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Gregory Brothers #1
Sanity Siphoned
It starts as a cliché neither party wants to be involved in. Michael’s favorite pass time is torturing Julienne, when their mothers become friends Julienne doesn't cope well having him close. He decides to use a new tactic to get under her skin and finds an attraction he never deemed possible. One night changes all of this and sets them on a course no one saw coming
ebook
First published March 3, 2013
1 person is currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Isabelle Arocho
19 books19 followersFrom Isabelle Arocho herself...
Hello everyone, as a self published author I like to talk to you from my heart in my own words so here we go, here's my story:
I used to avoid everything pertaining to reading and writing in school because it was never my strong suit. But then something happened when I was fourteen years old and I found I had a deep passion for telling stories. As far back as I can remember I would always create stories in my head and call them my made up movies. These are the movies I make into books today.
I shied away from telling anyone about my passion for telling stories and kept it to myself for a long time. I learned from reading book after book how to write a proper novel and found the confidence to share my work first on online communities and now with the world.
In 2012 I have decided to take the leap into self publishing, I write and edit all my work myself, no excuses but if you see any mistakes I apologize.
A little bit more about me…
My name is Isabelle Arocho of Hispanic descent. I grew up in Perth Amboy NJ and now live somewhere in the sticks of FL. I am a woman, sister, daughter, I have a passion for rock music, tons of TV shows, and of course reading when I’m not trying to create my own masterpiece.
I write all types of genres including mystery, fantasy, suspense, romance, paranormal, and cop procedurals. I'm always striving to get better and I hope you enjoy my work and stick with me on this journey. I have hundreds of characters in my head always in a scene crawling to get free onto paper and I'm grateful for writing because without it I'd just be a crazy nut who talks to herself.
I have a few books out now in both Ebook and paperback format. I’m working on several different of ideas to be released soon in all those genres I mentioned above. Visit my personal website, isabellearocho.com, for more information.
PS: Don't forget to review and let me know what you thought about the book you read. I love hearing from you and it helps to know what you think.
Hello everyone, as a self published author I like to talk to you from my heart in my own words so here we go, here's my story:
I used to avoid everything pertaining to reading and writing in school because it was never my strong suit. But then something happened when I was fourteen years old and I found I had a deep passion for telling stories. As far back as I can remember I would always create stories in my head and call them my made up movies. These are the movies I make into books today.
I shied away from telling anyone about my passion for telling stories and kept it to myself for a long time. I learned from reading book after book how to write a proper novel and found the confidence to share my work first on online communities and now with the world.
In 2012 I have decided to take the leap into self publishing, I write and edit all my work myself, no excuses but if you see any mistakes I apologize.
A little bit more about me…
My name is Isabelle Arocho of Hispanic descent. I grew up in Perth Amboy NJ and now live somewhere in the sticks of FL. I am a woman, sister, daughter, I have a passion for rock music, tons of TV shows, and of course reading when I’m not trying to create my own masterpiece.
I write all types of genres including mystery, fantasy, suspense, romance, paranormal, and cop procedurals. I'm always striving to get better and I hope you enjoy my work and stick with me on this journey. I have hundreds of characters in my head always in a scene crawling to get free onto paper and I'm grateful for writing because without it I'd just be a crazy nut who talks to herself.
I have a few books out now in both Ebook and paperback format. I’m working on several different of ideas to be released soon in all those genres I mentioned above. Visit my personal website, isabellearocho.com, for more information.
PS: Don't forget to review and let me know what you thought about the book you read. I love hearing from you and it helps to know what you think.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 30, 2020
If this had been written from the perspective of a cautionary tale how bullying and bully romances are so devastating emotionally and physically I would have rated 3 to 4 stars. It's the story of a guilt ridden teenager trying to overcome a family tragedy. At school she endures emotional, verbal and even out and out physical abuse/bullying. Not sure why she ended up on the victim end of the spectrum, but she's there.
Meanwhile her mother has a friendship with the mother of the boy who is both abuser and lover. They have sex secretly, and he warns her no one can ever find out for a variety of reasons. After one of the mean girls beats her up where he does nothing, he even tells her it's for her own good because imagine how bad the beat down would be if the girl knew he liked our little victim. Her only friend is a outgoing, on the verge of flamboyance, gay male friend. Glad the author stuck that little cliche in.
Eventually she tries to commit suicide and is sent to a mental facility. She comes back to the same high school, to face the same group of teenagers, but she's strong now. What was her mother thinking? The mean girl verbally attacks her and humiliates her about her suicide attempt. I would love to say that it's unrealistic, but if you read the news you know it's not. The Megan Meier story is proof that some people are the lowest of bottom dwellers.
This time our young hero stands up for her and does a dramatic confession of love at the school cafeteria. A grand gesture like in Grease, Say Anything, or An Officer and a Gentleman, etc .
