Relapse

by Quirah Casey

They say trouble comes in threes; Ivy has to agree, because the three men who just became her neighbors are more trouble than anything she’s come across.

Ivy Hendersen has always led a chaotic life. Drugs, partying, alcohol, she’s done it all and has no plans on stopping, at least until she gets a phone call that changes her life forever. Now with her niece and nephew in her custody after her sister’s untimely death, Ivy has to get her act together. One wrong move and she’ll lose the only pieces she has left of her sister. That means it's time to leave her vices alone. It means actually listening to her therapist and no more trips to mental hospitals. Most importantly, it means leaving troublesome men alone, which is going to be harder than planned when she’s just moved next door to three captivating men intent on getting her attention.

Will Ivy finally grow up and be responsible with the stakes higher than ever or will she relapse?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Why Choose, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this RH since it was focused mostly on the emotional side of the relationship, as well as Ivy dealing with sudden custody of her sister's kids, withdrawals from her addictions and her troubled past.

[Nicole Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy is a hot mess. She is addicted to drugs, partying and alcohol. But when she receives a phone call saying her sister and her husband were in a car accident and we’re both killed and now she is the sole guardian of her 8yo nephew and her 2yo niece. She has no choice to quit cold turkey and rise to the occasion even tho she knows nothin about being a parent Since her mother was a washout.
She moves into a new house with them and meets her new neighbors Chase, Nathen and Emmet. 👀🔥 She was in a rough place when she first met them. But as the story goes on so does there relationship. ❤️🔥

[♡ Rosella Swan ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great RH which has kids, family, insecurities and romance.

I loved the plot line and the development was amazing. The relationships were absolutely perfect not too slow and not too fast.

Everyone had time to grow as a an individual as well as a family. The men had different personalities which were perfect for Ivy 🦋

Ivy had to grow and become responsible which I think the author did a really good job of writing.

The kids were absolutely spectacular and I loved the relationship they had with the men especially Lily. So cute 😍

I loved this book and the struggle of real life, growing and becoming a family was spectacularly written 💙

[LaTosha Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t expected it to be so funny

I really love Quirah’s writing. The characters she writes aren’t typical (at least for me) and they have a rawness to them that I absolutely love. Ivy is just a beautiful character and I wanted even more love and happiness for her. Like three guys is cool but idk maybe some type of professional win to?? Idk I just wanted her to have all the things! I loved they guys, didn’t even pick a favorite. This story really hit me in the chest as a mom and as a big sister and I loved that so much! The more of her stuff I read the more I love her!

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book and I’m really hoping this wasn’t the end. That said it didn’t end in a cliffhanger.

[Julianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was dying for the climax and drama to come.. and when it finally did it was kind of a let down? And the next thing I knew the book was over? Honestly there wasn't enough drama for me to invest my time into a second book. Especially since it took 300 pages for anything to really evolve?

Maybe I just wasn't in the right mind frame for this type of book. But it just wasn't exciting enough.

The guys were okay. But even towards the end the fmc admitting to not know one of them all that well. The fmc was okay.. I feel like we got more of her realness from her therapy sessions then through her relationship with the three men. She was a recovering addict but the only thing we really got from that was her twitching for a cigarette.. I expected to see more of a struggle with that and maybe seeing the guys kind of more involved in her recovery.

There was also a lack of editing that made some of it confusing. You can figure it out pretty easily but when Ivy is having internal thoughts about the boy she is raising but he is being referred to with the name of the man she is dating? Yeah.. the name switch ups were annoying.

Some may consider this next part to be spoilers but considering nothing even ended up happening I don't.. so read if you want to.

Like I said before.. it just wasn't exciting. The whole book was boring. I almost gave up so many times but then we would get a little teaser. Like the old friend on instagram that messaged her? I thought that would lead to some drama. The woman whos son called Ivy a whore in front of tanner? A confrontation where the woman doesn't even speak... And then there is the drama with her mother where she is all talk and it ends up evolving into literally nothing but empty threats.

