The Entitled by Cassandra Robbins

Title:  The Entitled (The Entitled Duet # 1)

Author: Cassandra Robbins

Series: The Entitled Duet # 1

Release Date:  September 27, 2018

Length: 393 pages

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Although this is the first time I have read something written by Cassandra Robbins, she has proved that she knows how to reach the reader’s heart. This story is so tender, and extremely emotional, but terribly poignant at the same time. Devotion and cruelty, mixed in perfect proportions. It contains so many truths that manage to reach deep and awaken so many thoughts that will remain in the reader’s mind, long after the book is finished. An abundance of delight, tears, and memories. Pain and joy, mixed through the pages, a real page-turner, encouraged by the urge to find all the pieces and understand the story.

The author takes us forward, then takes us back to the past, masterfully showing us all the parts of the sweet and bitter story of Reed and Tess, two children who at first glance find themselves as soulmates, as two parts of the whole, as two souls merged into one. And slowly we see how their relationship develops, the gentle music of a sweet, sincere, childlike love, which at times exceeds the limits of what is expected. Obsessive, it can be said, unnatural maybe but beautiful, sincere and strong enough to overcome the obstacles posed by those who do not understand their attachment, brave enough to collect the broken pieces and build their oasis of love, but unfortunately not mature enough to survive the pressure of that one secret … a secret strong enough to destroy them both … And is he guilty? Or she? Does it matter?

Definitely, a book written in top style, it genuinely left me sleepless, I just could not leave it. The story amazed me with its layers, and with its depth, a seemingly easy love story, somewhat meaningless, someone will say. But if we scratch a little below the surface we will discover a real range of elements, so skillfully embroidered in the story. How the author has inserted the cause-and-effect aspect of parenting is absolutely proficient. We can clearly see how parental behavior and a stable family image influence children’s development. The parent in me is shocked by the behavior of the parents and the freedoms enjoyed by Tess, Reed, and the other privileged children, but the 14-year-old girl in me absolutely enjoys the story, empathizing with these characters who are so realistically built that it seemed to me that I knew them in real life. The pressure to adapt to social demands, the consequences of exposure to social media, and the abuse of alcohol and narcotics as a modern vice and a problem of the whole society are just some of the many elements that make this book absolutely unique, and the way the author presents all this is a real masterpiece. Mixing parts of the past and the present, intertwining Reed and Tess’s perspectives is something that really left me speechless.

A story of love and loss, an unbearable need to keep what we need but reject to see the truth that hurts, facing the difficult and painful moments that life relentlessly prepares for us. I have not read anything so emotional in a long time and I think it is a must-read for everyone who wants a slightly different story – true emotions interwoven with hot scenes, but also with dramatic elements. This book awakens many emotions that stay in us for a long time and continue to glow in our souls even longer …***