Member Reviews

As someone who’s been a fan of Wattpad and fanfiction for over a decade, I’m no stranger to the world of romance tropes and drama-filled character arcs. The saint x sinner trope—virginal good girl nurse x bad boy playboy rockstar—originally reeled me in but it fell flat fast. Despite the characters’ tragic backstories, the characters seemed one-dimensional, and I didn’t even like them. That being said, I can see the appeal. If you love instalust then pick this up immediately, and if you liked series such as After, Beautiful, and Culpa Mia, this will be right up your alley.

Was this review helpful?

When the Saint and the Sinner cross paths, neither is searching for love—but the instant, undeniable pull between them changes everything. Loving Ben Cooper delivers a compelling story of opposites attracting in the most unexpected and electric way.

Sadie is the Saint—an idealistic, principled young woman waiting until marriage to give herself fully to her future husband. Ben, on the other hand, is the Sinner—a troubled rockstar haunted by a traumatic childhood. Carrying the weight of pain, regret, and anger, Ben struggles to cope, turning to self-medication instead of seeking the help he truly needs.

Their worlds collide in a moment of raw intensity when their eyes meet for the first time. The chemistry between them is undeniable, sparking an inner conflict: Should they resist the pull or explore the connection that makes them feel so alive?

As the story unfolds, you’ll find yourself captivated by their journey. Sadie’s unwavering principles and Ben’s broken but fiercely loving heart make for a deeply emotional and memorable romance. Their differences create tension, but their shared vulnerability and undeniable bond will tug at your heartstrings.

To see what the Saint and the Sinner choose to do with their explosive attraction, you’ll have to dive into this beautifully written story. Loving Ben Cooper will leave you falling in love with these two unforgettable characters and rooting for them to overcome their inner demons and find solace in each other.

Was this review helpful?

Loving Ben Cooper is an emotional read in all the very best ways. It is told in dual POV from Sadie and Ben's POVs. Sadie is your typical sweet girl who was raised in a religious household and has navigated through loss. Ben is your Rockstar. He is navigating addiction, stardom, and the limelight. These two opposites shouldn't be the perfect combination, but when they come together it is beautiful.

Their love is not one that is easy, nor is it a journey without pain. But their HEA is hardearned and well deserved. CC did a phenomenal job in conveying the very real path to their forever. Absolutely loved Sadie and Ben.

Was this review helpful?

Ben and Sadie has such a beautiful story, I'm speechless. If you're looking for a dark contemporary (and not your average dark, just soul crushing/toxic dark) read this book. Rockstar romance, bad boy/good girl, HOT HOT.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved Loving Ben Cooper! This book completely captured my heart, and I can't stop thinking about it. If you're a fan of broken, flawed heroes who are in desperate need of redemption, then Ben Cooper will absolutely steal your heart, just like he did mine.

Ben is the perfect "broken man"—the kind of hero who's so deep in his own darkness that you just know he's in desperate need of saving, even if he doesn't think he deserves it. His life is a chaotic mess, and he's spiraling further with every fight he gets into, every drink he takes, and every note he sings into the mic. He’s a man who lives for the moment, with no intention of changing, but that’s what makes his character arc so powerful. Watching him slowly transform, especially through his relationship with Sadie, was incredibly rewarding. You can see the potential for greatness within him, and I loved how Christy McKellen made you root for him to find redemption, even when it felt like an impossible task.

At first, I was wondering how someone as strong and virtuous as Sadie could ever fall for someone as reckless as Ben. But the way she sees through his brokenness and still believes in the good inside him just melted me. It's like she's the light he never knew he needed, and her faith in him slowly brings him back from the edge.

The chemistry between Sadie and Ben is electric—the kind that makes you feel every moment of tension, every word unsaid, and every stolen glance. But more than just their passion, this book dives deep into themes of forgiveness, self-worth, and the kind of love that can heal even the most shattered of hearts. Ben isn’t just looking for a way out of his pain; he’s looking for a way to be whole again, and I loved how Sadie’s love and faith were a guiding light on that path.

Ben might be a "bad boy" with a broken soul, but that’s exactly why I found him so compelling. He needed saving, and I loved every second of watching him realize that maybe, just maybe, he was worthy of something better. The redemption arc was beautifully written, and by the end, I was rooting for Ben to have his happily-ever-after just as much as Sadie was.

Was this review helpful?

