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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
Wow, wow wow wooooww! Normally I’m not huge on reading high school books but this was amazing!!!! Sooo sooo good! Elodie and Romes story is a doozy and Rome has had some much happen to him in the past year I could see how he would be peeved at the world. Most of all Elodie. But, this loathing turns into something more. And it’s a great grasp on a true enemies to lovers novel! Well done! I need more.
I absolutely loved it. It was so good. The spice, plot, and drama was amazing. In my opinion there was also some really good character development with the MMC and FMC
Honestly, this was a nice mixture of sweet and hot. I’m a fan of bully romances but sometimes the bully part goes a little too extreme for me. However, Rachel Leigh does a great job at leveling out the bully trope. Also, who doesn’t love a little taboo thrown in with their dark/contemporary romances? I definitely found this to be an enjoyable read. I’m excited to see the next installment in this series because I just knowwwwwww something forbidden with a certain teacher is about to go down ( wink wink ).
- <b>Found On </b>: KU (US)</li>
- <b>Available On </b>: KU</li>
- <li> <b>Audio </b>: ?</li>
- <li> <b>Genre(s) </b>: bully (lite) romance, stepsiblings romance, sports romance
- <li> <b>Demographic </b>: YA/NA (high school setting)</li>
- <li> <b>Page Count </b>: ?</li>
- <li> <b>Tropes </b>: “you owe me, I own you”, asshole MMC, “touch her and die”, second chances in life</li>
- <li> <b>POV </b>: dual </li>
- <li> <b>Reproduction </b>:
N </li> - <li> <b>Third Act Conflict </b>:
External </li> - <li> <b>Intimacy </b>: sexual w/penetration (minor), sensual (none), emotional (minor) </li>
- <li> <b>Standalone </b>: Y</li>
- <li> <b>Connected to Other Works </b>: Y </li>
- <li><b>Other Notes </b>:
attempted assault on FMC (by other men), nonconsented daterape drugging, MMC is Some Asshole(™), underage drinking (US standards), public indecency, bullying, virginity involved but hardly purity culture, good parents bad parenting , OMD </li> - <li> <b>Personal Rating </b>: 3⭐️|1 ♨️| 0 🌶 </li>
- </ul>
<b>CHARACTERS</b>
- <li><b>Eloide</b>. FMC. Sticks up for herself in some ways but conveniently loses that in others. Wants to be pre-law. Loves her mother. “Sweet girl”. Bleeding heart. 3.75 ⭐️</li>
- <li><b>Rome</b>. MMC. Entitled rich Some Asshole(c). Thinks his career is more important than fEmALeS. Angry. Most likely watches Andrew Tate unironically. Immature. 3⭐️</li>
</ul>
<b>SUMMARY</b>
<blockquote>
Elodie and Rome met before—as in, they crushed on each other for a hot minute, Rome got handsy, and Elodie pushed him in a pull.
Can I make it anymore obvious?
But their meetings don’t stop. They meet again when Rome drunkenly saves Elodie from a group of charmers, and he gets arrested for it. And they meet again when their parents are getting married.
…wait, what?
New house, new school, new stepdad, and new stepbrothers—Elodie and her sisters are in for a lot of “new”. And Rome’s “new” position of a bench boy isn’t going to fly.
So now Rome and Elodie meet again and again. At their lockers, where Rome demands Elodie switch. In history, when Rome tries to lightly bully Elodie into being embarrassed. At a party where Rome intends to make a mockery of her, only to help her when she’s roofied. Even at a movie theater date she has with another boy, where she loses her virginity to Rome.
…huh.
The more Elodie and Rome collide, the more they both sees sides to the other that’s new and maybe even lovely. But when Elodie unwillingly meets with the man who was the source of her and Rome’s worst meeting, well…
Let’s just say, the guy will never want to meet them again.
</blockquote>
<b>OVERALL</b>
This title was so edgy and the contents were too 😭
Rome isn’t a “heartless monster”. He’s just Some Asshole©, really, and a misogynistic one who probably would believe in “Sigma Male” shit. I will concede that this was a bully romance, but bullying on normal high school antics rather than anything deliciously dark. I agree that there were some dark elements, such as the attempted gangrape and kidnapping, but this was far from a dark romance or anything of that nature.
The introduction claims there’s “dubious consent” in this book. Not really? Outside of Elodie getting drunk, in which she maybe dances a little, that’s really it.
I think this was a solid read, hence it being 3⭐️, but I guess Elodie fluctuates too much for my liking and isn’t internally consistent. I really enjoyed when she stood up for herself and showed Roman what it was like if she was just a broken toy. But suddenly, she’s insisting to him “No, Gage didn’t flirt with me!” and giggling and stuff?
Okay…?
What happened to the strong girl we had not five minutes ago?
Not to mention, it was pretty ridiculous about the doctor thing. But I also understand, from Rome’s POV, that his family came from wealth. I think I need more showing about the amount of wealth his family has to have a doctor making a house call. Doctors can certainly draw blood, but I guess I was more of “Why didn’t they go to Planned Parenthood?”
While the male cast in high school were largely incels (outside of Brady and Wilder, love em), I felt bad that Elodie really didn’t have friends with other characters.
But she’s a smart cookie and a strong one (at times)! I loved seeing her confront her trauma and wanting to make her statement, understanding the whole affair.
I enjoy stepsiblings romances mainly because I’m a sucker for the dirty and taboo-adjacent element. This didn’t really have that. The parents were pretty accepting, which is fine! But I’m here for Stepbro acting like a dirry mfer about being the FMC’s stepbro 😏
Overall, a solid 3.5⭐️ read rounded down!
This book was the perfect mixture of bully romance/step-sibling romance. The plot, for the most part, seemed very well thought out albeit a little predictable. I really did love the characters tho. I would have liked just a *smidge* more drama/conflict but other than that, stellar.
There's light bullying in this and it involves step siblings (who did not grow up together) so if either of those things bother you, you might wanna give this a pass. But if you are new or a seasoned fan of either trope this will grab you. There's also a bit of a mystery element here which I loved and I didn't see the culprits coming, honestly. Rome has had his life turned upside down and his brand new stepsister Elodie is (in his mind) to blame. The tension was good and I liked how this story flowed. Once again another hit from Ms. Leigh. I read an early copy of this and my opinion and review is unbiased.
It has been a while since I have enjoyed a good bully romance. The back and forth between Rome & Elodie is intense right from the beginning pages before they were so intertwined with each other. Their push and pull has you on your toes. Between the twisty moments and secrets, this is a dark tale that will keep you begging for more!
For a book set in high school it was a good read. There is some suspense and intrigue. The first book in the series but could be read as a standalone.
Did I read this in a day yes!!!
Oh my God it was so good it’s a stepbrother, enemies to lovers,Bully, smart girl and football player romance
Oh my God it was so good it’s a stepbrother, enemies to lovers,Bully, smart girl and football player romance
This was a good step sibling romance book! Rome is the star quarterback and Elodie is his new stepsister. It goes from enemies to lovers and I enjoyed the suspense playing out. This would be a great first dark romance for someone because it’s not too dark and easily read. The story felt real and in line with a high school romance too. All in all, another good read from Rachel.