Make Me Pretty by Marie Ann 🩷🖤

 

Make Me Pretty by Marie Ann 🩷

Book Tropes:

- enemies to lovers

- foster brothers

(not saying more due to spoilers)

My Review:

☆☆☆☆☆ stars

As expected, Marie Ann does it again bringing us another amazing MM story with two characters you can't help but get all the feels for. I've been HIGHLY anticipating Abel and Peris' story since reading the little teaser of them in the Worthy anthology a while ago and evidently, their full story did not disappoint. 

"He brings out the worst in me. The parts I thought I'd buried deep, had to be concealed if I wanted to survive. If I wanted to ensure what he did to me didn't change me. But it did. Of course, it did. How could it not?" 

For starters, the ending was highly unexpected. Though it does end off on a bit of a cliffhanger, it isn't something that drastically changes the 'themes' of Peris and Abel's relationship. With this story ending the way it did, it leaves much more anticipation for the next book in this series. Going into this story, I knew that it would drift far away from the typical 'romance' story which made me even more excited to read it because of my love for the dark and twisted. With that being said, Peris and Abel's story is not for the faint of heart. Their story covers very dark and important themes which is why I advise those who may not have read any dark romance previously or may have certain triggers, to read the trigger warnings ahead of time. Personally, I don't have any trigger warnings, which is why I dove right into this book blindly and willingly. 

"I know it pisses you off. How you hate all the attention. The way everyone notices how I can't keep my eyes off you. They think I want you. They think you want me, too."

I could say so much about this story and how much I loved it, but I would definitely be here all day if I were to do so. I love how both characters had their own differences, especially in personality, and yet they still bonded over many different things regardless of these differences. Especially with both characters being 'enemies' for the first part of the book, I already knew that would result in high sexual tension, suspense, and a good amount of smut (which I got in clear Marie Ann fashion - amazing!) I'm genuinely surprised my Kindle hasn't exploded due to the amount of highlights I've made while reading lol. Though this story takes place in a high school setting...it somehow didn't feel like it. The setting and genre of the book consisted of more 'dark,' almost eerie type of settings which made the reading experience all the better. 

Anyways, going back to what I said about the dark/heavy themes of this book - I mean it. Both Abel and Peris have gone through significant amounts of trauma which broke my heart piece by piece as I read on. My heart aches for them both and seeing what they both went through because how could it not?? No one deserves to go through such trauma, be called such disrespectful things by others, and be treated as anything other than equal - which adds to my next mini message. With the heavy topics mentioned in this book come important messages that impact so many people around the world daily. Regardless of your race or your sexuality, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has the right to be treated equally with respect. Though this story is a work of fiction, the real message/messages behind the book are very real and something all of us should take with us. 

All in all, I enjoyed this book so much! Along with the MCs being as good as they were, I liked the 'side' characters as well. The ending, as I mentioned earlier, definitely left me a bit shocked and desperate for more which is why I can't wait for book 2 in the series. I'd like to give a big big thank you to Marie Ann and Kayla for providing me with an ARC.

"It's because he made it real. Made me feel...like I wasn't all wrong on the inside."

Book Synopsis:

Abel Silver has only ever known the ugly. The most vile and repulsive acts of humankind. And it’s that kind of depravity that has made him into who he is. Someone wretched and devious. A soul fractured from verity.
Peris Baxter caught Abel’s eye so vehemently, Abel can’t help but to use Peris’s maelstrom to toy with him. To shred him open in hopes his viscera spills, giving Abel a glimpse of who he is at his core.
But Peris has demons too—and they dance beautifully with Abel’s. It’s the one thing neither of them could have anticipated, and now they’re both trapped within each other. Ugliness bared. Skeletons abraded. Anguish fused.
Is it possible to find respite with someone who shares your madness?

***I DO NOT OWN THE PHOTO INCLUDED IN THIS REVIEW, I ONLY OWN AND WROTE THE REVIEW SHOWN ABOVE!!**