Daniela

Nachdem mich Ice Ice Daisy von der ersten Seite an komplett in seinen Bann gezogen hatte, habe ich mich riesig auf den zweiten Band gefreut. Leider musste ich aber ziemlich schnell feststellen, dass mich diese Geschichte deutlich weniger abholen konnte.

Dabei war der Einstieg eigentlich unglaublich vielversprechend. Der kleine Ausblick am Anfang des Buches hat sofort zwischen den beiden geknistert und ich fand ihr erstes Aufeinandertreffen total süß. Vor allem die Frage „Glaubst du an Liebe auf den ersten Blick?“ fand ich da noch cute und aufregend.

Dass daraus allerdings eine Liebe geworden sein soll, die sechs Jahre später immer noch genauso intensiv ist, obwohl die beiden sich in der Zwischenzeit nie wiedergesehen und praktisch nichts voneinander wussten, war für mich persönlich einfach etwas zu viel. Natürlich kann einem ein Mensch lange nicht aus dem Kopf gehen. Aber dieses Gefühl von tiefer Liebe, ohne den anderen wirklich zu kennen oder Kontakt zu haben, konnte ich leider nicht nachvollziehen. Dadurch haben sich für mich auch einige romantische Szenen eher unnatürlich oder sogar etwas cringe angefühlt.

Während des Lesens habe ich mich deshalb immer wieder dabei ertappt, dass ich mich viel mehr auf die Szenen mit Maddy und Deacon oder die Momente mit der gesamten Hockeyfamilie gefreut habe als auf die eigentliche Liebesgeschichte. Manche Passagen der beiden Hauptfiguren habe ich sogar eher überflogen, weil sie mich emotional einfach nicht erreicht haben.

Und genau das fand ich eigentlich schade. Ich wollte die beiden als Paar so gerne lieben. Vielleicht bin ich dafür aber einfach nicht romantisch genug – oder zumindest keine hoffnungslose Romantikerin.

Dabei mochte ich die Charaktere an sich wirklich gerne. Matthew ist und bleibt für mich eine absolute Green Flag und ich habe es geliebt, zu sehen, wie sich Maddy und Deacon weiterentwickeln und was sich bei den Aston Beavers alles verändert. Auch Darleen, Layla und Tessa haben mir richtig gut gefallen und die Freundschaften waren wieder einmal ein echtes Highlight der Geschichte.

Ein weiterer Punkt war für mich die Handlung rund um Rory. Relativ früh hatte ich das Gefühl, dass die Geschichte in diese Richtung gehen würde, weshalb mich die Auflösung nicht wirklich überraschen konnte. Und die Szene mit der Waffe war mir persönlich dann doch etwas zu viel Drama.

Mit Jacob hatte ich ebenfalls so meine Schwierigkeiten. Für mich war er stellenweise eher eine Red Flag als ein missverstandener Charakter. Natürlich darf er mit seinen Gefühlen kämpfen, aber die Mutter seiner Tochter deshalb so zu behandeln, fand ich einfach nicht in Ordnung. Umso weniger konnte ich nachvollziehen, wie schnell am Ende plötzlich alles wieder gut war. Gerade die Szene mit der Umarmung auf dem Eis hat sich für mich eher seltsam als emotional angefühlt.

Trotzdem bereue ich nicht, das Buch gelesen zu haben. Die Welt rund um die Aston Beavers macht mir nach wie vor unglaublich viel Spaß und ich freue mich sehr auf den dritten Band. Vielleicht konnte mich die Liebesgeschichte dieses Mal einfach nicht ganz überzeugen – aber die Reihe insgesamt hat mich definitiv noch nicht verloren.

Was soll ich sagen? Nach Bookmates hatte es mir Anny Thorn einfach angetan. Ich wollte unbedingt wissen, wer diese Aston Beavers sind – und oh my... ich bin jetzt offiziell Number-One-Fan. 😉

Im Mittelpunkt stehen Madison O'Connor, ehemalige Olympiasiegerin im Eiskunstlauf und mittlerweile Trainerin an ihrer ehemaligen Schule, sowie Deacon – bester Freund ihres Bruders Matthew, Defender der Aston Beavers und der grummeligste Mann überhaupt. Durch Matthew (Maddys Bruder und Deacons Teammate / bester Freund) wissen sie seit Ewigkeiten von der Existenz des anderen, wirklich gekannt haben sie sich allerdings nie.

Als sich Eishockey- und Eiskunstlaufteam plötzlich dieselbe Eishalle teilen müssen, fliegen schnell die Fetzen. Um dem Publikum und den Fans zu beweisen, dass zwischen den beiden kein böses Blut herrscht, kommen die Coaches und das Management auf eine völlig absurde Idee: Madison und Deacon sollen ein verliebtes Paar spielen... inklusive Verlobung.

Fake Dating? Fake Engagement? Sign me up.

Und genau hier musste ich feststellen, dass ich einem Trope wohl völlig zu Unrecht die Schuld gegeben habe.

Dieses Jahr habe ich fast alle Bücher aus der Off Campus-, Briar U- und Campus Diaries-Reihe von Elle Kennedy gelesen. Dabei war ich irgendwann überzeugt, dass Fake Dating mich in Zukunft nur noch nerven wird. Aber Anny Thorn hat mich eines Besseren belehrt: Ich liebe Fake Dating. Ich liebe es sogar sehr. Es darf nur nicht innerhalb desselben Universums zum zehnten Mal hintereinander verwendet werden.

Madison und Deacon haben einfach funktioniert. Das Knistern zwischen ihnen war von Anfang an da, die Schlagabtausche haben unglaublich viel Spaß gemacht und ich habe jede einzelne Szene der beiden verschlungen. Tagsüber, wenn ich gerade nicht lesen konnte, habe ich ständig an das Buch gedacht und mich richtig darauf gefreut, endlich weiterlesen zu können. Für mich ist das immer das größte Zeichen dafür, dass mich eine Geschichte komplett gepackt hat.

Besonders schön fand ich außerdem, dass beide ihre ganz eigenen Päckchen aus der Vergangenheit mit sich herumtragen. Ihre Entwicklung fühlte sich dadurch unglaublich authentisch an und ich habe mit beiden mitgelitten. Dieses gemeinsame Heilen, das gegenseitige Auffangen und die emotionale Entwicklung ihrer Beziehung haben mich wirklich berührt.
Außerdem fand ich es super erfrischend, dass die beiden die meiste Zeit super super offen miteinander waren und sich innerlich immer wieder ermahnt haben, sodass Dinge nur funktionieren können, wenn man spricht und sagt was man fühlt.

Bis dann em Ende doch ein Break-up kam und die beiden sich verschlossen haben um sich zu schützen.
Es war so so wichtig für sowohl Maddys als auch Deacons Entwicklung, dass Maddy diesen Schlussstrich zieht und ich bin ehrlich: dieser third-act breakup war zu verkraften. Ich finde auch dass es sein musste.
Ich habe überlegt ob ich vielleicht einen Stern bei der Bewertung abziehe, weil ich Deacons Ausraster schon sehr schlimm fand und es mich etwas gestört hat, dass drei Therapiesitzungen das in den Griff kriegen sollen und Maddy ihm verziehen hat. Aber: es sollte ja nur zeigen; dass er verstanden hat an sich zu arbeiten um der Mann zu werden, den sie schon in ihm kennengelernt hat.

Aber nicht nur die Liebesgeschichte konnte mich überzeugen. Die Freundschaften in diesem Buch waren mindestens genauso besonders. Madison schließt ihre erste richtige Freundschaft überhaupt, die Bromance der Hockeyspieler war einfach zum Verlieben und ich wollte am liebsten selbst Teil dieser ganzen Gruppe sein.

Ein weiteres Highlight war für mich die Gestaltung des Buches. Ich besitze zwar die Printausgabe, habe aber auf dem Kindle gelesen. Trotzdem wurden die liebevoll gestalteten Posts, Chats und Details fantastisch umgesetzt und haben das Leseerlebnis noch einmal aufgewertet.

Größter Kritik-Punkt: Mir sind einige Grammatik- und Rechtschreibfehler aufgefallen. Das lässt sich ja eigentlich easy vermeiden und stört mich leider immer wieder sehr :( Trotzdem möchte ich das nicht in die Bewertung der Story einfließen lassen :)

Nach Bookmates war ich neugierig auf die Aston Beavers. Nach Ice Ice Daisy möchte ich am liebsten jedes einzelne Buch dieser Reihe sofort lesen.

Bookmates war tatsächlich mein erstes Buch von Anny Thorn – obwohl bereits drei ihrer Bücher in meinem Regal stehen. Als dieses Buch letzte Woche bei mir eingezogen ist und frisch erschienen war, musste ich natürlich sofort danach greifen, bevor ich überhaupt mit der Ice-Ice-Reihe angefangen habe.

Und ich kann direkt sagen: Dieses Buch hat mir unglaublich viel Spaß gemacht.

Paige war für mich definitiv eines der Highlights des Buches. Sie ist chaotisch, impulsiv und ständig mitten in irgendeinem Gedankenkarussell gefangen. Ehrlich gesagt konnte ich mich in ihren Gedankengängen und ihrem inneren Chaos erstaunlich oft wiederfinden. Ich glaube, dass sie für manche Leserinnen vielleicht etwas zu viel oder sogar anstrengend wirken könnte, aber für mich war sie einfach unglaublich sympathisch.

Auf der anderen Seite haben wir Mason Reed, den CEO und Sohn der Gründerfamilie des Medienunternehmens. Ich habe die Dynamik zwischen den beiden wirklich geliebt. Beide sind offensichtlich aneinander interessiert, aber Paige versucht sich immer wieder einzureden, dass eine Beziehung zu ihrem CEO keine gute Idee ist. Und Mason? Der macht es nicht unbedingt einfacher. Statt offen auszusprechen, was er will, flirtet er, provoziert sie und bringt sie regelmäßig aus dem Konzept. Dieses ständige Knistern zwischen ihnen hat mich durch das ganze Buch getragen und ich habe jede ihrer gemeinsamen Szenen verschlungen.

Was mir außerdem sehr gefallen hat, waren die vielen lustigen, chaotischen und teilweise komplett verrückten Momente. Es gab mehrfach Szenen, bei denen ich einfach nur dasaß und dachte: „Oh mein Gott, ist das gerade wirklich passiert?“ Genau diese Mischung aus Humor, Romantik und Fremdscham-Momenten hat das Buch für mich so unterhaltsam gemacht.

Ein paar Kritikpunkte habe ich aber trotzdem. Vor allem im letzten Teil des Buches wurde sehr viel Dramatik auf einmal untergebracht. Ich verstehe absolut, warum bestimmte Entwicklungen eingebaut wurden, aber für meinen Geschmack trafen dort mehrere dramatische Handlungsstränge gleichzeitig aufeinander. Das wirkte stellenweise etwas überladen.

Außerdem gab es unglaublich viele Referenzen auf andere Bücher, bekannte Charaktere, Zitate und Geschichten. Grundsätzlich liebe ich solche Easter Eggs und Verbindungen innerhalb der Bücherwelten. Hier habe ich mich zwischendurch gefragt, ob es vielleicht ein kleines bisschen zu viel war. Ob es mich wirklich gestört hat? Ehrlich gesagt nicht. Aber aufgefallen ist es mir definitiv.

Besonders lustig fand ich allerdings, dass Anny Thorn immer wieder auf ihre eigenen Bücher verweist. Und ganz ehrlich? Das ist geniales Marketing. Denn nachdem ich Bookmates beendet hatte, habe ich direkt zu Ice Ice Daisy gegriffen, weil ich einige der Figuren, die hier bereits auftauchen, unbedingt besser kennenlernen wollte.

Mission erfüllt, würde ich sagen.

Insgesamt hatte ich mit Bookmates eine richtig gute Zeit. Sympathische Charaktere, eine tolle Dynamik, viele lustige Momente und eine Geschichte, die mich von Anfang bis Ende hervorragend unterhalten hat – auch wenn die letzten Prozent für meinen Geschmack etwas zu viel Drama auf einmal bereithielten.

The Dixon Rule put me in a very strange position because if I had picked this up as a standalone book, I probably would have loved it without hesitation.

But as my ELEVENTH book in the Off Campus/Briar U/Campus Diaries universe?

I have some complaints.

The biggest one?

FAKE DATING.

Again.

Listen, I love fake dating. I really do.

But at this point Elle Kennedy has officially used this trope on me so many times that I physically sighed when I realized where this was going.

And unfortunately, that wasn't the only storyline that started feeling familiar.

We once again had a hero(ine) struggling with their relationship with a parent, only for things to eventually work themselves out.

At some point I started feeling like the series was recycling ideas that had worked before.

The thing is...

I still really enjoyed this book.

Diana and Shane had fantastic chemistry.

I loved how much Diana got under his skin. I loved that she challenged him constantly, kicked him out of the group chat, refused to let him get away with anything, and generally made his life more difficult.

Their dynamic was easily the strongest part of the book.

I also loved the combination of hockey, cheerleading, competition, friendship, and all the little moments that slowly pushed them together. Watching them fight their feelings was honestly more entertaining than watching them admit them.

And unlike some previous books, the slow progression of their relationship felt natural.

What truly surprised me, however, was Shane's storyline.

For most of the book, I was completely convinced I knew where things were heading. I thought I had figured everything out.

I was wrong.

Very wrong.

The reveal absolutely destroyed me.

I genuinely haven't cried that hard in a while. Looking back, there were clues, but I was so focused on a completely different explanation that I never saw it coming.

That twist ended up being one of the most emotional moments I've read in this entire universe.

So while The Dixon Rule didn't excite me the way The Graham Effect did, and while I desperately need Elle Kennedy to retire fake dating for at least a few books, I still had a really good time.

Because even when the tropes start feeling familiar, she somehow always manages to make me care about the people.

