Salt

Deviant Records #1

by Bex Dawn

A Dark College Rockstar Why Choose Romance Coming Soon....

Genres: Why Choose, Dark, Dark Romance, M M F, M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, College Romance

433 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2024

Reviews

[mads ! · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretend you don't see me reading this.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excellent concept, but poorly executed.

I LOVED the idea of a mute FMC struggling with trauma and mental health. Add in the death of her family at the hands of a stalker and I was in. The concept is very similar to the WITSEC series by Ashley Rostek, which I love.

However, I think the concept was poorly executed in this story. It’s clear the author wanted to create a sense of mystery around what happened to Lakelyn (formerly known as Aria, also known as Alynn) but it came across as intentionally vague. There were flashbacks to nightmares which didn’t elaborate on Lakelyn’s trauma or memories and the only premise we had to go on for why Lakelyn is mute is the prologue.

The guys in this book are up and coming rockstars who are also struggling with their own mental health. But their connections to Lakelyn felt superficial and not believable.

There is an enormous amount of prose and description that also seems unnecessary to progressing the plot (literally, a single day is 200 pages). While I see the need for inner monologue for a mute FMC, the amount of prose seemed excessive.

I really wanted to like this story but it fell short for me. This is my 3rd book by this author and while she writes trauma extremely well, the character and plot development can’t keep me interested.

[Rebecca Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read ‘Salt’ by Bex Dawn… and HOLY GUITAR PICKS… this BOOK is 🤯🤯🤯! (FYI, I’m not affiliated with the author and there are NO spoilers! 🙌🏻)

Like… how does this book NOT have THOUSANDS of ratings on Amazon right now 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️?! It’s SO freaking good 👏🏻! Hands down 🫳🏻, this was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ➕ read. Yep, you got it. I said PLUS ➕. If I could give it more than 5 STARS, I totally would!

Okie some things to know FIRST 👆🏻. This is a DARK Contemporary Rockstar 🎸 Romance (Why Choose) that has a bit of STALKER 👀 action, mystery 🔎, and a bit of a M/M feelings within the love interests. This is SPICY 🌶️ and is marked as Er0tic Literature & Fiction on Amazon 🔁. And it is oh boy … SO GOOD 🥵! That being said… there is TONS of plotline that doesn’t revolve around the SPICE and the steam 🔥 definitely DOES NOT overpower the story.

Honestly 🤚🏻 y’all, I couldn’t put this book down 😮. It GRIPPED me from the very first words that gave me chills 😨, all the way to the massive CLIFFHANGER 🪨 ending! If I lost you with CLIFFHANGER… please 🙏🏻 … please 🙏🏻 … PLEASE 🙏🏻🙏🏻… DO NOT let that discourage you! It is a DOOZY… not gonna lie 😅, but the book itself is just SO good, that the Author deserves the ratings and recognition NOW! Like RIGHT NOW. Not to mention, all of us who have read it want more book besties 👯 to play the guessing 🤔 game!!!

What’s the guessing game you ask?!! Well! This author is MASTERFUL 🧠 with mystery, misdirection, and red herrings! Just WHO is the STALKER 👀? I have my own idea 💡, but this was laid out SO INCREDIBLY well, it really could go several different ways 😵! Although, I personally think the villain is soaring to new heights as far as future twists 🌪️ go- if ya know what I mean 😉😘

So what is this book about ⁉️ Well! I WILL NOT give spoilers… but I WILL say that we have a TORTURED 😭 SOUL FMC that CANNOT talk 🗣️… so we immediately connect emotionally ❤️‍🩹 and want to see her overcome the trauma 🥺 that has occurred (essentially, off-page.) Heads up folks! This DOES mean that there’s tons of inner monologue. I mean, the FMC is mute 🤐, so it’s the nature of the beast! But even though I typically prefer quite a bit of dialogue myself, I absolutely didn’t mind that this book is inner monologue 🧠 heavy. The plotline is so GREAT 🤩… I was page-turning like crazy to see how it would all turn out! And the guys… the GUYS 🍆🍆🍆🍆! OMG they are fantastic 👏🏻. ALL OF THEM. I typically go for the broody alphah0les in books, but I gotta say… I love me a little Ozzy 😍.

