Mariana | By Any Medium's Reviews > Backstroke

Plot/Storyline : ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice : 🌶️🌶️.5
Editing (typos, grammar, etc) : ✏️✏️✏️✏️.5

TALK ABOUT OBSESSED - Also, why are most of the men with Daddy issues named Remington (Remy)?? Haha

THIS BOOK WILL NOT BE FOR EVERYONE AND THAT’S OKAY. But don’t sh*t on the author’s work because YOU elected to ignore their warnings.

This is a dark academia (university), M/F, fast-burn with an obsessive/possessive MMC and an FMC who has dealt with her more than fair share of trauma.

Remington Frampton is the campus god at Frampton University (can you guess why? *wink*) who also happens to be the cliché playboy. He’s a one and done kind of guy. Until he bumps into Fallon Monroe (literally), who has blue hair, piercings galore and has more black in her wardrobe more than any other color.

Each have their own Daddy issues to deal with but only one of them truly has some trauma to overcome.

I LOVE how Remy becomes obsessed at first sight. This man is not for everyone but damn I love an MMC that decides immediately on their FMC and then does his absolute worst to make sure she understands his level of obsession.

I’ll be honest, I’m on the fence about Fallon which is why my rating isn’t much higher. She’s described as feisty but eh, I beg to differ. She’s more… non-compliant. I understand she went through a couple of life-altering events and that would change anyone but I feel like Fallon has no personality.

We just get these little bits of insight; enough to propel the story but not enough to give the characters the range and depth needed to feel emotionally invested in. But I suppose that’s what is sacrificed with a fast-burn.

There is plenty of spice but nothing too out of the ordinary. Remy’s best feature is his mouth and all his dirty talk. My only irk was the way Fallon lost her virginity. I know this is a work of fiction but it should at least be somewhat realistic for a first time of penetration with a penis (just saying haha…).

Also, FYI there isn’t much swimming going on for being marketed as a sport-adjacent romance.

I applied to receive an advanced reader’s copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.