Twisted Series by Ana Huang: Book Review Sunday

I’m thrilled to kick-start this venture. I must admit, I intended to begin on Sunday, but due to a lengthy car ride yesterday, I couldn’t find the time to sit down and write this review. Nevertheless, I’m here now, eager to share my thoughts on some fantastic books!

In this week’s review, we’ll delve into the captivating Twisted Series by Ana Huang. With four books in this enthralling collection, there’s much to explore, but I’ll do my best to refrain from rambling and stay focused.

“twisted love”

The collection commences with “Twisted Love,” a poignant brother’s best friend romance centered around Alex Volkov and Ava Chen. Alex, whose heart seems encased in ice, finds himself drawn to the spirited and optimistic Ava, who always sees the best in people. When Ava’s brother, Josh, departs for a period, he entrusts Alex with looking after her. However, unforeseen sparks fly between Alex and Ava, leading to a forbidden romance that both feel shouldn’t have transpired. As their affection deepens, secrets from their pasts resurface, posing a threat to their budding relationship and putting their love to the ultimate test.

Initially, I found Alex and Ava’s relationship intriguing. It was endearing how he showed a softer side only to her, while maintaining a cold demeanor towards others, including Ava’s own brother. However, as I progressed through the book, Alex fell off my “best fictional boyfriends” list. (Spoilers ahead!) The resurgence of secrets from their pasts during their romance revealed a darker side to Alex. His family’s tragic demise, seemingly orchestrated by Ava’s father, led him to befriend Josh with ulterior motives, aiming to exact revenge. His callousness in planning to destroy Ava and Josh’s family was deeply troubling.

On the other hand, Ava’s secret about her father’s attempts to murder her and falsely blaming her mother emerged much later in her life. Despite some positive aspects, like her father not targeting Alex’s family, the revelation about his uncle being responsible for the tragedy added more complexities to the story. The situation escalated when Ava and her friend Bridget were kidnapped, and Alex had to deceive them, claiming he never truly cared for Ava or Josh, just seeking vengeance for his family. He delayed his act of revenge after Rhys, Bridget’s bodyguard, secured their safety.

Later, Ava pursued a photography workshop in London, and Alex followed to make amends, creating a seemingly sweet gesture. However, the harm caused by his actions, especially his manipulation of Ava’s feelings, cannot be overlooked. While Alex possesses some intriguing personality traits, his cruel intentions in befriending Josh for revenge on his father, and subsequently involving Ava, were deeply harmful.

Though he earns forgiveness from others, Josh’s enduring resentment towards Alex is justified. While he may seek redemption, I believe Alex still has much to make up for the pain he caused.

“Twisted games”

In the sequel, “Twisted Games,” we follow the journey of Bridget, Ava’s close friend, and her devoted bodyguard, Rhys. This tale unfolds as a forbidden romance, simmering into a slow-burn love story. Bridget, a princess, and Rhys, her vigilant protector, initially find it hard to tolerate each other’s presence. However, fate weaves its magic, and they soon find themselves irresistibly drawn to one another.

A significant turning point arises when Bridget’s brother relinquishes his birthright to the throne, choosing love over royalty by marrying a commoner. Consequently, the crown is bestowed upon Bridget. For years, they keep their love hidden, guarding their hearts against prying eyes. Yet, the depth of their affection compels them to confront their feelings, refusing to let go of each other.

United in their love, Bridget and Rhys embark on a determined campaign to change the law, allowing her to marry Rhys without forsaking her royal position—a plot reminiscent of “Princess Diaries 2.” As their love story blossoms, this quest becomes a prominent focus, shaping the majority of the book’s narrative.

Although Rhys and Bridget didn’t quite top my list of favorite characters, I still found myself engrossed in this delightful tale. Admittedly, the time jumps introduced some confusion, but they served a crucial purpose in advancing the narrative. I couldn’t help but chuckle as Bridget sought Alex’s assistance to propel their campaign for legal change, employing blackmail on nearly every member of parliament. The comical moment when she asked him, “Do you have stuff like this on me?” and Alex’s unspoken response had me laughing.

Additionally, the revelation of Rhys’ true parentage played a significant role, unexpectedly aiding their pursuit of marriage. It involved not just one, but two plot twists that completely blindsided me. Witnessing Bridget and Rhys fiercely fighting to be together, without the shadows of dark secrets looming over their heads, added a captivating depth to their love story.

“Twisted Hate”

In “Twisted Hate,” we embark on a journey with Josh Chen, Ava’s brother, and Jules, a close friend of Ava’s. This tale encompasses the themes of enemies-to-lovers and best friend’s brother romance. From the start, Josh and Jules cannot stand each other, exchanging biting insults on every occasion. However, a fateful and unforgettable night changes everything, igniting a passion that neither can ignore.

In an attempt to deal with their newfound feelings, Josh proposes a daring solution—a temporary arrangement of being enemies with benefits. But as they explore this passionate connection, Jules’ troubled past resurfaces, plunging both her and Josh into a whirlwind of chaos. The challenges they face put their emotions to the ultimate test, forcing them to confront their true feelings and the depth of their connection.

To be completely honest, Josh and Jules didn’t quite capture my heart as a favorite couple—actually, they were far from it. Though both characters were compelling, especially with Jules’ intriguing backstory, I found it difficult to emotionally connect with their relationship. Their careers as a doctor and a lawyer make for an interesting match, but beneath the surface lies a web of lies and secrets.

Jules’ past involved stealing to get by, and a pivotal moment occurs when she gets entangled in a theft with her ex-boyfriend, who takes the blame. Seeking a fresh start, she runs away to college, leaving her previous life behind. However, her ex-boyfriend eventually tracks her down and coerces her into stealing from Josh. To protect both herself and Josh from harm, Jules devises a plan involving her new landlord, Christian Harper, who was Rhys’ employer.

Unfortunately, when Josh discovers the truth and the extent of Jules’ deception, he is understandably hurt and ends their relationship in a heart-wrenching manner. In hindsight, it seems that all this could have been avoided if Jules had been forthright with Josh when her ex-boyfriend found her. Nonetheless, romance stories wouldn’t be complete without their Act 3 break-up scene.

Despite the ups and downs, they eventually find their way back to each other, reconciling and facing the truth about their relationship with Ava. Meanwhile, Josh and Alex mend their relationship around the same time, though it did feel somewhat forced.

In summary, the story was enjoyable, particularly with the intriguing subplot of Jules’ past, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit disconnected from Josh and Jules’ romance, even amidst all the excitement.

“twisted lies”

The breathtaking finale, “Twisted Lies,” concludes Huang’s series, enthralling readers with the captivating tale of Christian Harper and Stella, another of Ava’s close friends. This slow-burn fake dating romance revolves around Christian, the CEO of Harper Security and owner of Harper Apartments, and Stella, a fashion influencer.

When Jules and Josh’s relationship gets serious, Jules moves out, leaving Stella alone in Harper Apartments. It’s during a fateful dinner that Christian and Stella’s paths cross once again. Stella aims to secure a modeling partnership while Christian endeavors to finalize a contract with a client. Recognizing an opportunity, Stella proposes a fake relationship with Christian to bolster her social media following, and he agrees. They create a contract, and initially, their fabricated romance suffices.

However, troubling events arise when Stella’s stalker reemerges and manages to breach her apartment’s security. Concerned for her safety, Christian insists she move into the penthouse with him. The close proximity ignites a struggle as they grapple with their genuine feelings. Their journey takes an unexpected turn during a trip to Hawaii, breaking down the barriers between them.

While Stella faces the threat of the stalker, Christian is simultaneously on the hunt for a mole within his organization. Amidst these challenges, Stella uncovers that Christian conducted multiple background checks and surveillance on her after their initial meeting, creating a significant rift between them. This leads to Stella seeking refuge with Alex and Ava.

However, fate has other plans, and Stella finds herself kidnapped by her stalker, with Christian ultimately rescuing her. In the end, they find their way back to each other, tying the knot, and embracing a future filled with love and children, much like Bridget and Rhys, and Alex and Ava.

Christian and Stella undoubtedly claimed the title of my all-time favorite couple in this series. Their dynamic contrast of personalities was simply enthralling. Witnessing Stella’s journey towards newfound confidence throughout the story was a joy to behold. The playful banter among Christian, Alex, Josh, and Rhys added a delightful touch to the narrative.

One particular highlight that had me laughing was when Christian revealed his monthly chess match tradition with Alex, leading to Josh humorously teasing Alex about finding a new best friend. This ongoing jest added a wonderful sense of humor to the tale, making it all the more enjoyable.

The plot twists surrounding Stella’s stalker and the mole within Christian’s organization took me completely by surprise. I had confidently assumed different individuals in both cases, making the twists all the more gripping. It kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to see how it all unfolded.

Christian’s treatment of Stella was incredibly heartwarming, showcasing his understanding and kindness towards her in various situations. While I expected a more significant lie to create turmoil in their relationship, the plot twist involving a file on Stella sufficed and added an intriguing layer of complexity to their story.

Their relationship was an absolute obsession for me, and I’m thrilled that it took center stage as the final book in the series. The journey of Christian and Stella was a perfect conclusion, leaving me thoroughly captivated and satisfied with their enchanting love story.

Final thoughts

In summary, this series offered a captivating array of diverse characters, each carrying their own share of dark pasts and well-guarded secrets, while also facing present challenges to conquer. The distinct personalities of the characters made their interactions with each other thoroughly engaging and compelling to read. If I were to rank the books from most loved to less so, it would be “Twisted Lies” at the top, followed by “Twisted Games,” “Twisted Love,” and finally, “Twisted Hate.” Though opinions may differ on the last place, personally, I found Josh and Jules’ story didn’t quite resonate with me.

In its entirety, this series provided an excellent reading experience, filled with enthralling plots and a diverse cast of characters that kept readers invested throughout.