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Ruthless Rival (Cruel Castaways)
From Wall Street Journal bestselling author L.J. Shen comes an enemies-to-lovers romance about the fine line between seeking revenge and finding love. When she was young, Arya Roth became best friends with her housekeeper’s son. Soon, friendship turned to young love, and when Arya dared him to kiss her, a chain reaction of disastrous events led to the boy being sent away and out of Arya’s life. Now, two decades later, Arya is an on-the-rise publicist with her beloved father as one of her biggest clients. So when her father is sued by a former employee, Arya sets out to prove that her father is not the monster he is accused of being. The only problem is the attorney who is determined to destroy her father’s good name. Christian Miller is charming, ambitious, and devilishly good looking, and Arya has no idea he is that same boy who kissed her all those years ago. Past and present collide as Arya falls hard for Christian. But when she finds out who he really is and about his obsession with getting revenge on her father, can she choose love over family?
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Book Accolades
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Why You'll Love This
Most of Shen’s book are very good. So Just try one , you’ll love it or hate it but she’s most definitely a must TRY . I don’t make long reviews since ℹ apparently never get seen by others or even the author themselves.
I’ve never met an LJ Shen book I didn’t devour in a single sitting, and this one was no different. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this childhood friends to enemies to lovers romance, but what is even the point because it would blow my expectations out of the water anyway. This story had all the elements of some of my favorite Bollywood romances growing up, the rich girl with a sinisterly protective father, the poor boy from the wrong side of the tracks, betrayals, hidden identities, and second chances. I was in teenage Nikita’s idea of angsty heaven. What makes it better and updated however, is how these Christian and Arya deal with the poop show that is their dramatic life. It’s both mature and swoony and heartbreaking, even when they eventually snap and go full unhinged in their actions (I may not be making sense, just take my word for it). Vengeance and betrayal as primary themes for a romance may not always work, but I’m a sucker for some angsty betrayal where the betrayer makes questionable choices in their quest for vengeance and is in too deep to get themselves out of it when they realize the love of their life is more important than stupid revenge fantasies. All this to say, Christian may be a big bad legal shark, but inside he’s still just a broken little boy, insecure and lonely, but helpless against the power Arya has over him. He might try his darnedest to be an unfeeling jerk face, but we can see right through him, you sucker. And through everything, he is a total SIMP for Arya and can barely control that part of him. We love to see it. And of course, he gives good grovel once he’s effed up plenty and has to get back in her good graces. Arya is that rare heroine, aware enough to know her feelings but hardened by her past and pragmatic enough to not be not controlled by them. At least for as long as she can. She values her bad boss bish self but isn’t above acknowledging her weaknesses and occasionally giving in to them. Her denial/inability to see Christian for who he drove me a little nuts, but I tried to give her grace, because no one expects to see ghosts of the past strolling back to their life, and her blind faith in her father had a lot to do with it too. Christian and Arya find common ground in their loneliness and abandonment issues, and their deep love for books and thirst for knowledge (be still my bookish heart). And of course, their pragmatic, jaded, grumpy dispositions. My girl Arya can out grumpy Christian any day. I just wanted to give the sad babies a giant cuddle, and rail at the injustice of it all, even as I wanted to bash their heads together. Ultimately I ended up loving what they made of themselves through the lessons learned and the heartache suffered. Arya’s relationship with her parents is a study in layers of pain and fond memories and captures the messiness of family ties exceptionally well. We often commend girl squads and sisterhoods and the found families of heroines—male main characters have them too they’re just not as emphasized or portrayed with as much emotion—but the family Christian has in Arsène and Riggs, and even Alice stole my heart. The three are sappy and close as brothers and high key nerds and their Bromance just made me so ridiculously happy. If Christian is obsessed with Arya, I am equally obsessed with Arsène and can’t wait to see the stories that’ll unfold within this world.
This book was so so very good. I read it in 6 hours without stopping. Predicting a book hangover now, moving into a slump. Christian was fantastic and Arya is a great FMC. I can’t wait to read about Riggs and Arsene.
So happy to start a new series from L.J. Shen. Love the strong, independent and smart female character from the story. Great plot. I loved how men fall at the woman's feet.
This was the first book from this author and I just loved it!! So much!! Beautiful and light story. A bit funny and a bit hot! It was a nice journey to know Arya and Christian all the way!
This was my first LJ Shen read and it did not disappoint. This is a childhood friends + enemies to loves + second chance trope that i found swoon worthy. The connection between Ari and Nicky from the beginning to the end are on point. This is one of the books where i admire the male MC more. He worked and made a name for himself. He knew what he deserved and went for it. I also loved the friendship built between Nicky, Arsene and Riggs. I can't wait for the next books ♥️
Juicy but gripping storyline...characters, their emotions and lived are well written. Another good book from Shen's stable which is worth reading.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it had every emotion in it. It was sad, happy, but most of all Love