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Sinners of Blackthorne U #3
Cruel When He Smiles
Liam Callahan likes to break things.
... and Nate Carter was made to be broken.
Liam
I was trained not to feel. Taught to observe, manipulate, and control.
Nothing prepared me for Nate Carter.
He’s stubborn and beautiful in his resistance. The harder he fights, the deeper I sink my teeth in. I engineered the therapy sessions so I could get closer and watch him unravel. To dissect his fire and watch him spiral from the inside out.
But Nate is fury wrapped in lace, and he makes me feel things I was never meant to feel.
Want. Possession. Hunger.
Now, I can’t stop. Not until he’s mine; broken, rebuilt, and burning just for me.
Nate
I knew Liam Callahan was dangerous the moment I met him.
Too perfect. Too polished. Too in control.
They said the anger management sessions were routine, but nothing about Liam is routine. He gets into your head with softness, pulls you apart with praise, and leaves you craving the pain he caused.
So why do I keep going back?
I don’t know what’s real anymore…what’s me, and what’s Liam’s design.
***
Cruel When He Smiles is the third book in the interconnected Sinners of Blackthorne U series, but it is a complete standalone. Readers are advised to approach with caution and ensure they are comfortable with the listed triggers and content warnings before proceeding.
This is not a traditional romance. Reader discretion is advised.
... and Nate Carter was made to be broken.
Liam
I was trained not to feel. Taught to observe, manipulate, and control.
Nothing prepared me for Nate Carter.
He’s stubborn and beautiful in his resistance. The harder he fights, the deeper I sink my teeth in. I engineered the therapy sessions so I could get closer and watch him unravel. To dissect his fire and watch him spiral from the inside out.
But Nate is fury wrapped in lace, and he makes me feel things I was never meant to feel.
Want. Possession. Hunger.
Now, I can’t stop. Not until he’s mine; broken, rebuilt, and burning just for me.
Nate
I knew Liam Callahan was dangerous the moment I met him.
Too perfect. Too polished. Too in control.
They said the anger management sessions were routine, but nothing about Liam is routine. He gets into your head with softness, pulls you apart with praise, and leaves you craving the pain he caused.
So why do I keep going back?
I don’t know what’s real anymore…what’s me, and what’s Liam’s design.
***
Cruel When He Smiles is the third book in the interconnected Sinners of Blackthorne U series, but it is a complete standalone. Readers are advised to approach with caution and ensure they are comfortable with the listed triggers and content warnings before proceeding.
This is not a traditional romance. Reader discretion is advised.
534 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2025
120 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 26, 2025
My goodness... this story takes you on quite a wild ride. There are moments when I wasn't sure if either character would survive their toxically addictive connection. I devoured Liam and Nate's story and couldn't look away from their fascinating game of possession, domination, and obsession. Together, they are quite a pair, and their endless mind games lead to an intense story that is impossible to put down.
The journey Liam and Nate experience is full of shocking reveals, strong character moments, and brilliant instances of honest depth. All make for a compelling story about how even the most toxic red flags are pointless when the connection is one of a kind. Liam and Nate develop a strong, intense bond where all of their secrets are revealed, and they truly become everything to each other. This adds a fascinating element to their relationship.
I also really enjoyed the presence of Killian in this story. He is quite a scene stealer, and learning more about his personality and his impact on the story added a lot of fun and many surprises. I'm looking forward to his story.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
The journey Liam and Nate experience is full of shocking reveals, strong character moments, and brilliant instances of honest depth. All make for a compelling story about how even the most toxic red flags are pointless when the connection is one of a kind. Liam and Nate develop a strong, intense bond where all of their secrets are revealed, and they truly become everything to each other. This adds a fascinating element to their relationship.
I also really enjoyed the presence of Killian in this story. He is quite a scene stealer, and learning more about his personality and his impact on the story added a lot of fun and many surprises. I'm looking forward to his story.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
October 27, 2025
Definitely enjoyed Liam and Nate's story but it could have been 100 pages shorter (maybe even more) and still told the same story. There was a lot of repetition and rehashing events, and each character makes the same statement in almost every chapter right up until their relationship becomes more permanent, which was a bit annoying - like listening to that one friend swear they're not going back this time, but then five minutes later.... 😂 It just slowed the pace down too much for me and I found myself wanting to skip ahead to 'the good part'.
Liam and Nate are definitely toxic together, but somehow they're each other's perfect fit. There were definitely things that didn't make much sense to me given Nate's age, but I was pretty entertained throughout. Did we ever find out what happened to Nate's dad or did I just forget?
I'm most excited for Killian's story to come though. Honestly, I need some kind of diagram to show who all the others are for this series of 10 books (I think I saw that somewhere?!) because I can't really remember their names other than maybe Ryan? So out of the upcoming seven books, there's Killian, possibly Ryan, and five other character's that I don't really remember meeting 😂
Definitely intrigued enough to keep reading this series though because I am partial to walking red flag parades and OTT behaviour.
Liam and Nate are definitely toxic together, but somehow they're each other's perfect fit. There were definitely things that didn't make much sense to me given Nate's age, but I was pretty entertained throughout. Did we ever find out what happened to Nate's dad or did I just forget?
I'm most excited for Killian's story to come though. Honestly, I need some kind of diagram to show who all the others are for this series of 10 books (I think I saw that somewhere?!) because I can't really remember their names other than maybe Ryan? So out of the upcoming seven books, there's Killian, possibly Ryan, and five other character's that I don't really remember meeting 😂
Definitely intrigued enough to keep reading this series though because I am partial to walking red flag parades and OTT behaviour.
September 13, 2025
Not for me. There was a lot of repetition that pulled me out of the book and the characters would make a decision and then go back on it the next chapter…repeatedly.
I received an ARC in exchanged for my honest review.
I received an ARC in exchanged for my honest review.
September 4, 2025
yeah, i’m not sure what avery puts in these books but i’m gonna need about 100 more. this is perfect. this whole series is just a masterpiece & i will be impatiently waiting for more 🧎🏽♀️
these boys are obsessive & possessive… literally everything i needed. i’m obsessed with this dynamic and this book ATE and left no crumbs. is it too early for a reread?🤪
these boys are obsessive & possessive… literally everything i needed. i’m obsessed with this dynamic and this book ATE and left no crumbs. is it too early for a reread?🤪
September 8, 2025
Okay to start, Nate and Liam need to see cardiologist, their pulses are all over the place; hammering, jumping, fluttering, skipping, it became ridiculous how often their pulses were referenced.
Nate has been struggling with his manipulative, gaslighting mother for his whole life, he's finally away from her and trying to survive without her influence and then Liam comes into him life who is going to restart all the torture. Liam manipulates Nate in a way that made me feel uncomfortable, up until Nate gets injured on the soccer field all of Liam's POVs have him ruminating on how he's going to break Nate, ruin him, use him and then be done with him. He has conversations with Killian about "winning a war" with Nate, tearing him down, making him moldable and molding him how Liam wants and then kicking him away. Liam seemingly wants to do this to Nate because he and Nate got into a fight on the soccer field and Nate told Liam something along the lines of "I see beyond the fake you, you show everyone", that is like the only reason we are given. Until Nate gets hurt and then the narrative changes and becomes obsession and Liam is so confused by these strange feelings that he needs to make Nate his.
Killian is an addition to the story that feels like a boogie man but also Liams voice of reason. But it comes as Killian choking Liam and threatening his life, repeatedly threatening to kill Nate if he upsets Liam. Sometimes he's nice to Nate and then in the next scene he's threatening to take him out. Back and forth.
We're told things in the beginning that change in the end. For example, the whole book almost it's referenced that Killian taught Liam how to handle and hide his emotions, that Killian saved Liam, but then Liam tells Nate's mother that at 10 he managed to learn the manipulation tactics his mother had used on him and turn and use them on his parents who ultimately stopped going after him, turned on each other and then killed each other. So what exactly was Killian's part in this?
There's a lot of repetition but then there's things that aren't talked about enough. Scene after scene is brought up and monologued about over and over by both Nate and Liam. The initial scene is long and dragged out, pages of scene descriptions, characters thoughts and feelings, and then chapters or pages later its rebrought up and we do it all over again. But things that needed more addressing disappear; these guys play soccer, it was important to the story, they go to one away game and then have weeks and months of practice and that's it. They go to class sometimes and there's parties but we spent hundreds of pages reading nothing but Nate and Liam's thoughts. Both MC's are supposed to be fairly popular but there's no one else to page to prove this other than passing mentions of the sin bin guys and Sage. Nate says he hates being called "baby" and "Nathaniel", it's refenced twice at different points, but Liam calls him both, and it takes almost the rest of the book for it to be addressed that he likes when Liam does it. There're also quite a few references to events that seem to happen off book but are never fully explained to the reader, just written about vaguely.
A lot of the writing is pretty corny, lots of paragraphs of writing that's almost seems like it's trying to be thought provoking and poetic but comes off silly, like a Taylor Swift lyric; "this house was built on broken boys and bad decisions", "I buried a body before don't make me dig another hole." We're reading a book about 21/22 year olds and they're doctorate level psychologist who can read every emotion and are cold blooded murders who are doing so often and with no emotion.
This wasn't for me and I never really felt like Nate loved Liam, the whole relationship was manipulation, gaslighting and emotional torture. A time jump where Nate could've grown outside of his relationship with Liam and reentered that space knowing what he was going into would've helped.
Nate has been struggling with his manipulative, gaslighting mother for his whole life, he's finally away from her and trying to survive without her influence and then Liam comes into him life who is going to restart all the torture. Liam manipulates Nate in a way that made me feel uncomfortable, up until Nate gets injured on the soccer field all of Liam's POVs have him ruminating on how he's going to break Nate, ruin him, use him and then be done with him. He has conversations with Killian about "winning a war" with Nate, tearing him down, making him moldable and molding him how Liam wants and then kicking him away. Liam seemingly wants to do this to Nate because he and Nate got into a fight on the soccer field and Nate told Liam something along the lines of "I see beyond the fake you, you show everyone", that is like the only reason we are given. Until Nate gets hurt and then the narrative changes and becomes obsession and Liam is so confused by these strange feelings that he needs to make Nate his.
Killian is an addition to the story that feels like a boogie man but also Liams voice of reason. But it comes as Killian choking Liam and threatening his life, repeatedly threatening to kill Nate if he upsets Liam. Sometimes he's nice to Nate and then in the next scene he's threatening to take him out. Back and forth.
We're told things in the beginning that change in the end. For example, the whole book almost it's referenced that Killian taught Liam how to handle and hide his emotions, that Killian saved Liam, but then Liam tells Nate's mother that at 10 he managed to learn the manipulation tactics his mother had used on him and turn and use them on his parents who ultimately stopped going after him, turned on each other and then killed each other. So what exactly was Killian's part in this?
There's a lot of repetition but then there's things that aren't talked about enough. Scene after scene is brought up and monologued about over and over by both Nate and Liam. The initial scene is long and dragged out, pages of scene descriptions, characters thoughts and feelings, and then chapters or pages later its rebrought up and we do it all over again. But things that needed more addressing disappear; these guys play soccer, it was important to the story, they go to one away game and then have weeks and months of practice and that's it. They go to class sometimes and there's parties but we spent hundreds of pages reading nothing but Nate and Liam's thoughts. Both MC's are supposed to be fairly popular but there's no one else to page to prove this other than passing mentions of the sin bin guys and Sage. Nate says he hates being called "baby" and "Nathaniel", it's refenced twice at different points, but Liam calls him both, and it takes almost the rest of the book for it to be addressed that he likes when Liam does it. There're also quite a few references to events that seem to happen off book but are never fully explained to the reader, just written about vaguely.
A lot of the writing is pretty corny, lots of paragraphs of writing that's almost seems like it's trying to be thought provoking and poetic but comes off silly, like a Taylor Swift lyric; "this house was built on broken boys and bad decisions", "I buried a body before don't make me dig another hole." We're reading a book about 21/22 year olds and they're doctorate level psychologist who can read every emotion and are cold blooded murders who are doing so often and with no emotion.
This wasn't for me and I never really felt like Nate loved Liam, the whole relationship was manipulation, gaslighting and emotional torture. A time jump where Nate could've grown outside of his relationship with Liam and reentered that space knowing what he was going into would've helped.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
4.25⭐️
3.5🌶️
Y’all, This Book Was Such A Good Dark Romance. Let Me Tell You This Is One Of The Most Darkest Books I’ve Read In A While, All Because Of Liam Fucking Callahan, But No Complaints Because I Love Him And I’m Not Sure What That Says About Me. But Y’all Liam And Nate, Let Me Just Say There Love Story Is NOT Going To Be For Everyone It’s Really For The Faint Of Heart Actually SO Fucked Up. Cause When I Tell You Liam Is Manipulative He 100% Is, And Trust Me With That He Does Get Sorta Better With It, Not Really, But With His Pup He Would. But I Still Loved There Romance So Much Cause It Was Dark And Messy And So Undeniably Raw But Just So Beautiful To See Everything Come Together For Then To Be Happy Together In There Own Way And I Just Loved It. Also The Relationship With Liam And Killian, Spectacular Give Me 14 More, Also The Teasing With Killian Continues Cause I Need This Mans Book SO Badly Y’all It’s Not Funny. But Anyway, The Found Family Is Still One Of My New Favorites, I Just Loved Everyone So Much. And Let Me Tell You, I Need Book 4 More Then Actually ANYTHING!!!! Oh The Next Couple Has A Shot To Be My Favorite I Just Know It, IYKYK!!! But Anyway I DEFINITELY Recommend This Whole Series Y’all It’s So Just Perfect To Me Y’all, And Yes I Am Gonna Go Back To Book 2 I Promise. For This Book Y’all, Please Check The Trigger Warnings And The Authors Note Because Those Are Very Important To Read Before You Read This Book. But Avery, You Are Just A PHENOMENAL Writer And I Need More From You ASAP!!!!!!!🫶💕
Thank You @author.avery / @author.avery2 / @xenymreads For Giving Me The Arc I Appreciate You All So Much💕
3.5🌶️
Y’all, This Book Was Such A Good Dark Romance. Let Me Tell You This Is One Of The Most Darkest Books I’ve Read In A While, All Because Of Liam Fucking Callahan, But No Complaints Because I Love Him And I’m Not Sure What That Says About Me. But Y’all Liam And Nate, Let Me Just Say There Love Story Is NOT Going To Be For Everyone It’s Really For The Faint Of Heart Actually SO Fucked Up. Cause When I Tell You Liam Is Manipulative He 100% Is, And Trust Me With That He Does Get Sorta Better With It, Not Really, But With His Pup He Would. But I Still Loved There Romance So Much Cause It Was Dark And Messy And So Undeniably Raw But Just So Beautiful To See Everything Come Together For Then To Be Happy Together In There Own Way And I Just Loved It. Also The Relationship With Liam And Killian, Spectacular Give Me 14 More, Also The Teasing With Killian Continues Cause I Need This Mans Book SO Badly Y’all It’s Not Funny. But Anyway, The Found Family Is Still One Of My New Favorites, I Just Loved Everyone So Much. And Let Me Tell You, I Need Book 4 More Then Actually ANYTHING!!!! Oh The Next Couple Has A Shot To Be My Favorite I Just Know It, IYKYK!!! But Anyway I DEFINITELY Recommend This Whole Series Y’all It’s So Just Perfect To Me Y’all, And Yes I Am Gonna Go Back To Book 2 I Promise. For This Book Y’all, Please Check The Trigger Warnings And The Authors Note Because Those Are Very Important To Read Before You Read This Book. But Avery, You Are Just A PHENOMENAL Writer And I Need More From You ASAP!!!!!!!🫶💕
Thank You @author.avery / @author.avery2 / @xenymreads For Giving Me The Arc I Appreciate You All So Much💕
September 24, 2025
4/5 ⭐️ 3/5 🌶️
- College students
- Teammates
- Soccer players
- Mind games
- Manipulation
- Obsession
- Hurt/comfort
- Broken boys
- Childhood traumas
- College students
- Teammates
- Soccer players
- Mind games
- Manipulation
- Obsession
- Hurt/comfort
- Broken boys
- Childhood traumas
September 2, 2025
✨️📚 Arc - Review 📚✨️
Nate & Liam
Rating: 4,5 ⭐️
- Broken Boy x Broken Boy
- Mutal Obsession
- Mutal Destruction
- Blood Play
- Morally Ambiguous
- Slowburn
- No Redemption Arc
- Forced Proximity
- Hurt/ Comfort
Well, that was something....
I was really excited to read Nates' book.
The triggers/ tropes and even the authors note "warn" you about what to expect. It's not a "traditional" lovestroy.
It's not sweet, gentle, or nice.
I expected it to be toxic as fuck.
And I'm all here for it.
But.
I was about halfway through the book and just wanted to scream.
The more I read, the more frustrated I became with both Liam and Nate.
I even started to write my review because I thought: " Fuck this. I'm not gonna keep reading this any longer".
It's not even that "dark" of a romance. I've read worse.
It just left me angrier with each passing chapter.
Liam frustrates the hell out of me with his behavior and Nate is just....
Alright.
It gets better. Kind of.
The end makes sense.
They get their HEA.
The book is well written and I can't say I've ever read something like this.
If that's positive or negative... fuck if I know...
This is a good book, but it might not be for everyone.
It's twisted and strange and made me irrational angry at fictional characters.
It might just be me, but I wished Nates stroy would have been different...
I wished he would have fought harder, pushed more against Liam. Not bend that easily.
Sometimes his backbone almost seemed to get back, only to leave me kind of... disappointed?
From the previous book in this series, I thought Nate would be fierce. Broken, yes. But with fight and unbreakable fierceness in him.
It's just different from what he's like in his book.
Well, this is just my opinion, and everyone is allowed to have their own.
What I learned from this story?
I don't mind dom/sub dynamics.
I just hate when the submissive bends that easily & the dominant is just a mind games playing bitch with no real self reflection.
Yeah, it sometimes came as a brief notion in Liam, but most of the time I couldn't stop rolling my eyes at him for beeing so fucking unaware of himself (inside monologue and conversations).
I felt for both. I really did.
Their dynamic got...better?
But in my mind I made their story a different one and I guess that's what I couldn't shake the whole time.
Or it's the fact that I could kinda relate to Nate, but not the way he reacted to/ handled Liams games and therefore couldn't stop screaming at him in my head....
Anyway.
I'm still glad I read it.
It's a good read.
Not for everyone, and don't be surprised if you want to scream and punch something sometimes 😸
Content Warnings:
- mutal destruction
- mind games and manipulation
- toxic dependency
- no redemption arc
- subtle corruption arc
- psychological manipulation & gaslighting
- murder and death
- violence and torture
- self-harm
- sexual assault
- past child abuse
- sexual content and BDSM themes
- emotional and psychological trauma
- dark thoughts and self-worth issues
- control and ownership themes
- trauma bonding as a means of control
- isolation, dependency and froced vulnerability
Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Duo/ Frist Person
Breakup: No
Cheat: No
Nate & Liam
Rating: 4,5 ⭐️
- Broken Boy x Broken Boy
- Mutal Obsession
- Mutal Destruction
- Blood Play
- Morally Ambiguous
- Slowburn
- No Redemption Arc
- Forced Proximity
- Hurt/ Comfort
Well, that was something....
I was really excited to read Nates' book.
The triggers/ tropes and even the authors note "warn" you about what to expect. It's not a "traditional" lovestroy.
It's not sweet, gentle, or nice.
I expected it to be toxic as fuck.
And I'm all here for it.
But.
I was about halfway through the book and just wanted to scream.
The more I read, the more frustrated I became with both Liam and Nate.
I even started to write my review because I thought: " Fuck this. I'm not gonna keep reading this any longer".
It's not even that "dark" of a romance. I've read worse.
It just left me angrier with each passing chapter.
Liam frustrates the hell out of me with his behavior and Nate is just....
Alright.
It gets better. Kind of.
The end makes sense.
