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Never After #4
Twisted: A Never After Novel
She's his diamond in the rough. He's her worst nightmare.
Jasmine Karam, daughter to one of the richest men in the world, has never known strife. So, when her beloved father falls ill, she's determined to make his final days his happiest. His last wish? To see her married to a man of his choosing. Except Jasmine's heart already belongs to someone else. A servant. A street rat. A man her father would never consider worthy. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Jasmine strikes a desperate deal with her father's right-hand man, Julian, not realizing he has his own twisted agenda.
Julian Faraci has one goal: become the most powerful man in the world. He's built a future from broken bones and faded bruises, never caring who he hurt along the way. But when his mentor falls ill, he finds himself on the verge of losing everything, and he'll stop at nothing to inherit what is rightfully his. Even if it means forcing a woman he can't stand into marriage.
Jasmine is a brat who speaks out of turn, and he's the villain of her story. But he decides she'll be his—no matter what it takes to convince her.
*Twisted is a dark, contemporary romance (not fantasy or a literal retelling) and the fourth complete standalone in the Never After series: a collection of fractured fairy tales inspired by our favorite villains. It features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all readers. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.*
Jasmine Karam, daughter to one of the richest men in the world, has never known strife. So, when her beloved father falls ill, she's determined to make his final days his happiest. His last wish? To see her married to a man of his choosing. Except Jasmine's heart already belongs to someone else. A servant. A street rat. A man her father would never consider worthy. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Jasmine strikes a desperate deal with her father's right-hand man, Julian, not realizing he has his own twisted agenda.
Julian Faraci has one goal: become the most powerful man in the world. He's built a future from broken bones and faded bruises, never caring who he hurt along the way. But when his mentor falls ill, he finds himself on the verge of losing everything, and he'll stop at nothing to inherit what is rightfully his. Even if it means forcing a woman he can't stand into marriage.
Jasmine is a brat who speaks out of turn, and he's the villain of her story. But he decides she'll be his—no matter what it takes to convince her.
*Twisted is a dark, contemporary romance (not fantasy or a literal retelling) and the fourth complete standalone in the Never After series: a collection of fractured fairy tales inspired by our favorite villains. It features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all readers. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.*
1 pages, Audio CD
First published February 7, 2023
8275 people are currently reading
183443 people want to read
About the author
Emily McIntire
28 books28.9k followersEmily McIntire is a #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Romance where the stakes are impossible and the happily ever after is always worth the fight. Her books span sub-genres and have been translated into over a dozen languages, hitting bestseller lists around the world.
A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily in Tennessee with her family and her cats who think they run the house.
Sign up to Emily's Newsletter and get bonus content! -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
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A stage IV breast cancer thriver, you can find Emily in Tennessee with her family and her cats who think they run the house.
Sign up to Emily's Newsletter and get bonus content! -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Find Emily!
Newsletter sign up -> https://mailchi.mp/emilymcintire/sms-...
Reader Group -> https://www.facebook.com/groups/mcincult
Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/itsemilymci...
TikTok -> https://www.tiktok.com/@authoremilymc...
X -> https://www.x.com/authoremilym
Website -> https://www.emilymcintire.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,454 reviews
March 16, 2023
if I was forced to marry julian and he’d call me “my wife” on a daily basis I would crawl too just saying 🌝
July 1, 2023
5 STARS! 💎
This Book was too good! It's an Aladdin retelling! It's a mixture of so many tropes 😭 Forced marriage, enemies to lovers, age gap & touch her you die! 🥺
Spoilers Ahead 💎:
Yasmin Karam (23): Heiress to the Sultan Diamond Company and the only daughter of Ali Karam! She's a people pleaser and never does anything to disappoint her father!
Julian Faraci (36): He's the right-hand man of Yasmin's father and his most trusted person! He wants the whole Sultan's Empire for himself after the death of Ali Karam! In order to do that, he has to marry Yasmin, and he'll do anything to own the Sultan empire!
Plot: Yasmin's father wants her to marry someone quickly who can take care of the business and Yasmin after his death due to cancer! Yasmin is in love with a servant and her childhood best friend, Aidan, but she's afraid to disappoint her father! Julian wants the Sultan empire for himself. He deems himself worthy of inheriting it because he has worked really hard for it and thinks of Yasmin as a spoiled brat! The initial plan was to marry her, inherit everything, and kill her, but what he doesn't know is that he'll fall in love with her!
TBH, I love Julian! He's so fucking good! 😭 I imagined him the same as the fan art in the Author's Instagram account (itsemilymclntre). He was controlling, cocky, and a dangerous man! My heart broke for him after reading about his childhood! How his mother used to beat him just because of his father, and how he always put her first no matter what because he loved her! His childhood was so sad, and he wanted people to choose him because he had always put everyone first, but no one thought he was good enough! He was broken, and the little boy who needed the love of his parents was still trapped inside of him!
Yasmin was really nice and bold! She was up to no bullshit and gave Julian perfect comebacks and never cowered in front of him! She loved her father and needed his attention, and to do so, she did whatever she thought would make him proud! Her decisions were quick, and she regrets them, but I understand her! She wanted to complete her dying father's wish and wanted him to be happy! She had a big crush on Julian when she first saw him at the age of 15, but when she heard him talking badly about her to her father, SHE INSTANTLY HATED HIM! 🤧
The romance was so spicy, and there was a lot of sexual tension! All those little touches and dialogues between them were heated! And the romance growth was shown slowly. After 20% of the book, I WANTED THEM TOGETHER! Julian was so caring for Yasmin, and he loved her fiercely! ♥️😩
Also, I loved her friend Riya's character! She was a nice friend! But I hated Aidan! And I also didn't like how Yasmin's father did not trust her enough to leave everything to her alone! Anyways, THIS BOOK WAS TOO GOOD! 💖
FAVORITE LINES:
"You’re disgusting.”
And you’re pretty when you come,” I whisper.
(Okayayayayay 🫣)
Damn, She's beautiful.
God, He's attractive.
(Their thoughts about each other 🥵)
“You are so goddamn beautiful, do you know that?” he murmurs.
(Julian saying this for 100th time 🥺)
"Better get it together, patatino, or else the people here will think you’re my daddy and not my husband."
(His reply to her made me scream! 😭)
"Julian," she pleads
“Don’t interrupt me while I’m staring at my wife,”
(Wife ✨♥️🥺✨♥️✨)
"You are so fucking perfect. And so fucking mine."
(Julian PERFECT Faraci 🥵)
TW: Murder, Child abuse, Domestic violence, castration.
This Book was too good! It's an Aladdin retelling! It's a mixture of so many tropes 😭 Forced marriage, enemies to lovers, age gap & touch her you die! 🥺
Spoilers Ahead 💎:
Yasmin Karam (23): Heiress to the Sultan Diamond Company and the only daughter of Ali Karam! She's a people pleaser and never does anything to disappoint her father!
Julian Faraci (36): He's the right-hand man of Yasmin's father and his most trusted person! He wants the whole Sultan's Empire for himself after the death of Ali Karam! In order to do that, he has to marry Yasmin, and he'll do anything to own the Sultan empire!
Plot: Yasmin's father wants her to marry someone quickly who can take care of the business and Yasmin after his death due to cancer! Yasmin is in love with a servant and her childhood best friend, Aidan, but she's afraid to disappoint her father! Julian wants the Sultan empire for himself. He deems himself worthy of inheriting it because he has worked really hard for it and thinks of Yasmin as a spoiled brat! The initial plan was to marry her, inherit everything, and kill her, but what he doesn't know is that he'll fall in love with her!
