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Crash Course
"I never thought I would see him again. Not in the real world. Not here."
After Arden Hart gets into a horrible collision with a drunk driver, her life comes to a standstill. Now, she’s a year behind her peers in graduating high school, college plans are on hold indefinitely, and nightmares of that horrifying night plague her every time she shuts her eyes. The only way she can cope with her past is by detaching from the present, so Arden makes it her mission to isolate herself.
Everything changes when Henry Ames, the young, mysterious guy who saved her from the car wreck, unexpectedly becomes the new Creative Writing teacher at her high school. Much to Arden’s frustration, his presence is a constant reminder of the night she’s tried so hard to forget. When Henry is forced to help her with an assignment that confronts her buried emotions, she has no choice but to face her trauma head-on. What she doesn’t expect is the immediate connection she feels to Henry. As the two begin to develop an undeniable bond, Arden comes to a startling realization—the one person she cannot have is the only person she doesn’t want to push away.
Though Henry is adamant that their relationship remains professional, neither can deny their growing feelings. When boundaries blur, emotions run high, and secrets from that terrible night emerge, Arden must decide if the fight for Henry’s heart is worth risking her own.
*CRASH COURSE contains strong language, mature content, and dark themes.
After Arden Hart gets into a horrible collision with a drunk driver, her life comes to a standstill. Now, she’s a year behind her peers in graduating high school, college plans are on hold indefinitely, and nightmares of that horrifying night plague her every time she shuts her eyes. The only way she can cope with her past is by detaching from the present, so Arden makes it her mission to isolate herself.
Everything changes when Henry Ames, the young, mysterious guy who saved her from the car wreck, unexpectedly becomes the new Creative Writing teacher at her high school. Much to Arden’s frustration, his presence is a constant reminder of the night she’s tried so hard to forget. When Henry is forced to help her with an assignment that confronts her buried emotions, she has no choice but to face her trauma head-on. What she doesn’t expect is the immediate connection she feels to Henry. As the two begin to develop an undeniable bond, Arden comes to a startling realization—the one person she cannot have is the only person she doesn’t want to push away.
Though Henry is adamant that their relationship remains professional, neither can deny their growing feelings. When boundaries blur, emotions run high, and secrets from that terrible night emerge, Arden must decide if the fight for Henry’s heart is worth risking her own.
*CRASH COURSE contains strong language, mature content, and dark themes.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2021
About the author
Alyssa Wilde
1 book95 followersAlyssa Wilde has an obsession with forbidden romance and doesn’t care who knows. Designer by day and writer by night, she currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her amazingly supportive boyfriend. When she's not reading or writing, she likes to watch reality tv, consume an insane amount of sushi, and, occasionally, step out into the light of day. Her debut novel, Crash Course, is available now!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
November 1, 2022
"Do I try to numb myself because I think I have to? Do I push people away because I think there's no other option? Or, do I want to stay numb? I've been numb for so long, I can't tell anymore, and somehow, that makes it worse."
This book. 😭 Crash Course isn't my typical romance read, but it was exactly what I needed right now. I'm having a difficult time as to which age range to categorize this story; I can see it being marketed as YA since a majority of the story takes place during the h's repeated senior year, but with the main characters being 25 and 19, and the writing being so mature, I think it fits better in the NA category. Regardless, I'm floored that this is a debut novel, and see many great things ahead for Alyssa Wilde in her future endeavors.
This was entirely a mood read for me; I was browsing Amazon kindle titles, hoping to stumble across something that would catch my eye, and the cover + synopsis of this one wouldn't let me go. The premise here feels so unique to the student/teacher trope: for one, there isn't a large age gap associated with the characters, and the student is much older than what we typically encounter in the HS version of this type of forbidden romance. We find out in the beginning of the story that Arden is in a horrific car accident during her senior year of HS; she's hit by a drunk driver, and while the other party doesn't survive, she does. Many months of grueling recovery and therapy later, and Arden finds herself repeating her senior year as a newly turned 19 year old. When she walks in on her first day of school, she finds out that one of her new teachers is none other than Henry, the young man who saved her life the night of the accident.
While this novel has a very low steam level, it's clear that the focus isn't really meant to be on a sexual awakening between Henry and Arden. I love how we zero in on these two broken people who connect over shared tragedy and grief, and how they make an emotional connection well before the physical one sets in. There are tons of side plots going on as well, and some of those do give more of a YA impression due to the type of drama they entail, but I still stand by the fact that the focus of the story is the healing journey that Arden and Henry embark on together. Please note that there are some really tough themes discussed here, such as domestic abuse, drug abuse, a side plot involving cheating, and sexual assault. I think the author does a fantastic job of handling these topics respectfully and in a way that applies to the story at hand, not as a way to provide shock entertainment. If you're looking for a diamond in the rough from the indie world, this is it!
"Ever since that night, I've felt different. Alone. Isolated. Closed-off. I never had anyone to talk to about what happened-no friends, family, or anyone that really gave a sh*t. But now, suddenly, I'm no longer alone. Someone else was there. Someone else understands. Someone else carries that night as though it's carved into their soul, the same way I do, and that is everything to me."
This book. 😭 Crash Course isn't my typical romance read, but it was exactly what I needed right now. I'm having a difficult time as to which age range to categorize this story; I can see it being marketed as YA since a majority of the story takes place during the h's repeated senior year, but with the main characters being 25 and 19, and the writing being so mature, I think it fits better in the NA category. Regardless, I'm floored that this is a debut novel, and see many great things ahead for Alyssa Wilde in her future endeavors.
This was entirely a mood read for me; I was browsing Amazon kindle titles, hoping to stumble across something that would catch my eye, and the cover + synopsis of this one wouldn't let me go. The premise here feels so unique to the student/teacher trope: for one, there isn't a large age gap associated with the characters, and the student is much older than what we typically encounter in the HS version of this type of forbidden romance. We find out in the beginning of the story that Arden is in a horrific car accident during her senior year of HS; she's hit by a drunk driver, and while the other party doesn't survive, she does. Many months of grueling recovery and therapy later, and Arden finds herself repeating her senior year as a newly turned 19 year old. When she walks in on her first day of school, she finds out that one of her new teachers is none other than Henry, the young man who saved her life the night of the accident.
While this novel has a very low steam level, it's clear that the focus isn't really meant to be on a sexual awakening between Henry and Arden. I love how we zero in on these two broken people who connect over shared tragedy and grief, and how they make an emotional connection well before the physical one sets in. There are tons of side plots going on as well, and some of those do give more of a YA impression due to the type of drama they entail, but I still stand by the fact that the focus of the story is the healing journey that Arden and Henry embark on together. Please note that there are some really tough themes discussed here, such as domestic abuse, drug abuse, a side plot involving cheating, and sexual assault. I think the author does a fantastic job of handling these topics respectfully and in a way that applies to the story at hand, not as a way to provide shock entertainment. If you're looking for a diamond in the rough from the indie world, this is it!
"Ever since that night, I've felt different. Alone. Isolated. Closed-off. I never had anyone to talk to about what happened-no friends, family, or anyone that really gave a sh*t. But now, suddenly, I'm no longer alone. Someone else was there. Someone else understands. Someone else carries that night as though it's carved into their soul, the same way I do, and that is everything to me."
October 12, 2022
4 stars
I am so impressed this was a debut novel. I enjoyed it so much, and the writing was fantastic. I love a good student teacher/forbidden romance and this one was different than many others I've read. Henry and Arden meet way before they figure out that Henry will be Arden's teacher and she is 19 and he is 25. Honestly, I think this could have been a 5 star for me but it ended a bit abruptly for me and I wanted a few more chapters with them together or an epilogue. I would definitely recommend this and I'll be checking out more of this authors books in the future.
I am so impressed this was a debut novel. I enjoyed it so much, and the writing was fantastic. I love a good student teacher/forbidden romance and this one was different than many others I've read. Henry and Arden meet way before they figure out that Henry will be Arden's teacher and she is 19 and he is 25. Honestly, I think this could have been a 5 star for me but it ended a bit abruptly for me and I wanted a few more chapters with them together or an epilogue. I would definitely recommend this and I'll be checking out more of this authors books in the future.
June 21, 2021
Stars: 5
Length: Full Length
POV: Single POV - Heroine
Series: Stand Alone
Ending: HEA
Re-read? Yes
"No one wants something that’s broken. Not when they could have something unmarred. Something shiny and new."
This book was really heavy. Especially at the beginning. Also, since it was only a single POV you only saw Arden's take and not Henrys so there was no explanation for things he did or didn't do. There were a few times I wanted to give him a nice punch in the face. It got a bit lighter as things moved along but overall it was a heavy book so be prepared for that.
"I stalk towards the door, done with this conversation. Done with him. He doesn’t stop me. He doesn’t come after me. He lets me go, and the already broken pieces of my heart shatter even further."
Even though it was hard for me to get through because of how emotional it was, it was a really beautiful love story. Henry had true feelings for nineteen year old Arden and there was only a six year age gap. You could tell by her diminishing nightmares and increased self esteem that his presence in her life truly helped her. He even took care of her when she was sick and had absolutely no one.
Check out my highlights for more excerpts from this story. It's worth a read if you love angsty student/teacher romances.
Length: Full Length
POV: Single POV - Heroine
Series: Stand Alone
Ending: HEA
Re-read? Yes
"No one wants something that’s broken. Not when they could have something unmarred. Something shiny and new."
This book was really heavy. Especially at the beginning. Also, since it was only a single POV you only saw Arden's take and not Henrys so there was no explanation for things he did or didn't do. There were a few times I wanted to give him a nice punch in the face. It got a bit lighter as things moved along but overall it was a heavy book so be prepared for that.
"I stalk towards the door, done with this conversation. Done with him. He doesn’t stop me. He doesn’t come after me. He lets me go, and the already broken pieces of my heart shatter even further."
Even though it was hard for me to get through because of how emotional it was, it was a really beautiful love story. Henry had true feelings for nineteen year old Arden and there was only a six year age gap. You could tell by her diminishing nightmares and increased self esteem that his presence in her life truly helped her. He even took care of her when she was sick and had absolutely no one.
Check out my highlights for more excerpts from this story. It's worth a read if you love angsty student/teacher romances.
April 24, 2021
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review. The opinions on this review are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶/5
TW: sexual harassments, violence, emotional trauma.
Are you kidding me? This was a DEBUT book? Alyssa, queen, I hope you are working on at least five more releases for this year because you have a TALENT and this is probably one of the most well polished, well written, well developed books I have ever read. I can 100% see the amount of effort and thought you put into this story telling and it shows.
First of all, I have been looking for student teacher tropes for SO DAMN LONG, even though this wasn't as steamy as I could have hoped... omg the teenage butterflies I got! The little screeches I would involuntarily let go of me whenever something adorable happened. I can't wait to see you out there on these shelves, making money and writing more and more books, please DO NOT STOP. No matter what. This was REALLY good quality writing, something you usually don't get with debut books.
Perfectly crafted story and characters, great writing, toe curling sexual tension. I am not the most romantic person but this book got me thinking I could be a whole a** disney princess with how much I was swooning! Perfect flow of thoughts, convincing main heroine with a tough childhood and a tough life overall, HEA ending, so even though you might read some sexual harassment/physical violence and death, most things are not extremely explicit. Not a lot of steam though, but our girl came through with the flow, the romance and the great funny, loving and charming dialogues.
Alyssa, baby, you rock. I sincerely loved this book! Can't wait to see what you come up with next!
June 15, 2021
ma'am, if you’re going to name the H something boring like HENRY then obvio he’s gonna be the most bland character I’ve ever read. Blake and Devin had more personality in one eyelash of theirs & one of them is an almost rapist.
May 13, 2021
Loved every second of this book. The teacher/student dynamic was done really well! It can be easy to mess that up. I have no real complaints about this book!
5/5⭐️ 1.5/5🔥
5/5⭐️ 1.5/5🔥
July 7, 2021
This book is good 😍😍😍
October 31, 2021
Loved this from start to finish. A new fav student/teacher book of mine and dare I say gave me similar vibes to one of my all time favorite books Sweet Dandelion…? So good!
December 28, 2022
underrated asf
July 3, 2021
‘…if all else fails, try apologizing with chocolate.’
Crash Course by Alyssa Wilde is a stand alone slow burn, new adult, teacher/student romance that is told from the POV of the FMC.
This book really surprised me and there was so much to like ! It’s a slow burn romance without much steam but the sexual tension and the chemistry between the two main characters had me begging for more! The story flowed effortlessly with a plot that was unique and I loved the author’s writing style. I also loved the development of the characters as well as the supporting characters.
If you love a student/teacher romance that focuses more on the development of the relationship rather than the steam, then this is the book for you !
Please note: This book does contain scenes/topics that some readers may find triggering and/or disturbing.
Thank you to Alyssa Wilde for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Crash Course by Alyssa Wilde is a stand alone slow burn, new adult, teacher/student romance that is told from the POV of the FMC.
This book really surprised me and there was so much to like ! It’s a slow burn romance without much steam but the sexual tension and the chemistry between the two main characters had me begging for more! The story flowed effortlessly with a plot that was unique and I loved the author’s writing style. I also loved the development of the characters as well as the supporting characters.
If you love a student/teacher romance that focuses more on the development of the relationship rather than the steam, then this is the book for you !
Please note: This book does contain scenes/topics that some readers may find triggering and/or disturbing.
Thank you to Alyssa Wilde for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2021
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review. The opinions on this review are my own.
TW: Domestic violence and abuse.
First of all, WHAT A GREAT DEBUT! Alyssa is off to a great start with this one and I cannot wait to read more of her books in the future. I was up until 4:30am last night because I just couldn’t put it down. This book is fast paced and the writing just flows very smoothly. The development of the story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
This book tells the story of Arden Hart, a teenage girl that suffered a near fatal car accident. If it wasn’t for Henry Ames pulling her out of the car, she would’ve been dead. Her life becomes (even more) complicated after the accident, since she was held back a year in High School when she should’ve graduated already. And she has to deal with recovery, both physically and psychologically. Later on, she finds out that her new Creative Writing teacher is the same person hunting her in her nightmares every night. The one person she is trying to forget. The guy who saved her.
I’d like to talk about Arden first. She was a very complex character with a lot of baggage. Her life is not easy. There’s a lot going on everywhere around her. I got very close to her and sometimes I just wish I could give her a hug and tell her everything was going to be okay. Alyssa did an amazing job with character development, which is hard to accomplish in a standalone book with 350ish pages.
As for the romance, it is the most torturing slow burn! But very satisfying. I love her relationship with Henry and I just wanted to keep reading more about them. My only complaint is that I wish the age gap between them was a little bigger, just for more impact. Sorry Alyssa, but I took the liberty to make Henry a little older in my mind. I hope that’s okay lol.
Now, I couldn’t leave out this quote from the book, which is exactly how I felt about it.
“It’s good. Incredible, honestly, and I devour the words like I’m starved for them. The characters are painted so vividly, so realistically, that they draw you in, holding you hostage until their stories wrap up. When I’m finished, it leaves me with a strange emptiness inside, making me wish the book was longer. Making me wish I could stay with the characters for another few chapters.”
TW: Domestic violence and abuse.
First of all, WHAT A GREAT DEBUT! Alyssa is off to a great start with this one and I cannot wait to read more of her books in the future. I was up until 4:30am last night because I just couldn’t put it down. This book is fast paced and the writing just flows very smoothly. The development of the story kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
This book tells the story of Arden Hart, a teenage girl that suffered a near fatal car accident. If it wasn’t for Henry Ames pulling her out of the car, she would’ve been dead. Her life becomes (even more) complicated after the accident, since she was held back a year in High School when she should’ve graduated already. And she has to deal with recovery, both physically and psychologically. Later on, she finds out that her new Creative Writing teacher is the same person hunting her in her nightmares every night. The one person she is trying to forget. The guy who saved her.
I’d like to talk about Arden first. She was a very complex character with a lot of baggage. Her life is not easy. There’s a lot going on everywhere around her. I got very close to her and sometimes I just wish I could give her a hug and tell her everything was going to be okay. Alyssa did an amazing job with character development, which is hard to accomplish in a standalone book with 350ish pages.
As for the romance, it is the most torturing slow burn! But very satisfying. I love her relationship with Henry and I just wanted to keep reading more about them. My only complaint is that I wish the age gap between them was a little bigger, just for more impact. Sorry Alyssa, but I took the liberty to make Henry a little older in my mind. I hope that’s okay lol.
Now, I couldn’t leave out this quote from the book, which is exactly how I felt about it.
“It’s good. Incredible, honestly, and I devour the words like I’m starved for them. The characters are painted so vividly, so realistically, that they draw you in, holding you hostage until their stories wrap up. When I’m finished, it leaves me with a strange emptiness inside, making me wish the book was longer. Making me wish I could stay with the characters for another few chapters.”
April 25, 2021
I DEVOURED THIS BOOK, a debut by Alyssa Wilde. Her writing, her characters, were absolutely amazing. I was genuinely surprised this is her first published book
A student- teacher romance, a nineteen year old girl damsel in distress but for all the reality written on paper and a high school creative writing teacher who is only six years older than her 📝
Now normally I will not finish or even review a damsel in distress character because EWWW, but I absolutely freaking LOVED Arden as a character, her situations didn’t put her down, she is a strong and takes zero bullshit
TW: domestic violence, emotional and mental abuse, drug addictive mother
Then we have Henry Armes, and let me tell you I thought of freaking Henry Cavill 🤤
He’s your typical character, but he was such a sweetheart.
A tragic accident lead them together and tore them apart, a year later she’s finally recovered physically and he happens to be her creative writing teacher. It’s absolutely SLOOWWW BURN, I’m talking Mariana Zapata Slow burn but I absolutely adored every minute of the angsty emotions throughout it all. I cried, I sobbed because UGHHH. Crap does happen in real life and it was written so detailed
4.75/5⭐️ 1.5/5🔥
The SEXUAL TENSION THOUGGHHH 🌶🦋🌶🦋
A student- teacher romance, a nineteen year old girl damsel in distress but for all the reality written on paper and a high school creative writing teacher who is only six years older than her 📝
Now normally I will not finish or even review a damsel in distress character because EWWW, but I absolutely freaking LOVED Arden as a character, her situations didn’t put her down, she is a strong and takes zero bullshit
TW: domestic violence, emotional and mental abuse, drug addictive mother
Then we have Henry Armes, and let me tell you I thought of freaking Henry Cavill 🤤
He’s your typical character, but he was such a sweetheart.
A tragic accident lead them together and tore them apart, a year later she’s finally recovered physically and he happens to be her creative writing teacher. It’s absolutely SLOOWWW BURN, I’m talking Mariana Zapata Slow burn but I absolutely adored every minute of the angsty emotions throughout it all. I cried, I sobbed because UGHHH. Crap does happen in real life and it was written so detailed
4.75/5⭐️ 1.5/5🔥
The SEXUAL TENSION THOUGGHHH 🌶🦋🌶🦋
April 20, 2021
I finished this book within 3 hours! It literally took over me. I absolutely LOVED this story! I was so emotionally invested in Arden and Henry, their love for each other was so powerful at times I wanted to yell at my kindle. Love the slow build between them makes you turn the pages faster! This book definitely is a 10! Wasn't ready for their story to be over! I need a second book
October 7, 2022
Well I think that’s definitely destiny / fate whatever you want to call it but this was it such beautiful writing simple loved it I devoured it all and wanted more
October 5, 2022
I'm kind of disappointed ngl...
This was such a fantastic read for me at the beginning. I was loving the writing- all of Henry's and Arden's interactions, the delicious forbidden tension that was making me SCREAM with giddiness and excitement during every scene they were together...
AND THEN THE BOOK TURNED INTO A FRICKING SOAP DRAMA!!!!!
Out of nowhere 😭😭
From 60% and onwards the amount of *stupid* drama that was included in order to most probably 'liven things up' was just so frustrating.
First how she betrayed her friends trust, and then the absolutely random murder scene🥲
I was left scratching my head in...horror? Amazement at all the randomness?
I still don't know. I was just so confused.
But this still gets 4 stars for how much I loved the beginning and middle. I honestly thought this was going to be one of my favourite reads of the year🤦.
OW drama - no
OM drama - yesss (not the cute kind. It just was just WAY too much.)
This was such a fantastic read for me at the beginning. I was loving the writing- all of Henry's and Arden's interactions, the delicious forbidden tension that was making me SCREAM with giddiness and excitement during every scene they were together...
AND THEN THE BOOK TURNED INTO A FRICKING SOAP DRAMA!!!!!
Out of nowhere 😭😭
From 60% and onwards the amount of *stupid* drama that was included in order to most probably 'liven things up' was just so frustrating.
First how she betrayed her friends trust, and then the absolutely random murder scene🥲
I was left scratching my head in...horror? Amazement at all the randomness?
I still don't know. I was just so confused.
But this still gets 4 stars for how much I loved the beginning and middle. I honestly thought this was going to be one of my favourite reads of the year🤦.
OW drama - no
OM drama - yesss (not the cute kind. It just was just WAY too much.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2021
4 1/2 stars
Crash Course was well-written with a unique storyline. In addition, it was easy for me to connect and empathize with Arden. She'd definitely had a difficult life in more ways than one. Her life is complicated even more when Henry shows up as her teacher....the same Henry that was there for her the night of her accident.
Then there's Henry. I couldn't quite decide how I felt about him for the longest time. Then he finally shows his "heart" and I became a fan. I admired him for trying to do what he perceived to be the "right thing." However, it was still a tough pill to swallow when you see it from Arden's viewpoint.
This story doesn't follow the path you think it will. It has a few twists that you don't necessarily see coming. This just makes me so happy when I'm actually surprised by something in a plot....it rarely happens.
Thank you to the NABC and the author for a copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
Crash Course was well-written with a unique storyline. In addition, it was easy for me to connect and empathize with Arden. She'd definitely had a difficult life in more ways than one. Her life is complicated even more when Henry shows up as her teacher....the same Henry that was there for her the night of her accident.
Then there's Henry. I couldn't quite decide how I felt about him for the longest time. Then he finally shows his "heart" and I became a fan. I admired him for trying to do what he perceived to be the "right thing." However, it was still a tough pill to swallow when you see it from Arden's viewpoint.
This story doesn't follow the path you think it will. It has a few twists that you don't necessarily see coming. This just makes me so happy when I'm actually surprised by something in a plot....it rarely happens.
Thank you to the NABC and the author for a copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
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December 19, 2021So, hockey college romance with Devin as the hero when?
(This review will contain spoilers.)
I liked the concept for the story, but the execution was really lacking. It's not a bad book for a debut, but it's not good either. This book could've used better editing, to avoid repetitions and work on the descriptions (mainly of the characters' emotions and actions while interacting). I lost count of the amount of times the hero and heroine "locked" eyes with each other, in a multitude of different situations (some of them very awkward to picture, it didn't feel organic at all). Something else that didn't feel organic was the dialogue, especially between Arden and Henry. Dialogue is tricky, and the way the teens talked in this was okay enough, but when the hero and heroine interacted, they lacked flavor. I didn't feel like I was reading about two people with this deep connection, it felt like I was reading about two people who are nice and cordial to one another. Their banter wasn't rich in personality, it wasn't unexpected and specific to them, it simply was. Nothing they said ever surprised me (despite the fact that, apparently, Arden was constantly surprised by Henry's actions--I saw them from a mile away). This might also stem from the fact that Henry was very vanilla. Listen, I love cinnamon roll heroes, I do. They need to be more than that, though. The truth is, while Arden had an arc to go through, he didn't, really. Henry is at a point in his life where he is pretty okay. He is doing what he loves, and he's worked through his issues with his dad and sister. All that's left for him in this novel is to figure out what to do regarding his relationship to Arden and to decide (or not) to tell her about his involvement in her accident. So while Arden's forgiveness of him is important to his character, that's something that only happens at the very end and doesn't fundamentally change the character at all. So, essentially, Henry is a nice guy. That's all there is to it, but it shouldn't. It can't. He really needed more depth. Oh, and his backstory and struggles? Couldn't have been more obvious and boring.
Arden, on the other hand, does have more layers to her. Especially since she is an idiot who slept with a guy who already had a girlfriend and also used a perfectly nice guy (who had feelings for her, btw) to get back on our lovely hero. So, not exactly the best of people, I'd say. We're supposed to sympathize with her, however, thanks to the horrible things she's been through. I don't, though. There's no excuse for what she did, none whatsoever. But! She isn't all bad. I like that she fights for Henry (although she should have a bit more dignity, tbh), and she is truly a strong person. I understand her struggle, too, and she read like a real 19-year-old girl, which I appreciated. Also, once she gets together with Henry, they did feel like equals, instead of a weird dynamic where he is some type of protector for her.
That said, I didn't buy the actions of these characters for one second, however. I think this book needed some better plotting. Many of the things that happened felt contrived and unrealistic, mechanic. Henry seemed to be in the right place at the right time way too often for me to be able to suspend my disbelief, he was constantly walking back and forth between putting a distance between them or making advances, and for the love of all that is holy, it's absolutely ridiculous that he wouldn't wanna text Arden but would constantly pull her into empty classrooms in the middle of the school day to talk privatly. That's way worse and way more obvious than texting, dude. Also! Arden was going to graduate in a few months! Anyway, moving on. Point is, there were a lot of forced scenes in this story. Collins finding out at her bday party that her bf cheated on her with Arden (bc the guy very conviniently left his phone with the only person who wants revenge on our heroine, all this off-screen); Arden deciding to overhear Henry and Tara talking, so that she found everything out instead of being told and they could have their third act break-up; Arden coming back home right when Luke decides to go back and hurt Arden's mom. The characters simply did what the author needed them to. I also didn't enjoy how there's this established idea that Henry uses writing to work through his feelings, only so that we could get his backstory because his first book was a self-insert about him and his relationship with his dad, and then his second book is (surprise, surprise) about Arden's accident and Henry's envolvement in it--this so that Arden can process her feelings and decide to forgive him because, well, she forgave his character in the book, didn't she? Then there's the parallelism between what she hid from Collins and what Henry hid from her... While I know that every book is just a puzzle that the author put together, these pieces didn't fit seemlessly enough for me. I could see the author's thought process behind a lot of the decisions made here, I could see the strings being pulled behind the scenes, because the characters weren't real enough for me to believe that they chose to do all these things. Essentially, this book needed better plotting and sublety, so that every plot and character threads could be woven together in an organic way.
Whew. Okay. I've talked enough. Despite all my complaints, at least I was entertained. This got me through my final week of exams, and I'm thankful for this book for that reason.
Also, Devin is best boy.
(This review will contain spoilers.)
I liked the concept for the story, but the execution was really lacking. It's not a bad book for a debut, but it's not good either. This book could've used better editing, to avoid repetitions and work on the descriptions (mainly of the characters' emotions and actions while interacting). I lost count of the amount of times the hero and heroine "locked" eyes with each other, in a multitude of different situations (some of them very awkward to picture, it didn't feel organic at all). Something else that didn't feel organic was the dialogue, especially between Arden and Henry. Dialogue is tricky, and the way the teens talked in this was okay enough, but when the hero and heroine interacted, they lacked flavor. I didn't feel like I was reading about two people with this deep connection, it felt like I was reading about two people who are nice and cordial to one another. Their banter wasn't rich in personality, it wasn't unexpected and specific to them, it simply was. Nothing they said ever surprised me (despite the fact that, apparently, Arden was constantly surprised by Henry's actions--I saw them from a mile away). This might also stem from the fact that Henry was very vanilla. Listen, I love cinnamon roll heroes, I do. They need to be more than that, though. The truth is, while Arden had an arc to go through, he didn't, really. Henry is at a point in his life where he is pretty okay. He is doing what he loves, and he's worked through his issues with his dad and sister. All that's left for him in this novel is to figure out what to do regarding his relationship to Arden and to decide (or not) to tell her about his involvement in her accident. So while Arden's forgiveness of him is important to his character, that's something that only happens at the very end and doesn't fundamentally change the character at all. So, essentially, Henry is a nice guy. That's all there is to it, but it shouldn't. It can't. He really needed more depth. Oh, and his backstory and struggles? Couldn't have been more obvious and boring.
Arden, on the other hand, does have more layers to her. Especially since she is an idiot who slept with a guy who already had a girlfriend and also used a perfectly nice guy (who had feelings for her, btw) to get back on our lovely hero. So, not exactly the best of people, I'd say. We're supposed to sympathize with her, however, thanks to the horrible things she's been through. I don't, though. There's no excuse for what she did, none whatsoever. But! She isn't all bad. I like that she fights for Henry (although she should have a bit more dignity, tbh), and she is truly a strong person. I understand her struggle, too, and she read like a real 19-year-old girl, which I appreciated. Also, once she gets together with Henry, they did feel like equals, instead of a weird dynamic where he is some type of protector for her.
That said, I didn't buy the actions of these characters for one second, however. I think this book needed some better plotting. Many of the things that happened felt contrived and unrealistic, mechanic. Henry seemed to be in the right place at the right time way too often for me to be able to suspend my disbelief, he was constantly walking back and forth between putting a distance between them or making advances, and for the love of all that is holy, it's absolutely ridiculous that he wouldn't wanna text Arden but would constantly pull her into empty classrooms in the middle of the school day to talk privatly. That's way worse and way more obvious than texting, dude. Also! Arden was going to graduate in a few months! Anyway, moving on. Point is, there were a lot of forced scenes in this story. Collins finding out at her bday party that her bf cheated on her with Arden (bc the guy very conviniently left his phone with the only person who wants revenge on our heroine, all this off-screen); Arden deciding to overhear Henry and Tara talking, so that she found everything out instead of being told and they could have their third act break-up; Arden coming back home right when Luke decides to go back and hurt Arden's mom. The characters simply did what the author needed them to. I also didn't enjoy how there's this established idea that Henry uses writing to work through his feelings, only so that we could get his backstory because his first book was a self-insert about him and his relationship with his dad, and then his second book is (surprise, surprise) about Arden's accident and Henry's envolvement in it--this so that Arden can process her feelings and decide to forgive him because, well, she forgave his character in the book, didn't she? Then there's the parallelism between what she hid from Collins and what Henry hid from her... While I know that every book is just a puzzle that the author put together, these pieces didn't fit seemlessly enough for me. I could see the author's thought process behind a lot of the decisions made here, I could see the strings being pulled behind the scenes, because the characters weren't real enough for me to believe that they chose to do all these things. Essentially, this book needed better plotting and sublety, so that every plot and character threads could be woven together in an organic way.
Whew. Okay. I've talked enough. Despite all my complaints, at least I was entertained. This got me through my final week of exams, and I'm thankful for this book for that reason.
Also, Devin is best boy.
June 7, 2021
Nooooo! I do t want to finish this book! I want it to go on forever…
Forbidden love, the build up, the little looks and remarks that have you holding your breath. Does he feel it too? Those moments are perfect in this book. You come in and you feel it. All. The passion the hurt the fear. Can this truely be the author’s only book? I need more. Arden is so beautifully created. She is a fighter with no filter, I love that. Collins, what a surprise she was! Oh and Henry my gosh! Who hasn’t had a crush on a teacher?! Sigh, is it too soon to read again?
Forbidden love, the build up, the little looks and remarks that have you holding your breath. Does he feel it too? Those moments are perfect in this book. You come in and you feel it. All. The passion the hurt the fear. Can this truely be the author’s only book? I need more. Arden is so beautifully created. She is a fighter with no filter, I love that. Collins, what a surprise she was! Oh and Henry my gosh! Who hasn’t had a crush on a teacher?! Sigh, is it too soon to read again?
August 1, 2021
Teacher-student romance. The heroine had to miss a year of high school due to an accident. The hero and heroine met that night. She is a 19 year old senior. The hero is not that much older than her. The heroine’s situation at home appeared forced.
This did not work for me. I was unable to emphasize with the heroine.
She has sex with a jock in high school who has a girlfriend. She knows about the girlfriend. The heroine says she is numb, but that is not an excuse.
It was not only that, but the writing style did not work for me.
This did not work for me. I was unable to emphasize with the heroine.
She has sex with a jock in high school who has a girlfriend. She knows about the girlfriend. The heroine says she is numb, but that is not an excuse.
It was not only that, but the writing style did not work for me.
March 12, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ FIVE STAR READ ALERT ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Holy sh...
If you read one debut novel this year, make it Crash Course by @alyssawildeauthor
I just finished it in a day, and the only reason I didn't devour it in one sitting is because having to go to work got in the way. It's one of those books that makes you resent the intrusion of real life with bitter muttering to yourself because you need to know what happens next.
An amazing, intricate, fascinating plot. And every single character, even the side characters, were interesting. I wanted to know everything about everybody. I rooted for Arden every step of the way, a woman more sinned against than sinning. You want so desperately for her to have a better life.
And Henry... My goodness.
He's by no means perfect, and THAT'S WHAT MAKES HIM EVEN MORE LOVEABLE. He makes mistakes, but as Arden comes to realise, his heart is made of pure gold, and he loves so fiercely.
I am a huge fan of the teacher/student forbidden romance trope, and this is by far the best one I have ever read.
Read this, read this NOW please, I want to froth with you all about how good this book is!!!
Holy sh...
If you read one debut novel this year, make it Crash Course by @alyssawildeauthor
I just finished it in a day, and the only reason I didn't devour it in one sitting is because having to go to work got in the way. It's one of those books that makes you resent the intrusion of real life with bitter muttering to yourself because you need to know what happens next.
An amazing, intricate, fascinating plot. And every single character, even the side characters, were interesting. I wanted to know everything about everybody. I rooted for Arden every step of the way, a woman more sinned against than sinning. You want so desperately for her to have a better life.
And Henry... My goodness.
He's by no means perfect, and THAT'S WHAT MAKES HIM EVEN MORE LOVEABLE. He makes mistakes, but as Arden comes to realise, his heart is made of pure gold, and he loves so fiercely.
I am a huge fan of the teacher/student forbidden romance trope, and this is by far the best one I have ever read.
Read this, read this NOW please, I want to froth with you all about how good this book is!!!
June 1, 2021
**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**
I am in shock over how amazingly GREAT this book was! That is how you write a forbidden romance! This book was deep. It covered difficult subjects other than the obvious teacher/student. There was SO much character growth from several characters. There was forgiveness for others and yourself. There was learning your worth and not letting others treat you bad because of mistakes in the past. This is definitely an author to watch. I can't wait to read more. Well done!!!
I am in shock over how amazingly GREAT this book was! That is how you write a forbidden romance! This book was deep. It covered difficult subjects other than the obvious teacher/student. There was SO much character growth from several characters. There was forgiveness for others and yourself. There was learning your worth and not letting others treat you bad because of mistakes in the past. This is definitely an author to watch. I can't wait to read more. Well done!!!
August 21, 2022
4⭐️I’ll do a review tomorrow!
Actual review :
So this was my first book from this author and the writing was soooo good . I forgot I was reading the book at one point and actually in it . I love when books do that to a person.
This was a student / teacher trope she’s 19 and he’s 25(?)
The interactions between Henry and Arden kept me wanting to know more and the plot twist near the end ? Wow . I should’ve known but I didn’t and was literally shocked my face was like 😮
When I finished the book I wanted to give them a huge hug .
Actual review :
So this was my first book from this author and the writing was soooo good . I forgot I was reading the book at one point and actually in it . I love when books do that to a person.
This was a student / teacher trope she’s 19 and he’s 25(?)
The interactions between Henry and Arden kept me wanting to know more and the plot twist near the end ? Wow . I should’ve known but I didn’t and was literally shocked my face was like 😮
When I finished the book I wanted to give them a huge hug .
January 16, 2023
3/5 stars
August 13, 2022
I loved this book and was shocked at that one plot twist. This story was sad, but also beautiful. Loved both of the main characters and they deserve each other.
April 22, 2021
I received Crash Course as part of Hidden Gems ARC program for my honest review. Let me tell you, this was one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking stories I have ever read. For this to be Alyssa Wilde’s first book is mind boggling 🤯! I am so very impressed by her story telling. Her uncanny ability to bring the characters to life in a way that would connect with her readers in the most profound way is quite magical.
This is one of the most thought provoking, riveting, and soul searching romance love stories I’ve read to date. It pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you engaged all through the end.
The way the author so carefully depicts Arden was masterfully done. She’s described as a wounded soul, loner, emotionally closed off, doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her, a survivor. In the end, she’s so much more…she’s a true warrior with the biggest heart and the will to live. Henry seems like the all American teacher, great guy with the charm, good looks, and physique of an Adonis, but he has secrets buried so deep it’s shocking. The devastating events that led to their paths crossing were so cleverly revealed and the tiny hints that led a reader to believe that something was awry were perfectly timed.
After finishing the book this is how I felt: Noooooo, this can’t be the end of Arden & Henry’s story!!! I want more, I crave more, I neeeed more! On my knees begging!
This is definitely a MUST READ and HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! I would give it a higher rating if it was possible 😔. I anxiously await Ms. Wilde’s next masterpiece.
**AUTHOR NOTE: I would love to see a book series for these characters: Collins, Devin, Blake, and Tara.
This is one of the most thought provoking, riveting, and soul searching romance love stories I’ve read to date. It pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you engaged all through the end.
The way the author so carefully depicts Arden was masterfully done. She’s described as a wounded soul, loner, emotionally closed off, doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her, a survivor. In the end, she’s so much more…she’s a true warrior with the biggest heart and the will to live. Henry seems like the all American teacher, great guy with the charm, good looks, and physique of an Adonis, but he has secrets buried so deep it’s shocking. The devastating events that led to their paths crossing were so cleverly revealed and the tiny hints that led a reader to believe that something was awry were perfectly timed.
After finishing the book this is how I felt: Noooooo, this can’t be the end of Arden & Henry’s story!!! I want more, I crave more, I neeeed more! On my knees begging!
This is definitely a MUST READ and HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! I would give it a higher rating if it was possible 😔. I anxiously await Ms. Wilde’s next masterpiece.
**AUTHOR NOTE: I would love to see a book series for these characters: Collins, Devin, Blake, and Tara.
May 14, 2021
I am a sucker for student/teacher romances when they’re done well. And I really enjoyed this. Typically I prefer professor/student because I don’t like books set in high school, but the MC was 19 so it made it better.
The tension in this book was amazing. And the writing style captivated me from the first page.
I loved Henry. He was patient with Arden even when she was being too much. He was professional and I appreciated that. He is what really made this book good for me.
Honestly, I hated Arden in the beginning. I thought she was a terrible person. What kind of person will sleep with someone’s boyfriend KNOWINGLY!?! Like I blame Blake more than Arden, but Arden literally said she didn’t care about what she was doing. And then she became friends with Collins. It made my stomach turn. That double date made me livid. I don’t know why she couldn’t just toughen up and admit what she did. I honestly would have given this book 5 stars if she admitted what she did to Collins. Cheating is the biggest NO for me. And I get that Blake was harassing her, but how did they even end up hooking up? Like hook up with Devin, HES ACTUALLY SINGLE.
BUT the fact I still loved this book even though there was cheating in it is insane. I really ended up enjoying this. I stayed up all night long reading this, so it really had my attention.
If you loved this I would recommend reading Sweet Dandelion by Micalea Smeltzer!
The tension in this book was amazing. And the writing style captivated me from the first page.
I loved Henry. He was patient with Arden even when she was being too much. He was professional and I appreciated that. He is what really made this book good for me.
Honestly, I hated Arden in the beginning. I thought she was a terrible person. What kind of person will sleep with someone’s boyfriend KNOWINGLY!?! Like I blame Blake more than Arden, but Arden literally said she didn’t care about what she was doing. And then she became friends with Collins. It made my stomach turn. That double date made me livid. I don’t know why she couldn’t just toughen up and admit what she did. I honestly would have given this book 5 stars if she admitted what she did to Collins. Cheating is the biggest NO for me. And I get that Blake was harassing her, but how did they even end up hooking up? Like hook up with Devin, HES ACTUALLY SINGLE.
BUT the fact I still loved this book even though there was cheating in it is insane. I really ended up enjoying this. I stayed up all night long reading this, so it really had my attention.
If you loved this I would recommend reading Sweet Dandelion by Micalea Smeltzer!
November 20, 2021
4.5⭐️
Obsessed. In love. What a unique story.
𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂:
Arden is in a major car crash and she’s saved by this mystery man she bumped into at the gas station minutes earlier. Fast forward nearly two year later and said man, named Henry, is one of her new teachers.
𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
I love a good student-teacher book, it’s my guilt pleasure trope, and I’ve learned that I love when the two met prior to them being student and teacher, and this scenario was probably one of the most insane. The drama and the issues in this book go so beyond their taboo dynamic that if your hesitant about this trope, I recommend this book.
Arden has so much trauma she has to overcome and before Henry re-entering her life, she was resigned to just shutting herself off. Henry sees the pain she hasn’t overcome and refuses to let her think she’s broken. These two go through so much, and seeing them fall in love was so special. They handle their peculiar system situation so perfectly that I was almost disappointed at the lack of tabooness 😂. Jokes aside, for a debut novel, this was so so good and I really recommend.
Obsessed. In love. What a unique story.
𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂:
Arden is in a major car crash and she’s saved by this mystery man she bumped into at the gas station minutes earlier. Fast forward nearly two year later and said man, named Henry, is one of her new teachers.
𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
I love a good student-teacher book, it’s my guilt pleasure trope, and I’ve learned that I love when the two met prior to them being student and teacher, and this scenario was probably one of the most insane. The drama and the issues in this book go so beyond their taboo dynamic that if your hesitant about this trope, I recommend this book.
Arden has so much trauma she has to overcome and before Henry re-entering her life, she was resigned to just shutting herself off. Henry sees the pain she hasn’t overcome and refuses to let her think she’s broken. These two go through so much, and seeing them fall in love was so special. They handle their peculiar system situation so perfectly that I was almost disappointed at the lack of tabooness 😂. Jokes aside, for a debut novel, this was so so good and I really recommend.
June 6, 2021
5* Just Maybe Stars
This was an incredible debut book by Alyssa Wilde. One of my favourite troupes is student/teacher romances and the author did a great job with this story.
This book was so well written, and the storytelling felt so real. It was steeped with emotions. You felt the sorrow and heartache that the main character Arden was feeling throughout the book. After surviving a terrible accident, she is isolated and closed off having no friends or family. When Arden eventually returns to school to repeat her senior year, she discovers that one of her Teachers, Henry is more than just her Creative Writing Teacher.
This is a slow burn romance without much steam, however the chemistry and attraction between them was palpable.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which was emotional to say the least. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
This was an incredible debut book by Alyssa Wilde. One of my favourite troupes is student/teacher romances and the author did a great job with this story.
This book was so well written, and the storytelling felt so real. It was steeped with emotions. You felt the sorrow and heartache that the main character Arden was feeling throughout the book. After surviving a terrible accident, she is isolated and closed off having no friends or family. When Arden eventually returns to school to repeat her senior year, she discovers that one of her Teachers, Henry is more than just her Creative Writing Teacher.
This is a slow burn romance without much steam, however the chemistry and attraction between them was palpable.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which was emotional to say the least. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
July 12, 2022
4.5 / 5 ⭐️
THE SLOW BURN AND PINING ELEMENT THAT THIS BOOK HAS IS 🤌
I’ve read books with the student/teacher forbidden trope, but this one was definitely different.
Arden literally came from nothing and has been through so much trauma in her life, and when she sees the person that rescued her from her accident, as her new teacher, her life gets a little more interesting. The relationship between Henry and Arden is so organic and really builds up, that when they finally fall for each other, it just seems right.
Henry is literally so patient with Arden. I mean this man fr be smitten for her. Get you a man that gives you king sized Kit-Kats, plays Jenga terribly, and takes care of you when you’re sick!!
“Would you rather love me every day for the rest of your life or love me for eternity?”
“That’s basically the same thing.”
“Is it? Then I guess you have no other option.”
THE SLOW BURN AND PINING ELEMENT THAT THIS BOOK HAS IS 🤌
I’ve read books with the student/teacher forbidden trope, but this one was definitely different.
Arden literally came from nothing and has been through so much trauma in her life, and when she sees the person that rescued her from her accident, as her new teacher, her life gets a little more interesting. The relationship between Henry and Arden is so organic and really builds up, that when they finally fall for each other, it just seems right.
Henry is literally so patient with Arden. I mean this man fr be smitten for her. Get you a man that gives you king sized Kit-Kats, plays Jenga terribly, and takes care of you when you’re sick!!
“Would you rather love me every day for the rest of your life or love me for eternity?”
“That’s basically the same thing.”
“Is it? Then I guess you have no other option.”
April 26, 2021
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
TW: Domestic Violence/Abuse, psychological trauma
First off I want to say DAMN Girl to Alyssa Wilde! For this to be a debut novel it is incredible and so well written. I cannot wait to read anything else you release!
On to the review: I loved it. I loved this book and it spoke to my soul. Growing up I had gone through my own fair share of trauma and traumatic events so I have a harder time dealing with the characterization of trauma/abuse survivors. I did not have this problem once with this book. Arden was complicated and her emotional & psychological journey throughout the novel felt real and raw. Alyssa did a great job in portraying Arden as a survivor and not just as a victim.
As for Henry, well he was just what Arden needed. He helps her in a way that no one else can and gains her trust. He was charming and handsome but he definitely had his own dark secrets.
I loved the relationship between Henry & Arden. TBH I love a good age gap and student/teacher is one of my favorite tropes. However I'm not always a fan of the slow burn, and let me tell you this was a sloooow burn and yet I ain't mad at it. It made sense for the characters, for the journey that Arden was going through. And it was well worth the wait.
TW: Domestic Violence/Abuse, psychological trauma
First off I want to say DAMN Girl to Alyssa Wilde! For this to be a debut novel it is incredible and so well written. I cannot wait to read anything else you release!
On to the review: I loved it. I loved this book and it spoke to my soul. Growing up I had gone through my own fair share of trauma and traumatic events so I have a harder time dealing with the characterization of trauma/abuse survivors. I did not have this problem once with this book. Arden was complicated and her emotional & psychological journey throughout the novel felt real and raw. Alyssa did a great job in portraying Arden as a survivor and not just as a victim.
As for Henry, well he was just what Arden needed. He helps her in a way that no one else can and gains her trust. He was charming and handsome but he definitely had his own dark secrets.
I loved the relationship between Henry & Arden. TBH I love a good age gap and student/teacher is one of my favorite tropes. However I'm not always a fan of the slow burn, and let me tell you this was a sloooow burn and yet I ain't mad at it. It made sense for the characters, for the journey that Arden was going through. And it was well worth the wait.
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