My biggest WARNING ⚠️ though is that this book is gonna PULL at your emotions. Your gonna feel sympathy 💐 , empathy ❤️‍🩹, anger 😡- man oh man you are gonna H@TE 🤬 a certain lady that is supposed to offer 💰 AID, not get LAID 🍑🍆… omg that needs to be a new mantra for this lady 😂… “Offer AID, Don’t Get LAID!” OH that reminds me… I gotta say, the nickname of the trashcan 💦 … LMAO 😂🤣😂

Ohhhhhhh and words legit CANNOT express how UPSET 😭 I was at the turn of events towards the end…. Bex Dawn… you did me DIRTY girl 😫😫! I LITERALLY want to CRY 😭, throw my book 📕 , and hug you at the same time for making me feel this way! DANG… when a book completely tears you up like this 😫😭😫😭… you know it is EPIC!

So if y’all like a great mystery 🔎, a STALKER 👀, a FMC that is a TORTURED 😭 SOUL, smoking HOT 🥵 MMCS, and an ending that will make you think over EVERY character in the book wondering if they could possibly be the one 🔪 … give this a shot. It’s free on KU and you never know, it may CONSUME 🧂 you too!

‘Salt’ by Bex Dawn

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lakelyn, Ozzy, Brax, Ezra, + King

-whychoose
-rockstar romance
-so many secrets
-mute fmc
-hidden past

y’all i am fucked. up. by this book! BEX! what the hell! WHAT IS GOING ON!!! 😭😭😭🤯🤯🤯 like i can’t believe you just ended it right there & did me dirty like that!! how am i supposed to go on living?! i need to know how this goes for this crew like i need air to breathe!

[Katie Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Am I alright after that cliffhanger?? Absolutely not until I have that next book in my hand😫

Tropes:
- Why Choose
- Rockstar Romance
- Twists/Turns/Secrets
- Mute FMC

Ezra, Kingston, Ozzy, and Brax honestly knocked down my defences as much as Lakelyns. I would highly recommend reading the TWs of this book before reading as it does contain heavy aspects.

This book honestly had me gripped I couldn’t put it down🔥

Thank you so much to the author for providing this e-arc for my honest thoughts 💭

[Mandy Robitaille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Screaming/Crying because I need book 2 now!

I knew going into this that the cliffhanger would likely wreck me and it did. I devoured this. Couldn't get enough. So excited for the next installment in this series.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received an ARC for this book)

This book ends on a cliffhanger!

Trigger Warnings include:
suicide, suicidal idealization, stalking, rape, bullying, therapy sessions on page, discussions of child abuse/neglect and foster care, participation in helping another selfharm

Of all the cliffs Bex has dangled me over, nothing could have prepared me for this one! This is the perfect mix of all the things I love about all her why choose connected series and her standalone Sin with Me. There is so much heartbreaking depth to these characters, but they’re so easy to love. As always with Bex’s characters, I was simultaneously in protective mom mode while also sweating through my pants. This was such a perfect starting place for these characters’ stories. Ozzy sweet talks his way into anything he wants, and melted every time. Ezra is a grade A butthole, and I love him so much. Braxton is barely even there, and it continuously hurt me (and everyone else). It took too long to be properly introduced to King, but he was worth the wait! He’s a little bit more of a mystery, that I am READY to discover! The bond between each of them sent my heart into a tizzy! And we can’t forget about Lakelyn! But I’m not going to say anything about it…but I HAD to mention her! I feel like I’m being forced to by those band members that were instantly addicted to her. Bex has a beautiful talent of giving so much information without any answers. Just more questions and puzzles I’m dying to solve! And I canNOT wait to figure everything out!