[Ashley Shvetsova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was something I needed. I grew up in a crappy drug filled home, while I took responsibility and became more like Kylie, there were so many things in this book that made me reflect on my childhood. I’ve never done drugs or experienced a relapse but the emotional and mental mix in all of this, I have experienced in some way shape or form. Whether it be me watching my moms toxic relationships or feeling like the black sheep of the family, these feelings of inadequacy, that is so perfectly portrayed in this book, is something I still struggle with today and I’m the same age as our main character Ivy. Did I cry in this book? You better believe it. Did I relate and rip open old wounds, I blatantly ignore regularly? Yes. Was it worth it all to read this? Yes, one million times yes. This story accurately portrayed so many crappy feelings and moments and was written so perfectly around those that I will always have this story in my favorite list for years to come. I can honestly say it will be a book I reflect on as well. Ivy did so much amazing growing up in this book, some of which I still have to do, it’s because of all of this that I thank the author for putting these words onto paper I never would have been able to. That being said my recommendation is do it, pick up this book and read, you won’t be disappointed.

[L Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that this is the first book I've read by this author and I absolutely enjoyed her writing. This is the story of an unstable, drinking, drugging, free-wheeling party girl with zero responsibility who gets a call about a tragic car accident claiming the lives of her sister and brother-in-law thus leaving her as the legal guardian to her 8 year old and 2 year old nephew and niece. The story unfolds as Ivy assumes guardianship of her nephew and niece and goes about trying to straighten out her life and focus her efforts on being a proper guardian for the children. Since Ivy's mother was anything but a real mom to her, Ivy has almost no idea what being a parent actually means. She experiences lots of growing pains in becoming a responsible adult and sudden parent all while navigating the challenges of living next door to three very sexy and very available neighbors whose desires are not at all hidden. I was thoroughly captivated by this novel. I really like Ms. Casey's talent for world-building as well as her command of dialogue to create tension. Everything about the characters' interactions made me want to root for them. I can't wait to see what happens next in the lives of Ivy, Chase, Nathan and Emmet. So good!

[Kristi Jung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stand-alone book with a hint of more

I hope there is a book 2. This book was tied up nicely and ended with hints of more to come but it did not end on a cliffhanger. I did feel like the last 10% of the book was rushed, and the last 7% of the book was told, not showed (like a recount of what happened instead of interactions and actions) - that was disappointing.

However, I don’t have a problem with the first 90%! I love how the relationships developed and how Ivy experienced character development. The kids also experienced character development. The RH, not so much, their personalities blended together a few times. Nevertheless, it was a cute story that made me jealous and wanting my own harem!

Summary:
After the death of her sister and brother in law, party girl college dropout takes custody of her 2 year old niece and 9 year old nephew. She meets her 3 hot neighbors, 2 of whom coach her nephews baseball team. Other parents don’t like her, the kids school is stuck up but she find a best friend to vent, talk and get advice from. She finds herself changing as she becomes a parent and also in a tricky relationship. Also mentions deeper issues like racism, lower class, bullying).

I would read again.

[Carol Rupprecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm already a fan of Quirah Casey, mainly from reading her paranormal books, but I have to say, this contemporary piece blew me away. It was refreshing compared to the paranormal RH where a lot of the relationships or mating bonds are instant with no work necessary for feelings to be present. Ivy and her relationship with Nathan, Chase, and Emmet blossomed organically without insta love. They had to work through boundaries, family issues, judgement from the parents and school, addiction, and many other topics that are very relatable to readers. The characters are genuine and believable making the story even more captivating. You're sure to fall in love with Ivy's determination to work past her issues when she is fighting for the people that she loves. It's amazing what you are capable of once you are fighting for the livelihood of someone other than yourself and your mind is set to make that happen. Ivy and her guys show that accepting support or help from others isn't a weakness. It's nice to have people in your corner for a change. 

[Daisy Sauceda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book that I read by this author and let me say I am now a fan for life. Woah baby, this book was so good. I mean I was hooked after page one and read it til the end. This was a crazy, steamy, and emotional ride. There were a few points that I read and knew what it felt like for Ivy. I have been in those shoes. But that is not my point. My point is that this book touched my heart, and repaired my soul. I loved that this was a book about Ivy and her neice and nephew. This is a different take on reverse harem, to see how the men manage and what they felt like. I loved how Ivy even though she is the kids guardian and learns to grow into an amazing parent. She may have endured tragedy but is making the best of life as she can. So when she meets her sexy neighbors, she gets a feeling that things will change. What will happen? Can she balance her love and family life? I cannot wait to find out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andra Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy was the quintessential party girl until the death of her sister makes her have to grow up and take care of her sister's children. If she does not get it together, she will lose her sister's legacy, the children. Relapse is a reverse harem very steamy book with the drama you expect from a story that begins as it does. In Relapse, Quirah Casey creates a way too real world. It is the kind of world that you do not wish on any child, but it does exist. Relapse is a story of hope and shows us that it is okay to lean on others for support, help, and love.

A character like Ivy is easy to judge. However, when you read her story, you root for her to get it right. You also root for her to take on three men, Emmet, Chase, and Nathan, who she just cannot say no to, and she should not. They build a family and a relationship with trust and support that is good for everyone. I hope there is more to this story that we will see in future books.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I liked how the story developed and how Ivy clearly matured over the course of the book. She still has a way to go (putting better boundaries in place with her mother, developing her art et.) but it was a good start. This harem scenario didn’t feel as far fetched as a lot of other books in the genre. I also liked that with the kids, the book felt real, with real issues that the author took the time to address. The book was a bit slow at the beginning and too fast at the end so I would love to read more about the development of their relationship. How does it work in practice? Will they eventually all live together? Chase and Emmet clearly love each other but will Chase ever admit that he loves a man? Sexually will Nathan ever join? How are they going to cope with the world at large? There’s lots to talk about and I would love to read about it. As an aside I’m not sure why the book is called relapse?

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author thru Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review. This is the first book Ive read by Quirah and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ivy is a messed up young woman who has to decide to change everything to keep her family together. When tragedy strikes and leaves her two young children to raise she starts a new path in life. She then has three neighbors who want to have a relationship with her. Nathaniel, Emmett and Chase help her navigate thru all the trials and love that comes her way. Ivy has no idea how to become a good parent or how to love three men, but she learns. This book covers such a range of real life situations. It will draw you in and keep you turning the pages. Each character is well thought out and the storyline is a different take on your average rh. You will not regret diving into this book

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're in a rush to read a book, find another book. While Relapse wasn't a difficult book to read, you need to digest what is happening with each of these characters. Is this a love story? Yes! However, it's also about building trust, family, and extending your thought process beyond what society expects. Ivy is complex and pretty selfish in the beginning. However, a tragedy forces her to grow up and learn to be responsible for something other than herself. That's the first part of the book and will continue. Nathan, Chase, and Emmet each have their parts in the story that aren't shown immediately. Is this important? Absolutely!! Again, this is a love story; but also a story of friendship and family.

Take your time when reading this book!! The characters are strong. Well done to a new author for me.

[Tendaiis Narrative · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish this book was longer. I loved it so much but the ending felt a bit rushed to me (definitely a me thing). I know in the author's note she mentioned that she's working on a next book focused on her friend so we will see more of the four there. I will probably read that just so I can see what happens but I really would have liked more expansion here (especially in terms of Nathan's sister not liking Ivy) considering the book wasn't very long at all.

Edit: I’ve now tried reading the next book Touch and Go and I found myself kind of irritated that it wasn’t about the main four. There were just too many things unresolved in the first book to me so for the next book to not be about them irritated me enough to stop reading it.

[Mrs R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The story totally pulled me in. Ivy's lifestyle is a mess, she goes out and parties, indulges in recreational drugs, smokes and is struggling to make a living from her artwork. Then her sister dies and she is responsible for her nephew and niece; her life completely changes. She tries so hard to change and be a better person for the kids, but she's only human.
Ivy is such a likeable character, I really felt for her as she sometimes struggled. I loved the guys, and you really get to know them well.
The book is really well written, the pace is perfect as you get to know everyone really well.

[Dee Kap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn!!!!

So I love RH, and recently discovered Quirah. I don't normally go for non paranormal as I like the way too unlikely..... This was hot.
It was also relatable, not because of me hotness but because of he down to earth realness of the characters who have lived life. The author did such an awesome job in sucking you right in that you felt what the main character felt, her struggle, her pain, her fear, anxiety and her passion 😉 really awesome. My only reason for not giving five starts was the unanswered questions, which being it's a stand alone and the next book is from a different perspective I am hoping they are answers so I have pre ordered. Thank you

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dove in without knowing what I was getting into, much like Ivy herself.
I loved the storyline and the parts where she is caring for her sisters children as her own rang so true to me. I loved the way the author lets Ivy go through the raw emotions involved with caring for her niece and nephew.
I was absolutely shocked at how Ivy and Emmett’s relationship went from 0-100 so abruptly but the more you read, the more sense it makes.
While reading I caught some grammatical errors and a word missing here or there so I gathered that the author was relatively new but also, it was written so well that I didn’t mind.

[Maddison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its been a while since I've read a RH that's a contemporary romance and I have to say I'm so glad that I picked Relapse to get back into the genre. I loved everything about this book. The character development was well written throughout the book and I never knew what Ivy was going to do next which kept me entertained and interested the whole time! Despite her flaws Ivy shows such strength in all she overcomes and is such a relatable character. The guys were all swoon worthy and all bring something unique to the story. Definitely add this one to your TBR pile!

[Danni Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quirky addictive emotional roller coaster!
Ivy is distraught and broken hearted when her sister and brother in law pass away and she’s left with custody of her niece and nephew.
As they relocate and are in the midst of mending their broken hearts together, Ivy meets her irresistible neighbours. As she builds friendships with them, they also start to mend her broken pieces, including those of her heart.
But with Ivy’s mother threatening to take the kids away, and Ivy’s history of toxic relationships, can she make things work for good this time?

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relapse was okay, but it would have been better if the relationship didn't feel like fanfic. Chase, Emmitt, and Nathan all like Ivy because...that's the plot called for. I kept waiting for Ivy to do something to make the guys fall for her, but she doesn't, and Emmitt's reason for liking her felt hollow. Show me, don't tell me.
That being said, I liked Ivy's relationship with Tanner and Lily. She really grew into the role as a parent. However, Ivy should have taken Lily to a pediatrician to find if there is something in her medical history that explains her slow development.

[thebookcritic_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

good story

Honestly enjoyed this book. Well written. Always down for a reverse harem. Loved the characters. Ivy is kind of all of us that deal with anxiety and overthinking. I don’t like how Ivy rushed the relationship between Chase and Emmitt. It was okay with nudging it but she should’ve let it happen naturally. Especially since it was their first time.

There were a few grammar issues but it didn’t disrupt the story. Nathan already told her he was 32 so they kind of repeated the conversation.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoiler Alert*
A contemporary RH romance book. Ivy (FMC) loses her sister and her brother-in-law in a car accident. She becomes the sole next of kin to bring up her Nephew - Tanner and Niece - Lilly. Moving into a new house gives Ivy three hot and helpful nextdoor neighbours - Chase, Emmett and Nathan. I loved the 3 of them. I also loved how they were with the kids. Really sweet. This book is really good. A few laughs, a few tears but with fab characters. That can help but like. Brilliant!!

[senna · Rating 4 out of 5]

tw: verbal abuse

- the most wholesome and realistic rh i’ve ever read
- i cried???? like i wasn’t expecting to cry like that????
- i’m not a huge fan of the openish ending since the next book focuses on a side character so we won’t really get to see how things resolved
- a black/mexican bi mc, a bi(?) mexican love interest, a pan native american love interest?? start stepping up other authors

[LaCreasha]

Someone called this a very slow burn and that is definitely the case. Overall, I was just bored and almost DNFd. I liked the setup but the execution was disappointing. Like sometimes I was mixing up the male MCs but I think the author was too. Also for the majority of the book the female MC was an insecure mess and I couldn't figure out the attraction. And apparently this type of relationship isn't normal for the men but they just fall into it so readily and easily. Sure, I guess.

[Nigama R.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The struggles of a drug-addict, partying girl who sobers up to take responsibilities of her nephew and niece.. Absolutely wonderful transition of Ivy by Quirah Casey.. The love and attraction between Ivy and Nathan, Chase and Emmet is palpable and 🔥🔥🔥, as the story progresses so does their relation.. Highly recommended!!

[Robin Dorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fabulous love story is full of drama, humor, and enough heartbreak to keep you fully engaged.

Follow Ivy as she becomes "Mom" to her niece and nephew after a tragic accident and learns to fall in love with the 3 gorgeous neighbors next door!!!!

Phenomenal RH read that will give you all the feels!!!

[Ashai De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't sleep on this story

Not going to lie when I first read the summary I was skeptical but then it had me hook when they was talking about a reverse Harem. This story has its ups and downs but it is a great read don't sleep on it you will not be disappointed. I really hope that there's a second book to this now.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like the heroine she was not very smart or mature but loved the guys one 1 star heroine, two 5 star guys Nathan and Chase. and one 4 star guy Emmett makes for a 3 star read.

The story idea was a 5 star read but the heroine was just so whiny and immature and not an adult I could not enjoy the story fully.