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Scars Too Beautiful
After getting shot in an armed robbery that left her face badly scarred, Ariel lives her life in a shell; surrounding herself with video games, horror movies, and delivery take-out, she'll do anything to keep herself from having to interact with the public. But Ariel couldn't let that numb, hollow feeling inside her grow any deeper, so she sought out the teenager who nearly killed her, searching for answers. What she found in the young Max, now behind bars, was more than she was looking for—healing and an unlikely friendship. A year later, Max and Ariel keep their unconventional friendship to themselves, knowing their families won't understand. When Max's concern for his older brother sets Ariel in Milo's path, Ariel's carefully constructed, quiet life changes rapidly. Ariel teaches Milo how to let go of the past and forgive, something he's been unable to do since his brother nearly killed her over $120 in a cash register. Milo helps Ariel learn how to embrace life, experience new things, and be brave despite her fears of being out in public. As hot as their love burns, when tragedy strikes, neither Ariel nor Milo is prepared to deal with the aftermath, and everything threatens to fall apart. This is a love story that burns hot, full of love, sex, tragedy, and triumph.
This work of fiction has been republished , rewritten , and re-edited under the same title, Scars Too Beautiful : a stand-alone, dual POV, age-gap, enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of steamy sex scenes, no cliffhanger, no cheating, HEA. At 77K words, it includes [content warning]: descriptions of very graphic/sexually explicit scenes intended for mature (18+) audiences only and off-page mentions of gun and prison violence, PTSD, depression, and death.
This work of fiction has been republished , rewritten , and re-edited under the same title, Scars Too Beautiful : a stand-alone, dual POV, age-gap, enemies-to-lovers romance with plenty of steamy sex scenes, no cliffhanger, no cheating, HEA. At 77K words, it includes [content warning]: descriptions of very graphic/sexually explicit scenes intended for mature (18+) audiences only and off-page mentions of gun and prison violence, PTSD, depression, and death.
- GenresRomance
258 pages, ebook
Published October 9, 2023
28 people are currently reading
2235 people want to read
About the author
Birdie D'Avo
10 books67 followersBirdie's life experiences inform her primarily character-driven stories. With the hopes of providing rich, complex, authentic relationships, most of her work includes strong female characters and "high-spice/open-door" scenes while dancing on the edge of darker-themed romance. Birdie writes the stories she wants to read. Find more at www.birdiedavo.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 5, 2023
Between the really bad editing and feeling like the author couldn’t keep her story straight, it was painful to keep reading until the end.
January 7, 2026
3.4 People are too mean to this book when there are real cases, especially where it’s set in Cali, of women forgiving and trying to rehabilitate guys who attacked them. This dude got scared during á gas station robbery and shot her in the face when she was á patron, giving her á black dahlia-esque scar. Yeah, the forgiveness and friendship is unlikely but that’s what makes it exciting. Plus, she said it took á long time and everybody else freaks about it, so that’s realistic.
It’s his brother Milo he wants her to check up on though, the tattoo artist who hates her for getting Max jailed. Yeah, she’s á little cliche she’s á rich girl loner who hates feminine things but that’s in the background. Their chemistry is all physical and not too subtle, the constant mention of skimpy clothes or muscles. The brothers not saying they know her is the unbelievable part, or at least it would still work if they knew but disapproved because it would still explain why they feel safe enough to try making up for what happened to her.
What’s annoying is how she says up front she doesn’t care about her scar but it’s all she talks about in dialogue when it doesn’t even make sense. If she doesn’t wanna be pitied or make his brother uncomfortable, obviously don’t mention it nonstop. She should have more PTSD and concerns that aren’t skin deep. More people should look away from her, and that make her feel lonely too. Also, how is she most hesitant to go out during Halloween with scars when that’s the one time they’d blend in? This is at least eventually addressed and when the romance/steam starts it’s actually cute (minus morning sex which makes me think of the bad breath) because she’s an awkward virgin and they both wanna be more caring.
Her friends aren’t interesting, nor her average video game/horror movie hobby. His tattooing is okay though he draws pretty standard emo things. I like the ten year age difference, which feels smaller because obviously that kinda dude isn’t all suit and tie mature. It’s mentioned early on he was married before so I was hoping his ex would come back and cause drama or something, being like you traded me for this freak who could ruin your life. We get some drama like that and it connects well to Max’s life too. Though it’s resolved way too quick and easy when she should be more pissed. She’s never scared of anything or too naive and it’s ill-fitting.
