If you’ve ever wanted to scream “No, don’t do it!” while simultaneously whispering “Yes, ruin me,” then Bad Habit by Charleigh Rose is your kind of chaos. This new adult romance is a cocktail of angst, forbidden lust, and emotional wreckage—with a splash of smut and a twist of trauma. It’s the literary equivalent of sneaking out at midnight to meet your brother’s best friend who definitely shouldn’t be touching you—but absolutely will.
Let’s dive into the mess.
One-minute reviews on Instagram
🧨 Plot Summary: A Habit You’ll Never Kick
Briar Vale has been obsessed with Asher Kelley since he crashed into her life—literally—through her brother’s bedroom window. He was bruised, bloodied, and beautiful. She was fourteen. He was eighteen. And from that moment, her heart was toast.
Fast forward three years: Asher disappeared without a word after a forbidden kiss, leaving Briar heartbroken and haunted. Now he’s back, colder and crueler, and still her brother’s best friend. Briar’s all grown up, but Asher’s bitterness hasn’t aged well. Their reunion is a slow burn of resentment, unresolved tension, and the kind of chemistry that makes you want to scream into a pillow.
The story unfolds in a haze of stolen glances, emotional sabotage, and late-night confessions. It’s a second-chance romance wrapped in barbed wire, and every chapter feels like a dare.
💔 Character Summaries: Beautifully Broken
Briar Vale Our heroine is a mix of sass, vulnerability, and reckless longing. She’s the kind of girl who hides her pain behind sarcasm and eyeliner. Briar’s been emotionally neglected by her parents, left behind while they move to California, and stuck navigating her feelings for a boy who’s both her fantasy and her downfall.
“I should hate him. But like a bad habit, I can’t quit him.”
Asher Kelley Asher is the blueprint for the tortured bad boy. He’s got trauma, tattoos, and a temper. He’s also got a soft spot for Briar that he tries (and fails) to bury under layers of guilt and self-loathing. He’s the kind of guy who’ll push you away while secretly memorizing the way you laugh.
“This thing between Briar and me is like a runaway train. It can’t be stopped, and it’ll take us both straight to hell.”
Dash (Dashiell Vale) Briar’s older brother and Asher’s best friend. Dash is the human embodiment of “don’t tell him we hooked up.” He’s protective, oblivious, and the accidental third wheel in this emotional car crash.
Natalia (Nat) Briar’s best friend and resident voice of reason. She’s the one yelling “girl, no” while Briar’s already halfway to Asher’s bedroom.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Proceed With Caution
Charleigh Rose doesn’t tiptoe around heavy themes. This book includes:
-
Emotional neglect and parental abandonment
-
Underage attraction (past timeline)
-
Age gap romance (14/18 flashbacks, 17/21 present)
-
Drug use and addiction
-
Violence and physical altercations
-
Toxic relationships
-
Mental health struggles
If you’re sensitive to any of these, consider this your neon warning sign. Rose walks the line between edgy and problematic, and while she handles it with emotional depth, it’s not for everyone.
🔥 Tropes That Hit Like a Punch and a Kiss
-
Brother’s Best Friend: The ultimate “he’s off-limits” fantasy.
-
Age Gap: Forbidden and messy, but oh-so-compelling.
-
Second Chance Romance: Because unresolved tension is the best kind.
-
Enemies to Lovers: With extra venom and unresolved trauma.
-
Found Family: Asher’s bond with Dash and Briar is messy but meaningful.
-
Bad Boy Redemption: He’s broken, but maybe she’s the glue.
💬 Quotes That Bleed Emotion
Charleigh Rose’s writing is raw, poetic, and occasionally savage. Here are a few lines that slap:
“His hard eyes soften at my touch, and being the one person who can get through to him when he’s like this cracks the last piece of my hesitant heart wide open.”
“I hate him. I love him. I want to scream and kiss him at the same time.”
These quotes capture the emotional whiplash of Briar and Asher’s relationship—equal parts pain and passion.
🤡 Humor Break: If This Book Were a TikTok Trend…
POV: You’re the emotionally neglected girl falling for your brother’s best friend who once climbed through your window like a sexy raccoon.
Soundtrack: Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die” mixed with Olivia Rodrigo’s “Bad Idea Right?”
Caption: “He’s toxic but he’s got trauma so it’s okay.”
🧠 What Works (and What Might Not)
What Works:
-
The emotional depth. Briar and Asher aren’t just horny—they’re haunted.
-
The tension. Every scene between them crackles with unresolved desire.
-
The prose. Rose writes like she’s bleeding onto the page.
-
The pacing. It’s fast, addictive, and impossible to put down.
What Might Not:
-
The age gap flashbacks may be uncomfortable for some readers.
-
Asher’s behavior borders on emotionally abusive at times.
-
The resolution feels a bit rushed—some readers may crave more closure.
-
The parental neglect subplot could’ve been explored more deeply.
🩸 Final Thoughts: A Beautiful Mess
Bad Habit is not a clean love story. It’s messy, raw, and emotionally feral. It’s about two broken people who shouldn’t want each other—but do, desperately. It’s the kind of book that makes you feel like you’ve been punched in the heart and kissed on the mouth.
If you love morally gray characters, forbidden romance, and prose that reads like a confession, this book will wreck you in the best way. Just don’t expect a fairytale. Expect fire.
Rating: 4 out of 5 bruised hearts Recommended for: Fans of Punk 57, Misbehaved, and anyone who’s ever said “I love toxic romance” and meant it.
Add comment
Comments