Book review: Envy ~ Dylan Allen

Title: Envy
Author: Dylan Allen
Series: Vice & Virtue #1
Release date: May 31, 2018
(Sub)genres: Contemporary Romance
Buy: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Rating:
I received this book from Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

If envy is a sin, then let me be damned.

Graham was born to be a star.

Once upon a time, that star shone only for me.

Now, I have to share him with the rest of the world.

For a while, I thought I could do it. Because, beneath the hypnotic smile, gorgeous body and God-given charm that made him famous, I still caught glimpses of my best friend.

Of the boy who called me sunshine and loved me.

I wore that love like a crown . . . until he placed it on another’s head.

Losing him was agony, distance felt like the only cure.

When tragedy reunites us after years apart, it only takes one touch to erase the past. Just like that, I’m back in his arms.

He promises this time will be different. But I’m afraid to believe him.

Because behind his star’s blinding brilliance is a darkness that doesn’t want to let him go.

I know a star that bright can’t belong to just one person, but my jealous heart doesn’t want to share him.

I want all of him . . . even if wanting what doesn’t belong to me leads me to ruin.

Can you survive assumptions, can you get past half-trues and lies? Envy tells the heartbreaking and angst-y story of Apollo and Graham, for who a Happily Ever After doesn’t come easy. While I was sometimes angry, sometimes sad while reading Envy, I simply love this book.

“Once upon a time, he had been my compass. My star. But, I can’t do this anymore. Not for one more day. Loving Graham is killing me. Slowly. Softly. Surely.”

Apollo and Graham meet as young teenagers. They’re from very different backgrounds, but both share a similar devastating loss, and both are dealing with the aftermath. In each other they find a true friend, and over the years they share a lot; hopes and dreams. Slowly, their friendship starts to change into love, but due to Apollo’s age Graham is trying to do the right thing. Before they can finally give into their feelings for each other, everything falls apart. Years later both have moved on (or so it seems), but Apollo and Graham still have feelings for each other.

“He’s mine. And I’m his. I lean forward, rise up on the tips of my toes and press my lips to his. It’s a light kiss. But there’s so much promise and passion in it.”

Graham is a great kid / young man who wants to do what is right. He wants to take care of the people he loves, what changes his life into something he despises, but he can’t get away. Graham comes to terms with his work (kind of), but Apollo is always on his mind. Apollo is a sweet girl, a wise girl beyond her years. She loves Graham with all her heart, until he walks out of her life without a real explanation or anything. The only thing she has left are her assumptions and social media painting a certain picture, so all she can do is moving on. When they meet again it’s angst-y and messy, but this time love conquers all.

My feelings for Envy are all over the place. I went from sad, to angry, to happy, and all the feelings in between. The story of Apollo and Graham is not a fairytale; it hurts, it’s real and it’s messy. So are Graham and Apollo. Especially Graham makes some bad decisions that cost him almost everything. I was so proud of him when he finally had the courage to walk away. Graham and Apollo’s journey was hard, but they have their Happily Ever After.

“I feel like I have known this woman in a thousand lives and will in a thousand more …”