TBH, I love Julian! He's so fucking good! 😭 I imagined him the same as the fan art in the Author's Instagram account (itsemilymclntre). He was controlling, cocky, and a dangerous man! My heart broke for him after reading about his childhood! How his mother used to beat him just because of his father, and how he always put her first no matter what because he loved her! His childhood was so sad, and he wanted people to choose him because he had always put everyone first, but no one thought he was good enough! He was broken, and the little boy who needed the love of his parents was still trapped inside of him!
Yasmin was really nice and bold! She was up to no bullshit and gave Julian perfect comebacks and never cowered in front of him! She loved her father and needed his attention, and to do so, she did whatever she thought would make him proud! Her decisions were quick, and she regrets them, but I understand her! She wanted to complete her dying father's wish and wanted him to be happy! She had a big crush on Julian when she first saw him at the age of 15, but when she heard him talking badly about her to her father, SHE INSTANTLY HATED HIM! 🤧
The romance was so spicy, and there was a lot of sexual tension! All those little touches and dialogues between them were heated! And the romance growth was shown slowly. After 20% of the book, I WANTED THEM TOGETHER! Julian was so caring for Yasmin, and he loved her fiercely! ♥️😩
Also, I loved her friend Riya's character! She was a nice friend! But I hated Aidan! And I also didn't like how Yasmin's father did not trust her enough to leave everything to her alone! Anyways, THIS BOOK WAS TOO GOOD! 💖
FAVORITE LINES:
"You’re disgusting.”
And you’re pretty when you come,” I whisper.
(Okayayayayay 🫣)
Damn, She's beautiful.
God, He's attractive.
(Their thoughts about each other 🥵)
“You are so goddamn beautiful, do you know that?” he murmurs.
(Julian saying this for 100th time 🥺)
"Better get it together, patatino, or else the people here will think you’re my daddy and not my husband."
(His reply to her made me scream! 😭)
"Julian," she pleads
“Don’t interrupt me while I’m staring at my wife,”
(Wife ✨♥️🥺✨♥️✨)
"You are so fucking perfect. And so fucking mine."
(Julian PERFECT Faraci 🥵)
TW: Murder, Child abuse, Domestic violence, castration.
February 19, 2023
You are so fucking perfect. And so fucking mine.
The chokehold Julian has me in? Yeah I’m fine staying in that.
Dear Lord. THE HYPE WAS SO WORTH IT.
Literally ate. Left zero crumbs.
I am seriously enjoying this series and I honestly don’t know which book is my favourite. Surely all 5 books of a series can be acceptable as equal favourites? (yes I am counting Crossed which we know absolutely nothing about because doi?)
Speaking of Crossed, Emily mentioned that there was teaser for Crossed in Twisted but I must be dumb as fuck cause where? Surely not Jennie right? (Also it took me almost the whole book to put together Jennie and Genie. I may be a dumb fuck actually.)
Not that Emily’s writing is bad (it’s amazing, please don’t come for me) but I feel like we’ve experienced her writing growth and her word play and just how she makes you feel with her words.
Twisted is loosely based on Aladdin and I 100% enjoyed it so much. I have been looking forward to this book since it was announced and could not wait to get my hands on it. And boy oh boy, y’all are gonna wanna meet Julian.
“Please.” I wave my arm dramatically before shutting the door behind him. “Make yourself at home.”
He plops down on my bed, his body bouncing slightly on the mattress. “Such a wonderful host. Do you always welcome men into your bed so lovingly?”
I squint my eyes, irritation stabbing at my middle like a dull knife. “Are you implying I’m a whore?”
His head jerks back. “That’s a pretty wild conclusion to take from what I said. Are you sure you don’t have something heavy weighing down your conscience? Guilt, perhaps, over your harlot ways?”
Julian, Julian, Julian. Oh how fine you are.
Exhibit A:
“Oh, gattina.” He chuckles, ghosting his finger down the apple of my cheek until he’s cupping my jaw. “If I come, I promise, you’ll be begging for it.”
Exhibit B:
“And you’re pretty when you come,” I whisper.”
Exhibit C:
“But in this situation? I’d probably marry Julian Faraci just so I could get free rides on what I’m sure is his monster cock for the rest of my life.”
The only thing that I’m annoyed is with this series is Emily has a set structure where she creates the “problem” of the book right at the end and -especially for Twisted- the epilogue just felt too soon and too rushed. Maybe it’s just me but I wanted to see Yasmine and Julian in their happily ever after fazes.
“You’re the devil, Julian Faraci. And I hope you burn in hell.”
Catch me riding down the slide to hell if it’s confirmed Julian is there ✌️
The chokehold Julian has me in? Yeah I’m fine staying in that.
Dear Lord. THE HYPE WAS SO WORTH IT.
Literally ate. Left zero crumbs.
I am seriously enjoying this series and I honestly don’t know which book is my favourite. Surely all 5 books of a series can be acceptable as equal favourites? (yes I am counting Crossed which we know absolutely nothing about because doi?)
Speaking of Crossed, Emily mentioned that there was teaser for Crossed in Twisted but I must be dumb as fuck cause where? Surely not Jennie right? (Also it took me almost the whole book to put together Jennie and Genie. I may be a dumb fuck actually.)
Not that Emily’s writing is bad (it’s amazing, please don’t come for me) but I feel like we’ve experienced her writing growth and her word play and just how she makes you feel with her words.
Twisted is loosely based on Aladdin and I 100% enjoyed it so much. I have been looking forward to this book since it was announced and could not wait to get my hands on it. And boy oh boy, y’all are gonna wanna meet Julian.
“Please.” I wave my arm dramatically before shutting the door behind him. “Make yourself at home.”
He plops down on my bed, his body bouncing slightly on the mattress. “Such a wonderful host. Do you always welcome men into your bed so lovingly?”
I squint my eyes, irritation stabbing at my middle like a dull knife. “Are you implying I’m a whore?”
His head jerks back. “That’s a pretty wild conclusion to take from what I said. Are you sure you don’t have something heavy weighing down your conscience? Guilt, perhaps, over your harlot ways?”
Julian, Julian, Julian. Oh how fine you are.
Exhibit A:
“Oh, gattina.” He chuckles, ghosting his finger down the apple of my cheek until he’s cupping my jaw. “If I come, I promise, you’ll be begging for it.”
Exhibit B:
“And you’re pretty when you come,” I whisper.”
Exhibit C:
“But in this situation? I’d probably marry Julian Faraci just so I could get free rides on what I’m sure is his monster cock for the rest of my life.”
The only thing that I’m annoyed is with this series is Emily has a set structure where she creates the “problem” of the book right at the end and -especially for Twisted- the epilogue just felt too soon and too rushed. Maybe it’s just me but I wanted to see Yasmine and Julian in their happily ever after fazes.
“You’re the devil, Julian Faraci. And I hope you burn in hell.”
Catch me riding down the slide to hell if it’s confirmed Julian is there ✌️
January 3, 2023
Not everyone can write and that’s okay
February 12, 2023
The 'my wife' is gonna do it for me every. Fucking. Time.
April 12, 2023
"If I'm the devil, amore mio, cast stones at the one who made me."
Julian Faraci might have just become my favorite McIntire MMC.
Mamma mia 🥵
💎𝗧𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 - 𝗕𝗬 𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗠𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗘 💎
★𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: ⭐⭐⭐½
★𝗬𝗔/𝗡𝗔/𝗔: 🅽🅰/🅰
★𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦: 𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙰𝙵𝚃𝙴𝚁 #𝟺 (𝙲𝙰𝙽 𝙱𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳 𝙰𝚂 𝙰 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙰𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙴)
★𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗦: 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 - 𝙻𝙾𝙾𝚂𝙴 𝚁𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙻𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶
★𝗣𝗢𝗩: 𝙳𝙾𝚄𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙿𝙾𝚅 - 𝙵𝙸𝚁𝚂𝚃 𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙾𝙽 - 𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚂𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚂𝙴
★𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: 𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙶𝙴𝙳 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙶𝙴 - 𝚂𝙾𝚁𝚃 𝙾𝙵 𝙴𝙽𝙴𝙼𝙸𝙴𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙻𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂 - 𝙰𝙶𝙴 𝙶𝙰𝙿 (𝟷𝟹 𝚈𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚂) - 𝙳𝙰𝙳'𝚂 𝙱𝚄𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙽𝙴𝚁 - 𝚃𝙾𝚄𝙲𝙷 𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙳𝙸𝙴 - 𝙶𝙾𝙾𝙳 𝙶𝙸𝚁𝙻𝚡𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙸𝚅𝙴 𝙰𝙻𝙿𝙷𝙰𝙷𝙾𝙻𝙴- 𝙼𝙾𝚁𝙰𝙻𝙻𝚈 𝙶𝚁𝙰𝚈 (𝚃𝙴𝙽𝙳𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚃𝙾 𝙱𝙻𝙰𝙲𝙺) 𝙼𝙼𝙲 - 𝙵𝙾𝚁𝙲𝙴𝙳 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝚇𝙸𝙼𝙸𝚃𝚈
★𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦: 👥👥👥/5
★𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼/5
★𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧: 📜📜📜/5
★𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦 & 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦: 💀💀💀💀💀/5
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🔥🔥🔥/5 (𝙷𝙰𝚃𝙴-𝙻𝚄𝚂𝚃 𝚂𝙴𝚇 - 𝙿𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚁𝙰𝙻 𝚂𝙴𝚇 - 𝙳𝙸𝚁𝚃𝚈 𝚃𝙰𝙻𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶 - 𝚅𝙾𝚈𝙴𝚄𝚁𝙸𝚂𝙼 - 𝙽𝙾 𝙶𝚁𝙾𝙾𝙼𝙸𝙽𝙶)
★𝗦𝗠𝗨𝗧 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗬 & 𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬: 🚒🚒🚒/5 (𝙵𝙼𝙲 𝙷𝙰𝚂 𝚂𝙴𝚇 𝚆𝙸𝚃𝙷 𝙰𝙽𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙼𝙰𝙽 𝚆𝙷𝙸𝙻𝙴 𝙼𝙼𝙲 𝚆𝙰𝚃𝙲𝙷𝙴𝚂 - 𝙽𝙾𝚃 𝙰𝚂 𝙼𝚄𝙲𝙷 𝚂𝙼𝚄𝚃 𝙰𝚂 𝙸 𝚆𝙾𝚄𝙻𝙳 𝙷𝙰𝚅𝙴 𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴𝙳 - 𝙸𝚃 𝚆𝙰𝚂 𝙰𝙻𝙻 𝙿𝚁𝙴𝚃𝚃𝚈 𝚅𝙰𝙽𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙰 𝚃𝙱𝙷)
★𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🤐🤐🤐🤐/5 (𝙼𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙴 𝙻𝙰𝙽𝙶𝚄𝙰𝙶𝙴 - 𝙶𝚁𝙰𝙿𝙷𝙸𝙲 𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙲𝚁𝙸𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚂𝙴𝚇-𝚅𝙸𝙾𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙴)
★𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 🌹🌹🌹/5 (𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝙵 𝙰 𝚂𝙻𝙾𝚆 𝙱𝚄𝚁𝙽)
★𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘: ✔️
★𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘: 𝙵/𝙼
★𝗥𝗘𝗣: 𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙰𝙻 𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙽𝙴𝚂𝚂 - 𝙿𝚃𝚂𝙳 - 𝙶𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙵 - 𝙼𝙼𝙲 𝙰𝙳𝙼𝙸𝚃𝚂 𝙷𝙴 𝙷𝙰𝚂 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙱𝙻𝙴𝙼𝚂
★𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗘𝗦-𝗧𝗢-𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦: 🖤🖤/5
★𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚: 🎶𝙰𝙿𝙾𝙲𝙰𝙻𝚈𝙿𝚂𝙴 - 𝙲𝙸𝙶𝙰𝚁𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙴𝚂 𝙰𝙵𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚂𝙴𝚇🎶
▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰
I'll be quick and vague with this because the spoiler police is out there and rightfully doing its job.
𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗟𝗬 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗦𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗟
I initially gave this 4 stars because, overall, I had fun with it; but the more I let it sit, the more I thought I've waited so long to read this and yet was a little disappointed because I could hardly see any difference between this book's dark romance and the previous Never After ones.
There's nothing bad about this book, but there's nothing special about it, either.
I really liked Julian and Yasmin individually as characters. Must be my newly discovered daddy kink speaking, but Julian was fiiiiiiine af. I love that he called Yasmin gattina and laughed when she talked back to him calling him patatino because that's how I call my son, sometimes.
Jokes aside, I incredibly enojoyed Yasmin's spirit and personality.
I liked them as a couple as well, even if their love story didn't particularly convince me.
For example, I absolutely am not a fan of how the process from enemies to lovers was handled. I wouldn't have minded a little more inner groveling, especially considering both mcs hate each other and FMC is in a relationship with another man, in the beginning ; the whole hate to love thing was so sudden, the build-up very dull, that the moment the love switch was turned on, I was so confused I had to go back to check if I hadn't miss anything, for how rushed it was.
Point in case, I was around 60% and things were still stalling. It's kind of a slow burn if you squint. But then, when you dare blink, it turns into full blown love. The fuck.
I appreciate, however, that there was no grooming on MMC's part. Taboo doesn't scare me off, but it wouldn't have matched Julian's character at all.
As for the smut, considering this is an Emily McIntire book, I expected so much more from the sex scenes that were presented. Sure, they were pretty hot all things considered, but also pretty vanilla, I remember some scenes from Hooked or the infamous gun scene from Wretched and those made me blush like a victorian virgin on her wedding night. Smut scenes from this book were okay, enjoyable, just...not very colorful and unfortunately very scarse, if you get what I mean.
Plotwise this was pretty interesting and I have nothing to say about McIntire's writing, as it's addicting as always.
I wish the ending hadn't been so approximate and definitely still needing some answers, but I'll take what I get.
This book may not be my favorite of the series so far, but I definitely liked it more than book 2 and book 3 put together.
Can't already wait for book 5!
🚩𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙱𝙻𝙴𝙼𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙲 𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝙰𝙻𝙴𝚁𝚃!*🚩
*𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜, 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍/𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚌/𝚝𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚌/𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎.
𝙸, 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠, 𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚣𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚎:
-𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢;
-𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎;
-𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 "𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚌" 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚜/𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙𝚜/𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜, 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚍𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚖𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗;
-𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚊 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚂𝙴 𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺𝚂, 𝚢'𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠?
February 10, 2023
julian faraci can step on me and ill thank him on my knees 🧎🏻♀️
February 15, 2023
I finished this book in less than a day
and the minute I did
I cancelled my physical book order
unsubscribed from the Author's social media
drank a cup of coffee to cool my nerves
then sat here to write this review
THE MFs CHANGED BADASS JASMINE INTO SIMP YAS MAN!!!😡😡😡😡
this book is supposidly a retelling of Aladdin but making Jaffar and Jasmine the main leads.
and it is obvious that Ms Mcintire was relying on the animated movie for inspiration considering the character names
Julian = Jafar Aiden = Aladden Yasmin = Jasmin Riya = Raja Ian = Iago
(i think there were also some characters from the life action movie)
Let me just say that I had high hopes for this book
I read the three before and though I hated Hooked (not because the book itself was bad but because of how doormat Wendy was) but loved Scarred and Wretched for the reason that made me hate Hooked - they had badass female leads
so I thought, we will get this strong, smart, resourceful Jasmine because movie Jasmine was all that
but instead, Ms Emily said "hmmm let's take everything we loved about movie Jasmine and twist it up, and everything we hated about movie Jasmine and intensify it"
so she made Jasmine (Yasmine) a dump beautiful face and designed her for the very thing I hated it about movie Jasmine = a cliched sexualized sensual woman
and by doing that, Ms Mcintire offended the Arab culture and the Arab women
Yasmine is the daughter of a billionaire Arab descendent dimond trader (Ali Kaeam). They are Arabs because of their names and her using "baba" to address her father.
she has no accomplishments, no intelligent, no social skills, no talent (except for photography which served nothing in the story)
I dont know why the author bothered to give her a POV in the book, read the book from Julian's POV only and you will understand everything because Yasmine was either fucking Aiden, herself or Julian or monologuing on how pathetic she is
she has become what movie Jaffar calls her "PussyCat"
where is the spirit of Jasmine who stood up for her choices, outsmarted Aladden, jumped roofs, fought Jaffar, and defied her father?? PUFFFFF gone to get this shallow version of a sex doll that wears skimpy clothes (disregrading every Arab culture) and sleeping around with this and that (again disregarding Arab culture)
and her stupidity shone when she gets a messge from an unknown number telling her to come to Egypt and she does!!!
Now Julian could have saved the book if the story line wasn't weak and unplanned
up until p: 260 he was saying how he didn't care about Her and how this marriage was fake and how he would kill her to get her father's fortune and then BAAAMMM he's in love!!!
well, considering he was grooming her all along no wonder he saw her as a possession
the story went like this " kill kill kill fuck kill kill lamp fuck kill kill "
no essence
no plot
no developement
even the spice scenes were not all that considering most of them were either solo or imagined
I wish there could be a 0.5 star which goes to the only descent character "Riya'
and the minute I did
I cancelled my physical book order
unsubscribed from the Author's social media
drank a cup of coffee to cool my nerves
then sat here to write this review
THE MFs CHANGED BADASS JASMINE INTO SIMP YAS MAN!!!😡😡😡😡
this book is supposidly a retelling of Aladdin but making Jaffar and Jasmine the main leads.
and it is obvious that Ms Mcintire was relying on the animated movie for inspiration considering the character names
Julian = Jafar Aiden = Aladden Yasmin = Jasmin Riya = Raja Ian = Iago
(i think there were also some characters from the life action movie)
Let me just say that I had high hopes for this book
I read the three before and though I hated Hooked (not because the book itself was bad but because of how doormat Wendy was) but loved Scarred and Wretched for the reason that made me hate Hooked - they had badass female leads
so I thought, we will get this strong, smart, resourceful Jasmine because movie Jasmine was all that
but instead, Ms Emily said "hmmm let's take everything we loved about movie Jasmine and twist it up, and everything we hated about movie Jasmine and intensify it"
so she made Jasmine (Yasmine) a dump beautiful face and designed her for the very thing I hated it about movie Jasmine = a cliched sexualized sensual woman
and by doing that, Ms Mcintire offended the Arab culture and the Arab women
Yasmine is the daughter of a billionaire Arab descendent dimond trader (Ali Kaeam). They are Arabs because of their names and her using "baba" to address her father.
she has no accomplishments, no intelligent, no social skills, no talent (except for photography which served nothing in the story)
I dont know why the author bothered to give her a POV in the book, read the book from Julian's POV only and you will understand everything because Yasmine was either fucking Aiden, herself or Julian or monologuing on how pathetic she is
she has become what movie Jaffar calls her "PussyCat"
where is the spirit of Jasmine who stood up for her choices, outsmarted Aladden, jumped roofs, fought Jaffar, and defied her father?? PUFFFFF gone to get this shallow version of a sex doll that wears skimpy clothes (disregrading every Arab culture) and sleeping around with this and that (again disregarding Arab culture)
and her stupidity shone when she gets a messge from an unknown number telling her to come to Egypt and she does!!!
Now Julian could have saved the book if the story line wasn't weak and unplanned
up until p: 260 he was saying how he didn't care about Her and how this marriage was fake and how he would kill her to get her father's fortune and then BAAAMMM he's in love!!!
well, considering he was grooming her all along no wonder he saw her as a possession
the story went like this " kill kill kill fuck kill kill lamp fuck kill kill "
no essence
no plot
no developement
even the spice scenes were not all that considering most of them were either solo or imagined
I wish there could be a 0.5 star which goes to the only descent character "Riya'
Want to read
August 30, 2022Forced Marriage?! Enemies to Lovers?! Age Gap?!
Sorry not sorry because I will go FERAL when this book comes out… NEXT YEAR?!!
Edit:
I just saw Emily’s IG and the cover is so pretty ❤️🔥
Sorry not sorry because I will go FERAL when this book comes out… NEXT YEAR?!!
Edit:
I just saw Emily’s IG and the cover is so pretty ❤️🔥
January 3, 2023
Emily did her thing again
February 24, 2023
MY WIFE WILL HIT EVERY SINGLE TIME.
i’d thank julian just for being in my presence tbh.
i’d thank julian just for being in my presence tbh.
December 16, 2024
╭ ✦ •
│
│ ⊹ 𝟸.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙 ⊹
│
╰ ✦ •
I don't know how to rate this. Some parts felt rushed.
The overall story was just OK, slightly boring if I'm honest. Nothing particularly exciting happened until about 85% into it when Yas and Julian go to Egypt for the Lamp. Everything after this trip was entertaining, and that twist! I didn't see it coming and genuinely enjoyed it.
The ending is the only reason I'm even considering giving this more stars.
_________________________________
Hooked | Review
Scarred | Review
Wretched | Review
Twisted | Review
Crossed | Review
Hexed | TBR
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
│
│ ⊹ 𝟸.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜 𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚞𝚙 ⊹
│
╰ ✦ •
I don't know how to rate this. Some parts felt rushed.
The overall story was just OK, slightly boring if I'm honest. Nothing particularly exciting happened until about 85% into it when Yas and Julian go to Egypt for the Lamp. Everything after this trip was entertaining, and that twist! I didn't see it coming and genuinely enjoyed it.
The ending is the only reason I'm even considering giving this more stars.
_________________________________
Hooked | Review
Scarred | Review
Wretched | Review
Twisted | Review
Crossed | Review
Hexed | TBR
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
February 28, 2023
idk how white women sleep at night after writing a hypersexualized brown/ethnic woman and a man who is one anger episode away from a dv charge and labeling it as a jafar/jasmine retelling for the brainless
July 23, 2023
"I would do anything for you. Burn this life down to the ground and build a whole new world if you demand it." A WHOLE NEW WORLD, you say?! 😉🧞♂️✨💍🙈
This was great. I think Twisted has the best/strongest storyline of all the Never After books in that it's the most interesting and well done, particularly in how it weaves a brand new contemporary plot with the original core aspects of the Aladdin tale. It's also definitely the most slow burn romance of the Never After books, but it works perfectly in this enemies-to-lovers retelling of Aladdin where Jasmine (Yasmin) ends up with Jafar (Julian) because the build up is worth the explosiveness of their relationship. It also has Yasmin and Jafar entering into a fake marriage so her father stops trying to arrange a husband for her, so if you like that trope then you'll love this. Its just so well done here, and honestly of all the fake marriage or marriage of convenience books I've read this might be my favorite. It felt real and authentic, probably because of the slow burn.
