Entangled

Alternate titles for this book:

The miscommunication trope is so 2023. Have you heard about, the gaslighting trope?

Or how about:

Men can't communicate, and are then confused when the girl doesn't love them after they've rejected her/shown no interest in her/ignored her for their other love interest.

Rebecca Quinn is absolutely masterful at writing. Reading this book felt like eating cotton candy, just melting on my tongue, going down so easy. Like I could eat 10 and not even notice. However, this book left me so so so frustrated lol. I think its best I address all of the characters individually:

Jasper:I still stand by what I said in my review of the first book. His reluctance to engage in a relationship with Lucky because he was previously his Psychologist was very believable/understandable, and is probably the only time this "rejection for your own sake" idea has worked for me with a hero. Also, It was resolved well, and “in good time” with Lucky. With Eden however, it just went on and on. His self denial, self flagellation, self righteousness got old. I actually forgot why he wasn't giving it a shot with her several times during the book, then I was reminded when it was restated like 75% in or so, and I was like “oh yeah... that's pretty dumb.” The whole thing with his Ex wife was prolonged to the point it was just weird and annoying. Like she and Eden are two completely different people, and it's like he couldn't see that enough to get over himself. Also he is one of the prime suspects of the “Why doesn't she love me after I've rejected her, and embarrassed her, and she found out I'm obsessed with someone else, and probably thinks she could never have a chance?” so yeah 3/10Jayk: One of my favorite characters honestly. His character development makes a lot of sense to me, and I wish he was in the book more. 8/10 Beau: Perfect. Honestly him and Jayk seem like the only characters that actually care about Eden. Jayk wants to protect her from the others (cause they're pretty obviously treating her like garbage) and Beau wants everything to work, and wants to support Eden in getting the ~*poly relationship of her dreams*~. He works well with Eden both alone, and in the company of others. My only complaint is, like Jayk, I wish I got to see more of his POV. He only loses one star cause of his whole instalove, but Eden needs at least one decent dude on her side, and he's amazing at taking care of her so I'll let it pass. 9/10Lucky:Surprisingly my least favorite character?? I think he's supposed to be universally likable, and I was decently fond of him in the first book, but after his and Eden's heart to heart in the kitchen I was really turned off of him. For someone who says he understands how it feels to be constantly held in the balance, and in perpetual unrequited love with someone, you would think he would be able to be a bit more empathetic to Eden's situation. Eden was very brave, and honest in sharing her insecurities and how she felt about the relationship. Then Lucky just gaslights her and says she's just like Jasper. Eden's primary concern, which she actually voiced during this conversation , was that she would always be second best and wouldn't be able couldn't compete with Jasper for Lucky's love. I will acknowledge, that this was a great parallel that Rebecca Quinn made to help Eden understand how Jayk might feel, and why he might be uncomfortable with the whole sharing thing. Unfortunately, it was not handled gracefully, and Lucky threw this in Eden's face, and then didn't at all re-assure her that he loved her as much as Jasper. This scene was probably what killed him for me: "You were already his. I just borrowed you for a little while." ... "No. Eden, I panicked. That's all" [this is not what I remember happening but whatever I guess]..."Beautiful, if you want me to prove how much I want you, I'll do it right now. We can go upstairs, and I'll prove it to you in every position you can think of." He laughs, a little wild. "Or that I can think of--I'll show you every way."..."Now that he gave you permission?" I ask softly. ... "It hurts too much to come in as less, Lucky. I've done it all my life, and I just...can't." And then it digresses into Lucky being a childish brat to get his way, but not actually reassuring Eden of his feelings. Also the feelings she shared here were never actually addressed in the rest of this book He gave her no reason at all to feel that she wouldn't always be second best to Jasper, and instead of convincing her otherwise begged, and guilted her for affection. As their reader, it's easier to understand that he actually does like/love her, and what he wants out of their relationship according to his own POV. But Eden hasn't seen any of that. She doesn't know that he wants to be a co-sub (is that a thing?) with her, and have Jasper to dominate them both. He's never told her that, from what I can recall. From her POV, she feels she has no chance with Jasper, knows Lucky loves and probably wont give up Jasper for her, and now no chance with Lucky being her dom.If I were to completely ignore his point of view, and only read Eden's, only seeing things unfold from her perspective, and going of WHAT HE HAS ACTUALLY SAID TO HER, I see no reason that she should believe that Lucky is capable of loving both her and Jasper equally. In fact, I'm pretty sure if you ask any of the other brutes, knowing how obsessed Lucky has been with Jasper for such a long time, they might not be able to argue his case either. He has said he is capable of as much, but there is literally no evidence of this anywhere. 0/10All and all, I'm a bit frustrated with this second book. I know it was probably supposed to be a frustrating read, but this was a lot on all fronts. Rebecca Quinn has shown in these two books that she's a really really strong writer, so I'm trusting her to shape all of this up in the last book. But If I strip away the beautiful writing, and just look at the plot as it stands, the relationships with Eden are very fragile. In all honesty if I wanted to look at this in the most cruel light, it kind of seems like Eden isn't really the main character at all, just the catalyst for the growth of the other characters and the destruction and repair of their relationships with one another. Lucky and Jasper, Beau and Dom, Jayk and all the rest of them. Like it kinda just seems like she's there just to mobilize and deepen these relationships, but so far, her own relationships with the brutes haven't gotten the same treatment or attention on the guys end. It's hard to believe at some level that Eden is at all special to them, and that any other woman (I guess other than Heather lmao) that they were all decently attracted to couldn't have filled the same role. I know their POV show that they like Eden as an individual, and they talk about which of her characteristics they find special, and that she's essentially perfect for each of them in their own unique way, but their actions and words aren't really matching up at this point.Oh Dom: I literally forgot about him because IDK what the fuck he's doing this entire book. I get it, he's trying to keep the civilians alive, but I found him completely uncompelling. He made me stressed about everyone's survival enough to find Eden running off to bone all the dudes a bit silly and impractical. Like if he's really so stressed he can't have a conversation with anyone, do they have time for all of this butt plug shit lol? (even though it was really good...please don't get rid of it) His inability to consider his relationship with Eden a priority in the time of stress, kinda sobered the tone and made the very important character/relationship development feel a bit frivolous.Also he wants to bone Eden, but not enough to like, do anything about it, or even remotely convince Eden that he is interested in her at all as a person. Even when they were talking over coffee it was apparently him just venting all his problems and her listening. He says he can't do nice, can't do cuddles, can't do I love you. Sure. Ok. Fine. But he's supposed to be a very straightforward person. It is very hard to believe that he can't like, tell her he's interested, but isn't sure he loves her yet because it's too soon? Instead of doing all this weird “I'm interested in you, but I'm gonna hang all over Heather (even though everyone and their mom has told me repeatedly that this might hurt you/send the wrong message). I'm also not gonna address it all, but I'm still gonna make sexy eyes at you. Also please forget about the fact that the entire first book I thought you were a useless waste of space, and pretty much told you as much, and I haven't really addressed that at all...But I don't really understand why you only wanna be just friends, and you can't see that I like you more than that???” I forgot you existed/10It's like every male character in this book decides once they've changed their minds about something, that Eden should just ignore how they've been treating her the entire first book, (and majority of this one). Like they get mad at her when she guards her heart when they've done nothing but rip her apart in their own *unique* way. She's been constantly trying her best, but all of the dudes are playing in the middle of the pool, none of them want to make any moves, or do anything about anything (except Beau) and then just gaslight the shit out of Eden when they change their minds. Also I don't give a shit about heather, I really just don't lol. I can't even be bothered to capitalize her name. She's not endearing, she's not nice, not cute, her entire personality is just annoying. It's honestly quite impressive that Rebecca Quinn has created such a detestable character without employing any of the classic catty/mean girl character tropes.

There I'm done. God, I'm sorry.