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When Rivals Play #2
The Moth and the Flame
Four, Ever, and the rest of the Blackwood Keep crew are back in this second installment! THE FLAME Here lies Louchana Valentine. She was a homeless, orphaned virgin. I never cared what my gravestone would say until I landed in deep with a powerful gangster. Lucky for me, my best friend happens to be ruthless too. I should feel guilty that he’s forced to turn on the man who’s been a father to him. Except I’ve always known that Wren’s soul wasn’t as black as he claimed. He was good.
He was beautiful.
He was mine.
He just didn’t know it yet. And with Wren keeping me safe, I’ve got time left to rewrite the end of my story. But if he has his way, virgin is already carved in stone. THE MOTH I’ve never known anyone as alluring as Lou. Or as frustrating. Since the night she saved my life and stole my wallet for her troubles, I couldn’t stay away. She became my onus.
My light.
My…anyway. With nowhere to run, I’m forced to trust someone I never expected. At least with Lou safe in Blackwood Keep—far away from me—I’ll die with my conscience intact. Because she no longer looks at me with friendship in her eyes. Those iridescent blues shine with a different need entirely, and I’ve never been able to deny her. The Moth and the Flame is an interconnected standalone. It's recommended that you start with The Peer and the Puppet. Content suitable for ages 18+.
He was beautiful.
He was mine.
He just didn’t know it yet. And with Wren keeping me safe, I’ve got time left to rewrite the end of my story. But if he has his way, virgin is already carved in stone. THE MOTH I’ve never known anyone as alluring as Lou. Or as frustrating. Since the night she saved my life and stole my wallet for her troubles, I couldn’t stay away. She became my onus.
My light.
My…anyway. With nowhere to run, I’m forced to trust someone I never expected. At least with Lou safe in Blackwood Keep—far away from me—I’ll die with my conscience intact. Because she no longer looks at me with friendship in her eyes. Those iridescent blues shine with a different need entirely, and I’ve never been able to deny her. The Moth and the Flame is an interconnected standalone. It's recommended that you start with The Peer and the Puppet. Content suitable for ages 18+.
424 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2019
1392 people are currently reading
5866 people want to read
About the author
B.B. Reid
29 books7,870 followersB.B. Reid grew up the only daughter and middle child in a small town in North Carolina. After graduating with a Bachelors in Finance, she started her career at an investment research firm while continuing to serve in the National Guard. She currently resides in Atlanta with her moody cat and enjoys collecting Chuck Taylors and binge-eating chocolate.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 698 reviews
May 18, 2019
***AVAILABLE NOW - FULL REVIEW ***
5 Snowy CROWNS
GAHHH!! I’m telling you guys!! BB Reid killed the best friends to lovers game! I’m so enamored with all things Lou and Wren! They made me laugh, the broke my heart, but their story revealed more secrets in the When Rivals Play series, leaving me already begging for more.
Wren has my whole heart. Who knew you could fall in love with the teen gangster? BB. That is who. Even when he is doing awful, criminal acts, his heart is so large. He struggles to balance what he must do with all efforts to preserve his soul and to feel even the tiniest bit worthy of Lou. His adoration and love of her made me swoon. What will also draw readers to BB’s new hero, though, is he is so unlike the rest. He does have his dominant moments and that bad boy vibe, but there is a sweetness and kindness to him that lies below his gangster surface.
Lou is such a great character. There will be readers who might not like her immaturity or, at times her selfishness, but I’m a big believer in an author staying true to a character versus making them 100% likable. Lou is authentic - authentic to her past, and her issues with abandonment. She is also a teen who wants the attention of her best friend and the person she loves. She is young, and although she was forced to mature in some areas because of her circumstances, at time she can be childish. I found her antics to be funny and true to her age. She is also the character the evolves the most, and the woman she becomes by the end is fierce and loving and what we have come to expect from BB’s leading ladies.
The Moth and the Flame is a slow burn, friends to lovers. There is a lot of push and pull tied to the internal feelings and self-worth of the characters. There are several plot details tied to The Peer and the Puppet as well that stand in their way, but BB Reid keeps readers engaged with their antics and their sexual tension. Plus, the pay-off when it does happen is so worth it! Lord, it was HOT! Once their story weaves together with the of TP&TP plot line, things really picked up and I couldn’t put the book down. I loved seeing more of Four and Ever, and getting more glimpses into Jaime and the rest of the crew, as well as seeing the overall plot line progress.
I also love where BB Reid left Lou and Wren. She wrote their romance in a way that I felt deep in my soul, and their HEA is hard fought and won, making their ending gratifying on every level.
The Moth and the Flame is phenomenally written friends to lovers, slow burn romance. The sexual tension, the suspenseful elements of the Exiled, and the gorgeous prose of BB Reid makes this one a MUST READ!
Beta read
5 Snowy CROWNS
GAHHH!! I’m telling you guys!! BB Reid killed the best friends to lovers game! I’m so enamored with all things Lou and Wren! They made me laugh, the broke my heart, but their story revealed more secrets in the When Rivals Play series, leaving me already begging for more.
Wren has my whole heart. Who knew you could fall in love with the teen gangster? BB. That is who. Even when he is doing awful, criminal acts, his heart is so large. He struggles to balance what he must do with all efforts to preserve his soul and to feel even the tiniest bit worthy of Lou. His adoration and love of her made me swoon. What will also draw readers to BB’s new hero, though, is he is so unlike the rest. He does have his dominant moments and that bad boy vibe, but there is a sweetness and kindness to him that lies below his gangster surface.
Lou is such a great character. There will be readers who might not like her immaturity or, at times her selfishness, but I’m a big believer in an author staying true to a character versus making them 100% likable. Lou is authentic - authentic to her past, and her issues with abandonment. She is also a teen who wants the attention of her best friend and the person she loves. She is young, and although she was forced to mature in some areas because of her circumstances, at time she can be childish. I found her antics to be funny and true to her age. She is also the character the evolves the most, and the woman she becomes by the end is fierce and loving and what we have come to expect from BB’s leading ladies.
The Moth and the Flame is a slow burn, friends to lovers. There is a lot of push and pull tied to the internal feelings and self-worth of the characters. There are several plot details tied to The Peer and the Puppet as well that stand in their way, but BB Reid keeps readers engaged with their antics and their sexual tension. Plus, the pay-off when it does happen is so worth it! Lord, it was HOT! Once their story weaves together with the of TP&TP plot line, things really picked up and I couldn’t put the book down. I loved seeing more of Four and Ever, and getting more glimpses into Jaime and the rest of the crew, as well as seeing the overall plot line progress.
I also love where BB Reid left Lou and Wren. She wrote their romance in a way that I felt deep in my soul, and their HEA is hard fought and won, making their ending gratifying on every level.
The Moth and the Flame is phenomenally written friends to lovers, slow burn romance. The sexual tension, the suspenseful elements of the Exiled, and the gorgeous prose of BB Reid makes this one a MUST READ!
Beta read
Want to read
March 14, 2022LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Books in When Rivals Play series are stand-alones:
Book 1: The Peer and the Puppet
Book 2: The Moth and the Flame
Book 3: The Punk and the Plaything
Book 4: The Prince and the Pawn
LIVE! | AMZ US | AMZ UK |
Books in When Rivals Play series are stand-alones:
Book 1: The Peer and the Puppet
Book 2: The Moth and the Flame
Book 3: The Punk and the Plaything
Book 4: The Prince and the Pawn
May 14, 2019
5 I Am Not Led Stars
I love when an author gives me everything I never thought I wanted in a book and completely blows me away. And that’s exactly what Bebe Reid has done. The second installment of When Rivals Play is phenomenal! The young adult drama and angst is everything.
You definitely want to read this! I am Totally and completely in love with WREN!!
Full review soon.....
I love when an author gives me everything I never thought I wanted in a book and completely blows me away. And that’s exactly what Bebe Reid has done. The second installment of When Rivals Play is phenomenal! The young adult drama and angst is everything.
You definitely want to read this! I am Totally and completely in love with WREN!!
Full review soon.....
May 17, 2019
GAH!! B.B. Reid has done it again!! The Moth And The Flame (TMATF) was absolutely amazing and was full of delicious angst, mystery and (slow-burn) sexual tension that could ignite a rocket! And when that chemistry exploded - the fiery passion between Lou and Wren could not be more explosive!! This is one of the best stories of 2019 for sure!!
Gah!! Reid's "When Rivals Play" series is incredible. It is compelling, addictive and filled with so many breadcrumbs and shockers that leave your mouth open and gasping for breath! While TMATF is a standalone, it continues the backstory/ongoing storyline from The Peer and The Puppet (TPATP). It all begins when Louchana "Lou" Valentine crosses the path of "Wren" Joseph Harlan. She sees this mysterious and dangerous young man but never could have expected her whole life would seemingly change. But with secrets between them and a sizzling attraction that is difficult to deny, Wren must come clean about the truth of his past and risk losing his beacon of light and reason for living.
Gah!! I loved this story! I loved Wren so much as he was so much more than I could ever have imagined. We got glimpses of him in TPATP but his backstory was absolutely AMAZING!! I loved his tough as nails persona, but loved how caring, protective and possessive he was of Lou. He melted for her and his love and high regard for her was phenomenal. Lou, likewise gave as good as she got and was the Mouse that tamed the Lion with a look. She had sass and nerve for days and was his perfect match.
All in all, I loved being back with the Blackwood Keep gang again as I can not wait for Jamie and Vaughn's respective stories! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
Gah!! Reid's "When Rivals Play" series is incredible. It is compelling, addictive and filled with so many breadcrumbs and shockers that leave your mouth open and gasping for breath! While TMATF is a standalone, it continues the backstory/ongoing storyline from The Peer and The Puppet (TPATP). It all begins when Louchana "Lou" Valentine crosses the path of "Wren" Joseph Harlan. She sees this mysterious and dangerous young man but never could have expected her whole life would seemingly change. But with secrets between them and a sizzling attraction that is difficult to deny, Wren must come clean about the truth of his past and risk losing his beacon of light and reason for living.
Gah!! I loved this story! I loved Wren so much as he was so much more than I could ever have imagined. We got glimpses of him in TPATP but his backstory was absolutely AMAZING!! I loved his tough as nails persona, but loved how caring, protective and possessive he was of Lou. He melted for her and his love and high regard for her was phenomenal. Lou, likewise gave as good as she got and was the Mouse that tamed the Lion with a look. She had sass and nerve for days and was his perfect match.
