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Pacific Shores
Vice & Violet: Special Edition
Win a free print copy of this book!
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5 copies available
U.S. only
An emotional journey of healing and redemption as two broken souls find each other when they least expect it, only to discover that love requires courage in the face of their darkest secrets.
Elena Ramos had always set a clear path for her future. She knew exactly what she wanted out of life, and was determined to find the kind of happily ever after she loved to write about. Until the most devastating of tragedies turned her entire world on its axis. Plagued with irreparable pain and guilt, the finality of this heartbreak feels impossible to recover from, sending Elena into a dark spiral she doesn’t know how to escape.
Augustus Hayes considered himself a dreamer. Meaning, he forced himself into the contentment of dreaming up a reality that’d never be his. That is, until a door leading to the love affair of a lifetime opened, and he found himself grasping for the handle. But when the worst possible consequences for his choices came crashing down around him, he lost sight of everything he’d ever known. There is only one person who can pull August and Elena from their respective depths of despair, but are their wounds too deep, and their secrets too dark for either of them to find the courage to be the other’s light?
Elena Ramos had always set a clear path for her future. She knew exactly what she wanted out of life, and was determined to find the kind of happily ever after she loved to write about. Until the most devastating of tragedies turned her entire world on its axis. Plagued with irreparable pain and guilt, the finality of this heartbreak feels impossible to recover from, sending Elena into a dark spiral she doesn’t know how to escape.
Augustus Hayes considered himself a dreamer. Meaning, he forced himself into the contentment of dreaming up a reality that’d never be his. That is, until a door leading to the love affair of a lifetime opened, and he found himself grasping for the handle. But when the worst possible consequences for his choices came crashing down around him, he lost sight of everything he’d ever known. There is only one person who can pull August and Elena from their respective depths of despair, but are their wounds too deep, and their secrets too dark for either of them to find the courage to be the other’s light?
400 pages, Paperback
Published November 4, 2025
299 people are currently reading
7867 people want to read
About the author
Sarah A. Bailey
17 books657 followersSarah fell in love with reading as a child, starting with the Magic Treehouse Series. She quickly learned that books can take her to all the places she always dreamed of going, and allow her to live endless lifetimes in the one that we are given.
Sarah believes that a good, fluffy romance novel can make even the darkest days a little bit brighter. She believes in love stories readers can root for, the kind that will make even the skeptics believe in all that cheesy stuff like soulmates. She longs to produce stories that readers can pick up, and regardless of what’s weighing them down in life, feel a little lighter when they finish.
Sarah was born in California and raised in Southern Oregon, and still considers herself a Pacific Northwest gal at heart; right down to being a coffee snob, collecting hydro flasks, adamantly believing in Sasquatch, and feeling like rain-drenched forests are a form of therapy. Sarah now resides in North Carolina with her husband, Mike, and their dog-baby, Rue. When she’s not writing, she’s likely reading, and if she’s not reading, odds are she’s out searching for a decent cup of coffee, or a rainy pine forest.
Sarah believes that a good, fluffy romance novel can make even the darkest days a little bit brighter. She believes in love stories readers can root for, the kind that will make even the skeptics believe in all that cheesy stuff like soulmates. She longs to produce stories that readers can pick up, and regardless of what’s weighing them down in life, feel a little lighter when they finish.
Sarah was born in California and raised in Southern Oregon, and still considers herself a Pacific Northwest gal at heart; right down to being a coffee snob, collecting hydro flasks, adamantly believing in Sasquatch, and feeling like rain-drenched forests are a form of therapy. Sarah now resides in North Carolina with her husband, Mike, and their dog-baby, Rue. When she’s not writing, she’s likely reading, and if she’s not reading, odds are she’s out searching for a decent cup of coffee, or a rainy pine forest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 513 reviews
October 27, 2025
4.5⭐️
“ I have no idea how or why I got lucky enough to have her look at me like that. To have her in front of me like this. To even be granted the privilege of witnessing her existence”
☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢
🪻 romemates
✨ brothers’ bestfriend
🪻mental health representation
✨ they help each other heal
🪻 trauma
✨ he takes care of her when she is sick
🪻 she thinks she’s unlovable
☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢
Let me start with that I absolutely adored the author’s writing!! Her writing is so poetic and in the way that doesn’t feel fake or trying so hard . The way she has written grief and depression was so real . I was connected to the characters and their feelings. I loved both of the main characters.
To be honest I didn’t know how was I gonna forgive Elena for what was done in the end of the first book but i actually did . I loved her and sympathized with her .
August my favorite in the first book the way this man feels about the female character OMG!!! His inner monologue of him trying to hate her but couldn’t. He is an absolute cinnamon roll.
I haven’t read the books that came out first before reckless roses and vice & violet but I think if I read them my love for side characters will even grow stronger.
In conclusion ; I loved the two books and absolutely recommend but check trigger warnings first .
☾ ﾟ｡⋆𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 𓇢𓆸
Thank you so much Ember literary PR & author Sarah Bailey for sending me the e-ARC !!!
I loooved reckless roses so much and I’m truly excited to continue August and Elena’s story !!
“ I have no idea how or why I got lucky enough to have her look at me like that. To have her in front of me like this. To even be granted the privilege of witnessing her existence”
☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢
🪻 romemates
✨ brothers’ bestfriend
🪻mental health representation
✨ they help each other heal
🪻 trauma
✨ he takes care of her when she is sick
🪻 she thinks she’s unlovable
☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢𓆸☾ ﾟ｡⋆ 𓇢
Let me start with that I absolutely adored the author’s writing!! Her writing is so poetic and in the way that doesn’t feel fake or trying so hard . The way she has written grief and depression was so real . I was connected to the characters and their feelings. I loved both of the main characters.
To be honest I didn’t know how was I gonna forgive Elena for what was done in the end of the first book but i actually did . I loved her and sympathized with her .
August my favorite in the first book the way this man feels about the female character OMG!!! His inner monologue of him trying to hate her but couldn’t. He is an absolute cinnamon roll.
I haven’t read the books that came out first before reckless roses and vice & violet but I think if I read them my love for side characters will even grow stronger.
In conclusion ; I loved the two books and absolutely recommend but check trigger warnings first .
☾ ﾟ｡⋆𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 𓇢𓆸
Thank you so much Ember literary PR & author Sarah Bailey for sending me the e-ARC !!!
I loooved reckless roses so much and I’m truly excited to continue August and Elena’s story !!
November 20, 2025
4 / 5 Stars
This was a great end to the series but fair warning, this one dealt with some heavy, heavy topics (definitely check the content warning). This book picks up where book three ended: with August and Elena dealing with the fallout from book 3 (no spoilers here).
You will probably like this book if you like:
💜 Loathe to love
💟 Second chance romance
💜 Forced proximity via roommates
💟 Pierced MMC
💜 Found family
💟 PMDD rep
💜 Hurt / comfort
💟 Discussions of grief and mental health conditions
💜 Book 2 of Duet (and Book 4 of series)
If book 3 (Reckless Roses) was about finding love for the first time and longing, this book is a second chance romance with two people who love each other but have pushed each other away so much and so hard that they aren’t sure how to get back to feeling that love again in a safe way. The first half was gut wrenching and my heart hurt for these two. I was rooting for them to find each other but also themselves again. The discussions of grief and mental health were really raw and vulnerable in a way that I think will make a lot of people feel seen and will help a lot of people.
At times, Elena and August call themselves toxic and say that they are “each a parasite and each a host. Feeding off each other, starving when we’re apart” and that just made me slightly sad. Why couldn’t it just be too very hurt, complex people who made mistakes and are trying to figure themselves out? I felt that calling it toxic undercut how much healing they provided for each other.
