Author: Avery Flynn
Series: Downside of Dating Series book #1
Category: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
"Sometimes, revenge came with orgasms. That was the beauty of it." - Thea
The moment I read the blurb for Anger Bang, I was counting down the days until it came out so I could review this book. There was no way in my mind that this book could go wrong, there's a raptor with a tutu on the cover! Thankfully, this book lived up to all the hype, I was not disappointed and neither will you.
Thea is a conundrum of a people pleaser that I felt soul deep. Always trying to keep the peace, brave when it counts and is willing to make a change to get more out of life than she currently is. The relationship with her sister is relatable, if not more faceted than readers are originally led to believe, and I appreciate the bond that grows out of honest conversations. In the end, Thea is loyal to a fault, but so deserving of love and happiness, whatever that may look like to her.
"Issues? She had none, because everything was fine. Totally fine. Without a doubt, perfectly fine - with a dollop of extra fine on top." - Thea
Kade was a marshmallow underneath a sarcastic defense. While Thea put on a happy face to smooth things over, Kade punched through people with harsh behavior in a bid to keep people away from him. He was brash, unapologetic, and unhappy but unwilling to examine why he acts the way he does. It wasn't until he found someone he couldn't lose, that he finally made the decision to open up and heal old wounds that were holding him back.
"'Thea Pop,' he whispered, too quiet for her to hear, not realizing the words were a solemn promise until he started talking. 'I don't ever want to not know you.'" - Kade
Huge props for the complex secondary characters, Jackie and Dex, and the two mothers were perfectly written to demonstrate the importance of understanding different points of view. There was a lot of family drama that was wrapped up in miscommunication and assumptions, and all the characters need some sense talked into them in order to move forward.
There was definitely some insta-love going on, but despite jumping into a physical relationship, the two characters actually spoke about themselves and got to know each other. It made the short timeline feel a little less rushed and the feelings less superficial. Kade and Thea were great balances to one another and despite their denial of feelings for most of the book, it was obvious they cared for one another.
The sex was frequent and adventurous in location, but nothing crazy. The sneaking around because of cameras gave stolen moments extra spice - Kade could hide with me in a shed any day that's for sure.
"Then, one side of his mouth went up in a crooked smile, and her pink panties embroidered with 'Always The Bridesmaid' - thank you, Jackie - went up in flames." - Thea
I loved everything about this book. Anger Bang was witty, with funny dialogue, hilariously awkward '80s-themed bridal events, and sneaking around to avoid reality T.V. live streaming. Add some dinosaur-themed pajama pants to your cart when you place your order for this book for the ultimate themed reading session.
Tropes and Themes: Romantic Comedy, Forced Proximity, Wedding.
Blurb
Shy paleontologist Thea Pope just wants to get through her sister's '80s-themed monstrosity of a TV reality-show wedding so she can get to her summer field work. The only problem? Her sister has turned into the ultimate bridezilla - as in pink parasols, organza hats, forcing people to shave and dye their hair levels of over-the-top, it's-my-day antics - all while on location in a place literally called hell that reeks of sulfur and lost hopes.
The only thing that can make it worse is when her sister declares that she never even wanted Thea in the wedding at all but that the producers insisted. Ouch doesn't begin to express how much it hurts that her own sister didn't even want her to be at her wedding.
There's only one thing Thea can do after her sister finally pushes her too far - she picks the one man at the wedding her sister cannot stand - the groom's brother, Kade St. James - and has sex with him.
Is it petty revenge that she'll be rubbing in her sister's face from now until eternity? Absolutely. Still, it seems like a great idea at the time, and really what could go wrong?
Pretty much everything it turns out.
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