They get their HEA.
The book is well written and I can't say I've ever read something like this.
If that's positive or negative... fuck if I know...
This is a good book, but it might not be for everyone.
It's twisted and strange and made me irrational angry at fictional characters.
It might just be me, but I wished Nates stroy would have been different...
I wished he would have fought harder, pushed more against Liam. Not bend that easily.
Sometimes his backbone almost seemed to get back, only to leave me kind of... disappointed?
From the previous book in this series, I thought Nate would be fierce. Broken, yes. But with fight and unbreakable fierceness in him.
It's just different from what he's like in his book.
Well, this is just my opinion, and everyone is allowed to have their own.
What I learned from this story?
I don't mind dom/sub dynamics.
I just hate when the submissive bends that easily & the dominant is just a mind games playing bitch with no real self reflection.
Yeah, it sometimes came as a brief notion in Liam, but most of the time I couldn't stop rolling my eyes at him for beeing so fucking unaware of himself (inside monologue and conversations).
I felt for both. I really did.
Their dynamic got...better?
But in my mind I made their story a different one and I guess that's what I couldn't shake the whole time.
Or it's the fact that I could kinda relate to Nate, but not the way he reacted to/ handled Liams games and therefore couldn't stop screaming at him in my head....
Anyway.
I'm still glad I read it.
It's a good read.
Not for everyone, and don't be surprised if you want to scream and punch something sometimes 😸
Content Warnings:
- mutal destruction
- mind games and manipulation
- toxic dependency
- no redemption arc
- subtle corruption arc
- psychological manipulation & gaslighting
- murder and death
- violence and torture
- self-harm
- sexual assault
- past child abuse
- sexual content and BDSM themes
- emotional and psychological trauma
- dark thoughts and self-worth issues
- control and ownership themes
- trauma bonding as a means of control
- isolation, dependency and froced vulnerability
Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Duo/ Frist Person
Breakup: No
Cheat: No
February 5, 2026
♾️
Honestly. I LOVEDDDD this book. I was so locked in reading this. It had a really different vibe from the first 2. The characters are so intriguing and I just wanted to keep reading and unveiling them. Liam crawling? UGH. Fucking kill me now. That destroyed me. Considering the power imbalance had been pretty one sided for a lot of the book. Nate realising he holds as much power of Liam as Liam does Nate was incredible. I love getting into the psychological aspects of characters and this hit the mark. These books just get better and better and the writing does as well. I’m a real whore for these books and I cannot wait for the rest of the series. Our baby killian is going to be a soul destroyer 🥹
Honestly. I LOVEDDDD this book. I was so locked in reading this. It had a really different vibe from the first 2. The characters are so intriguing and I just wanted to keep reading and unveiling them. Liam crawling? UGH. Fucking kill me now. That destroyed me. Considering the power imbalance had been pretty one sided for a lot of the book. Nate realising he holds as much power of Liam as Liam does Nate was incredible. I love getting into the psychological aspects of characters and this hit the mark. These books just get better and better and the writing does as well. I’m a real whore for these books and I cannot wait for the rest of the series. Our baby killian is going to be a soul destroyer 🥹
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2025
“I want you to wear my name like a brand,” Liam says, “because you’re mine. And I protect what’s mine with błööd.” -Liam Callahan
MM Romance
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐌𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐓𝐓 𝐎𝐛$𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢ön
𝐅ö𝐫ċ𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲
𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟*𝐜𝐤
𝐁ł𝐨𝟎𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚ÿ
𝐏𝐫ä𝐢$𝐞 𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐖ëä𝐩ö𝐧
⭐️5/5🌶️5/5🥹4/5
Hold on to something because this one right here is gonna take you for a ride! From page one Avery sinks claws into you and doesn’t let go even after the book is done cause trust me I’m still thinking about this book about the characters and I just can’t wait for what comes next!!
Cruel when you smile comes with a bunch of twist and turns that keep you on your toes and keeps you guessing! This is definitely a dark themed storyline with very morally grey MMCs so make sure to read those TWs!
Liam and Nate’s story broke my heart, this story follows two men that were broken by the people that were supposed you love you no matter what, because of that damage they ended up doing everything and anything that helped them keep going and survive. They both were going through the motions of existing but they didn’t truly start living till the game began! Liam pushed and Nate pulled they are a perfect set of broken pieces that came together to create a beautiful picture!! Each character will dig their crawls into you more and more and the mental game that goes on in this book truly does keep you on your toes I truly couldn’t have guessed all that went down in this book! It was so beautiful and delicious to read!!
Oh and the Spice?.. oh that spice was “chefs kiss 💋” the details the heat and the overall emotions ugh it was everything!!
100% recommend yall dive in not only to this book but to the whole Sinners of Blackthorne U series!!
-Happy Reading 📖
MM Romance
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐌𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐓𝐓 𝐎𝐛$𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢ön
𝐅ö𝐫ċ𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲
𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟*𝐜𝐤
𝐁ł𝐨𝟎𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚ÿ
𝐏𝐫ä𝐢$𝐞 𝐀𝐬 𝐚 𝐖ëä𝐩ö𝐧
⭐️5/5🌶️5/5🥹4/5
Hold on to something because this one right here is gonna take you for a ride! From page one Avery sinks claws into you and doesn’t let go even after the book is done cause trust me I’m still thinking about this book about the characters and I just can’t wait for what comes next!!
Cruel when you smile comes with a bunch of twist and turns that keep you on your toes and keeps you guessing! This is definitely a dark themed storyline with very morally grey MMCs so make sure to read those TWs!
Liam and Nate’s story broke my heart, this story follows two men that were broken by the people that were supposed you love you no matter what, because of that damage they ended up doing everything and anything that helped them keep going and survive. They both were going through the motions of existing but they didn’t truly start living till the game began! Liam pushed and Nate pulled they are a perfect set of broken pieces that came together to create a beautiful picture!! Each character will dig their crawls into you more and more and the mental game that goes on in this book truly does keep you on your toes I truly couldn’t have guessed all that went down in this book! It was so beautiful and delicious to read!!
Oh and the Spice?.. oh that spice was “chefs kiss 💋” the details the heat and the overall emotions ugh it was everything!!
100% recommend yall dive in not only to this book but to the whole Sinners of Blackthorne U series!!
-Happy Reading 📖
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October 14, 2025dnf 9%
I don't know, this is absolutely not the dark romance I devour. I can't get anything from this, it's feeling like oneshots been gathered together, a lot of repetition and spaces. no logic or events but all strong words to describe how fucked up the characters are.
I don't know, this is absolutely not the dark romance I devour. I can't get anything from this, it's feeling like oneshots been gathered together, a lot of repetition and spaces. no logic or events but all strong words to describe how fucked up the characters are.
September 7, 2025
Unfortunately, this book was the same as Luca and Sage's book—it wasn't for me. Roman and Damon's book was really good, and I've been waiting for the same feeling ever since, but unfortunately this one didn't deliver. I didn't really like either of the main characters, Liam or Nate. Both were frustrating and behaved ridiculously, but I disliked Nate more because he also treated his so called best friend Sage really badly through out the book.
53%
”I’m frustrated. Not annoyed, impatient, or tired of this game we keep playing on loop. I’m just… frustrated”
— well honestly at that point same, Nate, same exact thoughts 😂
At one point, I even thought about DNFing this one because the plot started repeating itself and just went back and forth. I didn't really enjoy the first 60% of the book, and it only started to get interesting when their relationship began to build on a more stable foundation and there started to be some real substance. At the beginning Nate had no backbone, and just when I thought he would pull himself together and show Liam the same attitude, he went back to the same old routine. Maybe this kind of manipulation and relationship based on toxicity isn't my favorite trope, I don't know. Killian manipulated Liam, Liam manipulated Nate, and Nate consciously allowed this to happen. I also didn't really understand the relationship between Nate and his mother, and in the end, things escalated quite dramatically on that part.
The story also had far too many overly long internal monologues. I was also disappointed with the epilogue, as too many books end with the cliché of getting engaged/married, and I would have liked to see something different for Nate and Liam, as their relationship did not correspond to the so-called norm anyway.
Three stars for the last 30% of the book (minus the epilogue) and for the fact that the story still managed to keep me hooked in some way and I wanted to know how it ended. There were also many passages or dialogues in the book that I liked and highlighted. Also I am bit of a sucker for a crawling scene.
53%
”I’m frustrated. Not annoyed, impatient, or tired of this game we keep playing on loop. I’m just… frustrated”
— well honestly at that point same, Nate, same exact thoughts 😂
At one point, I even thought about DNFing this one because the plot started repeating itself and just went back and forth. I didn't really enjoy the first 60% of the book, and it only started to get interesting when their relationship began to build on a more stable foundation and there started to be some real substance. At the beginning Nate had no backbone, and just when I thought he would pull himself together and show Liam the same attitude, he went back to the same old routine. Maybe this kind of manipulation and relationship based on toxicity isn't my favorite trope, I don't know. Killian manipulated Liam, Liam manipulated Nate, and Nate consciously allowed this to happen. I also didn't really understand the relationship between Nate and his mother, and in the end, things escalated quite dramatically on that part.
The story also had far too many overly long internal monologues. I was also disappointed with the epilogue, as too many books end with the cliché of getting engaged/married, and I would have liked to see something different for Nate and Liam, as their relationship did not correspond to the so-called norm anyway.
Three stars for the last 30% of the book (minus the epilogue) and for the fact that the story still managed to keep me hooked in some way and I wanted to know how it ended. There were also many passages or dialogues in the book that I liked and highlighted. Also I am bit of a sucker for a crawling scene.