ALSO the references to Aladdin! ARE. SO. GOOD. Emily McEntire is so clever with this in all of her books, but I think this book does it best. From the colors of clothing (Yasmin wearing baby blue pantsuits!), the names (Jeannie Grants, complete with blue hair! Ian, the annoying assistant who squawks around just like Iago!), the search for a lamp, Julian's pet snake (!!!) and staff, and the easter eggs (Sultan's Diamonds, diamond in the rough...), I felt like I was actually back in the world of Aladdin. Except Yasmin and Jafar certainly do not act PG. Its Emily McEntire, so its obviously spicy spicy (but I will say I think this was the least spicy in the series).
So I've read the other three Never After books, and my new ranking is this: 1. Scarred (amazing), 2. Twisted (so good), 3. Hooked (okay), and 4. Wretched (did not like it). BUT Yasmin in this book is my new favorite FMC in the series. She's smart, sassy, romantic but real, and didn't annoy me at all, like not once (can't say that about the other female leads in the series). Julian was also a fab MMC (six foot six tattooed Italian guy hello) but still second to Tristan in Scarred. Yasmin and Julian's hate-you-love-you bantering is excellent and just felt real, and the two of them work so well as a couple. Overall solid 3.75-4 star read.
This was great. I think Twisted has the best/strongest storyline of all the Never After books in that it's the most interesting and well done, particularly in how it weaves a brand new contemporary plot with the original core aspects of the Aladdin tale. It's also definitely the most slow burn romance of the Never After books, but it works perfectly in this enemies-to-lovers retelling of Aladdin where Jasmine (Yasmin) ends up with Jafar (Julian) because the build up is worth the explosiveness of their relationship. It also has Yasmin and Jafar entering into a fake marriage so her father stops trying to arrange a husband for her, so if you like that trope then you'll love this. Its just so well done here, and honestly of all the fake marriage or marriage of convenience books I've read this might be my favorite. It felt real and authentic, probably because of the slow burn.
ALSO the references to Aladdin! ARE. SO. GOOD. Emily McEntire is so clever with this in all of her books, but I think this book does it best. From the colors of clothing (Yasmin wearing baby blue pantsuits!), the names (Jeannie Grants, complete with blue hair! Ian, the annoying assistant who squawks around just like Iago!), the search for a lamp, Julian's pet snake (!!!) and staff, and the easter eggs (Sultan's Diamonds, diamond in the rough...), I felt like I was actually back in the world of Aladdin. Except Yasmin and Jafar certainly do not act PG. Its Emily McEntire, so its obviously spicy spicy (but I will say I think this was the least spicy in the series).
So I've read the other three Never After books, and my new ranking is this: 1. Scarred (amazing), 2. Twisted (so good), 3. Hooked (okay), and 4. Wretched (did not like it). BUT Yasmin in this book is my new favorite FMC in the series. She's smart, sassy, romantic but real, and didn't annoy me at all, like not once (can't say that about the other female leads in the series). Julian was also a fab MMC (six foot six tattooed Italian guy hello) but still second to Tristan in Scarred. Yasmin and Julian's hate-you-love-you bantering is excellent and just felt real, and the two of them work so well as a couple. Overall solid 3.75-4 star read.
August 21, 2023
i, too, would crawl for julian faraci
February 8, 2023
RTC but that was as good as I expected it to be!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Feb 7th is right around the corner!!! This is going to be the largest buddy read ever for ALL of us that are not so patiently waiting!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Feb 7th is right around the corner!!! This is going to be the largest buddy read ever for ALL of us that are not so patiently waiting!!
March 12, 2023
4 Bottom Lip Stars ⭐️
This was by far the best book in the series for me! I don't think I have loved an Emily McIntire male more than Julian Faraci. He could tell me to jump, crawl, or beg, and I'd do it in a heartbeat just to hear that "Good Girl" praise from him whilst he called me gattina...
I have a thing for kitten ok, EVEN MORE, SO IN ITALIAN!!!.
This is a fractured fairytale, a concept my husband did not understand when I tried to explain it's almost like an inspired story based on characters from Aladdin but "Jafar" gets the girl. So if you think you are in for some strange retelling, unfortunately, this book is not that.
We have our "Princess" Yasmin who is having a secret relationship with Aiden, one of the "boys" on staff at her Father's estate. She is the only daughter of Ali Karam, the richest man in the world and owner of Sultans Diamonds. Unfortunately, daddy dearest is sick and his one dying wish is to see her married to a "respectable" man. Unfortunately, Aiden does not meet this criterion so Yasmin is forced to go to the person she hates for help. Julian Faraci her father's right-hand man.
The Juicy Tropes:
▶Enemies Hate to Lovers
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Love Triangle
▶ Age Gap (13 Years)
▶ Dad's Business Partner
▶ Arranged Marriage
▶ Touch her you die (literally)
This book caused two things that make me love a book more and as a result, I normally commend a book when it happens.
1. I DID NOT WANT TO STOP READING. I pride myself on being a "semi-normal" functioning adult who needs to stick to a routine bedtime to maintain said functionality...AND THIS BOOK ACTUALLY had me saying numerous times "just one more chapter" until the next thing I noticed it was 3:30 AM and I was still reading with a grumpy husband next to me because the iPad light was shining in his eyes...
2. I actually cried... this might be a spoiler as to why so I am going to hide it behind tags but it's more a Trigger Warning Spoiler...
I really liked the characters in this story, Yasmin has spent her whole life being the dutiful daughter and to see how she grew through the book to step out of that mould and become someone who she wants to be was done soooooo well. She is complex, stubborn, naive and completely loyal to her father, even through his misogynistic ideals and I just saw so much of myself in her. Julian was a surprise, because even though he is not a good person (in the fact that he quite often feeds people to his snake). To see how much his childhood trauma affected him, as well as seeing that he cares about Yasmin's father and overtime when he realised his feelings for Yasmin and then all the protective feelings came out... I was just gushing...
I was very close to giving this book 5 Stars given how it affected me and based on how much I enjoyed it, however, there were a few things that brought this down.
1 - I felt like some chapters were missing showing the middle transition of hate to lovers, you know the part when they start to respect each other and maybe become friends or something...It was very much hate to love in a flip of a page- and while I do like the end game, I wanted to see a little more about how Julian got there (specifically). His internal thoughts mention he can't get her out of his mind, but we never really see this, we are only told.
2 - MY GOD IF I HAVE TO SEE THE WORDS BOTTOM LIP ONE MORE TIME I MIGHT SCREAM!!!! I think this is one of the only facial expressions our girl Yasmin can do... something "Bottom Lip" appears 25 times in the text, once it was even twice on one page. This girl must honestly have no lips left with the number of times she bites them...
3 - As with Hooked, this felt a little too short and the ending was rushed. The last 20% hyper-speeds the plot compared to the first 80% and I just wanted this to slow a little bit down and have the same or similar pace to the majority of the story even if it meant adding a few extra pages.
Even with the few issues I had with this, I still REALLY REALLY enjoyed this and as said, it was my favourite Never After book to date. Now we just need to see what Crossed has in store for us in August!
