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bree_h_reads's review
DNF 26%
I will say if I was more a fan of what feels like the setup for a dark romance, I could probably enjoy this book. Unfortunately I do not and the basis for the relationship starting marred the aspects of the book I enjoyed.
This book was genuinely funny, there were plenty of places in the first 26% that made me laugh. I also really liked the character dynamics I saw in this section of the book. Everyone played off each other well and it established character really well. I also liked the way that the book tried to handle some of its themes and tackle modern issues. I also liked the world building and found it really interesting.
However each of these moments I enjoyed the book was coloured by the romance’s setup. The idea is that Vincent (Vamp Boy) is a starving vampire that can’t afford to buy blood. So Vamp Boy breaks into people’s houses to drink their blood w/o knowledge or consent. He ends up breaking into Wes’s (Not Vamp) house several times bc Wes is hot and has really yummy blood and is sometimes thinking about hooking up with him. Meanwhile Not Vamp is getting close to Vamp Boy so he can sell him to an evil pharmaceutical company that he knows will be experiment on and maybe kill Vamp Boy so Not Vamp can get a job there. He wants the job so he can destroy the company for killing his mom.
Despite both of them having questionable morals the book feels like it keeps screaming to justify it and refuses to admit the two aren’t good people. On top of that just being a very gross foundation for a relationship the book just didn’t gel with me.
I also found the writing EXTREMELY repetitive but that’s a forgettable complaint compared to the romance setup.
If dark romance is your thing, this will probably appeal to you. It’s just not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Classism
Minor: Racism and Grief
lizardgod's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Spoiler free review.
Who would like this book?
People who like quick/light reads, non-extensive lore/backstory, tragic vampires, and lightly dark MLM romance with dubious consent (somno and prey).
What I liked:
- The Dynamics.
- HTBYN&WAW makes itself out to be a dark romance and I can recommend it on the basis of that fact towards people just starting in the genre due to the main characters being so dynamic. For a dark romance styled novel, the dynamic between the two love interests, Vincent and Wesley, is actually quite endearing. They play bicker as a friendship with a budding relationship flirty quip mixed in. Apart from obvious power indifferences, they do seem to genuinely care for each other. Kendall and Wesley's friendship is endearing to the extent that it feels realistic, Kendall is there for Wesley acting as a soundboard to what is happening in his life and poking fun at him for his sexual encounters...or rather lack of them. Individually, Bryn made me feel certain ways towards the characters and I really enjoyed being challenged in how I felt about each one. Initially, I felt conflicted about Wesley using Vincent, yet as I read further and put some thought into it, I began to despise Vincent rather than feeling bad for him. Vincent was a predator with a sad story, nothing more, only thinking and moping about himself for much (arguably for the entirety) of the story. I wish Bryn had gone into more of Kendall's character, but I will get to that more later. My favorite character was Wesley, however I felt so terrible for him, his attraction towards Vincent is categorized of a victim in a power dominated relationship. Wes is still recovering from the grief of his deceased mother, is assaulted in his sleep, and the assaulter (Vincent) constantly pulls the 'I'm just a burden' card to reel him back in. He is also incredibly relatable with how he responds to his grief, people around him, and situations around him. His habit of accepting all wagers/bets is touching and enforces the dynamic attributes Bryn has provided for the characters. For example after sending a business e-mail Wes thinks:
Who would like this book?
People who like quick/light reads, non-extensive lore/backstory, tragic vampires, and lightly dark MLM romance with dubious consent (somno and prey).
What I liked:
- The Dynamics.
- HTBYN&WAW makes itself out to be a dark romance and I can recommend it on the basis of that fact towards people just starting in the genre due to the main characters being so dynamic. For a dark romance styled novel, the dynamic between the two love interests, Vincent and Wesley, is actually quite endearing. They play bicker as a friendship with a budding relationship flirty quip mixed in. Apart from obvious power indifferences, they do seem to genuinely care for each other. Kendall and Wesley's friendship is endearing to the extent that it feels realistic, Kendall is there for Wesley acting as a soundboard to what is happening in his life and poking fun at him for his sexual encounters...or rather lack of them. Individually, Bryn made me feel certain ways towards the characters and I really enjoyed being challenged in how I felt about each one. Initially, I felt conflicted about Wesley using Vincent, yet as I read further and put some thought into it, I began to despise Vincent rather than feeling bad for him. Vincent was a predator with a sad story, nothing more, only thinking and moping about himself for much (arguably for the entirety) of the story. I wish Bryn had gone into more of Kendall's character, but I will get to that more later. My favorite character was Wesley, however I felt so terrible for him, his attraction towards Vincent is categorized of a victim in a power dominated relationship. Wes is still recovering from the grief of his deceased mother, is assaulted in his sleep, and the assaulter (Vincent) constantly pulls the 'I'm just a burden' card to reel him back in. He is also incredibly relatable with how he responds to his grief, people around him, and situations around him. His habit of accepting all wagers/bets is touching and enforces the dynamic attributes Bryn has provided for the characters. For example after sending a business e-mail Wes thinks:
Was that too many exclamation points? Too pushy? Too weak? Wesley closed his eyes and hit send. pg. 67
- The Pacing.
- I really enjoyed the plot's pacing, not slow but not speedy either. The plot is a simple rendition of loved one dead due to evil corporation, close loved one seeks revenge, close loved one uses person to help with revenge, wait a second I fell in love with them, oh no they found out my plan that I scrapped, make up after crying together, and then burn the corporation down. It's been done a lot, but often the author makes the plot drain on and on or other times half the events happen in the same chapter. Bryn drags it out long enough for the reader to give a damn about the characters but stops it right before it becomes bland. Could Bryn have put some more lore and dimension into the relationships? Yes, but it would come at the cost of spiraling away from the meat of the story. I love reading books I can pick up and put down within a day or two with a story that feels wrapped up, loose ends tucked away, and Bryn has done so.
What I didn't like:
- Kendall.
- Kendall being lesbian is only brought up for the sake of either a joke at her expense or to create a turning point in the narrative. The first two times Vincent mentions Kendall, he states her to be the "annoying lesbian" that Wesley talks to. The other times it's brought up is when she makes comments about Wes' sex life/relationship advice and when Wes has to pick up something for her girlfriend so that the store clerk can make Wes think about the current events. MLM books should still be able to pass the Bechdel test, yet Kendall's existence was purely to push the male lead's narrative. Nearly every interaction included her sexuality and acted as a soundboard to Wes, nothing more. She could have been replaced with literally anything else, making her existence ultimately useless. I really wish she would have been better defined since her and Wes's dynamic, as I aforementioned, was really sweet and realistic overall.
-Vincent/Dark Romance.
- I knew this was a dark romance, yet his actions were treated as if he just stole a soda from the convenience store. Wesley mentions throughout about half the book, just how fucked up Vincent's actions and intentions were. Vincent draws the line at being a burden through showering, eating, and existing at Wesley's house with consent, yet he deems it perfectly fine to assault people in their sleep. It's ok though because Vincent is a sad, emo, homeless, depressed, vampire that shouldn't even exist if all he does is hurt people right? No. His faults aren't ever addressed in the book as genuine concerns and treated more as a kink than a breech of consent. When you're reading a dark romance, it makes a point to deem the dark aspects as such, but HTBYN&WAW instead makes it seem like a slight character flaw to further a more 'fluff' reading. Furthermore, whenever he assaults someone, he makes it a point to lament about how his life is so horrible, no real remorse for the person he assaulted. I can honestly recommend it for people who getting started in dark romance, but if you have an issue with abuse being described as edgy fluff, you're not going to like this book. The dark romance feels added just to have an edgy appeal for a wider audience. My last points to Vincent himself, is that there was no need for the
- Diversity.
- I don't know if Bryn themself is of Mexican descent, but I personally found the representation to be abhorrent. Wesley and his mother being Mexican serves no purpose whatsoever. Wesley breaks out in Spanish twice, which would make sense if he was under great stress, but it was just twice. There are multiple times where he is obviously highly stressed out, yet he speaks in fluent English. The only words he mistakes by the way, is yes/si and please/por favor. Wes never says anything else in Spanish. But what about this line?
Once he started babbling at Vincent in Spanish it was time to launch himself into the sun. pg. 109
Doesn't that mean he's just embarrassed by it? Maybe, but Bryn never iterates this ever again. Wes mentions Dia de los Muertos and being a spicy household, making him being Mexican pointless. Wes's mom also is so stereotypical it hurts to read; she delivers sopes to Vincent's family just because, she's Catholic, reads romance novels, and she has a Mexican accent. Most of the time she's mentioned, her race is brought up (or Wesley's tragic backstory which goes back to the Bechdel test point). Inclusivity and diversity are key aspects to enjoying stories, but if you're going to put them in there, commit to the part. Is she Wesley's mom who happens to be Mexican or is a Mexican mom who happens to be Wesley's mom? Kendall's sexuality could go here too but I already elaborated on that. Two other minor details that scream forced diversity is a comment from Kendall on dating books being written by authors that are "all straight and white" and a clerk's neutral pronoun reference to Wesley's lover which is immediately drawn attention to. I enjoy inclusivity in books but Bryn doesn't have to essentially highlight they are being inclusive for a metaphorical gold star for it.
- Other Points.
- These points are just random extras I had. The sexual content is deserving of a M rating on AO3, so if you're here for spice, you'll be disappointed. Any sexual references feel like two virgin high schoolers flirting over anything that could be misconstrued as an innuendo and if the sexual content was left out, the story would probably benefit as it felt forced. Werewolves exist for one line for some reason? It's mentioned once that they exist without leading anywhere. A stranger helps Vincent twice within about 20 pages of events and they are never mentioned again? Bryn named the random vampire staying with them later, but never named the stranger, the assistant, or the friend Wes stays with. A lot of details are mentioned, just for it to have no impact on the story yet details that should've been added, aren't. The ending is very predictable especially his mom's outcome. Wesley's "blackmail" is deemed useless by him, but he uses it as leverage? That didn't make any sense. Vincent and Wesley's relationship happened out of nowhere and seemed rushed by the ending.
- Other Points.
- These points are just random extras I had. The sexual content is deserving of a M rating on AO3, so if you're here for spice, you'll be disappointed. Any sexual references feel like two virgin high schoolers flirting over anything that could be misconstrued as an innuendo and if the sexual content was left out, the story would probably benefit as it felt forced. Werewolves exist for one line for some reason? It's mentioned once that they exist without leading anywhere. A stranger helps Vincent twice within about 20 pages of events and they are never mentioned again? Bryn named the random vampire staying with them later, but never named the stranger, the assistant, or the friend Wes stays with. A lot of details are mentioned, just for it to have no impact on the story yet details that should've been added, aren't. The ending is very predictable especially his mom's outcome. Wesley's "blackmail" is deemed useless by him, but he uses it as leverage? That didn't make any sense. Vincent and Wesley's relationship happened out of nowhere and seemed rushed by the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Blood, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Stalking
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
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