little storm: 12
little wraith: 3
pretty girl: 3

My Favorite Quotes:
• “Before this is over, you will scream for me. You will beg me to stop. You’ll cry for mercy. But I won’t stop. Not until you’re gone. Even then, I may follow you to the grave.”
• “Tell me, beautiful. Tell me you want my c!ck so deep inside you, I’ll never get out. You’ll never not feel me stretching you wide, fucking you hard.”
• “You taste like destruction.”
• “F!ck the walls the world has made you exist behind. You don’t need a cage, you need the sky. You need to learn to let go and exist, or life will bury you before the Reaper's even claimed your soul.”
• “Do you want me to tell you all about my day or would you rather hear about the f!cked up, filthy thoughts, I can’t stop myself from thinking about you.”
• “What I think is killing you the most—what’s really fucking destroying you—is that you can’t stop picturing him and I spreading you out and devouring you. Together.”
• “You think your damage makes you weak, but it doesn’t. It makes you unstoppable. You’re a force of nature. My perfect little storm.”
• “Every goddamn inch of you is perfect. Like I concocted you in my f!cking dreams and now here you are, splayed out and desperate.
• “You’re soaked, baby. Knew you would be. Knew you’d make a mess like a good little girl.”
• “You never need to beg. You want our c!cks, you get them.”
• “Cover him in your c!m so I can clean it up. I’m f!cking dying for a taste of you.”
• “You going to spit our c!m down his throat so he can finally taste me?”
• “If you think I’m letting you go after that, you’re fucking crazy. You’re mine.”

7/10 Dirty Birdy
7/10 Enemies to Lovers
6/10 Slow Burn
6/10 Why Choose (eventually Poly)

[Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 31 %

Let me start by saying I don’t like RH but I wanted to read this book because the TW list is really an advertisement list for me lol. And so imagine my surprise when that’s not even the reason I DNF.

This book was all over the place and made not a lick of sense. Lakeland is new to college and really new to school in general. She’s never been. I think it’s unclear if she is homeschooled before this or if because of whatever what’s happening in her life prior to her attendance at Groveton, she wasn’t able to attend school, but we know that this is her first time in a formal school setting. We also know that she is a virgin, and she is mute, and she doesn’t really like to be touched by other people. And YET…. she is basically attracted to everybody that she meets. And I don’t mean in a just acknowledging that someone is nice looking or just describing the other characters in the book in flattering ways. I I mean, like she literally is ready to it feels like hump everybody around her, and yet simultaneously doesn’t want anybody to touch her like she’s adverse to handshakes and other random touches that she’s not expecting.

At one point her another girl in the book and what will eventually be one of the MMC’s seem like they’re gonna have a three-way in the stairwell? Again I stopped the book at 31%. The MMC haven’t even been established. I know he’s one of them because of the synopsis, but if I had gone in blind. It’s definitely not clear that he is going to be a definitive love interest yet. But here she is attacking his mouth in the stairwell out of nowhere. It just doesn’t make sense.

People also go out of their way to warn Lakeland that this college is full of super rich, assholes that only care about status and money and she’s kind of the oddball out as the “scholarship student” like apparently there is literally only one scholarship available for one student and you have to apply each semester.

So knowing this, we are then introduced to some of the MMC‘s and these guys apparently don’t have any money either, but they run the school. 🤨 They are popular, because they are musicians…… in a school full of trust fund brats, and people that are expected to run like fortune 500 companies in the future? Make it make sense. More than one of them come from broken homes they don’t come from money. This would all be fine if the author hadn’t established the backdrop, and the type of school that these people are attending. But with those facts it really does not make sense that these broke musicians are running the show at a school full of the country’s “elite“.

These guys are so hard up that one of them actually trades sexual favors with the secretary to try to get his scholarship paperwork pushed through. Which again that whole scene did not make sense, and he is apparently smart enough to go to the school, but not smart enough to realize that a secretary Would not have enough power to take away the one scholarship available from another student.

I mean, if you’re looking for a reverse harem that is basically checking off a trope list I guess sure read this. But if you want an actual book that was written with what feels like an ounce of thought and care this is not it. And I hate to be that harsh but Literally not one thingmade sense.

[Nichole Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, be sure to read the trigger warnings before diving in.

What to say besides OMG! This book had me hooked almost immediately. Roller coaster of emotions and some twists and turns that kept me guessing. When I got to the end I screamed NO! How could the book end there?! The cliff hanger literally had me hanging on the edge. I need to know what happens next IMMEDIATELY!!!

The characters are so three dimensional. As the book goes on you learn more and more about them and you begin to feel for those that you thought you'd hate. Even with 6 different POVs this book does not suffer, in fact I think it helps to know what is going on in the mind of each of them and why they are so driven in the way they were. Each and every person is grieving and hurting in one way or another and as the book goes on you just want to see things be better for them.

Lakelyn and Ozzy have a connection almost immediately, and Ozzy is such a sweetheart. He wants Lakelyn, to protect her and care for her. She is slow to trust him and open to him, which is expected with her trauma, but every time she finally lets him in a little more, you can feel his heart expanding for her.