And honestly?

That emotional punch at the end might have earned this book its fourth star all by itself.

After finishing Briar U, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Campus Diaries.

Turns out, The Graham Effect delivered exactly what I had been missing.

This book somehow managed to keep everything I love about Elle Kennedy's writing while fixing many of the things that frustrated me in Briar U.

And honestly?

Luke Ryder and Gigi Graham definitely are in my top three favourite Elle Kennedy couples ever.

What made this relationship work so well for me was that both characters are hockey players. For once, neither of them had to explain the sacrifices, the pressure, the insane schedules, or the constant balancing act between school, hockey, and having some kind of personal life.

They simply understood each other.

No unnecessary explanations. No one asking the other to choose between their dreams and their relationship.

Just two ambitious people trying to make it work.

Gigi was such a strong heroine. I loved that she wasn't simply “Garrett Graham's daughter.” Her entire story revolves around proving that she has her own talent, her own goals, and her own future outside of her father's shadow.

And Luke Ryder?

I fear this man has permanently altered my brain chemistry.

Grumpy. Quiet. Loyal. Protective. Completely obsessed with only one girl. My weakness.

What I appreciated most was how refreshing the communication felt. Every time I expected a misunderstanding to spiral into fifty pages of drama, somebody actually opened their mouth and talked.

Revolutionary.

The book definitely has drama, but unlike some of Elle Kennedy's previous books, it felt believable. The conflicts came from who the characters were and what they had experienced rather than existing purely to create tension.

Luke's backstory was genuinely heartbreaking, and several plot twists completely caught me off guard. Even though we all know where a romance novel is going, their journey never felt predictable.

And then there were the cameos.

Grumpy Daddy Garrett. Supportive Mama Hannah. Uncle Logan. All the other aunts and uncles and new family members?

Every single appearance made me ridiculously happy.

The nostalgia factor alone could have carried half this book, but thankfully the story was strong enough to stand on its own.

The Graham Effect felt like the perfect bridge between the old generation and the new one.

A fresh start for Campus Diaries while still feeling like coming home.

And if Elle Kennedy's goal was to make me immediately invest in every future book in this series?

Mission accomplished.

📖 Story: 2/5
🫶 Characters: 5/5
👫 Couple Dynamic: 3/5
✍️ Writing: 5/5
🌶️ Spice: 2/5

The Dare might have given me one of the sweetest Briar U couples, but unfortunately it also reminded me of one of my biggest frustrations with this series: the characters are often stronger than the plot they're trapped in.

The biggest strength of this book was definitely the characters. I genuinely liked both Taylor and Conor.

Taylor never annoyed me the way she seemed to annoy a lot of other readers. Her insecurities felt understandable, and while she definitely made some frustrating decisions, I could usually see where they were coming from.

And Conor? Probably one of the greenest flags in the entire Briar U universe.

From the beginning, he knew what he wanted. He was patient, supportive, gave Taylor space when she needed it, and never pressured her into becoming someone she wasn't. Honestly, he deserved an award for the amount of patience he showed throughout this book.

Unfortunately, the story itself didn't do them any favors.

At this point, I was begging Briar U to find a conflict that wasn't fake dating, communication issues, or unnecessary breakups.

Because somehow we got all three.

Again.

Including not one but TWO breakups.

One breakup? Fine. I didn't love it, but I understood it. The second breakup? Absolutely not. That one felt completely unnecessary and had me sitting there like: “We are really doing this again?” They already had a much deeper connection and a simple talk would have solved the issue.

A lot of the drama felt manufactured rather than organic, and there were sections where I found myself skimming because I was frustrated and just read parts where they were talking.

The Max situation was another example. It was built up as this huge looming conflict for most of the book, only to be resolved surprisingly quickly once everyone finally talked to each other. (Oh yeah, the stepfather did carwX he's not an ignorant man with cash!)

That said, I still enjoyed spending time with these characters. I loved seeing Brenna again, I loved the friendships, and the twist involving Brenna's dad and Taylor's mom :)

Elle Kennedy's writing remains the reason I keep turning pages even when the plot starts testing my patience. Her books are incredibly easy to read, the dialogue flows naturally, and she always manages to make me care about her characters.

So while The Dare didn't work for me as a story, it absolutely worked for me as a character book.

The characters deserved better than the plot they were given.

And honestly? That's probably the most accurate summary of my entire reading experience.

NOW THIS is what I was talking about 😭🫶🏻

After enjoying Off Campus and feeling a little mixed about the first two Briar U books, The Play finally gave me everything I was missing before. I genuinely can't fully explain it, but this book felt less overdramatic, less frustrating and just... more natural? The drama was still there, but it actually felt believable this time instead of existing just for shock value.

And Hunter Davenport? Especially Hunter „I'll give you your fucking rebound“ Davenport? Oh my oh my.

This man absolutely stole my heart.

I already liked him in the previous books and after The Chase I was FULLY Team Hunter (sorry Fitzy 👀). I loved how the first two books slowly built toward his story, almost like everything in the Briar U universe was leading up to this moment. And honestly? It was worth the wait.

Hunter is funny, charming, loyal, ridiculously attractive and somehow still emotionally mature underneath all the player energy. He was such a good captain and teammate throughout the entire series, and even with Demi all he wanted was to be there for her — even when she didn't realize it at first.

And Demi? Or how I like to call her: Demi „I would love to perform oral sex on him, but he's celibate“ Davis? SUCH a refreshing FMC.

Confident, smart, funny and finally a female character who actually takes initiative 😭 I loved that she openly went after what she wanted instead of waiting around for the MMC to figure things out. And after what happened with Nico? My heart genuinely broke for her... thankfully Mr. Davenport himself was ready to step in 🫠😂

One thing I absolutely loved about this book was how fun it felt. The friendships, the parties, the ridiculous side moments... I lived, laughed and loved my way through this book.

Pablo Eggscobar?
The guy who couldn't choose between the gym and his girlfriend? They both in jail?
I'm sorry but this book was hilarious 😭

My favourite moment was probably Hunter and Demi setting up her Tinder account together because WHY was that so dummy and beautiful in a weird way? 😅

And one thing I appreciated SO much:
Demi not immediately saying “I love you” back.

That felt incredibly real to me. Sometimes people need time and I loved that the book allowed her to process her feelings instead of forcing a perfect romance-movie moment.

Now... Demi's father?

Absolutely not.

That whole “you're my baby girl, I just wanted to protect you” speech did NOT work for me. Sir, respectfully, your Christmas stunt caused literally the worst possible damage 😭 Red flag behaviour all around.

And TJ... let's be honest, we all knew that man was going to create problems eventually 😂

Overall, this book finally gave me the emotional balance I had been missing in Briar U:
funny, emotional, romantic and dramatic without making me want to throw the book across the room every five chapters.

Story: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Spice: 2/5
Emotions: 🍆❌👫🏻🫠😵‍💫💁🏻‍♀️❤️

After reading The Chase and already getting little glimpses of Brenna and Jake, I was SO ready for this book. And honestly? The characters themselves did not disappoint me at all. Brenna and Jake had chemistry, emotional depth and so much potential. But unfortunately, the overall story frustrated me more than I expected.

Jake Connelly is intense, competitive and definitely one of those men who acts like he has everything under control... until feelings get involved. And Brenna? I genuinely loved her. She's ambitious, passionate about hockey and constantly trying to prove herself in a field where men underestimate her at every turn.

What worked for me:

* the emotional moments between Brenna and her father
* the chemistry between Brenna and Jake
* Elle Kennedy's writing style (as always super addictive and easy to binge)
* the more vulnerable sides of both characters

But I also feel like the Briar U books are way more dramatic than the Off Campus series. Everything feels bigger, louder and unnecessarily complicated sometimes.

We already had fake dating in The Deal.
We already had the whole “dislike to friends with benefits to lovers” dynamic before.
And the third act breakup? I'm sorry... I just hate that trope 😭

Some plotlines also felt overly dramatic and a little unrealistic. The sexist internship storyline annoyed me SO much because I simply could not understand why anyone would continue tolerating that situation for so long. Same with Fitz's before work situation in The Chase — it just felt unnecessarily frustrating.

And can we talk about the Rupi/Hollis subplot for a second? Because honestly... that felt less like an actual meaningful side story and more like comic relief for everybody else to laugh about 😅

Still, despite all my complaints, I did enjoy Brenna and Jake together. Their relationship had emotional depth, tension and some genuinely sweet moments. I just wanted less drama and more trust, communication and emotional payoff.

Jake Connelly... I loved you, but I also expected more from you 😂

Story: ⭐️⭐️.5
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing Style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Emotions: 🥳😒🤦🏻‍♀️🫶🏻

The Chase was my next stop after finally diving deeper into the Briar U universe — and honestly? After enjoying all four Off Campus books and then binge-watching the show, I was so excited to continue in Elle Kennedy's world.

Summer and Fitz felt incredibly promising from the start.

We already knew them from previous books, and I was really curious to see what was underneath her “material girl” image. And Fitz? Come on. The quiet, tattooed, broody hockey guy who barely talks and clearly has secrets? AND he is a gamer? That should have been an easy win for me.

And at first, it kind of was.

The setup had everything I usually love: grumpy x sunshine, slow burn, college hockey romance, found family vibes... basically a combination that should have worked perfectly for me.

But unfortunately, this one lost me pretty quickly.

To keep it short: too much drama, too little communication, and a few too many clichés.

I love a good slow burn, but Fitz frustrated me SO much. He's clearly into Summer, she openly admits she likes him, and somehow this man still manages to mess things up. Repeatedly 😩

And then there's the situation with Hunter.

I'm sorry, but Colin really effed that up. Even if they aren't that close (which we only find out much later), the whole situation felt disrespectful to me. Just communicate. Open your mouth. Be honest with people 😭 he even gave him an opportunity to do so. Summer honestly did nothing wrong in my opinion, but Colin? Sir... no.

And the whole storyline around his dream job? Way too much unnecessary drama for me. I genuinely sat there thinking: absolutely not. Not for one second would I consider that. Who would be working for this person? No money would ever be worth that.

Summer, though? I actually really liked her. I loved her instant friendship with Brenna, and she brought back memories of the other books and especially people, something I always love :) we discover so much more about her, she's not just this surface level girl, but she loves what she does and knows so much about it. It was refreshing having a female main character that was struggling with ADHS and some other difficulties in school - this is usually saved for the MMC. However, first Colin talks bad about her in front of Garrett (and I don't care that he's trying to argue that he's searching for logical reasons he shouldn't like her) and then he acts like an asshole again, always being surprised when he finds out something more about her, he didn't know before. Thats she's into arts, and stuff alike. Yeah Colin, get to know people before you judge them.

That said, Elle Kennedy's writing remains the reason I'll keep coming back. Her books are ridiculously easy to fly through, the characters always feel natural, and I get invested so quickly.

Sadly, The Chase just didn't hit the same way for me.

Story ⭐⭐
Characters ⭐⭐⭐
Writing Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Emotions: 🥳😒😩😘

Not a bad book — just not the Briar couple I was hoping would steal my heart.

In Her Own League was one of my most anticipated reads this year — and honestly? It did not disappoint.

The Windy City Series is one of my all-time favorites, and this book immediately pulled me back in. Seeing Miller and Kai again so early on gave me actual chills. You can just feel that you're right back in this world, and the dynamic between Kennedy & Isaiah — but especially Kai, Miller, and Max — made my heart so happy. Maybe I'm a little biased because of that, but I loved every second of it.

That being said... I did miss the other couples. Not even a mention felt a bit strange, especially considering Kai and Miller's wedding. I really expected at least small cameos, so that was a tiny disappointment — but it didn't take away from the story itself.

Now, let's talk about Reese and Emmett.

Reese Remington is such a refreshing FMC. A 35-year-old, plus-size businesswoman who takes over the Windy City Warriors and has to clean up the financial mess left behind — all while constantly being underestimated. She's strong, driven, and determined to prove herself in a world that doesn't make it easy for her.

And then there's Emmett Montgomery... mid-40s, single dad, coach — and not exactly thrilled about Reese stepping in and making changes. Their dynamic? Tense, layered, and full of friction from the very beginning.

But once he realizes who she really is — that she doesn't see the team as numbers, but as family — everything shifts.

The tension between them is insane.
This is a true slow burn. Like... painfully delicious slow burn. The kind that makes you want to scream and kick your feet at the same time.

There are so many obstacles in their way, so many moments where you just feel everything — and when it finally hits? Worth. every. second.

Liz Tomforde did it again.
For me, this is an absolute must-read.

The Lies We Live was kind of my first billionaire romance, and I honestly wasn't sure what to expect going into it.

After reading The Code We Break, I was so excited to learn more about Kai. He already stood out to me as such an interesting character — closed off, mysterious, but also incredibly soft and caring when it came to Vivian. I was really curious to see what was behind that facade.

And I was not disappointed.

Once again, Nicky completely pulled me in.
Life unfortunately got in the way this time, so it took me a bit longer to finish — but definitely not because it was boring. Quite the opposite. I was just exhausted, running through daily life, constantly thinking about the story and needing to know what would happen next.

Kaiden and Emma had me hooked from the very beginning. Their first meeting was so sweet, and I loved how they completely turned each other's worlds upside down. Neither of them expected to find what they found in each other — and even less did they believe they deserved it.

On one side, we have Kaiden, with a completely broken, chaotic family that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.
And on the other side, Emma — with no family and so deeply hurt by her past relationship that all you want for her is a fresh start.

Of course, both of them believe they don't deserve love or affection. And honestly... who could blame them?

Then they find each other — and what follows is one of the most painfully delicious slow burns I've ever read. There were so many moments where I just wanted to scream: JUST KISS HER ALREADY!!
But the way he respects her, gives her control, and lets her set the pace? Melted me completely.

