I like books with similar tropes and vibes described in this book. So I thought I would love it, but I just couldn’t finish it. I like the first bit while they are in high school. There is a tw for fat shaming as I didn’t love that. But I gave the book the benefit of the doubt hoping she would redeem the characters on that matter. And honestly it just fell flat for me. There was never any true body positivity that I was hoping for.
<Spoiler> he ends of SA her by waking her up in the night handcuffed to the bed with a woman who bullied her pleasuring her between her thighs. All while he gets off pleasuring himself watching. Also phenix, if you couldn’t already tell, is just a impulsive man child the whole book. Looking to her for rehabilitation due to the abuse he endured as a child.

I was hoping for good character progression, as that is a necessity for me in a book. I like plot along with my spice. But honestly neither character really grew or changed enough for me to bond with them or root for them. It just seemed to be stuck in a toxic cycle and the book ultimately felt pretty repetitive. And none of the repair attempts made by phenix towards Lennon sufficed. I dnf this book like 60% in.