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Waking Olivia #2
Drowning Erin
You never forget your first love.
But you should, if you're marrying his best friend.
Manwhore Brendan and good-girl Erin have waged a war of mutual disdain for years, both of them trying to forget that, once upon a time, they got along a little too well. But when Brendan returns home just as Erin prepares to marry his best friend, she will have to decide if the life she's created for herself is as perfect as it seems, and if her feelings for Brendan are just cold feet—or a sign that maybe, long ago, she chose the wrong guy.
If you love angst, second-chance romance and plot twists you never saw coming, buy Drowning Erin today.
But you should, if you're marrying his best friend.
Manwhore Brendan and good-girl Erin have waged a war of mutual disdain for years, both of them trying to forget that, once upon a time, they got along a little too well. But when Brendan returns home just as Erin prepares to marry his best friend, she will have to decide if the life she's created for herself is as perfect as it seems, and if her feelings for Brendan are just cold feet—or a sign that maybe, long ago, she chose the wrong guy.
If you love angst, second-chance romance and plot twists you never saw coming, buy Drowning Erin today.
346 pages, ebook
First published November 7, 2017
1340 people are currently reading
5707 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth O'Roark
31 books7,515 followersElizabeth O’Roark lives in Washington, DC with her 3 children. After many years spent writing scintillating brochures about amniocentesis and heart surgery, she is thrilled to have found a job that allows her to just make s*** up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,056 reviews
November 16, 2017
This book is an absolute tornado of emotions. My heart was absolutely broken during some parts of this gut-wrenching, emotionally charged enemies to lovers romance. The two main characters both experience so much heartache and hurt that I could only hope that somehow, someway they would go from sniping at each other to saving each other.
Erin is engaged to Rob, Brendan's long-time best friend, but things haven't been as fulfilling as she'd hoped. She hoped that once she settled down with someone stable, successful and caring, she'd be able to share some of the burdens in her life and feel secure for the first time in her life. Unfortunately, the man she chose to settle for has many priorities in his life, but Erin doesn't seem to be one of them.
Despite knowing about Erin and Brendan's extreme dislike for each other, Rob invites Brendan to stay at their home while Brendan gets his new business up and running. When Rob ends up leaving the country for business and leaves the two frenemies alone, nobody knows what to expect, least of all Erin. She starts to see a kinder, caring side of Brendan in addition to feeling that crazy spark and attraction that she's always felt around him. Unfortunately Brendan still has no plans to ever settle down, so for the sake of her sanity and her family, she's got to stick with the stable choice in Rob. Stomach butterflies be damned, her brother can be safe, her parents will be cared for and she won't have to worry about taking care of everyone else's dramas.
That fine line between love and hate? Brendan and Erin tightrope walk that line during this entire love story. And I do mean right until the end. There is so much back and forth between them that sometimes I felt like I was drowning and just gasping for a happy resolution to end their pain and suffering.
I have a hard time putting into words, just how intense, explosive and steamy the chemistry was between Brendan and Erin. It was some of the best sexual tension, build-up/foreplay in an enemies to lovers romance that I have ever read.
This book went between present time and the past (starting about 4 years before the present, going back and forth until past and present collided). Normally I find these books tough to stay involved in because I feel like the flashbacks take me out of the story, but in this case the past stories were so vital to getting to know the characters that I relished learning about each moment from their past.
Overall this was an extremely well thought-out, well-written book. I felt like it was crafted to keep the reader on the absolute edge of their seats until everything was resolved at the end. And it does get resolved, which was a huge relief for me after investing so many emotions into these characters and their pain, frustration, sorrow and hope. It has a finite conclusion and one that I was very happy with.
Grab a blanket and a box of kleenex and get ready for a long night. You won't want to put it down until you're done!
Erin is engaged to Rob, Brendan's long-time best friend, but things haven't been as fulfilling as she'd hoped. She hoped that once she settled down with someone stable, successful and caring, she'd be able to share some of the burdens in her life and feel secure for the first time in her life. Unfortunately, the man she chose to settle for has many priorities in his life, but Erin doesn't seem to be one of them.
Despite knowing about Erin and Brendan's extreme dislike for each other, Rob invites Brendan to stay at their home while Brendan gets his new business up and running. When Rob ends up leaving the country for business and leaves the two frenemies alone, nobody knows what to expect, least of all Erin. She starts to see a kinder, caring side of Brendan in addition to feeling that crazy spark and attraction that she's always felt around him. Unfortunately Brendan still has no plans to ever settle down, so for the sake of her sanity and her family, she's got to stick with the stable choice in Rob. Stomach butterflies be damned, her brother can be safe, her parents will be cared for and she won't have to worry about taking care of everyone else's dramas.
That fine line between love and hate? Brendan and Erin tightrope walk that line during this entire love story. And I do mean right until the end. There is so much back and forth between them that sometimes I felt like I was drowning and just gasping for a happy resolution to end their pain and suffering.
I have a hard time putting into words, just how intense, explosive and steamy the chemistry was between Brendan and Erin. It was some of the best sexual tension, build-up/foreplay in an enemies to lovers romance that I have ever read.
This book went between present time and the past (starting about 4 years before the present, going back and forth until past and present collided). Normally I find these books tough to stay involved in because I feel like the flashbacks take me out of the story, but in this case the past stories were so vital to getting to know the characters that I relished learning about each moment from their past.
Overall this was an extremely well thought-out, well-written book. I felt like it was crafted to keep the reader on the absolute edge of their seats until everything was resolved at the end. And it does get resolved, which was a huge relief for me after investing so many emotions into these characters and their pain, frustration, sorrow and hope. It has a finite conclusion and one that I was very happy with.
Grab a blanket and a box of kleenex and get ready for a long night. You won't want to put it down until you're done!
June 20, 2019
5.5 amazing stars!!!
Have you ever started a book and after reading just a few pages thought “This is going to be an amazing story”? That’s how I felt the entire time while reading Drowning Erin. It’s told in dual POV that kept alternating from the past to the present. Once I started I was riveted to my seat and finished it in one sitting. I felt the hairs on my arms stand up, and I had a strong sense of foreboding, almost from the start and I wasn’t disappointed. I live for stories with substance, with meat on the bone so to speak, and this story delivers it by the pound.
Make no mistake about it; it’s a romance, just not the hearts and flowers, easy breezy romance so many of us love to read. If that’s the kind of story you’re looking for, look elsewhere because, this book is not for you. If you can handle angst, this is what you’re looking for; it’s the kind of romance that’s messy and emotionally draining but leaves you satisfied at the end. All the feels, as we like to say, in spades. It’s is going on my Top Ten of the Year list.
Erin Doyle’s known and hated Brendan Langstrom, for years. He was, and probably still is, a manwhore as far as she’s concerned. He was the original one and done man who didn’t want, or believe in having, a relationship.
“Relationships were remarkably easy to avoid if you know what you’re doing: don’t take a girl out who isn’t going to sleep with you, and don’t sleep with girls who will expect a call the next day. It’s that simple.”
They met one summer working together and her best friend, Olivia, later married his brother, Will. To top it off Brendan was also Rob’s, her fiancé, best friend. He’s told Rob a thousand times he’s making a mistake. It comes as a big surprise to find out he moved back to Colorado, after living in Italy the last four years, and Rob’s offered to let him stay in their pool house while he looks for someplace to live, without consulting with her first. As upset as she is Erin should be used to Rob making decisions without informing, much less asking, her in advance. One thing he can’t seem to make her do is set a date, or make plans, for their wedding.
When Rob goes on business trip to Europe, for an extended amount of time without consulting Erin yet again, she and Brendan begin to spend time together. Everyone’s mentioned how much he’s changed, something happened with a girl he met overseas, and that relationship damaged him. With Rob so distant, figuratively and literally, Erin starts to question her life, and choices, until now. Her coworker, and friend, Harper knows something’s up and questions her relationship with Rob.
“I don’t expect her to understand because she didn’t grow up like I did. But I’m not looking for excitement. I simply aspire to the absence of pain. And therefore, I have exactly what I want.”
Not every page is heavy and wrought with emotion; there are moments of levity, especially when Erin meets Brendan’s “dates” and engages in conversation with them. I want to tell people who insist they don’t “do” angst that is the book they need to read, to dip their toes into this particular pond, and get a taste of it. And yes, in case you’re wondering, it’s a true romance with a HEA ending!
Have you ever started a book and after reading just a few pages thought “This is going to be an amazing story”? That’s how I felt the entire time while reading Drowning Erin. It’s told in dual POV that kept alternating from the past to the present. Once I started I was riveted to my seat and finished it in one sitting. I felt the hairs on my arms stand up, and I had a strong sense of foreboding, almost from the start and I wasn’t disappointed. I live for stories with substance, with meat on the bone so to speak, and this story delivers it by the pound.
Make no mistake about it; it’s a romance, just not the hearts and flowers, easy breezy romance so many of us love to read. If that’s the kind of story you’re looking for, look elsewhere because, this book is not for you. If you can handle angst, this is what you’re looking for; it’s the kind of romance that’s messy and emotionally draining but leaves you satisfied at the end. All the feels, as we like to say, in spades. It’s is going on my Top Ten of the Year list.
Erin Doyle’s known and hated Brendan Langstrom, for years. He was, and probably still is, a manwhore as far as she’s concerned. He was the original one and done man who didn’t want, or believe in having, a relationship.
“Relationships were remarkably easy to avoid if you know what you’re doing: don’t take a girl out who isn’t going to sleep with you, and don’t sleep with girls who will expect a call the next day. It’s that simple.”
They met one summer working together and her best friend, Olivia, later married his brother, Will. To top it off Brendan was also Rob’s, her fiancé, best friend. He’s told Rob a thousand times he’s making a mistake. It comes as a big surprise to find out he moved back to Colorado, after living in Italy the last four years, and Rob’s offered to let him stay in their pool house while he looks for someplace to live, without consulting with her first. As upset as she is Erin should be used to Rob making decisions without informing, much less asking, her in advance. One thing he can’t seem to make her do is set a date, or make plans, for their wedding.
When Rob goes on business trip to Europe, for an extended amount of time without consulting Erin yet again, she and Brendan begin to spend time together. Everyone’s mentioned how much he’s changed, something happened with a girl he met overseas, and that relationship damaged him. With Rob so distant, figuratively and literally, Erin starts to question her life, and choices, until now. Her coworker, and friend, Harper knows something’s up and questions her relationship with Rob.
