Stars- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (round to 5)
Spice- 🌶🌶🌶½
This book was rec'd in a book group I'm in. I knew I had to read it asap! I devoured this book in a few hours. This book is heavy, so let's break down the tropes and triggers and then we'll get into this review!
⬇️ TROPES ⬇️
🏍 Step Siblings
🏍 Bully
🏍 Possessive MMC
🏍 Broken FMC
🏍 Hurt/Comfort
🏍 Who did this to you?!
🏍 High School (both MMC's are 18)
🏍 MMC rides a bike 🤤
🏍 No 3rd act breakup
⚠️ Trigger Warnings ⚠️
⚠️ On page gr@pe
⚠️ Sexual Assault
⚠️ Suicide Ideation
⚠️ Cutting
⚠️ On page suicide attempt
The prologue immediately punches you in the gut. My heart broke for Ri. How could someone who was supposed to love and protect her, hurt her the way they did? It was awful 😭
Chapter 1 is Abel. He is 18 and recently lost his mom, so he is having to move in with his absent father, his new wife and her daughter. He has already decided he's going to make everyone's life hell on earth for the next 4 months until he graduates from high school. What he doesn't plan on, is the immediate attraction to Ri and all the ways he wants to break her.
Ri is 18 and about to graduate from high school. She has been mute for the past year. The abuse that she has to endure every weekend has broken everything in her. She is just a shell of a girl and no one seems to notice... until Abel arrives. He is the only one that truly sees her. EVERYONE in this girl's life has failed her.
Abel tries everything to get Ri to talk to him and open up, but she refuses. He makes it his mission to "break her" and make her talk, but he doesn't understand the depths of her trauma. Little by little, Ri starts to open up to him in her own way. Then the breaking point happens, and it's devastating 😭
From that point forward, Abel is Ri's voice. He protects her from everyone who looks at her sideways. He has a plan to keep her safe and he follows through.
The journey that these characters go on is heartbreaking yet beautiful. Ri is such a strong young woman, and I am so proud of her! In the end, Abel and Ri make a beautiful life for themselves and it was the perfect ending that they deserved.
This is the first book I've read by Izzy Ravas, but it definitely won't be the last! If you are looking for an angsty, step sibling romance that is on the darker side, this is definitely one you want to add to your tbr. Make sure to read the trigger warnings.
Break Me by Izzy Ravas releases on 3/13/24!
☺️ Thank you Izzy, for giving me an ARC! This review is my honest opinion.
*Below are some of my favorite quotes. These can be spoilers, so read at your own discretion.*
Sometimes memories are the worst form of torture because long after the physical torture stops, the memories remain. Slowly
I want to die. Death would be much preferable to being like this.
We face the mirror together, naked. “I love every inch of your skin,” he whispers into my ear, but his eyes are on mine in the mirror. “Every freckle, beauty mark, and scar. When we are older, I’ll love every stretch mark and wrinkle. You will never cease to be beautiful to me.”
This one time I pray to whoever will listen. Save her, and I promise I will never let her hurt herself again. I’ll tell her how much I love her. Please, just keep her alive.
You have my word, you have all of my words. Let me be your voice, Ri. I’ll speak when you can’t.”
Abel wraps his arms around my waist and buries his face in my neck. For once, I feel safe. I feel loved.
the head of my cock at her entrance. I take her hand and wrap it around my cock. “You put me inside of you. You have the power to put me inside of you, or not. If you do,” my mouth on hers, “you're mine forever.”
I made it. Abel saved my life and I am here because of him.