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Sterling Shore #9
Perfectly Toxic
BELLA New life. New job. New home. New goals... I vowed to make drastic changes and to never fall back into old habits. But then Ethan Noles showed up and blew all my good intentions to hell. I should have stayed away. I shouldn't have played his game. But I did. Now I just hope I don't regret it. ETHAN Bella is the type of girl you can't help but chase, because she doesn't want to be caught. I came back ready to live and enjoy life. Not to get tethered to a girl. But... shit happens. Bella happens. And everything I thought I wanted slowly changes. *Graphic language *Adult content *And yeah, there's sex. CAN BE READ AS A STAND-ALONE
597 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2016
489 people are currently reading
2509 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Owens
65 books8,930 followersC.M. Owens only writes romance, but she's a sub-genre whore.
She has two other pen names that she writes under.
Kristy Cunning for Reverse Harem and S.T. Abby for her darker/stabby books.
She has two other pen names that she writes under.
Kristy Cunning for Reverse Harem and S.T. Abby for her darker/stabby books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
July 10, 2022
2 Stars
Ugggggggh. I thought I was going to adore this book, but...
We've followed Bella every since we met her in Allie and Wren's story (book #6) and Ethan has popped in here and there over the course of the series as well. I figured they would have amazing chemistry. And they did. A lot, actually. In fact, I was really enjoying the hell out of this book.
Until I wasn't. Allow me to explain.
Issue #1:
Both Bella and Ethan behaved very childishly. Certain things would happen and they would jump to massive conclusions and counter with complete knee jerk reactions without even an attempt at asking questions of the other.
Had this happened maybe once, it wouldn't have been that big a deal; but, it was a recurring theme. And it felt manufactured and very beneath what I know Owens was capable of.
I mean, Bella is an ER nurse and Ethan supposedly ran a mega corporation for ten years. I expect better than huffing teenage silent treatments and storm offs.
Issue #2:
This is the main issue for me and that issue is BOUNDARIES.
I realize this is too deep a topic for a romance smut novel, and that I'm probably being a little bitchy for talking about boundaries in a review for a smutty romance book by a tragically deceased author, but I'm just trying to lay the foundation of why this book didn't work for me.
So as I was saying.
The characters in this series have always had very intertwined lives with very malleable boundaries. It was par for the course and, like I said, smutty romance book. It is what it is. In this book, however, there were just too many incidents of too high a collective magnitide.
***Spoilers Moving Foward****
Incident #1
Bella keeps having issues with her phone. It started in the last book and would sometimes result in her texting one person only for her to "accidentally" text the wrong person in her contact list. You know how that goes. You accidentally open the wrong text thread in your text application and send, "What up, my biatch?" to your grandmother. Or something like that. We've all done it at least once.
In one scene, Bella sends a sexy selfie to Ethan, but "accidentally" sends it to Wren. Wren and Ethan happen to be together with the whole boy gang at that moment and it is finally revealed that Maverick installed some kind of trick wazoo app in Bella's phone that causes her phone to scramble her text and phone recipients when prompted.
And what is Ethan's response to this news?
*
*
*
*
*
NOTHING!
I mean, what? This is such a massive violation of privacy and could be potentially detrimental to someone's life or career if they unknowingly sent a text or photo to an unintended recipient. And the fact that this was just glossed over by basically everyone didn't sit right with me. In fact, it was never even mentioned further and as of the end of this book, Bella still unknowingly had it on her phone.
Not cool.
Incident #2:
Bella of course gets pregnant and hasn't told Ethan yet. For reasons. And ALL the other female characters ambush her at her house for an "intervention" to convince her to tell him. She's basically about 6 weeks pregnant here, ya'll, not about to give birth. Little soon to assume she's going to withhold the kid's existence from him in perpetuity.
But they think it's all perfectly acceptable to gang up on her and essentially tell her what life decisions she should be making in regard to business that simply ain't theirs.
Incident #3
Bella is hospitalized for a cut to her leg, but bled so much everyone thought it was a miscarriage. Because romance book. When it's revealed that she's fine and she's released from the hospital, Ethan thinks it's appropriate to call the parents from whom she's been estranged for YEARS (and whom he's then obviously never met) and tell them she "could have died." And is pregnant. Because why on earth wouldn't you, I don't know, NOT do that.
There were more examples, but those are the most egregious ones. And all that in conjunction with the overdramatized childishness just torpedoed this book for me. Which is a bummer.
I'm gonna take a break on this series for now and cleanse the palate before coming back for the remaining books. I don't want to blow through my only remaining beloved C.M. Owens books too fast anyway.
Ugggggggh. I thought I was going to adore this book, but...
We've followed Bella every since we met her in Allie and Wren's story (book #6) and Ethan has popped in here and there over the course of the series as well. I figured they would have amazing chemistry. And they did. A lot, actually. In fact, I was really enjoying the hell out of this book.
Until I wasn't. Allow me to explain.
Issue #1:
Both Bella and Ethan behaved very childishly. Certain things would happen and they would jump to massive conclusions and counter with complete knee jerk reactions without even an attempt at asking questions of the other.
Had this happened maybe once, it wouldn't have been that big a deal; but, it was a recurring theme. And it felt manufactured and very beneath what I know Owens was capable of.
I mean, Bella is an ER nurse and Ethan supposedly ran a mega corporation for ten years. I expect better than huffing teenage silent treatments and storm offs.
Issue #2:
This is the main issue for me and that issue is BOUNDARIES.
I realize this is too deep a topic for a romance smut novel, and that I'm probably being a little bitchy for talking about boundaries in a review for a smutty romance book by a tragically deceased author, but I'm just trying to lay the foundation of why this book didn't work for me.
So as I was saying.
The characters in this series have always had very intertwined lives with very malleable boundaries. It was par for the course and, like I said, smutty romance book. It is what it is. In this book, however, there were just too many incidents of too high a collective magnitide.
***Spoilers Moving Foward****
Incident #1
Bella keeps having issues with her phone. It started in the last book and would sometimes result in her texting one person only for her to "accidentally" text the wrong person in her contact list. You know how that goes. You accidentally open the wrong text thread in your text application and send, "What up, my biatch?" to your grandmother. Or something like that. We've all done it at least once.
In one scene, Bella sends a sexy selfie to Ethan, but "accidentally" sends it to Wren. Wren and Ethan happen to be together with the whole boy gang at that moment and it is finally revealed that Maverick installed some kind of trick wazoo app in Bella's phone that causes her phone to scramble her text and phone recipients when prompted.
And what is Ethan's response to this news?
*
*
*
*
*
NOTHING!
I mean, what? This is such a massive violation of privacy and could be potentially detrimental to someone's life or career if they unknowingly sent a text or photo to an unintended recipient. And the fact that this was just glossed over by basically everyone didn't sit right with me. In fact, it was never even mentioned further and as of the end of this book, Bella still unknowingly had it on her phone.
Not cool.
Incident #2:
Bella of course gets pregnant and hasn't told Ethan yet. For reasons. And ALL the other female characters ambush her at her house for an "intervention" to convince her to tell him. She's basically about 6 weeks pregnant here, ya'll, not about to give birth. Little soon to assume she's going to withhold the kid's existence from him in perpetuity.
But they think it's all perfectly acceptable to gang up on her and essentially tell her what life decisions she should be making in regard to business that simply ain't theirs.
Incident #3
Bella is hospitalized for a cut to her leg, but bled so much everyone thought it was a miscarriage. Because romance book. When it's revealed that she's fine and she's released from the hospital, Ethan thinks it's appropriate to call the parents from whom she's been estranged for YEARS (and whom he's then obviously never met) and tell them she "could have died." And is pregnant. Because why on earth wouldn't you, I don't know, NOT do that.
There were more examples, but those are the most egregious ones. And all that in conjunction with the overdramatized childishness just torpedoed this book for me. Which is a bummer.
I'm gonna take a break on this series for now and cleanse the palate before coming back for the remaining books. I don't want to blow through my only remaining beloved C.M. Owens books too fast anyway.
Read
July 20, 2016#Countdown #PerfectlyToxic
Finally! Guess what's coming July 26, 2016?
*******
"I can tell you're lying," he says, still getting closer until he's caging me in again, "because you get all breathy when I crowd your space. And the closer I get, you start squirming awkwardly."
"Do not," I say breathily while squirming awkwardly.
Damn him.
*******
Preorder links for ALL venues!!
Amazon US: https://amzn.com/B01IL72OY8
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IL72OY8
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.au.com/dp/B01IL72OY8
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01IL72OY8
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iBooks: https://itun.es/us/ozHQdb.l
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...
Finally! Guess what's coming July 26, 2016?
*******
"I can tell you're lying," he says, still getting closer until he's caging me in again, "because you get all breathy when I crowd your space. And the closer I get, you start squirming awkwardly."
"Do not," I say breathily while squirming awkwardly.
Damn him.
*******
Preorder links for ALL venues!!
Amazon US: https://amzn.com/B01IL72OY8
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IL72OY8
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.au.com/dp/B01IL72OY8
Amazon CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01IL72OY8
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...
iBooks: https://itun.es/us/ozHQdb.l
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebo...
April 18, 2023
When my last read unexpectedly turned out to be a hilarious romance, I thought of re-reading one of my fav funny romances. This marks the 3rd time I have re-read this book ever since I read it three years ago. This book makes me feel like I should make a separate shelf for ''laugh-out-loud romances'' that I've came across because its already so rare to find. The enemies to lovers dynamic is never satisfying for me if I don't see humorous bickering. And nowadays its already hard to find a regular enemies-to-lovers without it including an alpha male dark brooding dude or just hate-to-love dynamic which is different.
Re-reading this also made me realize that at some point I have got to stop re-reading my fav books once I hit a certain mark because I'm reducing one star and changing the rating from 5 to 4 star and I hate it. Anyways, my reasoning for it, is :
I can handle surprise pregnancy but what I have a problem is the secret pregnancy. I do believe it was worse in Tag and Ash's story (so not gonna reread that) but still it was there for a few good chapters.
I've certainly evolved since when I first read it ig. Secret pregnancy isn't the sole reason for my change of heart. It's also because Bella's hypocrisy -and I say it with all my love because I adore this girl- on preaching about communication being the key to a healthy relationship, yet be the one to run and assume shit when things get rough.
I don't mind it much though because it only happens once but it got all combined with the secret pregnancy thing and that's just too much.
That aside, C.M Owens works are worth reading at least once. If you haven't tried her Sterling shore series, you're missing out on some pretty spectacular contemporary family romances where each standalone book have a different trope and are unique in their own way yet all connected through the family line and stuff!
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Initial Review :
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C.M Owens could never do wrong in my eyes. The Mindfuck series under her pseudonym S.T Abby first introduced me to her books and writing style. I still cannot believe we have lost a phenomenal author and that she is gone.
Perfectly Toxic is one of the most hilarious book I've ever read. With Bella's autocorrect messages to her and Ethan's banter i always will remember one of the most hilarious and perfect couple written in the entire Sterling Shore series.
Whenever i need a good laugh, i always come back to this book😩
READ : MAY 2020
This review is associated with a series I'm doing where i rate every book I've read in the year 2020-2021 but haven't ever rated. Books which story i remember will be reviewed and the story i vaguely do will just get a rating.
Re-reading this also made me realize that at some point I have got to stop re-reading my fav books once I hit a certain mark because I'm reducing one star and changing the rating from 5 to 4 star and I hate it. Anyways, my reasoning for it, is :
I can handle surprise pregnancy but what I have a problem is the secret pregnancy. I do believe it was worse in Tag and Ash's story (so not gonna reread that) but still it was there for a few good chapters.
I've certainly evolved since when I first read it ig. Secret pregnancy isn't the sole reason for my change of heart. It's also because Bella's hypocrisy -and I say it with all my love because I adore this girl- on preaching about communication being the key to a healthy relationship, yet be the one to run and assume shit when things get rough.
I don't mind it much though because it only happens once but it got all combined with the secret pregnancy thing and that's just too much.
That aside, C.M Owens works are worth reading at least once. If you haven't tried her Sterling shore series, you're missing out on some pretty spectacular contemporary family romances where each standalone book have a different trope and are unique in their own way yet all connected through the family line and stuff!
`````````````````````````````````````````
````````````````````````````````````````
Initial Review :
````````````````````````````````````````
````````````````````````````````````````
C.M Owens could never do wrong in my eyes. The Mindfuck series under her pseudonym S.T Abby first introduced me to her books and writing style. I still cannot believe we have lost a phenomenal author and that she is gone.
Perfectly Toxic is one of the most hilarious book I've ever read. With Bella's autocorrect messages to her and Ethan's banter i always will remember one of the most hilarious and perfect couple written in the entire Sterling Shore series.
Whenever i need a good laugh, i always come back to this book😩
READ : MAY 2020
This review is associated with a series I'm doing where i rate every book I've read in the year 2020-2021 but haven't ever rated. Books which story i remember will be reviewed and the story i vaguely do will just get a rating.
December 3, 2016
I NEED THIS FUCKING BOOK!!!'
I CANT WAIT. Yes, IM OVERLY EXCITED.
It's been way too long since I've had my Sterling Shore fix
I CANT WAIT. Yes, IM OVERLY EXCITED.
It's been way too long since I've had my Sterling Shore fix
July 26, 2016
It's just bloody hilarious!!! I mean get your pant-liners ready cause there will be leakage from laughing so hard!!!
This is book 9 in the Sterling Shore Series and it shows no sign of lagging. I want this series to continue forever!!
This is Ethan and Bella's story. We've met both of them throughout the series but not really too much was known about them apart from Ethan being a bad-boy player who was out of town on business quite a lot and Bella being Allie's best friend who suffers from epic auto-correct fails.
The story starts with Ethan having just moved back to Sterling Shore after selling his father's business he's been running for past few years. Ethan decides that now is his time to have fun and live a little. He's a bit thrown off that most of his friends are now getting married and starting families but he's determined to have fun and sets about arranging parties so he can let loose. At his first party he gets attacked by a crazy girl with a bottle and ends up in the ER under Bella's care.
Bella has sworn off bad-boys so when Ethan turns up in the ER she's determined to resist his charm. His piercings don't help with her resolve but she brushes him off determined never to see him again. Unfortunately she lives in Sterling Shore where everyone knows everyone and of course their paths cross.
Ethan feels a spark between him and Bella that he has only felt once before. That ended badly so he want's to stay away from her. He really does. He just can't help it though and he seeks her out at every available opportunity. The story goes from here i will not spoil it by telling any more.
I will however tell you that with every book in this series it has surpassed the last! Every time one of these books gets released i get so excited it's not even funny. I keep thinking it can't top the last one, that was my fave, but they do!!
I just fell in love with these two. As I've said not a lot was really known about these two and i really enjoyed getting to know them! Bella is just perfect for Ethan. He's pretty clueless about relationships and wants fun. She's wanting to settle down having had her fun in her younger days. They shouldn't have worked but they did! The chemistry between them jumps off the page at you! I mean come on! he's hot as hell it was always going to be explosive! Wall's may be my new fave fantasy!! Jeeze!!! HOT! no time for warm ups!!!
The humor in this book is off the charts. I'm not exaggerating i literally had tears running down my face! i had to take several toilet breaks cause i couldn't hold it! I was laughing for about 50% of the book. Not just a little chuckle. I mean full on clutch your sides, tears down my face, wetting myself!!! I'm still laughing now thinking about it.
I loved seeing all the Sterling gang in here too. They've become like family I'm dying to know whats going on in their lives and this filled in some details for me.
The story kept me gripped enough to not want to put it down. CM Owens is an absolute genius story teller. I wandered round my house kindle in my hand until it was done. I'm now gonna read it again! It's that good!! This book is guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and a heart full to the brim!
