Whirlwind of a Peter Pan Retelling

I love a good retelling. This one started off so strong but it really lost me with the back and forth between past/present. I felt the back and forth made it harder to keep up with what was really happening, details got lost and I couldn't connect with the characters.

The concept of Peter being Hook was super interesting and I found myself breezing through the story. So much promise that I'm sad this was a 2.5 star read for me (rounded up to a 3).

I can't get over the rushed ending and I just have too many questions with no answers. QQ
With a bit more editing this story could be really good.

Losing Neverland is a dark retelling of Peter Pan. This isn’t the Peter and Wendy we grew up learning about. There’s just something about a Peter Pan retelling that immediately makes me NEED to read it and this did NOT disappoint. 😮‍💨😮‍💨🫠 Multiple POVs with past and present dialogue. Pan and his dirty talk…swoon. There was so much that kept my interest the angst, the betrayal and the heartbreak. The love that Wendy and Peter share is everything 💜💜 it tore at my heart. This was a wonderful story that really made Neverland seem even more magical. There are some heavy topics in the book so please check the warnings. 1000% recommend!!

This is a dark romance, so I would recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading. I would say this is more smut heavy than plot heavy, so if that’s not something you’ll enjoy, you might want to give this a miss.

The concept is interesting and a good story to re-tell. There were a few loose ends for me that I think could’ve been built on but overall an okay read.

I thought this book was quite good, the Peter/Hook twist was unexpected. I think it was well written, and the "voice" of each character is nicely developed. It is a dark romance, and readers need to heed the trigger warnings, but overall this was a solid read. I don't love how frequently the story flips between then and now, it's a bit jarring, and I think it could have been done differently. Overall, 3.5 stars, and super spicy.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Evelyn Montgomery for providing me this ebook in exchange for an honest review.*

I dnf'd this book @ 45%.

The premise was really promising but the execution wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It had a lot of cringey elements for me.
The dynamic of Peter Pan/Hook in the same man was promising and it was way underdeveloped. I wanted to see the internal struggle between Pan and Hook. Instead all we saw was Hook "telling" us how bad he wanted to hurt Wendy.

And don't get me started the first time Pan and Wendy had sex. The author clearly forgot how a first time it is for a couple at 17! Instead we got smuttier than smut, phrases like "A carnal need rushes through my body as my right-hand snakes behind her neck and pulls her from the wall, crushing her frame securely against mine. "
Or "“I’ve never…”
“Remember, Wendy,” I cut her off, dropping to my knees and pulling up her blue nightgown. “Neither have I. But I want this.” I suck in a breath. “Need this.”
My vision blurs. My mouth waters. My dick throbs as I take in her wet velvet skin through her panties. Looking up, she blushes as her chest rises and falls quicker than before."... and "I do as she says, hooking my fingers inside her and running them in and out quickly. She explodes into screams a moment later. Her thighs start shaking, her center pulsing, her wetness covering my hand, dripping down my wrist.
When she’s breathing steadier, I place a kiss against her favorite spot, now my favorite spot, and rise to meet her stare. A beautiful, sexy haze clouds her eyes and I groan, my cock throbbing between us, needing to feel a release like she just did. Taking my hand covered in her wetness, I trail it across her lips. Her eyes widen as she realizes what I’ve just done.
“Taste it,” I demand."

I mean, come do any of you know seventeen years old who actually fuck like adults? And besides, Peter Pan symbolizes innocence. Was any of that innocent? No. Also, it needs copyediting. Like a lot.

I mean, yeah it's a hard no for me. And not because of the smut. The smut was the BEST SMUT I've ever read in my life. But other than that, it was just that.

This was a bit of a rollercoaster. I wasn’t sure how this was going to end and I’m still not sure if it’s ended. Some of the various characters seemed irrelevant, I enjoyed some of the spice and the retelling of a classic.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it was the perfect blend of fantasy, romance, dark elements, and the retelling of the classic tale that everyone knows and loves. It was a quick read for me because I did really like the way these characters were written. I also found myself highlighting a lot of quotes and lines from this book and I keep revisiting them because some of them have really stuck with me. Especially the dedication -- it was beautiful.

The smut was written REALLY good, which I think can be rare in some retellings so I greatly appreciated it. All in all, definitely enjoyable.

3.5⭐

This book was good. It wasn't entirely what I was expecting. I expected it to be darker. So it sort of fell a bit flat for me. It is definitely a dark book, but I've read darker books. So for me personally this didn't hit as hard for me. But I think if your just getting into dark romance, or just darker books in general this is a great place to start.

I did like the characters, at least Peter/Hook and Wendy. Which is saying a lot because I've always been more of a Tinkerbell girl than a Wendy girl. But I absolutely hated Tinkerbell in this book. Which was the point so I loved that.

The ending did leave me wanting more. I didn't quite understand it fully. I do feel it's kinda left up to the readers interpretation on what happened. But I also feel there wasn't enough information to fully base my own opinion on what happened. I would be interested in reading a sequel to this if one ever releases to possibly get answers. But this is also good on it's own if you don't mind being left wanting more.

Well that was a spicy saucy book that took a twist on the classic Peter Pan/Hook. IWriting was good and this was a fun quick way to spend an afternoon! Thank you so much Netgalley,, Evelyn Montgomery, and publisher ❤️

Losing Neverland was a fun book. I was a little anxious about a Peter Pan rewrite that was erotica. There are so many ways it could be cringe worthy. This dodged all of that. Well written. Recognizable characters. Enjoyable plot. Plot I say!

“Peter,” she whispers. “If I had one wish, I’d wish everything in my life could begin and end with you.”

“Let me show you, tell you, all the ways you’ve changed, and everything about you that takes my breath away.”

