A review by miyawakiss
Sticks and Stones by S.J. Sylvis, S. Massery

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

If you're looking to read something with a good almost thriller-like plot with a mix of steamy spice, this is the book for you! 

Some might say it's not true enemies to lovers but if anyone did what Stone did to Wren and vice versa, I would hate them with a burning passion. Do they literally want to kill each other? Of course not, they're college kids and they're good kids at heart, this is not a dark romance. But do they hate each other? Absolutely. I love how the hate was justified and turned petty fights into resentful actions. But I also really liked how it slowly fizzled into something else and when it came to a head, the conflict was properly resolved with all the cards being laid on the table. Love communication! 

This would have been a full 5 stars but I docked one for how it ended.

We find out that Stone's dad is Wren's abuser's defence attorney and freed the man from prison. While of course, he's just doing his job, I wish we could have seen a scene, perhaps at the hospital, of his dad regretting that his actions in defending a chronic druggie (someone he sneers down on) ended up hurting his son and an innocent girl very badly.

The ending was too anticlimactic and I wish it was fleshed out a bit more. 

Nevertheless, this was a very good read and a great start to my March.