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Addicted #1
Addicted to You
She's addicted to sex. He's addicted to booze... the only way out is rock bottom.
No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway's biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups, and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.
Loren Hale's best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they've pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They've mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.
But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex.
Their real vice may be each other.
No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway's biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups, and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.
Loren Hale's best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they've pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They've mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.
But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex.
Their real vice may be each other.
324 pages, ebook
First published June 13, 2013
About the author
Krista Ritchie
39 books16.1k followersNYT & USA Today Bestselling Authors Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.
To stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more, sign up for Krista & Becca's Newsletter: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter
Quick note: We don't check Goodreads, so we don't respond to messages here. But if you want to connect with Becca or me, you can reach out to us on our social medias or at our website: www.kbritchie.com
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Fans of Krista & Becca's Books:
♥ Join Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force Facebook group.
♥ Inspiration for the Addicted series can be found on their Pinterest boards.
♥ Find playlists for all of their books on Spotify
♥ Check out all of their extras! Including: bonus scenes, character interviews, fun posts and more on their Extras page.
To stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more, sign up for Krista & Becca's Newsletter: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter
Quick note: We don't check Goodreads, so we don't respond to messages here. But if you want to connect with Becca or me, you can reach out to us on our social medias or at our website: www.kbritchie.com
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
Fans of Krista & Becca's Books:
♥ Join Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force Facebook group.
♥ Inspiration for the Addicted series can be found on their Pinterest boards.
♥ Find playlists for all of their books on Spotify
♥ Check out all of their extras! Including: bonus scenes, character interviews, fun posts and more on their Extras page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 19,923 reviews
November 16, 2021
2.5 stars
me talking to myself before reading this book:
"im not gonna read this. nuh uh 😩👋🏼"
"no for real bishh don't read this. you read the blurb - h being a sex addict and H being an alcoholic. this will just stress you the f out. you have TWO midterms this week, sit your ass down and Don't You. Dare. read this or i-"
"... i fucking read it."
i SWORE to myself that i was just going to skim read this and only read the parts where Rose and Connor interact so im prepared for Kiss the Sky but one thing lead to another and i ended up taking an 8 hour break from studying so alas here i am.
~ went in for Rose and Connor, came out wanting to read the whole damn thing just to see more Rose, Connor and Ryke content ~
aaand what do i have to say about Lily and Lo? well...
Lily (a sex addict) + Lo (an alcoholic) = T O X I C
i can't really rant about this book without spoiling so, // SPOILERS AHEAD //
this whole book was a painful ✨mess✨ the first 39% had a lot of OM drama and a little bit of OW drama for 2 chapters where Lily hears Lo with another girl, Cassie and that OW stayed with them for a week or something and then it was over. and as for OM drama well... she is a sex addict so she wasn't celibate.
AND THEN when they finally get together that's where all the toxic shit happens. there were more bad than good that happened here and most of the time i do feel bad but other times i get so frustrated because of how selfish they both are- especially Lily. but i can't exactly be really mad at them cuz of their addiction and well, selfishness is the reality for addiction so- everything is just COMPLICATED.
again, it's really hard to like or even relate to the main characters and root for their relationship because they both enabled each other's addictions and there's also not much depth to the characters as they were all about their vices so that's why i couldn't connect with them (side note: i only think this way the first time i read this but i've read almost half of the addicted/calloway series and lemme tell y'all,,, lili and lo?? I'LL DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT THESE TWO FICTIONAL CHARACTERS. imma keep my original thoughts here because not only did lily and lo had a character development but i did as well when it comes to my feeling between these two).
also, i know Lily is suffering from her addiction but i feel so uncomfy whenever her mind wanders off and checks random guys out and creates sexual fantasies in her head and this happened a few times even when she and Lo were already together. i also feel uncomfy when she finds it hard NOT to cheat
despite all this, i can appreciate how the authors showed - not told - the struggles and negative aspects of what sex addicts go through and how it can impact friendships and family relationships. it felt real to me so that's why it was so painful to read. but again, there's A LOT more bad than good in this book in every sense so yeah it makes sense for every encounter to be painful. though, i just finished Ricochet now and lemme tell y'all- Lily's character development tho. YES.
➵ Connor and Rose + Ryke
alright, alright now let's talk about these three. FIRST of all.
— Ryke: i had no idea who he was before this but like... he can get it.
— Connor: yes i do the cooking, yes i do the cleaning 😌
— Rose: *bends the knee* MAH QUEEN.
i really can't wait to read Calloway series but these three really made me want to read the whole damn series. i literally have like- 3 books to get through before Kiss the Sky. rip.
aaand i was NOT expecting Ryke to be that to Lo. i loved him because he was supportive and seemed to care more about his well-being but... mind-fucking-BLOWN. it makes sense now why he's like that!!
if you ask me who i like more, Connor or Ryker? please don't ask me thx.
* * *
listen, listen. im a newbie to this whole fandom/series and i don't know anyone so bear with me. i originally wanted to just read the Calloway sisters series for Rose and Connor because i've been seeing tons of edits of them and i'm currently in a mood to binge read another series so i was like ehh why not, it's not like i have exams and papers coming up and it's not like i have an exam in an hour or so right??
anyway, stan Connor and Ryke for clear skin ✨
Addicted series
#1: addicted to you ↠ 2.5 stars
#2: ricochet ↠ 3.25 stars
#3: addicted for now ↠ 3.5 stars
#3: thrive ↠ tbr
#5: addicted after all ↠ tbr
me talking to myself before reading this book:
"im not gonna read this. nuh uh 😩👋🏼"
"no for real bishh don't read this. you read the blurb - h being a sex addict and H being an alcoholic. this will just stress you the f out. you have TWO midterms this week, sit your ass down and Don't You. Dare. read this or i-"
"... i fucking read it."
i SWORE to myself that i was just going to skim read this and only read the parts where Rose and Connor interact so im prepared for Kiss the Sky but one thing lead to another and i ended up taking an 8 hour break from studying so alas here i am.
~ went in for Rose and Connor, came out wanting to read the whole damn thing just to see more Rose, Connor and Ryke content ~
aaand what do i have to say about Lily and Lo? well...
Lily (a sex addict) + Lo (an alcoholic) = T O X I C
i can't really rant about this book without spoiling so, // SPOILERS AHEAD //
this whole book was a painful ✨mess✨ the first 39% had a lot of OM drama and a little bit of OW drama for 2 chapters where Lily hears Lo with another girl, Cassie and that OW stayed with them for a week or something and then it was over. and as for OM drama well... she is a sex addict so she wasn't celibate.
AND THEN when they finally get together that's where all the toxic shit happens. there were more bad than good that happened here and most of the time i do feel bad but other times i get so frustrated because of how selfish they both are- especially Lily. but i can't exactly be really mad at them cuz of their addiction and well, selfishness is the reality for addiction so- everything is just COMPLICATED.
again, it's really hard to like or even relate to the main characters and root for their relationship because they both enabled each other's addictions and there's also not much depth to the characters as they were all about their vices so that's why i couldn't connect with them (side note: i only think this way the first time i read this but i've read almost half of the addicted/calloway series and lemme tell y'all,,, lili and lo?? I'LL DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT THESE TWO FICTIONAL CHARACTERS. imma keep my original thoughts here because not only did lily and lo had a character development but i did as well when it comes to my feeling between these two).
also, i know Lily is suffering from her addiction but i feel so uncomfy whenever her mind wanders off and checks random guys out and creates sexual fantasies in her head and this happened a few times even when she and Lo were already together. i also feel uncomfy when she finds it hard NOT to cheat
despite all this, i can appreciate how the authors showed - not told - the struggles and negative aspects of what sex addicts go through and how it can impact friendships and family relationships. it felt real to me so that's why it was so painful to read. but again, there's A LOT more bad than good in this book in every sense so yeah it makes sense for every encounter to be painful. though, i just finished Ricochet now and lemme tell y'all- Lily's character development tho. YES.
➵ Connor and Rose + Ryke
alright, alright now let's talk about these three. FIRST of all.
— Ryke: i had no idea who he was before this but like... he can get it.
— Connor: yes i do the cooking, yes i do the cleaning 😌
— Rose: *bends the knee* MAH QUEEN.
i really can't wait to read Calloway series but these three really made me want to read the whole damn series. i literally have like- 3 books to get through before Kiss the Sky. rip.
aaand i was NOT expecting Ryke to be that to Lo. i loved him because he was supportive and seemed to care more about his well-being but... mind-fucking-BLOWN. it makes sense now why he's like that!!
if you ask me who i like more, Connor or Ryker? please don't ask me thx.
* * *
listen, listen. im a newbie to this whole fandom/series and i don't know anyone so bear with me. i originally wanted to just read the Calloway sisters series for Rose and Connor because i've been seeing tons of edits of them and i'm currently in a mood to binge read another series so i was like ehh why not, it's not like i have exams and papers coming up and it's not like i have an exam in an hour or so right??
anyway, stan Connor and Ryke for clear skin ✨
Addicted series
#1: addicted to you ↠ 2.5 stars
#2: ricochet ↠ 3.25 stars
#3: addicted for now ↠ 3.5 stars
#3: thrive ↠ tbr
#5: addicted after all ↠ tbr
July 23, 2023
“i love you, but i want to love you enough that i never choose alcohol over you. not even for a moment. i want to be someone you deserve. who helps you rather than enables you, and i can’t begin to do that until i get help for myself.”
loren hale. oh to be loved by lo😩the amount of times he made my heart skip a beat🤭🦋🫶🏼
i am simply not the same after reading this book. my brain chemistry has been altered. it’s the way that this series is far from over too like what am i supposed to do with myself after i finish the entire series? someone pls tell me in advance😫
lily and lo🥹my lilo, where do i even begin with them? childhood best friends to lovers mixed with a little bit of fake dating😩🫶🏼they have absolutely consumed me. i can’t stop thinking about them and their story. i will absolutely be binging this entire series. the character development is literally going to be my favorite thing ever. i immediately fell in love with all the characters and just knowing that i get to read about all of them😩i seriously don’t know how to act. back to lilo…the way lo cares about lily and the way lily cares about lo. and no i don’t wanna hear “they didn’t care enough about each other because neither one was jumping at helping each other with their addiction and all they did was enable each other blah blah blah blah.” OR “they’re so toxic.” respectfully…shut the fuck up. i will protect lilo at all costs, they’re my babies🥹i personally have no idea what it’s like to suffer from an addiction, but i’ve seen people close to me suffer from one. addiction is a disease. you don’t think about anyone or anything, you only think about yourself and how to keep feeding your addiction and the fact that lily and lo care about each other so fucking much that they’re literally going to fight their addictions just so they can be together…pls😭😭with all that being said please search trigger warnings before diving into this series because it is very hard to read at times. i cried a LOT :( it hurt me so much to read about lily and lo struggling with their addictions because i love them :( i love them together, but they’re just not good for each other right now. right person, wrong time will always break me. i can’t wait to read the rest of their story omg. forever rooting for my babies🫶🏼
omg please let me talk about ryke, connor, and rose. i loved them as secondary characters, but i know i’m gonna love them even more as main characters. rose and connor👀👀the way i fell in love with these characters so quickly…rose’s unconditional love for lily🥺the way ryke helped lo😩connor’s friendship with lo🥹connor and ryke being protective of lily😫i love love love🫶🏼
a five star read of course, if you haven’t started this series…besties do not walk, RUN😩here are some of my favorite quotes
“who was it? did he hurt you?”
lines like these will always get me.
“i want to live here. in his arms. where i know it’s safe.”
“no means no. i don’t care when you say it, lily. once it’s out there, it’s out there. any halfway decent guy would have backed off.”
ryke pleaseeee😭i’m already obsessed🤭
“i’m not one of your conquests. i know what you want, and you don’t need to take it. i can give it to you.”
“the worst part was hearing you. you know, i’d stay awake, listening to you, wondering if your cries would turn terrified, wondering if some guy decided to take advantage or hurt you.”
