Kennedy Ryan

Resisting an irresistible force wears you down and turns you out. I know. I've been doing it for years. I may not have a musical gift of my own, but I've got a nose for talent and an eye for the extraordinary. And Marlon James - Grip to his fans - is nothing short of extraordinary. Years ago, we strung together a few magical nights, but I keep those memories in a locked drawer and I've thrown away the key. All that's left is friendship and work. He's on the verge of unimaginable fame, all his dreams poised to come true. I manage his career, but I can't seem to manage my heart. It's wild, reckless, disobedient. And it remembers all the things I want to forget.

Grip

Sara Uribe

You know when you read something and you just don’t have any word to put to what you read even though you’ve taken a few days to really digest. Yeah, that is how this book has me. I think everyone should read this book. It is fabulous. I am obviously late to the party since this has been out for awhile now but DAMN. 

This is the kind of romance book I LOVE to read. Their chemistry jumps off the pages. And if you think that these two jump right into the sexual aspect of their relationship, you are wrong. Kennedy Ryan makes you WORK for it. The constant sexual tension made this book somehow even better. 

This book resonates with me. I completely identify with Bristol. As being someone who is in an interracial marriage/relationship I get Bristol and this book makes me appreciate this book even more. My whiteness and privilege is often checked by my husband and Grip does the same with Bristol. Grip is a unique and beautiful story about love that touches on many hot button topics that are relevant in today’s world. It is a breathtaking, raw, honest and real book that you don’t often come across in Romance often and I am glad that this is here. I laughed, I cried and I can’t stop thinking about this book and I can’t wait to read book two. This book deserves all the stars in the damn universe.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ because it’s on another level than other books I’ve read.

I received an eARC of Promise Me Forever, a collection from Top Shelf Romance in exchange for an honest review. This book was included in that collection.

Nouran Hazem

This book means the world to me I literally can’t express how much I loved Bristol and Grip.. it was just so emotional and absolutely well written.. I think I have most of the book tabbed, highlighted and underlined.. While Bristol’s character could come off very frustrating, I actually related to her so much and felt very seen with her doubts and trust issues. But the way Grip loves Bristol and way down bad for her for years?! and the way she loves him, my favorite type of love 😭🫶🏻 and bonus points for her being so protective of him love a fierce queen! 

And the way this book was more than just a romance and discussed important issues regarding race, prejudice, and the struggle of being an interracial couple and police brutality..

Kennedy Ryan I will read anything you write.

Nouran

Annabella

macy

4.5
kennedy ryan never disappoints me or fails to make me cry

Noelia Abreu

3.5 'why did it take so long' stars

I absolutely adored the prequel 'Flow', it had me hooked from the very first moment, I really felt the chemistry and the connection (characters who actually have in depth conversations!!!!!). Also, reading this I realized I had actually never read a music romance with a rapper and it was really cool and exciting to read something different. So, Flow was great and I really wanted to see what happens next but then Grip... sigh. Grip was frustrating and repetitive. I just didn't get why did it take so fucking long for them to get their shit together! The reasons for them to not be together got old pretty fast. On the other hand, even as frustrated as I was - I really couldn't put the book down and I was reading it every free moment I had. I think the book was great with how it handle and explained certain topics, I really really love that, just because this is a romance doesn't mean it can't handle speaking about important issues. The writing was good and I will definitely will be reading the sequel. 

Overall, I would recommend it if you can handle the angst.

celeste

3.5 stars. not me sobbing over the epilogue and the "bruise" lyrics 
would have given it a higher rating if the heroine hadn't annoyed me for 80% of this book cause she really drove me up the wall with her dumb actions and decisions. the ending made this book worthwhile though.

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads.


This book, y'all. After the events at the end of Flow, I suspected Grip would be a more difficult read. But, I had no idea what all it was going to put me through. Be forewarned, my review will likely be (at least vaguely) spoilery so if you've not yet read this book and want to go in blind, you might want to skip this. I won't blame you. Ok, now onward. 

I fell in love with Grip and Bristol in Flow. I was shipping the hell out of them. So, naturally I was upset when the things went down at the end and Bristol left him under the circumstances she did. I knew Grip would have a different vibe than Flow, but I was so addicted to these characters and their story that I jumped in without hesitating. Obviously, I didn't like that they were separated, that Grip was trying and Bristol pushing him away. Why couldn't they just get it together? 

The first half(ish) of the book was a tough read for me. If you've followed my reviews for any length of time, you know how I feel about "other women" in books. When characters I love aren't in the relationship I'm shipping, it's pretty upsetting to me. To be perfectly honest, I've stopped reading books for less. But, there was something about Grip and Bristol, and despite the fact he was with someone else, I couldn't stop reading. (Though I did admittedly skim a few of the scenes because... well, I wasn't interested in reading about him getting with anyone else.) Thankfully, it was fairly easy to move through them and past them once Bristol's stubborn self finally came to her senses. It was a very anti-Kim book in a lot of ways, but I still loved it. (The second half at least!)

Now that I've got that out of the way, I can talk about how much I loved the progression of Grip and Bristol's relationship AFTER. I can't really fault Grip for being frustrated with her and trying to move on, though he was never successful. I don't have to like it, but I can't blame him. But man, it tore at my heart to read about them apart. Once they were together again? It felt like (nearly) everything was right with the world again. Their chemistry, their passion, their love for each other was evident in nearly every scene. It was true romance. 

As frustrated as I got with Bristol at times, I really did love her character. She was a strong, determined woman, but there was a fragility underneath it all. She had a very complicated relationship with her family and I think it's fair to say she never felt like she was as loved as she loved others. This is also part of the reason she pushed Grip away. She was scared because she'd been hurt in the past. It seemed as though she was unable to trust and always waiting for the other shoe to drop. She built a wall around herself and was determined to not let anyone in. But, Grip finally got in. 

I loved Grip. (The character.) The man was amazing. He was intense and his lyrics were amazing. Seriously, when you finally read the words for the song Bruise, which is referenced several times in the book, prepare to be floored. It was beautiful. His past had a lot of ugliness and pain and it definitely shaped him. If this was a run of the mill romance, I would probably have held a grudge about him and other women while he and Bristol were separated, but I let that go. Like I said above, it made sense in the story — even if it felt wrong. But I was comforted knowing it felt just as wrong to them as it did to me. 

While the romance between Grip and Bristol was at the forefront during this book, there was SO MUCH MORE to this story than "just romance". There were so many thought-provoking — and even downright disturbing — scenes dealing with race and racism. So many of Grip's conversations with Bristol reminded me of conversations I have with one of my friends, when he talks about how he grew up and the things he's seen. I like a book that makes me think and Grip did that. It wasn't preachy or one-sided or "overly political" (for the people who might call that a bad thing), but it was a real commentary on the state of racism in our country. I've not been able to stop thinking about it since I finished, if I'm honest.

So, yes, I loved this book. It's the kind of angsty book I can only read every so often, but my gods the feels. SO MANY FEELS. Of all varieties. But, at its core, Grip was a beautiful and unforgettable romance between two characters who were so different in so many ways, but alike where it counted. Kennedy's writing is gorgeous. I'm kicking myself for not discovering her sooner. I was pleased with the ending of this book and even if a follow-up didn't exist, I'd have been happy. But, I was also thrilled I was going to get more of these characters who found a way under my skin and into my heart. 

FAVORITE QUOTES

It is real, and real is so rare, you can't ignore it when you find it. You don't give up on it. 

"I look forward to making you come with my words alone."

I don't have to scan the room or search the crowd. She's the compass in every room.

I've had some pretty wild dreams about Bristol Gray. But in my wildest dreams, I couldn't imagine that, not the nakedness of her body, but the nakedness of her soul, would be the thing that tempted me the most.

This heart of mine that has no borders, no bottom, no ceiling, would be crushed by the wrong man.

We splinter into a thousand pieces in her kitchen, becoming more together than we were apart. More than we were alone. With whispered promises and words of love, we exchange hearts.

I know him. I knew him first. I had him first. I loved him first. He's mine.

"My heart broke loose on the wind."

window

I enjoyed Flow but Grip, unfortunately not so much. I found it to be repetitive and frustrating. Chapter after chapter and 8 long years of them wanting each other but Bristol being too afraid of getting hurt and refusing to act on her emotions. It eventually made me dislike her and dragged the plot to a crawl. DNF. I love many of Ryan's other books but this one was not for me.

Lacey

I've never felt so frustrated than reading the first half of Grip, but Kennedy Ryan made it 100% worth it!!! I couldn't put this book down. The narrators for the audio are amazing!

Grip

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