Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
....uhm...woww... I always thought I'd enjoy tf out of everything L j shen puts in front of me.... Spoiler alert : I was wrong.
I was literally on the edge of my chair waiting to read this book after The Villain. I think everyone can agree we all thought we'd get an obsessed Sam in this book after how much it was emphasised that Aisling was in love with him and he completely ignored her existence. Frankly I assumed maybe he was secretly in love with her or something along those lies.... Unfortunately that was not the case....
I was so close to just DNF'ing this book (and I DON'T EVER DO THAT) because of the way Aisling was running after Sam. I won't lie, I get being obsessed with a person. I get wanting the attention of someone you loved from afar without them noticing you but I honestly wanted to jump into the book and slap Aisling... To be rejected so many times and still run after him..and I get that sometimes yeah book characters will work for someone they want but Sam wasn't even remotely sweet about the rejections. Some of the things he said to her...omg. Calling her pathetic and an easy fuck.. Yeah I'm sorry but no. One of the reasons I read is to remember that not all guys are messed up like that and this portray of Sam's character just wasn't it for me and I realllllly wanted it to be because I was so intrigued by him in The Villain.
I'll definitely read more of L J Shen's books because I absolutely LOVED her previous works but this book was just not it
I was literally on the edge of my chair waiting to read this book after The Villain. I think everyone can agree we all thought we'd get an obsessed Sam in this book after how much it was emphasised that Aisling was in love with him and he completely ignored her existence. Frankly I assumed maybe he was secretly in love with her or something along those lies.... Unfortunately that was not the case....
I was so close to just DNF'ing this book (and I DON'T EVER DO THAT) because of the way Aisling was running after Sam. I won't lie, I get being obsessed with a person. I get wanting the attention of someone you loved from afar without them noticing you but I honestly wanted to jump into the book and slap Aisling... To be rejected so many times and still run after him..and I get that sometimes yeah book characters will work for someone they want but Sam wasn't even remotely sweet about the rejections. Some of the things he said to her...omg. Calling her pathetic and an easy fuck.. Yeah I'm sorry but no. One of the reasons I read is to remember that not all guys are messed up like that and this portray of Sam's character just wasn't it for me and I realllllly wanted it to be because I was so intrigued by him in The Villain.
I'll definitely read more of L J Shen's books because I absolutely LOVED her previous works but this book was just not it
adventurous
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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
I'm going to state the fact that I'm simply OBSESSED! I love this word that L.J. has created and I'm sure her books have something magical in them because I know that I'm not getting over the characters anytime soon. This book is raw, dark, gritty and thrilling, it's unlike anything the author has ever written before. The plot is simply astonishing ;-)
“Maybe we were never meant for each other. But that night at the carnival, when you showed me who you were, I figured out who I wanted to be.”
Aisling was a surprise. She had some streaks that I'm sure no one will see coming. Her personality took a 360° turn from what we saw her as in [b:The Villain|52322156|The Villain (Boston Belles, #2)|L.J. Shen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607113213l/52322156._SY75_.jpg|71293445] She knew what she wanted, was confident, fierce, sassy and obstinate. She was the PERFECT match for Sam and I loved every single part of her. In fact, I loved her more than any other characters in the book because she was really something else. (believe me when I say that her character was UNEXPECTED) It was interesting to see the Fitzpatrick family dynamic from her point of view.
"You have no idea what you’re asking for. Men like me eat girls like you for breakfast. And not in a pleasurable way. You got that?"
And Sam, at first I thought I wasn't going to like him as much as Cillian but obviously, I was wrong. Both him and Ash had so many layers to their characters, it captivated me and I was deeply engrossed in their story from the moment they met for the first time. The prologue itself made me feel so many emotions for Sam, it was afflictive. He was calculative but impulsive, ruthless, complicated and on top of that a massive asshole. But, he was an enigmatic one at that. He had the signature sense of humour and a knack for numbers. I can't explain how but somewhere along the way, he grew on me because he was everything I thought he'd be and more.
"I was in love , not a doormat . There was still a slight distinction between the two."
Sam & Ash together were raw, real, explosive and downright immaculate. They fit together like two missing pieces of a puzzle and balanced each other's personalities. Ash gave him pieces of her heart and he kept on taking more. Their story put me through a rollercoaster of emotions and I didn't want the book to end. Even now while writing this review, after reading the last page, I can't help but want more of them.
"The raw, impossible sweetness of her called to me like a lighthouse in pitch fucking black."
