I will not be finishing this book.

non-Consensual sex right in the beginning. Not for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read the English version of this book.

However, it and I were not a fit.

I tried watchig the movie, but it wasn't for me, and as the book is always better, I thought I would give it a try.

And again, not for me, and I did DNF.

I know many other will love it though.

** Star rating only because I cannot review without leaving one This

I was curious reading this story as I saw the movie and I wanted to see what the book was all about.
For me, the book was slightly better than the movie but equally not impressive.
I’m all for dark twisted fiction plots with all kinds of outrageous occurrences. However, this book for me was all over the place.
I found it not believable, and not sexy. The characters were not likable or relatable and I thought my eyes were going to fall out of my head I was rolling them so much.
I didn’t score it lower because you get the point.
2.5 stars!

I didn’t finish this one.. the premise was interesting and I enjoyed the movie, but either this wasn’t well translated or the writing was just not great.. it was hard to get to know any of the characters and the sexual scenes were just lacking in any real emotion. A lot of language without any of the passion.

I received this book to review from NetGalley. I chose this book because the movie was interesting enough - dark and sexy and intriguing. This book is pretty much word for word the movie for the first half. Maybe it is the translation but it seems to simply retell what is happening with no emotion what so ever. There is kidnapping, dubious sexual assault, being kept against her will but it all comes off cold and unfeeling. So bizarre. And don’t get me wrong I am all for a dark romance - it was not the content that turned me off at first. I was hoping this book would give better insight into how the characters were thinking and feeling but it simply did to do that. It left me more frustrated. The last third of the book really deviates from the movie and honestly left me upset. I won’t be recommending this one to my followers.

“You are perverted, promiscuous, absolutely debauched, and—thankfully—mine.”

Massimo Toricelli, a Sicilian mob boss, kidnaps a Polish woman to essentially become his sex slave because he’s seen her in his dreams and he decides she must be his. But the choice is hers 🤦🏼‍♀️. But not really 🥴 . And that is the least wtf thing in this book.

Well that was...different 🤪🙊. Imagine, if you will, “the sound of his hips hitting my buttocks sounded like applause.” 😲 oh my.

Now you must go into this book knowing what it is and react as such. It is essentially a polish 50 Shades of Gray. It’s erotic. Steamy. Sexy. Cringe inducing. But, at the very least, it’s entertaining. Many of the sex scenes lose something in the translation, though.

A literary masterpiece this is not. But if you’re looking for some sexy Italian S&M or you enjoyed 50 Shades, you may enjoy this wild and crazy ride as well.

This book was released in 2018 in Polish (and there is a Netflix movie out with a VERY sexy Massimo 🤤). Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Being one of the few in America without Netflix (I know!), I hadn't seen the movie version of this story, so I was mildly curious as to what all the fuss what about. Needless to say, the book isn't always better, contrary to popular belief.

I had some major issues with the storyline within the first chapter... and it never really improved. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

I had heard so much about the movie that I had to read the book and I was not disappointed. They could not keep their hands off each other and their journey moved at a decent pace. There are a few word choices that I don't agree with because of context but otherwise I thought it was engaging and has more details than the movie. #thebookwasbetter

The book is always better. I'll admit I skipped to the "good parts" when I watched 365 Days by Blanka Lipinska. Who could resist looking at Michele Morrone? Not me. Not you. Not anyone. So I got my Michelle Morrone fix and then patiently waited for the book to be translated from Polish to English. I'm so glad that I read the book first and then watched the movie in its entirety. The book was better. Don't get me wrong; this movie is nuclear HOT. It's a dirty sexy story where a woman named Laura is kidnapped while vacationing with her boyfriend in Italy. Massimo, Laura's mafia boss kidnapper, gives Laura 365 days to fall in love with him. I have to be honest; I wouldn't say I liked both characters at times, but ended up liking them more in the book. Laura did get on my nerves at times. I mean if some insanely hot guy kidnapped me and forced me to go shopping for closets of designer clothes and drink champagne all day, I might be annoying. Yeah. No. Kidding. 


