Six Feet Under

Mad Love Duet #1

by Whitney Barbetti

Six wasn’t the hero I needed.

But he was the man I wanted.

And it was my selfish craving, the desire to own him, that would be our undoing.

No one tells you that love is a disease. An infection that tears your heart apart, leaving you half the person you were before. A malady that leaves open wounds. An invisible disorder tracing scars in the places you couldn’t see if you weren’t looking for them.

I was sick, but love didn’t heal me.

Instead, it festered in my marrow, and drove me to unforgivable mistakes.

Six was my first mistake, but he wouldn't be the last.

Genres: Romance, Dark Romance, Dark, New Adult, Abuse, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

557 pages, ebook

Published April 25, 2018

About the author

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I am the author of new adult and contemporary romance novels. Please visit my website to see all of my current novels.

Reviews

[Dri ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★ 4 “Every beginning has an end” stars!! ★

“You look so beautifully wild (...) Like a thunderstorm, right before it unleashes its fury.”

Mira me deixou em um conflito constante. Personagem única. Impulsiva. Intensa e imprevisível. Um verdadeiro furacão. Foi extremamente difícil acompanhar seus passos e não sentir raiva, indignação e revolta com suas ações e ao mesmo tempo compreeder o seu estado emocional. A sua luta diária.
Ela conseguiu—com sucesso—despertar todos os tipos de emoções em mim; boas e ruins.

“I'm not a man of a thousand words. I don't speak to fill the gaps when silence suffices.”

Eu ainda não tenho uma opinião formada sobre o Six. Personagem enigmático e misterioso. Apesar de gostar de ver como ele era com a Mira, porque em muitos casos a pessoa já teria desistido há tempos, há algo sobre ele que eu ainda não consegui desvendar ou entender. Não tenho plena certeza de que todas as suas ações foram realmente genuínas. Ainda tenho um pé atrás com ele.

“Like a parade through my heart, a storm over my soul. It wasn't a fall; it was an explosion, obliterating my life. What had been nothing had become everything. Love put me in a chokehold.”

Sobre o relacionamento dos dois: uma verdadeira montanha-russa! A maneira como tudo deu início ficou meio sem sentido pra mim, ainda mais devido as circunstâncias...
Apesar de todos os anos, todas as situações emocionalmente extremas que compatilharam eu não fiquei totalmente convencida desse amor. A impressão de que ainda eram “estranhos” permaneceu comigo.

“His love was the free fall; my love was the rough landing.”

Uma das coisas que mais gostei foi ver o crescimento da Mira no decorrer da trama. Pequenas mudanças, porém significativas.
A raiva que senti dela no início foi substituida por simpatia e terminei o livro gostando da personagem, o que honestamente achei que seria impossível.
E a outra foi o tema, o enredo. Assunto da qual precisa ser falado sim, debatido diariamente.

“Sometimes pain is more than just a feeling. It’s a thing that lives in me. I’m wound so tight that I’m suffocating. (...) It’s better to hurt than to be numb.””

SIX FEET UNDER foi uma leitura conflituosa, intensa, crua. A narrativa da autora é ótima e com uma fluidez incrível. Esse livro me causou um cansaço psicológico e emocional que não recordo a última vez que senti algo parecido.
Curiosa para descobrir como será o final de Mira&Six.
Espero que o próximo seja ainda melhor, pois não espero nada menos do que li aqui!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review posted on: Ashes Books & Bobs.

Oh, my heart. I'm not even halfway through this book at the moment of writing this, but I had to stop and quickly jot down thoughts before I've forgotten them.

This book explains the substance of our feelings as humans. The main thing all of us want is to be loved unconditionally, to know no matter how much we screw up we won't be left and alone. There is so much hurt and ugliness in the world, it's hard not to be a little broken.
Six is the epitome of steadiness. Is he Jesus? Or Mary Poppins? Because he is practically perfect in every way. I could gush for hours about this book, and I will, but now I must get back to the story.
...............

"My flaws pushed against my skin, trying to make themselves more pronounced under his scrutiny."
...............

Dear Whitney Barbetti,

What have you done to me? Besides obviously writing one of the very best books I have ever had the privilege of reading, you have turned my heart to mush. My feelings are currently a jumbled mess and I don't know what to do with myself. I came here to write my thoughts, but they're all over the place. The bottom line is this: every woman needs to read this book because every woman has a piece of Mira embedded in them.
You have captured the essence of mental illness in a way I have never before experienced. I was living inside of Mira's head, desperate for her to find a way to fight her demons in a healthy way. I felt like I was Mira - trapped, anxious, alone. Your writing made me visit pieces of myself I have long since tried to forget, while allowing that visit to be practically painless. Mira didn't make me feel bad about myself or alone in the struggles I've faced.