Overall, the book was satisfying. I won't reveal much other than the fact that Sam & Ash's story is going to tug at your heartstrings and make you fall in love with them! The character development, the tension, angst, steam and chemistry was over the top and the book absolutely destroyed me. It had all the tropes that I love and the plot was brilliantly executed. Like everyone else, I had my own theories but the book exceeded all my expectations. (And yes, I loved the small crumbs about every single side character.) Anyways, it was another spectacular read delivered by Shen and I recommend giving the book a try.
**I read & reviewed an ARC of this book.**
“Maybe we were never meant for each other. But that night at the carnival, when you showed me who you were, I figured out who I wanted to be.”
Aisling was a surprise. She had some streaks that I'm sure no one will see coming. Her personality took a 360° turn from what we saw her as in [b:The Villain|52322156|The Villain (Boston Belles, #2)|L.J. Shen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607113213l/52322156._SY75_.jpg|71293445] She knew what she wanted, was confident, fierce, sassy and obstinate. She was the PERFECT match for Sam and I loved every single part of her. In fact, I loved her more than any other characters in the book because she was really something else. (believe me when I say that her character was UNEXPECTED) It was interesting to see the Fitzpatrick family dynamic from her point of view.
"You have no idea what you’re asking for. Men like me eat girls like you for breakfast. And not in a pleasurable way. You got that?"
And Sam, at first I thought I wasn't going to like him as much as Cillian but obviously, I was wrong. Both him and Ash had so many layers to their characters, it captivated me and I was deeply engrossed in their story from the moment they met for the first time. The prologue itself made me feel so many emotions for Sam, it was afflictive. He was calculative but impulsive, ruthless, complicated and on top of that a massive asshole. But, he was an enigmatic one at that. He had the signature sense of humour and a knack for numbers. I can't explain how but somewhere along the way, he grew on me because he was everything I thought he'd be and more.
"I was in love , not a doormat . There was still a slight distinction between the two."
Sam & Ash together were raw, real, explosive and downright immaculate. They fit together like two missing pieces of a puzzle and balanced each other's personalities. Ash gave him pieces of her heart and he kept on taking more. Their story put me through a rollercoaster of emotions and I didn't want the book to end. Even now while writing this review, after reading the last page, I can't help but want more of them.
"The raw, impossible sweetness of her called to me like a lighthouse in pitch fucking black."
Overall, the book was satisfying. I won't reveal much other than the fact that Sam & Ash's story is going to tug at your heartstrings and make you fall in love with them! The character development, the tension, angst, steam and chemistry was over the top and the book absolutely destroyed me. It had all the tropes that I love and the plot was brilliantly executed. Like everyone else, I had my own theories but the book exceeded all my expectations. (And yes, I loved the small crumbs about every single side character.) Anyways, it was another spectacular read delivered by Shen and I recommend giving the book a try.
**I read & reviewed an ARC of this book.**
The Monster was the book in the Boston Belles series that I was most looking forward to and I was not disappointed by Sam Brennan and Aisling Fitzpatrick. I love that all of the books in this series feel different from one another and The Monster’s dark, angsty feel was maybe my favorite so far.
Since reading Sparrow, I’ve been curious about Sam Brennan...his backstory is so unique, his upbringing with Troy and Sparrow was unconventional (to say the least) and his job as Boston’s most sought after fixer is intriguing. Everything about him is mysterious and he keeps so much of himself hidden, even with his family and friends. I was surprised by some of his more emotional decision making in the story - I know it made him finally seem human, but it seemed really out of character. But I really enjoyed this peek into his brain. The way he works, his motivations and his drive are so unique to him and finally getting an opportunity to see things from his POV was really interesting. Sam has always been a monster, but he’s human as well and finally getting to read about the experiences that made him both was a treat.
I was so curious about Aisling’s character - I knew there had to be more underneath the perfect facade she put up in public and even how she interacted with her friends and brothers. For the first half of the book, she’s that perfect princess of a girl who’s obsessed with the bad guy and really not all that interesting to me. But, once she finally snaps and grows a spine, I was here for Ash. She stops letting people walk all over her, speaks her mind, makes her opinions known and turns into a character I actually really enjoyed. I just wish we saw this side of Ash a long time ago.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this story was that Sam and Ash spent time together and peeled back the layers on each other, really getting to know who they truly are as people, not just who they appear to be on the outside. They learn things about each other that no one else understands and they grow to be better versions of themselves with the influence of the other. Their back and forth, push and pull, was unexpected since Ash was such a pushover in the first two books but I ended up really enjoying it. While I didn’t love how Sam treated Ash before she started standing up for herself, I feel like she let that be acceptable - she was such a lovesick child until then and was willing to take the scraps that Sam offered. Once Ash became confident in herself, their relationship really began to flourish and become something positive instead of questionable. Together they’re steamy, insatiable and are alright to let their monsters out. Their love story seemed to develop quickly, but they’ve been circling each other for 10 years, learning more from afar and preparing themselves for the day that they could finally be together.
