Headstrong Like Us

Like Us #6

by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie

You're cordially invited to the wedding of Maximoff Hale & Farrow Keene, and according to Celebrity Crush--the ceremony for this American prince and his tattooed bodyguard is going to be the event of the century.

There will be no wedding crashers.

Including but not limited hateful people, rabid fans, nosy paparazzi, and other so-called media.

There will be no drama.

None whatsoever. Because when you put three famous families and their hot bodyguards together, nothing will go down.

There will be no fighting.

No brawls, fists flying, verbal slingshots, or rifts that tear into craters. Lovers only!

Everything will be perfect.

Nothing will go amiss during the happiest, most anticipated occasion of the year. But then again...

They don't call it the Hale Curse for nothing.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

424 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2019

About the author

NYT & USA Today Bestselling Authors Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.

To stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more, sign up for Krista & Becca's Newsletter: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter

Quick note: We don't check Goodreads, so we don't respond to messages here. But if you want to connect with Becca or me, you can reach out to us on our social medias or at our website: www.kbritchie.com

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Fans of Krista & Becca's Books:
♥ Join Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force Facebook group.
♥ Inspiration for the Addicted series can be found on their Pinterest boards.
♥ Find playlists for all of their books on Spotify
♥ Check out all of their extras! Including: bonus scenes, character interviews, fun posts and more on their Extras page.

Reviews

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read: 30.05.2021
Finally I got to re-read Marrow's last - just for now, I hope - book. I had to force myself to re-read Jane's books because I didn't remember all that much from it - that should've been a clue not to re-read it but you know me. That said, the book wasn't all that bad. I love seeing Moffy finally truly let himself love Farrow completely. I understand why I was disappointed the first time around, but I'm glad I still find this an enjoyable read. Still don't like Charlie though.

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Sadly Disappointed*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

First read review:
The review:
I truly don't know what to say. Strangely, I'm not all that happy with this book. While it had it's cute moments and I love seeing Marrow so close, the story itself was boring. Nothing big happened and frankly, it was a bit... predictable. I'm sad to say I actually struggled to not skim. The story didn't pull me in like I had hoped, even though I love Marrow. It might be because I'm still a little bit sick, or because my eyes are hurting me (they're so dry) that keeps me from focusing, or it might be that it seems like I'm in a deep reading slump again and this book wasn't enough to get get me out, or it might just be that the book simply didn't work for me. Who knows. Even I find myself a mystery, so that's saying something.

Overall, while it had some awesome moments, even made me teary at some point, I just wanted the book to be finished. Hell the struggle to focus actually gave me a headache :O This is not to say that the book was bad in any way at all. Most people probably love it a lot. However, for me, it just wasn't good enough at this time. Maybe if I re-read it sometime in the future it'll be better? Anyways, though this one wasn't for me, that doesn't mean I'm in any way ready to say goodbye to Marrow. I'll miss them. Their love is beautiful and nothing can compare to that. I am however, looking forward to Oscar Oliveira & Jack Highland's book. I do love a straight man falling for a man theme. Also am I the only one who doesn't ship Donnelly & Luna? I totally can't see them together at all. As friends sure, but more? Hell no. I actually want Donnelly with Beckett for some reason.....

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (New Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series, Book Six.
Love triangle? - No.
Cheating? - No.
HEA? - Yes, for this couple.
Favorite character? - Marrow.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Yes.
Will I read this again in the future? - Ummm I can't answer that at the moment.
Rating - 2.5/3 *I'm being kind here* stars.

---------------BEFORE READING:---------------

Update: 17.11.2019
Release date: November 19th 2019 can't come fast enough! I literally cannot wait to get my hands on this one! Two more days, guys. ONLY TWO MORE DAYS!!!

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Update: 29.08.2019
IT HAS A COVER AND BLURB!

You’re cordially invited to the wedding of Maximoff Hale & Farrow Keene, and according to Celebrity Crush—the ceremony for this American prince and his tattooed bodyguard is going to be the event of the century.

There will be no wedding crashers.

Including but not limited to: hateful people, rabid fans, nosy paparazzi, and other so-called media.

There will be no drama.

None whatsoever. Because when you put three famous families and their hot bodyguards together, nothing will go down.

There will be no fighting.

No brawls, fists flying, verbal slingshots, or rifts that tear into craters. Lovers only!

Everything will be perfect.

Nothing will go amiss during the happiest, most anticipated occasion of the year. But then again…

They don't call it the Hale Curse for nothing.

HEADSTRONG LIKE US will be releasing November 19th
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YAAAAS! I CAN'T FREAKING WAIT!!!!!!!!! I ALWAYS WANT MORE MARROW!! ALWAYS!

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

11/23/2019 Review after reading

I had a lovely time reading this book and visiting old friends.... It was great seeing Farrow and Moffy finally tie the knot. I also loved all the parts that had Lily and Lo in it....makes me want to re-read the while Addicted series again.. Looks like I might have addictive issues as well.

I am not gonna give it 5 stars like I originally did, to cross out all the one-star reviews before the book was even out. I am gonna go with 4 because the story was very long and some parts I found myself skimming a bit.

That said, I will read this book again in the future and I will never tire of these two awesome guys. Thankfully we will see them again in the future books, which I am very curious about. Can't wait!!
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Review before I read this book

Apparently, I am a middle-aged woman who loves this couple and I happily fetishize them. LOL laughing my fucking ass off !!

Really looking forward to reading this book and any other book that will follow in this series. I would normally never ever rate a book that I haven't read, but since all the "haters" don't seem to have a problem with doing so...neither have I.

So here is my 5-star rating for a book I am really looking forward to reading, to neutralize all the fucked up 1-star ratings people have given it, because they seem to have a problem with MM books and with authors who decide for themselves what they want to write and who their characters end up with.

As much as I love to escape reality, I do still realize that these books are fiction...

I will adjust my review accordingly when I am done with reading this book.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I’m going to marry the love of my life. One day. Someday. Soon.

Headstrong Like Us is the 6th book in Krista & Becca Ritchie's 'Like Us' series, which is a spin-off of their 'Addicted' series. I thought after reading 'Alpha's Like Us' we were done with the Moffy/Farrow story line, but the twins gave us a wedding book and I was so here for it.

Maximoff Hale and Farrow Keene have been through a lot in their relationship and they've withstood it all. Now, they're getting married. Jane is planning the wedding and they're all excited about it. Honestly, I was a little anxious about this book. I didn't want anything to come between my beloved Marrow, and thankfully, all of the conflict came from outside sources and wasn't between the two. I loved the direction this story took and I was in love with how it ended.

I will always have a soft spot for Maximoff Hale. He is the oldest child of my #1 favorite fictional couple, Lily and Loren Hale. I adore him and I never tire of reading of him, and the entire Hale family. Being in this world is so special to me. I love these books and these families so much. I was so happy reading this one. I smiled so much. I also cried a few tears, but that's par for the course. The next book in this series is Jack and Oliver's, and I'm so ready for it! I can't wait to see how it all turns out between those two.

If you're looking for a romantic, sweet, and steamy story- read this book. Of course, it can't be read as a stand-alone, but I can't rave enough about the addicted world and all it's spin offs. If you haven't read them yet, you need these in your life!

[Phuong ✯ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Before I'm going to start on my review on the book itself, I wanna write down why I have like a love-hate relationship with the authors

『 Let's start with telling about my problematic relationship with these authors. I adore (most of) their characters, the core 6 are my loves, but I really dislike the authors. They did and said a lot of things over the years that I don't agree with, but MY main problem is their blatant favorism towards one couple contrary to their ignorance of the rest of the characters. Do I have to even mentioned that they and/or their admins in the fb group allowed someone to post a porn link that reminded them exactly of Maximoff and Farrow sex scenes? Instead of deleting that post because it made people uncomfortable, they even said so, they just silenced the post that no one could comment on it but if someone wanted the porn link they could just message that person. Sorry but I'm still feeling sick thinking about what happened that day.