Ezra and Brax don't love her the way Ozzy does, yet they are still drawn to her. There is a fine line between love and hate, after all. As much as they say they dislike her or want to destroy her, they can't help the pull they have to her. And Lakelyn is also confused by it. They are mean and seething with rage as they bully her, but she doesn't back down, and is for some reason turned on by some of the ways they treat her.

King is a wildcard. We don't know too much about him, as he doesn't have much presence until the last few chapters, but that doesn't make a difference, because in the short time he's around, it makes an impact on the story. His thoughts and feelings about his friends, about Ozzy and eventually even Lakelyn.

None of them can figure out what it is about her that draws them all in and has a hold on them. And from everything we read, it sounds like she will either pull them together or break them apart, as she becomes an important part in their life. Filling the missing spot that Soren left in them.

I'm excited to see where the story goes from here. How will the guys react with what happened to Lakely, what they think she willingly did? Who hurt her now? Who hurt her before? What will the guys do or think when they learn the truth about Lakelyn's past and her trauma? Who told Ezra to watch and protect Lakelyn and why? So much to unwind the further this story goes!

[Misscocoshanell · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎤Salt🎸
Bex nails it yet again!
I’ve spent the past couple days thinking about this book and the emotions it took me through.

This is a 3 book series
We have Lakelyn our FMC
and The Deviants w/ 4 MMC
Ozzy,Ezra,Brax,King

Salt starts with Lakelyn enrolling in Groveton. She’s been through trauma and my heart breaks for her throughout the book .She struggles a lot within herself as well as adapting to the outside world around her,and she’s had a traumatic incident that has now left her unable to speak.

However in spite of that she instantly connects with Ozzy out of the 4 deviants he falls for her pretty much instantly they have such a strong connection. I can’t wait to see that progress within the series.😍

Her relationship with the other deviants Ezra and Brax is the opposite their drawn to her just as Ozzy however they don’t like her but yet can’t look away either she has an affect on them which irritates them even more and it tugs at something deep within, and then we have Kingston “King” he’s the oldest of the guys and he’s mentioned throughout but appears towards the end of the book but he’s just as drawn to lake as the others.

There’s so much story to tell and all of these characters are dealing with so much pain and many secrets and in need of healing. This book touches on a lot of heavy topics surrounding mental illness. Please check the trigger warnings.

I’m excited to see how the story progresses and after that cliffhanger. My oh my😩 I wanted to turn the page for more!

✨Arc Review✨

〰️Release Date〰️
4/30/2024
✨Rating✨
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
〰️Spice〰️
🌶️ 🌶️/5
〰️Fav Quotes〰️
“You’re so fucking beautifully broken, and you don’t even see it. You think your damage makes you weak, but it doesn’t. It makes you unstoppable.” -Ozzy

“You’re a force of nature, Lakelyn Asher. My perfect little storm.” -Ozzy

“Ride Ozzy’s face like you’re taking his perfect, fat 🍆. Cover him in your 💦 so I can clean it up. I’m fucking dying for a taste of you.” -King

〰️Tropes:〰️
- Why Choose (mmfmm)
-Bully Romance
- Rockstar Romance
- Twists/Turns/Secrets
- Mute FMC
-Stalker
-Hidden past
-Enemies to lovers
-College
-Bi Awakening
-A lot of Spicy Kinks (Throughout the series)

[Emmi (bookish_redpanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format: 📱 eBook 📱
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Check TWs on the authors website before diving in.

This was an absolute whirlwind of a read. I'm still trying to piece my thoughts together about it, to be honest. This book is the epitome of a rollercoaster ride of all possible emotions, which ends on the biggest cliffhanger where you're stuck going "but..." and frantically trying to turn for just one more page.

Lakelyn... this girl has been through a lot. We get glimpses of what truly happened as the story progresses, in a way that keeps you guessing until the very last page. And even then, there are still so many unanswered questions, which leave you longing for the next book in the series. It's hard to say more without giving spoilers, but oh my god, this girl. Watching her journey through this book was both uplifting and heartbreaking, and you just wanted the best for her with each little thing that got unveiled.

