scijessreads

Even though I knew what was coming at the end of this one, I still wasn’t prepared. My heart still hurt. It feels like we all (or maybe just me?) have had some relationship in the past that was hard to let go of (whether lover or otherwise), even though everyone knew it shouldn’t continue. Or one that felt very lopsided, but we held on anyway with a hope for more someday.

Since Heathen & Honeysuckle, we’ve seen glimpses of August and Elena. Glimpses of their friendship, of maybe something more. Glimpses of the chaos that was Elena and Zach. In Reckless Roses, we see how things started… and how things grew and fell apart along the way between Elena and August and Zach. We see two young people fall for each other, and a third also falling hard, but in secret.

August loved Elena so much, he was willing to give her up. Until he couldn’t. Until there was a glimmer of hope that she might actually love him too, as more than a best friend.

And the ending? Ouch. Even if you know it’s coming (because it has been foreshadowed in the first two books of this series), it is still a gut punch. And your heart breaks all over again for August and Elena, two souls trying to find their place and their passion in the world in the midst of tragic loss.

This whole book is beautiful and messy and aching. It is young love and unrequited love and toxic love – a true love triangle. And I can’t wait for the conclusion in Vice & Violet.

Thanks to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own. The book comes out at the end of September, 2025.