Little Lies by H. Hunting

Nov 18, 2020 mel ☽ rated it it was ok

Shelves: childhood-bffs, enemies-to-lovers, great-side-characters, meh, highschool-college, athletes, slow-burn, forbidden-romance, frustrating-af, new-adult

this book really made me realize how ✨desensitized✨ i truly am when it comes to new adult heroes' "assholery" because when the dude was horrible to the heroine? i was like

is- is it me?
is it the copious amounts of new adult books i've read?
is it the characters and their lack of ~spice~ ?
is it the fact that i've read worse "asshole" characters and the dude here is just- meh?

because suddenly... his assholery was MILD (at best). i know i shouldn't compare but... i'm wayyy more of an asshole towards ...more

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Oct 31, 2020 Christy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-four-stars

4 stars

This book was so different than most Helena Hunting books, but in a good way. I loved the emotional and angsty story of Lavender Waters and Kodiak Bowman. If you've read the 'Pucked' series, Lavender is Alex and Violet's daughter, and Kodiak is Rook and Lainey's son from 'A Lie for a Lie'. Though having the parent's background is great and imo adds a lot to the book, this can most definitely be read as a stand alone.

Lavender and Kodiak used to be really close friends. In fact, Kodia 4 stars

This book was so different than most Helena Hunting books, but in a good way. I loved the emotional and angsty story of Lavender Waters and Kodiak Bowman. If you've read the 'Pucked' series, Lavender is Alex and Violet's daughter, and Kodiak is Rook and Lainey's son from 'A Lie for a Lie'. Though having the parent's background is great and imo adds a lot to the book, this can most definitely be read as a stand alone.

Lavender and Kodiak used to be really close friends. In fact, Kodiak was her savior in a way. Lavender has dealt with intense anxiety and even some ptsd from a childhood trauma, and Kodiak was there for her. He was just a kid himself, but he got her in a way no one else did. When he moved away, everything changed for them.

I used to be the one to save her. Now I’m the reason she falls apart.

Lavender is now starting her sophomore year of college but this year she's not at the community college living at home. This year she's on campus and living with her older brother Maverick and her twin, River. She knew she might run into Kodiak, but she didn't expect him to be at her house all the time. Though maybe she should have, he is Mav's best friend. Things are not copacetic between the two of them. In fact, at times they're down right volatile. But then, things start to shift.

My favorite thing about this book was Lavender and what an amazing and incredibly strong heroine she was. Not only did she slay her own demons, she helped Kody with his in a way. I love that she didn't make things easy for him, that she made him work for it.

“I hope all the suffering was worth it. If you really want me, I guess you’re going to have to find a way to deserve me.”

I really liked Kodiak too, especially towards the end of the book and in the flashbacks. Honestly, it took me a while to really get his character and I think that was the only thing that put me in a bit of a disconnect with the story. Still, I loved both of these characters and the anxiety rep was fantastic.

Another great thing about this book was getting to meet so many of my favorite Helena Hunting characters kids all grown up. The possibilities for books in this world with this group are endless. I would love one about either of Lavender's brothers or BJ. I hope she continues to write them!

If you're looking for a love story that's a bit of a rocky road but will leave you fully satisfied, pick this one up. It's full of angst, emotion, family, friendship, and romance. I loved it! ...more

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Oct 23, 2020 CristiinaReads❀ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-books, favorites

A romance filled with angst, between two individuals with internal struggles and demons that with time learn to cope with and without each other...

Oh goodness gracious... my poor, delicate heart... it handled all and everything that H. Hunting aka the queen Helena Hunting was able to throw my way. This book is everything and all that I needed and was looking for, yet not anticipating. I knew that diving in, I felt that this novel would be beyond different in comparison to Helena's other nove A romance filled with angst, between two individuals with internal struggles and demons that with time learn to cope with and without each other...

Oh goodness gracious... my poor, delicate heart... it handled all and everything that H. Hunting aka the queen Helena Hunting was able to throw my way. This book is everything and all that I needed and was looking for, yet not anticipating. I knew that diving in, I felt that this novel would be beyond different in comparison to Helena's other novels. Not only because it's an NA novel, but also because the way of writing was just more emotional and felt raw. Two characters, living in their past & present, Kodiac Bowman and Lavender Waters learn the TRUTH of the little lies they have lived with. And when encountering upon the new reality, walls need to be broken as well as hearts and minds.

