I've had Angry God on my TBR for a few years, and finally got around to it. And.... I'm not sure how I feel about this book. There were parts about Lenny and Vaughan that I really liked, and there were parts about their relationship that just didn't sit well with me.

The book spans from when Lenny and Vaughn are 12 & 13, then seniors in high school, and then college students studying art. Parts of the book are well-paced, others felt rushed, and yet more felt like they came out of left field. The backstory surrounding Vaughan's abuse and how that shaped him was a highlight for me, but then Lenny's dad's reasons for doing what he did with the internship and ignoring his daughters just seemed like a weak attempt at plugging up a plot hole.

There was so much hype surrounding Angry God when it was first released, and I expected more. I've read bully romances that blew me away… and unfortunately, Angry God was not one of them.

With an endless TBR, there are very few books I choose to read multiple times. However, when I learned of Bloom's re-publication of Angry God with added bonus content, I knew it was time for a re-read, and I am so glad I did!

Revisiting the book after years, piecing together forgotten details and rediscovering the narrative intricacies gives me a whole new appreciation for the details that make this entire series so great!

I remembered Lenora (aka Lenny) shining as a memorable heroine who left a lasting impression, and her character captured my admiration even more so during this re-read!

Vaughn, ever his father’s son, is a complex character with a total hothole persona…but I wouldn't have him any other way!

We got a glimpse of the mysterious dynamic between Vaughn and Lenny in Broken Knight, and their emotionally charged, magnetic pull is felt from the start in this book.

While I have loved all of L.J. Shen’s books to date, I believe this series showcases some of her very best writing! So masterfully crafted. I highly recommend adding it to your TBR, whether it be as a first read or a re-read.

Now, I eagerly anticipate the release of Damaged Goods, the final installment in the All Saints High series, publishing in January!

Enemies to lovers
Bully romance
Slow burn
Angsty

Vaughn and Lenora journey to HEA is filled with secrets, angst, jealousy and a whole lot of drama.
Vaughn is a the popular bad boy. His words and actions can be cruel. He gets away with his bad behavior until Lenora. He is confused by his feelings concerning her, which makes him even more angry with her.
He meets Lenora when they are younger . She sees something she shouldn’t and Vaughn makes her pay.
Lenora is a great character. In the beginning she was timid. One encounter with Vaughn toughened her up. She fights back and gets her revenge on him for his bad treatment. It is quite the revenge! She does not make things easy for him.

Drama, angst, character growth and fire!

J’ai relu ce livre étant donné qu’il est réédité par Bloom avec une toute nouvelle couverture et je n’ai pas été déçue par cette relecture!

Vaughn est le digne fils de son père : il est arrogant, parfois tête à claque mais on découvre au fil des pages qu'il a un terrible secret et qui le rend un peu plus humain malgré ses actes.
Lenora est une jeune femme qui a une telle repartie et qui ne se laisse pas faire je l'adore!!

L'intrigue est certes basique mais j'ai adoré!! Elle se déroule dans une école d'art et on parle de sculpture donc forcément j’adore! Alors oui, certaines scènes nous poussent dans nos retranchements, idem pour la relation entre Vaughn et Lenora mais on les comprend et on ne peut que l'adorer! Revoir Vicious et Emilia et avoir leur point de vue cela fait du bien!

Bref, j'ai adoré cette relecture si vous n’avez pas lu ce livre ou cette série foncez mais en tout cas, je suis prête pour le tome sur Lev et Bailey!

Good and fun read! Most books either go too fast or to slow but Angry Gods went at just the right pace so I was able to savor every word. Thanks again to net galley for allowing me to read this:)

“An emotional standalone about first love, second chances, and overcoming breathtaking losses at a young age.”

Read if you like:
- Dark Romance
- Bully romance
- Touch her, you die vibes
- Possessive, Morally Grey MMC
- Dual POV
- Enemies to Lovers
- Dark academia

Angry God is a standalone in the All Saints High series. A truly dark and vulnerable romance, with an intense and anguish filled plot line. These characters are flawed, and the topics discussed are traumatic and sensitive. The writing was compelling, and each character's artistic expression was so meaningful and honest.

I can't express enough that this dark romance will not be for everyone. Triggers warnings are in abundance. But if you are drawn to the dark romance genre, this romance will push your boundaries, break your heart and without a doubt mark your memory. I couldn't put it down. 🖤

*Message me for specific Trigger Warnings*

Thank you Bloom Books and NetGalley for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

It also feels really COLD! It’s not a coincidence I think … it’s the main theme running through this book!( I think)
I loved how painfully beautiful the author draws their journey from COLD to WARM!! You fall in love with them as you watch their souls thaw… slowly, as they muster the courage to claim what they want, as they finally believe they deserve what they want and strive to claim it! To change it! To own it!

I loved the transformation of characters in this book, especially the main character Lenora: the path she takes, the truths she learns and how her worldview changes throughout the book!Sometimes, you lose something- without realizing that you have lost! And maybe it’s a body’s protective mechanism - but this journey the author drew so beautifully, it’s so touching, poignant and grows so close to heart!

I loved VIC in this story! He comes to the rescues through all the stories with his dark power and relentless love for his people!

I think the fountain scene will always be my favorite scene in this story - it broke my heart a little and also healed the soul…all at once …if that makes any sense

I’ve been slowly working my way through LJ Shen’s backlist and was excited to receive this ARC. However, this book was just not for me. The bully romance is not usually my fave, but the author has made it work for me before! Unfortunately I just couldn’t enjoy it.

Angry God is a dark bully, enemies to lovers romance with lots of angst, hate, and trauma. I personally enjoy dark romances especially from L.J. Shen so this story did not disappoint. With Angry God, I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t help wanting to follow the dark journey of both main characters.
Here’s some things you can expect from this story:

- High school bullies
- FMC finding her voice and inner strength
- MMC struggling to deal with past
- Blurred lines of hate and love
- Sworn enemies
- Sexual tension
- Artists with dark sides
- Don’t touch what’s mine
- So many confusing emotions
- Heartbreak
- Struggle to find happy ending


Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for sending this book for review consideration.

Where do I start with this book! I definitely liked this book more than I thought I would - dark/bully romances can be a little hit or miss for me, but when I like them I really enjoy them. I definitely enjoyed this read. I think this book has some really important messages about past trauma and how it can shape you into the person you are, even if that’s not exactly who you want to be. Lenny and Vaughn have something really special and I loved watching them change and grow together. Vaughn had some really endearing moments and I love the spiciness that Lenny has to her personality. This story came together really incredibly, having all the pieces for together in the end.

Overall, a good solid read (3 stars), spice was definitely there but it wasn’t too detailed so it was easy to read if that’s not something you like (2 star spice rating). Definitely check your trigger warnings before jumping in (bully romance, SA, etc).

“A million times over, forever mine”

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this ARC.

This is the last of the All Saints' High series but it can read as a stand alone. This book concentrates on the High's series' Ultimate bad boy Vaughn's story. He is a "tortured soul" who knows he's obsessed but he makes it his mission to be the ultimate d*ck.

This time, we meet a girl named Lenora (Lenny) who is not only immune to his cruelty, and he is down right hostile towards her, but she holds her ground and has a very sharp retort to his extra harsh treatment. Why is he like that? Because he's trying to ensure she doesn't tell his secret to anyone.

At times, I felt this book was a bit too dark for me. The sex scenes were uncomfortable for my taste, as it was twisted and done harshly with intent. It can be triggering to some.

I love a good Bad boy’s arc and coming to understand why they are that way and what makes them utterly d*cks but this one was dark.

I couldn’t stop reading it but I did, however, have to put it down several times. I have come to love this author's writing but this one was a hard one. Yet I was hooked. 3 1/2 stars but rounding up.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Angry God makes you look at people differently!

The average romance usually has boy meet girl, they fall in love and get married the end but when you read a L.J. Shen book you will read a dark romance because you want to read it again.

Lenora Astalis hated Vaughn Spencer since she first met him during the summer session at Carlisle Castle where her father was the headmaster at Carlisle Preparatory School for the Gifted when she was twelve. But now she is in Todos Santos attending All Saint High with Vaughan and his friends and they still hated each other.

Angry God is a book that makes you really think about motivations and how people can fall in love even though it might take them a long time to acknowledge it

Angry God is the third book in the All Saints High series about the characters of Sinners of Saint series children and the apples don’t fall far from the tree.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

💙 Angry God Review 💙
By LJ Shen
All Saints High, Book 3
Interconnected standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
NA • Romance
368 pages

🖼️ b*lly romance
🍫 enemies to lovers
🖼️ academic setting
🍫 cheating(ish)
🖼️ dual POV
🍫 other girl drama

📍”I am hell bound, and you are heaven sent.”

This is one of those books I don’t know how to rate. I love it. I’m uncomfortable. The writing is absolutely flawless. Some tropes are not for me. The main plot is absolutely superb 🤌🏼 and the MMC is one of the best morally onyx characters in NA contemporary romance.

Vaughn’s story broke my heart. Vaughn’s story felt real. Vaughn’s story made me ache for a little boy that no one saw and only one person understood… even if she was too young to comprehend. Vaughn’s story was a sad work of heart with a very HEA. Vaughn’s story is unforgettable, like most mythology is 😉

📍 “You’re real. Maybe that’s why, sometimes, even when you’re not around, it feels like you are.”

I guess what I’m trying to say is that… If you don’t mind the tropes - and after checking the tr❗️ggers on this one -, you’re in it for one truly spectacular ride 💙

📍”She was perfect, and I was nothing but a collection of flaws.”

Where do I even begin! I love this book - I wanted to hate this book because I had correctly guessed right away what happened to Vaughn, and I just didn't want to know the details. But in the end, I read, and read, and read until the sun came up. I just couldn't put it down! I'm giving this book 4.5 Stars, because for me, 5 Stars is reserved for books I will read again. Even though the writing by L.J. Shen is spectacular, the story is disturbing enough for me that I will likely not read it again. This is my first time reading L.J. Shen and I'm ready for another!

If you can handle extremely dark subjects, things that happen to people that should require therapy to be whole again, I definitely recommend this book! The story was gripping, the characters were intriguing, and the writing was phenomenal.

Both Vaughn and Lenora are broken. Both experienced something in their past that made them what they are now. They see in each other an island of reprieve, where they can say things they've never shared with anyone else. They want to hate each other. But they are drawn together like moths to a flame.

In addition to the main story arc surrounding Vaughn, I was also slightly disturbed by how much these 17 and 18 year olds were sexually active. And if I hadn't known that Lenny and Vaughn were 17 and 18, I would have thought them to be in their 30s based on how mature they were sometimes portrayed. These kids have been through a lot in their very short lives.

Thank you L.J. Shen and NetGalley for this ARC. The above is my own and personal opinion.

Thank you @read_blooms for a copy of this book. I read Vicious a few years back so it was fun to read about their son, Vaughn's story. Vaughn has very similar asshole tendencies like his father and I really didn't get why he treated Lenore so badly. I am not a huge fan of bully romance so this wasn't my total cup of tea. I did really enjoy the last half of the book as you learn more about Vaughn and his motives.

Viscious has always had my heart but somehow I think Vaughn replaced him. Vaughn is a misunderstood, grade A jerk, and for a very good reason we learn. I loved that we got to see what leads to the grudge Lenny has against Vaughn and then how their relationship evolves and becomes what it is as they’re older and run into each other again. Now don’t get me wrong, L.J. always has some nice spicy scenes in her book but this one? I honestly think this one is next level as the two are always trying to up each other and drive each other crazy. I loved this book

Wow! That’s all I’ve got!
What started as a story full of moody, pretentious teenagers became so much more! Do not miss the chance to read this!

Oh man. I don’t really know what to say or where to begin with this one. I know I’m definitely in the minority when I say that I think this is the same story as ‘Vicious’ but she threw in some child molestation and pretty disturbing scenes and called it a “Dark Romance”. I work with children and found a lot of this content just very uncomfortable to get through and to see this as any kind of romance.
A little bummed considering I really enjoyed Vicious and Pretty Reckless!
2.25⭐️

Angry God is the third book in LJ Shen's All Saints High Series. This is a second chance romance who MCs get together after high school as they are each doing an art internship in London. They have a love/hate relationship and this book could be triggering to some people. I have enjoyed many of Shen's books but this wasn't my favorite. It was good to have closure for these characters from this series.

I've had this book on my TBR for so long that I forgot why I wanted to read it so badly. Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to finally get to it. While this is the third book in the All Saints High series, it most definitely can be read as a stand alone. I didn't feel like I was missing backstory or getting any big revelations from other stories. Lenore and Vaughn can't stand each other. That much is made clear...at first. The story takes place over a few years with flashbacks into the past as the mystery and secrets unfold. I enjoyed the storyline and plan to go back to read the others in this series at some point.