Thank you for using the power of your words to effect change. Thank you for the story you have told and the feelings and understanding you empower your readers with.

Now, relinquish Pieces of Eight so my heart can heal!

My Love for You is a 10,
Ashley
...............

"Groups made me feel insecure, intimidated. It was easier to be alone, easier to be me, easier not to see that I was such a different breed of animal from so many others.

...............
Dear Reader,

If you pick any of the books I recommend this year, I hope this will be the one. I would give it 6 stars if I could. Mental illness is a hot topic these days and one I'm ashamed to say I've been a tad annoyed with at times. Sometimes it seems as if the world is pushing us all to say we're mentally ill, and we all have huge issues or need medication. I don't like the pressure. However, I will say I have been ignorant in understanding what being mentally unwell means. There are tons of books with characters in difficult circumstances, describing their needs for help, but none of them have hit me in the heart like Six Feet Under. No other piece of literature or news broadcast has helped me understand and get in the shoes of someone with the issues Mira faced like this one.

I have been close to people who have struggled with self-harm, while I have struggled alongside them as Six did. Unfortunately, beyond giving sympathy for their struggles and feeling hurt by their actions, I was never truly able to understand their mindset. Six Feet Under gives us, as readers and humans, the ability to empathize and grasp the turmoil inside someone's mind.

Mira is hard to like infuriating at times, but she's real and painfully honest. I don't have the words to adequately describe how well her story is written. Mira's character is all-encompassing. By the end of the story, you will feel her in your bones and will crave more time with her, despite the hours you've already invested. The growth she shows is tremendous and arduous. She moves one step forward and two steps back for years, allowing us to feel the growing pains through every part of her journey.

Six is the perfect example of unconditional love. I honestly can't imagine enduring as long and as well as he did. Though he had some downfalls and moments where I was annoyed with him too, he has to be one of my favorite male-leads. He is a rock in the hurricane that is Mira. Although, there is still a huge air of mystery surrounding his character and I'm dying for the second half of this duet to give me the answers I desperately need!

I want to note, if you've struggled with mental illness, self-harm, alcoholism, or drug use this story may be a huge trigger for you. If you are still recovering or are susceptible to relapsing, please reconsider reading. I fear the feelings of this novel could make a person itch for these particular vices. 

This novel is dark, gritty, and heartbreakingly painful, but it is also inspiring, instructive, and healing. I loved every raw and ragged moment and the mystery still to be discovered. This is a lengthy novel that didn't feel long enough.

I hope you will consider buying one of the best books I have ever read! I am ecstatic for the follow-up, Pieces of Eight, releasing May 10th!

Happy Reading,
Ashley

[Whitney Barbetti]

Sneak peek at a tiny part of the synopsis. Keep in mind, this will be a dark book. The title alone should tell you that.

____
I kissed death more than once.

Angry lines cut across my arms and throat and thighs, marking the paths I followed to meet my creator.

But each time I kissed death, Six pulled me out.
____

Follow me on Facebook for updates, or join my fan group.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I liked this one A LOT! It's definitely not your same old story line.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ★'s

“On a scale of one to ten, how much do you love me right now?”

This is a story about a girl with a mental illness. And that mental illness makes her cut and take drugs and drink and take all kinds of crazy, reckless, irresponsible chances. She lies and she steals and the list just goes on and on. And it makes you wonder what in the hell does this good looking, wonderful, great guy named Six sees in her? It's hard to not wonder if he's up to something. Was he hired by her Mom? And what about Cora, is she Six's? There’s a lot of unanswered questions.

I really loved this book. The angst was out of this world amazing but don't get me wrong, the first half (at least) is really depressing and I can see it turning a lot of people off. But I hope more of my angst-lovin' friends pick it up because it is sooo worth it!

Mira's had a pretty f*cked up life. Her mother was no mother any child would want and she barely survived her childhood. Now she's a young adult in San Francisco barely able to take care of herself. She was definitely on a downward spiral (ever see Intervention?) but thank goodness for Six.



Six is a mystery and the reason this book didn't get five stars because we don't get his POV at all. Not even one flimsy little chapter and I'm so bummed about it. I felt like half the book was missing. To be fair, we do get a few answers later on in this book and the next but it's in no way enough.

