What do you think?
Rate this book
(Bully Me Series) #1
Bully Me
Kaine Spencer can't wait for school to be over. Slightly chubby and awkward, she tries her hardest to be invisible. But one boy makes that impossible.
Shane Ellery is tall, muscular and handsome. And there is nothing he loves more than teasing Kaine.
When a cruel twist of fate brings them together, it's the worst day of Kaine's life. Until she starts to see a side of Shane she didn't know existed. A side that makes Kaine let her guard down. But is Shane really all that he seems? Or is it just another cruel joke?
Camden Lawson doesn't trust Shane Ellery. He's convinced that Shane will hurt Kaine and humiliate her again. Camden will do anything to keep Shane away from Kaine. Even if someone gets hurt.
* This book contains sexual situations and is intended for readers 18 and older
Shane Ellery is tall, muscular and handsome. And there is nothing he loves more than teasing Kaine.
When a cruel twist of fate brings them together, it's the worst day of Kaine's life. Until she starts to see a side of Shane she didn't know existed. A side that makes Kaine let her guard down. But is Shane really all that he seems? Or is it just another cruel joke?
Camden Lawson doesn't trust Shane Ellery. He's convinced that Shane will hurt Kaine and humiliate her again. Camden will do anything to keep Shane away from Kaine. Even if someone gets hurt.
* This book contains sexual situations and is intended for readers 18 and older
119 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2014
67 people are currently reading
372 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 37 reviews
October 4, 2015
DNF
LOL NOPE.
NOT FINISHING THIS SHITTT.
I'm sorry, but there is nothing sexy about a guy who behaves like a rapist. Shane cornered Kaine alone in a classroom, dug a metal ruler into her back, threatened to kill her, he ripped off her top and bra, gave her breasts a squeeze, and left her on the floor trembling and exposed. Ladies and gentleman, let me introduce you the love interest you're expected to fall for by the end of the novel! What a catch, right?
So wait a minute -- when Shane left the classroom after he attacked Kaine, how did he suppose she was going to get to her locker without being seen and forced to explain what happened? I don't know about you, but I don't often take a stroll through school hallways with my shirt all ripped up and my tits out. It's reasonable to suggest that I'd be questioned by a teacher straight awasy. Even if Kaine was too scared to tell anyone about the attack, the odds of a teacher coming across her in that state is extremely high. I mean, COME ON Shane! At least be smart enough not to leave your victim in a position where she had no choice but rat you out and get you expelled. What exactly was going through his head when he left the classroom? Probably something like this:
Shane's internal motivations just did not exist and therefore, he was a pointless, unrealistic character.
And of course, the trauma of Kaine's sexual assault was forgotten about by the next chapter because apparently, getting someone to mildly beat up Shane in the cafeteria made everything better. At the end of the school day, Shane begrudgingly offers some type of apology to Kaine..... and she BLUSHES.
This asshole had been viciously bullying you for months until he finally violated you. What kind of person would be attracted to their attacker, just because they gave a half-assed apology?
Furthermore, the story had a cheap, rape fantasy feel to it. The author presented the novel in the wrong way because the cover and blurb made me think that this was going to be a high school contemporary romance with some drama and cute moments.
(it looks so innocent!)
But when you actually read the story, it becomes clear from about chapter two that this is the type of book that should have a disembodied, naked torso on the cover. You know the kind, lol. Something like this:
(Now that's more accurate!)
Granted I would have never picked this book up if I thought it was going to be the "buff torso" kind, but at least it would have been an accurate representation of what this book really was like. The author presented the book as something that it is not, and she attracted the wrong audience who will undoubtedly hate her book and feel tricked.
The storyline had the same melodramatic and trashy quality that you'd expect from Keeping up with the Kardashians or Jersey Shore. The dramatic elements felt cheap because the males in this story were complete bros like the guys you find in those types of shows.
Shane was a particularly obnoxious bro and when he attempted to be romantic it wasn't sexy. Shane came onto the scene I felt repulsed and that's not quite what you're supposed to feel about the main love interest. Like I said before, he initially gave off a violent rapey vibe and he never does a convincing job at winning us back. Also, the sex scenes meant nothing because I didn't like the characters. My ovaries shriveled up after that first rapey scene and none of his attempts at being a charming love interest worked on me.
And then there were the pointless scenes where Shane and Camden (aka love triangle boy # 2) were rolling around on the floor and beating the crap out of each other. Super hot and ultra manly, right?
Nope. Reading those scenes just reminded me of this:
Both of the male character's motivations were simplistic. They were either fighting for or over Kaine. Me big man! Me defend honor of girl! SHANE SMASH!
At first Camden was the unattainable boy that Kaine had a crush on, and the next minute he was stalking her and eavesdropping on her conversations. I'm sure you've read this type of second love interest before.
Camden was creepy, and like Shane, his character motivations made no sense at all. This dude no life of his own; He didn't have thoughts of his own. Everything he did revolved around Kaine or served for the purpose of moving the story forward. There was no reason for his obsession with Kaine because she didn't have a personality either.
Oh and despite what Kaine says in the beginning about being an unattractive, overweight outcast, she is none of those things. Two chapters into the story and suddenly becomes a fitness queen with no effort at all. She is now a freaking Barbie doll with
'all the right curves'.
One thought kept occurring to me over and over again -- what are these characters thinking? I made the joke about Homer Simpson earlier, but it might as well be true for all of these characters.
Nothing is going through these character's heads because they're cardboard cut-outs going through the motions in a bland, cardboard story. Shane, Kaine and everyone else in this story did things because the author wanted them to, but not once did I feel like these characters were alive; not once did I feel like these characters had thoughts in their heads. And that made for a very boring, pointless story. I was hoping that this book was going to be
LOL NOPE.
NOT FINISHING THIS SHITTT.
I'm sorry, but there is nothing sexy about a guy who behaves like a rapist. Shane cornered Kaine alone in a classroom, dug a metal ruler into her back, threatened to kill her, he ripped off her top and bra, gave her breasts a squeeze, and left her on the floor trembling and exposed. Ladies and gentleman, let me introduce you the love interest you're expected to fall for by the end of the novel! What a catch, right?
So wait a minute -- when Shane left the classroom after he attacked Kaine, how did he suppose she was going to get to her locker without being seen and forced to explain what happened? I don't know about you, but I don't often take a stroll through school hallways with my shirt all ripped up and my tits out. It's reasonable to suggest that I'd be questioned by a teacher straight awasy. Even if Kaine was too scared to tell anyone about the attack, the odds of a teacher coming across her in that state is extremely high. I mean, COME ON Shane! At least be smart enough not to leave your victim in a position where she had no choice but rat you out and get you expelled. What exactly was going through his head when he left the classroom? Probably something like this:
Shane's internal motivations just did not exist and therefore, he was a pointless, unrealistic character.
And of course, the trauma of Kaine's sexual assault was forgotten about by the next chapter because apparently, getting someone to mildly beat up Shane in the cafeteria made everything better. At the end of the school day, Shane begrudgingly offers some type of apology to Kaine..... and she BLUSHES.
This asshole had been viciously bullying you for months until he finally violated you. What kind of person would be attracted to their attacker, just because they gave a half-assed apology?
Furthermore, the story had a cheap, rape fantasy feel to it. The author presented the novel in the wrong way because the cover and blurb made me think that this was going to be a high school contemporary romance with some drama and cute moments.
(it looks so innocent!)But when you actually read the story, it becomes clear from about chapter two that this is the type of book that should have a disembodied, naked torso on the cover. You know the kind, lol. Something like this:
(Now that's more accurate!)Granted I would have never picked this book up if I thought it was going to be the "buff torso" kind, but at least it would have been an accurate representation of what this book really was like. The author presented the book as something that it is not, and she attracted the wrong audience who will undoubtedly hate her book and feel tricked.
The storyline had the same melodramatic and trashy quality that you'd expect from Keeping up with the Kardashians or Jersey Shore. The dramatic elements felt cheap because the males in this story were complete bros like the guys you find in those types of shows.
Shane was a particularly obnoxious bro and when he attempted to be romantic it wasn't sexy. Shane came onto the scene I felt repulsed and that's not quite what you're supposed to feel about the main love interest. Like I said before, he initially gave off a violent rapey vibe and he never does a convincing job at winning us back. Also, the sex scenes meant nothing because I didn't like the characters. My ovaries shriveled up after that first rapey scene and none of his attempts at being a charming love interest worked on me.
And then there were the pointless scenes where Shane and Camden (aka love triangle boy # 2) were rolling around on the floor and beating the crap out of each other. Super hot and ultra manly, right?
