ARC Review: Twisted by Emma Chase

There are two kinds of people in the world. The ones who look first, and the ones who leap. I’ve always been more of a looker. Cautious. A planner. That changed after I met Drew Evans. He was so persistent. So sure of himself – and of me.

But not all love stories end happily ever after. Did you think Drew and I were going to ride off into the sunset? Join the club. Now I have to make a choice, the most important of my life. Drew already made his –in fact, he tried to decide for the both of us. But you know that’s just not my style. So I came back to Greenville. Alone. Well, sort of alone….

What I’ve come to realize is that old habits die hard and sometimes you have to go back to where you began, before you can move ahead.

TWISTED picks up two years after Tangled’s end, and is told from Kate’s POV.

You know that saying, “It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?”
That’s a crock. Whoever said it didn’t know a fucking thing about love. Ignorance is better; it’s painless.”

And truthfully, after the 35% mark, I’d rather have had the pie…

Last we saw Kate and Drew, they were together and basking in lots of post coital glow. I wasn’t really sure why a second book was necessary, but I loved Tangled and Emma Chase’s writing, so there was no question about me reading this one.

Now in reading that quote, you’re probably confused about what happens in this book for such a sharp turn around to be taken, right? And you’re now expecting me to tell you what happens, right?

Well dream on! Cause I’m not doing it. I’m sadistic like that, what can I say?

Let’s just say that Drew screws up. BIG TIME. And by big time, I mean he left me wondering

Tangled is told entirely in Kate’s POV. I was a little worried that nothing could possibly beat the awesomeness that was Drew in book 1. And you know what? You really can’t. But Kate’s POV came pretty damn close. Add in all the characters from the previous book, and there were plenty of laugh out loud moments,

Everyone- can I have your attention, please? Mackenzie has an announcement she’d like to make”
“My mom and dad had sex!”
The entire table is silent.
Until Matthew raises his glass.
“Congratulations, Steven. It’s like Halley’s Comet, right? You only get to come ever seventy-five years?”

I loved the first 35% of the book. I couldn’t get enough of it. And then somewhere after the 40% mark, it started to irritate me.

See, here’s the thing. I love angst in books. I’m a regular angst whore. But what I absolutely don’t like is manufactured drama.

What we have here is a HUGE misunderstanding that spans practically the entire book where all that can resolve it is one word. You’re probably thinking now. Wait!

One word? YES. One word.

As much as I wanted to lay the blame solely on Drew’s shoulders, I couldn’t. Because Kate was equal parts responsible for it.

Truthfully, it just felt way too drawn out.

But saying all that, I still liked the book quite a bit. I just didn’t love it. It was great catching up with all my favorite characters from the last book, and I’m practically salivating for Delores and Matthew’s story after the little teaser at the end of this one.

I loved getting more Drew and Kate, but I’m not sure that a full length book was really necessary here. I could have done with a novella. But hey, that’s just my opinion here.

***All quotes taken from the ARC version of the book and may not match up to the published version***

ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**