The Deviants. AKA Salt. Kingsley, Ezra, Braxton and Ozzy. We definitely see more of some of these boys than others through the narrative, but they all make up a pivotal part in the long run. I still feel there's so many more secrets with them, too. Each is still grieving from a painful loss that happens before the start of the book, and it's truly shaped them into the individuals we read about. They're cocky and confident, oozing charisma, sexuality and danger. But Ozzy... he grabs your heart from the start, and you can't help but want him to succeed.

This is an incredibly character driven book, which I would highly recommend. But do bear in mind your triggers, as this does teeter on the edge of dark. We see deep into mental health, mental ill-health and the products of catastrophic events. I honestly cannot wait for the next part in Lake's story.

Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity.

[Elizabeth Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lakelyn you lucky...

Once again Bex Dawn has knocked it out of the park with Salt, the first in the Groveton College why choose series. Bex does the most amazing job sucking you into the details of the characters lives and building these amazing story lines that just get deeper and deeper.

This is the first of a College Rockstar series which gives us the story of Lakelyn, a mute orphan who is attending her first year of college/school ever. We get glimpses through flashbacks of what has "broken" her and stolen her voice but it isn't until the cliffhanger at the very end that we find out just who she really is. Meanwhile, the first month of school for Lakelyn is anything but dull. She has caught the eye of the Deviants; a group of merry misfits that don't fit the rich kid college sterotype who don't belong at Groveton. Enter Ozzy, Braxton, Ezra and King who are also suffering with a metric ton of baggage and are drawn to the storm cloud that is Lakelyn. This book was a wild ride and just the beginning of what is sure to be an epic story.

Do yourself a favour and read the heavy trigger warnings that Bex puts out at the beginning of the book. DO NOT go in blind and be upset by what you consider offensive. It's laid out right at the beginning and is definitely not for the faint of heart. This is dark, raw, dirty, hot and steamy smutty reading.

If you haven't read any of Bex's other works then definitely check out every single one of her other books and read the trigger warnings carefully. The Tricotomy of New York and Los Diablos series are both nearly complete and amazing reads while you sit waiting to find out what happens to Lakelyn next.

"I knew it. You're the storm. You try to hide in plain sight like the wind, invidisble, leaving nothing but the ghost of your presence behind. You are chaos, and lightning, anger and pain."

[melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything.
I don't even know where to start. I honestly have no words.
The emotional roller coaster that ends on a cliffhanger...

ps. Ozzy is everything.
Salt by Bex Dawn is a tempest of emotions, a symphony of secrets, and a rollercoaster ride through the hallowed halls of Groveton College. Brace yourself, because this book will grip your heart, twist it, and leave you breathless.

**The Deviants:**
Ezra, Kingston, Ozzy, and the formidable Brax—these men are more than rockstars. They're a storm, a force of nature. Their confidence oozes danger, and their allure is magnetic. As they invade our heroine's life, the chemistry ignites, threatening to burn down her carefully constructed defenses.

**Secrets and Vulnerability:**
Our heroine harbors secrets—dark, haunting, and suffocating. Bex Dawn masterfully peels back the layers, revealing the fragile threads that hold her together. The weight of these secrets is palpable, and you'll ache for her as she grapples with her past.


**Final Verdict:**
*"Salt"* is a symphony of pain and pleasure, a dance on the edge of vulnerability. Bex Dawn's writing is poetic, her characters unforgettable. If you're ready to be swept away, dive into this book. Just remember to breathe.



*Note: This review was written while holding my breath.*

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Willie Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lakelyn, a freshman at Groveton College, is unable to speak following a traumatic incident. Surrounded by unkind and hostile individuals, along with facing bullying from the Riots, she feels extremely vulnerable.
Then, Sunny, Penny, and Ozzy entered her life, and she cherished them all. Ezra, Kingston, Ozzy, and the impressive Brax – these men transcend being mere rockstars; they are like a tempest, a powerful force of nature.
It's filled with mystery, betrayal, lies, and twists that will render you speechless. And I can’t believe the story just ended like that!

