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Rachel Van Dyken
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Ruin (The Ruin Series, Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Rachel Van Dyken (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 4,023 ratings

#1 New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken delivers an angsty, young adult romance with the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller, Ruin.

I'm not your typical girl. I've been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that depression has become my only comfort. I was content in the darkness… until Wes Michels offered to be my light.

I didn't know that time wasn't my ally — that every second that ticked past was one step closer to the end of something that was beginning to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me. He promised me all he was able to offer — each moment as it came — but it would never be enough.

Sometimes when you think it's the end, it's only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn't—I wouldn't ever be the same.

And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    The Ruin Series
  2. Print length
    250 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    11 Aug. 2013
  5. File size
    4.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 4 books in this series.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00EH3EIFO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rachel Van Dyken (11 Aug. 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 4,023 ratings

About the author

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Rachel Van Dyken

Rachel Van Dyken

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Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 100 books ranging from new adult romance to mafia romance to paranormal & fantasy romance. With over four million copies sold, she's been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and two dogs.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4,023 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book engaging, with one mentioning they finished it in one sitting. The story receives positive feedback for its emotional depth, with customers noting it had them crying and laughing throughout. Customers praise the writing, with one describing it as heart-wrenchingly beautiful. They appreciate the character development, particularly noting the strength and touching nature of the characters.

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201 customers mention ‘Readability’201 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as amazing and a must-read, with one customer mentioning they finished it in one sitting.

"...These two are beautiful together, they instantly become friends, although I think both would have liked more, however Wes is reserved going totally..." Read more

"...This book is a compelling must read and will teach anyone to learn to live, that every breath is precious and every day is a gift...." Read more

"...The interaction between Kiersten and her roommate Lisa is great from the start. Lisa is a walking, and falling, disaster -..." Read more

"...All in all, this book delivers, it has the romance, the tragedy, the quirky best friends, and the happy ending, well, you'll need to read it to find..." Read more

174 customers mention ‘Story quality’161 positive13 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a beautiful and compelling tale of love and hope, with one customer noting its touching inspiration.

"...pulls you into this book is mesmerising, it is beautifully written, captivating, emotional, extremely funny but most of all you connect, not only to..." Read more

"...This book is a compelling must read and will teach anyone to learn to live, that every breath is precious and every day is a gift...." Read more

"...I LOVED Gabe in this story, and was delighted to find out his story is coming next. I can't wait to read more about him...." Read more

"...All in all, this book delivers, it has the romance, the tragedy, the quirky best friends, and the happy ending, well, you'll need to read it to find..." Read more

163 customers mention ‘Emotional content’146 positive17 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, describing it as a heartbreakingly heartwarming story that made them cry and laugh multiple times.

"...These two are beautiful together, they instantly become friends, although I think both would have liked more, however Wes is reserved going totally..." Read more

"...I think i have just been on one of the most emotional journeys through a book ever in my life...." Read more

"...The relationship between Wes and Kiersten is lovely, and it builds over time which I liked. They are a great couple and deserve happiness...." Read more

"...All in all, this book delivers, it has the romance, the tragedy, the quirky best friends, and the happy ending, well, you'll need to read it to find..." Read more

76 customers mention ‘Writing quality’71 positive5 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as fantastically and heart-wrenchingly beautiful, with one customer noting it's completely addictive.

"...way the author pulls you into this book is mesmerising, it is beautifully written, captivating, emotional, extremely funny but most of all you..." Read more

"...This book is full of fantastic lines that will blow you away but this is one of my favorites. Dont give up yet...." Read more

"...The characters of Kiersten and Wes are very believable and they draw you in making you care about what happens to them...." Read more

"...The book is written in both Wes and Kiersten’s pov and the love, loss, dedication and determination to help and heal is powerfully written through..." Read more

56 customers mention ‘Character development’52 positive4 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, finding their strength touching and easy to fall in love with, with one customer noting how the story is told from both lead characters' perspectives.

"...That is hard to do! Wes was a brilliant male lead, he knew that Kiersten had the same darkness that he did, he had been through similar..." Read more

"...The author gives us a hot and brilliant male lead hero, who sees the darkness inside Kiersten the same darkness that was inside his brother, but no-..." Read more

"...I think there's a separate story there for Gabe; his character is very intriguing and seems to be hiding a lot beneath his outgoing exterior...." Read more

"...I loved all the main characters and the story made me chuckle, made my heart flip and give me butterflies and it also made me cry in places – very..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • DonnaC
    5.0 out of 5 stars So emotional but brilliant
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 August 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken

    4.5 stars!!

    "Don't give up yet. Sometimes when we think God has written The End, what he really means is The Beginning."

    This is one hell of a beautiful YA read, this book starts as it means to go on...EMOTIONAL!!

    Kiersten had lost both her parents and was being brought up by her Uncle Jobob. For years she had been grieving and he was frightened for her, she needed to learn to live again rather than stare blankly at the walls, so he encouraged her to go to college. Kiersten felt out of her comfort zone as soon as she got there, but she had an amazing roommate - Lisa who soon introduced her to her cousin Gabe. The dynamics that these three had were brilliant and at times hilarious! I absolutely adored Gabe, that guy deserves his own book!

    "I'd lost the love of my life - my best friend. How many times could people experience loss before they died too?"

    Kiersten goes to registration to get all her timetables and ID cards and stuff sorted and she crashes into a big hard wall of...muscle...feeling embarrassed her eyes raise slowly off the floor and she is met with an 8 pack! Now really embarrassed as she has been caught ogling (something she has never done before, she is highly reserved, quiet and of course virginal) she runs off to find her RA advisor. Said wall of muscle is her RA advisor and his name is Wes. He is also the son of the richest guy in America, has an entourage, is an alleged player and is constantly guarded by body guards. He is an enigma to most as he tends to keep himself to himself, there are rumours flying around about him and it is up to Kiersten to pick out the truths.

    These two are beautiful together, they instantly become friends, although I think both would have liked more, however Wes is reserved going totally against the rumours and this just intrigues Kiersten more. Is Wes hiding something? Or is Wes just not what everyone perceives? Kiersten, being the little gem that she is gives him the benefit of the doubt, she takes as she finds and so far Wes have given her nothing to be afraid of. In fact BFF are born but will it stay that way?

    The way the author pulls you into this book is mesmerising, it is beautifully written, captivating, emotional, extremely funny but most of all you connect, not only to Wes and Kiersten but to Lisa and Gabe too. It is not often that all the main characters in a book become your friends and you can totally see yourself hanging out with them. I felt their emotions, I laughed when they laughed and I cried when they cried. That is hard to do!

    Wes was a brilliant male lead, he knew that Kiersten had the same darkness that he did, he had been through similar trauma himself and wanted to help his "lost little lamb" but him being the "wolf" was totally off the mark, he was a lost little lamb himself and it took the constant of Kiersten to bring him back.

    "I can tell you have a good heart..." I sighed, opening the door to the outside. "...because the minute I met you, I wanted to fight for it."

    All I can say is that this is a must read, as usual I don't want to give too much away but this is a story of grief, depression, learning to live, learning to love, support, being strong but most of all never giving up. A tale that life is too precious and you must live for the moment. It does cover a really sensitive subject but the way Rachel Van Dyken took us on this journey it made you believe, it made you live it, feel it and most of all you were praying that all was right with the world at the end. Sometimes these stories never have a happy ever after but with this story you will just have to read and see.

    "What you two have - it's a once in a lifetime - you fight for him sweetheart. Fight for him with every last breath. No regrets, okay?"
    "Okay"

    I will admit, I was a tad confused with the prologue and ending, I have messaged the author and have had it explained but this is the only reason for my 4.5 else I would have given it a resounding 5 stars. Brilliant book Rachel!

    [...]
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Mikes music
    5.0 out of 5 stars totally RUINED me!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 August 2013
    Verified Purchase
    There are not enough stars in the sky to rate this book.

    I think i have just been on one of the most emotional journeys through a book ever in my life.
    They say some book stay with you long after they've been read, well let me tell you this book will stay with you your whole liftime!. Its fast paced and you wont be able to put is down until its finished.

    From just reading the prologue i had a lump in my throat the size of a baseball, by the end of the book my eyes are poofy and red rimmed and the tissue box is running on empty.

    This book is full of fantastic lines that will blow you away but this is one of my favorites.

    Dont give up yet. Sometimes when we think god has written `the end', what he really means is ` the beginning'.
    The author gives us a hot and brilliant male lead hero, who sees the darkness inside Kiersten the same darkness that was inside his brother, but no-one thought to help turn it into light for his brother, so Wes decides to change the darkness into light for Kiersten.
    What Wes didnt bargain for was for Kiersten to turn his darkness into light and to change his life.

    `I can tell you have a good heart', Wes sighed, opening the door to the outside. `because the minute i met you, i wanted to fight for it'.

    This book is a compelling must read and will teach anyone to learn to live, that every breath is precious and every day is a gift.

    Rachel Van Dyken has covered a sensitive subject through a journey of wonderful characters, i adored Gabe and Lisa the four main characters have such a great chemistry.

    Ruin is full of heart break, emotion, tears, its awe inspiring and funny. Its a story of two people that against all odd are ment to be together.
    A truly unique story that i would recommend everyone to read.
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  • Fiona Wilson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I don't think a book has made me laugh right from the off for a long time. The interaction between Kiersten and her roommate Lisa is great from the start. Lisa is a walking, and falling, disaster -

    "My screaming broke a lamp?" I cringed.
    "No." She shook her head. "My fall broke the lamp. Seems jumping out of your bunk bed at one in the morning's a contact sport. My lamp being the main target. No worries." She sighed. "It didn't suffer. It shattered on contact with the floor. And then again after I slipped on the teddy bear that also fell. And that's great since it broke my fall onto the floor, making it so I escape with two faint bruises."

    Kiersten's first encounter with Wes is funny also -

    I turned around to send him one last seething glare and ran smack dab into a tree.
    Or at least it felt like a tree.
    But trees weren't warm.
    And they didn't have one, two, three, four, six, Good Lord, eight? Eight packs? Furthermore, had I actually been feeling said person's eight pack? And, dear God, I was still counting. I had touched each muscle. And great, my hand was still firmly placed against the guy's stomach.

    I loved the slow building relationship between Kiersten and Wes. The fact this was a book which wasn't filled with sex scenes was liberating given the books I've been reading lately.

    Wes obviously has a secret, and when I found out about it I honestly thought the book was going to go another way totally, especially given the prologue. I actually had to go back to read it again when I reached a certain part of the story just to be sure I had read it right.

    I LOVED Gabe in this story, and was delighted to find out his story is coming next. I can't wait to read more about him.

