Her body fit mine the way the ocean hugged the shore-naturally, effortlessly, perfectly.”
Hello, friends! šø Welcome to another book review post. Thank you so much for being here, and I hope everything is going well for you. Todayās book is another adult romance from one of the most hyped authors in the romance genre at the moment, Ana Huang. From the books Iāve read by her, I can say that I thoroughly enjoy her characters and writing style. This is interesting because I usually donāt get along with new authors. Although I had previously started the Twisted series by her, this book is the first in another series. Nevertheless, it includes some of my favorite tropes, like arranged marriage and the sunshine-and-grumpy dynamic. But enough of my ramblingāletās dive into the review before I lose your interest!
The book centers around two characters who find themselves in an arranged marriage or forced engagement due to certain circumstances. Our protagonist, Vivian, is a strong-willed and hopeful woman who does everything to please her parents while also striving for some sense of freedom. She knows sheās independent and wants to live life on her own terms, but when her father tells her sheās getting married (for reasons Iāll explain in a bit), she decides to go along with it. Neither of the leads is particularly excited about this arrangement, though, and Dante Russo believes he has far better things to do than marry this “two-sided” woman. I call her two-sided because of the complex relationship between the families, which, without giving too much away, is a big part of why Dante agreed to the marriage in the first place. What I can tell you is that Dante is deeply irritated by her family. And when I say “irritated,” I mean that if given the chance, heād probably punch her father in the face. While I donāt typically condone violence, I completely understand where heās coming from and almost support him in this caseāher father not only disturbs Danteās peace but also torments his own daughter. š¤·š»āāļø
This brings us to Vivian’s family dynamic. She has a submissive, silent side when it comes to her parents, while her usual feisty, energetic, and happy self disappears whenever sheās around them. This really bothers Dante, and I get itāher usual character is so easy to love. Sheās full of life, with her snarky remarks and radiant smiles that brighten everyoneās day. But when sheās with her family, all that vanishes, leaving just a shell of who she truly is.
Although the arranged marriage initially seems like something that wonāt last, the two begin to fall for each other. (No spoilers hereāit’s a romance, so we know theyāll eventually fall in love!) Itās a very slow burn, with a bit of spice toward the end. Personally, I enjoyed the pacingāit lets you see their love grow naturally, without feeling forced. There were moments when the characters, especially Dante, irritated me with some of their decisions. However, given Dante’s difficult past, I can understand why he reacts the way he does. š«
In the end, the book shows how these two characters gradually find love, learn about each other, and discover that even though their marriage started off as an obligation, it can grow into something beautiful. Danteās character was solid and consistent, though not particularly groundbreaking. Weāve seen these types of male characters beforeārich, stubborn, and devastatingly handsome, the type that turns heads whenever they enter a room. Still, there was something enjoyable about reading his story.
There is some unnecessary drama, which I found a bit frustrating given that the situation was already dramatic enough. But overall, I thought this book was a solid four-star read. Iām definitely looking forward to the rest of the series, especially a certain character whose story Iām excited to uncover (Iāll keep that as a surprise for myself, though, since I have no idea whatās coming for him).
Have you read King of Wrath? If you have, let me know what you thought about it! š¦š
Luster of Books 