Oh man, this series was quite good. I really enjoyed this pretty much the entire way through.
The character relationships (both romantic and not) were well thought out and felt complex, and the characters themselves shared that trait.

it didn't feel like these children got some awkward redemption arc, but rather that they were still aware that they'd done terrible things, and knew they'd live with the consequences, even though in the end they were all still victims of circumstance and past abuse and trauma.

I'm a big fan of morally grey characters, and this series is full of them. Pretty much anyone in these is sorta terrible at some point or another, and I love that.

Also this book hurt me, multiple times. Even the times where I knew, I knew,

that it was going to end tragically

still had me wounded by the way it was written, the way the characters reacted. 

I would die for the Lowe brothers. Their relationship is going to live rent free in my head for years probably.

(also the enemies to lovers arc is mmm *chef kiss* TWICE. THREE TIMES EVEN.

the character relationships were great, not just romantically, but just in general. the way they all interact is quite nice. You can see them all grow from the first book to the second, but it still shows that they're teenagers in the end too (traumatized teenagers, but still teenagers.)

It's throwing me off how many people on other review sites felt like the romantic relationships fell flat. (I believe they're using the term 'fanservice') I think they might just be upset that their faves didn't end up together. In my opinion the authors did a good job of portraying

a relationship that was always destined to be toxic because it wasn't based on anything real, vs. a relationship that wasn't, due to the two characters having a bone-deep understanding of each other because they were more similar than different. Alistair and Isobel fed off of each other's worst traits and made each other worse. I'm surprised people didn't... get that? Whereas while Gavin/Alistair and Reid/Isobel are similar in their worst traits, instead of feeding into them, it made them want to be better.

anyways, big fan. 10/10 would recommend.

Great conclusion to the duology, just as frustrating and tragic and sympathetic as the first. Takes the darkness of the setting and circumstances seriously. Felt like I needed a rom-com after finishing it. 

This was fun, definitely not my usual kind of read, I did feel like a few things fell kinda flat, but it was fun. I liked Alistair, Hendry,and Gavin, but I found myself being kinda bored with the others though I am almost always like that when a book has switching POVs. Alistair is absolutely my favourite. 

I absolutely loved this book, dare I say even more than the first one. I say this because in the last book I was not a big fan of Isobel and since she’s a main part of the plot it was hard to enjoy ALOT of parts. Although, in this book I grew to like her more towards the middle/end. 

I would most definitely re-read this book and book series. Truly a delightful read I recommend.

<Spoiler>
I adored Alistair and Gavin’s relationship through both books. I love those two together since book #1 when Gavin had been looking at Alastair’s photo and said he thought he was very good looking- but not that it mattered. Even then I knew! I’m not sure if the authors originally intended to make them endgame, but I am so glad they are! I would’ve greatly disliked the book if Alistair had ended up with Isobel. None the less, yes! I’m just so in love with how Alistair and Gavin’s relationship has unraveled. They are a relationship I will root for till the end of time!! :)))

As for Isobel, I find I have grown to like characters more when they paired up with someone romantically. So when I noticed something was going on between her and Reid I was all here for it. (Again even shipped then since book one!!) My only main problem with the two was the age difference. We know Isobel is sixteen while Reid is said to be two years older, making him eighteen. I’m not to sure how I feel about a sixteen year old and an eighteen year old dating…..but besides their age gap which is a bit concerning. Then I love the pair!!

In conclusion, this book was such a fun read and a roller coaster of emotions. I can’t tell you how many times I have cried while reading this entire book series. I love all of these characters and just wow! Great book ❤️