And did I mention that these books are long? This one is 557 pages and spans almost ten years but don't worry because it will suck you right in and like I said, you will be left wanting more.

So, the heart of the story is whether or not Mira can overcome her addictions and become a contributing partner in her relationship with Six. Her journey was heart wrenching at times and heartwarming at others and you can't help but pull for her.

That ending though? That was a killer! (And still unanswered questions!) Thankfully, the next and last book, Pieces of Eight is already out. You don't want to miss this!

[talon smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sometimes, in moments like that one, I wondered at all the love I held for him. Love that seemed too big for me to contain behind my ribs."

Years. That is the amount of time I have waited for this story from Whitney Barbetti. Weeks. That is the amount of time it took me to read and devour this book. That's not a bad thing though. It's quite the opposite. I beta read this book for Whitney and she sent me bits and pieces at different intervals of time. I am so glad I read it that way because the level of deep that Whitney digs into with SFU consumed me and then buried me whole. I needed those bits and pieces and I needed those days in between (no matter how much I begged her for more). One day. That is how long it took me to read the entire book once I received my ARC copy. A lifetime. That is how long this book will stay with me.

"This was my advantage; I knew that love was a disease for me. Love was contagious and my immune system was weak so abstaining from men outside of a purely physical connection was my only choice. The only way to keep myself sane."

I feel like if I sat here and talked about the things that drew me to Mira, we would be here for days and I would have eventually have a novel wrote. She spoke to me. Not just to me as a person but she spoke to my soul, to my emotions, to every single part of me. I'm not sure if Whitney meant to craft a character who does that so easily but, she did. Watching Mira really figure herself out was magical. As the pages flip and the years pass it was so fascinating watching Mira transform into the person she was meant to be. It was a struggle, of course but that struggle was so worth it. When I closed the book I pictured her to be this baby dragon that all of the sudden emerges from it's ashes as the majestic fucking dragon she so deserves to be.

"You look so beautifully wild," he said, "like a thunderstorm, right before it unleashes its fury."

Whitney's writing in this book is fan-fucking-tastic, and I never use that type of language in my reviews. I just cannot get over it. It's like a whole brand new side of her that I have never read before so that was very exciting for me and something I wasn't quite expecting.

Quite a few of these scenes had me holding my breath. They had my eyes welling up with tears and my heart squeezing so damn tight I thought my anxiety would take me out along with Mira. A lot of the moments between her and Six shook me to my core. I felt it in my bones and I shook with emotions as each year passed by with more and more growth of Mira.

With SFU I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I knew it would be spanning years and a lot of things would be going on but the story line and the plot that Whitney was following never faltered. Not even for a second. The flowing of the story and the writing was just incredible and I love the direction that she is heading towards. What I do not like, is that I have to wait for more. Pieces of Eight cannot come soon enough!

A lot of people are probably reading this review and saying "ugh, Talon is friends with Whitney, of course she loves this book." You guys, I do not play like that. What Whitney has created in Six and Mira's world is something I have never felt or read or even experienced before. It's truly MAD LOVE. The kind that our souls need. The kind we need to save ourselves. Because contrary to popular belief, sometimes we do need someone to help save ourselves from well, ourselves.

I have also bumped this book up to my top five so HOW BOW DAH! Grab this book, ya'll. Let Mira engulf you. Take over you. Soak her up and take her all in. She's one hell of a female character lead. The best kind of sea creature there is.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me with this book-

[Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sometimes pain is more than just a feeling. It's a thing that lives in me. I'm wound so tight that I'm suffocating. It's better to hurt than to be numb."

Iniziamo subito con dire che questo libro fa male al cuore. Six Feet Under è una storia che ci fa conoscere Mira e Six, una coppia già conosciuta nel duet della Barbetti 'He Found Me' e hanno anche qualche apparizione in 'Ten Below Zero'. Quando lessi quest'ultimo, sono rimasta subito attratta da questi due misteriosi personaggi, e quando scoprii che la Barbetti avrebbe creato un duet tutto per loro, non potei fare a meno di buttarmici subito sopra appena arrivati fra le mie mani.
Six Feet Under è raccontato in un periodo lungo ben 10 anni, è infatti un libro lungo, e non essendo una fan dei libri eterni, ero un po' scocciata, ma penso che ne valga la pena di leggerlo dall'inizio alla fine, perchè l'autrice si è presa il tempo giusto per raccontare tutta la loro storia, o comunque la prima parte.

