The second book in Jahquel J.’s dramatic and juicy urban romance series To All the Thugs I Loved that Didn’t Love Me Back delivers explosive secrets, tangled relationships, and emotional twists, perfect for fans of Empire.
With Bless knowing the truth about Yero, and what he did to protect his secret, he has some difficult decisions to make. He doesn’t know what to do or think. He usually has a solution for everything, yet this time it’s different. Did Ace know of her baby daddy’s past? Or is she as clueless as she’s appearing? The last time Bless felt this way about a woman, was with Shai. When he lost Shai, he thought he could never feel nor love again. Ace has him feeling completely different. Is he willing to ignore the information he has found out about Yero? Or will Neveah have to bury her father?
Sinclair is more hurt than she has ever been. First, she’s planning her ex-fiancé’s wedding and now she’s planning Kamaya and Polite’s wedding. Polite was a man she thought she could love and be with, one who she felt completed her thoughts. Someone who she was able to let her walls down with. Does she forgive Polite, and continue to be the woman on the side? Or does Sin decide she wants better for herself and tosses Polite to the side?
Val has been quiet, and it’s because she’s hiding a secret that is so big that it might shake everyone to their core. While working, being in school and trying to be a mother to three babies, she’s stretched thin. She needs help and a little love too, however, she won’t let another man into her life. Prayer seems like he’s the perfect man, but she’s been there before and refuses to get her heart broken again.
My goodness! The storyline was good! But all the inconsistencies and repetitive writing was driving me insane. If I wasn’t already invested in the story line I would stop reading this book
These characters are driving me crazy. Everybody is with somebody they don’t wanna be with. I like how Bless handled the news of Ashley being pregnant I still don’t like her tho it’s something about her that I don’t trust. Ace did right by breaking things off with Bless he’s still bringing up Shai (whom I’m tired of reading about, might I add). I don’t like Sin running to Kni who’s in the same circle as Polite, she looks trifling. Kni still wants Shayla so why is he pursuing Sin.?! Why did we even need Kni’s POV it was pointless and added nothing to the story. Polite claims to not want Kamaya but yet he stays. Niko,Yero whatever the hell his name is done lost his damn mind and I know he’ll suffer behind this. The whole Yero killing Shai makes no sense. Why are Prayer and Val even in the book.!?
This one definitely slows down compared to book one, leaning more into back-and-forth, messy drama rather than feeling juicy. The hot-and-cold dynamic started to wear on me a bit. It’s getting harder to root for the guy even though I desperately want the ladies to be happy. That said, the ending absolutely ramps things up and was intense enough that I don't know how I'm supposed to sleep until I read book 3.
This book was so samn good. I still dont knownhow I feel about polite he n.v still a cool dude tho just got caught up. Kni need not to lead bbn sin on if he still wants his ex she doesn't deserve that. I feel bad for sin she goin through the most. I keep wanting to smack val ass she got 3 kids barely making it and hiding the kids from a father that's able to change her childrens life. Prayer is gonna be pissed when he finds out. Jah never let's us down she is truly a beast. Gone ahead and read this banger.
Jahquel you have mastered the art of a damn good cliffhanger. I had to go pick my mouth up off the ground. I feel like Syn is getting the shitty end of the stick from both Kni and Polite. Ace situation just took a turn for the worse and Val just need to come clean and get it over with. Homeboy is already playing blues clues. 😂 Book 3 I’m on the way. 💨
So Jah left me screaming with the ending! Niko, Yero, whatever his name is really needs to be handled. I don’t trust Kni, I need Polite back with Sin. Lord as soon as Prayer realized who Val was...bam the book ended! Jahquel never disappoints!
Nnnnoooooooooo Jah! Don’t do me like this! I need to know what is going to happen to Naveah and Bless. Sin and Kni! Niko/Yero deserves whatever happens to him. I hope Manic silly self gets him!
1.5⭐️ Just as gross as the first book. Bless and Polite both DISGUST me. I don’t like books where the MMC are misogynistic, abusive, and whiny. Some of the “twists” were mad predictable and the setup of the whole book is an unnecessary nightmare. This book is so repetitive 😣
I definitely didn't prepare myself enough going into this series. I didn't realize that it was one of four. When I got the end and there was a cliffhanger (I didn't expect anything less) I went to download the next book. I was definitely hit with a surprise that there were three more following this one. Which means I have two more cliffhangers to survive! Thankfully this is a finished series and I don't have to sit on pins and needles to be put out of my misery.
This first book focuses on two brothers (Bless and Polite) and two best friends (Ace and Sin). There are several side characters that are introduced but those four are the MCs of the first book. Of course there is betrayal, drama, situations, lies, and a sprinkling of more to get you wrapped up in the storyline.
I will admit that it took me a little more than I would have liked to grasp the personality of the different characters. I don't mind multiple POVs but for some reason I kept getting them mixed up with who was who and who was supposed to interested in which character. I had to write them down and something memorable about their personality so I could fully enjoy the story. Once I got that down, the situations were making a lot more sense.
I liked the peek into Bless' backstory and giving a hint at how he came to be the person currently in the story. I'm very interested in reading how his character will soften up with the introduction of what he's been missing in his life for so long...someone to love and care about and for him to do the same. I'm a little disappointed in Bless when it came to Ace and Ashlee. I feel like that is going to come back to bite him big time.
In the beginning I really liked Polite but his character came into question once Kamaya's name popped up. Now he's back to square one for me. No matter how much he tries to justify his actions, he's still moving foul. I definitely want to see how he's going to finesse this one to make him look like the victim. Because I have a feeling that's exactly what he's going to do. He's not going to accept full responsibility for his actions and choosing to not be fully transparent with people.
I'm diving straight into the next book because I really want to see how these characters are connected with this cliffhanger.
Ugh! The errors in this story really took away from the overall enjoyment. And add in idiotic female characters and I was completely annoyed. I continued on, holding out hope that it would get better. Because Sin had small moments of clarity and gumption; I wanted to see if she finally put her foot down.
While she didn’t do what I was hoping, she did pivot. Whereas Ace annoyed the heck out of me. OMG she is a dummy. I may not finish this series because of the level of stupidity and lack of accountability.
They’re letting these 🥷🏾s run all over them and for what. Polite basically trading women based off convenience. For Bless to be the voice of reason is a dangerous thing. He was completely in his right to set boundaries with Ace. How dare her force Sin or Bless to “move” past their hurt on her timeline?!
Just because she allows Niko to use her as doormat and invalidate her desires- doesn’t mean that is okay and what everyone else should adopt. She’s spineless and I can’t with women like her.
This may be the end of the circus for me. We shall see. But for now I need a break.
Let me just start by saying this wasn’t my favorite series by Jaquel J. It was not a lot going on and some of the added things didn’t feel needed. Like Ace breaking up with Bless for him to heal, girl you could been with that man while he worked through his stuff. Also, she needed healing too, she stayed trying to leave when things didn’t go her way. Or give ultimatums.
Ashley being pregnant was another added thing that could have been left out. The books were also way too short and could have been combined into 2 books instead of 4. Got us out her wasting credits or buying books for this BS. I found myself skipping through these books to get to the point. It took forever to get to the stuff I wanted answers to. I felt played with the entire book and then everything got dumped at the end to get us to read the next book. What a scam.
Okay book 3 started off jumping a little bit. Also, in book 3 I was confused because Kamaya said she called Sin to put a pause on the wedding and in book 3 she was still sending requests to Sin’s staff while she’s in the hospital. I was a little excited to hear more about their Prayer and Val’s story. Giving Kni a chapter in book was a waste of paper and it felt like fluff. Man don’t nobody want to know about him and his ex, get to the point. Also, in this book Ace says Niko has never put his hands on her but in book 2 Niko admitted to slapping Ace once. The discrepancies bothered me it’s like sloppy work. Also, the author spells Ashley’s name differently in book 3, it was Ashlee but now it’s Ashley.
I didn’t like Ace’s attitude with Emani in book 3, she didn’t do anything to you, that was all Niko. She could have been more supportive of her when she came to her, she came off as a jealous ex and that’s not a good look. If you have moved on and are happy, don’t be bitter. She is still getting on my nerves in Book 3, I agree with Sin’s thoughts on her feelings about the Bless situation. Be and that he lied, she’s too quick to throw away a good man but spend years on a no good one. Girl, make it make sense. She irritated me and was getting on my nerves.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Definitely taking a lil break from this series it’s all over the place so many povs everybody basically messing with everybody they don’t like 😐 ace ain’t known the man a year let alone 6 months and telling him he gotta get over his dead wife is insane like you should’ve left him alone when you found out if it was gone be too much for you 😒 im over polite he don’t deserve sin at all but sin and ny seem like it’s just gone be another disaster 🙄 and Val not telling prayer about his kids is weird to me because you basically took him away from a whole first year of their lives selfishly because you don’t wanna seem like “a gold digger” 🤦🏽♀️ im honestly tired of all the black woman trauma in books like can we just be happy damn then on top of that all these broken ass families now Ashley pregnant by bless like bffr 😒 & these men are just as bad sneaky, selfish, the way they even talk to their women is annoying….. the first book was entertaining but now it’s just toxic asl mind you the way it’s written a lot of time hasn’t even passed for them to have all this damn toxic energy atp I only like the mama and ace grandma 🤷🏽♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
When I tell you no one writes a story like Miss Arthur lady. This book, #2, OMG,so many things is happening right now that ending 😲 but let's back up a bit I really feel like Bless needs therapy, because he's still grieving he's not over Shai as yet and even though he wants to be in a relationship with Ace her breaking up with him was for the best because he hasn't moved past that grief. I kinda knew something was going on with Ashley I didn't expect that but I knew something was going on and the fact that she thought it would have bought the two of them together, I don't know what she was sniffing but... Now let's talk about Val, is she right from keeping the triplets a secret and now that the dad know, OMG, book 3 is about to be off the chain and that ending, Sin was pregnant really I can't believe that, Polite did her so wrong. I'm so sad that the baby was mixed in the middle of that gunfire let me just hurry up and get on the book three cuz it's about to be off the chain I can't wait.
Another solid read in this series, despite being slightly annoyed with some of the characters…*cough* Kamaya and Polite.
The ending though…Nico 🤬
…..
⭐ 1 Star – Didn’t Like It • Forced yourself to finish or DNF’d • Poor writing, confusing, boring, or irritating • Would not recommend • Actively disliked it
⭐ ⭐ 2 Stars – It Was Okay / Meh • Finished it, but barely • Some good moments, but overall disappointing • Wouldn’t reread • Might warn people before recommending
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 3 Stars – Liked It • Enjoyable enough • Solid story, but not memorable • Some flaws (pacing, characters, plot holes) • Would recommend casually, not enthusiastically
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 4 Stars – Really Liked It • Engaging, well-written • Strong characters or plot • You’d recommend it without hesitation • Minor issues, but they didn’t ruin the experience
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 5 Stars – Loved It • Couldn’t put it down • Emotional impact, memorable • Would reread or buy a physical copy • You’re still thinking about it after finishing
Omg!! Tht niko aka yero is all messed up! He js did sme impluse stuff! 🤦🏾♀️. I hope nless and neveah r ok! Nw sin and polite belong together, idk bein the next book is the las hw its gon go because sin and polite not even talkin. Kni is still in love wit shayla, but entertainin sin, but they coo together too🤷🏽♀️ bless and shay! They hve alot to unravel small world bein yero is her babi daddi and he the one tht killed shai and his daughter and he also set polite up! 🤦🏾♀️ Yero won't survive because nw he also did bless bad and his own daughter he reacted fast and nw he regrets it im sure and beat emani, i c y lol but its no excuse for him to lays hands on her. Bless needs to heal his heart dealin wit shai and his daughter's death b4 him and shay cn even hve smethin, i knew once ashlee and bless hooked up tht would b wit child🤦🏾♀️ this third book.... Im bout to c 👁️👁️🍿🍷!
My jaw is on the floor with this ending!!! I was already over Niko and his antics and now he had the nerve to do this dumb move-he deserves to get got!! I KNEW Ash was pregnant when she first reported she was “sick”- I was just waiting for it to be revealed and Jah waited to almost the last second! Now Sin being pregnant threw me off and I wasn’t expecting that. I was so rooting for her and Polite’s relationship but he might just be better off with Maya now that she’s acting like she got some sense. I do have an inkling that Polite and Sin will rekindle things. I’m still team Bless and Ace and I’m looking forward to them rekindling in the next book. Spice was 4/5. This series is so fire and definitely a page turner- I literally fall asleep reading sometimes🤣. On to the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I can’t wait for part 3. I knew Ashlee was pregnant now let’s see if Ace is going to get back with Bless. I like Ace and Bless together but she was right about walking away from him because he need to get his mind right and get over Shai if he don’t he never going to be good for anyone else. I can’t believe that prayer is Val kids father she need to tell him that he have triplets out there. Poor Sin had a miscarriage i hope that she can get over that and her and Vio can be friends again. Kni still holding feelings in for his ex so he need to let that go before he pursue anything with Sin. Part 3 hurry up
4. 75 stars "He was so cocky that I couldn't stand it, yet it made me smile." "People who didn't feel they did nothing wrong had no reason to change." "It was a dog eat dog world. He knew that." ,
Chile, I am flying through this series! I seriously can't get enough. This story continues the drama and mess from book 1. This was such a chaotic (compliment) read that had me intrigued from start to finish. OH lawd I feel for Sin, Val, and Ace, I love their individual stories and the vulnerability their povs bring to the story. Same goes for Bless, Polite, and Prayer, as tough and hard they are on the outside, they are truly the biggest teddy bears on the inside. The ending?? Chile!!!
the inconsistencies were hard to follow sometimes. after Sin and Kni left the boat party, it was said that they went to the studio and clothes were ripped off and Sin wanted her back blown out....then later its said that they never did anything besides kiss... then Nikko recalled hitting Ace in the mouth and she left for a week but she denied it to Emani....
in Niko POV he scoped put Bless apartment and ran down on him but the start of book 3 contradicts that from Bless POV...... why did Niko take out Shay? Its not said that he felt like Bless was on to him snitchin until recently so what was the purpose?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Well..let me keep this short... Ace needed to handle her business. She needed to stand on business with Ace. He not that fine that he can do whatever and its ok. Sin- Polite is a punk but Honey stop putting yourself in this situation.Make better decisions. Val- you wrong. You never gave him a chance. I mean at this point the Grandma's are my people. Sin ...what is happening now....You have to face the music. Polite face something...you really think you and K are it?!?! Come on man!! Ok..Sick of Yero....sick of him..Ashlee...no words...doing the most..you know you want Bless✨️✨️
I don’t know how to feel or where to begin! I still don’t like Ashley! I still think Maya is hiding something what I have no idea. Sin and Ace can’t seem to catch a break to save their lives. Yero has got to go and I hope he suffers painfully and for a long time 🤷🏽♀️. I knew I was right about the Prayer thing! Val needs to stop playing. I’m going to need Ace to boss all the way up! Let us pray! I hope this latest incident with Sin puts this in perspective for Polite and Kni and everybody gets their ish together! Outstanding job as always
This book was omg. I have read every single thing that you have written. Your talent is out of this world. I was on the edge of my seat. I have to go back and reread some stuff. I wasn’t expecting for Kni or Yero to have their own chapters... so is it really over for Sin and Polite? The ending made me gasp out loud... I will be waiting for Part 3 with eyes and ears wide open. I will be stalking your social media for Part 3’s release date. EXCELLENT!!!
You have got to be kidding me!!!! I just know it didn't end like that. Ace is about to go absolutely crazy and I know Bless gone make it and payback is going to be great for him. Niko is stupidddddddddddddd. I pray Naveah is okay. I'm so ready for Prayer to find out that he got triplets by Val because I know that's going to be a shocker because it was for me. Poor Sin always seems like she losing, first her ex, then Polite, and I feel like Kni going to be next because he still caught up on Shayla. Can't wait for part 3 great read!!