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VICE Lords of Deception High #1
Necessary Cruelty
Will he save me or break me?
Vin Cortland is the crowned prince of Deception High. He is beloved by his subjects and ruthless with his enemies.
We used to be friends, once. Not anymore.
It’s no secret that he hates me, but only the two of us will ever know why. And the guilt of what I’ve done makes me hate myself more than he ever could.
Except love and hate are two sides of the same coin and both will make you burn.
Then he comes to me with a proposition: one fake marriage in exchange for enough money to finally escape this town and leave the past behind me. The offer is hard to refuse and Vin is used to getting what he wants.
I want to know why me, but I won’t ask for his secrets when it means revealing my own.
He is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.
My savior and my destruction.
It’s a deal with the devil.
I’ll let him take my hand in marriage.
The only question is whether or not he also gets my soul.
Vin Cortland is the crowned prince of Deception High. He is beloved by his subjects and ruthless with his enemies.
We used to be friends, once. Not anymore.
It’s no secret that he hates me, but only the two of us will ever know why. And the guilt of what I’ve done makes me hate myself more than he ever could.
Except love and hate are two sides of the same coin and both will make you burn.
Then he comes to me with a proposition: one fake marriage in exchange for enough money to finally escape this town and leave the past behind me. The offer is hard to refuse and Vin is used to getting what he wants.
I want to know why me, but I won’t ask for his secrets when it means revealing my own.
He is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.
My savior and my destruction.
It’s a deal with the devil.
I’ll let him take my hand in marriage.
The only question is whether or not he also gets my soul.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2020
497 people are currently reading
2237 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Gee
8 books331 followersAshley Gee is a romance author and part-time adult. She lives in Indiana with her husband, two children, two cats, two dogs and partridge in a pear tree (okay not really!). She doesn’t enjoy long walks on the beach because the sand gets everywhere but can often be found binging Netflix and drinking wine from Kroger. Her books feature brooding boys and the girls who bring them to their knees. And the one thing she loves more than anything else is talking about herself in the third person.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
August 3, 2021
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 stars are almost equivalent to 5 stars in my book considering this is a HS romance. 🕺
This book was surprisingly good for a HS romance. The MCs weren’t too overbearing. The H wasn’t too smug, in my opinion. The h wasn’t a (complete) doormat. This is probably the best worse HS enemies to lovers I’ll ever read.
This book read like a historical romance with all its talk of Founding families, Founder’s balls and dilapidated old towns. It was well written, but I found myself yawning every 2 to 3 pages.😶🌫️
Tropes:
💀Enemies to lovers
💀Rich guy, poor girl
💀marriage of convenience (in highschool—😃)
💀Forced pregnancy (?) (the H pierced his condoms to get the h pregnant 😍😍—sorry wrong emoji—🤬🤬)
Did I mention the h was a selective mute? (Probably why the book was so much more bearable) The H made a deal with the h that she’d never talk to anyone at school because she did something horrendous to him 10 years ago and she compliantly agreed to his ludicrous demand because she was guilty. 😃😃If only all highschool heroes made this deal with the heroines the world would be a much better place.
The thing I found too good to be true was how the H sneaked into the h’s bedroom every night to do the devil’s tango 😈 (because he HATES her duh) and the h never consents or denies him because she’s not allowed to speak 😚, so naturally he takes her silence as a yes, and after he’s done he leaves her crumpled dollar bills that always amount to $125 because that is what her mother earned when she used to work for his family. How. Romantic.
This was a solid 4 star read until the last 30%. The ending ruined it for me. It felt too rushed and the H declaring his love for the h and pulling the good ol’ card of ‘I think I’ve always loved you’ made me bristle!!
Because nothing screams true love to me than saddling the girl who is barely out of highschool with a baby without her consent (!!!) just because you need your inheritance. 🤤🤤
3 stars are almost equivalent to 5 stars in my book considering this is a HS romance. 🕺
This book was surprisingly good for a HS romance. The MCs weren’t too overbearing. The H wasn’t too smug, in my opinion. The h wasn’t a (complete) doormat. This is probably the best worse HS enemies to lovers I’ll ever read.
This book read like a historical romance with all its talk of Founding families, Founder’s balls and dilapidated old towns. It was well written, but I found myself yawning every 2 to 3 pages.😶🌫️
Tropes:
💀Enemies to lovers
💀Rich guy, poor girl
💀marriage of convenience (in highschool—😃)
💀Forced pregnancy (?) (the H pierced his condoms to get the h pregnant 😍😍—sorry wrong emoji—🤬🤬)
Did I mention the h was a selective mute? (Probably why the book was so much more bearable) The H made a deal with the h that she’d never talk to anyone at school because she did something horrendous to him 10 years ago and she compliantly agreed to his ludicrous demand because she was guilty. 😃😃If only all highschool heroes made this deal with the heroines the world would be a much better place.