Taking place in the past of their childhood years, and also in the present during their college life. Lav & Kody come to terms of the reality that is at stakes, they will never be out of each other's lives no matter what. Needing to move on with her life and her past, Lanvender makes the best of being in the college scene. With he struggles of anxiety and PTSD, as a young adult she learns that reality is a risk she must take both for the good and the bad experiences. And after years of being separated and being in Kodiaks' jerk of a presence, it becomes inevitable for her to not admire or his aura;

"Kodiak is exactly like the place he's named for— exceptional, rugged, cold, unique. As much as I hate him, it's impossible to deny his stunning beauty, or to avoid being sucked in by it..."

After multiple attempts of her emotional impacts, Lavender continues with her college life and risking it all once again to be with Kodiak after learning the truth that put a wall during their past for them to now have a future. Her brothers will always be there as a protective shield as well. A family that knows their past, and wants nothing to hurt Lavender's future. But even before they could officially be back together, Kodiak knew that being in Lavender's presence did nothing but break his control of wanting to be with her. His anxiety on another level of skyrocketing. Wanting to have that control is what makes him a swoon worthy character, because his weakness is his one try love;

"If I can't have her, I don't want anyone else to have her either. And that's really what it comes down to..."

This beautiful, yet fucked up story between two individuals that have this impactful connection is what makes this one of my favorite reads this year. And I just know that Helena's readers will crave nothing more then to continue this series, especially for the rest of the PUCKED SERIES kids. River has stolen my heart and I want to read his happily ever after, even though he is super protective of Lavender. Maverick and BJ need their story too, and my gosh am I drooling for Maverick's story. If I fell in love with his dad, Alex Waters in Pucked. I want nothing more than his soon to be romance story.

ARC kindly provided by SBPR in exchange for an honest review...

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Nov 17, 2020 Mickeysreads rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2020-read, one-star

1 disappointment star

Spoilers Ahead

So this was one my highly anticipated read of the month. I was really excited for it because of the hype regarding how I need to get my tissues ready, how people who normally don’t cry, cried while reading this book. And the teasers omg they were amazing especially the one where Lavender was all like “you think you deserve my kiss now”. I was ready for some strong female lead giving shit to the guy after he fucked things up.

And then I started reading the book ...more

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Oct 30, 2020 Sarah rated it it was amazing

***AVAILABLE NOW***

5+ BUT I WISH I COULD GIVE IT MORE CROWNS

Without a doubt, one of my favorite Helena books ever! Like tears in my eyes, clutching my heart angst. I love them. I love their story. Their journey was beautiful and profound and hopeful.

Lavender stole the show for me. She was brave and smart, and more than anything, watching her evolve into a strong heroine is a phenomenal experience. She has all the best parts of Alex and Violet, but what I love most about her character is how Hel ***AVAILABLE NOW***

5+ BUT I WISH I COULD GIVE IT MORE CROWNS

Without a doubt, one of my favorite Helena books ever! Like tears in my eyes, clutching my heart angst. I love them. I love their story. Their journey was beautiful and profound and hopeful.

Lavender stole the show for me. She was brave and smart, and more than anything, watching her evolve into a strong heroine is a phenomenal experience. She has all the best parts of Alex and Violet, but what I love most about her character is how Helena portrayed her mental health. It was relatable and real. I was able to feel the anxiety and conflict coming off the pages. It was done with delicacy and accuracy, and it gives hope to people out their like Lavender who feel like a happily ever after might not be for them. I also loved that Lavender owned her sexuality, never ashamed of what she wanted or needed. It was amazing to see a young female character who took charge of her needs.

Kodiak is a boy with the biggest heart wrapped with the sharpest thorns. My heart hurt for him. His internal dialogue lets you into his own mental health issues and how it controls and dictates his behavior. Although he is strong for himself and for her, I love that Lavender takes charge more often than not, asserting their need for happiness over the collective concerns and fears. They are a completely who is flawed and loves completely, because of and not in spite of who they are.

This story is filled with angst and heartache. There are moments that I literally gripped my chest because my heart hurt reading some of the dialogue. I felt them like lashings to my soul. Helena expertly places comedic relief to lessen the constant angst, and when we finally get to the reconciliation, the page off is worth the wait. Lavender holds no punches in the bedroom, and I lived for every single moment they were together intimately or not. What ultimately sold the book for me is how the conflict was resolved. It was realistic and mature and just made me love the characters more than I thought I already could.

Helena also introduces us to a world of secondary characters that I fell just as in love with. I need more of these kids. I need them to all have their own stories. Plus, we got cameos, but in a way that enhanced the story of their kids versus shifting the focus.

What makes the story exceptional and a must read is that Helena introduces us to characters who deal with mental health issues. She shows the complexities and difficulties of families who deal with traumatic situations. She shows how love can lead people to make wrong choices in the name of protection, but readers all get to see that love, familial and romantic, can heal. We get to see that when humans listen and learn and put love and happiness first, happiness can be achieved. In a world where we feel hopelessness often, this was a hard fought journey filled with hope that we can all find peace with the right people.

This will be one of my favorite books of 2020. Without question. The new world, the characters, the romance and story of Lavender and Kodiak will be forever engrained in my heart. I hope you get more from this world, and I hope these two continue to pop up over and over again.

Arc review ...more

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Oct 30, 2020 MELISSA *Mel Reader* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs, favorites

5 Stars!
(ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR)

-Nothing worth fighting for should come easy.

Lavender Waters grew up the daughter of a hockey legend, and was always the one that was a bit different. She seemed to feel things more intensely than others, and was shy and awkward. Now she's nineteen and a sophomore at a new school in Chicago. She's living with her two overprotective brother's and trying to fit in on campus. They still treat her like a delicate flower made of glass, and she wants to ...more

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Oct 31, 2020 ❤️ Nanda ❤️ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: anti-hero, college, slow-burn, arc, sports-romance, top-10

I don't even know how to start this review other than I'm. Obsessed.

I'm obsessed with Lavender, with Kodiak, with BJ, with River, with Violet as a mom (OMG she's perfect!), with this new side of Helena Hunting that makes me cry my eyes out! (Not cool, lady!)

This book is about soulmates...
Soulmates that are broken and damaged.
Soulmates that identify themselves too soon, and didn't know what to do with that connection, other then rely their fears on each other, since they're just kids.
S ...more

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May 25, 2020 ✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-9999999-stars, first-reads, friends-to-lovers, arc-provided-by-author-or-publisher, cried-a-bit, cute, funny, sports-romance, must-read-author, beautiful-cover

Lavender and Kodiak.
We all know their parents from the Pucked and All In series.
Kodiak's dad is still playing hockey and Lavender's dad is the coach. So all the team's kids are basically growing up together as besties and cousins.
At least that's how it is in the prologue. When Lavender is six years old - and Kodiak is nine.
Lavender has always been extremely shy. Her twin brother River talks for her most of the time.
One night something happens that makes Lavender close up even more.
And then we fa ...more

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Nov 14, 2020 Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ rated it really liked it

Shelves: angst, contemporary-romance, new-adult

4 STARS

I want to save her from her demons, and me from mine. But they always catch up. No matter how hard we try to outrun them.

I love Helena's contemporary romances, but I'm a sucker for some angst. So when I saw she's realizing an angsty New Adult under a different pen name, well I'm pretty sure I left dust tracks in my rush to sign up for this book.

I'm also a sucker for a good spin-off, so the fact that these are the kids from Pucked and A Lie for a Lie was just icing on the cake ...more

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Nov 03, 2020 Melanie (mells_view) rated it really liked it

”We see what we want to, not the truth, especially when it hurts.”

Little Lies is Helena Hunting’s dive into the angsty new adult world with the pen name H. Hunting. Lavender and Kodiak’s story was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions. We follow them in their past, and we also get them presently. We navigate from their closeness as children and learn the things that bond them, and we also learn about what eventually tore them apart. Then, we get to see if they can get past Kodiak’s less than st ...more

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Aug 27, 2020 Wendy'sThoughts rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: H. Hunting Fans, New Age, Romance

4 Worth The Fight For It Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
One of the most wanted wishes I have when reading series that have wonderful characters, strong continuing/interlocking books, and cute children produced by the main characters...are books about these children once they are grown. Little Lies does just that.

We have Alex and Violet's daughter, Lavender, from the Hockey series Pucked. We then get from A Lie for a Lie, Kodiak, the Son of Rook and Lainey. These were children we knew from these past ...more

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Nov 04, 2020 Bookgasms Book Blog rated it it was amazing

Shelves: missy, ratula

Helena Hunting just wrote one of the most amazing stories I have ever read!! Good God. I am so obsessed with this book it isn't even funny! Kodiak and Lavender were EVERYTHING!! Their chemistry, banter and their overall connection was fantastic. I loved everything about this story!

Ahh just when I thought I couldn't love any Helena Hunting heroine more than Violet, here comes her daughter Lavender who just took my breath away. I absolutely adored Lavender as she was strong and assertive and full Helena Hunting just wrote one of the most amazing stories I have ever read!! Good God. I am so obsessed with this book it isn't even funny! Kodiak and Lavender were EVERYTHING!! Their chemistry, banter and their overall connection was fantastic. I loved everything about this story!

Ahh just when I thought I couldn't love any Helena Hunting heroine more than Violet, here comes her daughter Lavender who just took my breath away. I absolutely adored Lavender as she was strong and assertive and full of sass that could not be denied. I loved her connection with Kodiak and the pull between them. Kodiak was just outright amazing. He we was broody and surly but boy did still waters run deep in him. I loved everything about him. The angst in this story was truly fantastic.

Overall, this story was fabulous. What I loved more than anything was how mental illness was delicately portrayed and accepted. This story was an absolute gift! Braves! 5 stars! ~Ratula

***

Holy angst, people! My heart wedged itself into my throat and really didn’t settle itself back into place until I was almost all the way finished with Little Lies. Meeting the kids of some beloved characters from the Pucked and All In series—I’m looking at you Alex and Violet and Rook and Lainey—plus seeing these characters as older and wiser adults made for an intriguing read.

I love a smart, sexy friends to enemies to lovers romance, especially one where both the lead characters have some serious issues to work through and overcome. And, boy do Lavender Waters and Kodiak Bowman have some serious issues to overcome.

I truly adored Lavender from the very start. She’s been through a lot in her nineteen years, and her strength and desire to be seen as an adult and independent is amazing. And despite all that Fate has thrown in her path in an attempt to make her fail, she’s bound and determined to make a life for herself—outside of the tower that her dad and brothers would love to lock her inside so that she’s always safe and protected.

And then there’s Kody and all his broody, dark, sneering glory. He’s been living and behaving this way to protect himself—and Lavender—and his heart. He’s been denying his feelings for so long, he almost actually believes the lies he’s been telling. Almost.

The romance between Lavender and Kody is beautiful—especially once all their history and backstory is revealed. Some of the flashback scenes were so very touching and displayed a powerful message regarding the diagnosis and treatment for mental illness and acceptance.

Little Lies is one of those books that just sneaks up on you, grabs your heart and doesn’t let go even after you’ve read the very last word. ~ Missy, 5 stars
...more

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Nov 25, 2020 P rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: authors-to-avoid, weak-heroines, cheating-heros, hero-moves-on-heroine-can-t

