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My name is Crystal Dolce, and I’m anything but sweet…
It’ll be easy, my father said.
When we move to a small town in the south, we’ll own it, my brothers said.
After all, my family is rich as sin and used to getting whatever they want. How hard could it be?
Except when we arrive in Faulkner, someone already owns this town.
The Darling family.
They’re every bit as wealthy as we are, and they’re not happy with our new money moving in. The three Darling cousins, each one more cruel and gorgeous than the last, rule the halls of Willow Heights the way my brothers ruled our prep school in Manhattan. None is worse than Devlin Darling, who makes it his personal mission to ruin his new rivals.
The Darlings see my brothers as a threat. They want them gone.
It doesn’t take them long to find my brothers’ one weakness.
Me.
*Bully Me is a high school dark romance suitable for readers 18+*
It’ll be easy, my father said.
When we move to a small town in the south, we’ll own it, my brothers said.
After all, my family is rich as sin and used to getting whatever they want. How hard could it be?
Except when we arrive in Faulkner, someone already owns this town.
The Darling family.
They’re every bit as wealthy as we are, and they’re not happy with our new money moving in. The three Darling cousins, each one more cruel and gorgeous than the last, rule the halls of Willow Heights the way my brothers ruled our prep school in Manhattan. None is worse than Devlin Darling, who makes it his personal mission to ruin his new rivals.
The Darlings see my brothers as a threat. They want them gone.
It doesn’t take them long to find my brothers’ one weakness.
Me.
*Bully Me is a high school dark romance suitable for readers 18+*
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2020
2254 people are currently reading
6738 people want to read
About the author
Selena .
39 books1,273 followersYou might not guess it when you pick up your first Selena novel, but Selena is a true romantic. She writes gritty, realistic New Adult contemporary novels with characters you'll love to hate and hate to love.
If reading about teens behaving badly upsets you, steer clear because these are full of drama, angst, fighting, drugs, sex, and rock & roll. There will be times you want to throw your Kindle. There will be lying, cheating, bullying, backstabbing, violence, and hard-earned, sweet redemption for those who won't give up on love. Because life's not always picture perfect, but every heart, no matter how broken and damaged, deserves love.
If reading about teens behaving badly upsets you, steer clear because these are full of drama, angst, fighting, drugs, sex, and rock & roll. There will be times you want to throw your Kindle. There will be lying, cheating, bullying, backstabbing, violence, and hard-earned, sweet redemption for those who won't give up on love. Because life's not always picture perfect, but every heart, no matter how broken and damaged, deserves love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 484 reviews
January 18, 2020
As someone who knows of people that have been victim to sexual abuse, I cried so hard. The main character, Crystal Dolce, is subjected to sexual abuse and bullying by the "love interest" Devlin Darling and yet she continues to draw near him and his family. She gives them second chances when they've done terrible things to her. Second chances that we all know they will exploit and they do. We need to stop romanticizing bullies. The love interest isn't just broken or effed up in the head, he is one of those people that just cannot be fixed. Some of the things Devlin does makes me sick to the stomach and yet all is forgiven because of the sexual attraction Crystal has for this boy that calls her a "Darling Dog". Which by the way I don't understand, the first time they meet Devlin has a girl collared like a dog and is getting her to kneel for him. But he didn't disgust as much as the scene where he and his friends kidnaps Crystal, tied her up and brings her to a party where he allows strangers to grope. I'm crying while writing that sentence. Because this culture where we teach young adults and readers to romanticize and condone this kind of assault is absolutely disgusting.
Look don't get me wrong, I love bully romance stories, but some bullies simply cannot be fix. Devlin is a hundred percent one of them. And it's going to take a wonderful writer to change that. I wanted to scream reading this book. I pray that Crystal grows a backbone in the next book. Because to sleep with a guy who allowed men to sexually assault you a few days before? She said no when he was coming on to her a number of times, before giving in to this "magical" bully attraction crap and it disturbed the hell out of me.
I'm honestly begging the author to give Crystal a backbone, to send Devlin to some kind of therapist or better yet give Devlin a taste of his medicine in book two.
Look don't get me wrong, I love bully romance stories, but some bullies simply cannot be fix. Devlin is a hundred percent one of them. And it's going to take a wonderful writer to change that. I wanted to scream reading this book. I pray that Crystal grows a backbone in the next book. Because to sleep with a guy who allowed men to sexually assault you a few days before? She said no when he was coming on to her a number of times, before giving in to this "magical" bully attraction crap and it disturbed the hell out of me.
I'm honestly begging the author to give Crystal a backbone, to send Devlin to some kind of therapist or better yet give Devlin a taste of his medicine in book two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
never-gonna-read
January 30, 2020I tend to like "bully" style books, but they have to be done right. The Hero has to be redeemable and the heroine can't be a doormat. I also need to know the "reason" for the bullying and of course I have to be able to like the characters.
Unfortunately, the (real) reviews I've found in regards to this book don't meet any of the above requirements. I just can't read something where the hero leads a girl (not the heroine) around on a leash - treating her like a dog, abducts the heroine and then while blindfolded lets OM molest/assault her, and a multitude of other demeaning things.
Then the icing on the cake is that the heroine just takes it all in while mooning over the Hero. Nothing is attractive about a Hero like the one I described above and I seriously question her mental state. Plus....the heroine has brothers who just LET THIS SHIT HAPPEN??? What the actual fuck? Where the sense of loyalty....or hell, even human decency??!!
I should note too that I read (and LIKED) Untouchable by Sam Marino so my tolerance level for bullies is quite high......
Unfortunately, the (real) reviews I've found in regards to this book don't meet any of the above requirements. I just can't read something where the hero leads a girl (not the heroine) around on a leash - treating her like a dog, abducts the heroine and then while blindfolded lets OM molest/assault her, and a multitude of other demeaning things.
Then the icing on the cake is that the heroine just takes it all in while mooning over the Hero. Nothing is attractive about a Hero like the one I described above and I seriously question her mental state. Plus....the heroine has brothers who just LET THIS SHIT HAPPEN??? What the actual fuck? Where the sense of loyalty....or hell, even human decency??!!
I should note too that I read (and LIKED) Untouchable by Sam Marino so my tolerance level for bullies is quite high......
January 1, 2020
So I honestly don’t know how to rate this as even though there were parts where I thought she was strong like when she defended Dixie there were other parts where she was really stupid sometimes especially when it concerned Devlin. I personally hate the “betraying body” syndrome and the h really did let it control her even to the extent when Devlin totally humiliated her but her body liked his closeness blah blah. I think that major flaw where her hormones controlled her common sense just really let her down as a character otherwise I would have really liked her. The writing was really good and very engaging. I think I would need to read the next book to really have a good idea of how I feel so I will definitely read the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2020
I think that a usual bully-book reader knows how to distinguish a good bully romance from bad one. Unfortunately, this is a bad example of a bully romance.... there is a slight difference (not always definable) between redeemable and nonredeemable bully. Devlin is a terrible guy, he is so cruel and unlovable that I cannot understand how Crystal liked at least something about him. I put away my review for a while to understand my feelings correctly after the story ended, but nothing changed - the book is rub*ish and the story is unbelievable. I even don't know who I hated more - Crystal or Devlin. The book felt like written because this genre is trendy now and everyone thinks that they are able to write a good bully romance. You cannot write in the description that book is dark and then write any rubb*sh you want... dark should be justified, violence should be justified or at least understandable, but this book... nooo... thank you, no more... and actually, the FMC should be tough as rock in order to understand hard violence towards her (like in J Bree "Just Drop out").
*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 12, 2020
You know how sometimes when you read a particular trope and everything feels the same for a while but then you get a book that stands out and is a tad different, that for me was Bully Me by Selena. The Dolce family is divorcing and their dad is moving them back to a town he spent his high school years in - a small town in Arkansas. The family doesn't lose money but they will try and regain their status as Kings of the school as back in Manhattan - nobody messed with the Dolce family which includes our main female lead Crystal and her brothers King, Duke, Royal and Baron. The thing though is that there already is a family that is ruling the school of Willow Heights - The Darlings and they aren't just about to roll over and let the Dolces take charge as The Darlings rule the town of Faulkner - they are old money. These Darlings are another breed of bullies though as they divide the school by two - the Darling Dolls and the Darling Dogs. Crystal Dolce gets on their bad side and becomes labeled as a Dog, but their bullying takes a new level when they kidnap her. OMG, it was so intense and then when Devlin's mum played into the bullying, I was like WTF. Will the Dolces end up getting their revenge on the Darlings and become the new Kings of the school or will they realize they are out of their league with the sadistic Darlings? Bully Me also ended on a massive cliffhanger, that now makes me want Book #2 to hurry up and be released.
November 29, 2020
An obvious mash up of Paper Princess / Romeo and Juliet (a sorry state of affair to memory of Shakespeare indeed) and every trope of Rich, Asshole, Alpha, Violent type you could possibly imagine littered in NA genre. It’s a bike club / mafia book just masquerading itself - changed the setting, lower the age of the characters and voila, you got yourself this book.
July 27, 2021
A dark storybook retelling: Romeo and Juliette with a twist
4.5 stars
A newly altruistic Crystal Dolce arrives in Faulkner, AZ with her rugged Dolce brothers and father and decides she is going to turn over a new leaf from her former mean girl persona in NYC. She chooses to become subservient to the Dolce boys at school in defense of a new friend. Crystal is sweet within controlling her family, particularly her brothers while the Dolce boys seek to upend the power at the new town into their hands. Ruling Darlings family won't stand for that. As family rivalries between the Dolces and Darlings ensue Crystal’s unfaltering attraction to bad boy Delvin Darling develops. This first book explores both the feud between families and the attraction between Crystal and Delvin.
Excellent writing in depicting personalities and behaviors brought the Dolces, the Darlings, and the side characters to life, mentally painting pictures that reenact the events of the story. The story was written with just the right pace for full immersion, and even the fights were legendary. Loads of heated, sexual tension while forbidden desires and even jealous-possessiveness arise. Sexy antihero Devlin was in true alpha jerk form. Yaas! And what’s not to love? I did expect more in the way of steam but have hopes in the next book. Interestingly, I noticed little nuggets of detail suggesting events to come (especially if you've read the next series, The Exile).
Audiobook review
With dulcet tones, the voice actress delivered an excellent performance rendering Crystal and her personality. She narrated with great range in vocal shift from dialogue to narration as well as differentiating female and male characters. Sweet almost Georgian southern accent with an ease in switching to NY / Jersey accent, she was expressive and believably authentic in reciting the regional accents areas of the characters. Overall impressive performance narrating a great story.
Looking forward to book 2 as both the story and audiobook of book 1 were excellent. Can't wait to read more about the not so sweet Dolces and unwavering Darlings in this dark-themed Romeo and Juliette retelling.
4.5 stars
A newly altruistic Crystal Dolce arrives in Faulkner, AZ with her rugged Dolce brothers and father and decides she is going to turn over a new leaf from her former mean girl persona in NYC. She chooses to become subservient to the Dolce boys at school in defense of a new friend. Crystal is sweet within controlling her family, particularly her brothers while the Dolce boys seek to upend the power at the new town into their hands. Ruling Darlings family won't stand for that. As family rivalries between the Dolces and Darlings ensue Crystal’s unfaltering attraction to bad boy Delvin Darling develops. This first book explores both the feud between families and the attraction between Crystal and Delvin.
Excellent writing in depicting personalities and behaviors brought the Dolces, the Darlings, and the side characters to life, mentally painting pictures that reenact the events of the story. The story was written with just the right pace for full immersion, and even the fights were legendary. Loads of heated, sexual tension while forbidden desires and even jealous-possessiveness arise. Sexy antihero Devlin was in true alpha jerk form. Yaas! And what’s not to love? I did expect more in the way of steam but have hopes in the next book. Interestingly, I noticed little nuggets of detail suggesting events to come (especially if you've read the next series, The Exile).
Audiobook review
With dulcet tones, the voice actress delivered an excellent performance rendering Crystal and her personality. She narrated with great range in vocal shift from dialogue to narration as well as differentiating female and male characters. Sweet almost Georgian southern accent with an ease in switching to NY / Jersey accent, she was expressive and believably authentic in reciting the regional accents areas of the characters. Overall impressive performance narrating a great story.
Looking forward to book 2 as both the story and audiobook of book 1 were excellent. Can't wait to read more about the not so sweet Dolces and unwavering Darlings in this dark-themed Romeo and Juliette retelling.
December 24, 2020
3.5 ⭐
What did I just read?!? It was like a modern day Hatfield and McCoys--- The Darlings vs The Dolces style.
The Dolces reign from New York and The Darlings are born and bred Southern boys from Arkansas . There is nothing sweet about those Darling boys... They are vile. They are menacing and they are willing to do anything to keep their reign in all aspects.
Crystal and her four Dolce brothers move with their father who is starting a new job in a small town in Arkansas. They get a new life, new home and new school. They are used to being top dogs and expect that at the new school... The other students don't quite fall in line though.
Those Darling boys think differently and don't want that to happen. They want to remain at the top of the school and with the football team. They don't care who gets hurt in the crossfire as long as their world stays the same as it has been, well since forever.
What ensues is a lot of revenge type tactics to one up each other between all the guys, but then that leaves Crystal vulnerable and available to be pounced on.
Do high school kids actually act like The Darlings? Some of things they did were horrible and their Momma should smack them upside their pretty little heads. I mean how much more demeaning can you be. Dogs or Dolls -- You pick! It's all pretty sick and messed up. I'm not fond of any of them. I'm not sure how you can redeem yourself after those acts. Did they plan to have Crystal be collateral and be a payback for what her brothers did the entire time. They most have known that she was their weak spot.
I do like most of the Dolce boys though. They were family strong. They didn't back down and took a stand. How they didn't know what was going on behind their backs though is crazy sauce... How did they not know?
This book ended in a cliffhanger and I will be reading book two just to see what happens with that part of the story. I'm not really invested in any of the characters at this point.
What did I just read?!? It was like a modern day Hatfield and McCoys--- The Darlings vs The Dolces style.
The Dolces reign from New York and The Darlings are born and bred Southern boys from Arkansas . There is nothing sweet about those Darling boys... They are vile. They are menacing and they are willing to do anything to keep their reign in all aspects.
Crystal and her four Dolce brothers move with their father who is starting a new job in a small town in Arkansas. They get a new life, new home and new school. They are used to being top dogs and expect that at the new school... The other students don't quite fall in line though.
Those Darling boys think differently and don't want that to happen. They want to remain at the top of the school and with the football team. They don't care who gets hurt in the crossfire as long as their world stays the same as it has been, well since forever.
What ensues is a lot of revenge type tactics to one up each other between all the guys, but then that leaves Crystal vulnerable and available to be pounced on.
Do high school kids actually act like The Darlings? Some of things they did were horrible and their Momma should smack them upside their pretty little heads. I mean how much more demeaning can you be. Dogs or Dolls -- You pick! It's all pretty sick and messed up. I'm not fond of any of them. I'm not sure how you can redeem yourself after those acts. Did they plan to have Crystal be collateral and be a payback for what her brothers did the entire time. They most have known that she was their weak spot.
I do like most of the Dolce boys though. They were family strong. They didn't back down and took a stand. How they didn't know what was going on behind their backs though is crazy sauce... How did they not know?
This book ended in a cliffhanger and I will be reading book two just to see what happens with that part of the story. I'm not really invested in any of the characters at this point.
May 27, 2022
This is quite a rant, and these are just my opinions!!
DNF. I HAVE NEVER REVIEWED A BOOK, I just had to for this book. Read up to the party scene, and I was done. The heroine was spineless, and her love interest? Unlikable🤬🤬. Had zero redeeming qualities🤬🤬. I haven't hated a character as much as I did the MCs in this book.
I'm not an expert on how the schooling system in the United States works because I didn't grow up there, but should people from different grades take the same class?🤔🤔
And to the part where he takes her to a party, putting a collar around her neck, wtf!! 🤮🤮
HE ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GRAB HER BOOBS. PLEASE TELL ME HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOVE AND ROMANCE?
The heroine rants on about being seen and strong, and being a Dolce or whatnot *eye-roll* but she's fucking weak. The male MC claims he's going to mark her with a knife if she didn't go to the party with them, and the smart little girl she is🤓🤓🤓, she agrees.
I thought her father was a rich man with connections, and supposedly in the mafia. Again, in what fucking world will the cops overlook such brutality especially when her father is FUCKING RICH enough to have the cops in New York in his pocket?!! Something isn't adding up🤔🤔🤔
Another annoying part, he hit her because she tried to fight him off after she said she DIDN'T WANT TO DRINK WITH HIM. In what world is that okay? Books like this romanticize abuse, and it abso-fucking-lutely not okay.
To any young girl that comes across this book, don't settle for such a relationship. Run the fuck away. This is bullshit, and it's unacceptable.
Your future partner shouldn't raise his hand to strike you, and nor should he force you to do things you do not want to. Reading this book was painful to my soul, and people who have gone through abuse of any form (my heart goes out to them) know this isn't right. Romance isn't the way this book has portrayed it to be. Love isn't abuse. Love isn't pain. Cut anyone that tells you otherwise out of your life
Rant over. To all the young ladies out there, always put yourself first. Don't allow ANY man to walk all over you. Thanks for reading<3
DNF. I HAVE NEVER REVIEWED A BOOK, I just had to for this book. Read up to the party scene, and I was done. The heroine was spineless, and her love interest? Unlikable🤬🤬. Had zero redeeming qualities🤬🤬. I haven't hated a character as much as I did the MCs in this book.
I'm not an expert on how the schooling system in the United States works because I didn't grow up there, but should people from different grades take the same class?🤔🤔
And to the part where he takes her to a party, putting a collar around her neck, wtf!! 🤮🤮
HE ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GRAB HER BOOBS. PLEASE TELL ME HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOVE AND ROMANCE?
The heroine rants on about being seen and strong, and being a Dolce or whatnot *eye-roll* but she's fucking weak. The male MC claims he's going to mark her with a knife if she didn't go to the party with them, and the smart little girl she is🤓🤓🤓, she agrees.
I thought her father was a rich man with connections, and supposedly in the mafia. Again, in what fucking world will the cops overlook such brutality especially when her father is FUCKING RICH enough to have the cops in New York in his pocket?!! Something isn't adding up🤔🤔🤔
Another annoying part, he hit her because she tried to fight him off after she said she DIDN'T WANT TO DRINK WITH HIM. In what world is that okay? Books like this romanticize abuse, and it abso-fucking-lutely not okay.
To any young girl that comes across this book, don't settle for such a relationship. Run the fuck away. This is bullshit, and it's unacceptable.
Your future partner shouldn't raise his hand to strike you, and nor should he force you to do things you do not want to. Reading this book was painful to my soul, and people who have gone through abuse of any form (my heart goes out to them) know this isn't right. Romance isn't the way this book has portrayed it to be. Love isn't abuse. Love isn't pain. Cut anyone that tells you otherwise out of your life
Rant over. To all the young ladies out there, always put yourself first. Don't allow ANY man to walk all over you. Thanks for reading<3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 27, 2020DNF’d at 70%
The hero isn’t redeemable or likeable to me at all after what he just did.
The hero isn’t redeemable or likeable to me at all after what he just did.
July 13, 2020
Well
I NEVER review books and I NEVER not finish a book .
I have read 157 books since March and some of them aren’t that good but I HAVE to finish the book that I’m reading even if it’s horrible .
This is the my first DNF book EVER!
I had trouble finishing untouchable but I finished it.(I had a problem with the almost rape part but yet I went in with an open mind)
But This THIS is just WRONG!
I don’t care if it’s fiction ,It IS wrong !!!
They are rapists , molesters ,abusers and unstable .
The girl let’s one of them into her room hours after the assault ? I checked out what happens in part 2 it actually gets worse !!!
Why would a writer WRITE something like that.
I NEVER review books and I NEVER not finish a book .
I have read 157 books since March and some of them aren’t that good but I HAVE to finish the book that I’m reading even if it’s horrible .
This is the my first DNF book EVER!
I had trouble finishing untouchable but I finished it.(I had a problem with the almost rape part but yet I went in with an open mind)
But This THIS is just WRONG!
I don’t care if it’s fiction ,It IS wrong !!!
They are rapists , molesters ,abusers and unstable .
The girl let’s one of them into her room hours after the assault ? I checked out what happens in part 2 it actually gets worse !!!
Why would a writer WRITE something like that.
July 13, 2020
I loved it!! So excited to move on to the next book in this series! I can’t wait for the Darlings to get what’s coming to them! Crystal is a bad ass and I can’t wait to see her rage!! I JUST CAN’T WAIT!!
January 15, 2021
Quite possibly the worst book and series written.
I am not gonna get into it because I am over it but this author clearly has a problem and her books are sexualizing the assualt of a 16 yr old by an adult.
The main girl has no self control or brains and the love interest is psycho and locked away. The plot makes no sense and there are many inconsistencies. Like why would a senior girl be with a freshman boy who can also drive for some reason.
And how did her brothers not find out about what happened and why was she protecting them
Crystal had unforgivable things done to her however she would always brush it aside and say it was nothing. Cole was nothing but terrible to her but still she joked with him. Devlin did not even respect her and would constantly use her and her body as a joke but its okay cause he is lonely.
When Crystal "broke up" (using this lightly considering they had no emotional connection and he was referring to her as a dog) with Devlin she and everyone else acted like it was a big deal and she was heartless even though how in the heck would she be with someone who had done all these heinous crimes against her, his family basically killed her twin brother (the same brother who she complained about being her heart and soul), and never showed her decency.
Crystal was like im not the victim and Dolly said you both did bad things to each other.
And then even when Devlin apologized for what he did in the locker room, Crystal said NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE.
This author sexualized rape of a minor.
HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU WRITE ABOUT ALL THESE DISGUSTING THINGS AND ACT AS THOUGH IT HAS NO EFFECT ON A GIRL. Crystal was literally just this horny teen girl with no regard for family. How could she enjoy being with the guy whose family hurt hers.
She acted like they were star crossed lovers but he literally treated like worse than one.
Why was she mad at her family for when they were mad at her for sleeping with Devlin when Devlin humiliated her and they knew she would not be treated well.
Why was she so dramatic about her family being bad.
I hate the girl who cant control herself around a guy trope. It is belittling women.
I am not gonna get into it because I am over it but this author clearly has a problem and her books are sexualizing the assualt of a 16 yr old by an adult.
The main girl has no self control or brains and the love interest is psycho and locked away. The plot makes no sense and there are many inconsistencies. Like why would a senior girl be with a freshman boy who can also drive for some reason.
And how did her brothers not find out about what happened and why was she protecting them
Crystal had unforgivable things done to her however she would always brush it aside and say it was nothing. Cole was nothing but terrible to her but still she joked with him. Devlin did not even respect her and would constantly use her and her body as a joke but its okay cause he is lonely.
When Crystal "broke up" (using this lightly considering they had no emotional connection and he was referring to her as a dog) with Devlin she and everyone else acted like it was a big deal and she was heartless even though how in the heck would she be with someone who had done all these heinous crimes against her, his family basically killed her twin brother (the same brother who she complained about being her heart and soul), and never showed her decency.
Crystal was like im not the victim and Dolly said you both did bad things to each other.
And then even when Devlin apologized for what he did in the locker room, Crystal said NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE.
This author sexualized rape of a minor.
HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU WRITE ABOUT ALL THESE DISGUSTING THINGS AND ACT AS THOUGH IT HAS NO EFFECT ON A GIRL. Crystal was literally just this horny teen girl with no regard for family. How could she enjoy being with the guy whose family hurt hers.
She acted like they were star crossed lovers but he literally treated like worse than one.
Why was she mad at her family for when they were mad at her for sleeping with Devlin when Devlin humiliated her and they knew she would not be treated well.
Why was she so dramatic about her family being bad.
I hate the girl who cant control herself around a guy trope. It is belittling women.
January 13, 2020
Bully Romance
This is not your typical bully Romance. They were the kings and queen of New York. Then their father moved them to Arkansas. The Dolce name meant nothing. Darlings were old money and owned the town and the school. It soon became a fight for dominance. Crystal is caught in the middle. This book ends with someone missing. I love and hated the guys in this book. I hope Selena writes fast lol. I cant wait till book 2.
This is not your typical bully Romance. They were the kings and queen of New York. Then their father moved them to Arkansas. The Dolce name meant nothing. Darlings were old money and owned the town and the school. It soon became a fight for dominance. Crystal is caught in the middle. This book ends with someone missing. I love and hated the guys in this book. I hope Selena writes fast lol. I cant wait till book 2.
March 10, 2021
entertaining, yet psychotic
free-signup-auth-newsltter-etc
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February 7, 2022
I don’t even know where to begin with these books. I stumbled across Bully Me by sheer luck.
At the time, I was in a proper reading slump. Everything I picked up bored me, and I struggled to reach the finish line.
Selena is a new author for me. I’d never heard of her, nor her books. My expectations were pretty low when I downloaded Crystal’s and Devlin’s stories. I never expected to be sucked into the dark, twisted world of Darling and Dolce drama. It is very rare that an entire series can hold my attention long enough to binge read every book, but Willow Heights absolutely drained the life out of me. Literally. I have lost so much sleep.
I will try really hard to avoid spoilers because I think readers should go into this series blind.
I want to start by saying that these books will not be everyone’s cup of tea. The author didn’t lie. The triggers warned you. The characters are dark, borderline psychotic, mentally unhinged and almost irredeemable. They challenge your forbearance levels and take you down some very uncomfortable roads. I often found myself rooting for them in one breath, then hating them in the next breath.
It started with the Darlings. Devlin, Preston and Colt. They were awful to Crystal Dolce. In fact, they treated everyone who never carried the Darling name like inferiors. Everything was one sickening game of cruel dominance and submissiveness. You never knew if they were lying or genuine or what they had up their sleeve.
Devlin Darling took a liking to his new neighbour, Crystal Dolce. She was the new girl in town with crazy arse brothers, King, Royal, Duke and Baron.
The Dolce family had Mafia ties, but we see very little of that in Bully Me, Betray me and Bury Me because the storyline mostly revolves around the Darlings.
The Dolce boys are here to stake their claim on every segment of the town and its people—Darling hierarchy be-damned. They’ll do anything—and I mean anything—to get to the top (there is a reason for this, thanks to Daddy Dolce). They want every politician and their brother in their pockets to take down the Darling empire, and they won’t stop, even if it kills them.
The Darling family are just as evil, just as stubborn and just as vindictive as the Dolce family. They, too, will do whatever it takes to protect their family name and legacy.
It’s a gritty retelling of Romeo and Juliet, I suppose. Two enemies-to-lovers amidst warring families.
Bury Me ends on a huge, shocking cliffhanger that tips the scales between Dolces and Darlings. All I will say is Devlin and Crystal, with or without their families blessing, found more than love in each other and had to take drastic measures to be happy.
Where do we go after three books of constant chaos? Back to the Darlings, right? Nope. Not even close.
When I started Bad Apple, the sister series of Willow Heights, I did not expect to see the Dolce boys on the throne and the Darlings squashed under their thumbs. I mean, they completely changed the town's dynamics and had every minion in high school marching to their drum. Everyone is terrified of them and rightfully so. These boys take bullying to an entirely new level of what-the-f*ck?!
Royal is the ultimate bully. His brothers, Duke and Baron, are probably the cruellest twins I have ever read in any dark bully romance. The brothers did what was expected of them. They understood the assignment. They tore down the Darling empire and became everyone’s worst nightmare.
I am still reeling from this! I went from absolutely hating Preston and Colt Darling for their sickening behaviour towards the Dolces to rooting for them. I wanted sweet revenge for Crystal, but I was not prepared for the shocking turn of events or the unforgivable Dolce behaviour. All I can say is Colt did not deserve it! Preston did not deserve it!
Insert Harper Apple, the trailer park girl from the wrong side of town with a huge chip on her shoulder, and deservingly so, who lands a scholarship at Willow Heights because Mr D, the philanthropist who she does not know, or has never met, landed in her DM one morning and offered to be her fairy godmother. This man is an opportunist, though. He will help Harper just as long as she checks in on messenger every Friday to give him information on the Dolces. I mean, all the way through, I figured Mr D was Preston Darling, who is finally going to come out of hiding to take down the Dolces and regain control of his hometown. No spoiler. But I never expected Mr D to be the ultimate reveal at the end, like, what even?
Anyway, Harper is a badass heroine. Yeah, she is weak where Royal Dolce is concerned, but she always comes back fighting and gives just as good as she gets. I loved her character and everything she stood for. I loved how, layer by layer, she peeled away Royal’s dark armour until we got to see snippets of the boy we fell in love with in Bully Me—and she did all this while living her worst life, too. I never lost hope. I knew Royal was still in there somewhere. I knew if anyone could reach him and bring him back, it would be Harper. And that girl went through so much to be with Royal. He never deserved her love nor forgiveness, but still, I was rooting for them. These were just two young kids sucked into Daddy Dolces’ gruesome world of revenge and violence.
I could pinpoint everything I loved and hated about these books, but I stand by what I said earlier. If you love dark, bully romance books, Selena is the author for you.
I am gutted the series is over. I never wanted it to end. Even though Selena tied up loose ends, I still want more (yes, I’m a greedy book whore; sue me). I want Colt’s story, Preston’s story, Duke’s story and even Baron, who is beyond redemption. And mostly, I want more of Harper and Royal.
I am not ready to say goodbye to Willow Heights or the Darlings, or the Dolces.
At the time, I was in a proper reading slump. Everything I picked up bored me, and I struggled to reach the finish line.
Selena is a new author for me. I’d never heard of her, nor her books. My expectations were pretty low when I downloaded Crystal’s and Devlin’s stories. I never expected to be sucked into the dark, twisted world of Darling and Dolce drama. It is very rare that an entire series can hold my attention long enough to binge read every book, but Willow Heights absolutely drained the life out of me. Literally. I have lost so much sleep.
I will try really hard to avoid spoilers because I think readers should go into this series blind.
I want to start by saying that these books will not be everyone’s cup of tea. The author didn’t lie. The triggers warned you. The characters are dark, borderline psychotic, mentally unhinged and almost irredeemable. They challenge your forbearance levels and take you down some very uncomfortable roads. I often found myself rooting for them in one breath, then hating them in the next breath.
It started with the Darlings. Devlin, Preston and Colt. They were awful to Crystal Dolce. In fact, they treated everyone who never carried the Darling name like inferiors. Everything was one sickening game of cruel dominance and submissiveness. You never knew if they were lying or genuine or what they had up their sleeve.
Devlin Darling took a liking to his new neighbour, Crystal Dolce. She was the new girl in town with crazy arse brothers, King, Royal, Duke and Baron.
The Dolce family had Mafia ties, but we see very little of that in Bully Me, Betray me and Bury Me because the storyline mostly revolves around the Darlings.
The Dolce boys are here to stake their claim on every segment of the town and its people—Darling hierarchy be-damned. They’ll do anything—and I mean anything—to get to the top (there is a reason for this, thanks to Daddy Dolce). They want every politician and their brother in their pockets to take down the Darling empire, and they won’t stop, even if it kills them.
The Darling family are just as evil, just as stubborn and just as vindictive as the Dolce family. They, too, will do whatever it takes to protect their family name and legacy.
It’s a gritty retelling of Romeo and Juliet, I suppose. Two enemies-to-lovers amidst warring families.
Bury Me ends on a huge, shocking cliffhanger that tips the scales between Dolces and Darlings. All I will say is Devlin and Crystal, with or without their families blessing, found more than love in each other and had to take drastic measures to be happy.
Where do we go after three books of constant chaos? Back to the Darlings, right? Nope. Not even close.
When I started Bad Apple, the sister series of Willow Heights, I did not expect to see the Dolce boys on the throne and the Darlings squashed under their thumbs. I mean, they completely changed the town's dynamics and had every minion in high school marching to their drum. Everyone is terrified of them and rightfully so. These boys take bullying to an entirely new level of what-the-f*ck?!
Royal is the ultimate bully. His brothers, Duke and Baron, are probably the cruellest twins I have ever read in any dark bully romance. The brothers did what was expected of them. They understood the assignment. They tore down the Darling empire and became everyone’s worst nightmare.
I am still reeling from this! I went from absolutely hating Preston and Colt Darling for their sickening behaviour towards the Dolces to rooting for them. I wanted sweet revenge for Crystal, but I was not prepared for the shocking turn of events or the unforgivable Dolce behaviour. All I can say is Colt did not deserve it! Preston did not deserve it!
Insert Harper Apple, the trailer park girl from the wrong side of town with a huge chip on her shoulder, and deservingly so, who lands a scholarship at Willow Heights because Mr D, the philanthropist who she does not know, or has never met, landed in her DM one morning and offered to be her fairy godmother. This man is an opportunist, though. He will help Harper just as long as she checks in on messenger every Friday to give him information on the Dolces. I mean, all the way through, I figured Mr D was Preston Darling, who is finally going to come out of hiding to take down the Dolces and regain control of his hometown. No spoiler. But I never expected Mr D to be the ultimate reveal at the end, like, what even?
Anyway, Harper is a badass heroine. Yeah, she is weak where Royal Dolce is concerned, but she always comes back fighting and gives just as good as she gets. I loved her character and everything she stood for. I loved how, layer by layer, she peeled away Royal’s dark armour until we got to see snippets of the boy we fell in love with in Bully Me—and she did all this while living her worst life, too. I never lost hope. I knew Royal was still in there somewhere. I knew if anyone could reach him and bring him back, it would be Harper. And that girl went through so much to be with Royal. He never deserved her love nor forgiveness, but still, I was rooting for them. These were just two young kids sucked into Daddy Dolces’ gruesome world of revenge and violence.
I could pinpoint everything I loved and hated about these books, but I stand by what I said earlier. If you love dark, bully romance books, Selena is the author for you.
I am gutted the series is over. I never wanted it to end. Even though Selena tied up loose ends, I still want more (yes, I’m a greedy book whore; sue me). I want Colt’s story, Preston’s story, Duke’s story and even Baron, who is beyond redemption. And mostly, I want more of Harper and Royal.
I am not ready to say goodbye to Willow Heights or the Darlings, or the Dolces.
May 21, 2021
✂️The fmc was a doormat.
✂️ Humiliation is Crystal's thing apparently.....but it's def not mine, so I didn't like it.
✂️She has 4 over- protective brothers, who are also pretty close to her, and they weren't able to tell something was happening with the fmc.... doesn't seem entirely realistic tbh.
I am gonna continue because my curiosity is getting the better of me but I am not expecting much.
✂️ Humiliation is Crystal's thing apparently.....but it's def not mine, so I didn't like it.
✂️She has 4 over- protective brothers, who are also pretty close to her, and they weren't able to tell something was happening with the fmc.... doesn't seem entirely realistic tbh.
I am gonna continue because my curiosity is getting the better of me but I am not expecting much.
June 7, 2020
This one just requires too much suspension of disbelief for me, the bullying was really over the top. The MC's were just not really likable and the MMC's are not redeemable.
September 17, 2022
Check out my review of the audiobook.
February 27, 2021
2.5 STAR SERIES......
This review is for all three books. Bully Me ~ 4 stars, Betray Me ~ 2 stars and Bury Me ~ 2.5 stars.
This series had a Romeo and Juliet kind of vibe. Which I found entertaining and interesting. Who doesn’t like a good Forbidden story.
“If the Capulets and Montagues had known how it would end, would they have done things differently?” Even Crystal seems to think her families are like the epic love story.
