***I received this book as an ARC on NetGalley in return for an honest review.***

Rating: 3.8 stars
WRITING STYLE: 0.8/1
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 0.8/1
ENTERTAINMENT: 0.8/1
PLOT: 0.8/1
ROMANCE: 0.6/1

Vaughn Spencer rules Todos Santos, and Lenora “Lenny” Astalis is his sworn enemy. They are two high schoolers vying for the same prestigious art internship. Vaughn and Lenny have been enemies since they were kids. So much can change in five years, maybe their rivalry will, too.

First off, I did not know what I was getting myself into when I started “Angry God.” I was familiar with LJ Shen’s name, but not her style. As someone who typically reads lighter romances or romances that have morally gray men that I like to imagine loving, this was most certainly a change of pace for me to read. The higher rating surprised me, but at the same time, I find it justifiable. The plot itself was interesting to explore because the world of fine art is not one that I have had the chance to readily explore. More than anything, I wanted to know how it ended. I wanted to know if the relationship between Lenny and Vaughn changed or stayed the same.

“Angry God” was a darker, bully “romance” with characters that I did not find relatable or even likable. However, I was astounded at the depth that the characters were written in. When reading books about things or people that I have no ability to relate to, typically the characters turn out to be poorly written or not dynamic. Lenny and Vaughn were equally mean, vindictive, and quite frankly, awful human beings. So you might be asking, why did I give such a high score for character development (usually character likability)? The thing about LJ Shen’s writing is that she was able to write characters that change and grow.

I think the bigger thing to be taken from the characters in “Angry Gods” was how it made me wonder if this was the high school experience for some people. There were numerous points where I found myself thinking, “No way is this realistic.” In some stories an unrealistic plot is what makes a book endearing. In “Angry Gods”, I found myself questioning the experiences of my life and the experiences of others’ lives. While I can’t be sure if that was the point of LJ Shen’s writing, it was definitely achieved.

“Angry God” is not exactly what I would call a romance read in the traditional sense, but it does have intense emotion and a morally slate gray version of love.

Vaughn and Lenny ride that fine line between love and hate here. Vaughn has always bullied Lenny and crossing so many lines in some of the times he has with no hesitation. But with that pull to each other, they’re not sure how to even navigate that.

I loved that Lenny had a backbone here, and accepting the position so Vaught and her are on her turf unlike back at the university. The angst, the banter? Phenomenal. This pair truly deserves each other and I loved watching them heal over time throughout this book.

Shen does not disappoint, and I devoured this book like a snack. This can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the others in the series, too!


Thank you to LJ Shen and Bloom Books for the eARC!

4 Stars for this dark romance!

If you're looking for a sweet romance ... this is not that book. There could be triggers for many people because there are horrendous situations in this book. There are secrets and twist and turns in this book that had me saying WTF! Vaughn and Lenny definitely fall under that old saying "a fine line between love and hate". Vaughn had no qualms crossing over lines that shouldn't be crossed, just to mess with Lenny. At least Lenny had a backbone and tried to stand her ground with him.

Vaughn has been Lenny's bully since the day she accidentally found out is biggest secret. When Lenny shows up at All Saints High in California (Vaughn's domain) she feels a strong pull to him even though he bullies her. Vaughn doesn't know what to do with the electrical current that connects him to Lenny, as it's been there since the day they met. When Vaughn gets the coveted internship over Lenny, she is shocked and even more devastated when she is offered his assistant position. But she decides to take the position because then Vaughn will be on her territory ... Carlisle Caste in London.

I received a copy courtesy of Sourcebooks Bloom Books through NetGalley.

This book was a surprise because the MMC’s parents were my first-ever (and favorite) LJ Shen book and so I had high expectations. I was disappointed in the way Leigh handled the OGs arc as parents because it just does not align. Like why would Vicious and Emilia not be aware, more concerned, and engaged with their only son than they were in this book? I think the plotting just didn’t make sense and Leigh had to make do with the trap she made for herself because the timeline from the previous two books also didn’t work (like the girl Vaughn brought to Luna’s proposal was a clear plot hole that Leigh had to cover up with a stupid reason) and elements like that just stand out to you because usually Shen approaches her books with such a refined care. I don’t think she knew how to handle a next-generation series though because she stopped caring with most of these storylines. I was also disappointed by the color change of the cover because I understand market feedback as one thing but the red fit for a reason because it represented the characters and this blue does not fit the dark vibe of this story or characters at all!

Despite that, I like the heroine and thought she was a good fit for the hero. They both healed individually and together even if the plot itself didn’t work. I am scared for the last book now because the author is returning to this world after several years and I’m not sure if she’s in the mindset to write a YA/high school romance any longer but I have been anticipating this couple for so long that I will maintain high expectations for Lev Cole. Leigh please don’t let Levi let me down!

Vaughn Spencer is a god but he also harbors a secret that has turned his heart black. Len doesn't want anything to do with Vaughn, but she also can't help being drawn to him.

This series is so good! I loved getting Vaughn's book. You know it was going to be good being as he is Vicious's son. And this didn't disappoint. Vaughn is so broken and that at times it was hard to relate to him. But this is also a bully romance so I knew going in that it was going to be hard to like him. Beyond that though, he is literally everything. Len is also great. She's strong and doesn't back down to anyone, even Vaughn. I really liked the art aspect of this too. It was the one thing that kept them together and allowed both of them to have some genuine expression.

All in all, this was a great NA spicy romance.

-bully
-HS/NA
-enemies to lovers
-artists
-part of interconnected series

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy. My reviews are always honest.

Ohhh boy I knew this would wreck me. I just didn't know how bad it would hurt!!
LJ Shen writes some of the most angsty emotional reads!
I love Vicious and Amelia so I knew their kid's book would be all that and more.

VAUGHN... OH VAUGHN!! You overcame sooo much. The snark and coldness was a shield made necessary from childhood trauma.
Lenny was the only choice for his one true love.

Best part of this was Vicious going to bat for his son!! I went apeshit for that scene!!!!

They both went through a metamorphosis through trauma and came put the other end stronger and fierce!!
Narration by Jacob Morgan and Kylie Stewart with cameos by Christian Rummel and Savannah Peachwood.

Woah! Dark romance indeed. Lots of dark angry caos and mystery I enjoyed reading Vaughn and Leonora. The writing pulled me in and would not let go. My first time reading this series, haven’t read the parents’ book yet but I definitely will.

The book was written with so much thought and emotions. LJ Shen is a fabulous writer. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

This book is brilliant and hard. It’s mesmerizing at the same time as cringeworthy. It’s a relationship train wreck of dysfunctional cruelty until they’re suddenly in love. Excellent world building with terrible yet rich characters. I didn’t like either main character but I also couldn’t stop reading their brutal, often aggressive and physically harmful relationship. There’s blood play for you to be warned. There’s no shying away from explicit details. It’s got just a long list of triggers so read that before reading. Totally appreciated the read and recommend but not for the faint of heart.

Angry God was a beautiful masterpiece, the audiobook was very good narrated and the story is one that you will keep forever. LJ Shen did an amazing story for these two, I loved the way she managed to tell the story with all the twists and things that happened in the story. A remarkable read.

Between the sexual tension and the going back and forth with each character it feels like a tennis game where you see the ball going to each side of the court but you can never look away because you wanna see where the ball lands, the themes in the book and the storyline are so captivating it’s a must read. This is apart of a series and I now want to backtrack and read more of this world.

Tropes:
BULLY Romance
Possessive MMC
Touch Her, You Die
Enemies to Lovers
Only you
Highschool
Dual POV

L.J. Shen is absolutely the queen of Bully romances and this one is no different. I absolutely LOVED this one and read it so fast.

Their love is messy and dark but they come together beautifully. Vaughn learning how to accept her love and that he loves her was perfect.

No spoilers but the Angry God part, total swoon.

PLEASE check triggers there are very dark subjects discussed.

📚👏 I devoured this book in one sitting. I REPEAT. In one sitting. I AM IMPRESSED. It's been a while since I've come across a good enemies-to-lovers book, and this one was INSANE. Right from the first chapter, LJ Shen introduces the MMC, Vaughn Spencer, not as a bad boy but as an ANGRY GOD. Sold, instantly. ⚡🖤

The relationship between the FMC and MMC starts off strong, takes a nosedive, and then gradually ascends to new heights. The best part? They're thrown into so many different situations that at one point, you find yourself screaming at the book, like WHAT IS HAPPENING, I NEED TO KNOW. The author expertly keeps you hooked with secrets and scenes that unravel later. Plus, the way their relationship develops and the steamy spice scenes between them are simply WOWZA. 🔥

I can talk about this book so much.. but I am speechless so this is the best you will get from me. READ THE BOOK. Be mindful of sensitive topics; check for trigger warnings before diving in. But I swear, everything ties together beautifully, and getting teary towards the end is an understatement.

Tropes:
⚡Bully Romance
⚡Touch Her, You Die
⚡Enemies to Lovers
⚡Dual POV
⚡Possessive MMC

Favorite Quote🔥: "Kissing him was like standing on the edge of a cliff. Nice view but you knew it was deadly."

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

I absolutely love L.J. Shen. Her books are always so entertaining and keep you hooked. This is the third book in the All Saints High series. The characters backstories were woven together perfectly. As always the writing was amazing. She always grabs me from beginning until the end. This book will have you feeling all of your emotions. If you have read any of her books before you already know what I mean. I highly recommend this book and this series!!

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one.

I'm so so sad, as I loved the other books in this series (and the older gen), but this one just didn't make sense to me. The hatred, pitting against one another, the mean friends... it just didn't work for me. It was def more bully, than romance.

Every time I think LJ Shen has written my favorite book by her, tops it with the next one. Angry God has all the angst, the emotion and incredible writing that I've come to expect and love from LJ. This story pushes boundaries, it broke my damn heart, it made me fall in love with Vicious all over again. The artistry that Leigh is gifted with blows me away every single time, but Angry God was a whole new dimension. Vaughn imprinted his soul into mine and I will take him with me forever. I love how all of Leigh’s characters are complex, all while she continues to deliver us with stories that break the surface of what we expect while reading. She blows me away every single time with her talent. Angry God was no exception at all. Vaughn was the artist who painted the love story between he and . I cannot wait until everyone gets to read and truly appreciate how incredible this story is. INCREDIBLE.

This book is one of LJ Shen’s finest works!
It is so, so good! It’s emotional. It’s a work of art. Lenora and Vaughn’s story is probably the best on the All Saint’s High series. From the bully romance aspect to the boy obsessed aspect, it just took me on a wild ride that will never leave me.
Not to mention, Vaughn’s backstory made me sob so violently, and I just wanted to hug him!
And the cherry on top was Vicious and Emilia’s cameo’s! They were perfect!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 ✨
★★★★★ - 5 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠
𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄✨

♡ 𝐵𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
♡︎ 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠
♡︎ 𝑇𝑜𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝐻𝑒𝑟, 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝐷𝑖𝑒
♡ 𝐴𝑛𝑔𝑠𝑡𝑦 ＆ 𝑇𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛
♡︎ 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑃𝑢𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟
♡︎ 𝐼 𝐻𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒, 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑌𝑜𝑢

𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋 🌶️🌶️🌶️

My heart has shattered, leaving me hopelessly enamored with the captivatingly damaged soul of Vaughn. This novel delves into profound themes, and it's not a journey everyone might be ready to embark upon. The intricacies of Vaughn and Lenny resonate vividly, seeping through the pages alongside the exquisite depictions of their love and artistic fervor. The narrative's power held me captive, breathless and entangled in its intensity.

In the world of this story, everyone bears a touch of brokenness, yet within those fractures, a profound beauty unfolds.


𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒: ʙᴜʟʟʏɪɴɢ, sᴇxᴜᴀʟ ᴀʙᴜsᴇ, sᴇʟꜰ-ʜᴀʀᴍ, sᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴇ, & ʜᴀʀᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs.

L.J Shen is easily one of my favorite authors out there, and l say that PROUDLY and UNAPOLOGETIC-ALLY because her books are that great.

Angry God's was a page turner that had me on my toes. I couldn't put it down even if l tried. It had such a big grip on me that l didn't want it to end. The characters have become an addiction, the plot was perfect and the whole story itself is everything and much more. This dark college romance is definitely a must read, l highly recommend.

This is book three in the All Saint's High Series, and while they are standalone's l recommend reading them all because you won't want to miss out on all the greatness. This bully romance was about Vaughn & Lenora's story and gosh were these two made for each other. The angst, the chemistry, the banter were perfect..

We love a good touch her and you die vibe and this book gave all that and much more. Vaughn was sinfully hot and *screaming* l absolutely fell for him. This book is definitely not you average romance story and that is what makes it so unique.

These messed up characters stole my heart in more ways than one. Lenora is every bit a baddie :). She was bold yet she was such an amazing sweet person. I felt so connected with her. She was also entertaining and a breath of fresh air.

Shen as always never disappoints and this book was done to perfection. This book is one wild amazing ride you do not want to miss out on.

This book will keep you on your toes and that's putting it mildly! Vaughn and Len meet as kicks and have an instant connection, however life is cruel and turn of events make them both toughen up and be cruel to survive. I promise the HEA is so worth it! there's a lot going on from beginning to end, but it's worth ever word to read!