When I first saw LJ's announcement of a new series, I was thrilled (hello, three books in one calendar year? HELL YES) and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Getting to read it early thanks to Butterfly PR? YEAR MADE! Unsurprisingly, the moment this bad boy was loaded to my kindle, I dove in and finished in one. Sitting.
Like every other LJ Shen book that has come before Ruthless Rival , there was no doubt in my mind that I would fall in love with its story and the beautifully complex characters that reside within it.
Christian Miller was a surprisingly lovable character, and though he gave off the classic LJ alpha hole vibes, I felt that he was one of her more relatable/understandable male MC's and I absolutely loved the constant torn feeling of juggling between wanting to kiss and slap the man. Arya was equally as fun and infuriating at times, and between these two characters, I most enjoyed the delicious banter and pining.
Where Ruthless Rival stands apart from all the LJ Shen stories that came before it, is the heavyset angst and the anchor that Atonement serves for the tale. In a lot of ways, Ruthless Rival feels like a twisted reimagining of the Ian McEwan classic, but in the best way possible. I loved the mirror between Cecilia and Robbie and Arya and Christian, and how beloved the story was to Arya as a character and a person.
For those who are fans of the book of Keira Knightley movie version, Ruthless Rival in a way almost feels like the type of story (and inevitably, ending) that Cecilia and Robbie deserved. This alone brought me such joy that I immediately threw on the film afterwards, only to send myself into a depressive spiral.
Anyone who considers themselves a diehard fan of LJ Shen's classic witty banter, angsty romance, and maddeningly lovable alphaholes will find Ruthless Rival to be another achingly blissful read to add to their LJ shrine.
Comments