Nope. Reading those scenes just reminded me of this:
Both of the male character's motivations were simplistic. They were either fighting for or over Kaine. Me big man! Me defend honor of girl! SHANE SMASH!
At first Camden was the unattainable boy that Kaine had a crush on, and the next minute he was stalking her and eavesdropping on her conversations. I'm sure you've read this type of second love interest before.
Camden was creepy, and like Shane, his character motivations made no sense at all. This dude no life of his own; He didn't have thoughts of his own. Everything he did revolved around Kaine or served for the purpose of moving the story forward. There was no reason for his obsession with Kaine because she didn't have a personality either.
Oh and despite what Kaine says in the beginning about being an unattractive, overweight outcast, she is none of those things. Two chapters into the story and suddenly becomes a fitness queen with no effort at all. She is now a freaking Barbie doll with
'all the right curves'.
One thought kept occurring to me over and over again -- what are these characters thinking? I made the joke about Homer Simpson earlier, but it might as well be true for all of these characters.
Nothing is going through these character's heads because they're cardboard cut-outs going through the motions in a bland, cardboard story. Shane, Kaine and everyone else in this story did things because the author wanted them to, but not once did I feel like these characters were alive; not once did I feel like these characters had thoughts in their heads. And that made for a very boring, pointless story. I was hoping that this book was going to be
February 25, 2022
So, I, uh, dove into Bully Me because it worked for a challenge. Well, more like a certain task within a challenge. It also didn't hurt that it was a pretty short book and available on KU. I just had no idea what I was really walking into. Mostly because I didn't even read the synopsis which was definitely my bad.
In this, you will meet Kaine. She's a junior in High School and dreads the last day of school. It's Senior Prank Day and she somehow always finds herself in on the joke. Or being the butt of a joke. She's also bullied a lot and despises one person in particular: Shane. Now he was a real dipshit in the beginning. Like borderline rapist in a way.
Then things randomly, and magically, change once he becomes her stepbrother. She sees him in a whole new light and somehow develop feelings for him. He also starts developing feelings for her after the horrible moment in the beginning. It was just really weird, and I wasn't enjoying the vibe or the romance.
Besides them, you meet her first crush Camden. At first, he seemed pretty protective of her but then jumped straight into being obsessive and a douche canoe at the same time. Again, things were really weird, and I wasn't enjoying anything at this point. The vibes. The romance. Nothing was making me want to turn the next page, but I did.
Somehow, I made it to the end. I feel like I need 500 drinks right now.
April 30, 2014
I deliberated a lot on what to rate this book, and two stars is really wholly inaccurate. The truth is that in many ways this book deserves one star. It has some serious structural editorial problems and sends some very wrong and dangerous messages. However, for sheer compulsive readability it was way up there on the scale. I felt like I was rubbernecking a fiery car crash, because even when I wanted to I couldn't look away.
First the good, it was very readable. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I read it in one day. I'm totally planning to read the sequel. Incidentally, my immediate compulsion to find the, as of yet unwritten, sequel is what convinced me to give this book an additional star. No matter how horrible it is I totally want more.
Now on to the long, long list of bad and ugly. Most of the situations in this book were totally unbelievable. An epic amount of suspended disbelief is needed to read this book. The characters act in a way that I find divorced from realistic human behaviour. I also found that the characters thoughts and behaviours were inconsistent throughout the book. For example, I just didn't buy into Kaine's magical transformation from bullied nobody to Porn Star Barbie.
Speaking of magical transformations, I think this book does a great disservice to chubby, awkward girls everywhere. Kaine was already beautiful even when she was shy and "big." Also, she was never all that big. By the second chapter Kaine is on a diet ( which remains a central preoccupation of hers for the rest of the novel) and has joined a gym/ swimming/ running/ etc. Within weeks (offscreen) she is a bombshell, knock-out, curves up to here size six. She is hot, hot, hot, can run a mile, and has confidence. She went from pathetic to superstar without effort (and as our sexual assaulter turned hero notes this high school student is stellar at deepthroating a banana). Being fit is great, really, but it would be nice to have a main character who was actually chubby/ fat (and not just in her own head) who gained confidence and grew as a character not because her external has changed but because her internal has. Plus, fuck, it ain't easy for everyone to be thin and fit. All to say, the diet and weight preoccupation in this book is problematic and I wish it was dealt with differently.
Another dangerous message this book sends was its representation of aggressive and dangerous boys. If a man mercilessly verbally torments you and/ or physically threatens you and/ or sexually assaults you, it is not because he "is in love" with you. It is not acceptable behaviour. It is not romantic behaviour. It is criminal behaviour. I can't help but wonder what cultural norms readers may be buying into from this type of book. His abuse is okay because he loves me story line is irresponsible.
Speaking of annoying clichés...there were tons in this book. Disappearing parent syndrome. Love triangle. Main female character has no friends (at least at the beginning). ....
Finally, there were many basic editing mistakes. Misspelled words, obvious mistakes, etc. This just smacks of laziness and drives me crazy. If you can't reread you book to edit it, then why the hell should I read it?
I think Starkweather has tremendous potential as an author. This book was super readable, and I hope that some of the editorial issues are improved in the next one.
First the good, it was very readable. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I read it in one day. I'm totally planning to read the sequel. Incidentally, my immediate compulsion to find the, as of yet unwritten, sequel is what convinced me to give this book an additional star. No matter how horrible it is I totally want more.
Now on to the long, long list of bad and ugly. Most of the situations in this book were totally unbelievable. An epic amount of suspended disbelief is needed to read this book. The characters act in a way that I find divorced from realistic human behaviour. I also found that the characters thoughts and behaviours were inconsistent throughout the book. For example, I just didn't buy into Kaine's magical transformation from bullied nobody to Porn Star Barbie.
Speaking of magical transformations, I think this book does a great disservice to chubby, awkward girls everywhere. Kaine was already beautiful even when she was shy and "big." Also, she was never all that big. By the second chapter Kaine is on a diet ( which remains a central preoccupation of hers for the rest of the novel) and has joined a gym/ swimming/ running/ etc. Within weeks (offscreen) she is a bombshell, knock-out, curves up to here size six. She is hot, hot, hot, can run a mile, and has confidence. She went from pathetic to superstar without effort (and as our sexual assaulter turned hero notes this high school student is stellar at deepthroating a banana). Being fit is great, really, but it would be nice to have a main character who was actually chubby/ fat (and not just in her own head) who gained confidence and grew as a character not because her external has changed but because her internal has. Plus, fuck, it ain't easy for everyone to be thin and fit. All to say, the diet and weight preoccupation in this book is problematic and I wish it was dealt with differently.
Another dangerous message this book sends was its representation of aggressive and dangerous boys. If a man mercilessly verbally torments you and/ or physically threatens you and/ or sexually assaults you, it is not because he "is in love" with you. It is not acceptable behaviour. It is not romantic behaviour. It is criminal behaviour. I can't help but wonder what cultural norms readers may be buying into from this type of book. His abuse is okay because he loves me story line is irresponsible.
Speaking of annoying clichés...there were tons in this book. Disappearing parent syndrome. Love triangle. Main female character has no friends (at least at the beginning). ....
Finally, there were many basic editing mistakes. Misspelled words, obvious mistakes, etc. This just smacks of laziness and drives me crazy. If you can't reread you book to edit it, then why the hell should I read it?
I think Starkweather has tremendous potential as an author. This book was super readable, and I hope that some of the editorial issues are improved in the next one.
May 3, 2015
This annoyed me mainly from the fact that the weight of the 'overweight' girl and height would have classed her at a perfect weight, not even slight over weight, I have a friend around that weight and at that height who is relatively skinny. Because of this I couldn't get into the story because it was so unrealistic to begin with, it really annoyed me actually as it's putting an unrealistic idea of what skinny and fat is, out there. Making people oblivious to what is actually a normal weight. Someone who is this weight and height and always been relatively comfortable with their figure could begin to get insecure from reading this thinking they are actually classed as overweight or fat.
July 13, 2014
I had pretty hide hopes for this car after reading some really amazing contemporaries.
However, I am afraid all I can give Bully Me is one star.
The writing structure is really confusing and makes the whole thing difficult to read.
The storyline started off really interesting but soon became really predictable and lazy.
The plot is really really rushed and it seems to throw in information just to suit the progression without any back story.
The characters are unlikable as a whole and the whole excuse for Shane basically making Kaine's life a misery was troublesome and disturbing.
Also, the graphic sex scenes left a lot to be desired (No pun intended).
Disappointing over all. Won't be reading the sequel.
However, I am afraid all I can give Bully Me is one star.
The writing structure is really confusing and makes the whole thing difficult to read.
The storyline started off really interesting but soon became really predictable and lazy.
The plot is really really rushed and it seems to throw in information just to suit the progression without any back story.
The characters are unlikable as a whole and the whole excuse for Shane basically making Kaine's life a misery was troublesome and disturbing.
Also, the graphic sex scenes left a lot to be desired (No pun intended).
Disappointing over all. Won't be reading the sequel.
November 6, 2017
Great emotional read!!!
You have Kaine who is a beautiful and curvy woman she doesn't think she is though. You have Shane a cocky and hot wrestler who teases and insults Kaine you will find out later why and then there is Camden another wrestler who rescues Kaine from a terrible incident that happened with Shane. Camden is not all he seems to be read this book. It sheds light on a sensitive subject.
You have Kaine who is a beautiful and curvy woman she doesn't think she is though. You have Shane a cocky and hot wrestler who teases and insults Kaine you will find out later why and then there is Camden another wrestler who rescues Kaine from a terrible incident that happened with Shane. Camden is not all he seems to be read this book. It sheds light on a sensitive subject.
August 23, 2014
Decent, yet Unsettling.
Some aspects of this book can definitely make a nice love story... yet step siblings having a romantic relationship? It seems a bit unnatural. In addition, the fact that the step brother, Shane, had sexually assaulted, Kaine, the step sister prior to their family uniting is quite unsettling and disturbing. This book is very unique... maybe a little TOO unique.
Some aspects of this book can definitely make a nice love story... yet step siblings having a romantic relationship? It seems a bit unnatural. In addition, the fact that the step brother, Shane, had sexually assaulted, Kaine, the step sister prior to their family uniting is quite unsettling and disturbing. This book is very unique... maybe a little TOO unique.
July 22, 2014
A good yet odd story, who would have thought that the supposed white knight wasn't the right love interest for Kaine?
August 14, 2014
Highly unbelievable.
January 20, 2019
DNF—how the fuck does this book have three stars?!?! Lucky I’m giving them two honestly just for some of the funny banter, but otherwise this book (at least the parts I read until I couldn’t waste anymore time on it) was awful!! It reads like generic steps and does not suck you in. It was just painfully horrible.
December 30, 2018
Kind of a strange story. I wouldn't have even disliked it that much except for the fact that ALL the characters made a complete 180 in a matter of a couple chapters. It went from hate to banter to love far too quickly.
So... it was meh.
So... it was meh.
May 17, 2018
Good one!
Was cute and super hot too. Like the bully falls for victim theme the author had going on. Would totally recommend it.
Was cute and super hot too. Like the bully falls for victim theme the author had going on. Would totally recommend it.
February 3, 2019
Good
Good book... however the book had far tooo many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. And if he calls her baby or says I love you one more time aaaarrrrgghhh
Good book... however the book had far tooo many spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. And if he calls her baby or says I love you one more time aaaarrrrgghhh
December 24, 2019
Cute quick read. Action and a little suspense with some sex mixed in. And of course a cliffhanger for part 2. :) enjoy it! it goes FAST.
October 17, 2020
DNF
What a huge disappointment , why would someone fall for someone who sexually harassed them
What a huge disappointment , why would someone fall for someone who sexually harassed them
July 25, 2014
How to explain this book? It's certainly readable. It's not very long so it's easy to get through. No matter how many times I was rolling my eyes or shaking my head (and that was often), I never felt the need to put down my kindle and I wasn't at all bored. However, the characters were poorly written, the messages were pretty frightening and the main character was a little too superficial. The sex was a bit ridiculous too.
What was wrong with the characters? Their personalities changed too drastically over the course of the book. The excuses given for the changes weren't enough to make it flow or sit well. The three main characters read like six different people...or at least six.
What was wrong with the message(s)? The whole fat girl thing and the "acceptable" excuse for attacking a girl? Not so great. First let me say, a girl getting active and eating healthy is a good thing. And I could see how doing so would make her feel better about herself, grow more confident, make more friends and ultimately be happier. That would be a good message. I really hope that message was what the author intended. However, it ended up being more like "Fat, bad. Thin, good." For the record, being as tall as Kaine was, a size 12 is so NOT fat and a size 6 is pretty small. Again, I hope the author didn't intended to sound as if Kaine was fat at first but more that she saw herself that way. And let's face it, it is realistic for a 17 year old girl to feel fat if she doesn't have a flat stomach. The problem is that while there were a few people who told her she was always beautiful, their comments seemed half-hearted and their reactions to her weight-loss were too extreme. And on top of that, the book glossed right over any struggles she had getting healthy. One sentence about craving cookies for a few weeks and then she was magically losing dress sizes each week. So, again, the message was "Fat, bad, even if it isn't really fat. Thin, good. And you suck if you struggle with weight loss because it's easy." A few well placed conversations and a couple added sentences would have helped dramatically. Or even just less focus on it all together would have been better. The other poor message was the whole acceptable excuse for assault thing. Does any guy really deserve a pass on assault just because of the crap he is going through. I don't just mean Shane either. I will say that some of the other reviews misrepresented how things went down but still. Seriously, it was pretty messed up. Especially at the end.
What was wrong with Kaine? She lacked any real depth because she lacked self-reflection. The only thing she reflected on was that she ate cookies for comfort after her mom died which is pretty lame self-reflection. There was obviously more to her than weight-loss, shopping, boys and friends but she didn't really share much outside of the occasional peek that wasn't just scratching the surface. The author gave the reader glimaces below the surface when she did or said certain things but it wasn't enough. Because of this, I didn't feel particularly attached to Kaine.
What was wrong with the sex? Nothing was exactly wrong but it wasn't exactly right either. First, it felt like it was plugged into the story and kind of obligatory. Second, I think having the kind of sex they had takes either trust and confidence or low self-esteem and a pushy partner (not that is was all that outside of the box but it wasn't exactly beginner sex either). I don't think Kaine had that kind of trust or confidence when she wasn't in bed so I'm not sure why the author would have us believe she had it in bed. And the low self-esteem/pushy partner explanation isn't exactly sexy.
I honestly wasn't sure how to rate this book because I did read the whole thing without ever thinking "why did I get this" and I would read a sequel but at the same time, it wasn't good. I'm not sure how that works but it is what it is. So I suppose that means I wouldn't recommend it but I wouldn't recommend against reading it either.
What was wrong with the characters? Their personalities changed too drastically over the course of the book. The excuses given for the changes weren't enough to make it flow or sit well. The three main characters read like six different people...or at least six.
What was wrong with the message(s)? The whole fat girl thing and the "acceptable" excuse for attacking a girl? Not so great. First let me say, a girl getting active and eating healthy is a good thing. And I could see how doing so would make her feel better about herself, grow more confident, make more friends and ultimately be happier. That would be a good message. I really hope that message was what the author intended. However, it ended up being more like "Fat, bad. Thin, good." For the record, being as tall as Kaine was, a size 12 is so NOT fat and a size 6 is pretty small. Again, I hope the author didn't intended to sound as if Kaine was fat at first but more that she saw herself that way. And let's face it, it is realistic for a 17 year old girl to feel fat if she doesn't have a flat stomach. The problem is that while there were a few people who told her she was always beautiful, their comments seemed half-hearted and their reactions to her weight-loss were too extreme. And on top of that, the book glossed right over any struggles she had getting healthy. One sentence about craving cookies for a few weeks and then she was magically losing dress sizes each week. So, again, the message was "Fat, bad, even if it isn't really fat. Thin, good. And you suck if you struggle with weight loss because it's easy." A few well placed conversations and a couple added sentences would have helped dramatically. Or even just less focus on it all together would have been better. The other poor message was the whole acceptable excuse for assault thing. Does any guy really deserve a pass on assault just because of the crap he is going through. I don't just mean Shane either. I will say that some of the other reviews misrepresented how things went down but still. Seriously, it was pretty messed up. Especially at the end.
What was wrong with Kaine? She lacked any real depth because she lacked self-reflection. The only thing she reflected on was that she ate cookies for comfort after her mom died which is pretty lame self-reflection. There was obviously more to her than weight-loss, shopping, boys and friends but she didn't really share much outside of the occasional peek that wasn't just scratching the surface. The author gave the reader glimaces below the surface when she did or said certain things but it wasn't enough. Because of this, I didn't feel particularly attached to Kaine.
What was wrong with the sex? Nothing was exactly wrong but it wasn't exactly right either. First, it felt like it was plugged into the story and kind of obligatory. Second, I think having the kind of sex they had takes either trust and confidence or low self-esteem and a pushy partner (not that is was all that outside of the box but it wasn't exactly beginner sex either). I don't think Kaine had that kind of trust or confidence when she wasn't in bed so I'm not sure why the author would have us believe she had it in bed. And the low self-esteem/pushy partner explanation isn't exactly sexy.
