Sinners duet by Sophie Lark -> Starting June 26th, 2024

[Aly]

I loathe Alastor Shaw.

The city of San Francisco thinks we’re rival artists.

In truth, we’re predators battling for hunting ground.

We never chased the same prey. Until the night we both laid eyes on Mara Eldritch.

Shaw wants to use her as a pawn in his twisted game.

I’m fixated on her for a different reason…

She makes me feel things I never thought I could feel. Want things I never wanted.

Only she can make me lose control.

I don’t know if I should protect her at all costs… or destroy her before she ruins me.

Mara knows I’m no saint. But she has no idea she’s dancing with the devil…

[Grace]

Thank you Aly!

[Grace]

Jamie I have so many thoughts on this already!
First, I am really enjoying the writing style and the pace.
The songs in the middle of chapters are an interesting choice, unfortunately I wasn't able to listen properly for the first 3 songs. I will try to do so for the rest of the book though.

I did notice that they are very relatable to the moment in that chapter, none of them is randomly there.
I am a fan of books with playlists, and this one added a very nice use to them.

Though some songs are not my style and were annoying to me in general, I couldn't connect to them even in the context of the book.

[Grace]

Sophie Lark says that her character starts evil and needs redeeming. And Cole needs A LOT of redeeming!
General spoiler:
(view spoiler)[I think she was very smart starting with his POV and continuously exposing us to him. He is a grade A asshole. But reading his POV and the way she wrote him made me very empathetic towards him and in fact very enthralled. I look forward to seeing how she will redeem him. (hide spoiler)]

Specific spoilers in chapters up to 17:
(view spoiler)[He is an utter psychopath and it is very obvious. From the different masks, to gaslighting her, to trying to manipulate her, to the grandiosity & God complex, to threatening her. And her seriously just LEFT HER to die! And kept imagining her bound and dying and getting horney and excited over it. He is behaving like a psychopath who is very toxic, yet, not in a repulsive or disgusting way... though it should be lol (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Chapter 17 here, 49% in.
I felt that he will insert himself in her life by (view spoiler)[making her his protégée. (hide spoiler)]
So I am worried how Cole is going to (view spoiler)[affect Mara's art. (hide spoiler)]

It is clear they connect and see parts of themselves in each other (in a way) but (view spoiler)[I really didn't want him to influence her art and make it a version of his. Or control her and control her art since he was already thinking how to manipulate her and break her, and he was gaslighting her (in a way).
But it looks like our girl has fought hard for her independence and sense of identity and she will not be that easily swayed. I am proud she didn't wear the dress he sent her and decided to go to the gallery by herself to listen to the opinions of people without them knowing who she is and him there intervening. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Currently in chapter 29.
To be honest, this is wild.... I am not sure where this is going and what will happen!
(view spoiler)[And I am usually all for slowburn that gets consumed. Though this feels different than slowburn, not sure how to describe it. And I don't think I want to rush them for anything more even though I am eager. This just feels better (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Jamie do listen to the songs as suggested in the middle of the chapters. I have found that to be an experience in itself. So creative how Sophie Lark utilises this as a tool in her writing. It almost feels as if she wanted to engage all 5 senses. I think you'll spot that when you read certain paragraphs.

[Jamie]

Grace wrote: "Jamie do listen to the songs as suggested in the middle of the chapters. I have found that to be an experience in itself. So creative how Sophie Lark utilises this as a tool in her writing. It almo..."

Ok perfect! I did listen to the first song and it fit so well with the first chapter.

[Jamie]

Ch 1-8 (view spoiler)[ Dang, this book is on overload it seems. We went from nothing to everything all at once. Cole is a master stalker for sure. I'm very curious to see where this relationship goes with these two. She has no clue who he is, and he seems to be becoming obsessed with her for reasons he doesn't know (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

Jamie, Aly updated this to a series for us 😁
I will start reading book 2 tonight.

[Jamie]

Grace wrote: "Jamie, Aly updated this to a series for us 😁
I will start reading book 2 tonight."

Ok, I'm expecting to be done with this today. I'm having a hard time putting it down lol

[Grace]

it's so good I know right!

[Grace]

I started book 2, and it starts in a different emotional space.

[Grace]

Book 2 chp 4
Listening to the songs while reading has been such an experience that now I am actually impatient until the next one

[Grace]

Book 2, up to chapter 6
(view spoiler)[The emotional toll and length that she is giving us with this book is amazing. It feels so different from the first yet very much the same. And the characters make so much sense. And it makes so much sense why they connected too.
Both of their families are horrible. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Ch 9-16 (view spoiler)[ I'm not even sure what to say. I'm so intrigued by these two. Mara has so much fight in her but I know we haven't even seen the beginning of it. And Cole is so taken with Mara, I love that he doesn't know what to do with this feelings. (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Ch 17-24 (view spoiler)[ So much has happened I feel like. Clearly Cole doesn't know what to do with his feelings. I love how well Mara can read him. The bar scene was great because I loved how fast Cole came to Mara's defense. I'm guessing things are going to heat up here soon! (hide spoiler)]

Grace, I'm getting ready to get in the car for a road trip, so I'm downloading the next book right away so I have it ready to start. I'm hoping I can update this on the app while we are on the road. It's a 5 hr drive :)

[Grace]

You will love book 2 😍
It's everything we're asking for with both of them. I am already 47% in, will probably finish it tonight.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts.
And safe travels!

[Grace]

So if you thought that the other songs were on point wait until you listen to How villains are made while reading Cole's villain origin story.... I am gawking....

The amount of healing these 2 are doing to each other is out of this world.

[Jamie]

Ch 25 - 32 (view spoiler)[ Well, well, well. I was expecting the crazy with Alastar but not him setting Cole up. That part I wasn't expecting. I loved how Cole and Mara have figured out what works for them though. These two are really great together, and I can't wait to see their relationship grow more in the next book! (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Grace wrote: "So if you thought that the other songs were on point wait until you listen to How villains are made while reading Cole's villain origin story.... I am gawking....

The amount of healing these 2 are..."

Oh I can't wait to listen to them. I loved the soundtrack for the first book so much!

[Grace]

are you starting book 2 on the road?

[Jamie]

Yes! I'm starting it now!

[Grace]

I love these 2 so much. It is so beautifully written honestly and the growth of both of them where they both needed that emotional push is amazing. The pace with which it happens and how it unravels and shows up in not only their behaviours, but their psyche and their art.
Just amazing.

[Jamie]

Ch 1 - 7 (view spoiler)[ I love that this one starts where the last one left off. Mara's mom is CRAZY!! Oh my word, my heart hurt reading those words that she wrote to her daughter. I really hope we can see if Cole gets her to actually do something to her. And that interaction with Alastar, ugh, I hate that man! (hide spoiler)]

[Jamie]

Ch 8 - 14 (view spoiler)[I’m loving where this is going. I really hope her mother gets what is coming to her. This last chapter leaves off with Cole talking with Randall. I’m curious what Cole will end up doing with him. (hide spoiler)]

[Grace]

so looking forward to reading your thoughts about what's to come.

[Jamie]

Ch 15-21 (view spoiler)[ holy crap!!!! I didn’t expect Hawke to go so hard for Cole. I was a little nervous for Cole there for a bit. I think she worked that out for the best in the end. Alastair deserved all of that. and Mara’s mother deserved it all as well too! Dang that woman was AWFUL!! I’m glad Mara finally finished it. (hide spoiler)]. I loved these two so much!

[Grace]

Mara's mom was horrible! (view spoiler)[She deserved what came her way. And Randall was also such a monster. (hide spoiler)]