Scan barcode
yulia's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
The culmination and my favorite part of the series, the book focuses on the last member of the Subs Club - Gould.
The theme of Hal's death is the strongest since the first book here and I was finally satisfied with the way it was addressed.
This part is very heavy on the kink and uses it to explore Gould's character while also leading him into some dangerous places in his mind.
The book is a departure from the rest of the series in terms of adding a female character into the main relationship, but that doesn't detract from Gould's queerness whatsoever.
I also found Greg's approach to sexuality very interesting and his relationship with Gould really stood out for me in terms of different kinds of love that we can have for people.
The best part is for me was Gould's relationship with Dave and the love they have for each other.
While I enjoyed all books in the series to different degree, I think the first one and this one have the strongest narratives of grief and moving on from it which is core to the series, so even if the second or third weren't to your taste, this one is worth reading if you enjoyed Dave's story.
The theme of Hal's death is the strongest since the first book here and I was finally satisfied with the way it was addressed.
This part is very heavy on the kink and uses it to explore Gould's character while also leading him into some dangerous places in his mind.
The book is a departure from the rest of the series in terms of adding a female character into the main relationship, but that doesn't detract from Gould's queerness whatsoever.
I also found Greg's approach to sexuality very interesting and his relationship with Gould really stood out for me in terms of different kinds of love that we can have for people.
The best part is for me was Gould's relationship with Dave and the love they have for each other.
While I enjoyed all books in the series to different degree, I think the first one and this one have the strongest narratives of grief and moving on from it which is core to the series, so even if the second or third weren't to your taste, this one is worth reading if you enjoyed Dave's story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Suicide attempt
shu_long's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite of this series. This one really dug into the characters in a complex and believable way.
ele_lieb_reads's review
4.0
really dark
I wish they called him put more on his reasons to hurt himself
it was good but mostly angsty while the resolution came waaaay to short for my liking (time jump and a vague summary)
I wish they called him put more on his reasons to hurt himself
it was good but mostly angsty while the resolution came waaaay to short for my liking (time jump and a vague summary)
bookstosoothethesoul's review against another edition
dark
emotional
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Grief
frogy927's review against another edition
4.0
If you've gotten to the fourth book in this series, you don't need to read reviews, it's exactly what you're expecting. (And I found it perfect, vacation guilty-pleasure reading.)
cbdawn's review against another edition
4.0
Gould always felt like a powder keg just waiting to go off, and I knew that his book was going to be intense. But he has always been one of my favorite characters, from the beginning, and I was looking forward to his story.
J.A. Rock has done a good job of changing the tone of each book to be very specifically from each character's POV, and this one was no different. Gould's tone was exactly how I expected it to be. And that intensity I was expecting? Good Lord, it was there.
I'm not typically into extreme degradation/dehumanization scenes. But even the office scene was so entrenched in Gould's self-hatred and mental instability that I couldn't look away. Rock has done a good job of taking these topics and being mindful about them and treating them with relatively decent care.
I loved the chemistry between Gould, Kel, and Greg and how...let's call it easy? How easy they were together at times. The way Kel would joke around even while doling out discipline. Gould and Greg's discussion about how there are so many different kinds of love was fantastic because it's true. You can love someone so deeply without being "in love" with them.
This story isn't quite as light as the others, although there are some funny moments. At its core, this was a story about grief, pain, and how people cope with loss and the helplessness that can cause. Healing is not linear, and grief has no timeline.
The thing I most appreciated was that Gould's dynamic with Kel and Greg didn't make everything magically better. He thought it would, but it didn't. Kink is therapeutic in so many ways and can help -- as a supplement. But it is not a replacement for real therapy or real psychological help, and I loved that this story touched on that in a big way.
While 24/7 can technically stand-alone, I believe it would be important to read the earlier stories or at least the first one to truly understand it. Particularly to understand the friendship between Dave and Gould, because it's one of the best throughout the book.
I feel like this story was less about sex and love, and more about grief and battling your demons. The kink and sex were there as a vessel to tell that story, and the author handled it beautifully. Is this book for everyone? No. Anyone unfamiliar with BDSM may find it difficult to read. But I really enjoyed it, and I applaud J.A. Rock for what she was able to accomplish in this book, which I consider the best in the series.
J.A. Rock has done a good job of changing the tone of each book to be very specifically from each character's POV, and this one was no different. Gould's tone was exactly how I expected it to be. And that intensity I was expecting? Good Lord, it was there.
I'm not typically into extreme degradation/dehumanization scenes. But even the office scene was so entrenched in Gould's self-hatred and mental instability that I couldn't look away. Rock has done a good job of taking these topics and being mindful about them and treating them with relatively decent care.
I loved the chemistry between Gould, Kel, and Greg and how...let's call it easy? How easy they were together at times. The way Kel would joke around even while doling out discipline. Gould and Greg's discussion about how there are so many different kinds of love was fantastic because it's true. You can love someone so deeply without being "in love" with them.
This story isn't quite as light as the others, although there are some funny moments. At its core, this was a story about grief, pain, and how people cope with loss and the helplessness that can cause. Healing is not linear, and grief has no timeline.
Was there such a thing as grieving too much? For too long? At what point did it become . . . inappropriate, I guess? Right after Hal had died, everyone kept telling me my feelings were natural. What about now? What about nearly three years later, when I still thought about him every fucking day? Still missed him just as much?
The thing I most appreciated was that Gould's dynamic with Kel and Greg didn't make everything magically better. He thought it would, but it didn't. Kink is therapeutic in so many ways and can help -- as a supplement. But it is not a replacement for real therapy or real psychological help, and I loved that this story touched on that in a big way.
While 24/7 can technically stand-alone, I believe it would be important to read the earlier stories or at least the first one to truly understand it. Particularly to understand the friendship between Dave and Gould, because it's one of the best throughout the book.
I feel like this story was less about sex and love, and more about grief and battling your demons. The kink and sex were there as a vessel to tell that story, and the author handled it beautifully. Is this book for everyone? No. Anyone unfamiliar with BDSM may find it difficult to read. But I really enjoyed it, and I applaud J.A. Rock for what she was able to accomplish in this book, which I consider the best in the series.
eemms's review against another edition
5.0
godddddd this series is so good. This one deals even more with the death and grief present in the rest of the series. It feels like too little to call it erotica, or even a romance novel, when it goes deep into so much about how we deal with being human, how we deal with each other, what it means to be in love or to know someone. By the end of this my heart just ached with feelings. Highly recommended.
tabithaanne8's review against another edition
4.0
Best book in this series. Definitely read book one and two for context in this story, but book three is unnecessary and boring. This book was angsty and gorgeous and funny and sexy. Loved the look into a 24/7 M/s relationship from the perspective of a sub. Would read again.