“True love’s kiss doesn’t always work the first time around...” At thirteen years old, Rarity Concord’s life was flipped upside down when her mother picked up a habit that was too insatiable to put down. Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, an ill-concocted plan leaves her stuck with no choice but to place her life in the hands of someone she barely even knows. When she enters the home of Mr. War, she’s thrust into a world that she couldn’t even begin to fathom in her wildest dreams. So’Real War is next in line to take over his father’s distribution business. It was all he ever dreamed of, and he’s determined to allow nothing or no one to stand in his way of becoming the next king to his father’s throne. Unfortunately, he’s forced to learn that with power comes envy, hatred, and disloyalty—sometimes, from the very people who are supposed to love him the most. When Rarity finds herself torn between love and loyalty, she soon realizes everyone doesn’t have her best interest at heart. Will she figure out who’s the realest of them all, or will she fall victim to the smoke and mirrors that have been strategically placed in her life throughout the years?
The further I dive into her catalogue, the more I grow to love Antoinette Sherell as an author! Her stories always SUCK ME IN!!! The Realest Love is no different!! I meannnnnnn!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥
This story follows the collective and individual lives of Warren War’s 5 children. Two are by blood and the others pure love or at least that’s how it’s seems. I’m convinced that it is but let’s see if that still holds true after the series is complete. War is a Pharmaceutical distributor 🤣😬 and is extremely well off. So’Real and Swan are his two children by blood and then we have Knoxx, Oshun and Rarity that he took under his wing at young ages in an effort to absolve himself of guilt he feels for their mothers overdosing and or dying as a result of his products.
The series begins with the clan ranging from 13-16 years old and follows various milestone moment that created their bond and the adults they are today. Book one ends with them in the 20-23 age range.
Real is the oldest and set to take over his father’s business. He holds the most responsibility on his shoulder because War lives by the “I am my brothers keeper” motto.
Knoxx is the hot head and definitely has a secret disdain for Real and War. Despite all War has done for him, Knoxx doesn’t believe that it’s genuine and that War acted out of guilt and not love.
Oshun wants nothing to do with the family business and is focused on football and taking things Pro. He keeps to himself and stays low key until one moment that changes everything.
Rarity and Swan are the apples of everyone’s eye and are protected like no other. These two are in college and making things happen.
Book 1 did a great job with character development. You get to really know their personalities and see growth for the good or bad in each one……and then shxt hit the fan! The drama that takes place in this book had me on the edge of my seat. I could not put this book down and I am so glad I don’t have to wait for the next book because I honestly did not see this cliffhanger coming at all! I know some ish is about to pop off now and I can’t wait to see it unfold!
4 STARS For Loving The Realest of Them All By Antoinette Sherell Spoiler Free
In Loving the Realest of Them All by Antoinette Sherell readers are introduced to a young girl named Rarity. When Rarity’s mother succumbs to her addiction, Rare finds herself in the care of a rich man named War. Soon after, you realize that in addition to his biological two children; War has taken in two other boys and now Rarity is in his care as well.
“I learned a long time ago she was good at keeping secrets, and I wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not” – Inner Monologue Of REAL
A very fragile and scared Rarity understands that War is not just some rich man helping the underprivileged. War is a gangster. He floods the streets with drugs which has afforded him his lavish lifestyle; a lifestyle Rarity decides to not become submerged in.
“Welcome to the world of the Wars” – REAL to Rarity
So’Real is War’s son and one day he will be taking over his father’s position in the game. Real is confident, intelligent, and dangerous. In his line of business, you can never be too trusting, which is why Real is extremely leery with Rarity when she comes to live with them. That however does not last too long though because eventually he and Rare become awfully close. Naturally, as the teens age, an attraction begins to build.
Things transition when in my opinion Rarity picks the wrong guy to give her heart too. Real’s brother, Knoxx, much to the dismay of many. The rift it causes between her and Real can be felt in the distance he decides to put in their once close bond. But after years of mistreatment in the relationship with Knoxx…Rare has had enough. This decision has a domino effect on her life.
In the book, other main characters include, Oshun another kid that was taken in by War in his youth, and Swan the biological daughter of War. These two have an entanglement that is JUICY.
Now listen, here is what you should know, the story starts off with them in their teens and eventually transitions to them as young adults. My review can be simply read as a semi introduction if you will. In the book, you see love triangles, lies, deceit, manipulation, and some beef with another crime family that has life-altering consequences. Everything I listed just adds to the twists and plotlines within the story.
