These Violent Delights

These Violent Delights Book Review by Micah Nemerever 

I love sharing my book opinions with others. One of the primary reasons I started this blog was to share my very strong 

feelings as I didn’t have many people in real life that I could do that with (or who were interested in listening). 

Throughout this experience, I’ve also loved listening to others and their opinions on books. Sometimes I agree with them, sometimes I vehemently disagree with them, and sometimes it’s a cacophonous mix of both. 

One bookstragrammer I like in particular shares my very opinionated feelings more often than not. So of course, the other day while browsing Instagram, I caught a post of hers asking the question: what book can you not stand others criticizing?

This really got me thinking, as there are a plethora of books I adore, but I’m not blind to their flaws. The Foxhole Court, for example, is a book series I’ve read over three times now, a series I’m obsessed with, and yet I completely understand why others don’t like it. 

The only book series that I could possibly see as fitting the question is Harry Potter. Now. I’ve met people who don’t like Harry Potter. That’s fine. 

However, I also have yet to meet a single person who has read all seven books and still disliked it. Usually people who dislike Harry Potter either haven’t read the books, didn’t finish reading the books, or have only seen the movies. I’m sorry (not sorry) to say, but those people don’t count.  

In the same vein, I was so incredibly curious to read a book that someone I admire claimed they hated seeing critiques of. 

Let me say right now: I hope they don’t see this review. 

These Violent Delights by Micah Nemerever is not to be confused with the Romeo and Juliet remake duology by the same name by Chloe Gong. The two books have nothing in common except for their title. 

These Violent Delights by Michael Neveremer is an odd little book about two teenage boys growing up in the 1970’s in Pittsburgh. 

As the two boys meet, named Paul and Julian respectively, they feel seen and understood by someone else for the first time in their entire lives. 

The book delves into the dangers of codependency, issues of isolation and elitism, and the toxicity in the belief that no one else can understand what the characters are going through. 

I do like the theme of this novel. I’m obsessed with the idea of someone feeling special or like they’re the exception. However, I usually like this (especially in Romantic pairings) in a positive way. 

For example, one partner doesn’t like sharing food with friends or family but will let their romantic partner get away with it. Something small and cute and worthless. 

This novel takes the idea of being the exception to intense and violent lengths as Julian and Paul do anything and everything to prove that they need nor want anyone but each other. 

Mental health, intelligence, philosophy, and justice all play a role as the two boys grow closer and closer with devastating consequences. 

This book, while entertaining in a dark and twisted kind-of-way, did make me want to keep turning the page as the book starts in medias res. 

The first chapter shows you exactly how far these boys will go and the whole book is you leading up to the moment of climax and the aftermath of the climax as you witness Paul and Julian dealing with the consequences of their actions. 

I know I haven’t been very detailed about what this book is or exactly what it’s about, but honestly, I’ve said almost all that I can. The book is less about plot points and specific timelines and more about the evolving relationship between Paul and Julian and the spiderweb effects it has both on them and the people around them.

This book is deeply psychological as well as thrillingly emotional. 

It’s dark and creepy and more often than not, perplexing and convoluted. 

Nemerever is a good writer, but at times I found him intentionally dense and confusing which I didn’t always appreciate while reading. I like the overall themes of this book and the ending was unexpected which is always, always a joy. 

However, this book didn’t have a happy ending. 

Maybe it was naive of me to think it would, but I still wanted it, no matter that these characters were too broken for something like a happy ending. 

Overall, I disagree with my bookstagrammer entirely. While I enjoyed the dark maelstrom that was These Violent Delights, I don’t think it was without fault. 

The sometimes pretentious writing, the inversion of a beloved trope, and the desolate ending all made me frown more than smile.

While the themes are very real and the book was richly driven by character relationships, it wasn’t enough at the end of the day to leave this book without any negatives. 

Recommendation: If you enjoy dark stories with ambiguous characters where the plot revolves almost entirely around the progression and dissolution of a very intimate, punishing, and toxic relationship this very well may be the story for you. For me, the writing was often confusing and the paltry ending left me dissatisfied and unhappy. If you can stomach not getting your “happy ever after” this twisted tale will keep you on the edge of your toes. 

Score: 6/10