OK, so, wow. Just wow. This book has blown my mind with how amazing it was. Peter Pan was my first crush as a small child, and I have loved the story into adulthood. I have never actually read a retelling of this particular story because I love it too much and didn't want it tarnished, but this story above and beyond did the story justice, and brought Peter pan into my adult fantasies. The concept for this story was utterly fantastic. The world building and character depth to both Peter and Wendy were absolute perfection.

Whilst this book is a dark retelling and definitely has the steam and spice, that is not what dominates this story, the plot and the love between the two main characters and moving past trauma, facing truths you have been denying, overcoming love lost and dealing with the burning passion that fuels the one you lost but still love with every fibre of your being. This book got me in the damn feels and made me feel emotions I've been burying away myself. Combine all of this amazingness with magic, fae, and Tinkerbell, who is an utter b*tch and this story is just absolute perfection. I started this book when I woke up this morning and have obsessively read until I finished 20 minutes ago.

Can I also just say the spice in this book was written incredibly well. It's not just about the smut. It's passionate and emotional, and you feel it with them. Like... my mind is still reeling, and the twists in this story, particularly regarding the past, do not see parts of it coming at all, and the way that it's interwoven into the story is remarkable. This is a story I will definitely read over again and will be taking up a physical presence on my bookshelf. I am very much looking forward to book 2.

I thought the concept of Peter Pan and Hook being alter egos was really interesting. Also that they came from a rough background instead of storybook families was an interesting modern twist.

This plot left a lot of loose ends for me. For instance, I have a hard time believing Wendy and Peter were ever enemies. So when he kidnaps her and tries to get back “what was lost” they could have just skipped all of the shenanigans and had a conversation. He knew the girls were his. What was the conflict? Tinker bell is a villain, which-fair, but why?

And then everyone dies but they don’t die?

With a bit of magic all things can be possible if only you believe.... The rush of youth, love, adventure and the thought of freedom from your life. The daydream that you don't have to leave if you wish. To be young forever and never grow up. But the only question is.... what about everything else? What are we going to miss? The fear of the unknown and loss if you go. This was absolutely different than what you think going in. It goes in different directions even if you think you have it down. This was a great complimentary retelling of the Classic Peter Pan story.

Not what I was expecting AT ALL, and that ending absolutely gutted me! It definitely has all the smut, and unhinged darkness that I was looking for!

When I first started reading I was skeptical, but as I went through each chapter I became more captivated and taken by the story as it unfolded.

I loved the multiple POV between the characters as well as the past and present. It really brought the story to life.

This is the first dark retelling I've ever read of one of my childhood favorite stories, and I was definitely not left disappointed.

I'm probably going to read this again without hesitation. The fact that it's a standalone and a shorter book, means that I will easily grab it if I ever need a break from other books!

Dare I use the term PREFECT to describe this book, but I personally loved every single aspect from start to finish. If I read any more dark retellings of childhood fairy tales, this will probably still sit as my favorite.

Lastly, the smut 👌 that is all.

“And when this life is over. I’ll find you and love you even more in the next.” -Peter
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Wow, well done. I have NEVER highlighted in a book as much as I did with Losing Neverland. It was. Perfect. Their love, raw. The sacrifice for one another 🤌🏻 but then again the root of most sacrifices begin and end with love. And boy does Peter show his love and admiration to Wendy. Throughout the entire book, even when he’s taken over by darkness and doesn’t think he can climb out. Wendy too, what she gives up to protect what’s hers, the only way she knows to keep him safe.
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This book most definitely got me in my feelings. I think that’s why I couldn’t stop highlighting, giving me reminders of some of the biggest parts of my life that is no longer.
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I have always been fascinated with dreams, I almost always can remember mine… I think that’s why Peter Pan was always one of my favorites. “So come with me where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land.” J.M. Barrie

Dark retelling of Peter Pan? Sign me up! Peter’s dirty talk was amazing! It was heartbreaking, amazing and beautiful!

Was it what I was expecting? Not really. Did I like it? Yes, definitely. Am I saddened by the way it ended? Yes, really. But it is alright. As a dark twisted version of the Peter Pan fairytale, I was expecting something crude and dark and complicated and something that would have hooked me completely, catching my soul between the pages with the twisted and frustrating, intrusive thought in my mind that couldn’t let me give up reading. And at the end, it is exactly what happened! I couldn’t stop reading. The spice, the streamy scenes, the tension, the brutality of a lovers turned enemies turned lovers dynamic. The personal vendetta a very morally grey villain of the story finds himself doubting he wants to really go through … it was magical, in the darkest but most enjoyable ways. I have to admit that I myself fell hard for him so … can’t really blame Wendy!! I’m glad I had a chance to read it !!

I had a lot of hopes for this book but, although I enjoyed it, it slightly failed to reach its potential. The plot was there but minimal. The book jumps between present day and flashback moments in the tale and you get to read from Peter, Wendy and Tinkerbells POV. Having the teenaged Wendy and Peter be so sexual felt a little uncomfortable to read as an adult at times, particularly as it’s hard to shed an even younger vision of them from reading and watching so many incarnations of the pair over the years.

Started this book A Few days ago and enjoyed it. It's a Peter Pan retelling but done differently to most, I enjoyed it and was a nice quick read for me. Would definitely recommend this book

I'm a bit on the fence with this one.

I can't resist a Peter Pan retelling and this one was good but it just felt like something was missing.

The last 10% felt very rushed and I just wanted more from this. Some aspects of the plot, like Tiger Lily, were never really expanded on and just felt like they were chucked in for no reason.

Overall though I did enjoy it and I do think Peter and Wendy had chemistry I just needed a bit more plot wise to love it.



<i>Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an E-ARC of this book</i>