I honestly wasn't sure how to rate this book because I did read the whole thing without ever thinking "why did I get this" and I would read a sequel but at the same time, it wasn't good. I'm not sure how that works but it is what it is. So I suppose that means I wouldn't recommend it but I wouldn't recommend against reading it either.
April 21, 2016
2.5 - 3 stars.
I'll be honest, I didn't know what to rate this book. I like to think that I don't give out stars very easily but I'm probably wrong. This book was...I don't even know the right word for it...
With the exception of the ruler/shirt scene at the beginning (we will get to that later), I actually didn't mind a ton of the book. The grammar was TERRIBLE, and there needed to be some serious edits made to the writing (I took a star away just for this), but all in all, I read the whole thing in one day. It kept me entertained and wanting to know what happens. Shane and Kaine (which rhyming names by the way, I'll just go ahead and roll my eyes now) they were interesting. I think that Kaine losing weight was much more about making herself confident rather than making it about Shane wanting her, so for that reason, I didn't think it was a terrible thing. Shane was...evil...in the first few chapters. And I didn't think he would ever redeem himself BUT, he kind of did and I ended up liking the idiot about half way through the book. I liked Kaine. I liked that there wasn't this whole, "I'm fat and I'll always be fat" kind of thing. She knew she lost weight, and she was proud of herself. Camden was just the right amount of creepy, though I wish we could have gone more into his mind a little bit. I would have loved to know when it all started with him and such.
Now, the basic sexual assault at the beginning of the book. I thought it was...too much, unnecessary and just, weird. The bullying was evident without the whole, "I'm going to rip off your shirt and grab your tit" thing. I thought it was kind of a "I'm going to make Shane as evil as possible and then make you like him" type of thing. I didn't really like his excuse either. I understand how people DNF this book, I removed one star just for this scene all together. I also don't think he would have been able to get away with it with this day and age. That being said, I did finish, I did enjoy it, and I'll probably read the next one.
I'll be honest, I didn't know what to rate this book. I like to think that I don't give out stars very easily but I'm probably wrong. This book was...I don't even know the right word for it...
With the exception of the ruler/shirt scene at the beginning (we will get to that later), I actually didn't mind a ton of the book. The grammar was TERRIBLE, and there needed to be some serious edits made to the writing (I took a star away just for this), but all in all, I read the whole thing in one day. It kept me entertained and wanting to know what happens. Shane and Kaine (which rhyming names by the way, I'll just go ahead and roll my eyes now) they were interesting. I think that Kaine losing weight was much more about making herself confident rather than making it about Shane wanting her, so for that reason, I didn't think it was a terrible thing. Shane was...evil...in the first few chapters. And I didn't think he would ever redeem himself BUT, he kind of did and I ended up liking the idiot about half way through the book. I liked Kaine. I liked that there wasn't this whole, "I'm fat and I'll always be fat" kind of thing. She knew she lost weight, and she was proud of herself. Camden was just the right amount of creepy, though I wish we could have gone more into his mind a little bit. I would have loved to know when it all started with him and such.
Now, the basic sexual assault at the beginning of the book. I thought it was...too much, unnecessary and just, weird. The bullying was evident without the whole, "I'm going to rip off your shirt and grab your tit" thing. I thought it was kind of a "I'm going to make Shane as evil as possible and then make you like him" type of thing. I didn't really like his excuse either. I understand how people DNF this book, I removed one star just for this scene all together. I also don't think he would have been able to get away with it with this day and age. That being said, I did finish, I did enjoy it, and I'll probably read the next one.
August 19, 2014
Thanks yet again to the brilliant Amazon Recommends, I stumbled upon this author, liked the blurb so downloaded, and whilst it's only taken a couple hours to read, this book was really enjoyable.
The story didn't feel rushed at all, surprising for its size, and the characters are great. My only slight complaint, and the reason I knocked a star off, is the edit. Silly grammatical errors, like the word 'it' should have been used but it was 'out' instead. Small little niggles that truthfully annoy me, it's like whoever edited the book didn't do it properly (because it's not just one or two but a lot). Harsh to remove a star I know but it's frustrating to me all the same.
Except my grumble this won't be the last story I read from this author, and I'm really hoping for a next book given the end of the epilogue. Really recommend this one, and don't be put off by the characters age, I'm in my mid-thirties but still enjoyed it.