If you've read my reviews before, you know I'm not a critical reviewer. I have to say that I felt a few plot elements needed some tightening up and general editing. It might be due to the translation. With that said, I'm excited to see where this story goes. 365 has that Fifty Shades of Grey curbside appeal, and this story is totally addictive. I'm going to stay spoiler-free, but the book ended a little differently from the movie, and I'm thankful that there is more to come.

I watched this movie and was curious how the book was but this didn't really suit me. The dubcon/non-con blurred too many lines that didn't feel as overt in the movie version.

3.5 stars—365 DAYS is the first instalment in the contemporary, adult 365 DAYS erotic, dark romance series focusing on twenty-nine year old, Polish born Laura Biel, and thirty-two year old, Sicilian Don Massimo Torricelli.


WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.


NOTE: 365 DAYS is the re-release of Blanka Lipinska’s best selling novel, and turned into a Netflix movie in 2020.


Told from first person perspective (Laura) 365 DAYS follows in the wake of Sicilian Don Massimo Torricelli’s ongoing visions and dreams (during and following weeks in a coma) about a woman he has never met but a woman he is determined to own. A chance meeting at the airport finds Massimo obsessed over our heroine Laura Biel, a woman already in a committed relationship with a man she doesn’t love. Kidnapped and held as a virtual prisoner in a gilded cage, Laura comes to learn she is Massimo’s captive for the next 365 days, wherein she will either fall in love or walk away at the end of the year. With several threats looming over her head, her family, and those of her friends, Laura reluctantly agrees to Massimo’s terms, terms that find our heroine falling for a man who will control every aspect of her life. What ensues is the tempestuous and contentious relationship between Massimo and Laura, and the potential fall-out as Massimo’s enemies have targeted our couple, and in this, Massimo is unwilling to place Laura in the direct line of fire.


The relationship between Massimo and Laura begins acrimoniously when Massimo kidnaps Laura to claim as his own. Unable to leave without the possibility of losing everybody she loves, Laura agrees to 365 days but refuses to make life any easier for the man with whom she will fall in love. The $ex scenes are erotic, intense, and aggressive, and not without some questions of dubious consent.


We are introduced to an ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Laura’s new assistant Dominic, and her best friend Olga; Laura’s parents, her ex-boyfriend Martin, dance instructor Petrov, as well as several members of Massimo’s security and staff.


365 DAYS is an erotic tale of obsession and lust, power and control. The questionable behavior of both characters borders on disturbing and abnormal-our heroine’s behavior is often immature, up and down, back and forth but under the circumstances, she is otherwise a prisoner of man she knows very little about. Massimo’s temper and darkness is exacerbated by our heroine’s conduct and attitude, conduct she purposely employs to anger our story line hero. The premise is entertaining and interesting; the romance is erotic and dramatic; the characters are animated. 365 DAYS ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned. There are currently no English versions of book two available. The author /publisher has pulled all copies from current release.

On a side note, the book as original written in Polish, and therefore there are some issues of grammar etc with the translation.



THE READING CAFÉ: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/365-days-by-blanka-lipinska-a-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3747218746


AMAZON. COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R1C1D5JT1SO9IB/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2869010760


B&N (Sandy_thereadingcafe) posted: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/365-days-blanka-lipinska/1137763666?ean=9781982174309&bvnotificationId=d255b1d7-6645-11eb-8b9e-0a18214fe6cf&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=hotmail.com#review/172922011

The short and sweet of this review is simply that this book was not for me. After watching the movie, I was curious about the book and how it translated, figuring the book had to be better as it normally is. And unfortunately in my opinion it was not and did not translate well. This book really pushes the boundaries on respect and consent, which in a fictional read can often be redeemed going forward. But I just felt this pushed the envelope too far for my personal preference. Perhaps it is less abrasive in it’s original language... But this was just not an enjoyable read for me. I am giving it 2 stars only because I did not DNF for the purpose of this review.

Thank you to Atria for this ARC via Netgalley for my honest review.

