Addiction is my weakness. A cruel temptress that follows me wherever I go. Slowly dragging me down until I drown. Until she shows up. Johanna. My life preserver in this ocean of drugs and madness. She's a total enigma, as chaotic as they come. A vixen who lives her life without limits. But her demons are greater than mine, and they threaten to drown her right alongside me. I need her as much as she needs me. We can either hang on and save each other, or we can both sink into oblivion, letting our pasts, our memories, our addictions be the anchor that weighs us down.
Contains mature content, including heavy drug use, self-inflicted pain, trauma, and graphic sexual content.
I don't think I was prepared for how raw and heavy this book would be. I knew that I had signed up for a dark romance. Still, given that the heavy drug use trigger is quite prevalent and is one of the major plot devices used in this book, I was not ready. I am not used to dealing with heavy, addictive personalities and what addiction does to a person. Especially how it defines who that person is when they are addicted and how they struggle to overcome that addiction. So now I'm left in this weird realm of did I enjoy it or am I just shocked trying to process all of the emotions that I had thrown at me.
Note: If the intro didn't make it clear...this book deals with HEAVY drug use and addiction to substances and people. If this is something you are struggling with or if this is a trigger to you, I would not recommend reading his book.
This is a spin-off of Hawke and can be read as a standalone; however, I would advise that you read Hawke first because certain events will be spoiled because they are kind of touched on in this book and since this follows after the ending of Hawke the end would be spoilt too... Reading Hawke first will also give you a good foundation of who our main characters are going into the story of Kid.
This follows Kid's point of view and is one of the first times that I've actually read a book from a man's perspective. And that is something that I really do want to comment on as I think Jescie Hall did a really fantastic job of being in his head. I didn't feel like I was reading a man written by a woman. I felt as if I was just in a man's head and listening to his struggles and his internal dialogue as he was processing the events that were happening to him.
He has moved in with Hawke and Cole for the summer while he's trying to find out what to do with his life. And in the process, he meets Joanna - Cole's older sister. He is immediately warned off of her because she is very much a "flighty" person. Kid is told that she is just trouble incarnate and that she is ultimately going to break his heart. However, all these warnings seem to make her all the more appealing to him. Kid is basically immediately obsessed with her and drawn to her even before he knows that she is Cole's sister.
What transpires is a difficult and heartbreaking story of him trying to persuade her to be with him while she needs to piece herself together from her internal trauma that has caused her to spiral into the person she is.
I don't think I enjoyed this as much as Hawke. And I think the main difference is because of how painfully tragic and real this felt. Hawke, I felt almost permanently turned on (even though the smut in this is a little more than Hawke) I enjoyed that book due to the cat and mouse chase, but it was almost like "the mouse" wanted to be caught as they were just fighting their attraction to be together. This felt like the mouse was constantly slipping out of the cat's grasp and running miles and miles away that majority of the book was just the chase, and it got boring as I didn't see the appeal in the mouse as much as the cat did...
Kid was just chasing Han, and she didn't really reciprocate. I felt for a large part of the book, I didn't really know who she was. I didn't see his attraction to her besides Insta-lust and battled to understand why he was so drawn, obsessed, and addicted to her personality when I hadn't seen her personality for a large portion of the book. It frustrated me that she was constantly running away and running away from him, even while he was trying to help her. I know dealing with trauma takes time but it just shows that Kid is way more tenacious than I am, as I would have given up...
I am glad that Kid slowly chips away at her and we do end up with a happily ever after in the end.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this and the smut was definitely good.
If you want ▶ A Dark Romance ▶ Reverse Grumpy Sunshine ▶ Golden Retriever/Black Cat energy. ▶ He Falls First ▶ MFF and Knife Play ▶ Rough Sex and AfterCare ▶ Trauma and Mental Health ▶ Bisexual FMC ▶ Dealing with Grief
Then this sinfully delightful book is just for you!
Jescie Hall writes poetry. I literally spent my entire morning reading + listening to this. I couldn't stop. I loved the beautiful, heartbreakingly raw, and real relationship between Kai + Han. The way these two are absolutely MEANT for each other made me cry my eyes out (especially towards the end).
This book broke me. The mental health rep in this was just... everything. I truly felt every single emotion in this.
Hawke is one of my favorite books ever so having both Cam and Cole actively in this was EVERYTHING for me.
Ugh, I just need more Jescie Hall.... that is all.
memorable moments: "Even at our worst, both drowning in chaos, together, we're our best."
"I'll shatter myself into a million pieces just to meet your broken."
"You're my cancer, Kai. You're my disease. Spreading throughout me, filling my lungs, infiltrating my heart, seeping from my pores... You're everywhere."
"My lips were on it first."
✨reverse grumpy sunshine ✨he falls first AND HARD ✨best friends sister in law ✨possessive MMC ✨black cat FMC ✨mental health rep * heavy drug use, addiction, grief, suicide, knife play 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Haven’t written a review in a while, but this book was so bad, I cannot in good conscience not share my feelings lolol. Especially since I’m confused af about all the good reviews.
I usually don’t expect much from dark romances, but this was on another level of terrible.
🚨SPOILERS AHEAD. (And I’m hoping you read them anyway if you’re considering reading this book) Here we go.
It starts with Kid having insta love for Jo. The first half of the book (which isn’t short btw) went something like this:
Kid: Jo, I’m obsessed and in love with you Jo: I like you but I’m too scared and can’t be with you Kid: Well then fuck you if you don’t want to be with me. Wait actually I can’t stop being obsessed with you so I’m gonna keep pursuing you anyways. Jo: Awww he’s so persistent. I guess I will give you a chance. Wait jk I’m actually scared and can’t be with you.
Over, and over, and over. Roughly 5 hours of reading that scenario.
Then Jo’s finally like okay I’m done being scared, and that’s when Jo starts to spill some info the author’s been teasing the whole first half.
You learn that far as Jo’s sister knows, their moms death was ruled an accident by getting caught up in towel hangers??…… Wtf are towel hangers and how does someone accidentally get stuck in towel hangers??? I’m genuinely confused about what towel hangers are. I googled it and everything. HAHAHAH. Google didn’t help since a towel hanger comes in like 4000 different styles or whatever. There was ZERO elaboration from the author about what it means to get caught in a towel hanger HAHAHA.
DONT WORRY THO, bc we then find out Jo’s mom actually died by suicide by clawing her nails down her own neck and Jo watched it happen and did nothing to help. Literally the most random suicide ever and how does someone kill themself by clawing down their neck ONCE?? Are her nails daggers?? Is she Wolverine?? Like what? At this point I’m confused af about all the mom death shit and there was ZERO detail, even tho this is apparently the big grand reveal regarding what made Jo become all fucked in the head. Literally maybe a paragraph explaining this ENORMOUS plot twist. Lolololol.
That’s not even close to the worst of it.
Jo hypocritically pleads for Kid to get sober but she doesn’t notice when he’s not doing drugs and withdrawing in front of her face for several days straight…………. Uhhhhhhh. Like they’re literally together for days and days and she doesn’t notice he’s not doing drugs (when that’s normally all the two of them do together) but she is like ommmggg why are you burning up with a fever and vomiting every hour?!? Is this chick dumb as fuck?? BITCH YOU TOLD A DRUG ADDICT TO GET SOBER SO HE DID THEREFORE HES OBVI SICK AF YOU FUCKING OBLIVIOUS SELFISH MORON.
And CHERRY ON TOP, after Jo begs Kid to get sober she’s just bopping around in front of him doing blow and then proceeds to slice up her legs 2 feet away from him. What a prize of a lady.
The spice factor in this book was just bizarre. They’re randomly into knife play and like abusive sex 3/4ths into the book for no reason at all. Jo literally head butted Kid during sex and then was like smirking like mmmm ya like thattt???!😏😂 HAHHAA EXCUSE ME WHATTTT???😂😂
And Jo spends her spare time brutally murdering animals in pain and burying animal carcasses…. Uuhuhmmmm????? Love a cute and quirky character trait!! LOLOLOL
I wanted to stop reading this sooooooo horribly bad halfway through and every moment after, but I was like this book CANNOT carry on sucking this bad and I’ve already put so much timeeee into it. The book DRAGGGGGED but still managed to be rushed and vague during the very few important plot points.
What’s sad is hawke and the sis were the only semi tolerable characters, but I’m sooo put off by this book, I cannot say I’ll be reading their prequel.
I whole heartedly do not understand how anyone enjoyed this book.
This book follows Kid's point of view, which was refreshing because most romance books are written from the female perspective. In addition to the emotional, heavy and raw side of the book, I really liked Kid's character and witty thinking. If this book had been a little longer, I'm afraid I'd have become obsessed with Han, too. His love for her was another dimension. I need someone who's obsessed with me like Kid is obsessed with Han.
I highly recommend this book, but please note that it is a spin-off of Hawke and may contain references or connections to that story. Learn from my mistake and read Hawke first.
The beginning of this book was rough for me. Lots of drug talk and while it wasn’t BAD, it was just… a lot. I do not have a history of drugs or know any users so I think it was just.. not my element and the entire book really centered around it.
Besides that element, I really loved the book. I loved the insta-obsession and the chemistry you could FEEL. Jescie Hall knows how to write spice and tension as well and this book was no different. Absolutely delicious.
I did listen to this on audiobook and thought it was great! I wasn’t as much of a fan of the female narrators voice as I was the males, but overall it was a good production.
I loved this book and I’m not sure why it’s not a 5 star read for me but SOMETHING that I can’t quite put my finger on was missing.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️ I think this author may have been around the block once or twice in her day. The way she wrote about addiction and trauma was really accurate, to me at least. The havoc that Fentnyal is wreaking on addicts and recreational users is devastating.. I think this book really showcases how addiction affects everyone around you. I didn't love this one quite as much as Hawke. It felt a little long-winded. I would have liked a little more emphasis on Kid's struggles and the shit he got involved with about halfway through the book. I still really enjoyed the writing and the things this book made me feel, no matter how triggering. I'm just really grateful that I don't live a life like these chatchters anymore. To know Kia and Jo got the happily ever after that a lot of users don't... That made this whole book worthwhile.
P.S. I hope that everyone whose struggling right now is able to find a form of sobriety that works for them. ❤️
“Gotta have a heart to break, sweetheart. And trust me, there ain’t nothing in here worth reviving.”
This follows Kid who heads to California for the summer to stay with his best friend Hawke who invited him out to help him with work and hopefully get clean. After a night out and meeting this woman named Han he can’t get her out of his mind. She captured his heart but is their love and addiction enough to bring them together?
First off audiobook phenomenal. The way Joe was able to play out some intense and emotional sections in the book is incredible. Highly recommend picking up. CJ was also fantastic as Han. I appreciated the story it’s heavy with subjects and themes so be mindful going in. I found it more character-heavy with a little plot. These two souls really feel everything between each other. I will say I didn’t cry just feeling emotional while reading it. You got to see obsessive and erratic thoughts and behaviour. I will say don’t know how old Kid is or Han except four years difference and Han is older. Maybe Kid's age was mentioned in Hawke? But I can’t remember I read it a while ago. Overall, it was a great listen and read jammed with a lot of character emotion.
Genre/Type: Dark Romance 18+ APK: Kindle / Audio ARC Pages: 533 Audiobook Length: 14hrs 1min Narrators: Joe Arden and CJ Bloom - Duet Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5 Series or Stand Alone: Stand Alone Tropes or Themes: He Falls First, Soulmates, Addiction, Heavy, Jealousy, Alcohol, Cursing, Hallucinations, Mine, Sexual Content, Knife Play, Breath Play, BDSM, Praise, After Care, Self Harm, Blood, Drug Use, Drug Overdose, Intimate Tattoo, Violence, Wild Animal Death and Medical Content Mentions: Suicide Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
MIND BLOWING PERFORMANCE IN AUDIO! 5 Stars/3.5 peppers
This duet style audiobook is performed by CJ Bloom and Joe Arden. Most of the book is in Kid's perspective, with only the last 2 or so chapters narrated by Han (Johanna). Check content warnings. This story involves major themes of drug use and abuse on page, trauma and grief. This story does not glamorize drug use- but instead shows the dangers of addiction and how some people turn to substance abuse to numb their pain. It gives the reader/listener a sense of compassion for those who struggle.
This is my favorite performance by Joe Arden to date. It is raw and realistic. Incredibly heavy and believable. CJ Bloom broke my heart with Han's gut wrenching confession and brought tears to my eyes.
This story follows "Hawke" and in my opinion, it is important to read that book before this one. Kid is much heavier though.
Stars - 5 stars Themes - He Falls first, Mental Health, Drug Use, grumpy/sunshine, black cat female energy, Friends sister, loss/grief Format - 2023 kindle 2024 audiobook
Whether you read or listen to this book, it will have a lasting effect on you, Kid and Han will stay with you. This book has such depth and sorrow. This was a reread, and hearing the story this time, it hit even harder. The book is so beautiful and equally heartbreaking. Jescie really hit it out of the park with this one. I am still trying to re-process this book.
You know when you finish a book and to your very core you know that it has fundamentally changed something inside of you? Yeah, that’s this for me. It altered my brain in the best way. It may just be one of my new favorite books. This story was so raw and beautiful. Everything felt so real from the push and pull of Kid & Han’s relationship, to Kid’s internal war with addiction, and Han’s guilt and depression. It cut so deep. This is one of those books where a piece of it will remain with you.
The triggers in this are serious. We’re talking descriptive drug use from the first page, self harm, and mentions of suicide. Kid and Han went through so much individually, but also together, and watching them fight to overcome their demons and break together, just to heal alongside one another was so admirable. When I originally read Hawke (which if you haven’t read, I definitely suggest it before you dive into this), I loved Cole & Cam, and I was so curious about Kid. I didn’t expect to love him so much though, and I really wasn’t aware of how emotional his story would be. Kid & Han truly have my heart. I loved this book, and I really appreciated that all but the last two chapters were told solely from his point of view. It really felt like I connected with his character on such a deep, emotional level. Honestly, if I could give it a million stars I would.
This is going to be ingrained in my memory as one of my favorite books.
?/5 ⭐️ 3.5/5 🌶️ (only includes smut scenes between the hero & heroine, i don’t fuck with anything else)
Tropes: - golden retriever (H) x black cat (h) vibes - hero falls first - addiction + heavy drug use - older woman x younger man (4yrs) ~ ages unknown - drug dealer hero - free spirit heroine - one FMF/MFF scene (OW touches both MCs) - nobody warns you of this - rough sex + aftercare - beautiful poetic writing - OW sex scenes 😪 (i’m tired of this shit)
POV: first person - dual
Type: interconnected stand-alone (book two)
I half loved and half hated this book. So i can’t figure out a star rating, sue me.
I accidentally deleted part of my review but if I remember correctly there are three OW intimate scenes (one almost sex scene with grinding and all, second was full on detail in a car) Then the dreaded threesome scene.
I honestly feel lied to. EVERYWHERE (reviews by others and the author’s page) state there is a MFF threesome scene. The scene is actually FMF and MFF. I wouldn’t have minded if only the heroine touched the OW but when it comes to the hero, that’s a definite fuck no for me.
I thought the hero was only gonna be touched by the heroine. If I would have know, I would have stayed the fuck away from this book. The heroine even GUIDES the OW.
Passage from the book: ⬇️ Before I realize how we even got here, both women are licking and sucking me off. Han takes the lead, showing her exactly what I like. “Wrap your lips around the head,” she demands. “And circle your tongue. He loves that.”
She also tells the OW to sit on the hero’s cock.
*The first full on sex scene wasn’t even with the heroine. The hero & heroine apparently fuck but we get no details, just told it happened. So the fact that the OW sex scene was detailed pissed me off beyond belief.*
Okay, i loved this a lot more than i did Hawke to be honest.
Very heavy storyline including alcohol/drug abuse, addiction, suicide (hinted towards off page, but later in the book it becomes a more detailed scene of a retelling of what happened)
The banter between Kid and Han is immaculate, the chemistry between them felt so real and I felt immersed between their story and situations the entire time
Now this story deals with a way heavier discussion of addiction, drug and alcohol abuse, doing things to numb the pain of living basically (in the terms of their lives, as throughout the book you get to know their backstories and MAN they've both been through some shit)
Kid gives me VERY golden retriever energy, a sweet boy with addiction (re: illness) but wants to better himself for both him and the one he loves
Han seems like SUCH a sweetheart, just a wary traveler who doesnt stay connected to things or people very long to protect herself for heartbreak, or doesnt believe she is worthy of good things in her life (for reasons you'll find out later in the book)
If I could tell either of these characters one thing it would be: Its not your fault.
If you want a heartbreaking, dark read with a HEA pleaseeeee pick up this book, SO worthwhile <3 As per usual, the biggest plot point of this book was miscommunication/no communication, which is unfortunately one of my most hated tropes of books BUT there was so much goodness in this book otherwise. Plus the cameos of Hawke and Cole i just loved loved loved
Kid by Jescie Hall had me in tears just from the dedication. A heartbreaking story with heavy themes, you’ll want to check the content warnings before reading. Don’t let that pull you away from this book, though. There is such beauty in this journey.
I connected heavily with Han. We have a lot in common, fighting similar battles. She is such a force, even through her traumas. I fell in love with Kid; he has such a sweet heart. I am so thankful that Jescie wrote him the way she did. Addicts are so much more than their addictions. They are just people struggling, but it can get ugly. As a person who has lost a family member to drug addiction, I have seen firsthand how heartbreaking it can be. Thank you, Jescie, for giving Kid the ending that I wish my cousin and so many others could have had.
The audiobook is narrated in duet style by Joe Arden and CJ Bloom. Wow. The perfect match for this book. Paired with Jescie’s amazing writing, this audiobook is outstanding. Joe continues to pull big emotions from me. I understand that one girl sobbing in her car at Trader Joe’s. I cussed him out too. What a testament to his abilities! CJ gave Han the powerful voice she deserved and is fast becoming one of my favorite narrators. Joe gave Kid his adorable little laugh, and I love him for it.
“It’s one of those moments that permanently adds chapters to your life. It’s a moment, stamped into your mind, your timeline, your memory. A moment that succeeds others, feeling heavier than most.”
Narrators: Joe Arden and CJ Bloom Narration Style: Duet Standard Length: 14 hr, 1 min Listening Speed: 1.15x Published By: Blue Nose Audio
Triggers: If you or a loved one have ever struggled with addiction or self-harm, this book may feel especially heavy for you. Please proceed with caution.
If you like Joe Arden, you are probably going to love this book! Kid is told almost entirely from the male main character (Kid)’s point of view. I’ve never heard Joe Arden narrate like this before. He voiced the perfect laid-back golden retriever addict so well. He had me DYING with laughter in the LSD chapter. I’ve never listened to CJ Bloom before, but she has a new fan 🙋🏻♀️! Her narration was sly and sultry, the perfect voice for our black cat FMC, Han. The narration amplified the feelings I felt while reading this book, and this story put me through every emotion.
You should get this audiobook. Your inner 90’s kid will thank you!
Original Review:
For those of you that have read Hawke or have it on your TBR: I’ve read all of Jescie’s books this year, but my favorite has to be her book Kid. Kid is a contemporary romance with dark themes. However, sometimes I forgot it was a dark book because of how much the main character Kid (Kai) made me laugh. His inner dialogue and the words that spill out of his mouth had me rolling on the floor! The main female lead, Han, is elusive and battles many mental demons. Their story is absolutely unique and I’ve never read anything else like it! 🖤 This book is also quite spicy. Those of you that know: SMRTKA. 🫠 Jescie has mentioned to me before that this book was her favorite book to write, and it’s not surprising to me in the least. It’s obvious to the reader how well she connected with Kai. I’d happily read 5 more books about him.
One little nugget of information is that all of the chapters (besides one) are written from Kai (Kid)‘s POV. I feel like it’s rare to see that done in an MF book, and I absolutely loved it. Kid’s inner mind is an awesome thing to read and you get it in spades!
Kid is a spin-off story from her book Hawke. Chronologically, Hawke’s story happens before Kid’s, but you don’t have to read Hawke to read Kid. However, I loved both books 🖤 and I hope you do too.
Narrated in duet by Joe Arden (@therealjoearden ) and CJ Bloom (@carlyrobinsnarrator ).
Thank you Jescie and @bluenoseaudio for this copy. All thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.
KID audiobook was an experience for sure! It was gut wrenching, tragic, believe it not - often hilarious, and beautiful journey! Carly did a wonderful job portraying Jo! Her voice was soothing, sensual and emotional. As for Joe - you will hear his narration the most, as the story is told from Kid's pov. One thing for sure, Joe needs to read more scenes where character is 'tripping balls' because those moments were hilarious!
That aside, it's hard to rate this book because of how raw and emotionally heavy it was.
There are some people who give up on Kid and Han's story few pages in. There are some people who finished it and are in state of haze. There are some people who felt seen and heard, and came to some kind of personal understanding. And there are some people who's hearts were touched by Jescie's writing so much, that they will never forget this book.
KID will not suit all reader tastes and that's fine. But I think we all can find some lesson or thought from Jo and Kai's story. If you read and accept the TW's for this book (I mean, no joke - it's really heavy on drug use)- give their story a chance. They are golden retriever/black cat girl energy type of duo. They will take you on a wild ride while their chaotic energy will make you laugh and curse.
I was so excited to read KID, I seriously fangirl the hell out of Jescie after reading Hawke!! KID is way more dark and complicated and I love that Jescie is able to write such a raw and gripping story. This book is written from KID’s pov, and I don’t think I have ever read that in a FM before.
Kai (kid) and his no filtered brain to mouth transaction was seriously funny, he had me cracking up quite some time! Han (Johanna) is a free soul, doesn’t tie down and deals with her own inner demons, using all kinds of things to stop her from feeling things what she has in common with Kai (Kid) “𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒔.”
Selfdestructive behavior isn’t uncommon for her and she disappears when things become to much. Han is really wearing a armor of steel and bricks to prevent people from getting too close. I kind of related to her in a way 🖤 They have a very complicated and toxic relationship with each other, I mean how do you love someone who doesn’t feel worthy of love? And in a way they are addicted and truly obsessed with each other. I also loved reading about Cam and Cole again, their relationship is so strong they are definitely soulmates.
Jescie was a new-to-me author at the end of 2022. I read her book Hawke and have become a ridiculous fan girl.
KID is a spinoff of Hawke but can be read as a standalone.
It's a contemporary dark romance featuring a hot ass, blonde haired man whom I absolutely couldn't get enough of.
Kai aka KID has an intense and addictive personality.
Johanna is dark, mysterious and unpredictable.
Together, their chemistry is off the charts and the reader is propelled down into their world of...questionable activities 😂
I think this story was not only about the bond they formed but also one about self discovery, for both of them.
I gave this book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I really enjoyed the storyline along with the characters. The book did well with a slow, angsty build up which led to the inevitable relationship but then continued with an amazing plot which ended with a HEA.
Deets:
Golden retriever/ black cat girl energy MMC falls first Bisexual FMC Heavy drug use Knife play MFF scenes Rough sexual play Trauma Self inflicted pain Mentions of suicide Ends with a HEA
4.75⭐️ Please for the love of God check your trigger warnings before diving in. This one was dark & HEAVY.
I think the author did an amazing job at showing the lives of two people who suffer from addiction without glamorizing it. Kai & Johanna were two incredibly broken people dealing with their trauma in the only way they knew how. Their stories absolutely broke my heart. This was toxic & messy at times but I loved the way they just wanted to help each other. This book was tough to read at times. There was a lot of conflict and miscommunication but I think given the circumstances, it’s understandable. Han was EXTREMELY hard to like in the beginning, the constant leaving & lack of using her WORDS was frustrating as hell. But the more I read and the more of her story I got, the more I understood her. She was just a broken girl who didn’t know how to receive love. & Kid, sweet sweet boy😭 I was rooting for him from start to finish. Was he possessive? Of course. But he loves that woman with his WHOLE ENTIRE BEING.
This book was beautiful, tragic, & raw. These characters hold such a special place in my heart.
I want to start by saying this book is HEAVY. It's heavy and deep in all the best ways possible.
If I could give this book infinity stars I would. I don't think "five" stars does it justice... or maybe I need to go back and reevaluate all my five stars if they're to be compared to Kid. Either way, their story is unparalleled in my eyes. I won't stop talking about it until everyone reads this damn book!
Kid is a spin-off of Hawke. It's not required to read Hawke first, but it is recommended. You'll get a glimpse of his quirky character and just want to know a little more about him in general. I'm not sure if it's considered first person only since 95% of this book is told in Kid's point of view, but you will absolultey get better acquainted with him.
This book is everything. EVERYTHING. I couldn't ask for more from any author. I laughed, I ugly sobbed, I felt the love, I felt the pain, I felt like they truly exist somewhere in the world. In my mind, Kid and Han are out on a California coast somewhere, watching the waves.
“I can make people stick. I’m like a big wad of gum. I’m sweet, fun to blow, and people tend to get stuck to me whether they like it or not.” __Kid is HILARIOUS. I love his quick wits and sarcasm. I love how he knows what he wants and just goes after it. I love how much he loves. He's just the perfect specimen in my eyes. I found no flaws.
"She’s the life of the party. Everyone gravitates towards her in such a way that the idea of her in a low place just doesn’t even seem possible." __Han. Oh Han. She's the girl everyone wants because she doesn't let you in. She's flighty, off-the-wall, but true to herself. She aims to please no one. A girl like that can be an addiction for anyone who likes the chase. They want her undivided attention, they want to be her friend, they want to catch this elusive prey.
I truly believe dark attracts dark, just as much as light attracts light. Their darkness drew each other in but love saved them.
"We study each other with our matching dilated eyes, the look of two lost souls, somehow seeing their reflection in each other."
I think I'll take a break from this book/author for a bit...
While I loved "That sik luv", Hawke was more on the down side for me, and after listened to 20% of Kid, I feel like this book is just a long road full of meaningless sex scenes with random and faceless partners, while also high as a kite.... For both main characters.
There's probably a deep message here, about addiction, depression, healing and whatsoever... But until now? There's nothing building up to something there!
It's just Kid's lyrical thoughts toward Jo and then getting high and fucking random girls, or Jo.
Or was probably a mistake to binge this author... Maybe if I had a few books in between, I would have now patience with Kid. But as it is now, I'm out.
Aaaaand Jescie Hall did it again. Making me feel a maelstrom of emotions too big to contain. I felt like my heart would burst out of my chest cavity. From sadness, anger, happiness, disappointment, anticipation. Name it all, Kid made me feel everything. I was so invested in this book, in the characters, in the story. Everytime Kid and Han advanced forward, they would fall back two steps behind. It was tedious, excruciating, yet so raw and organic. Emotionally taxing yet so healing. Visceral. Every once in while, you discover a gem of a book that you know will stick with you until you die. Kid is one of that kind.
💊Substance abuse 🐿️Trauma (healing) 💊He falls first 🐿️Golden retriever mmc 💊Black cat energy fmc 🐿️Self-inflicted pain 💊kn1fe play
Kai will always and forever hold a place in my heart. The depth of this book is incredible. Jescie Hall can turn an entire novel into something poetic. I feel so attached to Kid and Han and I’m absolutely gutted to have come to then end. Thank you for writing my new favourite book. 🖤
DNF’d at 60 %. I adored her previous book Hawke. But I couldn’t get thru this one. Just lots of drugs and sex, slow progression. I felt there was too much focus on describing drug use and getting high, and not enough about character development.
Safety info: One threesome with h, H and ow. Ow touches hero. Both do oral on him at the same time and penetration. h guides ow, teaching her what H likes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book was so good that I honestly could not put it down. I downloaded it in the morning and finished it in a day.
There is nothing more poetic and beautifully descriptive as Jescie Hall’s writing. It’s consuming. I felt like I was feeling everything along with Kid. His angst, mania, highs, and lows were so real to me.