A quick novella following on from the best seller Addicted To You.
Dates Read: 08/08/2022 to 09/08/2022
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Word to describe: Troubled
Genre: Romantic Fiction
A perfect binge read Ricochet follows on from where Addicted To You ended. Lo is in rehab for his alcohol addiction and Lily is left to nurse her broken heart and addiction with her sister Rose and close friends Ryke and Connor. This novella follows the narration of Lily during this time and shows the readers the struggles that Lily faces in fighting her own demons and sex addiction. In her separation from Lo, she has to come to terms with her compulsive masturbation and desperation for Lo's touch. She comes face to face with her problems and with the help of her sister Rose is guided towards therapy as a form of rehabilitation.
Lily's addiction is an interesting one. Unlike Lo's alcohol addiction which can be mostly subsided from a forced detox and medication to reduce the alcohol cravings - an addiction to intimacy and human contact can be far more complex. The lack of sexual touch reduces Lily to an anxious shell of the character in Addicted To You. Her compulsions control her to the point of not being able to discuss sex without slipping into a daydream and fantasizing about Lo. The exploration of Lily's addiction in this book is very well written - an expected result after reading Addiction To You.
One scene in particular, during a holiday celebrating her youngest sister Daisy's 16th birthday truly tests Lily's self-control. The young girls indulge themselves in topics of sex, sexuality, and attraction to Ryke. Daisy's carefree lifestyle is one that is a direct juxtaposition to Lily's newfound careful approach. The added anxiety of Daisy's naivety and willingness to run away from responsibility pushes Lily to her first of many relapses. It is during this time that Lily's addiction truly becomes her enemy. After self-pleasuring Lily finds herself breaking down and desperate for any form of contact from Lo, but due to his stay at rehab contact is sparse. The relationship between these two characters is endearing as well as toxic. Ryke's character acts as an angel of sorts, not only is he rescuing Lo but he also holds a small amount of care and attention for Lily. He helps her push her addiction aside and takes away all areas of compulsion. Rose and Connor additionally offer a space of rest bite for Lily. This book has a true theme of found family and it is beautiful to read about.
The secondary plot line of this book revolves around Lily's re-introduction to university (or college) and cohabitation with her sister Rose. The sisterhood between the Calloway girls is a strong theme within this series and this book does not let down easy. If it wasn't for my already existing adoration of Lily's character Rose would certainly be a fan favourite. She pushes Lily to accept her addiction without judgement or guilt. She organises the therapy sessions and drives Lily to become the best version of herself - addiction and all.
I genuinely enjoyed this story and found it to be a perfect filler book to show readers how the separation of Lily and Lo affected each other. One thing I will say was a letdown is the lack of Lo in this book - which is obviously understandable!
A previous version of this review had the dates read incorrectly written.
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