A review by fic_it
In Control by Hannah Haze

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Really quick and adorable read. Super laidback and nice. I did have some hold ups with it tho. Honestly minor knocks in the grand scheme overall, like:

📌 feeling the switching POV’s weren’t the most balanced.
📌 Roman’s introduction into the entire relationship dynamic felt soooo *slaps shoulder * “Great in there soldier!”
📌 Gabe’s interest in the FL also felt super 180. Like, in the kitchen he’s catty, feels resentful, and passive aggressive towards her but then he’s simultaneously checking her out like he’s never seen a hotter pair of bare legs? Him turning around and liking her also felt really odd.
📌 speaking of Gabe, the story never really details how the pack became “open”. Like, yeah we got the REASON sure, but not how they all ever came to that conclusion. It’s just, glossed over.
📌 speaking of glossed over! Two things, one- the makeup scene between Gabe and Ezra. The boys talk for a total of maybe 10 minutes together and Ez is just *breathes in, breathes out * “I’m a changed man now” Umm, ok, toootally. You fix that 5 or 10 year trauma like it should have been yesterday’s news YEARS ago. 🙄 And two, Ezra being forgiven automatically bc he got stabbed? Am I mad at it? Honestly? Nah. Do I think it’s a lazy, cheap escape from a deserved grovel effort? Aaaabbbbssssoooollllluuuutttlleeeyyyy. 🔥🔥🔥
📌 We never hear what happens with the university either btw. You know, the thing that’s been glaring down a gun barrel at our (fine. MY) favorite Pack ship, Ezra. Like every other tough question in this book- with a potential reading comprehension level higher than that of a 5th grader- the problem magically goes away. Non-issue. Bye-Bye. *Poof!* Gone.
📌 Last thing I swear for the red pin notable list, I know she’s happy but the FL never ends up using her PhD in her career choice. Her ending was the equivalent of “I don’t know what to do with my life. Ohmygosh I’m pregnant!” And suddenly her life is settled bc she’s so busy being a stay at home mom. The hidden message tastes a lot like, woman don’t want STEM career! Woman want Babies!!! Woman not kno what do with big sci-sci job. Woman speak good instead and be happy, safe, protec, Trad, at home. 🥰🥰🥰 psssh. I mean, that’s what I got from that darling little move. I’m not knocking motherhood or stay at home parents, I’m just bummed our FL’s Life/ career solution was a whoopsie baby.

Other than those tedious quirks tho? Here are the things I most enjoyed as well:

🌱 Good female lead (tho she has these weird stutters at the beginning that don’t align with h-h-her character at all 💀)
🌱 Loved the Ezra theatre closet scene
🌱 Looooovvvveeeddd the cute plebeian Liam x Soph dates and then THEIR bedroom scene. 
🌱 Both Ez’s and Liam’s spicy scenes were amazing. (Every scene after those two are so, *back/ forth* *back/ forth* *back/ forth* and then done.)
🌱 Ooo! Last thing! I loved when the FL put up boundaries at the end at her and the guys relationship. Demanding they start over. Do things right. That was so amazing and I was there for it. Full support. 💗🙌🏼💗

Haha, I think I got it all. Overall? Not a terrible read. Just wholly inconsistent on its greater details sometimes. Overall? A sleepy, easy read of no consequence and a fair shot at lightheartedness. 😊👼😂