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A review by libraryofpeculiar
Vibe by Liza James
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.75
Well, this was.... I don't think I was made for dark romance. This was my second ever dark romance, so I'm fairly new to the genre, so like don't take this review as something by a dark romance pro. But nonetheless, I really did not enjoy this. I've read most of this book with a huge scowl of disgust on my face.
I'm not going to lie. I picked this book up because the romance/erotica/smut part of bookstagram promised me strong female MCs and a very good lesbian smut.. Yo! This book did not deliver any of those. This book was not at all sexy, in my personal opinion. I'm hella fucking gay 6 this was really not it. If this is gay I don't want it. I'm straight as a motherfucking pole. If this is kinky? I don't want it. I'm the vanillest vanilla, my guy.
What this book did deliver is painful toxicity. This Ruby girl is apparently trying to free Aura from her toxic life, her manipulative boyfriend, and best friend, while being a whole ass master manipulator herself. Just a different kind. The amount of time Ruby ignored a straigh up "no" from Aura, but it was dismissed with Aura's pussy throbbing at Ruby's command, and Ruby just taking whatever she wanted was beyond fucking disturbing. Especially if we take into consideration Aura's past, aka her being sexually abused by her stepdad as a child and growing up in a fucking sex cult.
The MCs also have 0 fucking chemisty. Which is hilarious considering the fact how badly the author tried to convince the reader their energies were so connected and how strongly they felt each other's vibes. I really had hots for Ruby in the beginning, but... That did not last long. Aura is an equivalent of a wet noodle. She's not even al dente; she's an overcooked, slimy noodle that has 0 personality.
I would not recommend this book to anyone. I wanted to give this book 3 stars to support an indie author, but I just can't. This was... bad. I can't think of one thing that I enjoyed or liked. The style was overall okay. That is why I plan on checking some other stuff Liza James has written, maybe I'll enjoy those more.
I'm not going to lie. I picked this book up because the romance/erotica/smut part of bookstagram promised me strong female MCs and a very good lesbian smut.. Yo! This book did not deliver any of those. This book was not at all sexy, in my personal opinion. I'm hella fucking gay 6 this was really not it. If this is gay I don't want it. I'm straight as a motherfucking pole. If this is kinky? I don't want it. I'm the vanillest vanilla, my guy.
What this book did deliver is painful toxicity. This Ruby girl is apparently trying to free Aura from her toxic life, her manipulative boyfriend, and best friend, while being a whole ass master manipulator herself. Just a different kind. The amount of time Ruby ignored a straigh up "no" from Aura, but it was dismissed with Aura's pussy throbbing at Ruby's command, and Ruby just taking whatever she wanted was beyond fucking disturbing. Especially if we take into consideration Aura's past, aka her being sexually abused by her stepdad as a child and growing up in a fucking sex cult.
The MCs also have 0 fucking chemisty. Which is hilarious considering the fact how badly the author tried to convince the reader their energies were so connected and how strongly they felt each other's vibes. I really had hots for Ruby in the beginning, but... That did not last long. Aura is an equivalent of a wet noodle. She's not even al dente; she's an overcooked, slimy noodle that has 0 personality.
I would not recommend this book to anyone. I wanted to give this book 3 stars to support an indie author, but I just can't. This was... bad. I can't think of one thing that I enjoyed or liked. The style was overall okay. That is why I plan on checking some other stuff Liza James has written, maybe I'll enjoy those more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, and Incest
Minor: Child death and Child abuse