Booktok did its thing! I read the synopsis for this book years ago, I kind of decided to skip based on the best friend sister trope. Not one of my favourites. I went with King of Wrath instead, which let me tell you, one of my favorite books. 

Finally after being told my for you page multiple times to try this book, I gave in. 

The group of girls – Ava, Bridget, Stella, Jo, LOVE THEM. They all brought a little something and some personality to all aspects of the book. Not to mention the full social schedule that Ava kept consequence of her variety of friends. I didn’t really care much for Josh, interesting relationship they had there. Maybe I didn’t get to know him well enough in this book, but he just gave me cocky vibes. But after finishing, I doubt we got the whole story with what happened with him being raised by a father like Michael. 

“Men. They always ruined it by opening their mouths.” 

Ava’s story was fascinating to me. I knew from my experience with King of Wrath that there was going to be much more to the story with her parents than just the nightmares. The way the author unfolded the story,  I loved it! It was so damn satisfying to see Michael exposed and even more satisfying to see the consequences of it. 

“She felt like heaven to my hell, the closest I’d ever get to salvation, and yet I still wanted to drag her into the depths of Hades with me.”

The build up between Ava and Alex was amazing. The only thing that threw me off was the fact that Alex just kind of changed his ways so suddenly when it came to Ava. I guess he did that with Josh, but I’m not to sure how he saw this playing out. I have no idea how Ava forgave him in the end, I would be hard pressed to trust someone like that ever again. I wish Alex had more of a redemption arc, he definitely seemed like he was going to give up in the end and that scared Ava so she gave in. 

Thats the only thing I would change about the book, I would love a crap ton more grovelling. He only seemed to get her gifts, I don’t think he realized how much he hurt not only Ava but Josh. Trust doesn’t work like that. Also I wish we got Alex going to therapy or something, especially the way his family left, I feel like he had work to do there.

Overall review – 4/5

Chapter