adoptive mother Sparrow and his sister Sailor. I loved the scene where he’s crawling on the floor in all fours so his niece can ride horsey on him. That’s not what a evil monster does during his Sunday family dinners!
I was surprised at Aisling’s inner darkness but loved it because it helped her understand and accept Sam’s darkness better. Once he knew Aisling’s secret, it opened the way for him to accept her and fight for a future. In spite of how erotic their encounters were, the book was slow burn because Sam was so stubborn in letting Ash in. I loved that in spite of all her love for Sam, she also grew up and started to demand respect and attention. The domestication of Sam Brennan was full on!
This is not a book you put down! It’s fascinating, riveting, and memorable. The complexity of the characters and their lives are very compelling and what made me like it more was the duality. They have light and dark sides, they have moments where their tenderness comes forth, and at the next moment, their harshness comes out to deal with problems. Aisling’s issues with her parents are front and center in the plot of this book, the lives of Hunter and Cillian with their families, and Troy and Sparrow are all intertwined to make this a very complete saga that satisfies in all aspects a book can have. It’s a book that you need to read again and savor, once you know all the secrets that are revealed as you read. Make sure you have a free day because there won’t be any homework to do while reading this! Fantastic read!
Sam Brennan sees himself as a monster. He’s definitely more dark and sinister than Troy Brennan, his adoptive father. He took up the reigns of Troy’s work in underground Boston and developed it further. More than The Fixer, he turned mobster and took up more areas of Boston that Troy had. He’s richer and dangerous and now works for Aisling’s father.
In this book, we read how close the Brennan and Fitzpatrick families are, courtesy of Hunter and Sailor’s marriage and their common business. Aisling graduated in medicine and is working, and we later learn she has dark secrets of her own. Despite all their frequent reunions, Aisling’s love for Sam remains unrequited. He won’t even look at her, much less talk to her. So she took matters into her own hands, and appeared at his night club Badlands, on a Halloween night, disguised and decided. They hook up but he recognized her scent, realized they were inevitable, and they negotiate a fling. After, Sam learns damaging news about Gerard Fitzpatrick, Aisling’s father, and a new plot surfaces, revenge of the very devious and serious kind.
There are so many plot lines in this book that keep the reader riveted to the story. Aisling’s secrets that are unknown to her family and friends. Sam’s revenge on Gerard Fitzpatrick. Aisling’s unrequited love for Sam and how it changes intensity through the book. Sam’s growing fascination with Aisling as he learns of all her underlying layers. And through it all, the Boston Belles, always there supporting their friend. I loved seeing Cillian as a doting father and doting husband, what a departure from the business icicle he used to be! Hunter, entertaining as ever, Sailor adorably dorky. Belle, as irreverent and effervescent as ever, and Devon is mesmerized by her. New book in the future!
I really had no idea that Sam would ever bend and accept Aisling into his life. For one, his life is incredibly dangerous and rife with murder and mayhem. He sees himself as a monster, incapable of love. And yet, I knew it was not true, since he loves his adoptive mother Sparrow and his sister Sailor. I loved the scene where he’s crawling on the floor in all fours so his niece can ride horsey on him. That’s not what a evil monster does during his Sunday family dinners!
I was surprised at Aisling’s inner darkness but loved it because it helped her understand and accept Sam’s darkness better. Once he knew Aisling’s secret, it opened the way for him to accept her and fight for a future. In spite of how erotic their encounters were, the book was slow burn because Sam was so stubborn in letting Ash in. I loved that in spite of all her love for Sam, she also grew up and started to demand respect and attention. The domestication of Sam Brennan was full on!
This is not a book you put down! It’s fascinating, riveting, and memorable. The complexity of the characters and their lives are very compelling and what made me like it more was the duality. They have light and dark sides, they have moments where their tenderness comes forth, and at the next moment, their harshness comes out to deal with problems. Aisling’s issues with her parents are front and center in the plot of this book, the lives of Hunter and Cillian with their families, and Troy and Sparrow are all intertwined to make this a very complete saga that satisfies in all aspects a book can have. It’s a book that you need to read again and savor, once you know all the secrets that are revealed as you read. Make sure you have a free day because there won’t be any homework to do while reading this! Fantastic read!