Thrive: Addicted, Book 2.5

By: Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie

Narrated by: Charles Carr, Erin Mallon

Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

Two years will change them forever. When rumors spread like wildfire - like having three-ways with her boyfriend's rock climbing brother - Lily Calloway spirals into a dark place. Her bedroom. Loren Hale is more confident and determined to keep their sex life private, even from their friends, and he helps Lily in the only way he knows how. But how much love is too much?

Their lives are filmed, watched, and criticized. And through it all, Lily and Loren have to face enemies they never thought they'd see, demons they don't know if they should bury, and setbacks they didn't think they'd meet. Not this soon. And one rumor could be too much for them to handle. It will test their greatest limitations, and if they don't hold onto each other, someone is going to drown.

For the most fulfilling listening experience, the Calloway Sisters series should be listened to along with the Addicted series.

Listening order as recommended by the authors:

Addicted to You
Ricochet
Addicted for Now
Kiss the Sky
Hothouse Flower
Thrive
Addicted After All
Fuel the Fire
Long Way Down
Some Kind of Perfect

©2014 K.B. Ritchie (P)2014 Audible Inc.

5 Addicted Stars!!!

This is hands down my favorite series. I am so deeply connected and attached to these characters!!!!!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this book. I knew Thrive would cover the material from Kiss the Sky and Hothouse Flower, but from Lily and Lo's point of view. Is this going to be repetitive? Is this going to be boring? I was very excited to read it (because I just can't get enough of the characters and I miss them) but I was afraid it would not be quite as exciting as the next installment of brand new material.

But I was wrong.

This book had TONS of new material in it. There were a few scenes that I remember from the other perspectives given in KTS and HHF, but the majority of this book was brand new. Krista and Becca Ritchie are so talented. I love their writing and I love how they put a different spin on things we have already read about. Props, ladies!!!

Let me just say that Lily cracks me UP!!!

""What do you want for your birthday?" C0ck." ***choke, splutter, laugh!**

"Shut up vagina." LMAO.

Lily is funny, she is sweet, she is painfully shy and she is ashamed of her addiction. And I love every bit of her.

But most of all, I love Lily and Lo together.

"He hugs me close. There is nowhere safer than in Loren Hale's arms."

Loren's POV really, really pulled on my heartstrings. He is an unapologetic @sshole, but he does care what everyone else thinks. He wants approval from Lily, from Ryke, from his father. He wants to make Lily happy. He wants to be worthy of her.

"I'm going to love Lily how I want to love her. Overwhelmingly, umcompromisingly."

"Our love is rare. It's one I can't abandon, even if I tried. .... When she loves, I truly, truly fly."

Lo loves Lily so completely. He makes me melt. But reading about his rough patch was so hard for me. Even though I already knew from HHF that he was going to struggle with his addiction, reading about it from his perspective was so emotional.

My favorite part is seeing how Lily, Lo, Rose, Connor, Daisy and Ryke all interact with each other. These 6 characters have such a bond. They stick together through good times and bad times. They fight, they bicker, they love, they support, they are family. They are flawed and real and I love them all the more for it.

I wish I could jump into the book and become a part of their family.

I know I'm not doing this story justice with my review.

Suffice it to say that I HIGHLY recommend this series. And this book. Even if you have read KTS and HHF you need to read this book. I don't want to miss one moment of the series.

Thank you so much, Krista and Becca for such a wonderful series!!!

I love the narrators for Lily & Lo - they are PERFECT!!! Highly recommend the audiobook!!

Just like the series. I loved Thrive

If you could sum up Thrive: Addicted, Book 2.5 in three words, what would they be?

Complete Romance (I know it's not one word, but that's how I felt), Quirky, Epic

What other book might you compare Thrive: Addicted, Book 2.5 to and why?

I would definitely compare Thrive to the other books in the Addicted Series. Just like the series, I loved Thrive. If you are a fan of the series, you must listen to Thrive. If I had to compare the series to any other books that aren’t related I would have to compare to J.A. Huss’s Rook And Ronin series. Both series focal on a group and both series have spin-offs with main characters from the group. I love these books. I love loving more than one character and I love it when all of them interact with each other.

What does Charles Carr and Erin Mallon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I am a HUGE fan of Erin Mallon. I will listen to anything and everything she narrates. She has the best voice. Her voice is very adorable, youthful and she conveys the emotions on point. I feel her awkwardness, her nervousness and her cuteness as she speaks. I am so happy she narrated for the series.This is my first Charles Carr narration. I enjoyed him as well. Charles’ voice is deep and masculine. He is the perfect Lo. I loved his mixed emotions he portrays, especially when he gets angry, it was very sexy. His voice is addictive and attractive.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Addictively entertaining and Addictively good. It will leave you craving for more."

Any additional comments?

Full Review:

5 I LOVE Lily and Lo Stars

Thrive is a FULL length novel. You must read Addicted to You and Addicted for Now prior to reading Thrive. You do not have to read the spin-offs, Kiss the Sky and Hothouse, however, I highly recommend it, since the story over-laps.

Thrive takes place right after Adidcted for Now and during Kiss the Sky and Hothouse, except it’s in Lo and Lily’s POV.

I listened to the audio version and this is my first time listening to an audio book without reading it before and I have to say…

I LOVED IT!

Lily and Lo are still battling with their addictions. I just feel so bad for Lily. She can’t just stop having sex. I guess she could, but that’s crazy, so her and Lo work on having “safe” sex, meaning Lily not using sex as an outlet for her stress. I love the relationship Lily and Lo have and I love how supportive they are towards each other.

All Lo wants is Lily to be happy, but it’s hard when Lo gets crap from his dad and he still gets cravings all the time. He stops taking his medication because he doesn’t want to throw up if he accidently consumes alcohol through food. I love how protective he is towards Lily and I love that he thinks about her all the time. (As it should be in any relationship < --- totally being serious).

What I enjoy the most:

The Love between Lily and Lo < ---- it’s epic, once-in-a-life-time romance. I love dependent relationships. I think it’s because I’m completely dependent on my husband. Is it wrong? Some would say yes, I say, OH NO! It’s the best.

The Pace

If you are on the fence with Thrive, I urge you to pick it up if you are a fan of the series. You just get so much more Lily and Lo. As much as I loved Kiss the Sky and Hothouse, I feel like I understand Lo and Lily’s actions more. In Hothouse, Lo goes crazy and I didn’t understand his actions towards Ryke, but now, I totally get it and I love Lo even more.

The Gang

Thrive is not just about Lily and Lo, you will get a HUGE chunk of the gang. Connor < --- my book boyfriend, Rose, Daisy and Ryke < --- Lick. I just love it and I love them. I like that this series includes all the characters. I get so much character development and storyline buildup. It’s simply perfect.

Overall

I love the series and I love this book. I loved getting Lily and Lo’s POV and I’m excited to continue with the series.

Additional Questions:

Would you consider the audio edition of Thrive: Addicted, Book 2.5 to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version of Thrive, but I have read all of the addicted series except for Addicted After All. I love audio books and I usually enjoy audio books more than the print version. I feel like I get more of an experience with audio books than reading a print copy. Thrive audio did not disappoint.

Would you consider the audio edition of Thrive: Addicted, Book 2.5 to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version of Thrive, but I have read all of the addicted series except for Addicted After All. I love audio books and I usually enjoy audio books more than the print version. I feel like I get more of an experience with audio books than reading a print copy.

Thrive audio did not disappoint.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Overall, the book was very moving, but the ending left with the best and lasting impression. The book shifts and it just goes to a whole new level. What I love so much about hero and heroine is just the pure can-not-breathe-without-each-other love. **SIGH** it’s the stuff I crave and live for in books.

eh

seemed to be largely a regurgitation of kiss the sky and hothouse flower... it was somewhat nice to get Lilly and Lo's POVs on some situations in the spin-offs, but there wasn't a big enough move of the needle...

Addicted to the Addicted Series

If you could sum up Thrive: Addicted, Book 2.5 in three words, what would they be?

Emotional. Fun. Sexy

What did you like best about this story?

Getting to see Lily and Lo's side of KTS and HF will always be my favorite thing about Thrive.

What about Charles Carr and Erin Mallon ’s performance did you like?

Erin's voice when she's reading Lo's and Ryke's lines was so adorable. Both Erin and Charles are perfect narrators for Lily and Lo!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were both parts that made me laugh and cry. The characters themselves all have different senses of humor and it's just adorable when they bicker/banter back and forth. Of course, this entire series touches on some pretty deep and emotional stuff and after having read Thrive a few months ago, I still cried because I just love these characters and their development so much.

Any additional comments?

If you want something fun and sexy but also that will make you feel things, definitely pick up this series. It is one of the best series I've read/listened to.

This one was unnecessary

Okay I have really enjoyed this series so far but I found this book to be really unnecessary! I don't typically rush to listen to the books that are from another perspective , if I had known this was one of those I would have skipped it!

This series is an addiction!

It feels very voyeuristic listening to Lily and Lo's sex scenes- it actually makes me kind of uncomfortable, to be honest. And I know it's because of Lily's addiction, because I don't feel that way about any of the others.
I liked seeing things through Lily and Lo's eyes, getting a different look at what happened in Rose and Daisy's books. Lo is quick to judge though, especially when it comes to Ryke and Daisy, considering how he and Lily have been treated. I thought he'd be a little more understanding/supportive.
It's funny, I love Lily and Lo in the Like Us series, I think they're wonderful parents, but I'm still liking Connor and Rose the best in this series. But I did tear up when Lily found out she was pregnant- baby Moffy!!!

I'm enjoying the audiobooks, I'm getting used to Erin Mallon's breathiness when it comes to Lily and I look forward to when she says "no, no, no". It's funny how a word or phrase sticks with you. Charles Carr is a good Loren, I'm glad we get both povs now.

On to Addicted After All...

Alohomora

Sir, you mispronounced alohomora. Watch Harry Potter movie!!!! (Double face palm) need four more words

Highs and Lows

I don't normally care for regression in stories just to see another perspective but with Lo and Lily it is definitely necessary to understand their dynamic. I feel like the romance twins have managed to write in another dimension by keeping so much hidden while telling the other stories. These couples are like icebergs. So much remains below the surface.

- 4.45 stars -

This took awhile as well to read as I did skim through some of it, so I did end up spoiling some of the book for myself along with having read the Like Us series (at least the first three books), so I knew about a few things that had happened in this book.





*Spoilers*


I honestly really appreciated hearing and reading this book on events that happened in book 1 and 2 of the Callaway Sisters series through Lo and Lilly's point of view. It really showed that there was so much more going on that both her sisters, Connor, and Ryke were unaware of. Like the fact that Scott pretty much bullied Lo and Lilly throughout the six months of the show, and everyone else was unaware of his behavior except for a few moments. It was honestly cruel of him to treat Lo and Lilly's addictions like that as it could have ended really badly if Lo and Lilly didn't have each other or had been in worse mental states. His behavior could have made them both regress, and I think that is what he had wanted since he wanted drama added to the show. I'm not sure if he really understood just how serious it would be if his actions really caused Lo and Lilly to regress. I am a bit surprised that they didn't want to inform anyone else (except for Lo's father) about what was going on during the show. I can also understand why Lo was so adamant about wanting to get revenge against him during his conversation with Connor and Ryke, because he just wanted Scott to stop. To leave them alone so that they could live their lives in peace without being ridiculed on a day to day basis in their own home.
Being able to read from Lo and Lilly's point of view was also an eye opener for me. For one, it was a shock and a sad reminder of just how easily things can turn south for both of them and just hpw easily their thoughts can turn rather suicidal. I don't think they've ever really thought about cutting themselves or anything like that, but it is sad to read and hear the fact that they've thought multiple times about just wanting to die, to be rid of this pain, and how both of their existences - the fact that they have each other- is the only reason that they are still alive in this world. That was really sad to read.
Another reason why this book was such an eye opener is the fact that there is so much going on in Lo's head that not a whole lot was translated in the Callaway Sisters series book 1 and 2 ( or that other people are even aware of). Like in the movie premier scene with Connor, Lo was actually ready to forgive Connor pretty quickly which did not get across to Connor as Connor saw that Lo felt like he had been betrayed. Which he had felt like that, but there was so much more going on. Also, Lo knew a lot sooner than everyone else realized that Ryke and Daisy were a couple, but he wanted Ryke to tell him the truth, which was the main reason why he was so mad at Ryke. I don't think Ryke realised that Lo has pretty much always considered and loved him as a brother and not as a sober coach, but I think that rift between them involving Ryke's past, his resentment towards their father, and the fact that Ryke kept a lot of things to himself and was not being truthful, prevented them from getting closer.
For some reason, I feel like Lo feels his emotions and other things very strongly, and he drinks alcohol to numb those thoughts and emotions because he doesn't know how to handle them. I can tell in this book just how tormented and broken he is, as he wants to be a good person who is reliable, who is an equal, but he ends up saying and doing hurtful things that end up hurting himself even more badly. It was sad to see, especially during the confrontation scene about the alcohol and the video with Ryke, Connor, and Rose. He is pretty much his worst enemy with tearing himself down, except for his father who does a pretty good job of that. But when he loves someone he gives them his all and will have their back when they need him.
I don't understand why, but no matter how many times I read the scene when Jonathan tried to warn Lo about the rumors before they were released and asked how strong he was, I just don't understand it. I don't understand how his words affect Lo so badly. So I end up not feeling much of anything during scenes like that where Jonathan is treating Lo very badly. Which is sad as I should be able to understand it.
I can tell towards the end of the book that Lo is starting to get to a better place and I was happy to see him actually apologize for one of the first times, as he has struggled with apologizing throughout this book. And that shows growth on his part. I think it shows that he is ready to try and forgive himself and as he said, "to stop feeling sorry for myself". I also like the fact that he is getting along with his brother a lot better npw.
Hearing and reading the comments that he made still bothered me, but I have a lot more of an understanding of it with being in his view point and along with the fact that a lot of what he said and did (or didn't do in the Paris bar scene) was something that hurt him very badly and wasn't the outcome he actually wanted. Like a lot of scenes make more sense to me now after reading them in his point of view.
The Paris riot scene really got to me as I for one didn't realize how badly Lo got hurt as he was kicked around a lot in that scene, and just how distraught he was by the fact that he was separated from his brother and Daisy, but mostly from Ryke. I think Ryke must have called Connor while they had been in the store, which is how Connor had a destination in mind to tell the taxi driver. I also don't understand why they kept certain things from Ryke about Lo's condition during that scene as he had two broken ribs and the reason he fell asleep was not exactly the alcohol, but because he took a sleeping pill. And Ryke seemed to have no knowledge about it. Which maybe they just didn't want to worry or upset Ryke even more than he was about Daisy with Lo's condition. I just think that if Ryke had known he wouldn't have dug his knee into Lo's ribcage during their argument. I do like the fact that it wasn't just Ryke who was worried about Lo, and that Lo and Ryke had been worried about each other. I am also questioning of Connor shouldn't have given Lo the sleeping pill because he just had school and I know that you can't mix certain medications with alchol.
Another thing I didn't realize was the fact that Lo wasn't registering a lot or the majority of what Connor was saying during the Paris Bar scene and shortly before the Paris riot scene started. The only thing he really was registering was Ryke during that entire scene. This might explain why Connor called Ryke because even if Connor had done something, Lo was too lost in his head to really realize anything on what he was saying. And Connor might have realized that but didn't explain it to Ryke; that Ryke was the only one who could convince Lo to stop drinking at that point.
I did feel bad for Lilly with how she couldn't two Lo about her secret until close to the end of the book, but I do have to agree that she made the right decision.
I do understand their wish to be more independent and less strict in their sex life, but I kind of feel like they regressed. I didn't think their idea to completely ignore the black list was a good idea, especially with the fact that they didn't discuss it with her therapist before doing so. I know she wasn't as compulsive afterwards and that was their goal, but they had way too much sex since they were doing it every single day. I even started to question if Lo and Lilly were still visiting and talking to their therapists in this book, since they were hardly mentioned.


* Narration*
As usual I thought the narrators did a wonderful job throughout this book. I especially enjoyed how Lo was narrated during the Paris riot scene and all of his emotional scenes.


Overall, I really enjoyed this book and audio book. I would definitely recommend both for people to read and listen to.

Loved it!

I have to admit in the beginning I wasn’t sure if I was gonna love this, because it felt very repetitive since I’ve already read all this is Rose and Daisy’s book, but I got hooked on Lo and Lily’s world once again and the last 8 hours were a breeze. I can’t wait for the babies to be born and join them on their new adventure!