This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.75

First Impressions
Contempt is the newest release in the "Coastal Elite" series but its also a book that I have been eagerly anticipating since the beginning of the year ever since I read "Undertow". Now this book will not work for everyone and I definitely think you need to have low expectations because this book won't be what you actually expect it to be. This doesn't feature an actual psychopath in the hero unlike what we have seen in previous heroes. He is messed up and dark in some areas, but its more he is emotionally damaged and just a jerk about it. lol Its really that simple and you definitely see this difference which I appreciated in how this author handled their journey. Its going to be unlike anything you have read so far from this author but delivers just as much complexity as you would hope for.

First Line
The top box tilts as I make my way down the stairs as carefully as I'm able.

Summary
This story begins with our hero and heroine moving in together. Landon and Parker are about to become step siblings. They have known each other for years. When Landon lost his mother, Parker reached out to him with compassion, but Landon didn't react to her genuine heart as he should have and ever since has constantly bullied her over the years but yet is highlly possessive of her and won't let any other man touch her. Parker has such a giving heart and is feeling fragile having to be so close to Landon who terrifies her. But she also wants her mother to be happy and is willing to sacrifice so much for that to happen. But learning to live together with Landon won't be easy, and will put up challenges for both Landon and Parker. But will Landon and Parker be able to find a common ground and something more along the way when they least expect it?

What I Loved
This book y'all just captivated me. I knew Sam Mariano would write such a treasure and she really knocked this one out of the park. Contempt was such a highly anticipated release for me and I have to say that this won my heart and more and the laughs babes ...the LAUGHS. I honestly couldn't contain my humor with this one here. This one is so different from the previous two books and and had a voice to it that I wasn't expecting. I also enjoyed seeing the different type of hero than I was expecting. Now don't get me wrong, Landon is a very disturbed young man. However, he isn't as dangerous as some of the other heroes I have read by this author. Just the type of hero you would expect in a standard bully romance only with the Sam Mariano twist to it. After reading the first two books I was so intrigued to see where this author would take this one.

I do recommend for the highest quality of an reading experience, read the previous two books:
Even If It Hurts
Undertow

There is something so valuable in the relationship that is delivered here. We see so much more hidden depths to the characters and a bit of what makes their relationship so connecting to each other. They have been involved with each other for many years. This isn't a new development, only with their age, both learning to become more mature, that other feelings are entering into the sphere and they are both learning how to adapt to the changes. If you respect the complexity that this author writes within her stories, then look no further than with Contempt. I absolutely had such a good time with seeing Landon grow and face up to his grief and learn to accept the love that Parker was willing to give him. But man his character was so entertaining. He has such an easy confidence about him, and from beginning to end the core of what makes him Landon doesn't really end but his growth and maturity does. We also see some growth in the relationship with his father.

Now as for Parker, her character I fell hard for. I really do love Sam Mariano's heroines. I just relate to them so well. Parker was so personable and has such a kind heart but she does let herself be taken advantage of easily which happens with those with softer personalities. She is a fighter at times though, she has a will when it really matters and when it comes to those that she loves deeply. There are facets to her character that I wanted to dig deeper with and Mariano delivers that dimension to us.

What I Struggled With
I honestly didn't struggle with hardly anything on this. I just fell hard for everything and can't wait for the next couple and man I have a feeling its going to have Cinderella vibes and I am down for that.

Overall View
Contempt is a angst fest of a romance, its a story of discovery, maturity and facing up to your challenges no matter the cost. A YA/NA that delivers all the way for this reader!

Favorite Quote(s)
“In case I’ve left any doubts, I consider you mine, Parker. And there’s nothing you can do to change that.”

I think we’ve always loved each other, even when we hated each other. And I know we always will.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Young Adult
Character Types: Jerk Hero
Themes: Bully Romance, Step Family Love, Dubious/Non Consent
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Relationship Conflict

Song This Book Inspires
Find You by Ruelle

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes, you need to read this series in order

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes. ( )