Wrecked Rose

Rosehaven Academy #7

by Leila James

Max Sutton
Confident, witty charmer. Out and proud.
I never expected him to cross my mind.

One kiss wrecked me for anyone else.
And now he consumes all my thoughts.

If people find out, my world explodes.
He doesn’t want to hide us.
And I want him … but I might have to choose her.

Welcome back to Rosehaven Academy.
This is a mature new adult high school series and contains situations that some readers might find offensive.
This book is book 1 of a duet and ends on a CLIFFHANGER. Book 8, Fearless Rose, releases August 2021.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, High School, Friends To Lovers, College

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2021

Reviews

[ivy]

“Sorry I stuck my tongue in your mouth. Again. Sorry I got both of us hard. Sorry I keep pulling you in, only to shove you away.”

That about sums it up
….and I was enjoying it until that cliffhanger ending. No, just no, I’m kind of angry. That was an MF romance move. I get it because it’s an MM duology in the middle of an MF series but no.
2.5 ⭐️

[Michelle Mastandrea]

This forbidden MM romance is intense, consuming, and BEYOND HOT! Not only was Max's story worth the wait, it's going to WRECK you in the best possible way!!

I knew from the start that this story was going to be something different, something special, I had no idea just how much....and how much I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!

Throughout this series Max has been a constant presence of loyalty and support to his circle of  friends. He's an out and proud kind of guy with no shame in his man game. His trademark wit, charm, and humor made him a favorite character of mine from the very beginning  and I was on the edge of my seat to see who Leila was going to pair him with! When his interest was finally revealed in this book...well, let's just say that my reaction was LEGENDARY!!.....

He (who shall not be named yet 😉) is the ultimate dreamboat and never expected Max Sutton to turn his eye. As his attraction grows, so do the feelings of confusion and acceptance. It might be a bad idea but, he's finding himself unable to stop wanting to explore a real relationship with Max. For the very first time, he cares about someone and something he's never had...

This story is a journey filled with uncertainty, trepidation, and plenty of obstacles. It's a river of feelings that you're going to want to dive into.
As these two characters bare their real selves, complete  with a raw vulnerability and stark truths, it's really something special to behold. Don't even get me started on the sexy times which were deliciously sinful and so DAMN HOT! 🔥🔥🔥

Regardless if MM romance is not your thing, these two characters are so perfect for one another that you just feel it! Two halves of one whole, they're simply electric together and light up each and every page!

Of course Leila couldn't leave these two alone in their happy little bubble just yet without her signature WTH cliffhanger! Now, I am dying for the rest of this duet. The forbidden love, the emotions, and delicious drama of it all ....just FREAKING AMAZING and I can't wait!! This book was the ULTIMATE series GAME CHANGER  and I am so here for ALL OF IT!

*I was generously given an ARC copy of this book by the author for an honest review *

[Lisa Kniceley]

Well this book caught me off guard for sure But as always I could not put it down till I finished it. This book as the others in the series kept me turning pages till I was at the end. So many twists in the plot. I could feel the emotions of the main characters and as always there were lots of friends around to support them. The ending, I did NOT see coming, as with all her 1st books of a 2 book story it leaves you wanting to know what happened NOW !!! ❤❤❤

[Claire Walker]

This book is an M/M romance, set in Rosehaven Academy. Book 1 in this duet and book 7 in the series. All the books are interconnected duets.
Arghhh....... My excitement for this book is at an all time high! Completely sucked me in from the very start.
Leila definitely knows how to bring the steam, drama, turmoil, angst, it has it all. You can go from needing a very cold shower, to laughing, to wanting to throw your iPad! I love how it brings out so many different emotions.
I can not tell you how much I just can’t wait for the second part of this duet. It’s right up there with one of my best reads.
Just when you think things might be looking up..... BAM. It’s like a sucker punch to the gut. Completely slaps you right in the face!
What the hell was that cliffhanger?! Wow i did not see it coming but I can not wait to see how this plays out. Your killing me, I need the next one ASAP

[Peggy Hogan]

This book was so good! I had been dying to read Max's story, and it went above and beyond my expectations! Leila James is an excellent storyteller, and this one, along with all of her books, was extremely well-written, and honestly kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end! I absolutely cannot wait until August when I get my hands on the second book in this duet! Highly recommended!

I received an ARC from the author, and this voluntary review is my honest opinion of Wrecked Rose.

