Him & I

by Helena Hunting

In a searing, dark love story steeped in grit, obsession, and secrets, two broken souls keep coming back together—no matter how much they tear each other apart.

Birdie Fast is thriving, with two degrees, a stable fiancé, and her dream job. Her mistakes are in the past, and she’s determined to keep them there.

Jarrod Storm, Birdie’s new CEO, is the man who destroyed her life and stole everything from her. Grown rich and powerful, he’s spent years waiting for her in the shadows.

Now, he wants her back.

Birdie loathes him, but she can’t deny how he makes her safe. He’s the only one who’s ever truly seen her.

If there’s anything Birdie has learned, it’s to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

Because you’re never truly safe with a past like hers.

Genres: Second Chance, Dark, Dark Romance, Romance, Suspense, Found Family, Workplace Romance

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 10, 2026

About the author

Helena Hunting is a USA Today and NYT bestselling author. She lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and angsty emo cat who can never get enough pets. She writes everything from romantic sports to new adult angst.

Reviews

[ellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

i wouldn’t say im a stickler for “safety” in my romances, where i need the main characters to remain celibate during their separation— especially when it’s been years, they’ve been living their lives and never expected to see each other ever again. life happens, shit happens, who cares?

BUT in Him & I, i think a lot of the romance, forgiveness and reconciliation hinges on Jarrod, the hero, keeping his dick in his pants 🤣 and surprise surprise !! he doesn’t :)



without spoiling the plot, Birdie goes through A LOT of trauma in the span of eight years during her separation from Jarrod, and the reason she’s in the situation to begin with is because of him. he abandons her when she needs him the most and they don’t reunite until eight years later. but during those years, Jarrod always planned to be with Birdie again— he plans and schemes to help her as much as possible from the shadows, to lift her up and keep her as safe as he possibly can (given the circumstances). he never believes that him and Birdie are over. he’ll fight to the bitter end, which i really admired. his love for her was so palpable and all-consuming, which is why i am so annoyed upon finishing this book 😭

Jarrod’s background scheming, always following Birdie and her life, are presented as reasons for us, the readers, to forgive him. i think we’re supposed to be like “awww LOOK! look at everything he’s done for her!! we have to forgive him!!” the lengths he goes to for Birdie are lowkey insane and unhinged (in a hot dark romance way), and i never once doubted he loved her.

but because the story is set up with Jarrod being so unhealthily, obsessively, undyingly devoted to Birdie, it was insulting to be told that he had hookups (idc if he said they were unsatisfying !!) and a casual sexual partner during the eight years they were apart— while he actively schemed to reunite with Birdie again and built a life ready for her to come back to him. we’re lucky enough to MEET one of the women he “gave orgasms” to in exchange for info / financial backing 💀 not even a quickie either, but often for several hours. but it’s okay since he only slept with her because she looked like Birdie lol.



to me, if you’re truly so devoted to the point you stalk the love of your life to obscene levels that Jarrod does (even orchestrating / manipulating aspects of her life under the guise of care, love and safety) then keeping it in your pants should be piss easy. sex shouldn’t even be on the CARDS if Birdie really is your big epic love that you’ll do anything to get back. it just undermined EVERYTHING he said and did, every time he waxed poetics about Birdie being the other half of his soul, his endgame, blind with grief and devastation at what she had to go through and how he couldn’t do anything to get to her but build a life for her and them as a couple for when the stars aligned and they could be together again.

it was also gross to know that Jarrod KNEW / saw pictures of what Birdie had to endure in the eight years they were separated, yet still felt it was perfectly acceptable to go sleep with other women. she’s going through all that awful shit while you’re allowed to get your dick wet whenever you want ?? keeping it in his pants was the LEAST he could have done, my god. he got so choked up whenever he talked about what happened to Birdie… but clearly not choked up enough to keep his pants on?

again, it just undermined EVERYTHING he did and said. he even tells Birdie “I never tried to get over you. I didn’t want to” while surrounded by a shrine of her in his room… and this would have been romantic and TRUE if not for the lack of celibacy 🤣




if the story was set up as if they met again by chance, rather than it being eight years in the making by Jarrod, then i can forgive it. really there’s nothing to forgive because you didn’t think you’d ever be together again. but the story hinges on his epic puppeteering in the background with the end goal being making Birdie his. this is ultimately the crux of my frustration— the choice by Hunting to include the detail and then later have Birdie meet a woman Jarrod slept with (while she was in literal hell and he knew it), just doesn’t make sense to me? i was confused AND pissed off, because this one detail ruins the integrity of the romance. if i wasn’t so convinced of the soulmatism between Jarrod and Birdie, i wouldn’t care. but someone this in love, this obsessed, would not sleep around while he knew what Birdie was going through and while he planned to make her his again.

idk why authors are are so obsessed with making their heroes have sex during separations while the heroine is either celibate, has shitty / unsatisfying sex, or is raped. i know Helena Hunting books from like 6 years ago were like this, but i thought authors knew by now that a lot of readers hate this shit 🤣 i know people will excuse it and say “it’s unrealistic to expect a man to be celibate for eight years!!” girl i don’t read romance for the realism 🌚 i don’t think ANYONE reads romance for the realism. if we wanted realism we’d download Tinder and be humbled by the audacity of men in 0.72838493 seconds.

so, if you don’t give a fuck about this sort of stuff then you’ll be fine, but i know other readers will be like me rip 🤠

thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[Pearl Angeli (pearlreadsnovels) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

I’ve been a fan of Helena Hunting's books for a long time, and I definitely still am! Him and I was such a different experience from her usual books that I’ve read which were swoony, sexy sports romances, so this dark-themed romance was a pleasant surprise for sure.



Birdie Fast never had an easy life. She grew up with an abusive stepfather who physically hurt her. As a teenager, she met Jarrod Storm after discovering that her boyfriend cheated on her and after knowing that his cheater boyfriend is actually one of Jarrod’s employees in his drug-dealing operation. When her ex racked up debts, Birdie ended up working for Jarrod to repay them. What started as a dangerous arrangement eventually became something much more complicated when Birdie fell in love with Jarrod. But getting involved in Jarrod’s world came with consequences. Eventually, Birdie found herself imprisoned and forced to face the choices she made.

This was definitely an all-consuming read. I enjoyed the dark and gritty atmosphere and I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next. The story kept me glued to it because of its unpredictability. One of the things I loved about this book was Birdie. I really loved her character and how tough she remained despite everything she had been through. She wasn't defined by her trauma and she chose to stand her ground. Seeing her resist Jarrod at first instead of immediately giving in to him was truly admirable. For me, she was such a believable character with her own strength and flaws.

I had no problem with Jarrod being extremely obsessive and possessive over Birdie. 😂 Their relationship was definitely intense, but considering the darker nature of the story, I thought that side of him fit the dynamic between them.

I did predict the twists fairly easily, and for me it was kind of a let-down since I was looking forward to something really big to happen. I also had an issue with the pacing and length. There were quite a few filler moments and some repetition that made me feel like this could have worked really well as a novella instead of a full-length book. Still, seeing this darker and grittier side of Helena Hunting was enjoyable. Her compelling writing was a huge reason why I stayed invested. Even when certain parts weren’t working completely for me, I was still hooked.

