There’s no one who can write an angsty romance quite like LJ Shen. Staying true to that magical formula, Bane gives us all the passion, intensity , and complexity that we expect from an LJ couple, and these two are some of my favorites. I love the deep connection between these characters. They are layered, flawed, and also beautifully complex.

The storytelling is masterful, keeping us engaged from start to finish with an engaging plot and memorable side characters adding depth and dimension to the overall story.

Absolutely loved the finale to the Sinners of Saint series and Bane definitely solidified why LJ Shen is a one-click author for me!

Big thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book. I will start off by saying, while I've ready other L.J. Shen novels, I have not read any of the other Sinners of Saint books, but I didn't feel I was missing anything so this did feel like a true standalone.

Where to begin? Bane and Jesse have such an interesting relationship from start to finish. It was refreshing to see two characters who both felt like they didn't deserve better. Two characters who were flawed and at times broken. There was no grumpy/sunshine, or hero and damsel saga in this book and it was wonderful.

Bane is approached by Jesse's stepfather to help bring her out of her shell and back into "normal" society after suffering one of the most tragic things possible and watching their relationship go from friends to so much more was beautiful. Neither one felt the need to change or rescue the other. Instead, they just loved each other as they were and found happiness WITH the other person instead of because of them.

Not my favorite LJ Shen book, or maybe I was too burnt out from binge reading the first three books in the series in less than a week. Bane took me a little over a week to read, I wasn’t emotional connected with these characters. The topics were sensitive subjects but I didn’t feel they were explored enough to make me believe. It was a difficult book to read as it didn’t have the usual high angst and tension from her books.

Whew baby was Bane a character lol love me a morally grey MMC. I loved their relationship with one another, it was so mature. They were really made for eachother, both having been through things in life there was this level of understanding and respect. I will always be down for a dual POV in a romance and this did not disappoint. The ending was a bit too fast for me but overall I really enjoyed this story.

wow, what a ride! Bane is the ultimate bad boy with a heart, while Jesse is a fierce queen overcoming her past. Their chemistry is 🔥 and the story is packed with emotions and healing. Loved the blend of grit and humor, and Jesse's character growth was top-notch. Bane's laid-back surfer vibe mixed with his ambitious side was a bit of a contradiction, but it added to his charm. Check the trigger warnings, though – it gets intense. Overall, a must-read for fans of dark romance with deep, relatable characters. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thanks to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

LJ Shen never misses, and I loved this story of Bane (of her existence). The FMC has a seriously messed up past life, including r*pe, etc. so check those trigger warnings! She has essentially become a hermit, and Bane's main goal is to get her to live again. He gives major laid back surfer vibes, while also being a go-getter business man? That part was a little confusing and contradictory. Still, I liked the story, though not as much as the original guys.

This book is the kind of hot that makes you burn from the inside out with need, and not only is it hot but also emotional and intense with lots of grit.

Bane (Roman) is one of the most tentative bad guys. He's hot as hades, The stuff he does, and how he does it will have you drooling. His inner dialogue is absolutely hilarious, and I really hope the majority of peoples inner dialogue really is because omg the way he had me rolling from laughter.
Jesse, this girl is just an absolute queen 👸 and such a spit fire. I love the way her character was written as a survivor. You won't look at her as a victim, and honestly, I rarely cried. I believe L.J. Shens intentions are for us, the reader, to view Jesse the way Jesse wants to be seen and the way Bane sees her. He never treats her like a victim and rarely gives her slack.
I love how Bane empowers her and lets her be the one in control. Together, Bane and Jesse grow, heal, and become the best versions of themselves.
This whole book is just amazing! It has all the butterflies in your stomach feels proceeded by the girly kicks and giggles and dont forget the best part the tingles 🥵.
Believe me, you'll want to read this one because Jesse doesn't need a man to save her and Bane well, he's the bad guy we all need in our lives.
I can confidently say this book can be read as a standalone. I haven't read any of the other books in this series yet, and I never felt lost or confused.
L.J. Shen is now one of my top favorite authors, and from now on, whatever she writes, I'll read.

Favorite book quote: The demons inside her made her beautiful in a unique once-in-a-lifetime way. -Bane

⚠️ Check trigger warnings before reading your mental health matters.

Wow 🥵

This was an easy read with spice. I loved how hooked Bane was from the moment he started hanging out with Jesse. Jesse had great character development throughout the book especially with everything that happened to her.


Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and NetGalley for the arc!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

"You can't be afraid of love, my dear. It's like being afraid of death. It is inevitable."

Bane, looking for funding for his new surf mall, decides to strike a deal with a business man, Darren. In exchange for money, he needs to befriend Darren's stepdaughter, Jesse, who hasn't been the same since "The Incident", as she calls it, a couple of years prior. "The Incident" has left her traumatic, unable to really function in life, and Darren is hoping that Bane can bring her back.

This book was dark, with heavy themes and a lot of trauma to work through. It was difficult to read at times, only because it was so well-written and you really felt for Jesse. The change in her that comes through meeting and getting to know Bane is a work in progress and felt natural. You could see how she was gradually changing and getting stronger with him by her side. Meanwhile, you could also see Bane change as a person by getting to know Jesse. Together, they were healing.

As always, L.J. Shen has a way with words that just makes you breathless and heart aching because you feel so strongly for the characters and what has happened to them. The journey of Jesse and Bane makes you feel like you're rooting for two close friends, rather than fictional characters.

As mentioned, this book deals with heavy themes so please mind your triggers before you read it.

