Truly

Carmel Rhodes

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'Truly' by Carmel Rhodes is a dark and angsty romance novel that follows the main characters Truly and Noah. The story starts with Truly being dumped by her boyfriend, Noah's brother, on her high school graduation day. Noah then aggressively pursues Truly, disregarding her limits and crashing her summer road trip with her best friend. Despite their tumultuous beginning, Truly and Noah share a raw and intense connection, exploring themes of possessiveness, passion, and toxic relationships. The book delves into the complexities of their evolving relationship, including dubcon and noncon scenes, as well as the characters' growth and self-acceptance.

The writing style of Carmel Rhodes in 'Truly' is described as emotional, raw, and honest, capturing the characters' teenage struggles and development authentically. The narrative explores themes of innocence, impulsivity, and the challenges faced by the characters as they navigate dark and intense emotions, showcasing a realistic portrayal of young adults grappling with their past traumas and relationships.

Characters:

The characters are complex young adults grappling with their emotional scars and demonstrating authentic behaviors for their age.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is emotionally charged, balancing vivid descriptions with a focus on the darker elements of the story.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows Truly as she navigates emotional turmoil after a breakup, leading to complex interactions with Noah during a significant road trip.

Setting:

The setting enhances the narrative with small-town dynamics and significant transitional moments for the characters.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, effectively combining moments of reflection with high-tension scenarios.

“You’re breaking up with me?” I ask, my frail voice barely audible in the noisy auditorium. The summer after senior year is supposed to be the best summer of my life. It’s supposed to be full of adven...

Notes:

The protagonist Truly is a Black female lead, which is not common in romance novels.

Truly's hair is a key element of her identity, with scenes depicting her getting her hair braided and flat-ironed.

The romance between Truly and Noah is described as intense and passionate, with themes of jealousy and possessiveness.

The book features a road trip that serves as a backdrop for the evolving romance between the main characters.

Truly's breakup with her boyfriend occurs on her graduation day, framing the start of her emotional journey.

The story includes a dark and controversial 'treehouse incident', which sets the stage for the complex relationship between Truly and Noah.

The writing has been praised for being descriptive and emotional without being overly flowery.

Truly's mother, who passed away when she was young, plays a significant role in shaping her character and motivations throughout the story.

The book combines elements of dark romance with graphic scenes that include consensual non-consent (CNC) and emotional angst.

The characters are portrayed as relatable 18-year-olds, avoiding the trope of making them act older than their age.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains high content warnings including sexual assault, non-consensual encounters, graphic violence, and themes of child abuse.

Has Romance?

The romance in Truly is characterized by strong feelings and significant developments between the main characters, driven by intense and sometimes tumultuous emotions.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

The summer after senior year was supposed to be the best summer of my life.⁣⁣⁣

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It was supposed to be full of adventure and self-discovery and making love under the stars.⁣⁣⁣

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It was supposed to be about losing myself and finding my way.⁣⁣⁣

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Only, it wasn't supposed to start like this.⁣⁣⁣

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I wasn't supposed to go to that party.⁣⁣⁣

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He wasn't supposed to notice me.⁣⁣⁣

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The hot jock with the trust fund and chip on his shoulder.⁣⁣⁣

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My ex-boyfriend's half-brother.⁣⁣⁣

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Noah Tedesco is so far out of my league he might as well be playing a different game.⁣⁣⁣

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Noah wasn't supposed to look twice at a girl like me, but he did.⁣⁣⁣

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Now that I'm on his radar, my life will never be the same.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣

Truly is a dark, coming of age romance that explores themes like NON-CON DUB-CON, and happily ever after.

Ratings (9)

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Reader Stats (36):

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Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (11)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (13)

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