The parent situation is so cliche: rich former gov, starlet beautiful mom, maid who is the only warm one, girl fighting with them because she thinks they want her to be a lawyer though never said that. The girl is the most trite part of the book: “I’m not broken, I’m different,” “I just want to live, not like you,” etc indie movie teen (yet she’s of drinking age) girl parody. What doesn’t make sense though is she should have great gov security detail whether she wants it or not. She can’t see her parents very valid POV yet wants to be a therapist, ironic because she won’t get therapy. Yet fitting because most therapists are self-serving know-nothings.
Twist towards the end is great. Totally didn’t see that coming, especially how it did. The end, though I like happy endings typically, I don’t think they’d last IRL. He’s never good under stress and she’s not unique outside their trauma bond. Would be interesting to see another fam dinner though, haha. The pacing was decent for how long it is, always drawing me back and the plot well thought out, real life details that make this feel whole and more romance than sexy. Can’t totally hold plain Jane MC against author because it seems to be á genere or modern thing, á la Twilight.
It’s his brother Milo he wants her to check up on though, the tattoo artist who hates her for getting Max jailed. Yeah, she’s á little cliche she’s á rich girl loner who hates feminine things but that’s in the background. Their chemistry is all physical and not too subtle, the constant mention of skimpy clothes or muscles. The brothers not saying they know her is the unbelievable part, or at least it would still work if they knew but disapproved because it would still explain why they feel safe enough to try making up for what happened to her.
What’s annoying is how she says up front she doesn’t care about her scar but it’s all she talks about in dialogue when it doesn’t even make sense. If she doesn’t wanna be pitied or make his brother uncomfortable, obviously don’t mention it nonstop. She should have more PTSD and concerns that aren’t skin deep. More people should look away from her, and that make her feel lonely too. Also, how is she most hesitant to go out during Halloween with scars when that’s the one time they’d blend in? This is at least eventually addressed and when the romance/steam starts it’s actually cute (minus morning sex which makes me think of the bad breath) because she’s an awkward virgin and they both wanna be more caring.
Her friends aren’t interesting, nor her average video game/horror movie hobby. His tattooing is okay though he draws pretty standard emo things. I like the ten year age difference, which feels smaller because obviously that kinda dude isn’t all suit and tie mature. It’s mentioned early on he was married before so I was hoping his ex would come back and cause drama or something, being like you traded me for this freak who could ruin your life. We get some drama like that and it connects well to Max’s life too. Though it’s resolved way too quick and easy when she should be more pissed. She’s never scared of anything or too naive and it’s ill-fitting.
The parent situation is so cliche: rich former gov, starlet beautiful mom, maid who is the only warm one, girl fighting with them because she thinks they want her to be a lawyer though never said that. The girl is the most trite part of the book: “I’m not broken, I’m different,” “I just want to live, not like you,” etc indie movie teen (yet she’s of drinking age) girl parody. What doesn’t make sense though is she should have great gov security detail whether she wants it or not. She can’t see her parents very valid POV yet wants to be a therapist, ironic because she won’t get therapy. Yet fitting because most therapists are self-serving know-nothings.
Twist towards the end is great. Totally didn’t see that coming, especially how it did. The end, though I like happy endings typically, I don’t think they’d last IRL. He’s never good under stress and she’s not unique outside their trauma bond. Would be interesting to see another fam dinner though, haha. The pacing was decent for how long it is, always drawing me back and the plot well thought out, real life details that make this feel whole and more romance than sexy. Can’t totally hold plain Jane MC against author because it seems to be á genere or modern thing, á la Twilight.
June 13, 2023
This might be the worst book I've read. It's really badly written, unimaginative, with prose as if it was written by a teenager. Unfortunately, the book is disappointing and does not captivate the reader. The first-person narrative feels very cheap. It reads like bad diary entries from fifteen-year-olds. It all sounds amateurish. I cannot count the times I was rolling my eyes at the cringy dialogue or the cringy narration. The characters are flat and dull despite the author trying hard to portray them as complex and unique. The story is shallow and it lacks any depth or interesting elements. The plot is predictable and very unoriginal. Every storyline and character (the "romance," the parents, the ex, the friends) is pulled from the book of cliches. The author thinks a girl playing video games is the epitome of cool.
