REVIEW; Beautiful Dream (Beautiful #2), by Paige Laurens

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: New-Adult, Romance,

Recommend: Yes

Book 2 of 2

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Four years ago Luci fell for her chemistry teacher and then got her heart ripped to shreds from a secret. Now, she runs into Mr Harrington again and agrees to go to dinner with him to hear him out. She can't deny their chemistry is still burning and alive, but she can't get passed being lied to and being hurt. How can she give him a second chance after everything that has passed? But he is not going to give up so easily and will do anything to win her heart back. 

My Thoughts:

"Sometimes, it takes for us to be completely broken to realize what it means to be whole."

So I jumped right into this after the cliffhanger of book one. This is more of a conclusion dragged out than a full blown dramatic novel like the first one. 

Luci: four years on she is a student teacher and gets a job at her old high school. Josh is desperate for a second chance but she is hesitant to give him one. However, being back in their old environment helps to reignite their spark and soon they find themselves back in his office like old times. I love that she isn't a pushover and makes him grovel to get her back. She gives him chances and is fair, but she is still hurt by the betrayal and is treading carefully and I admire her strength in not just crumbling at the first apology. 

Story: this primarily focuses on Mr Harrington, Josh, trying to win back Chloe. She's being very careful with letting him back into her life. There's the added drama of fellow teacher Brittney threatening to expose the pair were an item when Chloe was still his student. The threat didn't last too long to create much drama and the rest of the story was focused on the two working through their issues. 

Josh: in this book we got an insight into his life and mindset from the chapters told from his POV. I wish the writing was more distinct when in either POV as it didn't change depending on how whether it was Josh or Luci. I admired his dedication to winning back Luci and not just giving up and moving on. It was adorable even. 

Overall:

I enjoyed this but not as much as the first one. It was a nice end to the whole story but didn't have the same excitement. Probably as Luci was now an adult and no longer a student so their romance no longer forbidden. 

Goodreads 

BOOKTOUR REVIEW; Anti-Stepbrother, by Tijan

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: New-Adult, Romance

Recommend: Yes yes yesyesyes yes

Standalone

NO SPOILERS 

Summary:

Summer has gone to university in the hopes of finally being with her stepbrother. After they spent one night together she is sure he is the one. But running after him got her heart broken... She meets Caden Banks, her stepbrother's enemy who seems to have taken a shine to helping her more than once.
Soon Summer begins to see Caden in a different light, and wonders if she has been pining over the wrong man.

My Thoughts:

***Thank you to TRSOR for an arc to review***

I am such a huge fan of Tijan and being able to receive an arc of this made me so excited! This book though stole my heart and left me utterly winded and paralysed. 

Summer: God, my heart nearly broke for her. She thought she loved Kevin and that he had feelings for her after they had a night together when in reality he was a giant ass. And yet she still defended him or looked out for him as she placed him on a pedestal as being the perfect man. 

Caden: Sweet Lord book boyfriend alert!!! He is hard ass and scary but yet so wonderfully sweet. Typical tall alpha adorned with gorgeous tattoos with the cocky demeanor to top him all off. Their relationship is a torturous slow burner building from a great reliant friendship and the chemistry between the pair is agonizing! 

What's fantastic is the different stories of love that is spread across the pages. Their is heartbreak and undeniably brilliant terrifying love and the emotions and fears that comes with it all. It's not a simple romance story line but complicated with the intensity of all the memories and feelings of the characters. I was sucked into their world and their pain and felt their fears as much as their happiness. 

Kevin: He is Summer's stepbrother who she thinks she loves. We don't get too much of an insight into his real persona but what's interesting is how he is depicted to the reader. I found myself constantly trying to defend his actions until ultimately I realised - he really is a nasty piece of work! 

Overall:

Best work from Tijan so far. An absolute whirlwind of emotion and drama with a romance that will leave you haunted and desperate for a love like it. A soul destroying story of poignancy and life altering moments.

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Beautiful Torment (Beautiful #1), by Paige Laurens

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: New-Adult, Romance

Recommend: Yes

Book 1 of 2

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Luci Cunningham is ready to begin her senior year. But on the first day she is thrown off course when her chemistry teacher walks in and she can't help but stare. Mr Harrington notices Luci as soon as he walks in to his classroom, but chooses to ignore her. He's her teacher and he knows better. But soon the two face their lust and are finding reasons so spend more time together, extra tutoring sessions, make-up tests at lunch and the two embark on a secret relationship, risking everything. 

