The Words: An Enemies-to-Lovers Standalone Romance Paperback – January 18, 2022

This was the BEST book I have read in a very long time. This is the book you place in your freezer for safekeeping and preservation. ♥️ Wow. 💥🧨🏆This story was an absolutely incredible journey of love, loss, heartache, battle of wills, laughter, unexpected surprises, sadness and had such layers of complexities as it went on. I found myself not even realizing how much I had read so quickly in a matter of days, and I’m usually a much slower reader and have the attention span of a butterfly in a hurricane, but this book stayed my hand, mind, and heart, and allowed me to truly soak it in and appreciate every single moment, feeling, and word without it even occurring to me that I had just completely devoured 700+ pages! I didn’t want it to end 😭 These characters took me for a ride that I never expected, and I haven’t quite been on in a very long time.I don’t even know what to say about it, it is an experience and had all the things I loved. Drama, angst, heartache, first love, a vulnerable heroine who isn’t perfect, a broken/flawed Hero, whom the heroine sees so much value and worth in, despite him hating himself and his situation. Sigh. I just couldn’t get enough of these characters. And usually I’m not as intrigued by side characters but this story had me interested in every single one. Chandler, Memphis, Josh, Skyler, Storm, Quinn…heck, even George! Lol. I found all the characters to be diverting and wanting to know more about the ones that weren’t on page, when the Hero and heroine were. I was just very involved and lived in this story, usually that doesn’t happen a lot unless the romance/story moves me, and this one did.I can’t wait to read Skyler and Memphis’ story, and can’t wait to see a bit more Chandler too. 🙂 I actually liked him too (Chandler) even though at times he seemed uptight/jerky, he cared about the band’s success more than anything and I truly believe he did what he always thought was best for them and their future opportunities ♥️As far as my most liked side characters, I’d love it if Storm and Quinn got their own book. I felt a very strong connection between those two and I believe that is one age-gap romance that would blow the rest out of the water in this trope, should it ever come to fruition and be written. I absolutely appreciated their banter and moments together where she was getting on his nerves and acting bratty, yet we saw very subtle moments of care and vulnerability from Storm that we usually don’t see when he’s with anyone else, save for maybe the h, Lennon.Also I loved how despite her juvenile characteristics, she held a fiery and loyal disposition toward the band and her family (her brother, Phoenix) I loved when she threw her drink at Memphis baby mama for the vile things she was saying about her own brother! Whatever happens, lookout world because Quinn will definitely be an amazing heroine if she is ever written. I loved S/Q and truly hope they will get a story one day ♥️ That would be amazing if they did, especially because she’s becoming an actress and he’s a rock star who is also in the entertainment industry! Gah! 💥💥💥If you love a romance with a journey that spans years, rock star romance, second chance, alpha holes/enemies to lovers, or just want to read something that will move you and keep you up reading, I highly recommend The Words! ♥️ 🎼🎵🎤🎙Breakdown:First loveRockstar romance 🎤 🎸 🥁Emotional/complex storytellingDual POV (Hero/heroine)Enemies to loversPlus size h/sexy Hh is named after John Lennon (her dad’s favorite 🎶)Opposites attracth is his tutor in high school/helps him graduateh is a VirginH didn’t know h was a Virgin when it happens (whoops! 💥🙃) she lied and said she had experienceh actually has a beautiful singing voice but keeps it to herselfHero calls h “Groupie”H/h play Truth or dare/Never Have I Ever togetherH/h push, challenge, console and motivate each otherSecond chance romanceH/h are on tour for several weeks togetherh is H’s sober companion lol 😂 and she’s hired to keep him in line throughout the tourH/h share a suite with a conjoining roomH is not a Virgin (but he’s never been with one)Pierced Hero (lip)Tattooed Hero (music stanza/notes on his chest)H messes up when they’re in high school/ H grovels laterH/h are on the road a lot together the majority of the bookH is dyslexic/cannot read well at allh supports H through his ups and downsH lives in a broken home/trailer/is abused by his fatherH breaks his whole “no kissing rule” lol 😂 like so much with the h 🙃H has abandonment issues/H had an abusive father/his mom left himh has a very loving/supportive dad (her mom died while giving birth)h’s father works in the music industry (but not at any point does the H take advantage of h’s dad to get a foot in, that’s not how this story works. However…there is something he does….that’s all I’ll say…don’t want to spoil it!) ♥️H is a rockstarh works as a bartender at an upscale gentlemen’s club after collegeH is a filthy talkerH is very jealous/possessive with hH gets so claimy in one scene, he 🍆 h on the dance floor at the clubH is claimy, bossy, controlling and manipulativeH loves h’s 👄🍑🍉 💦 (pretty much loves all of her lol)h writes hateful words on her body under her clothingh is bullied at school by the popular girls but can stand up for herself when necessaryIn high school, h is well off/H is poorAs adults, H is rich, and h needs moneyHEAStandaloneTriggers/Notes/Possible spoilies:Abusive parents, high school bullying, angst/toxic relationships, drug use, betrayal by H (with groveling later), death (not the h/H), Hero has dyslexia, Hero has issues with drugs/alcohol use, excessive at times (h helps him get better), H is abused by his dad, FF (noncon) orchestrated by Hero (I saw some reviews for this scene in particular, I’ll shed some light, even though he handcuffed her and it was noncon by another female while h was asleep, the h ended up liking it as the scene played out, yes she was mad at first, but she wasn’t going to let the H get under her skin after that, readers need to know that these two have a messy history and at this point in the story they are constantly looking for ways to mess with the other, I wasn’t even surprised by H doing this 😂, some OM/OW drama, a#s 🍽 👅 The mains do some things to try to get under the other’s skin. h writes hateful words on her body in permanent marker, hides them under her clothes as a constant reminder. A parent has early onset dementia. There are two funerals in this book. (Not the H/h) A side character is abused (not on page) but is brought in afterwards almost unconscious, bleeding and broken due to physical abuse suffered at home. Side characters are being cheated on.*Couple journey from the last weeks of high school in the first part of the book, to a few years post-graduation when h is in college and H is now a rockstar, after that first tiny part in the beginning, they are in their early 20’s for the rest of the story. There are a few time jumps by years (like after high school), then 3 months later in the epilogue.Band--Phoenix (singer)-Storm (drums)-Josh (bassist)-Memphis (guitar) (I hope I remembered these correctly!)

I swear, every time I read a book by Ashley Jade, I should know that she will make me cry, not once but several times while reading it. I’ll learn my lesson, eventually. Ashley is one author that puts a piece of her soul into her books. At least, that is what I feel when I’m reading her books, and The Words was no different. It’s over 600+ pages, meaning she will put you through the wringer when reading it. So many opportunities for her to either make you cry, make you angry, or make you happy. You never know what she will do, so prepare yourself if you are even thinking about starting this book or any of her books.Storyline/My Thoughts: What can I say about The Words without spoiling this massive book for readers on the fence about reading it? Here’s my first reaction to the readers’ hesitation, go for it. I did, and I don’t regret it one bit. Well, I maybe do regret one thing, finishing the book too fast. I had a hard time putting down the book. I fell for the characters and their story. Not just the main either. I fell for the secondary characters, too.Ashley Jade definitely wrote her heart into Lennon and Phoenix’s story, and your heart may be ripped to shreds when you read the struggles these characters will go through together to have a second chance to fix things. She starts the book with Lennon and Phoenix in high school and then brings them back together when Phoenix is a famous rockstar god with his best friend and two other bandmates.Lennon Michael, the FMC, is a bright, down-to-earth beautiful soul who loves with all her heart, but cross her, and she will make your life hell. She lost her mother when she was young, and her father has taken care of her; he is her world. She had never been truly in love until one day, a boy she never thought would give her the time of day was forced into her life when her English teacher asked her to help him pass the subject. Phoenix is the mysterious bad boy that keeps to himself and has grown up in a troubled household. He wants out of the small town he’s grown up in and is determined more than ever to succeed in making it big time with his best friend, which he jams within his friend’s grandmother’s garage. Lennon knows he’s trouble and will break her, especially since he treats her horribly at first and won’t open up to her regarding his studies and life. Lennon is determined to help him, even open up her own life to him. In the end, though, that boy does break her, but not in a typical way. He ends up betraying her, and she will never forgive him.What happens when you force characters that don’t like each other at first together? A connection and sparks start happening, even when both want to deny it. Even though Phoenix ruined Lennon and broke her heart after high school, fate puts them together again four years later when Phoenix needs her help before spiraling out of control and losing everything he has worked hard for in his life, even if he cheated at it. It’s not fame and glamour in the rock world he created for himself, especially when tragedy strikes.What did I like about Lennon, the FMC? She was a fighter, even in the beginning when she was constantly being bullied and ridiculed by the mean girls and guys in her school/small town. Forewarning, there were a lot of mean remarks regarding Lennon’s figure in this book from some mean people. Lennon has her way of tackling what they taunt her with, and I hated what she went through. I wanted to go through that book and handle all those mean people that tried to hurt and belittle her. She thought, with what those people said, that no one would love her. (Boy, was she wrong because she had someone that loved her, but he had a weird way of showing it.) I hate that some girls think these thoughts, all because of what our society has deemed beautiful. It’s not true. You are beautiful, and someone out there will LOVE you for you. If they don’t, they can kick rocks.What did I like about the MMC? Phoenix is the typical bad boy type, a stealer of hearts and panties (literally). He’s my favorite MMC, who has a troubled life and makes terrible choices. The FMC tries to show his worth and how he can be loved, but he hurts her instead of taking her advice. He may have broken her trust, but he will do anything to make it up to her. I love when the MMC redeems his wrong, even if he is afraid to at first.The angst and tension in the story are off the charts. You will be frustrated with both characters when they first hang out as teenagers and later when they are forced together again as adults. Phoenix will try anything to escape Lennon, and Lennon will try everything to make his life hell when she’s there to babysit him on tour. It will be a fun ride with these two but guard your heart hard because Ashely will break it several times before the characters get their HEA.Overall, this standalone Rockstar Enemies to Lovers Romance story gets five stars from me. It will live in my head rent-free, especially some of the scenes between Lennon and Phoenix. *sigh* I may have wanted to throw my kindle a few times, but eventually, the smoke cleared, and I could handle my emotions. This is why Ashley Jade has become a favorite of mine. She makes me feel for her characters and their story, where they feel like family. I don’t like reading about family members going through troubles, but I’m there for their HEA when they eventually get their heads out of their asses and realize they are meant to be together. =)Standalone or Part of Series: Standalone.Genre(s)/Trope(s)/Element(s): New Adult Romance. Rockstar Romance. Second Chances. Friends to Lovers. Enemies to Lovers. Rockstar MMC. Kickbutt FMC.Trigger(s)/Content Warning(s): Bullying. Drugs/Drug Use. Alcohol/Alcohol Use. Death. Grief of Loss. Profanity. Explicit Content. Fat Shaming/Remarks.Would I recommend this book? Yes. I highly recommend this book to readers who are prepared to have their hearts shredded into pieces over Lennon and Phoenix’s story. If you also enjoy Standalone NA/Contemporary Romance with the following tropes, Enemies to Lovers and Second Chance at Love.Favorite Quote(s): “Don’t let you insecurities overpower that which makes your soul come alive. Otherwise, you’ll walk this earth never feeling whole…and that’s no way to live.”Lennon Michael is my biggest craving and my biggest regret.