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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
relaxing
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
fast-paced
TW: Non-con & Dub-con - like, no joke, if that’s a trigger do not read!
I love this twisted shit! Give me moreeee
I love this twisted shit! Give me moreeee
I haven't been this conflicted about a book for a while now. On one hand, I want to give all the stars, because I pulled an all-nighter. I couldn't put it down. On the other hand I have so many issues, specially with the characters, that I don't know where to begin.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of dark romance/bully romance/morally gray heroes etc. and I have only few triggers that I stay away from reading. I knew what I was about to read. And yet I didn't. Specially the first few chapters. They might be enough for some to stop reading this book right away. It was hard to read and endure the pain Carter inflicted on Zoey. Mostly mentally.
I know this is fiction. And I had to remind myself of that a lot of times while reading.
Nevertheless I can't shake the feeling, that this book also romanticizes sexual abuse.
What Carter did to Zoey and kind of continues doing to her (just on another level) is a very dark red flag. No matter how hard Zoey tries to understand Carter. Doing research to find out where this urge is coming from etc.. I didn't find a reason good enough for me to justify his actions.
And Zoey? She seems smart, sassy and strong willed. Yet, she just takes it all. Which had me shaking my head a lot of times. At the same time I felt Zoey's curiosity towards Carter, I was drawn to him like she was, even though I was aware of all the red flags. So, I guess I can kind of understand why Zoey did what she did.
Nevertheless, Sam Mariano did a great job painting two very well developed characters that you can't help but be curious about, no matter their flaws. I think that was mostly the reason what kept me reading. I wanted to know how it ends.
This book is obviously a matter of taste. Either you'll love it or not. I suggest to read it and judge for yourself.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of dark romance/bully romance/morally gray heroes etc. and I have only few triggers that I stay away from reading. I knew what I was about to read. And yet I didn't. Specially the first few chapters. They might be enough for some to stop reading this book right away. It was hard to read and endure the pain Carter inflicted on Zoey. Mostly mentally.
I know this is fiction. And I had to remind myself of that a lot of times while reading.
Nevertheless I can't shake the feeling, that this book also romanticizes sexual abuse.
What Carter did to Zoey and kind of continues doing to her (just on another level) is a very dark red flag. No matter how hard Zoey tries to understand Carter. Doing research to find out where this urge is coming from etc.. I didn't find a reason good enough for me to justify his actions.
And Zoey? She seems smart, sassy and strong willed. Yet, she just takes it all. Which had me shaking my head a lot of times. At the same time I felt Zoey's curiosity towards Carter, I was drawn to him like she was, even though I was aware of all the red flags. So, I guess I can kind of understand why Zoey did what she did.
Nevertheless, Sam Mariano did a great job painting two very well developed characters that you can't help but be curious about, no matter their flaws. I think that was mostly the reason what kept me reading. I wanted to know how it ends.
This book is obviously a matter of taste. Either you'll love it or not. I suggest to read it and judge for yourself.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Carter and Zoey have a rollercoaster of issues to work through. Please check trigger warnings. I started off this book a bit scared at where it was going to go but in the end it all falls into place. I liked how Zoey tamed the beast and she opened his heart. I only got annoyed twice with the high school drama but I pushed through it reminding myself of the setting. Overall good book and the spice was at a level 4.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book has been on my TBR forever and I finally got around to reading it and I LOVED IT SO MUCH and I’m kicking myself for not reading it sooner!!
I’ll be honest, the first couple chapters were hard to read, so definitely check all the trigger warnings before reading this one. However, it does set up the rest of the story.
I can honestly say I didn’t want to love Carter and I’m wondering what’s wrong with my brain because from about 30% on, I loved him SOOOOOO much.
I also liked that Zoey wasn’t a weak female character. She didn’t let Carter walk all over her and it made the story so good.
Bully romances are hit or miss with me and this one HIT
I’ll be honest, the first couple chapters were hard to read, so definitely check all the trigger warnings before reading this one. However, it does set up the rest of the story.
I can honestly say I didn’t want to love Carter and I’m wondering what’s wrong with my brain because from about 30% on, I loved him SOOOOOO much.
I also liked that Zoey wasn’t a weak female character. She didn’t let Carter walk all over her and it made the story so good.
Bully romances are hit or miss with me and this one HIT
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Stalking
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault
Minor: Child abuse, Pregnancy
I. Adore. This. Book.
The beginning is so dark and cringy I thougnt there's no way I'll ever fall for Carter Mahoney, no way. Well I'm a lying liar who lies because I would have his babies. (The humor surrounding this particular aspect of the book was my absolute favorite) Sam Mariano is a genius for making me love someone who is so truly awful Lol. I read this for the first time at the beginning of 2019 and just finished a reread and I can honestly say I haven't found a bully romance that compares. It was so good.
The beginning is so dark and cringy I thougnt there's no way I'll ever fall for Carter Mahoney, no way. Well I'm a lying liar who lies because I would have his babies. (The humor surrounding this particular aspect of the book was my absolute favorite) Sam Mariano is a genius for making me love someone who is so truly awful Lol. I read this for the first time at the beginning of 2019 and just finished a reread and I can honestly say I haven't found a bully romance that compares. It was so good.
This is possibly one of the worst books I have ever read. The MMC is a straight up rapist, the FMC is a self righteous doormat, the banter sucks, the storyline was non existant and the main antagonist was “the other woman” I simply couldn’t bear to finish it