My Thoughts:

I loved this! I got sucked into this whirlwind forbidden romance and didn't look up until it ended- then immediately fell into book 2! 

Luci: I was really rooting for her. She's a typical young girl admiring a hot teacher like most would. She very quickly becomes obsessed with him and will do anything just to be able to get a glimpse of him. However when she realises he reciprocates the feelings, I love how bold she becomes in calling him out on it and addressing him directly. She becomes quite the seductress! Ultimately, I admired how she kept on telling herself it would never amount to anything real, that everything they had would always remain a dirty secret and she tries her best to accept this. Their romance never goes beyond the classroom. She really lets everything go to get wrapped up in him, she ignores her friends, doesn't apply to uni etc and falls hard for him. 

Mr Harrington:  Mmmm. I was surprised how easily he gave in and didn't try to deny his feelings. Although he left Luci to instigate anything between them, he certainly had his fun once she knew. But I loved the banter and games between them and how dangerous he played things. I was surprised they didn't get caught but it really made for an exciting read, just waiting for things to fall apart. He was battling the right and wrong front and it was clear he was conflicted about keeping it contained, but still entertaining to read his struggle to say no to his feelings and Luci. 

Writing: to get it out of the way, the writing in this needs some editing. There are a lot of typos scattered throughout and at times stilted the story. 

"It wouldn't be too would be too weird?"
"My mind is swirling, and for the quickest second, I loose my balance."

Other than that, the rest of the writing is brilliant. Their romance is forbidden but yet everything is so unbelievably steamy and hot and original. 

Ending: I am conflicted about the ending. I liked there was a huge climax and plot twist to throw them off course and add in that bit of drama, but there wasn't much hinting throughout that anything was happening or secrets were being kept. But it built up for a good lead into book 2...

Overall:

I loved this. It wasn't perfect, at times not realistic, but it as so damn addictive and hot!! I was almost jealous of Luci. Recommend as a light read to get wrapped up in.

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Night Shifts Black, by Alyson Santos

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: New-Adult, Romance

Recommend: Yes

Standalone

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Callie is disturbed one day having breakfast, when a tattooed stranger asks for her seat in a café despite others being free. She gives it to him, later finding out that the staff watch him come in every day to stare at the seat before leaving again - never staying or buying anything, just starting. Callie feels drawn to him. Drawn to finding out what has him come in every day and why that chair is important. Slowly, he lets her in. But Callie may find out more than she bargained for.  

My Thoughts:

I'm really frustrated by this book. This started out as a 5 star read and then slipped rather quickly to 3 stars and I'm so annoyed about it...

Callie: I liked her. I liked she was the only one brave enough to speak to Luke, get to know why he came into the café all the time and just listen. Soon she becomes integral to Luke's story, as we are reminded this isn't about him though. She is a huge rock for him in dealing with his depression and moving on and her strength is admirable at never giving up or becoming dissuaded from his actions.

Luke: Oh man, I felt for him. That man was torturing himself and I could totally see why. If only he had gone to meet his wife that night. I nearly hated him for causing her death! Or for not caring enough in the first place at least. But he did his suffering times over and deserved a break. I loved reading his part in things. He loved Callie and needed her, but wasn't in love with her. He just needed her to make him realise things would be okay. He could forgive himself and move on to a better life. He needed to get over the chair though... so what's the chair all about? The chair that has him come into a café and even steal it on one occasion after causing a scene, is the chair he was meant to be sitting in to save his marriage. The chair his wife sat opposite waiting for him to show to save their marriage. The chair she sat opposite when deciding to commit suicide. The chair she sent him a photo of so he could carry his guilt around with the "if only's"... heavy. right?

Casey: This is where I am conflicted. I really loved him and his character. I loved his relationship with Callie and how much he wanted to help Luke but how he couldn't deal with always being pushed away. Plus, Luke's wife? Yeah, she was Casey's sister. So he had to live knowing his best friend failed his sister. But he is a friend everyone needs. He would move heaven and earth if it meant bringing Luke back to his music and back to him but he just can't get through to him and is growing tired. Cue him meeting Callie though... and the pair find themselves entangled in each other...

Romance: So at the first half, the reader is led to believe that Callie fancies Luke, even though she reminds herself it's never going to happen. She needs to support Luke and she can't confuse her role in his life. He is in no way ready to move on from the death of his wife until he can feel he is acquitted. But still, glimmer of hope that the two will help each other and find their happy little way together... nope!!! Apparently Casey and Callie are meant for each other and it very quickly becomes THEIR story and Luke battling depression and guilt on the sidelines. He is what the book is meant to be about! I know we are told it's Callie's story but I feel like the blurb is a fraud. Casey is integral but not even hinted at. It all just became focused on their relationship and slowly introducing Luke back into the music industry. It just lost all the tension and darkness by the turn of a page. 

