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A review by booksafety
Locked in Silence by Sloane Kennedy
5.0
Book safety, tropes & tags down below.
I didn’t write a review after the first time I read this book, but I really appreciate being able to check out the safety of books before reading, so figured I would do that on this one while it’s fresh in mind again.
First of all, this book is amazing. I love that it’s a little bit dark with past trauma for both MCs and external angst and drama, while at the same time, Nolan and Dallas build a beautiful friendship and eventual relationship that is strong. I appreciate books where, once the MCs get together, they’re just solid.
I feel like this book is very much centered around past mistakes, assumptions and forgiveness. How people can change, and that even though you can never forget, it’s better to let go of your anger and forgive those that have wronged you, so that you can move on.
Nolan was mercilessly bullied in school, and even though Dallas never actively joined in, he did nothing to stop it, and that is something both characters have to work through, both by themselves and together. It definitely added another facet to their dynamic that made their relationship more interesting, and not so cut and dry.
Both men have absolutely shitty families, and it angered me so bad to read about them. Nolan was able to work through some of his family issues, but in my opinion his mother got off rather easy.
Dallas talks about forgiving his parents and brother, but I have not and will not forgive those people. My god, they’re top tier awful. I hope his brother Maddox has to work for it a little more in his own book, because I am not in agreement with Dallas on this one. I guess I’m not the easily forgiving type, and I feel OK with that, lol.
This is my second read, and probably not my last. It was just that good. The audiobook was also fantastic.
Book safety! Spoilers ahead.
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third act breakup: No
POV: Dual
Strict top/bottom or vers: Versatile. They don’t switch on page, but it’s talked about later how they both switched for the first time with each other
TW/CW: car accident, coma, hospitalization, injury, death of parents, stroke, animal abuse (cattle prod, BB gun), animal cruelty, bullying, homophobia, religion, mentions of alcohol and pill abuse, mentions of ex cheating on of the MCs, surgery, falsely accused of a crime
Tropes & tags:
Mute MC, hurt/comfort, enemies-to-ONS-to-friends-to-lovers, small town/home town, corrupt police, animal sanctuary, size difference, protective MC, redemption, musician, high school jock/sports star, mutual childhood pining, high school bullies
Favorite quotes:
«They might not have been the most emotionally giving people in the world when I’d been growing up, but they’d kept me clothed and fed. There was no rule that said you had to love your kids too.»
«Dallas had described the black and white monstrosity as ‘ornery’ but not dangerous. And while the ‘not dangerous’ part had been accurate, the ‘ornery’ part had been way off the mark. The animal was a menace.»
«Because I think carrying that anger around is harder than just accepting that people make mistakes. No one’s guaranteed perfect parents, just like no one’s guaranteed the perfect life, no matter how much they plan for it. ‘I’m angry, Dallas. I’m so very angry,’ I admitted. Be angry, Nolan. Just don’t let it change who you are. If you do, they win.»
I didn’t write a review after the first time I read this book, but I really appreciate being able to check out the safety of books before reading, so figured I would do that on this one while it’s fresh in mind again.
First of all, this book is amazing. I love that it’s a little bit dark with past trauma for both MCs and external angst and drama, while at the same time, Nolan and Dallas build a beautiful friendship and eventual relationship that is strong. I appreciate books where, once the MCs get together, they’re just solid.
I feel like this book is very much centered around past mistakes, assumptions and forgiveness. How people can change, and that even though you can never forget, it’s better to let go of your anger and forgive those that have wronged you, so that you can move on.
Nolan was mercilessly bullied in school, and even though Dallas never actively joined in, he did nothing to stop it, and that is something both characters have to work through, both by themselves and together. It definitely added another facet to their dynamic that made their relationship more interesting, and not so cut and dry.
Both men have absolutely shitty families, and it angered me so bad to read about them. Nolan was able to work through some of his family issues, but in my opinion his mother got off rather easy.
Dallas talks about forgiving his parents and brother, but I have not and will not forgive those people. My god, they’re top tier awful. I hope his brother Maddox has to work for it a little more in his own book, because I am not in agreement with Dallas on this one. I guess I’m not the easily forgiving type, and I feel OK with that, lol.
This is my second read, and probably not my last. It was just that good. The audiobook was also fantastic.
Book safety! Spoilers ahead.
Spoiler
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third act breakup: No
POV: Dual
Strict top/bottom or vers: Versatile. They don’t switch on page, but it’s talked about later how they both switched for the first time with each other
TW/CW: car accident, coma, hospitalization, injury, death of parents, stroke, animal abuse (cattle prod, BB gun), animal cruelty, bullying, homophobia, religion, mentions of alcohol and pill abuse, mentions of ex cheating on of the MCs, surgery, falsely accused of a crime
Tropes & tags:
Spoiler
Mute MC, hurt/comfort, enemies-to-ONS-to-friends-to-lovers, small town/home town, corrupt police, animal sanctuary, size difference, protective MC, redemption, musician, high school jock/sports star, mutual childhood pining, high school bullies
Favorite quotes:
«They might not have been the most emotionally giving people in the world when I’d been growing up, but they’d kept me clothed and fed. There was no rule that said you had to love your kids too.»
«Dallas had described the black and white monstrosity as ‘ornery’ but not dangerous. And while the ‘not dangerous’ part had been accurate, the ‘ornery’ part had been way off the mark. The animal was a menace.»
«Because I think carrying that anger around is harder than just accepting that people make mistakes. No one’s guaranteed perfect parents, just like no one’s guaranteed the perfect life, no matter how much they plan for it. ‘I’m angry, Dallas. I’m so very angry,’ I admitted. Be angry, Nolan. Just don’t let it change who you are. If you do, they win.»