Most of the book is filled with unnecessary descriptions of what the characters are wearing, which does not really add anything to character development. The "romance" between Ariel and Milo also lacks any depth. We are to believe they have this amazing connection, and we get about 150 pages of detailed (albeit bad) sex scenes between them, but barely any real conversation that makes me think these two have a connection beyond sexual attraction.
It feels like the book is catered to teenagers. But I don’t think it offers teenagers anything of literary relevance (art, creativity, imagination, immersion). Overall, the book is not inspiring and fails to offer any compelling or thought-provoking moments.
Most of the book is filled with unnecessary descriptions of what the characters are wearing, which does not really add anything to character development. The "romance" between Ariel and Milo also lacks any depth. We are to believe they have this amazing connection, and we get about 150 pages of detailed (albeit bad) sex scenes between them, but barely any real conversation that makes me think these two have a connection beyond sexual attraction.
It feels like the book is catered to teenagers. But I don’t think it offers teenagers anything of literary relevance (art, creativity, imagination, immersion). Overall, the book is not inspiring and fails to offer any compelling or thought-provoking moments.
December 21, 2022
This book features an age gap romance (9 years) where there is a much more innocent woman and a more experienced man, illusions to PTSD, gun violence, and prison violence
This book follows Ariel, who is the victim of a random shooting, as she has forgiven and befriended her shooter, who though he is in prison has owned up to what he has done and expresses remorse. She visits him often, and he asks her to check in on his older brother, Milo. Milo is hateful at first, seeing her as the easy person to blame for his family and personal life going to hell, but they are able to form a connection that eventually becomes romantic.
I liked this book quite a bit, but I did feel like at some points things got started and then did not get finished. An example would be, Milo thinks to himself how Ariel just believes her scars make her so ugly and how he thinks she must have lingering PTSD from the accident that even she doesn't notice, but then nothing else comes of that. I would have liked to see some of those things wrapped up a little neater.
This is a book that is definitely worth checking the triggers on before you read it, and at some points it seems like the author is checking off tropes to hit, but overall it was a good book and a quick and enjoyable read that had me crying in a couple of spots!
This book follows Ariel, who is the victim of a random shooting, as she has forgiven and befriended her shooter, who though he is in prison has owned up to what he has done and expresses remorse. She visits him often, and he asks her to check in on his older brother, Milo. Milo is hateful at first, seeing her as the easy person to blame for his family and personal life going to hell, but they are able to form a connection that eventually becomes romantic.
I liked this book quite a bit, but I did feel like at some points things got started and then did not get finished. An example would be, Milo thinks to himself how Ariel just believes her scars make her so ugly and how he thinks she must have lingering PTSD from the accident that even she doesn't notice, but then nothing else comes of that. I would have liked to see some of those things wrapped up a little neater.
This is a book that is definitely worth checking the triggers on before you read it, and at some points it seems like the author is checking off tropes to hit, but overall it was a good book and a quick and enjoyable read that had me crying in a couple of spots!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2023
Exquisite story
Ariel's life changed one night when she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Two years after the incident she's left with permanent scars on her face and her soul. But she copes. Seeing Max twice a week helps. Even it be is in prison. Her neighbors Kitty abs Maura help too. But then Milo walks into her life and be is someone she wasn't counting on.
I would rate this higher but it needs to definitely go through an editorial proofreading clean up.
Ariel's life changed one night when she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Two years after the incident she's left with permanent scars on her face and her soul. But she copes. Seeing Max twice a week helps. Even it be is in prison. Her neighbors Kitty abs Maura help too. But then Milo walks into her life and be is someone she wasn't counting on.
I would rate this higher but it needs to definitely go through an editorial proofreading clean up.
May 19, 2023
This man needs a swift kick in the ass.
February 21, 2023
I received this book as a giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to everyone involved.
I'm not entirely sure what I thought of this book. I thought the healing that happens between Ariel, Max, and Milo was beautiful. It felt honest, intriguing, and realistic. I don't have any personal experience to relate me to Ariel, but I D'Avo does a beautiful job exploring how the trauma of that day can reverberate between Ariel, Max, Milo, Ariel's parents, and the friends of Milo and Ariel.
I probably would have rated Scars Too Beautiful as 5 stars, but I really didn't like the sex scenes. They turned me off so much. That being said, that's just because what was written was the complete opposite as what I would want. I imagine for many other people reading this book, they will absolutely love the sex scenes. They're not badly done, just not what I like at all.
