Revenge Cake

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Pub Date 6 Dec 2020 | Archive Date 8 Jan 2021

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Description

I didn’t want to fall in love with Logan, an infamous relationship slut.

He fell in love too easy for it to ever be real.

And I refused to end up just one more crazy ex-girlfriend.


But he used his self-deprecating charm to wear me down, and I let myself fall.

Even though I was afraid he’d abandon me once he learned about my anxiety disorder.


And that’s exactly what he did.


He shattered my heart into a million pieces, and now it’s time for him to pay.

Revenge never tasted so sweet.


But I have to be careful.

I can’t get too close.

I can’t let myself fall in love with him again.


~ ~ ~


I’ve never loved anyone more than Leilani, the fiercest woman I’ve ever met.

But I can’t let her break my heart for the second time.

I won’t survive it.


If we’re going to be together after college, she needs to handle her addiction to anxiety pills.

She can’t do that if I’m around to enable her.


And that’s exactly why I had to leave.


But one look into those severe brown eyes and I’m transported back to the night we met.

The night I fell in love with her.


I know I have to stay away.

But I miss her.

And what’s the harm in just one look?

I didn’t want to fall in love with Logan, an infamous relationship slut.

He fell in love too easy for it to ever be real.

And I refused to end up just one more crazy ex-girlfriend.


But he used his...


Advance Praise

"An astonishingly authentic depiction of finding love while living with anxiety—the most fun I've had feeling awkward in a long time." - Hattie C. Cooper, Author of Thriving With Social Anxiety

"An astonishingly authentic depiction of finding love while living with anxiety—the most fun I've had feeling awkward in a long time." - Hattie C. Cooper, Author of Thriving With Social Anxiety


Available Editions

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ISBN 9781393174189
PRICE US$3.99 (USD)

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Average rating from 95 members


Featured Reviews

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of Revenge Cake!!

This is a love story but the people in this story are not perfect and that is what makes it so compelling. There is panic, anxiety and a number of other problems that are dealt with in this book to show that everyone has their own problems that they are dealing with. Leilani and Logan let their problems get in the way of their relationship and once Logan says he needs a break Leilani decides to get revenge by writing out a list and completing it in order to hurt him as much as she thinks that he has hurt her.

The cover is what grabbed my attention right away and the drama is what I stayed for. I liked the way it switched back and forth from the past to the present. It was easy to follow and the writing style was great.

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When I tell you I jumped on this book as soon as I was approved!

From the get-go, I was hooked on the thrilling plot that was so gripping I couldn’t put this book down!

From the marvellous characters to the world-building- everything was written beyond my expectations and I truly don’t know how to put into words how much I loved this book.

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Super angsty read. I did enjoy this. Everything felt real and authentic. I thought the author did a great job of making me feel the emotions

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This was such a true story about how love can be. I fell in love with how it all played out and just adored the characters. Once you start you won't be able to put it down! The cover is what I first saw and I am so glad that I picked it up! If you are looking for a great read with a lot of angst then check this one out!

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I got this stupid story from Netgalley and I fell in love with it.

It actually starts kinda confusing yet SO good and angsty. The story goes from past to present during the whole story, explain the couple's relationship. We get to know that something bad happened but we don't have confirmation, so it's a guess-only there.

Lani is a problematic yet awesome and strong woman. She has lows and ups and it got to me how Logan wasn't all there for her. It's probably due to the narrator not being trustworthy at those chapters, but I still felt her.

I tried to hate Logan for what I thought he had done, but it's kinda difficult. He has such a kind vibes coming from him, even if he also fvcks up quite big. I liked him and I liked him with Leilani. I'm feeling off because I want more but this book is not even out, imagine a next one *sobs into spoiled-reader own hands*

I can't recommend it enough. I see lots of people talking sh1t about this story, but I got the message that nobody is perfect. No relationship is a sea of good times and laughter. There are tears and the important thing is that you learn from mistakes. I loved how it was shown here. Read it!

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When I seen this was available I hurried and clicked request!
So this was a thrilling, quick, can't stop reading book!
Packed with thrills. It started a bit slow..... But picked up quickly.
Great book. Wonderfully written!

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Revenge cake was the most perfect mix of romance and mental health.

It lured you in from the start and took you on an emotional rollercoaster you won’t forget in a hurry.

Lani and Logan’s journey together through mental health and narcotics abuse was so beautiful written while hitting home just how serious it is and how easily you can lose yourself or the person you love if you dont get the help you need.

I adored every single part of this book and don’t have a bad word to say about it. It was, in my opinion, perfect.

