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The Fabric of Our Souls
Two troubled souls find solace in each other at a rehabilitation facility in this spellbinding dark romance sizzling with angst. I’m twenty-six years old, and I want to die.
So when I wake up at the hospital with my brother weeping over me, I know my life is about to change. What I didn’t expect was to get a nurse with cruel eyes and a morbid sense of humor that surpasses my own.
I’m even more surprised when I arrive at Harlow Sanctum and realize that my brother selected an unorthodox rehabilitation center that rooms people based on their treatment plan. And my roommate is none other than the man with cruel eyes I met the day prior.
I crave death—he craves life.
Can two people like us cure each other?
So when I wake up at the hospital with my brother weeping over me, I know my life is about to change. What I didn’t expect was to get a nurse with cruel eyes and a morbid sense of humor that surpasses my own.
I’m even more surprised when I arrive at Harlow Sanctum and realize that my brother selected an unorthodox rehabilitation center that rooms people based on their treatment plan. And my roommate is none other than the man with cruel eyes I met the day prior.
I crave death—he craves life.
Can two people like us cure each other?
304 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2024
About the author
K.M. Moronova
9 books1,736 followersK. M. Moronova has always loved telling stories. She adores reading and writing dark fantasy with a helping of dread and romance. Often, she is found drying flowers and drinking coffee while relaxing in her garden. She loves spending time with her partner exploring the forest and envisioning more devastating stories to tell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,738 reviews
December 20, 2023
3 ⭐
I gave myself whiplash with how fast I went from "I want them to have a threesome" to bawling my eyes out.
I gave myself whiplash with how fast I went from "I want them to have a threesome" to bawling my eyes out.
September 25, 2024
OMG - Sobbing my face off. This book was EVERYTHING!!
For the broken ones who are in need of something dark, morbid, and beautiful. 🖤💀🥀
❀ 'Remedium meum - My cure.'❀
Ꝏ Infinity Stars!!
I don't even know where to start. This book. This book. This book. Someone recommended it to me on my challenge question and I don't remember who it was but will you please stand up because I want to say thank you so much for bringing this book to my attention!
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ The whole vibe, setting, and feeling of this book is what I LIVE for. Melancholic, dreary, sad, painful, hopeful, wrapped in love that is beyond bone deep. It's soul deep.
From the very first page I was pulled into this story, I wanted to crawl into my kindle and live there in the mountain side mansion in the cold rain surrounded by the forest, the marigolds, mums and moon flowers. I wanted to dance in the rain in the moonlight and just soak this entire book and all of it's beautiful words into my skin.
₊⊹⁀➴ I want to breathe it in, inject it in my veins, tattoo it on my soul and live with it forever.
This is a story that I will not forget and will hold on to forever. I've already ordered the special edition hardcover AND the paperback for my shelf. I plan to do a reread and annotate the fuck out of it.
I don't really want to talk about the plot of the story much because my words are not good enough to sum it up and to be honest, I think the best way to go in is blind. You will not regret it.
I do have plenty of quotes for you though. I literally highlighted the entirety of this book but I'm not going to share all of them, some of them you just need to experience on your own. Omg, the goosebumps. I love this book so much!
‧₊˚✧✦ Book 1.5 Review જ⁀➴ ♡ A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope ✦ ✧˚₊‧
₊⊹⁀➴ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 °⋆♡︎.ೃ࿔:･
➺ 𖹭 “The fabric of our souls is thin—we’ve been wandering this world just to unite in this small corner of the universe.” 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 "Avoidance has always been my coping mechanism. If I don't think about it, it doesn't matter. My day goes on." 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 "You should wait... and it doesn't have to be for anything specific. I'm just saying - wait for the weight of the world to pass. Wait until the tremors that wrack through your skull drift into the depths again. Wait until the sun rises, and the light makes you feel a little less pointless." 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'He kissed me. Not out of love or longing - it is a pact. A horribly toxic pact for two broken souls that have hit rock bottom. But it is our pact, our promise. And just like that, I think I've found something as compelling as death.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'It hurts deep in the chambers of my heart, that a creature so woeful and enchanting as her wants to die. It hurts.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'She's the image of heartache- and I want the pain she instills inside my heart forever.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'I press my lips against his. It's like sailing right into a storm you know you'll never come back out of.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'I gently move her hair up a little so it's on her pillow and can dry out more, and then I slowly crawl in behind her.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'I tuck my head in closer to her and press a kiss to her forehead. "Remedium meum." 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 "I saw a young woman. A confused little flower trying to bloom in the daylight when you were always meant to thrive beneath the stars, unlike those around you. You've wilted enough for the world. Don't you think?" 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'The fabric of our souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
For the broken ones who are in need of something dark, morbid, and beautiful. 🖤💀🥀
❀ 'Remedium meum - My cure.'❀
Ꝏ Infinity Stars!!
I don't even know where to start. This book. This book. This book. Someone recommended it to me on my challenge question and I don't remember who it was but will you please stand up because I want to say thank you so much for bringing this book to my attention!
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ The whole vibe, setting, and feeling of this book is what I LIVE for. Melancholic, dreary, sad, painful, hopeful, wrapped in love that is beyond bone deep. It's soul deep.
From the very first page I was pulled into this story, I wanted to crawl into my kindle and live there in the mountain side mansion in the cold rain surrounded by the forest, the marigolds, mums and moon flowers. I wanted to dance in the rain in the moonlight and just soak this entire book and all of it's beautiful words into my skin.
₊⊹⁀➴ I want to breathe it in, inject it in my veins, tattoo it on my soul and live with it forever.
This is a story that I will not forget and will hold on to forever. I've already ordered the special edition hardcover AND the paperback for my shelf. I plan to do a reread and annotate the fuck out of it.
I don't really want to talk about the plot of the story much because my words are not good enough to sum it up and to be honest, I think the best way to go in is blind. You will not regret it.
I do have plenty of quotes for you though. I literally highlighted the entirety of this book but I'm not going to share all of them, some of them you just need to experience on your own. Omg, the goosebumps. I love this book so much!
‧₊˚✧✦ Book 1.5 Review જ⁀➴ ♡ A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope ✦ ✧˚₊‧
₊⊹⁀➴ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 °⋆♡︎.ೃ࿔:･
➺ 𖹭 “The fabric of our souls is thin—we’ve been wandering this world just to unite in this small corner of the universe.” 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 "Avoidance has always been my coping mechanism. If I don't think about it, it doesn't matter. My day goes on." 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 "You should wait... and it doesn't have to be for anything specific. I'm just saying - wait for the weight of the world to pass. Wait until the tremors that wrack through your skull drift into the depths again. Wait until the sun rises, and the light makes you feel a little less pointless." 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'He kissed me. Not out of love or longing - it is a pact. A horribly toxic pact for two broken souls that have hit rock bottom. But it is our pact, our promise. And just like that, I think I've found something as compelling as death.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'It hurts deep in the chambers of my heart, that a creature so woeful and enchanting as her wants to die. It hurts.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'She's the image of heartache- and I want the pain she instills inside my heart forever.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'I press my lips against his. It's like sailing right into a storm you know you'll never come back out of.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'I gently move her hair up a little so it's on her pillow and can dry out more, and then I slowly crawl in behind her.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'I tuck my head in closer to her and press a kiss to her forehead. "Remedium meum." 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 "I saw a young woman. A confused little flower trying to bloom in the daylight when you were always meant to thrive beneath the stars, unlike those around you. You've wilted enough for the world. Don't you think?" 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
➺ 𖹭 'The fabric of our souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.' 𐙚₊˚⊹♡
February 10, 2024
February 10, 2024
almost a month later and i still have barely any words for this book.
it broke me, healed me, and broke me so many times.
-------------------------------------------------
Jan. 11, 2024
did i finish this book or did it finish me instead?
i don't know how to feel
rtc -maybe-
almost a month later and i still have barely any words for this book.
it broke me, healed me, and broke me so many times.
-------------------------------------------------
Jan. 11, 2024
did i finish this book or did it finish me instead?
i don't know how to feel
rtc -maybe-
May 19, 2024
This was my first read from K.M. Moronova and I picked it up because the premise intrigued me. I love vulnerable and raw mental health rep in fiction, especially dark romance, and the idea of a suicidal woman crossing paths with a man who craves life seemed clever and enticing.