This was a 3-Star read for me, but I would still recommend it! I can definitely see this being a book that works really well for other readers, and you might feel completely differently about the parts that didn’t quite work for me. It wasn’t perfect for me, but I still love this author and I’m always going to be interested in what she writes next. ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like romance that’s a little dark and edgy, with emotional ups and downs, plus characters you don’t know whether to love or hate, I have a story for you.

I have been reading Hunting’s stories for many years, and my favorite are her angst-filled novels.

She knows how to suck you into the story, then slowly turn the tables: the person you’re supposed to hate is really doing things behind the scenes to protect you and help you advance.

The love-hate push-pull is 100% real in this book. You’re conflicted right along with our main character, Birdie. How can you trust him again?

Him & I is definitely hot and spicy. There are so many highs and lows, tears and smiles. We have the alpha hero and the tortured soulmate. It is definitely trigger-heavy. But I loved it all.

~~~
* I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/him-i-by-hel...

[TTP]

You Are NOT in love and obsessed with your true love if you at the same time as you’re planning your future with the heroine, you sleep with other women and have a friends with benefits with ow. You are just a piece of garbage.

[Betül · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

Him & I really took me back to the emotional contemporary romances I used to read in the 2010s. It actually reminded me a lot of Helena Hunting's Clipped Wings series, which was also such an emotional read. There was just something about this book that had the same feel as so many of the indie romances I loved more than a decade ago, and I really enjoyed that.

I was hooked on Birdie and Jarrod's story pretty quickly. They both felt like very real and flawed characters, and even when they made complicated choices, I could understand where they were coming from. I was able to connect with both of them, which made me even more invested in seeing them finally get their HEA.

"We’re two jagged hearts fighting to connect, but all we do is damage each other."

I especially enjoyed watching them slowly find their way back to each other. Considering everything that happened between them in the past, Birdie's hesitation and suspicion of Jarrod made complete sense to me. Their relationship had a lot to work through, and I liked that things weren't immediately easy between them just because they still had feelings for each other.

This was definitely an emotional read, but it also had plenty of spice and some moments that had me on the edge of my seat. The combination of the second-chance romance, their complicated history, and everything happening around them kept me invested throughout.

Overall, Him & I gave me that emotional, slightly messy romance that I used to love reading so much. It was nostalgic in the best way, and I really enjoyed getting invested in Birdie and Jarrod's journey back to each other.

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read several of Helena Hunting’s books in the past so I saw this and was pleased to receive approval for the ARC (my thanks to NetGalley and Montlake). I found this was a very different Hunting book - darker, steamier, more psychological - than the usual angsty, mid-steamy romances I’ve liked. I’m still contemplating this change as I write my review. Besides the story itself, I really disliked the title (so grammatically awful). With all that said, this is an enemies-to-lovers trope with a morally gray hero.

Birdie Fast seems to have settled down and erased her past when she’s confronted by her new CEO, Jarrod Storm, the man from her past. Jarrod’s world is not a pretty one - drugs. She enters it to help an ex-boyfriend. This where I’m going to stop my summary. It’s a grim dark story so be prepared to do a lot of thinking about why anyone would do this.

It took me a while to get past that title. I’ve read a number of dark romances in the past but quit after that were all so predictable as this one is. And then I also quit because think these books are deeming to women. With all that said, readers who have read other Helena Hunting books may consider this for future reading.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

If you’re familiar with Helena Hunting, you know she’s the queen of hockey rom-coms. But before that, she wrote the amazing Clipped Wings series, which was filled with all the angst. Well, she’s done it again with Him and I!

Him and I follows Birdie and Jarrod. After a rough start in life, first with her family and then with Jarrod, Birdie is finally getting her life back on track. She has a great job, a loving boyfriend, and the life she’s always wanted.

Then Jarrod walks back into her life—and he wants her back in it.

Oh, did I mention he’s now her boss?

Birdie is struggling with what to do because the last time she saw Jarrod, she took the fall for him and ended up in prison. Now she has to deal with all the emotions and inner turmoil that come with having him back in her life.

She loved Jarrod, but is letting him back in really the best decision? She’s finally built the life she always wanted, and she doesn’t want to end up back in her old ways.

This book is filled with angst, complicated feelings, and second chances. If you love romance with a healthy dose of angst, Him and I is definitely one to add to your TBR!

[Lisa Hambridge (lisamareebooks1109) · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

This book is one of Helena’s darker romances and it was a book that I enjoyed reading. Birdie and Jarrod had dark pasts and this past lead to them being separated for years due to Birdie going to prison. This book had main characters that were determined to put their pasts behind them, but when they were first reunited, the relationship was icy, it was enjoyable to read whether the ice would thaw between them. The drama and suspense was well written and I enjoyed how the story developed.

[Danielle's · Rating 4 out of 5]

Him & I is something different from Helena Hunting. It’s darker, no ice hockey and an obsessive male lead.

Birdie went to jail when everything fell apart. Her boyfriend at the time was at the route of her problems. When she gets out she tries to catch a fresh start. A new sensible man, a career in something she loves and an opportunity for a great new job. When she moves to a new place she think she can finally leave the past behind only to realise her new boss is the very ex who helped her life go up in flames.

This isn’t a sweet romance. It’s about a broken woman with a man who will stop at nothing to have her. It’s intense, he’s overbearing and as this unravels it only becomes more messy.

Him & I will have you intrigued, desperate to turn the page and intensely invested.

[Nadine · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Him & I is Hunting’s foray into dark romance since 2014 with Clipped Wings, though that publication is not fully in the dark romance genre. Him & I follows Birdie as she is released from prison after serving time for taking the fall for Jarrod.

Trigger warnings for just about everything you can think of.

Him & I is a workplace romance as Birdie is hired at a sister company to the one she was already working at. After years of not speaking to Jarrod, she finally comes face to face with him when she discovers he’s her new boss.

The novel is told primarily from Birdie’s perspective in the present with a few chapters from the past and Jarrod’s perspective sprinkled throughout.

The angst and chemistry between Birdie and Jarrod is fiery. From the first moment they’re on page together and throughout the past chapters, it’s clear that Birdie and Jarrod fit together like puzzle pieces but the picture they make is one of trauma, pain, and healing.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️

The past chapters were my favourite part of the novel. They helped set the foundation of Birdie and Jarrod’s relationship and offered insight into their characters as people and their ultimate trajectory.

The reason I rated the novel 3.5 stars instead of 4 is because it was predictable.

Overall, Him & I delivers a fiery, angst filled romance with compelling characters and a relationship shaped by trauma, pain, and healing, even if the plot is somewhat predictable. If you enjoy second-chance romances with plenty of tension and complex characters, this one may be worth adding to your TBR.


*** I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Helena Hunting at her grittiest and angstiest, and it is so freaking good. I couldn't get enough.
Two broken souls. A past that refuses to stay buried. Obsession, secrets, and a love that never truly let go. Yeah... this one hurt. In the best possible way.

Growing up for Birdie Fast was about survival. Eight years have passed since the incident that changed her life. Eight years since the love of her life abandoned her. Eight years for her to be angry. And poor Birdie. Her name fits her so well because she's always been a bird in a cage. Watching her slowly step out of that cage was so incredibly satisfying.

The beginning of this one huuuurts because Birdie hurts. In the present, we only get Birdie's POV at first, and I hated not knowing what was going on in Jarrod's head. I was angry for her. I was hurting for her. And I had QUESTIONS.

Then we get to know Jarrod.

And all that righteous anger I had toward him started to shift because, yeah... he's tormented too. Birdie wasn't the only one who suffered. Watching Birdie reframe her perception of the past was something I did right alongside her, and suddenly everything felt a whole lot more complicated.

Were Birdie and Jarrod a little toxic, especially in the past timeline? Yep. But the soulmate vibe is vibing, and that is totally my jam. It gets me. Every. Single. Time. They were powerless against the pull toward each other, and they pulled me right in with them. Jarrod is absolutely ridiculous when it comes to Birdie, and I loved it. Red flags and all. My one real disappointment was that Jarrod didn't remain celibate during their time apart. Given how devoted he was to Birdie and how deeply he still loved her, I really wanted that part of his story to match the intensity of his feelings for her. That's definitely a personal preference, though, and it didn't stop me from loving their second chance romance. And that's really where my 4.5 stars come from. I loved this story, I felt this story, and I couldn't get enough of these two, but those little personal-preference things kept it from being a full five stars for me.

There's also some workplace romance energy when Birdie starts her first day at Lightning Tech Security only to discover that it has been absorbed by Storm Tech Enterprises. As in Jarrod Storm. Her ex. Worst. First. Day. Ever. Cue the workplace romance shenanigans, and I was here for every second of it.

The past shaped Birdie and Jarrod, but watching them break out of that mold and become better versions of themselves was everything. Jarrod built an empire for Birdie. He gave her a new life. He gave her himself in the past and present. And underneath all that obsession and tortured energy, Jarrod is such a softie, but ONLY for Birdie. Another favorite on my romance lover's bingo card. He's hilariously reactive, but underneath it all, he just wants to learn how to love Birdie well with his second chance. You just want to hug both of them.

It's hard not to have a soft spot for Zane and Finn too. They clawed their way out of the darkness, and they're the kind of friends who have each other's backs no matter what. Of course, there are plenty of people around to bring the drama and keep things interesting. Farrah, Curtis, even beige Dave. 😂 And Birdie's friend Mary has her own part to play too. The supporting characters really do their jobs well without taking away from Birdie and Jarrod's story.

While we get all the answers, things might not have worked out quite so neatly in real life. Lucky for us, this isn't real life, so I'm okay with it.

At its heart, this is a story about two jagged souls trying to love each other. There are growing pains. There are mistakes. Their love is imperfect, but it's also two people willing to be there and put each other back together when they break. If any two people earned their HEA, it was these two.
And that last 10% or so? I was an emotional wreck, but in the very best way. I think I might have been shedding a tear or two while smiling and celebrating love, life, family, and freedom right along with these characters.

So yeah... I felt this one. A LOT. ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

[Lillian Christenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your typical Helena Hunting book.
Jarrod and Birdie are obsessed with each other. It started out when they were teenagers, selling drugs. Events happen, Birdie spends six years in jail covering for Jarrod.
She has turned her life around but when she shows up at her new job and who’s there as her new boss, Jarrod.

This book is dark, full of tension, but I couldn’t stop reading. There’s mystery, intrigue and definite spice.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this advanced copy. 5⭐️

[Annemarie Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the chance to read this ARC early. I was immediately brought into Birdie’s world. Birdie is an exceptional character, her harsh past leads to a future she is trying to make for herself. I wanted to hate Jarrod, buy realized that the problems and troubles they faced lead them to who they will become. I have loved Helena Hunting’s books but this one made me mad, sad, heartbroken then eventually happy. Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC early.

[Mackenzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was...whatever! Not great, but a good palate cleanser after some heavier, deeper reads. I liked that this was surface level, fast, and slightly ridiculous. Not every book can be life changing literature!

Anyone who enjoys mob stories, the Brutal Birthright series, or silly, stupid stories will probably enjoy this. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own. Expected publication is 11/10/2026.

[Meegz Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3 Stars*

ARC Kindly received for an honest review.

I’m unsure how to review this one. I feel like I spent at least the first half of the book not really sure if I even liked it, or the characters, but then by the end I was quite hooked and keen to continue reading and not put the book down.

Jarrod and Birdie are both complex characters. Neither of them have the best upbringings and their choices have lead them to where they are today. The road back from that is an interesting one and I definitely found Jarrod to be too much - too stalkerish, too over the top, too controlling in ways. But Birdies reactions were just as strange to me.

This is definitely a darker storyline than I’m used to from Helena Hunting and I think she’s written it well. It maybe just wasn’t 100% my cup of tea for a chunk of the book. I really liked the way things turned out and how the last third of the book reads and unfolds. I’d even possibly be interested in books about Finn and Zane.

Definitely mixed feelings on this one for me but I think many will love it.

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[Vitamin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC of “Him & I” in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t even know how to start... I guess I should say that realism and common sense are still two different things :) Overall, I can accept a (fictional) man who has loved one woman for eight years, can’t build a normal relationship with anyone else, and keeps the birdcage she made like it’s the greatest relic known to mankind. You want to make him handsome, rich, a genius programmer, the owner of a corporation, and the walking embodiment of sexual obsession — sure. But when the author starts building an entire universe around this man, where he somehow lurks around every corner of the heroine’s life, solves practically every problem, and ultimately turns out to be the secret architect behind a significant part of her “independent” growth, my problem is no longer realism. My question is: hello, what is the heroine even here for?

At the beginning, Birdie is presented as someone who clawed her way out of absolute hell. At seventeen, she takes the fall after the accident to protect Jarrod, gets an enormous sentence, spends six years in prison, gets out, and over the next two years somehow manages to build a life that looks almost pointedly successful. She has two degrees, she’s been through therapy, she has a job, and she also has a fiancé. She basically calls herself a poster child for rehabilitation, even though internally she still feels like she’s falling apart. Which is understandable! She survived prison and her own past, learned how to exist without Jarrod, supposedly, only to run into him again))) And I can honestly say the premise isn’t new, and I’m not particularly fond of the whole “getting back with your ex” trope, which is essentially what happens here, but it could have been handled well.

But then the book starts revealing what actually happened during those eight years, and what was supposedly Birdie’s story gradually turns into a story about how amazingly Jarrod planned everything out for her. The educational program in prison? He nudged the right person so Birdie could get access to it. The program after her release? Him. The job? Him. The apartment? Him. The people who arranged all of this so Birdie wouldn’t connect any of it to him? His friends. The man she dates for a year and a half and eventually gets engaged to? Also fucking Jarrod’s doing. Dave is initially asked to befriend her(?), but NATURALLY, once their relationship becomes romantic, Jarrod very quickly explains that he deliberately chose a “safe, passive man” who wouldn’t ask too many questions and could temporarily stay by Birdie’s side while Jarrod himself wasn’t legally allowed to contact her. *VERY HEAVY SIGH*

I don’t even know what exactly was supposed to make me swoon here. Imagine spending several years believing that your greatest victory is the fact that, after a horrific past, you managed to put yourself back together. And then you find out that the person you were trying to free yourself from emotionally never actually disappeared — he was just pulling all the necessary strings behind the scenes. My reaction to that would not be, wow, what an incredible love. I’d probably start seriously wondering for the first time, **which decisions in my adult life were ever actually mine**. And no, I’m not remotely interested in the excuse of “well, she still earned the degrees herself.” What difference does that make? The problem isn’t that Jarrod sat her exams for her. The problem is that, without her consent, another person decided which doors should open for her, where she should go, where she should live, where she should work, and who she should build a relationship with. It isn’t help when the person being “helped” doesn’t even know the help exists.

I suppose I should give the author credit for at least understanding what kind of story she wrote, because at one point Jarrod himself wonders how exactly he is different from his own father (who uses people as pawns and so on). He looks at everything he has done to Birdie, remembers the planted boyfriend, the years of obsession, and essentially admits: yes, I also built an entire system around another person in which everything was supposed to lead to the outcome I wanted. BUT! What answer does the book give us? Jarrod isn’t like his father because Curtis does everything for himself, while Jarrod does it for the people he loves. And… curtain. I genuinely don’t know what else there is to say here...

Kidding. Obviously, I have plenty more to say, but let’s talk about Dave separately. Before the whole “incredibly elaborate” scheme is revealed, he is consistently framed as “beige,” passive, and so on and so forth. Except Birdie herself doesn’t open up to him))) She hides a huge part of herself from him, doesn’t tell him about her past with Jarrod, asks him to leave her alone, shuts down emotionally — and then, somehow, the lack of a deep connection is used as evidence that Dave simply “isn’t the one.” BUT WHAT exactly was he supposed to do? For example, she says, “I need to be alone.” Is he supposed to kick the door down and go, “No, woman, I know what you need better than you do”? Oh, wait. We already have Jarrod for that. God, lmao. The irony is that Dave’s involvement in keeping tabs on Birdie is already more than enough reason to consider their relationship a lie. That is an actual betrayal. But for some reason, the author also insists on contrasting him with Jarrod on the basis that he is “too safe and calm.” So we end up with this wonderful value system where a man who respects your need for distance is boring, while a man who decides for you what you need is the only person who truly sees you.

And I’m not even getting into the fact that this book dumps literally every possible tragedy onto the heroine. If you’ve read it, you know what I mean. I don’t want to spoil everything and make an already long review even longer.

I’d rather focus on the parts where I genuinely wish someone would explain to me whether I’m misunderstanding something or whether the author simply didn’t do her homework. So, we’re told that the book takes place in Toronto. The very first scene begins with the judge saying, “I sentence the plaintiff, Birdie Fast...” Plaintiff? In a criminal case? Wouldn’t “the accused” be appropriate before conviction, and “the offender” afterward? A plaintiff is someone who brings a civil claim. Isn’t it? T.T

Then we have this dialogue:
`- You're being tried as an adult.`
`- But I'm only seventeen.`
`- We've done everything we can to persuade them to try you as a minor...`
Who exactly were they “trying to persuade”? The Crown? The court? The Attorney General? Who actually made this decision? And then Birdie asks her lawyer, “What does this mean?” and Karl answers: `It means should you be sentenced, you'll be sent to an adult facility.`

*sound of crickets and me not understanding a goddamn thing*

First, a person is charged with specific offences. If they are 14+ and the offence is serious enough, the Attorney General can give notice that they intend to seek an adult sentence. Then the trial takes place and guilt is established. Even when the prosecution intends to seek an adult sentence, the YCJA still governs the proceedings; the Act separately sets out what mode of trial a young person may elect. And only after the person has been found guilty does the court decide whether an adult sentence should actually be imposed. It is not the automatic consequence of some decision to “try her as an adult.” And where a minor will be held is yet another separate issue. In Birdie’s case, when she is seventeen, the claim that she will simply be sent to an adult facility is especially strange. The YCJA separately regulates placement for an adult sentence and prohibits a person under eighteen from serving a sentence in an adult provincial correctional facility or penitentiary. If anything, it would make more sense to say that the Crown/Attorney General intends to SEEK an adult sentence, while the court is the one that ultimately decides whether to impose it. At least that would make some sense...

Then Birdie repeatedly calls herself a convicted felon. But felony/felon is an American classification. In Canada, offences are divided, broadly speaking, into summary and indictable offences. We’re also told at one point that the characters go to a precinct, even though Toronto Police uses divisions. On its own, sure, that’s a tiny thing, but... the legal storyline is kind of important to the plot, isn’t it?

And I’ll admit, the ten-year sentence also confused me. If we assume that eight years ago means 2018, then yes, at the time the maximum sentence in Canada for impaired driving causing bodily harm (I don’t know, that was the first thing that came to mind) really was 10 years. But that was the maximum. For comparison, the total ten-year sentence in the infamous Ontario case R. v. Muzzo came after a crash that killed four people — three young children and their grandfather — and injured two others. There were four counts of impaired driving causing death and two of causing bodily harm. And with Birdie, what exactly are we dealing with?! Yes, we know Curtis pulled some strings and blah blah blah. But the book doesn’t even properly tell us what charges ultimately resulted in that sentence. Did I read this too carelessly? I sincerely hope I somehow missed all the important explanations.

God, I’m already tired of writing this...

Probably the last thing I’ll say is that this book very clearly needs content warnings. I’m not someone who needs a warning for every uncomfortable conversation. But in this case, the years-long stalking and coercive control are not just disturbing background elements—they are central to the—I cannot believe I’m saying this—romantic storyline. The blurb tells us this is a dark love story, mentions obsession, and says the man “spent years waiting for her in the shadows.” From that, I’ll understand that her ex is obsessed with her and hasn’t been able to let her go for eight years. But I will NOT understand that he spends years monitoring her and secretly interfering in her life :) For a reader who has experienced real-life stalking or control by a partner, the difference between those things can be pretty significant.

In conclusion, FINALLY, I’ll say that the problem with this story is that it doesn’t develop — it escalates. I would have liked fewer plot twists. Would the book really have been worse if we’d been given the story of a woman trying to rebuild her life after prison? Wouldn’t it have been interesting to read about a man who sincerely believes his control is love and suddenly realizes he has become like his own father? A story about two people who are still madly in love with each other but have to decide whether love alone is enough for their relationship to even deserve to exist. Wouldn’t that have been compelling? *sigh*

Two stars⭐

[charlieonebookatatime · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Birdie was easily my favourite part of Him & I. She has endured so much in such a short life, and I loved seeing the grit and determination she found to keep moving forward. Her resilience really stayed with me, and I became invested in seeing where her story would take her.

There is a lot of angst in this book, with plenty of history between Birdie and Jarrod. They're both fighting for each other in their own ways, and I really enjoyed watching their story unfold. Jarrod is possessive, a little obsessed and, at times, possibly a tiny bit unhinged. But, let's be honest, isn't that part of the appeal?

I found the writing style really easy to read, and I flew through this book. The prologue drew me in immediately. I also really enjoyed the dual POV and getting to experience both sides of their story. I loved Finn, Zane and Miranda as supporting characters and I'm definitely going to need Finn and Miranda's story next!

There are some very confronting themes throughout Birdie's history, including sexual abuse and rape, so I do think a trigger/content warning is important for this book. Some of those parts were difficult for me to read.

The ending was probably my favourite part. I didn't quite predict how everything would come together, and I was genuinely glad to see Birdie and Jarrod get their happy ending.

This was my first Helena Hunting book, so I don't have anything to compare it to yet. If you enjoy angsty romance, resilient characters, complicated histories and a little bit of possessive MMC energy, this may be one for you.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Birdie + Jarrod

Birdie didn't have it easy growing up.
That's kind of why she ended up in jail at 17 - for six years.
Most of that was Jarrod's fault though.
And now he's back in her life as her new boss!

Can they forget everything bad that happened and get that happy end now?
Doesn't look very promising at first.

══════════════════




Well, that was cute. Funny and sparky and sexy and a bit frustrating and sad and dark and heartbreaking.
But I kind of didn't really know what to think about it all at the beginning.
At the 30% mark the book could've been done. Would've been a fun little novella. But that was a long way from the real end. I had the feeling that this story used to be a novella and was then later made into a whole long book.
And it was a good book in the end.
I liked most people and hated a few. I liked the fighting and arguing and how sweet Jarrod was at times. How much he loved her. He's a total Christian Grey-ish overprotective stalker - but I loved that.
I didn't like those back in time chapters - I never do in books. But we need them in a second chance love story.
Another thing I didn't like and I think we wouldn't have needed it for the story to be good: Everything that happened to Birdie. Her awful childhood. All the horrors she had to go through in jail? Jeez. It was a bit too much for one person.
But ... I loved reading Birdie and Jarrod's story and I wouldn't mind watching this as a TV series one day.

HIM & I was a sweet + fun + sparky + sad + heartbreaking + slightly mysterious darkish second chance Love Story! Run to your nearest book dealer for your own Jarrod - this one is mine.

If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!


💜 💜

[Justina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved many HH books, so I was very excited for this ARC. Unfortunately, it was a 2 stars read for me, mostly because the MMC is irredeemable in my eyes.

Birdie's story is extremely tragic and can be massively triggering for readers, the abuse she's suffered is horrendous. I mention some of it below, so please be mindful of your triggers and skip my review if it may be too much for you.


