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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the first new adult bully romance that I've read in a looong time that is actually good. I really like it, and honestly it restored my fate in this trope.
This was obviously character driven, and that mostly what made it so good. The characters were so flawed, but also so real, and with such a hard disposition to grow up. Although they were not the best people most of the time, it wasn't difficult to come to love them.
In terms of the plot, I looooved how sweet they were when they got together. That Stranger Things marathon? Melted my heart. The Christmas reunion? So cute.
I usually don't like it when the characters in an enemies to lovers book get together too quickly, because it becomes boring, but here I didn't have this problem. And I liked that they first became friendly before anything.
In conclusion, a very worthy read.
This was obviously character driven, and that mostly what made it so good. The characters were so flawed, but also so real, and with such a hard disposition to grow up. Although they were not the best people most of the time, it wasn't difficult to come to love them.
In terms of the plot, I looooved how sweet they were when they got together. That Stranger Things marathon? Melted my heart. The Christmas reunion? So cute.
I usually don't like it when the characters in an enemies to lovers book get together too quickly, because it becomes boring, but here I didn't have this problem. And I liked that they first became friendly before anything.
In conclusion, a very worthy read.
Academic rivals turned co-captains and I enjoyed watching them burn for each other
fast-paced
3.5 stars - I might need a break from bully romances because they just aren’t hitting like they used to. There’s nothing wrong with this book and it wasn’t horribly boring there was just something off about the characters for me. Like not quite enough depth. It seemed like they only felt a grand total of 5 emotions the whole book. And the “rich boy who can get away with anything” is not really doing it for me these days.
*Received ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Rating: 4.5 stars!
bookboyfriendsdoitbetter.com
At first, it took me a bit to get into the book but when I got past that, I could not put it down!
"'Fight with me tomorrow...Fight me all week, for all I care. But don't fight me right now, Adams.'"
The hate between Hamilton and Gwen is REAL. The hate-to-love is strong in this book and I'm here for it! This is a book where you will hate Hamilton. He'll frustrate you and make you want to throw the book away, but that's the beauty of him. It will be like you're the one in a hate-to-love slow-burn relationship with Hamilton. Your love of him will keep to itself until suddenly it hits you in the face --as Gwen does to Hamilton--and then you have nothing to but accept that Hamilton is glorious and that that charade he puts up is nothing but a front.
"'Never happened. All my fault. You hate me. I'm the worst. Hasty post-coital exit.' He sweeps his own bag from the ground, throwing it over a shoulder. 'There, covered all the bases for you. I'll go ahead and take the last one.'"
As for Gwen? Well, she just captures your heart from the beginning. She steals and doesn't give it back. Gwen knows exactly what she wants and what she must to do get ahead. She's prepared to fight for her family, no matter the consequences to herself. She has a savior complex and while it has been done so many many many many times, it doesn't feel like a trope. We get to see why she is the way she is. Why she feels like she has to be the protector. And finally, why she doesn't bother to protect herself to the same extreme.
"'She's nothing like you. You're a pain in my ass. You drive me crazy. All you ever do is argue with me. And as much as I hate it--'
'You like it.'
God, I really really do."
Their story isn't sweet. Their story has you at the edge of your seat, filled with dread over knowing that at some point everything will be revealed. Their relationship doesn't come easy. This story will have you laughing at some points and then frustrated the next. You want Hamilton and Gwen to just stop being so frustrating and realize that they are perfect for each other. That they push each other to be better not just for the relationship but for themselves. I really enjoyed watching both of them grow together and separately. It's been a bit since I read an actual bully romance --not just a hate-to-love with some bullying sprinkled in-- and I honestly couldn't put it down once I got into the story. Hamilton and Gwen captured my heart and refuse to give it back.
I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next book in this series and who it will be about.
Rating: 4.5 stars!
bookboyfriendsdoitbetter.com
At first, it took me a bit to get into the book but when I got past that, I could not put it down!
"'Fight with me tomorrow...Fight me all week, for all I care. But don't fight me right now, Adams.'"
The hate between Hamilton and Gwen is REAL. The hate-to-love is strong in this book and I'm here for it! This is a book where you will hate Hamilton. He'll frustrate you and make you want to throw the book away, but that's the beauty of him. It will be like you're the one in a hate-to-love slow-burn relationship with Hamilton. Your love of him will keep to itself until suddenly it hits you in the face --as Gwen does to Hamilton--and then you have nothing to but accept that Hamilton is glorious and that that charade he puts up is nothing but a front.
"'Never happened. All my fault. You hate me. I'm the worst. Hasty post-coital exit.' He sweeps his own bag from the ground, throwing it over a shoulder. 'There, covered all the bases for you. I'll go ahead and take the last one.'"
As for Gwen? Well, she just captures your heart from the beginning. She steals and doesn't give it back. Gwen knows exactly what she wants and what she must to do get ahead. She's prepared to fight for her family, no matter the consequences to herself. She has a savior complex and while it has been done so many many many many times, it doesn't feel like a trope. We get to see why she is the way she is. Why she feels like she has to be the protector. And finally, why she doesn't bother to protect herself to the same extreme.
"'She's nothing like you. You're a pain in my ass. You drive me crazy. All you ever do is argue with me. And as much as I hate it--'
'You like it.'
God, I really really do."
Their story isn't sweet. Their story has you at the edge of your seat, filled with dread over knowing that at some point everything will be revealed. Their relationship doesn't come easy. This story will have you laughing at some points and then frustrated the next. You want Hamilton and Gwen to just stop being so frustrating and realize that they are perfect for each other. That they push each other to be better not just for the relationship but for themselves. I really enjoyed watching both of them grow together and separately. It's been a bit since I read an actual bully romance --not just a hate-to-love with some bullying sprinkled in-- and I honestly couldn't put it down once I got into the story. Hamilton and Gwen captured my heart and refuse to give it back.
I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next book in this series and who it will be about.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
UPDATE: I'm upping this rating to 5 stars. After thinking on it for some time, this is probably as good as this genre gets, in the sense that is a well-written book with believable characters and development.
I'll admit I mostly hate-read teen angsty romance for some reason. Like, why are these high schoolers always so in love and having so much sex? I just don't understand why these stories can't take place in college....but anyway.....
This book was surprisingly well written! The pacing and language was great. The characters felt real, and their emotions toward each other felt earned. The sex scenes were racey - I specifically appreciated the male protagonist's POV, which wasn't, like, weirdly written? It all really took me by surprise. This was good sexually-active teen romance.
I'll admit I mostly hate-read teen angsty romance for some reason. Like, why are these high schoolers always so in love and having so much sex? I just don't understand why these stories can't take place in college....but anyway.....
This book was surprisingly well written! The pacing and language was great. The characters felt real, and their emotions toward each other felt earned. The sex scenes were racey - I specifically appreciated the male protagonist's POV, which wasn't, like, weirdly written? It all really took me by surprise. This was good sexually-active teen romance.
I’m not sure what the word is for someone who reads an entire book despite disliking almost everything about it. But, it’s me... I am that person. Guess I’m just ‘not like the other girls.’ Gag!
I’ve read bully romance before, and there’s always a part of me that is both horrified and a little bit fascinated by it. And whilst I didn’t really *like* this book, there was something *enjoyable* about it... in a mindless sort of way.
Expect all of the overdone tropes and cliched romance lines, teenagers that talk like thirty year olds and illogical drama/angst. This satisfied a mood but it also very swiftly put me out of that mood, so... job done?
I’ve read bully romance before, and there’s always a part of me that is both horrified and a little bit fascinated by it. And whilst I didn’t really *like* this book, there was something *enjoyable* about it... in a mindless sort of way.
Expect all of the overdone tropes and cliched romance lines, teenagers that talk like thirty year olds and illogical drama/angst. This satisfied a mood but it also very swiftly put me out of that mood, so... job done?
This book was full of angst, and drama, and just so much crazy that I loved it. Gwen and Hamilton were electric, and I loved the evolution of their relationship.
As a sucker for a good bully romance, this one was *chef's kiss* and executed wonderfully. While I wasn't thrilled with the slight cheating aspect (although I understand why it was done) the rest of it fell together nicely. Gwen, although flawed, saw such growth throughout the book that you couldn't help but hope she got her sh*t together, and Hamilton was everything a reader wants in a tough-bad-boy with a marshmallow interior. His transformation from the start of the book to the end was heartwarming (and heart-wrenching) but I loved every minute of it.
This book has easily become one of my top Angel Lawson releases. I can't wait to see what she and Samantha Rue come up with next.
As a sucker for a good bully romance, this one was *chef's kiss* and executed wonderfully. While I wasn't thrilled with the slight cheating aspect (although I understand why it was done) the rest of it fell together nicely. Gwen, although flawed, saw such growth throughout the book that you couldn't help but hope she got her sh*t together, and Hamilton was everything a reader wants in a tough-bad-boy with a marshmallow interior. His transformation from the start of the book to the end was heartwarming (and heart-wrenching) but I loved every minute of it.
This book has easily become one of my top Angel Lawson releases. I can't wait to see what she and Samantha Rue come up with next.