[Ashley Reeves]

This book was freaking amazing. I love Max and have been waiting for him to get his fairytale love story. The difficulties and struggles he faced being a gay man and helping his love interest be comfortable with coming out of the closet and exclaiming that he is bi-sexual and showing his affection for Max. Finding out who Max’s secret lover had me jumping up and down with giddiness because I absolutely love him as well and feel they are perfect for each other. The cliffhanger at the end had me screaming that I needed more. I love this series of books and cannot wait to read the next one so that I can be sitting at the edge of my seat biting my nail to see what happens next.

[Debbie Ohrem]

This is such a hard review to write without spoiling any of the amazingness within this book! I’ve been waiting for Max’s story and let me tell you, it didn’t disappoint!! I’m not typically a reader of MM romance but OMG Max and (not telling you) are pure fire!!

[Brandi-Lynn Weiser]

Oh my god, my jaw is on the floor and my heart is pounding after that cliffhanger ending. All I can think about is poor Max. This book was good, emotional and angsty, and so different from the others. I love both Max and Griff, and all I can hope is that things aren’t what they seem right now.

[Tina]

I liked this. I haven't read this m/f series so it took me a while to be familiar with the characters. The slowburn chemistry between the mcs was written well. I did wish there was a sex scene between them and I skipped over some parts. This does end in a cliffhanger but I don't care much for the ending. I believe this is the author's 1st m/m book. I would read another one of hers.

[Gemsbookishvibe]

This is the first MM book I’ve ever read and it was awesome. I won’t tell you who the life interest is, but I will say I’m so glad it was him. Max and LI are so good together.

Max is so confident in his sexuality and it has been clear from the last couple of books in the series, that there has been a vibe between them. This story is about a straight (or seemingly straight) guy warring with his feelings over a man.

For me it’s a great first book in the duet as the characters are well-written, the sub plot is good and there are some pretty angsty moments.

The ending is a massive cliffhanger and to be honest even though I knew a cliffhanger was coming, as this was the style of the previous books), I didn’t expect the doozy that Leila James has written

I need the next book, as there are so many things up in the air.

I highly recommend

[Jennifer Beegle]

This was my first MM book. Let me tell you.. I am NOT disappointed one single bit! These 2 are HOT! Max is the out and proud BFF that we all wish we had and his main man is perfect for him! No spoilers here so you’re just gonna have to read and find out who Max gets matched to. But don’t worry.. The Rosehaven cliffhangers are alive and kickin! And trust me when I say, this one will kick you right in the jaw! I can’t wait for the conclusion to this story!

[Dori Fox]

Oh Max. I have waited for your story and it did not disappoint. This book was hot and kept me on the edge of my seat. I am still there waiting to read the end and can not wait for it. Every book from Leila James’s Rosehaven series is a must read but Max just has this special place in my heart. So damn good.

[Kimberly Karma]

Max is the Best friend Everyone wants! He’s the whole package and happens to be gay.So this is an exciting journey, and the question is “will Max ever find Real love??”
Seriously, I couldn’t put it down because it’s hot, angsty and so unnerving, that you can’t wait to see what happens next!!
Max’s story Literally Has All The Feels!!!
This M/M book opened my eyes to so many things that I Never gave a single thought too… So for me, this turned out to be very personal. I actually feel like a better person now that I have a much better understanding! Annd yup this was my 1st M/M book and I couldn’t be happier that I put aside my preconceived notions and I had the courage to read it. Because this is a fantastic storyline and I’m excited to see what’s next!!
5 stars baby!!!

[Kayla Pocernich]

I'm so glad that Max finally got his story and it was worth the wait. Max and his mystery man are so cute together. This book had me hooked from the very first page and the attraction that these two had towards each other was insanely off the charts hot. The banter between these two could go on forever and the moments that they spent together was amazing. If you think I'm going to tell you who it is you will just have to wait for this book to come out. Add this book to your TBR list and you won't be disappointed.

[Stephanie Hutchison]

Full disclosure up front. This one has a cliffhanger.

Another disclosure. This book is M/M. Although fairly tame by romance standards, it is there.

Wow. I'm not even sure where to start. How do I find the appropriate words and NOT give away Max's hero? I just want to word vomit the entire story.

If you have read the other Rosehaven Academy books, you are quite familiar with Max. If you haven't read them…. What is taking you so long?

Book 1 of Max's story is all about the buildup to what is most likely going to be a explosion of huge magnitude. When the guy he's crushing on realizes he may not be as straight as what he thought. And when they are ready to cross that line - to make it public, that cliffhanger happens. And it's a doozy.

[Savannah Medina]

Oh. My. Max! Max has been one of my absolute FAVORITE characters throughout the series and I am PSYCHED to get to read his HEA! This is a definite Cliffie, and it knocked the wind out of me! Oh my gosh, I hope you're prepared for some serious roller-coaster moments & intense emotions! Devastatingly handsome main characters, solid friendships, loyal buddies, bullying, heartache, surprise announcements, it's all here.Honestly this is the first MM I've read, and I was actually surprised by how much I liked it! Oh my Max, I'll be here, anxiously awaiting the next book so I can see how this all gets resolved & watch you get your happy ever after!

[Tina]

I've been powering through this series because it's addicting!! I don't think I can review each of these books, but will come back and make a proper review about them.
But.. I just need to point out...when Griff grabs Matt's face and hauls him in for their first kiss... it was everything! That tension build up that Leila James created and this pay off of a kiss is EPIC.

[yaishin]

This is so boring. That cliffhanger is enough to make me start the next book but I'm not getting my hopes up.

[Ari Romance 🥰]

This was bad , boring , just bad 🤦🏾‍♀️

[Brittany (happy.ending.always)]

Absolutely fantastic! This book deserves 6 stars! I have loved Max from the very beginning! The raw emotion from this book blew me away. I was sobbing at times. One part of the book, I was crying so hard I had to stop, take a breathe and then could go back to reading. It blew me away. It was so beautifully written.

The cover is absolutely beautiful! I wasn’t sure how this book would go. Max’s love interest is a secret. There is no clues leading up to who it could be in the other books, so it was an awesome shocker who it actually was. You will find out who it is in this book but I want you to read it for yourself because it blew me away.

I love this series so much. Each set of books I think I say this is my favorite, but I truly think this book and the book that follows will actually be my favorites. There are so many twists I didn’t see coming. So many ups and so many downs. I couldn’t read fast enough. I mean it when I say it was a beautiful emotional rollercoaster. Get ready for an epic ride because the cliffhanger left my mouth on the floor and it is still there as I am sooooo shocked by the ending. Eeekk, sooo good! An absolute must read!

[M Mendes Bookstagram]

O.M.G….Wrecked Rose 🥀 is an excellent addition to the Rosehaven Academy Series!! Leila James, author, has become one of my favorite authors because of how much I have come to love the Rosehaven Academy crew!! Leila is an excellent author that writes stories that have characters that are personable, well rounded, down to earth, realistic, and well loved. Her characters all have histories and personalities traits and characteristics that make them easy to love, empathize, and relate to. Wrecked Rose 🥀 is a perfect example of that. Wrecked Rose 🥀 is a M/M (LGBTQ+) romance that shows what some young men who struggle with their sexuality and identity. Wrecked Rose 🥀 also shows some of the external challenges that they are faced with like prejudices, identity, etc. I feel that Leila did a wonderful job with Griff and what he is going through and the challenges he faces. Back to Wrecked Rose 🥀….all I can says is O.M.G…to the cliffhanger at the end of Wrecked Rose 🥀 I knew it would be a good one as Leila is very good with keeping readers engaged and hanging on every word but I did not see the cliffhanger coming at all for Wrecked Rose 🥀. I am going to stop my review here as I can’t wait any longer to dive into Fearless Rose 🥀!! I am so so glad that I don’t have to wait for it to be released and so very, very thankful I am part of Leila’s ARC team!! I highly recommend Wrecked Rose 🥀, Rosehaven Academy Series, and Leila James as an author. If you have not read any books from Leila I highly recommend starting with Savage Rose or if you would like to read Wrecked Rose be aware that it is part of the Rosehaven Academy series and it the first part of Max’s and Griff’s story (most of the couples in the Rosehaven Academy series have two books dedicated to them) and Fearless Rose 🥀 is part two. Enjoy your reading!!

[Misty Schott]

Loving Max and Griff's story so far.

Max is a very Outspoken guy especially when it comes to his sexual orientation, he has no qualms letting everyone know "he's gay and he's proud". Now the guy Max is crushing on, Griff, he seems to be completely into girls. Then Griff seems to start showing interest in Max and things get heated between them, but Griff isn't quite ready for everyone else to know he likes a guy. This is a great start to their story and I'm looking forward to reading the conclusion of their story in Fearless Rose.

