Official Review: Trigger Warning by Charlie Hayden Hicks

[Mariana Figueira]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Trigger Warning" by Charlie Hayden Hicks.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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A Trigger Warning is a statement used to inform people that what they are about to experience might be upsetting for them, especially if they have been through something similar. In this case, the warning is the book's title, revealing what type of content lies inside it.

I believe this novel has pretty much everything that requires this label: vulgar language, graphic violence (including murder), sexual assault, drugs, prostitution, and explicit descriptions of sexual activities and fetishes.

This unique love story begins when Kate finds herself stranded in Europe in the middle of her backpacking trip. With no money and no idea what to do, she accepts the offer of Tatiana, a Russian call girl, to be her "roomfriend"; none of them expected to have feelings for each other, and both of them are afraid of the time when their interlude comes to an end. When it does, Kate vows to save Tatiana from the life she was forced into, but the path that will lead her to the salvation of her lover is far darker than she expects.

I was so fascinated with this book that I could not put it down and ended up finishing it in one go. As the title suggests, some parts of it were challenging to read, but just like you're unable to look away from a catastrophe unfolding, I couldn't let go of this novel until I knew the conclusion. The story was powerful, exciting, and one of a kind; it had numerous turns of events, and every one of them was earth-shattering. The plot moved fast but, especially at first, its progression was natural, like when Kate and Tatiana casually go from "roomfriends" to more.

Both Kate and Tatiana are fascinating and complex characters, and I appreciate how author Charlie Hayden Hicks introduced glimpses of their pasts before revealing the entirety of it. I also adored the incorporation of backgrounds for secondary characters, like a young man Kate hooked up with and whose name doesn't even show up in the novel. The growth of Kate's persona is tremendous, and my favorite part about the book: she goes from being a desperate tourist to something like a madame for Tatiana, and, ultimately, she becomes everything she needs to so she can rescue her Russian lover.

My only complaint about this book is that its editing needs some improvement, as I encountered more than ten errors, and it is why I'm granting it 3 out of 4 stars. Other than that, there was nothing that I didn't appreciate about the novel.

As a final note, I want to remark that this publication is undoubtedly meant for adults, particularly those who like dark erotic romance; it is beyond intense, and you likely need to be in a particular headspace to read it, even if you enjoy the genre. It is not the most peaceful experience, but there is a lot to praise about this book, and I believe people who like this kind of novel will surely appreciate it.

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Trigger Warning
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[Kavita Shah]

Trigger warning sounds dark; maybe warning that you're gonna hate it or love it. This story is of escaping the current situation and getting into a better one. It sounds engaging and delightful Thank you for the honest review!

[Mwatu]

The way the book lives up to its title is fascinating. That's quite some content packed in one book. Too bad it could do with more improvement. Thank you for this review!

[Mariana Figueira]

Trigger warning sounds dark; maybe warning that you're gonna hate it or love it. This story is of escaping the current situation and getting into a better one. It sounds engaging and delightful Thank you for the honest review!

Yeah, it's pretty shocking. Thanks for stopping by!

[Mariana Figueira]

The way the book lives up to its title is fascinating. That's quite some content packed in one book. Too bad it could do with more improvement. Thank you for this review!

If it wasn't for the editing issues, I would have granted it four stars, it's a shame really. Thanks for stopping by and reading my review!

[Naaya123]

I can easily look over grammatical errors when it comes to romance. I'll add this to my list. Thank you for your review!

[NetMassimo]

I guess there's an important psychological element in the plot to develop the relationships among the protagonists and make the novel compelling. Thank you for your great review!

[kdstrack]

Oh! I love authors and books that keep you turning the pages. Reading this story in one sitting is quite an endorsement. Thanks for alerting readers to the dark and erotic themes that could trigger readers. Great review!

[kandscreeley]

With or without the errors, this isn't the book for me. It sounds appropriately titled. So much so that it warns me from reading it. Thanks.

[Suzer6440 xyz]

Thanks for your honest review. I don’t think this is a book I would like reading. Unfortunately it seems a bit dark to me . On the flip side I think for people who like theses kind of reads will find it interesting and hard to put don because it is packed with so many topics.

[Sou Hi]

Thanks for your informative review. Kate's fateful encounter with the Russian call girl Tatiana sounds interesting. It was unfortunate when Kate lost everything on the backpacking trip, but it was thanks to it that she acquired a love.

[Raluca_Mihaila]

It seems like an interesting book, and the well-built characters are very appealing. Thank you for this informative review!

[Prisallen]

I really enjoy books with good character development, especially if they are exciting. This book sounds like it has both. Amazing review!

[Janet Kimetto]

That you read the book at a go is impressive! That's all a person needs to hear, really. Thank you for your honest review!

[Mariana Figueira]

I can easily look over grammatical errors when it comes to romance. I'll add this to my list. Thank you for your review!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

I guess there's an important psychological element in the plot to develop the relationships among the protagonists and make the novel compelling. Thank you for your great review!

Absolutely. Thank you so much for stopping by!

Oh! I love authors and books that keep you turning the pages. Reading this story in one sitting is quite an endorsement. Thanks for alerting readers to the dark and erotic themes that could trigger readers. Great review!

It was definitely made to be triggering, but if you have the stomach for it, I think you'll enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by!