The second half of my spoiler-light review — from Bella’s endless excuses to a shocking twist ending I didn’t see coming.
Where the Book Lost Me
As the story moved deeper into the second half, the frustration only grew. The central mystery — Bella’s sister’s murder — should have anchored everything. But Bella didn’t seem to care enough about finding out what happened. Instead, the bulk of the narrative became about her hating life, finding excuses, and spiraling through the same cycle of self-destruction.
The reviewer felt like Bella desperately needed therapy. Her grief never turned into motivation. Instead, it became a shield, a way to justify pushing people away and indulging in negativity. Every time the book veered off course, the question that kept echoing was: When are we going to get back to the journey of finding her sister?
The Toxic Love That Took Over
If Bella was exhausting on her own, pairing her with Rocco turned the story into something even harder to get through. What began as an intriguing dynamic in the first half morphed into a toxic love story — one that felt less romantic and more painful to read.
Their relationship was defined by unhealthy attachment, emotional chaos, and dysfunction. Instead of strengthening each other, Bella and Rocco seemed to drag each other further down. The reviewer found this part of the book draining, wishing the murder plot had taken center stage rather than their spiraling romance.
The Twist That Changed Everything
And then, just when the reviewer was ready to give up on the story, Preston delivered a twist that pulled them right back in.
Bella gets kidnapped by Faith — someone she thought was a friend. That betrayal hit hard. But the real shock? Faith was revealed to be a madam, selling women. That plot turn had the reviewer in a chokehold. Suddenly, the pages couldn’t turn fast enough.
The tension of whether Bella would escape created a sense of urgency the story had been missing. For the first time in a long while, the stakes felt real.
Rocco’s Fate
And then came the heartbreak.
Rocco didn’t survive. He wasn’t given the chance to simply break things off with Bella because he was fed up with her antics. Instead, he died protecting her.
The reviewer couldn’t believe it — but in a strange way, it was also the most beautiful part of the book. Rocco’s death, though devastating, gave his character an arc filled with meaning. He wasn’t just the boy from the slums trying to survive day by day. In the end, he was the one who made the ultimate sacrifice for someone he loved.
Final Thoughts
On one hand, Bella remained one of the most frustrating protagonists they’d encountered. She never truly seemed invested in solving her sister’s murder. Her excuses and toxic relationship with Rocco overshadowed what could have been a powerful mystery.
On the other hand, Preston’s shocking twist with Faith and the gut-punch of Rocco’s death elevated the final chapters into something unforgettable. For all the frustration, the ending proved Preston’s ability to hit hard when it matters most.
Verdict
Would I recommend Reliving Fate? It depends.
If you’re drawn to messy, emotionally raw characters and you don’t mind wading through toxic love and angst, this book will give you plenty to chew on.
If you came for the murder mystery, like the reviewer did, be prepared to feel shortchanged until the very end.
Still, despite the flaws, the final twist and Rocco’s fate left a lasting impression
Let’s Talk
Now that both parts of my review are out, I want to know:
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Did Bella frustrate you too, or did you feel sympathy for her struggles?
Did the murder mystery feel like it got lost under the drama?
What was your reaction to Faith’s betrayal and Rocco’s sacrifice?
Drop your thoughts below — because love it or hate it, Reliving Fate gave us plenty to talk about.