Twisted Love by Anna Hang - A Recap
Overview
- Book Title: Twisted Love
- Author: Anna Hang
- Genre: Contemporary Romance
- Main Characters: Alex Vov, Ava Chen, Josh Chen, Jules
- Setting: Washington, DC and surrounding areas
Introduction
- The book starts with a dramatic introduction of the male lead, Alex Vov, described as a man with a heart of ice but would burn the world for her.
- Alex is a 27-year-old self-made millionaire or possibly billionaire.
- Alex is described as highly intelligent with an IQ of 160.
- He has a reserved emotional demeanor, described as robotic with zero emotions.
- The narrative hints at multiple mysterious murders and insane plot twists.
Main Characters
- Alex Vov: Tech genius, socially distant, emotionally closed off, highly successful in business, and holds tragic past trauma.
- Ava Chen: Josh's younger sister, a photographer, characterized as a free spirit with a traumatic yet forgotten childhood, has a fear of water.
- Josh Chen: Ava's older brother, a med student who often parties, asks Alex to look after Ava while he's away.
- Jules: Ava's roommate, described as a bombshell with red hair.
Plot Outline
Initial Setup
- Josh asks Alex to move next door to Ava to 'look after her' while Josh is away in Central America.
- Ava is frustrated at the idea of Alex babysitting her but tries to form a truce by bringing him cookies.
- Alex and Ava have heated confrontations with high sexual tension.
- Alex's dark past and his obsession with avenging his family’s murder slowly unravel.
Key Events
- Gala Incident: Alex intervenes when Ava's ex-boyfriend, Liam, harasses her at a Gala event. Alex beats Liam and becomes increasingly protective of Ava.
- Operation Emotion: Ava and her friends attempt various tactics to evoke emotions from Alex (sadness, disgust, happiness, fear) but each operation largely fails.
- Nightmares and Trauma: Ava has recurring nightmares stemming from childhood trauma involving drowning, which adds depth to her character’s background.
- Photograph Session: Alex agrees to a photoshoot in exchange for Ava taking self-defense classes post-Gala incident. The photoshoot is filled with evident sexual tension.
Themes and Literary Elements
- Dark Past and Trauma: Both main characters carry heavy past traumas which shape their relationships and defenses.
- Forbidden Love: Alex and Ava’s budding relationship is underscored by its many social taboos, particularly Alex's promise to protect her as a favor to Josh.
- Mystery and Revenge: Alex’s ulterior motive of avenging his family’s murder adds a layer of suspense and intensity to his character.
- Contemporary vs. Unhinged Elements: Despite being a contemporary romance, the book is marked by numerous insane twists, passionate but also abusive protective behavior, and blurred moral lines.
Personal Reflection (as narrated)
- The book has mixed tones between normal romance and over the top, almost thriller-level plot points, making it a roller-coaster read.
- Crazy plot twists like sudden violence and extreme emotional responses from Alex add unpredictability but may feel unrealistic or forced.
- It ends on a note of anticipation with the promise of further excitement, mysteries, and action to come.
Conclusion
Twisted Love offers a twisted and fast-paced love story filled with heavy emotional baggage and unexpected dark turns. The developing romance between Alex and Ava, underscored by their traumatic pasts, forms the crux while setting up even more intense sequences and revelations in the forthcoming chapters.
Questions for Consideration
- What makes Alex's protectiveness toward Ava romantic or problematic?
- Could the balance be better achieved between realism and the dramatic twists?
- How does the trauma aspect add to the characters' relationship dynamics and does it make them more relatable or sympathetic?
Look out for part two for deeper insights into the plot and character developments and, supposedly, numerous dramatic confrontations and escalations.