Even with that, I might not have rated it 5 stars, but I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe the emotions or cause/effect didn't feel earned? Maybe it just needed tighter editing? I really don't know. However, it was still a beautiful story. I would recommend reading it.
I'm not entirely sure what I thought of this book. I thought the healing that happens between Ariel, Max, and Milo was beautiful. It felt honest, intriguing, and realistic. I don't have any personal experience to relate me to Ariel, but I D'Avo does a beautiful job exploring how the trauma of that day can reverberate between Ariel, Max, Milo, Ariel's parents, and the friends of Milo and Ariel.
I probably would have rated Scars Too Beautiful as 5 stars, but I really didn't like the sex scenes. They turned me off so much. That being said, that's just because what was written was the complete opposite as what I would want. I imagine for many other people reading this book, they will absolutely love the sex scenes. They're not badly done, just not what I like at all.
Even with that, I might not have rated it 5 stars, but I can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe the emotions or cause/effect didn't feel earned? Maybe it just needed tighter editing? I really don't know. However, it was still a beautiful story. I would recommend reading it.
July 24, 2025
Heart wrenching
This is the 1st I've read by this author but they've set a high bar here. This covers all the feelings. We enter the story 18mos after the shooting. She's physically healed, mentally recovering, and has been talking to the boy that shot her for a year. But we still feel all the emotion of it. We may be late to the party but the way it's written you don't feel like you missed a lot. My only complaint is the miscommunication trope isn't just heavily used, the readers are practically bludgeoned with it. The 1st incident, ok, yeah, I'll forgive it. But knowing the ex's manipulation tactics, the next incident shouldn't have been so overblown. And cheap apartment or not those locks should have been changed. Honestly. But that's my only complaint. Otherwise this was a sweet, lovely, tragic, and heartwarming story.
And best of all, the author believes in editing! Not something you see a lot of in the KU books. But it was such a welcome sight.
This is the 1st I've read by this author but they've set a high bar here. This covers all the feelings. We enter the story 18mos after the shooting. She's physically healed, mentally recovering, and has been talking to the boy that shot her for a year. But we still feel all the emotion of it. We may be late to the party but the way it's written you don't feel like you missed a lot. My only complaint is the miscommunication trope isn't just heavily used, the readers are practically bludgeoned with it. The 1st incident, ok, yeah, I'll forgive it. But knowing the ex's manipulation tactics, the next incident shouldn't have been so overblown. And cheap apartment or not those locks should have been changed. Honestly. But that's my only complaint. Otherwise this was a sweet, lovely, tragic, and heartwarming story.
And best of all, the author believes in editing! Not something you see a lot of in the KU books. But it was such a welcome sight.
January 17, 2023
Surprised
A story very full of emotion. The author writes about tragedy and how to deal and eventually overcome it. I didn't like the incident that happened at the end. I didn't feel that it was necessary to get the reaction from the characters ( and the reader ) in this way. You might want to grab a tissue for it. Overall it was a really good book.
A story very full of emotion. The author writes about tragedy and how to deal and eventually overcome it. I didn't like the incident that happened at the end. I didn't feel that it was necessary to get the reaction from the characters ( and the reader ) in this way. You might want to grab a tissue for it. Overall it was a really good book.
December 29, 2022
I think that this book was really entertaining to read. I liked the characters and am always a fan of a dual POV. I think that the romance between the two main characters seems a little rushed and unrealistic at points, but overall it was a good book
December 28, 2022
Emotional
Emotional story about forgiveness, and finding love. I cried from beginning to end. Will recommend for age 18+ due to gun violence and sexual content.
Emotional story about forgiveness, and finding love. I cried from beginning to end. Will recommend for age 18+ due to gun violence and sexual content.
January 11, 2026
My Favorite D’Avo book yet
Ended too soon. Characters might be dark and broken at times but I found myself rooting for from the very beginning.
Ended too soon. Characters might be dark and broken at times but I found myself rooting for from the very beginning.
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October 17, 2023FREE today (October 15, 2023) on Amazon.
February 4, 2023
It took me awhile to really get into this book because the writing style comes across as a bit juvenile, but I'm so glad that I did. It's an interesting storyline and I loved the way that things played out. I made the mistake of reading this inbetween sets and the gym when I was getting close to the end of the book, and I could not put it down.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews