Make It Hurt

By: Elle Mitchell

Many thanks to the author for the ARC of this book!

Saige’s stepbrother, Elias, has made her life a living hell and the light, happy girl she once was is no longer. When she started at West Pine University, things were supposed to be different. Then she found herself indebted to Elias and his friends Dax and Nolan. She has to do whatever they want her to do. Elias wants to break her, Dax wants to make her his (kinda), and Nolan seems to not care, but does he? But it seems someone knows what Saige did and these three are the only ones that can keep her safe, right?

This is a dark, why choose, stepbrother, bully romance. I don’t even know where to start this review. Mitchell has done it again and blew me away. The dynamics between these characters was crazy, for lack of a better word. I believed that Saige hated her stepbrother, I was manipulated by Dax the same way that Saige was, and I was really pulling for Nolan to be “different.” And Nolan was in a way. There are moments when he’s extremely vulnerable, and I loved getting to see that side of him. Saige is worn down, and I really wanted her to be a little bit stronger. I felt like she gave in a little too easily.

There was a moment towards the end of the book where I thought I knew what had happened (I don’t want to say more because I don’t want to give anything away). It was towards the ending that I was really proud of Saige, I felt like she was finally sticking up for herself. And then Mitchell hits us with the ending action, left on a cliff hanger and I wanted to throw my book at the author!!! WHAT?? A CLIFF HANGER!!!!!! AHHHHHH. What are you doing to us Ms. Mitchell?!? Now I can’t wait until the next one!

This is a high spice book. The author lists all the trigger warnings in the front of the book, so please pay attention to those before reading. It’s out now, so grab your copy!

Publish Date: March 9, 2026
Find the book here.
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