This isn’t a story about a love triangle. There is no triangle involved. This isn’t a story about an accidental pregnancy. Although having a baby with her . . . I would. This isn’t a story about lies and deception, even though at times I’ve lied to myself. No, this is my story.A story about sacrifice. A story about a man who fell in love with the wrong girl. A story I wish I never had to tell. … story I wish I never had to tell.
This is a story about the true meaning of the downside of love.
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The Downside Of Love is the second novel in the Blue Line Duet. Since this is the continuation of The Upside Of Falling, I highly recommend you read this book after reading the first. I’m going to keep my review simple this time around in order to avoid spoilers. Trust me when I say, you want to go into this novel without being spoiled.
In the first book Stryden is viewed as the carefree playboy type of man. But with The Downside of Love, we are given a different glimpse of Stryden. We’re given the truth to who Stryden really is. This man is truly broken and the only thing he feels he can depend on is the contents in the bottom of a bottle.
Mila has always lived her life for others. She declined on following her dreams so she could stay home and help her parents take care of her brother. Now she’s in the same boat, she decided not to follow her heart. Until the moment she realizes the person she saw everything with isn’t the same person she sees her forever with.
Let’s be honest, when I first started reading The Downside Of Love, I had no idea what to think. Given the way The Upside of Falling ended and the way Colby and Mila’s story broke my freaking heart, you can safely assume I was scared shitless of this novel. Throughout The Downside of Love I felt the despair and the agony that Mila suffered. My heart broke for her and the decisions she made. But also, throughout this novel, there is a sense of closure that I was greatly needing.
I’ve been on Team Colby up until I saw the true chemistry between Mila and Stryden.
I swooned over Stryden and the way he was with Mila. They are the true definition of what a love story should be about. They build each other up. Its never one sided.
I’m a sucker when it comes to angst. I’ve said this numerous times and I’ll say it again. I love when an author has the ability to make me cry with their words. The more tears I cry, the better the novel. Towards the end, I cried buckets of silent tears. I felt like I was being stabbed repeatedly in the heart. I had no idea which way Meghan Quinn was going to go with this novel. I was literally twisted all up inside, I never wanted to read the last chapter more than I did at that moment.
Those are the moments I really appreciate when reading. Those are the moments I live for.
This!!!!!! This is why I love to read!
Ms. Quinn’s ability to write a story so entwined with ups/downs/sideways and in between grabs you right from page 1.
This Duet is pure perfection and is another example of why I am a fan of Ms. Quinn’s.
Reviewed by: Dana D.
3.5 Heartfelt, emotional stars.
The Upside of Falling was amazing, so I have to say, the ending left me very unsettled and I couldn’t wait, I had to immediately dive into The Downside of Love.
I read the entirety of this story with a lump in my throat and an upset stomach. I was questioning why the first book even took place. Everything that was gone through, the persistence, the breaking down of walls, the hope provided, the love shown. And I just didn’t get it, because Rory wanted someone who would stay, and Colby was willing to do that for her, like he said, dreams change, and to know for a year and half he held out hope, still wrote her, still hung on, her disregard for him and the love they shared hurt so bad to see disregarded and thrown away.
But hold on, because Meghan Quinn brought it all to light. Because there’s a flip side, there’s more, and Meghan’s words and the heart and soul in them, brought this heartbreaking story to light.
Stryder. He is so lost and so broken that you can’t help but feel for him. He is at rock bottom and spiraling quickly. The slow build of friendship between he and Rory is his lifeline. Seeing him find life and purpose again is heartwarming.
There were some things that I feel could’ve helped me get through this transition a little easier, had they been expounded on. Colby’s grandfather is his life, his world, I cannot believe that over the course of the year and a half he would have never once been home to visit him, and in that time reached out to Rory, the love of his life, or Stryder, his best friend with whom they had shared so much. I also struggled with the fact, that in the beginning of Stryder and Rory’s blossoming friendship, if Stryder truly felt so guilty, why didn’t he reach out to Colby. And another thing that left me very unsettled was the fact that Colby continued to write Rory letters and Rory never had the decency to reached out to him to tell him she was moving on with her life and to quit waiting for her, quit holding out hope. That was distressing for me.
But even with these factors, Meghan Quinn’s thought-provoking and heartfelt writing made me shed some of my frustration and see the love and reasoning behind all of the heartache and see this story and these relationships for what they were.
Meghan Quinn has brought us a sincere, honest, and very real story. It’s filled with ups and downs, it’s filled with heartache, it’s fill with sacrifice and selflessness, and it’s filled with so much hope and love and strength. It’s a heartfelt story that makes you feel.
I know this book has mixed feelings, but I really loved this one. No surprise since I love Meghan. This is the second book in the duet and my favorite. I love Stryder. Him and Rory I loved together. I loved their relationship and how they both brought each other happiness and love even though it wasn’t easy.
Yes, Rory was with Colby in the first book. Yes, her reasons for not writing him back were probably not the greatest but everyone deals with things differently. You can’t help who you fall in love with. Stryder and Rory fell in love because they saw each other as more than lovers. They were best friends, they had more time to fall in love with each other’s souls. That’s what I loved about them.
This book is fantastic even though I hated the epilogue. Like, yeah, there needs to be another book where everyone gets their happy ever after. But other than that, I really loved this book. Great job Meghan.
This is going to be one difficult review to write without actually revealing anything of the plot. The one thing I can say, is that it was very different than what I expected. Similarly to the first book, it is heartbreaking and romantic and very different from anything else I’ve read by Meghan Quinn. So be prepared for that. And keep in mind that you have to read the first book before starting this one.
I am still kind of thorn in my opinion of the book. Don’t bet me wrong, it is written in a spectacular way. I am just not sure whether I agree with the way the story went. I would’ve liked to go a different way but in the end I do get why the author decided on the current plot.
Unfortunately, I don’t think I can share anything else without revealing the plot, so I would have to stop here. for those of you who have started the book, you know what I mean. And for the rest, sorry guys, you have to read it. And it is worth it. Both books in the series are definitely worth reading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Meghan Quinn got my heart ripped out when I read the first book Upside of Falling from the Blue Line duet. I honestly didn’t know how to proceed because I was as much as hurt as Colby and felt really betrayed by Rory Oaks. I didn’t know how to feel about the twist that’s surprised me at the end of book 1.
So when Downside of Love fell into my lap, I was prepared to lash it out and throw stones at the third party involved. But leave it to Meghan Quinn to make the story even more interesting. There wasn’t even a third party to get mad at with. I swear, I didn’t expect to fall for someone who’s been in the sidelines for so long and swoon over this latest twist in the story.
I gotta admit though that I wasn’t happy with Rory’s decision with Colby. After all those sacrifices she’s done, only to throw it all away wasn’t exactly nor ideally what I wanted in a female protagonist. She’s a fixer, a solver, someone who’s got the super hero complex who wants to save every damn thing or person she deemed helpless. My first impression of her in the first book slightly changed in the sequel and I feel bad about it.
But as the story moved on, my heart started to settle down and melt. Couldn’t believe I’ll fall again and sympathize with that broken man with a lonely soul. Couldn’t get him out of my mind. Couldn’t fathom the kind of cruelty he’d been through. Couldn’t stop my feelings from overflowing and demanding for his protection and love. Swoon!
I want to make this review as spoiler – free as possible, so I better stop right here. The only thing important I can impart right now though, is love is a many splendored thing. (Yes, just like that song!) It brings heartaches and tears and pain. It can also bring joy, hope and new beginning. Rory, Colby, Stryder and Ryan surely bestowed these feelings on me. Thanks Meghan Quinn!
Wow! Wow! Wow! I don’t even know what to say. I have been waiting on pins and needles, anxious to get this book in my hands. I was dying to see where the story was going to take us next and I gotta tell you, I was not disappointed. This book totally knocked my world off its axis and took me for one wild ride.
There is so much I want to say and just gush over this book about, but I can’t. This is the hardest thing ever, but I don’t want to spoil anything. I do want to ruin the journey. So, here is what I can tell you. Don’t read any spoilers. Go into this book blind. Take a chance and open your mind. The Downside of Love is brilliantly written and consuming. It’s the perfect example of love; how it’s not always what you’re expecting. It can be messy, yet beautiful all at the same time.
When I picked up this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. My emotions were all over the place. I was up. I was down. I was swooning. I was raging. I fell so deeply in love with this story and the characters. I allowed my heart to open up and get totally swept away. This story was absolute perfection in my eyes and I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. I’m so glad I took a chance on this series. I’m so glad I went on this journey. It was everything and in the end it gave me all the feels and a happiness I never knew I needed.
” Loving you was my greatest sin. ”
The Downside of Love by Meghan Quinn is one of the books that stays with you. The Downside of Love is the second book in the Blue Line Duet and I strongly recommend to read the previous book, The Upside of Falling, first.
This book is S and R´s story and let me tell you, that book blew me away. After reading The Upside of Falling, I wanted so bad for R and C to have a HEA. But then came S and his heart wrenching story. My heart is bleeding for this character and Meghan Quinn gutted me with her words. The anticipation was killing me – I read the book in one sitting, I had to know what happens to the story and the characters. And this end I never ever had expected. Did I mention the author blew me away ?
Favorite quote: ” Loving you was my greatest sin. ”
The Downside of Love is a heart wrenching beautiful story, extremely well written, beautifully thought out and beautifully told with twists and unexpected turns that kept me at the edge of my seat . This book is my absolute favorite read by Meghan Quinn and I wish I could give more than 5 stars.
This is the second book in the Blue Line Duet. I will admit that after finishing the first book, I wasn’t sure if I was going to read this on or not. It was because of the ending.
But, I’m glad that I did. I really like the way the story went. I think it all worked out in the best way.
I did have on hang-up though. It’s not a biggie, but it did bother me. Stryder needed to stay with Ryan and Rory because he couldn’t afford a place. I’m calling that. He’s an officer and even freshly out of school, he would have had a decent sized housing allowance. Like I said, it’s not a biggie, but it did bother me some.
He did need to stay with someone that actually cares and loves him.
He’s never had that before.
After the ending of the first book, I had mixed feelings about Rory.
This quote pretty much sums up how she changed.
“The downside of love is heartache and uncertainty, but the upside of falling is finding an everlasting love that will carry you through a lifetime of happiness.”
I wanted to beat Stryder’s dad. Such an asshole. And his mom, worthless. My heart broke for him.
This is a good duet. I enjoyed reading it.
Will Ryan get a book? Especially after that ending.
Both Colby and Stryder are great guys. I think Rory’s heart chose the right one for her.
The kind of story that leaves you in a book hangover
Book 2 of The Blue Line Duet, I was on pins and needles to read this after the way book 1 ended, but holy wow! What a story! Writing this review without spoilers is going to be a challenge so short and sweet it is.
All the things I loved about the first book continued on here: great characters and a wonderful job of evoking emotions as I hurt and cheered and laughed and cried with these characters. Add in lots of plot twists and a storyline that had me on edge continually asking questions like, will he or won’t he…, is she going to…, what about…, and you’ve got story elements that all came together in another gut-wrenching finale and a soul-satisfying conclusion.
The author takes you on an emotional, twisty, rollercoaster journey with these stories, the kind that leaves you in book hangover after you’ve finished, so I was happy to see that a couple of the characters will be getting their own follow-up duet very soon. 5 emotional stars
B2B Kelly
GAHHHH!! YOU GUYS!! I loved this book. I didn’t think I would honestly after that devastating cliffhanger at the end of book one. But OMG!!! This story was amazingggg! It was sexy, heartwarming, heartbreaking, shocking and ultimately AMAZING.
I honestly have no idea how to review this book other than to say have an OPEN mind and heart. I went into this series with one idea in my head but saw the tremendous growth of Rory in book two and knew this was the way to go. I loved this story and honestly can not wait for more stories from this author! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
This is going to be a really hard review to write. Because there’s not a lot I can say without giving away the twist in this book. I will say that this book takes place between the time when there is the break-up in the first story, The Upside of Falling, then the cliffhanger at the end of that book. And then it goes on after that scene to wrap up the whole complicated, twisted web of relationships and feelings. Reading the first book, and falling in love myself with the romance between Colby and Rory, I was so sure how I was going to feel and what I’d be rooting for after the cliffhanger in book one. But in this second book, my understanding of love, and how Rory loved and who she loved, and who she would be with at the end changed as well. I mentioned in the first book about how I have that pet peeve of when characters break up with another one or push the other one away because “it is best for them” or “they’re not good enough” for them. Well, that happens again, and again, in this book. But this time it’s not just Rory who does it. Although, now that I think about it, it wasn’t just her in the last book either.
If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re lucky. Since they’re both out now, you need to buy them both and just read straight through. Because I promise that ending of the first book will not let you wait to start the next one. This is my 2nd series of books by Meghan Quinn, and as I said after the last series, she is now on my auto-read list.
The pace of this book was dreary and slow. I saw Stryder as a pathetic figure, downtrodden by his father, down in luck, hitting bottom with alcohol. He didn’t get into flight school and had to stay in the Air Force base in Colorado Springs while his fellow students in the AF Academy got into flight school and left. He was having a real hard time and his father was the worse jerk possible, his mother a non entity in his life.
In the first book, we had seen hints that Stryder felt something for Rory; in this book we learn that he fell hard for her but when he saw that Colby fell for her too, he moved aside and promoted their relation. Now that Rory and Colby are broken up irrevocably, the path is clear for them to hook up, but that road is full of the obstacles of guilt, loyalty, bro-code.
I loved the first book. Like many other readers I was shocked and angry at the final scene, because Colby was such a great character and he deserved an HEA. When I started this book, that was my position, until I accepted that Rory’s decision was final and this is where the author wanted to go.
Stryder was a great guy, generous, empathic, eager to help. He had feelings of worthlessness caused by his father, and these feelings were front and center in his mind all through the book. At one moment, I thought that he needed to deal with his feelings, forget about his father and move on. I didn’t like Rory as much, since in the first book she chased Colby relentlessly and now she’s chasing Stryder. She may have been a great girl, generous and attentive with her autistic brother, but her decisions were crappy.
This wasn’t such a great book for me because as I stated before, the pace was slow and the first chapters were like a repetition of the first book, so I had trouble staying focused. I didn’t like the direction the book took, even though in the end I liked Stryder a lot. I just felt he needed to grow a backbone. Regardless of the slow pace, and my expectations on the final story, this book was well written and intriguing. My only regret is that Stryder’s father didn’t get the kick in the butt he so richly deserved!
I wasn’t going to read this one. My heart was shattered after the first book, and I just didn’t see how Meghan could make it better. I’m going to be honest…I skipped to the last chapter first and then started reading the book from the beginning. I knew my heart couldn’t handle not knowing what happened. My advice to you…DON’T DO IT!!!! Start at the beginning and trust that Meghan knows what she is doing.
This story was so amazing and realistic. The relationship between these two characters grew and portrayed the true meaning of soulmates.
It is hard to write this review without giving anything away. Just know this, the story will warm your heart and put the shattered pieces from the first book back together. I honestly loved this one more than the first book.
At the end of The Upside of Falling, I truly didn’t know how to feel…in some ways, I understood all that went down and why everything had to end up the way it did, but because I felt like there was more story to tell…more insight needed for a number of characters, I couldn’t truly deal with what happened and what it meant for the characters I have watched struggle and fight for their dreams but while doing so finding that they couldn’t have everything that they’ve dreamt of having.
So, heading into The Downside of Love, I knew Meghan Quinn was going to take me down a tumultuous road – one that may not have the ending that I wanted…that I was desperate for as I finished book one, but after finishing book two, I can wholeheartedly say that the conclusion of this emotional duet gave these amazing characters the futures they deserved…the freedom they had always desired and regardless of the sins or the mistakes that were made to get to this resolution, all the highs and lows and ups and downs that these characters experienced happened for a reason and with the flashbacks and present time situations that are explored in The Downside of Love, it’s made beyond clear which characters are tied to the sky and which ones are tied to land, understanding that their clipped wings are exactly what they needed to fly in the way their heart truly desired.
I’ll be honest…Rory was a point of contention for me several times throughout this duet; I struggled with her selfless persona because in some ways, I felt she was selfish, making decisions that were purely for her needs, and I can’t say that I fault her for all of them, but the outcome of some of her actions and reactions destroyed other characters and even though my head tended to understand the reasons behind everything that occurs, my heart was decimated, and I wanted to rage at Rory for choices that cost people so much.
But, in my frustrations over Rory what I also realized was that this was the kind of story that would illicit complicated and conflicting reactions because it doesn’t have a clean path to the resolution. It’s messy…it’s unhinged…it’s unpredictable. It’s not a dreamy love story; it’s raw and realistic because as feelings change and lives adjust directions, lives are altered and there’s nothing easy about that.
The Blue Line Duet is an angsty, heartbreaking, transformative, and consuming pair of books; it had my emotions all over the place, and even though there were times I wanted to throw my iPad and maybe even send the author a few disgruntled personal messages, I forced myself to let Meghan Quinn’s words, character development, and storytelling guide me down the path she wanted me to take with this group of people who bring her vision to life, and I respected that and even though it hurt sometimes to do so, I never doubted that Quinn would lead me to an ending that may not have been what I wanted, but it was what was meant to be because Quinn’s characters demanded their story being told this way.
4.5 Poison Apples
Wow. Okay, let me attempt to put my thoughts into words without giving away any spoilers. First off, this is the conclusion to the Blue Line Duet and you MUST read The Upside of Falling first.
Now that both books are out, you can go directly from book 1 to this book without having to be left with a cliffhanger. Author Meghan Quinn completely turned this story on its head with this book. This is not the story I expected or wanted but it was the story I needed. I’ve never before had an author mess with my head to this extent, tell me up is down and down is up and keep me engaged in a way that I enthusiastically went down the rabbit hole with her.
I absolutely loved this story, the writing and characters and would go so far as to say I believe this is the author’s best work yet. I cannot recommend this duet enough.
Woah …. after the way the first book ended, i’ll admit i was nervous for this one, my heart was breaking and i just hoped that Meghan would put it back together again the way i wanted it !!!! what did we get ….. a curve ball thats what !
Its really hard to write this review without giving too much away but there was certainly nothing clear cut about the direction this went in. Did it go the way i wanted it to??? If i’m honest the answer to that is no but did the story have the ending that it deserved?? well yes i think it did !!!
This is an original and in my opinion unforgettable duet revisiting all the favourite characters from the last book – Colby, Rory, Ryan and Stryder. This is a story of determination, of resiliance, Yeah of friendship and also immense vulnerability. I loved the rawness, the soul searching and the journey that they all went on in the pursuit of love and happiness.
This duet stole my heart along with my breath, the writing was truly fantastic – bravo Meghan, bravo !!!
5 bruised stars
Firstly this is the second book of The Blue Line Duet and it is essential you read them both. Secondly, wrap your kindle in bubble wrap and your heart in cotton wool. And after the cliffhanger in book one be happy that you don’t have the wait for book two.
Gahhhhhh I’ve wrote this review three times and three ways and it’s one of the hardest reviews I’ve written. I want to shout and scream about this book, these characters and how love never runs smoothly so what do we expect as readers. And I want to say nothing because I want readers to fully experience all the emotion and feels of this book and duet.
So I will say, this isn’t your fluttery butterflies romance, this is a reflection of real life, of how a persons life moulds the person and adult they become. Expect angst, expect white knuckles from squeezing your Kindle. Expect a story that will leave a mark on you.
Above all expect the amazing writing and story telling of Ms Quinn, in a story that is perfectly delivered. I’m in love with this duet.
I feel so conflicted! Never… like EVER have I had an author confuse my heart so much! This duet has left me reeling. I really felt a certain way after The Upside of Falling and I was so floored when I cracked open The Downside of Love and found myself starting to understand… starting to give. I struggled with letting go of what I wanted from The Upside of Falling. I stubbornly held onto what I felt should have happened. I’m just so conflicted over these turn of events! I have to say that I feel like I have to have another book… a spin off or something… I need what was hinted at the end.
So yeah, I’m being totally vague and confusing for people who haven’t read this book or duet. Anything and everything I say is a spoiler and I don’t want to do that to you, you all deserve to go through all o f this on your own without me bursting a bubble before it’s fully executed. Meghan Quinn has been one of my favorite authors. Her writing is upbeat and fun, yet she’s creative and descriptive. I read Ms. Quinn’s books like the devil is on my heels. I can’t get enough and soon, they’re over and I’m left wanting more.
I really, REALLY hope Meghan Quinn reads this because I LOVE and HATE her so much right now! This duet was beyond anything I ever expected! I’m so happy to have read it and so pissed off I did at the same time. Ms. Quinn was able to make me root for everyone… I wanted everyone to have their cake and to eat it too, you know? I feel like stomping my feet in anger and patting Meghan Quinn on her back at the same time… I’ve never been so torn, so wrecked over books before… I’m really not even kidding. This duet wrecked me. I ended it crying… literally, I had tears running down my face. I think this is what every author should strive for. I can’t stop thinking about these books, these characters.
Fan-fucking-tastic job Ms. Meghan Quinn… I think I hate you!!
PS… please write a spin off. I need more of that last chapter. Really, you owe me. I stayed up late reading on a work night because I HAD to finish. I think we both know you did this all on purpose, so yeah, you owe me! You know it!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
Wow been waiting for this book after finishing Upside of Falling. I was excited, scared and OMG so nervous starting this book but wow Meghan Quinn blew this conclusion out of the park, she put my heart back together in such a brilliant way. This book here is why she is one of my unicorn authors.
I am really struggling to write this review without giving away what happens as I want you to enjoy every word, twist and turn and fall in love even more with these characters.
I will say that this is a great story of how important friendship is, as when your at your lowest, if you have the right people around you, you can gradually heal with their strength. I loved every word that was delivered, the storyline was raw, emotional and so delicious.
well done Meghan for this 5 star duet