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A Bully's Penance
Harrison O'Connor.
Hot. Sexy. Cocky. Arrogant. Nasty.
Bully.
At least, that's how I remembered him.
Once I was done with high school, I hightailed it out of Ashburton as fast as my legs could carry me.
Finally thriving and happy in San Francisco, my tormented flashbacks of Harrison O'Connor and his reign of terror on me were soon nothing more but muted memories.
Only one thing could willingly drag me back home - being Maid of Honor at my best friend's wedding.
But it quickly became apparent that while my memories of my hometown and Harrison were stuck on glue, everyone else around me had moved on. Including my best friend.
Soon, long-buried memories threaten to push their way to the surface.
Am I ready to confront my past? And why is Harrison suddenly playing nice?
A Bully's Penance is a standalone, second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance. There are descriptive scenes of past bullying by the MMC to the FMC. However, this is NOT a dark romance.
Hot. Sexy. Cocky. Arrogant. Nasty.
Bully.
At least, that's how I remembered him.
Once I was done with high school, I hightailed it out of Ashburton as fast as my legs could carry me.
Finally thriving and happy in San Francisco, my tormented flashbacks of Harrison O'Connor and his reign of terror on me were soon nothing more but muted memories.
Only one thing could willingly drag me back home - being Maid of Honor at my best friend's wedding.
But it quickly became apparent that while my memories of my hometown and Harrison were stuck on glue, everyone else around me had moved on. Including my best friend.
Soon, long-buried memories threaten to push their way to the surface.
Am I ready to confront my past? And why is Harrison suddenly playing nice?
A Bully's Penance is a standalone, second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance. There are descriptive scenes of past bullying by the MMC to the FMC. However, this is NOT a dark romance.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
August 24, 2025
1. Grace kept talking about what a great friend Amelia was, how she was her “ride or die”. Amelia was a TERRIBLE friend! She blindsided Grace with Harrison every time she turned around, expecting her to be in the wedding party with him, take part in all of their wedding festivities, go to the class reunion and even serve on the reunion committee with him. Amelia used begging, guilt and even fake tears to get her own way despite knowing how traumatized Grace had been by the bullying she had suffered at Harrison’s hands. It didn’t matter what her reasoning was; Amelia went along with Harrison’s plans knowing how much it would hurt Grace.
2. After YEARS of traumatic bullying, all Harrison had to do was give Grace a few words of apology and all was forgiven. A few pages later, they were dry humping in a public hallway.
3. The $ex scenes were so … cringe. “T!tties”? Ewww. 🤮🤮
4. Unfortunately, this book was all “telling” and very little “showing”. Almost all of it took place when Grace came back to town after a seven year absence and Harrison had already “changed” into a nice guy; we really only had one short chapter showing how Harrison bullied her. The author kept talking about how hurt and traumatized Grace was but we never really had the chance to SEE it so we couldn't FEEL it.
2. After YEARS of traumatic bullying, all Harrison had to do was give Grace a few words of apology and all was forgiven. A few pages later, they were dry humping in a public hallway.
3. The $ex scenes were so … cringe. “T!tties”? Ewww. 🤮🤮
4. Unfortunately, this book was all “telling” and very little “showing”. Almost all of it took place when Grace came back to town after a seven year absence and Harrison had already “changed” into a nice guy; we really only had one short chapter showing how Harrison bullied her. The author kept talking about how hurt and traumatized Grace was but we never really had the chance to SEE it so we couldn't FEEL it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
I must admit this author works for me. Her stories are angsty and with some awful heroes but they also have amazing heroines that are strong, smart and don’t pine for the losers that hurt them. This one also deals with some sensitive issues as bullying. The heroine has been bullied through her high school years by the hero and a gang of losers he was part of. Interesting how the author underlines the difference between the very smart and eventually successful heroine vs the dumb, mediocre and eventually average kids who used to bully her but turned out to be less successful in every field of their life than the heroine. The heroine is a smart, kind, and somehow nerdy girl who loved to read and to study and the bullies were far less smart and motivated than her, the hero and his buddies were only good at playing football, and the girls were only good at cheerleading, as the heroine herself points out years later, some of them really peaked in high school and those who changed and grew up were anyhow less successful than the heroine. This is subtle but very evident to a perceptive eye, and true in a very realistic way because many kids who are bullies are in the end people lacking in intelligence, motivation and qualities that would push them to be successful and happy people. The heroine has a very difficult time during those years but she has also the support of some good friends, both males and females that help her to go through the most difficult times. The hero was initially her childhood friend but in high school he joined the gang that bullied her for years, some jocks and some dumb oversexed cheerleaders who he also hooked up with, causing her a big disappointment. There’s no crush here, she never loved him and she never pined for him, but of course she felt betrayed because he was her former bff. During their last year of school he tries to befriend her but she’s wary and doesn’t trust him, and in the end she cuts him out of her life for good, despite him asking her to be his date at prom. When the heroine goes to college all her problems vanish because she finds herself in a place where all the people are smart and intelligent so she can finally have a nice life, friends, and dates. She has a very good love life, with a couple of serious relationships, and very good sex and in no time she thinks about the hero. I loved this because she’s not a martyr and she overcomes her previous trauma with a resilience that shows how much she’s strong and smart. Her life is good, she only has a bad distant memory of her time in high school. She even met the hero once when she was home on holiday and while he tries to apologize and asks her if she’s happy, she doesn’t want to have anything to do with him anymore and cuts him short. When the story starts, it’s seven or eight years after graduation ad she’s home for her bff wedding. She has to see the hero again because he is now friend with her bff fiancé. She’s not very happy but her friend tries to tell her that he’s changed and he’s definitely another person. Don’t worry she is not a pushover. He has to work hard for her to speak with him again in a friendly way. He has to work hard to try to make her see he’s different and to show her that he cares for her. Actually it’s him who was in love with her but didn’t think he was smart enough for her which imo is true, he had family issues so he went with the wrong group of people becoming a sad bully. The heroine is a beautiful, smart and successful woman and the hero was in love with her since high school, he tried to win her back during their last year and wanted to try again when the school was over, but as he saw her moving to college and slowly becoming the successful, happy, fulfilled and beautiful woman she is now he understood he would never stood a chance if he didn’t change completely. He also was depressed for some time. He became celibate for years and went to college, became a teacher and a better person, and when the heroine was back for her friend wedding he took his chance to be with her. So we have a besotted hero and a heroine who doesn’t care for him until late in the story which was really good for me. There’s of course an evil ow but the heroine is too self confident and too strong to even be bothered by her anymore, and there’s the truth behind the high school prom fiasco. I won’t tell more. In the end they are together and we feel that the hero will always be a hard working, besotted fool since he realizes that she’s much better than him in any way and that she would probably find plenty of better men if he only failed her a little. Honestly I wouldn’t have given him any chance to get near me at all, because ok, forgiveness is a good thing but I wouldn’t want in my life people that hurt me so much in the past even if I have forgiven them. I would make space for new, kinder and better people that never hurt me and with whom I have no such heavy past to remember. This is the reason for the three stars. Otherwise it would have been four. Celibacy: they weren’t celibate after meeting, both had other partners but they were never involved romantically so to me it’s ok, and he was celibate for years after the heroine left for college when he realized that if he wanted to prove that he loved her he had to behave consistently.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2024
1 star is still too much
Thank fuck i got this from a library and not from amazon.
