Evie Childs > Recent Status Updates

36 pages and 11 (short) chapters in, and I’m already intrigued and massively hooked; this book has so much character and the narration is incredible.

Started this a while ago, a month maybe? Maybe even less? But forgot to say I was reading it.

Oh Romy, you’re in so much pain you’re lashing out at everyone like a scared, hunted animal; which totally makes sense. I forgot how much pity Alec.

This is my second time reading this book and it still hits hard, it's still intense and has me reeling as though I'm Romy. She's such an inspiring character and I'm in awe of her. I'd have wilted like a dying flower in the scorching heat, but she's a fierce force to be reckoned with; like a hurricane that refuses to be dispersed.

Well this had been an oddly therapeutic book. I adore this couple and want more of them, I'm not ready to say goodbye to them yet.

“I’ve heard he’s had more mistresses than I’ve had birthdays.” I love this line, I’ve seen episodes of the first season of Bridgeton and snippets of the second, and so perhaps the show has influenced my liking of it, given the lack of descriptions and all so far. But so far I’m enjoying it, despite the topic of death being a somewhat massive trigger for me. I hope i enjoy it all the way through.

So far quite enjoyable.

I truly felt I could relate to Emily during that part. That whole scene was somewhat therapeutic.

The confrontation scene of Emily and Alexa with the sleaze was so good. It actually made me emotional. I will say when it comes to gritty violence and action this author thrives. She hasn’t written anything since 2017 and I worry something might’ve happened to stop her from writing unless she simply chose to stop. ‘He’s tainted my life for too many years. I don’t let him have another second.’

And in a less juvenile way. It scratches the furnace of the complexity of the larger scale of events; Emily wanting revenge and being content with putting herself in harms way to get that, but then Kayne being angry and hurt that she didn’t trust him & held secrets & was willing to potentially get killed her vengeance to be enacted. I completely understand the conflict, this highlights how good it could’ve been.

It’s not necessarily the themes of this book, or even the experiences or relationships, the thought processes or mentality of the characters, but the way in which their handled and it’s written. I feel like if the content were given more complexity and allowed to be more nuanced, in a way? If it had more depth, it would be easier to read. But also this situation is conflicting, if it were written less shallow

So, I don’t know if it’s my already tumultuous emotional state or this book actually drawing emotion out of me; but the scene between Emily and everyone after they found out what she’d done, the way they hugged her, it got me tearing up. I understand Maybe’s anger and hurt, to a degree. But I’m sorry, I’m team Emmy, and I’m tired of her pain being pushed to the side for his. I get him, but also no.

Okay, this section has been quite sweet, even if it has been a bit too focused on sex and poorly written for my liking. But it’s still wholesome and giving me the warm fuzzies. The building of the rose garden to symbolise their love and how much she means to him was a nice touch. Good going Kayne, and we’ll done for listening to her and respecting her boundaries. You’re getting better. I like you more than Jake

‘Look what my doubts and fears have done to him. He’s on his knees picking up nine year old rose petals.’ He reacted in anger to her stating a boundary, admitted she lied about being okay with said boundary when she has conflicted feelings about him. But she set a boundary, he responded in anger and then he broke something precious to her & she’s blaming herself. This is just heartbreaking all around.

I understand Maybe’s anger and being overtaken by furious impulse, but jealousy, toxicity, not listening to or respecting boundaries and going into angry rages whereby something gets destroyed or damaged, are not qualities that should be portrayed as romantic or caring. Especially given the fact Emily is trying to heal from severe trauma. It’s sad all around, I’m not rooting for their relationship, I’m sad.

A man smiles at her, not creepily, at a bar whilst she’s alone and her oh so lovely sort of boyfriend comes and tells him to back the fuck up and then, proceeds to say to the woman he supposedly loves when she asks him ‘what was that?’
‘Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to, Emmy. You’re mine, every fucker in this room will know that when they come near you.’ She’s a trafficking survivor

First of all, you’re gonna stop her from harming herself because it lets her partner down, and that pain takes precedence over her trauma? I call bs. Secondly, this enrages me; ‘We’ve formed a new sort of friendship. One where Kayne constantly pushes my boundaries with words and touching, and one where I gently step away or ignore him. The man is a mountain of steel when he wants something’ so not healthy!

‘You can walk away from our conversations, but you can never walk away from me.’ Ignoring the stilted dialogue, she literally just went up the stairs. For all you know Kanye, she could be exhausted from therapy or going to take a shower or just needing her own space. This book has a problem, much like the first one did, of forced telepathy; where the characters know each other’s thoughts without communication

TW mentions of S**cide

This books stance on s**cide is incredibly concerning! It’s not a weakness, it’d be more than understandable if she’d taken her life in that hell hole. For a counsellor to say this is disturbing. Also the dish lounge is so one more and juvenile, contractions mean nothing in this book. The counsellors right about her abusers though. Kayne is not helping her though.

Trigger warning SH.

When you find the woman you love harming herself and instead of holding her, reassuring her, tidying up her wounds and yes, being affected in the process. You instead hug her tight, cry & say; ‘hold me Emmy. Hold me so I don’t destroy everything in this fucking room.’ Because it’s all about you. Selfish prat! It’s what you want, how you feel; constantly. It’s infuriating.

Dude, she said back off! How dare you keep disrespecting this traumatised woman’s wishes, my God! And telling her you’re moving back in when she’s just tried to set boundaries with you and said she doesn’t want to be with you apologetically… Who do you think you are?! This isn’t romance it’s infuriating and disgusting. Respect her and stop controlling her / ordering her around. Stop being like them.

So, the woman you supposedly love whose been trafficked and brutalised has said she doesn’t feel comfortable with you staying the night or being around you anymore, and you’re going to not only disregard her no - like her abusers did - but you’re also going to come down in just a towel. And you’re the love interest? Kayne living up to his namesake everybody; not taking leave me alone for an answer!

‘No one wants to exist in the dark when they can live in the light of day.’ I don’t know why this struck a chord with me so much.

She’s been through hell, and you’re taking her choices away through threats and aggression just like the men who did in that place. And this is supposed to be who I root for?! This is ‘romance’ a man who manipulates an already deeply traumatised woman for the sake of his not wanting to loose her? I understand he fought for five years to bring her home, but that does not make her his property.

His response to her flinching is hurt, which fair enough it’s difficult to cope with on both sides. But two times she’s said she doesn’t want to be with him anymore. And not only has he not respected her request for space despite saying he will, but he’s just said that he’ll harm any man she gets with and make sure everyone knows she’s his if she tries dating someone else.

The woman he supposedly loves and has done for decades has been trafficked, sold, abused, controlled, terrorised and beaten for 5, 5 years! And his response to her saying she feels worthless is to punch a hole through her bedroom wall. Tell her he’ll give her space but to answer him whenever he calls because he can’t stand not hearing her voice.