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: Gay supporting character, Lesbian side character, Gay side character, Achillean side relationship
Overall: 4.5-stars
Safety Rating: SafeRepresentation: Gay supporting character, Lesbian side character, Gay side character, Achillean side relationship
Overall: 4.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - The heroine has been unrequitedly (she believes) in love with her best friend, whom she met in one of her first foster care homes. But as they grew up, she saw him dating other girls. She reaches a breaking point just before this book, seeing him disappear with OW for what she assumes is an ONS, and determines she needs space. This need for space worsens once she learns he has a "girlfriend" (who also lives in the small town the Heroine just moved to). Note: this friend of her will definitely be in the harem eventually. -- "Girlfriend" is in quotes cuz we learn that he's never slept with the OW - just chaste kisses I think (but maybe not even that) - cuz this OW gives him access to info he needs to protect the Heroine - the Heroes (we get their POVs) are betrothed to the town's Queen Bee as a political match. Essentially, her father is very powerful yet she failed to materialize a mating mark which would signify what group of people she'd be the anchor for. As a result, her very powerful father assigned her to Heroes' group cuz they landed in hot water a few years ago and needed help out of it (this was the price). -- It is important to know that the Queen Bee is very much so not interested in the Heroes, and she, in fact, genuinely befriends the Heroine and encourages the Heroine to get closer to the Heroines. Also, the Heroes absolutely disdain the Queen Bee. • Does have the Heroine and Grayson pushing each other away. Reid and Ashton also push the Heroine away. • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Stalking • Murder • Sexual assault • Description of a dead body • Imprisonment • Physical violence • Allsuion to past abuse • Threat of knife violence • Medical trauma • Panic attacks (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 2.75-stars
It felt like the MCs were never in the right place to be in aNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 2.75-stars
It felt like the MCs were never in the right place to be in a relationship. They both had too much unresolved trauma to make me think that the depth of their relationship with each other was believable. E.g., the (extreme) ex-fiancée drama goes until 90% of the novel.
Safety Rating: Not Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Hero's ex-fiancé (who he's been in a relationship with on and off for six years) is still very much in his life. They still share a house in LA at 60% into the novel. - And, while she's positioned as the villain of the story, the Hero goes out of his way to prioritize her feelings to ensure she's ok. This includes leaving the Heroine on their first date to calm his ex down, taking her to the Oscars as his date (which occurs after meeting the Heroine) to help her career, and travelling to see her straighten out the third-act conflict (major spoiler): (view spoiler)[his ex insinuates on IG that she's pregnant with his kid, but she isn't (hide spoiler)] - Also, I'm pretty sure the Hero proposes to the Heroine with the same ring he gave to his ex (it's his grandmother's ring) Note: the Heroine is never jealous of the Hero's relationship with his ex. She never had one moment of insecurity that rang false to me since she had no reason to trust him initially. - Very minor but might annoy some readers: The Heroine works as a PA on movie sets and, therefore, sees the Hero doing sex scenes for the movies they're working on. Despite how much all actors laude how unsexy these scenes are, the Heroine actually gets aroused and isn't jealous. The Hero apologizes as he didn't realize what scene they'd be shooting til too late and would've warned her. He was thankful + relieved she wasn't jealous. • Does have OM drama - Heroine is in the midst of having a short-term fling when she meets the Hero. She sleeps with this fling once after meeting the Hero. But after feeling unfilled, she decides to break it off with him. - When the Hero leaves the Heroine on their first date to deal with his ex, she begins to have intrusive thoughts (e.g., she doesn't deserve to be happy) and decides to have a ONS with a creepy guy who's also staying at her motel. She doesn't go through with it but is caught by the Hero leaving the OM's room. This leads the MCs to separate for a few weeks and results in the Hero inviting his ex to be his Oscar date. • Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away • Does have two separations - the first lasts a few weeks and occurs after the Hero appears to go back to his ex and the Heroine appears to have a ONS (neither of which is true). SPOILER: After the Oscars, the Hero wakes up in the primary bedroom (which is now his ex's room) confused - he fell asleep on the couch. He's unsure if he slept with his ex that night but operates as if he did - he ensures he gets tested for STDs before sleeping with the Heroine. However, it's insinuated that his ex might have r@ped him that night, and the rest of the book is about him avoiding that possibility. - The second separation occurs when the Heroine admits that she wants a serious relationship with the Hero but also acknowledges neither of them is in the right place to be in a relationship. Heroine goes to therapy, and the Hero financially separates from his ex and moves out of their house. During this second separation, there are no other people. (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Hero is struggling to extricate himself from an abusive relationship - Emotional and physical abuse depicted on-page - His ex attempts to r@pe him the night of the Oscars when he was black-out drunk. This was an effort to get pregnant so his ex could exploit him further. - Obviously, the third-act conflict was the ex insinuating the Hero got her pregnant. While this wasn't the case, the Heroine wasn't mad at the Hero or jealous. The Hero's angst was more about how he'd be stuck with his ex for 18 years and feared that she got pregnant by assaulting him. • Death of Heroine's boyfriend in prologue from a drunk driver • Complicated grief • Panic attacks • PTSD - Hero has trouble separating accidents (the Heroine accidentally bit his lip too hard during sex) with his abuse from his ex (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 2.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 2.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama • No pushing away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Prologue is the Heroine's friend dying from an eating disorder when they're ~12/13 • Heroine admits to also having an eating disorder in the prologue] (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Gay supporting character, Gay side character, Achillean side relationship
Overall: 2.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No chRepresentation: Gay supporting character, Gay side character, Achillean side relationship
Overall: 2.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama • Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Hero's mom has Alzheimer's and breaks her hip, resulting in a hospital stay • 10 year age gap (not dwelled upon though) (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 4-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW drama • DNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 4-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW drama • Does have mild OM drama - Hero keeps being hot and cold re: his interest in the Heroine, so she decides to flirt with an OM at an event which makes the Hero super jealous. Nothing happens with the OM, though. • Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Stalking and obsessive behaviour (threatening notes sent) • Heroine's room is ransacked • Sexual harassment • Attempted kidnapping • 9 year age gap (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 **Important note: all the below occurs after they said ilys - When the MCs are on a romantic getaway with the Hero's cousins (it is a couples trip), the Heroine catches the Hero flirting with an OW. This includes letting the OW touch his arm/chest (couldn't remember which), which leads to him checking out the OW's chest. - Honestly, this seemed hugely out of character cuz he was the main pursuer once he got over his assumptions at the start of the book. - Worse though, when the Heroine confronts him afterward about how disrespected and hurt she feels, he essentially gaslights her, saying that he was just being "polite." The OW and her friend are fans of the Hero and his cousin-in-law (professional football coach and quarterback). I hated that he maintained his stance even after the heroine pointed out that she would never disrespect him in such a way. And, then, he uses sex to "prove" how attractive he finds the Heroine (ahem, to distract her). Which, again, seems contradictory! Why would she let him touch her when she still feels hurt about the situation? - Also, I hated how the Heroine didn't point out that you can be polite while maintaining boundaries and without actively checking someone out. - It takes a few chapters for the Hero to realize he was wrong. But, he eventually does have a moment where he realizes that he's also at fault if his gf doesn't feel secure in their relationship. • Minimal OM drama - Heroine's father wants her to date/marry OM in their social circle. Heroine is disgusted by her father's choice. The Hero rescues the Heroine from having to interact with the OM at a gala. • Does have the MCs pushing each other away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Death of Heroine's ex from a drug overdose (he was the father of her kid) • Parental neglect and abandonment • Car accident (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM draNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama - Both agree to go on a blind date despite both agreeing that they'll be exclusively hooking up with each other. Of course, the blind date they were setup on (hence the title) was with each other. But this doesn't happen til almost 50% in, and it's a nonstarter. So, I really didn't understand the point of this blind date. • Does have the Hero pushing the Heroine away • No separation - However, it's been around 1-year since they first had a ONS. There's no suggestion that they've been with OP since then. (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 • No OW drama • Does have OM drama - OM who is friends with the Heroine is also interested in her romantically. She's not interested cuz his interests are too aligned with her parents (whom she's estranged from). But, her failure to recognize the OM's interest causes drama with the Hero (he sees her having dinner with her parents and the OM which is obvi not a great feeling). • Does have the Heroine pushing the Hero away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Arson • Stalking • Attempted murder • Heroine catches her best friend and boyfriend cheating on her in the prologue • Domestic violence • Child abuse • Death of parent recounted (for side character) (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions: (view spoiler)[ • No cheatinNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions: (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OM drama - Heroine's ex-husband wants her back • Does have OW drama - Hero's ex-wife wants him back and causes even more drama - including using access to their daughter to undermine the MCs' relationship • No pushing away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Alcoholism • Infidelity (between support characters, discussed) • Heroine's mom is sleeping with her ex-husband • Toxic relationship between Hero and his ex-wife (hide spoiler)]
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama • No pushing away • No separation Representation: Polyamorous Heroine
Overall: 3.25-sars
Safety Rating: Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • No OW/OM drama • No pushing away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Kidnapping • Confinement • Allusion to r@pe of a side character • Murder • Attempted murder • War themes • Gore (hide spoiler)]
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 1-star
Lmao, this fool of a Hero blames his ex for "acting crazy" when hNo strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 1-star
Lmao, this fool of a Hero blames his ex for "acting crazy" when he literally told her ily "to see how it felt" and to confirm he didn't love her.
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Hero's ex-gf causes so. much. drama. • Does have OM drama - Heroine's ex-bf proposed to her, which causes some angst when the Hero discovers the ring that she hadn't yet returned. • No pushing away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Kidnapping • Medical trauma • Accidental pregnancy • Stalking • Virgin Heroine • Heroine's birth mom was forced to give her up for adoption (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Polyamorous Heroine, Asian-American side characters
Overall: 2-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • DRepresentation: Polyamorous Heroine, Asian-American side characters
Overall: 2-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Mean girls still mean girl-ing - Declan's past fling makes an appearance • No OM drama • No pushing away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Kidnapping • Human experimentation witnessed by Heroine • Death resulting from experimentation • Murder • Attempted murder • Gore • Violence (hide spoiler)]
Representation: Polyamorous Heroine, Asian-American side character
Overall: 3-stars
Safety Rating: Not Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW dRepresentation: Polyamorous Heroine, Asian-American side character
Overall: 3-stars
Safety Rating: Not Safe (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Trace is an incubus and, therefore, feeds off sex. The Heroine catches him fingering one of the Heroine's BULLIES. His dumb rationale is that he only has sex with ppl he hates cuz he hates himself, but there are so many other ppl he could hook up with who aren't actively bullying HIS FATED MATE. (hide spoiler)]...more
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Riven's faRepresentation: Polyamorous Heroine
Overall: 3.75-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Riven's fake gf still causing problems cuz Riven considers her his bff and feels bad that he's putting their friendship 2nd. But as I said in the spoiler of my Book 1 review, it's hard to be friends with someone (man or woman) who is actively undermining your romantic relationship. Alas, Riven doesn't call his fake gf/bff out ... instead, the Heroine takes charge, sets boundaries and is committed to Riven reconciling with his bff (even tho the Heroine doesn't like nor trust her). Smh. • No OM drama • Does have some of the guys pushing the Heroine away cuz they feel guilty their siblings/parents are trying to kill her. But it doesn't last long and doesn't compare to Riven's bs from the previous books. • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Violence • Medical trauma • Sexual harassment • Kidnapping • Emotional abuse • Torture • Death of a parent (hide spoiler)]
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Riven is stRepresentation: Polyamorous Heroine
Overall: 3.5-stars
Safety Rating: Safe with Exceptions (view spoiler)[ • No cheating • Does have OW drama - Riven is still with his gf, but in the latter half of this book, we find out that the relationship is fake. Riven is in a fake relationship, humour his father, and also protect the Heroine from his father's attention. But, as I mentioned in a spoiler in my Book 1 review, the fake gf/Riven's bff is actually romantically interested in Riven and is therefore trying to sabotage his relationship with the Heroine. Alsooo, Riven continues to act like he's still dating the fake gf for the rest of the book despite the Heroine asking him to stop cuz it hurts her. • Does have Riven pushing the Heroine away • No separation (hide spoiler)]
Possible Triggers: Yes (view spoiler)[ • Violence • Bullying • PTSD from fire injury when the Heroine was a child • Murder of Heroine's parents recounted • Kidnapping • Panic attacks • Attempted murder • Child abuse recounted (hide spoiler)]
Sarah Anne
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