RawAuthor: Belle Aurora
Published by: Self-Pub
Publication Date: January 2, 2014
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
***Author Note: This is not a love story. This is a story of love gone wrong.***
Growing up the way I did, you’d think I’d be more screwed up than what I actually am.
Soon as I turned sixteen, I left that bump in the road I called home and took my chances on the street.
Best decision I ever made.
Now, at the age of twenty six, I’m educated, employed and damn good at my job.
My friends have become my family. Like me, they know what it’s like to grow up unloved.
But the saying is true.
The world makes way for those who know where they are going.
That’s me.
I know where I’m going and I’ll get there eventually. On my own terms and at my own pace.
But then there’s him.
I feel his eyes on me. I see him hiding in plain sight. He watches me.
He makes me feel.
It’s unconventional.
But it’s real.
I’m sure you’re wondering how a person falls in love with their stalker.
So am I.
This isn’t a story.
This is my life.***This book includes situations that some may find uncomfortable.
“Not everyone can be a fairy-tale hero.”
“The world needs villains too.”
Okay, so I was initially curious about Raw when I saw someone express their dislike of it. Hey, you never know. Then when I read the blurb for the book, I snagged it up. I was in a dark mood, so I felt like I needed a dark book to match. I was expecting effed up people and effed up situations, and that’s what I got. But I actually DNF’d it at 17%, I deleted it off of my Goodreads list and everything. I moved on and did other stuff for the next couple of hours, but I kept thinking about the book, and thought about why I ran away from it. Yes, I ran from it, plain and simple. Then I remembered that I don’t run from anything. So I continued reading and ended up liking it quite a bit.
Lexi has a stalker. The same guy has been watching her for years, and when a situation occurs that brings them face-to-face, an unconventional relationship begins. I don’t judge when it comes to the type of sex people enjoy, as long as it’s legal and consensual. I recently saw a fellow reviewer use the term “asexual erotica” to describe a book she read, and I felt that term fit parts of Raw for me, personally. Just because some of the situations weren’t my type of thing didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate it for what it was. I was mainly interested in the story and the psychological aspects of it, anyway.
Raw is about the love between two people, but not like the the rainbows and butterflies type. Even though it’s sort of a romance, I didn’t romanticize it. Does that make sense? I’ll be honest, if there hadn’t been the author’s note saying this is a love story gone wrong, I probably wouldn’t have pushed through. I have a real problem when it comes to controlling, domineering men, but I needed to see how everything played out. Seriously, though, the dude is really unstable. With that being said, I understood Lexi, and I even understood Twitch. I’m not going to turn this into a damn therapy session, but I completely got it.
There were things that were a bit over the top, like the amount of wealth Twitch had. I mean, I know this is totally fictional, but that aspect was a little too much. Also, at one point in the book I burst out laughing because it occurred to me that Raw felt like a somewhat extremely messed up version of There’s Something About Mary. However, I did love Lexi’s friends Dave and Nikki, especially where their whole situation led – very funny!
Listen, Raw isn’t a literary masterpiece, but it’s not terrible either. I saw it more as a tragedy, instead of a romance. I think if people go into expecting this is on the darker side, then they will enjoy it like I did.
I love that you nixed it but kept thinking about it and went back. I am glad you enjoyed it. Something About Mary huh? It sounds like this one made you laugh. Great review.
It was like a Something About Mary in a warped bdsm parallel universe. LOL
Okay you have me super curious about this one now!
Do it, Ali … you know you want to. lol
Is it weird I really like stalker/serial killer books? Because I love the psychology side of it, and criminology, which is why I really love Criminal Minds, and psychology’s a mindfuck all on its own anyway. That being said, I like reading what other people think about these types, but I would have run a mile from this, and stayed away from it. Braver than me. 🙂
I love those books too, so I say no, it’s not weird. 😉
It’s kind of an anti-romance in a way then? That’s very intriguing. I love that you ran away from this book and gave up on it initially, and then decided you weren’t going to let something that made you uncomfortable scare you off and found that you were able to enjoy it despite its rougher edges. This definitely screams “mood read” to me, meaning I have to be in the right mood for it, but you’ve definitely got me curious after this review!
It’s … a different. It’s stalker turned lover relationship that turns into a love story with characters who have serious issues, especially the guy. Very unhealthy, in my opinion. But there is more to the whole thing.
this definitely doesn’t sound like one that I would enjoy but I am happy to see that you were able to push through and appreciate it for what it is. It’s nice to read books that take us out of our comfort zone sometimes.
It’s definitely not for everyone, Jenni. 😉
ummmmhu….. maybe if I am in a dark mood . How many stars would you give this one?
Hmm … I think it ranges between a 3 and 4. Depends on how I feel and what part of the story I’m thinking about – lol.
Great review! I’ve shied away from this book due to reviews and that everyone who recommended it to me also loved Real by Katy Evans which I loathed. Sounds intriguing, but still not so sure it is for me!
I have no idea about Real, but I’m going to go look it up now … okay, I just did. 😀 I don’t know how similar they are, but they seem to have elements in common.
You are like me, I rarely discontinue a book, even if I am hating it , I am so damn stubborn. I am glad you pushed through. I can tell you that the subject matter isn’t for me so I am not even going there! Proud of you for muscling through!
I HATE not finishing a book. I dnf’d Two Roads at 50% the other day, and it seriously pained me. But then the pain of reading it outweighed the abandonment pain. lol.
That’s great you went back to it and find more enjoyable. it’s always interesting to hear what works for people and what doesn’t. definitely sounds like a crazy story, but still interesting.
Definitely glad I went back. 🙂
I know what you mean; I, too, have a hard time finishing a book once I’ve invested more than five or ten minutes in it. This actually sounds like it could be a decent rainy day read. Great review!
I HATE not finishing a book and try to do it as little as possible.
I’ve heard so many positive and negative things about this book! I truly appreciate your honest and thoughtful review. I’m not sure if I’ll like Raw, but I may eventually give it a try.
I think what expectations you go into with can make a difference.
I try not to run from books either. It’s good to give them a shot even if they make you uncomfortable. Happy it ended up being okay even if the concept is kind of crazy.
Sometimes I like to push through the uncomfortable stuff just because I like to win, so I can’t let the feeling beat me. Weird? Probably. lol
Hmm, I think I will skip this one. Sometimes I’m in the book for a darker story, but this might be a bit too dark for me! I’m kind of a wimp!
It’s not for everyone. 🙂
Woah, this definitely sounds dark and twisted! I can’t read books like this, I think I’d get too disturbed and think about it all the time. Sounds totally insane! And YES I do not like the domineering men either! That’s why Edward Cullen, Christian Grey, Patch and countless others didn’t work for me. Lovely review Christy!
I totally hear ya, Jeann. 🙂
When I can totally understand you DNF this book because the beginning was really frustrating for me too. I even wanted to slam Lexi’s head a few times because she was such a doormat and a slave to her lust for Twitch. But I read on and weirdly, I ended up liking it. It was certainly a very disturbing relationship and I’m probably one of the few but I was really satisfied with the ending. Now I’m thinking that maybe I should give my other DNF reads a chance? The fact that this was not an overall bad read for you in the end is giving me ideas lol
I think what ultimately got me to continue reading is the fact that the author said it’s a love story gone wrong. It let me know that there was more to their situation and that Lexi and Twitch weren’t just going into it all fairytale-like, ya know? I’m definitely glad I gave it a second chance. 🙂
I honestly think I would enjoy this better than the last erotica I read. I love whacko and dark stories. I’m glad you changed your mind and didn’t DNF this at all.
Haha, Twitch is definitely a little on the wacko side, so you just might enjoy this. 😀
Wow… what a great review! I totally get the messed up love thing and even if it’s unconventional, it’s still your love. I have no clue how this book ended but I’m so glad you went back to it and enjoyed it. Sounds like you would of missed out on a pretty good dark read otherwise. Kind of a great experience, huh?
Yeah, I’m definitely glad I gave it a second chance. I refuse to let a book defeat me! Unless it’s just downright stupid. lol
Wow your review has me so curious! Deciding to DNF and then going back to it and liking it, even if it was a darker story and asexual / lacking in traditional romance. I hadn’t heard of this but going now reading your review and reading more about it on goodreads definitely has me wanting to at least give it a try now. Fantastic review!
The only reason I found some of the erotic parts a bit asexual is because of the people involved and their situation. It was more like a train wreak to me. 😀
I don’t understand why anyone would name their character…Twitch. Even if it’s a nickname, it’s just so off-putting. Definitely not my sort of book, but I’m glad you enjoyed it Christy!
Lol – I have a buddy with the nickname Twitch because he has tourette’s syndrome, so it’s almost normal to me.
I’ve yet to try a book like this but I have quite a few on my radar. I mainly don’t read them because it drives me batty to see people make back decisions, and I’m just stuck watching the train wreck happen. I’ll keep this one in mind if I ever decide to try on out though. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Like the more ‘erotica’ type? If so, I wouldn’t start here. There are definitely ones out there that have healthier relationships.
Heh. I got this one because someone hated it as well. Haven’t tried it yet but it seems like one I’d enjoy. I love the really messed up ones now and again mostly because I like the psychological aspects of them and seeing what people will do (criminology major here). Glad you ended up giving it another shot and it turned out to be an okay read!
Hahaha Chisty! This right up my alley, I love that feeling you experienced, almost as if you will be ruined for life if you keep reading… I like books that I feel I have to read with one eye shot..LOL…So on my TBR or wish list (audio) It goes.
LOL – I’d be interested in what you think of it!
Hahaha, Christy! It was me who absolutely hated this book. Great review, by the way! I love BDSM rough erotica books, but here you could definitely use that term “asexual erotica”, it was just weirdly not sexy and it felt wrong. I can’t even go into the ridiculous revenge mess from Twitch’s point of view. That was utterly psychotic. I think last time I had such negative reaction to a book was Beautiful Disaster.
Same here, but I think going into it knowing that these people, especially Twitch, were … unstable, had me looking at it in a different way. The sexual acts themselves don’t bother me at all, I read BDSM. But yeah, it’s the people attached and their unhealthy situation is what made it ‘asexual erotica’ for me. I haven’t read Beautiful Disaster because I have a feeling it’ll piss me off, even though I’ve had the book for a long time. Maybe I’ll save it for when I need something to get angry at – lol.