This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
He has a heart of ice…but for her, he’d burn the world.
Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and cursed with a past he can’t escape.
Driven by a tragedy that has haunted him for most of his life, his ruthless pursuits for success and vengeance leave little room for matters of the heart.
But when he’s forced to look after his best friend’s sister, he starts to feel something in his chest:
A crack.
A melt.
A fire that could end his world as he knew it.
***
Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember.
But despite her broken past, she’s never stopped seeing the beauty in the world…including the heart beneath the icy exterior of a man she shouldn’t want.
Her brother’s best friend.
Her neighbor.
Her savior and her downfall.
Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen-but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both…and everything they hold dear.
Twisted Love is a brother’s best friend/opposites attract romance with a hint of suspense. It’s book one in the Twisted series but can be read as a standalone.
I’d do anything for you. No matter how twisted or impossible.
My Review
First Impressions
Twisted Love is the first book in the Twisted series and this is also my first journey into this author’s writing and I had a blast with this one here. I actually was able to read from the “special edition” cover which I found at B&N. The store was having a deal on this book and the second book and while I would have preferred the other cover, these editions are quite beautiful in their own way. I was quite intrigued by this series as this has been all over bookstagram especially and I have been wanting to get more new adult contemporary under my belt. This book was so different than anything that I was expecting, it had content that I would have expected from a different kind of contemporary than what I got the vibe from the blurb. It definitely has a more edgy feel to it. But I really loved the type of story that we received here and I am eager to read more of this series.
Summary
The story starts off with our heroine, Ava Chen, who has known Alex Volkov for years as he is her brother’s best friend. When she gets stranded, her brother has Alex pick her up which begins a relationship between them. Ava’s brothers has just left the county and now Alex has moved in next door, and is out to protect her even against herself at times. Ava doesn’t care too much for Alex as he is overbearing and rude but she senses that there is more to him than alpha arrogance and is determined to prove that he can be human. As Ava goes about trying to get a reaction out of Alex, there is a chemistry that builds between herself and Alex. She and Alex knows how forbidden a love match between them can be. But she is also aware that their relationship is taking a turn that neither of them expected. As a slow-building romance forms between Alex and Ava, there is also more secrets building around them, and the secrets once revealed may threaten everything that they hold most dear. But there are times when love is powerful enough to conquer it all.
You have a multilayered heart, Alex. A heart of gold encased in a heart of ice.
What I Loved
Twisted Love was such a unique set up and I do love the best friend sibling trope, I always have so much fun with it. It definitely was quite entertaining in this one here. I was intrigued by what is revealed and what we see happen between the characters. There is also quite a bit of angst, especially in the first half, but lately, I have really been loving the enemies-to-lovers trope and so the angst that is between them really worked for me. I found it so interesting how they get together because no two people could be more opposite from each other. But in the end, it really worked. The hero is so alpha and arrogant but he does have a dark side to him that is so secretive and it offers a bit of a more edgy feel to the story. So for dark romance lovers, this story will also satisfy your appetites haha I really loved the Grumpy Sunshine feel to the story. The heroine, Ava, is quite a winsome character. She is always looking for the good in everyone and is a “glass half full” type of personality. The good that she sees in Alex is really beautiful. The chemistry between Alex and Ava is off the charts. I really enjoyed what they build in their relationship. So many beautiful moments are filtered into the story. The sex is smokin’ just fair warning, lots of dirty talk, and a small dose of humiliation kink. But I have found when written well, it works for me.
“I’m not an easy person to love.” “Good thing I never cared much about taking the easy road.” I sat up straight and looked him straight in the eyes. “You are cold and infuriating and, I admit, a little scary. But you are also patient and supportive and brilliant. You inspire me to chase my dreams and drive away my nightmares. You are everything I didn’t know I needed, and you make me feel safer than anyone else on the planet.” I took a deep breath. “What I’m trying to say—again—is, I love you, Alex Volkov. Every part of you, even the parts I want to slap.”
What I Struggled With
There wasn’t anything too much, I think the pacing was a bit off for me. It wasn’t completely smooth all the way through.
Overall View
Twisted Love is an angsty love fest that is pure decadence, it has sexy vibes, strong yet vulnerable characters, and a romance you will be completely invested in! A POWDER KEG OF A ROMANCE!
Then someone came into my life and upended everything I thought I knew. She was everything I wasn’t—pure-hearted, trusting, optimistic. She showed me the beauty that existed in this world, and through her, I learned the power of faith. Joy. Love. But I’m afraid I’ve tainted her with my untruths, and I’m hoping, with all of my heart, that one day she’ll find her way out of the darkness and into the light again.”
Title: Twisted Love
Author: Ana Huang
Genre: Contemporary/New Adult Romance
Format: Trade Paperback & eBook
Source: Owned/TBR
Length: 358 Pages
Book Links
Amazon| Barnes and Noble| Kobo| Goodreads| LibraryThing| StoryGraph| Literal Club
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 4
Story Itself: 4
Character Development: 3.5
Writing Style: 4.25
World Building 4
Feels + The Romantic Heart 4
Pacing 4
Plot 4
Cover Art 4
Ending 4
Book Ratings
Overall Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warm- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Series Order
Twisted
Twisted Love-Pub 2021 #1 in the Series
Twisted Games-Pub 2021 #2 in the Series
Twisted Hate-Pub 2022 #3 in the Series
Twisted Lies-Pub 2022 #4 in the Series
About The Author
Ana Huang is an author of steamy New Adult and contemporary romance. Her stories range from lighthearted to dark, but they all have HEAs with plenty of banter and swoon sprinkled in.
Besides reading and writing, Ana loves traveling, is obsessed with hot chocolate, and has multiple relationships with fictional boyfriends.
I haven’t read this book yet, but I read a novella about this couple in Nightingale anthology. It made me interested in them, so it was fun to read your review. I might just need to go back and read it now.
I’ve seen this one all over Booktube and everyone seems to rave over it. I’m glad it was such a hit for you, despite some pacing issues.
Like you said, this book is all over Instagram. I have been curious about it and I think it does sound like it would be worth picking up.