What do you think?
Rate this book
Hallisburg Prep #3
The Only Boy Off Limits
Get ready for Hallisburg Prep Book 3, Cruz and Avery's story, coming in 2022.
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2022
364 people are currently reading
285 people want to read
About the author
Emily Lowry
16 books183 followersEmily Lowry is true romantic. She’s a huge fan of happily ever afters, witty, fun characters and fast-paced sweet romances.
Emily writes from her home in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and in her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, baking cakes and paddleboarding.
Discover Emily Lowry’s first series, Rumors and Lies at Evermore High, for perfect sweet romance reads filled with gossip, high school drama & falling in love for the first time <3
Emily writes from her home in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, and in her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her dog, baking cakes and paddleboarding.
Discover Emily Lowry’s first series, Rumors and Lies at Evermore High, for perfect sweet romance reads filled with gossip, high school drama & falling in love for the first time <3
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 31, 2022
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Avery & Cruz’s points of view
Review:
When I started this book late one night, I should have known that I’d stay up a lot longer than I planned to. I ended up reading this whole story in one go! Avery and Cruz’s story was so lovely and enjoyable! I loved their cereal related nicknames, their teasing banter, their challenging/competitive personalities, and their ability to be vulnerable with each other. Some of my favorite scenes included: the experiments- staring into each other’s eyes & rock climbing (both the failed ends and theirs), the ice cream shop, watching fireworks from the roof on New Years, the last basketball game, the party by the pool, and their late night visits. 😍 And I think we got a sneak peek into who the next story is about! I’m so excited for it!
Summary:
Avery’s friends are finding someone who makes their hearts flutter and she’s beginning to realize that she wants that too. Unfortunately, everyone she’s tried to date in the past haven’t given her any of those kinds of feelings. Could she be doing something wrong? When her psych teacher assigns them with a project, Avery is quick to pick the Psychology of Attraction so that she can find the answers she seeks. Unfortunately this is a group project, and her brother’s annoying best friend wormed his way to being her partner. No way can she explain to Cruz why she picked this topic…
Cruz loves to poke fun at his best friend’s sister, which is good since he needs something to distract him from his recent heartbreak and tumultuous home life. When he discovers that they are in the same psych class and gets a topic that hits a little too close to home, Cruz manages to exchange topics for the same one Avery picked up, it’s a win-win situation in his mind. With Cruz and Avery trying the experiments themselves when their participants can barely do the first steps, Cruz starts to see Avery in a different light. Could the girl for him have been under his nose all his life?
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Avery & Cruz’s points of view
Review:
When I started this book late one night, I should have known that I’d stay up a lot longer than I planned to. I ended up reading this whole story in one go! Avery and Cruz’s story was so lovely and enjoyable! I loved their cereal related nicknames, their teasing banter, their challenging/competitive personalities, and their ability to be vulnerable with each other. Some of my favorite scenes included: the experiments- staring into each other’s eyes & rock climbing (both the failed ends and theirs), the ice cream shop, watching fireworks from the roof on New Years, the last basketball game, the party by the pool, and their late night visits. 😍 And I think we got a sneak peek into who the next story is about! I’m so excited for it!
Summary:
Avery’s friends are finding someone who makes their hearts flutter and she’s beginning to realize that she wants that too. Unfortunately, everyone she’s tried to date in the past haven’t given her any of those kinds of feelings. Could she be doing something wrong? When her psych teacher assigns them with a project, Avery is quick to pick the Psychology of Attraction so that she can find the answers she seeks. Unfortunately this is a group project, and her brother’s annoying best friend wormed his way to being her partner. No way can she explain to Cruz why she picked this topic…
Cruz loves to poke fun at his best friend’s sister, which is good since he needs something to distract him from his recent heartbreak and tumultuous home life. When he discovers that they are in the same psych class and gets a topic that hits a little too close to home, Cruz manages to exchange topics for the same one Avery picked up, it’s a win-win situation in his mind. With Cruz and Avery trying the experiments themselves when their participants can barely do the first steps, Cruz starts to see Avery in a different light. Could the girl for him have been under his nose all his life?
October 29, 2022
First I wanted to say thank you Emily for the ARC! Avery and Cruz have found a place in my heart with the rest of the crew and I can’t wait to continue the adventures with the rest of the characters.
Avery and Cruz grew up together in the same neighborhood, with her twin brother, Arie, being best friends with him. Between the bickering, witty banter, coming up with these hilarious nicknames, overtime, things started to shift. Actually spending time together, listening, communicating, understanding, grew this friendship that neither could have expected. I loved everything about these two. The trust that developed, the bond they created without even realizing it. The sweet moments when they realized they were falling for each other. I was constantly laughing and smiling, feeling all the emotions that the characters were going through. The flow of the story and ease of which everything fell into place was perfect for them. I constantly want to continue with their stories but am satisfied with getting glimpses of past couples in the new books to come.
“It really was impossible. It was impossible that I felt something stirring in my stomach when Cruz and I were staring at each other during the four-minute challenge. It was impossible that the feeling came back again the other night—stronger, that time—when he walked me home. Cruz was totally, utterly and completely impossible. He was my brother’s closest friend, my project partner, Naomi’s very recent ex-boyfriend, and the boy I’d sparred and bickered with my entire life. Everything about us was wrong. So why, oh why, did it feel so right to have him walk me home? To have his arm around me when I was cold? To hear and feel his laugh right next to me?”
“I always make sense, Killer. And I’m one thousand percent sure that you are entirely capable of having romantic feelings for someone—you just haven’t found that special someone who challenges you and pushes you in a relationship sense. But they’re out there, Avery Jensen. I know they are. You don’t need to rush it or settle for something you don’t fully want. Because you’re freaking special. One of a kind. And it’ll take a special person to make you fall in love.”
Avery and Cruz grew up together in the same neighborhood, with her twin brother, Arie, being best friends with him. Between the bickering, witty banter, coming up with these hilarious nicknames, overtime, things started to shift. Actually spending time together, listening, communicating, understanding, grew this friendship that neither could have expected. I loved everything about these two. The trust that developed, the bond they created without even realizing it. The sweet moments when they realized they were falling for each other. I was constantly laughing and smiling, feeling all the emotions that the characters were going through. The flow of the story and ease of which everything fell into place was perfect for them. I constantly want to continue with their stories but am satisfied with getting glimpses of past couples in the new books to come.
“It really was impossible. It was impossible that I felt something stirring in my stomach when Cruz and I were staring at each other during the four-minute challenge. It was impossible that the feeling came back again the other night—stronger, that time—when he walked me home. Cruz was totally, utterly and completely impossible. He was my brother’s closest friend, my project partner, Naomi’s very recent ex-boyfriend, and the boy I’d sparred and bickered with my entire life. Everything about us was wrong. So why, oh why, did it feel so right to have him walk me home? To have his arm around me when I was cold? To hear and feel his laugh right next to me?”
“I always make sense, Killer. And I’m one thousand percent sure that you are entirely capable of having romantic feelings for someone—you just haven’t found that special someone who challenges you and pushes you in a relationship sense. But they’re out there, Avery Jensen. I know they are. You don’t need to rush it or settle for something you don’t fully want. Because you’re freaking special. One of a kind. And it’ll take a special person to make you fall in love.”
November 4, 2022
Finally got to read this book after a very long waiting!
The things that I liked/loved about this book:
🥀Seeing the previous couples of this series
🥀Cruz and Avery's sassy banter
🥀How every experiment failed for the others (or so they think now) but worked out for them
🥀The bromance between Cruz and Arie
🥀Cruz's nicknames for Avery
🥀 Avery's live for cereals
🥀Cruz's protective nature
🥀Leo's adorable tie
🥀Avery and Cruz amazingly sweet first kiss
For a great book with the brother's best friend trope, a female lead who'll make you smile and a male lead who will make you fall off him, check out this book!
Content warnings: You might die of swooning hard by reading how romantic Cruz can be. Other than that, PG-13 content with a couple of kisses. No swearing or explicit content.
(I got an ARC!!)
The things that I liked/loved about this book:
🥀Seeing the previous couples of this series
🥀Cruz and Avery's sassy banter
🥀How every experiment failed for the others (or so they think now) but worked out for them
🥀The bromance between Cruz and Arie
🥀Cruz's nicknames for Avery
🥀 Avery's live for cereals
🥀Cruz's protective nature
🥀Leo's adorable tie
🥀Avery and Cruz amazingly sweet first kiss
For a great book with the brother's best friend trope, a female lead who'll make you smile and a male lead who will make you fall off him, check out this book!
Content warnings: You might die of swooning hard by reading how romantic Cruz can be. Other than that, PG-13 content with a couple of kisses. No swearing or explicit content.
(I got an ARC!!)
November 1, 2022
Avery & Cruz Were Worth the Wait!
The banter between these two had been bubbling for the whole series and no one was happier than me when their book finally arrived!
They don’t disappoint with their endlessly cute nicknames for each other. They have a really fun, teasing kind of coin Dr This is a sweet book about falling for someone whose always been right there in front of you. The friend who has driven you crazy for most of your lives but is suddenly the one you share the most with.
Cruz and Avery were so fun to read because they had a great vibe. Emily never fails to deliver sweet swoony stories that have me full of feels. Love this one!
The banter between these two had been bubbling for the whole series and no one was happier than me when their book finally arrived!
They don’t disappoint with their endlessly cute nicknames for each other. They have a really fun, teasing kind of coin Dr This is a sweet book about falling for someone whose always been right there in front of you. The friend who has driven you crazy for most of your lives but is suddenly the one you share the most with.
Cruz and Avery were so fun to read because they had a great vibe. Emily never fails to deliver sweet swoony stories that have me full of feels. Love this one!
August 23, 2025
(3.75/5) very sweet, very cute, not much else to it!
November 7, 2022
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐
THIS BOOK WAS ADORABLE. I am an absolute sucker for brothers-best-friend books and this one did not disappoint. Emily Lowry is such a good writer and I feel like I know every character in this group personally. Avery was a good, strong leader for someone as strong as Cruz. I lvoed how they had their banter and their inside jokes. And that experiment was just a good subplot. Everything about this book was amazing. I want more!
I received a review copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
THIS BOOK WAS ADORABLE. I am an absolute sucker for brothers-best-friend books and this one did not disappoint. Emily Lowry is such a good writer and I feel like I know every character in this group personally. Avery was a good, strong leader for someone as strong as Cruz. I lvoed how they had their banter and their inside jokes. And that experiment was just a good subplot. Everything about this book was amazing. I want more!
I received a review copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 15, 2023
4.75 stars ✨
April 21, 2023
favorite book out of the series their story was so cute
April 24, 2023
Excellent series
This is such an excellent high school series. Cheese factor. Romance. Finding love ❤️. Great group of friends. Everything you need in a high school story.
This is such an excellent high school series. Cheese factor. Romance. Finding love ❤️. Great group of friends. Everything you need in a high school story.
March 28, 2023
I picked this one up, couldn't get into in then put it down for months and months. So I was pleasantly surprised to pick it back up and fall into the story.
For context, Avery's twin is Cruz's best friend and they all attend a boarding school where they're all in a big friend group. So we start off the book with Avery and Cruz already being friends, but not close friends. More bantery, we-grew-up-together friends.
We open the book with Cruz having a miserable time at a party that he doesn't want to be at, as he stresses over his recently wayward sister. He's then dumped by his very long-time girlfriend. Cruz was not having a great time. On the flipside was Avery wants to dump her short-time boyfriend who she realises she has no feeling for. The two end up meeting up at the end of their miserable evenings and connect deeper as friends.
When they return to school, they're in the same Psych class and end up on the same project studying the laws of attraction. What follows may be predictable but the story executes it well.
The reason I initially dropped this read was the first few chapters especially from Cruz's POV seemed heavy and I was in the mood for something lighter. While Cruz is going through a bit in his home life though, this doesn't actually weigh down the tone of the story. What we get is Cruz and Avery building a really solid foundation of friendship which organically (and I cannot stress enough just how organic everything felt in this read) develops into more.
Both Cruz and Avery are developed really well and stand alone as characters. I especially appreciated Lowry's treatment of Cruz. It was a very interesting arc. Cruz is who he is, fun loving, life of the party. But we see him actively working on himself intentionally to bring more depth into his relationships out of want and necessity. But while growing in this way, he doesn't lose who he is as a person (or character). Even as his friends around him, and Avery, notice these changes in him, it's acknowledged as another facet of his personality, and growth, as opposed to him becoming a completely different person. I really appreciated this and not sure I can entirely articulate why.
Anyway the ship was also very investable and cute, and yes mushy at times but it's what I signed up for.
For context, Avery's twin is Cruz's best friend and they all attend a boarding school where they're all in a big friend group. So we start off the book with Avery and Cruz already being friends, but not close friends. More bantery, we-grew-up-together friends.
We open the book with Cruz having a miserable time at a party that he doesn't want to be at, as he stresses over his recently wayward sister. He's then dumped by his very long-time girlfriend. Cruz was not having a great time. On the flipside was Avery wants to dump her short-time boyfriend who she realises she has no feeling for. The two end up meeting up at the end of their miserable evenings and connect deeper as friends.
When they return to school, they're in the same Psych class and end up on the same project studying the laws of attraction. What follows may be predictable but the story executes it well.
The reason I initially dropped this read was the first few chapters especially from Cruz's POV seemed heavy and I was in the mood for something lighter. While Cruz is going through a bit in his home life though, this doesn't actually weigh down the tone of the story. What we get is Cruz and Avery building a really solid foundation of friendship which organically (and I cannot stress enough just how organic everything felt in this read) develops into more.
Both Cruz and Avery are developed really well and stand alone as characters. I especially appreciated Lowry's treatment of Cruz. It was a very interesting arc. Cruz is who he is, fun loving, life of the party. But we see him actively working on himself intentionally to bring more depth into his relationships out of want and necessity. But while growing in this way, he doesn't lose who he is as a person (or character). Even as his friends around him, and Avery, notice these changes in him, it's acknowledged as another facet of his personality, and growth, as opposed to him becoming a completely different person. I really appreciated this and not sure I can entirely articulate why.
Anyway the ship was also very investable and cute, and yes mushy at times but it's what I signed up for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2023
I read this today in a couple of hours.
What was good?
- It was a sweet, clean romance, suitable for teens.
- It featured the brother's best friend trope, and forced proximity (working on a school project together).
- It was short and a quick read.
What could be improved?
- I found it pretty similar to some of her other books (a fact which may have been exacerbated by the fact that I have read seven of her books in the past 24 hours)
- The stakes weren't particularly high, I never really got a sense that the main couple wouldn't be together. Even the one conflict was over come very quickly.
- There were a few minor typos in this one, even though her books are generally clean.
What was good?
- It was a sweet, clean romance, suitable for teens.
- It featured the brother's best friend trope, and forced proximity (working on a school project together).
- It was short and a quick read.
What could be improved?
- I found it pretty similar to some of her other books (a fact which may have been exacerbated by the fact that I have read seven of her books in the past 24 hours)
- The stakes weren't particularly high, I never really got a sense that the main couple wouldn't be together. Even the one conflict was over come very quickly.
- There were a few minor typos in this one, even though her books are generally clean.
March 23, 2025
“Maybe we need a redo of that one…”
“With the right people on said date?” Avery’s cheeks flushed red, her own breaths becoming shallower and matching mine. Our faces were inches away, and her lips parted as she glanced down at mine. Just like she did the other night.
All I could think was how beautiful she was. How right this felt, to be in this moment with her.
“And those people would be?” I asked softly.
“I’m not sure I can answer that,” she whispered. Her breath was sweet on my lips.
“I think I can.”
The words barely left my mouth before I did the very thing I couldn’t stop thinking about doing. I closed the gap between us, cupped her face in my hands, lowered my lips to hers…
And I kissed Avery Jensen.
“With the right people on said date?” Avery’s cheeks flushed red, her own breaths becoming shallower and matching mine. Our faces were inches away, and her lips parted as she glanced down at mine. Just like she did the other night.
All I could think was how beautiful she was. How right this felt, to be in this moment with her.
“And those people would be?” I asked softly.
“I’m not sure I can answer that,” she whispered. Her breath was sweet on my lips.
“I think I can.”
The words barely left my mouth before I did the very thing I couldn’t stop thinking about doing. I closed the gap between us, cupped her face in my hands, lowered my lips to hers…
And I kissed Avery Jensen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2022
I have been waiting for this book for a while now and I am sad that I read it all in one day now I have to wait another year😣 My name is avery so it was kinda weird reading a romance book about a gal named Avery but is was a really good and sweet read I got over it quickly. I Adore the banter between Avery and Cruz it was sarcasm at its best (I love myself some good sarcasm) this was such a cute read and I liked how even when they did fight feeling they didn’t spend the entire book like “omg I like him, I can’t like him, I hate him, I love him” Emily put a nice spin on a classic trope and I couldn’t love this book more but Mia and Sutton still own my heart 🤍 Fantastic read
September 3, 2025
It was sweet and clean without ridiculous conflicts.
Interesting that there isn’t a book about Grayson and Taylor, though I guess it would’ve been very similar to Avery and Cruz. I felt like Cruz had more personality than Avery. I don’t know. It felt like I didn’t connect with her as much in the beginning she was kinda sad/Depressing. Avery felt different in the other books than this one. It also doesn’t make sense that Avery is afraid of heights, but she is a cheerleader in the air all the time.
her books often talk about other people how they smelt and I don’t understand that I don’t go about smelling people .
Interesting that there isn’t a book about Grayson and Taylor, though I guess it would’ve been very similar to Avery and Cruz. I felt like Cruz had more personality than Avery. I don’t know. It felt like I didn’t connect with her as much in the beginning she was kinda sad/Depressing. Avery felt different in the other books than this one. It also doesn’t make sense that Avery is afraid of heights, but she is a cheerleader in the air all the time.
her books often talk about other people how they smelt and I don’t understand that I don’t go about smelling people .
October 31, 2022
Cruz and Avery have known each other forever. Cruz is the best friend of Avery's brother and his long-term relationship has just ended. Avery has been on a lot of dates but hasn't found the right guy. But, one little psychology class project changes the way they see each other. I really enjoyed this book and getting to see Cruz and Avery deal with their changing relationship and some family concerns. I loved their banter and chemistry. This was a very entertaining read with the perfect ending that will leave you with a happy heart.
October 27, 2022
Sigh.
I just adored it. Cruz is so sweet. And funny. Avery is so smart and witty. And them together, the chemistry is top notch. Plus, add in Sutton and Mia, Arie and Quinn and Taylor and Grayson and you've got a recipe for a delightful YA high school romance.
I am entirely in love with Avery and Cruz and I am excited for all of you to fall in love, too.
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I just adored it. Cruz is so sweet. And funny. Avery is so smart and witty. And them together, the chemistry is top notch. Plus, add in Sutton and Mia, Arie and Quinn and Taylor and Grayson and you've got a recipe for a delightful YA high school romance.
I am entirely in love with Avery and Cruz and I am excited for all of you to fall in love, too.
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 17, 2026
Like the other books of this series this was a quick and sweet read. Something to read when you just want something light and cute.
I liked Avery and Cruz and while I was not as invested in their romance as I was in the previous book, I enjoyed learning more about their backstories.
I honestly wish this series would continue, but it doesn’t look like it. I was really looking forward to Gray’s and Tay’s story!
I liked Avery and Cruz and while I was not as invested in their romance as I was in the previous book, I enjoyed learning more about their backstories.
I honestly wish this series would continue, but it doesn’t look like it. I was really looking forward to Gray’s and Tay’s story!
October 31, 2022
Okay, I thought Quinn and Arie were my favorite couple of Emily Lowry’s, but Cruz and Avery have now taken that award. I loved them so much! The way their love story unfolded was so beautiful. They went from having a sort of hate to love relationship to becoming each other’s confidantes. But even when they finally got together, I liked how they still kept on teasing on each other. Their banter was exceptional, especially loved all of Cruz’s nicknames for Avery. I’m also really excited to read the next books in the series, whether that be Taylor and Grayson or Rachel and Leo(?).
I can’t believe it has been almost a year since I last read a book by Emily Lowry and I forgot how good of a job she does at giving me the most cute and swoon-worthy romances.
I can’t believe it has been almost a year since I last read a book by Emily Lowry and I forgot how good of a job she does at giving me the most cute and swoon-worthy romances.
November 3, 2022
I was so looking forward to this story and it was even better than I imagined!
I loved it from the beginning until the end! Cruz and Avery are such a sweet couple, so glad they finally fond each other. Their first kiss was so swoony and I loved their banter and silly nicknames. It’s also nice to see the previous characters again.
I really enjoyed this story and this series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved it from the beginning until the end! Cruz and Avery are such a sweet couple, so glad they finally fond each other. Their first kiss was so swoony and I loved their banter and silly nicknames. It’s also nice to see the previous characters again.
I really enjoyed this story and this series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 1, 2022
WOWW!!
That was so good! I loved Cruz and Avery's banter.
The support they had for each other was also so cute!
Amazing read!
This whole series was a beautiful journey with the inter-related characters and the pacing was easy and nice.
Going to find some more books by this author (Emily Lowry) because the writing was just that good.
That was so good! I loved Cruz and Avery's banter.
The support they had for each other was also so cute!
Amazing read!
This whole series was a beautiful journey with the inter-related characters and the pacing was easy and nice.
Going to find some more books by this author (Emily Lowry) because the writing was just that good.
November 8, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story is light hearted and fun to read. Avery and Cruz have such a strong friendship that their relationship comes easy and strong. I especially enjoyed the ending as I expected it to go another way but was pleasantly surprised when it didn't; making the story even better!
April 5, 2023
So i finally finished this book! I don't know why, but I really couldn't get into this book! I'm not sure if it was the characters or the story, and it really wasn't that it was a bad book, but I just wasn't feeling it!
But I'm really curious about the others in this group of friends, even if I can already tell that Tay an Gray will probably bother me!
But I'm really curious about the others in this group of friends, even if I can already tell that Tay an Gray will probably bother me!
October 28, 2022
I received a review copy of this book
I really loved Cruz and Avery’s story. They were definitely different from the previous books but in a good way. I loved the cameos from the other couples as well overall I really enjoyed it
I really loved Cruz and Avery’s story. They were definitely different from the previous books but in a good way. I loved the cameos from the other couples as well overall I really enjoyed it
October 31, 2022
Such a sweet story about young love. Avery and Cruz grew up together. I always like that storyline. He also happens to be her brothers best friend so kind of off limits. There connection is so amazing.
January 22, 2023
This series was so good but this book? This book was magic and greatness I swear it had me kicking my feet in the air. I would give up my entire world for Avery and Cruz because they’re just so right for each other. I love them omg😭👍🏽
5/5 bitch 😮💨
5/5 bitch 😮💨
June 22, 2023
Oh my gosh, are Avery and Cruz cute! I couldn’t wait to read their story after reading the first two books. Witty, natural banter, sweet romance, and a little divergence from the usual romance beats—this is was a fun and quick read I’d recommend to any YA romance reader.
November 15, 2022
Was wel schattig hoor. Had graag een epiloog gewild, vond dit mwa. Het ging lekker vlot maar er miste wel wat dingen. Het was misschien te afgeraffeld? En de titel klopt niet.
November 29, 2022
That was so goooooodddddd y'aaaalllll
December 10, 2022
This was my favorite from the series so far.
February 8, 2023
Cute story!
I enjoyed reading this sweet YA book, and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author soon!
I enjoyed reading this sweet YA book, and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author soon!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews