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amanda_reads13's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Nicole "Cole" uprooted her whole life to be with her very Catholic/conservative boyfriend Patrick. Everything is going as planned until Patrick's "friend" Hawke moves into their house after being released from prison.
I HATE the cheating trope and there is no excuse for it. Ya, Patrick was a misogynistic jerk, but no one deserves to be so blatantly disrespected by their partner. If you want to be with someone else, then breakup with your bf! Ugh! It was also weird how she would just "play house" with Patrick in front of Hawke then become jealous when Hawke is around other women.
Hawke has recently been released from prison formurder. He was convicted of driving under the influence and killing his best friend in a car accident. Only, that is not the whole story. We get the impression that he is this bad boy who does nothing but bang random women and do drugs with his vagrant friends. But really he is a broken and sad boy who has endured so much loss, trauma, and pain. He has never truly been loved or respected by anyone. He has always been looked down apon or cast aside. All he really wants is for someone to love and understand him, his rough exterior is nothing but a mask.
Cole is a lost woman. She thinks that she has a good life. Sure Patrick is a bit of a misogynistic ass, but he loves and takes care of her. As her relationship with Hawke grows she realizes how truly blind she has been. Patrick sees her as an accessory to creating this picture perfect life. He never consults her on any decisions, gaslights her, and completely disrespects her.
Overall, she was very judgemental and childish. Unfortunately, there wasn't much growth to her character. She spent the whole time whining about how she was cheating on her "perfect" boyfriend with Hawke, but never did anything to change the situation....
Patrickit turns out is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He was the one who killed Hawkes best friend. He then fled the scene and pinned it on Hawke. Hawke not only lots his best friend, but he was then forced to take the fall for his death. At least Patrick got what was coming to him.
A few things - I really wish this had been dual POV. That would have added so much to the story. The writing was ok, but the story did drag and become very repetitive (Especially with Cole reprimanding herself that the cheating is wrong and her talking about Hawkes lip ring -mentioned 1000x). I felt like we didn't really dig deep enough into the characters and they felt a bit one dimensional.
Tropes: enemies to lovers, opposites attract, cheating, taboo, roommates, force proximity
I HATE the cheating trope and there is no excuse for it. Ya, Patrick was a misogynistic jerk, but no one deserves to be so blatantly disrespected by their partner. If you want to be with someone else, then breakup with your bf! Ugh! It was also weird how she would just "play house" with Patrick in front of Hawke then become jealous when Hawke is around other women.
Hawke has recently been released from prison for
Cole is a lost woman. She thinks that she has a good life. Sure Patrick is a bit of a misogynistic ass, but he loves and takes care of her. As her relationship with Hawke grows she realizes how truly blind she has been. Patrick sees her as an accessory to creating this picture perfect life. He never consults her on any decisions, gaslights her, and completely disrespects her.
Overall, she was very judgemental and childish. Unfortunately, there wasn't much growth to her character. She spent the whole time whining about how she was cheating on her "perfect" boyfriend with Hawke, but never did anything to change the situation....
Patrick
A few things - I really wish this had been dual POV. That would have added so much to the story. The writing was ok, but the story did drag and become very repetitive (Especially with Cole reprimanding herself that the cheating is wrong and her talking about Hawkes lip ring -mentioned 1000x). I felt like we didn't really dig deep enough into the characters and they felt a bit one dimensional.
Tropes: enemies to lovers, opposites attract, cheating, taboo, roommates, force proximity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Grief
jessanicolesingh's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
5.0
Obsessed, obsessed, OBSESSED!!
Now I would never condone cheating in the real world, but within these pages I dare say the ends justify the means; this is not a story of infidelity, but rather redemption. It also highlights the idea that not everything, or everyone, is as it seems, good or bad.
Though written as a standalone, this book introduces Kid, the main character in my next read by this author, which I will be diving into next!
Now I would never condone cheating in the real world, but within these pages I dare say the ends justify the means; this is not a story of infidelity, but rather redemption. It also highlights the idea that not everything, or everyone, is as it seems, good or bad.
Though written as a standalone, this book introduces Kid, the main character in my next read by this author, which I will be diving into next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Misogyny, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Car accident
m3rete's review
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
sad
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol and Drug use
Minor: Violence, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
bekahbari's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved the audiobook version of this book! If you love a dark romance that’s extra spicy and a morally gray MMC, then this is for you! Definitely read the TWings though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Car accident, Murder, Misogyny, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Death of parent
bookreaderblair's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so tense and I was honestly ready to strangle the FMC for not having a backbone, but she fully redeemed herself. This was an incredible redemption story. So good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Car accident, and Emotional abuse
enchantingreads_rosyreviews's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“The last thing [my father] told me was to never let anyone define what they don’t understand, and that no one can characterize who you are but you... He was the strongest man I’ve ever met. I decided I’d embrace the name for my father and hunt through life like a hawk. Always went by it.”
🖤
THANK YOU Jescie for a FANTASTIC book with AMAZING character development. I definitely fit the Cole mold and I’m just waiting to find my Cam 🥹. This book is beautifully written with suspense, discovering oneself, recognizing toxic relationships, managing trauma, and learning to look underneath societal labels to find someone’s ACTUAL value.
We all deserve to love and be loved. While this book broke my heart at times, it also made me laugh throughout and it felt like a warm hug at others because it reminded me of Hawke-like and Kid-like figures in my own life.
