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Calloway Sisters #2
Hothouse Flower
Ryke Meadows, meet Daisy Calloway ... she’s all grown up.
Twenty-five-year-old Ryke Meadows knows he’s hard to love. With a billion-dollar inheritance, a track-star resume, and an alpha-male personality—he redefines the term likable asshole. But he’s not living to make friends. Or enemies. He just wants to free climb three of the toughest mountains in Yosemite without drama or interruption.
And then he receives a distressed call from a girl in Paris—a girl that he has never been allowed to have.
Daisy Calloway is eighteen. Finally. With her newfound independence, she can say goodbye to her overbearing mother and continue her modeling career. Next stop, Paris. Fashion Week begins with a bang, and Daisy uncovers the ugly reality of the industry. She wants to prove to her family that she can live on her own, but when everything spirals out of control, she turns to Ryke to keep her secrets.
As Daisy struggles to make sense of this new world and her freedom, she pushes the limits and fearlessly rides the edge. Ryke knows there’s deep hurt beneath every impulsive action. He must keep up with Daisy, and if he lets her go, her favorite motto—“live as if you’ll die today”—may just come true.
New Adult Romance: recommended for readers 18+ for mature content
***Authors' Note***
Hothouse Flower is a spin-off of the Addicted series. Kiss the Sky is required before reading, and we strongly recommend reading the Addicted series before this spin-off.
Twenty-five-year-old Ryke Meadows knows he’s hard to love. With a billion-dollar inheritance, a track-star resume, and an alpha-male personality—he redefines the term likable asshole. But he’s not living to make friends. Or enemies. He just wants to free climb three of the toughest mountains in Yosemite without drama or interruption.
And then he receives a distressed call from a girl in Paris—a girl that he has never been allowed to have.
Daisy Calloway is eighteen. Finally. With her newfound independence, she can say goodbye to her overbearing mother and continue her modeling career. Next stop, Paris. Fashion Week begins with a bang, and Daisy uncovers the ugly reality of the industry. She wants to prove to her family that she can live on her own, but when everything spirals out of control, she turns to Ryke to keep her secrets.
As Daisy struggles to make sense of this new world and her freedom, she pushes the limits and fearlessly rides the edge. Ryke knows there’s deep hurt beneath every impulsive action. He must keep up with Daisy, and if he lets her go, her favorite motto—“live as if you’ll die today”—may just come true.
New Adult Romance: recommended for readers 18+ for mature content
***Authors' Note***
Hothouse Flower is a spin-off of the Addicted series. Kiss the Sky is required before reading, and we strongly recommend reading the Addicted series before this spin-off.
479 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2014
About the author
Krista Ritchie
41 books16.2k followersNYT & USA Today Bestselling Authors Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins—one a science nerd, the other a comic book geek—but with their shared passion for writing, they combined their mental powers as kids and have never stopped telling stories. They love superheroes, flawed characters, and soul mate love.
To stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more, sign up for Krista & Becca's Newsletter: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter
Quick note: We don't check Goodreads, so we don't respond to messages here. But if you want to connect with Becca or me, you can reach out to us on our social medias or at our website: www.kbritchie.com
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
Fans of Krista & Becca's Books:
♥ Join Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force Facebook group.
♥ Inspiration for the Addicted series can be found on their Pinterest boards.
♥ Find playlists for all of their books on Spotify
♥ Check out all of their extras! Including: bonus scenes, character interviews, fun posts and more on their Extras page.
To stay up to date on new releases, bonus content, and more, sign up for Krista & Becca's Newsletter: www.kbritchie.com/newsletter
Quick note: We don't check Goodreads, so we don't respond to messages here. But if you want to connect with Becca or me, you can reach out to us on our social medias or at our website: www.kbritchie.com
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
Fans of Krista & Becca's Books:
♥ Join Krista & Becca's Fizzle Force Facebook group.
♥ Inspiration for the Addicted series can be found on their Pinterest boards.
♥ Find playlists for all of their books on Spotify
♥ Check out all of their extras! Including: bonus scenes, character interviews, fun posts and more on their Extras page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,082 reviews
October 24, 2021
hey meadows I know you’re into rock-climbing, well i’m here to tell you i’m into ryke climbing 🧎♀️ that’s it. that’s all I have to say.
August 5, 2023
“you’re a hothouse flower,” i tell her. “you can’t grow under natural conditions. you need adventure. and security and love in order to stay alive.”
“daisy’s lips leave mine, and a gorgeous fucking smile overtakes her face. her light restored. powered up and fucking charged. my hothouse flower that i will keep alive.”
5 stars? no. that’s not enough for raisy. infinity stars isn’t enough for my babies either. i love this book more than daisy and ryke love each other. raisy has consumed me from the very beginning. their build up was so good, i think raisy is my love at first sight moment🤭🤭i finally got to their book and i still crave more of them🥺they are my favorite couple and this is definitely my favorite book of the series. i know i’ve said that about all the books, but this one is different. i feel like this book alone could put me in a year long reading slump if i let it. i want to keep reading books in their pov😭i seriously cannot wait for “long way down” because i know that book is theirs hehe🤭i feel like this book and this couple is so underrated, but my review will do them justice…they deserve it🥹🩵
daisy calloway. i love everything about her character. she’s a sunshine girl, she’s adventurous, she’s so kind/loving, she’s obsessed with chocolate (so me), etc. but behind these thick and beautiful layers is a girl with a lot of trauma :( i don’t even wanna bring it up because it hurts me and i wanna cry all over again for her. her nightmares/night terrors omg the amount of hugs i wanted to give daisy throughout this book😔she’s so strong and even when she’s going through a lot, she’s always looking out for the ones that she loves.
ryke meadows. i love this man. my husband🤭he’s such a grump, he can sometimes be an asshole, his favorite curse word is “fuck”😂, but his love is so precious. i’m not only talking about his love for daisy, but his love for lo and everyone he cares about. that’s what made me fall in love with his character from the very beginning. he was by lo’s side through his recovery and never left him, he looked out for lily when lo was in rehab, he protected/took care of daisy and also never left her side🥹ryke meadows is a lot of beautiful things. he’s funny, he’s brave (he literally free climbs😭), he’s compassionate, he’s an athlete, he’s smart, etc. but he’s also a man who had a rough childhood😔my heart achessssss ugh. i love the man he became despite his rough childhood. ryke and daisy deserve the world.
“he’s like my wolf—dangerous, alluring and protective—but i can never get close enough or else he’ll bite.”
“he’s my wolf, and i seriously wonder if he’ll bite me today.”
“what are you doing?” he asks roughly.
“sleeping,” i say with a smile.
“when did i become your fucking pillow?” he asks lightly.
“shhh,” it’s safe here.
“i’m tailing you when you leave, by the way.”
“you’re supposed to be my pillow, not my bodyguard,” i remind him. “i already have one of those.”
“he can’t keep up with you.”
“didn’t you hear? he was a very uncomfortable pillow.”
“i thought i was your fucking pillow.” MMM THE JEALOUSY😩
“ryke meadows has invigorated my body and soul. he’s more than just my pillow. my wolf. my bodyguard. he’s my everything.”
SCREAMING CRYING THROWING THE FUCK UP. guys😭how can you not just absolutely adore raisy!? just wait, there’s more😭
“you’re my wolf.”
“cute,” i say.
“the cutest?” she smiles.
“i could use a ryke meadows pillow. i smile at the thought.”
“big bad wolf, are you going to eat me?”
you’re a dirty girl, calloway. my gaze drops to her mouth. “until you fucking scream.” damn😩🥵
“the ink on her skin forms a dream catcher, with three feathers. but along the frame is a small design of a wolf, protecting all of her restless and wild fucking dreams from the bad.”
“i love the tattoo. i love her. i love this—being able to kiss her without fear.”
after all these wolf references…her tattoo melted my heart completely. i just KNOW the tattoo is beautiful too and i know it looks beautiful on daisy, i don’t even need to see it. ryke is her big bad wolf that protects her from her nightmares, ugh they’re such a beautiful fucking couple.
“want to know a secret?” she whispers.
“sure,”
she smiles and says, “you’re my favorite four-letter word.”
she makes the corniest pickup lines sound like the sexiest things i’ve ever heard.
“the word fuck didn’t do anything for you?”
“you’ve desensitized me to it. it might as well be as powerful as the word foot.”
i lean into her ear and lower my voice. “you won’t be saying that when i actually fuck you.”
you guys wanna know a secret? raisy is my favorite five-letter word. also can i just rant about how fucking hot ryke meadows is…i’m a slut for him🙈the things that he says to daisy, the beings he does for her, and especially the things he does to her🫠🦋been on my knees for this man for so long. he’s so yummy. me personally?!? i think he fucks just as good as loren hale…maybe even better!?!🫣don’t attack me😭ALSO he’s fluent in spanish, french, russian, and italian. hot🥵
ryke and daisy are hands down the most selfless out of the core 6. daisy kept all of her trauma to herself just because she didn’t want to burden her sisters :( and one of ryke’s main priorities is to take care of lo and make sure he stays sober. raisy owns me hehe. i will protect them at all costs🤭
more favorite moments:
- ryke calling daisy “sweetheart”😭even before they started dating he always called her this.
- ryke watching daisy do certain things and thinking she’s cute while she’s doing them🥹
- ryke always making sure daisy eats because she starved herself as a model :(
- all the chocolate references😭in ricochet, daisy told ryke that chocolate is better than sex…the way that changed real quick once they had sex👀
- the way ryke flew to paris because he was worried sick about daisy (they were also still just friends at this point)😭😭😭😭😭
- daisy got hurt during a riot in paris, she was bleeding and unconscious, and there was so much traffic so ryke picked her up and ran three fucking miles to the nearest hospital and saved her life😭
- the trip to california
- the core 6 camping together
- lily, rose, and daisy swimming naked in body of water that had leeches
- finding out lo’s bday is on halloween…and that he’s a scorpio just like my bf so now i have two scorpio bfs and lily is a leo like ME. it’s true besties, scorpios and leos are soulmates🤭
- ryke being fluent in french so he was able to translate everything coballoway was saying🤭🤭🤭loved that so much omg
- the tent scene, the car speeding down an open freeway scene, the cornfield scene, the motorcycle scene…these live in my head RENT FUCKING FREE😩i love good spicy scenes hehe 10/10.
- there’s a beauty and the beast reference…if you know me, you know my love for that movie so you know how much this means to me😭🥀
- ryke cutting daisy’s hair and then her dying it herself.
- the snowball fight between raisy, lilo, and coballoway😭
- lilo and coballoway omg just…i can’t say because of spoilers but omg.
- connor and ryke’s bromance…i love it when my bf’s get along🤭🤭
- @sabrina in my comment section reminding me of the hotel scene omg idk how i forgot that😭
- daisy’s theories
words cannot express how much i love this book.
- “you know that theory i have about friends not being forever…or even for awhile? well, every theory has an exception. ryke is mine.”
raisy’s friendship…let me just say daisy had some SERIOUS restraint. i would’ve climbed ryke like he climbs mountains. also just the way ryke was the only one that knew about daisy’s trauma for years so he took care of her in private😭he would sleep in her bed at her apartment with her every night just to make her feel safe. he also would keep a gun under his pillow and check all the doors/windows to make sure they were locked. he was daisy’s best friend, her protector. i lived for all the raisy moments in the previous books and seeing these two characters come to life and have their povs was everything to me🥹i can’t wait to see their relationship blossom as i continue with this series. they’re alike in so many ways. they’re both wild, crazy, and love adventures. every time daisy would do something crazy, he would follow in her footsteps and do the same to make sure she was okay.
- “you jump, i jump. that’s how this works, dais.”
alexa play “my heart will go on” by céline dion. *starts screaming* NEAR, FARRR, WHEREVER YOU AREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! sorry just a little titanic moment hahaha.
daisy is the light to ryke’s darkness
i don’t think twice. i sprint after him, taking off.
“i was waiting for the sun to chase me,” he breathes, drawing me to his chest. he whispers, “i fucking love you.”
i smile. “guess what?”
“what?”
“i love you more than chocolate cake.”
AHHHHHH i’m swooning😩😩😩i love raisy. raisy raisy raisy, they have become my whole personality. they hold a very special place in my heart and they always have and always will <3
i wanna end my review with more of my favorite quotes from my favorite book, enjoy hehe:
- “she’s the sun. i’m the dark. if she’s gone, i can kiss that fucking light away. without her, i know i’ll never see it again.”
- “i love you, dais, because you’re the wildest fucking girl with the biggest fucking heart. and without you in my life, i’d be the unhappiest fucking guy.”
- “you don’t need to replace me. you can have me, sweetheart.”
- “it’s like daisy calloway is powered by the sun.”
- “every theory you’ve ever fucking had about men, i’m going to prove you wrong.”
- “ryke says sweetheart with so much force that it conflicts with the mildness. i wonder if that’s us. soft to his hard. sweet to his rough. wild to his stone. i like it.”
- “he carried you. you were in his arms when he reached the hospital doors. he arrived about ten minutes before anyone else from the riot.”
- “i think my health is best when i’m with ryke.”
- “i think i could live underneath ryke meadows, under his weight and protection, and be satisfied for life.”
- “i can’t get over the smile on her face. the camera caught her mid-laugh. she’s gorgeous. and she’s mine.”
- “live in the moment with ryke meadows. if i ever die, i want that written across my headstone.”
- “it’s nighttime. i hate nighttime unless i’m wrapped in his arms.”
ps: i agree with larissa’s (aka larry reads, go subscribe to her youtube rn) review of this book… “hey meadows i know you’re into rock-climbing, well i’m here to tell you i’m into ryke climbing. that’s it. that’s all i have to say.” 😂YES SAME. i love larry so much and fun fact…she convinced me to read this beautiful series hehe. live. laugh. larry.🤭🤭
“daisy’s lips leave mine, and a gorgeous fucking smile overtakes her face. her light restored. powered up and fucking charged. my hothouse flower that i will keep alive.”
5 stars? no. that’s not enough for raisy. infinity stars isn’t enough for my babies either. i love this book more than daisy and ryke love each other. raisy has consumed me from the very beginning. their build up was so good, i think raisy is my love at first sight moment🤭🤭i finally got to their book and i still crave more of them🥺they are my favorite couple and this is definitely my favorite book of the series. i know i’ve said that about all the books, but this one is different. i feel like this book alone could put me in a year long reading slump if i let it. i want to keep reading books in their pov😭i seriously cannot wait for “long way down” because i know that book is theirs hehe🤭i feel like this book and this couple is so underrated, but my review will do them justice…they deserve it🥹🩵
daisy calloway. i love everything about her character. she’s a sunshine girl, she’s adventurous, she’s so kind/loving, she’s obsessed with chocolate (so me), etc. but behind these thick and beautiful layers is a girl with a lot of trauma :( i don’t even wanna bring it up because it hurts me and i wanna cry all over again for her. her nightmares/night terrors omg the amount of hugs i wanted to give daisy throughout this book😔she’s so strong and even when she’s going through a lot, she’s always looking out for the ones that she loves.
ryke meadows. i love this man. my husband🤭he’s such a grump, he can sometimes be an asshole, his favorite curse word is “fuck”😂, but his love is so precious. i’m not only talking about his love for daisy, but his love for lo and everyone he cares about. that’s what made me fall in love with his character from the very beginning. he was by lo’s side through his recovery and never left him, he looked out for lily when lo was in rehab, he protected/took care of daisy and also never left her side🥹ryke meadows is a lot of beautiful things. he’s funny, he’s brave (he literally free climbs😭), he’s compassionate, he’s an athlete, he’s smart, etc. but he’s also a man who had a rough childhood😔my heart achessssss ugh. i love the man he became despite his rough childhood. ryke and daisy deserve the world.
“he’s like my wolf—dangerous, alluring and protective—but i can never get close enough or else he’ll bite.”
“he’s my wolf, and i seriously wonder if he’ll bite me today.”
“what are you doing?” he asks roughly.
“sleeping,” i say with a smile.
“when did i become your fucking pillow?” he asks lightly.
“shhh,” it’s safe here.
“i’m tailing you when you leave, by the way.”
“you’re supposed to be my pillow, not my bodyguard,” i remind him. “i already have one of those.”
“he can’t keep up with you.”
“didn’t you hear? he was a very uncomfortable pillow.”
“i thought i was your fucking pillow.” MMM THE JEALOUSY😩
“ryke meadows has invigorated my body and soul. he’s more than just my pillow. my wolf. my bodyguard. he’s my everything.”
SCREAMING CRYING THROWING THE FUCK UP. guys😭how can you not just absolutely adore raisy!? just wait, there’s more😭
“you’re my wolf.”
“cute,” i say.
“the cutest?” she smiles.
“i could use a ryke meadows pillow. i smile at the thought.”
“big bad wolf, are you going to eat me?”
you’re a dirty girl, calloway. my gaze drops to her mouth. “until you fucking scream.” damn😩🥵
“the ink on her skin forms a dream catcher, with three feathers. but along the frame is a small design of a wolf, protecting all of her restless and wild fucking dreams from the bad.”
“i love the tattoo. i love her. i love this—being able to kiss her without fear.”
after all these wolf references…her tattoo melted my heart completely. i just KNOW the tattoo is beautiful too and i know it looks beautiful on daisy, i don’t even need to see it. ryke is her big bad wolf that protects her from her nightmares, ugh they’re such a beautiful fucking couple.
“want to know a secret?” she whispers.
“sure,”
she smiles and says, “you’re my favorite four-letter word.”
she makes the corniest pickup lines sound like the sexiest things i’ve ever heard.
“the word fuck didn’t do anything for you?”
“you’ve desensitized me to it. it might as well be as powerful as the word foot.”
i lean into her ear and lower my voice. “you won’t be saying that when i actually fuck you.”
you guys wanna know a secret? raisy is my favorite five-letter word. also can i just rant about how fucking hot ryke meadows is…i’m a slut for him🙈the things that he says to daisy, the beings he does for her, and especially the things he does to her🫠🦋been on my knees for this man for so long. he’s so yummy. me personally?!? i think he fucks just as good as loren hale…maybe even better!?!🫣don’t attack me😭ALSO he’s fluent in spanish, french, russian, and italian. hot🥵
ryke and daisy are hands down the most selfless out of the core 6. daisy kept all of her trauma to herself just because she didn’t want to burden her sisters :( and one of ryke’s main priorities is to take care of lo and make sure he stays sober. raisy owns me hehe. i will protect them at all costs🤭
more favorite moments:
- ryke calling daisy “sweetheart”😭even before they started dating he always called her this.
- ryke watching daisy do certain things and thinking she’s cute while she’s doing them🥹
- ryke always making sure daisy eats because she starved herself as a model :(
- all the chocolate references😭in ricochet, daisy told ryke that chocolate is better than sex…the way that changed real quick once they had sex👀
- the way ryke flew to paris because he was worried sick about daisy (they were also still just friends at this point)😭😭😭😭😭
- daisy got hurt during a riot in paris, she was bleeding and unconscious, and there was so much traffic so ryke picked her up and ran three fucking miles to the nearest hospital and saved her life😭
- the trip to california
- the core 6 camping together
- lily, rose, and daisy swimming naked in body of water that had leeches
- finding out lo’s bday is on halloween…and that he’s a scorpio just like my bf so now i have two scorpio bfs and lily is a leo like ME. it’s true besties, scorpios and leos are soulmates🤭
- ryke being fluent in french so he was able to translate everything coballoway was saying🤭🤭🤭loved that so much omg
- the tent scene, the car speeding down an open freeway scene, the cornfield scene, the motorcycle scene…these live in my head RENT FUCKING FREE😩i love good spicy scenes hehe 10/10.
- there’s a beauty and the beast reference…if you know me, you know my love for that movie so you know how much this means to me😭🥀
- ryke cutting daisy’s hair and then her dying it herself.
- the snowball fight between raisy, lilo, and coballoway😭
- lilo and coballoway omg just…i can’t say because of spoilers but omg.
- connor and ryke’s bromance…i love it when my bf’s get along🤭🤭
- @sabrina in my comment section reminding me of the hotel scene omg idk how i forgot that😭
- daisy’s theories
words cannot express how much i love this book.
- “you know that theory i have about friends not being forever…or even for awhile? well, every theory has an exception. ryke is mine.”
raisy’s friendship…let me just say daisy had some SERIOUS restraint. i would’ve climbed ryke like he climbs mountains. also just the way ryke was the only one that knew about daisy’s trauma for years so he took care of her in private😭he would sleep in her bed at her apartment with her every night just to make her feel safe. he also would keep a gun under his pillow and check all the doors/windows to make sure they were locked. he was daisy’s best friend, her protector. i lived for all the raisy moments in the previous books and seeing these two characters come to life and have their povs was everything to me🥹i can’t wait to see their relationship blossom as i continue with this series. they’re alike in so many ways. they’re both wild, crazy, and love adventures. every time daisy would do something crazy, he would follow in her footsteps and do the same to make sure she was okay.
- “you jump, i jump. that’s how this works, dais.”
alexa play “my heart will go on” by céline dion. *starts screaming* NEAR, FARRR, WHEREVER YOU AREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! sorry just a little titanic moment hahaha.
daisy is the light to ryke’s darkness
i don’t think twice. i sprint after him, taking off.
“i was waiting for the sun to chase me,” he breathes, drawing me to his chest. he whispers, “i fucking love you.”
i smile. “guess what?”
“what?”
“i love you more than chocolate cake.”
AHHHHHH i’m swooning😩😩😩i love raisy. raisy raisy raisy, they have become my whole personality. they hold a very special place in my heart and they always have and always will <3
i wanna end my review with more of my favorite quotes from my favorite book, enjoy hehe:
- “she’s the sun. i’m the dark. if she’s gone, i can kiss that fucking light away. without her, i know i’ll never see it again.”
- “i love you, dais, because you’re the wildest fucking girl with the biggest fucking heart. and without you in my life, i’d be the unhappiest fucking guy.”
- “you don’t need to replace me. you can have me, sweetheart.”
- “it’s like daisy calloway is powered by the sun.”
- “every theory you’ve ever fucking had about men, i’m going to prove you wrong.”
- “ryke says sweetheart with so much force that it conflicts with the mildness. i wonder if that’s us. soft to his hard. sweet to his rough. wild to his stone. i like it.”
- “he carried you. you were in his arms when he reached the hospital doors. he arrived about ten minutes before anyone else from the riot.”
- “i think my health is best when i’m with ryke.”
- “i think i could live underneath ryke meadows, under his weight and protection, and be satisfied for life.”
- “i can’t get over the smile on her face. the camera caught her mid-laugh. she’s gorgeous. and she’s mine.”
- “live in the moment with ryke meadows. if i ever die, i want that written across my headstone.”
- “it’s nighttime. i hate nighttime unless i’m wrapped in his arms.”
ps: i agree with larissa’s (aka larry reads, go subscribe to her youtube rn) review of this book… “hey meadows i know you’re into rock-climbing, well i’m here to tell you i’m into ryke climbing. that’s it. that’s all i have to say.” 😂YES SAME. i love larry so much and fun fact…she convinced me to read this beautiful series hehe. live. laugh. larry.🤭🤭
March 9, 2024
“It’s like Daisy Calloway is powered by the sun” 💛
July 26, 2023
5 stars!
I have been waiting for the elusive RAISY book since I started this series. Most of my friends that have read this series say this book is their favorite. My expectations were high and I was hoping this book would live up to the hype. It 100% did. I am fucking crazy for RAISY! (Yes… please excuse the amount of fucks that are about to be in this review- I’m channeling my inner Ryke Meadows here)
This is the 5th book if you’re reading this series in order. It’s the first one that focuses on Ryke and Daisy. Ryke and Daisy have been a long time coming. But Daisy was always too young. Too off limits. Now, she’s 18. Things have changed for her, made her see things different and changed her outlook on life. The last 3 years have been crazy. One person has been there for her. Has been her true friend. Her protecter and confident. Her Ryke.
My favorite thing about Ryke has always been his love and devotion to his brother, Lo. No matter if Lo shows him he loves him back, Ryke always has his back. Always protects and defends him. Ryke has very few people in his life he feels that way about, but he would do anything for those few. Daisy is one of them. She always has been. Whether he wanted her to be or not. Daisy and Ryke are the adventurous couple. I love the Ryke never wants to change Daisy. He knows who she is and what she’s about and he loves her for it. He just wants her to be safe and happy always.
Hothouse Flower starts out about 2 years after Kiss the Sky. Daisy is 18 and on her way to Paris for fashion week. She’s going alone. Modeling isn’t something she loves, it’s something she does to please her mother. Ryke is off to California to pursue free climbing- the one thing he loves and that makes him feel alive. There are events that lead up to the both of them going in different directions than they planned.
I love the love you can feel between Ryke and Daisy. That their relationship starts out as friendship and leads to so much more. It takes a patient and special fucking guy to stick around with a girl and be nothing more than her friend for years. Friendship soon turns to love. But it’s a forbidden love. With the age difference, it would be frowned upon and Ryke is terrified his brother will disapprove and shut him out. Still, he can’t control what he feels for Daisy and he can’t stop loving her.
I fucking love this series. I fucking love all the characters and I fucking love the writing. It’s become a new favorite of mine. If you haven’t read these you are really missing out. Once again, I listened to the audio of this book. I’ve done the whole series on audio and the narration is spot on! I highly recommend that you give these books a listen!
I have been waiting for the elusive RAISY book since I started this series. Most of my friends that have read this series say this book is their favorite. My expectations were high and I was hoping this book would live up to the hype. It 100% did. I am fucking crazy for RAISY! (Yes… please excuse the amount of fucks that are about to be in this review- I’m channeling my inner Ryke Meadows here)
This is the 5th book if you’re reading this series in order. It’s the first one that focuses on Ryke and Daisy. Ryke and Daisy have been a long time coming. But Daisy was always too young. Too off limits. Now, she’s 18. Things have changed for her, made her see things different and changed her outlook on life. The last 3 years have been crazy. One person has been there for her. Has been her true friend. Her protecter and confident. Her Ryke.
He’s my last real friend. But I know that’s not entirely true. He’s the only real one I’ve ever had.
My favorite thing about Ryke has always been his love and devotion to his brother, Lo. No matter if Lo shows him he loves him back, Ryke always has his back. Always protects and defends him. Ryke has very few people in his life he feels that way about, but he would do anything for those few. Daisy is one of them. She always has been. Whether he wanted her to be or not. Daisy and Ryke are the adventurous couple. I love the Ryke never wants to change Daisy. He knows who she is and what she’s about and he loves her for it. He just wants her to be safe and happy always.
Hothouse Flower starts out about 2 years after Kiss the Sky. Daisy is 18 and on her way to Paris for fashion week. She’s going alone. Modeling isn’t something she loves, it’s something she does to please her mother. Ryke is off to California to pursue free climbing- the one thing he loves and that makes him feel alive. There are events that lead up to the both of them going in different directions than they planned.
I love the love you can feel between Ryke and Daisy. That their relationship starts out as friendship and leads to so much more. It takes a patient and special fucking guy to stick around with a girl and be nothing more than her friend for years. Friendship soon turns to love. But it’s a forbidden love. With the age difference, it would be frowned upon and Ryke is terrified his brother will disapprove and shut him out. Still, he can’t control what he feels for Daisy and he can’t stop loving her.
“I kissed you tonight because I want your lips to only touch mine. From now until forever. That’s the fucking truth.”
“I was waiting for the sun to chase me,” he breathes, drawing me to his chest. In one swift movement, my lips are on his. The world is spinning. He kisses me like this is the moment he’s envisioned all his life. Like this is heaven on Earth.
For me, it is. A blissful moment before something that could be the end. The rush before the fear. He whispers, “I fucking love you.”
I smile, my lips tingling. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“I love you more than chocolate cake.”
I fucking love this series. I fucking love all the characters and I fucking love the writing. It’s become a new favorite of mine. If you haven’t read these you are really missing out. Once again, I listened to the audio of this book. I’ve done the whole series on audio and the narration is spot on! I highly recommend that you give these books a listen!
We chose this because nothing else felt right.
Nothing else felt as good.
Our greatest happiness has always been with each other.
December 30, 2023
no thoughts, head empty, just ✨raisy✨
the only reason i gave this book 5 stars? was because it’s them. ryke & daisy. everyone else can go fuck off, especially in this book. idc and i’m not sorry. there’s a reason i love raisy the most out of all of them ⸺ wait, actually, there’s so many reasons i love them the most.
☆ ryke was the only one who was truly there for daisy, and vice versa. he supported her through everything, he was always, always understanding of her and her needs because he knew her the best. i just ⸺ he’s everything.
☆ the man literally carried her for over three whole miles i can’t ⸺ 😭😭
☆ ryke and daisy were just made for each other. their adventurous spirits? the way they were just so wild and free and beautiful? they’re living rent-free in my mind. 🥺 eurgh, when daisy says “let’s jump!!” he always jumped with her instead of holding her back like the rest of her family did.
☆ the whole grumpy/sunshine thing they had going on? they’re so cute, fuck. even the wolf thing was (kind of??) adorable.
☆ in my very firm opinion, ryke/daisy are the most selfless couple out of the core 6. and i’m not saying that disparagingly to lily/lo or rose/connor (or am i??) but come on. say what you like, but rose and lily demanded attention. ryke literally dropped everything, every single time, to save lo from himself. while daisy never spoke about her problems, her issues, to protect lily from the backlash. she was just the one in the corner, keeping stuff from them only to protect them 😭 they’re just perfect together. i love them.
☆ this is one instance where i loved. truly loved, the friends to lovers trope. because the way they stood up for each other, always? the way they used to be with each other? the way ryke protected her from everything ugh there’s a reason i love them.
