Book Review: Rival (Fall Away #2) by Penelope Douglas

I feel like I have been waiting ages for this book, and yet I really had to psych myself up for it. I loved Bully and Until You and all of the gut wrenching emotions they brought with them. But the ARC for Rival sat in my inbox for weeks before I finally worked up enough courage to start it. Why? Because I knew it would grab hold of me and take me on an emotional journey that would leave me wrecked. And it was everything that I expected it to be.

After reading the first two books in this series, I was really looking forward to learning more about Madoc. Sure he had plenty of super jerk moments, but you could tell tell there was something more underneath the surface. And what is there is a boy hiding a world of hurt behind a cool, wise ass facade. Nothing could have prepared me for the world of pain that Madoc and Fallon go through. And Fallon? Dear God poor Fallon. She really took the brunt of it all and my heart literally split apart for her.

I wavered back and forth in my feelings for both of them between loving them and then being so frustrated with them that I wanted to throw things. At their heads. They make stupid, selfish mistakes that will make you scream but ultimately, they are kids and that is par for the course. In the end, I do love them both and their love for each other. I just wish they had an easier road.

Cover Reveal: Falling Away by Penelope Douglas

Book Review: Until You (Fall Away #1.5) by Penelope Douglas

I absolutely love when an author writes a companion novel from the male's POV. Some people are hesitant for fear that it will just be a regurgitation of the first book, but I promise you that is not the case with Until You. In this book, we finally get inside of Jared's complex head to find out what motivated him to be so cruel to Tate for so long. He pissed me off so much in Bully and he finally got the redemption I don't feel he had gotten or earned by the end of the first book. Getting a first hand account of what went down the summer he spent with his father was heartbreaking. The new insight that we get into Jared helped me to understand why he did what he did. I am not saying I agree with his actions, because I definitely don't, but I get it. There are points where you can tell he doesn't really like hurting Tate, or when we can sense a hint of regret, but he can't stop himself.

I found Until You to be a bit steamier than Bully, and more steam is always a huge plus in my book. It is expected to have a bit more focus on sex, we are in the head of a teenage boy after all. And all of the sex scenes that we have already experienced through Tate's eyes are ten times more sexy from Jared's perspective. Oh so hot.

I was throbbing so hard. I needed to get inside of her, but I damn well gave a fuck about Tate, and I wasn't going to take her. i wanted her coming back for seconds, thirds, and forever.

Book Review: Bully (Fall Away #1) by Penelope Douglas

Tate and Jared used to be best friends. They loved each other - or at least she though they did. Then when they were 14 everything changed. Jared went from a loving friend to a bully for no apparent reason. He made it his mission in life to ruin high school for Tate. She got a brief reprieve from his torture for year, studying abroad in Europe. Now that she is back, she wonders if Jared will go back to tormenting her or if maybe he has forgotten all about her and moved on. Regardless of what his plans are, Tate vows to herself to not let him ruin her Senior year. If he is going to pick up where he left of, then this time she will fight back.

I was so hesitant to read this  book because the idea of falling for your bully kind of annoyed me. But after reading so many great things about it, I decided to give it a shot. Let me tell you, I am so glad that I did! Tate - my heart broke for her repeatedly for everything she endured at the hands of Jared. I mean, how much can one teenage girl take before she breaks? But Tate is too strong for that. She took a much needed time out from Life with Jared and came back from Europe and more self confident young woman. The Tate that came back home for her Senior year had a lot more attitude and was finally ready to stand up to him.

And then there is Jared. Sigh. How I hated him through the majority of this book. And I'm not talking about a little hate, but full blown, I want to throttle you hatred. When Tate give her monologue in class and it is clear that Jared is emotionally affected by it, I realized there was a world of pain hidden beneath the bully veneer. At that point I started to forgive him and I want them to rebuild what once was an amazing friendship.