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madhattermommy94's review against another edition
3.0
Noticed several editing errors, the main character was meant to be written as persistent but comes off as annoying and frustrating. However I want to find out what happens so I'm going to give it another chance and read the next book in the series.
halffast's review against another edition
2.0
Heroine is sent to a boarding school that has all kinds of dark secrets and mysteries. Sort of confusing and repetitive. Callie basically name-drops the Nobles hoping someone will spill the beans. Then roses show up as a warning. Rinse and repeat x10. Also I never got any sense why Chase was interested in Callie so wasn’t 100% sold on their connection. I appreciated that the author didn’t hold back on the bullying scenes. Some of those really hit hard and I felt so bad for Callie, plus it set the tone for how vicious the school was.
geoemily's review against another edition
4.0
This honest review was provided in exchange for an advanced review copy.
To be honest, Rival is not a book I would have bought to read. In my late twenties I am moving away from high school based stories but I am SO grateful that I got sent this ARC and had to read it. I've been pulled into a world that has sucked me in with its mystery and twists and turns. It was a bit more thriller than I anticipated and full of sexual tension... definitely right up my alley. So much so that I purchased the book after reading the ARC. I'm HOOKED!
Rival is a very well written book that keeps you on your toes. Bullying tropes (in and out of high school) are increasingly popular at the moment but the risk is it starts to feel very tired and boring pretty fast. They all end out sounding the same. Ketley Allison is a step ahead and manages to incorporate all the good elements of the bullying trope but throw in enough mystery, drama, and sexual tension you are kept on the edge of your seat.
At times the bullying is very intense, and it may dig up some old scars or be triggering for some, so fair warning if you are unsure about the themes in the book.
Chase is hot-as-hell and the kind of leading man that will leave you with a chronic book hangover. Callie is a brilliant female lead, and the kind of girl you hope really exist in teenage girls these days. The world these two exist in is twisted and filthy rich... the kind that leads to dark secrets and selfish, bitter people to battle against.
Rival does end on a cliff-hanger and I can't wait for the next book. Rival has kickstarted what I anticipate to be an incredible series and I'm excited to see what is in store for the Briarcliff world. DEFINITELY worth the read.
To be honest, Rival is not a book I would have bought to read. In my late twenties I am moving away from high school based stories but I am SO grateful that I got sent this ARC and had to read it. I've been pulled into a world that has sucked me in with its mystery and twists and turns. It was a bit more thriller than I anticipated and full of sexual tension... definitely right up my alley. So much so that I purchased the book after reading the ARC. I'm HOOKED!
Rival is a very well written book that keeps you on your toes. Bullying tropes (in and out of high school) are increasingly popular at the moment but the risk is it starts to feel very tired and boring pretty fast. They all end out sounding the same. Ketley Allison is a step ahead and manages to incorporate all the good elements of the bullying trope but throw in enough mystery, drama, and sexual tension you are kept on the edge of your seat.
At times the bullying is very intense, and it may dig up some old scars or be triggering for some, so fair warning if you are unsure about the themes in the book.
Chase is hot-as-hell and the kind of leading man that will leave you with a chronic book hangover. Callie is a brilliant female lead, and the kind of girl you hope really exist in teenage girls these days. The world these two exist in is twisted and filthy rich... the kind that leads to dark secrets and selfish, bitter people to battle against.
Rival does end on a cliff-hanger and I can't wait for the next book. Rival has kickstarted what I anticipate to be an incredible series and I'm excited to see what is in store for the Briarcliff world. DEFINITELY worth the read.
readingbelle's review against another edition
This is my first Ketley book.
She knows what I like. Moving to 2
She knows what I like. Moving to 2
noellelovesbooks's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings: sexual content, blood, animal cruelty, gore, bullying, toxic friendships, toxic relationships, and isolation.
Mention of: suicide, murder of a parent, and grief.
Interesting start to a series, we get generations of secrets, rival secret societies, unexplained deaths and so much more. I do feel like this first book could have been cut a bit shorter since, it feels, like we barely learn anything by the end of the book.
Also, probably because I wasn't paying close enough attention 😅, I went into this book thinking it was a college campus, like a private college campus...especially with the school constantly being referred to as a "university"...but then the tags are saying, "high school romance," which throws me off a bit 😅 at least, as far as I can tell all the characters are 18.
Anyways, I'm interested to read more of the series and see what secrets are uncovered.
Mention of: suicide, murder of a parent, and grief.
Interesting start to a series, we get generations of secrets, rival secret societies, unexplained deaths and so much more. I do feel like this first book could have been cut a bit shorter since, it feels, like we barely learn anything by the end of the book.
Also, probably because I wasn't paying close enough attention 😅, I went into this book thinking it was a college campus, like a private college campus...especially with the school constantly being referred to as a "university"...but then the tags are saying, "high school romance," which throws me off a bit 😅 at least, as far as I can tell all the characters are 18.
Anyways, I'm interested to read more of the series and see what secrets are uncovered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, Animal cruelty, Gore, Bullying, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Grief
madhattermommy94's review against another edition
3.0
Noticed several editing errors, the main character was meant to be written as persistent but comes off as annoying and frustrating. However I want to find out what happens so I'm going to give it another chance and read the next book in the series.
beccainabook's review against another edition
4.0
This steamy academy and bully romance had hints of mystery and intrigue and was COMPLETELY up my alley! This book was not at all what I expected and it WAS SO GOOD! The school setting was full of horrors and secrets that would make anyone interested and the characters all play a variety of terrifying cat and mouse games that would make anyone a little crazy. The book took so many twists and turns and I was really desperate to find out what was going to happen!
The characters were interesting, but I wasn’t as invested in them as I was the overall plot and the mysteries surrounding their elite atmosphere. I mean I liked them, but I wasn’t in love with everyone as much because there was JUST SO MUCH GOING ON!!! I liked Callie, the main character most of the time, but I thought she could get a little annoying and could be a little weak. Her love interest/bully, Chase, was a delicious specimen of man, but his motives were confusing to read and sometimes he took his bullying just a little bit too far. I would love to get his perspective on all this. I also found the fact that he kept telling Callie to stop looking into things annoying because it almost seemed to make her want to do it more.
Overall the plot was JUST SO DAMN GOOD! However, I felt that the mystery was dragged out a little too far with no answers and all of the sudden was solved. The flow could have been a little better executed. I also thought there was so much alluding, but not enough information. I am so looking forward to the next book because that cliffhanger was CRAZY!
The characters were interesting, but I wasn’t as invested in them as I was the overall plot and the mysteries surrounding their elite atmosphere. I mean I liked them, but I wasn’t in love with everyone as much because there was JUST SO MUCH GOING ON!!! I liked Callie, the main character most of the time, but I thought she could get a little annoying and could be a little weak. Her love interest/bully, Chase, was a delicious specimen of man, but his motives were confusing to read and sometimes he took his bullying just a little bit too far. I would love to get his perspective on all this. I also found the fact that he kept telling Callie to stop looking into things annoying because it almost seemed to make her want to do it more.
Overall the plot was JUST SO DAMN GOOD! However, I felt that the mystery was dragged out a little too far with no answers and all of the sudden was solved. The flow could have been a little better executed. I also thought there was so much alluding, but not enough information. I am so looking forward to the next book because that cliffhanger was CRAZY!
jreadsdarkromance's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book that I have read by Ketley Allison, and it will not be the last. Rival did not disappoint! I'm a sucker for academy based books and really glad I stumbled upon this.
I cannot get enough of this book. It is packed with suspense and mystery. I need all the answers! The secrets and twists just keep coming. I cannot wait to see what happens in Virtue!
I cannot get enough of this book. It is packed with suspense and mystery. I need all the answers! The secrets and twists just keep coming. I cannot wait to see what happens in Virtue!
drk_psychprof's review against another edition
4.0
What a good read
I admit I was concerned that this book didn't have nearly as many reviews as most of the ones I read. I decided to take a chance anyway, and I'm so glad I did. This book had suspense, bullying, and some spice - all the things I love. I'm still wondering who the female main character can trust. It's hard to know with all the deception and lies. This book definitely ended on a cliffhanger and I'm glad I get to go right into book 2.
I admit I was concerned that this book didn't have nearly as many reviews as most of the ones I read. I decided to take a chance anyway, and I'm so glad I did. This book had suspense, bullying, and some spice - all the things I love. I'm still wondering who the female main character can trust. It's hard to know with all the deception and lies. This book definitely ended on a cliffhanger and I'm glad I get to go right into book 2.