Reviews

Surrender by Sam Mariano

Only show reviews with written explanations

sofiaoffutt's review

Go to review page

dark emotional funny fast-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

3.75

amberreadsromance28's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.5

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶🌶🌶🌶

Silvan Koch is another unhinged Sam Mariano anti-hero... and I was here for it. This boy is obsessed and bringing all the stalker vibes I love.

Sophie is an introvert and doesn't really socialize or enjoy the college party scene, but she ends up going to a party to try and put herself out there. However, she catches the eye of the super rich and psycho Silvan. He is immediately obsessed with her and manipulates her into going through a series of escape rooms with him. Needless to say, they are stuck in that room till the hour runs up, and Silvan takes what he wants. He decides he is in no way done with Sophie after the noncon that happens in the escape room.

Silvan manipulates and tricks Sophie into being his, but was actually pretty sweet and tender with her. He may be a little bit of a stalker...using spy pens, setting up cameras in her dorm, and the ever-present driver who keeps tabs on her... but I was ok with it. The sex was hot, and Silvan was really into praising our heroine, even when he was being a little forceful.

Sophie did come off as extremely naïve and she didn't really make the best decisions. Sometimes, I was seriously annoyed with her choices because she was just TSTL. She is not my favorite Sam Mariano heroine, and I am ok with submissive heroines considering how much I loved Mia. I just wanted a little more fight and strength from her.

Silvan's unhinged parents were one of the best parts of this book, and I was getting major Mateo and Mia vibes. Silvan comes from a pretty crazy family, and his dad was a scene stealer. I also enjoyed the cameos from Dare and Aubrey. I liked how Sophie instantly sensed that something was off with Dare and knew he was dangerous. I am very intrigued to see what happens in Hannah's book and how Dare will come into play.

I enjoyed this book, but it did have some plot holes and didn't give me everything I expect with a Sam Mariano book. However, that is probably because she co-wrote it with Laura Lovett, and I am not familiar with that author. I still couldn't put the book down, and I am excited to see what is to come in the Coastal Elite series.

Make sure to check your triggers when reading this book, but if you have read Sam Mariano's books before and enjoy them, you should know what you are in for.

FYI: The ARC sadly did not include the bonus content for Aubrey and Dare, so I will probably update this review once the book releases.

Thank you to Grey's promotions for providing the ARC.

TW: Noncon, dubcon, birth control tampering, soft kidnapping.

dbc813's review

Go to review page

dark

Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

midnightrose_reads's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Surrender is the fourth book in the Coastal Elite series. Silvan and Sophie meet at his Halloween party and Silvan becomes immediately obsessed with her like all Sam’s ‘heroes.’ This was another enjoyable dark romance from Sam Mariano. I enjoyed Silvan more than the previous MMC Landon in ‘Contempt’.

Content Warnings

mells_view's review

Go to review page

If you want my review of Surrender, Silvan and Sophie’s story, then you can read that at the link below…

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5148461446

”You shouldn’t be so reckless, mermaid. Do you know what I would do if someone took you away from me?”

I’m not going to rate this one because I only picked it up for the Sleeping Beauty add on at the end. Which gives us an update on Dare and Aubrey from Even If It Hurts and a smidge of a hint on where Hannah’s story might go. Not 100% how I feel about it. I realize it’s fiction and not real, but it’s starting to feel a little overly contrived. Aubrey is realizing more and more she’s in love with someone who basically abuses her because he legit knows no other way, but she still loves him. Which, whatever that’s 90% of the time how Sam’s books go, but for some reason this story made it feel even less balanced and like it just doesn’t work. Plus it doesn’t help that the Aubrey in this story felt less like Aubrey and more like Zoey from Untouchable in voice. I know time has passed, so maybe her “fog” has lifted a little more, but it sounded like a different character to me. With where I’m assuming the story may go that may be intentional, so whatever for now, but it just didn’t work for me in this little short. It was less entertaining and felt more like listening to your friend who is being abused and knows it, but can’t make herself leave because she knows leaving might be worse. It was kind of sad tbh.