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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
To this day, I still don't know how to feel about the hero of this book. I guess, I'd settle with equal parts hate and lust. The only other character that invokes the same feeling is Nate of that TV series (you know the one). No one has me so confused of my feelings than Dare and Nate. I don't know how many times I was yelling for Aubrey to run for the hills and never look back, but the thing is, how do you escape someone like Dare? He is manipulative, sociopathic while being sweet and charming too. It's a mindfuck, to be honest.
The ending gave me the chills, especially the part when Aubrey was describing the newest tattoo of Dare. My imagination is running miles a minute and to scream a warning to Hannah. I guess I will have to read the other books in this series and check if there will be cameos of these characters. If you love your book heroes like Dare, then this book is for you!
The ending gave me the chills, especially the part when Aubrey was describing the newest tattoo of Dare. My imagination is running miles a minute and to scream a warning to Hannah. I guess I will have to read the other books in this series and check if there will be cameos of these characters. If you love your book heroes like Dare, then this book is for you!
I just finished Even if it Hurts and I’m not sure what to say or how to feel. I was super excited to read this book because I saw Ms. Mariano’s posts about it and its intensity and I was so here for it! Her notes about this book were so right and I highly advise that you take them to heart because she’s not being dramatic, she’s not exaggerating, and you should definitely believe her. Even if it Hurts is absolutely not for everyone and that’s okay. Just be cautious and I think I’ve stalled long enough that I know what I want to say.
I love dark books and dark heroes, so I didn’t really have hesitations going into Even if it Hurts. I was intrigued that Ms. Mariano intentionally set out to write a toxic relationship and that Dare was a sneaky villain and was supposed to be the closest hero to being a serial killer that’s she’s written and she was not wrong about any of it. Dare is super sneaky and his psychopathy definitely becomes more pronounced the farther into the book. I can’t really say that I love Dare, he for sure does not top Carter for me (#CarterForever), I don’t know how to feel about him exactly.
Ms. Mariano also wrote in one of her notes how she’s not sure that this is a romance and while we do get Dare and Aubrey together at the end, I have to agree with her on that front or at the very least, it’s a very unorthodox one. I can’t say that I would have been upset if they hadn’t gotten an HEA because Dare is a lot and I have complicated feelings/thoughts about him. I don’t hate him, I just don’t feel like he can be completely reasoned with and he’s just a total wild card and I could really seeing him doing anything to keep Aubrey with him. I know other Sam Mariano heroes would do a lot to keep their heroines as well, but it just feels different with Dare. I can’t really explain it, it’s just how I feel. I don’t know, I’m okay with their HEA and Dare might be a crazy psycho, but he does have sweet moments and there was a lengthy period of time when I did love him and he put a smile on my face.
I’ve taken some time away from writing this review and while I didn’t know how I felt at first, I do want to say that I really loved and enjoyed Even if it Hurts for the most part. Sam Mariano is so good at writing stories in general, but she’s truly gifted at writing stories that take place in high school. They just feel extra special for some reason, they’re so easy to get into and keep you hooked the whole time. Untouchable is still and probably always will be my number one, but Even if it Hurts was pretty fantastic too! I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series and I think I might go read Undertow after this so I can stay in this world a little longer.
~ Sonja, 4 Stars
I love dark books and dark heroes, so I didn’t really have hesitations going into Even if it Hurts. I was intrigued that Ms. Mariano intentionally set out to write a toxic relationship and that Dare was a sneaky villain and was supposed to be the closest hero to being a serial killer that’s she’s written and she was not wrong about any of it. Dare is super sneaky and his psychopathy definitely becomes more pronounced the farther into the book. I can’t really say that I love Dare, he for sure does not top Carter for me (#CarterForever), I don’t know how to feel about him exactly.
Ms. Mariano also wrote in one of her notes how she’s not sure that this is a romance and while we do get Dare and Aubrey together at the end, I have to agree with her on that front or at the very least, it’s a very unorthodox one. I can’t say that I would have been upset if they hadn’t gotten an HEA because Dare is a lot and I have complicated feelings/thoughts about him. I don’t hate him, I just don’t feel like he can be completely reasoned with and he’s just a total wild card and I could really seeing him doing anything to keep Aubrey with him. I know other Sam Mariano heroes would do a lot to keep their heroines as well, but it just feels different with Dare. I can’t really explain it, it’s just how I feel. I don’t know, I’m okay with their HEA and Dare might be a crazy psycho, but he does have sweet moments and there was a lengthy period of time when I did love him and he put a smile on my face.
I’ve taken some time away from writing this review and while I didn’t know how I felt at first, I do want to say that I really loved and enjoyed Even if it Hurts for the most part. Sam Mariano is so good at writing stories in general, but she’s truly gifted at writing stories that take place in high school. They just feel extra special for some reason, they’re so easy to get into and keep you hooked the whole time. Untouchable is still and probably always will be my number one, but Even if it Hurts was pretty fantastic too! I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series and I think I might go read Undertow after this so I can stay in this world a little longer.
~ Sonja, 4 Stars
Devilishly delicious darkness
On par with Rina Kent and Linnea May; Sam Mariano's darkness is devilishly delicious.
DO read the trigger warnings. DO take them seriously. As Sam states, this is "NOT ONE FOR THE SAFETY SQUAD".
She isn't lying.
There is stuff in this book that would give your Grandma an arrhythmia and make your dead aunt Doris roll in her grave. Morally grey seems like an understatement regarding the things discussed in this book - morally bankrupt would be more accurate.
Aubrey was such a gentle, naive and innocent soul.
Dare...well, he was who he was.
You won't find a redeemable, misunderstood character in Dare. He is dangerous, brutal, controlling, and unapologetic about all of it.
