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Hamilton High #7
If You Loved Me
At 15, Lauren Riley promised herself that she would not mess up her life and would stay away from drugs and sex. But two years later, her boyfriend Brandon is pressuring her to forget that promise. Both her parents are lost to her through long-time drug addiction, but through her writing, Lauren tries to deal with her problems and discovers a deeper strength. Based on the reality of everyday high school life, and critiqued by high school students as it was written, this book accurately portrays and confronts the issues of drugs, race, sex, first love, and finding self-expression.
- GenresYoung Adult
224 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 26, 2012
This book was amazing. I didn't start off with the whole series, I just picked the book of the shelf and it looked great.
I loved the whole story line and I loved what she was going through. I never imagined that the book would put such a big twist to it at the end. When I read the end of the book I felt like I knew lauren. She was going through a part that I went through and I knew exactly what she felt like. All in all this book was probably the best book I've ever read!!
I loved the whole story line and I loved what she was going through. I never imagined that the book would put such a big twist to it at the end. When I read the end of the book I felt like I knew lauren. She was going through a part that I went through and I knew exactly what she felt like. All in all this book was probably the best book I've ever read!!
July 20, 2009
The only thing that spoiled it for me was Tyler's explanation for certain things in the last ten pages or so. It was utter crap.
The rest of the book was alright, though.
The rest of the book was alright, though.
August 5, 2017
Great read! There are lessons learned along the way for this character, and it also gives young readers some perspective about life, love, and decisions they make.
November 6, 2020
I read this book in high school at exactly the same time as I was also being pressured to lose my V-card and right after my bf of 2 years cheated on me and lost his. At the time, this book spoke to my soul, and I felt God placed it in the line of sight for me to read so it could comfort my broken, teenage heart. It was just what I needed to read - I needed to know I wasn't alone. I will read it again sometime just to see if it resonates differently.
March 30, 2013
I remember reading this book while I was in middle school or something. I just finished reading it now. I had no idea that it was such a thin book, but it still grabbed me like a heart attack. I loved how the MC is racially mixed like me: black and white. Lauren is a senior in high school and she has made a promise to herself to not end up like her drug addict mother; she wants to stay a virgin until she’s married with the person she loves, Tyler *cough cough* SCUMBAG ASSHOLEE PIECE OF TATER SHIT *cough couch*.
Lauren lives with her Gram because her parents were unsuitable to raise her. She begins to see a red Honda following her around and she feels scared. Tyler makes sure she is protected and is everything a perfect boyfriend should be…in a way. He is caring. Loving. Protective. A great listener. Attentive. Flirty.
But he wants sex. He’s 18 and embarrassed that he hasn’t done the deed with the love of his life. He constantly tries to “softly” pressure Lauren into sex, saying that they are already going to get married, so why should they wait? Sounds smart?
No. Lauren is very adamant about staying a virgin. She wants to wait, which I totally respect. No one should force you into something you really don’t want to do. Tyler works at a green house or garden nursery with Shawna, the outcast at school. Over time, we notice that the two are very buddy-buddy (you see where this is goin’, eh?). Shawn was raped by her stepfather and abused, so she has a few issues. She’s poor, wears ratty clothes, and basically is the person everyone calls a weirdo.
After a while, Tyler stops pressuring Lauren after she, distressed once again, tells him she wants to wait. He respects her choice and we, the reader, think he has seen the light and will patiently wait for his love to give herself to him on their wedding night. Hell, he even gives her a promise ring.
Once night, when Gram forgets to return a few shovels to the nursery, Lauren volunteers to do it. When she gets to the place, she happens to find Tyler on top of Shawn getting his groove on. What made me scream with rage was the way she described him *ahem* finishing. I literally felt my face go red and screamed/squealed like a Valkyrie. I was livid!
Rereading this, I wanted to see if my opinion of this book would change. Nope! Still screamed/squealed. Still intsa-pissed. Still hate Tyler’s guts. But I loved the hell out of this book because it showed me that even if you really love someone, there is always a chance they can hurt you. I’m glad Lauren stuck to her promise and beliefs. I wish the book had been longer, and the ending was such an open-ended thing that I almost wrote the author to give me a “Epilogue” or a “20 Years Later” thing. I seriously want to know how Lauren grew up and where she went in life. I have never wanted to find this out about a character so much.
Also, I loved how it turned out the guy in the red Honda was her father. He wanted to build a better relationship with her. He was clean, got himself in order, and I LOVED that. It reminded me of how my own father and I reconciled our relationship. Lauren, just like me, was angry at her father for what he had done. Also like me, Lauren decided to forgive him and move on from the past.
As for Tyler, we hear his side of the story and it is just so stupid and infuriating that I had wished he was a real person so I could pummel his face in. There is never an excuse to cheat on anyone. “But I did it for you, Lauren! I’m going to wait for you!”
Uh, no! You fucking broke your promise and went to fuck someone else just because you were tired of being a virgin. If you loved someone, you would wait for them, or if your need was too great, you’d leave them. Going to have sex just to “have the experience” doesn’t excuse this bullshit.
All in all, this is a good book to learn from. It’s realistic, the lesson isn’t overbearing, and it isn’t afraid to bare the truth.
Lauren lives with her Gram because her parents were unsuitable to raise her. She begins to see a red Honda following her around and she feels scared. Tyler makes sure she is protected and is everything a perfect boyfriend should be…in a way. He is caring. Loving. Protective. A great listener. Attentive. Flirty.
But he wants sex. He’s 18 and embarrassed that he hasn’t done the deed with the love of his life. He constantly tries to “softly” pressure Lauren into sex, saying that they are already going to get married, so why should they wait? Sounds smart?
No. Lauren is very adamant about staying a virgin. She wants to wait, which I totally respect. No one should force you into something you really don’t want to do. Tyler works at a green house or garden nursery with Shawna, the outcast at school. Over time, we notice that the two are very buddy-buddy (you see where this is goin’, eh?). Shawn was raped by her stepfather and abused, so she has a few issues. She’s poor, wears ratty clothes, and basically is the person everyone calls a weirdo.
After a while, Tyler stops pressuring Lauren after she, distressed once again, tells him she wants to wait. He respects her choice and we, the reader, think he has seen the light and will patiently wait for his love to give herself to him on their wedding night. Hell, he even gives her a promise ring.
Once night, when Gram forgets to return a few shovels to the nursery, Lauren volunteers to do it. When she gets to the place, she happens to find Tyler on top of Shawn getting his groove on. What made me scream with rage was the way she described him *ahem* finishing. I literally felt my face go red and screamed/squealed like a Valkyrie. I was livid!
Rereading this, I wanted to see if my opinion of this book would change. Nope! Still screamed/squealed. Still intsa-pissed. Still hate Tyler’s guts. But I loved the hell out of this book because it showed me that even if you really love someone, there is always a chance they can hurt you. I’m glad Lauren stuck to her promise and beliefs. I wish the book had been longer, and the ending was such an open-ended thing that I almost wrote the author to give me a “Epilogue” or a “20 Years Later” thing. I seriously want to know how Lauren grew up and where she went in life. I have never wanted to find this out about a character so much.
Also, I loved how it turned out the guy in the red Honda was her father. He wanted to build a better relationship with her. He was clean, got himself in order, and I LOVED that. It reminded me of how my own father and I reconciled our relationship. Lauren, just like me, was angry at her father for what he had done. Also like me, Lauren decided to forgive him and move on from the past.
As for Tyler, we hear his side of the story and it is just so stupid and infuriating that I had wished he was a real person so I could pummel his face in. There is never an excuse to cheat on anyone. “But I did it for you, Lauren! I’m going to wait for you!”
Uh, no! You fucking broke your promise and went to fuck someone else just because you were tired of being a virgin. If you loved someone, you would wait for them, or if your need was too great, you’d leave them. Going to have sex just to “have the experience” doesn’t excuse this bullshit.
All in all, this is a good book to learn from. It’s realistic, the lesson isn’t overbearing, and it isn’t afraid to bare the truth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2014
This book was very good in the beginning, and you really connected to the characters, especially Lauren. As I kept reading, and got closer to the end, I began to see people differently and I no longer liked them. The ending to this book made me a little angry because it was not what I expected. Overall this book was about average to me.
I like the fact that this book is based on true events that happen to young teenagers. I also liked that this book was very well written, and the font was very nice.
I disliked the "boyfriend" near the end of the book. I found myself to like him in the beginning because I thought he was the perfect guy, but his true colors shown at the end, and I did not like him at all after that.
I recommend this book to anyone who could relate to this book. This book can really connect to people who have lost their parents, been evolved in drugs, have a complicated relationship, or if someone is being pressured in a relation. All of these are topics that are incorporated in this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about these topics.
I like the fact that this book is based on true events that happen to young teenagers. I also liked that this book was very well written, and the font was very nice.
I disliked the "boyfriend" near the end of the book. I found myself to like him in the beginning because I thought he was the perfect guy, but his true colors shown at the end, and I did not like him at all after that.
I recommend this book to anyone who could relate to this book. This book can really connect to people who have lost their parents, been evolved in drugs, have a complicated relationship, or if someone is being pressured in a relation. All of these are topics that are incorporated in this book. Also, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about these topics.
October 27, 2011
Well this book is amazing!! I loved it, the whole twisted mind thinking of it was really cool it keeps you thinking. Its about a girl she lives with her grandma since she was little girl . She lost her parents through drug addiction. At age 15 Lauren promised her self that she would stay away from drugs and sex but suddently a boy came in her life , his name is Brandon. She had talked to her boyfriend Brandon bout her promise it was okay for him he desided to wait, but one day Lauren encountered herself with very hard decisions and very important moves in her life. But along her struggles she had found very unclear mystories and deep feelings and secrets that she’s never known in her life that she deserved to know. she had a man stalking her she didn’t know who it was. Later on she finds out some shocking news.
October 22, 2008
This story was really interesting. It was a different type of love story. Lauren and Tyler love each other but Lauren can't completely trust anyone. Lauren's parents were drug addicts that abonden her with her grandmother. She gets betrayed by her boyfriend, and falls into a depression, and doesn't want to return to school. Her best Friend Amber helps her get through this situation.
March 17, 2009
i read this book my freshmen year and i truly loved it, i was going through a situation like this and it really helped me see it through a different perspective.
December 16, 2010
This book is great! Difficult toward the end but a great book overall.
September 16, 2024
Currently reading all of the Hamilton High books because these are apart of my students curriculum, they can earn extra elective credit with these books (I'm a librarian an independent study school site). Reading them all just so I can best recommend each books to a student. Absolutely hated the ending, everything up to the last chapter was pretty solid though. Two stars because I could not STAND TYLER. Lauren you deserved better.
August 31, 2017
I have always enjoyed the writings from this author. This, as well as her other books can be found on book share.
January 5, 2022
Great story for everyone to read
May 12, 2023
Good teen novel because it teaches you about handling emotions and forgiving people.
October 8, 2009
this book is really good it's about a girl name laruen who was born addicted to drugs
her best friend had sex for the first time and she got herpes
you sholud really read it
if i tell you anything else i will tell you the whole story
her best friend had sex for the first time and she got herpes
you sholud really read it
if i tell you anything else i will tell you the whole story
June 24, 2009
This book has lots of drama, and keeps you reading none stop
Read
May 10, 2010F REY hh bk.7
September 28, 2013
#
CompNtBk
Borrowed from library.
FS: "The sun is barely up when I meet Tyler at the rickety old bench under the palm tree at the north end of the Hamilton High School parking lot."
LS:
CompNtBk
Borrowed from library.
FS: "The sun is barely up when I meet Tyler at the rickety old bench under the palm tree at the north end of the Hamilton High School parking lot."
LS:
October 30, 2015
This book is based on romance and action and the reading level is 5.2 and its for people that hate how people fight about something not worth fighting for
January 24, 2017
great book
February 26, 2019
I read this as a teen when it came out. I thought Tyler was trash then and he's still trash in the reread.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews