“The story reads like a movie . . powerful and intoxicating … and sinfully sexy. GRIP has everything—dynamic characters, soulful plot, and a lesson at the end that change the way you look at life. One of my favorite reads this year. Maybe ever. 5 massive, gripping stars from me!” — Adriana Lock, USA Today Bestselling AuthorResisting an irresistible force wears you down and turns you out.I know. out.
I know.
I’ve been doing it for years.
I may not have a musical gift of my own, but I’ve got a nose for talent and an eye for the extraordinary.
And Marlon James – Grip to his fans – is nothing short of extraordinary.
Years ago, we strung together a few magical nights, but I keep those memories in a locked drawer and I’ve thrown away the key.
All that’s left is friendship and work.
He’s on the verge of unimaginable fame, all his dreams poised to come true.
I manage his career, but I can’t seem to manage my heart.
It’s wild, reckless, disobedient.
And it remembers all the things I want to forget.
more
Title: Grip (Book 2 )
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Genre: Contemporary romance
My rating: 5 stars +++
This book was so refreshing and also my introduction to Kennedy Ryan’s writing. I was blown away. Not only is it good—it’s mesmerizing. So often in books we see one demographic. One version of a painting with only one standard image to go by. No complexity; no abraded vibrancy. Just the same strokes and tan lines in the same sequence we’ve seen, so many times. Needless-to-say, while reading this, I felt like I could identify with Grip and his family. Which was amazing for me. This book targeted real issues in an urban setting; as well as universal woes any individual might face. Trouble and pain are universal darts everyone knows well. And Grip and Bristol certainly went through their fair share of heartache and trials.
Grip is a black man from south central L.A. who’s in love with a white girl who’s an entertainment exec. The two have this electric magnetic pull that only intensifies as time goes on. Bristol resists Grips advances. Marlon (Grip) calls her bluff and challenges her to tear down her walls, once and for all. Both have underlining issues they need to work on.
With Marlon being a A-list rapper, and his career taking off—Bristol has her reserves. Women. Women at every turn, willing to do whatever, whenever—makes her uneasy about rekindling things with Grip. Grip has his hang-ups, his F***up’s but that doesn’t deter him from pursuing what’s rightfully his. Bristol. She’ll always be his in his eyes; regardless of how she feels. He’s determined to win her over. Not in crazy-psycho-way, but a…baby-I’m-in-love-with-you-quit-running-from-me way. What’s stopping them? Nerves? Insecurities? Or is it pain from their complicated history? Will Bristol weaken her resolve and allow her heart to forgive the past and give Marlon another try? Will Marlon let the trauma of his youth haunt his present fortune and chase away all the good in his life? Will these two finally come together and have the HEA they deserve?
Final thoughts…
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. Loved the characters and the authentic representation this book provided. Grip is a bold unrepentant story that isn’t muted toward interracial romance and it’s bias. Again—blown away with the writing and the characters. FANTASTIC read!!
Somebody send wine. And a hug. I need them both after finishing Grip.
Oh the angst. The longing. The anticipation. The devotion. The love. I felt them all.
I hated how hard them made things for themselves. Especially by denying what they wanted the most. Each other. I was waiting for the moment they would get out of their own way and just let themselves be happy. And let me tell you, it was so dang worth it. But not everyone was happy with their coupling.
They were taking blows left and right and it was only a matter of time before things took a turn for the worse. I LOVED how Bristol went to war for Grip. Was willing to do whatever it took for her man. Sacrifice herself. Her happiness. Her future for his. And it was that notion that changed everything.
No one, and I mean no one writes a wait for it romance like Kennedy Ryan. Bristol and Grip’s journey slayed me. At times it was painful. A brutal reminder of this worlds injustices (when I finally got to read the words of Bruise…my heart broke all over again). But it was so full of promise, of hope, of love. It grabbed me by the throat and heart and didn’t let go.
I loved a lot of things about this book, namely the pull between Bristol and Grip. I appreciate the fact that Kennedy Ryan doesn’t stray away from the uncomfortable topics that are authentic factors in an interracial relationship. White fragility, police brutality, implicit biases, and stereotypes are all acknowledged and addressed as the novel progresses. And Kennedy does a lot of emotional labor on the behalf of white people that we should be grateful for, because that isn’t necessarily her responsibility or her job to do for us.
I appreciate Ryan’s perspective and her narrative voice, and found ‘Grip’ to be even more gripping (pun intended) than its prequel. This novel is set eight years after the events of ‘Flow’ and we see the fallout of what happened between Grip and Bristol unravel as the novel progresses. One of my few criticisms of ‘Grip’ is regarding Bristol’s behavior toward Grip during the first half of the novel, though I can (mostly) understand why Kennedy chose to pursue that route. I just personally didn’t love it, and I didn’t love that it came at the expense of another character who will remain nameless to avoid spoilers. But holy wow, is there chemistry. And intense sexy times. And beautiful, quiet moments of meaningful connection and dialogue. And a really terrific ending. I’ve officially moved all of Kennedy Ryan’s books onto my TBR list.
I love when a book makes you feel like your right there with the characters! I caught myself asking what are you doing? No no no not him….him! Absolutely a must read! I can’t believe all the struggles Grip and Bristol have gone through. On there own, with each other, and with themselves. It’s a rollercoaster ride and your not gonna wanna miss it!!
JUST PURE KENNEDY RYAN!!!
I’m without words…..This seems to happen every time I read a Kennedy Ryan book….But, I don’t think I can even describe how much I loved Grip and Bristol and GRIP….This book is so important in it’s underlying message about us not judging each other, but it’s also a sexy page turner…It’s unifying in that it gives both perspectives, showing we are all more alike than different in a hot interracial love story…..I could not put it down…I wish I could give GRIP more than 5 stars…
Grip delves deeper into Grip’s life, but also Bristol’s. The story unfolds eight years after Flow, and I just felt so good being with these characters again! I loved Grip and Bristol even more than before. Even if their relationship (or lack thereof) is a tangled mess.
They are both so true to themselves and what they believe in, and I love how they are able to take an honest look at themselves when it comes to the differences in their worlds. And those differences are among the things Bristol wants to fix, and something Grip is ready to fight for.
The writing is like a mix between pose and poetry, and that, the story, the characters, and the social awareness all touched me very deeply.
More than being a great book, Grip is an important book. I believe that the romance genre delivers so much more than love stories; it challenges us to expand our perception and understand that there are limitless ways to feel and experience love. It invites us to walk in someone else’s shoes and realize that the way we see the world and the way we find love within it may look different from the path of another, but ultimately we’re headed for the same destination. For many readers, Grip presents truths that can be uncomfortable. It shines a light on issues at work in our world which often feel easier to ignore, but this story is a testimony to how real and pressing those issues are. Grip is a challenge to wake up and realize that racism and oppression aren’t going anywhere soon unless we decide to acknowledge and face them with the bravery and honesty that these characters do. I applaud Kennedy Ryan for addressing this within the romance genre and for showing how important love and understanding are both within the pages of Grip and the world at large.
Wow!! This book just takes it to the next level! Grip and Bristol are still at a stand still all these years later and she refuses to let him in. She can’t take it but when she’s so involved in his life and his career it just gets worse.
She won’t let him destroy her like her mother claims will happen. He won’t let her go because he knows they will be amazing together. He knows that he can make her happy and that she is still the love of his life it may have only been a week 10 years ago but it was more than a week it was love at first sight.
She can’t stand the thought of someone destroying her. She knows she loves to hard and she can’t let that be her down fall.
I loved this book every word of it. You just get so invested in these characters that you want to see them happy.
The way she writes a book just sucks you in and I’m still thinking about this story sigh.
I know readers tend to say, ‘I don’t know what to say’ about this book or that book, but Grip is very hard to articulate into words. You have to read it to know its beauty. I read Flow and I didn’t connect with the characters, but Ryan did something in Grip that made me fall in love with Grip and Bristol. There were times when I wanted to cry and scream. Most of the time, I felt like I was on the edge of a cliff, and at any moment I was going to fall off.
Ryan tackles a tough topic in this book (racism), but the way she writes the story, you understand each characters’ point of view. You may not like it or agree with it; however, she puts you into the heart of the characters so you can experience what they are struggling with. She plunges you deep into their pain, sorrow, and joy. I stopped listening a couple of times because I was afraid to experience what would happen next. Thank God I continued to the end.
The narration was on point. We know a good narration will enhance a story and the narrators allowed me to visualize everything that was going on in this story. I want – no, I need – this to be a movie. Even though I feel the movie version would try to be too politically correct, I would love to see this story come to life on screen. Oh, I forgot to say that my favorite scene in this book is when Grip performs Bruised. The words to that rap are soul-piercing.
If you have not read Flow or Grip, please read them. As a reader, these are the kind of books I live for. As I write these words, I want to cry because I feel like I’m leaving family and I feel there is more to be said about this couple. Kennedy Ryan, you are amazing!
I’m not sure I have the right words to review this book. Great story, great characters, intense scenes. Those words don’t do this story justice. At times, I felt like every one of those characters. Their feelings and emotions were my feelings and emotions.
Sometimes, this book is uncomfortable, and it should be. It makes us take a look at ourselves and other people and what real love and happiness means. How we define ourselves as humans and how we treat others, especially when their views and actions don’t mesh with our beliefs, or what we’ve been taught to believe.
The love between Bristol and Grip is all encompassing. It’s ugly and scarring, but beautiful and constant. And once that commitment is finally made, they are unwavering in their allegiance to each other. And believe me, they are tested. Tested in ways that would probably break anyone else.
These characters are the epitome of true love. Excellent, excellent read.
This book hit all the marks for me. I truly loved it. It was my first Kennedy Ryan book and I can’t get enough of her writing. Looking forward to reading more of her books.
Grip deals with current racial and social issues, family values and relations, and friendship. The main character’s love is all-consuming and stands the test of time. I cried, laughed, and got angry, but it was truly worth it. The characters are complex and well thought out. I definitely fell in love with Bristol and Marlon and felt for them.
Highly recommend it if you like emotional books. Definitely gave me all the feels.
NO SPOILERS!
Grip was PHENOMENAL and completely captured my heart! I loved Grip and Bristol, I loved their story, and I absolutely loved Kennedy Ryan’s prose. Her talent is truly unparalleled, and I will continue to devour her beautiful, deep, powerful, and meaningful words for as long as she writes them.
The storyline for Grip completely blew me away, and was so much more than I expected. Kennedy Ryan wove a beautiful, heartbreaking, emotional love story with a very important message, and I was wholeheartedly addicted from page one. Grip and Bristol’s journey was anything but easy, and there was a lot of pain, heartbreak, and miscommunication along the way. However, all of the good and bad moments were completely worth it in the end. I fell in love with Grip and Bristol’s story, and it has definitely been one of my favorites from Kennedy Ryan so far. I absolutely can’t wait to read more about this amazing and unforgettable couple in Still!
The characters were my favorite part. Grip and Bristol completely stole my heart, and I fell head over heels in love with them. I loved their personalities and scorching hot chemistry together, and how their relationship progressed throughout. I loved reading Grip and Bristol’s story from both of their point of view, and all of their banter and interactions with each other. Grip made me swoon like crazy, and his deep love and desire for Bristol touched my heart. Grip and Bristol have been two of my favorite fictional characters ever, and I will never forget them and their extraordinary story.
Grip was a beautiful, emotional, steamy, heartbreaking, swoon-worthy love story with a very important message that everyone should read, and I would HIGHLY recommend it! Kennedy Ryan truly outdid herself with Grip and Bristol’s unforgettable love story, and I can’t wait to discover more about this amazing couple in Still!
This book wrecked me. I was so compelled to keep reading that I could not stop. I related to Bristol, not for the privilege or wealth, but because there were often times in my life where I didn’t feel like I measured up or met the expectations put on me. Grip is just a dream he is a bad boy with the best heart. Not perfect but real. I loved this one, and moved immediately to the next.
Fantastic series.
OK, I do like this author but this book was OMG preachy. The ex was just weird and 8 year time lag seemed way too long a period and was too hard to swallow. Still it’s well worth a read.
Omg I love this book. A must read the characters stay with you long after the last page. Kennedy Ryan is an amazing author.
Give me Grip please.
God I luvd this book so much. I was a lil worried that it was goin to be a lot of chasing between Grip and Bristol but I didn’t need to worry at all I luvd it so much. Grip and Bristol’s relationship is complicated it’s never really been easy. But after the way Flow ended I was worried things were never goin to be ok and then throughout this as well I was scared for both of them. Bristol pushed Grip away so hard at times my heart broke for both of them. I really wanted to bash both of there heads in. They make the best couple they are meant to be together. There attraction towards each is so strong as is the sexual chemistry between them. Even when things were goin good there was still things getting in there way. I just wanted everyone to leave them be I ended up being protective of both of them by the end.
I would highly recommend this book. I really did enjoy it I couldn’t put it down the story was so addictive and a lil frustrating at time but I didn’t care about that. When you have a sexy guy like Grip a book everything goes out of the window. I did luv Bristol as well I understand why she did what she did. She was trying to protect herself and Grip on ways. But there is only so much fight she could do. There is a few things that I still want to know so I m looking forward to Still. Plus more of these 2 is what I want.
I loved the fight and passion in Grip
Kennedy Ryan starts us off 8 years after the prequel “Flow” and I am still in love with Grip. His career is taking off with Bristol as his manager. Bristol has become this force to be reckoned with in the music world and has a heart of ice. Bristol is still holding on to her hurt from years ago and add in what she knows of her father’s betrayal which has made her be nicknamed “Ice queen”. She becomes this ice queen that I can’t get behind until the end because Grip is there to melt that wall with his powerful feelings. So to put it lightly I didn’t like her character too much until towards the end. With Grip I loved him because he is a staight shooter without all the pretense. All the characteristics of a man I love which are he is a fighter, honest, faithful, and passionate. He didn’t give up even when Bristol wanted him to and I wanted him to LOL. Grip made the book for me and outweighed my dislike for Bristol. They are living in this diverse world to which Bristol knows nothing about his world because she stays stuck in a world of glamour and lights. I love the way Grip fights for her and makes her see things from different perspectives where she is not judging with learning. Their story is a long journey of fighting, betrayal, misunderstandings, and love. It was a great story with messages we all need to read about. Loved it.
What a stunning debut of books… this is my first read from Kennedy and I wasnt expect myself to be so out of compost.. this is a story between two people.. Bristol and Grip.. they have an unique awkwardness that say they are trying to get to know each other….
The story speak louder than just a romance.. its gripping.. full of emotion… I was in the state of dreaming.. yet its so real… i need to know more
This is an outstanding novel. The story is highly realistic and current, moving and grabs you and doesn’t let you go. Not a cliff hanger but you will be moved and clamoring for the next one. Highly recommended!