This book is a translation from the original published in Polish, based on that I tried to oversee the issues that come with any translation. I was able to watch the movie prior to reading the book, which was a rarity for me, as I mostly read the book first. This is a mafia erotica contemporary dark romance, the characters Laura Biel and Massimo Toricelli are interesting, the book is their first 4 months history. A relationship that is dark and might have triggers for some readers so please read with caution, there is a toxic and abusive relationship. Their situation is unique, he gives them 365 days together and things get dirty. The heroine is not strong, there are many fainting and sleeping scenes that makes it too much. Something we usually get in the hero is his redemption, so I want to see how that goes because so far I find it hard to envision that ending for him. I have read pretty dark stories with heroes that seem unredeemable and yet the author pulls it off. I don't like comparing books to other books, but seems most people will go there with this story, let me tell you that yes there are similarities but I will not go into them. I don't know how the Polish original version is, but the translation and editing seems lacking a bit, will I be reading the following, probably just to find out where the story goes and because yes I do love very dark romance stories no matter what.

Okay so I knew this one was going to be extra steamy, but I had to DNF this one. I love steam but I do not condone any sexual acts being initiated without prior consent. I was really disappointed that not 5 minutes into this one there were sexual acts being initiated without prior consent. Also the abuse of power was not okay.

The hype behind the foreign version of this story had me intrigued. After finishing I will say it wasn’t what I thought it would be. It entertained but wasn’t a grab you and take hold read. The storyline was a little bit of a stretch and I felt there could have been more meat but that could have been due to the translation. There was enough to make me want to read book two so over all I would say it was worth the read.

After experiencing the movie on Netflix, I just had to know everything about this story! I wanted a deeper understanding of why the characters made the choices that they did, and I was sure that the book would provide the insight that I craved. But I was just a little surprised by what I found.

The spirited Laura Biel of the film was suddenly one-dimensional. Her endless tantrums and materialistic tendencies becoming ever more tiring as the story progressed. In contrast, the character of Massimo seemed to soften. His intensity – as well as the chemistry that burned so brightly between them - was somehow lost in the translation.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re following me?” I asked, crossing my arms. He raised his right hand and slowly took my glasses off to see my eyes. It felt like he was taking away my shield. Suddenly I was out in the open. “It’s not a feeling,” he said, looking me straight in the eyes. “It’s not coincidence either. Happy twenty-ninth birthday, Laura. May the coming year be the best in your life,” he whispered, and placed a delicate kiss on my cheek.”

365 Days could have been vastly different if it had been tailored for a wider audience rather than just adapted from its original Polish version. Lapińska clearly isn’t a born wordsmith but her work could have been molded into something far more entertaining by the hands of a skilled editor.

It’s the only time when I can honestly say that I preferred the movie to the book. And for me, that’s saying something…

First off I want to say if you liked the movie and hope the book will be better, it's not. That's just my opinion though. I was really excited for the English translation but I was extremely let down. Its exactly like the movie except the movie left out the super cringy sex scenes and the bad writing.
If I had read the book first I would have likely skipped the movie.
Massimo is so creepy and honestly too much when it comes to the possessive side. And Laura feels like she has Stockholm syndrome. She falls far too fast for him.
I feel the story fell really flat and I had a hard time pushing through it.

I did not finish this book. This is trigger heavy, heavy with sexual abuse & misogynistic. I had high hopes because I heard it was good and Netflix has the movie adaptation but no way in hell will I read it. It is by no means okay in my book.

I couldn’t finish this book.
It was choppy and confusing.
Massimo is an unkind brute.
Sorry but I gave up on it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Massimo, an Italian don, has a dream of a woman. He spends years searching for her. When he finally finds Laura, he kidnaps her and gives her 365 days to fall in love with him.
Opinion
I got this book because I saw the movie and had enjoyed it. The book is pretty close to the movie but has some differences. (The beginning and the end are different as well as some in the middle.).
I think it was well written. The characters make choices that do not surprise you based off of how well they were developed. The world Massimo lives in is intriguing.
This book was translated from Polish. Several times throughout the book, a word choice was odd for the English language. I’m not sure if the translators did not know a better option or if the original in Polish directly translated that way. It did not deter from the book but did give me pause.
I’d like to thank Simon and Schuster and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.