“I don’t expect her to understand because she didn’t grow up like I did. But I’m not looking for excitement. I simply aspire to the absence of pain. And therefore, I have exactly what I want.”
Not every page is heavy and wrought with emotion; there are moments of levity, especially when Erin meets Brendan’s “dates” and engages in conversation with them. I want to tell people who insist they don’t “do” angst that is the book they need to read, to dip their toes into this particular pond, and get a taste of it. And yes, in case you’re wondering, it’s a true romance with a HEA ending!
November 22, 2017
Another 5 star Elizabeth O’Roark book! (I have been waiting for this book for over a year, so last night I started it at bedtime. . . and finished it at 4:00am.) For all of you who loved Brendan in Waking Olivia - this is his story! While this is a stand alone book, WO readers will recognize Brendan and Olivia’s best friend, Erin. Erin and Brendan have a complicated past, and when Brendan returns from a trip abroad, Erin wants nothing to do with him. Unfortunately for her, she can’t avoid him because she is engaged to Rob, one of Brendan’s best friends.
These two are no longer the same people we got to know in WO. Brendan now has a past that haunts him, and Erin has secrets she is keeping from everyone. As Erin’s world begins to spin out of control, Brendan learns that Erin’s perfect life is far from. . .well. . .perfect. As he begins to show her that she can still have the wonderful life she had years ago, you realize that these two people clearly belong together.
There was amazing sexual tension between Brendan and Erin. While you would think Erin’s engagement to Rob is the reason they stay apart, that really is only half the story. Ultimately, both of these characters have to learn to face their fears and realize they deserve to be happy, before they can be together. It’s a great angsty romance with a HEA. Just the best. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
These two are no longer the same people we got to know in WO. Brendan now has a past that haunts him, and Erin has secrets she is keeping from everyone. As Erin’s world begins to spin out of control, Brendan learns that Erin’s perfect life is far from. . .well. . .perfect. As he begins to show her that she can still have the wonderful life she had years ago, you realize that these two people clearly belong together.
There was amazing sexual tension between Brendan and Erin. While you would think Erin’s engagement to Rob is the reason they stay apart, that really is only half the story. Ultimately, both of these characters have to learn to face their fears and realize they deserve to be happy, before they can be together. It’s a great angsty romance with a HEA. Just the best. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 18, 2017
Fucking shit!!!!
This was such an excruciatingly annoying book.
I can't believe I actually read it til the end.
Annoying characters, cowards, weak, not being able to say what they mean and fucking mean what they say...
So they end up hurting each other by hating each other?!
Get the fuck out of here!!!
Fucking really?!
I dont even wanna go into the whole 'we were on a break' shit, I absolutely despise that sentence and the meaning behind it...fuck it all to hell...
And the mess, this isn't really a triangle complicating stuff, this is shit...pure fucking stupidity shit, just fucking say what you mean and own it...I actually hated each and every character in this book!!!!
I'm astouned, really, cause that has never happened to me before...like ever!!!
I at least like one character...usually
I m sorry, I m too impatient to go with the flow, angst is one thing altogether but i have stated before, stupidity is smth i can't and won't tolerate...
And I m most definitely sure that this is purely the case of 'It's me and not you', so, I'm backing off
October 14, 2023
2/5 ⭐️ I really loved Waking Olivia and I thought I would love this one too but I didn’t enjoy it. I was expecting this to be angsty and messy but I was just bored. I didn’t really feel a romantic connection between Erin and Brendan. Their relationship felt really forced.
Erin spent about half of this book engaged to someone who she clearly wasn’t in love with. She annoyed me so much!
And Brendan wasn’t much better. I wanted to like him but I just couldn’t. He was way too hot and cold with Erin in the past and I hated that. I needed him to be more assertive. He was just a whiny immature boy!! He’s not my type of hero.
He moved to another country because he couldn’t bear to see Erin be with his best friend and I get that. But while he’s in Italy, fucking his way through the country, he then meets a girl and we got wayyyy too many chapters of him and his relationship with that girl. That officially killed any interest I had in the romance between him and Erin. I’m not trying to read about how he thought that the ow was the most beautiful girl in Italy and how amazing she was and how he could see himself loving her blah blah blah. Like WTF. That just irked me so much because he claimed that he “couldn’t stop thinking about Erin.” Yeah right 😒
I wasn’t even rooting for Brendan and Erin to end up together towards the end 🤦🏻♀️.
The only thing I liked about this book was the cameo of my babies Olivia and Will ❤️🫶🏻
Erin spent about half of this book engaged to someone who she clearly wasn’t in love with. She annoyed me so much!
And Brendan wasn’t much better. I wanted to like him but I just couldn’t. He was way too hot and cold with Erin in the past and I hated that. I needed him to be more assertive. He was just a whiny immature boy!! He’s not my type of hero.
He moved to another country because he couldn’t bear to see Erin be with his best friend and I get that. But while he’s in Italy, fucking his way through the country, he then meets a girl and we got wayyyy too many chapters of him and his relationship with that girl. That officially killed any interest I had in the romance between him and Erin. I’m not trying to read about how he thought that the ow was the most beautiful girl in Italy and how amazing she was and how he could see himself loving her blah blah blah. Like WTF. That just irked me so much because he claimed that he “couldn’t stop thinking about Erin.” Yeah right 😒
I wasn’t even rooting for Brendan and Erin to end up together towards the end 🤦🏻♀️.
The only thing I liked about this book was the cameo of my babies Olivia and Will ❤️🫶🏻
June 13, 2021
don't you love it when you're rooting against a couple 😌
March 5, 2022
3 stars
This one was much too… messy for me. I loved the first book in this series (Waking Olivia) and the author is talented, but this one frustrated me more than anything. The heroine had a fiancé through a huge chunk of the book and never could truly make her mind up. This one was okay, but not a favorite by any means.
This one was much too… messy for me. I loved the first book in this series (Waking Olivia) and the author is talented, but this one frustrated me more than anything. The heroine had a fiancé through a huge chunk of the book and never could truly make her mind up. This one was okay, but not a favorite by any means.
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 3 stars
Narrators: Rock Engle & Stephanie Wyles
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 10h 5m
October 19, 2022
If you want a pining hero and an off limits heroine, you need to pick this book up. Erin and Brendan met, but Erin connects with Brendan's best friend and starts a serious relationship with him. Years later, Erin is engaged, but her fiancé is distancing himself from her and Brendan is around. They have to dance around each other while Erin denies her relationship falling apart while she's falling for her fiancé's best friend. This book was angsty! I wasn't the biggest fan of the flashbacks from Brendan's POV of his past mixed with the present from Erin's POV. I could have done without the flashbacks and just have Brendan share his past with Erin. Other than that, though, I enjoyed the angst and how Brendan has always liked Erin, but she picked the wrong guy. I loved Waking Olivia better and I don't think any romance can live up to Will and Olivia, but this was still a fun book!
July 26, 2022
This is the messiest relationship I've read from this author so far and I think she did this complicated love triangle justice.
My biggest complaint is how off the pacing of the first third of the book is. It's all set up and laying the foundation of the heroine's relationship with her fiance while also slowly building tension between the heroine and the other love interest. That first third could have been shortened and tightened to really build up the tension even further.
CW: cheating (not between endgame couple), suicide, mental illness, alcoholism, drunk driving
My biggest complaint is how off the pacing of the first third of the book is. It's all set up and laying the foundation of the heroine's relationship with her fiance while also slowly building tension between the heroine and the other love interest. That first third could have been shortened and tightened to really build up the tension even further.
CW: cheating (not between endgame couple), suicide, mental illness, alcoholism, drunk driving
November 14, 2017
4 Stars!
January 11, 2018
This was one of those reads you are excited to read, then you struggle to finish it and the you ask yourself WHY THE HELL I read this in the first place?!
So if you can read about;
- ow/om
-triangles
-flashbacks( which strangely in this novel did not bother me much)
-idiotic and immature characters
-miscommunication
AND......
- Have a thing for romance stories where hero and heroine have to overcome self issues
Well then this is a book for you.
Otherwise stay away....
I am still way to curious and stubborn and masochist ....
And I can NOT believe the difference between book one and two.
Soooooo now ....
So if you can read about;
- ow/om
-triangles
-flashbacks( which strangely in this novel did not bother me much)
-idiotic and immature characters
-miscommunication
AND......
- Have a thing for romance stories where hero and heroine have to overcome self issues
Well then this is a book for you.
Otherwise stay away....
I am still way to curious and stubborn and masochist ....
And I can NOT believe the difference between book one and two.
Soooooo now ....
November 27, 2018
I read many reviews about this book on Goodreads. Many of those reviews are about how immature the characters are. And I have to agree with those reviews..... at the beginning of the book. Yes I thought Erin and Branden are immature characters. They both too scared with commitment issue and loving the person they really loved.
But then, somehow along the story, I connect with Erin. See, I can understand what Erin's journey in life. She felt drowned. Drowned in life where everyone is depending on her. How she hates her job, her suck boss and her non existing supporting fiancee. She feels like she have to sacrifice herself to save everyone. But Branden... I feel he someone I do not understand. I can not help thinking that what happened to him in the past is because of his fault. He lies. And all of the mess in his life is because of his lies. And he is too coward to be honest.
Nevertheless, I give this 4 stars because of Erin.
But then, somehow along the story, I connect with Erin. See, I can understand what Erin's journey in life. She felt drowned. Drowned in life where everyone is depending on her. How she hates her job, her suck boss and her non existing supporting fiancee. She feels like she have to sacrifice herself to save everyone. But Branden... I feel he someone I do not understand. I can not help thinking that what happened to him in the past is because of his fault. He lies. And all of the mess in his life is because of his lies. And he is too coward to be honest.
Nevertheless, I give this 4 stars because of Erin.
August 21, 2018
Rollercoaster ride!
This was a rollercoaster enemies to lovers/ex’s best friend or best friend’s ex. However you want to look at it. Erin thinks she’s happy, but someone comes back into her life and shows her a different kind of happy. Brendan is scared of commitment and knows Erin is a girl you commit to. There is a butt ton of angst in this one. The relationship is a twisty turn-y one, but I enjoyed it none the less.
This was a rollercoaster enemies to lovers/ex’s best friend or best friend’s ex. However you want to look at it. Erin thinks she’s happy, but someone comes back into her life and shows her a different kind of happy. Brendan is scared of commitment and knows Erin is a girl you commit to. There is a butt ton of angst in this one. The relationship is a twisty turn-y one, but I enjoyed it none the less.
