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vulcanlibrarian's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Blood, Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Violence, and Emotional abuse
madlereads's review
- 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
3.75
🏒 college hockey
🔪 enemies to lovers
😱 stalker(s)
“Greyson.”
“Grey,” I automatically correct. She narrows her eyes. I shrug, going for nonchalance. “Violet and Grey? Makes sense to me.”
I'm conflicted about how I feel about this...but I think I did enjoy some parts more often than not?
Greyson basically ruins Violet's life one fateful night when he speeds down a seemingly empty road and crashes into Violet's car. With her leg shattered, her dreams to be a principal ballerina is up in the air. And since fate's so funny, turns out Grey is the new hotshot hockey player at her college now since Violet missed out on a whole semester and he's out to get her for "ruining his life."
Yep. He totally believed at the very beginning that she ruined his life for outing him originally as the guy who hit her car. Does he ever apologize? Nope. 🤣🤣 The author wasn't kidding when she said he's not gonna grovel.
Greyson is 100% a red flag and suffers from rich boy-itis of always being right and gets what he wants. He goes out of his way to humiliate Violet and harass her and puts her in these situations with the threat of breaking the NDA over her head. It's a dark bully romance so I expected most of his psychotic obsessive behavior. (But I did want just a little explicit apology teehee.)
Though he was very infuriating, I was hooked because of the story. And I eat up the psychotic asshole finding out he has *feelings* every time. That process is so funny. Like when Grey gets jealous? Phew. What a silly cutie (who's a little violent towards his bros.)
Violet was just okay as a heroine. I was rooting for her to be more toxic to Greyson 🤣 like when he toys with her by kissing her dance team enemy, I wanted her to fuck his teammate 🤣 She was fine though. She's not like total doormat. I think her just tolerating Grey/ignoring him riled him up just the same cause he's obsessed with her attention.
Plus Violet discovered her dark and kinky side with Grey 🤭 so can't blame her mind on focusing on that instead of "Oh no I'm being bullied." So yea the dynamic was entertaining here and there.
Their relationship did turn into something kinda cute despite *everything*. And I did really like their sweet moments which with some context, was Grey being sweetly psychotic. There were a lot of quotes I loved! But I wasn't 100% really sold on their emotional connection or their love really. Grey did show subtle remorse and he did show his care for Violet but it needed more juice. Like as Violet wondered once, why her out of everyone?
The final conflict kinda felt meh to me too. It was external forces at play targeting Violet. But it felt thrown in there despite hints from the start. I think their ends/motivation was too convenient.
So do I recommend? It's a maybe! If you like that non-remorseful bully dynamic go for it!
I think expecting that crazy obsessive psychopath Ryat Archer from the Ritual and Killian Carson from God of Malice energy, maybe not?
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Drug use, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Leaked sex tape, OWD: Grey does kiss another woman but it wasn't when the MCs were officially together, that woman also does pursue Grey and picks on Violet too. OWD: Violet's ex stalks and harasses her and attempts to rape her after drugging her. Grey forces Violet to give a blow job to one of his teammates. CNC, non/dub con, primal play, sommnophilia, no condom, anal play, knife play, toy usage, double penetration with a toy, exhibitionism, bondagebookreaderblair's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
ktbug1217's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Car accident, and Blood
aurslde's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
it took me a while for me to like the mmc. his motives for harassing the fmc were so unserious. however, i ended up feeling satisfied (as much as one can be with a dark romance love interest at least) with his character arc by the end of the book. my main issue, the one that really bothers me, was with the plot execution. i liked the initial set up that s. massery goes for. however, due to the underutilization of the length of the book, the way the plot played out felt underdeveloped and rushed. i could honestly see myself loving this book if the middle chunk was utilized more to develop the story plot wise.
plot aside, i really liked the characters and relationship dynamic... once i got used to the mmc's antics at least. a good chunk of the side characters were fun. give me willows book, this instant! i guess i'll settle for steele's book though.
Graphic: Bullying, Stalking, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood and Car accident
Minor: Death of parent and Addiction
kltrevett's review
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
secretsofabooklover's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual content, Bullying, Car accident, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Confinement, Kidnapping, and Medical content
fredyyee's review
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Physical abuse, Car accident, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Violence
proud_book_nerd's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
ashwood_15's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Drug abuse