Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'd been hearing about this book for a bit so I was excited to check it out. This was as steamy and taboo as promised. I can honestly say I was not sure where it was going to lead but it yanked me right along for the ride.

The writing sucks you right in, and I can see exactly why this one is a TikTok darling. Some of Penelope Douglas's books have turned me off from the first page, but this one was better for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

As I turned the final pages of this book, a whirlwind of emotions swept over me, leaving me with a profound sense of connection to the characters. Starting out as a puzzle, the narrative drew me into a journey where secrets slowly unfolded, and characters evolved in ways I didn't expect. The ending, like a gentle whisper, touched my soul.

The quote, "Making a mistake takes seconds. Living with them takes a lifetime," echoed throughout the pages. It resonated with the characters' struggles to confront their past and the lingering effects of their decisions. Themes of tragedy and abuse were handled with sensitivity, portraying their profound impact on the girl's life.

The words, "Pain always reminds us that we're alive. And the fear along with it that we want to stay that way," struck a chord within me. These words beautifully captured the delicate balance of human existence, where pain and fear coexist with moments of happiness and connection. The relationships depicted in the story reflect the intricate tapestry of real-life connections, underscoring the value of these bonds.

Within this intricate tapestry of emotions, the narrative ventured into moments of intimacy that challenged norms. The girl's unique relationship with her non-blood-related family, ignited by a tragic loss, led to connections that defied convention. As she became entangled not only with her uncle but also her cousins, the story left no stone unturned, exploring uncharted territory of emotions and relationships.

The presence of a wounded cousin, the uncle's personal struggles, and the girl's resilience added layers of depth. They illustrated the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity, reminding us that growth often emerges from the most unexpected places.

In a world where perfection remains elusive, the narrative delved into themes of redemption and the strength found within our vulnerabilities. It encouraged introspection into our own journeys, emphasizing the beauty of embracing imperfections.

This book is a powerful odyssey through intricate storytelling, emotional resonance, and unconventional bonds. Its portrayal of the human experience, complete with its trials, growth, and moments of intense intimacy, left me profoundly moved. Even after the final page was turned, the girl's journey continued to linger in my thoughts, a reminder of the profound depth of human connections and the transformative power of embracing our imperfections.

Very unique and an addictive romance, if you want a fast paced story with minimum of depth, crazy twists and turns and loads of steamy scenes. I just love how easy it was to get lost into it. I loved it loads!

Guys. I’m surprised to say that I liked this book. Penelope, I have no idea what you think of the plots of your story but you don’t disappoint. This book starts off with a girl whose parents died and she has to move into her step-uncle’s house with his two sons. I really enjoy Douglas’ writing style as you can be hooked from the start and don’t want to stop reading. I enjoyed the storyline even though many people will be like wtf but it’s unique and different from what spicy booklovers read. The pacing was great in my opinion and this book is also written from 4 different povs.

This book is written from Tiernan, Jake, Kaleb, and Noah's pov. I won’t get into much detail about each character but everyone had such great character development. There was healing and self-discovery in each character which I liked. There were some side characters but they were mostly bullies messing with the family. So the part that readers are disliking about is romance. *Minorish Spoiler* Tiernan hooks up with her uncle and his sons. If I remember correctly they aren’t blood-related but still are. The part I disliked was when Tiernan called Jake uncle when they were having sex. Like please no. Then it became a love triangle and I don’t know how I feel about the final couple. But the tropes in this book are age-gap, incest, love triangle, and bully romance.

The ending was fine but also awkward if you put yourself in Tiernan’s shoes. I finally did get to read the scene I was hoping the author would write about so I was excited about that. The story was well written and very different from others I have read but there were some minor details I didn’t enjoy.