January 23, 2018
I really wanted to like this book but after a point, I just couldn’t. Though I could understand her need to be there for her family and ignore the problems, I couldn’t get why she was so insecure that she wanted to be with the guy who was clearly so wrong for her and made her unhappy. Also, there is a whole lot of no or miscommunication going around in this book which is the reason for all the angst and I didn’t enjoy that. The only parts of the book that seemed okay to me were the chapters of Brendan’s past. And the only characters I liked are probably Olivia and Will though they hardly have any page time. Totally forgettable read for me.
August 24, 2022
This was alright but definitely not as good as Waking Olivia. There was too much back and forth with both Erin and Brendan. Erin was so insecure and basically a doormat. She really needed to put her foot down with every single person in her life, they all walked all over her, even at work. Brendan was hot and cold when it came to his feelings. One minute he hates her (for no reason), the next he wants her, then he's back to being anti relationship but would then do something boyfriend like and sweet. He was giving me whiplash. I actually liked him better in the first book. Better communication would've worked wonders in this one
February 13, 2019
Run for the hills.
I don't know which adjective would describe this book better: moronic or sexist. But it's one of those two and then some.
I don't have it in me to unpack it all because I could write a masters thesis with a chapter by chapter in-depth analysis of the internalised misogyny shown here and I would still need more space, time and will to examine all the other things wrong with it.
May 13, 2018
I enjoyed 99% of the book. The 1% killed it for me.
You should never falsely accuse someone of sexual harassment or rape as a form of revenge. It could ruin their life and belittles actual survivors.
You should never falsely accuse someone of sexual harassment or rape as a form of revenge. It could ruin their life and belittles actual survivors.
December 10, 2022
Here is my problem with this book: it fucking repetitive.
The story goes NOWHERE. It's literally dragged so much with fake enemies to lovers and a very forced miscommunication trope. And the most disappointing thing in the shit book was the little to no character development of both characters.
Erin:
I loved Erin from Waking Oliva, she was literally sunshine and whenever she was with Oliva I would be so invested in the book. This book, however, I FUCKING DESPISED HER SOO MUCH. She lies. She lies to everyone, she is the most baffled person in life, allows people to walk over her, and then gets mad when they DO! There were so many moments in this book where she says she will do this and then does the opposite. THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS! And whenever she did this -literally every chapter- I would want to punch my computer. I was hoping that there will be some good character development for her, but that only happened in the last chapter. Throughout the whole book, I wanted to strangle Erin like life is not always about boys.
IF ROB CLEARLY MAKES YOU UNHAPPY THEN FUCKING BREAK UP WITH HIM YOU DUMBSHIT! Oh, and the most obvious thing in the whole book, if you want to be with Brenden but he doesn't THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO GET BACK WITH ROB. Stay fucking single, DO NOT LIE, try to get your life stable, AND THEN (keyword THEN) find yourself a man.
Brenden:
This immature, stupid asshole. I do not see what Erin or other girls see in him. This man is the only one that could compete with Erin in the world's most stupidest and confusing creatures on the planet. Not kidding. I think it is a pretty straightforward thing, if you think you like someone then you do NOT get into a relationship with someone ELSE. You certainly do not lie to them, give them false hope and then act like a victim. I know that Gabi's character seemed a little mentally ill in Brenden's later flashbacks, but STILL, what he did was WRONG. This man... I have no words to describe him. Not because he is flawless, it's because I don't have time to waste my disturbing language on this dumbshit.
The Plot:
Don't get fooled by the blurb. They are nowhere near enemies to lovers. To be honest there is no moment in this book where they fit the enemies-to-lovers trope. Sure in the starting few chapters Erin apparently detested Brenden then suddenly after Brenden helped her with her family issues, everything was fine. They were besties but with 'forbidden' feelings and then yeah that's it. Then when Rob comes back there was some unnecessary drama including the miscommunication trope where both the MC blame each other. The whole book was was unnecessary at this point.
I am so fucking mad that I read through this book expecting it to get better. Writing this review right after I finished this book cuz I know I won't be able to sleep peacefully after the shit I read.
The whole book was Erin saying 'Oh Rob is this, I'm not happy, I feel like I have to lie, I hate my life, hate my job, hate my relationship."
THEN DON'T DO IT! AND PLEASE DON'T LIE! Even after knowing the consequences of her actions SHE STILL LIES! HATE THIS BITCH SO MUCH... WANT TO STRANGLE HER.
The story goes NOWHERE. It's literally dragged so much with fake enemies to lovers and a very forced miscommunication trope. And the most disappointing thing in the shit book was the little to no character development of both characters.
Erin:
I loved Erin from Waking Oliva, she was literally sunshine and whenever she was with Oliva I would be so invested in the book. This book, however, I FUCKING DESPISED HER SOO MUCH. She lies. She lies to everyone, she is the most baffled person in life, allows people to walk over her, and then gets mad when they DO! There were so many moments in this book where she says she will do this and then does the opposite. THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS! And whenever she did this -literally every chapter- I would want to punch my computer. I was hoping that there will be some good character development for her, but that only happened in the last chapter. Throughout the whole book, I wanted to strangle Erin like life is not always about boys.