Things to know

Why choose, College, Rockstar/band, Virgin FMC, MM, Bi-awakening, Found-family, Stalker, FMC on the run, Bully, Enemies to lovers, Hurt/Comfort, Mention of suicide-past, Death of a parent on page, Attempted murder on page, Murder on page, Suicide attempt, Cutting, Self-injurious behaviors including food denial/vomiting, Attempted sexual assault/rape on page, Bully within harem

Kinks (ACROSS THE WHOLE SERIES, not just book 1)
Stigmatophilia-tattoo kink
Somnophilia-sleepy kink
breeding/marking/bc tampering/filling/stuffing/claiming etc
Blood play
Knife play
Primal Play 
Electrostimulation?? Maybe
Brontophilia-stormy kink
Cock warming-in the puss
Exhibitionism-lots
Orgasm Denial
Watersports-the yellow kind
Forced Bathroom Control 
Choking/Breath play
Fear Play
Pain Play 
CNC/non-con
plus more to come?

[Pyro Aleksandr · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Reverse harem
College
Rockstar/band
Mute Virgin FMC
MM
Found-family
Stalker
FMC on the run
Bully
Enemies to lovers

Bex, oh Bex. We need to talk. Firstly thank you so much for allowing me the ARC of SALT. Secondly where do I send the bill for the therapy I need now I’ve finished it and you left me in an emotional moist state.

Let’s go!
We got our FMC, Lake. Past trauma has made her mute. The demons this girl has. The battle she fights everyday just to breathe. Wasn’t her choice to run but it was hide or die.

King + Ozzy + Ezra + Brax and fuck it I’m going to Soren. The parts with Soren had me cute girl crying (sue me, I’m cute when I cry). The way Ezra talks about him, I couldn’t cope. Just kept breaking me down and down each time one of the boys mentioned him.

Enough of the sappy, and on to the stabby.

Where do you even start with these guys. Foster Brothers, found family. All the traumas, all the kinks and the mouths on them.. grab a towel cause you’ll need it. Oh did I mention they are in a band. They aren’t boys with full bank accounts, they have done everything for themselves and each other. Their bond unbreakable..right?

King, the leader. Ezra, the hacker. Brax, the dick and Ozzy, Ozzy fell first, hard, dirty and it was delicious.

This book ends on a cliffhanger, this book will have you itching for more. There are so many secrets, so many questions that’s needs answering and now we wait for book two.

[✨✨ Claire✨✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love my bully academia reads and this has to rate one of my new faves.
So many added extra genres, tropes and interesting story lines doesn't over power the story, only makes it that more interesting.

Our FMC, Lakelyn, is a mute, triggered by severe trauma, starting a new life in Groveton College in Texas. The usual bullying of the new girl begins. But she also draws the attention of all the members of the group called Salt. Each has their own issue, not to mention Braxton twin brother who took his life at the beginning of the semester that's affecting them all.

This is very much a slow burn RH. we also learn that some of the guys are bi which adds so much spark it burns.

We start to learn more about Lakelyn and by the end you're begging her to try and find her voice...

I'm desperate for the next book yo come out!! I didn't know it wasn't until I finished this so im just gonna have to wait!!!

But it's one I'm going to be picking up that's for sure!!!!

Recommend..... But be sure to read triggers. There are alot of Mental health issues crossed on this, and altho covered extremely well, if it's something that goes trigger you... You should be warned.

A slow burn, rock star reverse harem, Bully academia, secrets to be revealed, Enemies To Lovers start of something great to read!!

Look forward to Sin!!

[Catie M | SmuttyCocktails · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars 3/5 spice
I’m obsessed with Bex Dawn’s writing it is intriguing, spicy, captivating and always leaves me with my jaw on the floor. I wanted to read a spicy book and I knew just the author to read and boy did this not disappoint. I couldn’t put it down and my mind is still reeling from the ending. Much like her other books I’ve read I NEED more! What a wild ride. Be warned and read trigger warnings because this book is heavy on mental health and you should always prioritize your mental health when reading. That being said I think Bex has a way of conveying hard topics in a manner that is so eloquent. She describes the struggles many of us have and the relief and euphoria of poor coping strategies that many people get sucked into. It’s not always easy to read but my god does she do a good job of helping people be seen.
This book has multiple points of view as Lakelyn Asher goes to a prestigious university plagued with bullies mean girls and a darkness that can’t quite be described. Trying to fly below the radar blows up in her face when she becomes the object of the schools bad boys. One likes her, one hates her, one trying to destroy her and one doesn’t even know her… yet. Things get dark, spicy and will have you screaming for the next book!

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It's possible my mistake is coming into this series/world so late...I had no idea (when looking for the second installment of this story after the cliffhanger) that there were already like 15 other books in this world. It's totally fine to read as a standalone, but I would also bet that if you've made it this far with the author/world, you know what you're getting into and you like it, so that may skew the reviews a bit.

I almost DNF'ed at 65% because it felt like just nothing was happening, everything was vague and honestly not that mysterious. But I kept on, although I'll admit I did some skimming as she monologued about random stuff.

I didn't love that we found out the big reveal about her past in the last chapter...it honestly doesn't make that much of a difference, and she played up the entire story about how ~*~weird~*~ and stifling it was that this man wanted to take care of her, even though we find out it's very normal by the end. And certainly not enough of a reason to like, not have enough money for food or rent when it could very easily be provided.

Anyway I don't love the shaming from Brax at the end. You can be angry with someone and in a bad mood without shaming them for something that happens when they're clearly impaired.

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of book you read and after you just stare at the wall in despair unsure of your next move….dont ask me how I know that

Bex dawns writing was nothing short of amazing in this I felt every words and every scene she wrote,down to my core.there are parts of this book that I hope to carry with me forever I just know this book will stay with me always.

When I tell you I was invested in these characters I wasn’t kidding especially our mc there were moments I related to her heavy and moments where I just absolutely felt for her and all the cards she had been dealt in life.

The reverse harem in this book is also one of my favourites. Every guy I really loved and I’m so here for the slow burn happening between so people but Ozzy has to be one of my favourite mmc he was so freaking attentive and all around perfect guy (don’t ask me how I feel about him after the end 🧍🏾‍♀️)

As im writing this I’m still finding it hard to find the right words to describe this book because in some ways I don’t feel like I can. is there enough words that exist to say how good this was between the plot the authenticity of the characters,the angsty moments,the sweet moments,the scary moments.bex’s writing was just saw raw I feel like she’s just cut me open and after the ending just left me out to bleed

[Megan Hall-Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

she did it again with yet another phenomenal book baby

Bear with me in my review with ms brain to put it simply because what I want to say is jumbled inside but also this story has left me speechless in ways I connect to Lakelyn and as I finished Salt by our girl I have utterly fallen in love again, cried, and was on the edge every moment needing to know or want more.
Bex you made me fall in love again. Any book of yours will forever have my heart and my soul but this is about Salt and the world you created that left me wanting, no needing more. Lakelyn has been through so much but when things get weird she pushes forward like the princess-NO the queen she is... Lake's story hits home in familiar ways I cannot get into because, no spoilers but I will say this is a must want-need read. If you read please read from start to finish and take in it all and walk in the shoes Lake was forced to do and try to unlock this phenomenally written mystery. If you love anything written by my girl the you already know this will be just as phenomenal.

[Kristy Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

That ending was brutal! I loved this book, loved these characters, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to just go about my life while I wait for the next one to come out 😭

This book gave me a bit of Pretty Little Liars vibes, in an RH, college setting… overly hot characters, petty drama, plenty of mystery, a bit of suspense, and I immediately wanted more as soon as I finished.

I love these characters. They’re not perfect, but you can see how they’re broken and hurting, trying to make their way through the pain. I hurt for them too, especially Lakelyn with that ending… she came off of having an amazing night, feeling like she’d made friends and was actually enjoying her life, and then everything was decimated the next day.

Not really a complaint, but for a book about people who love music, there’s surprisingly little actual music content in the book… we haven’t seen Salt perform yet, Lakelyn hasn’t picked up a guitar…. I hope that’s coming in the next book!

And Ozzy better give Lakelyn a chance to tell her side of the story!!

[WhatsSheReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need book two immediately because after that ending there's questions I need answers to.This book had a vice grip on me from the star, I absolutely loved that the FMC was Mute because it was something different and it was of the many reasons I was excited to read the book, and with her difficulty to communicate verbally we get an inside look into her mind, her inner conversations and how she processes things as she takes on Groveton college and everything it has to offer.
Oh the guys, lets talk about them Brax, King, Ezra and Ozzy I love them I mean how can you not and I also liked learning about them, the things they use to cope when they need to escape from reality and the different personalities, no two are the same but they still fit together like the perfect puzzle but I have to admit that Ozzy is my favorite he's such a big Teddy bear of a guy and knowing he would be hurt after the events in the end just breaks my heart and that's another reason why I need book two because I know I need know how he's doing and I need to what come next

[Tedra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad

I can respect anyone who can put pen to paper & actually publish a book or books.
But this was not very good. Not the characters, not the dialogue, not the plot. Nothing.