“i want to love you more than i love this.” referring to his alcohol😩
ps: loren hale does fuck better. no one’s gotta tell me anything cuz besties i KNOW🤭🤭
loren hale. oh to be loved by lo😩the amount of times he made my heart skip a beat🤭🦋🫶🏼
i am simply not the same after reading this book. my brain chemistry has been altered. it’s the way that this series is far from over too like what am i supposed to do with myself after i finish the entire series? someone pls tell me in advance😫
lily and lo🥹my lilo, where do i even begin with them? childhood best friends to lovers mixed with a little bit of fake dating😩🫶🏼they have absolutely consumed me. i can’t stop thinking about them and their story. i will absolutely be binging this entire series. the character development is literally going to be my favorite thing ever. i immediately fell in love with all the characters and just knowing that i get to read about all of them😩i seriously don’t know how to act. back to lilo…the way lo cares about lily and the way lily cares about lo. and no i don’t wanna hear “they didn’t care enough about each other because neither one was jumping at helping each other with their addiction and all they did was enable each other blah blah blah blah.” OR “they’re so toxic.” respectfully…shut the fuck up. i will protect lilo at all costs, they’re my babies🥹i personally have no idea what it’s like to suffer from an addiction, but i’ve seen people close to me suffer from one. addiction is a disease. you don’t think about anyone or anything, you only think about yourself and how to keep feeding your addiction and the fact that lily and lo care about each other so fucking much that they’re literally going to fight their addictions just so they can be together…pls😭😭with all that being said please search trigger warnings before diving into this series because it is very hard to read at times. i cried a LOT :( it hurt me so much to read about lily and lo struggling with their addictions because i love them :( i love them together, but they’re just not good for each other right now. right person, wrong time will always break me. i can’t wait to read the rest of their story omg. forever rooting for my babies🫶🏼
omg please let me talk about ryke, connor, and rose. i loved them as secondary characters, but i know i’m gonna love them even more as main characters. rose and connor👀👀the way i fell in love with these characters so quickly…rose’s unconditional love for lily🥺the way ryke helped lo😩connor’s friendship with lo🥹connor and ryke being protective of lily😫i love love love🫶🏼
a five star read of course, if you haven’t started this series…besties do not walk, RUN😩here are some of my favorite quotes
“who was it? did he hurt you?”
lines like these will always get me.
“i want to live here. in his arms. where i know it’s safe.”
“no means no. i don’t care when you say it, lily. once it’s out there, it’s out there. any halfway decent guy would have backed off.”
ryke pleaseeee😭i’m already obsessed🤭
“i’m not one of your conquests. i know what you want, and you don’t need to take it. i can give it to you.”
“the worst part was hearing you. you know, i’d stay awake, listening to you, wondering if your cries would turn terrified, wondering if some guy decided to take advantage or hurt you.”
“i want to love you more than i love this.” referring to his alcohol😩
ps: loren hale does fuck better. no one’s gotta tell me anything cuz besties i KNOW🤭🤭
July 3, 2024
“I’ll always be yours. No distance or time apart will change that, Lily. You need to believe that.”
➙ Second read: January 2024 — 5 stars ★
➙ First read: August 2022 — 5 stars ★
One of my favourite trope is when someone believes they're hard to love but there is someone who loves them like it's breathing. It's so Lily and Loren trope 🥺
“But Lo and I…” I try to find the words. “We may not be good for each other, but sometimes I feel like he’s the only guy who could ever love me.”
I know this is not a perfect book by any means and that Lily and Loren are not the perfect couple, they are flawed who are holding onto their addictions and their fake relationship because that seems until everything starts falling apart. They love each other but not enough to get help, their journey to get help and support in this book was messy and heartbreaking, so many emotional and destructive moments that felt like a dagger to my heart. I also know that this is quite a very annoying story with the most irritating people in the world, who refuse to accept their flaws and addictions only because they are too affraid of losing their current stable status as they like to call it and that they are too toxic because of their addictions and won't try to help themselves but I love Lily and Loren anyway and with all my heart. I still remember my first time reading this book and I was so ready to hate this book and I went in with the lowest expectations ever and guess what? I ended up giving it 5 damn stars in my first read. I even compared this to After series and I know it's a blasphemy 😭 but I didn't know a single thing about this book except that it's about a very toxic and dysfunctional up couple who are addicted to sex and booze. They refused the tension and love between them until they were forced in a situation where Loren had to be the only one for Lily.
“If I could be enough to fill you, would you let me?” I look at him.
“Yes.”
“Then let me try,” he says, his hand cupping my face. “Let me try to be enough for you.”
This book has everything you need. The drama was drama-ing, the plot is more of a character-driven but it is so addicting just like it's name, the angst was angst-ing and the pain 🥺 was heartbreaking. The way Lily and Loren lived their life destroyed me and it still does even though I know they survived everything and every battle. Two people who are so dependent on each other and their addictions that they are ready to lie for it to the whole world and let me tell you they are very good at lying and compartmentalising that you would start hating them but I understand them and I love them and I'm also proud of them because atleast they are finally trying to be better for each other and for themselves.
“Come here.” He draws me to his chest and then kisses my forehead. “I’ll do better. I’ll try harder for you.” He rubs my back, keeping me in the warm embrace for quite some time. I want to live here. In his arms. Where I know it’s safe.
Addictions are the worst thing in this world. I always tried to see Lily and Loren in a different light. Yes, they were annoying but it was also so painful to watch them destroy their lives for their addictions. They don't care about their friends or family and which can be so frustrating sometimes but they are only human who don't know how to navigate or live their life without depending on their addictions and luxurious life. All they ever needed was just a little bit of help and support from their friends and family. I also loved seeing Connor and Lo together and their friend circle became even more interesting when Ryke happened to them 🤭 They are all so dramatic and I love them so much.
➸ Lily Calloway
My little fairy 🧚♀️ and my favourite girl. Lily is the quiet one in their group and she'd rather bury her fears with sex than talk about them with the people who cares about her. I love the way she observes everyone and everything and damn she's always right. I love her so much and I know she's not really the best one but she just deserves the best. She just needed someone to be there for her and I get it she is too good at pushing away people, and even her sisters but I am so proud of her that she is finally talking about her issues with Rose and her friends. I hated how she felt like she was not a normal girl just because she had sex addiction and nobody had the damn right to call her by names. I will always root for my girl.
“I want him to be my forever.”
➸ Loren Hale
“Loren Hale fucks better.” THIS MAN 🤌🏻💘 Rebellious and a functioning alcholic who is really not a bad guy but you just had to try hard to see his sweetest side and I know it because I have seen this man grow into the most amazing man in the world and that's why he'll always be my favourite character ever in this world. He's so bad down for Lily and I love it so much. He says mean things, pushes people away, hates people (I don't blame him for this though) I was also so proud for him that he was finally ready to deal with his addictions. Lo hit his rock bottom and even though he was ready to be better, his father being the biggest asshole refused to accept that something was wrong with his son. His whole life was a lie only because of his fucked up father and I get why Lo loves him even after all this, because Jonathan Hale chose Lo when there was no one in the world was ready to even accept his existence and that just breaks my heart even more. He deserves the best in this world 🥺❤️🩹
“I’m not one of your conquests,” he says in a throaty voice. “I know what you want, and you don’t need to take it. I can give it to you.”
➸ Connor Cobalt
The narcissist and the man who loves to insult people in the most creative ways but is a goner for Rose Calloway and pays attention to fashion because Rose is a fashion designer and her opinion matters to him. I still can't believe Lily and Loren thought he was asexual 😭
“Why take me?” she asks. “You know everyone. I’m sure you can manage to find some rich man to schmooze.”
“True, but that’s not the company I feel like sharing tonight. I’d rather take you, a beautiful, intelligent girl from Princeton.”
➸ Ryke Meadows
Loved him and his grump personality. But mostly I loved how he refused to back down from anything and even though Lo was literally ready to fuck Lil in front of him Ryke never backed down from helping Lo and his addiction.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Lo. I’m here for you now. Whatever you’re going through, I may not have experienced it, but I’m right here.”
➸ Rose Calloway
The best sister ever. My first impression of her was “Why is she so nosy” but I could not stop loving her after realising that she was as lonely as Lily and just wanted to be their for her little sister. The way she helped Lily and listened to her without any judgement or questions was just so so precious 🥺
“You will. You’re going to get through this, and I’m going to be there every step of the way.”
I wipe my cheeks and then wrap my arms around her, hugging for a long, long time. To say thanks, I’m sorry, and “I love you,” I whisper.
╰┈➤ Lily and Loren
Best friends. Lovers. Liars.
The most toxic, messy and dysfunctional couple. I know that but if I were to define the word “soulmates” I will always choose these two. There are so many things I love about them and one of my favourite is how they tease each other and the easy going relationship and friendship they have. They hurt each other and never talk about their addictions with each other because that would mean accepting that they are not so right for each other because of their addictions but you can't separate Lily from Loren or Loren from Lily. They have lived their most part of their lives with each other and it's natural for them to be dependent on each other. Like, Lily said it was like they were married for the better part of their lives.
“I love you, but I want to love you enough that I never choose alcohol over you. Not even for a moment. I want to be someone you deserve. Who helps you rather than enables you, and I can’t begin to do that until I get help for myself.”
Their addictions are different from one another's but everything gets more intense once their addictions start affecting their newly formed relationship. Lo can cure his addiction by completely eliminating alcohol from his life but Lily's addiction is a part of human nature and it can't be just helped by eliminating and they are so dependent on sex and booze that they would do anything not to create a havoc in their steady-messed-up life. They are not ready to let go of their addictions so they can't ask the other to stop because that would be the most selfish thing and they love each other too much to do it.
“Don’t change too much,” I tell him. I fear he’ll return and won’t fit within my life anymore. He’ll grow beyond me while I stay stagnant and alone.
“Only the bad parts,” he says.
How many people tried to help them but they always compartmentalize themselves until Loren hit his rock bottom. That messed him up to the core but I am also so proud of both of them that they are finally trying to help themselves and their addictions. It took them years to get there but atleast they are doing it for each other but mostly for themselves. Which is the best reason.
I open my mouth, wanting to express all of my feelings at once. I love you. I’ll wait for you! You’re my best friend and my soul mate and my lover. I’m so proud of you. Please… come back to me.
His lips upturn in a hopeful smile. “I know.”
The ending broke me again. Everything was fine but shit starts hitting fan in the last 50 pages and it was BAD. I was literally sobbing reading the last three chapters 😭 Lo telling his father that something's wrong with him and that he need help because he can't take it anymore, him knowing his whole life was a lie told by the people he cared most about, him screaming and crying for Lily 😭💔, their fears for their new realtionship and Lo begging Lily to wait for him 🥺 Lily trying to open up to her sister and asking for her help and them sacrificing their addictions to make a better future for themselves. Everything just breaks my heart everytime.
I know Lily and Loren have a very very long road ahead of them to finally reach the place where they are the happiest but I'm so so happy for them because one thing I'm sure of and it is that no matter what happens they will always stand by each other's side.
——————————
I just want to inject lily and loren's story in my mind, body, blood and soul ❤️🩹 Review soon!!
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Starting my 2024 with my found family 🥺❤️🩹 I'm so scared of all the heartbreaking moments even though I know they survived 😭
April 13, 2023
4.75 —im not being generous or threatened by lulu— stars. changing my rating cuz im a girouette
Before diving into this story you need to understand that this is not your average contemporary romance, you need to keep in mind that the protagonist’s flaws and addiction problems aren’t here to serve or embellish the romance by sorting out the blemished parts of the characters and with that providing a satisfying ending. I think what made me love this book so much is the fact I knew what I was getting myself into and that helped for not getting irritated or angry at somea lot of the protagonist’s actions. With that said shall we start the review.
Debauchery, depravity might be harsh to describe what Lo and Lily’s life was like since teenage-hood but crudely honest. In the story, the two of them had been friends for most of their lives —their fathers were mogul-best-friends— but after high-school they decided to go into an unhealthy spiral by hiding each other’s addiction from their families and starting a fake-relationship. Lo was dealing with alcoholism since his 11 year old and Lily was taming a sex addiction that bloomed at her 13 year old. After three long years of lying to their wealthy-families —accessory to each other, too— they finally thought; why don’t we try and be in a real relationship together, after all?
Lily was a paradoxical character but lovable, nonetheless. The contrast between her shy and reserved personality but brazen love for sex —in all its aspects— was an interesting part of the storyline. Were her actions morally okay ? No. Did she treat well her family and Lo, in general? Also no.
But how are you supposed to judge a character -Lily- agissements when they are clearly the reflection of her dependency ? She was lost and driven by her corrupted thoughts thatdon’t forget flourished at a very young age, this would mess up with anyone mind. She didn’t get the help she needed because her family had given her the impression that she couldn’t fully or at all be honest with them and confessing was under the table because to them a good and proper image was more important then a mental health. And that goes for Lo, as well.
“
Lo, how can a personnage be portrayed as selflessly egotistical?Still wondering. The way his life was orbiting only around alcohol and Lily was heartbreaking. He had gone through so much and the fact that what happened in the last chapters had given him the strength to fight for him, against his addiction and for Lily was so beautifully heart-wrenching. He didn’t want to lament about his dysfunctional family or his noxious relationship with his father, anymore. His character was the perfect caricature of how parents can wreck the lives of their children.
Lo and Lily’s relationship was the epitome of toxic. The moment Lo had given Lily a pass; assuring her if she ever cheated on him it was okay, because he knew at some point she couldn’t help herself. I was a goner for them and their deficient bond.
Disclaimer: Cheating is forbidden for my taste in romance, AND IN GENERAL. It’s clearly the worse thing that ever happened to humanity.religiously that’s how humanity was created but whatever. no one jumps on my throat, please.
But him being so understanding and yet knowing it would break his heart just because he loved her beyond what her addiction meant for them and how in a way was restraining their relationship for years was one of the most beautiful, selfless act of love.
The addition of Connor and Ryke in the last half of the book brought some life and entertainment into the mixe with Connor’s pragmatic humor and Ryke obstinacy to help Lo. The family drama that literally exploded at the end was ten time more ravaging then what I predicted. I honestly can’t wait to devour the rest of the series.
some quotes:
—————————————————————
Idk if it’s a smart or really dumb move trying to cure my reading slump with this series, but anyway it’s too late.🥲
“ I’ll do better. I’ll try harder for you.”
Before diving into this story you need to understand that this is not your average contemporary romance, you need to keep in mind that the protagonist’s flaws and addiction problems aren’t here to serve or embellish the romance by sorting out the blemished parts of the characters and with that providing a satisfying ending. I think what made me love this book so much is the fact I knew what I was getting myself into and that helped for not getting irritated or angry at some
“Lily, what do you mean about not being good people?”
“We’re selfish and miserable.”
Debauchery, depravity might be harsh to describe what Lo and Lily’s life was like since teenage-hood but crudely honest. In the story, the two of them had been friends for most of their lives —their fathers were mogul-best-friends— but after high-school they decided to go into an unhealthy spiral by hiding each other’s addiction from their families and starting a fake-relationship. Lo was dealing with alcoholism since his 11 year old and Lily was taming a sex addiction that bloomed at her 13 year old. After three long years of lying to their wealthy-families —accessory to each other, too— they finally thought; why don’t we try and be in a real relationship together, after all?
“I realized I wasn’t just another promiscuous girl in school. I didn’t just have sex for fun or because it made me feel empowered. I liked the high, the rush, and how it seemed to fill an emptiness that kept growing inside of me.”
Lily was a paradoxical character but lovable, nonetheless. The contrast between her shy and reserved personality but brazen love for sex —in all its aspects— was an interesting part of the storyline. Were her actions morally okay ? No. Did she treat well her family and Lo, in general? Also no.
But how are you supposed to judge a character -Lily- agissements when they are clearly the reflection of her dependency ? She was lost and driven by her corrupted thoughts that
“
I know I can be a royal asshole. But I love you. You’re my best friend, and the only person I’ve ever told that I have a problem. It doesn’t matter if we’re in a fucking fake relationship. We’re supposed to talk to each other. Come to me before you go off the deep end, okay?”
Lo, how can a personnage be portrayed as selflessly egotistical?
"You’re a permanent fixture in my life. You’re not going anywhere."
Lo and Lily’s relationship was the epitome of toxic. The moment Lo had given Lily a pass; assuring her if she ever cheated on him it was okay, because he knew at some point she couldn’t help herself. I was a goner for them and their deficient bond.
Disclaimer: Cheating is forbidden for my taste in romance, AND IN GENERAL. It’s clearly the worse thing that ever happened to humanity.
But him being so understanding and yet knowing it would break his heart just because he loved her beyond what her addiction meant for them and how in a way was restraining their relationship for years was one of the most beautiful, selfless act of love.
“You two are so weird,” Connor says, very casually.”
The addition of Connor and Ryke in the last half of the book brought some life and entertainment into the mixe with Connor’s pragmatic humor and Ryke obstinacy to help Lo. The family drama that literally exploded at the end was ten time more ravaging then what I predicted. I honestly can’t wait to devour the rest of the series.
some quotes:
"He kisses my forehead before I can form thoughts, and when he pulls away, his lips brush my ear. “I’m here for you. Always "
"“Lo?” I whisper.
“Yeah?”
“Please…don’t move, okay? »
“I won’t”He wraps his arms around me, keeping me warm on the cold tile."
"We may not be good for each other, but sometimes I feel like he’s the only guy who could ever love me."
"Then let me try,” he says, his hand cupping my face. “Let me try to be enough for you."
"I’ve never pretended, Lil. We’ve been together, even if you thought it was some fucking lie."
"We’re terrible at so many things—remembering important dates, college, making friends—but the one thing we’ve always been halfway decent at is being together. We owe it to ourselves to try."
"Sometimes the cannots turn into maybes which become okays."
"I’ll always be yours. No distance or time apart will change that, Lily. You need to believe that."
—————————————————————
Idk if it’s a smart or really dumb move trying to cure my reading slump with this series, but anyway it’s too late.🥲
December 20, 2021
2 stars
Not only did I age about 10 years while reading this, but the amount of enabling by both Lily and Loren was starting to trigger me. I understand addiction, I’ve seen it, but enabling someone’s addiction and knowing that you’re doing it makes you partially responsible for anything that happens to them.
Lily was just a bad person all around. She’s extremely fucking selfish and she’s selfish enough where it wasn’t possible to justify all of it by her sex addiction. The girl refused to acknowledge Loren’s alcoholism until Ryke forced her to because what? She didn’t want to lose him? Because his existence enables her and she needs that? I couldn’t stand the way she refused to seek help despite understanding that she has an addiction and that it’s debilitating.
I also wanted to acknowledge a particular moment where Lily states—
Lily is also just a hypocrite. She brings random guys to her and Loren’s apartment (even escorts) and has sex with them while Loren is in the next room, listening to everything. BUUUUUT, the second he does the same thing with one girl she goes off the deep end???
Loren was definitely the better MC, but he was still extremely fucked up. He would purposely tease Lily and arouse her throughout the entire book, but especially before they entered their relationship. He did it because he wanted her to ask him to have sex and not use random men. That’s seriously not fucking okay and he would also do it constantly during their relationship, in front of other people and in public!
Between Loren and Lily egging each other’s addiction on and Lily constantly being in heat, I didn’t feel anything for their relationship. To me it just felt like 2 very fucked up friends that started fucking, not 2 people in love. There wasn’t even a big ‘I love you’ scene, it just sorta…happened.
Ryke, Connor and Rose are definitely the standouts for me. Connor and Rose are absolutely adorable and I dig their enemies to lovers while Ryke is just perfect?? At this point I couldn’t care less about Lily and Loren’s relationship because they’re the type of people that should never ever be together.
Personally, I have a hard time enjoying romances where characters are suffering with addictions. I think it has to do with me not being able to love characters when they love their addiction more than each other. But that's just me 🤷♀️
Not only did I age about 10 years while reading this, but the amount of enabling by both Lily and Loren was starting to trigger me. I understand addiction, I’ve seen it, but enabling someone’s addiction and knowing that you’re doing it makes you partially responsible for anything that happens to them.
Lily was just a bad person all around. She’s extremely fucking selfish and she’s selfish enough where it wasn’t possible to justify all of it by her sex addiction. The girl refused to acknowledge Loren’s alcoholism until Ryke forced her to because what? She didn’t want to lose him? Because his existence enables her and she needs that? I couldn’t stand the way she refused to seek help despite understanding that she has an addiction and that it’s debilitating.
He enables my addiction. Always has. And the longer we’re together, he always will.
I also wanted to acknowledge a particular moment where Lily states—
“But you don’t need me to drink. You don’t have to ask me to fix a whiskey sour. Your addiction doesn’t infiltrate my life like mine does yours.”
→I mean is she serious right now? The fact that she’s refuses to talk to Loren about his addiction IS putting her at the very center of the problem.
Lily is also just a hypocrite. She brings random guys to her and Loren’s apartment (even escorts) and has sex with them while Loren is in the next room, listening to everything. BUUUUUT, the second he does the same thing with one girl she goes off the deep end???
Loren was definitely the better MC, but he was still extremely fucked up. He would purposely tease Lily and arouse her throughout the entire book, but especially before they entered their relationship. He did it because he wanted her to ask him to have sex and not use random men. That’s seriously not fucking okay and he would also do it constantly during their relationship, in front of other people and in public!
Between Loren and Lily egging each other’s addiction on and Lily constantly being in heat, I didn’t feel anything for their relationship. To me it just felt like 2 very fucked up friends that started fucking, not 2 people in love. There wasn’t even a big ‘I love you’ scene, it just sorta…happened.
Ryke, Connor and Rose are definitely the standouts for me. Connor and Rose are absolutely adorable and I dig their enemies to lovers while Ryke is just perfect?? At this point I couldn’t care less about Lily and Loren’s relationship because they’re the type of people that should never ever be together.
Personally, I have a hard time enjoying romances where characters are suffering with addictions. I think it has to do with me not being able to love characters when they love their addiction more than each other. But that's just me 🤷♀️
February 24, 2019
4.5 stars!
Addicted to You is a story that is just that- addictive. I can’t imagine finishing this book and not needing to dive right into the next. I can’t believe that I’ve waited this long to read this series, but I’m kind of glad I did. I can binge read them all now. :D
Lily and Lo are childhood friends and a couple as far as everyone knows. In reality, they’re both addicts. Lo is an alcoholic and Lily is a sex addict. They both come from rich, affluential families and if their families ever found out, it would be bad. So they pretend. They pretend to be a couple, pretend to be together to take the heat off one another. In reality, they are best friends and enablers for each others addictions. They are always there for each other and always have each other’s backs. Even if their relationship isn’t the healthiest, you can tell their friendship is real and so it the love between them.
After carrying on this charade for years, something happens between this couple. They both come to realize their feelings are stronger than just friendship. They love each other as more than friends. Even with their addictions, they want to try. Try to turn what first started as a facade into something real. Become a real couple. Maybe Lo can drink less and maybe Lily can control her addiction to being only with Lo. Just maybe they can do this together…
Both of these characters are destructive, damaged and flawed. And I loved them both. Lo is such a fantastic guy- he had so many issues of his own but he loves Lily fiercely and wants her to be his. I adored him. I also loved all of the secondary characters- Ryke, Connor, even Rose by the end. I can’t wait to read more about them and I’m happy to know they’ll be getting their own books!
This story had such a unique plot. I loved that even though both of the main characters fed their addictions, they really did care about one another and honestly cared more about helping the others than helping themselves. By the end they learned sometimes you have to help yourself first before you can help the person you love. I have a feeling in Ricochet they will both face many challenges but I hope that their love will endure and pull them through battling their demons. The writing style was perfect- I couldn’t believe that this was written by two people, it had such a great flow. Addicted to You is the start of an intense, emotional, edgy and addictive series that you won’t want to miss out on!