Like in the other books in this series, I loved getting little bits of information about all of the past couples and their growing families, Emmabelle and Devon, Troy and Sparrow. I love all the little continuations and always get so excited for every little bit.
The Monster was a great addition to the Boston Belles series with an unexpected pairing but a sincere and deep connection. Really looking forward to what LJ Shen has in store for us with The Rake!
Since reading Sparrow, I’ve been curious about Sam Brennan...his backstory is so unique, his upbringing with Troy and Sparrow was unconventional (to say the least) and his job as Boston’s most sought after fixer is intriguing. Everything about him is mysterious and he keeps so much of himself hidden, even with his family and friends. I was surprised by some of his more emotional decision making in the story - I know it made him finally seem human, but it seemed really out of character. But I really enjoyed this peek into his brain. The way he works, his motivations and his drive are so unique to him and finally getting an opportunity to see things from his POV was really interesting. Sam has always been a monster, but he’s human as well and finally getting to read about the experiences that made him both was a treat.
I was so curious about Aisling’s character - I knew there had to be more underneath the perfect facade she put up in public and even how she interacted with her friends and brothers. For the first half of the book, she’s that perfect princess of a girl who’s obsessed with the bad guy and really not all that interesting to me. But, once she finally snaps and grows a spine, I was here for Ash. She stops letting people walk all over her, speaks her mind, makes her opinions known and turns into a character I actually really enjoyed. I just wish we saw this side of Ash a long time ago.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this story was that Sam and Ash spent time together and peeled back the layers on each other, really getting to know who they truly are as people, not just who they appear to be on the outside. They learn things about each other that no one else understands and they grow to be better versions of themselves with the influence of the other. Their back and forth, push and pull, was unexpected since Ash was such a pushover in the first two books but I ended up really enjoying it. While I didn’t love how Sam treated Ash before she started standing up for herself, I feel like she let that be acceptable - she was such a lovesick child until then and was willing to take the scraps that Sam offered. Once Ash became confident in herself, their relationship really began to flourish and become something positive instead of questionable. Together they’re steamy, insatiable and are alright to let their monsters out. Their love story seemed to develop quickly, but they’ve been circling each other for 10 years, learning more from afar and preparing themselves for the day that they could finally be together.
Like in the other books in this series, I loved getting little bits of information about all of the past couples and their growing families, Emmabelle and Devon, Troy and Sparrow. I love all the little continuations and always get so excited for every little bit.
The Monster was a great addition to the Boston Belles series with an unexpected pairing but a sincere and deep connection. Really looking forward to what LJ Shen has in store for us with The Rake!
Love me some Monsters
Brilliant book! A love affair woven in fate, desire, family, the mob and denial. Sam and Ainsley persevered, overcame their demons and with both families blessings found their HEA. A must read book.
Brilliant book! A love affair woven in fate, desire, family, the mob and denial. Sam and Ainsley persevered, overcame their demons and with both families blessings found their HEA. A must read book.
TITLE: The Monster
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
AUTHOR: L. J. Shen
TROPE: Billionaire Romance
TYPE: Series (Boston Belles Book 3)
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
The Monster is Sam and Aisling's story where we learn the origin of Sam's nickname "Monster" and where this mistrust of women stems from. We find out more about Aisling and all the pressures she has to deal with in her home life that we have not seen in the earlier books in the series, along with how her infatuation for Sam starts. I was left feeling sorry for both characters for different reasons throughout the book. The Monster is standalone, but having the background in the characters from the first two books is helpful. I am not sure why there are so many one-star reviews, where this is not my favourite of the series so far, or even my favourite Mafia trope read this year, but I had no problem finishing the story. Aisling did not have as much of a backbone as other main characters, but I did find her endearing when she did show her spunk. I would rate this book 3.5 stars.
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
AUTHOR: L. J. Shen
TROPE: Billionaire Romance
TYPE: Series (Boston Belles Book 3)
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
The Monster is Sam and Aisling's story where we learn the origin of Sam's nickname "Monster" and where this mistrust of women stems from. We find out more about Aisling and all the pressures she has to deal with in her home life that we have not seen in the earlier books in the series, along with how her infatuation for Sam starts. I was left feeling sorry for both characters for different reasons throughout the book. The Monster is standalone, but having the background in the characters from the first two books is helpful. I am not sure why there are so many one-star reviews, where this is not my favourite of the series so far, or even my favourite Mafia trope read this year, but I had no problem finishing the story. Aisling did not have as much of a backbone as other main characters, but I did find her endearing when she did show her spunk. I would rate this book 3.5 stars.