Take a photo of a barcode or cover
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content, Murder
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was definitely not for me. The way he talked to her. And the way she let him treat her. I’m not just talking about during spicy scenes. The both need therapy. A lot of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Murder
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking
Minor: Drug use, Suicide
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ava Chen is a sunny and optimistic 22-year-old college senior who suffers from a childhood she can’t remember. By day, she’s a photography major with a gallery job and a supportive friend group. At night, she’s haunted by nightmares of moments she can’t recall. When her brother, Josh, leaves for a gap year in South America he asks his best friend to look after her. Alex Volkov. Her brother’s gorgeous best friend. Her new neighbor. The icy and successful man she’s convinced there’s more to. After reluctantly agreeing to keep an eye on her, their chemistry heats and Alex’s icy heart starts to melt for her. But he’s haunted by his own past and can’t forget his plan for vengeance. Will Alex’s and Ava’s secrets cause destruction when they come to light? Can they survive this twisted love?
⚠️MILD SPOILERS AHEAD⚠️
I will say I didn’t love this book and I didn’t hate it. To me, it felt like there were just too many tropes trying to be portrayed all at once. It felt a little over-clichéd and emotionally dry to me. The escalation of the relationship between the MC’s went from 0-100 so fast. I felt the attraction but didn’t get the feeling of any true emotional depth. I got whiplash from the back and forth between them - especially at the end.
There were a lot of things that just felt so unrealistic to me in this book. Some of the events/locations (the fire scene specifically) just seemed unfitting for the modern day setting. There’s nobody that wouldn’t notice that fire for days on end near a city area as big as Philly with all the surrounding suburbs. 😅 Everything about Alex was also just too unrealistic. There were so many book boyfriend tropes wrapped into one man here. While we saw a variety of emotions from him, the depth just wasn’t there. His attitude felt forced - as if he spent every fiber of his being trying so hard not to care when in reality he’s incredibly emotional. His personality just felt like a facade to me rather than the cold and fearsome person he’s described to be. 🤷🏻♀️
I can’t say I honestly believe this is an enemies to lovers story because Ava has no clue what’s going on for most of the book so she never viewed Alex as an enemy. Even afterwards, I wouldn’t say that she considered him an enemy as much as someone she loved who hurt her very deeply. She still cared for him at that point. I also don’t think he ever truly viewed Ava as an enemy - especially after they started spending time together.
I did enjoy the banter between the characters and the little moments that built their relationship. I enjoyed Ava and her friend group. After the events in this book, I just wish there was a follow up to Alex & Ava to explore their relationship when they’re not surrounded by turmoil. In my honest opinion, this one was overhyped. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series though. Especially Bridget and Rhys! 🫶🏼
⚠️ Please research all trigger warnings before reading this book! ⚠️
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Death, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting
Minor: Child death, Suicide
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
i know there's something severely wrong with me because i loved this book.
i love alex! this book has a lot of tropes some people don't like but i loved it so much. alex is so hot. the spice is so hot. i love that the characters are fucked up, this is a dark and emotional romance book. this was my first ana huang book, i'm excited to read/listen to more!
i love alex! this book has a lot of tropes some people don't like but i loved it so much. alex is so hot. the spice is so hot. i love that the characters are fucked up, this is a dark and emotional romance book. this was my first ana huang book, i'm excited to read/listen to more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Death of parent
Minor: Drug abuse
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was very unpredictable. It kinda of reminds me of 50 Shades of Grey except better. (I didn't like 50 Shades tbh.) Love all the drama with the mystery and smut. Came together nicely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
How am I only just reading an Ana Huang book now?!?! Twisted games is already on my shelf, I can’t wait to start reading it. This book was amazing, a manageable read that still kept me on the edge of my seat. When I tell you my jaw DROPPED at every plot twist, i thought I was going to dislocate it. Ava is shown is such a realistic way, and the way both the main characters emotions and thought processes were shown, especially towards the end of the book, was amazing. Alex Volkov though omgggggg In conclusion: I loved it!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Murder, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexism, Murder