☆ also the way ryke slept beside her to shield her from her nightmares ⸺ it was so unbearably adorable!! he helped her ptsd and insomnia so so much and the way they just were with each other ⸺ they’re everything. 😭
☆ their dynamics? >>>
i mean, daisy just teased him while he was so grumpy and asshole-ish on the outside but the way he melted for her, ugh the most satisfying moment in this book. and the way ryke thinks daisy’s the sun?? the way he was so devoted to her right from the first moment he saw her?? ngl, he owns me. 😌
☆ ryke (my beloved <3) broke my heart so many times with this book but also healed it because the way he thought about the core six as his family. the way daisy was the one for him and no one can dispute that. and that’s why i love them. i feel like daisy/ryke’s emotional connection was a lot more believable for me than rose/connor and lily/lo. every time ryke beamed internally at the thought that finally, lo was seeing him as more than just a fucking sober coach that he uses when he needs and then pushes away, instead of seeing him as his brother? i sobbed inside.
☆ i just couldn’t stop smiling whenever they came in contact because they’re literally so sweet. so funny. so cute. so angsty. so adorable. my fav couple (so far, and i don’t think that’s gonna change!!) within the core 6.
˗ˏˋ my qualms ´ˎ˗
☆ loren hale. go fuck right off. 🙄 i’m not even gonna explain myself here otherwise i’m gonna go on a whole-ass rant but first of all, why was he so inclined to protect daisy in the first place? it was mentioned so many times in the addicted series as well, that even when they were young, lily & lo lived pretty much separately from rose and daisy. so what was the entire point of keeping her “protected”?? why was he behaving like a protective older brother?? i hated that. and so what if he had an addiction. i got that he did but the way he was so dickish towards the one (1) person who was helping him the whole time? he never believed the best of ryke, and he was his brother for fuck’s sake. i was literally telling lo “stfu please” half the book because pls. the way he was just so goddamn rude for no fucking reason ⸺ 😤 he knew perfectly well the way ryke cared about his gf’s sister was not just for a one-time fuck. hell, anyone could see that from their dynamics alone!! and then there was the double standards scene. when lo was like “oh, it’s fine that lily has public sex, that’s not gross” but then immediately changing his tune about daisy like ??? the fuck. i mean i got that he was trying to be protective and he didn’t see daisy like that, but that just made her feel even more excluded and alone. oops maybe i went on a fucking rant but maybe it was necessary.
☆ why did connor always have to be the good guy while he was always portrayed as the one fucking everything up, being straight with people? connor was just better at subtly manipulating people while ryke was blunt with his words. and i hated that just because he was straightforward and saying exactly what he thought, that lo thought he wasn’t good enough for daisy.
☆ i will never forget the fact that rose and lily didn’t come to see daisy. in the goddamn hospital. where she just got hurt so bad. all because of that stupid fact that she wanted to hide from connor, which was gonna come out one way or another?? what bullshit. how astronomically stupid can they fucking be.
☆ i love the core six so much, okay? i really do. but the fact that none of them other than ryke came to see daisy, to truly understand her and communicate with her makes me so mad. they always kept her out of things because she was too young and she was for a while, i’m not denying that. but she just felt so alone and neglected and i hated that. 😭
bottom line; i adore raisy with all my heart. 💘💗
he notices the flower crown still in my clutch, and he steals it from my hand. i watch as he sets it atop my blonde locks, some strands painted with color.
“i was waiting for the sun to chase me,” he breathes, drawing me to his chest. in one swift movement, my lips are on his. the world is spinning. he kisses me like this is the moment he’s envisioned all his life. like this is heaven on earth.
the only reason i gave this book 5 stars? was because it’s them. ryke & daisy. everyone else can go fuck off, especially in this book. idc and i’m not sorry. there’s a reason i love raisy the most out of all of them ⸺ wait, actually, there’s so many reasons i love them the most.
☆ ryke was the only one who was truly there for daisy, and vice versa. he supported her through everything, he was always, always understanding of her and her needs because he knew her the best. i just ⸺ he’s everything.
☆ the man literally carried her for over three whole miles i can’t ⸺ 😭😭
☆ ryke and daisy were just made for each other. their adventurous spirits? the way they were just so wild and free and beautiful? they’re living rent-free in my mind. 🥺 eurgh, when daisy says “let’s jump!!” he always jumped with her instead of holding her back like the rest of her family did.
☆ the whole grumpy/sunshine thing they had going on? they’re so cute, fuck. even the wolf thing was (kind of??) adorable.
“you’re a bird.”
“a bird.”
“yeah, a fucking bird that won’t stop flying or squawking.”
“like an eagle?”
“you’re prettier than an eagle.” he rolls his eyes again. “fuck.”
“you called me pretty.” i poke his chest, my smile overtaking my face.
he stares at me hard.
☆ in my very firm opinion, ryke/daisy are the most selfless couple out of the core 6. and i’m not saying that disparagingly to lily/lo or rose/connor (or am i??) but come on. say what you like, but rose and lily demanded attention. ryke literally dropped everything, every single time, to save lo from himself. while daisy never spoke about her problems, her issues, to protect lily from the backlash. she was just the one in the corner, keeping stuff from them only to protect them 😭 they’re just perfect together. i love them.
☆ this is one instance where i loved. truly loved, the friends to lovers trope. because the way they stood up for each other, always? the way they used to be with each other? the way ryke protected her from everything ugh there’s a reason i love them.
i want to be the one to protect daisy. i want to be the one to hold her in my arms. i want to comfort her until she reanimated in pure fucking happiness.
i don’t want to miss a day with her. i don’t want to be here when she’s there.
☆ also the way ryke slept beside her to shield her from her nightmares ⸺ it was so unbearably adorable!! he helped her ptsd and insomnia so so much and the way they just were with each other ⸺ they’re everything. 😭
☆ their dynamics? >>>
i mean, daisy just teased him while he was so grumpy and asshole-ish on the outside but the way he melted for her, ugh the most satisfying moment in this book. and the way ryke thinks daisy’s the sun?? the way he was so devoted to her right from the first moment he saw her?? ngl, he owns me. 😌
☆ ryke (my beloved <3) broke my heart so many times with this book but also healed it because the way he thought about the core six as his family. the way daisy was the one for him and no one can dispute that. and that’s why i love them. i feel like daisy/ryke’s emotional connection was a lot more believable for me than rose/connor and lily/lo. every time ryke beamed internally at the thought that finally, lo was seeing him as more than just a fucking sober coach that he uses when he needs and then pushes away, instead of seeing him as his brother? i sobbed inside.
☆ i just couldn’t stop smiling whenever they came in contact because they’re literally so sweet. so funny. so cute. so angsty. so adorable. my fav couple (so far, and i don’t think that’s gonna change!!) within the core 6.
˗ˏˋ my qualms ´ˎ˗
☆ loren hale. go fuck right off. 🙄 i’m not even gonna explain myself here otherwise i’m gonna go on a whole-ass rant but first of all, why was he so inclined to protect daisy in the first place? it was mentioned so many times in the addicted series as well, that even when they were young, lily & lo lived pretty much separately from rose and daisy. so what was the entire point of keeping her “protected”?? why was he behaving like a protective older brother?? i hated that. and so what if he had an addiction. i got that he did but the way he was so dickish towards the one (1) person who was helping him the whole time? he never believed the best of ryke, and he was his brother for fuck’s sake. i was literally telling lo “stfu please” half the book because pls. the way he was just so goddamn rude for no fucking reason ⸺ 😤 he knew perfectly well the way ryke cared about his gf’s sister was not just for a one-time fuck. hell, anyone could see that from their dynamics alone!! and then there was the double standards scene. when lo was like “oh, it’s fine that lily has public sex, that’s not gross” but then immediately changing his tune about daisy like ??? the fuck. i mean i got that he was trying to be protective and he didn’t see daisy like that, but that just made her feel even more excluded and alone. oops maybe i went on a fucking rant but maybe it was necessary.
☆ why did connor always have to be the good guy while he was always portrayed as the one fucking everything up, being straight with people? connor was just better at subtly manipulating people while ryke was blunt with his words. and i hated that just because he was straightforward and saying exactly what he thought, that lo thought he wasn’t good enough for daisy.
☆ i will never forget the fact that rose and lily didn’t come to see daisy. in the goddamn hospital. where she just got hurt so bad. all because of that stupid fact that she wanted to hide from connor, which was gonna come out one way or another?? what bullshit. how astronomically stupid can they fucking be.
☆ i love the core six so much, okay? i really do. but the fact that none of them other than ryke came to see daisy, to truly understand her and communicate with her makes me so mad. they always kept her out of things because she was too young and she was for a while, i’m not denying that. but she just felt so alone and neglected and i hated that. 😭
bottom line; i adore raisy with all my heart. 💘💗
August 9, 2022
3.5 stars
you know, i read this whole damn series for Rose and Connor but i ended up still reading it for Daisy and Ryke. i didn't even know they existed before i started this series but now this book was my most anticipated read for the series because i mean-
the age gap?
mutual pining?
forbidden romance??
the angst?
sunshine/grumpy asshole trope??
two characters FINALLY being together after impatiently watching them be a couple even though they're not a couple for 4 books??
and does anyone else see the resemblance between AelinRowan and DaisyRyke dynamic?? because i do.
see?? do y'all see the resemblance? no, just me? ok moving on.
i have been waiting- WAITING for this book since i read Ricochet because, well, i have a weakness for the whole sunshine, happy-go-lucky heroine and broody asshole Hero trope. plus i'm a little biased because Ryke and Daisy became my favorites but did i like this tho? ehhh.. mostly, about 75% of it??
✧ plot
*∘✧ WHAT I LIKED ✧∘*
➵ Connor & Ryke bromance
y'all know i love the whole enemies to lovers trope right? well these two do it PERFECTLY. they hated each other back then (don't really know why) and now Connor is all like,
oooooohhhh my god. he said "my friend" awww. these two are so cute. i love the development of their friendship because you can just see their respect for each other grow throughout the whole book. and honestly... i liked reading their bromance more than the main romance of this book (because of my pre-existing salty mood of course but we'll talk about that later).
➵ road trip timeeee
anything that has a storyline where road trip is a big thing, well, i fucking love that. i don't know, i guess it just reminds me of The Lightning Thief and that book was my childhood so im pretty sure i associate road trips to that book hence why i love this trope... but ANYWAYS. my favorite part in this road trip is the bromance and can we talk about the bonding time this group had when the girls swam in a lake full of leeches? *sigh* good times.
➵ Lo & Ryke 🥺
Lo has always been a little shit to Ryke and giving him a hard time. i can understand why and i really don't blame him for it because he went through a lot and this dude has a lot of trust issues. but when Lo protected Ryke at the end and almost beat the cops up for him??
it was so beautiful. i just love the friendship/sibling developments in this series its so cute.
➵ romance (for the most part)
ignoring the first part of Ryke and Daisy's romance, i thought some scenes were cute. like when Ryke ran 5 km from the riot to the hospital with an unconscious Daisy in his arms, Ryke + Daisy = sunroof (y'all know what im talking about 😳👀), cornstalk scene where he lifted Daisy up on his shoulders and... ya know.. also how the f did he do that?? HOW?? can someone please explain?
im really tryna figure it out because this man really do be defying the laws of gravity.
also, i really like how Ryke knew that Daisy felt like a third wheel when it comes to her sisters and tries everything to make her feel included and treats her like an actual adult unlike others *cough* Lo *cough*. and i do appreciate how he just lets her be and goes with her wild af antics, being all proud and shiii. it's cute.
*∘✧ WHAT I DISLIKED (spoilers!! sorry i'm ranting again) ✧∘*
umm so remember when i said "...with this OW shit still fresh in my mind... obviously imma go in that book a little salty" in my other review? so yeahh that definitely happened and i was still salty.
but then i found out that Ryke and Daisy have been really close for 4 months, so close that they both did NOT date other people (yes, these two dated OP throughout the 3 years they've known each other). and when i discovered this i was like FUUUUCK YESSS!!! after the OW shit i went through in Addicted for Now and now it seems like i ain't going through that again? yesss. and it was going great for a while but then...
... Ryke said they should date other people while Daisy is in Paris for a month.
... Daisy'ssecretly heartbroken and she listens to him then hooked up with this random model.
... but then Daisy kicked the guy out because she wasn't into it, searched up porn because she couldn't sleep and accidentally stumbled upon Rose and Connors sex video (thx for this by the way because now i know Connor and Ryke have the same d size), and then answers Ryke's skype call but it's actually not Ryke calling her, it's his hookup accidentally calling Daisy because her hand is hitting the keyboard while Ryke is going down on the OW while Daisy sees all of this.
y'all. this shit came out of nowhere and my mood went from 100 to 0 real fast.
and this didn't end quickly because when Ryke found out Daisy saw, he called her, they talked while he let the OW shower in his bathroom but apparently this OW needed soap so he goes to Daisy's place (yes, they're neighbors too) and he just lets the OW come inside Daisy's place and even takes a shower in her bathroom all the while not asking Daisy if all of this is okay while she's on the freaking phone with him. who tf does that?? i wouldn't want the woman who i just witnessed be pleasured by the guy im in love with just a few minutes ago use my damn soap!
and what's worse is that the next time they see each other, they GET TOGETHER. when he finally kissed her all i can think about was BUT WHERE THAT MOUTH BEEN 2 DAYS BEFORE THO HUUUHHH??? i don't know... i just wish Daisy was like no thanks i saw you going down on another woman bye bish i need time 😤✋🏼 but nooope. they got together very fast and it had to take them being with other people to realize they just want each other. i know some don't mind this but this had enough power to ruin my mood for the whole damn book that i had to take a 3-day break from reading because that's how pissed i was.
it wasn't satisfying when they finally got together because of this shit like at least add more grovelling scenes or more push and pull between them where it's Daisy's turn to reject him i don't know. i just wasn't satisfied because i've been waiting for these two to get together and then this shit happens and then they get together right away? no thanks.
* * *
also, why do all the bad guys get away in this series? first, it was the news media bashing Lily, Scott for the sex tapes, the dude who broke in Daisy's room and took pictures of her, the fucking designer who stripped Daisy naked in front of everyone the two "friends" Daisy had in highschool who tormented her and made her do things she didn't want to do, and Daisy's mother... please tell me all these bad people get what they deserve in the upcoming books.
and!! i just looked at the wikipedia page for this series because im that type of person and whoever they fancasted as Ryke.. oh my god- ok damn. he's cute or whatevaaa. also i don't know who they fancast as Daisy but i picture her as Kennedy Walsh i don't know whyy.
anyways, this has tropes i don't like with characters i love... so yeah, i didn't know how to rate this because of the stupid drama in the beginning but i still liked this tho. mainly because of the bromance between Lo, Ryke and Connor, and all the other stuff that's going on. despite all of the drama that annoyed me, if i had to choose, Ryke and Daisy are still my favorites for sure.
Calloway Sisters series
#1: kiss the sky ↠ 4 stars
#2: hothouse flower ↠ 3.5 stars
#3: fuel the fire ↠ tbr
#4: long way down ↠ tbr
#5: some kind of perfect ↠ tbr
you know, i read this whole damn series for Rose and Connor but i ended up still reading it for Daisy and Ryke. i didn't even know they existed before i started this series but now this book was my most anticipated read for the series because i mean-
the age gap?
mutual pining?
forbidden romance??
the angst?
sunshine/grumpy asshole trope??
two characters FINALLY being together after impatiently watching them be a couple even though they're not a couple for 4 books??
and does anyone else see the resemblance between AelinRowan and DaisyRyke dynamic?? because i do.
↳Exhibit A: Daisy/Aelin both flirt with Rowan/Ryke just to annoy the shit out of them even though they shouldn't flirt with them because it's ~forbidden~
↳Exhibit B: Daisy/Aelin are both crazy (respectfully) and Ryke/Rowan both have sticks up their asses and just lets their women do whatever the f they want while smiling proudly at them.
see?? do y'all see the resemblance? no, just me? ok moving on.
i have been waiting- WAITING for this book since i read Ricochet because, well, i have a weakness for the whole sunshine, happy-go-lucky heroine and broody asshole Hero trope. plus i'm a little biased because Ryke and Daisy became my favorites but did i like this tho? ehhh.. mostly, about 75% of it??
✧ plot
↳so this is Ryke (H) and Daisy's (h) story (a year or so after Kiss the Sky). these two have been circling each other for YEARS but they can't do anything because of the 7-year age gap and Daisy was only 15 when they first met. 3 years later, Ryke is still a bit hesitant because of Lo (his brother) being overprotective when it comes to Daisy, and of course herproblematicmother. but then they realized that they just wanna be together and they were like ehh fuck it. consequences be damned.
again, this story is more character driven so there's no "plot" BUT this does have the whole road trip storyline for the most part.
*∘✧ WHAT I LIKED ✧∘*
➵ Connor & Ryke bromance
y'all know i love the whole enemies to lovers trope right? well these two do it PERFECTLY. they hated each other back then (don't really know why) and now Connor is all like,
"... Your brother's existence caused your parent's divorce, and yet, you gave up most of your time and energy to help him through his sobriety. How can you possibly think you're a pain in their life? What you've done for them, it's nothing short of heroic, and if you can't see that, then you're blind my friend."
oooooohhhh my god. he said "my friend" awww. these two are so cute. i love the development of their friendship because you can just see their respect for each other grow throughout the whole book. and honestly... i liked reading their bromance more than the main romance of this book (because of my pre-existing salty mood of course but we'll talk about that later).
➵ road trip timeeee
anything that has a storyline where road trip is a big thing, well, i fucking love that. i don't know, i guess it just reminds me of The Lightning Thief and that book was my childhood so im pretty sure i associate road trips to that book hence why i love this trope... but ANYWAYS. my favorite part in this road trip is the bromance and can we talk about the bonding time this group had when the girls swam in a lake full of leeches? *sigh* good times.
➵ Lo & Ryke 🥺
Lo has always been a little shit to Ryke and giving him a hard time. i can understand why and i really don't blame him for it because he went through a lot and this dude has a lot of trust issues. but when Lo protected Ryke at the end and almost beat the cops up for him??
it was so beautiful. i just love the friendship/sibling developments in this series its so cute.
➵ romance (for the most part)
ignoring the first part of Ryke and Daisy's romance, i thought some scenes were cute. like when Ryke ran 5 km from the riot to the hospital with an unconscious Daisy in his arms, Ryke + Daisy = sunroof (y'all know what im talking about 😳👀), cornstalk scene where he lifted Daisy up on his shoulders and... ya know.. also how the f did he do that?? HOW?? can someone please explain?
im really tryna figure it out because this man really do be defying the laws of gravity.
also, i really like how Ryke knew that Daisy felt like a third wheel when it comes to her sisters and tries everything to make her feel included and treats her like an actual adult unlike others *cough* Lo *cough*. and i do appreciate how he just lets her be and goes with her wild af antics, being all proud and shiii. it's cute.
*∘✧ WHAT I DISLIKED (spoilers!! sorry i'm ranting again) ✧∘*
umm so remember when i said "...with this OW shit still fresh in my mind... obviously imma go in that book a little salty" in my other review? so yeahh that definitely happened and i was still salty.
but then i found out that Ryke and Daisy have been really close for 4 months, so close that they both did NOT date other people (yes, these two dated OP throughout the 3 years they've known each other). and when i discovered this i was like FUUUUCK YESSS!!! after the OW shit i went through in Addicted for Now and now it seems like i ain't going through that again? yesss. and it was going great for a while but then...
... Ryke said they should date other people while Daisy is in Paris for a month.
... Daisy's
... but then Daisy kicked the guy out because she wasn't into it, searched up porn because she couldn't sleep and accidentally stumbled upon Rose and Connors sex video (thx for this by the way because now i know Connor and Ryke have the same d size), and then answers Ryke's skype call but it's actually not Ryke calling her, it's his hookup accidentally calling Daisy because her hand is hitting the keyboard while Ryke is going down on the OW while Daisy sees all of this.
“Yes, yes, right there! God, yes. Holy…!” Even in the darkened room, I can distinguish limbs. The girl’s tanned legs are split apart by the edge of the bed, her back curved upward. She clenches Ryke’s hair, his head between her thighs as he kneels on the ground, his body hidden by the bed frame.
y'all. this shit came out of nowhere and my mood went from 100 to 0 real fast.
and this didn't end quickly because when Ryke found out Daisy saw, he called her, they talked while he let the OW shower in his bathroom but apparently this OW needed soap so he goes to Daisy's place (yes, they're neighbors too) and he just lets the OW come inside Daisy's place and even takes a shower in her bathroom all the while not asking Daisy if all of this is okay while she's on the freaking phone with him. who tf does that?? i wouldn't want the woman who i just witnessed be pleasured by the guy im in love with just a few minutes ago use my damn soap!
and what's worse is that the next time they see each other, they GET TOGETHER. when he finally kissed her all i can think about was BUT WHERE THAT MOUTH BEEN 2 DAYS BEFORE THO HUUUHHH??? i don't know... i just wish Daisy was like no thanks i saw you going down on another woman bye bish i need time 😤✋🏼 but nooope. they got together very fast and it had to take them being with other people to realize they just want each other. i know some don't mind this but this had enough power to ruin my mood for the whole damn book that i had to take a 3-day break from reading because that's how pissed i was.
it wasn't satisfying when they finally got together because of this shit like at least add more grovelling scenes or more push and pull between them where it's Daisy's turn to reject him i don't know. i just wasn't satisfied because i've been waiting for these two to get together and then this shit happens and then they get together right away? no thanks.
* * *
also, why do all the bad guys get away in this series? first, it was the news media bashing Lily, Scott for the sex tapes, the dude who broke in Daisy's room and took pictures of her, the fucking designer who stripped Daisy naked in front of everyone the two "friends" Daisy had in highschool who tormented her and made her do things she didn't want to do, and Daisy's mother... please tell me all these bad people get what they deserve in the upcoming books.
and!! i just looked at the wikipedia page for this series because im that type of person and whoever they fancasted as Ryke.. oh my god- ok damn. he's cute or whatevaaa. also i don't know who they fancast as Daisy but i picture her as Kennedy Walsh i don't know whyy.
anyways, this has tropes i don't like with characters i love... so yeah, i didn't know how to rate this because of the stupid drama in the beginning but i still liked this tho. mainly because of the bromance between Lo, Ryke and Connor, and all the other stuff that's going on. despite all of the drama that annoyed me, if i had to choose, Ryke and Daisy are still my favorites for sure.
Calloway Sisters series
#1: kiss the sky ↠ 4 stars
#2: hothouse flower ↠ 3.5 stars
#3: fuel the fire ↠ tbr
#4: long way down ↠ tbr
#5: some kind of perfect ↠ tbr
March 9, 2022
he groomed her.
November 23, 2021
a man in his 20's making suggestive comments to a 15 year old......
September 23, 2024
“No restraints. One- hundred- and- fifty miles per hour. You and me, sweetheart.”
You know there are some book that heals a part of your soul and Hothouse Flower is that book for me. Everytime I read it, it heals a part of me, everytime I see Daisy go through her struggles and pain, it gives me hope that one day everything is gonna be fine as long as you just keep on walking and as long as you have the right person like Ryke Meadows by your side. Their love story is everything.
Hothouse Flower takes place a year after the events of Kiss the Sky. Lily and Loren are settled in their new life as well as Connor and Rose, but no one knows about Daisy and her depressing mental health except Ryke. It broke my heart to see her like that but the Ritchie sisters did an exceptional job at writing about mental health and PTSD in this book. They did not hide the dark and realistic side of Daisy's story and they carefully contructed her sunshine personality keeping in mind her issues. Daisy was the real and authentic representation of finding individuality and healing.
Daisy Calloway
The sunshine girl, the wild Calloway sister, the girl who is powered by sun. Daisy is the definition of Sunshine in human form. She radiates energy, life and happiness around her and it's hard to not love her. She's the sweetest person in their group and the one who thinks about everyone but herself. She's just a people pleaser with mirrorball and the archer qualities. But she also hides her pain behind her sarcasm and carefree persona. Daisy has been through some rough and painful things in her life after Lily's sex addiction became a public spectacle. She deals with lot of mental health issues in this book and to read about her struggles and nightmares was a knife straight to my heart. On top of that her worthless mother was always dictating her life like Daisy isn't her own person. It took Daisy an almost death situation to break away from her mother's grip and to leave her career behind and finally pursue her own dreams and the things she love.
“You’re a hothouse flower,” I tell her. “You can’t grow under natural conditions. You need adventure. And security and love in order to stay alive.”
Ryke Meadows
If I could have a dollar everytime this man says 'fuck', I'd be a millionaire like Connor Cobalt. Ryke is the most caring and thoughtful person in this series. He is hardheaded and stubborn sometimes but this man cares so much for the people he loves. Behind all that aggressive asshole facade is a man who loves truly and wholeheartedly and once he sets his mind on something, whether it's helping his brother with his addiction or Daisy with her sleeping and safety issues, he always gets its done. I have always loved grumpy Ryke because he never tried to be someone other than who he was. He didn't explained his reasons behind his actions which can be frustrating sometimes but he never does anything on a whim. He's actually intelligent and hardworking than he lets people see. He thrives on not proving himself to other but only to himself and that's the hottest thing about him because he is so confident about himself.
“I was waiting for the sun to chase me,” he breathes, drawing me to his chest.
Ryke and Daisy
Ryke and Daisy's love story is beautiful and it's a delightful concoction of friendship, faith, emotional connection and love. I disliked in previous books when Ryke tried to initiate a sexual conversation between him and Daisy but all he ever wanted was Daisy to know its okay to want different things and hate something that other people love. His reasons are always for good even if his actions are not. But in Hothouse Flower, Ryke is the only one who was with Daisy in her time of need. No one saw her struggles but him and he was still hated for it. He loves her and cares for her and always made sure she is safe and he understood her worth.
“Want to know a secret?” she whispers. “Sure,” I say, my arm stretching across the back of her chair again.
She smiles and says, “You’re my favorite four- letter word.” Her bold green eyes flit up to me.
Teasing and tempting each other with flirty banter is Ryke and Daisy's essential dynamic. They have undeniable attraction to each other but the subtlety of something more than just friendship was always evident in their dynamics. The slow build up to tension and emotional and physical intimacy was perfectly done. Their wild adventures and crazy personalities only add nuances to their relationship than other couples. The way they understood each other without even telling each other anything is so precious. The bridge scene in the end healed some of my broken parts and it was equally agonising emotions and alleviating. That scene lives in my mind rent free for million reasons.
“Ryke Meadows has invigorated my body and soul.
He is more than just my pillow.
My wolf.
My bodyguard.
He’s my everything.”
Lo not accepting Ryke and Daisy together was annoying but I also get where he was coming from. Ryke and Lo had a lot of unresolved past hatred and issues and they needed to address it before moving forward. Ryke's French secret reveal was hilarious as hell. I still can't believe he mangaged to hide his intelligence for years from the most intelligent people in the world.
“When I look beside me, for the first time, I don’t see that weight on my brother’s chest. I don’t see anything tugging him backwards. He’s fucking smiling. The sun streams through the trees, our distance shortening with each step. Pride, for him, consumes me. And it’s at four miles in— when he leaves my side and takes five lengthy strides ahead— that I know. He’s going to outrun me.”
I never want to stop reading this series. I'll probably be spending rest of my life reading this series a million times.
—————
my heart is healed after rereading this book ❤️🩹 rtc
———————
me running to my found family after every minor inconvenience in my life 💅🏼
February 26, 2022
this and kiss the sky has solidified that i am falling in love with this series! i was scared after not absolutely loving the first 3 addicted books that i just wouldn’t love this series, i am soooo glad i pushed through it! i feel like these people are real and i’m the invisible friend in the corner watching everyone grow up. i’m lowkey super sad rn
October 5, 2024
➳ ∞ ☆
i am not going to lie, this book changed me. i wasn't shocked that i loved this, i even mentioned many times that this could easily be my favorite, but i just wasn't loving the way the first four books set up this whole story. in addition, i have changed a lot of my opinions of the characters. however, what i do know, is ryke and daisy will always be my favorites. this rating is only their romance, if i included all the side plot bullshit, this would get two stars at most lol.
➺ daisy calloway~ i take back a lot of i said with kiss the sky, because daisy is by far the girl with the most development and personality. i have always had a soft spot for characters like her. i wasn’t even sold on the fact that these authors even like her, because so much of this was them treating her so badly. the way she was always suffering in silence—hurt me. regardless, she is my favorite girl, and moving forward, i do not see this changing. her finding home in ryke was the most precious thing. i love their love. goodbye.
➺ (jonathan) ryke *i loved him?* meadows~ he is by far the most developed character and the best written one too. i can't even lie, if i were his ass, i would ditch these fuckers and run off with daisy. these people get more annoying with each book and just kept shitting on this man and testing him at every length. i know in the previous reviews, i did not like some of the verbiage he used, and i stand by this fact. however, in terms of selling himself as a main character/love interest... he delivered with zero complaints. not only did he form this whole "core six" group, he is also the entire damn backbone. after reading this, i truly realized how fucking erroneous and nettlesome the other characters are. tell me why 70% of his internal conflict is of him and his useless brother. i am tired. shut up with that shit. loren does not care nearly as much, so shoving his ass in this story as much as the authors did, was jarring. ryke’s entire arc was by far the most compelling, yet i can tell these authors have so much bias and partiality for the other characters. anyways, i think i love broody, moody men who hate themselves and are extremely possessive and jealous. the tension and angst in this book was insane. i need five more books of just raisy.
➺ rose calloway~ miss girl lost all her charisma. trust, i still like her a lot, but she is too unfledged at her big age. i would assume as a grown ass adult—married too—that she would be less boastful and less prideful. i think i am expecting too much sometimes with this shit (?). nonetheless, her antics were insane, and she needs to stop the weird competing and lashing out because it was weird to read about in other characters books. also rose is all talk—no action. she just be yapping.
➺ (richard) connor cobalt~ he might be my third favorite character after this book. i think i loved him more in his own story, but his arrogant, holier than thou was becoming a load of horseshit and gave me the ick. he acts like he's the this indispensable man, which works in his book, but here?? sit down. you are not michael jackson. in addition, i prefer characters like ryke—who are really intelligent—but they can keep it to themselves and not overly brag with melodrama. i also wasn't a fan of him constantly dick riding loren.... like are ryke and daisy not your friends? the favoritism is crazy with this series.
➺ lily calloway~ she gives me quirky, i am not like other girls... so sorry but i really don't care about her that much. her character archetype is something i have never liked in the past—including her own books—so i have no clue why i thought this was going to fix that. really dreading picking up TWO more of her books?? someone save me please. however, it can't get worse than her useless fiancé.
➺ loren *he is such a fucking nuisance* hale~ oh my god. please someone needs to slap him hard. why the authors made this entire damn story about this man, i will never understand. he has the personality of a dry wet wipe, and could not be more humdrum if he tried. nothing about his character is compelling to me, so much so, i did not even like him in his own books. why these two boring ass people have five books to their name i will never know. the way he really does not give a shit about anyone but everyone just flocks to him will never not be insane to me. the antics with him, i called it, were so damn vacuous. bro has zero functioning brain cells. so much so i would argue that ryke is the smartest, followed by connor. he was just wallowing around the whole book and provided nothing. if my "brother" acted that way with me, he would get smacked in the face so fucking hard, and then smacked again for good measure. ryke is way too patient with this hoe. absolutely not.
loren is actually this big man child who never grew up. trust, when i say this shit, i am not talking about his addiction or nodus. however, the way he deports himself is so cringy and discommoding. it's utter dogshit and his personality is the equivalent of sewage water. like you cannot be doing all that, and be a broke spoiled dusty.
this review ended up being long as hell, and poorly written at four AM lol. however, someone needs to convince me to finish thrive & addicted after all, because right now, i don't care about either lily or loren.
“as i watched each friend call me a sex-addict-in-training and a media whore, stabbing me routinely in the heart, ryke was the one who pulled out the blades. he even shielded me from them.”
why the fuck was i helping lily? i don’t ever, ever want to choose lily over daisy. just because lily cries harder. just because lily screams louder. it doesn’t mean that daisy’s pain isn’t more.
i am not going to lie, this book changed me. i wasn't shocked that i loved this, i even mentioned many times that this could easily be my favorite, but i just wasn't loving the way the first four books set up this whole story. in addition, i have changed a lot of my opinions of the characters. however, what i do know, is ryke and daisy will always be my favorites. this rating is only their romance, if i included all the side plot bullshit, this would get two stars at most lol.
➺ daisy calloway~ i take back a lot of i said with kiss the sky, because daisy is by far the girl with the most development and personality. i have always had a soft spot for characters like her. i wasn’t even sold on the fact that these authors even like her, because so much of this was them treating her so badly. the way she was always suffering in silence—hurt me. regardless, she is my favorite girl, and moving forward, i do not see this changing. her finding home in ryke was the most precious thing. i love their love. goodbye.
“sleeping,” i say with a smile. “when did i become your fucking pillow?” he asks lightly. “shhh, i whisper, “it’s safe here.”
“why would your sisters do that?” “lily is five years older than me and rose is seven,” she says with a shrug. “i’m used to being left out.”
it’s his normal expression, one that’s insanely attractive in this possessive—i will protect you even if it fucking kills me—quality that i didn’t think i would like until i met him.
➺ (jonathan) ryke *i loved him?* meadows~ he is by far the most developed character and the best written one too. i can't even lie, if i were his ass, i would ditch these fuckers and run off with daisy. these people get more annoying with each book and just kept shitting on this man and testing him at every length. i know in the previous reviews, i did not like some of the verbiage he used, and i stand by this fact. however, in terms of selling himself as a main character/love interest... he delivered with zero complaints. not only did he form this whole "core six" group, he is also the entire damn backbone. after reading this, i truly realized how fucking erroneous and nettlesome the other characters are. tell me why 70% of his internal conflict is of him and his useless brother. i am tired. shut up with that shit. loren does not care nearly as much, so shoving his ass in this story as much as the authors did, was jarring. ryke’s entire arc was by far the most compelling, yet i can tell these authors have so much bias and partiality for the other characters. anyways, i think i love broody, moody men who hate themselves and are extremely possessive and jealous. the tension and angst in this book was insane. i need five more books of just raisy.
and of course, lily’s issues came out today, pushing daisy to the side. i can imagine how she feels—like her problems aren’t significant, like they don’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
“bad news, i don’t give a fuck about your packing,” he says roughly. “i just give a fuck about you.”
“promise me that whatever it is, you’ll be fucking safe. and be careful on your way out to us. my brother can’t live without you. i’m expendable, you aren’t.”
“call you later?” “i’ll answer.” for you, i always fucking will.
“well, be damn fucking sure about this,” ryke says, “any love that i fucking give will never hurt a woman.”
➺ rose calloway~ miss girl lost all her charisma. trust, i still like her a lot, but she is too unfledged at her big age. i would assume as a grown ass adult—married too—that she would be less boastful and less prideful. i think i am expecting too much sometimes with this shit (?). nonetheless, her antics were insane, and she needs to stop the weird competing and lashing out because it was weird to read about in other characters books. also rose is all talk—no action. she just be yapping.
➺ (richard) connor cobalt~ he might be my third favorite character after this book. i think i loved him more in his own story, but his arrogant, holier than thou was becoming a load of horseshit and gave me the ick. he acts like he's the this indispensable man, which works in his book, but here?? sit down. you are not michael jackson. in addition, i prefer characters like ryke—who are really intelligent—but they can keep it to themselves and not overly brag with melodrama. i also wasn't a fan of him constantly dick riding loren.... like are ryke and daisy not your friends? the favoritism is crazy with this series.
connor says, “i was smart enough not to question it.”
➺ lily calloway~ she gives me quirky, i am not like other girls... so sorry but i really don't care about her that much. her character archetype is something i have never liked in the past—including her own books—so i have no clue why i thought this was going to fix that. really dreading picking up TWO more of her books?? someone save me please. however, it can't get worse than her useless fiancé.
➺ loren *he is such a fucking nuisance* hale~ oh my god. please someone needs to slap him hard. why the authors made this entire damn story about this man, i will never understand. he has the personality of a dry wet wipe, and could not be more humdrum if he tried. nothing about his character is compelling to me, so much so, i did not even like him in his own books. why these two boring ass people have five books to their name i will never know. the way he really does not give a shit about anyone but everyone just flocks to him will never not be insane to me. the antics with him, i called it, were so damn vacuous. bro has zero functioning brain cells. so much so i would argue that ryke is the smartest, followed by connor. he was just wallowing around the whole book and provided nothing. if my "brother" acted that way with me, he would get smacked in the face so fucking hard, and then smacked again for good measure. ryke is way too patient with this hoe. absolutely not.
“you’re not good enough for her,” he says. “you realize that, right?” i know this bitch is not talking LMAO??
“i didn’t accept you into my life so you could bang my girlfriend’s little sister. don’t make me regret letting you in.”
loren is actually this big man child who never grew up. trust, when i say this shit, i am not talking about his addiction or nodus. however, the way he deports himself is so cringy and discommoding. it's utter dogshit and his personality is the equivalent of sewage water. like you cannot be doing all that, and be a broke spoiled dusty.
this review ended up being long as hell, and poorly written at four AM lol. however, someone needs to convince me to finish thrive & addicted after all, because right now, i don't care about either lily or loren.
September 2, 2021
I would've given this a better rating if Ryke hadn't groomed Daisy
September 29, 2023
"You're a hothouse flower. You can't grow under natural conditions. You need adventure. And security and love in order to stay alive."
I F*CKING LOVE THIS BOOK!!
*Warning* if you are offended by the F word you need to know it shows up 1,590 times in this book. But without it this book wouldn’t be complete because it is Ryke’s favorite four letter word.
SIGNS YOU MAY BE ADDICTED TO THE ADDICTED SERIES:
✦Starting and stopping - in many cases, you will start the series thinking that you will read just one book and save the rest of the books for another time, but then you realize how unsuccessful you were with that attempt .
✦Withdrawal symptoms - when you read the last book released and have to wait for the next in the series you have mood-related symptoms. These consist of craving more Lo (alcoholic), Connor (smartass) and Ryke (jackass), to bouts of moodiness, bad temper, poor focus, a feeling of being depressed and empty.
✦Recreational sacrifices – giving up activities so you can continue reading the series. For example, turning down an invitation to go to a party because it will cut into your reading time. You’d rather spend your free time with Lily, Lo, Rose, Connor, Daisy and Ryke.
✦Social sacrifices – your best friends are the
✦Obsession - when you spend more and more time and energy focusing on the lives of these six characters. You make sure to pack your kindle with you everywhere you go because you don't want leave your “best friends” at home.
✦Behavior - your mood is directly related to what is happening in the book.
✦Secrecy - in many cases you read in secret to avoid explaining to your family “what” you’re reading. “Yea, honey, I’m reading about a sex addict and an alcoholic.” O.o
✦Denial – you refuse to admit that these characters aren't real. You talk to others about them like they really exist and their problems are real.
✦Dropping hobbies and activities – the further you go in the series you stop doing things you previously loved doing. You feel like you cannot physically cope because people in your life don’t understand your obsession with this series.
✦Financial difficulties - You buy all the paperbacks just so you can hug them.
✦Relationship problems – you start expecting your spouse to behave like Lo, Connor or Ryke.
*********************************************************
Addicted series is interconnected with two spin-offs. The authors have written the books in 4 “phases”. Each phase is a complete story line with a satisfying enough conclusion.
Recommended reading order:
PHASE 1 (Lily & Lo):
{#1} Addicted to You | {#1.5} Ricochet | {#2} Addicted for Now
PHASE 2 (Rose and Connor) | (Daisy & Ryke):
{spin-off} Kiss the Sky | {spin-off} Hothouse Flower
PHASE 3 (Lily & Lo):
{#2.5} Thrive | {#3} Addicted After All
PHASE 4 (Rose and Connor) | (Daisy & Ryke):
{spin-off} Fuel the Fire | {spin-off} Long Way Down
July 3, 2023
DRAMA CARD NEVER DECLINES
I WAS SCEPTICAL ABOUT THIS ONE, but it was nothing short of five stars. MY UNDYING LOVE for this series and all these characters will someday end me.
ANYWAYS…
OVERALL THOUGHTS Finally, we got to find out more about Raisy. Would I call them the most problematic ship of this series? Definitely. Do I think they’re a great match? Not really (and not for the age gap alone). Was this objectively the best book in the series so far? BY FAR. I’M in awe at how well this was written. All these books are pretty much character-driven and they manage to do something that’s VERY HARD TO DO. And that is *drumrolls please* EMOTIONS. Emotions are so realistically written here, you can feel THEIR SORROW, THEIR PAIN, THEIR HAPPINESS, SHOCK… NAME THEM, THEY’LL WRITE THEM. And as a girlie who has read SO MUCH OF CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE 2 PERSON POV… YOU WILL IN FACT NOT SEE THIS DONE SO WELL EVERYDAY. Every action and reaction (physics is my passion) is VISCERAL (or is it my crazy obsession with the characters???). I also love how the POVs were written, when Daisy tells the story, you can almost hear her joy and curiosity in your head, while Ryke is often tense and pushing his emotions down. In this section, I’ll also address THE CONTROVERSY. The age gap itself doesn’t really bother me, it’s the fact that Daisy is 18. I simply cannot imagine a guy older than me by a few years falling in love with a teenage girl and the fact not bothering me. Also, he had feelings for her when she was both 15 and 16, SIDE EYE. But would I call him a pedo, a groomer or a bad person? Hmmm, I wouldn’t choose that side either. First of all, Daisy was very much the only woman much younger than him who he had been with. It’s even (I think) mentioned how he usually used to date women older than him even. And also, the feelings were mutual (very much), and often times, Daisy was the one who initiated touching, talking, spending time together, or who implicated their sexual attraction multiple times. Also, Ryke did restrain himself for QUITE SOME TIME and did get with her when she was of age. So, I wouldn’t call this only a Ryke, but a Ryke AND Daisy problem. She did date older guys before (even though she had no feelings for them). I genuinely feel like them falling in love was a product of their surroundings. Lilo and Rose&Connor are very occupied with each other to pay attention to anything around them (and I’m not blaming them, I love them with my whole heart, just stating the facts), so Daisy and Ryke were kind of left alone. So, the only logical thing for them to do was to spend time together. I understand why it happened but I’m still not the biggest fan of this ship, but I also don’t feel like writing essays attacking the characters or the authors. AUTHORS ARE ALLOWED TO WRITE PROBLEMATIC CHARACTERS (they tell the story and even romanticize it- it’s their characters talking), BUT WILL YOU ROMANTICIZE IT OR NOT is a question of morality! Also, this series is ALL HEAVY AND FILLED WITH troubled young people who try to put their life on the right path while also finding love. Two very flawed people trying to find love will probably result in that love being problematic, I’m sorry if it bursts your bubble. But also, even if you don’t really ship Raisy (I’m one of those people), this book can still be very enjoyable for you, especially if you focus on other couples you like more while reading it.
CHARACTERS
DAISY I love Daisy, my sunshine, my stargirl. I resonate with her so much, I feel like out of all the sisters, she reminds me of myself the most. She’s in this constant state of trying to stray from the path her parents and sisters have put her on and find her voice. It’s lovely to see this new perspective: not choosing something that feels like a smart path doesn’t have to result in a disaster. And also, you can still be excited about life even if that same life has disappointed you many times. I won’t spoil much, but I sympathize with Daisy so much, I feel like her suffering has been dismissed a lot by the people around her, and it’s beautiful to see how Ryke is that one person who never forgets about her. She went through trauma and abuse caused by both her parents and the “fans”.
RYKE I fucking (pun intended) love Ryke so much. It’s so fun how he’s an emotional support person for so many people (Lo, his father, his mother, DAISY), but tbh, he’s the one who needs emotional support after offering that support. Every single talk he has with a character is a trauma dump. I don’t know what screams therapist about him??? I just know it’s definitely not the rock climbing hobby bc that was A TRAUMA FOR ME (I expected him to fall every single time those scenes came up). This book was heavy ON BROMANCE AND I’M HERE FOR IT. RYKE WITH LO is something we’re pretty much used to by now (esp well explored through Lily’s POV) BUT WITH CONNOR UGHHH I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I love how we also got to see more of Ryke and his father, is the Jonathan Hale redemption arc coming our way?
OTHERS You know I read these books for Lilo. My heart shattered for everything bad that happened to them in this book, but I’m glad the next book is their POV, so we’ll probs explore that more (more trauma yay). I’m also happy for Rose (iykyk). CONNOR AND RYKE SOULMATES CONFIRMED!
Onto the next book immediately, you know the drill.🏩
I WAS SCEPTICAL ABOUT THIS ONE, but it was nothing short of five stars. MY UNDYING LOVE for this series and all these characters will someday end me.
ANYWAYS…
OVERALL THOUGHTS Finally, we got to find out more about Raisy. Would I call them the most problematic ship of this series? Definitely. Do I think they’re a great match? Not really (and not for the age gap alone). Was this objectively the best book in the series so far? BY FAR. I’M in awe at how well this was written. All these books are pretty much character-driven and they manage to do something that’s VERY HARD TO DO. And that is *drumrolls please* EMOTIONS. Emotions are so realistically written here, you can feel THEIR SORROW, THEIR PAIN, THEIR HAPPINESS, SHOCK… NAME THEM, THEY’LL WRITE THEM. And as a girlie who has read SO MUCH OF CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE 2 PERSON POV… YOU WILL IN FACT NOT SEE THIS DONE SO WELL EVERYDAY. Every action and reaction (physics is my passion) is VISCERAL (or is it my crazy obsession with the characters???). I also love how the POVs were written, when Daisy tells the story, you can almost hear her joy and curiosity in your head, while Ryke is often tense and pushing his emotions down. In this section, I’ll also address THE CONTROVERSY. The age gap itself doesn’t really bother me, it’s the fact that Daisy is 18. I simply cannot imagine a guy older than me by a few years falling in love with a teenage girl and the fact not bothering me. Also, he had feelings for her when she was both 15 and 16, SIDE EYE. But would I call him a pedo, a groomer or a bad person? Hmmm, I wouldn’t choose that side either. First of all, Daisy was very much the only woman much younger than him who he had been with. It’s even (I think) mentioned how he usually used to date women older than him even. And also, the feelings were mutual (very much), and often times, Daisy was the one who initiated touching, talking, spending time together, or who implicated their sexual attraction multiple times. Also, Ryke did restrain himself for QUITE SOME TIME and did get with her when she was of age. So, I wouldn’t call this only a Ryke, but a Ryke AND Daisy problem. She did date older guys before (even though she had no feelings for them). I genuinely feel like them falling in love was a product of their surroundings. Lilo and Rose&Connor are very occupied with each other to pay attention to anything around them (and I’m not blaming them, I love them with my whole heart, just stating the facts), so Daisy and Ryke were kind of left alone. So, the only logical thing for them to do was to spend time together. I understand why it happened but I’m still not the biggest fan of this ship, but I also don’t feel like writing essays attacking the characters or the authors. AUTHORS ARE ALLOWED TO WRITE PROBLEMATIC CHARACTERS (they tell the story and even romanticize it- it’s their characters talking), BUT WILL YOU ROMANTICIZE IT OR NOT is a question of morality! Also, this series is ALL HEAVY AND FILLED WITH troubled young people who try to put their life on the right path while also finding love. Two very flawed people trying to find love will probably result in that love being problematic, I’m sorry if it bursts your bubble. But also, even if you don’t really ship Raisy (I’m one of those people), this book can still be very enjoyable for you, especially if you focus on other couples you like more while reading it.
CHARACTERS
DAISY I love Daisy, my sunshine, my stargirl. I resonate with her so much, I feel like out of all the sisters, she reminds me of myself the most. She’s in this constant state of trying to stray from the path her parents and sisters have put her on and find her voice. It’s lovely to see this new perspective: not choosing something that feels like a smart path doesn’t have to result in a disaster. And also, you can still be excited about life even if that same life has disappointed you many times. I won’t spoil much, but I sympathize with Daisy so much, I feel like her suffering has been dismissed a lot by the people around her, and it’s beautiful to see how Ryke is that one person who never forgets about her. She went through trauma and abuse caused by both her parents and the “fans”.
RYKE I fucking (pun intended) love Ryke so much. It’s so fun how he’s an emotional support person for so many people (Lo, his father, his mother, DAISY), but tbh, he’s the one who needs emotional support after offering that support. Every single talk he has with a character is a trauma dump. I don’t know what screams therapist about him??? I just know it’s definitely not the rock climbing hobby bc that was A TRAUMA FOR ME (I expected him to fall every single time those scenes came up). This book was heavy ON BROMANCE AND I’M HERE FOR IT. RYKE WITH LO is something we’re pretty much used to by now (esp well explored through Lily’s POV) BUT WITH CONNOR UGHHH I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. I love how we also got to see more of Ryke and his father, is the Jonathan Hale redemption arc coming our way?
OTHERS You know I read these books for Lilo. My heart shattered for everything bad that happened to them in this book, but I’m glad the next book is their POV, so we’ll probs explore that more (more trauma yay). I’m also happy for Rose (iykyk). CONNOR AND RYKE SOULMATES CONFIRMED!
Onto the next book immediately, you know the drill.🏩
April 4, 2014
EVERYONE SHOULD BE READING THIS SERIES!!
I mean WOW -- the series as a whole stands out as one of the BEST New Adult romances I've ever read and Hothouse Flower had the perfect balance of a hot, sexy romance and a strong, well developed storyline. I adore these characters, I love the writing, and I'm completely ADDICTED to this series.
Please note that this book should not be read on it's own!! It is a part of the Addicted series (the fifth book in sequence) and I strongly recommend reading them in order. The series tells one continuous story that follows three main couples whose lives are all very closely connected and while each book in the series focuses a little more on one couple in particular, each one of the main six characters is an integral part of each book. So in order to get the complete picture and to feel all the feels, it's best to read them in the following order
➜ ADDICTED TO YOU
➜ RICOCHET
➜ ADDICTED FOR NOW
➜ KISS THE SKY
➜ HOTHOUSE FLOWER
Ok... on to the review ;)
The story in Hothouse Flower focuses on Ryke Meadows -- a 25 year old Alpha male -- and Daisy Calloway -- an 18 year old wild and fearless girl. When they first met, Daisy was 15 and Ryke was 22... but now it's three years later and Daisy is all grown up! They'd been close throughout those three years but kept the extent of their closeness hidden from their friends and family, afraid that they would misinterpret it for more than the friendship-only basis they were at. The promise of anything between them was totally forbidden for so many reasons but that didn't stop them from wanting more and even though they both knew they should try to move on, neither of them wanted to.
Despite being a famous model at a young age, growing up as the youngest Calloway daughter had taken it's toll on Daisy and in an attempt to find her freedom, she headed off Paris alone to work Fashion Week there and hopefully gain back some of her independence. Back home, 25-year-old Ryke knew he should let her go, and continued to push back any feelings he had for her -- knowing the severe backlash they'd receive if they ever allowed a relationship between them to develop. But when he recieved a distress call from Daisy, he dropped everything to go and help the girl who'd always been in his heart.
And.... I won't say anything else but that stairwell scene???? *dies* Just WOW!!!!!
What I loved so much about Ryke and Daisy's relationship was that despite the fact that they'd never been romantically involved before this point, they'd build a very solid friendship over the past 3 years which really strengthened their bond and made their connection go far deeper than just their mutual attraction.
But ho boy, their attraction and chemistry just sizzled!!!! No matter how much they (well, Ryke specifically) tried to keep them "just friends", each of their interactions was so powerfully charged. I mean HOLY SEXUAL TENSION!!!!! I was already fanning myself before they'd ever even kissed!!
"She likes to tease, to see how far she can push me, and I've never had a girl play with me like that, with confidence that radiates. It drives me fucking nuts, and I find myself wanting to be around her even more, seeking those give-and-take moments and her fucking joy.
But there's a silent understanding between us. We both know we can't cross a certain line."
I've always loved Ryke. He's like the heart and muscle of the Addicted group. He cares so much for everyone and yet acts like he doesn't give a fuck. And I loved especially how with Daisy, the depth of his caring for her over the years was even deeper because it came without the expectation of anything ever happening between them. He was a protector by nature and his personality was the perfect counterbalance to Daisy who was such a wild and fearless girl. She lived each day in the moment. She was a risk-taking daredevil -- the kind of girl who wouldn't think twice before leaping off a cliff for fun and Ryke was the kind of guy who'd jump right after her without a second thought. They were just perfect for each other.
"What we fucking have," he said. " I love you beyond physical attraction." He cups my smooth cheek, looking deep into my eyes. "I love you, Dais, because you're the wildest fucking girl with the biggest fucking heart. And without you in my life" -- he shakes his head like it's an inconceivable picture -- "I'd be the unhappiest fucking guy… I fucking love you, sweetheart."
Given that they'd been building up to their official romance for the past three years, the payoff when they finally came together was huge. Explosive. And my gosh was it ever HOTTTTT. I mean really. This is about as hot as I've ever seen New Adult romance. Trust me, you will be fanning yourself for pages on end!!
I was full invested in ever word of the story. Oh, and the last 20% of the book was just one big reveal or omigosh moment after another. Like really -- my heart was pounding!!!!!!!! And while there was a wrapped up ending with no cliffhanger, there were also some new developments that beautifully set up the last two books of the series which'll be released in the next few months. I absolutely adore the direction the story is heading in and I can't wait to read more!
I also want to mention how refreshing it is that there is literally no "drama for drama's sake" in this entire series. Don't get me wrong, the situations in the book had my heart lodged firmly in my throat on several occasions but each of those situations made perfect sense for the characters and the storyline. I really have so much respect for these authors and the way they have orchestrated and written this series.
And another thing I love is that this series has no cheating or love triangles (omg -- the relief!!!!) and once these couples get together, they stay together. It's about the relationship, about strengthening their bonds, about getting through things together. These are the kinds of relationships I most love to read about -- the kind where it's "them against the world" and not "them against each other". This series is literally everything I love most about romance rolled into one fantastically written story.
I mean, even though in the beginning of the story, Daisy and Ryke were in denial of their feelings for each other, it made perfect sense for where they were at in their lives. Plus it served to build the sexual tension between them to epic levels so that by the time they came together, it was just explosive!!! And my gosh was it ever HOTTTTT . I mean really. This is about as hot as I've ever seen New Adult romance. Trust me, you will be fanning yourself for pages on end!!... But most of all, I adored that once they were together, they were genuinely together. No bullshit, no drama, no stupid fights. Just them making it work no matter what came their way.
"I am so emotionally involved with that girl… I want to be the one to hold her in my arms. I want to comfort her until she reanimates in pure fucking happiness. I don't want to miss a day with her... And I can't take back these feeling."
And finally, I have to mention one more reason I love this series which is that even though the focus of this book was Daisy and Ryke, as with all the previous books in the series, all the main couples were heavily featured -- Lily & Lo, and Rose & Connor are in at least half the scenes of this book. The deeply interconnected network of friends, family, and lovers that this series has is so fantastically done. They all have each other's backs and have built such a strong, unwavering support system for each other. Yes, they bicker and tease but they're always united against an outside threat and are incredible caring and protective of each other. And there's just this brutal honesty and openness between them that is so deeply heartwarming. Each of them has their own special and unique relationship or bond to the other and the dynamics as they all play off each other is just gold!!!! Without a doubt, the Addicted series has one of the strongest, most endearing and well developed ensemble of characters I've ever read.
The Addicted series started strong and it just keeps getting better and better. These characters feel so real to me and I am fully invested in their stories. The writing is fantastic, the romance is hot, the character building is phenomenal, and with each book the story keeps my heart racing from start to finish.
If you're a fan of New Adult romance, THIS is a series you should be reading.
RATING: 5 STARS!!!
*** SERIES READING ORDER ***
➜ ADDICTED TO YOU
➜ RICOCHET
➜ ADDICTED FOR NOW
➜ KISS THE SKY
➜ HOTHOUSE FLOWER
My review of Book #1 ➜ http://bit.ly/1aVSaNM
My review of Book #1.5 ➜ http://bit.ly/1baSZSK
My review of Book #2 ➜ http://bit.ly/1fiPBas
My review of Book #3 ➜ http://bit.ly/McHotQ
****************************
For more of my reviews, book news and updates:
✦ Main blog: Aestas Book Blog
✦ Facebook Blog Page
August 23, 2023
i’ve noticed fans of this series either love or dislike raisy.
i am unfortunately with the second half (sorry if you love them together; i tried i really did!). i’m fine with age gap romance although this one was uncomfortable for me. this is only a seven year age gap but ryke’s been fighting the feelings he had for daisy since she was 15 and he was 22. it doesn’t sit right with me that now that she’s freshly 18 it’s okay for them to be together. this is still well-written and i love following these characters through each book that it wasn’t a bad read at all.
BUT, age aside, i found high appreciation for the true care they have for each other. daisy is going through a tough time and ryke’s there every step of the way. they honestly make a great match personality-wise since they both have that desire for adrenaline just in different ways. daisy makes me want to be more of a free spirit. i love her determination to do what makes her feel alive despite the judgements of others! ryke, on the other hand, gives frat boy energy but he’s got good intentions that i grew to appreciate. also the ending has two major surprises (i guessed one of them but the other??? wow.) so i cannot wait to see where that leads.
also the ptsd representation in this is insane. so well-written.
*trigger warnings for addiction, ptsd, and sexually explicit scenes*
i am unfortunately with the second half (sorry if you love them together; i tried i really did!). i’m fine with age gap romance although this one was uncomfortable for me. this is only a seven year age gap but ryke’s been fighting the feelings he had for daisy since she was 15 and he was 22. it doesn’t sit right with me that now that she’s freshly 18 it’s okay for them to be together. this is still well-written and i love following these characters through each book that it wasn’t a bad read at all.
BUT, age aside, i found high appreciation for the true care they have for each other. daisy is going through a tough time and ryke’s there every step of the way. they honestly make a great match personality-wise since they both have that desire for adrenaline just in different ways. daisy makes me want to be more of a free spirit. i love her determination to do what makes her feel alive despite the judgements of others! ryke, on the other hand, gives frat boy energy but he’s got good intentions that i grew to appreciate. also the ending has two major surprises (i guessed one of them but the other??? wow.) so i cannot wait to see where that leads.
also the ptsd representation in this is insane. so well-written.
*trigger warnings for addiction, ptsd, and sexually explicit scenes*
September 29, 2021
THIS WAS AMAZING.
SPECTACULAR.
PHENOMENAL.
PERFECT.
I AM… obsessed 🥲
SPECTACULAR.
PHENOMENAL.
PERFECT.
I AM… obsessed 🥲
May 9, 2022
i am genuinely upset so many people loved this book and hyped it to me but i'm failing to understand why
November 8, 2022
the amount of swearing in this (fucking) book was (fucking) unnecessary (fuck). there's swearing then there's SWEARING.. then there's ryke.
September 30, 2019
So, I’ve been looking forward to reading Hothouse Flower because Ryke is the kind of brooding asshole athlete that is, unfortunately, my type. In previous books, if you’re reading Calloway Sisters series along with the Addicted series, Ryke didn’t particularly make favor with me, for two reasons: because he is really mean to Lily, sometimes understandable, but often unwarranted; and because of his relationship, or apparently, “lack there-of”, with an underage Daisy.
In Hothouse Flower, we’re introduced to Ryke’s POV (and Daisy’s, whom I don’t particularly have a problem with, not when most of my anger is directed at Ryke and the authors), and we attempt to understand, I suppose, the mindset Ryke had when he met and fell for, but had a “platonic” relationship with, Daisy (a fucking minor seven years his junior). I’ll tell you this: after reading this, any thoughts of Ryke being swoon-worthy have vanished. Hothouse Flower merely affirmed what i’d begun to think of Ryke in Kiss the Sky: he’s a fucking pedophile. Plus, Ryke’s excessive swearing was really off-putting. Wow, look at you, so cool with your endless supply of f-bombs. Instead, I see it as lazy writing.
You can’t have sexual feelings for a girl, a frohsjnfijging minor, but still hang out with her ALONE by deluding yourself into thinking that you won’t let anything happen as long as you discourage her advances. Because Ryke does a poor job of that, always baiting her, letting her bait him, and talking about sex with her. No. No, that’s wrong. I don’t know what the hell the authors were thinking, writing about their relationship like some forbidden romance and making Ryke out to be the “hero” when he’s actually not. It reminds me of the time Millie Bobby Brown said that she and Drake text, and he’d give her boy and dating advice. Ew.
Ryke, or the authors, kept rationalizing his behavior as “abrasive”, that he’s a hothead and I don’t remember what, but it’s no excuse. I understand that Daisy is now a legal adult, so whatever flirtatious banter and other activities that she and Ryke do are no longer concerning, but when the events of the previous books are still fresh in your mind, you can’t help but notice how wrong it all is, especially since the supporting characters did nothing to separate them. Except Lo. Honestly, how did Rose not disapprove of their friendship, I’ll never understand. I thought i could count on Rose to put Ryke in his place.
Hothouse Flower has disappointed me on so many levels, even more than it’s predecessor, Kiss the Sky. Lo and Lily’s story was written so beautifully, while Rose and Conner’s was severly lacking, and Ryke and Daisy’s just so boring. I honestly think that the Calloway Sisters series shouldn’t include one sister and her love interest per book, but multiple narratives. That way, an entire book wouldn’t have to be filled with excessive boring sex scenes, cheesy dialogue, and wordy sentences.
Honestly, this book has put me off reading the rest of the two series.
In Hothouse Flower, we’re introduced to Ryke’s POV (and Daisy’s, whom I don’t particularly have a problem with, not when most of my anger is directed at Ryke and the authors), and we attempt to understand, I suppose, the mindset Ryke had when he met and fell for, but had a “platonic” relationship with, Daisy (a fucking minor seven years his junior). I’ll tell you this: after reading this, any thoughts of Ryke being swoon-worthy have vanished. Hothouse Flower merely affirmed what i’d begun to think of Ryke in Kiss the Sky: he’s a fucking pedophile. Plus, Ryke’s excessive swearing was really off-putting. Wow, look at you, so cool with your endless supply of f-bombs. Instead, I see it as lazy writing.
You can’t have sexual feelings for a girl, a frohsjnfijging minor, but still hang out with her ALONE by deluding yourself into thinking that you won’t let anything happen as long as you discourage her advances. Because Ryke does a poor job of that, always baiting her, letting her bait him, and talking about sex with her. No. No, that’s wrong. I don’t know what the hell the authors were thinking, writing about their relationship like some forbidden romance and making Ryke out to be the “hero” when he’s actually not. It reminds me of the time Millie Bobby Brown said that she and Drake text, and he’d give her boy and dating advice. Ew.
Ryke, or the authors, kept rationalizing his behavior as “abrasive”, that he’s a hothead and I don’t remember what, but it’s no excuse. I understand that Daisy is now a legal adult, so whatever flirtatious banter and other activities that she and Ryke do are no longer concerning, but when the events of the previous books are still fresh in your mind, you can’t help but notice how wrong it all is, especially since the supporting characters did nothing to separate them. Except Lo. Honestly, how did Rose not disapprove of their friendship, I’ll never understand. I thought i could count on Rose to put Ryke in his place.
Hothouse Flower has disappointed me on so many levels, even more than it’s predecessor, Kiss the Sky. Lo and Lily’s story was written so beautifully, while Rose and Conner’s was severly lacking, and Ryke and Daisy’s just so boring. I honestly think that the Calloway Sisters series shouldn’t include one sister and her love interest per book, but multiple narratives. That way, an entire book wouldn’t have to be filled with excessive boring sex scenes, cheesy dialogue, and wordy sentences.
Honestly, this book has put me off reading the rest of the two series.
December 10, 2023
“You’re a hothouse flower,” I tell her. “You can’t grow under natural conditions. You need adventure. And security and love in order to stay alive.”
3.75 stars
Having Lily, Lo, Connor & Rose included helped balance this out for me in making it more enjoyable than Daisy and Rykes scene’s alone. Unpopular opinion maybe but I liked them more as friends as annoying as that was initially than a couple. It also didn’t help that the authors constantly reminded us of their age difference and ryke definitely mirrored daisy in every sense especially in age despite him being older.. I had the only internal conflict because of this given the issue with the age difference and initial interactions paired with his actions in caring, protecting & being there for her how he was as she struggled to ask for help from anyone else bc she felt she couldn’t
So while I’m aware that Raisy are a favorite to some and I didn’t personally love this, I can’t deny that I did enjoy some of it. There were some moments that felt genuinely heartfelt to read about other than laughable by them and the others.
Here you kinda get a better understanding of Daisy and Ryke as individuals. It’s impossible not to sympathize with Daisy, given all she’s endured and her trauma especially as she’s thrusted into a life that forced her to grow up too quick and my heart honestly broke for her given what she’s been through ❤️🩹 she’s free spirited and wild like ryke is so it’s not a surprise they’re a match
As for Ryke, I can’t say he’s a bad person because he isn’t and his anger was mostly warranted due to his childhood which explains how he is and the many annoying fucks in a page we get from him lmao. Despite his character being contradictory to me, the support given to daisy and lo will always be undeniably invaluable and I’ll forever give him credit for being the driving forces to the core six as it wouldn’t be what it is without him besides Connor and rose.
Expect to see a surprise near the end that you might pick up early on like I did but if not enjoy!! 🫶🏼
I have so much to say but jess’ review said what I couldn’t perfectly as she worded my exact thoughts so definitely check it out!
Now onto thrive 🥹 I missed my babies so much and cannot wait to get back to them
few quotes I did enjoy:
“Boys are like pillars,” Rose tells me. “Ryke is something to lean on. But they don’t make you move. You have to do that for yourself.”
“Beginnings are the hardest because they’re the parts that pull people in, that make them want the ends. And endings are the most painful, the parts that can leave you bleeding out.”
“To me, he’s worth every loud moment, every peaceful silence, the crazy and the sad, the restless and the quiet.”
“If you hurt her, I’ll personally snip off your balls and hang them on the Christmas tree this year.” Rose to Ryke 🤭
3.75 stars
Having Lily, Lo, Connor & Rose included helped balance this out for me in making it more enjoyable than Daisy and Rykes scene’s alone. Unpopular opinion maybe but I liked them more as friends as annoying as that was initially than a couple. It also didn’t help that the authors constantly reminded us of their age difference and ryke definitely mirrored daisy in every sense especially in age despite him being older.. I had the only internal conflict because of this given the issue with the age difference and initial interactions paired with his actions in caring, protecting & being there for her how he was as she struggled to ask for help from anyone else bc she felt she couldn’t
So while I’m aware that Raisy are a favorite to some and I didn’t personally love this, I can’t deny that I did enjoy some of it. There were some moments that felt genuinely heartfelt to read about other than laughable by them and the others.
Here you kinda get a better understanding of Daisy and Ryke as individuals. It’s impossible not to sympathize with Daisy, given all she’s endured and her trauma especially as she’s thrusted into a life that forced her to grow up too quick and my heart honestly broke for her given what she’s been through ❤️🩹 she’s free spirited and wild like ryke is so it’s not a surprise they’re a match
As for Ryke, I can’t say he’s a bad person because he isn’t and his anger was mostly warranted due to his childhood which explains how he is and the many annoying fucks in a page we get from him lmao. Despite his character being contradictory to me, the support given to daisy and lo will always be undeniably invaluable and I’ll forever give him credit for being the driving forces to the core six as it wouldn’t be what it is without him besides Connor and rose.
Expect to see a surprise near the end that you might pick up early on like I did but if not enjoy!! 🫶🏼
I have so much to say but jess’ review said what I couldn’t perfectly as she worded my exact thoughts so definitely check it out!
Now onto thrive 🥹 I missed my babies so much and cannot wait to get back to them
few quotes I did enjoy:
“Boys are like pillars,” Rose tells me. “Ryke is something to lean on. But they don’t make you move. You have to do that for yourself.”
“Beginnings are the hardest because they’re the parts that pull people in, that make them want the ends. And endings are the most painful, the parts that can leave you bleeding out.”
“To me, he’s worth every loud moment, every peaceful silence, the crazy and the sad, the restless and the quiet.”
“If you hurt her, I’ll personally snip off your balls and hang them on the Christmas tree this year.” Rose to Ryke 🤭
September 25, 2023
���I love you, Dais, because you’re the wildest fucking girl with the biggest fucking heart. And without you in my life”—he shakes his head like it’s an inconceivable picture—“I’d be the unhappiest fucking guy.”
1st read : August 21, 2016 ❤️/ ebook
2nd read: January 23,2022 ❤️ / ebook
3rd read: December 01, 2022 ❤️ / Audiobook
4th read: April 10, 2023 ❤️ / Audiobook
5th read: September 25, 2023 ❤️ / Audiobook
Ryke Meadows, I love you so fucking much!!! <3
My God, I'm addicted to this series... :)
ADDICTED SERIES - RECOMMENDED READING ORDER
Addicted to You (Addicted #1)
Ricochet (Addicted #1.5)
Addicted for Now (Addicted #2)
Kiss the Sky (Spin-Off: Calloway Sisters #1)
Hothouse Flower (Calloway Sisters #2)
Thrive (Addicted #2.5)
Addicted After All (Addicted #3)
Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3)
Long Way Down (Calloway Sisters #4)
Some Kind of Perfect (Calloway Sisters #4.5)
1st read : August 21, 2016 ❤️/ ebook
2nd read: January 23,2022 ❤️ / ebook
3rd read: December 01, 2022 ❤️ / Audiobook
4th read: April 10, 2023 ❤️ / Audiobook
5th read: September 25, 2023 ❤️ / Audiobook
Ryke Meadows, I love you so fucking much!!! <3
My God, I'm addicted to this series... :)
ADDICTED SERIES - RECOMMENDED READING ORDER
Addicted to You (Addicted #1)
Ricochet (Addicted #1.5)
Addicted for Now (Addicted #2)
Kiss the Sky (Spin-Off: Calloway Sisters #1)
Hothouse Flower (Calloway Sisters #2)
Thrive (Addicted #2.5)
Addicted After All (Addicted #3)
Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3)
Long Way Down (Calloway Sisters #4)
Some Kind of Perfect (Calloway Sisters #4.5)
July 24, 2023
|| 3.0 stars ||
Ryke and Daisy were honestly very cute together, and I loved how protective he was of her. They were matched pretty perfectly; both having a wild, adventurous, laid-back, humble and caring nature.
They just seem like that type of couple who would never get bored of each other and who can do the most insane and dangerous stuff together without ever losing the big ass smiles on their face! They just really give off this super cool and sexy vibe as a couple without even really trying.
But it’s not just that; they are always each other’s rock, and give full-on support for anything the other wants to do or achieve. Judgement literally isn’t a word that exists in their vocabulary, and they have legit mastered the hurt/comfort trope.
I do have to put this out there:
This book (and probably the entire series) very much romanticizes trauma, but I tried not to think about that too much, because it would have just pissed me off the entire time.
Anyway, like I said, I loved Daisy and Ryke, but unfortunately that love did not extent to any of the other four semi-main characters. They are all terribly selfish (except sometimes Connor), and the way they treat Ryke and Daisy made my blood boil. Both of them are kind of the black sheep; easily forgotten, and even more easily ignored. The rest really took them for granted, which sucked, because Ryke and Daisy were the only selfless and likable people in the group.
It also really pissed me off that Daisy felt like she had to suppress all of her issues and trauma because she felt like her family was already dealing with enough because of Lily. Like, no offense… but Daisy went through so much more than Lily. Sure, Lily has a sex addiction, but Daisy has depression, has an eating disorder, has been physically assaulted, has night terrors, has PTSD, has been sexually assaulted multiple times, has no agency over her own life, has been violated in more ways than one, is used by everyone around her, is stuck in the toxic culture of modeling, is being abused by her mother, and basically just gets ignored all the damn time by everyone even though she’s the person who deserves to complain the most.
Everyone in that family just made me mad because they were so damn selfish!! How can they not take notice of the teenage girl slowly dying inside?? Instead they were all just so preoccupied with their own damn issues (which were largely their own fault anyway), and expecting everyone to care about how much they were struggling.
All these people were insanely self-absorbed. And it broke my heart, because Daisy deserved so much better. I literally started crying when I read about what happened with her friends and the dildo in the elevator… Just legit sobbing. And none of her family was there for her during those times. None of them cared enough to notice. This teenage girl just had to keep it all inside…
Now, of course I’ll also need to do a little rant on my most hated character: Loren.
Loren is a massive prick and I don’t really know why Ryke puts up with it. Somehow Loren doesn’t seem to understand that he is getting a lot more out of their relationship than Ryke is, because he constantly acts like he’s doing Ryke a massive favour by letting him be close to him? But like, sir, you’re a giant mess, you’re an absolute drag to be around, and frankly, you need all the help you can get. You should be GLAD Ryke is willing to put up with your ungrateful arse. Loren was literally only sober because of Ryke. Without him, he’d probably be half-dead by now. And all Ryke gets in return is hate, judgement and the cold-shoulder treatment?? Seriously, PISS OFF.
Loren is literally the most selfish person ever, and I don’t really care if it’s because he’s an addict. I mean, doesn’t everyone have a reason for being the way they are? It doesn’t make them any less of an arsehole.
Also, why does Loren think he has the right to be this ridiculously overprotective of Daisy? He hardly even knows her (like, seriously, their relationship is extremely shallow and superficial) and he’s not even her brother. Daisy’s ACTUAL sisters didn’t have a problem with her and Ryke being together, so what the actual hell was this idiot’s problem? I mean, I understand he’s about as narcissistic as one can possibly be, but MY DUDE, this is in no way, shape or form about you!! Stop making yourself the victim all the damn time. Like, he hasn’t helped Daisy with any of her problems, EVER, while Ryke was there 24/7, helping her (and helping Loren too, by the way) in any way he could, but somehow Loren still thinks he has the moral high ground here? Like Daisy is just that important to him? And not to Ryke?? God, how I hate this man and how nobody ever calls him out for his horrendous behaviour.
If I’m being honest, my biggest issue with Ryke and Daisy’s relationship was how he seemed to prioritize his relationship with his selfish brother over her wants and needs sometimes. He mostly didn’t, but sometimes… sometimes he did. And I truly despised those moments.
All in all, I obviously had some issues with this book but none of them centered around the romance between the main couple. It all had to do with their relationships to the other people around them…
Ryke and Daisy were honestly very cute together, and I loved how protective he was of her. They were matched pretty perfectly; both having a wild, adventurous, laid-back, humble and caring nature.
They just seem like that type of couple who would never get bored of each other and who can do the most insane and dangerous stuff together without ever losing the big ass smiles on their face! They just really give off this super cool and sexy vibe as a couple without even really trying.
But it’s not just that; they are always each other’s rock, and give full-on support for anything the other wants to do or achieve. Judgement literally isn’t a word that exists in their vocabulary, and they have legit mastered the hurt/comfort trope.
I do have to put this out there:
This book (and probably the entire series) very much romanticizes trauma, but I tried not to think about that too much, because it would have just pissed me off the entire time.
Anyway, like I said, I loved Daisy and Ryke, but unfortunately that love did not extent to any of the other four semi-main characters. They are all terribly selfish (except sometimes Connor), and the way they treat Ryke and Daisy made my blood boil. Both of them are kind of the black sheep; easily forgotten, and even more easily ignored. The rest really took them for granted, which sucked, because Ryke and Daisy were the only selfless and likable people in the group.
It also really pissed me off that Daisy felt like she had to suppress all of her issues and trauma because she felt like her family was already dealing with enough because of Lily. Like, no offense… but Daisy went through so much more than Lily. Sure, Lily has a sex addiction, but Daisy has depression, has an eating disorder, has been physically assaulted, has night terrors, has PTSD, has been sexually assaulted multiple times, has no agency over her own life, has been violated in more ways than one, is used by everyone around her, is stuck in the toxic culture of modeling, is being abused by her mother, and basically just gets ignored all the damn time by everyone even though she’s the person who deserves to complain the most.
Everyone in that family just made me mad because they were so damn selfish!! How can they not take notice of the teenage girl slowly dying inside?? Instead they were all just so preoccupied with their own damn issues (which were largely their own fault anyway), and expecting everyone to care about how much they were struggling.
All these people were insanely self-absorbed. And it broke my heart, because Daisy deserved so much better. I literally started crying when I read about what happened with her friends and the dildo in the elevator… Just legit sobbing. And none of her family was there for her during those times. None of them cared enough to notice. This teenage girl just had to keep it all inside…
“I don’t ever, ever want to choose Lily over Daisy. Just because Lily cries harder. Just because Lily screams harder. It doesn’t mean that Daisy’s pain isn’t more.”
Now, of course I’ll also need to do a little rant on my most hated character: Loren.
Loren is a massive prick and I don’t really know why Ryke puts up with it. Somehow Loren doesn’t seem to understand that he is getting a lot more out of their relationship than Ryke is, because he constantly acts like he’s doing Ryke a massive favour by letting him be close to him? But like, sir, you’re a giant mess, you’re an absolute drag to be around, and frankly, you need all the help you can get. You should be GLAD Ryke is willing to put up with your ungrateful arse. Loren was literally only sober because of Ryke. Without him, he’d probably be half-dead by now. And all Ryke gets in return is hate, judgement and the cold-shoulder treatment?? Seriously, PISS OFF.
Loren is literally the most selfish person ever, and I don’t really care if it’s because he’s an addict. I mean, doesn’t everyone have a reason for being the way they are? It doesn’t make them any less of an arsehole.
Also, why does Loren think he has the right to be this ridiculously overprotective of Daisy? He hardly even knows her (like, seriously, their relationship is extremely shallow and superficial) and he’s not even her brother. Daisy’s ACTUAL sisters didn’t have a problem with her and Ryke being together, so what the actual hell was this idiot’s problem? I mean, I understand he’s about as narcissistic as one can possibly be, but MY DUDE, this is in no way, shape or form about you!! Stop making yourself the victim all the damn time. Like, he hasn’t helped Daisy with any of her problems, EVER, while Ryke was there 24/7, helping her (and helping Loren too, by the way) in any way he could, but somehow Loren still thinks he has the moral high ground here? Like Daisy is just that important to him? And not to Ryke?? God, how I hate this man and how nobody ever calls him out for his horrendous behaviour.
If I’m being honest, my biggest issue with Ryke and Daisy’s relationship was how he seemed to prioritize his relationship with his selfish brother over her wants and needs sometimes. He mostly didn’t, but sometimes… sometimes he did. And I truly despised those moments.
All in all, I obviously had some issues with this book but none of them centered around the romance between the main couple. It all had to do with their relationships to the other people around them…
March 21, 2022
this book could’ve been 10000x better if she was 21
July 25, 2016
Hothouse Flower
Ryke Meadows POV
My life is full of unconventionalities, abnormalities and awkward fucking situations.
If you’re easily offended by crude language and inappropriate talks, you’ve taken a wrong fucking turn somewhere. You won’t understand me if you can’t handle me, and I’m not going to try to explain myself.
I’m raw.
I’m hard.
I’m the thing you shy away from.
So I’m warning you now. Back away.
Because once you enter my life, I won’t ever let you leave.
***
Hothouse Flower will be released March 2014. To see Ryke and Daisy's first encounter, check out Ricochet (available now). You can find more with them in Addicted for Now (available now) and Kiss the Sky (available now). It's totally optional whether or not you want to read the Addicted series beforehand, but you should at least read Kiss the Sky.
February 10, 2024
Loved this book sm!! Daisy and Ryke might be my new favourite couple in this series 🥹
Daisy and Ryke are so good for each other! They’re both wild but they also help to ground each other. What they both went through, especially Daisy, made me so sad 😭 I really sympathise with both of them. I loved how they’ve connected with each other, and we got to see them on a deeper level. The acts of service and seriously everything about Ryke had me swooning 🥰🦋🥹
The drama again never fails to disappoint. Loved how even though the books are all told in each couples POV, it still at the core centres on the family. I’ve said it in my previous reviews and I’ll say it again, the found family in this series is one of the best!! Those reveals at the end weren’t too shocking as I kinda caught them early on, but still so excited for what’s to come!! 🥹
❥ Ryke Meadows has invigorated my body and soul.
❥ Dear God, send me Ryke Meadows morning, noon and night.
“You’re a hothouse flower,” I tell her. “You can’t grow under natural conditions. You need adventure. And security and love in order to stay alive.”
Daisy and Ryke are so good for each other! They’re both wild but they also help to ground each other. What they both went through, especially Daisy, made me so sad 😭 I really sympathise with both of them. I loved how they’ve connected with each other, and we got to see them on a deeper level. The acts of service and seriously everything about Ryke had me swooning 🥰🦋🥹
The drama again never fails to disappoint. Loved how even though the books are all told in each couples POV, it still at the core centres on the family. I’ve said it in my previous reviews and I’ll say it again, the found family in this series is one of the best!! Those reveals at the end weren’t too shocking as I kinda caught them early on, but still so excited for what’s to come!! 🥹
❥ Ryke Meadows has invigorated my body and soul.
❥ Dear God, send me Ryke Meadows morning, noon and night.
December 6, 2021
originally rated this three stars but after sitting on it, i gotta lower it to a 1.
first of all, kbr get help because you’re literally normalizing a 16 year old and 23 year old….but apparently it’s okay now that she’s 18 as if ryke didn’t wait for her to turn 18 and acted so inappropriately around her when she was a minor. when reading this, i didn’t even realize how bad it actually was until thinking on it and i know this is labeled NA but there’s a huge young audience surrounding these books and don’t you think that trying to normalize and act like they’re nothing wrong with ryke and daisy is very very weird….
idk even as adults and for the older audience, maybe self evaluate as to why you find a 16 and 23 year old together okay. and the bs excuse was “she’s mature for her age/she looks older” SHUT UPPP, ITS GROOMING.
daisy babes i’ll save you from this weird guy, im coming to get you!!
first of all, kbr get help because you’re literally normalizing a 16 year old and 23 year old….but apparently it’s okay now that she’s 18 as if ryke didn’t wait for her to turn 18 and acted so inappropriately around her when she was a minor. when reading this, i didn’t even realize how bad it actually was until thinking on it and i know this is labeled NA but there’s a huge young audience surrounding these books and don’t you think that trying to normalize and act like they’re nothing wrong with ryke and daisy is very very weird….
idk even as adults and for the older audience, maybe self evaluate as to why you find a 16 and 23 year old together okay. and the bs excuse was “she’s mature for her age/she looks older” SHUT UPPP, ITS GROOMING.
daisy babes i’ll save you from this weird guy, im coming to get you!!
January 30, 2019
Addicted To You (Addicted Book 1) |http://amzn.to/2zRYSYS
Ricochet (Addicted Book 1.5) | http://amzn.to/2zTkHr5
Addicted For Now (Addicted Book 2) | http://amzn.to/2B2sj8A
Kiss The Sky (Addicted #2.1, Calloway Sisters #1) | http://amzn.to/2yYV84q
Hothouse Flower (Addicted #2.2, Calloway Sisters #2) | http://amzn.to/2hD5nUU
“I kissed you tonight because I want your lips to only touch mine. From now until forever. That’s the fucking truth.”
ZOMGTHISBOOKWASSOOOFUCKINGAMAZING
YOUALLHAVETOREADTHEMNOWWWWWW!!!
There is no way I can write a review that will do this book justice. No way can I write words to describe how FUCKING SEXY RYKE MEADOWS is and how adorable Daisy is and how freaking hard I fell in love with them together.
“Big bad wolf, are you going to eat me?” .
My gaze drops to her mouth. “Until you fucking scream.”
I absolutely adore Krista and Becca’s writing style. It's smart, witty and just draws you IN. There is not a single drawn out moment or a wasted word and I absolutely loved it. I probably highlighted 80% of this book. SO many moments had me tearing up and even more had me fanning myself. You all can have Connor, RYKE IS MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“You love me,” I breathe.
He lets out a short laugh. “You’re such a fucking girl.”
“Say it again.”
He smiles, a full blown one that tingles my body all over. “I fucking love you, sweetheart.”
These authors just keep raising the bar and each book just gets better and better. This is one of those series that started out strong, and just keeps getting stronger. I am so happy I still have 3 books left to read.
TEAM #RAISY FOREVER BABY!!!!!!!!
Hothouse Flower (Addicted #2.2, Calloway Sisters #2) | http://amzn.to/2hD5nUU
Find Me On:
Instagram ❤ FB Page ❤ FB Blog ❤ Blog ❤ Twitter
Ricochet (Addicted Book 1.5) | http://amzn.to/2zTkHr5
Addicted For Now (Addicted Book 2) | http://amzn.to/2B2sj8A
Kiss The Sky (Addicted #2.1, Calloway Sisters #1) | http://amzn.to/2yYV84q
Hothouse Flower (Addicted #2.2, Calloway Sisters #2) | http://amzn.to/2hD5nUU
“I kissed you tonight because I want your lips to only touch mine. From now until forever. That’s the fucking truth.”
ZOMGTHISBOOKWASSOOOFUCKINGAMAZING
YOUALLHAVETOREADTHEMNOWWWWWW!!!
There is no way I can write a review that will do this book justice. No way can I write words to describe how FUCKING SEXY RYKE MEADOWS is and how adorable Daisy is and how freaking hard I fell in love with them together.
“Big bad wolf, are you going to eat me?” .
My gaze drops to her mouth. “Until you fucking scream.”
I absolutely adore Krista and Becca’s writing style. It's smart, witty and just draws you IN. There is not a single drawn out moment or a wasted word and I absolutely loved it. I probably highlighted 80% of this book. SO many moments had me tearing up and even more had me fanning myself. You all can have Connor, RYKE IS MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“You love me,” I breathe.
He lets out a short laugh. “You’re such a fucking girl.”
“Say it again.”
He smiles, a full blown one that tingles my body all over. “I fucking love you, sweetheart.”
These authors just keep raising the bar and each book just gets better and better. This is one of those series that started out strong, and just keeps getting stronger. I am so happy I still have 3 books left to read.
TEAM #RAISY FOREVER BABY!!!!!!!!
Hothouse Flower (Addicted #2.2, Calloway Sisters #2) | http://amzn.to/2hD5nUU
Find Me On:
Instagram ❤ FB Page ❤ FB Blog ❤ Blog ❤ Twitter
June 5, 2016
He's like my wolf-- dangerous, alluring and protective.
(Buddyread this book with sis Bea. Check out her fantastic review!)
It's official. Hothouse Flower is my favorite book in the series so far. And RAISY is my favorite OTP!
I can't get enough of how good this sequel is. I have always been a fan of Ryke Meadows and Daisy Calloway ever since the earlier books. It's because of their undeniable chemistry. I love their age difference and the fact that Ryke Meadows is several years older than Daisy. Their relationship was so good that I actually wasn't able to help myself smiling, laughing, and swooning over them from the very first page up to the last.
Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie did not disappoint. As the series goes on, the writing becomes more and more beautiful and heartfelt. What's even great is the humor in every page. It's very entertaining and it's also filled with witty conversations and banters. (I especially love the Connor-Ryke banters and Lo-Rose banters) Seriously, this book is making me laugh out loud... A LOT!
The romantic plot of this book is also remarkable. Ryke and Daisy's attraction towards each other in the earlier books was very apparent but this time, their feelings are already unstoppable. I especially love the way Ryke comforts Daisy and supports her whenever she experiences night terrors and paranoia. The way he always stays with her despite the fact that everyone around them are against their love affair was so touching.
The way Ryke also proves to Daisy that she deserves so much better when it comes to guys... I'm speechless. No words. Ryke is everything!
"Every theory you've ever fucking had about men, I'm going to prove wrong."
Lo, Lily, Rose, and Connor also made remarkable appearances in this book. The sequel will never be complete without these lovable characters that I have grown to love all throughout the series! Some parts also made me teary-eyed, especially Ryke and Jonathan's relationship development.
Hothouse Flower was overall a great and enjoyable sequel. It's so difficult not to like it, just the like rest of the books in this series. This is one of the best series I've ever come across!
She's the sun. I'm the dark. If she's gone, I can kiss that fucking light away. Without her, I know I'll never see it again.
Rating:
October 8, 2024
DAISY AND RYKE HAVE MY HEART AND SOUL!! Officially my favorite couple in the series and I know that may be a hot take but I love their crazy asses so goddamn much!
This is absolutely my favorite book so far it has me feeling so many emotions. I think this one really hit me so hard because I relate to Daisy’s character so much. Watching her finally stand up for herself and take control of her life had me SOBBING. She’s wild, reckless, damaged, and has the biggest freaking heart.
Ryke and daisy for LIFE. God im obsessed with them and their unhinged love for each other. They are so perfect and nobody can tell me otherwise. I could read about them all damn day.
I have loved ryke from day one, a broody man with the biggest heart who puts his family and the ones he loves first no matter what. He was always there for Daisy when she literally had NOBODY else, and I loved his tough love with her. He’s a little possessive and will beat anyone’s face in who goes near Daisy…. So yes I adore him.
This is absolutely my favorite book so far it has me feeling so many emotions. I think this one really hit me so hard because I relate to Daisy’s character so much. Watching her finally stand up for herself and take control of her life had me SOBBING. She’s wild, reckless, damaged, and has the biggest freaking heart.
Ryke and daisy for LIFE. God im obsessed with them and their unhinged love for each other. They are so perfect and nobody can tell me otherwise. I could read about them all damn day.
I have loved ryke from day one, a broody man with the biggest heart who puts his family and the ones he loves first no matter what. He was always there for Daisy when she literally had NOBODY else, and I loved his tough love with her. He’s a little possessive and will beat anyone’s face in who goes near Daisy…. So yes I adore him.
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