I ended up having to borrow this from Hoopla because the title archived before I had a chance to download it. This book should have so many trigger warnings / trope warnings. This is an enemies to lovers, bully, dark romance. One of trigger warnings that was NOT listed for this book was parental physical abuse (father abuses son), first it is off the page, then it is described in detail near the end of the book. I listened to the audiobook version, and right off the bat, I did not feel like the narrators voices matched the supposed ages of the MMC and FMC. Both of the narrators sound much older than college students, which bothered me throughout the book The MMC is seriously twisted and seeing how his father acts, it's not surprising that the apple does not fall far from the tree. I did not find the MMC or the FMC likable in any degree, even their friends were a bit annoying, and some of those friends show their true colors near the end of the book (one was good, the other was bad). I feel like the 'plot twist' didn't really make sense, and it felt like an afterthought to the storyline, crammed into the last quarter of the book. This book ends on a cliffhanger, but unfortunately, I didn't find either character likable enough for me to want to pick up the second book in this series. #TheWallflower #NetGalley

I love Rina Kent and was excited for book as it seemed to in that same genre. Unfortunately it didn’t live up to my hopes. The narrators weee okay but didn’t totally fit the characters. A lot of discussion and the plot felt forced and didn’t flow. And I love read a lot of dark romance but none that give the straight up nonconsensual sex vibes like this one. Overall, couldn’t get into this book due to the general ick.

This was an okay story with okay narrators. It was a bit hard to keep track of what was happening but it was okay. 3 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of The Wallflower by J. L. Beck in exchange for my honest review.

I want to thank NetGalley, Publishers Dreamscape Media, and the author J.L. Beck for providing this audio-ARC. Which, I will be giving my honest and sincere review.

The Wallflower is full of trigger warnings
Adult speech, Adult behaviour, Family dysfunction, cancer, Non Consenting acts, Rape, Degrading speech, Abuse, Family Violence, Betrayal.

This was a fast-paced read from the start you get to see the plans for the book explained, Drew has his eyes on someone who dared to defy him, and now he wants to toy with it. If you are expecting an Icebreaker-type book move away.

The scenes are so well described and portrayed gave me all the emotions, I gasped, cried, and laughed especially with our Female main character's best friend.
The book is heavy with abuse and non-consensual behaviours, or maybe CNC. I felt rage at times.

In every chapter, you will see some kind of triggering behaviours that I mentioned above. So please proceed with caution.

A Hint "Drew" the main male character is one of the first characters I hate, that might be on purpose since I feel that the author left us on a cliffhanger but I kind of saw the plot twist coming, it least was very obvious to me.

Netgalley ALC received!
JL Beck is a new author to me, but I've seen this book everywhere so wanted to give it a go.
I loved Maybell from the start, she's sassy, social awkward, smart and keeps herself isolated.
Drew is a asshole, possessive, and goes after what he wants.
I loved the push and pull between Maybell and Drew, the are complete opposites, but they are perfect together. I was so addicted to this book from the very first page, I was hooked and couldn't get enough.
If you enjoy bully romance, which is a little bit of darkness and a lot of emotions, read this one.
I thought this book was a standalone so wasn't expecting the cliff-hanger.
I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW!!!!

The Vibes:
Dark bully romance
sports romance
alphahole jock
enemies to lovers
touch her and die
secret society
obsessed hero

If you're a big fan of Rina Kent's Legacy of Gods series with the private clubs and initiation, a darker side of college romance with found0-family friendships, look no further
This book actually reminds me so much of God of Malice and Deviant King which is amazing because I love both those books

Now where to begin?
I suppose I should start by saying that I got the audiobook version of this book which helps a lot for someone with attention-span deficit and the fact that my schedule lately only allow me to read through audiobook (yay technology!)
But the thing about audiobook is you don't really focus on the smallest little detail which I think would make this book more enjoyable
Another thing I think I should mention is the fact that this book is a little bit on the darker side of dark romance so keep that in mind and please do read the trigger warnings just to be on the safe side

Now let's talk tropes because I can't really talk about the plot without spoiling it
Bad boy MMC? Check
MMC with daddy issues? Check
Reluctant good girl FMC? Check
MMC who doesn't take no for an answer and would pursue her to the point of stalking? Check!

Somehow this book conveys so much reality into the detail that I wouldn't be surprised if something like this happens in real life
And my heart really broke for Maybell with how bad her family and her home life is

I'm giving it a 4.5 stars and I can't wait to see what shenanigans these two would get into next
Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape media and JL Beck for providing me with this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

#TheWallflower #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the early copy of this audiobook. It took me so long to finish it cause apart from life has been too busy, it's my first time to be in this specific genre.

I entered into the audiobook with an open mind but was caught off guard by its contents. Although I was intrigued by the two main characters individually, their dynamic together was unpleasant. I'm interested in learning more about both of their mothers and why they share the same illness. The story does a good job of addressing family matters and answering questions towards the end, but I couldn't muster any interest in the romantic aspect of the plot.

I will still probably explore more of the genre and see for myself if this is something I am okay with.

book was archived beofre I had a chance to read it. Rating is based on the blurb and the cover. I will be getting this from my local library

I'll say this: dark romance is usually not my thing, so this is on me and feel free to ignore my review if you'd like because I seem to be in the minority.

As I said, I rarely read dark romance, but the blurb reminded me of Bait by Jade West which also had prey/predator dynamic. Of course it was consensual in that one, but I decided to give this a chance thinking that the sex will be good. And don't get me wrong. The spicy scenes were so good. I loved the concept of the Hunt as well.

But my main problem with this book was the characterization. The actions were inconsistent with what they thought/felt. Also the MMC annoyed me so much with their constant "I'm a monster" monologue. I don't think I've ever rolled my eyes more. The dialogues felt a little forced to me, as well.

“If your hate taste this good, I can’t imagine what your desire taste like.”

I have not give JL Black the support she severed this book had me weak in my knees. Such a good dark bully romance. Super good read. The whole time I couldn’t stop thinking about how much of a as* Drew is but I couldn’t put this down. All the FMC wanted to do was win money to take care of her mom & she put up with so much bs I have to just love for the love she has for her mom.

I really don’t want to spoil too much I think this is a great book that as long as you check TW that it’s best go in blind & enjoy the ride along the way

Usually I love bully romance. A good enemies to lovers, possessive MMC, morally grey character, dubious con is right up my alley. J.L. Beck is also one of my favorite authors and I was extremely excited to read this latest story.

But this book just felt really forced to me. The main characters are in college and participate in “The Hunt” where Drew hunts down Bel and basically takes her virginity forcibly and acts like it’s just another Tuesday. He then proceeds to basically stalk and harass her at every turn and obsess about her despite his friends and family telling him to stay away. She acts like this is normal and as much as she says she doesn’t want him she goes feral every time he touches her.

The actions of these characters just did not align with their inner monologue/words and went from a 0 to 100 on the intensity scale pretty much from the start with very little build up or reasonable amount of time for any kind of emotional connection.

Yes the ending ends on a cliffhanger and there’s some twists at the end that were exciting. But overall this book just did not do it for me. While I don’t usually require much plots to enjoy these types of books this one could have benefited from a bit more substance.

**3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

Whew... that was a lot to digest. I just finished and I honestly still don't exactly know what to think.

First of all, this is not a love story. If that's what you're looking for then The Wallflower is not for you. Even if you think you have no triggers, I recommend checking the TWs. I am not easy to frazzle and there were a couple of scenes in this one that made me say WTF?!

I love a dark MMC and Drew, football captain/god on campus is dark as night. As The Wallflower plot unfolds we do find out how Drew became this version of himself, but I still didn't find it enough to redeem his bad behaviour. I basically just wanted Maybel to kick his @$$ and show him who the real boss was.

Maybel has a lot going on, and is more similar to Drew than she thinks. Her mom is sick, the bills are piling up and she's just trying to stay a float. I liked that she fought back with Drew and gave him sass, but didn't love when she pushed her mom to do a treatment that she obvs didn't want to. I found Maybel to be a bit selfish too.

The narrators Renee Thorn and Ryan Stone were SO good. Ryan perfectly captured the severe level of unhinged that was Drew Marshall and Renee Thorn nailed the matter of fact/naïveté of Mabelle.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media and J.L. Beck for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

The Wallflower by J. L. Beck, narrated by Renee Thorn and Ryan Stone, is a phenomenal audiobook that will captivate fans of dark romance with power struggles and suspense. The story and narration are top-notch, drawing listeners in with its compelling dynamics. The author skillfully weaves a tale of an unexpected meeting between the protagonist and her worst nightmare, a popular football star with a dark side. As their paths intertwine, the story takes thrilling twists and turns, keeping listeners on the edge of their seats. The chemistry between the characters is a power play, making it impossible to resist rooting for their complicated relationship. With its seamless blend of intrigue, suspense, and a touch of darkness, The Wallflower is a must-listen for those who crave intense stories. Be prepared for triggers as this enemies-to-lovers romance delves into the depths of the human psyche. Stay tuned for Book Two as the story unfolds and leaves listeners eagerly anticipating what comes next. As a reader who received an advance copy, I offer this review voluntarily.

Thank you @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for early access to this audiobook.

Firstly the narration is fire!

Secondly check the trigger warnings yall. This one be for everyone but it def was for me. I devoured this!

Thirdly I cannot wait for books two!!! I immediately went to look and see if I could preorder it.

Dark rom
Dub con
Chase
Cliffy
Stalking (light)
Good girl
Swallow
And so so many more

I listened to the audio of this the other day and here are my thoughts.

It was very well performed; however, the male narrator was a little too... creepy? I'm sorry, I don't know another way to say it. There was just something about the performance that felt a bit off. I got into it eventually. The female narrator was excellent. She did all voices very well.

This book was not quite for me. I like the psychopath and the edgy manboy who wants to dominate and play with a new toy. But this one lacked the softening that I need to see to make me want to stay with him. Maybe it's because it was only part 1, but by the end of this one, I didn't see WHY she would even want him back. Is it only their physical connection?

This is always the issue for me with bully style dark romances. I have to still see what the heroine might want. Honestly it only felt like the physical by the end of this.

I was intrigued by some of the plot points enough that I am curious about The Wildflower, I just don't know when I'll get to it because I don't feel the urge.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

According to NetGalley, this is “It is a complete standalone that contains a happily ever after.” No it is not. It ends in a cliffhanger

Synopsis: Maybell needs money to help pay for her mother’s medical bills. Her roommate brings her to what they call “The Hunt” The goal of the hunt is to make it without being caught with the grand prize being $25,000. Only no one ever wins and when they get caught they are basically forced to have sex with their captor. Drew becomes obsessed with Maybell because she is different from the other girls. She isn’t looking to get caught she is a virgin who just wants the money.

Review: For me there is difference between a dominant/possessive/whips and chains male who utilizes safe words and a male who does all these things without consent. No means no or else it’s called rape. Maybell especially in the beginning continuously tells him no when he’s there forcing her and spoiler (he still does it anyway)
The storyline itself was nothing unique. I felt that it was very similar to many other dark college romance. The Ritual being the main one that came to mind throughout. It also left many questions unanswered. The illness of the mothers is never explained just that they are basically bedridden. I also didn’t care for how Drew had such douche father, you’d think he learned to be better but no he treats Maybell the same way. I will say the cliffhanger was not exactly what I thought it would be and it left me intrigued for book 2 but I don’t think I will remember to continue.

Narration review: The narrators are good but I felt that their voices simply did not work for the characters, which I feel is a casting thing and not the narrators fault. They did manage to keep me listening.

This narrators were absolutely great! But unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me.
Drew has ZERO redeemable characteristics. And I felt like all throughout the book. There were statements that were contradictory to one another. Just a small example was a moment where Drew was quickly scanning a set of text messages while simultaneously reading each each individual one. And that just kept happening and I couldn’t really get past it. Drew‘s character was just awful.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book was DARK! I was shocked by how dark and twisted Drew was and the relationship between Drew and Bel started off as very cringeworthy. I was hoping he would become a better man for her, but maybe the next book will have him explore a better side of himself. I am looking forward to where this story will go next.

What’s it about?

Let’s get this out there first: this is a dark romance with a lot of intense content, like abuse and dub-con.

Belle is at college on a scholarship, tutoring and taking odd jobs to help pay for her ill mother’s exorbitant medical care.

When her friend secures an invite to the “Hunt” she goes because the winner can nab $25k.

But the Hunt is run by rich boy Drew and his cronies. And anything and everything is allowed on that chase through the woods.

Soon Drew becomes obsessed and possessive over Belle, in a way he’s never done before.

But Belle’s mom is getting sicker, and Drew is at the mercy of his father’s desires and abuse.

My thoughts:
This book is intense and Drew is a walking red flag—the kind of guy that is only acceptable in fiction. He’s demanding and possessive and generally kind of awful.

But I couldn’t stop listening either. I was so invested with what Drew would do next and how innocent Belle would cope with it all.

Also the stakes are high and the drama constantly ratchets up with each chapter.

My one complaint is that a lot of the dialogue is repetitive, many phrases and sentences repeated in certain scenes.

Still though, I’m invested in the story and can’t wait to see what happens next.

🎧 The narration on this audiobook is exceptional. Renee Thorn and Ryan Stone are so believable and knock it out of the park. They made it easy to get sucked into the story.

I received an advanced listener copy of this audiobook, and the narration was great! Both narrators seemed to portray the emotions and tone of each moment well with their inflection.

I wish I could say I felt the same about the story.

The premise was interesting, and this book seemingly sets us up for some interesting twists in book two, but it just wasn't enough to hook me in this one. There's no romance or even a moment of real emotional connection here, and I was really missing it. I couldn't suspend disbelief enough to accept that the MCs kept allowing things to play out as they did.

That being said, if you're a big fan of college age, secret society-esque dark romances, and don't necessarily look for the rhyme/reason for two characters to be together, this may be a hit for you. Just was not for me.