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A review by hereiskyra
Does It Hurt? by H.D. Carlton
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Man, I was expecting to LOVE this… but I just didn’t. It wasn’t all bad but I never felt the strong attachment I usually do for the characters and their relationship. The “enemies” part in this one was really strong… like a TRUE enemies-to-lovers, so I’ll give it that. But I just wasn’t jiving with it for some reason…
The imagery and vibes, though… as usual, were immaculate. 👌🏼
She knows how to paint a picture and make you feel like you’re jumping into the book and that was my favorite part, getting to go back to this island and lighthouse every time I came back to read.
Enzo was… while rightfully mad about what had been done to him, he felt pretty irredeemable in my eyes at the same time. Like bro, can we not just be adults and ask questions have a proper sit down when someone wrongs us? Nope we have to assault them and try to drown them while getting our jollies off (that scene will now live in my brain forever as it has for everyone before me and all that come after me - no pun intended). His character just… wasnt likable to me at the end of the day.
Sawyer was a hot freaking mess of a person who came from shitty circumstances and an understandable distrust for other humans. Sawyer was also a terrible person who took from others and manipulated her way through life because she could not someone conceive another way to survive.
I was pretty interested in the other story and could not read fast enough when it came to the end and FINALLY finding out what happened to his family. His poor daughter but… let’s be honest, she was never going to be able to live a normal life or survive independently as a part of society.
I liked a LOT of parts of this story but there IS absolutely a reason it took over a month for me to read it.
But listen, if H.D. Carlton wanted to write a book about shoveling horse shit… I’d probably read it. 🤠
Tropes:
Enemies-to-Lovers
Forced Proximity
The imagery and vibes, though… as usual, were immaculate. 👌🏼
She knows how to paint a picture and make you feel like you’re jumping into the book and that was my favorite part, getting to go back to this island and lighthouse every time I came back to read.
Enzo was… while rightfully mad about what had been done to him, he felt pretty irredeemable in my eyes at the same time. Like bro, can we not just be adults and ask questions have a proper sit down when someone wrongs us? Nope we have to assault them and try to drown them while getting our jollies off (that scene will now live in my brain forever as it has for everyone before me and all that come after me - no pun intended). His character just… wasnt likable to me at the end of the day.
Sawyer was a hot freaking mess of a person who came from shitty circumstances and an understandable distrust for other humans. Sawyer was also a terrible person who took from others and manipulated her way through life because she could not someone conceive another way to survive.
I was pretty interested in the other story and could not read fast enough when it came to the end and FINALLY finding out what happened to his family. His poor daughter but… let’s be honest, she was never going to be able to live a normal life or survive independently as a part of society.
I liked a LOT of parts of this story but there IS absolutely a reason it took over a month for me to read it.
But listen, if H.D. Carlton wanted to write a book about shoveling horse shit… I’d probably read it. 🤠
Tropes:
Enemies-to-Lovers
Forced Proximity
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Sexual content, Incest, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Blood