I couldn't tell you what was going on except bullying, a lot of sh*tty friends, college, college "adults" that spoke like 16 year olds.
An FMC who really isn't a mute, has a cl*t that gets "zapped" with desire & a whole lotta other things, insta lust & bullying.
Things were very vague, no idea why the FMC was fake mute(I ended up skimming because nothing happens).
The ending didn't make sense either.

Lastly I HATE having to search all over to find detailed trigger warnings. The author says check her website but has none- the link in the book was broken & Google took me to a website that had about 30 TW's on it & some weren't even in the book.

No I won't be continuing

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lakelyn wants a fresh start but her past is not willing to let her go. She is a strong woman that works past her panic attacks to make things work for her but people are not kind when you’re the new girl and catches the eye f the Devaints.

Ozzy, Brax, Erza and King…… Lakelyn meets are separately but has an instant connection with them all. Feelings and thoughts are shared and actions are taken. The heat is turned up that will Shirley burn those that try to put the flames out.

Be warned, it has some parts that are hard to read so if dark romances are not your thing stop reading. It ends in a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next like my next breath.

This will be the time of your life.

[Chantelle Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salt

This is a dark RH college romance that ends on a cliffy 😫

I completely devoured this book, like could not read it fast enough, hated that I had real life responsibilities type of book.

Lakelyn is starting over in TX at a prestigious college. A traumatic past has left her mute. While her goal is to stay hidden and keep a low profile, she catches the eye of The Deviants on her first day. With The Deviants come the Riots, their loyal followers and they don’t want anyone touching what’s theirs.

This book has so much suspense and mystery mixed in with heat and darkness and I truly can’t get enough. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!!

I received an advanced copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I got into the story and will read the second book since it ended on a cliffhanger. The FMC did king of annoy me at times though. I’m not sure why she thought that everyone should just KNOW she’s mute without telling them. Then she’s mad whenever she doesn’t try to communicate in anyway with someone speaking directly to her and they’re understandably confused. I also don’t understand the whole thing with her not speaking to Rick or taking anything that he gives her? The whole book it made it sound like the strings attached to her accepting them was something detrimental, but the back story just made it seem like he wanted to protect her? Idk trying to give her the benefit of the doubt that we don’t know everything yet.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and Lakelynn, although my heart broke for her. The people around her are snide and horrible and with the bullying added in from the Riots, she is so fragile.
Then came Sunny, Penny and Ozzy. I loved them all. They all seemed to care so much and Lakelynn grew in strength. I also may or may not have lusted after the remaining Deviants, there's a kitchen scene which is particularly hot! But there are also mysteries abounding, a code known only to two, a threat from Lakelynn's past and what strings do Rick's gifts come with? The lack of trust becomes almost palpable and then comes the ending. It just blew everything away.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride Salt takes you on. Bex does a great job at keeping you guessing of what is going to happen. This book does have some very real triggers that could trigger people please please read the trigger warnings to find out if you should read this book or not. There is resources at the end of this book if you need them. The cliffhanger that is left from this book is in true Bex fashion. I cannot wait to read about the deviance, the riots, Sunny and Lakeland. let’s not forget all of the other side characters who could very well turn into main characters in this book. I highly recommend this book.

[Amber Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was unsure diving into another college romance. But boy oh boy is this far from any other college romance. It’s dark, twisty, and thrilling. Each chapter has me wanting more answers but at times left me either even more questions! This is not an easy why choose as who wants to choose the bullies? But Lakelyn is determined to hold her head high no matter the demons in her head or in real life. I cannot wait for book number 2 to find out how this story plays out. I need more Ozzy, King, Brax and Ezra.

[Katelin S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love a good broken FMC and MMC’s who fix her. Waiting on the second part of that but it’s going to be SO GOOD when it happens! If I could have an Ozzy & King sandwich, I’d d!e a happy lady. Lakelyn has my heart, the poor girl. I love her little vulnerable moments with one of them, and her spicy times between them all.

Her bestie cracks me up and she’s a much needed light in all of their darkness. Though it makes you wonder what she’s up to! That ending is a deadly twist & I am counting down to book 2 to get some answers!!