Quickly Unraveling the Intricate Romance: A Five-minute Review of Ruthless Rival by L.J. Shen

A preeminent name in the realm of young adult and new adult romance, L.J. Shen has garnered a worldwide following, with her best-selling dramatic novels contributing significantly to her acclaim. Her recent release, Ruthless Rival, dropped globally on May 3rd, 2022, to much anticipation and fanfare around the globe. A book that provides a pulsating mix of love, rage, revenge, and desire, it is set to be remembered as a contemporary classic in its genre.

Ruthless Rival is the inaugural installment in L.J. Shen’s much-awaited Cruel Castaways series. Narrating the story of three friends – Christian Miller, Arsène Corbin, and Riggs Bates - it focuses on the tumultuous romance between two central characters: lawyer Christian Miller and publicist Arya Roth. As the narrative unfolds, readers will find themselves deeply engrossed in the fate of these once-friends-now-enemies, exploring if love can indeed triumph over all odds.

The essence of the story lies in the unexpected and forbidden love between Arya, the darling of high society, and Nicholai Ivanov, who is in stark contrast as the housekeeper’s son. Their love is seen as a threat by Arya’s affluent father, who ensures that the story takes a tragic turn. The lovers are kept apart, their circumstances manipulated in such a manner that years later they find themselves standing across courtrooms on opposite sides as fierce rivals - Arya, the publicist for her influential father, and Nicholai, who has reinvented himself as Christian Miller, the relentless lawyer pursuing a crucial case against Arya's client.

Three protagonists: Nicholai Ivanov, Arya Roth, and Conrad Roth, are at the heart of the narrative. Christian Miller, born Nicholai Ivanov, is the quintessential hero - wronged in the past and driven by a thirst for vengeance, yet carrying a torch for his childhood love. Arya, the wealthy heiress, and Conrad Roth, Arya’s manipulative father, both play pivotal roles in the plot, with their fortunes and futures intertwined in a web spun by fate and choices.

Peppered with witty dialogues and top-notch banter, there are multiple instances from Ruthless Rival that simply leave an indelible mark. Notable among those are conversations filled with explosive passion, and lines such as "We were frighteningly alike. Fighters. Bloodthirsty. Claws out, at a seconds notice" and "Just remember, to become king, you must dethrone someone first." that stay with the reader.

Competently marinating elements of love, intrigue, and rivalry in a manner that is alluring and gripping, Ruthless Rival is a literary masterpiece that does justice to its genre. Readers are effortlessly pulled into the narrative, experiencing a wide range of emotions alongside the characters. The book is undeniably engaging, earning a commendable rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

For lovers of young adult romance, this book is an absolute must-read. It can be procured from Amazon or your neighborhood bookshop. You also have the option to request your local library to stock adding it to their collection.