This story begins with our main character, Wynn Coldfox, in hospital following a suicide attempt. Her rich brother sends her to an "unorthodox" treatment facility, and unfortunately this was the beginning of a string of things that I found frustrating in this story. If truly suicidal people were at this facility, they would all be dead because of the lack of safety protocols. I understand making something "unorthodox" in fiction to take creative liberties, but it still needs to be believable. Just once I would like to see a realistic depiction of a psychiatric hospital or rehab... even if it's a bad one! But I digress.
It felt like this book had no idea what it wanted to be. Is it a bully romance? A contemporary romance? A romantic suspense? A slasher flick? The pacing felt slow for such a short book, and the plot and characters felt underdeveloped. The chemistry between Wynn and Liam flipped from annoyance to disdain to love so quickly that I almost missed it. The mystery and big reveal was both underwhelming and nonsensical.
The ending is impactful and clever. I just didn't love how we got there.
This story begins with our main character, Wynn Coldfox, in hospital following a suicide attempt. Her rich brother sends her to an "unorthodox" treatment facility, and unfortunately this was the beginning of a string of things that I found frustrating in this story. If truly suicidal people were at this facility, they would all be dead because of the lack of safety protocols. I understand making something "unorthodox" in fiction to take creative liberties, but it still needs to be believable. Just once I would like to see a realistic depiction of a psychiatric hospital or rehab... even if it's a bad one! But I digress.
It felt like this book had no idea what it wanted to be. Is it a bully romance? A contemporary romance? A romantic suspense? A slasher flick? The pacing felt slow for such a short book, and the plot and characters felt underdeveloped. The chemistry between Wynn and Liam flipped from annoyance to disdain to love so quickly that I almost missed it. The mystery and big reveal was both underwhelming and nonsensical.
The ending is impactful and clever. I just didn't love how we got there.
December 29, 2023
how do i unread a book?
July 10, 2024
“For the broken ones who are in need of something dark, morbid, and beautiful.”
One of the most beautifully tragic books I have ever read. Nothing speaks to my damaged soul quite like broken characters.
“You should wait… and it doesn’t have to be for anything specific. I’m just saying—wait for the weight of the world to pass. Wait until the tremors that wrack through your skull drift into the depths again. Wait until the sun rises, and the light makes you feel a little less pointless.”
After reading this quote I knew I was done for. As someone who has battled depression my whole life, I have never felt so seen and heard. Fair warning it is a bit insta lovie which is why I can’t quite give it 5 stars but it makes so much sense with the overall dynamic of our couple. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed but I still really loved this book
This truly had me feeling every emotion under the sun so deeply. There was so much sorrow and anguish but there was also hope and the reminder of what it’s truly like for a smile to reach your eyes after being in the dark for so long. It hurt so good.
This is not your typical love story and I know this is not going to be for everyone, but from the first page I knew it was for me.
These characters have my heart and soul. I will never forget this story.
Some of my favorite quotes.
“The Fabric of our Souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.”
“You’ve wilted enough for the world. Don’t you think? It’s time to let go of the things that hurt.”
“Why didn’t anyone help me? Didn’t I ask more than once? Didn’t my eyes scream loud enough for those that observed me so callously to stop?”
“Avoidance has always been my coping mechanism. If I don’t think about it, it doesn’t matter. My day goes on.”
“It hurts deep in the chambers of my heart, that a creature so woeful and enchanting as her wants to die.”
“Your mind is a beautiful and dangerous thing, Wynn, sick as it may be. But your soul illuminates the world around you, setting all else ablaze with your inevitable anguish.”
“When you look at me, I feel like I can shatter into a thousand birds and just… fly. You set my soul free from the chains I keep wrapped around my shoulders.”
One of the most beautifully tragic books I have ever read. Nothing speaks to my damaged soul quite like broken characters.
“You should wait… and it doesn’t have to be for anything specific. I’m just saying—wait for the weight of the world to pass. Wait until the tremors that wrack through your skull drift into the depths again. Wait until the sun rises, and the light makes you feel a little less pointless.”
After reading this quote I knew I was done for. As someone who has battled depression my whole life, I have never felt so seen and heard. Fair warning it is a bit insta lovie which is why I can’t quite give it 5 stars but it makes so much sense with the overall dynamic of our couple. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed but I still really loved this book
This truly had me feeling every emotion under the sun so deeply. There was so much sorrow and anguish but there was also hope and the reminder of what it’s truly like for a smile to reach your eyes after being in the dark for so long. It hurt so good.
This is not your typical love story and I know this is not going to be for everyone, but from the first page I knew it was for me.
These characters have my heart and soul. I will never forget this story.
Some of my favorite quotes.
“The Fabric of our Souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.”
“You’ve wilted enough for the world. Don’t you think? It’s time to let go of the things that hurt.”
“Why didn’t anyone help me? Didn’t I ask more than once? Didn’t my eyes scream loud enough for those that observed me so callously to stop?”
“Avoidance has always been my coping mechanism. If I don’t think about it, it doesn’t matter. My day goes on.”
“It hurts deep in the chambers of my heart, that a creature so woeful and enchanting as her wants to die.”
“Your mind is a beautiful and dangerous thing, Wynn, sick as it may be. But your soul illuminates the world around you, setting all else ablaze with your inevitable anguish.”
“When you look at me, I feel like I can shatter into a thousand birds and just… fly. You set my soul free from the chains I keep wrapped around my shoulders.”
June 28, 2024
5 ★'s
This beautiful, beautiful book. It was exactly what I wanted and needed right now.
My eyes are basically swollen shut from crying.
This was both incredibly heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time.
We follow a trio of broken people in an institute for treating their mental illnesses.
From someone who has a history of mental illness I think it was depicted very well. It feels very real and raw, which I loved - however it might not be for everyone. This book is dark and touches on mental illness, and themes related, often in an explicit manner. Please check Trigger Warnings before picking this up.
I am not aligned with how this book portrays people as a cure for mental illness and honestly think this a quite dangerous perspective to have, but for the sake of the story I found it very beautiful and I loved the ways they were able to support each other through their healing journeys.
All in all, this pulled at all my emotions and kept me intrigued throughout.
I do not have any more words to describe this book, only that I loved it and recommend it highly. <3
This beautiful, beautiful book. It was exactly what I wanted and needed right now.
My eyes are basically swollen shut from crying.
“I’m just saying - wait for the weight of the world to pass. Wait until the tremors that wrack through your skull drift into the depths again. Wait until the sun rises, and the light makes you feel a little less pointless”
“What if waiting doesn’t work?”
“You let me know and I’ll hold you until the darkness fades”
This was both incredibly heartwarming and heartwrenching at the same time.
We follow a trio of broken people in an institute for treating their mental illnesses.
From someone who has a history of mental illness I think it was depicted very well. It feels very real and raw, which I loved - however it might not be for everyone. This book is dark and touches on mental illness, and themes related, often in an explicit manner. Please check Trigger Warnings before picking this up.
I am not aligned with how this book portrays people as a cure for mental illness and honestly think this a quite dangerous perspective to have, but for the sake of the story I found it very beautiful and I loved the ways they were able to support each other through their healing journeys.
All in all, this pulled at all my emotions and kept me intrigued throughout.
I do not have any more words to describe this book, only that I loved it and recommend it highly. <3
Read
August 28, 2024Will never look at number three The same after this RTC ...
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"𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠, 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡."
I feel like I can't enjoy anything lately so I'm going to try this 😭🤲
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"𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠, 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡."
I feel like I can't enjoy anything lately so I'm going to try this 😭🤲
March 28, 2024
I was really looking forward to this book, having been told it was a very emotional read. However, there wasn’t a single moment I even teared up in this book, and if you know me at all you know I am a CRIER.
It felt predictable to me, nothing shocked me at all. I didn’t feel much emotional connection between the characters or WITH the characters. I’m not sure! I just… needed… more?
I did like the story line in the beginning and was very intrigued on some bits and pieces of it but unfortunately they are still unanswered after finishing, which I find very frustrating.
It felt predictable to me, nothing shocked me at all. I didn’t feel much emotional connection between the characters or WITH the characters. I’m not sure! I just… needed… more?
I did like the story line in the beginning and was very intrigued on some bits and pieces of it but unfortunately they are still unanswered after finishing, which I find very frustrating.
February 8, 2024
This was an emotional book. Everyone should check the trigger warnings because there are many.
This book will forever stay with me. It reached me in a way very few books have. I don't get emotional with books, but this book almost made me tear up. (Don't ask me what's wrong with me. Idk, maybe I'm a brick wall. Idk) This was a powerful book despite the way that the characters seemed younger than their mid 20s. That didn't affect the storyline, though. That ending just tore through me.