There were also some tears of sadness too. I can't tell you why but towards the end you'll see. It's Ethan's pivotal point and although it broke my heart i absolutely loved it too.
I can't rave enough about this book. I'm telling you to read it. I'm begging you to read it because it's one of the best stories I've ever read! Highly highly recommend it to anyone. I don't care who you are! you gotta read it!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
5 grab your pant-liners stars!!!
This is book 9 in the Sterling Shore Series and it shows no sign of lagging. I want this series to continue forever!!
This is Ethan and Bella's story. We've met both of them throughout the series but not really too much was known about them apart from Ethan being a bad-boy player who was out of town on business quite a lot and Bella being Allie's best friend who suffers from epic auto-correct fails.
The story starts with Ethan having just moved back to Sterling Shore after selling his father's business he's been running for past few years. Ethan decides that now is his time to have fun and live a little. He's a bit thrown off that most of his friends are now getting married and starting families but he's determined to have fun and sets about arranging parties so he can let loose. At his first party he gets attacked by a crazy girl with a bottle and ends up in the ER under Bella's care.
Bella has sworn off bad-boys so when Ethan turns up in the ER she's determined to resist his charm. His piercings don't help with her resolve but she brushes him off determined never to see him again. Unfortunately she lives in Sterling Shore where everyone knows everyone and of course their paths cross.
Ethan feels a spark between him and Bella that he has only felt once before. That ended badly so he want's to stay away from her. He really does. He just can't help it though and he seeks her out at every available opportunity. The story goes from here i will not spoil it by telling any more.
I will however tell you that with every book in this series it has surpassed the last! Every time one of these books gets released i get so excited it's not even funny. I keep thinking it can't top the last one, that was my fave, but they do!!
I just fell in love with these two. As I've said not a lot was really known about these two and i really enjoyed getting to know them! Bella is just perfect for Ethan. He's pretty clueless about relationships and wants fun. She's wanting to settle down having had her fun in her younger days. They shouldn't have worked but they did! The chemistry between them jumps off the page at you! I mean come on! he's hot as hell it was always going to be explosive! Wall's may be my new fave fantasy!! Jeeze!!! HOT! no time for warm ups!!!
The humor in this book is off the charts. I'm not exaggerating i literally had tears running down my face! i had to take several toilet breaks cause i couldn't hold it! I was laughing for about 50% of the book. Not just a little chuckle. I mean full on clutch your sides, tears down my face, wetting myself!!! I'm still laughing now thinking about it.
I loved seeing all the Sterling gang in here too. They've become like family I'm dying to know whats going on in their lives and this filled in some details for me.
The story kept me gripped enough to not want to put it down. CM Owens is an absolute genius story teller. I wandered round my house kindle in my hand until it was done. I'm now gonna read it again! It's that good!! This book is guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and a heart full to the brim!
There were also some tears of sadness too. I can't tell you why but towards the end you'll see. It's Ethan's pivotal point and although it broke my heart i absolutely loved it too.
I can't rave enough about this book. I'm telling you to read it. I'm begging you to read it because it's one of the best stories I've ever read! Highly highly recommend it to anyone. I don't care who you are! you gotta read it!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!
5 grab your pant-liners stars!!!
September 28, 2022
The rating was so high I expected something extra, but didn't realize this book is part of the Sterling Shore series and therefore "copy-cat" characters with way too much drama...
CM Owens (aka S.T. Abby) knew how to write a good book with a lot of chemistry. However, Sterling Shore series seems to be rushed out, too many books published in a short period of time resulting in unoriginal characters and motives.
Almost all the guys in Sterling Shore are manwhores, manchilds with hot body, who just wanna have fun. Then they meet the right girl and boom their world rattles and they make stupid decisions causing tons of drama,OW drama included - btw how many random bibmbos are in Sterling Shore exactly?
The heroines are usually more muture looking for something serious, basically stereotypical girls with their own drama an issues on top of everything.
Ethan and Bella's story is no exception, they share a great chemistry, but can't communicate with each other, which results in crazy amount of unnecessary drama.
On the plus side there is a lot of grovelling, and if this book was a total standalone, I wouldn't hesitate to give it more stars. Unfortunately, the other Sterling family and friends were butting in as usual, which was irritating.
Can't imagine anyone reading these books one after another without wanting to kill some of the characters 😁
dnf-try-again-later
August 7, 2023Self note
Read the sample. No chemistry between the MCs. H had a pierced dick and has tattoos, his hotness is mentioned every other paragraph while the h is… 🤷🏻♀️even in H’s pov. He’s obsessed because 🤷🏻♀️.
Two 30+yr olds acting like teenagers. Immature and so cringe.
Read the sample. No chemistry between the MCs. H had a pierced dick and has tattoos, his hotness is mentioned every other paragraph while the h is… 🤷🏻♀️even in H’s pov. He’s obsessed because 🤷🏻♀️.
Two 30+yr olds acting like teenagers. Immature and so cringe.
July 18, 2021
3.75 stars
August 17, 2016
I really enjoyed this book!
I'm glad after triple dare I still gave this series a go!
This story is about Ethan and Bella. Ethan has been working since he graduated high school, even before, and now has decided to reclaim some of his younger years. Bella, is a nurse and is over bad boys and wants stability in her life. Then, she meets Ethan as a patient in the ER. He immediately takes interest in her, but she knows his type.
He's the example of the bad boy all misguided girls think is sexy. Bad boys look sexy. Bad boys seem sexy. We all want a bad boy ... Until they live up to their name and cheat, lie, or steal.
And so, Ethan chases Bella for a while until she finally relents and they date. And it starts with a bang, literally. I'm glad Bella made him chase her, and I'm glad she lets him in AFTER knowing he's a genuinely nice guy. I loved what he did, and that he did it without the desire of her finding out it was him who donated the money.
What I loved about this book, is the banter between the MC's.
"There's a party at my house this weekend. A few kegs, good music, that sort of thing."
"Try not to get stabbed again."
Come hang out with me. Make sure your patient is being well taken care of."
Now, Ethan has a bit of growing up to do. He's so resentful of the fact he's missed out on his past, that he's partying up right now.
There are definitely asshole moves by Ethan, following by his grovelling to get Bella to forgive him. He does some asshole-ish moves, but always runs to grovel. For those of you who want to know about safety, there is no OW / OM, but
I'd kill any guy who touched her, but she doesn't know that. No, I stupidly thought of this awesome idea to piss her off so much that she's bound to do something just as stupid.
I loved how alpha Ethan was!
"We haven't even defined our relationship or whatever this is yet."
"You're mine. Is that definition enough for you? Now pack your shit or I will. Your choice."
In the end, there was enough drama that kept me NEEDING to read more, it was safe, and I felt the deep love between the MC's! It was also SUPER sexy ;) I think a lot more descriptive than the others in this series. They were definitely EXPLOSIVE together.
Other favourite quotes:
Somehow, Bella came in and took over everything, becoming the thing I want the most instead of everything I thought I'd want. And I have no fucking clue what to do about it.
Before her, I felt nothing. Since her, I can't stop feeling.
I'm glad after triple dare I still gave this series a go!
This story is about Ethan and Bella. Ethan has been working since he graduated high school, even before, and now has decided to reclaim some of his younger years. Bella, is a nurse and is over bad boys and wants stability in her life. Then, she meets Ethan as a patient in the ER. He immediately takes interest in her, but she knows his type.
He's the example of the bad boy all misguided girls think is sexy. Bad boys look sexy. Bad boys seem sexy. We all want a bad boy ... Until they live up to their name and cheat, lie, or steal.
And so, Ethan chases Bella for a while until she finally relents and they date. And it starts with a bang, literally. I'm glad Bella made him chase her, and I'm glad she lets him in AFTER knowing he's a genuinely nice guy. I loved what he did, and that he did it without the desire of her finding out it was him who donated the money.
What I loved about this book, is the banter between the MC's.
"There's a party at my house this weekend. A few kegs, good music, that sort of thing."
"Try not to get stabbed again."
Come hang out with me. Make sure your patient is being well taken care of."
Now, Ethan has a bit of growing up to do. He's so resentful of the fact he's missed out on his past, that he's partying up right now.
There are definitely asshole moves by Ethan, following by his grovelling to get Bella to forgive him. He does some asshole-ish moves, but always runs to grovel. For those of you who want to know about safety, there is no OW / OM, but
I'd kill any guy who touched her, but she doesn't know that. No, I stupidly thought of this awesome idea to piss her off so much that she's bound to do something just as stupid.
I loved how alpha Ethan was!
"We haven't even defined our relationship or whatever this is yet."
"You're mine. Is that definition enough for you? Now pack your shit or I will. Your choice."
In the end, there was enough drama that kept me NEEDING to read more, it was safe, and I felt the deep love between the MC's! It was also SUPER sexy ;) I think a lot more descriptive than the others in this series. They were definitely EXPLOSIVE together.
Other favourite quotes:
Somehow, Bella came in and took over everything, becoming the thing I want the most instead of everything I thought I'd want. And I have no fucking clue what to do about it.
Before her, I felt nothing. Since her, I can't stop feeling.
October 28, 2019
I have only read two in this series of books so the overwhelming amount of characters was difficult to keep up with. I had to push through the first few chapters because the text autocorrect was annoying and ridiculously childish. SPOILER (there was a prank app loaded onto her phone). The hero seemed like the epitome of a self absorbed player and the heroine wanted to find mr right because of the amount of wrongs she has had in the past. So basically the set up of the romance requires patience. Then it seemed she was more mature than him. He seemed clueless wanting to be Peter Pan. He really didn’t want to adult anymore because he had to adult too early in his life!
Slowly the author reveals backstory and motivation, while adding in the ludicrous lack of contraception with over abundance of unprotected sex. This all leads to another major conflict. So to begin with he is immature then it’s her turn and so on. During one of his immature stunts he pretends to be with another woman...I’d still be upset if it were me because it seemed like this ex of his was over at every party he had...why? She was this character that no one wanted around but was always there to add conflict to this already messed up story.
So I’m not sure how I feel about the book overall as there were some good parts and once the characters became familiar it was easier to follow.🙃
Slowly the author reveals backstory and motivation, while adding in the ludicrous lack of contraception with over abundance of unprotected sex. This all leads to another major conflict. So to begin with he is immature then it’s her turn and so on. During one of his immature stunts he pretends to be with another woman...I’d still be upset if it were me because it seemed like this ex of his was over at every party he had...why? She was this character that no one wanted around but was always there to add conflict to this already messed up story.
So I’m not sure how I feel about the book overall as there were some good parts and once the characters became familiar it was easier to follow.🙃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2021
I didn't think the H & h had that much of a toxic relationship but that just goes to show you my toxicity threshold is off the charts. 😬🤪
This is a fun book, the H is a 28/29 year-old recovering workaholic. I liked that he called out his friends when he felt left out in a very mature way (took notes on that there lol). 📝 He is aging out of partying but feels like he missed out so he tries to double down, his immaturity is showing.
The h is a strong female character. Not a virgin, trying to find a good guy but keeps dating losers. ✋(been there chica) She's a nurse, likes here job overall, is a loyal friend and has her heart in the right place.
The entire plot is the h&h getting together. Their friends from the sterling shore community meddle and trying to make the H&h see reason. There is OW drama but it's pretty minimal as is the angst.
overall fun, light read. It's probably a must if you are a Sterling Shore fanatic.
This is a fun book, the H is a 28/29 year-old recovering workaholic. I liked that he called out his friends when he felt left out in a very mature way (took notes on that there lol). 📝 He is aging out of partying but feels like he missed out so he tries to double down, his immaturity is showing.
The h is a strong female character. Not a virgin, trying to find a good guy but keeps dating losers. ✋(been there chica) She's a nurse, likes here job overall, is a loyal friend and has her heart in the right place.
The entire plot is the h&h getting together. Their friends from the sterling shore community meddle and trying to make the H&h see reason. There is OW drama but it's pretty minimal as is the angst.
overall fun, light read. It's probably a must if you are a Sterling Shore fanatic.
November 4, 2020
One of my fave romance series
Can’t even express how much I love this series. I love the fact that each book is about a different couple in the group, but they’re all such good friends that were still getting to see the other couples stories continue on and change as time goes by. Such a good romance series that will have you laughing your head off.
Can’t even express how much I love this series. I love the fact that each book is about a different couple in the group, but they’re all such good friends that were still getting to see the other couples stories continue on and change as time goes by. Such a good romance series that will have you laughing your head off.
August 31, 2016
I just LOVE this series!! Ethan and Bella no doubt a Favorite! Several surprises in this one.
November 27, 2017
Freaking loved this book. Its my second favourite after Breaking Even from this series.
March 23, 2021
Why? Why have I waited so long to read this series? And why have I continued to read the series out of order? Because the sample in the back of a book did it’s job, that’s why! This is it, I’m going back to the beginning. I’m reading all these people’s stories, because they all continue and overlap in each book and I’ve already read too much into their future without reading their past.
This book was about Ethan and Bella. I loved seeing Ethan at the end of Identical Disaster when he walks past the beautiful Bora as if she doesn’t exist after she hits on him. He was actually kind of a jerk to women. He made it clear he would do the chasing if he was interested, so don’t waste your breath trying to come on to him. I kind of liked that about him because it showed how differently he treated Bella from the start. He was interested. And he chased. Or stalked a little bit.
Bella was ready for a commitment. All her friends were settling down and she had her wild years behind her. Coming from a strict, religious upbringing she rebelled a bit after she got out from under her parents’ influence. But she was done with the bad boys who have used and left her feeling a little broken. She wants a family. She wants to be loved.
Ethan had to step up, straight out of high school, to keep his fathers business going after he had a heart attack. His dads business was his life. Unfortunately it also caused a lot of stress which is what caused his heart attack and he was told to stay away from stressful situations. This meant Ethan had to run the company. After years of working long hours and building it into a profitable attractive company, he found a buyer that his dad was comfortable selling it to. This gave Ethan a chance to live his life again. A life he missed out on and he was ready to catch up on what his missed out on. All his friends were settling into relationships and family life, but Ethan never got to be young and party and make bad decisions. So he’s ready to make up for it now.
After one of those parties and bad decisions he ends up in the ER where he meets Bella when she comes in to bandage him up. She sort of slowly derails his plans the longer he chases and gets to know her. The parties don’t hold the same appeal as they once did.
This book had me laughing so many times but one time in particular I laughed so hard I was afraid I would wake my husband up. It was the “shake it off, shake it off. Shake, shake, shake it off” scene. It makes me laugh just thinking about it. This author is great at writing embarrassing and funny situations in a realistic way and it makes me want to read everything she writes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FAVORITE QUOTES
“Don’t laugh, okay?”
I don’t mean to, but a puff of laughter slips out.
“You’re already laughing,” she groans.
“Sorry. That’s just the rebel in me doing what I’m told not to.”
~Bella and Ethan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bella’s phone was messed up. It happened in the last book too. Her autocorrect was constantly messing up her messages and her messages would sometimes randomly go to the wrong person. Which later on in the book you find out isn’t actually her phones fault. 😂
ETHAN: That makes no sense. Read your message.
I groan while scanning for my text, then curse when I read it.
ME: Tonight wanton twerk because I twerking late.
I resend the correct message.
ME: Tonight won’t work because I have to work late.
It takes a few seconds before he messages back.
ETHAN: I take it back. I prefer the original message full of gibberish, because this one sucks.
~Ethan and Bella texts
This book was about Ethan and Bella. I loved seeing Ethan at the end of Identical Disaster when he walks past the beautiful Bora as if she doesn’t exist after she hits on him. He was actually kind of a jerk to women. He made it clear he would do the chasing if he was interested, so don’t waste your breath trying to come on to him. I kind of liked that about him because it showed how differently he treated Bella from the start. He was interested. And he chased. Or stalked a little bit.
Bella was ready for a commitment. All her friends were settling down and she had her wild years behind her. Coming from a strict, religious upbringing she rebelled a bit after she got out from under her parents’ influence. But she was done with the bad boys who have used and left her feeling a little broken. She wants a family. She wants to be loved.
Ethan had to step up, straight out of high school, to keep his fathers business going after he had a heart attack. His dads business was his life. Unfortunately it also caused a lot of stress which is what caused his heart attack and he was told to stay away from stressful situations. This meant Ethan had to run the company. After years of working long hours and building it into a profitable attractive company, he found a buyer that his dad was comfortable selling it to. This gave Ethan a chance to live his life again. A life he missed out on and he was ready to catch up on what his missed out on. All his friends were settling into relationships and family life, but Ethan never got to be young and party and make bad decisions. So he’s ready to make up for it now.
After one of those parties and bad decisions he ends up in the ER where he meets Bella when she comes in to bandage him up. She sort of slowly derails his plans the longer he chases and gets to know her. The parties don’t hold the same appeal as they once did.
This book had me laughing so many times but one time in particular I laughed so hard I was afraid I would wake my husband up. It was the “shake it off, shake it off. Shake, shake, shake it off” scene. It makes me laugh just thinking about it. This author is great at writing embarrassing and funny situations in a realistic way and it makes me want to read everything she writes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FAVORITE QUOTES
“Don’t laugh, okay?”
I don’t mean to, but a puff of laughter slips out.
“You’re already laughing,” she groans.
“Sorry. That’s just the rebel in me doing what I’m told not to.”
~Bella and Ethan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bella’s phone was messed up. It happened in the last book too. Her autocorrect was constantly messing up her messages and her messages would sometimes randomly go to the wrong person. Which later on in the book you find out isn’t actually her phones fault. 😂
ETHAN: That makes no sense. Read your message.
I groan while scanning for my text, then curse when I read it.
ME: Tonight wanton twerk because I twerking late.
I resend the correct message.
ME: Tonight won’t work because I have to work late.
It takes a few seconds before he messages back.
ETHAN: I take it back. I prefer the original message full of gibberish, because this one sucks.
~Ethan and Bella texts
July 12, 2017
What to say about this that I am sure isn’t already being said.
Perfectly Toxic is Perfectly Amazing. This is one of my go to series and every time CM Owens releases a book in this series I jump up and down like I won the lottery.
The gang of Sterling Shores is all back and this time we get to see Ethan and Bella’s story.
Ethan is the right mixture of alpha male with some badassery and his story will make you just want to eat him up.
Bella is quick witted, smart and was the perfect match for Ethan.
This book had me smiling, laughing so hard and swooning at times.
From auto correct fails to funny ass mom moment and when the gang of Sterling Shores gets together you know you’re in for a multitude of laughs. This needs to be a tv show. I would watch every single second of it.
I could literally go on and fucking on.
PS. I CALL STAR ON MAVERICK. STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR
Perfectly Toxic is Perfectly Amazing. This is one of my go to series and every time CM Owens releases a book in this series I jump up and down like I won the lottery.
The gang of Sterling Shores is all back and this time we get to see Ethan and Bella’s story.
Ethan is the right mixture of alpha male with some badassery and his story will make you just want to eat him up.
Bella is quick witted, smart and was the perfect match for Ethan.
This book had me smiling, laughing so hard and swooning at times.
From auto correct fails to funny ass mom moment and when the gang of Sterling Shores gets together you know you’re in for a multitude of laughs. This needs to be a tv show. I would watch every single second of it.
I could literally go on and fucking on.
PS. I CALL STAR ON MAVERICK. STAR STAR STAR STAR STAR
May 27, 2018
OMG I know I say with each new book that comes out in this series that it is my favorite but this one TRULY is. ALL the characters in this story is what makes it so successful. Bella has been making me laugh since “A Redo”. Ethan I love especially since he is a closeted mama’s boy (haha). Yes in my next life I want to come back as his mom. I didn’t think I could laugh that hard and feel like a kindred spirit over a character. Both Ethan and Bella are beautifully flawed in ways that make this story endearing and often emotional. Experiencing their journey brought lots of laughs as well as a few tears. Oh it doesn’t hurt that they know how to spice things up (wink wink). Ugh love this story. I recommend it too EVERYONE. Happy Reading!
June 20, 2017
DNF @ 70%
1- Autocorrect texting the wrong person over and over.
2- He is EVERYWHERE she goes, the store, the mall, the club etc.
3- Nurses do NOT act like that towards patients if so, you would be fired during orientation.
This book just did not work out for me, and that is a shame because that cover is FIYAAAA.
1- Autocorrect texting the wrong person over and over.
2- He is EVERYWHERE she goes, the store, the mall, the club etc.
3- Nurses do NOT act like that towards patients if so, you would be fired during orientation.
This book just did not work out for me, and that is a shame because that cover is FIYAAAA.
October 4, 2017
re-read this book after finding the "baby story" on facebook. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this series and found myself laughing out loud several times last night as I stayed up far too late to finish this. Definitely worth the re-read and now to catch up on the 2 I missed...
July 27, 2025
nah.
April 18, 2018
Another book I can’t put it down !
If there will be a movie the title will say : laugh,eat,live LOVE .... yes in this order !
READ IT DAMN it ^_^
If there will be a movie the title will say : laugh,eat,live LOVE .... yes in this order !
READ IT DAMN it ^_^
September 19, 2020
Another story of romanticizing egotistic, toxic dude with serious anger issues. I don’t find Ethan's actions cute in any way. His terrible past doesn't justify his actions. Dude needs help.
August 24, 2016
Perfect!
August 25, 2017
I am soooo behind on CM Owen's books and I am soooo excited that I got to read 2 of her books within the past week or two. It's been a busy summer!
Anywho!! Ugghhh, ETHAN!! I loved him even before I read his book! Rye was my fave, well tie between Rye and Ethan, but damn I love Ethan! Maybe it's the Jacob's ladder! Hahaha Seriously though, I love love loved Bella and Ethan's story! I think Bella is freakin awesome and the two of them made me laugh throughout most of the book and then cry at the end of the book. So so good! I'm on a roll, so I'm hoping I can pick up the next book in the SS series to read next! NEVER STOP WRITING CM OWENS! YOU ROCK! Yes I said that in shouty caps:)
Anywho!! Ugghhh, ETHAN!! I loved him even before I read his book! Rye was my fave, well tie between Rye and Ethan, but damn I love Ethan! Maybe it's the Jacob's ladder! Hahaha Seriously though, I love love loved Bella and Ethan's story! I think Bella is freakin awesome and the two of them made me laugh throughout most of the book and then cry at the end of the book. So so good! I'm on a roll, so I'm hoping I can pick up the next book in the SS series to read next! NEVER STOP WRITING CM OWENS! YOU ROCK! Yes I said that in shouty caps:)
April 17, 2017
I'll put this one as one of my favorite in the series too with A Redo because the usual OTT drama at the end didn't put me off as much as in the other books I read before this one. Or maybe I am just starting to get numb to them?
April 21, 2020
So sweet ;-) And funny too.
March 9, 2022
Just keeps getting better.
I'm loving this series and need to slow down befor I run out of books to read. Ethan and Bella, and Bananas. Ha ha ha. I laughed so hard. I cant wait for the next book. I love that each book carries into the next book. So you're done reading the last characters story but you get tidbits of each of them through out the stories. Every emotion is also felt in each of these novels. It's amazing.
I'm loving this series and need to slow down befor I run out of books to read. Ethan and Bella, and Bananas. Ha ha ha. I laughed so hard. I cant wait for the next book. I love that each book carries into the next book. So you're done reading the last characters story but you get tidbits of each of them through out the stories. Every emotion is also felt in each of these novels. It's amazing.
July 28, 2016
Let's start with have you read all the other sterling shore books? No! Ok go do yourself a favor and buy them and come back to this one. Yes!! Why hello there, we have so much in common. What's there really to say except I love the sterling shore gang. Ethan has been a mystery since the start who pops up with his sexiness and than is gone in the blink of an eye. So to finally have his full book is heaven. Owens mixed it up so well and gave him so much depth that I fell in love with him. Bella is such a wonderful add to this group of friends. And I love how her character grows personally and with the group in this book. I don't like to give spoilers so all I can say is AMAZING!! This book was a little bigger and I still felt like I could still read more about Ethan and Bella. I can't wait to see more about them. Plus we got so much more insight on the other couples from an outside view and I loved seeing parts of them through other people's eyes. This book was filled to the brim with sterling shore goodness. I mean so much on all the couples. Ahhh I can't say enough but don't want to give things away. So go read the other ones if you haven't so you can read this one or read this one so you can fall in love with asshole and bananas.
February 22, 2019
This book was meh to me. I read it mostly because I love the series.
I liked Ethan and I liked Bella but neither character was that special. The book felt very cheesy from the beginning and I had a hard time caring. I actually stopped reading the book for two weeks and then later finished it. Again mostly because I cared about the series.
The book also contained a which are a pet peeve of mine. Never ever like them. Like ever. This also didn’t help in my feelings about the book. In fact if I had known I probably wouldn’t have even read the book.
The book did have some funny scenes like all the books in the series. The best part of the book was Maverick and Bellas friendship. It was also fun seeing other characters from different books in this one.
Overall rating: 2.5/5
POV: Dual
Story type:
Hero: 3.5/5
Heroine: 3/5
Secondary characters: 4/5
Plot: 2/5
Enjoyment: 2.5/5
Writing style: 3.5/5
Depth: 2/5
Humor: 3.5/5
Romance: 2.5/5
Chemistry: 3.5/5
Angst: 3/5
Sex scenes: 3/5
Story ending: 3.5/5
I liked Ethan and I liked Bella but neither character was that special. The book felt very cheesy from the beginning and I had a hard time caring. I actually stopped reading the book for two weeks and then later finished it. Again mostly because I cared about the series.
The book also contained a which are a pet peeve of mine. Never ever like them. Like ever. This also didn’t help in my feelings about the book. In fact if I had known I probably wouldn’t have even read the book.
The book did have some funny scenes like all the books in the series. The best part of the book was Maverick and Bellas friendship. It was also fun seeing other characters from different books in this one.
Overall rating: 2.5/5
POV: Dual
Story type:
Hero: 3.5/5
Heroine: 3/5
Secondary characters: 4/5
Plot: 2/5
Enjoyment: 2.5/5
Writing style: 3.5/5
Depth: 2/5
Humor: 3.5/5
Romance: 2.5/5
Chemistry: 3.5/5
Angst: 3/5
Sex scenes: 3/5
Story ending: 3.5/5
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