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This review will contain spoilers!
I’d also like to preface by saying that most of my thoughts are based on my enjoyment of the book, not the actual quality of the content. And you know what? Fuck yeah! I had a good time reading this unhinged shit. But it’s definitely not for everyone, so please read the content warnings before you pick it up.
Okay, let's get into the review!
“Little Stranger” follows two foster siblings, Malachi and Olivia Vize. Ever since they were children, Malachi has always had this strange obsession with Olivia, but when they're both a bit older, she sends him to prison by testifying against him after he nearly kills their foster dad. Eventually he gets out of prison - and according to the book description on Goodreads - he wants revenge.
Let me start off by saying, this "revenge" that Malachi gets on Olivia is practically nonexistent in the grand scheme of things. At least 50% of this book is introducing and building on the beginning of Malachi and Olivia's physical relationship. Malachi doesn’t go to prison until 56% of the way through, so I personally feel as though the description offered is kind of misleading. A lot happens other than Malachi going to prison and wanting to get revenge.
The story starts when Malachi is adopted by his new foster parents, and then it details his growing obsession with Olivia over the years. Some things to know about Malachi is that he’s mute, he’s diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder, and he also has a thing for spiders. Olivia is the perfect, blonde cheerleader archetype.
When Olivia is around sixteen, she starts dating boys that her mother might want her to marry in the future - potential suitors if you will. The arranged marriage thing is a really odd addition to the plot, but if you end up reading the sequel to this book, it does kind of become an integral part of Olivia’s story.
Once Olivia and Malachi are both adults, Olivia offers to introduce Malachi to sex because he’s supposedly inexperienced. On a camping trip with their parents, Malachi and Olivia are alone in a tent together. They start asking each other questions (we find out Malachi has a pierced ween) and eventually Olivia’s clothes end up on the floor. It’s a whole thing, but this is mainly how their physical relationship begins.
Further into their relationship, their dad catches Malachi performing oral sex on Olivia. As he’s trying to pull Malachi off of his daughter, Malachi throws their dad down a flight of stairs, and then continues to fuck Olivia over their dad’s dying body. Insane. But also pop off I guess!! Needless to say, Malachi gets in big trouble for almost killing his papa.
After Malachi gets out of prison, he starts stalking Olivia, he drugs her multiple times, and when she passes out, he breaks into her apartment. There was only one time he fucked her while she was unconscious, but usually he just cleans her place while she's asleep. Considering she doesn't actually know that this is happening, I don't think this necessarily constitutes as a good revenge plan, but I’m sure Malachi thinks it’s brilliant.
On Halloween a little while later, Malachi chases Olivia down at a party and then has sex with her in a cornfield. He sticks a screwdriver in her butt. He also ties her up in his basement, but she doesn’t technically know it’s Malachi because he’s wearing a mask. He eventually takes his mask off, and despite the fact that Olivia is supposed to marry another man, this story does have a happily ever after because she ends up choosing Malachi despite his crazy.
My thoughts on this book are kind of everywhere, but Malachi was wild as shit and I was so here for it. Like my guy was fucking deranged and completely amendable to killing people - including his own foster parents. He would often think shit like, “I’ll make sure I kill my dad this time, and I’ll strangle Mom with his intestines and force Olivia to marry me instead, then I’ll cage the bitch and feed her my cock when she’s hungry.” Not to mention he literally fucked his foster sister over their dad’s unconscious, dying body. It actually shocked me that this unhinged motherfucker actually started taking medication and going to therapy at the end of this story. Good for him though.
The one thing I didn’t really like about this book was the fact that Malachi and Olivia continued to refer to each other as brother and sister even after they started hooking up. I just can’t get behind that. It’s not sexy to me? It’s very fucking weird actually. Nauseating even!! Incest is not cute, nor will it ever be. But to each their own! It’s just really not my thing.
Other than that, this was a super fast-paced, entertaining book. Was it taboo and weird and trashy? Yes. The plot was kind of average too, but I still had a lot of fun with the characters and the smut was top tier.
Stay tuned for a review of the sequel, “Little Liar” - that one wasn’t nearly as fun or entertaining, but I did manage to finish it.
RATINGS
Overall: 3/5 ⭐️
Spice: 4/5 🌶️
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