Thank you for the advanced copy.

This book was not what I was expecting it to be furthermore, even during the book, the plot twists kept on coming and made the book engaging.

As a person who deals with anxiety and panic attacks as well, this book took me on a journey of emotions.

Logan and Lani - both had issues and touching on both their character development was a great addition. The characters were realistic and relatable, creating a connection between the readers and the characters.

Although I liked how the book talked about the reality of Mental Health issues, trigger warnings should've been mentioned.

I also loved how the book had POV's from both characters, the constant break between the past and present threw me a little, but, the format does make sense when it comes to the storyline.

Congrats to Skyler Mason on the debut novel!

Although I wasn't a big fan of the in-details of the explicit scenes, besides that, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

* NETGALLEY ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR HONEST REVIEW!! * I honestly really enjoyed this book, I will say going in I didn’t have the highest hopes for it due to other reviews, but overall I did enjoy!

I love the way the author changed between past and present, I would of liked more of the present day writing.

The main female was cleverly put together, the author showed Mental Health & Addiction in a realistic way that I appreciated.

I wasn’t a fan of the “ naughty “ scenes, a bit too graphically described for me.

I would definitely read again! And you guys should totally give it a chance!

This completely missed the mark for me. I want to give constructive criticism, rather than simply complain and really try to find something to improve upon. My honest advice is that Revenge Cake needed to be completely rethought. It was far too immature with the two most unlikable characters I have read about in a long time.

I loathed how neurodiverse characters were called crazy and how Logan did not understand Lani at all but she still wanted to be with him? This man-child whore who cheated on her?!?! No, thank you.

I have to be honest, I was not as big a fan of this book as I thought I was going to be,

I flew through this in a single evening, probably skipping over a lot of the lines in order to get through it. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and so I wasn't really rooting for the relationships, which is kind of a vital aspect of a romance novel. Moreover, the relationships in this book all seemed quite toxic.

I also often like flashbacks, but this time I wish it was linear. I wanted to read more of the present day stuff rather than returning to the supposedly good relationship in the past, although I see what the author was trying to do here with the contrasting halves.

I am quite disappointed by this, but I know that a few of my bookish friends have read this and enjoyed it so I wouldn't want anyone to be out off reading after this review, Maybe I'm just in a cynical mood...

I hate writing harsh reviews. That being said....
The level of toxicity in this book is off the charts. I don’t think any of the relationships are healthy. And I really hope that the 20-somethings reading this book realize that the female characters are poor examples of what feminism is like, because if this is what passes for feminism I am truly afraid. I didn't like a single character or find any of them sympathetic.
The book construction didn't help the storytelling. The plot dragged. Just as I would finally get into a chapter, we would time travel and the POV often changed at the same time and so I was thrown out of the story and any engagement I felt was erased. After a while, I just didn't care to keep track, particularly for the chapters set in the past.
The two stars are for the cover and for those brief moments that did engage my interest.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

So i have a problem with books that include cheating. I really thought this would have it in a more tactful way that i would be able to handle but i just couldnt handle it. which really sucks because i enjoyed everything else about this book.

REVENGE CAKE
BY SKYLER MASON

Leilani and her best friend bake a Revenge cake for their boyfriends as they are exiting out of their lives. At first, I thought that the target audience marketed for this book was Young Adult. The more I read I realized that it was written for adults also. There are a lot of immature relationships taking place but that sometimes happens in older adult relationship's also. In this case Logan goes from one relationship where he falls head over heels in love from one relationship to the next. In this story his love interest happens to be with Leilani, until she confides in him that she suffers from panic disorder. She is abusing Ativan which is a minor tranquilizer used to treat panic attacks or those who suffer from anxiety.

The author tried to render a serious novel about what it is like to suffer from panic attacks and the high addiction rate drugs like Ativan in Leilani's case. She wrote about how zonked out Leilani became when she mixed alcohol with her Ativan. The author also did a stellar job in painting a portrait of what a stigma it can be even in 2020, by Logan's initial rejection of Leilani.

I thought that their were a lot of explicit and graphic sexual scenes and that the language used to describe such acts was very coarse and crude. It was a turn off to me as a reader to happen to have to read such foul mouthed vocabulary to describe the nature of these acts. Maybe I am not the target audience for such crude language due to my age. I do applaud this author for exploring the seriousness of panic disorder by making her protagonist suffer from them. This is an ever increasing epidemic that touches all ages and classes. I just would have enjoyed the novel without the crude language describing what young sexually active adults do and adults of all ages.

Leilani and Logan's story was interesting at first for the first half of the book and after that I think that it got to be a bit sadistic and repetitive. I think that they acted childish towards each other especially Leilani and Logan in each of their own ways. I think that the cover of this book is Instagram worthy. I do applaud this author for tackling the tough and very real topic of anxiety disorders and the addictive effects of treating them with drugs like Ativan and what happens when drugs in that class are abused.

Publication Date: December 6, 2020
Available Now!

Thank you to Net Galley, Skyler Mason and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op. for providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#RevengeCake #SkylarMason #VictoryEditingNetgalleyCoop #NetGalley

This did not play out like I thought it would. From the title, I thought the story would be about a girl getting revenge on her jerk of an ex, instead it was half about the development of their relationship and half about Logan and Lani hurting each other and then deciding if they're getting back together.

Leilani has pretty bad anxiety and panic disorder. When she and Logan first meet, she's managing things okay but not great. As her and Logan's relationship progresses, he shows that he doesn't understand her panic attacks and her mental health declines. She then becomes addicted to pills and everything spirals. Yes, Lani doesn't handle things well and said some terrible things, but Logan is far and above the bad guy. He pushes Lani past her comfort, he doesn't try to understand her mental health, and he does something pretty terrible. Lani did get a bit of revenge on him and I was happy that it had positive side effects for her.

I thought Logan and Lani made a poor couple and I didn't want them together. I was hoping she'd get her revenge, tell him to get out of her life, and be happy. That's not quite how it played out and the ending felt really abrupt. Oh well, can't love them all.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Whoa, what did I just read? I usually enjoy YA books but maybe I'm getting too old as this book was crazy.

Logan has told Leilani, his girlfriend, that they need to have a month's break from their relationship so they can figure things out. Leilani has an anxiety disorder and is addicted to her medication. Logan is a needy jock who needs to have a girlfriend by his side. During their "break", both Leilani and Logan have a list - hers is how to take revenge on him for backing off while he is determined to give her space to sort out her health issues.

I'm still undecided how I feel about this book. It had some plus points and some negative points. There was also a situation that I would have liked tied up better at the end too.

They meet under unusual circumstances. He's hooked from the first moment yet she fights him at every move he makes. He refuses to take no for an answer which wears her down, but still worries her. Her crippling social anxiety is her burden and given that he can't be without a girlfriend seem like red flags for them both looking at anything long term.
A real and authentic look at her personal struggle of anxiety and his views on relationships give a fresh look at the good, the bad and the misunderstood. Loved it!!
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

This book was so different then what I was expecting and I’m still processing everything that happened. I chose this book off NetGalley honestly because of the main character having anxiety and it’s reference to baking. Having anxiety and sometimes panic attacks, I thought it would be an interesting read and the character might be relatable since she shared a mental health struggle and a hobby of mine. Yeah, I kinda missed the whole point of this book... The book centers around a break-up and a character wanting revenge. The time line was super tricky to follow, and with the changing points of view, it was tricky to follow who was in which part of the timeline. Also this book could really have used some lighter points - it is very dark, even the humor in the story was pretty dark. I had to set this book down multiple times to take a breather from the mood and while I am not often triggered by a book this one definitely did.

The author’s portrayal of the main characters mental illness is very real. You can tell Skyler Mason has struggled with panic disorder just like Leilani does in the story. This portion of the story is so honest and heartbreaking and important to feel what she is feeling. I was so incredibly frustrated with Logan. I remember how vulnerable it was the first time I had a panic attack in front of my husband (then boyfriend at the time) and how understanding but scared he was. Logan was incredibly selfish and horrible. I was not rooting for this couple at all. He was not a likable character. I would’ve loved to see Lani move on to someone much better but instead the circle just keeps going round and round about the relationship and the breakup. This book left me with mixed feelings but the writing was very good and the story honest and eye opening.

The cover to this book is absolutely amazing first of all!! I absolutely love it and I want to buy the physical copy just for that reason haha!

This book follows two POV's: Leilani and Logan. Logan is a serial dater and has the reputation to go through girlfriend after girlfriend. Leilani is his next girlfriend whom is struggling with her mental health, battling social anxiety and a prescription medication addiction. Logan decides that enough is enough and decides to take a break on their relationship for one month, giving Leilani time to deal with her issues. However, Leilani wants to get revenge on Logan; but is revenge all it cracks up to be?

So. an alternate POV book is 100% my type of thing, which is something that I say all the time. I just love being able to get to know the characters and their backgrounds from their stance on things. Logan is your stereotypical 'player'. He moves from girl to girl, not even giving a second thought about how they are or what they're going through and I hated him from the start. Leilani is in many ways relatable? She has her flaws, just like we all do but I grew to really like her character.

Overall, I have a few issues with this book which I do not want to go in to at all. In some ways I am glad that books are aiming to raise awareness and give insight into mental illness' such as social anxiety and addiction but I also think that there are aspects of some stories that do more harm than good.

All in all, I did enjoy this book most of the time and I definitely would read another one of Skyler Masons' books. So, thank you so much NetGalley and Skyler Mason for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

To begin with, let me just say OH MY GOD. The blurb gives you an idea of what you’re getting yourself into, but you are truly not prepared for the wild ride that Skyler Mason takes you on in Revenge Cake. It’s not just your average second chance romance, it’s not simple or cute, it’s all kinds of chaos, painful and strangely beautiful. Leilani and Logan are a hot mess and I’m still unsure if I like them together or not.

Revenge Cake is Skyler Mason’s brilliant, raw and honest debut. The book tackles a lot of tough subjects, but she doesn’t shy away from being honest and real about it. And that’s what I really liked about the book - anxiety and panic attacks are not just a plot point, it’s part of who the character is. Mental health is at the core of this book and that’s not something lots of authors tackle. Or if they do, they don’t do it at the level that Skyler does. Also, yes, there is cake. Lots of cake.

Told through dual POV, the book alternates between past and present, giving you insight into the beginning and the end of the relationship. It’s a rough ride, so strap yourself in because you are going to need all the support you can get. Logan and Leilani are both rough around the edges characters with epically real flaws that you can almost relate to. And their relationship is heart wrenching and it really makes you take a step back and look at your own life and your choices.

Revenge Cake starts with a break-up, then goes back in time to see how Logan and Leilani met. Logan’s a bit of a relationship guy and he jumps from one girl to the next without pause because he always feels like he does better in relationships. Which isn’t entirely true or smart. And Leilani is too smart to fall for that. At first anyway. The book chronicles the relationship through their ups and downs, through their wild, passionate sexcapades and everything in between.

I feel like it’s important to point out that I couldn’t find it in me to like Logan. And it’s not just because of how we see him through Leilani’s eyes, he’s not a good guy. And yes, there’s cheating and repeated mentions of it. Which makes it hard to like and forgive Logan. Leilani isn’t perfect, but she’s at least aware of her issues and she’s finding ways to handle them to the best of her abilities. Logan is petulant and childish and a bit of an asshole. Whatever redeeming qualities he has is negated by everything else he does and says.

The book took a little while for me to get really involved, but there’s also lots of world and character building. You get to meet Logan’s family and connect with these characters, and even meet their friends. There’s a lot to process and it’s a lot of angst that you really need to brace yourself for. As a debut, Skyler Mason sucks you in and keeps you hooked as she takes you on this wild ride.

To cut a long story short, Revenge Cake is not just about a relationship between two people. It’s about accepting people for who they are, it’s about going on that journey of struggles with someone else and supporting them through it. It’s about mental health and the various faces it projects. It’s about loving yourself before loving someone else. The book might follow two very flawed characters through a tumultuous relationship, but it’s so much more and even with all the triggers and hoops you have to jump through, you will feel all of that at the end. And Skyler Mason has woven all of this together in a unique story.

Revenge is a cake best served after a bad breakup. Or such is the theory of Lelani, the heroine of the book I'm about to review: Revenge Cake, by Skyler Mason. I've been able to obtain an advanced reader copy of this novel on NetGalley, for which I am incredibly grateful.

First of all, I feel the need to say that this book includes possible trigger warnings such as drugs and alcohol abuse, and several sex scenes. That said, let's begin!

Revenge Cake gave me a lot of the same vibes of Normal People by Sally Rooney, but even if I could see many similarities between Marianne and Leilani, there are also a lot of differences, the most important being that Marianne swipes through life apparently uncaring, while Leilani is in fact terribly afraid of living and, most importantly, of failure. She is a control freak because of her anxiety, and when things escape from her tight grip, she spirals down. Hard. Ativan and alcohol are her poison of choice, and they are indeed a quick and extremely unhealthy way to cope with life. As the book shows though, there is no way to keep the addiction under control: sooner or later it will be too strong and it will ruin your life.

