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5 stars

“I’ll always be yours. No distance or time apart will change that, Lily. You need to believe that.��

One of my favourite tropes is when someone believes they’re hard to love, but there is someone who loves them like it’s breathing. It’s so Lily and Loren.

Addicted To You has everything. The drama is intense, the plot is more character-driven, but it’s so addicting, just like its title. The angst is real, and the pain is heartbreaking. The way Lily and Loren live their lives destroyed me, and it still does, even though I know they survived everything and every battle. They are two people so dependent on each other and their addictions that they are ready to lie for their entire lives to the whole world. And let me tell you, they are so good at lying and compartmentalising that you would start to hate them. But I understand them, and I love them.

“But Lo and I…�� I try to find the words. “We may not be good for each other, but sometimes I feel like he’s the only guy who could ever love me.��

Lily Calloway, my magical fairy and my favourite girl. She has a sex addiction, and I’m glad the authors are shedding light on such an important topic in some women’s lives. It’s a crucial issue that often gets overlooked, and I appreciate how they’re tackling it with sensitivity and depth. Lily is the quiet one in their group, and she’d rather bury her fears with sex than talk about them with the people who care about her. I love her so much, and I know she’s not perfect, but she just deserves the best. She needed someone to be there for her, and I get it, and she’s too good at pushing people away, even her sisters. But I am so proud of her for finally talking about her issues with Rose and her friends. I hated that she felt like she wasn’t a “normal�� girl just because she has a sex addiction, and nobody had the right to call her names.

“Come here.�� He draws me to his chest and then kisses my forehead. “I’ll do better. I’ll try harder for you.�� He rubs my back, keeping me in the warm embrace for quite some time. I want to live here. In his arms. Where I know it’s safe.


Loren Hale is so “This is me trying�� coded. Rebellious and a functioning alcoholic, Loren is really not a bad guy, but you just have to try hard to see his sweetest side. I know it because I’ve seen this man grow into the most amazing person in the world, and that’s why he’ll always be my favourite character ever. He’s so down for Lily, and I love it so much. He says mean things, pushes people away, and hates people (I don’t blame him for that). I was also so proud of him when he was finally ready to deal with his addictions. Lo hit his rock bottom, and even though he was ready to be better, his father, the biggest asshole, refused to accept that something was wrong with his son. His whole life had been a lie because of his messed-up father, and I get why Lo loves him, even after everything. When Jonathan Hale chose Lo when there was no one else in the world ready to accept him, that just breaks my heart even more. Lo deserves the best in this world.

“I’m not one of your conquests,�� he says in a throaty voice. “I know what you want, and you don’t need to take it. I can give it to you.��


Lily and Loren. Best friends. Lovers. Liars. The most toxic, messy, and dysfunctional couple, but if I were to define the word “soulmates,�� I would always choose these two. They are the reason I believe in soulmatism. There are so many things I love about them, and one of my favorites is how they tease each other and the easygoing relationship and friendship they have. They hurt each other and never talk about their addictions because that would mean accepting that they’re not so right for each other because of their addictions. But you can’t separate Lily from Loren or Loren from Lily. They’ve spent most of their lives together, and it’s natural for them to be dependent on each other. Like Lily said, it was like they were married for the better part of their lives.

“I love you, but I want to love you enough that I never choose alcohol over you. Not even for a moment. I want to be someone you deserve. Who helps you rather than enables you, and I can’t begin to do that until I get help for myself.��

Their addictions are different from one another’s, but everything becomes more intense once their addictions start affecting their newly formed relationship. They’re so dependent on sex and booze that they’d do anything not to create havoc in their already messed-up life. They’re not ready to let go of their addictions, so they can’t ask the other to stop, because that would be the most selfish thing, and they love each other too much to do it. I’m so proud of both of them that they’re finally trying to help themselves with their addictions. It took them years to get there, but at least they’re doing it for each other, but mostly for themselves, which is the best reason.

“If I could be enough to fill you, would you let me?�� I look at him.
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“Then let me try,�� he says, his hand cupping my face. “Let me try to be enough for you.��

I also love seeing Connor and Lo together, and their friend circle became even more interesting when Ryke entered the picture. They are all so dramatic, and I love them.

Rose Calloway is the best sister in the world. My first impression of her was that she was so nosy, but I couldn’t stop loving her after realising that she was as lonely as Lily and just wanted to be there for her little sister. The way she helped Lily and listened to her without any judgement or questions was just so precious.

Connor Cobalt, the narcissistic guy who loves to insult people in the most creative ways, but is a total goner for Rose Calloway. He’s always paying attention to fashion because Rose is a fashion designer, and her opinion matters to him. I still can’t believe Lily and Loren thought he was asexual.

Ryke Meadows, I loved him and his grumpy personality. But mostly, I loved how he refused to back down from anything. Even though Lo was literally ready to fuck Lily in front of him, Ryke never backed down from helping Lo with his addiction.

Addictions are the worst thing in this world. I always tried to see Lily and Loren in a different light. Yes, they were annoying, but it was also so painful to watch them destroy their lives because of their addictions. They didn’t care about their friends or family, and that can be so frustrating at times. But they are only human, and they don’t know how to navigate or live their lives without depending on their addictions and their luxurious lifestyle. All they ever needed was just a little bit of help and support from their friends and family.

The ending broke my heart. Everything seemed fine, but then shit started hitting the fan in the last 50 pages, and it was BAD. I was literally sobbing reading the last three chapters. I know Lily and Loren have a very, very long road ahead of them to finally reach the place where they’re the happiest, but one thing I’m sure of is that no matter what happens, they will always stand by each other’s side.

“Don’t change too much,�� I tell him. I fear he’ll return and won’t fit within my life anymore. He’ll grow beyond me while I stay stagnant and alone.
“Only the bad parts,�� he says.

�� Second read: January 2024 �� 5 stars
�� First read: August 2022 �� 5 stars

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I just want to inject lily and loren's story in my mind, body, blood and soul ❤️‍�� Review soon!!

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Starting my 2024 with my found family 🥺❤️‍�� I'm so scared of all the heartbreaking moments even though I know they survived 😭