This book will forever stay with me. It reached me in a way very few books have. I don't get emotional with books, but this book almost made me tear up. (Don't ask me what's wrong with me. Idk, maybe I'm a brick wall. Idk) This was a powerful book despite the way that the characters seemed younger than their mid 20s. That didn't affect the storyline, though. That ending just tore through me.
May 25, 2024
Lanston nevers you will always have my heart ♥️
“The Fabric of our Souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.”
“She’s the image of heartache—and I want the pain she instills inside my heart forever.”
“Yeah, her soul is like chiffon, with plenty of tattered rips and tears. The fabric of our souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.Hers is so beautifully torn that even wolves like us are drawn to it.”
“What if waiting doesn’t work? You let me know and I’ll hold you until the darkness fades.”
“The Fabric of our Souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.”
“She’s the image of heartache—and I want the pain she instills inside my heart forever.”
“Yeah, her soul is like chiffon, with plenty of tattered rips and tears. The fabric of our souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.Hers is so beautifully torn that even wolves like us are drawn to it.”
“What if waiting doesn’t work? You let me know and I’ll hold you until the darkness fades.”
April 22, 2024
5⭐️
wow it’s so rare a book makes me cry, but this had me sobbing at the end, what a beautifully heartbreaking story 🥺
This book is extremely heavy and deals with some VERY deep topics, so please if you have triggers you need to be prepared going into this book
This was just absolutely incredible ❤️
This is essentially a story about 3 people who are ‘broken’ finding each other & healing through the bond they share with each other, don’t want to go into the story too much as it will just give too much away, just read it 🫶🏽
Literally went from wanting a full on love triangle situation, or maybe they all get into it together, to absolutely bawling my eyes out and feeling completely different about their dynamic in the last 50%. Also, we do go from ‘I hate you’ to ‘I love you’re super quick, it’s a bit instalove, which is why I can’t quite give 5 stars but I also need to sit with these story for a while, maybe I will give it 5⭐️ once I’ve processed 🥺
wow it’s so rare a book makes me cry, but this had me sobbing at the end, what a beautifully heartbreaking story 🥺
This book is extremely heavy and deals with some VERY deep topics, so please if you have triggers you need to be prepared going into this book
This was just absolutely incredible ❤️
This is essentially a story about 3 people who are ‘broken’ finding each other & healing through the bond they share with each other, don’t want to go into the story too much as it will just give too much away, just read it 🫶🏽
Literally went from wanting a full on love triangle situation, or maybe they all get into it together, to absolutely bawling my eyes out and feeling completely different about their dynamic in the last 50%. Also, we do go from ‘I hate you’ to ‘I love you’re super quick, it’s a bit instalove, which is why I can’t quite give 5 stars but I also need to sit with these story for a while, maybe I will give it 5⭐️ once I’ve processed 🥺
April 9, 2024
I just want to preface this by stating that:
1. I usually don’t write long reviews. I’m not a professional reviewer (nor I pretend to be) but I’ve read enough books to have at least a vague idea of what is considered optimal and what is not. This analysis will probably morph into a chaotic rant the more I continue, bear with me :)
2. This review will contain spoilers!
The biggest ones will probably be towards the end, but still, I’m going to discuss numerous plot points/events in detail. For the first part you should be fine though, considering that it’s more of a general complaint + some issues I personally had with the book.
3. I’ve dealt with mental health issues. I still do.
So this is not me chastising the author for WHAT themes she decided to explore, but HOW she did it.
Then again, everyone deals with mental health differently; so if she found this book to be a truthful account of her (or someone else’s) struggles, good for her. I’m entitled to my own opinion, but I have no intention of invalidating other people’s experiences. This is simply why the story didn’t work for ME.
4. TW!!!!
I’m going to copy and paste the list directly from the book, if you find some topics that might trigger you PLEASE PLEASE think twice before reading my review. I’ll try to keep explicit descriptions to the minimum.
Take care!
“Content Warning
The contents of this book may be triggering and disturbing to some readers. This is a dark romance thriller. So please do take warning that the content is for adults only.
Warnings include the following:
If you are sensitive to the following words please do not continue with reading this story: sick, psychopath, crazy, sane.
Physical Violence, Explicit Sex scenes, Morbid Humor, Hate fucking, Degradation, Explicit Gore, Suicide and the desire to die (explicit at times), Self harm/thoughts of harming ones self (Masochist) (explicit at times), Childhood mental abuse trauma, Emotional abuse, Explicit death scenes, Traumatic therapy sessions, bite kink, pain kink.”
(May I also add mention of pregnancy and disordered eating!!!)
──────────﹒★﹒﹒─
─﹒﹒★﹒──────────
Where do I start…
This book was a mess. If a 2014 Wattpad fanfic on big bad wolf Harry Styles and an absurdly long tumblr poetry thread had a love child, this would probably be it.
At first I was thrilled, you know: mental health representation, tumbrl poetry/Wattpad vibes (my guilty pleasures, sue me.), a mystery.
Well, let me tell you, the excitement was very short lived. Actually, some might say that it was killed prematurely, and by prematurely I mean by page seven. No literally.
“This book romanticizes rehabilitation centers and mentally unwell people falling in love.”
????????
WHY??????
As someone who struggles with mental health (which the author states she is) I feel like you should know that romanticizing such topics isn’t the best course of action. Sure, everyone deals with it differently, I agree. But, I don’t know… this just didn’t sit right with me.
I OBVIOUSLY CONTINUED AND THAT’S MY FAULT 🎶🎶for never leaving well enough alone🎶🎶
(Prepare for a lot of Taylor Swift citations loves)
The book starts and we follow Wynn, a girl in her mid twenties with pink hair (before you even ask- YES, IT’S A CRUCIAL PIECE OF INFORMATION. You’re going to be tested later on), who just survived a failed suicide attempt. She’s in the hospital with her brother, the cardboard figurine of a perfectly stoic businessman who would probably respond with “you’re not depressed, you’re just lazy!” after you opened up about your mental health struggles, and they discuss placing Wynn in a rehabilitation institute.
Now, James (her brother) is completely useless as a character: he sends her away and that’s it. Goodbye big bro, it was sooo nice to meet you. They text here and there throughout the story, Wynn goes back and forth between hating him because “he doesn’t have time for her and he doesn’t care, her family is shit” (so much for a tragic background) and saying she loves him so much, she doesn’t deserve him. I thought she was suicidal, not bipolar, but anyway- who am I to be meticulous, right?
Then, out of the blue, a nurse comes in to change her IV bag. Surprise surprise, it’s hot boy #1.
He’s so handsome that Wynn seriously thinks it’s impossible for him to be a nurse, he must be a model (because God forbid hot people have anything else other than their looks).
Well, turns out she’s actually right. Good job Wynn, that’s how you put that intuition to good use!
He actually admits to her that he’s not a nurse, he just stole the scrubs. And instead of denouncing him, because what he did surely does not sound legal and she could very well be in danger, she grins and thinks about whether she’ll see him again.
Wonderful, WONDERFUL start.
(Btw his name is Liam. Yeah I know, basic)
Let’s fast forward to a couple of days later, the gang pulls up to the rehab center like this:
https://i.imgur.com/Rfsd7Hf.jpg
Oh wait- her mother’s dead. Silly me, let’s fix that.
https://i.imgur.com/pobjAIc.jpeg
There you go, much better.
(Also, just pretend that Ben here is her older brother. Okay? Okay.)
Harlow Sanctum (that’s the name of the institute) might as well be renamed “murder house” for the amount of mysteries (and sex) that coat its walls. Here we meet Jericho, the program counselor, and I have to be honest with you: for a minute I thought he was going to be the second love interest (hot boy #2). But no, we’ll have to wait for that one.
Jericho is just Jericho.
Jericho-surprised-by-her--pink-hair-but-not-at-her-mention-of-sex.
“What do you enjoy? I’d like to integrate anything you like into your weekly treatment.” He looks back at me thoughtfully before adding: “I didn’t expect you to have pink hair. That’s a surprise.”
“I like sex.”
“I’ve worked here since I graduated college, Miss Coldfox. I assure you it’s not the first time I’ve heard that heinous answer.”
Considering that’s pretty much all you have to know about someone (whether or not they have pink hair and if they enjoy sex), we move on- WAIT WAIT WAIT… not before Jericho states something extremely important.
“Well, not to let you down, but I won’t be adding sex to your treatment plan.”
Sure you won’t buddy! (Last famous words)
Talking about sex, we are informed that this institute is not your usual boring, unethical mental facility. It’s ✨unorthodox✨
They’re not a regular mental asylum, they are a cool mental asylum!
https://i.imgur.com/jMfZeXi.jpeg
I should probably stop with the AHS references…
Anyway, you may be asking yourself: “Unorthodox? What does it mean?”
Valid question my friend. Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough.
…you’re curious, aren’t you?
Well, lucky you, literally one page later we get our first example!
Jericho accompanies Wynn to her room and, surprise surprise, her roommate is a man!
But not any man, rest assured…
“ “Liam?” His name leaves my lips on a breath.
“What kind of rehab is this? I can’t share a room with a man.”
Jericho narrows his eyes at me but waves me off. “You signed off on it, Coldfox. We pair you up with a roommate ideal for your treatment plan. I know this seems odd, but our rehab has among the highest recovery rate. Like I mentioned before, we’re unorthodox. And didn’t you say you enjoyed sex earlier? Well, here you go. Liam Waters,” he says sarcastically. “
Glad you’ve got jokes Jericho, glad you’ve got jokes.
Yes, creepy-fake nurse Liam is our new roomie!!!
Aren’t you all so excited???!!!
https://imgur.com/a/4rXiG89
Liam wastes no time, he’s a man on a mission.
“He leans forward, his soft lips pressing against mine. I don’t know if it’s the tension that burns the air around us right now, if it’s the pulsing pain in my wrist, or if it’s just… simply him. But the spark that ignites between us burrows deep into my heart.
Liam pulls back and smiles. “Till death do us part, sunshine.” “
(We’re on page 40, mind you.)
“We’re the perfect elixir. I want to feel alive so fucking desperately—I’ll chase the high forever if I have to. Nothing’s worked for me yet.”
The way he talks about her like a sixteen year old boy talks about synthetic drugs after trying weed for the first time is sending me. Because sure, what better remedy than another mentally ill person??
Like calls to like, I guess.
“ “Remedium meum,” he murmurs, a breath away from my lips, smiling as he gently runs his fingers up my arms. I don’t speak Latin, but I’ve watched enough horror movies to know that anyone who does is either a hardcore Catholic or into occult stuff. Neither option is great for me. “
He can fake being a nurse and invade your privacy, but at catholic and occult fanatic WE DRAW THE LINE LADIES!!!
(Also, I studied latin in school… no option for me? No? Nevermind.)
“ “My cure.” His voice is a mere whisper but it sinks into my bones. “I’ll stop you in your darkest hours. Do you promise to do the same for me?”
Instinct tells me he’s dangerous—but I cannot pull away from him. ”
They’ve seen each other THREE. TIMES. ?????
Miss girl your intuition is screaming, crying, begging you to run away from that man as if a bear was chasing you. You know how people always insist on “following your gut” ? That’s why. Guess Wynn didn’t stream guts by Olivia Rodrigo.
“ “I hate you. You’re vile and cruel. Do you kiss all your roommates? You’re sick.”
“Clinically.” He smirks with amusement. “And you didn’t seem opposed to it.” “
A) she talks like I used to when I was eight and my cousin wouldn’t let me win at mario kart. (Yes, I’m still bitter)
B) he’s the embodiment of the phrase “how are you so funny?? Thanks, it’s the trauma!”
Then, you already know it, a supercut of abnormally cliche scenes attacks us, and all we can do is sit and watch (well, read I guess. And ponder on why the Wattpad phase actually never seems to end)
Alexa play “supercut” by Lorde, we need a soundtrack.
https://i.imgur.com/vRPMWip.jpeg
-Wynn “””smiles””” and Liam instantly spots that *shocking* she’s not happy! And that smile is a fake one!! :((
-Wynn is flabbergasted because apparently no one in twenty six years ever noticed that. Glad we have our derange- I mean dear Liam now.
- she refuses to eat and he basically forces her to (after previously ignoring her)
-she meets the mean-blonde-Regina George type of character, her name is Yelina. Yes, she’s exactly like every other cheerleader antagonist you’ve ever read about (+mental illness #characterization). No, she’s not actually relevant to the plot.
- Wynn dances under the rain
https://i.imgur.com/CjdrlMI.jpeg
Amongst these, we get a scene where Wynn looks at Liam’s phone and this happens:
“His phone dings again and a message icon pops up. Mom. Well, at least he talks to his mother. It’s more than I can say. My mother is dead and I don’t speak with my father, so he might as well be dead too.”
Girl- 💀 she’s that one friend who’s alway trying to one up you.
1. I usually don’t write long reviews. I’m not a professional reviewer (nor I pretend to be) but I’ve read enough books to have at least a vague idea of what is considered optimal and what is not. This analysis will probably morph into a chaotic rant the more I continue, bear with me :)
2. This review will contain spoilers!
The biggest ones will probably be towards the end, but still, I’m going to discuss numerous plot points/events in detail. For the first part you should be fine though, considering that it’s more of a general complaint + some issues I personally had with the book.
3. I’ve dealt with mental health issues. I still do.
So this is not me chastising the author for WHAT themes she decided to explore, but HOW she did it.
Then again, everyone deals with mental health differently; so if she found this book to be a truthful account of her (or someone else’s) struggles, good for her. I’m entitled to my own opinion, but I have no intention of invalidating other people’s experiences. This is simply why the story didn’t work for ME.
4. TW!!!!
I’m going to copy and paste the list directly from the book, if you find some topics that might trigger you PLEASE PLEASE think twice before reading my review. I’ll try to keep explicit descriptions to the minimum.
Take care!
“Content Warning
The contents of this book may be triggering and disturbing to some readers. This is a dark romance thriller. So please do take warning that the content is for adults only.
Warnings include the following:
If you are sensitive to the following words please do not continue with reading this story: sick, psychopath, crazy, sane.
Physical Violence, Explicit Sex scenes, Morbid Humor, Hate fucking, Degradation, Explicit Gore, Suicide and the desire to die (explicit at times), Self harm/thoughts of harming ones self (Masochist) (explicit at times), Childhood mental abuse trauma, Emotional abuse, Explicit death scenes, Traumatic therapy sessions, bite kink, pain kink.”
(May I also add mention of pregnancy and disordered eating!!!)
──────────﹒★﹒﹒─
─﹒﹒★﹒──────────
Where do I start…
This book was a mess. If a 2014 Wattpad fanfic on big bad wolf Harry Styles and an absurdly long tumblr poetry thread had a love child, this would probably be it.
At first I was thrilled, you know: mental health representation, tumbrl poetry/Wattpad vibes (my guilty pleasures, sue me.), a mystery.
Well, let me tell you, the excitement was very short lived. Actually, some might say that it was killed prematurely, and by prematurely I mean by page seven. No literally.
“This book romanticizes rehabilitation centers and mentally unwell people falling in love.”
????????
WHY??????
As someone who struggles with mental health (which the author states she is) I feel like you should know that romanticizing such topics isn’t the best course of action. Sure, everyone deals with it differently, I agree. But, I don’t know… this just didn’t sit right with me.
I OBVIOUSLY CONTINUED AND THAT’S MY FAULT 🎶🎶for never leaving well enough alone🎶🎶
(Prepare for a lot of Taylor Swift citations loves)
The book starts and we follow Wynn, a girl in her mid twenties with pink hair (before you even ask- YES, IT’S A CRUCIAL PIECE OF INFORMATION. You’re going to be tested later on), who just survived a failed suicide attempt. She’s in the hospital with her brother, the cardboard figurine of a perfectly stoic businessman who would probably respond with “you’re not depressed, you’re just lazy!” after you opened up about your mental health struggles, and they discuss placing Wynn in a rehabilitation institute.
Now, James (her brother) is completely useless as a character: he sends her away and that’s it. Goodbye big bro, it was sooo nice to meet you. They text here and there throughout the story, Wynn goes back and forth between hating him because “he doesn’t have time for her and he doesn’t care, her family is shit” (so much for a tragic background) and saying she loves him so much, she doesn’t deserve him. I thought she was suicidal, not bipolar, but anyway- who am I to be meticulous, right?
Then, out of the blue, a nurse comes in to change her IV bag. Surprise surprise, it’s hot boy #1.
He’s so handsome that Wynn seriously thinks it’s impossible for him to be a nurse, he must be a model (because God forbid hot people have anything else other than their looks).
Well, turns out she’s actually right. Good job Wynn, that’s how you put that intuition to good use!
He actually admits to her that he’s not a nurse, he just stole the scrubs. And instead of denouncing him, because what he did surely does not sound legal and she could very well be in danger, she grins and thinks about whether she’ll see him again.
Wonderful, WONDERFUL start.
(Btw his name is Liam. Yeah I know, basic)
Let’s fast forward to a couple of days later, the gang pulls up to the rehab center like this:
https://i.imgur.com/Rfsd7Hf.jpg
Oh wait- her mother’s dead. Silly me, let’s fix that.
https://i.imgur.com/pobjAIc.jpeg
There you go, much better.
(Also, just pretend that Ben here is her older brother. Okay? Okay.)
Harlow Sanctum (that’s the name of the institute) might as well be renamed “murder house” for the amount of mysteries (and sex) that coat its walls. Here we meet Jericho, the program counselor, and I have to be honest with you: for a minute I thought he was going to be the second love interest (hot boy #2). But no, we’ll have to wait for that one.
Jericho is just Jericho.
Jericho-surprised-by-her--pink-hair-but-not-at-her-mention-of-sex.
“What do you enjoy? I’d like to integrate anything you like into your weekly treatment.” He looks back at me thoughtfully before adding: “I didn’t expect you to have pink hair. That’s a surprise.”
“I like sex.”
“I’ve worked here since I graduated college, Miss Coldfox. I assure you it’s not the first time I’ve heard that heinous answer.”
Considering that’s pretty much all you have to know about someone (whether or not they have pink hair and if they enjoy sex), we move on- WAIT WAIT WAIT… not before Jericho states something extremely important.
“Well, not to let you down, but I won’t be adding sex to your treatment plan.”
Sure you won’t buddy! (Last famous words)
Talking about sex, we are informed that this institute is not your usual boring, unethical mental facility. It’s ✨unorthodox✨
They’re not a regular mental asylum, they are a cool mental asylum!
https://i.imgur.com/jMfZeXi.jpeg
I should probably stop with the AHS references…
Anyway, you may be asking yourself: “Unorthodox? What does it mean?”
Valid question my friend. Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough.
…you’re curious, aren’t you?
Well, lucky you, literally one page later we get our first example!
Jericho accompanies Wynn to her room and, surprise surprise, her roommate is a man!
But not any man, rest assured…
“ “Liam?” His name leaves my lips on a breath.
“What kind of rehab is this? I can’t share a room with a man.”
Jericho narrows his eyes at me but waves me off. “You signed off on it, Coldfox. We pair you up with a roommate ideal for your treatment plan. I know this seems odd, but our rehab has among the highest recovery rate. Like I mentioned before, we’re unorthodox. And didn’t you say you enjoyed sex earlier? Well, here you go. Liam Waters,” he says sarcastically. “
Glad you’ve got jokes Jericho, glad you’ve got jokes.
Yes, creepy-fake nurse Liam is our new roomie!!!
Aren’t you all so excited???!!!
https://imgur.com/a/4rXiG89
Liam wastes no time, he’s a man on a mission.
“He leans forward, his soft lips pressing against mine. I don’t know if it’s the tension that burns the air around us right now, if it’s the pulsing pain in my wrist, or if it’s just… simply him. But the spark that ignites between us burrows deep into my heart.
Liam pulls back and smiles. “Till death do us part, sunshine.” “
(We’re on page 40, mind you.)
“We’re the perfect elixir. I want to feel alive so fucking desperately—I’ll chase the high forever if I have to. Nothing’s worked for me yet.”
The way he talks about her like a sixteen year old boy talks about synthetic drugs after trying weed for the first time is sending me. Because sure, what better remedy than another mentally ill person??
Like calls to like, I guess.
“ “Remedium meum,” he murmurs, a breath away from my lips, smiling as he gently runs his fingers up my arms. I don’t speak Latin, but I’ve watched enough horror movies to know that anyone who does is either a hardcore Catholic or into occult stuff. Neither option is great for me. “
He can fake being a nurse and invade your privacy, but at catholic and occult fanatic WE DRAW THE LINE LADIES!!!
(Also, I studied latin in school… no option for me? No? Nevermind.)
“ “My cure.” His voice is a mere whisper but it sinks into my bones. “I’ll stop you in your darkest hours. Do you promise to do the same for me?”
Instinct tells me he’s dangerous—but I cannot pull away from him. ”
They’ve seen each other THREE. TIMES. ?????
Miss girl your intuition is screaming, crying, begging you to run away from that man as if a bear was chasing you. You know how people always insist on “following your gut” ? That’s why. Guess Wynn didn’t stream guts by Olivia Rodrigo.
“ “I hate you. You’re vile and cruel. Do you kiss all your roommates? You’re sick.”
“Clinically.” He smirks with amusement. “And you didn’t seem opposed to it.” “
A) she talks like I used to when I was eight and my cousin wouldn’t let me win at mario kart. (Yes, I’m still bitter)
B) he’s the embodiment of the phrase “how are you so funny?? Thanks, it’s the trauma!”
Then, you already know it, a supercut of abnormally cliche scenes attacks us, and all we can do is sit and watch (well, read I guess. And ponder on why the Wattpad phase actually never seems to end)
Alexa play “supercut” by Lorde, we need a soundtrack.
https://i.imgur.com/vRPMWip.jpeg
-Wynn “””smiles””” and Liam instantly spots that *shocking* she’s not happy! And that smile is a fake one!! :((
-Wynn is flabbergasted because apparently no one in twenty six years ever noticed that. Glad we have our derange- I mean dear Liam now.
- she refuses to eat and he basically forces her to (after previously ignoring her)
-she meets the mean-blonde-Regina George type of character, her name is Yelina. Yes, she’s exactly like every other cheerleader antagonist you’ve ever read about (+mental illness #characterization). No, she’s not actually relevant to the plot.
- Wynn dances under the rain
https://i.imgur.com/CjdrlMI.jpeg
Amongst these, we get a scene where Wynn looks at Liam’s phone and this happens:
“His phone dings again and a message icon pops up. Mom. Well, at least he talks to his mother. It’s more than I can say. My mother is dead and I don’t speak with my father, so he might as well be dead too.”
Girl- 💀 she’s that one friend who’s alway trying to one up you.
August 7, 2024
The most beautiful book I have ever read. I sobbed. 😭🫶🏼
Immediately getting my first tattoo & it will most certainly be for THIS book.
Immediately getting my first tattoo & it will most certainly be for THIS book.
January 30, 2024
incredibly surface level.
January 1, 2024
While this was an easy read I really wasn't a fan of the writing. I don't get why the author felt the need to remind us of Wynn's pink hair every other page?? Or that one time when Liam was wearing his heather grey sweater and Wynn commented about it like five times on a single page... Also the author seems like one of those people who makes drinking coffee their personality and yet she spelled espresso wrong 🫠 Anyway this isn't my reason for the 2 star rating, just a couple personal pet peeves with this book.
The story was all over the place, the 'unorthodox' rehab center was completely unrealistic, I get it's a book but I just felt that with discussing serious mental health disorders it should at least be somewhat grounded in reality. I didn't feel like we really got to know any of the main characters enough to build a connection with any of them. The romance plot was boring and felt like every other 'dark romance'. Though this really didn't feel like a dark romance to me, sure you throw in a few subjects that may be triggering for some, but it was very mild to me?? Idk maybe I'm fucked up? When I heard about this book people were saying it was darker than dark but I was severely unimpressed.
Anyway, WTF was that ending????... Spoiler warning
TLDR: I couldn't genuinely recommend this to anyone. Thankfully it was pretty short so I didn't waste too much time. But I'm glad this book is staying in 2023 for me and moving forward I will be avoiding this author, her writing clearly just isn't for me.
The story was all over the place, the 'unorthodox' rehab center was completely unrealistic, I get it's a book but I just felt that with discussing serious mental health disorders it should at least be somewhat grounded in reality. I didn't feel like we really got to know any of the main characters enough to build a connection with any of them. The romance plot was boring and felt like every other 'dark romance'. Though this really didn't feel like a dark romance to me, sure you throw in a few subjects that may be triggering for some, but it was very mild to me?? Idk maybe I'm fucked up? When I heard about this book people were saying it was darker than dark but I was severely unimpressed.
Anyway, WTF was that ending????... Spoiler warning
TLDR: I couldn't genuinely recommend this to anyone. Thankfully it was pretty short so I didn't waste too much time. But I'm glad this book is staying in 2023 for me and moving forward I will be avoiding this author, her writing clearly just isn't for me.