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Okay so. This novel is relatable in so many ways which makes it quite hard hitting to read. I can't relate the the anxiety related issues but I appreciate the struggles of dealing with it. What I can relate to is dealing with an ex that has issues such as what he had. I don't know if it should have a content warning because of this because I did have a few flashbacks but nothing major. I enjoyed the plot and it was well written but the switching between past and present at the start is something I wasn't a fan of. Good read, finished in a day.

Posted on goodreads

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So cute!

I loved this book from start to finish, It had fun, romance and friendship. I like the way it dealt with the anxiety of the main character. She really did seem like a mess in the beginning, and I love her transformation and self discovery.

I want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the advance copy, which did not impact my review.

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An angsty, steamy, emotional rollercoaster of a second chance romance, Revenge Cake is the debut novel of one of my new favorite romance authors, Skyler Mason. Revenge Cake follows the story of Leilani and Logan's relationship before, and after Leilani's addiction to her anti-anxiety medication. It doesn't romanticize the reality of addiction and mental health issues, instead it depicts the darker realities of living with mental illness. You'll root for revenge, and you'll root for reconciliation, either way you won't be able to put it down. I highly recommend this book.

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I was pleasantly surprised by this debut novel. It is a heartbreaking and thought provoking second chance romance, dealing with mental health issues and pills addiction.
Told from dual POV, it is very character driven, raw and honest and a breath of fresh air for me, after reading a lot of dark romance.
Leilani and Logan are seniors in college and have been together for over 1 year. From the start, you can see this is an imperfect, sometimes toxic relationship. Logan is used to jumping from one relationship to another when things get hard and Leilani is battling with anxiety and panic disorders.
The book opens with Logan asking Leilani for a break as she has developed Ativan addiction and it has taken a big toll on their relationship. As the story unfolds, jumping back and forth between the start of their relationship and the present, you get to piece together how they got to this point and how they get to their happy ending.
I found the pace a bit slow at times and the jumping back and forth made it a bit difficult for me to stay focused all the time but, looking back, what I am left with is an eye opening, painfully raw story that I will be thinking about for quite some time.
.

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As someone who struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, it was interesting to see someone else’s take on what they feel and experience. Kudos to Skyler for that!

This book sucked me in from the beginning. Both Lani and Logan had some major flaws, but they were somehow still likable characters. Logan, the guy obsessed with relationships and love, was refreshing to see in a story line, especially when typically we see men portrayed completely opposite. Lani, struggling with her mental health and prescription drug dependency. The two were sometimes perfect together, but also sometimes a perfect hot mess.

Something I would have liked to have seen more of was Lani’s journey through her Ativan recovery. I felt like it was very short lived and kind of glossed over.

The book was great and I am definitely recommending checking it out.

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I really don't know how to think or feel about this book, or how to rate it.
Because I skimmed the synopsis, I didn't realize it would be so heavy on mental illness, and I definitely think this book could be triggering for some people.
TW include: substance addiction, anxiety disorder, emotional and physical cheating.

This book is told in dual POV of both the main characters, and alternates between past and present. I really liked this aspect of the book. I liked that I learned what was going on in both characters heads. It was fun that the chapters alternated into the past, which was the start and downfall of their relationship, and the present, which was after their break up. Both the main characters were unlikeable. Logan was a needy, "relationship whore" who jumped from girlfriend to girlfriend. Lani was cold, distant, and suffered from severe anxiety. Because I too have anxiety and panic attacks, I related and understood some of her fears. Her fears of a partner never being able to understand the mental illness and leaving her because of it. I understood her reservations about being with Logan because I would have done the exact same thing. I really can't decide if I am happy or not that they ended up back together in the end. On the one hand, their relationship was extremely toxic on both their ends. I don't know if I would've been able to get over the broken trust. On the other hand, I feel like what they went through could really strengthen their relationship and Logan just "gets* Lani now. He understands why she did what she did. So I am very torn. Part of me wanted Lani to go off to graduate school and continue living her life for h e r. But I really do think that Logan can be good for her.

As I stated at the beginning of this review, this book could be very triggering for some people. If you have any reservations about reading a book with cheating, panic attacks, and substance abuse, then I would say this book isn't for you. All the relationships in this book are toxic and unhealthy, even down to the side characters. I don't think there is a single likeable character in this book. I really don't have any triggers and can pretty much read anything, even it if makes me uncomfortable. As someone who struggles with mental illness, I felt seen in some of the thoughts that Lani had and made me feel not so alone. Yes, some of the things she thought and did were toxic, but when you have a mental illness, sometimes you can't think rationally or see things how they really are. I understood her Ativan addiction and loving the way it made her not feel anything anymore. Sometimes, the world is too much to bare and your thoughts are your own worst enemy. I relate to wanting to shut off your brain and not feel for awhile.

I'm sure many people will read this book and give it a low rating because of the toxicity in it. However, I love when authors make readers feel uncomfortable and write outside of the box. Relationships like Logan and Lani happen all the time. I'm sure most of us have even been in something similar or know of people who are in this exact relationship. I know people who have the exact toxic relationship of Brenna and Aarman. Why do we rate books low just because it goes against our moral compass? It is a work of fiction. It's a story. And for many people, it's relatable. This is one of the more unique reads I have ever read because of the dark, mental illness nature that I feel like a lot of authors are afraid to write about because of the negative reviews they will receive. Writing this as a debut novel takes guts and I love that the author took us on this journey. I read this book in one sitting because I literally couldn't stop and needed to know how it would resolve.

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I was given this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was so good. All the drama. I loved it. I loved Logan and Lani. I enjoyed getting to see both sides of the story. I would recommend this book.

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Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Relationships have their ups and downs but known more so Being in a relationship and having anxiety can be tough and this book did a good job of dealing with it.

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I was quite surprised by this novel, it's quite a strong romance, it's full of heartbreaking phases, it makes me have quite a few mixed feelings.
Told from both points of view, it is quite raw and realistic. It touches on issues of mental health, addictions, etc.
It tells the story of Leilani and Logan, who are seniors in college and have been dating for over a year. From the beginning you can tell it's a toxic couple, Logan is practically a fuckboy who is always in and out of a relationship, and this is mostly when things start to get a little more difficult. On the other side we have Leilani, she suffers from anxiety and panic issues, which brings her some problems. Our story begins when Logan asks Leilani to take some time off, as she is now suffering from an addiction. And he tells us how his whole story went until he reached the end point.
I think it was a good book, although the plot advanced a bit slowly for my taste and the jumps in time confused me a bit. I almost don't like books with a double perspective, but in this case I liked it, so I could get to know the story of both protagonists.
It was a complete trip to mental health, the truth is that there are few books that touch on this type of subject, and many times they only do it superficially, but with this book we go a little deeper into the subject. And the truth is that to a certain extent I understand Leilani, I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, so for that part I did understand, and I feel understood at the same time.
One thing that I should point out is that this book is full of toxic couples, from the main characters to the secondary characters, they were so toxic that they brought me to the point where I felt quite uncomfortable. This is something I don't like at all in the books, because many times instead of saying "don't do this" it's as if they encourage people to do it. I know that many people who read this book will give it a low grade because of this. But you still have to look at the other side of the story and the other issues it addresses. Not just the toxicity.
I must admit that, in spite of everything, it's quite a peculiar novel, I liked the way it developed the different themes. If you have any kind of problem with any of these topics, either you don't like them or you are against them, I suggest you don't read this book. It might go against what you think. But if you are open-minded, I recommend that you read it. It touches on some pretty interesting topics, and may even be helpful to you or someone you know.

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I really enjoyed this book. I received an advanced readers copy. This is a little more angsty than my typical read but I enjoyed it. As someone with anxiety, I felt there were many ways in which I related to Lani. Skylet Mason did a great job creating well thought out characters that actually seemed believable in their actions. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes 'chick lit' and romcom type books as this kind of falls into both categories.

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Rating: 5/5

Amazing! A diamond in the rough of mental disorders! Ms. Mason does a superb job of encompassing anxiety and all that’s tied with it - the pain, drug addiction, suffering - not only for the victim but for their loved ones as well. I had a lot of moments where I cried, laughed and shouted in anger. Although I don’t suffer from any mental disorder, I sympathized 1000% with the characters and their journey towards healing and acceptance. They aren’t perfect - they f**k up A LOT. But that’s what I appreciate here. The realistic storyline and raw emotions she drags out of you makes for an intense ride. Plus the steamy romance doesn’t harm anyone!

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"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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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* 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!

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I received a copy of this title as an arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

Spoiler alert with the following brief synopsis.

Let’s begin by stating that Revenge Cake was actually a very decent read. The characters were very well developed and relatable ( even in the most extreme cases).
Logan is a college student who is in love with the idea of being in love. After a rather volatile recent break up his best friend armaan takes him for some cheering up and rebound at his girl friends house. When Logan arrived he has some great banter with one of Armans girlfriends house mates leilani. After some very uncomfortable banter between lani and logan the whole crew makes their way inside the house to have some closure cake. It is then explained that this is tradition between the girls that once a relationship ends they bake a cake, put the ex’s name on it and eat it to signify the closure and appreciation that relationship had given to them. Throughout the entire scene Logan felt him saw more and more drawn to lani. Lani is cynical, has issues with anxiety and has no filter. Lani believes her social inadequacy issues should be enough to keep Logan at arms reach when it is instead what draws him more and more near. After months of wearing lani down she finally gives into Logan to become a couple. Shortly after that things take a turn for the worse. Lani’s panic attacks begin to kick into over drive causing her to begin using Ativan to help control her episodes and finds her self drugged into a constant stuper to avoid real life. After a whole slew of twists and turns ,a break ,to a break up, and finally a make up we learn that these two twisted and horribly tainted characters were meant for each other.

Lani is a beautiful disaster, that no matter how confident and outspoken she is, she is also very self deprecating. She couldn’t believed that Logan could handle her at her worst so she kept pushing him away which in turn only made him love her that much more reverently.

Logan was the all American boy with a twisted sense of neediness that it becomes almost puppy dogish. He follow Lani around like a little lap dog and although it should have been an annoying quality it really went to show the way he cared for her and loved her above all else. Logan understood lani he knew what she needed and would give the world to her. There wasn’t too much character development with Logan other than him realizing that he was indeed needy( which was beyond obvious within the first chapter.)

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good quick read. This book tackles a lot of hard topics. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, codependency issues as well as how dysfunctional yet loving a relationship can be. It also really outlines a lot of struggles that people deal with by being in a relationship with someone who has a mental issue.

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This book is filled with the angst. Both characters start out as likeable characters. She suffers from panic attacks and social anxiety, but her quirkiness (mostly due to those issues) is one of the things that he first finds attractive about her. With her mental illness always in the back of her head, she builds a wall around her to protect herself from hurt, and doesn't completely trust anyone, including him. He is patient though and doesn't give up on her. Just when they finally get to a good place in their relationship, all hell breaks loose. This is where she starts losing some of her likeability. She changes, and not for the better. Some of her feelings are warranted, and some not so much. She gets quite verdictive in her revenge plan for getting back at him for how he wronged her (even though we don't really find out exactly how he had wronged her until near the end.) And while he remains likeable throughout, there are things that take place that don't put him in the best of light, and he has his own personal issues as well. No matter their behaviors, you do still root for them and want to see them be together, and you want to see her get help and become the person she once was. There is a lot of feelings involved. Mostly sad and anger. There is some light humor, but it is mostly a heavy heart read. The timeline bounces between the past and present and takes place over the course of a year. In addition to the mental illness issue, there is also addiction involved. There is some sexual content. Due to the subject matter, I would recommend this for mature readers. Great book for a authors debut.

*I received an ARC copy of this book from Netgalley.

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Thank you NatGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Honestly, I have no idea how this book doesn't have a five star rating. It gripped me with the first Closure Cake. I mean what a concept; break-up, make a cake, write the ex's name on it, enjoy. Bye bye ex-lover. If I wasn't already married, I think this would be my new ritual. LOL

I appreciate that Lani owns her anxiety disorder, even though she had a spiral and the one person she finally let in failed her. Broke her heart and didn't truly understand why. They way she speaks about her mental illness is probably the most genuinely open I have ever read. I fell like mental illness is attempted in a lot of books but falls flat with little to no real examples, or explanation. Lani, while being an adult, is still learning to navigate the waters of a relationship and even though she does some childish and immature things you can really see the growth in her from page one to the ending. I especially love the fact that she pursues actual help when needed instead of seeking a band-aid to appease herself.

Logan, oh Logan. How can you be so charismatic and lovely? Logan's character is beautifully written, he is your typical serial dater, but what he really wants us love and affection. He just can't seem to make it last. I think Logan had more to overcome than Lani, even though he doesn't have a mental illness. His clingy, needy, behavior drives him to make some questionable decisions. His constant need to push a relationship, while genuine, came off as stereotypically manipulative. But ultimately I think he recognizes it and grows from the experience.

This book was a wonderful read, if you also have an anxiety disorder this kind of puts a perspective on a character that you can finally relate too on a deeper level. I love that the author included this and made it relatable instead of crippling. I read this book in one sitting, I just had to know what was going to happen to the characters.

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I am so behind on my reading, apologies.

I chose this book because the title and the description intrigued me.

Can I just say BRAVO! ENCORE!

I give this 4 stars based on the epic ness of Lani alone. She did what every girl (well ok me) wishes they could do, but is too scared/honorable to do so. She took back her power and made it her b*****!

Was the ending realistic? Not at all. Hahaha. This book was straight toxic (in a good way), but damn if it didn’t give some of us vindication. I truly enjoyed reading this.

The beginning was kind of slow, but when it picked up. I could not stop.

Also as someone who deals with anxiety as well I connected with Lani. Her mode of self preservation I can totally relate to. It’s not right, but sometimes it’s all you have when you don’t want to be hurt.

One last tidbit, the naughty scenes, A+.

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