Torn

By: Carian Cole

Narrated by: Noelle Bridges, Mason Lloyd

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

"Well-written tension and forbidden longing. The angst in this was incredible!"—Penelope Douglas, New York Times bestselling author of Birthday Girl

When I was five years old, I told Toren Grace we were going to get married someday. He’d been my closest friend, my protector, and my rock since the day I was born. But during my senior year, our relationship slowly changed. Silly conversations morphed into serious heart-to-hearts. Innocent friendship turned to stolen glances.

Then one day, an unexpected kiss changed everything.

While that kiss was all I’d ever dreamed of, it knocked Tor clear off his axis. His strong moral compass makes it impossible for him to accept our feelings for each other. Because, not only am I eighteen and fifteen years younger than him, I’m the one person he should never, ever want.

Tor is my father’s best friend—my pseudo uncle.

Neither one of us can stand to betray or hurt my dad, but we can’t keep our relationship hidden forever. Will there be a way for us to find our happily-ever-after? Or will we all be torn apart?

Torn is book one in the All Torn Up series but can be listened to as a standalone novel.

©2016 Carian Cole (P)2023 Forever

Critic reviews

"A captivating journey of forbidden romance. Torn is unputdownable and unforgettable."—Meredith Wild, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Soulmates tangled in a forbidden, twisted situation. TORN shattered me and put me back together again. It’s not a story—it’s a ride that I never wanted to end. It takes forbidden love and angst to an entirely new level."—Abbi Glines, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Torn won my heart so fiercely."—Addicted to Romance

Taboo Sweet Romance

Torn is the first book I have read from Carian Cole and I was pleasantly surprised by this story. Carian did a good job of telling a taboo love story that did not fall into a creepy uncle/family friend vibe. I like how their relationship evolved throughout the story but also the parts of her growing up and their connection on a deeper level. As the story went on, it made me think of Jacob and Renesmee from Twilight. They were connected from the beginning of her life and he was what she needed him to be throughout her life. Highly recommended if you like taboo, sweet, romantic books. On a side note...Tor rescues animals throughout the book, how can you not love him??!!

Could of been better.

So let me preface this with the fact that I will be comparing this book to a similar taboo age gap romance called Birthday Girl. I know the stories are slightly different, but I think one did it right, and I want to explain where I think this one got it wrong.
First, I enjoyed this book. Faults and all. It was good, but I feel like there were cringey moments that could have been avoided. Parts of this book left me confused as to why the author chose to write it in this way. Because it was almost as if she was intentionally trying to make the reader cringe. However, maybe I'm reading too much into it.
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas, like I said, is a similar novel with an almost equally taboo age gap relationship. But both these books are leagues apart in the delivery of said relationship. Jordan (the MC in Birthday Girl) and Kenzie (the MC in Torn) are very different, though they are similar in age. Penelope did it right with Jordan. Jordan was a teenager, but her life had never been easy. She was forced to grow up far before she should have had to, and because of that, she is way more mature than her peers. And not like how Tore describes Kenzie as mature. Jordan is making adult decisions, working hard, financially supporting herself, saving money, and planning for a future. It's her maturity as an adult that makes her Pike's equal. Their relationship only works because she is so responsible and hard working and mature. But Kenzie is written like an average 17 year old. (Don't get me started on her, not even being legal age.) Kenzie whines and complains in parts of the book. Lashes out and pouts like a child. She fails to realize fully what their relationship means and how wrong it may be because she is so caught up in her feelings and puppy love for Tore. It's so juvenile that it makes their dynamic feel even more wrong because of it.
The other big mistake this author made was starting each chapter with a flash back of Kenzie and Tore's life together as she grew up. The chapters begin with stating Kenzie's age and then Tore's. (Example: Tore age 17 and Kenzie age 2) It continues to bring a heavy focus on their age gap that leaves the reader feeling uneasy. I understand that the back story of their life may be interesting and important in some instances, but the way it continues to be set up feels a bit off to me. A truly strange choice by the author.
Birthday Girl does this differently. Though they bring focus to the age gap, it isn't done in the same way. Most of the book you forget that Jordan is even 19. Her and Pike are just two adults that match each other completely in maturity and desire for their life. It's believable that Jordan wants a quiet, simple life being Pike's wife because she has already experienced life and life's hardships. She wants to finally rest with the man she loves.
But Kenzie wanting to be a stay at home mom feels off. Not that there is anything wrong with it, but it feels like a dream a child would have because she has no idea what life is like and what she wants to do. Kenzie has had most things handed to her on a silver platter. Though she is kind enough not to abuse it, she truly doesn't know what it's like to be an adult and live through hardship. She is so naive to life it hurts to read sometimes.
And then there is the sex. Jordan was never written as a virginal child. Jordan was experienced and able. She controlled her own body and knew what she liked and didn't like. Kenzie, being a virgin on top of the already cringy relationship, was just an odd choice to me. Having Tore be her first sexual experience and only one while Tore had had flings for years seemed like a crazy power imbalance that made it feel gross to me somehow. I admit that maybe that wasn't the intent. But if she had been a teenager with experience and had simply found him more suited to her, then I would have felt better about the dynamic.
(The fact that she constantly called him her Uncle Tore and him calling her his niece also seemed like a bad choice.)
As a whole, the book wasn't bad. Tore was an extremely interesting character, and I could have read about him all day long. But these were just my thoughts as I was finishing it up.

Mixed feelings about the story

The plot revolves around a family friend “uncle Tor” and Kenzie, his best friend’s daughter.
The age difference isn’t so much the problem as the fact he’s known her since birth and was very much like a caring uncle until she was of age. After she was legal, it read like a live story. It just felt icky through 2/3rds of the book. It was, sadly, boring.

O.M.G

Loved this ❤ after hearing this audio book, it took a little of my heart. the way it wrapped me up and in with the journey... it will be in my heart for a long time. it was a real true love story.

OMG YESSS

On my way to read Asher’s story because wow😭going back to Kenzi and tor, I love love them! So good. The build up was everything. So worth it!

Awesome!

loved it! I couldn't stop listening. Carian Cole has done it again what a story.

Bomb

Let’s just say I now love men with Tattoos all over. I don’t know how I can accept anyone different after reading about Toren. He was gentle, kind, passionate, hard working, honest. All the things one would love in a man. I even like Kenzi. She was sweet for him.
It was kinda hard at the beginning to see them as a couple since Toren knew her from her birth. Just a little odd. But their relationship was done well and she was 18yrs once they got serious.
I loved the sex scenes. Just the right amount of passion and detail.
I didn’t start the other stories that had Kenzi’s parents story. Not sure I want to read it. I’m more interested in Tor’s brother that I met when Kenzi was stranded on the side of the road.
Now to read that one.

Age Gap Romance, Great Narration!

This age gap romance felt like the story that we would have gotten about Jacob and Renesme had they not been mythical creatures. While it had a moment here and there where the story slowed, it was engaging angsty and full of twists and turns. Lots of secondary characters with intriguing backstories, and I hope that means more books to read :)

Absolutely loved it

Totally hooked on Torn - I did not want this story to end. What started out as taboo ends with a true romance and a happily ever after. Tor and Kenzi are complete soulmates. I loved this story and recommend it highly. I will listen to this time and time again. Noelle Bridges and Mason Llyod are the perfect narrators to make Kenzii and Tor come alive!!

Excellent Book - Could not stop Listentin

I truly enjoyed this book for the pure love of love. I couldn't stop listening and see where the book took you and type of relationships that can happen through family and friends. They are the truest form. Loved the book