I finished watching the movie a few days ago and planning to withdraw my request for this E-ARC. I enjoyed the film, but there's a specific part of the movie that didn't click with me and made me a bit uncomfortable.

But, I'm always open to changing my mind about the movie if the book is much better because usually, I tend to enjoy the book better for adaptation movies. For this, tho, I'm sorry, I just can't with this book. The writing is okay, the character feels flat and annoying (I'm sorry), and part of the book also makes me super uncomfortable.

I recommend you check the trigger warning for this book, don't go blind, and always check the trigger warning before reading a book.

This was my first book by this author and it was okay. I wasn’t crazy obsessed with the writing or the story line. I love dark romance and I don’t have triggers so I figured I would really enjoy these two. However, I just found myself not loving the hero at all. I never vibed with him and I honestly wanted her to find someone better. I think emotionally he’s just not there for me.

I went into this book blind with no expectations. I read the summary and decided to give it a try. I don’t read a lot of YA/NA stuff but when I do, I (usually) enjoy it. This was not the case. This book was challenging for me to read. The plot was…different and the writing style just wasn’t for me. The characters were hard to root for, especially Nick and his actions. I love the age-gap trope but when she’s 17 and he’s 22…it’s just weird to me. Overall, this book is polarizing; some people will love it and some will hate it. I’m indifferent that borders on dislike. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC to read and review.

I really wish that they wouldn't compare this one to Colleen Hoover because it's nothing like her stories. This was a gross look at manipulating a character as well as making things seem like they are ok when they are not. I had to put this one down because I just cold not deal with all the crap that Noah goes through. I wished her mom would have been able to step in and put a stop to it or if she would have been able to get real help. Enemies to Lovers is one of my favorite troupes but when that comes on the edges of abuse I just can not root for that relationship.

Thanks to Bloom Books for this copy but seriously I am just not sure why you guys picked this one up when there are so many other amazing stories out there.

Some of the writing was very immature for the age ranges in this book, but all in all the story was great and kept me entertained

There where parts that hooked me in this book but once she opened up about her childhood I decided it just wasn’t for me personally - DNF at 62%

Not for me

"My Fault" is the prelude to the Culpable series by Mercedes Ron and tells the story of Noah and Nicolas.

"My Fault" has been translated from Spanish and Amazon Prime is even filming the book.

When Noah's mother married a rich lawyer out of the blue, her world falls apart. For her, it's now time to leave friends and her old life behind and start over in California. Noah is anything but happy about this, and when she meets her stepbrother Nicolas, it's as if the world has conspired against her. If only there wasn't the attraction between them...

When I started "My Fault" I thought I was going to read a great summer story. But unfortunately the book couldn't convince me. I have to be honest and say that I found the two of them terribly annoying.

I don't like the characters. Noah more with each page. Their behavior became more and more childish in my eyes. Nicolas I honestly found quite unlikeable and boring from the beginning. Their relationship reminded me a lot of Hardin and Tessa's relationship in the After series, and it really got on my nerves. The characters didn't show their age. Nicolas keeps insisting that he is older than seventeen year old Noah, but there was no sign of that.
The plot was not my cup of tea. There were just too many themes and I didn't find any of them really integrated.

Therefore, I can only give "My Fault" 2 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

*⭐️⭐️⭐️ and half stars*

(I will start this review by saying few things. Every book isn’t for everyone. I knew before starting that it was originally published in Wattpad in Spanish and expected the translation may not be smooth always.Considering the age of the characters, I expected it to be like a young adult/ teen romance vibes. I also love reading taboo or forbidden romance of extreme kind so a step sibling romance where they aren't even biologically related isn't a big deal.)

My Fault by Mercedes Ron is perfect for you if you love the push and pull of young adult romance that comes with volatile feels, explosive taboo chemistry and all kinds of irrational emotions.

Noah and Nicholas both are flawed and broken in some way. Both have traumas. Noah's scars are deeper and graver. She is just 17 but life has made her go through some horrible events. She may sound immature and stubborn and hot headed and fragile but that's what I expected her to be. No normal 17 year old has her sh1t together. And here comes a wounded girl whose life is getting turned upside down and she doesn't know how to cope with all the anger and pain and heartbreak. Nicholas may have a rich father but his heart is empty too. If you love bad boys who live dangerously but turn into jealous possessive overprotective alpha for their girl, you will love Nick. They are forbidden but their connection is magnetic. Violent. They don't know how to handle all the messy feels..and that brings all kinds of chaos. It is apprently part of a trilogy but this one ends with a happy-for-now. It was corny and cheesy and whimsical and petty many times but that's what I expected from a couple so young and so messed up.

Noah found her glue in the boy who used to tease her and taunt her but ultimately fell hard for her. Nick found his gravity in the girl who refused to be charmed and loved but ultimately let him take care of her.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily by Bloom Books and Netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley, Mercedes Ron, and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book. It just wasn’t for me. I thought it would be but something within the story didn’t allow me to get hooked or invested. But I think it has great potential and a lot of people will end up loving it when this does hit shelves!

It’s not you, it’s me. Really isn’t you. I just couldn’t vibe with the writing style or connect with the characters.

What is a girl to do. Sometimes that’s just the way it is.

DNF 35%.

Thank you to Net Galley for a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

The first thing that comes to mind is the age gap. Step siblings I can deal with but when she is still a minor and he’s 22, it just feels icky. She didn’t even turn 18 in the book, she was still a senior in high school while he was out in college.

I felt like Noah was really whinny and didn’t care what anyone said, she just did what she wanted even though it continually hurt Nick. I just didn’t understand the chemistry and it felt very much like “she’s not like other girls”

Still finished it but couldn’t say I enjoyed it

My Fault by Mercedes Ron is the first book of the Culpable trilogy and it’s Noah and Nick‘s story.
 
Noah is from Canada and her family situation is not the best. It gets quite intense in this book and while it added a lot of drama, it was pretty heartbreaking at the same time. Her mom found a new husband and they are therefore moving to California. Noah is not very happy about this and especially her new stepbrother Nick is getting on her last nerve. The way these two can push each other’s buttons is the best banter if seen in a long time. Noah is pretty badass, and a strong heroine and I really liked her.
 
And Nick is just book boyfriend perfection. He seems like a spoiled and annoying stepbrother in the beginning, but the more I saw of him, the more I loved him. He is not afraid to show feelings and that was amazing. He can be bossy and super sweet, and that combination was everything. Nick also has connections to the underworld and that added a lot of suspense.
 
This is the type of book that has strong characters and an engaging plot. I couldn’t put this book down and every page made me fall more in love with the world. Even though my Spanish is not that great, I’m seriously considering getting the rest of the books in the original language because I just need more from this world.
 
Overall, I’m just obsessed with this book and My Fault is a new favorite. 5 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

DNF at around 30%.

This book just wasn’t for me and I decided to not finish because it wasn’t something I could get into. The writing style wasn’t bad and the characters were developed just not my story line.

Noah Morgan's life is turned upside down when her mother announces that she is marrying wealthy businessman William Leister. His life is in Los Angeles and he expects them to leave behind their quiet life in Canada for the glitz and glamour of LA... which is something that Noah is none too thrilled about, but has no choice but to go along with. Upon her arrival she learns that now has a step-brother to contend with, and Nicholas is someone she plans to avoid at all costs, he is the kind of trouble she wants nothing to do with... or does she?

The pages of My Fault hold a captivating love story between two people who probably shouldn't be together, but can't seem to stay apart. Noah and Nicolas have a complicated union, one where age, familial lines, and their distaste for one another come into play, and often create problems for them. Their love is complicated, messy, riddled with lies and secrets, but even with all that at they still love one another and want to find a way to be together. And I loved watching them find their way!

I enjoyed this one, the raw emotion was easily felt and the words tore at my heart, it was the perfect kind of torture. I do recommend you read with caution though as this one deals with some tough subject matter. I think readers who enjoy darker romances that push boundaries will absolutely enjoy this one, highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

This book is a new adult romance that centers are Noah and Nick. Noah is the innocent and sweet high school senior who has just been forced to move to California from Canada to live with her mother and new step-father. Nick is her twenty-something step-brother - who is the stereotypical "bad boy". This novel is originally from Wattpad and was super popular on the platform, something I am not super familiar with but after researching this does make sense.

Overall, I found the book not the most well-written but the story did keep me hooked. It was like one of those magazines you read and enjoy at the beach. The fact that I was hooked and could not put the book down is why I am giving the book 2.5 stars. BUT....this book is somewhat controversial, I did not love the age gap nor some of the topics. So I suggest looking into the trigger warnings before reading.

Both Nick and Noah had very little depth to me and the character development went from literally Nick is a horrible guy to next page Nick is now a completely reformed person. Also, there was several inconsistencies throughout the book. If looking for excellent literature this is not the book for you. But a quick beach read to pass the time....this book was alright.

My Fault definitely felt like a Wattpad romance, but I admit I kind of was looking for that vibe when I picked it up, so I can’t fault it for that.
I expected something a little darker, but much like the After series, the dramatic and dark portions of everyone’s lives was more domestic and less shocking than I expected.
Overall, the whole stepsibling thing was pretty downplayed with them being newly introduced and with Nick already being an adult, so that was good. I admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of the age gap and didn’t see a reason why Nick couldn’t have been like 18 or 19 instead of 22 and if he was 22, then I don’t see a reason why Noah couldn’t have been 18 or 19 instead of 17. There was just no reason for it imo and I felt that was a bigger issue than the whole stepsibling aspect.
If you’re looking for that enemies to lovers Wattpad trainwreck romance, My Fault was fun and entertaining and I definitely recommend it. If you’re looking for something with some more meat or something that really plays into the taboo spice factor, this isn’t the book for you. I had a lot of fun with it and it was exactly the kind of book I was looking for when I picked it up!

A taboo romance, a cross country move, a deadly secret, and rebellion. When Noah's mom marries a billionaire her life will change forever. Can she adjust to living away from her life, her friends, and her boyfriend in Canada and moves to California? What will happen when she finds herself attracted to her stepbrother?

Nick is not interested in playing nice with his new stepsister and he's quick to let her know. When Noah discovers his hobby, he needs to keep her from telling his father. What will happen when she gets him into more trouble than he realized? Can he give in to the feelings he has for her without getting them both into trouble?

When a stalker enters the picture and Noah doesn't reach out for help, it takes a strange dark turn. I feel mislead from the book synopsis "A delicious and angsty enemies-to-lovers romance in which Noah falls for her new stepbrother, the boy who's leading a hidden double life under their family's nose."

This step-sibling attraction, opposites attract, dual POV, and a slow burn for Nick and Noah that borders on creepy at times. Readers note that there are multiple scenes with date rape drug consumed, abuse by parent, as well as an age gap for main characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

I adored this book!

If you're looking for a book with:
• angst
• secrets
• car racing
• found family
• forced proximity
• enemies to lovers
• age gap (17y - 22y)
• forbidden romance (step-siblings)

Please give this one a shot, it's totally worth it!

Pour information, la série inspirée par ce livre va sortir le 8 juin sur Prime Vidéo et il y a une réédition française prévue également!
Les éditions Bloom ont décidé de rééditer les livres de Mercedes Ron avant son adaptation et comme je ne les avais pas lu à l’époque, je me suis donc lancée dedans…
Nous suivons Noah, 17 ans doit déménager de Toronto en Californie, laissant ses amis et son petit copain mais elle le fait pour suivre sa mère qui vient d’épouser William Leister, un riche avocat. Elle rencontre aussi son nouveau demi-frère Nick, qui dès la première rencontre lui fait comprendre qu’il ne veut rien à voir avec elle et surtout il ne veut pas que Noah se mêle de ses affaires…
Dans ce livre, on est sur plusieurs tropes : enemies to lovers, stepbrother/stepsister, grumpy sunshine… tout pour me convaincre mais qui malheureusement n’ont pas réussi à me convaincre. J’ai trouvé que le livre était très long, que certaines scènes étaient assez redondantes, le comportement de Nick qui rejette Noah pour ensuite la reprendre et encore et encore m’a un peu énervé. J’ai eu du mal à m’attacher aux personnages que j’ai eu envie de secouer à plusieurs reprises comme Nick pour lui faire prendre conscience de son comportement mais aussi de ses sentiments ou Noah car elle a parfois des réflexions déroutantes ^^
En bref, un livre qui ne m’a pas convaincu mais dont je suis sure pourra plaire à beaucoup mais je me lancerais par curiosité dans la série!

This is unfortunately a DNF @ 33% for me.
I struggled alot with the Nick’s outlook and especially his perception of women. I feel as though this was meant to come across as somewhat of a “bully” romance, but it just read extremely misogynistic. I tried to push through all his red flags but felt there were too many with no real intention.

I have no issues with step sibling romance and have enjoyed them in the past, however this one is not it for me. The rest of the tropes, including the “bad boy” vibes felt stereotypical with no real depth.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom for the opportunity to read and review. All thoughts are my own.