~~~~~~


Birdie had a terrible childhood, she was horrendously abused by her stepfather, sexually assaulted since early teens, her whole body is covered in dozens of scars. When she was 17, she was kidnapped by a 20 year old Jarrod, she started to sell drugs for him, they somehow fell in "love", it all lasted just a few months but was intense. I didn't like their age difference and power imbalance (3 years at this age & he's her drug selling employer who kidnapped her) but it's just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to this MMC.

Birdie covered for Jarrod and because of that she got a 10 year prison sentence for causing an accident (she didn't, he did). When she took the blame for him, he was so angry at her (because he found out she's lied about certain details of her life), so he decided to ghost her. He didn't even bother to do it personally, he wrote her a letter breaking up with her and leaving her, absolutely alone, to spend years in prison, like she meant nothing and as if she wasn't going to spend years in prison covering for his ass. What a stellar MMC <3

However, for some reason, despite all the ghosting Jarrod apparently deeply loved Birdie all through her sentence. He decided to stop with the illegal shit, make something out of himself and build a life that he could share with Birdie after her release. Mind you, he still haven't talked to her once since she took the blame for him. And even though he was very much aware of the horrible sexual abuse she suffered in prison, his "waiting for her" included fucking various women. He just kept getting worse and worse the more I learned about him.

That, for me, was the final nail in the coffin.

He did more fucked up things, for example: after Birdie got out on parole (and was forbidden by a court order from meeting Jarrod, but also he ghosted her years before, so why would she), he hired a guy to be Birdie's boyfriend and spy on her, so that "she wouldn't be alone". After 1,5 years of being in a relationship with Birdie, the hired guy proposed(!). She accepted. So Birdie thought she was building a future with a guy her ex paid to be with her. It's just... that's Jarrod for you. Yum. What a dreamy MMC.

Now all of the above made me so mad and made Jarrod absolutely irredeemable in my eyes. He did provide Birdie with some opportunities, but all of the manipulation and control was weird and harmful. And I think what made him absolutely not worth of her forgiveness was that while he was supposedly head over heels in love with his soulmate and preparing the life for them after prison, he kept screwing other women. Had a string of "unsatisfying hookups and a single casual partner".
While "waiting" for the girl who went to prison covering for him.
Whom he supposedly loved more than life itself, who was the one for him.
Who went to prison because she covered for him and was repeatedly r@ped by the guards.
And Jarrod knew, he saw the pictures of her body after one of the multiple assaults.

Fuck no. I will never forgive him.

I couldn't root for them as a couple. I couldn't stand that she decided to have sex with him STRAIGHT AFTER she learned he basically orchestrated her life, hired her fiancé to get close to her, date her, sleep with her. She was devastated to learn that the life she built after prison was all a lie and it was all Jarrod's manipulation for his own selfish fucking reasons, she felt betrayed (as she should!) and... minutes later she was having sex with Jarrod because he was just. that. irresistible.

Nope. Jarrod is trash, Birdie deserved so much better. Anyone would deserve better, but especially her, with her extremely tragic story. It's just unfair, and Jarrod deserves nothing. He can rot in hell.


--------


I received this ebook as an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. It always sucks to give a negative review of a book you got for free, but it really was a 2 star book for me.

[Anna Bay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Let me try to love you now. Give me a chance to show you I can.”

A second-chance romance marked by suspense and trauma: is healing possible after eight years of your life were wasted, and the one who let you “take the fall for him” never gave you anything beyond a vague letter in his cursive handwriting?

The action in this one begins the moment the narrative does.

As deep and dismal as the text at the beginning is, this work pivots toward a burst of laughter without entirely dropping the darkness built up to the point of the FMC saying “Son of f****** b****” out loud without realizing it.

With the addition of phrases such as “his tone cardboard” and “I want to punch him in his emotionless face,” it seems the story is ready to shift toward an ebb and flow that would keep the reader hooked.

The FMC’s dissociation due to complex trauma is highly relatable:

“It’s as though I’m experiencing events from outside my body.”

During its initial phase, this work strikes the reader as no ordinary good read; it causes discomfort that seems every bit worth it. The gut-wrenching physical reactions that occur in trauma victims are best understood only by those who have lived them.

Be that as it may, the saddest part of the story remains that as it progresses, it gets harder to assign it a five-star rating:

“This is literally the worst first day ever, and prison has some pretty shitty jobs.”

Such extremely insensitive remarks trivialize situations in which one ought to feel only fear and pity.

As serious as the disconnect from reality in the above-mentioned statement is, the impact worsens as this is neither the first nor the only remark of the sort.

The MMC’s words add insult to injury:

“It’s been a torturous two years since Birdie’s release. Worse than when she was behind bars. Because despite her freedom, the no-contact rule meant staying on the periphery.”

We also encounter a false theory:

“After six years behind bars, I’ve learned that self-preservation is paramount, and everyone but me is collateral damage.”

Simply not true. The inevitable outcome of extreme suffering is that one learns to empathize more.

The most disturbing aspect of the MMC’s psychology is that even before the FMC’s time behind bars, his thought process wasn’t very different:

“I can make sure she’s safe. But I want to keep her broken, because that’s the only way she’ll stay.”

It starts to feel less of a love story and more of a non-linear with a dual first-person hostage situation.

Still, the prose overall is vivid, even if not picturesque, and there are parts that sound rather poetic:

“Death is the loudest when it quiets.”

The backstories of the MCs are crystal clear. Supporting and minor characters are also well-portrayed.

In the presence of so many positive traits, the beyond-crass remarks toward the FMC by the three men who supposedly adore her make subzero sense.

Not only does the MMC fail to address that issue, but we learn that while the FMC was rotting in prison, he engaged in “unsatisfying hookups and a single sensual partner.” Whether or not he saw the FMC in any of them remains irrelevant.

Also, the character named Miranda was completely unnecessary, as were the MMC’s outbursts toward his employees that made him seem mentally unstable instead of romantically invested.

Some of the information, for example, what Zane was doing, seemed redundant.

The way the story digressed after about 75% only damaged an otherwise strong plot. The MMC seemed indifferent toward his hospitalized mother.

As multiple storylines tangled, the plot grew melodramatic – seemingly desperate to ensure poetic justice and carve an HEA for everyone in its good books at the expense of pushing forth a dangerous attitude of vigilante justice.

Filtering out such fillers and creating a focused novella would’ve been more effective and honest to the dedication:

“For the ones who thrive despite the darkness.”

ARC provided by Montlake via NetGalley.

[TinyVenusAfterDark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darker, Messier and Definitely Not the Helena Hunting I Expected 🖤
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat Level: 🔥🔥
Tear Drops: 💧💧
📚EBOOK📚

Being part of Helena Hunting's influencer team means that whenever I get the opportunity to read something new from her, I'm obviously going to take it! 😂 I've read and loved so many of her books, so when Him & I became available through NetGalley, I grabbed the opportunity.

And this was VERY different from the Helena Hunting I'm used to.
This story is darker. It's messier, a little twisted, suspenseful and filled with secrets, deception, obsession and two characters carrying around a LOT of baggage.

Birdie has worked hard to build a good life for herself. She has two degrees, a stable relationship and the career she's always wanted. Her past—and all the mistakes that came with it—are supposed to stay exactly where they belong.

In the past.

Until Jarrod Storm walks back into her life as her new CEO.
Jarrod isn't just an ex. He's the man Birdie believes destroyed her life and took everything from her. Now he's successful, powerful and has apparently spent years waiting in the shadows for another chance with her.

And let's just say Jarrod is... intense. 👀

He's obsessive, possessive and maybe just a little stalkerish. 😂 But underneath all of that is this complicated connection between him and Birdie that never completely disappeared.

This was definitely an emotional read. Birdie and Jarrod have so much history between them, and watching everything slowly unravel while learning what actually happened kept me invested. There's romance and spice, but there's also suspense and this constant feeling that something isn't quite right.

I especially loved watching the characters grow and deal with everything they've been through. There's a lot here about overcoming your past, finding yourself again, learning who you can trust and realizing that sometimes the truth isn't quite what you thought it was.

My only little issue was that I figured out part of what was happening before the big reveal. At one point I basically thought, “Okay... THIS is what's going to happen.”
And yep. 😂

That's what happened.

It didn't ruin the story for me because there were still surprises along the way, but I would have loved for that particular part of the plot to catch me a little more off guard.
What really worked for me, though, was Birdie and Jarrod's complicated relationship. They're messy. Their history is messy. Their journey back toward each other is DEFINITELY messy. But that's also what made me care about them.

There's something about this book that reminded me of those emotional, slightly crazy romances I used to devour, and it gave me this weird little feeling of nostalgia—in the best possible way.

If you're already a Helena Hunting reader, just know that you're getting something quite different here. Don't go in expecting one of her lighter romances. Him & I is darker, grittier and more suspenseful, but I really enjoyed seeing this side of her writing.
It was emotional, spicy, a little twisted and had enough going on to keep me turning the pages.

Definitely a solid 4 stars for me. 🖤

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy received from author for an honest review

Him & I is a totally different vibe from what we usually get from Helena Hunting.

Yes, it is sexy, but it is also darker, with deeper, complex storylines.

Jarrod and Birdie are not easy characters. I spent a lot of the time disliking either one or the other for the first half of the book. In real life, Jarrod would have restraining orders against him. Birdie flip flopped between lust/love and loathing Jarrod, and at times it gave me whiplash.

It is told in both the past and the present, and I won't lie, I found myself skimming a lot of the past scenes. I wanted to know what was happening back then, but to me we spent too much time there (Sorry HH!)

The second half of the book though, I found myself really enjoying and needing to know where things were headed. And I did find myself at times more interested in a couple of the secondary characters more than Jarrod and Birdie.

But these are probably just me things. I found it well written and paced, and I don't know, maybe it is just the reading mood I was in at the time, I just didn't enjoy it as much as other HH books.

I did enjoy seeing characters that I was suss of get what was coming.

And I would read books about Jarrod's best mates, if they were ever to come to be.






5 STARS  

[Sneha R · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an intense, emotionally charged romance that explores the complicated line between love and obsession. From the very first chapter, I found it impossible to put the book down. This isn't a lighthearted romance. It's dark, messy, painful, and ultimately about two broken people trying to find their way back to each other despite years of betrayal, secrets, and unresolved wounds.

What stood out most to me was the emotional complexity of the characters. Birdie is a strong heroine who has worked incredibly hard to build a new life for herself. She has a successful career, a stable future, and every intention of leaving her painful past behind. Yet when Jarrod reappears as her new CEO, all the emotions she thought she'd buried come rushing back. I appreciated how realistic her reactions felt. Her anger, mistrust, and confusion never seemed forced; they reflected the deep scars left by their shared history.

Jarrod is perhaps one of the most fascinating and frustrating heroes I've read. He's morally gray, obsessive, protective, and deeply flawed. While I didn't always agree with his decisions, I understood the motivations behind them. Helena Hunting does an excellent job of showing that love alone isn't enough to heal old wounds. Jarrod has to confront the consequences of his actions and earn forgiveness rather than simply expecting it.

The chemistry between Birdie and Jarrod is undeniable. Every interaction carries years of unresolved tension, making even the quieter scenes feel electric. Their relationship is filled with emotional highs and lows, and I constantly found myself wondering whether they could truly overcome everything that happened between them. The push-and-pull dynamic keeps the story engaging and creates plenty of emotional investment for the reader.

Another strength of the novel is its darker atmosphere. The story delves into themes of trauma, power, trust, and redemption without shying away from difficult emotions. Hunting balances suspense and romance effectively, keeping a sense of unease beneath the surface while gradually revealing the secrets that connect Birdie and Jarrod's past.

What I loved most was that the book never offers easy answers. Forgiveness is portrayed as a process rather than a single decision, and both characters are forced to grow before they can truly move forward. The emotional depth gave the romance greater impact and made the ending feel genuinely satisfying.

Overall, Him & I is a gripping dark romance packed with angst, passion, and emotional intensity. Helena Hunting delivers a story that is heartbreaking at times but also deeply compelling. If you enjoy second-chance romances, morally gray heroes, and character-driven stories filled with secrets and tension, this book is well worth reading.

[Jade LaRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay people we're gonna get conflicting reviews with this release and I need people to remember that authors can write MULTIPLE GENRES! If you're like me you found Helena Hunting in the Hockey Romance world and learned real quick she can write a smutty sports romance like no one else. But, from what I've learned she has been known to write more Angsty books (I have no examples...I've been glued to the hockey players).

Alrighty, since we got that out of the way, let's talk about the actual quality of the story! This book isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea and that's okay! I am one of those people that loves a morally grey character and a little bit of darkness to her romance, but for me this hit a little middle of the road. I really enjoyed the characters. Jarrod and Birdie are well written and have an insane depth to them that keeps expanding the more you read. In the beginning we take them at face value - they're toxic and messy and both could use daily therapy. But, as you continue reading and learning more about their pasts and how they regulate their thoughts and emotions to try and discover how they feel about each other, it becomes very impressive and powerful.

(I gotta admit though, neither one is my favorite character. Zane really stole the show - top tier storm cloud hiding sunshine there!)

I think the biggest issue I had was the fact that Birdie entertains the thought of bringing him back into her life so quickly, especially as we find out more about what she went through in those 8 years. Logically it pissed me off, but when you read the story and realize the toxic feelings go both ways it does make sense even if I can't get over it.

While the main focus of the story is their relationship and their history, I found more enjoyment in the subplot and the PLOT TWIST AT THE END! Ugh I thought I knew what the surprise was going to be but I only got half of it and that made me as happy as it did mad.

Without giving too much away I'll say, read this and pay attention to the little things. The small hints that didn't feel like much, they are what made the story in my opinion.

I think if you're a fan of Helena Hunting and enjoy a good toxic romance this book is exactly your choice. If you're only here because you're expecting a darker Toronto Terrors vibe I'm gonna tell you to turn around and find another read. This isn't for you and I don't wanna see any more low star reviews that make me roll my eyes because you didn't know what you were going into.

Thank you to Helena Hunting and her amazing team for a copy of the eARC in exchange for my honest review. It was so interesting seeing the other side of one of my absolute favorite authors.

[Sue Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
Okay… this book was ADDICTIVE. I finished it in less than 24 hours and honestly could not put it down!

I was SO excited to read Him & I because I’ve loved Helena Hunting’s books for years 🇨🇦🙏. But let me tell you… this one was darker, messier, and completely unhinged compared to her usual romances, and I was HERE FOR IT.

Birdie has started putting her life back together after prison. She has a new corporate job, she’s recently engaged, and she’s ready for a fresh start. Except… her past has other plans.Because her ex, Jarrod, the very reason she ended up in prison, is suddenly back in her life. And not just back. He’s her new boss. The CEO.

And somehow, Jarrod seems to know far more about Birdie than he should. He wants her back. Badly. But with their complicated history, secrets lurking beneath the surface, and questions surrounding what really happened between them, can Birdie trust her past and Jarrod?

Let me be real. Jarrod was crazy. Did he have stalker tendencies? Absolutely. Was he a little psycho? Duh. Was I completely entertained by it? Also yes.

Somehow, Helena manages to weave humour into even the most unhinged moments, making Jarrod’s obsession feel less like “run for your life” and more like “this man has been hopelessly, ridiculously in love with this woman for YEARS.” The yearning was next level.

And Birdie? I loved her. Her character growth from childhood into adulthood really stood out to me. She had to grow up without much support, survive circumstances that would have broken most people, spend time in prison, and then rebuild her life. She was strong, determined, and incredibly headstrong, and I LOVED watching her stand her ground with Jarrod.Because as crazy as he was, Birdie knew exactly how to handle him. And that soft spot Jarrod had for her? The perfect match.

And we HAVE to talk about the supporting characters because Helena Hunting knows how to create a found family that makes you want to be part of the group. Miranda, Finn, and Zane were incredible, and their friendships with Birdie added so much heart to the story.

Was Jarrod unhinged? Yes.
Was he obsessed? Absolutely.
Did I eat up every second of it? 100%.

If you love:

▪️ He Falls First
▪️ Years of Yearning
▪️ Dark & Possessive Hero
▪️ Headstrong Heroine
▪️ Second Chance Romance
▪️ Suspense & Mystery

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[litljen · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and chose to review it ***
** 100% spoiler-free review **
* 5 addicting stars *

I'm a huge Helena Hunting fan and have read every book she's ever written, from her gritty, emotional stories to her hilariously steamy hockey stories, and everything in between. Him & I is a departure from her more recent rom-com stories and leans more into her Clipped Wings era, and let me just say.....it is EVERYTHING!!! This story will completely consume you. It's raw, gritty, emotional, heartbreaking, spicy, funny, and it will heal you in ways you won't see coming. Hunting completely flipped the script with this story, and it's pure perfection!

Birdie and Jarrod are two characters with a crazy history. They reunite after eight years of being separated, in quite the dramatic fashion, when Birdie unknowingly starts a job working for Jarrod. What ensues is pure madness! This review is intentionally VERY vague so as not to give anything away at all. But trust me when I say that this story will BLOW. YOU. AWAY!!!! One thing I loved about Birdie is how strong she is. Her past trauma has shaped who she has become, and she doesn't let Jarrod get away with A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G. Jarrod's past trauma has also shaped who he has become, but the reason behind everything he's worked hard for is truly shocking. These two go toe-to-toe constantly, and their love-hate relationship is hilarious. Their witty banter is on full display, and I found myself laughing out loud even during some of the emotional parts of the story, as Hunting infused lightness into the dark constantly. And don't even get me started on Birdie and Jarrod's insane chemistry. Holy smokes....I'm talking 5-alarm fire alarm-inducing scenes!

One thing I love about this story is how Hunting takes deeply flawed characters, with severe trauma and baggage, and turns them into relatable, real people that make you feel every emotion right along with them. I felt their pain and healing, and cheered them on from the very start. Readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride with twists and turns that they will never see coming. This story is all about healing and redemption.....and Hunting accomplished exactly what she set out to convey. What a brilliantly dark, emotional, and delicious story! 5 stars

[Bells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not gonna lie, I was a little skeptical at first that I’d like this, but I ended up loving it.

At first, I wasn’t enjoying it as much because there was a LOT of talking about something that had happened in the past, this big event, and they took forever to actually tell us what happened, while also dropping little tidbits about it throughout the whole book. I WANTED TO BE LET IN ON THEIR STORY. 😭

Buuut, I was patient, and eventually we got more chapters set in the “before,” which gave me a much better understanding of their history and how it shaped who they are now. I think it was around the 50–60% mark that I really started to get into the book and enjoy it.

I really liked the characters and their history, especially the way it was revealed. I liked the main couple, even though they very clearly did NOT start out as the healthiest relationship, and honestly, they still aren’t exactly the best example of a healthy relationship. There’s definitely an edge of darkness to their relationship that I can see not being everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like your fictional men obsessed with their women, and I mean OBSESSED, you’ll probably enjoy this one. 👀

I also really enjoyed the side characters and the little bit of found family we get in this book. I LOVE the found family trope, so that’s always a huge plus in my eyes.

I enjoyed the plot as well, even though it was pretty obvious from the start where things were heading. That doesn’t really bother me unless it’s a thriller where figuring out the twist is kind of the whole point. In this case, I didn’t mind at all, and I actually enjoyed seeing how everything unfolded and how we got there.

Overall, I loved the characters, loved the story, and really enjoyed the book. I only wish that the writing had switched things up a little and given us some of the important details earlier on. I think that would have made the beginning more enjoyable, because once you finally understand what’s going on, you become much more curious about what happens next.

Otherwise, I had a really great time reading this book, and I’m very grateful to NetGalley, the author, and the editor for giving me the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

[Remi Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was ten years in the making and while it’s not the usual that Helena writes, I really did enjoy it. I’ve read through several of the reviews so far and I guess I feel like I read a different book.

Birdie and Jarrod have a lot of issues, they’re both toxic, neither is on a good path, both are afraid to love each other. But, and this is where I disagree with everyone, they are young and have been dealt really shitty hands and are trying to be better. That’s the biggest difference in my opinion when it comes to the first have of this book and the middle.

Birdie is freshly out of her prison sentence, she’s got a new job, a boyfriend that just proposed, a life that’s set straight…and yet she’s still feeling unfulfilled. Jarrod has been waiting for 8 years to see Birdie again. He’s pulled strings to get his life on track, he’s taken the time to be clean, he’s respected the law of not seeing Birdie even though it’s all he wants. These two are messy and chaotic but they love each other fiercely and are always loyal to the bone.

Do I think this was the healthiest relationship? No. Do I think it got better once everything was aired out? Absolutely. And THAT is the beauty of this story. This book wasn’t about a cute romantic love. It was about a tragic love that defies all odds and does turn around to become healthy. Where two very broken and manipulated people learn to stop tearing each other down, manipulating feelings and realize what it means to fully give themselves to someone they can trust. But most importantly, how to grow with each other and be a better example than the ones they were given growing up.

I really enjoyed reading this story. I loved seeing the darker sides of romance coming from Helena. Broken people fall in love too, and this gives hope for those who feel too broken to be loved that not only can you start to heal yourself but sometimes, someone can help you heal and grow as well. Also the plot twists at the end??? Holy cannoli! I guessed two of them but wow there was so many and I’m shocked but wow were they so good and really truly made the story. I truly hope to get more books like this from Helena as well as her mushy gushy feel good romances. Talk about talent all over as a writer! ❤️

ARC provided for an honest review 🫶🏻

[Plot_Twist_Momma -Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 Stars

If Helena Hunting writes it, I read it. It’s really that simple. 😂 She has always been one of my go-to hockey romance authors, but Him & I showed us a completely different, darker side of Helena—and apparently, it’s a side I desperately needed!

At its heart, this is a story about two broken souls, redemption, obsession, forgiveness, and second chances.

Birdie has worked hard to rebuild her life and leave the mistakes of her past behind her. Then Jarrod Storm walks back into it—not just as the man she once loved and now believes destroyed her life, but as her new CEO.

And Jarrod has NEVER gotten over Birdie.

I was hooked once we started learning what happened in Birdie’s past and what sent her down such a destructive path. There are secrets to uncover, complicated relationships, plenty of emotional baggage, and a possessive MMC who will go to some pretty extreme lengths for the woman he loves.

One thing I really appreciated was the lack of a traditional third-act breakup. There are outside forces that threaten to pull Jarrod and Birdie apart, but instead of creating unnecessary relationship drama, we get to see them face that adversity together. THANK YOU. 🙌

And because this is set in Toronto, I may have spent part of the book waiting for another certain Toronto terror to wander onto the page. 😂 But I’m actually glad this story stood completely on its own.

What stayed with me most was the idea of two damaged people finding their way back to each other. Can two broken souls actually fix each other? Or maybe their broken pieces simply fit together in a way that allows them both to finally heal.

And just how far would you go for the person you love? Would you sacrifice everything? Would you give up your own life to protect theirs?

Helena Hunting has written plenty of romance that has made me laugh, swoon, and fall in love, but I really enjoyed seeing her step into something darker and more intense.

More of Dark Helena, please. 🖤

Tropes/Vibes:
🔥 Possessive MMC
💪 Strong FMC
♾️ Second Chance Romance
🥀 Broken Souls
🤫 Secrets
👀 Obsession
⚔️ Lovers → Enemies → Lovers

⭐️ 4.5 stars

[Jessie The Great · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this off disgusted by the destruction Jarrod brought to Birdie's life and the absolute disregard for her life. But as with anything Helena Hunting writes, we must trust that she won't hurt us. She may damage us a little in the process, but we will heal from that damage by the HEA.

Birdie starts off this story in captivity. She's a 17 year girl dealing with HARSH adult consequences. Jarrod is MIA when we start the story so we don't know his side of things until we time jump 8 years, where he so happens to purchase the company that Birdie is working for. He is a wealthy tech savvy CEO with an affinity for a bit of mild stalking. This book is marketed as Dark Romance and I suppose for Helena, it is. It definitely has a darker theme than the Pucked series, but it's not super dark. Obviously, there's crime and stalking, but nothing that would have me running for help.

Helena really beats around the bush with telling you what happened that night. The story is told both in the present and with flashbacks. I enjoyed the way this was written. It kept you guessing and intrigued with the story. Birdie really just needed a hug - and thankfully her mother figure was able to help her out during an integral time of her life.

Jarrod's yearning for Birdie was great and Birdie's fight against her inner voice to just be happy was an interesting mirror. This isn't a normal story written by Helena, but it is a great deviation from her standard. There's a lot of angst, yearning, and broken people. There were darker themes and some triggering events. Please look at the list before consuming. I enjoyed it so much. I can't wait to read his Zane and Finn's stories. Pick this one up when you get the chance.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I received this ARC from NetGalley. The opinions I hold are my own