September 3, 2025
Nate + Liam
-dark mm romance
-college romance
-bullies to lovers
-teammates
-villain gets the guy
-slowwwwwwburn mindfck
i. am…just…i…well ya see…i can’t man!! i have no words!! i was on the edge of my seat this ENTIREEE fucking book!! literally from beginning to end giving a detailed play by play to my bestie because i couldn’t keep it all in!! these boys were INSANEEEEE…ly fucking hot let’s bsffr!!😮💨😮💨😮💨 avery really knocked it out of the park with this toxic love & broken boy meets broken boy hurt/comfort in a twisted way with this one but they were seriously PERFECT together 🥹🥹 BRAVOOO👏👏
-dark mm romance
-college romance
-bullies to lovers
-teammates
-villain gets the guy
-slowwwwwwburn mindfck
i. am…just…i…well ya see…i can’t man!! i have no words!! i was on the edge of my seat this ENTIREEE fucking book!! literally from beginning to end giving a detailed play by play to my bestie because i couldn’t keep it all in!! these boys were INSANEEEEE…ly fucking hot let’s bsffr!!😮💨😮💨😮💨 avery really knocked it out of the park with this toxic love & broken boy meets broken boy hurt/comfort in a twisted way with this one but they were seriously PERFECT together 🥹🥹 BRAVOOO👏👏
January 20, 2026
super interesting
Wow. Liam and Nate were very different from the previous two couples but I loved it. I am a sucker for dark romance so I really liked the darker elements here. I’m excited for the next book but I seriously NEED Killian. Like I’m not sure how much longer I can wait lol.
Wow. Liam and Nate were very different from the previous two couples but I loved it. I am a sucker for dark romance so I really liked the darker elements here. I’m excited for the next book but I seriously NEED Killian. Like I’m not sure how much longer I can wait lol.
September 9, 2025
My goodness, this was such a good book! I really have no words. I don't want to give too much away (I am no spoiler).
Read the Trigger Warnings and the Author's Note!!!
Manipulation at its finest. This one was deep, these boys were molded when they should have been loved. The pain these guys went through was written so well that I felt it while I was reading it. Liam and Nate go back and forth with each other in who can be better and outdo the other. This was written beautifully. I devoured this book and want to read it again. I think these boys had the most tension between them than Roman, Damon, Sage and Luca put together.
I am loving this Blackthorne U series so much!
Read the Trigger Warnings and the Author's Note!!!
Manipulation at its finest. This one was deep, these boys were molded when they should have been loved. The pain these guys went through was written so well that I felt it while I was reading it. Liam and Nate go back and forth with each other in who can be better and outdo the other. This was written beautifully. I devoured this book and want to read it again. I think these boys had the most tension between them than Roman, Damon, Sage and Luca put together.
I am loving this Blackthorne U series so much!
August 31, 2025
⭐️: 5/5 🔥: 4/5
this book isn’t a love story—it’s a war dressed up as obsession, a collision you can’t look away from. Nate’s fury and broken edges cut deep, while Liam’s cruelty is poison that burns but somehow leaves you wanting more.
This book doesn’t promise healing or redemption. It drags you through wreckage, through manipulation and trauma, and still manages to make the darkness feel beautiful. I hated them, I ached for them, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
If you’ve ever carried scars that make you crave what could destroy you, this story will find you—and it will stay with you long after you close the book.
This book was full of possession, domination and obsession all together and it was delicious and have left me speechless staring at my wall at 3am cause i couldn’t put it down at all!!!
***I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***
this book isn’t a love story—it’s a war dressed up as obsession, a collision you can’t look away from. Nate’s fury and broken edges cut deep, while Liam’s cruelty is poison that burns but somehow leaves you wanting more.
This book doesn’t promise healing or redemption. It drags you through wreckage, through manipulation and trauma, and still manages to make the darkness feel beautiful. I hated them, I ached for them, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
If you’ve ever carried scars that make you crave what could destroy you, this story will find you—and it will stay with you long after you close the book.
This book was full of possession, domination and obsession all together and it was delicious and have left me speechless staring at my wall at 3am cause i couldn’t put it down at all!!!
***I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***
September 8, 2025
💚🖤I have never been on my knees for anyone in my life, but here I am, kneeling for you💚🖤
"You need this. You need someone to see you, and break you, and rebuild you until you don't have to carry the weight of your pain anymore."
"I'm the one who saw past the armor you wear. I'm the one who noticed the cracks before anyone else did. And I'm the one who's not going anywhere."
"Love is for the ones who feel without twisting it. You and me? We don't feel that way. We claim. We obesses. We possess. That's what our fathers gave us."
"Because for the first time in my entire life, I know what I want. You're the only thing I've ever touched that didn't feel like punishment. "
"He's the kind of beautiful that gets mistaken for delicate."
"We're not meant for pretty, for clean lines or gentle edges. We're sharp corners and broken glass, held together by obesession and something so twisted it can't be called pure. But none of that matters, because this is ours."
Avery has become one of my favorite authors as of late. Everything I have read by this author has been full of passion and emotion. She has a phenomenal gift of building up the characters arcs, personalities, appearances, and back stories. I've never seen an author flesh out a character so much. This is probably one of the best series I have ever read. This series keeps getting better with each book. This story, in particular, is my favorite thus far. This author really writes trauma so well. It's not only realistic, but raw and gritty. You feel the pain. You feel the grief.
This story is not for the faint of heart. It has a lot of triggers and is a messy story of toxic and obsessive love. I love how this story is not your typical love story with a happy healing ending. Yes, this has an HEA, but it's raw, messy, darkly beautiful, and works for these two broken boys. Love is different for everyone and these boys chose what worked for them to silence their demons.
While my heart broke for both Nate and Liam, I understood how they ended up this way. Their demons are so heavily interwoven from the past to the present. I wanted to throttle Liam a few times for how he treated Nate, but I loved Liam's character so much. Nate knew what Liam was doing the whole time. He saw the red flags and ran toword them lol. Despite their toxic start, I feel like they still healed each other the best way they knew how to. Their chemistry, sexual tension, and overall connection was off the charts 🔥🔥🔥🔥. The spicy times were hot as hell 🥵🥵. I loved the push and pull. Liam was so calculated, calm, and in control. He has everyone wrapped around his finger but Nate. Nate is starving for attention and someone to just see him and want him. He kept pushing Liam to lose control. Seeing them finally confide in each other and heal with trust made my heart so happy. I will definitely be thinking about this couple for a long time.
"I want to shatter you. I want to crawl inside your head and twist you so tight you can't tell where you end and I begin."
I loved all the side characters, especially the banter between Nate and Sage 🤣🤣. Killian has always interested me since book one. Now I'm obsessed and need his book now 😭😭. Everyone needs to read this series! 😍
"You need this. You need someone to see you, and break you, and rebuild you until you don't have to carry the weight of your pain anymore."
"I'm the one who saw past the armor you wear. I'm the one who noticed the cracks before anyone else did. And I'm the one who's not going anywhere."
"Love is for the ones who feel without twisting it. You and me? We don't feel that way. We claim. We obesses. We possess. That's what our fathers gave us."
"Because for the first time in my entire life, I know what I want. You're the only thing I've ever touched that didn't feel like punishment. "
"He's the kind of beautiful that gets mistaken for delicate."
"We're not meant for pretty, for clean lines or gentle edges. We're sharp corners and broken glass, held together by obesession and something so twisted it can't be called pure. But none of that matters, because this is ours."
Avery has become one of my favorite authors as of late. Everything I have read by this author has been full of passion and emotion. She has a phenomenal gift of building up the characters arcs, personalities, appearances, and back stories. I've never seen an author flesh out a character so much. This is probably one of the best series I have ever read. This series keeps getting better with each book. This story, in particular, is my favorite thus far. This author really writes trauma so well. It's not only realistic, but raw and gritty. You feel the pain. You feel the grief.
This story is not for the faint of heart. It has a lot of triggers and is a messy story of toxic and obsessive love. I love how this story is not your typical love story with a happy healing ending. Yes, this has an HEA, but it's raw, messy, darkly beautiful, and works for these two broken boys. Love is different for everyone and these boys chose what worked for them to silence their demons.
While my heart broke for both Nate and Liam, I understood how they ended up this way. Their demons are so heavily interwoven from the past to the present. I wanted to throttle Liam a few times for how he treated Nate, but I loved Liam's character so much. Nate knew what Liam was doing the whole time. He saw the red flags and ran toword them lol. Despite their toxic start, I feel like they still healed each other the best way they knew how to. Their chemistry, sexual tension, and overall connection was off the charts 🔥🔥🔥🔥. The spicy times were hot as hell 🥵🥵. I loved the push and pull. Liam was so calculated, calm, and in control. He has everyone wrapped around his finger but Nate. Nate is starving for attention and someone to just see him and want him. He kept pushing Liam to lose control. Seeing them finally confide in each other and heal with trust made my heart so happy. I will definitely be thinking about this couple for a long time.
"I want to shatter you. I want to crawl inside your head and twist you so tight you can't tell where you end and I begin."
I loved all the side characters, especially the banter between Nate and Sage 🤣🤣. Killian has always interested me since book one. Now I'm obsessed and need his book now 😭😭. Everyone needs to read this series! 😍
October 24, 2025
3.5ish
There’s some things I enjoyed and some I didn’t.
What I did like was even though this is a darkish bully romance, I didn’t have to go through the work of the relationship to get some of warmth and softness that I like in one paragraph in the epilogue. I got the rewards along with the struggle.
There’s not much I hate more than a dark romance that never lets up and is just straight abuse until the epilogue, and you get a paragraph of good after 500+ pages of hell. Like I worked for that good and I get one mindless paragraph at the end as a reward? 😭 thankfully (to me) that’s not this book. I also enjoyed the recognition of shifting in the dynamic, it made the relationship feel a bit less lopsided.
That being said…. Stand alone in an interconnected set? The book dives in like I reread the whole series prior (I didn’t, thinking it wasn’t going to matter too much) and assumed I knew what was going on. I didn’t. There’s details that should’ve had explanations, and vagueness that should’ve been on page action.
The level of intensity right from the get-go didn’t appeal to me because I wasn’t invested into the characters or story yet because it was suppose to read as a stand alone that didn’t need prior knowledge.
Does it make it hard to read? For me it did. Was it impossible? No. I didn’t have to go back and reread although it would’ve helped a lot.
Nate is a perpetual relationship relapser. It kind of made him hard for me to like. Nate’s mother and Liam aren’t all that different, which made him falling for Liam’s manipulation hard to swallow.