    The relationship between Wes and Kiersten is lovely, and it builds over time which I liked. They are a great couple and deserve happiness. But do they get it? Read this book to find out.
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  • Sammie's Book Blog
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hairs and hearts ❤
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 August 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Where to start? Rachel is now officially my favorite author, I have read Ruin and the Bet within two days and they are probably the best books I have ever read, I'm not even sure which I enjoyed more. Ruin or the Bet, I guess both for differen't reasons, now lets move on to those reasons. You instantly fall in love with Wes, I loved him from the start. I loved Lisa and Gabe from the start, I want friends like them. Especially Gabe he is hilarious, and I especially liked him more when getting further and further into the book. I love how he helped Wes, he was a good friend to him and one he needed. I loved Kiersten and her character, I loved her innocence and how Wes opened her up, he is a very smart man and we all should read this book and learn a thing or two from the book and Wes. It was one of the most intense, raw, emotional books I have ever read. You know right off the bat what is wrong with him and the entire book you have this sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, you don't want it to be true. You don't want it to happen, but you try and prepare yourself just in case. I wish there was some sex in it, would of made it a tiny bit better. But it didn't need it and I'm quite happy and refreshed it didn't, most books need that stuff to at least make it interesting and keep you entertained, well for me at least. This didn't. Everything was perfect in this book, characters, timing, the love, friendship,humor,loss, the bigger picture in life, life lessons, meaning, hope, family,never giving up. It had everything a truly wonderful story needs.I really wished there was a bit more to the story, I don't want it to end. But if it has to end, I'm happy with how it ended. Only ONE TINY thing bothered me, which I messaged Rachel and asked. But you don't find out why everyone thinks he is a rapist or what really happened with Lorelei, I have a feeling? But it is never said.
    I praise Rachel, she knows how to write a damn good book and I will always read anything this woman writes. And you should to.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

    I will forever be changed by this book ❤

    A LOT of quotes I loved:

    "I'm a bit insulted that you think I'd have to break into a girl's room to get in. Believe me. I knock, they open, I walk in. It's as simple as that."

    "Hook up with guys. I'm not like that. So now that we've had that particular conversation, we can be friends."

    "Now, let's go. People to see, milk to drink, freshmen to corrupt."

    "No reason, I just don't like to think of you being all crazy without your partner in crime."

    "I tried that excuse once. Apparently they close at three a.m. and have security dogs check under the tables every night."

    "Combine super hearing with stalking and you're a regular psycho."

    "Just because you need help to cope doesn't make you any less strong. The truly weak people in this life are the ones who can't admit they need help. They're the ones who can't admit that they can no longer go at it alone. Those are the people who are weak. By asking for help, by taking help, you've just admitted your weakness and in that, you find your strength. The weak of the world are those who think they've got it all figured out and flaunt it to others."

    "I'm a fifteen-year-old girl trapped inside this body." (LOL, Wes is hilarious!)

    "...because the minute I met you, I wanted to fight for it."
    "When you want to be the one to make it beat."

    "I'm going to make it so hard for you to forget this first kiss that you don't want anyone else kissing you ever again, When the guy you fall in love with kisses you- it better put this kiss to shame- if it doesn't, then he isn't the right guy, because I'm going to do a damn good job, and I want the guy that earns you, that takes that heart of yours and holds it in the palm of his hands...I want that guy to be able to make you feel things. I;ll just be tapping into, Do you understand, Kiersten?"

    "All the good serial killers seduce and then kill."

    "Right. It's like cutting off a dog's balls without putting him to sleep first. She didn't even give me a warning, just a 'hey, you're nice'."

    "Hair and hearts,"

    Studies show that testosterone skyrockets while watching horror movies, add that info nighttime and touching, and you, my friend, have a recipe for a baby rattle and no future."( I LOVE Gabe!)

    "I don't know why, but I feel the need to congratulate you on being a whore. Why does that feel wrong?"

    "Every time you close your eyes, regardless of where I am or where you are, I want you to remember this.""Wherever I am, whatever I'm doing, alive or dead, young or old, my heart will always be with yours. Every beat you feel against your fingertips..."

    "Now I can say, hey I'm Weston, and I kill monsters on behalf of my very sexy girlfriend so she can sleep at night."

    "For example, I may be afraid of kissing you or afraid of losing you. I may be afraid that when I close my eyes you won't be here in my arms anymore, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to hold on to you for dear life. I'm living proof that living afraid- is the way to go. You push forward, you fight the demons, you keep moving. Fear tries to paralyze you, to keep you from moving. It stops success, it stops progress- when you do things afraid, you're still accomplishing your goals, only you're doing it knowing that you are truly conquering the Everest in your life."

    "Dying without really living. Leaving this world knowing that the girl who makes me want to live the most- will have to do it without me."

    "Life isn't fair, but living? Living is heaven, living is a gift. Every gift is different- every path is different- for some reason this is ours, and the sooner we accept it, the sooner we can stop crying and start living."

    "Nightmares. I kind of need a knight in shining armor to chase them away."
    "I'll protect you, slay the dragons, and wait for you in the castle."

    "Don't give up yet. Sometimes when we think God has written The End, what he really means is The Beginning."

    "What you two have- it's a once in a lifetime- you fight for him, sweetheart. Fight for him with every last breath, no regrets, okay?"

    "You rescued me and I found my ruin."

    "Favorite everything. You're my favorite. Out of all the things I could have in the world that would be my favorite, you win. You win all of it."

    "So why stop at your hair and your heart? How do you expect me to choose? When what I love the most about you- is you."

    "You may not see every single piece of the puzzle that creates your life- you may not see every move the grand chess player makes- but know, he is in complete control of the game board. Sometimes certain pieces are moved or knocked over to make room for the new ones. Other times, things happen because of the world we live in. But everything, in the end, will always turn out for the good."

    "I'll still take it, if the offer stands. I want all of it, even the broken pieces, the shredded ones that no longer fit. I want all of them- all of you. I need it all."
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  • CHANDRANI
    5.0 out of 5 stars I love reading Rachel Van Dyken and I think I will ...
    Reviewed in India on 30 November 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It made me cry! I think this explains a lot... I love reading Rachel Van Dyken and I think I will be a stalker from now onward for all of her books. This one I wanted to read for some time and when I did I think it was worth waiting for. I think very soon I will read it again!
    The love story was so real between Weston and Kiersten, that it made me pray to have a happy ending, which we have. :)
    Thanks for giving us another love story to live with.. The characters will stay with me for sometime.
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  • nicky
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ruin
    Reviewed in Italy on 31 May 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Un libro intenso che mi ha commosso fino alle lacrime. Da leggere tutto d'un fiato. Non vedo l'ora di rileggerlo in italiano
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars heartbreaking beautiful
    Reviewed in France on 16 November 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The synopsis from this book doesn't do the book any honnor. It is HEARTBREAKING beautiful and left me with a HUGE bookhangover. This book ruins everything in between. It's sad, it's very sad.. it's love, true love... it's angst in the deepest form.

    This book got me sobbing in the middle of the night ....

    Eventhough the ending was a bit too sappy, I 'm truly glad it ended this way. Just to get my own emotions in line.

    So this book is about Love, cancer, Hearts and fears...
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  • The Flare Up Book blog
    5.0 out of 5 stars I honestly can’t say enough about this book. I think I've read it three times now. It’s a keeper!
    Reviewed in Australia on 13 February 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Ruin is the first book in a series with a difference.
    Kiersten Rowe has left her tiny town to start the next chapter of her life, college. She is relatively innocent and naive compared to her counterparts. She has never even had a boyfriend. She gets paired with the hilarious Lisa as her roommate.
    They (and by ‘they’ I mean Lisa) form a plan to hunt down some boys during orientation. Before they even begin, Kiersten meets golden god, Weston Michels. Lisa’s cousin, Gabe also joins the merry gang. I think this might be my favourite scene in the book, but it’s so hard to choose.
    Weston is famous. He’s the son of a billionaire, a football star and he just so happens to be the resident advisor in her dorm building.
    Within a couple of days of meeting, Weston has stripped back the walls of blame and guilt and turned Kiersten’s point of view and her world, upside down. He wants to give her everything, but he doesn't know if he can. There are bigger things at play. Things they have no control over. The protagonists have both suffered great heartache in the course of their young lives, but they’re turning the negatives into a positive search for how to really live. This book is about life and love and having faith. I love it!
    The author builds to the climax with expertise. You’ll be biting your fingernails right along with Kiersten. I honestly can’t say enough about this book. I think I've read it three times now. It’s a keeper!
    5 stars
    Cheers
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