What do you think?
Rate this book
St. Mary’s Rebels #5
The Hatesick Diaries
Echo Adler hates Reign Davidson. He’s the reason the love of her life left her all alone and broken hearted two years ago.
So it should be easy to stay away.
It should be easy to not dream about his dark and mean eyes, or his cruel but sexy smirks. It should be easy to not think about the guy who ruined her happily ever after.
Only it’s not.
Sometimes his intense stares make her heart race, and those smirks of his make her breathless.
But it needs to stop.
Because she has a mission: to get back together with her ex-boyfriend. And Echo will be damned if she keeps dreaming about Reign.
The guy who not only makes her sick with hate but who also happens to be her ex’s best friend.
So it should be easy to stay away.
It should be easy to not dream about his dark and mean eyes, or his cruel but sexy smirks. It should be easy to not think about the guy who ruined her happily ever after.
Only it’s not.
Sometimes his intense stares make her heart race, and those smirks of his make her breathless.
But it needs to stop.
Because she has a mission: to get back together with her ex-boyfriend. And Echo will be damned if she keeps dreaming about Reign.
The guy who not only makes her sick with hate but who also happens to be her ex’s best friend.
829 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2023
About the author
Saffron A. Kent
38 books5,803 followersSaffron A. Kent is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Contemporary and New Adult romance.
She has an MFA in Creative Writing and she lives in New York City with her nerdy and supportive husband, along with a million and one books.
She has an MFA in Creative Writing and she lives in New York City with her nerdy and supportive husband, along with a million and one books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 588 reviews
January 18, 2023
The breakdown of this whole series' gist:
╰┈➤ meet two extremely horny teenagers (but age is just a number, the heroes and heroines are perpetually hormonal teenagers in SAK's books regardless of their actual age) engaging in most nonsensical conversations and saying shit that only people with very peculiar definition of "hot" will find remotely, well, hot...
I applaud SAK for always finding creative new ways to traumatize me with her smut. ✊🏻 Whenever I stop to muse distractedly that there HAS TO be a limit to how cringey the main character might sound, I'm proven wrong.
╰┈➤ no plot, only ✨vibes✨
The conflict? The main characters wanna fuck each other but the author comes up with lame excuses so that they don't. 829 pages long of whys they couldn't, shouldn't and mustn't that mostly sound like a badly written entry to a teenage girl's diary with short but tedious breaks for porn smut near the end.
The heroine dates the hero's best friend only to keep writing about the hero in her diaries. 😍 That's supposed to make the MCs' relationship ✨ FORBIDDEN ✨. The only aspect that unnecessarily drags out drives the book, apart from constant repetition of every basic thought and observation ofc. 😍
╰┈➤ storytelling? Only dialogue flavored with corny inner monologue. We die like real men. 😍
╰┈➤ milking for money is strong with this author. SAK would divide the indivisible into tiny paragraphs to make her book THICK as hell for no reason and call it her unique style 😍
part 1 out of 829
part 2 out of 829
Putting aside the fact that this is ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL OF WRITING PROFICIENCY, and I'd be embarrassed to post a review written in a similar vein — let alone publish a whole ass book for a larger audience, there's literally no point in breaking down these already embarrassingly primitive sentences into newsentences PARAGRAPHS.
Parcellation is a good stylistic device, but it's meant to make a specific point, not repeat the same message every other page till a reader feels a bile rise up their throat from repetitiveness. SAK describes the hero touching the heroine's ankle in 4 paragraphs and doesn't even bother to find creative ways to make these paragraphs sound like they're worth our reading time. She just repeats the words "touch" and "ankle" like a broken fucking record. Is that a demonstration of the notorious "poetic writing" everyone gushes over? 🤡
Let me have my personal SAK moment down below:
How did I do, y'all? 🥺 Damn, it feels good. So many words, so little substance. Me likey.
If SAK read this, she'd be so proud of me. 🫂
Bet she'd feel ecstatic upon realizing she found a rabid follower of her unique edgy lana del rey-esque writing style in me. 🥺🥺🥺‼️
As a side note: If she and her fans can't see how this is BAD WRITING, it can't be helped, I guess.
╰┈➤ another hate-to-love, enemies-to-lovers book that's actually a big fat LIE because they don't hate each other, they are both just horny teenagers from start to finish and all the ridiculous "hateful" animosity comes from the fact that the hero calls the heroine a "servant girl" on one occasion.
What are these characters? Overgrown kindergarteners?
Sometimes I wonder if all these romance authors are actually real people with real-life problems, relationships and struggles who live in the same world as the rest of us and draw inspiration from the same beautiful, complicated and simple things in life? I love unique perspectives. I can't stand contrived and far-fetched fantasies that focus on things that make no sense.
If a boy calling a girl "servant girl" seems like a perfectly plausible, worthy reason for a yearslong "hatred" to the author, then I do have some questions but maybe I'm not ready for the answers.
I can't relate to a single fucking problem the main characters experience DESPITE being super close in age to them. Despite being the same annoying, immature brat that makes questionable choices.
It's an easy and lazy way out for authors — writing about outlandish, phantasmagorical stuff. I bet some of them chant proudly in their little heads about how writing whatever nonsense that comes to their mind and coming up with plots that have zero credibility and feature struggles that are impossible to relate to is just the unique workings of their genius brain. 💕
This is NOT the flex you want so desperately it to be, lol.
"this is not for everyone, guys. only kindred souls who write in their diary every day, listen to lana del rey days and nights and dress in all pink/blue/yellow will get it. EXCLUSIVELY 💕 womp womp"
Grasping subtle details and patterns of real human behavior is hard. Conveying them in a such manner that a reader will cry, smile, gasp alongside your characters and relate to whatever happens on page? Even harder and harderER.
All the characters, their interactions and reactions in this book feel unreal in the most annoyingly cartoonish, far-fetched, st-oo-pid way. If you're looking for a book that will insult your intelligence, GO AHEAD. Perfect choice.
╰┈➤ SAK recycling her own characters that vagabond from one book to another will never get old. 😍 Giving them the exactly same vocabulary, patterns of speech, personalities and reactions? Totally what we need as readers with a memory span of one week. 😍
Gotta hand it to her: she'll assign a new hobby, a new nickname, a new name, a new color, a new fruit 🤡 to each one of her brand old cardboard characters. So much for ✨variety✨
╰┈➤ hero be waxing poetic about fucking the heroine and licking her blood, sweat and tears instead of just going through with his threats? The promise of good times?? Whatever this vicarious embarrassment manifesto was supposed to be.
So exciting to read paragraph after paragraph after PARAGRAPH of how the hero IS GONNA use her mouth, her hair or her pussy in laughable at best and cringe-inducing at worst detail. 😍 Imagine how small a guy's dick must be to start the foreplay with his War and Piece tome worth of porn inspired fantasies.
Talkativeness doesn't look good on men, and it looks even worse when whatever comes out of a hero's mouth sounds like a cheesy fantasy of a naughty nun who watches porn on a daily basis and saw her last breathing and living and talking man more than a decade ago.
The sex scenes in this book are pure porn, nothing romantic or special about them.
P O R N.
The only quote that I found cute:
This book singlehandedly makes the whole genre look BAD. Books like this explain why so many romance readers prefer to keep their fav genre a secret from other people.
I guess 2023 is the year when I have to let go of stale authors who just don't do it for me anymore. I'm struggling for my life while reading SAK's books at this point, and it ain't worth the massive lose of my brain cells.
╰┈➤ meet two extremely horny teenagers (but age is just a number, the heroes and heroines are perpetually hormonal teenagers in SAK's books regardless of their actual age) engaging in most nonsensical conversations and saying shit that only people with very peculiar definition of "hot" will find remotely, well, hot...
“Imagined what?”
He looks up. “Fucking your hair.”
“And while I’d fuck my fist, watching you smell your hair, thinking that I’m fucking your braid, I’d imagine that you were saving it for me.”
I applaud SAK for always finding creative new ways to traumatize me with her smut. ✊🏻 Whenever I stop to muse distractedly that there HAS TO be a limit to how cringey the main character might sound, I'm proven wrong.
╰┈➤ no plot, only ✨vibes✨
The conflict? The main characters wanna fuck each other but the author comes up with lame excuses so that they don't. 829 pages long of whys they couldn't, shouldn't and mustn't that mostly sound like a badly written entry to a teenage girl's diary with short but tedious breaks for porn smut near the end.
The heroine dates the hero's best friend only to keep writing about the hero in her diaries. 😍 That's supposed to make the MCs' relationship ✨ FORBIDDEN ✨. The only aspect that
╰┈➤ storytelling? Only dialogue flavored with corny inner monologue. We die like real men. 😍
╰┈➤ milking for money is strong with this author. SAK would divide the indivisible into tiny paragraphs to make her book THICK as hell for no reason and call it her unique style 😍
part 1 out of 829
There’s no logic to it.
There’s no guarantee that I’m going to run into him again.
But I…
I had to do something; he’s here.
I mean, I have to see him.
I just have to.
“Looking for me?”
At the voice coming from behind me, my heart jumps in my chest.
And I spin around.
And I… God, he’s bigger.
Than he was the last time I saw him.
part 2 out of 829
In anticipation that he might set fire to the sky again.
For my birthday.
But it’s not a lighter.
It’s something else. Something shiny.
Something chiming.
And then he’s touching me.
He’s touching me.
My ankle.
He’s touching, gripping my ankle.
Putting aside the fact that this is ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL OF WRITING PROFICIENCY, and I'd be embarrassed to post a review written in a similar vein — let alone publish a whole ass book for a larger audience, there's literally no point in breaking down these already embarrassingly primitive sentences into new
Parcellation is a good stylistic device, but it's meant to make a specific point, not repeat the same message every other page till a reader feels a bile rise up their throat from repetitiveness. SAK describes the hero touching the heroine's ankle in 4 paragraphs and doesn't even bother to find creative ways to make these paragraphs sound like they're worth our reading time. She just repeats the words "touch" and "ankle" like a broken fucking record. Is that a demonstration of the notorious "poetic writing" everyone gushes over? 🤡
Let me have my personal SAK moment down below:
Hey, guys. I dedicate this book.
My book.
You know, the one I wrote.
The one where I ruin the pink colour, watermelons, bubblegums and bandits for you.
I really do dedicate it for those of you who just don't.
Don't, do you?
Get.
Things. You know, simple things.
Basic things.
At first blush.
Don't worry if you don't. I totally get it that you don't get it. I got you, guys.
Totally get it that some of you just don't get it. So I'm going to repeat every generic basic-bitch stuff ×10004 times in my book.
The book I wrote. Did I?
How did I do, y'all? 🥺 Damn, it feels good. So many words, so little substance. Me likey.
If SAK read this, she'd be so proud of me. 🫂
Bet she'd feel ecstatic upon realizing she found a rabid follower of her unique edgy lana del rey-esque writing style in me. 🥺🥺🥺‼️
As a side note: If she and her fans can't see how this is BAD WRITING, it can't be helped, I guess.
╰┈➤ another hate-to-love, enemies-to-lovers book that's actually a big fat LIE because they don't hate each other, they are both just horny teenagers from start to finish and all the ridiculous "hateful" animosity comes from the fact that the hero calls the heroine a "servant girl" on one occasion.
What are these characters? Overgrown kindergarteners?
Sometimes I wonder if all these romance authors are actually real people with real-life problems, relationships and struggles who live in the same world as the rest of us and draw inspiration from the same beautiful, complicated and simple things in life? I love unique perspectives. I can't stand contrived and far-fetched fantasies that focus on things that make no sense.
If a boy calling a girl "servant girl" seems like a perfectly plausible, worthy reason for a yearslong "hatred" to the author, then I do have some questions but maybe I'm not ready for the answers.
I can't relate to a single fucking problem the main characters experience DESPITE being super close in age to them. Despite being the same annoying, immature brat that makes questionable choices.
It's an easy and lazy way out for authors — writing about outlandish, phantasmagorical stuff. I bet some of them chant proudly in their little heads about how writing whatever nonsense that comes to their mind and coming up with plots that have zero credibility and feature struggles that are impossible to relate to is just the unique workings of their genius brain. 💕
This is NOT the flex you want so desperately it to be, lol.
"this is not for everyone, guys. only kindred souls who write in their diary every day, listen to lana del rey days and nights and dress in all pink/blue/yellow will get it. EXCLUSIVELY 💕 womp womp"
Grasping subtle details and patterns of real human behavior is hard. Conveying them in a such manner that a reader will cry, smile, gasp alongside your characters and relate to whatever happens on page? Even harder and harderER.
All the characters, their interactions and reactions in this book feel unreal in the most annoyingly cartoonish, far-fetched, st-oo-pid way. If you're looking for a book that will insult your intelligence, GO AHEAD. Perfect choice.
╰┈➤ SAK recycling her own characters that vagabond from one book to another will never get old. 😍 Giving them the exactly same vocabulary, patterns of speech, personalities and reactions? Totally what we need as readers with a memory span of one week. 😍
Gotta hand it to her: she'll assign a new hobby, a new nickname, a new name, a new color, a new fruit 🤡 to each one of her brand old cardboard characters. So much for ✨variety✨
╰┈➤ hero be waxing poetic about fucking the heroine and licking her blood, sweat and tears instead of just going through with his threats? The promise of good times?? Whatever this vicarious embarrassment manifesto was supposed to be.
So exciting to read paragraph after paragraph after PARAGRAPH of how the hero IS GONNA use her mouth, her hair or her pussy in laughable at best and cringe-inducing at worst detail. 😍 Imagine how small a guy's dick must be to start the foreplay with his War and Piece tome worth of porn inspired fantasies.
Talkativeness doesn't look good on men, and it looks even worse when whatever comes out of a hero's mouth sounds like a cheesy fantasy of a naughty nun who watches porn on a daily basis and saw her last breathing and living and talking man more than a decade ago.
The sex scenes in this book are pure porn, nothing romantic or special about them.
P O R N.
The only quote that I found cute:
I swallow, dig my nails into his wrist, blush something crazy.
He notices it, the flush on my cheeks, and his eyes go all… liquid again.
All shiny and tender.
And he whispers, “What is it, baby?”
This book singlehandedly makes the whole genre look BAD. Books like this explain why so many romance readers prefer to keep their fav genre a secret from other people.
I guess 2023 is the year when I have to let go of stale authors who just don't do it for me anymore. I'm struggling for my life while reading SAK's books at this point, and it ain't worth the massive lose of my brain cells.
January 12, 2023
(Sorry if my review a little chaotic, I’m slightly sleep deprived <3)
Okay so this book gripped me from the start. It took me out of this DISGUSTING slump. Their first encounter was so good. It took a min for them to grow up and then BAM I’m like YASSS GET INNN
Tropes?
Ex boyfriends best friend — DRAMA
Football (soccer) sports romance
Childhood enemies
The help’s daughter X the rich son
Kinda forbidden
Enemies to lovers
Bad boy/good girl
I’m telling you I ate the first half of the book like *snaps fingers* THAT. I stayed up till 3am. it gave me the case of “just one more chapter” and that feeling is ELITE. UNMATCHED 🤌
And then things went a little sideways from there. Not in a drastic way but in a way that made it seem idk childish?? I don’t think their ages were portrayed that well? the dialogues were awesome tho. loved it. But then their inner monologues didn’t hit the same unfortunately.
And I’m so confused as to why certain scenes would be repeated. Like it would be the same thing after every two chapters and I was just like what is happening lmao.
BUT OMFG THE SMALL MOMENTS PPL. THE FUCKING SMALL MOMENTS DID ME IN. I CANT EVEN-
Like they’d just touch without realising they’re doing it. Her giving him a massage. The names they gave each other were cute. Him being completely obsessed with the shade of her lipstick🤌🤭🦋💕
The smut scenes felt like a fever dream 💀 like it was hot but still cringe at the same time. Idk I’m sorry but my brain didn’t know how to reconcile those facts. It is what it is.
So all around I enjoyed this nice escape from my mediocre life and I had fun. This is gonna be available on the 10th Jan and i hope you guys have fun when you read it <3
Thank you Saffron A. Kent and wildfire marketing for providing me with the ARC!
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
I’m definitely going back to read the rest of the series!
𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧
Wish I never met you - Victoria Monet
Burning in desire - Chris Grey
Pearl - Larissa lambert
Saving all my love - Empara Mi
No more - Sebi Ali
In the night - Koray
— there is a playlist for this book made by SAK on Spotify and it has really good songs! Her taste in music is 🤌
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
“I know you’re there.”
~SCREAMINGGG
“I rub my palms over the globes of his shoulders, my thumbs gently pressing on his tight muscles, and his eyes turn liquid. And molten.”
“It was none of your business.”
He chuckles again, his hands going even more restless on my body. “No, it wasn’t. It was more than my business.”
“What?”
“It was my fucking obsession.”
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀:
Devious lies — Parker s Huntington
***
THE FUCKING PLAYLIST IS FIRE OMFG I KNEW I LOVED SAK FOR A REASON
***
Omg I got the arc for this!!! Eeek so excited!
Okay so this book gripped me from the start. It took me out of this DISGUSTING slump. Their first encounter was so good. It took a min for them to grow up and then BAM I’m like YASSS GET INNN
Tropes?
Ex boyfriends best friend — DRAMA
Football (soccer) sports romance
Childhood enemies
The help’s daughter X the rich son
Kinda forbidden
Enemies to lovers
Bad boy/good girl
I’m telling you I ate the first half of the book like *snaps fingers* THAT. I stayed up till 3am. it gave me the case of “just one more chapter” and that feeling is ELITE. UNMATCHED 🤌
And then things went a little sideways from there. Not in a drastic way but in a way that made it seem idk childish?? I don’t think their ages were portrayed that well? the dialogues were awesome tho. loved it. But then their inner monologues didn’t hit the same unfortunately.
And I’m so confused as to why certain scenes would be repeated. Like it would be the same thing after every two chapters and I was just like what is happening lmao.
BUT OMFG THE SMALL MOMENTS PPL. THE FUCKING SMALL MOMENTS DID ME IN. I CANT EVEN-
Like they’d just touch without realising they’re doing it. Her giving him a massage. The names they gave each other were cute. Him being completely obsessed with the shade of her lipstick🤌🤭🦋💕
The smut scenes felt like a fever dream 💀 like it was hot but still cringe at the same time. Idk I’m sorry but my brain didn’t know how to reconcile those facts. It is what it is.
So all around I enjoyed this nice escape from my mediocre life and I had fun. This is gonna be available on the 10th Jan and i hope you guys have fun when you read it <3
Thank you Saffron A. Kent and wildfire marketing for providing me with the ARC!
𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
I’m definitely going back to read the rest of the series!
𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧
Wish I never met you - Victoria Monet
Burning in desire - Chris Grey
Pearl - Larissa lambert
Saving all my love - Empara Mi
No more - Sebi Ali
In the night - Koray
— there is a playlist for this book made by SAK on Spotify and it has really good songs! Her taste in music is 🤌
𝗙𝗮𝘃 𝗤𝘂𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
“I know you’re there.”
~SCREAMINGGG
“I rub my palms over the globes of his shoulders, my thumbs gently pressing on his tight muscles, and his eyes turn liquid. And molten.”
“It was none of your business.”
He chuckles again, his hands going even more restless on my body. “No, it wasn’t. It was more than my business.”
“What?”
“It was my fucking obsession.”
𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀:
Devious lies — Parker s Huntington
***
THE FUCKING PLAYLIST IS FIRE OMFG I KNEW I LOVED SAK FOR A REASON
***
Omg I got the arc for this!!! Eeek so excited!
January 6, 2023
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: bully, best friend's girlfriend
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
"𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘪𝘳, 𝘐 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳, 𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨, '𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.' 𝘏𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴. '𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?' 𝘐 𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. '𝘐'𝘮 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯.' 𝘏𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴. '𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯.'"
Absolutely beautiful storytelling that will pull on every heartstring and leave you craving more! Once upon a time, there was a boy named Reign who liked a girl, Echo. She was sweet and pretty and good - and everything he was not. When his best friend Lucas decided he liked her too, Reign stepped back because he wasn't deserving, like his friend was. Lucas could give her everything she wanted and needed. But pushing someone away doesn't make you not want them or kill your obsession, even if you're so hateful you make yourself sick with it. Even if you make her sick with it. There's a thin line between love and hate and one kiss is going to make their whole worlds implode.
"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵."
Good gravy, people! The angst! The sweetness! The fracking HOTNESS of this story just about killed me, lol. Seriously, my favorite Saffron A. Kent book to date. Such a great storyline that pulls you in from the very first chapter. The character development is off the chain and you can't help but love them and just feel so much for them. Reign manages to break your heart, get you all hot and bothered, and frustrate the hell out of you - all at the same time, lol. The bad boy who is just head over heals for the quirky book worm who he feels he doesn't deserve. Ms. Kent seems to know the exact spot we need as readers between the self-flagellating hero and the point he says frack it and takes what he wants. Just the best conclusion to what's been a fabulous series. So excited the next series is staying in the same world and we're getting all the stories we need/want!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
Trope: bully, best friend's girlfriend
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
"𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘪𝘳, 𝘐 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳, 𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨, '𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.' 𝘏𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴. '𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵?' 𝘐 𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. '𝘐'𝘮 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯.' 𝘏𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴. '𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯.'"
Absolutely beautiful storytelling that will pull on every heartstring and leave you craving more! Once upon a time, there was a boy named Reign who liked a girl, Echo. She was sweet and pretty and good - and everything he was not. When his best friend Lucas decided he liked her too, Reign stepped back because he wasn't deserving, like his friend was. Lucas could give her everything she wanted and needed. But pushing someone away doesn't make you not want them or kill your obsession, even if you're so hateful you make yourself sick with it. Even if you make her sick with it. There's a thin line between love and hate and one kiss is going to make their whole worlds implode.
"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘙𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘯. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵."
Good gravy, people! The angst! The sweetness! The fracking HOTNESS of this story just about killed me, lol. Seriously, my favorite Saffron A. Kent book to date. Such a great storyline that pulls you in from the very first chapter. The character development is off the chain and you can't help but love them and just feel so much for them. Reign manages to break your heart, get you all hot and bothered, and frustrate the hell out of you - all at the same time, lol. The bad boy who is just head over heals for the quirky book worm who he feels he doesn't deserve. Ms. Kent seems to know the exact spot we need as readers between the self-flagellating hero and the point he says frack it and takes what he wants. Just the best conclusion to what's been a fabulous series. So excited the next series is staying in the same world and we're getting all the stories we need/want!
⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
June 27, 2024
*:ꔫ:*﹤
〝So you love her.〞
I watch a tree with pink flowers go by. 〝Yes.〞
No use denying it.
No use calling it something it isn't.
It's love.
This irrational jealousy. This insane obsession. This crazy need to get close to her, to somehow get inside her body and live there. To somehow get her inside mine so she could live wrapped around my heart.
If I had my way , I'd call it sickness.
But I guess love works too.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ songs for and in the vein of echoreign :୧˚
guest room ⋆ echos
cry ⋆ cigarettes after sex
i snorted all 800+ pages of the hatesick diaries like it was cocaine and crushed diamonds. i'm not hyperbolizing in the slightest: i literally, mentally, physically, forwent sleeping for the duration of my reading this. not a wink. that's how invested, obsessed, possessed, i was. echoreign. echoreign. echoreign. no one’s more surprised by this turn of events than me. i am obsessed with my new favorite sak couple.
the angst oncrack lsd. the co-dependent, obsessive, sick love. the degradation. the praise. the fetishes. the kinks. the opposites attract. the forbidden; boyfriend's best friend/best friend's girlfriend. the poor girl and the riches-to-rags rich boy. the boy-obsessed—literally obsessed, ever since the millisecond said boy laid eyes on said girl for the first time.
1510.234 3023.456, the anklet so she can’t ever sneak up on him again, the climbing up a tree and crawling into her bedroom through her window every night, the “well, whatever it is, it’s racing right now”s, the “i have an echo fetish”, the woods, the lake, and the laying on the grass under the stars…
i don't think i'll ever fully stop thinking about it, about them, about their infuriating, maddening, but unmistakably breathtaking, acid trip of a love story.
〝Couldn't sleep that night. So that's what I did. Counted pinks.〞
〝So you love her.〞
I watch a tree with pink flowers go by. 〝Yes.〞
No use denying it.
No use calling it something it isn't.
It's love.
This irrational jealousy. This insane obsession. This crazy need to get close to her, to somehow get inside her body and live there. To somehow get her inside mine so she could live wrapped around my heart.
If I had my way , I'd call it sickness.
But I guess love works too.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨ songs for and in the vein of echoreign :୧˚
guest room ⋆ echos
cry ⋆ cigarettes after sex
i snorted all 800+ pages of the hatesick diaries like it was cocaine and crushed diamonds. i'm not hyperbolizing in the slightest: i literally, mentally, physically, forwent sleeping for the duration of my reading this. not a wink. that's how invested, obsessed, possessed, i was. echoreign. echoreign. echoreign. no one’s more surprised by this turn of events than me. i am obsessed with my new favorite sak couple.
the angst on
He pulled me down toward him. 〝Just the tip.〞
I bumped our noses together. 〝No.〞
He bumped them back, his hand creeping under his black t-shirt that I was wearing.〝How about a finger?〞
1510.234 3023.456, the anklet so she can’t ever sneak up on him again, the climbing up a tree and crawling into her bedroom through her window every night, the “well, whatever it is, it’s racing right now”s, the “i have an echo fetish”, the woods, the lake, and the laying on the grass under the stars…
i don't think i'll ever fully stop thinking about it, about them, about their infuriating, maddening, but unmistakably breathtaking, acid trip of a love story.
〝Couldn't sleep that night. So that's what I did. Counted pinks.〞
January 3, 2023
Review - The Hatesick Diaries by Saffron A. Kent 💗🌸🎀💄🌷
Saffron continuously proves why she is my favourite author ever! She is such a talented writer who has the ability to create a strong emotional connection with her readers. In her work, she effortlessly builds tension and evokes feelings of anger, sadness, and joy through her descriptive and poetic writing style. One of her standout skills is her ability to portray complex relationships, particularly those that are marked by conflict or turmoil. Not only this but, she excels at writing scenes that are infused with sexual tension and raw, unbridled emotion. Overall, Saffron A. Kent's writing is powerful, evocative, and highly engaging, and her talent for crafting compelling, emotionally resonant stories is truly impressive and always addictive.
This story follows Reign and Echo, who are soulmates with chemistry that is electric and intense. The thin line between love and hate is explored in a way that is both relatable and taboo, and it's impossible not to root for these characters as they navigate their complicated feelings for each other. One of the standout elements of The Hatesick Diaries is the intense angst and sexual tension between Reign and Echo. From the very beginning, it's clear that these two characters have a connection that is unlike anything they've ever experienced before. The tension between them is palpable, and it only grows as they try to resist their attraction to each other.
Reign has been secretly obsessed with Echo for years, and despite his attempts to hide his feelings, it's clear that he is deeply attracted to her and cannot resist the pull between them. His obsession with Echo is a driving force in the book, and it adds depth and complexity to his character. I am so utterly in love with Reign – he is hands down my favorite hero by Saffron A. Kent to date. Reign's feelings for Echo are a constant source of conflict for him, and it's clear that he is torn between his desire for her and his loyalty to his best friend.
Echo's feelings for Reign are a driving force in the book, and it's clear that she has always been attracted to him despite her efforts to hide it. She has always felt a pull towards him but has been afraid to act on it because of the taboo nature of their relationship. Her hatred for him is a defense mechanism, a way for her to protect herself from her own desires, especially now that she is dating his best friend.
As Echo and Reign spend more time together, it becomes clear that her feelings for him are deeper and more complex than she initially thought. She starts to see him in a different light, and it's impossible not to root for these characters as they navigate their complicated feelings for each other. The forbidden nature of their relationship only adds to the tension, and it's clear that they are meant to be together despite the obstacles in their way. The angst between them is intense, and it's clear that they are struggling to resist their attraction to each other.
Saffron A. Kent's writing is exceptional, and every word feels like it hits home. The Hatesick Diaries is a must-read for anyone who enjoys forbidden love stories with heat and heart, and it's definitely my favorite book by Saffron A. Kent to date!
5⭐️
Saffron continuously proves why she is my favourite author ever! She is such a talented writer who has the ability to create a strong emotional connection with her readers. In her work, she effortlessly builds tension and evokes feelings of anger, sadness, and joy through her descriptive and poetic writing style. One of her standout skills is her ability to portray complex relationships, particularly those that are marked by conflict or turmoil. Not only this but, she excels at writing scenes that are infused with sexual tension and raw, unbridled emotion. Overall, Saffron A. Kent's writing is powerful, evocative, and highly engaging, and her talent for crafting compelling, emotionally resonant stories is truly impressive and always addictive.
This story follows Reign and Echo, who are soulmates with chemistry that is electric and intense. The thin line between love and hate is explored in a way that is both relatable and taboo, and it's impossible not to root for these characters as they navigate their complicated feelings for each other. One of the standout elements of The Hatesick Diaries is the intense angst and sexual tension between Reign and Echo. From the very beginning, it's clear that these two characters have a connection that is unlike anything they've ever experienced before. The tension between them is palpable, and it only grows as they try to resist their attraction to each other.
Reign has been secretly obsessed with Echo for years, and despite his attempts to hide his feelings, it's clear that he is deeply attracted to her and cannot resist the pull between them. His obsession with Echo is a driving force in the book, and it adds depth and complexity to his character. I am so utterly in love with Reign – he is hands down my favorite hero by Saffron A. Kent to date. Reign's feelings for Echo are a constant source of conflict for him, and it's clear that he is torn between his desire for her and his loyalty to his best friend.
Echo's feelings for Reign are a driving force in the book, and it's clear that she has always been attracted to him despite her efforts to hide it. She has always felt a pull towards him but has been afraid to act on it because of the taboo nature of their relationship. Her hatred for him is a defense mechanism, a way for her to protect herself from her own desires, especially now that she is dating his best friend.
As Echo and Reign spend more time together, it becomes clear that her feelings for him are deeper and more complex than she initially thought. She starts to see him in a different light, and it's impossible not to root for these characters as they navigate their complicated feelings for each other. The forbidden nature of their relationship only adds to the tension, and it's clear that they are meant to be together despite the obstacles in their way. The angst between them is intense, and it's clear that they are struggling to resist their attraction to each other.
Saffron A. Kent's writing is exceptional, and every word feels like it hits home. The Hatesick Diaries is a must-read for anyone who enjoys forbidden love stories with heat and heart, and it's definitely my favorite book by Saffron A. Kent to date!
5⭐️
January 11, 2023
The HateSick Diaries is one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2023 so you can imagine my level of excitement when I saw this on my kindle. It had everything that I wanted and I was chomping at the bit to start it. This story had all the makings to be one of my favorite reads but sadly it fell short.
Echo and Reign have had this hate filled relationship from the moment they met and it hasn't gotten better over the years. Their attraction to each other has made things even more difficult and when you put into play that Echo is dating Reign’s best friend, it becomes extremely messy.
I won't lie and say that I didn't like parts of the book because I did. I loved the chemistry between Reign and Echo and I really liked the flashbacks in the beginning but I was expecting more from this story. The plot didn't go anywhere and it felt too repetitive and dragged on. I was also not a fan of certain intimate scenes that were just too much for me and I think that could've been dialed back a bit on the talking.
Aside from those things, If you’re a fan of this author and have the previous books in the series, then you’re going to enjoy this one.
March 18, 2023
1.5
Normally I wouldn’t reread a book so quickly. But damn did I forget just how god awful the sex scenes, in This one where. It’s worse than a gorgeous villain. IYKYK.
If a guy ever tried, the the dirty talk that reign did. I would literally record it to play it later to my friends so they could too, feel the same horrified urge to laugh.
I wish I could go back to the time I read echo & reigns snippet in HMM and tell myself that the explosive chemistry I felt was gonna be lost here.
Lmao the way echo was like “ reign we have this chemistry” bitchhhhh where.
I guess saffron’s rent was due for her to put this out the way she did.
I’m Honest to god team Lucas even tho he’s made out to be the bad guy man need’s an award for putting up with echo & reign.
Normally I wouldn’t reread a book so quickly. But damn did I forget just how god awful the sex scenes, in This one where. It’s worse than a gorgeous villain. IYKYK.
If a guy ever tried, the the dirty talk that reign did. I would literally record it to play it later to my friends so they could too, feel the same horrified urge to laugh.
I wish I could go back to the time I read echo & reigns snippet in HMM and tell myself that the explosive chemistry I felt was gonna be lost here.
Lmao the way echo was like “ reign we have this chemistry” bitchhhhh where.
I guess saffron’s rent was due for her to put this out the way she did.
I’m Honest to god team Lucas even tho he’s made out to be the bad guy man need’s an award for putting up with echo & reign.
January 25, 2023
829 pages
January 11, 2023
dnf@70%
I really thought this was gonna be different🤡🤡
I really thought this was gonna be different🤡🤡
January 7, 2023
I finished this book last night and honestly had such a great time reading it! I literally flew through this and had no idea that it was even 800 pages long which is a win to me.
Reign and Echo were adorable, and I loooved their dynamic together. The way Reign acts for a good portion of the book, i’d definitely say this is part bully romance and part forbidden romance (both tropes that I love…like why lie.) And what I love is that if one thing is for certain, miss saffron kent is always gonna serve us some ANGST!
I will say that the dirty talk in the 🔥scenes completely took me aback sometimes. Not all of them, but there were definitely a few scenes that I thought could’ve gone without the out of pocket statements 😭 In terms of a dark romance though, majority of it was actually really fitting and makes sense with whatever was happening in that moment of the book. PLEASE check TW’s before reading this book!
i’m a huge fan of saffron’s work and have basically read majority of her books/backlist titles. And I will continue to read all of her future books because I literally CANNOT help myself 🤭
Reign and Echo were adorable, and I loooved their dynamic together. The way Reign acts for a good portion of the book, i’d definitely say this is part bully romance and part forbidden romance (both tropes that I love…like why lie.) And what I love is that if one thing is for certain, miss saffron kent is always gonna serve us some ANGST!
I will say that the dirty talk in the 🔥scenes completely took me aback sometimes. Not all of them, but there were definitely a few scenes that I thought could’ve gone without the out of pocket statements 😭 In terms of a dark romance though, majority of it was actually really fitting and makes sense with whatever was happening in that moment of the book. PLEASE check TW’s before reading this book!
i’m a huge fan of saffron’s work and have basically read majority of her books/backlist titles. And I will continue to read all of her future books because I literally CANNOT help myself 🤭
January 18, 2023
Was the writing repetitive and pretty annoying!? Yes! Was the smut cringy!? Yes ofcourse! Did I still read these 829 pages in a couple hrs!? Ofcourse I did! And I’m I gonna continue to read everything she writes nd enjoy it!? Most likely 😭. Don’t judge me! ✌🏼
January 13, 2023
3.5 stars
Not my favorite by SAK, but not as bad as I was expecting due to the ex situation. I was scared this was going to be all love triangle-y, and maybe it was a little bit, but not really. Confusing I know. Basically the ex is a non-issue, really just used as a plot device to show growth in the MC’s.
When you’re reading Echo’s POV you can kind of tell she’s more trying to convince herself she misses her bf, basically tho all her thoughts are centered around Rein tho even if she’s thinking about her ex.
I actually really liked Reign, which I wasn’t expecting to. I’m glad we got to see his POV because it helped me connect to him and understand all he ever cared about was Echo. He was like a secret good guy lol and I appreciated how protective he was of echo. And he even tried to take care of the asshole Lucas too
I was annoyed a lot with the pushing away, mainly from Reign and thinking Echo needed to be with the “right guy”. How is a guy who proposed to his 16 year old gf, when all they had ever done was kiss the “right guy”. I truly never understood either of their logic about LUcas being the right guy. Maybe Reign never would’ve actually let her go back to him, but still it was annoying and I didn’t understand it. Like we saw so many times how he was an asshole to her, was fucking many other girls, but somehow he was the right guy she needed to go back to?!?)?!? Perplexing to me. Like the H literally said he (Lucas) was like a walking STD so……. Why would he try to send Exho back to him.
Rant over sorry I was just annoyed with the whole Lucas situation bc we all know both of them never wanted her to go back to him and she never did so harping on it annoyed the fuck out of me and sometimes put a damper on the cute moments Exho and Reign would have.
After the H & h kiss, neither are ever with anyone else. h was a virgin (of course 🙄) but I wasn’t bothered by it because she was 15/16 with a 18/19 year old bf who I hated, and who had no business being with her and also bc I’m kind of a hypocrite. Apparently he used to be a man whore but we never see it. I wasn’t too bothered by him sleeping with other girls before he kissed Exho 1. Because he had to suffer through her being his “bff”s girlfriend and kissing him. And 2. Because we never see it it’s only mentioned that he had been with others. There is one comment made in his thoughts that was annoying, but it was only there imo to show he used to be a man whore but stopped once he kissed Echo. It was unnecessary but I know that’s this authors style.
Not my favorite by SAK, but not as bad as I was expecting due to the ex situation. I was scared this was going to be all love triangle-y, and maybe it was a little bit, but not really. Confusing I know. Basically the ex is a non-issue, really just used as a plot device to show growth in the MC’s.
When you’re reading Echo’s POV you can kind of tell she’s more trying to convince herself she misses her bf, basically tho all her thoughts are centered around Rein tho even if she’s thinking about her ex.
I actually really liked Reign, which I wasn’t expecting to. I’m glad we got to see his POV because it helped me connect to him and understand all he ever cared about was Echo. He was like a secret good guy lol and I appreciated how protective he was of echo. And he even tried to take care of the asshole Lucas too
I was annoyed a lot with the pushing away, mainly from Reign and thinking Echo needed to be with the “right guy”. How is a guy who proposed to his 16 year old gf, when all they had ever done was kiss the “right guy”. I truly never understood either of their logic about LUcas being the right guy. Maybe Reign never would’ve actually let her go back to him, but still it was annoying and I didn’t understand it. Like we saw so many times how he was an asshole to her, was fucking many other girls, but somehow he was the right guy she needed to go back to?!?)?!? Perplexing to me. Like the H literally said he (Lucas) was like a walking STD so……. Why would he try to send Exho back to him.
Rant over sorry I was just annoyed with the whole Lucas situation bc we all know both of them never wanted her to go back to him and she never did so harping on it annoyed the fuck out of me and sometimes put a damper on the cute moments Exho and Reign would have.
After the H & h kiss, neither are ever with anyone else. h was a virgin (of course 🙄) but I wasn’t bothered by it because she was 15/16 with a 18/19 year old bf who I hated, and who had no business being with her and also bc I’m kind of a hypocrite. Apparently he used to be a man whore but we never see it. I wasn’t too bothered by him sleeping with other girls before he kissed Exho 1. Because he had to suffer through her being his “bff”s girlfriend and kissing him. And 2. Because we never see it it’s only mentioned that he had been with others. There is one comment made in his thoughts that was annoying, but it was only there imo to show he used to be a man whore but stopped once he kissed Echo. It was unnecessary but I know that’s this authors style.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2023
“Because I’m insane for you. I’m obsessed with you. You’re the life in my veins and you’re the thing I crave more than air. I’m sick for you, Echo.”
An ARC was provided by the author and her team in exchange for an honest review.
The Hatesick Diaries is the fifth book to the St. Mary's Rebels series and the first release I was excited about and looking for this year. The book follows the story of Echo Adler and Reign Davidson, a duo that was always meant to be, even though they intended not to.
From the very first moment they met, six years ago, Echo and Reign got obsessed with each other—not that they'll admit it. Over the years, things got complicated between them. He's the reason her perfect boyfriend—who happens to be his best friend—left her all alone and heartbroken two years ago, and the reason she was sent to a reformatory. And he hates her, she makes him sick. So why is it so hard to keep distance? Why can't she stop thinking about him?
Echo is the star of the book for me. She's the dearest character ever, and I think maybe my favorite one by SAK. She's the definition of a good girl—except for this one time she did something that sent her to St. Mary's School, she has always behaved well, always been good, respectful, always kept her grades excellent and made her parents proud. She's a pink-obsessed, kind, beautiful, gentle, sweet and funny sunshine girl. She, of course, also always acted upon her good girl complex of wanting to fix everything and everyone, and her the need of helping and saving helpless people. And she's a natural, talented writer, and the pages of her journal we get to read, plus all the beautiful words she always has ready to come out of her mouth just prove it fine.
And Reign, he's the troubled second son. He breaks rules, laws, promises and hearts. He's the unwanted son, the kid whose function was to give headaches and never to behave. He's also the kid who had been abused and called a disappointment since very young, and the worst part is that he believed it—he believed that he's the problem and doesn't deserve anything good. He's been through so much and it both pains me and makes me proud to see how he overcame it all and became stronger after everything.
Echo and Reign—the Bubblegum and the Bandit—are the missing piece to one another. They fit, match and complete each other in all imaginable ways. Since their first scene, you can feel their insane chemistry and it's impossible not to root for them. You can also feel all the angst, the passion, the conflict and the love they feel all throughout the book, and it's beautiful to follow them as they're unrevealing their feelings and allowing their love to happen. Their story is dramatic in a beautiful way. It's poetic. Probably one of my favorites by Saffron, and one of those I think she did one of her best works by far.
And I gotta say I loved the secondary characters in this book—all of them. I loved seeing Poe, Callie and—mainly—Jupiter's friendship with and support towards Echo. I loved seeing glimpses of Tempest and Ledger (whose book I'm most excited for to come out). And I loved seeing a little bit more of the Thorne twins and Jupiter, plus the crumbs of the couples from the previous books.
Saffron A. Kent outdid herself writing this book and did such amazing work with it. Don't forget to check it out, because as it's impossible not to fall for Echo and Reign, you will love it!
An ARC was provided by the author and her team in exchange for an honest review.
The Hatesick Diaries is the fifth book to the St. Mary's Rebels series and the first release I was excited about and looking for this year. The book follows the story of Echo Adler and Reign Davidson, a duo that was always meant to be, even though they intended not to.
From the very first moment they met, six years ago, Echo and Reign got obsessed with each other—not that they'll admit it. Over the years, things got complicated between them. He's the reason her perfect boyfriend—who happens to be his best friend—left her all alone and heartbroken two years ago, and the reason she was sent to a reformatory. And he hates her, she makes him sick. So why is it so hard to keep distance? Why can't she stop thinking about him?
Echo is the star of the book for me. She's the dearest character ever, and I think maybe my favorite one by SAK. She's the definition of a good girl—except for this one time she did something that sent her to St. Mary's School, she has always behaved well, always been good, respectful, always kept her grades excellent and made her parents proud. She's a pink-obsessed, kind, beautiful, gentle, sweet and funny sunshine girl. She, of course, also always acted upon her good girl complex of wanting to fix everything and everyone, and her the need of helping and saving helpless people. And she's a natural, talented writer, and the pages of her journal we get to read, plus all the beautiful words she always has ready to come out of her mouth just prove it fine.
And Reign, he's the troubled second son. He breaks rules, laws, promises and hearts. He's the unwanted son, the kid whose function was to give headaches and never to behave. He's also the kid who had been abused and called a disappointment since very young, and the worst part is that he believed it—he believed that he's the problem and doesn't deserve anything good. He's been through so much and it both pains me and makes me proud to see how he overcame it all and became stronger after everything.
Echo and Reign—the Bubblegum and the Bandit—are the missing piece to one another. They fit, match and complete each other in all imaginable ways. Since their first scene, you can feel their insane chemistry and it's impossible not to root for them. You can also feel all the angst, the passion, the conflict and the love they feel all throughout the book, and it's beautiful to follow them as they're unrevealing their feelings and allowing their love to happen. Their story is dramatic in a beautiful way. It's poetic. Probably one of my favorites by Saffron, and one of those I think she did one of her best works by far.
And I gotta say I loved the secondary characters in this book—all of them. I loved seeing Poe, Callie and—mainly—Jupiter's friendship with and support towards Echo. I loved seeing glimpses of Tempest and Ledger (whose book I'm most excited for to come out). And I loved seeing a little bit more of the Thorne twins and Jupiter, plus the crumbs of the couples from the previous books.
Saffron A. Kent outdid herself writing this book and did such amazing work with it. Don't forget to check it out, because as it's impossible not to fall for Echo and Reign, you will love it!
January 11, 2023
Gah. Loved. I wrote a review on my phone and accidentally flicked it away. 😡 …But this was full of all the best SAK stuff. 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹💜 - better review to come when I have a chance to redo.
January 28, 2024
Y'all I want Salem and Arrow back- because wtf was this.
This is going to be a long one so here we go 🤡:
Alright, so I'm gonna start off by saying how much I genuinely wanted to like this book. I'm so used to saying that I enjoy SAK's writing style/ like the chaotic, obsessive, and OTT nature to her writing- because if done right, it can be so good- but this one really tested me 🤡.
---
First of all, let's talk about the tropes:
I've never been a fan of the ex-boyfriend's best friend trope- so in that regard, I was quite skeptical about it. It's just something about the MCs still being in love with someone else/ actively trying to get back with someone- It's just a whole heap of miscommunication that's not for me. But I didn't let that deter me from reading this.
I think the thing that annoyed me the most about their situation was the fact that they (the MC's) met first- and were both really emotionally attracted to each other- where the only reason they didn't initially end up together was because of a misunderstanding- which resulted in the whole 'conflict' of the book.
It was all so juvenile.
I just didn't get it- especially since SAK didn't really stick with the trope?:
If you've read 'Hey Mister Marshall', then just know that the whole Lucas concept in this book was SO unbelievably similar to Jimmy in that one- which wasn't for me- bc reading these characters just overlook every big detail in their life, and fixating on the small things just made it feel really immature- and made it hard to relate to them.
And the thing is, in terms of the next couple of books coming out, the formula's going to be so similar? (more so than it already is): the whole idea of wanting someone who's in love with someone else (with the twins and their couples)-
It's getting so hard to know the difference between the characters atp, because they're practically all in the same situation.
---
Alright, next up- the characters:
I was not a fan of Echo. I genuinely, cannot wrap my head around how oblivious she was as a character? I think I just got tired of reading from her POV after a certain point in the book. Reading about her trying to figure things out, and stating THE MOST OBVIOUS observations, again and again, just took the life out of me 😭😭. I just couldn't relate to her, and her problems.
In terms of Reign, I didn't mind him. There were moments that I liked, but then moments that equally were so random about him (not the hair fetish 🤡). So much could've happened with his character, but so much just got glossed over:
I understood what SAK was going for, but I just couldn't get these characters.
Alright next- the writing:
I'm so upset because I normally love SAK's writing. I don't even know what to say about it, other than the fact that this really didn't have to be this long? The repetition was CRAZY (we're talking even more than 'Hey Mister Marshall').
Every single thought that a character had was repeated again, and again- bro I'm tired 😭😭. The amount of little, disjointed sentences were vile 💀.
And then you would come across lines like this:
I feel like I've aged since reading this one.
What I enjoyed:
Alright so 💀- eventhough there was a lot that I didn't like, there were still some sweet moments. I enjoyed the banter every now and then- and thought that some of the comfort moments were cute. I liked the parts most when the angst/ conflict wasn't that prominent because I just didn't understand the conflict. But yeah there were some sweet moments.
Overall this wasn't what I was expecting- this probably had to be my least favorite in the series. I didn't DNF it because I really wanted to finish this one, out of hope that I would like it.
Anyways, I want my babies Salem and Arrow back- we didn't even get any crumbs except a name drop once or twice 🤡🥸.
This is going to be a long one so here we go 🤡:
Alright, so I'm gonna start off by saying how much I genuinely wanted to like this book. I'm so used to saying that I enjoy SAK's writing style/ like the chaotic, obsessive, and OTT nature to her writing- because if done right, it can be so good- but this one really tested me 🤡.
---
First of all, let's talk about the tropes:
I've never been a fan of the ex-boyfriend's best friend trope- so in that regard, I was quite skeptical about it. It's just something about the MCs still being in love with someone else/ actively trying to get back with someone- It's just a whole heap of miscommunication that's not for me. But I didn't let that deter me from reading this.
I think the thing that annoyed me the most about their situation was the fact that they (the MC's) met first- and were both really emotionally attracted to each other- where the only reason they didn't initially end up together was because of a misunderstanding- which resulted in the whole 'conflict' of the book.
It was all so juvenile.
I just didn't get it- especially since SAK didn't really stick with the trope?:
If you've read 'Hey Mister Marshall', then just know that the whole Lucas concept in this book was SO unbelievably similar to Jimmy in that one- which wasn't for me- bc reading these characters just overlook every big detail in their life, and fixating on the small things just made it feel really immature- and made it hard to relate to them.
And the thing is, in terms of the next couple of books coming out, the formula's going to be so similar? (more so than it already is): the whole idea of wanting someone who's in love with someone else (with the twins and their couples)-
It's getting so hard to know the difference between the characters atp, because they're practically all in the same situation.
---
Alright, next up- the characters:
I was not a fan of Echo. I genuinely, cannot wrap my head around how oblivious she was as a character? I think I just got tired of reading from her POV after a certain point in the book. Reading about her trying to figure things out, and stating THE MOST OBVIOUS observations, again and again, just took the life out of me 😭😭. I just couldn't relate to her, and her problems.
In terms of Reign, I didn't mind him. There were moments that I liked, but then moments that equally were so random about him (not the hair fetish 🤡). So much could've happened with his character, but so much just got glossed over:
I understood what SAK was going for, but I just couldn't get these characters.
Alright next- the writing:
I'm so upset because I normally love SAK's writing. I don't even know what to say about it, other than the fact that this really didn't have to be this long? The repetition was CRAZY (we're talking even more than 'Hey Mister Marshall').
Every single thought that a character had was repeated again, and again- bro I'm tired 😭😭. The amount of little, disjointed sentences were vile 💀.
And then you would come across lines like this:
''I’m so pale and creamy. And he’s so summery and olive-toned.''
I feel like I've aged since reading this one.
What I enjoyed:
Alright so 💀- eventhough there was a lot that I didn't like, there were still some sweet moments. I enjoyed the banter every now and then- and thought that some of the comfort moments were cute. I liked the parts most when the angst/ conflict wasn't that prominent because I just didn't understand the conflict. But yeah there were some sweet moments.
Overall this wasn't what I was expecting- this probably had to be my least favorite in the series. I didn't DNF it because I really wanted to finish this one, out of hope that I would like it.
Anyways, I want my babies Salem and Arrow back- we didn't even get any crumbs except a name drop once or twice 🤡🥸.
Want to read
June 13, 2022childhood enemies trope after a million years + angst from ex's best friend this better be good lol
Want to read
January 11, 2023Congratulations!!!! You have been given the amazing opportunity to give me spoilers of this book!
January 21, 2023
4.5⭐️ i truly was not prepared to absorb over 800 pages of a singular romance book in 4 days, but here we are
and this mf was so good😭😭
and this mf was so good😭😭
January 11, 2023
3.66 stars 💫
It was good then it turned weird, real fast.
Kinky weird, bad kinky weird 🤡
Anyway a little SAK weirdness in a while can't hurt. 😁
It was good then it turned weird, real fast.
Kinky weird, bad kinky weird 🤡
Anyway a little SAK weirdness in a while can't hurt. 😁
May 17, 2023
goodreads deleted my review. i don't have the time or energy to say it another time.
the book was mid. i liked it better than the other books in the series but it was too long for a contemporary read. the H also talked about fucking the h's hair?
*Arc review*
the book was mid. i liked it better than the other books in the series but it was too long for a contemporary read. the H also talked about fucking the h's hair?
*Arc review*
January 12, 2023
This book is worse than the one before it, but I'm not surprised...💀
There is nothing good about this book, the writing, the characters, the plot (It does not exist). nothing. every thing is shit.
BANDIT????? BUBBLEGUM????? WATERMELON?????? MOONDUST??????? THE SEX SCENES????? 😟
There is nothing good about this book, the writing, the characters, the plot (It does not exist). nothing. every thing is shit.
BANDIT????? BUBBLEGUM????? WATERMELON?????? MOONDUST??????? THE SEX SCENES????? 😟
April 10, 2024
No one captures the desperation and excitement of young love, all those messy feelings and complicated emotions quite like Saffron A. Kent. The Hatesick is saturated with the angsty and heart wrenching devastation of first love longing that only she can write. This is a story brimming with the superfluous misfires and misunderstandings and the hyperbolic drama that comes from young love drama- ALL OF THAT JUICY JUICY ANGST that Saffron always delivers. All of the hallmarks of a Saffron experience are here- including a deliciously filthy talking hero. It’s a story every bit as addictive and mesmerizing as I’ve come to expect, only with a new and dramatic flair as our HERO pines as intensely while our heroine hates. And what a yummy spin on the trope she writes so well while still giving us all those tumultuous coming of age tensions. I could not stop reading!
After four books in the St. Mary’s world, and a spin-off centered around characters we’ve met, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in this book- or truthfully, how much story there was left to tell about the St. Mary’s world. Fortunately, Saffron brings some fresh tropes to the table (hello longing hero, hello breeding kink) and smartly situates much of our story before and after Echo’s tenure at the infamous school for troubled girls. We get some past, some present, and I loved how we have JUST the right dash of the characters we’ve already met- not in a way that feels overly focused or setting up the new series, but in a way that enriches THIS story.
What I always love so much about Saffron’s stories, outside of the FILTHY smutty dirty talk and steam, are the dynamic ways she explores emotional and romantic tension….and the ways in which those complicated feelings actually spur existential wonderings about oneself. The tension between Echo and Reign is more than complicated- it it toxic, riddled with lies and misunderstandings, seemingly irreparable. What started as a soul shaking meet cute between two preteens results in a tumultuous and chaotic emotional tug of war that lasts for years. One that on the surface SEEMS like hate, but really steams from inexperience, naivete, guilt, and insecurity. Two young souls insecure about themselves, projecting that onto assumptions about the other. Two young souls who have guilt or a misplaced sense of accountability that results in them making selfless decisions and sacrifices out of loyalty to people they love. A boy who is so broken that he tries to protect others from himself, and girl who wants nothing more than to save him but ultimately can only try to protect herself from his feigned vitriol. It’s chaos. Madness. Toxically enchanting. MESSY in every way.
But that’s Saffron’s bread and butter- swimming around in the messy, immersing us so deeply in the emotional substance of her characters that we’re practically suffocating from their loud emotion. Helping us see the characters so vividly that we’re baffled at how they fail to understand each other…until they do. The bad boy turns out to not be a bad boy at all- just sad boy whose self-hatred and consuming unrequited love have consumed him. And there is no good girl- just a well-intentioned, bleeding heart who cares so deeply for others, and what others think, that she loses sight of her own heart’s desire- recklessly harming others. It’s equal parts boy with a crush pushing a girl over in the sandbox pettiness paired with stakes and tension that feel at times as epic as Romeo and Juliet.
While I also find Saffron heroines quirky and endearing, I did appreciate how bold and reflective Echo becomes as this story goes on. Little progress would have been made if SHE didn’t start taking the reins, if she didn’t push the line. But Reign was the real star for me- he feels very Saffron yet not at all. More broken, overflowing with longing that has perverted into anger and detachment. His love was just so swoony- even though I know some will think he crosses lines. But his INTENSE love for her, the ways in which he protects her when it greatly harms himself (and hurts her) just had me full of ridiculous butterflies. AND THE KINKY MOUTH ON THIS MAN. I can’t even.
Now this book is really overflowing with Saffronisms- and if you’ve read her before, this is very much her style and you’ll know if her trademarks are for you. We’ve got a heroine who crazy over-thinkings everything, with an overactive internal monologue and endless second guessing. A hero whose dirty talk is so eccentrically specific and over the top that it redefines filthy. Prose that is intensely metaphysically immersive with a very specific character voice. TONS of drama. SO basically, if you like Saffron stories, you’ll like this one. I usually adore her books, and this one was among my favorites- a just right symphony of interesting characters and plot where her particular writing flair works for the story. But, yes, this story has some toxicity. Many of her books do- and have a forbidden quality, as does this one with the best friend’s ex…but there is also some real gaslighting hero by both the hero and the ex, and attempts sexual manipulation, though the heroine is all about it. So, be wary if those are relationship dynamics that are triggering to you or you can’t get over…even when they come from the hero.
This story is meaty- but I breathed it in all in one sitting. It’s classic Saffron, and the energy and tension in this one was so consuming. Definitely up there as a top Saffron read.
After four books in the St. Mary’s world, and a spin-off centered around characters we’ve met, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in this book- or truthfully, how much story there was left to tell about the St. Mary’s world. Fortunately, Saffron brings some fresh tropes to the table (hello longing hero, hello breeding kink) and smartly situates much of our story before and after Echo’s tenure at the infamous school for troubled girls. We get some past, some present, and I loved how we have JUST the right dash of the characters we’ve already met- not in a way that feels overly focused or setting up the new series, but in a way that enriches THIS story.
What I always love so much about Saffron’s stories, outside of the FILTHY smutty dirty talk and steam, are the dynamic ways she explores emotional and romantic tension….and the ways in which those complicated feelings actually spur existential wonderings about oneself. The tension between Echo and Reign is more than complicated- it it toxic, riddled with lies and misunderstandings, seemingly irreparable. What started as a soul shaking meet cute between two preteens results in a tumultuous and chaotic emotional tug of war that lasts for years. One that on the surface SEEMS like hate, but really steams from inexperience, naivete, guilt, and insecurity. Two young souls insecure about themselves, projecting that onto assumptions about the other. Two young souls who have guilt or a misplaced sense of accountability that results in them making selfless decisions and sacrifices out of loyalty to people they love. A boy who is so broken that he tries to protect others from himself, and girl who wants nothing more than to save him but ultimately can only try to protect herself from his feigned vitriol. It’s chaos. Madness. Toxically enchanting. MESSY in every way.
But that’s Saffron’s bread and butter- swimming around in the messy, immersing us so deeply in the emotional substance of her characters that we’re practically suffocating from their loud emotion. Helping us see the characters so vividly that we’re baffled at how they fail to understand each other…until they do. The bad boy turns out to not be a bad boy at all- just sad boy whose self-hatred and consuming unrequited love have consumed him. And there is no good girl- just a well-intentioned, bleeding heart who cares so deeply for others, and what others think, that she loses sight of her own heart’s desire- recklessly harming others. It’s equal parts boy with a crush pushing a girl over in the sandbox pettiness paired with stakes and tension that feel at times as epic as Romeo and Juliet.
While I also find Saffron heroines quirky and endearing, I did appreciate how bold and reflective Echo becomes as this story goes on. Little progress would have been made if SHE didn’t start taking the reins, if she didn’t push the line. But Reign was the real star for me- he feels very Saffron yet not at all. More broken, overflowing with longing that has perverted into anger and detachment. His love was just so swoony- even though I know some will think he crosses lines. But his INTENSE love for her, the ways in which he protects her when it greatly harms himself (and hurts her) just had me full of ridiculous butterflies. AND THE KINKY MOUTH ON THIS MAN. I can’t even.
Now this book is really overflowing with Saffronisms- and if you’ve read her before, this is very much her style and you’ll know if her trademarks are for you. We’ve got a heroine who crazy over-thinkings everything, with an overactive internal monologue and endless second guessing. A hero whose dirty talk is so eccentrically specific and over the top that it redefines filthy. Prose that is intensely metaphysically immersive with a very specific character voice. TONS of drama. SO basically, if you like Saffron stories, you’ll like this one. I usually adore her books, and this one was among my favorites- a just right symphony of interesting characters and plot where her particular writing flair works for the story. But, yes, this story has some toxicity. Many of her books do- and have a forbidden quality, as does this one with the best friend’s ex…but there is also some real gaslighting hero by both the hero and the ex, and attempts sexual manipulation, though the heroine is all about it. So, be wary if those are relationship dynamics that are triggering to you or you can’t get over…even when they come from the hero.
This story is meaty- but I breathed it in all in one sitting. It’s classic Saffron, and the energy and tension in this one was so consuming. Definitely up there as a top Saffron read.
February 5, 2023
No hay nada más que decir soy masoquista.
Esta serie es mi guilty pleasure
Es:
Trashy
Toxica
Con un montón de Red Flags
Y diálogos que dan HARTO CRINGE
Tiene el mismo estilo que los otros libros, las protagonistas son demasiado sumisas, ellos posesivos, pero me mantienen pegada leyendo y súmanle que son un montón de páginas.
Y creo que aquí termina la serie, pero habrá un spin off y si se preguntan que si lo voy a leer, OF COURSE.
Esta serie es mi guilty pleasure
Es:
Trashy
Toxica
Con un montón de Red Flags
Y diálogos que dan HARTO CRINGE
Tiene el mismo estilo que los otros libros, las protagonistas son demasiado sumisas, ellos posesivos, pero me mantienen pegada leyendo y súmanle que son un montón de páginas.
Y creo que aquí termina la serie, pero habrá un spin off y si se preguntan que si lo voy a leer, OF COURSE.
May 22, 2024
i read the first 500 pages all in one sitting. the first half of this (this book is 830 pages!) was 5 star tier. like i never had a book fill so many of my delulu fantasies. reign and echo had me giggling and kicking me feet 🤸💖 but the last half? it completely lost me. both of them turned into such idiots and for the life of me, i tried to make myself be okay with what was happening and understand their actions, because i love saffron's book so much (she's one of my fav authors), but i couldn’t do it. it had me rolling my eyes with the amount of unnecessary!!!! i almost dnfed a couple times. reigh had me absolutely dying of laughter and blushing with the amount of delulu he made me feel though. he was so ridiculous (in a good way) and HONEST. he said right to his long term childhood best friend straight up "yeah i kissed your girl because i've wanted her the whole time you've been with her, what about it???" the "i'm not good enough for you" is a great trope, i love when a character is tortured over how they aren't good enough for the other mc, but it was taken wayyyyyy too far and echo was so fucking annoying oh my god. her insisting on being with lucas and making everything better between them was bullshit. lucas was a fucking good for nothing asshole who deserved exactly how he was treated. this was also a little bit too cringe for me. we know saffron is known for her cringe, especially the dirty talk....normally i see it as good cringe (most times?) but i couldn’t handle it here. it had me physically grimacing.
anyway, i'm super disappointed because this is one of my fav series and i was looking forward to obsessing over a new SAK couple. even though this wasn't what i hoped it would be, it doesn't change the fact that it has all the tropes i love (boy & girl obsessed, j/p, forbidden romance, found family... etc) and of course, SAK did an amazing job with those like always. the epilogue was sooooo cute too 🥺
anyway, i'm super disappointed because this is one of my fav series and i was looking forward to obsessing over a new SAK couple. even though this wasn't what i hoped it would be, it doesn't change the fact that it has all the tropes i love (boy & girl obsessed, j/p, forbidden romance, found family... etc) and of course, SAK did an amazing job with those like always. the epilogue was sooooo cute too 🥺
January 12, 2023
There was nothing that I liked about the story or the writing. Reading the book was a very unpleasant experience.
Spoilers included below
1. Sadly, this book was in keeping with the author’s modus operandi for the books in this series in that the heroine was in a sexual deep freeze. In this series, the heroines are virgins when they meet the heroes and stay that way until they become a couple, no matter how many years they are separated.
2. In this book it is worse than the others in the series because both the hero, Reign and the OM boyfriend, Lucas were manhoes after meeting and wanting the heroine. Echo never sleeps with Lucas even after dating him for years. The heroine only kisses the OM because the heroines must save themselves for the heroes even though the heroes are never virgins.
This book, as well as the others in the series, might as well be set in the 1950s given the sexist double standard. The way that the author makes it seem more acceptable is by having the heroines too young when they meet the heroes. Here Echo is 12 years old when they meet, and Reign is around 15. By the time they are finally together, Echo is 18 years old.
By contrast, Reign and Lucas have been in threesomes with OW. Sure, in Reign’s case there were only references made to Reign’s manhoe behavior, like him telling Echo about the girls that he smex at St. Mary’s, but it happened, nevertheless and continued after Reign was pining for Echo. Lucas, the ex-boyfriend’s STD behavior was front and center, deflecting from the fact that Reign was a walking STD as well, it was just not shoved in the readers’ face like Lucas’ was. I thought that it was funny that Reign told Echo to stay away from Lucas, at least at first, because Lucas is now a walking STD. I found it funny because Reign is one himself.
3. Echo was branded a scarlet woman, for her supposedly promiscuous behavior. She kissed Reign one evening while still dating Lucas, after rejecting Lucas’ marriage proposal. Echo was called a hoe and sl-t and worse, by her classmates, for a less than a minute of cheating. (Reign also calls Echo those things as well, supposedly to push her way.)
It was only kissing, and Echo was 15 years old. Do you think that Reign was given these same labels? Of course not. Again, sexist double standard applies in this book and the series. Reign is a male and so he was congratulated, not ridiculed. It is what bad boy rebels do and Reign is the stereotypical bad boy. He sells and does drugs, takes cars for joy rides, is expelled from multiple schools, engages in 3 ways with girls, and in general makes life difficult for himself and others.
4. Echo was Reign and Lucas whipping boy. Both treated her horribly. Reign before and after the incident and Lucas after. Echo became a martyr, punished herself as well, for years, over that kiss. It is supposed to be acceptable that Reign and Lucas treated her like dog waste because they were punishing themselves as well. Reign by denying himself being with Echo and constantly pushing her away by his cruel words and deeds, Lucas for embracing his post Echo manhoe, drinking and drugging bad boy ways, copying Reign’s behavior. Three lives are supposedly over, starting as teenagers, again, because of a kiss.
5. Reign, Lucas, and Echo are all immature and I wanted to yell at them all to grow up. I guess that I am too old for the immature bad boy rebels and writing in diaries, which by the way, for me, the diary font was hard to read and that made me even more irritated every time I had to read one.
6. Reign, a/k/a the King of Mood Swings. Way too much blowing hot and cold from Reign. I want Echo but can't have her. Lucas should have her. Wait, I am jealous and mad if Lucas has her. Wait she should be with Lucas anyway and so I will help Echo be with him all while being jealous and mad about it and so I take it out on her. I push her way. I call her nasty names, all while lusting after her. Not that Echo was much better. I love Lucas and hate that I want Reign. I really love Lucas and really hate that I really really want Reign. I should be with Lucas, but I really want to be with Reign. I really want to be with Lucas, and I hate Reign. I want Reign and don’t want to be with Lucas, but Reign hates me and so I hate Reign.
7. Will they or won’t they do the deed. All talk and no action. By the time they did I didn’t give a fig. Near misses a lot of dirty talk just doesn’t do it for me and there was too much of these things in this book.
8. Let’s talk about the writing. The story dragged, a lot. I started to skip pages because I was bored. There was way too much inner monologue. Repeated phrases and thoughts. A lot of needless words and then came more thoughts and more repeated dialogue. If those things were reduced or eliminated this would have been a lot shorter and a better story.
Spoilers included below
1. Sadly, this book was in keeping with the author’s modus operandi for the books in this series in that the heroine was in a sexual deep freeze. In this series, the heroines are virgins when they meet the heroes and stay that way until they become a couple, no matter how many years they are separated.
2. In this book it is worse than the others in the series because both the hero, Reign and the OM boyfriend, Lucas were manhoes after meeting and wanting the heroine. Echo never sleeps with Lucas even after dating him for years. The heroine only kisses the OM because the heroines must save themselves for the heroes even though the heroes are never virgins.
This book, as well as the others in the series, might as well be set in the 1950s given the sexist double standard. The way that the author makes it seem more acceptable is by having the heroines too young when they meet the heroes. Here Echo is 12 years old when they meet, and Reign is around 15. By the time they are finally together, Echo is 18 years old.
By contrast, Reign and Lucas have been in threesomes with OW. Sure, in Reign’s case there were only references made to Reign’s manhoe behavior, like him telling Echo about the girls that he smex at St. Mary’s, but it happened, nevertheless and continued after Reign was pining for Echo. Lucas, the ex-boyfriend’s STD behavior was front and center, deflecting from the fact that Reign was a walking STD as well, it was just not shoved in the readers’ face like Lucas’ was. I thought that it was funny that Reign told Echo to stay away from Lucas, at least at first, because Lucas is now a walking STD. I found it funny because Reign is one himself.
3. Echo was branded a scarlet woman, for her supposedly promiscuous behavior. She kissed Reign one evening while still dating Lucas, after rejecting Lucas’ marriage proposal. Echo was called a hoe and sl-t and worse, by her classmates, for a less than a minute of cheating. (Reign also calls Echo those things as well, supposedly to push her way.)
It was only kissing, and Echo was 15 years old. Do you think that Reign was given these same labels? Of course not. Again, sexist double standard applies in this book and the series. Reign is a male and so he was congratulated, not ridiculed. It is what bad boy rebels do and Reign is the stereotypical bad boy. He sells and does drugs, takes cars for joy rides, is expelled from multiple schools, engages in 3 ways with girls, and in general makes life difficult for himself and others.
4. Echo was Reign and Lucas whipping boy. Both treated her horribly. Reign before and after the incident and Lucas after. Echo became a martyr, punished herself as well, for years, over that kiss. It is supposed to be acceptable that Reign and Lucas treated her like dog waste because they were punishing themselves as well. Reign by denying himself being with Echo and constantly pushing her away by his cruel words and deeds, Lucas for embracing his post Echo manhoe, drinking and drugging bad boy ways, copying Reign’s behavior. Three lives are supposedly over, starting as teenagers, again, because of a kiss.
5. Reign, Lucas, and Echo are all immature and I wanted to yell at them all to grow up. I guess that I am too old for the immature bad boy rebels and writing in diaries, which by the way, for me, the diary font was hard to read and that made me even more irritated every time I had to read one.
6. Reign, a/k/a the King of Mood Swings. Way too much blowing hot and cold from Reign. I want Echo but can't have her. Lucas should have her. Wait, I am jealous and mad if Lucas has her. Wait she should be with Lucas anyway and so I will help Echo be with him all while being jealous and mad about it and so I take it out on her. I push her way. I call her nasty names, all while lusting after her. Not that Echo was much better. I love Lucas and hate that I want Reign. I really love Lucas and really hate that I really really want Reign. I should be with Lucas, but I really want to be with Reign. I really want to be with Lucas, and I hate Reign. I want Reign and don’t want to be with Lucas, but Reign hates me and so I hate Reign.
7. Will they or won’t they do the deed. All talk and no action. By the time they did I didn’t give a fig. Near misses a lot of dirty talk just doesn’t do it for me and there was too much of these things in this book.
8. Let’s talk about the writing. The story dragged, a lot. I started to skip pages because I was bored. There was way too much inner monologue. Repeated phrases and thoughts. A lot of needless words and then came more thoughts and more repeated dialogue. If those things were reduced or eliminated this would have been a lot shorter and a better story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2023
Hatesick, heartsore, lovesick, lovestruck
The Bandit and the Bubblegum
4.5 stars
It was infatuation at first site for the town's bad boy, Reign Marcus Davidson, and his Bubblegum; Echo Ann Adler just turned 12 and so nicknamed for a penchant for favorite color pink. And well, it was either strawberry or bubblegum, but 15-year-old Reign didn't like strawberries, so Echo was, affectionately, Bubblegum. But an innocent, budding love soon turns to acrimony as a pretense of off-balance social status -- affluent son-servant girl -- when a best friend shows interest. Jealousy, betrayal. Who can you trust? A catalyst of a kiss, a livid misdeed leading at an all girls reform school set in motion this poetic, angst-filled love story.
It was a charming yet seductive childhood to new adult, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance and written in lyrical SAK style. It featured a broken, misunderstood "Bandit" and good but quirky girl in unrequited love-quasi love triangle. I loved the hero's characteristic metaphorical symbolism: Reign's brown, reflecting red eyes; his oh so protective, broad shoulders; watermelon, summer in June. He's also a star soccer player and completely taken by Echo. A dirty-talker meets pink, frilly, girly, flowing braids (Reign has a hair fetish), diary-writing, virtuousness with a touch of steel. Their path to love is paved in spice, lipsticks / lip glosses, and out-field twists.
A slow burn and in first person points of view, mostly Echo's, this story was also very much spicy after its initial burn and tension-burning attraction. (4/5) Salacious, filthy deliciousness. The Bandit put it down, in deed and in sexy, growly words. Holy hotness!
Good guys, bad guys, good girls, excellent character development was cemented with the main characters' poetic imagery, which wasn't repetitive. Side characters made welcomed appearances, and their connectedness increased the enjoyment factor. Girl power with Juniper and Poe, and Callie. Easily a stand-alone, I found this story's richness was enhanced by having read A Gorgeous Villain.
Heart-wrenching moments -- and I hurt for Reign -- this story elicited all the feels, an emotional response unraveling from surprising clues only realized later. A dénouement just shy of too long, this story still beautifully delivered: swoony, romantic (dirty) love.
The Bandit and the Bubblegum
4.5 stars
It was infatuation at first site for the town's bad boy, Reign Marcus Davidson, and his Bubblegum; Echo Ann Adler just turned 12 and so nicknamed for a penchant for favorite color pink. And well, it was either strawberry or bubblegum, but 15-year-old Reign didn't like strawberries, so Echo was, affectionately, Bubblegum. But an innocent, budding love soon turns to acrimony as a pretense of off-balance social status -- affluent son-servant girl -- when a best friend shows interest. Jealousy, betrayal. Who can you trust? A catalyst of a kiss, a livid misdeed leading at an all girls reform school set in motion this poetic, angst-filled love story.
It was a charming yet seductive childhood to new adult, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance and written in lyrical SAK style. It featured a broken, misunderstood "Bandit" and good but quirky girl in unrequited love-quasi love triangle. I loved the hero's characteristic metaphorical symbolism: Reign's brown, reflecting red eyes; his oh so protective, broad shoulders; watermelon, summer in June. He's also a star soccer player and completely taken by Echo. A dirty-talker meets pink, frilly, girly, flowing braids (Reign has a hair fetish), diary-writing, virtuousness with a touch of steel. Their path to love is paved in spice, lipsticks / lip glosses, and out-field twists.
A slow burn and in first person points of view, mostly Echo's, this story was also very much spicy after its initial burn and tension-burning attraction. (4/5) Salacious, filthy deliciousness. The Bandit put it down, in deed and in sexy, growly words. Holy hotness!
Good guys, bad guys, good girls, excellent character development was cemented with the main characters' poetic imagery, which wasn't repetitive. Side characters made welcomed appearances, and their connectedness increased the enjoyment factor. Girl power with Juniper and Poe, and Callie. Easily a stand-alone, I found this story's richness was enhanced by having read A Gorgeous Villain.
Heart-wrenching moments -- and I hurt for Reign -- this story elicited all the feels, an emotional response unraveling from surprising clues only realized later. A dénouement just shy of too long, this story still beautifully delivered: swoony, romantic (dirty) love.
January 10, 2023
The Hatesick Diaries introduced us to Reign and Echo. The agony, the grief, the heartsick moments leapt off the page, instilling me with emotions that were very real and inciting breath-taking moments.
Echo, being the fixer, is always trying to repair what is broken, being the good girl who does not cause upset, and she does a spectacular job of it most of the time. But sometimes you cannot fix broken people.
"To me, you’re worth loving. You’re worth believing in. You’re worth choosing and I choose you, Reign Davidson. I will always choose you. Even if you don’t want me to.”
Reign is a magnificent impression of the Alpha man, in control, unaffected, and life is perfect. Until he meets Echo, then this view changes, he become the protector and the fall guy.
The Hatesick Diaries was beautifully written, evocative, exciting at times, erratic at other times, but always gripping and a definite page-turner.
6 beautiful astonishing stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Echo, being the fixer, is always trying to repair what is broken, being the good girl who does not cause upset, and she does a spectacular job of it most of the time. But sometimes you cannot fix broken people.
"To me, you’re worth loving. You’re worth believing in. You’re worth choosing and I choose you, Reign Davidson. I will always choose you. Even if you don’t want me to.”
Reign is a magnificent impression of the Alpha man, in control, unaffected, and life is perfect. Until he meets Echo, then this view changes, he become the protector and the fall guy.
The Hatesick Diaries was beautifully written, evocative, exciting at times, erratic at other times, but always gripping and a definite page-turner.
6 beautiful astonishing stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 17, 2023
I liked a little of this book because the author was more conscious about how dramatic her females mcs are. That is a step in the right path, at the same time the characters didn't really have motives to do what they did.
Spoiler warning if you want to read this book or medicine man or the unrequited.
In the unrequited we understand why Layla thought she didn't deserve better, we can understand why she accepted so little for so much, he was her professor, he was married, she made mistakes and needed therapy. Same with Willow, she was having sex with her therapist, they had a conflict of interests, dating wasn't ideal, we could lose his job. So we can understand the complexity, we can understand why those characters just enjoyed what they had while they had it. In this book? The big motive was "I didn't understood I was in love with him". Oh well...
Spoiler warning if you want to read this book or medicine man or the unrequited.
In the unrequited we understand why Layla thought she didn't deserve better, we can understand why she accepted so little for so much, he was her professor, he was married, she made mistakes and needed therapy. Same with Willow, she was having sex with her therapist, they had a conflict of interests, dating wasn't ideal, we could lose his job. So we can understand the complexity, we can understand why those characters just enjoyed what they had while they had it. In this book? The big motive was "I didn't understood I was in love with him". Oh well...
October 7, 2023
5 stars ✰
This is the first book that I read in the year 2023 and what a treat it was reading it. The characters – Reign and Echo were so easy to fall in love and loved how well written they were. Everything was perfect – the story, the plot, the characters, the angst, the romance and the chemistry. The book held me captive right from the start, and I didn’t even realise how fast I ended up finishing it.
So, the story begins when in the past and it was obvious both had feelings for each other since the day they met but failed to realise it which led to a lot of misunderstandings, heartbreak and denial. But I really enjoyed their relationship dynamic, and it was fun to read how conveniently they were making themselves believe that the emotions or connection they have with each other is based on hate (especially echo). Anyways, the real story begins when they meet each other again after 2 years and what a ride it was from there.
My heart aches for Reign and he was undoubtedly my most favourite character in the book. My heart broke while reading his pov and how over the years he made himself believe that he doesn’t deserve anything good in his life including echo. His character was layered with complexities, and it was commendable how saffron dealt with him so beautifully. His love for echo and how he treated her (like the queen that she is) set the bar high for all the future mcs. I fell for him the moment he was introduced in the story.
Echo on the other hand was a character that wasn’t so hard to love. She was such an amazing character and I admired her for her selflessness, kindness, strength and loyalty. She was the only person who believed in him and the one who made him realise his worth. It was incredible how she realised her love for Reign and once she did, she gave her all to make him feel loved, cherished and important. Their love was so beautiful and there was this certain uniqueness to them that made them stand out not only as individual characters but as a couple. SAK did complete justice to their story, and we were given what was promised.
I met all my favourite characters again – BronwynConrad, CallieReed and PoeAlaric and SalemArrow and it was so heartwarming. We met some new characters as well and after eating up their crumbs now I know the wait for the books is going to be painful.
Now the part that I’ve been waiting for, LEDGER AND TEMPEST WARRIORS YOU BETTER GET READY ITS THEIR TIME TO SHINE. We were so well fed by SAK in this book, and I was grinning ear to ear whilst reading their scenes. Their crumbs were everything I wished for and so much more. Crying as I am writing this as we are finally getting them after waiting for 2 long long years. I am going to end my LedgerTempest rant here as I will probably end up writing more than I should, and the review won’t ever end.
Overall, it was a perfect book to start my new year with and now, I am requesting you guys do the same and give this book a chance. Read it and it’s an assurance that you guys won’t regret it.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book that I read in the year 2023 and what a treat it was reading it. The characters – Reign and Echo were so easy to fall in love and loved how well written they were. Everything was perfect – the story, the plot, the characters, the angst, the romance and the chemistry. The book held me captive right from the start, and I didn’t even realise how fast I ended up finishing it.
So, the story begins when in the past and it was obvious both had feelings for each other since the day they met but failed to realise it which led to a lot of misunderstandings, heartbreak and denial. But I really enjoyed their relationship dynamic, and it was fun to read how conveniently they were making themselves believe that the emotions or connection they have with each other is based on hate (especially echo). Anyways, the real story begins when they meet each other again after 2 years and what a ride it was from there.
My heart aches for Reign and he was undoubtedly my most favourite character in the book. My heart broke while reading his pov and how over the years he made himself believe that he doesn’t deserve anything good in his life including echo. His character was layered with complexities, and it was commendable how saffron dealt with him so beautifully. His love for echo and how he treated her (like the queen that she is) set the bar high for all the future mcs. I fell for him the moment he was introduced in the story.
Echo on the other hand was a character that wasn’t so hard to love. She was such an amazing character and I admired her for her selflessness, kindness, strength and loyalty. She was the only person who believed in him and the one who made him realise his worth. It was incredible how she realised her love for Reign and once she did, she gave her all to make him feel loved, cherished and important. Their love was so beautiful and there was this certain uniqueness to them that made them stand out not only as individual characters but as a couple. SAK did complete justice to their story, and we were given what was promised.
I met all my favourite characters again – BronwynConrad, CallieReed and PoeAlaric and SalemArrow and it was so heartwarming. We met some new characters as well and after eating up their crumbs now I know the wait for the books is going to be painful.
Now the part that I’ve been waiting for, LEDGER AND TEMPEST WARRIORS YOU BETTER GET READY ITS THEIR TIME TO SHINE. We were so well fed by SAK in this book, and I was grinning ear to ear whilst reading their scenes. Their crumbs were everything I wished for and so much more. Crying as I am writing this as we are finally getting them after waiting for 2 long long years. I am going to end my LedgerTempest rant here as I will probably end up writing more than I should, and the review won’t ever end.
Overall, it was a perfect book to start my new year with and now, I am requesting you guys do the same and give this book a chance. Read it and it’s an assurance that you guys won’t regret it.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Currently reading
January 13, 2023Safe read. Jamie has full spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 588 reviews