Anyway, I wandered from the subject but what I wanted to say is, that their favorism towards Marrow (Maximoff & Farrow) were a part of making me hate said characters. Just look at how they promote Headstrong Like Us on their Instagram page compared to Sinful Like Us. They did the bare minimum to promote Jane & Thatcher while they are posting teasers left and right for Marrow. I still remember when Sinful Like Us wasn't even out yet and they made a huge cover release for Headstrong with bloggers and everything while they didn't do that for any of Jane's books. I mean even Sinful Like Us whole plot revolved around Marrow's wedding... it was like a prequel to Headstrong like Us. They have a Patreon page where they post monthly bonus scenes in Maximoff/Farrow/Jane/Thatcher POV (you have to pay to get the content!) and guess what most of this content is Marrow related. When Sinful Like Us came out in September, they posted two bonuses scenes in Marrow's POV instead of using that month to promote Jane & Thatcher story....

Not mentioning how they treat their fans, especially the Akara & Sulli (Kitsulli) advocates. I'm not going to repeat what happened in detail. There are enough Wild Like Us reviews to give you a good idea. Just a short summary: basically they advertise Kitsulli since Lovers Like Us. People have been looking forward to their book, which was constantly pushed back because of Marrow's wedding book and Jack+Oscar's book. KBR announced that they have two poly relationships planned for YEARS (when they have never mentioned any of it once) and then they drop this huge bomb in Sinful Like Us at the end that Kitsulli+Banks is one of the poly relationships. If they've planned it for years like they said, why not dropping it in Alphas Like Us? They knew Kitsulli fans would be upset about this turn of event and take away the spotlight from the actual couple. Therefore they decided to drop it in Sinful Like Us, which took away the spotlight from Jane and Thather in their only two books, but I mean if it doesn't affect Marrow they don't give a shit. 』

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That was the prologue. Now we're getting to the actual review, or maybe I should call it rant. Rant is more accurate for what is following:

I'm going to be honest here, I went into this book, fully knowing that I wouldn't love or even like it. It just hard if you can't stand the main characters and I just genuinely do not like Moffy or Farrow, but I had hope that the side character appearances and family moments would make up for it. In Damaged Like Us Moffy and Farrow were still tolerable, but with each book they got more and more on my nerves. That their authors obviously prefer them so much more doesn't help the case. It never happened to me before that the more I read about a couple the more I disliked them, usually it's the other way round. Until this day I don't understand why their story needed 4 books to be told. Lily and Lo had 3 novels and 2 novellas but they were both addicts and needed the growth. What do Moffy and Farrow have to overcome? Oh no the media thinks I'm like my uncle? Oh I'm the leader of all the kids, have a hero-complex and need to carry all the responsibilities for my siblings and cousins? Oh I can't decide if I wanna be a bodyguard or a doctor? Come on… that could all be wrapped in two books, but no they needed three whole ass novels and one whole novel just for the wedding. The only reason i still read their book is because of their scenes with other side characters or crumbs from my favourite families. I couldn't care less about them or this "wedding of the century".

Headstrong Like Us is almost 500 pages long and I felt like so many scenes were redundant and irrelevant. They should kept this as a novella and to the main key events around a wedding, instead they inserted plot lines that were repetitive and very cringy. The one surprise element was when Farrow got guardianship of the baby, but even that scene didn't make sense to me. Donnelly's uncle gets a girl pregnant. She's leaving her four months old baby at a hospital and then disappears. So the baby has two relatives left, cause the father is in prison. Donnelly and his father. Donnelly's father is a drug dealer and out of the question for guardianship but Donnelly is 27 years old and really saying "I can't even take care of myself, how can i take care of a baby?". Dude, your old enough to be a bodyguard where you have to protect someone, maybe grow up so you can take responsibility for a baby? But no, instead Farrow chose to take "the burden".

Moving on, as I said the plot of these books are really repetitive. Maximoff and his whole family are like American royalty. So everywhere they go, people recognize them. Basically wherever they go, the location gets leaked by some fans/paparazzi and they get stuck in said location until the bodyguards can diffuse the situation. It's shitstorm after shitstorm after shitstorm. These families can't breathe for a second before the next fiasco is knocking on their door. These problems are recycled from previous books. Another repetitive plot is, how the media is making Luna sound like a sex addict. Just because Lily was one, you don't need to throw in rumours of Luna being one to make the story more dramatic. One more thing that keeps bothering me, which the twins use over and over again is, that people outside the families and bodyguards are basically all evil. One (and very unnecessary) of many plotline was Moffy finding out about Lo's new therapist, who he had an one night stand with that wasn't very enjoyable. They are trying so hard to make him a villian who wants the worst for them. Or the new bodyguard Owen who flirts with Farrow. These families can't form any lasting relationships and it's super unrealistic.

One thing the twins got a backlash for after Sinful Like Us is how they wanted to use Jane as a surrogate for Marrow's kids. People, me included, were complaining why no one of these families has thought about adoption before? As if it's not blood then it's not worth it. There is this scene when Jane talks to Marrow about wanting to be a surrogate for them and then Moffy and Farrow talk afterwards about their option and I really really disliked that scene because Farrow said “Look, I haven’t obsessed over who I want as a surrogate or egg donor before, but I have thought about adoption versus surrogacy—and I want the selfish, biological thing. I’ve dreamed about it, and if press ever asks me, I’m going to be extremely unapologetic about that.”. That statement does not sit right with me. It doesn't make your kid better or superior just because it has your blood.

Can authors for the love of god, just stay away from their original characters when writing a spin off series??? I'll never understand why they feel the need to drag them through shit just to make the kids story more interesting. Lily and Lo went through enough already, now they fighting in Headstrong Like Us, they are both stressed and you don't know what's going on. Lo is not handling the stress very well and Farrow and Maximoff assume the worst. Therefore as a reader you starting to assume the worst to. It doesn't help when Ryke and Lo are fighting and Ryke finds a whiskey bottle in Lo's car. Is Lo relapsing? NOPE. Are Lilo getting a divorce? Of course not but Moffy thinks the worst. As someone who thinks his parents are the strongest people, he should have more faith in them. The actual problem? Samantha Calloway. When does this snake finally die? She's the same awful mother, grandmother, human being that we meet in the Addicted series. Maximoff and Farrow did not invite her to the wedding, therefore she gave Lo and Lily hell (hence why they are stressed). Nothing new, nothing changed. Trying to make everyone life's hell (reminder that the plot is repetitive and the authors don't have new ideas).

However, the twins managed to curb down the sex scenes. While it felt like Marrow was having sex half the time in DLU-ALU. The amount of sex scenes in this one was pretty manageable. The way Krista and Becca write these scenes still makes me uncomfortable but at least it's not every second page anymore. On the other hand Moffy and Farrow's conversation skills are lacking to say the least. I don't know how many times I rolled my eyes when they were giving each other honourable badges or their banter on who's smarter/stronger/faster/better. It's pretty awful and I had to skim through a lot of their conversations. One tiny example one how repetitive the writing is:

the amount of times "wolf scout" was mentioned:
Dlu: 37 times
Llu: 50 times
Alu: 99 times
Hlu: 81 times

The silver lining of this book for me were all the side characters and family moments. Even though weren't as many as I would like. Shoutout to Jane Cobalt my favorite female Like Us character and the best wedding planner to exist. She was rocking the whole event, from choosing the six-tier wedding cake, choosing the best venues, making 'This or That' binder for Moffy to help him chose things more easily to her idea to only write a number on the invitation card so that people have to call it to ask for the location. The number is connected to a burner phone that she herself will answer so the location will less likely get leaked to the media. How smart is that? I love one cat lover and yes she is the first child of Connor Cobalt and Rose Calloway!

Let's talk about the rest of the characters. There were some cute family moments with Xander, Luna and Kinney in the Hale house. Sulli and Beckett are fighting at Moffy's bachelor party, their relationship has not been repaired yet. Akara and Sulli are also fighting because Sulli found out why Akara has been acting weird towards her. All the Akara/Sulli/Banks still seem way too force and awkward to me and I don't know how the twins are going to make their poly relationship believable. Farrow and Charlie have some serious talk about Charlie needing to take responsibilities for his brothers, that his brothers need him to be there and not Maximoff and that one day he would look back and regret not being there for them when they needed him. The Highveira angst is one of the more interesting scene.. Oscar asking Jack if he can kiss him and Jack just responding with 'Thanks, but I'm straight'. Lol maybe I feel bad for Oscar.

Some scenes that were so pointless/cheesy/awkward that I didn't know where to bring up, but wanted to mention anyway:

‐ They have a whole scene discussing tattoos for Moffy just that Moffy could tell Farrow he wants a tattoo of his name on him. That's the worst idea to tattoo the name of your significant other, but that's just my two cents. I really rolled my eyes when he got the tattoo and described it. It says "Farrow with a little heart and in the heart is a M+F". Could it get any cheesier? I don't think so.
‐ Maximoff is counting the days since he was topping in their sex or he's counting the days when Farrow last blew him... he's so obsessed with not being a sex addict and it's just annoying. Thanks for the information that it was 53 days ago when Farrow was a bottom and two weeks ago that you got your last blowjob...things i always wanted to know yay!
- There was this scene were Farrow goes through the internet and people are insulting him that he is bad influence on Moffy. They discuss that people can fuck off and then Farrow snaps a photo of him and Moffy's new "Farrow" tattoo and uploads it and I just want to understand what the point of that scene is? Just another scene that unfortunatly made the cut into the book. Then Marrow watch "Call Me By Your Name" together and Maximoff just starts to bawl his eyes out … out of nowhere. That scene made me feel really awkward and uncomfortable ... Yes Art moves people, but i don't know the whole scene was just not it (again what was the point? I think I was asking myself that question almost every other chapter)
- The Wedding was pretty sweet I have to admit. Marrow saying their vows while it rains and thunders was perfect for them. The vows itself werent anything special (nothing tops Lilo vows so there's that). It was cute that Farrow asked Lily to walk him down the aisle, because she's like a mother to him.

I told myself I would continue with the series for all the side characters breadcrumbs, but now I'm not so sure anymore. Hlu was really testing my patience.

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Some fun facts:
- Donnelly has 4.6 millon followers, Quinn has 8.4 million and Farrow 61.3 million. I mean they are just bodyguards... how do they get so many followers?! It doesn't make sense but I wouldn't be the first time...
- Thatcher and Farrow were apartment hunting and one woman thought they were a couple
- After Gotham died, the Hales got four new dogs named: Salem, Erebor, Orion and Arkham
- Farrow's groomsmen/woman were Luna, Oscar and Thatcher, Donnelly was best man
- Moffy's groomswomen/man were Kinney, Xander and Sulli, Jane was best woman
- The girl squad call Charlie "The Wretch"

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Updated rating: 4 stars. Now I’ve read, I can update my rating. This was really enjoyable. I love that the characters didn’t change. Their relationship has always been full of banter, trust and communication. No silly misunderstandings, just two guys who love each other and have a healthy respect for the other. Sometimes to much of the same book gets boring, but for me these two never do.

Original review: Apparently making fake accounts, deliberately targeting MM authors, and putting one star ratings on a book that is yet to be released is the fun thing to do these days. I’ll adjust my review AFTER I’ve actually READ the book.

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moffy & Farrow! *swoon* :)

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 STARS



I wish you could see the way he’s staring at me. With utter, eviscerating love that deserves fanfare and centerfolds and documentaries just focusing on that one look.
And God, the way he makes me feel.

First and foremost, I want to thank Krista and Becca deeply, utterly for writing this book, this series. Words always escape me whenever I finish reading one of their books and I’m grasping at them know, because I’m desperate to make everyone understand how fucking amazing this book was.

I’ve read the whole Addicted series, including Rose and Daisy’s stories. I’ve read every single book in the Like Us series, and I can tell you know from the very bottom of my heart, that this is the best book they have written.

To date.

This book slayed me in the best way possible. I found myself choking back tears and emotions of all kind. Happiness, love. In this book, you get the raw, real shit people. You experience the love alongside these characters. It’s like you’re right next to them, looking at everything that’s happening with your own eyes instead of just reading it from a page.

You should know that I can survive in any universe, but I only want to live in the ones with Farrow Redford Keene.

Oh Maximoff… Farrow… These two own every single part of my heart. I’ve read A LOT OF books in my life and when you stick to a certain genre for an extended time (like I have with romance) you become desensitized to the feelings and emotions to some extent. Only very talented authors can make me fall in love with fictional characters this hard. And I am saying this with 100% certainty: Moffy and Farrow are my favorite couple ever. It’s cemented. Written into the skies and impossible to erase. These two love each other with such fervor it made me tear up just from the sheer emotion of it. Their banter, their loyalty, the fact that they know each other better than anyone else. Their unconditional love…

‘’If you need me to scream off every mountain peak and yell until my lungs bleed that I love you, that you’re mine, that everyone can shut the fuck up and let us be – I’d do that.’’

Seeing these two get married, live their best lives, face all the difficulties that lay in their way with incredible strength and determination is the best thing you can imagine. I’ve cheered for them since day one and writing this review here, after getting a fourth book, watching them get married and become the best people ever makes me so happy. Krista and Becca write romance like it’s nobody’s business and I breathe for their words.

‘’I’ve been searching for you my entire life, and if someone told me that we’d been together before, in another time or place, I wouldn’t question them. I’ve longed for you before I even knew you, and now that I’ve found you, there’s not a single day I want to live without you.’’

I’d like to take a moment to talk about Donnelly… that man… I am so in love with him I can’t even form words. I would die for him and I need him to have his happy ending with Luna ASAP. Please.

‘’Slut!’’ a guy yells at my sister.
‘’You wanna slut, come get me!’’ Donnelly shouts back.
Luna grins.

And I’d also like to say that Charlie can freaking get it. I’d serve that mofo any day of the week and I am not even ashamed. The day I see this asshole fall in love is the day I can rest in peace.

‘’Charlie! Charlie!’’ A girl grabs at his shirt. ‘’Will you sign my clutch?!’’
‘’No.’’ He shakes her off like she’s a pest.

These characters… my God, how can I live without them? The whole old gang made an appearance in this book and I loved seeing them even though it made me HIGHLY emotional. I never want these books to end. I want to read about everyone from the second gen and then I want a series for their kids and then their kids and so on and on…

But luckily, we have more books to look forward to. Next up: Oscar and Jack. They own me already and I can’t freaking wait to read their book. I’m gonna combust until it’s released, I can feel that already.

Final words: this book was everything I hoped for and more.

Dear World, let this last forever. Best regards, a hopeful human.

[Corina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it - and if you are a fan of Farrow and Maximoff you'll love it too.

I could talk for hours about this book, but all I would want to say is that for someone who could read many more books about this couple, this book made me happy.

I smiled and laughed, and just enjoyed it from beginning to end.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

REVIEW BELOW THE RANT


Something is clearly happening in the black hole that is The Internet, and since I'm a '90 kid I usually stay away from stans or fans (or whatever they call themselves) BS and hurt feelings, 'cause I don't care about those. At all.

Rating a book before reading it while lamenting over the injustice of it all because y'all don't like these two fictional character is, probably, the most idiotic thing I've seen people do in a good while. We're talking Ron Weasley pointing a broken wand at Draco Malfoy level of idiocy here.

Don't purchase the book if you're that butthurt about it. Better yet: write your own book if you think you know better. Or write a fanfiction to satisfy all of your fandom needs OR you could wait to actually read the book before forming your opinion and then give it all of the stars you think it deserve -- just like everybody whose second name is not Petty does.

The entitlement of it all is just ridiculous


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(This review is my opinion, if it offends anyone I will live with the guilt for the rest of my life.)


