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The Risk (Briar U, #2)

-by Aakanksha and Shivani

Rating- 3 Stars

This is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone. But if you have read the first book in the series which is The Chase

then you already know about the tension btw Brenna and Jake , it very palpable so I was quite excited to read this one, so, while I enjoyed the book overall, it wasn't exactly the hit that I was hoping for.

Brenna Jensen is the daughter of the hockey coach at Briar University. She was tough, snarky, and determined to succeed but sometimes it felt like she was too headstrong for her own good.

Jake Connelly is captain of Harvard’s hockey team and just like any of the hockey players, has no problem with getting women. But he has no interest in a relationship. His focus is always hockey. But, there is something about Brenna which is different.

Now Briar U’s team is Harvard’s rival. She’s the coach’s daughter. She’s definitely trouble. So the conclusion she couldn’t be more off-limits. But does that stop him? NO. Did I enjoy the chase? definitely YES.

Brenna wants to bag an internship and when she knows that her would-be boss is a fan of Jake, she just randomly throws that she might be his GIRLFRIEND. So now, she has to request jake to play the role of her Fake boyfriend at an event and in return he asks for a real date, which was unexpected but also cute!!.

They start spending time together and realise that they don't wanna kill each other and maybe they actually enjoy each other’s company. Their bond grows stronger with time, trust is beginning to form, secrets are shared and when she reveals her vulnerabilities to him and how he treats her after shows that he actually cared about her.

But then what, comes in the devil (well not actually) his best friend, Hazel, who is actually in love with jake but is waiting for him to realise

she says certain things to him due to which doubt crept in and what does he do? Breaks up with her and all of this is the day after Brenna reveals her deep dark secrets

But then things get better, problems are solved and apparently, his best friend was not actually the she-devil. So if you are looking for steamy enemies to lovers sports romance with hilarious banter and red hot rivalries you can give it a go.

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Corium University Trilogy- book review

- by aakanksha

Overall series Rating - 2.5 STARS

There are 3 books in the series:-

#1- King of Corium

#2- Drop Dead Queen

#3- Broken Kingdom

The reason why I gave this book a try:-

Trope-High school bully romance

Also touches the trope of mafia romance

I really liked the book covers

The follows the story of Aspen, who is sent to Corium University. A school that will teach them how to be better criminals. A school made for all the children of the bad guys, but Aspen was there because her mother believe it's the only place where she'll be safe after her father's traitorous act. Meanwhile, Quinton is the son of a renowned mob boss and a university big shot. There to escape the life he was into and hide from the rest of the world.

Reasons why I disliked reading it :-

At the first he was like "I don't blame her for what her family did" fair enough but THEN 2 seconds later he was like "I am going to ruin her life for what she did" so you do blame her after all huh?

Writing a rapist character is a thing, but making him feel no remorse is another level of sadism. Now I get it that you need to have neutral outlook while reading such book, trust me I do because I have read so many of such books and loved them. But in this book its traumatising. It's worrying how high this book is rated yet most people failed to point out this major red flag and proceed to say that they enjoyed the romance. 

"What do you mean no?" "You're drunk and I'm... not ready" "Did you not hear what I just said?"

Aspen's story broke me. The way she is bullied by everyone is too much; starve to almost death, verbally, physically and sexually assault. Yet, her character's build-up is also disconcerting, especially when her feelings do not match with her words. I mean after what he did to her in front of his friends was just too much.

The second book is still better than the first one, because he tries to be better but unfortunately is not. However this book ends with a horrific episode/ cliffhanger, after which you will have to read the third book as well.

The third book was by far the best one in the series, because even though there was too much of unrequired details on the rape episode, the after change in Quinton was good, How he treated her, protected her and was just there for her and also how his feelings didn’t change after the episode.

So I can say that the climax was not as gross as I hoped it would be. Everybody that at one time literally tried to kill Aspen (Lucas, Xander, Ren) have suddenly decided to like Aspen now for no discernible reason. Lucas was the most bizarre of all (but after the secrets revealed it kind of made sense). Things ended well for both aspen and quinton and also their family apparently.

So would I recommend this book? No... But you can read it at your own risk.

P.S - also if anyone is thinking if I disliked this book so much why did I bother to continue reading the series, well I don’t like to leave things in middle. So yeah, I’m a snob that way. 