The thing I found too good to be true was how the H sneaked into the h’s bedroom every night to do the devil’s tango 😈 (because he HATES her duh) and the h never consents or denies him because she’s not allowed to speak 😚, so naturally he takes her silence as a yes, and after he’s done he leaves her crumpled dollar bills that always amount to $125 because that is what her mother earned when she used to work for his family. How. Romantic.
This was a solid 4 star read until the last 30%. The ending ruined it for me. It felt too rushed and the H declaring his love for the h and pulling the good ol’ card of ‘I think I’ve always loved you’ made me bristle!!
“You are the air that I breathe. You always have been, even when I hated you,” I say, staring down into her eyes as I watch for any reaction to my words. “I don’t care about the money or the family legacy. I would burn this town to the ground and never look back, if it means I get to have you. I love you so much that it fucking hurts.”
Because nothing screams true love to me than saddling the girl who is barely out of highschool with a baby without her consent (!!!) just because you need your inheritance. 🤤🤤
August 31, 2020
This is not a romance novel. This is a book about how people with no self-worth allow themselves to be fooled into thinking that someone paying them any amount of attention, good or bad, is love. The MMC makes Christian grey look like the epitome of excellent moral and mental health.
We begin our tale with the MFCs attempted suicide. Which is actually at the end of the story, after the couple says I do. Because dying would be preferable to being with the MMC.
The premise is the VICE Lords Vin, Iain, Cal, and Elliott are the sons of the founding families, and the MFC is the only daughter of one of the founding families.
The story is girl’s mom is the nanny, boy has a seemingly bad heart. Boys mom died in childbirth and his stepmother is a young social climber who would have preferred it if he was not around. So she hired the girls mom to slowly poison the boy all the while he plays with the girl. He ends up almost dying and the girls mother seemingly runs away.
Fast forward 6 years to her freshman year in high school. She sees the boy for the first time since the day he almost died and when he asks her about what happens, she refuses to say anything in an attempt to protect her mother who abandoned her. So for the next four years he makes her life hell, including not allowing her to speak or he cuts her and not allowing others to speak to her without them being assaulted. So she lives in a silent bubble.
If that isn’t enough, sophomore year he begins sneaking into her window at night and having sex with her, taking her silence as consent because if she didn’t want it, she would speak up... and then he leaves $125 on her desk because she is apparently a prostitute.
Then in their senior year he finds out that he has to marry a founding family daughter and produce an heir before his 19th birthday. And she is the only one, so he attempts to undo all of the harm he’s done by trying to buy her affection. And then when that doesn’t work, he manipulates her using what’s left of her family and their well being, fixing up her house, putting grandpa in a care home so he can get proper care and putting her criminally delinquent brother into a diversion program so he doesn’t have to spend his life in prison.
What he neglects to tell her is that she has to be pregnant, so he begins poking holes in his condoms. They get married they both fall in “love” but are too prideful and toxic to admit it to one another, he admits that he only started cutting her because she was already cutting herself, and he hoped that would make her stop.
She confessed that it was her mom that poisoned him, although she doesn’t know why. Then she throws herself in the ocean and wakes up in a psych ward, he goes off to find her mom, only to discover that his stepmother killed her so he goes back to confront her, the MFC is there as well and the stepmother pulls a gun on them and then his half sister comes out of nowhere and kills the stepmother by shoving her down the stairs. After she makes sure that the MMC is fully ready to let go of all his fortune for her, he finally tells him she’s pregnant and they live toxically ever after. The end.
We begin our tale with the MFCs attempted suicide. Which is actually at the end of the story, after the couple says I do. Because dying would be preferable to being with the MMC.
The premise is the VICE Lords Vin, Iain, Cal, and Elliott are the sons of the founding families, and the MFC is the only daughter of one of the founding families.
The story is girl’s mom is the nanny, boy has a seemingly bad heart. Boys mom died in childbirth and his stepmother is a young social climber who would have preferred it if he was not around. So she hired the girls mom to slowly poison the boy all the while he plays with the girl. He ends up almost dying and the girls mother seemingly runs away.
Fast forward 6 years to her freshman year in high school. She sees the boy for the first time since the day he almost died and when he asks her about what happens, she refuses to say anything in an attempt to protect her mother who abandoned her. So for the next four years he makes her life hell, including not allowing her to speak or he cuts her and not allowing others to speak to her without them being assaulted. So she lives in a silent bubble.
If that isn’t enough, sophomore year he begins sneaking into her window at night and having sex with her, taking her silence as consent because if she didn’t want it, she would speak up... and then he leaves $125 on her desk because she is apparently a prostitute.
Then in their senior year he finds out that he has to marry a founding family daughter and produce an heir before his 19th birthday. And she is the only one, so he attempts to undo all of the harm he’s done by trying to buy her affection. And then when that doesn’t work, he manipulates her using what’s left of her family and their well being, fixing up her house, putting grandpa in a care home so he can get proper care and putting her criminally delinquent brother into a diversion program so he doesn’t have to spend his life in prison.
What he neglects to tell her is that she has to be pregnant, so he begins poking holes in his condoms. They get married they both fall in “love” but are too prideful and toxic to admit it to one another, he admits that he only started cutting her because she was already cutting herself, and he hoped that would make her stop.
