Book Review: Informed Consent by KC Mills

Media: Audible, KindleUnlimited

TW: Suicide attempt

February is moving kinda slow on the reading front, but we go with the ebbs and flows, right?

So even though this is only book 2 of the Hearts Consent series, I have a feeling this is going to be my favorite.

Why? Because it gives a behind the scenes look at mental illness and the way it impacts not just the individual but all those close to them.

Enter Torrance Addison, Jr/TJ/Teej The oldest of the Addison 3. The only boy. The namesake. The one who cracked under the weight of it all. We are introduced to TJ in book one because Skylar has to be told by Grey that she needs to chill on the coddling. Once you read that book though, you will understand why she is the way that she is with TJ.

TJ has an issue with physical touch. Please don't hug the man. His therapist suggests massage therapy as a way to help him overcome this block. He also has erectile issues...or so he thinks.

Enter Indira/Indi. She's starting over after a tumultuous relationship with her high school sweetheart. He chose a path she wouldn't go down and is now having a hard time understanding that it's over. (Sidebar: He knows where she lives, and while I know it's hard to up and move, I don't know if I could deal with the pop ups. Especially with him under the influence)

Anyway. The owner pairs the two, and the attraction is evident. TJ's soldier is at attention, and he won't let her finish the session.

Massages are so personal and intimate. It really is easy to see how that could happen. TJ is embarrassed though. I mean, it's been just him since his attempt, so I get it.

However, he can't get Indi off his mind. So, he schedules more sessions. It happens again, but this time Indi lets him know it's cool. The two begin a friendship that even Ray Charles would have seen wasn't going to stay in the friendzone for long.

I love how the book digs into what entering a relationship with this type of background looks like. You have to trust someone wholeheartedly to reveal things like suicide attempts and depression, because loving someone who can't love you through the lows...that's a different kind of pain, I'm sure.

The book takes us through the healing that has to happen between TJ with his dad. As a parent, you always try to push your kids to excel but never really think about what that pressure could potentially do to them. I am often that parent, so reading how TJ felt about not being seen and heard was cold water in my face.

Both TJ and Indi have complicated pasts that they have to confront in order to be all in, and unfortunately the confrontation for Indi takes a deadly turn. You just never know how a person will react to rejection, which is scary as fuq. I will say reading TJ cut up the way that some of the dope boys do in the other books I've read is definitely a turn on.

I highlighted so many passages, but I think this quote is my favorite:

"Our commitments to those we love sometimes cloud our ability to truly exist. It's so easy to fade into the shadows trying to be what others need us to be."

This was a great read about regular people doing regular things. Yes, TJ is an Addison, but he doesn't live the life that Skylar and Sailor live, and honestly, it's refreshing. Million-dollar high rises and G Wagons are nice but sometimes you want to read about someone who wants to make a difference in the world by helping those who can't always help themselves.