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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Oh my this poor girl. Nina spent two years with a monster and has spent two more trying to heal. Unfortunately she is not actually getting very far. When her parents tell her its time for her to live on her own kept threatens a spiral.
Luckily there are four boys from her past that jump at finding out she is alive and do not care if they need to work around her new found triggers.
As the boys slowly bring Nina back to herself she actually begins to heal. The boys are also able to heal.
This is such a tragic story that was going so well that I knew part one would end in a terrible way and I was absolutely right. I absolutely need part two so I can see what happens next.
These guys and Nina deserve their happy ending.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This book was so amazing and heartbreaking. You can help be feel bad for Nina but cheer her on as well! She went through so much and still is working to heal and move on. Her guys, Henry, Kai, Trevor, and Ridge, while just learning that she is alive again drop everything to be with her again, determined to stay with her and help her heal. They are what Nina needs in order to released that even if she feels broken, they can help. Their devotion is so amazing and seeing Nina’s growth throughout the book! 😭 that cliffhanger was a bit rough. Can’t wait for the next one!
dark
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book is such an emotional read and oh so good. Please read the triggers.
The trauma in this book just hits you in the gut and tears your heart out too. I had tears flowing for most of this book and was so rooting for Nina to fight her fears and start to trust people that were in her life before she suffered something horrific.
Trevor, Ridge, Henry, and Kai were friends with Nina when they were younger until she disappeared one day.
Each one of the guys have their own issues because of what happened but all they want to do is help Nina.
My heart hurts for Nina and the guys too. This book is slow burn but I didn't even notice there not being a lot of heat in this book. That ending shook me and had me screaming Noooo!
Another Hurt/Comfort book done so right by this author and eager for the next book to release!
The trauma in this book just hits you in the gut and tears your heart out too. I had tears flowing for most of this book and was so rooting for Nina to fight her fears and start to trust people that were in her life before she suffered something horrific.
Trevor, Ridge, Henry, and Kai were friends with Nina when they were younger until she disappeared one day.
Each one of the guys have their own issues because of what happened but all they want to do is help Nina.
My heart hurts for Nina and the guys too. This book is slow burn but I didn't even notice there not being a lot of heat in this book. That ending shook me and had me screaming Noooo!
Another Hurt/Comfort book done so right by this author and eager for the next book to release!
dark
emotional
You'll be rooting for Nina from the first page as she works to be independent after a harrowing few years. Although there are glimpses of some dark moments, I thought it was going to be a lot worse than it was however that may change in book two.
I liked that this didn't begin immediately after Nina's escape and although we are starting in the middle of her recovery, it felt more like Nina was doing the work rather than the MMCs magically fixing everything by coming back into her life. I also liked how the MMCs were muddling through their own responses to Nina and they were all relying on each other to mend their broken pieces. The author did such a good job giving Nina depth and making her more than just her trauma, that the MMCs just paled a little in comparison and I found them a little interchangeable. It's a relatively short book though so I'm hoping we'll see more of their development in book two after that cliffhanger ending.
My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read
I liked that this didn't begin immediately after Nina's escape and although we are starting in the middle of her recovery, it felt more like Nina was doing the work rather than the MMCs magically fixing everything by coming back into her life. I also liked how the MMCs were muddling through their own responses to Nina and they were all relying on each other to mend their broken pieces. The author did such a good job giving Nina depth and making her more than just her trauma, that the MMCs just paled a little in comparison and I found them a little interchangeable. It's a relatively short book though so I'm hoping we'll see more of their development in book two after that cliffhanger ending.
My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
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
Ma’am. You have done it again. Broken my heart, started to stitch it back up… and then ripped it apart again! I need book 2 like I need air.
I started this book, and could not put it down. I don’t think I slept. I may have lay on my bed for 3 hours, gave up, and went back to read. On a workday! Middle of the work week! And it was so worth it. Zero regrets.
First off, the opening of this story is anxiety provoking. A fight for her life. And the start to a long journey of healing.
Flash forward a few years… and she’s trying to move on, whether it’s her choice or not.
The devastation felt by her childhood friends, her family, and by Nina, for the life she could have had, was so visceral.
The slow burn of trust for each person, the way each person in her life holds a very important role to her healing… one she trusts to touch her, one she can talk to, one she can take direction from, and one who pushes her out of her comfort zone. And her parents - their dedication to her is just beautiful. Knowing exactly what she needs even if it’s terrifying for everyone to follow through.
Ok that ending though… I’m dangling on that cliffhanger ready to fall into the abyss of “what ifs”
I started this book, and could not put it down. I don’t think I slept. I may have lay on my bed for 3 hours, gave up, and went back to read. On a workday! Middle of the work week! And it was so worth it. Zero regrets.
First off, the opening of this story is anxiety provoking. A fight for her life. And the start to a long journey of healing.
Flash forward a few years… and she’s trying to move on, whether it’s her choice or not.
The devastation felt by her childhood friends, her family, and by Nina, for the life she could have had, was so visceral.
The slow burn of trust for each person, the way each person in her life holds a very important role to her healing… one she trusts to touch her, one she can talk to, one she can take direction from, and one who pushes her out of her comfort zone. And her parents - their dedication to her is just beautiful. Knowing exactly what she needs even if it’s terrifying for everyone to follow through.
Ok that ending though… I’m dangling on that cliffhanger ready to fall into the abyss of “what ifs”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief
Starts with FMC escaping her captor. And there are flashbacks of her time in her forced confinement. She is 16 when she is kidnapped. And is held for 18 months.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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:
N/A
No, no, no, no! Oh my heart can’t take it. I knew it was coming and yet I still can’t handle what I fear is about to happen after that cliffhanger! Ahh! I am in desperate need of Part 2!
Sweet Nina doesn’t deserve any of the horror that she has been forced to endure but she is so very strong and doesn’t even realize the amount of strength and resilience it takes to survive what she has. She finds it impossible to acknowledge and accept her self-worth and that she deserves to live and be happy, which is heartbreaking. And the guys have undergone trauma and loss of their own in Nina’s absence that provides a perfect storm for healing together and supporting one another unconditionally. Y.V. has an unparalleled way of articulating trauma responses that makes it impossible not to feel the helplessness and desperation of her FMCs. I absolutely love reading everything she writes because I love to be made to FEEL, and that’s exactly what you’re in for with this one!
Sweet Nina doesn’t deserve any of the horror that she has been forced to endure but she is so very strong and doesn’t even realize the amount of strength and resilience it takes to survive what she has. She finds it impossible to acknowledge and accept her self-worth and that she deserves to live and be happy, which is heartbreaking. And the guys have undergone trauma and loss of their own in Nina’s absence that provides a perfect storm for healing together and supporting one another unconditionally. Y.V. has an unparalleled way of articulating trauma responses that makes it impossible not to feel the helplessness and desperation of her FMCs. I absolutely love reading everything she writes because I love to be made to FEEL, and that’s exactly what you’re in for with this one!
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
This is the first book of the Damaged Duet, a new adult contemporary why choose romance. I received an advance review copy and my thoughts are my own. Thank you to the author and The Author Agency for my eArc.
Tropes and themes include:
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Why choose (mmfmm)
✨ Hurt/comfort
✨ Past trauma
✨ Lonely & scared
✨ She’s a smut reader
✨ Mental health rep
✨ She was kidnapped (not by MMC)
Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
The Lovely: I loved this story - not just the FMC’s healing journey but how the MMCs are trying to figure out how to help her at the same time. Their relationships and dynamics are different now but at the core, they want to help her and still care about her deeply.
The Mundane: I would have liked to have learned more about each of the four MMCs, in particular so I could better differentiate them. I found myself, even a good ways in, getting confused as to who was who.
Recommendation: The first book ended on a pretty big cliff, which I did see something. This reminds me of the hurt/comfort and relationship vibes of the author’s Torn Omega duet but without the omegaverse element. If you like a dark story with sweet MMCs and all the hurt/comfort feels, I think you would like this book.
This is the first book by this author that I have had the privilege to read. This book was well written and entertaining. It is a heavy book, with many triggers but the relationship with the FMC and all the MMC’s was so good. It brought out all the feelings as a good book should. It is a duet so it leaves off on a big cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to read the second book. 10/10 recommend.