All in all, I loved being back with the Blackwood Keep gang again as I can not wait for Jamie and Vaughn's respective stories! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
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Every day, the film we kept over our friendship became thinner, and I became hungrier. Lou was taunting me, pushing me, and the only part I hated was that it was working.
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Every day, the film we kept over our friendship became thinner, and I became hungrier. Lou was taunting me, pushing me, and the only part I hated was that it was working.
COMING MAY 20TH!
Bloggers → bit.ly/TMATF-Blog
Bookstagrammers → bit.ly/TMATF-Bookstagram
May 15, 2019
This book right here was one of my most highly anticipated reads. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. And it didn't disappoint once it landed on my kindle. I can't believe how quickly I devoured this, a slow burn that got it's hooks into me straight away. I couldn't put it down.
These two had an unconventional first meeting which was the base to their unusual comradeship, a coming of age romance, she was fifteen and he was seventeen, an unusual friendship that should not have worked being who they were.
“I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
But these two just showed us how right they were as friends, even as so much more. Though it did take some time to take that step into the more territory. Times where I thought YES we're getting somewhere that fire was extinguished..Until Finally..It all came together and left me gasping in their wake.
I loved their dynamics, his need to protect, he was everything rolled into one, and her need to push him, tease him, a cat and mouse game with their push and pull tendencies which upped the ante each chapter.
This had everything all us angst whores chase and B.B. Reid set the stage perfectly. Definitely a must read!!
May 16, 2019
"I’m the moth to your flame, Lou.
I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you."
Ding, ding! Dear readers, we have a book boyfriend material here! Wren oficially owns my heart. Bebe Reid wrote such an intense and captivating story that I’m still hungover days later! I loved this friends to lovers plot so much and both Wren and Lou are amazing characters. Their friendship was full of ups and downs but one thing is certain- they couldn’t live without each other in their lives. And aside of Wren and Lou’s love story, B.B. brings us her best- suspense, danger and secrets. Welcome back in Blackwood Keep!
Dangerous situation put Louchana in Wren’s path and that’s how began their friendship. They both needed somebody to lean on in this world of loneliness, where they both lost their families. They cared about each other and they were giving each other mutual loyalty. But years later their friendship began to evaluate to something deeper. Can their feelings survive, when the secrets starts to come out? And can their love exist, when Exiled is breathing down their necks?
My excitement reached higher level. TMATF gives us bigger insight in Exiled activities and that’s why this part of the series was even more intense for me. The thrill caused that I was reading this book with bated breath and I couldn’t wait how the situation develops. But let’s get back to our heroes… Wren, even though he oozes confidence and danger, he’s such a sweetheart! His devotion to Lou has no bottom and he cared about her as best he could. Meanwhile Lou is such a stubborn girl, who was defending herself from heartbreak at all costs and that’s why she was sometimes reckless and immature. But in the world, where she was avoiding attachment like a plague, Wren was her safe haven. Their love was developing very slow, but the sexual tension and indescribable chemistry was off the charts! I couldn’t wait for their intimate moments and when the time came Bebe brought her best! The scenes were incredibly hot and I couldn’t get enough of them!
Suspense, danger, steam, angst. B.B. Reid brings her best in The Moth And The Flame. This story is utterly extraordinary and B.B.’s flawless writing is drawing the reader completely. I devoured this book in one sitting and I recommend it with my whole heart!
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you."
Ding, ding! Dear readers, we have a book boyfriend material here! Wren oficially owns my heart. Bebe Reid wrote such an intense and captivating story that I’m still hungover days later! I loved this friends to lovers plot so much and both Wren and Lou are amazing characters. Their friendship was full of ups and downs but one thing is certain- they couldn’t live without each other in their lives. And aside of Wren and Lou’s love story, B.B. brings us her best- suspense, danger and secrets. Welcome back in Blackwood Keep!
Dangerous situation put Louchana in Wren’s path and that’s how began their friendship. They both needed somebody to lean on in this world of loneliness, where they both lost their families. They cared about each other and they were giving each other mutual loyalty. But years later their friendship began to evaluate to something deeper. Can their feelings survive, when the secrets starts to come out? And can their love exist, when Exiled is breathing down their necks?
My excitement reached higher level. TMATF gives us bigger insight in Exiled activities and that’s why this part of the series was even more intense for me. The thrill caused that I was reading this book with bated breath and I couldn’t wait how the situation develops. But let’s get back to our heroes… Wren, even though he oozes confidence and danger, he’s such a sweetheart! His devotion to Lou has no bottom and he cared about her as best he could. Meanwhile Lou is such a stubborn girl, who was defending herself from heartbreak at all costs and that’s why she was sometimes reckless and immature. But in the world, where she was avoiding attachment like a plague, Wren was her safe haven. Their love was developing very slow, but the sexual tension and indescribable chemistry was off the charts! I couldn’t wait for their intimate moments and when the time came Bebe brought her best! The scenes were incredibly hot and I couldn’t get enough of them!
Suspense, danger, steam, angst. B.B. Reid brings her best in The Moth And The Flame. This story is utterly extraordinary and B.B.’s flawless writing is drawing the reader completely. I devoured this book in one sitting and I recommend it with my whole heart!
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2019
PHENOMENAL!!! This is a Top Read for 2019! I cannot get enough of this series or these characters! If you fell in love with Fore and Ever, you will be completely taken with Wren and Lou.
One fateful snowstorm and their paths crossed. She's an orphan, he's a criminal but together they form an unbreakable bond. No sacrifice is too great. Best friends...for life.
The back and forth, the push and pull between Wren and Lou is enough to drive you mad. But you will LOVE IT! Their relationship is complicated. Their love for one another is without limits, well mostly. However, her age and his secrets keep them from being each other's everything. Lou is not deterred by Wren's resistance and has no problem doing whatever is necessary to get what she wants. Wren just wants to protect her and he's willing to sacrifice his own happiness to ensure hers.
This story is beautifully told. I was riveted from the first page. I fell in love with Wren and Lou's story. The suspense will keep you completely invested. I had no idea what was coming next.
The author took us on a crazy ride. You will get your fix of old characters and fall in love with new ones. She will leave you wanting MORE. I WANT IT ALL! There are more secrets to uncover, more story to be told. I will be impatiently waiting!
One fateful snowstorm and their paths crossed. She's an orphan, he's a criminal but together they form an unbreakable bond. No sacrifice is too great. Best friends...for life.
The back and forth, the push and pull between Wren and Lou is enough to drive you mad. But you will LOVE IT! Their relationship is complicated. Their love for one another is without limits, well mostly. However, her age and his secrets keep them from being each other's everything. Lou is not deterred by Wren's resistance and has no problem doing whatever is necessary to get what she wants. Wren just wants to protect her and he's willing to sacrifice his own happiness to ensure hers.
This story is beautifully told. I was riveted from the first page. I fell in love with Wren and Lou's story. The suspense will keep you completely invested. I had no idea what was coming next.
The author took us on a crazy ride. You will get your fix of old characters and fall in love with new ones. She will leave you wanting MORE. I WANT IT ALL! There are more secrets to uncover, more story to be told. I will be impatiently waiting!
May 6, 2020
4 stars ✧
WAIT. guys... this is- this is actually so cute?? don't get me wrong, i wanted to smack Lou & Wren 99.9% of the time but still... they were just *chef's kiss*.
so to get a little backstory, this book goes along with the timeline in the first book and there are 2 parts of this book. the parts are NOT separated by past and present. the only flashback here is in the prologue and one chapter about this past OW. Lou (h) was homeless when she was 15 cuz her parents abandoned her and one night, Wren (H) and her meet and after that he basically becomes her bodyguard/best friend/protector for 2-3 years. Lou is an orphan runaway, and Wren is part of a gang called, Exiled where Ever was a part of in his book. if y'all are into:
then i recommend this.
« l i k e s »
⇢ Lou & Wren are fucking crazy and i love it. Lou is just- well, she's plain crazy, super spoiled, but innocent at the same time. she runs away from her foster home whenever Wren ignores her and she did that a lot. not even exaggerating.
Wren is the most stubborn dude i've ever read and i wanted to smack him most of the time. he literally rejects the h all the time, for a reason, that i don't wanna spoil right now but let's just say he did something in the past that revolves around Lou. their dynamic is just so cute cuz he's the grumpy protector while she's the crazy one who does ridiculous things just to get his attention.
⇢ there was just so many cute/sexual tension scenes here. for me, i usually like it when the H does all the chasing but Lou's possessiveness is SO funny.
don't get me wrong, both of them are extremely possessive of one another but her antics and "seduction" to make him crazy so that he could finally pull his head out of his stubborn ass was one of the highlights here especially in part 1 but in part 2? meh it kinda got annoying not gonna lie.
⇢ for slowburn lovers im pretty sure y'all will like this one too cuz they don't get intimate until like 60% and before that it was all push and pull, and situations where there's a lot of sexual tension. but the slowburn in part 1 made me so frustrated (in a good way) that i just wanted to
SERIOUSLY. it was so frustrating ugh.
⇢ also, Wren has an Impala!! WHERE MY SUPERNATURAL FANS AT?
⇢ the friendship moments in part 2 was also fun to read especially Jamie and Lou's friendship. also, Ever, Jamie, and Vaughn made Wren a part of the bros and i love that.
⇢ all The 100 references. Lou and Jamie are fans of this show and let's just say i can definitely relate to Lou's love when it comes to Bellamy.
« d i s l i k e s »
⇢ yeah, yeah i know i said i liked the slow burn but i only liked in part 1 but in part 2? it started to get really annoying. Wren's rejections were starting to annoy the hell outta me and he was just a plain asshole to Lou by then. Lou's insistence and "chasing" almost made her look like a doormat and i aint about that life.
⇢ there is a little bit of OW drama in the beginning. apparently Wren was mostly celibate when he met Lou. he was not celibate the first year or so they know each other and i don't mind this cuz Lou was like 15-16 and Wren was 17-18. i don't think Wren had any romantic feelings towards her at that time but lustful thoughts? yeah definitely. there's also this one chapter in the past about Wren trying to get it on with Lou's neighbor and he made her think that he slept with her but he didn't and from then on, he was definitely celibate. i don't know sometimes i think he was celibate from the moment he met Lou cuz he says stuff that make me think he is but then he tells Lou something that completely contradicts his statement so yeah. let's just pretend he was celibate the whole time okay?