January 17, 2024
I didn’t cry once????? You people on TikTok we’re lying to me and telling me that this was a very depressing and soul crushing book and that I’m gonna be sobbing for hours. Bitch I was so excited! And just lies. All lies.
August 20, 2024
Oh dear, I really wanted to love this so much….but I DID NOT! Let me walk through what happened.
From the intro pages alone, I was so excited:
A book playlist
and
An exciting message:
For the broken ones who are in need of something dark, morbid, and beautiful.
At first glance I was like… YES! Me please! Me! But overall, this was so disappointing!
I devoured the first 50 pages during the first sitting thinking this would be a quick and captivating read. This is advertised as a twisty mystery with morally grey characters and an enemies to lovers trope, but it most definitely fell short.
Some things to expect:
❅Trigger warnings (with a huge focus on mental illness)*
❅Rainy, UNORTHODOX, mountain rehab center**
❅Spooky/autumn vibes
❅Some worthy spicy scenes
*It definitely brought back a lot of flashbacks of my own history with severe depression and lots of memories working in a Psych unit.
**Though I loved the idea of the setting in terms of the rainy mountains, I could not really get past the unorthodox part. It was just so wild to me and kept pulling me out of the story. As a former Psychiatric nurse who worked in a locked unit for many years, it was just way too far-fetched for my liking.
Perhaps I just wasn’t the right reader for this story. It just failed miserably to captivate the dark parts of my soul like I hoped it would. There were still some undyingly beautiful quotes that spoke to me, and I’ll definitely count it as a spooky-themed/autumn vibes read since Spooky Season officially started August 1st! 💀🎃
Around 40% in I really started to feel the DNF vibes creeping in. Things started feeling very disconnected and confusing. I only persisted with the hope it would blow me away with the ending since it got so many highly rated reviews. I was craving a good sob session and expected an emotionally shattering ending with bouts of sobbing, but I remained completely composed the entire time and had no reaction whatsoever. My face remained completely fresh and dry. 😐
The ending was so underwhelming and just a complete letdown because the plot was so weak and unjustified. The antagonist felt very off to me. The MMC's conflict and background made no sense at all to me which was frustrating considering the severity of his mental illness. The FMC’s background also made no sense in the context of her mental illness either. Very little explanation was revealed which made it all seem very annoying and immature. I’ll also never forget she had pink hair with the number of times the author stated it. 🙄
Anyway, I don’t know if all the irrelevance stems from the author’s lack of knowledge regarding mental illness and/or the ability to create a compelling story with complex characters that are both relatable and understandable or at least someone worthy of rooting for?? I also could not overlook the focus on another person being someone’s cure to mental illness. There is no cure for mental illness. It is chronic and exceedingly complex but treatable and manageable in most cases. It is actually a dangerous thought to have that someone will come along and save you from yourself….from your own mind. We are always alone in our minds.
Blatantly, I feel so cheated. There was a small single moment at one point I perceived one quote may possibly hint at a huge twist that would have made the ball drop and the book turn out to be quite sensational, but it did not happen. Nothing even close to that happened! I also did not feel anything for any of the characters and did not really care what happened to them by the time I reached the end. For a brief and very brief fleeting moment I thought aww it was sweet one of the characters did what he did especially since that character appears in the spin-off book. But then I questioned if I even cared enough to try to continue. At this time, I have decided not to pursue the next book and will reassess next year. If any simmering feelings resurface, I’ll go ahead and call it—postponed indefinitely!!
As I am maturing as a reader and gaining experience in a variety of genres, I am really learning what defines a good book to me and what it takes to blow me off my feet. I tend to do a lot of research via different forms before making my book selections, so it really frustrates me when a book still manages to fail me! This was one such rare case! Cheers to moving on and cutting my losses! 🍻
Overall Rating: 2.5 ☆
"The fabric of our souls is thin--we've been wandering this world just to unite in this small corner of the universe."
From the intro pages alone, I was so excited:
A book playlist
and
An exciting message:
For the broken ones who are in need of something dark, morbid, and beautiful.
At first glance I was like… YES! Me please! Me! But overall, this was so disappointing!
I devoured the first 50 pages during the first sitting thinking this would be a quick and captivating read. This is advertised as a twisty mystery with morally grey characters and an enemies to lovers trope, but it most definitely fell short.
Some things to expect:
❅Trigger warnings (with a huge focus on mental illness)*
❅Rainy, UNORTHODOX, mountain rehab center**
❅Spooky/autumn vibes
❅Some worthy spicy scenes
*It definitely brought back a lot of flashbacks of my own history with severe depression and lots of memories working in a Psych unit.
**Though I loved the idea of the setting in terms of the rainy mountains, I could not really get past the unorthodox part. It was just so wild to me and kept pulling me out of the story. As a former Psychiatric nurse who worked in a locked unit for many years, it was just way too far-fetched for my liking.
Perhaps I just wasn’t the right reader for this story. It just failed miserably to captivate the dark parts of my soul like I hoped it would. There were still some undyingly beautiful quotes that spoke to me, and I’ll definitely count it as a spooky-themed/autumn vibes read since Spooky Season officially started August 1st! 💀🎃
Around 40% in I really started to feel the DNF vibes creeping in. Things started feeling very disconnected and confusing. I only persisted with the hope it would blow me away with the ending since it got so many highly rated reviews. I was craving a good sob session and expected an emotionally shattering ending with bouts of sobbing, but I remained completely composed the entire time and had no reaction whatsoever. My face remained completely fresh and dry. 😐
The ending was so underwhelming and just a complete letdown because the plot was so weak and unjustified. The antagonist felt very off to me. The MMC's conflict and background made no sense at all to me which was frustrating considering the severity of his mental illness. The FMC’s background also made no sense in the context of her mental illness either. Very little explanation was revealed which made it all seem very annoying and immature. I’ll also never forget she had pink hair with the number of times the author stated it. 🙄
Anyway, I don’t know if all the irrelevance stems from the author’s lack of knowledge regarding mental illness and/or the ability to create a compelling story with complex characters that are both relatable and understandable or at least someone worthy of rooting for?? I also could not overlook the focus on another person being someone’s cure to mental illness. There is no cure for mental illness. It is chronic and exceedingly complex but treatable and manageable in most cases. It is actually a dangerous thought to have that someone will come along and save you from yourself….from your own mind. We are always alone in our minds.
Blatantly, I feel so cheated. There was a small single moment at one point I perceived one quote may possibly hint at a huge twist that would have made the ball drop and the book turn out to be quite sensational, but it did not happen. Nothing even close to that happened! I also did not feel anything for any of the characters and did not really care what happened to them by the time I reached the end. For a brief and very brief fleeting moment I thought aww it was sweet one of the characters did what he did especially since that character appears in the spin-off book. But then I questioned if I even cared enough to try to continue. At this time, I have decided not to pursue the next book and will reassess next year. If any simmering feelings resurface, I’ll go ahead and call it—postponed indefinitely!!
As I am maturing as a reader and gaining experience in a variety of genres, I am really learning what defines a good book to me and what it takes to blow me off my feet. I tend to do a lot of research via different forms before making my book selections, so it really frustrates me when a book still manages to fail me! This was one such rare case! Cheers to moving on and cutting my losses! 🍻
Overall Rating: 2.5 ☆
"The fabric of our souls is thin--we've been wandering this world just to unite in this small corner of the universe."
June 23, 2024
Re-read June 2024
I still love this book with my entire heart. I still do not have the words to describe my thoughts. Liam, Wynn and Lanston will always have a safe place in my heart ❤️ If you need a book that will make you cry, this is it.
“The Fabric of our Souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.”
__________________________
Original review: Nov. 2023
** First, I want to thank the author for allowing me to receive an ARC copy of the book for an honest review **
Disclaimer Your mental health matters❤️ please check the TWs before reading this book.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
“I think next time you should wait”…
“What if waiting doesn’t work?”
“You let me know and I’ll hold you until the darkness fades.”
I am struggling to put my thoughts into words worthy of this book. This was devastatingly beautiful; it shattered my soul while simultaneously stitching me back together. I laughed. I cried. I gasped. And I was reminded of the beauty of life, compassion, and friendship. I saw pieces of me intertwined with the characters and fell so in love with their journey as it reminded me so much of my own.
Wynn is 26, has a bad heart, and wants to die. Liam yearns to feel an ounce of the emotions Wynn does. Wynn checks into an unorthodox rehab facility where she is roomed with Liam and meets Lanston. The story follows the trio's journey of healing and finding their own "cure", remedium meum through love and friendship. The book has a mystery subplot which only adds to the overall depth of the story. The writing was incredible and I felt the character's pain as if it was my own.