My Thoughts The book is a fast-paced quick urban read that provides plenty of drama so if you enjoy that this book is for you. Do not expect strong character development to be written up in long drawn out inner monologue paragraphs on page after page.
No, I said fast-paced, where each scene has new developments that add to the plot for you to follow along with for each character. I also mentioned it’s a quick read. This is, I believe a three-book series, you can read parts two here.
The author appears to be releasing each book at the end of each month this summer. Please know and believe I’ve already read and enjoyed book two. I recommend this book to all Urban Lit readers!
The level of anxiety I felt reading this… whew! It was torture to not look ahead and just let the story unfold as I read.
From the very beginning I was team Rarity and rooting for her. In my head she was my little sister, who needed some true guidance.
Swan didn’t make a good first impression, but at the end she was my shero!! Because ma’am was taking care of business in school and understood the game. I love that she isn’t what we initially thought she was. I can only hope that continues.
I so badly want these two young women to win.
Now these fellas🙄
Knoxx is toxic af!!
Real… *deep sigh* I like him and yet I’m scared to get attached.
Shun- my heart broke for him and the life changing decision he had to face. Still he took that and has worsen his situation. He’s making adult decisions from an adolescent place.
Antoinette Sherrell!! Ma’am… what have you done to my world?! I’m sucked into your universe and can’t come out 🤣🤣.
I love messy reads, but this one… I so badly don’t want to see Swan and Rarity hurt. And I have a feeling after that cliffhanger, ish is about to get real.
Lately I have been in to messy reads and this book was exactly what the doctor ordered. I wasn't sure what to expect before actually starting this read, I just knew that it came highly recommended and I needed to read it expeditiously. Nett did not disappoint me at all.
In this story we meet the main characters as kids that grow into new adults. So'Real and Swan are siblings growing up living the life thanks to their dad Mr. War. When an overdose takes Rarity Concord's mom she's thrown directly in to their lifestyle. Swan turns out to be the sister Rarity never knew she needed and Real actually turns in to her crush. O'Shun and Knoxx are solider's on War's team but as they get older their eyes fall on the ladies of the War household.
In this book lines are crossed, trust is broken and no one's love story is perfect. "This isn't a got damn fairytale. Shit didn't go how you predicted and you let her slip through your fingers. Correct your mistake." This book ends on a cliffhanger, but part two has already been released.
Omg! Omg! That ending.... lawd. Sheesh. Very good book! I am anxiously waiting for part two. I just love Real, like he does no wrong at all. 😩🙌🏾Great work painting a picture of this, it almost felt like a movie was playing as I was reading. I seriously could not put this book down. The characters and the storyline was everything. I absolutely cannot deal with Knoxx; Shun is quiet but an assassin. Swan actually grew on me a lot throughout the book. And Rare, I want her and Real together but the bomb at the end..idk how to feel. But I can truly say that I enjoyed this book. Just when I would think it wouldn’t get any crazier, something else happened and my mind would be blown away. Ugh, you did that sis!! ❤️🔥
Whew Chile Drama, Drama and more Drama. This book was jammed pack with entertainment and Entanglements! I wasn't expected this plot at all the just messy Lol. I don't want to say to much to give it away but I'll Just say #readthedamnbook
WOW....My mouth wide open about this book from beginning to end and what a ending. And you really ended the book like that... That secret is going to change everything. Knoxx, is as grimy as can be, a snake slithering around. Hopefully, that secret doesn't destroy what Real and Rare are building and their love for each other. Also, I need Sean and Shun to get it together as well. Anticipating the next installment. Great job Antoinette Sherell.
