Wrath

Dang this was an absolute mindf*ck, but in a good way. High heat. So many emotions.?? Ezra had a much darker past then I thought. I usually avoid step-sibling romances but this was genuinely heart-wrenching, angsty in the third quarter, but so sweet when they reunited. The MCs' chemistry was sizzling hot.??

I feel like the book was a bit long and some scenes a bit too wordy though, especially in the end (Overtime and Double Overtime). There were side characters at the first but they seemed to fade in importance, which was sad because side characters always add some fun and move the story along. Also honestly the sports aspect wasn't a very a large aspect. But except for these issues this novel is undoubtedly one of the best, if dark romances I've read so far this year.

DNF'd at 48%, which is 9hrs 58 mins via audiobook, mind you. There's nothing about this book that holds my interest. Rant incoming.

First of all, it seems like an enemies to lovers but there's really no reason for the enmity to begin with. They're not bothered about their parents being together. One just hates the other because of ✨reasons ✨

Secondly, why on earth is it called Wrath? Is this something that makes more sense as the book progresses? Otherwise it just seems like one of those instances where the title is something the book doesn't measure up to.

Third, I get the dark themes but all that's happened so far is too young kids dealing with very adult problems on their own. How out of it are their parents? This isn't set in a situation where the parents are absent or drug addicts. They're there. They're just not.... there? I don't know if that makes sense.

Fourth. The love realizations /declarations felt very inauthentic to me. I get why Ezra loves Josh. He's a delight. What's not to love, yeah? But WHY ON EARTH does Josh love Ezra? It boggles the mind. You love this little dickhead because you hear him having nightmares in the night and he plays with your junk while being verbally abusive and homophobic? Sorry, not buying it.

There's just so much that's not working for me. Is all the goodness in the latter (as yet unread half)? It's so highly rated, with so many positive reviews. What am I missing?????