Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Damaged Goods by L.J. Shen

9 reviews

innae's review against another edition

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4.5

This one took me a bit to get into..I have not read the previous books in the series.   Saying that..not sure how those who already knew Lev and Bailey made it through this book.  It hit me so hard and I just met them!   I have never known anyone who got caught up with an addiction, but this story felt true to life.   Heartbreaking and beautiful, and all the things you want in a romance.   

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sonarae's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated

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alamayhem_reads's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I had a really good time reading this book! It was super addicting and had me invested in the story from the very first chapter. 

I found Bailey and Lev’s story to be super intriguing, but also interesting. It was eye-opening to see them admit that their relationship was borderline obsessive, but I liked the way they addressed that. It helped them to make smart choices for the benefit of both of them as the story went along.

I really appreciated Bailey’s character development, as it truly showed how her experiences and addiction shaped her into the person she was meant to become by the end of the novel.


I also found myself tearing up at moments throughout the story
as it was very sad, but also heartwarming. I loved seeing Lev and Bailey’s family’s reactions and their ultimate support to help Bailey get the help and independence she needed to get better.


The spicy scenes throughout the novel were super hot, and I found myself blushing at multiple scenes throughout the book.
Especially the snow scene heheh.


I was in awe that this book is the fourth in the series, and I was amazed that the author has written a book for literally everyone part of Bailey and Lev’s families. She even has the stories of their parents falling in love! I find that incredible and I am definitely interested in picking up another book in this world.

Although some of the writing could be a little cringey at points, I reminded myself that I was reading from the POV of a high school senior and a college freshman. Everything they said and thought seemed very accurate for their ages, so I was able to just giggle and find what they said to be hilarious at times.  

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel. It touched me, kept me intrigued and rooting for Bailey and Lev the whole time, and I would love to pick up another book in this universe! I rate this book 4/5 stars! 🌟 

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longislandbookworm's review against another edition

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dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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nero_nash's review

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challenging emotional hopeful informative sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Someone pass me the vodka... 

It was a long and super painful journey. It was a tough read for me and I had to keep reminding myself that this was all because of the drugs and the withdrawals. 

Lev's love for her was so beautiful and one thing is for certain these Cole men love hard and they love with their whole being. 

It was so great seeing some glimpses of Rosie. I truly loved her. 

Loving an addict can be hard. But when it comes to recovery love and support are the most important aspect of recovering. 

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jennyfw's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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abiigrl's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-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

2.0


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threeundertwopnw's review against another edition

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dark sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I will always love these beautiful, wealthy, totally messed-up characters in this fictional town. This book was brutal and heartbreaking and frankly a bit rough to read. I loved it. 

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from_diannes_shelf's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Lev and Bailey have used each other as crutches at different times of their lives (Lev for the most part right after his mother's death, Bailey while battling her addiction).  Additionally, both characters are high achievers in their own right, with Lev seen as a golden boy with good grades, great pedigree and a talent in football. Bailey is a ballet brainiac in Juilliard.

Trouble ensues when Bailey gives into an addiction that lands her back in Todos Santos - back to Lev and their unfinished business.

I appreciated how real LJ made Bailey's issues, where they stem from, and the eventual crash to rock bottom. While in rehab, she states, "There's one valuable lesson I learned at Juilliard, and it wasn't taught to me by the professors: Your self-worth is a price too high to pay for success. It is, in fact, your most treasured possession. There's no currency for knowing your worth. It is time to rebuild my life and start from scratch".

I also appreciated Lev's story of sacrificing his happiness to keep his father happy. Learning to let go of that to reach for what he really wanted in life (which is not football) was wonderful to see.

Of course, Lev and Bailey get's their HEA All Saints High style. It was also fun to read the guest appearances from Knight to Vicious. The banter between the Cole men especially was hilarious. 

A wonderful way to close out the series.

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