As someone who struggles with anxiety, I relate to Lani. In particular, I relate to not being able to move forward because things get scary or overwhelming, or with the awful feeling of being dead/not wanting to die but feeling my departure is imminent. What I definitely don't relate to is how mean she is. We're not talking about your average social ineptitude here; she's borderline abusive toward her boyfriend, from telling him he looks dumb to making him feel small most of the time. As Logan points out in one of their conversations, she often gaslights him, pretending to know him better than he knows himself.

On his part, Logan is clearly someone who gets a high from being mistreated. Moreover, he falls in love all the time and is always ready to replace the old girl with a new one, sometimes even when he is still in a relationship. He might be kind and caring, but he has so much relationship baggage at such a young age that I'm not sure I would even poke him with a stick from afar. Looks aside, what is to like about him? What interesting personality traits does he have, looks and big package aside? And why does he fall for Lani if not for the challenge of pushing her boundaries further and further away until he gets the whole package? Or, as he says, her with a ring on the finger and a pregnant belly.

Interesting characters? Check. I can see them having this unhealthy on-again, off-again relationship for years, despite the sugar-coated ending and the promise of change on both parts. They could easily have one of those unhealthy love stories à la Catherine and Heatcliff, where they tear each other down way more than they lift each other up. They both are toxic people, and I love it. Give me more characters in love despite how wrong they are for one another. In my opinion, this is the kind of stuff that creates nice and compelling conflicts, if you haven't noticed until now. It generates food for thought and strong opinions, which is part of what makes a story not easy to forget.

Did you know that there are two schools of thought in dentistry? Some dentists strongly believe that teeth tend to move back to their original spot, and others think that they keep moving all our life. In both cases the end result is exactly the same: once you've fixed your crooked teeth, you'll have to wear a retainer to keep them in place. Basically, no matter how strong the opinions are, the outcome remains unchanged. This is incredibly similar to how storytellers view the plot vs characters issue: we have those who believe a story needs to be fresh and original at all cost --and nope, unpronounceable names don't make a story original-- and those who'd rather work with fresh ways to twist already existing plots. Hey, that's the reason why tropes and archetypes exist, after all.

My take on this issue is that we only get a limited number of possible plot combinations, and what matters the most is how a writer uses them. This is why characterization is so important to me, and this is why I liked Revenge Cake so much. This novel explores a failed relationship and the need for revenge it causes. Not the most uncommon plot ever, but the characters and their decisions make more than up for it. I liked how focused Lani was on making Logan hurt for his misdeeds. I mean, this girl's dedication is admirable. I enjoyed how thick Logan was, and how it took a lot for him to admit he was freaking wrong. And a jerk. And I liked the corollary of characters around them, from Logan's sister to the sweet (and definitely better suited for Lani, but hey, who am I to complain) Dean.

I liked Skyler Mason's writing style: the book has a great flow, and not once I felt like I could get bored of what I was reading. I didn't even hate either the multiple POVs nor the time jumps, both of which generally are a big no for me. The plot was linear enough that I always had a general idea on where we were and where we were heading. At about 65% of the book I got so curious to know what was going to happen next that it took me a lot of willpower not to jump to the last pages and spoiler myself the ending.

To sum it up, Revenge Cake is worth 4/5 stars in my opinion. Despite the heavy topics addressed in this novel, this is a light and yet interesting read, indeed the kind of book I would give as a present to my friends. Maybe not after a breakup though.

Wow. I was expecting a standard, light romance but instead got a surprisingly insightful exploration of love for someone living with anxiety. I admire the author’s sensitive and frank exploration of this often debilitating condition which can prevent people developing meaningful relationships. It helps, too, that the book is often very funny. Great dialogue, appealing characters - a definite win.

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

“I’m not a fuckboy. I’m the opposite of a fuckboy. I’m a relationship-boy.”

Logan Henderson is what his friends would describe as a “relationship sociopath.” As soon as he ends one relationship, he’s onto the next one. When his best friend, Armaan, drags him to hangout with Brenna and her roommates after a recent breakup, Logan swears that he is off dating for a while and claims that his ex was “fucking crazy.” However, that all changes when he meets Leilani Girarid, Brenna’s best friend and roommate. Lani is outspoken, straight to the point, and socially awkward - which Logan is not used to. During their first interaction, Lani calls him weak. He finds himself instantly intrigued by her and decides that she has to be his next girlfriend.

Lani, on the other hand, could not be bothered with Logan. She knows about all of his relationships, and has no desire to be one of his “crazy fucking ex’s.” However, as she spends more time getting to know him, she starts to fall for him. The thought terrifies her, which doesn’t help her severe anxiety. When they finally get together, she casts doubt on the relationship until she’s finally proven right and Logan breaks her heart. Now, she has to decide if she wants Logan back in her life. Can they get back to the place they once were?

“You’re an incredibly poor judge of what’s right for you.”


I really don’t know where to start with this review because I have so many mixed feelings about this book. I want to start off by saying that this book may be very triggering for some people because there is a heavy focus on mental illness, specifically anxiety. After just a few pages, there was a part of me that wanted to reach into the screen (it’s a digital copy), shake Logan, and yell at him for how he was treating Lani. On the other hand, I wanted to sit him down and have a serious conversation with him about his serial dating, because it’s clearly unhealthy. As someone who has anxiety, I found myself able to relate to Lani’s feelings of doubt and the need to push people away before they hurt you - which was heartbreaking to read. However, I feel that Lani and Logan’s relationship issues went deeper than just her anxiety. In fact, none of the relationships in the book were what I’d consider to be “healthy.”

Something that I liked about this story was that it was told from both Lani and Logan’s POVs, and went back and forth from the past to the present. As the reader, I felt that I was able to understand both sides of their story and watch their entire relationship unfold. Overall, it was an okay but quick read. The story was filled with many steamy moments between a couple who truly loves each other, but are constantly having to battle each other. If they have any hope of being together they both have to work on their issues.

“Words like that are empty coming from a boy who’s in love with being in love”

I enjoyed this book, I like how it was told in the different points of view of both lani and Logan as it showed how they had conflicting thoughts and views on things.

The book touched on difficult topics such as panic attacks / panic disorder and addiction. It showed how difficult it is not only for the person suffering but for the people that love them.

I was rooting for lani and Logan the whole way through and I would love to hear more from the characters

Release Date: Expected 6th December 2020
Genre: New Adult / Romance

TW: This book deals with issues including mental health / anxiety / gaslighting / cheating / sexual content / drug abuse / alchohol misuse. There are minor spoilers in this review.

Can I just start out by saying - how pretty is the cover art for this book?

Logan is a serial relationship junkie, but he was a damn good boyfriend. At least that's what Leilani thought anyway. He was romantic, understanding, a feminist, and he was pretty hot which definitely helped.

Until he wasn't anymore. After Leilani's panic disorder and mental health takes a rapid decline, she's struggling with not only panic attacks but trying to combat her reliance on prescription medication. However, Logan isn't okay with this - he decides if they want to be together, she needs to 'get her act together in the next month' or it's done. So what should Leilani do? Of course she wants to get better, but now she has an even better reason to - to prove she's fine without him and his judgemental attitude.

But maybe revenge isn't all it's cracked up to be?

This was not your typical break-up story, from the very first interaction between the two main characters, I'd already formed strong opinions on them both and was instantly sucked into the conflict between them. I really expected this to be a standard woman-scorned situation but there was much more to it. This is a story about self-worth, about anger, about judgement and being a woman.

Leilani was the girl that I've been dying to see written about. She is a mess sometimes. She's flawed. She is outspoken and vulgar and loud and she is a real, angry woman. She is the very epitome of what men like to call the crazy ex-girlfriend - the girl they couldn't control.
Logan made me every bit as uncomfortable as he was supposed to; he was a jerk. Yes, maybe there were reasons behind his behaviour but I hated him within an instant of meeting him.

This rang so true to life, painfully at times, about the treatment that people recieve when they live with mental health disorders and how differently people act around them. And especially, how to deal with issues that may arise in relationships because of them. This was very uncomfortable to read in places, espeically when dealing with delicate subjects so if you're not able to read sensitive content this book is not for you.

Admittedly, there were some issues I had with this story that left me slightly conflicted - Leilani's kindness towards Logan in places made me furious to say the least. Someone who trivialises suffering like that should not be redeemed in any way - in my opinion of course.

All in all, this book was a beautiful, bitchy read that let me live in that petty revenge fantasy that every woman has harboured at least once in their lives - I definitely reccommend it.


RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Thank you to NetGalley and Skyler Mason for providing with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Please note that all opinions contained within are my own.

(This review is also published at bethanys-bookshelf.blogpot.com)

"I don't want the kind of love that I'm able to give. I don't want the kind of love that's earned slowly over time--handed out in small greedy doses--and withdrawn piece by piece for each mistake. I want love like Logan's--free and big-hearted and achingly sweet."

Before diving into this review, I want to put some trigger warnings on both this review and this book for Anxiety disorder/panic attacks, drug and alcohol consumption, unsupportive partner (this might not be triggering for some, but it was for me). Revenge Cake is a New Adult story, not YA. Not all things get a rose-colored look. It's raw and scary and real.

I stumbled upon this story purely by accident and I don't think I've ever been happier that I did. The moment I saw the cover of Revenge Cake, my eyes were drawn to it. The moment I read the synopsis, something clicked home inside my chest. I requested the arc on Netgalley and was so happy when it got accepted that I immediately started reading it. And I did not stop until it was 2:30 am, and there was nothing more to do than stare at my ceiling in the dark, unable to quiet my mind from thinking about how amazing this book was.

Revenge Cake is told from the dual perspective of Leilani and Logan, a girl who suffers from severe anxiety and a boy who struggles with codependency. They're a perfect match. Until things turn toxic.
The story begins with their breakup and takes the reader along a journey of both flashbacks and present time as their relationship unfolds and falls apart.

Logan Henderson is known as the guy who is always in a relationship. It won't take more than two days after the previous breakup for him to find another. Leilani knows of his reputation and refuses to become another one of his crazy ex-girlfriends. She's reluctant to his advances at first; she doesn't want to give in to her feelings for fear that he'll break her heart. As the story unfolds, you get to read about how their relationship began but you also slowly find out why exactly their relationship falls apart. You come to realize that there are two sides to each story; two sides that can both be right and wrong at the same time.

When I started this book, I did not expect it to hit me as hard as it did. But this story turned out to be more relatable than I anticipated. The hardest part for me was that I did not relate to just one of the main characters but to both of them. I could emphasize with both sides because I've been on both sides. I could understand where both of them went in the wrong. And that scared me a little.

*** The next part of this review contains some spoilers so read at your own risk. The spoiler-free review continues after the ***

As someone who suffers from social anxiety, Leilani's panic attacks hit home, as well as her self-destructive behavior. Lani is incredibly insecure about her anxiety. She calls it twisted and ugly and not something anyone could live with. She doesn't want Logan to see how ugly it can get because she's scared he'll leave and break her heart. So she tries to keep him at a distance and pushes him away instead. Her self-doubt and insecurities become so big she can't seem to overcome them so she starts taking prescribed anxiety medication which turns into an addiction.

I've read books about anxiety before and just like this one, they were relatable to me. But they never scared me. Revenge Cake showed the ugly side of anxiety disorders. I loved that about this book. This wasn't some cute story about a girl with anxiety who gets better because a boy came into her life. This was the opposite. Revenge Cake showed the truth. I know the impact medication can have on a person and how it can become addictive. I've never gotten to the point where Lani got to but I have felt the withdrawals when I forgot to take my meds. It's an ugly, terrifying thing. I know what it feels like to feel totally worthless and drown yourself in drugs and alcohol until you feel numb. I've been there, I've done that. It's a dark place to be stuck in and one you can't get out of without the right help. You need support from the people around you. Unfortunately, Logan did not deliver.

From the beginning it was made clear that Logan didn't understand Lani's anxiety. He didn't know how to deal with it. And while I can understand not understanding it, that was no excuse for his behavior. Logan is the kind of guy who always needs to be in a relationship. And the moment things start to turn bad with his current girlfriend, he already runs off to the next. He was not a supportive partner during Lani's darkest times as he should have been. This was unexpectedly very triggering to me. Yet a little part of me could emphasize with his standpoint because I know what it's like to have someone you care about struggle with addiction and there's only so much you can do to help them. Still, in my opinion, Logan could have done more to help his girlfriend instead of seeking solace with another. But that just emphasized the imperfectness of these characters.

***

Revenge Cake is thought-provoking, intense, and angsty. This story felt real and raw. It shows all the good and all the bad of a relationship and how, sometimes, love isn't always enough to overcome obstacles, but with hard work, truthfulness, and open communication, it can succeed. It's a beautiful but heartbreaking story, one I'll definitely recommend.

3 stars

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Revenge Cake is an intriguing contemporary romance that explores toxicity in relationships and has strong mental health themes. The story jumps from the past to present in an intricate look at the development of Leilani and Logans' relationship; through the ups and downs, anxiety attacks, booze and a developing prescription drug addiction.

Overall, the book was good, the characters attractive but the story didn't entrance me as other stories have.