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Has anyone read this?

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The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1)

THE FINE PRINT - A BOOK REVIEW

- by aakanksha and shivani

The book revolves around Rowan who is the Director of a Disney-like amusement park called Dreamland and Zahra is an employee of Dreamland. Rowan’s grandfather has died and left behind a huge estate, Now for Rowan to get a part of it (which is equivalent to some 12 billion dollars, which is obviously such a small amount) he has to do some magic work in the dreamland and that is where Zahra pops in. Every employee is asked to put in ideas and hers is the best so she is promoted to a Creator team, they propose new ideas to Rowan to try and improve the park. They start off as two people who don’t see eye to eye on everything (not exactly enemies) but then they also have their moments and at the end they get their HEA.

I was so excited to read this book after being suggested multiple times. And my experience actually reading it started out well. Was it too corny from the get-go? Yes. Did I still enjoy it? Also, yes. I liked the tension building between Rowan and Zahra along with their bickering. There were too many cringy scenes and dialogues, especially on Zahra's part but I let it slide because she (and her love for Pride and Prejudice and bodice ripper books) was slowly growing on me. AND THE DIVERSITY (she even added a Hindu mandap! my Indian self was so happy to read it).

The book started off good and by started I mean the first two chapters only.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

But then it went downhill, The plot was INSTA lust, INSTA attraction, INSTA everything. Like his dick twitched in the second chapter, she was panting by chapter 3, they kissed by chapter 9 all while grinding against each other. I didn’t even know them as a person yet I knew all the desire they had for each other. I couldn’t feel anything for them, I couldn’t even feel the chemistry, like CHILL we are only few chapters in and you’re already devouring each other? 

They didn't do anything romantic until midway. Where’s the buildup? Where’s the chemistry? Why couldn't it have been a semi slow-burn instead of this insta-lust and then nothing for over 40% of the book??

Also, things were super repetitive and boring. Rowen lying, again and again, Zahra getting mad at him, Rowan asking for forgiveness, and Zahra forgiving him after some grovelling on his part. The entire plot was built on cliché and it made me cringe so hard

Zahra was so annoying.How can she talk back to her boss? Especially when he gave her a promotion even after she was anything but professional? Her sunshine barbie persona reminded me of why I don't like summer. She would make the dumbest joke and would laugh like her jaw will drop on the floor any second. The cringe side characters like Claire—she's the bubbly gay best friend with no individual traits. OF COURSE. And the ever so jolly parents of Zahra, Rowan's cold father who turns into a good guy by the end out of nowhere, after being portrayed as an evil conspirator???

And then there is Rowan. He's portrayed to be this cold-hearted anti-hero in the beginning but it's all just a smokescreen. I hate when a character doesn't live up to their expectations and turns into a softie. Whatever chemistry Zahra had with Rowen at the beginning drowned in the gutter halfway through the book and I had to finish it just for the sake of it. And him taking Zahra on fancy dates and going out of his way to do things for her and then denying his feelings to her and making her feel unwanted??? That was a dick move, and there wasn’t enough groveling afterwards. He was forgiven too easily. Needless to say, the smut was NOT GOOD. I had so much hope for at least the smut (given Rowan's advertisement for needing a measuring tape for obvious reasons). I've never skimmed through smut before but this book made me. It just wasn't spicy, it didn't make me feel things. And the whole impromptu NYC trip made me internally scream—the private jet, the skyscraper, the sugar daddy vibes—screamed a knock off version of Fifty Shades of Grey, albeit the BDSM. ALL I ASK FOR IS SOME GOOD SMUT AND SWOON-WORTHY CHEMISTRY. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK?

The author wanted to make some breakthrough with the last few chapters and the board's meeting but all I felt was underwhelmed. And when Zahra gave that wannabe badass speech to Rowan's father and flipped him off I lost my shit. Girl what?

Final rating : 2/5

I'm sorry if you liked this book and had to go through my review, but it's how I feel. It had potential to be mind-blowing, especially with the diversity but it ended up not being.

