K.C. Mills

You Could Do Damage

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, KC Mills and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Secondly, sometimes there also are ARCs you end up not liking – this unfortunately was the case for me. As I promised an honest review in exchange for receiving a copy of this book, I’ll leave my thoughts below and I will not soften them, just because it was an ARC.

This book looks promising at first, with a Forced Proximity/Arranged Marriage scenario between the two main characters set in a loosely hinted at Mafia/Made Men setting. While we meet both characters very early on, it takes quite a few chapters to pick up the pace. When it does, it moves too fast for my taste.

The characters themselves unfortunately lack depth. After reading a whole book about them, I can’t tell you anything more personal about either than their drink preferences and their issues, which tend to be a tad bit repetitive. Their only role seems to be the one of husband and wife, briefly interrupted only by interludes of “imposing Mafia Boss” and “Poor, poor (in both senses) Wife”.

What I usually enjoy in these types of books, was nowhere to be found. The effortless way of commanding a room, the subtle self-assured way of holding himself and the easy-going, decidedly unforced masculinity these Mafia-type men usually are described with fell flat for me in this one. Kincaid is not effortlessly masculine in any cute way, but incredibly insecure, toxic and controlling. That’s not a cute look.

Speaking of cute – that seems to be the only personality trait the female main character possesses she’s hot, she’s cute and kind of awkward, at least according to silver-spoon-Romeo. This even is a claim the narrator makes in a chapter of Nari’s POV, because it’s said: “The issue with that seemed to be I never truly had an identity before he shook up my world.” Wow! This sadly didn’t change throughout the entirety of the book.

Kincaid, the male love interest, also seems like he mostly speaks in “half truths” as he claims, while to an attentive reader these usually are closer to “full lies”.

Also, sprinkle on a bit of homophobic commentary here and there alongside the toxic masculinity and you do end up giving the MCs some sort of … character. And by character I mean a very bitter aftertaste.

The plotline did not feel consistent, as there are multiple opponents introduced and by the time one of the main twists happens, we never get to know who was behind it, before another adversary is introduced. The main thing happening here is one on one scenes with the main characters, possessive, jealous behaviour of the male main character after an outing with his wife (multiple), and ominous “business meetings” the male lead has to go to. Repeat.

For the entirety of the book, I felt like I was scratching on surfaces while my resolve to find out more about these characters was whittled down by every chapter.

The final straw for this rating were the innumerable grammatical errors and spelling mistakes this book surprises you with.

I’m really sorry, but this is my honest opinion and that’s what I have promised to give: I can’t really recommend reading this book.

Leonie

First of all, thank you to NetGalley, KC Mills and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Secondly, sometimes there also are ARCs you end up not liking – this unfortunately was the case for me. As I promised an honest review in exchange for receiving a copy of this book, I’ll leave my thoughts below and I will not soften them, just because it was an ARC.

This book looks promising at first, with a Forced Proximity/Arranged Marriage scenario between the two main characters set in a loosely hinted at Mafia/Made Men setting. While we meet both characters very early on, it takes quite a few chapters to pick up the pace. When it does, it moves too fast for my taste.

The characters themselves unfortunately lack depth. After reading a whole book about them, I can’t tell you anything more personal about either than their drink preferences and their issues, which tend to be a tad bit repetitive. Their only role seems to be the one of husband and wife, briefly interrupted only by interludes of “imposing Mafia Boss” and “Poor, poor (in both senses) Wife”.

What I usually enjoy in these types of books, was nowhere to be found. The effortless way of commanding a room, the subtle self-assured way of holding himself and the easy-going, decidedly unforced masculinity these Mafia-type men usually are described with fell flat for me in this one. Kincaid is not effortlessly masculine in any cute way, but incredibly insecure, toxic and controlling. That’s not a cute look.

Speaking of cute – that seems to be the only personality trait the female main character possesses she’s hot, she’s cute and kind of awkward, at least according to silver-spoon-Romeo. This even is a claim the narrator makes in a chapter of Nari’s POV, because it’s said: “The issue with that seemed to be I never truly had an identity before he shook up my world.” Wow! This sadly didn’t change throughout the entirety of the book.

Kincaid, the male love interest, also seems like he mostly speaks in “half truths” as he claims, while to an attentive reader these usually are closer to “full lies”.

Also, sprinkle on a bit of homophobic commentary here and there alongside the toxic masculinity and you do end up giving the MCs some sort of … character. And by character I mean a very bitter aftertaste.

The plotline did not feel consistent, as there are multiple opponents introduced and by the time one of the main twists happens, we never get to know who was behind it, before another adversary is introduced. The main thing happening here is one on one scenes with the main characters, possessive, jealous behaviour of the male main character after an outing with his wife (multiple), and ominous “business meetings” the male lead has to go to. Repeat.

For the entirety of the book, I felt like I was scratching on surfaces while my resolve to find out more about these characters was whittled down by every chapter.

The final straw for this rating were the innumerable grammatical errors and spelling mistakes this book surprises you with.

I’m really sorry, but this is my honest opinion and that’s what I have promised to give: I can’t really recommend reading this book.

You Could Do Damage

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