Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Hook Shot by Kennedy Ryan

14 reviews

nancyromancey's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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kerrythefire's review against another edition

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challenging emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Oof this story was so much. Glad Lotus and Kenan got their HEA. They deserved it.

Lotus was an unabashed, strong, powerhouse... despite her brutal history. (CW: on the page description of
rape and sexual assault of a minor
- all of Chapter 30 - but mentioned in other instances as well). I loved how she had this trauma that broke something in her, but didn't leave her broken. She was fierce in holding her own boundaries, making her own decisions, and standing by her convictions and beliefs. 

She deserved better from her mother... Gosh that was truly brutal and heartbreaking. Chapter 30 basically had me feeling sick and on the edge of tears. But the sacrifice Lotus was able to make, clear-eyed and confidently, for Simone because she knew the feeling, was really powerful. Speaking of Simone, ugh I was so frustrated at her till the very end. Believable behavior from a kid who's struggling with their parents' divorce for sure, but just enraging how myopic she was, especially forgiving or turning a blind eye to her mom's
infidelity
and then trying to blame her dad. When I tell you I did not have the patience!

Also, Kennedy Ryan was too generous to Bridget, ha. God I loathed her. She was so selfish and self-centered and manipulative. Kennedy Ryan injecting some nuance into her was more lifelike, sure, but man did I just want her to be pure villain throughout because jeeze she sucked. 😖

Kenan was also strong in his own right, but so tender and safe for/with Lotus. I think that's what I loved most about him is that at every turn, he just showed up right for Lotus and in every interaction with her. He was respectful. He was always safe. And that kind of trust is the sexiest thing about a romance. He didn't fuck up or have some major misstep... he was consistent and that was really nice in a MMC.

Did I care about the fashion or the basketball background plots, not really. But the voodoo bit was unexpected and kinda fun.

CWs:
rape
,
vicitm blaming or disbelieve of person who experienced sexual assault
,
colorism
,
car accident and medical trauma
,
attempted suicide
,
physical abuse
,
toxic relationship/messy divorce
...
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geevenchy's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I was not mentally prepared for this book but when I say it was exactly what I needed, I kid you not. 
The ways this book navigates around childhood trauma and neglect really spoke to my inner child. 
I related so much with Lotus and the things she endured. Kenan's patience with her and even the women from her support group made my heart grown. I cried, I laughed, and I learned so much.
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thekrujue's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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kitcat_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.25

My Rating:  4.25 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️

Tropes:
x Single dad
x Age Gap
x Summer Love
x Sports Romance
x Slight Insta-love
 
My Review:
Lotus and Kenan’s love story is so sweet and strong. Kennedy Ryan does a fantastic job unraveling the attraction and emotion between the characters. 

But, I am mad about the last few chapters/ending of the story. Like Long Shot, this book is not a romance. There is no HEA nor a HFN before the epilogue. The majority of the situations that stand between the MCs and an HEA or HFN remain unresolved by the end of the last chapter. The story and drama that unfolds between Lotus and Kenan is told so well and with a lot of care. But there is a MAJOR plot twist(?) in the last three chapters. Wtf? And it isn’t fully resolved before the epilogue. IMHO, the story and all major plot points should be resolved in their entirety before the epilogue. As a reader, I am not owed an epilogue and know it doesn’t come with every romance book. So in my opinion this is contemporary fiction with a love story. 

Also - that MAJOR plot twist is not necessary. The author could have had just as a meaningful exchange between Lotus and the people in Kenan’s life in a different setting with just as much emotion. Instead, the reader is forced to read through another tragedy in the last 30 pages of the book before the epilogue. 

This whole book, it’s like a love story between two people who have an insta-attraction/love but are mired but a ton of effed up situations that are happening to and around them. Like, please just get them to an HEA before the epilogue. I shouldn’t have to wait for the Epilogue for all major issues/challenges faced by the MCs to find a resolution. 
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aquickreads_17's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-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

4.5

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literallymeggs's review against another edition

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emotional funny mysterious 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

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discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

I just KNEW as soon as we met Kenan and Lotus in the first book, that I wanted to read their story as soon as I finished. And this book did not disappoint; I liked it even better than Long Shot.

As always, Ms. Ryan breaks our heart but she puts it back together. I cried so many times during this book, and the love story is so beautiful (the Song of Solomon quotes? Are you kidding me?? *sobs*)
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alliei's review against another edition

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3.5

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sarahsbookstacks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

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