Does It Hurt? Review

Speaking of Book Club, the CLITerarians bravely allowed me to suggest some smut for our February read… but more on that later, because this book is NOT the one we chose. Does It Hurt? received zero votes (out of a 3-option poll) and scared everyone with it’s trigger warnings. Naturally, that made me want to read it even more…

Highlights:
Sawyer has been running for a long time. When she meets Enzo, she steals his identity, but he steals her sanity. Stranded in a crumbling lighthouse, they’ll find out who they really are and if they can survive – if the island and its aging caretaker doesn’t break them first.

TW’s: murder, dubious consent, breath play, degradation, sadomasochism

What I thought:.
Um, I freaking loved this book. Here’s the thing – so far, the smut I’ve been reading has had sub-par plots. Some are better than others, and don’t get me wrong I love them, but we’re not talking intellectual reads or intriguing plotlines here. But Does It Hurt? has it all. The smut is real – this. book. is. SPICY. – but the plot is also compelling, and the prose is excellent! Not only are both characters morally grey – we love an imperfect woman! – but the real villain, and their story, is not what you think. The plot twist had me absolutely reeling and the last quarter of the book read morphed into a genuinely terrifying horror story completely out of the blue. Ok, the author led up to it, but it she did NOT have to go that hard! If you’re sensitive to the trigger warnings this one may not be for you, because it’s a lot. Lots of grey areas and questionable scenes, but if that doesn’t’ scare you then grab this guy immediately. Superb.