What do you think?
Rate this book
Lionheart Academy #3
Regretting You
Tyler-
Some days I wish I’d never met Gregory Baldwin. Then there are days when I feel like I’ll die if he’s away for too long.
It’s like I’m addicted to him. Addicted to the attention he gives me and what he does to me in secret. He has lips made for sin and a body I can’t keep my hands off of, but mostly, I know he has a heart. That’s what keeps me coming back.
Now he’s cruel, malicious, possessive… nothing like the boy I once knew. And yet, deep down, I know that guy is still there under this bad boy exterior. He has to be, or everything we’ve been through is pointless.
Being with him feels like dying and surviving all at once. It’s wild, manic, and soul-crushing, but it’s us. He’s all I’ve ever had and the only thing I’ll ever want.
Because even when I hate him…
I love him ten times harder.
Greg-
I’m broken beyond repair, too fucked up to be saved. My mind fights demons daily, while the shattered organ in my chest only causes me pain.
I wish I could just end it all. Say goodbye to this miserable existence.
Only, to leave this life would mean leaving him, and that’s not something I can do.
Once I made a promise to a boy that I plan on keeping. The years may have dragged us apart, and I know he hates me now, but that’s okay. I don’t blame him; I hate myself, too.
Regardless of the animosity, one thing remains the Tyler.
He’s the constant in a haze of self-destruction. The one who somehow, after everything, is still there for me, no matter how badly I mess up.
I don’t deserve him. I never did, but I’ll never let him go either.
He is mine, and I am his.
Some days I wish I’d never met Gregory Baldwin. Then there are days when I feel like I’ll die if he’s away for too long.
It’s like I’m addicted to him. Addicted to the attention he gives me and what he does to me in secret. He has lips made for sin and a body I can’t keep my hands off of, but mostly, I know he has a heart. That’s what keeps me coming back.
Now he’s cruel, malicious, possessive… nothing like the boy I once knew. And yet, deep down, I know that guy is still there under this bad boy exterior. He has to be, or everything we’ve been through is pointless.
Being with him feels like dying and surviving all at once. It’s wild, manic, and soul-crushing, but it’s us. He’s all I’ve ever had and the only thing I’ll ever want.
Because even when I hate him…
I love him ten times harder.
Greg-
I’m broken beyond repair, too fucked up to be saved. My mind fights demons daily, while the shattered organ in my chest only causes me pain.
I wish I could just end it all. Say goodbye to this miserable existence.
Only, to leave this life would mean leaving him, and that’s not something I can do.
Once I made a promise to a boy that I plan on keeping. The years may have dragged us apart, and I know he hates me now, but that’s okay. I don’t blame him; I hate myself, too.
Regardless of the animosity, one thing remains the Tyler.
He’s the constant in a haze of self-destruction. The one who somehow, after everything, is still there for me, no matter how badly I mess up.
I don’t deserve him. I never did, but I’ll never let him go either.
He is mine, and I am his.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2023
76 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
June 27, 2023
4.5 stars
I’m fine… That’s what I say. I’m fine. But I’m not.
The way the author describes depression is so accurate for me that I felt 100% seen. That is exactly how I feel and have felt. The descriptions of losing a parent also really hit home. Having lost my Dad in 2017, it never goes away.
Tyler. I smile when I think about his big blue eyes, sweet, pouty lips, and sassy attitude. He’s too good for me. Always has been and always will be. He’s everything I ever wanted, and in another life, maybe he’d truly be mine.
Tyler has always been drawn to “pretty things” as he says, but his dad won’t permit him to explore this side of himself. Tyler is punished any time he even thinks about things that are not stereotypically male. After being caught playing dress up with his friend Jenny, 9 yo Tyler is shipped off to Lionheart Academy, an all-boys school. Tyler is bullied right away by some older boys. Greg sees this happening and immediately puts a stop to it.
I can’t say when exactly I knew I had a thing for Tyler. It’s just always been there, lingering in the background.
Greg and Tyler strike up a friendship. Even Greg’s mom takes an interest in Tyler, which Tyler really appreciates as his own parents basically ignore his existence. So, when Greg’s mom unexpectedly and tragically dies in a car accident when the boys are 15 they are both heartbroken.
Tyler immediately goes to comfort and support Greg. Greg's so happy he came, but then inexplicably decides to shut him out, out of fear of losing the only other person he really cares for. You can imagine how well this goes over.
In my head, we’re over and have been for a long time, but in my barely existing heart, he still feels like mine and I think it’ll always be that way.
Three years go by and now it’s their senior year of school. Tyler and Greg don’t communicate. Tyler chooses to just focus on his art and graduating.
I try so hard to appear unaffected by him, but that couldn't be further from the truth. He fucks me up, rips me open, and tears me apart. One look at his face and I’m drowning in a hundred memories, dozens of conversations, and tons of touches. It’s all there, burning away in my mind, tucked away in a box that I refuse to open.
Greg and Tyler end up stuck in a class together as partners, which stirs things up between them. These two have always felt a pull to one another, and even after all the years and animosity between them, it’s still there. They can’t fight their attraction to one another.
“I want you so badly, I can’t stand it.” I take hold of his hips, rocking up as I help him move on top of me. “Nothing has ever felt as good as you.”
The sneaking around in this is phenomenal. Tyler and Greg are on fire when they come together.
Once he’s done, I bring my fist to my mouth, licking the cum there, and my body shudders. The taste of him is enough to set me off and with one last pump, I come, pushing in as hard as I can, like I’m trying to mark him on the inside too.
These two go from friends to enemies to lovers. It’s heart wrenching and frustrating, but they really earn their HEA.
“I want more than just your body. Why can't you see that? I want your heart, your brain... All those fucked-up things swimming inside your head. Unleash them. Let me carry your burdens for a while.”
*** I received an ARC of this book from the author via Chaotic Creatives and this is my honest opinion. ***
I’m fine… That’s what I say. I’m fine. But I’m not.
The way the author describes depression is so accurate for me that I felt 100% seen. That is exactly how I feel and have felt. The descriptions of losing a parent also really hit home. Having lost my Dad in 2017, it never goes away.
Tyler. I smile when I think about his big blue eyes, sweet, pouty lips, and sassy attitude. He’s too good for me. Always has been and always will be. He’s everything I ever wanted, and in another life, maybe he’d truly be mine.
Tyler has always been drawn to “pretty things” as he says, but his dad won’t permit him to explore this side of himself. Tyler is punished any time he even thinks about things that are not stereotypically male. After being caught playing dress up with his friend Jenny, 9 yo Tyler is shipped off to Lionheart Academy, an all-boys school. Tyler is bullied right away by some older boys. Greg sees this happening and immediately puts a stop to it.
I can’t say when exactly I knew I had a thing for Tyler. It’s just always been there, lingering in the background.
Greg and Tyler strike up a friendship. Even Greg’s mom takes an interest in Tyler, which Tyler really appreciates as his own parents basically ignore his existence. So, when Greg’s mom unexpectedly and tragically dies in a car accident when the boys are 15 they are both heartbroken.
Tyler immediately goes to comfort and support Greg. Greg's so happy he came, but then inexplicably decides to shut him out, out of fear of losing the only other person he really cares for. You can imagine how well this goes over.
In my head, we’re over and have been for a long time, but in my barely existing heart, he still feels like mine and I think it’ll always be that way.
Three years go by and now it’s their senior year of school. Tyler and Greg don’t communicate. Tyler chooses to just focus on his art and graduating.
I try so hard to appear unaffected by him, but that couldn't be further from the truth. He fucks me up, rips me open, and tears me apart. One look at his face and I’m drowning in a hundred memories, dozens of conversations, and tons of touches. It’s all there, burning away in my mind, tucked away in a box that I refuse to open.
Greg and Tyler end up stuck in a class together as partners, which stirs things up between them. These two have always felt a pull to one another, and even after all the years and animosity between them, it’s still there. They can’t fight their attraction to one another.
“I want you so badly, I can’t stand it.” I take hold of his hips, rocking up as I help him move on top of me. “Nothing has ever felt as good as you.”
The sneaking around in this is phenomenal. Tyler and Greg are on fire when they come together.
Once he’s done, I bring my fist to my mouth, licking the cum there, and my body shudders. The taste of him is enough to set me off and with one last pump, I come, pushing in as hard as I can, like I’m trying to mark him on the inside too.
These two go from friends to enemies to lovers. It’s heart wrenching and frustrating, but they really earn their HEA.
“I want more than just your body. Why can't you see that? I want your heart, your brain... All those fucked-up things swimming inside your head. Unleash them. Let me carry your burdens for a while.”
