A wreck, you make me by Saffron A. Kent

A Wreck, You Make Me by Saffron A. Kent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Wreck, You Make Me is a dark romance that leans heavily on taboo elements and a love-hate dynamic.

What I appreciated most was the MMC’s arc: coming from a troubled past, he struggles to process emotions, open up, and allow himself happiness with the heroine. That layer of vulnerability, paired with the slow realization of what he really feels, gave the romance some genuine depth. I also liked the underlying theme of longing and unspoken love—watching those moments break through the toxic dynamic kept me invested.

That said, other aspects didn’t fully work for me. The “stepbrother/incest” vibe is pushed strongly, but since the characters aren’t actually related—not even by law—the taboo didn’t feel convincing, more like a device for added drama. On top of that, the bullying and humiliation sometimes went too far, crossing into territory that, for me, doesn’t sit comfortably in a romantic framework. Rather than deepening the story, the darker tropes often felt included for shock value.

Overall, I enjoyed the emotional pull of the romance when framed through the hero’s struggles, but the emphasis on taboo and toxic dynamics overshadowed it at times. Readers who enjoy darker, boundary-pushing romances may find more to love here, but I personally would have preferred more focus on the healing and emotional connection.

View all my reviews