I wanted to like it because the idea was actually really good.
But the execution?
Seriously, if the age of all the characters wasn't mentioned and i was to guess it, given the brazen stupidity and overwhelming immaturity i endured, i'd say 13 - 14 tops.
Definitely NOT mid 20s.
And I am too tired to point out every single thing that was bad here because in my opinion it was all dreadful:
- the clunky writing that reminded me of all the teenage girls on wattpad back in the day, with lots of telling but never showing
- the idiocy of all the characters, both the stupid hero and the awful, moronic heroine
-the best friend who was a weasel and not really a friend but whatevs
- the cliche bitchy cheerleader as the OW, naturally
- zero grovel because one "i'm sorry, my mommy left me so i was a prick to you' was enough for the heroine to forget the bullying and just hump the hero like a wild rabbit
-the sex scenes were so cringy, i almost died
Wanna some snippets?
Well, be my guest but this will be long so grab some popcorn and enjoy in horror:
Ok, this is when they left the restaurant
Now lets skip to when they got to his house. LMAO
I'm literally crying here lmfao XD
But let the cringe go on
And now we're coming to the scene when they are finally all fucked and it's time for intimate thoughts and caressing each other with sweet nothings:
AND THIS IS ME RIGHT AFTER THAT:
Thank fuck i got this from a library and not from amazon.
I wanted to like it because the idea was actually really good.
But the execution?
Seriously, if the age of all the characters wasn't mentioned and i was to guess it, given the brazen stupidity and overwhelming immaturity i endured, i'd say 13 - 14 tops.
Definitely NOT mid 20s.
And I am too tired to point out every single thing that was bad here because in my opinion it was all dreadful:
- the clunky writing that reminded me of all the teenage girls on wattpad back in the day, with lots of telling but never showing
- the idiocy of all the characters, both the stupid hero and the awful, moronic heroine
-the best friend who was a weasel and not really a friend but whatevs
- the cliche bitchy cheerleader as the OW, naturally
- zero grovel because one "i'm sorry, my mommy left me so i was a prick to you' was enough for the heroine to forget the bullying and just hump the hero like a wild rabbit
-the sex scenes were so cringy, i almost died
Wanna some snippets?
Well, be my guest but this will be long so grab some popcorn and enjoy in horror:
As the night wore on, glances lingered and touches turned into caresses. A foot may or may not have traveled the length of someone's ankle and calf. I did have my eye on an apple pie with ice cream for dessert, but after our bold foreplay, I was eager for the food portion of our date to end.
And the carnal part to start.
Ok, this is when they left the restaurant
Harrison's door slammed with a force, and my back was hurriedly shoved against it. Our mouths were fused, eating at each other's lips in a soul-searing kiss.
His hands palmed my ass before he lifted me effortlessly up against his chest. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and my hands were buried in his hair as I sucked greedily on his tongue.
All our pent-up sexual tension and flirting had finally bubbled over before it exploded in a hot and heavy makeout session in the restaurant carpark. I had practically climbed the center console in my desperation to feel him.
He, too, had trouble keeping his hands off me, as evidenced by the finger marks on my thighs as his long, thick digits climbed higher and higher, teasing the edges of my damp panties.
"Fuck, you're soaked," he had groaned before I spread my legs wider, silently inviting him further access to my wet pussy. His rough fingers had sought out the dampness that had gathered in my wet hole while his thumb rubbed my clit.
I reached down to grab his cock before he pulled back, panting heavily.
"Hey, no fair," I breathed. I reached for his hard length again, but he continued to hold my hand off.
"Not here, baby." His hair was disheveled, and his lips were wet and swollen. I was sure my appearance matched his.
In that moment of pause, I realized where we were—still in the parking lot of Soul. I blushed as it dawned on me that anyone who happened to stroll by could glance in and see two bodies going at it. First, a public display at a bar, and now this.
Now lets skip to when they got to his house. LMAO
Fuck our high school days, fuck the past, fuck the fact that I lived in California. Fuck everything but what was happening right now.
"Take me back to yours, Harry," I whispered. "I want to be with you. I want your hard cock in my wet pussy."
Harrison closed his eyes. "Jesus," he breathed. When he opened them, they were narrowed in focused determination. He reached for me, giving me a hard, punishing kiss before turning his car on and swiftly reversing out.
Now, we were in his house after the fastest car ride, where we could not keep our hands off each other's thighs.
Our bodies rubbed against one another, with my back rhythmically hitting his wooden door.
"Fuck, I have to taste you," he mumbled desperately against my lips.
I protested weakly when he set my feet down on the floor. But my objection to losing his warmth was quickly replaced with a moan of pleasure as he sank to the ground in front of me, caressing his hands up my smooth thighs.
"Let me in, baby," he groaned. "Open up for me."
I spread my legs without hesitation, unable to deny him anything. I watched through hooded eyes as he ripped the front of my dress open, buttons flying. Someone in the back of my mind struggled to remind me that I didn't have any clothes to go home with, but I pushed that cockblocking bitch aside. Especially when Harrison yanked my panties down, and I lost all train of thought.
...
"Fuck, baby, you're so wet." He bent forward and nuzzled at my cunt. "And you smell so good."
As much as I loved the compliments, I really needed my pussy licked. "Shut up and eat me," I demanded, grabbing at the back of his head and urging him closer.
...
"Yes, yes, yes!" I gasped.
Without thinking, I grabbed the front of my still-intact dress and ripped it open. My breasts felt heavy, my nipples hard with arousal. I needed release. I grasped the cups of my bra and hurriedly pulled them down, freeing my heavy globes. The cool air conditioning felt good against my hard nipples. I immediately grabbed my tits and massaged the pressure out of them. I pinched my nipples, pulling them away from my body before soothing them, rubbing the tips in circles with my palms.
I'm literally crying here lmfao XD
But let the cringe go on
He stared at me with hooded eyes and reached behind his head to grab the back collar of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head.
My mouth dropped open as I stared at his wide shoulders, broad chest, and…holy shit, his abs were insane.
"I wanna count your abs," I demanded as I crawled towards him. "With my tongue."
...
I moaned as he took as much of my breast in his mouth as possible and sucked. Hard.
"Yesss....," I babbled, closing my eyes in bliss as I held his head against my chest. He moved to my right breast and performed the same action on her twin.
