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meggkey08's review
2.0
Very Big Disappointment
Trigger Warnings:
-Drug abuse
-Abuse from a family member
-Sexual assault
-Blackmail
Trigger Warnings:
-Drug abuse
-Abuse from a family member
-Sexual assault
-Blackmail
beaniebookcorner's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Rape, and Classism
torixreads's review
3.0
This was one of those cases where regardless of how I wanted to like the book it just felt pretty lacklustre to me. It moved super slow, and found myself getting bored.
Gabe had been such a clown and sweetheart in the previous 2 books I just knew there was something dark and painful under the bravado. I’d been looking forward to this from the start. I would have liked it if Wolfe would have set this book a little, I do remember a tiny hint in book 2, but it was extremely tiny.
I’m always happy when we get a curvy heroine and we get to hear about how thick and sexy they are. The speech scene was just
Gabe had been such a clown and sweetheart in the previous 2 books I just knew there was something dark and painful under the bravado. I’d been looking forward to this from the start. I would have liked it if Wolfe would have set this book a little, I do remember a tiny hint in book 2, but it was extremely tiny.
I’m always happy when we get a curvy heroine and we get to hear about how thick and sexy they are. The speech scene was just
kaydanielsromance's review
5.0
I have been waiting and wanting Gabe's story since book one, so Julia had a lot of expectations to fill up my heart and soul...Expectations met and I LOVED EVERY MOMENT!!
Gabe is known as the comic relief, the class clown, and definitely a player. Is it wrong to say I was super excited to finally find out why Gabe is the way he is. (rubbing my hands with super villain glee)
I was happy to find that Gabe is the same funny, sarcastic, over-the-top boy I've loved since book one. His charismatic charm wormed his way right into my heart from the very beginning and his loyalty to not only his friends, but those who became a part of that inner circle is what truly solidified my love for the boy. He's pretty darn perfect, if only he could have been truthful and not let his pride get in the way, then playboy Gabe wouldn't have hatched, but to everything there is a reason and it doesn't take long into the book to get a small taste of what that reason entails.
Penelope is a casualty of Gabe's Freshman year. Penelope has a ton of faith and trust in people, until she gets hurt, then it's all bets off and she doesn't allow for second chances, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me go back to Freshman year when it all began and Penelope was a wide eyed girl completely in love with a boy from the wrong side of town. She didn't care where he lived or how much money his parents made, Penelope was just totally enamored of Gabe himself. We don't find out why Gabe throws it all away until much later in the book, but breaking Penelope's heart freshman year is the catalyst for the entire story going forward.
Julia is so good at weaving a story from this small thread and eventually displaying the entire blanket by story's end. Each chapter gives a little more, sewing and knitting pieces, until each puzzle is put into place and that A-HA! moment finally connects.
As much as I wanted Penelope to forgive Gabe right out of the gate, there was a lot of ground work to cover and it's great to see how obsessive Gabriel is in trying to win her back. There was always this feeling that he had ADD or compulsive issues in the other books, but to really see the man in action is completely endearing and honestly I'd love a little obsession from a man like Gabe any day.
Everyone of the main characters, from family to friends, is perfectly placed and written. Burn It Down is another great addition to this overall series and Gabe is still one of my favorite characters overall. I've loved to see this story arc grow with each book and I can hardly wait to see what's coming up next.
Gabe is known as the comic relief, the class clown, and definitely a player. Is it wrong to say I was super excited to finally find out why Gabe is the way he is. (rubbing my hands with super villain glee)
I was happy to find that Gabe is the same funny, sarcastic, over-the-top boy I've loved since book one. His charismatic charm wormed his way right into my heart from the very beginning and his loyalty to not only his friends, but those who became a part of that inner circle is what truly solidified my love for the boy. He's pretty darn perfect, if only he could have been truthful and not let his pride get in the way, then playboy Gabe wouldn't have hatched, but to everything there is a reason and it doesn't take long into the book to get a small taste of what that reason entails.
Penelope is a casualty of Gabe's Freshman year. Penelope has a ton of faith and trust in people, until she gets hurt, then it's all bets off and she doesn't allow for second chances, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me go back to Freshman year when it all began and Penelope was a wide eyed girl completely in love with a boy from the wrong side of town. She didn't care where he lived or how much money his parents made, Penelope was just totally enamored of Gabe himself. We don't find out why Gabe throws it all away until much later in the book, but breaking Penelope's heart freshman year is the catalyst for the entire story going forward.
Julia is so good at weaving a story from this small thread and eventually displaying the entire blanket by story's end. Each chapter gives a little more, sewing and knitting pieces, until each puzzle is put into place and that A-HA! moment finally connects.
As much as I wanted Penelope to forgive Gabe right out of the gate, there was a lot of ground work to cover and it's great to see how obsessive Gabriel is in trying to win her back. There was always this feeling that he had ADD or compulsive issues in the other books, but to really see the man in action is completely endearing and honestly I'd love a little obsession from a man like Gabe any day.
Everyone of the main characters, from family to friends, is perfectly placed and written. Burn It Down is another great addition to this overall series and Gabe is still one of my favorite characters overall. I've loved to see this story arc grow with each book and I can hardly wait to see what's coming up next.
spazzykatie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
5.0
Jfc I really didn't prepare myself for this series. I thought the last book was emotional, but this one ripped my heart out and stomped on it.
Pen and Gabe's story was heart breaking from the beginning. They met the summer before freshman year and totally fell for each other. One day after officially becoming boyfriend and girlfriend, Gabe broke up with her very publicly, saying some truly awful things.
Fast forward to the end of senior year. Gabe needs to get his chem grades up or he'll lose his college scholarship. Pen is dealing with trauma on multiple fronts and really struggling. Gabe insists she tutor him. She refuses. He blackmails. What follows is just heartbreaking.
Gabe is a broken boy golden retriever with barely controlled adhd, who jokes to hide the pain. Pen is super smart. A good girl who is dealing with some fucked up trauma and is kind of drowning. The two of them really balance each other out but man do they hurt before that happens.
This book is amazing. Just be prepared to hurt while reading it. 💜
Pen and Gabe's story was heart breaking from the beginning. They met the summer before freshman year and totally fell for each other. One day after officially becoming boyfriend and girlfriend, Gabe broke up with her very publicly, saying some truly awful things.
Fast forward to the end of senior year. Gabe needs to get his chem grades up or he'll lose his college scholarship. Pen is dealing with trauma on multiple fronts and really struggling. Gabe insists she tutor him. She refuses. He blackmails. What follows is just heartbreaking.
Gabe is a broken boy golden retriever with barely controlled adhd, who jokes to hide the pain. Pen is super smart. A good girl who is dealing with some fucked up trauma and is kind of drowning. The two of them really balance each other out but man do they hurt before that happens.
This book is amazing. Just be prepared to hurt while reading it. 💜
brandys_reading_count's review
slow-paced
3.5
Characters: Penelope (Pen) Shade and Gabriel (Gabe) Fuller
Content Warning: attempted sexual assault by a teacher, attempted sexual assault by another character, blackmail, death of a family member, ADHD character
Penelope and Gabriel first met when they were 14 during summer break, she expected them to start dating but she goes to his home (because he was supposed to meet her), and there she meets Tristan and his friends who try to sexually assault her, but Helen (Gabriel’s friend) saves her.
Gabriel sees her at school and basically tells her that he didn’t like her and to move on.
A few years later Gabriel needs a tutor and the guy who is tutoring him is a butt hole (and he’s Penelope’s ex), Gabriel convinces Penelope to tutor him instead.
This was more of a slow burn, because Penelope was burned by Gabriel before, and he had to prove himself for her.
I did like this, but I also saw some flaws in the story that I wasn’t a huge fan of, and predictable foreshadowing
Content Warning: attempted sexual assault by a teacher, attempted sexual assault by another character, blackmail, death of a family member, ADHD character
Penelope and Gabriel first met when they were 14 during summer break, she expected them to start dating but she goes to his home (because he was supposed to meet her), and there she meets Tristan and his friends who try to sexually assault her, but Helen (Gabriel’s friend) saves her.
Gabriel sees her at school and basically tells her that he didn’t like her and to move on.
A few years later Gabriel needs a tutor and the guy who is tutoring him is a butt hole (and he’s Penelope’s ex), Gabriel convinces Penelope to tutor him instead.
This was more of a slow burn, because Penelope was burned by Gabriel before, and he had to prove himself for her.
I did like this, but I also saw some flaws in the story that I wasn’t a huge fan of, and predictable foreshadowing
bookboyfriendandhusbandmake3's review
5.0
Burn It Down was an explosive finale to the Savage Crew series.
Don’t tell the rest of the crew, but Pen and Gabe are my new favorite.
Penelope was a good girl, follows the rules, intelligent, and quiet. In a moment she let her overwhelming feelings slide out which landed her in a bit of hot water.
Gabe is from the wrong side of the tracks, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn’t get stuck there. He’s a mix of cocky alpha-hole and swoony. I loved him, I hated him, I wanted to hug him, I wanted to punch him.
Gabe and Pen had a past, and the anger Pen had for him was as palpable as the chemistry they shared. It was so clear that they had shared something profound, and that whatever it was before Gabe had lit the match that left their past in a pile of ashes. The thing is, with chemistry as strong as they share there were still embers in that pile of ash waiting for a little breeze to bring it back to a fiery blaze.
My feels weren’t prepared for Gabe and Pen’s story, my heart felt like a ping pong ball being hit back and forth, aching for Pen, breaking for Gabe, and so on, if there were ever a fictional couple to deserve a lifetime of happiness it was these two.
I loved the exchanges between Pen and Gabe. Pen was sassy with Gabe in a way she wasn’t with others, and Gabe was calm when Pen was close. He was her chaos and she was his tranquility.
I spent countless hours immersed in the Savage Crew world, it felt a bit bittersweet because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters they’ve ingrained themselves in my heart.
Burn It Down is my new favorite in the Savage Crew Series. An all-consuming unputdownable blend of searing chemistry, a swoony alpha-hole, a heroine finding her inner strength, wicked retorts, witty banter, unceasing waves of feels, from giggles to tears, and ultra hot steam.
Website | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram
Don’t tell the rest of the crew, but Pen and Gabe are my new favorite.
Penelope was a good girl, follows the rules, intelligent, and quiet. In a moment she let her overwhelming feelings slide out which landed her in a bit of hot water.
Gabe is from the wrong side of the tracks, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn’t get stuck there. He’s a mix of cocky alpha-hole and swoony. I loved him, I hated him, I wanted to hug him, I wanted to punch him.
Gabe and Pen had a past, and the anger Pen had for him was as palpable as the chemistry they shared. It was so clear that they had shared something profound, and that whatever it was before Gabe had lit the match that left their past in a pile of ashes. The thing is, with chemistry as strong as they share there were still embers in that pile of ash waiting for a little breeze to bring it back to a fiery blaze.
My feels weren’t prepared for Gabe and Pen’s story, my heart felt like a ping pong ball being hit back and forth, aching for Pen, breaking for Gabe, and so on, if there were ever a fictional couple to deserve a lifetime of happiness it was these two.
I loved the exchanges between Pen and Gabe. Pen was sassy with Gabe in a way she wasn’t with others, and Gabe was calm when Pen was close. He was her chaos and she was his tranquility.
I spent countless hours immersed in the Savage Crew world, it felt a bit bittersweet because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters they’ve ingrained themselves in my heart.
Burn It Down is my new favorite in the Savage Crew Series. An all-consuming unputdownable blend of searing chemistry, a swoony alpha-hole, a heroine finding her inner strength, wicked retorts, witty banter, unceasing waves of feels, from giggles to tears, and ultra hot steam.
Website | Amazon | Facebook | Instagram
rinasreadsnz's review
5.0
Oh, man!
My heart was torn from my chest several times throughout this book. Then, because Julia is the devil (obviously) she stomped on it for good measure.
Disappointment and being let down by others is something I have experienced from people close to me, so I know how it can cut deep.
Anyway, enough about my issues...
This book was everything I expected it to be AND MORE!
Gabe, our beautiful jokester, has a heart of gold hidden under all his shenanigans —who knew?! And it loves deeply, protects deeply. Sure, he screwed up. But who doesn't?
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, I think he made the best choices he could.
He made up for it.
Penelope is so strong.
Despite being shredded by Gabe before, she still allowed him back into her life.
I loved that they had history—even if it wasn't particularly pleasant.
It just made the moment when all the cards were revealed that much sweeter.
Some very strong subjects were tackled in this book, I think they were explored in a very realistic and respectful way.
The laughs were plentiful, the steam was stellar, and that promposal was magic.
I'm really looking forward to reading Helen's book. That girl has seen some stuff!
My heart was torn from my chest several times throughout this book. Then, because Julia is the devil (obviously) she stomped on it for good measure.
Disappointment and being let down by others is something I have experienced from people close to me, so I know how it can cut deep.
Anyway, enough about my issues...
This book was everything I expected it to be AND MORE!
Gabe, our beautiful jokester, has a heart of gold hidden under all his shenanigans —who knew?! And it loves deeply, protects deeply. Sure, he screwed up. But who doesn't?
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, I think he made the best choices he could.
He made up for it.
Penelope is so strong.
Despite being shredded by Gabe before, she still allowed him back into her life.
I loved that they had history—even if it wasn't particularly pleasant.
It just made the moment when all the cards were revealed that much sweeter.
Some very strong subjects were tackled in this book, I think they were explored in a very realistic and respectful way.
The laughs were plentiful, the steam was stellar, and that promposal was magic.
I'm really looking forward to reading Helen's book. That girl has seen some stuff!
themarishale's review
4.0
I won’t reiterate the supplied synopsis, but I will say this is one of my favorite New Adult enemies-to-lovers reads.
It was gut wrenchingly heartbreaking, dealt deftly with trauma and how it changes not just who we are but how we interact with others, and provided a sense of redemption that felt both necessary and like closure.
Trigger warning, however, as this book includes: sexual assault, physical abuse/violence, death, and addiction.
The sex scenes are intense (the main characters are of legal age of consent), but well done and there is a sweetness to Gabe and Pen’s intimacy even as they’re trying to find their way. The dichotomy in the way their parents/families are portrayed provided a realistic backdrop for who they are and their story arc.
Honestly, I started this book around 9pm last night and stayed up until 3am just because I couldn’t put it down—I had to see if they got their happily ever after. And they do, as much as any young couple who goes all the way to hell and back can find a happily ever after.
If you enjoy spicy, NA novels with a well done enemies-to-lover trope, 10/10 would recommend. Truthfully, even if you don’t prefer that sort of novel, but simply enjoy a heartachingly good love story, 10/10 would recommend anyway.
It was gut wrenchingly heartbreaking, dealt deftly with trauma and how it changes not just who we are but how we interact with others, and provided a sense of redemption that felt both necessary and like closure.
Trigger warning, however, as this book includes: sexual assault, physical abuse/violence, death, and addiction.
The sex scenes are intense (the main characters are of legal age of consent), but well done and there is a sweetness to Gabe and Pen’s intimacy even as they’re trying to find their way. The dichotomy in the way their parents/families are portrayed provided a realistic backdrop for who they are and their story arc.
Honestly, I started this book around 9pm last night and stayed up until 3am just because I couldn’t put it down—I had to see if they got their happily ever after. And they do, as much as any young couple who goes all the way to hell and back can find a happily ever after.
If you enjoy spicy, NA novels with a well done enemies-to-lover trope, 10/10 would recommend. Truthfully, even if you don’t prefer that sort of novel, but simply enjoy a heartachingly good love story, 10/10 would recommend anyway.