I will say this until I am blue in the face but Sarah A. Bailey has an innate ability to write spice scenes that are deeply unique to the couple and help advance their relationships. I find that sometimes, in a series, the spice can get repetitive or feel super similar among the books but each book of this series had spice that was specific and purposeful for the couple. This is especially impressive since book 3 already had some spice for Elena and August, but this one built on that foundation. It’s spicy most definitely as is the rest of the series but with meaning.
In parts of the book, some of the writing felt overly formal for first person present tense. It didn’t feel like something someone would naturally think as part of their inner monologue and it didn’t feel like something someone would say to someone else. It’s not something I’ve ever felt about her books before so I am not sure where this came from but it just took me out of some of the writing. This was balanced with some exceptionally beautiful and quotable writing though.
All in all, I am excited for the next series and will revisit this one again (Dahlia and Everett are forever my favorites).
Thank you Sarah A. Bailey and Ember Literary PR for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
My Heathen & Honeysuckle (Book 1) Review and
My Wicked & Wildflower (Book 2) Review and
My Reckless Roses (Book 3) Review
___________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: The time has finally come to read the final book in the series. I’ve been putting it off because I’m not ready for it to end. You know the feeling when you have a lot of anticipation and expectations for a book so it’s easier to just not do anything about them than to potentially ruin them? Well, this gal is gonna be brave. 🤞🤞🤞
This was a great end to the series but fair warning, this one dealt with some heavy, heavy topics (definitely check the content warning). This book picks up where book three ended: with August and Elena dealing with the fallout from book 3 (no spoilers here).
You will probably like this book if you like:
💜 Loathe to love
💟 Second chance romance
💜 Forced proximity via roommates
💟 Pierced MMC
💜 Found family
💟 PMDD rep
💜 Hurt / comfort
💟 Discussions of grief and mental health conditions
💜 Book 2 of Duet (and Book 4 of series)
If book 3 (Reckless Roses) was about finding love for the first time and longing, this book is a second chance romance with two people who love each other but have pushed each other away so much and so hard that they aren’t sure how to get back to feeling that love again in a safe way. The first half was gut wrenching and my heart hurt for these two. I was rooting for them to find each other but also themselves again. The discussions of grief and mental health were really raw and vulnerable in a way that I think will make a lot of people feel seen and will help a lot of people.
At times, Elena and August call themselves toxic and say that they are “each a parasite and each a host. Feeding off each other, starving when we’re apart” and that just made me slightly sad. Why couldn’t it just be too very hurt, complex people who made mistakes and are trying to figure themselves out? I felt that calling it toxic undercut how much healing they provided for each other.
I will say this until I am blue in the face but Sarah A. Bailey has an innate ability to write spice scenes that are deeply unique to the couple and help advance their relationships. I find that sometimes, in a series, the spice can get repetitive or feel super similar among the books but each book of this series had spice that was specific and purposeful for the couple. This is especially impressive since book 3 already had some spice for Elena and August, but this one built on that foundation. It’s spicy most definitely as is the rest of the series but with meaning.
In parts of the book, some of the writing felt overly formal for first person present tense. It didn’t feel like something someone would naturally think as part of their inner monologue and it didn’t feel like something someone would say to someone else. It’s not something I’ve ever felt about her books before so I am not sure where this came from but it just took me out of some of the writing. This was balanced with some exceptionally beautiful and quotable writing though.
All in all, I am excited for the next series and will revisit this one again (Dahlia and Everett are forever my favorites).
Thank you Sarah A. Bailey and Ember Literary PR for providing the eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
My Heathen & Honeysuckle (Book 1) Review and
My Wicked & Wildflower (Book 2) Review and
My Reckless Roses (Book 3) Review
___________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: The time has finally come to read the final book in the series. I’ve been putting it off because I’m not ready for it to end. You know the feeling when you have a lot of anticipation and expectations for a book so it’s easier to just not do anything about them than to potentially ruin them? Well, this gal is gonna be brave. 🤞🤞🤞
October 8, 2025
somehow gained the privilege of reading this before release, and my goodness did sarah knock this so far out of the park 👏🏼👏🏼😍😍
a beautiful, PERFECT ending for the characters I fell in love with in reckless roses ✨📖💋 more details to come!
a beautiful, PERFECT ending for the characters I fell in love with in reckless roses ✨📖💋 more details to come!
November 4, 2025
What a wonderful way to end this series! I cannot recommend this book and this series enough. You do HAVE to read Reckless Roses (which is the first of this duet) before jumping into this one. Yall I just can't with this book. It was so tragic and so beautiful. It showed that you can be devastated and learn from that devastation. You can be a little bit broken and find your person who supports you in your brokenness. You can meet your soulmate at the wrong time in life only to meet them again when you might be more ready for their love. August and Elena were soulmates. Their love was tragically wrong, wrong time as witness in book 3. They were both reeling from the tragedy of Zach dying. Elena ran away, and August hid away. Now they find themselves living together. August has told himself he won't open himself up to Elena again. She ruined him before, and he doesn't think he can endure that again. Elena has decided that she is done with the random one night stands. She has been running from the one person who makes her feel because of her guilt. When they finally allow their walls down a little bit, they realize they can feel all of these things together. They can feel guilty and be happy. This book came full circle with the whole crew because Elena and August were the missing piece. I liked Everett and Leo when they realized how serious these two were with each other. I liked the taunting and the teasing the Elena and August did to each other. How they made each other work for it. How hot it was when hit finally happened. I loved their love language as tattoos. I just LOVED them. It was very hard to see them not be ok, but I held on knowing that they were going to be ok in the end.
Elena has been hiding from her past. It is just too hard. She is too bad to have someone like August in her life. WHich is why she ran. But then her brother made her come back, and yet she still feels like a shell of herself. She is still meeting random men from the internet. She is still not coming to family dinner. But then she finds herself moving in with August. And though she knows it will be hard, she feels a wave of homeness when she gets there. Like this is where she is supposed to be. Now she just has to navigate these feelings for this man who looks at her with hatred in his eyes. Well join the club buddy. Slowly but surely though, the armor comes down and she sees his pain too. She finds herself wanting to sit in his pain with him so she knows she isn't alone in it. She finds herself wanting him still. He makes her feel and she hasn't felt that she has deserved to feel in a long time. But all of a sudden she is spending time with her family. She is getting to know her niece. She is trying to make nice with Darby and now she is exploring things with August. Because even though she has lied to herself, she knows August is her endgame. Yes their love was hard, but it is still underneath all of this grief. Shimmering with hope of another chance. And that's what they get another chance. And it feels cleansing. Now that August knows what happened with her and Zach. Now that her brothers know. She is ready to be a new version of herself. A woman who is with the man she loves and who is still mourning the one she let go.
August's heart broke all those years ago when Elena left. His whole world shifted. Zach died, and then Elena left. And now she is back. And August doesn't know how to feel about it. She doesn't acknowledge him. It's like he was the only one who experienced their first chance at love. But secretly he is just SOO glad she is here. And now she is moving in with him. Her brothers can't help her. But August knows what she needs. She needs space to grieve. She needs someone to push her and hold her to her goals. She needs someone to remind her why she wrote her stories all those years ago. She needs someone to tell her she is worthy. She can still love and be loved. She can grieve and be happy at the same time. And August finds himself being that person. He finds himself tentatively opening up to her. He finds himself epxloring things they never got to do together the first time. He finds himself all in before he wants to be. But then she lets him in. And it's like he has to pinch himself to make sure he isn't dreaming. Because she wants to be with him like for real. She wants to tell her family. And though it's tough, having their support is one more step in the right direction of forever.
