Our Thing by Nicci Harris
I think I mentioned this in a previous blog post, but last year I decided to participate in the ‘12 Months, 12 Friends, 12 Books‘ challenge, where 12 of my friends on BookTok gave me a book recommendation, and I would read one a month until the end of the year. I will link to a post about the challenge here.
Our thing was recommended to me by my friend Jodie, well technically she recommended the Kids of the District series, and I think this is book one, so it counts lol. Previous to Jodie recommending this, I hadn’t heard of the series. I had read 2 novellas by Nicci Harris, but not from this series.
Our Thing is book one of a duet; it follows Cassidy, who is an 18-year-old ballerina and Max, who is a 24-year-old bad boy. It seems like Max is in some type of Mafia; Cassidy refers to him as a gangster, and he says he isn’t a gangster; that’s not what they call themselves. Cassidy is a good girl; she is still a virgin and has had a crush on Max for quite some time. Max is far from a virgin in that he sleeps with anyone with a pulse by the looks of it. He admits he doesn’t do monogamy, but for Cassidy, he will try. He is obsessed with her and very protective of her. Obviously, Cassidy doesn’t stay a virgin for long.
I won’t be able to sleep tonight unless I know you’re next to me
This book sees Cassidy being slowly brought into Max’s world and all the shit that comes along with that, when she gets attacked at a gala. Although, surprisingly, that’s not to do with Max and is more to do with her adoptive brother Konner, who was sold by his dad when he was a kid. Then as an adult beat the shit out of his girlfriends adopted brother for abusing her. We leave this book with Max telling Cassidy he will get revenge and giving her a bodyguard.
Cassidy didn’t even seem to blink at the fact that she shoots someone and kills them. He was a piece of shit and the world is better off without him, no doubt but she went into shock for 2 seconds it seems. Although we do see how the evil wankers words have affected her when she is in the shower with Max, and she panics, having him be sexual with her. In Max’s defence, he said no, she begged him and then panicked. Which is completely understandable and relatable. She wanted Max to replace the feel of him assaulting her, but then she gets thrown back into the moment. Max was wonderful too; he completely understood and was just there for her.
One gripe I have, and I’ve had it before with books, where the girl loses her virginity. The pain was where? Yeah, she says he’s not fitting – it hurts. Then she cries out in pain and pleasure! I know my first time sucked, but i’m not on my own when I say that shit is painful right? Did anyone enjoy their first time? The books make out like a girl still has amazing sex after being impaled and popping the cherry and maybe my first time was just that bad, but i call bullshit lol. Anyway, props to this author for mentioning the blood and the resistance because a lot I have read misses that out too.
He’s not fitting – it hurts. I feel a sting like an elastic band being flicked inside me. And now he’s sliding in deep, and I’m crying out in pain and pleasure.
I liked Max; he was grumpy yet playful. I liked Cassidy and I liked her weirdness but I hated that she “giggled” all the time and said frick instead of fuck. She was 18 but came across as younger at times. The writing was clear and easy to read. I do prefer my spice a little more graphic than this, but it was still good. I do want to read book 2, it’s not something I am going to run to buy, but I will add it to my list.
I rated this book 4 stars. I was torn between 3.5 and 4, but ultimately, I didn’t want to put it down, and I did really enjoy Max’s character, and that’s why I gave it 4 stars. I know I am not the most critical when it comes to reviewing books, and I am generous with my star ratings sometimes lol.
