Addicted Series Pt. 1
Addcited to You #1 | Ricochet #1.5 | Addicted for Now #2
by Krista & Becca Ritchie
Website | Twitter | GoodreadsPublication Date: June 14th, 2013 | August 1st, 2013 | November 30th, 2013
Publisher: K.B. Ritchie
Available to purchase:
Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Audible
She's addicted to sex. He's addicted to booze...the only way out is rock bottom.I did a video review for the first book in the series, back when I first read in in January 2016, so I will link here if you are interested (spoilers start around the 5 min mark):
No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway's biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.
Loren Hale's best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they've pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They've mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.
But as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex.
Their real vice may be each other.
Oh this series. I'm going to tell you right now: I'm trash for it.
I love all the characters and while it does fall into the GENRE of new adult, I don't find it fall victim to the tropes. Not fully. Krista and Becca Ritchie has this genius way of giving you everything you want from a new adult book without crossing over into clicheville or boringtown, USA. I find the romance in these books refreshing.
We have the original ADDICTED series, which centers around Loren Hale and Lily Calloway, and then the CALLOWAY SISTERS series, which centers around Lily's two other sisters and their romantic interests: Rose Calloway & Daisy Calloway. This review talks about the first *three* books in the ADDICTED series, focusing in on Loren and Lily.
The first thing I will tell you that is great for you if you are wanting to TRY the series, is that the first books, Addicted to You, is FREE on pretty much all e-book platforms. That's how I got it and read it and I'm really glad, because it's a Pandora's box of awesome. But judging from the cover along, I REALLY was not sure I wanted to read this series. It looks hot and heavy, which is not a bad thing, but the covers do border on cheesy (just being honest). However, I am SO GLAD I picked up the first book because I am so hooked.
Lily and Lo are addicts and their story is addictING (see what I did... okay, enough Shannon). I found reading from the perspective of an admitted sex addict so riveting. I never stopped to think that there are real men and women who don't WANT to be this way. It's not always something they are proud of, and it doesn't mean they are horrible people with loose morals. Compulsions are very hard to kick, especially when your brain doesn't function properly and there are chemicals raging through your mind that tell you, you NEED this to survive. Watching Lily journey through her addiction was educational and eye-opening, to say the least.
And my sweet, sweet Lo. Loren Hale is a twenty-something addict that acts like a 20-year drunken veteran. His addiction to alcohol is terrifying and all-consuming. And while he's the romantic love interest for Lily, I was happy he wasn't romanticized. His problem was called out for being just that: a problem. It wasn't brushed over but it also wasn't a nail in his hands. Seeing him and Lily try to protect each other while suffering themselves was a classic definition of toxic. BUT. I enjoyed seeing their growth. I think it's important to note that I don't think we can "save" people from their addiction, and I don't think LOVE is a healthy reason to try and become sober from any addiction: it needs to be because the addict WANTS/NEEDS it for their own sanity, not someone else's.
The first book has been the strongest so far. I didn't love the 1.5 books, Ricochet, very much because it felt just what it was, very in-between. It didn't give me enough new content. However, I did enjoy book #2 a lot more again as well and I loved getting to know the side characters more, as they are main characters for the other series in this... series (it's complicated).
Overall, I highly recommend this series from what I've read so far. It is NEW ADULT, so it's not for the kiddos out there and I would recommend you be 18 years or older before you read it due to it's mature themes and content. But I do recommend. It's one the best new adult series I've read.
