She is London's It girl, jewellery obsessed, with high-functioning OCD. He is London's party boy, whose whole world once revolved around her... until he shattered it by doing something she couldn't forgive. Four months later, all she wants is to move on. And all he wants... he doesn't know everything he wants, but he knows he wants her back.
It’s kind of like Magnolia Parks, except instead of the MMC cheating on the protagonist with her best friend, he sleeps with her mother. It’s insane, but it creates a really compelling plot, and the twists at the end made this read totally worth it
First ARC, and I couldn’t have gotten a better one. Amazing book, extremely Gossip Girl coded. I love Cornelia. She’s hilarious but also self-aware, and the ending OMG I was shocked! I didn’t see it coming. I can’t wait for the second book!
Really enjoyed this angsty contemporary romance! It’s very similar to magnolia parks in that it’s set in high society London, is set around a core group of friends, and there’s cheating and scandal, but towards the middle of the book it really started to take on its own story that I really enjoyed. One of the plot twists I had guessed, but the other one I did not see coming at all.
And I just have to say (I’ll keep it vague so it’s not a spoiler) but TJ and remodeling the house was so precious I was tearing up.
I went into The Ring expecting drama and rich London chaos, and yes, it absolutely has that. The parties. The jewellery. The tension. The whispered conversations and emotional standoffs. But what really got me was how raw it felt underneath all the glamour.
Cornelia is not a perfect, polished heroine, and that is exactly why I loved her. She is trying so hard to keep control of her world, especially when her heart is anything but steady. Her struggle with high functioning OCD feels woven into who she is rather than added on for effect, and you can feel how much energy it takes for her to just exist in these high pressure spaces. I felt for her more than I expected to.
And TJ… he frustrated me. In that very intentional, very real way. He is charming and careless and clearly still tangled up in his feelings. Their history hangs over every single interaction. Nothing between them is simple. Every conversation feels loaded with things unsaid, with hurt that has not healed properly.
What I appreciated most is that this is not a neat romance. It is messy. It is emotional. People say the wrong things. They avoid conversations. They react before they think. And because of that, it feels real. The softer moments hit harder because you know how fragile everything is.
The setting adds this glossy shine to the story, but beneath it there is vulnerability and insecurity and longing. It is about heartbreak, but also about accountability and growth. About whether love is enough when trust has already been damaged.
By the end, I was completely invested. There were moments that genuinely made my chest tighten, and I definitely did not see everything coming. I closed the book wanting answers and feeling slightly emotionally unsteady in the best way.
If you love character driven romance with drama, tension and flawed people trying to figure it out, The Ring is going to hook you. It is glamorous on the outside, but deeply human underneath.
Ok if you were around in the late 90's and early 2000's and loved shows like Gossip Girl, The OC, Melrose Place and the original 90210 then you'll honestly love following along with this wealthy friendship group as they get up to all sorts of drama in London's high society!
I think what I loved most about it is that from an outsider looking in we always tend to think that real life people like these characters have money, so they must have everything right? But money doesn't always equal happiness and love and this story is the perfect example of that.
I really liked Cornelia, the FMC, the struggles that she faced and her character development throughout the story drew me in. I can't even imagine what it would be like to live under that kind of constant scrutiny along with a dysfunctional family and the expectations that don't align with what you want for yourself. And then throw in finding your longterm boyfriend in bed with your mum and you have yourself a killer storyline!
I loved that this was such a messy, drama filled, emotional roller-coaster ride of a romance with so many moments that left me yelling at the page! And the friendships were absolutely top tier. So if you need a little glamour and romance in your life then I highly recommend settling in for an emotional ride with The Ring!
thank you so much to the berry agency and the author for this arc!
i really enjoyed the premise of this book! the gossip girl/magnolia parks of it all was so fun to read about. the characters were all incredibly fleshed out and interesting to read about; without overshadowing one another. tj and cornelia were so messy and complicated, but i was fully engrossed in their story. i loved the descriptions of all of cornelia's outfits and jewelry. i loved how tj worshipped the ground that cornelia walked on throughout the story. additionally, i really liked how these characters were not necessarily relatable or even likeable. the heptad society was born into money, so it is not that surprising that they act the way that they do. it was a purposeful addition to the story that i really appreciated. my only critics of this book were that the pacing was a little off, it felt a bit slow in the middle and the ending felt a little rushed. to me, there were also certain instances where random details were added that felt unnecessary, and were just added as exposition. other than that, this was such an enjoyable experience and i really enjoyed it. looking forward to the next one! thank you again to the author and the berry agency!
I thought this was a great read and one that surprised me far more than I expected. It is very easy to read and initially feels like your typical Gossip Girl style story with wealthy friends and their drama, but it quickly becomes clear that there is much more depth beneath the surface.
What really stood out to me was how emotionally layered the book is. It explores heavy and important topics such as mental health and sexual assault, themes that many authors tend to steer clear from. These topics are handled with care and purpose rather than being used for shock value, and they add a sense of realism and weight to the story.
I appreciated how the author used an accessible, engaging storyline as a way to draw the reader in before gradually revealing the darker and more confronting aspects of the characters’ experiences. The impact of trauma and the way it shapes behaviour and relationships felt honest and believable.
Overall, this book is far deeper than it first appears. It is entertaining, confronting at times, and thoughtfully written, making it a read that stays with you long after you finish.
Can't wait for the next one and to see what else this author has on offer!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a solid read for me, but ultimately landed at about a 3-star experience.
I really liked the concept of this story and appreciated the emotional themes the author was aiming to explore. There were moments where the story felt engaging and layered, and I could see the potential for something that really sticks with you.
However, the pacing didn’t always work for me. Parts of the story felt drawn out, while other moment, especially ones that could have benefited from deeper emotional exploration, felt a little rushed. Because of that, I found myself wanting more connection to the characters and their choices.
That said, I can absolutely see why this book will resonate strongly with other readers. The subject matter carries weight, and the author approaches it with clear intention. It just didn’t fully land for me in the way I was hoping.
Overall, The Ring was an okay read, one I’m glad I tried but not one that completely pulled me in. I’d still recommend it to readers who enjoy emotionally driven stories and don’t mind a slower, reflective pace.
First thing First the book was soo good I read it in one siting... It took me some time to start reading the book because this is my first time bing an ARC reader and I was scared that the book will not be good BUT the book was soo good the story line was amazing and the plot twist at the end was like WTF....
I love Cornelia and TJ soo mach I can't wait to read more about them and I wish there will be more books about everyone in their group...
This book has nothing I can compare to it no other book that I can think about is like this, if it the story line or anything else in the book... I LOVE IT ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you for picking me to be your ARC reader.
Firstly, thank you to the author and Berry Agency and the author for sending this book!
I loved the premise of this book being gossip girl but set in London. Following the IT girl and her elite friendship group as they navigate life, scandals and love. I will admit that the book took a slow start and took a couple chapters to really get into it, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading TJ and Cornelia's story.
The tension between the two was definitely a slow burn which I love, my only critic is that it took a little too long and felt a little dragged out, hence why it took me so long to read.
But I recommend if you are looking for something a little different and the twist at the end... oof
I’m speechless, that twist, i had no idea we would end there for real…. i thought i knew exactly how this book would end but i was very wrong…
And that’s what I love about this book, it’s so gossip girl/magnolia parks coded but with a focus on deeper topics like sexual assault and OCD.
I love Cornelia’s character and loved the friendship between herself and Annabelle! I do feel the other side characters could have been explored more so the reader feels more invested in them, but i’m hoping this will occur in the next book! I will be keeping an eye out for the next release in this series for sure!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was just what I needed to get me out of my reading slump! So thank you 😁
I really loved Cornelia’s character arc. She’s flawed, emotional, and so relatable, which made her journey feel very real. I enjoyed following a story that included a character with high-functioning OCD, trying to move on after heartbreak. I could feel her pain and frustration.
The relationship dynamics were emotional and engaging. He’s the party boy who broke everything in her perfectly controlled world. The tension between them kept me hooked.
I am really looking forward to reading more books by this author 😀
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 ~ Socialites, preppy heartthrobs, high fashion and “it girl” energy with high society London as a backdrop.
The Ring is such a great read and definitely channels a Gossip Girl vibe which is so much fun. Think angsty romances, “poor little rich kids” and lavish parties.
The ending was such an unexpected twist and I can’t wait for book 2! I’m absolutely crossing my fingers for many more books to come and a chance to get to know every member of “The Heptad society” and take a dive into their life and love stories.
Rating: ☀️☀️☀️☀️✨️ (4.5/5 Suns) If you love Blair from Gossip Girl, with high society, drama and scandal; this is the next book for you! Following a London high society found family navigating through scandal and life. With two POVs, we get to experience friendship, love and yearning through the perspectives of TJ and Cornelia. One of my favourite parts of this book was experiencing the genuine friendship between Cornelia and Annabelle. Watching their friendship bloom and being truly genuine, even in hard times was so refreshing to read.
It’s giving Gossip Girl & I’m here for it 🤌🏽 The Ring by Pao Ramos was a fun read 👏🏽
The escapism was real with this one. This closed door romance is incredibly character driven & what started as a tale of ‘it girl’ privilege, high society & opulence developed into a story with levity & nuance that I really enjoyed.
Although I had a pretty good idea of where the story was going I did not see THAT twist coming. Brava 👏🏽
This was a 4 ⭐️ read for me. Would recommend 👏🏽
Thank you to Pao & The Berry Agency for the opportunity to read & review this ARC 🫶🏽
I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Ring by Pao Ramos thanks to The Berry Agency. This book sat consistently at a 2.25 star rating through the majority of the book, but the ending pushed the book to a 3 star for me. While this book was a bit too gossip girl meets the Kardashians for me, it may still be the book for you. The MMC did not have enough of a redemption arc in my mind, but I will be reading book two to find out what happens. If you love drama, London socialites, high society, and plot twists I would recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book from the Berry Agency, and I’m so happy I did!!!
I went into this thinking of Gossip Girl, and honestly loved it so much. It was layered with so much emotion and such authentic characters. They were all layered with real flaws - which is so refreshing for a book. Everyone had their own issues and did not always act perfect. Which is so real.
I was not expecting it to end on such a cliffhanger, and I neeeeeed the rest of it now!! I need to see what happens with Cornelia and TJ!!!
Wow. If you are a fan of Gossip Girl you will love this. I’m not a fan of books with OWD usually but I decided to push through it with this one and I’m very glad I did. That ending was insane. I thought I had already guessed what the truth would be and I was right, but also completely unprepared. Thank you so much to the Berry Agency for the opportunity to arc read this! I can’t wait to see how the story continues in book 2
What a great debut release ! The storyline and suspense is incredible and makes you keep wanting to go back for more ! TJ and Cornelia, despite what they have been through persevere and come out stronger than I expected and it is so relieving !
The Ring gives Gossip Girl vibes but in the UK! I was not expecting that cliffhanger at all ahhhh but at the same time it hopefully that means more books! The yearning in this book is sooooo good. It’s also a second chance romance, I love how messy of a relationship/journey of Cornelia and TJ
Really amazing book from a brand new indie author! This is a very innovative book in the genre which touches on some really serious topics with a lot of tactfulness and grace. I’m super excited to see what the author will put out in the future!
Literalmente es la copia de Magnolia Park, solo cambia los nombres, aunque ni eso ahora que lo pienso porque el personaje principal se llama TJ, toda la trama es igual, los personajes secundarios, todo copiado, es un total plagio
súper libro. nunca he leído un libro que amara tanto como este y que fuera tan original. cornelia es una increíble fmc y me urge que salga el segundo libro. también necesito urgentemente el libro de annabelle