All those small, thoughtful gestures throughout the book... and then that one mistake where you just want to grab him and ask: what were you thinking?! 😭

This book is pure emotion.
It's intense, gripping, and a complete rollercoaster — and I loved every second of it.

What touched me deeply once again was the dynamic between Kai and his boys. Logan especially steps more into focus, which I found really interesting since we didn't know much about him before.
And his friendship with Emma? It reminded me so much of Kai and Vivian in book one — I loved that so much.

We also get more insight into Ethan, which of course makes me even more curious about his story. And then there's someone completely new — a protective presence around Emma that instantly caught my attention. Tank made me very curious, and I can't help but wonder if we'll see more of him in the future.

I was really happy to see Maddox appear regularly, but I have to admit I missed Viv a little throughout the book. I just know she and Emma would get along so well — probably gossiping about their mysterious, dangerous boyfriends 😂😭

I'm so excited to read more, to dive deeper into these characters, their stories, their secrets, and all the lies they carry.

For me, this was yet another masterpiece. 🥰🫶🏻

I loved this book. Like... really, really loved it.
I'm usually not a big fan of second-chance romance, but honestly, this didn't really feel like one to me. They were never in an actual relationship before, so it worked perfectly fine for me.

Yes — my boy Logan messed up. Big time.
And it was absolutely right that he had to prove to Grace that he was serious about her. Like... seriously? How do you mess up like that when you know the girl is a virgin and ready to give that to you? He should've talked to Hannah earlier to get this out of his system. Because of course Hannah had a perfectly reasonable explanation for everything — she's a woman after all 😌
If Logan had just talked to her sooner, he could've avoided all of this.

That said: I still love Logan.
I liked him even more than Garrett. With his abbreviations, his goofy humor, and all those funny little lines, I was smiling so much throughout the book that my cheeks actually started to hurt. I'm a sucker for the funny, chaotic, golden-retriever kind of guy, and John Logan was just perfection.

But he also had so much depth. I felt for him so deeply, especially when it came to his father. Those moments really hit.

Grace, our FMC, was just incredibly cute.
I loved her rambling, her clumsiness, and the fact that she apparently has no filters whatsoever 😅 But what I loved most was her character development — learning to put herself first. She has such a big, kind heart.
Ramona absolutely did not deserve her. I found her toxic from the very beginning, but Grace handled that situation well.

I also loved the Pitch Perfect vibes this book gave me — especially with the radio station job. It fit perfectly with Logan's apology and his big “grand act of love” at the end. And honestly? I loved everything about the list Grace gave him beforehand to prove himself. He really stepped up and came up with a fantastic apology — even if it was a little predictable and very much on the cliché side 😅
Because yes... he did mess up again. Spectacularly.

The ending overall was a bit predictable. From the start, it was obvious that Logan wouldn't have to give up hockey — but honestly? We all love a good happy ending.

And of course, once again, the family vibes between the boys were everything. I loved seeing the group dynamic grow and I'm so excited to continue watching this found family expand.

So, taking into account that some things were easy to predict and not wildly original — 4 stars.
I was thoroughly entertained and really loved both of them.

On to book three! 🏒💙

4.5⭐️

People always say: “If you've read one hockey romance, you've read them all.”
And honestly? I couldn't disagree more.

For some reason, love stories just hit differently when one of the characters is a professional or college athlete. I don't know why — but they do. The emotional stakes feel higher, the teamwork aspect adds depth, and the healing journeys feel even more powerful.

And The Deal by Elle Kennedy is the perfect example of why this trope works so well.

We start with a cute friendship, lots of banter, great romance in combination with trauma and healing together. And that's exactly my weakness. Garrett and Hannah aren't defined solely by their pasts, and they don't drown in self-pity. They deal with their struggles in a surprisingly healthy and mature way, which made their growth feel real and satisfying.

And then there are the (micro) tropes — and oh, how they worked for me:
• One bed
• A bit of fake dating
• Kissing and “sex lessons” (even if for other reasons 😅)
• Tutor x student
• Athletic x artsy
• Golden retriever MMC disguised as a playboy
• Sassy musician FMC trying to feel alive again after an assault

All of these could feel cliché — but here, they blend beautifully.

The entire book gave me strong High School Musical x The DUFF vibes, and as someone who loves both, I was completely sold. I'm already ridiculously excited for the Amazon adaptation of the series. The casting teasers so far? Amazing. I have high hopes.

Now, what didn't I love?

Of course: the third act breakup.
I always hate it. Always. It's stressful, annoying, and emotionally unnecessary — even when I understand why it happens. I still don't want it!

I just wanted Hannah to talk to Garrett. That's it. One honest conversation.
Instead of heartbreak, we could've had two or three more chapters of banter, spice, and celebrating a certain birthday boy.

That said, I was deeply grateful that Garrett Graham is stubborn enough to refuse to believe that someone could truly not love him. Obnoxious jock energy at the right time :D

Another small wish: I would have loved Hannah to include her friends more, especially Allie. I never fully understood why “the deal” had to remain such a big secret. She didn't need to tell everyone — but at least her best friend. Keeping it hidden felt more frustrating than necessary.

Final thoughts:

The Deal is everything I love about sports romance.
Emotional depth, healthy healing, incredible chemistry, and characters who feel real.

It made me laugh, swoon, and ache in all the right places.
Despite the third act breakup (my eternal enemy), this book completely won me over.

This wasn't just a great hockey romance — it was a great love story.

A well-deserved 4.5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
(Half a star was taken off because of the breakup 😅💔)

I'm honestly so sad about this one — I really wish I had loved it 😅
But unfortunately... it just didn't work for me.

Let's start with the positives, because there are some:

Men written by Chelsea Curto = perfection.
That's usually a given, and Brody had moments where this absolutely showed.
I also deeply love what makes the DC Stars series special to me: the found family, the connections between all characters, and especially the interactions with characters from previous books. Those moments were what I enjoyed most.

I really appreciated the healthy co-parenting relationship between Brody and Kali — refreshing, drama-free, mature. Loved that.
And I liked that Brody put Maverick on leave to be there for Emmy and involved the team emotionally.

That said... this is where my issues start.

From a logical standpoint, it made no sense to pull multiple players out of important training when they all have the money to hire reliable help. Emotional support? Yes. But sacrificing the entire team's time? I wasn't fully convinced.

Unfortunately, that's also where most of what I liked ends.

A lot of the dynamic between Hannah and Brody felt very icky to me.
I'm not a big age-gap fan in general, and while it didn't bother me too much at first, the constant “Daddy” calling completely ruined it for me.
Calling your lover “Daddy” when he actually has a daughter who is much closer to your age than he is?
Hard no. Absolutely not. 😬

On top of that, I felt like Hannah and Brody couldn't have a normal conversation.
They were either spicy or way too deep. A relationship can't survive on sex and trauma alone, and that balance was missing for me.

Overall, the book felt rushed.
Not just in pacing, but also in editing — grammatical issues, missed details, things that felt forgotten.

One example that really stood out to me:
In chapter 20, Grant lists all the guys on the team who are taken:

“Maverick is a dad—you get to meet Murphy tonight, by the way. Liam will deck someone in the face if they look at Piper the wrong way. Riley's been obsessed with Lexi for years.”

But... where is Hudson?
We're listing everyone who already had a book and a relationship — and he's just missing. That's something a beta reader should have caught. Also: there was another part where I thought something was odd, but sadly I didn't mark it.

Another thing that didn't make sense to me was the whole Grant situation.
Hannah refusing to tell him anything because he might be questioned about his sister? That logic just didn't hold up. If the press finds out anyway, he'll be questioned regardless. If you have such a close sibling relationship, hiding something like this felt very out of character and honestly... just unnecessary.

Final thoughts:

The DC Stars family — Mav, Huddy boy, Liam, Riley (my forever favorite), and their bad-ass women — completely carried this book for me.
They're the reason this wasn't a DNF (I'm honest, I never DNF but I was thinking about it a few times).

Sadly, Hannah and Brody just weren't it for me, even though I truly wanted them to be.
I still love this universe and these characters — but this installment didn't work for me.

Ich habe wirklich lange überlegt, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten möchte. Es gab einige Aspekte, die mich gestört haben, und zuerst habe ich stark mit drei Sternen geliebäugelt. Aber: Band 1 der Reihe habe ich mit drei Sternen bewertet – und Match of Fire hat mir deutlich besser gefallen.
Band 2 dann schlechter zu bewerten? Nein, das wäre unfair. Also bin ich bei verdienten 4⭐️ gelandet.

Fangen wir mit dem an, was mir nicht ganz so gefallen hat:

Das Ende.
Wo war der ersehnte Epilog? 😂
Es war plötzlich vorbei und ich saß da und dachte: Da fehlt doch noch was?
Und was ist eigentlich mit Jack? Kommt er einfach mit dem, was passiert ist, davon? Das geht für mich gar nicht. Da fehlt mir eindeutig die Closure – so kann man ihn nicht einfach davonkommen lassen.

Außerdem hatte ich mir etwas mehr Found-Family-Vibes unter den Freundesgruppen gewünscht. Klar, die Geschichte dreht sich um Nataly und Dylan, aber Luca taucht quasi nur am Rand auf, ohne wirklich präsent zu sein. Die Mädels sind beste Freundinnen, aber die Jungs lernen sich kaum kennen? Das fand ich irgendwie schade und verschenktes Potenzial.

Und dann noch ein ganz persönlicher Punkt:
Das Wort „bedeutungsschwanger“.
1. Ich mag es nicht.
2. Es wird mir hier einfach viel zu exzessiv benutzt.

ABER:
Alles in allem hat mir das Buch wirklich Spaß gemacht. Vor allem der Banter zwischen den MCs hat mir so oft ein Lächeln ins Gesicht gezaubert. Ich bin ein riesiger Fake-Dating-Fan – und werde das vermutlich auch niemals leid. 🫶

Was mir besonders gefallen hat:
Alles fühlte sich natürlicher und erwachsener an als in Band 1. Die Charaktere werden hier nicht nur über ihre Traumata definiert. Versteht mich nicht falsch – ich bin eine große „pathetic but in a hot way“-Trauma-Girlie – aber in Band 1 war das sehr dominant.
In Match of Fire werden schwierige Vergangenheiten reifer, gesünder und bewusster angegangen und verarbeitet.

Nataly und Dylan haben mir richtig Freude gemacht. Ich habe mit ihnen mitgefühlt, mitgefiebert – und bin weiterhin ein großer Fan des Gaming-Settings, das hier nochmal in einem anderen Umfeld aufgegriffen wird als im ersten Band.

Fazit:
Ein starker zweiter Teil, der für mich eine klare Steigerung ist. Nicht perfekt, aber ehrlich, unterhaltsam und emotional genug, um mich abzuholen. 4⭐️ und definitiv eine Empfehlung, vor allem für Fake-Dating- und Gaming-Romance-Fans. 🎮🔥

Mein erstes Buch der Autorin – und insgesamt ein wirklich schöner Read.

Das komplette Setting hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Als jemand, der sowohl viele Harvest Moon / Story of seasons als auch Animal Crossing gespielt hat, war ich sofort begeistert von Noble Haven. Ich würde dieses Spiel sofort kaufen – vielleicht sogar lieber als Animal Crossing, weil mir dort oft die Aufgaben und die Herausforderung gefehlt haben. Noble Haven fühlt sich genau nach dem Spiel an, das ich mir kaufen möchte.

Inhaltlich würde ich das Buch nicht als anspruchsvoll einordnen – es ist ein Cozy Read, unkompliziert, mit einem liebevollen Setting und sympathischen Charakteren, mit denen man sich gut identifizieren kann.

Auf der einen Seite haben wir Lara, die bei PixelPulse arbeitet. Sie hat in ihrer Vergangenheit einen Brand überlebt und lebt bis heute mit den körperlichen und seelischen Folgen, die ihr Selbstbewusstsein stark beeinflussen.
Auf der anderen Seite ist Luca, der für ein anderes Studio arbeitet und ein Horrorgame entwickelt. Auch er trägt ein traumatisches Erlebnis aus seiner Vergangenheit mit sich, das ihn bis heute belastet.

Ich hatte allerdings das Gefühl, dass beide ihren Ängsten und Traumata eher aus dem Weg gehen und die Geschichte darauf aufbaut, dass sie sich gegenseitig brauchen, um damit umgehen zu können. Aber sonst nie richtig damit auseinander gesetzt haben. Besonders bei Lara fand ich es etwas schwierig: Sie hat massive Probleme mit ihrem Selbstwertgefühl und versteckt seit Jahren ihre Narben – öffnet sich Luca dann aber innerhalb weniger Tage komplett. Das hat sich für mich etwas gerusht angefühlt.

Positiv hervorheben möchte ich, dass viele aktuelle und wichtige Themen eingebaut wurden:
vegane Ernährung, Barrierefreiheit im Gaming, LGBTQ+, Frauen in männerdominierten Berufen – all das fand ich schön und wichtig, dass es so viel Raum bekommen hat.

Was mich persönlich etwas rausgebracht hat: Die Charaktere wirkten auf mich oft eher wie Teenager als Mitte 20. Das wird im Text sogar mehrfach selbst angesprochen, z. B. mit Sätzen wie:
„Ich benehme mich wie ein Teenager, nicht wie die fünfundzwanzigjährige Frau auf dem Businesstrip, die ich eigentlich sein sollte.“, „Ich fühle mich wie ein verdammter Teenager.“, „... und doch fühlt sich mein Lächeln an wie das eines verdammten Teenagers, der das erste Mal mit einem Mädchen redet.“...
und das nicht nur in diesen expliziten Momenten. Das mag zur Verliebtheit passen, hat für mich aber das Altersgefühl etwas verschoben.

Fazit:
Ein süßes Buch für Teenager und Young Adults – vielleicht bin ich dafür einfach schon ein kleines bisschen zu alt 😅
Trotzdem hat es mir gut gefallen. Ich habe es an einem Tag gelesen, es war ein netter, cozy Read für zwischendurch.

👉 Teil 2 bekommt auf jeden Fall eine Chance! 💛📚

I'm actually very conflicted about this book.

I've devoured everything Chelsea Curto has written so far — and loved it. I devoured this one too: it was easy to read, the reading flow was great, and I really enjoyed that there wasn't much of a slow burn. Things start fast, the MCs have instant attraction, and they don't shy away from showing it. That part felt refreshing and new for me, and I genuinely liked it.

However... I also felt like the relationship lacked depth.

Yes, the characters openly admit that it starts as physical attraction and that they want to build something deeper later on — but that deeper emotional connection never fully landed for me. A lot of their bond is built around discovering Max's kinks and Hunter guiding her through them, which is absolutely part of their dynamic, but a relationship can't live on sexual compatibility alone. I missed the emotional foundation beyond desire.

Let's break it down a bit.

On one side, we have Hunter — a Fright Night scare actor who also kills people for money. According to his own definition, he's “not really a stalker,” except when it comes to Max, because he's obsessed with her. What bothered me was how easily Max seemed to accept this. It felt like she brushed it off mainly because she found him sexually attractive. There wasn't much questioning — more of a “you say you're a good serial killer, so okay” situation.

That felt rushed. Especially considering that Max previously trusted Brian/Connor for ten months and still believed he wouldn't hurt her — which we know turned out to be very wrong. So why do a few weeks suddenly feel enough to fully trust Hunter, despite his body count? He does show her that he can be a better person, but... why should she truly trust that? Pure gut feeling? That didn't end well for her before either.

On the other side, we have Max (Maxine) — an elementary school teacher who comes from a relationship where her desires were dismissed and disrespected. She then meets Hunter, who is open-minded and introduces her to a completely different world. I actually really liked Max as a character. Most of what didn't work for me was tied to how quickly everything unfolded, not to her personality itself.

What bothered me the most, though, was the way Hunter handled it when Max questioned whondidball the grocery shopping and laundry.
He just assumed that Maxine would believe everything was done by Skyler. Did he really think they wouldn't talk to each other? That assumption made no sense to me.

Instead of simply telling her the truth, he came up with the weakest excuses imaginable — and for someone who's supposed to be smart, calculated, and in control, that felt incredibly careless. It wasn't suspenseful or clever, it was just... frustrating. For me, that part of the plot felt unnecessary and honestly a bit dumb, especially because it could have been resolved so easily with basic communication.

Overall, I don't think In the Dark is a bad book. Not at all.
But compared to what I know Chelsea Curto is capable of, it didn't come close.

It lacked depth for me. That said, if you're looking for a fast-paced, uncomplicated read with strong chemistry and a lighter plot — something entertaining for in between — this could absolutely work for you.

I still love Chelsea Curto and this book hasn't discouraged me from reading more of her work. It was an average read that entertained me, but it won't be a favorite.

Ich gebe dem Buch solide 3,75 Sterne. Da man hier nur ganze vergeben kann und es sich außerdem um den Debütroman der Autorin handelt, sind 4 Sterne absolut gerechtfertigt.

Ich mochte die Geschichte wirklich sehr. Enemies to Lovers ist ohnehin eines meiner absoluten Lieblings-Tropes – und wer genau das sucht, ist hier definitiv richtig. Besonders gefallen hat mir die Grumpy x Sunshine Dynamik in Reverse: Sie ist die Grummelige, eher verschlossen und kühl, während er (zumindest auf den ersten Blick) der Sonnenschein ist. Das war mal etwas anderes und hat für mich richtig gut funktioniert.

Die Lovestory war sehr schön geschrieben, emotional und gleichzeitig total easy und flüssig zu lesen. Ich habe das Buch innerhalb von zwei Tagen verschlungen. Zusätzlich werden viele sensible Themen angesprochen – und genau das liebe ich an Büchern. Je mehr Drama und emotional damage, desto besser 😉 In dieser Hinsicht wurde ich hier wirklich sehr gut bedient. Auch die Charaktere insgesamt sind sehr liebenswert, und ich konnte mich gut in sie hineinversetzen.

Ein Kritikpunkt für mich war Keiths Vater. Er wirkte auf mich etwas widersprüchlich geschrieben: Einerseits der liebevolle Vater, der nur das Beste für seinen Sohn will, andererseits nutzt er jede Gelegenheit, um seine Autorität auszuspielen und wirkt kaum kompromissbereit. Natürlich möchte er Keiths Ehrgeiz anregen, aber die Art und Weise hat mir persönlich nicht gefallen – vor allem auch, wie er mit Tate umgeht, war mir sehr unsympathisch.

Ein weiterer Moment, den ich absolut nicht gerechtfertigt fand, war das Verhalten von Tatums Mutter an Thanksgiving. Ich verstehe, dass sie ihre Tochter gerne bei sich gehabt hätte, aber sie hätte auch sehen müssen, dass Tatum das alles für ihre Familie tut. Sie geht schließlich selbst nicht arbeiten, und Tatum stemmt das Ganze alleine. Sie dafür so hart zu verurteilen, fand ich ziemlich unfair.

Was ich dafür umso mehr geliebt habe, ist der Fakt, dass Tatum hochintelligent ist – und wie sehr Keith das an ihr schätzt. Die Art, wie er sie liebt, was er alles an ihr liebt, das war einfach wunderschön zu lesen.

Als großer Disney-Fan habe ich außerdem die vielen Anspielungen und Referenzen zu Disney-Filmen und -Charakteren geliebt. Das hat das Lesen für mich noch einmal zu einem ganz besonderen Erlebnis gemacht.

Mit „Hearts Like Winter“ habe ich tatsächlich noch den perfekten Winter Read zum Ende des Jahres gefunden ❄️🤍

Two stars...
Honestly, even that feels generous after thinking about it again 😂

The novella did shift my view on Rika and Michael a little — I'll give it that. I liked their relationship more here than in Corrupt, and Rika's situation genuinely got to me. Maybe it's the mum in me, but I really felt for her. And even though Michael's first reaction was... questionable 😑 the ending redeemed him in a surprisingly touching way.

BUT.
Let's be so honest for a second:

When did we go from “Devil's Night pranks”
to “major political influence and mayoral power moves”??

Like... how did we escalate from running wild in masks to basically shaping the political landscape of Thunder Bay? I get that the older generation is dying off, but this idea that a group in their mid-twenties is suddenly taking over the city like some dark-romance Illuminati is...
a stretch.
Borderline absurd.
Everyone please chill 😭😂

What also disappointed me was the lack of Will content. I hoped Conclave would actually build up Nightfall — instead it barely scratched the surface.

The highlight for me was the bonus scene with Damon and Winter's son.
That was pure serotonin and basically saved this from being a 1-star read. I was SO soft after that 🖤

So yeah:
I didn't hate it, but I definitely didn't love it.
Still, I'm excited for Nightfall — Emory is still a mystery and I need answers.

I'm honestly shocked at how much I'm enjoying this series now — especially considering I actively disliked Corrupt.

Let's start with the obvious:
Damon.
I've been fascinated by him since book one (like... everyone, probably 😅). He's dark, unstable, morally bankrupt on most days — but also one of the most complex characters I've ever read. His backstory already shattered me in Hideaway, so reading his POV here just made everything hit harder. Does he make questionable choices? Absolutely. Do I blame him with a childhood like that? Absolutely not. Some people break quietly... Damon broke loud.

Winter, though. WOW.
I've never read a book with a blind FMC before, and she had me wrapped around her finger from page one. Her POV made everything sharper, more intense — like the world was filtered through emotion instead of sight. And the way her family treated her? Unforgivable. Her sister had me suspicious for half the book, and even once you learn the truth... that family is a crime in itself. Winter deserved so much better, always.

What really made this book for me was their dynamic:
The tension.
The fear.
The pull.
The way Winter felt “safe” in the presence of her Ghost before knowing who he really was — that entire concept was brilliant. Their story was twisted but addictive, tender in places I didn't expect, and messy in a way that made emotional sense for both of them.

And can we talk about Damon & Will?
Their friendship owns me. The banter, the loyalty, the unspoken devotion — I melted every single time they were on-page together. And Will & Alex? Again?! I swear every interaction with them is gold. It makes me ridiculously excited for Nightfall. (And Emory? I need answers yesterday.)

So yes... I'm really enjoying the series now. I didn't expect this at all after Corrupt, but here we are — fully invested, desperately wishing life would chill so I could read faster 😭

Final thoughts:
Kill Switch is intense, emotional, surprisingly funny at times, and filled with some of the most complicated characters I've read in any dark romance. Damon and Winter absolutely won my heart

I need to start with this: I am absolutely stunned by how good this book was.
After Corrupt (which I regretfully gave 3 stars but would now reduce to 2), I went into Hideaway with zero expectations... and somehow ended up loving it. A one-star difference between book one and book two just doesn't feel big enough — the improvement is insane.

🖤 Kai + Banks = everything

Their dynamic is captivating, intense, emotional, and written with so much more depth than I expected. While I was searching for quotes to use in my TikTok review, I kept stumbling across these subtle, hidden love confessions from Kai to Banks. Page after page.
I couldn't even choose which ones to use — the book is full of them. 😅

😒 Meanwhile... Rika

Rika continued to get on my nerves.
The fight scene between her and Banks?
Absolutely deserved and one of my favorite moments.
And “I'm sure! In both ends, I hear!” had me wheezing — perfect. 😭😂

Also... can we talk about Michael? The way he made a fool of himself?
Banks never once showed interest, he did — multiple times — so of course he'd pull something like that. The reaction he got was chef's kiss. Even though I still don't like Rika, I loved that moment.

🔥 Damon... my tragic favorite

Book three is what I'm most excited about — especially after that teaser.
Damon has always been the most interesting character to me. His background is heartbreaking, and it was obvious from book one that his behavior didn't come from nowhere. Trevor hinted at it, but seeing it through Nik's perspective truly hurt.

His final confrontation with his mother was predictable, but I didn't mind — it needed to happen, and I was weirdly happy for him that he got closure.

💙 And Will!

I'm so relieved he's not just a drunken golden retriever.
His friendship with Alex is adorable, and I love that he's someone the group can rely on.

🐶 Banks' dog rescue = 100 stars alone

I suffered with those poor animals, and that entire scene made me love Banks even more. If the book had given me only that moment, I still would've rated it highly.

✨ My Highlights
• the confessional scene (ICONIC)
• Banks saving the dogs 🥺
• the Rika vs. Banks fight — absolutely earned
• the shopping scene with Will & Alex (seriously, why is Alex friends with Rika? Alex is way too cool for her 😂)

⸻

In short: Hideaway completely redeemed the series for me.
Kai surprised me more than I ever expected, Banks stole my heart, and now I'm officially invested — bring on Damon's book

I really, really struggled to get into this book. I never DNF a book — I always hope it'll get better — but it honestly took me almost half the story before I didn't want to give up.

Rika was so annoying. I know she's young, but at 19 I found her behavior even more exhausting than at 16. What are you doing in a gentlemen's club, running around like a little kid and getting on everyone's nerves? And just walking into someone else's apartment? Excuse me? That's not curiosity, that's trespassing. Get it together, girl.

At some point, I did feel a little sorry for her... but I still didn't like her. She gave me major “pick me” vibes. The first Devils Night, though? That part finally hooked me a little. Everyone was bonding and I was actually happy to see her face her fears and stand up for the guys — Damon saying thank you - cute 😂😂 That's the kind of FMC I love: strong, independent, and not afraid to take control.

...But she ruined it again pretty fast!!

And don't even get me started on Michael. You had to think she drowned to realize you loved her? Then you propose four weeks later? What the actual hell? 😂 It all felt so weird and rushed. I kind of get it — they were “meant” for each other in their heads and no one else ever stood a chance — but still, why the hurry?

I know what dark romance is supposed to be — I enjoy the pain, the chaos, the push and pull — but here it just felt... off. Like the whole thing was thrown together without a clear direction. There was barely any character development, and if there was, it felt rushed and unnatural.

The story was predictable, and I honestly had to push myself to finish it. Still, I do want to know how Damon's story unfolds. Like, how's he going to crawl his way back to the group? And I'm not gonna lie — I didn't even mind him helping Trevor (who i think isn't worth to be mentioned 😂) at certain points. But I do want to know why he's so messed up. You don't turn into that kind of person without a reason.
And Winter... I mean, we know book three is about her and Damon, but how? After everything that happened — that's what I want to know 😂

I'm a little sad that the next book is about Kai, though, because he totally creeped me out. And Will? A drunk golden retriever who has no idea what's going on.

Everyone keeps saying the series gets better and that books 3 & 4 are the best, but right now... my hopes aren't sky-high 😂

Still curious to see how it develops!

I didn't know I needed a dark hacker romance in my life until I read this book — and now I'm obsessed! It completely caught me off guard in the best possible way.

I'll admit, there were moments when the technical parts went a bit over my head, but that only made me appreciate the author's incredible knowledge and research even more. The writing feels intelligent, immersive, and so authentic — you can tell every detail was crafted with care and precision.

The connection between Vivien and Maddox is absolutely electric — the tension, the longing, the intensity between them had me hooked from page one. I didn't even realize I had a thing for praise until this book, but wow, I was right there with Viv, feeling every emotion, every heartbeat.

It was thrilling, addictive, and perfectly balanced between emotional depth and spice. (Though, I have to say, I really wish that hot tub had been put to better use 😂🔥)

The characters felt so real — flawed but incredibly human — and I loved how the author blended emotional vulnerability with technical realism. I felt with them every step of the way.

And now I need more about ELK, Eloise, and Clark. Please don't leave me hanging — give me more, now! 😭💻❤️

A dark, emotional, and utterly captivating read that broke me a little... and I loved every second of it.