⇢ also, when they finally got together in part 2, i didn't really feel the explosiveness?? like the "holy shit we're finally kissing" kind of feeling? i don't know, i guess it was the way it was written or something. there were some fade to black scenes especially when they started to become intimate and i don't like that. nuh uh. i was tortured with all these sexual tension from the beginning and you're gonna pull that on me? nahh. i wanna know EVERYTHING.
____________________________
am i the only one who reads purposely slow with the books they like?? cuz that was me here. this literally took me 4 days to finish just cuz i don't want this to end.
i think this is my favorite so far and i know it'll just go down from here so i am mentally and physically preparing myself cuz I KNOW my stress level will go up with the last 2 books. am i masochist for knowing that the next books will frustrate me? hell yeah but im prepared for the battle im about to face
wish me luck guys!
When Rivals Play series
#1: the peer and the puppet ↠ 3.5 stars
#2: the moth and the flame ↠ 4 stars
#3: the punk and the plaything ↠ 1.5 stars
#4: the prince and the pawn ↠ tbr
WAIT. guys... this is- this is actually so cute?? don't get me wrong, i wanted to smack Lou & Wren 99.9% of the time but still... they were just *chef's kiss*.
so to get a little backstory, this book goes along with the timeline in the first book and there are 2 parts of this book. the parts are NOT separated by past and present. the only flashback here is in the prologue and one chapter about this past OW. Lou (h) was homeless when she was 15 cuz her parents abandoned her and one night, Wren (H) and her meet and after that he basically becomes her bodyguard/best friend/protector for 2-3 years. Lou is an orphan runaway, and Wren is part of a gang called, Exiled where Ever was a part of in his book. if y'all are into:
〚 best friends to lovers trope, crazy h where she does ridiculous things to get H's attention, slow burn but with tons of cute and sexual tension moments that would make you so frustrated you scream at your kindle for them to FINALLY DO IT. 〛
then i recommend this.
« l i k e s »
⇢ Lou & Wren are fucking crazy and i love it. Lou is just- well, she's plain crazy, super spoiled, but innocent at the same time. she runs away from her foster home whenever Wren ignores her and she did that a lot. not even exaggerating.
"I'm the moth to your flame, Lou. I'd rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you."
Wren is the most stubborn dude i've ever read and i wanted to smack him most of the time. he literally rejects the h all the time, for a reason, that i don't wanna spoil right now but let's just say he did something in the past that revolves around Lou. their dynamic is just so cute cuz he's the grumpy protector while she's the crazy one who does ridiculous things just to get his attention.
⇢ there was just so many cute/sexual tension scenes here. for me, i usually like it when the H does all the chasing but Lou's possessiveness is SO funny.
"My best friend might be a big bad gangster, but I had him wrapped around my finger. Now if only I could get him wrapped around the rest of me."
don't get me wrong, both of them are extremely possessive of one another but her antics and "seduction" to make him crazy so that he could finally pull his head out of his stubborn ass was one of the highlights here especially in part 1 but in part 2? meh it kinda got annoying not gonna lie.
⇢ for slowburn lovers im pretty sure y'all will like this one too cuz they don't get intimate until like 60% and before that it was all push and pull, and situations where there's a lot of sexual tension. but the slowburn in part 1 made me so frustrated (in a good way) that i just wanted to
SERIOUSLY. it was so frustrating ugh.
⇢ also, Wren has an Impala!! WHERE MY SUPERNATURAL FANS AT?
⇢ the friendship moments in part 2 was also fun to read especially Jamie and Lou's friendship. also, Ever, Jamie, and Vaughn made Wren a part of the bros and i love that.
⇢ all The 100 references. Lou and Jamie are fans of this show and let's just say i can definitely relate to Lou's love when it comes to Bellamy.
« d i s l i k e s »
⇢ yeah, yeah i know i said i liked the slow burn but i only liked in part 1 but in part 2? it started to get really annoying. Wren's rejections were starting to annoy the hell outta me and he was just a plain asshole to Lou by then. Lou's insistence and "chasing" almost made her look like a doormat and i aint about that life.
⇢ there is a little bit of OW drama in the beginning. apparently Wren was mostly celibate when he met Lou. he was not celibate the first year or so they know each other and i don't mind this cuz Lou was like 15-16 and Wren was 17-18. i don't think Wren had any romantic feelings towards her at that time but lustful thoughts? yeah definitely. there's also this one chapter in the past about Wren trying to get it on with Lou's neighbor and he made her think that he slept with her but he didn't and from then on, he was definitely celibate. i don't know sometimes i think he was celibate from the moment he met Lou cuz he says stuff that make me think he is but then he tells Lou something that completely contradicts his statement so yeah. let's just pretend he was celibate the whole time okay?
⇢ also, when they finally got together in part 2, i didn't really feel the explosiveness?? like the "holy shit we're finally kissing" kind of feeling? i don't know, i guess it was the way it was written or something. there were some fade to black scenes especially when they started to become intimate and i don't like that. nuh uh. i was tortured with all these sexual tension from the beginning and you're gonna pull that on me? nahh. i wanna know EVERYTHING.
____________________________
am i the only one who reads purposely slow with the books they like?? cuz that was me here. this literally took me 4 days to finish just cuz i don't want this to end.
i think this is my favorite so far and i know it'll just go down from here so i am mentally and physically preparing myself cuz I KNOW my stress level will go up with the last 2 books. am i masochist for knowing that the next books will frustrate me? hell yeah but im prepared for the battle im about to face
wish me luck guys!
When Rivals Play series
#1: the peer and the puppet ↠ 3.5 stars
#2: the moth and the flame ↠ 4 stars
#3: the punk and the plaything ↠ 1.5 stars
#4: the prince and the pawn ↠ tbr
June 2, 2019
4.5
I can't believe I'm actually writing my review for The Moth and the Flame. I feel like I've been waiting for this book for years even though I obviously haven't. You know how it is though. When you want something that bad, the wait is excruciating! All you can do is deal with it and hope that in the end, the pain was worth it.
Wren and Lou were worth it, y'all! This couple is everything I hoped they would be! Strong in every way but weak for each other! They have history, respect, loyalty, and so much love for one another it hurt me to see them resist the pull between them for so long.
Wren and Lou start out as friends, but it is plain to see from the very beginning, they're more than that. Lou saves Wren's life, and once she gets into his car, their fate is sealed. Wren knows it, but he fights it anyway. He doesn't want to lose Lou's friendship, and he believes once Lou finds out a truth about his past, he'll lose her forever. It's hard to lose a friend, but it's even harder to lose the love of your life.
I have a serious question for B. B. Reid. Were you trying to give all your readers balls as blue as Wren's?! LOL You guys think the wait for this book was torture? Wait until you dive into the story and witness the relationship of our two main characters! This couple killed me over and over again. At one point, I thought my Kindle was going to crack by how tightly I was gripping it. Their first kiss felt like a fucking victory! I almost got up and did a dance and everything.
I'm joking! A little. It did feel monumental, but that's just because the author made me believe in them from the moment they met. She made me feel that instant connection, and then established a solid friendship and love between the two of them. I felt what they felt, and I knew just how much they had to lose if things turned sour. There is nothing I want or need more in a romance than to feel something for the characters and to believe in their relationship, and the author gave me that in spades!
Wren and Lou eventually hook up with Ever, Four, and Jamie, and the book kicks everything into high gear from there. I adore each and every scene between these characters, especially the ones between Lou and Jamie. I enjoyed seeing Ever and Four's relationship through someone else's eyes, and it made me fall in love with them all over again.
The second half of the book is my absolute favorite. It felt like everything snapped into place, not just with this couple, but with all of the characters. We learn more about everyone, and if I don't get Jamie and Barbie's story next, I may lose my fucking mind! B. B., please have mercy on us all, and write their story next!
The Moth and the Flame is a slow burning, angsty, fantastically written new adult romance that you need in your life! If you enjoyed The Peer and the Puppet, there is no way you can miss this one! Go one-click it now! If you haven't read The Peer and the Puppet, WHY?! That shit is good! Go grab it now! You can come thank me later!
I can't believe I'm actually writing my review for The Moth and the Flame. I feel like I've been waiting for this book for years even though I obviously haven't. You know how it is though. When you want something that bad, the wait is excruciating! All you can do is deal with it and hope that in the end, the pain was worth it.
Wren and Lou were worth it, y'all! This couple is everything I hoped they would be! Strong in every way but weak for each other! They have history, respect, loyalty, and so much love for one another it hurt me to see them resist the pull between them for so long.
Wren and Lou start out as friends, but it is plain to see from the very beginning, they're more than that. Lou saves Wren's life, and once she gets into his car, their fate is sealed. Wren knows it, but he fights it anyway. He doesn't want to lose Lou's friendship, and he believes once Lou finds out a truth about his past, he'll lose her forever. It's hard to lose a friend, but it's even harder to lose the love of your life.
I have a serious question for B. B. Reid. Were you trying to give all your readers balls as blue as Wren's?! LOL You guys think the wait for this book was torture? Wait until you dive into the story and witness the relationship of our two main characters! This couple killed me over and over again. At one point, I thought my Kindle was going to crack by how tightly I was gripping it. Their first kiss felt like a fucking victory! I almost got up and did a dance and everything.
I'm joking! A little. It did feel monumental, but that's just because the author made me believe in them from the moment they met. She made me feel that instant connection, and then established a solid friendship and love between the two of them. I felt what they felt, and I knew just how much they had to lose if things turned sour. There is nothing I want or need more in a romance than to feel something for the characters and to believe in their relationship, and the author gave me that in spades!
Wren and Lou eventually hook up with Ever, Four, and Jamie, and the book kicks everything into high gear from there. I adore each and every scene between these characters, especially the ones between Lou and Jamie. I enjoyed seeing Ever and Four's relationship through someone else's eyes, and it made me fall in love with them all over again.
The second half of the book is my absolute favorite. It felt like everything snapped into place, not just with this couple, but with all of the characters. We learn more about everyone, and if I don't get Jamie and Barbie's story next, I may lose my fucking mind! B. B., please have mercy on us all, and write their story next!