"Wait," I tried to pry his head back. "I wanna suck your cock."
...
He grabbed my legs and pushed them up and high before licking me from the crease of my ass to the sensitive nub of my clit.
"Oh, fuck," I gasped. I yanked at his hair, feeling a little naughty when his tongue circled that hole. I wasn't opposed to a little ass-rimming, but I couldn't take the teasing anymore.
"Up, up, up," I chanted. I wanted his cock in me. Now.
He held my legs up, and I helped him by grabbing the bottom of my thighs and yanking my legs up further, almost by my ears.
"Jesus, that's fucking hot." He stared at my wet pussy, unable to tear himself away.
"Less talking, more fucking," I panted.
And now we're coming to the scene when they are finally all fucked and it's time for intimate thoughts and caressing each other with sweet nothings:
He turned his head to look at me, eyes dark and tender. "Any regrets?"
I turned to him, spying the uncertainty and worry in his focus. His fingers flexed against mine as he waited to see if I would turn away and reject him after our lust had waned.
Little did he know, our sensuous act had further fueled my desire for him. I wasn't sure if it would ever be sated.
"Only one."
His eyes flickered, and his throat bobbed. "Yeah?"
"I haven't sucked your cock yet."
AND THIS IS ME RIGHT AFTER THAT:
November 5, 2024
who needs enemies when you have friends like Amelia….
she was actually the worst!
i’m not sure if it’s because this was so short of a book or what but 1) if my bully was instantly like you’re beautiful, you’ve always been beautiful blah blah blah i would have left so fast. granted, i’ve read much worse bully books and the actual bullying was pretty lame. like calling her a nerd isn’t all that bad but i can hold a grudge like it’s my life’s calling and she was already thinking about how hot he was the first time she saw him! 2) i read this because he was celibate for like 5 or 6 years i think and that’s cool but WHY was she celibate for A YEAR and then she said she only had a few partners and she thought about the H sometimes when she’s with them. HE BULLIED YOU FOR YEARS and you haven’t seen him in years but you still think about him like that?!
idk this was a nice short read but so many things pissed me off about it 😂😂😂😂
she was actually the worst!
i’m not sure if it’s because this was so short of a book or what but 1) if my bully was instantly like you’re beautiful, you’ve always been beautiful blah blah blah i would have left so fast. granted, i’ve read much worse bully books and the actual bullying was pretty lame. like calling her a nerd isn’t all that bad but i can hold a grudge like it’s my life’s calling and she was already thinking about how hot he was the first time she saw him! 2) i read this because he was celibate for like 5 or 6 years i think and that’s cool but WHY was she celibate for A YEAR and then she said she only had a few partners and she thought about the H sometimes when she’s with them. HE BULLIED YOU FOR YEARS and you haven’t seen him in years but you still think about him like that?!
idk this was a nice short read but so many things pissed me off about it 😂😂😂😂
April 2, 2025
3 I didn’t hate it stars.
November 11, 2024
It would have been more interesting to see Harrison’s POV in this book. Just reading the short book from one person’s POV wasn’t satisfying enough. The damage that was done to Grace was just not something that was so easily overlooked which I liked that she didn't cave in by a pretty face, I just wish I could have known what Harrison was thinking. Also, I hate the nickname Harry for him.
June 13, 2025
This book is just that - FICTION
No girl should have to go through this - how things went down, in the past or the present.
*Years of relentless bullying, some also physical ---and we are to believe that she's cool with hobnobbing with all her bullies and those that watched on.
*Her high school years ruined and twisted forever --- and now she can so easily attend the school reunion and re-live the Prom (one that she never went to, for a reason) with them.
* A sweet boy she admired, who overnight turned into her worst nightmare --- and we are to believe that she could forgive him so easily and is now texting him, meeting up with him, and more?
*Abuse that lead her to a very dark place ---and we are to believe he loved her all this while?
* And a bff who is her 'ride or die' ---- plots with the a-h and sets her up? To be in his company so that he can assuage his conscience now?
*Her family never knew about her abuse/abusers? The brother, though 5 years younger, never heard anything in all these years? --- And the family is now oh so warm and chummy with the said abuser. Because, well, he is such a great guy (now)?
* Everyone had a ringside view of what went down --- but are now gaslighting the h into giving the mmc another chance, because he is a changed man and - loves/always loved her?
Few other plot-holes, if you will.
*Why stay with her bff and not her family especially since she rarely visits home? The bff's wedding (a month away) is hardly an excuse. At the very least, when she keeps hearing the engaged couple having sex, that should have made her move out. Privacy and all!
*And she lives in California, and is coming to her hometown for a wedding - and doesn't get a haircut/trim before coming? Also coming home, a place where her abusers live? How many girls would actually do that?
Okay, to forgive is fine.
Move on from a dark period and heal yourself.
But to settle for 'that boy'?
He is not that great a catch either imo.
Certainly, not in her league.
Meh.
No girl should have to go through this - how things went down, in the past or the present.
*Years of relentless bullying, some also physical ---and we are to believe that she's cool with hobnobbing with all her bullies and those that watched on.
*Her high school years ruined and twisted forever --- and now she can so easily attend the school reunion and re-live the Prom (one that she never went to, for a reason) with them.
* A sweet boy she admired, who overnight turned into her worst nightmare --- and we are to believe that she could forgive him so easily and is now texting him, meeting up with him, and more?
*Abuse that lead her to a very dark place ---and we are to believe he loved her all this while?
* And a bff who is her 'ride or die' ---- plots with the a-h and sets her up? To be in his company so that he can assuage his conscience now?
*Her family never knew about her abuse/abusers? The brother, though 5 years younger, never heard anything in all these years? --- And the family is now oh so warm and chummy with the said abuser. Because, well, he is such a great guy (now)?
* Everyone had a ringside view of what went down --- but are now gaslighting the h into giving the mmc another chance, because he is a changed man and - loves/always loved her?
Few other plot-holes, if you will.
*Why stay with her bff and not her family especially since she rarely visits home? The bff's wedding (a month away) is hardly an excuse. At the very least, when she keeps hearing the engaged couple having sex, that should have made her move out. Privacy and all!
*And she lives in California, and is coming to her hometown for a wedding - and doesn't get a haircut/trim before coming? Also coming home, a place where her abusers live? How many girls would actually do that?
Okay, to forgive is fine.
Move on from a dark period and heal yourself.
But to settle for 'that boy'?
He is not that great a catch either imo.
Certainly, not in her league.
Meh.
June 19, 2024
What in the actual crack cocaine was this book!!!
I had to DNF because I actually couldn’t handle the stupidity and betraying body syndrome
Grace had no dignity is all imma say. Amelia is the such a crack ass whore of friend never hated someone as much as her. She knows what Grace went through High school getting bullied and still is all buddy buddy with Harrison. Fine be friends with him whatever but the fact she guilt tripped Grace into spending time with Harrison made it worse. Her family was no better all friendly with him even after she told them she got bullied by him it’s unbelievable. I remember this girl who bullied me in high school apologized to me and my mom still to this day hates her guts this is what I needed from Graces family.
It’s so sad to see how Grace is so eager to go to bed with Harrison even tho she repeatedly tells us how traumatized she was. Clearly not traumatized enough to jump your bullies bones 💀
I really don’t give a shit Harrison changed he gave such a weak ass apology and started having a flirty ass nature to Grace as if she would forget all those years he tormented her. Lucky for him Grace is a whack ass hoe who has betraying body syndrome enough to forgive him🤡🤡🤡
Honestly I should have learned from reading Barons Second Chance by this author that she doesn’t write good second chance romance really well 🌝
Anyways off to my next read 💃
I had to DNF because I actually couldn’t handle the stupidity and betraying body syndrome
Grace had no dignity is all imma say. Amelia is the such a crack ass whore of friend never hated someone as much as her. She knows what Grace went through High school getting bullied and still is all buddy buddy with Harrison. Fine be friends with him whatever but the fact she guilt tripped Grace into spending time with Harrison made it worse. Her family was no better all friendly with him even after she told them she got bullied by him it’s unbelievable. I remember this girl who bullied me in high school apologized to me and my mom still to this day hates her guts this is what I needed from Graces family.
It’s so sad to see how Grace is so eager to go to bed with Harrison even tho she repeatedly tells us how traumatized she was. Clearly not traumatized enough to jump your bullies bones 💀
I really don’t give a shit Harrison changed he gave such a weak ass apology and started having a flirty ass nature to Grace as if she would forget all those years he tormented her. Lucky for him Grace is a whack ass hoe who has betraying body syndrome enough to forgive him🤡🤡🤡
Honestly I should have learned from reading Barons Second Chance by this author that she doesn’t write good second chance romance really well 🌝
Anyways off to my next read 💃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this 2nd chance bully romance. Everyone is giving Amelia hate, but I forgave her lol.
November 17, 2024
My rating: 3 stars
What I loved: I liked how Harrison(H) realized he wanted to be better to earn Grace(h)’s forgiveness. I also liked how he redid prom for her.
What I didn’t like: I didn’t like how her best friend was ok with tricking Grace into helping with the reunion, especially when she knew what she went through during high school. The poor girl was bullied badly and everyone just wanted her to be ok because he changed. I don’t know but I would hold a grudge and ain’t no way would I be ok with everyone being friendly with him especially my best friend. I also wished the ow life turned to shit. Lastly, I wish we got a scene with Grace’s brother having “a talk” with Harrison. Maybe him punching him in the face Lol!! Harrison definitely deserved it.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: Bullying. H and h were childhood friends and when they are in high school the H starts bullying the h. h being a nerd tries to just get by. When she does stick up for herself they bully her more. As soon as the h graduates, she leaves town and barely looks back. She shows back up to be a maid of honor in her best friend’s wedding. While there she finds out that her bully the H is the best man. She decides she can be cordial but makes sure to try and avoid him. H tries to apologize and talk to the h but she doesn’t want to hear him out. When the best friend asks her if she is going to their high school reunion that is before the wedding, h says no but her friend tells her she has to go for her. The best friend asks the h if she can help on the committee, again she says no but the best friend cries and the h gives in. When the h shows up for the committee, a friend of the H apologizes for not sticking up for her and asks for her forgiveness. h does and the H and h finally talk. H tells her that his mom up and left, never contacting him, making him angry that he took it out on her. The h had a great home life and had a vision for her future which made the H angry because he would be stuck working at his dad’s farm. H always had a crush on the h and when he started hanging with a kid that was always bullying others the H started acting like him. h tells him she understands and forgives him somewhat, telling him that maybe they can be friends. H and h continue to meet for the committee. When the h goes to the salon with the bridal party she runs into the H’s ex who also bullied her in high school. Ow makes it sound like that the H and her still get together. When the guys meet up, the h and H share a kiss. When they get together for reunion meeting, H explains that he hasn’t been with the ow since he was nineteen. H asks the h to go on a date and she says yes. H and h start a sexual relationship. When they run into the ow she lets it slip that the reunion is a redo for the h. h upset goes to the best friend to ask her if she knew. Best friend says yes and apologizes for lying to the h. We find out that when they were in high school the H was trying to redeem himself and started to hang out with the h when they were made to do a project together. H asked the h if she would say yes if he asked her to prom. Of course she told him she would if he asked. When h sees the ow she tells the h that she is the senior prank and that the H is going to ditch her when she comes out in her prom dress. h tells the H to leave her alone and decides not to go to prom. H goes with ow and a group of friends. h after talking to her friend shows up to the reunion and talks to the H. They work things out. The H and get together and the H moves to be with the h. HEA 10 years later with them having kids and they decided to move closer to their parents and friends.
Final thoughts: This was just an ok read for me. Her best friend ruined the book for me. She should have been on her side instead of trying to help the hero out. She knew how badly her friend was bullied and not once did she warn her that he was the best man.
What I loved: I liked how Harrison(H) realized he wanted to be better to earn Grace(h)’s forgiveness. I also liked how he redid prom for her.
What I didn’t like: I didn’t like how her best friend was ok with tricking Grace into helping with the reunion, especially when she knew what she went through during high school. The poor girl was bullied badly and everyone just wanted her to be ok because he changed. I don’t know but I would hold a grudge and ain’t no way would I be ok with everyone being friendly with him especially my best friend. I also wished the ow life turned to shit. Lastly, I wish we got a scene with Grace’s brother having “a talk” with Harrison. Maybe him punching him in the face Lol!! Harrison definitely deserved it.
***Major Spoilers/ Details/Triggers: Bullying. H and h were childhood friends and when they are in high school the H starts bullying the h. h being a nerd tries to just get by. When she does stick up for herself they bully her more. As soon as the h graduates, she leaves town and barely looks back. She shows back up to be a maid of honor in her best friend’s wedding. While there she finds out that her bully the H is the best man. She decides she can be cordial but makes sure to try and avoid him. H tries to apologize and talk to the h but she doesn’t want to hear him out. When the best friend asks her if she is going to their high school reunion that is before the wedding, h says no but her friend tells her she has to go for her. The best friend asks the h if she can help on the committee, again she says no but the best friend cries and the h gives in. When the h shows up for the committee, a friend of the H apologizes for not sticking up for her and asks for her forgiveness. h does and the H and h finally talk. H tells her that his mom up and left, never contacting him, making him angry that he took it out on her. The h had a great home life and had a vision for her future which made the H angry because he would be stuck working at his dad’s farm. H always had a crush on the h and when he started hanging with a kid that was always bullying others the H started acting like him. h tells him she understands and forgives him somewhat, telling him that maybe they can be friends. H and h continue to meet for the committee. When the h goes to the salon with the bridal party she runs into the H’s ex who also bullied her in high school. Ow makes it sound like that the H and her still get together. When the guys meet up, the h and H share a kiss. When they get together for reunion meeting, H explains that he hasn’t been with the ow since he was nineteen. H asks the h to go on a date and she says yes. H and h start a sexual relationship. When they run into the ow she lets it slip that the reunion is a redo for the h. h upset goes to the best friend to ask her if she knew. Best friend says yes and apologizes for lying to the h. We find out that when they were in high school the H was trying to redeem himself and started to hang out with the h when they were made to do a project together. H asked the h if she would say yes if he asked her to prom. Of course she told him she would if he asked. When h sees the ow she tells the h that she is the senior prank and that the H is going to ditch her when she comes out in her prom dress. h tells the H to leave her alone and decides not to go to prom. H goes with ow and a group of friends. h after talking to her friend shows up to the reunion and talks to the H. They work things out. The H and get together and the H moves to be with the h. HEA 10 years later with them having kids and they decided to move closer to their parents and friends.
Final thoughts: This was just an ok read for me. Her best friend ruined the book for me. She should have been on her side instead of trying to help the hero out. She knew how badly her friend was bullied and not once did she warn her that he was the best man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 23, 2025dnf. can't read it because fmc's best friend is the worst
June 28, 2024
Unfortunately this did not work for me as I prefer my bully romances to be darker where the H is redeemable, or not. Depending on how I'm feeling that day 😜. This was just too immature and it didn't feel like an authentic bully romance. The characters were bland and had little depth. Especially our two MMCs. Though I did prefer Harrison over Grace. She really grated on my nerves. For being someone who was bullied she was quite vain and narcissistic. Even when the bullying was supposedly happening. Which the author really didn't get into. I mean we're talking about a regular public school with regular students and regular teachers. Apparently all the teachers liked the h as well so her getting bullied and the non reason made absolutely no sense. The teacher's would have stepped in including her family which she just decided not to tell. Even though she was losing weight and had black circles under her eyes yet her family never noticed? I call BS because she had a good relationship with her own family. It wasn't strained at all. So the argument is weak in this fictional story. If I'm reading a bully romance I need to feel it in my soul or it's not going to work.
January 7, 2026
Re-read. Weak heroine, such a doormat. She’s been bullied for years by the hero, but is still swooning every time she sees him. He tormented her in high school, but that doesn’t stop her from giving in so quickly. I would never forget the hurt this person caused, how can you enter a relationship when you know what they did to you? He is sorry and changed, but that doesn’t erase the past. i absolutely hated Amelia, she was a sh!t friend, no excuses. Grace gave in to all her requests, because she’s such a good friend to her. No she’s not darling, if you let these people in your life… a boyfriend who was your former tormentor and a so called best friend who walks all over you, I give you this advise: you need therapy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2024
'¿Tú y yo? Somos almas gemelas, cariño. Fin del juego. Para siempre.'
•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers.
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen.
A Bully's Penance de S.T. Moors
Argumento:
Harrison O'Connor.
Caliente. Sexy. Engreído. Arrogante. Asqueroso.
Matón.
Al menos así lo recordaba.
Una vez que terminé la escuela secundaria, salí de Ashburton tan rápido como mis piernas me podían llevar.
Finalmente próspero y feliz en San Francisco, mis atormentados recuerdos de Harrison O'Connor y su reinado de terror sobre mí pronto se convirtieron en nada más que recuerdos mudos.
Sólo una cosa podría arrastrarme voluntariamente a casa: ser dama de honor en la boda de mi mejor amiga.
Pero rápidamente se hizo evidente que, si bien mis recuerdos de mi ciudad natal y de Harrison estaban pegados con pegamento, todos los que me rodeaban habían seguido adelante. Incluyendo a mi mejor amiga.
Pronto, recuerdos largamente enterrados amenazan con salir a la superficie. ¿Estoy listo para enfrentar mi pasado? ¿Y por qué Harrison de repente se está portando bien?
Mi humilde opinión:
Romance de enemigos a amantes, segunda oportunidad, héroe bully, heroína nerd.
Siempre dudo en elegir un libro de matón para leer porque el héroe casi nunca logra congraciarse conmigo pero...
No tenía fe en que Harrison lograría redimirse ante mis ojos y sorprendentemente lo logró. La historia no tiene su POV pero me contó su lado de la historia poco a poco, por qué se volvió un matón en la secundaria y luego cambió pero un malentendido los separa. Años después la vuelve a ver y se da cuenta que todavía la quiere y es la chica que se le escapó. Me encantó cómo se acercó a ella para mostrarle que cambió realmente. Que ya no era el mismo de antes. No aceptó su rechazo y fue tan lindo con ella, me gustó su forma de adorarla. Cuando le contó a Grace cómo fueron las cosas y lo que hizo para acercarse y tener una oportunidad, ser el hombre para ella, para merecerla, me derretí de amor con esa revelación final.
Grace es un personaje fuerte. Me gustó que no fuera la típica tímida y llorona. No me puedo imaginar lo difícil que es regresar a tu pueblo y una escuela en donde no fuiste feliz por el acoso constante al que te cometieron. Ella vuelve a recordar todo pero lo enfrentó con altura y para sanar decidió dejar lo malo atrás y aceptar las disculpas de Harrison y otros.
Grace y Harrison son candentes! tienen una química explosiva, solo hay que ver esas escenas picantes, picantes!
Disfruté de la historia, no es un romance oscuro sino más romántico. Y el prólogo a 10 años después me dejó con ganas de más Harrison y Grace.
Sobre su mejor amiga... Lamentablemente estoy d acuerdo con que Amelia no estuvo bien, mintió y ocultó la situación a su mejor amiga, aunque sea buena su intención no lo comparto.
July 24, 2025
A second-chance romance between a kickass woman who got herself out of her small Kentucky town with her smarts and is now living a successful life and the jock who picked on her in high school. Grace is back in town to be the maid of honor in her BFF's wedding. Harrison never left and is now the coach for the high school football team. He's also the best man in the wedding.
Some appealing small town characters and a likable heroine. It's single POV, so we don't get Harrison's thoughts, but it's clear he had an epiphany after high school and has put in a lot of time working on himself.
The thing is, I don't know if I could forgive the BFF for what she did. She's very much cut from that romance trope, "the overly invested bestie."
I would've liked to have Harrison's POV too.
Some appealing small town characters and a likable heroine. It's single POV, so we don't get Harrison's thoughts, but it's clear he had an epiphany after high school and has put in a lot of time working on himself.
The thing is, I don't know if I could forgive the BFF for what she did. She's very much cut from that romance trope, "the overly invested bestie."
I would've liked to have Harrison's POV too.
July 8, 2024
4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really love this trope and this author has a great writing style. Full of sensorial description, easy to read and with great vocabulary. Perfect balance between a couple of courses and spice and good grammar with rich words.
I became a fan of the story when I read it on Wattpad years ago. I’m thrilled that the author decided to publish it on KU!
This is the kind of book I will be reading again and again because I enjoy it so much!
Great grovel, perfect background story and cool heroine. *chef’s kiss*
I really love this trope and this author has a great writing style. Full of sensorial description, easy to read and with great vocabulary. Perfect balance between a couple of courses and spice and good grammar with rich words.
I became a fan of the story when I read it on Wattpad years ago. I’m thrilled that the author decided to publish it on KU!
This is the kind of book I will be reading again and again because I enjoy it so much!
Great grovel, perfect background story and cool heroine. *chef’s kiss*
June 19, 2024
Well damn another book I am torn about. Amelia in my opinion was not a great friend, she didn’t even try to see things from Graves point of view, she was dishonest at the very least manipulating at worst I will let the reader decide.
Grace needed more of a backbone as well and she could have stood up more to well as it turns out everyone. And what is the obsession with we’d in public places?
All that being said I am glad Harrison a second chance.
Grace needed more of a backbone as well and she could have stood up more to well as it turns out everyone. And what is the obsession with we’d in public places?
All that being said I am glad Harrison a second chance.
January 4, 2026
Nice spin on the “HS Bully/ One that got away” tropes.
February 15, 2025
This is actually the stupidest thing I’ve read in a while. Like, you really mean to tell me that:
Harrison bullied Grace so ruthlessly in high school that it bordered on abuse, causing her to have multiple mental breakdowns. And then it took about a week (back in high school, when they were doing the project) of him suddenly being friendly for her to forgive him? Yes, Miss Girl, you were right—you should be embarrassed about that.
In the present, all it fucking takes for her to forgive him again is a simple apology and him admitting he had a crush on her back in high school? And suddenly, she’s crazy attracted to him and wants to have sex with him?
And that scene where they actually have sex for the first time—where she’s obsessed with the thought of going down on him, so she does, and he just lies back with his hands behind his head while she goes at it? Like he’s some kind of king that needs servicing? And she’s happy to do that for him? For her tormentor? The guy who bullied her so hard that she literally can’t even stay in town for more than 48 hours at a time, only coming home for family birthdays and holidays because her trauma is that excessive?
I’m sorry, but where is her self-respect?
And then that stupid fucking miscommunication? You’re telling me that this woman—who is so smart that she got called a nerd her entire life—couldn’t figure out that Jessica was the one feeding her lies about prom? And when she actually has the opportunity to confront Harrison, she just… doesn’t? And when he tries to talk to her, she acts like she’s gonna break down if they even mention what happened? And he doesn’t think that’s a weird reaction because he didn’t do anything and doesn't know what she's talking about? But instead of just telling her that he has no idea what she’s talking about, he just lets her believe whatever the fuck she thinks happened, telling her that they'll talk about it when she's ready??
But what i don't understand is, that what she thought happened regarding prom was so hurtful that she couldn’t even talk about it—she literally evades the questions Harrison asks her, right? And she says that if he confirms he betrayed her, it’ll make or break their relationship, right? Once again, I’m sorry, but what the actual fuck have you been doing with him up until this was brought up then? You were falling all over him, sucking his dick like you might die if you didn’t? Like, that just doesn’t make sense to me. HOW can you so easily forgive him while still believing he betrayed you like that? HOW can you fall for a man so quickly?
And then I just really fucking hated how she switched personalities the moment she fell for him. It was like she suddenly didn’t have a brain anymore, and all she could think about was his dick. And look, I get it—when you’re in love, that person is all you think about, but come on, at least have some class about it.
And let me tell you, Grace? She was not even in the same room as class.
For example, when she finally talks about the whole miscommunication with Harrison and realizes he didn’t actually betray her like she thought, she just immediately wants to fuck him and starts grabbing for him:
"Wait, Gracie."
"Why?" I pouted. "I believe you; I forgive you. Penis, please." I reached down to unbutton his pants when he stopped me again.
She basically treats him as her own personal sex toy, and that’s just not cute or hot to me.
Harrison bullied Grace so ruthlessly in high school that it bordered on abuse, causing her to have multiple mental breakdowns. And then it took about a week (back in high school, when they were doing the project) of him suddenly being friendly for her to forgive him? Yes, Miss Girl, you were right—you should be embarrassed about that.
In the present, all it fucking takes for her to forgive him again is a simple apology and him admitting he had a crush on her back in high school? And suddenly, she’s crazy attracted to him and wants to have sex with him?
And that scene where they actually have sex for the first time—where she’s obsessed with the thought of going down on him, so she does, and he just lies back with his hands behind his head while she goes at it? Like he’s some kind of king that needs servicing? And she’s happy to do that for him? For her tormentor? The guy who bullied her so hard that she literally can’t even stay in town for more than 48 hours at a time, only coming home for family birthdays and holidays because her trauma is that excessive?
I’m sorry, but where is her self-respect?
And then that stupid fucking miscommunication? You’re telling me that this woman—who is so smart that she got called a nerd her entire life—couldn’t figure out that Jessica was the one feeding her lies about prom? And when she actually has the opportunity to confront Harrison, she just… doesn’t? And when he tries to talk to her, she acts like she’s gonna break down if they even mention what happened? And he doesn’t think that’s a weird reaction because he didn’t do anything and doesn't know what she's talking about? But instead of just telling her that he has no idea what she’s talking about, he just lets her believe whatever the fuck she thinks happened, telling her that they'll talk about it when she's ready??
But what i don't understand is, that what she thought happened regarding prom was so hurtful that she couldn’t even talk about it—she literally evades the questions Harrison asks her, right? And she says that if he confirms he betrayed her, it’ll make or break their relationship, right? Once again, I’m sorry, but what the actual fuck have you been doing with him up until this was brought up then? You were falling all over him, sucking his dick like you might die if you didn’t? Like, that just doesn’t make sense to me. HOW can you so easily forgive him while still believing he betrayed you like that? HOW can you fall for a man so quickly?
And then I just really fucking hated how she switched personalities the moment she fell for him. It was like she suddenly didn’t have a brain anymore, and all she could think about was his dick. And look, I get it—when you’re in love, that person is all you think about, but come on, at least have some class about it.
And let me tell you, Grace? She was not even in the same room as class.
For example, when she finally talks about the whole miscommunication with Harrison and realizes he didn’t actually betray her like she thought, she just immediately wants to fuck him and starts grabbing for him:
"Wait, Gracie."
"Why?" I pouted. "I believe you; I forgive you. Penis, please." I reached down to unbutton his pants when he stopped me again.
She basically treats him as her own personal sex toy, and that’s just not cute or hot to me.
June 9, 2025
So this book was a different spin on bully romances which typically focus on high school. Although in this one the bullying took place in high school as well as the repentance..the majority of the book takes place 7 years into the future.
Both the mmc and fmc are in a wedding party and on the planning committee of a 7 year hs reunion ( yeah 7 years is not the norm).
I did really enjoy the first 75 percent of the book but then it sort of slid towards cheesy romance and I had to suspend my beliefs of how the fmc forgave the mmc and slept with him in such a short period of forgiveness.
Both the mmc and fmc are in a wedding party and on the planning committee of a 7 year hs reunion ( yeah 7 years is not the norm).
I did really enjoy the first 75 percent of the book but then it sort of slid towards cheesy romance and I had to suspend my beliefs of how the fmc forgave the mmc and slept with him in such a short period of forgiveness.
Did Not Finish
June 27, 2024DNF @26% - this is silly and boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2025
Amelia is a terrible friend. Best to cut ties with her and move on with your life. Don't let her guilt you.
If you read it like a horror story, it's marginally better.
If you read it like a horror story, it's marginally better.
September 2, 2025
Summary: This is a friends to enemies to lovers. Spoilers/trigger warnings (if any) and final thoughts can be found below.
This story follows Grace and Harrison. They are childhood friends who become high school enemies. Grace was bullied relentlessly in high school with Harrison and his girlfriend leading the pack, so when her best friend is getting married, she’s not very excited to come back to the hometown that gave her so many bad memories.
Immediately, Grace learns that Harrison is more involved with the wedding than she know putting them in close proximity for everything. Not wanting to be around him more than she has to, Grace does everything to avoid him but Harrison won’t be deterred because he is determined to apologize and atone for all he did.
Slowly Grace begins to see that Harrison is a changed man and she likes it and begins to like him again. But his former high school girlfriend hasn’t changed her ways at all and does not like that the main characters are getting close again.
Something happens, bringing Grace back to a very painful memory from the past, and to a point where she doesn’t believe that she can fully forgive Harrison. Ultimately, she finds out the truth about everything, and the couple are able to move toward a happily ever after.
⚠️SPOILERS/DETAILED TRIGGERS⚠️
*Recall of prior bullying.
*Some OW drama.
🌶️: 2/5
Final thoughts: I liked the book. It wasn’t my favorite by this author but I did connect to the characters and enjoyed Grace. I loved that she persevered through all she went through and never let that get in the way of her goals. There were some good angsty moments. The OW interactions provided good drama. I did feel it was bit boring and dragged at times, as well as a bit cheesy in certain parts, but I would still recommend.
This story follows Grace and Harrison. They are childhood friends who become high school enemies. Grace was bullied relentlessly in high school with Harrison and his girlfriend leading the pack, so when her best friend is getting married, she’s not very excited to come back to the hometown that gave her so many bad memories.
Immediately, Grace learns that Harrison is more involved with the wedding than she know putting them in close proximity for everything. Not wanting to be around him more than she has to, Grace does everything to avoid him but Harrison won’t be deterred because he is determined to apologize and atone for all he did.
Slowly Grace begins to see that Harrison is a changed man and she likes it and begins to like him again. But his former high school girlfriend hasn’t changed her ways at all and does not like that the main characters are getting close again.
Something happens, bringing Grace back to a very painful memory from the past, and to a point where she doesn’t believe that she can fully forgive Harrison. Ultimately, she finds out the truth about everything, and the couple are able to move toward a happily ever after.
⚠️SPOILERS/DETAILED TRIGGERS⚠️
*Recall of prior bullying.
*Some OW drama.
🌶️: 2/5
Final thoughts: I liked the book. It wasn’t my favorite by this author but I did connect to the characters and enjoyed Grace. I loved that she persevered through all she went through and never let that get in the way of her goals. There were some good angsty moments. The OW interactions provided good drama. I did feel it was bit boring and dragged at times, as well as a bit cheesy in certain parts, but I would still recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2024
Loved it
Grace returns to her home town for a wedding after avoiding the place for years - only to come face to face with her high school tormentor. She discovers that while she has held onto her pain, the rest of the town has moved on. Grace has to decide whether she can let go of the past.
The characters were solid and funny. The grovel was thorough and the forgiveness was not automatic. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more from Ms Moors.
Grace returns to her home town for a wedding after avoiding the place for years - only to come face to face with her high school tormentor. She discovers that while she has held onto her pain, the rest of the town has moved on. Grace has to decide whether she can let go of the past.
The characters were solid and funny. The grovel was thorough and the forgiveness was not automatic. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more from Ms Moors.
October 14, 2025
did fmc think she was british bc she was smart? man burn the whole school down with her in it
May 1, 2025
I just realized I finished this and forgot to write a review. This was a cute, but maybe slightly contrived short book about a woman returning to her hometown for her friend's wedding and, also, surprise! a seven year reunion. I didn't even go to my 20th (although, to be fair... COVID) -- who goes to a random seven year reunion?
Yes, I know I'm old.
But of course, there's a reason for all of this that will come into play. See, Grace was horribly bullied by Harrison, followed by a group of flying monkeys including his Mean Girl girlfriend, in high school. She was smarter than everyone else and had big dreams of leaving town. She also didn't take a lot of crap from the bullies and tended to fight back. Oh, and did I mention that in addition to being brilliant, Grace was/is also super-hot? The prologue has a brief monologue on her tiny waist and big *cough*... brains... From what I can tell, basically the only reason she didn't breeze through high school is because Harrison and his friends decided she should be ostracized. She grew up to be a gorgeous... something... Did the book ever say what she does? I remember something about her working for a pharmaceutical company, so was she maybe a chemist? For someone who had such big dreams, you would think the book would have been a bit more specific about what those dreams were.
But it turns out Harrison has become kind of a golden retriever sweetheart of an MMC. He was an angry kid, who (no shock here) had a major thing for Grace and didn't know how to express that, and has felt remorse since.
The book was told in first-person from Grace's POV only, which I liked. (I feel like first-person should really only be for one POV and if more than one of the characters are going to get a say, make it third-person, but that's clearly just me and my agéd wisdom talking. Clearly the younger set doesn't agree or we wouldn't get these 1st-person dual POVs all over the place.)
It was a sweet romance, if maybe a bit contrived in some of the machinations used to get Grace to willingly hang around Harrison. It worked for me and gave me a happy feeling, with minimal present-day angst. 3.5, rounding up to 4 stars.
Yes, I know I'm old.
But of course, there's a reason for all of this that will come into play. See, Grace was horribly bullied by Harrison, followed by a group of flying monkeys including his Mean Girl girlfriend, in high school. She was smarter than everyone else and had big dreams of leaving town. She also didn't take a lot of crap from the bullies and tended to fight back. Oh, and did I mention that in addition to being brilliant, Grace was/is also super-hot? The prologue has a brief monologue on her tiny waist and big *cough*... brains... From what I can tell, basically the only reason she didn't breeze through high school is because Harrison and his friends decided she should be ostracized. She grew up to be a gorgeous... something... Did the book ever say what she does? I remember something about her working for a pharmaceutical company, so was she maybe a chemist? For someone who had such big dreams, you would think the book would have been a bit more specific about what those dreams were.