Addicted to You is a story that is just that- addictive. I can’t imagine finishing this book and not needing to dive right into the next. I can’t believe that I’ve waited this long to read this series, but I’m kind of glad I did. I can binge read them all now. :D
Lily and Lo are childhood friends and a couple as far as everyone knows. In reality, they’re both addicts. Lo is an alcoholic and Lily is a sex addict. They both come from rich, affluential families and if their families ever found out, it would be bad. So they pretend. They pretend to be a couple, pretend to be together to take the heat off one another. In reality, they are best friends and enablers for each others addictions. They are always there for each other and always have each other’s backs. Even if their relationship isn’t the healthiest, you can tell their friendship is real and so it the love between them.
“You’re a permanent fixture in my life. You're not going anywhere.”
After carrying on this charade for years, something happens between this couple. They both come to realize their feelings are stronger than just friendship. They love each other as more than friends. Even with their addictions, they want to try. Try to turn what first started as a facade into something real. Become a real couple. Maybe Lo can drink less and maybe Lily can control her addiction to being only with Lo. Just maybe they can do this together…
“I want to love you more than I love this.”
Both of these characters are destructive, damaged and flawed. And I loved them both. Lo is such a fantastic guy- he had so many issues of his own but he loves Lily fiercely and wants her to be his. I adored him. I also loved all of the secondary characters- Ryke, Connor, even Rose by the end. I can’t wait to read more about them and I’m happy to know they’ll be getting their own books!
This story had such a unique plot. I loved that even though both of the main characters fed their addictions, they really did care about one another and honestly cared more about helping the others than helping themselves. By the end they learned sometimes you have to help yourself first before you can help the person you love. I have a feeling in Ricochet they will both face many challenges but I hope that their love will endure and pull them through battling their demons. The writing style was perfect- I couldn’t believe that this was written by two people, it had such a great flow. Addicted to You is the start of an intense, emotional, edgy and addictive series that you won’t want to miss out on!
February 25, 2014
WOW!!! I have found a new favorite series!!!
I swear it was like this book was written for me. It had all the elements I love in a story -- great writing, deeply flawed but lovable characters and an emotional intensity that kept drawing me further and further in.
I'm totally addicted ;)
The story is about Lily and Lo. They're childhood friends who have grown up together but they each have an addiction -- she's addicted to sex, he's addicted to booze -- and if their very wealthy and controlling families ever found out, they'd both be kicked to the curb... and so they lie. They live together and pretend to be a normal, perfectly functioning couple and by doing so each one gives the other an alibi and a safe zone to feed their addiction.
"We lied for each other and hid our infidelities, playing the role of doting boyfriend and girlfriend. The deeper we sink, the harder it is to crawl out. I fear the moment when… someone discovers our secrets. At any moment, everything can crumble beneath us."
But sometimes there are moments when their pretend relationship feels like the most real thing in the world because what neither of them are admitting out loud is that their feelings for each other are real.
"In this moment, I'm yours."
By covering for each other and understanding what it was that they each needed, they'd found a way to cope with their addiction. It might not have been healthy but neither of them could stop and they found a balance, albeit a dangerous one, that worked for them... But everything changed when they were forced to go on a family yacht trip -- sequestered together away from any possibility of enabling their addictions in secret, the only thing they had was each other...
I'm going to stop here but seriously, I just LOVED the whole storyline. I felt so deeply invested in it and I read so many scenes with that butterflies-in-my-belly feeling. I don't know... there's just something about flawed, damaged characters who clearly love each other SO much and are trying as hard as they can do make it through something together that just strongly tugs at my heartstrings.
Both Lily and Lo were such intriguing characters. The whole story is told from Lily's POV and I really have to commend the authors with the way they were able to portray her addiction -- the vicious cycles, her need, her self loathing, her dependence on it. It would have been very easy to make Lily just seem like a slut but they wrote it in such a way that you could genuinely feel that this was an addiction - no different than drugs or alcohol. It wasn't just about someone who was promiscuous, this was something that was much more deeply wired in her.
And Lo... OMG Loren Hale totally stole my heart!! He was such a deeply tormented and flawed character and it was so clear how much he cared for Lil but I could also sense his inner conflict at not wanting to step in the way of what she needed while he himself was such a slave to his own addictions.
His voice lowers… "I don't have any right to tell you to stop... I'm here for you. Always."
They were oddly perfect for each other. They each understood the deep seeded addiction the other suffered. They'd seen each other at their worst and the way they cared for each other (and I'm not even talking romantically, I just mean caring from one person to another) was just so incredible heart wrenching.... I mean, HOLY EMOTION!!!!
And all these hidden feelings were building in the background so by the time they actually took their relationship to the next level and officially became a couple, these feelings all came to the surface and I just felt it so strongly!!!!
"I'm not one of your conquests," he says in a throaty voice. "I know what you want, and you don't need to take it. I can give it to you... Let me try," he says, his hand cupping my face. "Let me try to be enough for you."
GAHHHH!!!!! That scene!!!!! I'm getting all emotional just thinking about it!! I love Loren Hale!! I love how much he loved Lily and how he didn't try and change her per say. It would have been so easy for a guy in his position to be jealous and irrational given the type of addiction she had but he accepted it all as a part of her. He didn't just love her and put up with her addiction, he accepted her as a package deal.
Ok - now, I know that some of you are going to be curious as to whether or not there is cheating in this (especially given Lily's addiction) and I'm happy to say that no - there is no cheating. However, before they're officially a couple she does sleep around but, with the way it was written, I totally understood it and Lo understood it too. This story just has totally different parameters than a normal romance would. But after they become a couple, there is no sleeping around at all.
Towards the ending, the emotions began to intensify as their addictions began to take a stronger hold of them. You could feel the breaking point coming and it hurt to see these characters who I loved so much falling so far. I cared so much for them but had to wait for them to save themselves. My heart goes right out to Lily and Lo and I can't wait to see them overcome the obstacles that I know will be their future. But I have faith in them and I believe that their love for each will be strong enough to get them through it.
While there isn't a brutal cliffhanger at the ending, it definitely leaves you wanting more right away!! Think kind of along the lines of a Find You In The Dark style ending.
But luckily the next books, Ricochet and Addicted For Now are both available so you'll have more of the story to immediately move on to.
This series has me hooked!! I'm totally addicted and can't wait for more of Lily & Lo! ♥
Rating: 4.5+ stars
My review of Book #1.5 ➜ http://bit.ly/1baSZSK
My review of Book #2 ➜ http://bit.ly/1baTdJG
My review of Book #3 ➜ http://bit.ly/McHotQ
****************************
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July 24, 2023
wow this was sooo toxic..
do it again 🌝
do it again 🌝
December 20, 2020
proof you can turn a hoe into a housewife
November 22, 2023
“The fear of losing each other is always stronger than the pain we cause.”
➛ Second read: November 2023 | ★ 4 stars
➛ First read: March 2022 | ★ 3.75 stars
i honestly never thought i’d reread this book and yet here i am! i wanna start off by saying that i enjoyed it way more than the first time i read it — and that’s something that i was definitely not expecting. my first experience with this book wasn’t perfect, i had some issues with the characters and the story so i thought that a reread wouldn’t be a good idea and i was scared i would ended up lowering my rating, but i decided to read it for a second time and now i’m so glad i did! i regret not rereading it sooner.
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Addicted To You follows the two childhood best friends Lily Calloway & Loren Hale. they are both addicts — Lily is addicted to sex, and Loren is addicted to alcohol. the two of them come from extremely wealthy families and for three years they’ve been pretending to be a couple in order to hide their addictions from their families.
“Unless we want to say goodbye to our luxuries from our inherited wealth, we have to pretend to be together. And pretend that we’re two perfectly functioning, perfectly well-kept human beings.”
if you are expecting a cute love story; then this isn’t the book for you. this is a very messy and complicated story. there’s romance in it, but it’s about something bigger than that. be aware that it focus a lot on the characters’s addictions and it is portrayed in a realistic — not romanticized — way.
let’s talk about the protagonists.
Lily Calloway: she’s a complex and flawed character, but that doesn’t mean i don’t like her. Lily is such a sweet girl above all and she has my whole heart. i must admit that in my first read i didn’t like her that much. she got on my nerves multiple times, but in my second read, i was able to understand her more and be more compassionate. Lily isn’t perfect by any and she has flaws, but she’s not a bad person by any means. she’s just in a bad place, battling an addiction that became her priority and she doesn’t know how to overcome it.
“I didn’t just have sex for fun or because it made me feel empowered. I liked the high, the rush, and how it seemed to fill an emptiness that kept growing inside of me.”
she actually doesn’t believe she’s capable of overcoming her addiction. Lily has been using sex to make her feel better for such a long time so she thinks that stopping is unfeasible and that’s just... so sad. throughout the book we see her constantly feeling guilty and that guilt makes her push her family and any other person away because she thinks they would judge her and not understand what she was going through — which, from her point of view, is perfectly understandable.
“This is why I don’t do family functions. This is why I don’t have friends. I disappoint everyone.”
on top of that, Lily also has to deal with Lo’s addiction. she is aware that him drinking so excessively is not okay and it hurts her — but she doesn’t tell him to stop because if she did, he would tell her to stop having sex, and of course she doesn’t want to.
“I warned Lo not to, but I couldn’t force him to stop. Not when I wanted sex as much as he craved alcohol.”
i know, that’s selfish. and i’m not saying i condone her actions, she was very wrong for that, but deep down i can understand the reason behind her selfishness.
Loren Hale: he’s an asshole when he wants to be and he’s flawed too — but when you look closely, you can see that he’s a good guy. Lo grew up without a mother and with a father who was verbally and sometimes physically abusive towards him. reading the scenes with his father and seeing how much he was a selfish prick and a terrible parent made me incredibly sad.
“In their moments of silence, I pictured a stare-off between them. One that only fathers and sons with tempestuous relationships can share. Full of hatred and unspoken truths.”
to numb the pain he felt, he started seeking relief in alcohol when he was only eleven and this is heartbreaking, i just wanted to give him the biggest hug. and seeing how severe his addiction was hurt my heart so deeply, but i liked the way it was portrayed because it felt realistic. Lo’s life didn’t revolve only around alcohol though. taking care of Lily and make sure she wasn’t getting hurt by any guy was another priority he had. it was sweet to see how much he cared for her. 🥹
“I want to love you more than I love this”—he waves his bottle—“and I don’t know how else to do it unless there’s something to lose.”
Loren Hale owns my heart.
Lily and Lo’s relationship is not what we could call healthy — it is toxic and dysfunctional. as i mentioned, they decided to be in a fake relationship to hide their addictions from their families, but they were also using this excuse to enable each other in very damaging ways. Lily and Lo were miserable, but neither of them were ready to overcome their own addictions and acknowledge that their dynamic is unhealthy, so enabling and helping one another to stay on this destructive path are the only thing they were able to do.
“His addiction scares me sometimes. Alcoholism can destroy livers and kidneys, and one day, he may not wake up from a night of bingeing. But how can I tell him to stop? How can I judge him when I am nowhere near ready to let go of my crutch? So for right now, this is the best I can do.”
it’s really irritating to see how selfish they both are and i’m not going to lie that at times i got pissed and wanted to scream at them, but at the same time i honestly could comprehend why they acted the way they did (doesn’t mean i agreed).
from the beginning we can clearly see that Lily and Lo have feelings for each other, but it takes them some time to realize that and talk about it.
“Six years of miscommunication. One of us could have opened up. Instead we let the tension build between us, growing a lie.”
later on, they confess their feelings and decide that their relationship won’t be fake anymore — but still, just because they are in a real relationship now, doesn’t mean that everything will be fixed. in fact, their dynamic gets even messier for multiple reasons. Lily and Lo love each other and they do want to be together, but neither of them is willing to overcome their addictions for each other and their relationship can’t progress if they don’t seek help. they are obviously unhealthy to themselves and that obviously makes them unhealthy for one another too.
“No one told me you can love someone and still be miserable. How is that possible?”
i would be lying though if i said that i didn’t root for them the whole time. they really have great chemistry as a couple and they belong together. yes, they’ve made mistakes and their relationship is far from perfect, but despite everything, they care so deeply for each other and you can feel the love between them. near the end they realize that they can’t be on that destructive path anymore and that they need to make changes. they know it’s the right thing to do, even if it hurts both of them. of course i was happy and proud seeing them making progress, but i still cried a lot reading the ending and seeing them being separated from each other. i didn’t thought that i would cry since it’s a reread and i already knew what was going to happen — well, i was clearly wrong. it shattered my heart all over again.