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Too Late by Colleen Hoover

TOO LATE - A BOOK REVIEW

- by shivani

The book follows the story of a college girl, Sloan, who’s in a toxic relationship with her boyfriend of two years, Asa. She’s bound to stay with him for reasons she cannot overlook, for a family member she cannot give up on, even though every fragment of her bone wants her to break free. Her life takes a turn for good when she runs into Carter, a guy in her Spanish class, who is the only one who can save her from the predicament she’s put into. Their bond strengthens as they keep running into each other. From the scribbling of senseless words on every surface imaginable to having secret signs of communication, they fetch a plan to escape. Except the ever so cunning and jealous Asa has a few hurdles waiting for them, making their lives crumble apart. The book is dark, graphic, and everything spice. It’ll leave your toes curling and your spine chilling.

"And that's where love finds you... in the tragedies."

That’s one way to sum up the book.

I’m a huge fan of Colleen Hoover, and though most of her books are emotional and romantic, after reading Verity, I was excited to see more of this dark side of her. And Too Late left me both impressed and disappointed by the last chapter.

I absolutely love a good dark romance with gore and this book is definitely darker than Vantablack and had me shuddering, I just couldn't put it down. Hoover definitely has a sinister side and it’s not enough—I want more.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

There are many things, little details, about the book that piqued my interest. Such as mention of Indian food. As an Indian, I love when there’s even a small mention of India or its diverse culture and cuisine (Bridgerton season 2, I see you). Asa had taken Sloan to an Indian restaurant for their first date.

“Trains and buses stole my shoes and now I have to eat raw squid.”

“I dropped a can of corn down the laundry shoot, now my mother cries rainbows.”

“Thank you. Unicorn juice helps me breathe when I listen to disco.”

Sloan’s habit of scribbling nonsensical words in her notebook, and communicating like that with her brother and Carter was so endearing to read. It made my heart melt.

Who was the star of the show? Asa (don't hate me yet, let me finish first). He was an entitled asshole, a manipulative sick bastard, a serial rapist, and a misogynist. Did I feel sorry for him? Yes, he didn't deserve what he had to go through in his childhood, it shaped him into the monster that he was. But it's no excuse for his actions. He is the villain, he isn't supposed to be roses and daisies, he isn't written to be adored, and boy did Hoover deliver. He made my skin crawl and left me wanting to read more about him. He is one hell of a complex character.

Too Late is definitely not everybody, so it’s important that you read the trigger warnings before you start reading the book. It has a lot of graphic scenes that made me want to put down the book for a while, but in the ending, it was so addicting that I ended up finishing it in a day.

Though, there are many things in the book that did not sit right with me. For starters, the insta-love that went on between Sloan and Carter (or Luke). There wasn't enough build-up and I can't imagine anyone falling that hard in love in just a matter of a week or two. Their romance was boring.

And there is Sloan. I liked her at first, it was heart-breaking knowing how she didn't have a choice and was stuck with Asa but soon I found myself wanting to knock some sense into her. First, she was a doormat. She had so many opportunities to turn the tables, given it was mentioned that she was smart as hell (as she easily figured out Carter's true intentions), BUT SHE DIDN'T. She didn't even question Asa when he showed up with the social service funding withdrawal letter and trusted him blindly. Everything that happened could've been avoided. How did she never figure Asa was cheating on her? And why the hell could she never defend herself? Why did she always depend on either Asa or Carter to save her, like a knight in shining armour? Why can’t she work harder to get a job instead of babysitting Asa in the span of two years of their relationship?

Carter was just boring too. I know he was meant to be this perfect boyfriend, Sloan's saviour. And yes, he was nice but I couldn't connect with him. He was a bit under experienced in his field of job, and very unprofessional.

There’s one part of the story that I couldn’t stand—Sloan's revenge. I still can't believe she literally had sex with Luke right in front of Asa as a form of revenge. AND LUKE WAS INTO IT??? It was embarrassing. They needed therapy just as much as Asa did.

Also, the book was too long. It had an epilogue of epilogue which, surprisingly, didn't have much substance to it. The cat and mouse chase had become repetitive by then. The drama made me feel like I was watching a soap opera.

My final rating – 3/5

Is it entertaining? Yes. But it had the potential to be better.

Would I suggest it? Yes, but I’d also suggest you read the trigger warnings beforehand.

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Hi there! This blog is run by Aakanksha and Shivani. We’re both avid readers and wanted to express our opinions on the books we read. So, here we are!