Crossed Off

random retro read

Collin Wells is relentless and ruthless, and he’ll stop at nothing to get what he his foster sister, the girl who always manages to slip through his fingers.

Holly’s foster brother has haunted her footsteps for years—taunting her, toying with her—and until recently, she never dared to stop running and build a life for herself. Now, everyone she loves is in danger. How can she protect the people she loves when her foster brother comes to collect?

My Review:

This series has been intense but this third book is, well, brutal! I’ve been putting it off for months now because I knew from reviews that this story is very hard to read in places and I was honestly dreading it. But, I love Holly and all these characters (well, except for…) and I knew I just had to brave my way through this one so I could continue on with the series. Sound ominous? It really is!

So, first thing to know: the Holly series needs to be read in order, both for the developing suspense plot (all kinds of freaky stalker vibes) and the relationships. Honestly, for me, Crossed Off’s saving grace comes from the deep friendships and strong sense of found family that forms a buffer between Holly and untold brutality.

I basked in those bonding scenes. Holly’s fierce loyalty, the teasing among her friends, the pranks she plays on Marx, the wary friendship she has with Jordan. All these characters have become real people to me and I savoured every second with them.

The flip side is that the suspense goes way beyond gut-wrenching. Almost unbearable. Definitely pushed me way past my comfort zone in places. Tough situations, serious crimes, Holly’s backstory is heart breaking and she’s facing the worst of it all over again. I honestly had to read this book in stages, giving myself a reprieve with a lighthearted read before picking it up again and I’ve never had to do that before in my eons of reading!

So, not for the faint of heart, but a rich, satisfying, if emotionally draining, read that left me loving Holly and company all the more!

9 thoughts on “Crossed Off”

  1. This is easily my favorite series, but this book was difficult to read. I marked in my paperback a few scenes to skip when I lent the book out. Thankfully, they get less intense from here on out. Cross Roads (#5) was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I am anxiously awaiting Cross Bones!

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    1. I love both that you lend out your books and you were thoughtful enough to mark out the scenes to be skipped. I got about halfway through and thought maybe I could dnf and continue and continue on with the next book but there is so much depth in the character development and the friendships that I knew I’d be missing out on some important stuff if I did and I was right!

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  2. CROSSED OFF and the whole series sounds like amazing reads. How have I never heard of it? It always amazing me to find a new series that sounds like a must read. Thank you for the heads up on the series and the warnings on this amazing sounding book.

    Have a fantastic Good Friday and a blessed Easter weekend!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  3. Uh…no. I know this is a popular series, but I just can’t. While y’all BRAVE ones are over there reading Crossed Off, this GENTLE reader will be over here reading A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro. (It went on sale for 2.99 a few days ago and I grabbed it.)

    I think it’s great there are so many reading options, but I have figured out my limits and stick within the gentle to medium range when it comes to my reading choices.

    Happy reading Friday to all!

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    1. I might have though, ‘this is definitely not a Tracey book’ a time or two as I read this one. 🙂 Eeeeeeeppppp. I am so excited that you are reading A Simple Kindness in Flatsboror!!!! It’s exquisite! Happy dancing for you!

      And speaking of sales….I was perusing my audible wishlist as one does nearly daily 🙂 and noticed that every single book on my list (22 pages long!) was on sale. Like most of them were drastically on sale. Still are for the entire week! I have never been able to participate in a sale like that — very kindle-ish pricing. Like most were $3 – $4!!!!! I might have gone a bit crazy. First day I spent over an hour, seriously studying all my options and finally decided on 5. I was thrilled. Great deals and I was prudent with my purchases. But then, the second day I threw caution to the wind and ended up with 40 titles in my cart, managed to pare it down to 21 which I bought with nary a qualm, and, oh dear, the sale lasts until the 8th!

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      1. Oh! I’m so happy for you finding all those great priced books. Now you understand what it feels like with KU for me. Sounds like that same thrill. Definitely how I felt when I saw your recommendation on A Simple Kindness in Flatsboro on sale for 1/3 of the usual price.

        I am gasping at your 22 PAGES of books on your wishlist!!! WOW! I guess your 2 day shopping spree took care of a page or two. Sometimes those sales are really worth it, audible books seem to be pricey. This sale is reader approved so have at it 😉

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  4. Oh boy, I can’t wait for you to read it and tells us what you think! I can hardly wait for the second book coming this summer, I bet it’s going to be even better with the set up from the first book.

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