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k_a_r_e_n_b's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sharpsilver's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked elements of this book but it really started to drag for me. The miscommunication also was irritating.
j_readsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This was very dark and emotional. River and Ciarain’s story is absolutely heartbreaking. So many times I was holding my breath, with tears slipping free. River and Rain are beautiful, but this is so emotional and heartbreaking it was sometimes hard to read. I was happy, sad, angry, and so much more. This book is very trigger heavy, with a lot of dark and traumatic moments. Enemies to lovers, college, sports, mm romance with a lot of emotional pain.
River is out and proud, bisexual, the quarterback of his college football team, a popular guy who everyone loves. Rain is new to the team, but also an amazing player. But he has some dark secrets, a traumatic and emotional past. Something he fights to keep hidden from everyone. They immediately hit it off but when Rain learns something about River, it changes their relationship from budding friendship to enemies. But after time, being alone together, they both discover their feelings, that there’s just a fine line between hate and love. And after everything, Rain’s past comes back to haunt him.
This book has a lot of triggers, they aren’t included in the book, rather a general warning about triggers. While I don’t really have triggers and it doesn’t bother me, it should be known going in that there are some very dark and emotionally heavy topics, including SA, child abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
River is out and proud, bisexual, the quarterback of his college football team, a popular guy who everyone loves. Rain is new to the team, but also an amazing player. But he has some dark secrets, a traumatic and emotional past. Something he fights to keep hidden from everyone. They immediately hit it off but when Rain learns something about River, it changes their relationship from budding friendship to enemies. But after time, being alone together, they both discover their feelings, that there’s just a fine line between hate and love. And after everything, Rain’s past comes back to haunt him.
This book has a lot of triggers, they aren’t included in the book, rather a general warning about triggers. While I don’t really have triggers and it doesn’t bother me, it should be known going in that there are some very dark and emotionally heavy topics, including SA, child abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
sarahsbookden's review against another edition
5.0
My heart! What a raw and emotional story. I truly enjoyed the journey I took with this book and I cannot wait to continue on with the second book.
collened's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kayetaz's review
0 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Format: ebook
0 stars. Negative stars. Fuck this book.
I don’t think I’ve ever hated a book or characters as much as I hate this book and characters. I don’t feel like writing an actual review because this book doesn’t even deserve one, so instead I’ll just list everything I hate about it:
- Rain
- River
- Rain and River
- Rain raping River, on page
- River trying to justify the rape
- Them calling each other “sworn enemies” (legit rolling my eyes) when their dislike for each other was juvenile at best
- Rain’s homophobia
- Again, River trying to justify Rain’s homophobia
- Rain’s “therapist” who completely violated HIPAA and reported everything Rain said back to his mother
- Their college football coach punishing them by forcing them to stay alone at a cabin for 5 weeks, even though they were physically violent towards each other several times. Like, that could’ve been so dangerous. Especially because the violence stemmed from Rain’s homophobia. Also, college football isn’t serious enough to take such drastic measures. Just bench one of them and be done with it. Is what he did even legal?
- The annoying number of pop culture references
- An entire chapter dedicated to describing in vivid detail the molestation and rape of a minor
- Rain and River going from “hating” each other to in love a handful of days later
- Rain punching River’s dad. Like, what?
- The whiny, self-deprecating, woe is me rhetoric
- Rain just randomly running into both of his childhood best friends that he hasn’t seen in years
- Everything
Will not be reading the next book, and honestly might write off C.E. Ricci for good. I liked Iced Out but this book rubbed me the wrong way. Even if Rain didn’t rape River, this still would’ve been a 1 star story. It’s just not good.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5/5
Format: ebook
0 stars. Negative stars. Fuck this book.
I don’t think I’ve ever hated a book or characters as much as I hate this book and characters. I don’t feel like writing an actual review because this book doesn’t even deserve one, so instead I’ll just list everything I hate about it:
- Rain
- River
- Rain and River
- Rain raping River, on page
- River trying to justify the rape
- Them calling each other “sworn enemies” (legit rolling my eyes) when their dislike for each other was juvenile at best
- Rain’s homophobia
- Again, River trying to justify Rain’s homophobia
- Rain’s “therapist” who completely violated HIPAA and reported everything Rain said back to his mother
- Their college football coach punishing them by forcing them to stay alone at a cabin for 5 weeks, even though they were physically violent towards each other several times. Like, that could’ve been so dangerous. Especially because the violence stemmed from Rain’s homophobia. Also, college football isn’t serious enough to take such drastic measures. Just bench one of them and be done with it. Is what he did even legal?
- The annoying number of pop culture references
- An entire chapter dedicated to describing in vivid detail the molestation and rape of a minor
- Rain and River going from “hating” each other to in love a handful of days later
- Rain punching River’s dad. Like, what?
- The whiny, self-deprecating, woe is me rhetoric
- Rain just randomly running into both of his childhood best friends that he hasn’t seen in years
- Everything
Will not be reading the next book, and honestly might write off C.E. Ricci for good. I liked Iced Out but this book rubbed me the wrong way. Even if Rain didn’t rape River, this still would’ve been a 1 star story. It’s just not good.
jessbookrecs's review against another edition
4.0
AUTHORS NOTE
I know you’re probably feeling a lot right now.
Angry, hurt, betrayed. Empty, broken, confused.
Completely pissed off with that cliffhanger.
I wish I could tell you I’m sorry for that, but I’m not a liar. I’m glad you’re feeling these things because that means you were able to connect with River and Rain on an emotional level and that is exactly what I wanted for this novel.”
BITCH fuck the cliffhanger. It’s the FUCKING audacity of Rain that’s setting me on fire with fury. Honestly I know in romance books authors always make sure the characters say cliche shit like « I don’t deserve you » but you know who doesn’t deserve someone? MOTHERFUCKING Rain that’s who. Honestly FUCK HIM. I want to say he is the way he is because of his trauma but there’s only a handful of times that excuse can fly before someone is just borderline pathetic.
And River? Gosh. I’ve never known someone so stupid in my entire life. The thing they have although I’m not denying their love is balant ABUSE! Jesus this dude even forgave Rain over and over again and he didn’t even work for it.
Hell River he fucking raped you and you let him fuck you again without an apology. HE LEFT YOU ON THE FLOOR BLEEDING!!! What did you do? You bought the bitch condom and lube so he won’t slide in raw next time.
Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME????
My God I’ve never been so mad reading a book in my entire life.
I love them together though with all my heart. I don’t know what type of human that makes me but even I can’t ignore the fact that they’re SOULMATES.
I know you’re probably feeling a lot right now.
Angry, hurt, betrayed. Empty, broken, confused.
Completely pissed off with that cliffhanger.
I wish I could tell you I’m sorry for that, but I’m not a liar. I’m glad you’re feeling these things because that means you were able to connect with River and Rain on an emotional level and that is exactly what I wanted for this novel.”
BITCH fuck the cliffhanger. It’s the FUCKING audacity of Rain that’s setting me on fire with fury. Honestly I know in romance books authors always make sure the characters say cliche shit like « I don’t deserve you » but you know who doesn’t deserve someone? MOTHERFUCKING Rain that’s who. Honestly FUCK HIM. I want to say he is the way he is because of his trauma but there’s only a handful of times that excuse can fly before someone is just borderline pathetic.
And River? Gosh. I’ve never known someone so stupid in my entire life. The thing they have although I’m not denying their love is balant ABUSE! Jesus this dude even forgave Rain over and over again and he didn’t even work for it.
Hell River he fucking raped you and you let him fuck you again without an apology. HE LEFT YOU ON THE FLOOR BLEEDING!!! What did you do? You bought the bitch condom and lube so he won’t slide in raw next time.
Are you FUCKING KIDDING ME????
My God I’ve never been so mad reading a book in my entire life.
I love them together though with all my heart. I don’t know what type of human that makes me but even I can’t ignore the fact that they’re SOULMATES.
angelabookworm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ceciliasrose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Most of this is absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary but the rest of it is pretty solid