Synopsis from the Author
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. 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.
Things I Loved & Things I Struggled With
Though Alex made mistakes and is quite cold-hearted, he has a softspot for Ava. I loved how he confessed his love to Ava (he'd do anything just to get her back)—even sing to her.
I didn't like how he borderline stalks her for a year (with he kind of consent lol). Even then, he is thoughtful enough and notices small details about what Ava likes.
The tension during the car ride between Ava and Alex sets the stage for a complex and emotionally charged relationship. It establishes a foundation for the characters' interactions and hints at underlying issues.
Having Ava outgrow her trepidation of water is a big advancement of her character and development of the story.
It is such an easy read, so I read it in just a day. I loved the plot twists and backstory, but sometimes it could be repetitive, which was unnecessary. It could have been nice to see more of how the backstory came to be and was not rushed, as the ending felt like it was rushedly written.
So, the part where Alex and Ava make up, and then the epilogue showing them all happy together? That's like the perfect ending to the story. It ties everything up, gives you that feeling of closure, and shows how they go from all the drama to being content and happy.
In a nutshell, the story's got this cool mix of suspense, romance, and deep emotions that keeps you hooked. It's like a rollercoaster of feelings that readers can totally vibe with.