This is my second read by this author and I can say that I like her writing style... And the storylines pulls you in... This book was a really good read... It read at a nice Simi fast steady pace... And it definitely brought the drama and lots of hurt feelings... I was going back and forth on how I felt about certain characters... Rarity has been through so much since she was a child... Her mom got them into a situation that could have cost her her life... Yet her mom is all she had... So even when her mom made these bad decisions... Rarity had no choice but to help... One night while helping her mom be shady and do something that she told her mom would go wrong caused her life changed dramatically... But for the better... Or was it... So'Real was doing all that he could to prove himself to his father... But it just felt like he kept messing up... But as he began getting older his moves were better... He just didn't treat women good at all... They were just something to do when his needs needed to be taken care of... The one that he actually started feeling he decided that he had to push her away because he wasn't ready yet and he wanted to make sure he didn't hurt her... Little did he know that all that did was open the door for the next man and poof she was now no longer an option... And because of this he started pushing her away and they lost that friendship that they once had... Knoxx was nice and I really liked him in the beginning... I was his cheerleader hoping he got what be wanted... I just knew he would change and be everything that Rarity needed because their background was the same and he waited so long for her... Yet it was like he kept doing everything to hurt her and just expected her to be okay with what he was doing... Well women have a breaking point and now he has pushed her to the point of no return... I can't believe how wrong I was about him... Oshun was the good guy of them all... He was quiet and determined to make something of himself... I was hoping him and Swan would be together... But Oshun just kept pushing her away... Not sure why but he did... But his actions showed that he really wanted her... Then one night changed both their lives for good... Oshun became someone that he said he didn't want to be... Swan was just all over the place... She was so entitled... I could not stand her but then sometimes I felt sorry for her then she made me mad... She had me feel every emotion with her... I felt all the emotions that Rarity went through... She was just so sweet and innocent and wanted to see the best ing everyone... This allowd so many to just walk all over her... When Swan did what she did and allowed the next girl to talk that way about her... She should have just walked away... Because of the feeling of not having anyone... Her and Knoxx were able to connect... But he also used that to his advantage... Now that all the drama has unfolded and feelings have been hurt and everyone is on edge and thinking about what they have done... Here we go with a bomb drop... And this cliffhanger... Has me like wait a minute, what is going on... Just when I thought everything was finally about to fall into place for Rarity... It looks like her life is about to be shaken up all over again... So onto part 2 to find out what will happen next...
Ima say this again, you write very dope books. It’s to the point that I feel like I’m in them with the characters. I peeped how next to everyone name is a symbol, like Rarity have a apple, swan have a crown as well as So’Real and , Oshun have a knight, but the snake of the book have a snake 🐍 next to his lol. If knoxx really loved rarity like he claimed he did then from the jump you would have never cock blocked Real the night rare kissed him. Ol flaw ass nigga . If you felt like they had something why not let it play out and run it’s course. Talena is a pain in the ass to me idk why it’s just something about her that rubs me the wrong way. And Oshun needs to either leave swan alone or be with her only. Ain’t no in between bih. Swan ain’t stunting his ass though. But if he keeps playing with her emotions and playing mind games he not gonna like the after math.
I came in with zero expectation. I did not expect this story to grab me by my neck and never loosen its grip.
Rarity is just that, a rare jewel. Being dealt an unlucky hand with having a mother hooked on drugs, she ends up in the hands of her mother’s dealer. Although frightened, War and Real actually take her in and care for her.
Where it gets messy is intermingling her with the other kids of the house. Real and Swan are sister and brother, but then there’s Knoxx and Oshun who War has taken in. While Real is the rightful heir to War’s kingdom, Knoxx believes him and Real are equals and he should have a seat at the head table. Envy runs rampant, and there lies the crack that allows for deceit to slither in.
Secrets are kept, loyalty is broken and love is shattered. Who can you trust, even when you call them brother?
The ending had my mouth on the floor. I’m ready for book 2!
My 1st time reading Ms.Sherell’s work and I’m impressed. This is not your typical hood rich ghetto story. Aside from the cussing by these teenagers,this was actually a very good read. Stayed up all night reading(no work for me today). At the beginning I was a bit skeptical about the way that War just took Rare,as well as the killing by Real. However the story picked up though. Good character development of Real,Swan and even Rare. Especially liked how the girls were ambitious (even Talena.) Really like how the story developed by spacing out with the break in years.Knoxx is so toxic,such a piece of work! Can’t wait to see what happens with Shun and Swan. Hope Rare don’t run to Kino’brother,ugggh.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 WOW!! Talk about a cliff hanger!!! You’ve come through with another banger!!! That ending has me on the edge anxiously awaiting Part 2. Knoxx is a real piece of work and I’m not surprised by his actions!! I’m hoping OShun & Swan get it together before it’s too late. So’Real better make sure to not lose Rarity because I can’t see her continuing to deal with him if he is truly flawed. Please don’t have us waiting long.
