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Spring Hill Blues #1
Free Fall
This isn’t high school. This is a war zone.
It should be just another year for me at Spring Hill High. It’s not. It’s the first of many years…without my brother.
Fighting back the memories of Brady should be the most difficult thing I have to face while walking the halls of SHH. Instead, those sad reminders become the least of my worries.
My brother’s best friends make sure of that.
They won’t let me heal in peace. In fact, the three star football players—the ones my brother knew all his life—are determined to make me do it their way, or live through hell in the process.
What they don’t understand is, I lived through my brother’s death…that means I can live through anything.
Bring it, hotshots. I’m waiting.
Free Fall is a high school bully romance.
362 pages, ebook
First published August 31, 2019
4057 people are currently reading
11344 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Moore
112 books1,909 followersE. M. Moore is a USA Today Bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal Romance. She's drawn to write within the teen and college-aged years where her characters get knocked on their asses, torn inside out, and put back together again by their first loves. Whether it's in a fantastical setting where human guards protect the creatures of the night or a realistic high school backdrop where social cliques rule the halls, the emotions are the same. Dark. Twisty. Angsty. Raw.
When Erin's not writing, you can find her dreaming up vacations for her family, watching murder mystery shows, or dancing in her kitchen while she pretends to cook.
To keep up with her and her books, you can like E. M. Moore on Facebook! (Just copy and paste the following link into your browser.) https://www.facebook.com/EMMooreBooks/
When Erin's not writing, you can find her dreaming up vacations for her family, watching murder mystery shows, or dancing in her kitchen while she pretends to cook.
To keep up with her and her books, you can like E. M. Moore on Facebook! (Just copy and paste the following link into your browser.) https://www.facebook.com/EMMooreBooks/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 494 reviews
August 31, 2022
Idk why I did this to myself someone take my English degree away from me I don’t deserve it.
March 2, 2020
Disappointed
So irritated at this author and this book! I gave it an extra star because there was a scene that features one of my favorite childhood movies The Monstar Squad, I rarely hear about it and it made me want to send the author a high five. The rest of this book, ugh!!! This author actually has an original story and at first I loved that. It would have really worked it she hadn’t of made the hero (Reid) such an enormous douche. He has supposedly been in love with briar for 3 years. He dates this awful excuse for a human being the whole time. He doesn’t break up with her until over halfway through the book, even after she makes disrespectful references to Briars dead brother ( Reid’s best friend). He cheats on her with Briar and (he was kissing Briars body and preparing to go down on her until he found out that someone else had gone down on her before). After this he is back to screwing the girlfriend. He makes out with her in the halls and they attend Homecoming together where they were all over each other, ie he was kissing his girlfriends breasts etc. The next part makes absolutely no sense and further ruins the quality of the book is that none of his awful behavior is never addressed. He doesn’t apologize to Briar or even bring it up. In a completely impossible move, because women aren’t built that way, Briar never asks him one thing about it. When his ex bullies her and is just an awful excuse for a person she doesn’t even ask the first question like “how could you have dated her?” Or “why didn’t you break up with her sooner, like when you had your mouth on my body”. Nothing. He acts like he is a prince and just loves her so much, but nothing is ever said about his behavior with the witch over the last few weeks. That is bad writing. The author drilled this into our heads way more than necessary, but her heroine apparently just isn’t human, and didn’t have questions? So many references were made about Reid and Sasha having sex that I lost count, at one point Reid starts to make a reference about how Sasha is in bed to BRIAR!! Just lazy writing, you don’t start drama and not have some kind of resolution. I am pretty sure that’s taught in creative writing 101. I really wish that she had done a better job! With this concept, she could have had a five star book. But she had to try to take the lazy/easy way that so many authors do lately and throwing in cheating and another woman drama with it going nowhere. Why? Are that authors just that afraid to rely on their own story? Because the idea of other woman drama is so overdone and used, that at this point I wound think any author worth her merit would cringe on abusing that concept. It’s tacky. I hope someday this author decides to rely on her own original ideas and creates a decent story.
So irritated at this author and this book! I gave it an extra star because there was a scene that features one of my favorite childhood movies The Monstar Squad, I rarely hear about it and it made me want to send the author a high five. The rest of this book, ugh!!! This author actually has an original story and at first I loved that. It would have really worked it she hadn’t of made the hero (Reid) such an enormous douche. He has supposedly been in love with briar for 3 years. He dates this awful excuse for a human being the whole time. He doesn’t break up with her until over halfway through the book, even after she makes disrespectful references to Briars dead brother ( Reid’s best friend). He cheats on her with Briar and (he was kissing Briars body and preparing to go down on her until he found out that someone else had gone down on her before). After this he is back to screwing the girlfriend. He makes out with her in the halls and they attend Homecoming together where they were all over each other, ie he was kissing his girlfriends breasts etc. The next part makes absolutely no sense and further ruins the quality of the book is that none of his awful behavior is never addressed. He doesn’t apologize to Briar or even bring it up. In a completely impossible move, because women aren’t built that way, Briar never asks him one thing about it. When his ex bullies her and is just an awful excuse for a person she doesn’t even ask the first question like “how could you have dated her?” Or “why didn’t you break up with her sooner, like when you had your mouth on my body”. Nothing. He acts like he is a prince and just loves her so much, but nothing is ever said about his behavior with the witch over the last few weeks. That is bad writing. The author drilled this into our heads way more than necessary, but her heroine apparently just isn’t human, and didn’t have questions? So many references were made about Reid and Sasha having sex that I lost count, at one point Reid starts to make a reference about how Sasha is in bed to BRIAR!! Just lazy writing, you don’t start drama and not have some kind of resolution. I am pretty sure that’s taught in creative writing 101. I really wish that she had done a better job! With this concept, she could have had a five star book. But she had to try to take the lazy/easy way that so many authors do lately and throwing in cheating and another woman drama with it going nowhere. Why? Are that authors just that afraid to rely on their own story? Because the idea of other woman drama is so overdone and used, that at this point I wound think any author worth her merit would cringe on abusing that concept. It’s tacky. I hope someday this author decides to rely on her own original ideas and creates a decent story.
September 13, 2019
Why?!
Why does an author end a book like that...
I’m dying.
I need words
Send help!
E.M Moore just bought a whole lot of alpha, hurt, sexy times and heart break with Free fall.
Reid, Lex and Cade- Yes please!
This isn’t a RH bully romance, the heroine only ends up with one of the guys but the journey for them to get together... jeez.
It’s beautifully heartbreaking, I didn’t expect this book to be as emotional as it was.
Briar is trying to cope with the death of her brother Brady, she’s spiralling out of control. But her brother’s best friends won’t allow it. They are there at every turn to snap her out of her funk whether she likes it or not.
I won’t spoil it and tell you who she ends up with but I will say this... HOLY HELL the sex scenes!! 🔥
I wouldn’t really class this as a bully romance, even though there is a mean girl who needs a bitch slap.
E.M Moore needs to write all of the words because I need book two ASAP ...
Why does an author end a book like that...
I’m dying.
I need words
Send help!
E.M Moore just bought a whole lot of alpha, hurt, sexy times and heart break with Free fall.
Reid, Lex and Cade- Yes please!
This isn’t a RH bully romance, the heroine only ends up with one of the guys but the journey for them to get together... jeez.
It’s beautifully heartbreaking, I didn’t expect this book to be as emotional as it was.
Briar is trying to cope with the death of her brother Brady, she’s spiralling out of control. But her brother’s best friends won’t allow it. They are there at every turn to snap her out of her funk whether she likes it or not.
I won’t spoil it and tell you who she ends up with but I will say this... HOLY HELL the sex scenes!! 🔥
I wouldn’t really class this as a bully romance, even though there is a mean girl who needs a bitch slap.
E.M Moore needs to write all of the words because I need book two ASAP ...
December 12, 2019
Wow...this book took me by surprise. I really enjoyed it and excited to see how this story plays out in the next book.
July 23, 2021
Blah
This had the potential to be just what I was looking for but the whole wanting to change the h and not giving her space got me so Pissed off, it wasn’t 5 or 10 years that she lost her brother it was just one! She had all the right to change and explote like she did.
Also I was team Lex since the beginning, Reid was just a controlling freak! So I didn’t like the end game.
This had the potential to be just what I was looking for but the whole wanting to change the h and not giving her space got me so Pissed off, it wasn’t 5 or 10 years that she lost her brother it was just one! She had all the right to change and explote like she did.
Also I was team Lex since the beginning, Reid was just a controlling freak! So I didn’t like the end game.
April 15, 2020
Picture it. Sicily. 2020. Me. Cliff. Tossing myself off the side of it. LOL, sorry, kidding, I think.😳
Wow, the author doesn't play around. I'm a fan of the high school dramazzz! An enemies to lovers/bullies romance is always on my wish list and this one was a doozie! Sorry I can't dally around more with this review, but I really need to see what happens in book 2...4 stars.
Wow, the author doesn't play around. I'm a fan of the high school dramazzz! An enemies to lovers/bullies romance is always on my wish list and this one was a doozie! Sorry I can't dally around more with this review, but I really need to see what happens in book 2...4 stars.
August 31, 2019
Briar has had a tough time over the last few months. After losing her brother, she tries to run away from the memories and grief that are left behind to haunt her.
She's a bit of a complicated character, and I can see how people might wind up a little polarized in how they see her. Lost in grief, she has her moments where she can come off as abrasive or stand-offish, but it's also easy to sympathize with her. How else could she be after losing one of the people who was most special to her? Not only that, but his best friends and ex-girlfriend are determined to make Briar live again, and their attempts to pull her out of her mourning are NOT appreciated.
Cade, Reid, and Lex are different flavors of alpha male, and Reid is definitely the apex predator here. The three of them are likable, but Reid has moments where he's not my favorite. He's the most in-your-face, and he definitely puts his mission over Briar's own feelings and requests for space. Cade is more of the flirty jokester, and it's pretty clear that although he cares about Briar and loved his friendship with her brother, he really follows Reid's lead when it comes to the methods of helping her recover. Lex is the most sensitive, kindest one, and he has a bit of a crush on Briar.
I think Moore made it pretty clear that this is just an M/F novel, so not RH, and she does end up with only one guy in the end. The match works well enough IMO, and I think it starts to become clear enough which of the men is really going to come forward and be that white knight. He might not have been the one that I was rooting for, but once they start to get together, we get to see a little more to the endearing part of his character.
Along with the plotline of Briar's emotional journey, we also have a very b*tchy girlfriend who's trying to make Briar regret opening herself back up to her brother's friends and an online boyfriend who I was very suspicious of since the beginning. That was one of my only drawbacks- I had a suspicion of what was going on with the boyfriend, and I turned out to be correct. While I was glad that this made me not-so-crazy, it would have also been nice to have a little more of a twist to uncover.
Overall, I dug right into Free Fall, and it did hold my attention from start to finish. Remember, it's not RH, so make sure you're in the mood to read regular F/M with an open mind, but I think many will enjoy!
She's a bit of a complicated character, and I can see how people might wind up a little polarized in how they see her. Lost in grief, she has her moments where she can come off as abrasive or stand-offish, but it's also easy to sympathize with her. How else could she be after losing one of the people who was most special to her? Not only that, but his best friends and ex-girlfriend are determined to make Briar live again, and their attempts to pull her out of her mourning are NOT appreciated.
Cade, Reid, and Lex are different flavors of alpha male, and Reid is definitely the apex predator here. The three of them are likable, but Reid has moments where he's not my favorite. He's the most in-your-face, and he definitely puts his mission over Briar's own feelings and requests for space. Cade is more of the flirty jokester, and it's pretty clear that although he cares about Briar and loved his friendship with her brother, he really follows Reid's lead when it comes to the methods of helping her recover. Lex is the most sensitive, kindest one, and he has a bit of a crush on Briar.
I think Moore made it pretty clear that this is just an M/F novel, so not RH, and she does end up with only one guy in the end. The match works well enough IMO, and I think it starts to become clear enough which of the men is really going to come forward and be that white knight. He might not have been the one that I was rooting for, but once they start to get together, we get to see a little more to the endearing part of his character.
Along with the plotline of Briar's emotional journey, we also have a very b*tchy girlfriend who's trying to make Briar regret opening herself back up to her brother's friends and an online boyfriend who I was very suspicious of since the beginning. That was one of my only drawbacks- I had a suspicion of what was going on with the boyfriend, and I turned out to be correct. While I was glad that this made me not-so-crazy, it would have also been nice to have a little more of a twist to uncover.
Overall, I dug right into Free Fall, and it did hold my attention from start to finish. Remember, it's not RH, so make sure you're in the mood to read regular F/M with an open mind, but I think many will enjoy!
May 9, 2022
Oh boy, high school just isn’t for me. However, to start with this book was really dealing with a major issue. The death of a sibling suddenly while in high school. Our heroine was really struggling. Sometimes I felt the support network parents, teachers, counselor were really letting her down. I would have liked to be involved in the sessions but we only got a throw away line here and there. She latched on to an online friend in an emotional and romantic way but not physical.
So her brothers best friends took over. I don’t know any parent that would have let their child down like this. So easily this type of trigger does not end well. I feel the author wasn’t sensitive enough during her tough love with these boys. Yes it’s a romance but this topic is tough. So the first half of the book was good. But then...
Mixed signals. Incongruent behavior. Mean girls to the max. Why? Why was he with the mean girl? Why stay when she showed her true colours in front of everyone? He threw her to the wolves because he didn’t deal with his shit. The issue of cat fishing must lead into book two which I’m not interested in reading. I couldn’t really get over the amount of power given to this child in high school. The author doesn’t state how the heroine found her online friend. It’s contrived but obvious and I consider to be not he greatest way to deal with this conflict. But again, it’s high school. Not my thing.🙃
So her brothers best friends took over. I don’t know any parent that would have let their child down like this. So easily this type of trigger does not end well. I feel the author wasn’t sensitive enough during her tough love with these boys. Yes it’s a romance but this topic is tough. So the first half of the book was good. But then...
Mixed signals. Incongruent behavior. Mean girls to the max. Why? Why was he with the mean girl? Why stay when she showed her true colours in front of everyone? He threw her to the wolves because he didn’t deal with his shit. The issue of cat fishing must lead into book two which I’m not interested in reading. I couldn’t really get over the amount of power given to this child in high school. The author doesn’t state how the heroine found her online friend. It’s contrived but obvious and I consider to be not he greatest way to deal with this conflict. But again, it’s high school. Not my thing.🙃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
do-not-read-cheating
November 18, 2023Although not technically, it still feels like it to me 😐
September 30, 2022
This was too icky for me...
BookTube Review | Instagram
I would have DNF'd it, but I do my best to give the full book a chance to give an appropriate review.
I don't do explicit scenes with minors, especially when they are written like it's a grown man saying really explicit things. I also didn't appreciate the toxic treatment of the FMC from the MMCs.
For more in depth commentary click the link above for my full video review.
BookTube Review | Instagram
I would have DNF'd it, but I do my best to give the full book a chance to give an appropriate review.
I don't do explicit scenes with minors, especially when they are written like it's a grown man saying really explicit things. I also didn't appreciate the toxic treatment of the FMC from the MMCs.
For more in depth commentary click the link above for my full video review.
January 7, 2020
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 Stars!
February 11, 2025
I honestly don't know how to feel about this.
The story started off amazing. I was intrigued by this girl who was lost in her head and who seemed to have slipped a bit off the edge of her sanity after her brother dies. Then along come her brother's best friends. Reid being his old bestie.
Reid is an asshole. It took time for me to grow to like him, which actually worked really well in this story since Briar has to start liking him from scratch as well. But then... Introduce the bitchy girlfriend, Sasha.
She's got the looks, the money, the figure and the talent. And for all that pomp, she's about as fake as a two dollar bill. And I don't mean this in a good way. It seems that Sasha's life ambition revolves around Reid and Briar. Not once in the entire book, do you see her doing anything nice or even tolerable. Nope, all you get from her is hard core, psycho girlfriend. All the time. Please tell me what realistic character can only swing between psychotic and horny? But anyways... She wasn't around enough for this to become a permanent thorn in my side while reading.
The ending made me want to slam my head against the wall though. If the author had decided to take a slightly different route after the last football game and Briar didn't make a run for it and actually decided to talk things through with Reid, we could've resolved the whole whole story nice and neatly with a few more chapters. Knocking Reid unconscious felt like a plot device that wasn't necessary. Their story would've ended just as easily if they'd had to team up to get rid of Sasha and stop her from sabotaging the game or something.
I get that she's traumatized and scared, but when characters do stupid things just to keep the plot moving forward, I want to scream. Give me a character who finds themselves in the most shitty position you can think of after doing everything a normal, rational human being would've done to stay out of trouble. Don't tell me that a character just does something because, trauma.
I don't think I'll be carrying on with this series anymore. The story line is great and I did enjoy the MC's but not enough to want to read a whole new book with them
The story started off amazing. I was intrigued by this girl who was lost in her head and who seemed to have slipped a bit off the edge of her sanity after her brother dies. Then along come her brother's best friends. Reid being his old bestie.
Reid is an asshole. It took time for me to grow to like him, which actually worked really well in this story since Briar has to start liking him from scratch as well. But then... Introduce the bitchy girlfriend, Sasha.
She's got the looks, the money, the figure and the talent. And for all that pomp, she's about as fake as a two dollar bill. And I don't mean this in a good way. It seems that Sasha's life ambition revolves around Reid and Briar. Not once in the entire book, do you see her doing anything nice or even tolerable. Nope, all you get from her is hard core, psycho girlfriend. All the time. Please tell me what realistic character can only swing between psychotic and horny? But anyways... She wasn't around enough for this to become a permanent thorn in my side while reading.
The ending made me want to slam my head against the wall though. If the author had decided to take a slightly different route after the last football game and Briar didn't make a run for it and actually decided to talk things through with Reid, we could've resolved the whole whole story nice and neatly with a few more chapters. Knocking Reid unconscious felt like a plot device that wasn't necessary. Their story would've ended just as easily if they'd had to team up to get rid of Sasha and stop her from sabotaging the game or something.
I get that she's traumatized and scared, but when characters do stupid things just to keep the plot moving forward, I want to scream. Give me a character who finds themselves in the most shitty position you can think of after doing everything a normal, rational human being would've done to stay out of trouble. Don't tell me that a character just does something because, trauma.
I don't think I'll be carrying on with this series anymore. The story line is great and I did enjoy the MC's but not enough to want to read a whole new book with them
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2019
I devoured this book! Free Fall was emotional, steamy, angsty, and full of twists and turns. While E.M. Moore writes a lot of Reverse Harem, please note that Free Fall is NOT an RH, and it's still a fantastic start to a new series!
I loved Briar and totally felt for her and everything she went through. I definitely wanted to junk punch Reid and his friends, but I still loved them all. I loved the romantic aspect of this book, Briar and Reid were fantastic and HOT together.
That ending... lets just say I am DYING to find out what happens next! Trust me, fans of bully romances will love this book.
I loved Briar and totally felt for her and everything she went through. I definitely wanted to junk punch Reid and his friends, but I still loved them all. I loved the romantic aspect of this book, Briar and Reid were fantastic and HOT together.
That ending... lets just say I am DYING to find out what happens next! Trust me, fans of bully romances will love this book.
May 19, 2023
3.5 stars
E.M. Moore became another new to me author this year, because I get the chance to meet her at a signing this July and I decided to start with her Spring Hill Blues series.
Free Fall is a young adult story that deals mainly with loosing a person you love. How a young person deals with grief and about finding first love. Even though there are three guys with Cade, Lex and Reid who's lives revolve not only around football but help the sister of their best friend, after he died, this is not a RH story. It might have vibes of a love triangle, but IM it's far away from being actually one.
The beginning was full of repeating things and phrases and I wasn't sold until about 40% into the book. I can't consider it a full bully story either. Might because the reason why Cade, Lex and Reid pushed Briar.
I actually missed some parent interaction in this book. Because Brady's best friends and his sister weren't the only ones losing him. As well as Briar's behavior should have brought her parents more into the story, not leaving three teenagers dealing with it.
I also had trouble believing Reid that he loves Briar, quite the contrary to Lex.
Nevertheless, the story itself and how everyone was dealing with their grief was what kept me reading. I found myself invested in the characters and wanted to know how Briar develops. Luckily I didn't have to wait for the second book and could continue right away.
E.M. Moore became another new to me author this year, because I get the chance to meet her at a signing this July and I decided to start with her Spring Hill Blues series.
Free Fall is a young adult story that deals mainly with loosing a person you love. How a young person deals with grief and about finding first love. Even though there are three guys with Cade, Lex and Reid who's lives revolve not only around football but help the sister of their best friend, after he died, this is not a RH story. It might have vibes of a love triangle, but IM it's far away from being actually one.
The beginning was full of repeating things and phrases and I wasn't sold until about 40% into the book. I can't consider it a full bully story either. Might because the reason why Cade, Lex and Reid pushed Briar.
I actually missed some parent interaction in this book. Because Brady's best friends and his sister weren't the only ones losing him. As well as Briar's behavior should have brought her parents more into the story, not leaving three teenagers dealing with it.
I also had trouble believing Reid that he loves Briar, quite the contrary to Lex.
Nevertheless, the story itself and how everyone was dealing with their grief was what kept me reading. I found myself invested in the characters and wanted to know how Briar develops. Luckily I didn't have to wait for the second book and could continue right away.
May 7, 2020
Wow. I literally cried throughout the whole book, and I mean throughout the whole thing. I felt the pain of each page. I loved Briar, Reid, Cade, Lex and Jules who are facing the same tragedy and you can help but hurt with them. What I loved most is how they all came together for Briar who is Brady's sister... and that was just wow.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars was that the book felt more grown up, like the characters should have been 18, seniors and not 16 and juniors or whatever they were.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars was that the book felt more grown up, like the characters should have been 18, seniors and not 16 and juniors or whatever they were.
August 30, 2019
* This book is the first installment in a new Bully Romance series and has a cliffhanger. If you enjoy drama, twisted characters, and an angst filled story line, you will love this story. I really like E.M. Moore's writing style and she does Bully Romance very well. Her characters are always multi layered and I enjoy how they tend to evolve as the plot progresses. A Great Book! 4 Stars!
October 16, 2020
I didn't expect the emotional side of this book, and I got teary a few times. I love Reid, but I am in love with lex and cade. These guys are really like a family unit, and I loved seeing them working together whether they were fighting or not. I enjoyed this and it was nice for a lighter read.
April 28, 2020
Woah this hit me in the feels
After reading the description of this book I wasnt sure what to expect but I will tell you it was one emotional ride. I dont think I have physically cried in a book as much as I did this one. But with that being said it was so so amazing to see how she progressed when it came to learning to deal with the loss of Brady. This was very well written!
After reading the description of this book I wasnt sure what to expect but I will tell you it was one emotional ride. I dont think I have physically cried in a book as much as I did this one. But with that being said it was so so amazing to see how she progressed when it came to learning to deal with the loss of Brady. This was very well written!
August 10, 2023
This was just too predictable especially the ending that I just don’t know if I want to continue to the second book.
October 29, 2024
Smash (inca sper ca in cartea a 2-a sa fie CELĂLALT love interestul)
December 24, 2019
Its my first book by this author and WOW i loved every bit of this story. Will be reading more of her books, her writting flows beautifully and captured me from start to finish.
My heart broke for Briar, i could really feel her grief. Reid, Lex and Cade are such brilliant character's, im really excited about reading more of them and to see what becomes of Briar and Reid.
This isn't like any other bully romance books I've read, these guys are more sweet and endearing. Their actions towards Briar are in her best interest even though Reid at times can be harsh but he's grieving too and cares deeply about Briar. This totally had me more hooked and needing more.
I think im in love with Cade, he might like the girls a lot but there is just something about him that makes me swoon. Need more now.
A must read.
My heart broke for Briar, i could really feel her grief. Reid, Lex and Cade are such brilliant character's, im really excited about reading more of them and to see what becomes of Briar and Reid.
This isn't like any other bully romance books I've read, these guys are more sweet and endearing. Their actions towards Briar are in her best interest even though Reid at times can be harsh but he's grieving too and cares deeply about Briar. This totally had me more hooked and needing more.
I think im in love with Cade, he might like the girls a lot but there is just something about him that makes me swoon. Need more now.
A must read.
August 20, 2022
The concept of the book was great but the actual book itself is shitty. I almost had to dnf the book so many times. I get what her friends are trying to do but insulting her, controlling what she wears, making her go to games and parties she doesn’t want to is disgusting. There is no time limit on grief. What would’ve helped is if they supported her decisions whether it was not being social anymore to her appearances. And how tf is Reid supposedly been in love with her for years, I swear the amount of times it is brought up with him having sex with his gf who is a ducking bully is also disgusting. His gf, Sasha, insults Briar constantly and is always talking shit about her own boyfriends friends and he just lets her. I honestly thought Briar’s change in looks and personality is definitely normal like her brother died??? They treat Briar like their property bossing her around and making her feel so bad she looks for compliments from a stranger online she’s been texting.
August 28, 2019
I received this book as an ARC, but as usual all opinions are my own!
I loved this book! I love that it isn’t a typical bully romance - as in it isn’t the boys bullying her but that’s what she perceives it to be because she’s so stuck in grief. I just love when things aren’t as they seem!
I really genuinely love all the main characters (obviously besides Sasha, ew) and I love their dynamic with each other!
There is grief, sadness, happiness, humor, steam, angst, and sexy times...what else could a gal ask for?? I cannot wait for the next book, after that cliffhanger!
10/10 would recommend
I loved this book! I love that it isn’t a typical bully romance - as in it isn’t the boys bullying her but that’s what she perceives it to be because she’s so stuck in grief. I just love when things aren’t as they seem!
I really genuinely love all the main characters (obviously besides Sasha, ew) and I love their dynamic with each other!
There is grief, sadness, happiness, humor, steam, angst, and sexy times...what else could a gal ask for?? I cannot wait for the next book, after that cliffhanger!
10/10 would recommend
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2019
Because of EM Moore page turning story and great writing I lost several hours of sleep!
Could not put down this book!
Briar is in depression from the death of her brother.
His friends Reid, Lex, and Cade are dealing with the pain of the loss in their different ways also.
I felt the hurt and sadness of each character. Briar is numb and checked out of life. The brothers best friends are sad and angry that she has given up and are pushing her in different ways to realize she needs to be present.
This story was heart breaking, hopeful, layered, and filled with drama and secrets.
Cliffhanger
Could not put down this book!
Briar is in depression from the death of her brother.
His friends Reid, Lex, and Cade are dealing with the pain of the loss in their different ways also.
I felt the hurt and sadness of each character. Briar is numb and checked out of life. The brothers best friends are sad and angry that she has given up and are pushing her in different ways to realize she needs to be present.
This story was heart breaking, hopeful, layered, and filled with drama and secrets.
Cliffhanger
September 11, 2022
ugh. i really wanted to like this book😫 it was SO well written and the storyline was beautiful-i was crying in my bathroom at 2 in the morning reading the homecoming scene😭 however, it read like a wattpad story and, while i do enjoy wattpad stories, i like them on wattpad, not on my kindle if that makes any sense. maybe i’m just being too picky or whatever, especially because i genuinely did love this story, but i just couldn’t get past the unpolished wattpad feeling of it, especially reading the author’s beautiful writing and getting the feel that she’s able to do much better. i sound like such a jerk in this review😫 i’m so sorry
March 6, 2023
what the fuck.
what the literal fuck.
nah what. the. fuck.
what the fuck was that ending.
YOU ACTUALLY CANT END A BOOK LIKE THAT. THAT IS NOT OKAY.
SHE ENDS UP RUNNING AWAY FROM HER PROBLEMS, DID HER SOUL MATE DIE???
YOU.
CANT.
DO.
THAT.
YOU CANT TELL ME SHE ENDS UP ALONE WITH NO ONE. WHAT THE FUCKK??????
NO LITTERALLY WHAT DUDE.
FINISH THIS BOOK HAPPILY E.M MOORE OR I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL WRECK HAVOCK.
im actually gobsmacked what the fuck.
yknow actually now im pissed off, dont write a book if its just going to make life seem like complete shit. thats not okay. that makes me pissed off fr
(i do apologise for my language but it the only way i can correctly describe my feelings)
what the literal fuck.
nah what. the. fuck.
what the fuck was that ending.
YOU ACTUALLY CANT END A BOOK LIKE THAT. THAT IS NOT OKAY.
SHE ENDS UP RUNNING AWAY FROM HER PROBLEMS, DID HER SOUL MATE DIE???
YOU.
CANT.
DO.
THAT.
YOU CANT TELL ME SHE ENDS UP ALONE WITH NO ONE. WHAT THE FUCKK??????
NO LITTERALLY WHAT DUDE.
FINISH THIS BOOK HAPPILY E.M MOORE OR I SWEAR TO GOD I WILL WRECK HAVOCK.
im actually gobsmacked what the fuck.
yknow actually now im pissed off, dont write a book if its just going to make life seem like complete shit. thats not okay. that makes me pissed off fr
(i do apologise for my language but it the only way i can correctly describe my feelings)
September 23, 2019
I need the next one
February 27, 2023
It was a mix of a light read and a heavy read for me.
On one hand, it was very much an amalgamation of your go-to tropes and themes from these kinds of romance books. Friends to enemies to friends to lovers romance plot. And, as I have frequently found, a healthy mix of inner monologuing condemning misogyny and thinly veiled misogyny from many characters.
On the other hand, the dead brother plot point really got to me. Perhaps it has to do with my own experience of losing a sibling figure in my life recently, but it still got me in my feels frequently.
On that note, I was really confused and distressed about how the three friends went about their attempts to help the ~MC~. She was very clearly clinically depressed after losing her brother and begins to act out with self-destructive behaviors. One may think a gentler approach would better suit the situation from all parties, but no.
We have these dudes (mainly Reid) just saying the most buck-wild things to someone who just lost their brother. "You're disgracing your brother's memory," for wearing sweats and dyeing her hair? Dude told her that she was just attention-seeking and it "wouldn't bring her brother back." Any morsel of tact could've been cool, or whatever.
Also, they just straight up refuse to let her have any free will? Like, I understand they're trying to push her to continue with life and not let herself get sucked into the tide of grief; however, the whole forcing her to wear things she doesn't want to and forcing her to go places she doesn't want to (thinly-veiled kidnapping) was mad weird. I understand how it can be explained away, but it just reeked of "you, a girl with a whole brain and sense of self, cannot possibly know what is best for you, so I, a high school guy with the emotional maturity of a saltine cracker, will make every decision for you." Like, this is a human person, not a fucking barbie doll.
Also, speaking of high school guys with the emotional maturity of a saltine cracker, the relationship Reid had with Sasha (the antagonist of the book series) made no sense. Firstly, ~MC~ is consistently told that sex will not heal her, but Reid's relationship with this genuinely terrible person is constantly excused as "his way of healing." Their relationship had been toxic through and through, described as only ever fighting or f*cking. Secondly, this girl was a bully. She said and did some of the most horrendous things in just the first half of the book to the ~MC~, but Reid was still with her. ~MC~ is constantly told by both Reid and others that he cares and worries about her, but I cannot for a second believe that when he still allows her to say and do these awful things. He knows she's a bully, he knows she has said downright despicable things to ~MC~ regarding her dead brother, and he still lets it happen.