Full disclosure: I read LBC after it was originally published and I loved it. Ben and Sadie’s story enthralled me. I was immediately and emotionally invested in their love. When CC announced she was revisiting their story, I didn’t think she could improve on perfection. WRONG. I was so wrong. CC has not only expanded on Ben and Sadie’s story but she’s given an even richer, deeper, and more emotional journey than before. What you have to understand about Ben and Sadie is that they could be anyone you know. Sadie is the one friend we all had who has strict parents and Ben is the bad boy we all were so drawn to. Ben isn’t perfect. Nope. He’s kind a mess but if you can go past that, what you see is his overwhelming love for Sadie. The man is so gone for her and he has to prove it more than once. Sadie has such an incredible arc. You will be so proud of her growth and how she handles the wild life she jumps into with Ben. While CC’s spice is always smoking hot (this book is no exception) there is a lot of emotional components to their spice and love. I am so happy I revisited Sadie and Ben. Turns out I still love them.

Was this review helpful?

What to Expect:
🖤 Saint & Sinner
🤍 New Adult
🖤 Rock Star Romance
🤍 Addiction & Recovery

Loving Ben Cooper by CC Monroe hit all the right notes, literally, in a spicy romance. With memorable characters, a touch of faith, and the power of music, this book brought a unique charm to the genre. This book left me speechless in the best, most heart-wrenching way possible. It reached into my soul, stirred up every feeling, and left me raw and emotional. I had to keep reminding myself these were fictional characters, but my heart didn’t get the memo. These characters earn their happily ever after, and you’ll feel every moment of their journey. I’m exposed, vulnerable, and completely in awe. Forever changed by this couple, forever in love with this story. Beautiful. Just beautiful. I can’t wait to see what else CC Monroe will write next.

Thank you to the author, CC Monroe, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a heartbreaker, and I did not (surprisingly) cry I had some heart pain for sure.
I really love CC Monroe and her writing style. This is my first rockstar romance I have read in a while, and it didn't disappoint. I can only describe it as quietly emotional. Even if ben is outwardly explosive - the mental health and quiet thoughts of Sadie had you in your own head about how you felt about it all. The emotional tug back and forth that Sadie has makes you feel the same. I really couldn't decide if Sadie should have stuck to her plans and put herself first or if it was the sweetest selfless thing to love someone so deeply and accept all of their flaws. It's kind of a hot take in the current dating scene about sticking with your partner through tough times. The mental health and addiction aspects felt extremely realistic and well described.

Sadie is a good girl - goes to church loves her family deeply. *Insert tom petty free fallin'
Ben is a rockstar on tour - deeply troubled childhood trauma that follows him around in the form of addiction and vices. But love falls fast and deep regardless of where you are in life. She is his saving grace but is he her downfall or her greatest calling?

This is a beautiful mix of giving up your life and giving chance for the one you love and warring with your brain on why she keeps staying with someone against all odds.

HEA

Even though this is something I would consider more of a contemporary romance check you trigger warnings. There is some serious (and gorgeous, raw & real) emotional depth about addiction and mental health.

Thank you CC Monroe & Netgalley for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

🎸 When a good girl falls for a rockstar bad boy, sparks ignite—and nothing is ever the same. 🎸

CC Monroe delivers a powerful romance that’s equal parts faith, redemption, and undeniable chemistry in Loving Ben Cooper. This spicy, emotional story dives deep into the lives of two people who seem like opposites but share a connection that’s impossible to ignore.

✨ The Story:
Sadie McCallister is a woman of unwavering faith, living her life by a strong moral compass and dreaming of a future with a man who shares her values. But when Ben Cooper—a whiskey-drinking, fight-craving, no-plan rockstar—enters her life, her beliefs and boundaries are tested in ways she never expected.

Ben lives in the moment, thriving on the chaos of back-alley fights and the raw power of his music. He doesn’t believe in rules or promises—until Sadie, his “saint,” walks into his life and makes him question everything. Their connection is electric, their differences stark, and the collision of their worlds unforgettable.

💔 "Ben Cooper—my very own sinner."
💔 "Sadie McCallister—my very own saint."

🌟 Why You’ll Love It:
• A classic good girl meets bad boy trope with depth and heart.
• A story about finding faith—not just in religion, but in love, life, and oneself.
• Sizzling chemistry that will have you rooting for Ben and Sadie despite their differences.
• Themes of redemption, sacrifice, and embracing the messiness of love.

CC Monroe’s storytelling weaves together passion, raw emotion, and personal growth, creating a romance that’s as thought-provoking as it is heart-pounding.

🔥 For fans of:
• Robinne Lee (The Idea of You)
• Opposites attract romances
• Stories of redemption and faith
• Spicy, emotionally charged love stories

💬 "Violence is my decadence, and music is my redemption. Until I found the most beautiful melody, fully dressed with a cross around her neck."

📖 #BookReview #CCMonroe #LovingBenCooper #GoodGirlBadBoy #RockstarRomance #OppositesAttract #SpicyRomance #FaithAndRedemption #EmotionalReads #BookLovers #MustReadRomance #BookTok #Bookstagram #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

Quick Summary: A rocker romance

My Review: Loving Ben Cooper by C.C. Monroe is book #1 in The Loving series. Originally released in 2017, it has a scheduled Wattpad WEBTOON release of March 2025.

About the Book: "When a good girl meets a rockstar bad boy, sparks fly."

In My Own Words: A self-proclaimed sinner meets a "good girl" whom he declares to be his personal saint.

About the Characters: Ben Cooper and Sadie Jay are flawed but endearing.

Ben - > His innocence was taken.

When Ben fixes his gaze on Sadie, he sees forever in a moment. Despite his personal demons, bad choices, turbulent times, toxic habits, and dark days, he sees her as his light. He finds his home in her. Will he allow the ghosts from his past to dictate the course of his present and future and lose the one good thing he's found?

Sadie - > Her innocence was given.

Sadie always does the right thing. She has a plan for her life. She is a good daughter. She is a good friend. She is forgiving of naysayers. She works hard. She stands firm in her purity plan. When she meets Ben, everything she thought she wanted changes, and the trajectory for her life shifts. Will her overwhelming feelings for him keep her from focusing on her goals and prevent her from staying true to herself?

About the Supporting Cast: The character considerations in this novel were people who were imperfect but real. Misfits, helicopters, enablers, mentors, friends, found family - they were all in there. People who were broken, well meaning, judgmental, supportive, and loving were practically written on every page. They helped to move the story forward.

About the Conflict: There were deep scars, multifaceted layers, and harsh textures in this story. Triggers were throughout. The book presented a complex mix of emotions, dilemmas, and struggles. There seemed to be a focused intent on communicating the message of light versus dark, good versus evil, sinner versus saint. Even in that, the interplay between the "good person" with not so "good" actions and the "bad person" with some "good" parts became evident as the love story unraveled and got clearer.

My Takeaway: Love is hard and it requires more from us. It often calls for us to do hard things. It calls for us to speak truth and to face untruths. It requires sacrifice, courage, strength, faith, and hope. It also calls for us to move beyond our greatest fears, as well as ourselves.

My Favorite Quote: "From the day I met him, this story was never mine. It was always his."

(When I read that line from the prologue, I knew that this story had me.)

My Final Say: I genuinely liked this story. This messy and complicated read brought tears to my eyes, in fact. It was a lot to take in. It was a NA that had emotional depth, mental anguish, physical pain, behavioral shifts and more. It was a rollercoaster of romantic expressions and tumultuous regrets. It was about a new and frantic love between two young people who fell truly, madly, deeply. It was about two individuals who were both immature and mature at the same time. It was a story that made a sobering claim.

In the end, what can be said about Ben and Sadie is that they were becoming who they were meant to be and finding their identity.

Other: Readers who enjoy reading NA rocker romances that are not tidy and neat, that are not easy but hard, and that call for grace and growth will love this one.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA to A
Re-read: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Special Note: This story will come alive as an audiobook. I highly recommend that it be considered for that format.

Sincere and heartfelt appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group | Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The words I have shared are my own. Please know that I am grateful for the opportunity to review this work. I look forward to further acquaintance with this writer's material.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a rollercoaster ride but in a good way. It sucked me right in, the connection between the 2 main characters was very well written and I loved it. Check trigger warnings but was a great book.

Was this review helpful?

Spicy Romances are my favorites and I was happy to have found Monroe's novel, Loving Ben Cooper. It combined great main characters, faith, and music for an enjoyable story. I look forward to more books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

Was this review helpful?

There is so much I want to wriite but it's hard when you are feeling speechlesss. This book caught me in my feelings and was so raw and emotional, I had to keep reminding myself that they were just fictional characters. I feel likey heart is exposed now.

Was this review helpful?