She confessed that it was her mom that poisoned him, although she doesn’t know why. Then she throws herself in the ocean and wakes up in a psych ward, he goes off to find her mom, only to discover that his stepmother killed her so he goes back to confront her, the MFC is there as well and the stepmother pulls a gun on them and then his half sister comes out of nowhere and kills the stepmother by shoving her down the stairs. After she makes sure that the MMC is fully ready to let go of all his fortune for her, he finally tells him she’s pregnant and they live toxically ever after. The end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2025
i only wanted to read this book bc the hero poked holes in the condom, so he can impregnate the heroine to get his inheritance. besides that, the storyline was meh.
January 2, 2021
A timeless Tale that snag you from the first page.
This is a beautifully written novel which pulls the strings of your heart. It insinuates itself in your mind and leaves you stupefied.
I sincerely believed that this was by far the best book I have read in this turbulent year. This writer is a blast of fresh air. I adore this poetic, talented, emotionally stimulating book.
THIS IS A DARK READING THAT PENETRATED MY SKIN AND LEFT AN ETERNAL IMPRINT ON MY VEINS.
The storyline and the characters are telling and they’re arcs strings you along from the very first line. I do believe that this book, this awesome book is an automatic reread because the imagery and prose are beautiful and the raw emotion that spring forth from both main character touches your heart in ways to unique to explain.
Zaya is a relevant character, and her strange upbringing is simply one of a kind. She feels uncomfortable and has essentially been left to fend for herself in the slums and has to find a way to navigate the world, while doing it alone. Loneliness, obscurity, poverty and despair always seem to follow her.
All I can imagine is how she feels growing up as a pariah. Because she hasn't got too many people around to give advice. I understand what she is facing and what she is going through, and this in itself binds the reader to her. I never took pity on her, because I did believe that she would find a gleam in the world of darkness.
Vincent is central to this story because his relationship with Zaya is tormented by the necessity that he be the devil and a thorn in Zaya's side. There's beauty underneath that hard exterior he placate and although there is secret and lies swirling around these two, there is a chemistry that can’t be denied and it is beautiful to witness. How they gather and support one another is something you see in the movies.
Vin, although he does inexcusable things, he is a fierce protector of Zaya and while he tries to hide his true feelings, the love he felt was undeniable.
The love these two have for each other is great and the history between them is singular.
Ms. Gee, you do good work by showing us the characters rather than giving us a lot of explanations about who they are and why they do certain things. Even secondary characters like Iain and Amelia are given enough tidbits that makes you a bit curious about their life outside of the interaction they had with the main characters.
Ms. Gee has done a glorious job with this novel and I congratulate her for its success. The intrigue of the story remains in my head as a record player turning a disc on a turntable.
This book is perfect for anyone in search of troubled characters, with strong relationship arcs. It is an excellent dark, enemies to lovers trope with a tinged of mystery in between.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. Of course, I would strongly recommend getting this novel.
This is a beautifully written novel which pulls the strings of your heart. It insinuates itself in your mind and leaves you stupefied.
I sincerely believed that this was by far the best book I have read in this turbulent year. This writer is a blast of fresh air. I adore this poetic, talented, emotionally stimulating book.
THIS IS A DARK READING THAT PENETRATED MY SKIN AND LEFT AN ETERNAL IMPRINT ON MY VEINS.
The storyline and the characters are telling and they’re arcs strings you along from the very first line. I do believe that this book, this awesome book is an automatic reread because the imagery and prose are beautiful and the raw emotion that spring forth from both main character touches your heart in ways to unique to explain.
Zaya is a relevant character, and her strange upbringing is simply one of a kind. She feels uncomfortable and has essentially been left to fend for herself in the slums and has to find a way to navigate the world, while doing it alone. Loneliness, obscurity, poverty and despair always seem to follow her.
All I can imagine is how she feels growing up as a pariah. Because she hasn't got too many people around to give advice. I understand what she is facing and what she is going through, and this in itself binds the reader to her. I never took pity on her, because I did believe that she would find a gleam in the world of darkness.
Vincent is central to this story because his relationship with Zaya is tormented by the necessity that he be the devil and a thorn in Zaya's side. There's beauty underneath that hard exterior he placate and although there is secret and lies swirling around these two, there is a chemistry that can’t be denied and it is beautiful to witness. How they gather and support one another is something you see in the movies.
Vin, although he does inexcusable things, he is a fierce protector of Zaya and while he tries to hide his true feelings, the love he felt was undeniable.
The love these two have for each other is great and the history between them is singular.
Ms. Gee, you do good work by showing us the characters rather than giving us a lot of explanations about who they are and why they do certain things. Even secondary characters like Iain and Amelia are given enough tidbits that makes you a bit curious about their life outside of the interaction they had with the main characters.
Ms. Gee has done a glorious job with this novel and I congratulate her for its success. The intrigue of the story remains in my head as a record player turning a disc on a turntable.
This book is perfect for anyone in search of troubled characters, with strong relationship arcs. It is an excellent dark, enemies to lovers trope with a tinged of mystery in between.
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. Of course, I would strongly recommend getting this novel.
November 23, 2020
A bittersweet love story of two obviously fated lovers. Vin was drawn to to Zaya despite his antipathy toward her, his psychological ill-treatment of her. Zaya, consumed with guilt over a misdeed she caused, allowed his treatment, accepted it. This is a story of overcoming and accepting your true love, coming to terms with the past.
This story will strike your heartstrings. It’s an emotional read. Lots of scene building, reflecting the quietness demonstrated with Zaya’s imposed muteness. There was this sense of isolation, darkness surrounding the main characters but particularly for the heroine, which cast melancholy on the story.
Simultaneously, I felt there was some room for character development. Difficult to explain. While I could feel the emotions in the story, I missed character connectedness. Additionally, the storyline was heavier on prose, making it feel more expository though I acknowledge the symbolic muteness in the storyline. I occasionally found myself skipping forward.
Still, this was a great story overall. Definitely left me feeling some kind of way. Bittersweet, long time coming happily ever after.
This story will strike your heartstrings. It’s an emotional read. Lots of scene building, reflecting the quietness demonstrated with Zaya’s imposed muteness. There was this sense of isolation, darkness surrounding the main characters but particularly for the heroine, which cast melancholy on the story.
Simultaneously, I felt there was some room for character development. Difficult to explain. While I could feel the emotions in the story, I missed character connectedness. Additionally, the storyline was heavier on prose, making it feel more expository though I acknowledge the symbolic muteness in the storyline. I occasionally found myself skipping forward.
Still, this was a great story overall. Definitely left me feeling some kind of way. Bittersweet, long time coming happily ever after.
September 26, 2020
...
Love it. Great bully enemies to lovers book. I do wonder what will happen with some of the other characters tho.
Love it. Great bully enemies to lovers book. I do wonder what will happen with some of the other characters tho.
November 22, 2023
who tf are the ppl on the cover? Isn't Zaya meant to be mixed race💀 That's not the same hot idiots i read about sorry.
Also a moment of appreciation for Lain and him not batting a single eyelash after suggesting to his friend that he poke holes in his condoms. Love that for him but will love his psycho ass more IN HIS OWN BOOK. Plz and thank you.
Also a moment of appreciation for Lain and him not batting a single eyelash after suggesting to his friend that he poke holes in his condoms. Love that for him but will love his psycho ass more IN HIS OWN BOOK. Plz and thank you.
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February 5, 2023
One big FAT question mark 😭 it was camp from chapter 10 to 23 and then chapter 24 and in comes POKING HOLES INTO A CONDOM TO GET THE WIFE PREGNANT AGAINST HER WILL....Vin is DUMB!
June 10, 2022
I think that this book has firmly put me back onto the bully trope train. I have been avoiding them for the last few years, but yeah, this one really did it for me. Thankfully I needed to read a book with a language barrier this month for a challenge I'm doing, because this has been on my shelf for way too long. And with a bit of some of my favorite tropes thrown in (forced/arranged marriage and interracial relationships), I felt like it was always going to be a winner, and it was. I have just recently (in the last few weeks) started watching The Vampire Diaries (I know, I'm late to the party...) and there were so many similarities that I wonder if the author didn't take some inspiration from that show/books. We had founding families, and the description of the characters just kept leading my brain back to characters in the show, as well as some other little details. But no matter where the inspo came from, I loved this book! There were a few inconsistencies throughout that got on my nerves, as well as some minor and infrequent errors, but still a great read.
April 14, 2021
"I have always loved him, even when I hated him."
This enemies to lovers trope was a pretty enjoyable read, and an emotional page-turner filled with hot chemistry, and dual povs. Here is another one for the grown-ass adults who love young adult reads and bad boys, that would be me lol, and especially ifs it's Y/Ato N/A. Any book with a WOC as the main character I'm so here for it. Seriously, we need more! This is a new author that I'm looking forward to reading more of.
Happy Reading Friends!
This enemies to lovers trope was a pretty enjoyable read, and an emotional page-turner filled with hot chemistry, and dual povs. Here is another one for the grown-ass adults who love young adult reads and bad boys, that would be me lol, and especially ifs it's Y/Ato N/A. Any book with a WOC as the main character I'm so here for it. Seriously, we need more! This is a new author that I'm looking forward to reading more of.
Happy Reading Friends!
August 29, 2020
Necessary Cruelty was an extremely interesting book! If you have read any of my other reviews you know that I *LOVE* Bully Romances and was excited when I read this blurb. Ashley Gee did a really unique spin on bully romances and I dug the over all story line even though it is pretty dark-but I liked that, haha. The characters were pretty legit as well!
If you like the grittiness of bully romances but want something a little different, I recommend you check out Necessary Cruelty. There were a few things that I would have liked to seen more of, but all in all, I enjoyed the book and give it 4 outta 5 stars!
