No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheatiNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama • Does have the MCs pushing each other away • Does have a 1-year separation – Hero dated ~5 women but he became known as the guy who helped his girlfriends reconcile with their ex (the one who got away). I think the furthest he went with one of the women was making out. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • PTSD from a toxic work environment • Sexual assault (Heroine was drugged by her ex-boss and posed in sexually compromising positions while unconscious which her boss took photos of to blackmail her) • Drugging (discussed, not on page) • Blackmails • Physical assault • Medical trauma (Heroine's reaction to being drugged) (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama • Does have the MCs pushing each other away • Does have a 1-year separation – Hero dated ~5 women but he became known as the guy who helped his girlfriends reconcile with their ex (the one who got away). I think the furthest he went with one of the women was making out. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • PTSD from a toxic work environment • Sexual assault (Heroine was drugged by her ex-boss and posed in sexually compromising positions while unconscious which her boss took photos of to blackmail her) • Drugging (discussed, not on page) • Blackmails • Physical assault • Medical trauma (Heroine's reaction to being drugged) (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Polyamorous main character, Partially deaf main character, Main character with social anxiety
Overall: 4-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Representation: Polyamorous main character, Partially deaf main character, Main character with social anxiety
Overall: 4-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama (kinda) - Hunter, Enzo and Theo were in a poly relationship ~5 years ago; their partner died on mission. There's a lot of angst + drama around the fracturing of their friendship and being in another poly relationship again. Plus a lot of reminiscing about their past relationship. • No OM drama • Does have Theo and Hunter pushing the Heroine away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Physical abuse • Psychological abuse • Torture • Sexual assault, including the Heroine witnessing side character's being r@ped recounted • Imprisonment • Graphic violence (e.g., whipping, mutilation, dismemberment of dead body) • Serial murder • PTSD • Self-harm (i.e., trichotillomania, the compulsive need to pull out your hair) • Panic attacks • Suicide of a pregnant woman (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Polyamorous main character, deaf main character, Main character with social anxiety
Overall: 2.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with ExceptiRepresentation: Polyamorous main character, deaf main character, Main character with social anxiety
Overall: 2.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama - There are still a few scenes where Theo, Enzo and Hunter reminiscence about their dead lover, but they are not as bad as in Book 1 • No pushing the Heroine away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Physical abuse • Psychological abuse • Torture • Imprisonment • Graphic violence and gore • Serial murder • PTSD • Self-harm • Panic attacks • Suicidal ideation • Kidnapping • Gun violence • Medical trauma from gunshot and addiction (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Persian Iranian-Canadian protagonist with social anxiety and depression, Persian Iranian-Canadian supporting characters, Persian IraniRepresentation: Persian Iranian-Canadian protagonist with social anxiety and depression, Persian Iranian-Canadian supporting characters, Persian Iranian-Canadian side characters, Gay side character
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Protagonist has anxiety and experiences panic attacks on-page • Protagonist has depression • Alcoholism (alcohol used as a coping mechanism for the above) • Domestic violence (including controlling behaviour and emotional abuse on-page) between supporting character and their partner • Infidelity • Side character is dying from c@ncer • Supporting character struggles with not enabling their grown child's addiction • Death of protagonist's best friend recounting • Complicated grief disorder and PTSD (from above) • Bullying of protagonist in high school recounted - Bullying becomes so bad after her best friend's death that protagonist experiences persistent intrusive thoughts reinforcing the rumours that she was responsible for her friend's death (which wasn't true) • Classism • Parental neglect between supporting character and her mom (hide spoiler)]
Ending: (view spoiler)[HFN. Jolene and Cliff have been together for almost a year. Jolene is in therapy and learning to healthily process her grief and find coping mechanisms for her anxiety. Jolene also has a much healthier relationship with her parents. (hide spoiler)]...more
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW dNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - OW wants to be with the Hero, but he makes it obvious he's not interested. • No OM drama • Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Dual virgins • The Heroine's mom's boyfriend sexually harasses the Heroine • Complicated father-son dynamics between the Hero and his birth father (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Heroine is unable to speak, uses sign-language to communicate and is partially deaf in one ear, One of the Heroes is coded as autisticRepresentation: Heroine is unable to speak, uses sign-language to communicate and is partially deaf in one ear, One of the Heroes is coded as autistic, Blind Hero, wlw supporting character
Overall: 4-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OM/OW drama • Does have the Heroine pushing the men away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Suicide attempt • Thoughts of self-harm • Murder • Gore • Sword violence • War themes • Imprisonment • Death of a child from attack (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Bisexual supporting character, Black gay side character, Gay side character
Overall: 3.5-stars
Mature Themes: (view spoiler)[ • Sexual coRepresentation: Bisexual supporting character, Black gay side character, Gay side character
Overall: 3.5-stars
Mature Themes: (view spoiler)[ • Sexual content doesn't surpass kissing (see Possible Triggers tho - prologue opens with sexual assault) • Alcohol consumption (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Child abuse • Pedophilia (detailed prologue alluding to the molestation of the protagonist that persisted for months when she was a child) • Parental neglect • Emotional abuse • Grief • Death of a parent (the protagonist and love interest) • Death of a spouse (the protagonist's friend is widowed and grieving) • Estranged father-son relationship (hide spoiler)]
Ending: (view spoiler)[HFN. The protagonist reunited with her birth father and started a restaurant with him in Paris. Protagonist falls in love and seems to be going strong in her relationship. (hide spoiler)]...more
Representation: Indian side characters who are Muslim
Overall: 2.5-stars
Mature Themes: (view spoiler)[ • Alcohol use and abuse • Opium use and abuse • SeRepresentation: Indian side characters who are Muslim
Overall: 2.5-stars
Mature Themes: (view spoiler)[ • Alcohol use and abuse • Opium use and abuse • Sexual content doesn't surpass discussion in the context of the police investigation (e.g., sex workers offering their services, what certain clients ask to be performed) (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Murder • Mutilation of a corpse • Autopsy during the mid-19th century described • Discussion and recounting of gang r@pe of side characters • Murder of Hero's wife while pregnant described in detail • Alcoholism • Drug abuse • Grief • Death of Heroine's brother • Sexism • Prejudice against sex workers (challenged by protagonists) • PTSD from serving in the Crimean War as a nurse (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Sexism • Racism • Classism • Cults • R@pe • Confinement • Captivity • Murder • Gun violence • Threat of gun violence • Domestic abuse discussed • Murder of main character's sister discussed • Grief (see above and below) • Main character's father dies from c@ncer • Alcoholism of supporting character alluded to (hide spoiler)]
Ending: (view spoiler)[HFN. Case solved, bad guys put away. Main character gets closure regarding what happens to her sister and is finally able to move on from the past. She reconciles with her husband and plans to move to a new town for a fresh start. I cannot tell you how RELIEVED I was that the husband was exactly who he came across to be! (hide spoiler)]...more
Representation: POC main characters, POC supporting characters
Overall: 4.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama -Representation: POC main characters, POC supporting characters
Overall: 4.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Hero's ex-gf comes back to cause drama - she wants revenge on the Hero and attempts to use the Heroine to do it • Does have slight OM drama - Hero's best friend is very flirting and flirts with the Heroine. Hero gets jealous. • Does have Heroine pushing the Hero away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Infidelity (between Heroine's parents recounted) • Toxic relationship between Heroine and her brother - I'd honestly classify his behaviour towards her as abusive and controlling since it lead the Heroine to entertain suicidal thoughts - the latter half of the book sees them attempting to heal their relationship • Abusive relationship between Hero and his ex-girlfriend recounted - she emotionally abused him and his younger brother • Grief - Death of Heroine's parents recounted • Threat of distributing revenge porn • Attempted blackmail • Hero is a soft dom - includes degradation play (calling the Heroine a slut, whore etc.) (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 2.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 2.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama - Hero's wife dies giving birth to their second child in the prologue. They got married cuz they accidentally got pregnant with their first child. • No pushing away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Hero's wife dies in childbirth in the prologue • Heroine has a stalker • Abduction • Physical assault (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Black supporting character, Indian side characters, Chinese side character, supporting character who uses a wheelchair
Overall: 3.75-stRepresentation: Black supporting character, Indian side characters, Chinese side character, supporting character who uses a wheelchair
Overall: 3.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama • No pushing away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Murder of a child • Murder of Heroine's family recounted • Suicide of Heroine's mom recounted • PTSD • Grief • Gore • Blood drinking discussed • Complicated and toxic family relationship • Parental abandonment • Murder (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Black supporting character, Indian supporting characters, Chinese supporting character, Side character uses a wheelchair
Overall: 3.75-Representation: Black supporting character, Indian supporting characters, Chinese supporting character, Side character uses a wheelchair
Overall: 3.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Michaela's not going away rip, but since the Hero's not interested, I consider the romance safe. • No OM drama • No pushing away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Description of zombies and the terror those victims feel being aware of their undead status • Murder • Attempted murder • Abduction and mutilation of a child • Recounting of the loss of a child for a supporting character • Knife violence • Gore • Murder of Heroine's sisters recounted • Suicide of Heroine's mom recounted • PTSD • Grief (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 4-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheatingNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 4-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW drama - Seems like the Hero has been celibate since meeting the Heroine • Does have OM drama - Heroine is husband hunting for a "safe" husband, which disqualifies the Hero! • Does have the MCs pushing each other away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Recounting of child abuse, including captivity, physical assault, psychological and emotional abuse • Knife violence • Gun violence • Attempted murder • Murder (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 4-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions • No cheating • No OW drama - No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 4-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions • No cheating • No OW drama - Hero hasn't been with a woman since he met the Heroine 2+ years ago • Does have OM drama - the Hero rejected the Heroine at the start of their friendship to protect her, so the Heroine has moved on to find herself a husband. - The OM is an Earl and wants to marry the Heroine. They kiss and the Heroine enjoys it; she would've married the OM if the Hero hadn't made his feelings known. But, she recognized that while she liked and would've had a good marriage with the OM, her feelings never compared to what she felt with the Hero. • Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away • No separation
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Knife violence • Murder • PTSD and grief from the Hero's father being murdered in front of him as a boy • Classism • Sexism (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheatiNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Hero's wife was murdered, and the whole town thinks he was devastated. He was, but not for the reasons people think. Everyone thought they were end-all-be-all in love with each other still, but the Hero was seeking a divorce and had just separated from his wife when she was killed. • No OM drama • Does have the MCs pushing each other away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Pedophilia • Heroine recounts child abuse (see above) • Gun violence • Threat of gun violence • Grief • Abduction • Captivity • Sex trafficking • R@pe • Intimate partner violence • Depictions of untreated mental illness • Hero recollects when he found out about his wife's infidelity • Alcoholism (Hero's wife became dependent on alcohol) • Murder (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions / Not Safe (view spoiler)[ • No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions / Not Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have mild OW drama - OW, who was hitting on the Heroine's brother, decides she wants to go home with the Hero and hits on him. He shuts her down. - I don't consider this book safe because the Heroine has had a crush on the Hero for weeks (months?) and has seen the Hero go home with multiple women over that time. (It is the virgin x manhoe trope). • No OM drama • Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Domestic abuse (Heroine's is abused by her brother and neglected by her father) • Gun violence • Sex trafficking • Murder • Knife violence • Gore • Physical assault • Mention of intimate partner violence (between side characters) (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have mNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have mild OW drama - Strippers at the Hero's Club are rude to the Heroine and try to make her doubt the Hero, but the Hero very quickly shuts them down and threatens them. - BTW the Hero never slept with any of the women in his employ (sad that this needs to be mentioned at all) • No OM drama • No pushing away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Gun violence • Murder • Torture recounted (of side character) • PTSD • Sex trafficking • Emotional abuse • Domestic violence (Heroine abused by her brothers) • Sexual assault • Virgin Heroine (hide spoiler)]
Ending: (view spoiler)[HEA for the couple (married + about to be pregnant); cliffhanger for the plot (we found the sister!) (hide spoiler)]...more
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama - Hero is a virgin - he was waiting to find the Heroine • No pushing away • No separation (in this book; the MCs were obviously separated for ~2 years as the Heroine was sex trafficked and held captive by her abuser) (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Sex trafficking • R@pe • Torture • Starvation as a form of control and resulting in eating problems for the Heroine • PTSD • Knife violence • Gore • Gun violence • Murder • Attempted murder • Panic attack (on-page) • Self-harm (on-page, descriptive) • Discussion of suicidal ideation (hide spoiler)]