dlrosebyh's Reviews (773)

He has a drinking problem. She's a sex addict, and keeping clean is only half the struggle. No. More. Sex. Lily Calloway is terrified of those three words. Loren Hale, on the other hand, is determined to remain with Lily while avoiding aiding her deadly compulsions. Lily faces new challenges as a result of their new living situation—sleeping in the same bed, for real, together. Not jumping on Lo's bones every night, for example. Being unaffected by sex and his physique. Loren intends to stay sober in order to make amends for his mistakes. 

When someone threatens to reveal Lily's secret to her family and the public, he vows to protect her at all costs. But when old foes resurface, Lo's sobriety is jeopardized. They'll torture Lily until she snaps. And relapsing isn't his worst fear. He hears the conclusion. He notices it. The one item that has the potential to change everything. Three simple words. No. More. Them.

So far, this is my favorite in the series, and I'm delighted I'm finally understanding the buzz. The last several chapters were far too personal. I enjoyed seeing Ryke and Lo's brotherhood and how they dealt with their family issues. I'm finally warming up to Lily. In previous books, I didn't care for her, but now I do. I can tell she's making an effort. I adore all of the characters in this series, and I'm afraid I've managed to grow too connected to them. Anyway, I'm ecstatic to get started on Rose and Connor's story so soon! I already adore them.

Pride month book 3: unlabeled rep (connor)

i’m on a marvel marathon because marvel is GAYYY

book 2 for pride month (kinda)

pride month book 1- genderfluid & bisexual rep :)

THIS IS SO GOOD WHAT

Cravings and dreams became her new normal, but Lily wonders if Loren Hale will recognize what a monster she is when he recovers from his alcohol addiction. After all, the longer she stays devoted to him, the more her sexual compulsions take over her life.

Progress is what Lily aims. However, by attempting to reconnect with her family—people who are unaware of her addiction—she creates even more barriers. She learns more about her younger sister than she ever anticipated and sees an unnerving connection between Daisy and Ryke Meadows when she spends time with her.

With Lily and Lo's broken relationship wobbling and imbalanced, they must find a way to reunite from afar. However, their inability to "touch" proves to be one of the most difficult challenges on their journey to recovery. Some people like brushing the surface. Some love is more than meets the eye. Lily and Lo have three months to figure out how deep their love is.

I'm starting to enjoy Lily more as a lovable character, and I can tell she's trying. Connor is still the book's finest character. I find Ryke amusing, but his flirtation with Daisy makes me 

uneasy.

To be honest, this book isn't really remarkable. It's merely a filler book in the series, therefore skipping it is fine. I'm hoping the series improves. 

I'm also looking forward to seeing Rose and Connor more!

Nobody would guess timid Lily Calloway's greatest secret. Lily stays in the restroom while everyone else is dancing at campus bars. To find love. Her addiction drives her to one-night encounters, hot hookups, and embarrassing situations. The only person who knows her secret also happens to have one. Loren Hale's best buddy is his bourbon bottle. Lily comes in second place. They've claimed to be in a serious relationship for three years, disguising their addictions from their families. They've mastered the art of hiding flasks and odd males that come and go from their residence. 

But, as they slump beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling even tighter to their terrible connection and question if a genuine life together is preferable to a falsehood. Strangers and family members begin to invade their guarded lives, and as new obstacles emerge, they discover they may be hooked to more than just drink and sex.

The characters are brilliantly written. They each have their own individual personality. Lo and Lily's addiction was also handled quite skillfully. I expected this to be one of those romance novels in which "love would cure addiction," but this book took addiction to a whole other level. Rose is perhaps my favorite character. I like Connor as well, as I can identify with him in a variety of ways. Although, I'd like to see more of Daisy, especially since she'll be one of the core six and was scarcely mentioned in this book.

One thing that bothered me was Lily and Lo's remark about asexuals being odd, especially given how they depicted Rose and Connor. As an asexual myself, I knew it was all a joke, but it still bothered me.

Character-wise, it's an excellent book, but the plot is severely weak. As a result, I only gave it 3.5 stars because I like plot-driven works. I'd want to see more of Lily and Lo's family in the following volumes, especially given the ending plot surprise.

Is it a murder, a tragic accident, or just bad parenting? One thing is certain: someone has died. 

Madeline is a formidable adversary. She's witty, biting, and fiery; she recalls everything and has no grudges. Celeste is the type of stunning lady who makes people stop and gaze, but she pays a price for her flawless appearance. Jane, a newcomer to town, is so young that another mother mistook her for a nanny. She has a secret past and a melancholy that belies her age. These three ladies are at various points in their lives, but they all ended up in the same horrific situation.

Big Little Lies is a book about domestic abuse and sexual assault with excellent writing, a constant pace, and humor. To be honest, I wasn't all that interested at first. It sounded too white for my tastes—which is partially right, because there were some strange things the characters did that I didn't expect them to do—but it's a wonderful book altogether. Plus, what about the story twist? My jaw was dropped.