PS: Thank you to Ashley Gee and Give Me Books PR for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly!
If you like the grittiness of bully romances but want something a little different, I recommend you check out Necessary Cruelty. There were a few things that I would have liked to seen more of, but all in all, I enjoyed the book and give it 4 outta 5 stars!
PS: Thank you to Ashley Gee and Give Me Books PR for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly!
read-e-books
September 19, 2020Zaya and Vin
June 1, 2022
Their love sneakily advanced on tippy toes while the ground creaked so loud even the deaf would hear. A love so clear it blinded them— so they latched onto hate. Because living without the other was so unbearable compared to the pain they inflicted on each other.
My, how I love this book.
From bully romance, to enemies to lovers, finally into arranged marriage. And a sprinkle of forced pregnancy. OH and the PLOT TWIST. My friend… the plot twist was chef’s kiss.
Vin and Zaya have my heart— and Emma.
If you loved ‘Evil Love by Ella Fields’ this is the book for you!
Aaahhh I’m just so happy. The feeling a good book leaves with you is unmatchable— and this book delivered.
————————
Relationship: ❤️❤️❤️.5
Spice: 🌶🌶.5
Plot development: 📚📚📚
Dark romance: 🖤
My, how I love this book.
From bully romance, to enemies to lovers, finally into arranged marriage. And a sprinkle of forced pregnancy. OH and the PLOT TWIST. My friend… the plot twist was chef’s kiss.
Vin and Zaya have my heart— and Emma.
If you loved ‘Evil Love by Ella Fields’ this is the book for you!
Aaahhh I’m just so happy. The feeling a good book leaves with you is unmatchable— and this book delivered.
————————
Relationship: ❤️❤️❤️.5
Spice: 🌶🌶.5
Plot development: 📚📚📚
Dark romance: 🖤
September 8, 2020
This one just didn't do it for me. There were pacing issues and the plot could use tightening up. Probably would benefit from another round of editing.
August 17, 2020
4.5 cruel stars!!
I LOVED IT!!!!
Bully/ enemies to lovers has become such a popular trope and it is definitely one of my favourite storylines to read. Saying this, it also means that there is a lot of stories that just don't meet the mark and they also start to sound all the same.
Necessary Cruelty was not like all of the others. The story line was pretty unique in my opinion which was a breath of fresh air and I was absolutely hooked as soon as I finished the prologue.
Vin was as cruel as they come. I honestly felt so sorry for Zaya and everything that she was put through and had to deal with. But a part of me was also so disappointed with her for putting up with it. Specially with what happens in the dark.
BUT let me tell you!!! What happens in the dark (well not only in the dark) is HOT HOT HOT! Wowsers! *fans self! My kindle was on fire!!!
Necessary Cruelty is enemies to lovers at its finest!!! I think this is Ashley Gee's debut novel and for a first book, it is honestly amazing!! I loved every bit of it. There was a serious twist that you don't see coming and I was honestly shocked by what was revealed.
The only criticism I have in regards to this story, is that it seemed a little rushed towards the end. There was one scene in particular that I thought could have been drawn out a little more and felt a tad rushed. And there was also alot of internal monologue. I would have loved to have seen more interaction between the characters. But that is the only reason this book is not a 5 star read.
I found this book to be incredibly enjoyable and I can only imagine what this author is going to write for us next!!
Full review to come.
I LOVED IT!!!!
Bully/ enemies to lovers has become such a popular trope and it is definitely one of my favourite storylines to read. Saying this, it also means that there is a lot of stories that just don't meet the mark and they also start to sound all the same.
Necessary Cruelty was not like all of the others. The story line was pretty unique in my opinion which was a breath of fresh air and I was absolutely hooked as soon as I finished the prologue.
Vin was as cruel as they come. I honestly felt so sorry for Zaya and everything that she was put through and had to deal with. But a part of me was also so disappointed with her for putting up with it. Specially with what happens in the dark.
BUT let me tell you!!! What happens in the dark (well not only in the dark) is HOT HOT HOT! Wowsers! *fans self! My kindle was on fire!!!
Necessary Cruelty is enemies to lovers at its finest!!! I think this is Ashley Gee's debut novel and for a first book, it is honestly amazing!! I loved every bit of it. There was a serious twist that you don't see coming and I was honestly shocked by what was revealed.
The only criticism I have in regards to this story, is that it seemed a little rushed towards the end. There was one scene in particular that I thought could have been drawn out a little more and felt a tad rushed. And there was also alot of internal monologue. I would have loved to have seen more interaction between the characters. But that is the only reason this book is not a 5 star read.
I found this book to be incredibly enjoyable and I can only imagine what this author is going to write for us next!!
Full review to come.