The story didn't feel rushed at all, surprising for its size, and the characters are great. My only slight complaint, and the reason I knocked a star off, is the edit. Silly grammatical errors, like the word 'it' should have been used but it was 'out' instead. Small little niggles that truthfully annoy me, it's like whoever edited the book didn't do it properly (because it's not just one or two but a lot). Harsh to remove a star I know but it's frustrating to me all the same.
Except my grumble this won't be the last story I read from this author, and I'm really hoping for a next book given the end of the epilogue. Really recommend this one, and don't be put off by the characters age, I'm in my mid-thirties but still enjoyed it.
June 6, 2014
I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed reading it. I can't tell you specifically what bothered me without giving away major story. It wasn't bad enough to quit reading but enough to keep from a 5 star.
After further consideration I can reveal this much about what kept it from a 5. Kaine was a virgin with low self esteem but some how turned into a pro or porn star when it came to sex. Sorry but there are confident women who aren't even that confident. She was just too relaxed and it went against her nature.
After further consideration I can reveal this much about what kept it from a 5. Kaine was a virgin with low self esteem but some how turned into a pro or porn star when it came to sex. Sorry but there are confident women who aren't even that confident. She was just too relaxed and it went against her nature.
June 5, 2014
I love this book,it was a simple easy story line and I just loved the twist and turns of events. I love the roller coaster of emotions and the characters are great. Ok yeah in some parts it did seem rushed but so what, when you have a good storyline minor details like spelling errors or typos or a little rushed here and three doesn't make a difference, when all you want to know is what happens next. This book has a nice epilogue at the end.,it's worth reading,
September 15, 2014
There are so many things wrong with this book, the main problem being the lack of character building. All the actions that take place make this story far from believable.
It seems to me that either: Multiple people with the same names all acted in completely different ways. Or perhaps everyone was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and then proceeded to run around doing horrific then delightful things to one another (and vice versa).
It seems to me that either: Multiple people with the same names all acted in completely different ways. Or perhaps everyone was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and then proceeded to run around doing horrific then delightful things to one another (and vice versa).
August 10, 2015
Great book. I love the whole concept of it and how you dive right into the story without pause. Kaine is very likable and I did like Shane. I just wish he would have been a little more alpha and maybe have bullied Kaine more to help the story seem more fitting. Poor Kaine just keeps getting thrown curve-balls as if life isn't bad enough for a teenager. Really enjoyed the story and would recommend.
April 6, 2016
Seriously? At 5'10 and 165lbs, the main female character would have a BMI of 23. which is a normal BMI and weight, yet she and other characters around her treat her like she is grossly obese. I think that says a lot more about the author's opinions than the characters themselves and is a huge slap in the face of those who do struggle with not just maintaining a perfect weight, but a healthy weight. DNF and glad that it was a Kindle unlimited and I didn't waste my money!
January 22, 2015
I don't like to leave negative reviews but I really didn't get into this book. The idea of it was pretty good but I think it needed another proof read. There were too many random words in sentences which had me reviewing whole paragraphs to see if I missed something. I think it's really over priced for what it is.
August 7, 2015
Wasn't a very long book but it kept me turning the page to find out what happens . It has the bully who is a total ass and then you have to hero or so you think . Just my kinda book . The ending was good to where if you dot wanna read the next book you don't have to , however I will be reading it because I need to know more
August 17, 2014
For a free book through kindle unlimited this wasn't a bad book. I didn't have any trouble reading it, nor was I tempted to put it down. So why the lower rating? I couldn't connect with the characters. They all seamed so superficial.
January 27, 2015
The book definitely had quite a few plotholes and was confusing at some points. I did enjoy it as it kept me on the edge f my seat all the time as I wanted to know what happened. The second book is definitely better, so I suggest picking it up if you have read this.
August 25, 2015
*spoiler alert*
This was just to unrealistic for me.
First off. Shane did nothing but torture kaine.
Secondly why the heck do everyone's names rhyme? Shane, kaine, Jane. Seriously.
And lastly. You guys are step siblings. It's just weird.
This was just to unrealistic for me.
First off. Shane did nothing but torture kaine.
Secondly why the heck do everyone's names rhyme? Shane, kaine, Jane. Seriously.
And lastly. You guys are step siblings. It's just weird.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2014
I read this in a few hours and i have to say its not intended for my age group but i found it great.It shows how the bady dosn't always turn out to be the wrong-un.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews