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Pretty Broken #5
Pretty Black
Iris' Story
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2023
113 people are currently reading
340 people want to read
About the author
J.R. Gray
58 books1,288 followersWhen not staying up all night writing, J.R. Gray can be found at the gym where it's half assumed he is a permanent resident to fulfill his self-inflicted masochism. A dominant and a pilot, Gray finds it hard to be in the passenger seat of any car. He frequently interrupts real life, including normal sleep patterns and conversations, to jot down notes or plot bunnies. Commas are the bane of his existence even though it's been fully acknowledged they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder. If Gray wasn't writing…well, that's not possible. The buildup of untold stories would haunt Gray into an early grave, insanity or both. The idea of haunting has always appealed to him. J.R. Gray is genderqueer and prefers he/him pronouns.
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August 2, 2023
"I've never seen him so bright as when he's looking at you. I've never seen him as happy as when you're looking back. And when you give him lyrics, I don't care if it's the meanest shit about him, like that fucking break up shit you pulled two years ago." Lowe laughed. "He still acts like you've given him gold."
Tears brimmed at the corners of my eyes, blurring my vision. "He's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
this duet fucked me up badly. brought me pain and suffering, yet it was worth it to see Iris and Cas rise up on top through it all - especially Iris bc he truly struggled mentally and it was heartbreaking to watch him break, but i loved seeing him grow. 🥺 the band wasn't perfect by any means, but i still loved the bond and friendship they had with one another. i also feel like, unlike book two where i only cared about Iris and Cas, i could connect a bit more with the other characters here. <3
Tears brimmed at the corners of my eyes, blurring my vision. "He's the best thing that's ever happened to me."
this duet fucked me up badly. brought me pain and suffering, yet it was worth it to see Iris and Cas rise up on top through it all - especially Iris bc he truly struggled mentally and it was heartbreaking to watch him break, but i loved seeing him grow. 🥺 the band wasn't perfect by any means, but i still loved the bond and friendship they had with one another. i also feel like, unlike book two where i only cared about Iris and Cas, i could connect a bit more with the other characters here. <3
May 26, 2023
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“Isolating yourself is only going to bring it about faster. You don’t have to let me in, but you should let River or Alister in. None of us want you dead.”
“What if it’s unavoidable?” Sobs shook his body.
I closed my eyes, breathing him in. “Then I’ll love you until your final breath, but I’m not going to stop asking for one more day.”
Oh, to finally see in Iris and Caspian get some form of happiness in Pretty Black was so fulfilling, because gosh, was it hard and heavy and angst-filled path to get there. 😢 We got to see their first meeting, all the way through how their relationship developed - how they fell for each other - only then to see how Iris broke apart in front of Caspian and then just be there for him to help put his heart back together.
It was such an intense and emotional journey, because they didn't only have to fight the demons that were plaguing Iris' heart and mind, but to have someone as manipulative and conniving as Alexander - a forever thorn in their paths - to see the sweet redemption of them finally being rid of him - made their happy ending so much more heart-felt and rewarding.
“Do you believe in fate?”
“If it involves you, I do.”
The writing was just as raw and heart-breaking with that severe ache of trying to get better and not having the will to do it. I loved how hard Iris was trying to be better - how he slowly realized that he had so much to live for - how he came to terms with the fact that he couldn't shoulder the burden and guilt alone - how he wanted to openly be with Caspian - to experience all the firsts of being in love that he couldn't have before. 🥺🥺 He was so strong and vocal about his mental health - how he struggled with it, but still was determined to heal himself of it - to let the brightness of Caspian's heart and love make a home within him - to keep him safe and close to him, something only he could ever give him.
“A touch. A kiss. I knew I’d be chasing him for the rest of his days. And maybe that was the tragedy. I’d never survive him. My Pretty Black. We were bound up in a death pact. He couldn’t survive the pain of this world, and I wouldn’t survive without him.”
I loved how Caspian was so openly devoted to him - how he didn't shy away from Iris' side - how he was so determined, so focused on being by his side, consequences and Alexander, be damned - how he never hesitated from reminding Iris how much he means to him - how he would be lost without him - and still allow him to express himself, so he could understand why Iris was thinking the way he was.
“I was thinking about how I’ll never be able to make up for all the damage I’ve already done to you.”
“Neither will I, but I’m hoping we can forgive each other and keep reminding each other that the other is worth it.”
I especially loved how supportive the other band members were with them - the reunion with all the friends - to see how much they cared for Iris really affected him in such a tender manner - that they could so easily talk about their feelings - openly shed tears - because even though they weren't aware of the struggle he was enduring nor of his romance with Caspian - they wanted to know how they could help. 💕💕 They felt so guilty that they didn't see it - and in that sense, their little found family became so much stronger and tighter as a team - as a family.
“I knew it the first moment I laid eyes on him. I wanted to trap him inside me. The heart of him was impossible to contain, but instead of winning his, he’d stolen mine. The frenzy he’d created in my body. It thudded for him alone, and nothing would satisfy but his love. There would be no containing or sustaining it.”
There were still a few issues that I had, but as this was the third book in the series that I was reading, I should have been accustomed to it by now. I don't know if the stiltedness and rough way of dialogue is intentional or not, but it does get a bit jarring at times. I'm always a big fan of the lyrics that are included throughout, because there's something so honestly poetic about it - something so viscerally raw that captures the emotion of the feelings that normal dialogue would not.
And yes, the constant jumps between the past and present does get a bit overwhelming - even now - but I admire J.R. Gray's capability of making it seem not so much as a hindrance, but a necessity to explain the sense of reasoning behind their actions in present day. It's just a few points that I feel single out his particular style of writing - so if you can brace yourself to accept and adapt to it - I think, you might just enjoy it.
Will I get around to reading the first two books in the series? Who knows? Maybe, if I'm ever in the mood. Because seeing how united they were - how much love they shared with each other - the openness and honesty of affection and care that they displayed around each other - wanting to care and not being ashamed to show it - it's such a special bond that was so beautifully expressed between both groups. 🫂
That they rallied in support with whatever they could - despite, Alexander, being the ruthless & spiteful manager that he was - it didn't deter them from staying together as one. It is also nice to see that J.R. Gray still has more stories to share from this universe about these pretty boys, so I might just drop by to see what awaits them. 🩷🩷
“Isolating yourself is only going to bring it about faster. You don’t have to let me in, but you should let River or Alister in. None of us want you dead.”
“What if it’s unavoidable?” Sobs shook his body.
I closed my eyes, breathing him in. “Then I’ll love you until your final breath, but I’m not going to stop asking for one more day.”
Oh, to finally see in Iris and Caspian get some form of happiness in Pretty Black was so fulfilling, because gosh, was it hard and heavy and angst-filled path to get there. 😢 We got to see their first meeting, all the way through how their relationship developed - how they fell for each other - only then to see how Iris broke apart in front of Caspian and then just be there for him to help put his heart back together.
It was such an intense and emotional journey, because they didn't only have to fight the demons that were plaguing Iris' heart and mind, but to have someone as manipulative and conniving as Alexander - a forever thorn in their paths - to see the sweet redemption of them finally being rid of him - made their happy ending so much more heart-felt and rewarding.
“Do you believe in fate?”
“If it involves you, I do.”
The writing was just as raw and heart-breaking with that severe ache of trying to get better and not having the will to do it. I loved how hard Iris was trying to be better - how he slowly realized that he had so much to live for - how he came to terms with the fact that he couldn't shoulder the burden and guilt alone - how he wanted to openly be with Caspian - to experience all the firsts of being in love that he couldn't have before. 🥺🥺 He was so strong and vocal about his mental health - how he struggled with it, but still was determined to heal himself of it - to let the brightness of Caspian's heart and love make a home within him - to keep him safe and close to him, something only he could ever give him.
“A touch. A kiss. I knew I’d be chasing him for the rest of his days. And maybe that was the tragedy. I’d never survive him. My Pretty Black. We were bound up in a death pact. He couldn’t survive the pain of this world, and I wouldn’t survive without him.”
I loved how Caspian was so openly devoted to him - how he didn't shy away from Iris' side - how he was so determined, so focused on being by his side, consequences and Alexander, be damned - how he never hesitated from reminding Iris how much he means to him - how he would be lost without him - and still allow him to express himself, so he could understand why Iris was thinking the way he was.
“I was thinking about how I’ll never be able to make up for all the damage I’ve already done to you.”
“Neither will I, but I’m hoping we can forgive each other and keep reminding each other that the other is worth it.”
I especially loved how supportive the other band members were with them - the reunion with all the friends - to see how much they cared for Iris really affected him in such a tender manner - that they could so easily talk about their feelings - openly shed tears - because even though they weren't aware of the struggle he was enduring nor of his romance with Caspian - they wanted to know how they could help. 💕💕 They felt so guilty that they didn't see it - and in that sense, their little found family became so much stronger and tighter as a team - as a family.
“I knew it the first moment I laid eyes on him. I wanted to trap him inside me. The heart of him was impossible to contain, but instead of winning his, he’d stolen mine. The frenzy he’d created in my body. It thudded for him alone, and nothing would satisfy but his love. There would be no containing or sustaining it.”
There were still a few issues that I had, but as this was the third book in the series that I was reading, I should have been accustomed to it by now. I don't know if the stiltedness and rough way of dialogue is intentional or not, but it does get a bit jarring at times. I'm always a big fan of the lyrics that are included throughout, because there's something so honestly poetic about it - something so viscerally raw that captures the emotion of the feelings that normal dialogue would not.
And yes, the constant jumps between the past and present does get a bit overwhelming - even now - but I admire J.R. Gray's capability of making it seem not so much as a hindrance, but a necessity to explain the sense of reasoning behind their actions in present day. It's just a few points that I feel single out his particular style of writing - so if you can brace yourself to accept and adapt to it - I think, you might just enjoy it.
Will I get around to reading the first two books in the series? Who knows? Maybe, if I'm ever in the mood. Because seeing how united they were - how much love they shared with each other - the openness and honesty of affection and care that they displayed around each other - wanting to care and not being ashamed to show it - it's such a special bond that was so beautifully expressed between both groups. 🫂
That they rallied in support with whatever they could - despite, Alexander, being the ruthless & spiteful manager that he was - it didn't deter them from staying together as one. It is also nice to see that J.R. Gray still has more stories to share from this universe about these pretty boys, so I might just drop by to see what awaits them. 🩷🩷
April 16, 2024
"We became famous long before we had a record deal, we were in love long before we ever touched, and we were broken before our lives started."
Oh my, this book! I have loved J.R. Gray's Pretty Broken series from book 1 and finally, FINALLY, we get Iris and Caspian's hard fought, hard won HEA. The tears I have cried for these two boys! If you love and want all the angst then you need to read Pretty Black, but not before you have read Pretty Obsessed, Pretty Toxic, Pretty Wreck and Pretty F*cked first!
The series is about the members of a phenomal rock bank, their controlling management team and their individual journies to finding forever loves - which believe me, do not come easy!
Please do read all of the author's TWs, because these books are tough and dark and confronting.
And yes, I adored every page.
5 emotional, superbly crafted stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I chased moments of it. Moments of him. Our lips met in a chorus of shared gasps. My sunshine and my life line. The melody to my life."
Oh my, this book! I have loved J.R. Gray's Pretty Broken series from book 1 and finally, FINALLY, we get Iris and Caspian's hard fought, hard won HEA. The tears I have cried for these two boys! If you love and want all the angst then you need to read Pretty Black, but not before you have read Pretty Obsessed, Pretty Toxic, Pretty Wreck and Pretty F*cked first!
The series is about the members of a phenomal rock bank, their controlling management team and their individual journies to finding forever loves - which believe me, do not come easy!
Please do read all of the author's TWs, because these books are tough and dark and confronting.
And yes, I adored every page.
5 emotional, superbly crafted stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I chased moments of it. Moments of him. Our lips met in a chorus of shared gasps. My sunshine and my life line. The melody to my life."
June 5, 2025
La lucha de Iris por sobrevivir y sobreponerse a sus problemas mentales apenas comienza. Pero ahora junto a Caspian y a sus compañeros y amigos de la banda, tiene un lugar seguro donde estar y sentirse tranquilo. Y aunque la relación entre ellos (Iris y Caspian) todavía es muy nueva, la confianza y el amor entre ellos es lo que lo mantiene firme en su decisión de seguir con vida. Ahora, podrán realmente liberarse del yugo del manager? Será posible que Iris pueda tener un tratamiento seguro para su depresión? Podrán los chicos de la banda soportar todos los problemas que les vienen con la demanda? Serán capaces de tener, por fin, su felices por siempre?
Si el libro anterior fue totalmente depresivo, este es mas animado. Podemos ver como el prota lucha con su depresión desde su propio punto de vista. Podemos leer como sus compañeros y amigos estan dedicados a ayudarles en lo que puedan, sea como sea. Vemos como el manager, por fin, tiene su merecido, y sobre todo, tenemos un final de felices por ahora que resulto muy bueno para la serie.
Sin embargo, no hay un cierre real con el caso de la demanda. No hubo juicio, y por tanto no nos enteramos de las cosas que tenía el manager contra ellos o contra los demás, o cual fue el castigo legal que recibió. Eso hizo que pareciera que le faltara otro epílogo a la historia, que nos mostrará que paso con los chicos y la banda después de todo eso y si lograran convertirse en lo que siempre quisieron ser.
En fin, me gusto la serie, y seguro leeré otros libros de este autor mas adelante.
Si el libro anterior fue totalmente depresivo, este es mas animado. Podemos ver como el prota lucha con su depresión desde su propio punto de vista. Podemos leer como sus compañeros y amigos estan dedicados a ayudarles en lo que puedan, sea como sea. Vemos como el manager, por fin, tiene su merecido, y sobre todo, tenemos un final de felices por ahora que resulto muy bueno para la serie.
Sin embargo, no hay un cierre real con el caso de la demanda. No hubo juicio, y por tanto no nos enteramos de las cosas que tenía el manager contra ellos o contra los demás, o cual fue el castigo legal que recibió. Eso hizo que pareciera que le faltara otro epílogo a la historia, que nos mostrará que paso con los chicos y la banda después de todo eso y si lograran convertirse en lo que siempre quisieron ser.
En fin, me gusto la serie, y seguro leeré otros libros de este autor mas adelante.
July 2, 2023
Oh my heart! 🥹😩
“Pretty Black” is the conclusion to Iris and Caspian’s story…..
My heart…..broke…..wept…..hurt for Iris and Caspian
What a beautiful but heartbreaking rollercoaster of a story!
We knew that Iris was dealing with some pretty severe mental health issues but the gravity of it, I was not prepared for. Iris was brilliant and a musical prodigy, but he was filled with so much pain. He saw no way out of the darkness. His childhood was riddled with trauma and the life of a lead singer of the worlds most popular band put the world on his shoulders. JR Gray handle Iris’s mental health with immense care. We were immersed into the complicated mind of Iris and boy was it dark. I’ve NEVER read a story that gave such thorough insight to someone with depression and suicidal ideation. The writer took us to these dark places. We were able to see the world through Iris’s eyes. We felt his pain, we saw the dangerous and damaging coping mechanisms he used, we hurt for him for the loss of his brother and how he wished he could have done more. We stood on the edge with him.
Iris’s relationship with Caspian’s was toxic and codependent as hell. Caspian was everything. He wanted the best for Iris and loved him despite his struggles. My heart really sympathized with Cas. How he loved Iris so much when Iris didn’t love himself? How he dealt with not knowing if he would see Iris in the next moment? How he was there when Iris was literally on the edge of ending it all? Caspian’s helplessness….was thoroughly felt. What he thought was the right thing to do, sometimes wasn’t and the consequences impacted Iris immensely. Caspian was the definition of being optimistic but it wasn’t enough. He wanted a life with Iris but yet Iris couldn’t see himself living. We really saw the struggles of loving someone who is consumed with so much pain and trauma and the mental effects it has on their loved ones.
Iris and Caspian were magic together. Despite their struggles and the toxicity, I really feel that they were meant for each other. I’m so glad that neither gave up. Their HEA was worth it.
Now Alexander, their manager….I don’t think I’ve disliked a character as much as I hate him. He was such a low down and despicable person. The additional pain and trauma he inflicted on not only Iris but the other band members was disgusting. He deserves all the hell he will eventually pay.
The entire series was amazing but Iris and Caspian’s story was breathtaking and heartbreaking. It is super emotional and heavy but worth it! Bravo to JR Gray for writing this masterpiece!
“Pretty Black” is the conclusion to Iris and Caspian’s story…..
My heart…..broke…..wept…..hurt for Iris and Caspian
What a beautiful but heartbreaking rollercoaster of a story!
We knew that Iris was dealing with some pretty severe mental health issues but the gravity of it, I was not prepared for. Iris was brilliant and a musical prodigy, but he was filled with so much pain. He saw no way out of the darkness. His childhood was riddled with trauma and the life of a lead singer of the worlds most popular band put the world on his shoulders. JR Gray handle Iris’s mental health with immense care. We were immersed into the complicated mind of Iris and boy was it dark. I’ve NEVER read a story that gave such thorough insight to someone with depression and suicidal ideation. The writer took us to these dark places. We were able to see the world through Iris’s eyes. We felt his pain, we saw the dangerous and damaging coping mechanisms he used, we hurt for him for the loss of his brother and how he wished he could have done more. We stood on the edge with him.
Iris’s relationship with Caspian’s was toxic and codependent as hell. Caspian was everything. He wanted the best for Iris and loved him despite his struggles. My heart really sympathized with Cas. How he loved Iris so much when Iris didn’t love himself? How he dealt with not knowing if he would see Iris in the next moment? How he was there when Iris was literally on the edge of ending it all? Caspian’s helplessness….was thoroughly felt. What he thought was the right thing to do, sometimes wasn’t and the consequences impacted Iris immensely. Caspian was the definition of being optimistic but it wasn’t enough. He wanted a life with Iris but yet Iris couldn’t see himself living. We really saw the struggles of loving someone who is consumed with so much pain and trauma and the mental effects it has on their loved ones.
Iris and Caspian were magic together. Despite their struggles and the toxicity, I really feel that they were meant for each other. I’m so glad that neither gave up. Their HEA was worth it.
Now Alexander, their manager….I don’t think I’ve disliked a character as much as I hate him. He was such a low down and despicable person. The additional pain and trauma he inflicted on not only Iris but the other band members was disgusting. He deserves all the hell he will eventually pay.
The entire series was amazing but Iris and Caspian’s story was breathtaking and heartbreaking. It is super emotional and heavy but worth it! Bravo to JR Gray for writing this masterpiece!
May 23, 2023
The conclusion to Iris and Caspian was like reading a journal and notes from therapy sessions from Iris’ perspective, as we also get to see more of his past. And it’s tough as fuck to read. If possible, this book feels more heavy than the last as the focus on the depression and suicidal thoughts is overwhelming and devastating. My poor baby Iris.
This also does feel like a reset book for Cas and Iris, as pissed of as I was with Cas and others in the last book, it feels like he has caught up and him and Iris are dealing with this rationally and without being blindsided. I felt that Cas was actually listening and seeing things from Iris’ point of view.
I want to do bad things to Alexander. I don’t think I’ve ever hated a character as much. It’s beyond abusive and that’s all I have to say about that fucker.
This is such a tough read. Cas and Iris were bordering toxic, very co-dependant but also so beyond in love that you know that love is the only cure for them both. This book has brought them back onto the set taught and narrow and finally communicating.
I now feel content. Iris and Cas are the centre focus for me of this series and to have everyone coming out of this alive, and happy. Well that makes my glass overflow with happiness.
This also does feel like a reset book for Cas and Iris, as pissed of as I was with Cas and others in the last book, it feels like he has caught up and him and Iris are dealing with this rationally and without being blindsided. I felt that Cas was actually listening and seeing things from Iris’ point of view.
I want to do bad things to Alexander. I don’t think I’ve ever hated a character as much. It’s beyond abusive and that’s all I have to say about that fucker.
This is such a tough read. Cas and Iris were bordering toxic, very co-dependant but also so beyond in love that you know that love is the only cure for them both. This book has brought them back onto the set taught and narrow and finally communicating.
I now feel content. Iris and Cas are the centre focus for me of this series and to have everyone coming out of this alive, and happy. Well that makes my glass overflow with happiness.
May 25, 2023
The insight the author gave us readers on the process of a really heavy topic, Iris’s struggle to live or not live, and Caspian who didn’t know how to live with or without him, and their way to deal, was exceptionally done.
Both men felt powerless for different reasons. It was devastating.
“He couldn’t survive the pain of this world, and I wouldn’t survive without him.”
This story reveals more about Iris's life. He’s been through hell, it was hard to read about it.
And there’s still the guy whose name I don’t want to speak out loud, ugh!
Caspian and Iris have been through hell. It was heartbreaking and their way of dealing with it was so heartfelt and deeply moving. Thank goodness for the people who listened and stayed close, and loved.
A story about surviving, grieving, forgiveness, mental illness, addiction, growth, and living for love.
Both men felt powerless for different reasons. It was devastating.
“He couldn’t survive the pain of this world, and I wouldn’t survive without him.”
This story reveals more about Iris's life. He’s been through hell, it was hard to read about it.
And there’s still the guy whose name I don’t want to speak out loud, ugh!
Caspian and Iris have been through hell. It was heartbreaking and their way of dealing with it was so heartfelt and deeply moving. Thank goodness for the people who listened and stayed close, and loved.
A story about surviving, grieving, forgiveness, mental illness, addiction, growth, and living for love.
June 8, 2023
* 4 stars *
Pretty Black continues the story of Caspian and Iris and gives a conclusion to the troubles Pretty Broken have with their manager.
This time the story focuses more on Iris's mental health. He's not in a good place but he's trying to cope with his past and struggles to get better.
Like the previous book, there are some flashbacks from the last few years that shed more light on Caspian and Iris's relationship as well as Iris as an individual.
As you'd expect, there are scenes that are difficult to read (set both in the present and in the flashbacks) as we learn more about Iris's mental health and his past.
Caspian is a rock for him, doing everything he can to support him and be there for him. He's trying to right the wrongs of their past as a couple and protect Iris in any way he can.
Their manager is still as awful as he was in the previous books, but the conclusion of this arc left me wanting. I wasn't happy with the way Aspen and Royal chose to address the issue but I hope there will be a book about them, if there isn't already, because from their interactions they seem like they have a story to tell.
I did like that the band members seemed to grow closer together and rally around each other. They started to repair their relationships and be more open and honest.
On a different note, the scene where Iris bottoms for the first time was a weird one. It came out of nowhere and it was rushed and unrealistic. It seemed more like the scene was added as an afterthought just to get something out of the way or to tick a box than anything else.
In general and setting aside the manager thing, this was a great conclusion to the Pretty Broken series.
~ Copy provided by Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement. ~
Pretty Black continues the story of Caspian and Iris and gives a conclusion to the troubles Pretty Broken have with their manager.
This time the story focuses more on Iris's mental health. He's not in a good place but he's trying to cope with his past and struggles to get better.
Like the previous book, there are some flashbacks from the last few years that shed more light on Caspian and Iris's relationship as well as Iris as an individual.
As you'd expect, there are scenes that are difficult to read (set both in the present and in the flashbacks) as we learn more about Iris's mental health and his past.
Caspian is a rock for him, doing everything he can to support him and be there for him. He's trying to right the wrongs of their past as a couple and protect Iris in any way he can.
Their manager is still as awful as he was in the previous books, but the conclusion of this arc left me wanting. I wasn't happy with the way Aspen and Royal chose to address the issue but I hope there will be a book about them, if there isn't already, because from their interactions they seem like they have a story to tell.
I did like that the band members seemed to grow closer together and rally around each other. They started to repair their relationships and be more open and honest.
On a different note, the scene where Iris bottoms for the first time was a weird one. It came out of nowhere and it was rushed and unrealistic. It seemed more like the scene was added as an afterthought just to get something out of the way or to tick a box than anything else.
In general and setting aside the manager thing, this was a great conclusion to the Pretty Broken series.
~ Copy provided by Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn't a requirement. ~
August 25, 2023
4.5/5 stars
It has been so long since I cried from a book and this duet did it. I cried from the start to the end. It fucked me up. I felt so bad for Iris. He struggled so much and it was so relieving to finally see him be happy.
I loved this book so much more than the others. I actually feel more connected with the rest of the characters. I love their little family that they created. The only thing that I hated was the ending. I wish I got more insight of them being a band without being under Alexander. But, I’m still happy to see that everyone is happy, especially Caspian and Iris. They both deserve the entire world.
He renewed the burn inside me with a single look. A touch. A kiss. I knew I’d be chasing him for the rest of his days.
And maybe that was the tragedy. I’d never survive him.
My Pretty Black.
We were bound up in a death pact. He couldn’t survive the pain of this world, and I wouldn’t survive without him.
It has been so long since I cried from a book and this duet did it. I cried from the start to the end. It fucked me up. I felt so bad for Iris. He struggled so much and it was so relieving to finally see him be happy.
I was the flower and him, the sun, and my need for his nourishment profound.
I’d bask in the glow of his light as long as he’d let me.
And bloom because of it.
Maybe there was a way to flourish.
If anyone could convince me, it would be Caspian.
I loved this book so much more than the others. I actually feel more connected with the rest of the characters. I love their little family that they created. The only thing that I hated was the ending. I wish I got more insight of them being a band without being under Alexander. But, I’m still happy to see that everyone is happy, especially Caspian and Iris. They both deserve the entire world.
I can’t imagine a world where I don’t love you.” He drank me in, this beautiful man, and he loved me. “I’m forbidding it from existing.”
“Forbidding it? I don’t think that’s how physics works.”
“There isn’t a version of me who is happy without a version of you. I feel it in my chest. I knew it the first time you looked at me and in every look thereafter. You are my perfect person, Iris Rose.”
May 25, 2023
"You changed the trajectory of all our lives. He would have been miserable. There is as much music in him as there is in you. He was made to write the soundtrack of your sorrow. Of your highs and lows. Of your love. Of your life. You belong together."
I swear I have like 10 million highlights from this book. J.R. Gray knows how to write the words. He has a knack for putting together the perfect lines to give you a punch to the gut one moment and then the next moment have you swooning with hearts in your eyes. This wasn't an easy read. It deals with difficult topics and TW are present. However, if you've made it this far into the series I'm sure you are well aware of the things that plague our Iris. Damn he breaks my heart. I shit you not I could feel my heart literally aching at certain points in this book. I was so worried something awful was going to happen that was going to send him and Cas into that dark place again.
"We were bound up in a death pact. He couldn't survive the pain of this world, and I wouldn't survive without him."
So much pain is dealt with in this book. Yet, there was real beauty in it too. Cas is determined to be there for Iris no matter what. He's terrified their love won't be enough to keep Iris going, but he never gives up. He keeps fighting and so does Iris. There are setbacks, but there are also major steps forward. I appreciated that Gray didn't just solve all the issues of Iris' mental health with being healed by Cas' love alone. That isn't realistic. In real life working on one's mental health is a daily, sometimes lifelong battle. And it's extremely true about how needed it is to break the stigma around it. I applaud the author for bringing the spotlight onto this fact. I have a feeling Pretty Black is going to be one of those books I think about long after I've finished reading it.
"It's the great honor of my life to be trusted with your heart, Iris Rose"
I swear I have like 10 million highlights from this book. J.R. Gray knows how to write the words. He has a knack for putting together the perfect lines to give you a punch to the gut one moment and then the next moment have you swooning with hearts in your eyes. This wasn't an easy read. It deals with difficult topics and TW are present. However, if you've made it this far into the series I'm sure you are well aware of the things that plague our Iris. Damn he breaks my heart. I shit you not I could feel my heart literally aching at certain points in this book. I was so worried something awful was going to happen that was going to send him and Cas into that dark place again.
"We were bound up in a death pact. He couldn't survive the pain of this world, and I wouldn't survive without him."
So much pain is dealt with in this book. Yet, there was real beauty in it too. Cas is determined to be there for Iris no matter what. He's terrified their love won't be enough to keep Iris going, but he never gives up. He keeps fighting and so does Iris. There are setbacks, but there are also major steps forward. I appreciated that Gray didn't just solve all the issues of Iris' mental health with being healed by Cas' love alone. That isn't realistic. In real life working on one's mental health is a daily, sometimes lifelong battle. And it's extremely true about how needed it is to break the stigma around it. I applaud the author for bringing the spotlight onto this fact. I have a feeling Pretty Black is going to be one of those books I think about long after I've finished reading it.
"It's the great honor of my life to be trusted with your heart, Iris Rose"
August 5, 2023
Survival
This whole series relating to ‘Pretty Broken’ a world famous Rock Band, tells the story of each of the members, Alister, River, Lowe, Caspian and Iris. Having read them all, I don’t envy any so called celebrity out there trying to make a living.
Yep, eventually I managed to read all of Caspian and Iris’s story and survived the whole heartbreaking experience. How anyone could suffer and survive through a childhood like Iris’s is beyond me.
When Iris allowed us hear the voice message left on his phone I broke down in tears, not for the first time when reading both books relating to Iris and Caspian.
I’m hoping that Alexander got what he deserved but I’d like to have had more details of how the Courts dealt with him.
The author has done a superb job in the writing of a story such as this, even letting us know that some of it was from their personal experience.
It doesn’t feel right to say I enjoyed Iris and Caspian’s story, given all the pain it contained, but I judge good storytelling by the way it makes me feel, and OMG, this story made me feel.
Highly recommend this whole series but please be aware of the many possible triggers, child neglect, child cruelty and abuse, mental health issues, drug use, suicide and suicide ideation, physical abuse by partners.
This whole series relating to ‘Pretty Broken’ a world famous Rock Band, tells the story of each of the members, Alister, River, Lowe, Caspian and Iris. Having read them all, I don’t envy any so called celebrity out there trying to make a living.
Yep, eventually I managed to read all of Caspian and Iris’s story and survived the whole heartbreaking experience. How anyone could suffer and survive through a childhood like Iris’s is beyond me.
When Iris allowed us hear the voice message left on his phone I broke down in tears, not for the first time when reading both books relating to Iris and Caspian.
I’m hoping that Alexander got what he deserved but I’d like to have had more details of how the Courts dealt with him.
The author has done a superb job in the writing of a story such as this, even letting us know that some of it was from their personal experience.
It doesn’t feel right to say I enjoyed Iris and Caspian’s story, given all the pain it contained, but I judge good storytelling by the way it makes me feel, and OMG, this story made me feel.
Highly recommend this whole series but please be aware of the many possible triggers, child neglect, child cruelty and abuse, mental health issues, drug use, suicide and suicide ideation, physical abuse by partners.
June 1, 2023
Iris and Cas ❤️
5 Stars ⭐️
Wow, just wow!
I am still reeling from this one tbh, I'm finding it very hard to put into words just how powerful this book was. These two men have been through literal hell and back on this beautifully painful rollercoaster of life and love. I know J.R. Gray wrote this book with personal experiences shining through and it shows, it shows through the writing, it shows through the struggles, the pain and the triumphs. The heaviness of this story was transferring, the weight on your chest, the lump in your throat just hoping against all hope that this story would not take a turn to becoming a tragedy. I will be honest, this book tore me to shreds in the best way, I cried ugly tears then as the book progressed I felt the pain slowly fade and I could breathe again for these two in hopes that they would find their way to become whole again and continue to love while continuing to heal. This is hands down the best mental health themed book that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I would whole heartedly recommend, it was painfully beautiful and It deserves all the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I cannot wait to see what's next for Pretty Broken.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
5 Stars ⭐️
Wow, just wow!
I am still reeling from this one tbh, I'm finding it very hard to put into words just how powerful this book was. These two men have been through literal hell and back on this beautifully painful rollercoaster of life and love. I know J.R. Gray wrote this book with personal experiences shining through and it shows, it shows through the writing, it shows through the struggles, the pain and the triumphs. The heaviness of this story was transferring, the weight on your chest, the lump in your throat just hoping against all hope that this story would not take a turn to becoming a tragedy. I will be honest, this book tore me to shreds in the best way, I cried ugly tears then as the book progressed I felt the pain slowly fade and I could breathe again for these two in hopes that they would find their way to become whole again and continue to love while continuing to heal. This is hands down the best mental health themed book that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I would whole heartedly recommend, it was painfully beautiful and It deserves all the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I cannot wait to see what's next for Pretty Broken.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
May 31, 2023
I’ve totally loved every book in this series and Pretty Black was bittersweet. I enjoyed it as much as the earlier book but was sad because it’s the end of the series. Although finally all band members have found their significant others, through ongoing drama, heartbreak and friendship. It’s best to read the books in order, Pretty Black needs to be read following Pretty F*cked, it isn’t a standalone.
Iris and Caspian’s story is beautifully written, has lots of steamy chemistry and some heart shattering moments. I wanted to climb in between the pages and hug them both. Finally Iris finds his version of happy ever after. Caspian has been with him through all the highs and lows, behind closed doors. Now they are ready for not just their friends but the world to know how they feel about each other.
As with other books this book does contain triggers, read the blurb if this might effect you.
Iris and Caspian’s story is beautifully written, has lots of steamy chemistry and some heart shattering moments. I wanted to climb in between the pages and hug them both. Finally Iris finds his version of happy ever after. Caspian has been with him through all the highs and lows, behind closed doors. Now they are ready for not just their friends but the world to know how they feel about each other.
As with other books this book does contain triggers, read the blurb if this might effect you.
June 5, 2023
This book was the ending to a series I won’t soon forget. I feel like we have been through it all with these men. And Iris and Cass’ were the perfect end to this series. I knew their story would be epic and at times I was sure they would end up together but in the end we got their happy ending. This book and series isn’t for the faint of heart all the characters struggle with serious issues that we all face everyday. I think that’s why I loved this series so much. JR Gray truly took our hearts in their hands and tore it to pieces and slowly sewed it back together with an amazing book and series. As I said at the beginning this series will be stuck in my mind for years to come. And I might have to compare every book in this genre to it! Truly amazing book.
May 25, 2023
Oh so many mixed feelings….
This was rough just like part one. It was angsty and painful to read at some points. It felt really raw and while I did appreciate the moments of hope I wish there had been less reliving painful details and more healing and hope details. The end felt fast and I didn’t really get the big payoff in the over arching storyline that I was expecting which left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.
This is a personal preference but I could not stand the format of this. I’m not a big fan of constant time jumps in general but in the first part of Cas and Iris’s story it felt necessary to really understand everything. I was hoping that the second hook would focus more on the present and maybe it did… slightly… but there was so much jumping around with no rhyme or reason it completely pulled me out of the story each time and I found myself skimming the flashbacks so I could get back to the present. I don’t mind a flashback here and there but to go from present to 1 year ago to 6 years ago to 4 years ago to present to 6 months ago back to 2 years ago on and on was confusing and frustrating when I really just wanted to continue with Iris and Cas as they fought for each other and themselves in the present.
That being said though my absolute favorite part of this was the way that mental health was talked about and portrayed. It’s clear that the author has a very personal stake in this topic and I appreciated that love didn’t just fix all and it took really personal work for Iris to move forward and acknowledge that he needed to put in the effort for himself first and those around him second and that love, by itself really isn’t enough to just make everything better. I appreciate how deeply vulnerable the author must feel putting this out and even though it wasn’t my favorite I do love the underlying message and realness shown.
This was rough just like part one. It was angsty and painful to read at some points. It felt really raw and while I did appreciate the moments of hope I wish there had been less reliving painful details and more healing and hope details. The end felt fast and I didn’t really get the big payoff in the over arching storyline that I was expecting which left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.
This is a personal preference but I could not stand the format of this. I’m not a big fan of constant time jumps in general but in the first part of Cas and Iris’s story it felt necessary to really understand everything. I was hoping that the second hook would focus more on the present and maybe it did… slightly… but there was so much jumping around with no rhyme or reason it completely pulled me out of the story each time and I found myself skimming the flashbacks so I could get back to the present. I don’t mind a flashback here and there but to go from present to 1 year ago to 6 years ago to 4 years ago to present to 6 months ago back to 2 years ago on and on was confusing and frustrating when I really just wanted to continue with Iris and Cas as they fought for each other and themselves in the present.
That being said though my absolute favorite part of this was the way that mental health was talked about and portrayed. It’s clear that the author has a very personal stake in this topic and I appreciated that love didn’t just fix all and it took really personal work for Iris to move forward and acknowledge that he needed to put in the effort for himself first and those around him second and that love, by itself really isn’t enough to just make everything better. I appreciate how deeply vulnerable the author must feel putting this out and even though it wasn’t my favorite I do love the underlying message and realness shown.
May 19, 2023
Another amazing book by JR Gray. This one broke my heart and then slowly pieced it back together. I loved finally hearing all of Iris' past. And I loved that Caspian & Iris finally got their hard fought & well deserved HEA. But I'm also sad. This book signifies the end the of the Pretty Broken series. I'm not ready to say goodbye!
May 31, 2023
I have no words to describe the perfection of this book but I’m going to try. The entire series was wonderful but Cas and Iris were Gray’s masterpiece. You can tell he poured his heart and soul into this story. Iris’ struggle with his mental health was heartbreaking but Caspian’s support never wavered. The journey for these two was a rollercoaster of emotions but worth the trip.
January 10, 2024
It can’t be over. I need to see Alexander get his comeuppance.
June 14, 2023
I have been waiting to read the conclusion of this story since the first book, at times against my will (what with Iris stealing the show from the other books’ main characters most of the time). I want to say that I feel completely satisfied, but that’s not entirely the case. I think the build up here may have counted against itself.
First off, this book is heavy. And I made perhaps the mistake of reading this after doing a mental health first aid training, which included how to approach someone who is contemplating dying by suicide and what to do in the immediate aftermath of the answer to that question being “yes.” So, even though I know all the reasons why Cas won’t call for help or tell literally anyone else that Iris is suicidal, I felt like shouting about how much better it could be handled (from getting Iris help to making sure that Cas took care of himself and wasn’t holding so much responsibility/guilt for Iris’ life).
ANYWAY, the previous book I thought would be kind of the last of the flashbacks. At the end of of it, I was like, “OK, we are caught up with what was going on with Cas and Iris in the background, we can move forward.” I was wrong. There was actually more flashback stuff in this book, and I liked some of it (getting more details and other scenes that informed the present), but at one point, I just wanted to get to the conclusion: I wanted Iris and Cas to be happy or on a path to happiness and I wanted Alexander dealt with.
I really thought this book would be lean more into the path to recovery/happiness than the previous. But it was rougher with the mental health issues than the previous, I think. It felt pretty bleak a lot of the times when this is supposed to be the HEA, ya know? It happened, but it was almost TOO rough to get there. I know that the subjects covered here are deeply person to the author, but at some point … I don’t know, it felt like too much.
Then the Alexander conclusion was rushed and not really what it should have been. I wanted his career destroyed. I wanted him in the streets. I wanted him to be a pariah and really, really get what was coming for him. It wasn’t that. The “threat” of him was gone, but I wanted him to suffer for all the manipulation, isolation and grooming he had done to the band for years. When you build up a villain as well as Alexander has been for five books, he should get a big ole, thorough downfall.
I did like how the band really came together, which has been happening more and more as the books go on. That was satisfying completely.
Of course, the writing is very beautiful: lyrical and raw, poignant and haunting at times. I’m not one who really likes extended lyrics in books (it’s embarrassing to me for whatever reason, the same way I can’t handle a person singing one on one to someone else.) but the lyrics were relevant and the insight into Iris’ psyche they were meant to be (although, none of them really have the structure of a song like chorus, verse, chorus, etc. which was bizarre).
I wanted something more or different, but overall I’m satisfied and can see a place for at least one more book.
| I received an ARC, and this is my honest, freely given review. |
First off, this book is heavy. And I made perhaps the mistake of reading this after doing a mental health first aid training, which included how to approach someone who is contemplating dying by suicide and what to do in the immediate aftermath of the answer to that question being “yes.” So, even though I know all the reasons why Cas won’t call for help or tell literally anyone else that Iris is suicidal, I felt like shouting about how much better it could be handled (from getting Iris help to making sure that Cas took care of himself and wasn’t holding so much responsibility/guilt for Iris’ life).
ANYWAY, the previous book I thought would be kind of the last of the flashbacks. At the end of of it, I was like, “OK, we are caught up with what was going on with Cas and Iris in the background, we can move forward.” I was wrong. There was actually more flashback stuff in this book, and I liked some of it (getting more details and other scenes that informed the present), but at one point, I just wanted to get to the conclusion: I wanted Iris and Cas to be happy or on a path to happiness and I wanted Alexander dealt with.
I really thought this book would be lean more into the path to recovery/happiness than the previous. But it was rougher with the mental health issues than the previous, I think. It felt pretty bleak a lot of the times when this is supposed to be the HEA, ya know? It happened, but it was almost TOO rough to get there. I know that the subjects covered here are deeply person to the author, but at some point … I don’t know, it felt like too much.
Then the Alexander conclusion was rushed and not really what it should have been. I wanted his career destroyed. I wanted him in the streets. I wanted him to be a pariah and really, really get what was coming for him. It wasn’t that. The “threat” of him was gone, but I wanted him to suffer for all the manipulation, isolation and grooming he had done to the band for years. When you build up a villain as well as Alexander has been for five books, he should get a big ole, thorough downfall.
I did like how the band really came together, which has been happening more and more as the books go on. That was satisfying completely.
Of course, the writing is very beautiful: lyrical and raw, poignant and haunting at times. I’m not one who really likes extended lyrics in books (it’s embarrassing to me for whatever reason, the same way I can’t handle a person singing one on one to someone else.) but the lyrics were relevant and the insight into Iris’ psyche they were meant to be (although, none of them really have the structure of a song like chorus, verse, chorus, etc. which was bizarre).
I wanted something more or different, but overall I’m satisfied and can see a place for at least one more book.
| I received an ARC, and this is my honest, freely given review. |
June 8, 2023
I will start and end this review by saying -
***PLEASE READ ALL OF THE TRIGGER WARNINGS IN THE BOOK.***
The author is very thorough and very upfront with the material he covers in this book, the reasons he is writing this book, his knowledge on this subject and exactly what he includes on the page. It is a beautifully intense and true to life portrayal that he has presented to the world, so you do need to take his trigger warnings exactly as presented and as written.
I read Pretty Black immediately after finishing Pretty F*cked. I will say that the ending of Pretty F*cked and the beginning of Pretty Black had me gnawing my nails off. As we saw in Pretty F*cked the author wasn't holding ANYTHING back when it came to Iris and his mental health. This book continued in that vein and goes even deeper into the torment that someone can live with.
Cas is also now fully and utterly aware of what he and Iris are fighting in Iris' mind. For Cas it's an unbelievable wake up call. As it typically is for those closest to the person fighting these battles. Cas is lucky in that he can cling to Iris and ask him to open his head either through lyrics or honest conversation. Others don't always get that chance. Some people can't even put what's in their head into words. Sometimes it comes out in other art forms such as paintings or sculptures. Sometimes the thoughts and emotions are just these colors without words we can put words to yet.
Cas also has a final and complete realization of exactly how deeply and completely he broke Iris when he handed Alexander the most delicate and sensitive part of Iris. Cas has a lot of things to struggle with. One thing that the author mentions briefly in Cas' thoughts and processing is recognizing that he would need a therapist himself. Just to shift through the big emotions, the actions that had been taken against Iris, his part in them, and to have someone to talk to about loving someone who you were so scared of losing if you closed your eyes for even a second.
This book is just as powerful as the one before it as for as much as Iris has had every piece of trust, privacy and himself removed from his grasp over and over, he tries this one last time to desperately grasp onto Cas and try trust this one last time.
This time Cas has changed as well. And Cas continued to change throughout this book. I think that alone is holding Iris together at parts. He vocalizes it in a way. Seeing how Cas is holding himself and Iris up. Wanting more of that. Wanting another day of that.
As with the other book Alexander is still pulling games and pulling strings. It does appear that more people outside of the band themselves are starting to realize how neferaious things may be. Between the studio cew, the label themselves, and finally a judge as Alexandar tries one last grasp at controling Iris through cruel mistreatment and manipulation of his mental illnesses.
Again, the author writes life bluntly. There are happys for nows. There are glimpses and moments of it all crashing down and ending in a way no reader wants. For much of this book I was crying and wondering if I really wanted to turn the page. Again, this book is truthfuly written from the inside of someone who has seen and lived these struggles. Like recognizes like. It's hard to know that an author may make a different choice for their character than you would like.
I loved seeing the band come back together and consciously choose to become a chosen family and a circle of protection. Originally it's intented for Iris, but it very quickly becomes necessary for all of the men. As they are sitting around trying to figure out how to support and love their friend Alexandar starts attacks on all of them. Slowly and with great purpose. Letting them know in public ways that he has all of their private lives in the same way that he has Iris' private life. And Cas' private life. To read this circle go from "we need to ditch our abusive toxic manager" to "we need to protect our friend" to "we will fight and protect and love each other and our own" was lovely. And it was immediate. Given without thought and in complete line with each character's personality.
The keeping of each character in and of themselves as they each worked through the realization of what their bandmate has been going through and how seperated their manager had kept them all apart even as they shared tour buses, stages, and studios was astounding to see through each of the men's eyes as it became clear to them. The grief and the sorrow of that realization, as well as, the realization of all they had truly had stolen fromt them and lost due to their manager's actions- that also made me cry.
Full disclosure - this book and Pretty F*cked made me cry the silent tears running down my cheeks suddenly A LOT. Bring tissues for this one.
The closure of this book, from all characters points of view was perfect. As the climax built - and I honestly still didn't know which version of ending we were getting - I liked that some of the manipluations that Alexander pulled hurt Iris but in a way helped others in the band.
Allowing only certain people to see him at his most broken and vunerable only allowed the men to form a better understanding of Iris. It also allowed Iris the chance to choose for himself which of them to talk to and what to talk about.
Having Iris broken and isolated, scared, but finally thinking about fighting and trying to actually hang on and have hope this last time was a massive step forward for his character. No, it isn't a perfect solution or even a perfect for now solution. He is left with a "you need to do work and you are finally at the point to do the work". It was a point he wasn't at the start of either book in his story.
Iris' story is long. It winds. It's dark. It's twisty. It doubles back on itself. But it grows, he grows, and hope grows. You still aren't sure where the end will be for Iris, but you do feel comfortable closing this book. For now.
This book, as was the book prior to it, is a blunt, truthful representation of what it looks like for some who struggle with mental illnesses and diseases. This book also gave a good idea of how it looks to be the person loving someone who is struggling. The struggles they go through as well.
Neither one of these things are ever spoken out publicly. The longer mental health remains stigmatized we silence both those who suffer and those who care for the ones who suffer. Watching the love and the hope grow in both Iris and Cas as they felt comfortable opening up to each other and the men in their lives, their circle was massive.
It changed the tone of the tension in the book. No longer was it Iris and Cas against the world and hiding what they could from the band. Instead it became, the band is our family and we are all protecting and loving each other. The fights looked less looming. Mountains looked less big and scary.
The world looked less bleak and things could be handled one thing at a time and one moment at a time. Which is sometimes all Iris felt he had. Now they all have the minutes and the seconds and the days. Because now they are talking to each other and Iris and Cas are working on what their happy looks like. For right now. No holding them to it. Which is how it works.
As I mentioned at the begining and I will caution again at the end.
This book is a very brutal, honest, truthful look at what it can look, feel, and be to struggle with your own mind.
The author was very kind and brave to bare these details to her readers regardless of how much came from personal experience and how much came from research.
***PLEASE READ ALL OF THE TRIGGER WARNINGS IN THE BOOK.***
This book WILL wait for you.
You are worth waiting for.
If you are looking for your safe space and your support people - they exist and they are out there.
***PLEASE READ ALL OF THE TRIGGER WARNINGS IN THE BOOK.***
The author is very thorough and very upfront with the material he covers in this book, the reasons he is writing this book, his knowledge on this subject and exactly what he includes on the page. It is a beautifully intense and true to life portrayal that he has presented to the world, so you do need to take his trigger warnings exactly as presented and as written.
I read Pretty Black immediately after finishing Pretty F*cked. I will say that the ending of Pretty F*cked and the beginning of Pretty Black had me gnawing my nails off. As we saw in Pretty F*cked the author wasn't holding ANYTHING back when it came to Iris and his mental health. This book continued in that vein and goes even deeper into the torment that someone can live with.
Cas is also now fully and utterly aware of what he and Iris are fighting in Iris' mind. For Cas it's an unbelievable wake up call. As it typically is for those closest to the person fighting these battles. Cas is lucky in that he can cling to Iris and ask him to open his head either through lyrics or honest conversation. Others don't always get that chance. Some people can't even put what's in their head into words. Sometimes it comes out in other art forms such as paintings or sculptures. Sometimes the thoughts and emotions are just these colors without words we can put words to yet.
Cas also has a final and complete realization of exactly how deeply and completely he broke Iris when he handed Alexander the most delicate and sensitive part of Iris. Cas has a lot of things to struggle with. One thing that the author mentions briefly in Cas' thoughts and processing is recognizing that he would need a therapist himself. Just to shift through the big emotions, the actions that had been taken against Iris, his part in them, and to have someone to talk to about loving someone who you were so scared of losing if you closed your eyes for even a second.
This book is just as powerful as the one before it as for as much as Iris has had every piece of trust, privacy and himself removed from his grasp over and over, he tries this one last time to desperately grasp onto Cas and try trust this one last time.
This time Cas has changed as well. And Cas continued to change throughout this book. I think that alone is holding Iris together at parts. He vocalizes it in a way. Seeing how Cas is holding himself and Iris up. Wanting more of that. Wanting another day of that.
As with the other book Alexander is still pulling games and pulling strings. It does appear that more people outside of the band themselves are starting to realize how neferaious things may be. Between the studio cew, the label themselves, and finally a judge as Alexandar tries one last grasp at controling Iris through cruel mistreatment and manipulation of his mental illnesses.
Again, the author writes life bluntly. There are happys for nows. There are glimpses and moments of it all crashing down and ending in a way no reader wants. For much of this book I was crying and wondering if I really wanted to turn the page. Again, this book is truthfuly written from the inside of someone who has seen and lived these struggles. Like recognizes like. It's hard to know that an author may make a different choice for their character than you would like.
I loved seeing the band come back together and consciously choose to become a chosen family and a circle of protection. Originally it's intented for Iris, but it very quickly becomes necessary for all of the men. As they are sitting around trying to figure out how to support and love their friend Alexandar starts attacks on all of them. Slowly and with great purpose. Letting them know in public ways that he has all of their private lives in the same way that he has Iris' private life. And Cas' private life. To read this circle go from "we need to ditch our abusive toxic manager" to "we need to protect our friend" to "we will fight and protect and love each other and our own" was lovely. And it was immediate. Given without thought and in complete line with each character's personality.
The keeping of each character in and of themselves as they each worked through the realization of what their bandmate has been going through and how seperated their manager had kept them all apart even as they shared tour buses, stages, and studios was astounding to see through each of the men's eyes as it became clear to them. The grief and the sorrow of that realization, as well as, the realization of all they had truly had stolen fromt them and lost due to their manager's actions- that also made me cry.
Full disclosure - this book and Pretty F*cked made me cry the silent tears running down my cheeks suddenly A LOT. Bring tissues for this one.
The closure of this book, from all characters points of view was perfect. As the climax built - and I honestly still didn't know which version of ending we were getting - I liked that some of the manipluations that Alexander pulled hurt Iris but in a way helped others in the band.
Allowing only certain people to see him at his most broken and vunerable only allowed the men to form a better understanding of Iris. It also allowed Iris the chance to choose for himself which of them to talk to and what to talk about.
Having Iris broken and isolated, scared, but finally thinking about fighting and trying to actually hang on and have hope this last time was a massive step forward for his character. No, it isn't a perfect solution or even a perfect for now solution. He is left with a "you need to do work and you are finally at the point to do the work". It was a point he wasn't at the start of either book in his story.
Iris' story is long. It winds. It's dark. It's twisty. It doubles back on itself. But it grows, he grows, and hope grows. You still aren't sure where the end will be for Iris, but you do feel comfortable closing this book. For now.
This book, as was the book prior to it, is a blunt, truthful representation of what it looks like for some who struggle with mental illnesses and diseases. This book also gave a good idea of how it looks to be the person loving someone who is struggling. The struggles they go through as well.
Neither one of these things are ever spoken out publicly. The longer mental health remains stigmatized we silence both those who suffer and those who care for the ones who suffer. Watching the love and the hope grow in both Iris and Cas as they felt comfortable opening up to each other and the men in their lives, their circle was massive.
It changed the tone of the tension in the book. No longer was it Iris and Cas against the world and hiding what they could from the band. Instead it became, the band is our family and we are all protecting and loving each other. The fights looked less looming. Mountains looked less big and scary.
The world looked less bleak and things could be handled one thing at a time and one moment at a time. Which is sometimes all Iris felt he had. Now they all have the minutes and the seconds and the days. Because now they are talking to each other and Iris and Cas are working on what their happy looks like. For right now. No holding them to it. Which is how it works.
As I mentioned at the begining and I will caution again at the end.
This book is a very brutal, honest, truthful look at what it can look, feel, and be to struggle with your own mind.
The author was very kind and brave to bare these details to her readers regardless of how much came from personal experience and how much came from research.
***PLEASE READ ALL OF THE TRIGGER WARNINGS IN THE BOOK.***
This book WILL wait for you.
You are worth waiting for.
If you are looking for your safe space and your support people - they exist and they are out there.
September 2, 2024
Definitely a 5 stars series for me!!
"We became famous long before we had a record deal, we were in love long before we ever touched, and we were broken before our lives started."
This was a great end to the series.... Iris and Caspian had a hard, intense and emotional journey! My only gripe is Alexander, I wished for more than he got.
"Do you believe in fate?" "If it involves you, I do"
I am a huge fan of J.R Gray - highly recommend - please, if you have any triggers you definitely need to read TW first!!
"We became famous long before we had a record deal, we were in love long before we ever touched, and we were broken before our lives started."
This was a great end to the series.... Iris and Caspian had a hard, intense and emotional journey! My only gripe is Alexander, I wished for more than he got.
"Do you believe in fate?" "If it involves you, I do"
I am a huge fan of J.R Gray - highly recommend - please, if you have any triggers you definitely need to read TW first!!
April 30, 2025
Too much exposition. We are already jumping back in time we dont want it overexplained in "present" again...over and over.
Oh and how utterly disappointing the ending was...all that heartbreak and suffering and no reward in the end. I was looking forward to epic showdown in the end between Alexander and the band....wanted to see Alexander suffer as much if not more over what he put everyone through.😭😭😭😭
The HEA didnt feel very happy...because of that. Left a bad aftertaste...like i have this lingering sense of injustice, sadness and melancholy after finishing it.
Oh and how utterly disappointing the ending was...all that heartbreak and suffering and no reward in the end. I was looking forward to epic showdown in the end between Alexander and the band....wanted to see Alexander suffer as much if not more over what he put everyone through.😭😭😭😭
The HEA didnt feel very happy...because of that. Left a bad aftertaste...like i have this lingering sense of injustice, sadness and melancholy after finishing it.
September 16, 2024
disappointing!
Not sure why I read the last two books, I started with the first book in the series and it was so boring. I thought will give it one more chance with Iris and Cas’s story but it didn’t get better! The time line back and forth was so confusing, there was no peak to the story, so many repeated scenes.ni am just upset I wasted so much time on it.
Not sure why I read the last two books, I started with the first book in the series and it was so boring. I thought will give it one more chance with Iris and Cas’s story but it didn’t get better! The time line back and forth was so confusing, there was no peak to the story, so many repeated scenes.ni am just upset I wasted so much time on it.
April 25, 2025
I haven't wanted to read these two last books in the Pretty Broken series for a while because of the trigger warnings and the angst and fucking dick-head manager Alexander (fuck him), but I'm in a dark romance era right now and a crossing books off my TBR lists era, and I'm trying to stick to it. J.R. Gray, the fabulous and the fabulously cruel (I always cry) wrote this series. The fifth and final book is titled "Pretty Black."
I've always wanted the best for Iris, but Iris is also the most broken of all the men in this series. By himself, by his past, by his manager, by his friends. He needs so much love.
["Iris Black
There are moments in music when the crowd becomes part of the song and we all lose ourselves to the energy. I wanted to drown myself in the music. It became my escape and my savior.
I thought success was what I wanted, but it only intensified my misery. Fame is a monster, and it ate me alive. I tried it all to get out of my head: sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I’m living the dream, but it only numbs the pain.
Caspian came into my life like a storm, and I knew he’d leave the same way.
We were two vessels made to fit. Chemistry woven in creation.
There’s no escape, there’s no surrender.
His Pretty Black forever.
But he broke me and I don’t know how to forgive him.
Is it foolish to do it all again?
To find our way back to the place it all began.
I’ve mourned his leaving so many times, I don’t have it in me to do it again."]
This title!! We found out in the previous book that Caspian called Iris "my pretty Black" and just...add that to the maaany reasons I (quite violently) sobbed through most of this novel.
And sobbed I did. During a lot of this. Most of this. My throat hurt. My tissue pile is insane. I'm all congested. Because these poor boys and that asshole Alexander.
This book was about happiness and redemption. But it was also about the very, very thin line between things (like love and hate): therapy versus imprisonment; feeling something, anything versus self-destruction; hate versus self-preservation. About walking that fine line, being thrown over it versus diving head first over it. It's emotional and poetic and devastating.
I forced myself to take breaks so I could breathe and calm down. And not strain my eyes (I was reading sooo fast). And even though we knew the band would win in the end, it wasn't an easy read (as if any of this series was easy to read).
Also, totttttally off topic, not sure if it's the last name or just...something, but Iris Rose Black reminds me of Sirius and Regulus. A lot. Which makes/made me cry more.
Trigger Warnings: alcohol/alcoholism, major descriptions of depression, talk of involuntary treatment, drug use, talk of suicide, suicide, assault, domestic abuse, domestic abuse isn't always physical, blackmail, lying, gaslighting, manipulation, and more
#prettyobsessed #prettytoxic #prettywreck #prettyfucked #prettyblack #prettybroken #prettybrokenseries #jrgray #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
I've always wanted the best for Iris, but Iris is also the most broken of all the men in this series. By himself, by his past, by his manager, by his friends. He needs so much love.
["Iris Black
There are moments in music when the crowd becomes part of the song and we all lose ourselves to the energy. I wanted to drown myself in the music. It became my escape and my savior.
I thought success was what I wanted, but it only intensified my misery. Fame is a monster, and it ate me alive. I tried it all to get out of my head: sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I’m living the dream, but it only numbs the pain.
Caspian came into my life like a storm, and I knew he’d leave the same way.
We were two vessels made to fit. Chemistry woven in creation.
There’s no escape, there’s no surrender.
His Pretty Black forever.
But he broke me and I don’t know how to forgive him.
Is it foolish to do it all again?
To find our way back to the place it all began.
I’ve mourned his leaving so many times, I don’t have it in me to do it again."]
This title!! We found out in the previous book that Caspian called Iris "my pretty Black" and just...add that to the maaany reasons I (quite violently) sobbed through most of this novel.
And sobbed I did. During a lot of this. Most of this. My throat hurt. My tissue pile is insane. I'm all congested. Because these poor boys and that asshole Alexander.
This book was about happiness and redemption. But it was also about the very, very thin line between things (like love and hate): therapy versus imprisonment; feeling something, anything versus self-destruction; hate versus self-preservation. About walking that fine line, being thrown over it versus diving head first over it. It's emotional and poetic and devastating.
I forced myself to take breaks so I could breathe and calm down. And not strain my eyes (I was reading sooo fast). And even though we knew the band would win in the end, it wasn't an easy read (as if any of this series was easy to read).
Also, totttttally off topic, not sure if it's the last name or just...something, but Iris Rose Black reminds me of Sirius and Regulus. A lot. Which makes/made me cry more.
Trigger Warnings: alcohol/alcoholism, major descriptions of depression, talk of involuntary treatment, drug use, talk of suicide, suicide, assault, domestic abuse, domestic abuse isn't always physical, blackmail, lying, gaslighting, manipulation, and more
#prettyobsessed #prettytoxic #prettywreck #prettyfucked #prettyblack #prettybroken #prettybrokenseries #jrgray #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
July 6, 2023
The final book in this excellent rock star romance series, which also serves as the second half of an internal duology with the previous book, Pretty F*ed, drops readers right back into the heavy topics without any preparatory buildup. At this point, I knew what I was getting into, but I was so invested in each of the characters that I wanted to skip the pain and get right to their happily ever after. Alas, the journey through the painful bits is where Gray shines for both character development and the relationship arc.
Caspian genuinely cares for Iris, but their upbringings were so different that there’s always going to be a level where Caspian just can’t relate. Childhood trauma can literally alter brain chemistry, and Gray makes multiple connections with how complications with mental health care can negatively affect a person even when done with the best intentions (or the worst, in the case of band manager Alexander’s long-term efforts to control Iris).
The multiple timelines of this story mean getting hit with the duality of the past heartache that has occurred between Caspian and Iris along with the dread of what this book’s dark moment might be. Along the way, the story goes full circle, so that we get a better look at what was going on in the background of the first book in the series, Pretty Obsessed. This made the series into a cohesive whole and truly brought the members of Pretty Broken (and their significant others) into a true found family as part of the overall optimistic ending.
This novel specifically was a true second-chance romance that actually deals with the issues that caused the initial separation. The forced proximity of being bandmates meant that Iris and Caspian were never able to start from a fresh point in their lives. The way they continued to gravitate toward each other even when technically not together is romantic in the most painful way possible. Gray deftly weaves the theme that “love doesn’t conquer all” into this relationship arc while still keeping alive the hope inherent in a romance story so that it can fuel Iris and Caspian’s fight for their eventual resolution.
After what the villain of this series put these men (who I would mostly consider “boys” at the point when Alexander first got his hooks into them), I felt like he deserved much more of a punishment. I’m satisfied with what did happen, and while this arc was a connective thread to many of the external and internal conflicts throughout this series, I appreciated that the true focus remained on the members of Pretty Broken instead of letting them continue to give Alexander more mental real estate than he deserved.
I look forward to returning to these books in the future and re-reading it with a deeper knowledge of the characters and events to come. Gray’s talent as a storyteller means that I am sure to uncover more layers to these individually good novels and collectively fantastic series.
Caspian genuinely cares for Iris, but their upbringings were so different that there’s always going to be a level where Caspian just can’t relate. Childhood trauma can literally alter brain chemistry, and Gray makes multiple connections with how complications with mental health care can negatively affect a person even when done with the best intentions (or the worst, in the case of band manager Alexander’s long-term efforts to control Iris).
The multiple timelines of this story mean getting hit with the duality of the past heartache that has occurred between Caspian and Iris along with the dread of what this book’s dark moment might be. Along the way, the story goes full circle, so that we get a better look at what was going on in the background of the first book in the series, Pretty Obsessed. This made the series into a cohesive whole and truly brought the members of Pretty Broken (and their significant others) into a true found family as part of the overall optimistic ending.
This novel specifically was a true second-chance romance that actually deals with the issues that caused the initial separation. The forced proximity of being bandmates meant that Iris and Caspian were never able to start from a fresh point in their lives. The way they continued to gravitate toward each other even when technically not together is romantic in the most painful way possible. Gray deftly weaves the theme that “love doesn’t conquer all” into this relationship arc while still keeping alive the hope inherent in a romance story so that it can fuel Iris and Caspian’s fight for their eventual resolution.
After what the villain of this series put these men (who I would mostly consider “boys” at the point when Alexander first got his hooks into them), I felt like he deserved much more of a punishment. I’m satisfied with what did happen, and while this arc was a connective thread to many of the external and internal conflicts throughout this series, I appreciated that the true focus remained on the members of Pretty Broken instead of letting them continue to give Alexander more mental real estate than he deserved.
I look forward to returning to these books in the future and re-reading it with a deeper knowledge of the characters and events to come. Gray’s talent as a storyteller means that I am sure to uncover more layers to these individually good novels and collectively fantastic series.
June 6, 2023
Although I already did a short review for Pretty F*cked after reading the book, I was waiting to read Pretty Black so that I could review them together, since both are part of the same story and are therefore inextricably linked.
Cas and Iris met very young, and their connection was deep and immediate. Through their love of music, the bond they felt upon seeing each other intensified even more. There was no Iris without Cas, nor Cas without Iris, and it continued to be so to this day.
They both came from a totally different background, not only economically but emotionally, which sometimes made it difficult for them to understand what the other was going through, especially Iris's state of mind, but that in no way diminished their feelings.
Iris was struggling with severe trauma due to the continual domestic abuse he suffered as a boy, and his way of handling it was, so to speak, very unhealthy. Wrapped in a spiral of drugs, sex and self-inflicted pain to numb the pain he felt on a daily basis, sometimes it just wasn't enough and he wanted to jump into the abyss more than once, but never dared to take the final step. This had Cas in a constant state of fear, terrified that one day he would wake up and Iris would be gone forever.
Mistakes were made, some because they were simply too young, and dealing with these situations are difficult for any adult, even without the mental problems that Iris suffered from. And partly because whoever should have provided them with good support was the one who tried the most to sink and control them. And yes, I'm talking about the assh*le.
Something happened that made Iris finally realize that he wanted to live, and above all, that he wanted to enjoy life with Cas. To live a life full of love and music with Cas.
The author takes a deep journey through the psyche of not only Iris, but also Caspian, while jumping back in time to show us how they got to this point, sometimes about situations we already knew would happen, but this time through the eyes of the two of them and not the other members of the band. And speaking of the band, we finally see them as a whole, fighting together for what they wanted.
It was a hard, emotional and painful journey, as it always is when we see someone suffer and we know that we can't do anything but be there, make them feel our presence, and let them know that no matter what, we will always be there supporting them. And it was especially beautiful to see them finally come out of the darkness that threatened to engulf them, stronger and more united than ever.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
Cas and Iris met very young, and their connection was deep and immediate. Through their love of music, the bond they felt upon seeing each other intensified even more. There was no Iris without Cas, nor Cas without Iris, and it continued to be so to this day.
They both came from a totally different background, not only economically but emotionally, which sometimes made it difficult for them to understand what the other was going through, especially Iris's state of mind, but that in no way diminished their feelings.
Iris was struggling with severe trauma due to the continual domestic abuse he suffered as a boy, and his way of handling it was, so to speak, very unhealthy. Wrapped in a spiral of drugs, sex and self-inflicted pain to numb the pain he felt on a daily basis, sometimes it just wasn't enough and he wanted to jump into the abyss more than once, but never dared to take the final step. This had Cas in a constant state of fear, terrified that one day he would wake up and Iris would be gone forever.
Mistakes were made, some because they were simply too young, and dealing with these situations are difficult for any adult, even without the mental problems that Iris suffered from. And partly because whoever should have provided them with good support was the one who tried the most to sink and control them. And yes, I'm talking about the assh*le.
Something happened that made Iris finally realize that he wanted to live, and above all, that he wanted to enjoy life with Cas. To live a life full of love and music with Cas.
The author takes a deep journey through the psyche of not only Iris, but also Caspian, while jumping back in time to show us how they got to this point, sometimes about situations we already knew would happen, but this time through the eyes of the two of them and not the other members of the band. And speaking of the band, we finally see them as a whole, fighting together for what they wanted.
It was a hard, emotional and painful journey, as it always is when we see someone suffer and we know that we can't do anything but be there, make them feel our presence, and let them know that no matter what, we will always be there supporting them. And it was especially beautiful to see them finally come out of the darkness that threatened to engulf them, stronger and more united than ever.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
June 14, 2023
Summary: This may be book 5 of the Pretty Broken series, but it is part two of Iris and Cas’s story. It picks up immediately after the end of Pretty F*cked. Cas, Iris, and the rest of Pretty Broken are in a lawsuit with their manager, Alexander. As a show of power, Alexander is holding up the release of their upcoming album and threatening to leak the private contents of Iris’s phone, including the last message from Iris’s dead brother. Struggling under the strain, Iris nearly breaks. Having gotten wind of this, Alexander has Iris involuntarily committed to a psych hold, further distressing Iris.
Review: This is such an intense story. The characters are deeply hurt and troubled. Their past and current trauma is visceral. It is completely understandable for them to react to their situations the way Gray portrays them. And yet, Gray balances tone so well that I never felt overwhelmed myself. Somehow, despite the characters sometimes viewing hope as more of a torture than a balm, there was throughout as glimmer of hope that buoyed me and made it easy for me to read and not put down—even if I were reading right before bed. I appreciate Gray’s ability to do that because sometimes stories with dark elements or where characters experience deep trauma bring down my own mood too much for me to keep reading them.
I’m so grateful that Iris finally finds compassionate and appropriate professional help in this story. After everything he’d been through, it was good to see him start to make real progress not just with dealing with his trauma, but in learning that not everyone is untrustworthy.
I love the bond between Iris and Cas, and how Cas never gives up on Iris. I also love the bond between all of the band members. I love that even though they had been divided, this experience brought them back together and made their bonds stronger. I love the inclusion of the Pale Pink Lips guys and how they fold so easily into this found family.
I love how the story bounces around in time, giving insight and background to what is happening in the present. And of course all of the song lyrics! I just wish they were set to music.
Review: This is such an intense story. The characters are deeply hurt and troubled. Their past and current trauma is visceral. It is completely understandable for them to react to their situations the way Gray portrays them. And yet, Gray balances tone so well that I never felt overwhelmed myself. Somehow, despite the characters sometimes viewing hope as more of a torture than a balm, there was throughout as glimmer of hope that buoyed me and made it easy for me to read and not put down—even if I were reading right before bed. I appreciate Gray’s ability to do that because sometimes stories with dark elements or where characters experience deep trauma bring down my own mood too much for me to keep reading them.
I’m so grateful that Iris finally finds compassionate and appropriate professional help in this story. After everything he’d been through, it was good to see him start to make real progress not just with dealing with his trauma, but in learning that not everyone is untrustworthy.
I love the bond between Iris and Cas, and how Cas never gives up on Iris. I also love the bond between all of the band members. I love that even though they had been divided, this experience brought them back together and made their bonds stronger. I love the inclusion of the Pale Pink Lips guys and how they fold so easily into this found family.
I love how the story bounces around in time, giving insight and background to what is happening in the present. And of course all of the song lyrics! I just wish they were set to music.
May 31, 2023
I. am. dead. Iris Black and Caspian Locke are one of my all time favorite couples despite how toxic and heartbreaking their story is. BUT MAN! the HEA was really worth the wait. J.R. Gray had me in a chokehold in “Pretty F*cked” and I was counting minutes until “Pretty Black” came out. Their whole relationship is full of push and pull and staying and leaving and laughing and crying and as painful as their story is at times, their ending (or beginning depending on how you look at it 😆) is just SO WORTH IT!
This is a story of resilience, strength, highs and lows, depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation, but overall so much love. SO much love. The second half of Iris and Caspian isn’t as heart wrenching as the first and the light at the end of the tunnel is bright! Gray has drug us through it on the Mental Health Express with these boys and it’s beautifully done. There is such a stigma when it comes to mental health and Gray makes a point to not only point that out, but has the unlikely Iris make an incredible declaration about it — advocating of course but also just showing how far he has come in accepting himself and turning the page.
I just can’t get over how much these boys have worked their way into my heart and have taken up permanent residency. I honestly have no words to describe just HOW much I loved this duet. “Pretty Black” is the perfect ending to a perfectly imperfect love story. It’s epic and toxic but it’s worth all the stomach aches and tears. I recommend this book (and the entire series) to those who just love a big epic, hard, love story that drags you all the way down and then brings you all the way up. Am I sad it’s over? Yes. I will not be okay for a while…. make sure to check on me, and your friends who have read or reading OR will read this story. CIris for life! 🖤
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Spice: 2/5🌶️🥵
Tropes:
🎤 Rock star romance
🎤 MM romance
🎤 Damaged MC
🎤 Emotionally charged
🎤 Mental health awareness
🎤 Epic love story
Triggers:
💥 Suicide ideation
💥 Discussion of depression
💥 Drug use
💥 Assault scene
This is a story of resilience, strength, highs and lows, depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation, but overall so much love. SO much love. The second half of Iris and Caspian isn’t as heart wrenching as the first and the light at the end of the tunnel is bright! Gray has drug us through it on the Mental Health Express with these boys and it’s beautifully done. There is such a stigma when it comes to mental health and Gray makes a point to not only point that out, but has the unlikely Iris make an incredible declaration about it — advocating of course but also just showing how far he has come in accepting himself and turning the page.
I just can’t get over how much these boys have worked their way into my heart and have taken up permanent residency. I honestly have no words to describe just HOW much I loved this duet. “Pretty Black” is the perfect ending to a perfectly imperfect love story. It’s epic and toxic but it’s worth all the stomach aches and tears. I recommend this book (and the entire series) to those who just love a big epic, hard, love story that drags you all the way down and then brings you all the way up. Am I sad it’s over? Yes. I will not be okay for a while…. make sure to check on me, and your friends who have read or reading OR will read this story. CIris for life! 🖤
Rating: 5/5⭐️
Spice: 2/5🌶️🥵
Tropes:
🎤 Rock star romance
🎤 MM romance
🎤 Damaged MC
🎤 Emotionally charged
🎤 Mental health awareness
🎤 Epic love story
Triggers:
💥 Suicide ideation
💥 Discussion of depression
💥 Drug use
💥 Assault scene
May 25, 2023
I didn't want to write this review, because, it means I have finished the whole Pretty Broken series. It is always a double edged sword; sad it had to end but also incredibly happy the Pretty Broken boys have made it through. This books flips between past and present time zones throughout the book to help tell us more of Cas' and Iris' story. It helps fill in a lot of blanks and reminds us of certain events from the previous books. It's hard to remember how young these guys are and what they have been through whilst still so young. Fame forcing them to grow up faster than they should have to. This book acknowledges Iris' mental health struggles and we learn where these actually stem from. We finally 'hear' the last spoken words of Marc, Iris's brother, and realise why he took on so much grief and why he found whatever drug he could to try to numb his pain. Cas' character really shines through in this book and it's obvious how much Iris means to him; he is the lightness to Iris' darkness. Although we go through Iris' therapy in this book, it doesn't seem as heavy and as consuming as Pretty F*cked. It's almost cathartic and healing. That is until the cemetery scene which was painfully sad and yet so special, and the start of bringing some comfort to Iris. The whole Alexander drama is ongoing and he becomes more vulgar with every book. The ending was very happy, with a feeling of serenity. When it is just Cas and Iris, with no dramas, nothing else matters. I can picture them growing old together and finding joy and comfort in 'mundane' chores, choosing perennials for their garden! We got a bonus chapter from Aspen's POV which was very exciting and leads Gray onto his next book Volatile from the Black Diamonds Resort collaboration. This might just help me move on from Pretty Broken. A 5 star read with characters that will linger in my thoughts for a long time. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 30, 2023
After touring with Pretty Broken for three books, we finally got Iris and Caspian’s emotional romance in the Pretty F*cked and Pretty Black. I’ve been rooting for this pair from the very beginning. With all the heartbreaks, tears and fears, their happy union was hard won. Iris’ struggles and Caspian’s powerlessness were devastating to watch.
Throughout the flashbacks, we witnessed how everything started from the very beginning – from their first meeting, first success, first fight to first breakup. It was a heartbreaking journey to see how both evolved from naive teenagers with a dream to rock stars who were lost in all the fame.
The members of Pretty Broken had slowly drifted apart because of secrets and individual challenges throughout the years. With the fight with management looming over them, they finally found the honesty and brotherhood that they once shared.
Through Iris, the author touched on a sensitive topic that was close to his heart. Raw emotions like pain, heartache, despair, anguish, helplessness, and unconditional love were leaking from the writing. It brought perspective on how mental heath issue not only affected the person but to the people around him. I applauded the author’s courage to be vulnerable and open his heart for his readers.
I was totally consumed in Iris and Caspian’s gut-wrenching and beautiful story. It was a story about grieving, forgiveness, growth and fighting to live for love. It was a happy for now story and I hope the author has plans to give us a glimpse of their future.
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