True love ensues now that he has claimed his love despite his past of taunting her, emotionally abusing her, humiliating her, ignoring her, and allowing her to twist in the wind when a pack of high schoolers attack her. It was all just a cover to protect himself from his own feelings.
As I said before, if this had been written as a Young Adult from the perspective of surviving abuse and bullying it would have been on target. As a romance it's pathetic.
This has been said so many times before, but if this is what young women and girls think of as romance that is a dangerous thing.
Why did I read this? This was recommended on Facebook as an unusual romance. Not what I was expecting and unusual is not the word.
Meanwhile her mother has a friendship with the mother of the boy who is both abuser and lover. They have sex secretly, and he warns her no one can ever find out for a variety of reasons. After one of the mean girls beats her up where he does nothing, he even tells her it's for her own good because imagine how bad the beat down would be if the girl knew he liked our little victim. Her only friend is a outgoing, on the verge of flamboyance, gay male friend. Glad the author stuck that little cliche in.
Eventually she tries to commit suicide and is sent to a mental facility. She comes back to the same high school, to face the same group of teenagers, but she's strong now. What was her mother thinking? The mean girl verbally attacks her and humiliates her about her suicide attempt. I would love to say that it's unrealistic, but if you read the news you know it's not. The Megan Meier story is proof that some people are the lowest of bottom dwellers.
This time our young hero stands up for her and does a dramatic confession of love at the school cafeteria. A grand gesture like in Grease, Say Anything, or An Officer and a Gentleman, etc .
True love ensues now that he has claimed his love despite his past of taunting her, emotionally abusing her, humiliating her, ignoring her, and allowing her to twist in the wind when a pack of high schoolers attack her. It was all just a cover to protect himself from his own feelings.
As I said before, if this had been written as a Young Adult from the perspective of surviving abuse and bullying it would have been on target. As a romance it's pathetic.
This has been said so many times before, but if this is what young women and girls think of as romance that is a dangerous thing.
Why did I read this? This was recommended on Facebook as an unusual romance. Not what I was expecting and unusual is not the word.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2015
All I knew about this book when I downloaded it was that it dealt with bullying, depression, tragic occurrences, and a bully who falls for his victim.
Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The characters are in High School. Michael is a popular jock and part of the "in crowd". All the girls love him and all the guys want to be friends with him. Julienne is a very tormented girl who visibly tries to hide so she doesn't have to deal with the loss of her father and other relatives from a car accident in which she blames herself. She survives the car accident but wrestles with survivor's guilt, recuperation from sustained injuries, and her unworthiness as a human being. Michael's crowd is cruel to her. Michael torments her very cruelly just to see what she will do - he wants a reaction from her. He is admittedly a self-centered jerk.
As the story progresses, Michael becomes sexually attracted to Julienne and manipulates her into a sexual, hidden, no strings relationship. He doesn't care that she is fragile and vulnerable. He only cares about what he wants. There are some very tragic consequences.
I thought the characters were a little too mature for this to be set in high school. The two main characters acted older. This may have been better if it was set in college. But then, the set up of the parents as friends and creating situations in which Michael and Julienne are forced to interact in a polite way would not have worked. I am struggling with the rating. I am still thinking about this book. If a book makes me think or relate in anyway, is decently written, and I don't DNF - base rating is 3 stars. As I process this one more, I may rate higher by .5 or 1 star. Just need to think a little longer.
Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The characters are in High School. Michael is a popular jock and part of the "in crowd". All the girls love him and all the guys want to be friends with him. Julienne is a very tormented girl who visibly tries to hide so she doesn't have to deal with the loss of her father and other relatives from a car accident in which she blames herself. She survives the car accident but wrestles with survivor's guilt, recuperation from sustained injuries, and her unworthiness as a human being. Michael's crowd is cruel to her. Michael torments her very cruelly just to see what she will do - he wants a reaction from her. He is admittedly a self-centered jerk.
As the story progresses, Michael becomes sexually attracted to Julienne and manipulates her into a sexual, hidden, no strings relationship. He doesn't care that she is fragile and vulnerable. He only cares about what he wants. There are some very tragic consequences.
I thought the characters were a little too mature for this to be set in high school. The two main characters acted older. This may have been better if it was set in college. But then, the set up of the parents as friends and creating situations in which Michael and Julienne are forced to interact in a polite way would not have worked. I am struggling with the rating. I am still thinking about this book. If a book makes me think or relate in anyway, is decently written, and I don't DNF - base rating is 3 stars. As I process this one more, I may rate higher by .5 or 1 star. Just need to think a little longer.
April 6, 2013
It's a totally must read as you neither get bored or side tracked. You want the characters to have a happy ending but still are not sure there is going to be one. but the way the author orientates the whole plot around them makes you want to believe that there is still hope for everyone, even those who inflict antagonising remarks to others.
April 25, 2013
Just wasn't for me, got about 40% through and just couldn't read it anymore. The main character Julienne has been bullied for the last 2 years by Michael, that and on top of the trauma from her past she's verging on suicidal. The fact that she let him kiss her more than once annoyed me but the fact that she let him take her virginity so soon after he decided he was attracted to her I just couldn't respect her for that. The guy is an asshole in my opinion and I was not going to read the inevitable fall out.
I'm sure many people will like this type of story it just wasn't my cup of tea. Story aside at times it was difficult to tell who's point of view I was reading from, one minute it would be one of the main characters and the next sentence it might be the brother or one of the mothers. Too confusing.
I'm sure many people will like this type of story it just wasn't my cup of tea. Story aside at times it was difficult to tell who's point of view I was reading from, one minute it would be one of the main characters and the next sentence it might be the brother or one of the mothers. Too confusing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2013
I can't believe this was a free book. It was one of the best I've read in a really long time and I read about a book a day. There's good and bad in everybody and Michael Gregory is the perfect example of this. Good example of how good it can feel to let go of the past and forgive your enemy.
January 24, 2015
Sanırım bunun ile beraber bu yılın başında kapıldığım YA çılgınlığı bitireceğim:D
April 12, 2019
3.6
it was surprisingly so much better than i had expected and ahh i need a bestfriend like nick!! i was so sure at one point she would end up with nick and i kinda hoped it as well :/ it would've been really interesting if it had taken that route bc she was so easily herself with him, and she wasn't afraid to talk abt her issues with him, and he was there for her ALWAYS through thick and thin. I feel like this story would've been so much more amazing if they had explored nick's story as well and further exploded his relationship with julienne. I liked michael but then nick came into the picture and he was just eh towards the end
i do think that alot of other things could've been further exploded as well, alot of things felt very surface
one thing i really loved tho was how open and easily michael kept asking for love advice from his bro and mom, i thought that was really sweet.
it was surprisingly so much better than i had expected and ahh i need a bestfriend like nick!! i was so sure at one point she would end up with nick and i kinda hoped it as well :/ it would've been really interesting if it had taken that route bc she was so easily herself with him, and she wasn't afraid to talk abt her issues with him, and he was there for her ALWAYS through thick and thin. I feel like this story would've been so much more amazing if they had explored nick's story as well and further exploded his relationship with julienne. I liked michael but then nick came into the picture and he was just eh towards the end
i do think that alot of other things could've been further exploded as well, alot of things felt very surface
one thing i really loved tho was how open and easily michael kept asking for love advice from his bro and mom, i thought that was really sweet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2020
For some reason I didn’t expect to like this book, but I did. I’m going to ignore the editing errors, although there were A LOT. It drove me crazy and took me out of the story periodically. So many silly mistakes.
It’s a bully love story, and I suppose there’s always some level of unreality in those. This one seemed to address that aspect better than others I’ve read. The mental illness, however, seemed to be a bit glossed over and easily handled, and I do question that. But this is fiction, and I liked the stronger, healthy Julienne a lot. Michael seemed more human than most bullies so it made his transition to lover more believable. The fact the parents weren’t completely MIA was also a nice touch.
It’s a bully love story, and I suppose there’s always some level of unreality in those. This one seemed to address that aspect better than others I’ve read. The mental illness, however, seemed to be a bit glossed over and easily handled, and I do question that. But this is fiction, and I liked the stronger, healthy Julienne a lot. Michael seemed more human than most bullies so it made his transition to lover more believable. The fact the parents weren’t completely MIA was also a nice touch.
January 11, 2020
DNF at 30 %. Oh my god, this was just bad writing. It's told from 3rd person perspective, but it didn't work at all. I kept feeling like I'm reading a synopsis; I didn't feel like I'm present in time, but rather like I'm looking at the events through a foggy window or like I'm in a movie theatre. You get the gist. It was just weird. And the story itself is disappointing to say the least. There was maybe 5 % of bullying and then it just takes a 180, the guy has an epiphany and wants to date her. wat
August 1, 2018
I’ve read this book about 3-4 years ago and this reread was no different then the first time I’ve read it. My heart broke for Julienne and the situation she finds herself in. With self harm being an accident the first time it takes on a whole other meaning as feelings come into play that she really can’t handle. Great book with a hea for the characters.
August 2, 2018
Hmmm. What to write on this review..? I liked the idea of the book. Bully falling his victim.. but it was kind of fast and characters acted too mature from time to time. There were quite few grammar/spelling mistekes too.. the idea was interesting though.
March 24, 2017
The story line is great and the characters are decent... If you can overlook the many errors you will enjoy it... I found the easy mistakes to be a little frustrating as they should have been picked up in editing...
February 3, 2019
It was good
April 4, 2023
Good start
November 10, 2016
The writing was so terrible and the emotions of the characters were like robots speaking to each other very stupid shitty book I ever read
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews