this review contains A LOT OF SPOILERS
!! Please read at your own discetion !!
Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
☐ Empty calories
☐ Brain snack
☐ Brain food
Overall Opinion: As expected, there is a lot of smut, but it also contained a compelling background story. So I can state that this book surprised me in the best of ways. I would describe this book as an M/F/M. (the guys have an extraordinary friendship; I would even say they love each other, but rather in a non-sexual way. They kiss, but that is about it). To me, this book was an ideal remedy to forget the stress at work and to just relax and recharge my batteries for another demanding week at work (I really need a trip abroad: sun, cocktails, beach and books but Corona Corona Corona)
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Vickie (h), Shep (H1) and Buck's (H2) story. They are neighbours in a trailerpark. The story starts at Vickies 18th birithday when her mom tells her she has 3 options. Pay an indecent amount of money for rent, leave, or become a prostitute like dear old mom. Turns out, mommy dear has already sold her daughters virginity for 10 grand. Although Vickie complies at first, she can't go through with it when her first customer appears. The john becomes pushy and a little violent, the Hs interfere and she moves in with them.
A lot of smut follows (she loses her virginity that same night) but we also get a lot of character development and a, as said, an intriguing background story.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between h, H1 and H2's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Was Good. I never skimmed and the background story was fascinating, so I read the book on one lazy Sunday afternoon.
Instalove: No. They have been neighbours for years. For the last couple of years, the boys have been kind of attracted to her and she has been attracted to them, but there is an age gap of nearly a decade between the heroes and the heroIne. Once she turns 18 and moves in with them, there is a lot of lust which evolves into love over the duration of the story.
H1 (Shep) rating: 4 stars.
I liked him. Compared to the other main characters, he comes with the most baggage. He had an abusive father (which everyone in the trailer park knew about) and one day his parents just disappeared. Although he was only a young teenager at the time and his grandmother provided him with an alibi, the townsfolk suspect that he had something to do with it. He has never had real friends except for Buck. He is used to prejudice, hostility and being feared but despite all this, he has turned into a real nice guy who only wants the best for his loved ones. He is the mind of the relationship, the brooding one.
H2 (Buck) rating: 3.5 stars.
He also grew up in the trailer park. His parents were addicts who neglected him. He has a good friend in Shep, and once Shep's grandmother allows him to move in with her and Shep, he learns about family values and dynamics. In the beginning, he is the main pursuer of the relationship and takes control in the bedroom. He is the heart of the relationship, the funny one. I only object to the fact that, sometimes, he doesn't seem to know the difference between domination and being disrespectful.
h (Vickie) rating: 4 stars.
She also grew up in the trailer park and is approximately a decade younger than her boyfriends. Although her mom is a vile creature, she turned out quite decent. She is open and kind. A little bit more self esteem wouldn't hurt her IMO, but in overal, she was a strong lady who stood her ground when necessary.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: At the beginning, H2 is the main pursuer of the relationship while H1 had reservations due to the age gap. As said, there is a lot of character building in this book, so we see how H1's opinion changes over time.
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
Safe sex: No. They only use a condom the first few times. They opt for "coitus interuptus" instead of more reliable birth control. There is no mentioning of STD testing (H1 and H2); h is a virgin
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: no
Sex scene with OW or OM: no
Cheating: no
Separation: none
Linguistics/Grammar Some issues with subject vs direct object ("I" vs "me")
Closure: It is considered a HEA ending, but the epilogue is less than a year in the future, so I would describe it as a HFN.
- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does Not have the h pushing the Hs away
- Does Not have a separation between the h and Hs
- Does have a HFN ending
would recommend to:
- readers who appreciate a background story between all the smut
- m/f/m readers who are not bothered with some kissing between the men