Mira ha problemi mentali sin da bambina, sente delle voci nella testa, voci che le dicono che cosa deve fare, come fare e quando fare. All'inizio del libro è poco più che ventenne, e si sfonda di droga e alcool dalla mattina alla sera per riuscire a far tacere queste voci continue. Non ha un lavoro, non ha vita sociale, gli unici soldi che riesce ad avere sono quelli che ruba per poi comprarsi la droga. Fino a quando una sera viene aiutata da Six, dopo che è stata male per avere sniffato della coca scadente, e da lì inizia una sorta di amicizia strana.
Six rimane incantato da Mira - lui è davvero dolce con lei, non è il classico bad boy stronzo che la tratta di merda, no, è un uomo maturo che ho adorato dall'inizio alla fine - nonostante lei non capisca il motivo visto che è un casino vivente, e nonostante lei sia una vera stronza e una dura, lui non demorde. E gli anni passano, loro continuano ad uscire insieme e si ritrovano adulti, ancora insieme, innamorati e forse un po' cambiati. Ma il lavoro di Six e una cosa del suo passato li metteranno in pericolo.

"I don't want to be bad when I'm around you."

Non voglio dire di più, è un libro che va assaporato da cima a fondo. Mira è un gran bel personaggio, nonostante sia impulsiva e casinista, so bene che una malattia come la sua non riesci a controllarla, neanche l'amore guarisce tutte le ferite, ed è una cosa che ho apprezzato molto. Mira, nonostante sia innamorata di Six e dopo ben 10 anni sono ancora insieme felici e contenti, non è guarita e molto probabilmente non lo sarà mai. Il finale straziante ne è la prova. Vi giuro, quel finale mi ha uccisa completamente, ero furiosa, volevo picchiare qualcuno.
Ora aspetto di leggere Pieces of Eight, e anche se io non amo l'HEA, qui non posso fare altro che sperare che Mira e Six ritrovino la strada che li riporti uno accanto all'altro. Sono come due pezzi di un puzzle, per essere completi devono stare insieme.

Un romanzo struggente, faticoso, straziante, che vi farà strappare i capelli dal nervoso. Bravo Barbetti, mi hai fatta piangere.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

"But every beginning has an ending"

To be honest, I have no idea how I really feel about this book. Six Feet Under targets a heavy topic. A topic you most likely only truly understand if you walked in the same or at least very similar shoes. And I think Whitney did a tremendous job, creating such a broken character. Mira is so selfish, I couldn't bring myself to really like her or to see what Six might be seeing in her. But at the same time I felt so sorry, for both of them.

"I don't embrace the dark; it embraces me."

At the beginning I thought I might be able to understand Mira. Because mental illness is nothing new to me. But Mira is really a mess. She's broken in so many pieces, that she seems to be beyond repair. So it's hard for me to form a connection with her. It was also hard for me to see why Six fell in love with her and why he tolerated her behavior. And as much as it seems that he actual helped her, I don't think he did.
Mira changed for him. Everything she changed was for him. That's not healthy. IMO you need to change for no other than yourself. You yourself want to get better, to change for yourself. So no wonder Six and Mira's story unfolded the way it did.
Throughout the story Six almost morphs into a side-character. At least from my point of view. We almost no nothing about him, except that he selflessly loves Mira and vaguely what he does for a living.

"As long as you're fighting, you're living."

Even though it's pretty hard to write a story about this tough subject, Whitney did an amazing job creating Mira. She's very much real and believable. Therefore I pay my fullest respect to the author.

Unfortunately I had some trouble getting into the story and forming a connection with the characters. The story is a slow-burn with almost no action and about the first 30% felt like things are on repeat. However I think this book is not for everyone and either you love it or not. Sadly I'm somewhere in the middle. I'm impressed about what the author created, but I guess it's just not for me.

"Love was the vehicle for my madness, and Six was in the driver's seat."

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Laura Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Feet Under (Mad Love Duet #1)
By Whitney Barbetti
4.5 Stars

Well my goodness what an emotional journey Six Feet Under took me on. This is not a glitter and sparkly rainbows story. It’s one that gives you a wounded young lady who is dealing with mental illness.

Mira has heard voices in her head since a young child. Voices that tell her to do things that you and I know are not what we should do. But to Mira, those voices give her freedom.

Growing older, she found that along with the voices, now you add cocaine and pills to the mix and you get even more freedom…

Now add in self harming and Mira is flying high!!!

One step away from total self-destruction, Six walks into her life. He’s a very mysterious man who doesn’t open up to anyone. What Mira feels when she is around him is something she has never felt before. The voices are telling her it won’t work. The drugs are telling her to be free. The cutting allows all self-doubt to escape.

Six is a very patient man though. He has seen Mira at her worse times, has helped her to feel for others. But something is telling Mira that Six has picked her as a charity case. One that maybe he can save.

This is a very long book!!! One that sucked me in and had me suffering right along with Mira. Was a story that although is fiction, made me understand more about people with a mental illness. I appreciate authors who write about such things and mention about how people who are suffering can get help.

With that being said, I need book two….like stat!!! That ending… **Gasp**

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[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5. Não entendi ate agora como Six encontrou Mira naquele estado e se sentiu atraído por ela. Não estou comentando do aspecto físico, mas do emocional, sabendo como ela era.
Ele fez tudo com tanta precisão, não sei. Difícil, pois só li o ponto de vista dela. Não sabia o que realmente se passava na cabeça dele.
Mas como a mente humana é um universo.
Livro profundo, emocionante e enigmático.
Você convive mas nunca irá conhecer quem está do seu lado.

[jaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ✧

❝You don't love me because it's easy. It's not an easy love, what we have.❞
❝What kind of love is it?❞
I pursed my lips as I looked at him, mentally examining all the feelings I had for him. Lust and love battled with rage and heartache, but every time they fought, love won. ❝Mad love.❞

❝You kiss me with lips that have loved another,
And you tell me words that you've said before,
And I let you myself pretend for a moment that you are not the sum of your memories.
I tell myself these lies so you don't have to.❞

[Ana Vizentim · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 “On a scale of one to ten, how much do you love me right now?” Staars

To be honest, I have no idea how I really feel about this book.
There are so many unanswered questions that I can't understand...
Her recovery...
How he loved her despite all her problems...
Lydia and Cora/Andra...

I really don't know how to feel about this book.....

[Mandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!! I’m having so many raw emotions about this book! It was so beautifully written! I cried, and then cried some more! I can’t even describe my emotions more than that! This book will forever be in my mind!! It’s one of my tops reads of the year so far!!!
I just can’t wait to read the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Yvette (Booksandbandanas) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cant even describe in the English dictionary the correct words to describe how phenomenal this story was. The writing is out of this word addicting. The story line in itself will make you feel, & bleed every single line, paragraph, chapter, scene. I can go on and on.

These characters i feel as if I know them. I was right there with them through it all. I’m not even gonna go into what this story is about. Read the blurb alone.

I’m so scared for book 2. Completely, blown. Away.

Whitney what have you done to me?! I’ve fallen for these characters. I wake up and think of them. I go to sleep think of them. I love them and hate it all. Ahhhh. Okay. I’m done. Read this story you will not regret it.

[Vanessa (nessreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*

5 "On a scale of one to ten" Stars!!!!!

I feel like I've just gone 10 rounds in a boxing ring with Mike Tyson. I am laying on the floor trying to catch my breath. I am exhausted and emotionally drained. I can't move, I am physically incapable of moving one muscle, the only exception is writing this review. Whitney Barbetti has ruined me. I AM RUINED! If I had any more tears to cry I'm sure they'd be running down my face. I can't think straight. I'm trying to form sentences, but it's hard when my mind is not here. I mean, I'm physically here, but my soul is out of my body. I'm trying, I'm trying really hard, but in all honesty anything I say won't do this book justice. But I'm going to try my best, because this book deserves it.

Six Feet Under is not a fluffy book. It's not sweet and it most definitely isn't easy. It challenges you. It makes you think. You will rage in more than in occasion, or like me, most of the book. It is a whirlwind. It'll make you feel every single emotion. And you'll want nothing more than to get off of this tumultuous and bumpy ride. But I'm telling you it's worth it, it's so worth it.

Mira suffers from mental illness. Crazy thoughts constantly swirl in her mind. Drug use somewhat helps to quite the noise inside Mira's head. But it's definitely not the answer. On a night where she just wants to forget, she meets a man who will undoubtedly become a huge presence in her life.

Mira exhausted me. Being in her head put me through the ringer. I felt everything she felt and in that, tired me even more. There were times where I put my hands in my head and pulled my hair and screamed because Mira just wouldn't stop. She's mean, selfish, and self-destructive. But even her being all those things I was still rooting so hard for her. I didn't want her to fail and more importantly I didn't want her to succumb to the voices. She deserved to have happiness. She deserved to be loved and love in return.

Six is a mystery to me. I still haven't figured him out. There are these secrets to him that I just want to unravel. He's everything Mira doesn't want, but he's everything she needs. Six's unconditional love for Mira is what sets him apart. There were so many times where he could've thrown in the towel, but he didn't. If that doesn't speak volumes I don't know what does. He was her rock, and I couldn't get enough of him. I need more.

I NEED PIECES OF EIGHT RIGHT THE EFF NOW! I CAN'T FUNCTION! I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IN THE HELL IS GOING TO HAPPEN! MY HEART IS IN MY THROAT! WHITNEY, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!?!?! MAY, I NEED YOU TO HURRY YOUR ASS UP BECAUSE I NEED MORE SIX AND MIRA!!!!

[Elizabeth Sherrell (Elizabeth’s Pretty Little Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Like a parade through my heart, a storm over my soul. It wasn't a fall; it was an explosion, obliterating my life. What had been nothing had become everything. Love put me in a chokehold.”

Give me a book that’ll make me think and feel. A book that’ll make me think outside the norm, and feel every thing a little more. A book that’ll bring me to tears. One that’ll open my mind and heart to subjects, situations, topics that aren’t an everyday discussion, but should be.

The writing in this novel is just as hauntingly breathtaking, and heartbreaking as the story of Mira and Six. This novel delves into the subjects of mental illness and drug addiction. Their love story isn’t a “light” or “easy” one—it shows the hard, ugly, mad side to love. However, it also shows us to love those who don’t think they deserve, or need that love, a little harder on those dark days. It’s a tough read at times, but an important one. Books with this much emotional depth is what I crave as of late. Whitney shined the spotlight exquisitely on these looked-over subjects with so much thought, love, and conviction behind each and every word in the story that is SIX FEET UNDER.

[daemyra, the realm's delight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very strong 3 stars. This could be a 4, as the writing is good. Full disclaimer: I'm giving 3 for my personal preferences. TW: Substance abuse (pills, alcohol), cutting. RTC.

***Full Review***

I was interested to read about heroines with addictions and I came across this. I was really pulled in by the first few chapters, there was some sort of noir glamour to it, but I kept thinking, was I tricked into reading literary fiction? Oh dear lord, is this the dreaded literary romance?

I am being a little silly but I say this because while the beginning feels very much an inventive tale within the bounds of the romance genre, the latter half feels very much like literary fiction. A heated kiss and some love scenes in here but the majority of this story is about the heroine and the hero's 10 year or so relationship where she is on her journey to heal from her developmental trauma. Along the way, relapses occur.

The author states, either in this book or in the second book, that she wanted to write a "villainous" heroine. You may consider the heroine a villain but I do not consider her one. She has unhealthy coping mechanisms, but she is not a bad person.

In Six Feet Under, everything is vague. I really wanted more of the heroine working with the hero on the undercover private detective work. It added some tension into the story.

There was also a mystery on the hero's side with Lydia and Cora, but that mystery is neatly resolved at the end of this novel. I kept waiting for a big surprise or reveal but it felt a bit anticlimactic. It was too understated, and I wanted a bit more drama.

However, the latter half of the story is about the heroine healing, so she is involved in painting, and begins working with battered women.

I liked it enough to read the next story. The writing style does pull you in but is this a romance? Hmm to me, I feel like the book cover is misleading. It suggests a dark romance vibe but it's not.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It amazed me that love couldn’t bottom out, that there wasn’t an end to it. That the space allocated for love was infinite.”


I’m not even sure where to start . . . I’ve been waiting for this book for what feels like forever. I love these characters so much, and I’m so happy to finally have their story.

I’ve been a fan of Whitney Barbetti’s writing for a long time. She makes me feel a whole gamut of emotions with every book, but with Six Feet Under, the emotions evoked were deeper and more intense than ever before.

Spending ten years with Six and Mira, seeing how their relationship began and watching it change
over time, was an incredible—and painful—journey. Watching Mira battle, and at times embrace, her demons, was both inspiring and torturous. I don’t think I’ve ever rooted so hard for a fictional character.

My love for this book is infinite.

[Rabiya]

Can't wait to read it.
Love Whitney ❤

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal! WOW!!! What one hell of an emotional journey Six Feet Under is. From a woman who struggles from mental illness and self harm, to that ending, WHOA!!!

Mira has always heard the voices in her head, voices that talk to her, tell her to do things. Between drug abuse, alcohol, and self harm she's learned to quiet the voices at times. Then she meets Six and her life is turned upside down!!

I ADORED Six. He's patient with Mira. Does everything he can to get her better. The way he takes his time, showing Mira love.

Let me say I LOVED every moment of Six Feet Under.  And although it's a LONG book, I was hooked from the beginning. Pulled into Mira's head myself.  She's definitely a hard one to wrap your head around. But I enjoyed her evolution.

This book is AMAZING!! And I can't wait to get my hands on book 2 in this duet, cause that ending had me like NOOOOOO!!! Bravo to the author for this unforgettable, crazy whirlwind, rollercoaster ride!!!


*I voluntarily read an advance copy from the author. This is my honest review.*

[Elizabeth (Liz) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, genuine, honest depiction of alcoholism and mental illness and the connections to people we love. Mira’s character development is handled so, so well - both as simply a human being, and also within the context of her alcoholism and mental illness. Bravo, Whitney Barbetti! It’s also just an incredibly compelling read for those looking only to be entertained (and nothin’ wrong with that). Six is...wow. He’s more complex than I originally thought, and I still wonder just what his reasoning is for being with Mira. I absolutely cannot wait for the next and final book in this duet! I hadn’t read Whitney Barbetti prior to (legitimately) randomly picking up this book based on the summary and the little bit of the Kindle sample I read. If the next book is as good or better than this one, I’m pretty sure she’ll be going on my auto-buy list. Gah! I love finding new (to me) amazing authors!!

[EscapeNBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Feet Under by Author Whitney Barbetti is book one in the Mad Love Duet, a highly emotional and angst-filled contemporary romance.

“The voices never steered me wrong, because I always got something I didn't know I needed as a result. A high, fame, attention, and most of all: a sense of belonging. Every story has a “but” though, and he was mine. The voices did me a favor until they told me to talk to him.”

The very beginning of this novel gave such a vivid perspective of a daunting reality. Mira lives her life mostly in seclusion. She has her vices, her demons, and they are enough to keep her occupied. At least she knows them intimately, and is able to see their high and low points. The same cannot be said of Six. He’s a mystery. A puzzle in a million pieces that Mira can’t quite piece together. He is her unpredictable element.

“I knew that love was a disease for me. Love was contagious and my immune system was weak so abstaining from men outside of a purely physical connection was my only choice. The only way to keep myself sane.”

This is the first novel I have read by this author. I was in awe. The world she created in this novel was real. From the setting, to character qualities, and then emotional changes. All of these things connected to bring life and authentication to the novel.

“He didn't look at me like I was a freak. He didn't look at me like I was weak. He looked at me like I was human, even as my blood stained his fingers like he'd caused this himself. It was in that moment, with his bare arms along mine, with his hands washing my skin, his eyes locking with mine and his mouth silent, that I understood intimacy for the very first time in my life.”

It was interesting how much we knew, but didn’t really know, about the characters. For me, this gave the silent nod of understanding that held me captive. Discovering these secret details and precious parts became one of the most treasured aspects of the story. It was almost as if I could let my brain be lulled into the fantasy of love and ignore all the red warning lights going off all around them, allowing the lights to blur into a pulsing heartbeat.

“I’m saying that we don’t have to think of this as a beginning, because it’s not the thing itself—the ending—that scares you; it’s what precedes it. So, if we eliminate the beginning, we eliminate the ending.”

I LOVED how the author used moments of magnificent simplicity to throw wrenches in Mira’s life. Given her personal issues, these glitches were not ones I would have expected. So much so, they threw me. And baffled me. Made my head spin a bit. And in some moments, these unexpecteds, these unforeseens, brought tears to my eyes.

“Loving Six wasn't gradual; it was sudden. There was silence and then there was noise, loud, pulse-pounding noise. There was no adjustment, no warning, no hint of what was to come.”

Six Feet Under made me feel, deeply. It made me hope. It made me dream. It made me read through silent tears. It opened up a hole in my heart and allowed these characters to sneak in and make a home for themselves. It was a ghostly dance in the fog waiting for the sun to overtake it. A mirage in the dessert. A whisper in the wind. A fierce calming. It was daring and epic.

“...sometimes you need to be reminded that things can heal.”

#seawitch
#madlove

[Chelsea | WithHerBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Feet Under … WOW. I think I’m still processing everything. And that ending though! Whitney Barbetti has given me one of the biggest book hangovers I’ve had in a while with this one. Yet, I regret absolutely nothing.

“It was nearly impossible to keep up my tough girl persona when someone could see the cracks beneath it.”

I would like to begin with giving readers a warning about the sensitive subject-matter in this book. It may not be for everyone as it deals with topics such as addiction, drug use and self-harm. That being said, I found Six Feet Under absolutely incredible. It was raw, emotional, chaotic and beautifully written.

“I examined his words. He didn’t expect anything from me. He wanted me. No one had ever wanted me.”

Mirabela Christy (or Mira) was SO hard to love when first introduced. Her character was self-destructive, selfish, and just flat out mean. But as I continued to read, my heart grew fonder. Her road to recovery is not easy. Filled with failed attempts and heartbreak. But what I admired most was her determination to keep going. Once she committed to bettering herself, she never stopped. And Six … SWOON. Figuring out what made him tick, kept me desperate for more. He was so sure, yet mysterious. Bounding into Mira’s life and not letting go. He was her rock.

“I wanted to make him feel the same way he made me feel. Full. Complete. Worthy of a love like his.”

Gah, there were so many parts that were difficult to read. But it was worth every moment. I am emotionally exhausted after this one. My poor, fragile heart. Prepare yourselves for an honest story of MAD LOVE!!

I can’t wait for Pieces of Eight. SERIOUSLY, I need it as soon as possible. This was my first Whitney Barbetti book, and will certainly not be my last. Definitely recommend reading Six Feet Under!

**ARC Generously Provided in Exchange for an Honest Review**

[Tania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book was fantastic!!!
It places you inside Mira's head, whom is dealing with mental illness, her relief is cutting, drugs and alcohol.
This book spiked my anxiety, it had me on edge,
It sucks you in and messes with your emotions. It was raw, intense and gut wrenching.
On a bender night out Mira meets a stranger at a bar by the name of Six. After multiple run ins she becomes fascinated wity him.
The two form a unique bond.
Six becomes the one person who loves her, and wants to save her from the demons she is battling.
I cant wait wait for Pieces of Eight.

[Kim Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to read!! The struggles of mental illness and addiction is so hard to grasp. It’s hard to understand what really goes on in their minds! So many ups and downs!

[Melissa Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a story. This book will suck you in. It is such such an emotional read. Its raw and true in the world of someone suffering mentally.

Mira will make you angry, have you lauging, hurting, and crying. Her pain she goes through everyday is real. You will want to scream at her sometimes, but then you see how really strong she becomes.

Six will have you falling in love with him from the beginning. His love and support he has for Mira is unconditional.

The ending is a cliffhanger be warned and if you are like me you will not be happy. She makes up for it by giving a teaser to Pieces of Eight which needs to come out asap.

[Giovanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5

[Tiffany S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whitney wrote this book for me.

Not really, but it felt like it. This book had all my favorite elements. Character driven. A villain main character who is bad, but not that bad. Almost lyrical prose. Effortless dialogue. Wittiness. A love story that isn’t forced.

The writing is STRONG. Like even if the plot isn’t for you, the writing is undeniable top tier. All the metaphors resonate so strongly. You’ll be highlighting like crazy. Taking breaks to absorb the words. Feeling the weight of them. And they’re heavy. The subject matter is so heavy. Dense. The story spans over such a huge span of Mira’s life. 10 years. And the way it’s told is perfect. That’s a big feat, to cram 10 years in one book; to leap forward so much. It’s executed perfectly!! Enhanced the story telling. It makes it epically good!

I loved Mira. I want to shake her, but I love her. She’s a tangible character.

Six told from Mira’s memories is too perfect. I’d like to think he’s flawed too. I love him so much. He’s steady, consistent, and so patient. I want to crawl into his bald head and get his POV of their life story. See what motivated him other than “love”.

This first book broke me. The cliff hanger end and sneak peek for the next book are torture. Six Feet Under deserves every trigger warning it got. Please head them if your susceptible to those triggers. Even I felt triggered by some of the stuff in the book, and I wouldn’t consider myself someone who needs them.

I waited 3 years for this story. It exceeded all my hopes. Barbetti, gave Mira a great story. It was more than I was expecting. Rich. Real. Ugly. Beautiful.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

The Mad Love Duet has consumed my life for the past couple of days.

Between Six Feet Under and Pieces of Eight it feels like my heart and soul have been put through the ringer.

To be honest, this duet will not be for everyone. Particularity the first half of the first book - it is depressing and dark to a point that will make a lot of people uncomfortable. Hell, I found myself considering just putting it on the dnf shelf. I am glad I didn't, but I am angst lover and Mira's story delivered mother******* angst.