Author: Skyler Mason
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes: Second Chance Romance, Angst
Trigger/Content Warnings: Anxiety and panic attacks, Cheating, Severe usage of drugs and alcohol
Release Date: December 6th, 2020
Synopsis: I didn’t want to fall in love with Logan, an infamous relationship slut.
He fell in love too easy for it to ever be real.
And I refused to end up just one more crazy ex-girlfriend.
But he used his self-deprecating charm to wear me down, and I let myself fall.
Even though I was afraid he’d abandon me once he learned about my anxiety disorder.
And that’s exactly what he did.
He shattered my heart into a million pieces, and now it’s time for him to pay.
Revenge never tasted so sweet.
But I have to be careful.
I can’t get too close.
I can’t let myself fall in love with him again.
~ ~ ~
I’ve never loved anyone more than Leilani, the fiercest woman I’ve ever met.
But I can’t let her break my heart for the second time.
I won’t survive it.
If we’re going to be together after college, she needs to handle her addiction to anxiety pills.
She can’t do that if I’m around to enable her.
And that’s exactly why I had to leave.
But one look into those severe brown eyes and I’m transported back to the night we met.
The night I fell in love with her.
I know I have to stay away.
But I miss her.
And what’s the harm in just one look?
Review: To begin with, let me just say OH MY GOD. The blurb gives you an idea of what you’re getting yourself into, but you are truly not prepared for the wild ride that Skyler Mason takes you on in Revenge Cake. It’s not just your average second chance romance, it’s not simple or cute, it’s all kinds of chaos, painful and strangely beautiful. Leilani and Logan are a hot mess and I’m still unsure if I like them together or not.
Revenge Cake is Skyler Mason’s brilliant, raw and honest debut. The book tackles a lot of tough subjects, but she doesn’t shy away from being honest and real about it. And that’s what I really liked about the book – anxiety and panic attacks are not just a plot point, it’s part of who the character is. Mental health is at the core of this book and that’s not something lots of authors tackle. Or if they do, they don’t do it at the level that Skyler does. Also, yes, there is cake. Lots of cake.
“Revenge has been my savior. Revenge has given me distraction, purpose, and even joy.”
Told through dual POV, the book alternates between past and present, giving you insight into the beginning and the end of the relationship. It’s a rough ride, so strap yourself in because you are going to need all the support you can get. Logan and Leilani are both rough around the edges characters with epically real flaws that you can almost relate to. And their relationship is heart wrenching and it really makes you take a step back and look at your own life and your choices.
Revenge Cake starts with a break-up, then goes back in time to see how Logan and Leilani met. Logan’s a bit of a relationship guy and he jumps from one girl to the next without pause because he always feels like he does better in relationships. Which isn’t entirely true or smart. And Leilani is too smart to fall for that. At first anyway. The book chronicles the relationship through their ups and downs, through their wild, passionate sexcapades and everything in between.
“Breaking up should never be about the other person. It should only ever be about you.”
I feel like it’s important to point out that I couldn’t find it in me to like Logan. And it’s not just because of how we see him through Leilani’s eyes, he’s not a good guy. And yes, there’s cheating and repeated mentions of it. Which makes it hard to like and forgive Logan. Leilani isn’t perfect, but she’s at least aware of her issues and she’s finding ways to handle them to the best of her abilities. Logan is petulant and childish and a bit of an asshole. Whatever redeeming qualities he has is negated by everything else he does and says.
The book took a little while for me to get really involved, but there’s also lots of world and character building. You get to meet Logan’s family and connect with these characters, and even meet their friends. There’s a lot to process and it’s a lot of angst that you really need to brace yourself for. As a debut, Skyler Mason sucks you in and keeps you hooked as she takes you on this wild ride.
To cut a long story short, Revenge Cake is not just about a relationship between two people. It’s about accepting people for who they are, it’s about going on that journey of struggles with someone else and supporting them through it. It’s about mental health and the various faces it projects. It’s about loving yourself before loving someone else. The book might follow two very flawed characters through a tumultuous relationship, but it’s so much more and even with all the triggers and hoops you have to jump through, you will feel all of that at the end. And Skyler Mason has woven all of this together in a unique story.
Thanks to Skyler Mason and Enticing Journey Book Promotions for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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