Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Rape, Kidnapping
This book is a dark, bully romance featuring high school students. Read the trigger warnings before reading this book because they definitely come into play.
Overall, this book follows a pretty typical set-up. Siblings move to a new town that's more or less run by several wealthy families. One of the new kids and one of the important kids fall for each other, despite initially hating each other (exceptionally intensely).
Eden O'Neill's writing style wasn't my favorite. The characters are high schoolers, but even so their dialogue is very simplistic and repetitive. Some of the descriptions fell flat to me (like when the relationships between all the families are being discussed and she wraps it up with a handwavy "it's hard to understand from the outside, but we were all family" type quote.
To me, Sloane and Dorian's characters both felt a little flat. They have defining characteristics but not much depth. Their relationship makes sense in terms of overall wanting them to end up together, but they go from absolute hatred to love with very few steps in between, thin line between love and hate I guess 😂.
from the first mention of Dorian's grandpa, I assumed that's who Callum was, but I had also assumed that Dorian killed his grandpa based on his spiral after skipping town, so I'm glad that all got sorted out for me at the end! .
Overall, if you're really into bully romances, this would be a good pick. This is the first book in a series, and I like the direction the plot is moving, so I might give book 2 a chance, but it's not high on my priority list. I'll probably give another Eden O'Neill book a try in the future to see if the writing style of this series just isn't for me or if it's her writing style in general.
Overall, this book follows a pretty typical set-up. Siblings move to a new town that's more or less run by several wealthy families. One of the new kids and one of the important kids fall for each other, despite initially hating each other (exceptionally intensely).
Eden O'Neill's writing style wasn't my favorite. The characters are high schoolers, but even so their dialogue is very simplistic and repetitive. Some of the descriptions fell flat to me (like when the relationships between all the families are being discussed and she wraps it up with a handwavy "it's hard to understand from the outside, but we were all family" type quote.
To me, Sloane and Dorian's characters both felt a little flat. They have defining characteristics but not much depth. Their relationship makes sense in terms of overall wanting them to end up together, but they go from absolute hatred to love with very few steps in between, thin line between love and hate I guess 😂.
Overall, if you're really into bully romances, this would be a good pick. This is the first book in a series, and I like the direction the plot is moving, so I might give book 2 a chance, but it's not high on my priority list. I'll probably give another Eden O'Neill book a try in the future to see if the writing style of this series just isn't for me or if it's her writing style in general.
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really great, but the first 11-12 chapters are twisted. But still, it’s a great book and can’t wait to read the next one.
dark
tense
medium-paced
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
#23for23
I had just read a bunch of "sweetish" romances and so this book offered so much relief. I really needed a good Bully-Romance.
Both narrators, Stefanie Kay & Gideon Frost, were new to me; their voices work for teen-adult (though Frost might need to work a bit on his female "moaning voice" which was always a bit...weird).
Eager to start the rest of the series, but sad they are not on audio (or at least I am not finding them).
I had just read a bunch of "sweetish" romances and so this book offered so much relief. I really needed a good Bully-Romance.
Both narrators, Stefanie Kay & Gideon Frost, were new to me; their voices work for teen-adult (though Frost might need to work a bit on his female "moaning voice" which was always a bit...weird).
Eager to start the rest of the series, but sad they are not on audio (or at least I am not finding them).
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Very info dump-y
I hate both MCs.
Sloane for refusing Callum’s help and treating Bru like he’s not only 1 year younger than her.
Dorian is fixated on Sloane for no reason.
I hate both MCs.
Sloane for refusing Callum’s help and treating Bru like he’s not only 1 year younger than her.
Dorian is fixated on Sloane for no reason.
fast-paced