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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Special thanks to Sam Mariano for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
5 (I can’t stop thinking about this book) stars
Every time Sam Mariano releases a new book, it’s a good day for me. I never been so addicted to someone’s writing as I am with hers. There is something about her heroes that really work for me. It could be that they are the most savage ANTI-heroes I’ve ever read. Ones that don’t take no for an answer. Ones that make the heroine bend to accommodate them. Ones that make the heroines work overtime to unravel their darkness and the only way to keep these villains from blowing up the world….is to give them a heroine that they can achingly obsess over. Now, I don’t like my heroes like that in every book I read, but no one can write them like Sam. So I know that when I need that edge, I can find it in her books.
Please note, that these heroes do not change for the heroine. If that is what you need, this isn’t the book for you.
Our “hero” Dare, operates on a whole other level. Parts of this book reminded me of the movie “Fear” with Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon. Dare’s level of obsesssion with our FMC, Aubrey, is NEXT level.
After a situation at Aubrey’s work goes south, fellow classmate, Anae, sets her sights on destroying Aubrey. And wouldn’t you have it, Anae is currently dating Dare. Popular on every level, rich, swim team champion - everyone bows to Dare. Anae casts Dare’s as the lead actor in her scheme to ruin Aubrey. I won’t say any more as I don’t want to spoil anything.
Everything after this point is straight up CRAZY. This took on a sinister vibe that just kept building. I am always so engaged with every book I read by Sam Mariano. This book is no exception. Please be warned that this story is FULL of triggers. Sam has a detailed note in the beginning of this book. Please read it and proceed with caution.
I am VERY excited about this new Coastal Elite series. Along with Anae, we are also introduced to Anae’s stepsister, Hannah. I am pumped for their stories and Landon and Parker’s (their intro is in the Bully God anthology). If you are good with the triggers and are looking for a book that you can’t put down, look no further.
5 (I can’t stop thinking about this book) stars
Every time Sam Mariano releases a new book, it’s a good day for me. I never been so addicted to someone’s writing as I am with hers. There is something about her heroes that really work for me. It could be that they are the most savage ANTI-heroes I’ve ever read. Ones that don’t take no for an answer. Ones that make the heroine bend to accommodate them. Ones that make the heroines work overtime to unravel their darkness and the only way to keep these villains from blowing up the world….is to give them a heroine that they can achingly obsess over. Now, I don’t like my heroes like that in every book I read, but no one can write them like Sam. So I know that when I need that edge, I can find it in her books.
Please note, that these heroes do not change for the heroine. If that is what you need, this isn’t the book for you.
Our “hero” Dare, operates on a whole other level. Parts of this book reminded me of the movie “Fear” with Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon. Dare’s level of obsesssion with our FMC, Aubrey, is NEXT level.
After a situation at Aubrey’s work goes south, fellow classmate, Anae, sets her sights on destroying Aubrey. And wouldn’t you have it, Anae is currently dating Dare. Popular on every level, rich, swim team champion - everyone bows to Dare. Anae casts Dare’s as the lead actor in her scheme to ruin Aubrey. I won’t say any more as I don’t want to spoil anything.
Everything after this point is straight up CRAZY. This took on a sinister vibe that just kept building. I am always so engaged with every book I read by Sam Mariano. This book is no exception. Please be warned that this story is FULL of triggers. Sam has a detailed note in the beginning of this book. Please read it and proceed with caution.
I am VERY excited about this new Coastal Elite series. Along with Anae, we are also introduced to Anae’s stepsister, Hannah. I am pumped for their stories and Landon and Parker’s (their intro is in the Bully God anthology). If you are good with the triggers and are looking for a book that you can’t put down, look no further.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don’t know how to feel about this book. It was REALLY hard to read, especially from Dare’s POV, but I couldn’t put it down either.
Spice Rating:
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
^^^
There really isn’t as much spicy scenes in this book as others I’ve read, but I’m giving it a five because of how dark the spice is. On my rating scale, a 5 is like I should not read this in public and because it’s so dark at times, I wouldn’t, so yea. A 5/5 for me.
Spice Rating:
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
^^^
There really isn’t as much spicy scenes in this book as others I’ve read, but I’m giving it a five because of how dark the spice is. On my rating scale, a 5 is like I should not read this in public and because it’s so dark at times, I wouldn’t, so yea. A 5/5 for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Rape, Sexual violence
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Infidelity, Violence, Alcohol
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Words cannot describe how painful and uncomfortable it was reading this freaking book. Uhhhh trigger warnings galore here and they should definitely be listened to. I honestly don't know what to say. Did I enjoy this? Like . . . no . . . but also . . . I could not stop reading. Is this romance? I mean . . . sure? Let me be clear I will never read this book again, but I could NOT put it down.
I'm no stranger to Sam Mariano. The thing I love best about Sam Mariano is that she's got the ability to make me like characters that I would NEVER like in the real world, but what's more, I would NEVER like them in any other book I read.
If this were a story told from Hannah's POV I'd probably hate Dare. Why am I like this? He is not a likeable human, and yet, here I am rooting for him. What is wrong with me???
Aubrey has ZERO backbone, but for the purposes of this story I honestly liked her too.
There are so many fucked up things about this book, but I'm telling you right now, I inhaled it anyway so do with that what you will lol. Do I recommend this book? Yeah I think so. It was definitely hard to read, but I'm not mad about it.
I'm no stranger to Sam Mariano. The thing I love best about Sam Mariano is that she's got the ability to make me like characters that I would NEVER like in the real world, but what's more, I would NEVER like them in any other book I read.
If this were a story told from Hannah's POV I'd probably hate Dare. Why am I like this? He is not a likeable human, and yet, here I am rooting for him. What is wrong with me???
Aubrey has ZERO backbone, but for the purposes of this story I honestly liked her too.
There are so many fucked up things about this book, but I'm telling you right now, I inhaled it anyway so do with that what you will lol. Do I recommend this book? Yeah I think so. It was definitely hard to read, but I'm not mad about it.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes