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emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
This is a sexy book that features BDSM, but the BDSM is just him ordering her around when they’re having sex and her liking it. I really enjoyed the romance, the banter, and the subplots. It was just the escape I needed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mild spoilers!
Starting this book and getting the warning that there’s an exploration of kink I was a little surprised. I think there’s probably a good deal of people who read this and had a bit of an awakening so to speak. I do think there is value in exposing readers who wouldn’t typically consume kink content to it in a friendly package. It is a pretty intro sub/dom relationship without much else explored. People who have read kink friendly books before will likely find this pretty mild.
I do take issue with how often the FMC refers to herself (or as Hazelwood refers to her?) as a sexual “deviant” or similar. She counteracts this message by saying things like “people who like BDSM aren’t perverts” but when the character self refers to herself repeatedly as a sexual deviant or debauched the messaging isn’t super clear. And to be clear, enjoying or engaging in safe consensual kink is always good!!!
Despite whatever merits I give Hazelwood for exposing more readers to kink in a mostly sex positive way I just don’t like this book.
I keep reading Ali Hazelwood books despite knowing I’m not a fan of her writing mainly because I want to know what I’m missing. In actuality I’m not missing much. I could have guessed the entire plot from reading a couple of reviews. Because maybe while the actual plots of her books change the tropes, the character types, the dynamics, the pacing, they’re practically the same in every single book. It’s boring and trite.
Thankfully didn’t pay for it so no wasted money from me.
Starting this book and getting the warning that there’s an exploration of kink I was a little surprised. I think there’s probably a good deal of people who read this and had a bit of an awakening so to speak. I do think there is value in exposing readers who wouldn’t typically consume kink content to it in a friendly package. It is a pretty intro sub/dom relationship without much else explored. People who have read kink friendly books before will likely find this pretty mild.
I do take issue with how often the FMC refers to herself (or as Hazelwood refers to her?) as a sexual “deviant” or similar. She counteracts this message by saying things like “people who like BDSM aren’t perverts” but when the character self refers to herself repeatedly as a sexual deviant or debauched the messaging isn’t super clear. And to be clear, enjoying or engaging in safe consensual kink is always good!!!
Despite whatever merits I give Hazelwood for exposing more readers to kink in a mostly sex positive way I just don’t like this book.
I keep reading Ali Hazelwood books despite knowing I’m not a fan of her writing mainly because I want to know what I’m missing. In actuality I’m not missing much. I could have guessed the entire plot from reading a couple of reviews. Because maybe while the actual plots of her books change the tropes, the character types, the dynamics, the pacing, they’re practically the same in every single book. It’s boring and trite.
Thankfully didn’t pay for it so no wasted money from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
emotional
funny
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is okay, and from someone who isn't fluent in kink, the dynamics and consent in this book felt more approachable. Scarlett's obsessive self-talk centered around being used (and Lukas saying the same) during intimate scenes was an ick for me, at times.
To me, you do see their relationship develop and see them grow. You also get to see friendships that practice rupture and repair, as well as some nurturing love from Lukas's family and Scarlett's stepmom.
I do wish we would get away from this "no condoms" obsession, esp when these two are in undergrad. There's one scene early on that is supposed to be before they share STI testing results that is presented as a safe practice b/c there's no PIV. It's not.
To me, you do see their relationship develop and see them grow. You also get to see friendships that practice rupture and repair, as well as some nurturing love from Lukas's family and Scarlett's stepmom.
I do wish we would get away from this "no condoms" obsession, esp when these two are in undergrad. There's one scene early on that is supposed to be before they share STI testing results that is presented as a safe practice b/c there's no PIV. It's not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Alcohol
emotional
lighthearted
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
I don’t know what Ali Hazelwood put on her books but I’ve cried to them all & gave them all 5 stars (mostly). Also, I just noticed how obsessed all her MMCs are with their FMCs AND I LOVE IT. Also, I want my own Lukas. Ok, but in all seriousness, I don’t know why I heard so many bad reviews about it, like I actually feared I wouldn’t like it & was hesitate to read it bc I don’t want to dislike an Ali Hazelwood book, BUT I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT & I fell in love with the characters & cried with them. I think it’s a bit different than her usually books, BUT I WAS HERE FOR EVERY SECOND OF IT. But Penelope was still questionable, didn’t like her half-way through the book & I don’t know if she fully redeemed herself :/.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Domestic abuse, Death of parent
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
Ali Hazelwood always brings it with the fresh writing that is so easy to read. A lot of people are saying that there wasn't enough BDSM representation when that's how the story is framed, but these are college kids that are both new to acting on these desires and just because there isn't extremely graphic scenes, doesn't mean it isn't representative of the lifestyle. It definitely isn't vanilla, but it's tame for BDSM. Either way, I really liked the story and the characters and will continue to read Ali forever!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship