_isabel_'s reviews
1037 reviews

4.5

< “I’m on the clock,” Cody says, falling back on the easiest response.
“So?” Simon wiggles his hand, which is ridiculous. Then he licks his lips, which isn’t. “You’re my bodyguard. Guard my body.” >

DELIGHTFUL! I inhaled this romance in literally two sittings, and in less than 24 hours. I had an absolutely marvellous time with it.
Tavia Lark has been my go-to fantasy/paranormal author for a few years now; I don't know what it is about her writing, but it clicks with something in my brain: I've adored every single thing she's written, and "The Vampire's Werewolf Bodyguard" is no exception.

I love vampire/werewolf romances, and Simon and Cody's one stole my heart: forbidden relationship (ft. rival species AND a bodyguard/client dynamic? It was a double whammy of delicious forbidden vibes 🔥), learning to trust each other despite centuries of distrust and violence, an affection-starved vampire with a bratty side and an out of control werewolf who desperately needs a pack? Mating, blood drinking, and alllllllll the delicious steam? A wonderful plot, plus a fabulous cast of side characters AND a believable villain you'll want to run over with a truck? CHECK, CHECK, CHECK!

I freaking loved this.
Simon and Cody were wonderful protagonists, and I adored being in their heads. Simon with his difficult past, his trust issues (my heart broke for him 😭) and his gut-wrenching loneliness, stole my soul. I loved his badass side too. And Cody! Talk about a swoon-worthy love interest. He was possessive, funny and so, so kind and lovely. He's got his vulnerable sides too, and like Simon, he's also plagued by loneliness.
There's nothing I love reading more than two affection-starved, lonely souls who manage to find each other and fall in love, despite all the world conspiring against them. Their romance arc was absolutely perfect.

"The Vampire's Werewolf Bodyguard" is an emotional, lightly angsty, highly romantic romp of a novel, a morsel of deliciousness that made my heart soar: I wholly recommend it (and Tavia's entire backlist actually).

Many thanks to the author for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

4.75
Did I re-read that final chapter and the epilogue twice in a row? You bet I did!!!!!

What a rollercoaster. 
I think I need a whole month to recover. I can't believe I've finally read this trilogy after so many years of being scared to do it: the Raven Cycle has been such an important part of my life, so I was absolutely dreading the thought that the Dreamer Trilogy could somehow undo or ruin what had made TRC so special. 
Or maybe, I wasn't ready to say goodbye just yet.
I'm very glad I finally managed to read these.

"Greywaren" was the absolute perfect conclusion to this trilogy; it was my favourite out of the three, and it made me CRY. Ugly sob. My heart is still hurting, and not in a fun way (despite the very satisfying ending) (and the marvellous epilogue). 

I doubt I'll ever re-read these, because they are very, very, very different from TRC. TRC is comfort series to me, despite my heart splintering to smithereens each time I read it; the Dreamer Trilogy was in a way quite a lot more exhausting, mentally and emotionally speaking. Still absolutely magnificent, but I think I need a dozen romance novels to make up for it now. 
Anyway, the best thing of this third installment?
Apart from Declan, and Declan and Jordan that is?
Hennessey and Farooq-Lane.

If someone had told me they'd become my favourite characters (yes, okay, apart from Declan but Declan is the same way Gansey is to me: he makes me want to SOB OUT LOUD and FEEL THINGS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN), I would have laughed. I'm not laughing anymore. 
I FREAKING LOVED THEM. I wanted the whole book to be about them. I needed more of them.

Also don't get me started on Liliana: MY HEART IS STILL BROKEN. Like, obviously, she was doomed from the start; but it still hurt. Thank fuck Farooq-Lane and Hennessy got their HEA and even a little heated delicious kiss, 'cause otherwise I would have jumped from the nearest balcony. MY GIRLS <3

If Maggie had given us more of them, I'd have rated this a full five stars. But alas.

Also, if you'd told me at the beginning that I'd end up feeling sorry for Niall Lynch? I would have laughed myself silly. I despised that sorry excuse for a father for literally 6 book, and ten years counting, but god: the whole Niall situation, his past, Mór, the new Fenian, literally everything about it made me want to sob some more. I still think that what Niall and his lot put his kids through (especially DECLAN!!!!!!!) was unforgivable, but I think I understand him a little better now (as does Declan!!!!!) (god, Maggie's such an excellent storyteller).

Also, surprisingly: Bryde. I was wrong about him, and I can't believe some of the plot twists of this book. I've never gasped out loud so much.

Anyway, I definitely think that in general, Ronan in this trilogy didn't shine as much as in TRC. I've always loved him, but I've never been a Ronan girlie, so yeah; I'm happy he and Adam got their HEA, but I was much more interested in all the other characters. 
If only Farooq-Lane had had more chapters 😭 she and Declan were absolutely written for us anxious, overly-responsible "is my life even my own?" older siblings eh?

On the other hand, we got plenty of Jordan and Declan as a couple, and I was so so so so so happy.
All in all, a VERY, very satisfying conclusion. The Lynch brothers are an unforgettable trio of characters: they made me sob out loud more than once. The way Maggie writes sibling bonds and found family should be illegal; my heart can't take it. Jordan and Hennessy, Hennessy and her girls, Farooq-Lane and Nathan, Matthew and Declan and Ronan. My heart </3

I'll be thinking about this series for a very long time.
Thank god we have the TRC graphic novel in a few months: I think my TRC obsession will be back in full force by then.

TWs/CWs: death of a parent, depression and suicidal thoughts/ideation, self-destructive behaviours, grief, violence, parent neglect and abandonment, death.

What a freaking delight.
Light-hearted, so sweet your teeth might start rotting (in the best way possible though!) and so so so heart-warming.
Although I'm pretty sure I love J.J. Mulder the most when the stakes are a smidge higher and the angst is a smidge angstier (Max's story will probably remain my favourite of hers to date <3), but all in all, this was a delightful palate cleanser.

Obviously, Henri shone in this one. I knew he would, but he still managed to surprise me and steal my soul even more than the previous books had: a people pleaser through and through, anxiety riddled, a bit of a control freak, would die for his friends (HE'S SO ME), plus the ace rep? *chef's kiss* I loved him.

I loved Atlas too. Not in the beginning, and not at a certain point near the end, but when he wasn't being a dumbass, I loved him. Prickly, feral alley cat with a grudges a mile long and barbed wire all around his heart? He was fabulous. Despite the dumbassery, lol.

Like I said, I would have loved for this book to have felt slightly more higher stakes, and I think the emotional arc of Atlas and Henri's slow burn relationship felt a smidge off at times, but yeah, I still loved them. They were so sweet and wholesome and delightful together.

I adored the group scenes: MAX, MY LOVE <3 I was so proud of him. And Zeke and Carter!!!!!!! My pookie bears.
I LOVED Nate too, and I seriously cannot wait for the next book.

I've been eagerly anticipating Marcos' chance at a HEA, and the fact that it will be with Nate? No notes, perfection, chef kissing all around. I'm already ready to sell my future firstborn for them.

Wholly recommended!

TWs/CWs: heavy drinking, self-destructive behaviour, parent abandonment, parent neglect, rape (mentioned, side character).

Thank you GRR for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

What a ride oh god.
I'm so glad I waited to read this because I'M WRECKED.

Jordan, Matthew and Declan own my whole soul.
Farooq-Lane and Liliana are THE BEST.
Hennessy, I love you too. 
Ronan, I wanted to bash your head open in this one. 
Bryde, you're the most irritating character of all time (and

no fucking wonder Ronan dreamt him: he was looking for Niall Lynch 2.0, minus all the self-centred assholery, and here Bryde was!

).

Apart from these musings, I really enjoyed this second installment. I probably loved it even more than book one, despite my issues with Bryde taking up so much space and Ronan in general being Very Ronan™. 
Like, I get why he's like that, and I get why people worship him to death, because he's a fascinating character and he tries so freaking much, but GOD. Ugh. I needed him to stop and listen and try to understand what people were telling him, for once.

Ronan issues aside, I absolutely loved the plot arc in this second installment (

Ronan shaping up to become the unknowing villain is a freaking genius move, and it broke my brain

)
I loved the alternating POV chapters; I especially loved being in Jordan and Declan's ones.

I love Jordan (if something happens to her I might have to jump from a balcony or something), and Declan? UGH. He's my favourite. A practiced liar who's fooled literally everyone (even his own brothers?!!!) into thinking he's this dull, dull man when in reality he's even more Niall's son than Ronan. Morally ambiguous, practically a con-man, driven and ambitious; and yes, okay, he's also an overly responsible mess of a man with anxiety and gut issues (same, same, same), but he loves his brothers so so so so so much, it made me want to sob. I hate that Ronan and Matthew can't see that (yet 😭). 
That's why I love his and Jordan's blossoming relationship: he's finally revealing his true self to her, and vice versa, and it made me emotional. They're SO IN LOVE, SO DEVOTED, SO SMITTEN!!!!! The scene with Declan's portrait will stay in my head for the foreseeable future.

Also, I love how both Matthew and Declan are 100% certain they're getting married 😭

Anyway, sorry for the rambling "I love you Declan Lynch" review but I'm sick and I don't have the brain capacity for more. 
I cannot wait to dive into book three!

TWs/CWs: death of a parent, suicide (past), death of loved ones and grief, implied depression, passive suicide ideation, self-destructive behaviours, violence, murder.

 Well, this was a delight.
I think Jackson and Harper's story will always be my favourite, but Benji and Nolan's a close second. I adored their romance!
Maya Jean excels in her more angstier stories: don't get me wrong, I do love cute and fluffy, but I'm always going to be an angst girlie first and foremost. That's why this one, and the previous book, are my favourites in this series: they pack a punch.
And, as I adored the chronic disability rep in the previous book, I adored the mental health rep in this one too: I keep saying this, but romance authors should step the hell up and finally start including more physical and mental health rep in their stories.
I was so glad for Nolan's character: Maya Jean did a wonderful job at portraying depression and suicide ideation in a realistic, albeit gut-wrenching, way. You could see it came from a really personal place, and it really, really resonated. These past few years haven't been easy for me either, but seeing a smidge of myself represented on page is always such a balm to the soul. So thank you for that, Maya Jean.

Anyway, back to the romance.
I adored Benji and Nolan to bits: they were fabulous characters, especially Nolan (I have a soft spot for black cat brats with issues a mile long), and I loved their slowly-developing romantic arc too. For once, I was very glad that a few time jumps were included. I think they were absolutely needed to make Nolan and Benji's emotional connection even more powerful.
Nolan, like I said, was my favourite, but Benji was a delight too. Protective, sunshine-y and strong but I appreciated his more vulnerable moments even more.
I loved their romance: they made me swoon quite a lot! Seeing them reach their HEA was immensely satisfying.

< I turn my head to look at Nolan with a tender smile that he tries very hard to match. “He’s my…” I pause and stare down at Nolan. There’s no word that really describes him. Nothing is enough, everything is too little. “He’s mine.” >

I LOVED the second part of the book. Being back in Clay Springs was so lovely, and I ADORED seeing the previous characters again. Especially Harper.

His and Nolan's unexpected friendship made me weep: ugh, my babies.

I'm so very sad this will probably be the end of this series. I was eagerly waiting for Lee and Joey's story, but I wholly understand not being in the right mental space to continue with a series. I really hope Maya Jean will be back for them one day, but in the meantime... I adored this fourth novel, and the ending was absolutely perfect, sweet and warm and emotional, and so very satisfying.

TWs/CWs: depression, panic attacks, dissociation, suicide ideation and attempt (past and on page), self-harm (past), disordered eating, parental abandonment, foster care abuse (past, not sexual).

Many thanks to the author for the ARC. This is my honest review. 

So damn gorgeous.
What a delightful, wonderful tale of trans joy. I LOVED this book to absolute bits.
It made me laugh out loud, swoon a dozen times, cackle and sigh and even cry my eyes out. What a delightful gem this book is!
I feel like I need to read the rest of TJ Alexander's backlist because wow: they sure can write. This book had me feeling every single damn emotion on the planet.

Christopher was a fabulous protagonist. He's resilient, a survivor through and through, but despite the rough hand he's been dealt with, and despite his past, he never looses his smile, his kindness nor his joy. I adored being in his head. He's silly and gentle and kind: simply put, wonderful.

< Christopher had lived. He lived still. The very fact that he breathed was a miracle. He had not survived merely to suffer; he was certain of that now. For the first time in his life, he was certain. >

< "[...] Thank you, Harding, for finding me a suitable wife.” And for sticking your fingers in my mouth, went unsaid, though the sentiment was there. Christopher wished he could broach the subject, but it felt like one of those things that men shouldn’t speak of aloud. >

And James Harding! UGH. That man!!!!!! He made me SWOON. Stoic, quietly snarky, competent, protective Harding. No wonder Christopher fell for him almost immediately: I would have too. Those two together stole my freaking heart, and I literally spent the last few chapters simultaneously crying my eyes out and giggling like mad. And that final chapter! God, never have I read such a satisfying ending. It made me heart soar.
I loved the plot and I loved all the side characters to absolutele bits too.

I cannot recommend this book enough! It's out in precisely two days time, and I'll be recommending it so much you'll be sick of me. A forbidden valet/lord romance, a slowly unfolding romance, all the pining and (barely hidden) attraction, PLUS some really wonderful trans rep that the world sorely needs nowadays? I wholly, wholly recommend.
What a delightful, fabulous romance.

Also. I'd have given this book five stars just for this scene alone:
< “I only wanted you to be quiet.” “So quiet me now,” Christopher said, and was gratified to find two deft fingers entering his greedy mouth. He moaned around them. “Seems to only make you louder,” James said with more than a trace of humor, “not that I mind.” >
*passes out*

PS: I love the American title and cover (it's very dreamy and romantic!) but my personal favourite is the UK version. I think I need to buy myself a physical copy! SUCH a fabulous cover and title. So fitting too!

TWs/CWs: death of a sibling, death of parents, panic attack (on page), death (on page, side character), body and gender dysphoria and period-typical transphobia.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion. 

DNF

Ugh, I hate to do this.
I LOVE Fearne Hill's other novels to absolute bits, but this isn't working for me. I think it's absolutely my own fault: I've been so busy with life, and my brain's decided to rebel against me and plunge itself into a horrific reading slump.
Like I said, I usually adore Fearne Hill's writing, but it wasn't working for me this time: a bit too flowery maybe? Idk, I won't even try and understand my reasonings, because I don't think there are any. Right book, wrong time or wrong book, wrong time?

On the other hand, Lando was an absolutely intriguing protagonist: icy, forbidding, gruff with a hidden, hurting heart of gold. His grief felt very palpable and true, and if there's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's ice princes who've been hurt in the past but are slowly learning to love and live again. I thought Kit was the perfect counterpart for him.

Anyway, I might pick this up and try again when I'm the mood, but in the meantime... yep, unfortunately it wasn't working for. If you're a fan of historical romances and Fearne's more elaborate prose, do give this a go though! Like I said, this was WHOLLY my own brain's fault.
A shame, since the premise was absolutely intriguing and gripping.

TWs/CWs: sexual assault of side character, grief and death of a loved one.

Many thanks to GRR for the ARC. This is my honest opinion. 

I really, really adored this third installment.
I think I might have preferred book two overall (Cyril and Enzo own my soul), but this was another very solid, highly enjoyable, absolutely freaking delicious gem from Eliot Grayson.
No surprises there: she's one of my favourite authors, and I already knew that only her writing could get my out of the horrific book hangover I had going on.

Lucian and Benedict's story had me on the edge of my seat, giggling and blushing right until the end. I adored them, and I adored the premise of their romance: "I-love-to-hate-you-but-I-secretly-want-to-jump-your-bones", kinda one-sided, rivals-to-lovers; a delicious, forbidden stepbrothers dynamic; a whole lot of pining and yearning plus a very, very, very juicy "I'll help you if you help me" (*winks*) pretend sex-hate (THEY SECRETLY ADORE EACH OTHER); and a whole lot of secrets, misunderstandings, political scheming and protectiveness/possessiveness. Everything I love in a romance, and then some more.
Lucian was a fabulous protagonist, a prickly, icy, competent mess of a man, and I adored being in his head. And Benedict was his perfect counterpart: an unrepentant flirt with a heart of gold, and so protective of Lucian you'll spend the whole novel swooning. Trust me, I did.

I loved their romance, and I adored the plot to absolute bits: it was fascinating and gripping, and I adored following it. The twists and discoveries kept on coming! I had guessed a couple of things, but others left shocked. So kudos for that!
I loved the side characters, and I'm really excited to see what comes next.
I keep hoping Eliot will give us Leander's story (from "The Captive's Curse") as a Surprise/Secret Dawn Mage, but I think the next one will be about a certain side character that appears here. I'm still excited, but Eliot, if you're reading this: I'd sell my soul for Leander's story okay?
The world-building is SO fascinating, and I never want to leave this universe: it scratches an itch that I rarely manage to, and I'm really, really looking forward to the next installment.

TWs/CWs: murder and murder attempts, violence, dub-con, attempted sexual assault/violence, kidnapping, abusive parent, death of a parent (past).


Many thanks to GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review. 

Hey, how do I rate this 6 stars?
No, scratch that, this book deserves at least 10 stars. AT LEAST.

I don’t know where to start, you guys.
This book has WRECKED me, body and soul: I managed to inhale nearly 500 pages in just over 24 hours, no sleep to be had at all, and then I proceeded to re-read it all over again (and yeah, again, no sleep whatsoever: my brain has been officially taken over by Jean and Jeremy).
I’m not sure how I’m meant to wait for book three, except by re-reading it again (and again; and also by re-reading the previous book and the AFTG trilogy just for good measure) and by crying over how perfect this freaking sequel is. I think it might be my favourite Nora novel EVER (or at least, it’s on the same level of “The King’s Men”).

I fell in love with Jean and Jeremy all over again in “The Golden Raven”: I didn’t think it was possible to love them more than I already did, but yeah. I’m so obsessed with them it’s not even funny anymore: somebody PLEASE SEDATE ME.
This book begins soon after the events of book one (let me refresh your memory: we'd just left Neil causing havoc in LA and Jean breaking my heart all over again --> Friends.) and it’s a whole goddamn ride from start to finish. An emotional, gut-punching, soul-wrecking one at that, packed with revelations, shocking twists and surprises, heart-breaking discoveries and surprisingly (but actually not; this is Nora we’ll talking about) quite a lot of healing too (at least, for our Jean; Jeremy’s another story BUT WE’LL GET TO THAT). 

The Trojans (yes; every single one of them) stole the scene right from the start. When I started TSC, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to love a team as much as I do the Foxes, but I shouldn’t have doubted Nora. TGR confirms what I already knew: I’d die for every single one of the Trojans. They’re the absolute best. From Jeremy and Jean (but we’ll get there) to Laila and Cat (I’ll talk about them in a bit) and Cody (they’re my favourite, I think <3) and Ananya and Xavier and Patrick, and all of the newer teammates we get to meet properly (I’D LAY MY LIFE DOWN FOR DEREK AND DERRICK?????? I LOVE THEM). They brought so much light and so much joy, and I’ve never cackled this much in my life whilst reading. Nora’s writing has always been hilarious (when it’s not being heart-wrenching, of course) but she surpassed herself here. 
Laila and Cat stole the show EVEN MORE here: I didn’t think it was possible to love them more, but I DID. Cat’s an icon (I LOVE HER AND JEAN’S BOND SO MUCH) and Laila? What a delight Laila was here. She’s always been a bit more of a mystery then Cat, but we get so much Laila content here! She’s so clever and steadfast, and

seeing her suffer so much because of what happens to their house left me in so much pain.

Also: Laila and Jeremy’s bond? I cried. Big, fat, ugly tears. My babies. 
Of course, I also LOVED seeing some old faces too. No spoilers, but you’re in for a treat (and also, quite possibly, you’ll need to bill Nora for extra therapy sessions, because WHEW). The twists kept on coming, guys!

OKAY, ONE "LITTLE" SPOILER: THE RAVEN/FOXES RE-MATCH? ANDREW QUITTING SMOKING BECAUSE HE WASN’T FAST ENOUGH TO SAVE NEIL FROM BEING INJURED IN THE GAME? I WAS ON THE EDGE OF MY BED HYPERVENTILATING, I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE NORA WENT THERE.

Also:

Andrew’s unparalleled gaydar? I HOLLERED.

And yeah, Jean and Jeremy. 
They were the beating heart of this book: their slow-burn romance (yes, ‘cause it’s gonna be jerejean guys!!!!!!!!!!) had me gnawing on my fingers, squealing in my pillow, blushing and also screaming because I cannot deal with how PERFECT they are for one another. 
Again, I can’t delve to deep because SPOILERS, but oh my god. They make me seriously unwell. The parallels, the chin grabs, the gentle touches, the “look at me” and “you are my partner”? The fact that they’re so down bad for one another they cannot bear to look at each other too long? The jealousy and the protectiveness? UGH MY HEART.

I’ll be thinking about the fireworks and the hotel scene FOREVER AND EVER. Also: protective Jean? I NEED MORE OF THAT. I need him to body slam the whole of Jeremy’s family and all of his hook-ups ASAP.

Individually, they both went through a lot. 
I think, I THINK, Jean’s slowly starting to realize that what he went through at the Nest was monstrous: he’s slowly starting to heal and slowly starting to trust that the Trojans are his family, and that they would lay down their lives for him, no questions asked. Seeing him blossom throughout the book was a joy (okay, yes; of course, there were setbacks and we’re still missing a book). He obviously still broke my heart to bits (

the Rhemann scene? “Fathers”? UGH I SOBBED

), but I think he’s finally starting to see what he’s worth, at last. That what he deserves, what he wants (*wink wink*) IS valid. 
Also, I’ve never had more goosebumps from an Exy match in the whole 10 years I’ve been a fan of this series. It was glorious. I can’t wait for more Exy in the upcoming book.

And Jeremy. 
Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy.
I don’t know where to start. I’ve wanted a Jeremy backstory since the very first time we got to be in his head, all sunny and smiley and avoidant. I got my wish, BUT AT WHAT COST? I don’t want to spoil too much, and I’ll tag them when I do, but god. My heart.
SOME MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD --> 
His chapters filled me with so much dread and anguish. He’s such a complex character, and obviously his life doesn’t touch Neil or Jean’s levels of crazy mafia shenanigans, but god. He’s so lonely and so stuck and so desperately needs somebody to whisk him away from his godawful family. He reminded me so much of Neil in the AFTG trilogy at times, in the sense that both of them are practiced liars and both of them have no way out. Jean’s chapters in a way were easier to stomach. 

Also FUCK: Mathilda hiding his passport, his social security card AND his birth certificate? EVIL. Bryson and Warren (I’m not sure who’s worse; they all deserve to burn in hell though)? EVIL. All their homophobia and racism? The constant financial abuse? The fact that they have the gall to blame Jeremy for Noah’s death? DESPICABLE. No wonder Jeremy has so many bad coping mechanisms: the pills and cocaine at the time were bad enough, but the fact that he continues to disregard his safety with his reckless sleep schedule AND by hooking up with dickheads who only hurt him and humiliate him and insult him? Ugh. It breaks my heart that he thinks he doesn’t deserve better.

Okay, that’s enough Jeremy Knox for one review: I could go on and on and on though. He’s officially my top favourite AFTG character alongside Neil, and I can’t thank Nora enough for giving him the backstory and the character presence he so deserves. I adore him to absolute bits.

I loved reading this book so, so, so much. It gave me so much joy I really, desperately needed, and I cannot wait to get my grabby, greedy hands on book three. I’m so glad Nora decided to come back and give Jean his story and his (hopefully upcoming) happy ending. I’m glad she decided to keep writing, despite how toxic this fandom can (very often) be. I’m just so grateful we’re getting Jean and Jeremy’s story. 
Also,

I’M SO HAPPY NORA INCLUDED ANOTHER THEA SCENE DESPITE WHAT A MASSIVE BITCH PEOPLE WERE TO HER, THE AUTHOR, ABOUT IT. I’m a Thea defender now till death do me part from her iconic, harsh, rude, powerful self. She’s my number one girl and SHE IS Kevin’s soulmate, okay? OKAY.

TWs/CWs:

rape (past), extreme violence and torture (includes waterboarding) (past), abusive parents, death of a sibling, grief, suicide (on page, minor characters; past), suicide ideation and attempts (past), drug addiction, alcohol addiction, blackmailing attempt, non-con rough sex, financial abuse, emotional abuse by parents, homophobia and slurs, police brutality/abuse of power, racism and islamophobia, transphobia (mentioned), death, injury, instances of violence, disordered eating, arson, slut-shaming, sex/hook-ups as a means of self-harm (probably?), self-harm (past; briefly attempted on page).

------------

Pre-reading:

I WOULD SELL MY SOUL FOR THIS BOOK 


update: THREE BOOKS YES YES YES!!!!!!!! This has made my year 😭 (p.s. we better get the Jeremy Knox trauma backstory pls!!!!! 👋🏻🩷)

 Very cute, very steamy, with just the right amount of drama and angst to make it even more entertaining.
I've had this little novella on my Kindle for AGES, and since I've loved every single one of M.A. Grant other romances (albeit, all MM!), I decided to give this one a go.
I adored Zeke, but I loved Vivian even more. She was a delightful protagonist: flirty and confident, but also pretty much realistic too. I wanted to jump into the book to cheer her on.
The steam was very, very good: I hardly ever read MF 'cause I've got a weird thing about seeing my body parts represented on page (I think it's because I use romance to evade maybe? Don't ask lol), except when I know there's diversity rep involved OR if I trust the author and the premise sounds appealing enough.
I'm glad I read it; the romance could have probably benefited from a bit more development, and I wasn't hugely satisfied with how the stalker plot was handled, but all in all, I spent a good few hours engrossed in a fun read, so I can't complain.
Also, I need more M.A. Grant writing ASAP!


TWs/CWs: stalking, intimidation, threats of violence, arson, injury, torture and captivity (past), PTSD.