This was by far the best book in the series for me! I don't think I have loved an Emily McIntire male more than Julian Faraci. He could tell me to jump, crawl, or beg, and I'd do it in a heartbeat just to hear that "Good Girl" praise from him whilst he called me gattina...
I have a thing for kitten ok, EVEN MORE, SO IN ITALIAN!!!.
This is a fractured fairytale, a concept my husband did not understand when I tried to explain it's almost like an inspired story based on characters from Aladdin but "Jafar" gets the girl. So if you think you are in for some strange retelling, unfortunately, this book is not that.
We have our "Princess" Yasmin who is having a secret relationship with Aiden, one of the "boys" on staff at her Father's estate. She is the only daughter of Ali Karam, the richest man in the world and owner of Sultans Diamonds. Unfortunately, daddy dearest is sick and his one dying wish is to see her married to a "respectable" man. Unfortunately, Aiden does not meet this criterion so Yasmin is forced to go to the person she hates for help. Julian Faraci her father's right-hand man.
The Juicy Tropes:
▶
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Love Triangle
▶ Age Gap (13 Years)
▶ Dad's Business Partner
▶ Arranged Marriage
▶ Touch her you die (literally)
This book caused two things that make me love a book more and as a result, I normally commend a book when it happens.
1. I DID NOT WANT TO STOP READING. I pride myself on being a "semi-normal" functioning adult who needs to stick to a routine bedtime to maintain said functionality...AND THIS BOOK ACTUALLY had me saying numerous times "just one more chapter" until the next thing I noticed it was 3:30 AM and I was still reading with a grumpy husband next to me because the iPad light was shining in his eyes...
2. I actually cried... this might be a spoiler as to why so I am going to hide it behind tags but it's more a Trigger Warning Spoiler...
I really liked the characters in this story, Yasmin has spent her whole life being the dutiful daughter and to see how she grew through the book to step out of that mould and become someone who she wants to be was done soooooo well. She is complex, stubborn, naive and completely loyal to her father, even through his misogynistic ideals and I just saw so much of myself in her. Julian was a surprise, because even though he is not a good person (in the fact that he quite often feeds people to his snake). To see how much his childhood trauma affected him, as well as seeing that he cares about Yasmin's father and overtime when he realised his feelings for Yasmin and then all the protective feelings came out... I was just gushing...
I was very close to giving this book 5 Stars given how it affected me and based on how much I enjoyed it, however, there were a few things that brought this down.
1 - I felt like some chapters were missing showing the middle transition of hate to lovers, you know the part when they start to respect each other and maybe become friends or something...It was very much hate to love in a flip of a page- and while I do like the end game, I wanted to see a little more about how Julian got there (specifically). His internal thoughts mention he can't get her out of his mind, but we never really see this, we are only told.
2 - MY GOD IF I HAVE TO SEE THE WORDS BOTTOM LIP ONE MORE TIME I MIGHT SCREAM!!!! I think this is one of the only facial expressions our girl Yasmin can do... something "Bottom Lip" appears 25 times in the text, once it was even twice on one page. This girl must honestly have no lips left with the number of times she bites them...
3 - As with Hooked, this felt a little too short and the ending was rushed. The last 20% hyper-speeds the plot compared to the first 80% and I just wanted this to slow a little bit down and have the same or similar pace to the majority of the story even if it meant adding a few extra pages.
Even with the few issues I had with this, I still REALLY REALLY enjoyed this and as said, it was my favourite Never After book to date. Now we just need to see what Crossed has in store for us in August!
March 12, 2023
The male main character would’ve loved Andrew Tate
October 10, 2024
Poo poo poo yawn yawn yawn. Dnf 😭
March 25, 2023
4,75/5⭐️
Holy shit was this amazing!! I absolutely understand why this is people’s favourite!! Like the tension?!?! The slow burn?!?! THE SMUT?????!!!!!!
I’m on my goddamn knees for this book, for Yasmin and definitely for Julian!! It was just so fucking good, I’m honestly in love!
I absolutely devoured this book!! Like the tropes in this were so so so good!!
Marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, slow burn and age gap??? What a combination!!!
Although I have to be honest, the age gap kind of put me off at the beginning of the book but I got used to it over time and the rest was obviously everything!!
I’m absolutely in love with Yasmin!! She’s so freaking smart and I love when she doesn’t hold off on speaking what’s on her mind and bantering with Julian!! It was so entertaining to see them “argue” while at the same time literally pining for one another. Like the tension was so so so good. Sometimes even too intense if you ask me but I still loved every second of it!!
Julian is also so so so hot oml!! If I was Yasmin I would’ve went for him straight away lmao. He’s just so well written that I even fell a little bit for him. I love the depth he had to his character. And we obviously adore protective, possessive and intelligent men on this account!!!
Also the plot of this book was immaculate!!
Yasmin having to marry Julian because it’s her father’s dying wish to see her married?? So intriguing!!
Also the pacing? I honestly came to love slower developing romances even more the more I read and this book did just that! You could honestly cut the tension with a knife but it was so worth the wait!!
And the references from the Disney movie?? Made this book even better than it already is!
Overall, this book was absolutely immaculate and I’m so glad that finally gave this series a try.
I totally get why this is everyone’s favourite in the series but I got to be honest and say that Scarred still is and will probably always be my favourite but this is a close second!
Highly recommend this book!! Can’t wait for the next book to come out!!!
Holy shit was this amazing!! I absolutely understand why this is people’s favourite!! Like the tension?!?! The slow burn?!?! THE SMUT?????!!!!!!
I’m on my goddamn knees for this book, for Yasmin and definitely for Julian!! It was just so fucking good, I’m honestly in love!
I absolutely devoured this book!! Like the tropes in this were so so so good!!
Marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, slow burn and age gap??? What a combination!!!
Although I have to be honest, the age gap kind of put me off at the beginning of the book but I got used to it over time and the rest was obviously everything!!
I’m absolutely in love with Yasmin!! She’s so freaking smart and I love when she doesn’t hold off on speaking what’s on her mind and bantering with Julian!! It was so entertaining to see them “argue” while at the same time literally pining for one another. Like the tension was so so so good. Sometimes even too intense if you ask me but I still loved every second of it!!
Julian is also so so so hot oml!! If I was Yasmin I would’ve went for him straight away lmao. He’s just so well written that I even fell a little bit for him. I love the depth he had to his character. And we obviously adore protective, possessive and intelligent men on this account!!!
Also the plot of this book was immaculate!!
Yasmin having to marry Julian because it’s her father’s dying wish to see her married?? So intriguing!!
Also the pacing? I honestly came to love slower developing romances even more the more I read and this book did just that! You could honestly cut the tension with a knife but it was so worth the wait!!
And the references from the Disney movie?? Made this book even better than it already is!
Overall, this book was absolutely immaculate and I’m so glad that finally gave this series a try.
I totally get why this is everyone’s favourite in the series but I got to be honest and say that Scarred still is and will probably always be my favourite but this is a close second!
Highly recommend this book!! Can’t wait for the next book to come out!!!
January 29, 2023
4.5⭐️ ATE AND LEFT NO CRUMBS STOP IT! Emily?!?!?! This series remains my top dog for dark romance and it’s just my all time fav what can I say? Emily speaks to my soul with these books, I’m simply obsessed 💙
The 4th installment of this stand alone series follows Yasim and Julian and let me say this…..Julian is my Italian king i love that man so damn much. Inspired by Aladdin like always with this series I just adored all the Easter eggs. This book also has some of my favorite tropes with the age gap, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage and I just ATE IT UP! I think after the halfway point this book really takes off and it has one of the best spicy scenes in the series. I mean the coffee table?!?! 🥵 EMILY NEVER MISSES and this is a MUST for my dark romance peeps.
***thank you Emily for the ARC copy
The 4th installment of this stand alone series follows Yasim and Julian and let me say this…..Julian is my Italian king i love that man so damn much. Inspired by Aladdin like always with this series I just adored all the Easter eggs. This book also has some of my favorite tropes with the age gap, enemies to lovers, arranged marriage and I just ATE IT UP! I think after the halfway point this book really takes off and it has one of the best spicy scenes in the series. I mean the coffee table?!?! 🥵 EMILY NEVER MISSES and this is a MUST for my dark romance peeps.
***thank you Emily for the ARC copy
February 3, 2024
This book was originally going to get 3 stars but the last 100 pages took me out. This book was fine to start off with. I didn’t really love it but I bought it on accident thinking it was a different book so I read it anyway.
I’m not the biggest fan of slow burns anyway due to the fact I think they waste a lot of time going back and forth, especially if it’s enemies to lovers as well.
A lot of the times I thought they were just being a bit dramatic about the whole “enemies” thing. I wouldn’t really called them enemies, they just kinda found each other irritating for no real reason. They kinda hated each other just because, I guess.
Yasmin was tolerable at the start but was annoying near the end. I hate the whole “I love him but I shouldn’t” thing when she has not actual reason to hate him. Same for Julian, she was just kinda annoyed at her.
And you’re telling me they love each other this much only a month?? I mean, they pretty much got in close proximity a few times and they both ended acting like they’ve felt like this for ages, which they haven’t.
Also, Julian is a bad pet parent. He’s definitely over feeding Isabella.
I’m not the biggest fan of slow burns anyway due to the fact I think they waste a lot of time going back and forth, especially if it’s enemies to lovers as well.
A lot of the times I thought they were just being a bit dramatic about the whole “enemies” thing. I wouldn’t really called them enemies, they just kinda found each other irritating for no real reason. They kinda hated each other just because, I guess.
Yasmin was tolerable at the start but was annoying near the end. I hate the whole “I love him but I shouldn’t” thing when she has not actual reason to hate him. Same for Julian, she was just kinda annoyed at her.
And you’re telling me they love each other this much only a month?? I mean, they pretty much got in close proximity a few times and they both ended acting like they’ve felt like this for ages, which they haven’t.
Also, Julian is a bad pet parent. He’s definitely over feeding Isabella.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2023
3.5 rounded up. I wish I liked this one as much as Scarred but it just wasn’t my favorite. Still good though and I recommend!
March 5, 2025
1,5⭐️
No rozczarowujący ten tom był. Odstaje bardzo od poprzednich, jedne były lepsze, drugie gorsze ale ten był bardzo słaby.
Mam w ogóle wrażenie, że był takim mixem poprzednich.
Było dość nudno, na to jak długa jest ta książka to przez dużo czasu nic nie posuwało się do przodu.
Nie wierzę w żadną relację między bohaterami, bo skąd ona się niby wzięła? Typ co rezygnuje nagle z wszystkiego bo stwierdził że się zakochał, ALE KIEDY?
Ona jest okropna, jest napisana jak najgorsze popychadło bez żadnego charakteru. On może nieco lepiej, ale nadal tak płasko w porównaniu z poprzednimi bohaterami z książek tej autorki.
Reaserch chyba zawiódł autorkę, bo węże nie zachowują się jak psy, nie wystawiają głowy żeby je pogłaskać, nie łaszą się, nie reagują na komendy. A po zjedzeniu tak wielkiego posiłku to przez kolejne kilka miesięcy by nic więcej nie zjadły.
Ten cyrk z jej pierwszą miłością to jakaś porażka.
To wszystko było tak przewidywalne, dosłownie poznając go wiedziałam odrazu o co mu będzie chodziło.
No i to retelling Alladyna, ale te nawiązania były słabe, proste i nie znalazłam w tym żadnych smaczków.
To był po prostu bardzo słaby dark romans.
No rozczarowujący ten tom był. Odstaje bardzo od poprzednich, jedne były lepsze, drugie gorsze ale ten był bardzo słaby.
Mam w ogóle wrażenie, że był takim mixem poprzednich.
Było dość nudno, na to jak długa jest ta książka to przez dużo czasu nic nie posuwało się do przodu.
Nie wierzę w żadną relację między bohaterami, bo skąd ona się niby wzięła? Typ co rezygnuje nagle z wszystkiego bo stwierdził że się zakochał, ALE KIEDY?
Ona jest okropna, jest napisana jak najgorsze popychadło bez żadnego charakteru. On może nieco lepiej, ale nadal tak płasko w porównaniu z poprzednimi bohaterami z książek tej autorki.
Reaserch chyba zawiódł autorkę, bo węże nie zachowują się jak psy, nie wystawiają głowy żeby je pogłaskać, nie łaszą się, nie reagują na komendy. A po zjedzeniu tak wielkiego posiłku to przez kolejne kilka miesięcy by nic więcej nie zjadły.
Ten cyrk z jej pierwszą miłością to jakaś porażka.
To wszystko było tak przewidywalne, dosłownie poznając go wiedziałam odrazu o co mu będzie chodziło.
No i to retelling Alladyna, ale te nawiązania były słabe, proste i nie znalazłam w tym żadnych smaczków.
To był po prostu bardzo słaby dark romans.
May 16, 2024
This book? Well, it had me over a barrel! Julian is by far my favourite MMC in this series. Somehow, he just seemed much more lifelike other MMC In this series? Jasmine felt a little weak at times, and this book seemed to be very slow burn straight through to passionate relationship in a heartbeat.
All the above said, I loved this. These novels are addictive, so easy to read and exciting. Oh, and there's the spice! The spice gets 4/5 without a doubt.
Update 16.05.24 for the 2nd read, this novel doesn't lose its appeal! Julian is still my favourite.
All the above said, I loved this. These novels are addictive, so easy to read and exciting. Oh, and there's the spice! The spice gets 4/5 without a doubt.
Update 16.05.24 for the 2nd read, this novel doesn't lose its appeal! Julian is still my favourite.
November 3, 2023
julian faraci had no business being that hot😭😭
February 2, 2025
She's his diamond in the rough. He's her worst nightmare. Yasmin Karam, daughter to one of the richest men in the world, has never known strife. When her beloved father falls ill, she's determined to make his final days his happiest. His last wish? To see her married to a man of his choosing. Except Yasmin's heart already belongs to someone else a servant. who is a man her father would never consider worthy. Yasmin now stuck strikes a desperate deal with her father's right-hand man, Julian, not realising he has his own twisted agenda. Julian Faraci has one goal: to become the most powerful man in the world. He's built a future by never caring who he hurt along the way. But when his mentor falls ill, he finds himself on the verge of losing everything, and he'll stop at nothing to inherit what is rightfully his. Does this include forcing a woman he can't stand into marriage?
All my reviews have the possibility of spoilers, be warned!
I loved this book I was so excited when I found out it had the marriage in-convenience trope! Every time Julian would use the 'my wife' line I was swooning. I absolutely ate this book up.
Julian shows off his acting skills trying to make Yasmin fall for him, but I definitely was the one swooning.
