Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love everything L.J. Shen writes and this story was no exception! Unexpected Foe turned out to be unexpected surprise! This story was so interesting and I was enthralled.

I don't remember the last time that I liked something by LJ Shen and this was unfortunately no exception

3⭐

After I read Ruthless Rival, I had high hopes for this series. I really wanted to read the stories of Christian's friends to get to know them better. But Fallen Foe wasn't what I expected. This book aroused a lot of contradictory emotions in me.

Although this book is about Arsène and Winnie, the first part of the story is about Arsène and his stepsister Grace. Even at the very beginning, I was wondering how the plot would turn out, that Arsène and Winnie would be together. I wasn't ready for the way L.J. Shen turned the plot. That was one of the reasons why I didn't like this book.

I hope I like Riggs's book, because he is a very mysterious character who I want to get to know better.

Jeez, that was heavy

This is not an easy book to read. I get why others would rate it so low. You have to really toughen it out if you want to get to the good part — the part where they heal, fall in love, and have their happy ever after.

I always hate when the guy is with another woman who isn't the female lead. It's because I'm a jealous bitch. And I hate, hate, hate reading those words Arsene was thinking about Grace, who ironically, has the same name as me.

But I get that that's how it was for Arsene at the time. He was having a toxic relationship with his stepsister because he has never been exposed to a good example of love - familial love and romantic love.

So of course it will be the sunshine-y, country bumpkin who will show him how to love.

I guess I appreciate their finally coming together more because of everything they went through (and I went through as a reader) in the first half of the book.

I do recommend this book. LJ Shen is a really good story teller - can make you feel all the feels, and that's what I've always been about. But as I said, the first part of it is a tough pill to swallow so be prepared to go through some gritty times.

Will I reread it in the future? Maybe. I'm actually really chicken when it comes to rereading books that are heavy on the heart. Right now, I feel like I've been through the wringer. I still have this heavy feeling in my heart and I don't know how soon I'll recover.

Still, I think it deserves all the stars.

This story follows Arsène and his stepsister / fiancé Gracelynn. From the get-go, both of these characters are extremely unlikable. Gracelynn is a biotch, blatantly rude to people she deems "less than" and always needs to be the center of attention. She can't stand anyone, but also can't stand that people don't like her. She is fake and two-faced. Arsène is arrogant and slightly less dreadful than his sister, but still obsessed with her. He is obsessed with getting revenge on her, but also he is in love with her. They say there is a fine line between love and hate, and I think this books displays that perfectly. With two incredibly unlikeable characters, I had to DNF this book at 25%. I am usually ok with taboo tropes, but reading about two characters left me feeling like I didn't care about what happens to them. This book is also, apparently, book two in a series, but from what I read, it felt like a standalone. I typically don't like starting a series in the middle, but I didn't mind that aspect of the book, it really was just the horrible characters that made me dislike this book. If you don't mind reading about unlikeable characters (that were possibly made for each other) then, you will probably like this book, but for me, it was a miss. #FallenFoe #NetGalley

This wasn’t for me: neither the writing or the characters pulled me in and I found myself skimming.

I don’t think I’ll continue the series.

I DNF’d this book unfortunately as it wasn’t gripping me. Again, I will usually give things a second go if I feel like it’s something i would otherwise enjoy - so when I’m feeling more into the romance mood, i will definitely be giving this book a second chance because i love LJ Shens writing style.

Did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, I thought that gracelynn would be the heroine as she was built up to be a prominent character with the step brother trope, however the twist was un tasteful for me and I did not personally enjoy the direction in which this story has gone.

Thank you to the publishers, netgalley and LJ shen for the arc.

Love the billionaire trope. But I didn’t love how much time was spent on the mmc’s first love and not the evolution of his story with the fmc. Too many flashbacks for my personal liking.

I not only DNF’ed, but actively hated, this book. For one very simple, yet important reason, the male main character. I’m not new to reading about questionable men in books, but Arsene takes the cake. His treasure trove of daddy issues turned him into a pompous, self-righteous misogynist, and I have absolutely zero interest in reading about his story, or inevitable redemption. He can fall off that roof again, the end!

Fallen Foe is a story that that digs its claws into you and doesn’t let go, long after you’ve finished it.
Loved, loved, LOVED this book. Honestly, it is perfect.
LJ Shen is a unique storyteller who created characters that will name you feel a rollercoaster of emotions. Arsène owns my heart!
It was amazingly heartbreaking, full of passion, list and angst!
Top Read of 2023

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I was super excited about this read after finishing Ruthless Rival, and boy did it not disappoint!! LJ Shen writes the most binge worthy romances 😂🙌🏽

I was looking forward to reading this book after enjoying the Sinners of Saint series, but unfortunately this book was just not for me. I unfortunately couldn’t get behind the incestuous relationship and the toxicity of the MMC.

Fallen Foe is the second book in the Cruel Castaways series by L.J. Shen. This is a contemporary romance told in dual perspectives and in both past and present forms. This story has a workplace/ frenemies-to-lovers vibe and can be read as a standalone.
Fallen Foe is the story of Arsene Corbin and Winnifred Ashcroft. My heart broke for these two. For Winnifred who just wanted love and for Arsene who thought he never deserved it.
Winnifred truly was an angel. She was sweet, real and very down-to-earth. Arsene was just cold and heartless but I admired his love for astronomy. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between these two grow and evolve.
Overall this story was a good read. The banter, chemistry, angst and emotional rollercoaster has me excited to see what Ms Shen has in store for the next book in this series.

Oh, how I’ve waited for this book! I just knew from the bits and pieces we saw of Arsène in Ruthless Rival that his book would be full of snark and humor. I did not however see Winnie coming! I seriously couldn’t have asked for a better woman for this man! She has the sweetness in her that Arsène needs so much in his life. Someone to show him real love and that caring for another person doesn’t always end in tragedy or disappointment. Someone who sees him for himself and not what he can offer them. Someone who can stand toe to toe with him as his equal while still feeling like home. Winnie is that person and then some. Cause this country “bumpkin” as he likes to remind her, is packed full of wit and sass making her unafraid to verbally spar with him. Which I’ll be honest is basically his favorite form of foreplay. 😆

Oh, how I’ve waited for this book! I just knew from the bits and pieces we saw of Arsène in Ruthless Rival that book would be a massive and an instant hit for me. And it was!! I’m absolutely and irrevocably in love with these two!!

In the beginning Arsene is a man with a tragic past who is so focused on gaining the woman he has always wanted and has only been able to see through rose-colored glasses. He sees her he wants her to be and not who she is until it comes crashing down and now he must pick up the pieces.

Winnie has trusted the wrong person and is now paying the price. The one thing that she and Arsene have in common is that they were betrayed by those they loved however where he is cold and detached, she feels deeply. Apart they are devastated but together they might just help each other heal.

Although there are times you may not like Arsene everything we learn about him gives us a greater insight. He has closed himself off to everyone except for his two friends but he and Winnie take us on an emotional journey as they try to deal with the hand that life has dealt them.

Arsène and Winifred boy boy boy where do i begin

Arsène almost killed my desire to read this book. The obsession with his ex step sister was sooooo awkward and wierd... I wishhh it wasnt highlighted how much it was. I get the intent was "revenge" but it came off sooo uncomfortably in some moments.

I will say Arsène and Winifred make the most sense. Two people from troubled worlds trying to navigate it all.. The half way point to this book made me turn this 2 star into a 4 .

I wish I could tell you why... just know if you are struggling stay with it..