August 31, 2020
Definitely enjoyed this book and will happily read more from this author! Loved how the h was a WOC. Everyone knows how I feel about my antiheroes so definitely loved Vin as well. Bully romances have always been my fav, but as I get older they seem to be a bit more ridiculous to grasp. You have to have these really extreme circumstances to justify why the H is so terrible to the h, and though sometimes this is done brilliantly, most of the time it always appears either way too ridiculous, or a bit lacking...for me at least. I'd say this book was a bit in the middle for me. I definitely enjoyed it and will re read, but the conflict was just too much for me to really believe it, or see why he hated her so much. Read the whole thing in one night, and really enjoyed it overall! As always if anyone can recommend books with woc leads comment please and thank you! <3
August 27, 2020
‘𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙮 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨.‘
I loved this book. When I first picked it up, I figured I’d do a little bit of reading and then go on about my day and come back to it.
WRONG. I WAS WRONG.
I was absolutely consumed and HAD to keep reading. Nothing got done. Not a chore, not a meal cooked, absolutely nothing.
The chemistry between the MC’s, the plot line of the story, it all kept me turning pages, all the way to the very end.
I will say that this genre has rapidly become my favorite, and because of that, I come across a lot, but this one was just so well developed.
I was gripped. Rocked to the core. I absolutely cannot wait for more from this author.
I loved this book. When I first picked it up, I figured I’d do a little bit of reading and then go on about my day and come back to it.
WRONG. I WAS WRONG.
I was absolutely consumed and HAD to keep reading. Nothing got done. Not a chore, not a meal cooked, absolutely nothing.
The chemistry between the MC’s, the plot line of the story, it all kept me turning pages, all the way to the very end.
I will say that this genre has rapidly become my favorite, and because of that, I come across a lot, but this one was just so well developed.
I was gripped. Rocked to the core. I absolutely cannot wait for more from this author.
November 1, 2021
I really, really enjoyed this book by an author new to me. I loved the concept of the anti-hero banning the heroine from talking to anyone (or being talked to) and how we weren't sure why at first. I thought the writing was really smart and I enjoyed the interplay between Vin and Zaya a ton. There was something missing that I can't quite put my finger on - that and about 50 proofreading errors keep me from giving it five stars - and it could use a little more/more detailed steamy scenes for my tastes. I am extremely interested in reading books about the other VICE Lords, especially the one with the most page time in this book, Iain. Always happy to discover a talented author I haven't read before, so will be eagerly adding her other books to my TBR too.
March 25, 2021
OMG! OMG! OMG!
WHAT A BOOK!!!
It has been a while since a book has captured my interest and my heart in such a way. I started reading it yesterday and could not put it down until I finished it, literally, in one setting.
What can I say? I am a sucker for a good "enemies to lovers" Romance and oh, boy the author did NOT disappoint!
Let´s start with the characters, because I can´t get enough of them and they´re perfect for each other:
Zaya:
I really liked Zaya. I liked how strong she was, even though at first glance it wouldn´t seem like that. I liked that she would do anything for her family, how she handled everything, mostly how she handled Vin. She is beautiful, inside and out. And it´s no secret why Vin would fall in love with her. She is most definitely one of my all time favorite heroines.
And then there´s Vin:
Like I said, I enjoy a good "enemies to lovers" or "bullies to romance" book and for that you obviously need a pretentious, arrogant, thinks-he-owns-the-whole-fucking-world kind of a hero. All of that and even more is Vincent Cortland.
I know a lot of people wouldn´t like or understand his behaviour and I really can´t explain why, but from the first page on he had my heart. Even when he was being a total ass to sweet Zaya I somehow felt sympathy for him.
Ashley Gee has a way with her words and how she created this complex character, you just can´t help but fall in love with him!
Seriously, you need to read this book!
Needless to say it left with me a huge book hangover, I cannot get enough of Zaya and Vin´s story and would love to read more about them! Hoping Ashley Gee will write another book about them! ;)
WHAT A BOOK!!!
It has been a while since a book has captured my interest and my heart in such a way. I started reading it yesterday and could not put it down until I finished it, literally, in one setting.
What can I say? I am a sucker for a good "enemies to lovers" Romance and oh, boy the author did NOT disappoint!
Let´s start with the characters, because I can´t get enough of them and they´re perfect for each other:
Zaya:
I really liked Zaya. I liked how strong she was, even though at first glance it wouldn´t seem like that. I liked that she would do anything for her family, how she handled everything, mostly how she handled Vin. She is beautiful, inside and out. And it´s no secret why Vin would fall in love with her. She is most definitely one of my all time favorite heroines.
And then there´s Vin:
Like I said, I enjoy a good "enemies to lovers" or "bullies to romance" book and for that you obviously need a pretentious, arrogant, thinks-he-owns-the-whole-fucking-world kind of a hero. All of that and even more is Vincent Cortland.
I know a lot of people wouldn´t like or understand his behaviour and I really can´t explain why, but from the first page on he had my heart. Even when he was being a total ass to sweet Zaya I somehow felt sympathy for him.
Ashley Gee has a way with her words and how she created this complex character, you just can´t help but fall in love with him!
Seriously, you need to read this book!
Needless to say it left with me a huge book hangover, I cannot get enough of Zaya and Vin´s story and would love to read more about them! Hoping Ashley Gee will write another book about them! ;)
January 8, 2022
Man that Prologue grabbed onto me and did NOT let go, I was so excited!