But it turns out Harrison has become kind of a golden retriever sweetheart of an MMC. He was an angry kid, who (no shock here) had a major thing for Grace and didn't know how to express that, and has felt remorse since.
The book was told in first-person from Grace's POV only, which I liked. (I feel like first-person should really only be for one POV and if more than one of the characters are going to get a say, make it third-person, but that's clearly just me and my agéd wisdom talking. Clearly the younger set doesn't agree or we wouldn't get these 1st-person dual POVs all over the place.)
It was a sweet romance, if maybe a bit contrived in some of the machinations used to get Grace to willingly hang around Harrison. It worked for me and gave me a happy feeling, with minimal present-day angst. 3.5, rounding up to 4 stars.
November 5, 2024
H was a bully, viciously so, to the h for her entire high school career. When h comes back for a wedding, H makes that his opportunity to try and win over the h. H succeeds, they hash out the reasons behind the bullying and come to forgiveness/resolution, HEA.
OW drama = typical mean girl in HS who wanted the H so manipulated the h to achieve her goal. OW tries to continue being a mean girl in adult life, but falls flat and kind of just fades into the background.
I had first read this on Wattpad and re-read it on KU.
OW drama = typical mean girl in HS who wanted the H so manipulated the h to achieve her goal. OW tries to continue being a mean girl in adult life, but falls flat and kind of just fades into the background.
I had first read this on Wattpad and re-read it on KU.
December 1, 2024
Guy was an asshat in high school and she forgave him way too easily when they meet again. And don’t even get me started on her traitorous “best” friend.
December 31, 2024
Ameila has to be the worst friend in existence. Harrison DID NOR deserve a second chance but what can we do
April 15, 2026
strong start but disappointing
I was feeling all sorts of feelings at the start, invested in Grace’s strength and eventual departure from the environment that bullied her and failed to protect her, but somewhere down the plot people (including the author) just kept pissing me off.
Spoilers here:
Let’s start with the plot. This is a story about a former bully and his victim. Classic he likes her so he bullied her even though the bullying sort of started with someone else. We know they end up together but the way to that HEA was absolutely not satisfying because of just so many things.
When our heroine Grace arrives back in town for her best friend Amelia’s wedding, the latter immediately bombards Grace with a trauma trigger. WHAT KIND OF BEST FRIEND DOES THAT?! The author herself writes in the book that Amelia (and soon to be husband Liam) had front row seats to the bullying Grace endured, but just sprung this on her supposed best friend. If she had been a REAL best friend, she would have paved the way for the reconciliation at Grace’s pace and more realistically. Instead, she hops on this elaborate grand gesture that rang hollow and empty and outright weird (a 7-year reunion coinciding with Amelia’s wedding?!) without checking in on how this might bring on traumatic triggers or flashbacks. Amelia was more on Harrison’s side than Grace’s side. Instead of broaching the idea to Grace that some of her bullies have changed, she says NOTHING in all the years they kept in touch. When Grace points out her trauma to her Amelia, the latter still doesn’t give up trying to push them together. She deceives Grace, and I feel like as a friend that counts as just as bad as bullying.
Harrison’s apology, while heartfelt, remained only a verbal one. There was no satisfying grovel. All his “improvements” were not known to Grace, so understandably, Grace was thrown when people who were supposed to be on her side suddenly (in her eyes) became chummy with her tormentor. Even her family betrayed her in that respect. When her family found out what Harrison had done, there was no mention of them ever giving him grief over what he did to her. Harrison never even came clean to them about what he did. He couldn’t even pull off a Mr. Darcy and get Grace’s bullies to apologize. James apologized only because of his wife. Dee never did. Jessica neither.
[Gosh this review is making me pissed again.]
There was no grovel. What did he do when that OW ran her mouth about both past and present proms? Nothing to Grace. He just hid and sulked🙄 it was Grace who had to seek him out for an explanation.
Also, she moves to California and there’s no mention of her going to therapy in order to process her trauma from all the bullying properly?
Grace, girl, you deserve a better partner and better friends.
I’ve read other books by this author and while those would probably never win a Nobel Prize for Literature, they were still a tad bit better developed than this one.
I was feeling all sorts of feelings at the start, invested in Grace’s strength and eventual departure from the environment that bullied her and failed to protect her, but somewhere down the plot people (including the author) just kept pissing me off.
Spoilers here:
Let’s start with the plot. This is a story about a former bully and his victim. Classic he likes her so he bullied her even though the bullying sort of started with someone else. We know they end up together but the way to that HEA was absolutely not satisfying because of just so many things.
When our heroine Grace arrives back in town for her best friend Amelia’s wedding, the latter immediately bombards Grace with a trauma trigger. WHAT KIND OF BEST FRIEND DOES THAT?! The author herself writes in the book that Amelia (and soon to be husband Liam) had front row seats to the bullying Grace endured, but just sprung this on her supposed best friend. If she had been a REAL best friend, she would have paved the way for the reconciliation at Grace’s pace and more realistically. Instead, she hops on this elaborate grand gesture that rang hollow and empty and outright weird (a 7-year reunion coinciding with Amelia’s wedding?!) without checking in on how this might bring on traumatic triggers or flashbacks. Amelia was more on Harrison’s side than Grace’s side. Instead of broaching the idea to Grace that some of her bullies have changed, she says NOTHING in all the years they kept in touch. When Grace points out her trauma to her Amelia, the latter still doesn’t give up trying to push them together. She deceives Grace, and I feel like as a friend that counts as just as bad as bullying.
Harrison’s apology, while heartfelt, remained only a verbal one. There was no satisfying grovel. All his “improvements” were not known to Grace, so understandably, Grace was thrown when people who were supposed to be on her side suddenly (in her eyes) became chummy with her tormentor. Even her family betrayed her in that respect. When her family found out what Harrison had done, there was no mention of them ever giving him grief over what he did to her. Harrison never even came clean to them about what he did. He couldn’t even pull off a Mr. Darcy and get Grace’s bullies to apologize. James apologized only because of his wife. Dee never did. Jessica neither.
[Gosh this review is making me pissed again.]
There was no grovel. What did he do when that OW ran her mouth about both past and present proms? Nothing to Grace. He just hid and sulked🙄 it was Grace who had to seek him out for an explanation.
Also, she moves to California and there’s no mention of her going to therapy in order to process her trauma from all the bullying properly?
Grace, girl, you deserve a better partner and better friends.
I’ve read other books by this author and while those would probably never win a Nobel Prize for Literature, they were still a tad bit better developed than this one.
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