xxivo 's review for:

Bend Him Break Him by MN Bennet

4.75

dark emotional tense 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: Complicated

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This book starts off exactly how you can imagine from a bully romance, but right from the first page it shows us as the reader that there are many layers of history already formed between the two main characters. There is years of history with lust, humiliation, secrets and whispers that all happen before this book has it's first page. This was a very good hook to pull me in because it immediately makes me curious to understand everything that has happened in the past. During the book this slowly gets unraveled across the chapters showing more and more what all happened when they were younger. When at the same time it also tells the story in the now the book paces itself out really well into a crescendo at the end where it all comes together.

Isaac, such a moody guy. I immediately felt for him and his rage at the world. Seeing his rage made me feel like I had a right to scream at the world too for a change (which to be honest, as a institutionalized trans disabled person I maybe should do more). But then things shifts and his very dark side comes out to play. Definitely less relatable but great fun to read about. 
Colton is someone that I'd absolutely despise in school and stay miles away from, but I can see his sex appeal I'll be honest. Him being quite a dick does mean however that there is a lot of room for improvement. Seeing him struggle with becoming someone he himself also actually likes was a great journey.

But much of the appeal for this book is the smut of course. Because damn this is a good one for us smut enjoyers. Colton's reactions to Isaac gave such a thrill to read about. Isaac learns which buttons to press with Colton real well too and made things explosive from the start. Because of their many years of history the smut also felt very layered with deeper feelings happening than I'm usually used to from the first sexual interaction in a book.  Colton is also so so willing to be submissive and damn do I enjoy reading about a slutty guy like that. When things then slowly blossom from hate to love their smutty moments change in vibe which turned into very wholesome moments. The way feelings kept changing kept the smut fresh and interesting to read about and I simply couldn't get enough.

Concluding this is an amazing dark romance story with deep layered characters and hot smut to top it off.


I received an eARC and this was my honest review.