— 5 stars ✰
Wow, I might be enjoying this book far more than I initially intended! It is practically filled with annotations, most of them thanks to Grayson . I mean, I might even be falling for him a bit myself!
: ̗̀➛ The story revolves around Rosalie, a girl who's been somewhat shut out from living life fully and wants to embrace the full university experience. She’s this shy, inexperienced girl who doesn’t quite realise just how sheltered she’s been until a game of Never Have I Ever leaves her feeling rather insecure. In response, she turns to none other than the bad boy, Grayson Carter, for help. Rosalie makes a list of things she wants to explore and Grayson, much to my delight, agrees to be her guide.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ Now, Grayson... where do I even begin? From their very first encounter, he exudes bad boy energy. You know the saying
"Good girls go to heaven, but bad boys bring heaven to you"?
Well, Grayson certainly brought heaven to Rosalie and me tbh He’s undeniably attractive, but there’s such a softness to him when it comes to Rosalie. He never expected to fall for her, yet he can’t stop thinking about her well-being. He’d genuinely do anything to make her happy. The moment Grayson found out that Rosalie had never been given flowers, he started buying them for her, even choosing ones that matched the outfits he’d seen her in! OH have I mentioned? He quit smoking for her. If he wanted to, he would, isn't it? And those romantic gestures? He takes her to watch the sunrise and whisks her away on his motorbike. Honestly, Grayson is so misunderstood by everyone, and towards the end there’s a major revelation about him that really caught me off guard. Learning more about his personal struggles absolutely shattered me.
“You'll be safe, Rosie. I promise.”
⊹ ࣪ ˖ As for Rosalie, she’s incredibly sweet and innocent, and her passion for fashion is genuinely admirable. I loved watching her grow more confident and bold after meeting Grayson. She really came into her own, and seeing that kind of character development is always so rewarding.
“I'm in love with you, and that's why I helped you. Because even if you don't want to be with me, I still want you to be happy, whether that's here or in another state.”
This book is without a doubt the quintessential "good girl x bad boy" trope. But what I truly love about their relationship is that it feels like so much more than just Grayson helping Rosalie tick off a list of experiences. It’s deeper, more genuine, and full of unexpected emotional connection. There’s real growth between them and that’s what makes their bond so captivating. And the spicy scenes? Let’s just say they were incredibly well done, never feeling rushed or forced, which is always a plus. I may or may not have felt a little stirred by the praise Grayson showers on Rosalie... ahem, moving on! All in all, this book was so captivating that I somehow managed to finish it during a three-hour lecture (which I do not recommend btw!).
── .✦ favourite lines:
“I want you. Today, tomorrow, and the next. If you'll have me, I want to be yours. Completely yours, and I want you to be mine.”
“I want to wake up with you, go to sleep with you, go on adventures with you. I want to buy you flowers every single day.”
“I'll do anything for you, angel. Everything. I will be the best for you. I will do everything in my power to make you happy. Whatever it takes, I will do it.”