Diary of a bookworm

Did I Mention I Love You? – Estelle Maskame

Content Notes:

Published/Pages: 2015/415

POV: Single – Heroine (Hero’s perspective is another book – Just Don’t Mention It)

Trope: Forbidden Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity

Goodreads Bookshelves: Contemporary Romance, Enemies to lovers, favorites, forbidden romance, forced proximity, high school romance, summer romance, virgin heroine

HEA: No

Steam Level: Sweet

Swearing: Moderate

Trigger Warnings: Addiction, Alcohol, Anxiety, Bullying, Cheating, Child Abuse, Divorce, Drugs, Eating Disorder, Panic Attacks, PTSD

My Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Book Description: Love is everything but expected. Eden Munro came to California for a summer of sun, sand and celebrities – what better way to be a regular girl and forget about the drama back home? Until she meets her new family of strangers: a dad she hasn’t seen in three years, a stepmonster and three stepbrothers. Eden gets her own room in her dad’s fancy house in Santa Monica. A room right next door to her oldest stepbrother, Tyler Bruce. Whom she cannot stand. He’s got angry green eyes and ego bigger than a Beverly Hills mansion. She’s never felt such intense dislike for someone. But the two are constantly thrown together as his group of friends pull her into their world of rule-breaking, partying and pier-hanging. And the more she tries to understand what makes Tyler burn hotter than the California sun, the more Eden finds herself falling for the one person she shouldn’t…

My Goodreads Review (No Spoilers)

My Review (w/spoilers):

So, this is book one of the DIMILY series and they can not be read as standalones. There is a total of three, and the fourth is the first book written from Tyler’s perspective – Just Don’t Mention It. While some people really don’t like it when authors do this, I really do, especially with this book. Tyler is a complex character, and you gain a much better understanding of who he is. It does, however, have flashbacks to his childhood and his abuse. It was hard to read, so definitely be aware of that. No matter what, whether you read both perspectives or only one, you will still have an understanding of the entire story. 

I REALLY enjoyed this book. This is the first forbidden romance I’ve read, and I was unsure if I would like it or be too uncomfortable, as I have many stepbrothers. BUT I was not uncomfortable at all. I think a big part of that is because they didn’t grow up with each other, they were almost out of high school when they first met. As Tyler says; “Three weeks ago I didn’t even know who you were. I don’t see you as a sister, okay? You’re just some girl I’ve met. How the hell is it fair to label us as siblings?” 

“Forgiveness shouldn’t be expected : It should be earned.” -Eden

This story spans a summer, and you don’t realize, but the story almost goes day by day. Mrs. Maskame does a good job at filling the time, without it feeling like it’s being dragged out. 

Tyler is a truly flawed character and I found myself rooting for him, to find his peace. Especially after such a terrible childhood. I was not a fan of Eden’s dad. The guy was kind of a douche. I really liked Tyler’s little brothers; they were cute. My heart broke a little when Jamie broke his wrist and Tyler was super triggered. 

“I really wish you hadn’t said sorry for it. Because apologizing means regretting.” -Tyler

I read some reviews where people said that this story allows women to be used as rehabilitation centers, it glorifies toxic relationships, and it had terrible side characters. I think people are seriously missing the entire point of this story. FIRST, in my opinion, people can be used as rehabilitation centers. Sometimes there is no way out of the darkness without certain people. For Tyler it was Eden. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. Which leads to my next point. If a relationship ever becomes toxic, then the relationship should end. But that’s up to each person involved to decide on their own. In this story, Tyler is involved with Tiffany and it is ridiculously toxic. But I don’t see it being toxic. Tyler wants out, BADLY. But he doesn’t see any way out. A kid of trauma and abuse tends to find more trauma and abuse, unfortunately. Lastly, OF COURSE the side characters are terrible. That’s part of the story. I don’t think they were all terrible. Dean, Tyler’s mom and Eden’s mom were great side characters. 

“What is it with you, Eden?” he asked quietly, but his back is turned and he’s staring out the window at the ground below. “You’re not supposed to figure me out. No one is.” -Tyler

Anyway, people were really judgmental of this book, but I think this story is a really beautiful one. Tyler finds peace in Eden after living such a difficult life. Yeah, he’s still flawed and not the best version of himself.  But that’s why there are two other books. It’s called CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. 

The ending is so gut wrenching. UGH! I was with Tyler when he said that after he broke up with Tiffany, his first thoughts were “I can finally be with Eden”. Poor guy. 

Even worse, the epilogue throws us 10 months into the future. Where She’s with Tyler’s best friend Dean and they’ve had to pretend they don’t love each other. It also shows us Tyler graduating from High School and leaving for New York, setting us up for the second book. “I’ll see you next summer, Eden”. The first book is free (via Kindle Unlimited) and the others you have to buy. Which I did! That’s how much I loved them. 

Altogether, a really fantastic book, that I will most definitely read again! 

(Writing this review, I have read the entire series. And I have to say that this series is one of my absolute favorites.) 

This is book 1 out of 4 in the DIMILY series. It is NOT a standalone.