I truly do not understand where the five star reviews came from on this. This author is going on my avoid list for awhile, if I had read this crap first I would have never bothered with the other series. Why do authors do this?why do you make the next generation (the one we watched as children) get screwed around and forgive the guy of everything? I could have dealt with his idiotic reason for “lying to her” while he was so in love with her that he felt like he couldn’t breath, if he had shown t I truly do not understand where the five star reviews came from on this. This author is going on my avoid list for awhile, if I had read this crap first I would have never bothered with the other series. Why do authors do this?why do you make the next generation (the one we watched as children) get screwed around and forgive the guy of everything? I could have dealt with his idiotic reason for “lying to her” while he was so in love with her that he felt like he couldn’t breath, if he had shown that by not screwing other girls. We don’t get details thankfully, but we do get beat over the head with it by him, and even her pathetically. The author just randomly throws the fact that he’s been screwing other girls whenever she thinks we might be getting a little respect for him like it’s a good thing “don’t worry readers, he hasn’t been celibate. He hasn’t been faithful to his feelings for her, he likes to go out and screw random people then pretend he is suffering from losing her” 🙄 of all the ways the second chance manwhore thing goes, this is the absolute worst for me. Because it’s gratuitous. There is not one reason why him screwing other women added to the plot. The author tries to make a point that the heroine was too weak and dependent on him before and that was the problem and reason why they couldn’t be together. Ok, I really just don’t get your thinking... She was too weak and dependent before when he wasn’t screwing other women, but now that she took him back with no qualms to that, you don’t honestly understand how pathetic, weak, and dependent that actually makes her? Because spoiler alert! Them being there for each other and loyal to each other and as not toxic, it was so much more of an interesting story than seeing this crap done AGAIN. Her being sheltered and protected and not being allowed to really date etc while he gets to travel the world screwing random puck bunnies would be the problem. Hell he even makes a remark where he thinks to himself for a second that she might not be” a virgin” then he thinks about how he’s going to burry their bodies 🙄. He never once has a regret about not waiting v for her. He is at piece with that part of the bullshit he put her through, he feels bad about some other stuff, but not being faithful to her isn’t even in his radar. They have a condom or no condom conversation where he mentally tells himself that he doesn’t want to bring up that he’s “always used them with other women” and ruin their progress. But that is the only time it’s brought up. The only woman she brings up is the girl he kissed when he was in 8th grade (also a screwed up scene, this author just destroyed the this heroine over and over so that the hero could be a stud I guess?) Just such a freaking let down from the previous generation that I really liked. All I kept thinking was how much I hated that this was the kind of misogynist crap the daughter of a heroine that I really liked and respected, grew up to think she needed to settle for. And for him? The son of two characters I liked turned out to be just another garden variety douchebag who’s too worried about screwing around to work it out with the woman he “loved”. So I get that the author needed to create a reason to separate them, but she ruined the book by having him out being a f@&$boy while he was supposedly just doing what was best “for her” She needed to pick a lane with this one. Over the top “soulmate angsty true love”, or random “brodude douchbag college student” who professes to love but is as deep as a puddle and randomly just needs to get his d&$@ wet, You just can’t have both in the same freaking person and I wish these authors would get that.
Funny story. I actually read an eerily similar book this summer. It was a second generation story with kids from two of the families in previous series. Guy breaks up with childhood sweetheart for stupid reason because he felt it was best for her. Do you know what made that an awesome story and this trash? He did what he set out to do, still loved her and never had to find a wet hole to stick himself j to to prove his manhood or whatever archaic crap made this author go this route. His heroine grew as well and make him work for it, even though he had already proven that he truly did love her. I’m not saying all second chances have to be celibate. But if your ENTIRE PREMISE of a book is how much he loved her and lied only to protect her, and they were soulmates blah blah blah. But have him actually do the things he “lied” to her about, well then what you wrote was a dirt bag who hurt this woman, basically cheated on her, and never lost anything from it. He is 21, got to travel the world playing hockey, got to screw as many randoms as he wanted, and now still gets to settle back down with his childhood sweethearts who waited while he just did all of that... He lost nothing, sacrificed nothing and to me has zero depth. All of the angst and self loathing are only applicable if he actually sacrificed and gave up something too. It can’t just be the heroine giving all the time! When are you authors going to get this. I’m definitely skipping the next book of this generation. I’ll wait until it’s out abs read the spoilers if nothing else. But I want trust her again. ...more

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Nov 08, 2020 Alba and Her Secrets..♥ rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars, alpha-male, reviewed, contemporary-romance, fucked-up-character, hate-to-love, emotional-feels, sports-romance, arc-gifted-copy, best-hero

4 'Show me your truth' Stars!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.

I knew as soon as Helena Hunting announced that she was writing Lavender Waters’ book that we would be getting a different style of story than what she normally writes. Little Lies is not like one of Helena’s beloved romcoms, it’s an angsty, emotional new adult romance with a couple that does not have it easy, either in life or in finding their way back to each other. If you read Helena’s Pucked an ...more

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Nov 06, 2020 Dali rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-read, tortured-hero, 5-star, standalone, new-adult, sports, enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, published-2020, tortured-heroine

Helena Hunting delivers an emotional love story that feels reminiscent of her Clipped Wings series. Little Lies brings out soul-searing angst with heart melting swoon. It’s definitely one of my 2020 favorites!

➵ Heroine : after a traumatic experience at age six, Lavender Waters (Alex and Violet Waters’ youngest daughter, PUCKED and FOREVER PUCKED couple origin) her older brother’s best friend becomes her safe harbor, the person who understands her anxiety and helps calm her. Their frie ...more

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Oct 31, 2020 Pavlina Read more sleep less blog rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, best-cover

5 Amazing stars

This was a little bit different from what I have read from Helena.It was so good, I couldn't put it down!This was full of angst, I loved every minute of it!The romance was epic and intense.This is a friends to lovers romance.

Lavender and Kodiak known each others their whole life, their relationship is unique.It's an emotional story and heartwarming.Lavender is a fantastic heroine, I loved her, she developed a lot through the story.

This is such a great story with a heavy romance.I ...more

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Nov 15, 2020 H. Hunting added it · (Review from the author)

Chapter One
First Day Fuckery
LAVENDER

Present day, age 19

“HEY, LAV!” MY brother’s fist slams against the bathroom door, and half a second later it flies open, scaring the living shit out of me as it bashes into the wall.
I jab myself in the eye with my mascara wand, and coffee sloshes down the front of my white tank. I was attempting to multitask. I should know better. “Ow! What the hell, Mav!” I cover my burning eye with my palm and drop my mug in the sink. The handle breaks off. “Goddammit! That ...more

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Nov 15, 2020 Lisa (Two Bookish Brits) rated it it was amazing

Move over Vi, there’s a new female waters taking over!

Lavender waters has my whole entire heart. This girl is something incredible, she’s perfectly imperfect and I love the bones of her! Watching her growth into the strong independent woman she is has been phenomenal. Her struggles are relatable, they’re real and I love that Helena added these and shows just how real they can be.

Lavender Waters is her mother’s daughter. There’s parts that scream violet and I love it so much but at the same time Move over Vi, there’s a new female waters taking over!

Lavender waters has my whole entire heart. This girl is something incredible, she’s perfectly imperfect and I love the bones of her! Watching her growth into the strong independent woman she is has been phenomenal. Her struggles are relatable, they’re real and I love that Helena added these and shows just how real they can be.

Lavender Waters is her mother’s daughter. There’s parts that scream violet and I love it so much but at the same time she’s the complete opposite to her. This girl is going to claim the heart of all the readers, she’s a precious one.

Kodiak has the biggest heart, always putting his friends needs first. Always wanting to be that one person who can help without knowing how damaging it can be. The way this guy struggled with his own problems just as much as the heroine makes my heart hurt so much but I’m so glad Helena made it this way because men feel this way too and it’s time that was shown more. He’s beautiful and charming but there’s so much deep inside that nobody gets to see except those closest to him and it’s hurts deep.

I don’t want to give anything away but I will say the path these two go through is riddled with heart ache and honestly, I feels like someone was grabbing my heart and squeezing tight throughout most of it.

I also want to say this book has absolutely blown me away. Right from the start this book shook me and kept doing so right to the end. It’s full of heartache and angsty moments but in a book filled with that this author squeezes some comedy into it to gives you a laugh in between the sadness.

Little Lies kicks off a world full of new characters, characters you’ll fall in love with and characters you’ll want to have their own books. I’m invested 100% in them and I can’t wait for more to come.

H. Hunting delivered us an incredible piece of writing. Little Lies is angsty and sad mixed with humour and happiness, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions that know you on your ass. ...more

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Nov 18, 2020 Lauren rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle-unlimited, enemies-to-lovers, friends-to-lovers, romance

I will say I am usually not a big fan of next generation books because it feels kinda weird like oh I watched your parents fall in love and have you and now you’re all grown up and having sexual kinks of your own. But honestly this is a generation I didn’t really mind.

Lavender Waters has tried her best to not think about her former best friend Kodiak Bowman after he hurt her years ago but when they both are going to the same college, live just a few doors down from each other and his best friend I will say I am usually not a big fan of next generation books because it feels kinda weird like oh I watched your parents fall in love and have you and now you’re all grown up and having sexual kinks of your own. But honestly this is a generation I didn’t really mind.

Lavender Waters has tried her best to not think about her former best friend Kodiak Bowman after he hurt her years ago but when they both are going to the same college, live just a few doors down from each other and his best friend is her older brother that's not so easy. And he is just as cruel and gorgeous as ever.

I personally wasn’t a massive fan of the Pucked series and I didn’t even end up finishing the series. I did however really enjoy the All In series so was curious about this book. I did still love seeing their parents throughout the book like yes gimmie those crumbs.

