Thrive by Becca Ritchie, Krista Ritchie Publisher: Self-Published on July 18, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Pages: 425
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Rating:
Two years will change them forever.
When rumors spread like wildfire—like having three-ways with her boyfriend’s rock climbing brother—Lily Calloway spirals into a dark place. Her bedroom. Loren Hale is more confident and determined to keep their sex life private, even from their friends, and he helps Lily in the only way he knows how. But how much love is too much?
Their lives are filmed, watched, and criticized. And through it all, Lily and Loren have to face enemies they never thought they’d see, demons they don’t know if they should bury, and setbacks they didn’t think they’d meet. Not this soon.
And one rumor could be too much for them to handle. It will test their greatest limitations, and if they don’t hold onto each other, someone is going to drown.
A full-length New Adult Romance that bridges the gap between the second and third books. Thrive must be read before Addicted After All if you have not read the Calloway Sisters spin-off series.
At A Glance
Seriously, the FEELS!
The Good
First off, I have not read Kiss the Sky or Hothouse Flower (I plan to read them soon), the spinoff of the Addicted Series. I made sure to check with the author, and you can either read all the Addicted books through, or read the spinoff between them. Thrive and Kiss the Sky are set within the same time frame and I made the choice to read Thrive first, though many readers suggested reading Kiss the Sky and Hothouse Flower first. I did this because I started with Lo and Lily and I wanted to get their story first before I got the sisters’ stories. Who knows if it was the right way to go. But I do think it could have affected my rating.
These books always hit me right in the heart. It’s probably one of the most emotional series I have ever read. The feels are almost too much for me because the authors just take every emo scene to a new level. They will rip your heart out and put it back in pieces with just their words. But it’s worth it. All the pain and all the drama from these characters messed up lives is worth reading about. Because these characters are amazing. Every last one of them.
So, there is no way to really talk about what happens in Thrive except to say, shit happens, then more shit, then shit rolls onto that shit, and at the end you have this big shit ball that just keeps building. It’s messed up, people. It’s too much yet not enough. But through all the crap, we have Loren and Lily becoming even closer, which seems impossible at this point. It’s like they share one soul. I have never met a better suited or more connected couple in my life. They live in their own world of sex, addiction, and nerdiness. The nerdy parts were the best! We get references from all our favorites: Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, and the list goes on. They are so freaking cute with their inside jokes and ridicules adorkable references. I can’t get enough of these two.
Rose, Conner, Daisy, Ryke, Lily, and Lo become so close in this book. Their bonds just get stronger and stronger. It warms my heart to see how supportive they are of each other, even if they show it in weird ways sometimes.
The plot was good, but that damn reality show about fried my nerves. The writing and pacing were also great. But I am more about the relationships. That’s what keeps me coming back for more. They are all so flawed and so fucked up, a perfect recipe for yummy stories.
The Bad
I get exhausted by how much shit happens to these people. I know it’s all part of the drama but at least some justice could have been dealt. I can’t stand a book that let’s so much crap happen to its characters without the bad guys ever getting justice. And that bullshit about being above revenge, whatever. It’s not about revenge, it’s about making bullies accountable for their actions.
The Snuggly
Even though Thrive reads like a new adult, it has very adult sexual situations. Yay! I love how sexual these books are without going too over the top. Lo and Lily just have this chemistry that cannot be denied. Fucking like bunnies is putting it mildly, but I loved every second of it. I mean, come on, it’s a given when this book is about a sex addict.
Final Thoughts
This is a must read series by must read authors. They take flawed characters to a whole other level. I am reading all the books to this series and the spin off one after another for the next week, so I am super excited. Very recommended.
Quotes
“Our love is rare. It’s one I can’t abandon, even if I tried. When she screams, an identical one rips through me. When she cries, my world rains with grief. When she loves, I truly, truly fly.”
“We’re no longer welcome at that particular hotel…for eternity. Those were the manager’s exact words.” Connor loosens his bowtie. “I don’t blame him for thinking we’re immortal. In some preclassic civilizations, I’d be considered a god.”
“I’m going to love Lily how I want to love her.
Overwhelmingly, uncompromisingly.
Look away if you have to.”
“You threaten my balls every day.”
“That’s because they’re hanging around my sister,” Rose snaps. I hate that she makes a good point. “And you have full right to threaten my eggs or fallopian tubes. Have at them.”
I grimace. “I’m not going anywhere near your vagina.”
“‘I’ll never understand Ravenclaws,’ he tells me. Connor and Rose would belong to the smartest house in the wizarding world. No question. Before the sorting hat even touched their heads, it’d scream Ravenclaw!”
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
Good on you for checking if reading the spin-off before the series was do-able. I know that most authors are only a tweet away, but I somehow forget that whenever I encounter a similar dilemma. Blogger FAIL. Gotta love those feels though! However, I’m surprised that the author didn’t give the bad guys a taste of their own medicine.
Jennifer Bielman
I know, the bad guy thing REALLY pissed me off. It’s more of a personal hate but it still affects how much I like a book, so I can’t discount it.
Braine Talk Supe
Hahahaha, big ball of shit eh? I guess you’re like me, this isn’t a holiday read. You and I are on the same wavelength in terms of reading choices this season. The shittier the better! LOL
Jennifer Bielman
Bwahahaha! We are shit sisters! LMAO. Sounds so wrong
kindlemom1
I read the first book and loved it even though it was harder to read than I thought it would be. I really do need to pick up the rest of the series.
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, it took me forever to get to the rest of the series. Time is not on my side.
Melliane
It’s always wonderful when a book touches you like that. I hope you’ll love the others as well.
Jennifer Bielman
I have a good feeling I will!
Christy
Oh great, now I have to read this and how justify reading this before KtK and HHF … you kill me Jennifer. I’m so glad you liked it though. I love this series to pieces!
Jennifer Bielman
OMG, you are such a baby!! 😀 I thought you already read this one!!!!
Christy
LOL – I’ve read them all, except I read in order. Well, okay, technically, I read KtS first because I wasn’t even aware it was part of a series. Talk about spoiler. lol
Jennifer Bielman
Okay, yeah, I thought so.
OMG, you DID read them out of order then. The HORROR!!!!
Jaclyn Canada
Ah “I’m going to love Lily how I want to love her.
Overwhelmingly, uncompromisingly.
Look away if you have to.” – what an excellent quote! So glad the characters are awesome, that’s very important. I get fed up though too when so, so much bad happens and you feel like the characters can never catch a break. Very glad you enjoyed this one 😀
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, my stomach hurts when too much shit happens over and over again. I need a damn break!
Lily
I’m so happy you liked this one Jennifer! I’ve read all the books in the series and the spin off and while I did read the spin off books before Thrive I do completely think you can read Thrive without reading them. You don’t need too but I did love both Hothouse and Kiss the Sky so much that I recommend picking them up soon!
Jennifer Bielman
I am actually reading Kiss the Sky right now. I always planned to read them, I just wanted to get through Lo and Lil’s stuff first, you know?