annakamp28 's review for:

The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori

2.0

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I wasn’t a huge fan of the controlling sexist thing all the characters have going on. It paints love out to be something twisted where the woman is small and petite and delicate and he is rough and smells like whiskey and bad decisions. That typical storyline continues through the whole book. They also move past the deaths of people really fast like it doesn’t affect them. I’m referring to the people the mafia kills in cold blood not the “nameless lover” or Nico’s mom. There’s a lot of possessiveness to a point that is more concerning than hot. There’s a way to write smut and not have the reader left thinking that love is control, abuse, and rough sex. Elena sort of comes into power as the book unfolds and she isn’t under her dad’s thumb, but, it’s important to note that she accredits this power to Nico. She sees him as the reason she “found her voice” which ok like I’m glad you’re choosing to remember the few supportive moments with him but she continues to be under his thumb believing she’s “finally free” when she’s not. She is under the impression his control comes from protection and fear so it’s then justified but that does not make it right. She dismisses her feelings for the momentary great sex she knows awaits her if she obeys him. It’s definitely not a book I’d recommend to young adults still discovering for themselves what love is and feels like for them. I think this book can warp peoples perspective on how they should be treated and settle.