I had already heard of this author’s other books that my fellow readers loved, so that was just icing on the cake.
Now don’t get me wrong. I do love romance, and the sweetness and depth and comfort that comes with it, but there’s just something layered and intense and emotionally confusing about a love story that doesn’t dare present itself as romantic. Ohhhh boy, you know you’re in for a wild ride, then!
Or so I thought.
What started off as exciting and infuriating and incensing, dragged with the introduction of two seemingly important, characters. I did, at first, enjoy an obvious snoopy side character (a colleague) that I could see potential in. A trouble maker in our troubled midst? Yes please!!
Her knowledge about people comes from intuition. Snooping just fills in the blanks.
If she didn’t snoop, she wouldn’t know about Wes. Wouldn’t be watching him so closely.
And the introduction of yet another meddlesome character (a detective) that at first, I was good with, too.
“Someone has been bothering Ivy, leaving her notes and presents, along with pictures of her. They’re letting her know someone is watching.”
“That’s so disturbing,” he said.
“When I asked her who she thought was doing it, she gave me your name.”
At first I thought… ooooh! A stalker amidst the toxicity? Disgruntled exes? Disgruntled affair partner’s partners? Could be good and creepy! So I was curious and didn’t mind the detective. At first. But then she became a main character (her POV and all that), and that… I was not at all interested in. I’m just not into police procedurals, or their POVs, and this one veered into that direction.
Anyway… so what’s it about?
A couple, that have been on and off for years (a decade, even?). More on, than off, with extreme intensity throughout.
He’s always been the one. Even when they’re apart, even when they hate each other, she still knows that.
The fights (even physical and in public), the jealousy (on both sides), the emotional abuse (one purposely making the other jealous, the other purposely giving the silent treatment) and essentially, a ton of ghosting.
“You said never. ‘Never, never, never again.’ ”
Yes, she had. The last breakup had been particularly nasty, even for them.
“Before that, I said forever.” She pauses, bites her lip. “So did you.”
But they always find their way back to each other, and the intense attraction, and honeymoon stage never seems to abate.
They know they are horrible for each other, trigger each other (sometimes on purpose, sometimes cluelessly)
Something is brewing. All her senses are on high alert, preparing for whatever is coming, though she has no idea what it is. Feels like a puzzle wrapped in an electric fence.
but even more, they know they are meant for each other, no matter where and with who else they try to find love (and there have been others). It’s never the kind of love that THEY together, have. A love that keeps bringing that back to each other time and time again.
Ivy and Wes have finally come to a point where everything is good. Better than good. It’s fantastic. No lies, no games—they’ve returned to something real. Or rediscovered it.
Throughout the “back togethers” and “break ups” they (and those around them) have experienced, a few super-secrets come to light as the other characters meddle in the background.
Yes, she and Wes got back together in a screwed-up way, and it probably never would’ve happened if she hadn’t called the police. But it didn’t have to turn into all this. Karen didn’t have to dig so deep into the past. It’s a little rude, to be honest.
And even though I fully intended to read it to the very end, especially when my anticipation would build with the introduction of “other” characters, promising havoc,
“Good luck with her. But let me give you some advice from someone who’s been there,” he said.
“Run.”
I was left bored (and a bit dumbfounded) more than excited.
I dunno. It was one of obsessive single-mindedness, one without all of the details, just trying to help, but it slowed down the potential rhythm of crazy between the two main characters by including two more elements of crazy that I was just not that into.
With good reason, of course. The story ended up with a lot more than just a toxic couple. And in real life, I might have appreciated the thoroughness of such a detective, that got to the bottom of things, however in my “bad love story” book life, I just wanted to enjoy the deterioration (or exhilaration) of a toxic couple in love, thank you very much. 😂
So yes, it does go kind of crazy, and all seems lost at times, and the ending is crazy (and has me questioning the logistics) and there are a few questions that I have that did not get answered, and a few characters that are just… *shrug*. But I just don’t care enough to research other reviews in case I accidentally skimmed over something good or noteworthy, ya know?
I don’t think I missed anything. In fact, now that I look at the current star rating online, I’m going to have to say I agree. I haven’t read any of the reviews yet (but I now will), but yep. I have a feeling so many of us are in tune, on this one.
So for that…
3.5 stars <— good and interesting enough to finish (I was hoping something jaw-droppingly exciting would smack me upside the head and thrill me), but nope. Nothing to rave over, for me.
Er… or will there be a book #2? Might THAT be why some of my questions, some apparent plot holes, and abandoned potential twists, remain unanswered? It says this is a standalone, but what… if… ?
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