Ruining Hattie - R Payne

From the very beginning, the contrast between Hattie and Bastian completely pulled me in. Hattie starts off incredibly naive, sheltered, and self-giving, while Bastian… well, Bas is absolutely an a-hole. But that dynamic is exactly what makes their story so compelling.

Hattie’s journey was powerful. Through the opportunities Bastian gives her, she begins to realize how sheltered her life has been and how much she has boxed herself in, never questioning what she actually wanted for herself. Their relationship grows beautifully… until secrets start piling up.

The plot itself was layered and detailed. P. Rayne takes their time building Bastion’s present world while slowly revealing his past and how it shaped him. His backstory broke my heart, and his desire for revenge felt understandable. You’re drawn into his plan, even as you start rooting for him to choose something different. And that ending? I did not see all of it coming. The epilogue was absolutely everything.

I binged this audiobook and honestly cannot stop thinking about it. A special shout-out to the narrators because Troy and Helena were perfect. His deep voice captured Bastian’s older, commanding presence, while her voice perfectly reflected Hattie’s innocence. They brought this story to life in the best way. This was a detailed, immersive read, and I loved every second of it. Thank you Dreamscape Media for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGallery. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

How did this woman take me from wanting to ruin her to making her my entire world.