Bully that Hurts: Dark High School MM Romance

by Michael Levi

New year, same old high school. It should be easy, except that there’s this one guy stalking me wherever I go. His motive? To turn my life into a living hell, and… it’s working. My bones tremble at the mere sight of him.

His name is Jack. He’s the bully, the football team’s quarterback, works out, is a massive hit with the girls, and pretty much everything else. I’m small in comparison to him, but I’m not a wimp, either. I push back, hard. Maybe a little too hard once. The bruise on my cheek still hurts like hell.

It's like going through the seven circles of hell with him, only that, at the end, there’s something alien. Something that pulls us together, something that makes us begin to understand each other, something that makes me see that there’s a real person under the muscle behemoth that he is. Something that, eventually, makes us kiss for the first time.

And it’s the kind of kiss that we can never forget.

‘Bully that Hurts’ is a dark MM high school romance. Triggers included, but there’s also a very happy HEA at the end. Characters are 18+. Enjoy it!

Genres: M M Romance

145 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2023

About the author

Steamy MM stories, baby! Michael Levi can’t go a day without sitting down and putting into words all the dirty scenes that sprout up in his mind. His collection is diverse, but it’s gay love only. And if you are looking for something free, check out his mailing list. Warning: it can be extra spicy.

When Michael Levi isn’t writing, he’s chilling out by a lake close to his house. Nothing better than to kick back with a martini in his hand as he daydreams his next explicit scenes.

Reviews

[Shawn Cha · Rating 1 out of 5]

didn’t need 2

I didn’t need to read more than 10% of the book to know where it was heading.
It’s weird reading the book in 3rd person perspective. Also what kind of high school in the middle of nowhere in america has in dorm rooms? I really can’t think of one maybe a high class private high school but I doubt it. Then it goes jack goes to party, made friends, then had so much fun……
You need to go more into depth since the book is like 150 pages. We don’t get to meet anyone else at that party?
Overall it felt like a middle schooler wrote the book too many run on sentences.

[Nina Diab · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't read bully romances that often because, well, I don't like bullies lol. But I liked the premise of this book: One guy being bullied buy another, size difference but the smaller guy doesn't back down, and over the course of the story, animosity turns into heat instead. Unfortunately, pretty much from the start I couldn't get into it. There were contradictions, and at times things felt dramatic for no reason.

For example, Neil spotted bully Jack mocking a smaller intimidated student and "watched in horror as Jack forced the student aside and walked away, laughing and jeering as the small boy fell to the ground." Neil felt disgust, revulsion, and a hatred for Jack who was cruel and heartless (all descriptors used in the story). "Neil then walked away, filled with rage and misery, knowing he had just captured something truly disturbing." I understand bullying of any kind is bad for the victim... but essentially a smaller student was mocked and shoved aside to the ground as his bully walked away laughing. It's not like he was punched in the face or stomach, or grabbed by the hair and had is head slammed into a wall or the floor, or something really violent or disturbing for Neil to be so horrified. And I noted Neil walked away rather then help or check on the student that was bullied.

I also noticed an inconsistency from page one where this school is described as a pretty impressive facility having all the amenities students could possibly need to get a good education and succeed. "The classrooms were comfortable and well-equipped, with cutting-edge technology and learning resources." But then two pages later, we get: "When Neil finally arrived at his classroom, he found it to be a dingy and unwelcoming space, with outdated furniture and technology. The desks were cluttered and cramped, and the chairs were hard and uncomfortable. Neil couldn't believe he was supposed to spend an entire year in this claustrophobic and uncomfortable environment, struggling to learn and grow." So now I'm confused. Am I supposed to be picturing an excellent and well-equipped school, or someplace outdated, cramped, and rundown? And it's a high school, but the students have rooms there?

The writing felt very juvenile. Almost like you'd imagine a teenager telling their friends what happened, with all the drama and immaturity that comes with it. At the start of chapter three after Jack and Neil had their first physical fight, all enraged at each other, suddenly Neil was admitting to himself he was attracted to Jack. "Despite everything Jack had done to him, he couldn't stop thinking about how attractive he was, and how much he despised himself for thinking so. He knew he shouldn't care about Jack, that he should despise him and want nothing to do with him." Out of nowhere. Pages ago there was disgust but now attraction? I stopped reading from there. Not for me at all and needs a lot of work. 2 stars.

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack loved to be a bully especially to Neil because he was jealous of Neil, one night he hit Neil but Neil couldn’t defend himself. Jack decided to see where Neil lives but then he sees Neil crying they had just found out that his mother had stage 4 cancer and no money for the treatments so Jack offered to pay for them. Jessica told Neil to accept what Jack offered, he tutored Jack in math and has feelings for Jack. But Jack’s reasons for being a bully to Neil stopped because of the way he was feeling towards Neil. Ryan a new student was way worst of a bully than Jack, Neil tried to stop Ryan from what he was doing to a freshman and got beat up instead. Jack was pulled off Ryan by the teachers so he took Neil to the infirmary after Neil was treated they kissed so Ryan said crap again. At first Jack’s dad didn’t want to accept that Jack and Neil were together but he saw how they were.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bully That Hurts: Dark High School MM Romance is a raw and emotional story that dives deep into the complexities of teenage relationships, pain, and identity. It’s not your typical high school romance — it leans into darker themes like bullying, shame, and internalised conflict, but it handles them with a surprising level of care.

The relationship between the two boys is messy, emotional, and sometimes painful, but that’s what makes it feel real. Watching them navigate their feelings, boundaries, and past trauma is what gives the story its heart. It’s intense at times, but also offers moments of softness, healing, and hope.

If you enjoy MM romance with emotional depth, darker themes, and a slow shift from enemies to something more, Bully That Hurts is well worth reading — just be prepared for some heavy moments along the way. A gripping and thoughtful take on queer youth and redemption.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, straightforward enemies-to-lovers MM romance. Jack goes from bullying Neil to realising he loves him. It’s a quick read with a simple plot, and I enjoyed it. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something light and easy to read.

I’m giving it four stars as I felt the story could have been a bit more detailed or padded out in places — but sometimes it’s refreshing to read something that’s to the point and not bogged down with too much description and detail.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christina Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this down.

I don’t usually care for bully stories because I was bullied but this drew me in and wouldn’t let me go.

The characters are mysterious and you just want to know more and so you keep on reading.

I really recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katarina Grundelius · Rating 2 out of 5]

good plot, poor writing

It’s a good enough plot and could have been made into a great story. But as it is, it’s all over the place and the MC’s takes whiplash changes witout explanations. There is no smoothness to the writing and as such is hard to follow and get into. Sad.

[Cheyenne Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just struggled with this book and it did not capture my attention the way that I had hoped it would. This was a just not for me read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[idk · Rating 1 out of 5]

“She said coldly” “I can’t forgive you “ “they realized they’d be fine” all in one page u are a crap writer please stop don’t let anyone else read this horrendous pile of crap

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️s rounded upto 3 because I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them, this one not so much the story plot is decent but the writing just doesn’t work and is all over the place.

[Derek Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a page turner. I couldn’t put it down. Definitely would pick the rest of the series if there is anymore.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.