REVIEW: My Fault by Mercedes Ron

My Fault by Mercedes Ron: Blending a kind of rags to riches meets Fast and the Furious meets YA taboo romance, My Fault explores the relationship of Noah and Nicholas – a newly formed step-sibling relationship that both are less than impressed with courtesy of their respective mother and father marrying. Son of one of America’s successful Lawyers, Nicholas firmly believes that Noah and her mother have rocked up for the coin. And unfortunately his assumptions lead him to making some fairly poor choices early on in the novel.

Similarly, Noah pushes Nicholas’ buttons, and after being left on the side of the road, drugged at a party and beating rival gang members at the underground races, Noah starts to unknowingly find a way into Nicholas’ heart. As things fire up and our duo continue to find themselves in a chemical romance that neither can explain given the level of toxicity that lurks in their shadows.

For the most part, the central romance was reasonably well constructed, in the sense that hate and love have the same intensity and are just effectively opposing displays of the same passion. Unfortunately though, neither character was particularly likeable, and as the plot continued to unfold slowly, the sexual tension between our two was compromised by significant repetition.

As far as YA taboo texts are concerned, there was a dash of edginess woven in, however, the bulk was predictable if not ethically challenging in terms of some of the reactive behaviours our duo display. And whilst there was some underlying potential in the relatively cliched narrative, it needed slightly more to develop into something that romance fans can sink their teeth into. On the whole, the was a little off the mark, and whilst it was fun as a skim and snooze, it needed more crunch in the bite.

Book Info:

Publication: 6th June 2023 | Bloom Books | Culpable #1

Seventeen-year-old Noah Morgan loves her quiet, normal life in Toronto. But when her mother returns from a cruise unexpectedly married to a billionaire and announces they are moving to L.A., Noah is suddenly shoved out of her comfort zone and into a glittering world of illegal street races, lavish pool parties, and spoiled rich kids.
And her new stepbrother Nicholas is the most spoiled of them all. Arrogant, aloof, and viciously attractive, Nick is everything she hates, especially when she learns his bad boy persona isn’t just a façade. She’s spent her life running from danger, and Nick is danger incarnate. Yet neither of them can prevent the powerful attraction that flares between them—enough to turn their worlds upside-down and tempt them beyond all reason.
But Noah’s past may be even more dangerous than their forbidden romance. And if he wants her, Nick will have to decide if he’s willing to risk everything.
Filled with angst, danger, and electric attraction, My Fault is perfect.