thebookbaron 's review for:

Even If It Hurts by Sam Mariano

3.5

dark tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This was a wild read with so many mind games. It was a engaging up until the last 20%. The peak action felt like it came out of nowhere and then sort of bumbled along before ending somewhat abruptly. The ending didn't come to enough of a conclusion or answers

The ending was unsatisfying ultimately because...

the entire book the hero escalates in his psychopathic behavior and the heroine becomes less taken with him and more afraid which is worsened by the peak action. In the end it feels like she just stays with him out of this continued fear rather than because she comes to any sort of conclusion or desire to truly be with the hero. I wanted to see  a change in her perceptions of the situation (e.g., she sees herself as special in her ability to tame or deal with his psychopathic tendencies OR reframing how she sees the heroes actions). I need just a bit more autonomy and/or a conscious choice on the heroines part to get some satisfaction out of the ending.