Off Balance Series Books 1-4

I'm going to start this review from the beginning. Almost a year ago, I read Balance by Lucia Franco. I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I loved Lucia's writing. I loved how she could make me root for these characters that had no business being together, but it made me uncomfortable. I decided maybe I didn't need to read the rest of the series. 

Time passed and Lucia started getting verbally attacked online. I read many, many comments and it made me sick. I couldn't understand how people could say such hurtful things about someone they didn't even know, just over books they had written. While all of this was going on I was writing my own book. I couldn't imagine someone attacking me after I'd spent so much time and energy pouring my heart into those words. 

I went back and forth on whether I should finish the series. The horrible words people were saying didn't detour me from her, in fact it had the opposite effect, I only wanted to read more.

 Then two of my very best book friends told me I must finish this series before the last book came out. I clearly made the right choice. They enjoyed the wide range of emotions I was feeling, because they had already experienced them. I had no idea what I was in for. Nothing could have prepared me for this series. 

I usually don't write reviews like this, but I literally could not stop reading these books once I started. They are still fresh in my mind. The pain is definitely still there, so I thought it would only be right to combine all the books reviews in one big honest review. 

I want to start by saying these books won't be for everyone. Lucia literally tells you that right from the start. I still can't wrap my head around all the abuse she got, because if I don't want to read a book, or I'm not into what the book is about, I simply don't read it. I also don't like to leave authors bad reviews, because that shit hurts people's feelings, and that's not what I'm about. 

Kova was my strength, but I was his weakness. 

I will always find you. You have a part of me that no one has ever had, as I do with you. 

These books made me question my sanity. I was so emotional. I was angry. I was crying. I was laughing. I wanted to rip my hair out because sometimes they made some of the most stupid decisions and I just wanted to shake them both. 

These books made me uncomfortable, and at first I wanted to run from that, but now I think that's a testament to Lucia's writing. She wrote these emotions and feelings so well that it made me uncomfortable. I didn't want these two to be together, but then I thought how awful would it be for them if they weren't. I tried to imagine what if I loved someone with every fiber of my being, but I couldn't be with them. Would it make me desperate? Would it make me crazy? Would I make stupid decisions? Yes. That's what made it all feel so real. The story was hard to read, but that only made me love it more. 

He was the air I breathed, and ultimately what suffocated me. 

Honestly, I can't praise these books enough. I can't think of a time that I felt emotions in a book so deeply. Lucia has such a gift, and I truly hope that she doesn't let the horrible things people said about her affect her writing, because her words deserve to be heard. 

Before I wrap this review up I also need to compliment Lucia and her knowledge of gymnastics. Her writing was really exceptional during the scenes revolving around the sport. The grueling practices, the anxiety during a competition, the desperation to be perfect every single time, she really nailed that in her writing and it really showed. 

He had no morals and I had no dignity. 

I'm giving this series 5 STARS. I have no doubt Dismount will be another 5 star read also. I feel like I've been pulled through the wringer. My anxiety was on high alert, my emotions were out of whack, and I could literally not put the books down. I was trying to read every second of the day, and they absolutely consumed me. I truly cannot thank my friends enough for pushing me to finish the series, and I can't thank Lucia enough for writing such spectacular words. Please don't ever let anyone dim that light in you. You were made to put books into this world. 

"I can only love him in the dark."