IF ROB CLEARLY MAKES YOU UNHAPPY THEN FUCKING BREAK UP WITH HIM YOU DUMBSHIT! Oh, and the most obvious thing in the whole book, if you want to be with Brenden but he doesn't THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO GET BACK WITH ROB. Stay fucking single, DO NOT LIE, try to get your life stable, AND THEN (keyword THEN) find yourself a man.
Brenden:
This immature, stupid asshole. I do not see what Erin or other girls see in him. This man is the only one that could compete with Erin in the world's most stupidest and confusing creatures on the planet. Not kidding. I think it is a pretty straightforward thing, if you think you like someone then you do NOT get into a relationship with someone ELSE. You certainly do not lie to them, give them false hope and then act like a victim. I know that Gabi's character seemed a little mentally ill in Brenden's later flashbacks, but STILL, what he did was WRONG. This man... I have no words to describe him. Not because he is flawless, it's because I don't have time to waste my disturbing language on this dumbshit.
The Plot:
Don't get fooled by the blurb. They are nowhere near enemies to lovers. To be honest there is no moment in this book where they fit the enemies-to-lovers trope. Sure in the starting few chapters Erin apparently detested Brenden then suddenly after Brenden helped her with her family issues, everything was fine. They were besties but with 'forbidden' feelings and then yeah that's it. Then when Rob comes back there was some unnecessary drama including the miscommunication trope where both the MC blame each other. The whole book was was unnecessary at this point.
I am so fucking mad that I read through this book expecting it to get better. Writing this review right after I finished this book cuz I know I won't be able to sleep peacefully after the shit I read.
The whole book was Erin saying 'Oh Rob is this, I'm not happy, I feel like I have to lie, I hate my life, hate my job, hate my relationship."
THEN DON'T DO IT! AND PLEASE DON'T LIE! Even after knowing the consequences of her actions SHE STILL LIES! HATE THIS BITCH SO MUCH... WANT TO STRANGLE HER.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2022
I think it’s physically impossible for me not to read an Elizabeth O’roark book in one sitting. I stayed up ALL night to finish this book and it was honestly so worth it! The only reason it’s not getting five stars is because the miscommunication trope is a bit overdone in this. While I believe the miscommunication trope is sometimes needed to push forward conflict in a story and keep readers engaged, this felt like the last 40% had too many obvious conflicts that definitely weren’t necessary to the story.
Overall I still really enjoyed this and am positive I’ll be picking up whatever the hell Elizabeth writes in the future since I absolutely ADORE her writing
Overall I still really enjoyed this and am positive I’ll be picking up whatever the hell Elizabeth writes in the future since I absolutely ADORE her writing
dnf
March 21, 2019DNF at 26% (no rating)
I tried. I really tried. It’s not a bad book; I just couldn’t relate to the main characters or bring myself to care enough about them to read on. Brendan acted like he hated Erin because he was into her but was afraid of commitments. That’s it, that’s why he was so mean to her. He’s the brother of the protagonist in the book I previously read by the author (which I absolutely loved) and enough was written about Brendan and his family for me to believe that nothing in his past justified him being such a commitment-phobe. I mean, the guy HATED Erin with a passion and I didn’t really understand it. Of course, he didn’t want anyone else to get close to her either. And Erin? She was too depressing. If she had at least been interesting, fine. But unfortunately, she had no personality. I was bored and I can’t for the life of me, force myself to read something I’m not even remotely enjoying. Sorry not sorry.
I tried. I really tried. It’s not a bad book; I just couldn’t relate to the main characters or bring myself to care enough about them to read on. Brendan acted like he hated Erin because he was into her but was afraid of commitments. That’s it, that’s why he was so mean to her. He’s the brother of the protagonist in the book I previously read by the author (which I absolutely loved) and enough was written about Brendan and his family for me to believe that nothing in his past justified him being such a commitment-phobe. I mean, the guy HATED Erin with a passion and I didn’t really understand it. Of course, he didn’t want anyone else to get close to her either. And Erin? She was too depressing. If she had at least been interesting, fine. But unfortunately, she had no personality. I was bored and I can’t for the life of me, force myself to read something I’m not even remotely enjoying. Sorry not sorry.
December 6, 2021
To be honest, Drowning Erin was not as good as it's predecesor Waking Olivia, which is such an amazing read. I feel like there was way too much back and forth and Erin was so wishy washy and insecure, especially when it came to her boyfriend. It was a bit frustrating at time. The writing is really good though. As with Waking Olivia, Drowning Erin was also updated/re-written at some point, so the audiobook does not match the version currently on kindle, so it's hard to follow if you do both. This author is definitely super talented so I'm looking forward to reading some more of her books!
Read
July 29, 20224.75 stars. Really enjoyed this book - my only complaint may be that it felt a little too similar to waking Olivia. But I think both were very enjoyable.
February 5, 2023
⭐️3,75
May 16, 2020
5 fluttering stars
~When the beautiful, reckless, irresponsible, hateful guy you can’t be within inches before sparks start igniting, returns home. You know it’s a short time before he’s causing trouble, however his kindly ways has you thinking he might be a change man. One that has you doubting what you really want.
~It wasn’t difficult to fall head over heels for this two since I met them in ‘Waking Olivia’. Erin is Olivia’s bestie and Brendan is Will’s youngest brother. I knew I was in for a ride, but nothing prepared me for how much I enjoyed laughing & loving this two. The tit for tat lovers’ quarrel had my heart fluttering when they were in the same capacity. When it was time to be honest with how Brendan felt for Erin. It was devastating to watch her ride into the sunset with Brendan’s BFF Rob as his fiancée. So much so he skip town with only the thought of her.
