jaduhluhdabooks's Reviews (333)

My first romance of the year and it did NOT disappoint. I will stand by this statement: marriage of convenience is the best trope. Like it EATS EVERYTIME. 

And Scarlett and Crew I love you. Like you little billionare business savvy icons - I love you. Ahaha. 

Yall know I love some Hawthornes. But I NEEES book two. Need to see wtf is up with Rohan and Savannah.  Ngl Grayson and Lyra feel so forced to me. Like - no. Maybe I’m just still on my anti-Jameson kick. But like Avery and Jameson don’t make sense to me and I’m like - Grayson is just settling and Lyra deserves better than that soooo. 

Anyways. lol. 

As someone who has been on the research and academic side of linking the toxicity of purity culture to rape culture this book hit close to home. As someone who has constantly been on the side victimization and told that I take it too far, gaslit into believing it’s not that deep, this book shines a necessary and large light on the deeply rooted monetization and glorification of human, sex, and child trafficking, pedofilia, and molestation. 

It is an extremely heavy read, but a necessary one ad one I think that large organizations - especially monetary conglomerates should stop and listen to. Money talks and it talks loudly and when needed, aggressively and effectively… listening to Laila’s story and fight for justice for countless of rape and child abuse victims, who’s traumas are monetized and immortalized on the internet is both heartbreaking and fueling. 

As someone who has experienced the intensity that abuse can have in your life, to have it exposed and repeatedly used against you and for profit is just disgusting and … just the mental health implications of this, as well as, the disingenuous representation of actors and workers who are trying to make appropriate light of industry corrupt with individuals who are more focused on money than people. 

I know this is not a book about sex work, but I think that provides a clear distinction between what is what is not sex work. I appreciated the industry actors who came along side traffickinghub and Laila to expose the nature and inter workings of sites like these the content they were allowing onto their site. I think this is just one example of how they are not one and the same.

There is such an eerie feeling about pornhub having the power and the exposure capacity that it does, as well as, how connected it is to predators. This also makes me think about social media outlets that too have access to these allowances like X (formerly known as Twitter) and Tik Tok. It’s scary and I just think about the biggest exposé that could be uncovered if these tech and media companies came together to expose these individuals, rather than work with them for profit. 

People over profit always. Image is so much more than traffic - it should be at least. I hope that this continued fight will continue to boldly call out and fight against these individuals and these companies. That predators are exposed / no longer given access to harming children in horrific and awful ways. 

The fight is now. 

Now THIS is what I’m talking about! I was so over SaB but this makes up for it for sure !! 

I have never loved each character so much at the end and have rooted so hard for each of them! From Kaz to Matthias, the character developing was DEVELOPING. 

I mean, WELLLLLL written characters for sure ! I also LOVE Inej. Whenever an authors can write a characters who’s experienced intense grief and trauma and made her this incredible character with depth that cannot be matched in the same way the other characters experiences can- not even Kaz’s and Kaz’s character knows this which is why he feels so incredibly unworthy of her and YET. 

Inej says “it’s ok, I healed and you can too” and I just 😩

ALSO. WYLAN AND JESPER. I love you my kings 💅🏾🫶🏾 they better - if you know you know. 

Ugh give me book two NEOW.

What a story about resiliency and learning to love yourself well. Joanna “JoJo” is someone I grew up with who’s music, I love and I’m often drawn back to when I’m jamming to music from my childhood. 

It was both heartbreaking and scary to listen to her story as a child in the music industry. She basically grew up with the pressures and dehumanizing characteristic of many Hollywood and music producing capitalist who could’ve cared less about her as a human and as a child. There was also the relationship with her mom, her body, food, and love that greatly impacted who she grew to be and is now healing from. 

I am someone who can identify so much with the heaviness of sitting with feelings unloved and seeking it in other places and capacities. Jojo’s story is a reminder that growth is not linear nor is it always progressing. I think we often have to think about if growth possible if it’s not progressing and I say yes. Growing takes walking back and assessing moments and reactions and actions in order to then go forward differently. 

I think Jojo demonstrates that well and while it may be just occurring now as she finishes this book and keeps living, it is still valid and necessary. Growth also takes time… if jot your entire life. All are important. All matter. 

I’m grateful for you sharing your experience with us Jojo. 

lol - no. So many red flags, I gotta stop reading these ahaha

Love me a hazelwood noveelllA ALSO. BESTIES TO LOVERS. I LIVE AND I BREATHHEEE. 

All these stars are for the love of my life, Tyler. Forever McCall 💜💜

How cute and fun and sweet. The ending made me cry. Eli - YOU KING. 

I just don’t think dark romance is for me, but if all the ones I’ve dabbled in this one was fairly adapted and I appreciated that the characters had some depth. It was wild and messy and like super problematic but what did I expect. I actually laughed out loud at some parts and found both MMC and FMC hilarious, but their relationship dynamic felt rushed and I saw them more as besties than lovers. Anyways. I hate impromptu marriage proposals at the end of books like - we can make the assumption it doesn’t need to be written in the epilogue lollllll 


Anyways.