me to misha and ryen when they're out here writing handwritten letters to each other, while im here stuck with the likes of tindreread — 4.5 stars
me to misha and ryen when they're out here writing handwritten letters to each other, while im here stuck with the likes of tinder boys who thinks texting "dtf" or "u down 2 netflix n chill" is romantic
[image]
must be nice.
anywho. i LOVE rereading this. i just felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me because these were good times.
honestly, im just gonna come out and say it but i miss this kind of new adult romance where the characters have so much depth and the story is unique and it isn't ruined by unnecessary threesome/sharing/orgies that ruin character/romantic development... too soon? oops.
✧ plot
↳ Misha Lare (H) and Ryen Trevarrow (h) have been pen pals since they were 4th grade and has been exchanging letters for 7 years until suddenly, after they unknowingly meet each other (Misha knowing what Ryen looks like while Ryen doesn't know what he looks like), he stops writing her.
three months later, Misha goes to Ryen's school to solve unfinished business but he also gets to see who Ryen really is. she's not the dorky, nerdy girl he knows from the letters. she's the popular, mean girl bully.
➵ characters can i just say that i absolutely love the depth and complexity of Ryen's character?? she became a bully because of kids making fun of her and she felt alone when she only wanted to belong ughhh it was so sad. it may seem like a small thing but it really isn't.
"My eyes burn with tears, and I'm so tired. So tired of holding back everything I feel and want to say. So tired of being someone I'm not and making mistakes that I didn't have any fun making."
and her character development is so nice to read about. obviously, i lowkey hated her in the beginning because she was a bItCh but i just wanted to hug her and be her friend by the end. and that scene with Manny? where they hugged each other and told him it was gonna get better? kinda bawled my eyes out in that scene too to be honest with y'all.
and Misha... my god. what a man. tattoos? lip piercing? writes songs?? is in a band? aaand he's mature?! AND RESPECTFUL??!?!
[image]
✨ perfection ✨
➵ romance of course, there was a bit of hate to love in the beginning but the scenes filled with sexual tension which then added to their romantic development? love that.
"She can be a nightmare, but this still feels better than any dream."
and the quotes? iconic.
➵ Misha's "cousin" (spoilers) i actually really loved the cameo of the four (well, three this time) horsemen in this book. i remember the first time i read this i was hoping Misha's "cousin" would be Jared or Madoc or something but now that i've read devil's night series.. ehh. i kinda got excited that his cousin is the one and only, Will mo'fuckin Grayson but my excitement was kinda surpressed just cuz my mans Damon wasn't here. and that- that is a CRIME.
______________________________
i wish i forgot everything that happened in this book because i really did enjoy this more the first time i read it because i already knew all the plot twists ughhh.
but that said, i think this is my second favorite out of all pen douglas books?? i don't really know i can't choose between this, birthday girl, or until you. however, i think Ryen and Misha are superior af and dont @ me on this.
* * *
original rating (may 2018) — 5 stars
Merged review:
reread — 4.5 stars
me to misha and ryen when they're out here writing handwritten letters to each other, while im here stuck with the likes of tinder boys who thinks texting "dtf" or "u down 2 netflix n chill" is romantic
[image]
must be nice.
anywho. i LOVE rereading this. i just felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me because these were good times.
honestly, im just gonna come out and say it but i miss this kind of new adult romance where the characters have so much depth and the story is unique and it isn't ruined by unnecessary threesome/sharing/orgies that ruin character/romantic development... too soon? oops.
✧ plot
↳ Misha Lare (H) and Ryen Trevarrow (h) have been pen pals since they were 4th grade and has been exchanging letters for 7 years until suddenly, after they unknowingly meet each other (Misha knowing what Ryen looks like while Ryen doesn't know what he looks like), he stops writing her.
three months later, Misha goes to Ryen's school to solve unfinished business but he also gets to see who Ryen really is. she's not the dorky, nerdy girl he knows from the letters. she's the popular, mean girl bully.
➵ characters can i just say that i absolutely love the depth and complexity of Ryen's character?? she became a bully because of kids making fun of her and she felt alone when she only wanted to belong ughhh it was so sad. it may seem like a small thing but it really isn't.