~Returning as a changed man 4 years later and ready to move on. When issues arise and Erin exposes Rob’s dishonesty. Erin looks for comfort in her newfound friend, one that happens to be living right next door. Except Brandan smells like sex and bad decisions. Which works fine since it would only be a short time before Rob returned from overseas looking to win back his girl. However, Brendan was none fighting. He was ready to prove his heart to Erin...he has always been first.
~When it was time for Erin to explore options that included the one person who seemed to always haunt her dreams, and Brendan done fighting the one person that seemed to own his every thought. I was more than happy to lose sleep over this two. It was the perfect read to help me through this horrible reading slump. Brendan with his overbearing alpha stance and Erin with her feisty attitude. I was completely smitten by how well this enemies to lovers got me over the hump.
~When the beautiful, reckless, irresponsible, hateful guy you can’t be within inches before sparks start igniting, returns home. You know it’s a short time before he’s causing trouble, however his kindly ways has you thinking he might be a change man. One that has you doubting what you really want.
~It wasn’t difficult to fall head over heels for this two since I met them in ‘Waking Olivia’. Erin is Olivia’s bestie and Brendan is Will’s youngest brother. I knew I was in for a ride, but nothing prepared me for how much I enjoyed laughing & loving this two. The tit for tat lovers’ quarrel had my heart fluttering when they were in the same capacity. When it was time to be honest with how Brendan felt for Erin. It was devastating to watch her ride into the sunset with Brendan’s BFF Rob as his fiancée. So much so he skip town with only the thought of her.
~Returning as a changed man 4 years later and ready to move on. When issues arise and Erin exposes Rob’s dishonesty. Erin looks for comfort in her newfound friend, one that happens to be living right next door. Except Brandan smells like sex and bad decisions. Which works fine since it would only be a short time before Rob returned from overseas looking to win back his girl. However, Brendan was none fighting. He was ready to prove his heart to Erin...he has always been first.
~When it was time for Erin to explore options that included the one person who seemed to always haunt her dreams, and Brendan done fighting the one person that seemed to own his every thought. I was more than happy to lose sleep over this two. It was the perfect read to help me through this horrible reading slump. Brendan with his overbearing alpha stance and Erin with her feisty attitude. I was completely smitten by how well this enemies to lovers got me over the hump.
dnr
November 17, 2017It would be nice to read a review from someone who didn't "recieve a free copy from the author"
January 4, 2018
Livro lindo! Gosto dessa autora. Ela me conquistou com o primeiro livro que li.
Não foi diferente com esse. História bem contada, personagens apaixonantes. Tudo perfeito.
Vale a leitura.
Não foi diferente com esse. História bem contada, personagens apaixonantes. Tudo perfeito.
Vale a leitura.
November 9, 2017
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book.**
Is there a third brother? I need another brother!
Erin has it all, or at least that's what everyone thinks. Her handsome fiance, Rob, his well-paying job, and their giant house. She's grown comfortable in her predictable life, but is hesitant to set a date for the wedding. The nuptials that she knows she should go through with but doesn't really want. Because in order to be with Rob, she has had to give up parts of herself and hide the others.
Brendan knows who Erin really is. She might be engaged to his best friend, but he sees how much she's changed since he left for Italy. And he doesn't like what he sees when he returns. But even more, he hates that he missed his chance to make her his, having to watch her put on a facade to please her fiance. If he gets a chance to show her what she's missing, he can't help but dive in to save the girl of his dirty dreams.
This book played hell on my poor emotions. But that's nothing new considering every book I've read by this author has had a story with deliciously tormented characters. I just love her ability to write strife in such a way that I feel as if those emotions are my own and not just a character on the digital pages. It's impressive and painful, all at the same time.
In this story, we have Will's brother. You'll remember him from Olivia's book and boy did Brendan leave an impression in that story. It took me a minute to realize the connection but once I did, I smiled like a goofball. More of mischievous Brendan and sweet Erin. I just knew this was going to be a wild ride and I was right.
It was a roller coaster, that's for sure. I liked both of our characters and their chemistry was explosive. Their love-hate relationship was written with the perfect amount of sarcasm and angst. The plot was steadily paced and there were several twists thrown in. The entire thing with Christina made me gasp and slosh water out of the bath tub in surprise.
The love scenes were so hot that I'm glad I read this book alone. Brendan had a really naughty side but I was glad to see Erin's come out when she broke through her shell. The pair of them were also frustrating at times because their lack of communication caused me to want to pull my hair out. But it was worth it to watch these two find themselves and each other.
In closing...
I do recommend reading Will and Olivia's story first, just so you can appreciate this couple's hot-and-cold relationship. Either way, this was a fantastic book! Five suns!
