Tuesday Reviews: The Stars Are On Our Side by Jennifer Hartmann

Tabitha Brighton's name made national headlines when she was kidnapped by the infamous serial killer known as the Matchmaker. She was also known for something else: being the only victim he ever willingly released.

Now, two years later, she's ready to tell her story.

Through a series of interviews with a local writer, single mother Tabitha relives every harrowing detail of her trauma, haunted by the memory of the man she was held captive with and ultimately lost. As she confronts her demons, she finds solace in Gabe—the new man in her life who will do whatever it takes to prevent her from slipping back into the shadows.

But Gabe has his own troubled past that threatens to unravel their fragile connection. And just when Tabitha begins to believe in the possibility of new love and a fresh start, her world is turned upside down once again.

Gabe always tells her not to look down, to keep flying. But even stars fall…

And no one ever talks about the crash.

The Stars Are on Our Side absolutely destroyed me. Like… emotionally obliterated. I went in knowing Jennifer Hartmann doesn’t pull punches, and somehow I was still not prepared for how deeply this book would cut. Tears were shed—happy ones, devastating ones, the kind where you just sit there staring at the wall afterward. I was emotionally wrecked for days.

This story is raw, intimate, and painfully beautiful. It digs into grief, love, timing, and the kind of connections that change you forever. The emotions aren’t loud for the sake of drama—they’re quiet, aching, and so real it hurts. Every chapter felt heavy in the best way, like my heart was being slowly squeezed and then gently put back together again.

The characters feel so human it’s unreal. Flawed, hurting, loving, trying—and failing—and trying again. Their bond is deep and layered, built on shared pain and hope, and watching it unfold was both heartbreaking and healing. I felt everything with them, and there was no emotional escape hatch. Once you’re in, you’re in.

This book broke me, healed me, and then broke me again just to prove it could. It’s the kind of story that lingers in your chest long after you finish, the kind you’ll think about randomly and feel that familiar ache all over again. Read it when you’re ready to feel absolutely everything.

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Tuesday Reviews: Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann

To the rest of the world, he was the little boy who went missing on the Fourth of July.

To me, he was everything.

My heart hasn't been the same since he disappeared, but I've learned to build my life around that missing piece.

Twenty-two years later, the last thing I expect is for that missing piece to come back.

His name is Oliver Lynch, and this is his story.

This is our story.

Lotus absolutely wrecked me—in the best way possible. This is one of those books that crawls under your skin and stays there long after you turn the last page. Emotional, heavy, hopeful, heartbreaking… honestly, it’s everything. The last time a book stole my soul like this was Still Beating, which honestly says everything you need to know going in.

The story tackles trauma and healing with so much care and depth. It’s painful to read at times, but never in a way that feels unnecessary or exploitative. The emotions feel raw and real, and the author doesn’t rush the healing or sugarcoat the damage. Every feeling lands exactly as it should.

The characters are beautifully written—flawed, gentle, broken, and strong all at once. Their connection isn’t just romantic, it’s emotional and soul-deep. You can feel their bond building, and it made every small moment hit just as hard as the big ones. I cried, I paused, and I just sat there staring at the page more times than I can count.

This book is heavy, but it’s also full of tenderness and hope. It’s about survival, love, and learning how to live again after the unimaginable. If you’re in the right headspace and ready for an emotional ride, Lotus is unforgettable. Five stars, no hesitation.

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Tuesday Reviews: Pretty Vicious by Lexi Davis

Laurel just wanted to survive college, keep her father fed, and fly under the radar.

Delivering pizzas was supposed to be the safe kind of side hustle, until the night she witnesses a murder at Ashford House, the most elite and secretive fraternity on campus.

Now she’s a prisoner of The Order, a blood-bound society that controls everything from politics to police. They rule with ritual, obedience, and violence, and they’ve decided Laurel doesn’t get to leave

At the center of it all is Carrson Ashford, heir to the powerful Ashford legacy.Cold. Commanding. Infuriatingly magnetic. Under the rules of The Order, he “bonds” her, marking Laurel as his.

Body. Mind. Soul.

But Laurel isn’t here to be claimed. Not without a fight.

To save her father and her future, Laurel must navigate a twisted realm of initiation rites, brutal secrets, and a bond that may destroy them both.

In this world, there’s one rule: obey or die.

But love doesn’t follow rules. And neither does Laurel.

Pretty Vicious was one of those books that grabbed my attention fast and didn’t let go. I don’t usually jump into unfinished series, but the dark academia + secret society combo completely sold me—and honestly, I’m glad I took the chance. Definitely check the trigger warnings going in, because this story doesn’t shy away from heavier topics and darker themes.

Laurel is such a compelling FMC. She starts out just trying to survive college life and take care of her father, and then one wrong moment flips her entire world upside down. Being pulled into The Order and forcibly bonded to Carrson was intense, and I loved that she didn’t just accept her fate quietly. Carrson is peak morally gray MMC—cold, controlled, powerful, and clearly wrestling with the beliefs he’s been raised with. Their relationship starts off rough (like really rough), but the slow shift from enemies to something deeper felt natural and emotionally charged. The way they challenge each other and slowly peel back each other’s layers was one of my favorite parts of the book.

The mystery around The Order kept me hooked the entire time. The secrets, power plays, and unsettling traditions added so much tension, and the pacing was great—it built steadily without ever dragging. The romance was steamy but never overwhelmed the plot, and I appreciated that the danger and stakes stayed high throughout. I knocked off a star mostly because of the cliffhanger (I’m still recovering 😅) and a few loose threads I hope get addressed in the next book. Overall though, Pretty Vicious was dark, addictive, and emotionally intense, and I’ll definitely be picking up book two the moment it drops.

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Tuesday Reviews: Rook and Rebel by Kate Crew

A dark revenge romance with tattooed bikers, hilarious banter, high speeds, and high heat. Hold on tight for a hell of a ride!

Regan Fletcher

I used to have big dreams: finish college, make beautiful art, all while taking over my dad’s business. He wanted a legacy, and I wanted to give it to him. But his illness wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was his sudden need to keep me locked up in our mansion, safe and isolated. I want more from life, but could only spend my days waiting. Until one night, I came face-to-face with a street biker from a world far different from mine. What starts as him stalking me quickly spirals into something deeper, and more deadly. I’m falling for a man who’s everything I should fear, yet he’s the only one who’s ever made me feel truly alive. But loving him means risking everything—my heart, my future, and my father.

Rook Emberson

Revenge has been my driving force for as long as I can remember. Cameron Fletcher stole everything from me, and I’ve spent years plotting the perfect way to take it all back. When fate puts his daughter in my sights, I know I’ve found the key to his destruction. But from the moment I meet her, my plans begin to unravel. Regan is everything I didn’t expect, and I can’t help but be drawn to her. What starts as a twisted game of vengeance turns into an obsession. I need her, but I also need to destroy her father.

The lines between love and vengeance blur, and I’m not sure where one ends and the other begins.

Rook and Rebel was such a fun surprise. It’s wild, fast-paced, a little chaotic, and honestly really hard to put down once it gets going. The stalker-meets-motorcycle-club energy was definitely a 10/10. Rook and Rebel (Regan) have that instant chemistry that somehow works even when it shouldn’t, and their whole push-pull dynamic kept me hooked the entire time.

The plot’s packed with revenge, dark secrets, and some serious family drama. Watching Rebel grow from the sheltered daughter of a corrupt businessman to someone who starts taking control of her own life was super satisfying. And Rook? Total bad boy with a soft spot. The “touch her and die” energy is strong with this one.

Now, full disclosure: I actually ride with an MC in real life, and some of the biker stuff here definitely isn’t how it goes down in the real world. It’s more “romance fantasy” biker life than true-to-culture. If you’re looking for gritty MC realism, this isn’t that—but if you’re here for the drama, chaos, and spicy revenge vibes, it totally delivers.

The ending felt a bit rushed and some of the dialogue could’ve used smoothing out, but I can’t lie—I had a blast reading this. It’s over the top, a little messy, and full of attitude in the best way.

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

Hey everyone,

As the year comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to check in and share what’s next. Bad Boy Bookworm is officially taking a short holiday break. We’ll be stepping away for the next two weeks to rest, reset, and spend time offline before diving into a new year of reading, reviewing, and connecting with all of you.

Looking back, 2025 was a tough one. It was a year full of struggles, both mental and physical. There were health scares, burnout, book slumps, and moments where it felt impossible to keep up. But through it all, this community and the love of books kept me grounded. Every message, every comment, every conversation reminded me that it’s okay to take breaks, to heal, and to come back when you’re ready.

So that’s exactly what this break is for. A chance to breathe, to rest, and to start 2026 with new energy and excitement.

Thank you for sticking around, for being patient, and for supporting Bad Boy Bookworm through all the highs and lows of this year. Your kindness and encouragement mean more than you know.

We’ll be back in the new year with new reviews, new reads, and hopefully a little more light. Until then, I hope you all have a warm, peaceful holiday season filled with good books, good food, and good company.

See you in 2026. 💛

— Bad Boy Bookworm

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Tuesday Review: Little Stranger and Little Liar by Leigh Rivers

Little Stranger:

OWNING HER IS ALL HE EVER WANTED

She betrayed him, and now he wants revenge against the foster sister who became his forbidden obsession the second he laid eyes on her. After she sends him to prison for years, he’s free and ready to haunt her.

Everything about Olivia belongs to Malachi Vize.

Her mind

Her body

Her soul

Her fear

Her pain

On Halloween night, he can no longer lurk in the shadows. All he has left to own is her heart, even if he needs to take it.

Little Liar:

Malachi Vize has always had one desire in life.

One goal. One deep obsession he could never give up on.

His foster sister Olivia.

For the first time, she’s chosen him over the entire world, and he intends to keep her in his firm grasp forever – but his happiness is soon shattered by powerful enemies who want to claim Olivia for themselves.

He had her.

But then he lost her.

Wounded and still wrestling with his own demons, Malachi is forced into unexpected alliances to hunt them down, but he won’t stop fighting until he gets her back.

No matter what it takes.

I don’t even know how to rate this one. The Web of Silence Duet is twisted, unholy, chaotic, and somehow still completely addictive. I was confused half the time, disturbed the other half, and yet I couldn’t stop reading. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to schedule a therapy appointment when you’re done.

The story kept me engaged, but the writing was all over the place. The pacing swung wildly, the tone shifted constantly, and there were definitely more plot holes than plotlines. Still, for all its chaos, it hooked me enough to see it through. Leigh Rivers knows how to create atmosphere and tension, even when the story makes zero sense.

The first half was fine, nothing special, but it set the tone. I really could have done without an entire recap of book one from Malachi’s POV though. It felt repetitive and dragged on way too long. The second half, though, that’s where things picked up. It was sick, twisted, and completely taboo, but also weirdly entertaining. I’m not proud to admit it, but I did have fun. I’m going to hell, and that’s fine.

Malachi, as always, is an absolute menace. Psychotic, obsessive, and yet somehow soft and broken in a way that makes you ache for him. I fear he has me in a chokehold. He’s one of those characters who should be irredeemable, but you can’t help rooting for anyway. My heart hurt for him, even when I was screaming “what are you doing?” every few pages.

Honestly, the best part of this duet was the Tobias and Base crumbs from The Edge of Darkness trilogy. Every time they showed up, I was giggling and kicking my feet. They completely stole the spotlight and made me a million times more feral for their upcoming books.

I will say that most people I know who loved this duet listened to the audiobook version. I read the ebook, and I think that’s where I went wrong. Had I gone the audio route, with all the intensity and atmosphere that brings, I probably would have enjoyed it more.

In the end, this series is nothing if not memorable. It’s messy, dark, and unhinged, but it owns every bit of that chaos.

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