𝕸𝖞 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝕬𝖗𝖗𝖔𝖜 𝖇𝖞 𝕾𝖆𝖋𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖓 𝕬. 𝕶𝖊𝖓𝖙
THIS BOOK!!
I think this has been the most difficult book to rate. I was originally gonna go with 3 stars... But it didn't seem fair, not after the second half of the book and that heart-melting extended epilogue.
Okay...There will be SPOILERS SPRINKLED ALL OVER THIS REVIEW.
To start off...
High school/college romances have lost that spark for me after I finished reading the After series by Anna Todd because nothing like it...in spite of being in high school myself. They don't have that rawness that I need in a good romance novel and I will say this, I was quite apprehensive about starting this book..but BOY WAS I WRONG! I DEVOURED THIS BOOK.
I felt an array of emotions with this one. From Cringe to Awe...I have felt it all...ALL!
The first half of the book just didn't do it for me. HOWEVER, THE WAY THINGS ESCALATED IN THE SECOND HALF HAD ME WANTING TO GET TO THE END OF THE BOOK ASAP. I was hooked and I just wanted to know what's going next. I couldn't put this book down, even after its flaws... I think that is why these characters seemed so real, but dramatic at the same time. Saffron's writing, people!!! *CHEF'S KISSES*
Salem's character was fabulous. I loved her strength. Being in doomed love is not something for the faint hearts. Enduring it for so long may seem to make her stupid...but only the one living that life understands the pain. Her being called a "bad-girl" when she was nothing like it. Breaking rules does not make you bad by default. I LOVED HOW SHE WANTED TO BE THERE FOR HIM... THAT'S WHAT TRUE LOVE SHOULD BE. You go that extra mile for them.
× I didn't understand her love for Arrow. It was more like an obsession. Although I did understand her pain, her longing to be loved...I understood her feelings and situation but I did not get that INTENSITY OF HER LOVE. I don't know how she fell for a guy who NEVER gave spared her a second glance. Her so-called " eight-year-long" love did not have a strong foundation. There was no reason...it was blind love. Her naivety was definitely at its peak. Okay, I understand that when you sit and eat and sleep in the vicinity of the guy that's got you all flustered, it's hard to let go of the feelings. It's hard to not feel heartbroken and for that, I do sympathize with Salem. She shouldn't be treated that way her sister or Arrow, or even Leah for that matter.
× Let's be honest...Arrow didn't do anything to gain that spotlight in Salem's eyes. He wasn't anything like she described him to be. But again, that was kind of what the story was based on. But still...Arrow just barged into her life and exhibited the kind of possessiveness that you don't show over somebody you barely know. I DID NOT LIKE THE GUY IN THE FIRST 50% OF THE BOOK. That humiliation, that constant poking was unnecessary. He was taking out his frustrations on her. A major minus point for Arrow. He proved that he's an asshole when he asked Salem to become his rebound girl. His distraction. To take revenge on her sister. That's the lowest somebody can go. What a class-A ass. He was portrayed as The Alpha Male that he wasn't. Yes, he was possessive...but he wasn't Alpha by any means. Salem is a little too much with her expression sometimes.
× The fact that Salem had no life outside Arrow. She kept pinning over her. She had no hobby that she could call her own. Even Soccer was not something she played because it was HER FAVOURITE. She played because she loved EVERYTHING ARROW.
× I was expecting a deep dive into the lives of the girls because Salem's never had friends, but that didn't happen. I was sooooo disappointed. I really wanted to see the in and outs of their friendship...not just their miraculous appearance when she was in trouble or when they were sneaking out. There was so much potential there. The fact that the series is based on St. Mary's Rebels should be more than just their individual love stories.
× I DID NOT LIKE THE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MONOLOGUES SALEM HAD WITH HERSELF. I mean...if they were about herself...it would have been a little more tolerable..but No! THOSE MONOLOGUES WERE ONLY ABOUT ARROW. She went on and on about Arrow's sharp jawline and his edged cheekbones and his eyes and hair and all that jazz. I am like stopppp! I get that he is PERFECT!! STOP EXAGGERATING.
× I didn't like that here were just so few moments SHOWN TO US READERS. Like Salem would say Arrow did this...he did that...but we never witnessed it! You know? I wanted to read those moments...not just hear about them. Things in high school romances happen in the blink of an eye. In fact, they don't happen at all. They are just TOLD. Not witnessed. Weird. It's unsettling.
NOW, LET'S DIVE INTO THE AMAZING PARTS OF THIS BOOK!
× oh gosh... I love Salem for loving the guy unconditionally... Not many people can do that. The strength she has! It's like none other. I genuinely think Salem has got it all wrong in her head. I don't think she fell for Arrow's perfection. She fell in love with the love she thought he had for Sarah. She fell in love with the idea of it, she fell in love with a dream where Arrow, or anybody for that matter, would look at her the way Arrow looked at Sarah. Salem is living in fear that one day her love for him will make her do the unthinkable. Witchy. It's been so hard for her to hide her emotions for this long. Almost to an extent where keeping emotions hidden seemed much easier than expressing them. It's so hard. I understand her.
× The way she tames Arrow. She would grab his face and claim her rights...just so she could comfort Arrow....my heart exploded.
× 1 point to Arrow. I liked that he flipped at Sarah and announced his assholery, saying that he liked being one, liked the 'slap' that he earned with that asshole territory. The fact that he was at his favorite spot, under Salem's bedroom window, gained him some, much required, respect from my end.
× THE LETTER CONCEPT... I loved how Arrow fell in love with her 10x more than before cuz of the letters.
× I did like Arrow when I started understanding things from his point of view. His messy life. I just loved how leaned on Salem. I loved watching him be so vulnerable. He definitely redeemed himself in the second half of the book. His toxic possessiveness turned into this beautiful love and craving for Salem. He couldn't live without her.
× I love it when Salem doesn't take Arrow's bullshit. She gets all pissy.
× Don't even get me started on that sexual tension. That sex was amazing. I won't lie... The guy knew what he was doing...I could feel the flutters in my belly. I didn't think high school romances could have so much sex. Lol. But since it was an age gap...so it's understandable.
× That extended epilogue...it won me over...I had to push up the rating. I was giggling and I just love how imperfect their relationship is!! They fight like normal couples!! What's cuter than that! Huh! It's not like that stupid HEA where there is no friction and only laughter... it's not true. This story was about how Salem accepted Arrow even after his flaws and everything. She loved him for his FLAWS. MY HEART...IT MELTED.
This is my first Saffron Kent book and I was not disappointed! The main reason I wanted to read this book was that I wanted to get to the second book AGV, so I thought...why not read the first one...CZ I end always read companion novel series in a jumbled order and don't enjoy the world as much as it deserved to be loved. HER WRITING IS SO SO SO GOOD! I don't think I have read many from Indian Romance authors...and as an Indian...I just had to read this one! Hehe. Plus the Lipstick Guide and the Atlas!! Uff...I am a sucker for aesthetics. ”
Check out this link for the e-book version: My Darling Arrow: (#1 St.Mary's Rebels)
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