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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
challenging
hopeful
fast-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:
Complicated
O.K.....so.. I almost put this book down at the beginning. Somehow the 'hatred' was not justified, forced even. And that sort of stuck, that's on the writing...but then it all got much much better, so much so that I really loved the story and Jake and 'Brit' were great (yeah, yeah she was too forgiving, but whatever, that's the way with these types of books ;) )
I enjoyed it, its on my favs list.
I enjoyed it, its on my favs list.
First in the series from the Rosewood High books! I absolutely love Amalie and Jake, Amalie is a strong British girl who goes head to head with the king of the Rosewood High school! It's a enemies to lovers, bully romance! The world building is absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to read about the next couple!
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
one of the first ever spicy books i read and adored.
Thorn by Tracy Lorraine was disappointing for a bully romance. It had everything to make it a fantastic read but it all fell apart because Jake and Amalie had zero chemistry. Even the reason Jake bullied her for is so very absurd.
Side characters like Ethan, Mason and Poppy weren't likable enough to encourage me to read other books in Rosewood High series.
Side characters like Ethan, Mason and Poppy weren't likable enough to encourage me to read other books in Rosewood High series.
REVIEW POST - Book 38 of 2025
Thorn by Tracy Lorraine
I've read my fair share of bully romances, and Thorn didn’t quite hit the mark. The setup had potential— brooding bad boy, and the enemies-to-lovers trope—but it all fell a bit flat.
The reason behind the male lead’s hostility toward the heroine is hinted at early but dragged out unnecessarily. And when we finally get the reveal? It doesn’t pack the punch it needs to justify everything that came before.
The female lead wasn’t particularly compelling either, and together, their chemistry lacked spark. In better examples of the genre, there’s usually a turning point where the bully starts to fall hard—softening, obsessing, craving. But here, it felt like the story was just going through the motions, trying to tick all the trope boxes without really giving us anything fresh or emotionally satisfying.
Also, their ages (17 and 18) didn’t match how they behaved—they came off much younger playing at drama, which made the stakes feel even lower.
Overall, Thorn reads like a watered-down version of better books in the genre. It’s not awful, but it didn’t leave much of a lasting impression either.
Thorn by Tracy Lorraine
I've read my fair share of bully romances, and Thorn didn’t quite hit the mark. The setup had potential— brooding bad boy, and the enemies-to-lovers trope—but it all fell a bit flat.
The reason behind the male lead’s hostility toward the heroine is hinted at early but dragged out unnecessarily. And when we finally get the reveal? It doesn’t pack the punch it needs to justify everything that came before.
The female lead wasn’t particularly compelling either, and together, their chemistry lacked spark. In better examples of the genre, there’s usually a turning point where the bully starts to fall hard—softening, obsessing, craving. But here, it felt like the story was just going through the motions, trying to tick all the trope boxes without really giving us anything fresh or emotionally satisfying.
Also, their ages (17 and 18) didn’t match how they behaved—they came off much younger playing at drama, which made the stakes feel even lower.
Overall, Thorn reads like a watered-down version of better books in the genre. It’s not awful, but it didn’t leave much of a lasting impression either.
This was not the bully romance for me. I am OBSESSED with this trope, but this one totally missed the mark. For me to enjoy a bully romances a few things need to happen.
1. There has to be a BELIEVABLE reason for the conflict between the MCs. Unfortunately, in this book, I found the hero's reasoning for not liking the FMC severely lacking. *SPOILER* He literally only hates her because she reminds him of his mom... THIS GIRL DID NOTHING WRONG.
2. The MCs need to be mature. It's high school. I know, I know. Not every high schooler is mature, but in order for me to enjoy reading about them, they need to be mature. I can't do the immaturity, it drives me up a wall. I found a lot of the hero's responses to be immature and it seriously bugged me.
3. Proper timing/groveling. The timeline needs to make sense. By that I mean the hero has to slowly realize he f'ed up and the heroine needs to make him grovel. Otherwise this dude literally gets to just shit on her, make her life miserable, and then she welcomes him with open arms??? NAH. GET MAD SIS. I sure as heck am lol.
Also wasn't really into the whole slut slaming going on. I disliked BOTH of the main characters. There was nothing redeeming about the hero even after he started being "nice" to the heroine. And the heroine was a straight up doormat. Like girly make this man work for you!! He's been a complete ass and you're just like
1. There has to be a BELIEVABLE reason for the conflict between the MCs. Unfortunately, in this book, I found the hero's reasoning for not liking the FMC severely lacking. *SPOILER* He literally only hates her because she reminds him of his mom... THIS GIRL DID NOTHING WRONG.
2. The MCs need to be mature. It's high school. I know, I know. Not every high schooler is mature, but in order for me to enjoy reading about them, they need to be mature. I can't do the immaturity, it drives me up a wall. I found a lot of the hero's responses to be immature and it seriously bugged me.
3. Proper timing/groveling. The timeline needs to make sense. By that I mean the hero has to slowly realize he f'ed up and the heroine needs to make him grovel. Otherwise this dude literally gets to just shit on her, make her life miserable, and then she welcomes him with open arms??? NAH. GET MAD SIS. I sure as heck am lol.
Also wasn't really into the whole slut slaming going on. I disliked BOTH of the main characters. There was nothing redeeming about the hero even after he started being "nice" to the heroine. And the heroine was a straight up doormat. Like girly make this man work for you!! He's been a complete ass and you're just like
Sadly this one missed the mark for me on so many levels, I u set stand its a bully high school romance but the fact these “kids” are 18+ and still behaving like they’re 13?
I didn’t enjoy any of the characters, didn’t understand why Amalie kept going back to Thorn and how he was so happy to think of himself as King of Rosewood….just Nope.
Not for me. Sorry.
It was just so badly written - like yes it’s a Bully romance but why does he hate her so much? It’s just a poor excuse/attempt then when his Mother does come on the scene then there’s just nothing it’s like she’s here and that’s it? So what was all the hate for 90% off the book.
There was no sexual tension/chemistry like just because he kissed her but not any other females Amalie is suppose to feel special? We are supposed to believe she’s special?
Also don’t get me started on how she just accepted his bullying for nothing, she did nothing wrong, yet she just accepted the hate at school from everyone, even her friend Camilla/Shane didn’t really stick up for her.
She was drugged at a party and we don’t even find out how/why/who.
It just falls flat, it’s missing key ingredients for a bully romance to work.
I didn’t enjoy any of the characters, didn’t understand why Amalie kept going back to Thorn and how he was so happy to think of himself as King of Rosewood….just Nope.
Not for me. Sorry.
It was just so badly written - like yes it’s a Bully romance but why does he hate her so much? It’s just a poor excuse/attempt then when his Mother does come on the scene then there’s just nothing it’s like she’s here and that’s it? So what was all the hate for 90% off the book.
There was no sexual tension/chemistry like just because he kissed her but not any other females Amalie is suppose to feel special? We are supposed to believe she’s special?
Also don’t get me started on how she just accepted his bullying for nothing, she did nothing wrong, yet she just accepted the hate at school from everyone, even her friend Camilla/Shane didn’t really stick up for her.
She was drugged at a party and we don’t even find out how/why/who.
It just falls flat, it’s missing key ingredients for a bully romance to work.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes