Review: Ugly Duckling by Lani Lynn Vale (Content Advisory #6)
Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Give Me Books Promotions.
Ugly Duckling is the sixth book in the Lani Lynn Vale-penned Content Advisory series, and if you've read the previous books, then the male main character shouldn't be a surprise. Yup, this is Gunner Penn's story, one the single father who lost his first child, Jett, to a school shooting, and recently found out that he has a young daughter named Lottie. He's also a retired professional baseball player who now owns Angel Security, an organization that's dedicated in ensuring the security of schools. Gunner shares top billing with Sutton Sway, a runner in training for the upcoming Olympics and someone he considered a friend in high school. Sutton was the girl who was bullied for her looks, and she considered herself an ugly duckling all her life. A horrific incident left her with needing reconstructive surgery, which is why Gunner didn't immediately recognize her when their paths crossed years after they last saw each other. But Sutton isn't the only one who's changed, with Gunner a darker version of the boy she once knew. As they rekindle their friendship, will the spark that he's always felt finally catch fire and burn bright for her?
If any two people deserved a happily-ever-after, it was Gunner and Sutton, and I'm talking about finding happiness and love as individuals, not necessarily with each other, but naturally, I'm glad they found it together. These two certainly endured quite a bit of heartrendingly lifechanging experiences, so when I say that seeing them get to the other side of it all was oh-so-satisfying, I mean it. There was a lot of growth on Sutton's part, and nothing brings as much satisfaction as having a woman who was made to feel small for far too long come into her own and realize how amazing she truly is. Gunner had always been that guy who didn't hesitate to stand up for her, and while he had to endure losing Jett, which made him a harder person with walls, and finding out about Lottie, there was still that protective soul who saw Sutton as "the one". Dare I say that Ugly Duckling is one of my favorites in the series? This gets 4.5 stars!
Release Date: 07 October 2025
Date Read: 23 September 2025
Learn more about Lani Lynn Vale.
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