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always_a_happy_ending 's review for:
Damaged Goods
by L.J. Shen
LJ really makes you work for BAILEVs happy ending in Damaged Goods. I loved stepping back into the lives of Todos Santos and specifically Bailey and Lev. These two seemed to be a perfect best friends to lovers pairing. But sadly their love story was not meant to be so straightforward.
This book brings all the emotion, heartbreak and angst. Lev loves Bailey. It is simple. But after she moves across the country breaking contact with him, his life has to go on. He has his football and a girl something for a physical release. Bailey is living her "dream" at Juilliard but finding injuries and keeping up is takings it toll on her. Drugs bring her pain relief and moments of numbness where the Lev shaped hole in her heart is less obvious.
This is painfully real look at addiction and recovery. Nothing is simple for Bailey. She has been a high flyer and carried the weight of her families expectations. When she breaks, she really breaks. The Bailey of 2/3 of this book is spiteful and lashes out at those around her causing hurt and conflict everywhere she goes. She is easily manipulated and is just a giant ball of pain. Lev is her emotional support often taking a tough love approach to make her see the damage she is causing. But you feel every ounce of his pain as her behaviour pushes him beyond his limits. These two have to crash to emerge as something new and stronger. Allowing them to grow up and step away from expectation to find themselves beyond Todos Santos.
The HEA is worth the heartbreak. Bailey and Lev end up exactly where they need to be. As does Dean. I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding LJs return to these characters giving us insight into where our OGs are (who doesnt love Vicious no matter how fleeting his appearances- he still cannot get enough of his wife!!!). But Rosie is such a strong presence throughout this story that her love story with Dean is still alive within the pages. You get a sense nothing happens without her approval and our characters are guided by her. I am not entering into the Dean/Dixie drama. Dean's heart will always belong to Rosie. And Damaged Goods upholds everything that was true between them. And Lev's happy ending is such a good way to honour his Mum and how much we all loved her as well as showing the role Dixie has had in healing these characters.
This book brings all the emotion, heartbreak and angst. Lev loves Bailey. It is simple. But after she moves across the country breaking contact with him, his life has to go on. He has his football and a girl something for a physical release. Bailey is living her "dream" at Juilliard but finding injuries and keeping up is takings it toll on her. Drugs bring her pain relief and moments of numbness where the Lev shaped hole in her heart is less obvious.
This is painfully real look at addiction and recovery. Nothing is simple for Bailey. She has been a high flyer and carried the weight of her families expectations. When she breaks, she really breaks. The Bailey of 2/3 of this book is spiteful and lashes out at those around her causing hurt and conflict everywhere she goes. She is easily manipulated and is just a giant ball of pain. Lev is her emotional support often taking a tough love approach to make her see the damage she is causing. But you feel every ounce of his pain as her behaviour pushes him beyond his limits. These two have to crash to emerge as something new and stronger. Allowing them to grow up and step away from expectation to find themselves beyond Todos Santos.
The HEA is worth the heartbreak. Bailey and Lev end up exactly where they need to be. As does Dean. I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding LJs return to these characters giving us insight into where our OGs are (who doesnt love Vicious no matter how fleeting his appearances- he still cannot get enough of his wife!!!). But Rosie is such a strong presence throughout this story that her love story with Dean is still alive within the pages. You get a sense nothing happens without her approval and our characters are guided by her. I am not entering into the Dean/Dixie drama. Dean's heart will always belong to Rosie. And Damaged Goods upholds everything that was true between them. And Lev's happy ending is such a good way to honour his Mum and how much we all loved her as well as showing the role Dixie has had in healing these characters.