^This is made worse when Nate becomes more aware of it and still continues to desperately fall for it after Liam hangs him out to dry multiple times. This could’ve been more realistic if we didn’t also have Liam’s POV where he pretty much describes Nate as a meaningless object to manipulate. The saving grace is Liam’s changing feelings and subsequent intensity of the actions to reflect them. The MMC can only be made to look stupid so many times before it’s a DNF for me.
There’s some pretty strong cringy moments, I think the worst was a straight Jared Leto Joker line of “Will you live for me?”
Telepathic faces. How does one face show readable guilt, pain, anger, ect.. In one expression? How can we be sure of this? This has been a very common tactic with authors lately and it falls flat and looks lazy every time. I get the feeling it’s used to express how well one character knows the other (even when it doesn’t make sense) and then the face telepathy is validated by changing POV. I just feel like there’s a more sophisticated way of writing this? Maybe some more depth? A conversation? Some reflection?
Killian? I forgot who this was? He’s older male in younger body syndrome. A 22ish year old with all the world knowledge, makes strange statements somehow knowing things before / as they happen. Also abusive? Don’t really see him as a brother and more as a handler.
I still enjoyed reading and I did think it was overall worth the read if it’s done in order.
There’s some things I enjoyed and some I didn’t.
What I did like was even though this is a darkish bully romance, I didn’t have to go through the work of the relationship to get some of warmth and softness that I like in one paragraph in the epilogue. I got the rewards along with the struggle.
There’s not much I hate more than a dark romance that never lets up and is just straight abuse until the epilogue, and you get a paragraph of good after 500+ pages of hell. Like I worked for that good and I get one mindless paragraph at the end as a reward? 😭 thankfully (to me) that’s not this book. I also enjoyed the recognition of shifting in the dynamic, it made the relationship feel a bit less lopsided.
That being said…. Stand alone in an interconnected set? The book dives in like I reread the whole series prior (I didn’t, thinking it wasn’t going to matter too much) and assumed I knew what was going on. I didn’t. There’s details that should’ve had explanations, and vagueness that should’ve been on page action.
The level of intensity right from the get-go didn’t appeal to me because I wasn’t invested into the characters or story yet because it was suppose to read as a stand alone that didn’t need prior knowledge.
Does it make it hard to read? For me it did. Was it impossible? No. I didn’t have to go back and reread although it would’ve helped a lot.
Nate is a perpetual relationship relapser. It kind of made him hard for me to like. Nate’s mother and Liam aren’t all that different, which made him falling for Liam’s manipulation hard to swallow.
^This is made worse when Nate becomes more aware of it and still continues to desperately fall for it after Liam hangs him out to dry multiple times. This could’ve been more realistic if we didn’t also have Liam’s POV where he pretty much describes Nate as a meaningless object to manipulate. The saving grace is Liam’s changing feelings and subsequent intensity of the actions to reflect them. The MMC can only be made to look stupid so many times before it’s a DNF for me.
There’s some pretty strong cringy moments, I think the worst was a straight Jared Leto Joker line of “Will you live for me?”
Telepathic faces. How does one face show readable guilt, pain, anger, ect.. In one expression? How can we be sure of this? This has been a very common tactic with authors lately and it falls flat and looks lazy every time. I get the feeling it’s used to express how well one character knows the other (even when it doesn’t make sense) and then the face telepathy is validated by changing POV. I just feel like there’s a more sophisticated way of writing this? Maybe some more depth? A conversation? Some reflection?
Killian? I forgot who this was? He’s older male in younger body syndrome. A 22ish year old with all the world knowledge, makes strange statements somehow knowing things before / as they happen. Also abusive? Don’t really see him as a brother and more as a handler.
I still enjoyed reading and I did think it was overall worth the read if it’s done in order.
November 6, 2025
I really don’t know how to feel about this.
I enjoyed the first few chapters, hated it in the middle, liked the end…ish? 😭
A lot of things in this had me questioning my sanity.
And I was confused as to who to blame for whose behaviour.
I did not know how to feel about Liam at some point.
I loved his cockiness in the beginning, I loved how much he taunted Nate…until I didn’t.
The way he manipulated and gaslighted Nate, oh my word. And what made it worse for me was when he told Nate to stop telling Sage about what was going on between them.
That made me livid! So much that I was on the verge of tears. What do you mean he shouldn’t tell his best friend about anything? wanna know why? it’s because saw Sage as a threat. Sage spoke sense into Nate’s head and he hated that.
He hated that Sage “undid” everything he’d perfectly curated for Nate. The way he was able to manipulate Nate into doing everything he wanted. 😭 It was this weird thing he did that made Nate’s brain short-circuit. He’s good i’ll give him that but I still hated him nonetheless.
He had Nate losing his damn mind and it made me so angry. I was literally torturing myself because for some reason I wanted to know how this messed-up story was gonna end 😭 I was losing it but I pushed through. I needed my boy Nate to come back to his senses.
Another funny thing about Nate is he was self aware 😭 he knew what Liam was doing yet he still let it happen. Like damn that dick can’t be that good 😭😭🙏🏾 But it’s fine I decided when I started this that Nate can do no wrong in my eyes.
I support his right and wrongs even if it means he’s gonna let this man manipulate him 😭
Anyway, I feel like some may not understand why Nate felt so betrayed when he saw Sage kiss Luca. I’d be angry too, because why would you practically beg me to go somewhere with you just to leave me for another guy?
The same guy who treated you like shit? The same guy you claimed you had nothing going on with? Yeah, I’d be pissed too 😭 And he felt so betrayed because he trusted Sage more than anyone. Sage was all he had, and he just lied to his face. I was mad for him too.
I don’t know maybe i’ll read Luca and Sage’s book soon? I guess I started liking Sage again when he tried to snap his best friend back into reality. Nate was petulant but I guess he did his best? 🤣🤣
Anyway, can I get Killian’s book? this guy is INSANE! 😭 I need to read his internal thoughts seriously. I’m incredibly sad that he doesn’t have his own book.
Took me three days to finish this book because why is it so freaking long 😭 listen I don’t mind when a book is this long okay? it’s just really frustrating when it’s a not very good book and you’re trying to push through just to see how it ends. I didn’t want to skim or skip any chapters so yes this book was pure torture.
So they fell in love I guess.
I really liked Nate though heh.
I enjoyed the first few chapters, hated it in the middle, liked the end…ish? 😭
A lot of things in this had me questioning my sanity.
And I was confused as to who to blame for whose behaviour.
I did not know how to feel about Liam at some point.
I loved his cockiness in the beginning, I loved how much he taunted Nate…until I didn’t.
The way he manipulated and gaslighted Nate, oh my word. And what made it worse for me was when he told Nate to stop telling Sage about what was going on between them.
That made me livid! So much that I was on the verge of tears. What do you mean he shouldn’t tell his best friend about anything? wanna know why? it’s because saw Sage as a threat. Sage spoke sense into Nate’s head and he hated that.
He hated that Sage “undid” everything he’d perfectly curated for Nate. The way he was able to manipulate Nate into doing everything he wanted. 😭 It was this weird thing he did that made Nate’s brain short-circuit. He’s good i’ll give him that but I still hated him nonetheless.
He had Nate losing his damn mind and it made me so angry. I was literally torturing myself because for some reason I wanted to know how this messed-up story was gonna end 😭 I was losing it but I pushed through. I needed my boy Nate to come back to his senses.
Another funny thing about Nate is he was self aware 😭 he knew what Liam was doing yet he still let it happen. Like damn that dick can’t be that good 😭😭🙏🏾 But it’s fine I decided when I started this that Nate can do no wrong in my eyes.
I support his right and wrongs even if it means he’s gonna let this man manipulate him 😭
Anyway, I feel like some may not understand why Nate felt so betrayed when he saw Sage kiss Luca. I’d be angry too, because why would you practically beg me to go somewhere with you just to leave me for another guy?
The same guy who treated you like shit? The same guy you claimed you had nothing going on with? Yeah, I’d be pissed too 😭 And he felt so betrayed because he trusted Sage more than anyone. Sage was all he had, and he just lied to his face. I was mad for him too.
I don’t know maybe i’ll read Luca and Sage’s book soon? I guess I started liking Sage again when he tried to snap his best friend back into reality. Nate was petulant but I guess he did his best? 🤣🤣
Anyway, can I get Killian’s book? this guy is INSANE! 😭 I need to read his internal thoughts seriously. I’m incredibly sad that he doesn’t have his own book.
Took me three days to finish this book because why is it so freaking long 😭 listen I don’t mind when a book is this long okay? it’s just really frustrating when it’s a not very good book and you’re trying to push through just to see how it ends. I didn’t want to skim or skip any chapters so yes this book was pure torture.
So they fell in love I guess.
I really liked Nate though heh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2025
Well, shit. This book is TOXIC lol. Liam and Nate relationship is very twisted, intense and crazy, they’re both fucked up and I think that’s why it makes so much sense they being together. They ground each other in a very intense way. The only bad thing I have to say is that a lot of chapters felt like i was reading the same dialogue or thought over and over again. It’s a little bit repetitive but I liked this book so much more than bitter when he begs but not as much as I liked pretty when he bleeds, but it was still such a good read. AND I AM DYING TO READ KILLIAN’S BOOK OMG I NEED HIS BOOK NOOOW.
“Don't play with me, Callahan," I growl. His grin is slow, a dark thing dressed in deceitful charm. "I'm not playing, Pup," he says, stepping back, holding my stare the entire time. "I'm hunting."
"I know how to break people, Nate," he says with a soft smile, tilting his head to the side. "And if I can break them, I can also put them back together."
“I want to make Nate crave me the way a starving animal would crave poison disguised as food. I want to make him kneel, not because he fears me, but because he misses me. Because being without me feels worse than pain.”
"I want you to remember exactly who fucked the pain out of you."
“He's my best creation, my favorite experiment, and my most addictive game. He's the only person who ever managed to shake me off center-and I hate it, but I fucking crave it too.”
“I belong to Liam, and for the first time in my life, belonging doesn't feel like a chain. It feels like... relief.”
"Because for the first time in my entire life, I know what I want. You're the only thing I've ever touched that didn't feel like punishment."
"I want to shatter you," I tell him, watching his face for any sign of hesitation. "I want to crawl inside your head and twist you so tight you can't tell where you end and I begin."
"I want to be the one who breaks you," he goes on, his voice steady but darker. "Not to hurt you, but to remake you. To make sure no one else ever gets this.
You're mine, and I'll make sure the whole fucking world knows it without you saying a word."
“It's toxic and all-consuming. It's the kind of love that destroys.”
"My soul already belongs to you, Pup. The only way I'm leaving is if I fucking die."
“We're not built for pretty, for clean lines or gentle edges. We're sharp corners and broken glass, held together by obsession and something so twisted it can't be called pure. But none of that matters, because this is ours.”
“Don't play with me, Callahan," I growl. His grin is slow, a dark thing dressed in deceitful charm. "I'm not playing, Pup," he says, stepping back, holding my stare the entire time. "I'm hunting."
"I know how to break people, Nate," he says with a soft smile, tilting his head to the side. "And if I can break them, I can also put them back together."
“I want to make Nate crave me the way a starving animal would crave poison disguised as food. I want to make him kneel, not because he fears me, but because he misses me. Because being without me feels worse than pain.”
"I want you to remember exactly who fucked the pain out of you."
“He's my best creation, my favorite experiment, and my most addictive game. He's the only person who ever managed to shake me off center-and I hate it, but I fucking crave it too.”
“I belong to Liam, and for the first time in my life, belonging doesn't feel like a chain. It feels like... relief.”
"Because for the first time in my entire life, I know what I want. You're the only thing I've ever touched that didn't feel like punishment."
"I want to shatter you," I tell him, watching his face for any sign of hesitation. "I want to crawl inside your head and twist you so tight you can't tell where you end and I begin."
"I want to be the one who breaks you," he goes on, his voice steady but darker. "Not to hurt you, but to remake you. To make sure no one else ever gets this.
You're mine, and I'll make sure the whole fucking world knows it without you saying a word."
“It's toxic and all-consuming. It's the kind of love that destroys.”
"My soul already belongs to you, Pup. The only way I'm leaving is if I fucking die."
“We're not built for pretty, for clean lines or gentle edges. We're sharp corners and broken glass, held together by obsession and something so twisted it can't be called pure. But none of that matters, because this is ours.”
September 8, 2025
📗Cruel When He Smiles📗
By Avery Collins
Plot ♾️⭐️ (this book gets ALL THE FUCKING STARS)
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Is this my book review? I don’t really know. What it is, is me gushing about how much I absolutely LOVE this book. I’ll scream it from the rooftops that this book is an ♾️⭐️ read. Honestly this series is incredible and each book just gets better and better. However, Avery absolutely blew me away with CWHS. Hands down my favourite book of the series, so trust me when I say this won’t be the last time you see me posting about CWHS.
I first need to say that I consider myself extremely lucky to be a part of Avery’s beta team. It’s been incredible to be on such a great team and a privilege to read this toxically beautiful story before ARCs ever went out. I’m now currently re-reading it as a finished ARC and it’s just as good, if not better than reading it as a beta.
Liam and Nate have such a toxic dynamic together, their push and pull is absolutely on point. I mean these two broken boys shouldn’t work but they become absolutely beautifully broken together. Also be aware this isn’t your typical “he falls and tries to be a better man” romance. No, Liam is a villain and isn’t looking for redemption. He’s looking for control, which turns into obsession, but he doesn’t change who is to gain it. He plays games. He breaks you down. He manipulates to get what he wants and feels no remorse for his actions.
Nate is broken on the inside but doesn’t show it on the outside and once Liam sees this, Nate becomes his next game. Nate’s walls are up, to the outside he’s the boy with an attitude, the boy who’s angry, but on the inside he’s broken, unable to heal or move past his childhood trauma, and he sees through Liam. Sees the games, the masks, the manipulation, he hates him, and yet is still drawn to him.
Liam & Nate will forever live rent free in my head. They are one of my favourite couples ever, this is one of my top reads of 2025, and CWHS has made my Roman Empire list. 💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤
By Avery Collins
Plot ♾️⭐️ (this book gets ALL THE FUCKING STARS)
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Is this my book review? I don’t really know. What it is, is me gushing about how much I absolutely LOVE this book. I’ll scream it from the rooftops that this book is an ♾️⭐️ read. Honestly this series is incredible and each book just gets better and better. However, Avery absolutely blew me away with CWHS. Hands down my favourite book of the series, so trust me when I say this won’t be the last time you see me posting about CWHS.
I first need to say that I consider myself extremely lucky to be a part of Avery’s beta team. It’s been incredible to be on such a great team and a privilege to read this toxically beautiful story before ARCs ever went out. I’m now currently re-reading it as a finished ARC and it’s just as good, if not better than reading it as a beta.
Liam and Nate have such a toxic dynamic together, their push and pull is absolutely on point. I mean these two broken boys shouldn’t work but they become absolutely beautifully broken together. Also be aware this isn’t your typical “he falls and tries to be a better man” romance. No, Liam is a villain and isn’t looking for redemption. He’s looking for control, which turns into obsession, but he doesn’t change who is to gain it. He plays games. He breaks you down. He manipulates to get what he wants and feels no remorse for his actions.
Nate is broken on the inside but doesn’t show it on the outside and once Liam sees this, Nate becomes his next game. Nate’s walls are up, to the outside he’s the boy with an attitude, the boy who’s angry, but on the inside he’s broken, unable to heal or move past his childhood trauma, and he sees through Liam. Sees the games, the masks, the manipulation, he hates him, and yet is still drawn to him.
Liam & Nate will forever live rent free in my head. They are one of my favourite couples ever, this is one of my top reads of 2025, and CWHS has made my Roman Empire list. 💚🖤💚🖤💚🖤
September 11, 2025
Y'all are gonna need to buckle up, because Cruel When You Smile doesn't just take you for a ride; it hijacks your emotional stability and leaves you wrecked in the best way possible.
This is the third book in the Sinners of Blackthorne U series, and from page one, my girl Avery digs in deep and doesn't let go.
This story is a masterclass in emotional manipulation. Liam and Nate's lives have been shaped by trauma, not love. Their past and present merge into a relentless survival game. They're not just living, they're fighting to survive. And when the game begins, that's when they start to feel alive.
Liam is a master of control, the calm in the chaos, but only because he’s the one pulling the strings. His every move is calculated, his every word a weapon.
Nate is the wild card, the one who sees the red flags and charges towards them like a finish line. He's desperate for someone to see him, to want him, and he keeps pushing at Liam's control, daring him to snap. Ohhhh, and when Liam finally does, it's a spectacle.
Their dynamic is a battlefield of emotions. Push, pull, burn, repeat. Liam's control had me on the edge more than once, but I couldn't help loving him. Nate saw the manipulation coming a mile away, yet he still walked into it, as if he couldn't resist. The chemistry between them is wild, obsessive, and messy, and the tension when it finally explodes is a firestorm. The spice is hot as hell. The way they heal each other, imperfectly, messily, but with brutal honesty, struck a chord in my heart. Watching them drop the masks and finally trust each other was everything. They're a perfect set of broken pieces that somehow fit together.
And then there's my man Killian. This guy walks into a scene and steals it like he's been doing it since the '90s. He's unpredictable, magnetic, and just dangerous enough to keep things interesting. His presence in this book is a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come in his own story, and I'm soooo ready for it.
This is the third book in the Sinners of Blackthorne U series, and from page one, my girl Avery digs in deep and doesn't let go.
This story is a masterclass in emotional manipulation. Liam and Nate's lives have been shaped by trauma, not love. Their past and present merge into a relentless survival game. They're not just living, they're fighting to survive. And when the game begins, that's when they start to feel alive.
Liam is a master of control, the calm in the chaos, but only because he’s the one pulling the strings. His every move is calculated, his every word a weapon.
Nate is the wild card, the one who sees the red flags and charges towards them like a finish line. He's desperate for someone to see him, to want him, and he keeps pushing at Liam's control, daring him to snap. Ohhhh, and when Liam finally does, it's a spectacle.
Their dynamic is a battlefield of emotions. Push, pull, burn, repeat. Liam's control had me on the edge more than once, but I couldn't help loving him. Nate saw the manipulation coming a mile away, yet he still walked into it, as if he couldn't resist. The chemistry between them is wild, obsessive, and messy, and the tension when it finally explodes is a firestorm. The spice is hot as hell. The way they heal each other, imperfectly, messily, but with brutal honesty, struck a chord in my heart. Watching them drop the masks and finally trust each other was everything. They're a perfect set of broken pieces that somehow fit together.
And then there's my man Killian. This guy walks into a scene and steals it like he's been doing it since the '90s. He's unpredictable, magnetic, and just dangerous enough to keep things interesting. His presence in this book is a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come in his own story, and I'm soooo ready for it.
August 23, 2025
After every book in this series I think it’s gonna be my favorite and then Avery comes out with the next book and proves me wrong, because Cruel When He Smiles was true psychotic perfection and I don’t think I’ll ever recover.
Avery has a way of making you dislike a character and also have your heart bleed for said character in a matter of a chapter, I thought I was a MC in this book with how my heart whiplashed so much, and I loved every freaking second of it!!!
My baby Nate has been through so freaking much I cried for him, I ached for him, and I just wanted to hold him so bad. Liam has been rewired in the form of psychological and physical abuse he has overcome so much but it has changed who he is into something not normal to society and Nate seems to be the only one that sees it. But they see each other and they feel each other in ways no one has ever. There story is raw and hurtful and so so broken there are points I didn’t find any redeeming qualities about Liam but of course Avery makes me see something so special in the way he cares and loves for Nate because it’s the only way he has ever known, but he tries and tries to be what Nate needs even when he swore this was all a game for him, you can see it all unravel bit by bit for him and I loved when he finally falls to his knees.
This was a raw emotional read that I couldn’t put down, finished it one day I just don’t have the right words for what this book did to me, it opened my eyes to feelings I wasn’t sure I understand fully.
Nate and Liam’s love isn’t perfect and isn’t sane definitely not typical to the eyes of people that haven’t been through a such horrible trauma but it’s all Consuming, toxic, possessive, claiming but it’s perfect for these two and no one has to understand them as long as they have each other and I found that absolutely beautiful.
I know I saw it now but this book is definitely my favorite of the series but I know the next one will be up for the challenge.
Avery has a way of making you dislike a character and also have your heart bleed for said character in a matter of a chapter, I thought I was a MC in this book with how my heart whiplashed so much, and I loved every freaking second of it!!!
My baby Nate has been through so freaking much I cried for him, I ached for him, and I just wanted to hold him so bad. Liam has been rewired in the form of psychological and physical abuse he has overcome so much but it has changed who he is into something not normal to society and Nate seems to be the only one that sees it. But they see each other and they feel each other in ways no one has ever. There story is raw and hurtful and so so broken there are points I didn’t find any redeeming qualities about Liam but of course Avery makes me see something so special in the way he cares and loves for Nate because it’s the only way he has ever known, but he tries and tries to be what Nate needs even when he swore this was all a game for him, you can see it all unravel bit by bit for him and I loved when he finally falls to his knees.
This was a raw emotional read that I couldn’t put down, finished it one day I just don’t have the right words for what this book did to me, it opened my eyes to feelings I wasn’t sure I understand fully.
Nate and Liam’s love isn’t perfect and isn’t sane definitely not typical to the eyes of people that haven’t been through a such horrible trauma but it’s all Consuming, toxic, possessive, claiming but it’s perfect for these two and no one has to understand them as long as they have each other and I found that absolutely beautiful.
I know I saw it now but this book is definitely my favorite of the series but I know the next one will be up for the challenge.
August 26, 2025
These two were WOW… like, okay, listen, these two were toxic from the start, and there’s this constant play of power between them that just keeps growing as you read the book. With this pair, I got frustrated, angry, screamed, but also cried, laughed, and loved them every single minute, even when I was in full-on “GOD PLEASE GIVE ME PATIENCE” mode.
Nate is a broken boy, my boy. I cried with him. He went through a really difficult past, but don’t let that angelic face fool you. My baby is dangerous too.
Now Liam… omg, Liam. He’s a broken boy too, but also a master manipulator. I’m not gonna lie, I can’t even count the times I thought “wait, is he telling the truth or is he tricking me too?” He was obsessed with Nate, like, really, really obsessed and I loved seeing that. Because once this man finally acknowledged what he was truly feeling for Nate… “You are not prepared.”
Nate & Liam were two broken boys who didn’t know how to fit in the world. Each had their own defense mechanisms. Is their relationship toxic? Yes. But as you keep reading, you realize it makes sense. Maybe it won’t make sense to a lot of people, but for them, they were exactly what the other needed. And you can see those little changes happening, step by step.
The plot was really good too. For a moment you’ll think, “oh, this is gonna happen”, but then it doesn’t. It plays with your mind.
And what I loved the most about this book was that, in the end, these two finally found the peace and calm they needed. It’s a long journey, so be prepared to feel a lot with these two, but I guarantee you’ll end up loving them.
Also, special mention to Killian and Sage, for always having Liam’s and Nate’s backs.
P.S. Please check the trigger warnings before you read this book.
Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 3.5/5 🔥🔥 🔥.5
If you like to read:
💚 Villain Gets the Guy
🖤 Morally Corrupt Characters
💚 No Redemption Arc
🖤 Mutual Destruction
💚 Mutual OTT Obsession
🖤 Praise as a Weapon
Nate is a broken boy, my boy. I cried with him. He went through a really difficult past, but don’t let that angelic face fool you. My baby is dangerous too.
Now Liam… omg, Liam. He’s a broken boy too, but also a master manipulator. I’m not gonna lie, I can’t even count the times I thought “wait, is he telling the truth or is he tricking me too?” He was obsessed with Nate, like, really, really obsessed and I loved seeing that. Because once this man finally acknowledged what he was truly feeling for Nate… “You are not prepared.”
Nate & Liam were two broken boys who didn’t know how to fit in the world. Each had their own defense mechanisms. Is their relationship toxic? Yes. But as you keep reading, you realize it makes sense. Maybe it won’t make sense to a lot of people, but for them, they were exactly what the other needed. And you can see those little changes happening, step by step.
The plot was really good too. For a moment you’ll think, “oh, this is gonna happen”, but then it doesn’t. It plays with your mind.
And what I loved the most about this book was that, in the end, these two finally found the peace and calm they needed. It’s a long journey, so be prepared to feel a lot with these two, but I guarantee you’ll end up loving them.
Also, special mention to Killian and Sage, for always having Liam’s and Nate’s backs.
P.S. Please check the trigger warnings before you read this book.
Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Rating: 3.5/5 🔥🔥 🔥.5
If you like to read:
💚 Villain Gets the Guy
🖤 Morally Corrupt Characters
💚 No Redemption Arc
🖤 Mutual Destruction
💚 Mutual OTT Obsession
🖤 Praise as a Weapon
September 16, 2025
“And the worst part is, I do want to ruin him, but not how I usually ruin people. Not just to prove I can. I want to tear him down and build him into something that needs me in the way I'm starting to need him.”
No, I want to make Nate crave me the way a starving animal would crave poison disguised as food. I want to make him kneel, not because he fears me, but because he misses me. Because being without me feels worse than pain.
I want to ruin him with softness and decimate him with kindness. Then I’ll devour him whole.
"And that's enough for you?" Sage's voice breaks on the last word.
"Being seen by someone who manipulates you and uses your trauma to control you is enough?"
"I wanted to break him, Kill. That was the fucking plan. Manipulate him, push him, unravel him just to see what's underneath. That's all it was supposed to be.
"And now?"
I stop pacing, staring at the floor like it's got answers. "Now, I don't want anyone else to even look at him."
NATE & LIAM 🪦
Ok so why did the author say they were manipulative and toxic coz God damn this was perfect. I mean yea they were kinda toxic but it was the good typa toxic 🥹. Also I love how Liam broke for Nate. How he was the first one to confess his feelings and say those words he never thought he would ever utter. This book was absolute perfection 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻.
100/10 ⭐️
"He got under my skin, and now I can't get him out. I breathe him, I dream about him, and I don't even want anyone else. I can't think straight unless I know where he is."
"Because I don't want gentle. I don't want a love that makes me feel safe in a soft way, Liam.
Liam doesn't say "I love you." He says things like you're mine and I'll never let you leave. And the sick part of me the part that's always craved a different kind of belonging feels the weight of those words more than any soft, sweet declarations ever could.
No, I want to make Nate crave me the way a starving animal would crave poison disguised as food. I want to make him kneel, not because he fears me, but because he misses me. Because being without me feels worse than pain.
I want to ruin him with softness and decimate him with kindness. Then I’ll devour him whole.
"And that's enough for you?" Sage's voice breaks on the last word.
"Being seen by someone who manipulates you and uses your trauma to control you is enough?"
"I wanted to break him, Kill. That was the fucking plan. Manipulate him, push him, unravel him just to see what's underneath. That's all it was supposed to be.
"And now?"
I stop pacing, staring at the floor like it's got answers. "Now, I don't want anyone else to even look at him."
NATE & LIAM 🪦
Ok so why did the author say they were manipulative and toxic coz God damn this was perfect. I mean yea they were kinda toxic but it was the good typa toxic 🥹. Also I love how Liam broke for Nate. How he was the first one to confess his feelings and say those words he never thought he would ever utter. This book was absolute perfection 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻.
100/10 ⭐️
"He got under my skin, and now I can't get him out. I breathe him, I dream about him, and I don't even want anyone else. I can't think straight unless I know where he is."
"Because I don't want gentle. I don't want a love that makes me feel safe in a soft way, Liam.
Liam doesn't say "I love you." He says things like you're mine and I'll never let you leave. And the sick part of me the part that's always craved a different kind of belonging feels the weight of those words more than any soft, sweet declarations ever could.
September 6, 2025
✨ARC READER REVIEW✨
Avery Collin’s never disappoints. And with her new book, “Cruel when he Smiles”, she absolutely hit it out of the park! This is her third book of the Sinners of Blackthorne U series and I have to say might be my favorite so far- Which is saying a lot!! If you’ve read the first two in the series, then you know what I’m talking about!
Liam and Nate were such complex characters. Which the author is a master at writing. Their back and forth had my emotions in constant turmoil. With Nate, my heart broke for him, and the trauma he grew up with. With Liam, for the first half of the book, he just pissed me off. The way he treated Nate and how he would mess with his feelings and make him feel things, and then he would pull the rug out from underneath him.
Liam would show a tad bit of, not quite softness, but enough to make you think he was falling for Nate. Then, he would do something to pull Nate in again, and So my feelings for Liam were definitely of the love-hate variety.
Eventually though, you could feel the shift with the way he felt for Nate. Liam was completely obsessed with Nate and wanted him to be dependent on just him. And once I found out the trauma that Liam had suffered, it made me realize why he was the was. They were both so damaged by their past, but they were perfectly made for each other! They brought out a different side in one another. One that no one else got
To see. I love a book that challenges my emotions, and this series has done that with every book.
Love, love, loved, the ending so much!! I wasn’t quite sure how it would end, but it was perfect for Nate and Liam.
I have been so honored to have been an ARC on this entire series so far. Avery Collin’s is definitely one of the most gifted and talented writers that I have ever read, and I look forward to her future books!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 23, 2025
ARC Review 💚🖤
Cruel When He Smiles by Avery Collins
“Tell me you love our f*cked up”
.
.
Toxic. F*cked Up. Obsessive. Dangerous. All-Consuming. These are just some of the words I could use to describe the Avery Collin’s latest installment in the Sinners of Blackthorne U series.
Right from the start (literally the CW’s & Author’s Note) I knew Nate and Liam’s story was going to be intoxicating, darker, and heavier than its predecessors.
Both Liam and Nate have been subjected to psychological and physical abuse. As a result they have lived their life behind a guise or mask. To the world, Liam is the campus sweetheart, and golden boy. But to Nate, Liam is a predator and master manipulator.
Likewise, Nate is known as an aggressive athlete, best dressed, and maybe even a bit of a menace. To Liam, Nate is his. His to break, bend, and control. What starts as Liam’s personal mission to claim Nate slowly morphs into a depraved, biting, and possessive obsession.
There was something so raw and visceral to see two broken men finally get to experience love even if it’s not what others would deem conventional. Liam and Nate become each other’s anchor, and it’s a truly beautiful thing to experience. Especially given that they have alway craved a different kind of belonging and intimacy.
Cruel When He Smiles is yet another testament of Avery Collin’s writing prowess.
Managing to ensnare me within a few chapters and have me experience anguish, compulsion, and even bliss until the very end. Needless to say, with each couple, I’ve become even more infatuated with the “Sinners of Blackthorne U” and Avery’s writing. Cruel When He Smiles is no exception and might possible be my favorite in the series thus far.
Cruel When He Smiles by Avery Collins
“Tell me you love our f*cked up”
.
.
Toxic. F*cked Up. Obsessive. Dangerous. All-Consuming. These are just some of the words I could use to describe the Avery Collin’s latest installment in the Sinners of Blackthorne U series.
Right from the start (literally the CW’s & Author’s Note) I knew Nate and Liam’s story was going to be intoxicating, darker, and heavier than its predecessors.
Both Liam and Nate have been subjected to psychological and physical abuse. As a result they have lived their life behind a guise or mask. To the world, Liam is the campus sweetheart, and golden boy. But to Nate, Liam is a predator and master manipulator.
Likewise, Nate is known as an aggressive athlete, best dressed, and maybe even a bit of a menace. To Liam, Nate is his. His to break, bend, and control. What starts as Liam’s personal mission to claim Nate slowly morphs into a depraved, biting, and possessive obsession.
There was something so raw and visceral to see two broken men finally get to experience love even if it’s not what others would deem conventional. Liam and Nate become each other’s anchor, and it’s a truly beautiful thing to experience. Especially given that they have alway craved a different kind of belonging and intimacy.
Cruel When He Smiles is yet another testament of Avery Collin’s writing prowess.
Managing to ensnare me within a few chapters and have me experience anguish, compulsion, and even bliss until the very end. Needless to say, with each couple, I’ve become even more infatuated with the “Sinners of Blackthorne U” and Avery’s writing. Cruel When He Smiles is no exception and might possible be my favorite in the series thus far.
September 1, 2025
“You’ll take care of it because your psycho levels are in overdrive when it comes to me.”
Before I get into my review I would like to say, make sure you read the trigger warnings and the author's note before starting the story. I cannot stress this enough.
Now that that's out of the way I will say that Liam and Nate are everything. These two are so freaking toxic, but at the same time, they're just so beautiful and perfect for each other. I had the privilege of alpha reading this book, and from day one I was telling Avery how much I loved being inside Liam's head. Liam is one of the most manipulative characters I've ever read, to the point where he constantly had me questioning my own sanity. That alone should tell you how well written his character was.
And then we have Nate who has been rewired winter soldier style by someone who was meant to love and protect him. But what makes Nate such a complex character is that he is aware of everything Liam does. Every manipulation, every change in tone, every touch meant to condition. He knows, and he craves it all.
Honestly, I think I could go on forever talking about Liam and Nate because they have my whole fucking heart. Kudos to Avery Collins for the magnificent way she wrote these characters and everything she's doing with this series which just keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Quote: “I don’t want flowers. I don’t want diamonds or vows or some bullshit white wedding. I want obsession. I want fury. I want you waking up every day terrified that someone will take me, and I want to feel the same thing. And if we crash and burn—” “Then we do it together.”
Before I get into my review I would like to say, make sure you read the trigger warnings and the author's note before starting the story. I cannot stress this enough.
Now that that's out of the way I will say that Liam and Nate are everything. These two are so freaking toxic, but at the same time, they're just so beautiful and perfect for each other. I had the privilege of alpha reading this book, and from day one I was telling Avery how much I loved being inside Liam's head. Liam is one of the most manipulative characters I've ever read, to the point where he constantly had me questioning my own sanity. That alone should tell you how well written his character was.
And then we have Nate who has been rewired winter soldier style by someone who was meant to love and protect him. But what makes Nate such a complex character is that he is aware of everything Liam does. Every manipulation, every change in tone, every touch meant to condition. He knows, and he craves it all.
Honestly, I think I could go on forever talking about Liam and Nate because they have my whole fucking heart. Kudos to Avery Collins for the magnificent way she wrote these characters and everything she's doing with this series which just keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Quote: “I don’t want flowers. I don’t want diamonds or vows or some bullshit white wedding. I want obsession. I want fury. I want you waking up every day terrified that someone will take me, and I want to feel the same thing. And if we crash and burn—” “Then we do it together.”
September 18, 2025
No one captures broken, unhinged boys quite like Avery and this book proves it.
Liam is the embodiment of darkness. He is cruel, manipulative, controlling, desperate to own and consume every part of Nate. He doesn’t just want his attention, he wants his obedience, his surrender, his very soul. Liam sets out to shatter Nate, piece by piece, so he can rebuild him into something that belongs entirely to him. But what he doesn’t expect is how deeply Nate will slip beneath his skin.
This isn’t a love story filled with flowers, sweet words, or gentle touches. It’s brutal, raw, and unsettling. Every interaction between Liam and Nate is laced with tension, its obsessive, toxic, and all-consuming. They are beautifully broken reflections of one another, twisted pieces that somehow fit perfectly together.
Liam is one of the most manipulative characters I’ve ever read. His every move, every whisper, every touch is calculated to bend and condition Nate to his will. And yet, what makes this dynamic so compelling is that Nate isn’t oblivious to it. He knows exactly what Liam is doing and he wants it. He defies it but ultimately craves it. Their relationship is messy, complicated, and painfully addictive.
Avery’s writing is stunning, sharp, and
beautiful. She doesn’t just tell a story, she drags you into it, makes you feel it, until you’re questioning why you’re rooting for two characters who should ruin each other yet fit so perfectly in their brokenness.
If you love your romance dark, obsessive, and emotionally brutal then definitely read Cruel When He Smiles. Let it hurt you. Let it haunt you. You won’t forget it or regret it.
Remember to check the TW's.
Liam is the embodiment of darkness. He is cruel, manipulative, controlling, desperate to own and consume every part of Nate. He doesn’t just want his attention, he wants his obedience, his surrender, his very soul. Liam sets out to shatter Nate, piece by piece, so he can rebuild him into something that belongs entirely to him. But what he doesn’t expect is how deeply Nate will slip beneath his skin.
This isn’t a love story filled with flowers, sweet words, or gentle touches. It’s brutal, raw, and unsettling. Every interaction between Liam and Nate is laced with tension, its obsessive, toxic, and all-consuming. They are beautifully broken reflections of one another, twisted pieces that somehow fit perfectly together.
Liam is one of the most manipulative characters I’ve ever read. His every move, every whisper, every touch is calculated to bend and condition Nate to his will. And yet, what makes this dynamic so compelling is that Nate isn’t oblivious to it. He knows exactly what Liam is doing and he wants it. He defies it but ultimately craves it. Their relationship is messy, complicated, and painfully addictive.
Avery’s writing is stunning, sharp, and
beautiful. She doesn’t just tell a story, she drags you into it, makes you feel it, until you’re questioning why you’re rooting for two characters who should ruin each other yet fit so perfectly in their brokenness.
If you love your romance dark, obsessive, and emotionally brutal then definitely read Cruel When He Smiles. Let it hurt you. Let it haunt you. You won’t forget it or regret it.
Remember to check the TW's.
August 29, 2025
I savored and devoured this book at the same time. I love everything about this series. Each book has put me through a wave of emotions from happy to sad to confused to kicking my feet and I welcome them all!
Liam had me twisted up and confused for so much of this. I couldn’t tell if his soft moments with Nate were real or a game! I wanted to believe it was real but wasn’t sure if I should when it came to the sweetness.
The hurt, pain, manipulation and trauma these two went through was so heartbreaking. Both of them trying so hard to carry everything on their own and forcing everything to be ‘fine’ was hard to see. However, the strength they gained from it was amazing.
I loved seeing their relationship develop. The banter was great and the chemistry was so good. The exchange between these two at the party with the crop top and lace has been living rent free in my head for a while now (clarity will come once you enjoy the read)!!! Nate and Liam fit together so beautifully. Their broken pieces matched so perfectly. I enjoyed watching their dynamic change and having little pieces of their true selves be revealed. I enjoyed even more them slowly becoming each other’s safe space.
I loved the side characters! Sage is always so fiery and such a good support system for Nate and the bond Killian and Liam have is one I’m not sure can be matched. I had such a good time with every page. I have said the word “I loved” so many times but it’s the only thing that fits! I’m so excited for the rest of this series!!!
🖤ARC REVIEW💚
☑️ Trigger Warnings
Liam had me twisted up and confused for so much of this. I couldn’t tell if his soft moments with Nate were real or a game! I wanted to believe it was real but wasn’t sure if I should when it came to the sweetness.
The hurt, pain, manipulation and trauma these two went through was so heartbreaking. Both of them trying so hard to carry everything on their own and forcing everything to be ‘fine’ was hard to see. However, the strength they gained from it was amazing.
I loved seeing their relationship develop. The banter was great and the chemistry was so good. The exchange between these two at the party with the crop top and lace has been living rent free in my head for a while now (clarity will come once you enjoy the read)!!! Nate and Liam fit together so beautifully. Their broken pieces matched so perfectly. I enjoyed watching their dynamic change and having little pieces of their true selves be revealed. I enjoyed even more them slowly becoming each other’s safe space.
I loved the side characters! Sage is always so fiery and such a good support system for Nate and the bond Killian and Liam have is one I’m not sure can be matched. I had such a good time with every page. I have said the word “I loved” so many times but it’s the only thing that fits! I’m so excited for the rest of this series!!!
🖤ARC REVIEW💚
☑️ Trigger Warnings
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