Facing Us (Kids of The District #0) By Nicci Harris

He is desperate to remember.
She will destroy everything to forget.

Konnor: Up until now, my life has been a mirage of sorts. Of dark, lonely places. Of bourbon and women. I don't care. I think I'm pretty happy really.
But then she happens. . .
Blesk: He wants me. He'll do anything, drop everything, to have me. But when he uncovers who I am and what I've done, he'll rue ever facing me.
I've already buried everything he loves. . .
We both have secrets. Mine are harrowing. His, heart-breaking. Just merely being together threatens to expose everything we have tried to escape.
Will finally facing our past bring us peace. . . or spark chaos?
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Facing Us is Nicci Harris's debut novel and the prequel in THE KIDS OF THE DISTRICT series. This book features a damaged hero and a sweet yet witty heroine. Both main characters will fight for each other. Expect flashbacks, abuse, and difficult subjects. It is a love story first. Drama and mystery second. Word porn third. Enjoy. Facing Us (Kids of The District #0)

Nicci Harris ✓ 3 characters

Addicting

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5)
Trope: second chance
Angst: 😱😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥
Triggers: alcoholism, sexual assault

I feel a little conflicted about this story. It was a good storyline, if not convoluted at differing points and the writing was pretty good. Having said that, it was a great introduction to this world Nicci's created and left me wanting more. Both MCs were incredibly flawed and difficult to like at points, but they both have you rooting for them.

I did have a problem with how the alcoholism was addressed. The MMC was a lush and seemed to have no one in his life willing to push him except for some slight pressure from his friend. Then, at the end, it was mentioned how he was going to *snap* go through detox and come clean. Personally, I would have appreciated it discussed more seriously since his problem was so severe 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Facing Us is the first book in the Kids of the District series by Nicci Harris and while the overarching story arc ends on a cliffy, the couple gets their HEA. It is told in first person, from multiple perspectives. I'm definitely going to give this author another go. The bones were their for a great story and I'm looking forward to seeing her writing progress. 366 This was a heavy start to this series. So just a warning ⚠️ to anyone starting, it has a trigger warning at the beginning because it deals with a variety of heavy issues, such as, addiction, abuse and suicide. As well as many other triggering aspects.
All in all, I enjoyed reading 📚 Konnor and Blesks story. They went through sooo much pain 💔 so it was good to see them get their happy ending, even while there was some sort of plot holes at the end.. so a cliffhanger.
I'll be honest I loved both the H, Konnor and h, Blesk but their destructive behaviour throughout the book was painful to read.

Konnors self destructive behaviour throughout the story was extremely painful to read, it was understandable as he had a horrible horrible early childhood. But it was the fact that he was a known alcoholic in the book and everyone around him, including his friends knew about his destructive nature. And no one did anything about it which sucked, so it was kind of glossed over until the end when he suddenly decides to detox. It was also annoying that he slept around a lot 😒 even when him and the h were not together but clearly TOGETHER TOGETHER if that makes sense. 🙄 She found out and after a little drama, slept with him.

Blesk on the other hand, had a lot of self hate for her self when it came to a lot of things. It was also understandable that she had issues with sex which only be understood after reading this book. (Don't want to spoil anything) 🥺💔💔 She had been through sooo much so I was rooting for her. As much as I got annoyed and angry with Konnor for some of his actions, I loved them both together. 😍 Also have to say that Elise, Blesks best friend stole the show, loved her and Jax too. 😍😍🥺😫

Again I hate when authors make their Hs absolute manwhores and players, whereas their hs are literally so innocent with limited physical experience. Anyways 😑 moving on... 366 I loved it , it was beautiful and suspenseful and just a great read!!!!! 366 This is a dark, mysterious love story I didn’t want to put down. Blesk & Konnor give me all. the. feels. Damaged, broken main characters seem to be my favorite. The chemistry & love between these two was palpable. Both characters have suffered a lot of tragedy in their past & their resilience is inspiring. I’m really looking forward to the next two books in this series & hopefully getting answers to all the questions I have. 366 Nicci managed to blend some heavy topics, an epic love story that somehow seems fated, and a lot of twists and turns.

The episodic writing, flashbacks and different narrative perspectives make for a who dunnit type of read.

I loved her world building and can't wait to see the rest of the characters in her next book.

And the cliffhanger- who was the woman in the hospital room with Liz/Blesk? Gah. Dying - I need this information like yesterday 366

I wrote it! So of course I'll give it 5 stars. Lol! Read it and call BS on my review or enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
: -) 366 Subversively endearing.

Although I feel, like, this book is more suited for a female sense. I quite enjoyed it. It draws you in from the very first page. It's got the humor and right show of emotions. Exactly what I look for in a book. Hey, I think I've just found an author. Can't wait for book 2

5* 366 Facing Us is the story of Blesk and Konnor.

Gosh, I am both traumatized and blown away.

TW: Alcoholism, sex addiction, kidnapping, rape, sexual abuse

The book begins as the heroine comes to a new college, where her brother studies. She meets the enigmatic stranger, a fellow student who also teaches classes, and sparks fly. He is a callous playboy addicted to alcohol, she is a lonely musician hiding her secrets. Invisible strings pull them together, only for their past to be revealed and tragic secrets to be exposed.

Wow I did not expect where the story went. It's sad, traumatizing and heartbreaking. At the end of the tunnel, however, lies some hope. The hero and heroine are both messed up individuals who are insecure, and co-dependent, coming together due to shared trauma.

I hope they both got therapy. There was so much revealed in the last few chapters, I wish this book was longer. I also kinda sorta wanted an epilogue. Felt abrupt.

However, overall kept me engaged and broke parts of my heart.

Unsafe in all ways
4/5 366 Welp. I finished the book, and the ending had me wishing I'd have DNFed one of the many times I considered it. I believe that this was the author's first book, and it shows. The writing was disjointed and became rambling at the best of times, confusing at the worst. Blesk was completely unlikeable and immature, and the constant GIGGLING like a little girl irked my last nerve.

Konnor was more likeable, despite being a complete alcoholic and a man whore. I kept reading to try and get an answer to who tried to kill Blesk, who really was behind the kidnapping, and so forth, and really never got any answers. I don't like the keep reading for more when the next books aren't centered around the main characters, so maybe that's why this is sticking in my craw. Just...didn't like it. His alcoholism was such a focus, and yet we get a quickly epilogue that breezes through his plan to detox. MEH 366


This had an unusual back story the revealed revelations concerning both Konnor and Blesk’s pasts providing so much extra nuance and emotion more than your regular new-adult college romance. The characters themselves here are definitely imperfect and broken but also so very real and both are using particular coping methods to just function normally.

I enjoyed this so much more than I anticipated and I definitely want to now read the rest of the series. This is a prequel to that and this managed to entertain whilst still teasing me with little gems throughout and all the future possibilities here totally whetting my appetite for more.

This has deep triggers but also lots of healing and soul searching. It’s not really a girl meets boy and they fall deeply in love conventional kind of story but more about the broken pieces of two separate individuals that fit together making a whole out of the shattered shards left behind. Two souls mates who have been put through a wringer and each managing to save the other in the process whilst falling deeper in love.

Both Blesk and Konnor go on a journey together into their shared pasts needing the answers and some closure even if those same answers turn out to be ones they don’t really want to hear.
I found myself liking both main characters the human nature of their mistakes and inadequacies only serving to endear them to me more.

There were questions to be answered which for the most part were but this still had some unresolved ones and I’m guessing much more will be revealed as this series progresses.
The rest of this series is more firmly entrenched within the mafia this one actually isn’t; it is referenced and it definitely has some ties and also overlapping characters but is also totally separate as well this exists on the fringes of that world.

This is definitely an emotional one guys With lots of soul searching and oodles of intensity it’s also well written with plenty of twists and turns and I definitely enjoyed it a whole lot.
I’m looking forward to what comes next in regards to this world.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com 366