This book started off promising, but the first half was a bit difficult to get through. I don’t know if tedious is the right word, but it was a lot and it took me a long time to finally get through it.
The plot was very heavy on the difficulty of the life of our heroine and the brutal way our Hero treats her. With that being said, when they finally realized their feelings for each other (even though they have a history with each other since elementary school) it felt very insta love-ish. On one page our Hero was saying and doing things that were so hurtful, and yet a couple pages later our heroine realizes she loves him and the a couple pages later he realizes the same thing. Then three weeks go by (off page) they have both decided to themselves that they’re in it forever and poof the climax of the book happens and then we have our epilogue…..
If we’re going to go through such a brutal time during the first 70ish% of the book, we need more of a buildup of the culmination of their love and more sweetness.
Overall though, it was still a fairly enjoyable read and I do like the authors writing.
3 stars.
This book started off promising, but the first half was a bit difficult to get through. I don’t know if tedious is the right word, but it was a lot and it took me a long time to finally get through it.
The plot was very heavy on the difficulty of the life of our heroine and the brutal way our Hero treats her. With that being said, when they finally realized their feelings for each other (even though they have a history with each other since elementary school) it felt very insta love-ish. On one page our Hero was saying and doing things that were so hurtful, and yet a couple pages later our heroine realizes she loves him and the a couple pages later he realizes the same thing. Then three weeks go by (off page) they have both decided to themselves that they’re in it forever and poof the climax of the book happens and then we have our epilogue…..
If we’re going to go through such a brutal time during the first 70ish% of the book, we need more of a buildup of the culmination of their love and more sweetness.
Overall though, it was still a fairly enjoyable read and I do like the authors writing.
3 stars.
August 20, 2020
Wow, this story was just fantastic. I loved the characters so much..... Vin was your sexy, broody, obsessed and controlling alpha who enjoyed controlling Zaya in every aspect he could, their chemistry was super hot, despite what he puts her through! I loved their interactions as well as their internal thoughts. The dual POV really worked, it was genuinely one of the most well written books I've read in a while....i just couldn't put it down!!
The story definitely has some dark themes, so be warned, its also full of suspense....bully romance at its best!! This was my first book by this author and i cant wait to read more!!
If you like twisted bully romance, full of suspense, sizzling chemistry and a storyline that has you flipping those pages then you need to read this book!!! 5 huge stars ⭐
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story definitely has some dark themes, so be warned, its also full of suspense....bully romance at its best!! This was my first book by this author and i cant wait to read more!!
If you like twisted bully romance, full of suspense, sizzling chemistry and a storyline that has you flipping those pages then you need to read this book!!! 5 huge stars ⭐
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 7, 2020
This story had some great moments. I also thought it was very dark and there wasn’t much to like about him for a great deal of the story. The front half of the story took me by surprise because though I expected darkness, I didn’t expect it to be that dark. The last half of the story was more my speed and I found that I did enjoy it overall.
June 26, 2023
it was soo boring. I was promised angst and I got none of it
December 1, 2020
Dark it says and dark you shall receive. I tried to rate the book based on how good it was for its genre this time. It helped to think of this as a melodramatic soap opera or a telenovela instead of a literary classic. There were a couple of way too dark scenes for me but overall, I liked it! I read it all pretty quickly and was very invested in what was going to happen next. I recently have grown to have a dislike for books set in high school but they barely spent time there.
Zaya
At first, Zaya was so irritating. Her spine was as straight as a wet noodle. I hate having to read about little passive women who just go with the crumble. But I did eventually warm up to her as she showed her backbone and demanded her rights. I am pretty much a sucker for enemies to lovers.
Vin
What a drama king! He needs major therapy I tell you. It was nice to see his character growth and that his basis for liking her wasn't just "she's the only girl who doesn't like me" I think of all the silly bully romance books I have read he did have a semi-legitimate reason to dislike Zaya. .
All of my complaints are spoilers. If you pretend these facts don't exist (just skip them because let's face it, they are not really that important to the plot) then the book is great!
So was it entertaining? Yes, especially if you like dramatic lifetime dramas! should you look up to this couple? Not until the last few pages! They need therapy.
Zaya
At first, Zaya was so irritating. Her spine was as straight as a wet noodle. I hate having to read about little passive women who just go with the crumble. But I did eventually warm up to her as she showed her backbone and demanded her rights. I am pretty much a sucker for enemies to lovers.
Vin
What a drama king! He needs major therapy I tell you. It was nice to see his character growth and that his basis for liking her wasn't just "she's the only girl who doesn't like me" I think of all the silly bully romance books I have read he did have a semi-legitimate reason to dislike Zaya. .
All of my complaints are spoilers. If you pretend these facts don't exist (just skip them because let's face it, they are not really that important to the plot) then the book is great!
So was it entertaining? Yes, especially if you like dramatic lifetime dramas! should you look up to this couple? Not until the last few pages! They need therapy.
July 22, 2025
He was a little shit but it was a good ending.
July 14, 2025
I don’t know I feel about this but at least it was an HEA
November 30, 2022
That's probably one of the worst books I have ever read and definitely the worst one I read this year.
[I ABSOLUTELY love that the heroine is mixed race and then you ruin this in putting a white girl on the cover?! Makes no sense.]
I have nothing positive to say about this book. The plot is stupid. The story is filled with inconsistencies.
The asshole's family owns the town, they can enter Zaya's house freely and renovate it, but the high school is a shithole. Huh? Zaya is no allowed to speak (twisted Ariel spotted) but when she's home, she doesn't even bother to talk to her lonely grand-father?! That's nice. Both were 8 when the asshole nearly died and he still hold grudges against her years later? Who made the oil? Was it bought somewhere? Did Giselle make it? Did Zaya's mother make it? Why did no one never see anything? How can a woman disappear on the day the kid she looks after nearly dies and the authorities don't look for her? The asshole find her in 3 seconds!!! Why his father doesn't try to look for her if he's that powerful and rich? How can a single woman kill and make the body disappear of her own?
The town seems small as there's only one high school and he began to bully her during freshman year in high school, but what happened before? They both went to middle school, did she have any friends then? Where are they?
Talking about the town, it's badly described and to me, it looks like one of these paranormal cities where the gifted live in a beautiful shiny and sunny town and the poor mortals live in a foggy dump.
Too many easy questions without answers. Nothing makes sense.
The "hero" is an abusive rapist vile person and the heroine is really dumb. She only has to look at his perfect face or his abs to forget the hell he put her through for years.
If the main character has no respect for herself, how is the reader suppose to feel some for her?
I have no interest in the other psychopaths/friends stories. I liked Amelia though but if it's to read another abusive story, I'm out.
[I ABSOLUTELY love that the heroine is mixed race and then you ruin this in putting a white girl on the cover?! Makes no sense.]
I have nothing positive to say about this book. The plot is stupid. The story is filled with inconsistencies.
The asshole's family owns the town, they can enter Zaya's house freely and renovate it, but the high school is a shithole. Huh? Zaya is no allowed to speak (twisted Ariel spotted) but when she's home, she doesn't even bother to talk to her lonely grand-father?! That's nice. Both were 8 when the asshole nearly died and he still hold grudges against her years later? Who made the oil? Was it bought somewhere? Did Giselle make it? Did Zaya's mother make it? Why did no one never see anything? How can a woman disappear on the day the kid she looks after nearly dies and the authorities don't look for her? The asshole find her in 3 seconds!!! Why his father doesn't try to look for her if he's that powerful and rich? How can a single woman kill and make the body disappear of her own?
The town seems small as there's only one high school and he began to bully her during freshman year in high school, but what happened before? They both went to middle school, did she have any friends then? Where are they?
Talking about the town, it's badly described and to me, it looks like one of these paranormal cities where the gifted live in a beautiful shiny and sunny town and the poor mortals live in a foggy dump.
Too many easy questions without answers. Nothing makes sense.
The "hero" is an abusive rapist vile person and the heroine is really dumb. She only has to look at his perfect face or his abs to forget the hell he put her through for years.
If the main character has no respect for herself, how is the reader suppose to feel some for her?
I have no interest in the other psychopaths/friends stories. I liked Amelia though but if it's to read another abusive story, I'm out.
Read
November 4, 2020oh god I think the writer did this unconsciously and did not understand what she wrote when she wrote it but this is a legit line in the book “Vin eyes me appreciatively from where I’m standing at the stove. For him, the paisley printed apron I’m wearing might as well be lingerie. Maybe it’s because he never had a real mother, but watching me pretend to be a housewife is the sexiest thing he can imagine.”
Freud would have a field day .
About the story -
The whole relationship seemed so weird. They were literally hating on each other and then out of nowhere they start loving ? The whole premise of him not letting anyone do anything to her seemed promising but it wasn’t followed up by the H’s obsessive or possessive feelings . So it just felt like a waste. Both he MCs had no connect IMO .
Freud would have a field day .
About the story -
The whole relationship seemed so weird. They were literally hating on each other and then out of nowhere they start loving ? The whole premise of him not letting anyone do anything to her seemed promising but it wasn’t followed up by the H’s obsessive or possessive feelings . So it just felt like a waste. Both he MCs had no connect IMO .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2021
This book was absolutely amazing. I highly recommend it. It was the first book I read by this author so I wasn't sure what to expect but by the time I finished it, it ended up being the best book I read so far this year. It's extremely well-written and engaging, flows very easily, there's so much chemistry between the two main characters Zaya and Vincent (which we all know is the secret for all great romance stories) and a tinge of mystery with some unpredictable twists and turns you will not see coming. A warning: I wouldn't say this story is a dark read but it does contain some dark elements (which I personally love in romances but that's me) so keep that in mind. I'm honestly so looking forward to reading more books by Ashley Gee. Keep up the great work!
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