[Rudy.reader]

Max has always been one of my favorite characters and this well it just didn't dissapoint, the emotional roller-coaster this book takes you on keeps you breathless and anticipating what's going to happen next. And can't have a roller coaster ride without a signature cliffhanger. Wow. I need to know what's going to happen.

[Ava B]

God what a ride of emotions with this book. I was thrilled to finally get to Max's story, and it certainly did not disappoint. And I was so pumped about his love interest being someone I had suspected. That cliffhanger though. Can't wait to read the conclusion of Max's story.

[Sarah Bradburn]

Wow!!!!

I am here for this couple! This book was so full of steam, angst and drama but it is wrote so beautifully and sensitively. I need more from these two!!

[Tammy Manning]

This book is an absolute whirlwind of emotions. And angst. Seriously, all of the angst. I have loved Max from the moment that we met him in Savage Rose and I was so happy that he was finally getting a love interest. While I had a feeling I knew who this love interest was going to end up being, we don’t know anything for sure until this book, and no I’m not going to say who it is, you’re just going to have to read the book to find out.

I loved finding out more about Max and meeting his parents, who by the way may be some of the best parents ever! But can I just say I don’t who I feel worse for in this book, Max or his love interest. Max because at first he’s trying to get over his feelings for this guy and then trying to give him time to comes terms with everything and decide what he wants. And his love interest because the feelings that he’s having for Max are completely new to him since he has always thought that he was completely heterosexual. Which means that this guy is trying to figure out exactly what he’s feeling and then dealing with the fear of what it means to come out of the proverbial closet. It doesn’t help that he has some asshole friends that have recently shown exactly how homophobic they are.

All I’m saying is buckle up because your emotions are going to be all over the place reading this book. I’m a very empathetic reader and I feel like this book has made me cry more than any other in this series. And the bombshell dropped at the end has me absolutely shell shocked. Let’s just say that I’m glad the next book is already out since I can go start that. Speaking of which, I’m going to go do that now!

[Katie]

Wild Ride of Emotions & Hard Life Decisions

This story is very powerful. It deals with the LGBTQIA community and how hard it can be for young men to come out. This story follows Max & Griffin and their feelings surrounding each other. Max is openly gay and has embraced who he is and has no problem being out. He has confidence and is secure in his sexuality hurt he issue is he’s attracted to Griffin with such deep desire he’s not sure how to take it all in. Griff flirts a lot and is a super nice guy but there are moments where he’s with Max that emotions get crossed and Max isn’t sure what to do about it. Griff has shown interest in Max but he’s also attracted to girls but what he’s feeling for Max is different and he wants to explore it but he doesn’t know how to do that. This is a powerful story and deals with tough issues and hard choices but they are dealt with such intimacy and makes the story that much more powerful. There story is just beginning and it concludes in book 8 and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. Happy Reading!!!

[Wendy Livingstone]

This is the 7th book in this phenomenal series, and is Max’s story, and what a take this is!! Max is charming, witty, and out and proud of it, and a kiss changes the dynamics off everything. Max’s love interest is a mystery man, who is left conflicted by his own feelings. No spoilers: - you will need to read this to find out who the mystery man could be! This is a well written flawless story which is raw, gritty, and an emotional roller coaster throughout, as well as being filled with witty banter, twists, surprises, friendships, and love, which all leads to an entertaining and riveting page turner. After that epic whammy of a cliffhanger, I cannot wait to read more from this gifted author, whose work I highly recommend.

[Tiffaney]

Part one of a duet and book seven in a series.

I hadn’t read the other previous MF books in this series. The story wasn’t hard to follow and the characters were not overwhelming for me to remember. So this book could be read as a standalone but would probably be best read as a series. Because the other characters and couples are mentioned and apart of the story.

I really enjoyed this book. The story flows really well and I found myself not wanting to put it down.

It’s a bit too low steam but the main characters have intense chemistry that was believable.

This does end in a cliffhanger but I have no doubt that Max and his guy will get their hea

[belladona]

Quite Angsty!

All the crazy rich kid HS drama. I jumped into this series with this as my first book and it wasn’t so bad as a stand alone. There are a ton of side characters and that was a touch overwhelming. We don’t get a lot of identifying about Griff and Max. I wasn’t detrimental to the story but a few times scenarios were referenced that I didn’t totally understand as they happened in a previous book. Despite all of that I enjoyed the slow burn push and pull between our MCs. Griff was understandably freaked out by his attraction to max and that definitely led to some understandable yet angsty moments. I’m eager to read the next book