He reeled her in, roughed her up, corrupted and stained her - all while giving zero effs and with zero remorse - yet, I couldn't get enough!
I absolutely devoured this book. And I WANT MORE.
Am I going to continue to read this series? Yes.
Am I going to recommend this book to my dark-romance-loving friends? Also, yes.
Am I going to question why I am lured in by the sociopaths in some of the books I read? Nope. Not a chance. I'm not willing to analyse what that says about me.
At the end of the day, I absolutely adored this book and it deserves all the stars.
On par with Rina Kent and Linnea May; Sam Mariano's darkness is devilishly delicious.
DO read the trigger warnings. DO take them seriously. As Sam states, this is "NOT ONE FOR THE SAFETY SQUAD".
She isn't lying.
There is stuff in this book that would give your Grandma an arrhythmia and make your dead aunt Doris roll in her grave. Morally grey seems like an understatement regarding the things discussed in this book - morally bankrupt would be more accurate.
Aubrey was such a gentle, naive and innocent soul.
Dare...well, he was who he was.
You won't find a redeemable, misunderstood character in Dare. He is dangerous, brutal, controlling, and unapologetic about all of it.
He reeled her in, roughed her up, corrupted and stained her - all while giving zero effs and with zero remorse - yet, I couldn't get enough!
I absolutely devoured this book. And I WANT MORE.
Am I going to continue to read this series? Yes.
Am I going to recommend this book to my dark-romance-loving friends? Also, yes.
Am I going to question why I am lured in by the sociopaths in some of the books I read? Nope. Not a chance. I'm not willing to analyse what that says about me.
At the end of the day, I absolutely adored this book and it deserves all the stars.
Previous rating: 4.5 stars.
Warning for anyone thinking of reading this book. Please wait until the next book in the series is out because the end that I thought was an HEA is an HFN and there is a chance the H Dare might change his love from the h Aubrey to her bestie Nobel price winner, savior of mankind Hannah.
Reducing the rating because apparently this books ends an HFN and not HEA, It wasn’t evident to me at all. Sam thinks she’s a genius with what she’s doing, but her teasing is pissing off. I didn’t read this book for dare and Aubrey, only for them to ruined.
Am I petty for doing this? Definitely but I don’t care.
Until I know for sure she didn’t ruin Aubrey-Dare for borhannah, this will be my rating.
Warning for anyone thinking of reading this book. Please wait until the next book in the series is out because the end that I thought was an HEA is an HFN and there is a chance the H Dare might change his love from the h Aubrey to her bestie Nobel price winner, savior of mankind Hannah.
Reducing the rating because apparently this books ends an HFN and not HEA, It wasn’t evident to me at all. Sam thinks she’s a genius with what she’s doing, but her teasing is pissing off. I didn’t read this book for dare and Aubrey, only for them to ruined.
Am I petty for doing this? Definitely but I don’t care.
Until I know for sure she didn’t ruin Aubrey-Dare for borhannah, this will be my rating.
dark
tense
medium-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:
Yes
The beginning of this book was actually very good, it had the desired amount of suspense like in a thriller book. However, the next half of the book just...fell flat. The events did not conclude pretty well and the innocent fmc just accepted the situation she is in, just like that.
- the author was NOT kidding around when she wrote the warning. Omg
- I was not expecting that tire slashing lmaooo
- he’s definitely going to make a copy of her house key
- he’s getting her drunk isn’t he
- girl how you trusting him???
- call was HOT
- ummmm I’m nervous about the flowers
- wtfff Anae
- omg the ambien
- omg the threats against Hannah
- he better be buying the Dior necklace for Audrey
- omg Omg omg wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf
- Hannah is the sweetest
- wtf. I’ll never stop saying that about this book
- I did love the book. I just don’t understand all the stuff with Hannah. What’s with the epilogue where he jokes about a thresome, has a midnight clock tattoo and takes a photo of Hannah??????
- all I can say is this better be a standalone
Ok so in a post on Facebook, the author says that Aubrey is technically the other woman…. So. Now I’m pretty sure it’s Dare and Hannah end game. Which I’m not opposed to but I don’t like that I read in detail about Dare and Aubrey. That’s icky for me.
Even if it hurts (released in filthy elite) and Undertow (released in bully god) need to read before Contempt which apparently continues both stories
Ummm just learned there will be more books after contempt so now I’m scared and I don’t think I’ll be continuing this series as it’s published. I think I’ll wait till it’s done cuz I can’t deal with not knowing the end game couples
- I was not expecting that tire slashing lmaooo
- he’s definitely going to make a copy of her house key
- he’s getting her drunk isn’t he
- girl how you trusting him???
- call was HOT
- ummmm I’m nervous about the flowers
- wtfff Anae
- omg the ambien
- omg the threats against Hannah
- he better be buying the Dior necklace for Audrey
- omg Omg omg wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf
- Hannah is the sweetest
- wtf. I’ll never stop saying that about this book
- I did love the book. I just don’t understand all the stuff with Hannah. What’s with the epilogue where he jokes about a thresome, has a midnight clock tattoo and takes a photo of Hannah??????
- all I can say is this better be a standalone
Ok so in a post on Facebook, the author says that Aubrey is technically the other woman…. So. Now I’m pretty sure it’s Dare and Hannah end game. Which I’m not opposed to but I don’t like that I read in detail about Dare and Aubrey. That’s icky for me.
Even if it hurts (released in filthy elite) and Undertow (released in bully god) need to read before Contempt which apparently continues both stories
Ummm just learned there will be more books after contempt so now I’m scared and I don’t think I’ll be continuing this series as it’s published. I think I’ll wait till it’s done cuz I can’t deal with not knowing the end game couples
dark
emotional
medium-paced