The Words: An Enemies-to-Lovers Standalone Romance Paperback – January 18, 2022

This was the BEST book I have read in a very long time. This is the book you place in your freezer for safekeeping and preservation. ♥️ Wow. 💥🧨🏆This story was an absolutely incredible journey of love, loss, heartache, battle of wills, laughter, unexpected surprises, sadness and had such layers of complexities as it went on. I found myself not even realizing how much I had read so quickly in a matter of days, and I’m usually a much slower reader and have the attention span of a butterfly in a hurricane, but this book stayed my hand, mind, and heart, and allowed me to truly soak it in and appreciate every single moment, feeling, and word without it even occurring to me that I had just completely devoured 700+ pages! I didn’t want it to end 😭 These characters took me for a ride that I never expected, and I haven’t quite been on in a very long time.I don’t even know what to say about it, it is an experience and had all the things I loved. Drama, angst, heartache, first love, a vulnerable heroine who isn’t perfect, a broken/flawed Hero, whom the heroine sees so much value and worth in, despite him hating himself and his situation. Sigh. I just couldn’t get enough of these characters. And usually I’m not as intrigued by side characters but this story had me interested in every single one. Chandler, Memphis, Josh, Skyler, Storm, Quinn…heck, even George! Lol. I found all the characters to be diverting and wanting to know more about the ones that weren’t on page, when the Hero and heroine were. I was just very involved and lived in this story, usually that doesn’t happen a lot unless the romance/story moves me, and this one did.I can’t wait to read Skyler and Memphis’ story, and can’t wait to see a bit more Chandler too. 🙂 I actually liked him too (Chandler) even though at times he seemed uptight/jerky, he cared about the band’s success more than anything and I truly believe he did what he always thought was best for them and their future opportunities ♥️As far as my most liked side characters, I’d love it if Storm and Quinn got their own book. I felt a very strong connection between those two and I believe that is one age-gap romance that would blow the rest out of the water in this trope, should it ever come to fruition and be written. I absolutely appreciated their banter and moments together where she was getting on his nerves and acting bratty, yet we saw very subtle moments of care and vulnerability from Storm that we usually don’t see when he’s with anyone else, save for maybe the h, Lennon.Also I loved how despite her juvenile characteristics, she held a fiery and loyal disposition toward the band and her family (her brother, Phoenix) I loved when she threw her drink at Memphis baby mama for the vile things she was saying about her own brother! Whatever happens, lookout world because Quinn will definitely be an amazing heroine if she is ever written. I loved S/Q and truly hope they will get a story one day ♥️ That would be amazing if they did, especially because she’s becoming an actress and he’s a rock star who is also in the entertainment industry! Gah! 💥💥💥If you love a romance with a journey that spans years, rock star romance, second chance, alpha holes/enemies to lovers, or just want to read something that will move you and keep you up reading, I highly recommend The Words! ♥️ 🎼🎵🎤🎙Breakdown:First loveRockstar romance 🎤 🎸 🥁Emotional/complex storytellingDual POV (Hero/heroine)Enemies to loversPlus size h/sexy Hh is named after John Lennon (her dad’s favorite 🎶)Opposites attracth is his tutor in high school/helps him graduateh is a VirginH didn’t know h was a Virgin when it happens (whoops! 💥🙃) she lied and said she had experienceh actually has a beautiful singing voice but keeps it to herselfHero calls h “Groupie”H/h play Truth or dare/Never Have I Ever togetherH/h push, challenge, console and motivate each otherSecond chance romanceH/h are on tour for several weeks togetherh is H’s sober companion lol 😂 and she’s hired to keep him in line throughout the tourH/h share a suite with a conjoining roomH is not a Virgin (but he’s never been with one)Pierced Hero (lip)Tattooed Hero (music stanza/notes on his chest)H messes up when they’re in high school/ H grovels laterH/h are on the road a lot together the majority of the bookH is dyslexic/cannot read well at allh supports H through his ups and downsH lives in a broken home/trailer/is abused by his fatherH breaks his whole “no kissing rule” lol 😂 like so much with the h 🙃H has abandonment issues/H had an abusive father/his mom left himh has a very loving/supportive dad (her mom died while giving birth)h’s father works in the music industry (but not at any point does the H take advantage of h’s dad to get a foot in, that’s not how this story works. However…there is something he does….that’s all I’ll say…don’t want to spoil it!) ♥️H is a rockstarh works as a bartender at an upscale gentlemen’s club after collegeH is a filthy talkerH is very jealous/possessive with hH gets so claimy in one scene, he 🍆 h on the dance floor at the clubH is claimy, bossy, controlling and manipulativeH loves h’s 👄🍑🍉 💦 (pretty much loves all of her lol)h writes hateful words on her body under her clothingh is bullied at school by the popular girls but can stand up for herself when necessaryIn high school, h is well off/H is poorAs adults, H is rich, and h needs moneyHEAStandaloneTriggers/Notes/Possible spoilies:Abusive parents, high school bullying, angst/toxic relationships, drug use, betrayal by H (with groveling later), death (not the h/H), Hero has dyslexia, Hero has issues with drugs/alcohol use, excessive at times (h helps him get better), H is abused by his dad, FF (noncon) orchestrated by Hero (I saw some reviews for this scene in particular, I’ll shed some light, even though he handcuffed her and it was noncon by another female while h was asleep, the h ended up liking it as the scene played out, yes she was mad at first, but she wasn’t going to let the H get under her skin after that, readers need to know that these two have a messy history and at this point in the story they are constantly looking for ways to mess with the other, I wasn’t even surprised by H doing this 😂, some OM/OW drama, a#s 🍽 👅 The mains do some things to try to get under the other’s skin. h writes hateful words on her body in permanent marker, hides them under her clothes as a constant reminder. A parent has early onset dementia. There are two funerals in this book. (Not the H/h) A side character is abused (not on page) but is brought in afterwards almost unconscious, bleeding and broken due to physical abuse suffered at home. Side characters are being cheated on.*Couple journey from the last weeks of high school in the first part of the book, to a few years post-graduation when h is in college and H is now a rockstar, after that first tiny part in the beginning, they are in their early 20’s for the rest of the story. There are a few time jumps by years (like after high school), then 3 months later in the epilogue.Band--Phoenix (singer)-Storm (drums)-Josh (bassist)-Memphis (guitar) (I hope I remembered these correctly!)

What in the world did Ashley Jade put in this book? Because it's not legal. I should not be able to binge half this book in one night. I would have read the whole thing in one sitting if I could. I mean, our FMC, she got me within the first couple of pages with her sense of humor. She's so real, and in fact? I believed every single one of these characters. There was never anything that took me out of this story. I was swept away by it. This book is 666 PAGES LONG, and I still wanted more.It's been a long time since I read a book where I couldn't stop thinking about it and couldn't want to get back to it, so much so that it distracted me at work. But this one did it. Did it appeal to the side of me that has always wanted to fix people my whole life? Of course. Because Phoenix is a mess. He's had an extremely rough life, and he definitely has some issues. He's volatile and your heart just goes out to him, even after what he did to Lennon. Is he awful to her at several points in the book? Yes. But she knows how to handle him, and their tension is just so good. I love how she grew into her strength, but of course she still has her insecurities, and he sees right through them. In fact, they see right through each other and it's BELIEVABLE. Like of course these two can't stay away from each other.There were so many moments of giddy smiling, tears, and jabs to the heart. And the side characters? Fantastic. I especially love Skylar and Storm. Storm is the tough guy best friend to Phoenix who is a softie with Lennon, and it's adorable.This book is gritty. It's real. It's deals with a lot of tough issues. And I loved it. I will not go on to be sad that I can't go see this band in real life.

"I'm not okay. Not even close.They say when you play with fire, you get burned.But when you love it?You get destroyed." -Lennon"I know it doesn't excuse what I did, and I know you'll never forgive me.I just hope someday you'll no longer hate me."-PhoenixOkay I finally read it. I feel like everyone on booktok and booksta has been talking about this book. I've seen it so many times. Rave reviews. Am I glad I read it.... YES. Did it completely live up to the hype..... yes. But was it an all time fave for me.... no. Don't get me wrong I still enjoyed and loved this read a ton.You get topics that might be harder for some audience, so be warned. It's not dark at all though. Very angsty. Rockstar Romance and all that entails. A curvy heroine. Friends to enemies to lovers. Phenomenal quotes. *I annotated a TON!!This was definitely a very moving and powerful moral to the story type of read. What Lennon deals with on her own with her weight is very emphasized. She grew so much confidence, which was amazing. I loved how Phoenix loved her for her not her weight. As it should always be!! But it took him a while to see this too. Lennon just had this way about her I loved. She just always excuberated confidence even though it's not what she necessarily felt. She broke my heart at times. I was like girl just love yourself!!! Your size doesnt matter. Phoenix I was leery on at first. Then seriously loved his character. By the end I was smitten with him completely. His story I found extremely heartbreaking. His story definitely hit me more personally. In the end these two characters went through a ton and still found their path to eachother. I definitely wanted more in the ending I will admit. But I'm stoked to see there is a second book coming of Skylars story. SERIOUSLY loved her. So I am dying to read that! This book had such phenomenal side characters. Mrs. Palma, Strom's Granny, Storm (I want his story), Quinn seriously so many! All around I highly recommend this one. It's just an overall amazing experience!!!