"I expect my employees to know when the daughter of Ali Karam is standing in my office." Ciara's eyes widen. "Sir, I-"
"This woman," I cut her off, "Is allowed to interrupt me any time of the day. For any reason. Understood?"
"And you look fucking sinful in that outfit. I'm not allowing anyone to think you're here by yourself."
"You will not take it out on her," Julian continues. "This was my decision. The only thing she's done wrong is love a man she wasn't supposed to love and give in to his selfish, demanding ways."
These two lines made my whole life. The protective nature he had was just brilliant then it being heightened with the use of 'my wife' God of course it will have you kicking your feet and giggling. It is impossible to not love this.
"Your first mistake was not recognising who I am."
"Your second mistake," I whisper, "was disrespecting my wife."
I am obsessed with Julian. There is no other way to put it.
"If I'm the devil, amore mio, cast stones at the one who made me." And then I kiss her.
God when Julian told Yasmin she looked beautiful when she begs was such a swoon.
"Sei bellissima quando implori."
The confession scene was done so well. It was exactly what was needed for this book.
"Because I don't love you like he does. My love for you is dangerous."
A heavy breath whooshes from her mouth, a tear rolling from her eye, dripping over the back of my knuckles. I move, pressing a kiss to her wet cheek to soak up her cries. "I would kill anyone who looked at you. Anyone who dared to even breathe too close." Her body shakes against mine. "I want your blood and your anger and your violence and your lust." My thumb brushes against her bottom lip."I want your smiles and your tears and your insolent fucking mouth. "She pulls me in until there's no space between us. "I want to reach into your chest and hold your heart in my hands, making sure it only beats for me," I rasp. "But I don't want your firsts, Yasmin. I want you forever." She lets out a cry, her hands clawing into me like she can't get close enough, but I resist, jerking back as I fight against her hold. I move my other hand up until I'm cupping her face, making sure she meets my eyes. "You're an angel, gattina. And I'll break your wings just to keep you by my side. So do us both a favour and walk. The fuck. Away." I release her then, but before I can even move, she's on me, her mouth slamming into mine, her limbs wrapping around me as she jumps into my arms. And I don't have the will to fight it anymore.
"Stop telling me what to do," she demands in between her kisses.
Once again I cannot forget another 'you touched my wife' moment. Emily really does these well
"Luckily, I have a soft spot for the people I've cared for, even when they choose to hurt me." | purse my lips. "It's a complex. One that I'm just now working on overcoming." He gurgles, blood trickling from the side of his mouth. "But then you touched my wife"
I cannot wait for the next book in this series, Emily really has us all hooked for Never After.
Check out the rest of the reviews for this series!
Hooked
Scarred
Wretched
Crossed
All my reviews have the possibility of spoilers, be warned!
I loved this book I was so excited when I found out it had the marriage in-convenience trope! Every time Julian would use the 'my wife' line I was swooning. I absolutely ate this book up.
Julian shows off his acting skills trying to make Yasmin fall for him, but I definitely was the one swooning.
"I expect my employees to know when the daughter of Ali Karam is standing in my office." Ciara's eyes widen. "Sir, I-"
"This woman," I cut her off, "Is allowed to interrupt me any time of the day. For any reason. Understood?"
"And you look fucking sinful in that outfit. I'm not allowing anyone to think you're here by yourself."
"You will not take it out on her," Julian continues. "This was my decision. The only thing she's done wrong is love a man she wasn't supposed to love and give in to his selfish, demanding ways."
These two lines made my whole life. The protective nature he had was just brilliant then it being heightened with the use of 'my wife' God of course it will have you kicking your feet and giggling. It is impossible to not love this.
"Your first mistake was not recognising who I am."
"Your second mistake," I whisper, "was disrespecting my wife."
I am obsessed with Julian. There is no other way to put it.
"If I'm the devil, amore mio, cast stones at the one who made me." And then I kiss her.
God when Julian told Yasmin she looked beautiful when she begs was such a swoon.
"Sei bellissima quando implori."
The confession scene was done so well. It was exactly what was needed for this book.
"Because I don't love you like he does. My love for you is dangerous."
A heavy breath whooshes from her mouth, a tear rolling from her eye, dripping over the back of my knuckles. I move, pressing a kiss to her wet cheek to soak up her cries. "I would kill anyone who looked at you. Anyone who dared to even breathe too close." Her body shakes against mine. "I want your blood and your anger and your violence and your lust." My thumb brushes against her bottom lip."I want your smiles and your tears and your insolent fucking mouth. "She pulls me in until there's no space between us. "I want to reach into your chest and hold your heart in my hands, making sure it only beats for me," I rasp. "But I don't want your firsts, Yasmin. I want you forever." She lets out a cry, her hands clawing into me like she can't get close enough, but I resist, jerking back as I fight against her hold. I move my other hand up until I'm cupping her face, making sure she meets my eyes. "You're an angel, gattina. And I'll break your wings just to keep you by my side. So do us both a favour and walk. The fuck. Away." I release her then, but before I can even move, she's on me, her mouth slamming into mine, her limbs wrapping around me as she jumps into my arms. And I don't have the will to fight it anymore.
"Stop telling me what to do," she demands in between her kisses.
Once again I cannot forget another 'you touched my wife' moment. Emily really does these well
"Luckily, I have a soft spot for the people I've cared for, even when they choose to hurt me." | purse my lips. "It's a complex. One that I'm just now working on overcoming." He gurgles, blood trickling from the side of his mouth. "But then you touched my wife"
I cannot wait for the next book in this series, Emily really has us all hooked for Never After.
Check out the rest of the reviews for this series!
Hooked
Scarred
Wretched
Crossed
September 19, 2025
one thing about all the never after books in the series is the ends get SO intense and are so fast-paced. i must admit, i really liked these series seeing the spin she took with the different fairytales, modernizing them, along with giving the 'villain' the happy ending instead.
i really enjoyed this tale with Yasmin and Julian (a twist on the tale Aladdin).
it did bore me in some parts and just felt like some information was constantly repeated over and over in the characters internal monologues with themselves.
otherwise, the story was great. the love dynamic was amazing. and the spice, when it finally came, it delivered!
i really enjoyed this tale with Yasmin and Julian (a twist on the tale Aladdin).
it did bore me in some parts and just felt like some information was constantly repeated over and over in the characters internal monologues with themselves.
otherwise, the story was great. the love dynamic was amazing. and the spice, when it finally came, it delivered!
February 7, 2023
ARC Review
I feel so lucky to be on Emily’s ARC team and have absolutely loved the series so far. Having said that, Twisted is my least favourite of the series so far purely because I found it more difficult to connect with either of the main characters.
As always, Emily does a fantastic job of weaving in the original tales in such a creative way and gives us adult topics from our much beloved childhood stories/movies.
If you’ve loved the rest of her series, and/or were a sumo for Jafar in Aladdin, I definitely recommend this.
I feel so lucky to be on Emily’s ARC team and have absolutely loved the series so far. Having said that, Twisted is my least favourite of the series so far purely because I found it more difficult to connect with either of the main characters.
As always, Emily does a fantastic job of weaving in the original tales in such a creative way and gives us adult topics from our much beloved childhood stories/movies.
If you’ve loved the rest of her series, and/or were a sumo for Jafar in Aladdin, I definitely recommend this.
April 16, 2024
This one was by far the worst of the series that I’ve read. It was worse than Scarred. Idk so many scenes were just cringe for me. The spice was even cringe, idk if it was the weird one liners or maybe imo the characters didn’t have any chemistry. This book just wasn’t it for me. I hope Crossed is better…
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