The night that Charlotte planned to end her life, she instead saved the schools outcast. That night they promised to meet up again every year on the same day, just to check in. With more in common than either of them imagined they slowly build a friendship, one with rules that Charlotte finds herself wanting to break. Rules are broken and words are left unspoken when Kellen decides to follow through on his plan the night he and Charlotte met. Broken hearted and reeling from loss after loss, Charlotte is only living, until one day she meets someone, someone who might just heal her broken heart and give her answers to the questions she has had since Kellen disappeared from her life.
I just want to put a disclaimer that this book touches on some pretty heavy stuff; suicide, addiction, stillbirth, child loss and other topics. I wanted everyone to be aware should you decide to pick up your own copy.
Darling Venom was the first book I read in 2022... I guess I decided to start the year off with a BANG 🎆 I actually started it on New Years Eve as I listened to my neighbors blast fireworks into the sky. I had already spent a bit of my day crying over the loss of Betty White, and apparently that wasn't enough crying for the day.
Some quick thoughts:
Leah and Charlotte both at times had "Surface Pressure" from Encanto playing in my head.
The Gynecologist appointment was unnecessary
The romance was the side plot
This would probably be considered dark romance
This book knocks the wind out of you over and over again
Yes, this book is smutty. No, the smut wasn't needed. I feel like the erotic scenes were included to take away from the realness and pain of the story and give your eyes a break from the waterfall of tears. I really really did not want to put this book down. The worst mistake you can make is to pick this book up right before you have to go to bed.
From the synopsis for the book, you know what is going to happen. What you don't know is that within pages Parker S. Huntington has Charlotte and Kellen entangled in your heart. This is not for the feint of heart and I suggest having multiple boxes of tissue nearby if you decide to read it.
This book is about two completely broken people who find connection in their desperation to keep a loved ones memory alive and to get the answer to that question many face after someone leaves, why? Darling Venom is a raw testament to those that are left behind to pick up the pieces.
"Adolescent love is the greatest pain of all. It teaches you the power other people have to destroy you."
Darling Venom is available now on Kindle Unlimited but I bought the paperback so I can return to Charlotte again.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars for this emotionally enthralling tearjerker of a novel.
If you or someone you know is struggling there are counselors able to help. Please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255 or text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line.
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