Hooked Book Review🪝
⭐️Overall rating: 5/5:
This was my first book that I’ve read by Emily Mcintire and I can say she’s one of favorite authors of all time!
There’s nothing that I would add or change about this it was really good! I couldn’t put the book down. I had read this in ONE WEEK. If you watched Once upon a Time then all you’re going to see is hook from the show.
I like how she reimagined the characters and gave us a plot twist that I wasn’t expecting. There’s a couple of plot twists that you wouldn’t expect at all. DONT WALK RUN!
If you saw my last post then you know that Emily had said that the Never After Series isn’t a retell, she explains it better on her website or on her instagram.
Sorry for fan girl this is literally one of my favorite books well the Never After Series is my favorite.
Now there are some trigger warnings but Emily Mcintire likes when you are surprised. I will leave the warnings down below.
🪝GR: 3.8⭐️
🪝 I was able to find this while looking for the synopsis:
Hooked is a dark contemporary romance and the first complete standalone in the Never After Series: A collection of fractured fairy tales where the villains get the happy ever after. It is not a literal retelling and not fantasy. Hooked features mature themes and content that may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For all content warnings, check the author's website.
🪝Synopsis:
James has always had one agenda: destroy his enemy, Peter Michaels. When Peter’s twenty-year-old daughter Wendy shows up in James’s bar, he sees his way in. Seduce the girl and use her for his revenge. It’s the perfect plan, until things in James’s organization begin to crumble. Suddenly, he has to find the traitor in his midst, and his plan for revenge gets murkier as James starts to see Wendy as more than just a pawn in his game.
Wendy has been cloistered away most of her life by her wealthy cold father, but a spontaneous night out with friends turns into an intense and addictive love affair with the dark and brooding James. As much as she knows James is dangerous, Wendy can’t seem to shake her desire for him. But as their relationship grows more heated and she learns more about the world he moves in, she finds herself unsure if she’s falling for the man known as James or the monster known as Hook.
🪝Trigger Warnings:
Child abuse recounted
Paedophilia
Drugging
Pregnancy
Blood, gore & injury depiction including amputation and emesis
Grief & loss depiction
Death of a parent in a car accident recounted
Death of a relative in a plane crash
Murder
Graphic torture
Gun violence
Physical assault
Kidnapping
Consensual choking (breath pay)
Happy Reading 📚
#BookReview #bookrecommendations #emilymcintire #neverafterseries #lemon8bookclub #Lemon8 #lemon8partner #booksoflemon8 #booksummary #lemon8challenge
Many of you, like me, might be wondering: 'Is Hooked really a dark romance?' And the answer is a resounding YES! Emily McIntire doesn't shy away from the darker elements, crafting a narrative that dives deep into morally gray characters and their complex motivations. It's not just 'dark' in theme; it's dark in its exploration of obsession, revenge, and the blurred lines between love and hate. If you're drawn to books where the villain gets his twisted happily ever after, this is definitely one to pick up. What truly sets 'Hooked' apart for me, beyond the intensity, is how Emily McIntire takes the familiar tale of Peter Pan and twists it into something utterly fresh and captivating. Forget the Disney version – this is a gritty, adult reimagining where Captain Hook (James) is a ruthless businessman consumed by vengeance, and Wendy is far from an innocent child. The dynamic between them is electric and dangerous, full of power struggles and undeniable chemistry. I loved seeing how she wove in elements from the original story, like Neverland (reimagined as a corporate empire) and the Lost Boys, but gave them a mature, often unsettling spin. It's a testament to her creativity that she can make you root for characters you probably shouldn't! Now, let's talk about the 'spicy pages' and 'tropes' that many of you are curious about. Yes, 'Hooked' definitely delivers on the spice! The chemistry between James and Wendy is palpable, and their encounters are steamy and intense, fitting perfectly within the dark romance genre. Emily McIntire isn't afraid to explore the more passionate and possessive aspects of their relationship. As for tropes, you'll find plenty to enjoy here: enemies-to-lovers (or at least, revenge-driven male lead who falls for his target), age gap (though not explicitly stated, James is older and in a position of power), forced proximity, and a healthy dose of 'touch her and die' energy from James. The plot twists aren't just for shock value; they genuinely propel the story forward and keep you guessing. For those asking about the 'book age rating' and if it's 'spicy,' I'd definitely recommend 'Hooked' for mature readers, 18+. The themes are adult, the content is explicit, and as the trigger warnings indicate, it deals with sensitive subjects. It's not a light read, but a deeply engrossing one. I remember seeing a lot of buzz about the cover art too – it perfectly captures the dark, alluring vibe of the story, giving you a hint of the intensity within. While some might associate Emily McIntire's works with Wattpad due to their popular online presence, 'Hooked' is a professionally published novel and a fantastic entry point into her Never After Series. Don't let the dark themes scare you off if you're a fan of psychological depth and intense romance. It was a rollercoaster, and I'm still thinking about it!
i read this the other day and it was so good! have you read any of the others in that series?