Messy, messy, messy! I read the beginning of part 2 by accident and was still all in that’s how good this book was. Real is Bae and I absolutely love Swan which surprised me because I didn’t think I would. I need O to get it together he lost his way and needs to find his way back. Knoxx and Talena can kick rocks and I hope Rarity doesn’t let what was revealed in the end lead her to a certain someone but I have a feeling it will. Really good book
This was goood... Knoxx is selfish and inconsiderate but he's also a lil boy trapped in a mans body... Instead of saying how he truly felt about War he reap the benefits of what War gave out... I love me some Real and I hope this secret doesn't cost him Rare... Rare truly was green but you can't fault her for that... Swan grew up but she can't hate who Shun turned into... Lord I can't wait to dive into pt 2...
My first book by this author and I was very satisfied reading it. Rare went through a patch with her mom but found joy with her new family. Real, Knoxx and Shun and Swan became her new friends and living under the same roof feelings were involved throughout the years from the clan. Will secrets and a love triangle destroy their bond and start a war or can they fix it? I really enjoyed this book and very few errors. I definitely recommend
Man Rarity has been through so much War upgraded her life and really treated her like his own. Real has fallen hard for Rarity but is fighting his feelings so he doesn't hurt her. Knoxx is selfish I don't agree with how he handled the situation from jump. I think Knoxx just caught real the love of his life lil fav. Hurry up part 2
The was an unexpected twist at the end. I don't like Knox he like for all the attention to be on him. It's okay for him to do dirt to ppl but when something doesn't go his way his whining. I don't like Talena either. Hopefully Shun will get rid of her, I think him and Swan will end up together.
This book definitely deserves 10*s. I knew I should’ve waited until book 2 dropped, now I gotta go stalk Antoinette social media...lol. That cliffhanger was a shock to my system, had me swiping to only leave a review. Antoinette love us enough to drop book 2 now, please.
This book was all that and then some! I wanted Rare with Real but thought it would be too messy and look...Messy! But I love it! I like Shun but not his girl, I'm hoping he get right for Swan. Knox lost he's mind coming at Rare like that, but I know he was hurting. I can't wait to read part two!!! I definitely recommend...
Ummm, anybody want to tell me what in the children of the corn is going on here. War just taking people kids to clear his guilty conscience. Real don't play with that attorney, it might cost your freedom. Rarity was making me angry, hunny you can't be this dumb. Bless her heart. Swan needs to sit down also, I fault her dad with giving her everything.
The family dynamics in this book is unique to say the least. My sister recommended this book to me and I enjoy reading about this family. I couldn't figure War out on one hand he was a caring father on the other he was a tyrant. The two girls and three boys each have their own stories it's very interesting. The story was interesting can't wait to get the book 2.
I chose this rating because this book keeps you on your toes, you never know which direction it's going to go. I love that it's not your typical love story. I also love that the main characters ended up together but had to go through some tough things to get there. This author did an excellent job with this one.
This was a good read. I was feeling it. The plot, the characters, the lowkey messiness. The ending had me shook, granted some sneaky stuff was hinted at the whole book but I ain’t think it was going to be that. It’s crazy but I can’t wait to dive into Book2. I’m like dang what Rare supposed to do when the realest person you thought you knew just might turn out to be the biggest fraud?
It was decent but I can’t do the same circle, homie, sibling banging books. It happens. But with other women like Pria in the books and the FMC still wants a homie hopper. Nope. Not to mention, Rare is an airhead and dummies annoy me. I can’t tolerate a little dumb, she was super dumb
Phenomenal she comes through not playing games as usual! Now that’s how you do it! That’s right show out! Real and Rarity I can’t get enough of them! Knox is a true f box sorry not sorry! Part 2 is about to be so freaking litt! I can’t freaking wait!
This books is about : Betrayal , love, lust, and family ties . Well written, loved it. Drama after drama. I’m rooting for two couples although it’s betrayal lol you can still feel the love. Forbidden fruit is the sum up . Bring on part 2!!!!
I don’t how to feel. I really don’t.. I’m either annoyed with a character, upset, getting snake vibes or all in one! I didn’t like Knoxx from Jump. Like at all... Swan though?! Surprisingly she was my favorite character in the first book. She’s the definition of never judge a book by its cover! I loved Real, O & Rarity as well. Something not sitting right in my spirit with that ending 🥺 The book was good overall 💓