"My eyes burn with tears, and I'm so tired. So tired of holding back everything I feel and want to say. So tired of being someone I'm not and making mistakes that I didn't have any fun making."
and her character development is so nice to read about. obviously, i lowkey hated her in the beginning because she was a bItCh but i just wanted to hug her and be her friend by the end. and that scene with Manny? where they hugged each other and told him it was gonna get better? kinda bawled my eyes out in that scene too to be honest with y'all.
and Misha... my god. what a man. tattoos? lip piercing? writes songs?? is in a band? aaand he's mature?! AND RESPECTFUL??!?!
[image]
✨ perfection ✨
➵ romance of course, there was a bit of hate to love in the beginning but the scenes filled with sexual tension which then added to their romantic development? love that.
"She can be a nightmare, but this still feels better than any dream."
and the quotes? iconic.
➵ Misha's "cousin" (spoilers) i actually really loved the cameo of the four (well, three this time) horsemen in this book. i remember the first time i read this i was hoping Misha's "cousin" would be Jared or Madoc or something but now that i've read devil's night series.. ehh. i kinda got excited that his cousin is the one and only, Will mo'fuckin Grayson but my excitement was kinda surpressed just cuz my mans Damon wasn't here. and that- that is a CRIME.
______________________________
i wish i forgot everything that happened in this book because i really did enjoy this more the first time i read it because i already knew all the plot twists ughhh.
but that said, i think this is my second favorite out of all pen douglas books?? i don't really know i can't choose between this, birthday girl, or until you. however, i think Ryen and Misha are superior af and dont @ me on this.
yes, yes. Clay and Olivia are fucking adorable (most of the time) with their enemies to lovers, hate to love, mutual long3.5 - 3.75 (idk yet) stars ✩⋆
yes, yes. Clay and Olivia are fucking adorable (most of the time) with their enemies to lovers, hate to love, mutual longing, scenes filled with sexual tension where they're pretending to hate each but actually wanna bone, and character growth where they're just simping or being horny for one another BUT THEN...
... ... ...
[insert the oldest brother with emo and loner hermit tendencies who gave up his whole life to take care of everyone but rarely shows emotion and affection but you can tell he loves his crazy af siblings deeply even if he doesn't show it and is VERY protective and probably has a traumatic past aaand cue all the dark shit and inner demons he most likely keeps to himself because duh any quiet and mysterious characters are like this]
anyone else love it when stars are used as some type of soulmate/love connection between mcs and they connect through shooting stars because3.75 stars
anyone else love it when stars are used as some type of soulmate/love connection between mcs and they connect through shooting stars because they're both so alone and the people they love always leave them so when they were kids they always used to wish under the stars hoping one of them would come true and to take away their pain and one of those wishes was to have someone by their side who won't leave them and lo and behold that someone is their enemy...
... because same.
i think my love for this originated from acomaf because like- ✧ ...more
this has the same trope as Bully by Pen Douglas where h and H were childhood best frie**spoiler alert** dnf 28%
i tried. i really tried but i caaaan't.
this has the same trope as Bully by Pen Douglas where h and H were childhood best friends but for some reason the H started to ignore her and become an asshole once high school starts. they're all seniors now and he's still an asshole to her.
it was going good but then (spoilers) h sees H in his backyard with OW where he has his hands inside her pants and was taking off her bra with his teeth and then a few moments later she heard him moan so we all know what the f they did. this is in chapter 6 and this OW bullies the h. and this is what the h has to say after seeing him with her enemy:
"I hate this fucking school. And I hate my fucking neighbor. I hate that I loved him so much even more."
oh my god bishhh. WHY?
[image]
also, she's a virgin. ughhh. i really hate when this trope is done where the H is a ho, sleeping with a lot of OW while claiming he has loved h this whole time and the h stays a virgin, pines, and loves the H while he's an asshole. i really hate that and that's what's happening here.
like, can i have a book where the H grovels for their dumbassery but then the h is like nah bishh it's time for YOU to taste your own medicine and shove their OM escapades on H's face? for once?? IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK??
also, i heard that his excuse was not that good and definitely makes his asshole and man ho behavior inexcusable and he doesn't break things off with the OW till like chapter 14 (yes, i spoiled myself). i would've liked this better if the H's pov was included here but nope.
maybe i'll read this later if im in the mood to torture myself but im so done with the double standard so yeah no thank you. byeeee...more
i remember in book 1 when Four was calling Jamie (H) out for hurting Bee (h) and she said "then you deserve to lose her." and that is the tru1.5 stars
i remember in book 1 when Four was calling Jamie (H) out for hurting Bee (h) and she said "then you deserve to lose her." and that is the truest statement ive ever read in this series.
im gonna go on a bit of a rant here cuz the dumbassery in this was a whole nother level. so SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
ok so a little backstory, Barbette/Bette/Barbie/Bee (h) was the "OW" in the peer and the puppet. she was in a fake relationship with Ever there the entire time because her parents need her to marry a rich guy cuz they're broke and Ever is helping her. there's no love between them and they're just best friends. but here comes the little soap opera twist, Jamie (H) is Ever's cousin. yikes. so in the past Bee and Jamie were childhood lovers but one day he returned and found his cousin and Bee as a couple... *cue heartbreak*
so as you can see, Jamie hates Bee cuz she broke his 14 year old heart. poor baby. anyways, this book is just about Jamie's pain. its all about Jamie. jAmie jAmIe JAMIE. ugh. [image]
ok?? but what about Barbette/Bette/Barbie/Bee's pain?! im pretty sure she went through worst pain than Jamie and we barely even explored that here? what the fu-?
let's do a little comparison: ↳ Bee: has been emotionally and physically abused by her parents and is currently being pimped out just cuz their family is broke and they want money so they're willing to "sell" her off to anyone. has been isolated by everyone, even her friends, and has been labelled as the "bitch". had to endure seeing all the OW sexcapades being shoved to her face for 8 months by the dumbass she loves.
↳ Jamie: got his heartbroken when he was 14. was a ho for 5 years and shoving OW sexcapades in Bee's face for those 8 months since he returned to Blackwood just to "get her attention".
... so y'all tell me who had it worst.
this was just bad. i didn't like ANYTHING in this book except for Lou & Wren. that .5 in my rating is for them. what i liked in the first 2 books weren't visible here at all.
- cute, slowburn moments filled with sexual tension: ✗ - good romantic development: ✗ - h who fights back and calls H out when they're being a dick: ✗ - H who is NOT a ho cuz once they feel anything for the h they become celibate: ✗ - cute banter: ✗ - uber possessive but very sweet H: ✗
instead we got this,
- petty mind games: ✓ - being subjected to one OW scene and H still hooking up with OWs in the beginning: ✓ - H manhandling the h: ✓ - H rejecting h request for putting a condom on and instead finished inside her without her consent: ✓ - unnecessary group sex that doesn't make sense: ✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓
i mean sheesh. the "magic" the first 2 books had was nonexistent in this book and we're then subjected to petty shit that we often see in new adult books that is, quite frankly, popular nowadays.
the book started to go downhill with that unnecessary OW scene in 20% where he f*ingered this random girl in the bathroom just so she wouldn't spill about Four and Ever cuz they're relationship is secret since again, Bee and Ever are "engaged".
"The next few minutes, I spent with my fingers shoved in her cunt and could only be described as clinical, cold, and awkward. Not that Amanda noticed. In fact, she enjoyed it so much she soaked the bottom of my fucking T-shirt. Little miss chipmunk was a squirter."
what exactly did this scene even prove?? that they would do sexual things to those who threaten their family? is this a foreshadowing for the next book? we weren't subjected to any OW scenes in the previous books so WHY?
and then apparently he hooked up with this random OW at a party a day before or after he "touched" the h. oh OH! and all the inner monologue of the H about random OW and how he's attracted to them. or blaming his man ho shit because of her
"I don't know. Maybe because you've slept with half the town?" "That's on you." "You're blaming me? You're actually blaming me for you being a whore?" "Yeah, and I'll fuck every girl in this goddamn town, including the ugly ones, if it will get your attention."
and Bee was flattered by this?! [image]
i already disliked this book after all this shit and then there's a fucking group sex?? that doesn't make sense whatsoever and is out of character for all parties involved?? if y'all wanna know the group sex is with the MCs and Four and Ever and this happened the day after h lost her virginity to the H btw. the couple didn't touch the other couple. they literally just had sex in front of each other and Bee and Four sometimes kissed. i liked Four and Ever before this and the REAL them would never even agree to this shit. please don't do anymore unnecessary, out-of-character scenes just for shock value or for trying to make things "new". thanks.