The Moth and the Flame is a slow burning, angsty, fantastically written new adult romance that you need in your life! If you enjoyed The Peer and the Puppet, there is no way you can miss this one! Go one-click it now! If you haven't read The Peer and the Puppet, WHY?! That shit is good! Go grab it now! You can come thank me later!
May 18, 2019
I feel like I've been waiting forever for this book and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to get an early copy of this book!
There is something about this series that I just love so much. The characters mean so much to me and getting to know Wren and Lou in this book, I love them now just as much as the characters from book one. I will say that I feel like I went into this book expecting one thing and kind of got another and at first I was a little disappointed by that and confused but I definitely understand why the book is written the way it is.
I'm a sucker for best friends to lovers romance and this book was a winner for sure. I love that this was kind of a slow burn filled with so much tension I was about to scream if they didn't just get together at one point. But it was the perfect push and pull and I love them all the more for it.
I would say this book is more character driven than plot driven (though the plot certainly plays a bigger part in the second half) which I loved since I don't really care much about plot. I love that we got the friendship scenes, the romance scenes and just getting to see the character development of not only the main characters but continuing to see the rest of the gang as well.
I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait for the next two books. I NEED Tyra and Vaughn's book asap and I'm missing Wren and Lou already (even though I just finished this book like twenty minutes ago). If you were a fan of the first book I think you'll really enjoy this one and if you haven't read this series before, I would recommend starting with book one since these books are awesome and you don't want to miss out on anything!
May 19, 2019
★ 2.5 - 3 STARS ★
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“Something invisible, unbreakable, and incurable had a hold on us, drawing us in like moths to a single flame. Could we one day break free of it, or would it choose to break us instead?”
May 19, 2019
4 STARS
I feel like I've been waiting forever for this story, and holy plot twist, batman! This was so much different than I had expected!
Firstly, this is NOT meant to be read as a standalone. You need to read The Peer and the Puppet to get a lot of the nuances of this continuing story arc. Ever since the end of Peer and the Puppet, I've been salivating for Lou and Wren's book. And while the timelines of the two books cross over eventually, The Moth and The Flame begins earlier than the events at the end of PATP.
This is a much more character driven story than the first book. Lou and Wren have anything but a conventional friendship and it takes quite a few pages for the reader to be ingrained into their world. At times I felt like it was a little too long if I'm being perfectly honest. The first half of this book was much slower paced for me. It builds the backstory of how these characters met and the hugely antagonistic sort of friendship that they develop. Lou is an orphan that has prefers life on the street over putting down her walls around her heart that would allow it to be broken again. A chance encounter introduces her to a gangster with a heart of gold. Lou is anything but accepting of Wren's choice to stay in Exiled. She also doesn't agree with his desire to deny the chemistry between them and stay away from her because he's not good enough for her.
There's about two years of backstory here and there's quite a lot that's packed into it. And while I struggled a little with the first half of this book, I flew through the second half. There's so much that gets unraveled here that it left my head reeling. Secrets get unearthed, and plot twist after plot twist keep you utterly riveted to the pages.
I loved Lou and Wren together. I love that Lou doesn't back down from him and she's not afraid to give as hard as she gets. Sure she can be a little immature with what she does at times, but she's also fiercely protective of him, even if it's from himself. I loved her fierce strength and unyielding love for her friend. I loved her broken heart and shattered pieces. Wren was EVERYTHING. This is a man that's caught between a rock and a hard places and forced to make decisions that still haunt him. There's just something so endearingly broken about him that you can't help but love.
This installment was so much more than just a romance. So much happens in this book that I'm practically frothing at the mouth to get my hands on the next one. And if I don't get my hands on Jamie's story next, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be crying in a corner somewhere clutching a bottle of wine. True story.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
I feel like I've been waiting forever for this story, and holy plot twist, batman! This was so much different than I had expected!
Firstly, this is NOT meant to be read as a standalone. You need to read The Peer and the Puppet to get a lot of the nuances of this continuing story arc. Ever since the end of Peer and the Puppet, I've been salivating for Lou and Wren's book. And while the timelines of the two books cross over eventually, The Moth and The Flame begins earlier than the events at the end of PATP.
This is a much more character driven story than the first book. Lou and Wren have anything but a conventional friendship and it takes quite a few pages for the reader to be ingrained into their world. At times I felt like it was a little too long if I'm being perfectly honest. The first half of this book was much slower paced for me. It builds the backstory of how these characters met and the hugely antagonistic sort of friendship that they develop. Lou is an orphan that has prefers life on the street over putting down her walls around her heart that would allow it to be broken again. A chance encounter introduces her to a gangster with a heart of gold. Lou is anything but accepting of Wren's choice to stay in Exiled. She also doesn't agree with his desire to deny the chemistry between them and stay away from her because he's not good enough for her.
There's about two years of backstory here and there's quite a lot that's packed into it. And while I struggled a little with the first half of this book, I flew through the second half. There's so much that gets unraveled here that it left my head reeling. Secrets get unearthed, and plot twist after plot twist keep you utterly riveted to the pages.
I loved Lou and Wren together. I love that Lou doesn't back down from him and she's not afraid to give as hard as she gets. Sure she can be a little immature with what she does at times, but she's also fiercely protective of him, even if it's from himself. I loved her fierce strength and unyielding love for her friend. I loved her broken heart and shattered pieces. Wren was EVERYTHING. This is a man that's caught between a rock and a hard places and forced to make decisions that still haunt him. There's just something so endearingly broken about him that you can't help but love.
This installment was so much more than just a romance. So much happens in this book that I'm practically frothing at the mouth to get my hands on the next one. And if I don't get my hands on Jamie's story next, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be crying in a corner somewhere clutching a bottle of wine. True story.
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
March 10, 2023
Re-read 1/28/20 as audiobook and WOW. Muffy Newtown and Teddy Hamilton were AMAZING. Absolutely the perfect Lou and Wren. 🔥 **sighs dreamily**
Original:
This was my absolute favorite read of 2019! While this was the author’s first foray into friends to lovers, she is ready to teach a class. The angst and sensual tension she built up is amazing. Wren and Louchana were tailor made for one another. As individuals, I loved them. Together, their chemistry was off the charts. They had depth and were unique even when it worked against their interests.
”My best friend might be a big, bad gangster, but I had him wrapped around my finger. Now if only I could get him wrapped around the rest of me.”
The over arching plot took over where The Peer and the Puppet left off. It was interesting to gain understanding on how the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together. I’ve been on the hook since book one, but book two really proved that Ms. Reid’s talent knows no bounds. The secondary characters added value to the story by either generating conflict, bringing out character traits in our main characters, or moving the plot along. It was so awesome to catch up with the crew.
”We weren’t building a friendship...We were falling. Falling so deep we can never climb back up.”
To say that I eagerly await the next book is an understatement. Ms. Reid has become one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next.
”Tell me you love me because I know you do.”
Complimentary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
Original:
This was my absolute favorite read of 2019! While this was the author’s first foray into friends to lovers, she is ready to teach a class. The angst and sensual tension she built up is amazing. Wren and Louchana were tailor made for one another. As individuals, I loved them. Together, their chemistry was off the charts. They had depth and were unique even when it worked against their interests.
”My best friend might be a big, bad gangster, but I had him wrapped around my finger. Now if only I could get him wrapped around the rest of me.”
The over arching plot took over where The Peer and the Puppet left off. It was interesting to gain understanding on how the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together. I’ve been on the hook since book one, but book two really proved that Ms. Reid’s talent knows no bounds. The secondary characters added value to the story by either generating conflict, bringing out character traits in our main characters, or moving the plot along. It was so awesome to catch up with the crew.
”We weren’t building a friendship...We were falling. Falling so deep we can never climb back up.”
To say that I eagerly await the next book is an understatement. Ms. Reid has become one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next.
”Tell me you love me because I know you do.”
Complimentary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
June 4, 2019
The Angst is real! Wow. BB Reid wrote an amazing best friends to lovers, slow burn story.
Lou and Wren are both broken people coming from difficult backgrounds and need love. They find loyalty and a deep friendship in each other. The story begins when Lou is 15 and Wren is 17 and spans three years. You can see the growth of Lou throughout the story and her trying to allow love in although she was abandoned and in foster homes. Wren is dealing with his situation in his gang and his loss of family.
I loved that their relationship is based on friendship and how they always look out for each other.
"Sometimes I forgot that letting me take care of you meant you'd be taking care of me, too." BB Reid
Gang issues, family and secrets test their relationship. Will their love survive?
"He finally let go, letting me see how desperately he needed me, how much he craved me, and how broken he'd be if i ever walked away.
Never."
BB Reid
Characters from Peer and Puppet do appear and a fantastic part of the story so definitely read it first.
More fun on my Bookstagram!
https://www.instagram.com/bluvsbooks/
Lou and Wren are both broken people coming from difficult backgrounds and need love. They find loyalty and a deep friendship in each other. The story begins when Lou is 15 and Wren is 17 and spans three years. You can see the growth of Lou throughout the story and her trying to allow love in although she was abandoned and in foster homes. Wren is dealing with his situation in his gang and his loss of family.
I loved that their relationship is based on friendship and how they always look out for each other.
"Sometimes I forgot that letting me take care of you meant you'd be taking care of me, too." BB Reid
Gang issues, family and secrets test their relationship. Will their love survive?
"He finally let go, letting me see how desperately he needed me, how much he craved me, and how broken he'd be if i ever walked away.
Never."
BB Reid
Characters from Peer and Puppet do appear and a fantastic part of the story so definitely read it first.
More fun on my Bookstagram!
https://www.instagram.com/bluvsbooks/
April 26, 2021
Where do I even begin? B.B. has gone and blown my freaking mind AGAIN, and really? How am I surprised, I knew going into this book that it was going to push boundaries, it was going to blow my mind, and it was gonna gut punch me and shatter my heart, and it did just that and more... I am not a massive fan for slow burn reads, but when it comes to B.B's books, I make an exception, the reason being that her writing is just phenomenal, it is addictive and it consumes me from the first chapter all the way to the last and once you hit that peak? That ignite is the best damn thing ever.
The Moth and the Flame is book two of When Rivals Play series, and it is a continuation of Book 1, The Puppet and The Peer. It's a friends-to-lovers, slow burn, YA romance that is filled and jammed pack with angst.
SO. MUCH. ANGST.
I am not a massive fan of YA, but over the last few months, I have found myself drawn to a fair few and surprisingly enough, I really REALLY enjoying them. I think what I love most about this series and this book, and the couple that is featured is that the author writes plots and scenes that are very much relatable to, I think that's one of the biggest reason why I come back to her work, that and the fact that she is a pure genius and her words captivate me and consume me belong belief.
In book two we have Lou and Wren, two best friends that are destined to be together. While we got a glimpse into their friendship in book 1, book 2 is all about them and their slow-burning, intense and captivating journey to friends-to-lover.
Lou was different, yet she was someone I could relate to. She has struggled in her life, more than the average person, which has pushed her to grow up a lot faster, but at the same time she has a side of her that can come across as immature, childish at times but in my opinion I believe THAT part of her showed her age, and it was amazing to read... Some YA reads I've noticed that a lot of the time the characters are too grown up or acting it anyway..., they are not relatable and it's kind of what turns me off the genre, but every so often an author just as B.B. Reid will grace us with the perfect balance in the characters and throughout the book, you saw her grow, you saw her age and maturity grow and the author created a warrior, a fierce, independent and strong young woman, a character you can't help but love and cheer for.
Wren... Well firstly, I am completely and utterly consumed by this boy... He is literally every teen girl fantasy, okay maybe that's a lie. but he sure as hell was mine, and kind of still is apparently. He's hard as stone, well that's what we are made to believe, he's dominant, he's ruthless, a gangster type. He does some pretty questionable things throughout the book. Things that had my eyebrow up and me shaking my head... But smirking at the same time and though these things were somewhat criminal and questionable, he had a heart.. A heart so full, a heart of gold, and that made me fall for this boy even more, and though he has a heart of gold, he struggles with it, he struggles with the bad he has to do because deep down his soul is good. There was certainly more than met the eye with this character, and I was completely addicted to finding each and every detail about him.
Wren and Lou together? Well DAMN... TALK ABOUT ANGST... The push and pull with these two was almost unbearable. ALMOST. Just when I was losing my mind. These two had my heart doing little flips. From the beginning, I knew they belonged together, they were meant for each other, and it is made obvious... But the author wasn't and did not give us that straight away. Oh no,... she built it up, built the plot and the characters and just when I thought I was about to go bat-s**t crazy, she delivered a twist and a romance that took my breath away, it left me clutching my kindle and my jaw popped open. It was intense, it was all-consuming and it was frustrating all in one hit because just as I hit the highest of highs in this book, the relationship, and the slow burn, the author throws a curveball and has me almost screaming and trying to figure out if these two will actually stay together.
This book was one hell of a ride and all that building up was worth it. Watching these two characters grow as the book progressed was a crazy and tortuous ride but in all the good ways possible. SO SO SO worth the slow-burning wait. This author is like no other, her passion for writing is noticeable with each and every detail she writes in her books, and this one was the exact same. She truly never disappoints and has become a fast favorite of mine.
6 stars! 5 isn't enough!
The Moth and the Flame is book two of When Rivals Play series, and it is a continuation of Book 1, The Puppet and The Peer. It's a friends-to-lovers, slow burn, YA romance that is filled and jammed pack with angst.
SO. MUCH. ANGST.
I am not a massive fan of YA, but over the last few months, I have found myself drawn to a fair few and surprisingly enough, I really REALLY enjoying them. I think what I love most about this series and this book, and the couple that is featured is that the author writes plots and scenes that are very much relatable to, I think that's one of the biggest reason why I come back to her work, that and the fact that she is a pure genius and her words captivate me and consume me belong belief.
In book two we have Lou and Wren, two best friends that are destined to be together. While we got a glimpse into their friendship in book 1, book 2 is all about them and their slow-burning, intense and captivating journey to friends-to-lover.
Lou was different, yet she was someone I could relate to. She has struggled in her life, more than the average person, which has pushed her to grow up a lot faster, but at the same time she has a side of her that can come across as immature, childish at times but in my opinion I believe THAT part of her showed her age, and it was amazing to read... Some YA reads I've noticed that a lot of the time the characters are too grown up or acting it anyway..., they are not relatable and it's kind of what turns me off the genre, but every so often an author just as B.B. Reid will grace us with the perfect balance in the characters and throughout the book, you saw her grow, you saw her age and maturity grow and the author created a warrior, a fierce, independent and strong young woman, a character you can't help but love and cheer for.
Wren... Well firstly, I am completely and utterly consumed by this boy... He is literally every teen girl fantasy, okay maybe that's a lie. but he sure as hell was mine, and kind of still is apparently. He's hard as stone, well that's what we are made to believe, he's dominant, he's ruthless, a gangster type. He does some pretty questionable things throughout the book. Things that had my eyebrow up and me shaking my head... But smirking at the same time and though these things were somewhat criminal and questionable, he had a heart.. A heart so full, a heart of gold, and that made me fall for this boy even more, and though he has a heart of gold, he struggles with it, he struggles with the bad he has to do because deep down his soul is good. There was certainly more than met the eye with this character, and I was completely addicted to finding each and every detail about him.
Wren and Lou together? Well DAMN... TALK ABOUT ANGST... The push and pull with these two was almost unbearable. ALMOST. Just when I was losing my mind. These two had my heart doing little flips. From the beginning, I knew they belonged together, they were meant for each other, and it is made obvious... But the author wasn't and did not give us that straight away. Oh no,... she built it up, built the plot and the characters and just when I thought I was about to go bat-s**t crazy, she delivered a twist and a romance that took my breath away, it left me clutching my kindle and my jaw popped open. It was intense, it was all-consuming and it was frustrating all in one hit because just as I hit the highest of highs in this book, the relationship, and the slow burn, the author throws a curveball and has me almost screaming and trying to figure out if these two will actually stay together.
This book was one hell of a ride and all that building up was worth it. Watching these two characters grow as the book progressed was a crazy and tortuous ride but in all the good ways possible. SO SO SO worth the slow-burning wait. This author is like no other, her passion for writing is noticeable with each and every detail she writes in her books, and this one was the exact same. She truly never disappoints and has become a fast favorite of mine.
6 stars! 5 isn't enough!
October 4, 2025
Rating: 4
⭐️
When best friends to lovers is done the right way!
While this trope isn’t my favorite, it can be done quite beautifully. In this story? It was the best thing I've read. I completely devored it.
The Moth and The Flame is the story of Louchana ‘Lou’ Valentine [17-18 years old] and Wren Harlan [19-20 years old], who met two years ago during a snowstorm. Lou, being an orphan after her parents abandoned her, had a difficult upbringing. On the other hand, Wren is a member of the Exiled gang.
Despite their differences, their meeting changed everything for both of them. Lou fell in love with Wren, although she knew she’s way too young for Wren.
Louchana was such an entertaining character to read about. She’s funny, and quite fierce. In this relationship, she’s the main pursuer – she’s very possessive of her best friend, and she won’t accept sharing his attention with anyone. Usually, I prefer when it’s the man the main pursuer. I want my men obsessed and certain about the girl they love. In that case, Lou fitted that role. Was she too desperate at some point? Sadly, yes. But I admired her determination, though. Was she too reckless? Absolutely. At least, she was anything but boring!
Wren was possibly the most stubborn man I’ve read about, though. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like him – of course, I did. Who wouldn’t like a man who would do anything to protect his best friend?
[All of that said on the first chapter, by the way.]
For reasons I won’t reveal, Wren cannot let himself be involved romantically and physically with Lou. And his whole speech about how the two of them would never happen [the biggest lie he ever said] lasted for a long time.
Lou and Wren’s love story was a slow-burn; the first time they had sex happened at the 60% mark. That didn’t bother me much, even though I didn’t really appreciate the circumstances of that. I wanted more passion, I believe. And more tenderness coming from Wren. Alas, beggars can’t be choosers!
Frustration aside, I loved how both of them cared in their own way. Lou could be seen as a selfish girl, while Wren as a cold boy. However, they were literally each other’s home. They couldn’t let the other go, thus creating a kind of codependency every people around them acknowledged.
[Wren did have a way with words when it came to Lou...]
There’s also some plot going on in the book, involving gang wars, and family secrets. It was entertaining enough, and let’s say that once again, Lou and Wren were the perfect ride or die couple!
The book was surprisingly safe! I couldn’t believe my eyes, actually. Best friends to lovers is the perfect trope to include other woman drama. However, the book didn’t have too many. Just one scene.
A year ago, Wren made Lou believe he had sex with her neighbor. It was mostly done in the hope Lou would realize that nothing could happen between them. The whole scene made my eye twitch. I couldn’t help but think that if Lou didn’t throw the biggest tantrum ever, Wren would have done it. Reading his thoughts about that event appeased my worries, thankfully. As Wren so eloquently said, there could never be hope for any other girl. Isn’t that lovely?
So yeah, despite some of the shit Wren said to Lou, his point of view indirectly confirmed that Wren hadn’t been with other women after meeting Lou. There’s no explicit confirmation of that. All we knew is that, after what happened with Lou’s neighbor, Wren was indeed celibate.
Overall, I had an amazing time reading The Moth and The Flame. Lou and Wren were a couple that I enjoyed very much.
When best friends to lovers is done the right way!
While this trope isn’t my favorite, it can be done quite beautifully. In this story? It was the best thing I've read. I completely devored it.
“I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
The Moth and The Flame is the story of Louchana ‘Lou’ Valentine [17-18 years old] and Wren Harlan [19-20 years old], who met two years ago during a snowstorm. Lou, being an orphan after her parents abandoned her, had a difficult upbringing. On the other hand, Wren is a member of the Exiled gang.
Despite their differences, their meeting changed everything for both of them. Lou fell in love with Wren, although she knew she’s way too young for Wren.
Louchana was such an entertaining character to read about. She’s funny, and quite fierce. In this relationship, she’s the main pursuer – she’s very possessive of her best friend, and she won’t accept sharing his attention with anyone. Usually, I prefer when it’s the man the main pursuer. I want my men obsessed and certain about the girl they love. In that case, Lou fitted that role. Was she too desperate at some point? Sadly, yes. But I admired her determination, though. Was she too reckless? Absolutely. At least, she was anything but boring!
Wren was possibly the most stubborn man I’ve read about, though. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like him – of course, I did. Who wouldn’t like a man who would do anything to protect his best friend?
“Maybe, if it was the right thing to do, but you’d not only kill for her— you’d die for her and wouldn’t think twice about it.”
"I wouldn’t take life and forfeit my soul. Not without exhausting all options. Not for Fox and not for the men I called my brothers. But for Lou? I’d gladly leave it wrapped with a shiny red bow at hell’s door."
[All of that said on the first chapter, by the way.]
For reasons I won’t reveal, Wren cannot let himself be involved romantically and physically with Lou. And his whole speech about how the two of them would never happen [the biggest lie he ever said] lasted for a long time.
Lou and Wren’s love story was a slow-burn; the first time they had sex happened at the 60% mark. That didn’t bother me much, even though I didn’t really appreciate the circumstances of that. I wanted more passion, I believe. And more tenderness coming from Wren. Alas, beggars can’t be choosers!
Frustration aside, I loved how both of them cared in their own way. Lou could be seen as a selfish girl, while Wren as a cold boy. However, they were literally each other’s home. They couldn’t let the other go, thus creating a kind of codependency every people around them acknowledged.
"We were connected to the very last stitch. Letting Lou go would be like severing a limb. She belonged with me."
[Wren did have a way with words when it came to Lou...]
There’s also some plot going on in the book, involving gang wars, and family secrets. It was entertaining enough, and let’s say that once again, Lou and Wren were the perfect ride or die couple!
"Lou was my onus. My light. The very last tether to my soul. I couldn’t risk losing her. It was out of the question. She meant so much more to me than a hot, dirty fuck. I needed her, more than she needed me. I’d been echoing that fact so much lately that it was becoming my mantra. The reminder I needed to keep my hands to myself."
“You give me one taste, and I’m an addict. You allow me one touch, and I’m yours. You’re very cruel, Louchana Valentine.”
The book was surprisingly safe! I couldn’t believe my eyes, actually. Best friends to lovers is the perfect trope to include other woman drama. However, the book didn’t have too many. Just one scene.
A year ago, Wren made Lou believe he had sex with her neighbor. It was mostly done in the hope Lou would realize that nothing could happen between them. The whole scene made my eye twitch. I couldn’t help but think that if Lou didn’t throw the biggest tantrum ever, Wren would have done it. Reading his thoughts about that event appeased my worries, thankfully. As Wren so eloquently said, there could never be hope for any other girl. Isn’t that lovely?
So yeah, despite some of the shit Wren said to Lou, his point of view indirectly confirmed that Wren hadn’t been with other women after meeting Lou. There’s no explicit confirmation of that. All we knew is that, after what happened with Lou’s neighbor, Wren was indeed celibate.
"I shouldn’t have left her that day. I should have got on my knees and stayed there until she forgave me— morning, noon, and night. I never expected that losing her heart would hurt a hell of a lot more than losing her friendship."
Overall, I had an amazing time reading The Moth and The Flame. Lou and Wren were a couple that I enjoyed very much.
"Before she could protest or ask a million fucking questions, I sealed my lips to hers. It might be the last time I’d ever get to kiss her. With an impending sense of doom, I deepened the kiss, drawing all I dared take from her while giving her everything I had left to give— my heart, my soul, and my life if she asked for it. I’d slit my wrists right here and now so that she could see how I bled for her. How much I wanted to carry her pain for her."
She lifted her head, her mouth opening and closing until she finally said, “I— I just want to be friends, Wren.”
“No, Lou. You don’t.” I kissed her again, and it felt like my heart was in her fist when she greedily sank into it. This time, I was the one to pull away although it felt like chewing off my limb. “But I’ll wait.” “Forever?” she challenged, her tone skeptical.
“However long you need me to,” I confirmed as I backed away. “I’m yours, Lou. I’ll always be yours.”
June 9, 2020
***4,5 "What's mine is mine forever!!!" stars***
“I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
B.B. Reid knows very well how to write beautifully perplexed and intriguing stories!!! And this series has that intriguing air surrending it!!!
She is marrying new adult with mystery and gang life very well!!!
I enjoyed the first book very much, but this one was even better!!!! And the way that the characters from both books are connecting is blow minding!!!!
"Maybe it wasn't just a coincidence that we met in the first place."
"What else could it be?"
"A cruel twist of fate."
To be totally honest with you, i didn't like it a bit when i found out that the second book was about Wren and an unknown girl!!!!
Why the hell??? I was wondering!!! I need Jamie and Vaughn's stories!!!!
Why i have to read for someone that i don't care????
Well, now, i can tell you that i love Wren and his pain in the ass, Lou and they were fitting really smoothly and good in the story!!!!
“That’s the basis of human nature, kid. We crave the things we can’t have. Knowing we shouldn’t just makes our desires that much more enticing.”
Wren was a member of Exiled, a gang that Ever had joined in the previous book as well... Wren's life is dark and hopeless... He is bad and that is by choice... And then, one stormy night, Louchana is tumbling in his way and everything are changing for him...
Lou is an orphaned who is in the system... She likes to pickpocketing from strangers and she enjoys runaway from home at every chance she gets...
One day, she is meeting Wren Harlan and he is becoming her home, her best friend, her... everything...
"She was the magic filling me with light, and I was hopelessly bound to her flame."
"There was nothing angelic about Wren Harlan. He was too powerful. Too fierce. Too potent. He could have been my white knight, but his armor didn't shine, It was shrouded in darkness, and it was only a matter of time before it swallowed him whole..."
Their story started one very cold night more than two years before and from that moment, they are best friends... Or not???
They are loving each other very much, but they are bumping heads all the damn time and the reason for that, even though they don't acknowledge it, is their mutual attraction for each other...
Unfortunately, they have put a lebel in their relationship and it's impossible accepting to be something else than friends with the danger of ruining what they already have!!!!
“Lou was my Onus. My light. The very last tether to my soul. I couldn't risk losing her. It was out of the question. She meant so much to me than a hot, dirty fuck. I needed her, more than she needed me.”
“Something invisible, unbreakable, and incurable had a hold on us, drawing us in like moths to a single flame. Could we one day break free of it, or would it choose to break us instead?”
The truth is that Lou was provoking Wren all the time and she was trying really hard to seduce him...
Wren was dying a slow death by blue balls because of her, but he couldn't risk to become something more for her... He had his reasons for that and he was trying so hard to stay unaffected by her charms...
The truth is that they were so funny and good together and the slow burn between them was driving me crazy...
So what will happen with those two??? Is there a chance for them to be together, especially when there are so many shits happening around them affecting them???
"I've done some bad shit, and if you knew, you wouldn't forgive me. So now I have to pay the price, Lou, and my penance is never to have you."
"I was prepared to risk my heart, my sanity, and my future for this. For him."
Well, i loved both Wren and Lou...
Wren's devotion toward her was sooo... amazing!!! Lou was the only bright spot in his life and he couldn't jeopartize it!!!! Wren could do anything for her and i don't know how really good was doing that to her!!!!
Lou from the other hand was still very young and she was acting like one!!!! She didn't care about the consequences of her actions and she was often very reckless... She could do anything to get Wren's attention... or to protect him!!!
Those two were acting like a couple, long before they became one... They belong together. Period.
"I love you. That means that I don't want any of you if it's not all of you. The good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful..."
Now, how the rest of the crew is connecting with them???
Well, i can't really say, but they are growing closer with this couple and i liked it!!!!
And now, I'm dying for my crazy Jamie and his Barbie's turn!!!
I'm also very curious for some things that had happened in here!!!
Please, B.B. don't take your sweet time for the next book!!! I might die waiting!!! LOL!!!
"Falling is easy... Sometines it's even painless. It's getting up and walking away that cripples us."
“I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
B.B. Reid knows very well how to write beautifully perplexed and intriguing stories!!! And this series has that intriguing air surrending it!!!
She is marrying new adult with mystery and gang life very well!!!
I enjoyed the first book very much, but this one was even better!!!! And the way that the characters from both books are connecting is blow minding!!!!
"Maybe it wasn't just a coincidence that we met in the first place."
"What else could it be?"
"A cruel twist of fate."
To be totally honest with you, i didn't like it a bit when i found out that the second book was about Wren and an unknown girl!!!!
Why the hell??? I was wondering!!! I need Jamie and Vaughn's stories!!!!
Why i have to read for someone that i don't care????
Well, now, i can tell you that i love Wren and his pain in the ass, Lou and they were fitting really smoothly and good in the story!!!!
“That’s the basis of human nature, kid. We crave the things we can’t have. Knowing we shouldn’t just makes our desires that much more enticing.”
Wren was a member of Exiled, a gang that Ever had joined in the previous book as well... Wren's life is dark and hopeless... He is bad and that is by choice... And then, one stormy night, Louchana is tumbling in his way and everything are changing for him...
Lou is an orphaned who is in the system... She likes to pickpocketing from strangers and she enjoys runaway from home at every chance she gets...
One day, she is meeting Wren Harlan and he is becoming her home, her best friend, her... everything...
"She was the magic filling me with light, and I was hopelessly bound to her flame."
"There was nothing angelic about Wren Harlan. He was too powerful. Too fierce. Too potent. He could have been my white knight, but his armor didn't shine, It was shrouded in darkness, and it was only a matter of time before it swallowed him whole..."
Their story started one very cold night more than two years before and from that moment, they are best friends... Or not???
They are loving each other very much, but they are bumping heads all the damn time and the reason for that, even though they don't acknowledge it, is their mutual attraction for each other...
Unfortunately, they have put a lebel in their relationship and it's impossible accepting to be something else than friends with the danger of ruining what they already have!!!!
“Lou was my Onus. My light. The very last tether to my soul. I couldn't risk losing her. It was out of the question. She meant so much to me than a hot, dirty fuck. I needed her, more than she needed me.”
“Something invisible, unbreakable, and incurable had a hold on us, drawing us in like moths to a single flame. Could we one day break free of it, or would it choose to break us instead?”
The truth is that Lou was provoking Wren all the time and she was trying really hard to seduce him...
Wren was dying a slow death by blue balls because of her, but he couldn't risk to become something more for her... He had his reasons for that and he was trying so hard to stay unaffected by her charms...
The truth is that they were so funny and good together and the slow burn between them was driving me crazy...
So what will happen with those two??? Is there a chance for them to be together, especially when there are so many shits happening around them affecting them???
