Skin of the night ck bennett

tropes in skin of the night: male love interest groveling, pining, work place romance, smut that last longer that 1 chapter, character driven, strong characters, best friends brother, zero miscommunication

to put into simple words this book is about a law student who’s not looking for anything series and a lawyer that is literally head over heals for her.

this book was glopping, glooping, gorilla gripping, knee trembling, banana splitting, hair ripping hot. the smut scenes lasted longer than a chapter. i finished a chapter thinking it was done only for my ass to be smacked with the next chapter continuing the smut. i was flabbergasted to say the least.

this book is in british english writing which honestly made the book 10X better. for people that have the most disgusting 🤢 dishes i’ve ever seen, they sure can write (not slander, i love the english😭🤚🏽)

cara- main character, kinda insufferable at times but still a very relatable. she’s a strong independent woman that is so hard working, it’s inspiring tbh. she’s career driven and won’t shy away from proving her point and speaking up for herself. she’s badass to say the least

william- also kinda insufferable at times but it’s ok because he’s hot. this dude had me on my fucking knees y’all. he’s so blunt and straightforward, i was fucking blushing blood red and i ain’t even white. he even cried at one point and i eat shit up. like yeh men crying? give me more 🤩

this book for the most part is in Cara’s pov and there’s a couple chapters in Williams pov. it worked out fine. since this is a character driven book i’m so glad there wasn’t any huge miscommunication with these characters. these characters talk out their problems and come to solutions realistically.

i felt like i needed to light a cigarette after reading this book lowkey. that being said this book smacked my ass like a drum, made my thrussy throb, blew out my back, and gave me a kiss on the forehead. at times the air was knocked out of my ass. excuse me while i go play in traffic

I think what sets this book apart from so many other romance novels is the fact that C.K. Bennett

Before I continue, I want to say to all of those who DNF and have the audacity to rate this book after that: you missed the whole point of the book, a point which becomes apparent in chapter 29 when the h communicates ALL of her issues to the H.
That’s like watching half of Fight Club and deciding it’s a shit movie…..More on that later.

One point A LOT of people seem to have missed is that the book is

And I don’t know why people keep saying that the H kept pursuing her; he did eventually stop chasing her. If you could read, you would have seen that it was stated several times. For reference, check out chapter 21:

“After I’d confronted him about his inappropriate behaviour, he’d actually left me alone”. A little later it continues: “Staying true to his word, it was apparent that he intended to respect my wishes”.

Let’s go to the next chapter too, just to put “the nail in the coffin” (if you know, you know lol). When William comes over in the club after Cara was trapped with that scumbag, Cara asks why he didn’t come over sooner if he saw them, the way he had earlier that night, to which William says:

“I know, but that wasn’t right of me. I didn’t want to repeat my mistake, so I left you alone. I have no right to interfere like that, and you looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

But I guess people only see what they want to see. Just a shame that you’re gonna deter other readers with your skewed perceptions and insufficient reading comprehension…..

First of all, if that’s your opinion, you focus WAY too much on the H. This is first and foremost a story about our heroine Cara and how she’s tackling life as a new adult – psst, see the genre? I swear everyone these days just associates NA with smut when it’s actually supposed to tackle the challenges a New Adult faces, which Bennett has done SPECTACULARLY in my opinion. FINALLY there’s a New Adult book about women who aren’t just damsels in distress gagging on a guy’s d*ick. Cara is soooooo refreshing! She has career-goals, she has confidence, she’s independent and sexually liberated! I effing loved her.

So it seems to me that it’s through Cara that Bennett is trying to bring feminism forward: what she thinks every woman should have the right

By showing us how Cara handles a guy like William, the author shows that, regardless of how perfect a man might be (or seem on the surface), it doesn’t matter.

Bennett, if you ever read this: WELL DONE. I don’t know if this was your goal, but if it was, you are a GENIUS.

Another thought that I had: Cara is beautifully executed. She is tolerant, flawed, and unlike most of the dumb and ignorant 1-star raters on this book, actually gives people a chance to change/improve instead of just cancelling them. About one thing I do actually disagree with Cara, though: I didn’t think she was immature. She had some hypocritical thoughts here and there (who doesn't?), but she never acted on them, and I personally think that demonstrates her maturity more than anything else.

What she has done with William and Cara is represent polar perspectives to really get to the root of the problem with love in modern-day society and in light of feminism. I swear Bennett has written this book as if it were science or a social study, and she's done it so well and subtly that it unfortunately flies over most people's heads.

On that note, have any of you ever been in love? If you have, you should know it can be near impossible to give up on the person you’re in love with (at least in my experience). But basically the H is clearly conservative and not very progressive on the subject of love.

Cara’s priority is her career. William’s, after meeting Cara, is love (according to himself, see chapter 15). Can you guys really not see the gender reversal here??? Normally it’s the other way around.
And can you not see how astute this is? I bet a lot of you would have changed your tune had it been a woman in William’s shoes, and a man in Cara’s.

I once read somewhere that a great storyteller will create two characters of opposite views, and execute those believably, to really show people how different perspectives can be. There is no doubt that Bennett has managed this in my opinion. I’m actually STUNNED this is her first novel. There are great arguments on both sides. Both the h and the H have understandable views, which made it hard for me to pick a side, but I actually turned out to prefer that.

Anyway, about the point that I opened this review with: I'll admit that at certain points I was a little confused about what the author really wanted to say. But then at chapter 29 the whole thing became crystal clear. When Cara gave that speech to William where she addressed all his actions, it was OBVIOUS that Bennett was trying to say: ‘Here guys, look. Constructive and healthy communication can get you damn far. It can help you both EVOLVE, to shake off your toxic traits.’ That’s clearly what happened with William there. I mean he was almost crying listening to her!

I swear I’m so sick of this platform and the appalling intolerance people show on here. It makes me seriously worried about the world that William can get so much hate when he never ONCE does anything without Cara’s consent or things like that, and then in books like The Love Hypothesis you all turn a blind eye to the fact that Olive (the FMC) sexually assaults Adam! But for William to challenge Cara’s perspective? When HE KNOWS she likes him? Oh my God—that should be illegal!!! It’s sexist and awful!

Yeah right! What’s sexist is treating her differently because she’s a woman, which William clearly doesn’t. He treats her like an equal.

I swear you guys all need therapy as well as lessons in critical thinking and empathy. Also, in how to read.

SMH.

I’m not even gonna apologize for the length of this. I did some of you a badly needed service.

To C.K. Bennett: thank you for respecting my intelligence and for writing something I have never seen before. This was a true gift.

In all seriousness this book really lacked in the plot department, not to mention the main character, Cara, was intolerable. She had this, ‘I don’t know why other girls
don’t like me’ thing going and the more you read the more you understand why some girls can’t stand her.

Remove the poorly written sex and all the good reviews would disappear.

Maybe it’s cause I can’t take the British slang seriously during the sex scenes (American moment I guess) but I have a sneaking suspicion that the sex was just bad; I’m just trying to justify not liking it.

Please don’t waste your time, if you’re only reading for the smut you will be disappointed, if you’re reading for the romance, you will be disappointed; the U.S and Russia have more chemistry and sexual tension than the two protagonists.

“Kegel exercises. I even go so far as to get erect, and then I tie some weight to my erection and try to lift it using only my penis. Progressive overload, you know? It’s a brilliant method to improve your endurance.”

this book is so freaking funny, especially towards the end i had to put it down several times bc i was deadass bent over laughing. the way they fight like hardin and tessa skdfiufjb someone needs to send these characters to jail (except aaron, my bb who deserves better 🥰)

if i had found this book on wattpad when i was like 14..... shiiii it would've been over for everyone involved. this book would've been my bible and these insufferable characters would've been my blueprint for romance. thank god christian grey stepped in so i had a well rounded view of love instead 🤡

In the first book from The Night series Skin of the Night follows the unique first meeting and romantic commencement between Cara Darby, a dedicated law student, and William Night, a resolute lawyer, and let me tell you this: everything about the book is glorious. It was one of those read-until-2am-but-wait-please-don't-end kind of books that has you thinking about it for days after you’re done.

The plot will have you going on an emotional roller-coaster saying things like: ‘oh my god...fools...just get together...kiss already...except also don’t because your sentiments are so well justified!’ It’s a genuine battle of the wills (pun intended). Additionally, the dialogues are so witty and the general banter among the characters is utterly amazing. Claire really does have a special way with words, and it is so clear in all the little things you pick up on that make you go OOooooOOO!

This book should need to come with a warning that the characters are only fictional. William is on a god-tier level from the get-go but, what I especially appreciated was how Cara had such a strong sense of self that existed both in her quiet decisions and loud proclamations and, even though she causes distress at times to William, it is amazing to see a sex-positive, ambitious woman who knows what she wants out of life. Further from this heartfelt relationship, it also helps that the sexual tension between Will and Cara is off the charts. Honestly, these two could make a fire extinguisher spontaneously combust – the world hasn’t seen such unimaginably explosive chemistry since the Big Bang.

Overall, from the first page to the last, Claire captivated my head and heart by her skilful writing, relatable characters, and distinctive plot. I would 100% recommend this book to all romance or women’s fiction readers – it will set the standard for how you judge other books.

Go well 🚾, into the night.

Guys like Will are a gigantic red flag, but girls like Cara are obviously colorblind. That's it. That's the review.

(9/50) Popsugar 2022 / Two books set in twin towns, aka "sister cities" (1)

Starting this book, I had no doubt that it was going to be amazing, both because I’ve read the unedited online version at least three times because of the sheer quality, and because of the compelling voice of the authors and how she has complete control over her well-formulated and fascinating characters.

The writing in this book, and the ones to come in the future are so descriptive that I feel the character’s elation when they laugh, and their sickness when forced to endure jealousy and unfair situations. And this never changes, no matter how many times I read it.

Of course I’ve already read this book multiple times so I know how it ends, and though many amazing changes have been made to improve the story this time around it still feels like the first time every time because there are so many levels to dissect. I made 188 annotations, and I know that if I were to read it again, each time would bring me more moments to add to that number.

50% of the way through the book and could hardly believe how Claire managed to improve an already perfect(in my opinion) book. I was blown away by this type of quality when I found it on Wattpad over a year ago, and was still reeling as I continued to read this edited version. I’ve only been able to recognize a few author’s works by their tone and voice alone, and Claire’s unique writing makes her one of them.

Cara’s self awareness, witty sense of humour, intelligence, and fierce femininity serve to make her one of the best female leads I’ve ever read, whereas her perfect counterpart and the only man that could ever be her equal is William with his cunning, determination, intelligence, overwhelmingly sexy physical description and his way with words. And though they are so flawed, those traits only serve to make them feel that much more relatable and human, unlike the typical fictional fantasy-like characters. It’s refreshing to have a character that I can relate to and aspire to be more like at the same time.

My sincerest congratulations to Claire for publishing this book. I’m so grateful, though it was random, that I was one of the lucky few to receive an ARC. I’ve loved following along with this story as the chapters were uploaded individually online, to now, and can’t wait to see what you have in store for us readers in the future.

A brilliant book isn’t just something we read, it’s something we feel. When reading such a book, it isn’t just the story but also the emotions which consume us while reading it, that we commit to memory.

Skin of the Night is a brilliant book. It’s felt not just read. From the first chapter to the very last. With her sublime writing Bennett evokes the strongest of emotions within us. We feel William and Cara’s attraction, desire (oh boy do we feel it), drive, passion, determination, etc. They’re anything but cliche. They’re complex and most importantly believable. In short William and Cara are a much needed breath of fresh air - and they represent a new standard for contemporary romance.

This review is dedicated to ‘unruly women’ everywhere - thank you!

Claire did with this book so many different things that many attempted before and couldn’t, out of lack of genius (sorry everyone else).
She created characters that are genuine and relatable, that stick to their convictions and never shy away from confrontation. She brings emotional depth to these characters that makes them so human they’ll live within your mind.

This story will have you swooning, screaming, laughing, crying and definitely overheating.
Will and Cara are taking readers in for a ride, and what a ride at that! The emotional whiplash will stick with you for days and yes, at times you’ll want to scream at either of them.

They will make you question your own views on what it is to be a feminist in this day and age. Question your approach to romantic relationships. Question your views on what it means to be a contemporary woman. Some might not like it, but to them I ask, what is our purpose if not to question ourselves and challenge our views? Isn’t it by questioning ourselves that we move forward?

In this first instalment of the series we get to follow along as Cara and Will face the firsts hardships of being confronted to opposite ideas of what life has in store for them. Will they manage to both get their way? What kind of compromises are to be made? How will their actions hurt each other? How can they build something worthwhile while still getting what they want?

Let this all consuming love story entice you and ride the wave, it’s a great one!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The characters, William and Cara, have captivating personalities. With both being such unique personas, the chemistry between them won't go unnoticed. Also something that won't go unnoticed is the sexual tension (it's so hot it melts you into a puddle). The monologues within the book will give you a more in depth understanding to their thought processes. It's safe to say that no other romance novel has compelled me to think about my own choices, morals and made me go "what would I do in this situation and why?". Saying that, the novel is also light-hearted with wholesome moments that make you go awww and their witty banter makes you fall in love with them instantly.

I've witnessed the prose of the book improve in each version and I've fallen in love with Claire's writing. She has such a way with words that her audience remains engaged throughout. She was successful in expressing all the emotions through her words. The book is packed with metaphors and quotes that wow you. I recall several instances where I've had to put the book down, stare and just marvel at the genius before me. They're so impactful that I go back to them every now and then.

If you need more reasons as to why you should read the book, get this. Cara is a modern, independent woman who has her eyes set on her goals. Such characters and role models are the need of the hour, especially when most romance novels only focus on finding a man. Also something I would like to point out is the way Will's character has been written. His ability to be in tune with his emotions is a refreshing change from the typical male leads portrayed in most romance novels. Since teenagers and young adults often get influenced by these books, it's important to put the right message forward, which Claire has managed to do.

This book has made me swoon, laugh, cry and experience so many emotions that by the end of it, it became a part of myself and had (and still has) my whole heart. And this is just the beginning. I'm sure that as we go deeper into the night, it's going to entice us even further.

to this book, i say:

one day i´ll make a review worthy of it.

C.K. Bennett’s brilliance shines in this contemporary romance with a twist. Skin of the Night, the first book of The Night series, is where we first witness the electric and dialectic encounter between two brilliant minds: Cara, a career-driven and committed law student and William, a strong-willed and staunch solicitor. When these two powerful forces inevitably collide, your mind will be blown, and all prevailing stereotypes shattered. Their impact and latent potential are bound to leave a lasting impression on you, as well as each other. But, as this is a book like no other, not even a certain M&A lawyer can guarantee a merger!

Oh Gawd! Let’s talk some more about the characters. Cara is an ambitious and independent young woman through and through – one could say she is a law unto herself. She prioritises her potential in lieu of romantic relations, and I have an immense admiration for her tenacity. She truly is ‘whole all on her own,’ and without encountering any voids in her life thus far, she doesn’t need a boyfriend to feel fulfilled, and nor should she. Now enter William… in theory, with his razor-sharp wit and pointed poise he is well-equipped to handle a special case like Cara. However, in practice, even with the best will in the world, their differing main goal means that he might not be able enter his plea and push past her walls of resistance – gosh imagine the pressure he will be facing! Alas, this is no open-and-shut book nor case, if Cara’s realistic head continues to overrule her idealistic heart, she may remain forever closed off to Will’s solid arguments and strong points. In light of that, every goal has a keeper and William’s not afraid to score for victory… in this case it helps that both Will and Cara are in the same field. This is truly psyching up to be a good match, and you can use your hands in this game, what a hoot!

That reminds me, did I mention the impeccable humour? The pages are packed with playful banter and cheeky comebacks injected with sass and savagery. Good ol’ British humour at its best and Claire’s wit eclipses all else – I’m talking god-tier dialogue. You’ll be floored in one way or another, whether worshipping her words or becoming weak at the knees from laughing your lungs out. Just remember to catch your breath as we wouldn’t want any lawsuits – the only suit we wouldn’t mind is certain lawyer in his birthday one! And OH BOY, muster your strength as there is no anti-climax in sight. The literary sex scenes are scorching (I’m having to fan myself just thinking about them). Claire has a wicked way with words and possesses the ability to make the two-backed beast as evocative as it is provocative. In this regard, you can expect an enlightenment in unexpected ways – William’s secret to his stamina is something you just need to read for yourselves, but I promise you’ll be satisfied…Cara certainly was!

It really is no wonder that the quips are shockingly smart with all the sparks flying around from Will and Cara’s electric connection and this stimulation also extends to grey matter. Your brain cells can rest assured that in this book, prose doesn’t fall victim to convention when it comes to conjuring delicious naughty notions or sparking body heat. Skin of the Night is a deeply reflective and insightful book below the veneer of it being a ‘contemporary romance.’ Honestly, it’s a book that reached deep inside me, to the very core of my being. Claire uses her story as a magnificently nuanced vessel to shine light, enlightening all those who read it. I must warn you that her writing is as subversive as it is immersive, she challenges her reader as much as she challenges the characters and societal stereotypes in her book. Will and Cara push one another other out of their respective comfort zones - Cara gets under Will’s skin in every sense of the word, just as Will drives her up the wall - so much so that the thought-provoking nature of this book might just encourage you to overturn your own convictions! One could say it’s a book that both is and isn’t about choice and I’ll leave you to ponder that…. The characters are dynamic and multifaceted in the best way possible and with the progression of the book they unveil sides in one another that they never knew existed, for better or for worse. That is what I love most about Skin of the Night. That above all else it perpetually stimulates the mind because every time you re-read it you discover a new dimension to the details. In my mind, this book is a modern masterpiece that will transcend its genre making Claire a leading light in literature.

I don’t usually gush… but for this, I thank and salute you Claire! You have my bottomless appreciation for painting your words into sensuous sentences and sharp-edged scenes, adding vibrancy and vitality with your exceptional use of figurative language, and sharing them with us mere mortals. You really caught me! I was hooked from the very first page and having read an earlier edition of this book I thought there was no room for improvement - to me, it already was the height of perfection. Yet the published version outshines all else in such a way that you have managed to take this book to another level, even adding an additional floor to Will’s penthouse. I won’t make light of all the illuminating additions you have made but everyone else can rest assured they are nothing short of out of this world!

I really love Skin of the Night if you couldn’t already tell - it’s one of my favourites and I would recommend this book to EVERYONE AND ANYONE! It’s just one of those rare books that is simultaneously a page-turner (that you can’t put down and read till ridiculous o’clock in the morning) and a page-Turner (‘undoubtedly a work of art’). It certainly speaks to both your head and heart in equal measure, reverberating long after you have turned the last page. Now, that should speak volumes! Additionally, it’s absolutely perfect for book clubs because there is so much to debate within the pages! May I also encourage, no, implore you to share this book with your partners? Cara said it best ‘Men like William should spread their knowledge.’ C.K. Bennett I take my hat off to you and hope your brilliance continues to shine long Into the Night.

*Special thanks to Emma. This review is the result of a team effort, a true marriage-of-minds. Emma didn’t just help me weave my crazy ideas together, polish my prose or style my syntax – she shared her own brilliant gems! Finally, Claire thank you for giving us a glimpse into your magnificent mind. It’s a good job you’re a gym rat otherwise you would have a bad back from all the wordplay piggybacking I’m doing! You can’t blame me – your words are utter perfection!

This book is everything a romance should be! From its unforgettable characters to its clever, sparkly, and witty dialogue, everything exceeded my expectations right from the start. We also get wonderful supporting characters, moments between characters that are intense and those lovemaking... Whew! I’m getting hot and bothered just remembering it. They are certainly out of this world!

Claire understands each of her characters just as well as how each of them knows themselves. She is so in tune with each of them. You won’t find abrupt changes of heart without any provocation or sudden changes in any personality of the characters between chapters. Everything is clean, neat, and consistent with each of the characters throughout the book. The gradual buildup of Cara and Will’s relationship is also just phenomenal. Their jealousy, their affection... not many books gave me this much emotion. Skin of the Night managed to keep me at the edge of my seat for every . single . chapter. Both Cara and Will’s personalities complement each other and yet they also draw out different sides in each other. Their banters are also witty, amusing, intriguing, well researched, and absolutely intelligent. The amount of intelligence that emanated from each line is astounding, and it is also reflected in all of Claire’s character’s good humour and wit.

One thing to bear in mind is that this book is not rushed. Claire took the time in writing out the details of each character’s perspectives. The situation both Cara and Will are facing is just so difficult, it torments and frustrates the hell out of me even though it’s my third rereads. The story was just as good the second and third time around, if not better, and I bet that it will still be as good in my 100th rereads. It is truly a refreshing take on romance dynamics, and I just love dissecting their inner struggles and thoughts. That is also why I feel like pulling my hairs out, though, because both sides have a very reasonable and valid point of view. I can’t side with any of them because they are both right in their own way, both in their judgement and perspective of the situation.

On the other hand, their story also filled me with satisfaction because nothing is left unturned. I cannot stress enough how realistic this book is, Every time I read it I am sucked inside their story. I feel all of them deeply in their struggles, jealousy, and frustration. I fell in love with both Cara and Will just by how they describe each other.

This book just has so so so many interesting and complicated layers. It requires thoughts and reflections. Both Cara and Will have such compelling personalities and yet they have a lot of flaws as well. But that’s what made them so interesting, relatable, and so so human. There’s also satisfying emotional growth from both sides. I can totally see myself in Cara’s shoes, but also Will’s… And also maybe in Jason’s... No, actually, DEFINITELY in Jason’s shoes. :madman:

To sum up, do yourselves a favour and read this book - no - read this series! The writing, the plot, the wonderful characters, the smokin’ hot scenes…. Cara and Will’s journey are far from over, and the second book of the series, Into the Night, can’t be released soon enough!

Writing is her favourite hobby, although she also loves weight training and long hikes. The little time she has left over, she spends on her fiancé, family and friends, or on learning more about the world – which she is ever curious about.

Bennett loves interacting with her readers, so do reach out to her on Instagram, where her username is @ck.bennett!