Jamie has got to be one of the dumbest heroes i've ever read. i mean SERIOUSLY. he didn't know that Ever and Bee's relationship is fake and if he used common sense or i don't know, deductive reasoning, he would've figured all this shit out but nooo. he just had to think with his dick and sleep with a lot of OW for 8 whole months just to get Bee's attention instead of finding out the truth and fighting for her. but nope. all his blood is down there instead of his brain so what did i expect. this honestly just shows how much he does NOT love Bee enough.
i liked Jamie in previous books i really did. he was a good friend to the heroines in those books and he made me laugh with all his antics. it's a shame he's reduced to an unlikeable abusive asshole with no redeeming qualities. everything he did was selfish here and he was just plain mean to Bee the entire book.
their first time together was also disturbing cuz, again, he was a ho and he didn't use a condom AND when the h explicitly told him to STOP, he didn't and proceeded to then finish inside her... i don't like this shit.
and as for Bee? she just took his shit cuz he "deserved better". nahh bishh YOU deserve better. every hateful things he did/said was never acknowledged and he didn't even seem remorseful about the hurt he subjected her to when he was shoving all his OW shit to her face. there's no satisfying grovelling here and the h was doing all the fighting while H makes her work for it undeservedly. [image]
did i like anything in this book? yeah. Lou & Wren. that's it. it's unfortunate they barely had a scene here though.
anyways im done with this shit so rant over byeeee ✌︎︎
first of all, i just wanna say that whoever made this cover? i love you. this cover is so beautiful goddamn.
but anyways, after readin3.75 stars
[image]
first of all, i just wanna say that whoever made this cover? i love you. this cover is so beautiful goddamn.
but anyways, after reading bullied, i was so excited to read this book because knowing that Hayden (H) and Sarah's (h) story takes place in THREE books, i knew there was gonna be a lot of push and pull here and i wasn't disappointed.
this book is pretty dark and not for everyone because even i was upset with some things and there are tropes here that i found annoying (h doing the chasing, OW drama and h seeing OW and H kissing, bullying, etc.) that may annoy others too, however, i still really liked the story and the writing was really good that it was a page-turner for me.
since the first book ended in a cliffhanger (spoilers!) where Hayden finally gets his head outta his ass and grovels to Sarah and tells her he loves her, Sarah finding out he has borderline personality disorder, Hayden's mom telling her she's too weak to handle him and Sarah listening to his mom and ends up rejecting Hayden and telling him she doesn't care for him... this book focuses on Sarah finally getting HER head out of her ass this time and trying to win Hayden's trust.
— Hayden Black (H)
"Without you I'm lost, but with you I'm crushed, You're my everlasting sorrow and my sweetest rush, But it doesn't matter that I love you, because after everything I've done... ...It does sound fake."
ok so knowing what he did in the first book and the extent of his bullying, i still low key hated him. i know he has a psychological disorder that greatly affects his actions and behavior but still! i really couldn't forget what he did to her. and he was an asshole throughout most of the book and i hate how he was with the OW, kissing her in front of the h at least 5 times so... it was honestly so hard to like him. but even though i feel this way, i personally love complex characters and Hayden is literally THE definition of complicated and i was all for it. though, when he becomes soft and emotional, and filled with self-loathing and self-hate from all the bullying he did, those are definitely the highlights of the book.
— Sarah Decker (h)
"This raging guilt was eating me up, messing with my heart and mind, and I didn't know what was right or wrong anymore. I just wanted to be happy."
this woman has been through A LOT. the bullying in the first book is one of the worst bullying i've ever read in any book and the fact that she had to endure that for 3 years, while having an abusive neglectful mother? nahh. that's too much suffering for me. i really liked her in the first book tho but here? mehh. i found her annoying mainly because she was doing all the chasing and defending Hayden when he's being an asshole, which I GET.
her maturity and wisdom may lead to others into thinking she's weak and that was my opinion for some of the parts in the book but honestly, this bitch is just TOO FUCKING NICE...more
2 stars [image] another book where i wanted to like it but couldn't because the H is the most unswoonworthy hero i've ever read.
after reading the first 2 stars [image] another book where i wanted to like it but couldn't because the H is the most unswoonworthy hero i've ever read.
after reading the first book, i was so intrigued with what the hell is happening with Frankie (h) and the mysterious farmboy, Zeke (H), since she went away to stay with her grandma for the summer and work on their ranch. i knew there was gonna be hate to love, enemies to lovers here and im usually a sucker for those but damn Zeke is just too mean the entire book and not even in a likeable way.
i know, i know. this IS a bully romance, etc. but this dude only made the h smile once in the first 80% of the story and that says a lot.
but anyways, let's start with, what i liked: ↠ Dalton & Piper: these two were the MCs in the first one (Dalton was Piper's former bully but lost all his memories after an accident). i just really loved how supportive and protective these two were to Frankie since the dumbass H is a coward. ↠ the carnival/haunted house scene: i am a sucker for carnival/fair scenes in books since it brings the nostalgia out of me and this was the only time where Zeke wasn't an asshole and made Frankie smile but yeah. he ended up ruining the night too. ↠ both MCs are virgins. FINALLY a H who's not a ho. thank you jesus.
and now let's move on with, what i didn't like (SPOILERS): ↠ their first sex scene bruh. i don't know about you but when a girl specifically reminds a guy that he needs to wear a condom, I EXPECT HIM TO ...more
this was me the entire book: [image] i've read so many bully romance that i've lost count. all of them fall into these categories: good, bad, and ugly. this was me the entire book: [image] i've read so many bully romance that i've lost count. all of them fall into these categories: good, bad, and ugly. but this one? this falls into nothing because i. felt. nothing.
i was just so bored with both characters because Thayer was your typical "bully/asshole" but with no substance, whereas Shayne was your typical heroine in NA books where they say they're tough but when the H shows off his abs or touches them, they suddenly turn into a 14-year-old fangirl meeting Harry Styles or Timothee Chalamet. i hate this trope with my entire being. please don't do this trope anymore. please for the love of god.
if a boy makes me think he's going to hook up with another girl by making me witness it after telling him i love him, doesn't talk to me for a year KNOWING he's been with other girls, and when i show up he suddenly bullies me without explaining why, i would NOT do what the h here did so frankly, this is kind of a lesson on what not to do.
Vaughn and Lenora have the most unsanitary sex life i've ever read.
so, yeah. this was just meh for me and after reading everything, i really think PreVaughn and Lenora have the most unsanitary sex life i've ever read.
so, yeah. this was just meh for me and after reading everything, i really think Pretty Reckless is my favorite just because no one dies there and i actually liked the development even tho the drama was straight out of a 2000 teen rom-com movie (aka Mean Girls).
alright, first lets get on with what i liked: ➳ Vicious & Emilia. to be honest, reading Vicious' inner monologue about how much he loves Emilia is the ONE thing i was looking for in Vaughn's inner monologue when it comes to Lenora. Vicious' love for Em is so incomparable and reading their chapters are the only times i cried like a baby.
➳ when they finally become a couple and stopped playing games. too bad this was just a small portion of the book.
➳ Vaughn & Lenora being virgins. fina-fuckin-lly a H who's a virgin (still kind of a ho tho since he got bj's from random women in the beginning).
and now lets get on with what i didn't like (SPOILERS & TW!!): ➳ the OW/OM drama. Vaughn had a bj with Lenora's bully (Arabella) in front of her and classmates, and as revenge, Lenora handcuffed Vaughn to her bed and made him watch her get orally pleasured by her friend (Pope). i was angry when Vaughn did it but weirdly enough, i was cheering Lenora on?? i didn't really care about Vaughn's feelings by then because he was a straight-up asshole and i know this is all double-standard but I DID NOT CARE. this is the first time i've seen a heroine make the H taste their own medicine and i was all for it. though, i really didn't like how they had sex the first time literally a day after Lenora made Vaughn watch.
➳ what even is development?? yeah. this disappointed me the most. instead of seeing a good development, we get to see stupid powerplay mind games and immature drama. and honestly, the middle part was just so boring to me.
➳ unsanitary sex scenes. two words: CHISEL & BLOOD. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW all i wanted to do was grab my holy water and do this [image]
➳ Vicious 2.0 (Vaughn). i don't know man... he was just so unlikeable to me and he had no redeeming qualities, especially in the beginning when he went on and on about how ugly Lenora is. i feel like Vaughn was just trying so hard to be Vicious and i honestly i felt no sympathy for him whatsoever. I JUST DIDN'T CARE.
➳ TW: full-on child molestation scene. this is very triggering and it really did upset me. so yes people, be aware that Vaughn's abuse takes place in CHAPTER 22.
____________________________________
but yeah, this wasn't a good book since i wanted to dnf and it was so hard for me to finish. nothing really stood out for me and i honestly preferred the stupid teenage drama in PR rather than the toxic drama in this one.
and someone mentioned something about changing beta readers and i agree because her latest books are Just. Not. It.
so all in all, Vaughn and Lenora are two fucked up individuals and imma pray for em.
the H was just too cruel and hurt the h almost the whole entire book so it was hard for me to like him. and the2.75 stars
meh. i thought this was okay.
the H was just too cruel and hurt the h almost the whole entire book so it was hard for me to like him. and the h just went with it, which eventually made her veer into doormat territory. and let's not start with the unplanned pregnancy at the end.
but yeah, the H just seemed so remorseless about his treatment to the h so the "grovelling" was just unsatisfying for me.
only thing i really liked here was the girl friendship. Sybil (h's bff) was so supportive and loyal and i just love that girl....more
mehh this was ok. the story was good and it kept me hooked sometimes but it wasn’t as angsty or dark and twisty as i thought. it was kinda repe3 stars
mehh this was ok. the story was good and it kept me hooked sometimes but it wasn’t as angsty or dark and twisty as i thought. it was kinda repetitive sometimes especially at the end.
i didn’t really feel the connection between the MCs in the beginning or their “hate” for one another. their chemistry/hate/sexual tension felt kinda forced to me but that’s just me.
the heroine did fight back tho and she was strong but she gave in too easily but its the first time im not annoyed about it cuz the hero wasn’t that much of an asshole compared to other asshole heroes in the bully genre. well... except for that whole murdering thing. yeah, i don’t really condone that. ...more
enemies to lovers, stepbrother/stepsister, tons of angst and petty teenage drama, strong heroine and asshole hero?? whats not to love?
ev3.25 stars ✩⋆
enemies to lovers, stepbrother/stepsister, tons of angst and petty teenage drama, strong heroine and asshole hero?? whats not to love?
even though the grovelling was satisfying, most of it was more telling than showing and that really bugged me.
"I was his endgame. And he was mine."
･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･ characters ･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･． since this is a bully romance, the characters were PERFECT for this kind of book.
➳ Rourke: was a great a combination of asshole/alpha and sweet. yeah, he was cruel and mean in the beginning and some of the things he said were unforgivable and i would’ve smacked him if i were the h but i really think he redeemed himself.
➳ Mercedes: this bishhhh. i LOVED her! she is the perfect type of heroine in a bully romance. why? because she fought back, gave it as good as she gets and didn’t pretend she was strong and brave. oh and she’s not one of those doormat/horny heroines that’s usually seen in a bully romance. i hate when heroines easily give in just because the H is hot but Mercy wasn’t like that. well... except for that one time but thank god it was only once.
･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･ OW drama ･ﾟﾟ･｡｡･ﾟﾟ･． this is the main reason why i gave this a mediocre rating. sometimes, the H treated the OW/ex better than the h and this lasted throughout the whole book (more so in the first 50%).
The ex cheated on him for a couple of years in their 5-year fucked up relationship and that broke him but he still slept with her occasionally (even after meeting h but i think that was only two times and he felt bad/disgusted). im not really sure if he slept with this ex after H and h were intimate but the insinuation was there since he called her for sex after the h told him to forget their little make-out session. im not sure tho because it wasn’t really clear but h did catch them making out the next day her and H were intimate.
H hated h just because she represented something bad in their family and she did nothing to him but he still “bullied” her. OW/ex cheated on him plenty of times and treated him like shit but he didn’t want to hurt her, he doesn’t even hate her, the little boy in him will always love her, and when they “broke up” it was only her he was sleeping with afterwards and when he was confronting her? yeah... he was soft, didn’t call her cruel names, and was considerate of her feelings *cue eyeroll*.
and when it came to the h, H was fine with sleeping with this ex but when it came to the ex, he wouldn’t even sleep with other girls... yeah, im not down with that. yes, yes i know he slept with this OW to forget h, he was scared of his obsession/feelings for her blah blah blah. but hey, actions speak louder than words right? and the fact that he pulled a Freudian slip and called h with this OW's name was fucked uuupp. i usually don’t mind OW drama but it really bugged me here BUT it was resolved somewhat satisfyingly here, imo.
* * *
anywayss, this was still a great book for the enemies to lovers type of book....more
you know the kind of drama that's OTT but still makes you feel all the feels? yeah its this book.
i know some might be tired of the typical popular quyou know the kind of drama that's OTT but still makes you feel all the feels? yeah its this book.
i know some might be tired of the typical popular quarterback falling in love with the nerdy, religious girl that everyone makes fun of BUT this was still pretty good despite its flaws and a weakness of mine is friendship dynamic/group and i think it had a good one here.
i was a bit nervous to read this cuz apparently Cole is worse than Jace but he honestly is NOT. Jace was an unlikeable asshole, whereas Cole was a somewhat loveable asshole. he had more personality and substance compared to Jace in my opinion, and for that i ended up connecting with him and being emotionally invested in him.
but anyways, if you liked the first book and in the mood for the new adult high school romance with dark subject matters (suicide, bullying, fat-shaming, body dysmorphia, drug-use) then i recommend this.
now moving on to SPOILER talk:
↠OTT drama: there was A LOT of drama here and to be honest, some are pretty OTT but others aren't. though, there was so much drama that there's so much happening in the book. and at times, the resolution for the dramas were too quick so then another drama comes in and then it goes on and on. it was just a circle going round and round. i did actually have the feels here especially when it came to Liam, i really love that dude and i wish there were more flashback scenes with him, however, there was just too much going on that i ended up getting a headache.
↠characters: the characters i hated in the first book ended up becoming likeable here. I grew to like Bianca even though she was a mean bully but my feelings towards her are like my feelings towards Blair Waldorf. can't help but like the bishh. And Oakley? I LOVE THAT DUDE. he honestly made this book for me and there were so many funny moments because of him! love a good character development.
speaking of Oakley and Bianca...
i DO NOT ship these two. im sorry. i secretly ship Stone and Bianca more. can y'all just imagine the angst for that book? and honestly, Oakley's too much of a ho and im not down for petty OW drama in her book.
i definitely liked Cole waaay more than Jace. there were plenty of grovelling scenes here and i appreciated it. i loved how he fought for Sawyer and basically GREW THE F UP. he learned from his mistakes and ya know what, good for him. though, i wish we got more inner monologue about him regretting his actions towards Sawyer since he had a hand on bullying her and humiliating her plenty of times, feeding into her inner demons.
as for Sawyer, weeelll i didn't really connect with her and i knew that THAT was gonna happen to her at the end. her inner monologue didn't really annoy me because i understand her insecurities. i actually studied a bit bout body dysmorphia (though, im not an expert) and it helped that i understood that this is an occurrence prominent with teenage girls, so with that knowledge, it definitely helped me understand more about Sawyer's psyche. i honestly just wanted to hug her but also give her some tough love at the same time.
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↠ overall thoughts i thought that this was a pretty solid book. i agree with Phuong's review, but i also agree with Bee's review. i honestly didn't know how to rate this cuz im kind of in between but just know that this was a decent read and be ready for hard hitting subjects.
Who ships Asher and Flick more than Jase and Flick? 🙋🏻♀️. Tbh, I was more invested in the side characters love story (h bff with h’s step br4.5 stars
Who ships Asher and Flick more than Jase and Flick? 🙋🏻♀️. Tbh, I was more invested in the side characters love story (h bff with h’s step brother or the other H best friend) and its cuz I find the step brother, Jason, more interesting.
Buuut just because I felt that way doesn’t mean I hate the MCs cuz I love em. I love all the tropes in this book and I really am a sucker for petty teenage angsty books. It’s my guilty pleasure.
I love the heroine. She doesn’t take any shit from all the petty and humiliating pranks and fights back and she has something that a lot of heroines dont have just because the hero is hot: common sense and I really appreciate that.
Tropes: stepbrother best friend bully enemies to lovers slow burn hate to love petty teenage drama and athletes being treated like gods...more