Thank you so much Netgalley & SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for the advanced reader copy & the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

You should add this to your TBR if you love these tropes:

- Bad boy/Good Girl
- Forced Proximity
- Trauma & Healing
- Friends to Lovers
- Revenge

I loved this so much. The banter between the two MCs is perfection and I love that this isn’t your average story where the girl is saved by the guy. No, this girl saves herself and her man stands beside her, cheering her on.
Random notes from my read
* I appreciate that Bane treats his dick like a sentient being
* Darren feels creepy to me
* Strawberry, banana, and cantaloupe doesn’t sound like a good combo. Cantaloupe is throwing me off
* Jesus Christ, that letter
* I hope those boys have the lives they deserve, where they’re going


Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with the DRC and allowing me to provide my honest review

i have been curious about Bane his book from the start of this series, and this book did not disappoint. this book might have been my favourite of the series. These characters were written so extremely well. The dark and bad boy side of Bane and seeing Jesse her growth after going through so much. Them helping each other and letting them be themselves and fully accepting each other their past was so beautiful to read. They both have many flaws, but love each other for it. Jesse deserves the world and Bane would do anything to give it to her. I loved their chemistry and you could feel their love through the book. Also, the spice.......was phenomenal.

Amazing story from one who II expect to be spectacular and Shen did not fail to provide us with a story we remember for some time. Bane was the perfect bad boy your mom warned you about which made Jessie is seemingly immune from him. But that is about to change and you will too reading their story!

Since its first publication in 2018, I had only read Bane once. With its re-release by Bloom, I jumped at the chance to rediscover the story between Bane and Jesse! Suffice to say, I discovered it in a new light and had a wonderful time in their company! I loved the development of each of these characters, who are dented by life but who pull each other up! They're really touching! And then, seeing the characters from the previous volumes is a real pleasure!

In short, a tome that I enjoyed rediscovering!

Depuis sa première publication en 2018, je n’avais lu Bane qu’une seule fois. Avec sa réédition chez Bloom, j’ai sauté l’occasion pour redécouvrir l’histoire entre Bane et Jesse! Autant dire que je l’ai découvert sous un nouveau jour et j’ai passé un merveilleux moment en leur compagnie! J’ai adoré le développement de chacun de ces personnages qui sont cabossés par la vie mais qui se tirent vers le haut mutuellement! Ils sont vraiment touchants! Et puis, revoir les personnages des tomes précédents fait vraiment plaisir!

En bref, un tome que j’ai pris plaisir à redécouvrir!

Though it’s set within the Sinners of Saints World of Todos Santos, Bane is totally different than the Hotholes. Equally amazing, but different!

The plot and character development - amazing! Such a delicious angsty ride, with humor woven in!

Definitely one of my favorites by LJ Shen to date!

Bane, otherwise known as Roman Protsenko, is a 20 something year old professional surfer/entrepreneur/gigolo/con man and I loved this character. Bane signed a deal to receive millions of dollars as an investment into his shopping center - Surfcity. Bane agreed to help the investor’s step daughter Jesse through a time time. He had to give her a job, court her, and not touch her. Bane didn’t know Jesse was broken by years of neglect and abuse. She had one friend, an elderly woman with dementia, her old dog, she ate kit kats and not much more, she ran 10 miles with five of them at 3 am every day to run away from bad dreams. She is one tough girl. The story is described as a modern day fairytale with a princess, a knight, swords, monsters and mazes.

Bane is part of the Sinners of Saint series by LJ Shen. Is it a standalone and it does not require a read of the other books. I first read one of her books in early 2018 and Bane was my book number 7 by Shen. She is one of my favorite authors and this one of her best books yet. Leigh Shen makes a reader love the characters that seem the most vile, mean, broken people. This book is about a strong girl and her knight. Jesse and Roman are one of my favorite all time book couples. If you are not sure take a chance, click on buy, borrow it from kindle unlimited or a friend. This is a must read! ❤️❤️❤️

Spicy dark mf contemporary romance. The author handled difficult subject matter well and the pacing was good. This is the second book I've read from LJ Shen and I'm officially a fan.

Dark romances are sort of hit or miss for me and I had a hard time with some of the subject matter in this one. I tend to like a very specific type of dark romance with alpha men who rule with an iron fist (basically the opposite of what I would like in real life). The male lead didn’t really do it for me, as in he’s not the kind of guy I would be attracted to, but that’s a completely personal opinion thing. I think the author is talented and wrote a story with a lot of action and character growth. She also dealt with really sensitive subject matter and I believe she handled it well. Unfortunately, it was the type of subject matter I don’t want to encounter in a romance, even a dark romance. Definitely read TW before diving into this one but I know many dark romance readers will love these characters and this story.

Bane is my first LJ Shen book, and it did not disappoint.

Jesse is such a strong FMC, going through horrible things but in the end, she persevered and came out stronger for it.

Bane a con, a thief, a liar, someone you would think doesn't deserve love. but maybe that is just what he needs. Especially when he falls hard for Jesse

“Bane,” by L.J. Shen

Jesse is struggling with social anxiety after a group of guys hurt her, until Bane shows up randomly in her life. Bane is struggling to find investors for his dream business he wants to open, and then a deal falls into his lap and also a lonely, mysterious girl that caught his eye long ago. Both are trying to heal from how the world sees them and might be able to heal each other.

I liked this book. It was a bit slow at times, but I liked the characters. I like the relationship with the mafia type feel but on a tropical island and all the overcoming traumas. It was very character driven and the plot was a secondary aspect like most romance books. 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you for the ARC. Netgalley.