📖 Get hooked on love's addictive journey!
Addicted To You is a captivating romantic fiction paperback by Tessa Bailey, released on September 28, 2020, featuring 300 pages of engaging storytelling that explores the complexities of love and relationships.
J**J
The Best NA Series (Ever)
This review was originally posted to Goodreads and Booked J. It may not be spoiler free.“The deeper we sink, the harder it is to crawl out. I fear the moment where neither of us can breathe again–when someone discovers our secrets. At any moment, everything can crumble beneath us. The dangerous game both excites and terrifies me.”In all honesty, New Adult is not my typical genre. Not because it’s filled with bad selections but because I often feel as though I am reading the same book, the same plot, the same relationships every time. Addicted to You is not one of those books–there’s something far more interesting and authentic to it than the rest of its genre. My first thought on this series is how much it means to me and the second is how annoyed with myself that I didn't purchase physical copies.Krista and Becca Ritchie provide us with so much heart in one tiny story. This isn’t your typical love story and I don’t mean that in the cliche sort of way. For a lot of people, it won’t be the same way but the vast majority agree that there’s just something about this novel that is so captivating.Addicted to You is a great introduction to a series because we see the flaws and addictions right away in Lily and Lo. Both have been best friends for years. As far as family knows, the two are in a relationship with each other and have been for three years; they live with one another.They have an arrangement two so they can keep up appearances and seem like good, upstanding people. Lily and Lo are the picture perfect couple on the exterior and behind closed doors, they struggle.Enabling each other isn’t how they view it, but by pretending to be a couple and embracing their addictions in the way that they do and covering for each other as opposed to helping, they are ultimately leading to their own downfall (as a pair and as individuals): Lo, alcohol. Lily, sex.Things grow more complicated when their darkest sides reach an all time high–for Lily, it’s waking up in a strange room with two strange men. Something in this event startles her for quite a while and she once again faces the fact that she has a serious problem. Sex addiction isn’t something that can be approached easily, as so many people are gross and don’t want to believe it is a real thing, but Lily has such a hard time focusing on such mundane tasks without fantasies it’s hard to see why people can’t understand it.Lily Calloway has a serious problem and you can’t help but to hope she gets the help she deserves.Soon after our story begins, Lily and Lo embrace their feelings for each other without giving up their vices. Along the way, they cruise through their struggles and family life and school and forming friendships with others mid-novel.They start a relationship–real this time–and things could be better but they could be worse. It’s obvious they love each other, but at the end of the day, like I said, they are enablers to each other and need help.Back to the all time high for Loren Hale.For Lo, it’s one fateful night (his 21st birthday) where he steals liquor at a party, nearly gets his ass kicked, and has to be carried up the stairs by a new addition to their lives, Ryke Meadows. He doesn’t let up even after this event but in some ways it really wakes him up to his problem and opens himself up to Ryke, who genuinely cares about him.It was unexpectedly nice to see the additions of Conner and Ryke to Lily and Lo’s life. They kind of blended in so naturally with the two and the plots and seemed like they were in place all along. Conner and Ryke care a great deal for Lo and it is nice to see them wanting to help the man in spite of how little they seem to know him. And eventually, how much they show an interest in helping Lily as her addictions come to light.I also enjoyed seeing one of Lily’s sisters, Rose Calloway.“In the end, it was not a boy who helped me. It was my sister.”Rose is very… oh, I can’t actually describe her. I loved her first scene, the way she is described as she enters the room. She has a cold exterior, no bullshit attitude, but she has a really solid heart and this much you can see when Lily finally confides in her after a disastrous night out at the club.Their relationship is beautiful. I mean that. It’s not a very common thing to see a sibling bond like theirs in literature, let alone New Adult. You see, Rose and Lily are sisters in every way. They fight. They get snippy. They don’t always do the right thing. But at the end of the day, they support and love each other in every way that you would want.I’m interested to see more of Rose and her interactions with Lily. And the other Calloway girls. I’m interested to see more of Rose’s interactions with Lo, now that she understands him better and respects him for seeking help for his addiction.I’m also very interested in seeing her relationship with Connor explored. There’s something about the two that just seems… well, right. And I can’t wait to explore that more heavily as we get to know the characters. That, and her fashion line and everything really. I just want to know everything about Rose Calloway--who doesn't?Addicted to You is a wonderful read. A true standout in the NA genre that will surely continue to establish itself in the masses. I thought the ending was lovely: Lily and Lo getting help for their addictions, gaining a support system (and in Lo’s case gaining a brother in Ryke) and thought the entire novel was a fresh, important take on the tough topics it tackles.I'm excited to see their relationship grow and flurish as they embrace help and try to conquer their demons. It's going to be a battle but there's something about these two that is redeemable and that they are up for the challenge. Especially since they have something to truly fight for: each other.The topics aren't something you should overlook. Addiction, love, family, seeking help. Strong female leads, strong male leads--all good people, with flaws, worthy of good things. All those things that make life. It is also something that is so raw at times your heart will race or break and you really begin to root for these characters, understand them in a way you didn’t know possible. Krista and Becca are on fire with this standout.Don’t ignore the hype. I can’t wait to continue binge reading the entire series and already am regretting not buying the physical copies. I can already tell this series is going to be one of my favorites of all time and I hope you enjoy it, too.But wait! There’s more!(Yes, I did that television advertisement voice.)Addicted to You, the first book of the series, is free to read on digital platforms. Give it a try, won’t you?
M**R
Oh this was a ROLLERCOASTER
Okay I have to admit. I tried to read this book 3 years ago and gave up about 30% in. I’m so glad I pushed through this time because oh my gosh. This book wrecked me. Lily and Lo are so raw and real. They struggle. A lot. Check trigger warnings because this book HEAVILY talks about addiction. But the family. And found family the is created? The love they have for each other they are trying to be better for each other for? I cannot wait to keep reading this series. I was sobbing at the end. So so good.
C**N
Not my favorite
This is more like 3.5 stars, I think. I’m rating on a re-read/re-listen. For some reason, wherever I previously read, there was no rating.I want to be clear, because it’s been misinterpreted before, the way I feel about this book and these characters is NOT how I feel about the authors!! KBR books are pre-order / 1click for me!! There are certain books that come later in the family/series that I re-read/listen at least once a year. I’m a fan. Just not of Lily & Lo.The absolute toxic behavior from these two is maddening!! The selfishness they both possess to hurt family members/loved ones together is despicable, but when they do it to each other, it makes me so disgusted. I give full props to Krista & Becca for being able to write addicts so well that they make me angry!!Pros: Connor Cobalt & Ryke Meadows. When I first read this series, I randomly read Kiss the Sky first. So when I went back and started Addicted, imagine my surprise at Connor’s personality change!! I’ll always be a fan. And there aren’t enough words to describe how much I love Ryke!! At least not ones I can print!!
K**S
Addicted to You was a refreshing read, and something completely different from all the New Adult books I've read this year.
I don't want to be fixed. I just want to live and feed my appetite. It just so happens that my appetite is a sexual one.His vice is a bottle of whiskey.Addicted to You was a refreshing read, and something completely different from all the New Adult books I've read this year. When I first heard about this book I thought it was going to be a great read. I was completely wrong. This is an AMAZING book! Krista and Becca Ritchie did an incredible job in writing a story in which two characters, Lily and Lo, suffer through their addictions together. I will admit that Addicted to You reminded me of Ellen Hopkins writing. If you love reading Ellen Hopkin's books-Crank, Glass, Fallout, etc- then you will definitely love Krista and Becca Ritchies Addicted to You. The only difference is that Addicted to You is a New Adult book, and the situations Lily experiences with her addiction are raw and very out there.I guess the only way to be close to me is to inject yourself in my world because I won't make the move to enter yours.The water washes away the smell and grime, but my sins are here to stay. The memories don't vanish...I never thought that I would love a character like Lily's- a sex addict with family issues. Once again I was completely wrong. As I read Addicted to You, I started to learn about Lily's sex addiction and I started to know her character in a whole different level. She is not just a shy, sex addict. She is a caring, loving, and broken girl that just needs the right person to stand by her side and understand what she is going through. I understand why she keeps her sex addiction a secret from her family, and why she shy's away from others. If I were in her shoes I would do the same thing, because people would not understand this sort of addiction. Heck, I've heard about sex addicts but after reading Addicted to You I learned a lot more. I know that all of this (what happens in the story) is not true, but at some point all addicts, in real life, will cross their own boundaries to get a high of their addiction. I seriously felt everything Lily had to go through in the book. I cried with her when she just felt lost and confused with all that was going on, and I felt her strong love towards Lo. By the end of Addicted to You, I felt a connection with Lily's character.Loren Hale is an alcoholic beverage and he doesn't even know it.Lo's face darkens in contempt. "Watch it, Lily." He picks up the bottle, unbroken, and reacts as though I hit his child.What can I say about Loren (Lo) Hale? Just as Lily, Lo suffers from his own addiction to alcohol. He is totally bad news, but a total swoon worthy guy. I will admit that I don't like alcoholics, but his thoughtfulness towards Lily and the way he cares for her made me love him. He is even more emotionally broken than Lily. I believe that Lo needs Lily more, then Lily needs Lo. I will admit that there are times he is a total jerk to Lily, and at these moments I just felt like slapping or punching him in the face. I already knew more about alcohol addicts and what happens to them, because this is what health teachers teach in all of their health classes. Like I said before I don't like alcoholic addicts, but I just had to make that exception with Lo. Who can resist a protective, caring, thoughtful hottie like Lo? NOT ME :D! His character does develop (matures) by the end of this book, and I can't wait to find out what happens to him in the second book :).We're pretending, aren't we? I'm so confused. What is he to me right now? Friend, boyfriends, something else entirely?The deeper we sink, the harder it is to crawl out.At the beginning I really had no clue what was going on between Lily and Lo. He tells a guy that she is his girlfriend, but as I kept reading I find out that they are in a fake relationship. I seriously felt sorry for Lily, because she was so confused with Lo's loving affections and actions- this of course would only happen when their relatives, or known people would be watching them. Who would agree to be in a fake relationship? This is just torture for both Lily and Lo, because they are both confused with what the other one feels. The longer they stay in their fake the relationship the longer they hurt (not intentionally) one another. But the loving affections and actions between these two are both sweet and hot :D!Our relationship is dangling on thin strings that threaten to break. I feel it. I'm sure he feels it as well.When they start a serious relationship, it all starts off well. Lily is getting her sex fix and Lo is still getting his alcohol fix. The sad thing about their relationship is that they are just not that good for each other, but at the same time so right for each other?!?. Does that make any sense? Let me try to explain this :). Their addictions just get in the way of their love towards each other. It just doesn't let them love each other, and care for each other the way it is truly meant to be. But at the same time Lo and Lily are always there for each others breakdowns, and they are two broken people who can actually fix each other with each others presence. Lily's and Lo's relationship is just as broken as they are, but at the same time it is also kept together because of their need to be close to each other. I really hope this works out at the end for these two, because they are the perfect match for each other :).We've been friends, allies, for so long that I don't know who I am without him. Our lives intersect at every possible junction...Krista and Becca Ritchie delivered an incredibly fresh debut in the New Adult genre. This is a book that you will not want to miss, trust me when I tell you that this is a MUST READ! There is romance, heartache, sorrow, real life problems (addiction & family), believable characters, and there is a twist that no one will expect (I didn't even see it coming). I will say this once again, if you love reading about true life problems, raw characters, and love reading Ellen Hopkins books, then Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie is the book for you :D!~Kassandra @ Kassie's Book Thoughts
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