This book gave me an headache.

Regardless of the uproar this book, and others like this, caused over Facebook and the clear as day entitlement-issues some people manifested after the thing went down, I didn't like all the unnecessary drama in this one.

The Addicted to you series, followed by The Calloways series and the Like us series alle have one thing in common: being so ridiculous that somehow the ridiculousness stops being a problem -- which is the key point to most NA books for a number of reasons I am too lazy to list. I've read all of the books above, I liked them somewhat the same and I do believe most of the drama in those books, and the new one also, was and is used to fill up pages that otherwise would've been left pristine white.

I like Farrow and Maximoff relationship, let's start with that. I like them alone, I like them together, I like them in general. During the first three books we see them come together, fall for each other, and stay together during very difficult times that most real couples can relate to, minus the paparazzi. I would choose Farrow and Moffy over Tatcher and Jane every single time, not because there's something wrong with Tatcher and Jane, but in all honesty... they aren't as interesting. I don't feel represented by Jane as a woman, I do think her character could've been so, so much more than what she is. I don't want to start any discussion about it either, it's my opinion.

Farrow is an awesome lead character for an NA book. He's driven, he knows what he's putting on the table, he is relatable at times -- the residency drama a couple of books ago?, I felt that, because I experienced that in my choice of profession and it's not pretty, 'cause the human's mind rarely is. I felt Farrow struggles, he is my favourite. I love him, I can't help it.
Maximoff is a character that, believe it or not, changed consistently throughout the series; from being the guy that only had one night stands and the guy who took care of everyone, to a more aware, in a relationship, young man. I don't like the Prince Charming syndrome he clearly has, I'm with Charlie on that one 100%, and I hope that going forward we can see him coming off of it, it is rather annoying.

And this is getting too long, so I'll try to summarise:

While I find the structure of the Hales/Cobalts/Meadows clan absolutely ridiculous, and I'm sicilian, I know a thing or two about ridiculousness, this installment was necessary for Maximoff to actually talk to Loren and get some things off of his chest. I liked that, it was a very liberating scene that couldn't have happened in the previous books because the kid was simply not there yet.
Loved the relationship and the support Moffy and Farrow had for each other. And all the love they received from all the others was absolutely fantastic.
Didn't understand the bottom/top countdown dilemma, but I am a woman and I do not dwell on such foolery, but if I did I would probably get my "You're a woman: congratulation!" badge trashed. By my nonna.
Speaking of grandmothers, I loved the way Lily handled the old cow in the end.
The team humour made my day, but I love all of the bodyguards, I am biased.

Also:

Could have gone without the Loren-bought-a-bottle-of-whisky-oh-my-god BS, 'cause you better believe that if a recovering alcoholic buys a bottle of alcohol, he's gonna know exactly where that bottle is. He may not drink it. He may even tell you that he bought it and that he has no intention of even sniffing it, but he's going to know where he left it, 100%. It was a pretty inaccurate detail to include. I also find all the babying Ryke and the others do around Loren a bit redundant.

The authors need to stop using the "I'm a recovering alcoholic" road to justify Loren's shortcomings or unwillingness to look past his nose over and over again. It doesn't work, it's all a bunch of BS, stop making it a thing, dear authors, people are starting to notice your inadequacy on the topic.

Didn't like the therapist debacle, because duh.
Didn't like the baby situation. I can count the times he was in a scene on one hand, each of those time were very short where he usually fell asleep or was sleeping. All the other times he was only named. I mean, c'mon, was it really that important for Farrow and Moffy to have a baby being, quite literally, shoved onto them, right after Jane's "I am going to be your surrogate if you want to" proposal? No, it wasn't. And I don't need to be shown how good the protagonists are, or how selfless they are, in this way or with this kind of situation. Really poor taste, in my opinion. Also so cliché it was annoying.

The discussion about adopting VS surrogacy I can kind of get behind, because ideally everyone wants their children to look like them. It's a primitive thing, humans and animals are very similar in that aspect because both of them want to keep their DNA alive and thriving. I don't really fault Farrow or Maximoff for thinking about that, but I do think the authors dealt with the situation in the wrong way. And it's not the first time they put aside adopting by giving some kind of lame excuse.
I kindly suggest the authors to stop writing about such serious topics if they don't have the will to educate themselves about it before shitting all over it.

I am also very sure Moffy and Farrow's marriage isn't valid, 'cause last time I checked, Italy (where I live) does not allow random US VIP bodyguards with no diplomatic authority to officiate a wedding. Any type of wedding. Not even for the book equivalent of the Kardashian/Jenner bunch. Sooooo, yeah.
Farrow and Maximoff need to get married again, for every legal reasons you can imagine regarding the parenthood aspects of their new life -- read: get your facts straight before marrying your lead characters in another country next time, dear authors.

Also: I am not sure about the Oscar/Jack... thing. Mostly because I find turning every bodyguard except Tatcher, Donnelly and Oscar's brother bisexual or gay a little bit too much, but what do I know. I'm "Straight" after all. Whatever that means nowadays.

Overall, I gave it two stars (which are plenty in my opinion for all the fuckery that went on) because, as the two stars rating states: it was ok. I liked the flow of it, the characters were clearly distinguishable from one another, and again, I love Farrow and Maximoff. Mostly Farrow. Duh.
The baby situation almost made me give this book one stars because it was only used to add more drama to an already drama charged series.
I'm not really interested in the next one, but I am very curious about the eight book because I want to know how the authors managed to pull that rabbit out of their bottomless hat.
It was a quick read for me, I'm sure somebody will appreciate the drama more than I did, so... pick it up if you like that kind of thing.


I still think that the reaction to this book was absolutely childish and entitled, the fact that I didn't gave it more stars doesn't mean I agree with that kind of behaviour.
Also: I find that categorising people by what they like to read in their own damned free time is all kinds of stupid. Thinking that the reason some characters are liked more than others is because of some closeted fetish is so ignorant I can't even. I could go on a tangent on the whys m/m books are so popular around young adults and adults alike, or why most of the writers are, in fact, women and the few men that do write great m/m books are mostly overlooked, because of-fucking-course they are.
Don't support the authors if you feel like they're doing the LGBTQ+ community wrong, but do not point fingers at people with different views and opinion on things. And I understand that writing shit on the internet is easy; just know that you're not helping or saving anyone with that keyboard. Just saying.

[Wil Loves Books! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was a really cute read.

I really love Moffy and Farrow and it was fun to experience their wedding and some other events surrounding it. With that said, I found it to be so long. I think this could’ve easily just been a novella. Other than the wedding and the stuff with Ripley, nothing major happens and no story gets truly advanced. I love KBR but I will respectfully say that this read like a filler book. I think this series needs a little revamping and they need to move on to some other characters.

The audiobook is fantastic!

********************************************************************************

- Rating a book 1 star without even reading it is ridiculous and petty AF.

- Categorizing everyone that ACTUALLY read and enjoyed the book as middle aged/soccer moms/MM fetishizers is childish, ridiculous and petty AF

- Taking the time to read a book that you hate, for characters that you seem to hate, by authors that you obviously hate so you can rate it 1 star is ridiculous, childish and petty AF. But let’s face it most of these girls pirate the books anyway (and they openly talk about it online) so they’re double losers already.

- And let’s not even start with telling the authors what to do with their own characters, it’s plain ridiculous.

- Grow up, look away and move on...Is that so hard to do???

[aleksandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5

Them having four books will always be a bit mystery for me. They could easily have one or two.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I sob? Yes, yes I did. I’m so in love with Moffy and Farrow and how much they love each other.

[Eugenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Book About a Wedding.

That’s it.
Over 400 words about a wedding.
Maximoff & Farrow’s wedding.
There is no conflict that drives this story.
There is a bit of drama (this is an OTT soap opera, after all)
But there is no conflict to drive this book.

What is there?....
There are a few sex scenes. Fab.
Maximoff worries about his bottoming streak.
There is a baby. He cries a lot.
Wedding prep. No probs.
4 dogs. They are cute.
Tattoos. Ooh.
Bachelor parties. Two.
A wedding (admittedly lovely!!!)
A wedding night. Sexy.

But that’s it.
I expected more, but maybe they are “drama’d” out?

This could have easily been 1/2 as long.

Audiobook: excellent performance by Alexander Cendese and Teddy Hamilton.

I’ll read the next one in the series since it’s MM, but this series is losing steam. I mean, it took me a year and a half to listen to this one. The shine is gone.

My rec? If you’ve read all of the previous books, keep going. But, if you miss this one, all you’ll really miss is their wedding.

[Amy German · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please let there be a Marrow wedding in this book! 🙏❤️

REVIEW UPDATE!!!!!

5 stars +++++ ⭐️

I would have given this more if I could, because this couple is honestly one of my all time favourite couples. If not THE favourite. And I can’t tell you how happy this book made me. The only time I wasn’t happy was at the end, because it was over.

I’m not really sure what to write because I don’t want to spoil anything, but this book was just everything and if you’re a Marrow fan then I’m sure you’ll feel the same.

I’ve waited a long, long time for this, like I’m sure a lot of fans have, and I wasn’t disappointed.

I reviewed this book over two months ago, when the cover was released and there was no blurb, and that’s not something I ever do. But I gave it 5 stars anyway because the chance of me not liking this was practically non existent; they’d have to of done something terrible like break them up for me to not like this.


For me, the wedding was beautiful. The vows, the location and the emotions they both felt; in this book, you get to see them both at their most vulnerable, and I really loved seeing both of them letting go of their emotions, especially Maximoff.

And I really love Farrow. He’s this guy that to the world doesn’t give a lot away, hiding behind this exterior that he’s tough, which he is. But he’s also just wanted love and companionship. A husband, a family, and I could feel how much it all meant to him.

Ugh, I could rant about these two for hours.

I think the thing I love most about Marrow is their strength. There’s never any miscommunication or petty arguing, they just love and support each other with everything they have. And there was so many times whilst I was reading headstrong like us where I had to swallow a lump in my throat because it just got to me.

Their love.
Their life.
Their strength.

I wouldn’t change a thing about this book. It just cemented them as one of my OTP’s.

I loved the addicted series, and I love the like us series. And I can’t wait to read the next one with Oscar and Jack; I think that one is going to be interesting.

Marrow will forever hold a special place for me, and now that I’ve written this review, I’m gonna go and re-read it again.

💙

Also, I just want to say that even though I am a huge fan of Marrow, I am not a middle aged soccer mom fetishising this couple. I’ve seen a lot of hate over Marrow, and at the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I don’t want to be put into a category just for loving a certain couple. I’m not even 25 yet, and I’ve read all different genres of romance for several years now. I just enjoy reading about love, in any shape or form.

[Elithanathile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating this 5 stars to counter all the 1-star ratings all the special fucking snowflakes dished it for one petty, butt-hurt, douchey, nasty reason or another!!! The book hasn't released yet for fuck's sake and I'm willing to bet, these shit-heads didn't get an ARC either [just by the content of their reviews, or lack thereof]!!! I mean one person gave this 1 star because she's upset the series is longer than she thinks it should be, or that this couple got more books than she thinks they deserve!! To people like that, I say: What is wrong with you???? GROW THE FUCK UP!!!!!!!!!
If you read this and hated it, that's one thing I suppose; a legitimate opinion is a legitimate opinion, but this hasn't fucking released yet!!! So this tells me some people rated it badly JUST to pettily and vindictively rate it badly!! Asshole move!!!!

I will adjust the rating once I read the book, if any adjustments are necessary; I anticipate and expect that won't be the case!!!

[jazmin ✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re the person that my soul has been searching for because my head was too stubborn to do it.”

Third Reread Update: I have an unhealthy obsession with this book.

Second Reread Update: Third time reading and still a favourite. This really is a feel-good book for me and is one that I plan to keep revisiting whenever I miss these characters <3

Original Review:

⇢The Plot
I’m not even exaggerating, this book might have had one of my favourite wedding scenes I’ve ever read. Ever. The whole ceremony and service after, everything was perfect. Jane truly found what she was passionate about. And I'm now going crazy because as I write this I'm remembering all the cute scenes...

(Plot Spoilers) Ripley. Unfortunately, I read some spoilers about his "existence" so it wasn't a shock, but I had no idea how everything would work out and I’m so happy with how everything happened. Side note: my dog’s name is Ripley so I had to try to imagine a baby every time instead of my dog :)

But he has his favorites. Ryke and Lo. It’s clear to me why. They have the most similar energy as Maximoff, and so Ripley is the most comfortable in their arms.

⇢Vibes? and Future Books
Honestly, this whole book was absolutely perfect, and 100% what I wanted out of it. Aside from the wedding, the plot for Jack and Oscar’s book was already set up and let me tell you I am SO READY to read it. Sulli and Akara and Banks’ book comes out in November as well!

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ❦ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

My Headstrong Like Us Playlist:
Show Me Love by Hundred Waters
You by Collective Soul
Fire On Fire by Sam Smith

MY LINKTREE ❦

[ʚ turtle ɞ (v. busy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

July 25, 2025 (5/5 ⭐️)
‎‎ ‎‎— A perfect date for a perfect book.



This isn't a review, it’s a formal thank you letter for Krista and Becca Ritchie because they've done it again 🤸🏻 I would've absolutely finished this book in less than a day if I weren’t so busy lately.
This honestly was the perfect ending to Moffy and Farrow's story, but I'm so sad that I won’t get to read a full book about them again. They weren't just characters, they were real people to me (I'm in denial) and I WANTED to be seated at their wedding 🧎🏻‍♀️‍➡️ I’ll be surviving off whatever crumbs of them we get in the rest of the series.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Leaving these here,

⋆. 𓂃 “I was empty. So empty, and I didn’t even know it, Farrow.” That strikes me. How I could’ve gone my whole life without him. Without knowing what this feels like. I can’t stop crying. I don’t want to. “You’re the person that my soul has been searching for because my head was too stubborn to do it."
┆ ⤿ Maximoff Keene Hale.

⋆. 𓂃 "I’ve longed for you before I even knew you, and now that I’ve found you, there’s not a single day I want to live without you.” I’m crying. He’s crying. “Your love is the most precious, valuable thing to me on the face of this fucking world, and I’ll love you today, tomorrow, and decades longer. When we’re old men and smiling about yesterdays, I’ll still love you and your pure heart and your good soul.”
┆ ⤿ Farrow Redford Keene Hale.

[Lula Cobalt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book from Krista & Becca Ritchie
There are things I liked, things I didn't, but don't get me wrong. I did loved it, i ADORE the s**t out of this book. It's the perfect closure to this couple, is the perfect book to write when you have a long list of characters you want to write and you need to stop writing about the firsts.
That's why I wrote a long review. The most important thing is that, this book is different of all we've been reading. I like that about authors. I like how they can change and surprise us -for better or for worse-, how they don't stuck in the same shape, they change the way they write their books. For K&B, I like that they give us a steadiness in the characters, how they want to give us more than the normal HEA, they want to show us that after the honeymoon stage their characters are still struggling, but they are still loving each other as the first day.
1- I had to admit this to myself and I need to do it while writing this review. Before the book was delivered in my kindle, I read A LOT of stuff in social media and book groups. About this being another -unnecessary- Marrow book ( it isn't). On why if LiLo didn’t get their wedding book, they are getting it (because it's necessary). On how disappointed some fans are (And okay, those are opinions and you know me... as long as you say something respectfully, fine.)
But then, I accidentally read “spoilers” of this book. And they weren’t even real spoilers of the book. They were conclusions made from nothing and the first 50% of this book I read through the fear of these spoilers being real, and that means reading the book with other eyes that weren't mine. And I think I didn't really enjoyed it like I would have if I didn't read that (next time, I know it. Release day, I'll be out of SM until I finish it)
2- I also have to be honest with this story because I do think that we can give our opinions as long as they are respectful.
I think there are TWO things this book that were unnecessary. Why? Only because they weren’t important to the storyline of this book or the series. So, why to bother writing about this? SPOILER- I’m talking about the Owen shithead -I can’t remember his last name- and the flirting with Farrow thing and Kaden idk his last name either.-
I understand about the new tempts training because Akara’s business is new and there is a lot of things that are going to be shaky until they get everything they were used to.
The top/bottom was a huge part of this book to show a part of moffy that we haven’t seen. He has flaws, he is vulnerable and he is finally letting it go with Farrow (I’ll talk about this later). But the fact that there was this other guy and somehow seemed like a threat to them, to the Hale family -because we didn’t knew if he had honest intentions- was the other thing that, for me, wouldn’t have changed much the story if it wasn’t written.

3- Oscar Filipe Oliveira.
I love him. I mean, I always liked him, he’s funny, smart, calm, smart, how he put Charlie first in the bathroom scene – and let me think it was because he feels like they can be friends, or at least buddyguards. I totally liked him. But after this book I can make sure that he also deserves everything. It pained me to read what happened at the end, it pained me to read how he felt even when he knew there was a big-fat-ass possibility that was going to happen, he wanted to take the risk, but lordy, it HURT.
And now we have to wait how many months?

“He’s hot and he’s stolen three pieces of my wardrobe already”.

- Paul MOTHERFCKING KING DONNELLY.
Yes. You know it. I know it. The world knows it. We knew it before it was written in this book. But Donnelly is the best human being that ever existed. THE BEST. BY FAR. There are so many quotes I highlighted, so many notes I wrote in his scenes. But basically, everything Donnelly made me feel and think reading him was: “Donnelly you can suck the soul out of my body and do whatever you want because I want a real one you as a boyfriend and I know I will never get it. But you are the best human being in the world. By far. And there is no one who can beat you.”
I can’t explain it fully. I want you to read it and fall in love with him. I want you guys to feel for his extraordinary and majestic person.

“I feel for Donnelly. If he risked our friendship to be with Luna, there’s a good chance he really likes her.”

“It had to be Donnelly. Only Donnelly. As much as Oscar means to me, he has a brother and a sister. Donnelly has no one, and he’s willing to take scraps and share. And fuck, I just didn’t want him to have to share this.
“Yeah.” I smile and stick a piece of gum in my mouth. “You’re an infection I can’t rid.”
He laughs and rubs his eye. “You should call a doctor. Get that taken care of.”
I chew slowly, still smiling. “I am a doctor.”
“You must not be very good then, man.”

There are a lot of other scenes… I mean, the final also broke my heart into a million pieces because he is seriously the best guy that ever existed. I can’t find other way to say it. And I’m more than happy that he is the one calling Thatcher “Thatch”, that he is now in Xander’s detail's, that he is risking a lot tattoing Luna knowing why she wants that tattoo, that he did whatever the hell he did (yes, I'm not thinking on this because if I do I'll die) because he loves Farrow and Moffy.

Cobalt Empire
For me, it was obvious that we weren’t going to have much information in the Cobalt Empire, basically because this is a Hale’s book, living in the Hale’s house, so of course most part was going to be about that family. However, I did liked Charlie’s chat scene in the bathroom. I feel like we are finally getting to know Charlie a little more and it makes me happy that he wants to reach for a better place for him, being his own person, knowing he is also needed. And always, his smart mouth is incredible.
In other hand, I truly was expecting a whole lot more of Jane and Thatcher. It's not a bad thing we didn't get it, don't get me wrong (we got Donnelly and Oscar. I just thought they were going to be in a lot more scenes, considering they were in each other's books. But again, this book is amazing because it's like a closure to a part of the series, and they are making the path clear for the new characters to come.

Akara + Sullivan + Banks.
Yes. Yes. Y E S ! ! ! When I say there is one book that I’m DYING to read next year (hopefully) is THIS. Akara putting Banks in Sulli’s details when he can’t go with her. Banks and Akara being so close. The interaction between the three of them... *melting*. Sulli being angry at Kits, but Banks being like “I knew too”. BANKS BEING KITSULLI TEAM *dying, like…. I can laugh and cry because that was so sweet… even if Akara wanted to kill him :’)”. It’s too obvious that they have chemistry to explore, but no one can’t deny they aren’t cute.
And let's not talk about the "Heyheyhey" *dies*

Lily and Loren
I’m gonna say this only because I wrote a lot of this, repeating myself mostly. But… Loren Hale and Lily Calloway are the best persons in the world and I feel so happy and proud seeing them this good. I SUFFERED reading all the mystery in Lily and Lo’s behavior without not knowing shit… it killed me. I kept thinking “what the actual fuck is going on?”. I should have remembered that I trust the authors with these characters not only because is theirs, but because they probably love Loren and Lily more than any other character in their series.

Maximoff and Farrow.
I’ll try to keep this part spoiler free, but you’ll probably shouldn’t read it if you haven’t finished the book (that’s a warning).
I’m not lying when I say I love this book. It’s a little different? Yes, maybe a lot different. But I loved it anyway because this:
When Moffy and Farrow got together in DLU we could see that the biggest problem wasn’t exactly keeping it in secret, but how the fams were going to react, how Moffy was going to feel in his first ever real relationship, how Farrow could fit in his life. They clearly were meant for each other. They’ve been through everything we already know – stalker, car crash, etc.- But in those first three books we saw the same Maximoff and the same Farrow, with minor changes in their personality.
Maximoff always seemed… unbreakable. He definitely was the first person to take responsibility when no one asked him to, when he didn’t need to, or even, when he shouldn’t do it and inevitably, he looked strong. Headstrong Like Us, for me, is about the vulnerability and the realization that Moffy is needed, but he doesn’t have to fight wars that aren’t his. He doesn’t need to take in all the responsibility, of all his family members, like he was born to do just that. That he is grown up, he’s going to take care of HIS family first, and then the rest. That the priorities are changing. He is not lost, he is not responsible of anything that happens – again, this is my perception of the book.
We see a different Moffy -this is also mentioned in the book alongside with the vulnerability-. He’s grown up, he is living a dream that he never thought he would be living and he’s also feelings unsteady for all of this. He is facing all his fears with someone who will love him uncondionally. He lived in a certain way, and like it or not, marrying Farrow and letting all his walls down, including the ones he didn’t knew he had up, makes him question everything and he is scared.
But at the end, they are soulmates. Farrow is the best guy for Moffy – as moffy for Farrow-, they have the biggest support in their families, in their friends, that anything life throws at them, they are going to be strong enough to pass it.
and Ripley!!! OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. NONONO. I MELTED LIKE A FCKING ICE CREAM CONE WHILE READING ALL THEIR SCENES TOGETHER!!!!
The way the authors wrote this story, giving us a full closure for them (for now... who knows? there could be a SOKP 2 but with them) is the things that I liked the most because now we can focus in the future couples. Highveira, ABS/Kitsullibanks, Charlie, Beckett, Lunnelly and we know that Marrow are having their life good.

“This is where we said I love you for the first time.” His smile stretches from cheek-to-cheek, and he holds my face with two hands. Breathing life into my lungs. I clutch the crook of his neck as Farrow whispers into a kiss, “And I’ll always love you, wolf scout.” I’ve never been happier. Never loved stronger or more.

I never understood this quote until I met you. Until you filled the incomplete parts of me.” Tears surge up and drip down my jaw, mixing with rainwater. “I was empty. So empty, and I didn’t even know it, Farrow.” That strikes me. How I could’ve gone my whole life without him. Without knowing what this feels like. I can’t stop crying. I don’t want to. “You’re the person that my soul has been searching for because my head was too stubborn to do it.”

I’ve longed for you before I even knew you, and now that I’ve found you, there’s not a single day I want to live without you.” I’m crying. He’s crying. “Your love is the most precious, valuable thing to me on the face of this fucking world, and I’ll love you today, tomorrow, and decades longer. When we’re old men and smiling about yesterdays, I’ll still love you and your pure heart and your good soul.”

His love. And he’s my greatest love. The only man I’ve asked to marry me. The only man I’ve wanted to be with for a lifetime. Fuck, he’s my entire world, and I’ve vowed to protect him, even on the days where he says he can protect himself.

[Elsa Gomes (BookishAurora) · Rating 5 out of 5]

2022 re-read: I love this book so much. It’s so beautiful, both setting wise and the moments between the characters.

Donnelly in this one is just 🥹 >>>

2020 re-read: 6 STARS

Oh boy, I can never get enough of these two. And I think I have decided that this is my favorite book in the series... I just die over all the lovely moments between Marrow and then all the Ripley moments just completely melt me. These 3 were meant to be a family and gah I just love seeing them so happy. Their love is one of the most amazing I've ever read, right there next to Lilo.

And I cannot forget all the other characters. I feel like this book was major scenes with basically all characters, at least the ones closer to Farrow and Moffy and it's all so sweet, sometimes very emotional and I just ah this book just fucking makes me all soft and weepy and completely melts me.

And this reread really got my creative juices flowing. I was so inspired and got so many edit ideas that I can't wait to create!!
______

➳ Rate: +5/ 5 stars

THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. EVERY SINGLE THING!

This book truly felt like a love letter to Marrow and to those of us who love this couple with all our hearts. We got to see them celebrate their love, expand their family. Yes, there's still family drama, their is still crazy paparazzi and fans, there's also new bodyguards, hints about the next books and so so much more!

I was either with a crazy happy smile on my face or tears in my eyes, both of joy and fear. This book is pretty emotional but not in the sense that bad things happen, in the sense that you feel so much love, pride and happiness for these two that it brings tears to your eyes. Their journey has been nothing but crazy epic, there is never a dull moment in these two's lives. We got to watch them thrive, show a side of themselves they barely ever do, we watched them overcame every hurdle thrown at them, their fears and then we watched them walk down the aisle and OMG... what's this falling from my eyes again?

You guys! I haven't been able to stop thin
king about this book and these two! THEY COMPLETELY IRREVOCABLY OWN MY HEART. I didn't think I'd ever love any other couple more than I love Lilo but Marrow totally have them beat. I just, this family...all three of them really... they are absolutely everything to me.

All the Hale family moments and how they all loved Farrow like a sibling/son, all the ones of Farrow and Thatcher, all the ones between Lily, Lo and Moffy...and Ripley, oh my heart. This book made me so so happy. It was beautiful, emotion and just freaking perfect.

I'm sad to think this is their last book, I'm gonna miss their POVS so unbelievably much. But we'll see them in all other books... it won't be the same but we'll get to see just how everyone loves these two through their own eyes and I'm excited about that too. And of course, I cannot wait for Oscar and Jack, Banks/Sulli/Akara and Lunnely (pls pls announce this one soon, I'm dying) and anything else Krista & Becca want to give me!


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[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️&#x1f3a7;&#x1f4da; Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio 5++++++
Story 4.5 Stars

[julia ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　 Read the full REVIEW on my BLOG! ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　

"He has this intrinsic need to protect his family.
And he can't live knowing he didn't try."

Next up, a somewhat controversial review. I started the Like Us series in high hopes a few years back. Over time, however, the writing quality has dwindled, and I was faced with a few disappointments when it comes to the author's creative decisions. I will admit, I didn't go into this book expecting to love it, and I ultimately didn't. But, I was willing to approach Headstrong Like Us with an open mind and let it surprise me.

Writing-wise, the main plot of this book was the trope (that I think is meant to be a surprise), which, frankly, we didn't see enough of. Farrow and Maximoff's lives take an unexpected turn, and the two become fathers sooner than they planned. While this was the most interesting aspect of the book, and I generally love the adoption/found family trope, the writers failed to properly develop this storyline. The books suffer from a distinct "tell, don't show" quality, which was definitely not there in the Addicted Series. Where were the scenes that developed their relationship as a family? The book goes from "Farrow has received guardianship" to "Farrow loves his son now" in one single chapter.

When I tell you that Headstrong like Us is almost 500 pages,I'm not lying. It really is that big. Instead of developing a genuine interesting story featuring Maximoff and Farrow's new family, these 500 pages were mostly filled with Maximoff finding out his one-night-stand is now his dad's therapist, which was meant to be "shocking" but failed to deliver on that as this man had one single appearance in the whole book. I'm sorry, were we supposed to care about a guy who wasn't properly introduced once?

Before going in, I feared this would have that novella feel, and I was right. This book felt redundant. Headstrong Like Us had absolutely no business being this long, because, as far as I'm concerned, Maximoff and Farrow's story stopped having some semblance of plot two books ago. K&B keep trying to make their daily lives interesting, and fail to do so after a whole series of the same recycled plot-points. The writing is repetitive (I can't tell you how many times this series has made being stuck in a paparazzi mob some kind of "exciting" storyline), and some character moments feel recycled from their previous books (seriously, how many times are people going to walk in on someone else having intercourse? This stopped being funny three books ago).

I don't know if it's the specific writing of this book, as they never used to bother me before, but there are also way too many obvious self-inserts. Whether it's K&B's opinions (regarding twinning?), or their likes (there was a mildly uncomfortable scene featuring Call Me By Your Name), a lot of it shines through on paper, which, I'm not sure I was a fan of in this book? The pop-culture references especially, were often excessive and a little cring-ey. Keeping in mind that these books take place in the distant future, I can't imagine these will age well.

Also, I'm just going to say it: I'm not a fan of the way these authors write Maximoff and Farrow's POV's. I think they want to convey a loveable rival dynamic, but fail to do so. Instead of Rose and Connor's jabs in Kiss the Sky or Fuel the Fire, Maximoff and Farrow's constant "i'm-better-than-you-banter" has become insufferable at best. I had to skim entire conversations between the two main characters because I kept rolling my eyes. Can these people have one normal conversation without comparing their muscles or the size of their genitals?

The saving grace of this book, then, are, as usual, the side-characters. I enjoy getting peeks at Jane and Thatcher, and even Banks/Sulli/Akara (which still feel a little forced?) were enjoyable to some extent. I'm also very curious at how these authors are going to portray Oscar/Jack, as they plan on writing a coming-out story, which I'm not sure will go over well, but they had some insightful scenes in Headstrong Like Us.

All in all, the writing just feels all over the place and, the more books that are written about them, the less I like these protagonists. I think the constant focus on these two characters, who, admittedly, are out of storylines, does a disservice to the side-characters that deserve their chance to shine. Consequently, I'm torn between rating this 3 stars or 2.5 stars, but this was (very clearly) not their best book, and, confirmed my initial apprehension: this should have been a novella.

[simran · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book and all I was able to feel was anxiety and disgust.

How dare you write an entire dialogue where the main character of the book says with his whole chest that he doesn't think adoption is the way to go because he wants the "selfish biological thing" do these authors realize how fucking insensitive this statement it? no, it doesn't make up for the fact that this annoying ass individual later adopts a kid... now all I'm able to think is will he love his biological kid more than his adopted one? will there be a difference in his affection towards them? I can't get these questions out of my head. This truly truly disgusted to the core... It's not something to be taken lightly either.

The other part is another character calling the baby white trash... idfc whoever you are but it's a baby.... how can you be so flippant about it?

now onto the anxiety part, I truly love love the og characters... lily and lo are my all time faves... I would die for them. The fact that these authors discredited his entire story arc just to create some drama is cheap at best. lo suffered through much worse conditions in his books for him to relapse due to minor inconveniences when he has his other kids and family to think about... He's a strong character with the best development I've read and to play with his story arc just to create unnecessary daily soap drama is a cheap shot in my opinion.


Stop recycling story plots already... I'm sick and tired of the whole bodyguard/client thingy... The best part to come out this book is that I wouldn't have to read about this annoying ass couple ever again... Ik I'm not rid of them but atleast I won't have to read farrow's pov again and that's a win for me.



RESPECT YOUR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS. PLEASE DON'T RUIN THEM FOR THE NEW ONES YOU'RE WRITING... IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT OF A TASK!!!

[Nyca Cuaderno · Rating 1 out of 5]

4 books, are we?

They banter, bicker, get lost in those forest-green eyes and Farrow pops another gum. Insert drama. Why can’t we have another couple to read about? These two were perfectly fine with 2 books and nothing significant ever happened at the third book, it was the same. Them being snarky, insert drama, banter and bicker. It’s the same shit all over again.

[Arianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so sorry but it needs to be said; that is, BY FAR, the ugliest cover in the series

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving 5 starts just to counter all the 1 star ratings given by these shit-head "fans" trying to sabotage a MM book that hasn't even been released yet.

I feel bad for these authors. Must be nice to have such dedicated "fans" thinking they are entitled to control their creative choices, telling them what they can and can't do in their OWN books. I mean... Seriously?

This just shows how petty and douchey some "fans" can be. Going as far as creating fake accounts to sabotage an author's work because they didn't get what they wanted in the first place. Or because the series is not going in the direction they wanted to. Let's be honest, I think the real reason behind this is quite obvious if you think about it.

If you're one of those idiots, here goes an advice: Nobody wants to see an adult throwing temper tantrums and deliberately targeting a MM book just to be petty and vindictive. I wouldn't want any "fans" with such a shitty behavior, and I'm sure Krista and Becca Ritchie don't care about you either.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

when u support authors who write a passage on how being an adopted kid means not really being part of a family, that's really fucking telling

also not at how they completely threw away the development of their characters to spite readers who no longer support them. dumbest move you could make as selfpublished authors.

[jordane · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was so long and boring, and literally nothing happened apart from the same unnecessary drama.
At this point i'm just here for the side characters (hoping their authors are not going to ruin them either, even if it's too late for some of them...)

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

When you think it can’t get any worse, it does.
Only thing positive is that doesn't have Charlie almost at all. His breadcrumbs are still best part of book and please let's not have him talking to self-righteous asshole Farrow makes me hate him even more. Imagine thinking anyone would be jealous of Marrow "love" especially Charlie he saw what true love is in his parents and uncles and aunts.
Now on to rant /review :
My mood while reading this book was boredom and angry.
Using Loren and Lilo to create some cheap drama, playing with emotions of original series readers is disgusting and disrespectful.Just leave them and core six alone like they been doing that this whole series not having core six having any lines to say.

Marrow why do they have four books?! I feel like they been dating at most 4 months and they getting married and having kid..WTF all while Maximoff still has no job.
Maximoff and Farrow are on highest level self- absorbed, arrogant assholes and all of their scenes are without any emotional connection and completed with m/m fetishization.
Wolf scout in alu 32 times, wolf scout in hlu 81 times so there is that.
This better be their last book I don't even wanna see them in others books. Can they go on honeymoon are never return or Maximoff get a job and stop playing "hero" of all families.
So Donnelly who is grown ass man 27 years old that is acting like 15 year old kid can't take care of uncle's child just so Maximoff and Farrow take that baby. That baby is not dog that Donnelly can't give them a baby, law doesn't exist for them I guess. Still is better then Jane with marrow kid think for 1 minute before you write shit like that.
Donnelly is too much in this book everything he said or does is cringy like white trash baby...no words.
Also that bodyguards have millions and millions followers that is so ridiculous anyway I only like are Banks and Akara.
KBR need to get out their bubble where they are only listening praising of 50 year old Facebook soccer mom's that get off on fetishizing m/m couples. Rest of kids deserve their own spin off or nothing at all this bodyguard/client is overdone and overused stop already.
Next book is Oscar and Jack who asked or cares about them when most kids of core six don't have their books.
Reread original series don't read this.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

April 2023 reread:
And I’d like to think Plato was right. That in the beginning of time, it was Farrow and me, and we were once whole together. Our souls united. But like all humans, we were split down the middle. Separate halves wandering around this universe.
We found each other.
And finally, together, we became whole again.

July 2022 reread:
There’s no way to pick the best parts of this book, because honestly every scene and chapter is perfect to me. It’s the best ending for Maximoff and Farrow and I love seeing every moment of their happy ever after in this book.

October 2021 reread
Wow I guess every time I read this book, I'm just going to be a big old sappy mess. It's impossible to pick my number one favorite book in this series (since it really just depends how I'm feeling at the time), but Headstrong Like Us is pretty close to the top of my list in any mood. I love how it's a perfect blend of Maximoff and Farrow's future with all of these big life changes, but also all the little moments between them as well. It's such a big theme with both of them and since I love reading about all the smaller domestic moments, I'm just a happy reader with this book.

Headstrong Like Us is Krista and Becca’s 20th book and it is a massive, beautiful, heartfelt love letter to Maximoff and Farrow from Krista and Becca. It was everything I didn’t know I needed for Marrow’s last book. Of course you get all the typical moments you’d expect to see from Maximoff and Farrow – their banter, their serious talks, their quiet, happy moments doing the little things. But there was so much more – this is their wedding book. That means there are some big changes on the horizon and as we’ve learned, Maximoff isn’t the biggest fan of massive changes in his life. Watching as he and Farrow navigate through these changes to start this next chapter of their lives was so beautiful. They’ve grown so much together from the first book, and I found myself feeling so proud of these two throughout the book.
I also thought it was really interesting because you can start to see traits of both Maximoff and Farrow in the other person. Farrow makes some pretty selfless choices in order to put Lo’s health first – 100% a Maximoff Hale move. And Maximoff learns to be a little more selfish and less willing choose the riskier path to help someone else, instead choosing to put his family with Farrow above his cousins (in particular there is a scene with the girl squad asking for Maximoff’s help and he steps back and says no). He’s always put his family first, above everything else but now there’s something else important and learning to be a little less there for his family… I don’t know, I think it’s almost like a sign of maturity. It reminds me of Ryke’s struggle in Long Way Down – can the selfless man be more selfish? By the end of the book, he’s starting to learn that it’s okay to do that, at least every now and then.
Maximoff and Farrow’s first three books were about their present – starting a relationship, learning how to be together, how to share a relationship with the public. They went through a lot and came out at the end as an unshakeable team.
Headstrong Like Us is all about their future as a team. There was so much that they tackled and watching Maximoff and Farrow take on all the new challenges just solidifies how well they fit together – two halves of a soul that have been searching for each other for a lifetime. And even though this is their last book, it’s very clear by the end of this book that it’s a beautiful, perfect future for Maximoff and Farrow.
I’ll never be able to thank Krista and Becca enough for creating this amazing world, and these wonderful, headstrong characters. I think it’s obvious how much love they put into all their books, this one in particular, and it makes me love it even more! This series holds such a special place in my heart and I could not recommend it enough!
Five beautiful stars for these two beautiful characters!

[Bookish Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread finished 8/18

Before I write my actual review, I just want to say how ugly and despicable Goodreads can be. There are so many trolling reviewers whose words are hurtfully written vs writing an educated critical review.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

K & B write the best fucking wedding scenes. They are epically sentimental and always make me cry. Marrow is already one of the most emotionally charged couples they've written. Add to that the feels of their wedding. Bring on the ugly cry.

As mentioned in the blurb, there were some obstacles, big and small, that got in their way. Things that strengthen not only their own commitment and loyalty, but to those closest to them as well.

And as always, the banter and ear to ear grins are everywhere, providing some levity to some tough moments.

HLU forced Maximoff and Farrow to make some tough, on the spot decisions that were life changing but they did it together and without hesitation to make each other feel safe and happy.

There were a handful of typos, but they didn't detract from the overall story.

I love the Ritchie twins and their writing to the moon and back!!

5 "all-in" stars!!