"When you look at me, I feel like I can shatter into a thousand birds and just… fly. You set my soul free from the chains I keep wrapped around my shoulders.”
I still love this book with my entire heart. I still do not have the words to describe my thoughts. Liam, Wynn and Lanston will always have a safe place in my heart ❤️ If you need a book that will make you cry, this is it.
“The Fabric of our Souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.”
__________________________
Original review: Nov. 2023
** First, I want to thank the author for allowing me to receive an ARC copy of the book for an honest review **
Disclaimer Your mental health matters❤️ please check the TWs before reading this book.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
“I think next time you should wait”…
“What if waiting doesn’t work?”
“You let me know and I’ll hold you until the darkness fades.”
I am struggling to put my thoughts into words worthy of this book. This was devastatingly beautiful; it shattered my soul while simultaneously stitching me back together. I laughed. I cried. I gasped. And I was reminded of the beauty of life, compassion, and friendship. I saw pieces of me intertwined with the characters and fell so in love with their journey as it reminded me so much of my own.
Wynn is 26, has a bad heart, and wants to die. Liam yearns to feel an ounce of the emotions Wynn does. Wynn checks into an unorthodox rehab facility where she is roomed with Liam and meets Lanston. The story follows the trio's journey of healing and finding their own "cure", remedium meum through love and friendship. The book has a mystery subplot which only adds to the overall depth of the story. The writing was incredible and I felt the character's pain as if it was my own.
"When you look at me, I feel like I can shatter into a thousand birds and just… fly. You set my soul free from the chains I keep wrapped around my shoulders.”
August 9, 2024
Дуже сподобалась мені ця книжка, правда на початку трішки Ліам підбішував, але то таке. Було дуже цікаво читати про реабілітаційний центр та його жителів. І як швидко Ліам, Вінн та Ленстон стали кращими друзями. І я ненавиджу більше за все в книжках те, що вбивають адекватних та улюблених персонажів. От просто НАВІЩО ВИ ЦЕ РОБИТЕ??? Під кінець плакала, бо так вбити Ленстона ще треба вміти. Хоча теоретично 2 книжка ж про нього, і його загробне життя. Мати Ліама треба саму було покласти в якусь психлікарню, бо винити сина в смерті його брата, бажати, щоб другий брат над ним знущався, ну для мене важко назвати таку жінку матер'ю. А взагалі стосунки між Вінн та Ліамом більш менш були нормальними, я очікувала від цієї книжки якогось трешу, крім чокнутого брата Ліама, підпалу центра, смерті його пацієнтів, майже смерті Ліама та Вінн, смерті Ленстона та Єліни(вона теж була на другорядній ролі) я не побачила нічого такого, а очікувала наприклад згвалтування, або якесь жорстке знущання, ну щось таке трешове, а тут все більш менш нормальне.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2024
Terrific mental health romance!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤💜🩵❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☺️😊🙃😁🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Wyn Coldfox - she is looked at as cold-hearted by her loved ones. She literally has a bad heart, as well. She is 26 years old and there is a darkness inside her. People call her a miserable witch and other nasty things. Her therapists don’t understand why she is so messed up. Wyn was just done with it all and tried to kill herself. Her brother James could not understand why she couldn’t just “not be like this,” though it wasn’t like she wanted to be how she was. James loves her thought and doesn’t want to lose her. She is his only family he has left.
The Hero: Liam Waters - he wants to feel alive. He is a masochist and uses pain to feel alive. He cuts himself to feel pain. He thinks it’s disgusting that Wyn doesn’t want to live. He met her initially in the hospital, while pretending to be a male nurse. He gave her a gift and a tip on what to do if she feels so down again.
The story: After Wyn’s suicide attempt, James puts Win in a rehabilitation institute, called Harlow Sanctum for therapy. He decides on a non-traditional rehabilitation place that has a high success rate for curing people like Win. She is not happy about it, thinking that a cure is a remote possibility. Harlow Sanctum tries to room its inmates together based on their diagnosis, two people who may be able to help each other. Wyn is surprised to see that Liam is her roommate.
This story was incredibly good. There was a mystery in that some inmates from years before had disappeared and nobody knew what happened to them. Not even the staff. It was all connected to a man named Crosby, who was Liams roommate before Wyn. The world building and character development were great. I loved all the characters, including Lanston, the guy who also wanted to kill himself, so he had something in common with Wyn, and he was friends with Liam.
This audiobook was told in two points of view via duet narration and was narrated by Isabelle Turner and Walker Williams. Isabelle Turner has a clear, pleasant voice and has a natural sounding narration style. Walker Williams does not fit the character. Liam is cruel, handsome, muscular, and tattooed, and Walker Williams has a soft voice for a man. I expected a deeper voice for Liam.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚🖤💜🩵❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: ☺️😊🙃😁🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration
The heroine: Wyn Coldfox - she is looked at as cold-hearted by her loved ones. She literally has a bad heart, as well. She is 26 years old and there is a darkness inside her. People call her a miserable witch and other nasty things. Her therapists don’t understand why she is so messed up. Wyn was just done with it all and tried to kill herself. Her brother James could not understand why she couldn’t just “not be like this,” though it wasn’t like she wanted to be how she was. James loves her thought and doesn’t want to lose her. She is his only family he has left.
The Hero: Liam Waters - he wants to feel alive. He is a masochist and uses pain to feel alive. He cuts himself to feel pain. He thinks it’s disgusting that Wyn doesn’t want to live. He met her initially in the hospital, while pretending to be a male nurse. He gave her a gift and a tip on what to do if she feels so down again.
The story: After Wyn’s suicide attempt, James puts Win in a rehabilitation institute, called Harlow Sanctum for therapy. He decides on a non-traditional rehabilitation place that has a high success rate for curing people like Win. She is not happy about it, thinking that a cure is a remote possibility. Harlow Sanctum tries to room its inmates together based on their diagnosis, two people who may be able to help each other. Wyn is surprised to see that Liam is her roommate.
This story was incredibly good. There was a mystery in that some inmates from years before had disappeared and nobody knew what happened to them. Not even the staff. It was all connected to a man named Crosby, who was Liams roommate before Wyn. The world building and character development were great. I loved all the characters, including Lanston, the guy who also wanted to kill himself, so he had something in common with Wyn, and he was friends with Liam.
This audiobook was told in two points of view via duet narration and was narrated by Isabelle Turner and Walker Williams. Isabelle Turner has a clear, pleasant voice and has a natural sounding narration style. Walker Williams does not fit the character. Liam is cruel, handsome, muscular, and tattooed, and Walker Williams has a soft voice for a man. I expected a deeper voice for Liam.
“You should wait… and it doesn’t have to be for anything specific. I’m just saying—wait for the weight of the world to pass. Wait until the tremors that wrack through your skull drift into the depths again. Wait until the sun rises, and the light makes you feel a little less pointless.”
“Her mind is her worst enemy and love might be too overbearing on fabric as thin as hers.”
“Yeah, her soul is like chiffon, with plenty of tattered rips and tears. The fabric of our souls is thin and worn. We must be gentle and love tirelessly.”
“The fabric of our souls is thin—we’ve been wandering this world just to unite in this small corner of the universe. Our connection is frightening and enchanting all at once.”
“Don’t think for a second that I like you. You’re just a guy with a dick, it happens to be Friday night, and I’m horny.”
“I shouldn’t be entertaining his attention, but I can’t help it. Liam’s rage is the kind that simmers your flesh until you can no longer stand it. His gaze so filled with lust that it reduces your sanity to nothing more than desire.”
“I was born with a bad heart—literally and figuratively. But you gave your heart to me, and because of you, I will live. Because of you, I will never take my life for granted ever again.”
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January 3, 2024
4.5 stars
The Fabric of Our Souls follows Wynn, a woman who wants to end her life, and Liam, a masochist who feels the need to be punished for his sins. They both are placed at Harlow Sanctum, an unorthodox mental institution, and are being treated for their mental illness. But, things aren't as they seem at Harlow Sanctum. Weird things have happened in the past, people have gone missing, and Wynn wants to find out what happened and why.
I went into this book not knowing it was a dark romance thriller, but I was pleasantly surprised by that. The romance was so raw and genuine between Liam and Wynn. Don't even get me started on the spice, Liam's mouth had me blushing. The mental health representation throughout this entire book was wonderful. It broke my heart multiple times to hear what these characters have gone through.
