ARC Review: Still by Kennedy Ryan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Grip #2
Release - September 24, 2017
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Trope - brother's best friend
Dual POV - 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Length - 390 pages
Review of the prequel, Flow
Review of book 1, Grip

I'll be there.
Through thick and thin.
Ride or die.
You can count on me.

The promises people make. The vows we take.
Assumptions of the heart.

Emotion tells us how we feel, but life... life has a way of plunging us in boiling water, burning away our illusions, testing our faith, trying our convictions.
Love floating is a butterfly, but love tested is an anchor.

For Grip and Bristol
Love started at the top of the world
On a Ferris wheel under the stars
But when that love is tested, will they fly or fall?

Find your copy of Still here:
Goodreads | Amazon
FREE with Kindle Unlimited

MY REVIEW

Always… evermore… even after… still

This story was poignant… passionate… emotionally consuming… perfect. I wasn’t sure how Kennedy Ryan could improve on the perfection that was Grip. I was already enamored and thoroughly satisfied with the way Bristol and Grip’s story concluded. But after reading Still, I’m now even more in love and enchanted by this couple.

Initially I imagined writing a review that was both lyrical and magical to do this story justice. However, I realized that there was no way I could come up with something as poetic and impassioned as this book. Once again, the author plucked out issues that are still oppressing many in our society today, whether it be racism, general bigotry, or injustice. If you thought Grip was passionate before, you ain’t seen nothing yet. In Still, Grip really comes into his own. With Bristol by his side, they could conquer anything. Negative thoughts, negative words, and negative people don’t stand a chance against the ferocity and certainty of their love.

It’s not to say that everything was sunshine and rainbows for this couple. They stood up against those who had nothing nice to say about their relationship. Those that viewed it as unnatural (it’s so sad that there are people who still think like this) and those who tried to force them apart. They withstood loss and the grief that goes along with that. They even continued to fight for each other, which I thought was the most beautiful thing about this couple. In their hearts, there was never any doubt that they belonged together. Never any doubt that they would love each other forever.

Always… evermore… even after… still

This story made me laugh, cry, weep, sob, think, hurt, and sing. It made me FEEL!! There was so much passion and compassion throughout each page. There was understanding, misery, kindness, generosity, purity, honesty, openness, vulnerability, intelligence, and so much fight. This journey wasn’t easy. This journey wasn’t fun. However, this journey was made even more beautiful and worthwhile because of how hard Bristol and Grip worked for it.

Dwell in possibility.

This was by far the best book I’ve read in 2017. A story that I will not soon forget. This was a book that will be read over and over and over again. A story that I picture to be timeless. A book that should have the “classic” status attached. A story that I recommend to everyone, whether you’re a fan of romance or not. Because although this was a romance novel, it was so much more than that and I think anyone who is aware or “woke” can definitely appreciate it. I could only reward this story a max of 5 stars, but it was worth ALL the stars!!