Fuel the Fire

When this book came out I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it. I thought Kiss the Sky was an amazing enough book that said all that needed to be said about Connor and Rose but I couldn’t be further from the truth. This book is everything. There is maturity. There is exponential character growth. And oh my god, the family bonds and the friendships are stronger and deeper than they’ve ever been before, to the point where I was tearing up in the final quarter of the book as the story knocked me off my feet with heartfelt emotion. And the funny thing is, Fuel the Fire happens to be one of the longest books I’ve read this year yet it felt like it wasn’t long enough. As the book was ending, my only thought was why the story had to end. To me that’s a sure sign this book is a special one, where the story and characters stay with me long after I finish, making me yearn for more.Since the plot of this story is mostly based off of what happened in previous books, I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers. What I can say is that this is the second book in Rose and Connor’s POV and concludes their part of the story in this entire Addicted series. This is Rose, Connor, and the rest of the gang in their mid-twenties, so their level of character maturity is well beyond what I’ve read about them in the first few books in this series. Rose and Connor have always been my favorite couple out of the Addicted gang and this book just reinforces that sentiment. They are quite literally the smartest characters I’ve ever read about, and when you put two brainiacs like them together you get a nerd powerhouse. Their banter – while witty and funny – also possesses a level of intelligence that showcases their bright minds and makes me wonder if I should laugh or stare at their words in awe. Probably both :D“The more you grin like I’m giving you a quickie in a disgusting public bathroom, the more my ovaries wither and die. So just think about all of our future children you’re annihilating, Richard.”“I’m so extraordinary that my mere grin can make you infertile?”And this:“When I was seventeen you said you wanted to perform an autopsy on me, to crack open my ribcage and squeeze my heart until it burst between your fingers. What is that – if not flirting?”“That was me hating you, Richard. I dreamed of your death.”“You dreamed of clutching my heart.”I just love the way their minds work! ;)Even with a stable, loving marriage, a beautiful daughter, and the best friends they could have, all is not well in Connor and Rose’s lives. They’re extremely influential icons in the Addicted world, thus being constantly monitored and exposed by the media takes a toll on them and their loved ones, so much it finally cracks the couple. Yes, there is drama but not the kind that’s normally done that involves social media. What I love is that no matter what goes on, Rose and Connor tackle their problems together. There is no pushing away or second guessing or character stupidity, and because they are so close to Lily & Loren, Ryke & Daisy, those four are also a big part of the story and seeing them all collaborate and support each other warms my heart. The friendship and family dynamic among all of them is intricate and can’t be explained in just a few words, but just by reading their interactions the love and respect they have for each other feels tangible. In a way it’s almost enviable. From the group, Rose and Connor – especially Connor – have always been the foundation the others could lean on. Nothing and nobody could shake them, except this time, the media has hit a sore spot so invasive that they falter.I think it’s because of how hard they’re hit that I felt so many emotions while I read, particularly in the last quarter of the book. It made me realize that even though Connor and Rose are fictional role models in their world, their ideals, morals, and beliefs are sentiments that carry over to the real world and are truths I draw my inspiration from.“I’m attracted to people.To the words they speak, to the actions they take, to their full-bodied mannerisms and soulful gaits. I am attracted to people. To impassioned hearts that beat out of sync, the ones that skip a measure, heard in hushed places and violent spaces – I am attracted to people.”Somehow the Ritchie twins not only delivered a story that enraptured me and entertained me, but also a story that spoke volumes about the society we live in today that’s colored with harsh judgment and biased stances. Rose and Connor’s struggles mirror what many of us go through ourselves and that adds a layer of depth to the book, something that makes them even more relatable and easy to connect with.It’s truly amazing that with this book marking the 8th installment in the entire Addicted series that the plot and characters still keep me engaged after all this time. I have to admit that not every single book in this series was a complete winner for me, but overall, it’s a NA series I won’t hesitate to recommend to other readers. Oh and one more thing! I don’t hide the fact that I’m not a fan of Ryke ever since he f-bombed his way through the series, but what I’ve read about his character (and Daisy’s too) in this story really changed the way I think about both of them. I’m looking forward to reading their story in Long Way Down. :)**SERIES READING ORDER**Because this series is a long one and can seem pretty intimidating to those that haven’t read any of the books I decided to do a reading order breakdown. There are a ton of ways to read this series but I’m only going to outline the full series order along with how I read these books. The first and best way is to just read all the books in the order they were published:#1 Addicted to You (Lily & Loren)#1.5 Ricochet (Lily & Loren) – note: this is a full length novel#2 Addicted for Now (Lily & Loren)Spinoff #1 Kiss the Sky (Rose & Connor)Spinoff #2 Hothouse Flower (Ryke & Daisy)#2.5 Thrive (Lily & Loren) – note: this is a full length novel#3 Addicted After All (final Lily & Loren book)Spinoff #3 Fuel the Fire (final Rose & Connor book)Spinoff #4 Long Way Down (final Ryke & Daisy book) – note: upcoming releaseThe way I read this series is a little different. I read #1, #1.5, #2, Kiss the Sky, and Hothouse Flower. I skipped Thrive and Addicted After All and went straight to Fuel the Fire. That is technically okay to do and I didn’t feel like I missed anything. You can choose to do that too but it is imperative to read Hothouse Flower if you decide to skip Thrive and AAA. Also keep in mind that there’ll be a time gap between the events of HF and FTF.

It's gonna be tough to review an amazing book without giving away the best parts of it; it's like trying to figure Connor out without seeing the deepest parts of him. The best reads are the ones I'd tell you to go in blind and experience them for yourselves but regardless, I'll try my best to give this book the justice it deserves although I know there will never be enough words to express the beauty that is this read.So you know you've read a great book when it leaves a huge smile on your face or when it consumes you once you put it down. But you know you've read an epic one when you've walked out of the read feeling like you've been shot through the chest multiple times by a platoon of emotions and part of you will never feel the same again thereafter. This is it.When the Ritchie twins said this was one of the toughest books they've written especially when it involves two of the (literally) smartest characters in the book universe, they probably didn't realize that they have undoubtedly written their absolute BEST work to date. If you think Kiss the Sky was your most favorite one in the series, then you won't know what's about to hit you with Fuel the Fire.Fuel the Fire, although similarly to Kiss The Sky where it centers around Connor & Rose, will be elevated onto a whole new level as the stakes will be higher now with their loved ones on the line. It's going to be an intense ride as buried pasts will resurface and with enemies lurking in the shadows just waiting to tear everyone apart. Rose & Connor has always been the more mature pair, the responsible duo and the ones that believe that they can fix anything. But when a secret threatens everything they've fight so hard for, will their brilliance and love be enough to withstand it all?--------------------Without giving too much away, I'll just say that FtF will shed a lot of light on Connor and he will in fact, be pushed to limits like never before. What we've gotten from the entire series so far is merely the tip of the iceberg; you know Connor as the narcissistic, conceited smartass who's at equal with Rose, the only woman he's ever capable of loving. The notion of emotions is what Connor deemed as a weakness in the human nature, he is a man of control and above all, he will always win. But times have changed and with more at stake, for the first time ever...Connor actually cracks under the pressure.What makes this read stands out from the entire series is how fantastic the dynamics of Rose & Connor have evolved since KtS; their fierce loyalty to each other is ever present but there's just so much more depth to their relationship that us readers have yet to see. Both of them are complex characters on their own, they're manic in their own ways but in this and every alternate universe, they're perfect for each other. They'd go through Hell and back if it means protecting the ones they loved most.Their love is unique in ways people cannot even begin to comprehend because it cannot be seen; it can only be felt through the power of the words that they utter to each other in private. Every word counts, every exchange between them have weight and every scene between them gives the story more depth. It was just the most beautiful kind of love to witness.-------------------Double the banters, double the intensity, double the sexiness and most of all, quadruple the emotions. This one has completely blew all the other books out of the water and left a mighty wake of destruction behind. And by that, I meant my heart was completely wrecked and destroyed single-handedly by a read so powerful that had me sobbing into my pillow at night and crying silently in the back of my parents' car. The twins had the ability to channel such strong emotions through their writing that tore me apart and later rebuild me up again.I say this with so much certainty: Krista & Becca are forces to be reckoned with and even after putting out 8 books in this series, they keep setting the bar higher with each one. Their writing is just one-of-a-kind that makes you believe that these fictional characters are your real-life friends. You feel the pain, the love, the joy; their highest of highs and their lowest of lows. In each book, it's never just one couple that you read about but it's the entire gang and each individual relationship is so unique that when it's all pieced together, it gives birth to a magnificent universe.There is just no other NA series that can come close to the Addicted series and with each read, I fall in love with the characters harder than before. It encompasses more than just a love story between a couple but there's family, friends, siblings and much more. Throughout the series, the twins constantly tackled some heavy and sensitive issues brilliantly instead of just sweeping them under the rug and that's really something to be commended for.If you had to ask me to choose one NA series that I would recommend to you in this lifetime, I'd choose the Addicted series in a heartbeat. From amazing character dynamics to undoubtedly talented writing, the Ritchie twins continue to outdo themselves with each instalment. I find myself completely immersed in this world they've built and wishing that I could spend an eternity with these characters. Just absolute perfection & easily a top read of 2015 for me, I simply cannot recommend this series enough!

4/5⭐️I really enjoy seeing each of these three couples. Connor and Rose are so different from the others. The way they display their love is so different and not always see as acceptable. That’s why this book was so interesting, we got to see a show of love in ways other than pda and outwards affection. They show their love just as strongly as Lily/Lo and Ryke/Daisy and it’s just as beautiful. I loved seeing them on a deeper level and seeing Connor finally break down a bit and let Rose in.I didn’t exactly understand the point of Connor and Scott. It only seemed to hurt them both and I don’t get why Connor chose this as a method. It seems like everything he had to endure crushed him and it was all so awful. These couples go through so much and it’s always a chaotic but lovely story. Both Connor and Rose are such strong characters it’s inspiring. I am happy to have picked up this book and got back into this world.

I literally have no words. Both Rose and Connor have grown SO much and I loved to see their love develop and grow stronger after each book. I LOVE the french, and I have to take deep breaths after every time they say "Ensemble" because it just swells up my heart so much <3

Book was damaged not happy with it.It’s disappointing

This series is addictive. The characters are unique and I’m loving seeing them grow, develop and change. Definitely worth reading.

As I'm sure you've noticed, this series has taken over my life the best two weeks. I kept saying after finishing each book that I would stop and get back on track with my TBR. Lies. There was no stopping. So now I'm caught up on all the published books. And let me tell you, this one was easily my favourite. I absolutely adore and ship Connor and Rose so very much. What a complex couple. Their minds and love is out of this world. I seriously cannot get over how intelligent these two are. The way they think and talk. Just in awe(and love). It might sound creepy but I want to be with these two through second of their lives. Like right there up in their faces and brains and yea... They really are my new OTP. But this story was also a little heartbreaking when Connor's past gets thrown out to the media. I felt his pain. Especially because people are quick to judge. Of course his way with words, perseverance and Rose and his friends standing by his side had me cheering. So beautiful! #coballoway for life!Also I cannot forget to mention that Connor did a striptease in a pub. CAN THIS BE REAL LIFE?!