Crystal Dolce and Delvin Darling families are sworn enemies. Making it impossible for them to be together. Sounds good...right?
Well sorry to disappoint. I was really hoping this book was going to be something I could have written home about....
Seriously this book had so much potential, but unfortunately Selena fell short with her female main character. For starters not only was Crystal annoying as hell, but she was beyond pathetic! To the point it was embarrassing, because there is no possible way someone can be that stupid and pathetic!
I know this was a dark bully romance, but when there are that many disturbing and disgusting scenes happening to the heroine and she doesn’t do shit about it, well for one, I loss complete respect for the heroine. Plus I feel there is no way in hell for the Hero to redeem himself and I felt that Selene tried to do exactly that in her third book, but no amount of groveling can make up for what Devlin and his cousins did. Nope! I wasn’t having any of it. Delvin and his cousin went WAY pass the point of no return in my opinion.
Also If your going to write about the Mafia then you better have a strong ass FMC and she better be able to hold her own and Crystal was soooo not that at all. Me being Italian myself I was disgusted how Crystal acted and behaved. If Selena would’ve had Crystal put up fight or do some repulsive things back to the Darlings this series would’ve been awesome! But Instead she was a doormat that pinned over the Hero throughout the series. All the while Delvin and his cousins treated her like a dog. Literally....if I had to hear one more time about that freakin dog collar or how her traitorous body betrayed her I seriously thought my ears would start bleeding!
Authors, Stop! with that would you!!! You make women sound stupid, like we have no willpower. 🙄
All Crystal talks about in book 2 is how she’ll get her revenge. I was so excited thinking “yes” finally she going to get back at these bastards! Good lord was I ever wrong...The so called revenge...was so weak it was laughable...
“See, that’s where you’re wrong,” I say. “You think your family is better because they’ve had money for generations, but the truth is, you’re just living in the past. Your family will never reclaim its glory because you can’t go back in time. Everyone here is so enamored with the glory days of old, but the truth is, it’s over, Devlin. And those stupid traditions and attitudes you hold onto aren’t doing anything but holding you back. Because you think you can ruin a woman by fucking her, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. We’re not living in the 1800s anymore. A woman’s worth isn’t judged by the thickness of her hymen anymore, Devlin.” “I didn’t say it was,” he says, giving me a stormy look. “Then you should know that fucking me won’t ruin me any more than it ruined you.” “Your reputation probably says otherwise.” I shrug. “You think I care what all these backwards hicks think of me? So you tricked me into giving you my virginity. That shows what kind of person you are, not me.” “I thought we talked about that.” “And you thought I forgave you,” I say. “That’s cute, Devlin. You’re not used to girls playing you, so I’ll make it clear for you. I don’t like you, Devlin. I don’t want anything to do with you. You were nothing but a means to an end.”
Yep! there you have it folks! The Ultimate humiliation revenge....Wow! such powerful words! Seriously 8-year-old could’ve done better than that! Like come on Selena that’s all you could come up with? Even Devlin’s comments in that revenge speak was more degrading then hers words. What was even more laughable then her revenge was that Crystal actually thought she broke Devlin’s heart with those words and even apologized for it in the third book.
“He tenses, and I don’t blame him. I made him fuck me until he cared about me, and then I ripped his heart out like some heartless bitch who needed it to fill the void where her own should be.”
Umm....Did I miss something, because I never even got that impression that Devlin was devastated? He barely blink n eye after that so called revenge. It wasn’t until the third book that he seem to show some feelings and that even seem nonexistent. I never felt that connection between Crystal and Devlin, because it went from nothing to Bam 💥 I’ll die for you kind of love. The only time I felt there connection was during the sex senses. Now the sex between them was off the charts hot! That I can say Selena didn’t miss a beat on. They were hot, steamy and dirty! I absolutely loved Devlin’s dirty talk!
It was beyond annoying that Crystal always referring herself as a monster, which was the biggest joke of all! Someone clearly needs to send Selena the definition of what a monster is, because Crystal wasn’t even close to being a monster. She was more of a weasel... not only was Crystal a doormat to the Darlings, but she was a doormat with her own family. Seriously I would’ve told Royal where he could stick it!
Needless to say by the time I got to book 3 I just wanted to get this series over with. At this point it was like Crystal forgot all the horrible things that happened to her, but still found the time to be such a hypocrite with her ridiculous comments...
“Just… Don’t let him walk all over you, okay? I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Umm hello! Is anyone home up there? This dumb bitch would say things like this throughout the series. Did she have amnesia?
Anyhow I just wanted this book to be over with. I can’t even write anything positive about the ending either, because that was a complete disaster/disappointment too. Way to many un-answered questions and of course it wasn’t a shocker that Crystal ended up being pregnant since her and Devlin never used any type of birth control. Way to go to show responsibility! Overall the series was such a disappointment, because it really could have been an awesome series if it was written with a strong FMC because the storyline was great.
Audiobook: This was my first time listening to Amanda L’Orien and she was absolutely awesome! It looks like this was her first time narrating a Romance book. I hope she will continue doing more audible narrating in the future. Her performance is a five-star!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2022
This was really good! I could not put it down, it p*ssed me off how she talks about being tough but I never saw any strength in her, but I’m gathering that comes in the next book!!
They may all be bastards but at the moment I’m Team Dolce all the way and I want those Darlings on a leash!!
They may all be bastards but at the moment I’m Team Dolce all the way and I want those Darlings on a leash!!
January 29, 2023
Drama drama drama!
This was fun, the Darling and Dolce boys are wild and I'm so here for it. Looking forward to the next one.
This was fun, the Darling and Dolce boys are wild and I'm so here for it. Looking forward to the next one.
August 5, 2025
I'm shaking I'm so mad right now... DNF I got 75% it wasn't too bad except for the cousins (Bullies) calling these girls dogs and putting collars on them. Then towards the end these 3 bullies kidnap a girl and basically hit her and abuse her in pubic and threating her with a knife, thinking this kind of stuff girls or guys need to read. People sexually assaulting her by touch her everywhere...These are high school kids. This is wrong...
January 7, 2020
Oh Yes!! I absolutely love this book. There is so much intrigue. The Dolce's have their work cut out for them moving from the big city to Arkansas. Little do they know the Darlings won't go down without a fight. I'm excited to read more in this series.
June 28, 2022
Bully Me: A Dark High School Romance is the first book in Selena’s Willow Heights Prep Academy: The Elite was definitely a dark high school bully read that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride leaving you wondering what crazy world you just fell into!
This is a story of two rival families, the Dolces and the Darlings, and the war that commences between the two when the Dolces move in and try to reign supreme of the town the Darlings have ruled over forever. Crystal, the fmc, wants nothing more than to start over and remain “clean” and “normal” however one encounter with Devlin and his cousins Colt and Preston and that all goes to hell.
These boys are the royalty of Willow Heights and the entire school bows down to them—and they refuse to let this city raised family come in and take over their kingdom. And with both sides having no qualms about fighting dirty let’s just say that things escalate quickly and neither side is willing to give.
Overall if you’re a fan of dark bully HS romance story with no limits to the level of bullying and former that the character encounter—then this is the series for you! Just be warned to read the triggers first because Selena does NOT mess around!
