This was going so well up until the 65% mark, where the conflict happened. And it's funny how certain scenes could ruin the impression a reader has of the book. I rarely enjoyed bully romances, but this surprised me, and I had fun reading it before the main problem happened.
Cade acted out of anger and didn't even think things through before he impulsively spread Lily's journal. I knew he has a troubled upbringing and he's a broken kid, but in my head, I hoped for him to actually hear out her explanation or her version of what happened before he do anything drastic. But nope, he's hell-bent on getting even, so he did what he did. This made me furious at him and, honestly, ruined his overall character up until the end of the book. I thought he couldn't get any worse, but man, did he prove me wrong.
Around this time, I was hoping Lily would grow some backbone and not let Cade walk over her. But nah, she's hell-bent on something too, proving she's innocent and that she's not responsible for sending out that article. To be honest, I wish she ignored Cade, showed him indifference, and stopped trying to clear her name. It's not worth the effort and time, imo, but her people-pleasing personality wouldn't agree with that.
Then all the worse things Cade did during the 65%–85% of the book were long forgotten after he saved her from his foster father. He didn't apologize for doubting her, spreading her journal entry, and telling Lily's parents about her plan to go to college in California. And Lily was more than happy to put everything in the past, so, I guess, good for her for being a nice person. I don't agree with it, but it's the story, and there's nothing I can do about it.
Then, when Lily finally told her parents and some friends about her official college plan, Cade's brightest idea was to send her his own journal, which apparently contained all of his thoughts during those weeks that they were at war. One of the entries said, "I'm sorry," but I'm not sure what he was sorry about when he wrote that. Was it for treating her like sh*t? Doubting her? Publishing her private journal entry? Airing her college plans to her parents? Letting other students bully her after that entry was published? For getting kidnapped by his foster father? I mean, he did a lot of stupid things in this story, and the last 10% of the book isn't enough, at least to me, to make up for all of these fuckups. Sorry, it's just not going to work.
I wish I could say Lily is better at handling everything that goes down, but for the most part, she didn't hold her ground and became a pathetic mess for wanting Cade's attention. Don't get me wrong, she displayed some steel at times, but most of her attempts were weak at best. 😮💨 Also, her body-betraying crap made the situation even worse. I'm still having a hard time understanding how she could possibly continue to sleep with someone who made her life miserable. Then again, that's bully romance for you. 😐
Anywaaay, I enjoyed the first half of this, but the last 30% took away all the fun I had and eventually ruined my mood and my supposed rating for this book. I'm not sure if I liked this at all, or even the MCs, for that matter. I wish I could forget the last part and live in blissful banter and tension between them, but I can't do that. So, 3 ⭐ it is for a great start.
Book info:
- Bully romance
- High school romance
- Bad boy x good girl
- Dual virgin
- Mention of substance abuse
- Sport romance (hockey)
- Kidnapping
- Suspense
- No cheating (h kissed the OM in their truth or dare game, so i won't consider it cheating)
- OWD (a cheerleader wants Cade's attention but he didn't give her any time)
- OMD (guys were friendly with the h, one guy kissed her at a truth or dare game)
- Third-act breakup
- HFN (in a relationship 🤷♀️)