My Unpredictable Ride with the Twisted Series by Ana Huang
I'm still reeling from my experience with the Twisted series by Ana Huang. I stumbled upon this series after following some social media influencers who mentioned how their relationships were similar to the one in this book, Ava and Alex. I was intrigued, so I started reading 'Twisted Love' to see what all the fuss was about.
I've been following a couple of social media influencers for a while, and one day I started noticing that people were comparing their relationship to the one in this book - they don't look like the characters in the book, but maybe it's because of the vibe or energy they give off, which is similar to the book's characters, judging by their posts.
Then I started seeing videos about the series on TikTok and other short-form platforms. At the time, only two books in the series were translated into Russian, but now all four have been officially released.
The Twisted series tells the story of four different friends who eventually find love. Each book is a standalone story that's easy to follow, even if you don't read the others. However, there are some connections between the characters that move from book to book.
One book, one love story:
1. Twisted Love;2. Twisted Game;3. Twisted Hate;4. Twisted Lie.Eventually, I couldn't resist and decided to read the first book.
Sometimes, destructive love comes not to break your heart, but to put it back together piece by piece.
I've gotta say, the author's got some serious skills - Alex Volkov, the main character, is a genius programmer who made his first million before he even graduated from high school. But don't let that fool you, he's ruthless and has no room for love in his life. Ava Chen, on the other hand, is a total sweetheart, but her past has left its scars. They're like complete opposites, and it's just plain toxic when they're together.
But when Alex sees Ava with another guy, he becomes totally obsessed with her. And Ava thinks she's the only one who can save him from himself.
This is a must-read for fans of the 'brother's best friend' trope and 'hates everyone except her'. It's a super passionate romance with great chemistry, humor, and an original storyline. Trust me, the main character will win you over with his wit, and the author's writing style is truly unique.
The book has 43 chapters plus an epilogue, and a total of 462 pages (including acknowledgments and a note). It's super easy to read, and the language is straightforward. The story's told from the perspectives of both main characters, and sometimes the narrative switches between them. There are even moments where Ava's POV is followed by three chapters of Alex's, which can get a bit confusing.
I'm not sure if I'll continue with this series, but if I do, I'll definitely opt for the audiobook format.
Most of the negative reviews I've seen are due to the predictable plot, but let's be real, that's not unique to this book. The bedroom scenes are a bit cringeworthy, and Alex's character has some serious red flags, including anxiety issues.
I have to say, the storyline in this book really grew on me. The main characters, Ava and Alex, both have some serious emotional baggage from their childhood, but I'm not going to dive into their psychological profiles. They're still pretty strong individuals, despite all the flashbacks to their past that are scattered throughout the book.
What really kept me engaged was the mystery surrounding Ava's mom and Alex's family. Can Ava overcome her phobia on her own, or will Alex be able to get revenge for his family's murder? Or will the ghosts of their past continue to haunt them? Will they stick together in the end, or is it just not meant to be?
To be honest, the plot is a bit weak, and I didn't find myself genuinely invested in the characters or their relationships. It's just not a book that tugs at your heartstrings, even if you're a sucker for a good romance. The drama is pretty underwhelming, and it's mostly the main characters who create their own problems.
This book is definitely a niche read, and it's not a masterpiece by any means. Some people might call it a cheesy romance novel, but it's actually a pretty standard, slightly clichéd young adult book.
Ultimately, it's up to each individual to decide what they enjoy reading. I've heard that Netflix is planning to adapt this series into a TV show, which is pretty cool.
At this point, I've already mentioned the downsides of this book, so now I'll focus on the positives and why I gave it 4 stars.
The storyline has some real intrigue.
It's easy to read and written in a straightforward style.
The playlist at the beginning of the book.
The main characters are 50/50, but their secondary friends are really interesting.
There are a few funny moments (it's got some humor).