“Tears flow and he says, “Wait for me.” The words come out choked and pained. “I need you to wait for me.”
Lilo is and will be forever my favorite couple. they hold a special place in my heart. it was interesting to reread the beginning of their story with a different perspective and now knowing how much they will grow throughout the series. <3
“You’re a permanent fixture in my life. You’re not going anywhere.”
the side characters were great too, i couldn’t forget to talk a little about them.
Rose Calloway: Lo calls her ice queen and i guess we can agree to an extent, she is cold — but she’s fierce and protective. Lily avoided her multiple times and yet Rose never stopped loving her and showing that she cared. when Lily told her about her sex addiction, Rose never once judged her, she was so kind and helpful. it made me so emotional. their bond is so special to me and i don’t have the words to explain how much i love it. Lily said, “In the end was not a boy who helped me, it was my sister” and it’s the truth. Rose is simply the best sister.
Connor Cobalt: he’s charming and hilarious without even trying. Connor is not afraid to say anything, he’s very blunt, and that makes him such an entertaining character. i was literally laughing out loud reading his scenes. i love him!
Ryke Meadows: Ryke is... well, intense. he’s extremely grumpy and at times mean, but don’t let that fool you; he has good intentions. even though Lily and Lo kept pushing him away (no surprises here since they push everyone away) he didn’t give up and wanted to help Lo overcome his addiction and stay sober. he had reasons to hate Lo — but he didn’t, and instead decided to help. that’s admirable and mature of him.
all in all, this is a good book. not something that i’d call a masterpiece (and that’s why i’m not giving it five stars) but it’s good. and even though i said i enjoyed it more in my second read, it still is least favorite in the series. i noticed that a lot of people don’t like this one and for that reason they decide to not read the others, but i would definitely recommended to not stop and continue. the next ones are so much better and far more interesting, y’all won’t regret. the whole series in general is really awesome.
♡ a few other quotes:
“I’ll always be yours. No distance or time apart will change that, Lily. You need to believe that.”
“His lips quirk. “I love all of you.”
“Loren Hale fucks better.”
“We’re terrible at so many things—remembering important dates, college, making friends—but the one thing we’ve always been halfway decent at is being together. We owe it to ourselves to try.”
“It’s like we’ve been married our whole lives, and now we have to separate. I know it’s for the best, but the hurt still festers like a new wound.”
“I love you, but I want to love you enough that I never choose alcohol over you. Not even for a moment. I want to be someone you deserve. Who helps you rather than enables you, and I can’t begin to do that until I get help for myself.”
“I guess the only way to be close to me is to inject yourself in my world because I won’t make the move to enter yours. That’s horrible, isn’t it?”
“If you don’t love yourself, Lily, how can anyone love you back? And you don’t need a guy to fulfill you. I wish you would remember that.”
“I watch Lo, and I start to see a new future. It’s there, still blurry, but it looks brighter and better. I just wonder if it still includes me.”
───────────
pre-review:
rereading this because i miss my babies lily and lo 🩷
June 21, 2024
“And I suppose, the fear of losing each other is always stronger than the pain we cause.”
Heartfelt yet so very toxic
Addicted to you revolves around two characters Lily and Loren, who are extremely flawed but it’s easy to understand why given their contrasting addictions. Their addictions have upended their lives for so many years without external support to deter them further from it. Their struggles to disengage in their self destructing behaviors while loving each other is continuously tested until eventually one of them hits rock bottom and is forced to make the necessary changes needed.
This is unquestionably NOT your typical romance book by any means lol It’s so much more than that so don’t expect pure romance or you’ll be disappointed. It’s more so centered on the real and raw aspect of what each addiction looks like and the hurtful damage it inflicts when enabled.
“Our indecencies became our rituals, and our families didn’t need to know about them.”
The cofactor to their story revolves around wealth and society as both characters come from wealthy families and so much is expected from them esp from their damaging parents.
“There’s an underlying judgment that comes with surrounding ourselves with other people.”
I lovedd the found family they made. As they’ve only ever had and relied on each other as their addictions made it difficult to let people in easily. Even more considering the possibility in being called out on their bs. Each of them helped in balancing out their story so it didn’t feel so heavy as they were so used to the system they had. I’m pretty excited to get to rose and Connor’s book because of that
"This system works. I know you don't see it, but it does. And…and everyone's better off. Lo and I, our addictions only affect each other. And we've learned to deal with it"
Now onto to the most important people
“You're a permanent fixture in my life. You're not going any-where."
Lily and Loren are both extremely complex characters. I was equally annoyed at times yet felt such compassion for them. I think the Ritchie sisters did great with the portrayal of each, as their characters were written so profoundly in not sugarcoating the destructiveness and messiness that occurs with each addiction.
They understood and spent most of their lives concealing their addictions from everyone around them but they were also such enablers to it. They both didn’t want to seek out help for each other bc then it would mean they’d have to let go of their own addiction which neither was willing to do. Lily would enable lo’s uncontrolled drinking and lo would enable her sexual appetite and it became a normalized ritual for them.
So yes, they were both caring of one another, just as they were selfish, and the love they had was completely toxic but at least they were aware. Enabling each others addictions was what allowed them to sink further — making it so difficult for them to crawl out of that.
“Our selfishness wedges between us. Neither of us is willing to give up what we love for each other.”
As you get further in, you’ll notice and understand the impenetrable bond they share as friends and in their relationship. The depth of their struggle and fight for a real functional and normal relationship bc they didn’t know how without hurting each other really pulled on my heartstrings.
“Why can’t I have an addiction that people understand? It’s a vile thought—to wish for an addiction many die with.”
Everything is told in Lily’s pov so we notably see the actual depiction of her addictions. Her addiction started when she was really young and her need to feel satiated has only increased since then. She’s also deeply aware of how messed up she is which allowed me and maybe others to see her flawed persona for who she is. Other than being constantly at war with her impulses through guilt and shame.
“Our love should have mended all the pain and the hurt. Instead, we're met with more complications, more consequences, more frowns and furrowed brows.
She repeatedly questions her way of being and her actions even though she doesn’t stop. It was impossible not to feel for her character esp bc she tries to not give in to her urges and even more with lo in making things work.
“I love you, but I want to love you enough that I never choose alcohol over you.
Loren said so many heart tugging things that got to me as you’ll see. And while this isn’t in his pov, lily does well in explaining what it’s like on the outside for him with his own addiction as an alcoholic. Which could be described as him being so tormented, lost, and just miserable. With the way lily described him, I wanted so badly to see where his mind was with all that was happening as his addiction was not only hurting himself but lily as well.
He was just as caring and protective of lily as he was frustrating to listen to. There were times he was passively aggressive and while it’s not excusable it’s understandable given his alcoholism. There’s just so many layers to that honestly
“I'll always be yours. No distance or time apart will change that, Lily. You need to believe that.”
So if you want something real (given the nature of each addiction), with complex characters and plot, extremely unconventional, tender, intense, and entertaining read this.
The way the emotions were running high and getting all intense towards the end is why I’m already looking forward to the whole series. That should tell you enough 😅
Other quotes that stood out:
“We're terrible at so many things - remembering important dates, college, making friends - but the one thing we've always been halfway decent at is being together. We owe it to ourselves to try."
“I want to be someone you deserve. Who can help you rather than enables you, and I can’t begin to do that until I get help for myself.”
“We wanted everyone to believe we’re good people, but we’re not … We’re selfish and miserable”
“He knew the only way for me to truly fight is if I have something to lose.”
“I guess the only way to be close to me is to inject yourself in my world because I won’t make the move to enter yours. That’s horrible, isn’t it?”
Thanks to the girls on here that influenced me to read this especially emara as I loved it ♥️
September 15, 2021
sos this book was amazing. the way this series already has me on a chokehold and this was only book one.. *sigh* I just know that when its over, I will simply die. anyway, lily & lo have my entire heart, they deserve the entire world and I will argue with anyone who says otherwise.
September 13, 2023
The fear of losing each other is
always stronger than the pain we cause.
is this a reread? yes. did i still cry uncontrollably knowing exactly what's gonna happen? 100%. will i write a proper review? no.
lily breaks my heart and lo was so mean sometimes but it's ok cus he's my baby n i love him so i excuse it.
but the crumbs i got of coballoway were healing❤️🩹
∘°∘♡∘°∘∘°∘♡∘°∘∘°∘♡∘°∘
➻ "You're a permanent fixture in my life. You're not going anywhere."
➻ "But Lo and I...We may not be good for each other, but sometimes I feel like he's the only guy who could ever love me."
➻ 'Sometimes I wish for a remote control to pause my brain. Just for a moment of peace.'
➻ 'Isn’t this the part where our love overcomes our addictions? Where our problems magically solve from a kiss and a promise?'
➻ 'No one told me you can love someone and still be miserable.'
➻ 'Our lives intersect at every possible junction, and separating sounds like a fatal, irreparable cut.'
➻ 'My constant. My Lo.'
➻ 'Our love should have mended all the pain and the hurt. Instead, we’re met with more complications, more consequences, more frowns and furrowed brows.'
➻ "I love you, but I want to love you enough that I never choose alcohol over you."
➻ "Wait for me.” The words come out choked and pained. “I need you to wait for me.”
October 22, 2016
Well, this was certainly different! I've had this book sitting on my shelf for a long time. Finally, I got a chance to listen to it. I'm not quite sure what I expected, but this wasn't it. That isn't necessarily bad though. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this story.
First off, let me just say that both of the main characters are completely screwed up! Lily is a sex addict, sleeping her way through her early-twenties like there's no tomorrow. Meanwhile, Loren, aka "Lo", is drinking like a fish. Both of them are completely out of control.
Best friends since early-childhood, this dysfunctional duo is deserving of an after-school, Lifetime movie special. Holy hell, they were frustrating! Talk about co-dependent and enabling! These two needed some serious help.
Oddly, it was their addictions that made them more human. Even though their behaviors were appalling, their weaknesses made them personable. Otherwise, I'm not sure that I ever would have been able to feel any sort of connection to the two trust fund babies. There was just nothing about their privileged lifestyle that I could relate to. Although addiction isn't something I can necessarily relate to either, it helped to see them as flawed humans that also have struggles.
As their addictions spin more wildly out of control, circumstances change. Lily and Lo are willing to act on their feelings, even if it means risking what they have. One bad situation leads to another and the two cannot hide their problems any longer.
While I enjoyed this story, I didn't love it. These two were a bit too dysfunctional for me at times. It does end without answering many questions, so I'll probably pick this series back up at some point. I hear that it gets better. After all, I am curious to see how these two manage on a more long-term basis.
All in all, I'd say this was good, but not great. I give it 3 - 3 1/2 stars.
First off, let me just say that both of the main characters are completely screwed up! Lily is a sex addict, sleeping her way through her early-twenties like there's no tomorrow. Meanwhile, Loren, aka "Lo", is drinking like a fish. Both of them are completely out of control.
Best friends since early-childhood, this dysfunctional duo is deserving of an after-school, Lifetime movie special. Holy hell, they were frustrating! Talk about co-dependent and enabling! These two needed some serious help.
Oddly, it was their addictions that made them more human. Even though their behaviors were appalling, their weaknesses made them personable. Otherwise, I'm not sure that I ever would have been able to feel any sort of connection to the two trust fund babies. There was just nothing about their privileged lifestyle that I could relate to. Although addiction isn't something I can necessarily relate to either, it helped to see them as flawed humans that also have struggles.
As their addictions spin more wildly out of control, circumstances change. Lily and Lo are willing to act on their feelings, even if it means risking what they have. One bad situation leads to another and the two cannot hide their problems any longer.
While I enjoyed this story, I didn't love it. These two were a bit too dysfunctional for me at times. It does end without answering many questions, so I'll probably pick this series back up at some point. I hear that it gets better. After all, I am curious to see how these two manage on a more long-term basis.
All in all, I'd say this was good, but not great. I give it 3 - 3 1/2 stars.
June 17, 2023
1st reread:
i missed my family SO MUCH they still mean everything and more to me <3
the first time i read this book i didn’t know how important these characters would become to me but they literally live in my mind and my heart and i think about them so often. they’re my family my comfort my loves 🥹
───
Well this was definitely painful.
The love is ugly, the addictions are ugly, the enabling and dynamic is toxic. The book felt so real and raw. There was definitely no sugar coating.
I’m ready to read the rest of the series now though cause I am definitely hooked. INJECT IT (no pun intended)
i missed my family SO MUCH they still mean everything and more to me <3
the first time i read this book i didn’t know how important these characters would become to me but they literally live in my mind and my heart and i think about them so often. they’re my family my comfort my loves 🥹
───
Well this was definitely painful.
The love is ugly, the addictions are ugly, the enabling and dynamic is toxic. The book felt so real and raw. There was definitely no sugar coating.
I’m ready to read the rest of the series now though cause I am definitely hooked. INJECT IT (no pun intended)
He’s my drug that I gladly consume, and I think that’s what he fears most. He enables my addiction. Always has. And the longer we’re together, he always will.
May 2, 2022
400 pages of rich ppl problems but I still ate it up.
February 12, 2022
Hah. This book was quite literally a garbage sandwich. I say that because I felt like the beginning was promising, I was kind of like, "Oh wow, this premise is really unique, and the writing isn't half bad, let's see where this goes." But the middle? Hot steaming f8cking garbage. The book did kind of redeem itself at the end though, I will give it that. I've given it like 2.5 stars because I did like some of it, just not roughly 60% of it.
Lily is a sex addict. Lo is an alcoholic. They're both trust fund babies and long-time childhood friends. They live together and they've been pretending to be a couple for like 3 years so they can keep doing all of their problematic stuff.
So- yeah, Lo drinks himself to oblivion and Lily has sex with a stranger (or 5) like every day and she always needs to be watching porn or something, you know, addict stuff. Lo kicks out Lily's one-night stands in the morning, Lily makes sure Lo sleeps on his side so he doesn't choke on his own vomit and die.
You know, cute stuff like that.
I could handle the dysfunctional relationship in the beginning. Yes, it was messed up and toxic but they had an arrangement, they weren't a couple and they didn't owe each other anything. It was almost kind of cute I was like, "Haha, these guys are so f8cked up, but at least they have a sense of humor about it!" Everything was fine basically until Connor and Ryke showed up.
First of all, what kind of a f8cking name is Ryke? Is it supposed to be like, "Rick"? or "Rye-Kay"?? Like what the heck? He was annoying. I know Connor technically showed up first in the story, but I have to talk about Ryke first.
Here are a series of letters I have written to each of the characters in this book because I don't know how else to express my grievances with them to you without addressing them directly first.
Dear Ryke,
Your name is spelled dumb. Why are you here? Literally nobody wants you here and they have said as much. Yes, thank you for that one time you helped carry Lo home because he passed out at your party, that was kind of cool of you, but now it's time to go. We've given you those comic books you never shut up about, now go away. Please and thank you.
- me
Dear Lo and Lily,
Ryke is a journalist, who wants to know more about your lives, which are obviously f8cked up. You are the son and daughter of major corporations whose reputations could very obviously be ruined if people found out about the way you guys are living, why the actual hell didn't you kick out Ryke the second he told you he was a journalist?? Be better social elites.
- me
I realize that towards the end it becomes apparent why Ryke is so invested in Lo's life, but for the majority of the book, it's hard not to hate him because he just seems like a nosey pr8ck.
Let's talk about the type-A power couple everyone seems to love so much in this book.
Dear Rose,
I dislike you. You show up at people's houses unannounced and that is just straight-up crappy. Plus you're just kind of mean for no reason. I started to like you more towards the end, but for the majority of the book, I was not a fan.
- me
Dear Connor,
Wow, you're a real winner. You're basically like Ryke but worse. You're nosey and superficial and just soooooooooo arrogant it's not even funny. You are actively mean and say inappropriate things all the time and you think all women are gold diggers and yeah I obviously hate you. Frankly, you and Rose deserve each other. You can give people unsolicited life advice and show up at each other's houses unannounced together forever.
- me
Dear Lo,
Hi. I get that you and Lily are friends and stuff and you like each other. Cool. What I don't get is the human miscommunication trope that is you. You are literally the king of mixed signals, so good job, you get an A+ in being confusing and condescending as f8ck, if that's what you were going for. I would be mad at you, but obviously, your life is super f8cked up and you are kind of not doing so great in terms of like, adulting/being a human, so I can't even really be mad at you.
- me
Dear Lily,
Hi, honey. I did not need to hear about all of your detailed fantasies about literally every stranger you saw throughout this whole book. Also, I'm a little mad that you didn't make that poor Giggalo a cup of coffee.
- me
I understand that the whole point of this book was to illustrate how hard addiction is, be it sex or alcohol, or whatever.
I actually really appreciated how in the beginning of the book that the author never described the sex that Lily had with strangers. I thought it was sort of a nice touch, speaking to the namelessness of all of Lily's sexual partners and her lack of emotional involvement with them. I get that Lily thinks about sex all the time, but eventually, I just got kind of sick about hearing all her dirty thoughts about essentially every human that existed in this book.
In terms of the sex between Lily and Lo, I was actually very of disappointed. I felt like there was always no build-up and that it was awkwardly rough, personally I thought it would've been nicer if the author made their sex a little more tender and intimate, I wish she that she would've shown that having sex with someone you love is way more powerful and fulfilling and DIFFERENT than having sex with a stranger or someone you're not at all emotionally invested in or attached to.
The ending was ok. Last like, 40 pages, better. Sort of. I know there are like 4 books left in this series, but I don't think I'm going to read them. Sorry, I know a lot of people liked this one, just- eh. meh.
Lily is a sex addict. Lo is an alcoholic. They're both trust fund babies and long-time childhood friends. They live together and they've been pretending to be a couple for like 3 years so they can keep doing all of their problematic stuff.
So- yeah, Lo drinks himself to oblivion and Lily has sex with a stranger (or 5) like every day and she always needs to be watching porn or something, you know, addict stuff. Lo kicks out Lily's one-night stands in the morning, Lily makes sure Lo sleeps on his side so he doesn't choke on his own vomit and die.
You know, cute stuff like that.
I could handle the dysfunctional relationship in the beginning. Yes, it was messed up and toxic but they had an arrangement, they weren't a couple and they didn't owe each other anything. It was almost kind of cute I was like, "Haha, these guys are so f8cked up, but at least they have a sense of humor about it!" Everything was fine basically until Connor and Ryke showed up.
First of all, what kind of a f8cking name is Ryke? Is it supposed to be like, "Rick"? or "Rye-Kay"?? Like what the heck? He was annoying. I know Connor technically showed up first in the story, but I have to talk about Ryke first.
Here are a series of letters I have written to each of the characters in this book because I don't know how else to express my grievances with them to you without addressing them directly first.
Dear Ryke,
Your name is spelled dumb. Why are you here? Literally nobody wants you here and they have said as much. Yes, thank you for that one time you helped carry Lo home because he passed out at your party, that was kind of cool of you, but now it's time to go. We've given you those comic books you never shut up about, now go away. Please and thank you.
- me
Dear Lo and Lily,
Ryke is a journalist, who wants to know more about your lives, which are obviously f8cked up. You are the son and daughter of major corporations whose reputations could very obviously be ruined if people found out about the way you guys are living, why the actual hell didn't you kick out Ryke the second he told you he was a journalist?? Be better social elites.
- me
I realize that towards the end it becomes apparent why Ryke is so invested in Lo's life, but for the majority of the book, it's hard not to hate him because he just seems like a nosey pr8ck.
Let's talk about the type-A power couple everyone seems to love so much in this book.
Dear Rose,
I dislike you. You show up at people's houses unannounced and that is just straight-up crappy. Plus you're just kind of mean for no reason. I started to like you more towards the end, but for the majority of the book, I was not a fan.
- me
Dear Connor,
Wow, you're a real winner. You're basically like Ryke but worse. You're nosey and superficial and just soooooooooo arrogant it's not even funny. You are actively mean and say inappropriate things all the time and you think all women are gold diggers and yeah I obviously hate you. Frankly, you and Rose deserve each other. You can give people unsolicited life advice and show up at each other's houses unannounced together forever.
- me
Dear Lo,
Hi. I get that you and Lily are friends and stuff and you like each other. Cool. What I don't get is the human miscommunication trope that is you. You are literally the king of mixed signals, so good job, you get an A+ in being confusing and condescending as f8ck, if that's what you were going for. I would be mad at you, but obviously, your life is super f8cked up and you are kind of not doing so great in terms of like, adulting/being a human, so I can't even really be mad at you.
- me
Dear Lily,
Hi, honey. I did not need to hear about all of your detailed fantasies about literally every stranger you saw throughout this whole book. Also, I'm a little mad that you didn't make that poor Giggalo a cup of coffee.
- me
I understand that the whole point of this book was to illustrate how hard addiction is, be it sex or alcohol, or whatever.
I actually really appreciated how in the beginning of the book that the author never described the sex that Lily had with strangers. I thought it was sort of a nice touch, speaking to the namelessness of all of Lily's sexual partners and her lack of emotional involvement with them. I get that Lily thinks about sex all the time, but eventually, I just got kind of sick about hearing all her dirty thoughts about essentially every human that existed in this book.
In terms of the sex between Lily and Lo, I was actually very of disappointed. I felt like there was always no build-up and that it was awkwardly rough, personally I thought it would've been nicer if the author made their sex a little more tender and intimate, I wish she that she would've shown that having sex with someone you love is way more powerful and fulfilling and DIFFERENT than having sex with a stranger or someone you're not at all emotionally invested in or attached to.
The ending was ok. Last like, 40 pages, better. Sort of. I know there are like 4 books left in this series, but I don't think I'm going to read them. Sorry, I know a lot of people liked this one, just- eh. meh.
July 4, 2023
#2 Reread - May 2023 - 4.5 stars
It hurt WORSE than the first time I read it 😭✋
I don’t think I’ll never not cry at the ending of the book pls my screen is so blurry rn
Full rtc
***
finally coming back home ❤️🩹
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#1 Read - December 2021 - 4 stars
First attempt: DNF’d @ 50% The side characters’ back must be broken from carrying this book.
… after finishing KTS and HHF…
Second attempt: 100% man it’s so upsetting and deep and heavy. The list is endless. It was jam packed in the second half of the book I actually regret not finishing the first time.
I’m glad lo thought of himself by going to rehab. Selfish or not he still feared for Lilly and that makes me melt a little more for him.
Connor and rose are such a cute couple, it makes me giggle like a little kid whenever they get their spotlight. Their back and forth is amusing because they bicker like an old married couple.
The plot twist was crazy. Ryke made me mad, laugh, anxious and upset multiple times after his introduction. I’m predicting for him to have the craziest story arc.
It hurt WORSE than the first time I read it 😭✋
I don’t think I’ll never not cry at the ending of the book pls my screen is so blurry rn
Full rtc
***
finally coming back home ❤️🩹
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
#1 Read - December 2021 - 4 stars
First attempt: DNF’d @ 50% The side characters’ back must be broken from carrying this book.
… after finishing KTS and HHF…
Second attempt: 100% man it’s so upsetting and deep and heavy. The list is endless. It was jam packed in the second half of the book I actually regret not finishing the first time.
I’m glad lo thought of himself by going to rehab. Selfish or not he still feared for Lilly and that makes me melt a little more for him.
Connor and rose are such a cute couple, it makes me giggle like a little kid whenever they get their spotlight. Their back and forth is amusing because they bicker like an old married couple.
The plot twist was crazy. Ryke made me mad, laugh, anxious and upset multiple times after his introduction. I’m predicting for him to have the craziest story arc.
Want to read
November 17, 2016Finally reading this series...its sister series The Calloway Sisters is one of my ALL time favorite series. Seriously I ADORE it and all the characters hold a special place in my heart.
Crazy that I read this so very out of order.
But what can I say?
Train wreck.
Want to get this one is and re-read the Calloways before I read the final installment...
Crazy that I read this so very out of order.
But what can I say?
Train wreck.
Want to get this one is and re-read the Calloways before I read the final installment...
July 15, 2023
how. do. i. express. my. love. for. this. novel.
there are so many layers, so many aspects to this book that i don’t even know how to give it justice. i’d like to start by saying i am far from a romance lover, and this book is hands down a 5 star read. that’s because there is so much more to this story than romance: addiction, friendship, hurt, sadness, laughter, shock-value. i’m thankful there’s so many books in this series because i never wanna leave this world the authors created!
Lo and Lily are both addicts. Lo is a somewhat functioning alcoholic while Lily is a sex addict, and both of their addictions are severeeee. they’re also very rich kids yet i wouldn’t at all call them spoiled because they don’t let their money change their personalities. both of their characters were likeable in my opinion (frustrating at times, but still i have a soft spot for them). without spoiling anything, overall this novel takes you on a journey of two characters trying to navigate their messy lives when it comes to not only romance but addiction, college, friendship, family, and life in general. you will also come across a good amount of other characters that you can form your opinions on! this book offered so much!
KRISTA & BECCA RITCHIE I LOVE YOU BOTH AND CANNOT WAIT TO CONTINUE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SERIES.
*trigger warning for alcoholism, sex addiction, sexual assault, sexually explicit scenes*
there are so many layers, so many aspects to this book that i don’t even know how to give it justice. i’d like to start by saying i am far from a romance lover, and this book is hands down a 5 star read. that’s because there is so much more to this story than romance: addiction, friendship, hurt, sadness, laughter, shock-value. i’m thankful there’s so many books in this series because i never wanna leave this world the authors created!
Lo and Lily are both addicts. Lo is a somewhat functioning alcoholic while Lily is a sex addict, and both of their addictions are severeeee. they’re also very rich kids yet i wouldn’t at all call them spoiled because they don’t let their money change their personalities. both of their characters were likeable in my opinion (frustrating at times, but still i have a soft spot for them). without spoiling anything, overall this novel takes you on a journey of two characters trying to navigate their messy lives when it comes to not only romance but addiction, college, friendship, family, and life in general. you will also come across a good amount of other characters that you can form your opinions on! this book offered so much!
KRISTA & BECCA RITCHIE I LOVE YOU BOTH AND CANNOT WAIT TO CONTINUE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SERIES.
*trigger warning for alcoholism, sex addiction, sexual assault, sexually explicit scenes*
November 8, 2022
I love lily and her obsession with harry potter and superheroes. Lo please please get help but don't leave lily hanging.
Lo's problem hit a bit close home to how I was for a while and I hope he gets the help he needs
Lo's problem hit a bit close home to how I was for a while and I hope he gets the help he needs
April 12, 2023
“I love you, but I want to love you enough that I never choose alcohol over you. Not even for a moment. I want to be someone you deserve. Who helps you rather than enables you, and I can’t begin to do that until I get help for myself.”
Edit: changing this to 4 stars bcs of lilo and lulu 🤭
Look I stood with what I said but once I really dived into this series- I understand now and I'm just so in love with lilo- so yeah don't come at me for this 😌
Okay, first of all I don't know what to say to this series.
This is a weird book in a sense I'm not sure what the fuck did I just read right now? Because I'm sure as fuk this isn't romance or a love story because I don't feel that between Lilly and Loren guys. I'm sorry- I know this is about Lilly and Loren and I think this is more like about how both of them coexist beside their own addiction. Sure, they love each other but the story didn't really revolve around how they love each other and more like how they use each other as their crutch to get through the day. And frankly it was disturbing as fuck. For me who's actually looking forward to the romance and lowkey expecting it, I'm in a culture shock right now. But no worries, I enjoyed this and this story was marveling in a new sense to me.
Okay, let's get into the review.
The plot. Well, do you know I've been eyeing this series since last year? And I've been planning to read this so soon because I'm curious and I heard a lot of good things about Lilo and frankly I'm excited to. But I'm always reluctant to start this because in the synopsis it was already written that he was addicted to alcohol and she was addicted to sex. I already knew it was going to disturbing as shit but not this disturbing to be honest. Right, the plot was great. It was a bit confusing because in the middle of the book I was wondering where is this actually heading but just decided to read through it. It was marveling in a new sense, as in this is very much an uncharted territory to me. I have never read this kind d of story before. I enjoyed it though always cringing at the disturbing scene and always shaking my head because I got disappointed a lot by both characters. It was great and very refreshing, but if someone ask if I like it? I don't but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The characters were okay god- Lilly and Loren was just complicated you know. I do feel for both of them and I do connect with each of them. Especially Lilly since she's our narrator here, but I haven't see them evolving or unfolding into something so I like to think that it's too early to die if they're good characters or not. But one think I can say is I do not like both of them. Just the fact that it took them 7 years to actually trying to do and be better is just what disappoints me because what were they doing all this time? But I'm not going to rant about this, I know this is all part of the plot and character development and I erfectly understand that. But I do like to think they're perfectly written, I think that the author really built them perfectly, to each other too. I feel their connections, I do feel their chemistry, I feel they are very much living and it was a perfect for the characters. The characters were great. I love Connor, Ryke, and Rose too. They were awesome, well a lot of them are awesome with each their own flaws. I really hope I get to like Lilo in the next books.
The writing was okay, I guess. I have no complains so I guess it's a good thing? I mean Lilly is not a very reliable character to be honest so I didn't feel myself deeply into Lilly but more like into her and Loren's situations itself. It was okay, not good and not bad either, so it kinda fell in the middle I guess? It's 1st person POV though, which my go to POV so I guess I kinda like it?
Okay I know my updates gave you the impression I like this book, well... to be honest I do like it! And I enjoyed it! It's just there were some certain things that I didn't like and it bothered me enough to give me this review.
So yeah 3 stars.
I'm gonna continue this though cause I'm already too much into this shit, I don't think I'm gonna have a good night sleep if I stop just by reading one book from this series and I'm determined to finish it all until the very last book.
Did this book marketed as romance? If not why did I get that impression? Not sure why- I'm sorry if I got the wrong impression because I'm sure this is not a romance book.
TW. Alcohol abuse, sex addiction, porn addiction, sexual harassment, etc.
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ
I heard so many good things for this one and I really hope it deserves all the hype🤞🏻🤞🏻
Can't wait to meet the infamous Lily and Loren 😌
Edit: changing this to 4 stars bcs of lilo and lulu 🤭
Look I stood with what I said but once I really dived into this series- I understand now and I'm just so in love with lilo- so yeah don't come at me for this 😌
Okay, first of all I don't know what to say to this series.
This is a weird book in a sense I'm not sure what the fuck did I just read right now? Because I'm sure as fuk this isn't romance or a love story because I don't feel that between Lilly and Loren guys. I'm sorry- I know this is about Lilly and Loren and I think this is more like about how both of them coexist beside their own addiction. Sure, they love each other but the story didn't really revolve around how they love each other and more like how they use each other as their crutch to get through the day. And frankly it was disturbing as fuck. For me who's actually looking forward to the romance and lowkey expecting it, I'm in a culture shock right now. But no worries, I enjoyed this and this story was marveling in a new sense to me.
Okay, let's get into the review.
The plot. Well, do you know I've been eyeing this series since last year? And I've been planning to read this so soon because I'm curious and I heard a lot of good things about Lilo and frankly I'm excited to. But I'm always reluctant to start this because in the synopsis it was already written that he was addicted to alcohol and she was addicted to sex. I already knew it was going to disturbing as shit but not this disturbing to be honest. Right, the plot was great. It was a bit confusing because in the middle of the book I was wondering where is this actually heading but just decided to read through it. It was marveling in a new sense, as in this is very much an uncharted territory to me. I have never read this kind d of story before. I enjoyed it though always cringing at the disturbing scene and always shaking my head because I got disappointed a lot by both characters. It was great and very refreshing, but if someone ask if I like it? I don't but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The characters were okay god- Lilly and Loren was just complicated you know. I do feel for both of them and I do connect with each of them. Especially Lilly since she's our narrator here, but I haven't see them evolving or unfolding into something so I like to think that it's too early to die if they're good characters or not. But one think I can say is I do not like both of them. Just the fact that it took them 7 years to actually trying to do and be better is just what disappoints me because what were they doing all this time? But I'm not going to rant about this, I know this is all part of the plot and character development and I erfectly understand that. But I do like to think they're perfectly written, I think that the author really built them perfectly, to each other too. I feel their connections, I do feel their chemistry, I feel they are very much living and it was a perfect for the characters. The characters were great. I love Connor, Ryke, and Rose too. They were awesome, well a lot of them are awesome with each their own flaws. I really hope I get to like Lilo in the next books.
The writing was okay, I guess. I have no complains so I guess it's a good thing? I mean Lilly is not a very reliable character to be honest so I didn't feel myself deeply into Lilly but more like into her and Loren's situations itself. It was okay, not good and not bad either, so it kinda fell in the middle I guess? It's 1st person POV though, which my go to POV so I guess I kinda like it?
Okay I know my updates gave you the impression I like this book, well... to be honest I do like it! And I enjoyed it! It's just there were some certain things that I didn't like and it bothered me enough to give me this review.
So yeah 3 stars.
I'm gonna continue this though cause I'm already too much into this shit, I don't think I'm gonna have a good night sleep if I stop just by reading one book from this series and I'm determined to finish it all until the very last book.
Did this book marketed as romance? If not why did I get that impression? Not sure why- I'm sorry if I got the wrong impression because I'm sure this is not a romance book.
TW. Alcohol abuse, sex addiction, porn addiction, sexual harassment, etc.
ㅡㅡㅡㅡㅡ
I heard so many good things for this one and I really hope it deserves all the hype🤞🏻🤞🏻
Can't wait to meet the infamous Lily and Loren 😌
January 30, 2019
"He’s my drug that I gladly consume, and I think that’s what he fears most. He enables my addiction. Always has. And the longer we’re together, he always will.”
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I loved the characters, the writing, the storyline, how DIFFERENT it was from any other story I have read. It was emotional, heart breaking but refreshing, sometimes comical, full of drama, and also intense.
Lily and Lo- Lifetime friends. Addicts. Lovers. Liars. And two of the most dysfunctional/flawed but amazing characters I have met.
Lily is addicted to sex. Lo is addicted to alcohol. And they both use each other as a crutch to justify the addictions they cannot seem to control. They pretend to be a couple to their families, so they can continue to indulge in their addictions and not be questioned. After some time, they become a real couple, only to come to the conclusion that maybe they really aren’t that good for each other. Maybe feeding into one another’s addictions is only tearing them and their families apart.
I was a little hesitant when I started this, knowing something as serious and intense as addiction isn’t something that is considered easy to read about. But the writing and characters (ESPECIALLY the side characters) drew me in and kept me there.
I just love when I read a book and the characters begin to feel REAL to me. And that is precisely what happened here. It was like I could almost feel the love, the shame and guilt, the pain Lily & Lo were feeling as they battled their addictions. And in the end it was beautiful and heartwarming to see how their family battled along side them. Even though their relationship was an unhealthy one, the love between Lily & Lo will have you rooting for them to fight and get better.
I seriously cannot wait to dive into the rest of this series!
Addicted To You (Book 1) |http://amzn.to/2zRYSYS
Find Me On:
Instagram ❤ FB Page ❤ FB Blog ❤ Blog ❤ Twitter
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I loved the characters, the writing, the storyline, how DIFFERENT it was from any other story I have read. It was emotional, heart breaking but refreshing, sometimes comical, full of drama, and also intense.
Lily and Lo- Lifetime friends. Addicts. Lovers. Liars. And two of the most dysfunctional/flawed but amazing characters I have met.
Lily is addicted to sex. Lo is addicted to alcohol. And they both use each other as a crutch to justify the addictions they cannot seem to control. They pretend to be a couple to their families, so they can continue to indulge in their addictions and not be questioned. After some time, they become a real couple, only to come to the conclusion that maybe they really aren’t that good for each other. Maybe feeding into one another’s addictions is only tearing them and their families apart.
I was a little hesitant when I started this, knowing something as serious and intense as addiction isn’t something that is considered easy to read about. But the writing and characters (ESPECIALLY the side characters) drew me in and kept me there.
I just love when I read a book and the characters begin to feel REAL to me. And that is precisely what happened here. It was like I could almost feel the love, the shame and guilt, the pain Lily & Lo were feeling as they battled their addictions. And in the end it was beautiful and heartwarming to see how their family battled along side them. Even though their relationship was an unhealthy one, the love between Lily & Lo will have you rooting for them to fight and get better.
I seriously cannot wait to dive into the rest of this series!
Addicted To You (Book 1) |http://amzn.to/2zRYSYS
Find Me On:
Instagram ❤ FB Page ❤ FB Blog ❤ Blog ❤ Twitter
December 19, 2023
..••°°°°••..“No one told me you can love someone and still be miserable. How is that possible?”°°••....••°°
5 ✰
i absolutely love lily and lo. i can see why a lot of people have disliked this book, but honestly continuing on the series and coming back you just truly see the pain they were going through, and how enabling had led their relationship/friendship in the past.
my first time reading this book i was definitely apart of the "idk if they should be together they are incredibly toxic" but as addicts, they truly only had each other. now i will go to hell just to protect my babies 🫂
this book was able to show the raw ugly side of addiction, rather than the glamorization we get from media all around us. it shows the damage addiction does not only to yourself but to the people you love the most around you. my heart literally aches for them and continues to ache for them because idc if they arent real
this was a really good introduction to this world and even tho i still need the last two books in this particular series (lily and lo's books) i do not want to imagine closing this part of my life where they arent apart of it anymore 🥲 am i just rambling now? yes. could it be bc im sleep deprived? also yes.
quotes:
“I love you, but I want to love you enough that I never choose alcohol over you. Not even for a moment. I want to be someone you deserve.”
no bc who tf is cutting onions rn
” Just repeat this phrase whenever you feel the urge to jump some other guy’s bones.”
His mouth brushes my ear. “Loren Hale fucks better. “
genuinely my favorite line from this entire book because i love lo
“She waltzes into the apartment, her Chanel handbag swinging on her arm like a weapon. Rose frightens children, pets, and even grown males with her icy eyes and chilling glares.”
my queen and idol 👑
“Wait for me.” The words come out choked and pained. “I need you to wait for me.”
naurrrrr why am i in TEARS
June 10, 2024
This is Connor's and Ryke's series and the others are just living in it.
***
pre-read:
Ri ♡, this one's for you.❣️
***
pre-read:
Ri ♡, this one's for you.❣️
September 13, 2024
3.75 stars ⯎
“i want to live here. in his arms. where i know it's safe.”
how can i not love coballoway already?!?
"addicted to you" is the first book in a 10 interconnected book series. it follows lily calloway and loren (lo) hale while they're both battling their addictions. lily is addicted to sex whilst loren is an alcoholic. this book made me emotional at points because they both were obviously trying so hard to be better for each other, but unfortunately, you can't just get rid of addiction in a week or even a month.
lily was definitely a hard main character to read about. her addiction took over her whole life, and it was really hard to read about. i felt so bad for her when she would have sex and then immediately regret it afterwards, because she's feeding her addiction. . lily was so caring towards lo, and tried to help him fight his addiction, which was so heart warming to read about.
lo was so sweet and kind. i also loved how he tried to help lily fight her addiction while also trying so hard to fight his. however, watching him choose his bottle over lily at points was hard to read about. i know from one of my close friend's parents, that alcoholism is very, very dangerous and very, very hard to quit. following lo through his journey was so interesting to read about, and it gave me another perspective on alcoholism and truly, how hard it is to fight an addiction. on a lighter note, me when lo called lily "love" thoooooooooo!! 🤭🤭🤭🤭
the side characters MADE this book for me, specifically rose calloway and connor cobalt 😩🫶. rose is the sister that i never had, her love for lily and the rest of her sisters was so evident. her dropping everything for her sisters, her not judging lily for her addiction, and her was so amazing to read about. she's also a badass that owns and runs her own successful fashion brand and also smart as hell. connor cobalt is my MAN. i LOVED how he was brutally honest in every single situation, and his comments about lily and lo made me giggle. he was also so smart and was so determined for lily and lo to get a good grade in their class, tutoring them deep into the night and very early in the morning. he was the BEST.
character ranking after the first book
1. rose calloway
2. connor cobalt
3. ryke meadows
4. loren hale
5. lily calloway
6. daisy calloway
⊹ pre - read ⊹
‹𝟹 | finally reading lily & lo's story! 🫶 ♡ ⭒ ⁎ ﹒
“i want to live here. in his arms. where i know it's safe.”
how can i not love coballoway already?!?
"addicted to you" is the first book in a 10 interconnected book series. it follows lily calloway and loren (lo) hale while they're both battling their addictions. lily is addicted to sex whilst loren is an alcoholic. this book made me emotional at points because they both were obviously trying so hard to be better for each other, but unfortunately, you can't just get rid of addiction in a week or even a month.
lily was definitely a hard main character to read about. her addiction took over her whole life, and it was really hard to read about. i felt so bad for her when she would have sex and then immediately regret it afterwards, because she's feeding her addiction. . lily was so caring towards lo, and tried to help him fight his addiction, which was so heart warming to read about.
lo was so sweet and kind. i also loved how he tried to help lily fight her addiction while also trying so hard to fight his. however, watching him choose his bottle over lily at points was hard to read about. i know from one of my close friend's parents, that alcoholism is very, very dangerous and very, very hard to quit. following lo through his journey was so interesting to read about, and it gave me another perspective on alcoholism and truly, how hard it is to fight an addiction. on a lighter note, me when lo called lily "love" thoooooooooo!! 🤭🤭🤭🤭
the side characters MADE this book for me, specifically rose calloway and connor cobalt 😩🫶. rose is the sister that i never had, her love for lily and the rest of her sisters was so evident. her dropping everything for her sisters, her not judging lily for her addiction, and her was so amazing to read about. she's also a badass that owns and runs her own successful fashion brand and also smart as hell. connor cobalt is my MAN. i LOVED how he was brutally honest in every single situation, and his comments about lily and lo made me giggle. he was also so smart and was so determined for lily and lo to get a good grade in their class, tutoring them deep into the night and very early in the morning. he was the BEST.
character ranking after the first book
1. rose calloway
2. connor cobalt
3. ryke meadows
4. loren hale
5. lily calloway
6. daisy calloway
⊹ pre - read ⊹
‹𝟹 | finally reading lily & lo's story! 🫶 ♡ ⭒ ⁎ ﹒
April 21, 2023
3.5 🌟
This is one of those books (trying so hard not to say fanfictions) you read until your eyes hurt and you can hear the birds chirping!
YES, I'M IN FACT ADDICTED TO YOU (this book)
Is it objectively good? No
Did I enjoy it so much? YES, let a girl live
I was sooo conflicted on how to rate this. It has so many issues, the writing is straight out of wattpad (the type of thing you need to get for FREE, not pay for it), the communication is non-existent (I literally can't imagine Lo and Lil having an actual conversation besides their addiction(s)).
BUT, THERE'S THE CRACK FACTOR!
I'M breaking my silence, I can't wait to continue with this series. I want to see where the story's gonna go. ALSO, you guys say it gets better (I'm so excited 😊)
Also, part of why I enjoyed it so much are the side characters. They aren't as flawed as the MC and FMC (at least for now) and maybe that's why I root for them so much.
Can't wait for that dual pov (to get in Lo's head 🤭💖)
This is one of those books (trying so hard not to say fanfictions) you read until your eyes hurt and you can hear the birds chirping!
YES, I'M IN FACT ADDICTED TO YOU (this book)
Is it objectively good? No
Did I enjoy it so much? YES, let a girl live
I was sooo conflicted on how to rate this. It has so many issues, the writing is straight out of wattpad (the type of thing you need to get for FREE, not pay for it), the communication is non-existent (I literally can't imagine Lo and Lil having an actual conversation besides their addiction(s)).
BUT, THERE'S THE CRACK FACTOR!
I'M breaking my silence, I can't wait to continue with this series. I want to see where the story's gonna go. ALSO, you guys say it gets better (I'm so excited 😊)
Also, part of why I enjoyed it so much are the side characters. They aren't as flawed as the MC and FMC (at least for now) and maybe that's why I root for them so much.
Can't wait for that dual pov (to get in Lo's head 🤭💖)
January 11, 2023
1st read : 25th May,2016 / English ebook
2nd read: 4th Jan, 2023 / Turkish Paperback
My God, I’m addicted to this book!!! I loved it so much… :)
This is a love story but not kind of hearts & flowers type… Lily Calloway is addicted to sex, Loren Hale is an alcoholic. Very bad combination I know but on the other hand, they can be very good for each other because no matter what happen, they understand each others weakness… Of course not always everything seems fine but still they're trying to be best version of themself and they are always there whenever other person needs help...
From the moment I start to reading Lily & Lo’s story, I just can’t stop myself. I literally devoured this book… And last pages of the book was so freaking intense. I already knew the ending (cause before I start to read it, I skip the whole book and I looked the last page. Dammit, I tried so hard but I just couldn't hold myself. Ugh I guess this is my bad habit, this is my weakness...) but before that there were a lot of things happened which they affected Loren’s life…. I really didn’t see them coming and I was shocked just like him.. So because of that I’ll read 2nd book right now cause I have to know what’s gonna happen next! :)
"He’s my drug that I gladly consume, and I think that’s what he fears most. He enables my addiction. Always has. And the longer we’re together, he always will.”
ADDICTED SERIES - RECOMMENDED READING ORDER
Addicted to You (Addicted #1)
Ricochet (Addicted #1.5)
Addicted for Now (Addicted #2)
Kiss the Sky (Spin-Off: Calloway Sisters #1)
Hothouse Flower (Calloway Sisters #2)
Thrive (Addicted #2.5)
Addicted After All (Addicted #3)
Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3)
Long Way Down (Calloway Sisters #4)
Some Kind of Perfect (Calloway Sisters #4.5)
2nd read: 4th Jan, 2023 / Turkish Paperback
My God, I’m addicted to this book!!! I loved it so much… :)
This is a love story but not kind of hearts & flowers type… Lily Calloway is addicted to sex, Loren Hale is an alcoholic. Very bad combination I know but on the other hand, they can be very good for each other because no matter what happen, they understand each others weakness… Of course not always everything seems fine but still they're trying to be best version of themself and they are always there whenever other person needs help...
From the moment I start to reading Lily & Lo’s story, I just can’t stop myself. I literally devoured this book… And last pages of the book was so freaking intense. I already knew the ending (cause before I start to read it, I skip the whole book and I looked the last page. Dammit, I tried so hard but I just couldn't hold myself. Ugh I guess this is my bad habit, this is my weakness...) but before that there were a lot of things happened which they affected Loren’s life…. I really didn’t see them coming and I was shocked just like him.. So because of that I’ll read 2nd book right now cause I have to know what’s gonna happen next! :)
"He’s my drug that I gladly consume, and I think that’s what he fears most. He enables my addiction. Always has. And the longer we’re together, he always will.”
ADDICTED SERIES - RECOMMENDED READING ORDER
Addicted to You (Addicted #1)
Ricochet (Addicted #1.5)
Addicted for Now (Addicted #2)
Kiss the Sky (Spin-Off: Calloway Sisters #1)
Hothouse Flower (Calloway Sisters #2)
Thrive (Addicted #2.5)
Addicted After All (Addicted #3)
Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3)
Long Way Down (Calloway Sisters #4)
Some Kind of Perfect (Calloway Sisters #4.5)
August 7, 2022
DNF
i just don’t know what i’m missing
it was all sex and no story and even the sex was pretty cringey
ever scene was so contrived just to add more sex and they didn’t seem to really flow or connect ??
idk i just didn’t like it 🤷🏻♀️
also the fact it’s written by sisters weirds me out a bit…
i just don’t know what i’m missing
it was all sex and no story and even the sex was pretty cringey
ever scene was so contrived just to add more sex and they didn’t seem to really flow or connect ??
idk i just didn’t like it 🤷🏻♀️
also the fact it’s written by sisters weirds me out a bit…
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