Overall:

I'm still saddened by this. It wasn't the story I was expecting to read but I feel this is the purpose of the book and what the author set out to do. For me, I just felt disappointed as it started on such a high. That aside, still an addictive read.

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Part-time Princess (Ladies In Waiting #1), by Pamela DuMond

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: New-Adult, Romantic Comedy,

Recommend: Yes

Book 1/2

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Lucy loses her job as a cocktail waitress and is desperate for another to pay for her uncle's medical care. After responding to a vague ad in the newspaper, Lucy finds herself hired to impersonate Princess Elizabeth of Fredonia. All she has to do is stall a relationship with Prince Christoph, but show she is interested, for 10 days until Elizabeth can return. Sounds easy enough... but on the flight to Fredonia Lucy meets Nick, who has a romantic history with the real princess, and soon Lucy finds herself torn between the two and unsure which way to go, both for her sake and the princess'. 

My Thoughts:

This is the definition of a feel good book. I laughed so many times and enjoyed the whole story. 

Lucy: she is hilarious. Lucy is not a rounded polite girl and definitely not princess material, but yet has to learn to say "yes" instead of "yeah". I loved watching her try to adapt and impersonate Elizabeth, and constantly try to hold her tongue before speaking out of turn or being sarcastic. I'm also extremely jealous - a princess impersonator with a free makeover and that sort of money?! I'd sign up for that! She's so outgoing and impulsive and it was great reading of the scenarios she got herself into.

Romance: So there is a love triangle in this but it is executed in such an original and cute way. It's not like the normal love triangle and I definitely had a favourite to win (Nick) but I honestly had no idea which way it was going to go until finishing the book. I liked how the battle to choose meant losing something big and Lucy being tied down to the fact she couldn't choose based on her heart, but Elizabeth's who she had no contact with to find out what to do. There was no cheating or sneaking around causing pain to others but it was still intense watching everything unfold. I was hooked!

Story: Apart from the romance there was also extreme danger and suspense! Someone was trying to kill or seriously harm Lady Elizabeth and Lucy found herself in harms way more than once, adding in a suspenseful twist to spice things up. I'm not sure this really needed that plot, it was sufficient with the love drama, but it did work with the overall picture.

Overall:

This is a wonderful light-hearted read. I smiled or laughed through the whole thing and thought it was such an original story with some great plot twists. Can't wait to read book 2.

Goodreads 

EXCERPT REVEAL: Anti-Stepbrother, by Tijan

~~ Excerpt Reveal ~~

The sun shone into the room, and it took me a few moments to realize where I was. I didn’t recognize the king-size bed, or the black sheets, but then Caden walked past the open door and all the memories flooded into place.

I slept at his place.

I glanced around the bed… I slept in his bed!

“Your alarm’s about to go off in ten minutes,” Caden called from the doorway. He had a cup of coffee in hand and wore only jeans.

I tried to keep my eyes front and center, but I lost. The tattoos were a nice little zig-zag pattern, pulling my gaze down, all the way down. Caden’s slow, smooth chuckle told me he knew what I’d just done. My cheeks only warmed a little.

I shot him a look, falling back to the pillow. “I feel like this should be the first skip day of my school career.”

“You’ve never skipped before?”

I shook my head, rolling it side to side on the pillow. “Am I missing out? Should I embrace my inner deviant?”

He smirked. “You can skip a class for any reason in the world. It’s your life.”

I sat up, eyeing that coffee. “You were supposed to be the bad influence.”

His eyebrow lifted. “I’m not selling it enough?” He lifted his cup. “You want some coffee?”

“I’m wondering if today is the day I try coffee too.”

“You’ve never had coffee?”

“I’m beginning to think I’m lame.” I thought about it. “Really lame.”

“You slept at some guy’s house last night. Think of it that way.” His smirk was back. “Not so lame now.”

I could do one better. “I slept at a fraternity house.”

“And you drank beer.”

“It was the second night in a row that I drank beer.”

“See? Not so lame after all.”

“You’re right.” I sat up. “I’m halfway to total badass.”

He grinned. “We cuddled last night, and you could think of it as dry humping. You almost got some last night.”

Except I hadn’t, and we were in the friend zone. Why were my hands curling around the covers into tight balls? I glanced down and forced them to loosen, then shrugged, trying to be the nonchalant badass I was.

“You carried me to bed. Almost the same thing.”

Suddenly, the joking was gone, and his eyes burned. I could feel his heat from across the room, and my body reacted, instantly warming even before he said a word.

“Nothing’s the same as sliding inside,” he murmured after a moment. “The feel of being in there, feeling that clench around you, knowing you can push as deep as you want, as hard or gently as you want. Nope. I’ve gotta step off the joke train for a moment here. Nothing is remotely the same as that feeling.”

Fuck. My pulse spiked.

He tossed me a look. “Maybe I’ll cop a feel the next time.”

I pretended to groan. “One more notch on my badass peg. You better cop a feel next time.”

“Is that all I am to you? A notch on the bedpost? I feel so used, Stoltz.”

Okay. My last name. We were back on familiar ground here. But my grin was still a little shaky.

“Get used to it, Banks. I’m only disguised as this plain Jane. Inside there’s a wild woman just waiting to be let loose.”

He didn’t reply.

He stared at me for a few more seconds, then straightened from the doorway. “There’s nothing plain about you, Summer.”

Stay tuned for my review of Anti-Stepbrother, coming soon!

ARC: Anti-Stepbrother, by Tijan - Review Pending

Soon I will post my review for Tijan's latest release, Anti-Stepbrother! 

So many emotions, so many feelings... I am in such a book mourning phase right now. 

Can't wait to share my thoughts!

REVIEW; Across The Hall, by N.M. Facile

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: Young Adult, Romance

Recommend: Not really

Standalone

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Sylvia had her heart broken when Quinn ended their relationship together before heading to college. 4 years later, Sylvia is still hurting but trying to move on with her life. But when Quinn moves to the same university, and is living across the hall, Sylvia has to struggle with battling her old feelings. Meanwhile, she is trying to move on with bad boy Beau, but she soon realises she got more than she bargained for by dating him. 

My Thoughts:

Sylvia: I tried really hard to like her as the main character, but I failed. I found her to be insecure, dramatic and rather boring. Her relationship ended four years ago and she's still suffering like it was 4 weeks. Yes, he may have been the love of her life, but I doubt she has reason to still be so wrapped up in Quinn, especially as there was no contact between them to keep her hopes up. She is also extremely shallow; introduces the reader to her friends by describing them physically and on their looks alone, as if their personalities were irrelevant. I really don't understand why she stays with Beau for so long either, when dating him was such a chore for her to begin with. She needed to grow a damn backbone. 

Quinn: the chapters in this changed POV between Quinn and Sylvia. I usually like this in this a novel as it allows the author to both give snippets away to the reader, and also deliver the story from two different personalities. But in this it didn't work. Quinn was to female minded. None of his inner dialogue was from a realistic male perspective. He was so cringe and yet meant to be a gorgeous hot guy with great confidence but yet came across as unsure and insecure. 

Friends: The secondary characters in a story are always important for me. But in this, they were all insufferable. To be blunt, they were shit and cliché. They were all coupled off in serious relationships and everything was just too perfect. Kai is the typical quirky little Asian and Kerrington is a tall perfect blonde. They also believe being a good friend is acting like Quinn was a murder when he showed up. Give the guy a break!? Alright he broke her heart so take her side, but there's no reason to treat him so horribly before even getting to know him! 

Writing: This was way too descriptive in showing but then also telling, there was nothing left for the reader to put together. In the end, there was so much internal monologue that I had to skip loads to just get on with the actual story. It opens with an info dump load of who Sylvia is, her past, her friends, what she does, her friends' boyfriends etc. Slow. It. Down. 

Ending: it's nicely delivered so we slowly discover they're grandparents and all that they achieved in their life together. But again - huge information overload to which child belongs to who. We didn't need to know about Kai and Kerrie's children and grandchildren - it wasn't their story. I felt it was all too cliché in the end - especially with the accidental pregnancy drama. 

Overall:

I wouldn't really recommend this. It's an ok story but both main characters are highly unlikeable. Everything was too immature and there was nothing left for the reader to piece together. 

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Lionheart: A Beauty and the Beast Retelling, by Fran Seen

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: New-Adult, Romance

Recommend: Yes

Standalone

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Lula responds to a Craiglist advertisement  by a Mr Rahim, seeking a cleaner who will ask no questions and housing is included in his manor. Eager to escape her family and pay for her sister's physical therapy, Lula jumps at the opportunity. One rule though... she is not to look at Mr Rahim's face. No one who lives there has seen him properly. But Lula isn't one for living the safe life and pushes Mr Rahim until she gets a glimpse at who he really is, and once she sees, she cannot walk away.

My Thoughts:

*** Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review***

I love Fran Seen's work. Absolutely blown away... again. There is such a magnetic power to the stories she creates that lures me into the world of the characters. 

"My mom always told me that, when people warned you they were emotionally unavailable, to believe them. She said those people had good intentions. They were trying to warn you that their heart was broken, and in attempting to piece it back together, they were afraid of cutting you with their edges."

You know those times when you read something and it hits you right in the gut and you realise you've just read words that explain everything that's been going on in your brain as if the author has just ripped your own thoughts right from you and whacked them down on paper... yeah, that happened.

Lula: I loved her banter and attitude. She was so kind-hearted and of the best nature, but yet not timid or shy and afraid to challenge Alo. I laughed on so many occasions reading of her texts with him and how she challenged him. 

Alo: We discovered his past and history before Lula did due to the dual POV and I loved the insight into his struggling mind and his torment. He was a perfect balance of fierceness and mystery but yet with such a soft side.

Romance: This is technically a romantic story between the pair but yet there's nothing explicit or steamy. Instead it's all based on a gorgeous development of a relationship where the reader gets to see them both get emotionally and mentally close. I loved the scenes where Lula and Alo would focus on the sky and discuss the stars and their story. 

What's beautiful is the adaption of the Beauty and the Beast story is so far removed but with the same premise. Alo feels like he is completely alone and removed from the world, but once he accepts that he doesn't have to be and allows Lula to get close, it ends beautifully! The writing and format is so thought-provoking and entrancing, it's just fantastic. 

Overall:

This is an addictive and beautiful romantic story. With some complicated themes treated so delicately and honest, the pain and trauma will captivate you from the beginning to the thrilling ending. 

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Broken Prince (The Royals #2), by Erin Watt

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: New-Adult, Romance

Recommend: So Much Yes

Book 2 of 3

SPOILERS 

Summary:

When Ella walked into Reed Royal's life, he wanted her gone. Now she has run off, heartbroken, and Reed will do anything to bring her back and earn her trust again. 
Around him the school is falling apart and he is surrounded by deceit and blackmail and his brothers blaming him. Ella can't handle any more lies or hurt but her heart misses Reed. No matter how much they really want each other, they know they aren't good together and Reed has a challenge on his hands to win her back.

My Thoughts:

After the cliffhanger of book 1 I was so excited to read what would happen between Reed and Ella. This book has it all! 

• Broken Heart
• Grovelling
• Secrets
• Lies
• Manipulative Barbie Witch
• Barbie Bitch
• Attempted Murder
• Actual Murder
• Plot twist that will give you 4 heart-attacks and kill you until Twisted Palace is released in October.

Story: I think it's always hard to write a brilliant 2nd book after such a successful 1st one but this blew me away. There was so much drama but everything is intertwined and delivered beautifully and woven into the overall story rather than random plot twists with no substance. And another cliffhanger! Or 2 really!! WHAT THE HELLLLLL!?!?! The writing in this is not astounding by any means, but the story is just so addictive and I can't stop reading. We also get to find out a little more about all the brothers, which is great, and then Brooke doing her best at ruining lives and just creating even more drama...

Reed: A lot of this book is from Reed's POV. This is necessary to fill in the blanks after Ella has run away. I'm usually not a fan of male POV's due to them being poorly represented but it sort of worked in this. His control and power was palpable and it was clear which chapters were told from Reed or Ella's POV just by the writing. 

Ella: I love her fighting spirit. She is so strong and proud and doesn't allow them to walk over her. Even though she still has feelings for Reed she remains so strong in her standing in making him properly work for her forgiveness and mean it. She is definitely far from a weak push over. I absolutely loved the scene where Ella humiliated Jordan at school. Brilliant.  

Overall:

This series sucks you in and breaks your heart each time, but it's totally worth the pain and torment for The Royals.  Just hurry up October, please!

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Broken and Screwed 2, by Tijan

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: New-Adult, Romance

Recommend: Yes

Book 2/2

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Alex's parents have left her to fend for herself and she is angry. She has questions about her brother and his death and is demanding Jesse gives her the answers. But when she goes off to college she realises Jesse is considering a celebrity almost and being associated with him would put her right in the limelight. Also, once reunited the pair can't deny their chemistry, and soon fall back into old habits of finding strength in each other. But now Alex doesn't want a public relationship, and the secrets Jesse knows about the death of Ethan, may tear them apart for good. 

My Thoughts:

Alex: She is still hard as nails but opens up so much more. She is able so slowly let her guard down. She remains so strong solely to protect Jesse from knowing the truth about her parents- she doesn't tell him they upped and left her and don't care for her, so she doesn't shatter his illusion of the perfect parents. She's still happy with whatever she can get from Jesse, even if it means her own heartbreak. Alex also got money from her grandfather, enabling her to go to college and pay for anything. I liked for once a character didn't take the high road and turn down money just on principle of where it came from. 

"I hadn't known my grandfather was wealthy, but I capitalized on it. I had the money so I was going to use it"

Jesse: he is still as strong and powerful as ever, but we also get a rare glimpse of his caring side. He really wants to be with Alex, properly and not in secret but yet she's the one adamant to keep things quiet. Somewhere along the lines he found his closure, I think some of this coming from the truth concerning Ethan's death being finally exposed while he was keeping his promise to Ethan at the same time. 

Cord: It was really good being able to see more about him and see his character develop on the sidelines and see another side to him. Maybe he will get his own story? He was like an epic big brother figure and I loved his banter with Alex but yet his automatic protective nature as he know she is important to Jesse. 

Story: her parents in this really were horrendous and so awful, but it all makes sense to how they had acted, even if there was an attempt of justification and remorse. There's the added drama of the secrets surrounding the death of Alex's brother and her quest to really find out the truth. There isn't a huge epic romance, but yet there's still an exciting and realistic relationship built between the pair.

Overall:

This definitely lived up to the expectations set from the first book. It has everything and more, a story of jealousy, hurt and betrayal. And finally, all the answers we've been wanting from the beginning. 

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Broken and Screwed, by Tijan

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: New-Adult, Romance

Recommend: Yes

Book 1/2

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Alex's brother died in a car crash and her life has never been the same. Jesse lost his best friend that night, and has a special bond with Alex - they're both hurting over the loss of someone they love. Thrown into a world of despair and darkness, they both find strength in each other. 

Alex loves him, but she knows they'll never be together. Jesse doesn't want to feel, and Alex is the only girl that understands what he needs and he will take what he can get. 

My Thoughts:

Hot damn. This far surpassed FCH. There were no sex scenes but yet it was the steamiest novel yet. 

"The nights were the worst as I stayed in my home. I had been abandoned. I was haunted. And all I wanted to do was destroy everything."

For a book about not feeling, I certainly felt a lot. 

Alex: She is one great character. I really feel for her. She's not some damsel in distress but yet needs Jesse to hurt with him. She's absolutely rock solid. She's been through hell and back and in some depression but gives no shits. She was in no way portrayed as perfect or an unrealistic ideal of the perfect girl who had it all - making it so easy for me to feel for her and want to see her kick ass and get her happy ending. 

She's so far gone that she recognises Jesse is using her and that she doesn't care if it results in her being hurt constantly. 

"He was going to screw other girls tonight and I know she'll still go for him if he ever calls her. You do that too. You're both so weak. You're spineless" 

Jesse: OH MY GOD! He is amazing. He's so heartbroken and raw and hurting and I love how he is portrayed. Deep down he appears to love Alex, but he needs her to cope and that's all she will ever be. I love how Alex didn't change him in this - he wasn't some project needing to be altered by the girl. Am fed up of novels where the main female converts the bad boy to a whipped boyfriend. Jesse remains aloof and stern and it's so fantastic and captivating. 

Friends: I liked how her friends Angie and Marissa were sort of shit friends. Reminds us all that there are times where we have friends that aren't good for us. I felt bad that Angie wouldn't really try and sympathise but then Alex did a good job of blocking everyone out. Really got an idea of Alex's numbness to all when Marissa tries to take Jesse and Alex can't even react. 

Story: the trauma and despair in this is crushing and it only gets worse for Alex. What is brilliant though is all that occurs is a domino from her brother's death. Her parents reaction or grieving state directly impact Alex and makes for an even bigger heart-wrenching story beyond just Alex suffering the loss of her brother. She's really mourning the loss of her whole family and dealing with the realisation her parents care more for Jesse than they ever would for her.  

Overall:

Thank God book 2 was available when I read this. I was totally sucked into their bleak world and couldn't believe how strong their attraction spewed from the pages despite them not even being together in this book. Best Tijan read so far. 

Goodreads