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dark
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
“a heart of gold trapped in a heart of ice”
“hate is just another word for love”
this was corny af and made me feel like i was reading a dark harry styles fanfic when i was in middle school. classic alpha male and crossed the line of obsessive and stalker many times. he has a dark past and a bad moral compass etc. etc. he also has a “condition” where he remembers everything?? he’s truly just a bad dude and it’s classic “i hate everyone except you” but still treated her shitty most of the time. also up until the very end he is still talking shit abt her friends and how they are annoying and he doesn’t like them. he really just sucks lol.
here is a super chaotic and not very concise summary that contains SPOILERS (but honestly there is no need to read this book):
when the main “plot twist” (if you can call it that when it was glaringly obvious his uncle was the one who betrayed him) and the major climax of the story happened, we find out the whole reason he became best friends with her brother 8 years ago was because he wanted to kill their dad because he was convinced he’s the one who killed his family. he lied to her and said that she meant nothing and was just a good fuck and that he didn’t care about her (this is also after she has been kidnapped by his uncle). then he shot his uncle like 6 times while he was begging for his life. he also tortured and killed the guy who helped kidnapped her.
AFTER all this they have some space but he doubles and triples down on the fact that he never loved her so she tries to move on. a YEAR later he follows her to london and turns out he’s had someone watching her the whole time “for her protection” and
then makes it his goal to win her back. not by apologizing, not by groveling, not by admitting his faults. but by saying “you never have to forgive me that’s okay, but i’m gonna try everyday for the rest of my life for you to trust me again, (AGAIN there has been no apology or recognizing his faults) but if you ever let another man touch you i will kill him (and yes he actually means that) because you will always be mine”
then we get ANOTHER time jump and while yes she’s been trying to keep her distance (as best she can when he insists on walking her to and from school and is constantly around even if from a distance) blah blah blah they even up together and they fuck and feel better. yawn!!!!!!! toxic and alpha male and borderline too much. am i gonna read/listen to the next book(s), chances are HIGH LOL. at least the next one because it’s a princess and bodyguard hehe.
the series is about her friends and they each get a book (4 total) so its all happening in the same universe. this review is wayyyyy too long but if you’d like, i included some notable quotes from the book below that made me lol because wtf-
“i only have two rules, one is don’t fall in love with me”
“we are all prostitutes in our own ways”
“i’m not afraid to take down someone just because she’s a woman”
grabbed a woman by the throat??? (in a confrontation)
“we reacted the same exact fucking way at the exact same fucking time”
“you’re about to find out what happens when you enter the lions den”
“i was so fucking hard my cock almost punched a whole in my pants. fuck i was gonna destroy her”
“she resembled a sacrificial virgin” WHAT
“that’s the taste of you signing your life away”
“hate is just another word for love”
this was corny af and made me feel like i was reading a dark harry styles fanfic when i was in middle school. classic alpha male and crossed the line of obsessive and stalker many times. he has a dark past and a bad moral compass etc. etc. he also has a “condition” where he remembers everything?? he’s truly just a bad dude and it’s classic “i hate everyone except you” but still treated her shitty most of the time. also up until the very end he is still talking shit abt her friends and how they are annoying and he doesn’t like them. he really just sucks lol.
here is a super chaotic and not very concise summary that contains SPOILERS (but honestly there is no need to read this book):
when the main “plot twist” (if you can call it that when it was glaringly obvious his uncle was the one who betrayed him) and the major climax of the story happened, we find out the whole reason he became best friends with her brother 8 years ago was because he wanted to kill their dad because he was convinced he’s the one who killed his family. he lied to her and said that she meant nothing and was just a good fuck and that he didn’t care about her (this is also after she has been kidnapped by his uncle). then he shot his uncle like 6 times while he was begging for his life. he also tortured and killed the guy who helped kidnapped her.
AFTER all this they have some space but he doubles and triples down on the fact that he never loved her so she tries to move on. a YEAR later he follows her to london and turns out he’s had someone watching her the whole time “for her protection” and
then makes it his goal to win her back. not by apologizing, not by groveling, not by admitting his faults. but by saying “you never have to forgive me that’s okay, but i’m gonna try everyday for the rest of my life for you to trust me again, (AGAIN there has been no apology or recognizing his faults) but if you ever let another man touch you i will kill him (and yes he actually means that) because you will always be mine”
then we get ANOTHER time jump and while yes she’s been trying to keep her distance (as best she can when he insists on walking her to and from school and is constantly around even if from a distance) blah blah blah they even up together and they fuck and feel better. yawn!!!!!!! toxic and alpha male and borderline too much. am i gonna read/listen to the next book(s), chances are HIGH LOL. at least the next one because it’s a princess and bodyguard hehe.
the series is about her friends and they each get a book (4 total) so its all happening in the same universe. this review is wayyyyy too long but if you’d like, i included some notable quotes from the book below that made me lol because wtf-
“i only have two rules, one is don’t fall in love with me”
“we are all prostitutes in our own ways”
“i’m not afraid to take down someone just because she’s a woman”
grabbed a woman by the throat??? (in a confrontation)
“we reacted the same exact fucking way at the exact same fucking time”
“you’re about to find out what happens when you enter the lions den”
“i was so fucking hard my cock almost punched a whole in my pants. fuck i was gonna destroy her”
“she resembled a sacrificial virgin” WHAT
“that’s the taste of you signing your life away”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Violence
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Violence
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
Alex Volkov is a bitter man with a dark past, and never wanted to look after his best friend's sister, Ava Chen. But every day he spends with her, his heart lightens just a little bit.
Let me just start by saying this book killed me in ways I never anticipated. I went into Twisted Love with the expectation that it would be overhyped and written like a bad wattpad mafia fanfiction. Now after reading the story, I can say Ana Huang is my new favorite author!
Alex did have some possessive behavior, but for a new adult romance novel I found it pretty fitting for his character. Ava was a stubborn ball of sunshine and I loved her right at the start for it. The way she loved Alex and her friends was a wonderful display of her personality and values.
I did find Ava's friend Jules to be a bit annoying at times, but I'm hoping to like her better when I read Twisted Hate. I liked Bridget and Stella. I'm hoping to get to the rest of this series soon!
4.5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶
Let me just start by saying this book killed me in ways I never anticipated. I went into Twisted Love with the expectation that it would be overhyped and written like a bad wattpad mafia fanfiction. Now after reading the story, I can say Ana Huang is my new favorite author!
Alex did have some possessive behavior, but for a new adult romance novel I found it pretty fitting for his character. Ava was a stubborn ball of sunshine and I loved her right at the start for it. The way she loved Alex and her friends was a wonderful display of her personality and values.
I did find Ava's friend Jules to be a bit annoying at times, but I'm hoping to like her better when I read Twisted Hate. I liked Bridget and Stella. I'm hoping to get to the rest of this series soon!
4.5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Addiction, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Gaslighting
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Murder
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Gaslighting
dark
funny
medium-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
4/5 ⭐
3/5 🌶️
Tropes
- grumpy sunshine
- touch her and die
- brothers best friend
📖 My Thoughts
I probably would have given this book five stars had i not been currently halfway through the second book which IS SO MUCH BETTER. so the second book kinda ruined me a bit lol. But I still love a good grumpy sunshine book. I find that it’s the trope I can relate to the most because I get a lot of comments that I’m a sunshine type character and my favourite form of self harm is emotionally unavailable men 🤷♀️. I liked the added bit about Ava having a fear of water and I found that I related to her PTSD as I have had a traumatic experience (unrelated to water) but felt like I had experienced what she did. I could not put this book down and I’m excited for the rest of the series!
⚠️ Triggers
Drowning, suicide, overdose, self harm, vengeance, killing, death, guns, poison, sexual harassment
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️Representation
Female MC is Asian. MMC is first generation Ukrainian immigrant. Beyond that not much else representation detected but I’m white so take this info with a grain of salt.
🌶️ Spice
The spice was thereeeee. It was good but it also gave off the vibes that it was a vanilla couple that was like “oh I use handcuffs I’m so kinky!” There was kinky sex but it wasn’t KINKY if you know what I mean. Like the spanking and orgasm control.
📝 Special Notes
My library has the audio books free to download an unlimited amount of times so maybe check to see if that’s the same for y’all!
3/5 🌶️
Tropes
- grumpy sunshine
- touch her and die
- brothers best friend
📖 My Thoughts
I probably would have given this book five stars had i not been currently halfway through the second book which IS SO MUCH BETTER. so the second book kinda ruined me a bit lol. But I still love a good grumpy sunshine book. I find that it’s the trope I can relate to the most because I get a lot of comments that I’m a sunshine type character and my favourite form of self harm is emotionally unavailable men 🤷♀️. I liked the added bit about Ava having a fear of water and I found that I related to her PTSD as I have had a traumatic experience (unrelated to water) but felt like I had experienced what she did. I could not put this book down and I’m excited for the rest of the series!
⚠️ Triggers
Drowning, suicide, overdose, self harm, vengeance, killing, death, guns, poison, sexual harassment
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️Representation
Female MC is Asian. MMC is first generation Ukrainian immigrant. Beyond that not much else representation detected but I’m white so take this info with a grain of salt.
🌶️ Spice
The spice was thereeeee. It was good but it also gave off the vibes that it was a vanilla couple that was like “oh I use handcuffs I’m so kinky!” There was kinky sex but it wasn’t KINKY if you know what I mean. Like the spanking and orgasm control.
📝 Special Notes
My library has the audio books free to download an unlimited amount of times so maybe check to see if that’s the same for y’all!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Dieses Buch war nichts für mich… Wer jedoch auf vulgäre Sprache, sexualisierende Personenbeschreibungen, seitenlange Szenen über besitzergreifenden Sex und arrogante, toxisch männliche Hauptcharaktere, die verblendete weibliche Hauptcharaktere schwach werden lassen, steht, ist bei dieser Geschichte genau richtig. Dieser Cringe-Faktor stellte in gewisser Weise aber auch einen Unterhaltungswert dar, weshalb ich das Buch komplett gehört habe. Die Idee und eine Handvoll schön gestalteter, tief gehender Szenen zeugen davon, dass die Autorin auch anders könnte. Schade!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Torture, Vomit, Gaslighting
Minor: Addiction, Mental illness, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book could’ve scored higher if it wasn’t so predictable. I was calling each plot point chapters in advance. I was looking forward to reading this book and the hype was overhyped. It’s still a great book and would recommend I loved the characters, I just wish it wasn’t so “yea I knew that was coming.”
Also I wanted more spice there was only a chapter or so in the middle of the book with the spice that the first half of the book was leading up to and then after the first time they did it, there wasn’t anymore romance or spice to it which was disappointing.
Also I wanted more spice there was only a chapter or so in the middle of the book with the spice that the first half of the book was leading up to and then after the first time they did it, there wasn’t anymore romance or spice to it which was disappointing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Gaslighting
dark
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Gaslighting
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Murder
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
umm i'm not sure how to feel it was a fast based book but with a heavy plot for the most
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Suicide, Murder