Bully: 1 (Fall Away) Paperback – 5 Jan. 2016

It’s been a very long time since I’ve read a book in one sitting without stopping. But this book did it for me and I’m not even sure why because I have totally read better books with more gripping plot lines but this book just had me by the throat from beginning to end. And it shouldn’t have. Why do we all love books where the girls ends up with the guy who has bullied her for years. No wonder we all date walking red flags when these are the kind of books that get us off. I knew Jared was bad news. I knew that his past was no excuse for his behaviour yet I wanted him to have that happy ending and end up with Tate. Yet I shouldn’t because he truly didn’t deserve her forgiveness. And his narcissistic desire and joy when he found out she was still a virgin so he could make claim to her? Ick. Not as romantic as the author clearly wanted that to be. But again, this book choke held me so clearly it was doing something right. I just don’t know what it was.

Bully is a story of grief and teenage angst but one that highlights the complexities of forgiveness and redemption.Bully by Penelope Douglas was a refreshing change from what I usually do. Read I think it’s quite likely got me back into reading Romance again after losing my way with it around 2014.An enemy to lover’s trope. I actually really enjoyed what Penelope Douglas did with this. Tate and Jared grew up together. They did everything together, from climbing trees and gossiping to Jared supporting Tate through the loss of her mother six years ago. Then one summer he went away and was never the same again. He didn’t want to be seen with her, he flat out ignored her existence, and he made sure her life at school was unbearable. It hurt Tate more than words could explain what losing her friendship with Jared did. She has one respite – she’s leaving for a year and going to France, maybe things will be different when she comes back?“Isn’t it about time you fought back?”She comes back from France and finds that yes things are better but not from Jared’s end. Tate has more fight in her, she won’t tolerate being pushed around anymore. She’s fighting back, there is no way she’s letting him take her senior year from her. It means too much to her,Jared’s right-hand man, Madoc has experienced Tate’s wrath before. She happily lets him know physically when he’s crossed a line. This is a new side to her – she’s most definitely fighting back. She breaks up parties at Jared’s house, and she starts dating, but amongst it, is Jared watching from the sidelines with a quiet promise of making Tate cry by the end of the week.I loved this story. Douglas encapsulates being a young adult. The drama, the miscommunication, the assumption. She did a brilliant job of making me hate him in the first half of the story…he was a bully, he lived purely to torment Tate. He even enrolled his buddies in making sure no one was interested in her romantically. I struggled to understand just how I was going to warm up to him. He was nasty and hated her and made sure knew about it.Why was he doing it though? Had something been said as kids and he dwelt upon it? What made him hate her so much? They used to be best friends. As her best friend KC says – “it’s going to come to a head somehow.”Jared was a character that had so much internal conflict, that the reader was left genuinely pondering what his motivations were. He was bullying her, but you could see from other actions – like keeping her out of trouble at school proved that he wasn’t at the core, a bad guy.

'This is how bullies are made.'Squeeeeeee!!! Freakin' awesome!I absolutely love love loved this book. This is the definition of a hate-to-love story and it totally rocked. I could not put it down.I was really craving a book that would make me stop everything I was supposed to be doing and devour every word... and that's exactly what Bully did!I'd heard the hype about this book and seen lots of my book buddies giving it great reviews and five stars, so I knew I had to give a shot asap. And I'm so pleased I did.As much as I adore NA and adult romance, there is something warm and fuzzy about a great YA romance. The encounters at school, the peer politics, the dances, the bonfires, the sports meets... so much opportunity for drama. And then of course, there's the first love, the virginal heroine, the first kisses, first touches, etc. I absolutely love it."I want to touch you." His words were against my lips now. "I want to feel what's mine. What's always been mine."'Bully' has all of that. This is the archetypal `bad boy/good girl' story, mixed with the `childhood friend' and the `enemies to lovers' story. You get all that, wrapped into one delicious, heart racing package."Tate, you're mine, and I'm yours. Every day you're going to realize that more and more. When you believe it without a doubt, then I'll have earned your trust."The characters in this book are of YA age, and still at school, but it is pretty steamy for a YA. Just a warning.So, the story introduces us to Tatum (Tate) who has lived next door to Jared for eight years. As children, they were inseperable, best friends. But then one summer, everything changed and Jared started hating on Tate."You were the person that turned things right again. With you, I became courageous and free. It was like the part of me that died with my mom came back when I met you, and I didn't hurt if I knew I had you. Then one day, out of the blue, I lost you, too. The hurt returned, and I felt sick when I saw you hating me. My rainstorm was gone, and you became cruel. There was no explanation. You were just gone. And my heart was ripped open. I missed you."She became the victim of his relentless bullying campaign and he made it his mission to make her life hell.Tate leaves her home to live in France for a year and when she comes back, the story really begins."Isn't it about time you fought back?"I luuurved Tate when she began to stand up to Jared. Her ball busting, no s*** attitude and her quick wit really made me want to punch the air on multiple occasions!"I thought that all the a**holes drove German cars, but it turns out that p***ks in Mustangs can still leave scars."K.C., however, I wanted to throttle! K.C. is Tate's best friend and she irritated the s*** out of me! She was weak and fickle and just generally a bit of a t***. Who needs enemies. Tate was incredibly forgiving where I would certainly have pulled her hair out by the roots!Jared. Hmmm... where to start. He's a complex character. He's soooo mean throughout the first half of the book. I wanted to hate him and I certainly did feel the compulsion to slap him. A lot. But I just couldn't not love him. He's hot, nasty and clearly completely broken."I'm sorry," he whispered. "I know I can make this up to you. Don't hate me."And don't worry ladies, he does completely redeem himself. You will be totally in love with Jared `Bully' Trent by the end of this book.I loved the idea, through this book, that being bullied creates bullies. Ok, maybe that's the wrong word, I don't love that, but it was incredibly thought provoking. Throughout the book, sweet, friendly, kind hearted Tate was becoming more and more bitter and spiteful as she lashed out against those who were wronging her. She was becoming the bully. Intentionally causing pain to others. It's a strong message that all bullies are just human beings and something along their journey has made them the way they are. The idea that this knock on effect from the catalyst of one person's pain, can cause a downward spiral of heartache and hatred in others. Where does that end? It's no excuse and certainly, bullying cannot be condoned in any capacity, but it's an eye opening thought.The sexual tension in this book just absolutely rolled off of the pages. One minute he's spreading rumours about her, then he's kissing her, then he's telling her he doesn't care if she's dead or alive, then he's all over her like a rash. Whiplash, much?! This is a perfect example of the silly boy, who fancies the girl, pulling her pigtails in the playground. Magnified by one hundred!Three times I honestly thought I might spontaneously combust... all I'll say is, kitchen, race night and science lab. Pheeewwww! And that's before they even get their s*** together."If I ever lay my hands on you," he said low and husky, "You'll want it."So, clearly, I really loved this book. Duh. Lol. I implore you all to go out and add to your TBR lists, if you haven't already, buy it, download it, whatever... and read it! It's absolutely great and I'm soooo looking forward to book #2, which I believe is Jared's best friend, Madoc's story!Bully StatisticsSteam Rating (out of 5): ♥♥♥♥Ending: HEASeries: ✓ (Fall Away series)Reading Order:Book #1 - BullyBook #2 - Rival (Not yet released)Can this be read as a standalone? YesThemes:BullyingHate-to-loveChildhood sweetheartSecond chanceAbuseFirst loveWarning. This book includes...Sexual contentBullyingAbuse - verbal & physicalWriting: GreatReview by Smitten's Book Blog