The heartbreak and grieving in this book is SOOO real and relatable. Sarah did SUCH a great job with the shame and the self hate and the bad thoughts that go along with losing someone in a traumatic way. Especially if it is someone who you have a bumpy past with. I loved watching Elena come back to life. I loved watching her shed her mean side and let herself recognize that it has ALWAYS been August for her. I loved watching her fight for him and proving to him how much she really cared. And I really loved watching her brothers realize that a whole chapter of Elena and August had previously happened without them knowing. My absolutely favorite though was watching August let Elena in. Was watching him show everyone his true feelings. And I loved the possessive side and their love language being tattoos. If you haven't read this book or this series yet, DO IT. Know though that all of these books deal with heavy subjects with hot spice and WONDERFUL characters.
Thank you to Ember Literary PR and Sarah for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Elena has been hiding from her past. It is just too hard. She is too bad to have someone like August in her life. WHich is why she ran. But then her brother made her come back, and yet she still feels like a shell of herself. She is still meeting random men from the internet. She is still not coming to family dinner. But then she finds herself moving in with August. And though she knows it will be hard, she feels a wave of homeness when she gets there. Like this is where she is supposed to be. Now she just has to navigate these feelings for this man who looks at her with hatred in his eyes. Well join the club buddy. Slowly but surely though, the armor comes down and she sees his pain too. She finds herself wanting to sit in his pain with him so she knows she isn't alone in it. She finds herself wanting him still. He makes her feel and she hasn't felt that she has deserved to feel in a long time. But all of a sudden she is spending time with her family. She is getting to know her niece. She is trying to make nice with Darby and now she is exploring things with August. Because even though she has lied to herself, she knows August is her endgame. Yes their love was hard, but it is still underneath all of this grief. Shimmering with hope of another chance. And that's what they get another chance. And it feels cleansing. Now that August knows what happened with her and Zach. Now that her brothers know. She is ready to be a new version of herself. A woman who is with the man she loves and who is still mourning the one she let go.
August's heart broke all those years ago when Elena left. His whole world shifted. Zach died, and then Elena left. And now she is back. And August doesn't know how to feel about it. She doesn't acknowledge him. It's like he was the only one who experienced their first chance at love. But secretly he is just SOO glad she is here. And now she is moving in with him. Her brothers can't help her. But August knows what she needs. She needs space to grieve. She needs someone to push her and hold her to her goals. She needs someone to remind her why she wrote her stories all those years ago. She needs someone to tell her she is worthy. She can still love and be loved. She can grieve and be happy at the same time. And August finds himself being that person. He finds himself tentatively opening up to her. He finds himself epxloring things they never got to do together the first time. He finds himself all in before he wants to be. But then she lets him in. And it's like he has to pinch himself to make sure he isn't dreaming. Because she wants to be with him like for real. She wants to tell her family. And though it's tough, having their support is one more step in the right direction of forever.
The heartbreak and grieving in this book is SOOO real and relatable. Sarah did SUCH a great job with the shame and the self hate and the bad thoughts that go along with losing someone in a traumatic way. Especially if it is someone who you have a bumpy past with. I loved watching Elena come back to life. I loved watching her shed her mean side and let herself recognize that it has ALWAYS been August for her. I loved watching her fight for him and proving to him how much she really cared. And I really loved watching her brothers realize that a whole chapter of Elena and August had previously happened without them knowing. My absolutely favorite though was watching August let Elena in. Was watching him show everyone his true feelings. And I loved the possessive side and their love language being tattoos. If you haven't read this book or this series yet, DO IT. Know though that all of these books deal with heavy subjects with hot spice and WONDERFUL characters.
Thank you to Ember Literary PR and Sarah for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
November 4, 2025
Gah I am emotional to leave Pacific Shores.
This group of people… these 6 people. The things they endured. And the end of tunnel they all found.
August & Elena.
I knew these two were going to make me want to cry.
The level of grief dealt with in this book…
The topics discussed were heavy.
The way I was straight rooting for them to overcome everything and be together.
The way Sarah A Bailey writes is almost like poetry.
She writes so well.
Alright tropes:
Childhood friends (she dated his brother)
He’s her brothers friend
Love after loss
Second Chance
He’s a tatted pierced, tattoo artist and shop owner
She’s a romance writer
Obviously a lot of grief and trauma / depression
Roommates & forced proximity action
Found family/real family
The yearning! The pining! The it’s always been you.
Healing
Ok and the spice.
Dear lord.
Sweating.
Arc review ✨
This group of people… these 6 people. The things they endured. And the end of tunnel they all found.
August & Elena.
I knew these two were going to make me want to cry.
The level of grief dealt with in this book…
The topics discussed were heavy.
The way I was straight rooting for them to overcome everything and be together.
The way Sarah A Bailey writes is almost like poetry.
She writes so well.
Alright tropes:
Childhood friends (she dated his brother)
He’s her brothers friend
Love after loss
Second Chance
He’s a tatted pierced, tattoo artist and shop owner
She’s a romance writer
Obviously a lot of grief and trauma / depression
Roommates & forced proximity action
Found family/real family
The yearning! The pining! The it’s always been you.
Healing
Ok and the spice.
Dear lord.
Sweating.
Arc review ✨
September 28, 2025
This book has been sitting in my kindle since about March-ish and I was so scared to read it because I did not want to say goodbye to this world. Sarah called me out on my BS and said I wasn’t gonna read it, so what did I do? Read it in a day. And honestly? As it’s meant to be read.
The perfect conclusion to the Pacific Shores series, but a world that will never be forgotten. Pacific Shores has changed me in a way that can’t be described.
The way this man could go from I hate you to I love you in a few chapters had me begging for him, and let’s not forget what this man looks like in grey sweatpants. Sweating.
Elena will be a gravely misunderstood character, and I beg of everyone to keep an open mind and trust the process. Your mental health is not a linear line and you may never understand someone else’s grief, but Sarah sure did her damndest to try to process it.
I’ll never be over seeing LeoDarby become parents. Knowing what Darby went through as a teenager surrounded by the worst of people to be around, to being in the birthing center surrounded by all the people she loves… I get they’re not real, but it feels so real to me.
A masterpiece.
Thank you for allowing me to read this tiny part of your brain, Sarah. ❤️🔥
The perfect conclusion to the Pacific Shores series, but a world that will never be forgotten. Pacific Shores has changed me in a way that can’t be described.
The way this man could go from I hate you to I love you in a few chapters had me begging for him, and let’s not forget what this man looks like in grey sweatpants. Sweating.
Elena will be a gravely misunderstood character, and I beg of everyone to keep an open mind and trust the process. Your mental health is not a linear line and you may never understand someone else’s grief, but Sarah sure did her damndest to try to process it.
I’ll never be over seeing LeoDarby become parents. Knowing what Darby went through as a teenager surrounded by the worst of people to be around, to being in the birthing center surrounded by all the people she loves… I get they’re not real, but it feels so real to me.
A masterpiece.
Thank you for allowing me to read this tiny part of your brain, Sarah. ❤️🔥
November 4, 2025
Made it through 75% before I just couldn’t take anymore 😮💨
The first 50% is depressing, toxic and pretty cringy
50-70% is all about S ex
And then his mom shows up a berates her for Zach’s death causing her to spiral and I just couldn’t hold on anymore.
I so wanted to love this one but the sweet, precious and patient August we spent the whole first book loving and rooting for is gone and there just wasn’t any balance to the darkness, which I didn’t even totally understand cuz why is such a jerk of a guy so deeply missed?!
So much of this story didn’t make sense to me
Such a bummer
Elena and August
The first 50% is depressing, toxic and pretty cringy
50-70% is all about S ex
And then his mom shows up a berates her for Zach’s death causing her to spiral and I just couldn’t hold on anymore.
I so wanted to love this one but the sweet, precious and patient August we spent the whole first book loving and rooting for is gone and there just wasn’t any balance to the darkness, which I didn’t even totally understand cuz why is such a jerk of a guy so deeply missed?!
So much of this story didn’t make sense to me
Such a bummer
Elena and August
November 5, 2025
This is actually one of the most beautiful, poetic romances I have ever read.
I have chills throughout my body just writing my review and this series as a whole is one that will stick with me for a very long time.
The characters in this story had souls that were tethered together. That is the only way I can explain their connection.
This book hurt, it was raw and real. But my god was it fantastic.
And naturally, the spice was out of this world.
I have chills throughout my body just writing my review and this series as a whole is one that will stick with me for a very long time.
The characters in this story had souls that were tethered together. That is the only way I can explain their connection.
This book hurt, it was raw and real. But my god was it fantastic.
And naturally, the spice was out of this world.
November 4, 2025
“The presence of grief does not equate to the absence of happiness.” 🪻🫧
I had been waiting for this book since last year, before Sarah got trad pub, and I think it made reading this now so much more painful but worthy. Vice & Violet is the second book of the duet (Reckless Roses is the first one), and it follows Elena and August and how they navigate trauma from different perspectives. You get the beginning of their story in RR, which ends in a HUGE cliffhanger and picks up immediately in V&V. They are both plagued with so much guilt, and they feel like they both cannot move on from the past, forgoing their happiness.
What to Expect:
🪻 Second chance
🪻 Roommates
🪻 Hurt/Comfort
🪻 Mental Health Rep
🪻 PMDD Rep
🪻 Pierced MMC
🪻 Tattoo artist x Author
These characters are MADE to be together; their souls are tethered to each other, and they live for me in an alternative universe. Sarah's writing is so poetic, so raw, and so beautiful. I'm pretty sure I was crying 70% of the time, and humping my husband the other 30%. I'm so sad Pacific Shores is over, but this was the absolute most perfect ending I could've hoped for. The stories of these characters will be forever engraved in my heart and soul.
I have over 178 highlights on my Kindle, and I can't possibly list 1/4 of them!!!
Thank you SO much Sarah for the ARC of V&V.
__________
long ass review coming soon.
I had been waiting for this book since last year, before Sarah got trad pub, and I think it made reading this now so much more painful but worthy. Vice & Violet is the second book of the duet (Reckless Roses is the first one), and it follows Elena and August and how they navigate trauma from different perspectives. You get the beginning of their story in RR, which ends in a HUGE cliffhanger and picks up immediately in V&V. They are both plagued with so much guilt, and they feel like they both cannot move on from the past, forgoing their happiness.
What to Expect:
🪻 Second chance
🪻 Roommates
🪻 Hurt/Comfort
🪻 Mental Health Rep
🪻 PMDD Rep
🪻 Pierced MMC
🪻 Tattoo artist x Author
These characters are MADE to be together; their souls are tethered to each other, and they live for me in an alternative universe. Sarah's writing is so poetic, so raw, and so beautiful. I'm pretty sure I was crying 70% of the time, and humping my husband the other 30%. I'm so sad Pacific Shores is over, but this was the absolute most perfect ending I could've hoped for. The stories of these characters will be forever engraved in my heart and soul.
I have over 178 highlights on my Kindle, and I can't possibly list 1/4 of them!!!
She’s covered in me, and yet she’s spent years pretending I don’t exist. I want to fucking hate her for it. She’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen—and I want to hate her for that too.
Thank you SO much Sarah for the ARC of V&V.
__________
long ass review coming soon.
November 4, 2025
5/5 ✨️ 4/5 🌶️
Vice and Violet ARC Review 💜🌙✨️🌊
There were countless tears and now forever a place in my heart for a fictional coastal town in California. It’s where the Pacific Shores crew will always surf the waves, work on the boardwalk and gather every Sunday for dinner.
The beautiful, heartbreaking, spellbinding, and incredibly sexy couple is that of Elena and August. This is definitely one of those stories to go into blind, especially if you've read Reckless Roses; you know the events that played out. As time has passed, these two are broken. They’re extremely haunted and they haven't spoken to each other in years. Elena is back home and as much as Elena and August try to avoid each other, they have always had an invisible string, especially when they're in close proximity. But Elena and August's love is cosmic; it's primal, wild, passionate, chaotic, and it's incredibly spiritual. You could feel it within every page of this story, but their love story is far from easy. Sarah did an incredible job with showing the realities of PMDD, mental health, depression, loss, and how important therapy, healing, and soul-deep love can be. These two went into my all-time favorite couples spot.
Violet is made up of two colors: August, which is the serene serenity of blue, and Elena, which is the flaming intensity of red. They combine to restore balance, to love, and to help each other heal. Elena is a character that came into my life when I needed her & helped me in ways I'll never be able to express. She's multifaceted; she's lost everything, or has she? There's always light; she's a true example of that, as Elena is powerful, raw, and sexy. Sweet August, the dreamer, the romantic, the man weathering through his storm, the man who is not afraid to lay his heart on the line even if it means losing so much of himself in the process. You just have to meet him to see the beauty of what a good man is; he will change you.
This farewell demonstrated that family doesn't have to be blood but rather the individuals who show up. I honestly could write a love letter to this series, but thank you, Sarah, for writing such an incredibly beautiful series. 💚💙❤️💜
Thank you, Sarah, forever for the ARC.
Please check TW.
Vice and Violet ARC Review 💜🌙✨️🌊
There were countless tears and now forever a place in my heart for a fictional coastal town in California. It’s where the Pacific Shores crew will always surf the waves, work on the boardwalk and gather every Sunday for dinner.
The beautiful, heartbreaking, spellbinding, and incredibly sexy couple is that of Elena and August. This is definitely one of those stories to go into blind, especially if you've read Reckless Roses; you know the events that played out. As time has passed, these two are broken. They’re extremely haunted and they haven't spoken to each other in years. Elena is back home and as much as Elena and August try to avoid each other, they have always had an invisible string, especially when they're in close proximity. But Elena and August's love is cosmic; it's primal, wild, passionate, chaotic, and it's incredibly spiritual. You could feel it within every page of this story, but their love story is far from easy. Sarah did an incredible job with showing the realities of PMDD, mental health, depression, loss, and how important therapy, healing, and soul-deep love can be. These two went into my all-time favorite couples spot.
Violet is made up of two colors: August, which is the serene serenity of blue, and Elena, which is the flaming intensity of red. They combine to restore balance, to love, and to help each other heal. Elena is a character that came into my life when I needed her & helped me in ways I'll never be able to express. She's multifaceted; she's lost everything, or has she? There's always light; she's a true example of that, as Elena is powerful, raw, and sexy. Sweet August, the dreamer, the romantic, the man weathering through his storm, the man who is not afraid to lay his heart on the line even if it means losing so much of himself in the process. You just have to meet him to see the beauty of what a good man is; he will change you.
This farewell demonstrated that family doesn't have to be blood but rather the individuals who show up. I honestly could write a love letter to this series, but thank you, Sarah, for writing such an incredibly beautiful series. 💚💙❤️💜
Thank you, Sarah, forever for the ARC.
Please check TW.
November 20, 2025
Sarah A. Bailey really doesn’t know how to miss. This book was so sad, but so necessary. The ending was so well thought out and just ended so damn beautiful. I cannot WAIT for the spinoff series!
September 5, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vice and Violet was the perfect, emotional ending to this incredible series. I’m so sad to say goodbye, but I couldn’t have asked for a more powerful conclusion. Out of all four books, this one hit me the hardest, and I can promise there is an HEA waiting at the end.
August and Elena are easily the most emotional characters of the series, and seeing them face their trauma, lean on each other, and slowly rebuild was heartbreaking and beautiful all at once. It was raw, difficult, and gut-wrenching to read, but also everything I wanted from their story.
This group of friends, this found family, has carved out a permanent place in my heart. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this attached to a series, and now I’m sitting here crying as I write this review. I don’t want to give anything away, but just know that while the journey is hard, it’s worth every single moment.
Vice and Violet was the perfect, emotional ending to this incredible series. I’m so sad to say goodbye, but I couldn’t have asked for a more powerful conclusion. Out of all four books, this one hit me the hardest, and I can promise there is an HEA waiting at the end.
August and Elena are easily the most emotional characters of the series, and seeing them face their trauma, lean on each other, and slowly rebuild was heartbreaking and beautiful all at once. It was raw, difficult, and gut-wrenching to read, but also everything I wanted from their story.
This group of friends, this found family, has carved out a permanent place in my heart. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this attached to a series, and now I’m sitting here crying as I write this review. I don’t want to give anything away, but just know that while the journey is hard, it’s worth every single moment.
November 24, 2025
I am just endlessly sobbing, this book was perfection.
Please be sure to check your trigger warnings before diving in and start with Reckless Roses to get the full story of August and Elena as this book picks up right where we leave off in the cliffhanger from book #3.
The quotes in this book are pure poetry. Sarah was able to flawlessly execute and portray how messy, raw, and devastating moving through grief and guilt are. I've been addicted to Elena and August since our first glimpse of them in the book 1 and I still can't get enough. The connection between them runs SOUL DEEP, they were truly written in the stars. I loved getting the dual POV and seeing how they navigated their journeys of coping, letting go, and healing. This book was so descriptive and emotional, it made me feel like I was carrying the emotions our characters were feeling.
The man August Hayes is .... omg, we saw a glimpse of how deep his desires for Elena ran in RR but seeing him UNRAVEL and lose absolute control in this book had me picking up my jaw and wiping drool off my mouth. He is the perfect mix of sweet, tender, loving and unhinged, downright possessive, and down bad for his woman. Also a moment for HIS PIERCINGS!!!! (not in his ears).
It made me weep to see Elena repair her relationships with her family, finally feeling like she belonged with her sisters, and come back home to her Augustus. The way this book wrapped up was the perfect ending to this amazing series. I adore these characters and the journey I just took with them. This series will forever be etched into my memory.
"We're two people who've watched our world turn to ash, and have finally realized that even the charred remains of our past can't keep us from finding our way back together."
"The presence of pain doesn't have to equate to the absence of happiness."
Please be sure to check your trigger warnings before diving in and start with Reckless Roses to get the full story of August and Elena as this book picks up right where we leave off in the cliffhanger from book #3.
The quotes in this book are pure poetry. Sarah was able to flawlessly execute and portray how messy, raw, and devastating moving through grief and guilt are. I've been addicted to Elena and August since our first glimpse of them in the book 1 and I still can't get enough. The connection between them runs SOUL DEEP, they were truly written in the stars. I loved getting the dual POV and seeing how they navigated their journeys of coping, letting go, and healing. This book was so descriptive and emotional, it made me feel like I was carrying the emotions our characters were feeling.
The man August Hayes is .... omg, we saw a glimpse of how deep his desires for Elena ran in RR but seeing him UNRAVEL and lose absolute control in this book had me picking up my jaw and wiping drool off my mouth. He is the perfect mix of sweet, tender, loving and unhinged, downright possessive, and down bad for his woman. Also a moment for HIS PIERCINGS!!!! (not in his ears).
It made me weep to see Elena repair her relationships with her family, finally feeling like she belonged with her sisters, and come back home to her Augustus. The way this book wrapped up was the perfect ending to this amazing series. I adore these characters and the journey I just took with them. This series will forever be etched into my memory.
"We're two people who've watched our world turn to ash, and have finally realized that even the charred remains of our past can't keep us from finding our way back together."
"The presence of pain doesn't have to equate to the absence of happiness."
October 31, 2025
✩5♾️
✦What to Expect✦
•Second chance
•Forced proximity
•Loathe to love
•Roommates
•Hurt/Comfort
✦Characters✦
•August/Augustus Hayes
•Elena Ramos
✦Fav Quotes✦
We were written long ago, when the stars themselves were created.
“Come home, baby. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Augustus,”
“Is this our happy ending?”
“No, Little Vice.”
“It’s the start of our happy beginning.”
✦Thoughts✦
I am f’ing DECEASED!
AUGUSTUS HAYES IS THAT BITCH.
I AM PANTING OVER THIS MAN, my god Sarah… what did you put in this man?!?!
I AM OBSESSED.
I’ll take 10 more of him!
But for reals... AUGUST HAYES IS THE STANDARD!
ELENA MY GIRL🥹🫶🏻 I have never loved a FMC more. I related to her so much and I simply want to give her the biggest hug and be her bestie.
The connection and relationship that these two have…it is GOALS. What these two have together is just beautiful.
The grieving & healing journey these two go through to find their way back to one another… so many tears. Their story is heartbreaking, beautiful, and hot!
One minute I was crying and the next I was as feral for the spice.
Truly an incredible & beautiful story and perfect ending to this series.
Okay now I’m crying again as write this. It’s fine, I’m fine.
GO READ THIS SERIES PLEASE
✦Micro-Tropes✦
•”Good girl”
•”Daddy”
•”Spit on it”
•🍈🍈
•”Eyes on me”
•🐱 slaps
•ARC Read•
✦ Bookish links to follow ✦
Bookstagram • Goodreads • BookBub • Storygraph • Fable
✦What to Expect✦
•Second chance
•Forced proximity
•Loathe to love
•Roommates
•Hurt/Comfort
✦Characters✦
•August/Augustus Hayes
•Elena Ramos
✦Fav Quotes✦
We were written long ago, when the stars themselves were created.
“Come home, baby. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Augustus,”
“Is this our happy ending?”
“No, Little Vice.”
“It’s the start of our happy beginning.”
✦Thoughts✦
I am f’ing DECEASED!
AUGUSTUS HAYES IS THAT BITCH.
I AM PANTING OVER THIS MAN, my god Sarah… what did you put in this man?!?!
I AM OBSESSED.
I’ll take 10 more of him!
But for reals... AUGUST HAYES IS THE STANDARD!
ELENA MY GIRL🥹🫶🏻 I have never loved a FMC more. I related to her so much and I simply want to give her the biggest hug and be her bestie.
The connection and relationship that these two have…it is GOALS. What these two have together is just beautiful.
The grieving & healing journey these two go through to find their way back to one another… so many tears. Their story is heartbreaking, beautiful, and hot!
One minute I was crying and the next I was as feral for the spice.
Truly an incredible & beautiful story and perfect ending to this series.
Okay now I’m crying again as write this. It’s fine, I’m fine.
GO READ THIS SERIES PLEASE
✦Micro-Tropes✦
•”Good girl”
•”Daddy”
•”Spit on it”
•🍈🍈
•”Eyes on me”
•🐱 slaps
•ARC Read•
✦ Bookish links to follow ✦
Bookstagram • Goodreads • BookBub • Storygraph • Fable
November 9, 2025
I absolutely loved this whole series, and it has truly become one of my all time favorites. I’m so sad it’s over, but Vice and Violet was the most beautiful, emotional, and perfect ending I could have asked for. August and Elena’s story completely wrecked me in the best way. The grief, guilt, and healing they went through felt so real and raw. After everything that happened with Zach, the pain between them was heavy, but watching them slowly rebuild and find their way back to each other was both heartbreaking and hopeful. Elena returning home, moving in with August, and confronting everything she’s been running from made this book feel so full circle. The tension, the slow softening, the love language of tattoos, the way they finally let themselves feel again, it was stunning. August’s quiet strength and Elena’s growth had me rooting for them every step of the way. I loved seeing the whole crew come together again and how the found family theme wrapped up so perfectly. Sarah A. Bailey’s writing is like poetry, lyrical, emotional, and so deeply human. This story showed that love and grief can exist side by side, that you can be broken and still find someone who chooses you anyway. This was a raw, tragic, yet healing finale that reminded me why I fell in love with this series in the first place. It was painful, beautiful, and absolutely unforgettable.
November 11, 2025
Words continue to escape me for how I felt about this story. I am so sad to leave Pacific Shores. This series has come to mean so much to me, Sarah's writing just makes my soul feel good. These characters, all they endured but the way that they have all found their happy endings.. man. I commend Sarah.
August and Elena - the conclusion to their tumultuous story. It was heart achingly wonderful. It was hard, the grief and the trauma that they have endured and inflicted on each other made their happy ending all the more worthwhile. I was rooting for them from the start.
August and Elena are shoved together, roommates and forced to face their pasts so that they can move forward together. They healed each other with their bodies when they couldn't have those heavy conversations. When they hashed it all out, I honestly felt such a relief and a weight lifted. True soulmates that finally found their way back together. Sarah did her upmost best to write such triggering topics with heart, respect and in such a relatable way. I found parts of myself in both August and Elena. The two epilogues for this book were some of the best I've read - I sobbed like a little bitch.
What a ramble, and not nearly half of what I wanted to say.. but trust the process when reading this book. And make sure you have read "Reckless Roses" first.
I'm so excited to be heading back to PS though with the beautiful Willow Graham in 2026!
Thank you for having me on your team, Sarah. I love it and I never wanna leeeeeave!
August and Elena - the conclusion to their tumultuous story. It was heart achingly wonderful. It was hard, the grief and the trauma that they have endured and inflicted on each other made their happy ending all the more worthwhile. I was rooting for them from the start.
August and Elena are shoved together, roommates and forced to face their pasts so that they can move forward together. They healed each other with their bodies when they couldn't have those heavy conversations. When they hashed it all out, I honestly felt such a relief and a weight lifted. True soulmates that finally found their way back together. Sarah did her upmost best to write such triggering topics with heart, respect and in such a relatable way. I found parts of myself in both August and Elena. The two epilogues for this book were some of the best I've read - I sobbed like a little bitch.
What a ramble, and not nearly half of what I wanted to say.. but trust the process when reading this book. And make sure you have read "Reckless Roses" first.
I'm so excited to be heading back to PS though with the beautiful Willow Graham in 2026!
Thank you for having me on your team, Sarah. I love it and I never wanna leeeeeave!
November 4, 2025
thank you to ember PR for the arc 🫶🏼
IG post tomorrow with a million and ONE QUOTES !!!! I cant quote this enough
Going into this book, I was so nervous for the pain that would no doubt ensue. After getting August and Elena’s story throughout the series so far, watching what happened in Reckless Roses, and finally getting to this moment, the anticipation was high. Sarah truly did not let us know in any way. The connection between these two characters is palpable, and the pain that they are both going through hits so viscerally, it’s such an attest Sarahs writing ability.
I love August with my whole heart and soul. He is the sweetest, most caring man to exist (and he has piercings in .. places.. and lots of tattoos). From page one, we see the pain he is going through following the ending of Reckless Roses and the way it is written is the most painful thing. I was tearing up from page one to about 20%. We get dual POV and see Elena’s struggles as well, and we basically just watch them overcoming grief and ultimately coming back together. It is far from an easy read, btu so worth it in the end. These two are truly soulmates. I adore them together.
This series also features a heavy component of small town, found family and that is a top tier trope for me. It just feels like coming home
IG post tomorrow with a million and ONE QUOTES !!!! I cant quote this enough
Going into this book, I was so nervous for the pain that would no doubt ensue. After getting August and Elena’s story throughout the series so far, watching what happened in Reckless Roses, and finally getting to this moment, the anticipation was high. Sarah truly did not let us know in any way. The connection between these two characters is palpable, and the pain that they are both going through hits so viscerally, it’s such an attest Sarahs writing ability.
I love August with my whole heart and soul. He is the sweetest, most caring man to exist (and he has piercings in .. places.. and lots of tattoos). From page one, we see the pain he is going through following the ending of Reckless Roses and the way it is written is the most painful thing. I was tearing up from page one to about 20%. We get dual POV and see Elena’s struggles as well, and we basically just watch them overcoming grief and ultimately coming back together. It is far from an easy read, btu so worth it in the end. These two are truly soulmates. I adore them together.
This series also features a heavy component of small town, found family and that is a top tier trope for me. It just feels like coming home
November 13, 2025
6 stars 😭❤️
Am I ready to write a review for this masterpiece of a series?? Probably not, but here goes ..
I have cried, I have laughed, I’ve been SO angry and annoyed, I’ve been giggling out of my seat and felt a massive sense of healing and togetherness. Sarah A. Bailey has this ability to make me crumble and put me nicely back together again with love and care.
”But one thing I always know for certain is that I’ll take you any way you come, any pain you cause, no matter how brief the moment, because simply experiencing you… it’s more valuable to me than the air I breathe.”
Book 3 in the series “Reckless Roses” absolutely broke me. August and Elena are two doomed souls, so deeply damaged, so right for each other, but struggling to find the right time. I don’t really want to say too much about the story, as this should be felt raw and without expectation — other than know that it will crush you before it heals you. Worth every bit of heartache!
I will chase the high from this series so bad.
Thank you thank you thank you Sarah, for the ARC, saying I loved it is an understatement.
”I think the hardest part of grief is that it’s not only unpredictable but unrelenting. No matter how much time passes, it never goes away. You’re encouraged to move through it and search for some semblance of normal, but nobody talks about the way you’re forced to do so while constantly tiptoeing around triggers for the rest of your life.”
“You’re the love of my life, but he’s the boy I loved to death. How am I supposed to move on from that? Why do I deserve to?”
“The presence of grief does not equate to the absence of happiness,”
“Your voice is my favorite song. Your words are my favorite book.” I lift my eyes to hers, studying the curvature of her hip and waist, the flare of her breasts. “Your body is my favorite canvas, and your face my favorite sculpture. You are art to me.”
“I used to get so homesick, and then I came back, but the sickness stayed.” With a trembling hand, I wipe her cheeks. “I think it was because I was sick over you. You’re home to me.” I nod, my eyes stinging with tears of my own. “Come home, baby. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Am I ready to write a review for this masterpiece of a series?? Probably not, but here goes ..
I have cried, I have laughed, I’ve been SO angry and annoyed, I’ve been giggling out of my seat and felt a massive sense of healing and togetherness. Sarah A. Bailey has this ability to make me crumble and put me nicely back together again with love and care.
”But one thing I always know for certain is that I’ll take you any way you come, any pain you cause, no matter how brief the moment, because simply experiencing you… it’s more valuable to me than the air I breathe.”
Book 3 in the series “Reckless Roses” absolutely broke me. August and Elena are two doomed souls, so deeply damaged, so right for each other, but struggling to find the right time. I don’t really want to say too much about the story, as this should be felt raw and without expectation — other than know that it will crush you before it heals you. Worth every bit of heartache!
I will chase the high from this series so bad.
Thank you thank you thank you Sarah, for the ARC, saying I loved it is an understatement.
”I think the hardest part of grief is that it’s not only unpredictable but unrelenting. No matter how much time passes, it never goes away. You’re encouraged to move through it and search for some semblance of normal, but nobody talks about the way you’re forced to do so while constantly tiptoeing around triggers for the rest of your life.”
“You’re the love of my life, but he’s the boy I loved to death. How am I supposed to move on from that? Why do I deserve to?”
“The presence of grief does not equate to the absence of happiness,”
“Your voice is my favorite song. Your words are my favorite book.” I lift my eyes to hers, studying the curvature of her hip and waist, the flare of her breasts. “Your body is my favorite canvas, and your face my favorite sculpture. You are art to me.”
“I used to get so homesick, and then I came back, but the sickness stayed.” With a trembling hand, I wipe her cheeks. “I think it was because I was sick over you. You’re home to me.” I nod, my eyes stinging with tears of my own. “Come home, baby. I’ve been waiting for you.”
November 10, 2025
I’ve loved every book in the Pacific Shores series. August and Elena had such a raw love story. The spice was👌🏻🥵😍
November 3, 2025
This is going to be such a complicated review for me to write but I’m going to try.
I think I’m landing on a 3.99-4 stars? But that’s mostly because of the highlights for me: Everett, Dahlia, and Lou, any sibling moment, and some of the final scenes. Those CARRIED the book for me. I also think the series ended beautifully and felt full circle. And I also just love Sarah’s writing.
Grief is such a tough subject matter to cover accurately and with grace and Sarah did it justice. It’s so hard to explain grief sometimes unless you’ve personally lived it. I found myself highlighting a few paragraphs in Vice & Violet thinking “ok YES. You get it. You understand.”and I absolutely loved that. I definitely felt the emotion in those final chapters.
I will say, though, that I struggled through parts of this book. Sometimes a good chunk of it. I felt frustrated at times. I didn’t get some questions answered that were presented in Reckless Roses. If it wasn’t for the siblings in this book, I might not have liked V&V as much. I adored August in RR and while Elena has never been my favorite character, I understand that she’s complex (and even she says she’s not easily liked 😅). I just felt frustrated with them at times and I didn’t understand some of their actions but that’s also so unfair of me to say because everyone grieves differently! I just wish things happened differently and that we got more of an explanation.
But I do think this was a solid read as a whole and I’d absolutely recommend this series.
Thanks to Ember Literary PR and the author for the ARC!
I think I’m landing on a 3.99-4 stars? But that’s mostly because of the highlights for me: Everett, Dahlia, and Lou, any sibling moment, and some of the final scenes. Those CARRIED the book for me. I also think the series ended beautifully and felt full circle. And I also just love Sarah’s writing.
Grief is such a tough subject matter to cover accurately and with grace and Sarah did it justice. It’s so hard to explain grief sometimes unless you’ve personally lived it. I found myself highlighting a few paragraphs in Vice & Violet thinking “ok YES. You get it. You understand.”and I absolutely loved that. I definitely felt the emotion in those final chapters.
I will say, though, that I struggled through parts of this book. Sometimes a good chunk of it. I felt frustrated at times. I didn’t get some questions answered that were presented in Reckless Roses. If it wasn’t for the siblings in this book, I might not have liked V&V as much. I adored August in RR and while Elena has never been my favorite character, I understand that she’s complex (and even she says she’s not easily liked 😅). I just felt frustrated with them at times and I didn’t understand some of their actions but that’s also so unfair of me to say because everyone grieves differently! I just wish things happened differently and that we got more of an explanation.
But I do think this was a solid read as a whole and I’d absolutely recommend this series.
Thanks to Ember Literary PR and the author for the ARC!
November 4, 2025
I’m really not ready for Pacific Shores to be over 😭 Hoping Sarah just says sike soon and we get more. Truly such a great end to the series though. I just knew I was going to love August and Elena from book one. August THE yearning man. I’m so obsessed with him. Utter perfection. No notes. Elena, my girl, I loved so much. I just wanted to give her a big hug.
A very character driven storyline with both characters following a grief journey. Such a heavy and difficult topic but I think Sarah executed it so well. She truly captured the complex human emotions individuals go through and how it’s even different from individual to individual.
All the cameos from the rest of the pacific shores crew was everything. The friendship between August and Darby 😭 And DADDY LEO. I can’t.
Im going to miss this world and characters so much but can’t wait to see what Sarah has in store next for us!
4.5⭐️
A very character driven storyline with both characters following a grief journey. Such a heavy and difficult topic but I think Sarah executed it so well. She truly captured the complex human emotions individuals go through and how it’s even different from individual to individual.
All the cameos from the rest of the pacific shores crew was everything. The friendship between August and Darby 😭 And DADDY LEO. I can’t.
Im going to miss this world and characters so much but can’t wait to see what Sarah has in store next for us!
4.5⭐️
November 6, 2025
I can’t believe this series is over! Forever recommending it. To read this one, you MUST read Reckless Roses first.
August and Elena were everything I had hoped they would be. This duet was so heartbreaking, yet beautiful. There is so much for them to overcome, and watching them both on the journey, separately and together, was so inspiring. My heart hurt for both of them, and I was rooting for them to get together the entire time. There are heavy topics discussed in this book, and Sarah handled them so well. Her writing is so beautiful and poetic, I get lost in the story every time.
I can’t finish this review without mentioning the spice. While this is an angsty, emotional read with so much yearning, it is also SO hot 🔥 I think I was sweating at one point?
Definitely add this whole series to your tbr, I promise you won’t regret it! Sarah writes the swoooooniest men, and inspiring and strong women.
ARC review
August and Elena were everything I had hoped they would be. This duet was so heartbreaking, yet beautiful. There is so much for them to overcome, and watching them both on the journey, separately and together, was so inspiring. My heart hurt for both of them, and I was rooting for them to get together the entire time. There are heavy topics discussed in this book, and Sarah handled them so well. Her writing is so beautiful and poetic, I get lost in the story every time.
I can’t finish this review without mentioning the spice. While this is an angsty, emotional read with so much yearning, it is also SO hot 🔥 I think I was sweating at one point?
Definitely add this whole series to your tbr, I promise you won’t regret it! Sarah writes the swoooooniest men, and inspiring and strong women.
ARC review
September 1, 2025
She never ceases to amaze me. This book obliterated my heart and then kissed me on the forehead after. A million stars.
October 21, 2025
♾️🌟
ARC REVIEW
What a way to end the Pacific Shores series. Vice & Violet is one of the best books I read all year and likely all time. I will never be the same.
Second in a duet, we follow August and Elena four years after a significant loss that devastated them both and ripped them apart. We see them slowly, but surely find their way back to one another but not without more heartbreak and devastation along the way.
These two are roman empire for me now. I will think about them every day forever. They are the definition of soulmates, meant to be, what have you.
"We were written long ago, when the stars themselves were created."
"I feel like love is ultraviolet," I whisper. "A color I never saw before you."
The inevitability of two people who are truly destined is my favorite to read about, and it was done so well here.
Sarah has a masterful way of writing the most authentic characters. They all feel just like you and I.
Elena became one of my favorite FMCs of all time. I related to her so deeply. She was flawed, but most of her shortcomings were her own warped self perception and what she thought she did and didn't deserve. As a girlie with PMDD, I felt so seen. There is so little representation in media and I thought Sarah did an excellent job in portraying that in Elena.
And then there's August. August is THAT man. Always there for Elena, maybe to a fault at times, but his love never wavered. The yearning, the longing, the desire he held. Everything he did was for her. Also, the mouth on that man? My god.
Between the emotional trauma and the all too real portrayal of grief, was some of the filthiest spice I've read in contemporary romance. These two were HOT. On fire. Between all the sobbing, I was blushing.
"The only time either of us feels alive is when our bodies are joined. We're symbiotic in that way. Each of us a parasite, each of us a host too. Feeding off each other when we're apart."
I will miss Pacific Shores. Thank you for Leo & Darby, Everett & Dahlia, and of course August & Elena.
And a big thank you to Ember Literary PR for the early copy!
ARC REVIEW
What a way to end the Pacific Shores series. Vice & Violet is one of the best books I read all year and likely all time. I will never be the same.
Second in a duet, we follow August and Elena four years after a significant loss that devastated them both and ripped them apart. We see them slowly, but surely find their way back to one another but not without more heartbreak and devastation along the way.
These two are roman empire for me now. I will think about them every day forever. They are the definition of soulmates, meant to be, what have you.
"We were written long ago, when the stars themselves were created."
"I feel like love is ultraviolet," I whisper. "A color I never saw before you."
The inevitability of two people who are truly destined is my favorite to read about, and it was done so well here.
Sarah has a masterful way of writing the most authentic characters. They all feel just like you and I.
Elena became one of my favorite FMCs of all time. I related to her so deeply. She was flawed, but most of her shortcomings were her own warped self perception and what she thought she did and didn't deserve. As a girlie with PMDD, I felt so seen. There is so little representation in media and I thought Sarah did an excellent job in portraying that in Elena.
And then there's August. August is THAT man. Always there for Elena, maybe to a fault at times, but his love never wavered. The yearning, the longing, the desire he held. Everything he did was for her. Also, the mouth on that man? My god.
Between the emotional trauma and the all too real portrayal of grief, was some of the filthiest spice I've read in contemporary romance. These two were HOT. On fire. Between all the sobbing, I was blushing.
"The only time either of us feels alive is when our bodies are joined. We're symbiotic in that way. Each of us a parasite, each of us a host too. Feeding off each other when we're apart."
I will miss Pacific Shores. Thank you for Leo & Darby, Everett & Dahlia, and of course August & Elena.
And a big thank you to Ember Literary PR for the early copy!
November 3, 2025
5 stars.
My god, what an emotional rollercoaster! Sarah A. Bailey's "Vice & Violet" is the second part of August and Elena's story after "Reckless Roses." I absolutely loved this book. It is so dark and emotional, and yet it is also healing and filthy. Yes, these are imperfect characters. Yes, their dynamic is often toxic. Yes, it can be seen as problematic at times, but the growth Elena and August display more than makes up for the rocky road it takes them to get to the end. When the term "fated mates" gets thrown around, it's for characters like August and Elena. Despite the long journey to get them together, they are definitely a "destiny" type of couple, preordained to be together, whatever the odds. This story is teeming with tension, frustration, depression, yearning, hatred, longing, pining, and grief. All of the characters in this story feel so authentic and realistic, with life breathed into them, even in their messiness. The way Baiiey writes grief and how these characters attempt to overcome it and/or are consumed by it feels lifelike, too, and that's coming from someone who has experienced a whoooooole lot of grief. And the spice... my goodness, the spice. "Vice & Violet" will break you down into a million pieces only to put you back together again. I have no doubt these books will stand the test of time. Wow, what a story!
Thank you to Sarah A. Bailey and Ember Literary PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
My god, what an emotional rollercoaster! Sarah A. Bailey's "Vice & Violet" is the second part of August and Elena's story after "Reckless Roses." I absolutely loved this book. It is so dark and emotional, and yet it is also healing and filthy. Yes, these are imperfect characters. Yes, their dynamic is often toxic. Yes, it can be seen as problematic at times, but the growth Elena and August display more than makes up for the rocky road it takes them to get to the end. When the term "fated mates" gets thrown around, it's for characters like August and Elena. Despite the long journey to get them together, they are definitely a "destiny" type of couple, preordained to be together, whatever the odds. This story is teeming with tension, frustration, depression, yearning, hatred, longing, pining, and grief. All of the characters in this story feel so authentic and realistic, with life breathed into them, even in their messiness. The way Baiiey writes grief and how these characters attempt to overcome it and/or are consumed by it feels lifelike, too, and that's coming from someone who has experienced a whoooooole lot of grief. And the spice... my goodness, the spice. "Vice & Violet" will break you down into a million pieces only to put you back together again. I have no doubt these books will stand the test of time. Wow, what a story!
Thank you to Sarah A. Bailey and Ember Literary PR for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
November 12, 2025
I have conflicting feelings about this book. Reckless Rose set this up to be a book about healing and a second-chance romance. Yet, I think that my issues came with not liking when (in any book) connection is sacrificed for smut. They were both coming back from an extremely dark place and working through their individual and relationship problems, but I didn't feel like their issues could only be resolved through their physical connection. I also felt a bit disappointed because I know that Bailey can write angst, but it was lacking for me. I got a taste of that in the beginning, but after the 30% mark, the plot turned completely towards physical connection and lost me on the emotional side.
I think Bailey’s writing, specifically when it was focused on grief, was written well. It’s challenging to convey to a reader the full range of grief's nuances, and there were moments when I felt the weight and depth of it all.
I could not get past them bringing up extremely intimate details of their sex life in front of their families. It felt immature and unnecessary. I also thought a lot of the moments where I should be investing in their relationship were instead overshadowed by dialogue that seemed written for quoteable "soundbites" rather than emotional depth.
I didn’t hate the ending of this series; I just didn't connect with either of the characters like I thought I would, and the emotional impact was not as strong as I would have liked.
I think Bailey’s writing, specifically when it was focused on grief, was written well. It’s challenging to convey to a reader the full range of grief's nuances, and there were moments when I felt the weight and depth of it all.
I could not get past them bringing up extremely intimate details of their sex life in front of their families. It felt immature and unnecessary. I also thought a lot of the moments where I should be investing in their relationship were instead overshadowed by dialogue that seemed written for quoteable "soundbites" rather than emotional depth.
I didn’t hate the ending of this series; I just didn't connect with either of the characters like I thought I would, and the emotional impact was not as strong as I would have liked.
November 18, 2025
I was definitely hoping for a bit more
I wanted to see them fall in love again, not still be in love and pick it back up with sex being the bridge to it. they started out unhealthy and toxic and got better by the end, but I still feel like a lot of things were left unsaid about their grief, what went on those years they were separated, and everything in between
by the end the book just kind of dragged and I was just hoping to finish it, I got bored
I wanted to see them fall in love again, not still be in love and pick it back up with sex being the bridge to it. they started out unhealthy and toxic and got better by the end, but I still feel like a lot of things were left unsaid about their grief, what went on those years they were separated, and everything in between
by the end the book just kind of dragged and I was just hoping to finish it, I got bored
November 8, 2025
this duet was my introduction to sarah bailey, and i was instantly enthralled by her raw and poetic writing. though i’ve never been the type to reach for a duet, i had a feeling this one would be perfect.
spoiler: it was.
august and elena’s story had me SOBBING. they were forced apart by a tragedy, and the way they had to fight their own demons before fighting their way back to each other was devastating and beautiful all at once.
this was the perfect conclusion to an absolutely soul crushing duet (thanks for the emotional damage, sarah). elena and august deserve all the foreheadkisses.
thank you so much for the digital copy, ember literary pr!!
🪻tattoo artists x author
🪻loathe to love
🪻roommates
🪻second chance
🪻mental health rep
🪻PMDD rep
🪻they help each other heal
spoiler: it was.
august and elena’s story had me SOBBING. they were forced apart by a tragedy, and the way they had to fight their own demons before fighting their way back to each other was devastating and beautiful all at once.
this was the perfect conclusion to an absolutely soul crushing duet (thanks for the emotional damage, sarah). elena and august deserve all the foreheadkisses.
thank you so much for the digital copy, ember literary pr!!
🪻tattoo artists x author
🪻loathe to love
🪻roommates
🪻second chance
🪻mental health rep
🪻PMDD rep
🪻they help each other heal
November 15, 2025
I don’t have the right words to describe how much this series means to me, and how beautiful Elena & August’s story was. My heart broke for them but yet was put back together. The way grief was impacting their lives so much, is exactly how it impacts mine with a sudden loss. Although my loss was different, the way Sarah wrote this was INCREDIBLE. I cried, I squealed, and I blushed. August is a down bad man who was so incredibly sweet and caring. I love his sweet soul. And Elena, our gal who harbors such darkness and guilt. I felt for her.
A must read book and series, and one that will never leave my soul.
A must read book and series, and one that will never leave my soul.
October 19, 2025
This was the most perfect ending to the series!!
I absolutely loved the way Sarah wrote grief and love
Now August 🥵🥵 no words
I absolutely loved the way Sarah wrote grief and love
Now August 🥵🥵 no words
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