The plot twists are ones that I definitely didn't see coming, and made perfect sense to the entire story, in my opinion. I was gasping, yelling, and crying by the time I reached the epilogue.
I will now be adding more books by this author to my TBR for this year. I loved how emotional her writing made me feel.
What a great book to start off 2024 with!
The Fabric of Our Souls follows Wynn, a woman who wants to end her life, and Liam, a masochist who feels the need to be punished for his sins. They both are placed at Harlow Sanctum, an unorthodox mental institution, and are being treated for their mental illness. But, things aren't as they seem at Harlow Sanctum. Weird things have happened in the past, people have gone missing, and Wynn wants to find out what happened and why.
I went into this book not knowing it was a dark romance thriller, but I was pleasantly surprised by that. The romance was so raw and genuine between Liam and Wynn. Don't even get me started on the spice, Liam's mouth had me blushing. The mental health representation throughout this entire book was wonderful. It broke my heart multiple times to hear what these characters have gone through.
The plot twists are ones that I definitely didn't see coming, and made perfect sense to the entire story, in my opinion. I was gasping, yelling, and crying by the time I reached the epilogue.
I will now be adding more books by this author to my TBR for this year. I loved how emotional her writing made me feel.
What a great book to start off 2024 with!
January 12, 2024
I’m having a hard time understanding the high ratings for this book. Maybe I’m just really fucked in the head cuz I was expecting a lot worse after reading the content warnings. I was intrigued by the mental health aspect and the reviews of this but I was really underwhelmed. The character development was very minimal and I couldn’t figure out what kind of book I was reading. It says thriller but the only thrill I got was finishing the last page LOL. I think this had the potential to be really good but it just… wasn’t. I believe the author was reimagining her own struggles into a world of romanticizing mental illness that helps her cope, seeing as her author note was nearly identical to the personality of the FMC. I hope this helped her through her struggles, honestly. I know writing can be so beneficial in that way. As weird as it feels to say this, I think that if I were in a worse off place mentally, say 4 years ago, I could’ve enjoyed this more.
January 4, 2024
good lord.
pretty sure i read this in 2014 on wattpad but it was dan and phil instead of liam and lanston
pretty sure i read this in 2014 on wattpad but it was dan and phil instead of liam and lanston
January 8, 2024
This book just shattered my heart and healed it at the same time! If I could give it more than 5 ⭐️s I would! A beautiful and breathtaking story of mental health and love! We are lucky enough to find books along our reading journey that change the way we look at things and this was one of those pieces for me🫶🏼❤️
February 18, 2024
Booktok failed me again.
April 22, 2024
4/5
Дуже незвичний і атмосферний романтичний трилер
Історія про хлопця мазохіста і дівчину яка хоче покінчити життя самогубством.
Головні герої відправляються на лікування в реабілітаційний центр з доволі нетрадиційною методикою лікування. Пацієнтів заселяють в кімнати так, щоб вони підходили один одному і були частиною одужання один одного. "Remedium meum - мої ліки".
Так Ліам і Вінн стають сусідами по кімнаті.
Їхні стосунки розвивалися доволі стрімко, хімія між ними прям палала, в один момент вони б'ються, а через хвилину вже тра*аються. Я сміялася до сліз з їхніх взаємодій. Сподобалося, як вони підтримували і турбувалися один про одного. Але, чесно кажучи, Ліам моментами мене лякав😂, добре, що були розділи від його імені, інакше, я б думала, що він зовсім не в собі😂.
Не обійшлося й без несподіваних сюжетних поворотів, деякі були очікуваними, від інших я знатно охриніла і вмилася сльозами. Це було дуже боляче💔💔💔
З мінусів, мені не вистачило розкриття ми��улого головних героїв та і другорядних теж. Хотілося більше дізнатися про те що спонукало Вінн до самогубства, заглянути в її спогади, її дитинство, так само про Ліама, хоча його історію нам розкрили набагато краще ніж Вінн, але хотілося ще.
І Ленстон. Ця чудова людина заслуговує на те, щоб знати про нього більше, ніж ті крихти інформації, що нам дали.
Але в цілому мені сподобалося, я такого ще не читала, тому це був дуже цікавий досвід
Дуже незвичний і атмосферний романтичний трилер
Історія про хлопця мазохіста і дівчину яка хоче покінчити життя самогубством.
Головні герої відправляються на лікування в реабілітаційний центр з доволі нетрадиційною методикою лікування. Пацієнтів заселяють в кімнати так, щоб вони підходили один одному і були частиною одужання один одного. "Remedium meum - мої ліки".
Так Ліам і Вінн стають сусідами по кімнаті.
Їхні стосунки розвивалися доволі стрімко, хімія між ними прям палала, в один момент вони б'ються, а через хвилину вже тра*аються. Я сміялася до сліз з їхніх взаємодій. Сподобалося, як вони підтримували і турбувалися один про одного. Але, чесно кажучи, Ліам моментами мене лякав😂, добре, що були розділи від його імені, інакше, я б думала, що він зовсім не в собі😂.
Не обійшлося й без несподіваних сюжетних поворотів, деякі були очікуваними, від інших я знатно охриніла і вмилася сльозами. Це було дуже боляче💔💔💔
З мінусів, мені не вистачило розкриття ми��улого головних героїв та і другорядних теж. Хотілося більше дізнатися про те що спонукало Вінн до самогубства, заглянути в її спогади, її дитинство, так само про Ліама, хоча його історію нам розкрили набагато краще ніж Вінн, але хотілося ще.
І Ленстон. Ця чудова людина заслуговує на те, щоб знати про нього більше, ніж ті крихти інформації, що нам дали.
Але в цілому мені сподобалося, я такого ще не читала, тому це був дуже цікавий досвід
January 12, 2024
I have never wanted to DNF a book more but my toxic trait is that I simply cannot
August 12, 2024
Настільки болюча і прекрасна історія🥺💔
Вінн і Ліам дві зломленні душі, які опинились в психлікарні
В них обох важке минуле, Вінн після спроби самогубства за проханням брата погоджується на лікування
Ліам через провину робить собі боляче, ріже себе постійно
Книга з багатьма тригерами тому тут читайте дуже обережно
Я в свою чергу перший раз про таке читаю, і мені дуже сподобалось😻 навіть можу сказати шо захоплююсь ними і їхньою історією
В мене склалось враження, що я сама там перебуваю і проходжу це все з ними
Ну настільки авторка захоплююче навіть травмуюче писала😍
Не обійшлось і без спайсі сцен а вони були дуже і дуже гарячими
Не вистачило тільки більше опису або розділів з їх минулого, про Ліама ми дізнались набагато більше ніж про Вінн
Останні напевно 5 розділів були дуже болючі 🥺💔
А от останній розділ і епілог був дуже милим
Як же я рада за них😍 стільки всього бідні пережили але заслужили на своє щастя!
Бачила ще є книга про Ленстона тому буду продовжувати читати
Ну а книгу однозначно рекомендую!
Але читайте тригери спочатку!
Вінн і Ліам дві зломленні душі, які опинились в психлікарні
В них обох важке минуле, Вінн після спроби самогубства за проханням брата погоджується на лікування
Ліам через провину робить собі боляче, ріже себе постійно
Книга з багатьма тригерами тому тут читайте дуже обережно
Я в свою чергу перший раз про таке читаю, і мені дуже сподобалось😻 навіть можу сказати шо захоплююсь ними і їхньою історією
В мене склалось враження, що я сама там перебуваю і проходжу це все з ними
Ну настільки авторка захоплююче навіть травмуюче писала😍
Не обійшлось і без спайсі сцен а вони були дуже і дуже гарячими
Не вистачило тільки більше опису або розділів з їх минулого, про Ліама ми дізнались набагато більше ніж про Вінн
Останні напевно 5 розділів були дуже болючі 🥺💔
А от останній розділ і епілог був дуже милим
Як же я рада за них😍 стільки всього бідні пережили але заслужили на своє щастя!
Бачила ще є книга про Ленстона тому буду продовжувати читати
Ну а книгу однозначно рекомендую!
Але читайте тригери спочатку!
September 24, 2024
Well, that unexpectedly shattered me. It's one of the few books I regret reading blindly because I had no clue what this story was going to be about. I was originally just drawn to the title and cover art. It's beautifully tragic with a surprise mystery plot twist. 💔❤️🩹🥹 Highly recommend it if you are okay with the TWs. The last few chapters nearly broke my heart.
I am leaving this at 4 stars for now until I have some time to digest it.
I am leaving this at 4 stars for now until I have some time to digest it.
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