A review by ennui
Rend by Roan Parrish

4.0

I can see some people finding Matt (the main character) frustrating as the book goes on. As someone who struggles a lot with insecurity it feels like this book pulled my worst thought spirals right out of my head.

Matt is a foster kid who grew up with a history of abandonment and trauma; he falls in love and marries Rhys, a giant ball of fiercely radiating sunshine and happiness who will punch everything who wrongs those who loves him. The majority of this book is spent with Matt struggling with his insecurities (I don't deserve him, he's going to leave me) and even while realizing how illogical his insecurities are is unable to stop them from consuming him. It's painfully relatable.  Matt fucks up in relatable ways, and they work things out by communicating in mature, adult ways. It's very hard not to engage with and root for these characters.