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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Coming of Age
A young adult, coming of age story plus a religious polygamy cult called AUB. This isn't the type of story I usually read, but it's well done. The main characters Waverly & Jensen, age 18, meet because they live in the same household. They aren't siblings! Jensen was sent to live with his mom Kath, the third "wife" of Mark, Waverly's dad. A bit complex when trying to write about it, but easy to understand when reading.
The love story that enfolds isn't taboo, it's unique. The ending is a HEA, as I expected.
Cute story overall. If you enjoy this type of story, then this is a good book to read. It's NOT wholesome & clean.
A young adult, coming of age story plus a religious polygamy cult called AUB. This isn't the type of story I usually read, but it's well done. The main characters Waverly & Jensen, age 18, meet because they live in the same household. They aren't siblings! Jensen was sent to live with his mom Kath, the third "wife" of Mark, Waverly's dad. A bit complex when trying to write about it, but easy to understand when reading.
The love story that enfolds isn't taboo, it's unique. The ending is a HEA, as I expected.
Cute story overall. If you enjoy this type of story, then this is a good book to read. It's NOT wholesome & clean.
It started out very promising, but I definitely did not expect that ending. I overall enjoyed it, even though there wasn't really any closure about what happened with her family. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Wow. So, this book isn’t your typical stepbrother story. I’ll be honest and say that prior to reading this, I didn’t read the FULL synopsis. I knew that Jensen was beaten by his father and sent to live with his mother, but it wasn’t until I read the Letter from the Author at the beginning, that I realized this also had polygamous relationships. I’d never read anything like this before, and can’t say that the polygamous part appealed to me, but it definitely set this apart from all the other stepbrother books out there.
The book starts out with a bang. Right from the beginning, you’re thrown into Jensen’s crazy world. He’s a fanatical preacher’s kid who had a bad home life. After getting caught in bed with his stepmom, by his dad, and badly beaten for it, he’s sent to live with his mom. But things just go from weird to weirder for him. He’s totally not expecting the situation he walks into. And he’s not expecting Waverly either.
Waverly was someone that was the good girl, she towed the line, biding her time until she could get to college and start living. But Jensen came along and changed things. Waverly wanted to really experience life but due to the secret nature of her family, she wasn’t able to. And while Jensen did help her really start living, he also threw a monkey wrench into the plans because even without proof of their relationship, her dad seemed to sense their closeness and used it to manipulate Waverly.
I think the biggest surprise in this book was how Waverly and Jensen were able to sneak around for as long as they did. With such a strict family, I think I expected it to be harder. I kept expecting there to be a breakup of some kind, and while that did happen, it wasn’t through the actions or choice of Jensen or Waverly. It came due to her dad separating them and sending Waverly away to become a sister-wife herself. It was an interesting twist and there was an even bigger twist with how she was saved from that fate.
This book was definitely interesting. It had a more “taboo” feel to it, but ironically, it wasn’t really the step element that gave it that feel. Yes, that was an issue for the characters, but it wasn’t the only issue. My only real issue with the book was the awkward time jumps that occurred. One was while Jensen and Waverly were in school…one page they were still there and the next, they had graduated. The same happened with their “summer camp”…one page they were just starting and the next, it was over. I realize that to fully chronicle the end of the school year and the “summer camp” it might have caused the story to drag, but the time jumps could have transitioned a little better.
The book starts out with a bang. Right from the beginning, you’re thrown into Jensen’s crazy world. He’s a fanatical preacher’s kid who had a bad home life. After getting caught in bed with his stepmom, by his dad, and badly beaten for it, he’s sent to live with his mom. But things just go from weird to weirder for him. He’s totally not expecting the situation he walks into. And he’s not expecting Waverly either.
Waverly was someone that was the good girl, she towed the line, biding her time until she could get to college and start living. But Jensen came along and changed things. Waverly wanted to really experience life but due to the secret nature of her family, she wasn’t able to. And while Jensen did help her really start living, he also threw a monkey wrench into the plans because even without proof of their relationship, her dad seemed to sense their closeness and used it to manipulate Waverly.
I think the biggest surprise in this book was how Waverly and Jensen were able to sneak around for as long as they did. With such a strict family, I think I expected it to be harder. I kept expecting there to be a breakup of some kind, and while that did happen, it wasn’t through the actions or choice of Jensen or Waverly. It came due to her dad separating them and sending Waverly away to become a sister-wife herself. It was an interesting twist and there was an even bigger twist with how she was saved from that fate.
This book was definitely interesting. It had a more “taboo” feel to it, but ironically, it wasn’t really the step element that gave it that feel. Yes, that was an issue for the characters, but it wasn’t the only issue. My only real issue with the book was the awkward time jumps that occurred. One was while Jensen and Waverly were in school…one page they were still there and the next, they had graduated. The same happened with their “summer camp”…one page they were just starting and the next, it was over. I realize that to fully chronicle the end of the school year and the “summer camp” it might have caused the story to drag, but the time jumps could have transitioned a little better.
Waverly is a good girl who just wants freedom. She is walking the straight and narrow so her dad will let her go to college.
Jenson, who is not part of her AUB religion, tests her faith.
I come from a strict household but it wasn't AUB. So I can relate to this book
Freedom, that all Waverly wants, and she finds it with Jenson.
Jenson, who is not part of her AUB religion, tests her faith.
I come from a strict household but it wasn't AUB. So I can relate to this book
Freedom, that all Waverly wants, and she finds it with Jenson.
I'm so seriously thrown with the plot and theme of this book. I've never read something quite like it. It has been a pleasant surprise and I'm so glad I picked up this series. Great Read.
Basic Teen Drama.
It was…fine. It had moments of believability and glimpses of almost brilliance, but everything just sort of fell short. Maybe it’s cuz I was a cult kid. I don’t know, but it didn’t resonate with me.
The most interesting character wasn’t Waverly. It was definitely Bellamy. She intrigued me. Waverly just…was a conflicted wet napkin. Jensen’s backstory gave him some depth. Even Liberty had some spark.
Overall, it teased at deeper elements, something less superfluous, less shallow and fluffy, but never delivered. It’s a teen drama. Light on the angst. Light on the steam. Light on the plot. And an inaccurate “depiction” of religious poly relationships.
It was…fine. It had moments of believability and glimpses of almost brilliance, but everything just sort of fell short. Maybe it’s cuz I was a cult kid. I don’t know, but it didn’t resonate with me.
The most interesting character wasn’t Waverly. It was definitely Bellamy. She intrigued me. Waverly just…was a conflicted wet napkin. Jensen’s backstory gave him some depth. Even Liberty had some spark.
Overall, it teased at deeper elements, something less superfluous, less shallow and fluffy, but never delivered. It’s a teen drama. Light on the angst. Light on the steam. Light on the plot. And an inaccurate “depiction” of religious poly relationships.
This book gave me chills from beginning to end. Geez the plot was intense and the characters were...wow
tense
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Arrogant Bastard is a steamy, forbidden romance with complex family dynamics and a focus on overcoming personal struggles.
I listened to this book on Audible. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I was invested in the story from the very beginning. I liked the characters. I’m looking forward to continuing with this series.
I listened to this book on Audible. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I was invested in the story from the very beginning. I liked the characters. I’m looking forward to continuing with this series.
It was fine, I just didn’t love it. Nothing really to say about it.