Full review on blog: https://uptildawnbookblog.blogspot.com/2017/11/review-blitz-drowning-erin-by-elizabeth.html
July 24, 2022
Drowning Erin exists in the same series as Elizabeth O’Roark’s Waking Olivia. The heroine in this book ran college cross country with Olivia and the hero in this book is Olivia’s brother-in-law. This book is very angsty and deals with heavier emotions and themes. The hero and heroine had a moment a few years ago in the past but in current time she’s engaged to the hero’s childhood best friend…
Erin and Brendan first meet 4 years ago when they both work at a summer job together. Brendan is leaving in the fall for a job in Italy and doesn’t date the same girl twice. From the moment he meets Erin, he wants to know more and also knows she is exactly the type of girl he should avoid since she is not a one-night-stand type of girl and would be a relationship/forever type of girl. So of course, he starts acting like a jerk towards her to keep her away. Erin is crushing on him but once he acts rude to her she starts to distance herself, it isn’t until he end of the summer when Brendan realizes she’s the one and is about to make his move, but he’s just too late. This story is told with flashbacks so while we see them in the past, we also get present day and in present day Erin is engaged to Rob, who happens to be Brendan’s childhood best friend.
Erin has been engaged for 18 months and isn’t ready to set a date or move things forward. Her fiancé is about to leave for a work trip and invites Brendan to live in their pool house while he’s gone, since Brendan has just returned from 4 years away in Italy. There is obvious chemistry and history between Brendan and Erin, they even shared a kiss in the past before she was with her fiancé. Now with troubles between her and her fiancé, Erin is realizing how much of her own happiness she has let fall to the side. She spent so much time making sure everyone else was good, whether with her fiancé or her parents and brother or her boss, that she gave up things she loved and made her happy. She starts to realize while spending time with Brendan how much she’s been settling in life and just isn’t happy. Brendan also has something from his past that is still on his mind.
If angsty isn’t your jam I can definitely see this book not working for you. But I love angst and there is something that always works with Elizabeth O’Roark’s writing and characters for me. While Erin is engaged for a portion of this book, there is no cheating between her and Brendan. Erin has the weight of the world on her shoulders, worrying and having to always jump in to save her parents and brother (CW: alcoholism). Brendan wants Erin to be living her best life and doing things that make her happy, yes he has a complicated way of showing that at times and does try to push her away but he gets possessive too. I just really liked seeing this entire relationship play out.
Erin and Brendan first meet 4 years ago when they both work at a summer job together. Brendan is leaving in the fall for a job in Italy and doesn’t date the same girl twice. From the moment he meets Erin, he wants to know more and also knows she is exactly the type of girl he should avoid since she is not a one-night-stand type of girl and would be a relationship/forever type of girl. So of course, he starts acting like a jerk towards her to keep her away. Erin is crushing on him but once he acts rude to her she starts to distance herself, it isn’t until he end of the summer when Brendan realizes she’s the one and is about to make his move, but he’s just too late. This story is told with flashbacks so while we see them in the past, we also get present day and in present day Erin is engaged to Rob, who happens to be Brendan’s childhood best friend.
Erin has been engaged for 18 months and isn’t ready to set a date or move things forward. Her fiancé is about to leave for a work trip and invites Brendan to live in their pool house while he’s gone, since Brendan has just returned from 4 years away in Italy. There is obvious chemistry and history between Brendan and Erin, they even shared a kiss in the past before she was with her fiancé. Now with troubles between her and her fiancé, Erin is realizing how much of her own happiness she has let fall to the side. She spent so much time making sure everyone else was good, whether with her fiancé or her parents and brother or her boss, that she gave up things she loved and made her happy. She starts to realize while spending time with Brendan how much she’s been settling in life and just isn’t happy. Brendan also has something from his past that is still on his mind.
If angsty isn’t your jam I can definitely see this book not working for you. But I love angst and there is something that always works with Elizabeth O’Roark’s writing and characters for me. While Erin is engaged for a portion of this book, there is no cheating between her and Brendan. Erin has the weight of the world on her shoulders, worrying and having to always jump in to save her parents and brother (CW: alcoholism). Brendan wants Erin to be living her best life and doing things that make her happy, yes he has a complicated way of showing that at times and does try to push her away but he gets possessive too. I just really liked seeing this entire relationship play out.
November 4, 2017
Drowning Erin by Elizabeth O'Roark
Drowning Erin is the read I've been searching for, but had no idea I was trying to find. Ms. O'Roark opened up Pandora's box with her tale of profound emotion that is realistically true to life. Erin is a woman caught between a mirage and her heart. She wants the perfect life, but is living in a world of make believe. Her heart is pulling her in one direction while her mind is going in another. Then Brendan enters her world and starts to upend everything she thought was important. He see's beyond the image and awakens her soul. Caught in the middle of the mess that has become her life, can she navigate the chaos and find her way to happiness with the man of dreams? Brendan and Erin touch emotions not often acknowledged, but in need of exploration. Ms. O'Roark takes aim at preconceived notions while breaking through the heart's barriers and making a home for her characters.
Drowning Erin is the read I've been searching for, but had no idea I was trying to find. Ms. O'Roark opened up Pandora's box with her tale of profound emotion that is realistically true to life. Erin is a woman caught between a mirage and her heart. She wants the perfect life, but is living in a world of make believe. Her heart is pulling her in one direction while her mind is going in another. Then Brendan enters her world and starts to upend everything she thought was important. He see's beyond the image and awakens her soul. Caught in the middle of the mess that has become her life, can she navigate the chaos and find her way to happiness with the man of dreams? Brendan and Erin touch emotions not often acknowledged, but in need of exploration. Ms. O'Roark takes aim at preconceived notions while breaking through the heart's barriers and making a home for her characters.
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