*** I received an ARC of this book from the author via Chaotic Creatives and this is my honest opinion. ***
September 30, 2023
I really enjoyed this but two things really bugged me.
First off, there's so much content we've already seen from the previous two books (happened with the second book too). I didn't feel like seeing it from a fifth and sixth perspective gave any further insight, and I'd rather have seen more focus on their present day relationship. I did cry a few times, but for me the pacing was off and not enough page time was given to Tyler and Greg's rekindled relationship
There was so much detail for their early relationship, but from the point Greg's mum died it started to get gappy and vague, and the content from book one kind of took over. If the level of detail had kept up, and their present relationship was more than just sex and then the fallout of Greg's actions I could have easily rated higher.
The other thing that bugged me was the ending. When I saw there was only 30mins left of reading I was genuinely confused because I couldn't see how the story would be resolved without really rushing it. There are big time jumps, and everything I wanted to see actually happened off page and we were just told.
I wanted to see Greg accept he needed professional help. I wanted to see them actually in their relationship now that everyone knows. I wanted to see Tyler present his painting! It's been talked about for three books and then it was just cast aside.
I'd still say it was my favourite of the three books, but it just felt like too much was missing for me to give 5 stars.
First off, there's so much content we've already seen from the previous two books (happened with the second book too). I didn't feel like seeing it from a fifth and sixth perspective gave any further insight, and I'd rather have seen more focus on their present day relationship. I did cry a few times, but for me the pacing was off and not enough page time was given to Tyler and Greg's rekindled relationship
There was so much detail for their early relationship, but from the point Greg's mum died it started to get gappy and vague, and the content from book one kind of took over. If the level of detail had kept up, and their present relationship was more than just sex and then the fallout of Greg's actions I could have easily rated higher.
The other thing that bugged me was the ending. When I saw there was only 30mins left of reading I was genuinely confused because I couldn't see how the story would be resolved without really rushing it. There are big time jumps, and everything I wanted to see actually happened off page and we were just told.
I wanted to see Greg accept he needed professional help. I wanted to see them actually in their relationship now that everyone knows. I wanted to see Tyler present his painting! It's been talked about for three books and then it was just cast aside.
I'd still say it was my favourite of the three books, but it just felt like too much was missing for me to give 5 stars.
June 22, 2023
"You’re safe, you’re loved, and everything is okay. And for the first time in a long time, I believe that."
Regretting You by T. Ashleigh is the third book in the author's Lionheart Academy series, focusing on Tyler and Greg and it's the one we've been waiting for since the boys were first introduced in Betting You (recall, Greg is Ryan's stepbrother and Hudson's best friend).
Set in the Lionheart Academy boys' school, this follows the best friends-to first loves-to enemies-to lovers story of our precious cinnamon roll Tyler and broken, grief-stricken bad boy (but not really) Greg.
This is waaay angstier than the two previous instalments, so you may want to check the author's TWs, as it touches on some tough topics. Be prepared with the tissues!
The chemistry between these two boys also happens to be smoking hot, even when they are hating on each other they can't keep their hands to themselves!
It does have a HEA (thank goodness) but it takes its own sweet time getting there, so settle in for the ride!
4 sweet, spicy, angsty stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Regretting You by T. Ashleigh is the third book in the author's Lionheart Academy series, focusing on Tyler and Greg and it's the one we've been waiting for since the boys were first introduced in Betting You (recall, Greg is Ryan's stepbrother and Hudson's best friend).
Set in the Lionheart Academy boys' school, this follows the best friends-to first loves-to enemies-to lovers story of our precious cinnamon roll Tyler and broken, grief-stricken bad boy (but not really) Greg.
This is waaay angstier than the two previous instalments, so you may want to check the author's TWs, as it touches on some tough topics. Be prepared with the tissues!
The chemistry between these two boys also happens to be smoking hot, even when they are hating on each other they can't keep their hands to themselves!
It does have a HEA (thank goodness) but it takes its own sweet time getting there, so settle in for the ride!
4 sweet, spicy, angsty stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 27, 2023
I'm glad goodreads came back online just in time for me to fit this review into today, as I finished this book today, around mid afternoon, and wasn't able to write my review for hours as goodreads was having technical difficulties.
Finally, we get Tyler and Greg's love story. Greg, who has been an antagonist for the past two books. Or mainly the first book, but I was still of the opinion...how is this book going to make me like Greg and feel for him and understand him?
Well, this book managed that. So well. I LOVED that it did flashbacks. Flashbacks to before Greg lost his mom, showing the good, kind hearted guy he was, that he still was underneath the pain and grief and anger we see from him throughout the previous two books.
We also get to see the developing friendship, turned into love, between Greg and Tyler from the time they were 9 years old.
That really helped me as the reader understand why Tyler would be fucking Greg after all he's said and done, and why it would be so difficult for Tyler to stay away from him, and why he can't help but love Greg still, even as he hates him.
Without those flashbacks? Oh boy would it be hard to sympathize at all with Greg. This was a time where they were very much needed, to show us that foundation that these two had. To show us why they can't keep their hands off each other.
Without the flashbacks? We wouldn't be able to understand who Greg used to be, how he came to the conclusion to push Tyler away, why he's so angry all the time and so nasty to everyone like 90% of the time.
His mom's death hit him hard. Really hard. And a thing the flashbacks also did wonderfully, was show us just how great his mom was, how kind and generous and loving she was. Honestly, if Greg had lost his father? He might have been sad at first, but gotten past whatever initial grief and shock he might have, and go on. Because we see that, even before he loses his mom, that he and his father aren't particularly close, and his father is an absentee father, which gets worse after they lose Greg's mom.
But his mom was really almost like a single parent to him. The only parent who truly cared and loved him completely. Taking that away damages Greg seemingly beyond repair.
He is seriously depressed in present time. He drinks to numb himself, even though he hates the taste and hates the hangovers, because the pain and grief isn't going away, even 3 years later. It isn't getting better for him.
He's angry so much of the time, too, almost irrationally so. So much is just a hair trigger for him, and a lot of the time he doesn't even know why he's so angry, why he feels the way he feels, he just is, and he doesn't do anything to address the emotions, he just feels them and lets them control him, instead of him controlling them.
He itches for fights, he doesn't listen to his therapist - who, admittedly, doesn't seem a good fit anyway, and he gets a better one at the end - and puts on a mask to the world.
Greg truly is broken inside. A lot of the time, internally, he feels like he's close to having a mental breakdown, it's that bad.
Tyler...Tyler is his only real bright spot. Which he pushes away harshly and horribly right after his mom dies. Instead of holding on tighter to the one he loves, as he should, he's too young to really grasp what it all means and what's important, and he's a 15 year old with fresh, devastating grief.
Fast forward a little over 2 and half years later, at the start of their senior year, he and Tyler have avoided each other for years. Because the heartbreak Tyler has gone through because of Greg, being pushed away and treated horribly by him, Tyler isn't quite the sweet, adorable, innocent guy he once was.
He's still kind, he hasn't turned into Greg or anything, but he's heartbroken. And he genuinely loved Greg's mom as well, as he has horrible parents who treat him like shit and don't give a shit about him, and she treated him like a son as well. So there's that grief mixed in with the heartbreak, and he hates Greg now.
Or, on the surface he does. Of course, when you're hurt so deeply, you develop a thicker skin, you might develop some sass, some biting attitude. At least when directed at Greg.
When they end up having a class together senior year when they managed to avoid that the last two years, and they end up having to be lab partners for science class, the estranged former best friends/lovers reconnect.
Although, mainly in a physical way, as Greg tries to keep it. But they were in love at 15, and they're still in love underneath all the hatred, pain and anger between them.
Neither can stay away from each other after they give in after years of radio silence. But things eventually reach a boiling point, as everything happens with the bet from book one, and Greg really reaches rock bottom.
So I really, really wanted to round this up to 5 stars. I wanted to give it 4.5 stars so badly. Because for almost this whole book, I absolutely loved it. Couldn't put it down, was riveted to the page, I was loving Tyler and Greg together, even as Greg turned to his asshole phase, as that just made for some steamy love-hate sex and crackling sexual tension.
I loved all of it.
But...the ending needed to be better. It was so rushed. This isn't a story the can have a rushed ending. It was a detriment to what was a really great book, a great love story between Tyler and Greg - which, yes, was totally unhealthy when they were fucking all time and Greg was still in his...well, complete and utter asshole phase, but was so deliciously hot to read.
It was reaching 80, 85, 90 precent and we were only at around the event from book one when Ryan finds out about Hudson having a bet with Greg and all that.
This needed to be at least another few chapters. Maybe even longer, to be honest.
I wanted to see Greg's change from continually being in this self-destructive state, to truly wanting to get help and get better.
After the events from book one, Tyler ends it between them, seemingly for good, and we're just told weeks go by and then Greg is off almost drinking himself to death, he's saved by Tyler and the others, and then he and Tyler have a semi-talk...not a full on talk, but something. And he apologizes profusely and all that, but it wasn't enough fro me. I wanted more. And then Tyler just kinda...forgives him? So easily, after so definitively ending it when Greg just went too far, even for him.
And then the others find out about them, it's NBD, and then we get to go into our strong HFN in the epilogue and that's that.
I...needed so much more. I needed to see Greg really work for Tyler's forgiveness. I needed to see the moment he went "I can't do this anymore. I need to truly, honestly, get better. I WANT that" I needed that line of thought in his head, to see that, which we don't get. After his rock bottom, he just kinda...is there and ready to change, I guess.
I needed him and Tyler to really, truly talk things out. I needed more of a reaction from the friends, especially Ryan after what Greg did to him. I know they got to a better place as Greg apologized, but come on. It just such a non-event after they spend so many months in secret, and after all Greg said and did.
I wanted to see the first steps of Greg getting real, effective, professional help instead of some throw away lines about his new therapist and one exercise he was learning to do from her.
It was just way too rushed and I don't know why. After such a wonderfully done story up until that point, it almost felt like the author just wanted to be done with it at that point and rushed the ending to get it done quicker.
But this needed another...idk, 50 pages? At least. We needed a more detailed, fleshed out resolution to everything. Hell, we spent more time in book one on Hudson trying to get Ryan to forgive him - rightfully so, I loved that Ryan didn't immediately forgive him - than with Greg trying to get Tyler to forgive him - which is honestly nada, because Greg didn't have to do any work to gain his forgiveness, which annoyed me so much.
As much as I understood Greg so much better now, and got where he was coming from a lot of the time, what he was going through, all of that...it doesn't excuse his behavior one bit. People lose people they love all the time, and don't treat others like that. At least not after the initial period of grief and mourning.
But he did this for years. He hurt Tyler multiple times over a 3 year period. He needed to do more groveling. We needed to see the steady change in him back to who he was before. To see him getting back his happiness, his will to truly live, to get past his fears and anger and hang ups and be ready to start living again.
There was just so much that I needed at the end for this story to feel complete that we didn't get. Which really bums me out because 90% of this was SO GOOD and I was absolutely loving it.
Which is why I'm giving this 4 stars instead 4.5 or 5 stars. When, for a majority of this it was wonderful, amazing, riveting.
But it fumbled the end and that last 10% or so left me disappointed enough that it didn't feel right giving this 5 stars. Yeah, I loved that they got a happy ending, and got to a much better place, but we didn't get to see that transition into that better place, not really, not beyond some rushed explaining of it all.
So I, unfortunately, have to give this 4 stars, when without the ending, this might have just been my favorite of the series so far. Or at the very least, on par with the first one.
It has such a strong beginning, middle and beginning of the end....and then fizzled out with the end because it was so so rushed when it didn't need to be and I don't get why it was.
Also, added to the giving this 4 stars is there were some typos in this. More early on, but there were enough to be noticeable. Nothing too bad or too egregious, and it wasn't too many. But there was enough that I noticed, and it annoyed me a bit.
But, despite that rushed ending, the rest of this was so good that I have to recommend this for the first 90% of this alone. That is worth the read, and it'll suck to read the rushed ending, but I'm still so happy with the rest of this that I'm still glad I read this.
I was itching for their love story ever since Ryan had walked in on Tyler riding a guy with a pillow over the guy's face and we learned it was Greg. I was like "ooohhh so intriguing, how are they together when Greg is such an asshole?" and for the most part, this didn't disappoint and it delivered spectacularly.
I just wish the ending hadn't let me down ☹️ But what can you do? *sigh*
I wonder if we'll get more in this series or if these three were it? Will Joseph and Kenneth get their own stories, I wonder? Will we get a spin-off? Ah, well, guess we'll see.
Can't wait for the next work this author puts out, though. Her stories are certainly addictive! 🥰
My Ratings for the Lionheart Academy Series:
🔆 Betting You: 4.75 Stars (my review)
🔆 Omitting You: 4 Stars (my review)
🔆 Regretting You: 4 stars
Finally, we get Tyler and Greg's love story. Greg, who has been an antagonist for the past two books. Or mainly the first book, but I was still of the opinion...how is this book going to make me like Greg and feel for him and understand him?
Well, this book managed that. So well. I LOVED that it did flashbacks. Flashbacks to before Greg lost his mom, showing the good, kind hearted guy he was, that he still was underneath the pain and grief and anger we see from him throughout the previous two books.
We also get to see the developing friendship, turned into love, between Greg and Tyler from the time they were 9 years old.
That really helped me as the reader understand why Tyler would be fucking Greg after all he's said and done, and why it would be so difficult for Tyler to stay away from him, and why he can't help but love Greg still, even as he hates him.
Without those flashbacks? Oh boy would it be hard to sympathize at all with Greg. This was a time where they were very much needed, to show us that foundation that these two had. To show us why they can't keep their hands off each other.
Without the flashbacks? We wouldn't be able to understand who Greg used to be, how he came to the conclusion to push Tyler away, why he's so angry all the time and so nasty to everyone like 90% of the time.
His mom's death hit him hard. Really hard. And a thing the flashbacks also did wonderfully, was show us just how great his mom was, how kind and generous and loving she was. Honestly, if Greg had lost his father? He might have been sad at first, but gotten past whatever initial grief and shock he might have, and go on. Because we see that, even before he loses his mom, that he and his father aren't particularly close, and his father is an absentee father, which gets worse after they lose Greg's mom.
But his mom was really almost like a single parent to him. The only parent who truly cared and loved him completely. Taking that away damages Greg seemingly beyond repair.
He is seriously depressed in present time. He drinks to numb himself, even though he hates the taste and hates the hangovers, because the pain and grief isn't going away, even 3 years later. It isn't getting better for him.
He's angry so much of the time, too, almost irrationally so. So much is just a hair trigger for him, and a lot of the time he doesn't even know why he's so angry, why he feels the way he feels, he just is, and he doesn't do anything to address the emotions, he just feels them and lets them control him, instead of him controlling them.
He itches for fights, he doesn't listen to his therapist - who, admittedly, doesn't seem a good fit anyway, and he gets a better one at the end - and puts on a mask to the world.
Greg truly is broken inside. A lot of the time, internally, he feels like he's close to having a mental breakdown, it's that bad.
Tyler...Tyler is his only real bright spot. Which he pushes away harshly and horribly right after his mom dies. Instead of holding on tighter to the one he loves, as he should, he's too young to really grasp what it all means and what's important, and he's a 15 year old with fresh, devastating grief.
Fast forward a little over 2 and half years later, at the start of their senior year, he and Tyler have avoided each other for years. Because the heartbreak Tyler has gone through because of Greg, being pushed away and treated horribly by him, Tyler isn't quite the sweet, adorable, innocent guy he once was.
He's still kind, he hasn't turned into Greg or anything, but he's heartbroken. And he genuinely loved Greg's mom as well, as he has horrible parents who treat him like shit and don't give a shit about him, and she treated him like a son as well. So there's that grief mixed in with the heartbreak, and he hates Greg now.
Or, on the surface he does. Of course, when you're hurt so deeply, you develop a thicker skin, you might develop some sass, some biting attitude. At least when directed at Greg.
When they end up having a class together senior year when they managed to avoid that the last two years, and they end up having to be lab partners for science class, the estranged former best friends/lovers reconnect.
Although, mainly in a physical way, as Greg tries to keep it. But they were in love at 15, and they're still in love underneath all the hatred, pain and anger between them.
Neither can stay away from each other after they give in after years of radio silence. But things eventually reach a boiling point, as everything happens with the bet from book one, and Greg really reaches rock bottom.
So I really, really wanted to round this up to 5 stars. I wanted to give it 4.5 stars so badly. Because for almost this whole book, I absolutely loved it. Couldn't put it down, was riveted to the page, I was loving Tyler and Greg together, even as Greg turned to his asshole phase, as that just made for some steamy love-hate sex and crackling sexual tension.
I loved all of it.
But...the ending needed to be better. It was so rushed. This isn't a story the can have a rushed ending. It was a detriment to what was a really great book, a great love story between Tyler and Greg - which, yes, was totally unhealthy when they were fucking all time and Greg was still in his...well, complete and utter asshole phase, but was so deliciously hot to read.
It was reaching 80, 85, 90 precent and we were only at around the event from book one when Ryan finds out about Hudson having a bet with Greg and all that.
