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A review by sonja_ahrb
Even If It Hurts by Sam Mariano
4.0
I just finished Even if it Hurts and I’m not sure what to say or how to feel. I was super excited to read this book because I saw Ms. Mariano’s posts about it and its intensity and I was so here for it! Her notes about this book were so right and I highly advise that you take them to heart because she’s not being dramatic, she’s not exaggerating, and you should definitely believe her. Even if it Hurts is absolutely not for everyone and that’s okay. Just be cautious and I think I’ve stalled long enough that I know what I want to say.
I love dark books and dark heroes, so I didn’t really have hesitations going into Even if it Hurts. I was intrigued that Ms. Mariano intentionally set out to write a toxic relationship and that Dare was a sneaky villain and was supposed to be the closest hero to being a serial killer that’s she’s written and she was not wrong about any of it. Dare is super sneaky and his psychopathy definitely becomes more pronounced the farther into the book. I can’t really say that I love Dare, he for sure does not top Carter for me (#CarterForever), I don’t know how to feel about him exactly.
Ms. Mariano also wrote in one of her notes how she’s not sure that this is a romance and while we do get Dare and Aubrey together at the end, I have to agree with her on that front or at the very least, it’s a very unorthodox one. I can’t say that I would have been upset if they hadn’t gotten an HEA because Dare is a lot and I have complicated feelings/thoughts about him. I don’t hate him, I just don’t feel like he can be completely reasoned with and he’s just a total wild card and I could really seeing him doing anything to keep Aubrey with him. I know other Sam Mariano heroes would do a lot to keep their heroines as well, but it just feels different with Dare. I can’t really explain it, it’s just how I feel. I don’t know, I’m okay with their HEA and Dare might be a crazy psycho, but he does have sweet moments and there was a lengthy period of time when I did love him and he put a smile on my face.
I’ve taken some time away from writing this review and while I didn’t know how I felt at first, I do want to say that I really loved and enjoyed Even if it Hurts for the most part. Sam Mariano is so good at writing stories in general, but she’s truly gifted at writing stories that take place in high school. They just feel extra special for some reason, they’re so easy to get into and keep you hooked the whole time. Untouchable is still and probably always will be my number one, but Even if it Hurts was pretty fantastic too! I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series and I think I might go read Undertow after this so I can stay in this world a little longer.
~ Sonja, 4 Stars
I love dark books and dark heroes, so I didn’t really have hesitations going into Even if it Hurts. I was intrigued that Ms. Mariano intentionally set out to write a toxic relationship and that Dare was a sneaky villain and was supposed to be the closest hero to being a serial killer that’s she’s written and she was not wrong about any of it. Dare is super sneaky and his psychopathy definitely becomes more pronounced the farther into the book. I can’t really say that I love Dare, he for sure does not top Carter for me (#CarterForever), I don’t know how to feel about him exactly.
Ms. Mariano also wrote in one of her notes how she’s not sure that this is a romance and while we do get Dare and Aubrey together at the end, I have to agree with her on that front or at the very least, it’s a very unorthodox one. I can’t say that I would have been upset if they hadn’t gotten an HEA because Dare is a lot and I have complicated feelings/thoughts about him. I don’t hate him, I just don’t feel like he can be completely reasoned with and he’s just a total wild card and I could really seeing him doing anything to keep Aubrey with him. I know other Sam Mariano heroes would do a lot to keep their heroines as well, but it just feels different with Dare. I can’t really explain it, it’s just how I feel. I don’t know, I’m okay with their HEA and Dare might be a crazy psycho, but he does have sweet moments and there was a lengthy period of time when I did love him and he put a smile on my face.
I’ve taken some time away from writing this review and while I didn’t know how I felt at first, I do want to say that I really loved and enjoyed Even if it Hurts for the most part. Sam Mariano is so good at writing stories in general, but she’s truly gifted at writing stories that take place in high school. They just feel extra special for some reason, they’re so easy to get into and keep you hooked the whole time. Untouchable is still and probably always will be my number one, but Even if it Hurts was pretty fantastic too! I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series and I think I might go read Undertow after this so I can stay in this world a little longer.
~ Sonja, 4 Stars