Why I continue to read these books, I only sort of know. I liked the familial dynamics in the first series, and in the earlier ones in these books, that was still part of what kept me coming back to these, despite REALLY not being the target audience (very much mostly a specific kind of straight woman, I’m almost positive). That said, despite constantly rolling my eyes, cringing, or just saying out loud “oh pls stop I hate this” there IS something that keeps me picking up these books. I could have given up at any moment, and yet I read each new one. I’ve stopped giving a shit as to why. I do not get embarrassed by enjoying really any piece of media anymore. I don’t believe in guilty pleasures or whatever.

THAT SAID, I do roll my eyes and cringe at these with increasing frequency. What I want these books to be and what they are in reality differs and I’ve mostly accepted that and gotten over it, and yet I STILL find myself going “again, really?”

These books are meant to bring out the fantasy of a hulking, absolutely hung, feminist man with which to project your fantastical romance on. And that’s fine! Go straight (and bi) women, you deserve that. HOWEVER it gets sooo repetitive and especially after ten books in this second series alone, I find myself reaaaally wishing to have more of other side characters rather than yet another bodyguard romance. (This from someone who enjoys and appreciates the bodyguard romance trope! But!! Over and over again, with the same family, it gets old now matter how you try to spin different life into it).

In this one in particular, I would have LOVED to see more of Sulli and Jane’s relationship. The poly romance of these chapter of the series WAS a nice shift and interestingly explored dynamics, but as pretty much always with these series, I wanted so much more of the scenes with the families to be showed instead of yet another sex scene or another “whoops we’re having a baby and my boyfriend is Older and More experienced than me” that shows up in basically every one. That is however with me very much knowing that these books aren’t really for me, but is a bummer when you can see actual potential for interesting stuff that just gets a single sentence mention and then glossed over for something else. That said, at this point, I’m i it for the long haul, I’ve read all the others, I’m going to just read them all and enjoy them for what they are. Not great, but has something that draws me to them anyway. And that’s something, at least. ( )