Title: Rivals
Author: Jessica Myel
Release Date: December 28, 2023
Genre: Dark Romance (not taboo) 18+
Tropes: Dark Romance, First Love, Enemies to Lovers, Hurt/Comfort, Will burn the world down for her, Mental Health Rep, Academic Rivals

Lachlan
I chose not to let it kill me by making my own way against the wishes of my father and his empire. The meaning of love changed when he decided I no longer existed. But I learned a new definition the moment I was forced to work with my rival. She saw the shattered little boy alone in the dark and I saw a woman born in it.
Revna
I chose to let it consume me. I had nothing and no one. Art is the one thing that is mine. Life is full of choices, sometimes we don’t know the good from the bad, and I couldn’t tell the difference through my drug-colored glasses. I survived in the dark for so long that I had forgotten to look for the light. But everything changed when I had no choice but to work with the man who had become my rival. I've never used the word love towards anyone, because no one had ever deserved it. And I never thought I would give it to the person I hate the most.
But together, we would find a way to walk to the light.
Cat gives this Book 5 Meows with a 4 Purr heat index...
Hi Y’all! Come in and grab a blueberry muffin or bagel while I tell you about this book I just read.
The title is Rivals by Jessica Myelle. The cover is intriguing. Then I read the blurb and it really got my interest because; enemies to lovers and dark romance sounded good.
Who’s my favorite main character? Hard to choose here since this is very character driven and deep into both characters. For me Lachlan took a slight edge. Yeah I like a dark broody but caring male MC.
Was there another character I loved and why? Not really. This story focus on the two main characters mostly and other characters are just small glimpses. I did like Betty, Revna's boss.
The story has a couple settings. At first college, the mostly Lachlan's apartment, a museum, a few buildings for architecture and Italy. each setting is very important to the artistic side of the story.
The story is a gripping dark romance with lots of heat. There is lots of hatred and anger, and self loathing.
Were there significant plot twists and turns? Some but the story is more character driven than it driven but it does keep you on your toes.
My only issue is this book is very long. The length doesn't bother me that much I just felt a little could be skimmed and not hurt the story as especially towards beginning there was some repetition. Tightening would help and wouldn't shorten it a lot but I think would made the story a little smoother.
I loved the ending. It was a hard win and satisfying HEA. If you like dark stories, enemies to lovers, art, forced proximity and lots of heat this is for you.
There are some trigger warnings mentioned so if violence, drug use, rape (off page and more attempted and not by MC), graphic attempted suicide and rage (me ruined off page child abuse) bothers you, skip this one or read with caution (read authors warnings carefully before beginning).

Jessica was born and raised in the Midwest. After acquiring a bachelor's in Marketingand a Masters in Biblical Studies many years later she realized her calling was writing.Her passion for words and finding her voice creates deep and emotional writing. She strives to talk about the hard things of life, such as depression, abuse and it’s many forms. In her first book Between the Threads she works through her past, her present and her future. When she's not writing she's drinking matcha, coffee, or both with her head buried in a book.
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