Charleigh is the queen of emotionally captivating connections and NA conflict romance, and Tell Me Pretty Lies lives up to her legacy!
Our amazing heroine is Shayne- and she’s up there with Lo as my favorite Charleigh heroine. We meet Shayne in a heart breaking and riveting first chapter- along with her brother, Grey, and her stepbrothers, one of whom is our brooding, rebel hero, Thayer. We instantly learn of the forbidden love between these two- they are magnets, thunder and lightning- pulled together by an epic force, but they are rocked by the devasting events we learn about straight away. From there, Charleigh unfolds a complex, emotive tale of two people struggling to regroup after loss, trying to make meaning of their new realities, struggling to reconnect with the world, and resisting their own emotions and draw to each other. We’ve got a dash of bully tropes here, some stepbrother taboo, an unexpected mystery, a menagerie of mostly interesting and moderately developed side characters, in particular Shayne’s best friend Valen and Thayer’s brother Holden, and an emotional journey of redemption, catharsis, and acceptance camouflaged by the thirst for answers and revenge.
Shayne is beacon of light- a bundle of innocence and fire. She’s somehow gentle, kind, and vulnerable while also being fierce, tough, and stoic all at once. She rolls with the punches of her life without ever feeling sorry for herself or entitled, and she grows- we see her find herself and her voice amidst all the chaos. I appreciated her resilience, her patience, her level headedness, and her consistent willingness to explore what she knows can crush her. And boy, does Thayer crush her at times. Thayer is what we all love in a light-bully anti-hero. He’s not as rough around the edges as some other anti-heros (and the bully theme does not play centerstage for long if that’s not your thing)- he’s definitely brooding and intimidating but is also accessible and layered. He’s got soul. He’s driven by anger and guilt, and only Shayne seems to reach beyond his emotional fortress to the broken boy inside.
These characters have insane chemistry- it is what I love best about Charleigh’s books, her artfully developed and interconnected characters. Sure, she can write an engaging plot, but where she shines is in the emotional arc of each character and the careful web of emotional ties and meaningful moments she weaves between these two hurting souls. Charleigh always finds a way to help you see the beauty and naturalness of an emotional journey- letting us revel in the cornucopia of emotions her characters’ experience in relationships and trying times- which always makes her characters feel more realized, more three dimensional, and more moving. The emotional chemistry is magnetic, bittersweet, and swoon worthy. Their connection- no matter what the love-hate status at any moment, doesn’t just sparkle, it blazes. And OYE, the steamy times. Some of the hottest stuff I’ve read in Charleigh’s books- and she’s written some steamy stuff. I like me some bossy and dominating yet somehow sweet Thayer bedroom persona.
My ONLY blip is that the ending seemed to wrap up too quickly- the romance was well painted and paced, but the secondary story, the mystery, felt a bit rushed at too neatly unpacked at the end. And, to be honest, the outcome was a bit unfulfilling- I expected more explosion, this was a bit of a whimper. That said, apparently we have another book coming (fingers crossed for Holden’s story) so perhaps we’ll get to explore the aftermath of the mystery solving twist (which I did not see coming) a bit more.
Overall, a great read!
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He’s just a boy you used to know. You will not fall apart at the sight of him.Highlighted by 314 Kindle readers- “He’s stubborn and moody and self-loathing, but I don’t think he loved a single thing until he met you.”Highlighted by 299 Kindle readers
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A surprising and wonderful story of love found and being drawn back to each other...
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2020
⚡Bully Romance⚡Enemies-to-Lovers⚡Stepbrother⚡Second Chance.“You know me. Always willing to lend your daughter a helping hand.” He winks..Review: I am a fan of all of Charleigh Rose's books. I think there is only 1 book left that I haven't read! She NEVER disappoints! .Shayne was always a good girl. She struggled with insecurities of not being good enough for the people she was forced to be around. She had no one when she needed them the most. That's not her anymore! Now she is strong and ready to fight back. Her hidden feistiness is coming out and you don't want to mess with her. .Thayer is the brooding bad boy and black sheep in his family. He is the guy every girl wants, but he rejects his popularity. He is broody and mean to everyone, including the girl he once spent all his time with. .Shayne and Thayer are like magnets, drawn to each other like thunder and lightning. Due to a terrible tragedy their family was torn apart. Their parents separated and each went their separate ways. Shayne was forced to leave behind her 3 stepbrothers who were her best friends and the love of her life. Due to her Grandma passing away and leaving her mom the house, Shayne is now back and forced to see the Ames boys that she once loved. One more than the others. Thayer just can't seem to stay away from Shayne no matter how badly he wants to and the push-pull is delicious! The lust and sexual chemistry was off the charts and soooo good! The unexpected plot twist was shocking. I love it when puzzle pieces that seem unrelated all come together and explain everything! I absolutely fell in love with Holden, Thayers brother that is Shayne's age. His book is coming soon and I can't wait!
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2020
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