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jamie_w's review against another edition
4.0
True rating of 4.5⭐️. Wow oh wow was Crosby such a lovable (and frustrating) H! There’s no such thing as a character without baggage so he had to have some issues but he treated Kenna so well (for the most part, when he didn’t get in his own way.) He was there for her every single time she needed him!
I loved Kenna! She always stood up for herself and never gave up. She made hard choices for her own benefit and stick to them. So often we see the h forfeit what’s best for herself I order to help someone else. She knew she needed to be her top priority in her own life!
I loved the way Catherine wrapped up the drama and gave Crosby and Kenna their much deserved HEA!
I loved Kenna! She always stood up for herself and never gave up. She made hard choices for her own benefit and stick to them. So often we see the h forfeit what’s best for herself I order to help someone else. She knew she needed to be her top priority in her own life!
I loved the way Catherine wrapped up the drama and gave Crosby and Kenna their much deserved HEA!
katkinslee's review
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed this one however Kenna did get on my nerves a bit, I understood why she was closed off but she had two friends that had proved to her that they were never leaving so I thought that would have kept her from running away mentally.
I really loved Crosby, I thought he was super interesting and fun. I was really looking forward to this book because Crosby and Kenna were so funny in the first book but this ended up getting darker than I had expected which made it a little less enjoyable. Bell was kind of annoying in this one too. Just kept pushing at Kenna and not really respecting the processing time she needed.
I really loved Crosby, I thought he was super interesting and fun. I was really looking forward to this book because Crosby and Kenna were so funny in the first book but this ended up getting darker than I had expected which made it a little less enjoyable. Bell was kind of annoying in this one too. Just kept pushing at Kenna and not really respecting the processing time she needed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
anasatticbookblog's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect Wreckage (The Wrecked Series Book 2) by Catherine Cowles
Narrated by Joe Arden and Maxine Mitchell
Standalone in a Related Series
4.5 Stars
Perfect Wreckage by Catherine Cowles is the second in a series that takes place in the small town of Anchor Island. The three best friends who live there each get a book, but I don’t think it’s necessary to read Reckless Memories before reading Perfect Wreckage even though we are introduced to both characters in that first book. But I guarantee, after reading Perfect Wreckage, you’ll be in for the long haul and you’ll read the first anyway.
Kenna and Crosby couldn’t be more different. Crosby grew up in Boston with a trust fund but moved across the country to Anchor Island to practice law under his own terms, away from his family. He has been hurt in the past and never plans on getting into another committed relationship. Always on his next extreme sports adventure, he is a lighthearted daredevil, but there is way more than meets the eye.
Kenna is a buttoned-up accountant. Surviving a terrible childhood, she was taken in by Harriet, her grandmother’s friend, from when she was 11 years old. Spending her early years with a drunk mother and not having any security takes a toll on a person.
“I wanted to feel like a gift in someone’s life. Never again did I want to feel like a burden.”
After being devastated in high school by a rich prick, Kenna had some preconceived notions about Crosby, and their banter wasn’t always flirtatious. But when her life begins to unravel, Kenna needs the town lawyer at her side.
Crosby was so good for her. He brought her out of her safety net and taught her how to live and love, even if he wasn’t quite ready for that himself.
“One day, this woman would see herself as I did. Strong because she’d been broken. Loving because she’d been hurt. Perfect in all of her imperfections.”
Kenna’s growth in this book was phenomenal. I loved how she was pushed into being the person she was meant to be.
"Life is messy and terrifying, but it is also crazy beautiful. You taught me that. You showed me that my wreckage could be perfect in its own way, that all those little cracks in my soul just made me stronger, more beautiful."
Years ago my genre of choice was lawyer and suspense books, (think John Grisham), and Perfect Wreckage brought in a lot of those features that kept me listening non-stop back then.
Likes:
- •It stood alone great, not requiring me to remember a thing about the first (I’m like Dori with my memory).
- •Catherine’s writing is beautiful. Her words feel carefully crafted to bring out a mood in the reader.
- •I laughed, cried, and bit my nails with anticipation.
- •The amazing friendship between the three women.
- •Visiting the idyllic town of Anchor Island again.
- •The opposites attract theme. They brought out the best in each other.
- •Harriet and Zoe were both amazing side characters.
- •A villain (actually a few) you hate so much you want to kick their teeth in.
- •How the couple slowly opened their hearts to each other and grew from it.
- •Crosby is just amazing. Sigh….
- •These covers are gorgeous.
Dislikes:
- •Kenna seemed like she was wallowing in self-pity a little too much sometimes (and before you throw stones, I’ve been there.)
The Narration:
Maxine Mitchell and Joe Arden did a phenomenal job with the narration. I think their acting made the book even better by bringing Kenna and Crosby to life.
The Down & Dirty:
Perfect Wreckage by Catherine Cowles is a journey. I am so glad it was a little longer than the average audiobook (at over 9 hours) because I absolutely didn’t want it to end. I love how the author gives such a full, rich story with a lot of backstory as well as an exciting tale in the present that makes you not want to stop reading at any point. I devoured Perfect Wreckage by Catherine Cowles. It brought me on a journey of laughter, tears, hope, excitement, fear, and happy sobs—the best kind of journey!
Rating: 4.5 Stars, 3.5 Flames, 5 Narration
Purchase Perfect Wreckage by Catherine Cowles
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lenja_sf's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jessicadesamota's review
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Perfect Wreckage by Catherine Cowles 🩷
Wrecked, Book 2
Interconnected Standalone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance
Paperback Review
334 pages
🏠 romantic suspense
⚖️ small town romance
🏠 dislike to love
⚖️ terrible exes
🏠 grumpy x sunshine
⚖️ love after loss
🏠 dual POV
⚖️ HEA
📍”I missed hearing that sound.”
“What sound?”
“Your laugh. The real one.”
I started Friday DNFing a book. One of my 24 for ‘24, which kind of bummed me out tremendously as I was so invested in the challenge (and because I never particularly like DNFing a book). So, I did what a person always must do: I picked up a Catherine Cowles book. Fast forward to Friday night and I was done with it 👀
How? Well, it’s all due to the writing. It just grabs you and keeps you going, like a movie that keeps on playing. It’s also the plot. It keeps your attention on high and that “just one more chapter” going. It’s the characters. They instantly become all you want to know and protect. They’re new friends you’re lucky to make.
📍“I’ve been so worried about building this perfect, secure life that I forgot to enjoy the world around me. I was too consumed with trying to control it.”
There’s a lot of loss in this book. There’s a lot of bad things happening to good people. But there’s a lot of good things surrounding them too. There’s a lot of love blooming. There’s a lot of hope blossoming.
I wish I could hug them. I think they needed
Wrecked, Book 2
Interconnected Standalone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance
Paperback Review
334 pages
🏠 romantic suspense
⚖️ small town romance
🏠 dislike to love
⚖️ terrible exes
🏠 grumpy x sunshine
⚖️ love after loss
🏠 dual POV
⚖️ HEA
📍”I missed hearing that sound.”
“What sound?”
“Your laugh. The real one.”
I started Friday DNFing a book. One of my 24 for ‘24, which kind of bummed me out tremendously as I was so invested in the challenge (and because I never particularly like DNFing a book). So, I did what a person always must do: I picked up a Catherine Cowles book. Fast forward to Friday night and I was done with it 👀
How? Well, it’s all due to the writing. It just grabs you and keeps you going, like a movie that keeps on playing. It’s also the plot. It keeps your attention on high and that “just one more chapter” going. It’s the characters. They instantly become all you want to know and protect. They’re new friends you’re lucky to make.
📍“I’ve been so worried about building this perfect, secure life that I forgot to enjoy the world around me. I was too consumed with trying to control it.”
There’s a lot of loss in this book. There’s a lot of bad things happening to good people. But there’s a lot of good things surrounding them too. There’s a lot of love blooming. There’s a lot of hope blossoming.
I wish I could hug them. I think they needed
read_on_reader's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, my Crosby!! This laid-back hot lawyer who loves his freedom but has a heart of gold stole my breathe and heart instantly. Crosby is funny, loving, caring, hard worker, but enjoys playing too. He believes that life should be a balance of working hard and enjoying the things around you. I fell hard for this man because he knew what he wanted out of life and enjoyed everything he was doing with his own life. While Crosby enjoyed his freedom aka doing outdoor activities as he please Kenna has a different idea what life should be like. Kenna was this beautiful woman who has structured her life to where nothing unpredictable can happen and she loves it that way because of all the hardships she has endured throughout her life. She is boring, predictable never deviates from her plans and it is slowly taking a toll on her. She knows she should want more out of life, but she is afraid that if she lets go it will only end up hurting her. Kenna and Crosby don’t always see eye to eye because while Kenna is predictable Crosby is the opposite. Their banter had me laughing and I was so happy to see that Crosby brought a different side out of her. I don’t want to give too much away but a lot happens especially from both characters pasts that try to haunt them. As they try to navigate their newly friendship and steamy moments, they will always have to battle themselves. Can Crosby stop hunting down the freedom he desperately tries to hold on to so he can have a balance of love and time to go enjoy his outdoor activities? Can Kenna let go of her hurts, take time to let loose and give herself a break? Or are these two too opposite for things to workout and will the past come back and tear them apart? All these questions are answered and you don’t want to miss another amazing book in this series that steals your heart and makes you fall hard for more characters as you crave more.
persephoneautumn's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect Wreckage is captivating and suspenseful and the perfect addition in Catherine’s The Wrecked Series.