"I've done some bad shit, and if you knew, you wouldn't forgive me. So now I have to pay the price, Lou, and my penance is never to have you."
"I was prepared to risk my heart, my sanity, and my future for this. For him."
Well, i loved both Wren and Lou...
Wren's devotion toward her was sooo... amazing!!! Lou was the only bright spot in his life and he couldn't jeopartize it!!!! Wren could do anything for her and i don't know how really good was doing that to her!!!!
Lou from the other hand was still very young and she was acting like one!!!! She didn't care about the consequences of her actions and she was often very reckless... She could do anything to get Wren's attention... or to protect him!!!
Those two were acting like a couple, long before they became one... They belong together. Period.
"I love you. That means that I don't want any of you if it's not all of you. The good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful..."
Now, how the rest of the crew is connecting with them???
Well, i can't really say, but they are growing closer with this couple and i liked it!!!!
And now, I'm dying for my crazy Jamie and his Barbie's turn!!!
I'm also very curious for some things that had happened in here!!!
Please, B.B. don't take your sweet time for the next book!!! I might die waiting!!! LOL!!!
"Falling is easy... Sometines it's even painless. It's getting up and walking away that cripples us."
August 12, 2019
4 STARS
"Maybe it wasn't just a coincidence that we met in the first place."
"What else could it be?"
"A cruel twist of fate."
This wasn't at all what I expected yet it was so good!The dynamics between Wren and Lou was one of the best things in this story!I adored them and they were simply so addictive!
“I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
The slow burn, push and pull between these two drive me crazy in a good way!They were full of sexual tension and intensity!
It was a great read and I cannot wait to see what B.B Reid has for us next!!
"Maybe it wasn't just a coincidence that we met in the first place."
"What else could it be?"
"A cruel twist of fate."
This wasn't at all what I expected yet it was so good!The dynamics between Wren and Lou was one of the best things in this story!I adored them and they were simply so addictive!
“I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
The slow burn, push and pull between these two drive me crazy in a good way!They were full of sexual tension and intensity!
It was a great read and I cannot wait to see what B.B Reid has for us next!!
June 22, 2019
“Lou was playing with fire, and it was only a matter of time before it engulfed us both.”
The Moth and the Flame was a highly anticipated read for me and B.B Reid killed it.
“When it comes to you, Louchana, I can’t be reasoned with. You make me lose control.”
The dynamics between Wren and Lou had me squirming in my seat, shouting at Wren because he was so frustrating but at the same time I understand why he did what he did. He needed Lou, his whole life is Lou and he doesn’t want anything to mess that up. The complete adoration he has for her, whilst at the same time feeling this need to protect her just made me heart so full. That being said though, every time Wren broke Lou’s heart, I felt mine shattering along with hers.
“I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
Both the hero and heroine have a lot of issues, relatable issues that make the story that more enjoyable. The angst is delivered perfectly, making you feel every single interaction being Wren and Lou.
“Lou was my Onus. My light. The very last tether to my soul.”
The slow burn, push and pull between Wren and Lou was perfect and B.B Reid has just slayed this slow burn, friends to lovers story. I will say the slow burn was slowly killing me off and every time I thought we were going to get what we wanted and it didn’t happen, I almost cried. BUT when it did finally happen, the steam just rolled off the pages making me appreciate it that much more.
I loved that you got to see the characters from the Peer and the Puppet, which is one of my favourite books. All of the twists and turns with the Exiled keep you hooked, making you want to carry on reading to see if you are going to get your questions answered, and I must say very cleverly played Ms Reid. I need the next book now, please and thank you!
Hearts will be broken, secrets will be revealed. Are you ready for The Moth and the Flame?
The Moth and the Flame was a highly anticipated read for me and B.B Reid killed it.
“When it comes to you, Louchana, I can’t be reasoned with. You make me lose control.”
The dynamics between Wren and Lou had me squirming in my seat, shouting at Wren because he was so frustrating but at the same time I understand why he did what he did. He needed Lou, his whole life is Lou and he doesn’t want anything to mess that up. The complete adoration he has for her, whilst at the same time feeling this need to protect her just made me heart so full. That being said though, every time Wren broke Lou’s heart, I felt mine shattering along with hers.
“I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
Both the hero and heroine have a lot of issues, relatable issues that make the story that more enjoyable. The angst is delivered perfectly, making you feel every single interaction being Wren and Lou.
“Lou was my Onus. My light. The very last tether to my soul.”
The slow burn, push and pull between Wren and Lou was perfect and B.B Reid has just slayed this slow burn, friends to lovers story. I will say the slow burn was slowly killing me off and every time I thought we were going to get what we wanted and it didn’t happen, I almost cried. BUT when it did finally happen, the steam just rolled off the pages making me appreciate it that much more.
I loved that you got to see the characters from the Peer and the Puppet, which is one of my favourite books. All of the twists and turns with the Exiled keep you hooked, making you want to carry on reading to see if you are going to get your questions answered, and I must say very cleverly played Ms Reid. I need the next book now, please and thank you!
Hearts will be broken, secrets will be revealed. Are you ready for The Moth and the Flame?
May 6, 2020
The Moth and The Flame was amazing as I thought. But the necessary thrill left when the hero and heroine kept pushing each other up to more than the 50% of the lengthy book. There was long extended sexual tension that was getting frustating and irritating. The plot was explosive and had a great mystery which comes out of blue. The writing and story play was incredible. This is a besfriends, dangerous themed, teen/adult romance.
When Lou and Wren first meet they form a friendship, Lou was then 15 years and Wren 17 years but there was attraction from the beginning. Now two years later Lou (17+) and Wren (20) still bound as friends put their feelings upfront then hide it. This pace (the first part) of the story is slow and this is where I complain of their slow developing romance. But once they give into their attraction (the last part) the story picks up and the actions and motives makes us feel we have woken up from hibernation. Lou is an orphan who prefers to stay on streets and keep her heart guarded when a chance encounter of an Exiled member, Wren chance a different way to her heart.
The Moth and The Flame has a little crossover with The Peer and the Puppet. The events in this book starts earlier than The Peer and The Puppet. It's better to read the series in order.
When Lou and Wren first meet they form a friendship, Lou was then 15 years and Wren 17 years but there was attraction from the beginning. Now two years later Lou (17+) and Wren (20) still bound as friends put their feelings upfront then hide it. This pace (the first part) of the story is slow and this is where I complain of their slow developing romance. But once they give into their attraction (the last part) the story picks up and the actions and motives makes us feel we have woken up from hibernation. Lou is an orphan who prefers to stay on streets and keep her heart guarded when a chance encounter of an Exiled member, Wren chance a different way to her heart.
The Moth and The Flame has a little crossover with The Peer and the Puppet. The events in this book starts earlier than The Peer and The Puppet. It's better to read the series in order.
June 28, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It was funny and filled with humor. I laughed so many times while reading it.Both protagonists are attracted to each other, their chemistry is undeniable. However, the problem starts when I finished almost half of the book and there wasn't any development. The hero did something and thinks the Heroine deserves better. They are best friend and he don't want to ruin what they have. The whole repetition annoyed me.
Also when it was revealed that the male protagonists knew the female protagonists parents were killed. He couldn't tell her, it just didn't gave effect I thought it would. The Heroine knew that hero was in a gang. He did bad stuff, I understand he should have told her but it doesn't change anything.
Overall it was a cute book, but the plot is a bit boring.
Also when it was revealed that the male protagonists knew the female protagonists parents were killed. He couldn't tell her, it just didn't gave effect I thought it would. The Heroine knew that hero was in a gang. He did bad stuff, I understand he should have told her but it doesn't change anything.
Overall it was a cute book, but the plot is a bit boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2019
"I'm the moth to your flame, Lou. I'd rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you."
This series is pure gold, telling you. The tension had me gripping my kindle, paired with the action, the unraveling of old secrets, the push/pull...it had everything to keep me reading well into the night, unable to function until I inhaled the entire thing. Lou and Wren were entertaining as all get out, her snark, his quiet power, their fall, their denial, it had me frustrated as all get out, but oh the end result? Nothing short of me sitting here grinning like a complete idiot and wanting more, more, more of Blackwood Keep. I'm mesmerized by this group of characters and am completely salivating for more. Each couple unique, addictive, and their stories completely un-put-down-able!! I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!!
"She was the magic filling me with light, and I was hopelessly bound to her flame."
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
This series is pure gold, telling you. The tension had me gripping my kindle, paired with the action, the unraveling of old secrets, the push/pull...it had everything to keep me reading well into the night, unable to function until I inhaled the entire thing. Lou and Wren were entertaining as all get out, her snark, his quiet power, their fall, their denial, it had me frustrated as all get out, but oh the end result? Nothing short of me sitting here grinning like a complete idiot and wanting more, more, more of Blackwood Keep. I'm mesmerized by this group of characters and am completely salivating for more. Each couple unique, addictive, and their stories completely un-put-down-able!! I thank the Author for providing a copy to review!!
"She was the magic filling me with light, and I was hopelessly bound to her flame."
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
January 6, 2020
This is a long ass book....
* repetitive
* nothing really happens
* don't care for the hero or heroine one bit
* repetitive
* nothing really happens
* don't care for the hero or heroine one bit
September 12, 2019
I’ve never read a story that has had me so on-edge! Wren and Louchana’s story is the best friends-to-lovers trope I have ever read! This is the second book in the When Rivals Play series and by far the most climactic read of the year!
The build up of this story is INTENSE. I mean walking on eggshells intense! Wren’s despondency on life and the secrets he keeps from Lou make him hesitant of ever wanting more. His desperation to be close to Lou while keeping her at arms length makes them act erratic towards one another, but make no mistake, these two are just BEST FRIENDS!
Get your hands on this book, you won’t be let down!
*** ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR
The build up of this story is INTENSE. I mean walking on eggshells intense! Wren’s despondency on life and the secrets he keeps from Lou make him hesitant of ever wanting more. His desperation to be close to Lou while keeping her at arms length makes them act erratic towards one another, but make no mistake, these two are just BEST FRIENDS!
Get your hands on this book, you won’t be let down!
*** ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR
May 26, 2019
I’m officially OBSESSED with B.B. Reid’s When Rivals Play series! The Moth and the Flame was so goddamn intense and all-consuming, I feel like I just run a full marathon and held my breath the entire time I was in these characters’ world. Being back in Blackwood Keep, especially after reading The Peer and the Puppet, was almost surreal. It was both like coming home and stepping through a portal at the same time because I was definitely still yearning to see more of Four and Ever.