This is a story of two rival families, the Dolces and the Darlings, and the war that commences between the two when the Dolces move in and try to reign supreme of the town the Darlings have ruled over forever. Crystal, the fmc, wants nothing more than to start over and remain “clean” and “normal” however one encounter with Devlin and his cousins Colt and Preston and that all goes to hell.
These boys are the royalty of Willow Heights and the entire school bows down to them—and they refuse to let this city raised family come in and take over their kingdom. And with both sides having no qualms about fighting dirty let’s just say that things escalate quickly and neither side is willing to give.
Overall if you’re a fan of dark bully HS romance story with no limits to the level of bullying and former that the character encounter—then this is the series for you! Just be warned to read the triggers first because Selena does NOT mess around!
January 5, 2020
*Spoiler Alert*
Crystal (FMC) and her brothers - King, Baron, Duke and Royal had a good life in NYC as well as being the top dogs in their last school. Things change when they move to a small town in Arkansas. A new town, a new school and new rules. As well as new top boys cousins Devlin, Colt and Preston and they take an instant dislike to Crystal and her brothers. Which starts a feud between all of them with Crystal right in the middle of a war that she wants no part of. I couldnt help but like Crystal's character. Shes stuck in between suffocating but caring brothers and the darlings who altogether seem hell bent on antagonising each other. My god this book was good. No other words apart from i was hoping i was going to be wrong with the way it was going to end and when i found out i wasnt i wanted to hurt someone. Namely Devlin. That was a cold hearted move him and his cousins pulled. With that ending i cant wait for book 2 but please tell me that Amazon is wrong and i dont have to wait nearly a year for it?? 27th Dec 2020? Its such a long wait :(
Crystal (FMC) and her brothers - King, Baron, Duke and Royal had a good life in NYC as well as being the top dogs in their last school. Things change when they move to a small town in Arkansas. A new town, a new school and new rules. As well as new top boys cousins Devlin, Colt and Preston and they take an instant dislike to Crystal and her brothers. Which starts a feud between all of them with Crystal right in the middle of a war that she wants no part of. I couldnt help but like Crystal's character. Shes stuck in between suffocating but caring brothers and the darlings who altogether seem hell bent on antagonising each other. My god this book was good. No other words apart from i was hoping i was going to be wrong with the way it was going to end and when i found out i wasnt i wanted to hurt someone. Namely Devlin. That was a cold hearted move him and his cousins pulled. With that ending i cant wait for book 2 but please tell me that Amazon is wrong and i dont have to wait nearly a year for it?? 27th Dec 2020? Its such a long wait :(
November 6, 2022
3.5 stars
I liked this better than I thought I would. It’s probably a storyline anyone could’ve encountered in books similar to this. You just know you can’t trust anyone the MC is going against, even when they act all sweet and believable. Knowing how the story is most likely to proceed, I thought this would be another average three-star read, but I actually enjoyed it?
The familial bond of the Dolces was not touched upon nearly enough but I still love them. Do I like the Darlings, any of them? I’m not really sure. Overall, it’s nothing too new but I still enjoyed it all the same. It was easy to read and Crystal shows her strength in times I needed her to stand up against the Darlings, so I can definitely continue reading more about her. May the Darlings burn in hell for the way they manipulate everyone through the story.
The rest of this review contains spoilers and quotes from ‘Bully Me’.
It’s up to us to make sure we’re royalty with the students.
If we want to be.
“You’ll keep an eye on your baby sister, right?”
Royal salutes him. “That’s what brothers are for. To do the job dads are supposed to do.”
It’s not like I’ve never come across books like this before, but I like the start of this. As unbelievable as names like Crystal, Royal, King, Duke and Baron sound, it’s clear they were intended to rule whatever world they were a part of. I like the idea of this family, with Crystal and her brothers and how they seem to understand each other and are closely knit. I’ve definitely got a weakness for well-written sibling dynamics. I’m laughing at seeing the way they react to moving to small town in Arkansas from the rich life they’re used to in Manhattan.
I thought those were my two choices, but I was wrong. There’s a third choice. My choice.
I choose to make waves.
I can’t believe there’s an actual term called ‘Darling Doll’ for the people the Darlings are with, no matter how fleeting it is. The names in this book make me hysterical, and it’ll probably take me a while to get used to it. While we don’t know the full extent of what it is that happened between Crystal and Veronica back in Manhattan, Crystal was clearly in the wrong and she is now choosing to be better than she was before. I’m so incredibly surprised that Devlin and Crytal’s second interaction did not have them spitting fire at each other.
When I look into his eyes, I don’t just see a monster. I see myself.
They must have a weakness. That’s what my brother says. It’s a house of cards. Take one out, and the whole thing folds. We just have to figure out what it is before they figure out our weakness.
The problem is, I think it’s too late. Devlin already knows the Dolces’ weakness.
Me.
Why is it that it’s always the female MCs who are more visibly affected by the presence of the male MC and not the other way around? I would love for Crystal to get the upper hand and shock Devlin the next time they interact. However, it’s clear that Devlin knows something about Crytal’s father that no other Dolce might be privy to. I keep waiting for more Dolce family interactions, like all the siblings together, when they’re not planning how to take the Darlings down, scenes between Royal and Crystal to show why she thinks of him as her rock, but none of that is forthcoming. They’re just protective and that’s the end of it. It’s interesting that Crystal takes the time to think that maybe her brothers are bullies to. She doesn’t end up believing it but I’m glad she’s even questioning it at all.
“A girl they date has value afterwards. If she’s good enough for a Darling, just about any guy wants her. A Dog is all broken when they finish with her. She’s forever ruined for other guys.”
I don’t know how Crystal thinks she likes Devlin better the more she finds out about him, because he’s literally condoning the worst. The town, the teachers, they’re all ready to let these people do whatever they want. Devlin literally humiliated Crystal and Colt and Preston went along with it. I hate this entire ‘Darling Dog’ thing but I can see Dolly and Crystal one day being friends, so consider me excited for more of their interactions. Colt cannot be trusted at all and his apologies mean nothing to me.
The first time Devlin and Crystal are dancing, ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ is playing in the background. I can put aside how much I currently don’t like Devlin for his polarising behaviour because this song is so wonderful. They met in the dark a long time ago when Crystal saw Devlin practicing with a football. And this song is literally about a happy future with the love of your life, so here’s to hoping everything mellows out.
“Do you really want to give your virginity to a guy you hate?”
“I don’t hate you.”
“You will later.”
“I can’t hate you after this.”
“You will,” he says again. “But not as much as I’ll hate myself for this.”
WHYYYYY!
She was saying no. I was glad that she was getting the upper hand. Now, everything’s fallen apart. I know the Darlings are up to no good and the last night at Homecoming was just a scheme.
We’re all thinking the same thing. Devlin said it wasn’t personal, but he has no idea what he’s dealing with. We’re the Dolces, and we’re anything but sweet. Our blood is thicker than chocolate. Our family always comes first. And if they hurt our family, things are about to get really fucking personal. Because if they hurt my brothers, I’ll hunt them to the ends of the earth to exact revenge.
Of course it was all a ploy but credit to Crystal for not acting like she’s been betrayed. I hope Dolly is genuine in leaving the Darlings behind. I feel weirdly protective of the Dolces. If there is a fight to be had now, I want them to come out on top. And right now, with Royal, I genuinely hope it’s not something too serious.
I liked this better than I thought I would. It’s probably a storyline anyone could’ve encountered in books similar to this. You just know you can’t trust anyone the MC is going against, even when they act all sweet and believable. Knowing how the story is most likely to proceed, I thought this would be another average three-star read, but I actually enjoyed it?
The familial bond of the Dolces was not touched upon nearly enough but I still love them. Do I like the Darlings, any of them? I’m not really sure. Overall, it’s nothing too new but I still enjoyed it all the same. It was easy to read and Crystal shows her strength in times I needed her to stand up against the Darlings, so I can definitely continue reading more about her. May the Darlings burn in hell for the way they manipulate everyone through the story.
The rest of this review contains spoilers and quotes from ‘Bully Me’.
It’s up to us to make sure we’re royalty with the students.
If we want to be.
“You’ll keep an eye on your baby sister, right?”
Royal salutes him. “That’s what brothers are for. To do the job dads are supposed to do.”
It’s not like I’ve never come across books like this before, but I like the start of this. As unbelievable as names like Crystal, Royal, King, Duke and Baron sound, it’s clear they were intended to rule whatever world they were a part of. I like the idea of this family, with Crystal and her brothers and how they seem to understand each other and are closely knit. I’ve definitely got a weakness for well-written sibling dynamics. I’m laughing at seeing the way they react to moving to small town in Arkansas from the rich life they’re used to in Manhattan.
I thought those were my two choices, but I was wrong. There’s a third choice. My choice.
I choose to make waves.
I can’t believe there’s an actual term called ‘Darling Doll’ for the people the Darlings are with, no matter how fleeting it is. The names in this book make me hysterical, and it’ll probably take me a while to get used to it. While we don’t know the full extent of what it is that happened between Crystal and Veronica back in Manhattan, Crystal was clearly in the wrong and she is now choosing to be better than she was before. I’m so incredibly surprised that Devlin and Crytal’s second interaction did not have them spitting fire at each other.
When I look into his eyes, I don’t just see a monster. I see myself.
They must have a weakness. That’s what my brother says. It’s a house of cards. Take one out, and the whole thing folds. We just have to figure out what it is before they figure out our weakness.
The problem is, I think it’s too late. Devlin already knows the Dolces’ weakness.
Me.
Why is it that it’s always the female MCs who are more visibly affected by the presence of the male MC and not the other way around? I would love for Crystal to get the upper hand and shock Devlin the next time they interact. However, it’s clear that Devlin knows something about Crytal’s father that no other Dolce might be privy to. I keep waiting for more Dolce family interactions, like all the siblings together, when they’re not planning how to take the Darlings down, scenes between Royal and Crystal to show why she thinks of him as her rock, but none of that is forthcoming. They’re just protective and that’s the end of it. It’s interesting that Crystal takes the time to think that maybe her brothers are bullies to. She doesn’t end up believing it but I’m glad she’s even questioning it at all.
“A girl they date has value afterwards. If she’s good enough for a Darling, just about any guy wants her. A Dog is all broken when they finish with her. She’s forever ruined for other guys.”
I don’t know how Crystal thinks she likes Devlin better the more she finds out about him, because he’s literally condoning the worst. The town, the teachers, they’re all ready to let these people do whatever they want. Devlin literally humiliated Crystal and Colt and Preston went along with it. I hate this entire ‘Darling Dog’ thing but I can see Dolly and Crystal one day being friends, so consider me excited for more of their interactions. Colt cannot be trusted at all and his apologies mean nothing to me.
The first time Devlin and Crystal are dancing, ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ is playing in the background. I can put aside how much I currently don’t like Devlin for his polarising behaviour because this song is so wonderful. They met in the dark a long time ago when Crystal saw Devlin practicing with a football. And this song is literally about a happy future with the love of your life, so here’s to hoping everything mellows out.
“Do you really want to give your virginity to a guy you hate?”
“I don’t hate you.”
“You will later.”
“I can’t hate you after this.”
“You will,” he says again. “But not as much as I’ll hate myself for this.”
WHYYYYY!
She was saying no. I was glad that she was getting the upper hand. Now, everything’s fallen apart. I know the Darlings are up to no good and the last night at Homecoming was just a scheme.
We’re all thinking the same thing. Devlin said it wasn’t personal, but he has no idea what he’s dealing with. We’re the Dolces, and we’re anything but sweet. Our blood is thicker than chocolate. Our family always comes first. And if they hurt our family, things are about to get really fucking personal. Because if they hurt my brothers, I’ll hunt them to the ends of the earth to exact revenge.
Of course it was all a ploy but credit to Crystal for not acting like she’s been betrayed. I hope Dolly is genuine in leaving the Darlings behind. I feel weirdly protective of the Dolces. If there is a fight to be had now, I want them to come out on top. And right now, with Royal, I genuinely hope it’s not something too serious.
January 1, 2020
This book is another bully romance set in high school. It is about new money vs old money in a little town in Arkansas. While the storyline does focus on two families feuding, it also has this forbidden bully romance aspect between Devlin and Christina, the two main characters.
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Devlin and Christina and I thought their characters were really well done. The plot had a nice pace to it and I never felt bored or like skipping a few pages. The ending had me wanting to strangle Devlin, Colt, and Preston! I cannot wait to find out what happens next and how Christina and her brothers get their revenge.
This book is the first in a trilogy and does end on a cliffhanger. There are some dark themes and trigger warnings in this book so it is not intended for everyone.
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Devlin and Christina and I thought their characters were really well done. The plot had a nice pace to it and I never felt bored or like skipping a few pages. The ending had me wanting to strangle Devlin, Colt, and Preston! I cannot wait to find out what happens next and how Christina and her brothers get their revenge.
This book is the first in a trilogy and does end on a cliffhanger. There are some dark themes and trigger warnings in this book so it is not intended for everyone.
February 14, 2020
2.5 stars!
I will preface this with the fact I have pre-ordered the next book. I want to see how this author takes this book to make the H even remotely redeemable. Practising football into the night to show he has issues does not a hero make. Crystal needs to get her bullying backbone back. Not that I condone bullying AT ALL, I was in fact bullied for years, but the Darlings are the epitome of bullies, and while the Dolces have done their fair share, it seems the Darlings are on another level. Crystal needs to find that fighting spirit again because she is going to need it. Knifepoint, collaring, public shaming is just the tip of the iceberg, and I want to see the Darlings get what is coming to them. It seems that they have had free reign for way too long without consequences, maybe the Dolce's are just what is needed to shake them up.
I will preface this with the fact I have pre-ordered the next book. I want to see how this author takes this book to make the H even remotely redeemable. Practising football into the night to show he has issues does not a hero make. Crystal needs to get her bullying backbone back. Not that I condone bullying AT ALL, I was in fact bullied for years, but the Darlings are the epitome of bullies, and while the Dolces have done their fair share, it seems the Darlings are on another level. Crystal needs to find that fighting spirit again because she is going to need it. Knifepoint, collaring, public shaming is just the tip of the iceberg, and I want to see the Darlings get what is coming to them. It seems that they have had free reign for way too long without consequences, maybe the Dolce's are just what is needed to shake them up.
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