This book starts with a bang and sets the stage for Kenna and Crosby’s story.
Both Kenna and Crosby have pasts that keep romantic opportunities at arm’s length. But the way their love slowly unfolds is nothing short of beautiful.
Kenna stands tall and strong and protects fiercely. Crosby has such tenderness and an over abundance of love. But they are both so set in their ways and fight to keep their guard intact.
I truly loved watching them fall in love and try to resist what their heart wanted. And the volunteering
This book starts with a bang and sets the stage for Kenna and Crosby’s story.
Both Kenna and Crosby have pasts that keep romantic opportunities at arm’s length. But the way their love slowly unfolds is nothing short of beautiful.
Kenna stands tall and strong and protects fiercely. Crosby has such tenderness and an over abundance of love. But they are both so set in their ways and fight to keep their guard intact.
I truly loved watching them fall in love and try to resist what their heart wanted. And the volunteering
javanissimo's review
This was the book that was recommended out of the series. I only read the first one so I would know who the characters were. They were both melodramatic and dreary. I DNFed this at 87%, skimming only long enough to get to the “surprise” pregnancy that suddenly pulled the MMC’s head out of his ass. I want to smack the TikTokker who recommended this. I need to keep better track. 🤮
bookishlychar's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5 - Perfect Wreckage is the second book in the Wrecked series by Catherine Cowles. This book follows Kenna and Crosby.
Kenna lucked out when Harriet took her in at 11, when her mom wasn't able to care for her. Ever since she has lived on Harriet's estate, The Gables. Crosby is the lawyer on the island. He may come from money, but he escaped his family of privilege to make a difference and become someone he can be proud of. Kenna and Crosby have a bit of a tumultuous relationship, having both made assumptions about the other. Circumstances bring them closer together and they begin to realize the other is not who they thought. Kenna needs to rely on Crosby for some help and begins to trust and feel closer to him and Crosby begins to wonder if love is something he may want in the future.
This is a beautiful story about two people who don't trust, growing to trust. Though their relationship starts as one that involves bickering and poking at each other, it develops into something so much more. Kenna doesn't believe that people will stay, and Crosby just keeps showing up. He says he doesn't want the complications of love, but his actions are so beautiful and loving.
Every story has a villain, and I like that it is not one of the two characters in this book. There is an actual evil villain, and they are a terrible person. I love how Kenna persevered against the evil and stood her ground. She was such a strong character. As with the previous book, I also loved the found family in this book. Kenna, Bell and Caelyn are total friendship goals. They are there for each other and so good for each other. I like seeing how Ford and Crosby get taken in this family too.
I look forward to reading Caelyn's story next!
Kenna lucked out when Harriet took her in at 11, when her mom wasn't able to care for her. Ever since she has lived on Harriet's estate, The Gables. Crosby is the lawyer on the island. He may come from money, but he escaped his family of privilege to make a difference and become someone he can be proud of. Kenna and Crosby have a bit of a tumultuous relationship, having both made assumptions about the other. Circumstances bring them closer together and they begin to realize the other is not who they thought. Kenna needs to rely on Crosby for some help and begins to trust and feel closer to him and Crosby begins to wonder if love is something he may want in the future.
This is a beautiful story about two people who don't trust, growing to trust. Though their relationship starts as one that involves bickering and poking at each other, it develops into something so much more. Kenna doesn't believe that people will stay, and Crosby just keeps showing up. He says he doesn't want the complications of love, but his actions are so beautiful and loving.
Every story has a villain, and I like that it is not one of the two characters in this book. There is an actual evil villain, and they are a terrible person. I love how Kenna persevered against the evil and stood her ground. She was such a strong character. As with the previous book, I also loved the found family in this book. Kenna, Bell and Caelyn are total friendship goals. They are there for each other and so good for each other. I like seeing how Ford and Crosby get taken in this family too.
I look forward to reading Caelyn's story next!