Obviously I was prepared for it to be angsty and oh boy was it. Some supreme slowburn and high tension throughout.

There were things about this book that I loved and some I didn’t love so much.

First of all I get why Kody acted the way he did but to an extent somethings just felt like a bit too much and I felt like it kept going on for way too much of the book. The book goes on for a long time before any sort of romantic feelings are barely even hinted at and some of it definitely didn’t feel all that necessary. There was a lot of just following around Lavender and her daily life whilst we got no insight into how or what Kody was doing. Once Lavender and Kody get together it was very intense very fast which due to the nature of their dynamic was to be expected but it felt like a very sudden hate filled relationship to automatically loving each other.

Don’t get me wrong Lavender makes him grovel for the way he has treated her. And it is some seriously delicious groveling as to fix the imbalanced power dynamic that has been created. But the way its revealed as to why Kody has acted the way he has all felt very rushed.

I adored the way they were when they got together, they both feel so much, and it was great seeing that translate into a relationship.

Some other things I really enjoyed was the way anxiety was presented throughout the book was very raw and real and just overall done really well. As well as the side characters, all of the children of this new generation were all really interesting that I enjoyed seeing Lavender and Kody’s dynamics with, particularly Lavender’s relationship with her brothers.

Overall there were aspects of the book I really enjoyed but some parts moved too quickly and were glossed over. Still a win in my eyes. ...more

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Nov 18, 2020 Seline rated it it was ok

Nothing moved me here it’s the same old collage romance novel that didn’t even have any type of chemistry between the main characters.

The hate to love aspect was done poorly and the excuse of why he was being mean to her has been used many times in other books.

I don’t understand the big connection everyone in the book saw between the main characters. There was no connection.

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Oct 12, 2020 Sharon Thérèse rated it it was amazing

What a page-turner! Hunting has crafted a stellar young adult romance that pulled on my heartstrings in such a way I found Little Lies impossible to put down. Although there’s a large cast of characters, the author has made sure that there is no confusion for the new reader. However, if you haven’t read The Pucked or All In series, I can’t recommend either of them enough.

Ooh my! There’s a strong possibility you’ll get hooked on the book in the prologue and from there on in the build-up of te ...more

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Nov 17, 2020 Elizabeth rated it it was ok

This book is lucky I am behind on my reading challenge and I am reading anything right now 🤣

The main issue is it didnt know what kind of book it wanted to be. It tried to do dark and comedic, bully and friends to lovers, erotic and NA etc

I didnt even understand what their issues were because it was talked about so vaguely in terms of their anxiety and being toxic. Maybe I didnt care enough to figure it out, idk. All of a sudden they were just fixed.

The dumbest shit ever tho is this guy has tortu ...more

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Aug 24, 2020 Tish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020-would-recommend, emotional-af, sports-romance, college-romance, representation

4.5 “This is the truth” Stars

This was damn near perfect. I don’t say that often about books but this, this was damn near perfect. I loved the Pucked Universe, I specifically loved Alex and Violet aka Lavender’s parents and I loved the All in Universe. So to see both these universes collide and give us this, I was already hyped.

Lavender. Lavender is everything you need in a herione. She has anxiety. She has issues but the way she deals and blossoms is so incredible to read. She’s soft but that d 4.5 “This is the truth” Stars

This was damn near perfect. I don’t say that often about books but this, this was damn near perfect. I loved the Pucked Universe, I specifically loved Alex and Violet aka Lavender’s parents and I loved the All in Universe. So to see both these universes collide and give us this, I was already hyped.

Lavender. Lavender is everything you need in a herione. She has anxiety. She has issues but the way she deals and blossoms is so incredible to read. She’s soft but that doesn’t mean she isn’t strong. I loved everything about her. Lavender made me want to envelop her in a hug and be her friend at the same time because she’s AWESOME.

Kodiak was truly a one of a kind hero. I didn’t understand him at first. I didn’t understand why he was the he was until you found out why he treated Lavender the way he did. I also hated him, so much. When he decided to finally get his head of his out ass, you see him for what he truly is: a guy who loves the girl so freaking much.

I want to applaud the author for writing anxiety and mental health issues the way she did. Realistic and giving the audience a view on what it’s like. It’s so appreciated.

This was definitely enemies to lovers. But also this was second chances. And this is VERY much soulmates. The only reason this didnt give 5 stars is because I wish we got more of these two together, we only got a couple chapters of them actually being together and I wanted so much more.

Also it was such a pleasure to see the older cast as parents. I loved their loved stories but seeing them as parents was stellar. It made me want to re-read all their stories again. Alex as a dad and Violet as a mom just made my heart burst. Even Rook and Lainey, even when I wanted to tell them to stop meddling I understood where they were coming from. I hope we get to see more Pucked Parents and All In Parents in the future.

This is VASTLY different from Helena’s writing. She’s known for her romantic comedies and this was heavier, more realistic and this is exactly what she needed. Hence, why she published under a different name.

I hope we get to see the side characters have their own story as well. BJ (jr) was such a freaking fresh I’d breathe air. I also absolutely swooned over Maverick. I also want to know more about the elusive older brother Robbie. And Quinn, sweet Quinn had like 4 mentions but I’m so interested in his book. I hope that Helena continues this universe because it’s stellar.

Think Off Campus by Elle Kennedy with a dash of LJ Shen’s All Saints High and you get this universe.

This 101% lived up to my second most anticipated release hype. I laughed, I cried, I groaned in frustration but most of all I fell deeply in love.

Nearly and utterly perfect. ...more

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Nov 17, 2020 TJ *Book Twins Reviews* rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-top-faves

From the opening pages, I knew this book would be an experience I’d never forget. And boy oh boy did H. Hunting deliver. Not only is this now my favorite Helena Hunting read, but it’s a Top Read of 2020. I simply cannot say enough good things about this book. But I’ll try....

Here’s what I loved:

The characters are hands down the best! The level of emotion and intensity packed into these two blew me off my feet! Lavender in particular, grows and develops so much over the course of the novel. Wha ...more

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Nov 16, 2020 Rachel K rated it it was ok

A very generous 2.75 stars.

So it’s just me that thought the second half of this book seemed to be written by someone else, then? I was (weirdly enough) enjoying the first half. Then the showdown in Lavender’s room with Kodiak happened...and it was all downhill from there. Lavender had a complete 180 personality shift, and everything from that point on didn’t make sense. Actually, his treatment of her in the present timeline didn’t make sense...but I persevered...only to skim the second half more ...more

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Nov 16, 2020 Izzie d rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 26, 2020 mila rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs

"All the little lies I told myself to make the truth less painful have finally caught up with me."

4.5 || Even if you didn't read the Pucked and All in series and you don't know where these kids came from, you should add this to your tbr, you won't regret it.

I've read a lot of Helena rom-coms and her funny and charismatic characters always end up winning my heart, but this? I really hope she writes more of these angsty romances because all the things this book made me feel... amazing.

Summary ...more

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Nov 04, 2020 ItaPixie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-stars

I've loved the Pucked series and I didn't want to miss out on those characters' kids so I read this book as soon as possible.
Little Lies was an emotional roller coaster, I was sucked in the story from the first chapter and I felt the characters' anguish deep into my bones, but I assure you there are also tons of funny scene that gave me relief and comfort.

Lavender, Alex and Violet's daughter, was a shy little girl and after a shocking episode she suffered of panic attacks and and anxiety. Kodia

...more

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Oct 31, 2020 Na rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs, 2020-personal-challenge, favorite-reads-2020

4.5 stars

Hands down, this book is one of my most favorite reads by Helena Hunting, writing here for the first time under H. Hunting. After falling in love with the Clipped Wings series in 2016, I was subconsciously waiting for another story by her that's going in this direction. And here I am, 4 years later my wish came true.

You know, you don't have to have read the Pucked Series (at least the books reg. Lavender's parents) or the All In Series (at least the book reg. Kodiak's parents or the one ...more

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Oct 28, 2020 Alley Ciz rated it it was amazing

I think this might be my top read for 2020.

The Pucked series is one of my all time favorite hockey romances, with Violet being an all time top fictional character for me. Then Helena brought us the All in series where we met new characters to love while getting to keep our old favorites and the start of the Next Gen.

Lavender Waters captivated my interest from the first time you meet her as a shy anxious 4 year old in the All In Series...and let me tell you, getting to know her as a young adult o ...more

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