I’ve read my fair share of friends to lovers romances, but B.B. Reid sure delivered a novel that was so much more than that. Because TMATF? It’s something more powerful and heart-pounding than any other recent new adult romance I’ve read that by the end, I ultimately just wanted to wrap Wren and Lou up in my arms and never let them go. It’s crazy. It’s angsty. It’s downright freaking addicting.
To me, Wren Harlan and Louchana Valentine’s story was pure brilliance. It was packed to the brim with the kind of suspense and action and romance that would have you gripping sheets or biting your nails raw. But what I adored the most about this book was that these two started as friends—two strangers who only grew closer, more protective and possessive of the other, and developed way deeper emotions for one another over time. They had the kind of friendship that wasn’t just fierce and badass, but it was also something quite unique and special… something that was truly theirs.
The Moth and the Flame may be considered as a standalone, but I highly suggest that you first read The Peer and the Puppet. Aside from getting a slew of spoilers because of the way the stories are so intertwined with each other, reading TPATP will truly give you that insight as to who the other characters are and what roles they play in Wren’s life. Plus, you won’t get lost in the timeline of the whole series if you read the books in order either. And seriously, Four and Ever’s tale is something you wouldn’t want to miss anyway. So just start there.
Now I’m absolutely more than ready for Jamie and Barbie’s book, The Punk and the Plaything! Not only am I dying to see Jamie finally getting his girl, but it’s also a second chance romance and our time to peek at the past these two really had!
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She claimed I acted like her father rather than her friend. If that was what she called making sure no one ever hurt her again, then sure—I’d daddy the fuck out of her.
I’ve read my fair share of friends to lovers romances, but B.B. Reid sure delivered a novel that was so much more than that. Because TMATF? It’s something more powerful and heart-pounding than any other recent new adult romance I’ve read that by the end, I ultimately just wanted to wrap Wren and Lou up in my arms and never let them go. It’s crazy. It’s angsty. It’s downright freaking addicting.
“I’m the moth to your flame, Lou. I’d rather be burned a thousand times than be free of you.”
To me, Wren Harlan and Louchana Valentine’s story was pure brilliance. It was packed to the brim with the kind of suspense and action and romance that would have you gripping sheets or biting your nails raw. But what I adored the most about this book was that these two started as friends—two strangers who only grew closer, more protective and possessive of the other, and developed way deeper emotions for one another over time. They had the kind of friendship that wasn’t just fierce and badass, but it was also something quite unique and special… something that was truly theirs.
We were connected to the very last stitch. Letting Lou go would be like severing a limb. She belonged with me.
The Moth and the Flame may be considered as a standalone, but I highly suggest that you first read The Peer and the Puppet. Aside from getting a slew of spoilers because of the way the stories are so intertwined with each other, reading TPATP will truly give you that insight as to who the other characters are and what roles they play in Wren’s life. Plus, you won’t get lost in the timeline of the whole series if you read the books in order either. And seriously, Four and Ever’s tale is something you wouldn’t want to miss anyway. So just start there.
“What’s mine is mine forever.”
Now I’m absolutely more than ready for Jamie and Barbie’s book, The Punk and the Plaything! Not only am I dying to see Jamie finally getting his girl, but it’s also a second chance romance and our time to peek at the past these two really had!
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May 17, 2019
Honestly, could BB Reid be more addictive than this?
There are millions of authors out there, all with a gift of creating stories that will remain with you for a long time ,but for me since I discovered her books I said I can't find someone more addictive, her words just drawn you in the story without even realizing and you just can't stop reading till the last page and even then you want more and more.
The word created is so real and all the feelings and turns and twists that Lou and wren felt along this story were like ours, as one of our friends.
””“You have problems with trust, don’t you?” “Everyone does. Some have trouble giving it, and some have trouble keeping it. We all learn that the hard way.””
Yes, there are moments when you may say, no that doesn't happen in real life but guess what, it does and it's more terrifying than we can imagine. It's a beautiful love story between teenagers that became friends in one moment of an unfortunate situation and we get onto an adventure full of love, angst, heartbreaking, denial, lust and everything in between for two souls that are finding their way in life.
””Lou was my onus. My light. The very last tether to my soul. I couldn’t risk losing her. It was out of the question. She meant so much more to me than a hot, dirty fuck. I needed her, more than she needed me.””
””He could have been my white knight, but his armor didn’t shine. It was shrouded in darkness, and it was only a matter of time before it swallowed him whole.””
A best friends to lovers, slow burn love that is much more than you can expect and you will have your heart beating so hard for some memorable laugh out loud moments, heartbreaking and denial of their true feelings, to the satisfying ending. Read it and you won't be disappointed.
””“You have problems with trust, don’t you?” “Everyone does. Some have trouble giving it, and some have trouble keeping it. We all learn that the hard way.””
Yes, there are moments when you may say, no that doesn't happen in real life but guess what, it does and it's more terrifying than we can imagine. It's a beautiful love story between teenagers that became friends in one moment of an unfortunate situation and we get onto an adventure full of love, angst, heartbreaking, denial, lust and everything in between for two souls that are finding their way in life.
””Lou was my onus. My light. The very last tether to my soul. I couldn’t risk losing her. It was out of the question. She meant so much more to me than a hot, dirty fuck. I needed her, more than she needed me.””
””He could have been my white knight, but his armor didn’t shine. It was shrouded in darkness, and it was only a matter of time before it swallowed him whole.””
A best friends to lovers, slow burn love that is much more than you can expect and you will have your heart beating so hard for some memorable laugh out loud moments, heartbreaking and denial of their true feelings, to the satisfying ending. Read it and you won't be disappointed.
December 28, 2024
the characters are so unnecessarily dramatic and dumb that i spent 80% of the book rolling my eyes.
September 2, 2019
I was a moth, and she was the flame burning only for me.
➡️➡️➡️ INSTRAGRAM: @insanebooklover 😊❤️
Soooo, TMATF got me shook.
B.B. Reid freaking did that.👏
The best friend to lovers trope at its best.🙌
This book exceeded my expectations.
And I got sooo many answers and now I need to know even more. I NEED the next books.
My two lonely babies.🤧
"I was prepared to risk my heart, my sanity, and my future for this. For him."
So first we have Lou, this young but genuine girl. Scared of attachments. She had to mature under adverse situations. But she remained true to herself. And didn't give up. And yes she is stubborn and sometimes reckless and even immature. But she did learn to evolve. and And the only one she truly trusts with her vulnerability is Wren. 'Her entire world'.
"One word from her and I was tearing down the wall I’d spent years building so that she could see my heart beating for her on the other side."
And then we have Wren. Our fave teen Gangster. And the purest soul and heart on the earth. He stood by his beliefs and didn't back out. And even when things got tough and he did things he otherwise wouldn't. He didn't stop being kind and caring. He was not only a friend to Lou, he was her everything. And in turn she was his magic, his light into all this darkness.
He was the Moth and she was the Flame burning only for him. 🔥
And OMG, the slow burn and all the almost kissing scenes.. Ahhh. Hooked.
This book is the epitome of everything I love. From the prologue to the ending.
Their love and how they got where they are at the end wasn't easy. But they had each other.❤️
You just gotta read to understand what I am feeling...
And all the scenes with my babies from TPATP. I NEED MORE...
——
★The teaser was made by me.
★★The Pictures used are not mine. Credits to the owners/makers. 💜
——
➡️➡️➡️ INSTRAGRAM: @insanebooklover 😊❤️
Soooo, TMATF got me shook.
B.B. Reid freaking did that.👏
The best friend to lovers trope at its best.🙌
This book exceeded my expectations.
And I got sooo many answers and now I need to know even more. I NEED the next books.
My two lonely babies.🤧
"I was prepared to risk my heart, my sanity, and my future for this. For him."
So first we have Lou, this young but genuine girl. Scared of attachments. She had to mature under adverse situations. But she remained true to herself. And didn't give up. And yes she is stubborn and sometimes reckless and even immature. But she did learn to evolve. and And the only one she truly trusts with her vulnerability is Wren. 'Her entire world'.
"One word from her and I was tearing down the wall I’d spent years building so that she could see my heart beating for her on the other side."
And then we have Wren. Our fave teen Gangster. And the purest soul and heart on the earth. He stood by his beliefs and didn't back out. And even when things got tough and he did things he otherwise wouldn't. He didn't stop being kind and caring. He was not only a friend to Lou, he was her everything. And in turn she was his magic, his light into all this darkness.
He was the Moth and she was the Flame burning only for him. 🔥
And OMG, the slow burn and all the almost kissing scenes.. Ahhh. Hooked.
This book is the epitome of everything I love. From the prologue to the ending.
Their love and how they got where they are at the end wasn't easy. But they had each other.❤️
You just gotta read to understand what I am feeling...
And all the scenes with my babies from TPATP. I NEED MORE...
——
★The teaser was made by me.
★★The Pictures used are not mine. Credits to the owners/makers. 💜
——
August 10, 2019
BB Reid has nailed the slow burning best friends to lovers romance with The Moth and The Flame. Everything about this book was pure perfection. The characters and the story completely consumed me, Lou and Wren are everything! From his grumpy, protective, secretive alpha male personality to her love of pushing the boundaries (and his patience) and giving no f*cks attitude, both Wren and Lou won me over ridiculously fast. Neither of them are perfect but that just made me love them more. The sexual tension between the two of them was unreal. I felt every single bit of their frustration, believe me. There’s no doubt in my mind I was even more invested in their relationship than they were. The push and pull between them, their unbreakable bond, their history and the secrets and betrayal that are all tangled together, all make this book pretty much impossible to put down.
I loved The Peer and the Puppet but The Moth and the Flame has definitely knocked it from the top spot. With each book this series keeps getting better, the characters (old and new) make you love them, flaws and all, and the storyline has me more and more hooked with each page I read.
This book is amazing. It is, without a doubt, one of my top reads of 2019.
I loved The Peer and the Puppet but The Moth and the Flame has definitely knocked it from the top spot. With each book this series keeps getting better, the characters (old and new) make you love them, flaws and all, and the storyline has me more and more hooked with each page I read.
This book is amazing. It is, without a doubt, one of my top reads of 2019.
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