This book also had some buck-wild moments that just made me cackle. Sometimes the author just pulled out the snappiest comeback that had me rolling on the floor in shock and laughter.
On one hand, it was very much an amalgamation of your go-to tropes and themes from these kinds of romance books. Friends to enemies to friends to lovers romance plot. And, as I have frequently found, a healthy mix of inner monologuing condemning misogyny and thinly veiled misogyny from many characters.
On the other hand, the dead brother plot point really got to me. Perhaps it has to do with my own experience of losing a sibling figure in my life recently, but it still got me in my feels frequently.
On that note, I was really confused and distressed about how the three friends went about their attempts to help the ~MC~. She was very clearly clinically depressed after losing her brother and begins to act out with self-destructive behaviors. One may think a gentler approach would better suit the situation from all parties, but no.
We have these dudes (mainly Reid) just saying the most buck-wild things to someone who just lost their brother. "You're disgracing your brother's memory," for wearing sweats and dyeing her hair? Dude told her that she was just attention-seeking and it "wouldn't bring her brother back." Any morsel of tact could've been cool, or whatever.
Also, they just straight up refuse to let her have any free will? Like, I understand they're trying to push her to continue with life and not let herself get sucked into the tide of grief; however, the whole forcing her to wear things she doesn't want to and forcing her to go places she doesn't want to (thinly-veiled kidnapping) was mad weird. I understand how it can be explained away, but it just reeked of "you, a girl with a whole brain and sense of self, cannot possibly know what is best for you, so I, a high school guy with the emotional maturity of a saltine cracker, will make every decision for you." Like, this is a human person, not a fucking barbie doll.
Also, speaking of high school guys with the emotional maturity of a saltine cracker, the relationship Reid had with Sasha (the antagonist of the book series) made no sense. Firstly, ~MC~ is consistently told that sex will not heal her, but Reid's relationship with this genuinely terrible person is constantly excused as "his way of healing." Their relationship had been toxic through and through, described as only ever fighting or f*cking. Secondly, this girl was a bully. She said and did some of the most horrendous things in just the first half of the book to the ~MC~, but Reid was still with her. ~MC~ is constantly told by both Reid and others that he cares and worries about her, but I cannot for a second believe that when he still allows her to say and do these awful things. He knows she's a bully, he knows she has said downright despicable things to ~MC~ regarding her dead brother, and he still lets it happen.
This book also had some buck-wild moments that just made me cackle. Sometimes the author just pulled out the snappiest comeback that had me rolling on the floor in shock and laughter.
November 25, 2024
How you gonna put a cliff hanger in a”YA” Romance book?!
This is not a new adult book. This is not a reverse Harem book. This girl is 16/17 years old.
The grief of Briar Is written so well. What’s not written well is the “spice”. When Reid gizzed in front of her on the floor 🤮. Not hot! Lex liking her but never telling her, but feeling like he was taking advantage of her but not stopping🤷🏾♀️ and also telling the guys he just couldn’t help himself 😳. Why hasn’t anyone rocked Sasha’s jaw?! I would’ve been in jail after the ass whooping she’d get from me👏🏾. It’s ok to be a bitch to people who are being that way to you!
What teenage boy says things like “mine” when having sex?
This is not a new adult book. This is not a reverse Harem book. This girl is 16/17 years old.
The grief of Briar Is written so well. What’s not written well is the “spice”. When Reid gizzed in front of her on the floor 🤮. Not hot! Lex liking her but never telling her, but feeling like he was taking advantage of her but not stopping🤷🏾♀️ and also telling the guys he just couldn’t help himself 😳. Why hasn’t anyone rocked Sasha’s jaw?! I would’ve been in jail after the ass whooping she’d get from me👏🏾. It’s ok to be a bitch to people who are being that way to you!
What teenage boy says things like “mine” when having sex?
August 20, 2023
I'm so torn on this book. So, so torn. On one hand, it dealt with grief in a very real manner and the main characters were all right on point with that; on the other hand, the main love interest was such a complete dick for the first half of the book that I seriously was hoping she was gonna end up with one of the others. Who dates someone like his girlfriend on purpose? After she was rude and condescending and just downright mean. *sigh* I'm hoping the next installment will help me not be so mad at Reid haha!
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