Also, since I listened to the audio as well, I want to shout out Avery Caris for her stellar performance. She had an emotional journey to go through for this book, narrating all of it from her character’s perspective, and I was with her the entire way. She had me hooked from the first few pages! And Joe Arden, I see why people love him and will listen to anything he does. The emotional depth he brought to Hawke, the playful flirtation he brought to Kid, and the pure douche-baggery (is that even a word? Eh, I’m gonna make it a word.) for Patrick was flawless! This was my second Blue Nose & Joe production and I am such a fan! They are doing great things and bringing rich and complex stories to life in the best way.
🖤
THANK YOU Jescie for a FANTASTIC book with AMAZING character development. I definitely fit the Cole mold and I’m just waiting to find my Cam 🥹. This book is beautifully written with suspense, discovering oneself, recognizing toxic relationships, managing trauma, and learning to look underneath societal labels to find someone’s ACTUAL value.
We all deserve to love and be loved. While this book broke my heart at times, it also made me laugh throughout and it felt like a warm hug at others because it reminded me of Hawke-like and Kid-like figures in my own life.
Also, since I listened to the audio as well, I want to shout out Avery Caris for her stellar performance. She had an emotional journey to go through for this book, narrating all of it from her character’s perspective, and I was with her the entire way. She had me hooked from the first few pages! And Joe Arden, I see why people love him and will listen to anything he does. The emotional depth he brought to Hawke, the playful flirtation he brought to Kid, and the pure douche-baggery (is that even a word? Eh, I’m gonna make it a word.) for Patrick was flawless! This was my second Blue Nose & Joe production and I am such a fan! They are doing great things and bringing rich and complex stories to life in the best way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Drug use
Moderate: Rape, Violence, Death, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
lilhappyhermit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This story had me reeling. How it starts off as a circumstance of miscommunication and a surprise/unwanted roommate addition, then turning to unfolding the dark secrets of her boyfriend and Hawke’s past and how it all ties together was unreal. That, mixed with the blooming, secretive relationship between Hawke and Nicole, and how that helps her realize how toxic her relationship is was interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
Minor: Domestic abuse and Misogyny
helenjc's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Drug use
Moderate: Car accident, Sexual assault, and Death
keirah_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Car accident, Infidelity, Sexual content, Abandonment, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Violence, Alcohol, Sexism, Death, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Grief, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
bookshelf20's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was an amazing book. I will read anything written by Jescie Hall. She is a phenomenal author. She does an amazing job navigating tense themes and dark content, especially in a way that makes me crawl back for more.
The characters were great, I loved how the main character Cole was pulled from her shell and could explore darker parts of herself. She was easy to love and relate to on different levels. Her relationship with her boyfriend throughout the book can be relatable to different people in the level of control he exerts. The red flags sprinkled throughout the book are perfectly placed, they're subtle but if one is paying attention, you can catch them.
Hawke is a great MMC, and I was just DYING for him by the end. He has such a tragic backstory that drives his character forward and explains so much of why he is the way he is. He's mysterious and unapologetic with his actions and behaviors, taking what he wants when he wants it, knowing the FMC will be coming back for more. His dynamic with the FMC was perfect, and I was just itching for more chemistry between them as I'd read, and the Jescie Hall would deliver a few pages later with more one-on-one between FMC and MMC.
I highly recommend this book to readers, after having read That Sik Luv I was SO ready for more literature from this author, and it was so nice being able to immerse myself in the world she created. I listened to this on Audible with Joe Arden's voice narrating and let me just say, I listened to him for That Sik Luv as well, and he is a whole experience! I highly recommend listening to this and That Sik Luv just to experience Joe's voice as the MMC because he sounds like a f*cking God! He always has me gasping and my heart racing when I hear his voice in books.
I'm giving this 5 stars because it was great writing with a captivating plot and complex characters. I would also like to say that I wish I could give this more stars than just 5 because Joe Arden's voice was amazing!
The characters were great, I loved how the main character Cole was pulled from her shell and could explore darker parts of herself. She was easy to love and relate to on different levels. Her relationship with her boyfriend throughout the book can be relatable to different people in the level of control he exerts. The red flags sprinkled throughout the book are perfectly placed, they're subtle but if one is paying attention, you can catch them.
Hawke is a great MMC, and I was just DYING for him by the end. He has such a tragic backstory that drives his character forward and explains so much of why he is the way he is. He's mysterious and unapologetic with his actions and behaviors, taking what he wants when he wants it, knowing the FMC will be coming back for more. His dynamic with the FMC was perfect, and I was just itching for more chemistry between them as I'd read, and the Jescie Hall would deliver a few pages later with more one-on-one between FMC and MMC.
I highly recommend this book to readers, after having read That Sik Luv I was SO ready for more literature from this author, and it was so nice being able to immerse myself in the world she created. I listened to this on Audible with Joe Arden's voice narrating and let me just say, I listened to him for That Sik Luv as well, and he is a whole experience! I highly recommend listening to this and That Sik Luv just to experience Joe's voice as the MMC because he sounds like a f*cking God! He always has me gasping and my heart racing when I hear his voice in books.
I'm giving this 5 stars because it was great writing with a captivating plot and complex characters. I would also like to say that I wish I could give this more stars than just 5 because Joe Arden's voice was amazing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Violence, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, and Death