This needed to be at least another few chapters. Maybe even longer, to be honest.
I wanted to see Greg's change from continually being in this self-destructive state, to truly wanting to get help and get better.
After the events from book one, Tyler ends it between them, seemingly for good, and we're just told weeks go by and then Greg is off almost drinking himself to death, he's saved by Tyler and the others, and then he and Tyler have a semi-talk...not a full on talk, but something. And he apologizes profusely and all that, but it wasn't enough fro me. I wanted more. And then Tyler just kinda...forgives him? So easily, after so definitively ending it when Greg just went too far, even for him.
And then the others find out about them, it's NBD, and then we get to go into our strong HFN in the epilogue and that's that.
I...needed so much more. I needed to see Greg really work for Tyler's forgiveness. I needed to see the moment he went "I can't do this anymore. I need to truly, honestly, get better. I WANT that" I needed that line of thought in his head, to see that, which we don't get. After his rock bottom, he just kinda...is there and ready to change, I guess.
I needed him and Tyler to really, truly talk things out. I needed more of a reaction from the friends, especially Ryan after what Greg did to him. I know they got to a better place as Greg apologized, but come on. It just such a non-event after they spend so many months in secret, and after all Greg said and did.
I wanted to see the first steps of Greg getting real, effective, professional help instead of some throw away lines about his new therapist and one exercise he was learning to do from her.
It was just way too rushed and I don't know why. After such a wonderfully done story up until that point, it almost felt like the author just wanted to be done with it at that point and rushed the ending to get it done quicker.
But this needed another...idk, 50 pages? At least. We needed a more detailed, fleshed out resolution to everything. Hell, we spent more time in book one on Hudson trying to get Ryan to forgive him - rightfully so, I loved that Ryan didn't immediately forgive him - than with Greg trying to get Tyler to forgive him - which is honestly nada, because Greg didn't have to do any work to gain his forgiveness, which annoyed me so much.
As much as I understood Greg so much better now, and got where he was coming from a lot of the time, what he was going through, all of that...it doesn't excuse his behavior one bit. People lose people they love all the time, and don't treat others like that. At least not after the initial period of grief and mourning.
But he did this for years. He hurt Tyler multiple times over a 3 year period. He needed to do more groveling. We needed to see the steady change in him back to who he was before. To see him getting back his happiness, his will to truly live, to get past his fears and anger and hang ups and be ready to start living again.
There was just so much that I needed at the end for this story to feel complete that we didn't get. Which really bums me out because 90% of this was SO GOOD and I was absolutely loving it.
Which is why I'm giving this 4 stars instead 4.5 or 5 stars. When, for a majority of this it was wonderful, amazing, riveting.
But it fumbled the end and that last 10% or so left me disappointed enough that it didn't feel right giving this 5 stars. Yeah, I loved that they got a happy ending, and got to a much better place, but we didn't get to see that transition into that better place, not really, not beyond some rushed explaining of it all.
So I, unfortunately, have to give this 4 stars, when without the ending, this might have just been my favorite of the series so far. Or at the very least, on par with the first one.
It has such a strong beginning, middle and beginning of the end....and then fizzled out with the end because it was so so rushed when it didn't need to be and I don't get why it was.
Also, added to the giving this 4 stars is there were some typos in this. More early on, but there were enough to be noticeable. Nothing too bad or too egregious, and it wasn't too many. But there was enough that I noticed, and it annoyed me a bit.
But, despite that rushed ending, the rest of this was so good that I have to recommend this for the first 90% of this alone. That is worth the read, and it'll suck to read the rushed ending, but I'm still so happy with the rest of this that I'm still glad I read this.
I was itching for their love story ever since Ryan had walked in on Tyler riding a guy with a pillow over the guy's face and we learned it was Greg. I was like "ooohhh so intriguing, how are they together when Greg is such an asshole?" and for the most part, this didn't disappoint and it delivered spectacularly.
I just wish the ending hadn't let me down ☹️ But what can you do? *sigh*
I wonder if we'll get more in this series or if these three were it? Will Joseph and Kenneth get their own stories, I wonder? Will we get a spin-off? Ah, well, guess we'll see.
Can't wait for the next work this author puts out, though. Her stories are certainly addictive! 🥰
My Ratings for the Lionheart Academy Series:
🔆 Betting You: 4.75 Stars (my review)
🔆 Omitting You: 4 Stars (my review)
🔆 Regretting You: 4 stars
June 16, 2023
We got it! Tyler and Greg’s story is here!! I had a feeling during book 1 there was something going on with these two and it was confirmed in book 2. Greg wasn’t the nicest character from those two books but I really liked Tyler so I was excited to read this story. I would absolutely recommend reading books 1 and 2 first as I feel like you’ll get a better experience with all the side characters and some plot points.
This book starts off with a punch to the gut. I couldn’t believe how heartbreaking the first bit was. The story starts off when Tyler and Greg are young and it was so incredibly cute to read about their young selves. I absolutely love reading about feelings emerging when they have no idea what it means! But of course the sweet and cuteness doesn’t last long and then it’s full of heartache again but honestly what did we expect from Tyler and Greg!!
Seeing inside Greg’s mind and what he went through changed my opinion of him completely. It’s amazing how getting that insight can make so many things make sense. I loved him as a little kid and understand his actions as a teenager. Tyler was an awesome character and I completely get his frustration and actions when it comes to Greg.
They have explosive chemistry and their back and forth banter is amazing and so them! There were so many scenes that just rocked me and made me feel everything from happiness to absolute heartache. As someone who suffers from anxiety there was one scene that just blew me away with the use of a grounding exercise. The way it just built and built and culminated into a beautiful scene was amazing!
Of course we can’t have a Greg and Tyler story without some scenes with Hudson and Ryan’s drama from Betting You and I loved seeing the thought process behind it for both Greg and Tyler.
As much as their story is a hard one there is a lot of beauty and healing in it too! The last few chapters had me bouncing with joy for them. I absolutely recommend this entire series and can’t wait to read more from this author!
This book starts off with a punch to the gut. I couldn’t believe how heartbreaking the first bit was. The story starts off when Tyler and Greg are young and it was so incredibly cute to read about their young selves. I absolutely love reading about feelings emerging when they have no idea what it means! But of course the sweet and cuteness doesn’t last long and then it’s full of heartache again but honestly what did we expect from Tyler and Greg!!
Seeing inside Greg’s mind and what he went through changed my opinion of him completely. It’s amazing how getting that insight can make so many things make sense. I loved him as a little kid and understand his actions as a teenager. Tyler was an awesome character and I completely get his frustration and actions when it comes to Greg.
They have explosive chemistry and their back and forth banter is amazing and so them! There were so many scenes that just rocked me and made me feel everything from happiness to absolute heartache. As someone who suffers from anxiety there was one scene that just blew me away with the use of a grounding exercise. The way it just built and built and culminated into a beautiful scene was amazing!
Of course we can’t have a Greg and Tyler story without some scenes with Hudson and Ryan’s drama from Betting You and I loved seeing the thought process behind it for both Greg and Tyler.
As much as their story is a hard one there is a lot of beauty and healing in it too! The last few chapters had me bouncing with joy for them. I absolutely recommend this entire series and can’t wait to read more from this author!
June 18, 2023
Greg and Tyler…this has felt like a long wait for these boys since the first book and it was more intense than I thought it would be.
I felt everything for Greg in this, he was sweet, cute, protective, then I hated him, reminded if him in book 1 and despised him again, then just felt for the poor guy. What a complex route of emotions he brings a reader. I have to give Tyler credit for his patience and devotion as my head would be spinning.
I feel this book really brought the series together, these 2 have been lingering in the background and now they have had their time to shine, it was super special.
I felt everything for Greg in this, he was sweet, cute, protective, then I hated him, reminded if him in book 1 and despised him again, then just felt for the poor guy. What a complex route of emotions he brings a reader. I have to give Tyler credit for his patience and devotion as my head would be spinning.
I feel this book really brought the series together, these 2 have been lingering in the background and now they have had their time to shine, it was super special.
June 27, 2023
Greg!! Was he an arsehole in the other books, Yes he was!! Was he an arsehole in this book, Yes he was!!!
BUT…….depression is a bitch too and boy did he suffer.
I have been waiting for Greg’s redemption, and T delivered!! I love him and Tyler so much, I think they are my favourite boys now!
Greg and his mum 🥺 god they were a force to be reckoned with, between them they gave Tyler the life he wanted, the one he needed, the one that made him feel seen and the 3 of them together was magical to see. The healing powers people have and don’t realise it, the way just one kind thing can shape a person is special. But one bad thing can also change and shape a person, which is why Greg suffered so much. He went from a caring full of life boy, to a broken, angry, withdrawn young man and it affected everyone around him.
I connected with Greg on so many levels and my heart hurt so bad for him, even when he was being mean and hurtful, I felt his pain.
Tyler tried to best to stay away, then tried his best to help, then he gave up, but ultimately all his roads lead to Greg and I’m so glad they found right path together because they healed something inside each other.
I love all the boys together they make a great found family between them, and I highly recommend you start from book one and go read all of their story’s.
This book was everything!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content warnings in book read If you’re sensitive.
❤️MM Romance
🤍Angsty
❤️Enemies-to-Lovers
🤍Secret Relationship
❤️Hate Sex
🤍Academy
BUT…….depression is a bitch too and boy did he suffer.
I have been waiting for Greg’s redemption, and T delivered!! I love him and Tyler so much, I think they are my favourite boys now!
Greg and his mum 🥺 god they were a force to be reckoned with, between them they gave Tyler the life he wanted, the one he needed, the one that made him feel seen and the 3 of them together was magical to see. The healing powers people have and don’t realise it, the way just one kind thing can shape a person is special. But one bad thing can also change and shape a person, which is why Greg suffered so much. He went from a caring full of life boy, to a broken, angry, withdrawn young man and it affected everyone around him.
I connected with Greg on so many levels and my heart hurt so bad for him, even when he was being mean and hurtful, I felt his pain.
Tyler tried to best to stay away, then tried his best to help, then he gave up, but ultimately all his roads lead to Greg and I’m so glad they found right path together because they healed something inside each other.
I love all the boys together they make a great found family between them, and I highly recommend you start from book one and go read all of their story’s.
This book was everything!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Content warnings in book read If you’re sensitive.
❤️MM Romance
🤍Angsty
❤️Enemies-to-Lovers
🤍Secret Relationship
❤️Hate Sex
🤍Academy
December 10, 2023
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
Emotionally charged, heartbreaking second chance romance.
This one was a hard read for me.
Greg’s battle with grief and depression was tough to get through, and I almost quit a few times. Definitely take heed of the content warnings if you have triggers.
I stuck with it until the end only because I love a good enemies-with-benefits trope. Didn’t really live up to my expectations, but the romance was cute.
The annoying thing about this series is the repetition of the same underlying plot line across all three books, but with different POVs.
I found it redundant and ended up skimming most of the middle portion because of it.
Ultimately, I don’t think the heartache was worth it.
CW and tropes:
- boarding school
- Childhood friends
- Strict top/bottom
- Grief
- Death of parent
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol use
- Homophobia
- Suicidal thoughts
POV: 1st person, dual
Emotionally charged, heartbreaking second chance romance.
He’s everything I ever wanted, and in another life, maybe he’d truly be mine.
This one was a hard read for me.
Greg’s battle with grief and depression was tough to get through, and I almost quit a few times. Definitely take heed of the content warnings if you have triggers.
I stuck with it until the end only because I love a good enemies-with-benefits trope. Didn’t really live up to my expectations, but the romance was cute.
The annoying thing about this series is the repetition of the same underlying plot line across all three books, but with different POVs.
I found it redundant and ended up skimming most of the middle portion because of it.
Ultimately, I don’t think the heartache was worth it.
CW and tropes:
- boarding school
- Childhood friends
- Strict top/bottom
- Grief
- Death of parent
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol use
- Homophobia
- Suicidal thoughts
POV: 1st person, dual
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2023
I really loved these two guys. Greg and Tyler really stole my heart. These two deserve their HEA.
September 6, 2023
Tropes: friends to lovers, second chances, grief, hurt/comfort
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 4/5
Kinks: no
Angst: medium/high
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content themes: death of parent, grief, bad parents, homophobia, alcohol abuse, bullying, toxic behavior, depression, suicidal thoughts
Tyler and Greg met when they were 9 years old at boarding school. Tyler has s***** parents. His dad saw him playing dress up with a girl, liking pink, having long hair and got homophobic about it and sent him to the all boy boarding school so that he would hang out with guys and have a better male influence. But Tyler is who he is, he grows up to be himself, and he is gay, artistic, and likes pretty fabrics and things. Tyler's parents never visit though he does go home for summer breaks, he has a really lonely life outside of the friends he makes.
Greg was Tyler's first and closest friend. From age 9 to 15 they were inseparable. They loved each other mostly platonically. They pull at your heartstrings and were very sweet to each other. They were just starting to have sexual feelings for each other, or at least get ready to admit that. They kissed. Then Greg's mom who had been the only loving parent that either of them had, died. Tyler had been close to Greg's mom too. Greg's grief shattered him. They had sex in his grief, but then Greg pushed Tyler away. They stopped being friends for 3 years. Greg spiraled into bad behavior and abusing alcohol. Greg suffered from depression.
After 3 years one day something just kind of pushes Greg and he reaches out to Tyler and attacks him with his mouth. Lol. They start a month long relationship that's basically just sex. Possessive can't stay away from you sex, got to have you any chance we get. It's a good angsty and emotional development. It was really compelling to me up until the 80% mark when I realized they weren't going to have enough time to do the relationship justice in transitioning them from just angsty sex to an actual long-term relationship.
Things were just too easily resolved from that point on. I feel like Greg needed to do more groveling. Tyler suffered just as big of a loss as Greg and Greg never really appreciated that. Tyler had already really lost his parents, he lost Greg's mom, and he lost Greg. And it kind of felt like Greg's bad behavior just kind of tapered off like at one point he did something and he realized it was bad like right away and you didn't really understand why he was still doing it. At least they were showing him being in therapy. I think this book needed to be an extra 25% longer and show them knitting themselves together as a couple emotionally not just sexually and just as angsty of a way as we'd seen their relationship develop in the first 80% of the book. That would have made it feel a lot more natural and cohesive as a story. The book was still good, just disappointing at the end. It could have been really epic if the HEA had taking that extra 25% to get there.
Because I feel like some people want to know about om/ow drama... They broke up at 15. I don't think Tyler was with anyone after, I couldn't 100% tell. Greg messed around with others (BJ's) but told Tyler he was the only one he had full sex with.
Some notable moments:
"The bell rings and I watch as the new kid continues to write in his book, like he didn’t hear the loud bell. I stand from my desk, preparing to go to talk to him, but freeze when I see Kenneth get to him first. I won’t lie, I'm a bit disappointed, even though I don’t know why. The new kid looks sad. He looks sad every day, but there’s something different today. He looks like someone’s kicked his puppy. It makes me wonder what happened and what caused the frown to deepen on his face. I should talk to him soon, cheer him up maybe. I want to, but I don’t really know how. Not when he seems like he doesn’t want to be bothered."
"Then I think about someone else holding him, kissing him, touching him, and all it does is piss me off. In my head, we’re over and have been for a long time, but in my barely existing heart, he still feels like mine and I think it’ll always be that way."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 4/5
Kinks: no
Angst: medium/high
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content themes: death of parent, grief, bad parents, homophobia, alcohol abuse, bullying, toxic behavior, depression, suicidal thoughts
Tyler and Greg met when they were 9 years old at boarding school. Tyler has s***** parents. His dad saw him playing dress up with a girl, liking pink, having long hair and got homophobic about it and sent him to the all boy boarding school so that he would hang out with guys and have a better male influence. But Tyler is who he is, he grows up to be himself, and he is gay, artistic, and likes pretty fabrics and things. Tyler's parents never visit though he does go home for summer breaks, he has a really lonely life outside of the friends he makes.
Greg was Tyler's first and closest friend. From age 9 to 15 they were inseparable. They loved each other mostly platonically. They pull at your heartstrings and were very sweet to each other. They were just starting to have sexual feelings for each other, or at least get ready to admit that. They kissed. Then Greg's mom who had been the only loving parent that either of them had, died. Tyler had been close to Greg's mom too. Greg's grief shattered him. They had sex in his grief, but then Greg pushed Tyler away. They stopped being friends for 3 years. Greg spiraled into bad behavior and abusing alcohol. Greg suffered from depression.
After 3 years one day something just kind of pushes Greg and he reaches out to Tyler and attacks him with his mouth. Lol. They start a month long relationship that's basically just sex. Possessive can't stay away from you sex, got to have you any chance we get. It's a good angsty and emotional development. It was really compelling to me up until the 80% mark when I realized they weren't going to have enough time to do the relationship justice in transitioning them from just angsty sex to an actual long-term relationship.
Things were just too easily resolved from that point on. I feel like Greg needed to do more groveling. Tyler suffered just as big of a loss as Greg and Greg never really appreciated that. Tyler had already really lost his parents, he lost Greg's mom, and he lost Greg. And it kind of felt like Greg's bad behavior just kind of tapered off like at one point he did something and he realized it was bad like right away and you didn't really understand why he was still doing it. At least they were showing him being in therapy. I think this book needed to be an extra 25% longer and show them knitting themselves together as a couple emotionally not just sexually and just as angsty of a way as we'd seen their relationship develop in the first 80% of the book. That would have made it feel a lot more natural and cohesive as a story. The book was still good, just disappointing at the end. It could have been really epic if the HEA had taking that extra 25% to get there.
Because I feel like some people want to know about om/ow drama... They broke up at 15. I don't think Tyler was with anyone after, I couldn't 100% tell. Greg messed around with others (BJ's) but told Tyler he was the only one he had full sex with.
Some notable moments:
"The bell rings and I watch as the new kid continues to write in his book, like he didn’t hear the loud bell. I stand from my desk, preparing to go to talk to him, but freeze when I see Kenneth get to him first. I won’t lie, I'm a bit disappointed, even though I don’t know why. The new kid looks sad. He looks sad every day, but there’s something different today. He looks like someone’s kicked his puppy. It makes me wonder what happened and what caused the frown to deepen on his face. I should talk to him soon, cheer him up maybe. I want to, but I don’t really know how. Not when he seems like he doesn’t want to be bothered."
"Then I think about someone else holding him, kissing him, touching him, and all it does is piss me off. In my head, we’re over and have been for a long time, but in my barely existing heart, he still feels like mine and I think it’ll always be that way."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2023
Loved It!
What a touching and heartfelt story! After reading books 1 and 2, and getting glimpses of Greg an Tyler, I knew this story was going to be grittier and hurt a little more. It was such a beautiful and emotional story. I absolutely love the way all 3 books are written to happen in overlapping timelines, just from different perspectives. While this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the whole series to get all the perspectives. I went into this book not liking Greg, at all. From what we've learned about him up until now, he was just not a nice guy. But here we learn why. Here we learn what his life was like before and after a tragic event. Here we see how he is spiraling out of control. Here we see how he and Tyler met at 9 years old and how they fell in love. Here we see how Tyler is his person and can help him get through the pain. We start when they are 9 and go through their senior year at school when they are 18. Most of the story takes place in their senior year with them surrounded by their friends. This is a best friends to lovers to enemies and back again story. The push and pull was tough to read at times, but done just so well. So much emotion and so many feelings. Their story is heartbreaking and beautiful as they figure things out and break down and build themselves back up again. What a wonderful end to a fabulous series!
What a touching and heartfelt story! After reading books 1 and 2, and getting glimpses of Greg an Tyler, I knew this story was going to be grittier and hurt a little more. It was such a beautiful and emotional story. I absolutely love the way all 3 books are written to happen in overlapping timelines, just from different perspectives. While this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the whole series to get all the perspectives. I went into this book not liking Greg, at all. From what we've learned about him up until now, he was just not a nice guy. But here we learn why. Here we learn what his life was like before and after a tragic event. Here we see how he is spiraling out of control. Here we see how he and Tyler met at 9 years old and how they fell in love. Here we see how Tyler is his person and can help him get through the pain. We start when they are 9 and go through their senior year at school when they are 18. Most of the story takes place in their senior year with them surrounded by their friends. This is a best friends to lovers to enemies and back again story. The push and pull was tough to read at times, but done just so well. So much emotion and so many feelings. Their story is heartbreaking and beautiful as they figure things out and break down and build themselves back up again. What a wonderful end to a fabulous series!
March 16, 2024
So we finally get the last piece of the puzzle in this series. This one features Tyler and Greg, who, if memory serves, had an inexplicably antagonistic relationship in the first 2 books. We spend the first third of the book following them around as children. Tyler, the neglected boarding school kid and Greg, the popular boy with a doting mom. They move into adolescence, and then tragedy tears them apart. Greg, it turns out, is an asshole. I know his mom dies and that's really horrible, but using that as an excuse to be unforgivably cruel is not it. I spent the entire last 2/3 of the book absolutely hating him. Tyler was a sweet, sensitive person that I genuinely think deserves better. So although it was hot in places, the romance was not doing it for me. This book also rehashes a lot of the events in book 1 and 2, but I didn't mind because my memory is terrible. I didn't love this book, but it was pretty entertaining. In fact, this whole series would probably make a great Netflix teen drama.
June 26, 2023
Emotional Ride…
Tyler was sent to boarding school, which in a way was the best thing for him, but at the time it broke his little heart to think his parents didn’t want him. Because, he was just a kid who loved the color pink, loved to play dress up with his friend and liked when his hair was long. His dad was a pos and didn’t deserve to have a sweetheart of a son like Tyler.
Within a few weeks Tyler meets Greg, when he makes the bullies stop picking on him, he becomes Tyler’s hero in a lion cape. Greg instantly took a shine to the sad little boy and they became best friends. Greg even shared his mother with Tyler, who doted on him as if he were her own.
Several years go by and when the boys are 15 tragedy strikes. The loss breaks these two apart just as they were becoming more then friends.
Depression, anger, grief and so many more emotions between these guys. It broke my heart reading this book but I knew we would get through it and reach a happy place. It’s an emotional ride. Both boys are heartbroken and you don’t know who you want to hug first.
This does have some triggers so check those before reading. This also is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
I loved how T. Ashleigh was able to combine the timelines from the previous books. The timeline flowed perfectly together.
Tyler was sent to boarding school, which in a way was the best thing for him, but at the time it broke his little heart to think his parents didn’t want him. Because, he was just a kid who loved the color pink, loved to play dress up with his friend and liked when his hair was long. His dad was a pos and didn’t deserve to have a sweetheart of a son like Tyler.
Within a few weeks Tyler meets Greg, when he makes the bullies stop picking on him, he becomes Tyler’s hero in a lion cape. Greg instantly took a shine to the sad little boy and they became best friends. Greg even shared his mother with Tyler, who doted on him as if he were her own.
Several years go by and when the boys are 15 tragedy strikes. The loss breaks these two apart just as they were becoming more then friends.
Depression, anger, grief and so many more emotions between these guys. It broke my heart reading this book but I knew we would get through it and reach a happy place. It’s an emotional ride. Both boys are heartbroken and you don’t know who you want to hug first.
This does have some triggers so check those before reading. This also is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
I loved how T. Ashleigh was able to combine the timelines from the previous books. The timeline flowed perfectly together.
June 20, 2023
WOW!! Just WOW 🥵🥵😍😍
Absolutely amazing. I was waiting for their story since Hudson and Ryan book and it didn't disappoint. The waiting was totally worthy. Love Love Ty and G. Their chemistry, their banter, their bickering, everything about them.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for sure sure!!!
Absolutely amazing. I was waiting for their story since Hudson and Ryan book and it didn't disappoint. The waiting was totally worthy. Love Love Ty and G. Their chemistry, their banter, their bickering, everything about them.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for sure sure!!!
June 30, 2023
STARS: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
HEAT: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
*Childhood friends
*Second chance
*Opposites attract
*Mental health rep
*Hurt/comfort
I knew that Tyler and Greg’s story would be the most emotional and holy moly was it. I will start by saying the most amazing part of this story is how obvious it is that these two are soulmates. From the very beginning, their relationship is just one you know is meant to be.
This book does have a lot of back story. You get several chapters in the beginning which take place while these two are children. I was hesitant at first. I normally would prefer some present chapters in between the past ones but I will say when all was said and done, I think keeping it as one solid timeline really helped build the intense emotions that this book carries. It worked well.
Tyler is such a beautiful soul. He is unique and quiet, but feisty and smart. He had so much depth and definitely was not unharmed by his childhood.
Greg is a complex character. Anyone that has read this entire series will wonder how we are going to root for him because lets face it, he is kind of coming into this story as the marked “bad guy.” But my gosh is his story heartbreaking. And I absolutely LOVED that we got to see Greg growing up and how much kindness and love and joy he had. He was such an amazing kid and what happens to him after trauma really just rips your heart out. I can 100% tell you that I was totally rooting for him.
I do feel once this book caught up with the big crescendo of the first book, that the timeline felt rushed. I would have enjoyed seeing their growth and happiness a little longer. Especially when was such a rollercoaster to get there!
The characters and their relationship is what truly got me, though. These two have to deal with heavy realities that people their age, usually don’t see. The emotion really does pour from the pages. Yes, it was heartbreaking at times, but also incredibly beautiful. In the end, they found their way, and that’s all you really want!
HEAT: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
*Childhood friends
*Second chance
*Opposites attract
*Mental health rep
*Hurt/comfort
I knew that Tyler and Greg’s story would be the most emotional and holy moly was it. I will start by saying the most amazing part of this story is how obvious it is that these two are soulmates. From the very beginning, their relationship is just one you know is meant to be.
This book does have a lot of back story. You get several chapters in the beginning which take place while these two are children. I was hesitant at first. I normally would prefer some present chapters in between the past ones but I will say when all was said and done, I think keeping it as one solid timeline really helped build the intense emotions that this book carries. It worked well.
Tyler is such a beautiful soul. He is unique and quiet, but feisty and smart. He had so much depth and definitely was not unharmed by his childhood.
Greg is a complex character. Anyone that has read this entire series will wonder how we are going to root for him because lets face it, he is kind of coming into this story as the marked “bad guy.” But my gosh is his story heartbreaking. And I absolutely LOVED that we got to see Greg growing up and how much kindness and love and joy he had. He was such an amazing kid and what happens to him after trauma really just rips your heart out. I can 100% tell you that I was totally rooting for him.
I do feel once this book caught up with the big crescendo of the first book, that the timeline felt rushed. I would have enjoyed seeing their growth and happiness a little longer. Especially when was such a rollercoaster to get there!
The characters and their relationship is what truly got me, though. These two have to deal with heavy realities that people their age, usually don’t see. The emotion really does pour from the pages. Yes, it was heartbreaking at times, but also incredibly beautiful. In the end, they found their way, and that’s all you really want!
June 22, 2023
Broken
Not gonna lie I went in this thinking I'd hate Greg no matter what after the events of the last books and guess what yes he's a jerk but I can get in his head so can forgive.
Part 1 shows the beauty of their early years and how amazing Greg was before his depression. Than part 2 shows the side we've seen in previous installments and I ache for him to get help and prove he still can be that person not as whole but still good. Tyler proves over and over again what a true friend really is and glad he makes Greg earn his trust after so many mistakes.
Will say not all is forgiven but I understand depression makes a person irrational especially at 15 and proud to see the effort put in to make him a better person. That made his book truly beautiful it wasn't pushed away it was talked about and worked through as a long process not a quick fix. Beautiful read.
Not gonna lie I went in this thinking I'd hate Greg no matter what after the events of the last books and guess what yes he's a jerk but I can get in his head so can forgive.
Part 1 shows the beauty of their early years and how amazing Greg was before his depression. Than part 2 shows the side we've seen in previous installments and I ache for him to get help and prove he still can be that person not as whole but still good. Tyler proves over and over again what a true friend really is and glad he makes Greg earn his trust after so many mistakes.
Will say not all is forgiven but I understand depression makes a person irrational especially at 15 and proud to see the effort put in to make him a better person. That made his book truly beautiful it wasn't pushed away it was talked about and worked through as a long process not a quick fix. Beautiful read.
June 20, 2023
I’ve been not so patiently waiting on this book and I’m so glad I finally got my hands on it! I absolutely devoured this book, I picked it up and finished it in one sitting, I just couldn’t put it down. I’ve been looking forward to reading Greg and Tyler’s story since the first book in the series came out. It was so good! It had all the feels, it had me crying and had my heart hurting for both of these poor boys. I loved it! ❤️❤️
July 29, 2023
Tyler is a doormat. With all that Greg did to him / treated him, he didn't make him work for it at all.
Greg's friends and family basically ignore his alcohol dependency
Lack of resolution between Greg and his dad.
My least favourite of the series. I did not enjoy
Greg's friends and family basically ignore his alcohol dependency
Lack of resolution between Greg and his dad.
My least favourite of the series. I did not enjoy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2024
2.5⭐️
I didn’t realize that Greg made Hudson take the bet because he was jealous of how close Ryan and Tyler were.🤣 I loved seeing Tyler make Greg jealous, but I wished Tyler had made him grovel more-he gave in too easily.😑😑
Even though there was some parts that weren’t safe, I still read it, especially after Hudson’s book. I was curious about Greg. Seeing things from Greg’s pov and understanding his struggles, including suicidal thoughts, made it all make more sense. I just wish Greg had let Tyler support him instead of pushing him away and breaking his heart.
I wish the book was longer because their relationship felt mostly physical. I wanted to see more of their old connection and Greg truly making it up to Tyler. It also took Greg way too long to pull himself together and finally open up, and by then it was almost too late.
Overall, despite some of these issues, I mostly enjoyed the book and even cried a couple of times when i was reading about Greg’s struggles.
Safety Info:
- There’s no information on whether Tyler has been with anyone else besides Greg.
- Greg is a virgin, but he did fool around a bit (only receiving blow jobs, always with a condom) with a few people during the time he and Tyler weren’t talking, which I really didn’t like. There are also scenes where they make each other jealous just to get a reaction (nothing happens).
- Tyler also caught him getting a blow job in the library once… It would’ve been nice to know if Tyler was with anyone else because the double standard bothered me a lot.😤
- Honestly, I wish Greg hadn’t messed around after breaking Tyler’s heart. I understand that he was struggling after his mom died and was afraid of losing Tyler, but I hated how he handled it.😪
- Aside from that, it’s mostly safe with some exceptions since all of this happens before the story begins. Once the book starts, there’s no cheating, no scenes with others, and no OWD/OMD.
I didn’t realize that Greg made Hudson take the bet because he was jealous of how close Ryan and Tyler were.🤣 I loved seeing Tyler make Greg jealous, but I wished Tyler had made him grovel more-he gave in too easily.😑😑
Even though there was some parts that weren’t safe, I still read it, especially after Hudson’s book. I was curious about Greg. Seeing things from Greg’s pov and understanding his struggles, including suicidal thoughts, made it all make more sense. I just wish Greg had let Tyler support him instead of pushing him away and breaking his heart.
I wish the book was longer because their relationship felt mostly physical. I wanted to see more of their old connection and Greg truly making it up to Tyler. It also took Greg way too long to pull himself together and finally open up, and by then it was almost too late.
Overall, despite some of these issues, I mostly enjoyed the book and even cried a couple of times when i was reading about Greg’s struggles.
Safety Info:
- There’s no information on whether Tyler has been with anyone else besides Greg.
- Greg is a virgin, but he did fool around a bit (only receiving blow jobs, always with a condom) with a few people during the time he and Tyler weren’t talking, which I really didn’t like. There are also scenes where they make each other jealous just to get a reaction (nothing happens).
- Tyler also caught him getting a blow job in the library once… It would’ve been nice to know if Tyler was with anyone else because the double standard bothered me a lot.😤
- Honestly, I wish Greg hadn’t messed around after breaking Tyler’s heart. I understand that he was struggling after his mom died and was afraid of losing Tyler, but I hated how he handled it.😪
- Aside from that, it’s mostly safe with some exceptions since all of this happens before the story begins. Once the book starts, there’s no cheating, no scenes with others, and no OWD/OMD.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2023
❤️Review❤️
“This kiss is going to be the end of all things for me. I already know it, but I can’t find it in me to care.”
I love this series. The guys of Lionheart Academy have captured my heart. Regretting You, the final book in the Lionheart Academy series by T. Ashleigh, was the ending I needed. 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Highlights:
❤️friends to enemies to lovers
❤️boarding school
❤️opposites attract
❤️size difference
❤️passion
❤️sexual tension
❤️first times
❤️found family
Favorite quote(s):
“Oh, sweet Princess, the lies you tell with that pretty mouth.”
“He’s my first, in every way, and I’m his. The thought makes me proud and strangely territorial. Because no matter what happens down the road, we will always have this. I will always be his first, and there isn’t anyone who can take that away from me.”
CW: loss of a parent
Recommend reading this series in order! Greg and Tyler were perfect and I’ll definitely be rereading this one. ❤️
“This kiss is going to be the end of all things for me. I already know it, but I can’t find it in me to care.”
I love this series. The guys of Lionheart Academy have captured my heart. Regretting You, the final book in the Lionheart Academy series by T. Ashleigh, was the ending I needed. 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Highlights:
❤️friends to enemies to lovers
❤️boarding school
❤️opposites attract
❤️size difference
❤️passion
❤️sexual tension
❤️first times
❤️found family
Favorite quote(s):
“Oh, sweet Princess, the lies you tell with that pretty mouth.”
“He’s my first, in every way, and I’m his. The thought makes me proud and strangely territorial. Because no matter what happens down the road, we will always have this. I will always be his first, and there isn’t anyone who can take that away from me.”
CW: loss of a parent
Recommend reading this series in order! Greg and Tyler were perfect and I’ll definitely be rereading this one. ❤️
December 5, 2024
I don't get the point of making Tyler's father horrible, and you know the person who freaks out when his son wears pink and is not manly enough. And then not show any other interaction of them after the first chapter, and that was when he was 9 yo.
Yes it's shown that his parents are neglectful and are never there for him but atleast one talk where Tyler just tell his father who he is and how he feels but there's not an appearance even in the end.
Nothing big was talked about, I wanted to see Greg getting therapy, Tyler's paintings getting appreciation, them confronting or atleast talking to Tyler's dad.
Yes it's shown that his parents are neglectful and are never there for him but atleast one talk where Tyler just tell his father who he is and how he feels but there's not an appearance even in the end.
Nothing big was talked about, I wanted to see Greg getting therapy, Tyler's paintings getting appreciation, them confronting or atleast talking to Tyler's dad.
August 30, 2024
4 ⭐️ This was my favorite book from the Lionsheart-series. I loved the first part of where we got to see how Taylor and Greg become friends. The book was heartbreaking and there were so many times I wanted Taylor to just move on, he was too good for Greg, and Greg was awful to him.. But I guess it made sense with the story, so I was able to look past it (for the most part). Overall I had a fun time with the stories at the Lionsheart academy, and looking forward to read more MM-stories by T. Ashleigh!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2023
I really did enjoy this book, it was an excellent way to end the series. I loved how we saw the build-up of the friendship, the downfall, and the reconciliation. You will need to read the other books to fully understand some of the events mentioned. I think the writing could have been better at some points, I think there was a lot of information but it made for a good understanding of how the character's thoughts were. Something similar to the other books is that the ending will feel rushed. all the issues are solved and boom happy ending. Overall, happy with how these two got their second chance.
October 13, 2024
This was the last book in the series. It is not recommended that you read all of the books because it is considered a stand-alone. However, the world building and past events would be better understood if this is done. The events run parallel to the other books, just from these MCs POV. Make sure that you check your cw.
It is fitting that we end the story with the "villian" of this saga Greg and his love interest Tyler. We finally learn all about their relationship, and they have history .A painful one at that; brutally painful. Greg's life was wonderful until his mom passed away, and then it became a nightmare. He became unrecognizable. And we now know who he was and how he became the Greg from Book 1. There would be no Greg without Tyler and no Tyler without Greg. We finally learn who Tyler is besides an amazing painter and friend. We learned about them from other charqcters. Their behavior. What hobbies they loved to do. There was speculation about them together. By the time this book was released, their story seemed to be already written, but it wasn't. This was the book I was waiting for. I wasn't disappointed. I was surprised at all the surprises and events that happened. I loved it. I recommend this whole series, if nothing else, to get to this final book. The angst. The pain. What they go through will affect you. I want future stories with them.
It is fitting that we end the story with the "villian" of this saga Greg and his love interest Tyler. We finally learn all about their relationship, and they have history .A painful one at that; brutally painful. Greg's life was wonderful until his mom passed away, and then it became a nightmare. He became unrecognizable. And we now know who he was and how he became the Greg from Book 1. There would be no Greg without Tyler and no Tyler without Greg. We finally learn who Tyler is besides an amazing painter and friend. We learned about them from other charqcters. Their behavior. What hobbies they loved to do. There was speculation about them together. By the time this book was released, their story seemed to be already written, but it wasn't. This was the book I was waiting for. I wasn't disappointed. I was surprised at all the surprises and events that happened. I loved it. I recommend this whole series, if nothing else, to get to this final book. The angst. The pain. What they go through will affect you. I want future stories with them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2023
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. This is the 3rd book in the Lionheart Academy series. Each of these MM books can be read as a standalone. However, I recommend reading the books in order as they are all connected.
Tyler is an artist and can't wait to get through his final year at Lionheart Academy. Just when he thinks he has successfully avoided Greg for all of high school, he comes crashing back into his life.
Greg is the popular soccer player, but his demons run deep. After losing his mom in a sudden accident, his whole world changed. He doesn't ever want to feel that pain again. This is why he pushed Tyler away all those years ago, but is he strong enough to do it again.
I loved Tyler and Greg's story. This series is amazing. Can't wait for more from this author.
Tyler is an artist and can't wait to get through his final year at Lionheart Academy. Just when he thinks he has successfully avoided Greg for all of high school, he comes crashing back into his life.
Greg is the popular soccer player, but his demons run deep. After losing his mom in a sudden accident, his whole world changed. He doesn't ever want to feel that pain again. This is why he pushed Tyler away all those years ago, but is he strong enough to do it again.
I loved Tyler and Greg's story. This series is amazing. Can't wait for more from this author.
July 1, 2023
This book
I felt soon seen, and it hurt at times😅
It was amazing and i didn't want it to end, like I always do with Ashleigh's books
I eat everything she puts out, and then they become one of my comfort reads and this one will be no different 🫶
Read Read Read ittt
I felt soon seen, and it hurt at times😅
It was amazing and i didn't want it to end, like I always do with Ashleigh's books
I eat everything she puts out, and then they become one of my comfort reads and this one will be no different 🫶
Read Read Read ittt
June 18, 2023
This whole series ugh. It will punch you right in the feels and have you crying sad & happy tears. The epilogue ❤️❤️
nope-nope-nope
June 24, 2023Note to self:
July 7, 2023
Summary: Greg and Tyler formed a friendship when Tyler started at Lionheart Junior Academy when he was nine-years-old and Greg came to his rescue as he was being bullied in the bathrooms. Their friendship was special to each of them, and they didn’t share it with their other friends. Greg, who was close to his mom, shared his mom with Tyler, too—inviting him some of the day trips his mom would take him on. By the time they were in high school, they were realizing that what they felt for each other was more than friendship. But when Greg’s mother dies in a car accident, he retreats into anger, grief, fear, and depression—breaking off his friendship with Tyler—afraid of what losing Tyler, too, would do to him. They’ve managed to avoid each other for two and half years, but now, in senior year they are stuck being lab partners, and feelings they’ve been denying can’t be held back anymore.
“On the very last thing I need. Taste. I step forward, cupping his face with my hands and slant my lips over his. He groans into my mouth, hands coming up to fist my shirt. Flicking my tongue out, I chase his flavor and he opens up for me easily. Sweet. Tyler. Home.”
4.5 Stars
Review: It’s so good to finally get this story. I love that this book plays out concurrently with Betting You and Omitting You. It’s fascinating to get Greg and Tyler’s perspective on everything. I had kind of hated Greg through most of Betting You, which I’m sure was the intention—until the end when he starts to redeem himself. But it’s really interesting to see Greg as a young boy—how sweet, kind, and generous he was—when our introduction to him was as this very angry, irrational, vindictive young man. But seeing how close he was with his mom helps to explain his deep grief and depression, and the unhealthy ways he was dealing with it. It also made me enjoy Betting You more. I loved Ryan and Hudson and their relationship, but the bet part didn’t really make sense to me—obviously it was supposed to be irrational, but I until reading Regretting You, I didn’t see how Greg could see it as even a little just. So getting his perspective, his thought process, helped with that.
I love how Tyler doesn’t take any crap from Greg. He may not be able to stay away from him—but he doesn't ever let Greg get away with intimidating or bullying him. He can give as good as he gets.
I have to say, the playlist for this book is perfect! It’s as if every song was written specifically for this story. Kudos to Ashleigh for that!
“On the very last thing I need. Taste. I step forward, cupping his face with my hands and slant my lips over his. He groans into my mouth, hands coming up to fist my shirt. Flicking my tongue out, I chase his flavor and he opens up for me easily. Sweet. Tyler. Home.”
4.5 Stars
Review: It’s so good to finally get this story. I love that this book plays out concurrently with Betting You and Omitting You. It’s fascinating to get Greg and Tyler’s perspective on everything. I had kind of hated Greg through most of Betting You, which I’m sure was the intention—until the end when he starts to redeem himself. But it’s really interesting to see Greg as a young boy—how sweet, kind, and generous he was—when our introduction to him was as this very angry, irrational, vindictive young man. But seeing how close he was with his mom helps to explain his deep grief and depression, and the unhealthy ways he was dealing with it. It also made me enjoy Betting You more. I loved Ryan and Hudson and their relationship, but the bet part didn’t really make sense to me—obviously it was supposed to be irrational, but I until reading Regretting You, I didn’t see how Greg could see it as even a little just. So getting his perspective, his thought process, helped with that.
I love how Tyler doesn’t take any crap from Greg. He may not be able to stay away from him—but he doesn't ever let Greg get away with intimidating or bullying him. He can give as good as he gets.
I have to say, the playlist for this book is perfect! It’s as if every song was written specifically for this story. Kudos to Ashleigh for that!
November 26, 2024
I LOVE TYLER AND GREG SOO FUCKEN MUCH
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews