Review
You know those books that you’re looking forward to reading but once you read it, it’s somehow ten times better than you were expecting and you simultaneously want to blow through the book yet procrastinate finishing it because it’s so good, you don’t want the story to end? I used that ridiculous run-on sentence to say that this book was that book for me. It’s 100% my favorite read of the year so far.
Obviously, if you’ve read any of my reviews–particularly the Autumn Reed ones–then you know that I’m a huge fan of hers. I honestly didn’t think she would be able to top The Collectors series, but I feel like she’s truly outdone herself with this incredible story.
The Heroes
I usually have a favorite hero when I read a reverse harem, but I loved each one of these guys so much that I couldn’t choose. I was actively trying to compare the three while I was reading and I just couldn’t pick a favorite. Even while Carter was being a total jerk, I loved him, lol.
The three guys are polar opposites from each other. Wyatt is a rock; stoic, not easily amused, and pretty much the definition of broody. Brady is sensitive, a jokester, and incredibly attuned to people’s needs and emotions. Carter, at least on the surface, is the stereotypical rich snob with a huge attitude problem. The more you get to learn about him, the more you begin to understand him and where he’s coming from.
These guys are amazing. I adored reading about them and getting to know their differing personalities 🙂 And not only is the interaction between the three and Scarlett intriguing and wonderful, but the way they interact with each other is also awesome. It’s clear they’re close friends and I loved seeing the friendship between them.
The Heroine
I absolutely adore Scarlett. She’s one of my favorite heroines I’ve ever had the honor of reading. She’s beautiful, flawed, talented, badass in her own right, and she’s really trying hard to correct her past mistakes, which I find so brave and admirable. Plus, she’s become a surrogate mother to her little brother, Micah, and it’s awesome to see how she really grows into that role.
Scarlett is strong but also stubborn. Wyatt certainly gets frustrated with her stubbornness throughout the book, lol, but I honestly can’t fault her a whole lot. Even during the times when I found myself wanting to say, “girl, set aside your pride and just take advantage of the fact that these incredible men want to help you,” I couldn’t let myself get too upset. Between the way she’d grown up, how she had to essentially raise her little brother because her mom was way too unreliable and downright abusive, to the mistakes she’s made in her relationships … it was easy to see why she was so unwilling to accept help, no matter how small it appeared. My heart ached for her. Sure, she made some mistakes, but she certainly wasn’t the only one to blame. She wasn’t even mostly to blame, but people refused to look at the full situation and placed all the blame on her. I wish I could say this wasn’t the case in real life, but unfortunately, it happens all the time.
Bullet Points
- Scarlett and her little brother’s relationship. Love!
- There’s a huge music theme in this book, and as a singer/musician, I couldn’t have enjoyed it more <3
- Scarlett’s eventual best friend, Jill. She’s amazing and a huge source of comedic relief. I love the flirting between her and Scarlett, whether it’s purely platonic on one side or not 😉 Jill is so genuine and fun but is also an incredible friend. I just love her <3
- All the Dolly Parton references!
- The Office references, specifically regarding the three-hole punch Jim costume. I may have squeed when I read that part, lol.
- Wyatt’s little dog. Such an adorable and sweet addition!
Conclusion
This book is absolutely fantastic. When I heard there was a cheating theme involved, I was a little wary because that’s a pretty hard limit for me, but I needn’t have worried. The cheating is a past tense issue, and while it’s a major part of the story, it doesn’t detract from the heart of this book. Autumn seriously knocked this story out of the park and as much as I enjoyed reading it, I’m sad that I finished it and I can’t read it as a brand new story again, lol.
I highly, highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a story with multiple love interests and a heroine who doesn’t have to choose. The best part is this is a standalone novel, so you can read the book and get the characters’ whole story in one book <3
If you read this incredible book, make sure you let me know what you think!
Happy reading!
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[…] The Lonely Souls Series: Spineless | Heartless | WitlessThe Stardust Series: PolarisThe Collectors: Touch of Promise | Touch of FateStandalone: Scarlett, XO […]